A/N: relax, lionel, she has not fallen for our horse-lord. oh no, not yet. do not worry, she will not go down without a fight. she may have resigned herself to her fate, but the story is not over yet! it ain't over 'til the fat dwarf sings (and eru help us all when that happens).

btw, this one's a bit shorter than i would have liked, but never fear: up next, a festive feast in the halls of the horse-lords complete with bards, beer, and boar! ( - how's that for alliteration?)

disclaimer if you don't know that i don't own any of this except my oc's and lothiriel's personality, you obviously don't read the disclaimers.

Chapter IX

March-April, T.A. 3021

The next morning, Mista drew Lothiriel aside as they saddled their horses. "What happened last night? You seem different."

"Nothing, really. We talked about our marriage."

"And?" Mista prompted her to continue.

"And what?" Lothiriel looked at her friend. Suddenly, surprise swept across her face. "Oh! He told me I could back out of the marriage if I didn't want to go through with it." She conveniently left out the part where he kissed her; it was no one's business but her own. And his. The princess smiled at the thought of his lips brushing against hers. It had been so unexpected and so gentle that--

"Are you going to?" Her thoughts were interrupted by Mista's persistent question.

"Am I going to what?"

Mista rolled her eyes: it was obvious that Lothiriel was leaving out something. "Are you going to back out of the marriage?"

Lothiriel was thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think so. Not right now, at least. The way I figure it, Eomer can't be the worst marriage arrangement I could be put through. After all, he's the youngest noble that is not related to me already."

Mista laughed at that.

"What's so funny?" Lothiriel asked.

Between snorts, Mista choked out, "But he is related to you! Through your cousin's marriage to his sister!"

Lothiriel blinked at her friend and then burst into laughter herself. "By the Valar, you're right! What will the children do? They'll have no one to marry!"

"Except for Lord Elessar and Lady Arwen's children! I do hope they have enough children to send to all of the other nobility. Otherwise--"

"We'll have to send them to the far corners of the world!" interjected Lothiriel. "Can you imagine!? Elphir's children will have to go to Dale, Faramir's to Harad, and the rest will just have to go to Bree!"

Eomer came up beside them, already mounted. "Who has to go to Bree?" he asked.

"No one," said Lothiriel. "Not yet, at least...." The two women looked at each other and burst into fresh peals of laughter as Eomer exchanged confused glances with the other men.

"Right, then," said Eomer. "We ride to Rohan. It's less than a week's journey from here to Isengard, and only a day from there. Shall we go?" The women had calmed down enough to nod, and in moment they were on their way to the tower of Isengard.

They reached Isengard before the end of the week. The five companions rode past the ruins in silence. As they came around the southern side of that once-great tower, Lothiriel gasped. They were atop a rise, and before them lay the most beautiful sight she had ever seen on land. It was a sea of gold, indeed, and in the distance rose a golden city shining in the sun. Eomer came to her side. "Welcome to Rohan, Lady Lothiriel."