A/N: Thanks to Jazzcat for pointing out my brain cramp in Chapter 1. I have fixed it! On the other hand, she accuses me of doing a "traditional" story! When have I ever been "traditional", Jazz?
Chapter 2
Eomer's pleasure at being in Dol Amroth and away from his advisers for a brief time was shortlived. The afternoon of his second day in the port city, a courier arrived with a large packet of documents needing his 'immediate' attention, according to the letter from his chief adviser. He might have succeeded in ignoring that had not the man himself, Lord Gamulf, put in appearance the very next day. Clearly he intended to make certain that Eomer kept busy while away from Edoras, and Imrahil graciously welcomed this unexpected visitor though it rankled him to do so. He well understood the young king's position and felt keenly his need to escape, however briefly, but it would not do to offend the man by turning him away.
As a result, Lothiriel suggested putting the library at Eomer's disposal for the duration of his stay, and he soon found himself sequestered behind a pile of paperwork. Imrahil and his three sons put in frequent appearances to give Eomer regular breaks from his work, but it only marginally improved the cloud of ill-humor that had settled upon him. The king had spent the morning after Gamulf's arrival resentfully poring over the papers delivered to him. After several hours of it, he could stand it no longer and decided to get out and stretch his legs. Some fresh air might invigorate him and enable him to plow through the rest of it this afternoon.
Lord Gamulf counted himself fortunate when he spotted the king leaving the library and making his way down the hall. Now might be his best chance to get the king's ear and mention a few matters to him. He quickened his pace to catch up, though with Eomer's long and purposeful stride, he ended up almost running down the hall. At length, Eomer heard his footsteps and turned to see who it was. Only barely did he keep his annoyance from reflecting in his face.
"Ah, Eomer King, so glad I caught you. If you have a few moments there are some things we ought to discuss," Lord Gamulf announced, getting right to the point.
"My Lord Gamulf..." Eomer began, hoping to cut the man off before he got going, but just then Lothiriel appeared at his side and he was distracted from the nobleman.
"Please forgive the interruption, my lords, but King Eomer is expected in a meeting momentarily with Prince Imrahil's representative and is unavailable to speak further with you just now, Lord Gamulf. Perhaps you could put your concerns in a report for him to review if he has time later this afternoon?"
The man stared blankly at her for an instant, then nodded to the both of them. "Of course. Please excuse me, my lord."
He moved away, obviously somewhat irked at being thwarted in his efforts to corner the king, and Eomer cocked an eyebrow at the woman standing beside him. "I am meeting with Imrahil's representative?" he queried softly.
"Yes. Do you not remember promising to satisfy my curiosity about Rohan? I thought we might discuss it over our midday meal. Or perhaps you would prefer to hear what Lord Gamulf has to say?" she explained, her voice laden with an undercurrent of amusement.
With a chuckle, Eomer shook his head. "No, no – first things first. I cannot go back on my promise to a lady. But will not your father be expecting me to join him for dinner?"
"I have already made him aware that you have prior commitments that occupy your time just now, but that you would see him later. He was sorry to have you so burdened while on your visit here, but was quite understanding otherwise," she replied mildly.
With servants passing, Eomer dared not give into the full extent of his pleasure at her efforts in his behalf. Struggling to keep a fairly straight face, he offered his arm. "Then perhaps you would be so kind as to escort me to my meeting with Prince Imrahil's representative?"
Giving an acquiescing nod of her head, she took his arm and steered him back toward the library, detaining a servant along the way and sending her off for several blankets, food and wine to be brought there. Eomer silently watched as she made arrangements, and once the items requested had been procured, and the servant dispatched, she turned to him expectantly. "Do not just stand there, my lord. Make yourself useful and move that desk over there," she directed, pointing toward the wall she meant.
Increasingly curious about what she was up to, he did as instructed and stood waiting for her to further charge him with responsibilities. She began spreading out the blankets on the floor in front of the open balcony doors, and he moved to assist her. Once the three blankets were in place, she began setting the food and drink thereon, and in a quick, elegant motion, gracefully tucked her legs under her and took a seat. When she glanced up at him promptingly, he followed suit, crossing his legs and taking a seat facing her. Without prying eyes, he gave in to his pleasure and amusement, telling her, "You are quite resourceful, my lady. I need someone like you in Edoras, to run interference for me there. Gamling is good, but not nearly so creative!"
