Scene 12
Éomer looked up as a knock sounded at his study door, "Enter," he called as he sat back and pushed the papers away with a sigh. I will never understand in a country that writes so little how I-his thoughts died abruptly as Lothìriel entered the study. He grinned even as he stood to greet her.
"Lothìriel!" She smiled a bit hesitantly back at him.
"Éomer King," she curtsied lightly.
"You must have-"
"I came with-"
They both laughed at the awkward interruption and Éomer came around his desk to help her settle into a chair. The smile still on his face, he leaned back against the front of his desk.
"You go first?"
"I thought that since Lord Erkendbrand and Lady Heredis were meeting you in Aldburg that perhaps it was time for me to venture into deeper water again." She looked around a bit wistfully, "I haven't been back here since…well…" her voice trailed off for a moment, and Éomer stayed silent just watching her. "It hardly looks like anything has changed."
Éomer shrugged, keeping his eyes on her face, "I didn't want it to change. Some of my best…and worst memories still lie here. I don't usually disturb them. Even when I visit, I most often just set up at my desk in my room."
She nodded slowly and traced a finger down the carved wooden arm of the chair.
"It is good to see you."
He caught her eyes as she looked up, "It is good to see you too."
"I had just been trying to plan how to sneak another visit to Hornburg. You have circumvented me."
"I fear your council will think you would make Hornburg your capital with the frequency of your visits."
"Then perhaps this shall allay their fears."
The words faded into silence again.
"Would you like to walk?" Éomer stepped forward hesitantly and offered Lothìriel his arm.
"Of course, my King."
Éomer led them in silence down the corridor and into the hall. He stopped for a moment at the doorway, a rush of emotions flooding him as images of dancing and laughing with her in his arms filled his mind. Glancing down he saw the same far off look in her eyes, "Perhaps a dance tonight?" he suggested as he led her across the hall and out the side door. He caught her smile as he led her into the corner of the wide porch and turned to face her.
"It was my first kiss, you know."
Éomer reached out to run his thumb along her cheek, "Aye."
She looked behind him and laughed, "Poor Degrin. What he must have felt to have watched that."
Éomer smiled turning to look at the same spot, "You probably shaved two years off-" he stopped abruptly, his smile fading.
"I haven't thought about him in ages," Lothìriel continued, "I wonder where he is now. I would like to thank him for his kindness to me."
Éomer stayed silent, remembering a body heaped on a funeral pyre.
"Did you hear that Erchirion is to be married?" Éomer startled at the sudden change of subjects.
"Aye. And I was wondering, why in Mundburg and not Dol Amroth?"
"It is tradition for the wedding to be held in the bride's city."
"Oh. Yes. I did know that. Although it wasn't done that way fo…" Éomer stopped abruptly as Lothìriel's face turned pensive, as a memory of her speaking her vows to his cousin in Meduseld came.
He coughed awkwardly.
"I was thinking of going." Lothìriel's voice broke the silence, "That maybe it would be good for me to go back." Éomer stiffened and turned towards Lothìriel again.
"You want to go back?"
"Yes. I think I need to."
Éomer's heart dropped and he turned away to look out over the city.
He felt Lothìriel step up next to him, felt the warmth of her hand on his arm.
"What is wrong, Éomer?"
His throat tightened, but he tried for a light tone, "I had just thought that…Well. Mundburg is not exactly within easy riding distance. I think my council would be less than pleased if they thought that it was rivaling Hornburg for the new title of the Riddermark's capital."
"I had hoped you would be able to come to the wedding too?"
"I was considering it. But I would only be able to stay for the wedding. There is too much to be done here for me to take longer."
Éomer caught her quizzical look with one of his own.
"I would only be able to-"
Her face cleared as she interrupted him, "You thought that I meant to go to the wedding and stay in Gondor?"
Éomer's look changed to surprise, "That's not what you meant?"
She shook her head, turning to gesture at the city, the plains, the mountains. "Never. The Riddermark is my home now."
Éomer's heart clenched at the picture she made, and he spun to pace in front of her as words spilled out,
"Lothìriel, I know that you are not the same girl that I met those years ago. That I am not the same man that you," his voice quieted, "fell in love with. But. But, I still love you." He took a breath and turned to face her, grabbing her hands, "I do. I still love you, and I want to be the one with the right to hold you. To comfort you. To love you. Please. I know I said I would give you time. And, Bèma help me, I still will if you need more. But I have waited so long. So very long to be able to say this to you…" he stopped again as her eyes met his and he saw the love and longing reflected within. Gently, he cupped her face in his hands,
"Will you be my wife, Lothìriel?"
A lone tear slipped down her cheek, and he leaned in to kiss it away, easing his arms down to embrace her, as she whispered, "Will I ever be able to feel joy without guilt again?"
He tightened his hold and pressed another kiss to her brow, "I do not know."
"I do love you." The quiet certainty in her voice reassured him.
He felt her lean into his embrace, nestle her head against his chest.
"Yes."
"Yes?" A grin split his face.
"Yes. I will be your wife."
