The next morning after a quick breakfast they turned inland and continued riding towards whatever destination the Princess had in mind. Éomer didn't ask where they were going and anyway, he had a feeling she wouldn't probably even tell him if he asked. To be honest, he didn't really need to know. All that mattered was the fact he was with her. The day was beautiful, the air was warm, and therew as lightness in his heart he did not want to let go quite yet.
She told him there were some villages and other settlements near the coast, but they did their best to avoid those.
"I'm not sure how soon the word of our disappearance will spread, but I'd rather lay low for now. One does not need to look at you twice to know who you are", Lothíriel said, at which he raised his eyebrows.
"I am that obvious?" Éomer asked. She snorted.
"Well, you don't really meet golden-haired giants in these parts, and let me just tell you that the stories about how the Lion of Rohan rode to the aid of Gondor are quite popular", she said, and he laughed. It was actually kind of hilarious to think of all the tales that would sprung from this particular incident.
She had been upset last night, but to his relief she seemed to be on a better mood now. Indeed, she acted like none of it had happened. He couldn't tell if that was a good sign or not, but one thing he did know: it was starting to bother him more and more... and there was also the burning need to know name of the man who had hurt her, so that he could go and seriously harm the villain who was responsible for her broken heart. However, Éomer knew better than to pester her about it. Lothíriel would tell him when she felt willing, and not any sooner.
They did not make any particular haste, but the Princess still suggested they would ride until the sunset. With a half-smile, she said she had told Amrothos to inform Éothain she'd return the King of Rohan before the week had ended. Éomer had assumed a petulant expression and asked what she'd do if he didn't want to be returned. A sweet smile had come to her face and she had said: "Oh, I have my ways of persuasion."
He didn't doubt that one bit.
Nevertheless, as happy as he was for this little adventure of theirs, he did feel some concern for how her father would receive it. What if Imrahil thought this had been Éomer's idea and retaliated by disallowing further courtship?
"Oh, don't you worry about my father. I'll take care of him once I see him again. And he will remember that out of the two of us, only I am mad enough to actually go along with a plan like this. You're too damn honourable to actually consider abducting the daughter of your highly-esteemed friend", Lothíriel said with a bright smile, and he snorted.
"Dearest princess, you should not tempt me. I too can be quite insane – am insane, in fact, if my sister is to be believed", he told her. It made her laugh and he quietly made a mental note of how much he loved the sound of her laughter.
"Yes, she told me as much when I was visiting her and my cousin Faramir", Lothíriel said and winked at him – he hoped Éowyn had not shared too many embarrassing stories from the years past. She smiled, "I don't mind a bit of madness every now and then."
He answered that with a grin and they rode on in companionable silence for a while. Then he looked at her curiously.
"I was just wondering... aren't you worried for what people will say?" he asked.
"What will they say, then?" she asked back and did not seem too affected.
"Well, you are a young unmarried princess travelling alone with a barbaric king from north. Who knows what unspeakable things I might do to you while we are unattended?" he inquired. The idea of that was very exciting actually, but she didn't need to know that. Lothíriel just laughed.
"Are you going to commit unspeakable acts then, Lion?" she sniggered. Then her voice became more serious. "To be honest, I couldn't care less about what people will say. It's none of their business, after all."
"But it could prove problematic later", he pointed out. "In case you ever want to marry. Though most of the time I am met with all the honour imaginable, I am well aware of the prejudices still living among Rohan's southern allies. No doubt they will assume I took the opportunity and bedded you while we were on road? People here in Gondor seem to think it's an important thing that a lady preserves her virtue."
His explanation did not seem to concern her one bit. She gave that half-smile again and he could have sworn there was a wicked glint in her eyes.
"I suppose I'll have to become a pirate then", she said, "or marry a Rohirric man, if I want marriage. You know anyone who might want a princess with questionable honour?"
"Oh, I know many", he answered. "Many who will have broken noses and knocked teeth, that is."
"Why so?" Lothíriel inquired.
"Because I intend to fight for you very ardently", he told her. A strange look appeared on her face and she looked away, and for a while they rode on in silence.
Come evening they made a camp in a small grove behind some hills that gave shelter from the wind from the sea. As on the previous night, he tended to the horses while she got the fire going and prepared some supper for them. He liked how easily this cooperation came to them, and he half-seriously even wondered if he could somehow persuade her to prolong this abduction for a bit. Éothain wouldn't mind, would he? Gamling (whom he had left in charge) most like would however, and there would no doubt be scoldings when the King returned to Edoras.
