After spending four weeks in the city, Lothíriel found for the first time she was not relieved to leave the city. She was proud. In the time she had spent in the white city, Lothíriel had seen the strength of Gondor returned. She saw a wise and noble king with fair and experienced advisors.

Back in Dol Amroth she sighed as her family talked of a new trip. The wedding of her cousin in Edoras. They were invited to the nuptials in Edoras, but the family wasn't sure if they should go or wait and visit the couple when they return to Ithilien. Lothíriel was careful not the voice an opinion on the subject. But every time the subject came up she was reminded of the conversation she had with Arwen before leaving the white city.

"And now you are ready to return home," Arwen answered her thoughts.

Lothíriel nodded. "Peace is coming to the lands. I have done what was required of me and now I entrust Gondor to you and your King."

Arwen stepped into her path. "Lothíriel of Dol Amroth, you have done much more than was required of you. You gave all you could for your people, but I fear peace will not sooth your spirit."

"Don't let the stone overcome you." Lothíriel advised remembering her mother's sad fate. "Be happy here. Return love and laughter to a kingdom in sad need of happiness."

"I had a vision of my son and his father. I can promise you there will be happiness again." Arwen touched the stone at her breast. Her thoughts far from her. Lothíriel mirrored her gesture. It was strange how she still found herself surprised to feel her mother's necklace around her neck. In the time she had lent it she felt it was still with her. Now that it had been returned it felt as though it was missing.

"When do you leave?" Arwen's voice pulled her from her revelry.

Lothíriel looked out the window. "Just after sunrise."

"Soon then," Arwen smiled as if she knew something the mortal princess did not. "You'll return for Faramir's wedding."

"Faramir will wed in Edoras and travel thence to his seat." Lothíriel nodded. "I'll travel with my father either to Edoras or to Ithilien."

Arwen nodded. "I shall see you again."

"Of course, my lady," Lothíriel stood and knelt before Arwen. "May I ask something of you?"

Taking her hands, Arwen lead the younger princess to the seats beside the lightening window. "The loss you feel might fade. But it might not. What do you want, Lothíriel?"

"We can't have what we want, my lady." Lothíriel looked out the window the dawning light was just touching the grass of the fields. "I fear there have been too many changes in our time for any of us to truly be happy. But I thought being released of my responsibility would bring happiness. Selfish, I know, but I feel like leaving the responsibility has made me too light, like I might float away."

Silence stretched. Finally Arwen spoke. "You'll always be welcome and needed here. But I think you'll find your talents will be far more useful than you realize. I wish you only the best."

"Thank you, my lady." Lothíriel nodded and rose to her feet. "I wish you best as well, but more than that I wish you and Gondor be the best for each other."

At dinner when the topic came up again, Lothíriel slipped out early. She passed into the stable and found Cúben humming softly to herself. Cúben's easy touch calmed the skittish horse in her care. She had taught Lothíriel how to gain the trust of her own horse. "Can't these chores wait for morning?" Lothíriel interrupted Cúben's peace.

"If it were a chore, I suppose it could. But I found myself in need of quiet and there is no better place I could think of. I think these animals take more care of me than I do of them." Cúben responded returning to brushing the horse's coat. "This is Rhawon." Cúben introduced her to the caramel colored animal under her care.

Lothíriel meet Rhawon's gaze and saw the barely contained anger in his depths. "There is a war within him."

Nodded Cúben sighed, "Your father has agreed to let me care for him. We'll see if the war can be won. Nothing is certain, Lothíriel. Nothing in this life." Turning Cúben whispered to Rhawon and the horse settled himself in his stall. "Did you come for a ride? Or is there a deeper cause for you forsaking shelter at this time of night?"

"I could ask the same of you." Lothíriel tried to distract her father's guard.

"Well, you know my distracted thoughts." Cúben inclined her head. "I find it easier to make sense of things when my hands are occupied. And now you?"

"I wish my family could make a decision. On every subject they discuss the situation to death." Lothíriel let her frustration fuel her response. She stopped when Cúben nodded and ducked her head to hide her smile. She leveled a look at the guard. "What?"

Cúben chuckled softly. "What do you fear more? Going to Edoras? Or not seeing him again?" Lothíriel made an impatient gesture. "Your brother talks much more then is necessary." Cúben glanced at Lothíriel as she gathered her tools. "He implied you and the Rohan King were both angry and friendly with each other. I can only think of one situation in which that would be the case."