Pouring a glass of wine for each of them, she handed him his and then took a sip of her own before answering, "Gamling is a man. A woman can get away with far more because the men do not dare challenge her, especially the noblemen!"
Releasing his pent-up laughter, Eomer heartily approved her words. "True! I think Eowyn often had them running scared. I missed her greatly when she married."
xx
Unbeknownst to the picnicking pair in the library, they had become the topic of conversation at the dinner attended by Imrahil and his sons that day. As they were seating themselves, Amrothos glanced around and asked, "Eomer is not joining us? Or Lothiriel?"
Imrahil shook his head. "No, Eomer is occupied with much work just now and eating at his desk. I am not sure where Lothiriel has wandered off to. Perhaps she is dining with a friend."
As they began dishing up their plates, Erchirion broached the subject he and his brothers had been discussing amongst themselves just this morning. "Father, have you given any more thought to a union for Lothiriel?"
Imrahil sighed. "Yes. Far too much thought, but with no satisfactory solutions. I confess I am loath to part with her, and though I know it is normal and acceptable for her to marry without love, I would very much wish she could have what her mother and I shared." He fell into a brooding silence as his sons glanced between each other.
Clearing his throat, Amrothos offered, "What about Eomer? Would she not make him a good wife? And they seem to be getting along rather well since he has been here."
His father's head snapped up at the suggestion and he quickly shook his head. "No, that would never do. I could never send her so far away. Eomer is a good man, but he would do better to seek a bride in his own kingdom. Lothiriel belongs in Gondor." As an afterthought, he added, "And being a queen in a foreign country would be far too taxing on her. I would not so burden my daughter."
Each of the siblings hid their mild amusement at their father's overly protective nature of their sister. In his eyes, it was unlikely any man would be suitable unless he was willing to come live in the palace, so Lothiriel would be close at hand, and have nothing at all change in her relationship with her family.
They were protective of their sister also, but a bit more pragmatic than their father was being. She needed to marry and at one and twenty years, she was in her prime. Indeed, most girls in Gondor were already married by this age and only the War had delayed the subject where Lothiriel was concerned.
Elphir laid down his eating utensils and announced firmly, "Father, I think you underestimate Lothiriel. She worked faithfully, and quite admirably I might add, at my side in running Dol Amroth in your absence, as well as making herself useful in the Houses of Healing and in seeing that our people were fed and clothed. In all honesty, I think she would make an excellent queen for Rohan, and Eomer is an excellent choice of husband for her. I truly think you should reconsider this and make a proposal to the king while he is here. His visit will enable the two of them to become acquainted, and I am certain that Eomer will not object to Lothiriel once he has the opportunity to come to know her." He finished and held his breath, as did his brothers. They all felt it would be a good match, but persuading Imrahil to acknowledge that, and act upon it, was another matter.
Not unexpectedly, Imrahil did not respond for several minutes, then quietly ended the conversation by saying, "We will discuss this some other time." The brothers glanced at one another in frustration, and then focused their attention back on their plates of food. This had not been unforeseen, but they had hoped that a show of unity among the three of them might nudge their father to action. Much as he could not bear the idea, sooner or later he would have to give up his daughter to marriage. It would not be fair to her to do otherwise.
xx
Eomer's laughter reverberated around the room. For a day that had begun in such a dreary fashion, it had suddenly taken a much better turn. Lothiriel's conversation with him was lively, and she had a constant stream of questions about Rohan and life there such that he thought it would likely take a week to answer everything she wanted to know. But it was far more pleasant sitting on a blanket, eating good food and enjoying the company of an attractive woman, than chained behind a pile of reports. He glanced up at the open balcony doors and asked, "Why are we sitting here? Why not at the desk or out on the balcony?
Lothiriel grinned. "If we sat at the desk, it would not be a picnic, and if we sat on the balcony, Lord Gamulf might discern the nature of your meeting with Imrahil's representative and attempt to intrude."
He laughed again. "You have thought of everything, then! And I thank you, from the bottom of my heart!" He laid his hand over his heart as he swallowed another large gulp of wine.
Sipping her wine more genteelly, Lothiriel responded, "You are most welcome, my lord. But perhaps I should warn you, I have taken a personal interest in freeing the caged bird."
He gave her a look of puzzlement as he chose another piece of chicken and waited for her to explain.
