Just so everyone knows, I am upping the rating to an 'R,' because there is some intense stuff coming up in the next few chapters. Nothing too bad, but I decided to up the rating anyway.

Thanks for all the great reviews, and as for the correction, I'll go back and deal with the matter of Elphir's age as soon as I have time.

I've started a Yahoo group for fans of the relationship between Eomer and Lothiriel. It's called EomerLothiriel at YahooGroups and everyone's welcome to join. Hope to see you over on Yahoo!

Chapter 8- Preemptive Strike

"Have you taken leave of your senses?"

Eomer nearly jumped out of his skin, turning to glare at his sister as he took his shirt off.

"And what is it you're speaking of, sister?" he asked, finding a fresh shirt and laying it on the bed.

"I know very well you spent the night with Lothiriel." Hands on her hips, Eowyn faced him with a hard expression on her face. After hearing what she had heard from Faramir and Aragorn that morning, she was in no such mood as to trade barbs with her brother. Especially if he had led the Princess into a situation that would endanger her life.

Eowyn loved her brother dearly, but she was not blind to his faults. He had a tendency to act first and think later and his sexual prowess was the stuff legends were made of. She frowned, thinking of some of the more ridiculous stories she had heard about him.

And she would not blame him for taking this particular law of Dol Amroth more lightly than was advisable. Eowyn herself had privately rolled her eyes or laughed at some of the more priggish, uptight rules of protocol of that court, wondering how such ardent pranksters such as the sons of Imrahil and a free spirit such as Lothiriel could have blossomed in such stifled surroundings as children. Eowyn's childhood hadn't been perfect, but she had been freer than Lothiriel and her brothers had been

And Imrahil! Seeing how close her new uncle was to her husband had heartened her considerably, knowing how wrought with strife his relationship with his own father had been. Imrahil reminded her in no small way of her own dear uncle. Theoden had understood everything. There was nothing that Eowyn couldn't have asked of him, no private secret that wasn't safe with him. He had been a tower of strength before the dark times came upon him, yet his heart was as soft as anything. Eowyn knew that if it was in his power, Imrahil would not allow his daughter to come to harm.

But Imrahil was if nothing else a fair-minded man and very aware of his duty to his people and to the law. He had been the first person after the Battle of Pelennor Field to pledge his allegiance to Aragorn, even after two of his lords had demanded more proof to substantiate the Ranger's claim to the throne of Gondor.

Eomer frowned, crossing his arms. "I see not how this is your business, Eowyn."

"It is my business, because it is Faramir's business." Eowyn growled, enraged by his lack of a reaction. "He has already lost enough family, would you be the cause for him to lose more?" she demanded.

"Losing family?" Eomer repeated, mystified. All of his teasing and tormenting of Faramir had not turned his brother-in-law against him, had it? It couldn't have. Faramir had proven himself to be a surprisingly light-hearted fellow when the situation called for it. In fact, the Prince of Ithilien of late had begun to fight back with jovial teasing and taunting himself. "Have I said something or done something to make Faramir believe his presence is not welcome at Meduseld? I realize it is no short distance, but he will be welcome whenever it pleases him to see his cousin."

"Of course Faramir knows he is welcome at Meduseld." Eowyn said impatiently; it wasn't like Eomer to skirt around an issue like this. Her brother preferred screaming and trading blows to mind games. And he had no respect for word games either.

"Then if it is not that, what is it?" Eomer asked, genuinely confused and not a little annoyed. "Is it the distance? I cannot do anything about that, Eowyn. But you can assure your husband that Lothiriel will be safe and well-cared for in Edoras. In fact, I will assure him myself at the party tonight." he decided. While Elphir was the closer male relative currently present, there was no reason why Faramir could not be there when Eomer made his intentions clear.

"What?" Eowyn didn't understand a word he was saying. "Don't you realize how serious this is, Eomer? You tumbled the princess and now she will bear the consequences alone! I thought you would have shown more intelligence and a modicum of self-control when it came to her!"

Eomer's jaw dropped. He knew that his well-intentioned sister believed that he needed all the assistance she could muster in the game of love he had been playing with Lothiriel since the wedding of Faramir and Eowyn- nay, before that. It had started in Minas Tirith, when the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes upon told him that her father had found Eowyn alive on the field of the battle. And then he had found her thrust into his presence on a daily basis when Eowyn invited her to Rohan to help her prepare for the wedding ceremony.

