A Forbidden Love
Scene 4
Éomer was sitting at his desk, when suddenly the door was slammed open.
"Idril?" He exclaimed in surprise as she burst into the room flying straight to him. Standing just in time, he caught her as she flung herself at him. As soon as his arms came around her, she began to sob.
"Hey, shhhh, what's going on?" Shaking her head, she only cried harder. Gathering her up, he sat back in his chair, and pulled her onto his lap, stroking her hair to calm her.
As her sobs began to lessen, he placed his fingers under her chin, and tilted her head so he could look her in the eye. He pressed a kiss on her brow, "What is the matter, Idril?" She dropped her eyes and buried her face in his chest.
"If I was Idril, there would be nothing wrong." Sorrow and bitterness laced her words, and he felt the fluttering edges of real fear touch him.
"What do you mean?"
"I. Well. You know that I came here to hide, because I was not safe," she hesitated for a long moment.
"Yes."
"I found out that," her breath hitched, "I…found…out," she buried her head deeper, and he could feel her struggling to keep the tears down.
"Shhh, shhhh, it'll be alright," Éomer trailed a line of kisses down her cheek, nuzzling her ear and pulling her in closer, "Let's start from the beginning. You are not Idril. I knew that. But I don't know who you are. So?"
"I am Princess Lothìriel of Dol Amroth." Her muffled words hung in the air and Eomer sat stunned for a moment, breath half drawn, hand paused on her hair. Letting out the breath, he dropped deeper in the chair.
"You are Princess Lothìriel of Dol Amroth."
She nodded.
"The only current royal Princess of Gondor."
She nodded again.
"Daughter of Prince Imrahil and niece to Lord Denethor."
"Yes."
"Cousin of Boro-"
"Yes!"
"Okay," he took a breath, his mind racing, the fluttering edges of fear wrapping a tighter hold on him.
"And you," he paused as her words came back to him, "this has to do with me. With us."
She raised her head to look at him, her usually clear grey eyes were cloudy, "Yes."
He nodded.
Then, deliberately, he leaned forward and kissed her. He felt her hands slip around his neck to tangle in his hair, and he pulled her closer, taking the kiss deeper until there was no more time, or thought, only feeling and passion.
His lungs burning and his chest aching, he broke it off and stood with her. Setting her on her feet and leading her to the door, he slid the latch, locking it, before taking her to the couch and sitting again with her beside him.
He faced her, trailing his fingers over her face taking in every detail.
"Tell me."
Tears filled her eyes again, "I," she took a breath, "My uncle," another breath, "betrothed me…" Éomer held up his hand to stop her, "You are already promised to another."
She nodded, "Uncle Denethor set it up long ago."
"And you found out how?"
"I...overheard Commander Eglarion and Degrin this morning. They argued..." her voice trailed off again as her eyes met his. Éomer's mind scrambled to pick up the threads, to see how they fit, which was the most important.
"Your uncle won't allow you to choose, even if your heart is attached to another?"
She let out a bitter laugh, "What does the heart matter to Denethor? Power is all he desires." Éomer blinked.
"But why Rohan then?" As soon as he said it, he could see the tapestry unfurl, "Thèodred!" he gasped out, his face going white. He jumped up to pace the room as Lothìriel began to cry again.
"Blood and ashes! You're betrothed to Thèodred," he spun around to pound his hand on the desk, "Why did he never tell me? Why would he keep this secret?" He moved back over beside her and knelt in front of her.
"Your uncle…no, the commander? He gave you no hope for us?"
"He said there was none." No longer fluttering at the edges, fear clenched his heart tightly. He gripped her fingers.
"I will try. I will talk to Thèodred and the Thèoden King."
