Amrothos entered the hall and looked about for Eomer. He found him sitting at one of the many tables, Lothiriel beside him. Eothain appeared to be telling an animated story involving himself, Eomer, a large quantity of ale, and a rather unfortunate stable boy to Lothiriel and Frea, who were both nearly crying with laughter. Amrothos approached the group.
"Good morning Amrothos!" Lothiriel said cheerily.
"Is it, sister?" Amrothos grumbled, flopping ungracefully onto the bench beside her. Lothiriel and the other men exchanged looks; Frea braved speaking first.
"Is your arm troubling you, milord?" Frea asked softly. Amrothos scowled.
"No, it's not my arm." Amrothos said, casting a dark look at the neatly hidden stump, "though I have been waking up all through the night believing it has magically regrown, that was not what cost me sleep the last seven nights."
More looks were exchanged, more confused than the previous ones.
"Was the bed uncomfortable?" Lothiriel asked, looking quite distressed. "I'm sure we could find you some more pillows, perhaps more like the ones in Dol Amroth?"
Amrothos shook his head. "No, it wasn't the bed or the pillows."
"Too cold?" Eomer suggested. Amrothos rolled his eyes.
"No, the blankets were fine."
"Lonely?" Eothain said with a tiny leer, earning a swat from Lothiriel. Amrothos shook his head again. A third chorus of looks were exchanged, now bordering on exasperated.
"For Bema's sake Amrothos," Eofor griped, "just tell us what's been keeping you awake."
Amrothos shook his head again, and the group sighed in irritated unison. A stable boy appeared and called Frea, Eofor, and Eothain away; Lothiriel's attention was diverted by a serving girl who seemed to be in the midst of a hysterical crying-fit ("I'm s-s-sorry, milady, but we d-d-dropped it!") and she pressed a kiss to both Amrothos and Eomer's foreheads before letting the girl drag her away. The two men sat awkwardly at the table for a few long moments. Finally, Eomer made to get up but was stopped by Amrothos' hand on his arm.
"Can I speak plainly, Eomer?"
Eomer raised an eyebrow in confusion and Amrothos motioned for him to sit back down. "I know we haven't gotten along," Amrothos was interrupted by Eomer's snort, "but I was wondering if I might ask a serious question."
Eomer nodded and Amrothos continued. "Might I ask why that out of all the rooms in this grand building you call Edoras I was given the room directly across from the newlyweds?"
Now, typically Eomer was a generally alert person, but as he was currently somewhat sleep-deprived as well (though from a much desirable reason than poor Amrothos), he unwisely responded with: "Your point being?"
Amrothos rubbed his eyes, looking very much like he would rather be back in said room than having this particular conversation, replied, "Look Eomer…usually stamina would be something to be applauded, but…" Eomer was looking more lost by the second and finally Amrothos said in a rush, "Thewallsaretoobloodythin."
"What?" Eomer asked.
Amrothos groaned. "The. Walls. Are. Too. Bloody. Thin."
Realization dawned on the King of Rohan of his brother-in-law's implications and he nearly choked on the sip of water he had just taken. Amrothos thumped him kindly (if somewhat embarrassedly) on the back. "That's why I didn't say anything before." Amrothos explained. "Lothiriel would've died and then come back to murder me."
Eomer bit his tongue to restrain himself from saying Amrothos wasn't too safe with him either; but there was no malicious intent in the Prince of Dol Amroth's eyes, so Eomer relented not to kill him.
Only maim.
Slightly.
"So in other words," Eomer finally said after he was able to speak again, "you'd like a different room?"
oOo
What the serving girls had dropped turned out to one of the many vases Lothiriel and Eomer had been presented with as wedding gifts, a fact that did not bother Lothiriel in the least.
"It's alright girls, it was a horrid vase anyways." Lothiriel soothed. Once she had sufficiently proved she was not angry with them, the girls were much more relaxed and Lothiriel was able to excuse herself to go to the garden. It was one of her most favorite places in Edoras, and she wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could, as fall was rapidly drawing to a close and Rohan's winters were much harsher than Gondor's. She sat on a stone bench and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the sun on her face. There was a sharp snap as someone stepped on a fallen twig; Lothiriel's eyes flew open. A girl-no woman-was standing before her, grinning impishly. She had long blonde hair, brown eyes, and held herself in the stance of nobility.
