Sacrifices

Lothiriel sat in the warm salt water bath trying to relax. Finduilas had seen to every last detail to make her bridal bath soothing, even adding oils to the water to create a mellow scent. With eyes closed she thought about the events leading up to this day and what she really felt. Looking back to the first days after her father had made his announcement she was angry and hurt. She considered herself nothing more then a political pawn to be moved to the most convenient location. She still felt like a pawn in a game of mighty men but there were two ways she could manage her situation. First fight it and show her people that she was a spoiled brat who did not deserve to rule; or second try to look for some silver-lining in the turmoil. She chose the second option; at least she would have some control over her own life that way.

For the last few months the facts that she was going to be married and leaving Dol Amroth were the dominate thoughts on her mind. Her brother’s had taken over her royal tasks and Finduilas had taken it upon herself to arrange daily life in the castle. This left the princess with her only duties being to prepare for her new life. Soon she found that the idea of going to another land excited her; even though she would be bound to a man she did not know. That too was creating an odd sense of excitement in her, getting to know the King of the Mark and having the title of queen. If she stayed in Dol Amroth Elphir’s wife would become the princess of the city and her role would be diminished. Being a queen however was something that she knew she could do well; she had been doing just that for years.

She breathed deeply when the king entered her thoughts. Eomer, or at least her idea of him, had gradually sneaked into her mind in the past few weeks. Loti remembered his looks, how could anyone forget the King of Rohan? His blond hair hanging loosely over his shoulders and little wisps of blond framing his fair face. She had not seen the king in enough light to see the color of his eyes, but she knew that they were dark. To be a rustic horselord she was amazed that his beard and mustache were well groomed and that his hard body stood proudly even weighed down with armor. Yet he was aged with cares it seemed and she was disappointed that he did not show expressions on his face. He had looked so stern the whole time she had been in his presence that she had a hard time believing her father when he said that the king’s face lit up when she was around and that Eomer smiled just at the mention of her name. Loti wondered what first drew the king to her. He could have had any woman he wished for in his own land, so why had he decided to pick one of foreign birth to be his wife and queen? Again the thought of being a pawn came into her mind.

Regardless of what she felt she had formed an image of the king in her mind and it was this image that she fantasized about. Fantasies about her life with him in Rohan; how cold and distant he would be, how she would try to melt his heart and tame his wild spirit. Silly girl thoughts that she was too old to think, but delighted in them anyway. Somehow she would have to cope with the probability that her marriage would be loveless and emotionally empty and her fantasy world had always helped her in the past. But she had heard from several that Eomer actually believed he was in love with her and that gave her a slight bit of hope.

“What is wrong with the female mind?” Loti said out loud as she opened her eyes to see Finduilas; but her maid was not alone.

Finduilas came to help Loti get dressed for her meeting with the king, but on her way in she had been forcefully grabbed by Bregon who now held an evil looking knife blade to Finduilas’ throat.

“Make one sound to alert the guards princess and her blood will be on your hands.” His words had the desired effect on Lothiriel; she made no sound as she followed his commands.

“Out Loti, out of the tub I have something I want to show you. Something I think you will like to see.” He allowed her enough courtesy to put on a robe.

“This way princess and remember, anything to tip the guards off and Finduilas will die in front of your eyes.” He seemed to be delighting in his evilness.

Lothiriel looked to Finduilas who was held tightly in Bregon’s arms with the blade of the knife biting into her skin. She would allow no one to harm her friend; especially a weak little coward like Bregon. “Your father would be very disappointed in his son’s actions.” She spat at him.

He led the women out of the room and down the hall into the library. Inside the library Bealin awaited his brother. He had managed to get rid of the guards and now took over being Finduilas' captor so Bregon could torment the princess. Bregon now held the knife to Lothiriel’s throat and walked her to where her groom lay.

“So this is the great king of horses.” He sneered at her. For the first time in months Lothiriel gazed at the King of the Mark, she felt weak in her knees but Bregon would not let her fall. “Stay up princess. Look upon him.”

“Bregon, why?” She said softly to emotionally drained to speak louder. He was just as she had imagined in her mind and seeing him in death devastated her heart. “No, no, no. Why?”

“The why will come in time; do you not want to know how I killed him? Do you not want to know why you shed your tears over him?” He pushed Loti to her knees as he knelt behind her dragging the blade down her neck and talking into her ear. “Four arrows dipped in nightshade I let fly at the king. Three hit him in the back; you know what nightshade does to the body. By my guess the arrow wounds did not kill him but the poison as it ran through his body would cause a most agonizing death.” He kissed her neck and she cringed.

