A/N: Well, here we are to the end of this part. Glad you enjoyed it. By The Book is coming up soon. Remember, I am going to post it as a continuation of this story, so it will show up as ch. 7 of this one when it comes up. (See note in reply to Tracey.)
Tracey - You have a point, but he was thinking more in terms of her quickly bringing Faramir to his aid and not being gone all that long. And, as a man in love, he was more concerned with her safety than his own. As for the other, you have to remember - he can't tell her he loves her until she "warms up to the idea". She was so determined that they not court that he is afraid she will disappear if he rushes her.
Um, as for the doctor's bills...send them to my attorney. Yeah, do that! (Since I don't have one I'll never see them and never have to pay up!) Besides, I thought you wanted me and Eomer to turn your insides to mush! Bad enough that I have to put in a fluff alert, but now you want me to put in a mush alert also!
Yes, the new Elfwine Chronicle should be up some time on Monday or Tuesday. Probably Monday unless I get horrendously busy. And I'm up to ch. 7 (of 9) on By The Book, so I may even start posting that sometime next week.
Elwen of Lorien - sorry about your grandmother. Hope things work out well and you can be back with us soon.
Elwen of Lorien , utsuri - Eomer really isn't trying to be morbid with his comment about dying in her arms, but when you think you might be close to dying, you think of strange things. He figures if he has to die, at least he is in the arms of the woman he loves at the end, rather than looking up at some ugly, gloating orc!
Lady Anck-su-namun - our dear Lothiriel is so obtuse! She doesn't even see how close they've become (yet), but with the relationship they've built, it's practically inevitable that they'll fall in love. Interesting that Eomer realized it before she did.
Chapter 6
I cannot be certain how long I was out, but eventually I could feel my senses returning to me, and I shifted restlessly, giving out a slight moan as I struggled to come fully awake. In an instant, someone had hastened to my side, and I blinked open my eyes to look around.
I could not quite remember where I was or why I felt so tired and sluggish, so I tried to sit up and get my bearings. A cool hand fell on my shoulder and pushed me back. "Lie still. You are safe."
In the dim light of the unstoked fire, I was able to see who was speaking and I smiled. I should have known she would not leave my side until I awoke. I began to remember what had happened, and told her, "Sometimes you are too stubborn for your own good! You should have left me." I paused, then added, "But I am grateful you did not."
Strangely, she did not respond, and I began to see that something was wrong. She was gazing at me with a miserable expression and I could not imagine the cause of it. Surely now that I was out of danger, she should be happy, so what was causing this reaction? "Thiri, what is it? Are you well?" I asked.
Her mouth worked a few times, but no words came out. She seemed at a loss for what to say. As the crease of concern deepened between my eyebrows, she finally blurted out, "I have lied to you, Eomer!"
I had no idea what she was talking about, and I blinked in surprise, asking softly, "What did you lie to me about?"
She began to breathe more quickly, and appeared to be trying to find the words to express herself. Or was she searching for courage to say something? All I could do was gaze tenderly at her and wait for her answer. I longed to take her in my arms and remove any distress she was feeling, but at the moment that effort seemed beyond me.
At length, she hung her head and murmured, "I love you. I did not mean to, but somehow I do."
There was a long silence as I let her words sink in. Had she really said that? Perhaps I had a fever and this was all an hallucination. But, no. She was clearly in distress about this, thinking that she had broken our pact. Elation flooded through me and I could not hold back a laugh.
Her reaction was not at all what I expected. She sat back in her chair, hugging her arms tightly around herself, and tears began to fall. "How can you mock me? I said I was sorry."
Then I realized she did not understand my response. Though it was difficult, I struggled to sit up on the side of the bed. It took a moment for me to do so, and I almost expected her to hurry forward and help me, but she remained in her seat, resentfully watching me.
I had to make her understand, and I reached out to pull her hands free, taking them in my own. "Dearest Thiri, do you not know that I have only been waiting for you to catch up?"
She gave me a puzzled look, apparently still not comprehending my meaning, so I hastened to elaborate.
"Oh, Thiri, I think I have loved you since that first moment I found you barefoot in the garden. But you were so adamant that we not court and we not fall in love, that I knew I had to bide my time and wait for you to figure it out for yourself."
She was staring at me guardedly. "You love me?"
"Of course I do! How could I not love you? You do not know how hard it has been to stay away from you or, when I was with you, act like nothing more than a friend or a brother. I wanted to hold you and kiss you and go to your father for permission to court you, but I could not until you were ready!" And I very much wanted to do those things right this very moment.
I saw that her posture had softened, so I pulled on her hands, drawing her over to sit next to me on the bed and wrapping my arms around her. How I had longed for this moment. I pressed my lips to her temple, and whispered, "Believe it, my love. I love you more than words can say."
The next thing I knew, she was crying again, but this time I felt certain they were tears of joy, so I just held her until she could gain control of her emotions. When she did recover, she made me lie down, despite my protests, but at least she remained seated on the edge of the bed, holding my hand as we talked.
A thought suddenly seemed to occur to her. "Eomer, the day of the funeral – did you kiss me while I slept?"
I gave her a sheepish grin and nodded, hoping she wouldn't mind too much the liberty I had taken. "Is that what you thought you dreamed?"
She blushed and returned the nod. "I was so disoriented when I awoke, I was not sure what was real and what was dream. And you gave nothing away."
"When you said you had an odd dream and touched your lips, but then would not tell me what the dream was, I suspected that was it. I hoped it meant you were starting to realize there was more between us than friendship, but still you made me wait. I had to practically get killed for you to figure it out!"
