A/N-So here we are at Chapter 3. Eomer is going to give us a little
history about our favorite couple...
The large guest chambers for the King of Rohan were just as he had left them before he had exited for his evening ride with Lothiriel; they were warm and inviting, but quite cluttered. Eomer removed the heavy, green riding vest he wore and tossed it on the high backed chair next to the bed. He moved to a table that held a silver platter, goblets and decanter of brandy. He poured himself a drink, loosened the cloth ties of his white cotton tunic and then deposited himself onto a fur-covered lounger that sat in front of the fireplace. After Eomer pulled off his brown riding boots, the king reclined, sipped his brandy and thought of his evening with Lothiriel.
She was a bit of a risk taker, he thought to himself. The evening rides were her idea initially, but he was as guilty as she, for he readied their horses each evening and dismissed his personal guard so king and princess could enjoy each other's company alone. Nothing untold ever happened during their rides; it's hard to be intimate galloping across a field each on their own horse. Though, they talked candidly with each other and indulged in a few innocent, personal moments during the quiet sections of their rides.
During their ride that evening, Eomer had watched the princess gallop next to him on her horse, a bright smile on her face, and he was reminded of their initial meeting in Edoras. Prince Imrahil had sent for Lothiriel from Dol Amroth to attend Eomer's coronation, to meet Elessar, and to reunite with her brothers who had fought in the war by Imrahil's side. The prince had also promised to procure a horse from Eomer's stable for Lothiriel to take as her personal mount.
Relaxing in front of the fire and sipping his brandy, Eomer remembered how she looked when she rode into Edoras surrounded by Imrahil's knights. Her hair was braided for the journey and she wore a blue riding cape; the hood was thrown back and draped on her shoulders. She rode astride and seemed quite comfortable in the saddle. As she dismounted and walked to greet her father at the base of the steps of Meduseld, Edoras' great golden hall, Eomer was first struck by her height. She was tall for a woman, an inch or two taller than Eowyn, who had always been the tallest lady in Edoras' court. Her raven-colored hair, blue eyes, and fair skin made him think of Queen Arwen, but the princess had a different presence about her; not as ethereal as Arwen, more spirited.
What surprised Eomer the most about the princess was her knowledge of horses. The day after his coronation he and Imrahil found time to journey to Eomer's stables. Lothiriel accompanied them, and the three stood in a small lane of grass between two fenced areas holding the horses Eomer had ordered in from the broader pasturelands surrounding Edoras for the prince to inspect as possible mounts for his daughter.
"The group on our left are mares," Eomer said, "and the ones on our right are geldings. All fine horses and quite suitable for the princess's needs." He watched closely as Lothiriel left her father's side and approached the pen containing the mares. She crouched low to look below the middle fence rail and appeared to be inspecting each of the mares' legs and feet. "If the prince would like to pick a few of his favorites from the pens I can arrange rides on each to make the decision easier," Eomer said not taking his eyes off the intent princess.
"It is not I who will have to ride the animal in the end," Imrahil said and pointed in the direction of Lothiriel, "but my daughter. I'm sure she will take you up on your generous offer." Lothiriel took her cue from her father, and she immediately turned to pepper Eomer with questions about the horses in the pens. She asked about each horse's pedigree, temperament and past training under saddle.
She even followed Eomer into the muddy pens when he caught one of the mares that she had asked to see closer. Eomer watched, very amused, as he stood at the head of the grey mare, and the princess walked confidently up to the animal and stroked the mare's neck, shoulder and down the horse's front leg. The princess squeezed gently on the back of the mare's canon bone while she pushed her hip into the mare's shoulder, which caused the animal to shift its weight and calmly lift its leg for Lothiriel to view the underside of its hoof for any abnormalities.
