Chapter Five
Three Days Later
"Nine-year-old Lothiriel ran through the stables, giggling. Her mother stopped brushing her horse for a moment and looked up, giving the girl a hug. "Lothiriel, why are you not at your lessons?" She looked around expecting to see an angry tutor soon behind her daughter.
Lothiriel shook her head, "But they are so boring!"
Her mother laughed, Lothiriel loved the sound of her mother's laughter. It was like music to her ears. She always tried to make her mother laugh. "Very well, since you left those lessons, you can at least keep me company. Would you like that?"
Lothiriel nodded, enthusiastically, her grey eyes sparkled. "Yes Mama!"
Her mother smiled, "Come then my dear daughter." She took the girl's hand, and lifted her up. "You may ride my horse and I shall ride your father's."
Soon the pair was riding along the cliffs, looking over the sea. It was where they always rode. Lothiriel loved riding, and these trips were a special time shared between mother and daughter.
"Catch me if you can!" Lothiriel shouted to her mother, pushing her horse into a faster run as she laughed with delight.
"Lothiriel!" Her mother shouted. "Slow down!"
Lothiriel just laughed, and continued to ride. She loved the feel of the sun on her head and the wind in her hair. Suddenly, she heard a sound that froze her blood.
Her mother cried out, her scream cut the air like a knife.
Lothiriel turned as quickly as she could and let out a cry at what she saw. Her mother, lying on the ground in an unnatural angle, she had fallen from her horse. Her head had caught on a rock and blood was now pouring from the wound.
Lothiriel slid off her horse and ran to her side, "Mother!" She whispered frantically. "Mother?"
Her mother opened her eyes, her face was a deadly pale, her eyes, which had always gleamed with delight at Lothiriel's antics, were strangely disoriented. "Lothiriel." She whispered. "You must take care of you brothers and father now."
"No Mama. You'll be all right!" She pleaded.
"Lothiriel." Her mother said her name, and the girl met her eyes. "Promise me."
Lothiriel took a deep breath, "I promise."
Her mother seemed to smile, then her eyes clouded over and she breathed no more. Lothiriel suddenly felt cold all over and was shaking uncontrollably. "Mama!" She cried out. "Mama, come back!" She took a deep breath and screamed with all her might.
"Mama!" She cried out."
"My Lady?"
A voice shook Lothiriel out of her dream and she awoke with a start. It took her a moment to gain her bearings once more. She had fallen asleep in the library while reading a book. She had not been sleeping well, and in the morning she went to find comfort in a book. Her exhaustion must have finally caught up with her.
She looked up to see who had called her awake. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw King Eomer standing over her, concern lacing his rough features. He certainly cleaned up nicely, instead of his armor he wore a tunic, although finely embroidered, it was still not nearly as grand as one would have expected, and it was well worn. She did note however, that even without armor he had broad shoulders and was extremely muscular. The type of build her maids often giggled about when watching the guards. She quickly pushed the thoughts from her head and rose to her feet.
"Your Highness, what can I do for you?" She asked quickly smoothing her gown.
Eomer shook his head, annoyed. "You can stop playing hostess for one and sit down while I get you something to drink. That dream you were having must have been awful and I will not allow you to make a fuss over me when you are distressed."
Lothiriel gave him a grateful look and sat down as Eomer poured some water from a near-by pitcher and handed it to her, before sitting down in the chair opposite. His eyes watched her with curiosity as she drank. "Thank you, your Highness."
He nodded, "Twas the least I could do, my Lady." He then turned his head to a side, regarding her before moving to a window to look out at the sea. "It is beautiful here." He said softly, watching gulls fly overhead.
Lothiriel smiled at the compliment, "Yes it is."
"Do you ever tire of the sea?" He asked, turning back to her.
Lothiriel sighed, thoughtfully. "The Sea is a tricky thing, my Lord. It can cause us pain and nurture us all at the same time. It came betray us, kill us, and yet it can feed us and inspire. And it is a beautiful thing to look upon."
Eomer smiled and then turned back to gaze out again. "Much like love." He said, more to himself than to her.
Lothiriel and gazed at him as he looked away. "Yes. Very much so."
They were quiet for a moment, and then Eomer returned and sat back down across from her. "In your dream, you were calling for your mother, I heard you when I was passing by, and I was wondering if you were all right."
