Chapter 12
Upon reaching the river Éomer halted. His initial reaction was to get to the river – if something had abruptly startled her, then this was the logical way to run, if her path to the manor house was blocked – but once there, he could discern no apparent direction where to look for her. Béma, had she gone into the woods? Probably, if she were scared enough.
"What now?" Éothain asked him anxiously. Though he didn't yet know her, the Captain had his own reasons to be concerned with the lady's well-being – namely, the hope that a loving marriage might finally calm down his lord's reckless moods and keep him closer to home, where it was easier for the royal guard to ensure his safety.
Éomer deliberated that question quickly. Had she sought shelter in the woods? He could not say how well she'd know her way there, especially if she was being harassed by that brat. She might be scared and lost and bullied, not knowing that help was near enough. But there was one way he could both let her know, and warn the insolent lordling. So he grasped the horn attached to his saddle and gave a mighty blow that rang clear and bright upon the river.
She would hear it and hopefully follow the sound back to safety.
It was only a moment or two after the last echo of the horn died that Aegdir came stumbling from the woods, looking as if no less than the might of Mordor was hot upon his heels.
"Thank Elbereth!" he panted, crazed and wild-eyed as he saw the two Rohirrim near the banks of the river. "You need to make the alarm – there are orcs in the woods!"
Orcs! Morgoth's balls, he should have known something more was afoot. And she was out there, alone!
"Where's Lothíriel?" Éomer growled, bringing Firefoot forward and grasping Aegdir by the front of his tattered coat.
"I don't know – she was right behind me!" the lad gasped, nearly losing his footing and regaining it only because of the Rohir's tight hold.
"Don't say you just left her there!" he roared, and momentarily the world flashed crimson in his eyes.
"I'm not like you! I'm not some hero or a warrior! I thought she was following me!" Aegdir protested.
It was useless to argue with him. Worse yet, it was wasting the time that she didn't have. She needed help and she needed it now. So, as much as Éomer would have liked to beat the boy into a pulp and throw him in the river, now was not the moment for it.
"Go back to the manor house and get Faramir. And be quick!" Éomer snapped and let go of the young lord. "Éothain, come with me!"
The two Rohirrim dismounted and Éomer carefully fastened her shawl on his saddle where he usually carried his vine of arrows. They could not be riding in the woods while looking for the trail. Neither of them were trackers like Aragorn or Faramir, but both had sufficient experience, and at any rate there was no time to waste. Furthermore, they soon saw that Aegdir had charged through the wood like a crazed oliphaunt and one needn't be a Ranger to be able to follow the trail he had made.
"Lothíriel!" Éomer called out her name. Dangerous, perhaps, with the orcs in the woods, but how else was he to discover her?
They found her sitting under a great old beech. At first he thought she was dead – she lay motionless, eyes closed, and much of her right arm and side were covered in blood. He cried out, an animal sound erupting from his mouth as he flew to her. But she stirred and opened her eyes, and smiled when she saw him.
He nearly sobbed in relief. She still lived.
"You came for me", she said softly, shifting like she was trying to get up, but he knelt by her side and gently pressed her down.
"Of course I did", he muttered hoarsely, looking for other injuries than the arrow wound but was glad to see nothing more. Éothain kept watch over them, although there was no clamour in the woods – perhaps the sound of the horn had been enough of a warning for the orcs, too.
"I heard your horn. Somehow I knew it must be you", she told him. The happy look on her face belied the bloody injury on her shoulder. It was as if they had just been strolling in the woods and come upon one another by chance.
"I thought you were lost. I wanted to help you to find your way back."
"And I would have come, but it seems I can't get up."
"Then I shall carry you."
"I'm so sorry for making this fuss. I feel so foolish", she whispered as Éomer carefully gathered her in his arms, mindful of not disturbing the arrow wound more than he had to.
"Don't think about it now. We must get you to Aragorn", he told her. "Can you put your arm around my neck?"
"Let me try", she replied and shakily raised it, grasping the back of his tunic with her fingers. Even now, feeling her hand and hearing her voice, he wanted to weep in sheer relief.
He got up on his feet, lifting her with him. She winced momentarily but made no sound or complain.
"Do you think Father will be very angry with me?" she asked him quietly as he began to stride quickly back the way he and Éothain had come. Fortunately, there was no sign of the orcs as of yet, making him suspect it had to be a small scouting party. Without the arrow in her shoulder, he might even have dismissed the story as ravings of a drunk fool.
"Not with you, love. But he will have things to say to the idiot who chased you here and then left you behind", he told her. A wave of fury went through him at the thought of that lordling.
