A/N: I am not J. R. R. Tolkien, I do not wish to profit from this story.

Thank you to coffeebookchiller, anthi95, kfirey and Christmas 95 for reviewing.

And kfirey and Christmas 95- thank you for being concerned about Lothiriel's horse! I wanted to get this up earlier for you guys.

.


.

An hour of waiting did little good for Lothiriel. Her color was all but drained and it hurt to move any part of her body. Eowyn had helped her to lie down on her good side, with her head resting on a pile of furs in Eowyn's lap. Amrothos was a silent sentinel watching his sister a step or two away, and Eomer paced in restless energy.

"It wouldn't make you sleep," Eowyn had suggested a small cup of mead to help numb the pain, but Lothiriel shook her head and winced.

"No. I will wait. The pain will pass, but I will never forgive myself if I am…out of sorts and Miri needs me."

"A game then." Amrothos suggested and came close to sit at Lothiriel's back. "A game to take your mind off the pain and wait out the time."

"I am in no mood brother." Lothiriel said, her voice betraying her exhaustion.

"I am offering you a choice. You are in pain and so you will either take medicine or do something to take your mind off the hurt."

"Categories." Lothiriel stated.

"Done. First category shall be birds." Amrothos replied. "Sparrow."

"Lark," Lothiriel answered almost before he finished the word.

"Thrush."

"Swan."

"Falcon," Eowyn interrupted their patter.

"Eagle," Eomer had stopped pacing and came to sit by them.

"Swallow," Lothiriel continued, and the game went on until Amrothos said, "swan" again.

"I already said that one." Lothiriel teased, taking even shallow breaths.

"So you did. I was only seeing if you were paying attention."

"Of course you were," Lothiriel replied. "What is our next category?"

"Songs?" Amrothos suggested.

"Done. 'The Lady in Gold.'"

They continued, Eomer and Eowyn adding in songs in Rohirric as well as in Western.

"'The Sailor and his Lady.'" Lothiriel threw in with a sly smile.

"No," Amrothos stated. "You do not know that song."

"There once was a sailor, who sailed the wild sea, 'til he came to a shore –" Lothiriel was abruptly cut off by Amrothos.

"No. No, no, no." He put his head in his hands. "Father is going to kill me."

"Or Elphir." Lothiriel pointed out, as the front door creaked open. "One of the two of you at least."

"Can you sit up?" Eowyn asked Lothiriel. "The stable master is here."

Lothiriel jerked upwards with a hiss of pain and was caught by Eowyn's and Amrothos's steadying hands. With their help she was able to get to her feet as the stable master and one of his assistants walked towards them.

After bowing to Eomer, the stable master looked at Lothiriel and started speaking in hurried Rohirric. "He says that your horse was badly hurt." Eowyn translated. "But as long as infection doesn't set in, she – " Eowyn paused and listened as he explained something in great detail. "As long as infection doesn't set in, and as long as she doesn't re-tear her injury once it's healed, she should make a full recovery."

Lothiriel blinked, as the words spun in her head. "A full recovery." She breathed. "How is that possible?"

Eowyn asked and then translated back. "He says she was lucky that she wasn't cut more deeply or to one side or another. It was a" she paused again as he restated some of his words. "It was a difficult injury to heal, but not beyond his ability."

"Thank you." Lothiriel whispered. "Thank you" she repeated in Rohirric. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." And on an impulse she grabbed his hand and kissed it, and then bowed as low as she could over it. A gentle hand patted her head briefly and then was removed, and a yellow square of fabric was put into Lothiriel's line of vision. "Thank you" she murmured again, as she took the stable master's offered cloth and wiped the tears that were falling onto his hand.

"Can I see her now?" Lothiriel asked, looking to Eowyn to translate.

Eowyn obediently asked, and replied, "He says that you may, but perhaps shouldn't stay too long as you are obviously injured too."

Lothiriel nodded in agreement, and followed the stable master down out. She half observed through what felt like a fog of pain, relief, and hope that her brother, Eowyn and Eomer King trailed along as well. They were led to a stable that was different than the one her horse was housed in before, and she turned to ask Eowyn, but the stable master interpreted the look and answered before she queried.

"He says that he oversees the horses in this stable personally, and so it made sense to house your horse here." Eowyn stated, something like laughter in her voice. "He also says that since she acted queenly in your defense, it was only right to house her where the noble horses are."

Lothiriel nodded, absorbing this information to think through later as she was already entirely focused on the one truly familiar horse out of all the finer ones housed along side.

Mirime was lying on her side with her eyes closed, and Lothiriel gave a low whistle to announce her presence, before venturing closer. She knelt down at her horse's side, and ran a shaking hand through her forelock all the way down to where white bandages covered most of her stomach.

"The stable master says that she's a fine filly." Eowyn's voice broke through Lothiriel's thoughts. "And he asks what makes her so precious to you."

"My mother rode her great-great dam." Lothiriel replied, moving her hand steadily from head to flank in a soothing gesture. "I remember very little of my mother, but I remember her ridding. After my mother died, perhaps a year after, we lost her horse in a difficult foaling, but the foal survived. I was allowed to feed it and then my father gave the foal to me on my next birthday. My only surviving link to my mother is her line of horses."

"Lothiriel is particularly fussy when it comes to continuing the line. She is pickier about which stallion mounts her fillies than most ladies of her age are about hair or dress styles." Amrothos added trying to tease.

"Hair and dress change from season to season," Lothiriel pointed out, moving to sit more comfortably. "This is the only gift from my mother that will endure, this is the only legacy I will have to give to my daughter."

"The stable master says that you should bring her back in a season or two," Eowyn paused and restated, "He actually demands for you to bring her back so that he can help you find a suitable mount."

Lothiriel froze, and looked over quickly, ignoring the stab of pain that shot down her left side. "If it is with in my power to return, it would be an honor to have your council." She replied gravely. The stable master bowed slightly at her words once they were translated and went off to observe the grooming of horses down by the entrance.

Amrothos came and crouched by Lothiriel's side. "Little bird, will you please now take some relief for yourself? Anything? It hurts me to see you in pain."

"I've never understood why you and Erchirion are allowed to call me little, I am two years your senior and one year his." Lothiriel responded glibly.

"It's a privilege of being tall." Amrothos said in the same style. "But please, if not for your sake than for mine. Father will probably already have my hide for letting you get hurt, there is no need to worsen the punishment I am going to receive by being stoic."

Lothiriel sighed, "The things I do for you." She leaned in and whispered something into her horse's ear and then with a final gentle pat, she allowed her brother to help her up.

As they left the stables, the stable master called out to them. Eomer said "He wishes you to know, Lady Lothiriel, that you are welcome at any time, day or night, to see your horse."

"Thank you," Lothiriel turned to face the stable master and bowed as low as she could with her injury.

.


.

A/N: This section probably should have been with the last chapter, as it fits in with it more than with the next bit. As such, I have posted it earlier than September 1st. I will be posting the next chapter then.

As always, questions, comments, or other reviews are always welcome!