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Lothíriel Queen, Queen Amie and her court had lunch with Queen Arwen after the exhibition.
When Amie returned to the Royal suite she smiled when she saw her husband taking a nap and got in the bed beside him.
xxx
"This is Damon and he'll be your squire from this day forward Lord Mercer," Elan told him when he returned to his suite.
"My Lord," Damon said with a bow.
"Hello Damon," he replied studying the young man from the North.
"King Elessar will announce your daughter's betrothal to Lord Uri at the Reception this evening," Elan told Lord Mercer.
xxx
"Where have you been?" Lilith asked her son when she opened the door to her room later that evening.
"Visiting friends," he answered when he walked into her room.
"I didn't know you knew anyone in Minas Tirith," she said.
"I've been here a few times," he replied, but didn't elaborate.
A few minutes later he escorted his mother out of her room.
xxx
Prince Faramir chuckled to himself when he saw the look in Lord Uri's eyes when Lady Lindra walked into view with her father.
"You look beautiful Lady Lindra," Uri said to her.
"Thank you Lord Uri," she replied smiling.
Lord Mercer beamed.
Lady Lindra wore a dark blue flowing silk skirt with an attached long sleeved white bodice. Her white gold circlet is adorned at the center with a large round sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Diamonds surrounded the 10 smaller round sapphire stones on her white gold diamond necklace.
Lord Balar and his wife Lady Jaya appeared next. Lady Jaya wore a white and gold trimmed full silk sari dress and part of her sari covered her left arm. She also wore her circlet and gold and diamond jewels in her ears with a matching necklace.
Her dress is different, yet very beautiful, Faramir thought.
When Lady Ming appeared on her husband's arm she had on a ankle length straight light green silk dress. What made her dress so stunning were the many delicate pearls sown-in from the collar, down close to her right breast, and down to her right hip in one continuous pattern. A pearl and diamond bracelet was on her left wrist, and she also wore her circlet.
Another unusual, but very elegant dress, Faramir thought.
Their husbands and Lord Uri were dressed in their formal light weight gray silk coats, black boots and black pants. They each wore a Mithril chain around their necks with a medallion donating their stations.
When King Elessar, Queen Arwen, King Adair, Queen Amie, Éomer King and Lothíriel Queen arrived, everyone bowed or curtsied to the Royal Couples.
King Elessar has on his formal military dress uniform and Queen Arwen wore a magnificent sky blue dress that had a small train in the back. The traditional elven sleeves were much fuller and longer. She wore her long black hair down her back with the elven Queen's silver circlet.
Prince Faramir thought she looked radiate as always, but not as beautiful as his wife who wore a beautiful white dress and her beautiful gold circlet.
King Adair wore a red silk coat with a high collar and gold threads were embroidered throughout. The gold tassel rope belt hung down around his waist on the left side. His pants and boots are black and His Majesty's crown magnificent. Her Grace looked stunning in her ivory silk full skirt with a light green sash around the waist that went down to the end of her skirt on the right side. Her ivory bodice has a high collar and the sleeves came just past her elbows. She wore emerald and diamond earrings in her ears and has her emerald and diamond wedding band on her right ring finger.
Faramir noticed Queen Amie's circlet is different from the one she wore last evening.
Éomer King is dressed in his formal military uniform and he wore his gold crown, which is also a circlet. Lothíriel Queen wore a lovely peach colored gown and wore the jeweled necklace her husband gave to her on their wedding day. She also wore the Queens gold circlet.
xxx
When the doors opened to the Reception Hall everyone stopped what they were doing and bowed to the Royal Couples when they entered. Faramir announced their liege and their Queen. Then he introduced his Majesty Adair, King of the North and her Grace Amie, Queen of the North, Éomer King and Lothíriel Queen of Rohan, and then the Lords and Ladies from the North and Lord Mercer and Lady Lindra from Gondor.
