Chapter 3-Introductions

Éomer and Éowyn chatted at they reached the gates to the city. They discussed trade agreements and battle tactics. Éomer was just telling Éowyn that the best weapon was not, in fact, the sword, but the spear. He had just began to recall the story of the mumakil on the very soil they occupied now and how he had single handedly brought down 4 mumakil with nothing but spears. Éowyn rolled her eyes but before she could counter with her tale of the side swiping affect she did to one mumakil with two swords the gates opened. They were definitely surprised to see the walls opening up, especially since they hadn't even been addressed yet. When the gates opened though something strange was waiting for them on the other side.

The image was like a dream to Éomer, he could have swore he had seen this before. In the middle of the courtyard stood a young woman with long black hair dressed in a red gown with silver trimmings. For a second Éomer thought she was the Queen Arwen, but then at further examination he determined that she was too short to be Arwen. She did have her grace, though, and her face shinned with a very big smile.

"Welcome to Minas Tirith, my lords, and lady." She raised her eyes to Éowyn and smiled even wider. "You are just as beautiful as Faramir said you were." Éowyn looked on in confusion but bowed her head out of respect.

"I'm afraid I have not had the pleasure of meeting you. You are…?" Éowyn asked with furrowed brow.

"Oh, how silly of me. I am Lothiriel, daughter of Prince Imrahil. I'm Faramir's-" but before she could finish Eowyn was out of the saddle and approaching her.

"Lothiriel, of course, Faramir's cousin from Dol Amroth. It is an honor madam."

"I believe the honor is all mine. I never thought I'd see the day when I met the woman who tamed my cousin's heart and killed the witch king all in one life span. I am very pleased to meet you."

"How did you know we were here?"

"I saw you all from my bedroom window, I'm afraid no one else knows you are here. It is probably very unlady like of me to welcome you all on my lonesome, but I wanted to meet you before my brothers." She smiled widely and Éowyn smiled back. They felt like old friends already. A moment passed and then Éowyn remembered herself.

"I'm sorry, my lady, this is my brother, Éomer," she said as Éomer got down from his horse and approached her.

It surprised him though when she reached out for Theoren's hand. He was a friend of the family and had an eored of his own in his early years, but now it went on to his son who was also in the crowd.

Lothiriel shook his hand graciously saying, "I have heard much about you from Faramir and even more from my own research. You have won many battles from what I have learned, and my father thinks very highly of you. He says you are the greatest sword master he has ever seen."

The crowd began to laugh and pat Theoren on the back. They began saying things like, "Yes, very well done, King Éomer." Lothiriel looked very nervous at their exchanges and very confused as well. She couldn't seem to understand what was so funny. Éowyn decided that teasing the young princess was very rude and so she lightly cleared her throat to catch Lothiriel's attention.

"Lothiriel, I would like to introduce you to…" she said looking at her brother who stood next to her. She went quiet as she saw the blush in Lothiriel's face. After a long and awkward silence Éomer stepped forward and took the young lady's hand.

"I see you have met Master Theoren, my lady." He bowed and kissed her hand, "I don't think we have been formally introduced. I am Éomer, son of Eomund, King of Rohan."

He couldn't help but smile, but he tried to refrain from laughter that would hurt her feelings. Suddenly, though, the young girl burst into laughter. Her laugh was sweet as honey. It was a laugh of one who knew true happiness. It surprised Eomer and caused him to begin to laugh as well.

"I am very pleased to meet you Éomer, son of Eomund, King of Rohan," she said with a laugh.

"And you as well, my lady Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil, Princess of Dol Amroth."

"The pleasure is all mine," said Éowyn with a light laugh as she entered the city thinking the two of them very silly.