Lothiriel closed her eyes for a moment, sighing. "I have not had those dreams in a long while." She said softly.
Eomer looked at her with concern, "What happened to her?" He asked. "Your father never spoke of her."
Lothiriel gave a bitter laugh, "Oh no, I don't suppose he would have." She sighed, opening her eyes and looking at the glass in her hands. "Father grieves in a silent way. He never speaks of her." She looked to the sea a moment, lost in thought. She then turned back to him. "When I was a girl I used to love riding. Mother and I would go out together and ride on the cliffs over looking the sea. It was just the two of us, never any guards or Father, or my brothers. Just us." She sighed. "One day, when I was nine years of age we went out together as we always did. I challenged her to a race. She told me to slow down, she was having trouble keeping up, but I didn't listen. I heard her scream."
Lothiriel stopped, closing her eyes, tears flowing silently down her cheeks. Eomer sat silently, waiting for her to continue. "She had fallen. I don't know how, or why. I wasn't paying attention. She hit her head on a rock and died in my arms."
"Lothiriel..." Eomer said softly, watching her sorrow. "Is that why your paled so when I mentioned the stables?"
Lothiriel nodded, "I have not been riding ever since. From the moment she died, I was the Lady of the House. I had to comfort everyone else, and see to their happiness." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I never got a chance to grieve myself." Tears were running down her cheek but she refused to make a noise.
Eomer moved and knelt in front of her, he hesitated a moment and then put a hand to her face, drying her tears. Their eyes locked, and he searched her face for a moment. He then slid an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to her feet with him. "Grieve now." He whispered. "I have no tears to comfort, my Lady. Let me comfort yours."
Lothiriel stared at him a moment, "You must think me silly, missing someone who died so long ago." She said.
He shook his head, "Nay, my Lady." He paused a moment, before making his confession. "I still miss my parents as well."
She looked up and their eyes met. He understood her pain, and for once, someone was looking to comfort her. She had been the crying shoulder in her household for so long, she had never gotten a chance to cry herself. She did so now, silently, leaning against Eomer for comfort. His arms wrapped around her securely, as if protecting her from the world, whispering comforting words into her ear.
Suddenly, they were torn apart once more. "Lothiriel?"
It was Erchirion again. He stood in the doorway, his eyes narrow and glaring at Eomer with extreme dislike, like he would eye a flithy rodent.
They broke apart immediately, Lothiriel quickly wiped her eyes, "Erchirion? Did you need something?" She asked, stepping away from Eomer.
Erchirion hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, then he nodded, "Alphros is asking for his Aunt."
She nodded, smiling shakily, "Oh yes, I was supposed to watch him today." She gave Eomer a smile, "Your Highness, I enjoyed our talk."
He looked at her, a bit dumbfounded, one moment she had been crying in his arms, the next she was back to her collected and cool self. He bowed, kissing her hand once more. "Anytime, my Lady."
She then quickly breezed past him, and left the room not meeting her brother's eye as he watched her go.
As soon as she was out of ear shot Erchirion turned to the King with venom. "What were you doing with my sister?" He asked coldly.
Eomer was surprised and stared at the man, "Nothing. I assure you. The Lady was upset, I merely offered her comfort, that is all."
Erchirion felt anger rise in him, he glared at the young King. "It is not your place to comfort her." He said harshly.
Eomer's eyes narrowed, "Someone had too. Your sister was suffering, in all these years did anyone think to offer the girl comfort when her mother died? Or were you too busy replacing a mother's love with your sister's?"
"How dare you judge us!" Erchirion shouted. "You've been here only a day and you think you know my sister!"
Hot rage boiled up in Eomer, the young lady he was sat with had needed a shoulder to cry on for several years and had found none until he arrived. "It was plain to see her pain! Perhaps it is you who does not know her!" He barked.
He then turned hard on his heels and stormed out of the room. Hot with anger and very much needing some air to cool down before he planned the attack with Elphir and the other two brothers. He suddenly realized one of those he had just left fuming in the library. He kicked himself for being so undiplomatic. Here he was a guest in this House, and a King of the Mark, and he just accused a man of mistreating his sister, whom he clearly loved. Eomer sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Would he ever make a good King?
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A/N - I bet you know what I'm going to say! Review! Hehe! Review or no story for you! Mwahahahaha! Aww... poor Eomer has doubts..... poor baby! Does anyone else want to jump in the computer and hug him??