She looked down at the blanket a few moments, then met his gaze. At length she confessed, "Something deep within me balks at the idea that a king may never have a moment's peace, and I am appalled that they would even chase you down here in Dol Amroth for what are surely petty matters. Perhaps...you will not object too much if I take it upon myself to...alter the situation for you?"
Eomer's eyes narrowed and he started to ask her to elaborate, but then thought better of it. For some reason, he decided he would rather simply trust her on this and wait to see what she had planned. Besides, he was not good at deception and might give something away. He could not reveal what he did not know. Nodding cordially at her, he murmured, "You have the king's permission to proceed...as you see fit!"
xxxxx
Gamulf's presence put a damper on even the meals they ate. He continually attempted to steer the conversation toward business, and the rest of them just as concertedly steered it elsewhere. The battle raged for the entire meal, and when they were done eating, it was clear that he intended to further pursue these things. However, Lothiriel was one step ahead of him yet again. Normally, the men would have retired to her father's study to drink and talk, but already her brothers were finding excuses to make themselves scarce.
Before Eomer could be dragged off, Lothiriel suggested to him, "My lord, would you walk with me in the garden? It is a pleasant evening and you could tell me more of Rohan."
Regardless of any preference on his part to keep Eomer occupied with diplomatic matters, Lord Gamulf certainly had no intention of being rude to his hostess, the daughter of a prince no less. Taking his cue from Lothiriel's offer, which the king readily accepted, Imrahil addressed Eomer's adviser, "Gamulf, I do have some dispatches I must get prepared for tomorrow, but will you share a nightcap with me before calling it an evening?"
Left with little recourse, Gamulf tolerantly followed Imrahil off down the hall as Lothiriel slipped on the shawl a servant had retrieved for her. Taking Eomer's arm, they headed for the garden, only giving way to their laughter once they were outside.
Their respite lasted well over an hour, though the time seemed much shorter, and when they finished talking, Lothiriel led Eomer through some back passages to his room, so that there would be little chance of Lord Gamulf lying in wait and snaring him before he could retire for the evening.
xxxxx
Eomer paced around the library, feeling more caged than ever. He could hardly believe his advisers had done this to him, sending work along to him even while away on these official visits. Perhaps they had suspected his true design in traveling to the southern kingdoms and were intent on keeping him in line...
Despite the pleasant interludes with Lothiriel the previous day – and it had been one of the longest midday meals he had ever taken – he knew with Lord Gamulf present in Dol Amroth, there would be no escaping work. To Lothiriel's credit, she had cleverly managed to get one of the Port Masters to take Gamulf off on a tour of the nearby ports and a complete briefing on the status of trade through the Dol Amroth harbor. After she had explained that, with all the paperwork Eomer had to do, he would never find the time, and observing how fortunate it was that the king had Gamulf available to go in his stead, the man had practically begged Lothiriel for the chance to be of service. That at least got him out of Eomer's hair for most of today, but still left Eomer imprisoned inside four walls with a mound of work to be done.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and his annoyance was evident in his voice. "Yes? What is it?"
To his surprise, Lothiriel's head appeared around the door. "Am I disturbing you, my lord?" Something in her eyes suggested she knew very well she was not.
"Not at all! Come in!" he welcomed, grateful for any reason to ignore the pile of papers on the desk a little longer.
She carried a bundle in her arms and handed it to him. "What is this?" he asked, an eyebrow quirking upward.
"A change of clothing. What you are wearing now will never suit," she replied vaguely.
"Suit?" he asked, unwrapping the bundle. Inside was a linen shirt and simple breeches, the ones he had worn the morning he first met her.
"What you have on," she elaborated, "is far too rich and would draw far too much attention. If you wish to venture into town with me, your attire must more closely resemble the sort that your men wear. Unless our citizens have a particular reason to recognize your face, you will appear to be no more than just another Rohirric soldier, passing a few hours walking about the market."
His head came up and he stared at her in disbelief, unable to form a response. At last he managed, "Are you serious?"
She nodded. "Our city is quite safe, even if you are recognized, though I think perhaps you would prefer not to be. With assistance from certain people, you will be able to leave the palace undetected and return the same way. Though you will, of course, risk the reputation of being exceedingly slow about getting your work done." She gestured toward the desk and grinned conspiratorially at him.
Again he just stared, but then quickly dropped the clothing on a chair and peeled off his tunic and shirt. With a demure blush, Lothiriel moved to the balcony and kept her attention fixed on the horizon until he summoned her return. He had discarded his finer clothing in a pile and she reached for it, beginning to neatly fold things. "You will not want these looking disheveled when you have to return and don them again. It would give you away."
