Disclaimer: Not all dreams come true you know.
Things Worth Fighting For
Chapter 16
"Is it true what they say,
are we too blind to find a way?
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today.
Come into my world,
see through my eyes.
Try to understand,
don't want to lose what we have."
"See Who I Am" by Within Temptation
An Orc attacked Éomer and forced him to the ground and was ready to cut his throat. Éomer saw what was about to happen, and blocked the attack and drove his sword into the Orc before the Orc had a time to react. Éomer got to his feet, turned around and killing another enemy.
Another Orc attacked Éomer from behind, ready to behead him, and Éomer had no time to react. But the Orc-blade was stopped before it could connect with Éomer's back. Éomer turned and recognized at once who had saved his life.
Lothíriel cut the Orc down, keeping her back at Éomer, while thanking the Valar she reached him in time. They started fighting back-to-back, but Éomer was not happy with the situation.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Éomer shouted.
"I'm preventing you from getting killed!" Lothíriel replied, cutting down an enemy.
Éomer cursed rather colourfully in Rohirric as he killed Orc after Orc. As they were two now, they could watch each others backs, though the chance for them getting out of this battle alive were still slim.
All about the hills the hosts of Mordor raged. The Captains of the West were foundering in a gathering sea. The sun gleamed red, and under the wings of the Nazgûl the shadows of death fell dark upon the earth.
Suddenly they could hear many voices crying: "The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!"
And true, there came the mighty Eagles, Gwaihir the Windlord, and Landroval his brother, greatest of all the Eagles of the North. The Nazgûl turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor's shadows, hearing a sudden terrible call out of the Dark Tower; and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled, doubt clutched their hearts, their laugher failed, their hands shook and their limbs were loosed.
Éomer, King of Rohan, and Lothíriel, Princess of Dol Amroth, were reunited with Éothain and the Rohirrim. Those who had ridden with the King these last months recognized Lothíriel for who she was, but of loyalty to their lord they did not say anything about it and it was not mentioned for a long time after the battle.
The earth rocked beneath their feet, and then rising swiftly up, far above the Towers of the Black Gate, high above the mountains, a vast soaring darkness sprang into the sky, flickering with fire. The earth groaned and quaked. The Towers of the Teeth swayed, tottered, and fell down; the mighty rampart crumbled; the Black Gate was hurled in ruin; and from far away, now dim, now growing, now mounting to the clouds, there came a drumming rumble, a roar, a long echoing toll of ruinous noise.
"The realm of Sauron is ended!" Gandalf said. "The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his quest!"
As they looked south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of clouds, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell.
Lothíriel reached out and took Éomer's hand in hers, and he did not force her to let it go. Perhaps it was still hope for them. Perhaps the fall of Mordor was a symbol that all would change for the better, even for them.
With the fall of Mordor the enemy fled; they ran hither and dither mindless; and some slew themselves, or cast themselves in pits, or fled wailing back to hide in the holes and dark lightless places far from hope.
Lothíriel managed to hide her presence from her father and brothers, but when she heard that Lord Imrahil had sent for his daughter to come to Cormallen, she had a problem. Éomer had not spoken to her since the battle; he had not even looked at her. She had been with the Rohirrim since the battle, and she had kept company with Galrim, Halmod and Helmling. Éothain had also talked with her, but that Éomer had not spoken to her was both irritating and frustrating.
One night she approached him as he was brushing Firefoot. Even though she was sure he had seen her, he did not look at her, talk to her or even acknowledge her presence.
For a long time she was simply looking at him, willing him to talk first. At last she lost the battle. "Will it always be like this between us?" she asked, taking a step towards him. He didn't answer. "Will you not even talk to me?"
"What do you want me to say?" Éomer asked. "That we can pretend like nothing has happened. What do you think has changed in these last days? Nothing is changed and nothing will change. Do you understand, Princess?" he spoke in a low voice. "We will go on with our lives, but we will live them separated."
"What we had, did that mean nothing to you?" Lothíriel asked. He did not answer her. "It meant something, did it not? Whether you admit it or not, what we once had meant as much to you as it did to me."
