Notes: I wasn't sure how long it would take to get to Edoras, but he went
through Minas Tirith so I'm assuming awhile... if anyone has an idea on how
long that would take let me know!
Rating: It's PG-13 for a later chapter, just to be on the safe side. Forgot to mention that last time :-)
Chapter Two
Three Weeks Later
Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth laughed heartily at a joke the King of Rohan had just told as they sat alone in Melduseld one night. They had sat speaking like this every night for the past week or so, ever since they had arrived for Theoden King's funeral. Imrahil founded the young King's friendly presence comforting, and his lack of formality often refreshing. Eomer reminded him greatly of his own sons, all of whom he had missed sorely over the past year. The Rohirrim King was only a year younger than his second son, Erchirion. Imrahil imagined the two of them would have gotten along grandly, both men were quick to action and more soldier than politician, but beneath their soldier instincts there was a good, strong leader. Although for Erchirion, listening to sense often took his youngest and only daughter, Lothiriel.
Imrahil chuckled as Eomer told of some nasty prank he had pulled on his cousin Theodred when he was young. It appeared as if Theoden's son had found himself with a pile of horse droppings on his head, courtesy of a well-placed bucket on Eomer's part.
"I pray you never meet with Erchirion and Lothiriel, Eomer King. Valar save us all if you three exchange notes." Imrahil said, wincing at the memory of several of Erchirion's pranks. Although her brothers would never admit it, the Prince knew that Lothiriel took part in these games. But the older ones protected her. Imrahil never had to fear any young man taking advantage of Lothiriel while he was not home to oversee any suitors. He imagined her brothers would be far stricter than himself. He remember fondly a certain incident before he left when a young soldier had made a crude comment about Lothiriel. It was merely a joking comment that young soldiers often made to one another, however, her brothers had gotten wind of it. Elphir, Erchirion, and Amrothos had put the young man down so hard the boy didn't get up for a week afterwards.
Eomer chuckled, "Do not tell me your daughter gives you trouble."
Imrahil laughed, smiling fondly at the mention of his girl. "Lothiriel was raised with three older brothers, Eowyn only had you, does that put things into perspective?"
Eomer gave a low whistle, "No wonder you linger here." He joked.
Imrahil smiled, "Yes, and I should probably return home soon. My men are rested enough thanks to your hospitality."
Eomer nodded, regretting his new friend's leave-taking, but understanding his wish to return home. "When do you leave?"
"I believe we shall start home at the end of the week." Imrahil said. "I have heard nothing from them in over a year and I am beginning to worry."
Eomer took a drink, "I am sure they are well my friend." He then raised his glass. "To Dol Amroth." He toasted.
Imrahil smiled, raising his own in answer, "And friendship with Rohan."
Suddenly, the two men were interrupted. "Forgive me my Lord. A rider from Dol Amroth is at the doors. He says it is important that he speak with Prince Imrahil."
Imrahil stood, and exchanged a worried glance with Eomer.
The King nodded, "Send him in."
The door immediately swung open and a man dressed in the silver swan came into the room. His face was almost a mirror for Imrahil's, although a younger mirror. A look of deep relief came into that face when he saw the Prince standing with the King.
Prince Imrahil hurried to meet the man and gave him a fatherly embrace, "Erchirion? How come you here?" He asked with concern. "Is everything well at home?"
Erchirion shook his head, "I wish I could bear better news Father, but Dol Amroth is under siege of the Corsairs. We have naught the men to repel the attack."
Imrahil looked sharply at his son, his eyes filled with worry. "Why has no news reached me of this before?"
Erchirion cringed, "All the messengers we sent were killed. I barely slipped through, but I lost all my escort."
"Your brothers? Lothiriel? Are they-?"
Erchirion held up a calming hand, "They are fine Father, as well as can be expected. Elphir keeps the city in control, but the people are starting to panic. If not for Lothiriel's calming words and kind manner I free a riot would have ensured months ago."
Imrahil closed his eyes a moment, "I must ride at once then."
"As will the Riders of Rohan." Eomer replied, he had watched the exchange between father and son and now was ready to pledge his army. "When I renewed the oath of Eorl to Elessar I did not think I would be answering it so quickly."
Imrahil and Erchirion both turned to look at him. Imrahil smiled, "Erchirion, this is Eomer, King of Rohan. Eomer, this is the infamous Erchirion, my second son."
"Your Father speaks highly of you Erchirion." A gleam appeared in the young King's eye. "And he says if we were to compare notes on all the jokes we cause in our youth, the whole Middle Earth would be doomed, especially should I meet your sister."
Erchirion laughed, "Then we shall have much to discuss on the road to Dol Amroth." He bowed. "Any man Father deems worthy to hear tales of myself and my dear sister is a friend indeed."
Eomer smiled, and ordered a servant to find quarters for Erchirion. "Take some rest, you look as if you have not slept since you left Dol Amroth." Imrahil urged, "I will go tell the men to prepare to leave."
Erchirion nodded, "Thank you Father. I have already spoken with the King in Gondor, he shall gather troops and meet us in Minas Tirith."
Imrahil clapped his son on the back, "You have done well Erchirion."
He smiled, "Thank you Father." He turned and followed the servant from the room, relief flooded the young man, he was glad to find his father alive and well, and now glad that such a force would ride to Dol Amroth. Hope seemed to finally be coming to his home.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Review! Review! Review! I think I want reviews!
