A/N: Some of you are finding Eomer frustratingly slow in this story, but that is due to circumstances. He has just been so overburdened that his focus is very narrow right now. Once he gets his feet under him, he'll begin to be more of the Eomer we know and expect.
Chapter 5
Lothiriel in Dol Amroth was far different from the Lothiriel Eomer had come to know in Edoras. He had forgotten her usual cheery demeanor, which had sobered considerably since their marriage, at least while they were at Meduseld. Once she was free of that stifling atmosphere, her natural ebullience shone through.
The change had begun not long after they departed Rohan's capital and increased the farther they journeyed. Her merry behavior quickly rubbed off on him, and he thought surely he must be laughing more than he had the entire previous year. And, in his estimation, that was not a bad thing at all.
Taking the Dimholt Road shortened their trek to Lothiriel's homeland, though she was uneasy the entire time they were passing through the mountain. Not until they again reached the sunshine did her spirits return. She eagerly began watching for their first glimpse of the sea, pointing it out to him as soon as she spotted it.
It glistened in the afternoon sun, like a sheet of glass, and Eomer was looking forward to a closer view. It was several more days before they reached Dol Amroth, and the palace set high on a cliff. Like Minas Tirith, Lothiriel's home was also built of the white stone that almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. They rode up the long avenue leading to the palace entrance from the gates, and were met by Imrahil and Amrothos on the front steps.
Lothiriel's youngest brother hurried forward to assist her down from the horse, and pull her into a warm embrace. "It is good to have you home, Thiri!" he murmured against her ear.
Returning the hug with equal fervor, she responded, "It is good to be here. I do hope you have been behaving while I was not here to keep an eye on you."
Snickering, Amrothos drew back slightly to look her up and down. "That will be the day! You look reasonably well. I suppose I will let your husband live."
Eomer had just dismounted and moved to join them. Now his hand clamped on the back of Amrothos' neck and he asked mildly, "What was that?" As Eomer was several inches taller, and a good thirty pounds heavier than the young prince, he was hardly intimated by his brother-in-law's comment.
Grinning, Amrothos answered, "I was just saying how delighted I am that you have come to visit us, Eomer!"
The king released him with a laugh, and the two men embraced. Imrahil now stepped forward and, after a greeting to his friend, he kissed his daughter's head. "Welcome, dearest. It is good to see you. Shall we step inside for refreshment?"
The four of them gathered in Imrahil's library, a less formal setting than his study would be, along with the newly collected Elfwine. Hild had cared for the child in the carriage whenever Lothiriel had been riding, but now Lothiriel reclaimed him. Having slept most of the past two hours, he was presently wide awake and looking around with interest at all the new faces and sights before him. Elphir and his family had joined them only moments after their arrival, so more greetings had ensued.
In short order, the two babies were playing together on the floor, with Alphros ensconced nearby with his own toys. Lothiriel and Alcathir sat close at hand to watch over them, leaving the men free to talk about topics of interest to them. After more than an hour, the visitors retired to their rooms to freshen themselves and rest before supper.
Once Elfwine had been nursed by Hild, Eomer, Lothiriel and the baby sat out on the balcony that overlooked the ocean, quietly talking. "The sea is…unexpected," Eomer ventured. "Despite all you told me of it, no words could quite convey the vastness, the smell or the sound of it. There seems almost a salty tang to the very air around us."
Lothiriel nodded in agreement, rocking Elfwine as she burped him. "Indeed. I am glad you were able to get away and come see it for yourself. Tomorrow, we will walk along the shore and I will let you get a closer view of it, among other things."
Eomer slanted her a look, but she only smiled mysteriously, and he decided not to press her for details. He trusted Lothiriel completely. At that thought, he realized just how true it was. He was totally comfortable in her presence, not feeling the need to hide anything of himself. Only Eowyn had ever shown him such complete acceptance, not expecting him to change anything about himself to suit her, and now Lothiriel did as well. It was a soothing thought, to know that she was there at day's end, content with who he was when so many others clamored for him to act or be different than was his nature. He allowed a satisfied smile to settle on his face as he sat in this restful venue, a beautiful wife and son beside him and a glorious sun beginning to set.
xxx
True to her word, the next day brought an outing to the seashore. Hild nursed Elfwine in the morning, but then they packed a nursing bottle along with a picnic lunch and set off to the Prince's private beach. They would be undisturbed there and not require an escort for safety.
