A/N: Replies to reviewers at bottom. And not to worry, I'm not SERIOUSLY upset with LothirielofRohan, but the least she could do if she's going to write cliffhanger story chapters is to update quickly!

Chapter 5

Gamling quietly approached the Queen and said softly, "My lady, may we speak privately?" She glanced up and, seeing the look on his face, nodded and rose to follow him to a secluded area.

He sighed and shook his head, then told her, "I thought you should know that Lady Dariel was seen running in from the garden in tears a short while ago."

Lothiriel grimaced and nodded her understanding. "Thank you, Gamling."

He slipped quietly away, and she moved back to find her husband. His brow knit when he saw her expression, and she told him, "All is not well. Dariel is in tears and I do not know where Elfwine is – possibly still in the garden."

Eomer pulled her into his arms and held her, discouraged at the news. "Why does he turn away the one person who cares most for him?"

Lothiriel looked up at him. "What would you do, if it were you? If we were only 'friends' and no promises had been made? What would be your thoughts...and fears?"

He considered the questions and nodded reluctantly that he knew what she was asking. Kissing her forehead, he told her, "Go see if you can calm her. I will find Elfwine."

Lothiriel hurried away, and Eomer turned toward the garden. As he approached, still in shadow, he could see his son sitting alone and sobbing.

Quietly Eomer came closer and sat down next to him, reaching out to rub his back. Elfwine stiffened at the touch until he saw who it was, then scrubbed at his face, choking back his tears.

"I wish there was more I could do to help you, son," he admitted. "I can only imagine what you are going through...what you are thinking. But things are not hopeless unless you let them be. You still have people who love you and you are learning to function in spite of your injury." He broke off, not sure his words were of any consequence under the circumstances.

There was a long silence, then gradually Elfwine began to speak. "She said she loves me...loves me! How can she love me like this? Why would she – a daughter of the King of Gondor – want to be with someone like me? She only feels pity!"

Eomer considered this, then asked, "Did she love you before the accident? You did not seem interested in anyone else – were you thinking to marry her?"

His son was startled by the questions. "I...suppose so. We never talked about it...but I think I always expected to one day marry her. I do not know if she wanted that as well."

"If she loved you then, do not think she could not still love you." Eomer thought a moment, then added, "When you were eight years of age, King Elessar sent for me to bring an eored to help quell dissent in the south. The night before I left, I told your mother that if I was killed, she should remarry and live out her life with another man."

Elfwine gave him a look of consternation. "But–"

His father interrupted, "She told me, in absolute terms, that she wanted no other husband and that I was to make certain I was not killed." Elfwine's brow was wrinkled, trying to understand the point of this story. Eomer explained, "Nothing was going to change her love for me – not death, not even my being brought back to her in a basket. If I had been maimed in some way – lost a limb – she would still have loved me as fiercely. You do not know if Dariel's love for you is that strong, but you should not assume that it is not. At least give her a chance to prove herself."

Eomer rose and paced away from the bench, then turned back. "Perhaps instead of turning her away, you should let her see what it will mean to be with you. Let her see you struggling to do everyday tasks, let her see you unable to do certain things, let her see someone having to do embarrassing things for you. Let her see the unpleasant side of this matter, and then see how she feels about you. If still she does not turn away, then you may know her love is true."

"I am not sure I could bear it if she walked away," Elfwine murmured.

"You are driving her away now; it cannot hurt any more than it already does."

Slowly Elfwine nodded in agreement. Abruptly he stood and moved to embrace Eomer. "Thank you, Father!"

xxxxx

Elfwine did not join the family for the morning meal, turning up just in time to go with his father for their sparring lesson.

Dariel sat quiet and withdrawn, dark shadows of tiredness rimming her eyes. She and Lothiriel had sat together until after midnight; first calming her sobbing and then talking. Dariel was grateful that Lothiriel had been honest with her, unwilling to assure her everything would be fine and that Elfwine would eventually beg her forgiveness and love her. His mother had warned her that it was entirely up to her how much she was willing to endure before giving up on him. She had thought about that a long time after Lothiriel left her, and in the wee hours of the morning had concluded that she would endure whatever she must, until he finally told her he did not love her and would not marry her. Despite everything he had done so far in trying to drive her away, he had never said he did not love her. She chose to believe there was still hope and that his actions were born of his difficulty in adjusting rather than being his true feelings for her.

Unnoticed, Dariel was being closely observed by Theodwyn. The two girls were six years apart in age and had little in common, except that they both loved Elfwine dearly. Theodwyn had always suspected that her brother was in love with Dariel, and it would have angered her if the girl had turned her back on him in this trial. She was grudgingly impressed that Dariel was sticking it out despite his rudeness toward her.

When the meal ended, she caught Dariel by the arm before the other girl could leave. "Would you like to go for a ride with me today?" she asked hesitantly. They had never spent much time together; always when she visited before, Dariel had spent most of her time with Elfwine.

