A/N: hopefully, you guys will like this chapter better than the last one. (I don't know if ne of u like the last 1 or not cause no1 has reviewed it yet!!! please tell me if it stunk!!!) ps. there are some teensy LotR spoilers (nothing major) near the end, but if u are reading this fic, u probably already know what happens in Tolkien's work
Disclaimer--- sadly, I own nothing. *sniff, sniff*
The next morning at breakfast, there was almost as much mirth and laughter as there had been the night before. At the table though, there was one empty seat, and soon a young maid was sent to find the Princess Lian. She returned distraught,
"I can not find her anywhere my Lord, but her bed was cold, so she has not been in it for a while, and the window was open wide." King Aragorn immediately rose to go search for her himself, but Galen beat him to the door.
"I'll go and look for her Sir, you have all your guests here, I wouldn't want you to have to leave." Aragorn nodded and Galen left the dining chamber and made his way outside to the great main road of Gondor. He followed the road to the gates, and continued on towards the spot where Lian's arrow had pierced his father's carriage.
"Lian," he called into the woods, "Are you out here?" He heard a startled cry, followed by an "oops!" and a "duck!" No sooner had Galen followed the instructions than an arrow came whizzing over his crouched form. Lian bounded out of the brush and helped Galen up.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No," he reassured her, "but your warning came in the nick of time."
"I'm sorry, your voice startled me just as I was about to release, and I turned as I released, and oh, I...." she trailed off hopelessly. "I'm never going to get the hang of this. Maybe I should give up archery and go with Fëa to embroidery lessons," almost as soon as the words had left her mouth, she gave an involuntary shudder. Galen simply laughed.
"Somehow, I can not see you cooped inside happily embroidering. It would not be right to cage such a free soul. If you want, I could teach you how to shoot. I'm fairly decent." Lian smiled, then suddenly came to her senses.
"I should go to breakfast now," she whispered, then she turned and ran down the road to Gondor. Galen stood dumbstruck that she had deserted him for a second time. "What is the matter with that girl?" he wondered, scratching his forehead.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Aragorn tried hard to entertain his dear friends without showing concern for the disappearance of his daughter. He laughed at Pippin's jokes as he thought of Lian. She had been growing restless of late, there was no denying that. She wasn't like his other children, she was free spirited and full of life. The past year he had watched her as she explored Gondor and its surroundings. There was something thought that...
"Ah, those were they days, eh Strider, I mean Aragorn." Pippin's voice jolted Aragorn back into the present, "Er, yes. Yes, those were most definitely the days," he replied, having absolutely no clue what he was talking about. At that moment, Lian rushed into the dining room, hurriedly taking her seat and filling her plate. She scarfed her meal in a most unlady-like fashion, then rose to leave almost at once. Aragorn stood also, and beckoned her meet him in the hall. They stepped outside to doors and Lian bit her lip as she stared up at her father.
"Um, yes father?" almost dreading his reprimands for being tardy, rude, etc. What she got was a surprise though.
"Are you alright Lian?" he looked with concern upon his youngest child, "You've seemed a bit... preoccupied and fidgety of late. Is it the cause of the engagement, because if so, remember my promise. No one will think the worse of you if you refuse marriage."
"No, it's nothing like that. Actually, I would like to meet the prince, get to know him and such... if that can be arranged."
"It will be done at once daughter. I will send for the prince today, you will meet him this day if I can manage."
Trying to sound and look excited, Lian nodded, then excused herself and made for her chambers. she rolled her eyes at the thought of meeting him... "what was his name again? Eoren? Eowin? Eower? Hmm... that sounds right. Maybe," Lian thought to herself, "that could be it. Strange name though, I wonder what it means? I wonder what he's like. Who knows, perhaps Galen will be right about the prince... Galen. No, I won't think of him any more. I was foolish to begin, I won't continue on with this madness. I cannot keep running off like that though, it's most impolite. I suppose I could take him up on his offer to learn archery, that would be the polite thing to do. Yes, I'll tell him the next time I see him." She smiled, happy that she had settled that little issue, at least in her mind. "Now, on to more important things. I should wash up before I meet with the prince, I'll want to make a good impression." Lian contented herself for the next hour to bathing, dressing and beautifying. She asked Fëa to come and help her with her hair and her makeup, things that she still had trouble with. Fëa was thrilled with the fact that her young sibling was finally beginning to act like a lady, and was only too happy to help.
Braiding the fine brown strands of Lian's hair, Fëa asked what the special occasion was.
"I should be meeting the prince tonight, I want to look my best."
"Prince Galen?" Fëa asked.
"No! My prince, prince, um... My betrothed," Lian blushed under her powder at the fact that she couldn't even recall he name of the man she was to marry. "Why on earth would you think otherwise?"
"Oh, no reason. You just seemed to be quite friendly with Prince Galen, that's all. No need to be so defensive sister," she answered calmly.