"The serving girls said I might find you here."
Lothiriel stood and gave her a smile.
"And here you have found me. You seem to know who I am—"
"There are few who don't, my lady." The woman laughed. "All the nobles have been aflutter about the Gondorian Princess who captured our King's heart and become our Queen."
Lothiriel pursed her lips. "I'm certain not all of that 'flutter' has been pleasant things."
"They rarely are, even about their own ladies." The woman conceded. "I thought it best to meet you before making my judgment."
"Typically when meeting someone, they give me their name." Lothiriel said. The woman flushed.
"I beg your pardon, my lady. I am Aelwen, daughter of Hyrde from Snowbourne."
Lothiriel knew who Hyrde was; he was one of the only advisors who had made an attempt to get to know her, which automatically improved Aelwen's standing with her.
"Then it is an honor to meet you." Lothiriel sat back down, motioning for Aelwen to join her. "So tell me, Lady Aelwen of Snowbourne, what things have been 'fluttered' about me?"
Aelwen laughed and described the foolish things a few of the ladies had been saying.
It was in the midst of their joint laughter that Lothiriel realized just how much she had missed having a friend in Edoras.
oOo
Over the next few days, Lothiriel and Aelwen's friendship blossomed (only after Lothiriel made sure with both Eomer and Eowyn that Aelwen could be trusted). The two women were sitting, as they were wont to do, in the garden, a blanket spread over their laps as they giggled while reading a book together. Both women adored reading (though Aelwen's knowledge of titles was limited compared to the vast libraries Lothiriel had grown up with), and it was the first thing that had united them completely. In this instance, they were reading a favorite of Aelwen's, a humorous tale by the name of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Lothiriel was enthralled. She was laughing at a particularly "naughty" sentence Aelwen had just read when a voice was heard.
"Isn't it a bit cold to be out in the garden?"
Lothiriel and Aelwen's heads shot up.
"Hence why we have the blanket, brother."
Amrothos stepped into view, chuckling.
"Why does it not surprise me that I find you reading instead of doing your 'Queenly Duties'?" Amrothos teased. Lothiriel rolled her eyes at him.
"Lady Aelwen, let me introduce you to my very rude brother, Lord Amrothos of Dol Amroth."
"I know perfectly well who he is." Aelwen spat, giving Amrothos a cold look.
Lothiriel looked back and forth between her brother and friend; Amrothos seemed as confused as she was by the animosity.
"I'm afraid I don't know you, my lady Aelwen, or how I have already managed to offend you." Amrothos said. Aelwen scoffed.
"That does not surprise me in the least. You, unlike your sister, are everything that Gondorians have been made out to be; arrogant, unfeeling, and discourteous."
Lothiriel's eyes went wide as Amrothos' narrowed.
"Aelwen! Might I remind you that is my brother you're speaking to." Lothiriel hissed, desperate to diffuse the situation. Aelwen's hostile behavior was very unlike her; the Rohirric noblewoman was much more prone to clever teasing and a quick sense of wit.
"Your brother was intimate with my chambermaid." Aelwen said bluntly. Lothiriel flushed and Amrothos shrugged nonchalantly.
"W-well…not to seem callous, but I fail to see how that warrants the description you've just given him…" Lothiriel blurted. Aelwen gave Amrothos another dark look.
"And her sister. And another of the serving girls."
Lothiriel's face drained of color.
"Amrothos!" She cried.
"What? It's not as if Erchirion's totally innocent either…I didn't force myself upon them!" Amrothos said, returning Aelwen's hateful stare with one of his own.
"No," Aelwen said coldly, "you just made them believe that a nobleman could love them."
With that she stood. "I'm sorry to have been the one to reveal his character to you, Lothiriel. If I offended you at all, my friend, it was not my intent." She gave Amrothos one more poisonous look and then stalked inside. Amrothos sat down beside Lothiriel, shaking his head.
