A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers. Apparently I'm not the only one that likes the idea of Eomer falling for a girl for more than just beauty. Glad everyone is enjoying it.

If you like Harry Potter, you might check out my HP story that I've posted the first two chapters. Click on my name and it will take you to my bio page and you can pick up the link to it from there.

Frigg - He's seeing similarities to Eowyn and it is causing him to pay more attention than he might have otherwise, but his interest isn't because she is like Eowyn. It is just helping him see past the surface.

The Eye of the Beholder

Chapter 4

A few days later, the Dol Amroth crowd and Faramir departed, and Edoras began to settle back into a semblance of a routine for me. Thanks to Imrahil's insights, I was able to make a few changes and things did improve, as Lothiriel had predicted. Delegation was a wonderful thing and I was grateful to finally focus more of my time and energy on the most important matters. I even began finding time to ride more often, which pleased me greatly.

By the time we were on our way to Minas Tirith for Eowyn's wedding, I was much more comfortable in my role as king. Eowyn's help had been invaluable since she had spent so much time with Theoden while I was away soldiering. It would take time to rebuild, true, but we felt we had virtually all the people of Rohan situated so they could make it through the coming winter. After that, more changes would be necessary to get them back on their feet. Our army had been decimated during the War of the Ring, but gradually we were rebuilding as boys came of age and joined our ranks.

The closer we got to Minas Tirith, the more amused I became at Eowyn. If ever I saw a person straining at the bit! She habitually rode a considerable distance ahead of the procession, though by rights she should have stayed beside or behind me. But her eagerness to reach the White City seemed to nudge her horse faster. She would circle back for a time and then edge forward once more. It amused me greatly, but also made me very happy. This was the first thing she had shown enthusiasm for other than a glorious end in battle. If Faramir did anything to hurt her, I truly would have to kill the man. I could not bear to see her unhappy again.

This trip to Minas Tirith was edged with mixed emotions. Both Eowyn and I were thrilled about her marriage, but we also knew that it signaled our separation. There would be visits between Rohan and Gondor, but it would not be quite the same as before when we had been so close growing up. I would have to rely on another man to see to her safety, well being and happiness. In that sense, I could think of no one better than Faramir to entrust with her care. While soft-spoken and mild, I knew he was a fierce warrior, a capable Steward and a man of honor. But most importantly, he loved my sister deeply. Many times it seemed he was more concerned with her happiness than his own. Her heart had chosen well in loving such a man. And I had come to think of him as a brother as well as a friend, even if he wasn't to marry my sister.

To Eowyn's great relief, Minas Tirith came into sight a few days later. I thought she showed great restraint in not taking off at a breakneck gallop the instant we set foot on the Pelennor Fields. Instead, she reined her horse back into line near mine and almost seemed apprehensive. Finally, I asked, "You are not nervous, are you?"

"What? No…well, maybe a little."

"Why would you be nervous about seeing your betrothed again?"

"It is just…we have not seen each other for several months now…" Her voice trailed off uncertainly.

"Have his letters given you cause for alarm?" I queried, feeling my temper starting to flare.

"No, not really. They are full of declarations of his love for me and how anxious he is to see me again…"

Now I was thoroughly confused. "Then what is the problem?"

She struggled to put her fears into words, but at last could only shrug. "I suppose there truly isn't one. It just seems too good to be true. It feels as if I am having a wonderful dream and will wake to find it all slipping away, and everything is back as it was."

I shook my head and smiled. "Eowyn, he loves you. It is not a dream and soon you will be looking into his eyes and know it is true."

She gave me a grateful smile and nodded, wanting to accept my assurance even if she did not entirely feel it. Even so, she stayed near my side for the remainder of the trip to the city gates.

