Chapter 39

Hornburg, August the 28th, 3019

The lake was a short ride from the Hornburg. Nestled amid rocky slopes and surrounded by sparse shrubs, it was not nearly as beautiful as the one Éomer had taken her to almost a year earlier in the East-mark, but then again: Lothíriel was sure no lake would ever compare to that and the memories it evoked.

It was around midday when she, Beyrith, Ealith and Míririen made it to its shores. The sun was warm and despite the occasional gusts of wind, a thin sheen of sweat covered their bodies, making their dresses stick onto their damp skin. Lothíriel decided a swim was in order and with Beyrith's help, she quickly undressed and took a first step into the dark blue waters, only to let out a loud screech: "It's freezing cold!", she said accusingly. She had been told many at the Hornburg sought escape from the summer's heat in those waters, but no one had ever mentioned anything about freezing to death in the process!

"The lake is fed by streams coming straight down from the mountains, your Highness", one of the shieldmaidens that Éomer had assigned to watch over them explained.

Meanwhile, Ealith and Míririen run past her, a loud splash signalling the cold water was not much of a concern to either of them: "It feels good, just jump in!", her sister-in-law shouted back.

Choosing to trust her, Lothíriel gathered her courage and dove in, limbs shivering and teeth clattering already. She started swimming in circles in an attempt to keep warm while behind her, Beyrith went as far as dipping one toe into the water before instantly reconsidering her intentions and opting for retreating towards the sunny shore instead. Feeling the cold quickly crawling to her bones, Lothíriel decided soon enough to join her, leaving Ealith and Míririen to their silly water antics. They were giggling and splashing each other and while such attitude was not surprising for her sister-in-law, it was somewhat strange to see Haleth's niece acting in such light-hearted way. After much chatting, the two decided to determine who was the best swimmer and obviously taking the challenge very seriously, they climbed out of the water and got rid of every last piece of undergarment, so to swim unhindered.

They were both toned, their bodies made of lean muscles rather than soft curves, but in a way that did not take anything away from their femininity. Where Míririen was more on the petit side, Ealith was taller and stronger built, her skin several tones lighter than that of her sister-in-law. Standing naked in the sun, stretching her muscles and rolling her shoulders in preparation for the swim, she seemed to have momentarily forgotten about her scars, offering a rare glimpse of what Lothíriel thought might perhaps be her real self - not the gloomy one who carefully avoided company at all costs, but rather the sunny one who liked sharing stories of her childhood and did not falter in front of a challenge.

One of the shieldmaidens kicked off the race and Lothíriel was surprised to see that after only a few strokes, Ealith was already firmly in the lead. Míririen lagged a few feet behind her, her movements so graceful she hardly seemed to make an effort at all. As it turned out, she was only biding her time and on the second half of the race, she increased her pace and easily overtook a quickly tiring Ealith. "I guess I should have known better than challenging someone who was raised by the sea!", Haleth's niece gasped.

"You could have won, hadn't you kicked off at such breakneck speed. Where did you learn to swim so well?".

"Here, pretty much. Rohan has many lakes and we are taught swimming at a very young age".

"You were raised at the Hornburg?".

"Yes and no. My parents lived in Edoras but I used to spend my summers here, with my uncle. Now, our roles will be exchanged, for he is moving to the capital to dedicate himself to the Council. He needs someone to oversee the family's business in the Westfold, and there's only me".

Lothíriel was surprised to hear that. She knew Haleth had never married and had no children, but she had not known Ealith was his last living relative. "Does that mean you and Alling will relocate to the Hornburg after the wedding?", she inquired.

"Yes, we will move into my uncle's house, and he will move into my parents' one in Edoras. I will simply act as his deputy at first, but in the long term I am supposed to take over".

"Are you nervous about it?".

Ealith smiled. "Can you believe you're the first person to ask me that? Everybody asks whether I'm excited or comments on how lucky I am to be given such opportunity, but not one word about nerves – which I definitely have in abundance!".

"It's perfectly normal - it's a lot of responsibility after all. Either way you shouldn't worry, for I'm sure you'll make your uncle proud!".

A rosy blush spread on Ealith's cheek and she hastily busied herself with wrapping a blanket around her naked shoulders. As they shared a light lunch, time and again Lothíriel caught her glancing furtively at her direction until finally, she cleared her voice and spoke: "My Lady, perhaps this is not my place to tell, but I think you should know Aldwyn was mortified for the mess she has caused the other day".

Lothíriel sighed. She had not had a chance to speak with her friend before she had departed for Edoras, but she couldn't deny she had mixed feelings. The way Aldwyn had defended her from Lúfa's venomous insinuations was commendable. But she needed to understand she couldn't act in such reckless way and put in danger those around her. Why, she still shivered at the thought of what might have happened! Not so much to her – she knew her guards would have protected her with their lives, but rather to Beyrith and Míririen, had they been separated from the main group in the midst of the brawl.

Éomer's decision to ban Aldwyn from the Golden Hall for a few months at least was appropriate, and she really hoped her grandmother would use the time to talk some sense into her head. "I know she is, Ealith, and I am touched that she would defend me so. But she's too impetuous: she charged ahead without thinking about the consequences of her actions and even when you tried to hold her back, she still refused to listen. She's thoughtless and inconsiderate. Just like my brother…", she finished in a whisper, the thought of Amrothos bringing a sour taste to her mouth.

