Disclaimer: So…don't own anything, I barely own Lindorië…I can't even remember where I got the name, but I got it somewhere and it means something… Anyway, don't own anything…
Chapter 1
She had come from Rohan to care for the daughter of the Prince of Dol Amroth since he had no time for his youngest. In truth it was the only place she had to go. It was odd, though, leaving her home behind in Edoras, but it was all she could do. Lindorië was considered a little…plain. She was not strikingly beautiful like many of the women on Middle-earth were told to be, but she was neither horrendously hideous to look at either. It was actually not in her nature to be lady like either. Her hair was always wind blown and a dry brown thanks to being in the sun. Her skin was also on the edge of burnt most the time as well. Most people who meet her, though, would say that the most striking thing about this young woman was her dark green eyes. They were almost piercing when she was angry and yet they were soothing to look at when she was happy or concerned. One could call her figure at the age of 15 a short pole. She had no curves, and barely had any breasts to call her own. In the end she probably could pull off a better boy then a young woman.
The day she arrived in Dol Amroth to attend to her duties was the year of 3002 in the 3rd age; sixteen years before the Fellowship would be formed. When she had arrived a servant quickly scurried her off out of sight over the fact that the Steward and his two sons were visiting. They did not wish them to see Lindorië one, she was a commoner, and two, she was not properly dressed to meet them.
When she entered her room she found a light blue dress had been laid out for her with a note:
Dear Lindorië,
I am terribly sorry for not being able to greet you properly but the Steward's visit was quite a surprise to me and the rest of my home. If you would please dress yourself in this gown, it should match the measurements you sent so that we could provide you with proper clothes, and make yourself look presentable I will send a servant to escort you to my daughter and then to the dining hall. Again I apologize for the confusing rush.
Sincerely,
Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth
Lindorië was not yet accustomed to the formalness that the Gondorian court held and cherished more then most. Even when Lindorië was asked to help watch Éowyn, the niece to King Théoden, nothing was quite this formal. She did as she was told though by dressing herself into the elegant dress and then putting her hair, the best she could, into a presentable fashion.
A knock at her door made her jump, "Come in!" she called before clearing her throat.
An elderly woman opened the door, "Are you ready dear?" she asked. She had light blue eyes that showed a world of kindness behind them. Her hair was completely a silver gray and up in a bun, "I'm Aerin," she told her, "head house keeper. I will be showing you to the princess' room and then to the dining hall."
"Lindorië," she answered bowing her head, "it is a pleasure to meet you."
Aerin gave her a smile, "Yes, I believe I like you much more then the last one. She came from fine combed breeding so she came off as an arrogant child. You seem much more mature then what your age is. Follow me please dear."
The older woman led Lindorië to the nursery and let her spend a little bit of time talking to the three year old Lothiriel. The little girl had a mess of light blond hair that Lindorië slowly straightened out and she dressed the little girl in a proper outfit for the evening, "Ready to go see your cousins?" she asked the little girl picking her up.
Lothiriel giggled and clapped her hands, "Bory!" she cheered. "name?" she asked her.
"Lindorië," she answered and then pushed the girls nose gently.
While Aerin led Lindorië to the dining room, just before they entered the dining hall, Lothiriel attempted to say her new nanny's name, "mmm…lll… Dorië!"
Lindorië smiled and adjusted Lothiriel in her arms. The doors to the dining room opened and she followed Aerin in silently. There sat four men and one little boy. Lindorië knew it was Amrothos, the youngest boy of Prince Imrahil's. The other two older boys, Elphir and Erchirion, were off in Minis Tirith for their training. They would not return tell the warmer months of the year. The four men, Denethor, Prince Imrahil, Boromir, and Faramir all stood in respect of the young woman and the child that were joining them for dinner.
Lindorië set Lothiriel into her seat and curtsied to the gentlemen, "My Lords, this is my daughter's new care taker and soon to be teacher, Lindorië of Rohan. Lindorië, the Steward of Gondor, Denethor, and his sons Boromir and Faramir. They will be staying with us a few days," Prince Imrahil spoke doing the regular introductions.
The men that had been introduced bowed their heads slightly and Lindorië curtsied once again. After taking her seat they were served their meal for the evening. Through out most of the meal the new nanny kept her eyes on her plate and her mouth shut until someone spoke up to her, "Lady Lindorië," it was Boromir, the young man seemed to have almost a smug look on his face. He was just the age of 24 and very cocky, "a maiden of Rohan. Did you also nanny for King Théoden's son?"
