Notes at bottom.

By The Book

Chapter 3

One thing unexpectedly being in Edoras showed me was that a king works very long hours. I spent my first week there seeing very little of Eomer. I knew it was not due to unwillingness on his part to spend time with me, but rather the pressing needs of his kingdom that kept him in meetings virtually all day, and working late into the night. Were it not for meals, I might have seen even less of him, and sometimes he even missed those or downed them on the run.

Realizing that, if I was to be here another fortnight, I couldn't let them treat me as a guest, and I did not want them to, I sought out ways to occupy my time. When I had been here in August, I had wandered around the town a bit, but now I had extra time to explore it more fully. I reacquainted myself with some of the people I had met before and learned even more about life in Edoras and Rohan.

It was in the middle of the second week that I discovered the orphanage. Tucked away on a backstreet, it was a nondescript building, somewhat shabby and rundown. I might have overlooked it were it not for the large number of children playing in the yard. One doe-eyed little girl who was about six or seven years old wandered over to where I stood and smiled up at me.

"Hello," she said. "My name is Lissa. What's yours?"

"I am Lothiriel. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lissa."

She grinned and thought for a moment, then told me, "That is a pretty name – Lothiriel. I like it."

I smiled in return. "Thank you. Yours is very pretty too." I looked back to the building, knowing it could not be a family with so many children and asked her, "What is this place?"

Her face fell a bit and she looked down at the dirt, "It is an orphan home. For children whose parents died."

I knelt down so we were on eye level. "I am sorry. Are you the only one in your family, or do you have brothers and sisters here also?"

"I have a brother, but he does not live here. He is a soldier and he sleeps in the barracks with the other men. He says some day he will buy a house so we can live in it together."

Just then, a young man strode up and said questioningly, as he eyed me, "Lissa? What are you doing?"

I went to stand and he hastily offered his hand to help me up. "Thank you. May I assume you are Lissa's brother?"

He nodded, "I am Kialmar, my lady. I hope she has not been bothering you."

"Do I know you?" I asked. Something about his question suggested he knew me.

"Oh, no, my lady!" He blushed, "I am a soldier in the king's escort party. We all know of you, Lady Lothiriel." He dropped his eyes in embarrassment.

"Well, judging by your reaction to meeting me, I can only assume you have heard some fearsome things about me," I teased.

His head jerked up and he blushed even more when he realized I was joking. "No, my lady. Not at all." He hesitated, then added, "Most everyone thinks very highly of you and will be pleased to have you as queen."

"Most everyone? Hmmm, I hope you are one of those that approve!"

He grinned, but eagerly nodded his head. "Oh yes, very much so." He stopped and blushed again.

"If you do not stop blushing, your head will explode! Please, be at ease. You said yourself I am not fearsome. I will tell you if you say anything rude or unacceptable – then you can blush!"

He smiled with a mixture of relief and gratitude. I suspected he was not familiar or comfortable consorting with the noble class. But he seemed an amiable young man, and eager to please.

"I assume you are here to visit your sister. Do not let me keep you. I was just wandering about town and stumbled on this place for the first time." I paused, then added quietly, "It appears in need of attention."

He caught my meaning and nodded slightly. "The orphan home is not the highest priority in council meetings, but the good people who run it do the best they can with what they have."

"Would you introduce me to them?"

He blinked in surprise, "Yes, of course, my lady." He gestured with his hand for me to precede him to the door.

The husband and wife, Hamal and Breewyn, were a pleasant couple who obviously loved children, and I spent over an hour talking with them about the orphans' home and the problems it faced. One of their biggest problems was the lack of help, and I decided I would make it a point to come as often as I could to lend a hand. That should occupy my abundant free time, and in a worthwhile manner.

As I was leaving, Kialmar was returning to Meduseld as well, and we walked back together. He told me the circumstances in which his parents and younger brother were killed, leaving only him and his sister. He didn't like having her stay at the orphanage, but their home had been destroyed and, being a soldier, he was not in a position to care for her. He hoped to one day have a home and marry so Lissa could come to live with him again. Until then, he tried to see her as often as possible, and he frequently did work around the orphanage in his free time to help out.

