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

AN: thanks for the reviews!!! they are awesome, and they're almost to 100, hehe! anyway, hope you enjoy!! =]

Chapter 16: Family Time

The Princes and Princess of Dol Amroth sat silently at the table as they waited for supper to be served. Their Father had decided to take his dinner in his room, feeling too weary from the day, and Idhren had eaten and gone to bed early, for she had acquired a mild cold from the rain earlier in the day. The sound of the raindrops splattering upon the exterior of the home was the only sound that could be heard in the dining room, as each of the siblings had something that occupied their thoughts, and did not speak for some time.

Though she did not say it, the three men knew what occupied their sister's thoughts. They all had watched her collapse in the middle of the road and weep in the rain that day, and in truth they did not know what to say to her. The situation itself was difficult enough, but each brother felt that no matter what they'd say, their sister's heart would not be settled. At some point during the course of his meal, each brother individually took a glance at Lothiriel, all noticing her flushed cheeks and swollen eyes from the tears she had shed. She sat so meekly at the table, looking fragile and unstable, eyes still watering and misted. Elphir felt he could no longer take the silence, and so he spoke.

"I received a letter from my dear friend, Arthon of Pelargir, this day," Elphir declared, in an attempt to lighten the mood and begin some sort of conversation. Lothiriel, as well as Erchirion, only looked up from their meals as Elphir spoke, neither bothering to utter a word. Amrothos, however, realized his brother's attempts, and tried to help.

"How does he fare?" Amrothos asked, after devouring the last of his stew.

"Quite well. He hopes to come to Dol Amroth in a month or so, if his work allows. Actually, his letter was in regards to Lothiriel," Elphir stated, as Amrothos and Erchirion looked to Lothiriel for a reaction. She gently pushed away her bowl, being finished with her meal, and sat silently, as if totally unaffected. "He speaks quite highly of you, Lothiriel, though it has been a year or two since he has seen you last. I believe he was quite charmed by you from the moment he met you, and it seems that he has decided to settle down and be in search of a wife," Elphir continued.

Erchirion laughed lightly at his eldest brother's ignorance, and Amrothos winced at his insensitivity. It seemed Elphir had a knack for saying the wrong things at the worst times, and often times he did not know it. Lothiriel huffed in shock, for she could not believe Elphir's words. He was not blind, he had seen the events of that morning; he knew her heart was bound to Eomer's. Yet there he sat across from her, presenting to her a possible suitor for a betrothal. She felt sick to her stomach, and though in her heart she knew Elphir meant well somehow, her anger got the best of her.

"I am sorry to disappoint whatever ideas he, or you brother, may be harboring, but I am already bound to another," she said passionately, Amrothos placing his hand gently on her shoulder to calm her, as Lothiriel's eyes were fixed on Elphir.

"Bound to another?" Elphir retorted, looking to his right, at Erchirion, and giving him a look of disbelief, as if to mock his sister. "You are young, Lothiriel, you would know nothing about one's heart being bound to another's. You have yet to meet other men of Arda. For Eru sake, do not limit yourself so early in life," he said plainly, huffing in amazement as he did so and returning to the task of finishing his stew.

Lothiriel could feel her hands clench into fists at her sides, her anger rising to new levels.

"Elphir..." Amrothos called in a pleading tone, observing that his brother was pushing Lothiriel's buttons though he was oblivious to it, which only posed to make matters worse.

Elphir looked up from his stew, wiped his mouth and pushed the bowl away. He looked to Amrothos, who appeared to have more to say.

"Could you not have saved the subject for another time?" Amrothos asked, as his head jerked slightly to the right, motioning to Lothiriel.

"It is the truth, Amrothos. She would have come to face it sooner or later. If she feels her heart is bound to another, then fine, maintain the fantasy. But in the meantime, it would not kill her to get to know other prospects. I admit she is young, yes, but coming of age nonetheless."