Eomer chuckled to himself when the princess clapped her hands and shook her skirts at the animals to spook them into moving around the pen so she could watch their gaits. By the time Lothiriel picked out the two mares and gelding she liked most the sun had moved low in the sky, and Imrahil had left them to take council with his sons. "Thank you for being so patient, Majesty." Lothiriel said to Eomer. "It was a difficult decision to be sure. Your horses are the best quality I've ever seen."
Eomer ordered the remaining horses in the pens released back to their pastures, and the three Lothiriel had chosen he placed in stalls in the royal stable for the evening. He turned to Lothiriel, offered his arm to escort her back to Meduseld, and said, "My lady, it was an honor to assist such a learned horsewoman in the choosing of her next mount. My only question to you is; how did a princess, raised on the shores of the great western sea, learn so much about horses?"
They reached the top of the steps leading to Meduseld and Lothiriel turned to face Eomer, smiled, and asked, "Can you keep a secret?"
"On my honor." Eomer said simply.
Lothiriel leaned toward Eomer slightly to reveal her secret and in a low voice said, "I suffer dreadfully from sea sickness." She looked at him for several moments, her face a mask of sincerity, and then broke into laughter.
Eomer smiled broadly at her and started to laugh himself. "Perhaps if I join you tomorrow on the first of your trial rides, you will tell me how you came to your love of horses?" Eomer said.
"That would be most enjoyable, Highness." Lothiriel said as she curtsied to the king. "I am looking forward to seeing the countryside of Rohan almost as much as riding your beautiful steeds." Though she smiled at him, Eomer noticed a slight look of concern in the princess's eyes.
He stared at her for a moment, and then it came to him. He, an unwed king, just invited an eligible princess to an afternoon ride without an escort. He fought the urge to slap his hand against his forehead and said, "Of course I will invite my sister, Eowyn, and your cousin Faramir, her betrothed, to join us. It will give us all time to bond since we will be related soon."
Eomer noticed Lothiriel's shoulders relaxed slightly as she said, "That is a grand idea! I will inform my father of the day's plans for tomorrow." She curtsied again to Eomer, politely excused herself, and entered the fire lit doorway of the hall.
As it turned out, Elessar wished for another day of council, and the ride with Lothiriel that Eomer had planned was postponed. He arranged that she could still ride one of the mares she had chosen from the pens, and on a break from the council Eomer found himself standing alone on the wide porch of Meduseld staring at the princess riding the mare in the field just outside Edoras' gates.
Lothiriel spied the king standing on high, halted the mare she rode, and waved happily to Eomer. Eomer turned around and looked behind him to see who had caught the princess's attention. Since no one was around he figured it was himself and sheepishly waved back at Lothiriel. She covered her mouth and started laughing at him while urging her horse forward into a trot again and assuming her ride in the field. Eomer had not met many princesses in his lifetime, to be truthful she was the first, but he had the feeling this one wasn't going to be like any others he would likely meet.
A few days later, Eomer, Lothiriel, Eowyn and Faramir found the time for their ride together. By that time Eowyn had already taken a liking to Lothiriel; the friendship at that point was greatly forged on the fact that Lothiriel picked Eowyn's favorite gelding out of the herd. "You have to admire someone who knows good horse flesh when they see it." Eowyn said to Eomer when she saw the gelding was one of Lothiriel's three choices in the stable. Eomer rolled his eyes at his slightly over righteous sister.
So the foursome rode out of Edoras on a warm August afternoon, for Lothiriel to try out the handsome black-bay gelding, and for Faramir and Eowyn to sneak in some quality time together under Eomer's watchful eye, of course. They packed food and rode for several hours before they stopped for the mid day meal.
"Here you are my lady," Eomer said to Lothiriel as he placed a cloth sack filled with food in front of her. They stopped their ride by a small glen of trees positioned in the center of a large, hilly field about three hours ride from the gates of Edoras. Faramir and Eowyn settled under a tree, out of earshot of Eomer and Lothiriel, to discuss their upcoming nuptials and other personal details. The king laid out a large green wool blanket under a wide shade tree for he and the princess to share their meal upon. "Not very fancy I'm afraid," he said to her as she started to pull the contents of the sack out.
