Chapter 14
It had been many years since the city of Minas Tirith witnessed such an event. Aragorn opened the doors of the Great Hall and the Royal Courtyard to greet all, noble blood and commoners, from afar and near, to rejoiced in the days of long hoped peace. And the party was a lively one. How could it be otherwise? After so much sorrow and grief, what was there to do but celebrate?
Lothíriel could say she liked festive gatherings, specially for the time she could spend with her family. But court parties were definitely not her favourites. All the pomp and circumstance... All the talk of shoes and dresses and hairdos... It was just not her thing... She was more into a quiet gathering at home, with a handful of friends.
So after the coronation, as they stepped inside the double doors of the majestic white marbled hall, she kept close to her family and friends, in hopes of good conversation, dancing the night away and laughing with Gimli and the hobbits. And something more, her heart spoke.
She spotted her younger brother in a corner of the hall, completely surrounded by a legion of gondorian ladies. She had to admit he looked quite a prince today. Dressed in metalic blue, his eyes sparkled as it caught the candle light. Quite a sight he was.
Aragorn came to her father and herself with his elven bride and introduced them. Lothíriel liked her from the very beginning. She was friendly and had such an air of grace and calm.
"I'm pleased to be acquainted with you, Milady Arwen." she said dropping a deep courtesy.
"Oh, no. Please, just Arwen." she said in a melodic tone. "I'm not very fond of titles, you see... Aragorn has told me about you, and I would really like to know you better...I don't have many lady friends here... I'll like to make as many as possible."
"Well, I'll be delighted to be one, milady. I mean...Arwen."
"Oh, thank you."
Arwen kissed her cheek and resumed her place at Aragorn's side in the rest of the introductions.
But she soon continued her conversation with Lothíriel.
"Aragorn also told me of your work in the Houses of Healing, during the troubling times."
"It was nothing..." Lothíriel tried.
"But of course it was." Arwen said, taking her hand. "It takes a great deal of courage to help those in need of help. And the gift of a healer is not in everyone."
"I simply put to practice what I learned. I couldn't stand around this empty city and just do nothing while waiting for my father and brothers to return... " She didn't know why she kept talking about such private fears, but Arwen's company was soothing. "Not knowing if they were alright or no in this life anymore..."
"I know so well of what you speak of... I've seen my father and brothers leave for so many battles... I admit it is hard to leave but it is equally hard to be left behind..."
Lothíriel nodded to her Queen.
Aragorn extended his hand to his wife and they resumed the greetings with the guests.
Erchirion opened his mouth to let out a deep sigh.
"She is, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing I have have laid my eyes upon!"
"Erchirion!" Their father reproved. "She is your Queen! Have manners!"
"Well father, I'm sorry but fortunately I'm not blind! And Aragorn knows it already because anyone can see he is head over heels with her so I know he'll agree with me!""
Lothíriel tried to keep the smile from creeping in her lips but that could not be helped.
"Sweet Valar, I thought Amrothros was the only one I had to worry! But know I seen you are not so sensible as well!"
"Alas, father nothing can compare to Amrothros..."
"It could have been that knock on the head by the troll at the Black Gates..." Imrahil continued, looking thoughtfully.
She loved to hear her families teasing of each other.
"On my part, I believe my heart belongs to the morning."
She turned to Gimli and nodded. Amrothros had told her of the Lord Dwarf's infatuation with the Lady Galadriel.
"She is truly beautiful, Master Gimli."
"I agree." Imrahil said.
"But she looks a bit out of this world, if you know what I mean... An unearthly air to her..." Erchirion added.
"Like one of the Valar, you mean?" He answered back. "Yes, I believe she does, my lady. However, she is one caring soul, not at all distant as you might think as you gaze upon her. When we were passing through Lothlorien, on our way to Mount Doom, when we were still a fellowship, she offered each on of us a gift. I asked her for a lock of her hair... I knew it to be a silly request but nevertheless she gave it to me... And I carry it with me at all times, it gives me hope, even in the dire times."
She nodded one again to her dwarfish friend.
"I see, my friend, that in you she will always have a most fervent admirer."
"And in me!" she her Merry say. "When I saw her first, coming down to meet us in her city in the trees, she looked like a shining star!"
"A shining star that had fallen in the centre of Middle Earth!" Pippin said, joining. "Radiant!!"
"And what say you of her voice, lads!?" Gimli asked.
"Oh, music!" Pip said.
Lothíriel chuckled to see them all lost in conversation, so lost that they almost forgot that she was even there! She was about to protest that it wasn't very gentlemen like to speak of one lady's beauty while another was present but all of a sudden, she felt a shiver down her spine as someone moved closer to her. She didn't have to turn to know who it was.
"You haven't forgotten that you owe me a dance?" he said in a low hushed tone.
