Author's Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! I really appreciate it!
Hugs to all of you! Here's another chapter! Enjoy!
Diclaimer: I think you got the gist of this the first six times.
Chapter 6-Tell Her That You Love Her
Eomer woke up the next morning to the sound of heavy pounding on his door. He groaned, as the intruder brazenly threw open the door, then shut it again. He turned around and threw the covers over his head, not wanting to see who it was.
Eowyn ripped the covers off her big brother and slapped him hard.
"Ow! Who dares...Eowyn!" he growled, as he grabbed her, tumbling her to the bed with him. "What in Valar's name are you doing?" he glanced outside. It was still dark.
"We're going to watch the sunrise, you insensitive oaf. And I do believe that a little talk is in order," Eowyn said, as she began pulling him out of bed. "Are you going to get up of your own accord, or not? I swear to you, if I injure myself pulling you up, Faramir will slit your throat and then what shall the pretty Princess of Dol Amroth do?" she smirked as he sat up and stared at her.
"Fine," he muttered, grabbing his cloak. "Women. Annoying creatures...Ow!" he yelled, as Eowyn knocked him on the head and pushed him out of the house.
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"So, sister dear, you were the kind soul who brought me out here. Of what do you wish to speak? And won't Faramir miss you?" he smirked.
"Faramir sleeps deeply, and I always rise early. As for what I wish to speak of, you and I have never been nothing short of honest with each other, so I shall uphold that tradition here. What are your intentions towards Lothiriel?"
"I...well...it..." Eomer began, not sure how to start.
"Let me just say one thing, Eomer, before you even start. If you have intentions that are anything less than honourable, I swear I will slit your throat—she is not a rag doll to be played with, then discarded. The Princess of Dol Amroth is strong, yes, but in matters of the heart she is trusting, caring, and vulnerable. Do not take advantage of that," Eowyn glared at her gaping older sibling.
"I swear! It shall be years before I so lightly traipse into Emyn Arnen again! Already I have had two threats on my life, and I have been here but one full day! What is it with you Gondorians that makes you so thirsty for blood!" he muttered. "My intentions with Lothiriel? I...I don't like putting my feelings for her in the way of intentions. Let me phrase it better. I am enamored by her. She is beautiful. She is brave. She is intelligent. She is kind. Merely setting my eyes on the beauty of her face is enough to both calm me and fluster me. I have never felt this way before," he admitted to her.
"Well, I gathered as much, from the way you stared at her. And so did Faramir, and her brothers I'm sure. They are all very protective of her. She is the only female born of their line, you see. In some ways, I am almost sorry for you, for having to fend off not one, but four older brothers. At least Faramir had only one to deal with," she giggled.
"He is being very understanding toward the matter. As well as her father. They have both given me their blessing to court her." Eomer sighed. "Am I really that obvious?"
Eowyn giggled at his discomfort. "Brother, you may be a tough warrior, but in matters such as these, you wear your heart on your sleeve, for all of Gondor to see!" The pair turned as they heard a twig snap in close proximity.
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Lothiriel rose early, as was her habit, and hastened to get ready. She wished to have her early-morning ramble through the beautiful gardens of Emyn Arnen.
She shivered as she stepped outside. The morning chill had not yet lifted, and Lothiriel did not think to wear her cloak outdoors. Without a second thought, she continued her solitary walk, her thoughts straying not to the weather, but to the monarch of Rohan, whom she thought slept soundly upstairs.
She thought of the way his smile made her giddy, the way his speech made her heart beat faster, the way his look made her melt, and the way his touch made her shiver.
As her thoughts turned to their pleasant walk through the very gardens she now occupied, she heard voices. She walked towards them, hoping to find Faramir or her brothers. Instead, she was greeted with the sight of none other than the King of Rohan and his sister taking a walk.
The pair turned to her and smiled. "Good morning, Lothiriel!" Eowyn said as she rushed to embrace her friend. "What are you doing awake so early?"
"I am always awake this early, and I suppose you have taken advantage of the fact that Faramir sleeps heavy and are thus enjoying a stroll in the gardens without him fretting over you like a mother hen?" she asked as the pair giggled. She turned to Eomer. "Good morning, my lord."
