Chapter 19
He proposed to her.
Lothíriel's response was as swift as it was joyful, and for a while, she and her bridegroom filled Father's study with almost unseemly amounts of laughter and kissing. But the Prince himself did not mind. He was still wearing a smile on his face by the time the two were able to break apart, though perhaps he looked a little bittersweet.
She noticed it too, and wondered out loud if all was well. Her father waved his hand to console her.
"It is all right, dear daughter. It just seems that I only discovered you again so recently, and now you are already going your way. But it is well. After these past few weeks, seeing your joy makes me happier than I could ever tell you", he merely said. In the quiet of her thoughts, Lothíriel considered that perhaps Aunt Ivriniel could take a lesson or two from her father.
It was agreed Lothíriel should go straight to the Citadel with Éomer. While Lothíriel was convinced that her aunt had finally understood she was fighting a lost cause, Éomer did not wish to take any chances. The way his eyes followed her revealed his renewed conviction: they were not going to lose each other again. And she agreed wholeheartedly. She would hold on to him now, even if he abruptly suggested she ride straight to Rohan with him. In her giddy mood, she probably would comply to such a mad, impulsive plan.
From Father's study she hastened to her bedchamber, where she flitted around collecting her things, and a maid tried to keep up with her while folding clothes in travel chests. Lothíriel packed most vital of her things very quickly and gave orders to send the rest after her. It took her no more than ten minutes to get ready, and then she half ran to the entrance hall, where Éomer was waiting. He was talking with Father, feet apart and hands clasped behind his back – standing like a warrior even now. Perhaps some noise alerted him, as he turned to look the way she was coming. His solemn look broke into a smile as he reached his hand towards her. Lothíriel could not help but grin as she went to him and reached to grab his fingers. With a beaming smile he caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the knuckles lightly. Warmth grew in her breast when she thought of how good it felt to be around him; this ease of being felt like she was able to breathe again. It was as though she had come back to life.
"Ready to go?" he asked her softly and squeezed her hand.
"I am", Lothíriel replied and smiled at him.
In the courtyard, they were joined by a pair of Swan Knights and Rohirric Riders who had accompanied Éomer. If they were surprised to see their lord exit the house with her by his side, they did not show it – although the younger of the two flashed a bright grin when he saw his king holding her hand. Momentarily she wondered how Éomer's people would receive her, and if they expected her to be a proper lady of Gondor. But then, the one person whose acceptance really mattered to her was Éomer himself. Perhaps that was enough for Rohirrim, too.
They made for the Citadel, talking softly about idle nothings. There had been enough heavy conversation today and things that yet remained unsaid required a certain level of privacy. But even then, they made no secret about their intimacy, and her hand remained in his all the way. What would the folk of Minas Tirith think of this display? King of Rohan walking hand in hand with Imrahil's quiet daughter who rarely went anywhere without her father and wore outdated dresses... would they assume Éomer hoped for a meek, obedient little wife who would never defy him? Well, in time to come she would prove such assumptions wrong, and stand beside him as strong and bright as she could possibly be.
So they entered the Court of the Fountain and found Queen Arwen there with King Elessar, as though they had known to expect them. The King and Queen of Arnor and Gondor were seated next to the White Tree, conversing softly, but they looked up as Lothíriel approached with Éomer. She wasn't sure how much they knew – she had shared some bits with Arwen – but suspected the amount was fair, considering the smiles that lit up their faces.
"Good day, Éomer. Princess Lothíriel", King Elessar greeted them as he rose from his seat.
"Good day to you both as well", said the Rohir and glanced at Lothíriel before he spoke again. Straight to the point, as always – the thought made her smile.
"I was wondering", he said softly as he squeezed her hand, "could the Princess stay with you for a time? There's a situation back at Imrahil's house."
"Nothing bad, I hope?" asked Elessar, but Queen Arwen smiled like she already knew everything.
