A/N: here it is, another chapter and I promise the end is near... Again, I want to thank all the wonderful reviews from all of you... Honestly, you kept me going... I'm so tired and sleep deprived but it felt wrong to leave you hanging... Hope you like it!
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Chapter 28
Minas Tirith, 22nd November 3020
Lothíriel was glad to be back in Minas Tirith once more. As much as she loved the quiet life of Imlandris, she was happy to be reunited with her family again. And in such a happy occasion. Finally, Éowyn and Faramir's wedding.
Éowyn had written to her, asking, in fact almost begging, for her presence at the wedding claming that after all she was the one responsible for their happiness. Lothíriel was more than happy to comply. She knew the two of them were meant for each other, since the first day she saw them together, on the balcony of the Houses of Healing, looking out to the Pelennor Fields. So she was glad to be a part of such a happy day for them.
Other encounters, however, would not be so simple…
The journey from Imladris had been uneventful. Luckly, the weather had been helpful, sunny days but with a gentle breeze with made the trip quite delightful. Of course, it wasn't the same as back ridding but Elfwine was only seven months old, so riding was really out of the question. But soon she would teach her son how to ride. And if he was true to his blood, what a rider he would be...
She reached her house in the seventh level and opened the door of the carriage. Elfwine had been fast asleep for the last 3 or 4 hours and was now beginning to stir. She held him close and placed a soft kiss on his head as his eyes opened to see Minas Tirith for the first time.
"Wake up, darling...". Her son giggled at her words. "Yes, you are awake... And you have been such a good boy. And good boys get prizes! Like lots of kisses from their mothers!" she said as she kissed his neck and then both his cheeks.
"Hum, we just love kisses don't we, menel?" her son giggled some more and was rewarded with more kisses.
"My Lady?" she heard.
Lothíriel would recognize Nooran's voice anywhere. She smiled warmingly at her as she exited into the light.
"Nooran! It is so good to see you..."
"Come now and let me hug you, my darling lady! And let me see that sweet child of yours!" gazing upon Elfwine, tears coming to the old woman's eyes. "Oh my... There... Aren't you the most beautiful thing...?" she added as she picked him up.
Elfwine seemed delighted with the older woman.
Lothíriel's smile was as wide as it could possibly be.
"I think so too but I am not impartial in this matter!"
"Lothíriel!"
She turned to see her younger brother coming out the house and running towards her.
"Amrothros!" She embraced her brother tightly as he lifted her off the floor. "Oh, how I've missed you!"
"And I you, sister... And I you... The house just isn't the same without you around. It doesn't feel like home..."
She caressed his face and kissed his cheek.
"Come..." She whispered. "Come and met you nephew..."
It only took one look... Amrothros was completly taken by the boy. And Elfwine was reaching out his little arms to him like he had known him since the day he was born.
"Come here you!" He said, taking the baby from Nooran. "I'm your uncle Amrothos! Yes, I am..."
It was a true joy to watch those two… At that time, Lothíriel made the decision not to go back to Imladris. Her place was with them... Her son deserved to be with her true family.
No... I will not be going back…
"We should go inside now. You must be tired and I'm afraid it is too sunny for the child." She heard Nooran say.
"Indeed." Lothíriel agreed. "Come on, menel-nín..." she called out to her son.
Elfwine held his arms to his mother but Amrothros wasn't ready to let go of him.
"It's alright, I'll carry him! You are probably tired from the journey!" turning to his nephew he continued. "Let's go, big boy! Granpa Imrahil is impatient to meet you!"
Lothíriel couldn't help but grin.
"And Elphir?"
"Probably still in Osgiliath. He was overseeing some rebuilding work there. He has some ideas about the port and using the river for trade. You know him! Always full of ideas. He should be back in no time!"
"Melian?"
"In the market, I believe. She left early. She wanted to make sure you had all your favorite things around!"
They reached the house as Lothíriel asked for Erchirion.
"I think he went to talk to Faramir about something... Not sure what..."
Somethings never change.
"Father, Lothíriel is here!" Amrothros called.
Imrahil was in his study and as soon as he heard voices, his work was forgotten. He was in the hall in no time.
"Daughter... " he said, reaching her. He kissed both her cheeks and his gaze shifted toward the small bundle in Amrothros arms. "It that…?"
"Yes, Ada... It's your grandson… Elfwine."
Imrahil brushed his finger lightly in the child forehead and uttered a blessing. "May you see many days of light and know none of darkness. May the Valar protect and guide you, my child."
Then he placed a kiss where his fingers had just been and took the child from Amrothros' arms. "It time to come to Grandpa..."
Lothíriel came to her father's side just in time to see Elfwine smiling at Imrahil. Holding his grandson in one arm, he stroke his daughter's face his other hand and whispered.
"Hannon le, Niniach-nîn... He's beautiful..."
She simply smiled, to emotional to speak.
She was home. Definitely, she wasn't going back to Imladris.
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Éomer wasn't glad to be back in Minas Tirith. Though he was happy to see his friends again, the thought of leaving Éowyn for good was something he couldn't yet grasp. And worse, the fact that he might encounter Lothíriel made him hate the journey even more.
Five days… A week at best… He thought. Then, I'm taking Firefoot and the guard and we're leaving this Béma forsaken place.
