Author's Note: Well! Maybe I'll just wait longer between updates from now
on! I seem to get more reviews that way ;) Thanks and hugs to all of you!
Disclaimer: All the characters, names, places, and other things related to LOTR used in the story below are the property of JRR Tolkien and the Tolkien estate. I wish I could make money off of it, but don't worry, I'm not. New Line cinema is, though. Go them!
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
The next morning I woke to the warmth of sunlight falling on my closed eyelids. I started to pull the blankets up over my face and go back to sleep, but something was pinning them down. I tugged harder but nothing happened. Irritated, I sat up and blearily surveyed the problem.
The sheets were tangled around a pair of legs, the blanket was lying half off the bed, and the beautiful green and gold quilt was draped upside down over a very male chest. King Eomer of Rohan was sprawled next to me, completely naked.
I shook myself out of my sleepiness immediately. In a flash, I remembered the events of the night before. In another flash, I began blushing. The question now, I mused while looking down at Eomer's handsome sleeping face, was how to handle the relationship from this point on.
Would he want me to leave and pretend like nothing had happened? Stay and make love once more before going about our business? Conduct a clandestine affair beneath my father's nose? Proclaim our love from the highest rooftop in Edoras? What if he no longer wanted to marry me?
A breath of air circulated from somewhere and I realized that I, too, was unclothed. Modestly, I wrapped the blanket around myself and leaned back against the pillow.
^~^~^
The second time I woke, it was to the very pleasant sensation of Eomer kissing me. I smiled and returned the gesture, then opened my eyes. He was leaning over me, grinning down at my mussed hair and half-opened eyes. I yawned.
"What time is it?" I started to sit up again but instead found myself pulled up against Eomer. He started to kiss me again.
"No doubt past time to get up." I tried to pull away.
"Eomer, I have to go. If anyone finds us, my father will probably try to kill you, and I really don't want him to die of a heart attack from over- exertion."
He snorted. "Your father has the heart of a man half his age. He wouldn't try to kill me, he *would* kill me. You simply had to remind me about Imrahil, didn't you? He could be a problem. What if he doesn't approve our marriage?"
I shrugged. "Do you have an aversion to elopement?" Eomer glared at me, and I grinned. "Really, Eomer. My father brought me here for the express purpose of getting me to flirt with and marry you. Do you honestly think he would oppose our union now?" I kissed him quickly—or meant to, anyway. The kiss turned into a /i, our embrace turned more passionate, and something far more interesting than an early-morning discussion of marital possibilities probably would have occurred if a knock had not at that moment sounded on the door.
Eomer and I both raised our heads to look at the door, then at each other. I felt his muscles tense up. Still looking at me, he called out,
"Who is it?"
"Your very pregnant sister who doesn't like to be kept waiting." Eomer gave me an apologetic look, flipped the quilt over my head and went to answer the door. Through a gap between folds of fabric I saw him stoop to pull on his breeches, then he opened the door a mere crack, blocking Eowyn's view of me with his body.
"Yes, Eowyn?" She attempted to peer past him into the room.
"I just thought that as your loving, caring sister," Eomer laughed once but was stared into submission. "I should warn you that Prince Imrahil is looking for you. Apparently his daughter isn't in her room and now he can't find her and...Oh, dear, here he comes!" Eowyn shoved Eomer back into the room and latched the door behind her as she raced in. Immediately she began throwing things around and giving orders.
"Eomer, put your shirt on and for goodness' sake comb your hair or something. Lothiriel, I brought you this. Yank it over your head and wrap the scarf around your hair." Eowyn handed me a loose brown tunic-style dress that belted high across the waist. I quickly pulled it on and wrapped the accompanying shawl over my tousled hair, then went to help Eowyn furiously remake the bed. "Now, then, he'll be here any second. Lothiriel, you spent the night here because your door was broken. I was in here helping you get ready for a trip to the market when Eomer stopped by to make sure you slept all right." I grabbed my silver dress off the floor and shoved it under the bed.
