The next morning everyone got up bright and early, there was much to do and no time to waste. Lothiriel was at the head of the operation making sure everything was running smoothly, the hall was being prepared, the servants were doing what they were supposed to, and that every guest was happy. She appointed Gilmith, along with Elwing and an assembly of servants, to be in charge of the decorations, such as the centerpieces for the tables. Cleofa took Gilraen and Ivorwen with her as her dress got its final alterations, wanting their opinions on how it looked. Elfwine was also doing a final fitting and had Elboron with him for company. Eowyn focused on organizing the kitchens, making sure there was enough firewood for the stoves and enough food for all the guests. Arwen was also helping Lothiriel with said guests, especially since even more were coming into Edoras today. The most important of those guests being Lothiriel's side of the family from Dol Amroth – her brothers Elphir, Erchirion, Amrothos, their wives, and children. The rest of the men were out and about the city, making sure that the travelers were making their way in safely and collecting gifts from the citizens.
Thengel and Eldarion entered the hall carrying with them several gifts that they had collected and placed them on the designated gift table. Before they went out again, though, Lothiriel stopped them.
"Boys, could you do me a favor and check on your sisters. They're out in the field collecting flowers for the decorations. I'm sure they're safe since they haven't gone far, but I would feel better if you kept an eye on them for a little while."
"Of course mother, no problem we'll go right now," answered Thengel as Eldarion nodded in consent.
The princes soon found themselves in a vast field of flowers and other vegetation. The women were scattered about carrying large baskets that were quickly being filled with said flora. Thengel spotted their sisters off to the right both on their knees at the moment gently picking the flowers around them. Gilmith's brother then called out to them and headed over. Elwing stood up and waved while Gilmith sat back on her heels and smiled slightly.
"You two seem to be keeping busy," stated Eldarion.
"We certainly are!" exclaimed Elwing, "There are so many beautiful flowers here; I can't wait to start arranging them!"
"It seems they picked the perfect job for you today, I look forward to seeing what you ladies come up with," the prince smiled.
"Why have you come to visit us?" asked Gilmith as she stood.
"Mother was worried," explained Thengel, and Gilmith nodded knowingly. Their mother could be a worry-wart every once and awhile, no doubt an effect of the War and the various battles Eomer had to fight afterwards.
"So we get to bother you for a little while if that's all right," he tugged on his sister's hair causing her to slap his hand away. Elwing and Eldarion laughed at their display of sibling rivalry.
"Just stay out of trouble," warned Gilmith.
"Yes, mama," teased Thengel as he wandered away to converse and flirt with the other women there.
As the princesses returned to work, Eldarion lingered a little longer to watch.
"You certainly are picking a lot. What are they all going to be used for?"
"Well," Elwing started, "many will be for the centerpieces, while others will be for decorating the guestrooms, and we'll also be making chains to wrap around the pillars in hall, oh and we'll be using the pedals which will be thrown from the roof after the ceremony."
"I guess you do need a lot then," Eldarion chuckled, "Wait, Elwing, since when can you make flower chains?" he asked suddenly.
"Oh, I can't, but Gilmith taught me how!"
"Oh, really?" Eldarion then glanced at the other princess.
"Yes, it's really not that difficult," Gilmith said not looking up from her work.
"Well I think I've picked most of the good ones from here. I'm going to help the ladies over yonder, their baskets seem fairly full and I still have an empty one," Elwing proclaimed as she gathered her things, "Protect Gilmith with your life Eldarion," she said with mock seriousness before she headed off.
"You have my word," Eldarion replied with the same seriousness causing Gilmith to giggle, "Will you teach me?" Eldarion inquired.
"Teach you … how to make flower chains?" the prince nodded, "I wouldn't have thought you'd be interested in such a thing."
"I'm always willing to learn something new. You never know it might come in handy," they both shared a laugh.
Gilmith then took a few flowers from her basket and began to cut the stems to about four inches in length. Eldarion, meanwhile, knelt down in front of her to get a better look unbeknownst to Gilmith who was focusing on the flowers in her hands. The prince continually inched closer to her, too, so he could see the way she strung the flowers together through their stems.
"You see," she nearly jumped out of her skin when she looked up and saw two bright blues eyes staring straight back at her, quickly regaining her wits she continued, "It's rather simple, just make a slit in the stem of one flower and pull the stem of another through it," she tried to make it sound like she wasn't nervous, but the slight blush on her face said otherwise.
Why was she so nervous? Why did Eldarion do this to her? She barely knew him or even spoke to him. He was very handsome, but she had dealt with handsome young men before, why was he different?
"Can I try?" he smiled at her and held out his hands making her stomach leap and her blood rush.
All she could do was nod and gently hand him a few flowers. She then sat there stupidly watching as his larger hands fumbled with the delicate flowers. Seeing the frustration in his face Gilmith suddenly got enough courage to help him.
"Take your time a-and be gentle," she stuttered slightly. As he continued to have trouble, Gilmith suddenly took his hands and guided him through the steps, blushing all the while.
"It's not as easy as it looks," he commented with a small laugh. He watch as her hands guided his suddenly wondering how her hands could be so soft. The thought caught him off guard, why was he wondering that? He glanced at her pink tinted face and couldn't help but smile. She really did blush a lot but he had to admit it was kind of cute.
He had met many women in his life, both timid and out-going, but there was something about this one that had, for whatever reason, caught his attention. They called her shy but that wasn't the right word. He had met shy women, the kind that could hardly say two words to him or simply avoided him for fear of rejection. Gilmith wasn't like that she was willing to talk, but only when necessary. And look at her now, in a dirty field collecting flowers along with the servants, and later to be in charge of decorating an entire hall. No woman in Gondor would even consider it! Eldarion concluded that there were more sides to this woman than he originally thought.
"You just need some practice," Gilmith said finally letting go of his hands, "Your sister got it on the first try though," she smirked.
The prince's head jerked up at the statement surprised that she would make such a jest. He then laughed making Gilmith laugh too.
"Did she now? Well that doesn't surprise me. I guess I'm just no good then huh?" he frowned making his voice sound depressed.
"You are utterly useless to us!" the princess stated haughtily but continued to smile.
"Maybe when it comes to making flower chains my lady, but am I not doing a good job in protecting you this day?" he asked still trying to make a chain for himself.
"A true guard would be securing the perimeter, not wasting his time flirting with ladies," she glanced and gestured at her brother, "or trying to master the art of flower arrangements."
"I guess I really am no good," said the prince dejectedly.
"But I must say you seem to be getting the hang of it," she laughed pointing out that, indeed, Eldarion's chain was growing at a quicker pace, "See? You just needed some practice- what are you doing?" she suddenly asked seeing that instead of continuing his chain he began to connect the two ends.
"For my teacher," he proclaimed placing the, now, flower crown on her head. Gilmith blushed.
"Oh, um, thank you 'Dari," she gingerly adjusted the crown so it sat more securely on her head.
"You're very welcome; I figured it would look better on you than on me anyway."
"Would you look at that?" whispered a servant girl to her friend. Elwing's ears perked up at the comment and she casually glanced in the direction that the other two women were looking. Her eyes grew wide with surprise but she smiled nonetheless. She happened to catch her dear big brother placing the crown on Gilmith's head. Eldarion's face was so sweet and his eyes were so soft, she had never seen him look at any girl like that. Well, well, she thought, it seems they've formed an attachment; this could be a very interesting week.