DISCLAIMER: The names, places, things are Tolkien's. I think we can all figure out what is who's.

AN: the reviews rocked!! I actually didn't work on this chapter the night before posting it, like I had with all the rest. I had writer's block, so I decided to sleep it off and hoped I'd get ideas come morning time. Anyway hope you all enjoy!! =]

Chapter 7: A Silly Girl

Two Weeks Later...

The sun was beginning to set on the city of Dol Amroth, and the golden rays that blanketed the city created a breathtaking site. Lothiriel sat atop her brother's bed, staring out the window that faced the sea. She recalled the conversation she and her father had the last night they were in Minas Tirith, and how angry he was at her. '...In the rain, at such an hour! Alone with a man! What will I do with you Lothiriel? I am running out of patience when it comes to that uncontrollable spirit of yours...' The words echoed through her mind, and though at the time she was angry, she gradually came to regret her anger, and eventually approached her father and apologized, clinging to him much like she had when she was a little girl. Lothiriel truly hated having her father angry with her, and her father apologizing for his tone and for scolding her only made her feel worse. He was the greatest man she knew, in her eyes.

Lothiriel pulled herself out of her memory, and watched as her sister walked about the room, putting away Alphros's clothes and tidying up the room while the child slept in the nursery.

"Idhren?" Lothiriel called to her in a gentle tone. Idhren was the wife of her brother, Elphir, and one of Lothiriel's dearest friends.

Though Lothiriel loved all her brothers very much, Elphir was her least favorite of the three. She always felt as though he wanted to control her life, as well as the lives of the rest of the family, and she hated that. However, Elphir was kind to her, and he had his moments every so often, but Lothiriel felt that one of the greatest things he did in life was marry Idhren. Idhren was kind and compassionate to Lothiriel from the moment they met, and Lothiriel always felt comfortable going to Idhren for advice, which meant so much, since Lothiriel's mother died when she was young.

"Hmmm?" Idhren answered, as she ventured from bed to dresser over and over again, transferring little Alphros's clothing.

"How did you know that you loved Elphir? I mean, what was it that lead you to the conclusion that Elphir is the man who has your heart?" Lothiriel asked innocently. For the past two weeks, Lothiriel could not keep Eomer out of her mind. She knew that at the moment, she did not love him, nor did she really know if she cared about him, or took a liking to him, but it was as if he intrigued her to the point where she would go crazy if she did not find out more about him.

Idhren paused for a moment to look at her young sister, her gray eyes watching Lothiriel fidget nervously. "And pray tell, sister, what would lead you to such questions?" she asked smiling, amused, as she took a seat on the bed next to Lothiriel.

"C-curiosity really. You know, I have always taken a passionate interest in the love life of my brother..." she said rather sarcastically, knowing Idhren would sense her jest.

Idhren laughed, admiring the girl's sense of humor. "There is a man then? There must be, since you wish to hide your true intentions. Does he dwell in Minas Tirith? Did you meet him during your stay there?"

"No, no, he is not of Minas Tirith. He is of Rohan..." she trailed off, looking at Idhren, who was thoroughly surprised.

"The King, Lothiriel?" Idhren asked, remembering the story of how Lothiriel ran into the man, and exchanged sharp words with him.

Lothiriel nodded slowly to confirm it. "I know our first meeting was not the greatest one, but, he intrigues me. When you see him, he looks too proud for his own good, and I admit that I thought his personality reflected the same idea when I first met him, but when I thought I had him figured out, he went and surprised me."

"How so?"

Lothiriel recounted to her the dancing they had done at the wedding, the frolic in the rain until nightfall, and the drinking contest they had had with the servants of Minas Tirith. With each story she told, Idhren could sense the girl's excitement, and a smile never left Lothiriel's face as she retold the stories, making it obvious that Lothiriel was fond of the experiences she had.

Idhren only smiled warmly to her, Lothiriel giving her a pleading look, wanting to know what it was she felt or how she should go about it. Idhren cupped Lothiriel's face in her hands, brushing away a strand of hair that hung over her eye. "I cannot give you the answer, Lothiriel, I am afraid that you must discover it on your own. But I do not think it would be so difficult, when love comes, you will know it, and in your heart you will feel it. Do not fret," with that she placed a kiss atop Lothiriel's forehead, and smiled yet again to ease her sister's riled nerves. "Now come, I am sure my husband has returned from the tour around the city, and I admit it has been a rather uneventful day without Eowyn. I enjoy her company very much."

"Aye, yes, I admire her as well," she replied.

Eowyn and Faramir had arrived at the beginning of the week, and some three days later Elphir was finally able to take the couple out on a tour of Dol Amroth. "But, if I may, Idhren, I would like to stay behind for just a moment. You go on ahead, I will come to greet everyone soon." Idhren understood her reasoning, nodding in agreement, and left the room to make her way to the main hall of the palace.

Moments later...

As Idhren approached the main hall, she heard voices laughing and chatting merrily, though she could not make out the conversation. As she drew closer, her husband, Amrothos and their guests came into sight, and she noticed another man stood amongst them, though she was not quite sure who it was.

