Éomer woke up from a commotion outside the door.
'They can't very well sleep all day, now can they?' it was Uli's exasperated voice.
'The King and Queen are not to be disturbed. That applies to you as well, lady Uli.' the attendant chastised.
'But when WILL they wake up then. They have to eat sooner or later.'
'I shall notify you if you so wish, but off with you now. If you so much as think of it, I will have Éomer King put you on shoveling dung until mid summer.'
He opened his eyes only to find Lothíriel looking down on him. She was leaning on her elbow. Her rosy cheeks and tousled hair made her look quite different than what he was used to. The smile she flashed when she met his eyes also seemed different. Almost catlike, Éomer thought. Like the expression of the stable cat that had caught her mouse, feasted on it and now stretched out in the sun spot, as if it was a field of victory.
Éomer groaned at Uli's antics outside and Lothíriel chuckled.
'Shoveling dung would be a favor, she deserves far worse than that.' he said while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
'Good morning husband.' Lothíriel said and leaned over to kiss him. 'She's right though, we must eat.. but we could make it later.'
Her hand slipped in under the pelt and found his skin. It trailed upward, fingers combing through the hair on his chest. He took her hand and kissed it before sitting up.
'Aye. We have slept well into the day. Perhaps we better see to our house.'
'Don't we have people for that?' Lothíriel said and snaked her arms around his waist where he sat on the edge of the bed.
He turned around and grabbed her neck to place a kiss upon her head.
'If you thought a life as queen of the Mark would imply lying in bed all day, I'm afraid you were mistaken, beautiful one.' He rose and pulled his shirt over his head..
Her disappointment was not so easily hid, yet she tried. She swung her legs over the edge and sat up. Éomer felt bad. He should share her feelings. Looking at her bare back he would lie to himself if he claimed he felt no temptation. Yet last night had been enough for him, for now. She had been as lovely as he remembered her. She was soft and warm, and she loved him. Yet his lust for her did not stem from his heart and he held no hunger for more. He remembered all to well what real passion felt like. It was a hunger that could never be satisfied. He remembered how his mind had blurred out anything but the woman he so desperately desired. The only hunger he felt now was for a good piece of bread and some tea with sweet honey.
He rounded the bed and crouched before her. He caressed her cheek and then let his hand rest on her rounded belly.
'A son of Éorl must feed to grow strong. I will not let you starve my heir in favor of your urges, my sweet lady Queen. Dress yourself and then join me for a bite. I better go see what that little loud mouth wanted as well.' he raised his eyebrows as to ask for her agreement.
She smiled at him.
'You are right. But please don't call it urges, love.' she chuckled. 'That sounds like something you men suffer from.'
'Oh, and womenfolk do not?'
'No.' she said in a knowing way. 'We may have need, wants.. desires. But not urges. That's for men and horses.'
'Perhaps the fancy ladies of your homeland..' he said with a grin and rose to leave the room.
'What do you mean by that?' Lothíriel called after him. 'What would you know about the matter?'
He laughed only in response, mighty glad that he was walking out of that conversation.
'Now this is a morning meal fit for a king!' Éomer exclaimed as he lay eyes on the set table. It looked as the tables had during the wedding feast. By the table sat Uli. Slumped in her seat, not looking at him and busying herself with nibbling on a piece of bread.
'Aye sir,' the kitchen maid curtsied. 'There is still plenty were that came from. The kitchen is still full of meat, bread, fruit and cheese since yesterday.'
He sat down.
'We shall not have time to eat it all until it rotten and goes to waste. Will you see to that the houses down the hill also enjoys what is left. Whatever we cannot eat in this hall, offer it to them.'
'As you wish, Éomer King.' and as the girl left, Lothíriel emerged and joined him at the table.
Both Éomer and his wife glanced at Uli, but she did not look at them and she said nothing so they returned the favor. Éomer and Lothírel made small talk while they ate and Uli kept ignoring them. Soon they noticed that she was done with her meal and they fell silent.
'Uli..' Éomer said at last. 'Did I hear you outside our chamber earlier? Was there something you wanted?'
The girl shifted in her seat and when she brought her mug of tea to her lips, Éomer noticed that her hand was quivering. She took a sip and then put it back down.