“Bregon, stop it! Why are you doing this? You little coward! Not brave enough to face a mighty king one to one. You are pathetic! Having to shoot him in the back under the cover of night.”

“Shut up princess unless you want to watch your maid die.” Bealin hissed to her as he pushed the knife into Finduilas’ throat and a trickle of blood ran down her white skin.

With one hand securing the knife to the princess' throat Bregon took his other hand and ran it through Eomer’s hair, mockingly making the king presentable. “Do you judge him fair to look upon Lothiriel?”

“He is dead.” She reached her free hand out to touch Eomer but Bregon caught it and held it behind her back. “Yes he is fair to look upon. Fair in life as in death.” She would not let Bregon and Bealin win.

“Do you honestly believe that the princess of Dol Amroth would be happy in a union with such a poor kingdom as Rohan? Rohan would offer you nothing but cold nights and horrid days filled with the filth that make up the kingdom of horses. You are use to luxuries and warmth. You would be nothing more then chattel to be took whenever the king or his men felt the need. That is not the life deserved for a princess. Rohan is a kingdom of vulgar, nasty men and the women are not much more then whores. You would become a whore to be a queen?”

“You speak nothing but lies Bregon! Yes, he could make me happy. As for yourself you can rot.” She tried to dislodge his weight but failed. He held her with more force as a small cry escaped Finduilas’ lips. Bregon would not let Loti turn her head to see her friend; he kept it focused on the king.

“You just do not learn do you princess. Someone needs to teach you how to obey!” He pushed her head onto Eomer’s chest and continued. “He thought he could make you obey. I heard the conversation he held with the king of Gondor. They were talking about how stubborn you were and how the king would teach you to obey; it was graphic princess, even you would break under his terms. Does it pain you to know that he only wanted you to solidify alliances with Gondor?”

“I do not believe a word you say Bregon! Even if I am nothing more then a political pawn at least I can live my life with dignity. I am my own self and no one will own me!”

“Did you think you would learn to love him?” He pulled her head up off the king’s chest.

“Yes, I know I could love him Bregon. Everything about him and his kingdom too. He is the one I am destined to be with; my father has made that clear and seeing him now speaks to my heart. So either kill me now so I may go to him and have in death what life denied us or prepare to die.”

Laughing he pulled the princess up to her feet so quickly she got dizzy. You are in no position to fight me Loti, neither is Finduilas. He turned them to see where his brother and Finduilas were. Blood was running down her maid’s neck but it did not seem life threatening.

“I had not planned on it.” She felt his grip loosen and her first action was to help Finduilas get Bealin under control. Which with the shock of seeing his twin ran through was easy.

The gurgling of Bregon could be heard throughout the library. Eomer had ran him through when Bregon had turned to look at his brother and now Bregon’s life was slowly slipping away. With one brother down he came toward the other that was being held by the princess and her maid.

“I do not know your part in this conspiracy so you shall live for now.” He took control of Bealin and once he was tied up he addressed the princess.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“And you?” He asked Finduilas who also said no. It was only a small shallow cut on her neck and the bleeding had stopped.

“But you were dead?” Finduilas was confused by the events that had just taken place.

“I could not stay dead knowing my loved one was in danger.” He walked over to Lothiriel and embraced her. “And I do love you Lothiriel of Dol Amroth. Bregon’s words were venomous lies. I would never harm you or your spirit; both are too precious to me.” It was difficult for him to not kiss her but he was restrained enough to suffice with a deep embrace.

“Finduilas, when Bregon pushed me onto the king I felt his breath in my ear and heard his heart beating strong. I knew he was not dead.” Loti added more to Eomer’s story. Finduilas nodded her head in acceptance and saw the loving looks that passed between her princess and the king.

“I shall get the prince and bring in the guards. I am sure that your father will be very displeased in the sons of his second in command.” Finduilas said as she left the couple, a huge smile on her face regardless of the previous incident.

Eomer looked at Lothiriel and rested his head on hers, his hands began to rub her back and his arms gave her security.

"Mmmm," Loti purred as she wrapped herself tighter in the king's arms. "I find comfort and security in your embrace Eomer."

"And you shall always find it in my arms." He kissed the top of her head.

Only when the prince and the rest of the party came did she reluctantly allow him to leave her side so he could explain how the dead could rise.

Lothiriel knew her feelings for the King of Rohan were growing stronger. He had rescued her and gently comforted her after the ordeal; gentleness was a beautiful trait. He had acheived his justice but had not gone wild with bloodlust as some believed of the Rohirrim; he had stayed focused and restrained and so handsome and calm. She wanted him now, but there were still hours before the evening wedding ceremony!