DISCLAIMER: Tolkien thought them up, I just play …

NOTES: Am sick and needed fluff …and some laughs, There is no other excuse.

The token

„ I thought I was being remiss when I did not give her anything at our betrothal so …" Eomer held the finely crafted ring into the shine of the torches so that the clear blue stone caught the light. The colour reminded him of Lothiriel´s eyes, but he thought it wiser not to share that particular fact.

Elphir nodded in appreciation. " 'Tis a fine gift."

Faramir nodded too, smiling. "I dare say it will find my fair cousin's favour." Aragorn just smiled at him, drinking. He was counting the days until Arwen would arrive.

Eomer took another sip of his ale, putting the ring back into the small leather pouch he had carried around with him all day.
"I thought so ….for a woman, you can never go wrong with FINERY" All three men looked at him with varying expressions of amusement.

"Ooooh nooooo…" Faramir said shaking his head. "No, No!"

The king of Rohan looked around the table to find Aragorn and Elphir chuckling and several of his Rohirrim leaving the merry gathering as inconspicuously as possible.

"Why ….are you laughing?" he demanded to know in a severe yet startled tone.

Elphir leaned back in his chair with a mocking smile. "Whatever you say when you present my sister with that token …..do not say that, my friend. Not if you are intent on marrying her."

Aragorn shook his head, chuckling. "I say you better heed his advice, my friend. Better be silent."

"Why?"

"Have you met your own sister, Eomer?" Faramir asked, trying to suppress a laugh. "What would she say ifyou told her that you had chosen a certain kind of present for her, merely because she is a woman?"

Eomer pursed his lips in sudden understanding. "Nothing…" Eomer said with annoyance. "But she would grab for any heavy object in proximity big enough to cave in my skull!"

Faramir smiled, toasting Eomer silently. "Yes, that sounds like my darling wife."

"See…." Elphir said, leaning forward across the table. "Women ….they hear things differently in their own unique way. You say one thing …like for instance your comment, but what they understand is more along the line off …I think something that glitters will appeal to you, because your spirit is simple and shallow. Now they would never admit it is true, but…..You have to find the right way to talk to them, so that they understand what you mean. Like talking to a skittish horse, if you will."

Eomer looked at his future brother in law with a smirk as Aragorn rolled his eyes. Faramir managed not choke on his ale as laughter overtook him. He patted Elphir´s back amicably.

"Elphir my dear friend…it has finally come to my attention why you have not yet found a bride."

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„ I did not mean to neglect you so." Said a sombre voice.

Surprised, Lothiriel turned around. The torches sent flickering shadows across his earnest features that to her had grown more handsome every time she looked at him.

"You didn't. I am glad you and my brother have managed to find common ground…." She gave him a bemused smile. "Even if I do not particularly agree with the way you apparently came to this understanding."

Eomer gave a sharp laugh. "My dear sister found much …more expressive words to voice her opinion about this incident when she spoke to me earlier." He declared with good humour.
Lothiriel suppressed a laugh. By now she was quiet able to picture Eowyn giving her noble brother a piece of her mind. "I hope you did not think I left to take some air in an attempt to capture your attention." He had sent looks her way now and then, but talked mostly to her brother this night. Lothiriel had not felt jilted or neglected. Quite the opposite; she had understood and been happy that Elphir had taken a liking to her future husband now…..but there had been a tightness in her chest for a while ….and she had realised with something akin to wonder, that it had been longing.

"You capture my attention with everything you do, princess." He said simply, moving over to her. Lothiriel could not help but blush, hoping that he would attribute it to her closeness to the torches. Lothiriel took a deep, calming breath and turned to look out over the city and the wide, dark plains that lay beyond. During her short stay Lothiriel had learned to love this view. "Your country is truly beautiful." She said quietly. Eomer nodded, following her eyes as they roamed over the land and the clear, dark sky. For a while they stood next to each other in silence and Eomer felt a strange notion of peace. It pleased him beyond measure that he could just stand there on the terrace with her, without the looming pressure to fill the silence between them. He reached out, taking her hand, just holding it in silence for a few moments. Lothiriel smiled, but said nothing. To her it was a precious moment that needed neither words nor explaining.

"There is something I forgot." Eomer finally said in his dark, clipped voice. Lothiriel turned her head to look at him fully as he reached into the pocket of his tunic. "I should have given you this the night of our betrothal, but ….it slipped my mind."

It was a ring, a ring made of several silver strings interweaving and interloping to form an intricate design in the fashion typical for Rohan with a single bright blue stone at the centre. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of red cloth in the shadow of the doorway and groaned inwardly. One of her handmaidens had followed them, undoubtedly to keep an eye on her. She raised an eyebrow.

"Milord, the words are spoken and you have ….made your affections and intents known to me in the warmest of terms…" she said, remembering the time they had shared before Eowyn had disturbed them. Eomer had to smile at her careful choice of words. He looked at her with his dark eyes, watching her face intently as his hand squeezed hers. She leaned in a little closer. "We are being watched." She whispered to him. "I really need no other assurance of ….your regard." Lothiriel said much louder. Now it was his time to keep from chuckling.

"Well, my lady…." He whispered, very seriously following her lead. "Maybe you will be so kind as to accept this token from me none the less, not for you but also for me." He leaned forward to whisper in her ear, so that he was almost cheek to cheek with her. "I intent every man to know that I put this ring on your finger forever."

Lothiriel felt a shiver go though her, tilting her head slightly so that her temple touched his chin. She gave a soft sigh. Eomer took it as affirmation and slid the ring over her finger in the dark. He looked at her, just watching her eyes as she looked at him. He leaned down to her, pulling her against him in a deep kiss which Lothiriel welcomed without hesitation. She slid her hands up his arms to his shoulders and let her whole body lean against him. He was strong and warm. She could feel his hands, one locking her body to his at the small of her back, the other sliding underneath her hair to cup the back of her head. She revelled in his sharp breaths that told her more adequately than a thousand words how much she affected him. The thought spawned a fire in her chest. He was always so held back, so controlled and sometimes even harsh, the thought that something she said or did could unhinge his tightly reigned controlled made her skin sing. She could hear scandalised whispers and pulled away slightly, but only far enough to whisper in his ear. "Beware of the audience milord…" her voice sounded husky, breathless. Eomer caught the sight of swirling purple skirts hiding behind a corner. He could not help but laugh, looking down into his bride's glittering eyes.

"Let them watch …" he whispered.