Chapter 4: Deceptions

(Eomer's POV)

It has been a week after my fateful conversation with Ariel.

I have not yet fallen for Princess Lothiriel and I am very certain that it will not happen at all.

I think it all became very clear when I became acutely aware of Ariel that day on the hill. I saw that she was beautiful and charming in her own way. But was there something about her that grew on me and I cannot tell what it is.

Compared to Princess Lothiriel, Ariel seemed so much stronger in character. This plus her innate ability to talk intelligently and size up situations precisely was leading me to one conclusion - Ariel was a person the court of Rohan could really use.

Perhaps I should look for someone like her to be my Queen.

And then for many days my thoughts were about Ariel.

Didn't she say something earlier that I would choose to love the Queen in spite of who she may be?

And what if I choose her?

Ariel seemed to be in deep thought these days. I suppose she is still figuring out how she would have talk to the Prince so that he would change his mind over the marriage.

And as the days passed, it pained me to see her looking growing serious and sad. She spoke less during dinner and I missed her witty ways.

I tried to arrange to meet in private but she did not agree. She looked as if she was didn't want to see me and was suffering under the weight of the problem. I felt increasingly guilty knowing that I was the one who made her unhappy.

When I could stand it no more, I decided to talk to her whether she would see me or not.

And I found myself at the door of her room and hesitated if I should enter. Then I heard her and the princess talk. I was shocked at what I heard next.

"Well we should be ready to return in a few days."

"Yes, I think there is no point staying here further."

"And you are sure you will know what to say to the Prince?"

"Lana, don't worry I know deep down inside he really loves me and that he will keep me with him even till the end of the age. All I have to say is that I don't love Eomer and that he doesn't love me. We tried, spent this time and found out it will not work. I just have to tell him how I would indeed wither here and that Eomer is not keen either to marry. Ada will come around. "

"And King Eomer and his advisors – would they not be displeased?"

"I had Eomer promise not to press for marriage and all Ada has to do is to write to Eomer that I have decided against the proposal. The matter can be closed. Eomer is in this with us. I told him to tell his advisors that Ada's proposal was just to sound out his intentions but the decision of marriage will ultimately depend on me, the princess of Dol Amroth. Some of the advisors are already talking about this matter."

"But what will people say of you, my lady after this? Think of your own reputation milady."

"They will say what they want. And if it is that I am a difficult and very spoilt princess, well so be it. Lana, I think that a good reputation is worth very little if you have to trade it with your happiness. I told Ada that I will marry for love but he wouldn't listen. And who knows maybe after this, he would think twice before trying to pair me up with another king."

I was already too angry to listen further. I can't believe that Ariel had been lying to me since the beginning. And it now all makes perfect sense why Ariel was always behaving the way she does. She is the real Princess Lothiriel and not Lady Lana. And I have been stupid enough not to notice it.

How dare that woman deceive me! And to think that I could care for her. She is not worth it!

I was all ready to storm into the room to confront them with the truth but my reasoning mind stopped me. What good is it when this all becomes a royal diplomatic mess? And worse I may even lose Imrahil's friendship and respect!

Damn that woman, Lothiriel. She must be taught a lesson. But how could I do it? I will not let her go unpunished. I must think. For it takes a snake to outwit crafty Lothiriel.

So I returned to my quarters and worked on a plan.

(Lothiriel's POV)

This morning Eomer summoned to meet me.

Something tells me that I am not right. Am I going to make a mess of things?

My plan is now almost complete. The pieces are set in place so that I would take control of the situation. Everything will be settled once I see my father and convince him to put the marriage off. There will not be any loss of face for him as long as Eomer doesn't come asking for my hand. And I am fully prepared to face the consequences of being the terrible princess of the Fourth Age. At least I think that is far better than pinning away here in the Golden Hall.

Yet I know deep down this is not really true. I doubt I could pine away in Rohan when my heart did not wish to leave. At least not yet.