She smiled at Éomer's words. "Not at all. But dancing won't be for quite a while."
"Well, that won't do..."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I was hoping of having you in my arms as soon as possible..." he whispered close to her ear.
She gasped and found no words to return to him. Raising his voice and drawing attention on himself, he greeted.
"Good evening, my lords."
Imrahil and Erchiriron nodded as they acknowledged his arrival.
"I say Éomer, you too look rather handsome tonight."
"Erchirion, are you going to insult every single royalty in this room?!"
"But Éomer is a friend, Ada. Surely he won't mind if I say he cleans up quite nicely!"
His father rolled his eyes and drew his hands to his forehead.
"I'll bet he even takes it as a complement!" Amrothros said as he stepped nearer and teamed with his older sibling.
"Exactly!"
Imrahil emptied his cup and headed for the near table with a muttered "I give up..."
Unfortunately for him, his sons followed as did Gimli and the hobbits.
"Now, don't get me started on halfing women..." she still hear Pippin say.
Lothíriel and Éomer were left alone, side by side. She could feel the heat that emanated from him and all she wanted was to be pulled into to his embraced.
Damn the good manners...
"You look beautiful tonight." he said in a low tone.
"Oh? Are you going to tell me that my dress also suits me wonderfully?!"
Éomer chuckled.
"Jealousy, my lady? I never expected it from such a high lady of the court..." he said, playfully.
"Jealous? Of that little weasel!?" she said turning to him. "You're joking, for sure."
"Really?"
"Really!"
But she was jealous. And for some reason it made him happy.
"Meet me outside, Thíri... I have something to ask you..." he whispered softly to her.
Before she could tell him that it wasn't proper, that it was too risky and that her answer was yes, he turned and left to join Éothain by the Rohirrim table.
She felt her cheeks burn and her heart seemed to want to jump right out of her chest.
She was momentarily distracted by Gimli's loud laughter and when she turn her gaze to Éomer he was gone. She looked around the room for him but her fair haired warrior was no where to be seen.
"Ada." She said as she reached her father by the drinking table. "I'm going outside for a minute."
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm just a bit flushed... It's too warm in here."
She crossed the hall towards the open double doors leading to the open air. It was a beautiful warm night. Only hours ago had she and her friends been up here welcoming her family.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms around her, circling her from behind.
"Éomer..." was all that she could say. His lips covered the back of her throat and she closed her eyes, giving in to his caress. His hands were locked tight at her waist, in a passionate embrace.
"I couldn't wait to be with you... alone..." he whispered in her ear, spreading kisses on the right side of her neck.
"Wait... Someone could see us..." she tried but at the same time she was tilting her head to the left and closing her eyes as she felt his touch.
"See if I care!" And to prove it, he turned her to face him and kissed her fiercely. "I missed you so... Your kiss, your soft touch... Your sweet smell..." he inhaled in her hair. "What is that smell anyway?"
"Lavender..." she said absentmindedly, her hands moving to his collar and pulling him for another kiss. His hands moved to the small of her back and brought her near.
"Hum... And I missed your safe embrace, the warmth of your hands, the heat of your tongue..."
"Béma, woman... You'll be my doom..." he grunted.
Abruptly, voices came to them as a small group of young men and women stepped outside passing by them. Éomer pulled Lothíriel towards the shadows by the wall.
"That was close..." she whispered.
"It was just some people seeking the fresh air of the night." he said in a reassuring voice. "Or perhaps a couple in love searching a private corner for a better welcome..."
He bit her ear gently.
"Éomer, please... When you do that I cannot think..."
"Good, because I don't want you to think right now..."
He started to kiss her again and she felt her head spinning. It was amazing how a single simple kiss could wipe evry logical and intelligent thought right out of her mind. Well, in truth there was nothing simple about his kiss...
She broke the kiss and placed the pad of her finger over his lips.
"You said you had to ask me something." she said not helping herself as she lined his lower lip with her finger in a intimate touch. "What is it?"
"Well..." he began. "Soon, we'll be riding back to Edoras... I need to take my uncle's body back to Edoras for a proper burial. At such times it is good to have my friends around. Your father and brothers said they would come but... I was hoping... That you would like to come too...?"
She felt her heart break. She could sense his pain through those words and she wished she could take it away. But at the same time it was good to hear that he wanted her with him, at such a troubled time.
"Of course I'll go." she answered softly, looking deep into his eyes.
"You will?"
"It will be my honor to accompany you. And to know your home."
He smiled, that boyish grin that always undid her.
"Thank you..."
He kissed her again, with intense desire and she felt breathless. It felt like drowning. And she loved it.
A\N Another chapter and I hope you kept enjoying the story. Thank you for the loving reviews everyone! It's good to read them...