DISCLAIMER: I Don´t own them, Tolkien does

NOTES:

Again …thanks to those who review! I'm glad you like it!

AGAIN: To those who really looove the nitpicking ….just go ahead about this whole Mary – Sue-issue you got going there! That being said, I really think we should rise above this, because me trying to justify myself and you trying to flame me- no matter what- is kind of petty and unworthy of this whole process. It only serves to spoil the fun in writing anything and it's not getting anybody anywhere. Let's just agree to disagree and go our merry ways, ok? I'm still doing this for fun, you know…

KIN

Lothiriel found her brother in the hall the next morning. A serving girl had just put down cheese and bread on the table in front of him. But the princess could tell from her brother's facial expression that he did not feel like breaking his fast yet. He looked pale, with red rims around his eyes. He had had too much to drink the night before. The ensuing headache made his food taste stale. He sat alone at the long wooden table. It was early yet, and after the feast the night before, most people were still asleep.

The serving girl passed her on her way back to the kitchen, curtsying to her with a smile. There was not a soul left in Edoras, who would not recognize her after last night.

"Princess…"

Lothiriel smiled at her. "Could you have some tea brewed for my brother?"

"Of course, my lady…at once."

"Thank you

"I hope this morning finds you well brother?" Lothiriel said quietly as she approached the table. The young man gave her a surly look, pushing cheese and bread further away from him.

"And why would it not?" he asked sourly. Lothiriel watched her brother with a serious expression.

"You look rather ill, Elphir. Too much wine?"

"That is hardly the only thing to turn my stomach…."

"I did not come here to fight with you about this, especially while you are nursing a headache…"

"Why did you come looking for me then, my sister?" he interrupted her. "To use your powers of persuasion on me. Nothing you might have to say will make me think the better of that match you struck."

"It is a little late for your protest now. You stood behind father during the betrothal, if my memory serves me right!" she said, trying to sound patient.

"I think I made my position rather clear…"

"Not to me, you hardly spoke ten words to me since …."

"You hardly made an effort to ask for my opinion, Lothiriel."

"You were nowhere to be found, dear brother!" she returned quickly, not flinching from Elphir´s angry gaze.

"You do not need my blessing; I know that all too well."

"No, I have my father's blessing, but I would have yours just the same…" Lothiriel´s voice softened somewhat with the hurt lacing her words. Elphir looked at her for a long while, shaking his head.

"How could I give you leave to live in this land, so far away from your home? You are my only sister!"

"Elphir." she said quietly, shaking her head. "Do you think it would be easier to part from me if you had another?"

"You deliberately mistake my meaning!" he returned angrily, still sitting at the table. Lothiriel took a few steps towards him, and then stopped. The princess pursed her lips in obvious distaste. This was not how she had envisioned her talk with her eldest brother. She loved all her brothers dearly, but as the eldest Elphir had always held a special place in her heart. He had been tall and strong, as long as she could remember. When she had been a little girl he had seemed tall as a tree to her young eyes. He had taught her how to ride on her first little pony, had always had a present or surprise for her when he had returned from travels with their father. She was not a little girl anymore, but his rejection of her choice hurt her none the less.

"You could not have been ignorant of father's reasoning, his hopes and aspirations, as we started out on this visit." Lothiriel reasoned softly.

"Of course not!" he answered crossly, balling his hands to fists on the table. "But I never thought you would take ….to this land…."

"Or this king?" she asked simply, crossing her arms in front of her body.

Elphir looked up, straight into his sister's eyes.

"You cannot want to live here, sweetling. There is nothing here…." He told her, disbelief evident in his voice.

"There is for me. I am not doing this out of some sense of misguided duty to our father. I know this marriage will fulfil a higher political purpose and I would have been a loyal, obedient daughter had he ordered me to marry the king of Rohan. But father did not order, he never even gave voice to his wishes, even if they were not well concealed."

"We could have found you a suitable match at home, Lothiriel!" he argued, pushing his hair back with an impatient gesture. It made her notice how much shorter the strands were in contrast to Eomer´s hair. "There are many honourable, young men of noble birth in Dol Amroth and Gondor who fought bravely in the wars."

"Is that what you would have wanted for me? To marry one of your friends, so that I could remain under your watchful eye forever?" she asked in confusion and regret.

Elphir stood, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"What he did out there …how you reacted…" he said, pointing in the direction of the doors. "The whole spectacle was not befitting a princess of Dol Amroth!" Lothiriel could hear her brother's voice quiver with disdain.

She looked at him, trying hard to conceal how much his words and conduct hurt her. She tilted her chin up in defiance, resolved on holding her head high. This was her strong, tall brother, her beloved elder brother who had protected her from nightmares and childish fears all her life. She could not bear the thought of him thinking ill of her, but neither could she give in.

When she spoke her voice was soft, but serious with the merest hint of bitterness. "I think when it comes to my heart, I will be the judge of what befits me and what doesn't."

She uncrossed her arms slowly, smoothing her hands over her skirts. "I thought you would be happy for me."

"I think only of your happiness, Lothiriel." Her brother conceded.

"Then be happy for me, brother. For this is my choice and I gladly pledged my hand to him."

They looked at each other across the room, the silence heavy between them. After a while he nodded, lowering his head into his hands. Lothiriel thought that she could almost see the defiance, the fight going out of him as he seemed to reason with himself. It gave her a twinge of sadness. She had not wanted to cause her brother pain. He could be angry all he wanted. He did not have to agree, but there really was no point to it, not anymore. It was done; the match had been struck in front of witnesses common and noble. It was done.

"Sometimes…" he said quietly, with a trace of resignation, "…I might not see things as clearly as you do. Sometimes I forget that you are a woman grown and not still the coltish little girl with those ridiculous braids. I forget how lovely you are and how adamant. I need to remind myself that you were raised among brothers and that you can be just as wilful and forward as any of us."

Lothiriel gave him a small smile. "I owe a lot of this wilfulness to you, my brother."

He grinned at her, nodding. "You know your worth. I should have known that it would one day be turned to my disadvantage."

"You are entitled to your opinion, Elphir, but I would rather have peace with you."

The young man nodded again, flinching as his headache grew stronger. He groaned, closing his eyes for a moment.

"This I'll say about him, Lothiriel….At least he cannot just fight, but also drink with the best of them…"