The reason for this is Eomer. Since our conversation on the hill, I could not help but feel an affinity for him. At first I thought that my feelings for him was merely respect. But I was wrong. As the days passed, respect turned admiration and that lead to love.

He was all that my father had said and even more. I was impressed that he will choose to love his Queen no matter who she may be. Could such a selfless man exist? But he is one.

And he made things even worse by being kind with me. He must have noticed that I was looking was burdened and even tried to talk with me privately. But does he know that I am growing sick - thinking about him and that I deceived him?

I can't imagine if Eomer finds out. I know he values honesty and hates deception.

He is a good man and does not deserve this.

He is the King of Rohan - I have lied to a head of state!

And if my father learns of this…Oh Valar! This is going all wrong! Indeed!

Sometimes I want to run up to him to tell him the whole truth and get over this. But it will really break my heart to have Eomer hate me for my deceit and will never love me.

What should I do? The secret is making me sick.

(Eomer's POV)

I watched her carefully as she came to the study. It appears that I was not the only one who did not sleep well last night. Lothiriel looked as if she had been crying. I wondered why but when I thought about her deceptiveness, my heart hardened.

"Lady Ariel, I have something important to speak to you. It is about the arranged marriage with the Princess. I do not want you to execute whatever plan you were thinking of."

"Why is that so, King Eomer?" she asked looking a little shocked. She was clearly not expecting me to have a change of mind at this point.

And I told her that I felt lately that I might really fall in love with the princess and I just needed to have more time with her to know her. This was partly true now that I knew who Lothiriel really was.

Lothiriel looked lost for the first time since I met her and I knew she was caught off guard. Then I said

"Lady Ariel, I also called you because I needed your help."

"What do you wish me to do?" she asked softly and looking a little depressed.

"Teach me how to win the princesses' heart" I replied and smiled.

(Lothiriel's POV)

I couldn't believe my ears when he said he was possibly in love with Lana. I wasn't expecting Eomer to fall for her. How could that be? But it had happened. He ruined everything! And my life!

And when he asked me to teach him how to win her heart, I felt my whole life come apart like sandcastles washed away by the sea. Life was just slipping away like the tides pulling me. And then like a huge tidal wave, the reality of his decision hit me.

Oh no! He mustn't fall in love with Lana because he would find out that she is not the real princess!

In a moment, the darkest fear gripped my heart as I thought of all the consequences that will befall me. I will be punished for lying to a King. My father's wrath will be upon me. Worse of all, Eomer's knowledge of my deceitfulness and his rejection of me.

And I felt something eating away within me when he said he wanted to know how to win Lana's heart.

But thankfully my mind was strong and I knew I had to control the damage. I had already lost Eomer, I can't lose my father's respect now.

It was time to tell the truth.

(Eomer's POV)

Lothiriel turned white and pale when I made my request to win the princess' heart. I admit it was cruel of me tease her like this but it was an opportunity I could not resist passing up. I was so caught up with my vindictiveness to set things right.

I admit I also enjoyed the fact that I was on the upper hand with words. At least for once.

Her eyes were almost in tears which puzzled me but I suppose women cry when they are in fear. But I was not going to let up until she confessed. So I waited.

"King Eomer" she suddenly said "I am afraid that I am not able to help you with your request."

"And why can't you help me." I asked wondering what she would say.

"My duty is to the princess and it is her interest that I seek, not yours. If it be that she is of the same mind and heart, I will most certainly oblige. But she is not."

I must say that I was impressed that Lothiriel still had the capacity to play with words. Her mind was certainly very strong and focussed. If it was not for her deceitfulness, I am sure I would have been totally taken in by her. She fascinates me.

"But with time and my sincerity to love her, would she not be moved?" I asked thinking of Faramir and how he won my sister over.

"I don't know, your Highness for I …"

I was loosing patience with these confusing diplomatic word games. They take too long and I wanted to get to the point. And so I decided I should put the pressure on Lothiriel to tell me the truth.

"Why should you not know? I interjected. "You are also a woman like her. Just tell me what will it take to win your love?"

And then the truth came.