Over the next week, I began spending more and more time there and grew to love the children. Many had lived hard lives, and then to lose their parents as well was a severe blow. But Hamal and Breewyn had been a steady influence in helping them deal with their grief and they largely seemed happy.

It often turned out that Kialmar was headed that way when I was and so we spent much time together. He finally learned to relax and not be so intimidated by me, and he made for a pleasant companion.

Less pleasant was Eomer. He seemed to grow more and more cross by the day. I knew he was overworked, but I resented that he seemed to want to take it out on me. When we were together, he was withdrawn and bad-tempered, and I found it easier to leave him alone than put up with his moodiness. As the week progressed, I was beginning to wonder why I was even in Edoras when he clearly did not desire my company.

Normally, I am a fairly calm and easy-going person, but I began to be fed up. Even Amrothos was treading lightly since the slightest thing seemed to set Eomer off, and the more disagreeable he became, the more irritated I became. I knew Eowyn was concerned, but wasn't quite sure what to do about it.

At last, when Eomer took to eating his supper alone in his study rather than joining us, I had had enough. Throwing down my napkin, I stormed from the table and down the hall. Not even bothering to knock, I marched in and stood in front of his desk with my arms folded across my chest and glaring at him.

His head had jerked up when I barged in, and he sat sulkily returning my glare. "If you wish me to go back to Dol Amroth, just say so, Eomer! Do not play hide and seek with me!"

Belligerently, he snapped back, "I am not playing hide and seek! You have made it clear you have found more pleasant company than mine! I do not think Kialmar would like it very much if you were to leave!"

The angry retort on my tongue stalled and I blinked in surprise. "What?"

"You heard me! Did you think I would not learn of your new 'interest'?"

Realization suddenly struck me like lightning; that was what this was all about – Kialmar!

I sat down heavily in a chair and tried to gather my thoughts. Eomer watched me warily, wondering what I was up to and why I said nothing.

Finally, I lifted my eyes to meet his. "You think I prefer his company to yours?"

His jaw tightened, "From what I hear, you spend almost every waking moment with him. When I became unavailable, you seem to have quickly found a substitute! Though I suppose I should not be surprised you would prefer a younger man with plenty of time to pay full attention to you."

Tears sprang to my eyes, his accusation cutting deeply. But, in all honesty, I could easily see how things might be misconstrued. I struggled to come up with the right words for what I wanted to say. At the sight of me sitting before him crying, Eomer's anger faltered.

Finally, in little more than a whisper, I choked out, "Forgive me, my love. I did not intend to wound you so. When you were so busy with matters of the kingdom, I sought ways to amuse myself instead of addressing the problem of having so little time with you."

I stopped, wiping at my eyes, then managed to continue, "If someone has told you I have behaved improperly, you are misinformed. Kialmar and I are friends, but nothing more, and we have never been alone together, let alone done anything intimate. I would never wish to replace you with another."

Eomer's stony face crumbled at my words and I had no doubt that he believed me, so I slowly rose and went to stand behind him. I slipped my arms around his neck and rested my cheek on his head. "Oh, my love, I am so very sorry."

He caught my arm and pulled me around to sit on his lap, then wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my neck, content just to hold me. Finally, he whispered, "I could not bear thinking I had lost you to someone else."

My hand slipped to his chin and I raised his face to gaze into his eyes, "Never!" And then I slowly added emphasis with a kiss.

It was quite some time before our attention returned to our supper, and Eomer accompanied me back to the Golden Hall to finish our meals there. Neither Eowyn nor Amrothos said anything, but they could hardly miss the blissful expressions we wore. I think both sighed with relief to know that the trouble was resolved.

xxxxx

From that point, I determined to make some changes. If Eomer must be in council meetings, then I would be there with him. He had no objection to the idea, though I am not sure his advisers were as pleased with the arrangement. At the very first meeting I attended, I made my presence felt.

Just as they were beginning to close, I cleared my throat and said, "My lord, may I speak?"

Eomer glanced curiously at me, wondering at my purpose, but nodded, "You may, Lady Lothiriel."

