A/N—Giggle...everyone thought the brothers were amusing. That is cool. Well, the main characters I wanted assembled for the ride to Edoras have shown up. So, after a little organization in this chapter, we will be off to Edoras and the rollercoaster chapters I have called in my head "La Noce Spectaculaire". ___---_____-------______----__________---------__

Gimli had gone off in search of Legolas, who had spent the morning visiting with Queen Arwen; Faramir had taken Eowyn's breakfast to her in their chambers. And Imrahil had thankfully taken his sons away to discuss the current affairs of Dol Amroth. Eomer was left alone with Lothiriel, for the remainder of the morning, at least.

"Shall we take a walk in the garden?" she inquired after they had finished eating and sat alone at the table in the banquet hall.

Eomer nodded his approval to the princess's suggestion, and he rose from his seat offering Lothiriel his hand.

She neatly folded the napkin that lay on her lap and placed it on the empty plate in front of her. Taking Eomer's hand to help her rise from her chair, she said, "Thank you, dear."

Lothiriel's use of the word "dear" had sprung up instantly after their engagement, Eomer noted to himself. He liked how when she spoke it, it was an after thought; she said it like they had been married for years, and it was the most natural phrase in the world for her to say. He wondered if it would still be a habit of hers after they had been married for many years. He hoped so.

It was a warm, sunny day, and Eomer walked quietly next to his princess until they reached the garden he knew was her favorite, which was positioned next to the small, turn-out pens for the royal stable. It had few flowering plants, save for some yellow rose bushes, and it was filled with thick, gnarled oak trees that shaded ornate benches for visitors to rest upon. Tall grasses in hues of blue and gold grew in clumps around scattered white, rock beds.

They stopped by the bench closest to the paddock Brego, Elessar's stallion and brother to Cyning, occupied. The horse grazed quietly on a patch of grass located in the sunlight; his black-bay coat was glossy and resembled polished mahogany. He lifted his head and watched as the king and princess approached his pen and sat on the bench. Recognizing the pair's arrival as a common occurrence in the nearby garden, Brego resumed his grazing with a slight swish of his black tail.

"Isn't today just beautiful?" Lothiriel asked as she inhaled the fresh air of the garden deeply and clasped her hands together on her lap.

"Yes," Eomer said absently. He had noticed, around Lothiriel's neck, the mithril chain of the necklace he had given her two nights earlier. The horse pendant had fallen behind the bodice of her dress, and he slid his fingers along her collarbone, grasped the chain lightly, and lifted the ornament out to the front of her dress. She glanced down and smiled softly.

"I never really thanked you for this last night," she said and placed a hand on her chest where the pendant laid. "Eowyn told me your Uncle Théoden gifted a similar token to his wife."

"Yes," he said, still focused on the necklace and not meeting Lothiriel's gaze, "but I never knew Queen Elfhild. She died giving birth to my cousin, Theodred. He wore her necklace on his armor, in remembrance of his mother." The words stuck in his throat; even the happiest times of his life could not erase the pain he felt when he thought of his slain cousin...Theodred should have been King of Rohan.

Perhaps one day, later in his life, when the evil days that surrounded the death of his uncle and cousin were far in his past, Eomer's memories of them wouldn't be so heartbreaking; they would be pleasant, like the ones Lothiriel shared with him about her mother.

As if she was reading his thoughts, she said, "Did you notice the small, silver charms Amrothos and Echirion wore around their necks?" Eomer raised his head to look at Lothiriel's eyes; he wordlessly acknowledged his observation of her brothers' matching charms. "The charm was one my mother had always worn. When she died, my father gave it to a jeweler that made two exact duplicates. Elphir wears the original, and Amrothos and Echirion wear the charms my father had made. It is their remembrance of our mother."

Eomer stared at her solemn face and asked, "Why didn't you receive one?"

She smiled sadly and said, "I was her only daughter, so I inherited many of her other belongings more fitting for a girl; her hair clips and that silver-plated hair brush I am always using..." Her voice trailed off a little and then she spoke again, "And my father always used to say, 'Lothiriel, your very being is a remembrance of your mother', or something to that nature." She lowered and shook her head gently, laughing quietly and remembering her father's words. Lifting her face to look into Eomer's eyes again, she said, "Besides, I have my own necklace to wear and pass on to my children now."

