G----G
Eomer
By the light of the campfire, the three couples on this journey sat and share stories. Lothiriel told of her childhood with her brothers, Eowyn told of learning the skills of a warrior, Faramir told of playing in Osgiliath with Boromir, Arwen told of our ancestors and what the world was like when she was young, Elessar told of his journeys up north with the Dúnedain and I told the less interesting stories of growing up with Theodred and avoiding my tutors. But they all seemed entertained by it…after they stopped laughing.
G----G
Lothiriel's POV
July 25, 3021 11:45 a.m.
Rilwen stumbled on a rock and woke me up. I didn't even remember nodding off. I rubbed my eyes and looked up. Edoras was on the horizon.
"Look, the golden city!" Eomer said, while pointing to it.
Eowyn rode by us. "Eomer, stop trying to be heroic. We all know what it is." She laughed as Eomer scowled.
"Thank you, sister." He urged his horse on. "And I wasn't trying to be heroic."
Eowyn and I giggled, and left him to regain his dignity.
A few hours later, we reached the "golden city", as Eomer called it. The sun was hitting the golden hall at the right angle to make it gleam. We stopped at the top of the hill that was before the city and took in the beautiful sight. Eowyn's smile covered her face as she gazed at her childhood home.
"Home," she whispered. She urged her horse on and raced towards Edoras. The group followed her, but I stayed on the hill. My mind was racing so much that I didn't notice that Eomer had stayed on the hill. His horse stood beside mine.
"Lothiriel." I turned to him and he reached his hand out to touch my cheek. He leaned forward to kiss me, so I stopped him.
"Eomer, we shouldn't. The tradition says-"
"We have not set foot inside the golden hall yet. The tradition does not start until then." Tradition bites. "So until we have to endure five days of preparations without each other, we might as well…" he trailed off and brought his other hand up to hold my hair while he pulled my face towards his. Our lips touched and the world melted away. While our lips remained locked, I reached up and slowly slid his helmet off. It clinked when it hit the ground. Our kiss was not broken. I felt his fingers weave through my hair, so I leaned closer to him, and unfortunately, pushed Eomer off of his horse… and I followed.
G----G
-Two days later-
Eowyn straightened my gold veil and stood back.
"You are ready for feast number three."
I slipped on my shoes and sighed. "How many more are there again?"
"Three."
I groaned as Eowyn took my arm and we walked to the throne room. As the tradition required, Eomer and I were not allowed to be in each other's company for five days. Two days was a nightmare. Three were yet to come. We were allowed to sit at the feasts together, but I had to wear a thick veil, and we were not allowed to speak to or dance with each other. As I said before, tradition bites.
"I'd like to knife the person who thought up this tradition," I whispered to Eowyn. She giggled and the guard opened the throne room doors.
"Princess Lothiriel and Princess Eowyn," the announcer droned.
"Princess Get-Me-Out-Of-Here!" I whispered. I could barely see anything behind my veil. Somehow, I got to the front table and the feast began.
My plate had steak, turkey and bread piled onto it. I cut the steak up with my knife and lifted the pieces to my lips by going under my veil. It's no easy task eating with a veil on, but I managed. I licked my fingers and lowered them to get another piece of steak. My leg itched under my dress. I reached down with my right hand to pull the dress up and scratch. A hand stopped me. I slightly turned my head. It was Eomer. He took my hand in his under the table so that no one could see. I relished the touch of his hand.
He pushed his plate towards me and I looked at it. On the edge of it was Elvish letters, written in gravy. They spelled out, "Miss you. Blasted tradition." I started giggling and the rest of the table looked at us. Eomer let go of my hand and pulled his plate back. Then we started a "I'm-pretending-to-talk-to-the-person-next-to-me-but-it's-really-directed-to-the-person-I-can't-talk-to" conversation.
Eomer looked over at Faramir. "Faramir, I'm going to the stables later this evening. I think one of my horses threw a shoe. Would you like to join me?" I sucked in my breath. The tradition belonged to Rohan. If I broke it, they would think that I didn't respect their country. On the other hand, I had promised myself that I wouldn't be so formal all the time. It was a hard choice.
I cleared my throat. "Eowyn, I think I'm going to retire early tonight. I need to work on my dress." Eowyn and Faramir knew what Eomer and I were doing, so they courteously replied, as if the comments were actually directed to them. I finished my meal and got up. I had to leave early (part of the tradition), but everyone else could stay as long as they wanted to. I slowly walked behind Eomer's chair so I could run a finger across his back. Then I left.
I went to my room, as I had said I would, and picked up my wedding dress from my bed. It wasn't finished yet, so I picked up my sewing kit and walked out to my balcony. The night was cool, so I settled down on my wooden stool and threaded my needle.
Up and down. Up and down. Over and under. Over and under. I sewed and sewed until at last, I saw people leaving the golden hall. I picked up some silver braid and started sewing it to the neckline of my dress.
"Oh beautiful maiden,
Above me so high.
If I can't be with you,
I swear I shall die."
I smiled at the floor. Eomer's room was directly below mine.
"You know that we're not supposed to speak to each other," I said, without missing a stitch.
He laughed. "Okay, okay!" He was silent and I almost thought that he had gone inside. "Three more days. Three long days." He sighed. "I've waited two years to marry you, my love. You would think that I could wait three days with great patience, but…"
"But?" I said with a grin.
"It is an eternity without you there beside me."
I giggled as I sewed. "I do believe you are trying to trick me, King Eomer."
"I am doing no such thing," he said in mock horror. "Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to bed. Good night, oh noble maiden." He laughed as he shut his door.
"Three days," I murmured to myself. I bit off my thread and laid my dress over my shoulder. "Three long days."