"No, my lord. It's just my aunt arrived in the city, and... me being under the same roof as her right now is not the best of ideas", Lothíriel said for her part. Not that she doubted her earlier conviction that Ivriniel finally knew it was over. But it did not mean she felt comfortable near the old woman.
The King and Queen shared a quiet glance before Elessar looked at the two again.
"It would be our pleasure to have you as our guest, Princess. I shall have rooms prepared for you as soon as possible", he said gently and smiled. But Lothíriel also saw him casting a curious look at Éomer. She knew them to be close friends, and there was going to be a long conversation about this all between the two.
"Thank you, for both of us", Éomer said and then turned fully to look at his bride. "You'll be all right? Just send for me if there's anything, and I will come."
She smiled at her husband-to-be.
"I know", Lothíriel merely said and tiptoed to kiss him quickly – and chastely, as one would not wish to offend the King and Queen of Arnor and Gondor with rampant displays of intimacy. Though, perhaps, a pair like them might be better suited to understand than anyone else.
When she pulled back and saw the way he looked at her, she felt... she felt safe. There was no other word for it, though it was not exactly a feeling of reassurance against some danger. Rather it rose from being sure about him and not having to wonder if she was good enough. She could trust to see him later on – and trust that tomorrow would be full of promise. For the first time in so many years, she felt truly at peace.
The two kings took their leave of them, heading for the Tower of Ecthelion. Arwen gestured Lothíriel to take seat next to her, and once the princess had settled down, she made her question.
"So, it is over, then?" asked the Half-elven queen. Her bright grey eyes twinkled.
"Something's over", said Lothíriel softly, and then smiled, "But something's also started."
She looked the way Éomer was going with King Elessar by his side and felt her heart grow in her chest with love and warmth. With Aunt she had always wondered, but now she was sure.
The tender sensation was quick to turn to mirth when she heard him speak to his friend.
"Do you think Imrahil will be a very difficult father-in-law?"
Aragorn was not the only one to throw back his head and laugh.
His mood and the difficulty of keeping his thoughts from Lothíriel made it not the easiest task to focus on the matters discussed at the meeting. He was able to shake himself when Aragorn explained what had been found in the interrogations so far. As far as he and his officers had been able to find out, the pirate crew had been on a mission to get some intelligence on Amrothian fleet's level of preparation and surmise the strength of Dol Amroth. But having encountered the King of Rohan with moderately small guard, they had gone rogue and decided to act.
As for whether this all meant another war was soon to come, after rigorous interrogation Aragorn had come to conclusion that it was not yet likely, though there were many in Harad who lusted for vengeance. The two kings and their company agreed it would probably escalate into a conflict eventually, but not as soon as they had feared. For now, they could still put their minds to rebuilding and preparing... or family, as Éomer thought to himself. How soon would Imrahil allow him to marry Lothíriel?
The meeting came to an abrupt end when a guard entered the council hall and announced the imminent arrival of Prince Faramir and Princess Éowyn. The two guardians of Ithilien had finally come.
Éomer was on his feet at once; there was no time for protocol when he was anxious to reunite with his sister. Aragorn just smiled and told him to go see her.
But Éomer was not the only one eager to meet Éowyn and Faramir. At the same time as he entered the Court of the Fountain, Lothíriel too came. Her eyes were wide and eager when she joined his side and took his hand. The gesture was timid at first, as though a part of her still feared their reconciliation would not last, but he squeezed her fingers gently. Her grip instantly became steady and sure.
"I didn't have a chance to ask", he said as they halted to wait for the travellers, "How did you like Éowyn when she visited Dol Amroth with Faramir?"
"She's wonderful. She's so strong but kind as well. I didn't have to pretend anything with her", Lothíriel said and smiled fondly. "And she reminds me of you."
"She does?" Éomer asked, and then thought perhaps it made sense. He smiled as well. If this did not promise a friendship between his sister and his bride, he did not know what would.
