Disclaimer: Though I wish that these lovely people were more than just friends of mine, they are not, nor shall they ever be, sadly.

A/N: This is a sequel to "The River Poros", which I finished some time ago. If you stumbled upon this story without reading the other first, you will probably be quite lost, so go read it! I thank you all for your patience with me and hope that you enjoy reading this story as much as I am enjoying writing it. Thanks to Rosie26 for her support and help!

THE HARADRIM SITUATION

Èomer

I read the letter that had arrived from Éowyn with no small amount of shock. My sister was pregnant! I was to be an uncle at last. But as I read on, I realized that something horrible must have befallen her husband. Always she and I have been as close as a sister and brother could be, but never had she told me before that she was in need of one of my hugs.

Despite the fact that spring had arrived and it was the midst of foaling season, and therefore, the busiest time of the year in the Riddermark, I knew that I must go to her and see for myself the seriousness of the situation. I knew that the people of Rohan were certainly strong enough to do without their king for a few weeks so that he could see to his sister's needs. Her words seemed a bit cryptic to me, and I hoped that she was being entirely truthful when she said that Faramir was well again. Though he and I had gotten off to a rocky start when the grave man of Gondor had first brought his relationship with Éowyn to my attention, I had slowly warmed up to him in the months since then, for he treats her as befits the sister of the Lord of the Mark. And though I felt at first that Faramir, merely the Steward of Gondor, was far beneath Éowyn's royal status, he proved himself very worthy of her, his honor and nobility both unquestionable. Had his quality been found lacking, I would not have allowed him to live to see his wedding day.

So, immediately I called my seneschal before me and asked him to make preparations for me and a dozen of my Riders to journey to the White City of Gondor as quickly as we might. He assured me that all should be in readiness on the morrow. With that task well in hand, I alerted my retainers that I would be departing and left explicit instructions for everything that I wished to have accomplished while I was away from Meduseld, as well as temporarily trusting the rule of Rohan to my Marshal of the East-Mark, Elfhelm, knowing that he was more than equal to the task.


Lothíriel

It pleased me immensely that Cousin Fara was so happy now. Ever had he been mostly a serious and reserved person, but Éowyn brought out his more vibrant emotions, and though he was still Fara, and Daddy, my brothers, and I would love him no matter what, he was much changed for the better. Ofttimes I might see him with a smile upon his face, which should have been a rare sight indeed in the few years before he at last met his wife. Only Bori had ever seemed to be able to coax any mirth out of him at all, and after he had died, Fara had buried his more pleasant emotions deep within himself, covering them with his unending sense of duty, and the weighty knowledge that now he had to assume Bori's responsibilities as well as his own. It was all Uncle Denethor's fault, I thought, for always was he cold and callous to Fara, never greeting him with a smile, never offering him a word of praise. It was most unfair of him, and I shall never forgive him for what he did to my dear cousin.

Now that we had departed the River Poros for the much safer atmosphere of Minas Tirith, Fara's health had begun to blossom under Éowyn's loving attention. If not for his thin face and his left arm yet mending in its sling, one should not know that he had ever been injured so badly, though he did move rather stiffly sometimes. Èowyn was a true blessing to him, and I watched them (from afar, of course!) and hoped that someday I might achieve the same level of compassion, respect and love for the man whom I married, and I certainly prayed that I should be as lucky as Éowyn had been in acquiring a husband who held her well-being above all else, even his own life.

I awakened early on that particular morning and went downstairs in my dressing gown to break my fast with Daddy, who always rises early. He greeted me with a surprised smile and rose from the head of the table, giving me a hug before we both sat, and I poured myself some tea.
"Thíri, whatever are you doing up at this hour? Are you ill?" he teased, and I smirked at him as I sipped my tea.

"Of course not, Daddy. I am just so excited to be returned to the city, I thought that I would get an early start and perhaps do some shopping today."

"Ah."

"Are Fara and Èowyn up and about yet?" I asked, knowing that Daddy usually broke his fast with them.