On the way, Eomer asked, "Why did you not ask your family to join us? Or did you, and they were not available?"
"I did not invite them," Lothiriel replied. "You get so little time to yourself, that I thought perhaps just this once you might wish not to have others around you; well, except for your wife and son, that is."
Eomer grinned at her response. "Indeed! That is an enticing thought!" Moving ahead of her, toward the shore, he felt a sudden rush of freedom, a lifting of a weight from his shoulders. For the next few hours he need think of nothing more than enjoying himself and his family – a most welcome prospect.
Lothiriel called to him and he turned to find her motioning to her right. A colorful pavilion stood there, with an airy canvas roof to block the sun. Underneath there was a table on which to set their food, though Lothiriel had had blankets packed on which they could sit out in the sun if they wished. Dropping all their belongings there, Lothiriel handed Elfwine to Eomer and then took her husband's hand to lead him down to the water.
For the next hour they walked the shore, shedding their footwear so as to wade in the shallow breakers coming in, and Lothiriel told Eomer about all the sights and sounds he was experiencing for the first time. Like a small boy, Eomer soon had a pocketful of seashells he had collected, and Lothiriel watched him with quiet amusement as he carefully washed and dried them.
Returning to the pavilion, Lothiriel set out their dinner as Eomer put Elfwine down in a shady spot on a blanket to sleep. He had faded during their walkabout, though they knew he would soon waken and want feeding.
"I can see why you love your homeland so much," Eomer said quietly, looking over at Lothiriel after staring out at the sea while chewing on a roll. "Was it difficult for you to leave, to come so far away to a land that is so different than what you have always known?"
She considered his question, then shrugged. "In some ways it was, but I knew that I was taking the right step in coming to Rohan, and so it was not that hard to make my choice. And Rohan is a beautiful land in its own right. It is far different, yes, but I have enjoyed coming to know this new place. I hope when Elfwine is older you will allow me to travel with you on occasion to visit other places besides Edoras."
Eomer nodded. "Of course. I would be happy to have you along, and Elfwine also. Our people would like the opportunity to greet their queen and the heir to the throne." He paused for several minutes, then told her sincerely, "Lothiriel, I know these past few months have not been easy for you. I am sorry it is taking some of our people a long time to accept you, but I am grateful for your perseverance. You are a remarkable woman, and Rohan has no idea how blessed they are to have you as their queen."
Smiling in embarrassment, Lothiriel told him, "I am content with just your approbation, Eomer, but hopefully in time Rohan will not resent me so and I can be more effective."
Her comments pleased him, but reminded him of the earlier difficulty with Eledferth. "Have you resolved your differences with Eledferth? Last I spoke with her, she seemed almost to be championing your cause. She was like a mother to me and Eowyn when we came to live at Meduseld after our parents died, so I was distressed when she did not seem to support me in my choice of bride."
"It was not that she did not support you, Eomer. As I said then, the people who serve Meduseld and the king are concerned for his welfare. They want you to be happy and they were not convinced I was the person to bring that about. Many of them are still not convinced."
"I am, though. Perhaps our marriage is not what they would wish it to be, certainly it is not what I envisioned for myself any more than you did, but I do find contentment with you. I have been calmer, more relaxed and laughed more in your company than before we met. I do not regret seeking your hand, and I hope that I never make you regret accepting my suit."
With an odd smile that he could not decipher, Lothiriel answered, "I do not believe I will come to regret it, Eomer, and I am glad that I have been beneficial to you."
