Author's Note: Happy reading! And thanks for the reviews! You guys rock my socks off! So, in honour of your rockin' socksiness, I've updated two chapters! Yippee! (That, and I've already written quite a bit of the future posts, so why the heck not?)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, yadda, yadda.
An Afternoon Race
Eomer smiled as he headed to the stables. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the councils of Gondor had official recessed for the rest of the week. He had endured enough of the monotony of the councils and sought to relieve his streak of boredom with an afternoon ride with Lothiriel.
As he neared the stables, he saw heard Lothiriel's laughter coming from within. He smiled at the beauty of the sound, and continued hither. Suddenly, he heard an unwelcome voice, correction, voices, speak.
"Aaah, Eomer King! Come to relieve your ordeal with the councils of state in the same manner we are?" Amrothos asked as he saddled up his horse.
"Ummm...well...I," he stammered, not exactly sure whether or not the brothers knew that he was going on an afternoon ride with their sister. Suddenly, he wished he had asked Faramir along, at least the man wouldn't badger him as much as these three did.
"Eomer! How lovely to see you! So you have not forgotten! I was sure you had, and was about to send Faramir after you!" Lothiriel greeted the king.
"I would not miss it for the world, Lothiriel," he said with a warm smile, before turning to gauge the brothers' reactions.
"Aaah, sister, you did not inform us that you were riding with Eomer," Elphir glanced at her.
"Perhaps you would not mind gracing us with your company?" Amrothos asked
"I think she would mind, greatly," their father's chuckle was heard through the stable.
"My Lord Imrahil!" Eomer said, with a bow.
"Father!" Lothiriel smiled. "I am glad you are here, but where is Faramir?" she asked slightly worried. She had asked her cousin along, knowing that he was the most easy-going of all her family, especially when it came to suitors. He knew full well what she was capable of doing.
"Faramir went home for a spell. I think Eowyn became anxious to see him, so he sent me in his stead," he smiled. "Worry not, Lothiriel. I won't ruin your afternoon. Besides, I think I'm going to take old Holbytla for a ride," he winked.
"You gave the horse a Rohirric name, for which my people are honoured, but 'Hole-Builder'?" Eomer questioned, curious.
"Well," Imrahil chuckled. "There's a reason I don't take Holbytla for a ride more often. You see, he likes to dig with his hooves. Especially in fields where the grass is long and the ground is soft. I'd never get anywhere riding with him. He is merely an old friend for an old man," he said, as he patted the horse's head. "And I think after being cooped up in this stable, it is time to let him have his reward."
"Father," Lothiriel began, but Prince Imrahil cut her off. "Lothiriel, it is a beautiful day. Just let me saddle up my darling mount, and we shall be off. Besides, I think while Holbytla is digging holes, you two can race across the Pelennor. I should gladly like to see which if you is the better rider," he winked. "I am an old man, and my talk interests only those with as many years as I have. Come, let us ride to the fields, where you two shall enjoy your youth, and I shall indulge my strange little horse," he said, as the three of them rode out of the city.
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Eomer could not believe his luck. Prince Imrahil did not seem the least concerned about leaving the care of his only daughter in his hands, a thought that made him both giddy and nervous.
"Well, you heard my father," Lothiriel grinned. "Perhaps we should race!"
Eomer bowed. "I would gladly oblige you lady, however you seem to have side- saddled your horse this afternoon. It is unkind towards you, for I have an unfair advantage," he grinned.
"Perhaps you should ride side-saddle, then, to even the playing-field," she smirked as Eomer laughed.
"Aye, for your enjoyment I would do much, my lady. However, with the distinguished Prince of Dol Amroth and the careful guards of Gondor watching us, I dare not, lest I care to face thousands of bumbling courtesans at tonight's meal," he smiled.
"Well, then, it seems that you will simply have to bear losing to the delicate Princess of Dol Amroth, riding her faithful steed Felarof, on a sidesaddle," she grinned, as he took the bait and lined up his horse to hers.
"My lady, I should be aghast should I, King of the Riddermark, lose to the Lady of the Sea," he smirked.
"Then prepare to be aghast," Lothiriel said, as she lined up her horse. "May the best rider win!" and with that, the pair galloped across the plains.
Eomer was surprised at Lothiriel's skill on horseback. Granted, he had seen her ride before, that day a year ago. The day that changed his life. He smiled, looking sideways at the woman who was keeping up with his horse's quick pace. However, here she was a picture of grace, beauty, speed, and agility as she drove her horse harder during the last leg of the race, beating him by the length of a horse. He grunted, as he faced her to admit to his defeat.
