One Thing after Another

Sweet Viresse was almost here and the gardens of Minas Tirith were beginning to bloom. The healer’s medicinal garden smelled nice with lavender scents drifting in the air; but the prettiest was the ancient rose gardens. Gardens that had bloomed in dozens of varieties of roses every year ever since Imrahil could remember. Their fragrance was the sweetest smell in the world and the various colors were amazing to behold! With the war over and peace on the horizon he was excited about getting some quiet time to walk among them and gently tend to them. Imrahil was older now and he looked forward to calmer times in Gondor, and a chance to do his passion of gardening. But today Imrahil’s walk was quicker and he did not dare to walk in the gardens or his regular route in the city. He was caught in a hideous cat and mouse game. He cautiously looked to see if the pathway was clear and judging that it was safe he sprinted across it toward Faramir's rooms. He thought he was going to avoid another father seeking one of his son's for his daughter, and he was right. This time it was Lord Holmgreen seeking an appointment with Lothiriel once she had settled into the family's tents at Cormallen.

This was the way it had been for weeks. As soon as some lord saw him walking he was beset with requests for one of his four children's hand in marriage, or for the privilege of having one of the princes escort such and such’s daughter to a celebration. Enough was enough already! He had not survived countless wars only hide in his free years. Aragorn needed him, Faramir was seeking his advice, and his children still needed him. Any time now Lothiriel and Alphros were going to join the family in Minas Tirith as the celebrations began at Cormallen and he was damn well certain that he would have at least a quiet day or two before his life got more hectic! Three sons were enough to keep him busy but an unspoken for daughter in the mix along with an almost two year old grandson made it hell. But his focus went now to the man violently waving at him to stop.

“My most excellent lord, the ruler of the jewel of Gondor, his grace whose prowess upon the fields of battle turned the tides and brought about the freedom of our peoples, the father of the most esteemed and beautiful princess of the fair land of Dol Amroth, and my most worthy, Prince Imrahil.” Holmgreen was breathless from running to match the prince’s steps but managed to get out his endearments.

Well this was going to be interesting Imrahil thought. How many adjectives, nouns, and references were before his name? Holmgreen’s father had always been a wind bag and it looked like the son had inherited that annoying trait. Imrahil wished at least once someone would be a plain talker! The prince also found himself repulsed at the poor shape the lord had allowed himself to fall into. He had gained weight, at least in his face, and belly since Imrahil had seen him last. But he guessed that when you sat on your ass while your father was fighting for his life in the epic battle of good versus evil you were bound to gain a few pounds.

“Yes Lord Holmgreen,” Imrahil attempted to keep the ire out of his voice.

“Your Excellency I have just myself arrived in this great city of your ancestors and am distressed to find that your most gracious daughter has not been reunited with her family. She fares well? I have heard that the boats bringing the most beautiful swan in Dol Amroth departed from the harbor eight days ago?”

Imrahil’s sixth sense was working overtime with this one. Not only had he known Holmgreen was wanting to see Lothiriel but he also had realized that Lord Holmgreen was just as creepy as his father with his knowledge of things that did not concern him.

“You have checked on my daughter before you have settled into the city? My deepest regards, I did not know you held her health and well being in such high esteem.” He was being as sarcastic as he could be, yet he knew it was lost on this young man. Times were relatively safe so he had not worried that Loti and his grandson and heir to Dol Amroth were a few days late.

“I stopped in Dol Amroth in mid Sulime to pick up some provisions. She was a most excellent hostess. It had been a while since I had seen her but she has grown to be an extremely beautiful woman. Her grace and presence has endured her people to her; they followed her every word as if the gods themselves had spoken. She is well suited for the life of ruling but do you want that precious, svelte, dark haired beauty wasting away in the castle? I have a proposition for you if I may be so bold in asking for your permission. The war has taught me that if you wait for the things you want you may end up dead and not able to enjoy them so I am taking initiative and asking you first. You must admire a man who takes initiative. ”

“Will he ever shut up?” Imrahil thought to himself. He had long ago stopped listening to the droning of this young lord but he still rambled on. “Take initiative! He did not even fight on the fields! How dare he talk as if he was at the battle or even remotely in conflict!” Imrahil was boiling over now!

“Remain calm Imrahil,” he kept saying over and over to himself. “Remain calm.” Then he heard a second voice, a voice that he knew would bring salvation.

“Ah uncle! I was wondering where you had gotten to. I was expecting you nigh an hour ago.” Faramir knew the situations going on with his uncle and though amused saw that Imrahil’s ire was about to spill over.

“Excuse me my lord but I have urgent business to discuss with my uncle.”

Imrahil looked to Faramir with gratefulness in his eyes. Now he was able to speak to Holmgreen.

“Yes, it was good seeing you too. I am sorry to hear about your father, he was a brave solider. I shall see you at the celebrations.” The prince had blocked out almost everything the lord had said concerning Lothiriel or anything else.