"It is over, Princess," Éomer said. "Do not dwell on that which can never be."
She felt the tears pressing, but she refused to cry. "Did I mean nothing to you?" her voice was weak and she barely recognized it herself. Apparently it did not matter how many times she heard him say it in different words. She found herself clinging to a hope that it would all be all right; that one day she would wake up next to the man she loved and all would be as it should be.
"I still have hope," she told him and left him standing there. Tears ran freely down her face as she hurried away. She needed to be alone.
Éomer looked after her and when she was out of sight he hid his face in Firefoot's neck. Why couldn't he just admit he was wrong? His damned pride would be his downfall. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, to tell her all was not lost and that it was still a chance for them to be together. He wanted to tell her he loved her. But his pride would not allow him this. Had he ever apologized for anything in his life? He never felt sorry for anything.
And perhaps it was better for this to end now. It hurt, but it hurt not as much as it would if he were to lose her later. For Éomer, this was the first time he had ever walked away from a battle.
Cormallen was filled with people. This was the celebration of the fall of Mordor. The Ring-bearer and his companion were healed. The world was filled with light.
Éomer was sitting on the high-seat to the right of Aragorn, the banner of Rohan, a great white horse running free upon a green field, were behind him. Prince Imrahil were at Aragorn's left, the banner of Dol Amroth, silver upon blue, a ship swan-prowed faring on the sea, behind him. Aragorn's throne was higher and behind him free in the wind was a white tree flowered upon a sable field beneath a shining crown and seven glittering stars.
Lothíriel were hidden in her cloak, watching Éomer where he sat on the throne next to the yet uncrowned king of Gondor, looking every bit of the king she knew he was.
With one last look at him, she turned around and left the field. Her horse, or Faramir's horse, was saddled and ready.
"Are you sure about this?" Halmod asked, handing her the reins.
"No, but I must do this anyway," she answered. "I owe you so much, my friend. So much I can never repay you."
"Promise me one thing," Halmod said.
"Anything is it within my power," she answered.
"Promise me you will fight," Halmod said. "Fight for him, fight for your love."
"This battle may be one I cannot win," Lothíriel said quietly and mounted. "I bid you farewell. Take care of your king until I see you again." With that she rode towards Minas Tirith.
"Ride safe, my friend," Halmod said quietly. "Min Cwen."
"In my world
Love is for poets
Never the famous balcony scene
Just a dying faith
On the heaven's gate"
"Swanheart" by Nightwish
"Cousin, where have you been?" Faramir asked as he embraced her. She had returned to Minas Tirith one hour earlier and had just had time to return to her room and change into a gown before Faramir had been notified she had returned. When he had heard his cousin was in the City, Faramir had at once come to find her.
Lothíriel returned the embrace. "Does it matter, cousin, where I have been and what I have done?" she asked. "Will it make a difference shall decide I fight?"
Faramir still held her in his arms, but he looked at her. "What are you talking about, Liriel? What are you fighting?"
"Does it matter?" Lothíriel asked, freeing herself from his embrace. "Does anything matter anymore?"
"All we do now matters," Faramir said. "The Dark Lord has fallen and we have our lives."
"You yes, but me? No, my life is not my own," Lothíriel said.
"Cousin…" Faramir started.
Lothíriel stared out of the window. "You have perhaps heard why I ran away all those months ago," without waiting for his reply she changed the subject. "How are you, cousin? I hope you are healed and not walking around the City without permission from the healers."
"I am well, cousin, and capable of doing my duty until the King returns," Faramir said.
"Then let us not waste time here," Lothíriel turned at him. "There is much to be done and I am here to help you."
Faramir nodded, smiling. "Then come, for first there is someone I want you to meet."
And she followed him to the garden where on a bench sat Éowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan, and she was now healed, watching them approach with a smile that reached her eyes.
Faramir kissed her cheek as she rose to meet them. "Éowyn, there is someone I want you to meet. This is my cousin, Lothíriel, daughter of Prince Imrahil. Lothíriel, this is Éowyn of Rohan, sister of King Éomer."
And although the Princess of Dol Amroth knew very well who Éowyn was, she did not say. She simply smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Éowyn."