Rating: It's PG-13 for a later chapter, just to be on the safe side. Forgot to mention that last time :-)
Chapter Two
Three Weeks Later
Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth laughed heartily at a joke the King of Rohan had just told as they sat alone in Melduseld one night. They had sat speaking like this every night for the past week or so, ever since they had arrived for Theoden King's funeral. Imrahil founded the young King's friendly presence comforting, and his lack of formality often refreshing. Eomer reminded him greatly of his own sons, all of whom he had missed sorely over the past year. The Rohirrim King was only a year younger than his second son, Erchirion. Imrahil imagined the two of them would have gotten along grandly, both men were quick to action and more soldier than politician, but beneath their soldier instincts there was a good, strong leader. Although for Erchirion, listening to sense often took his youngest and only daughter, Lothiriel.
Imrahil chuckled as Eomer told of some nasty prank he had pulled on his cousin Theodred when he was young. It appeared as if Theoden's son had found himself with a pile of horse droppings on his head, courtesy of a well-placed bucket on Eomer's part.
"I pray you never meet with Erchirion and Lothiriel, Eomer King. Valar save us all if you three exchange notes." Imrahil said, wincing at the memory of several of Erchirion's pranks. Although her brothers would never admit it, the Prince knew that Lothiriel took part in these games. But the older ones protected her. Imrahil never had to fear any young man taking advantage of Lothiriel while he was not home to oversee any suitors. He imagined her brothers would be far stricter than himself. He remember fondly a certain incident before he left when a young soldier had made a crude comment about Lothiriel. It was merely a joking comment that young soldiers often made to one another, however, her brothers had gotten wind of it. Elphir, Erchirion, and Amrothos had put the young man down so hard the boy didn't get up for a week afterwards.
Eomer chuckled, "Do not tell me your daughter gives you trouble."
Imrahil laughed, smiling fondly at the mention of his girl. "Lothiriel was raised with three older brothers, Eowyn only had you, does that put things into perspective?"
Eomer gave a low whistle, "No wonder you linger here." He joked.
Imrahil smiled, "Yes, and I should probably return home soon. My men are rested enough thanks to your hospitality."
Eomer nodded, regretting his new friend's leave-taking, but understanding his wish to return home. "When do you leave?"
"I believe we shall start home at the end of the week." Imrahil said. "I have heard nothing from them in over a year and I am beginning to worry."
Eomer took a drink, "I am sure they are well my friend." He then raised his glass. "To Dol Amroth." He toasted.
Imrahil smiled, raising his own in answer, "And friendship with Rohan."
Suddenly, the two men were interrupted. "Forgive me my Lord. A rider from Dol Amroth is at the doors. He says it is important that he speak with Prince Imrahil."
Imrahil stood, and exchanged a worried glance with Eomer.
The King nodded, "Send him in."
The door immediately swung open and a man dressed in the silver swan came into the room. His face was almost a mirror for Imrahil's, although a younger mirror. A look of deep relief came into that face when he saw the Prince standing with the King.
Prince Imrahil hurried to meet the man and gave him a fatherly embrace, "Erchirion? How come you here?" He asked with concern. "Is everything well at home?"
Erchirion shook his head, "I wish I could bear better news Father, but Dol Amroth is under siege of the Corsairs. We have naught the men to repel the attack."
Imrahil looked sharply at his son, his eyes filled with worry. "Why has no news reached me of this before?"
Erchirion cringed, "All the messengers we sent were killed. I barely slipped through, but I lost all my escort."
"Your brothers? Lothiriel? Are they-?"
Erchirion held up a calming hand, "They are fine Father, as well as can be expected. Elphir keeps the city in control, but the people are starting to panic. If not for Lothiriel's calming words and kind manner I free a riot would have ensured months ago."
Imrahil closed his eyes a moment, "I must ride at once then."
"As will the Riders of Rohan." Eomer replied, he had watched the exchange between father and son and now was ready to pledge his army. "When I renewed the oath of Eorl to Elessar I did not think I would be answering it so quickly."
Imrahil and Erchirion both turned to look at him. Imrahil smiled, "Erchirion, this is Eomer, King of Rohan. Eomer, this is the infamous Erchirion, my second son."
"Your Father speaks highly of you Erchirion." A gleam appeared in the young King's eye. "And he says if we were to compare notes on all the jokes we cause in our youth, the whole Middle Earth would be doomed, especially should I meet your sister."
Erchirion laughed, "Then we shall have much to discuss on the road to Dol Amroth." He bowed. "Any man Father deems worthy to hear tales of myself and my dear sister is a friend indeed."
Eomer smiled, and ordered a servant to find quarters for Erchirion. "Take some rest, you look as if you have not slept since you left Dol Amroth." Imrahil urged, "I will go tell the men to prepare to leave."
Erchirion nodded, "Thank you Father. I have already spoken with the King in Gondor, he shall gather troops and meet us in Minas Tirith."
Imrahil clapped his son on the back, "You have done well Erchirion."
He smiled, "Thank you Father." He turned and followed the servant from the room, relief flooded the young man, he was glad to find his father alive and well, and now glad that such a force would ride to Dol Amroth. Hope seemed to finally be coming to his home.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Review! Review! Review! I think I want reviews!