A/N: someone asked me why lothiriel was in rivendell. it's explained soon...sorry for the ambiguity. i would also like to say that elrond did not leave middle-earth until september 22, t.a. (third age) 3021. this is in the appendices. and even if he had left already, celeborn ruled in rivendell for several years before he passed into the west.
c'est magnifique, this is NOT turning into a lothiriel/legolas shipper...that was my satirical muse taking over there (i despise most legoluv stories). and also, the only real description we have of our favorite elf is a line in lotr about a star upon his dark brow. i interepreted that to mean that he has dark hair. i would, however, like to thank you for your concern and your attention to detail!
**disclaimer** i don't own any of tolkien's creations (although i wouldn't mind having eomer...uh, did i say that out loud?). i only own the personalities i've given them. and mista. enjoy the story!
Chapter IV
December T.A. 3020-January, T.A. 3021
Lothiriel returned to her room as quickly as she could. No one had followed her from teh Great Hall, to her great relief. She undressed and pulled her travelling clothes back out of her hamper. She pulled on the pants and tunic and added an extra layer for warmth. Outside, snow was falling again. Lothiriel smiled. It would cover her tracks.
Bending down, she grabbed her knapsack from beneath her bed. Her bow was slung across it along with a quiver of arrows. She tucked her hunting knife into her belt, put on her cloak, and snuck into the hallway. No one was about; they were probably still listening to the music. Lothiriel tip- toed out to the quiet gardens that led to the stables.
She reached the stables without incident. There was no one present (still in the Hall getting drunk, most likely). All of the horses were sleeping calmly, save one. Lothiriel moved like a shadow toward the stall. She knew at once whose horse it was: Eomer's. A war-horse, strong and sturdy. The animal was big, maybe twenty hands high. Big, and nervous. He reared slightly. Lothiriel sighed. She would have to calm him somehow--if she could get near him. The stallion rolled his eyes, pawing the ground as if he were daring her to step closer. And she did. Lothiriel grabbed the bridle(?) and steadied the horse. She soothed him, crooning softly in Elvish as she had seen the stablehands do on many occasions. Suddenly, an idea came to her. If she could control the horse, why not ride him? He was far faster than any of Lord Elrond's horses, and the hands would assume that the Rohirric lord had gone for a ride. It was perfect!
Lothiriel smiled at her plan and saddled the horse. She led him out of the stable into the cold midnight. They walked to the edge of the valley where Lothiriel mounted the great beast. She immediately sent him into a gallop through the pass, the snow falling about them. She took a last fleeting glance at the house, the first rays of the sun giving it a rosy glow, and was gone.
************
It was midday when Eomer awoke at last. His head was throbbing from the wine the night before. He shut his eyes tightly, wishing the headache would go away. There was a knock at the door, each sharp rap echoing in his head. "What is it?" he grumbled, opening the door to reveal a nervous- looking Aphadon.
"She's gone, milord! I can't find her anywhere!"
Eomer blinked at the Elf for a moment. "Who's gone?"
"Loth--er, Lady Lothiriel, milord! And your horse, too!" At this, Eomer's mind began to move into gear.
"WHAT??? Firefoot? What do you mean, 'gone'?" he shouted, not noticing the constant throb in his temples.
The Elf shook slightly. "I mean what I say, sire. I went to awaken Lady Lothiriel for the noon meal and found her gone. Her hunting garments and weapons were gone as well. This did not phase me, as she did not stay for all of the festivities last night, but then Ara told me that your horse had been missing along with his tack and gear. I just put two and two together, and she must have taken him during the night."
Eomer swore. "Can you not track them? Why didn't anyone wake me before?"
"The stablehands thought that you had gone for a morning ride. It wasn't until we realized that Lothiriel was gone that we realized what had happened. And nay, milord, fresh snow has fallen since last night, any hopes we had of tracking them are dashed."
"What do we do, then?" asked Eomer.
"Lord Elrond has sent messages to Mirkwood and the Havens and even to some rangers outside of Bree to watch for a young lady riding a war-horse. They will alert us if any news is heard of either horse or maid." The Elf looked at the king compassionately. "Do not worry, milord, we will find her for you."
