Chapter four

The Stream

Mary slowly opened the door to Lothiriel's room. Not surprised in the least to see that she was still deep in sleep.

She walked to the window smiling evilly before opening the curtains to the big windows.

"Mary must you always do that?" She asked yawning taking the tea from her sipping it "I must get washed". She said peering over the cup. Bring me a plain dress one a lady usually wears for riding and some gloves just fill the basin with a bit of water and I will need a basket of food please. You know what I favour to eat".

Mary looked at her in shock and quickly regained composure.

Where are we going?"" Mary asked curiously.

"We are going no where me on the other hand am going out".

"Out where and with whom may I ask?".

"What does it matter?". Lothiriel asked starting to get impatient. "Will you not get what I asked for?".

"Yes my lady". Mary curtseyed walking from the room.

Eomer's room

Eomer woke suddenly he lifted the sheets to see he made quite a mess he almost laughed and stood up touching his whiskery face.

"I must shave". He said.

"Today's plans…evaluate and learn all I can about the princess from a distance".

Lothiriel

Lothiriel eyed her reflection .She would usually have Mary in here right now making a fuss about doing her hair but today she just left it down to let the wind take it. Her brownish green dress with a baggy top tight middle and heavy skirts was not what she expected to be what a simple riding dress was like and since she did not ride this dress was probably as close to one she had. The dress collar fell down her shoulders and she tried to put them up but realised that was just the way they were made. Oh great she thought now I look like a Rohhiric tavern whore. She laughed at what was supposed to be a joke. Imagine that me even thinking that I can look like a Rohhirim whore.

Lothiriel walked out of her room wondering which way was out she held her basket tightly in her hand, which had food in it. Imagine that I haven't even attended the hall to eat with the Rohhirim. Wonder what accuse my father is making for me she mused.

She stepped into the bright sunlight making her way down the many steps to the great land of Rohan. According to her it was nothing but a dry bit of waist land.

Eomer walked out of his room when he saw the girl's handmaid and decided to ask where the girl was.

"Mariella is it not?" He asked when he approached her.

"My Lord" She replied nodding. " Please though my Lord just call me Mary ".

Eomer nodded " Alright Mary may I ask of you where the lady Lothiriel might be?"

Mary nodded "Well she decided to go out…that is all she told me".

"Oh she won't be joining us for a meal yet again?" Eomer asked his brows in a knot.

"Seems so… But you were not at dinner last evening as well".

"Well since the lady ate in her room and as did her father I decided to eat with my men".

"I see". Mary looked around nervously.

"You said she went out". Eomer asked trying to mask the slight disappointment from his voice. "Whom was she accompanied with might I ask?"

" You may my lord. She went alone which I may say begging her pardon is rare but she will be enjoying this freedom…now if you may excuse me I must find my Prince".

Eomer nodded heading for the door he would find her.

Eomer nodded his greetings to his happy villagers then he saw the dark hair sticking out from all the blonds heading for the forest he knew it was her.

"What are you up too? He muttered to himself.

He trotted after her but wanted to stay a close distance behind.

Lothiriel was humming a beautiful song she admired the many wild flowers infesting the ground polluting the air with their wonderful scent she came to a steady stream that moved with such tranquility she was mesmerized by it. Almost in a trance she lost her balance and fell in.

She fell on her backside it was fairly deep soaking her middle area and the tips of her hair. She moaned out her frustration Letting out a row of swear words that would only be heard in a tavern or a camp of men.

Eomer choked back a laugh. He never dreamed her of all people saying such words. He watched her amazed at her beauty; She sat in the water crossing her arms her lips slightly pouted out. She tried to stand up but tripped back in this time falling face forward she put her hands out to stop her fall and another row of swear words left her mouth.

Eomer walked out of his hiding spot and walked behind her she stood up again and was about to trip over the weight of her now wetter skirt when he caught her she did not know who caught her so she pulled away quickly turning him around and pushing him to the water.

" Brute!". She yelled but when she saw whom it was her eyes opened wide in surprise.

"My lord?" She said in disbelief. "What are you- how did you-Oh I am sorry". She made to help him up but he just laughed and stood on his own.

"Why did you follow me"? She asked cocking her pretty face to the side.

Eomer shrugged I was walking and I saw you fall in". He lied.

"You had no intention of following me here?" She asked folding her arms.

Eomer cupped the side of her face with a large hand. He could not resist he would have kissed her but he had much respect for her father and her to do it at such haste.

Her dry lips opened slightly and she moistened them with her tongue.

"How dare you?" She shouted in his face turning her face out of his grasp.

"Excuse me". The king said just as angrily.

"You Eomer have no right following me!" She poked him hard in the chest and she turned picked her basket and started off.

"Where are you going"? Eomer asked with ease. Trying hard not to laugh.

She stopped without turning around.

"I am going down stream to see where this stream leads," She said as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "If you wish to come then do as you please". She started walking again.

Eomer gapped running to catch up with her. Taking her hand in his he pulled her in the opposite direction.

"What are you doing?". She snapped pulling her hand from his even though she knew she liked where they were.

"I am taking you up stream". Eomer replied simply.

"Up the stream?". She asked looking at him through narrowed eyes. "UP STREAM!".

"Yes Lothiriel up stream. Now must you yell? Eomer grimaced. "You sound like a dying cat".

"I do not". She replied now turning red.

"He grasped her hand. "Come on now let us go upstream".

"Eomer do not be silly! Lothiriel snapped. "People do not go up stream they go down stream. To see where the Stream leads to".

"Is that so?". Eomer replied letting go of her hand and looking down stream then up at her.

"Why do you want to see where something leads if you do not even know where it comes from?".

