"You two!"
The two turned around to find Amrothos at the stables edge, catching his breath.
"I looked everywhere for you!"
"Amrothos. What brings you here?" asked Lothiriel, trying to mask her disappointment.
"We're heading to the White Lagoon," Amrothos said excitedly as he neared. "The lot of us. I'm here to invite you both - well, it's not really an invitation. I'm not taking no for an answer."
Hesitation filled the air.
"..Well-" Lothiriel started to say.
But the ever persistent Amrothos rebutted, "Sister! Nonsense. You can see Imani!"
He turned to Eomer. "There will be ales from all around Middle-Earth. No other alehouse has this many selections. You will love it, I'm sure. It's spectacular!"
There was a pause.
And some shifting.
The closeness that developed between the two started to dissipate with the interruption, leaving them feeling scrutinized and therefore distant.
"Sounds like a good time," Eomer said finally.
"Fantastic!" cheered Amrothos. "Let's not dawdle."
They followed, surrendering to Amrothos' oblivious good cheer.
The White Lagoon was busy with patrons cheering, laughing and carousing.
Lothiriel spotted Imani behind the bar and gave her a wave. As they walked by, Imani's eyes widened at the sight of Eomer.
Lothiriel quickly signaled to her friend: DON'T - LATER.
They made their way to the table in the back where Eowyn sat with Daron, Wilhelm and Erchirion. Lothiriel sat herself across Eowyn at the end with Amrothos next to her while Eomer sat at the other end with Daron and Wilhelm, greeting them hello.
Fresh pitchers of ale and bottles of wine were brought over and the group cheered.
Her brothers taught the Rohans a popular drinking game involving coins and heavy ale guzzling.
Imani joined, letting one of the barbacks cover her shift and introductions were finally made with Imani eagerly shaking hands with Eomer, who greeted her with a friendly hello.
Imani sat next to Eowyn, who upon meeting the beauty was fascinated by her soft cascading pale blonde hair. "How is it this color?" Imani asked, fingering a lock as Eowyn laughed. "How!"
The evening filled with flowing drinks, conversation and good cheer.
The girls chatted amiably while the men got more and more competitive the more they drank and the longer they played. The game ended when Daron and Amrothos got too invested and had to be pulled apart.
A happy buzz still continued on. Eowyn went on to discuss politics with Erchirion while Eomer, Daron, Wilhelm and Amrothos moved onto another drinking game, this time taught by the Rohans, involving playing cards.
With everyone occupied, Lothiriel and Imani took the opportunity to steal a moment away. They huddled close and spoke quickly.
"What is going on here!" Imani exclaimed. "What am I missing!"
Lothiriel hushed her friend. "His uncle is the King of Rohan and they are here visiting for the week."
Imani gaped in shock. "The odds! Have you talked to him?"
"Yes."
"Well?" asked Imani exasperatedly.
"He's.. nice."
"Nice.."
Lothiriel laughed, half embarrassed on how to describe him. It has been barely a night's past since she's met him and all she could make sense was what she felt rather than what she knew.
She huddled closer to her friend and tried to find the right words.
"...He's a bit serious. Charming. Attractive. Very.. attractive. He makes me nervous and excited all at the same time," she said with an embarrassed grin. "And he is to take me riding."
"Riding?!"
"Yes."
Lothiriel could not hide her enthusiasm.
"You are smitten!"
Lothiriel protested. "Shh. I am not!"
Imani gave her friend a deadpan stare.
"Maybe a little," Lothiriel admitted sipping her wine.
"I would be too," said Imani.
They broke out in laughter, cheering to Lothiriel's strange fortune in having the handsome stranger now entangled in her life.
It was a busy night and Imani was called back to her shift. Lothiriel made rounds chit chatting with Eowyn and stopping by old friends' tables nearby.
On her way back she noticed Keresa, a pretty barmaid known to get a little too friendly with patrons, chatting with Eomer and Daron at the table. The girl stood next to Eomer, leaning into the conversation a little too closely.
