Chapter Seven
The sun painted the sea with bright colors of pink and orange. The watered glimmered with the light of the sunset over the West. Gulls cried as they flew over the colorful waters, diving in search of fish for their meal. Lothiriel watched this scene as she always did from the balcony looking out onto the ocean. Every night Lothiriel watched the sunset. It had been something she had shared with her mother, and now she always stood on her own, watching the sun every night, wondering about the future.
Tonight she could see the lights of campfires starting to flicker all around Dol Amroth. She liked to think that some of those fires were from her father and his troops. They had to be, for the fires were many. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and listened to the sound of the waves in the distance. She heard steps behind her, and turned to see who had come.
"My Lady?" It was Eomer, he was standing at the door watching her.
She smiled warmly, "Good evening your Highness." She said.
"Good evening." He greeted. "Am I interrupting you?"
Lothiriel glanced out at the sea and then took a deep breath, turning back to him. "Have you ever seen the sunset over the Sea, your Highness?" She asked.
He shook his head, "I can say with complete honesty that until four days ago I had never seen the Sea, I have been busy in Council with Elphir."
She smiled, "Well then, your Highness, care to join me? I promise you will not find anything like it in the whole of Middle Earth."
"And you've traveled so far, my Lady?" He teased, leaning against the door.
Lothiriel gave him an amused glare, "Well, I have not personally, but I cannot image a view such as this anywhere else." She said. "Now, come, you cannot properly see the Sea from the doorway."
He smiled, 'but I have a better view of you from here.' He thought to himself. He walked over and stood beside her, looking out on the waves. The beauty almost took his breath away, but it also made him wish for home, for the sun setting over the mountains in the evening was also a fair sight to behold. "You are right, it is beautiful."
Lothiriel looked out over the waves. "I have always watched the sun set here, I have done so as far back as I can remember." She looked wistfully out over the sea. "I would not know how to do otherwise."
Eomer glanced over at her, watching the light pick up the highlights in her hair. "You would like sunsets in Edoras, my Lady." He decided. "The setting sun paints the snow of the mountains, much like the sea. The reflection baths the whole valley in pinks and reds." He sighed, thinking of his homeland, "It's breath-taking."
Lothiriel liked the look in Eomer's eyes when he spoke of Rohan. He truly loved his land. "I would like to see that someday, your Highness. By your leave of course."
He smiled, "A Lady such as yourself would be ever welcome in Rohan."
She nodded, and then looked out at the sea, thoughtfully. "Your Highness, about this morning, I want to apologize-"
Eomer shook his head, stopping her mid-sentence. "There is no need, my Lady." He looked at her, his eyes softened by the beauty of the Sea and of the woman standing next to him. "You have carried the burden of caring for others for a long time, Lady Lothiriel. I know what such a burden can do."
"You do?" Lothiriel asked softly.
Eomer nodded, "My own parents died when my sister and I were young, even though Eowyn may not always appreciate it, I have always felt the need to look after her. I saw what caring for our Uncle when he was under Saruman's spell did to Eowyn. In caring for others, one can sometimes forget to care for oneself."
A small smile played at her lips, "Well spoken, your Highness."
Eomer grinned, "I'm not usually one for fancy words."
"Good." Lothiriel grinned wickedly, "They are far too troublesome."
He laughed, "You somehow manage to bring out strange things from me, Lady Lothiriel. Why is that?"
"Perhaps it is the danger of it." She said thoughtfully.
Eomer raised an eyebrow, "What danger?"
"If you dare insult me my three overbearing, over-protective brothers, will be upon you like a gull on a fresh fish." She said with a teasing grin.
Eomer laughed again, "Yes, well, I'll have to admit I've already experience some of that. I shudder to think what would have happened if I be- " Eomer caught himself just in time. Such course talk was not fit for a Lady's ears. He should know better, but now he was caught. He stopped his sentence before it went to far.
Lothiriel however caught this as well, a mischievous grin spread across her lips. "If you what, your Highness?" She teased.