"Don't be too hard on him. I did lead him on and disappoint him badly, and... and if I had just stayed calm... I was the one who charged into the wood, not looking where I was going..."
"You're not responsible for his mistakes. No matter what you told him, he should never make you feel so unsafe that you need to run from him", Éomer told her sternly. They were now close to the edge of the wood and somewhere close, he could already hear the voices of his Riders.
"Still, I should have been more careful. But I just felt so bad for letting him down. And I was impatient."
That, he could well understand. He had been impatient as well and made things worse because of it. But so it was for both of them. Finding this thing they both so desperately wanted after a lifetime of putting duty and others' needs first had caused them behave in a very similar way. It almost made him want to smile, though her situation seemed dire.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me", he reassured her, and she smiled a little bit.
"As long as you understand, I don't care what anyone else thinks", she whispered to him.
At this point he reached the open air again, and green cloaks were about him, but they were in a blur: the world had narrowed into the path before his feet which led to Aragorn. It didn't even sound like his own voice that yelled: "Orcs! Search the woods! Éothain, take the command!"
"Is it very bad?" she wanted to know.
"I'm not sure yet. I didn't see any orcs, so there may not be many of them out there."
"They never got very close to me, although I could hear them chasing after us. The sound of the horn seemed to drive them off", she told him, her speech so clear that it relieved him a little. Had she been at death's door, she wouldn't have been able to talk like this. Nor was she in a shock, at which he marvelled, but she was a warrior's daughter and as tough as her brothers.
"Then it is probably a small scouting party. Éothain and Faramir will find out", he said slowly. This was not necessarily a reassuring thing, but he could not ponder on it at the moment. Quickly he gave orders to get his and Éothain's horses back to the stables and began to make his way back.
On the road to the manor house, he met Imrahil and his sons, Aragorn, and Faramir. They were coming quickly, all carrying their swords, but the Prince nearly dropped his own and cried out when he saw his daughter being carried, and sprinted to see her.
"Father! I'm all right", she said quickly, although this did not seem to reassure her father very much.
"Orcs are in the woods!" Éomer was able to say. He had to struggle to get the words through the lump in his throat. When had it got there?
"You three, with me!" Faramir barked to his three cousins, and Elphir and Erchirion sprang after him, grim and focused. But Amrothos had halted and stood still, staring at his sister with wide, horrified eyes.
"Come along now! Éowyn is preparing the infirmary and waiting for us", Aragorn said, calm and collected as he ever was in the face of calamity.
"Can you save her?" Imrahil asked, his voice shaking. Seeing this man, mighty among the lords of Gondor, so beside himself was so odd it nearly distracted Éomer from his own worry.
"I am not dying, Father", she put in, but the Prince gave her a grave look.
"You can not be too careful with the enemy's darts and blades", he said, and she fell silent, troubled. Éomer held her a little tighter to himself, though he wasn't sure which one of them he was more in the need of reassurance. Perhaps she hadn't realised what trouble she was in, and he couldn't blame her if it was so. She was not a soldier, trained in the brutalities of war.
"I shall do all that I can, but the clarity of your speech and presence are surely good signs", said Aragorn to Lothíriel. Éomer said nothing, but he appreciated that his friend spoke directly to her, not ignoring her in the behalf of her father. Aragorn at the lead, the company swiftly made way back to the manor house. Amrothos followed them silently, his eyes never leaving the face of his sister.
More and more Rangers flew past them, and the courtyard was in full uproar as they arrived. But Aragorn strode first and the crowd parted for him immediately. Lothíriiel let out a soft groan, so quiet it was little more than her voice vibrating against Éomer's neck. She hid her face there against his skin and hair, which he would have appreciated more in different circumstances. He paid no heed to the people around them, but Amrothos was yelling, "What are you staring at? Get gone!"
They reached the infirmary, and there under Éowyn's directions Éomer carefully laid his precious burden on a newly made bed. She grimaced but made no sound to indicate her discomfort and hurt. He sank down, closing his hand around her fingers, and stared at her sallow face in mute agony. She seemed to be more in pain than before, which worried him. It would be fitting, wouldn't it, that she would be taken from him just as everyone before her?
Aragorn and Éowyn were already working, talking quickly between themselves in Rohirric, while she was preparing hot water and fresh linen for tending to the wound. Her hands worked fast even as half of her attention was with Aragorn, showing skill that was much greater than you might expect of one who had trained with sword much longer than they had practised healing arts.
Éowyn turned to the three men around the bed.