Though Dariel was startled by the invitation, she was grateful for it. With Elfwine avoiding her, there was little for her to do here. Lothiriel spent some time with her when she could, and Dariel tried to help out as much as possible to show her appreciation for all Lothiriel was doing for her, but otherwise she was at loose ends. "I would like that. Thank you," she replied.

"In about an hour? I will meet you in the stable?"

Dariel nodded in agreement and went back to her room feeling a bit lighter at heart than earlier. She pulled out one of her riding outfits, fashioned after the one Lothiriel had lent her on her first visit here, and then worked her hair back into a braid. Finally, she sat and read until it was time to meet Theodwyn.

Once their horses were saddled and they mounted, they started down the hill, but were hailed from the practice field to their right. Theodwyn led the way in that direction and pulled to a stop facing Elfwine.

"Where are you going?" he asked, with a half-smile.

"Dariel and I are going for a ride. I thought we would go to the old swimming hole."

He raised an eyebrow. "And where is your escort?"

Theodwyn made a face at him. "Oh, Elfwine, do not be a pest. We will be perfectly safe!"

"Perhaps. But Father, and King Elessar, would have my head if I let the two of you ride out without an escort. Come on," he called, turning toward the hut the king's escort occupied while on duty and awaiting orders.

With a sigh of annoyance, Theodwyn shrugged at Dariel and turned to follow her brother. He arranged for Kialmar and Brythred to accompany the women, and waited while they saddled their horses, not entirely trusting his sister to not try to sneak away before they were mounted.

Finally, they were ready to go and Theodwyn waved a farewell to her brother as they started down the hill once more. Just outside the gate, Theodwyn challenged Dariel to a race and took off before she could accept or decline. Rising to the contest, she kicked Hobbit into a gallop and pursued the younger girl across the plain. She knew there was little chance she would catch or pass Theodwyn, so she settled for trying to stay reasonably close behind her until the girl reined in and declared herself victorious.

Dariel chuckled in amusement at her, and they walked for a while to let the horses cool down. A short time later, they reached the swimming hole and turned the horses loose to graze. The escort took up a position some distance away to allow them privacy, and they settled down on an embankment to dangle their bare feet in the water.

"Thank you for inviting me along," Dariel offered. "This is very pleasant."

Theodwyn gave an embarrassed smile and shrugged. After a few moments of silence, she looked intently at Dariel and asked, "Are you in love with Elfwine?"

Dariel was startled by her directness and hesitated giving a response.

Theodwyn hastened to add, "I know it is none of my business if you are, and Mother would probably chide me for asking such a personal question, but I have seen the way you look at him and I think you are."

Dariel sighed. "Yes, I am. You are correct."

Theodwyn nodded, then said, "I think he loves you, too. He just…right now he does not even love himself." She looked up to see if the other girl understood what she was trying to say.

Dariel was caught off-guard by her insight, but slowly nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, I think you are right."

"Please do not give up on him! If you do, I am not sure he will ever come back to us." Theodwyn's eyes filled with tears, and she tried to wipe them away unseen.

The older girl sighed again and reached an arm consolingly around the younger one. "I do not want to give up on him. But I do not know how to ease his pain. He will not let me near." She leaned her head mournfully against Theodwyn's.

"I will help you," Theodwyn answered firmly. "He needs you, maybe even more than he needs us. I know Mother and Father are doing all they can, but I will not sit idly by and watch. I want my brother back. He will not stand a chance against both of us together!"

Dariel smiled at the girl's fervor, not certain that she was correct, but pleased to have an ally.

Replies to reviewers:

To All: Thanks for all the kind words and reviews. We aren't out of the woods yet, but things are getting brighter.

BlueEyedElf – Yeah, you're probably right about Gamling. He used to be a soldier and now he's a Doorward – that's got to be kind of boring after the excitement of battle!

Frigg – Thanks! "Life is pain. Anyone that tells you differently is selling something." (The Princess Bride) Even so, I do like happy endings after all the pain and suffering… It gives me hope for real life!

Julia – Will Elfwine go after her? See above for the answer! I agree that the kids could marry nobles or others, and probably marry for love, but I was just pointing out that most of them won't be ABLE to choose from amongst royalty. Would be interesting to explore the possibilities of intermarrying with other countries/regions, but I don't know if there is enough information to go on. I'd kind of discount Harad, but who knows what could happen 20 years or so down the road from the War of the Ring.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur - LothirielofRohan who? Never heard of her! (Just kidding! We are actually friends, but I was poking at her for sending me two cliffhanger chapters to the two stories I am beta-ing for her! Now that qualifies as mean, cruel and hateful, doesn't it? She just giggles when I tell HER that!)

utsuri – I have a feeling Eomer would have tossed those two drunks out himself if Lothiriel wasn't around, regardless of the repercussions, but if your wife can do it and save you the trouble, why not let her?

Jazzcat – Sorry to make you cry! If it makes you feel better, I cried some while writing some of it. You get so involved with these characters that they feel like friends.