"Idhren!" her husband called to her, as he kissed her on the cheek. Idhren smiled warmly to the company to greet them all. "Idhren, I would like you to meet a dear friend of ours, this is Eomer, the King of Rohan." Idhren gasped, but quickly gathered her composure and curtseyed to the King. "He has come, on a bit of a surprise visit. No doubt because his sister is here," Elphir explained. Somehow, however, Idhren felt that he did not travel three days to visit only his sister.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my Lady," he said sweetly, but his attention was suddenly turned away from Idhren, as a voice called out his name.

"Eomer?!" The entire party turned to see Lothiriel coming towards them, her mouth slightly gaping. "I mean, my Lord. What are you doing here?"

"I... I thought I would visit I suppose, for your brother Amrothos bid me to come if ever I had the time. And there are some matters of business I have to speak of." Eomer kept his gaze on Lothiriel, and Lothiriel returned the stare. The two couples watching could feel the tension the awkward silence between them created. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Eowyn spoke.

"Ah, brother, I will take you to your room and get you situated before supper, if the Lady of the House permits me," she said turning to Idhren. Idhren nodded politely, as Elphir called a maid to show Eomer to his quarters, and Eowyn followed.

Idhren then turned to Lothiriel, who was watching as Eomer walked out of the hall, smiling happily.

Moments later, Elsewhere...

Eowyn watched as her brother tried to 'organize' his things. He simply gathered all his clothing from his trunk, and threw it atop a dresser. Eowyn chuckled lightly, shaking her head as she watched from the bed.

"Tell me, brother, the true reason for your journey here..." she asked, half questioning, half certain she already knew the answer.

"Business, that is all, and I felt I needed a rest from the busy halls of Meduseld."

"So, you did not find time for your visit, you made time? And tell me, brother, why is that?"

Eomer paused to look at his sister, annoyed. "Eowyn, do not start."

"Start what? I am only curious."

"Would it be so unbelievable that maybe I came to visit my sister as well?"

"Not unbelievable, but falling short of the entire truth..." Eomer rolled his eyes and went about unpacking his things, attempting to ignore his sister. Eowyn noticed this, and quickly stood from the bed to follow his every step, speaking to him despite the fact that he paid no attention. "Why can you not admit that you like her? I see it in your eyes, brother, you cannot hide it! And I know about that little escapade in the rain the night before she left. Why, it is not character of you, Eomer. You like her, and that is why you partook in such a silly thing," she said to him, out of breath from trying to get him to listen to her.

"Exactly, Eowyn, silly things. In the time that I have known Lothiriel, it has been nothing but silly things, one after the other, things I, myself, would not regularly do or even consider. What can come of that? If I was to court, it would only appear as one big jest." The words had a foul taste. Eomer knew that the Princess captivated him, and he did not know why he denied it so passionately. His sister, however, knew the reason.

"Why are you so proud? Bite your tongue, for Eru sake. You know you are lying. I think that you are afraid because Lothiriel brings out a part of you that you yourself did not know about. You are only afraid that you might not be able to keep up with her spirit!" Eowyn scolded, frustrated that her brother was so head strong. She feared that he would miss out on something that could possibly make him happy, all because he was too proud to admit that he was afraid.

Eomer's anger reached a brim, and though he wanted to scream something foul at his sister, he refrained. Instead, he was determined to prove her wrong. "She is but a silly girl to me, Eowyn!" he yelled wildly. His breath was rapid, though now he was not sure whether it was his anger or the passion he felt within his heart that he tried so desperately to hide. Eowyn only looked at him in an innocent fear, and Eomer's expression softened at the site of his sister.

"Eowyn..." but before he could finish his apology, there was a crash at the door, and only then did the siblings realize that the door was slightly ajar. "Who is there?!" Eomer called commandingly, angered that an intruder would eavesdrop on their conversation. When he made his way to the door and opened it widely, his angered subsided and it was as if his heart stopped.

"It is but a silly girl."

Eomer stood frozen, not knowing what to say, and he felt all apologies would lead to folly. "Lothiriel..." he breathed, stepping towards her, but she violently stepped back.

"Stay away from me!" she screamed. By this time the servants who had post in that particular part of the palace took notice, and Lothiriel looked down to her feet, embarrassed and angered, her emotions running wild. She looked up at Eomer, hurt all over her face. "Stay away..." she said meekly, and turned to run but tripped slightly, loosing her balance and hitting her head on the corner of a side table, her forehead cut open and blood beginning to trickle.

"Lothiriel!" Eowyn and Eomer cried, witnessing everything. Lothiriel was still conscious however, and though she was now emotionally and physically hurt, she was more worried with the fact that she had made a complete fool of herself.

She quickly stood up and hit away the hand Eomer extended to her, running off without saying a word, Eowyn and Eomer left speechless as well.

thanks again for the reviews guys. this is not one of my best chapters, and I apologize for the boring-ness. it was the hardest one for me to write so far just because I had the worst case of writer's block. I hope it comes off more interesting than I think it is. I just needed a chapter as a transition for other things I planned. anyway, hope you liked, and thanks again for the reviews!! don't forget to keep reviewing, hehe =]