Faramir pushed his uncle away and escorted him into a small room off the main path. Locking the door behind them he let out a chuckle as his uncle rolled his eyes and wrung his hands.

“What am I to do Faramir? It was bad enough having lords and ladies seek out my sons but what am I to do once Lothiriel arrives? Elphir has refused to remarry, and Erchirion and Amrothos find it hilarious to mess with the family’s daughters. Adding to my grief is my unbetrothed 20 year old daughter being among the men at Cormallen. ”

“Amrothos and Erchirion find the fuss over them so distasteful that they have found ways to rebel against it. I do not blame Elphir for not remarrying, he had the love of his life and now she is gone. He has Alphros to think about now that the war is over. If I had lost Eowyn I know that I would not take another for she is the only one I will ever need.”

“Do not get all sentimental on me my boy. You have not even asked Eomer for her hand.”

Faramir tensed and Imrahil knew that this is why he had been called for.

“Eomer is an intensely protective brother; and I see his reasoning given the situation. But he has to know that she is her own person and that she has her own choices to make. I need you to feel the king out and see if you can make him see that she does not need his protection. That I love her and she me and that I will make her a good husband. No harm shall come to her while I draw breath.”

Now not only was Imrahil having to fend off offers for his children but he was going to act as nursemaid for his nephew while pleading Faramir’s case before the king. Life was not going to return to normal and right now he wished for a band of orc to slay; at least they would have been better to deal with then all of this.

“What of Eowyn? Surly she can persuade her brother, or just ignore him and do what she wants.” Imrahil was trying to get rid of one extra duty.

“There is a riff between them right now and she is torn. She agrees with me that perhaps some fatherly persuasion might be able to get him to see reason.”

Just then there was a banshee wail from outside! It sounded as if someone was in their last blood curdling death throws and both men rushed out with swords drawn!

“WAHHH!” The screaming and crying was deafening! Imrahil saw Lord Holmgreen standing in front of a familiar looking woman who was holding a screaming, flailing child in her arms.

“What on Middle Earth are you doing to that child!” Faramir spoke first as he came between Holmgreen and the woman. The child stopped his crying upon seeing Faramir and settled down completely with a glance toward Imrahil.

“Lord Holmgreen what are you doing assaulting my daughter and grandson!” Imrahil was now being restrained, though lightly, by Aragorn who had ran outside to see what was going on.

Aragorn was going to have to think quickly to keep bloodshed down but luckily Lothiriel spoke and diffused the situation.

“Lord Holmgreen just frightened Alphros father. It has been a long tiring trip for a two year old to make and he is tired and cranky. Holmgreen’s presence and rough manners just scared him. That is all, is it not.” She was soothing the little boy now.

The look Imrahil flashed Holmgreen could have caused his flesh to melt off his body but the lord did not take heed of the prince’s ire.

“My apologies my lovely princess. Perhaps we can meet in private at a later date.”

“I do not think my daughter will have the time Lord Holmgreen. And if you harm my family again you will not live to see Loti again! You have exactly 5 seconds to remove yourself from my sight or I am going to…” Aragorn was having a difficult time restraining Imrahil now.

“Father, you should rest.” Lothiriel moved toward him and took his arm while adjusting Alphros onto her hip.

“Let us go to our tents and rest. It has been a tiring journey for us and I do not desire to have my family in trouble with the king. There has been so much bloodshed already.” She smiled at Aragorn and bowed to both he and Faramir.

“Cousin I hope to have the privilege of visiting with you soon. I have heard,” here she looked at her father. “That there is a certain Rohirric Shield Maiden that has captured you heart. I can not wait to hear about her and hopefully met the woman who has tamed the Captain of Gondor.”

“I can not wait to introduce you to Lady Eowyn. She is slightly older then you and I have a feeling that you will be a great help to her in the upcoming months as she transition to Gondorian life.” He bowed to his youngest cousin.

“I look forward to it.” She walked away with her father on one arm and Alphros in the other. The matronly persona was not lost on those that watched them go.

“I can not believe she is not spoken for yet Faramir.”

Faramir almost got a chance to answer but Holmgreen interrupted. “She shall be as soon as I have time to speak properly with her father.”

Aragorn threw his kingly weight around with Lord Holmgreen while the Dol Amroth family was making their escape. Aragorn had met with stubborn resistance with orc on the field of battle but Lord Holmgreen was another beast entirely. The fool did not get it at all that Imrahil did not want him around. Holmgreen did not get it that Aragorn would gladly filet him alive if he even tried to harm Imrahil’s family. This man was dumber then an orc, for at least orc realized when they were vanquished!

As Faramir watched Lothiriel walk to the tents a plan formed in his mind. He quickly left to seek out his beloved and tell her of his idea.