Feeling not so melancholy about his past, as Lothiriel's stories always made him feel, he slid closer to her on the bench and placed his arm around her shoulders. She rested her head against him, as she always did when he embraced her in such a manner. Staring out into the garden and at the beautiful Brego, they spent the morning together enjoying the sunshine, the warm breeze and each other's quiet company.

~

A week later, on the eve of Eomer, Lothiriel and the large party of Rohan and Gondor's nobles' departure for Edoras, the King of Rohan was met with the faces of two of the Princes of Dol Amroth at his chamber door.

"Amrothos, Echirion," Eomer said in way of greeting, his voice laced with suspicion, "To what do I owe the honor of your company this evening?"

Amrothos quickly assumed a sour expression and said, "Listen to the mistrust in his voice upon our mere presence at his door. You've been spending too much time with our sister, Eomer. She's quite jaded, you know."

"In regards to the two of you, I feel she has good reason," Eomer said with a playful grin. He held the door to his chambers open wide and made a sweeping gesture with his arm, motioning for the two men to enter. "Come in and make yourselves comfortable, gentlemen. I am pleased to have your company, but must warn you that I am under strict orders, from your sister, to regard any derogatory comments you might make about her as slanderous lies."

"Fair enough," Echirion said as he seated himself on the fur-covered lounger in front of the fireplace, "but we are actually here to congratulate you on your betrothal to our sister."

"Yes," said Amrothos taking a seat next to his brother, "we can't think of a better match for Lothiriel. You see, we were a little worried Father was going to marry her off to some old, stodgy Lord of Gondor. Imagine our relief when we received word you had asked for her hand and she had consented." Amrothos stood and extended his arm to the tall king; he had an ill-behaved glint in his eyes. Echirion watched quietly from his seat with a pleasant smile on his face.

"Well, I'm glad our union has made you both so pleased," Eomer said, the doubt back in his voice, as he grasped arms with Amrothos.

"Elphir feels the same way, of course, and on behalf of all my brothers, I'd like to say welcome to the family," Amrothos said as he released his hold on Eomer. "However..." the younger prince started to say as he returned to his seat.

"Here it comes," Eomer said and rolled his eyes.

"...if we hear so much as one word of discontent from our little sister—if you do not make her the happiest bride ever known to both Rohan and Gondor..." Echirion said.

"...we will personally make you long for your time at the Black Gate." Amrothos finished for his brother.

"And there won't be a place in Middle-Earth where you can hide from us," Echirion added rather simply and with a bright smile.

Eomer stared back and forth between the two brothers standing before him. Being a protective older brother himself, he understood precisely where the heart of the princes' message lay, and why they felt it had to be said; but he was a little surprised at their audacity to say such things to a king...and to really mean it.

"Oh, and Eomer?" Echirion added. "Don't tell our father we had this little talk. I know he plans on giving the same speech, and it would probably kill some of the fun if he knew we got to you first."

"Right," said Amrothos as he clapped and rubbed his hands together, "now that we've settled that little bit of business; how about we find ourselves a few pints of ale?"

"That is an excellent idea," Echirion said, and he slapped Eomer soundly on the shoulder. "Come along Eomer King, for tomorrow you start the journey to Edoras to wed. And as I always like to say, 'A man is not complete until he is married –and then he is finished.'"

Amrothos shook his head in agreement with his brother's words and said, "Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity."

"Married men live longer than unattached men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die," countered Echirion.

"Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy," responded Amrothos.

"Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one," challenged Echirion.

"Marriage is bliss. Ignorance is bliss. Ergo...," answered Amrothos.

"Enough!" Eomer shouted and raised his hands to ward off anymore of the spontaneous marital quotes from the two brothers. His face held a look of distaste, and he said with a grumble, "I need a drink." The king quickly brushed past the princes and set out for the nearest location serving ale.

"I think our work here is done," Amrothos said to his brother with a chuckle. Grinning like fools, the two men bounded after their soon-to-be brother-in-law to make peace and to drink the better part of the night away.

___---_-__-_-______----___-___-____-___-

A/N—Alas the witty marriage quotes aren't mine, but gathered from many sources. But, they are some of my favorites.