Lothiriel had come to Rohan like she would on a pleasure ride. The fact that all the lords of Middle Earth were gathering here to celebrate victory over Mordor made those few days the most important event in history. She didn't really believe her father when he had told her that it was also going to be the most important event in her personal history as he would now select a husband for her. It would be fun, she thought, to see men bend over backwards just to win her hand but she would obviously refuse them all. Hard as Imrahil tried, he did not manage to get through to his young daughter. He wanted to be reasonable and ask her opinion a about what kind of man she would want to spend her life with. She just smiled and insisted she did not want to marry at all, ever.

Now a fortnight hadn't passed since those playful discussions that made her giggle with pride as her father grew angrier and angrier and she was already married. Not betrothed, not promised, already somebody's wife. Lothiriel's smile was gone and she was staring out of the window trying to make sense of what had just happened during the day. She knew she had the main fault in the entire unfolding of events and she thought herself a very reasonable and logical person. Her goal had been to prove to her father that she has a will of her own and she will not marry whoever he chose for her. Prince Imrahil had proved to be more cunning than her; he had given her the choice. She was to pick whom she wanted to marry out of all the lords of Middle Earth that were present. She knew she represented a prize – her dowry was rather considerable and an alliance with Gondor was sought by each and every other kingdom. Faced with a hall full of suitors watching her she was forced to choose a husband; she really did not want to marry so she did the only thing that seemed sensible to her at the moment: she picked the one man she was sure couldn't care less of her dowry or her; she had seen him constantly following a blond lady of his country around and almost call another suitor of hers to a duel. Definitely he will not agree to the marriage and she would have the pleasure of returning to Ithilien unwed and with the satisfaction of winning the most important battle with her father.

Indeed when she had uttered her decision the man she picked almost fell down even though he was a very well-built warrior. The blonde lady however seemed very happy to hear it so Lothiriel guessed she did not return his affections at all. When he walked towards her his frown was so deep that she took a few steps back. She didn't think she had ever seen anybody so angry in her entire life and understood how humans won the war against the forces of evil. He seemed a force … a big evil one. The moment he went on one knee before her accepting her offer and pledging to honor and protect her all became blurry and she almost fainted but he caught her while falling and whispered in her ear with a very cold voice :

"You will regret this decision for the rest of your life, my Queen, I will make sure of it ".

She sensed so much hate in his words that she was immediately alert and on her feet. It was all a bad dream. Trying to make sense in her mind of what was happening she didn't even realize that Gandalf was in front of both them performing the marriage ceremony. Lothiriel didn't dare look at the man standing very close to her holding her hand. She didn't see any of the people around her and all she wanted was for the whole thing to end so she could go to her chambers and think. Now she had been in her chambers for almost an hour, she had been thinking all that time but still could make no sense. All this could not be real. It was too horrible if it actually was.

The door opened and Eomer came in. He looked fiercer than ever. She was terrified of him and could not understand how anyone could have allowed him into her room. It was most improper without a chaperon.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a very offended tone.

He didn't answer but went to her, grabbed her arm and dragged her to the big bed in the middle of the room. She then caught a glimpse of the beautiful nightgown that was prepared for her on the bed and some of the maid's words came back to her mind: "pray he'll be gentle", "do not resist him, it will only hurt more" … Oh no, he couldn't possibly have come to claim her body. She tried to release herself from his touch but he was holding her with an iron fist. When she stopped wiggling he ordered her to undress. She didn't move so he took hold of her chin and making her look at him repeated:

"If you do not want me to rip your beautiful dress, take it off yourself. Now."

Lothiriel was paralyzed with fright. She wanted to scream for help but when she opened her mouth no sounds would come out. He was looking at her with a smug expression.

"Heeelp!" she got out eventually but it was only heard as a whisper.
"What do you need help with?" he asked "taking off your dress?"

Fear was replaced by utter hatred in her eyes.

"You will not rape me! "She said her voice stronger and looking straight into his eyes.

He let out a laugh.

"Of course I will not rape you, that are impossible since you are now my willing, obedient wife. Now strip before I lose all my patience with you. "

"No!' she spat back at him. She had no idea the fabric of her dress could tear so easily. He literally had her garment in two distinct pieces on the floor in what seemed only a moment. Now she was wearing only her thin slip. He tore that one as well and left her all naked before him. She wished she could die right that moment and be spared the embarrassment.

"At least your body is appealing. I can warm my bed with you." he said and started removing his own clothes.

She was still and tears rolled down her face. Eomer suddenly realized he would have to get this over with or he will never be able to do it with her crying and shaking as she did. He turned her with her back to him and made her bend over the bed. She instinctively found support on her arms and he forced her legs apart with his knee. Lothiriel was tiny and he knew he would hurt her badly. She deserved it. She was spoilt, obnoxious and she had just forced him to marry her. This was his retaliation. He positioned himself at her entrance bending his knees a little because he was a lot taller than she was. The warrior's heart was racing. It was like one of those moments when he was looking into the enemy's eyes right before running his spear through his flesh. He hoped she would scream the whole time. He wanted to fully humiliate her. His first thrust was violent and swift but as violent was her body's resistance so all he managed to do was hit his very hardened manhood against her mound. They both shrieked in pain and when he let go of her Lothiriel collapsed on her knees on the floor in a puddle. She had lost all control of her body and did something she hadn't done she was a baby– she wet herself.