Eowyn was a bundle of nerves before the wedding. Horses and swords, she knew about, but this wedding and marriage stuff was completely foreign to her. I could not always be with her, and probably wouldn't have been much help to her anyway, but fortunately Lothiriel stepped in and never left her side until she stood safely before the King to wed Faramir. Once Eowyn looked in his eyes, as I foretold, her nerves seemed to disappear and she looked absolutely radiant. As beautiful as I considered her to be, she had never looked more so than she did right then. Faramir must have shared my opinion on the matter, for he could not tear his eyes away from her and seemed almost in awe of the vision that stood before him, accepting him as her husband. Emotion choked his voice as he bound himself to her and took her as his wife. Hopefully no one noticed the tears that clouded my own vision on this wondrous occasion.

I remained in Minas Tirith a few days after the wedding, spending time with Elessar and Imrahil. I saw Lothiriel and her brothers occasionally. Imrahil told me that Queen Arwen had requested that Lothiriel remain there a month to assist her, but in truth it was a roundabout way of making Lothiriel available to Eowyn while she made the adjustment to married life and a new home in Gondor. Eowyn might have objected to such a thing if asked, so the Queen arranged it under a different guise. I was grateful for the consideration of my sister. Lothiriel was the one person in Gondor she was most comfortable with, and I was certain this would make the transition easier for her.

xxxxx

And then I was back in Edoras…alone. The halls of Meduseld seemed cold and empty without Eowyn and I missed her greatly. Had not the winter snows already begun, making travel through the mountains almost impossible, I would probably have shown up on her doorstep for a visit. As it was, I had to wait until the spring thaw made travel feasible once more. Coincidentally, Prince Imrahil invited me to make a visit to Dol Amroth. I had never been there, or had occasion to see the sea firsthand, so I thought I could add that as a reason to go to Gondor.

By mid-March, I departed Edoras with a party of twelve men and we made our way to Eowyn's new home in Ithilien. It had not been complete at the time of her wedding, so I wasn't able to see it then, but now it was mostly finished and she and Faramir had moved in at the first of March. There were still finishing touches to be done and furnishings to be added, but they were too anxious to be in their own home to wait any longer.

I had to admit, the location was impressive, and the view from their front door looked out over the valley below, the Anduin and even Minas Tirith could be seen faintly in the distance. The vegetation of Ithilien was far thicker and lush than what we had in Rohan, and already spring buds and flowers were beginning to appear as the result of some warm days. The nights still remained cold and wintry, but clearly spring was on its way.

After warmly greeting us, Eowyn showed me her home, dragging me from room to room like a child with a new toy. Her excitement was contagious and I found myself grinning almost as broadly as she was. Faramir trailed along behind us, clearly pleased with his wife's enthusiasm and my obvious approval.

We spent the next few days catching up on news and riding out so Eowyn and Faramir could show me the surrounding area. I knew Faramir had come to love this place while stationed here as a Ranger, and I could readily see why it had captivated him. Were I not so tied to Rohan, I might be tempted to venture here and make a place for myself.

The day before I was to leave and continue on to Dol Amroth, Eowyn surprised us with an announcement at dinner. I'd had the feeling she was keeping a secret, and could barely contain herself with it, and now it became evident why. She had learned from the Healer, before leaving Minas Tirith, that she was with child and she took this opportunity to share her joy with us.

Though Faramir expressed surprise and delight, I got the distinct impression this was not such unexpected news as he made it seem. But, then, Faramir had always been very astute, and likely he had guessed despite Eowyn thinking she had carefully kept it secret.

I was overwhelmed at the prospect of being an uncle. It seemed only yesterday that my thoughts were consumed with war and survival, and the chance that such a day as this would ever come was looking very remote. At this moment, life was good.

As much as I was looking forward to seeing Imrahil and his family again, I was sad to part from Eowyn and Faramir the next day. They made me promise to return when the baby was born. And so we turned south for Dol Amroth. Of the men with me, only two had ever been to the coast before, so this was a new adventure for them as well. The two who had seen the sea previously told us what they could remember of it, their visits having been in their younger days.

At last we rode into the outskirts of Dol Amroth and spotted the city in the distance. Like Minas Tirith, much of it was built with white stone and so it glimmered in the afternoon sun. We were startled by the sound of birds screeching and crying above us, and one of the men remembered that they were called gulls and were found near the seashore.

