June 3019

Imrahil was bent over his desk surveying various papers and edicts that were being accomplished across Gondor. The prince had been in the Kings study all day helping complete the final preparations for his wedding the next day. Every dignitary in the city had their own responsibilities to fulfil and Imrahil was in charge of musicians. The harpists of Dol Amroth were renowned throughout the western kingdom for their beautiful melodies and rousing music; however they had only ever performed for the sovereigns on Dol Amroth and were being presented as his gift to the newlywed couple. He was signing the last of the papers for that evening when there came a knock at the door,

"Enter" he commanded

"My Lord, may I beg a word with you?"

Guradan stood in the doorway waiting to be addressed. In the past months whilst his liege had been residing in Gondor, the formal advisor had been kept exceptionally busy with various tasks and duties laid out not only by Imrahil, but also on the orders of Aragorn and newly appointed Prince of Ithilien; Faramir. As the latter two of the three rulers had been in power only a matter of weeks, they had yet to assemble their own counsels and were borrowing the uses of Imrahils aide – to which the prince minded not- and the pompous man was beginning to look drained.

"Ah Guradan what news?"

Imrahil turned from the table and rest his weary back against his chair, he rubbed his brow that was lined with fatigue and watched his advisor with as much enthusiasm as he could muster in his tired state. It had been several weeks since he last saw Guradan and was eager to hear updates.

"There is one thing I have to report sire, but I fear it goes not as you wished." The man spoke gravely.

The exhausted prince lowered his palm from his head and looked more seriously at his aide,

"What do you know?"

"I understood my lord, that you and the crown prince were eager to find a match for your daughter within the lands of Gondor. However, I believe that eyes have been fixed upon the princess from far beyond our borders."

Imrahil appeared concerned and raised his head towards Guradan in instruction for him to continue,

"I have it on good authority your highness that the King of Rohan wishes to pursue the hand of the princess Lothiriel."

The prince did not know whether to be delighted or alarmed. His wish and design until this point indeed, was for his daughter to wed a man that could bring her a fruitful life and protect her till the end of her days in Gondor. He had never thought that a potential suitor and eventual union would mean she would be taken far from her homeland. Whilst he knew the young King of Rohan was a strong king and would give his daughter everything she ever needed, want or desired; he was unsure whether he approved of the match.

"How do you know this?" he probed.

"My lord after you asked me to prepare the voyage to Ithilien, I happened across an encounter between the King and your daughter. It was the night of the coronation where I saw the King engaged with your daughter, without proper chaperone; and during the celebrations he was heard expressing his compliments of her beauty."

"With no chaperon?" he interrogated, "Where was her companion?"

"I believe Lady Meldis was accompanying her at first, but the King waylaid her to speak, how would you say; more privately." He lied.

Imrahil looked appalled, both at the Kings conduct but at his daughter's easy acceptance of his behaviour. He knew that Rohirric customs were different to those of Dol Amroth and indeed Gondor, but could not believe they differed so that they may smear his daughter's honour.

The official stared blankly at his superior and expressed no confession of his lies either in words or on his face. He did not speak falsely out of malice, but through poor judgement, believing it was what the prince wanted to hear. He also assumed selfishly, that if the prince allowed a match with his daughter and the King, then he would be sent with her to Rohan and thus have the ear of the King and further his ambition as royal counsel.

"Does Eomer intend to make his affections known?" the prince pressed.

"That I am unaware sire. Though I did wonder; during the celebrations there might be a moment for you to speak with him. Shall I arrange it?" Gûradan asked hopefully.

Imrahil considered this for a moment and gave a simple answer, "Yes."

o0o

Lothiriel stood in her room the following morning and surveyed the reflection before her. Dressed in a pale silk a velvet gown she furrowed her brow at the crease in her skirt. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the fold and finally admitted defeat when she remembered that most of the day would be spent seated and she could hide the flaw from prying eyes underneath the feast table.

Meldis had finished the look with a loose hair design that she was told it resembled those that the new Queen was "fond of". The princess was unsure if that was true but was not opposed to the pure appearance it gave. Her mother's circlet once again took pride of place on top her ebony locks and she smiled at the decoration, believing that in some way her mother was with her in spirit whenever she wore it.

As Lothiriel took one final glance at her clothing she left her room and walked the corridors towards the courtyard where her family were waiting. There were many different people moving in the same direction as she, all with the same purpose of attending the ceremony of their King and his Queen. As she took the final corner before exiting through the main door, Lothiriel spotted her father in conversation with his advisor. Unwilling normally to interrupt their conversation, but knowing how lengthy the official could speak for, she thought better to disturb them to ensure they were not late for the occasion.

"Father, would you escort me out to the ceremony?" she beamed at him.

Imrahil turned his head toward his daughter, taken by surprise he faced her full on.

"My daughter, how beautiful you look. I believe you may be held higher today than any other."

"You have to say that." She mocked

"On any other day I would most likely agree with you. But today I truly mean it. I would be delighted to escort you."

He held out his arm, offering it to her and Lothiriel took is graciously.