"More than you know", she replied and tiptoed to quickly kiss his cheek. He closed his eyes briefly in pleasure and marvelled over the sensation of warmth and peace that glowed in the centre of his chest. He would much have liked to pull her in his arms and kiss her properly, but perhaps such display should be postponed until they were in some place less public.
There was some bustle at the gates of the Citadel, and then he could see them coming: Éowyn striding next to Faramir and looking as anxious as he felt. But then she saw Lothíriel standing by Éomer's side and holding his hand, and so Éowyn's face was lit by an enormous smile. He couldn't help but grin back at her.
His sister leant closer to her husband, whispered something to him, and then hurried forward to meet Éomer and Lothíriel. Her smile was beaming when she came and her arms wide open as though she meant to grab them both at once. The hug she gave to her brother was as Éowyn's hugs always were – tight almost to the point of crushing one's neck.
When she was giving Lothíriel similar treatment, she was grinning and saying, "It's so good to see you both! I take it you have talked things through? I knew you could work it out if you just wanted to! You got my letter, didn't you?"
Éomer glanced at Lothíriel and then looked at his sister again.
"What letter? I haven't got any since you left Emyn Arnen and sailed south", he said. Come to think of it, this was an unusually long gap between their correspondence; he knew she tried to make up for her absence by writing him often. But he did not complain about it. Éowyn had a life of her own and he wasn't going to make her feel guilty for living it.
A small frown now overcast Éowyn's smile.
"I wrote to you from Dol Amroth and asked to deliver it in haste. I thought you had made mistake about Lothíriel, and put blame on her when it belonged to her aunt in fact. Didn't it get to you, brother?" she asked in doubt.
"No such letter ever came to me", he replied. He was frowning now, too. For he had wondered before why wouldn't Éowyn let him know if she had figured this out, but this answered the mystery in full. She had tried to contact him – had tried to tell him everything! And without her letter, if he had not by chance arrived at Imrahil's town house at the exact right time, Lothíriel would probably now be forever gone!
The two siblings were silent for moment. Realisation hit him and judging by the flash of fire in Éowyn's eyes, she had the same idea.
"Ivriniel", they both spat the name at the same moment.
"Oh, that old witch! She'll be sorry when I get to her!" Éowyn snarled, while Éomer was still processing the outrage and trying to decide whether it was in poor taste to go after an old, crippled woman.
"You need help with that?" he growled, almost biting at the words to get them out. His blood was boiling. How dare she! Did her insolence know no boundaries? Did she not realise what insult she had made? Or that their friendship with Imrahil was the only reason Éomer did not raise hell for this? Her deed could have caused serious damage to the relationship between Rohan and Gondor! And all because she was a stubborn old harpy who could not let go of her favourite toy!
"Please, don't go after her", Lothíriel spoke suddenly, reaching both for his forearm and that of Éowyn's.
Both their indignation must be showing quite clearly, for she hurried to continue, "I'm not defending what she did. You have every right to be angry. Just... don't you see there's no punishment in our power that would make her repent? She'd never admit to doing wrong."
"Lothíriel, don't you see what could have happened? Don't you understand this is not acceptable?" Éomer asked in a low voice, trembling in his fury.
"Of course I understand! I'm angry with her, too. But... what I mean is..." she said anxiously, searching for right words. She sighed and went on again, "My aunt is an old woman. It's too late for her to change her ways. And the only person who in any way understands her is gone for good. I was her successor and she has lost me. She failed, you see, and that is a punishment far more serious than anything we could do to her. She will spend the rest of her days alone and bitter."
That was a sad fate indeed. Did Ivriniel know she had it before her? Did she understand the full meaning of it? Éomer could not say. The old woman was not stupid... but she could be in denial. On the other hand, how could he claim to know her better than Lothiriel did? Even if Ivriniel didn't grieve knowing she'd be alone, maybe her failure was a greater pain than any retribution could ever be.