"Lothiriel! I know you're in there! Now unlock this door. I want an explanation, and it had better be a good one." Father sounded more than a little angry. Knowing there was no point in stalling him, I went to open the door. He burst into the room immediately and looked suspiciously at Eowyn and I. Then, with something like triumph in his eyes he confronted Eomer.
"Ah HA! So you ARE here! I didn't think you'd have the courage to stand in front of me and confess to having seduced my daughter but I'm pleased to see you do. But I am disappointed in you, Eomer. I expected more honor in the Rohirrim." I could see that Eomer was having difficulty smothering the urge to be 'honorable' and tell the truth, so I intervened before he did something disastrous.
"Father, whatever are you talking about?" I calmly took his arm and began pulling him out of the room. "Honestly, you jump to conclusions much too easily. After that horrid man attacked me last night, Eomer showed true chivalry and kindly offered me the use of his room. Then he stopped by this morning after Eowyn came to talk to me to make sure I had slept all right. Why, we couldn't ask for a more generous host!"
My father raised one eyebrow suspiciously. "Lothiriel, are you telling me the truth, or are you trying to protect this man?" I opened my mouth but he stopped me. "No, don't answer that. You obviously love him too much to admit to fabricating a story, and if by chance you're telling the truth it doesn't matter anyway."
This was too easy. What was he plotting?
"I will, however, expect your formal offer of marriage by no later than this evening, my Lord Eomer."
My jaw dropped. "Father! What on earth...You can't just order a man to make an offer or marriage! For all you know Eomer doesn't even want to marry me!"
Father looked exasperated. "Oh, don't' be ridiculous, Lothiriel. It's completely obvious to everyone in this Hall that you two fell in love, had a quarrel, then made up tonight—though exactly how you made up I don't in the least want to know."
Obvious? I looked at Eowyn for confirmation and she nodded sheepishly. Somewhat disgruntled, I fell silent. Then Eomer spoke up.
"I will not deny that I am in love with your daughter. Nor will I deny that I spent the night in this room with her last night." Wonderful, Eomer, I thought sarcastically. Just give him another reason to send me back to Dol Amroth.
"However, I have no intention of requesting her hand in marriage."
^~^~^
AN: Go on! Review!
Disclaimer: All the characters, names, places, and other things related to LOTR used in the story below are the property of JRR Tolkien and the Tolkien estate. I wish I could make money off of it, but don't worry, I'm not. New Line cinema is, though. Go them!
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
The next morning I woke to the warmth of sunlight falling on my closed eyelids. I started to pull the blankets up over my face and go back to sleep, but something was pinning them down. I tugged harder but nothing happened. Irritated, I sat up and blearily surveyed the problem.
The sheets were tangled around a pair of legs, the blanket was lying half off the bed, and the beautiful green and gold quilt was draped upside down over a very male chest. King Eomer of Rohan was sprawled next to me, completely naked.
I shook myself out of my sleepiness immediately. In a flash, I remembered the events of the night before. In another flash, I began blushing. The question now, I mused while looking down at Eomer's handsome sleeping face, was how to handle the relationship from this point on.
Would he want me to leave and pretend like nothing had happened? Stay and make love once more before going about our business? Conduct a clandestine affair beneath my father's nose? Proclaim our love from the highest rooftop in Edoras? What if he no longer wanted to marry me?
A breath of air circulated from somewhere and I realized that I, too, was unclothed. Modestly, I wrapped the blanket around myself and leaned back against the pillow.
^~^~^
The second time I woke, it was to the very pleasant sensation of Eomer kissing me. I smiled and returned the gesture, then opened my eyes. He was leaning over me, grinning down at my mussed hair and half-opened eyes. I yawned.
"What time is it?" I started to sit up again but instead found myself pulled up against Eomer. He started to kiss me again.
"No doubt past time to get up." I tried to pull away.
"Eomer, I have to go. If anyone finds us, my father will probably try to kill you, and I really don't want him to die of a heart attack from over- exertion."
He snorted. "Your father has the heart of a man half his age. He wouldn't try to kill me, he *would* kill me. You simply had to remind me about Imrahil, didn't you? He could be a problem. What if he doesn't approve our marriage?"