We drew near the city, and a party of three riders came out to meet us and escort us to the Prince's house. A sentinel had been watching for our arrival since midday. My escort was settled into quarters for the duration of the visit and I was taken to meet with Imrahil, who welcomed me affably. It was good to see him again, and I had many questions stored up to ask him.

The rest of his family didn't put in appearance until dinner, and I finally had a chance to meet Erchirion, his middle son. The atmosphere here was casual and relaxed, and I felt as if I was at home with my own family rather than a guest in a neighboring country and fiefdom. It felt good to just be myself behind closed doors. We talked and drank long into the night, catching up on our lives since last we had seen one another.

I thought something looked different about Lothiriel, but I couldn't quite place what it was. Finally, when I could safely do so, I asked Amrothos. He told me it was probably her hair that I was noticing. While she was in Minas Tirith after Eowyn's wedding, Queen Arwen had suggested wearing it differently, and Lothiriel had liked the style enough to continue with it. She had also had some new dresses made, which Amrothos felt looked better on her than the ones made here.

"I like her hair much better than the way she used to wear it," Amrothos confided.

I nodded, though I confessed that I really didn't remember exactly how she had worn it before. But somehow this new style did seem to suit her better.

The next day, Imrahil had a council meeting in the morning, so at breakfast Lothiriel volunteered to show me around the city, if I was interested and, when I agreed, Amrothos elected to join us. I enjoyed the simplicity of just walking about and seeing the sights. Dol Amroth wasn't nearly so extensive as Minas Tirith, and I found I preferred this smaller city.

We had been wandering nearly an hour when we entered a shop so I could purchase a gift for Eowyn in honor of her good news. As I browsed, trying to decide what to get, I noticed Amrothos out of the corner of my eye engaging the pretty clerk in conversation. Lothiriel caught me watching them and said softly, "Do not be surprised if we lose him for the rest of our walk through town. He has been interested in Dariel for quite some time!"

As she predicted, when I made my purchase and we were ready to leave, Amrothos gave an excuse not to continue with us and remained there. When we stepped back into the street, Lothiriel asked, "What next, my lord? We have seen most of the town and I do not think browsing in the shops particularly interests you. What would you see next?"

"Please, call me Eomer," I responded. " 'My lord' seems too formal for such an occasion. And I would very much like to see the sea."

She smiled and responded, "The sea it is, then, Eomer. And, please, call me Lothiriel, or Thiri."

Our path turned downhill and she led me first to the docks, where I wandered about in amazement as she explained the various purposes of the different types of ships. When I'd had my fill of that, she caught me by the arm and led me off the paved path, down a sloping hill to a broad sandy beach. "The sea," she said simply, gesturing toward the vast body of water before me. I stood gazing at it, overwhelmed by the immensity of it. But it was beautiful, and the sound and smell of it were nothing like I expected. The only water I was familiar with was in rivers and streams and had not the impact of this. The waves rolling in to break on the shore were endlessly fascinating.

I became aware that Lothiriel had seated herself on a rock and was removing her shoes. I gave her a questioning look and when she saw it, she explained, "It is easier to walk in the sand barefoot than with shoes on." I hesitated only an instant, then took a seat and pulled off my boots and socks.

I was not expecting sand to feel as it did. I don't think I had walked barefoot outdoors since I was a boy. We stashed our footwear safely among the rocks and she had me turn up the legs of my pants. I wasn't sure why until she led me down closer to the water and we were having to dodge the breakers that rolled up on the shore. She had me stand still and let the water carry the sand away, out from under my feet – a unique sensation.

We strolled along the beach and she showed me shells and seaweed and other things normal to the seashore. Finally, she looked at me and asked, "So, would you stay longer, or are you ready to go back and eat? It is almost midday."

I looked at her in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"The sun. I know where it is in the sky around midday at this time of year."

Of course. It should have occurred to me. How did anyone tell time but for the sky. Still, for some reason, her answer surprised me. Perhaps I had not realized that women in the city would have reason to learn such things, but it was ridiculous to think they wouldn't need to keep track of the time. I agreed to return to the palace and we made our way back and put our shoes and boots back on.

