Hello! I got such great feedback on the first chapter so I wanted to update as soon as possible! Lothiriel makes her first appearance here! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Two (Lothiriel)
We were going the wrong way. Every part of me ached to head South to sea when we left Minas Tirith and instead we were going North in Theoden-King's funeral procession. Eomer, who would soon be the King of Rohan, rode at the front of the column with his sister Eowyn followed by rows and rows of dignitaries and royals alike. The whole Fellowship was in attendance as well as Queen Arwen and her father and brothers, as well as Galadriel, the Lady of the Woods, and her husband Celeborn. I was towards the middle riding with my brother Amrothos, behind Erchirion and Father. After Aragorn's coronation my eldest brother, Elphir, and his family had returned to Dol Amroth to oversee our own rebuilding, minimal in comparison.
"Do you want to know a secret?" Amrothos asked quietly, apparently not wanting to be overheard.
"You are such a child, Amrothos. No, I do not want to know a secret." I rolled my eyes.
"You will want to know this one, trust me. It pertains to you and you will not like it." He had a mischievous look in his grey eyes, the same that all of my brothers' had, like our father's.
This made me glance at him. I sighed at my own defeat. "Fine, tell me."
He pushed his long, dark hair away from his face as it escaped from the silver clasp that held it in place. Glancing at Father and Erchirion, he dropped his voice even lower. "An agreement is being planned to ally Rohan with Dol Amroth."
"Of course it is. Everyone is making alliances."
"Listen, sister. You interrupted me. That particular alliance is being sealed with a marriage."
Before he said anymore, I knew.
"I overheard Elphir speaking with Father before he returned home. You are to marry Eomer and be Queen of Rohan." My brother looked at me to gauge my reaction, but I would not give him what he wanted. I sat on my horse, stony faced, looking straight ahead, not moving even as the wind whipped my own black hair into my face.
I thought I might be sick from the rage that was coursing through my body. Similar arrangements were very common in Gondor and its Realms; I had grown cold to the thought that such a fate would someday be mine. I had thought I was okay with an arranged marriage, that I would doing my people a duty, but now that it was upon me it left I taste much too bitter in my mouth.
"I thought you'd want to know." It was the first genuine thing Amrothos had said since the conversation began. "I am sorry, Loth."
I merely shrugged as though I did not care, as though I was still apathetic to the idea, but what was happening in my mind and heart were anything but apathetic.
I could only catch glimpses of the back of Eomer's head from my position in the column, but once I saw him in profile as he turned to speak to Eowyn. He was not unappealing to look at, I supposed, but that hardly mattered. He was a brute. A soon-to-be King of barbarians in a crude Realm.
I rode the rest of the way in silence, responding if it were necessary and only then. Amrothos had the sense to leave me alone for the rest of the long journey.
Finally, we made it to Edoras and it looked as though my thoughts had been correct. Small houses lined the road to Meduseld, thatched roofs and all. I understood that Rohan had taken great losses during the War, but I had a feeling that this was always how Edoras had looked. The people came out to greet their new King and pay respects to Theoden. I tried to make my face passive, but the people were like nothing I had ever seen.
They wore plain clothes, browns and greys, made out of rough fabrics and when the royals passed by they stood gaping at us, some of the younger children even pointing. I assumed that they had never seen such refinement.
I was glad to get into Meduseld. It, in contrast to the city around it, was beautiful in a very strange way. It loomed over the city at the top of the hill and I could see why it was called the Golden Hall. On the outside of the Hall there was gold everywhere, twining around the pillars and the doors and windows and as we stepped into the Hall, the throne room greeting us, the golden filigree continued. Not to mention all of the horses. There were horse heads carved everywhere.
"My friends, I have had rooms made up for all of you. You will be shown there promptly. This evening we shall have a welcome feast before the wake tomorrow," Eomer's voice boomed out to us all as we stood in his Hall. "Please, refresh yourself. I look forward to seeing you all tonight to celebrate our triumphs."
Servants came and took us all to our rooms. Father and I had our own rooms, while Erchirion and Amrothos had to share. I could hear them fighting for which bed they wanted before the door was even shut behind them.
The few ladies that I had been allowed to bring and I entered my rooms and I was not surprised at what I found. It was sparse with few decorations, a huge, fireplace with a fire going, and a large bed covered with furs, which was new to me. It never got cold enough in Dol Amroth for such heavy bedding and even if it did I am sure my people would not have used fur blankets. The one decoration in the room was a large tapestry, woven to depict an eored thundering over the plains. I ran my fingers over the weaving, admiring it, though I would not admit it.
"Do you need anything, my lady?" My chief lady-in-waiting, Adela, asked me.
I smiled over my shoulder at her. "Not right now. Go and rest yourselves. I will need to get ready in an hour or so." They left me to find their own, much smaller, rooms.
I took my cloak off and, shivering despite the fire, crawled under the heavy covers trying to rest, to no avail. I could not sleep when all I could think of was the news that Amrothos had shared with me on the ride over. I tossed and turned, kicking at the blankets, near to tears, but refusing to let them fall.
When my ladies returned and helped me prepare for dinner, I sat stony faced. They finished with just enough time for the task at hand. I smoothed my skirts and made my way down the corridor to my father's room, knocking on the door gently, once more holding back the emotion that flooded through me.
"Loth, a pleasant surprise. What are you doing ready so early? That is quite out of character for you," my father said with a kind smile as he opened his door. He was not yet in his official dinner wear, but instead a soft linen tunic.