I shrugged. "Do you have an aversion to elopement?" Eomer glared at me, and I grinned. "Really, Eomer. My father brought me here for the express purpose of getting me to flirt with and marry you. Do you honestly think he would oppose our union now?" I kissed him quickly—or meant to, anyway. The kiss turned into a /i, our embrace turned more passionate, and something far more interesting than an early-morning discussion of marital possibilities probably would have occurred if a knock had not at that moment sounded on the door.
Eomer and I both raised our heads to look at the door, then at each other. I felt his muscles tense up. Still looking at me, he called out,
"Who is it?"
"Your very pregnant sister who doesn't like to be kept waiting." Eomer gave me an apologetic look, flipped the quilt over my head and went to answer the door. Through a gap between folds of fabric I saw him stoop to pull on his breeches, then he opened the door a mere crack, blocking Eowyn's view of me with his body.
"Yes, Eowyn?" She attempted to peer past him into the room.
"I just thought that as your loving, caring sister," Eomer laughed once but was stared into submission. "I should warn you that Prince Imrahil is looking for you. Apparently his daughter isn't in her room and now he can't find her and...Oh, dear, here he comes!" Eowyn shoved Eomer back into the room and latched the door behind her as she raced in. Immediately she began throwing things around and giving orders.
"Eomer, put your shirt on and for goodness' sake comb your hair or something. Lothiriel, I brought you this. Yank it over your head and wrap the scarf around your hair." Eowyn handed me a loose brown tunic-style dress that belted high across the waist. I quickly pulled it on and wrapped the accompanying shawl over my tousled hair, then went to help Eowyn furiously remake the bed. "Now, then, he'll be here any second. Lothiriel, you spent the night here because your door was broken. I was in here helping you get ready for a trip to the market when Eomer stopped by to make sure you slept all right." I grabbed my silver dress off the floor and shoved it under the bed.
"Lothiriel! I know you're in there! Now unlock this door. I want an explanation, and it had better be a good one." Father sounded more than a little angry. Knowing there was no point in stalling him, I went to open the door. He burst into the room immediately and looked suspiciously at Eowyn and I. Then, with something like triumph in his eyes he confronted Eomer.
"Ah HA! So you ARE here! I didn't think you'd have the courage to stand in front of me and confess to having seduced my daughter but I'm pleased to see you do. But I am disappointed in you, Eomer. I expected more honor in the Rohirrim." I could see that Eomer was having difficulty smothering the urge to be 'honorable' and tell the truth, so I intervened before he did something disastrous.
"Father, whatever are you talking about?" I calmly took his arm and began pulling him out of the room. "Honestly, you jump to conclusions much too easily. After that horrid man attacked me last night, Eomer showed true chivalry and kindly offered me the use of his room. Then he stopped by this morning after Eowyn came to talk to me to make sure I had slept all right. Why, we couldn't ask for a more generous host!"
My father raised one eyebrow suspiciously. "Lothiriel, are you telling me the truth, or are you trying to protect this man?" I opened my mouth but he stopped me. "No, don't answer that. You obviously love him too much to admit to fabricating a story, and if by chance you're telling the truth it doesn't matter anyway."
This was too easy. What was he plotting?
"I will, however, expect your formal offer of marriage by no later than this evening, my Lord Eomer."
My jaw dropped. "Father! What on earth...You can't just order a man to make an offer or marriage! For all you know Eomer doesn't even want to marry me!"
Father looked exasperated. "Oh, don't' be ridiculous, Lothiriel. It's completely obvious to everyone in this Hall that you two fell in love, had a quarrel, then made up tonight—though exactly how you made up I don't in the least want to know."
Obvious? I looked at Eowyn for confirmation and she nodded sheepishly. Somewhat disgruntled, I fell silent. Then Eomer spoke up.
"I will not deny that I am in love with your daughter. Nor will I deny that I spent the night in this room with her last night." Wonderful, Eomer, I thought sarcastically. Just give him another reason to send me back to Dol Amroth.
"However, I have no intention of requesting her hand in marriage."
^~^~^
AN: Go on! Review!