"You ride well, my lady," he said, as he jumped off his horse to give him a rest.
"Thank you my lord," she said smugly, but with humour, as she willingly took her hand. They went to rest in the shade of a tree.
"Can you see my father?" she asked, as she glanced over the fields.
"No, the grass is too tall here, and we do not have the advantage of being on our horses. After that humiliating loss, I do not think I want to see him right now, anyway," Eomer said, nonchalantly, as Lothiriel started to giggle.
"Yes, I am sure it is a great insult to you in every way. Man beat by woman, King bested by Princess, and of course, a man of Rohan overcome by a maid of the sea," she bowed.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for that lovely and humbling experience," he said, drolly, eliciting a stream of laughter from her.
"Perhaps we should eat?" Lothiriel asked, as she moved to stand again.
"Eat? You beat me with a horse bearing not only yourself, but our lunch?" he asked, incredulous.
"Do not forget the sidesaddle, Eomer. The sidesaddle," she laughed as she jumped up to fetch the contents of their lunch.
"Of course. I would hate to lessen any glory your victory holds," he said, as he helped her spread a blanket out under the tree.
"Perhaps you could do me a favor then?" she asked, as she took out sandwiches and other delicacies.
"Anything for you, Lady Lothiriel," he bowed gallantly, and she laughed.
"Would you fetch my father and try to drag him and his beloved horse to lunch?" she asked, looking up at him.
"As you wish, princess," and Eomer jumped on his horse to locate the Prince of Dol Amroth and his quaint steed.
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Eomer at first had difficulty finding the prince, but rode with haste when he spotted him petting his horse in the middle of Pelennor Field.
"My Lord Prince!" he said, as he slowed down. "Your daughter requests your presence at the afternoon meal," he bowed.
"Is it lunchtime already?" Prince Imrahil smiled. "Well, then. I suppose it is not wise to keep my daughter waiting," he said, as he mounted his fussy horse and rode quickly with the King of the Riddermark to their lunch.
The two men spoke genially of general subjects as they neared the tree where the simple meal was awaiting them. However, when they reached their destination, they found an unpleasant surprise.
Lothiriel was gone.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, yadda, yadda.
An Afternoon Race
Eomer smiled as he headed to the stables. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the councils of Gondor had official recessed for the rest of the week. He had endured enough of the monotony of the councils and sought to relieve his streak of boredom with an afternoon ride with Lothiriel.
As he neared the stables, he saw heard Lothiriel's laughter coming from within. He smiled at the beauty of the sound, and continued hither. Suddenly, he heard an unwelcome voice, correction, voices, speak.
"Aaah, Eomer King! Come to relieve your ordeal with the councils of state in the same manner we are?" Amrothos asked as he saddled up his horse.
"Ummm...well...I," he stammered, not exactly sure whether or not the brothers knew that he was going on an afternoon ride with their sister. Suddenly, he wished he had asked Faramir along, at least the man wouldn't badger him as much as these three did.
"Eomer! How lovely to see you! So you have not forgotten! I was sure you had, and was about to send Faramir after you!" Lothiriel greeted the king.
"I would not miss it for the world, Lothiriel," he said with a warm smile, before turning to gauge the brothers' reactions.
"Aaah, sister, you did not inform us that you were riding with Eomer," Elphir glanced at her.
"Perhaps you would not mind gracing us with your company?" Amrothos asked
"I think she would mind, greatly," their father's chuckle was heard through the stable.
"My Lord Imrahil!" Eomer said, with a bow.
"Father!" Lothiriel smiled. "I am glad you are here, but where is Faramir?" she asked slightly worried. She had asked her cousin along, knowing that he was the most easy-going of all her family, especially when it came to suitors. He knew full well what she was capable of doing.
"Faramir went home for a spell. I think Eowyn became anxious to see him, so he sent me in his stead," he smiled. "Worry not, Lothiriel. I won't ruin your afternoon. Besides, I think I'm going to take old Holbytla for a ride," he winked.
"You gave the horse a Rohirric name, for which my people are honoured, but 'Hole-Builder'?" Eomer questioned, curious.
