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

AN: thanks so much for the reviews guys!! sorry this chapter took me so long, had a bit of writer's block, bleh, and things have been busy around here lately. anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 17: An Unexpected Guest

Two Months Later...

Lothiriel could feel the cool, soothing breeze brush her cheeks as she sat in front of her room window, a blanket wrapped around her as she looked out over the sea. She sighed heavily, not wanting to leave her room. For the past few weeks, her room became her sanctuary. She would spend hours upon hours in it during the day, avoiding any protocol and wearing out the excuse of feeling ill. Her family very well knew why Lothiriel was acting the way she was, though none dared to mention Eomer's name, for fear that Lothiriel's composure would break and she would no longer be able to control her emotions. Lothiriel, however, felt all cried out. 'When will he come?' she'd think to herself, every hour of every day. It seemed like the more she hoped, the farther away he felt.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and Lothiriel's thoughts were broken as she stammered to call out, "Come in." She turned to see her Father poke his head into the room; he then entered and closed the door behind him, taking a seat on Lothiriel's bed so as to address her.

"Lothiriel, will you not eat something this day?" her Father asked, concerned. Lothiriel shook her head lightly.

"I will ask Daerien to bring something up later. I have no appetite at the moment."

Imrahil sighed heavily, as Lothiriel returned her gaze to the sea. "Daughter, please, do not neglect your health. You must move on with your life. Locking yourself in your room in such idleness will not make him return any faster," the Prince pleaded, but Lothiriel seemed not to hear it.

"It has been two months Father, and not even a single letter of any reassurance has come, though I send a letter every week guaranteeing my faithfulness. Maybe Elphir was right, Father, maybe it truly was not love," Lothiriel said sadly, still gazing out to the sea. Imrahil could hear the strain in her voice, and his heart was undoubtedly clouded with guilt. Eomer had responded to each and every letter Lothiriel sent, though Lothiriel did not know it. Imrahil had the letters sent to him immediately, and hid them away in the drawer of his desk.

It pained him to see Lothiriel like this, and he felt so guilty for what was going on. But this would no doubt test their love to the limit, and Imrahil wanted to be sure that Eomer was the man Lothiriel loved enough to want to spend the rest of her life with him. Before Imrahil could respond to comfort his daughter, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Lothiriel called, from her seat.

"Daerien, Lothiriel. My apologies for disturbing you, but someone has arrived, and I think you should come see," the young maid called in response, not knowing that the Prince was also in the room. Lothiriel looked to her Father, eyes widened, as she threw the blanket off of her and stood to exit the room. Imrahil sat silently for a moment, and wondered who this visitor was. 'It could not be Eomer, I told him not to come lest I beckon him to. He would not...' he thought to himself, and stood to quickly to make his way to the main hall to see for himself who the guest was.

Moments Later...

Lothiriel could feel her heart racing. Daerien would not say who this man was, but Lothiriel was too preoccupied to question why. She was not sure it was Eomer, in truth she more hoped that it would be, and when she entered the hall and looked upon the figure, whose back was turned to her as he spoke to her brother Erchirion, her heart dropped as she realized it was not Eomer.

However, Lothiriel could not help but wonder why this mysterious man seemed so familiar. She could not see his face, but she could hear his voice as he spoke, and the sound was no stranger to her ears. As she approached, Imrahil entered the hall, and approached as well, Erchirion finally noticing the two as they came closer.

"Father," Erchirion addressed, as the Prince and his daughter finally came up to the two. The guest still kept his back towards Imrahil and Lothiriel, and she could see the man's head slump a bit, as if in some sort of embarrassment. "Um, Father, this is Narthan of Pelargir," Erchirion introduced, as the man finally turned to smile warmly to Imrahil and Lothiriel.

Both Imrahil and Lothiriel stood shocked, gasping almost simultaneously.

"Ceredir?" Lothiriel finally blurted, as she took a step closer to examine his face. There was no mistaking his green eyes and fair features, though, he now sported a light beard, and his light brown hair was a bit longer in length. He was still as tall as Lothiriel remembered, but no longer lean and lanky. On the contrary, he seemed built and muscular, though Lothiriel remembered Ceredir to always have been lazy when it came to work, so she wondered how he could have acquired such a physique.

"M-my Lady," he stammered, as Lothiriel began to hug him, but took her hand and kissed it lightly instead. "It is Narthan of Pelargir," he continued, as he released her hand and turned to Imrahil, Lothiriel only staring at him speechless. "My Lord Prince," he addressed, bowing respectfully. Imrahil looked to his daughter, who was on the verge of tears as she gazed wide- eyed.

"YOU, are Narthan of Pelargir?" Imrahil asked in a tone of surprise.

Narthan nodded silently, and sighed as he realized that the Prince and his children were in complete shock at the moment. "Um, my Lord Prince, if I may, the business I need to speak to you of? Of the new ships you requested?" he asked, in hopes the Prince would overlook the shock from the past.

"Oh, oh yes, yes please, um, we may converse in my study," the Prince stammered, motioning for his guest to follow him. Narthan bowed slightly, and took his leave of Erchirion and Lothiriel. He turned to look at Lothiriel as he followed Imrahil, but she kept her head down and her eyes were closed as she breathed in deep, not noticing the tear that fell from her cheek.

When the Prince and Narthan had finally left the room, Erchirion turned to Lothiriel.

"Are you well, sister? You are so pale," he asked gently. Lothiriel wiped away her tears and nodded rapidly.

"I am fine, Erchirion. I just, I did not expect, I mean I did not know that... what does it matter anyway? He is not the Ceredir I once knew," she replied, rather bitterly. "I, I am just shocked, that is all. Seeing him again, hearing his voice. It has been so long that for a moment, I did not think it was really him."

"Such a strange turn of events," Erchirion said absently, as Lothiriel looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I do not mean to sound insensitive, Lothiriel, but here you are, longing for one love, and in the midst of your longing, a past love, who you had pined for before, returns, yet we've no word from the one you love now. Quite the web that has been woven, is it not?" Erchirion stated matter of fact. Lothiriel stood speechless, and leaned into a hug from her brother, as tears gradually began to fall from her eyes, once again. He was right. Things had just become more complicated, and Lothiriel had no idea what to do.

'What am I to do?' she thought to herself, as she hugged her brother in silence.

eh, filler chapter yet again. so sorry, but I hope you liked anyway. thanks again for the reviews, and please keep them up!!! they rock =]