The two young men were racing their horses in the planes of Rohan on a cool fall day, laughing good-naturedly as they passed one another, leading their steeds back toward Edoras. Prince Elfwine was slightly trailing behind his cousin, Prince Elboron, but being the better rider, he spurred his horse in a final sprint and as they went through the gate, he dashed past Elboron and was the first to arrive at the stable.
"You need to practice more, Elboron.", the heir of Rohan smirked as he bounced off his horse. "My father once told me that the Gondorians were better archers than riders, and I think you have just proved it."
"Well then. I might just have to challenge you to an archery match, Elfwine.", Ithilien's heir replied, grinning.
"Later.", Elfwine retorted, leading his horse in the stable as his cousin followed. "I am famished. Let's go inside and see if there is anything left from the midday meal."
And so, the two young princes ascended the steps to Meduseld, smiling to the guards as they opened the doors to the Great Hall. Entering the hall they saw their parents sitting at a table, talking amicably and enjoying their meal, the King and Queen of Rohan on one side of the table and the Prince and Princess of Ithilien sitting across them.
"Anything left for us?", Elfwine asked as he kissed his mother on the forehead and sat next to her, noticing the plentiful plates of buttered bread, salted pork and roasted potatoes.
"Is there not enough left on the table for you, Elfwine?", Lothiriel retorted sarcastically, smiling.
"May we ask what you two were up to?", Eowyn asked her son as he sat next to her, kissing his mother on the forehead as well.
"Well, Elfwine here has yet again beaten me in a horserace.", Elboron explained, reaching for a loaf of bread on the table. "And so later on this afternoon, I am going to show him how to properly shoot an arrow with a bow.", he said further, filling a couple of mugs with ale, smiling and curtly nodding as he passed a mug to Elfwine who was sitting across Elboron, grinning.
"Oh. Well you might be surprised, my dear nephew.", Lothiriel warned Elboron. "Elfwine had an excellent teacher.", she explained, glancing at her son who gave his mother a proud wink as he took a sip of ale.
"Are you implying that Elboron did not?", Faramir inquired his cousin, looking at her challengingly which made Eomer chuckle.
"Not at all, my dear cousin.", Lothiriel answered, smiling mischievously. "Perhaps a little demonstration, then?", she provoked him.
"A contest?", Elfwine and Elboron said simultaneously, looking at each other and grinning.
"What will you use for marks?", Eomer asked curiously, looking forward to the competition himself. "I think Gamling kept my old targets I used for practice. I could get those if you'd like.", he suggested, and Lothiriel and Faramir looked at each other, smiling, and nodded.
"Well then.", Elfwine interrupted. "Shall we?", he asked as he rose, grinning from ear to ear, quickly forgetting for the moment how hungry he was.
Elboron followed his cousin outside as Eomer rose to fetch the targets. Eowyn and Faramir followed behind, and Faramir procured a bow and some arrows for himself from the armory while Lothiriel went to the royal bedchamber to get her bow and satchel of arrows.
When she got outside, Eomer had already pinned the targets on the stable's outer wall and Faramir was examining his arrows as Eowyn and the princes stood nearby, waiting for the competition to begin.
"Now.", Eomer began. "You will each shoot three arrows at those three targets.", he explained, pointing to the marks. "At each target, you will back up a few paces, and whoever gets their arrows closest to the centers, wins."
Elfwine and Elboron looked at one another with mischievous, roguish looks, and Faramir and Lothiriel positioned themselves, each setting an arrow in their bow as Eomer made lines on the ground with his foot several yards away from each target.
"Ladies first.", Faramir politely said but mockingly bowing low, which made the men chuckle.
Eowyn scowled at Faramir and looked at Lothiriel.
"Go ahead, Lothiriel.", she encouraged her sister-by-marriage. "Show them what ladies are made of.", she added shrewdly, looking at Faramir and smirking.
Lothiriel giggled and proceeded to aim her arrow at the first target. Whoosh. Dead center. She glanced at Faramir from the corner of her eye, smiling, and advanced to the second target. Whoosh. Another dead center. At this point, Faramir was starting to fidget, which made Lothiriel laugh lightly.
"One more, Mother.", Elfwine encouraged her. "You can do it.", he said confidently.
