Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone. Sorry.
AN. Check out Shel Bel1983's story called "What the Future Holds." It's awesome!
Rondrah - Thank you so much! I love Eomer too. I don't know how much longer it will be PG ;)
Evening Nightshade - Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you can feel the chemistry. I was worried about how they would be perceived.
daw - Thank you! The tempers will clash, but not before some serious mushy stuff. J
Shel Bel1983 - I'm glad you like the joke! It has so much meaning hidden underneath it. I'm thinking my story might have a "scene."
Lothiriel returned to her rooms with her head spinning. She had never imagined that the King of the Mark could be so…so…attractive. Everything about him was attractive. The way his mind worked. How his hair framed his head. The way he teased his sister. And physically, well it would barely suffice to say that he was easy on the eye.
The way he looked at her…at first, Lothiriel had wanted to squirm under his gaze. But when he leaned over her at breakfast this morning, and she had breathed in his strong male scent, she had wanted nothing more than to look at him all day. Dinner couldn't come soon enough.
~
Since when did the King of Gondor talk so slow? Eomer glanced at Imrahil on his left and at Faramir on his right. They did not look nearly as bored as Eomer felt. But then, Eomer was very bored.
He loved his country, and his King, and he loved Imrahil and Faramir like brothers. But for right now he did not want to talk about treaties with Harad or the rebuilding of the City Gates. It was obvious, though, that Aragorn had put much thought into this and valued Eomer's opinion so he tried to hard to pay attention.
~
Aerilyn watched as her lady walked around her chambers with her head in a daze. She was behaving strangely, and had a smile on her face which could only be described as goofy. She wondered if her lady's behavior had anything to do with the King of Rohan.
Aerilyn had served Lothiriel for many years and knew more about her than Lothiriel probably thought. As hard as Lothiriel tried to keep her relationship with Damrod private, Aerilyn knew every detail. It was not because she followed Lothiriel. It was because she followed Damrod.
Aerilyn had been in love with Damrod for years, and she was just beginning to believe that he returned her feelings until Lothiriel entered his life. She had unknowingly stolen Damrod from her own maid.
Aerilyn had heard from other servants in the palace about the Lady Eowyn's plot to pair her brother with Lothiriel, and this overjoyed her. She had already watched them walk to breakfast. As soon as had proof of Lothiriel and Eomer's affection for each other, Aerilyn would write to Damrod and tell him of it. And then maybe she would have him to herself.
~
"My lady," Aerilyn said as she stepped into Lothiriel's chambers. "Are you back from breakfast so soon?"
"Oh, Aerilyn," Lothiriel said dreamily, "he just leaves me breathless." She turned to her maid with wide eyes. "We have to find my prettiest dress and get it ready! It has to be ready by dinner!"
"Lothiriel, Lothiriel," Aerilyn said, "calm yourself. What is the occasion?"
Lothiriel was already tearing through her wardrobe. "The King of Rohan!" she cried. "The King of Rohan is the occasion!"
~
The King's council lasted late into the afternoon, so late that Aragorn, Imrahil, Faramir, and Eomer ate in the conference room. When at last Aragorn called it over for the day, Eomer all but lunged for the door, leaving the remaining three to stand grinning in his wake.
When he reached Lothiriel's chambers, he greeted her politely, and arm in arm they walked towards the gardens. They sat together on a bench and waited for the sun to disappear below the horizon.
Eomer decide that if Lothiriel looked beautiful during the day then she looked radiant at dusk. The red sunbeams made her fair hair and features positively glow. Eomer was so entranced by her that he almost didn't hear her speak.
"I would imagine," she began, "that the sunset in Rohan would put this to shame."
"Well, my lady, that depends," he said.
"On what?"
"Well," Eomer paused, unsure if he should say this, "I believe that the only way Rohan could be more beautiful is if you were there."
Lothiriel turned to face him, but he was looking hard at the horizon.
"Whenever my advisors give me a moment's peace," he said, "I always make sure it's at the end of the day. That is when Rohan is at it's most glorious."
"I would very much like to see it," Lothiriel replied. "My father often speaks of Rohan and of you. He tells me tales of the horse lords of old."
"Exaggerations, I'm sure," Eomer said laughing. "Your father often has the ability to make even the most boring event sound exciting."
They laughed together then and talked until the sun had long since set.
~
It was late, and it took Eomer a minute to realize that it was inappropriate to keep a Princess out this late while unchaperoned.
"My lady," he said standing up, "I fear that I have kept you too long. Your father will surely have my head in the morrow."
"Nay, my lord," Lothiriel laughed. "He trusts you. He will probably be glad that we have shared company."
Eomer walked Lothiriel back to her chambers and they made plans to meet again in the gardens at dusk the next day. Suddenly, almost on a whim, Eomer leaned down and softly brushed his lips against Lothiriel's.
"Good night my Princess," he said softly. "I trust you will sleep well."
"I will my lord," she said. "And I hope you will rest easy. Good night my King."
And then she turned and walked into her chambers, glancing back at him once to offer him a smile. And despite her earlier words, she did not sleep until later. She was much too excited.