He looked at his sister. It seemed like the worst of her anger had been muted, perhaps by similar notions as he was having. Her frown was not so fierce as before – instead, she seemed indecisive and frustrated... wondering if she could just let this insult go. Meanwhile, Lothíriel's gaze moved anxiously from his face to Éowyn's as she waited for their answer.
Éomer turned his eyes to her and felt a little surprised. Even after everything her aunt had done, she could still pity her like this. It made no sense to him. But then, it was such a short while since she had broken free, and perhaps there had been good things between her and Ivriniel, too. What would it do to her if he and Éowyn insisted on payback? Perhaps right now she simply needed to be able to let go, to see that her judgement was valued by him and Éowyn... to really just leave Ivriniel in that dark place she herself had escaped. And when Éomer looked at this woman who could be both brave and lost at the same time, he knew it: his hate of Ivriniel was but a pale thing compared to the love he felt for Lothíriel.
He directed his eyes at Éowyn once more.
"What do you think?" he asked her and noted that his voice sounded now much calmer.
She let out a sigh and then shook her head slightly.
"Well, it would be a lie to say I don't want to go and show her just how displeased I am", Éowyn said slowly, "but Lothíriel is my friend, and perhaps she has greater understanding in this matter than we do."
She regarded Imrahil's daughter with a slight frown and asked, "Are you sure she deserves your pity, though?"
"Maybe not", Lothíriel answered softly, and then looked at Éomer once again, "but a like a good man taught me, cold-hearted retribution is not the answer."
What small vestiges of fury remained mellowed at hearing her words, and seeing the gratitude in her eyes. It was buried under a wave of warmth and tenderness, and he could not help but reach for her with both his arms and pull her close. She was not the same ruthless killer he had first met at the pirate ship – this here was a woman who had lightin her heart, who wished for that light despite all that her aunt had tried to teach her.
Lothíriel wound her arms tightly about him and rested her cheek against his shoulder. It did not matter to either of them that this display took place in the very Court of the Fountain, and many were there to see it. With a soft sigh he buried his face in her dark hair.
He closed his eyes and felt at peace.
The happy day came to a night at last.
Éomer let out a deep breath when he closed the door of his guest chamber behind him. Servants had come and gone, leaving lamps for his return, some water for washing and small treats for a late night snack. He doubted he could put a single bite in his mouth, though; as ever, Aragorn and Arwen's hospitality was abundant and tonight's supper had been no different. They had known to prepare for the happy announcement Imrahil had made in his and Lothíriel's behalf, and thus offered a proper feast to their entire company.
Now formally his betrothed, Lothíriel had never stopped smiling by his side. Often her hand found his under the table, her fingers interlacing with his. Having her there, along with Éowyn and some of his dearest friends, made him so happy it felt almost unreal after weeks of bitter resentment.
But even the happiest of nights must end, and eventually the company dispersed. Lothíriel stayed with him the longest, and Imrahil remained close by due to demands of propriety. But either the Prince was feeling particularly lenient tonight or just wanted to indulge his daughter after her ordeals, for he discreetly turned away his eyes when the newly betrothed pair lingered in an embrace and whispered their sweet little words to one another.
After one more kiss he had told her good night, and promised to see her in the morning. He did not particularly want her to go, because there was still so much to talk about, but Imrahil's understanding was not like to extend to them spending the night together. So a handmaid appointed to her by Arwen then escorted Lothíriel away, and Éomer, in imitation of a happy sleepwalker, made his way to his own rooms.
He poured himself half a glass of wine before raking a hand through his hair and throwing off his shirt. It felt good to be rid of it at last. Though the sun had set, it was still very warm in the city. Then he took seat to unlace his boots and kick them off, relishing the feel of air against exposed skin.
