For the first chapter, I am including a bit more than most chapters will have- I have to get you hooked somehow! Feel free to skip the forward, it's just an explanation of my style and reasoning. And absolutely feel free to leave me a review! This is my first full story, so I'm sure I have much to learn. Please, enjoy...

A Forward by the author.

This is an imagining of a longer "falling-in-love" story between Faramir and Eowyn, which is set in book-verse, but rather pretends as if movie-verse is almost all that occurred between the two; meaning that they spent nearly every day together in the Houses of Healing, including the celebratory kiss on the wall. Although I did my best to keep much of the events of the book the same and with the same timeline, I left out most of their canon conversations, unless I managed to weave them into the story.

This is also an imagining of the entire love story between Lothiriel and Eomer, as neither book nor movie have given us anything on the subject. I have attempted to keep their interactions canon (made easier by the fact that Lothiriel never speaks!), but of course I only have so much to go on.

The stories are told from the perspectives of Eowyn and Lothiriel each, back-and-forth, as this includes the beginnings of their (non-canon) life-long friendship.

I found a friendship between the two to be natural, as I have developed friendships with both of my sisters-in-law. Plus, Eowyn is not of the jealous type. I cannot see Lothiriel having a jealous streak either, considering that she and Eowyn both grew up surrounded by men. I think both of them are glad to finally be around a like-minded woman. I say like-minded, because I cannot imagine Eomer choosing otherwise. I know that the alliance forged through their marriage might have been a factor, but Eowyn and Faramir already set a strong alliance between Gondor and Rohan. This fact, besides Eomer's personality, leads me to believe that he found a love match. As for Lothiriel, she may have been jealous, callous, and cruel, but I find it unlikely given that this is Middle-Earth and she is a woman of nobility. I imagine her to be gentle, cunning, and very kind. Tolkien held women and royalty in high esteem and this is his mythical world. He is allowed to decide how to treat them and characterize them. Which brings me to why I am writing this. While I am sure Tolkien had some thoughts to these romances in his head (particularly that of Faramir and Eowyn), he simply did not write much of them down. Yes, I know he gave Eowyn her redemptive arc and Faramir his happy ending through each other, but I simply love these characters and I wanted to write them how I think they might have reacted had they been perhaps a bit less perfect. A little mess makes for a fun story. So here it is...my little mess to add to the expansive Tolkien universe.

L

I see her. She is probably ten meters away. I thank the man for pointing her out to me, and begin to walk toward her. It sounds casual, and it probably looks casual, but I feel anything but casual. I mean, this woman before me had defeated the Witch King of Angmar! She was a shieldmaiden! She fought in battle with men. The White Lady of Rohan is a marvelous creature. And she's standing right there.

E

The gardens in the Houses of Healing had been quite peaceful, but this courtyard is a little different. A lot more fountains and stone sculptures. Elegant. That's the word. Like the many buildings in the upper levels of the City. And the dresses and jewels I see on these ladies of Minas Tirith. Is everything here more elegant than at home? Home. How I miss it. Rolling hills and thick forests. That is beauty. This cold, stone city is...elegant, but not inviting. Rohan is a much more loving environment. Speaking of home, where is my dear brother? Ah yes, just as I suspected. By the food. I should go talk- someone is curtsying to me. A young girl. Close to my age. Pretty face. And what gorgeous hair! Why, it's dark as a moonless night. And curly as a hobbit's! I want to touch it. But I mustn't. This is a formal occasion. Oh no, she's talking.

'Good day, White Lady-'

White Lady? Great. This is going to be awkward.

'I have heard many great things about you.'

I enjoy her accent, slightly different than most I have heard in the City.

'Well, don't believe everything you hear. Stories can be misleading.' A smile to let her know you aren't actually upset with her...there it is, a smile back. Good, she isn't as uptight as I thought.

'I have heard some...unusual things. Forgive me, but is it true you fought in the Battle at Pelennor Fields?'

'Yes.' Her eyes widen. I guess that is pretty unusual.

'And, did you also destroy the Witch King?'

'Yes, with some help from a hobbit.' I smile. Merry was such a good warrior. Her eyes are even wider.

'And you sneaked out of the Houses of Healing to ride with King Elessar to the Black Gate?'

Oh no. I'm going to laugh.

'No, my lady, I am afraid that rumor is not true. I could hardly move my arm, much less fight, when the King set out for Mordor.'

'Oh. I am sorry rumors have already spread about you, Lady.'

Now that will have to stop.

'Please, my name is Eowyn, daughter of Eomund.'

'And I am Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil.'

Wait, I've heard that name. Smile while you think. Imrahil...oh. He's the Prince of Dol Amroth. So this girl is pretty important. She's a princess.

'Yes, your father is Prince of Dol Amroth, am I correct?'

'Yes, my la- er, Eowyn.'

