October 10, 3020 2:45 p.m.

During the normal routine around the castle, Glamdris walked up to Elphir and me while we tended to my garden.

"Your majesty, the cook has informed me that we are running low on supplies. He requests that you allow him to go to the nearest village."

"Done. Let him be on his way." Elphir turned back to the bush he was trimming.

Eomer will do what I want. I took off my gloves. "Elphir, Eomer will never let him pass. Please let me go myself."

"Sister-"

"Elphir, please. I know what I'm doing."

He stared at me for a second and sighed. "Glamdris, get our horses ready. We will accompany our princess to the market."

After we left the castle, Eomer's men stopped us.

"I'm sorry, your majesties, but you can't leave the castle. It's King Eomer's orders."

Elphir scoffed. "We have to leave. Our kitchen is running low on stock."

I tried the sympathy method. "Do you wish our court to starve?"

Eomer came out of his hiding place. "Do you wish my heart to starve? It will not rest until it has your love."

I kept my cool. "Empty stomachs are easier to fill than empty hearts, King Eomer. Now let us pass."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

I looked down at him and tried to keep my anger under control. "Let us by, or this time I'll aim higher than the ground below your feet." Eomer took a drink from his beaker. "You are an insufferable man!" I screamed at him and quickly turned my horse around and galloped to the castle.

L----L

Elphir turned to Eomer. "You have harmed my sister too many times, King Eomer. I suggest you make amends for your actions." He tugged on his reins and followed Lothiriel back into the castle.

Glamdris remained, however, and Eomer did not like the look on his face.

G----G

"Who does that Eomer think he is?" I muttered to myself as I paced my chambers.

"Sister." I turned to see Elphir standing in my doorway. "King Eomer fights so hard to win your love."

I wiped a few tears from my cheek. "Yes, I know. He's just trying to ease his conscience," I said coldly as I opened my wardrobe.

"Sister, if he did not truly love you, would he really fight this hard to have you as his pity bride?"

I touched my lips and remembered Eomer's kiss.

"You're right, brother." Quickly, I ran out of the castle and up to the battlements.

"Glamdris, quick! Send a messenger down to get-"

"Your highness, King Eomer is leaving."

I looked over the battlements and saw that it was true. "What? But he can't, he..."

"I'm sorry, your highness." As I started to cry, Glamdris held me close. "Things will work out, your highness. I promise."

G----G

Eomer

I am troubled. I fear that Glamdris will do something to the royal family. After Lothiriel and Elphir left, he told me that if I did not leave Lothiriel alone, he would slit her throat. I should have killed him on the spot, but he is very important to Dol Amroth. I do not wish a war with Lothiriel's people.

G----G

Lothiriel

My physician examined me because I asked him to. He told me that I am still a virgin. Eomer did not touch me. I am relieved. At least I have something that I can cherish in my life. But why did Eomer leave me? Does he still love me? I will tell Elphir the result of the test tomorrow.

G----G

December 24, 3020 3:20 p.m.

The day before Yuletide, Glamdris came into the throne room dressed in his finest. I was sitting by Elphir, sewing on a pillowcase and Elphir was muttering something in Elvish as he read over a book of proverbs.

"Majesties, I have something very special for you." We both looked up at him. "My Yuletide present to you both is in this box." He opened a small box that was under his arm and took out a scroll and an even smaller box. He gave Elphir the scroll and handed me the small box.

Elphir untied the string and opened the scroll. "This is a certificate of engagement for you and Lothiriel." My box held a silver ring.

Glamdris smiled as I looked at it. "The ring is made of mithril. I spent my life savings on it."

Elphir popped the scroll back in place and tied it. "Then you have spent your life savings in vain. My sister's duty is to form an alliance with a neighboring kingdom when she marries. She will not marry a common soldier." Elphir threw the scroll and ring at Glamdris. "Take your mithril ring elsewhere." He went back to his book and I continued sewing.

Glamdris picked up his things, but did not leave the room. "Your majesty, please."

Elphir slammed his book closed and threw it at the soldier. "May Iluvatar smite you with fire! You know as well as I that a Princess never marries a soldier with no title to speak of! Get out of my sight, Glamdris!" Glamdris ran out of the room and the chamber quieted. I was sewing so fast, I stabbed myself and yelped in pain. Elphir turned to me and stopped my hands. "Sister, I think you will agree with me in saying that Glamdris will no longer be your governor. I would never trust him to be that close to you anymore." I nodded and Elphir went back to his book.

I cleared my throat. "Perhaps you should consider his proposal, brother."

Elphir almost fell off of the throne. "What do I hear?" I hated Glamdris and hated even more the thought of marrying him, but I continued.

"It has been two months since we told everyone that Eomer had not touched me, and not one marriage proposal has come to us. Perhaps this is the only marriage that I can get."

"Silence, sister. I will not force you to marry Glamdris." He took my hands. "I would never do that to you." He hugged me. "I promise that I will find you a good marriage with someone of royal blood."

I dropped my sewing in my lap. "I do not wish to be married." My lips trembled as they remembered Eomer's kiss. No, I would never, ever, marry.

"If that is what you wish, sister. I will not make you marry anyone."

It was not what I wished, but at least I wouldn't have to marry Glamdris. I resumed my sewing.

Elphir sat back down on the throne. "I don't know what happened to you during Eomer's siege, but I don't like it. It's changed you, sister. What did he do to you?"

I threw my sewing down. "Nothing! He did nothing to me!" I ran out of the room.

G----G

Elphir

My sister is different. She has changed so much since her visit to Rohan. Glamdris has angered me. He thinks that just because no marriage proposals have come in, he can marry my sister. She is too valuable to marry one from our city, especially a soldier. He is taking advantage of our situation. If I were to read my sister the way she used to be, she wants to marry Eomer. But the way she is acting now, I don't know what she wants. I hope and pray that my sister will return to normal.