"Oh", Ealith mumbled, lowering her eyes in an awkward manner. "If you don't mind me asking, has your brother taken ill? I couldn't help but noticing he has been absent these past few days…".

Lothíriel glared at the other woman. Amrothos' assault on the King had luckily happened at a moment when no one was around and as far as she knew, only those directly involved knew of his bout of inexcusable madness. But then why did she have the feeling Ealith knew more than she left intended?

"Yes, he was feeling unwell and decided to rest", she lied, "mayhap he'll join us for supper later today".

Erchirion found Amrothos holed up in his room, perched on the same stool on which he had spent the past four days and staring blankly at the curtained window in front of him. He seemed to have fallen into a sort of detached state and slowly, he was starting to feel at loss as to what to do with him.

The vehemence with which Amrothos had lashed out at the King was unprecedented and totally unlike him. He knew there was something tormenting him those days, but he had no idea what it was and of course, his brother was too proud to speak out. He had at least apologized to Éomer and their sister and while the former had promptly forgiven him – his lingering guilt about the whole Lúfa's affair likely making him more pliant than he'd normally be, the latter had proved harder to win. Lothíriel was fiercely defensive of her marriage and didn't take lightly to anyone trying to interfere, so much she hadn't even allowed their father to say a word about what had happened, literally incinerating him with one glare before he could get a word out of his mouth.

Whoever thought ladies were softer than men, clearly had never met his sister.

"Are you planning to emerge from your hideout any time soon?", he asked.

Amrothos shrugged. "Don't know".

"Will you be riding home with us next week?".

He lifted his dark gray eyes upon him and shook his head. "I'm not a coward. I told Lothíriel I'd stay until spring to help her as best as I can, and I intend to honour my word. Maybe by then, she will have forgiven me for being such a loony".

"You're not a loony, Amrothos. And you wouldn't be still here, hadn't our sister already forgiven you. You need to understand, people have tried for so long to get between her and Éomer, to turn them against one another and sabotage their marriage: Grima, Meregith, Trewyn… and now this Lúfa. Lothíriel was only trying to protect her family and of course, it upset her that she had to defend it from her own brother. She's angry now, but I'm sure she'll come around". In an attempt to lift his mood, he passed him a cloth into which he had wrapped a sweet roll and grinned: "Here, have something to eat. Supper will be served in a couple of hours: I understand that now that your lady love has left you'd rather stay here and mope around the whole day, but we'd be happy if you were to join us".

"Aldwyn's not my lady love".

"But you like her", he teased him, only to be rewarded with an angry scowl. "Come on, you two are practically joined at the hip! You can't tell me you don't fancy her!".

Amrothos stood, walked to the door and held it open for him. "It is none of your business. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone".

Erchirion's jaw dropped to his feet. After how insufferably nosy his brother had been after finding out about Míririen, after he had tailed him to her house and taunted him endlessly about their love letters, when it came to his love life, now it was all of a sudden none of your business?!

Ah!

He returned to his room a grumpy Prince but at least his effort proved successful and later that night, Amrothos abandoned his lair and entered almost timidly the hall. He sat next to their father and consumed his meal in silence, only occasionally speaking when someone tried to engage him in conversation. Though he rarely looked at their sister, Lothíriel's eyes were often lingering on him. Assessing. Weighting. Appraising. Until finally, right before retiring, she approached him, pulled him down for a hug and planted a quick peck on his cheek.

It was all Erchirion could do not to burst out laughing at the sight of the expression on his brother's face - a mix of shock, shame and relief, all topped off by an unusual flush and a rigid stance.

From across the table, he caught Lady Ealith winking at him and for a moment, he wondered whether his eyes were deceiving him: Haleth's niece was so stern and taciturn that seeing her doing something like winking - at his brother of all people!, was odd at best. He narrowed his eyes at the subtle nod Amrothos gave her in return, and even more so at the way he smiled almost imperceptibly. He looked back at Ealith but whatever had just transpired between those two, the moment had quickly passed: the lady returned her attention to Erkenbrand who was inquiring her about her impending wedding, while Amrothos called it a night and returned to his room.

Amrothos observed the departing Amrothian party with a mix of sadness and guilty relief. He was going to miss having his family around – especially his brother, but he hoped that with them gone, life would fall back into the comfortable routine he had come to appreciate during his first weeks in Rohan. It had taken Lothíriel almost a week to get over her anger but just like Erchirion had told him, she had eventually forgiven him and the two of them had gone back to spend as much time together as their respective duties allowed – which wasn't much, unfortunately.

Having fixed things with his sister had eased his feelings, but with the anniversary of the massacre on the beach fast approaching, Amrothos was still wary of himself and decided to keep his distance from Aldwyn. Not only her, actually. With the exception of Lothíriel, Éomer, Runhild and Théocanstan, he had been limiting his interactions with other human beings to work related matters only and generally preferred the company of animals. He often spent entire afternoons at the stables and much to the stablemaster's horror, it hadn't taken long to the red-haired devil to put him to work. Just bring me that saddle, she had told him once. The following day, she had asked him to fetch her some tools. The next for a load of fodder and before he knew it, he was raking the ground inside Firefoot's paddock and dutifully collecting his manure.

He didn't mind. Runhild was fun to be around and she always ensured he was not sitting idly.

Théocanstan was her exact opposite, but he found there was something equally reassuring about his presence and could understand why his sister was so fond of him. He often watched over Bandit while he was on duty and if he wasn't spending time with either the horses or the young pup, then he was with Endien.

