Disclaimer: Like you don't know by now that if it looks like it's Tolkien's, most likely it is.

So I planned. I waited. As families returned, Edoras began to feel more like a lived-in city instead of a ghost town, and I only rarely got lost on my way to the kitchens instead of getting lost at least once a with the cleaning nearly done (and Hildmar not allowing me into either King's or Queen's Quarters "until I was wedded"), I spent much of my free time in the gardens, where Éowyn began to join me regularly; she was very stubborn about it, and I couldn't help but pity whatever weeds crossed her path.

I usually split my free time between Éowyn and Elise, who never did become the best of friends. I think they were too alike in pride and temper. Combined with Elise's irreverence clashing against Éowyn's willingness to use her status freely, it meant that whenever together, things could easily disintegrate into a barely friendly and extremely combative state. And since they liked different things anyway, it was easier just to divide activities between them. Éowyn wanted to learn about tending plants and healing but still loved the sword, so I gardened and sparred with her. With Elise I discussed people and scrolls and all of the things we had always talked about, as well as kingdom-related topics like trade and the status of food supplies. It turned out to be a good work schedule, too, and it helped me organize my thoughts about different aspects of my duties.

The members of the King's Council (along with many who wanted to be) must have all received a group message or something, because one summer afternoon my lunch break was interrupted by the arrival of a veritable horde of Lords and their wives and retinues, descending on us much like I assumed the Dark Lord's forces had descended upon Minas Tirith. The poor errand boy who had been sent to fetch me from the stables was still reeling from merely witnessing Éowyn's wrath, and I had to keep myself from reacting much the same way as she (I didn't want to permanently scar the lad).

As I entered the hall, I was still feeling a little guilty after making such a comparison, albeit only mentally, since the very thought of the siege still brought up too many wounds; then some of the more uppity lords' servants started trying to run roughshod over Hildmar (with the Lords pretending Hildmar did not exist and their Ladies giving everyone rather condescending looks), and I couldn't help but feel that although the comparison might be unkind, it was still incredibly apt. Quite a few veterans had come in for luncheon from working on repairs to the barracks, and some stayed on the benches awkwardly while others now stood strategically near Hildmar to back her up against the newcomers. Éowyn was standing in a corner seething, and Elise was right next to her wearing a carefully blank expression. They really are angry, I realized, since there was no way either woman would have stood so close to each other if not united against a common opponent like this.

I carefully slid back into the passage without anyone noticing and went on so that I re-entered the hall right behind my friends.

"So who sent the invitation without informing us?" I asked while peering over Elise's shoulder at the commotion.

"No one!" Éowyn hissed. Even though I knew her temper wasn't directed at me, part of me still wanted to quail in the face of her renowned temper.

Elise's voice was also expressionless. Instead she said coolly, "I don't think they were invited here specifically; rather their friends in Edoras sent the invites, and they decided to announce their arrival to us all at once to see how well you and your hospitality respond. So how are we going to deal with this, Saffi?"

I blinked. Six months ago it had me asking her for advice. How far we'd come, indeed.

"We…?" I supposed Éowyn could yell at them, but I doubted that would help much. "Tell you what," I decided, "I'm going to invite them to stay here instead. Wish me luck!" Also it would be nice if you felt a similar sentiment, Béma, and did I mention how grateful I am that my skirts didn't get dirty in the stable?

And even as Elise's mask cracked and dropped, leaving behind a look of equal parts shock, admiration, and fear, I stalked directly toward the dais and went up onto the first level so that I was positioned directly in front of the Throne.

I allowed myself one cursory glance over the crowd. Then I announced, "Welcome to Meduseld, my Lords, Ladies," pitching my voice so that it would carry over their infernal chatter. I kept my chin high like when I'd addressed Arnalit.

It seemed to work, if only somewhat: many of the lords (and all of the ladies and servants) stopped speaking, although a few turned my way but continued their conversations in lowered voices. I held back a scowl. Two can play at this game... "We are sure it will please you all to know that Our renovations are so far ahead of schedule that there are more than enough quarters to host even the most unexpected guests."