Three Days Later
"Nine-year-old Lothiriel ran through the stables, giggling. Her mother stopped brushing her horse for a moment and looked up, giving the girl a hug. "Lothiriel, why are you not at your lessons?" She looked around expecting to see an angry tutor soon behind her daughter.
Lothiriel shook her head, "But they are so boring!"
Her mother laughed, Lothiriel loved the sound of her mother's laughter. It was like music to her ears. She always tried to make her mother laugh. "Very well, since you left those lessons, you can at least keep me company. Would you like that?"
Lothiriel nodded, enthusiastically, her grey eyes sparkled. "Yes Mama!"
Her mother smiled, "Come then my dear daughter." She took the girl's hand, and lifted her up. "You may ride my horse and I shall ride your father's."
Soon the pair was riding along the cliffs, looking over the sea. It was where they always rode. Lothiriel loved riding, and these trips were a special time shared between mother and daughter.
"Catch me if you can!" Lothiriel shouted to her mother, pushing her horse into a faster run as she laughed with delight.
"Lothiriel!" Her mother shouted. "Slow down!"
Lothiriel just laughed, and continued to ride. She loved the feel of the sun on her head and the wind in her hair. Suddenly, she heard a sound that froze her blood.
Her mother cried out, her scream cut the air like a knife.
Lothiriel turned as quickly as she could and let out a cry at what she saw. Her mother, lying on the ground in an unnatural angle, she had fallen from her horse. Her head had caught on a rock and blood was now pouring from the wound.
Lothiriel slid off her horse and ran to her side, "Mother!" She whispered frantically. "Mother?"
Her mother opened her eyes, her face was a deadly pale, her eyes, which had always gleamed with delight at Lothiriel's antics, were strangely disoriented. "Lothiriel." She whispered. "You must take care of you brothers and father now."
"No Mama. You'll be all right!" She pleaded.
"Lothiriel." Her mother said her name, and the girl met her eyes. "Promise me."
Lothiriel took a deep breath, "I promise."
Her mother seemed to smile, then her eyes clouded over and she breathed no more. Lothiriel suddenly felt cold all over and was shaking uncontrollably. "Mama!" She cried out. "Mama, come back!" She took a deep breath and screamed with all her might.
"Mama!" She cried out."
"My Lady?"
A voice shook Lothiriel out of her dream and she awoke with a start. It took her a moment to gain her bearings once more. She had fallen asleep in the library while reading a book. She had not been sleeping well, and in the morning she went to find comfort in a book. Her exhaustion must have finally caught up with her.
She looked up to see who had called her awake. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw King Eomer standing over her, concern lacing his rough features. He certainly cleaned up nicely, instead of his armor he wore a tunic, although finely embroidered, it was still not nearly as grand as one would have expected, and it was well worn. She did note however, that even without armor he had broad shoulders and was extremely muscular. The type of build her maids often giggled about when watching the guards. She quickly pushed the thoughts from her head and rose to her feet.
"Your Highness, what can I do for you?" She asked quickly smoothing her gown.
Eomer shook his head, annoyed. "You can stop playing hostess for one and sit down while I get you something to drink. That dream you were having must have been awful and I will not allow you to make a fuss over me when you are distressed."
Lothiriel gave him a grateful look and sat down as Eomer poured some water from a near-by pitcher and handed it to her, before sitting down in the chair opposite. His eyes watched her with curiosity as she drank. "Thank you, your Highness."
He nodded, "Twas the least I could do, my Lady." He then turned his head to a side, regarding her before moving to a window to look out at the sea. "It is beautiful here." He said softly, watching gulls fly overhead.
Lothiriel smiled at the compliment, "Yes it is."
"Do you ever tire of the sea?" He asked, turning back to her.
Lothiriel sighed, thoughtfully. "The Sea is a tricky thing, my Lord. It can cause us pain and nurture us all at the same time. It came betray us, kill us, and yet it can feed us and inspire. And it is a beautiful thing to look upon."
Eomer smiled and then turned back to gaze out again. "Much like love." He said, more to himself than to her.
Lothiriel and gazed at him as he looked away. "Yes. Very much so."
They were quiet for a moment, and then Eomer returned and sat back down across from her. "In your dream, you were calling for your mother, I heard you when I was passing by, and I was wondering if you were all right."
Lothiriel closed her eyes for a moment, sighing. "I have not had those dreams in a long while." She said softly.