The anniversary eventually came and passed and one week after their return to Edoras, Amrothos gathered his courage and crossed the Markthalle towards the small hillock situated right behind it. He made it to the house located at the very top, where a prone figure was busy tending to the garden: "Aldwyn?", he called, putting an abrupt end to a furious exercise of weed pulling.

She looked up at him in surprise and slowly stood. "Hello Amrothos".

"You turned to gardening?".

Aldwyn gave him an unladylike snort. "As a way of punishing me, my grandmother turned me to anything I hate. I always detested gardening, so she tasked with a complete do-over of the yard – front and back! I always detested cooking, so she's had me taking care of the meals – the worst part is that I actually have to eat the result of my efforts which trust me, isn't fun. I always detested paperwork, so she's had me taking care of every minute, bothersome task she could think of. I am banned from the Golden Hall and suspended from active duty, as well as forbidden to ride and train. I guess I should consider myself lucky I am at least allowed to go down at the Hammer every once in a while…". She paused and cast him a guilty look: "I'm not complaining. I know I deserve being punished".

"Yes, well: we both did our share of stupid things while at Hornburg. Let's not dwell on it", Amrothos tried to reassure her while at the same time ignoring her questioning gaze - very few people knew he had tried to assault the King, and he preferred keeping it that way.

"What have you been up to these past few days? I haven't seen you around at all…".

"I'm still working with Haleth to coordinate the construction of another inn, as well as helping the new Gondorian-Rohirric families settling in".

"Seems like you have your hands full. Are you coming to the tavern later today, or is your presence required elsewhere?".

"I…", Amrothos hesitated. "I'll be busy with the King", he lied, unable to admit to the lady standing in front of him that as much as he enjoyed her company, letting her drag him for round after round of ale would do his precarious state of mind no good.

"I see", she just said, her shoulders dropping slightly.

Amrothos opened the little wooden gate enclosing the yard and stepped closer. He lifted her chin and stared deeply into her pale blue eyes: "I'm not angry at you, Aldwyn. I know you're upset about what happened at the Hornburg, but don't worry: it might take some time, but things will go back to normal. You'll be welcome in the Golden Hall once more and able to return to your patrolling duties. No more gardening. No more cooking. No more paperwork".

A soft chuckle rose from her chest. She stretched on her toes but for some reason, he turned at the last moment, letting her lips meet his unshaven cheek in a chaste kiss.

That night, for the first time since he had returned to Edoras, Amrothos let his insomnia take him outside of the hall and towards the riverbanks. Ealith wasn't there, which was just fine by him: after their encounter at the training grounds and what he had told her, he still wasn't sure how to behave around her. Standing at the edge of the murky waters, he tossed a pebble and observed it skipping the surface a meagre two times. With a scoff, he collected another one and tried again. And again. And again. After a dozen attempts, he still couldn't get it to skip more than three times and wondered when he had become so bad at what had been one of his favourite childhood's pastimes.

"Am I interrupting?".

The unexpected presence spooked Amrothos. He snapped around and immediately, he felt himself leaning dangerously backwards. Feet scrambling, he was sure he was going to take a plunge into the shallow waters of the Snowbourn but at the last moment, he managed to stop the fall by sacrificing one leg to the river.

Ealith, hands full with two small mugs and thus unable to give him any sort of help, gave him a stunned up and down look before bursting into laughter.

"You scared the living daylights out of me!", he accused her while climbing back on the bank, shaking his right leg like a dog would.

"I'm sorry, Amrothos. It was not my intention, truly!".

"That why did you sneak up on me in such fashion?", he barked back, his feigned anger ruined by the smile creeping up his face. He sat on the ground, removed one soaked boot and flipped it upside down. Water, mud and a handful of little stones trickled down. He squeezed his sock and rolled the hem of his trousers up to his knee, shivering lightly in the cool late summer breeze.

"Here, a peace offering", Ealith said holding one of the mugs in front of him.

"No, thank you", he declined politely, hoping she'd not press him into drinking.

"It's not ale, just an herbal infusion".

Amrothos shot his companion of many sleepless nights a guilty look. "So you've noticed…".

"You always avoid ale and liquors, even when all others around you are openly indulging. I just put two and two together".

He accepted the drink and took a sip. It didn't taste like much, but was pleasant nonetheless. "I've always enjoyed drinking but during the past year, things got… out of control. I no longer drunk for the fun of it, but rather to dull my senses into a comfortable numbness. Drinking is a cowardly way to avoid dealing with one's problems. Do you drink, Ealith?".

She wrinkled her nose. "Not really. I never liked the taste of ale, wine and liquors in general. Though, I remember I once tried one that I truly liked. It was made in Gondor, I believe, with lemon zest and sugar. A bit too strong for my taste, but pleasant enough to wet my lips".

"Ah, I know which one you mean! Yes, it is bottled in Southern Gondor. There are also similar ones made with other types of citrus, maybe you'd like those ones too".

"In the unlikely chance I'll ever happen to visit your homeland again, I'll keep that in mind".

"You don't plan to?".

"No offence, but Gondor doesn't exactly evoke pleasant memories for me…". She finished her infusion and put the mug down. Scanning attentively the ground, she collected a handful of pebbles and positioned herself on the riverbank. The first one she tossed, skipped the water four times already. She gave him a sideway grin and by the time her hand was empty, the pebbles had been steadily skipping five to six times before sinking into the river.