"Oh no," Lothiriel said as she took a very generous bite of bread and cheese together, "this is perfect." She spoke her last few words through a full mouth and was quite focused on the food in front of her.
Eomer just stared at the princess who happily munched on her food, moving her head side-to-side and chewing, as if she was singing a tune to herself in her head, a pleasant smile on her face between mouthfuls. Lothiriel suddenly noticed she was being watched rather closely and froze in mid- bite, looked at Eomer, and said, "I was hungry."
"I noticed," said Eomer, an amused smile played across his face.
Lothiriel swallowed her large bite of food rather roughly and put her food down in front of her, straightened her riding skirt across her lap, and sat up a little taller. "Pardon my manners, Majesty," Lothiriel said as she blushed prettily. "I guess I forgot whose company I was in. Perhaps your presence reminds me of my brothers'."
"Well, first of all, you need not call me Majesty when we are in such an informal setting," Eomer said. "I would greatly appreciate if you would call me Eomer because then I could drop the Lady and just call you Lothiriel." The princess smiled broadly at his suggestion. "And secondly, I am glad you are enjoying my hospitality," he said as he pointed to the food in front of her, "and even more so that you are as comfortable around me as your own family. For that is what we will be soon enough come the wedding of my sister and your cousin."
Lothiriel wordlessly nodded her approval at Eomer's declaration and then picked up her food again. She waited to take another bite until she saw Eomer lean back against the tree, kick his feet out in front of him, and comically take a giant bite out of his meal. Lothiriel giggled at the king's antics and resumed eating her bread and cheese in a rather unladylike manner.
"So," Eomer said picking up the conversation again, "you have ridden all three of the horses now. Which one do you think will make the trip back to Dol Amroth?"
"Well," Lothiriel said as she leaned back on her hands with her arms straight behind her, "it's between the grey mare and this gelding." Lothiriel sighed and turned to look at the gelding grazing off the land next to the others' horses under the shade of the trees they sat beside. "The chestnut mare was wonderful too and had I no other horses to choose from she would have been perfect in my eyes. However, the grey and this gelding have such lovely movement and are a little smoother to sit upon."
Eomer continued eating and nodded his agreement with the princess's judgment. "And out of the mare and gelding, which are you inclined toward right now?" he asked genuinely interested in her opinion.
"Oh," Lothiriel said as she tilted her head back and stared up into the intricate branches of the tree they sat under, "that is a good question." She paused for a moment and appeared to reflect on the attributes of each horse. She finally moved her head to look back at Eomer and said, "The grey mare is appealing because of her breeding ability later in life. However there is something about the gelding...he is so handsome and game. Why did you ever geld him?"
"He was too rank as a stud," Eomer answered the princess, his voice gruff. "He was overly aggressive and picked fights too quickly in the field. Even our best horsemen had trouble handling him. But now that he's a gelding he's good-natured enough to be fit for a princess." Eomer and Lothiriel laughed together and Eomer said, "It must run in his dam line. She's had two foals, both by different sires, and both fighters. This gelding's half- brother is Brego, Elessar's horse. We had mind to put that horse out of its misery till Elessar tamed him with that Elfish tongue of his."
He smiled at the princess who turned to look at the gelding again, this time with greater respect. "Perhaps I should find a place of honor in my stables for their dam, for if you choose the gelding, both of her foals will have carried only royalty," he said to Lothiriel. She turned her attention back to the king and grinned.
"We shall see," Lothiriel said, her voice teasing.
Several days later, when Prince Imrahil and his family decided to depart Edoras for Dol Amroth, the princess did indeed choose the gelding as her horse. To her great surprise, Eomer gifted the grey mare Lothiriel also admired to her father as thanks for saving Eowyn's life on the battlefield after she had slain the Witch King. Imrahil graciously accepted the gift, knowing full well Eomer meant it more for his daughter, but searched for a legitimate way to grant it.