They lapsed into silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Beneficial – not exactly a glowing word for what she had brought to his life. She had filled a void, and helped him regain his footing and self-confidence. Only in the past month did he feel as though he was truly himself once more. He had not liked the man he had become when the kingship fell upon him, simultaneously with fatherhood. That Eomer had been insecure, uncertain, beleaguered. He was used to knowing his own mind and acting upon it, and she had given that back to him, persuading him to ignore his naysayers who would convince him his judgement was flawed. No, beneficial was not the most appropriate word for his having Lothiriel as his wife.
Elfwine began to wake and fuss, and soon both had turned their attention to the child. Once he had been fed, with Eomer taking another crack at it, they let the baby discover sand and it wasn't long before he was covered with it. Lothiriel showed Eomer how to build sandcastles, and he wryly commented, "You have some skill at this! I had no idea you were so talented!"
Laughing, Lothiriel explained, "I would spend hours doing this as a girl. My nurse would practically have to drag me off the beach when it was time to go inside. I am not certain what it was about them that appealed to me so, but I loved building them. Perhaps there was a sense of accomplishment."
Eomer took a stab at building his own castle, and though a bit misshapen, he did a creditable job. His son, however, apparently had little appreciation for the effort Eomer had expended, for only moments after he sat back in satisfaction, Elfwine crawled over and planted himself in the middle of it. Wiping at her tears of laughter, both at Elfwine's antics and the dismayed look on Eomer's face, Lothiriel suggested it might be best, at that point, if they returned to bathe Elfwine.
xxx
Gondor did have a few advantages over Rohan, Eomer mentally conceded as he sunk lower into the hot bath. Perhaps Faramir would know someone who might be able to come to Edoras and determine if it was possible to provide such bathing facilities there. Lugging hot water from the kitchen to pour in a tub that was carried into one's room was a long and tedious process, but at present the only means available to a person wishing to bathe in Edoras.
Life in general was slower-paced and relaxing in Gondor; well, at least it was for visitors who had left most of their concerns behind in their homeland for a while. Eomer couldn't remember the last time he had been so carefree. True, Rohan was never far from his thoughts, and there was still much to prey upon his mind even now, but things seemed much more manageable from this distance.
Ducking under the water, Eomer soaked his hair before resurfacing and beginning to wash. As pleasant as this was, he was due to meet Lothiriel shortly. He thought he had heard her mention something about sailing, and he had mixed emotions about it if that was her plan for them. While he was enjoying the sights and smells of the sea, he was not entirely sure he wished to venture forth upon it in a boat. Still, Lothiriel was looking forward to the outing with her two youngest brothers, so he felt he owed it to her to accompany them. Elfwine was to remain with Hild for this, as Lothiriel deemed it unsuitable for a child so young.
When at last he was dried and dressed, Eomer went to knock at Lothiriel's door. It was quickly opened, and clearly she was ready to go. With a smile and greeting, she caught his arm, guiding him toward the stairs. "I do hope you enjoy this, Eomer. We are going to sail to some of the small outer islands, and hopefully will bring back clams for supper."
At least the prospect of some sport sounded inviting, and Eomer grinned at his wife, "I am sure I will be fine, and certainly the company is pleasing. Do not fret about it."
Amrothos and Erchirion were waiting at the bottom of the stairs, surrounded by the equipment they had packed for the outing. "About time you two showed up," Amrothos teased. "I was beginning to think we should leave without you."
Lothiriel raised an eyebrow at her brother even while Eomer was feeling guilty, thinking perhaps he had delayed them. "You know very well that we are here even earlier than the time agreed upon, brother! Do not think to trouble us with your nonsense!"
Amrothos shrugged and gave an innocent grin. "Shall we eat and be on our way?" he asked nonchalantly.
Erchirion was shaking his head at the byplay of his siblings. "Come, Eomer. Ignore those two."
The four were quickly seated in the dining room and eating a light meal of bread, cheese and fruit, before gathering the supplies and heading to the boat dock. It was a sizeable craft that Erchirion owned, as he was an avid sailor and very much enjoyed spending his free time on the water. They got the supplies safely stowed, and helped Eomer get settled securely on a seat next to Lothiriel, before they got underway. Eomer couldn't quite stifle the lurch in his stomach as he watched solid ground retreat from him, but he was willing to trust Lothiriel, if not her brothers.
