A/N: Back by popular demand, more with Eomer and Lothiriel. I think this is probably the end of the story in my mind, so I probably won't do any more sequels to it. But this should be a more satisfying ending for all of you who wanted 'more'.
If you have NOT read No Mistake, it is best that you read it first as there are numerous references to it in this story.
A tip of the hat to several readers who sent along story ideas (and thus are partially responsible for this getting written). While I didn't necessarily use their exact idea, seeds were sown by what they said and the result will be presented in this story. So thanks to: Jenni (aka JoJo4), Lady ot Rings, Wondereye and Lili.
Note to BurningTyger - Sorry more trauma (or entertainment) ahead!
ENJOY!
By The Book
A sequel to "No Mistake".
(Sept., 3019 III)
Chapter 1
I had been home for a week – a very long, miserable week. This was going to be much harder than I had anticipated. So, today, I did what I had done every other day this week when I could stand it no longer – I sat down and wrote Eomer a letter. I had sent six off with a courier two days ago and already had a stack of seven waiting for the next rider I could persuade my father to send – or until a courier came from Rohan and I could send them back with him.
I sat at my desk, twirling my quill for a long time, imagining Eomer in my mind's eye. That led to reminiscing about the time we had spent together and before I knew it, it was an hour or so later and I had put nothing on paper but a few drips of ink. I dropped the quill and went over to flop down on my back on my bed. How was I ever going to last one month and nine days, approximately, until I saw him again?
So far, I had not received any letters from Eomer, but I knew as king he would have a great deal less free time for such things than I had. Even without letters saying so, I could only hope he was missing me as much as I was him.
A knock at my door pulled me from my morose reverie, and I slowly rose to go answer it. Upon opening it, my youngest brother pushed past me and came into the room.
"Please come in, Amrothos," I said sarcastically to his back.
He turned and gave me an evil grin. "Now, now, dear sister. That is no way to treat your beloved brother, especially when he has possession of a packet of letters addressed to you and sent by some miscreant in Rohan!"
With a gasp, I dove for the letters, catching him off guard enough that he wasn't able to pull them out of my reach before I got to them. Laughing, he sprawled himself on my bed and told me, "Well, open them. Let us see what dear old Eomer has to say to his betrothed."
"Oh no you don't!" I told him. "You are leaving and I am reading these in private. Go!"
He reached for my pillow and made himself comfortable. "No, no. I am fine right here. Please, do not let me keep you from your letters!"
"Oh, alright," I told him, seeming to give in. As he curled up, surprised at my compliance, I bolted out the door and took off down the hall. I still had a few hiding places where the family never found me and, within moments, I was safely tucked away in a crawlspace I had discovered as a child. I could hear Amrothos calling me, obviously annoyed that I had outwitted him, but I just sat back in anticipation and slowly opened my first of four letters.
Beloved Thiri,
Well, I do hope you do not mind having the wedding Eowyn is planning for us, because I think it unlikely we will have any say in the matter! She has completely forgotten about her own wedding in favor of planning ours. I have tried mentioning that perhaps you would like to plan your wedding, but she brushed my comments aside as if she had not heard and continued doggedly on, rattling off what she had scheduled so far. I will not bore you with the details, because she changes her mind every few hours and comes back to me with 'the new plan'.
If the truth be known, I do not much care about the wedding. All I want is you as my wife, especially since that will mean having you here rather than there. It already seems as if you have been gone forever, my love. Are you sure we cannot persuade your father to let us marry sooner? Were I not the king of Rohan, I would ride to Dol Amroth, steal you away in the middle of the night and we would be married in the first obscure little village we came to with someone having the authority to bind us together. But, alas, neither princesses nor kings may do such impetuous things. So we must endure much pomp and circumstance, and interference from my sister!
All my love,
Eomer
I leaned back and sighed happily. Once again Eomer and I were of the same mind. His plan to sneak away sounded much more appealing than the way I knew it would have to happen. This was one dance with Eomer I would never be able to dodge.
I didn't really mind Eowyn's interference too much. I knew she was just thrilled at the prospect of her brother taking a wife and finding happiness. She really could not bear to be as joyous as she was with Faramir if she couldn't see Eomer happy as well.
I slowly worked my way through the other three letters and then reread the lot of them several more times. One month and nine days – I'd never make it. And that was just until we saw each other again. The wedding wasn't until next spring, but Eomer was coming to visit us in Dol Amroth in late October and, among other things, I looked forward to showing him my home.
We had finally convinced Father that I was marrying Eomer for love rather than duty, but he still was skeptical enough to insist we wait at least six months to wed after our trothplighting. That had taken place in August, before we left Edoras, which meant we couldn't marry until the following February. The only trouble was, the heavy snows in the mountains made travel between Rohan and Gondor unfeasible until Spring, so the earliest we thought we could manage it was late March.
I had tried convincing Faramir to persuade Father to let us wed before the year was out, and he might have attempted it had it not been for Eomer having insisted on the same sort of wait for he and Eowyn. In an effort to win Faramir's support, Eomer had consented to their marriage being moved up to the Fall, but Father proved obstinate. Ah well, at least Faramir came out ahead on this deal! And Eowyn's wedding provided us an excuse to see one another before the winter's snows insured our separation. Eomer was to travel to Minas Tirith for Eowyn's wedding, so we arranged for him to come to Dol Amroth afterwards and spend a fortnight before returning home.