"It's something that happened a year ago, on a beach about forty miles north of Dol Amroth", Amrothos said staring blankly ahead. When she arched an eyebrow, he clarified: "Back at the Hornburg, you said you didn't know what haunts my nights. It's that cursed day. September the 1st, 3018".

Ealith sat on the damp ground beside him. Knees hugged to her chest, she silently waited for him to continue.

Unsure where the sudden urge to speak was coming from, Amrothos let out a deep breath. "Erchirion was in Rohan and had left me in charge of the Amrothian fleet. I was sailing on our flagship, when the crew spotted smoke rising from a small fishermen village. We could see men fighting on the beach and women trying to run away, babes clutched to their breasts. It all happened so fast, we had no time to prepare ourselves, no chance to put on our armours before the ship made it to shore. We had to wade the last meters and by the time we managed to set foot on the beach, there was nothing left to be saved. Dozens of corpses were scattered around. The sand was red, the waves washing the shore crimson. The air was acrid with smoke, filled with the wails of the dying ones. The outlaws that had attacked the village turned on us. We were outnumbered but fought with a ferocity I had never experienced before. In the midst of the battle, Thostion - the youngest member of my crew, a boy only barely seventeen years old, went down. He…", he swallowed and was horrified to find tears rolling down his cheeks. He wiped them angrily away but knew he had to get it all out because if he didn't, the weight of the memories in his head would surely crush him - right there, right then. "His belly was cut open from one side to the other, his guts spilling out. His hands were desperately trying to… to hold… to hold himself together. He looked up at me and called my name but there was nothing I could do, not until we had gotten rid of our foes. And we did get rid of them. We took heavy losses, but we killed them all. As the last one fell, I rushed back to Thostion, but he was dead already, hands still pressed on his open belly, panicked eyes wide open. He died alone, terrified, body twisted in harrowing pain. When we returned to Dol Amroth, I did not have the strength nor the heart to tell his parents what had happened and sent Elphir instead. While he delivered the news, I went down to the harbour, entered the first tavern I came across and drunk until I couldn't remember my name anymore".

Ealith scooted closer, one hand closing firmly around his to keep him from jerking away. Strands of blond hair tickled his neck as her head came to rest on his shoulder. Mercifully, she did not waste her breath on the usual empty words people offered on such occasions. There was nothing you could have done. It's not your fault. You avenged him and the other innocents slain that day… She just held his hand and let him cry his pain away until there wasn't a single drop of water left within his body. Then, she helped him up, collected their mugs and arm in arm, she walked him all the way back to the hall. She gave his shoulders a little squeeze, one hand lifting to cup his face in a painfully melancholic way. "We'll be alright, Amrothos. One day, we'll be alright".

"We are deeply sorry, but the answer is still no".

Amrothos sighed inwardly, trying his best to mask his exasperation as he swayed from one couple to the next.

Sixty-eight new families.

Sixty-eight men of Rohan who had found their better halves during their stay in Gondor. Most had married already and coming spring, many would be welcoming their first-born.

Sixty-eight new families who now wanted to settle down in the capital even though it was clear the city was unable to offer proper accommodation to them all. There were only so many empty cottages the King could offer, and only so many new houses that could be built before winter came. Those who could afford it had rented rooms at various inns and for all the others, the Queen had opened the doors of the Golden Hall and made its guestrooms available. Even so, Meduseld had a limited capacity and for many families, that meant sleeping on thin cots inside the main hall - which was far from ideal for anyone, let alone pregnant women.

It was an uncomfortable situation, one to which Amrothos had been trying to find an acceptable solution - with very little success so far.

The crux of the problem lied in the stubborn refusal of the new families to relocate elsewhere. Between Aldburg, the Hornburg and a multitude of smaller settlements, they'd surely be able to find a suitable accommodation to all. Alas, it appeared that Edoras was the only acceptable option for these people and even though he had managed to convince some to move to the old seat of the Kings of Rohan, no one had been willing to consider the breached fortress or other villages as a viable option. In a sense, Amrothos could understand their objections: being the capital, Edoras provided its people with a sense of safety and furthermore, the couriers riding regularly to and fro gave the women a sense of closeness to their homeland. Most of them had been born and raised in Minas Tirith, and the idea of moving to an isolated village just ahead of the winter, was simply too scary and unappealing.

Be as it may, after three full days of failed negotiations, he wasn't any closer to solve the problem.

Feeling both exhausted and ravenous, Amrothos dragged himself towards the kitchen. He noticed there was a large tray on the counter and couldn't resist bending over to give it a good sniff: "What's in the stew?", he asked the cook, his mouth watering already.

"Smoked sausages, cabbage, celeriac and wild foraged herbs. I've sprinkled it with dry berries, for I know our Queen is fond of them. Let me cut you two slices of apple pie, and you're good to go".

Once the tray was ready, Amrothos carefully picked it up and headed towards the King's study – though it would be more correct to call it the Queen's, given his sister had practically conquered the place for herself. He tapped his foot against the door and pushed the handle with his elbow: "Hello sister dear".

Surrounded by piles of paper and dusty books, the Queen gave him a disheartened look. "My life was a much better place before I started learning about aids, land taxes, custom duties, fees…".

"I'd offer my assistance, but I'm as clueless as you are. My charming presence is all I can give".