I told them of the orphanage and the straitened conditions they suffered. "I would think, my lords, that assistance could be provided for them. These children have suffered the loss of their parents – indeed many had fathers die protecting Rohan. They should not also have to suffer lack of the bare necessities of life as well."

The advisers, upon my finishing, immediately began to come up with numerous reasons why this was not a simple matter to deal with, and they did not have the resources to assist the orphans. But Eomer silenced them as he stood. "I will send two servants from Meduseld to help them with the care of the children, and two soldiers will be assigned on a rotating basis to go and do any work that needs doing there."

With the king showing such obvious support, gradually they began to come up with small ways to assist, and I was pleased that conditions would soon improve for the children, and the burden would be eased for Hamal and Breewyn.

As the time of our departure for Minas Tirith drew nearer, Eowyn grew more nervous. When I had arrived at the end of September, she had already abandoned her wedding plans for Eomer and was once more focused on her own, and trying to make sure she didn't forget anything she needed to do before we began the journey southward.

One of the most amusing aspects of her preparations was when she decided she must learn how to cook for Faramir. To that end, she began daily instruction under the cook, and the rest of us got to sample her wares at the next meal. Fortunately for us, the cook made sure there was plenty else to eat, but Eowyn did gradually improve and before we departed, she proudly made an entire dinner for the four of us. Eowyn knew they would have servants to do such tasks when she became Faramir's wife, but it was important to her to be able to cook something for him on occasion as a way to show her love for him. Knowing Faramir, she could have served him a bucket of oats, and he would eat it with relish just because Eowyn had given it to him, but I didn't tell her that.

And at long last, the day of our exodus arrived. The morning was spent with everyone scurrying around, making sure everything was packed and loaded on wagons. I made one final visit to the orphans' home to say my farewells, and tell them I would see them in the spring. Lissa was sad to see me go, but more so her brother who would be travelling with us. I assured her he would be back as soon as he could, and that it was a great honor for him to be in the king's escort. She smiled and nodded, telling me she was very proud of him, but the sorrow in her eyes told me it was still hard for her.

Abruptly, I stood and said goodbye, then turned and raced up the street back to Meduseld. When I arrived, I quickly located Eomer and pulled him aside to make my request. He hesitated a moment before replying, but then spotted Eowyn directing the loading of trunks, and his face softened. "If Kialmar agrees to this, then go and get her. I did not like being separated from my sister when I was a child."

I gave him a brief hug and then dashed off to find Kialmar among the escort party assembling outside. I think he was a little uncertain about the whole idea, taking Lissa to Minas Tirith and then Dol Amroth with us, but when I assured him it had the king's approval, and that he need only take responsibility for her, he gave in with a grateful smile. "Thank you, my lady! We will be gone for over a month, and I know it would be hard on her not to see me for that long."

As he had duties to attend to, I hurried back to the orphanage and explained the situation to Breewyn. We soon had a small bag packed for Lissa and she was happily accompanying me up the hill.

As we prepared to mount up, Eomer slipped up behind me and whispered, "One thing is certain – life with you will never be dull!"

A/N: Psst! Down here! Yes, I snuck this in at the bottom instead of the top since I was going to say something that would give away what was happening.

Blue Eyes At Night - Yep! Who needs FedEx when you have Wagging Tongues, Inc. on the job!

ForeverFaramir - This story is a couple of pages longer than the original, but will have 9 chapters total (so some of the chapters are kind of short, but I tried to break them at the 'logical' places). Stay tuned! More Faramir will be coming up!

Eokat - Don't know if anyone will figure it out or not, but my original thought was that Eomer knew about Kialmar and Lothiriel spending so much time together because of Danwen telling him. He wouldn't have believed her except every time he inquired where Lothiriel was, someone would tell him they had seen the two together. However, when I began writing that bit, it didn't seem to work to have him telling Lothiriel that, and since the story is her POV, she wouldn't know it unless he or someone else told her Danwen had been behind his suspicions. Even so, though unsaid, Danwen was the culprit - for all the good it did her!