Here is the next update! I hope you enjoy it! I had fun with this one. Just a heads up though, my life is about to get extremely hectic with school finals and such. I will update as soon as I can, just bear with me! Enjoy this one!

Chapter Eight (Lothiriel)

I could not explain what had happened between Eomer and I. We, of course, were not all of a sudden in love with one another nor were we even good friends, but I had dropped the hostility as Klymena had suggested. We were more amiable to one another and spent some time together whenever we could.

Eomer, however, did not have many spare moments. Being the King of Rohan was a time consuming role. He spent most of days locked up with his counselors and then would go into his study alone to read petitions and other documents. His spare time was then spent in the throne room, allowing the people to come into Meduseld and speak to him of their problems and requests. The people were won over nearly immediately. No one had a bad word to say about Eomer-King.

One day when he was in the throne room, I quietly stood in the back watching the scene unobtrusively. It was towards the end of the day and the last woman stood before Eomer, a baby cradled to her chest.

"Your Grace, my husband was killed in the War and I only recently brought his son into the world. I am all alone in Edoras; I have no family left or in-laws living to help with my son."

She was a very sad thing. I could see dirt on hers and the baby's faces, her clothes were ragged, and her hair was matted and tangled. I waited eagerly to hear what Eomer would propose for this citizen.

"Dear shieldmaiden, I am truly sorry for your loss, though a Rohirrim should not leave this world in any manner besides in battle, though his time may be cut short with his loved ones." He looked her so kindly, genuinely. "Do you have somewhere to live?"

"Yes. My husband owned a home just outside of Edoras."

"I will have documents drawn up so that the property will be in your name now and no one will be able to take it from you."

I was surprised to hear that. In Dol Amroth and Gondor as a whole it was unheard of for women to own property whether unmarried or widowed.

"I will also have food and other supplies sent to your home until we can figure out how to get you back on your feet."

The woman was nodding and smiling, though it was a melancholy smile, at the young king. "Your Grace, I am terribly grateful for all of this. Thank you so much."

"It is merely my duty to look after those who have loved ones who sacrificed for Rohan," Eomer said modestly. "Speak with my chief counselor," he gestured toward Hama. "He will get information for the document and you can expect someone from Meduseld to deliver the document and other supplies."

The woman dropped into an unpracticed curtsy, balancing her infant before leaving the Golden Hall.

"You must have been truly bored this afternoon, Lothiriel," Eomer said as he approached me after the hall had cleared and he had risen from his throne.

"Nonsense," I replied. "I enjoyed watching you work. The people are quite pleased with you."

"That is funny. I did not think that any of them were paying attention to me. They were in awe of your presence."

"Oh stop, they were not," I nudged him gently.

"They were," he insisted, smiling down at me with a slight blush on his bearded cheeks. "You do not think that I promise too much to them, do you?" He asked after a moment's pause.

"Of course not. I think you give them just enough, but they know it is not an option to become dependent on the King's good graces."

"I am afraid I will run out of things to give the people. As you know Rohan is far from recovered."

I nodded. "No, it is not, but you can give what you can. They must understand that it will take everyone to repair Rohan. When Rohan thrives again, the people shall too, but it will take time and it will take all of us." I did not even realize that I had included myself in the citizenry of Rohan.

Eomer looked at me without saying anything a small smile playing on his lips.

"What?" I asked, running a hand to smooth my hair self-consciously.

"I am happy that you have become invested, is all." Eomer took my hand in his as we walked.

"I am just as surprised as you are," I jested. We left the hall and shortly emerged into the gardens.

There was a slight chill in the early spring breeze, but it was refreshing after being in the Golden Hall with so many other bodies.

"Eomer?"

"Yes?" He replied over his shoulder as he knelt to examine the still closed rosebuds.

"You said you would send someone from Meduseld to that woman tomorrow."

"Mhm," he grunted absentmindedly.

"Might I go to her?" I waited, holding my breath, for his response.

"You wish to go to her?" He asked slightly incredulous, standing and turning to face me once more.