The jab certainly got their attention even if my presence alone hadn't. Several of the more polite lords had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed; I made certain to note the faces of those who did not. The ladies' gazes were studiously blank, but I sensed that they were appraising me closely.

"I am of course pleased to have the opportunity to meet those of whom my future Cousin has spoken so … eloquently," I continued, with a nod in Éowyn's direction. She blinked and then choked slightly as what I'd said (or rather, what I hadn't) sank in.

"Now, I believe introductions are in order?" I said smartly, looking to a soldier nearby.

It turned out to be Eadric. He gave me a smart bow in return (accompanied by what I felt sure was a bit of a smirk) before turning to the crowd. "Lady Saffi Sorenna of Westfold," he announced crisply, "Théodred King's Betrothéd." This was technically not yet the appropriate title for Théo since he had not yet been crowned, but I wasn't about to correct Eadric giving me even a bit of extra status, if only by proxy.

Murmurs went through the crowd. I smiled back as beautifically as I could. I figured it had to be working since Eadric still had that conspiratorial smirk dancing on his lips.

Then Lord Cenred (and I had no idea why he was even here since he'd arrived with the army and had been staying in his own quarters outside of Meduseld) stepped forward. "My lady," he intoned and sank into a deep bow reserved for greeting royalty. I bit my tongue and held out a hand to him—and oh Béma I don't know if you find this amusing but please let me don't screw up too badly since I have absolutely NO IDEA what I'm doing—which, of course, forced him to rise to bow over it properly. "Well met, Lord Cenred," I smiled honestly, and then added so only he could hear, "It is good to see you again, Sir—and I am not Queen yet."

He shook his head slightly as if to warn me off and then straightened. In the same low tone he replied with a straight face, "But you are as good as Queen already; and I figured they could use an example to start things off."

So, an ally—or he supports Théo at least—but more importantly, he's not against me. One down—I looked around—only forty or so to go… But that was all I really needed, it seemed, since Lord Cenred's presence nearby—not exactly supporting me, but definitely facing against those still giving me derisive looks—was enough to make all back down for now and greet me properly. Somehow I managed to make the acquaintance of some of the highest-ranking men and women of the land, Lords and Ladies of the House of Eorl, descended from royal blood and, although not necessarily wielding much power, always in possession of much land.

After the first few introductions (which included some of the stuffiest people present), Éowyn appeared at my side with a surprisingly un-faked smile. "You're doing quite well, Cousin," she murmured into my ear. "Don't tell Elise, but after your show, their awkwardness is rather amusing."

While we all Met and Mingled (with me trying not to spend too much time with any one Lord without dissing him by not spending enough time), Hildmar and her staff made short shrift of the servants. I didn't have her bring refreshments since, however rude their arrivals, proper host etiquette stated that they would probably want to retreat to their rooms to change and recover as soon as possible.

Instead I had barely gotten through small talk with everyone and his wife (literally) when personal servants began returning and standing attentively nearby, and one by one the lords and ladies began excusing themselves. I wasn't sure whether to be angry or pleased that most of the visitors had not accepted my invitation; from Cenred's approving look, though, I figured this was a good thing resulting from their shame at their actions rather than being another snub.

At last I nodded the last of them out the front entrance as they headed back to the city, and waited a good minute for them all to get out of earshot. Then I plopped down on the nearest bench and thought very seriously about drinking a whole mug of our strongest ale.

Eadric was now wearing a full-fledged grin. Éowyn had just accompanied a group of the visitors from Edoras out the door, and from the predatory look in her eyes, I really didn't want to know what she was saying to them right now.

I thought about having mead instead of ale.

"Let's go for a walk, Saffi," Elise said gently, and tugged at my arm. I followed her lead blindly, swept up in my thoughts…

Because I had recognized some of those lords. I was pretty sure that most had ridden forth with Théoden King, and although much of the army had peeled off to go straight home, a good portion had come to Edoras. Not a few lords, like Cenred, had long made Edoras their permanent seat. And there had been several others in the crowd who at first just looked vaguely familiar until I recognized them, too, from those Lords who had traveled all the way back to Meduseld with us instead of going home to their own seats. They had had no reason to join the others in arriving unexpected and uninvited on my doorstep, however accustomed they might have been to doing so in the past.