When they approached each other to say their goodbyes Eomer helped Lothiriel mount her horse and said, "Take good care of him, Princess. He is a fine horse, and Lady Eowyn will have no qualms claiming him for herself should she discover him mistreated." She nodded silently at him, and he realized she had been curiously quiet all morning before her family's departure. Once she secured her seat on the big horse he gently kissed her hand; his tongue discreetly touched the soft skin between her knuckles.
She looked down at him from her horse, her eyes kind and clear, and she said, "I will take care of him, my Lord, for he is now my most cherished possession." She looked at the king for a few more moments and then rode forward to stand between her brothers and behind her father.
As Eomer watched Imrahil's party ride off toward their home by the sea, Lothiriel astride the dark bay gelding, he thought back to his time with the princess. Except for a few words about Eowyn and Faramir's upcoming wedding and her family, they had talked of nothing but horses. And, as he stood on the steps of Meduseld watching her leave, he was more than a little surprised to realize he was going to miss his simple talks with her. Their time together had been so innocent, uncomplicated and enjoyable. And it wasn't just because he thought her beautiful, which he did, it was because he genuinely liked her company, the way he always enjoyed time with Eowyn.
After the party disappeared into Rohan's landscape, Eomer entered the large hall. He started down the corridor leading to his personal library, but stopped short of the room's door. After a moment's pause he turned on his heels and briskly walked off, in search of Faramir, to inquire about the craftsmen of Minas Tirith.
~
Almost asleep on the lounger in front of the fireplace in his quarters at Minas Tirith, Eomer took the last sip of his brandy and rose to retire for the evening. He had an early council with Elessar and the other lords of the west the next morning. He splashed some water from the washbasin on his dressing table onto his face, changed into a clean nightshirt, and pulled aside the heavy coverlet on his bed. Eventually he drifted off to sleep as he dreamed of horses, family, and his princess.
The large guest chambers for the King of Rohan were just as he had left them before he had exited for his evening ride with Lothiriel; they were warm and inviting, but quite cluttered. Eomer removed the heavy, green riding vest he wore and tossed it on the high backed chair next to the bed. He moved to a table that held a silver platter, goblets and decanter of brandy. He poured himself a drink, loosened the cloth ties of his white cotton tunic and then deposited himself onto a fur-covered lounger that sat in front of the fireplace. After Eomer pulled off his brown riding boots, the king reclined, sipped his brandy and thought of his evening with Lothiriel.
She was a bit of a risk taker, he thought to himself. The evening rides were her idea initially, but he was as guilty as she, for he readied their horses each evening and dismissed his personal guard so king and princess could enjoy each other's company alone. Nothing untold ever happened during their rides; it's hard to be intimate galloping across a field each on their own horse. Though, they talked candidly with each other and indulged in a few innocent, personal moments during the quiet sections of their rides.
During their ride that evening, Eomer had watched the princess gallop next to him on her horse, a bright smile on her face, and he was reminded of their initial meeting in Edoras. Prince Imrahil had sent for Lothiriel from Dol Amroth to attend Eomer's coronation, to meet Elessar, and to reunite with her brothers who had fought in the war by Imrahil's side. The prince had also promised to procure a horse from Eomer's stable for Lothiriel to take as her personal mount.
Relaxing in front of the fire and sipping his brandy, Eomer remembered how she looked when she rode into Edoras surrounded by Imrahil's knights. Her hair was braided for the journey and she wore a blue riding cape; the hood was thrown back and draped on her shoulders. She rode astride and seemed quite comfortable in the saddle. As she dismounted and walked to greet her father at the base of the steps of Meduseld, Edoras' great golden hall, Eomer was first struck by her height. She was tall for a woman, an inch or two taller than Eowyn, who had always been the tallest lady in Edoras' court. Her raven-colored hair, blue eyes, and fair skin made him think of Queen Arwen, but the princess had a different presence about her; not as ethereal as Arwen, more spirited.
