DISCLAIMER: It's all Tolkien ..you folks know that! I'm just playing
NOTES: It's been a while ..again! But the new chappy is already in the works and will be up this weekend!! I promise! Hope you still like ...
LOVE AND COUNTRY
„ Will you let him carry your daughter off like a piece of loot or a common serving wench?"
Elphir whispered harshly to his father, loud enough to turn the heads of King Ellesar and Faramir, who stood with them on the terrace.
"She is a princess of Dol Amroth, it is a disgrace...."
Imrahil threw Lothiriel´s brother a warning glance. When it came to a fiery temper, Elphir could without a doubt hold a candle to the Lord of the Riddermark.
"Do not worry about your sister's welfare, "King Ellesar said, softening his serious tone with a bemused smile. ", it is the Rohirrim way of courtship, an old tradition to be sure and maybe not as often employed these days as in the days of Eomer´s grandfather, but still valid. The King of Rohan is paying your sister the greatest compliment and respect in wooing her in the time honoured manner of the Rohirrim."
"Forgive, my king....but it still seems very unbecoming of a princess to me." Elphir answered with a slight bow.
Imrahil arched a brow at his son
"I did not recall hearing your sister raising her voice in protest to be swept away in this manner." The prince said with slightly veiled amusement, exchanging glances with his friend.
"You know your sister well enough to know that had she really wanted off that horse, she would have found a way..." Faramir cut in as he joined the group, his wife following suit with several beautifully crafted gold beakers on a serving platter and a maid, carrying a matching jug, at her side.
"Wine, my lords?" she asked with a merry twinkle in her eyes.
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There was applause and cheers greeting them as they rode through the gate and Lothiriel´s eyes widened to find that all of Edoras had seemingly gathered to watch their return. News of what had transpired.... what the king had done and the meaning of it, had travelled through the city faster than the wind.
He had chosen a bride .....in the time honoured tradition of the Rohirrim none the less, so they had all come to see and cheer.
If Eomer had harboured any doubts on how his subjects would take the news that he had chosen a princess from the windswept sea, he could be reassured now. They cared not where his chosen one had been born; all they seemed to care for was that there would be a queen again in Rohan ....
He could feel Lothiriel lean back into his chest.
"I had not thought we would attract this much attention." She whispered, trying to keep her voice calm and even, but there was a thread of nervousness in her tone. She blushed very becomingly.
"I must admit I have been most negligent in not foreseeing this. It was to be expected." he whispered into her hair, revelling in her scent for a moment, before he forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand.
She was not his yet, he reminded himself. He needed her father's consent. Lothiriel had left him in little doubt that he would have it, that she was his for the asking, but until the words were spoken he thought it wiser to not take liberties with his daughter in front of Imrahil´s eyes.
His sister greeted his steed's approach to the terrace with an amused smile, leaning against her husband while Faramir was trying very hard to hide his mocking smirk. The King of Gondor on the other hand did not even try to hide how much the whole situation amused him as he stood on the terrace of Meduseld with a beaker in his hand, toasting his approaching friend with raised eyebrows. Prince Imrahil, who stood next to Aragorn with his arms crossed in front of his chest, gave them an inquisitive look. Only Lothiriel´s elder brother stood with a sullen look on his face, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Eomer nodded, greeting the assembly with a respectful bow of his head.
"My lord, if it pleases you... I would have a word with you." He said, inclining his head towards Lothiriels father again.
Imrahil looked at the serious, stern expression he had learned to expect to find in the King of Rohan´s face, and then at his daughter's slightly flushed features and the smile she was trying to hide without much success.
"I believe you will...." He said, his voice grave, but laced with amusement, before he turned to walk back into the hall.
Eomer dismounted, looking at his boots for the moment of a breath in order to gather himself, and then looked up. Holding out his hand to help her dismount his eyes met Lothiriel´s.
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"You made quite a spectacle of yourself out there...." Imrahil said, refilling his cup where he stood at one of the long tables. He looked up from his cup to watch the young king of the Riddermark leading his daughter towards him across the golden hall. For a moment Imrahil was quite taken with the striking pair they made.
"I did not mean to give offence, my lord." Eomer returned with another respectful nod in his direction, his face serious.
"Do not apologize, my friend. I know it is the Rohirrim way and my daughter did not seem to take offence, so neither shall I."
In fact, Imrahil could still see the slight flush the ride and the attention had brought to his daughter's pale complexion and the mirth dancing in her dark blue eyes.
"The little ride gave you time to come to an understanding, I presume?"
"Milord, I admire your daughter greatly...."
"I gathered as much." Imrahil added patiently, searching his young friend's face intently.
Eomer returned Imrahil´s patient gaze with his own steadfast one, his expression severe, almost grim. He had fought at this man's side, led men to their deaths with him, bled with him...when they had had only the slightest glimmer of hope. And now ... he was asking this man for the most precious thing he might call his own; his only daughter. Eomer understood this with perfect clarity. He could feel more than see Lothiriel standing next to him, the light of day falling through the great open door behind them, surrounding her with a soft golden glow. He could catch a glimpse of her face as she tried hard to look neither at her father nor at him, as though she sensed that this was more their moment of coming to an understanding than hers, even if the decision would influence her life just as surely. But she was waiting, patiently listening to all the words being spoken.
"I have asked the princess to live in my home ....as she does in my heart, and your daughter has courteously agreed to become my wife." Eomer said, holding out his hand to her. Lothiriel looked at him for a moment, with only the slightest hint of surprise at his phrasing, then she put her hand in his with a mild smile and turned to look at her father.