"Nay, today they are being layabouts, something that they have both earned in my opinion," he commented, before he helped himself to a boiled egg. He cracked and peeled the egg while we sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying our time together.

"Daddy?" I finally said when he had at last taken a bite. "Do you think I might ever find a husband for myself who treats me as well as Fara treats Èowyn?"

He cleared his throat as if he might have been about to choke, taking a quick sip of tea, before he asked, "Whence did that question arise, my dear?"

I sighed in exasperation at him. "Do you think that I do not contemplate marriage? I ponder it nearly every day, and I am beginning to think that I shall never be lucky enough to find a husband worthy of me."

Setting his teacup down, Daddy said, "I did not realize that being wed was so important to you. You know, there are many eligible young bachelors in Dol Amroth who would be extremely lucky to have you for a wife. Or even in Minas Tirith for that matter."

"Oh, I do not think I should like to live so far away from you, Daddy, though I can think of no one in Dol Amroth who has caught my fancy." I sighed and took up a slice of bread, slathering it with butter before I bit into it.

"You know, there is one other who I have thought for some time might be a good match for you."

"Really?" I asked enthusiastically. "Who?"

"Well, your sister-in-law has informed me that she has invited her brother to come from Edoras to spend a few days with her and Faramir. Èomer is a good man, and it might behoove you to spend some time with him."

I snorted in derision. "Lord Èomer is a loud oaf of a man who cannot converse upon any subjects other than horses and ale."

Daddy laughed at me. "Nay, Daughter, Èomer is a well-learned man who has been naught but a friend to me since I met him. True, his favorite subjects are horses and ale, but he can converse upon any number of subjects in an intelligent manner, my dear."

"I speak to him only because he is Èowyn's brother, and I adore her," I said before taking another mouthful of bread.

"Ah, I am sorry that I mentioned him then, though I think you might have trouble finding someone 'worthy' if the King of Rohan is not good enough for you, Thíri."

I scowled as I thought about Lord Èomer. He was very handsome, tall and muscular with the most beautiful blond hair and soft brown eyes that seemed to see everything. I sighed. "He most likely feels the same way about me, as ever he seems so serious and cold whenever we meet, and eager to depart my company as soon as possible."

"Would you not be as well if you knew that the person you were speaking with thought you to be a loud oaf of a man?"

I stared at Daddy in shock. "Well, who might have told him that?"

"Thíri, despite what you might think, the man is not stupid. It is clear how you feel about him from the cold manner in which you speak to him."

"Am I so transparent?" I asked, unwilling to admit that he was right.

"When it comes to Lord Èomer, I am afraid so."

We ate in silence for a while longer before I said, "Perhaps I shall give him another chance then, but only because Èowyn is so dear to me, and I do not wish to alienate her."

Daddy nodded and smiled. "Of course you do not, my dear." He remembered something then. "Oh, I have made arrangements for our things to be moved just after lunchtime to an upscale inn on the fourth circle called the Cook's Kettle. I have stayed there many times before through the years, and I think you shall like it there."

"But, why, Daddy?"

"Because I deem that too many houseguests are an ill thing for Faramir and Èowyn right now. They have had barely one minute to themselves since we returned with them to Minas Tirith, and with Èomer's arrival, they shall require more space, so I thought that you and I should change our accommodations. I have already discussed it with Fara, and though he objects as all good hosts will do, I insisted that it was for the best. So, if . . . no, when you purchase clothing today, have it sent there, my dear."

"Of course, Daddy." I breathed a small sigh of relief to know that I should not have to sleep under the same roof as the King of Rohan, eating every meal with him, being forced to be polite to him all of the time. I thought that it should grow tiresome quite quickly.

After breakfast I dressed, and then I was going to go into the city, intending to buy every gown in the very latest designs that I could lay my hands upon. But as I walked through the upstairs corridor in the steward's residence, I found myself drawn to Fara and Èowyn's bedchamber door, and so I lightly knocked there, hoping that it was not too early to visit them.