"Perhaps you should go outside and give us a moment?" she said delicately. Éomer opened his mouth to argue – he wanted to stay right here with his lady – but his sister gave him a pointed look. Well, it was true Lothíriel was not yet his wife or even his betrothed, and they would probably have to cut her clothes open in order to tend to the wound. It was not for his eyes to see – yet.
As if knowing he was torn, Lothíriel gently pressed his hand.
"It's fine. They'll take good care of me", she told him softly, making him relent. He didn't like it at all, but since she asked…
He rose and walked quietly, as if something else was moving him than his own will. At the door, he cast a look at her one more time, and then stepped outside, feeling as lost and helpless as a child in the dark. What could he do now? What would he do, if she wasn't all right? The question disturbed him a great deal, for he had no answer.
Imrahil and Amrothos had followed him out, both looking as clueless as he felt.
"What happened to my daughter, Éomer?" asked Imrahil. His voice was heavy and strained.
It was Amrothos who answered first.
"She – she was asking for me to go with her. I heard her at my door, but I told her to go away. Now I wish I hadn't", he babbled, as if this was something he could no longer keep inside.
"I don't know the full tale", said Éomer quietly, "but I think she was out seeing Lord Aegdir, and something he did scared her enough to make her run into the woods. There they were surprised by orcs. He made it out unscathed. She... well, you see what happened to her. I found her like this, for I was out early and felt something was indeed amiss when I found her shawl abandoned on the road to the house."
"Aegdir! How dare he harm her!" Imrahil cried.
"This was done by orcs, not by that idiot. But he did cause her to be there in the woods, of that I'm certain", said Éomer. The lad deserved full retribution, but not for the arrow wound. Not unless… well, he simply couldn't think of that. Not now, while she still lived.
"Either way, he has acted in a way that I did not think he was capable of, and brought my daughter to harm's way! Amrothos, you should go and look for him", said Imrahil. In that moment, he looked little bit crazed, which in itself was disturbing.
Amrothos looked like he might protest, but Éomer laid a hand on his shoulder.
"She won't be alone, Amrothos. I'll send someone if there are any news", he reassured his friend, and slowly the look on the young lord's face changed.
"All right, then. But when I find him, and I will, I shall not be gentle", Amrothos stated grimly.
"I would expect nothing less", said the Rohir. He was not able to smile.
So Amrothos left, striding with a look on his face that Éomer had never seen before. He wondered if his friend's words about not being gentle were in fact a serious understatement. But either way, he did not feel particularly bad for Aegdir's sake.
Meanwhile, Éomer and Imrahil stood in silence for a bit, each occupied by their thoughts and misery.
At last, he spoke. It wasn't the things he had planned earlier today when he had got up and thought of what to say to the Prince, just the simple essence of them.
"I love your daughter, Imrahil. I cannot help it. She's everything to me. In her company, I feel… hopeful, and no longer alone. I feel wanted and understood."
Less broken. Less full of grief.
His friend met his gaze, sombre and still.
"She is like that", Imrahil said softly. "Very well, then. I will grant you my blessing, though I know already it will not be easy to part with my treasure."
They fell silent again. It would be wrong to speak more in this time, and without her being a part of the conversation. Even so, there was some comfort in finally reaching this agreement.
"These orc attacks", said Éomer at last, mostly to give them both something different to think of, "it worries me. Neither Éowyn or Aragorn have reported so many disturbances in so small an area, and in so little time."
Imrahil seemed relieved for the change of topic.
"It troubles me as well. Something has happened in the mountains, I think. There is more thought in these attacks than simple raids they have been making since the Dark Lord fell", Imrahil agreed.
"Do you think they could have made some kind of an alliance between themselves?"
"Without him? Unlikely… but possible, perhaps. The world has changed, after all, and not just orcs escaped from the ruin of Black Land. Faramir will know more, hopefully."
"If there is a need, I shall muster the Rohirrim. We'll fight together once more", Éomer said, though not with the eagerness those words might have roused in him only a little while ago.
Imrahil sighed.
"To tell you the truth, I now wish it will not come to that. But we'll see", he stated slowly.
Again they stood in silence, until Éomer spoke another thing that was troubling him.
"Do you think I should go out there to help your nephew?"
The Prince gave him an empathetic look.
"You yourself decide whether your heart is in the battle, or here. Either way, Faramir and your good captain Éothain are capable men, and they are sure to call upon you and Aragorn if there is need for your skill and leadership. And… I know what my daughter would like."
Éomer said nothing at this, although he felt a little bit better about staying here. As to whether his heart was there in the woods or in the room next to them – he did not need to think of the answer twice. While there was even a smallest hint that Lothíriel wanted and needed him by her side, his choice was clear.