"I have come to ask you, Prince Imrahil of Dol´ Amroth to grant me your daughter's hand in marriage."
Imrahil nodded slowly, meeting his daughter's eyes.
"If it is my daughter's wish, of course you shall have my consent ....and my blessing. Your union will not only make me a proud father and friend, but would also serve a greater purpose in strengthening the ties between the kingdoms of men." The prince said after a while.
"The betrothal can take place here and in a few months time, you might want to come visit us and commence the courtship. The wedding ...."
"Milord........" Lothiriel interrupted him, shaking her head. "Father, I think we should be married here, according to Rohirrim tradition and Rohan custom."
Eomer looked at her in surprise, but she squeezed his hand lightly as though to signal him to keep his peace on this subject.
Imrahil on the other hand could not help but arch his eyebrows at his daughter, letting his eyes wander from the resolute expression on his daughter's face to Eomer´s stern one and back to Lothiriel.
"You have my consent, King of Rohan." He said gravely, with a regal nod of his head.
"Concerning the arrangements ...." Imrahil hesitated.
"Will you give me a moment with my daughter ?"
Eomer pressed his lips together, staring into his intended's clear midnight eyes for a moment before he bowed and took his leave.
He did not know how he felt about Lothiriel´s forwardness on the matter; he was used to fight his battles alone and for himself, on the other hand ...he liked the idea of waiting up to a year to marry her even less. Imrahil was her father and he sure was entitled to his daughter's time, before officially giving her away by announcing her betrothal to Eomer. If Lothiriel believed she could dissuade her father from a lengthy engagement period, Eomer was more than willing to let her have her way.
"You have been keeping secrets....." Imrahil mused, looking at his only daughter for a long while.
Lothiriel smiled at him and shook her head with a warm laugh.
"Is this not why you brought me here? Is this not the outcome you were hoping for, father?" She answered softly, searching her father's face.
Imrahil put down his cup, narrowing his eyes.
"He is my friend and I hold him in high esteem." He offered slowly, laying his hands on his daughter's shoulders.
"It would be a good alliance. But I would not want you to marry him for me, child. If he would not truly be your choice of husband, I will not give you to him. I will not have you tie yourself to someone you would not choose for yourself ..."
Lothiriel shook her head and laughed, putting one hand on her father's arm.
"Ohhh .... No!" she said, shaking her head. "You know your stories made me half in love with him before we even set out on this visit....."
"Stories of valour are one thing, Lothiriel, and well I know it. His disposition, his temper ....some would say are not ....always pleasant. Not everyone can bear with his severity....."
"I would not have given him my consent, if I did not want to be his bride." The princess said simply, her voice quiet and even. She took a step backwards, folding her hands. "Underneath all that severity he has a kind, courageous heart."
Imrahil took his daughter's hand in his, laying a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
"Elphir is not completely in favour of this match." He acknowledged.
"I saw his face." Lothiriel returned with a sigh, thinking of the other brothers they had left behind at home and their possible reactions to the news of her betrothal. "I will win him over ....all of them"
"He thinks the king might have been a little too forward with you."
She looked at her father in confusion for a moment, her eyes widening at the implication her brother's opinion might lead to, and pressed her lips together in irritation.
"Milord ....and father, let me assure you that, whatever liberties my brother and you may suspect the King of Rohan took with your daughter, they were never unseemly or remotely disreputable, but always called for and in themselves appreciated." Lothiriel said evenly as she folded her hands in front of her gown. "He truly is the most honourable and worthy man I know."
"I would not have thought him to be anything less, my sweet." Imrahil said, taking his daughter's hands and placing a paternal kiss on her forehead. Lothiriel smiled, her expression softening.
"Now ....on this other matter..."
"My lord, .....when Faramir wed Eowyn, he courted her according to the traditions of his country, of Gondor, which required a long engagement to be beyond reproach. The king of Rohan has wooed for me according to an ancient tradition his subjects value and see as an act of great chivalry. If I am to be their queen, should I not bow to their tradition? Should I not marry according to the rules that define their society since the beginning of this kingdom? Isn't that what your lessons have taught me? To respect and follow the customs of my hosts?"
Imrahil looked at his daughter, taking her all in as she stood in front of him in all her youth and splendour, reasoning with him so very eloquently. Imrahil could not help but smile and give her hands a gentle squeeze.
"You have grown wise beyond your years, my daughter, and it fills me with pride that the lessons your mother and I taught you were not in vain." He said, not trying to hide his pleasure. "But the fact that according to Rohirrim tradition you would be wed within a week, does not have any part in this elaborate design?"
Lothiriel looked at her feet, trying to conceal the sparkle in her dark blue eyes. Her father knew her too well.
"It makes me happy that you want to marry a man who is my friend, a man whom I would deny nothing, but it is not just my desire for a strong alliance that I want fulfilled, Lothiriel. Can this country make you happy?"
She looked at her father, returning his serious, inquisitive look in earnest for a long while.
"Yes." She finally answered calmly. "Yes .....this country, this man ......they own my heart."
Imrahil looked at his daughter's face for the longest time.
"A month..." he finally said seriously. "Your betrothal will last at least a month. It should give your brothers abundant time to travel here and trespass on Eomer´s hospitality....until we have made the required arrangements to have the two of you wed in a manner that is befitting both our houses and beyond reproach."