What surprised Eomer the most about the princess was her knowledge of horses. The day after his coronation he and Imrahil found time to journey to Eomer's stables. Lothiriel accompanied them, and the three stood in a small lane of grass between two fenced areas holding the horses Eomer had ordered in from the broader pasturelands surrounding Edoras for the prince to inspect as possible mounts for his daughter.
"The group on our left are mares," Eomer said, "and the ones on our right are geldings. All fine horses and quite suitable for the princess's needs." He watched closely as Lothiriel left her father's side and approached the pen containing the mares. She crouched low to look below the middle fence rail and appeared to be inspecting each of the mares' legs and feet. "If the prince would like to pick a few of his favorites from the pens I can arrange rides on each to make the decision easier," Eomer said not taking his eyes off the intent princess.
"It is not I who will have to ride the animal in the end," Imrahil said and pointed in the direction of Lothiriel, "but my daughter. I'm sure she will take you up on your generous offer." Lothiriel took her cue from her father, and she immediately turned to pepper Eomer with questions about the horses in the pens. She asked about each horse's pedigree, temperament and past training under saddle.
She even followed Eomer into the muddy pens when he caught one of the mares that she had asked to see closer. Eomer watched, very amused, as he stood at the head of the grey mare, and the princess walked confidently up to the animal and stroked the mare's neck, shoulder and down the horse's front leg. The princess squeezed gently on the back of the mare's canon bone while she pushed her hip into the mare's shoulder, which caused the animal to shift its weight and calmly lift its leg for Lothiriel to view the underside of its hoof for any abnormalities.
Eomer chuckled to himself when the princess clapped her hands and shook her skirts at the animals to spook them into moving around the pen so she could watch their gaits. By the time Lothiriel picked out the two mares and gelding she liked most the sun had moved low in the sky, and Imrahil had left them to take council with his sons. "Thank you for being so patient, Majesty." Lothiriel said to Eomer. "It was a difficult decision to be sure. Your horses are the best quality I've ever seen."
Eomer ordered the remaining horses in the pens released back to their pastures, and the three Lothiriel had chosen he placed in stalls in the royal stable for the evening. He turned to Lothiriel, offered his arm to escort her back to Meduseld, and said, "My lady, it was an honor to assist such a learned horsewoman in the choosing of her next mount. My only question to you is; how did a princess, raised on the shores of the great western sea, learn so much about horses?"
They reached the top of the steps leading to Meduseld and Lothiriel turned to face Eomer, smiled, and asked, "Can you keep a secret?"
"On my honor." Eomer said simply.
Lothiriel leaned toward Eomer slightly to reveal her secret and in a low voice said, "I suffer dreadfully from sea sickness." She looked at him for several moments, her face a mask of sincerity, and then broke into laughter.
Eomer smiled broadly at her and started to laugh himself. "Perhaps if I join you tomorrow on the first of your trial rides, you will tell me how you came to your love of horses?" Eomer said.
"That would be most enjoyable, Highness." Lothiriel said as she curtsied to the king. "I am looking forward to seeing the countryside of Rohan almost as much as riding your beautiful steeds." Though she smiled at him, Eomer noticed a slight look of concern in the princess's eyes.
He stared at her for a moment, and then it came to him. He, an unwed king, just invited an eligible princess to an afternoon ride without an escort. He fought the urge to slap his hand against his forehead and said, "Of course I will invite my sister, Eowyn, and your cousin Faramir, her betrothed, to join us. It will give us all time to bond since we will be related soon."
Eomer noticed Lothiriel's shoulders relaxed slightly as she said, "That is a grand idea! I will inform my father of the day's plans for tomorrow." She curtsied again to Eomer, politely excused herself, and entered the fire lit doorway of the hall.