"And that's all we are, friends," Lian became quite aware suddenly of how defensive she was, "So, you're correct, there's no need to make an issue of it." Lian shifted uncomfortably on her chair. A silence set in around them that put Lian at unease. Thankfully, there was a loud knock at the door. Lian let the old messenger in and he told her that Prince Eower of Rohan would await her company in the castle gardens in one hour's time. She thanked him, then returned to the bad so as Fëa could continue her hair.
The end of the hour drew near, and Lian made her way to the gardens of Gondor. She rarely came to the gardens, as everything was too perfect and well attended to for her tastes. Lian preferred wild and free things like forests to the groomed flower gardens. Eower was not yet there, and for a time, Lian walked alone amid the bushes. Then her ears picked up on a faint pat of leather on rock. She turned and saw what could only be Prince Eower of Rohan... and five of his guards. He walked towards her with a broad smile on his face, one that Lian tried to return.
"Princess Lian... your father hardly did you justice when he spoke of you. Clearly, your beauty surpasses all on Middle Earth."
"Is that all men think of? Beauty? Is that how they measure themselves against other men, whose wife is more fair?" Lian kept her thoughts to herself as she took his outstretched hand and bowed her head slightly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you good sir," she said with all the dignity and grace she could muster.
"Nay lady, the pleasure is mine entirely."
"No argument there," Lian thought. He smiled again at her, then led her to a nearby bench where they sat. He had one of his men dust off the bench before her allowed Lian to sit, and when she did, he tried to help her, as if she was not capable of seating herself.
"Honestly, does he think that I am made of glass?" she wondered. One of the things she hated most in the world was when men acted as if she was inferior or weaker than they. She had spent many a year strengthening her body in the wilderness and to have worked so hard for this... well, Lian was not altogether pleased. she tried to keep her feelings hidden though as he was the prince of Rohan, and it was important that the ties between her country and his stayed strong.
"Your very beautiful you know, breathtaking is the word I believe."
"Thank you," she managed to control her tongue before something unpleasant came out.
"So, Prince Eower, tell me of yourself, I am greatly interested," Lian started, finishing the sentence only in her mind, "about as interested as I am in that rock over there."
Her evening went much in that fashion for the remainder of the meeting. He would comment about her hair, face, hands and such, as she would try to hold her tongue and start a meaningful conversation. As dusk began to set in, she finally rose and excused herself, saying something about preparing for dinner. Walking as quickly as she dared, Lian finally let out her breath when she reached the back door of the castle. Relief flooded into her and she began to relax a bit. She rubbed her temple and tried to clear her mind of the mindless prince.
"I wonder if he is capable of commenting on anything other to do with beauty?" she thought, "I was about ready to gouge my eyes out back there."
Lian didn't bother to change for dinner, she wore the dress she had on, it was one of her loveliest. It was a deep blood red colour with gold trim and a low neckline. It trailed gently behind her since it was one of Fëa's old dresses, and Fëa was easily a foot taller than her sister. It still looked nice though, flattering without being inappropriate, and Lian secretly liked it.
Stepping into the dining hall, Lian was relieved to see that she was precisely on time for once, everyone was filtering in through the main entrance. King Elessar beckoned her to sit by him, an invitation she happily accepted. The food was delicious, thought perhaps not as grand as they had been the night before. Lian was thrilled to talk to her father, so greatly did she miss the heart to hearts they had when she was a small child. They used to go on adventures together, and he was the one who first showed her how to use a sword. Her father was getting on in years though, there was no denying that. Though his spirit held on to the vigor of its youth, the body was slower to comply. Nevertheless, he was still quite active as he approached old age, and Lian cherished the time she had with him.
Lian also met with some of his friends that she did not know. To her right sat one of the furry creatures, a hafling called Frodo Baggins. Haflings were most peculiar things, but this one especially. He seemed wise and old, and Lian noticed that he was missing his ring finger on his left hand. Though she greatly desired to know how he had lost it, Lian decided it was proper to not ask, since they were eating dinner, and it could have been a gruesome tale.
Across form Lian was seated another hafling, by the mane of Samwise Gamgee. He was a cheerful fellow, and next to him was his wife, Rosie Gamgee. Rosie was sweet and kind, and Lian took an instant liking to her. Within a few minutes of introduction, they were chatting as if they were old friends.
Lian had such a wonderful night with the haflings, she almost completely forgot about the disastrous meeting. Until that is, that her father brought it up.
"Lian darling, how did things go with Prince Eower?"
"They, um... everything was great. I think I really got to know him," she lied. Aragorn beamed his pleasure at this news.
"And have you reached a decision yet?" He stared anxiously at her.
"Yes father, I have. I..." she trailed off, looking around the table. She spotted Galen five seats down from Rosie, and he met her glance. Turning away quickly, she looked back at her father.
"I will marry the prince."
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so...... ??? any good?
please tell me, im dying here!!! if i get one person to tell me that i should continue with the story, then i will. please tell me if u guys like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *pic of me down on a bended knee with hands in the air* PLEASE!! (no flames!!!)
-hollie-