I gave another heavy sigh, reread Eomer's letters one final time and then returned to my room to start that letter I meant to begin earlier.
Dearest Eomer...
xxxxx
One month and four days...I'll never make it. Amrothos thought it incredibly amusing that I was already packed and ready to go to Minas Tirith for Eowyn's wedding, which was, after all, a long way off yet. I had been unable to find anything to occupy my mind for any length of time; well, not until I discovered a few books on the history of Rohan in our library. Faramir and I shared a love of history, and likely I had read these books before, but it all seemed new and much more interesting at this sitting.
In short order, I was well-versed in the Kings and Queens of Rohan's past, whose ranks I would join...soon. I sat in the garden, twirling my braid and contemplating that, when I noticed the arrival of a servant who informed me a courier from Rohan had just ridden in. I quickly shut the book and raced off to find him, wanting to make sure he waited while I collected my letters for his return journey.
Once that was done and I had received the letters to me that were in the packet, I slipped off to my bedroom to enjoy them. The second one I came to was in an unfamiliar hand and I stared at it in wonder. I knew what Eowyn's writing looked like, so I knew it was not from her or her brother, but who else in Rohan would be writing to me?
Quickly I slit the seal and opened it. My good spirits dissipated more with each line I read. When I finished, my hand holding the letter dropped to my lap and I emitted a low growl of anger. I read it again, in hopes I had misunderstood, but, no, it said exactly what I thought it had said. Some woman in Rohan named Danwen was informing me of her dalliances with the king and his growing affection for her.
I fell back on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a good long while, considering the matter. Finally, I snatched up the letter and stormed off to my father's office. Fortunately, he was alone for I do not think I would have been willing to wait to speak with him.
"Father," I said without preamble, "I must go to Edoras at once. Amrothos may escort me if he is willing, but a guard of Swan Knights would also be sufficient!"
There was no mistaking that I was upset and my father tried to remain calm. "May I ask why?" he inquired.
I held out the letter to him and after reading it, he sat back and rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Thiri, you must understand that soldiers sometimes..."
I cut him off. "The letter is a lie, Father. Of that I have no doubt. If Eomer ever dallied with this woman it was before we met. He would not do so now." I made my statement emphatically, making it clear that I would brook no argument on the matter.
He looked at me with gentle eyes. "And what would be your purpose in going to Edoras?"
"I will claim what is mine, and I will make certain this woman knows that I do not believe her, and that she would do well to stay far away from my betrothed!"
Father attempted to dissuade me from my chosen course, but I think he knew right from the start that I would not be swayed. He could either send me to Edoras on his terms, or risk me sneaking out in the night and riding there alone.
At last he agreed to let me go. Even if I accomplished my purpose, he knew it was unlikely that once I was there I would be persuaded to return home anytime soon, so he agreed that I should travel with the wedding party to Minas Tirith in October.
While it was beneficial that I was already pretty much packed, I still had to wait for Amrothos to get ready and an escort of Knights to be arranged. I think Amrothos was purposely taking his time, just to torment me, but we finally departed after two days.
Personally, I would have ridden longer and spent less time sleeping and resting, but Father had put Amrothos in charge of the company and I had to abide by his decisions in the matter. After the second day of dealing with my growing irritation, he seemed to decide it might be better to torture me another time and the pace of the trip quickened.
Father had wanted to send a message on ahead to alert Eomer that we were coming, but I assured him we would be to Edoras quickly enough that it was unnecessary. Besides, I wanted to surprise Eomer and this Danwen!
A week later found us nearing the gates to Edoras. Amrothos had tried again to convince me to send a messenger on ahead, but I insisted he not do so. "They will see us coming and inform the king. That will be sufficient warning."
He gave me a questioning look, wondering what my thoughts were, but made no further comment. He knew my reason for insisting on this trip, and I had seen in his eyes that he was worried I would get hurt by all that was taking place. But, I also knew that my family did not truly understand the depth of my feelings toward Eomer, and my utter confidence in him. I could not believe he would do anything to hurt me.
The guards gave us curious glances as we passed through the gates. Not having been informed we were coming, they were wondering what was going on. One man rode forward to escort us up the hill. As we drew nearer, I could see Eomer waiting for us on the terrace around Meduseld. I was fairly sure it was not standard practice for the king to come out and meet arriving guests. A group of onlookers was also gathering to learn what brought the Dol Amroth crowd back to their city so soon after leaving.
We dismounted and I saw Eomer's questioning expression, not entirely hidden by his hesitant smile. It was apparent to me that he knew about the letter, and was assuming that was the reason for my visit, but he was still trying to gauge my reaction. Amrothos trailed behind me up the steps and stopped on the step below me, saying, "Hail Eomer, King of Rohan!"
Eomer nodded to Amrothos' greeting but his eyes never left mine. A slow smile crept over my face and then I took a step forward and pulled his head toward me, giving him a long, lingering kiss for all to see. After a few moments, I heard Amrothos give a discreet cough and whisper, "Perhaps you two would like to take your hellos inside?" I pulled back and with great purpose, slipped my arm possessively around Eomer's as we turned to move into the Golden Hall. I didn't know if Danwen was in the audience, but I had little doubt gossip would spread quickly about Dol Amroth's greeting of their King!
