Author's notes.

I apologize to the readers and the reviewer for my slowness. Anyway, I hope to update soon.

I know that in Middle Earth there are no circus, but I could not thing to anything else (or rather, I could, but it wasn't exactly proper…).  

I just wanted to say another thing: I know I'm being horrible to Éowyn and Éomer. It's not like I don't like them, quite the opposite in fact…But I couldn't resist!  

Last but not least, a big, big, big thank you to Lara who helped me with this chapter. All hail to her, please.

And now, let's start…

Chapter two: Preparations 

I haven't seen my brother since we decided – or rather he decided – that he was going to be our wedding planner, and that was five days ago.

Now I'm going to see what the hell he's doing. Hey, it's my wedding! 

Oh, Éowyn. What lucky chances brings you here? he greets me emerging from a pile of parchments.

Oh, I just wanted to see how you're doing…

Just fine, sister, just fine. I've just finished with the list.

What list?

The list of guests.  

I frown: Shouldn't we discuss it with Faramir? 

Oh, we'll do it later…

Really? Before or after sending the invitations?

Ehmm…

Let me have a look. I sigh.

He hands me a long roll of parchment. Very long. About three or four meters.

Éomer… I mutter, my eyes wide. I thought we had agreed on a small ceremony…

We did. Just a few close friends and relations.    

I look at him and then at the list.

Let me check…  I start reading "Aelfric son of Earle, Aileen daughter of Earle, Aldhelm son of Banquo, Astaea daughter of Burk, Astophel daughter of Burk, Athelstan son of Burk…" I raise my gaze from the list Couldn't you group them for families?      

Éomer pretends not to hear me. I roll my eyes and go back to reading.

Éomer, you can't invite the Blackwoods! I don't even know them!

But we're related, we can't leave out our own relations.

We are related? And how?

Well, our great-great-great-great-grandfather married a cousin of lord Blackwood's sister in law.     

A close relation indeed! I snort, but he doesn't catch my meaning.

I told you…

Shaking my head, I resume to my reading-duty. A very boring reading-duty.

The list goes on. And on. And on.

Finally…

Ye…Yeoundi son of Runyon?

Let me see… he cast a brief glance at the name I'm pointing him.

No, it's Yehundi son of Runyon.

Aah, now that's clear. And…who in Middle Earth is he?

The stable-boy.

The st…Éomer!   

Oh, don't be such a snob.

I'm not a snob!

Then what's the matter?

Éomer, you're going to invite half Rohan at my wedding! An I don't even know most of the people here! I practically shriek, waving the list. 

So?

A few close friends and relations?! Speaking of friends, I don't see king Elessar nor queen Arwen here…

Well…we're in their kingdom, I think it was obvious that they'd come…  

It's not obvious, damnit! I say stomping my foot on the ground. Add their names immediately!

 Yeah, yeah, chill out!

Chill out my horse. How are we going to feed all these people? We're will we celebrate the wedding?

Don't you worry, I planned everything: we're going to celebrate it on the lawns outside the city

And the feast? What about the feast?

Oh, well, we'll…"borrow" a hall for the banquet

 What do you mean with "borrow"?

Well, it's not like we have another choice…

I cover my face with my hands: I don't think I want to know… 

Éomer rolls his eyes: You're so dramatic! You don't have to worry, everything will be all right.

And the music, what about the music? Have you called some musicians?

Oops…I knew there was something missing! But I'll do it immediately. Now, if you want to excuse me… and he shows me out the door You'll see, sister: it'll be the greatest Rohirric wedding ever!

Great. At first I was worried. Now I'm scared to death! 

Are you all right, Lothiriel? I ask her.

Sorry? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, thank you. she shakes her head Now I know why Éomer hasn't proposed yet… 

What do you mean? I ask her, very worried.

Oh, well…You know how Rohirric weddings are…

No, I don't know. I get on my feet Where is he?

I don't know, I think he's with the musicians. Follow the noise.  

Thank you.

I leave her and start looking for my brother.

So he did call the musicians, after all…Maybe he's not so bad as a wedding planner.

I do as Lothiriel suggested, I follow the noise.

I open the door and I almost have an heart attack. Women "dressed" in leather are wildly dancing – or rather convulsing – like someone had covered them with honey and sat them on an ant-heap, while a possessed-looking man is playing the drums. The women screams as they twirl around like drunk tops. And my brother Éomer is currently leaning against the wall, looking like the most peaceful man on Middle Earth and enjoying the show.

I hope  that these people are not who I think they are…

I march toward that…that…oh, well, my brother.

Éomer, what's going on? I ask him, putting my hands on my hips.

What did you say? he shouts I can't hear you! 

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? I holler, pointing to "that". And from the look on his face, I think he heard me this time.

Well, it was you the one who asked for the musicians… 

One, two, three, four…calm down, Éowyn…You can't choke him to death, he's your brother, do you remember? (Yes, but I wish I don't….)

And do you call that noise music? The Witch King's rattling was more pleasant! And those…women, who are they?

Uhm…Dancers? 

I bury my face in my hands, wondering what I have done to deserve such a thing…And such a brother.

Where have you find them, in a circus?

Exactly, how did you guess?

Éomer… I growl, trying not to lose my temper …you'll dismiss these people immediately

But sister…

NOW!