"Good morning Lady Lothiriel," Eomer said as he kissed her hand. Lothiriel shivered at his touch. "Your hands are cold! Are you not warm enough?" he asked tenderly, as Eowyn looked on at the exchange, amused at her brother's uncharacteristically chivalrous and gentle manner of address.
"I am well, I thank you," Lothiriel said, but shivered again, as Eomer took off his cloak and draped it around her shoulders, letting his hands linger on her shoulders a little longer than necessary.
"Thank you, Eomer," she said softly. Eomer fought down his nervousness and offered her his arm. She hesitated in taking it, glancing at Eowyn who stood unattended. Eowyn bit her cheeks to keep from laughing outright, collected herself, then addressed the two.
"Oh dear! Whatever am I thinking? Faramir must awake early to ready himself for council, as do the Princes of Dol Amroth. I should go in and inform the cook to ready the meal and awake the rest," she said, as she smiled at the two of them before turning back to the house.
"Eowyn, do you not need any assistance?" Lothiriel asked, still not taking Eomer's arm. Eomer began to feel a bit slighted at Lothiriel's reluctance to take his arm. "You should not be over-exerting yourself in your condition. Perhaps you should remain outdoors and enjoy the morning while I run to do your errands," Lothiriel said, with a look of pure concern. Eomer relaxed. She was merely worried for his sister, an admirable trait.
"Lothiriel, darling. Enjoy your walk. You too, Eomer. Besides, waking Faramir will come easier if I were to do it—I would not subject you to the ungodly things that could happen were he to find himself disturbed from a deep slumber," the to women giggled, knowing full well how much the Steward of Gondor valued his sleep. She walked briskly toward the house, as Lothiriel took Eomer's offered arm.
"I look forward to our ride tomorrow," Eomer said, as he led Lothiriel to a more private location in the garden.
"As do I! I cannot wait to ride! Father has gifted me with a new horse, and I have not ridden him as often as I like," Lothiriel said, with a huge smile on her face.
"And what have you named your faithful steed?" Eomer asked, curious.
"Felarof," she said, watching for his reaction.
"Aaah, a very fitting name for the horse of Gondor's most beautiful princess," he conceded. "You do great honour to Rohan and its heritage," he said.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at him as they ceased walking. He turned to face her.
"I hope I was not to forward in my addresses to you last night," he said, as he forced himself to keep his hands in hers, although he longed to caress her face.
"Not at all, my lord," Lothiriel said softly, as she looked down, then looked into his eyes. Eomer could resist no longer.
"Lothiriel, please call me Eomer," he said gently, as he caressed the curves of her face. Lothiriel felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. Why do I want to kiss him? she asked herself, as she held his gaze. Suddenly, they both leaned in closer, and Lothiriel shifted her gaze from his eyes to his lips. "Lothiriel! Eomer! Breakfast is ready!" Faramir yelled, as he spied the couple in the garden. "And by the looks of it, you'd best not tarry lest you want three freshly-woken scalawags from Dol Amroth on your tail."
Eomer and Lothiriel jumped at the sound of his voice. Eomer turned dark red, as Lothiriel blushed, then shifted her gaze to the ground. Faramir simply laughed, then informed Lothiriel that Eowyn requested her presence in the kitchens. He turned to the a bashful Eomer, as Lothiriel scurried back towards the house.
"Eomer, when I meant that you could take certain liberties in pursuing my cousin, I did not mean that you could take that many liberties," Faramir teased, as Eomer had the grace to turn a darker shade of red. "I doubt that even her father would approve," he continued jesting, as the pair headed back to the house. When they reached the steps, he turned around to face Eomer.
"Eomer, you should tell her," Faramir said.
"Tell her what? That I think she's the most beautiful being in the world? That she's exquisite? That she makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time? That I've never been this nervous in my life?" he asked, frustrated at the amount of interruptions in his pursuit of Lothiriel that he ran across.
"Tell her that you're in love with her," Faramir said simply, and he left his speechless brother-in-law to escort himself into the house.
