Evening Nightshade - I'm so glad you liked the twists! There might be a few more coming so be prepared! Thanks!
JadeGoddess - She is still in love with Eomer, but does not like her privacy invaded…I'm explain more in this chapter…Thanks for reviewing!
Lotr_junkie - Thank you for such a kind review! I'm glad you like the chapter. It was fun to write!
Smitten w/Eomer - Okay, first, I love your name! Second, thank you for such a nice review! It was greatly appreciated! I hope you like chapter eight!
Isa - I'm glad you like the frolicking line! Credit goes to Shel Bel1983 who provided a very interesting visual. Thanks!
Shel Bel1983 - NO! Not the Hitler Baby! Anything but that! I'm scared, so here's another chapter. I'm glad you liked the frolicking line. I had your visual in mind while writing it.
A/N. Hey! Go check out Shel Bel1983's fic called "What the Future Holds." It's one of my all time favorites!
Eomer stood in the hallway shaking in anger and disbelief. He had just tried to warn her of a threat on her life, and she had called him brainless. Eomer stared at the door before turning and knocking over a table that stood in the hallway. The vase that stood upon it shattered and Eomer was grateful. Giving a good kick at the fallen table, Eomer stalked off the find Imrahil.
~
Lothiriel threw herself down on her bed. All this short time, she had felt her feelings for Eomer grow, and she had really thought that she could break off her relationship with Damrod. Then she had received his letter this morning, and knew that she had to stay with him. Her love for Eomer was stronger than anything she had ever felt, but she had made promises to Damrod that she intended to keep.
Lothiriel heard the glass break in the hallway, and began to cry. What had she done? She had just turned away the man she loved. But he was speaking lies. There was no threat to her life, especially not when she slept within the palace walls. But still, Lothiriel wished she could take back what she had said to him.
She was crying hard by then, so hard that she did not hear Aerilyn enter.
"My poor lady," Aerilyn said quietly. "What has upset you so?"
"The King of the Mark," Lothiriel sobbed. "I love him, but have driven him away. And once Damrod hears of my dalliance with Eomer, no one will have me."
"My heartbroken Lothiriel," Aerilyn said. "Do not weep so! I have just the idea the cheer you up! Hurry, put on your riding cloak and we will be off!"
Lothiriel did as she was told, and never once wondered why her maid was so cheerful and insistent about leaving. She quickly put on her riding cloak and Aerilyn threw the hood over the top of Lothiriel's head. Aerilyn opened the door and looked around in the hallway before leading Lothiriel out. As Lothiriel made her way towards the main staircase, Aerilyn pulled her back.
"My lady," she said quickly, "let us take the servant's way. It is quicker and you will have less chance of seeing the King."
"Oh Aerilyn," Lothiriel said. "You are right. You always are looking out for me."
Aerilyn felt a brief stab of guilt as she led Lothiriel through the kitchens. She ignored the stares that the two of them received and took the path that Damrod had told her about. Soon, they would be gone, and Lothiriel would be serving her.
~
"Eomer, slow down and speak with clarity."
Eomer sighed and recounted his tale again, this time slowly and accurately. When he had burst into the King's chambers, confusing Aragorn and startling Arwen, he had been ranting incoherently in the Common Tongue, and swearing in Rohirric. Now, he started with his overheard conversation and ended with his assault of the hallway table.
To his astonishment, Aragorn was quite calm about the whole situation. He ordered members of his personal guard to search the city for anything suspicious, and then he personally went to gather Imrahil, Faramir, and Eowyn, who were dining together in the Great Hall. He left Arwen to calm Eomer, who had begun pacing rapidly. Arwen knew she had to distract him so she could keep him calm enough to face the others.
"Eomer," she said timidly, "If you don't mind, that rug means a great deal to me."
Eomer turned quickly, ready to tell her exactly what she could do with her rug. He then realized what she was doing, trying to take his mind off of the situation at hand. He collapsed into a chair, breathing hard and wishing for this to be over.
