Eldaria had fallen into a habit of sleeping late, for Lilla was having a hard time adjusting to her new home and slept fitfully. When Eldaria finally rolled out of bed it was mid-morning, and both of the little girls were up and playing.

"I'm so sorry for sleeping in again!" Eldaria told the girls, feeling like she had neglected them. "Why don't you get dressed, Lothroniel?"

The girl nodded and returned to her own room. Eldaria called for her maid and asked her to dress Lilla. After dressing hastily and braiding her hair back, Eldaria knocked on Lothroniel's door.

Lothroniel emerged wearing a ball gown of Eldaria's. "I don't think this one fits." She frowned.

Eldaria laughed. "I'm afraid not. Since today is just a regular day, why don't you wear something less elaborate." She rummaged through a trunk until she found a plain blue dress.

Lothroniel took the dress hesitantly, her face betraying her disappointment in the dress.

"I know it doesn't look very elegant, but the other dresses are very uncomfortable and I think you would rather have a dress you can play in. Do you understand, dear?"

"Yes, Eldaria," replied Lothroniel.

Eldaria's maid brought Lilla back to the room, and Eldaria took the baby with a smile. Leaving Lothroniel to dress, she went back to her own room and drew back the window curtains. "Look, Lilla! You can see the whole city from here!"

Lilla babbled a bit, and smiled at Lothroniel when she returned.

Lothroniel laughed and took her baby sister from Eldaria. She smiled, answering Lilla's babbling in a soft voice.

"Come along, Lothroniel," Eldaria reminded the girl. "We need to get something to eat, then you two can play." She took Lilla from back from her sister and led the girl to a small dining room. "My family has already eaten, I suppose."

Eldaria filled a plate for Lothroniel, and had begun to fill her own when Eldarion burst in.

"There you are! I've been looking for you all morning!"

"Well, you neglected to look in the obvious place...I slept in."

Eldarion laughed. "True. Anyway, Mother would like to speak with you as soon as you can. She says to meet her in the library."

"Tell her I will be there soon!"

Eldaria ate her food quickly, then spoke to Lothroniel. "You may stay here until you are finished with your food. Then ask a guard to show you to the library."

"I will. May we visit Dorion afterwards?"

Eldaria smiled at the girl. "We shall see." She hurried from the room with Lilla in her arms.

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"Eldaria!" Arwen looked up with a smile.

"Good morning, Mother," Eldaria returned the smile. "What can I do for you?"

Arwen shook her head. "No, dear, it's not that. I merely wanted to suggest something to you that I hope you'll consider." Eldaria's round eyes continued to hold her's, so she simply told her. "I think you ought to hire a governess for the girls.

"What? Mother, no...I-I promised Lothroniel I would take the place of her lost mother."

"Do not think I am trying to discourage you...it was a very noble thing to do. However, Eldaria, you are young, and children can be a burden if you aren't prepared to be a parent. And, you are unmarried."

Aragorn had entered the library and sat down. "You must remember, You were given six months to find a husband. Two of those months have passed."

"That's what this is about? You think I can not focus on upcoming engagement when I have children to watch over."

Arwen nodded. "You don't agree?"

Eldaria studied her parents for a few moments. Then she drew a deep breath. "Very well. If you will find a suitable governess, I will surrender some of my duties as their adoptive mother."

Aragorn began to speak, but the sound of Lothroniel crying interrupted him. She had crept in unnoticed and heard only Eldaria's last sentence.

"You are going to send us away?" The child could not contain her tears.

Sadness filled Eldaria's eyes. "Lothroniel...shhh. It's not that...I-" She trailed off, gently leading the girl from the library.

Arwen watched her daughter and the two children leave the room. "It is not like Eldaria to surrender like then when the problem involves something she's passionate about."

Aragorn sighed. "You are right. Ever since she returned, there's been a different attitude...a quietness about her. There must be something that happened they have not told us about."

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"Lothroniel...I'm not abandoning you, just hiring someone to help me watch over you. The woman will teach you mathematics, history, proper writing, reading, spelling and I will still be there when your governess is not."

"What about Dorion?" Lothroniel asked quietly.

Eldaria smiled. "We will find your brother and share the noon meal with him. I'm sure he misses you too." Hoping Lothroniel's dismal feelings would dissolve when she found her brother, Eldaria left Lilla under the watchful eye of a maid and raced the girl down the hallways to the guards quarters.

As they drew near to the quarters, Eldaria noticed Imrathon nearby. "Imrathon?" She called to him.

Turning with a smile, he met them near the entrance to the quarters. "How are you, Lothroniel? And you, Eldaria?"

"We've never been better," Eldaria replied. "As it happens, we are looking for Dorion. Do you know where we can find him?"

"I believe he is training in the back courtyard. If you follow me we'll find him."

Lothroniel skipped alongside Imrathon, chattering as they walked. "What kind of job does Dorion get? Will he fight off robbers?" She asked, a worried look filling her eyes.

"No," Eldaria interrupted. "Unless Dorion wishes for frontline battle, I will see to it that he is assigned a safe position here in Minas Tirith." She turned to Imrathon. "How is he? I intended to check in on him days ago, but have been distracted."

"Dorion is very talented when it comes to swordfighting, but archery is harder for him. I have seen to it that he has additional training."

Eldaria nodded. "Thank you. Will you continue to keep an eye on him? If he ever needs something or wishes to speak with me, you are to bring him to me immediately. I must not neglect him."

"Of course, my lady." Imrathon replied formally.

Eldaria shook her head at him. "Falling back into your old habit of formality, I see. Please neglect my title, you know I dislike it."

"I'm sorry. After instructing the new batch of guards, I'm used to teaching respectful wording."

"I understand." Eldaria replied. She opened her mouth to speak, then her eye fell upon Dorion and she had to pull Lothroniel back. "The training is still going on, dear. Have patience."

As soon as the instructor ended the lesson, Dorion raced over to Lothroniel. The siblings hugged, talked, and teased each other happily.''I hope they can always be that happy and carefree.' Eldaria thought. 'If I'm still in the place of their mother when Lothroniel is of age to marry I will not press her.'

"Eldaria?" Imrathon's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yes...I'm fine."

He frowned. "Are you sure? You're so distracted, and if you don't stop twisting that cloth it will fall apart."

Eldaria looked at her hands and realised that she was twisting one of Lilla's washcloths. "I'm just a little...overwrought, that's all."

"See that you don't overdo it. You can be a great mother to Lilla and Lothroniel without being completely perfect."

"You sound like my parents." Eldaria laughed ruefully.

Imrathon smiled. "Then they must be right."

Suddenly annoyed at no one in particular, Eldaria called to the children. "We have to go. We'll be late for luncheon." She turned to Imrathon. "Remember to keep an eye on Dorion?"

"Of course." Imrathon replied. He watched Eldaria, Dorion and Lothroniel hurry off with a sigh. Eldaria was definitely overdoing it. He hoped she had someone to help her.

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WELL, it's an update! Looong overdue, but it's here :) Hopefully life will keep calming down and I can work on a backlog of chapters!

Thanks to Lady Viola Delesseps for kindly pre-reading my chapters...you can never know how much I appreciate it, Vi!

Don't forget to read and review! Reviews keep me motivated ;)

Thanks to all of my readers! God bless each one :-D

~Legolin :)