Lothiriel sat herself at the end of the table next to Eowyn, trying not to pay attention to any of it.
But as hard as she tried not to listen, bits and pieces made its way into her ears.
"That is so funny," Keresa said laughing at something Eomer said.
Daron added to the conversation to which, the wench replied, "Oh that is so interesting."
What is so funny and so interesting Keresa, Lothiriel darkly thought, taking a gulp of her wine.
"And what do you Rohan men do?" Keresa purred. "Something important, I can tell."
"Well, this man here is our leader, Marshal of the Riddermark. He has led us to victory a countless times and from meeting the dark end. Couldn't have asked for a better ally to ride into battle with," said Daron proudly.
Eomer gave an embarrassed chuckle.
"Daron, you are making me blush," Eomer said. "You are too kind. I'm just one of three Marshals that patrol the lands but I wouldn't be able to do so without capable Commanders like Daron here."
"Out in the battlefields. That's befitting of both of you," Keresa said. "I'd be grateful to have the both of you protecting me, especially the likes of the handsome Marshal," she said with a wink.
Eomer laughed it off, politely replying. "The honor would be mine."
Lothiriel could feel flashes of doubt creep into her thoughts. Was this how it worked? Would Keresa become one of those traveling conquests? Was she?!
"I've had one too many glasses," Lothiriel said quietly to Eowyn, standing up to leave.
"I'm about ready as well. I'll head out with you," Eowyn said, getting up with her.
Amrothos noticed the two ladies getting up.
"You both can't leave on your own at this time of night," Amrothos protested.
"I've walked home plenty of times at this time," rebutted Lothiriel.
If she had to hear any more nauseating lines spill out of Keresa's mouth, she was going to hurl out the contents of her stomach.
Erchirion cut in. "Plenty of times?!" he exclaimed, the liquor making his exclamation more pronounced.
"Just once or twice," Lothiriel said, wincing. "We'll be alright. It's a quick stroll altogether."
Shrugging off her brother's protests, Lothiriel and Eowyn said their goodbyes with Lothiriel barely acknowledging Eomer's end of the table. They left the White Lagoon, linking arms and making their way into the night.
They took in the night air, relieved for the change in scenery.
"That was fun," said Eowyn.
"The White Lagoon is always a good time," agreed Lothiriel.
"It's nice we can all be friends."
It really was nice. Each of them carried a different weight of responsibility in their daily lives, but tonight, they were able to enjoy each other's company, share a few drinks and laughs. She tried not to think about the end when Eomer fell in love with the harpy.
Pushing the thought away, Lothiriel replied earnestly to Eowyn. "I'm so glad you came."
"Me too," Eowyn said smiling back.
With their linked arms, they continued to walk down the empty cobblestone streets, teetering and giggling, sometimes stumbling into one another, but not minding as good girlfriends do.
However, in their revelry, they failed to notice how empty the streets were.
If it weren't for the liquor dulling their senses, perhaps they would have been worried about walking the streets alone.
About two blocks into their walk, they heard sudden pounding footsteps.
It made them realize how alone they were. The shops were closed and everyone had gone home for the night. Who would hear them scream?
Maybe they should have listened to her brothers.
"Over here!" whispered Lothiriel. Her intoxicated logic had told her to hide.
They crouched down, trying to remain hidden in the shadows, gripping each other tightly.
A large looming shadow of a man appeared, walking closer and closer.
Lothiriel held her breath, her chest thundering in fear.
Eowyn gripped her hand tightly then let out a breath.
"..Is that my brother?"
They watched as Eomer stepped into a moonlit area and glanced around.
"Oh, it is."
Eowyn emerged from the shadows. "Eomer, what are you doing here?"
"Eowyn," Eomer looked surprised. "What on earth.."
His eyes grew more surprised as Lothiriel also emerged from the alley's shadows.
"Wilhelm and I also called it night," he replied. "Wilhelm!" he called out down the block.
