Chapter 19
Éomer left her door and headed to his study. He would have to return soon to his hall and entertain his guests, but right now he wanted some peace by himself. A moment of quiet solitude. He missed his days on the éored, the time he had to himself. The sun on his face, ridding hard against the wind, no thoughts on his mind. No cares or concerns. He missed those simple days.
He crossed his study and opened the doors that gave a view of Meduseld. He gaze upon his land with pride. This was his responsibility now. To make the land prosper under his rule. As much as he missed those good old days of freedom, they we gone.
The sun had just settled and the first stars were starting to paint the sky over his land. His land... What a different meaning it had now. It had always been his land, his second mother, and he did everything in his power to see it protected but now all was different. It held another meaning.
He breathed deep the fresh air and leaned on the wall of the balcony of his study. It felt good to enjoy the peace and the silence.
He had plans, such great plans. The city needed a school, an orphanage and betters healing quarters. He intended to bread and sell as many horses as he could to gain some financial independence. The grain from the harvest would be another important income. Aragorn had offered an helping hand but he was a proud man. He would take only enough to start rebuilding. And everything loaned would be paid back in full. He had a plan and he finally could look forward for a better future for Rohan.
"Impressive..."
Éomer turned to the female voice. At the entrance of the room, there stood Lady Lilith, looking straight at him.
"The view..." she explained. "It is most impressive..."
However, the look in her eyes said otherwise. It had nothing to do with the beauty of the land...It was something else she viewed impressive.
She moved slowly across the carpet letting her dress sway as she moved. She always wore the finest clothing, cleverly tailored to fit her in the most perfect way although, some might say, that her cleavage was away too low for propriety. She stopped by the balcony's double doors and leaned on it, on the opposite side where Éomer was standing.
"It is a wonderful night, isn't? Warm..." she added as she moved her right hand towards her neck. "Pleasantly warm..." she lowered her hand toward the curve of her left breast.
Éomer couldn't believe his eyes and ears.
Is she trying to seduce me? Not subtle.
Over the years, he had been popular among the women. And also a target... Although not so much and Téodred had been, he was the King's nephew after all. Nobles from every house of Rohan would throw their daughters in his arms. And occasionally the daughters would simply throw themselves... He became tired of games such as these. Perhaps, sometime in his past, women like Lilith would appeal his senses. But certainly not anymore. His mind was overwhelmed by another.
"In nights such as these, I find it hard to be alone..." she continued.
"Forgive my lady, " He tried to maintain a neutral tone of voice. "But I do not share the same sentiment. Perhaps it would be better to look elsewhere for someone to keep you company."
Lilith laughed softly as she moved seductively towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned to him.
"And why would I choose a stable horse when I can have a true wild stallion?"
Éomer felt his temper flare in a matter of seconds, his blood speeding in his veins at her words. Women like her he would never comprehend. They viewed men simply as meat. Something to be conquered. Tamed. Granted, there were some men who would treat women in the same fashion but he was never one of them. So, this sort of behavior was repulsive to him.
He kept his gaze locked with hers as he took her wrists in his hands, trying to make his intentions crystal clear.
"Lady Lilith, I am not a man to be trifled with." he said releasing himself from her grasp. "So, choose another one to spend your energies. Choose a Gondorian knight or some prince but leave my men and me alone." Without a second glance to her, he crossed the room, heading towards the door. He opened it and waited for her to understand his meaning. "I believe it's time you are leaving."
I'm being refused? ME? How dared he?
Lilith kept her back to him as the sting of humiliation hit her with full force. She had never before been refused. She felt her fury mount. Her breathing became laboured. She wasn't going to let this pass. Oh, no. After all, wasn't there some wise man's saying about hell having no fury like a woman scorned...?
However, she did not show her hurt. She would never give a man the satisfaction. Instead, her bitter laughter filled the room.
"Think you she is different?"
Éomer shot her a murdering glance. "What?"
"Your precious Dol Amrothian flower." She asked sarcastically. "Such a model of modesty and purity!"
Another wave of anger hit him.
Calm yourself...
"Let me advise you not speak of Lady Lothíriel." he said in a cold tone as he pushed the door closed. He didn't want to draw attention.
"Oh, how sweet! Just look how he defends her!" She said opening her arms. "But does he truly know her!"
Éomer inhaled deeply, again trying to calm himself.
"Lady Lilith, I say again..." he tried.
"You think you know the little princess but you know nothing!" she oozed poison at every word. "Don't you think I have seen the two of you? Secret meetings in the night and swift kisses in the shadows?"
"You've been spying on us?"
Lilith laughed.
"Not very candid behavior for a virginal princess of the High House of Gondor, if you ask me."
"Lady Lothíriel's behavior is beyond reaproach. And whatever exists between myself and her, concerns us both and no other."
"Charming!" Her tone was by now cold as ice. There was no way she would let Lothíriel, the Saint, win this over. "Well, if you're so sure then, about her good nature and her love for you, ask her. Ask her if she feels the same about you. Ask her to stay with you. To marry you."
Éomer took another deep breath. He had enough of this conversation.
Lilith seized his silence to continue her poisoning.
"You think you could persuade her? You think she would accept to be the Queen of the Riddermark?" She laughed. "I admit you might be a very good tumble between the sheets, now and then, but I find it hard to believe that her, that any self respecting Gondorian woman for that matter, would trade her position, her wealth, her status in society for this!" she opened her arms again and looked around the room. "You have to be joking, My Lord King!"
It was Éomer's time to feel the pang of humiliation in his chest.
"And, pray, what is your meaning?"
"Well, this has nothing to do with the court life we are accustomed. No charm, no finesse..."