"Splendid", she snorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She made space on the desk and beckoned for him to take a seat. "You could let one of the maids take me lunch, you know?".

"I do. But then you'd gobble down your food without even taking a break from whatever it is that you are doing, which you know is not good".

Amrothos set the table and opened the window to refresh the stale air. Temperatures were quickly dropping outside but he had long learned his sister was surprisingly resilient to the cold: she liked the stormy weather of Rohan, rarely wore a cloak when going for a stroll around the city and when the other day he had offered to light a fire to keep her warm, she had practically laughed and dismissed him, all the while muttering something along the lines of if you are cold now, then you'll surely freeze your Royal backside coming winter - admittedly, that had gotten him a little worried about the months to come! Taking his place by the desk, he dipped his spoon into the stew and savoured it slowly. He had a feeling that the colder the weather got, the more he liked the local food! A quick glance over the table confirmed he wasn't the only one enjoying his meal: Lothíriel was already halfway done with her portion and eyeing greedily the two slices of apple pie. He laughed and pushed the plate towards her: "You can have mine too".

She didn't ask twice and launched her attack on the cake. "Any good news from the families in the hall?".

"Unfortunately, not. They refuse leaving Edoras, so we need to find them a decent accommodation within the city. I was thinking that if we give priority to the couples who are expecting, between inns, guest rooms and available cottages, we should be able to give them all a comfortable place to stay. The rest of them will have to make do until spring, I'm afraid".

"I had hoped to avoid that, but I see we have no choice. Elfhelm informed us Aldburg would be able to host a few more families. I know you've already tried to convince our guests, but would you mind giving it another try? Make it clear it's either that, or camping in the hall for another five to six months. Mayhap that will convince them to accommodate our request".

Not particularly thrilled with the idea of going for another round – the fourth so far, of negotiations, he just nodded and concentrated on his food. "Lothíriel", he asked after a while, "How did you manage to learn the Rohirric language so quickly? Did you have a tutor or something?".

"Not in the beginning. During my first months in Rohan, Runhild was especially helpful. She'd just teach me the words for everyday's objects and from there, I was able to progressively grasp more and more. Took me almost a year, but in the end I could both understand and make myself understood. But my Rohirric was far from perfect, so I took lessons to polish it. Why, are you thinking of learning the language yourself?".

"As a matter of fact, I am. Most people in Edoras speak the common language, but as soon as I set foot in smaller settlements, I find myself thoroughly isolated".

"I think it's a wonderful idea. My former tutor lives in Aldburg, but I'm sure I can find you one in Edoras. Why, I might even join your lessons to further refine my skills!".

He smiled at the chance of spending more time with his sister. After the mess he had created at the Hornburg, things had very slowly gone back to normal and now more than ever, he cherished her company. Having entered the eight month of her pregnancy, she appeared fuller and healthier than ever, radiant almost! The entire household seemed to glow with her reflected light and the only occasion when he had witnessed some malcontent, was when she had officialised her decision to employ a nanny. Many had turned up their noses and Lothíriel herself was not too happy about it. Amrothos knew she was going to devote as much as time as possible to raising her child, but nonetheless hiring a nanny had been the right thing to do: she was a Queen – and a regent one at that, and she could not afford to become estranged with state matters for the next foreseeable future. She'd need to be both things – a mother and a Queen, and there was no shame in seeking a little help.

Éomer stared at the chest resting at his feet, then at the tidy sequence of contracts Léored had arranged on his desk. He was dangerously close to burst out and judging by the look on Lothíriel's face, she wasn't faring any better either: "What is the meaning of this?", he asked, his voice low and menacing. Did the scoundrel think he could appease his monarchs with bits of shiny metal?

"I'm resigning from the Council, your Highness. I know better than anyone that material assets are no substitute for what we have lost in the war, yet this is all I have to offer".

Lothíriel took a wary step forward. "If we trust the content of this", she said waving the letter Léored had given them, "then we are to conclude Grima bought your family's unyielding support by exempting you from paying levies to the Crown. Is this true?".

"Yes, my Queen".

"Did he buy the rest of the Council the same way?".

"Yes – though I have no way to prove it".

"Did you know about it?".

"Yes, I knew and did nothing, said nothing. I was aware we were deceiving the King but was content with the off-the-record agreement my father secured. Thanks to it, we fared better than the most – thrived even, and I never even considered the idea of doing the right thing instead of the one that was most profitable for me. Most of my family's belongings are in this room - may them be gold or holdings, and I know our name will be disgraced after I leave". He paused and scoffed: "I keep speaking of us, but there's no us anymore. My father and three younger brothers died in the war, my wife and two children were killed by Dunlendings a year ago. They had been visiting our in-laws when the village they had been staying at was attacked. Just one of the many slaughters Saruman unlashed on Rohan while he kept a firm hold on us through Grima and the Council. My family's association with the Wormtongue has cost me everything I held dear and for once, I want to do the right thing and relinquish everything I own to the Crown. There is plenty to return what my family stole and more to help re-building Rohan. The only possession I am not forgoing is the cabin my grandfather built in the woods of the Westfold. It shall be my home, from today until my last day".

Éomer exchanged a quick glance with Lothíriel. This was not what they had expected when Léored had asked for an audience to discuss some unspecified levies' related matter.

The man had been part of the Council for only a few short weeks, taking over from his father, who had been one of the advisors he had despised the most. While most of the other members of the Council could claim some level of ignorance over the role they had unwittingly played in bringing Rohan to its knees, he knew that did not apply to Léored's father.