He let out a sigh and momentarily leant his back against the wall. He rubbed his face, thinking of all the things he should have done differently. Maybe he could have prevented this nightmare, somehow.
But Imrahil appeared to be thinking of something different entirely, for he let out a low chuckle, which made Éomer look up in surprise.
"Pardon me", Imrahil said without a hint of humour on his face. "I was merely thinking of how familiar this seems. Fitting, even. I wonder what I should make of the fact that once I found your sister upon battlefield, and that now you should save my wounded daughter from the orcs."
Now that the Prince pointed it out, Éomer couldn't deny the similarity. He could only hope that the outcome would be as good. And yet this fear gnawed at his breast like it was a living thing.
"Maybe it was unavoidable. I have sometimes wondered if… if we cheated death on the Pelennor fields. Perhaps she, or both of us, were meant to die then, and we've been living on borrowed time. And this… this is just the collecting of the debt that I owe", said Éomer quietly, his eyes drawn to the closed door of the infirmary.
"I do not believe that, my friend", Imrahil said, his tone firm and steady. "Our scholars and wise men and women, those who know something of the lore of Númenor and the ancients who conversed with the Elder Kindred, did not at all believe in fate. They said that to us, the mortal kind, was given the freedom to make our own lives. And to that I hold, even now."
"I wonder. For me, it never seemed like I had much choice about anything. It is as if… there is some taint upon me, or my family – some curse that seeks to destroy us all in one way or the other", said the Rohir, frowning. The part he did not say out loud was: And now I've brought the one I love under that shadow.
"You and your kin were in the eye of the storm, or one of the storms that swept over our world. And it's true you've paid a heavier price than many of us have, but you made it through the maelstrom. Now is a time to make the most of it", Imrahil reassured him.
Éomer said nothing. He wasn't sure he entirely believed his friend's words, heartening though they may be. He needed to see Lothíriel well again in order to believe like Imrahil did.
"Still", he muttered at length, "I can't help but feel this is my fault. I should have done things differently, been more patient. I should have been more open with you, and with her. Maybe then she wouldn't have gone to talk to Aegdir like that."
"What could you have done, my friend? In my blindness, I put you in an impossible position. I'm the one who did not listen, either to her or to you. If somebody is to be blamed besides Aegdir, it is myself", Imrahil said, his voice nearly breaking.
He didn't seem to be waiting for an answer, and so Éomer let him continue to talk.
"I only wanted to do what is best for her. You know she ruled Dol Amroth in my stead during the war, and she was good at it. She kept our people safe and fed, defending our shores against the odd corsair that did not attempt to sail to Minas Tirith. She held them together, inspiring them with her hope and courage, and making sure we had a home to return to after our battles. And she held the course in the aftermath of the war, even as my sons and I travelled to Rohan to honour your uncle. But eventually, we came home for good. Elphir and I were no longer needed to fight the war, and so Lothíriel stood down, giving up the power she had wielded without complaint", Imrahil went on, staring down on the floor with glistening eyes.
"It did not take me long to realise she was no longer the same girl as before the war. She had grown up and in her eyes, I saw the thought and discerning of a woman. It was high time to consider her future. But she had shown her capability and I knew I couldn't send her to be just any lordling's wife. She deserved so much more!"
Now Imrahil cast a glance at Éomer.
"I did think of you then, knowing she would be a fine queen by your side. But it didn't take me long to convince me differently. Perhaps it was mostly because of myself and my weakness – because the thought of her living so far away was too painful. But I also doubted whether you would want to wed her. You never showed interest in the ladies of Minas Tirith and it was rumoured you meant to take a wife from among your own people. Your sister was betrothed to Faramir, so it seemed you might want to ally with some other powerful family, since your ties to my family already existed through your sister and my nephew. Furthermore, I thought perhaps you and my daughter were too different, and she would not be open to the idea of living so far away from her homeland and family. You are clearly not a man who marries without love, or at least its promise. I assumed you would turn down the offer immediately. So I dismissed the idea and looked for candidates closer to Dol Amroth", Imrahil said and let out a sigh.
"So you turned your eyes upon Aegdir instead", said Éomer.
"Indeed I did. There were talks between myself and his father in times past, long before the war, and he had offered a union with his elder son. That is why my thought quickly went back to their House. I do not know if you are aware of my history with Forlong, Aegdir's father. We were old friends, fighting in Denethor's campaigns against orcs and corsairs. Whenever we were summoned to the council of lords in Minas Tirith, mine and Forlong's counsels were often the same. And so as we prepared to fight on the Pelennor fields, he asked me to look after his sons, should he not live through the battle. I felt that I owed him, and so after the war, I took his surviving child under my wing."