Éomer sat back and sighed. It was late, but he did not really feel that tired. So much had happened today and his agitation showed no signs of going down. He thought of Lothíriel again and what she was doing now – if she felt as restless as him. Things had been even worse for her as of late and he couldn't help but worry a little. Today had been a turn for the better for her, hopefully, but what if her aunt's shadow still haunted her? And he had so much to make up for, seeing the way he had almost left her to the old witch's mercy... he couldn't help but want to go to her right now...
The young king snorted to himself. Éowyn would tell him he was hovering. Well, she would be right. It was sometimes difficult trying to downplay his overbearing concern for those dear to him. The deaths of Uncle and Théodred had not helped him one bit and he knew full well he had been an absolute nightmare first couple months after the war. But considering Éowyn had not yet stopped talking to him, either he had not gone too over the top, or her patience was of supernatural degree.
He picked up his drink and finished it in one go. Maybe Lothíriel wanted some space. Ivriniel surely had not given her any freedom or independence, and Éomer was not going to make the same mistake. She would come to him if she wanted to – if she needed him.
Even if he ached to be with her.
This notion dampened his mood, and he was about to down his second drink when a soft rapping sound at his door interrupted him. He put down the glass and went to see who had need of him at this hour.
Lothíriel stood behind his door, fidgeting her hands and glancing nervously from side to side, and then to him. Mixed feelings rose: he was glad to see her, but also began to worry if something was wrong.
"What is it?" he asked right away and tried not to sound overly fussy.
"I was just..." she started in a small voice and considered her feet for a moment before continuing, "Can I stay with you tonight?"
His heart leapt.
"Of course", Éomer hurried to say and stepped back to make way to her. "Please come in."
She did so, but still looked a little uneasy. The smile she gave to him was awkward, so unlike the beaming one she had worn before.
"Sorry. I didn't want to bother you... I just couldn't stand the quiet in my room. I don't think I could sleep alone", Lothíriel explained in apologetic tones.
"You have nothing to apologise for, Lothíriel. And you are not bothering me", Éomer said quickly as he pushed the door close behind them. He did not even stop to think if she had been seen coming here; he knew full well she wouldn't let that happen.
He then placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and went on, "In fact, I was just thinking about how much I disliked your absence. But I thought maybe you'd like some space after recent events."
Her smile was not awkward now, but neither was there any humour in it. She shook her head.
"Trust me, I've had nothing but space since I came here with Father", Lothíriel muttered and looked away for a moment. Then she met his eyes again, "I was afraid if I fell asleep alone, I would eventually wake up to see everything was just a dream. And you'd be gone again."
"That will not happen", Éomer said firmly and then extended both his arms towards her. "Come here, you foolish thing."
She complied eagerly, pressing close against him, and her fingers brushed against the skin of his back. Abruptly he became aware of how her cheek felt against his chest, and the way her soft hair whispered in contact with him... and it was quite difficult to ignore her warmth, glowing through her light robe. He ground his teeth to hold back a groan. He couldn't get excited now. This would not go any further than she specifically wanted.
So Éomer just focused on breathing and brushing his hand against the back of her head and her hair, letting her decide how long she wanted to be there.
At length she shifted back a little and looked up at him with a smile. Her expression had now grown easier and calmer.
"Thank you", she said simply.
"My pleasure", he answered and planted a gentle kiss on her brow.
Once he had put out the lamps and drawn back the covers on the bed, Éomer noticed her hesitating again, shifting anxiously in the bright beam of moonlight that streamed inside. But it only took a gentle gesture of his hand to get her moving, and once she had dropped her robe she was slipping with him under the covers. With a soft sigh, she settled down against his side and rested her head on his shoulder. It felt perfect.
"I missed you so much", she whispered after they had both found a comfortable position against one another. "Though I'm not sure if you understand how deeply you rattled my world. Nothing made sense anymore after you were gone."
"I missed you too", Éomer replied softly and tightened his hold about her a little, "And while I tried very hard to deny it, the truth is you rattled my world, too. I was so angry... it wasn't easy to admit that I only felt it so strongly because you already meant so much to me."
