Chapter 15: Telling Secrets

Disclaimer: The Ringwraiths are too near, I swear I don't own Lord of the Rings!

"My lady, are you busy?" Éomer asked as he leaned in the door of her bedroom. She was sitting on her bed eating a piece of celery and reading again. She looked up and smiled at his anxious face.

"If that is an invitation for a walk, I would have to say—" but she was unable to finish because Éomer cut her off.

"No, my lady. Though a walk would be very nice, I need your assistance."

Éowyn had been ill recently. Lothiriel knew this, but having known of her condition, she thought little of it. Éomer on the other hand was very very worried when his sister grew more and more ill. When she had refused to go to breakfast that morning he had rushed to Lothiriel's room begging her help to heal his sister.

When Lothiriel entered the room Éowyn was lying in bed looking thoroughly annoyed with her brother's constant care of her. She rolled her eyes when she saw Lothiriel, and that made Lothiriel laugh.

"I don't see anything funny here, madam." Éomer's face was priceless. Lothiriel took one look at Éowyn and knew that she hadn't told him yet. She sat down by Éowyn and tried to ignore the rising giggle in her throat. It was difficult as Éomer went to Éowyn's side and held her hand in his. Lothiriel was near dying but she withheld for Éowyn's sake.

"It's alright sister, Lothiriel is here to take care of you. I am just sorry I cannot myself." Then he kissed her hand. Lothiriel exchanged a look with Éowyn. Éowyn seemed to have made a decision. She sighed and lifted her brother's face.

"Éomer. You may want to sit down."

A few seconds later...

"Pregnant!" Éomer yelled. "I'm going to kill him!" Both of the women knew who 'he' was. Faramir was the only person he could mean, as he was the one who impregnated her to begin with.

"Brother, calm yourself! He is my husband; therefore, he is my lover."

"That lying little weasel. He dares to defy theKing of Rohan! What a loathsome little cockroach toying with my little sister."He sounded ridiculous and he probably knew it, but he was so angry he couldn't help it. "Lying, cheating Gondorian."

Lothiriel opened her mouth and made a noise that said, "how dare you?"

He turned around and saw her face, which was almost red. "No offense, my Lady."

Too late, she thought.

Trying to change her brother's mood, Éowyn spoke up again, "you knew this day would come, É."

"But not so soon," he was pacing now and running his fingers through his long blonde hair. He looked very cute when he was out of his element, thought Lothiriel. She tried to remain silent through the whole exchange, but now she couldn't stop herself.

"Éomer, your sister loves this man. Isn't that enough?"

His eyes shot up and he lookedsearchingly into hers, "enough will be my fist in his face." He continued to pace as the girls rolled their eyes.

A few minutes later Éomer left, anda few hours later Éowyn was asleep and Lothiriel thought it would be safe to leave.She hardly knew where she was going, but in the back of her mind she vaguely remembered a little bar location inside the Great Hall.

Éomer grabbed another pint of ale and downed it in one gulp. Lothiriel sat beside him drinking very slowly. The bar was empty. Éomer didn't like anyone witnessing him drinking. But he invited Lothiriel so he could have someone to talk to. They sat in companionable silence for a while and then everything they had been thinking bubbled to the surface.

"It seems like only yesterday she was a little girl." He was flailing his arms and slurring his speech. Lothiriel did everything she couldnot tolaugh.

"That woman was never a little girl, I can tell you that right now," Lothiriel said giving Éomer a light pat on the back.

"I just want the best for her, you know?" He looked so vulnerable. Lothiriel couldnt decide if it was revolting or attractive.

"Who's to say this isn't what is best for her?" He looked up at her when he heard her words. His eyes seemed to be swimming with barely-there tears. He was weak in this moment, more so than any other time of his life. Drinking wasn't so good for him.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just being a silly older brother."

"No, you are being protective. I don't blame you. But believe me when I say, my cousin is a good man." Éomer looked over at her words. She seemed far too innocent. How lovely she was, though. He put his hand on her arm and leaned in a little.

"Thank you, my lady. I don't know what I would have done without you." They exchanged a look. She was so pretty, like a budding flower.

"It's nothing, my lord." She looked away at her words as if uninterested, but secretly she was trying to hide her blush.

"No, I mean it. You didn't have to do all these things for me. You are very helpful." He inched closer, and all Lothiriel could think was he is drunk; this is a dream—anything to tell her this wasn't happening.

"No, it really is nothing, my—"

Then the unthinkable happened. Éomer's lips lightly touched the soft lips of the Princess of Dol Amroth. For a moment the room was spinning, and they felt a million emotions in their hearts. His lips upon hers were soft and caring, not harsh like his warrior hands. And her lips were open to his advances, which made him more passionate. He wrapped his arms around her and pushed his body against hers. Then they broke apart suddenly and looked into each other's eyes.

This is not happening. And then Éomer passed out.

A/N: Ok, I dont know what happened to this chapter. It was complete, I thought and then it just seemed to be messed up when I read back through it. I tried to correct it as best I could, but if it sucks I apologize! The more I read this story, the less I like it. I don't know what it is, maybe it is just too long for me...I don't know. Feel free to tell me anything I'm doing wrong!