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

AN: thanks again for all the reviews, and the wishes to get better!! hehe, still feeling a bit out of it though, and so sorry for the delays. chapter 13 might be coming later than usually also, since I'm planning to get to bed earlier than usual tonight and Thursday is a busy day. going to be taking my senior pictures, hehe!! but I'll be sure to get up the chapter as soon as I can. anyway, hope you enjoy!! =]

Chapter 12: Coming to Terms

'What if...' The 'What Ifs?' had shadowed Lothiriel's thoughts for the past two days. After saying good-bye to Eomer the day the company set out, she watched as they rode out of the city gates and into the distance. It was strange, for at that moment, Lothiriel had to hold back tears. She could feel her legs weaken and it took a good deal of strength for her to keep herself up.

She sat on the sandy beach only feet away from the rolling sea, watching as the sun set over the horizon. Her Father had suggested a walk upon the beach to distract her thoughts, for Lothiriel had been lingering in the palace halls, jumping at every sound that came from the streets, in hopes that the company had returned. Over and over again in her mind she tried to comfort and settle her heart, remembering that Eomer was an excellent fighter and knowing that he was quite strong, but each time she tried to comfort herself another possible scenario entered her mind, each one ultimately leading to death.

'This is completely ridiculous,' she thought to herself. 'Eomer will be alright, HE WILL BE ALRIGHT...' Lothiriel suddenly felt a rush of emotion flow through her, and she jolted up and stared out at the golden rays that swathed the sea. "HE WILL BE ALRIGHT!!!!! He... Will... Be... ALRIGHT!!!!" she screamed madly out into the sea, placing all the fear and anxiety she had felt for the past two days into her screams. "...Will he be alright?" she finally breathed softly, breaking down into tears and falling to her knees. Lothiriel was motionless, weeping into her hands. 'What can this mean?' she thought as she wept. 'Do I care for him more than I thought I ever could?'

Just then Lothiriel felt two gentle arms wrap around her shoulders, and she lifted her head from her hands and saw Idhren half smile to her.

"Oh, Lothiriel, you will make yourself sick," Idhren said kindly, wiping Lothiriel's cheek to dry her tears. Lothiriel only looked up to Idhren, eyes red and watered, an expression of exhaustion on her face.

"It is not a war that he goes off to but merely a threat, and still my heart aches as if I have lost him amidst the waves of the sea. How do you do it, Idhren, how do you keep so calm?"

"Honestly, sister, I do not. The first time I had to see Elphir off into battle, and that was during the War of the Ring mind you, I was just as you are now. At the time I was with child, and my nerves were at end. I did not think much to hope. Do you not remember, then? I went quite mad."

"Yes, I remember, but the midwives said it was the effects of bearing a child."

Idhren laughed lightly. "I suppose it was that also. Do not worry yourself too much, Lothiriel. From what Elphir told me it is a band of no more than fifty or so."

"Danger is danger," Lothiriel stated as matter of fact. "And if the band is so small, then I do not see why Eomer and his small company of Rohirrim needed to go. He could of very well stayed here with Father."

"I suppose you are right sister, but perhaps his decision was because of his friendship with Dol Amroth, and that is an honorable thing."

"Perhaps." The two fell silent, as day gradually became night, the sound of the waves soothing to the ear. The silence was broken, however, when Lothiriel heard a faint cry from behind them.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, as the two looked towards the top of a path that led to the main roads.

"It is Daerien," Idhren replied, both watching as the young maid waved her hands frantically and jumped up and down to get their attention. Both stood staring at her, and finally Lothiriel called out.

"What news, Daerien?" she cried.

"They have returned!!" Daerien called back, the sound barely distinguishable. Idhren and Lothiriel looked to one another, and immediately Lothiriel ran out towards Daerien, Idhren following close behind. When the two finally reached her, they were panting and huffing for air.

"Where... Where Daerien?" Lothiriel finally let out.

"In the healers' house, my Lady," Daerien replied meekly, pointing in the direction of where the house was, though both Idhren and Lothiriel knew its location.

"All of them?" Idhren asked, giving a perplexed expression.

"Yes my Lady. There are many injured, some gravely, some not, but all were commanded to pass through the House of Healing, no matter what the injury or how severe."

"I wonder then what could have happened, had they been ambushed..." Idhren began, thinking aloud, but Lothiriel cut her off.

"It is of no importance. Daerien, did you see the Lord Eomer? And of my Brothers, are all well?" Lothiriel asked impatiently. It seemed Daerien could not give the answer any faster than Lothiriel wanted. "Daerien!"

"Lothiriel..." Idhren breathed, placing her hand on her sister's shoulder to calm her down, her eyebrows furrowed in worry and surprise.

Lothiriel only pushed her hand away, and turned her gaze back to Daerien. "Tell me what has happened!" she cried, Daerien only cowering a bit for the Princess had never yelled at her in such a manner before.

