A/N:

Thank you all my reviewers. I must admit that I am no Tolkien purist but I do intend to stick to most of the ME norms as much as possible.

It is going to take more time than I expected to make this E/L story worth remembering. I would liked to have it end shortly after the last chapter but realized this would not do justice to the character development. Some of my future postings may take longer. And I'll try to find ways to bring out more what Eomer and Lothiriel think of each other.

BTW, I like to know how you readers and fans of E/L fiction would like see how it continues. I am still working out the story for the upcoming chapters and so it would be good to have your input early. Make this your story!

Chapter 7: A Secret Admirer

(Lothiriel's POV)

Dear Lady Ariel

Flower maiden, you delight me in a mysterious way

But I cannot hold you or you'll fade away.

Secret Admirer

I found this note with a flower I have never seen before. It was red flower with and thorns along the stem. I picked the flower from the door and put it to my lips. The thorns were tricky to handle but the petals were soft. I liked the flower. Unapproachable yet sweet. Like Eomer.

I read the note till the words became a memory etched in the mind. How did he know about my name? I had the impression that the Rohhirim are not good with words or lore.

My heart is thrilled. Eomer's pen is as mighty as his sword!

It was barely less than an hour since I left the study. And I remembered that Eomer is not as simple as he appeared to be. I wondered what else he is hiding beneath that cold and fierce exterior.

Lana was troubled by the secret admirer more so than I was. It was good that she reminded me that we were not attract any undue attention and was worried that this might give away our cover. We agreed that we should report this matter the king at an opportune time. I told her to tell him on my behalf since she was my mistress. I think it was better this way because I could imagine how difficult it would be for me to talk about this in a concealed way.

At dinner, Eomer was his usual self and engaged us in the same typical dinner conversations, as always.

Of course, I was bursting to tell him how much I loved his gift. But I had to keep checking myself mentally not to say anything in front of others. How does one keep a secret such as this? It was frustrating especially when he appeared so unaffected. Does he not feel the tension as I do within?

And then Lana spoke to Eomer regarding the note.

Eomer looked at me, genuinely surprised. He didn't smile and looked slightly grave.

"A note and flower? What kind of flower was it?" He asked slowly going back to his eating.

"I don't know…for I have not seen it before". I described the features of the flower to him and he finally said "That sounds like a rose of some sort. They came to us from the halflings of the Shire."

"But why a rose? Do you know if it means anything?" I asked

"Well, I remember from our Hobbit friends, roses are flowers symbolising love" he continued rather factually.

My heart missed a beat when I heard that. So this is the way he tells me he loves me.

"Do you know who sent it to you?" he inquired. The look on his face was sheer curiosity mixed with anxiety. I felt rather strange and was wondering if he was pretending to be ignorant. I couldn't tell if it was acting or not – it felt very real.

"It was signed as Secret Admirer" and I looked at him knowingly. But he did not look at me.

Eomer continued eating as if he didn't care at all. He appears rather detached and a little annoyed. Then he turned to Lana and said,

"I think there is little that can be done about this. Perhaps if I saw the note, I might guess who it might be." And then he turned to me and said "Lady Ariel, it is up to you decide what you like to do about such things. I would think it is best you ignore this."

His tone was cold and strange as if he disapproved of what he did.

The dinner ended early tonight and Eomer excused himself to finish up some documents. I was quite upset that he had to go back to work. But I was more upset to feel that there was something strange between us. It felt as if he was really not the one who sent me the flower and note. But I decided that he was just acting to keep our secret safe.

I went out to the gardens and walked with Lana. I assured her that I had everything in control and didn't want her to get too worried about the secret admirer.

As we made our back to our rooms, we meet Eomer again. He offered to have a look at the note to see if he could figure out who the person might be. I was terribly amused that he is going to such great lengths to keep up the act.

I looked at him and smiled to myself.

(Eomer's POV)

I apologized to the ladies for not entertaining them further during dinner. I was really feeling foul and had to get away from the dinner.

Now as I walked next to Lothiriel again, I felt my heart ease. She seemed thrilled around me and was smiling endlessly. I wasn't sure if her mirth was really because of me or if she was carried away by the mystery of her secret admirer.

I could see that Lana was not amused and was worried.

I share her feelings too. I was actually very disturbed about Lothiriel's secret admirer during dinner. She did not see how unhappy I was when she spoke of it.

I wished for a chance to say something and kept looking at her. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just steal her away like I did hours ago. But Lothiriel was also watching me. She seemed to have perceived that I wanted to be alone with her. Suddenly, she stopped walking.

"Lana did you remember if I brought my notebook to the dining hall? I don't want to lose it. It had a lot of new notes."

"I am not sure…mi…Ariel" Lana said. "Should we head back to look for it?"

"Well, I'll go back to look for it …while you bring the King…." Lothiriel added.

"Oh no. Let me will go look for it. I think it would be better if you could show the King the note quickly."