Eomer paused, thinking of a way to save himself. "Be- be- begged you for a kiss." He finished, turning a bit red.
Lothiriel laughed merrily, "Nice save."
"Thank you." Eomer grinned, "I am rather proud of it. Tis not often I dig myself a hole that deep and am able to get out once again."
She grinned, "Yes well, I suppose I should be horribly offended."
"Yes you should." Eomer agreed. "But you did not answer my question. What would they have done?" He teased, moving closer to her. He could catch a bit of her scent on the evening breeze, wildflowers entranced his senses and tempted him closer to the lovely Princess.
Lothiriel shrugged, "I do not know for certain, I suppose they would be quite angry." She looked up at him and smiled teasingly. "Am I worth the risk, your Highness?" She asked, aware of how close he suddenly was to her, and yet did not back away. Her eyes searched his deep brown eyes for an answer.
"For a kiss from you lips, Lothiriel, I would defiantly take that risk." Eomer put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, he leaned his face down to meet hers, but at the last minute hesitated. "I barely know you, Lady Lothiriel, and yet I feel as though I have known you a lifetime. Is that odd?"
Lothiriel shook her head, "No, for perhaps we knew each other in a past life." She answered. "Now I suggested you take that risk before your courage fails." She teased.
He laughed softly, and met her lips with her own. His heart seemed to pound with the roar of the waves as the kiss deepened into a more passionate embrace. He then broke the kiss, regretfully doing so. "I think we can drop the 'your Highness' bit now." Eomer said teasingly kissing her lightly as an after thought.
Lothiriel laughed and rested her head against his chest sighing contently as he held her in his arms. He rested his chin on the top of her head, and noted how perfectly she fit in his arms. They watched the sunset like that, together, each one wondering what this evening would mean for the rest of their lives.
Finally, Lothiriel broke the silence, "Eomer?"
"Hm?"
"I know you cannot promise me that nothing ill will come tomorrow." She said with a sigh. "I know that battles are very real and not the fanciful imagine that young maidens often draw up. But will you swear to do everything you can to see that nothing ill comes when you ride out tomorrow?"
Eomer looked down at her a moment. "I will. For things are just getting interesting between us, Lothiriel." He said with a smile.
She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for a moment. Eomer was uncertain what she was looking for, but watched as her eyes danced over his features. She then seemed to find what she was looking for and nodded. She then lifted her hands to her throat and removed a silver necklace from around her neck. "Here." She said, handing it to him. "This has always brought good fortune on my family. I want you to have it." She closed his fingers around it, her gaze going from his hand to her eyes. "My mother gave it to me when I was born, she said it can only protect, never hinder."
Eomer looked at the gift, a bit stunned. His head spun, for too much had happened in too short a time. It was only a few days ago that he had only heard tales of the Lady of Dol Amroth. "You should not give this to me. It should go to your brothers if anyone."
Lothiriel shook her head, "I am giving it to you, my mother would approve and they will learn to understand." She then gave him a teasing smile. "Unless you are too proud to wear the token of a Lady. In which case I am most offended!"
He laughed, kissing her hand, "Then I shall accept, for I was taught never to offend a Lady!" He then realized the stars were starting to come out and wondered how long he had been here. "I should retire now."
Lothiriel nodded, "Yes, tomorrow is an important day." She smiled at him, standing her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the mouth. "Goodnight, Eomer."
Eomer returned her kiss, smiling. "Rest well, Lothiriel."
It was with great regret that he pulled himself away from her and turned to leave. He paused in the doorway and caught her gaze in the moonlight. Her golden hair shimmer almost silvery, much like he imagined her elven ancestors would have shined by the light of a full moon over the Sea. Finally, with much self-control, he forced himself to turn away and return to his chambers. His dreams were of Lothiriel that night. He had never felt this overwhelmed and swept away before, but it did not frighten him. It gave him strength.
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A/N- All together now: "AWWWWW!!" Hehe, they're so cute :-) Anyway, reviews rock! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, keep them coming!