"And you as well, Princess Lothíriel," Éowyn replied with a smile.
"Lothíriel, Éowyn have agreed to become my wife," Faramir said happily.
Lothíriel smiled, wondering what her brother would say when he found out. "I am so happy for you, cousin," she said and hugged him, before she turned at Éowyn and hugged her as well. "Please, if we are to be family you must call me Lothíriel. No formalities or titles."
"I agree," Éowyn said. "So you must remember to simply call me Éowyn."
"I am so happy for you both," Lothíriel said. "Faramir deserves to be happy, as you do."
"Well, I must speak first with my brother," Éowyn said. "If he refuses I must knock some sense into that thick skull of his."
It was funny how Éomer always seemed to be a subject when she was around. He had an ability to always get into her head, or perhaps it was that he never left her mind. "I am sure your brother will only wish what is best for you, and because of that he cannot deny you to be with Faramir."
"No, I have no fear for my brother," Éowyn said. "I love Éomer and he loves me, and he will not deny me what makes me happy."
"No brothers should," Lothíriel said, thinking of her own brothers and her father.
And while they there in the garden, Faramir observed his cousin carefully. She was not the girl he had last seen when he visited Dol Amroth. She had changed into a woman, though in appearance she had not been a girl for years. She was not the inexperienced and spoiled princess she had once been. When he thought about it he barely recognized his cousin, as she was now more serious and also there were something sad about her, something sorrowful. Though it was not the same as when she had lost her mother.
It was after her mother died Lothíriel had been spoiled rotten, since Imrahil could deny her nothing. Now she had grown up, but the sorrow was hanging over her like a dark cloud, and Faramir did not know what had happened to change her so.
One night Lothíriel was standing on her balcony, looking eastward. The next day would be the crowning of King Elessar, and then she would see him again. She had sent a message to her father, explaining to him why she couldn't come to the field of Cormallen, though all she had written were lies.
Lies… she was good at telling them now. Lies had led her to the predicament she found herself in now. Lies had driven Éomer away from her.
Darkness had fallen, yet her future lay darkness. The future was uncertain and she wished with all her heart that her future was with Éomer, but how she could get out of Talon's clutches, she did not know.
What tomorrow would bring remained to be seen.
"The sun is sleeping quietly
Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
I wish for this night-time
To last for a life-time
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poets play
Until there's nothing left to say
I wish for this night-time
To last for a life-time
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
I wish for this night-time
To last for a life-time
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you"
"Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish
Translations:
Min Cwen – My Queen
Author's note: Sorry for the late update. I've been lacking inspiration and school have been taking up most of my time. Actually, I feel pretty proud of this chapter, since I wrote it in a few hours. And I have 14 days off and I'll use the time I can to write, when I'm not outside enjoying the sun!
starnat: Yup, he discovered her, but he was not very happy about her being there. He should get over it. And Talon… when will we know what he is up to? You just have to read and find out.
lady scribe of avandell: Yeah, I had to. Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. And I finally updated again! I'm getting lazy… bad me (hits myself in the face)… that hurt… ah, well, I'll try to update more often.
Lady Anck-su-namun: Here's the chapter, but it's a bit late, I know. Haven't had much time to write, and I've been lazy. Well, I'm trying to change. Really, I am.
skinnyrita: I'm good at that, being back just in time. This nearing the end? Maybe, but there's still much that has to be written. We shall see;p
wondereye: When Éomer and Talon meet? You don't have to wait too long, I think, but I'm not sure. Read and find out;)
Aya013: Glad you like it! I'm so happy when people tell me they like it. It's even better when they say they love it! Thanks! You're good to my ego;p Late update, but here it is. Thanks for the review.
MexicanDevil-RoadCrew: Don't die! Please, don't die! I can't go to prison for killing my readers! Ah, good, you're not dead. I became worried there for a second. Well, here's the update. Thanks for reviewing.
faerie enchantress: Yes, according to the movie both of them were at the Black Gate, but in the book Merry was left in Minas Tirith because of his injuries, and Pippin was the only Hobbit that was at the Black Gate. But thanks for your review!