I merely nodded.

Eomer thought for a moment. "I suppose I do not see why not." He smiled at me once more. "You will have to take your ladies and guards of course."

That did not bother me. I had had guards in Dol Amroth. I had expected it to be the same way in Rohan.

"Of course," I repeated him.

ooooOoooo

The next day, I had the document in hand and a basket looped on my arm. Three of my women had accompanied me and carried similar baskets. Eomer had sent nearly half a dozen guards with us. I found the number a bit excessive, but kept that to myself.

I knocked on the door of the small thatched roof cottage that lay just outside of Edoras.

"One minute," the woman called as I stepped away from the door.

She pulled it open and came up short when she saw my ladies and I. She began to stutter.

"My Lady Lothiriel," she managed to get out as her son gurgled from the bundle at her chest.

"No need for that.' I tried to calm her anxiety. "Lothiriel will do just fine."

"But you are to be the queen," she said still in wonderment.

I nodded. "I come from Eomer-King bringing what he promised," I smiled kindly.

She finally looked at the baskets we bore. "Oh please come in, come in."

I stepped inside and sat my basket on the table she gestured to.

"I feel terribly rude. I have been in such a shock that I failed to introduce myself." She dropped into the same clumsy curtsy from the previous day. "I am Dernhild."

"I am pleased to meet you, Dernhild, but you need not adhere to stiff formalities with me. I receive plenty of that elsewhere." Turning to my women I bid them all wait outside, all except Adela. I asked the guards to tend to the horses we had brought as well.

"My lady, we cannot leave you in here alone," one of them protested. "The King would not allow that."

"I am not alone. Adela is here. She has been as a good as a guard to me for many years," I gave him a kind, encouraging smile. "It won't be for long."

Hesitantly, he nodded and led his men out behind the women.

"Can I get you anything? A cup of tea? I just put some on the fire," Dernhild offered nervously. "Sit down, please sit down." I had been hovering near the door of the cottage.

"Tea would be lovely," I said, sitting at the rough hewn table.

Dernhild struggled to maneuver the kettle while holding her son. She seemed hesitant to set her son down. I stood once more.

"Can I help you?"

She looked at me uncertainly. "Would you hold him?" She asked before holding her son out to me.

I imagined that she had never entrusted him into the care of someone else. Dernhild had been alone since before her son was born.

"Of course." I saw the worry in her face. "Do not fret. I have a nephew at home in Dol Amroth who is not yet a year old. I spent much of my time with him. I am quite capable."

"Of course you are, my lady."

"Lothiriel," I corrected gently as she turned back to the tea. I looked into the warm bundle I cradled. The infant was not yet six months old. I remembered when Alphros had the same blue eyes and downy hair that all children start out with. It hurt my heart a pang to think of my nephew whom I had not seen in a few months.

"What is this little one's name?"

"His name is Bregdan, for his father," Dernhild said quietly as she set two cups of tea on the table. "I am sure this is not what you are used to, Lothiriel. I apologize."

I laughed lightly. "No need to apologize. It is much more efficient and with much less of a to do. I think I shall enjoy it." I held Bregdan out to his mother, thinking that she might want him back, though I was enjoying his damp weight against me.

She shook her head. "You can hold him longer if you like. It is quite nice to have my arms free. I have hardly set him down since he was born."

I nodded. "That is understandable. I am happy to hold him."

Dernhild was quiet, not sure what to say to me.

"That is a beautiful tapestry. Where did you find that?" My eyes had landed on a tapestry near the back window. It was a beautiful scene of Edoras before the war.

"Oh. I made it," Dernhild said modestly.

"You? It is exquisite."

"Thank you."

"Dernhild, I have been thinking desperately of a gift for the King for our wedding and I could not think of anything until I saw that tapestry."

Realization dawned on her face. "Oh I could not."

"Cleary you could. You have a real talent," I persuaded.

She shook her head.

"Oh please, Dernhild. It would mean so much to him to have a gift made by one of his own people."

She sighed.