She sat there a moment, playing with my fingers, lost in her thoughts, then looked up at me with a sly grin. "That is cheating, you know. Kissing me when I cannot enjoy it."
I had to chuckle. "I suppose so..."
"So that means you owe me." I gave her a curious look, not daring to hope she might mean what her words seemed to indicate. But she didn't keep me in suspense. Slowly, she bent over and gently kissed me, pulling back to smile at me. It was sweet and tender, and far too brief.
"I think you are right," I commented. "I do like it better when you participate!"
"That was just for starters. Wait until you are well..."
I let out a laugh at her teasing response, grabbed her and pulled her down onto me. "This time, I expect you to keep your word!" If I woke up and found this was all a dream, I think I would have killed myself! She loved me! As I loved her! Life was suddenly full of wonderful possibilities.
Despite my happiness, and the pleasure must surely have been evident on my face, I could not entirely hide the grimaces from her, so she gently disentangled herself from my embrace. "Sleep, my love. And build your strength. We will talk more tomorrow...er, well, later today. I need to get some rest, too, if I am to make up for lost time." She reached over and brushed my hair back from my face as my eyes widened.
"I have a sneaking suspicion that if your father did not care for the way you behaved around me before, he truly will not like it now!" I teased.
She laughed, and gave me another quick kiss, though she effectively dodged my efforts to grab her again. My injury must have slowed my reflexes. "Sleep. There will be time for that later!"
xxxxx
It took two days, largely spent in bed, before I was up to rising. Normally, I am not a particularly good invalid and it has always been a battle keeping me in bed long enough to mend to the Healer's satisfaction. But having Lothiriel at my side, tenderly nursing me – and her kisses may have been the best medicine I could ever have been given – I wasn't nearly so anxious to resume my normal, daily routine that I knew would part me from her. All too soon her family would leave, and I wanted every possible moment with her that I could manage.
When I was well enough, I rejoined the others at the supper table. The meal was turning into a celebration of my recovery and everyone seemed in pleasant moods. Despite Lothiriel's devoted attention to my care, no one seemed to suspect that it was anything more than her compassionate spirit at work, and Amrothos confessed that she had felt responsible for my injury. Her family seemed to think her care of me was an effort to make amends.
With Lothiriel, nothing is done in quite so straightforward a manner as it might be done, and she would not simply come right out and tell her family of our feelings for one another. Still, I could not wait to approach her father and ask for her hand. While cutting a piece of meat, I spoke up. "Prince Imrahil, I have a question of some importance I wish to ask you." I put the bite in my mouth and began to chew.
Imrahil cheerfully responded, "Of course, Eomer. What it is? Or would you prefer to speak in private?"
"No, here is fine. As you and your family will be leaving in a few days to return to Dol Amroth, it has become more urgent that I request your daughter's hand in marriage. What say you to this?" I hadn't told Lothiriel I would be doing this, but somehow the timing seemed right, and she was so quick on her feet, I was certain she would rise to the occasion.
I continued eating while all three of Lothiriel's brothers choked on their food and Imrahil dropped his fork. He sat staring at me and then looked across the table to his daughter, where she was sitting quietly eating a potato. "Thiri, have you anything to say about this?" he asked incredulously. I couldn't quite fathom why he was so unprepared for this turn of events, particularly since he had been advocating it from the beginning.
Lothiriel looked up, glanced briefly at me, and then replied, "Well, Father, I hardly see how you can refuse so powerful and important a man as the King of Rohan. I should think King Elessar will be pleased at your strengthening the ties between Rohan and Gondor, and this will encourage trade with Dol Amroth. It is a good move." She turned back to her meal, no doubt stifling her laughter and appearing quite emotionless. I thought I was playing this quite well, but I was in awe of her pretense.
Imrahil sat staring at her, utterly flabbergasted, his mouth working but no words coming out. Amrothos was not so hampered. "You cannot be serious! Thiri, you barely know this man!" I bristled a bit at that; he had been in on the matchmaking as much as his father.
She just smiled reassuringly at her brother, telling him, "That may be, but it is a desirable alliance, nonetheless. I am sure I will come to know him over time." She continued eating.
At that point, Eowyn bolted up from her chair and ran around the table, flinging her arms around Lothiriel's neck. "I knew it! I knew you two were perfect for each other." Lothiriel remained impassive, and I looked at my sister as if she had taken leave of her senses. I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of freely admitting she had been right all along. She would be insufferable.
Lothiriel glanced down the table in my direction and I saw her meet Faramir's gaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see he had his head resting on his knuckles and was giving his cousin a look of bemusement. I felt sure he knew the truth. Eowyn was guessing, because she wanted to believe we were in love, but Faramir…he always seemed to read a person's deepest feelings and thoughts. Not to mention how close he and Lothiriel were. No, Faramir knew.
Apparently, Faramir also knew Lothiriel far better than her family did. The table erupted in a flurry of arguments between her brothers and father, she and I continued eating as if nothing unusual was happening, and Eowyn returned to her seat next to Faramir and began planning our wedding. Finally, Imrahil rose and signaled to his sons to follow. "We will discuss this in private." As they went out the door, I heard Amrothos ask Erchirion, "So, is Lothiriel to marry Eomer or not?"
I turned to my beloved and she smiled conspiratorially at me. As I gazed at her, my heart swelled with emotion. Rohan would soon see a new queen, but more importantly, a gaping hole in my life would at last be filled. The halls of Meduseld would ring with childish laughter once more. Today, life was good.
Oh yes, Amrothos, be assured Lothiriel was going to marry Eomer. Make no mistake about that!
TO BE CONTINUED...