It was Eomer's turn to blush, embarrassed that she had caught him being so unkempt. A moment later, she took him by the elbow and stepped toward a bookcase along the southern wall. Removing a few books, she pressed a release mechanism and the bookcase swung slightly outward, revealing a passage behind it. Just inside the passage was a lantern, that she lit before gesturing him forward and closing the panel behind them. With easy assurance, she struck off along the passage and he fell in behind her, keeping his head low since the space was little more than six feet high. After walking for several minutes, most of it on a steep downward slant, they reached a wall and, after a moment, she again had released a hidden door and they stepped out into a small building.
Eomer moved over to look out the window while she closed the passage, leaving the extinguished lantern inside. The building was along the edge of the beach where they had walked the morning after his arrival. He had likely seen it then, but paid it no mind at the time. It was filled with various items of no special significance, and there was nothing to suggest this was anything other than a simple storage shed.
Lothiriel was opening the door and he followed her out onto the beach, then around the shed and up some stairs to a gate. A guard stood there and merely gave her a nod as they passed, paying no particular attention to her companion. Eomer wondered if she did this sort of thing so often that he did not find it unusual, or whether he just considered it not his business to question what the lady did.
A short time later, they were walking the main thoroughfare through town. It was market day and stalls were set up along the streets in addition to the many shops that lined the way.
Eomer stopped and took a deep breath of the fresh sea air, turning his face up toward the sun with undisguised pleasure. A thought suddenly disrupted his contented mood and he asked hesitantly, "What if someone comes looking for me and I am not there?"
Lothiriel smiled benignly. "I suppose the servant who I have set on watch at the door will tell them what I instructed, that you are in an important meeting and not to be disturbed unless the building is on fire."
Eomer chuckled. "And what important meeting am I in today?"
"Why I should think it obvious, my lord. You are undertaking an in depth study of Dol Amroth's economy and looking for ways it might prove beneficial to Rohan. Such a study will surely take several hours, but since Lord Gamulf will be otherwise occupied during that time, you have no need to cut your research short on his account."
Without thinking, Eomer flung his arms exuberantly around the girl and clutched her to him, laughing almost hysterically. "That does it! I am kidnapping you and taking you back to Rohan with me. Gamling is forthwith dismissed, and you will be my new Doorward. I defy anyone to get past if you are keeping my gate!"
Pressed against his chest so tightly she could scarcely breathe, Lothiriel could not restrain a grin at his appreciation of her efforts. She might not be able to flee her own gilded cage but, at least for a short while, she was helping him sneak outside his. That knowledge gave her immense satisfaction, though it actually startled her a little. Never before had she behaved in such a bold manner with a virtual stranger, or flouted the usual workings of the court, Dol Amroth's or anyone else's. Perhaps she did have it within her to 'kick over the traces' now and then. What was it about this man that inspired her to act so? Perhaps the War had changed her more than she had realized. Such behavior would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. She would never have dared risk censure from her father or anyone else were they to discover her activities. But no matter the outcome, she was utterly committed to this course of action. That it was so warmly received by Eomer himself was just added incentive to continue.
As he finally released her, she tried to control the blush that had risen in her cheeks. Other than her family, she had never been hugged by a man before, certainly not so enthusiastically. But Eomer seemed oblivious to her lost composure, and was already looking around excitedly to see what adventure might catch his eye. A moment later he struck off down the street and she hurried to keep up.
It had been a long time since Eomer had had the freedom to wander at will, anonymously browse shops and be part of a crowd. Dol Amroth's market was quite a bit different than the more agrarian market in Edoras, and he had never before seen such displays of fresh fish and sea-related trinkets.
He allowed Lothiriel to persuade him into trying some steamed scallops, and clams that were dipped in a batter and fried in oil. Despite their smell and appearance, both were surprisingly good and he came to the conclusion he could easily learn to like more seafood in his diet.
After whiling away several hours, Lothiriel reluctantly announced that they should be returning lest Lord Gamulf come back before them and discover Eomer's absence. Grudgingly Eomer gave in to the wisdom of this, though he could hardly complain overly much considering how little of this day he would end up having devoted to work.
They slowly made their way back to the shed, through the tunnel and into the library. Lothiriel left him with a nod of the head and a promise to see him at supper.