Ellowyn Tinuviel: I can't believe it! Thank you for reviewing! I can't believe that I have a review from an author whom I love so much! And I'm on your favorites list! Thanks for the great review. It was really nice.
venus: No. I'm not changing names. If there is a real problem with my story, tell me. Otherwise, I'm not changing it. Thank you for reviewing though! I hope you keep reading!
elven-dreamer: Thank you for reviewing both this and the other one! Sorry about the typos everyone. I didn't notice them, though I do try to edit before I post.
Magsluvsaragorn: I hope it turns out better too.
Telhyadowen: I like long reviews! You should see my reviews! You figured me out. Yes. Grima is definitely going to be part of the ultimate plot. I would like to let Faramir beat him up, he is begging me to let him, but I'm not sure how well that would turn out for the story. I'll have to see. As for Niphredil, she really should leave. Particularly since she isn't all that nice to begin with.
Chapter Twelve
"And what coarser line of action do you propose?" Eowyn asked the queen-to-be. Arwen shook her head.
"I don't rightly know myself. I do know one thing: if Niphredil won't give up, then Denethor is going to have to do it instead. So, I guess we have to make Denethor give up," Arwen concluded simply.
Eowyn sighed. How was this simple? It seemed pretty complex to her!
"And how," she asked, nearly exasperated, "do you propose we do that?" She was sick of waiting. They didn't have much time. Ten days to send Niphredil packing. Eowyn didn't see any hope for their plight.
But miraculously, Arwen did. "It's simple," She declared. "What does Denethor hate?"
Eowyn didn't even pause to think. "Faramir."
Arwen sighed. "Other than his son?"
This time, Eowyn paused to think. "I don't know. Complainers?" She said with a shrug.
Arwen smiled. "Well, this should be easy. I thought you were going to say shield-maiden's or something. That would have caused a problem."
"No, actually, I think he likes..."
Arwen cut her off. "That isn't the point. The point is, now we have a trap. Niphredil was never the most...welcoming person, and now, she will be a nuisance. If she starts complaining about everything, Denethor is sure to send her home. Then, you must talk to Faramir immediately, before Denethor does something else like this. That would defeat the whole point of this intervention of ours."
"Fabulous idea, Arwen. Really, it is. But did you think of the flaw? How are we to make her start complaining?" Eowyn asked.
"Really, Eowyn, have you no optimism? Of course I've thought of that!"
Eowyn looked sadly out the window. "I must frankly say that I don't have any optimism in a case like this." Arwen looked at her, surprised. "Well what would you be like if Aragorn was suddenly engaged to another, and his wedding was in ten days?"
Arwen nodded. "I'm sorry Eowyn. I just thought that you would be more collected and unconcerned than that. You were always so...unshakable when I first saw you. Now I realize how much you really care for Faramir. He has broken some of your defenses. Not all, but some."
Eowyn nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose he has. I normally wouldn't even admit to it. I suppose he has broken quite a lot."
"Anyway, would you mind telling me what this plan of yours is?" She asked after a pensive moment.
"Of course. All we have to do, is tell Niphredil what she is expected to do here. She hasn't been to Gondor since she was one. She'll believe us when we tell her that Gondorian nobles are talking badly about her because she doesn't complain enough. You see, complaining is the art of Gondorian noblewomen. They try to see which one can come up with the most ridiculous complaints. At the end of the year, an award of two-hundred gold coins is given to the best complainer."
Eowyn stared at her. "You do know that you are characterizing her a little thick don't you?"
Arwen shook her head. "She'll figure it out, but not ere it is too late. I would believe it too, at first. I know what it is like to be raised in an Elvish country and then come to live with mortals. She'll believe us at first."
Eowyn nodded slowly. "And if it doesn't work?"
"I think we should have a second plan working at the same time, just in case the first one isn't enough. Something like..." The elf thought for a moment. "Letting her fall for someone else. That should do."
Eowyn rolled her eyes. "And who would she fall for? Aragorn perhaps? My brother, who is in Edoras? What about Imrahil?" She said sarcastically.
Arwen frowned. "Oh, yes. That could present a problem. Hmmm." She thought for several minutes. "The problem is that anyone whom we could trust to help us, we like to much to stick in that situation. It could be nasty. Imagine being a young man and having her hitting on you."
"Aye, 'twould be less embarrassing for a girl to suffer than a young man. I feel sorry for whoever must suffer your tricky mind.
Arwen shot a glance at her friend, who was now pacing the room, and then retreated to the window seat.
She stared out the window, pondering her plight, she knew she didn't have very long, and she had to hurry this. She racked her brain. Nothing. She dug through stores of knowledge. Isildur? Died a long time ago. Her father? Definitely not. Glorfindel? No. Manwe? For Valar's sake. Nothing in all her knowledge of history and people.
Arwen saw someone walking beneath the trees. She tried to identify the person. As she did, Eowyn's words suddenly came back to her. Her eyes sparkled with a plot.
"What? You look like a candle was just lit in your brain," Eowyn noted.
"That is because it has. I know who shall suffer my tricky mind now. It can't be a man. That could cause problems because then she would want to marry him. He will be revealed to be a girl ere that can happen."
"So whom are you suggesting?" Eowyn prompted. "You know it can't be me. I have to be with Faramir through all this. And you know it can't be you. You have to be with Aragorn.