There were murmurs in the room when the Gondorian Lords and Ladies saw the Lords and Ladies from the North.
Lord's Delmar and Huor, along with the other Lords and Ladies were surprised to see Lord Mercer and Lady Lindra with the Royal Couples. They were also surprised to see how they were dressed.
Lilith breath caught when she saw her daughter and thought she looked every bit a Queen and saw her formal circlet of emeralds and diamonds woven throughout her hair.
Haldar saw King Adair's crown is very different from his Liege's and Éomer King's crown. The large round diamond at the center sparkled and he thought the rubies magnificent. He then looked at his sister. "Amie is very lovely mother," he said.
Lilith didn't respond and never took her eyes off her beautiful daughter.
The Princesses of Dol Amroth and the elves commented how regal the King and Queen of the North look.
xxx
"I see Lord Mercer and Lady Lindra's fortunes have changed," one Lord said to his wife.
"It appears so," she replied. She knew Lord Mercer could never afford to buy his daughter those stunning jewels and clothes and wondered where he got them from.
"What do you think of the Lords and Ladies from the North?" he turned and asked his wife.
"They and their clothes are very different and King Adair is not what I expected," she answered.
Her husband knew exactly what his wife meant.
xxx
"King Elessar has an announcement to make," Faramir said after the introductions.
The room quieted down.
"Lord Uri, the Lord of the East, has asked for Lady Lindra's hand in marriage and her father has given his consent. King Adair will marry them when they return to the North and Lady Lindra will be one of Queen Amie's Ladies-in-Waiting. Queen Amie is from South Gondor and her mother, Madam Lilith, is here along with her brother Haldar. Madam Lilith is leaving Gondor to live with her daughter in the North. When she arrives King Adair will sign a Royal Decree making her Lady Lilith," King Elessar told his guests.
Lilith was stunned. She never expected to become part of the Nobility and looked at King Adair, who winked at her, and saw her daughter smiling at her.
Haldar was also surprised and realized he'll be the only one in his family without a title, which he's always coveted, but will forever be out of his reach.
Lord Mercer then handed his daughter to Lord Uri, who took her arm in his and smiled at her and she returned the smile.
Elan smirked when she saw the surprised looks on the Gondorian Lord's and Ladies faces.
xxx
Prince Faramir then introduced all the Lords and Ladies pf Gondor to King Adair, Queen Amie and their Court.
xxx
"My granddaughter is finally getting married and she'll be part of the Queen of the North's Court," Lord Huor said looking at Lord Delmar.
Lord Delmar nodded his head. He saw his nephew talking to King Adair and knows he can't afford those clothes and jewels on the monthly allowance he gives him.
"Let's congratulated the happy couple," Lord Huor said.
xxx
"I see your sister had done well for herself," Lord Galir said to Haldar when he walked up to him.
"Yes she has my Lord," Haldar said with a bow. "She married a King."
"I can see that," he replied with a sneer. "Do they have any children?"
"A son and a daughter," Haldar answered. "I see you've also done well for yourself my Lord."
"Yes I have," he replied and walked away.
xxx
Queen Arwen knows Lord Uri loves Lady Lindra and her heart told her Lady Lindra will come to love him in time. She also knows her guest don't know what to make of the ones from the Far East and saw hate in some of their hearts. When her husband told her the customs and clothes of the people from the Far East were different, she couldn't image how different until she met them and saw how they dress. Arwen's also happy to see Éomer King and Lothíriel Queen are now very fond of each other. She knew their marriage was arranged and it would take them some time to get to know one another, unlike King Adair and Queen Amie. Even she could see they were meant when she first met them, just like she and her husband.
xxx
King Elessar and Prince Imrahil saw Lord's Huor and Delmar across the room. Lord Huor gave his granddaughter a kiss on both cheeks when he walked up to her and is very happy for her. On the other hand, Lord Delmar's smile never reached his eyes when he talked to Lord Uri, his nephew and Lady Lindra. Prince Imrahil noticed Lord Uri doesn't like Lord Delmar by Lord Uri's bearing and nor does Lord Mercer.
