AUTHOR'S NOTE:
In case you were wondering, I am not dead! This story will not be left unfinished! I've just been busy, with college and everything. I'll try to update sooner, folks. I will really try.
A little summary, in case you don't remember what the story was about (chapters I to XI): Lothíriel traveled to Rohan to help Eomer with some political issues, they became kind of close and even liked each other; Elphir resigns his birthright and Lothíriel becomes heiress to Dol Amroth; she and Eomer become more close while staying at Ithilien, and meanwhile in Rohan, Eomer's counselors have chosen Fegel, a local noblewoman, to be presented as Eomer's future bride… (Gee, you were not supposed to know that…)
On to the story, then!
THE JEWEL OF DOL AMROTH
XII
PARTINGS AND PLANS
Four days had passed since Eomer had come to Ithilien. On the fifth, a messenger had arrived from Edoras, bringing along a letter from Fromgast of Aldburg.
"Gather the men" he said to the captain of his guard. "We leave in the morn".
His eyes searched for Lothíriel, in order to gave her an explanation, but she was nowhere to be found.
As Eomer made his way to the stables, a familiar sound of footsteps reached his ears. It was his cousin in law.
"Eomer, we need to talk before you leave. Lothíriel is most unhappy with this sudden change of plans and, as her cousin, my duty is to be sure that she does not feel miserable" Faramir said.
"What do you want me to do?" replied Eomer dryly. "I would stay with her and figure out a solution for our dilemma, but my duty relies with my people, and you are as aware as I am that orc gangs are still threatening my lands. As a ruler, I cannot choose to postpone the needs of my people to satisfy my own needs. I hoped and expected that Lothíriel would understand that."
"She does" replied Faramir. "However, she does not now what is to become of her… of your relationship".
Eomer had asked to himself the same question last night, what was going to become of them? They had crossed a line, definitively, since that night at the garden. It would be hard to remain friends, after those and other delightful moments spent in each other's company. Thinking about it, Lothíriel's reaction was not at all unreasonable. She was to become Imrahil's heiress and the next ruler of Dol Amroth, and an unreachable woman for him to marry. A union for the king of the Mark and the ruling princess of Dol Amroth had as much chance to happen as his uncle coming to life again. If he wanted to have her as his queen, he needed to change Imrahil's mind and deal with the main obstacle for him earning Lothíriel's hand in marriage…
"Elphir" pronounced Faramir.
"Do you read minds, like Lady Galadriel?" asked Eomer
"Not like her, but yes, I can read your face. You are thinking about how to deal with Elphir".
Eomer started to pace up and down.
"How to deal with his decision, mostly. You recommended me to talk to the man".
"And I still do, brother" replied the Steward.
"I will, then" sighed Eomer. "But not until some problems in my land are fully solved".
Faramir nodded, and started to leave the stables, but halted in a sudden way.
"You will speak to her, won't you?"
"With her and with your wife" answered the king of the Mark.
He did not have to seek her. When he came to the stables again, later, he found the princess of Dol Amroth patting Firefoot softly. Before he could say something, she turned around.
"Promise you will return for me" she whispered pleadingly.
Eomer caressed her silky hair, while pulling her into a warm embrace.
"I promise you that, and I promise you more" Eomer said. "I promise you, dearest one, that by the summer of the next year to come, you will be sitting by my side, at the Golden Hall, and you will by Queen of the Riddermark, and queen of my heart as well".
She smiled, and touched his bearded cheek.
"Do you have a plan, my lord king?"
"I think I have one" Eomer replied.
"Good" Lothíriel answered, as she was pulled again into his embrace.
I will not allow you to kiss me tonight, she had said. Not until you have fulfilled your promise. He had no idea he would be kissing her sooner than he expected.
All that he knew is that he had some sort of plan. There was already a parchment, signed by him but still not approved by the Counsel, which contained a request of aid to Gondor. It was no secret that famine was slowly invading many villages, and on the other hand, Gondor had had a surplus in the latest harvest. The signing of that parchment by Elessar was a valuable opportunity to forge an excuse to visit Dol Amroth, and speak to Elphir and convince him to change his mind. Perhaps, with some luck, he would return to Edoras with the grand announcement that a Gondorian princess was to become Queen of the Mark. The people would love her; the counselors already did.
Or perhaps not. As he climbed the wide stairs of Meduseld, he spotted a familiar face among the noblemen. Fegel Rochíriel, what a coincidence, he said to himself. The very woman that used to haunt my dreams in the past. And her father is with her. No, this cannot be a coincidence. I will be polite with her, though.
After greeting her and the rest of people, Eomer went straight to his room. He really needed to rest.
For some strange reason, Fegel was placed at his right during the feast. She did not speak much, and for that Eomer was grateful. After some hours, thought, she spoke something barely audible.
"Excuse me, lady Fegel, I did not understand you" he said softly.
"I said, would you walk with me for a moment, my lord king?"
A walk would be just fine, he thought. Fegel had been always like a sister for him. That was until…
The couple started to walk towards a small garden. She did not place her hand on his arm, as most unmarried women did when a man, and especially an unmarried man, and most specifically, an unmarried king, decided to walk with them. When he looked at her again, he noticed for the first time that Fegel had changed quite a lot. Gone was the girl with the bright smile and stunning blue eyes; the woman in front of him was soft eyed and had a serious expression.
"I have heard about your princess, my lord, and I'd really like you to have her sit next to your throne".
He was not prepared to hear that.
"How on…" he wanted to say, but Fegel was quicker.
"My eyes and ears are very sharp, as you should probably know by now. Now tell me, do you really care about her or not?"
"Béma's balls, Fegel, are you threatening me?" growled Eomer. He really did not like to be cornered by a woman.
"I am, for my happiness depends of your answer" she said, in a menacing tone.
"What if I say that what I felt for you is nothing compared for what I feel for her?" replied him, his temper rising. "Why have you come in the first place, Fegel? To tell me that, now that Grimbold is gone, you are now free and willing to take me as your husband?"
She turned away to him.
"If you believe that, Eomer King, then you are no more worthy of holding the crown than my own father. Yes, my father, he is the one who brought me here and broke the promise of never seeing you again. I tried to warn you, do not say I told you so!"
And she left the garden.
Eomer wanted to follow her, but thought better of it. Do not waste your time on her, he told himself, there is much work to do. Tomorrow will be a fine day.