'I..' she said though it was barely more than a whisper. 'I wanted to ask your forgiveness...'
Lothíriel's lips curved into a soft smile.
'My forgiveness. What for?' Éomer said whereas his wife's soft smile swiftly changed into a glare.
'For yesterday...' Uli said.
'I've been thinking about you Uli.' he said. 'It seems you have too much time on your hands. I thought I kept you busy with Earen, and with the horses. Yet you seem to find the time to get into all sorts of trouble, don't you? Perhaps it is time for you to actually become a shield maiden?'
Lothíriel's eyebrows shot up and he saw very little appreciation. He might have been wise bringing this up with her beforehand, but now it was too late. Uli on the other hand stared at him in disbelief.
'One does not simply become a warrior. It takes time, lots of practice and even more patience. I shall find you a good swordsman to train with, let's start there, shall we?'
'Do you mean that?' Uli stammered.
'Yes. That was why you came and I believe I have kept you from it for long enough.'
Uli sprung out of her seat and threw herself at him. He had to save a mug that was close to topple into his knee from her flailing arms.
'Thank you.' she said. 'Thank you!'
'Although,' he interrupted and took a steady hold of the girls arms to make her look at him.
'I do appreciate your apology, but I do not believe I am the one you should apologize to.'
'Oh..' she said and looked away.
'Yes. If you want to become a rider of Rohan, I suggest you begin with doing the honorable thing. I shall take you to the captain once I have finished my meal. Wait for me.'
'I will.' Uli said but her head sloped between her shoulders as she walked away, dragging her feet. One did not have to be particularly perceptive to know her true feelings on the matter.
'A warrior?' Lothíriel said once the girl was out of earshot.
'She will become no warrior, do not worry yourself.' Éomer said.
'Have you learned nothing of the girl? I am trying my best to educate her and you will turn her into, what? One of your Éored?'
'That girl will not soon become one, but I believe the discipline required will do her good. Besides, like I said, she will have much less time to get into trouble. And was she to find the time, she will be far too tired for any adventures.' he wiped his mouth on a cloth and rose. He squeezed Lothíriel's shoulder. 'Trust me, my queen. I'm going to wear her out to the point where she begs for you to teach her needlework.'
'Éothain! Open you door!' Éomer stood outside his captains quarters with a firm hand on Uli's back. The girl had stared at the ground all the way from Meduseld, she had not spoken a word to him.
The locks rattled on the inside and soon the door opened up. His captain must have rolled out of bed at the sound of his banging. His hair was a mess and his shirt unlaced and crooked, he had likely pulled it over his head as he came to the door.
'Éomer King. What can I do for you?'
'Uli had something she wanted to say.' an awkward silence followed as Éothain stroke his hair behind his ears and tried to wake himself up further.
'I'm sorry for yesterday, Captain Éothain. It will never happen again.' she then immediately turned to Éomer. 'May I go now.' he said nothing but released his grip and the girl wasted no time before she was off back up the hill.
'Éomer King I..' Éothain began but Éomer raised a hand to silence him.
'You need not Éothain. I know her, I know it was not you intention. Please, pardon her.'
Éothain stepped aside to let him in. The captain's quarters were not much more than a room really. At least he had the luxury of a room to himself. On the upper floor, accessed by a stairway on the side of the building, four or perhaps even six unmarried riders would share the space.
'You know I am grateful that you kept an eye on her yesterday.'
'Yes, a bloody good job I did of it.'
Éomer laughed.
'You looked quite flustered as you left.' he said but his captain was not amused.
'Pardon me for asking, my friend. But why have you taken to this girl? She is, well she definitely seems a handful.'
'That she is brother, that she is. And I don't know, but I cannot send her away. She belongs here now. Or could you see her in Gondor? In the royal courts or among common folk, I believe she is better off here.'
'Perhaps you are right. The Valar save us all from having to suffer through their nobility.'
'Watch it brother. Your queen is Gondorian nobility, so is our closest ally.'
'My queen is queen of Rohan and King Elessar rules the Gondorian nobility. There's a difference.'
'And what of Éowyn? Princess of Ithilien.'
'Éowyn can live wherever she pleases, a truer daughter of Rohan will likely never walk this earth.'
'Now come, duty awaits.' said Éomer.