Eomer was also in throbbing pain but the moment he had let go of his wife it was as if a fog was lifted from his eyes. What had he done ? Surely he had all the right reasons to be angry with her but to want to do that to her when she was obviously helpless was abominable. The only people he had ever seen as afraid as to release themselves were in front of an executioner. He had managed to make this woman as scared of him as she would be of getting her head chopped of. The rush of the warrior was gone and now he was very ashamed of himself. True, she had wronged him but never had he used physical force on a woman … especially when bedding her. She was so young and so small…he thanked the Valar that he stopped lest he should have surely broken her in two like he had done her garments. He had already acted like a mindless brute, now it was time to be a man so he gathered himself and decided that what was done was done and now he should do what he could to fix it. He picked up his breeches and put them on then got some towels from a rack and went over to the bed. He took her arm and gently picked her up. She didn't resist him. She was just sobbing uncontrollably and avoiding his gaze.

"Lothiriel…" he started

"Please kill me." she said simply

"I am sorry, Lothiriel. I acted like a brute."

"Please … I know you hate me, just kill me. Spare me the humiliation."

She was still not looking at him. He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face. The anger was gone from his eyes and he looked almost human.

"Lothiriel, I am truly sorry. I acted in the most despicable way possible and I have no excuse for it. But we are now both in a very unfortunate situation and I need your help to get out of it."

"Are you going to claim I was not a virgin and annul the marriage? I won't argue …"

"No, I can't do that. That would bring shame on you and your family and though I admit I don't much care for you at the moment, I hold your brothers and father in the greatest esteem. Plus, it would be a lie since you obviously are a maiden. "

"But you didn't get to … "

"No, thank the Valar for that or it would have been even worse for you. I was out of my mind with rage. But now I am calm and we need to get the witnesses off our backs so we can have some quiet and figure things out.

"Witnesses?"

"Yes, there are people outside the door who will have to verify the consummation of our union."

"Oh…" she instinctively reached for her core and then it dawned on her that she was still naked before him and her thies were still wet. She felt helpless and again wished she would die.

"Kill me."

"I can understand why right now you would prefer death to my bed and I am truly sorry for that but I promise you , when we do get around to completing our unexpected union I will do my best to make it good for you. However, it will not be tonight so we need to do something I resent deeply: pretend."

" How?" she asked trying to cover herself with her hands.

" You clean this up and I will take care of the rest."

"May I get dressed?"

"Yes, but put only your nightgown on."

When she finished washing up first the puddle, then herself she turned to see him holding a small knife. She went pale when she understood what he was going to do but thought about it and really she could see no other solution. He removed the covers from the bed and motioned her to get in. She went over without a word and climbed in.

"Please lift your gown" he said sitting next to her. When she saw the knife coming towards her she just turned her head and resolved to be brave.

"I know it is uncomfortable.' He whispered in her ear and she felt the palm of his hand in between her legs. She instinctively tried to pull away but he gently held her shoulder. She felt the warm moisture of his blood in his hand.

"You didn't cut me." She said.

He looked at her surprised.

"You thought I would cut your…?"

"Yes…"

"And you just came to me anyway? You are very brave." He smiled at her and she felt more comfortable than she had since he had entered the room.

"After I acted like a toddler I wouldn't say so."

"That was my fault entirely. I am ashamed of my behavior; it was horrible and completely undignified. Please forgive me for acting like a creature of Mordor."

"You must really hate me for what I did today."

He removed his hand and smeared some of his blood on her thies as well then motioned her to lie on her back.

"Why in Bema's name did you want to become my wife Lothiriel?"

"I didn't. "She replied simply

"Then why did you choose me? You had a room full of very eager lords. You could have had any of them."

"I thought you were the only one who would actually refuse me."

"Why did you think that?"

"You obviously don't stand me and I have seen you constantly chasing that blonde. But in my defense, I really don't think she wanted you."

"What?! I have not been chasing anybody around. The last thing I want on my mind right now are women."

"Then why did you nearly ask Faramir to a duel?"

Eomer started to laugh heartily.

"Because he is chasing my sister! That blonde is my little sister, Lothiriel."

"Oh… so you don't have any other lover?"

"Other than who? Eowyn is my sister and I obviously do not love you."

Lothiriel's cheeks turned red.

"Well, I will not stand in the way if you want to have a lover…or more."

Eomer frowned and he was again starting to look dangerous.

"I will stand in the way if you want to have a lover or more. Lothiriel, you do understand you are as of today Queen of Rohan, don't you?"

" Oh, but I wouldn't … I never want to …" she stopped realizing that what she was about to say was not something her new and temporarily understanding husband would want to hear.

"It is a bit late not to want to. You married me and I swore to be faithful to you so trust me when I tell you, you will warm my bed and bear my children."

Lothriel panicked again so he felt the need to reassure her.

"I will leave you alone tonight. Not completely alone since we do have to share a bed but I promise not to touch you. Now get up so we can present the sheet and go to the washroom, your lady in waiting must be very eager to see you. Do admit to her that there was some pain but do not let her call the healer or he will know. "

She did as he said, frightened he might change his resolve to let her be at least for the night.