After we ate, I didn't see Lothiriel the rest of the afternoon since her father was out of meetings and we sat down to discuss my questions. That evening, Imrahil had put together a fairly small gathering of nobles in honor of my visit. It was a pleasant evening of food, drink and conversation.

As we dispersed afterwards, I said goodnight to Imrahil and went to my room, but once there I did not yet feel tired, so I slipped out to visit one of the gardens that decorated the castle, as they did in Minas Tirith. I found a secluded spot with a bench and lay on my back just watching the stars in the night sky. I had been there only a few minutes when I heard voices approaching. I remained silent, hoping whoever was coming would pass on and leave me in peace, but they stopped not too far away, behind a decorative hedge.

With a start, I realized one of the voices belonged to Lothiriel, but I could not place her companion. They talked of inconsequential things, but then the man blurted out, "Lothiriel, please let me go to your father and ask for your hand. Why do you hesitate?"

She gave a sigh and responded, "Mordren, I have told you – I am not in love with you. I do not wish to marry a man that I do not love."

I was feeling decidedly uncomfortable now, eavesdropping on such an intimate conversation, though I was surprised at the direction it had taken. I would never have expected Lothiriel to pass up an offer of marriage, but at the thought I chided myself. That was unfair and unkind. Why should she marry someone she didn't love?

Mordren wasn't ready to give up and pressed his point. "In time you could come to love me, and it is a good match. My family has long been associated with the ruling family of Dol Amroth."

I heard some scuffling around and then she said, "Mordren, don't! Have I not made it clear that I am not interested in you romantically? I do not want to kiss you and I do not want to marry you. I am sorry – you are a fine man, but you are not the right person for me." So, he had tried to kiss her…

His next words angered me. "Do you think there will be many more offers, Lothiriel? You may be the Prince's daughter, but not every man will take a plain wife. As you get older, there will be fewer and fewer willing to consider you. You cannot afford to be so choosy."

In the absence of her brothers to do the honors, I was ready to throttle the man – how dare he say such a thing to her! But, as usual, Lothiriel conducted herself admirably. Quietly she told him, "I think we are finished with this discussion, Mordren. Do not seek my company again. Perhaps I cannot afford to be 'choosy', as you say, but I would rather remain unmarried than marry a man I neither love nor respect." The implication of the last word was clear, and even Mordren got her point.

"Good evening, Lothiriel," he replied stiffly.

But she corrected him. "That is Lady Lothiriel to you, my lord."

I silently applauded her conduct as I heard the man walk quickly away. Good for her. She didn't need to align herself with such an oaf anyway. By now, I was sitting up on the bench and could just barely see Lothiriel through the thinner top branches of the hedge. She raised a hand to her face and in the moonlight, I saw her wipe away tears. I was incensed that the man had hurt her like that, and then in a flash of self-realization, I understood that I was no better than he. I, too, would have expected her to take any marriage offer she could get, whether she loved or not, for fear of no other offers. I, too, believed her plainness would deter her having many suitors. I had never really thought she could afford to wait for love before accepting a proposal of marriage. I would never have told her that, but in thinking it I could not truly place myself above Mordren. That realization made me ashamed, and saddened that in all likelihood it was too true. Why wouldn't plain, or even unattractive, women wish to be loved just like anyone else?

I lay back down on the bench and thought how unfair life was sometimes to those who least deserved to be punished.

xxxxx

As we ate, the next morning, I could discern no sign on Lothiriel's face of the events that had transpired the night before. Whatever she might be feeling, she had hidden it deep inside and her countenance was its usual calm and collected façade. For the rest of my visit, I felt awkward in her presence. I wanted to tell her that Mordren didn't know what he was talking about, but I couldn't. The truth was, I believed he was correct. How could I console her if I shared the same opinion that had wounded her?

If she sensed my discomfiture, she never gave any indication. She was unfailingly pleasant and accommodating for the duration of my stay. Indeed, I was beginning to feel so guilty about my thoughts in the face of such graciousness, that it was a relief when we finally departed for home. This first visit to Dol Amroth had not turned out at all like I envisioned it.