At this, Lothiriel felt she could not repel her anger any longer. She slammed both her fists on the wooden table, causing it to shake slightly. All three brothers looked to her, startled, her breathing rapid and quick, and her eyes beginning to swell with tears.

"Do you doubt me, then Elphir? That is what this is about, that is what it is always about! You do not think I can make my own decisions, that I am too young and too fanciful to lead my own life, is that it? Your problem, Elphir, is that you wish to control the decisions of everyone else, but you've no control over your own decisions!"

Lothiriel knew she had touched a sensitive subject, for it was well known amongst the four that Elphir was never one to disobey his Father, ever, and each sibling knew that this was a rather suffocating trait. Neither of the four could remember the last time Elphir made a decision without some sort of input from their Father. Even the courtship of Idhren would have never taken place had Imrahil not approved.

"I will not sit here and be insulted, especially not by my youngest sibling," Elphir said coldly, and stood to take his leave, but Lothiriel stood as well and followed his every step, pushing against his chest and keeping him from leaving the dining room. Elphir tried to ignore her pugnacious behavior, but she did and said all that she could to try and provoke him.

"What then, Elphir?" Lothiriel cried, as Amrothos stood to keep the two apart. "What would you have me do then? Tell me because it is you, is it not, out of the four of us who is always right? Because everything you say and everything you do has Father's approval..." she continued, as Amrothos attempted to calm her.

"Erchirion, come!" Amrothos called, as Elphir was beginning to lose his patience.

"You speak of love sister, ha! This from the girl who thought herself in love with that sailor! The one who never returned for you," Elphir spat, and Lothiriel jolted forward to try and strike him, but failed for Amrothos held her back.

"Do not speak of him in such a tone, brother, you've no right! You drove him away!" Lothiriel screamed, as Amrothos pleaded for Erchirion to help him. Erchirion had been silent all the while, but finally stood to calm Elphir and refrain him from making his way to Lothiriel, for it was obvious that if the two were to come within arms reach of each other, tempers would flare to physical fighting.

"Yes, that is right, I drove him away. But what choice was there to make, Lothiriel? I found you out in the middle of the night at a pub with him! 'Twas a disgrace, it was as if you were a common street maid!"

"Elphir!" Amrothos scolded.

"Brother, you are pushing it!" Erchirion warned.

"You hated him from the beginning, you all did!" Lothiriel cried, pulling away from Amrothos' grasp, the tears seeming endless. "Not because of what he did but because of who he is. What will you say then, brothers, now that my love is not for a lowly sailor but for a King?" The three were silent, and Lothiriel continued. "You've nothing to say, for Eomer is your friend and you've nothing against him. So what now, brothers? What have you to say against my love for him? Because I am young? But you said so yourself, Elphir, that I now come of age. Do you doubt my love? No, it cannot be, because you did not doubt my love before. You would have never sent Ceredir away had you thought my love folly."

Lothiriel paused for a moment, and looked upon the faces of each of her brothers, who said nothing. "Well? Tell me what have you to say! Nothing! You have nothing to say, because you know that nothing would sway my heart; you see it, I know you do!" she shouted, her breathing rapid as she cried.

"I have yet to believe you!" ..."Do not doubt her so!" ..."Believe what you want!" ..."Can you not speak of this calmly?"...

"Enough!" The siblings ignored the cry however, and continued to argue and attempt to talk over one another. "ENOUGH!" This time the cry was louder and more commanding, as the four quickly shut their mouths and turned to see their Father enter the room. "What is the matter with you four? As if you were not raised any better. Your mother would be ashamed," Imrahil told them, looking upon each of their faces. All looked down in embarrassment, and were silent at their Father's words.

After a few moments, Lothiriel looked up and addressed her three brothers, as well as her Father. "I will marry Eomer, with or without your consents, though, I would much rather have all of your blessings." Her tone softened towards the end, and with that she took her leave of her family, leaving them in their own silence and thoughts.

really intense chapter, hehe, but hope it explained a bit. anyway, thanks again for the reviews, and thanks for keeping them up!!! =]