"Boromir," Faramir spoke glaring at his older brother, "be kind to the girl."
"No, Faramir let the young woman speak. She has been silent through out the entire dinner," Denethor told his youngest.
Lindorië looked up at the gentlemen who were looking at her, "I'm afraid I did not get the opportunity, my lord," she spoke up; her voice was gentle but held little emotion. "I did care for Éowyn, King Théoden's niece for a little bit when my mother had to tend to other business."
"What of your father?" Denethor continued, his seemed curious now.
"He is actually one of your commanders, my lord," she told him. "He and mother have not been on good terms of late and she had been in Rohan while father has been in Minis Tirith. Mother just recently passed away, that is why I am here, and father is going to remarry soon. That is why you are here I assume?"
Denethor studied the young woman in front of him. That was why she looked so familiar, "Are you Beregond's daughter?"
"I am afraid so my lord," she told him, still using the same soft voice.
Denethor's piercing gaze did not leave the girl, "I was not aware he had a daughter. I knew of his marriage to your mother, and her recent passing, but he never spoke of a child."
Lindorië did not seem shocked by this, "He has not seen me in ten years my lord. I fear he will make no effort to have me married, wishing to not pay for my dowry, and that is why he offered to Prince Imrahil that I live here and tend to his youngest child."
Denethor nodded his head while he thought about this, "I see…"
"Dorië…" Lothiriel spoke looking at her new nanny.
"Yes princess?"
"I'm tawrd," she told her holding up her arms.
Lindorië stood slowly, "If you'll excuse me gentlemen, I must get this one to bed, good evening," she picked the girl up and left the dining room.
As soon as she was gone Denethor looked to Boromir and bopped him on the back of the head, "Have I taught you no manners? As my heir I would think you would know how to treat a young woman, no matter her title, with respect."
"It was a simple question father," Boromir shrugged.
"You will go to the nursery tomorrow and apologize to her for being so smug. I will not hear of my eldest son being rude to one of my best commander's children," Denethor told him. "You will set a good example for our family."
Boromir sighed and gave in, "Of course father."
Lindorië watched while little Lothiriel played with a small teddy bear the next morning. This game didn't quite make any sense to the young maiden but Lothiriel was obviously terribly happy with playing the game, whatever it was. She looked toward the door way and quickly stood at the sight, "Father," she commented. There stood a man about a foot taller then Lindorië, his eyes were a dark blue/green, and his hair black with a few grey hairs.
"I see you are settling in well," her father commented. "I'm even surprised you recognized who I was; it has been a little less then ten years."
Lindorië lowered her eyes to the ground, "One does not forget the man who caused her mother a life's worth of grief."
"You will hold your tongue young lady," he snapped coldly. His eyes looked to the small child who was looking at him with freight. It was the same look his own daughter had given him at that age.
Lindorië quickly got up and pulled the little girl into her arms, "Ignore him," she whispered. "He's just a mean man who will be leaving soon."
Lothiriel glared at the man. Beregond took in a deep breath, "I just wanted to see how my only child is doing. Your mother refused to speak of you through the few letters she did send me. What are you plans for dinner?"
"I would except that I will be dining with my charge," she commented looking at Lothiriel who nodded her head.
"Dorië dine with me!" she insisted.
Beregond nodded his head, "I would like you to meet your new stepmother before the wedding," he commented. "If you ever find a free time, please come to my study. It is two floors down."
"If I have the time, father," Lindorië answered, "I will. Good day."
Beregond nodded his head and quickly turned to leave but stopped to find someone in the door way, "Bory!" Lothiriel cheered.
Lindorië set the squirming girl down and glared at her father's retreating back until he was gone. Then her gaze turned to the Steward's eldest son, "I… can we help you with something my lord?"
"I came to apologize for my behavior, during dinner last night," Boromir commented after he picked up Lothiriel and said his hello to his cousin. "I knew nothing of you and I presumed too much."
Lothiriel looked up at him then down at her hands. How does one react to that? She finally sighed, "Well since Lothiriel has obviously forgiven you I suppose I shall too."
Boromir gave a small smile, "Speaking of my cousin, would you two like to go for a walk with me?"