"Where's Lady Rina?" King Elessar asked.
"Lord Delmar said she's ill and she couldn't come" Prince Imrahil answered.
"This is what I want you to do..." King Elessar said to Prince Imrahil.
xxx
"I see your wife, my wife and her Court are talking to the Ladies from Gondor," Adair said to Éomer. "I'm glad I don't know any Gondorian dances."
Éomer laughed, but didn't see the many heads turn their way.
"You have a very lovely wife Your Majesty," Adair said to the King of Rohan.
"I know," Éomer replied with a twinkle in his eyes and took a sip of his ale.
xxx
"A week ago none of the Lords or Ladies in this room would've given Lord Mercer or Lady Lindra the time of day. Now look at them," Lilith said to Elan.
"That's because Lord Uri is going to marry Lady Lindra and she'll become part of the Queen Amie's Court," Elan replied.
"How did you know?" Lilith asked Elan after taking a sip of her elvish wine.
"I'm a seer-witch," she answered.
Lilith laughed.
"But I didn't know who the young woman would be, only that she'll be someone from Gondor," Elan told her.
"Did Lord Uri know?" she asked.
"Not until he saw her," Elan answered.
"What about her dowry from Lord Uri?" Lilith asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I had a feeling he'd need one," Elan answered smiling. "Lord Uri fell in love with her and not her station in life."
Lilith thought about her daughter. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "Do you have anything prepared for me?"
"No," Elan answered.
They both laughed.
xxx
"I want to escort by granddaughter and her betrothed around the room," Lord Huor said to Lord Delmar.
"Of course," Lord Delmar replied.
Lord Uri could feel the tension between the two men.
"What exactly does the Lord of the East do Mercer?" Lord Delmar asked his nephew after Lord's Huor and Uri, along with Lady Lindra excused themselves.
"Lord Uri is over all he Lords in the East and he's the King's Royal Messenger and the Captain of his army in the East," he answered looking his uncle in the eye. "Lord Erik is Lord of the West and over all of the Lords in the West and he's the King's Royal Messenger in the West and speaks for the King in all matters. The same as Lord Uri does in the East."
"Why does King Adair need a Royal Messenger for the East and the West?" Lord Delmar asked.
"Lord Erik grew up in the West and Lord Uri grew up in the East. Lord Erik knows nothing about the East and has never been there. Lord Uri grew up in the East and knows nothing about the West. Lord Uri and I grew up in the East, along with my and Her Grace's Court. The East are the plains like Rohan and the West is similar to Gondor," King Adair answered when he and Éomer King walked up to the two Lords.
The Lords bowed to the two Kings.
"His Majesty was telling me that the second, third and fourth sons of the Lord's in the West either move Eastward or further North when they become of age," Éomer King told them.
Lord Delmar knows why. "I was told you have a son and daughter your Majesty," Lord Delmar said.
"Yes I do," Adair replied and turned and his heel and walked away with Éomer King.
King Adair and Éomer King didn't miss the look on the Lord Delmar's face when he found out King Adair grew up on the plains.
"Lord Delmar thinks we're uncivilized," Adair said to Éomer when they walked away.
"I know, but the Lords of Gondor will marry one of their daughters to an uncivilized King" Éomer replied.
"So would the Lords in the North," Adair said laughing.
xxx
After the Reception everyone followed King Elessar and Queen Arwen into the Hall of Feasts. Her Grace Amie sat on King Elessar's right at the High Table and his Majesty Adair sat on Queen Arwen's left. Éomer King sat on her Grace's right and Lothíriel Queen sat on King Adair's left.
The elves sat at their own table, except Prince Legolas who was seated at another table next to Gimli. Merry and Pippin were also at the same table, along with Lord Uri, Elan, Lilith and her son. Elan sat on Gimli's right.