She looked around with disdain in her eyes. "A rustic people with no knowledge... Houses of thatch and wood... Please!"
Éomer's voice was calm and collected now. "My people may not be literate in books and scrolls but we have our history. Our stories and songs of old. And our children are starting to learn the written word. Both in our tongue and the Commom one. As for our houses, milady, we are not ashamed of the difficulties we face. We have our freedom, our courage and our will to fight for a better life for the generations to come."
Lilith shrugged and continued.
"Beautiful words... Still, you ask too much. Since practically the day we are born, we are instructed to tend the life of court. A civilized court. We are very young went brought to society."
She walked around him.
"Ballrooms in endless summer nights... Soirées of conversations with educated people... We are taught to dance, to discuss books, to laugh, to entertain... Even though we have a mind of our own, most of the times we simply do as we are told... "
"You lie."
"Really? Do you think so?" She laughed again. "Come, come... You must have heard... It is the Gondorian way. For women at the Gondorian court an arranged marriage is all we have to hope for."
He knew it to be true. Many a time he had heard of these arrangements in the South, many of them made even at birth or at a very young age. He could never understand why would a father, a family accept should an agreement. It was not normal... No free will? He couldn't envision that for his people. Nor could he believe that Imrahil would ever submit his daughter to such.
But he couldn't believe that Lothíriel would have a vain life as Lilith was telling. She was a healer, for Béma's sake! She had helped them, rich or poor, Gondorian or otherwise, during the difficult times during the war. She could've chosen to be at home, surrounded by luxury and protected from the ugliness of it all but instead she chose to help. No, Lothíriel wasn't the type of woman she was describing.
With that certaity in his heart, he spoke again.
"Lothíriel is not like that. She is different."
"A Lady of the Royal House? The only living female, at marriageable age, of royal blood? You think she wouldn't share the same fate?"
"Imrahil wouldn't allow it!" He said with sheer determination.
"Perhaps... But you forget who her uncle was. Deneathor was ever hungering for power and she was an indispensable pawn in his play. A way to secure an alliance. I would be surprised if she wasn't offered to several lords already."
"No... I won't believe in your lies."
Lilith sighed and feigned resignation.
"I don't blame you for not believing me. When one is infatuated, we will only see what you want to see, isn't that right my Lord King? " She sat on the burgundy, velvet chair by the window. "It is so easy to be fooled by a sweet appearance. You're certainly not the first... A cousin of mine was once so infatuated with her, he even considered asking her hand for Imrahil."
It was a lie. A little lie, in Lilith's mind. She was just adding a bit to spice things up. It was true, Lothíriel had a great deal of admirers in Dol Amroth, Minas Tirith and even Ithilien, where she went only occasionally. She was pretty, Lilith would grant her that. But why men seemed so attracted to her, Lilith couldn't possibly comprehend.
What does she has that I don't? A pale little thing, that dresses simply and takes no care whatsoever with her image? Please...
"He was sensible enough to ask her first. And he was refused. More than that, He was humiliated... She said she couldn't possibly accept the offer of a man of a station so decidedly below her own." she sighed. "I don't think he will ever recover..."
Éomer had enough of this. He couldn't presume to know Lothíriel to extensive deepth but he refused to believe the lies out of Lilith's mouth. In no way they mirrored the independent but caring woman he knew Lothíriel to be. She would never mistreat someone in the cold manner she was telling.
"I had enough of your lies, woman. Leave. Now."
Lilith was a chess player and knew when it was time to withdraw. He was a king but still he was known for his bad temper. And she definitely didn't was to be in the receiving end of his wrath.
"Fine... I'll leave you alone in your fantasy dream world."
As she reached the door, she couldn't her spiraling another web in her lie.
"You know, it is said that the high ladies in court are instructed in other matters. More... intimate matters to please the future husband."
Éomer's face mirrored his disgust for what he was hearing.
"What?" He said between clenched teeth.
"Oh, yes. I bet she was taught all the tricks in the book... All, my lord."
"Get out!"
Lilith laughed once more. He may not believe but her words would spread doubt. At some point, he would remember them and with some luck, and a little bit of his ill temper, they would strike her mark. Then, she would have her victory. Victory over Lady Lothíriel of Perfection...
"And not just theory, my lord. As I always heard, practice makes perfection."
And with that she exited the study closing the door behind her.
Éomer's rage made him blind as he threw all the contents of his desk to the floor. Maps, journals, reports flew through the room. Ink dripped from the a corner of the desk, drawing a small black pool on the floor.
It isn't true. Calm yourself down and breathe. Lilith is nothing more than a selfish, connivling woman with nothing better to do. You know this isn't true.
He took a deep breath and stepped on to the balcony where the fresh wind greeted him. He leaned on the rail and closed his eyes.
You know Lothíriel and she's a true heart. No falseness to her, you know this.
Then why hasn't she answered you when you asked her to marry you?
Doubt shot through his mind.
She was too surprised.
He decided to leave whatever papers he had to show the High King and see Aragorn in the morning. Tonight he was in no mood. He stormed towards his room and picked up the flask of wine as soon as he entered. He didn't even bothered to get a cup. He took a swing from the flask and sat on the bed.
Damn it! Why am I even thinking about this?
He should never doubt her.
Enough! I won't let that Gondorian brat spoil this day.
Resolved, he got out of his clothes and headed to bed.
The bedroom was warm. Fresh new sheets on the bed. New fluffy pillow of duck feathers. But no sleep came to Éomer King that night.
A|N There it is another chapter. And this one wasn't easy to write. I really wanted to make Lilith sound like a real snake! =)
Hope you keep enjoying the story!