Ladyscribeofavendell: I know this is a little late in saying but I totally did not know that Eomer had Dol Amroth blood in him! That's cool! About the whole "whiny princess thing", Lothiriel is very concerned about her virtue because without it, she's nothing. She will never get a good marriage. Never. Ever! And just for the record, Lothiriel wasn't in the books, so she can be interpreted into different types of women. If you write her as a strong-headed woman, that's your Lothiriel. My Lothiriel is very dependant on the people around her to make her decisions. She's never made a decision for herself in her life. In other words, she knows that (like in the middle-ages) her life and all that happens in it is not up to her. But don't think I'm ragging on you. I think it's cool that people can take one character and make her into whatever they want. Oh, and the thing about a bad 80's love song, I think that's hilarious. lol
Lialathuveril: About the mumakil, good point, but I could say the same about how they got to Gondor in the movie. Who's to say that they didn't come over the border sooner and didn't hide out. And yes, it's hard to conceal mumakil because of their size, but if I'm to measure the map correctly, it might've taken them a while to get from their city to Minas Tirith. And they went through Dol Amroth to try to kill the royal family. It didn't work.
Diamondrose57: I would be honored if you would read my other stories. I think that they're okay. I'm a better writer now though. I hope one day to be a published writer. When you wish upon a - oops, wrong thing. Lol
Okay, the only other thing I have to say is YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! On one thing only. Lol j/k Okay, I realized last night that my story really doesn't get into people's feelings enough, so I figured out how to change it. Yeah! So, if you've already been reading this story, I advise you to read it again because there's new material in each chapter before this one.
G----G
Glamdris
Elphir has refused my proposal! His scorn on my gift has angered me. Now I am more determined than ever to get the throne of Dol Amroth by marrying Lothiriel. She is so beautiful. Every year she gets more and more beautiful. Eomer doesn't deserve her. She will be my bride. I vow that she will. I alone shall possess her.
G----G
February 9, 3021 7:20 p.m.
"Happy Birthday, Princess Lothiriel!" Elphir raised his goblet. "Let us toast to her 20 years of life."
Elphir drank from his goblet and frowned when I did not drink from mine. For two months he had watched me keep my courtly mask on to hide my feelings. But what my true feelings were, he did not know. Not even I knew.
On one hand, I loved Eomer. On the other hand, I had not heard from him since he left us. I had cleared his name about the incident, and ruined my own. I was known as the marriage hungry Maiden of Dol Amroth, suspected everywhere that I had staged the whole thing just to get a good marriage. I had never done that, and I didn't even care about marriage anymore. I was getting too old. The spinster sister. What would happen to me now? My life was over.
A small page entered the throne room. "Your majesties! A party approaches!"
I brightened up as Elphir addressed the page. "Let them in." I hoped that it would be one of the halflings. Or perhaps some messengers from Gondor. I straightened my light blue dress.
"Announcing, King Eomer of the Riddermark!" My smiled faded as the handsome king walked alone into the hall. He was wearing a simple white tunic with his head uncovered and had a branch of olive leaves in his hand.
Elphir saw my face and found his voice. "Leave us, everyone."
"Everyone, clear the throne room." Glamdris, the new head guard, opened the doors and closed them after everyone had left. He, however, failed to leave.
Eomer continued his steady pace down the room to the throne. When he reached the steps, he lightly threw the branch at my feet. Elphir stooped and picked it up.
Eomer's voice was soft. "Lothiriel, I beseech you."
I held my head high. "You think much of yourself to assume you are welcome here."
Eomer almost looked sad. "Lothiriel, please do not use your court talk on me. I wish to speak candidly with you."
I turned my head away. "I do not want to speak with you."
Eomer walked up two of the five steps. My heart started beating faster. "Then you will listen. I want you to know that I hold your virtue in the highest respect and I would never harm it. The only wish I have is to cherish it."
Glamdris spoke up. "How dare you be so forward to the Princess!"
Elphir silenced him. "Peace, Glamdris."
"Didn't you hear? My physician told me in October that you did nothing to me."
"Yes, I heard, but I still mean it. A physician's diagnosis means nothing to me, your trust is more important. I hope that everything is cleared now between us."
My throat seemed smaller and I gripped the throne to steady myself. "If King Eomer was so determined to fight to the finish, why did he leave in the heat of battle?"
Eomer walked up another step. "Is that all that's bothering you? I promise you, I would have stuck it out, but someone used foul play to drive me away." He looked at Glamdris, who was sneaking over to the throne. "It seems that your head guard would make himself Grand Duke(1) of Dol Amroth."
I looked back at Glamdris just in time to see him shoot an arrow at Elphir. Eomer dove and intercepted it. The arrow buried itself into Eomer's chest, between the ribs. I crawled to him.
"Eomer, please forgive me! I've always loved you, ever since that day at Helm's Deep."
Eomer's fingers covered mine on top of the arrow. "I was going to say the same thing, but you make it sound so much more romantic." He laughed and winced in pain.
Elphir picked up a mallet that sat next to the throne. With a mighty swing, he hit the gong hanging from the ceiling. As it resounded its signal to the royal doctor, he dropped the mallet and turned to Glamdris.
"If he dies Glamdris, you will join him."