Those lords already staying in Meduseld or in Edoras had known what was going to happen. They had either been informed—or, I realized with a sinking heart, they had helped plan. And why? I thought of Cenred's calculated bow, the way he'd been sizing me up just as I'd been sizing him: it was a test. They were testing me; maybe not all of them, but even those not part of the scheme had known of it and arrived with the others to see how I did.

Did I do something horribly wrong to deserve this, Béma?

"Saffi..."

I blinked and tried to focus on my surroundings. We were outside in the gardens.

"Saffi, wake up!" Elise slapped my shoulder jokingly—and grinned. "I don't know how you did it, but that was quite impressive. Really. I bow down before your wit. And your royalty."

I sighed and sank down onto the nearest bench; since our arms were still linked, this meant that she got dragged down with me. "Is it always going to be like that?"

Elise shrugged and sobered back up. "Some, yeah; that's politics for you. But I don't think it will be quite so horrible. You impressed the ones on your side and those still on the fence; and as for the others, well, they'll think twice about pulling such a foolish stunt again. Plus, in the future you'll have even more allies to help you out."

"You mean there were actually Lords on my side in there? Because it sure didn't look like it to me."

She frowned. "I saw some of them. The lesser lords, especially, or those who have served the King directly, like Cenred, were angry. Didn't you hear what they were saying? They were trying to get those jerks to leave. And it turned out just as well—nothing they could had said would have been half so effective as you were."

I sighed. Looking at it objectively, Elise was right, of course. That didn't lessen my anger at the lords' blatant machinations and utter rudeness, though. I stared out at the bright blue sky and thought about Théodred. He was going to be utterly furious when he found out. If he found out. –Should I even tell him?

"Saffi," Elise said in a hesitant voice, "I am sorry I couldn't do anything for you in there."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "There wasn't really much to do." But even as I said that, I couldn't help but feel the sting from her absence. Not once had she come to my side like Éowyn had done.

"I could have joined you instead of staying in the back," she admitted in an eerie echo of my thoughts.

I tried to imagine myself in her shoes—best friend to the future Queen but herself of no real standing—and I knew that Elise, however much she deserved it, was still worried about her new post of Adviser, worried that Théodred had favored her not for her own worth but because of me. Barging in this morning would have done nothing but weaken her own precarious status, make me weak and reliant on others in the lords' eyes, and possibly even undermine Théodred's support base. Éowyn's presence had been a tacit Royal acceptance, showing that Théodred was not alone in his decision. Elise's presence would have done nothing but raise more questions about outsiders and why I needed so much help rather than stand on my own.

If our roles were reversed, what would I have done?

I didn't really like her decision, but neither could I have honestly said I would have done differently—and really, who was I to talk when I had been the one to leave her in charge of an entire refugee camp with only six hours' notice and absolutely no real experience or authority to drawn upon?

"It would be a bit hypocritical of me to be mad at you about that," I teased. "There's not really anything to forgive."

She smiled back at me rather weakly. "Thank you. But—" and then she suddenly kneeled before me—"I swear I shall do all in my power to personally support you, Saffi. I can't promise to unconditionally support your politics if we absolutely disagree, but I will never attack you or disavow you. I am Your lady."

I bit my lip to keep back tears. "Elise, get up, please! I don't—I don't want a supporter or a follower or any of that, I want my friend!..."

She jumped up. "I am your friend, silly, and as your friend—no, Saffi, hear me when I say this—you need those other things too, and it would be rather remiss of me not to be those other things as your friend."

I sniffled and then hugged her. For once she didn't tease but simply hugged me back. "You passed the first test, Saffi," she told me, "and we'll pass them all, never you fear."

I smiled as we released each other, thankful beyond words that I had such a friend as her.

"I know this is your line," Elise said after a moment, "but I kind of wish Prince—King—whatever—Théodred was here."

"Are you kidding me?" I grinned. "He'd have probably bitten all their heads off. Possibly literally."