"Aye!" Wilhelm called out from a distance. "Will be right there!"
"We wanted to escort you both home," Eomer explained.
"But here you both are handling the night well, hiding in the shadows in case of potential perpetrators," he said, his eyes lighting up with amusement.
"Eomer!" Eowyn exclaimed. "Don't be smug. It was frightening. Thundering footsteps in the middle of the night. We had no idea!"
What did he expect them to do?
"We - we had a plan!"
The siblings turned to Lothiriel with a look of surprise.
"Oh. And what was the plan?" Eomer asked, his eyes crinkling.
Lothiriel searched for an answer. "The plan.. The plan.."
She frowned. "Well, we can't tell you. You don't go around telling details of safety protocols. It defeats the purpose."
Eomer let out a warm guffawing laugh and gave her a deep bow of penance.
"Ah, m'lady I apologize. You are absolutely right," he said, still laughing.
Lothiriel crossed her arms in defiance. "Of course I'm right."
Wilhelm joined and took a look at the laughing Eomer. "What's so funny?"
Eowyn trying to hide a smile replied, "Oh a debate on safety protocols."
"That's funny?" Wilhelm asked puzzled.
Eowyn and Wilhelm walked on ahead while Eomer lingered back to walk with Lothiriel.
She walked quietly beside him.
"Did you have a nice night?" Eomer asked attempting to break the silence.
"Yes, until a perpetrator showed up," she replied.
She was still frazzled from the scare and also still feeling slightly resentful. She did not expect to see him at all.
He glanced at her in surprise.
"You know, you gave us quite a scare," she said, giving him a little glare.
He wasn't sure if the look she was giving him was supposed to be menacing but he played up his act of contrition in case. All he wanted was to pull her close. She was so cute when pouty.
He gave her an apologetic smile and a small bow with sincerity. "I truly am sorry," he said. "I rushed hoping to find you both in time. I did not mean to give you a scare, or gloat."
She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to read his face. "Hmm."
"I did have a nice night," she said acquiescing. She gave him a quick smile to show he was back in her good graces.
He let out a smile of relief.
"Did you?" she asked.
"Yes."
There was a pause. "But I had a better afternoon."
Lothiriel looked up in surprise and couldn't help but smile. "We never got to finish our conversation."
"No."
She hesitated but decided to speak her mind.
"I would still like my lesson."
She said it matter of factly in her sweet melodic voice.
Eomer was taken aback. She always took him by surprise.
It had been a very long time since he felt any hesitation on how to deal with the opposite sex.
He thought of how to respond.
"I'll have some time tomorrow afternoon."
"That would be a perfect time," she replied.
They climbed up the steps to the castle's entrance where Eowyn and Wilhelm waited.
"Thank you for the walk boys. I bid you all goodnight," Eowyn said. She kissed Lothiriel's cheeks in farewell and turned into the castle.
The three stood at the entrance.
Wilhelm cleared his throat. "Aye, I'm off to sleep. Sleep well m'lady."
He waited on Eomer to bid Lothiriel goodnight but was met with silence.
He sensed the reluctance between the two. "I'll uh, just wait over there then."
Both stood there in silence not wanting the night to be over.
"Tomorrow," Lothiriel said quietly.
Eomer nodded. "Tomorrow."
He reached out and took her hand in his and brushed his lips against it softly. "Goodnight."
Lothiriel looked down at her hand and swallowed. "Goodnight," she said and swiftly turned into the hall.
Eomer watched her disappear into the corridor.
Wilhelm joined his friend and they both put on an air of nonchalance.
"Surprised you wanted to leave this early in the night," Wilhelm said carefully.
"Busy day tomorrow," Eomer replied.
Wilhelm shot his friend a small smile. "Aye."
Eomer laughed and pat his friend on the back.
But they both knew - - Eomer had fallen for the Princess.
Katia0203 - ha! (; I had a lot of fun writing it, trying to build up their chemistry :)
Catspector - :) I hope this chapter answers a few things. Onward they go~