A/N: thankies to all of my wonderful reviewers (even if you haven't reviewed this particular version). i had to delete the original due to some technical difficulty, but hopefully it's all worked out now. don't forget: reviews make me happy, which makes me write more!
**disclaimer** i have no claim to tolkien's work. i don't even own the main character. only her personality. but you knew that already. now, enjoy the story!
Chapter II
December, T.A. 3020
Lothiriel spent several days wandering through the woods hunting and thinking of ways to elude her pending marriage (and her fiance). The snow had melted in the valley, but not so in the mountain passes. Lothiriel sighed. It would be weeks before they could leave for Dol Amroth! In the meantime, she would merely avoid Eomer. It was easy enough: she knew the valley well, he did not, and besides, it was cold outside. No guest in their right mind would give up the Last Homely House for the woods beyond.
Not quite two weeks after Eomer arrived, Lothiriel was following a faint deer path. She had no plans of catching anything, but she still had her bow notched and her dagger ready. Her feet crunched through the snow noisily, which was precisely the reason why she didn't hear the person following her. A rabbit sped across the trail. She launched her arrow and missed the hare by a foot or more.
"I don't know what my people will say if I return with a bride who is that noisy when hunting."
Lothiriel whirled, a second arrow nocked. It was Eomer. "How do you know I'm always that noisy? It might be practice for speed."
"I do not think so."
"Does it matter what you think?"
"I should hope that the woman I am to marry would care something for my thoughts."
"And if she doesn't?" Lothiriel asked coldly.
Eomer replied, his voice matching the iciness of her own. "Then perhaps she needs to be taught to respect her betters." He stepped closer to her.
"You wouldn't dare," she said, taking a step backward.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" Eomer advanced, his breath coming out in icy huffs.
Lothiriel turned and fled, running up the path. She had to escape this monster. He was a horrid man! What did her father see in him? He had no manners, and obviously lacked the respect that should be given to a woman. He was a brute, and Lothiriel knew that she would never be safe from him after the wedding. She had to escape now, and fast. It would be a simple matter to gather her belongings and make her way to--to where? Where could she hide from the man she was to marry? There would be no comfort in Dol Amroth; her father would keep her there until Eomer came. The same with Minas Tirith: the king, and even Faramir, would force her into the marriage alliance no matter what her thoughts on the subject were. So where would she go? The only other options were Bree, Laketown, or another Elf haven. Lothiriel knew it was too far to Laketown, and the Elves would have no trouble tracking her if she went to the Grey Havens or Mirkwood. Her last choice was Bree. It was not the nicest place, she knew, but it was better than anything else. That decided, Lothiriel made her way back to her rooms to pack. It would be a hard journey, and she would need to be prepared.
**************
Eomer watched the girl retreat further into the woods. He hadn't meant to lose control of his temper, it just kind of happened sometimes. He sighed. It was obvious their marriage would never work. He wondered why he had even considered falling in love. Ever.
Life had not been easy after the War. It was a year later, and he still had not become used to the emptiness of the halls of Meduseld. They seemed cold and lifeless now that Eowyn was gone. She was not really gone, he knew, but it was hard to remember that she really had survived the War when she wasn't there to remind him each day. He sighed. Eomer had hoped that this girl, Lothiriel, would become his closest companion while they waited for the snows to melt. So far, the most contact they'd had consisted of the heated argument just moments before. It was his fault, he knew. He shouldn't have snuck up on her. But it was so easy! She just stomped through the snow, not paying any attention to anything outside of her sphere. She deserved to be startled. Yet, the frightened look she had given him kept playing through Eomer's mind.
He laughed bitterly at himself, standing in the snowy wood. He often scared people away. Eomer wasn't exactly the kind of person someone would want to get to know. His temper was often foul, as was his mouth. No wonder the girl would have nothing to do with him. It was too bad, for she was beautiful. Not as beautiful as the Lady Arwen, granted, but compared to anyone else, she was radiant. He would have followed her to the ends of the earth if she would permit him to do so after his outburst.
