To LOTR-nutcase: Great minds do think alike, don't they? ;0)
To Lossenrhos: I got the drinking game idea from a scene that was cut out of RotK. I hope Peter Jackson puts it back into the extended edition, it was rather amusing and really showed the change in the relationship between Legolas and Gimli.
I just realised I named the last chapter "Chapter 10", when it's actually Chapter 8. Now why on earth would I do that? Must have been nuts yesterday. I'll be replacing that chapter, but nothing's gonna change except that number. Sorry 'bout that.
Chapter 9 : Elessar's Arrival
Éowyn was waiting for her husband and Lothíriel at the doors of the hall. She had changed her dress, and was wearing a tiara (the last time she had bothered with one was at her wedding). "I've laid out your clothes on the bed," she told Faramir.
Faramir grinned and gave his wife a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you." Then he disappeared into the hall, hurrying to their room.
Éowyn took Lothíriel's hand. "Come, I'll help you. It's always so much more trouble for women, isn't it?"
"Yes, yes it is," Lothíriel agreed. "I've never understood why we women have to bother with so many things when all the men seem to do is change a cloak."
"I suppose since women have to do dirtier work than men, we have all become accustomed to spending more time cleaning up," Éowyn said as they walked along.
"Men have to fight wars," Lothíriel pointed out.
Éowyn grinned. "I've fought in a war. Of course, they didn't know it was me until the end. Killing orcs is a nasty business, to be sure, but gutting fish and bleeding chickens isn't much more pleasant. Or clean."
The two women laughed as they hurried along the hallway and entered Lothíriel's room.
Éowyn opened the cupboard and Lothíriel picked out her best dress. It was red, made from the best silk, and looked wonderful with Lothíriel's dark brown hair and eyes. But that was not the reason Lothíriel thought of it as her best dress.
She held the dress, and said to Éowyn, "This was my mother's dress."
Éowyn smiled. "It's a beautiful dress. Come, put it on, and I'll do your hair for you."
Elphir was just leaving his room when Lothíriel and Éowyn came out. He looked his sister up and down and grinned. "You're looking very nice," he remarked, offering his arm.
Lothíriel took her brother's arm and they walked along the hallway, Éowyn hurrying off in front to meet her husband. "Same to you, brother."
"Well, we must look our best for our King."
Lothíriel agreed just as they stepped out of the hall, and took their places next to Faramir and Éowyn.
The party was in sight now, and were moving rather quickly, but Lothíriel still could not see the faces of the travellers. Legolas could, though. "Queen Arwen is with them," he said, pleasantly surprised. "She is riding side by side with Aragorn."
Eventually, the party got close enough so that Lothíriel could see the riders for herself. She gasped to see the Queen of Gondor, the elf-maiden Arwen. She had heard so much of her from her father and brothers, heard of her remarkable beauty, but had not really believed it then. But now she saw that the Queen was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
The riders rode up to the steps and then dismounted. Faramir and Éowyn went down to greet them, and they came up the steps together. Legolas and Gimli stepped up to greet King Elessar warmly, the three of them having become the best of friends since the War of the Ring. Elphir shook hands with the king, having ridden with his father and brothers to war with him before.
"King Elessar, this is my sister, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth." Elphir motioned for Lothíriel to step forward to be introduced, and Lothíriel bowed before the king.
Aragorn took her hands in his and gave her a warm smile. "What a lovely sister you have, Elphir," he remarked. Then he said to her, "You must take after your mother."
"That she does," Faramir agreed, and Lothíriel blushed. Her mother had been the most beautiful woman in Dol Amroth (or so her family thought), and it was a great compliment to be told that she looked like her.
They entered the hall, the men talking together, and the women speaking softly.
"Ithilien is a beautiful place, Lady Éowyn. I'm sure you and your husband will take good care of it," Queen Arwen said with a little smile.
"Of course we will do our best, my lady. And Legolas is very excited about making Ithilien the most beautiful place on Middle-earth," Éowyn replied.
Lothíriel kept silent, not knowing what to say. She had nothing of importance to say, and therefore just hovered behind Arwen and Éowyn.
By the time of the celebratory feast, Lothíriel could see why her father didn't ask her to come to Emyn Arnen in the first place. With the arrival of King Elessar, the men were always having their own conversations, and Éowyn and Arwen, having been married not too long ago, shared some common ground for little chats. However, Lothíriel, being the youngest of the group, and consequently not being in charge of anything, or having anything fascinating to add to the conversation, just kept silent and ate her meal. She looked from her seat to the other benches set out in the hall for the people, and wondered if the soldiers of Dol Amroth would be any more exciting than those sitting next to her.
After everyone had eaten their fill, the food was cleared away, and a group of people took up their instruments and began to play, filling the hall with upbeat, lively music. A cheer went up among the people, and some even began to dance. The hall was filled with life and joy, something that would warm every heart.
Smiling to herself, Lothíriel stayed in her seat as the rest went to join the crowd, watching the dancing couples, and clapping along to the music. It's nice to be here after all, she thought. But it is a little lonely.
"All by yourself again?" Éomer asked with a smile, taking the seat next to her. "You were quiet during the meal; what's the matter?"
Lothíriel shrugged, drawing circles on the table with her finger. "I don't know. I just didn't know what to say. Éowyn was speaking with the Arwen and the rest of you were talking politics and all those other things that I have no idea about. I just didn't know when to join in."
"Sorry you felt left out," Éomer said sincerely. Then he grinned. "Well, I'm not talking politics now, and so I shall make it my personal business to make sure that you are not left out any longer."
Lothíriel grinned right back. "Thank you, my good man. Your attention is most appreciated."
Éomer grabbed Lothíriel's hand. "Come, I'm sure dancing will lighten up this day for you."