Once they had been traveling a short while, Eomer did finally begin to relax a little, aided by Lothiriel giving his arm a reassuring squeeze every so often. She seemed to sense his trepidation, and kept up a conversation to distract him from his unease. In truth, the view was quite different out here on the water than it had been from the shore, and once they got out a ways, the trip was smoother. A goodly wind was aiding their travel at this point, but Erchirion pointed out they might need to do some rowing on the way back if it didn't shift.
The sky was unbelievably blue overhead, and gulls cried at them as they flew lower to determine if there was food to be had. A pair of dolphins began following them, and Eomer watched with amazement as they played in the bow wake, ducking back and forth under the boat.
It did not take long to reach the first of the islands they planned to visit. Erchirion and Amrothos had made frequent visits to most of the islands, and knew their favorites almost by heart. They had even built small docks to tie up to when they visited, to make it easier to secure the boat while ashore. This particular island had much tropical fruit growing on it, and the four of them set about collecting some to carry with them and eat during the day. There was also a waterfall farther inland that they hiked to, though none of them were inclined to swim in the pool at the base. They refreshed themselves by soaking their feet while sitting on a flat rock that jutted out over the water, relaxing and enjoying each other's company. The brothers entertained Eomer with tales of their explorations of the islands when they were younger, and after about an hour they decided to wander on to the next stop on their agenda.
The second island was the best they had found for clam digging, and they soon had their equipment arrayed on the beach and were teaching Eomer the process. For a while, he mostly just watched the others find and retrieve the objects of their hunt, but eventually he was successful himself. The first find spurred him to greater effort, and he soon had contributed more than a dozen to their collection. Once they had filled three buckets, they returned to the boat and moved on to the final island. They set the buckets of clams and sea water in a shady spot while they set out on a hike around the island, but particularly to a high point that afforded a good view of the mainland.
As they resettled in the boat for the trip back to Dol Amroth, Eomer reflected that it had indeed been a pleasant outing. He was relieved he had not suffered the sickness he had heard sometimes took those who traveled in boats. Now that he was somewhat relaxed with the whole experience, he watched the nautical activities with more interest as they adjusted sails and prepared the boat for sailing. Glancing down at the buckets that Lothiriel was securing, he asked, "Why do you put them in salt water? Is that not just unnecessary weight?"
"They get sand and grit inside their shells, but if we let them soak in salt water for several hours, they will clean most of it out and taste better. And we want to keep them alive until we are ready to clean them."
Despite his enjoyment of the day's activities, Eomer was not at all certain he wished to eat these things sitting in the bucket. At the moment, they did not seem very appealing. As if reading his thoughts, Lothiriel smiled reassuringly and told him, "Once they are prepared and cooked, you will find them more appetizing. In the shell, they do not tend to excite one's craving."
Seating herself next to him as Amrothos shoved off, she asked, "Did you enjoy today?"
She could not conceal her evident desire for it to be so, and Eomer hastened to assure her he had. "Indeed. It was most pleasant, though I had a few qualms at first. I am glad you talked me into it."
Seeming relieved she nodded. "Good. I know such things are not to everyone's taste."
She turned her head to watch Erchirion and Amrothos setting the oars in place, and he realized that she had been worried about pleasing him. It both touched and worried him. He did not wish for her to be concerned about such things. Her very presence in his life had already proven a tremendous blessing, so he could hardly quibble about doing something that she enjoyed, regardless of whether it particularly interested him or not. The truth was, she asked virtually nothing of him. She had given him a great deal, but taken nothing in return. This was a very small repayment for her sacrifices, and not an unenjoyable one for him. He would have to make a greater effort to let her know of his approbation.
88888
Minleoth - "my song"
Alcathir - "shining face"
Eledferth – head housekeeper - "fiery spirit"
Cafliss - "quick joy"
Eomer married in April of 3018; his wife bears a son in his absence and dies during childbirth (in Jan 3019)