As he approached the city gates, he sent a messenger ahead to warn Aragorn he was arriving. After all, he was King now. There were protocols to follow. He couldn't just enter a city unannounced.
He asked one of his Marshalls to stay behind and set up camp at the Pellenor Fields.
Aragorn would surely protest but an entire éored was too much trouble in such a quiet city. He rode slowly to the higher level along with his escort party, including Éothain.
Everywhere, people came out of their homes and stores to greet them.
"They haven't forget about us..." Éothain said. "It is good to know. I like it better to be looked upon as a hero rather than a beast from the North."
As Éomer remained silent, Éothain called out to him.
"My Lord?... Éomer?"
The King turned towards his friend.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"Nothing important... Just talking... Are you alright?" he asked carefully.
Éomer pulled Firefoot's reins and looked straight into Éothain's eyes.
"I'm just asking, Éomer."
"Well, mind your own business."
Éothain rolled his eyes.
"Béma... And they said you father had a bad temper..."
"What his that suppose to mean?"
"Oh, nothing.. You have been a charm this entire trip..."
"Éothain, take care. I'm not in the mood."
"I sure can see that... In fact, your foul temper has escalated on our way here. But you are still my friend and at times like these, I reserve myself the right to tell you that you are acting like a total arse!"
Éomer almost growled.
"I'm still your King." he said between teeth.
"Then act like one. This is a happy ocassion. Your sister's wedding! I love that child and so help me Béma if you don't put up a happy face and end up hurting her feelings, I swear I'll chase you from here to Mordor to kick your kingly behind!"
Éomer tried not to laugh but ended up smiling.
"You are right, Éothain. It's not fair to Éowyn..."
"Of course I'm right, I'm always right!"
Éomer extended his hand to his friend.
"Truce then...?"
"Truce." Éothain said, shaking his hand.
"By the way..." Éomer said. "If I act like an arse, you have my permission to kick my kingly behind!"
In a better mood, they finally arrived the Royal Grounds where they found the King and Queen of Gondor.
"My friend!" Aragorn's arms were already embracing him as soon as he was off his horse.
"Aragorn."
"It is good to see you."
"It's good to see you too. You look well!"
"Marriage does that to you!"
"Dearest!" Arwen protested as she approached. "What a thing to say."
"My Queen…" Éomer said as he bowed respectfully to the Elven Queen.
"You must forgive my husband, Éomer King." She said as she bowed to him as well. "He often forgets that he is King now."
"I understand him, My Lady, for I too easily forget my charge." He replied.
Arwen laughed, softly.
"You are much alike, you and him… Two of a kind. No care for rules!"
"We care for the people, my Lady." Éomer said. "Is that not enough?"
She laughed again, that soft chuckle like a bird song.
"More than enough, my Lord."
Then, unexpectedly to Éomer, she leaned and placed a kiss upon each cheek.
"Welcome, my friend."
Éomer was dumbstroked.
"I… ha.. I thank you, My Lady…"
"Come, let's find some ale to share in the Great Hall."
"Alas, forgive me my friends. But I must return to camp. We have much to settle and I confess I long to see my sister."
"Of course, we won't keep you. But I would like to discuss something with you, when you have some time." Aragorn extended his hand to Éomer.
"I'll keep that in mind." he said as he shook the hand of the King of Gondor.
"But are you staying in the Fields?" Arwen asked, surprised.
"Yes, Milady. We a seeting up camp as we speak."
"Oh... I was hopping you would stay with us. I had the staff prepare the rooms..."
"I'm sorry for your trouble, my Lady, but it is better this way."
"Can't I persuade you otherwise?" Arwen asked.
"It is for the best... We rather stay out there you see..." Éomer said.
"I told you, my love." Aragorn whispered in the ear of his elven wife.
"I will take my leave." Éomer said. Then he bowed and walked over to Firefoot.
"See?" Aragorn said.
"Hush, now..." Arwen said to her husband. "I had to try..."
"Well, worry not... You see, you can take a man out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the man..."
She smiled and placed her arms around his neck.
"Really?... So what does that say about you, my Ranger from the North...?"
Aragorn answered as he placed a light kiss on her lips.
"You have but to ask and I'll show you..."
Éomer heard the Queen laughed again.
"You're incorrigible!" he still heard as he left.
They certainly are happy and they deserve it.
Éomer thought as he made his way to his sister on the 6th level. He found her waiting by the door.
"Finally!" She said as she spotted him and ran to him. He Jumped from Firefoot and held her dearly and tight.
"Sister..."
He missed her and he was happy for her but it was hard to let her go. For a moment, they just stayed there, in each others arms, at the entrance of some house, in a city they hardly knew. Brother and sister. As if in slow motion, he could see his life passing in his mind... The first time he looked upon his sister, just after she was born... The first time she tried to ride a horse... The time she fell in the river in the summer when she was 7, insisting she need no help althought she couldn't yet swim... The grieve they shared when they parents died... then Théodred and Théoden... The pain he felt when he found his sister on that field not so long ago... And finally all the moments he shared with Lothíriel of Dol Amroth...
It all came to him...He was alive but not living...
In the arms of his sister, Éomer, eighteenth King of the Mark, cried.