It had only been a moment when Fara answered the door, fully dressed for the day. He smiled in welcome and ushered me inside where he and Èowyn were breaking their fast at their small private dining table. Èowyn was lovely in a flowing white dressing gown, her hair yet unbraided, and I felt guilt for interrupting them. But she smiled broadly at me and bid me to sit with them, offering me some food. I accepted a cup of tea, explaining that I had already eaten even as I wondered why I had come here and bothered them.

They both sat silently and looked at me pleasantly, though expectantly, and I was suddenly too embarrassed to speak as I stared down into my teacup, looking at my own reflection in the dark amber liquid. Faramir immediately seemed to realize that I needed to discuss something privately with his wife and quietly excused himself, kissing Èowyn upon the cheek before he departed the chamber.

"What is it, Lothíriel? Are you well?" asked Èowyn, sensing my discomfort.

"I feel so foolish now that I am here," I replied, and I was abashed to find tears welling within my eyes.

Èowyn rose and then sat in the chair next to mine, placing her hand upon my knee. "Tell me, friend. What is it?"

I smiled ruefully and looked up at her. "I am terribly jealous of you, do you know that?"

She looked shocked. "Of me? Why?"

"Because you are so happy, you and Fara. I wish I could find happiness like that."

"Oh, Lothíriel!" Èowyn gathered me close in her arms and gave me an affectionate squeeze. "You are a lovely woman, and I know that someday you shall find happiness like Faramir and I have." She released me and took my hand. "Now, what has happened to make you so sad?"

I sniffled and pulled back from her a bit. "It is not a new feeling. I long to get married and have babies. I want to have a man who loves me and wants to spend the rest of his days with me. I do not speak it aloud most times, though."

Èowyn nodded. "Has your father found no one suitable for you?"

"There lies the problem. There is one that he feels is suitable, but I do not particularly care for the man."

"Why not? I know your father would never choose badly when it comes to the welfare of his only daughter."

"Well, I do not think that this certain man cares at all for me, and I find him somewhat abrasive. I thought that I should learn your thoughts as I highly value your opinion, and the man in question. . . ."

"Yes?" she urged, her brow furrowed slightly.

". . . is your brother," I finished and hung my head, waiting for her wrath to fall upon me.

Instead she laughed with great spirit, and I stared at her, wondering what she was thinking. When she at last found her voice, she said, "You sound just like Faramir did when first he met Èomer! But those two are like brothers now. Perhaps you have not looked past Èomer's rough exterior?"

"Daddy told me that he feels that I have been rude to Lord Èomer in the past, and I do wish to remedy the situation, but I do not know where to begin. I am mortified that I have repelled the brother of the woman whom I most admire."

"Oh, Lothíriel, I am flattered, but I do know how trying my brother can be, especially for someone who does not know him well. It was always different for me, for if he troubled me badly enough, I would punch him in the nose!" she laughed.

I smiled at that. "I do not think that is an option for me, though it has been tempting in the past, Cousin." I paused briefly and then plunged ahead. "Do you think that he hates me?"

"Certainly not! He is just not one to speak at length about subjects that do not interest him. He knows nothing of fashion or the happenings of court, even though as king, he holds his own court. But he pays no attention to gossip! Perhaps the difficulty between you rises from that. He cares not for the company of people whom he thinks speak too long or too often."

My heart sank. "Is that what he thinks of me?"

"In truth he has said so, but the King of the Mark can be a thickheaded fool at times. Just remember, Lothíriel, he judges people first by their actions; words are always secondary in his assessment of character. If you would like, I would speak to him on your behalf. . . ."

I answered quickly. "Oh, no, Èowyn! That would be much too embarrassing!"

"All right. I shall let you approach him then. He should arrive this afternoon. By the way, I was wondering if you and your father might come to dinner tonight?"

"I would like to, Èowyn. I shall ask Daddy if he is free this evening and then send a message to you."

She nodded, smiling knowingly. "Fear not, Lothíriel, if my brother is meant for you, you shall both know it soon enough."