"I would speak with you, Father," I replied, not sharing the warmth of the moment.
"Of course." He held the door wider and gestured to the chairs before his fireplace. He took a seat, but I could not. I paced back and forth in front of him, my azure skirts rustling.
"What in all of Arda is the matter?" He asked, his eyes following my anxious movements.
"Amrothos told me of your intentions for me," I blurted out. "You intend to marry me to Eomer." I looked at him accusingly.
My father sighed. "How does Amrothos know that?"
"He overheard you and Elphir speaking in Minas Tirith. That is beside the point. Is it true?" I demanded, though I knew already that it was.
Father nodded. "It is."
I sucked in a breath and blinked back the tears. "I have never presumed that I would choose my marriage, but you cannot send me here. I would not protest to any other marriage you made for me, Father, please." I actually dropped to my knees in front of him.
"Lothiriel, this will be a good match," he insisted. "Eomer is a good, noble, valiant man and he will make a fine husband for you."
I stood back up then, knowing that he would show no sympathy. "That may or may not be true. But I cannot live here. You saw this place. I expected to stay in Gondor, Father," my voice trailed off. "Do not send me so far away. This is a brutish place and it is too far away from you and my brothers."
Imrahil looked away. "Lothiriel, it has been decided. You will grow to like it here, you can help in rebuilding. Bring some of your favorite customs here." He looked back to match my gaze. "Rohan did not fare well in the War. It will get better though it does not look that way now, I assure you."
"That is it? You will leave me here in this desolate place?"
"You are not acting like the young woman I know, Lothiriel." He stood up, towering over me as most men did. "I must get ready for dinner. I expect to see a more welcoming demeanor from you then."
I left his rooms without another word.
The feast did nothing to raise my sullen mood. It was not much of a feast at all as Rohan had hardly anything to spare in the way of food and drink. I ate little and sat with Amrothos and Erchirion on either side of me. From where we were, I could see the high table which included the Rohirric siblings, my cousin Faramir and my father, as well as several other well-respected royals.
When the meal was through, the music began. It was rough to my ears, much too fast paced, and accompanied by a sort of stomping line dance that the Rohirrim cheered and shouted for as they performed the steps. A slower song came on and I saw the King rise and move around the table. I stood just as quickly when I realized he was heading for me.
"I think I shall retire for the evening. Amrothos please escort me to my room," I said urgently, pinching under his arm to make him move faster.
Once we were in the corridor, Amrothos stopped. "Father will not be pleased with you."
"I am not pleased with Father, I care not."
ooooOoooo
The next day was the funeral for Theoden. Everyone was dressed in mourning black and the women were veiled. The party made their way out to the burial mounds. It was a very solemn occasion. The Hobbit Merry came behind the golden bier that held Theoden carrying his arms, tears on his cheeks. As they made their way past the Rohirric women began to sing in their native language. It was haunting and it made a chill run up my spine.
The mound was closed up once more and the party dispersed as they saw necessary. Amrothos guided me back up the hill to Meduseld. As I wandered through the Hall, I could see Eomer kneeling in front of his uncle's mound, head bent, absolutely still.
Later that evening, in accordance with Rohirric custom, stories of Theoden's bravery and achievements were shared during the funeral dinner. Eomer shared many happy stories of his uncle, but the pain in his eyes was evident. For a moment, my heart hurt for him.
ooooOoooo
After the funeral, the men spent much time in counsel with one another. We had been there for almost a week and I had avoided Eomer, which proved to be quite easy as he was in council almost constantly and when he was not, there were many other things to attend to.
"Tomorrow Eomer-King would like to perform the betrothal ceremony with you," my father informed me.
My stomach dropped. "Tomorrow? I have not yet spoken more than a few pleasantries to His Grace."
"And who is at fault for that?" My father raised an eyebrow and left.
I slept terribly that night. In the morning, I would be legally bound to another. Another who I did not know at all.
My ladies dressed me in the traditional blue of Dol Amroth. They worked for a long while on covering the bags under my eyes with a skin colored liquid that was common in Dol Amroth. They lined my eyes with kohl that we had imported, before the War, from the East, and they brushed rouge over my cheeks.
"You are ready," Adela said. She was older than I, old enough to be my mother.
I shook my head, but stood anyway. "No I am not."
Luckily, the affair was private, between families only. My father and brothers escorted me down to where Eomer and Eowyn were waiting. Eomer held the reins of a beautiful mare; I supposed that would be a gift to me.
He approached me, leading the horse behind him.
"In Rohan it is customary to give a horse as a betrothal gift," he spoke slowly. "I have selected the best of my mares to give to you to show how happy I am that we are to be wed and rule here together." His speech was simple, no beating around the bush with him.
However, it was just too much to handle for me. I could not refrain from acting on the injustice of the situation. I reached out for the reins and turned back to my father, slapping them into his hand. "Breeding stock for breeding stock," I said venomously.
I marched back towards the Golden Hall, not pausing to see my father's anger or Eomer's bafflement. I could hear Eowyn, the famous shieldmaiden blustering about my disrespect as I hurried up the hill, tears on my cheeks.
I hope you loved it! Let me know what you thought, about the chapter, about the characters in general, and especially let me know what you would like to see in this story as I love suggestions and prompts. Thanks again for reading, no hate comments or flames please!
Happy reading,
Avonmora