"A piece of work, that one is. Come on, Thiri, there must be a better sort for you to make friends with here."
Lothiriel ignored him, cradling her head in her hands. Amrothos, growing uneasy with his sister's silence, touched her shoulder. "Thiri?"
"You," She hissed, "never cease to amaze me."
"Lothiriel, what on Middle Earth are you talking about?"
Lothiriel abruptly stood up and glared at her brother.
"I would've thought after all those girls, all those times you were nearly skewered by angry fathers, chased out of houses by 'surprised' fiancés, you would've actually learned something!"
Amrothos chuckled nervously.
"They'll get over it soon enough, I never said I loved any of them—"
"Of course you didn't!" Lothiriel shrieked. "Of course you didn't, because 'Lord Amrothos of Dol Amroth, the great Captain of Gondor' never falls in love! A roll in the hay there, a kiss here, what does it matter? Can you not understand what it means to care about someone so much you'd put your life down for them? To want their happiness above your own, to walk into a room and it feels empty if they're not in it? No, because you've never tried. That's what you've been to countless girls, Amrothos. And yet you brush them aside like they're nothing!" Lothiriel paused in her tirade and rubbed her eyes. "I love you, Amrothos, but one day you're going to wake up and find yourself very alone. And that fact will have very little to do with your arm."
Amrothos stared at her, blinking rapidly. Lothiriel had been bottling up that speech for quite some time, ever since the first woman at court had giggled about 'being with her brother', and being able to say it now was a rather large weight off her chest.
"Lothiriel—"
She stopped him with her hand.
"Don't. Think about what I've said. And if you want to start moving in the right direction, my suggestion would to apologize to the ladies and then to Aelwen."
"To Aelwen?" Amrothos squawked indignantly. "I don't see how I owe her an apology!"
The corners of Lothiriel's mouth twitched upward.
"The people of Rohan are very proud, Amrothos. More proud than you even, if that's possible. You've wounded her pride."
"She wounded mine!" Amrothos muttered petulantly. Lothiriel snorted.
"Which you deserved."
Amrothos managed to look hurt. Lothiriel sighed and kissed his forehead. "Mellon le."
Amrothos caught her wrist.
"Promise?"
"Always." Lothiriel said with a smile. "Even if you are a great arse."
Amrothos shrugged.
"You know how I adore my title."
Laughing, Lothiriel walked back inside taking her book with her, leaving Amrothos to his thoughts.
Let's hope you don't take Elphir's title of stupidgreat arse.
oOo
Eomer was entrenched in papers when a knock came from his door. Without looking up, he muttered "Enter" and heard the scraping of the door over the floor.
Probably another servant come to give me more ideas from the advisors…Bema above don't those men ever sleep?
So Eomer's surprise was greater than it might've been if he had looked up when his wife quite suddenly dropped into his lap. He let out a soft grunt as she burrowed herself close to him, seeming quite agitated.
"Not that I'm complaining," Eomer said softly, "but to what do I owe this lovely surprise?"
"Have you ever been with any of the serving girls?"
Eomer froze. Of all of the things to come out of Lothiriel's mouth, this was by far the most unpleasant and unexpected. But she obviously was expecting an answer, looking up at him with those grey-green eyes of hers, her entire body basically saying well?
"When I was young and foolish, yes. Not at all any time recently."
Lothiriel giggled slightly at this, realizing he had mistaken her question for anger at him.
"I think I would've noticed if you'd been disappearing at odd hours of the night, a'mellonamin."
Eomer let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.
"Especially considering we were rather occupied at those odd hours, my love." He said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Lothiriel laughed again and Eomer tilted her head toward his to look her in the eyes. "Now, what was that all about?"
Lothiriel sighed.
"Amrothos."
Eomer scowled; if the man were not Lothiriel's brother (and not missing an arm) he would threaten to have him returned to Dol Amroth bound and gag (though grudgingly he knew Amrothos had some admirable qualities). "He's been with a few serving girls. Aelwen's to be precise."
Eomer snorted.
"Then he doesn't value his life very much."