"For all his flaws and mistakes, Aegdir can be a charming young man and I was very pleased with him. And Lossarnarch is one of the great fiefdoms of Gondor, rich and fertile and fair. Moreover, it feeds and guards Minas Tirith from the south, which gives its lord prominence among the nobles of our land. Dol Amroth would do well indeed to ally with Lossarnarch. But it was clear Aegdir needed some guidance and a great lady by his side. And who of the young women in Gondor is greater than Lothíriel? I admit I speak with the bias of a father, but it is not entirely without a reason. As the Lady of Lossarnarch, she could rule again and yet be close enough so that her brothers and I could see her whenever we visited Minas Tirith. It seemed even better when Aegdir himself asked after Lothíriel, revealing his interest in her."
Again Imrahil sighed.
"Of course it was selfish. I should have asked what she wanted – truly asked. I sometimes did try to probe what her feelings were, but she never said much, and I took it to mean she had no hopes beyond a marriage of convenience that would strengthen our House. But now I wonder if even she knew clearly what she desired before she met you. For she is young still, and not everybody knows what they wish to become at her age. Amrothos still doesn't, it seems to me. Either way, it was I who put Aegdir in her path and refused you, even though you and her had already grown fond of one another. But parting with her… it seemed more bearable, if she was still in the same kingdom, and if I could see her often."
At last Éomer spoke again. His sister yet remained in the infirmary, and so he was able to say these words out loud.
"I understand it better than you know. It's hard when the person you love is far away. Letting Éowyn go was one of the most difficult things that I ever did", he said quietly.
The Prince regarded him with soft eyes.
"How did you do it?"
"I… I just knew I wanted her to be happy. And seeing her with Faramir, it was clear she would be, much more than she ever was in Rohan, with me. If I stood in her way, she would always resent me for it, and our relationship would never again be what it once was. I knew I would lose her either way, but I could make sure that at least one of us found some happiness", he said, and sighed with the heaviness of this past year. "Now, seeing her in this place… she is so full of live and joy, like Ithilien was made for her, and she for Ithilien. It helps."
Imrahil considered it quietly. He nodded, the movement so small that it almost did not exist at all. But it was there, and Éomer saw it.
"Then you are a better man than I am, my friend", Imrahil said at length.
"Well, I don't know what it's like to part with a beloved child."
"But you do know how to let go, and to take care of your loved ones, even if it hurts you personally. Not all are capable of that, my friend. I was not, as it turns out", the Prince muttered, and light and shadow fell on his features so that he looked twenty years older than his true age. He looked up straight at Éomer, "And because of that, I know you'll make her very happy."
The young king didn't know what to say to that, or how to react to the raw, sincere look on the face of this man who was usually so in control of himself and what he showed to others. Thankfully he did not have to, because it was then Aragorn opened the door of the infirmary again.
"You may come back inside now", he said, and like two sleepwalkers, the King and the Prince followed him.
Lothíriel was seated on the bed, supported by pillows and a blanket on her lap, and looking uncomfortable as Éowyn carefully braided her hair. Her blood-stained dress was gone and instead, she wore a light-coloured robe. Éomer studied her face intently and with a new bit of hope: if she had the strength to look so awkward, surely it meant she would soon be all right?
"We have tended to the wound and I've made some antidote for the most common poisons, though it's not clear whether the dart was laced with anything. Either way, the lady should stay here for at least today where one of the healers can keep an eye on her", said Aragorn, and his words made the weight on Éomer's heart little bit lighter.
"I feel quite well, but I've agreed to stay, because the gossip must be unbearable at the moment and it's much calmer here", Lothíriel said, looking displeased. He guessed she used her frustration to mask how angry she was with herself, which almost made him smile. That he could relate to better than she knew.
"But you should really be resting, anyway. The wound will heal faster", Éowyn pointed out sternly.
"You heard her", said Éomer as he came and sat down on the edge of the bed. Almost immediately, his hand met hers. Her slender fingers wound around his tightly. Imrahil seemed to realise the two wished for a moment between themselves, and hung back to talk to Aragorn.
She looked well enough at the moment, but he did not dare to trust this quite yet. For a moment they were both silent, and some of tension left her features as she gazed at him.
"You know… if you need to go out there and help Faramir, I won't mind", she said softly, her voice now much less confident than before.
"Éothain can manage in my stead. I'd rather stay here for the time being", he told her, and though she didn't say anything, she looked grateful and relieved.