"Oh please. I would make it worth your time. I will come and visit and take care of Bregdan while you work."

Dernhild looked at me for a moment. "What would you like it to depict?"

I could not answer. I reached for her and hugged her with the arm that did not hold her son. When I released her she looked at me, shocked. I laughed nervously and then she began to laugh with me.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Dernhild." I thought for a moment. "Could you do the Battle of the Hornburg?"

That had been one of Eomer's most shining moments. He had ridden to save his people at Helm's Deep even when he had been exiled.

Dernhild smiled. "I can. I heard much of it. My husband was with His Grace then. I will do just before the battle with the Rohirrim on the hill."

I met her smile with my own. "How fitting." I handed Bregdan back to his mother. "I will come back in a few days' time with everything you will need and we can begin. Perhaps I can learn something."

She stood and walked me the few paces to the door.

"Dernhild, I must say that I have enjoyed this tremendously. I am looking forward to spending more time with you and your handsome son." I took the baby's foot that was poking out of his blanket in my hand. It had been good to meet someone close to my age. Many of the women of the court had been hesitant to befriend and it had been quite lonely.

"I am too, Lothiriel."

ooooOoooo

Amrothos, Eomer, and I had a private dinner later that evening. We were all chatting amiably enough when Eomer laid his silverware down on the table. I had never seen him stop eating mid meal and so I too, stopped.

"My guards told me something interesting today," he said quietly.

"Indeed?" I asked, sensing that something was not quite right.

"They told me that you insisted on being alone with that woman in her home."

"I did, they recounted it accurately." I was on edge due to his tone. Amrothos had not stopped eating and was not paying too much attention to us.

"Why would you do that, Lothiriel?" Eomer demanded a bit roughly from he sat across the table from me.

"Because I felt safe enough. Adela was in the house with me and the woman, who is called Dernhild by the way, would not have put her son down long enough to do me harm."

"Adela is not a guard. She is not trained to protect you. I sent them for a reason and it certainly was not to tend to the horses."

I sighed. "Is this a jest, Eomer?"

"A jest? Why would I jest about your safety?"

"My safety," I scoffed. "You saw the woman. She was harmless. She is very kind."

"Lothiriel, you are not to do that again. There are people who wish you harm here. Not everyone should be trusted to not take advantage of the situation and your naivety," Eomer said raising his voice.

"Who would wish me harm? Why on earth would they wish me harm?"

"Think! Use that pretty little head of yours!"

My head jerked as though I had been slapped. "Do not patronize me!"

"Well do not ask such senseless questions!"

Amrothos finally looked up before I could reply. "Have you ever seen a hurricane, my friend?" He asked Eomer, who shook his head. "You are about to." He then went back to his food with a smirk on his face.

Eomer was confused but he turned his attention back to me. "People do not like the idea of having a foreign Queen."

"Is that my fault?" I demanded my voice matching his in volume. "Is it my fault that their King," I looked at him pointedly. "That their King could not provide for them without any help?"

"Lothiriel!"

"Do not say that is an unfair statement! Do not put this on me. You made the decisions you did and I did not make them. I had no say. I was given to you along with all of the supplies and food you and your people received! Do not act as though it is my personality and the things I have done that have made your people dislike me! I did nothing to deserve their animosity and I should not require guards to walk around the city that will be mine."

Eomer looked at me dumbstruck before rising and taking a step around the table corner, towering over me. "What was I to do?" He thundered. I had quite obviously hit a nerve.

Amrothos stood as well between me and Eomer, nearly as tall, but much more slender than the King. "That is enough, Eomer," he said gently.

I stood as well and threw my napkin on the table. "What were you to do? Perhaps assist your people in having warmer feelings for me and my home. Perhaps you should act grateful for what has been given to you and they would too!" I glared at him for a moment. "This betrothal should go back to being the business transaction it was set up as," I said in a low voice before leaving the private dining room and the two men behind me.

I hope you loved it! Let me know what you thought. No hate comments or flames please! I love to hear from you all with ideas. You keep me going.

Happy reading,

Avonmora