And so Lana left our company and we were alone.

We walked to a place where it was very quiet. There was a path that lead to several huge trees away from the main gardens.

When it felt safe that we were hidden in the shadows of the trees, she took my hand and whispered "Thank you".

"What do you thank me for?" I asked looking at her.

"The rose and the poem, of course. You don't expect me to say this in front of everyone, do you?"

"I don't, Lothiriel. Because I didn't send you the rose or the poem".

Finally, I said my peace. Lothiriel was slient but not for long.

"What? The flower and note wasn't from you?" she sounded dismayed and disappointed.

"Did you think it was me?"

"Of course. Who else could it be?"

"It wasn't me." I replied slowly.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Her voice was getting agitated and growing loud.

"Shhh… quietly….I tried but Lana was there and you were so …"

"I can't believe, you let me just go on like a fool in front of you. Please tell me off the next time." she interrupted in an exasperated manner.

"You know that I couldn't say anything. Did you think I wanted to let you go on?" I said calmly. But it was too late, she was already mad.

(Lothiriel's POV)

I was definitely shocked that Eomer told me that he didn't send me the note and the rose. I couldn't believe that I was carried away and behaved like an idiot in front of him. I felt so silly. I was angry with myself. I should have trusted my Elvish instincts!

Then he asked "Are you still angry with me?"

"No." I replied quickly. "There is nothing to be angry about. I am sorry that I shouted at you."

He started to put his arms around my waist and I leaned against him. I decided to stop reprimanding and feeling sorry for myself. I didn't want to spoil what little time was left with him. We stood there quietly in the shadows and then I asked how he felt about the secret admirer.

"Nothing" he said. "There is nothing to feel."

Nothing? How could he not feel anything at all? I was expecting him to be worried or jealous but it was not so. I did not believe what he said.

"What you mean nothing? How can you not feel anything at all?" I questioned.

"There is nothing to feel because nothing has happened." he replied

"What do you mean nothing has happened? There is a secret admirer with a romantic interest in me…and you mean that is nothing to you" I asked trying to keep my voice down. His indifference and lack of concern was starting to hurt.

He finally said "There is nothing I can do if other men choose to fall for you."

Of course there is! I shouted in my mind but said

"But aren't you afraid that I may lose my heart to them?"

"I trust you to be true to me."

It was the most unexpected thing I have heard. I thought that he would have expressed a great degree of possessiveness over me – a sense to demand me to be his alone. Shouldn't I be glad that he believed me to be faithful and that he trusted me so much in such a short time? But I gave into disappointment and a void was growing in my heart.

I thought of something to say…something that will lead him to understand that I wanted him to love me selfishly.

"But you don't know me at all."

"It doesn't matter" was all he said.

"But it does, Eomer, it does!" I shouted in my head.

Somehow, what he said broke me inside. I realized that I wished very much that he would come and discover my desire to be owned. Why wasn't he passionate and possessive toward me? Isn't that what love means? Why is it up to me?

"Why doesn't it matter?" I spoke softly "I wished it did."

And so I said goodbye and left him in the dark.

As I walked back to my room, the emotional rage churned like a whirlwind within me.

Eomer, you woke something within me.

Yet my mind was still and quiet through the rest of the night. There is much about Eomer I don't understand.

I don't know the way he loves.

(Eomer's POV)

I could sense that she was disappointed that I wasn't the person behind the rose and note.

I was glad that she didn't insist that she wanted me to compose fancy poetry and send her flowers as her secret admirer did. I was never good with words and it would take me a lifetime to do something like that. Nor do I like sending her flowers.

But when she asked me what I felt about the secret admirer, I came to a blank. What was I suppose to feel? Was I suppose to feel anything? I found her question strange since I was fully convinced that she was already giving herself to me. I regarded our time alone earlier as something sacred – something I would not give to another. There will probably never be.

I told her the truth. "Nothing". Because she has chosen me – nothing will happen. "There is nothing to feel".

She asked about the men who had interest in her. I thought to myself that it was only natural that she had other suitors. How could other men not fall for a person such as she? Lothiriel, you are beautiful and intelligent. But more importantly, you bring out the other side of me. Lothiriel, you are special indeed.

She was afraid that she would loose her heart to them. So was I. But I refused to entertain those dark thoughts. It was dangerous that I walk in fear and jealously. I knew I would turn into a terrible man. I would hurt her.

If she truly loves me, she would come to me on her own. There will be no other between us. Lothiriel, I trust you to return. And in that I knew nothing else mattered.

But she felt otherwise. Then she told me that she would like to return to Dol Amroth soon and wished for our letters to her father to be destroyed. I was stunned by the turn of events and would have pressed her for her change of mind.

But she asked to leave and said "Goodbye, Eomer"

It felt dark.

Lothíriel means "flower garlanded maiden." (Sourced from the Thain's Book)