"I was wondering about what happened this morning. Aegdir caused you to be in the forest, didn't he?" he asked at length. Immediately, her look became troubled.
"He was behaving in a way I didn't think him capable of. It made me feel nervous and unsafe. He wouldn't listen to me when I protested, but tried to drag me back to the house. He seemed to think I was in the middle of some kind of a temporary madness, and that my father would talk me out of it", she explained, wincing.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice rising just a little bit.
"Not beyond the dragging. I don't think he realised he was being too rough", she said softly.
"You don't have to defend or make excuses for that bastard", he growled, pressing his free hand into a fist.
But Lothíriel watched him with such a look that he could not meet it and still remain angry. It was strange and overwhelming, because his temper could be a terrible thing and before now, he hadn't known a force that could tame it so easily and quickly. But that power indeed shone in this woman's eyes.
"When you speak with Aegdir... please, don't be too harsh with him. Try to understand, if you can. I know you are angry, and you have every right to be. But he's not the only one to blame. If I had just handled it better, this might not have happened. I should have been calmer and more patient. For my sake, be as gentle as you are able", she said, her eyes wide and pleading. His heart melted. How could he deny her anything? Giving Aegdir a beating the lad so well deserved would perhaps bring him brief satisfaction, but it wouldn't endear him to her. And in the end, Lothíriel meant so much more to him than Aegdir did.
"Believe me, dear heart, I know what it's like to be young and impatient. Don't think I never made mistakes because I was too restless to stand back and wait", he told her quietly and let out a sigh. "But if you ask it, I will try indeed."
She smiled, and the sight of that smile and the glimmer in her eyes, were much more precious to him than any retribution he might have exacted from Aegdir.
When it seemed the patient was not in immediate danger anymore, Aragorn and Éowyn took their exits. She had her duties as the hostess and Aragorn rather wanted to make sure that the situation remained calm at the manor house. Moreover, he wanted to send a word to his council back in Mundburg and make sure men were available in case Emyn Arnen quickly needed troops to defend it.
Some breakfast was sent to the infirmary, and it fell on Imrahil to try and coax both his daughter and the young king to try and eat something. The Prince appeared to have regained his calm, falling back on his old instinct for parenting the wounded and the strays. Lothíriel seemed tired and sore, but Éomer supposed it was merely the strain of today's events finally taking their toll.
Éowyn returned when noon was nearing. She explained how the news of the attack had spread among the guests, causing quite a stir. Of course, everyone already knew it was Imrahil's daughter who had got hurt, and a couple of more tactless busybodies had even tried to slip into the infirmary to get a glimpse of the patient. Thankfully, Imrahil's vigilant Swan Knights had quickly turned them away. Good thing for them, because Éomer was not sure he wouldn't have got physical, had he caught them in the act. The patient herself looked supremely uncomfortable at these news and half-seriously she inquired if her father might permit a prompt wedding, so that she could leave for Rohan and come back only after the uproar had died and gossip moved on to other topics.
Naturally, Imrahil didn't agree, much to Éomer's disappointment.
In the light of these events, a few guests had even hastened their departure, as if Emyn Arnen had somehow become much more dangerous than it had been last night. However, most nobles in attendance held the notion that while King Elessar and King Éomer himself were present and one stayed near to the manor house, there was no reason to be worried or scared.
Aegdir had yet to show his face, though. It was not surprising that he was better at hiding than taking responsibility for his own actions, Éomer thought grimly. Perhaps it was harsh but he was not in a mood to expect any better of the brat.
"What of the search in the woods? Has Faramir or Éothain sent a word?" he asked his sister.
"Not yet, but I take it as a good sign", said Éowyn. He considered this and nodded. Like Imrahil had said, Éothain and Faramir were more than capable of taking care of this, and in his current state of distraction, Éomer wondered if he might have been more of a nuisance to the search than any kind of help.
His sister had also brought some lunch, and though he had very little appetite, he tried to eat for her sake. He hadn't missed how, every now and then when she thought he didn't notice, she gave him a long, concerned look.
It was at this point Amrothos returned. Éomer had mostly forgotten about the young man and his task, but he startled as Imrahil's third son burst through the door. He had never seen Amrothos looking so ill-tempered. He seemed even more unkempt than before, making Éomer wonder just where and how he had looked for Aegdir. Had Amrothos maybe scoured the cellars and crawl spaces of the manor house? Or murdered the lordling and buried the body in the woods?
"How is she?" Amrothos barked as bluntly as to make any Rohirrim proud.
