Sacrifices

This musing clarifies some of the feelings Eomer felt toward Lothiriel upon first seeing her. His feelings were explained in Chapter 1 - Victory but I thought that a precursor up to the festivities would help to solidify Eomer's feelings for the princess and it also was a chance to bring in several characters that appear at later times and give them some background.
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August 10th – The Feast day after the burial of King Théoden

Today was going to be the grandest feast ever seen at the Golden Hall. Eowyn had seen to it that the tapestries were dusted, the hearths cleaned and relit and that the brilliant sunlight filled her ancestral hall. She had gladly done her duties as White Lady of Rohan, and now with her impending engagement to the Prince of Ithilien she hoped that her brother would be able to find someone to fill her absence. But Eowyn prayed that her replacement in Meduseld would not be Cerrywyn.

Cerrywyn had shown her true self during the time Grima held the hall's occupants in his control. Eowyn knew she had been lied to by this ‘helpless’ woman who had lost everything during the war; or so she had led everyone to believe. She only hoped her brother would realize the falseness in Cerrywyn before things got too far out of his control. The woman was a harpy, feeding on the scraps of whomever she could. With the major duties of king taking his time he would not be able to handle her ill doings. Eowyn regretted she would be leaving Edoras behind, but she had to continue on with her life. Eomer would be fine.

Planning and helping her brother had pushed the sadness of losing her uncle and cousin to the back of her mind. Of course she still wept and felt an immense emptiness in her soul; but she had her duties to her people. Soon she would have new duties to her husband’s people. With so much going on she seldom grieved after King Théoden was laid to rest. Today she found herself at the burial mounds, simply wondering around them. It was noon and the festivities would officially get underway in a few hours; but for now she enjoyed the solitude.

During her reflection she spied Faramir and his uncle’s family sitting outside their tent. Prince Imrahil and his family had been in Minas Tirith for those festivities and now they had supported Eomer and herself and followed into Edoras. Imrahil, his sons and daughter were the only family Faramir had left now and she knew she should get to know them better. Time had always been against her though, until now. Getting up and dusting herself off she walked toward the silver and blue hued tents that had the Swan banners flying proudly around them.

Faramir saw his intended coming toward him and straightened up, he had been joking with Amrothos and Lothiriel about some family matters. Eowyn needed not to be involved with the jokes; soon she would be accepted into his family and then she would learn all the history and nuisances that came along with her Gondorian kin. Now all she needed to know was that he loved her and that they accepted her completely. He did not have much time to spend with Eowyn before the festival, a fact he regretted. However Lothiriel would be left alone at the tent soon and female companionship would do both women well. Eowyn had only been briefly introduced to Lothiriel at Minas Tirith, now was a chance for the soon to be cousins to get to know each other better.

He embraced his betrothed in a tight hug before he re-introduced her to his family. She went to bow before the prince and princess but Lothiriel would not have it.

“We are cousins Lady Eowyn.” Was the excuse she gave to keep the meeting very informal. “I hope with your leave we shall get to know each other better.”

Faramir saw his chance to leave Eowyn in his cousin’s care for now and took his leave. Amrothos followed Faramir as they walked to the tent that was Imrahil’s. There they would be meeting with King Elessar and King Eomer in a few minutes and both men wanted to be ready. Lothiriel and Eowyn sat outside enjoying the day. Chatting of this and that and having a good time in each other’s company; until Eomer’s shadow blocked out the sunlight.

His sister realized he was beyond frazzled and about to snap; even though he was fighting to keep his composure and had everyone else fooled. He could not fool her and she felt her stomach churn as she wondered what fresh hell this encounter would bring. However she was shocked when he only smiled; bowed gently at them and then calmly asked a favor or her. All the while stealing glances at the princess who had bowed deeply to the King of Rohan. Eowyn thought it unfair that Lothiriel felt the necessity to bow low before her brother, but he was a king after all Lothiriel had been surrounded by princes all her life.

“Cerrywyn has made a mess of the kitchen Eowyn. Could you please restore order before I go on a rampage and take out half the serving staff and then some?”

“Only if you deal heavy handed with Cerrywyn over this Eomer. She is going to make things impossible for you if you do not end her ‘reign’ soon.” Eowyn was being truthful to her brother and he knew it.

Lothiriel was hearing everything and sensed the tension in the king, not to mention the foul mood Eowyn was no in over the mentioning of this Cerrywyn.

“Eomer King of Rohan if you would allow your sister some help I gladly offer my assistance.” She looked him straight in the eye and Eowyn raised an eyebrow at the look she saw on his face.

“My father and brothers have offered their services to you. I can not offer counsel or might but I can offer Lady Eowyn help in domestic affairs. I do not want to be left out of my family’s allegiance to Rohan.”

“Princess Lothiriel, you are a guest at Edoras. Your family is invaluable to me and I am honored to have you in my country. I can not have royal guests troubling themselves at our expense.”

Eowyn was fighting back a grin. Eomer was acting very out of character now with Lothiriel. She repeated, “I can not have royal guests troubling themselves…” to herself and eventually could not contain her smile.

“It is no trouble at all your highness. I am extremely bored sitting in my tent watching people scurry by. Go to your meetings. If Eowyn allows me to assist her we will have everything in order for tonight.” She ignored Eomer’s words and looked at Eowyn with a wink.

“It would be an honor to have help Princess Lothiriel. Pay no attention to my brother; he’s just trying to be polite.” She gave him a look that said, “I see what you are doing brother and you will not get the princess that way.”

Eomer was wise enough to realize that he was beaten; not only by Eowyn but by this dark haired beauty that had captured his attention when he first saw her greet her family at Minas Tirith.

“As you wish Princess Lothiriel,” he bowed to her. “I do not have time for this Eowyn,” he said gruffly to his sister. Eowyn paid him no mind but once he had walked into Imrahil’s tent she let out a laugh that was echoed by Lothiriel.

Eomer heard the laughs but quickly dismissed them. Women, he thought as the meeting was called to order. But somewhere in the back of his thoughts Prince Imrahil’s pretty daughter lingered; and all was good within. Eowyn and Lothiriel would take care of the ‘female’ things before the festivities began in earnest tonight.

Walking into the hall and toward the kitchen Lothiriel followed her soon to be cousin silently. Meduseld was laid out a lot different then her castle or the citadel at Minas Tirith. It was one long, continuous room with holes in the ceiling for smoke to escape from the hearths. Her interest was peaked by the Golden Hall and she hoped she would have some time to tour it’s grandeur before she returned to Dol Amroth and began serving her people in post war duty.

Eowyn entertained the idea that perhaps Lothiriel would be a suitable replacement for herself in the Golden Hall and she could not wait to discuss the possibility with Faramir tonight. For some odd reason she did not doubt the princess’ abilities or her loyalty. Eowyn seemed to just know Lothiriel was a good person, one that would make Eomer happy. Once she heard what Faramir thought she would but a bug into Eomer’s ear that Lothiriel would make Rohan and himself a good queen. Not once did it enter the White Lady’s mind that perhaps the princess had someone else in her life and would not be interested in her brother.