Chapter 3
Éomer could swear that the healer woman was the dark hair angel he had dreamt some nights ago. She looked beautiful and quite harmless but the thought of anyone, anyone, beeing around his sister scared the wits out of him. He had failed her... He had failed to see she was troubled, she was suffering to being left behind... Afraid to be forever trapped in a life of servitude and politeness with chance to prove her valour. This was why she had ridden to war... and it was part his fault...
So now he would stand by her side at all time, for everything she needed... At all cost, he would see her through this.
He sat where Lothíriel had just been and took his sister's hand in his. Her skin was hot.
She's feverish...
He raise his hand to her forehead and removed te cloth that laid there. He them held her hand and placed a soft kiss in the knuckles of her fingers.
"Sister. You need to fight this... There is good reason to... The Shadow is lifting, freedom will come soon..."
There was no reply.
"Éowyn..."
He felt silent.
"Éomer..." a soft voice called. He turned to the door to see Aragorn and Gandalf enter. "May we join you?"
"Please..." he replied. As they reached her side, he continued. "She is still in deep sleep... I can't make her hear me...."
Gandalf placed his hand on Éomer shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
"She hears you, my friend. She just needs some help to return to us. Aragorn and I can help... Will you let us?"
"Yes...Of course."
Aragorn moved to the right side of Éowyn's bed. He held her arm and started to remove her bandages. Gandalf searched in his sac for the Kings' Foil ointment.
"This is made from Athelas plant." he explained "In the right hands, in the hands of a King," Gandalf continued, looking at Aragorn. "it can do wonders."
Éomer looked at Aragorn as well. The Ranger stood in silence, gently holding Éowyn bruised arm in his hands.
Éomer closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer to all the gods in Middle Earth. He could not lose her. She was all that he had left. His family was broken and he would be all alone. He couldn't bear it...
Aragorn spoke softly the words of old and Éowyn stirred in her sleep.
"The darkness has yet not claimed her but the disease was aggravated by her despair." he said.
"My sisters' greatest fear was of being left behind... I can't believe I failed to understand was she was about to do..."
"It was not your fault..." Gandalf replied.
Aragorn used some Athelas leafs to prepare a balm that he then applied on her arm. She winced with pain but then her face looked at peace.
"We have to give her time." Aragorn said. "She will heal if she sets her heart to it."
Éomer thanked him with a nod of his head.
Gandalf took Éomers' hand and placed it over Éowyns'.
"Speak to her. Encouraged her. She will know you are here beside her. She will know she is loved and greatly missed."
With that, they left the room, leaving the two brothers alone.
"Did you hear that, little sister? We all want you back. We love you and need you back." Then a pause. "I need you back... Please, Éowyn, don't give in..."
Again, the White Lady of Rohan stirred in her sleep as if she heard his voice.
His heart rejoiced.
"Rest. Sleep. You need to gain your strength."
He placed a kiss on her brow.
"Be at peace, little sister..."
*****
Lothíriel found her brothers and father in the garden of the Houses, near supper time. They had gathered there after the Council meeting.
Her duties were done for the day and her friends insisted she would go and met her family. Those moments were precious in such dark times.
Approaching them, she heard Erchirion saying.
"We must take so sort of action soon...The Pelennor Fields were a victory but we know it won't last. Mordor has more than one army to summon. We have to take advantage of this."
The others nodded and Imrahil answered.
"You are right, my son, but I believe Aragorn has a plan he has not yet discussed with us. Let us seen what enlightenings the next few days bring." Turning to his daughter, watching her step up to them he added. "No more talk of war."
Lothíriel's heart filled with love for them. Always trying to protect her...
"Father, you do not need to stop talking of war in front of me. I'm not oblivious to what happens beyond these walls."
He smiled at this. "I know, Thíri, but we must make the best of our time... Too much war makes us weary..."
He kissed her brow. "Now, I want to know everything you have been up to. Look at you, a true healer!"