"I'm fine. Stop acting like I'm about to drop dead", Lothíriel said dryly. "Did you find Aegdir?"
"I did. He's waiting for Father in Faramir's study."
"You just left him there alone?" asked Éomer dubiously. He did not trust the boy not to run away again. Unconsciously he shifted towards the door, wishing to go and make sure that Aegdir stayed put.
Amrothos looked impatient and irate.
"Trust me, I wouldn't have left him there if I thought he was going to be the coward again. And yes, I did threaten him. I was very clear about what my brothers and I would do to him, if he doesn't act like a man", he grumbled, wandering to his sister's side. She just shook her head.
Imrahil regarded his son for a moment. In any other situation, he would probably have reproached him for behaving so boorishly. But perhaps deep down, he approved of Amrothos' heavy-handed approach. It was a strange and a little bit disconcerting thing to see. Even before the Black Gates, he held on to his high standards and sophistication; at the bedside of his injured daughter, he became undone in unexpected ways.
"I'll go and talk to him", said Imrahil at length. He cast a glance at Éomer, adding, "You'll get your chance too, of course."
Éomer just nodded grimly and sat down by Lothíriel's side. His hand went to hers almost without him noticing it. She met his eyes silently.
Amrothos sat down too, unceremoniously attacking Imrahil's half-eaten lunch. But famished though he was, he kept glancing at his sister, as if to convince himself she was indeed not about to die.
"Earlier, there was talk about Lothíriel being at your door, Amrothos", Éomer said eventually and glanced between the two siblings. He was interested to hear more about it, but it was also an attempt to give all three of them something else to think about.
"Yes, I meant to ask Amrothos to come with me", she replied. "Not that I suspected anything at that point, but… I suppose I was just hoping for some moral support. Elphir and Erchirion might have found the affair frivolous, and I didn't know where to look for them"
"I guessed as much, but not until I saw Éomer carrying you down the road. Not that I wonder. Our brothers probably don't even know what's going on, and this is clearly something I'm better suited for than Elphir or Erchirion. And the way I kept talking to you how badly matched you and Aegdir were..." Amrothos said, frowning. Clearly he too held himself responsible, but Éomer silently appreciated that his friend had seen through Aegdir from the start.
"I know my own mind, Amrothos. Whatever you said, it wouldn't have made me choose or reject him in the end", Lothíriel said sharply. Her brother looked quite sheepish, which both amused Éomer and made him admire her even more. Few people could chastise Amrothos like she just had.
"Even so, why didn't you go with your sister?" he asked.
"I was not feeling too good. There was a lot of drinking last night", Amrothos muttered. He actually looked ashamed of himself, much to Éomer's surprise. He couldn't recall his friend ever particularly regretting anything he had done.
The young man cast him a defensive glare.
"I didn't realise it was so important, mind you. Of course I would have gone with her, had I known what was happening. I wish she had told me."
"I tried to!" she pointed out, but not in an accusatory tone.
"But I could have come with you as well", Éomer said quietly. His eyes were drawn to her face once more. If he had just been there… in his presence, Aegdir would never have dared to lay a finger on her.
The two siblings exchanged a glance, but it was Amrothos who answered.
"With all due respect, you must realise why my sister didn't ask you", he remarked.
Éomer made a low sound under his breath. Of course he understood, but he couldn't help wishing.
Even if the wish went against who she was. She had wanted to be honest but also gentle with her other suitor. Showing off her preferred choice before the lordling would be unnecessarily cruel, and who knew what troubles Aegdir would have caused then? He could have shamed her, or caused a scandal; though the confrontation had not ended well, she had shown her sense of subtlety and tact in her choice to meet Aegdir alone, and it was not her fault what had happened next. But even as she lay under that tree, bleeding and injured, she bore no ill will against Aegdir.
"Maybe I should have killed him, after all", Amrothos muttered after some minutes of silence had passed. Lothíriel snorted out loud, not dignifying her brother's words with an answer.
"Maybe. But it wouldn't change what happened", said Éomer at length. They both watched her, and whatever Amrothos saw then, it seemed to inflame his anger. But meeting her eyes, so bright and gentle, Éomer found something different.
Something greater than hate.
From experience he knew how easy it was to be angry and think of all the horrible things he would like to do to Aegdir once he got his hands on the boy. But if he did what was easy, then he knew he would not bear to look in her eyes. For then, surely, the warmth and admiration she had looked at him with as they talked by the river would vanish, and he would no longer feel worthy of her love. And he would lose something irreplaceable. Kingship sometimes demanded him to be ruthless, but in matters pertaining to her, it was not an option.