Lothiriel gave him a confused look.
"Why do you say that?"
"Lothiriel, you, my love, are a likeable person. You befriended Aelwen and therefore have her respect and regard. Amrothos, on the other hand, has made an enemy of her, which, since you are her friend, you would not know how unfortunate that particular position is."
"What, does she turn into some sort of Wraith or something? Devour men's souls whole?"
Eomer chuckled.
"Something very much like that, actually."
Lothiriel gave him a swat.
"You can't be serious."
"Oh, but I am. Just mention her name to Eothain; he nearly fainted when I told him that you two were becoming friends."
Lothiriel giggled at the thought. Unflappable and charming Eothain being afraid of the witty and kind Aelwen?
"How strange. I think I'll have to test that myself, Eomer."
She gave him a soft kiss that he quickly deepened. Lothiriel giggled and gently disengaged herself, rising gracefully to her feet. Eomer barely suppressed a growl; she gave him an amused look. "Something wrong, my lord?"
"And just where are you hurrying off to?"
"Oh you know, wander here and there, look pretty, order stable boys about…the typical Queenly things, I suppose." Lothiriel shrugged, contrived innocence in her eyes. He stood rapidly and towered over her. Lothiriel quickly found herself pinned between Eomer and his desk.
"And shouldn't kissing your King fall under Queenly duties?" Eomer asked, voice husky, trapping Lothiriel between his arms. Lothiriel bit her lip in mock distress.
"Oh I suppose they may, if one were so inclined."
Eomer kissed her neck then, and Lothiriel could practically feel her voice of reason shrinking…he kissed one side and then the other and Lothiriel was certain she would soon lose the ability to form coherent speech.
"Are you so inclined, my lady?" Eomer asked, pausing enough to look her in the eyes; she noticed his eyes had darkened considerably in color, as they often did before they engaged in amorous activities. Not bothering with any more banter, Lothiriel said quite simply,
"Yes."
Eomer grinned quickly before kissing her full on the lips; it never ceased to amaze Lothiriel that even if she had just been kissed by him seconds before that her heart raced like the very first time, and she could only hope it would still be that way when they were old and grey.
Apparently Eomer was suffering from the same side-effects of being in love (i.e. recklessness, giddiness, and general disregard for furniture and/or clothing) and scooped her up before depositing her on the desk behind them. Lothiriel gave a small squeak at this that was quickly muffled by Eomer's mouth. Giggling, she tried to gain some control on the situation.
"Eomer, someone will see." She whispered in between kisses along his jawline. She was certain something along the lines of I-don't-bloody-care was muttered before he kissed her again. Giving in, Lothiriel wrapped her arms around his neck and the moment progressed. That was, until a rather rude interruption arrived in the nosy form of Eothain.
"Hah! It seems Amrothos wasn't exaggerating for once! You two truly can't keep your hands off each other!"
Lothiriel flushed red from head to toe and hid her face in Eomer's chest; Eomer glared at Eothain in his infamous "say-anything-else-and-you'll-be-going-home-in-pieces" fashion. Eothain wisely chose to look ashamed and quickly made his exit, closing (and locking) the door behind him.
"I told you." Lothiriel whispered miserably. "I knew someone would see."
Eomer laughed, earning a glare from his wife.
"Let them see. Perhaps then the advisors will leave me alone about heirs…"
Lothiriel attempted to give an indignant harrumph at this, but was quite distracted by another of Eomer's kisses. "At the very least," Eomer muttered while trying to untie her dress, "I won't dread going to this room any longer."
And Lothiriel found she had little argument for that.
oOo
Stupid woman. Amrothos mused mentally, stalking down the hallway to where the serving girls (all giggling, all blonde, all eyeing him appreciatively despite the missing arm) had directed him to Aelwen. He banged on the door rather viciously. Aelwen opened the door, looked up at him, and crossed her arms.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" Aelwen said, sarcasm dripping from the last word.
Stupid sarcastic woman.