L----L
Glamdris was thrown in the dungeon and waited as well as everyone else for the doctor's diagnosis.
I paced the floor outside of my chambers as my mind raced.
"Sister, please eat something. You haven't eaten since the physician went in and that was four hours ago."
I stopped biting my fingernail and looked up at Elphir. "I'm not hungry, brother. I can't eat until I know." I continued pacing. "Elphir! If he should die...I don't know what I would do!" I started crying again, but kept pacing.
To Elphir's relief, the physician came out with his nurses.
I grabbed his arms and almost shook him. "How is he?"
"He's going to be fine, your highness. King Eomer is a tough warrior." I ran into the room with Elphir behind me and sent everyone out. Eomer's eyes were closed so I slowly walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. I reached out and touched his cheek.
"Eomer," I said, timidly. His eyes opened.
"Lothiriel, my Queen." He put his hand on top of mine.
I blushed. "I am not your Queen yet."
"You will be." He smiled and winced in pain. I lightly put both of my hands on the bandage around Eomer's chest.
Elphir stood behind me. "Glamdris will pay for this."
Eomer's hands found mine and he lightly fondled them. "What shall be his fate?"
"It is Lothiriel's decision." My heart was fluttering at Eomer's touch and I almost didn't hear Elphir.
I got up and walked to the bed's end. "You are asking the wrong person, my liege."
Eomer spoke. "Lothiriel, I know it's hard for you to kill someone." I didn't know how he knew that, but kept my silence. "We will take him back to Rohan and punish him there."
I turned to him. "His offence was against my kingdom. I will deal with him."
G----G
Elphir
My sister is her old self again. I was beginning to think that she would be bitter forever. Eomer has opened her heart again. My soul is light.
G----G
April 16, 3021 4:20 p.m.
When Eomer was strong enough, I had him brought to the throne room to witness my last meeting with my privy council.
"First order of business, the fate of the traitor, Glamdris."
Glamdris sat near the end of the throne room, shackled, and with three guards around him.
The council became alive with anger. "He should be hung!"
"Too good of a fate! He should be be-headed!"
"I agree with Wolsen! He should be hung, and then have his intestines-"
I stopped them. "Please gentlemen! I have already decided on his fate." I stopped and gathered my strength, as my stomach was churning from their suggestions. "His eyes shall be gouged out so he will never gaze upon beauty again. Then he shall be left to wander the forest of Mirkwood, a country which speaks a language he does not understand." The council sat in a stunned silence. Eomer smiled at me.
"Your highness, if I may suggest-"
Eomer cut Wolsen short. "Silence! Your princess has spoken." Glamdris was carried off to the dungeon and that was that.
"Next order of business. The King of Rohan has asked for my hand in marriage and the King of Gondor has sent his approval of the union."
Wolsen stood up. "But your highness, such an alliance would be-"
"This is not an alliance. I am renouncing my claim to the throne. I leave for Rohan tomorrow before the sun rises."
Wolsen changed his tune. "Very well, your highness. I hope the kingdom of Rohan is to your liking. It seems to have made a great impression on you during your last visit." He looked at Eomer and smiled at me. I caught the hint in his voice and quickly dismissed the council.
Eomer watched me walk up to the throne from his pile of pillows. I fingered the throne's arm rest and my tears started falling.
"It doesn't matter what we say, they all think I am unfit to be in the line of succession. Everyone doubts my integrity." My back was turned to him, but Eomer knew that I was crying.
"Do not cry, my love." He stopped talking for a minute. Then he said, with all seriousness: "I never doubted your integrity for a minute." I turned and laughed at his boyish grin.
"Well, King Eomer, how does it feel to finally be taking home your prize?"
His grin sent shivers down my spine. "Absolutely wonderful."
I walked up to him, but before he could grab me, I hit his face with my sleeve and ran over to the front doors, giggling as I went.
He struggled to get up, but couldn't. "You would try your future king, Princess Lothiriel?"
I giggled, but tried to look serious. "I would indeed."
Elphir interrupted the moment when he opened the door that I was leaning on.
"Was I interrupting something?" he asked as we both walked over to Eomer.
"Unfortunately, nothing." Eomer gave me a mock glare.
"I just wanted to say that the banquet for your engagement is being prepared as we speak, so I have to attend to that, and King Elessar and his party should be arriving soon so could you two please take care of that?"
"Yes," we chimed.
Elphir caught the mood of the room. "Well, I'll leave you to that then." He pinched my arm and pointed a finger at Eomer. "Make sure she doesn't get into trouble. This one has done many things in her day to mess up a royal visit."
My head shot up. "Elphir, don't!"
Eomer grinned. "That's very intriguing, Prince Elphir. Would you like to elaborate?" I tried to cover Elphir's mouth, but he caught my arms and held them. Somehow, I ended up in Eomer's arms and he held me down as Elphir whispered something in Eomer's ear. Eomer started laughing.
"Elphir!"
Elphir said something else.
"Elphir! Stop it!" Elphir and Eomer were in laughing hysterics. Elphir whispered something else, then fell over and hit the floor, still laughing.
"Prince Elphir, Princess Lothiriel, King Eomer. That was an interesting display."
We all turned to see King Elessar and his court in the doorway.
G----G
(1) The Grand Duke is the man who marries a Queen, or in this case, a Princess.