He sighs, rolling his eyes. All right. Hey, folks, the show is over. 

I must admit it, he's not as bad as I thought. He's worse.  

I remember when I was in the Glittering Caves under Helm's Deep and heard the battle raging upon my head. I was worried and angry and frustrated. And also scared, because I felt trapped.

I remember when I faced the Witch King, in front of Minas Tirith. I was scared, but firm and resolute.

I remember that one day, King Elessar asked me what I feared and I answered the cage.

I was wrong, for now I fear nothing more than facing my own brother. And discovering what else he has done for my wedding.

I pluck up courage and knock on his door.

Come in.

Hello, Éomer. What are you doing?

What am I doing? I… well… you see, I'm preparing the invitations.

Drin, drin…An alarm bell is ringing in my mind.

Ah. The invitations…

Aye, the invitations.

May I have a look?

His cheeks lose all their color: the alarm bell rings louder.

Oh, ehm… I don't think so, I haven't finished them yet…

The alarm bell is screaming by now.

Éomer…

Aye?

Give-me-that-parchment.

He swallows hard: All…all right, Éowyn

I grab the paper he's handing me. He has done something stupid. I know he has done something stupid.

I start reading: "Éomer, king of Rohan, announce the marriage of his sister Éowyn, daughter of  the later Éomund and Theowyn, niece of the later King Theoden and cousin of the later Theodred…" Why don't you write also "Cousin of the Blackwoods"? "…with the Steward of Gondor Lord Faramir, son of the later…" Again! "… son of the later Denethor Steward of Gondor and Finduilas of Dol Amroth and brother of the later Boromir". Is it an invitation or the war memorial? If they read something like this, they'll think they're going to a funeral vigil.

Well… It can be improved.

It should be rewritten. Anyway, let's go on. "The wedding will be celebrated on July 20th in the Great Hall of Minas Tirith. Free food and drinks after the ceremony! Don't miss it!" I raise my gaze slowly. Did you have to? It's a wedding, not a new inn!

Ehm….

I throw the parchment away. Give me a pen and some paper: I shall write it myself.

Ehm, there's a small… problem, my dear sister.

The alarm bell is back, louder than ever.

What problem, exactly?

I've already sent them…

ÉOMER!

****

Two months ago:

Éomer, what about the musicians?

The musicians? Aah, the musicians! I was about to call them… If you will excuse me, my dear sister…

One moth ago:

Éomer, did you call the musicians?

I thought your wedding planner was going to do so…

Éomer…

Yes?

You are my wedding planner!

Oh, that's true! I forgot…

So, did you call them or not?

I forgot that too…But don't you worry, I'll do it immediately

Two weeks ago:

Éomer, did you call…

Ehm, I think my chief advisor is calling me… I'll talk to you later, Éowyn.

One week ago:

Éomer…

Yes?

Don't forget the musicians!

Don't you worry! I won't!

Two days ago:

Please, don't tell me…

I'm sorry, sister, I've been very busy lately…

Get out of my sight. Now.

Today.

Sister, I bring good news! Éomer announces proudly.

You'll let someone else organize my wedding? I mutter under my breath.

Beg your pardon?

What news do you have for me, my brother?

"This is better be good…For his own sake, this is better be very good…"

I've called the musicians!

What a surprise! Oh, but you didn't have to hurry: there are still about…four days to my wedding. Truth to be told, I was starting to think that there were no music at all in Rohirric weddings…

Now you're unjust, sister…

Éomer…

Aye?

When did you start organizing my wedding?

Ehm… Three months ago.

How often did I tell you to call the musicians?

About once a day.

See? So shut up. I raise. Where are they? I wish to see them.

Follow me, I'll show you the way.

As we walk down the corridors, Éomer doesn't stop repeating:

You'll see, you won't be disappointed! Their hands are made of gold!

Finally, we reach the room where they rehearsing.

Here we are. Éomer announces throwing the door open Guys, may I introduce you to the bride?

The three men put down their instruments: one is limping toward us, the other cups his ear with one hand and shouts WHAT? and the last one is holding out his hand in the wrong direction.

Wonderful. A lame percussionist, a deaf trumpeter and a blind harpist.   

I wonder: is music so necessary in a wedding ceremony?

I greet the musicians as kindly as I can, then we leave them to their rehearsing.

So, what do you think about them? my brother asks me as soon as we're out of the room.

Their hands can be very well made of gold, but the rest…

Oh, come on! After all I solved two problems with just one call.

What problem, exactly?

Well, you know that if a blind, a lame and a deaf attend the wedding, your children will be healthy.

I mumble something in return. Note to self: check if this tradition exist. I know I should trust him: after all, he's my brother… But that's exactly the reason why I don't trust him at all.

By the way, you'll change your mind when you'll rehears with them.

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure…

Stop. Rewind.

What did he say?

When I'll WHAT?

Rehears whit them. The bride must sing at her wedding to bring good luck

Éomer, you must be joking. You know that I couldn't sing to save my life or my country.

Don't you worry, you'll sing as a nightingale

A nightingale that sounds like an eagle! I snort.

Don't be so pessimistic! Come on, you'll start tomorrow.

Can't we leave out the "singing-bride" part? I whimper.

Absolutely no! It's an ancient tradition!

I'd gladly burn down these Goddamned traditions! 

Next chapter: the Wedding!