"I am sorry, my Lady, I did not see Lord Eomer. I am afraid I do not know how he fares, and of your Brothers, Elphir is fine, Erchirion I could not find, and Amrothos is being healed for a cut on his arm, but he is well enough to be normal, save for the cut."

"Oh thank Eru," Idhren breathed behind Lothiriel. Lothiriel, however, did not respond, and ran ahead of the two, making her way to the House of Healing in Dol Amroth, Idhren and Daerien following in silence.

Moments Later...

Lothiriel entered the House of Healing to, what seemed like, chaos, Idhren and Daerien entering moments after. All three women were speechless, as Healers were crossing paths from every direction, some carrying bowls of water, some fetching medicines, some with cloths for bandages, and amidst all the healers were bloodied soldiers. Those whose wounds were less serious, or simple and quick to treat, were held in the large room that usually served as an area of waiting for those who wished to check into the home.

Daerien offered help to the Healers, as Lothiriel searched frantically for Eomer, hoping that he would be amongst these soldiers whose wounds were not life threatening, if he had been injured at all. The site became nauseating for Lothiriel, the effects of seeing wound after wound beginning to take its toll. She saw men with cuts across their chests; men who had arms, hands or legs broken and seeming deformed; men with bones out of sockets, and the sound of healers popping the bones into place was horrifying; but Lothiriel pressed on.

She was determined to find Eomer, and she would let nothing stop her; she could hear Idhren calling to her from behind, but she ignored it. As she walked deeper into the halls, she saw a man whose eye had been cut, blood crusting around his socket, and Lothiriel thought she would vomit at the site. The man was being carried to a room with the help of a healer, and as she followed their steps with her vision, it was then that she saw Eomer being carried by two or three of his men, coming from the opposite direction. It felt as if her heart stopped for a moment, but when she was finally able to find her feet and start to follow them, she was suddenly held back and restrained with force, her eyes never leaving the site of Eomer, as she watched his men bring him into a room.

"Eomer!" she cried, struggling to break free. "Let me go!!!" she screamed, pounding her fists into the chest of the man who held her back.

"Lothiriel!" It was only then, when the man called her name and grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a bit to get her attention, did she realize it was Erchirion. "This is no place for you, go back to the palace," he commanded, Idhren coming to the two of them moments later.

"Lothiriel, come, I will get you drink, and we shall wait together," Idhren offered compassionately, her voice calm and soothing, but Lothiriel would not hear it.

"Let me go Erchirion!" she cried again, pushing away his grasp on her shoulders, and attempting to make her way to the room, but Erchirion once again restrained her.

"This is no place for you! You should not be exposed to death and gore in such a way, it is mentally unhealthy!" Erchirion cried, holding her back with much difficulty, as Lothiriel pounded and pushed in an attempt to free herself from his grasp. At this point, Elphir noticed the scene they were making, and made his way to his siblings.

"Lothiriel! Do as you are told, you are making a scene and I will not have you disturb those who are in dire need of rest. This house is already plagued with chaos and mourn, will you not behave!" Elphir commanded in a tone soft enough that only those around him could hear.

"Let me go, I beg you Erchirion!" Lothiriel cried, ignoring Elphir, frantically trying to break free as Erchirion held her at her waist.

"For Eru sake, Lothiriel, will you not calm down and restrain your composure! It is a shame to see you, a Princess, in such a manner! Like a child!" Elphir told her forcefully, his angered eyes cutting through her own. Idhren's gentle words could be heard in the background, as she tried to calm Lothiriel. Her pleads were useless however, and she could only watch helplessly as the siblings argued.

Lothiriel paused for a moment, her breathing heavy as she stared back at her eldest brother. His words were more heartless than he could of imagined, for they sparked a dark memory in Lothiriel's mind. "You would watch your sister's heart break before you, if only to be well-mannered. For that is your way, is it not Elphir? Yes, our Mother's death proved it so. You held me back from running to embrace her lifeless body once last time, telling me such childishness was unsuitable in front of our people. Is that not what you told me!?" she screamed within the confines of Erchirion's arms.

Elphir's hard gaze faded, as he stood speechless looking at his sister. She was still attempting to break free, and Erchirion finally let go. Lothiriel stormed off, and made her way to the room that held the King of the Rohirrim. Erchirion watched as Lothiriel stopped at the open door, then slowly made her way in; he then turned his stare back at Elphir, who had also watched. The two Brothers looked to each other, both simultaneously realizing that their Sister's heart could not be restrained. Lothiriel would want nothing to keep her from Eomer.

hope you liked. a bit of angst here, but I hope that's okay. anyway, sorry this chapter came later than usual. I was still a bit under the weather. but I hope you enjoyed, and keep reviewing!!! =]