His son shared his looks: same build, same finely chiselled features – the kind that speaks of nobility, same way of talking even. Éomer disliked him deeply but knew better than taking hasty decisions.

He called in a guard and had Léored escorted to another room. Once the sound of their receding steps had faltered, he locked the door and turned around: Lothíriel stood by the window, fingers curled so tight around the edge of the wooden sill that her knuckles had turned white already. "What are you thinking?".

"I'm thinking of calling the Queen's guard and have them arrest each bloody advisor. Then I realize I can't do that, and so I think I should try to make do with the small joy of seeing at least one of them paying for what they have done. But after what Léored has told us, I'm not even sure that seeing him rotting in a mice-infested clink would give me any amount of gratification or sense of justice".

"Do you trust him?".

"No, of course not. I don't trust anyone in that lot – except for Haleth. Is it true what he told about his family?".

"His brothers perished on the Pelennor Fields. His father was gravely injured and died some days later. As per his wife and children, I was not aware of the circumstances of their death but I can easily verify the truthfulness of his words".

"He was always quiet", she muttered, "Ever since the Council was restored and he took his father's place, Léored was always so quiet. While the other advisors ranted and tried at every turn to appease us, he remained on his chair, silently watching the unfolding debate. Before today, I had never even heard his voice".

Éomer took her in his arms and guided her to one of the armchairs. Her two biggest complains those days were about being unable to find a decently comfortable position to sleep and her feet being constantly swollen. He had tried to solve the former with piles upon piles of pillows and as for the latter, he had taken to keep a small vial of peppermint and lavender oil inside his pocket, so he could give her a soothing massage whenever he could. He removed her slippers and as he watched her lying back, head tilted to one side, he thought that for all her grousing about being always tired and exhausted, she was a vision of beauty. One that warmed that little secluded place in his heart that only her was ever able to reach.

"I don't trust Léored either, but I also cannot think of a reason why he would lie to us about his family's dealings with Grima".

"You have something in mind, I can tell".

"I want his story verified. I want to compare the letter he gave us against others that we know were written by Grima, so to ensure it wasn't forged. If everything checks out, then I want him to atone for his crimes – and no, stripping himself of all his wealth and retiring to an isolated cabin in the woods would not do".

Lothíriel tried to pull back her feet but he did not let her. "I'm not done", he informed her and gently pushed her back onto the chair.

There had been no respite at all. After years of blood, the moment the war had ended all worries of overcoming their enemies had been instantly replaced by new ones: how to rebuild a shattered country, how to feed his people when most of the crops had been destroyed, how to ensure everyone would be given shelter during the cold season. He had never considered himself a particularly optimistic person and as such, he had braced himself for the worse. In the end however, things had turned out better than he would have ever dared hoping. Granted, food was still scarce and accommodation limited, but once he had made peace with having no choice but accepting Gondor's offer of aid, the future had for once started to look like a brighter place. Alas, that didn't mean there hadn't been plenty of troubles to keep him awake at night: with orcs still roaming the land and Dunlendings occasionally raiding their borders, his resources were stretched thin and he had none to spare to make uncooperative regions fall in line.

Until now, there had been no need for it and he knew he had his advisors to thank for it.

The King's Council, an organ once formed to provide the monarchs with insights and suggestions that would be hard to come by, had grown in time into a congregation of powerful men who offered their services and knowledge in exchange for something. He had already had a taste of it: after returning from the war, at first he had been granted a sort of grace period during which he could have asked his advisors to kiss his feet, and they'd have dropped to their knees and obeyed without as much as a complaint. It hadn't last long though and already, his dealings with the Council had turned into a matter of veiled bargaining and fragile compromises, so that things would keep on running smooth everywhere in Rohan and especially in the councillors' respective strongholds, and resources would be allocated and delivered where needed in a timely manner.

He hated it - all of it!, and he truthfully wished he could dissolve the Council like Lothíriel had suggested. But he couldn't - not yet at least. "Léored could help us".

"How?".

"I chose Haleth to take over the spot that had been Grima's because I trust him, because I had hoped he could be my eyes and ears. But it was a dumb plan to start with: the rest of the advisors know where his loyalty lies, and they would never let him into their machinations".

"You want Léored to be our mole within the Council? You'd trust him so?

"No. But given enough time, trust can be built on even the most rugged terrain. He'll have to prove himself and if at any point in time we come to doubt him, then we'll have him arrested and stand trial for treason. After all, he provided us with enough proofs to lock him away for the rest of his days, should we wish to".

"What of the offer he made us. He can hardly sit in the Council while being practically destitute".

"No, you are right. He will have to retain his family's wealth and pay his debt to the Crown in a more gradual, discreet way".

"It's a good plan, Éomer", Lothíriel conceded, a frown marring her face, "I just find this constant state of mistrust within our own household so utterly exhausting…".

"I know, dear, and I promise you that one day I will dissolve the Council and set us free from the clutches of those damned geezers".

"There will always be more. Geezers, schemers, people who dress their ambitions as something entirely else. I think their buzzing around us is an integral part of being monarchs, and that it will be our responsibility to see that none of such individuals gain enough power to compromise the good of the country. It's just that there are days when it's easy to feel overwhelmed, you know?", she asked, one hand rubbing her lower back, the other stifling a yawn.