The sun painted the sea with bright colors of pink and orange. The watered glimmered with the light of the sunset over the West. Gulls cried as they flew over the colorful waters, diving in search of fish for their meal. Lothiriel watched this scene as she always did from the balcony looking out onto the ocean. Every night Lothiriel watched the sunset. It had been something she had shared with her mother, and now she always stood on her own, watching the sun every night, wondering about the future.
Tonight she could see the lights of campfires starting to flicker all around Dol Amroth. She liked to think that some of those fires were from her father and his troops. They had to be, for the fires were many. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and listened to the sound of the waves in the distance. She heard steps behind her, and turned to see who had come.
"My Lady?" It was Eomer, he was standing at the door watching her.
She smiled warmly, "Good evening your Highness." She said.
"Good evening." He greeted. "Am I interrupting you?"
Lothiriel glanced out at the sea and then took a deep breath, turning back to him. "Have you ever seen the sunset over the Sea, your Highness?" She asked.
He shook his head, "I can say with complete honesty that until four days ago I had never seen the Sea, I have been busy in Council with Elphir."
She smiled, "Well then, your Highness, care to join me? I promise you will not find anything like it in the whole of Middle Earth."
"And you've traveled so far, my Lady?" He teased, leaning against the door.
Lothiriel gave him an amused glare, "Well, I have not personally, but I cannot image a view such as this anywhere else." She said. "Now, come, you cannot properly see the Sea from the doorway."
He smiled, 'but I have a better view of you from here.' He thought to himself. He walked over and stood beside her, looking out on the waves. The beauty almost took his breath away, but it also made him wish for home, for the sun setting over the mountains in the evening was also a fair sight to behold. "You are right, it is beautiful."
Lothiriel looked out over the waves. "I have always watched the sun set here, I have done so as far back as I can remember." She looked wistfully out over the sea. "I would not know how to do otherwise."
Eomer glanced over at her, watching the light pick up the highlights in her hair. "You would like sunsets in Edoras, my Lady." He decided. "The setting sun paints the snow of the mountains, much like the sea. The reflection baths the whole valley in pinks and reds." He sighed, thinking of his homeland, "It's breath-taking."
Lothiriel liked the look in Eomer's eyes when he spoke of Rohan. He truly loved his land. "I would like to see that someday, your Highness. By your leave of course."
He smiled, "A Lady such as yourself would be ever welcome in Rohan."
She nodded, and then looked out at the sea, thoughtfully. "Your Highness, about this morning, I want to apologize-"
Eomer shook his head, stopping her mid-sentence. "There is no need, my Lady." He looked at her, his eyes softened by the beauty of the Sea and of the woman standing next to him. "You have carried the burden of caring for others for a long time, Lady Lothiriel. I know what such a burden can do."
"You do?" Lothiriel asked softly.
Eomer nodded, "My own parents died when my sister and I were young, even though Eowyn may not always appreciate it, I have always felt the need to look after her. I saw what caring for our Uncle when he was under Saruman's spell did to Eowyn. In caring for others, one can sometimes forget to care for oneself."
A small smile played at her lips, "Well spoken, your Highness."
Eomer grinned, "I'm not usually one for fancy words."
"Good." Lothiriel grinned wickedly, "They are far too troublesome."
He laughed, "You somehow manage to bring out strange things from me, Lady Lothiriel. Why is that?"
"Perhaps it is the danger of it." She said thoughtfully.
Eomer raised an eyebrow, "What danger?"
"If you dare insult me my three overbearing, over-protective brothers, will be upon you like a gull on a fresh fish." She said with a teasing grin.
Eomer laughed again, "Yes, well, I'll have to admit I've already experience some of that. I shudder to think what would have happened if I be- " Eomer caught himself just in time. Such course talk was not fit for a Lady's ears. He should know better, but now he was caught. He stopped his sentence before it went to far.
Lothiriel however caught this as well, a mischievous grin spread across her lips. "If you what, your Highness?" She teased.