Lord Mercer and Lady Lindra sat at the table with the Princesses from Dol Amroth, Prince Faramir and Princess Éowyn, which didn't go unnoticed by the Lords and Ladies of Gondor, especially Lord Delmar.
Lord Balar and Lady Jaya sat at a table with the other Lord's and Ladies from Gondor, as did Lord Khan and Lady Ming.
During dinner the Lords and Ladies from the North noticed the tight smiles on the faces of the Lords and Ladies from Gondor while they conversed with them.
The feast was grand and after dinner everyone went to the ballroom and danced. The Lords and Ladies from Gondor knew the ones from the North didn't know their dances and didn't expect any of them to dance with them – and they were relieved.
Elan was engrossed in a conversation with Gimli and told him their people traded with the dwarves for almost an age.
"How did Adair, the first of his name, come by his sword?" Gimli asked after taking a gulp of his ale.
"I was only told that he and his men saved a company of dwarves from the foul things and one of them made Adair his sword as a thank you," she answered.
"That sounds like something one of my people would do," Gimli said and took another gulp of his ale.
Elan laughed when she saw the two Hobbits still eating.
"They eat like that all the time," Gimli said.
xxx
"I hope you don't mind that your betrothed is dancing with other men?" Adair turned and said to Uri.
"When we leave here she's going to learn how we sing and dance," he replied.
"The songs of the North," Adair said smiling.
"Her Grace learned them and also our language," Uri replied.
"Lady Lindra and her father are also going to have to learn to speak our language as well," Adair said to his friend.
"Who's going to teach them?" he asked.
"They're going to learn something new every day, the same way Amie did," Adair answered.
Uri nodded his head. "Is Lord Mercer riding with us to Rohan? he asked.
"No, and neither is Madam Lilith or her son. After we leave Gondor, Lady Lilith, Haldar and Damon will return with Lord Mercer to his home and help him pack his personal belongings and they'll meet us at Lond Daer," Adair answered.
"Their lives changed overnight," Uri said.
"So did ours," Adair replied.
Uri laughed and agreed with his liege. "I don't have a home on the castle grounds," he said.
"That's because you've spent most of your time in the East the last five years," Adair replied. "Do you want a home on the castle grounds or keep your suite in the castle?"
"I'll asked Lindra where she wants to live?" he answered.
"That's very wise of you my friend," Adair said laughing.
"I'm the last one of your friends to get married," Uri told his King.
"The women you were always meant to marry is from the South and not the North," Adair said.
"The same as you and Amie," he said. "I wonder why?"
"You and I have the exact same background Uri. We're both Lord's sons and our mothers were servants in their households. We're also both educated and speak Weston and you're an excellent fighter and a natural born leader of men. That's why I chose you as Lord of the East and the leader of my army in the East," Adair answered.
"Thank you Adair," Uri said. "You and I both got our mothers out of those households and I also got my sister out of that household."
"Your sister is now married to a Lord and she's a Lady," Adair replied.
"A Lord's bastard son, like we were," Uri said.
"He fought in the war in the West and proved himself and he's also a leader of men like yourself; and on Lord Balar's recommendation I made him a Lord. When he married your sister she became a Lady. He was raised like we were, except he doesn't speak Westron – and he's now Lord of Northern Lands (Sweden).
"I'm happy they love each other," he said.
"They could never keep their hands off each other," Adair replied.
Uri laughed. "I know," he said.
An hour later the Royal Couples departed the ballroom.
xxx
The next morning after breakfast everyone sat down and talked trade. The Northmen told them what they have in abundance and the Gondorians, Rohirrim, dwarves and Hobbits did the same. Gimli asked about the jewels the Ladies from the Far East wore. Ladies Ming and Jaya laid a silk cloth on the table with the gems from the Far East and told them what each gem is and where they came from. They were surprised to see pearls come in different shapes and colors and hear that Jade is very sacred to Lady Ming's people.