He placed a thin blanket across her legs and brushed her hair back. "I do, which is why I hereby decree that the Queen should take the rest of the afternoon off".

"Ah well, who am I to contradict a direct order of the King. Are you sure you don't want me to be there when you speak with Léored?".

"Yes, I think I can manage on my own", he taunted her, "Besides, I want you rested for this evening. You haven't forgotten about the banquet, have you?".

Her distraught groan told him that yes, she had indeed forgotten about the group of troubadours and other artists who had arrived from Minas Tirith the day before, and in whose honour they had decided to host a small feast in the hall.

"Get out of here and let me rest, King!", she ordered.

Amrothos stuffed his mouth with the fourth pastry – or was it the fifth? - in a row. It was always the same old story: whenever mushrooms were involved, he could not control himself!

The feast had proven a much-needed distraction for all. The Rohirrim were excited to see Gondorian troubadours performing in Rohan, and the Gondorians were happy to find something that reminded them of the home they had left behind. The ale was steadily flowing and not for the first time, Amrothos caught Éomer trying to make his escape from the Golden Hall, only to be promptly stopped by one of his eager subjects. His ill-concealed exasperation got him laughing and after he had gobbled down yet another pastry, he decided to wash down his guilt for the outrageous amount of food he had consumed with a dance. He did not remember the young lady's name, only that she was the daughter of one of the King's riders and that she had an obvious crush on him, reason why he made sure to return her to her father as soon as the music stopped.

At the far end of the hall, Ealith was deep in conversation with an elderly couple. When she had walked through the open gates, arm in arm with Alling, Amrothos had been hard-pressed to quell a beaming smile. He knew how uncomfortable it was for her to be in a room packed with strangers, and he was overjoyed to see her meeting the challenge.

Alas, his contentment had died the moment he had taken notice of Alling's attitude: the bloody idiot practically treated her like an inept, steering her around as if she was unable to decide on her own where she wanted to go, endlessly inquiring whether she was thirsty and then providing her with drinks regardless of what her answer had been, continuously fixing her hair even in those rare moments when she appeared for once unconcerned with her looks, always sticking to her heels and talking without an end as if terrified the moment he looked the other way, she might run away.

And Valar, she should!

His attentions were suffocating and only served at hindering her. How could he not see that Ealith was desperate for a taste of normality, of life as it had been before the war had torn it apart? How could he not see that his blatant fussing helped her not, and only caused her to sink deeper? Ealith was a shieldmaiden of Rohan - a wounded one perhaps, but a shieldmaiden nonetheless, and that he'd treat a like a porcelain doll was so infuriatingly demeaning!

Right on clue, Alling joined the conversation and immediately, the gentle smile that had graced Ealith's face faded into a blank grimace. Lurked between two pillars, Amrothos observed her growing quiet and when after a while she excused herself, he tailed her discreetly outside the hall and then down towards the little stream that sprung a few feet below the street level. She was humming the tune the troubadours had been playing and for a moment, he pondered whether he should let her be. Twice he turned around with the intention of walking away, but never got to make more than one step, Ealith's distant voice drawing him like a moth to the flame. Berating himself for the pathetic sight he must have made, he headed down the slippery slope. "Hello there".

Ealith chuckled upon seeing him approaching: "Already tired of all the ladies striving for the chance to dance with a Prince?".

He sat opposite her, the brook gurgling between their feet. "I must uphold an appearance of Royal unattainability. Dancing with every single lady in the hall would not do".

Her ringing laughter was too infectious to resist and all of a sudden, all Amrothos could think of, was how wondrous that sound was, and how lovely Ealith looked.

Overlooking her beauty was so damn easy - and it had nothing to do with her scars! It was her demeanour, constantly swinging between skittish insecurity and austere strength. It was the garments she wore, the choice being either her armour or else dresses that would only be appropriate on an old matron, surely not on someone as young and lively as she was. It was as if she tried oh so very hard to be nothing but a blurred shadow in the background, one that no one would notice nor remember afterwards. And yet for all her efforts, Amrothos realized with some disconcert she was the only lady he had had eyes for that evening.

"What of you", he asked tentatively, pulling blades of grass and tossing them absentmindedly into the water, "you left the hall before anyone could claim you for a dance".

She pursed her lips, her eyes fixed on the whirling specks of green flowing downstream. "Has someone ever come to you – someone you barely know, and bluntly asked if you still think of Thostion, then given you a pitiful head-to-toes look upon seeing the answer in your eyes and lastly reassured you all will be well? Just because my scars are plain for everyone to see, doesn't mean people should feel entitled to ask about things that are so private, intimate… hurtful! Sometimes, I don't know whether I'd like to punch those meddlers in their faces, or simply disappear from the face of the earth".

Amrothos' breath caught in his throat like splintered glass. He was sure there was more as to why she had left the hall in such hasty manner, but her words cut him deeply. "I never told anyone about Thostion. Not even the King and my sister know about him. I told them about the massacre on the beach and how the events of that day have been haunting me ever since, but I did not tell them about Thostion. My father and my brothers have watched me drown for months and tried helping me every way they could, but I never let them in because I was – am", he corrected himself, "afraid, and it's easier to keep up the facade and pretend all is well rather than facing the darkness churning inside of me".

"And how do you suggest I pretend with half of my face burned off?".

"I don't. When people ask unwise questions, simply them them to sod off. Or punch them in the face. Whichever makes you feel better".