"Well," Imrahil chuckled. "There's a reason I don't take Holbytla for a ride more often. You see, he likes to dig with his hooves. Especially in fields where the grass is long and the ground is soft. I'd never get anywhere riding with him. He is merely an old friend for an old man," he said, as he patted the horse's head. "And I think after being cooped up in this stable, it is time to let him have his reward."
"Father," Lothiriel began, but Prince Imrahil cut her off. "Lothiriel, it is a beautiful day. Just let me saddle up my darling mount, and we shall be off. Besides, I think while Holbytla is digging holes, you two can race across the Pelennor. I should gladly like to see which if you is the better rider," he winked. "I am an old man, and my talk interests only those with as many years as I have. Come, let us ride to the fields, where you two shall enjoy your youth, and I shall indulge my strange little horse," he said, as the three of them rode out of the city.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Eomer could not believe his luck. Prince Imrahil did not seem the least concerned about leaving the care of his only daughter in his hands, a thought that made him both giddy and nervous.
"Well, you heard my father," Lothiriel grinned. "Perhaps we should race!"
Eomer bowed. "I would gladly oblige you lady, however you seem to have side- saddled your horse this afternoon. It is unkind towards you, for I have an unfair advantage," he grinned.
"Perhaps you should ride side-saddle, then, to even the playing-field," she smirked as Eomer laughed.
"Aye, for your enjoyment I would do much, my lady. However, with the distinguished Prince of Dol Amroth and the careful guards of Gondor watching us, I dare not, lest I care to face thousands of bumbling courtesans at tonight's meal," he smiled.
"Well, then, it seems that you will simply have to bear losing to the delicate Princess of Dol Amroth, riding her faithful steed Felarof, on a sidesaddle," she grinned, as he took the bait and lined up his horse to hers.
"My lady, I should be aghast should I, King of the Riddermark, lose to the Lady of the Sea," he smirked.
"Then prepare to be aghast," Lothiriel said, as she lined up her horse. "May the best rider win!" and with that, the pair galloped across the plains.
Eomer was surprised at Lothiriel's skill on horseback. Granted, he had seen her ride before, that day a year ago. The day that changed his life. He smiled, looking sideways at the woman who was keeping up with his horse's quick pace. However, here she was a picture of grace, beauty, speed, and agility as she drove her horse harder during the last leg of the race, beating him by the length of a horse. He grunted, as he faced her to admit to his defeat.
"You ride well, my lady," he said, as he jumped off his horse to give him a rest.
"Thank you my lord," she said smugly, but with humour, as she willingly took her hand. They went to rest in the shade of a tree.
"Can you see my father?" she asked, as she glanced over the fields.
"No, the grass is too tall here, and we do not have the advantage of being on our horses. After that humiliating loss, I do not think I want to see him right now, anyway," Eomer said, nonchalantly, as Lothiriel started to giggle.
"Yes, I am sure it is a great insult to you in every way. Man beat by woman, King bested by Princess, and of course, a man of Rohan overcome by a maid of the sea," she bowed.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for that lovely and humbling experience," he said, drolly, eliciting a stream of laughter from her.
"Perhaps we should eat?" Lothiriel asked, as she moved to stand again.
"Eat? You beat me with a horse bearing not only yourself, but our lunch?" he asked, incredulous.
"Do not forget the sidesaddle, Eomer. The sidesaddle," she laughed as she jumped up to fetch the contents of their lunch.
"Of course. I would hate to lessen any glory your victory holds," he said, as he helped her spread a blanket out under the tree.
"Perhaps you could do me a favor then?" she asked, as she took out sandwiches and other delicacies.
"Anything for you, Lady Lothiriel," he bowed gallantly, and she laughed.
"Would you fetch my father and try to drag him and his beloved horse to lunch?" she asked, looking up at him.
"As you wish, princess," and Eomer jumped on his horse to locate the Prince of Dol Amroth and his quaint steed.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Eomer at first had difficulty finding the prince, but rode with haste when he spotted him petting his horse in the middle of Pelennor Field.
"My Lord Prince!" he said, as he slowed down. "Your daughter requests your presence at the afternoon meal," he bowed.
"Is it lunchtime already?" Prince Imrahil smiled. "Well, then. I suppose it is not wise to keep my daughter waiting," he said, as he mounted his fussy horse and rode quickly with the King of the Riddermark to their lunch.
The two men spoke genially of general subjects as they neared the tree where the simple meal was awaiting them. However, when they reached their destination, they found an unpleasant surprise.
Lothiriel was gone.