Eomer paused, thinking of a way to save himself. "Be- be- begged you for a kiss." He finished, turning a bit red.
Lothiriel laughed merrily, "Nice save."
"Thank you." Eomer grinned, "I am rather proud of it. Tis not often I dig myself a hole that deep and am able to get out once again."
She grinned, "Yes well, I suppose I should be horribly offended."
"Yes you should." Eomer agreed. "But you did not answer my question. What would they have done?" He teased, moving closer to her. He could catch a bit of her scent on the evening breeze, wildflowers entranced his senses and tempted him closer to the lovely Princess.
Lothiriel shrugged, "I do not know for certain, I suppose they would be quite angry." She looked up at him and smiled teasingly. "Am I worth the risk, your Highness?" She asked, aware of how close he suddenly was to her, and yet did not back away. Her eyes searched his deep brown eyes for an answer.
"For a kiss from you lips, Lothiriel, I would defiantly take that risk." Eomer put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, he leaned his face down to meet hers, but at the last minute hesitated. "I barely know you, Lady Lothiriel, and yet I feel as though I have known you a lifetime. Is that odd?"
Lothiriel shook her head, "No, for perhaps we knew each other in a past life." She answered. "Now I suggested you take that risk before your courage fails." She teased.
He laughed softly, and met her lips with her own. His heart seemed to pound with the roar of the waves as the kiss deepened into a more passionate embrace. He then broke the kiss, regretfully doing so. "I think we can drop the 'your Highness' bit now." Eomer said teasingly kissing her lightly as an after thought.
Lothiriel laughed and rested her head against his chest sighing contently as he held her in his arms. He rested his chin on the top of her head, and noted how perfectly she fit in his arms. They watched the sunset like that, together, each one wondering what this evening would mean for the rest of their lives.
Finally, Lothiriel broke the silence, "Eomer?"
"Hm?"
"I know you cannot promise me that nothing ill will come tomorrow." She said with a sigh. "I know that battles are very real and not the fanciful imagine that young maidens often draw up. But will you swear to do everything you can to see that nothing ill comes when you ride out tomorrow?"
Eomer looked down at her a moment. "I will. For things are just getting interesting between us, Lothiriel." He said with a smile.
She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for a moment. Eomer was uncertain what she was looking for, but watched as her eyes danced over his features. She then seemed to find what she was looking for and nodded. She then lifted her hands to her throat and removed a silver necklace from around her neck. "Here." She said, handing it to him. "This has always brought good fortune on my family. I want you to have it." She closed his fingers around it, her gaze going from his hand to her eyes. "My mother gave it to me when I was born, she said it can only protect, never hinder."
Eomer looked at the gift, a bit stunned. His head spun, for too much had happened in too short a time. It was only a few days ago that he had only heard tales of the Lady of Dol Amroth. "You should not give this to me. It should go to your brothers if anyone."
Lothiriel shook her head, "I am giving it to you, my mother would approve and they will learn to understand." She then gave him a teasing smile. "Unless you are too proud to wear the token of a Lady. In which case I am most offended!"
He laughed, kissing her hand, "Then I shall accept, for I was taught never to offend a Lady!" He then realized the stars were starting to come out and wondered how long he had been here. "I should retire now."
Lothiriel nodded, "Yes, tomorrow is an important day." She smiled at him, standing her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the mouth. "Goodnight, Eomer."
Eomer returned her kiss, smiling. "Rest well, Lothiriel."
It was with great regret that he pulled himself away from her and turned to leave. He paused in the doorway and caught her gaze in the moonlight. Her golden hair shimmer almost silvery, much like he imagined her elven ancestors would have shined by the light of a full moon over the Sea. Finally, with much self-control, he forced himself to turn away and return to his chambers. His dreams were of Lothiriel that night. He had never felt this overwhelmed and swept away before, but it did not frighten him. It gave him strength.
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A/N- All together now: "AWWWWW!!" Hehe, they're so cute :-) Anyway, reviews rock! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, keep them coming!