Eomer looked at her with concern, "What happened to her?" He asked. "Your father never spoke of her."
Lothiriel gave a bitter laugh, "Oh no, I don't suppose he would have." She sighed, opening her eyes and looking at the glass in her hands. "Father grieves in a silent way. He never speaks of her." She looked to the sea a moment, lost in thought. She then turned back to him. "When I was a girl I used to love riding. Mother and I would go out together and ride on the cliffs over looking the sea. It was just the two of us, never any guards or Father, or my brothers. Just us." She sighed. "One day, when I was nine years of age we went out together as we always did. I challenged her to a race. She told me to slow down, she was having trouble keeping up, but I didn't listen. I heard her scream."
Lothiriel stopped, closing her eyes, tears flowing silently down her cheeks. Eomer sat silently, waiting for her to continue. "She had fallen. I don't know how, or why. I wasn't paying attention. She hit her head on a rock and died in my arms."
"Lothiriel..." Eomer said softly, watching her sorrow. "Is that why your paled so when I mentioned the stables?"
Lothiriel nodded, "I have not been riding ever since. From the moment she died, I was the Lady of the House. I had to comfort everyone else, and see to their happiness." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I never got a chance to grieve myself." Tears were running down her cheek but she refused to make a noise.
Eomer moved and knelt in front of her, he hesitated a moment and then put a hand to her face, drying her tears. Their eyes locked, and he searched her face for a moment. He then slid an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to her feet with him. "Grieve now." He whispered. "I have no tears to comfort, my Lady. Let me comfort yours."
Lothiriel stared at him a moment, "You must think me silly, missing someone who died so long ago." She said.
He shook his head, "Nay, my Lady." He paused a moment, before making his confession. "I still miss my parents as well."
She looked up and their eyes met. He understood her pain, and for once, someone was looking to comfort her. She had been the crying shoulder in her household for so long, she had never gotten a chance to cry herself. She did so now, silently, leaning against Eomer for comfort. His arms wrapped around her securely, as if protecting her from the world, whispering comforting words into her ear.
Suddenly, they were torn apart once more. "Lothiriel?"
It was Erchirion again. He stood in the doorway, his eyes narrow and glaring at Eomer with extreme dislike, like he would eye a flithy rodent.
They broke apart immediately, Lothiriel quickly wiped her eyes, "Erchirion? Did you need something?" She asked, stepping away from Eomer.
Erchirion hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, then he nodded, "Alphros is asking for his Aunt."
She nodded, smiling shakily, "Oh yes, I was supposed to watch him today." She gave Eomer a smile, "Your Highness, I enjoyed our talk."
He looked at her, a bit dumbfounded, one moment she had been crying in his arms, the next she was back to her collected and cool self. He bowed, kissing her hand once more. "Anytime, my Lady."
She then quickly breezed past him, and left the room not meeting her brother's eye as he watched her go.
As soon as she was out of ear shot Erchirion turned to the King with venom. "What were you doing with my sister?" He asked coldly.
Eomer was surprised and stared at the man, "Nothing. I assure you. The Lady was upset, I merely offered her comfort, that is all."
Erchirion felt anger rise in him, he glared at the young King. "It is not your place to comfort her." He said harshly.
Eomer's eyes narrowed, "Someone had too. Your sister was suffering, in all these years did anyone think to offer the girl comfort when her mother died? Or were you too busy replacing a mother's love with your sister's?"
"How dare you judge us!" Erchirion shouted. "You've been here only a day and you think you know my sister!"
Hot rage boiled up in Eomer, the young lady he was sat with had needed a shoulder to cry on for several years and had found none until he arrived. "It was plain to see her pain! Perhaps it is you who does not know her!" He barked.
He then turned hard on his heels and stormed out of the room. Hot with anger and very much needing some air to cool down before he planned the attack with Elphir and the other two brothers. He suddenly realized one of those he had just left fuming in the library. He kicked himself for being so undiplomatic. Here he was a guest in this House, and a King of the Mark, and he just accused a man of mistreating his sister, whom he clearly loved. Eomer sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Would he ever make a good King?
* * * * * * * * * *
A/N - I bet you know what I'm going to say! Review! Hehe! Review or no story for you! Mwahahahaha! Aww... poor Eomer has doubts..... poor baby! Does anyone else want to jump in the computer and hug him??