"I can see it now," Elise said dramatically: "Him roaring wordlessly at the affront to his beloved, that ponce with the oiled mustache cowering in the corner, everybody else running around like chickens whose heads were just chopped off…"

We dissolved into helpless giggles.

The Royal Horde (as I called them—Elise called them the Royal Herd, and Hildmar couldn't seem to choose between the two) had only been settled in Edoras for a few days when a messenger arrived mid-luncheon.

I was not seated at the royal table—in spite of everything it still felt too presumptuous for words—but rather at the next ranking table immediately below, and for some reason the few lords staying in Meduseld (or visiting for unknown reasons) had all followed suit. Elise was on my right as usual (because apparently no man but Théodred or my father or brother ought to sit on my right), and today Lord Cynulf and his wife were sitting on my left; I had been very careful to sit near a different lord at each meal so as to get to know everyone equally, a system of which both Elise and Cenred seemed to approve. Éowyn had just rolled her eyes when I'd asked and muttered something along the lines of how I was clearly a much nicer person than she and that, if it were up to her, they could go eat in the stables for all she cared. I still could not tell how much Cenred was really on my side, but after some consideration (and some stints in the training yards to get out all the leftover anger) I had decided that it did not really matter as long as it furthered my own interests.

I had only just realized that I had no idea what the proper etiquette for receiving a messenger even was when Hildmar hustled the man into a sideroom. I decided to keep eating until Hildmar let me know she was ready. And soon enough, a maid scurried over, curtsying an awful lot, to say that the messenger waited on "my Lady's pleasure." I excused myself from the table and went in.

The messenger got to his feet and bowed as I entered. I nodded back and then frowned. He didn't look like a typical messenger. In fact, he looked much more like—

"Well met, Saffi," Éomer grinned, shrugging off the thick cloak and hood that had obscured his features. "Théodred really wishes it was him doing this, but I don't think it would be very politik of him to abandon such illustrious guests."

I couldn't help but grin back at such unexpected enthusiasm from Éomer of all people. "Did everything go well? And did you get a chance to look at how upper Wold's doing? What does the crop look—"

"Saffi," he interrupted, "I really have no idea, and I'm not the person to ask, especially since I was present not as commander of Eastfold but as the King's cousin and current Heir presumptive."

I flushed. "Sorry."

"No, no, it's fine," he waved it off. "How are you? How is my sister? – I noticed you've received some Council visitors."

"Yes, greatly anticipated, I'm sure," I muttered.

"Oh, no," Éomer said in sudden understanding. "They just showed up, didn't they?"

"What, is this a thing?" I shot back and then regretted my tone. "Sorry. The last few days have been rather stressful, especially since Éowyn knows politics but hates it and Hildmar operates on a whole different level and Cenred…well, who knows what he wants!"

Éomer looked a little alarmed. "I don't think I'm the best person to help you…"

I grinned. "Well of course not. Nothing personal, but I don't want to marry you."

He chuckled. "Oh, no, my lady, how could you say such a thing? I am absolutely wounded, truly."

"So how many more people are we going to be hosting?"

He blinked. "Not that many. Twenty? Thirty? Maybe more?"

"That's not very helpful."

"Technically there are thirty-five visitors, but most of them are the equivalent of a formal escort—but then again I don't know if it's a good idea to house Elves alongside mere human Riders."

I winced and wondered why someone as smart as Éomer would have even entertained such a foolish notion. "So rooms for everyone." Hopefully we had the space and staffing to make it happen.

Eventually we managed to prepared enough rooms for everyone and his brother, just in case. After all, as Elise said, it wasn't every day that Elves visited Edoras, even if it was only for a few nights. As in: we were making history, so why not do it politely?

I figured politeness also couldn't hurt when most of the Elves had lived longer than we Eorlingas had resided in the Riddermark. I tried to comprehend the vastness of such a swath of time and only got a headache for my pains. Not that our illustrious visitors weren't nice. On the contrary, they were unfailingly polite, astoundingly pleasant (and appreciative of their quarters), and, for the most part, not at all condescending towards us mere mortals.