As it turned out, Elessar wished for another day of council, and the ride with Lothiriel that Eomer had planned was postponed. He arranged that she could still ride one of the mares she had chosen from the pens, and on a break from the council Eomer found himself standing alone on the wide porch of Meduseld staring at the princess riding the mare in the field just outside Edoras' gates.
Lothiriel spied the king standing on high, halted the mare she rode, and waved happily to Eomer. Eomer turned around and looked behind him to see who had caught the princess's attention. Since no one was around he figured it was himself and sheepishly waved back at Lothiriel. She covered her mouth and started laughing at him while urging her horse forward into a trot again and assuming her ride in the field. Eomer had not met many princesses in his lifetime, to be truthful she was the first, but he had the feeling this one wasn't going to be like any others he would likely meet.
A few days later, Eomer, Lothiriel, Eowyn and Faramir found the time for their ride together. By that time Eowyn had already taken a liking to Lothiriel; the friendship at that point was greatly forged on the fact that Lothiriel picked Eowyn's favorite gelding out of the herd. "You have to admire someone who knows good horse flesh when they see it." Eowyn said to Eomer when she saw the gelding was one of Lothiriel's three choices in the stable. Eomer rolled his eyes at his slightly over righteous sister.
So the foursome rode out of Edoras on a warm August afternoon, for Lothiriel to try out the handsome black-bay gelding, and for Faramir and Eowyn to sneak in some quality time together under Eomer's watchful eye, of course. They packed food and rode for several hours before they stopped for the mid day meal.
"Here you are my lady," Eomer said to Lothiriel as he placed a cloth sack filled with food in front of her. They stopped their ride by a small glen of trees positioned in the center of a large, hilly field about three hours ride from the gates of Edoras. Faramir and Eowyn settled under a tree, out of earshot of Eomer and Lothiriel, to discuss their upcoming nuptials and other personal details. The king laid out a large green wool blanket under a wide shade tree for he and the princess to share their meal upon. "Not very fancy I'm afraid," he said to her as she started to pull the contents of the sack out.
"Oh no," Lothiriel said as she took a very generous bite of bread and cheese together, "this is perfect." She spoke her last few words through a full mouth and was quite focused on the food in front of her.
Eomer just stared at the princess who happily munched on her food, moving her head side-to-side and chewing, as if she was singing a tune to herself in her head, a pleasant smile on her face between mouthfuls. Lothiriel suddenly noticed she was being watched rather closely and froze in mid- bite, looked at Eomer, and said, "I was hungry."
"I noticed," said Eomer, an amused smile played across his face.
Lothiriel swallowed her large bite of food rather roughly and put her food down in front of her, straightened her riding skirt across her lap, and sat up a little taller. "Pardon my manners, Majesty," Lothiriel said as she blushed prettily. "I guess I forgot whose company I was in. Perhaps your presence reminds me of my brothers'."
"Well, first of all, you need not call me Majesty when we are in such an informal setting," Eomer said. "I would greatly appreciate if you would call me Eomer because then I could drop the Lady and just call you Lothiriel." The princess smiled broadly at his suggestion. "And secondly, I am glad you are enjoying my hospitality," he said as he pointed to the food in front of her, "and even more so that you are as comfortable around me as your own family. For that is what we will be soon enough come the wedding of my sister and your cousin."
Lothiriel wordlessly nodded her approval at Eomer's declaration and then picked up her food again. She waited to take another bite until she saw Eomer lean back against the tree, kick his feet out in front of him, and comically take a giant bite out of his meal. Lothiriel giggled at the king's antics and resumed eating her bread and cheese in a rather unladylike manner.
"So," Eomer said picking up the conversation again, "you have ridden all three of the horses now. Which one do you think will make the trip back to Dol Amroth?"