"I came to apologize." Amrothos spat, loading as much sarcasm as he could into his own last word. Aelwen eyed him suspiciously and tapped her foot as if to say and? Amrothos barely suppressed a curse. If this woman was not Lothiriel's friend…Gritting his teeth, Amrothos continued. "I, Amrothos of Dol Amroth, am deeply sorry for crossing the lines of propriety and doing wrong (more sarcasm) to your housemaids. I have already apologized to them, and I cannot begin to express my sorrow at displeasing you, and will do whatever I can to alleviate the pain I may have caused."
Aelwen's face lit with a mischievous grin, and Amrothos was suddenly struck by how pretty she was.
"Whatever you can, eh?"
Oh shit. Amrothos knew that look. He had received it countless times from Lothiriel over the years, right before she made him feel like a stupid-arse. And if Amrothos was sure of anything, it was that Aelwen would not hesitate to make sure he became the KING of stupid-arses.
Stupid sarcastic pretty woman.
oOo
The next day, Lothiriel was sitting at a table in the hall, leisurely eating her breakfast, when one of the serving girls hurried over, nearly bursting forth in laugher.
"My lady!" The girl cried. "You must see this!"
The girl grabbed Lothiriel's nearest hand and gave her a tug. Lothiriel allowed herself to be led outside, to the stables, where Aelwen stood outside, looking oddly triumphant.
"Good morning, my dear lady Lothiriel!" Aelwen said cheerily, beaming at her friend. Confused, Lothiriel attempted a smile.
"And good morning to you too, Aelwen…might I ask what we're doing, standing here?"
"It will become quite obvious in just a moment, I assure you." Aelwen said with a bobbing nod of her head. Lothiriel's eyebrows drew together in confusion. Quite suddenly, what appeared to be a pile of horse manure came flying out of the stable, accompanied by a string of Elvish curses. Lothiriel's hand flew to her mouth and she looked at Aelwen in horrified amusement. "Oh yes," said Aelwen, looking quite devious, "your brother vowed to alleviate my displeasure by any means necessary."
Lothiriel nearly fell to the ground, laughing. Amrothos' head appeared in the stable's doorway. He glared at his sister.
"You would find this amusing, wouldn't you?"
Lothiriel continued to laugh, and was joined by Aelwen. Amrothos strode out of the stable, shirtless, which was unsurprising to Lothiriel (but still managed to raise an admiring sigh from all other females in the vicinity). Lothiriel's laughter cut off, however, when she caught sight of his face, and then of his mangled arm. It was undeniable in the clear morning sunlight, just how much Amrothos had lost. While the stump at his elbow was clean, it reminded Lothiriel very much of a tree that had been sawed through by a jagged saw. Amrothos flung the shovel at Aelwen's feet. "I believe I've finished, my lady."
Aelwen had the decency to look stricken and gave a quick nod.
"I agree, my lord. Thank you for your help."
Amrothos gave her a curt nod, snatched up his shirt, and stormed inside. Lothiriel hesitated going after him. "I didn't mean to insult him." Aelwen said in a hushed voice. "I only meant to teach him a lesson, not rub the fact that he's missing a limb in his face."
Lothiriel gave her a sympathetic pat on the arm.
"I know, Aelwen. He's always been proud. He'll get over it soon enough; if not, it's not as if you two were friends in the first place."
Aelwen nodded, thought she still looked downtrodden.
That may be true, Lothiriel, but then why do I feel so horrible?
Aelwen gave her friend a small smile and the Lothiriel rushed off inside, following the angry path her brother had taken.
oOo
"Go away Lothiriel." Amrothos growled at the banging from his door. The banging stopped for a minute, and then roared back with renewed vigor. "Lothiriel, I said, leave me be!" The knocking continued, and Amrothos lept to his feet and wrenched the door open. "Damn it all, Thiri, why can't you—"
It was not Lothiriel nearly banging his door down.
It was Aelwen.
Looking sheepish.
And embarrassed.
And completely adorable.
Stop that, Amrothos, she's the enemy!
"What do you want?" Amrothos hissed. Aelwen blushed slightly.