"Yes, but who has to be with Lothiriel?"
Understanding struck Eowyn's features. She almost said, But Eomer..., but then she remembered that Eomer had nothing to do with it. He had returned to Edoras.
"Lothiriel it is."
(new scene)
"Why do I have to do this? Eowyn would be much better. Ooof. I can't even pick up the Valar-cursed sword!" Lothiriel complained.
Eowyn sighed. "I think we've already been though this, Lothiriel. I can't do it because I have to be with Faramir. He will think I don't care otherwise. Who else could?"
Lothiriel nodded. "But I'm the one who has to suffer the sorceress," She said, using her name for Niphredil, whom she firmly believed bewitched Denethor into marrying her to his son.
"Look Lothiriel. Do you want to win my favor or not? This is the way to do it if you do. Remember what my brother might say if he were here."
Lothiriel blushed redder than the roses outside Arwen's window. "How did you know?" She demanded.
"Arwen saw you one time, when he was teaching you to use swords like that one."
"The one he gave me was lighter!" she defended.
"Whatever. Are you going to do it or not?"
Lothiriel blushed harder. "Yes."
"Good. Now let's start preparing you for your arrival. You are a knight of Imladris, and you are coming to visit your good friend, the queen. You cannot decide whether or not to sail into the west, so you are coming here to help you decide," Eowyn declared carefully. "Understand?"
"But I look nothing like an elf!" Lothiriel protested.
"Oh, you will once Arwen and I are done with you. Now, do you understand?"
Lothiriel nodded meekly. Arwen and Eowyn began applying all their techniques to turn Lothiriel from a somewhat-ordinary princess of Gondor, to a handsome elf knight of Imladris.
"Do you really think we should do this?" Eowyn asked once they were done.
Arwen nodded confidently. "She is really a terrible person. I've been around her more than you due to political duties. I want her out of this kingdom as soon as possible. Literately."
Eowyn nodded her agreement or consent, Arwen couldn't tell which one, and proceeded to leave the chambers. Then she paused and turned to ask a question of Arwen and Lothiriel.
"What if Faramir actually falls for her?" She questioned.
Arwen laughed brightly. "Don't worry Eowyn. Faramir would never do such a thing."
Eowyn nodded, still slightly unconvinced, but feeling better, and retired to her own room.
(new scene)
"Oh, one more thing, Niphredil? Could I speak to you for a moment? 'Tis a matter of major importance."
Niphredil looked susupiciously at the elf woman. "Is this more about how terrible Gondor is? Because I am not leaving now. I love Faramir, and I'm not leaving."
Arwen gulped in worry, but then she beat it back. It was a good thing that she decided to bring this up when Eowyn was not there, otherwise trouble would certainly ensue.
"How terrible it is here? No, no, not at all. 'tis only a mere suggestion about how you spend your time while you dwell here.
"You see, Niphredil, there have been some nasty rumors about you of late. You're not enough of a complainer. You should really be putting more time in to it," she said.
"More time into complaining? What sort of rumors are these?" Niphredil asked, bewildered.
Arwen pretended to be aghast. "You mean you know not?" She asked. Niphredil shook her head. Arwen sighed.
"Of course. I should have expected that Faramir would not say anything about this. You see, Niphredil, things are a little different in Gondor. The noblewomen, they play these games. Whoever complains the most of all will receive a prize at the end of the year. All the noblemen think 'tis fantastic sport. 'Tis quite fun really."
Niphredil stared. "Are you certain Milady?"
Arwen nodded.
"Well then, thank thee for informing me. I shall do my best to make my husband proud," Niphredil said nobly.
He's not your husband yet, Arwen thought as she turned to go. And he never will be.
Now, all that was left was to ensure that Niphredil played her part well, unknowingly, and Lothiriel's moves. Then, Denethor's ultimate decision would seal their fate.
(new scene)
Aragorn paced the halls. If any saw him at the moment, they would know he worried. But none could discern the cause of his worry. This was because his worries were many.
It started with nervousness about finally having the coronation date set. Then came the nervousness of having the wedding set. These two things combined forced a sudden loss of appetite upon the king-to-be.
Then, suddenly there was talk of a small group of Haradrim bandits on the borders of Rohan. As Aragorn was not yet the king, he had to persuade Denethor to send out men. Persuading Denethor into something that he is completely against is like walking up to a group of bear cubs right under the mother's eye, picking one up, and then walking away again unharmed with the bear cub.
Then Faramir had been engaged to Niphredil. Aragorn didn't know what to think about that. He almost didn't want to think about it. All he could say was that he felt really sorry for his friend who was tied to this nuisance.
He also felt bad for Eowyn, who had finally learned to love the man. Would she ever escape the curse that haunted her? He wondered.
Now, Arwen was hiding something from him, making everything else almost unbearable. Whatever she was hiding, she wanted to tell him, but she always thought better of it before she said anything.
Faramir was fretting always about Niphredil, Niphredil didn't offer any kindness to anyone, Eowyn was sulking about the whole thing all the time or else talking to Faramir, Denethor was being difficult, Imrahil was delivering his daughter to Dol Amroth upon her request, and now Arwen was being secretive. Did he have a single friend yet here who was yet friendly toward him?
Then he saw a man ridding in wearing a familiar emblem upon his chest. Perhaps there was someone who was yet his friend.
Yay! I've hit one-hundred pages!