"My lady," he began, "please forgive me. I am not thinking clearly."
Arwen watched as he put his head in his hands and she was suddenly afraid that he might cry. She perched cautiously on the chair beside him, and tentatively laid her hand on his arm. It was to her great surprise when he didn't burst into tears, but again began to swear in Rohirric.
"Eomer," she tried again. "Why don't you go to her, apologize, and then bring her back here for the conference? I'm sure she would like to be present, since it is about her."
Eomer turned to Arwen and looked at her carefully. She was not mocking him; she was being quite serious. He stood then, and decided that he would go to Lothiriel, bring her here, and they would discuss this like adults.
"My lady," he said, walking out of the room, "that is the best idea I've heard yet."
~
Lothiriel was beginning to have trouble keeping up with her maid. Aerilyn was darting in and out of alleys and staying in the shadows, making it hard for Lothiriel to see her.
"Oh, Lothiriel," Aerilyn said, "just wait. You are going to love this, I just know."
Suddenly, Aerilyn stopped and it took Lothiriel a moment to realize that they were at the stables. Some of her father's men were camped there, and Aerilyn began to lead her towards them.
"Aerilyn," Lothiriel said, pulling back. "Aerilyn, I do not know if you should have brought me here."
Aerilyn didn't even seem to hear her, though, and pulled Lothiriel into the stables. Opening a door to a stall, she pushed Lothiriel in and told her to wait there. Lothiriel could hear her lock the door from the outside and walk away.
Lothiriel began to panic. Everything was wrong. Why would Aerilyn lock her in a stable? Why was she so nervous? Something was wrong. She should have listened to Eomer. 'Oh, well,' she thought, 'if Aerilyn leaves me here, at least Eomer would find me, as in love with that horse he is.'
Lothiriel stayed like this for many minutes, pacing restlessly in the stall, and truly wondering if she was going to be stuck her forever. Soon, she heard approaching footsteps and lowered voices.
"You ignorant wench," a male said. "You brought her here in broad daylight! You could have led someone right to us! Are you sure you weren't followed?"
"I'm completely sure." Aerilyn! That was Aerilyn's voice! Lothiriel sent a brief glance toward the sky. At least she wasn't going to be stuck here.
"Well, I'm not ready," the male replied harshly. "And now what will happen? My perfect plan will be executed and because of your incompetence, all could fall to ruin."
Damrod! That was Damrod! Lothiriel was confused. What was he doing here? Her thoughts didn't turn to Eomer's warning; however, she began to think that maybe Aerilyn and Damrod were in this together. That must be it! Her and Damrod were going to run away together, and Aerilyn was helping them.
The stall door opened, and Damrod appeared. Lothiriel approached him quickly, a smile upon her face. It stunned her, to say the least, when he backhanded her across the face.
Tears immediately sprang to Lothiriel's eyes as she nearly landed on the ground. Looking up at Damrod, her temper surged to the surface. But before she could even get a word out, someone gagged her.
"Do not let anyone hear her," Damrod said coldly. "I had meant to sneak her out at night, but someone ruined my plans."
He took in the sight of Lothiriel, whose skirts were covered in straw, her hair a mess and the red mark upon her cheek, and he smiled.
"Put her on a horse and bind her hands," he said. "I do not want her escaping."
And then everything happened very quickly. Lothiriel's hands her bound, her riding hood pulled up to cover her head, and placed upon a horse. She felt Damrod slide up behind her and then he and his company set a hard pace out of the stables. She began to move, hoping to at least fall off the horse and attract some attention. Damrod steadied her though, and all she saw was the red sunset behind the White City.
~
Eomer stood outside Lothiriel's door, summoning the words and courage to confront her. He opened the door without knocking, hoping to take her by surprise so she wouldn't throw him out again.
But only silence greeted him. Eomer took a quick glance around the room and saw that the peg where her riding cloak usually hung was empty. He wretched the door shut and ran down the hall, trying to keep his temper in check. He had to alert everyone. He would set out and scour the city himself.
She was gone.