Diclaimer: I think you got the gist of this the first six times.
Chapter 6-Tell Her That You Love Her
Eomer woke up the next morning to the sound of heavy pounding on his door. He groaned, as the intruder brazenly threw open the door, then shut it again. He turned around and threw the covers over his head, not wanting to see who it was.
Eowyn ripped the covers off her big brother and slapped him hard.
"Ow! Who dares...Eowyn!" he growled, as he grabbed her, tumbling her to the bed with him. "What in Valar's name are you doing?" he glanced outside. It was still dark.
"We're going to watch the sunrise, you insensitive oaf. And I do believe that a little talk is in order," Eowyn said, as she began pulling him out of bed. "Are you going to get up of your own accord, or not? I swear to you, if I injure myself pulling you up, Faramir will slit your throat and then what shall the pretty Princess of Dol Amroth do?" she smirked as he sat up and stared at her.
"Fine," he muttered, grabbing his cloak. "Women. Annoying creatures...Ow!" he yelled, as Eowyn knocked him on the head and pushed him out of the house.
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"So, sister dear, you were the kind soul who brought me out here. Of what do you wish to speak? And won't Faramir miss you?" he smirked.
"Faramir sleeps deeply, and I always rise early. As for what I wish to speak of, you and I have never been nothing short of honest with each other, so I shall uphold that tradition here. What are your intentions towards Lothiriel?"
"I...well...it..." Eomer began, not sure how to start.
"Let me just say one thing, Eomer, before you even start. If you have intentions that are anything less than honourable, I swear I will slit your throat—she is not a rag doll to be played with, then discarded. The Princess of Dol Amroth is strong, yes, but in matters of the heart she is trusting, caring, and vulnerable. Do not take advantage of that," Eowyn glared at her gaping older sibling.
"I swear! It shall be years before I so lightly traipse into Emyn Arnen again! Already I have had two threats on my life, and I have been here but one full day! What is it with you Gondorians that makes you so thirsty for blood!" he muttered. "My intentions with Lothiriel? I...I don't like putting my feelings for her in the way of intentions. Let me phrase it better. I am enamored by her. She is beautiful. She is brave. She is intelligent. She is kind. Merely setting my eyes on the beauty of her face is enough to both calm me and fluster me. I have never felt this way before," he admitted to her.
"Well, I gathered as much, from the way you stared at her. And so did Faramir, and her brothers I'm sure. They are all very protective of her. She is the only female born of their line, you see. In some ways, I am almost sorry for you, for having to fend off not one, but four older brothers. At least Faramir had only one to deal with," she giggled.
"He is being very understanding toward the matter. As well as her father. They have both given me their blessing to court her." Eomer sighed. "Am I really that obvious?"
Eowyn giggled at his discomfort. "Brother, you may be a tough warrior, but in matters such as these, you wear your heart on your sleeve, for all of Gondor to see!" The pair turned as they heard a twig snap in close proximity.
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Lothiriel rose early, as was her habit, and hastened to get ready. She wished to have her early-morning ramble through the beautiful gardens of Emyn Arnen.
She shivered as she stepped outside. The morning chill had not yet lifted, and Lothiriel did not think to wear her cloak outdoors. Without a second thought, she continued her solitary walk, her thoughts straying not to the weather, but to the monarch of Rohan, whom she thought slept soundly upstairs.
She thought of the way his smile made her giddy, the way his speech made her heart beat faster, the way his look made her melt, and the way his touch made her shiver.
As her thoughts turned to their pleasant walk through the very gardens she now occupied, she heard voices. She walked towards them, hoping to find Faramir or her brothers. Instead, she was greeted with the sight of none other than the King of Rohan and his sister taking a walk.
The pair turned to her and smiled. "Good morning, Lothiriel!" Eowyn said as she rushed to embrace her friend. "What are you doing awake so early?"
"I am always awake this early, and I suppose you have taken advantage of the fact that Faramir sleeps heavy and are thus enjoying a stroll in the gardens without him fretting over you like a mother hen?" she asked as the pair giggled. She turned to Eomer. "Good morning, my lord."