A bitter smile twitched Ealith's lips. "As the Queen's brother, I think you should advocate for diplomacy".

"Me?!", he snorted in surprise, "Do you really know me so little that you'd think me the diplomatic type?". He leaned forward and whispered in a conspiratorial tone: "Once when I was ten, I got in a scuffle with another child – a bully who deserved every punch I threw at him. When my aunt found out, she scolded me, said that was not how a Prince of Dol Amroth behaves and ordered me to apologize. I refused, so she grounded me for an entire month. Next day, I retaliated by putting a dead snake in her bed. That's Amrothos' diplomacy in a nutshell!".

Ealith mirrored his position, a mischievous grin lightening her face. "Just a childish prank. But since we are at it, what if I told you I once spiked someone's food with castor oil?".

Amrothos blinked. "No, I don't believe you! I bet you were a far too righteous child to do anything so naughty".

"Who said I was a child?", she asked smugly. "It happened when I was fourteen. I was spending the summer with my father's relatives in Caerdydd. I discovered there was a young man who often spied on the women while they were at the latrine, which is both inappropriate and gross. I could have informed one of the adults but instead, I thought it would be fun to give him a valid reason to be lurking around the latrine at all times of the day".

"Served him right!", he exclaimed bursting into laughter, "I must say, you are full of surprises, Lady Ealith!".

"Not quite so", she conceded, "Growing up I was indeed the righteous little girl who wanted to excel at everything she did, the one who always played by the rules and did exactly what was expected of her".

"Is that why you are marrying Alling?", he dared asking. Ealith's face fell but he did not regret his question, for he simply could not understand why she would want to be bound to someone so obviously ill-suited to her.

"You don't know him. He's a good man".

"I never said he isn't. It just seems to me that whenever he's around, you're the ghost of yourself".

"We've only known each other for a few weeks, and already you think you can judge me so?", she snapped and leaped on her feet in one fluid motion.

Hands raised in front of him, Amrothos barred her way out, all the while rushing to apologize: "I'm sorry, Ealith. You are right, it wasn't my place to say such thing. Please forgive me".

She scowled at him for a solid minute, features crooked in an angry snarl that had him pitying anyone who ever dared crossing her. Then, as abruptly as she had stood, she sat again.

Swallowing nervously, Amrothos crouched down beside her and thought frantically of something to say that would ease the tension fliting between them. When at last he spoke, he wanted to kick himself: "How are the preparations for the wedding going?".

"Good, I think".

"You think?".

"The ceremony will take place at the Hornburg. When our nuptials were announced, I was in no condition to take care of it, so Alling's mother offered to help. I really don't know what I'd have done without her".

"I see", he sighed lamely, the conversation coming to an awkward stall. Hearing footsteps approaching, Amrothos sent a mental thank to whoever was coming to rescue him from that uncomfortable silence, but quickly changed his mind when he found himself face to face with Ealith's husband-to-be.

The man's eyes darted between the two of them, narrowing progressively until they had become two thin slits. Finally, he turned to look at his betrothed and smiled affectionately: "There you are, my dear. I've been looking for you everywhere".

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. I just needed some fresh air, that is all".

"Of course, of course", he said while brushing specks of dirt from her gown, "You should have told me, for I'd have gladly kept you company". He cupped her face and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips, one arm curling around her waist to pull her into a far too intimate embrace. Ealith laughed embarrassed, a quick glance at his direction the only farewell she offered before she allowed Alling to escort her back to the hall.

Amrothos wasn't sure how long he stared at their receding backs. All he knew was that the growl caged in his throat and the sting of the nails digging into his palms, were clear signs of an anger he had no right not be feeling.

Author's notes: I'm sorry for the delay. Work is keeping me busy and on top of that, my boyfriend and I decided on a whim to get married. We went for a small and very informal ceremony but even so there were a lot of things to organize. I hope the next chapter will come quicker but given that we are also making ready to leave Switzerland (how I will miss it!) and relocate to the other end of the world (let the Singaporean adventure begin!), I really can't promise.

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: the character of Ealith had been buzzing in my head for a while, so I'm glad you are enjoying her blossoming friendship with Amrothos!

ACH: thank you! I will keep adding little bits about Éomer and Lothíriel as needed to build towards the second part of the story that will focus on them. But for a few chapters at least, Amrothos will have the leading role.

APfire17: thank you so much! Means a lot to hear people are enjoying the story!

Katia0203: we shall see where Ealith and Amrothos are going, but is true that they are both already benefiting from their friendship! As per *my* Haleth, I like him but I'm afraid he's doomed to loose against *that* Haleth!

anahvolf: thank you, always makes my day to read such reviews! At least Amrothos seems to start understanding his friendship to Ealith is evolving into something he had not expected…

Rho67: I think Amrothos is slowly starting to see things your way ;) As much as he was being the protective older brother, he was also out of line - the events of the war are still affecting him and his mood is volatile. Lothíriel put him in his place and though she was understandably mad at him, of course she forgave him eventually. I guess Amrothos is having a much harder time at forgiving himself, but healing takes time. Life's a b* sometimes and I do hope that by the time this chapter is posted, things have gotten better. In the meanwhile, if a fanfic update can shine a light into a s* day, then I'm twice happy! :)

Guest: yes, he behaved like a dbag. Yes, they could have him exiled. But it's clear Amrothos is having mental struggles in the aftermath of the war, and I believe in such circumstances those who love you should understand and eventually forgive.