No wonder she called me Lady. It's been ingrained in her since birth.

'So you're a princess? That has to be exciting.' Oh no, I seem to have touched a nerve of some sort. I always say the wrong thing.

'Yes...it can be.'

Great. Good old silence. Here's the awkward part. What's her name? Lot...Lothiriel, that's it. Lothiriel, Lothiriel, Lothiriel.

Okay, change the subject.

'I love your hair. How do you get it to curl like that?' She looks alarmed. How can hair be a touchy subject?

'I didn't do a thing to it.'

Now my eyes are wide.

'Do you mean, you woke up like this?'

'My hair does naturally curl...is yours not naturally straight?'

'Well, yes, for the most part. But you didn't have to...fix it in any way?'

'Why would I? It isn't broken.'

A giggle escapes me.

'Well mine certainly is when I wake up.'

She giggled. But it wasn't a joke.

'Seriously, my hair does all sorts of wonky things.'

'But it looks so tame and easy to handle. Not like mine. I can't force it to do anything.'

She's actually upset. It looks perfect!

'Tame and easy? Try flat and stubborn.' I'll have to explain. Never did I ever think I would be talking to a princess about hair.

'You see, when I wake up in the morning, my hair tends to be straight on one side and crumpled on the other. And don't even get me started on the front.'

'Well how do you make it straight?'

'I have to dampen it with water and then brush it constantly until it is dry again. Sometimes I have to hold parts of it a certain way to make sure it dries correctly.'

'Brush? Like you would brush a horse?'

'Yes, I suppose. You don't brush your hair?'

'No, I don't.'

Luckiest girl alive, this one. I'll let her know.

'Then you are very lucky indeed.'

'But you-'

'No, I shan't hear another word about it. Just accept the fact.' I hope she knows I'm not serious. I actually like talking to her.

'Lothiriel, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?'

'I will turn twenty in just two months, my lady.' Really? But she seems so much older.

'Oh, I thought you were a little older.' Is she smirking at me? I do like her.

'How much older?'

'Well, I thought you and I were the same age, but that is four years older than you are.'

'Oh! I, too, am shocked at your age. I thought you were just twenty and two.'

'Then I suppose neither of us is a good judge!' It feels good to laugh. It's been so long. I think I've made a friend in this girl. But someone is tapping her shoulder, probably asking to take her away from me. It is Faramir. I still don't know what to think about him. He had made many advances a few weeks ago...but since then, nothing. Well, you did kind of reject those advances. Oh, right. Why did I do that? Because you know what Eomer would say if-.

'I would like a word with my dear cousin, may I steal her away from your company?'

Cousin? I guess all of these nobles are related in some way.

'Well, if you must. I have enjoyed my time with her, but I suppose I should share.' Nicely phrased.

'I am delighted to have met you, Princess Lothiriel. I hope we speak again soon.' And I actually meant it.

'And the same to you, Lady Eowyn. I think we shall meet again.'

Keep smiling and bow. Perfect. I'm getting better at these polite encounters.

Her hair even bounces beautifully as she walks away.

L

She was everything I had hoped she would be. Pretty, intelligent, humorous, polite when necessary, but not fake. She really liked my hair? Maybe I should try brushing it. And her skin! Flawless. So she's twenty four? Uncomfortable in a formal setting for being that old. Of course, I've been raised this way, so maybe that's the difference. I should have asked about her family. Her hair was so light. Do all Rohirrim have that color hair? No, they can't possibly. Right? Faramir might know, I should ask him tomorrow. Faramir. I am glad he warned me about Amrothos before Father saw him. Luckily my strong-headed brother listened to me this time. And what about Faramir? He said nothing of our betrothal to me tonight. Perhaps we will not be wed. His father was the one to suggest it, after all. Now that he is dead...oh I shouldn't be thinking like this. A life was lost. But that life also won't cause you to worry any more. Stop it. That isn't right. But it's true. Just don't think about it. Just hope Father won't force you into it anymore. Won't force both of you. Faramir doesn't want this anymore than you do. And why not? Am I not good enough for him? Oh shut up! It's because we're cousins. And he's about sixteen years older than you. It's certainly not unheard of to marry your much older cousin, but if it can be avoided… But what if I have to marry someone horrible? Someone who doesn't respect me? What if I'm forced to marry a dreadful man? At least Faramir is a good person. Perhaps father will let me marry for love. Stupid. That's not your duty. You are a princess, and princesses do not marry for love. I know. What if I could have both? What if I loved the next man father picks? Even more stupid. Stop being a child. You are almost twenty. You should accept your fate. Am I not allowed a bit of hope? Just enough to keep you alive. Alright. I can accept that.

Now go to sleep! Father won't be happy if you're slow tomorrow.

Again, please review and/or ask questions! -Anarwyn