"Good morning Lady Lothiriel," Eomer said as he kissed her hand. Lothiriel shivered at his touch. "Your hands are cold! Are you not warm enough?" he asked tenderly, as Eowyn looked on at the exchange, amused at her brother's uncharacteristically chivalrous and gentle manner of address.
"I am well, I thank you," Lothiriel said, but shivered again, as Eomer took off his cloak and draped it around her shoulders, letting his hands linger on her shoulders a little longer than necessary.
"Thank you, Eomer," she said softly. Eomer fought down his nervousness and offered her his arm. She hesitated in taking it, glancing at Eowyn who stood unattended. Eowyn bit her cheeks to keep from laughing outright, collected herself, then addressed the two.
"Oh dear! Whatever am I thinking? Faramir must awake early to ready himself for council, as do the Princes of Dol Amroth. I should go in and inform the cook to ready the meal and awake the rest," she said, as she smiled at the two of them before turning back to the house.
"Eowyn, do you not need any assistance?" Lothiriel asked, still not taking Eomer's arm. Eomer began to feel a bit slighted at Lothiriel's reluctance to take his arm. "You should not be over-exerting yourself in your condition. Perhaps you should remain outdoors and enjoy the morning while I run to do your errands," Lothiriel said, with a look of pure concern. Eomer relaxed. She was merely worried for his sister, an admirable trait.
"Lothiriel, darling. Enjoy your walk. You too, Eomer. Besides, waking Faramir will come easier if I were to do it—I would not subject you to the ungodly things that could happen were he to find himself disturbed from a deep slumber," the to women giggled, knowing full well how much the Steward of Gondor valued his sleep. She walked briskly toward the house, as Lothiriel took Eomer's offered arm.
"I look forward to our ride tomorrow," Eomer said, as he led Lothiriel to a more private location in the garden.
"As do I! I cannot wait to ride! Father has gifted me with a new horse, and I have not ridden him as often as I like," Lothiriel said, with a huge smile on her face.
"And what have you named your faithful steed?" Eomer asked, curious.
"Felarof," she said, watching for his reaction.
"Aaah, a very fitting name for the horse of Gondor's most beautiful princess," he conceded. "You do great honour to Rohan and its heritage," he said.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at him as they ceased walking. He turned to face her.
"I hope I was not to forward in my addresses to you last night," he said, as he forced himself to keep his hands in hers, although he longed to caress her face.
"Not at all, my lord," Lothiriel said softly, as she looked down, then looked into his eyes. Eomer could resist no longer.
"Lothiriel, please call me Eomer," he said gently, as he caressed the curves of her face. Lothiriel felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. Why do I want to kiss him? she asked herself, as she held his gaze. Suddenly, they both leaned in closer, and Lothiriel shifted her gaze from his eyes to his lips. "Lothiriel! Eomer! Breakfast is ready!" Faramir yelled, as he spied the couple in the garden. "And by the looks of it, you'd best not tarry lest you want three freshly-woken scalawags from Dol Amroth on your tail."
Eomer and Lothiriel jumped at the sound of his voice. Eomer turned dark red, as Lothiriel blushed, then shifted her gaze to the ground. Faramir simply laughed, then informed Lothiriel that Eowyn requested her presence in the kitchens. He turned to the a bashful Eomer, as Lothiriel scurried back towards the house.
"Eomer, when I meant that you could take certain liberties in pursuing my cousin, I did not mean that you could take that many liberties," Faramir teased, as Eomer had the grace to turn a darker shade of red. "I doubt that even her father would approve," he continued jesting, as the pair headed back to the house. When they reached the steps, he turned around to face Eomer.
"Eomer, you should tell her," Faramir said.
"Tell her what? That I think she's the most beautiful being in the world? That she's exquisite? That she makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time? That I've never been this nervous in my life?" he asked, frustrated at the amount of interruptions in his pursuit of Lothiriel that he ran across.
"Tell her that you're in love with her," Faramir said simply, and he left his speechless brother-in-law to escort himself into the house.