The bells rang announcing the supper hour. Eomer followed his tracks back down to the House. He would apologize that night, he decided. He owed Lothiriel that much at least.
**disclaimer** i have no claim to tolkien's work. i don't even own the main character. only her personality. but you knew that already. now, enjoy the story!
Chapter II
December, T.A. 3020
Lothiriel spent several days wandering through the woods hunting and thinking of ways to elude her pending marriage (and her fiance). The snow had melted in the valley, but not so in the mountain passes. Lothiriel sighed. It would be weeks before they could leave for Dol Amroth! In the meantime, she would merely avoid Eomer. It was easy enough: she knew the valley well, he did not, and besides, it was cold outside. No guest in their right mind would give up the Last Homely House for the woods beyond.
Not quite two weeks after Eomer arrived, Lothiriel was following a faint deer path. She had no plans of catching anything, but she still had her bow notched and her dagger ready. Her feet crunched through the snow noisily, which was precisely the reason why she didn't hear the person following her. A rabbit sped across the trail. She launched her arrow and missed the hare by a foot or more.
"I don't know what my people will say if I return with a bride who is that noisy when hunting."
Lothiriel whirled, a second arrow nocked. It was Eomer. "How do you know I'm always that noisy? It might be practice for speed."
"I do not think so."
"Does it matter what you think?"
"I should hope that the woman I am to marry would care something for my thoughts."
"And if she doesn't?" Lothiriel asked coldly.
Eomer replied, his voice matching the iciness of her own. "Then perhaps she needs to be taught to respect her betters." He stepped closer to her.
"You wouldn't dare," she said, taking a step backward.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" Eomer advanced, his breath coming out in icy huffs.
Lothiriel turned and fled, running up the path. She had to escape this monster. He was a horrid man! What did her father see in him? He had no manners, and obviously lacked the respect that should be given to a woman. He was a brute, and Lothiriel knew that she would never be safe from him after the wedding. She had to escape now, and fast. It would be a simple matter to gather her belongings and make her way to--to where? Where could she hide from the man she was to marry? There would be no comfort in Dol Amroth; her father would keep her there until Eomer came. The same with Minas Tirith: the king, and even Faramir, would force her into the marriage alliance no matter what her thoughts on the subject were. So where would she go? The only other options were Bree, Laketown, or another Elf haven. Lothiriel knew it was too far to Laketown, and the Elves would have no trouble tracking her if she went to the Grey Havens or Mirkwood. Her last choice was Bree. It was not the nicest place, she knew, but it was better than anything else. That decided, Lothiriel made her way back to her rooms to pack. It would be a hard journey, and she would need to be prepared.
**************
Eomer watched the girl retreat further into the woods. He hadn't meant to lose control of his temper, it just kind of happened sometimes. He sighed. It was obvious their marriage would never work. He wondered why he had even considered falling in love. Ever.
Life had not been easy after the War. It was a year later, and he still had not become used to the emptiness of the halls of Meduseld. They seemed cold and lifeless now that Eowyn was gone. She was not really gone, he knew, but it was hard to remember that she really had survived the War when she wasn't there to remind him each day. He sighed. Eomer had hoped that this girl, Lothiriel, would become his closest companion while they waited for the snows to melt. So far, the most contact they'd had consisted of the heated argument just moments before. It was his fault, he knew. He shouldn't have snuck up on her. But it was so easy! She just stomped through the snow, not paying any attention to anything outside of her sphere. She deserved to be startled. Yet, the frightened look she had given him kept playing through Eomer's mind.
He laughed bitterly at himself, standing in the snowy wood. He often scared people away. Eomer wasn't exactly the kind of person someone would want to get to know. His temper was often foul, as was his mouth. No wonder the girl would have nothing to do with him. It was too bad, for she was beautiful. Not as beautiful as the Lady Arwen, granted, but compared to anyone else, she was radiant. He would have followed her to the ends of the earth if she would permit him to do so after his outburst.
The bells rang announcing the supper hour. Eomer followed his tracks back down to the House. He would apologize that night, he decided. He owed Lothiriel that much at least.