Disclaimer: I don't own anything at all.
Lotr_junkie - Thank you for the review!
JadeGoddess - Stable boy will come in a little bit! I don't want to ruin the story though or jinx myself so keep reading and all will be revealed!
daw - I love mushy stuff! Thanks for reviewing!
Caroly - I'm glad you like it! I think the birth will be there, but I'm not sure yet…I guess we'll find out!
Isa - Thank you for both of your reviews! They were so nice! I love the bits about how their love is perceived by others as well. They're so much fun to write!
Evening Nightshade - I wanted to say this before but I didn't want to ruin the story…don't feel so bad for Damrod yet. He's not what you might expect. J
Shel Bel1983 - Thank you for all of your help and for sharing your ideas! You totally deserve credit for my story. If it weren't for you this story wouldn't exist. You are the ultimate partner in crime!
A/N. Check out Shel Bel1983's story called "What the Future Holds." It's awesome!
In the days and evenings that followed, Eomer and Lothiriel fell into a routine. After spending the day in council with the King, Eomer would escort Lothiriel out to the gardens where they would talk until nightfall. He would then walk her back to her rooms where he would carefully kiss her good night. Nothing more, but nothing less.
The day before the ball, though, was different. As Aragorn finished his last bit of paperwork, Eomer began to make for the door, but today Imrahil stopped him.
"I might ask you," Imrahil said, "what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?"
"My intentions are honorable," Eomer replied. "I can assure you of this."
"Why, then," Imrahil continued, "haven't you asked her to accompany you to your own ball?"
Beside him, Faramir snorted and Eomer was quickly reminded of the heard time that he had given Faramir while he was courting Eowyn.
"I have been waiting for an appropriate time," Eomer said. "When I am with your daughter, her beauty and sweetness overwhelms me and I find it hard to think clearly."
By this time Imrahil was struggling to keep a straight face, but Aragorn was smiling openly. Faramir snorted a second time.
"Why Eomer," Faramir said. " I think you're going soft on us, spouting off poetry like that. You should probably kill something soon, or it won't be long before you'll be frolicking in the fields."
Eomer turned and looked hard at Faramir.
"Well Faramir," Eomer said. "I know what a man does to make a woman with child. You're close by. I could kill you."
Upon hearing Eomer say this, Aragorn laid his head down upon his desk and nearly wept with laughter. Imrahil managed to gasp out something about Eomer preserving his honor in between laughs. Eomer pulled Faramir to his feet and embraced him.
"I say this only in jest, my brother," Eomer said. "I didn't want you to think I was losing my edge."
"You, Eomer?" Faramir laughed. "I believe you are the only man in all of Middle Earth that actually wants to go to war."
Eomer chuckled and then turned to Aragorn.
"If you will excuse my presence, I believe a Princess is waiting for me," he said.
Aragorn dismissed him with a wave of his hand. He was still laughing too hard to reply properly.
~
As Eomer walked down the hall, he hummed to himself a song that his mother sang to him when he was a child. He was going to ask Lothiriel to the ball, and then he was going to ask Imrahil if he could properly court her. And then, everything willing, he would ask for her hand.
Just ahead of Eomer, he could see two figures in the shadows. They were speaking in low voices and Eomer's war instincts were automatically raised to the surface. He had spent too long in Edoras listening to Wormtongue whisper in the shadows to carry out his evil deeds. Eomer slid behind a door and listened hard.
"My poor Damrod," a female voice said. "I know it pains you to hear this, but it's true, I swear it on my love for you. They walk together everyday and have since we arrived."
"Your loyalty has been proven to me, girl," a male said. "Don't worry. I have a plan that will take care of this. Right now, your lady is sitting in her chambers weeping over a love letter that I have written her. She doesn't know even know I'm in Minas Tirith. She still thinks I'm back in Dol Amroth pining away for her. Tomorrow, right before the ball, I will take you and her away from to live in a place where you can both be appreciated."
"But what about the King of the Mark?" the female voice simpered. "He obviously cares greatly for her. If you take her, he will come looking for her."
"Oh, my dear Aerilyn," the male said coldly. "I'm counting on it."
~
Eomer waited quietly for Aerilyn and Damrod to depart before releasing his breath. They had been talking about Lothiriel! And him! They were going to take her! Eomer took a deep breath and allowed himself to calm down. He hadn't chased after them because he didn't have his sword and didn't know if they were armed. He had to find Lothiriel right now.
He ran down the hall and entered her room without even knocking. He wasn't expecting to find Lothiriel sitting in the middle of her bed with papers strewn about her. Tears were streaming down her face and when she looked up at Eomer, she quickly tried to wipe them away.
"My lord Eomer," she said shakily. "I did not expect you so soon."
"Who sent you that letter?" he demanded. "Is it from Damrod?"
Lothiriel's temper immediately flared.
"Who do you think you are?" she cried. "You barge into my private chambers and demand answers to questions that are none of your business!"
"I think I am the King of Rohan," Eomer seethed. "And you should not speak of matters that you know nothing about. That letter is not what you think it is!"
"What does the King of Rohan know about my personal affairs?" she lashed out. "You know nothing! From what I gather, you are a brainless horseman who happened to fall upon becoming King from a tragic accident."
After she said this, Eomer crossed the room in two strides and stood in front of her. His eyes were blazing, and when he spoke his teeth were clenched.
"Do not ever speak of my uncle and cousin again. Do you understand me? You know nothing about them, and you know only a little more about the situation that you are in."
"You are just jealous!" Lothiriel spat out. "You are just jealous of Damrod! Tell me, how did you even find out about him?!"
"Why would I be jealous of a coward who won't come out of the shadows?" Eomer shot back. "I only know about him because he is here in Minas Tirith and he is plotting your abduction!"
Lothiriel began to laugh, which only infuriated Eomer even more.
"You poor man," she choked out. "You speak of things that cannot possible be true. Damrod isn't a coward. He loves me! And there's no way he can be here in the White City! He's at home in Dol Amroth, waiting for me to return so we can run away together. He told me so in his letter."
She waved it around in front of his face, until he finally snatched it out of the air and crumpled it into a ball.
"You stupid girl," he spat. "Stop laughing and listen to me. I have just overheard your maid and this Damrod plotting to kidnap you. Why? I do not know, because I did not hear. We must go to your father with this information. If you refuse, then you are the insolent, whining prude that I originally judged you to be."
Lothiriel stopped laughing then, and a firm determination set in her face. She began to walk forward, pushing Eomer backward towards the door.
"I can finally see the truth now," she ground out. "You and my father are in this together. He has found out about Damrod and told you. The two of you have made this up because you both want me to marry some ridiculously boring lord from Rohan to strengthen the ties between our lands. Well, I have some words for you, my dear King. I will not heed a word you say and if you would like to tell someone your tale of lies, I suggest you go elsewhere."
By then, they were at the door. Lothiriel took a step back into her room and slammed the door right in Eomer's face. And that was how she left him, standing in the hallway with his fists clenched and his mouth agape.