Chapter 17: Advice

Dol Amroth, Belfalas, Gondor

Third Age 3020, September

-Lothiriel-

"Come and dance with me, Claire," Amrothos called from across the room.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with your wife?" she countered.

"Oh, they will dance, my dear," Erchirion chuckled. "But in the privacy of their room." I bit back my laughter at his insinuation.

"Exactly!" Amrothos said, reaching our table. "And I must dance with other women while I still have the chance!"

"But I can't dance," Claire argued. "Even before I hurt my leg. I'm too klutzy."

"I do seem to remember you crushing my toes at Faramir's wedding," the younger brother said.

"Then why ask me now?"

"Because Erchirion won't and all beautiful women deserve to be asked."

"Do not think that because it is your wedding day, I will not hit you, Amrothos," Erchirion growled.

"Then ask her yourself then, brother," I put in. "So that Amrothos does not feel obligated."

Erchirion let out a deep breath and turned to Claire, giving her an apologetic look. "Only to spare you of my younger brother, would you dance with me, Claire?"

"I thought you couldn't dance?" she asked.

"Oh, Erchie can dance," I said. "I just can't remember the last time he did so."

She smiled. "I wish I could. I actually mean it. But with my limp, it's just not possible. At the first turn left, I'll lose my balance."

"How did you acquire that?" Amrothos asked. "You did not have it at Elessar's wedding."

"It's…a long story," she muttered. Erchie suddenly looked uneasy. Clearly, they hadn't told him yet. Elphir knew, as he'd been gossiping in Emyn Arnen, but other than him and me, I had a feeling Claire and Erchie had kept that aspect of their romance to themselves. My father would not be pleased when they inevitably told him.

"Well, you'll need to tell me at a more appropriate time. I do love a good and bloody battle story."

"What makes you think I got it in a battle?"

"Lucky guess?" he said innocently. "Now, if you are not to dance with me, dear Claire, I shall ask Beriana, who appears rather bored over there at her lonely table."

He left, swaying slightly under his influence of a fine bottle of wine delivered from Minas Tirith as a gift from Elessar.

"Are you going to tell him?" I asked. I didn't want to ruin the festive mood, but I had to know. I didn't like keeping secrets from my father. I was too familiar with the concept and it hurt me every time I did so.

"There just…never seems to be a good moment," Claire muttered, now looking completely uncomfortable.

"They wouldn't understand," Erchie muttered, gripping his goblet. "I already know what they would say, Lottie, and I don't care to hear it."

"They? I thought we were talking of Amrothos?" Claire asked.

"He means him and our father," I clarified. "But they will find out, Erchie. One way or another, in a year's time, they will know."

"Then they can know in a year and judge me accordingly. I should not have to listen to it when we are to leave for the east. We don't need that between us during war."

"You think they'd be angry?" Claire asked.

"I don't think Amrothos would care much, really," I said. "But Father…he could be angry, yes."

"He would be furious," Erchirion snapped.

"That's why you didn't want to tell him," Claire said, and instantly, I knew this was not a conversation I should be a part of. "Erchirion, I don't care what he thinks of me. This was our decision."

"I care," my brother said, running his hand through his hair. He had cut it again and it only came halfway down his neck now. "I care what he thinks. And he would think ill of our match. Lottie can attest to that."

"I think he would be mad that you kept it from him," I said. "But he is fond of Claire. I think he would forgive it."

"Lothiriel, he would demand we end it."

"You really think that?" Claire muttered, smoothing out a crumpled napkin on her lap.

I didn't give Erchirion a chance to answer. "It will end inevitably, won't it?"

Erchie opened his mouth to respond, but Claire stood up then, grabbed her cane from behind her chair and limped out of the hall. My brother grunted in frustration. "You had to say that, didn't you, sister?"

"I didn't mean to upset her—,"

"You never do. You don't think before you speak."

"You don't need to be so cross. I'll apologize for what I said. I suppose I didn't expect the topic to be so sensitive."

"Why would it not be, Lothiriel? She doesn't want to sail to Aman, but she must or she will die. And now I've put her in this situation…she really shouldn't even be here."

"How can you say that?"

"She should be spending her last months with her family, not me. It's not that I'm ungrateful, but I cornered her into an impossible situation with my greed and selfishness. I pined after her for a year and was blinded by my own success that night on the balcony of Emyn Arnen."

"Do you regret it?" I asked, hesitantly. It was rare for Erchirion to share with me like this. Amrothos, not so much, but my elder brothers had always been reserved. I knew Claire's stance on their courtship, but my brother's was a mystery to me. I wanted to know, but I had to be careful of what I asked, for he could shut me out instantly.

"No," he said, leaning into the palms of his hands. "That is the sick part. I have been so selfish and know my faults in this, yet I have no regrets."

"Erchie, do you love her?"

He peeked at me from under his hands and let out a deep breath. "I do, Lottie. Yet I do not love her enough to let her go."

I rolled my eyes. "Men think it so romantic when they are able to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of women, but in the end, all a woman wants is dependency. Erchie, if you are truly in love, you have a right to be selfish. Don't think yourself weak because you managed to woo her. You did it in an impossible circumstance. Be proud of that accomplishment. You would not have been strong if you had let her go after you learned the truth. You would have been a coward."

"I shouldn't have told you any of this. You refuse to think of Claire's side."

"Oh, I have heard all I care to on that angle, thank you very much. You act as if we never talk."

His head jerked up from his hands, his eyes suddenly interested. "She has spoken to you of this?"

"Yes. And what I say is true. She has never said it out loud, but I believe that you have won her heart, brother dear. And it seems to me you are both so riddled with guilt over the whole courtship that you step on each other's toes. I don't know what you two do behind closed doors, for you forgo the use of a chaperone, something Aunt Ivriniel nearly choked over when she found out. She feels guilt for having to leave you in a year. You feel guilt because you believe to have tricked her into courtship, rather than have her spend time with her family. Seems to me, if you are both guilty, then you truly belong together."

He sat in silence for a moment, contemplating my words. "Is it odd that everything you said makes perfect sense?"

"Not in the least. If you spoke with me more often, you would learn that I am actually rather smart, brother dear."

He grinned. "Then what should I do next, wise sister of mine?"

"Tell Amrothos and Father, if she wishes it. You are a grown man, you don't need to worry about what Father thinks. Then, take her to bed."

He had been taking a gulp of wine, but at my last sentence, he choked on the drink, and I did my best to hold back my laughter. "Excuse me?" he exclaimed after he regained his breath.

"Getting married would be a waste of time. Time that neither of you have. And we both know the perils of war. We need not ignore that fact that you may not return. Take advantage of the time you do have."

He was still in slight shock. "I never thought we would be having this conversation."

"I will admit, it is a surprise to me too." I thought he would say something more, but he just continued to sit there, staring at me. "What?" I snapped.

"I've just realized that my baby sister may be growing up."

I rolled my eyes. "Go find Claire, Erchirion."

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