Lothiriel advanced to the last target, and, taking a deep breath, she aimed and let go but grunted when the arrow was a little off from the center.
"Ooh.", Faramir snickered. "So close.", he mocked Lothiriel as he walked in front of her, glancing at her as he positioned himself in front of the first target.
Lothiriel went to stand next to Eomer who put his arm around her waist, kissing her on the forehead.
"That was very good.", he reassured her, and Lothiriel smiled proudly.
Whoosh. Dead Center. Faramir looked at Lothiriel and smiled proudly, lifting his eyebrows a couple of times which made Lothiriel giggle. He advanced to the second target, and, again, hit the mark with his arrow.
"One more.", he said as he advanced to the final target, chuckling at Lothiriel who raised a single eyebrow, pursing her lips.
Faramir stood in front of the mark, aimed his final arrow, and, once again, hit the middle of the target.
"Very good, Father!", Elboron exclaimed proudly, patting Faramir on the shoulder.
"And that is how it's done.", Faramir bragged to Lothiriel, laughing as he saw her amused expression.
"Oh, don't listen to him, Lothiriel.", Eowyn scoffed. "You are just as good as he is. You don't have as much experience, that is all.", she explained.
"Yes, it's true.", Faramir admitted. "You are as good as I am.", he said to Lothiriel, shaking her hand and kissing her on the cheek.
"I suppose fighting in a war makes one better than another who has not.", Lothiriel admitted, and Eomer glanced at her.
"You better not think that I will let you fight in a war so you can get better, dear wife.", he told her seriously, but with a hint of amusement in his voice, and Lothiriel giggled.
"Of course not, dear husband.", she replied. "I shall stay here and live the rest of my life as a mere queen with my barbaric husband.", she said further, dramatically putting a hand up to her forehead, palm outward, prompting everyone to laugh.
And so the royal family of Ithilien stayed for a few more days, and when the first sign of winter came, they departed for their home in Emyn Arnen. As they all stood on the steps of Meduseld, Lothiriel and Eowyn held each other in a tight embrace.
"Oh, I dislike farewells so much.", Lothiriel said. "Even after two decades, it is still hard."
"I know.", Eowyn agreed. "But it is only for a little while. You will come and visit us in the spring like you usually do.", she said further, pulling back a bit as she smiled, and Lothiriel nodded.
"You give our best to King Elessar and Queen Arwen for the birth of their son Eldarion.", Eomer said as he clasped arms with Faramir and then proceeded to embrace his sister.
"Of course, brother.", Faramir nodded as he proceeded to embrace his cousin and nephew.
"Have a safe trip home, uncle.", Elfwine told him.
"And you take good care of your old father.", Eomer said to his nephew as he embraced Elboron, smirking.
"Old, eh?", Faramir scoffed. "Old I may be, but I can still shoot arrows.", he said, making the others laugh.
And so, Eomer, Lothiriel and Elfwine stood together and waved to their family, staying there until Faramir, Eowyn and Elboron, accompanied by Guards of the White Company, disappeared in the distance. Many villagers had also lined the road, as they too enjoyed the yearly visits of their beloved Eowyn and her family.
As Elfwine walked toward the stable to visit the stable groom who had become his good friend, Lothiriel and Eomer made their way up the stairs to Meduseld. Before entering the hall, Lothiriel turned to look at Elfwine, and smiled proudly.
"What are you thinking, my love?", Eomer murmured in her ear as he embraced her from behind.
"I was thinking of how our little boy has grown into such a strong young man.", she answered. "Tall and handsome, like his father."
"But he has his grandfather's eyes.", Eomer replied. "Your eyes.", and Lothiriel smiled.
"Eomer,", she continued in a more serious tone. "how old were you when you went away to war in Gondor?", she asked, and Eomer looked at her curiously.
"Twenty-eight.", he answered, and Lothiriel shook her head.
"That is in six years from now.", she whispered. "Women my age saw their young sons go to war.", she continued. "And many never returned."
Eomer soothingly rubbed her arms, kissing her temple.
"Elfwine will never have to go to war, my love.", he assured her. "Not as long as King Elessar and I still have air in our lungs and blood flowing through our veins."
Lothiriel smiled satisfactorily, and they remained standing there for a little while longer, looking over their people.