Lothiriel was silent for once in her life she had nothing to say. HE silenced me! She thought. Now she saw Eomer in a different light. He was not a stupid brute but actually deep, sensitive and she could not deny he was very handsome.

"Is that the type of person you are princess".

Lothiriel pulled her hands from his and crossed her arms taking a step back.

Eomer followed her step "You look at people through one light and not even take the time to know who they are and why they are like that?". He asked stepping even closer. "Everyone is the way they are because of their past. See how this stream is calm how do you know where it leads to is just as calm…. Or where it comes from is just as calm". They were a mere centimetre apart and a shiver went down Lothiriel's back

"You are right". She smiled now taking his hand.

"Fine let us go up stream".

The further up they went the rougher the stream got.

"Looks like this stream has had a rough past". Lothiriel stated in mock seriousness.

Eomer looked at her smirking gently.

"Well let us try to find something good in it".

They continued their walk.

"Eomer we've been walking for days!". Lothiriel whined, "let's go back" The river had had a rough past. I know this now! Let's go back" she finished stomping her foot.

"Why such haste Lothiriel?" Eomer asked almost pleadingly. "Come on it is just a bit further up". How can this girl mix only one hour at the most with days?

Lothiriel continued to follow him. They came to a curtain of willow leaves. Lothiriel was just about to open them when Eomer's hand grasped her wrist stopping her.

"This place is a secret Lothiriel". Eomer said gently. "My sister and I used to come here often to find peace ".

Lothiriel looked at him. Her heart softened at the slight look of sadness in his eyes. Will he let me see it? She wondered.

Eomer pushed the willow branches out of the way and Lothiriel gasped.

Never in all of her life had she seen anything like it.

"It's beautiful". She whispered.

She followed Eomer to sit on the bank of the small pond it was surrounded by Willow trees that leaves dipped into the water now that fall was drawing close the leaves where slightly changing colours and the surface was smooth and had the many leaves floating on the surface.

"This is where our stream came from". Eomer said breaking the silence.

Lothiriel nodded. Opening her basket she shared her salted meat sandwiches with him.

When they were done they both lied down on their backs.

Lothiriel moved the basket that was in between the two of them and snuggled closer to him laying her head on his chest.

Eomer dropped his gaze on her.

"I'm cold". She snapped putting her head back down.

"I never said anything". Eomer laughed softly.

"I never said you said anything". Lothiriel said softly closing her eyes.

She just has to have the last word Eomer thought.

"You are the worst pillow ever". Lothiriel sighed tossing her head around trying to find a comfortable position "You keep moving and it's like sleeping on rock"

Eomer rolled his eyes sighing.

"The moving is me breathing and what would you want my chest to feel like you are sleeping on no women".

It toke a while for Lothiriel to comprehend is last comment when she did she laughed. "Oh right". She closed her eyes again smiling. Silly pervert. She thought.

After a while they both feel asleep and much later Eomer woke up forgetting the time. He saw that Lothiriel made a bed of him she was wrapped into his cloak and her fingers were tangled in his hair.

"It is almost night fall". He said gently shaking Lothiriel to wake up.

She stretched. "Oh no you fell asleep".

"Yes I did. Sorry". Eomer said sarcastically.

"What do you think they are going to say?"

"Nothing". Eomer said lazily helping her up.

"Is it safe to be walking in the forest when it is this late?" Lothiriel asked nervously.

"You are with me Lothiriel". Eomer replied. "What can possibly happen"?

"Oh I don't know we can get eaten by a pack of wolves".

"Yes that is a possibility". Eomer said shrugging smiling when he saw Lothiriel go pale.

"Let us not worry about that now and just make our way back alright?"

Lothiriel nodded shivering slightly.

"Here". Eomer said wrapping her in his cloak.

"Thank you". Lothiriel said grasping his hand.

They began to walk back quicker then, which they came. Following the river down stream.

"Are you sure you are not cold?" Lothiriel asked for the 9th time in the past half hour".

When they got back Lothiriel was in Eomer's Arms sleeping.

I cannot believe she got me to carry her all that way back. Eomer thought. Good thing she is very light.

When Eomer entered the golden hall Lothiriel was still asleep everyone thought something was wrong with her.

"Lothiriel!" Her father yelled. Making her jump out of her sleep.

"Oh you were just asleep". The prince's shoulders slumped in relief.

"What did you think was wrong with me father". Lothiriel asked straightening her dress. Her hair was badly wind blown.

"Nothing … Where were you anyways?"

"Eomer and I went for a walk and he fell asleep".

Eomer rolled his eyes behind her.

"Well why didn't you wake him". The prince asked.

"Well because I was asleep as well". Lothiriel finished.

"I see….". The prince trailed off.

"Well I'm off". Lothiriel said yawning. "I'm not hungry so do not bother sending food to my room". And with that last command she left curtseying to her father and then Eomer.

"Thank you". She whispered before turning and leaving.

Eomer was in his studies sorting out goods that have been to be imported and deported to and from Rohan.

Rohan was doing good even though the war ended only two years back the people of Rohan put there hands together and with the help of friends built back an amazing kingdom.

Now he had one more issue at hand Lothiriel .He had made his decision it was her he wanted to marry. He thought of her voice the touch of her hand and just the feel of her in his arms. He knew he could grow to love her he was quite fond of her now besides where was he going to find another like her.

He knew with one word he could take her as his queen but it would be forced and he wanted her to at least be happy with the wedding.

Tomorrow he would announce his wishes to her. " I know the perfect way". Eomer thought out loud. "Perhaps I can take her riding…. Then…I'll just ask her if she would like to stay here with me".

He doubted this would be easy but the king liked a challenge he was bored with no fighting.