Two bodies are entangled in an impressive mahogany bed perched in front of a crackling fireplace. Whispers and intimate sounds waft from the king-sized bed throughout the warmly lit room.
A pair of strong calloused hands softly graze his lover's thigh. She exhales into his ear, arching her back in anticipation, encouraging them to roam further. He leaves a trail of kisses down her neck, to her taut breasts, taking one in his mouth and expertly twirling his tongue around the sensitive peak, teasing, nipping. His hand then grips his lover's face tightly, pulling her close into a deep and frenzied kiss while the other hand slips between her thighs, coaxing the wet folds as she moans into his mouth.
"Are you ready for me love," he asks.
"Yes," she pants as he starts to caress her most sensitive pleasurable spot.
"Lothiriel," he says.
"Yes," Lothiriel whispers back to him.
"Lothiriel! Lothiriel!"
Lothiriel's eyes snap open. It is day and there is no one in her bedroom other than her plump, matronly handmaiden Elva.
The room belongs to Lothiriel, a beloved daughter and sister, and princess of the Dol Amroth.
"I must have yelled your name a countless times," Elva chides as she opens up the drapings. "Must have been quite the dream. All that whimpering."
Sunlight hits Lothiriel's eyes as she sits up abruptly mortified.
"It was a nightmare," she spits out. "Terrifying, creatures of the night, nightmare."
Elva tsks. "You have a wild spirit and an even wilder imagination, lady."
Lothiriel's heart still beats wildly from the dream and from being awoken so shamelessly.
"You should get dressed. You'll be having guests today arriving in the afternoon. Friends of your father's," Elva says as she lays out a plain cream colored gown.
Lothiriel wrinkles her nose at it.
"And a potential suitor I hear," Elva adds as she glances at Lothiriel.
"Potential," Lothiriel scoffs. "They're all bores."
"Marriage is more than having a good time with a handsome face. It is a responsibility. And you young lady, well, not so young now - have duties to fulfill. With your birthright comes a blessed life of leisure and novelty -" Elva says.
Lothiriel protests, "I am insulted!"
Elva ignores her and continues on as Lothiriel mouths along to the rest of Elva's speech. "But with your birthright also comes a responsibility to your family and to your city."
It is evident the speech has been delivered many times by Elva to the difficult Lothiriel.
"It is a burden," Lothiriel says bitterly.
"There, there," says Elva as she scoots Lothiriel out of bed. "Life's not fair."