"Well," Lothiriel said as she leaned back on her hands with her arms straight behind her, "it's between the grey mare and this gelding." Lothiriel sighed and turned to look at the gelding grazing off the land next to the others' horses under the shade of the trees they sat beside. "The chestnut mare was wonderful too and had I no other horses to choose from she would have been perfect in my eyes. However, the grey and this gelding have such lovely movement and are a little smoother to sit upon."
Eomer continued eating and nodded his agreement with the princess's judgment. "And out of the mare and gelding, which are you inclined toward right now?" he asked genuinely interested in her opinion.
"Oh," Lothiriel said as she tilted her head back and stared up into the intricate branches of the tree they sat under, "that is a good question." She paused for a moment and appeared to reflect on the attributes of each horse. She finally moved her head to look back at Eomer and said, "The grey mare is appealing because of her breeding ability later in life. However there is something about the gelding...he is so handsome and game. Why did you ever geld him?"
"He was too rank as a stud," Eomer answered the princess, his voice gruff. "He was overly aggressive and picked fights too quickly in the field. Even our best horsemen had trouble handling him. But now that he's a gelding he's good-natured enough to be fit for a princess." Eomer and Lothiriel laughed together and Eomer said, "It must run in his dam line. She's had two foals, both by different sires, and both fighters. This gelding's half- brother is Brego, Elessar's horse. We had mind to put that horse out of its misery till Elessar tamed him with that Elfish tongue of his."
He smiled at the princess who turned to look at the gelding again, this time with greater respect. "Perhaps I should find a place of honor in my stables for their dam, for if you choose the gelding, both of her foals will have carried only royalty," he said to Lothiriel. She turned her attention back to the king and grinned.
"We shall see," Lothiriel said, her voice teasing.
Several days later, when Prince Imrahil and his family decided to depart Edoras for Dol Amroth, the princess did indeed choose the gelding as her horse. To her great surprise, Eomer gifted the grey mare Lothiriel also admired to her father as thanks for saving Eowyn's life on the battlefield after she had slain the Witch King. Imrahil graciously accepted the gift, knowing full well Eomer meant it more for his daughter, but searched for a legitimate way to grant it.
When they approached each other to say their goodbyes Eomer helped Lothiriel mount her horse and said, "Take good care of him, Princess. He is a fine horse, and Lady Eowyn will have no qualms claiming him for herself should she discover him mistreated." She nodded silently at him, and he realized she had been curiously quiet all morning before her family's departure. Once she secured her seat on the big horse he gently kissed her hand; his tongue discreetly touched the soft skin between her knuckles.
She looked down at him from her horse, her eyes kind and clear, and she said, "I will take care of him, my Lord, for he is now my most cherished possession." She looked at the king for a few more moments and then rode forward to stand between her brothers and behind her father.
As Eomer watched Imrahil's party ride off toward their home by the sea, Lothiriel astride the dark bay gelding, he thought back to his time with the princess. Except for a few words about Eowyn and Faramir's upcoming wedding and her family, they had talked of nothing but horses. And, as he stood on the steps of Meduseld watching her leave, he was more than a little surprised to realize he was going to miss his simple talks with her. Their time together had been so innocent, uncomplicated and enjoyable. And it wasn't just because he thought her beautiful, which he did, it was because he genuinely liked her company, the way he always enjoyed time with Eowyn.
After the party disappeared into Rohan's landscape, Eomer entered the large hall. He started down the corridor leading to his personal library, but stopped short of the room's door. After a moment's pause he turned on his heels and briskly walked off, in search of Faramir, to inquire about the craftsmen of Minas Tirith.
~
Almost asleep on the lounger in front of the fireplace in his quarters at Minas Tirith, Eomer took the last sip of his brandy and rose to retire for the evening. He had an early council with Elessar and the other lords of the west the next morning. He splashed some water from the washbasin on his dressing table onto his face, changed into a clean nightshirt, and pulled aside the heavy coverlet on his bed. Eventually he drifted off to sleep as he dreamed of horses, family, and his princess.