There were several, though, who were especially impressive: the Lord Elrond, his parents-in-law Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, and his daughter Lady Arwen. They were all gorgeous, of course, in the same way of Legolas's otherworldly beauty. But Lady Undomiel… Cenred, who had the great ability of insulting or amusing with the same straight face, looked absolutely flabbergasted when he first saw her, and poor Eadric's jaw literally dropped (Elise had to elbow him twice, hard, to close his mouth). But (once I'd gotten over her beauty) I realized that she didn't seem to have many friends with her—she spent most of her time with or near her father, and the other women (excepting her grandmother, of course) addressed her formally, not as friends would. Of course, asking a friend to go live with you in a foreign country and culture among humans would, I supposed, strain any relationship, but still!...

Éowyn looked a bit shaken upon first seeing Lady Arwen but soon resumed a wry equanimity. "I guess I had good reason to be jealous of her, then, and not just for his sake," she muttered to me during the welcoming feast; it was a loud affair since, although human-Elf conversations were not exactly rowdy, we had entertainers and musicians present who kept spirits high. Then she shook her head ruefully and added, "I hope she doesn't know about my little infatuation with her intended."

I had a feeling she did, though, given that later in the evening, when the meal had ended and a more party-like atmosphere pervaded, she somehow managed to have a very long discussion with Éowyn that started with the latter wearing a very red face and ended with them laughing at something like old friends. After that, Éowyn looked at the older woman with something akin to respect and, perhaps more importantly, something else that looked a lot like friendship.

The Elves left shortly after; they had a wedding to attend, after all. Théodred and I had been invited, but there was still much work to be done here before Théo would even consider leaving the country. So he and his men simply escorted them to the border with Gondor and then came right back home. (Home: somewhere in those weeks Meduseld had become my home. The thought made me shiver with fear and joy at the same time.)

Théo's reaction upon learning about the Lords' arrivals was alarmingly close to what Elise had imagined. I think it was harder for him than me since he had known them for so long, and to see such a lack of trust shook him.

It was an uncertain time for me but also fulfilling—stressful since I was building relationships with some of the people I would work with and live with for the rest of my life, but wonderful because Théodred and I were getting to know each other, all those little details and quirks that can only be learnt (and sometimes only surface) when two people live together and see each other in the quiet private hours as well as the public. I had had no idea that one could fall even more in love with someone that she already loved, but I seemed to be doing a very good job at it.

The first crop of the summer came in, and Hildmar and I began to seriously discuss the logistics of an October wedding. On Midsummer's Eve Théo and I jumped the fire together after officially announcing our betrothal. Elise did not jump the fire with anyone, but she did spend much of the evening dancing with Éothain, so I counted it as a success anyway. I had no idea how she had gotten him to ask her to be his partner when he had been so reluctant to even attend, but I thought it had something to do with how much time they'd been spending together recently. Neither had actively sought out the other (at least not at first), but they had rather inevitably drifted together and began arguing in an all-too familiar fashion.

Elise herself had integrated well into the Council, wielding the great tool of Logic with deadly accuracy. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting, but the Council meetings turned out to be not very different from the gatherings held at Cormallen. Cenred was turning out to be a staunch ally (Théo told me privately that he thought I'd fully won Cenred over with the way I'd handled the unexpected guests), and although there were of course some Lords who still looked at me askance, most were at least willing to treat me as an equal and honestly consider what I had to say. It wasn't exactly fun work, but I did sometimes get a feeling of utter fulfillment, as if for a job worth doing and well done.

About a week after Midsummer, Théo traveled back to Minas Tirith to commence the funeral escort of Théoden King back to Edoras for burial. I figured it would be a rather quiet month or so, sandwiched between the Elves' brief visit and the funeral and Théodred's official coronation.

Apparently Béma had other plans. Or, more specifically, Sodred did.

A/N: Another long wait. Sorry, guys. My muse is capricious and free time is fleeting (and more often nonexistent). In other news, this story is starting wind down at long last. I'm not sure how many chapters are left, but it won't be many. And as always, thanks for reading! Your story views are much appreciated :)