"And you are quite the sight, little sister!" Amrothros said, starting to tickle her. "I bet you have all the soldier's hearts in the palm of you hand!!"
"Brother!!!" She said, trying to stop him and failing miserably.
Aragorn and Gandalf came to join them and behind them was the one Lothíriel encountered in the White Lady's room. He stayed behind, near the door, as the others approached the family.
"My lady, I bid you a good day once more. " Aragorn said addressing her.
Lothíriel bowed and replied. "And I to you, My Lord."
"I remember this young lady when she was but a babe! " The old wizard said. "By the Valar... Little Thíri, who used to run around the Royal House of Dol Amroth, barefoot..."
"She still does!" Amrothos offered.
The old wizard laughed heartily.
"My, my... Such a bleesing for these old eyes."
"Mithrandir..." she said placing a soft kiss on his cheek, "It is good to see you well! And you do not look old at all."
"Oh, you flatter these old bones..." he said, stroking her cheek with his knuckles. "And Faramir?"
"Better... Recovery will be slow... He will need some time to heal."
"My prince, you should be proud of your daughter! She has proved to be quite a force of nature! No orc could stand in her way! I brought Faramir here after... well, lets not linger on passed issues..."
"At first I thought she was an elf..."
All turned to face the the one standing next to Gandalf, a small person, no taller then a child.
"Peregrin Took, what nonsense you say!" Gandalf said softly.
"It's just...When we brought her Merry... she help him... She saved him from darkness..."
Lothíriel smiled at him. She had seen his dedication to his small friend. He had stood by her side as see cared for the one called Merry. "I did what I knew, nothing more. He had the strength in him, to come back to us. Maybe because he had something to come back to... like a very good friend. Your presence gave him strength."
The company felt silent.
Only then, Aragorn noticed that Éomer had stayed behind.
"My Lord Imrahil," He said addressing the Prince. "Should we not introduce Lady Lothíriel to our Rohan friend?"
Looking over his shoulder, Imrahil realized Éomer was standing in the doorway.
"Éomer, come. You are amidst friends here. Family. You need not to be aside."
Recognising him, Lothíriel stiffened and her smile was gone. She was all cold politeness, a true court lady.
"Lady Lothíriel, Princess of Dol Amroth, Imrahils' daughter." Aragorn introduced.
A princess?? Éomer thought. No, worst... Imrahils' daughter! Great...
"Éomer Edmundson of Rohan, soon to be crowned King of the Mark."
Of course...A king no less! Lothíriel thought. Well a king he might be but he's still an insufferable man!
He took her hand and bowed slightly, never taking his eyes of hers. She felt a bolt of lighting shooting through her.
"Lady Lothíriel..."
She bowed in her stead and raising to his challenge, her eyes held his gaze. "My Lord..."
"Lothíriel has been working here in the Houses of Healing." Aragorn continued. "And from what we've gather from Master Laethes, she has been a valuable acquisition."
She smiled warmingly at him. "Thank you, My Lord Aragorn."
"Please, just Aragorn will be fine. I'm not accustomed with such formalities. And that goes for all of you! Stop calling me Lord or Liege or King...."
The party laughed. Turning to Éomer, Aragorn asked.
"And your sister, brother?"
Éomer was able to grin a bit. "Éowyn is recovering. She opened her eyes just now and looked at me. She smiled and then fell back to sleep."
"Good news." Imrahil said.
"She is still weak but I have faith she will recover. Luckily, she has been very well taken care of..." He added, raising his eyes to Lothíriel.
"I'm sure of it, my friend."
"I haven't quite thanked you for what you did..." Éomer began, turning to the Dol Amroth Prince. "Imrahil, if it wasn't for you...if you had not found her..."
"Please..." Imrahil said raising his hand stopping him. "There is no need for this. It was a struck of luck... Thank the Valar it was."
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice called.
"What? No food!? What does a dwarf have to do to get a decent meal around here!?"
Gimli and Legolas. And behind them a slender man with fair hair.