Lothiriel looked at Boromir then over at Lindorië, "Dorië?" she asked.
The young nanny sighed, "I suppose, if the Lord Boromir commands."
Boromir flinched but did not say anything. He bowed slightly, with his cousin in his arms, to allow Lindorië to leave the room first. The three walked to the beach and for the first time since Lindorië had gotten here she saw the ocean. Her mouth parted in awe and she just looked out. Lothiriel scrambled out of her cousins arms and went about playing in the sand.
"She seems fond of you," Boromir commented while they took a seat on one of the many benches that lined the beach.
"She is a dear girl," Lothiriel answered simply. A moment of silence passed and she asked in a gentle voice. "Have you met her?"
"Who?" he looked puzzled by her sudden question.
"My father's bride. Have you met her?"
Boromir nodded his head once, "Briefly, she is ten years my senior, give or take a few years. I can tell you no more. She was terribly quiet, almost timid."
Lindorië watched Lothiriel in silence. She was truly not in the mood to converse with someone who obviously knew they were better then her. It bothered her to be around him actually. Lothiriel suddenly let out a scream and instantly ran to Lindorië for protection, "Bug!" she cried. "BUG! BORY KILL THE BUG!"
Sure enough in the sand was a large beetle slowly crawling its way through the sand. Lindorië looked at Boromir and sighed. Boromir chuckled, got up, and began to make a scene of himself slamming his foot down in the sand where the bug should be. Of course it just made him cover the bug with sand.
"Yay Bory!" Lothiriel smiled. Lindorië clapped for him.
"Well, I think that is enough adventure for one day, you ready for you nap little one?" Lindorië asked.
Lothiriel nodded her head and rubbed her eyes, "Beddy bye time."
The three of them made it back up the nursery and Lindorië tucked the young toddler into her bed. When she returned to the main room of the nursery she was surprised to see Lord Boromir still there, "I thought you would have left now to find something more entertaining to attend to."
Boromir cleared his throat, "Well I am off duty while I am here and truth be told without my other cousins here this city is a bore."
The young woman went about picking up toys and papers and setting them in their place, "And you find me what? Amusing?"
Boromir shrugged, "Yes and no… I hardly know you and seeing as you will probably be visiting us often when you are in care of my cousin that I should get to know you a little bit."
"Your father's idea?"
"Both your fathers and mine," he sighed taking a seat in one of the rocking chair. "If my father catches me in sight without you near he'll verbally have my head."
Lindorië smirked, "Explains it," then she walked toward her own room.
Boromir quickly got up and followed after her, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Lindorië paused, "My lord I am fifteen, nearly sixteen. I am no beauty, and I have no high standing that I know of, why would one such as yourself who barely knows me insist on spending the day with me?"
Boromir cleared his throat in embarrassment, "If I offended you in anyway—"
She shook her head making him stop abruptly, "No my lord, you did no offend me in anyway. Most maidens wouldn't have thought twice of it. I on the other hand did… I'm not sure why but I did."
"Speaking of other maidens," Boromir spoke, "and this comes with my own thoughts. Would you like go to your father's wedding with an escort?"
"Such as?"
"I am offering myself," he answered simply. Lindorië raised an eye brow. "You see my father is insistent I take one of the ladies of the court and I refused because I cannot bare their incessant prattle about…gods knows what. You on the other hand…you hold your tongue and do not speak nonsense, but when you do speak it is…well it is worth hearing."
"This may cause both our fathers to gather ideas that are false," Lindorië commented. "Would you really want that?"
"It is better then the ideas all ready in my father's head. Besides, I will be returning to Minis Tirith the day after the wedding and will not see you at least for another three years. Lothiriel's sixth birthday is planned to be spent in Minis Tirith."
Lindorië considered her options while she walked back out to the nursery. Boromir sighed and followed after her, "I will admit you are not exactly the company I wish to have with me…but I do not want to face my new stepmother or my father alone that day…"
Boromir nodded his head, "Then I will be here an hour before the wedding. I suggest you pick a dress with a dark blue tone, if you wish to match."
Lindorië bowed her head slightly, "Thank you my lord. I will see you then."
Note: So…First chapter, oober fun! I hope all those who read this enjoyed, and if not I am terribly sorry? I've probably made a couple mistakes that I didn't notice when I read through it again so…yeah… R and R!