After supper, she asked him to brush her hair – apparently it was going to be a nightmare if one let it stay untouched for too long – and he eagerly complied. After all, he got to touch her silken hair and while he brushed, she'd hum in a low voice. It was nice and peaceful, and possibly Éothain would have laughed so hard that he'd have fallen off his horse had he ridden here now to see his King in the middle of caring for his abductor's hair, but it filled Éomer with a pleasant sense of calm. And there was no telling when he'd get to experience that the next time once he'd return home.
When he was done, she turned so that she could kiss him briefly for thanks; it was hard not to grab her and turn that kiss into a much passionate one. As much as he desired her, it was probably for the better to let her decide the extent of their affections. For one, he did not want to hurt her – not like that man had. He wanted her to be certain in the knowledge she was completely and utterly safe with him.
As they settled by the fire to sit for a while still before going to sleep, it was Lothíriel's turn to stare at him thoughtfully, and after a while he asked what she was thinking.
"Is it true that you were not meant to be the king?" she asked at length, her voice wary as if she feared this was a touchy subject. Well, it was, but he could bear it when Lothíriel asking and perhaps... if he showed he trusted her to speak with her of this, then maybe she would open up to him in turn.
"It is", he confirmed quietly. "My late cousin, Prince Théodred, was supposed to ascend to the throne after Théoden. But he died in a battle, and I was the last living male with royal blood. I did not have much of a choice about it... and my uncle insisted I should become king after him."
He sighed heavily as he remembered the day he had heard his cousin had died... and how it had felt like when Théoden had announced him as the heir to the throne. Though he had regarded Théodred as something like an older brother, their duties had often taken them long ways, and so in the later years their once close friendship had become more distant. Still, both of them had always shared the concern for the future of the Mark, and Éomer knew he'd have been happy to follow his cousin's lead had the Prince's life been spared. Staring into the fire, he murmured: "I've never been more scared than I was on the day I became the king."
"Scared? You?" Lothíriel sounded amazed.
"I know how it sounds. But I never wanted any of it – I would have been quite content as a Marshal. And ruling a kingdom is not very easy. Everyone looks up to you, expects you to get things done and solve all problems no matter how difficult. And there are many of those. Often it's so hard and exhausting that I just want to jump on Firefoot and ride away somewhere no one can find me. I do my best, but... sometimes I just feel it's not enough", he spoke softly. Silently, she got up on her feet and came to sit beside him. She took his hand in hers and without really thinking of it he intertwined his fingers with hers.
"I never realised it was like that", she said, staring down at their joined hands. Éomer let out a joyless laugh.
"Most of the time, it is. Being a king is less about glory and more about hard work... and hard decisions. Especially after the war and the long dark years of shadow growing... there are so many people in need, so many families who have lost their men in battles. And it's all up to me to fix that. I can't tell you how scary that is", he said. Then he sighed again. "And now I've frightened you away, haven't I? Who would want to be a wife to a king of people so troubled?"
"Someone who would like to help. Not only your people, but you as well", she said gravely.
"Is there such a woman? None of these Gondorian ladies really comprehend what it would mean to be my queen. They don't understand it is work that awaits them in Edoras, not leisure. I often fear I will never find a woman willing to bear the burden... and even if I do, I only ever succeed in scaring her away", he confessed, turning to meet her eyes. However, she was still looking down on their hands and so he could not tell what she might have felt at those words.
"If you care for her, I don't think you could ever scare her away", she said softly. He was about to say something, but she spoke first: "Thank you for telling me this, Éomer. I feel that I understand you better now."
"You do?" he asked quietly. Finally, she looked up at him and a smile came to her face.
"At least I think so", she said and lifted his hand so that she could kiss the back of it. She looked at him gently as she spoke again: "I'd tell you not to worry if I did not know that you'll do so anyway. But I feel you are a good king. Better than many a man would be in your stead... my father said once that reluctant ones usually are the best leaders, because they understand those they lead. I have a feeling you will do well."
He leant down to kiss her forehead and briefly rested his cheek against her hair. Then he looked down at her, and said: "I love you, you know."
A small smile came to her face and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I do, my Lion."
A/N: I should be getting some actual work done but instead I've spent half the day with this and you, my dear readers, are going to get an early update. These two just won't stop chatting away in my head! I know not much happens here, but perhaps there is more going on that you would imagine...
As usual, thanks for reading and reviewing!