Years of war had been brutal and grim and it wasn't hard to see the taint of that time in himself. But now he wanted to wash himself clean of the past and its shadows, and begin something new. She deserved no less.
If she would be all right. The other option... then her blood was on Aegdir's hands, and Éomer would not care what he had to do to avenge her – even if in the process, he destroyed himself too.
To be continued.
A/N: Here is a new chapter at last! I wrote the first draft fairly quickly, but I soon realised I did not like it very well. Revising the chapter took some time, but I'm generally much happier with it now. So at least to me, the wait was worth it!
Éomer finally has his conversation with Imrahil, though in very different circumstances than either of them would have thought. I believe it has been a very sobering experience for the both of them.
This chapter was also supposed to contain Éomer's confrontation with Aegdir, but for the same reasons I ended up revising it, that bit was also cut out of this and will be handled in the next one. Either way, Lothíriel is challenging him to reconsider how he will meet the young lord, because she holds herself responsible and no matter what Aegdir did, she doesn't want him to suffer more because of her. I wouldn't be surprised if that causes some controversy, because there appear to always be some people reading my stories who don't seem to agree with Tolkien's message of mercy and compassion. Doubtless Aragorn will have some punishment in store for Aegdir, although it does very much depend on how these events turn out in the end - as does Éomer.
I hope you liked this chapter! Stay safe out there, and don't forget to love one another.
Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Cathael - Glad you liked the chapter!
Also it's good to hear I was able to create that sense of foreboding! I suppose I can't be insulted, because Aegdir does act very cowardly. He's definitely not the warrior type.
Covid really sucks! But I'm glad to hear you've recovered pretty well from it.
Cricket22 - Indeed, they have not been making appearances for nothing! But I think Imrahil is too worried at the moment to be angry, and I believe he understands she never meant it to happen. Moreover, he holds himself more responsible for how things have turned out than he does anybody else.
Interesting thoughts! All the characters you mentioned do indeed have a part in these events. Hope you liked how they reacted to the situation! Lothíriel seems to be ok at the moment, but Éomer at least doesn't dare to trust it - he has seen loved ones die too many times.
I have to say, one of the best things about getting reviews is comments like yours, because hearing I've managed to make somebody so excited for what happens in my story next is just as great every time! I try to write as much as I can, but this summer (and year, to be honest) have been really draining for me, and it's been harder than ever before to just sit down and take time to work on my stories.
sailor68 - Thank you! I am better now, but I still get occasionally very tired. That could be just the general madness of this year, though. :')
It really is an unpleasant situation for her, but fortunately, Éomer was not far off and could come to help her very quickly. She has people around her who care very much indeed. I imagine Aegdir is not getting out of this one with completey dry feet!
EStrunk - Glad you liked it! And it's good to hear that however bad the outcome, her going out to see Aegdir did make sense. I think it does to her at least, but that is just how people are: things that make sense to one aren't always so to the other. Which goes back to how we all are caught up in our own circumstances.
Tibblets - Tell me about it!
FantasyLover2004 - Thank you!
Aryaputra - Glad to have caught you off guard! ;)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Shetan20 - Thanks!
Wondereye - Yeah, things got pretty bad very unexpectedly!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx - Thank you! Glad to hear you think so. I think this version of Lothíriel is too responsible to just vanish in to the blue, even if she does go alone.
Boramir - I think that is very much their first reaction! But even now that tempers have calmed a bit, things don't look too good for Aegdir.
The odds presently are not in the favour of orcs, but there may be more going on than one would first assume.
Galenrandir - Thank you so much! Knowing there are some pretty great stories out there, that is quite the compliment!
coecoe11 - Hope you liked this chapter!
mystarlight - Thanks!
Simplegurl4u - Thank you! Whatever Aegdir's faults are, I don't think he'd go that far, even if he's angry.
LH Wordsmith - I just need my cliffhangers every once in a while, you know? :D At the start of the chapter, Éomer would surely have liked to kick his ass, but he knows Lothíriel needs him more. And at least for me, it's the thread going through this chapter: she means more to him than Aegdir, or his own anger.
Well said - becoming a good man would be the perfect punishment!
Guest - What a lovely, lovely comment! Thank you so much for it. One of the best things about writing is when I am able to touch people like this, even and especially when I myself don't expect it.
Best of luck on your own journey! 3
Jo - Thank you! I am better now, but life continues to kick my butt, so to speak. I hope things will be better this autumn.
Éomer to the rescue! I hope you liked the part where he finds Lothíriel. Things seem to be okay - for now!