"To apologize." She said, the tiniest hint of a grin tugging at her mouth. Amrothos shrugged, an unspoken sign to continue. "I, Aelwen of Snowbourne, offer my most sincere apologies for taking advantage of your apology. I will do anything, within the bounds of propriety, to alleviate the pain I've caused you."
Despite everything, Amrothos could not fight the smirk that rose to his face.
"Must it be within the bounds of propriety?"
"Yes." Aelwen said firmly. Amrothos pouted for a moment before grinning wickedly.
"I've got a brilliant idea…"
oOo
Bema above, deliver me from devious Princes…
Aelwen, in all her life, had never pictured herself in this particular situation. And yet here she was, she, the daughter of a well-known and respected advisor, a woman with a reputation for being as fierce as any man, a woman who never let anyone dictate her life, fanning the strutting Swan of the South, as he reclined upon a bench, popping grapes into his mouth.
"Doing alright back there, Aelwen dear?" Amrothos asked chirpily.
Aelwen muttered something that would have made the stoutest rider in the Rohirrim blink; as it was, Eothain and Eomer snickered from their seats somewhere to her left. Lothiriel gave her a friendly look that somehow managed to say you did ask for it. In all honesty, Amrothos could've picked something far worse and Aelwen would not have stopped him; her 'retribution', as it were, had gone too far, and she was all too happy to keep the scoreboard even.
Such is the territory of befriending Queens, I suppose. She mused. Though if Amrothos told her to fan faster one more time, she might drop the fan right on his pompous face…but then he smiled at her, truly smiled, and Aelwen understood why all her serving girls had gone mad for him.
oOo
Despite Amrothos' rather embarrassing complaints, the King and Queen's room was occasionally a quiet place. At the moment, Lothiriel was curled against Eomer, silently reveling in the steady thumping of his heart against her ear.
"Aragorn and Arwen announced their impending parenthood to all of Gondor." She said softly. Eomer, busy running his fingers through her hair, nodded.
"I know."
Lothiriel propped her chin up on his chest and looked steadily into his eyes.
"I feel as though I've failed somehow."
"What?" Eomer said, startled. Lothiriel blinked back the irrational tears that were brewing in her eyes.
"I feel that I'm…I'm not doing something right. I know the advisors have been saying things, not to mention the people…"
"Lothiriel."
She stopped and looked at him. He captured her face between his hands. "I don't care for anyone else's opinions on this matter; it's our life."
They were both silent for a while; the crackling of the fire was the only noise to be heard in the room. Finally, he said "I love you."
Lothiriel pressed closer to him, wrapping her arms around him as she did so.
"I love you too, a'mellonamin."
"Then we don't need to worry about anything else." He caught her chin and forced her to look at him. "You're not allowed to worry about anything else."
Lothiriel's eyes sparkled a bit.
"More orders, my lord?"
"I am King." Eomer said regally, earning a laugh from his wife.
"My King." Lothiriel agreed sleepily. Eomer kissed her forehead, and both drifted to sleep.
oOo
Down the hall, in the farthest room from the King and Queen's, Amrothos turned restlessly.
Bloody hell, he thought, punching his pillow, now it's too damn quiet.
oOo
Author's Note: I'M SORRY TO KEEP YOU ALL WAITING! (again)
But on a happier note, this chapter was an absolute BLAST to write. It might be one of my favorites thus far. Oh Amrothos, I just love to torture you. Don't worry, all his suffering will be rewarded….*coughAELWENcough* What? Spoilers you say? BLASPHEMY! And oh, how I loved writing Eomer and Amrothos' awkward conversation. Wouldn't you just love to have to tell the man married to your sister that they're a bit too "vocal"? Heheheh Eomer's probably scarred for life…and poor Lothiriel. Those darn advisors CLEARLY didn't learn their lesson. So what does everyone think of Aelwen? I'm trying really hard not to make her a Mary-Sue, so critiques or suggestions would be AWESOME!
I really must thank each and every one of you that has read, reviewed, faved, and watched this story. It means so much.
Reviews, as always, are better than awkward conversations and a shirtless Amrothos ;)
A Midsummer Night's Dream obviously belongs to Shakespeare, and I couldn't resist paying homage to the Bard. God, how I love that man.