Closing Rhawon's stall, Cúben settled her full attention on Lothíriel for a moment. "I'm not used to fear upon you. What is it you are thinking of?"

"I am not afraid. Or perhaps I'm afraid of both. I don't know what I want. Except I do know that I wish they would decide." Lothíriel admitted. She knew speaking so directly in front of Cúben would not be a misplaced trust. Her father's guard was her family's most faithful guardian. Though Lothíriel would admit, her father had given Cúben a great reason to be so loyal.

The sentry's signal rang across the yard. Cúben's expression narrowed. "I had not realized how late it had become." She seemed bothered, but Lothíriel was used to Cúben's moods. "I need to check on the watch. Will you be in need of further counsel?"

"I'll seek you out, if I need more brutal honesty. Thank you, Cúben." Lothíriel nodded as the guard slipped away. Once Cúben had gone, she smiled to herself. "If we head for Edoras, I'm going to tell father to bring you." She knew Cúben and her sister's hadn't left Dol Amroth since their arrival, but with the death of the steward, for the first time it was conceivable that they might be able to leave the protection of the prince and live lives beyond.

As far as Lothíriel knew Cúben had never complained about staying in Dol Amroth under Prince Imrahil's protection. But Lothíriel had the feeling that even their beautiful home could feel like a prison if one could never leave.

~x~

For the first time, Éomer wished that more of his marshals were married. Instead he was forced to watch as his sister tried to handle the wedding arrangements alone. He offered as much aid as he could provide, but he knew he was little help.

So it was in private that Éomer asked Elfhelm, "I need counsel. I know Éowyn needs help. More than I can get for her."

Glancing at Éomer, Elfhelm nodded his head slowly. "I think you can help." Elfhelm looked at his king as if weighing his words. "You promised the young Prince of Dol Amroth a visit to Edoras. Invite his aunt along; ask her to help your sister." Éomer began to object, but his marshal continued without acknowledging him. "I know she might have different traditions, but she's near in age to Éowyn and it'll be her cousin's wedding. She'll guarantee its success."

"Why do you have such a high opinion of the Dol Amroth's Princess?" Éomer looked closely at Elfhelm. Of his marshal's Elfhelm was the most outspoken. He was not afraid to share his opinion with the king.

Elfhelm smiled and chuckled quietly. "She ensured Aragorn's wedding succeeded and she isn't related to him. And I think there were a few more objections to that match." Sobering, the marshal looked out over Edoras. "What keeps you from reaching out to your allies for aid?"

Scoffing Éomer mirrored Elfhelm's posture. "Aid I can call for, but assistance for a wedding seems trivial."

"Did the wedding in Minas Tirith seem trivial to you? To the people of Gondor?" Elfhelm didn't look at him, but Éomer could imagine his satisfied expression.

At length Éomer nodded, "Pick your men. We'll send a correspondence to Dol Amroth."

Clearing his throat, Elfhelm turned from the city. "I best get to work on that presently."

Éomer waited until Elfhelm left. As he watched his marshal's retreating figure, he thought on Elfhelm's words. Why hadn't he considered reaching out to Imrahil? Why had he instead approached his marshal? Why did Elfhelm have to say the words in order for Éomer to consider them?

"Lost thoughts?" a soft voice called and Éomer turned to find his sister's smiling face. Her smile faltered a second as she took in his expression. Reaching out, she touched his arm. "What's wrong?"

Returning his sister's smile, Éomer shook his head. "I'm sending riders to Dol Amroth."

"Because you promised the boy?" Éowyn nodded then smiled. "But why do you look so unsettled about it?"

"Don't be mad?" he asked her. "I'm requesting that Princess Lothíriel come with her nephew. I'm hoping she'll be able to help you with the wedding preparations." Éomer tried to keep his expression neutral.

But Éowyn smiled, showing him that he didn't succeed. "You were worried," she told him. "You were worried about me. So you're sending for an ally."

"An ally for you," Éomer told his sister, emphasizing that this was only for her. He wasn't ready to admit that the calling the princess would help him, would help Rohan. The wedding in Gondor had done the country a world of good. But he had no way of knowing it the same would be true of a wedding in Rohan.

As if she sensed his thoughts Éowyn smiled at her brother and hugged him.