He felt her shudder and take in breath to say something. And he already knew what it was.
"You don't have to keep saying you're sorry", he told her firmly. "It wasn't your fault. I see that now."
"Still", she whispered and her voice vibrated against his throat, "I keep thinking I could have been stronger... if I were stronger, I could have spared us both from a lot of pain."
"Don't you see, woman? You already are strong. How else could you preserve yourself for so long and not become like your aunt?" Éomer pointed out. Indeed, how could one take all that and not break? In days to come, her strength would not be put to enduring lies and manipulation. It would be the rock where the Riddermark would be built anew.
"Just... thank you", Lothíriel said at length and lifted her head to kiss his cheek. "You saved me, too. Not just from her, but also from becoming something hideous and cruel."
His heart grew so great with tenderness that he did not know how to contain it, but even so he felt compelled to point out, "To me it seemed you did your own saving quite well."
But Lothíriel scoffed against his skin.
"Don't you see? I was about to go straight back to her when you came to Father's house. I never could have done it without you there... you standing beside me and defying her. I was terrified, Éomer. But you were not, and you stayed even as she said those horrible things to you. That's why I could do it. You make it all right even when I'm scared", she said, speaking vehemently, her fingers clasping tight at his arm.
And what could he do then, except kiss her?
She responded eagerly. While he wrapped both his arms about her, she sighed in contentment. Her slender fingers cradled his head and caressed his hair, while his hand slowly ran down her back.
It went so for some time, but as the kisses deepened, so did their hands grow bolder. Unable to hold back anymore, he cupped her through her thin night shift. She let out a small whimper and leaned tight into the touch. Trembling against him she lifted her leg over his hip to bring him closer to her.
Éomer knew what he wanted. And it would be so easy to go through with it. But even then he broke the kiss and looked at her... asking without words if this really was what she wanted, too. So much had happened today, and perhaps, given the chance to consider it, she would feel like they were moving too fast.
A pair of bright, determined eyes met his own. She breathed in short, shallow gasps and did not move to break the intimate embrace. Her fingers were shaking as she brushed them through his hair. Her warmth, the nearness of her body... it was intoxicating.
"We never did things very conventionally", she whispered at length, husky and heated.
"No, we didn't", Éomer replied, forcing himself to stay still. "There was never a chance for that."
"Well, I don't want to start now", she said after taking a deep breath. "And I know how I feel about you."
"You don't wish to wait?" he asked quietly. His voice came out so hoarse, it almost didn't sound like his own.
"No. I have spent all my life waiting in the shadows. Now you are here and I don't want to waste a single moment more. Were it up to me, I would ride with you to Rohan when you go, and not be parted again", she said to him, solemn and firm.
There was enough of moonlight to see her face and meet her eyes. She remained there against him, hands in his hair, and looking at him as boldly as only she could. There was something bright in her now, unlike during their breathless quest to flee the pirates, and he knew it was because she was free at last.
Free to live... to choose to love him. It was a staggering thought: she had emerged from shadow for him. Until now, he had not understood what it meant to change someone's life in such a profound way.
With a gentle hand he cradled her face, smoothing his fingers against her cheek. He had loved people in his time, but never had felt this kind of tenderness for anyone – this certainty and the peace that came with it.
"I love you", Éomer said softly, leaning closer to kiss her brow.
The grip of her hands grew tighter.
"I love you, too", Lothíriel answered in a trembling whisper. Then she closed the small distance between them and kissed him once more.
There was no hesitation now, no holding back. Grasping her by the back of her thigh, he brought her closer still, and only gave in when she tried to pull up the hem of her night shift. There was clumsy impatience and fumbling hands as they both struggled to get rid of remaining articles of clothing.