He knew exactly how young she was and how impressionable a heart as young as hers could be. He had tread so lightly in the weeks before Eowyn's wedding, unable to decide whether he should try to avoid Lothiriel's presence completely or treat her as another sister so she would come to think of him as a brother. But his heart had betrayed him. Within weeks he had fallen so completely in love with her that upon her father's arrival with Faramir for the wedding he had immediately asked Imrahil's permission to keep in touch with his daughter.

Imrahil had laughed and tossed his arm about Eomer's shoulder, muttering something about letting Lothiriel down easily.

"I appreciate that you would think so highly of my daughter's feelings." the Prince had informed him. "Yes, you may keep in touch with her until she finds another infatuation with which to amuse herself."

Once again filled with doubt, Eomer nonetheless had stuck to his word and kept in touch with the princess. He soon realized that Imrahil was merely underestimating his daughter because she was so young and his only daughter, not to mention his youngest child.

"Do you think me that dishonorable, sister?" his voice was hushed with hurt and insult. "Is that what you think this entire year has been about? If I wished only to bed her, it would have been done the night of your wedding! I intend to marry her, make her my queen!"

Hanging her head, Eowyn nodded. She had gone too far and she knew it. Eomer had fought his feelings for the beautiful young princess, believing as Theodred had before him that she was too young for him and for Rohan. Eowyn had seen Lothiriel's feelings for Eomer long before she realized that her brother felt the same way. In fact, it was Eowyn who had warned her brother against playing with Lothiriel's heart. Shuddering slightly with the knowledge she had now, she was glad she had done so.

But how could he not know of the consequences of his actions? She had thought Lothiriel to be a smart and pragmatic woman, but if she had not told him...

"State of Elbereth." Eowyn breathed, for once stunned nearly speechless. "She did not tell you."

Still irritated, Eomer replied curtly, "Who did not tell me what? I am losing patience with you, sister."

Eowyn took both of his hands and led him over to the bed, sitting down. "Sit down, Eomer. You'll be glad of it after you've heard what I have to say. Though for the life of me I can't imagine why Lothiriel didn't tell you."

"Lothiriel has told me everything I need to know." Eomer said. "She loves me and I love her and we will be married, preferably as soon as possible."

Eowyn thought sourly that her brother was nothing more than a dolt at times.

"Hear me, brother." she commanded. "Obviously she did not tell you everything, or you would know that in Dol Amroth harlotry is a crime punishable by death."

"What?" Eomer gasped. "I can hardly believe... How could such a law be... Eowyn, are you sure?"

"You can discuss your disgust with the law at another time with Prince Imrahil." Eowyn snapped impatiently. "Eomer, if you bedded her, you have left her open and vulnerable to such a degree of justice."

Eomer snorted. "Come, Eowyn. It takes more than one roll in the hay to make a harlot. Or, in this case, one roll in the forest."

"Well, no one knows that it was only one roll in the hay, or in the forest, or wherever you rolled her!" Eowyn cried. "You know how very strict the court of Dol Amroth is, how could you do this? How could you let this happen?"

"I refuse to believe that even the court of Dol Amroth, with all its rigidities, self-righteousness, and priggish prudes, would put a young lady to death for a simple lapse in judgment." Eomer declared. "No, my sister, no one in a position such as Prince Imrahil would grip his people in such a stranglehold."

Funny, that her brother had used the same word as Prince Elphir had to describe the relationship between the court of Dol Amroth and the people of Dol Amroth.

"Prince Imrahil is not the problem." Eowyn shot back. "That entire country is descended from elvish blood, you know that as well as I do! And when the elves choose to take a mate or a companion, they mean it to be forever. That is why the court is so rigid, because of that tradition of fidelity and propriety above all else."

"And would the elves put someone to death for... what is it you said our actions would be considered? Harlotry?" Eomer demanded. "I very much doubt it."

"It is not the elves we're speaking of." Eowyn said.

Eomer groaned, burying his face in his hands. "How could she not tell me? Eowyn, I swear to you, I did not know."

"Then you have bedded her." Eowyn said flatly, laying her hand on his shoulder. "Eomer, she is a princess. You could not possibly believe there would be no repercussions of this. Do you remember what you wanted to do to Faramir when he first approached you for my hand?"

Eomer colored, recalling his behavior on that occasion.

"Just think what you would have done if Faramir and I had done what you and Lothiriel did."

Eomer's eyes widened. "Imrahil is going to kill me." he said quietly.

"He won't kill you." Eowyn remarked, rubbing his shoulder. "But I do think you should speak to Lothiriel. She seemed different at breakfast. Perhaps she's afraid."

"If I were her and you have not exaggerated, I would be terrified." Eomer declared.