A/N: grins no better cure for writer's block than getting good reviews..lol. and today i have some personalized replies! i never write individual replies (usually because i'm too lazy). go me!

first off, CONGRATULATIONS ADNAREL!!! you are my 100th reviewer! go you!

balrogthane: as always, you cause me to slap my head in my stupidity. i figured out a way around it (and lothiriel being clumsy in the chapter before the duel), though, and all shall be revealed (corrected) in this chapter.......

calime: thankies muchly for the anti-writer's-block dust! hopefully it'll last for awhile.

lotr-nutcase: you're right on two accounts (sort of...). i had a blast at disney, and you'll see what happens with the secret plan soon.

now, on to the disclaimer!

disclaimer: fill in the blanks! once upon a time, there was a . she liked to . unfortunately, her passion was , king of , and he was already taken. so, she began to write about the king of and his beautiful wife, , princess of . she posted it on , where she would not get into over copyright laws. the end.

Chapter XIX

May, T.A. 3021

Lothiriel found Eomer sitting at one of the tables on the outskirts of the hall. He was watching the dancers and didn't notice her until she put her hands on his shoulders. "You do not dance," she whispered. "Why not?"

He looked up at her. "Maybe because the only woman I want to dance with is standing behind me."

Lothiriel grinned and looked over her shoulder. "Where? I don't see anyone...." She gasped dramatically. "You can't mean me!" she cried, her eyes dancing with laughter.

"Who else?" Eomer stood, taking her hand. "Would you give me the honor of dancing with you?" he asked.

"Of course." They stepped onto the dance floor. The song was neither slow nor fast. "A two-step," Lothiriel whispered. "My favorite." She lightly guided Eomer through the other dancers, humming along with the music. The song ended and gave way to a second: a reel. Eomer and Lothiriel wove in and out along with the rest of the revelers. They danced together for several more songs, until at last, they were both out of breath.

"Shall we get some fresh air?" asked Eomer. Lothiriel nodded. They walked outside to the moonlit balcony. "I thought you said you couldn't dance." Eomer leaned against the railing.

"When did I say that?"

"In Edoras. Remember? I tried to get you to dance numerous times, but you said you were too clumsy and you had to get drunk to dance correctly. Of course, you proceeded to almost fall over when I finally got you to dance, and then you ended up snoring in my lap," he said, humor filling his voice.

Lothiriel grinned at him. "I don't remember that at all. And you should have expected it. I'm a diplomatic liar."

"How's that?" he laughed.

She shrugged. "I lie when it best suits my purposes. If you haven't noticed, people will tell you anything if they think it will get them out of doing something they don't want to do."

"Believe me, I've noticed."

"Of course, you're a liar, too," she said. "Or at least, you're just as bad as a liar."

"You wound me, my dear," Eomer said, putting his hands over his chest in mock-pain.

"I know very well that you were one of the few men who survived the Pelennor with nary a scratch."

"And how does that make me a liar?" he asked, stepping toward her.

"I did not say you were a liar, only that you are as bad as one." She turned away from him and began to walk away.

Eomer followed her. "Well then, how does that make me as bad as a liar?"

"You let me trounce you the day of the duel," she continued. "You and I know very well that I could never really defeat you in a match, no matter what kind of training the Elves gave me." She turned, crossed her arms, and half-glared at him. "Why did you let me?"

Eomer sighed. "It's actually quite simple, really. I couldn't very well defeat you: that would make me un-chivalrous in front of my people, not to mention make you very upset with me. Besides, I didn't want to kiss you in front of all those people."

Lothiriel's stomach seemed to drop. "Why not?"

"Because," Eomer whispered, backing her into a dimly-lit alcove, "I couldn't do this." He leaned in and kissed her soundly. Lothiriel gasped and returned the kiss just as forcefully. Neither seemed to want it to stop until Eomer's hands began to roam. Lothiriel immediately pushed him away.

"Stop."

"What's wrong?" he whispered, his voice ragged.

"We can't," she whispered back. "Not yet. It wouldn't be right."

Eomer sighed audibly. "I suppose you are right." He kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight, my lady. I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight," she whispered in return and watched him retreat back to the party. She sank to the ground, unbidden tears in her eyes. She sat for a long while, listening to the sounds of the people and music fade into silence as the ball drew to a close. She heard the servants follow the last of the guests out, dousing the torches in water as they went. Silently, she rose and walked to her room, ignorant of the noiseless shadow that followed her.

As she reached the door, an arm grabbed Lothiriel's shoulder. The princess turned, frightened. "I am sorry, milady, I didna mean to frighten you," said Lady Harrana. "I merely wanted to ask if you woulda be interested in having a picnic lunch on the beach tomorrow."

Lothiriel smiled. "That sounds wonderful."

"I'll see you at breakfast then?"

The princess nodded. "At breakfast." With that, she opened her door and went inside.

Harrana turned away, grinning. Lothiriel had not asked who else was coming.

A/N: w00t! another chapter! and THE PLAN is set in motion...what follows will be one of the last rising actions before the CLIMAX. which means that the story shall be ending relatively soon. sigh it's been some good times so far. and no worries, all of the plotlines will be concluded (and tied together) by the end of it all (with the exception of maybe two). now, the lady scribe wonders if the balrog is happy with how she fixed her inconsistencies.