And then he had his hands against nothing but bare skin. Her warmth, her strength, her softness... it was like a dream. She shivered and moaned when he ran his fingers across her skin and sought the sweet, sensitive paths no one else had explored until now. And she was bold, too, like he had instinctively known she would be.
Lothíriel was his match – a consort in ways that no marriage contract could define. This was clear to him now in a deeper fashion than many a thing had been in a long time.
The heat grew. Her touches and movements against him became more demanding. And he ached for her, ached so very much because she wanted him and this was not a union of convenience, she was not some dutiful lady of the Mark picked from a list of names. She was not in his arms because it was expected of them, but because they had found and saved each other, and always would, if the need arose. And he was not a king or a soldier, he was just a man who loves his woman.
Gently but firmly he pushed her to her back, seeking the space between her legs. She gave it eagerly. And she was so beautiful! Her dark hair was spread against the white pillow like a curtain, there was a lovely blush on her skin, and the light that shined in her eyes... then he was completely hers, and always would be.
Slow at first he came to her and she welcomed him, her eyes wide and shining. He moaned low and deep to feel her like this for the first time – and to want to feel her over and over again. Lothíriel. The name and the person he had not thought to find, to fathom and love, and here they were all the same...
They began to move. It felt good, as though this had been given to them a long time ago. Each thrust was met, and each caress answered. It was right. It was expected. You're here, you're here, you're at last here...
She spoke his name. She spoke it again, and again, and again. His name on her lips, above all others... and he drove close, finally knowing something that had been hidden to him until now, until he had met and known her...
His queen.
To be continued.
A/N: Not much remains to be said now, but I'm not finished yet. You'll see in the next chapter. ;)
I hope this one did tie up some threads that remained - for example the one about Ivriniel intercepting Éowyn's letter. I think for Éowyn and Éomer both there remains no reason to go after her now, especially because Lothíriel asks them not to pursue her. But like she said in the last chapter, her pity is not ignorance - she just wants to move on. And I think Éomer is helping her pretty finely in this chapter to do just that.
Thank for reading and reviewing!
ElvishKiwi - Thank you for your message! I am glad to have made you smile. :)
I think that love is the way to redeem and save them both. In the end, they love each other so much that no device by Ivriniel could break it. And that is what I hope to convey with my stories: one's love can overcome unpleasantness like hers.
Yeah, I think it wasn't as unobserved as they thought! ;) At least Imrahil's staff knew what was going on before they even set a foot out.
I'm glad you like both Imrahil and Éowyn!
WaxingintheDark - That was just the thing I wanted to write! In the end, Lothíriel ought to fight her own battle, but it's vital he's there. At least to me it makes a better scene than if he had been the one to do it, or she alone. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it!
Tibblets - Indeed they are! :)
Doranwen - I'm glad you liked it!
lovelylykxz - I'm not certain there will be much more, but we'll see!
Wtiger5 - I do think it's more than just realising that Éomer can't be bullied. I hope the story conveys how his ability to forgive Lothíriel and the fact that he askf or his forgiveness at all are something that overthrow Ivriniel. She sees this thing between these two people and is at last able to understand that no device of hers can ever break it. And that's what finally makes her give up.
Wondereye - Well, I don't write stories like that! :)
sai19 - It was great to bring them together indeed! Especially after everything they've been through. To me, it seemed Lothíriel should be the one to confront Ivriniel, considering she's the one who has been enduring her aunt's influence all this time. Obviously Éomer's presence is vital, but she is the one who does this thing and finally takes her own freedom.
EStrunk - I couldn't just let them be parted, could I? :) It felt right to me that Lothíriel should be the one to do the confronting, and Éomer just really being there both as a catalyst and a source of strength for her. That's what he has been before, so it would seem right that he doesn't stop now at this crucial moment.
I have to admit, the bit about asking as a man asks a woman was something I enjoyed especially well, too!
Jo - Remember to breathe! :)
Anon - Things are looking good, indeed! It seemed like a fitting end to me as well that they would confront her aunt together!