"It is not the maid I care about," he muttered as Aphadon shut the door behind him.
c'est magnifique, this is NOT turning into a lothiriel/legolas shipper...that was my satirical muse taking over there (i despise most legoluv stories). and also, the only real description we have of our favorite elf is a line in lotr about a star upon his dark brow. i interepreted that to mean that he has dark hair. i would, however, like to thank you for your concern and your attention to detail!
**disclaimer** i don't own any of tolkien's creations (although i wouldn't mind having eomer...uh, did i say that out loud?). i only own the personalities i've given them. and mista. enjoy the story!
Chapter IV
December T.A. 3020-January, T.A. 3021
Lothiriel returned to her room as quickly as she could. No one had followed her from teh Great Hall, to her great relief. She undressed and pulled her travelling clothes back out of her hamper. She pulled on the pants and tunic and added an extra layer for warmth. Outside, snow was falling again. Lothiriel smiled. It would cover her tracks.
Bending down, she grabbed her knapsack from beneath her bed. Her bow was slung across it along with a quiver of arrows. She tucked her hunting knife into her belt, put on her cloak, and snuck into the hallway. No one was about; they were probably still listening to the music. Lothiriel tip- toed out to the quiet gardens that led to the stables.
She reached the stables without incident. There was no one present (still in the Hall getting drunk, most likely). All of the horses were sleeping calmly, save one. Lothiriel moved like a shadow toward the stall. She knew at once whose horse it was: Eomer's. A war-horse, strong and sturdy. The animal was big, maybe twenty hands high. Big, and nervous. He reared slightly. Lothiriel sighed. She would have to calm him somehow--if she could get near him. The stallion rolled his eyes, pawing the ground as if he were daring her to step closer. And she did. Lothiriel grabbed the bridle(?) and steadied the horse. She soothed him, crooning softly in Elvish as she had seen the stablehands do on many occasions. Suddenly, an idea came to her. If she could control the horse, why not ride him? He was far faster than any of Lord Elrond's horses, and the hands would assume that the Rohirric lord had gone for a ride. It was perfect!
Lothiriel smiled at her plan and saddled the horse. She led him out of the stable into the cold midnight. They walked to the edge of the valley where Lothiriel mounted the great beast. She immediately sent him into a gallop through the pass, the snow falling about them. She took a last fleeting glance at the house, the first rays of the sun giving it a rosy glow, and was gone.
************
It was midday when Eomer awoke at last. His head was throbbing from the wine the night before. He shut his eyes tightly, wishing the headache would go away. There was a knock at the door, each sharp rap echoing in his head. "What is it?" he grumbled, opening the door to reveal a nervous- looking Aphadon.
"She's gone, milord! I can't find her anywhere!"
Eomer blinked at the Elf for a moment. "Who's gone?"
"Loth--er, Lady Lothiriel, milord! And your horse, too!" At this, Eomer's mind began to move into gear.
"WHAT??? Firefoot? What do you mean, 'gone'?" he shouted, not noticing the constant throb in his temples.
The Elf shook slightly. "I mean what I say, sire. I went to awaken Lady Lothiriel for the noon meal and found her gone. Her hunting garments and weapons were gone as well. This did not phase me, as she did not stay for all of the festivities last night, but then Ara told me that your horse had been missing along with his tack and gear. I just put two and two together, and she must have taken him during the night."
Eomer swore. "Can you not track them? Why didn't anyone wake me before?"
"The stablehands thought that you had gone for a morning ride. It wasn't until we realized that Lothiriel was gone that we realized what had happened. And nay, milord, fresh snow has fallen since last night, any hopes we had of tracking them are dashed."
"What do we do, then?" asked Eomer.
"Lord Elrond has sent messages to Mirkwood and the Havens and even to some rangers outside of Bree to watch for a young lady riding a war-horse. They will alert us if any news is heard of either horse or maid." The Elf looked at the king compassionately. "Do not worry, milord, we will find her for you."
"It is not the maid I care about," he muttered as Aphadon shut the door behind him.