"Like silver is to the elves," King Elessar said.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lady Ming replied with a nod of her head.
"All things of great value among Lady Ming's people in the East and West are made with Jade," King Adair told them.
They continued talking until lunch and King's Adair and Éomer had lunch with King Elessar. After lunch they continued their discussions, which ended a few hours before dinner. The three Kings had dinner together along with their wives that evening. The others listened, laughed and asked questions as Queen Amie and Lothíriel Queen told them about Queen Amie's visits to Dol Amroth.
Queen Amie told them her King is a great cook and most evenings he prepares the family meals in the kitchen in the Royal Wing. "After we got married Adair prepared all our meals and he did most of the cooking while we were patrolling our borders," Amie told them.
At that moment both Kings had great respect and admiration for the King of the North because they too had to catch and prepare their own meals in the wild. But both realized because of his background King Adair still does many of the same things he was raised to do.
xxx
After breakfast the next morning Lord Khan showed everyone a crude map and pointed to the trade routes from the East Sea to the West Sea.
"Those routes are everywhere in the Far East," Lilith said studying the map.
"It's one large land mass from East to West which makes trade easier for everyone and they're no seas to cross. These are the trade routes my people set-up when they rode westwards," Khan replied and showed them the routes on the map.
"Everyone out there has something someone else needs. They trade gems, spices, animals, horses, material for clothing, weapons, tea, fruit, vegetables, herbs for medicine, pottery, and anything else you can think of," Adair said.
"How long does it take to get things from the Far East?" Faramir asked.
"It use to take a year going back and forth. When I became King I changed our trade agreements with my relatives in the Far East. They do all the trading for us and they travel far and wide to get everything we want and that takes longer than a year. Instead of getting a few hundred gems we now get a few thousand and many merchants in the North make them into jewels and sell them in their shops. We're also getting more spices, tea, gold and material to make clothes. The merchants also sell those items in their shops," Adair answered.
"You now buy large quantities of everything Your Majesty," Lilith said.
"It's cheaper that way Madam Lilith," he replied. "I tripled our order 6 months ago and all the items I mentioned are in high demand."
"All the merchants keep an inventory of everything they sell from the Far East and if something is not selling, then we cut back or discontinue the order," Elan told them. "Only King Adair and the Nobility in the North had access to all those items and now everyone does. By doing that our merchants are becoming more prosperous."
"You've done well by your people Your Majesty," Prince Imrahil said.
"I hope to do more," he replied. "Madam Elan made sure all the servants in the castle learned how to read, write and count and I want to do the same for all the children in the North; but it's going to take time."
"All those children came to our families orphanage when they were either babies or very young and they're all bastards. Our family has always given those children an education, employment when they became of age, or to some family who couldn't have children. The majority of the boys are trained as soldiers or seaman and many of them married the girls from the orphanage. A few of them, including two girls, became merchants; some of the girls became mid-wives; a few boys and girls became healers; some became teachers and a few became builders. That's why educating every child, no matter their station in life, is very important. King Adair has built an orphanage in the East and those boys and girls are getting an education and learning a trade," Elan told them.
xxx
Ladies Jaya and Ming laid out the different fabrics from the Far East and watched as everyone felt the fabrics and answered their questions.
"I like this," Éowyn said after feeling the soft cotton cloth.
"It's for warm weather Lady Éowyn," Lady Jaya told her.
xxx
While the Kings were in trade negotiations the Gondorian soldiers hunted for two days for the feast King Adair is to give for King's Elessar and Éomer and their Courts. When they returned they had plenty of food to to feed an army and then some. The ones from the North prepared the feast with the spices from the Far East.
xxx
Lady Lindra spent that time talking to her grandfather. "Would you like to come North with us grandfather?" she asked.
"I'll need King Adair's permission," he answered.
"I'm sure he'll grant my daughter's request," Lord Mercer said.