"Faramir!" Lothíriel uttered, "You're up. But is it wise? Are you feeling strong enough to?!" She couldn't hide a concerned tone of voice.
He came down the short set of stairs and reached the group. He embraced his cousin and placed a kiss on top of her head. "My dearest cousin, I'm fine I assure you and I have to thank you for it... for your care." Turning to Imrahil he said. "Hello, uncle."
"Faramir..." Imrahil placed a kiss on his brow, a sign of respect among elements of their family. "My brave nephew..."
It was Gimli again who broke the silence. "And who might this pretty lady be?"
Lothíriel blushed as she answered, "Master Dwarf, you are a true example of dwarvish courtesy!" Bowing she added. " I'm Lothíriel of Dol Amroth, my Lord, and a healer in this Houses!"
"My lady, I'm pleased to know such! Therefore, if I'm injured, which is very unlikely, I only wish to be treated by you, my beautiful lady!" he raised her hand to his lips and introduced himself. "I am Gimli, son of Glóin, a dwarf at your entire disposal."
"Of course," Imrahil added, trying to look serious." being the princess of Dol Amroth means she is also my daughter, Master Gimli."
"Ah! Well then... treatment with the utmost respect!"
Laughter filled the garden again except for Éomer.
"Your elven blood runs deep in you, my lady". Legolas said to her, touching his forehand and then his heart. "Elen sila lumenn omentilmo." (A star shall shine in the hour of our meeting)
"Saesa omentien lle." (Pleasure meeting you) Lothíriel replied, with a light smile.
"Yes, yes..." said the Dwarf. "You need to take care with this one, Imrahil! He's a smoth talker."
"If I know my daughter well, sweet talk alone won't swept Lothíriel of her feet."
"Ada!"
More laughter.
"Well, I don't know about you but agree with Gimli! How about some lunch?!" Elphir asked.
"I'll see to that!" Lothíriel said.
As she left, she heard Imrahils' voice asking. "Daughter..." she turned to face her father. "Laethes told me you seemed somewhat upset this morning... Everything alright?" he asked.
Lothíriel could feel Éomers' eyes on her. "Oh... That... nothing to worry about, Ada. Just a minor incident. I had an encounter with a...a...a rat! A very insufferable rat!!! Nothing more." she smiled and added. "I'll see to the meal, Ada." And with a small bow. "My Lords."
Feisty one... Éomer thought. A rat, hum? He had to laugh.
"I see you are in a better mood!" Amrothos said.
"Yes." he said looking out the recently torched fields. "We have great losses to mourn for sure but...My sister recovers, we have earned a victory against the Dark... I'm just trying to look forward."
Gandalf came near them. "Wise words, young King."
Éomer chuckled. "Now, that is something I don't thing I can grow accustomed to."
"You will, in time. " Gandalf saw a shadow passing in the rohir's eyes. "What is it?"
"All I ever wanted was to serve the Mark. To be a Rider was the natural course for me. And even if I was a member of the King's family, I never wanted any favours or any favoritism among the men. And I never had it, Gandalf. I became Third Marshall solely on self valour and..."
"I know... We all know that." The White Wizard could see his troubled mind.
"But now...This... I never wanted to be King... This was Theodred's destiny, not mine! I don't know how..."
"Éomer, look at me." As he did, Gandalf continued. "You are a leader of man.. If it has anything to do with your bloodline or simply because you are who you are, I know not. It comes so natural in you. And I assure you, you will be a great King to the Riddermark. Trust in your self, in the ability of your decisions..."
"But what if I'm wrong?" he interrupted. "I am but twenty eight years old! What do I know of ruling? What if I do more harm then good?"
Gandalf smiled "Impossible! You love your land to much. You will know what to do."
Silence and peace. And then a boy entered.
"My Lords, Lady Lothíriel has the meal ready for you in the dinning hall." he said quickly, feeling overwhelmed to be in the presence of so many war heroes.
"Ah, finally!!" Gimli said. "Food!"