Author's Note: Muahahaha!! Oh, I love you guys. Really, I do. I especially love the number of panicked reviews I got, threatening me with various tortures if I didn't make Eomer marry Lothiriel. Well, have no fear. All will be made clear below :) **Standard Disclaimer**
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I gaped at Eomer. Eowyn gaped at Eomer. Father glared at Eomer.

"What do you mean you have no intention of marrying her? You dishonorable coward! You led my daughter to believe you loved her, seduced her and used her, and now you're refusing to marry her? I'll have your head! Aye, and if it means war then it means war. I will not allow my one and only daughter to be so slandered!" Father reached for his sword, but found he wasn't wearing one. Growling, he searched for something heavy to pound Eomer with.

"I think you misunderstand me, sir." Eomer said, attempting to restrain his grin. "I will without a doubt marry Lothiriel. I simply will not ask you for your permission. You see, I gave her my word several days ago (when she could barely stand me) that I would never offer for her hand in marriage, and I have no intention of backing out of that promise. Lothiriel agreed last night to my proposal, and frankly sir, that's all the permission I need." He turned an unsure face to me and took my hands. "You haven't changed your mind, have you, love?"

In answer, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. Before things could get interesting, unfortunately, I was dragged off of my fiancé by my still-irate father.

"It's disrespect, that's what it is. In my day no one would have dared." He grumbled to himself and adjusted the shawl around my hair. Then Father spoke up.

"I can see that Lothiriel would be distressed if I killed you, so I shall refrain—for now. However!" His voice grew threatening. "If I hear so much as a whisper of a rumor that you two have been up to any more....undisciplined behavior...before you're properly wedded in Dol Amroth, I'll double your engagement time!" He glared at both of us until we nodded. Clearing his throat, he finished "Now that that's been settled...Eomer, OUT! Lothiriel, there will be a meeting to discuss the preparations for a State wedding this evening, and you will be formally announced at dinner."

Eomer allowed himself to be marched out of the room. He gave me a half-amused, half-regretful look over his shoulder just before he left, and I knew that he didn't want to be separated from me anymore than I did. The door closed behind Father. I stared at it for a moment, lost in thought.
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Eowyn coughed pointedly and I realized she was still standing next to Eomer's—our?—bed. The thought made me blush.

"Uh...Lady Eowyn, if you don't mind my asking, how exactly did you know about our, um, circumstances?"

Eowyn smiled and rested a hand on her rounded stomach. "I was raised here, Lothiriel. I've been hearing gossip and listening behind closed doors my entire life, and living somewhere else doesn't change the fact that I know everything that goes on in this Hall. Of course, it helps that you and Eomer weren't exactly, er, discreet."

I blushed. For the first time it occurred to me that any number of people had seen Eomer's scene of banishing Laethus and that those same people had all probably noticed the King giving me his room for the night. Undoubtedly, they had also observed the King NOT leave his chamber again. Wincing, I sank down on the bed and buried my face in my hands.

"How mortifying! The entire populace will know of my behavior...I'll never fit in here now! They probably think me a loose woman, not fit to be Queen of Rohan." My thoughts rambled. Would they scorn me? What of the children? What if someone, from my reputation, should suggest they were illegitimate? How awful if they should someday be denied their rightful places!

The sound of Eowyn's laughter brought me back to the present. "Oh, Lothiriel," She chuckled, sitting down beside me and putting an arm around my slumped shoulders. "Don't worry! If anything, this little adventure will only convince the people that you possess the spirit and heart to help rule them. If you and Eomer weren't to be wed, well, they might look on things a little differently, but as it is, in their eyes you've made your commitment to each other. All that's lacking is the public exchange of vows." With those reassuring words, Eowyn stood up (slowly and with many huffs and puffs!) and held out a hand to me. "Now let's go get breakfast."
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