Penultimate chapter!

Sorry I took so long with this chapter. I've been taking a creative writing course in another town, which, between that and work, really saps my days. I think it's a good excuse, anyway.

Enjoy!

-The Author

Eomer arrived at the breakfast table first. Theories could, presumably, circulate over this: he was used to the early rising; he was used to camping for several days and then sleeping in relative luxury; he was just weird like that. Whatever the reason, it is unimportant. He liked arriving first, and that was that. His manservant stood off in the corner and drifted off to start thinking about girls.

Eowyn arrived second. If Eomer hadn't been there, she would have been first. That had been so even during Theoden's best days. She was followed by a train of servants, who had their own train to follow. Her train, Ana, Brenna, and some Rohirric girl with no brains to speak of, gossiped, giggled, and yawned, and looked generally unmilitary. They were followed by Lorel, Loreth, the Stable Boy, and the Rohirric girl's little sister. The Stable boy stood off in the corner and looked mischievous, if you looked at him at all.

They were followed swiftly by Faramir, Beregond, and Olmin. Faramir bowed to Eomer and Eowyn, smiled pleasantly, and sat down to read. Beregond sat and wondered about breakfast. Olmin joined Eowyn's train's train. Ana was looking very pretty that morning, after all.

Prince Imrahil, his two elder sons, and Princess Lothiriel arrived next, with their trains. Prince Imrahil's men stood around, trying to look military and not like they were thinking about girls. Princess Lothiriel's girls joined Eowyn's train's train.

Lord Aragorn arrived, looked surprised that everyone was sitting at the table, and excused himself, as he had already eaten some hours before. He disappeared before anyone could wonder where his train had gone.

Now they were all waiting for Amrothos and his train.

Someone coughed.

The Stable Boy stood up and took a walk around the room.

No one noticed.

Amrothos stumbled in twenty minutes late. His face had an odd sheen to it, and his skin was pale. He stopped and eyed Eowyn's train's train suspiciously, and then sat down.

"Phht," went his chair. Amrothos froze. There were some giggles in the room.

"You could at least say 'excuse me,'" one of his brothers muttered.

"It wasn't me," said Amrothos. He settled in his seat.

"Phht," went his chair again. There were some more giggles, and even some boyish chuckles, this time. No one in his family knew quite what to say. Amrothos wiggled and fidgeted in his chair – "Phht, phut, phuu, phht" and suddenly snatched a sack out from under his chair. He squeezed it in his hand.

"Phhheeeuuuuwwww…" went the sack.

He looked right at Eowyn's train's train.

"Alright, that's it," he said. "I can't take this anymore! Those nasty creatures are ruining my life!"

"Excuse me?" said Eowyn.

"You heard me," Amrothos cried. "Those little bastards are nothing but trouble."

There was an audible gasp. One of Lothiriel's maids fainted.

"Your little tricksters have been after me from the start!" Amrothos cried. "Bad horse – itching powder – and now you've shorted my sheets! And a whoopee cushion!" He threw the offending sack on the table, knocking over a goblet. Fortunately, it was empty.

Eowyn's train's train tried to look very innocent.

"Those are very fierce accusations," said Eowyn.

"It's like they don't want us to get married!" Amrothos cried.

Eomer started. "Maybe he is on to something," he said. "They are a little rustic and silly. You ought to get handmaidens more fitting to your rank."

Ana grabbed Olmin's ready hand. Brenna covered her mouth. The Rohirric maid wondered if dust bunnies really had long ears. The Stable Boy jumped. He hadn't meant to get them fired! He'd miscalculated somehow. He was supposed to break, to snap at them suddenly, and look like he'd lost it, conveniently in front of Eomer. Not this!

All eyes fell on Eowyn, except for Faramir, who was fascinated with his book.

Eowyn looked from Eomer to Amrothos and back again. "Maybe I like them silly," she said.

Everyone except Faramir looked at Amrothos.

"It's them or me," said Amrothos.

Now they looked at Eowyn.

"I accept your terms," said Eowyn. "I'll take them."

They all looked at Armothos now, but it was Eomer who spoke next.

"Eowyn!" He sputtered a moment, completely out of character, and then said, "You're still in love with Aragorn, aren't you. I won't keep you out of the marriage bed for long!"

"Oh really, Eomer! I thought you had more respect for me than that!" Eowyn laughed. "Eomer, it's not the cold city walls of Minas Tirith that I long for, but the lush gardens of Ithilien!"

Now everyone looked at Faramir, who suddenly lifted up his black-haired head and met the astonished gaze of everyone. He smiled and waved.

Lothiriel leapt up from her seat. "I KNEW IT!" she cried. "I knew it, I knew it! From that day we had tea – I knew it! You were acting so strange, I just knew you were in love with Faramir, I knew it! Oh, what a lovely cousin-in-law you'll make, I mean it, I really do! The Steward and the Lady of Rohan! Could it be any more perfect!" She ran to kiss Eowyn's cheek, and then Faramir's.

Eomer stared at her as if she were insane. Eowyn blushed madly. Faramir tried not to laugh. Prince Imrahil weighed his options and decided that really, it was in everyone's best interest that she marry his nephew rather than his idiot of a third son. It had never made sense to begin with, anyway. It was like something out of a really ill-planned short fiction story.