One Thing after Another

King Elessar had called an impromptu meeting today and as much as Eomer desired to speak with his sister Faramir had come to inform him about the king’s wishes.

“I am sorry sister,” Eomer said sincerely realizing time was short. “I can think of no finer man then Lord Faramir for your husband and if you still consent to the marriage I will give you my blessing.” He had to get everything he thought of last night into a few short sentences.

Faramir shifted uneasily, waiting for Eowyn to answer.

“Thank you Eomer,” she hugged him tightly. “I do wish to marry Faramir and he will make me an excellent husband. But you are not angry at me for leaving Rohan?”

“Nay sister, your absence will make it easier for my queen to rule. Having two stubborn, independent women under my roof can not be good for Rohan or myself,” he laughed as he bowed to her to take his leave.

“The queen will have to have a strong will to put up with your ranting brother.”

Eomer turned to Faramir and offered his hand in friendship. “Take good care of her my friend, my brother, for I might have given my blessing I will not hesitate to kick your Gondorian ass if she comes to harm.” He laughed and left the tent.

Faramir kissed Eowyn goodbye with the promise that he would see her later tonight.

Faramir and Eomer’s arrival together caused quit a stir among the attending lords of Gondor. Here were two sworn enemies if rumor was to be believed walking together and talking as if they were old friends! Needless to say it did not sit well with several lords that the two were on good terms; but for Imrahil the truce was very pleasing. Aragorn greeted his friends warmly and once all were seated the meeting began.

Eowyn caught up with Lothiriel and Alphros at the stables.

“My lady, are things good? I did not expect to see you so soon,” Lothiriel said worriedly.

“Yes, yes, things are fine. Aragorn called a meeting today and that is where they are.”

“They?”

“Faramir and my brother. Faramir came to tell Eomer of the change in plan. They seemed to have made up and Eomer even gave me his blessing!” Eowyn was gushing at the last bit of news.

“Then I am happy for you and can not wait to call you sister,” Loti hugged her while Alphros walked around them.

“So shall we start teaching you the finer things of noble Gondorian women?” Lothiriel said with a smile. “Lesson one, they are a bunch of conniving, ruthless, bitches that would rather tear you to shreds then look at you civilly.”

“I have not had to deal with courtly women in a very long time Lothiriel.”

“I have no doubt that you can handle anyone who bares her claws; but being from Rohan you should be extra careful not to fall into their traps. Not that I think there will be too many ladies upset with you for marrying my cousin. But nonetheless it is always good to be prepared. I can show you the customs if you like and teach you what to look for in an unsavory person.”

“That would be lovely.” Eowyn looked past the princess into the stable. The Rohirric horses seemed to know she was near and had started neighing. Alphros was petting the smaller ones but eyed the Rohirric war horses with careful admiration.

“Would you like to ride one,” Eowyn said as she came up behind the child?

Alphros eyes grew wide with excitement and he looked toward Loti.

“If you feel you can handle a two year old I think it would be wonderful to take him for a ride.”

Alphros reached up for Eowyn to pick him up. “Give me a minute to get her ready little one.”

Lothiriel held her nephew until Eowyn had saddled the horse. The groomswoman had come to help. She was from Rohan as well and her and Eowyn conversed in their native tongue. “Would you like to ride,” Eowyn asked Lothiriel?

“I will leave you two to ride.” Loti was wanting a few moments alone and this was her chance. “I could use a respite for a while. Where are you going?”

“We will ride to the far end of camp and back. We will not be gone too long.”

“I will be in my tent.” Lothiriel watched the two ride away with her nephew laughing the whole time.

Imrahil had a massive headache and by the looks of their king so did Aragorn. The bickering, fighting, arguing among the lords was too much! But that was exactly why Aragorn had called the meeting, to bring everyone together to voice their concerns and fears as peace settled. Most of the lords had never known a time when destruction was not on their doorstep. There would be a lot of free time and what to do with that spare time was something to consider. Eomer had been quiet for the most part, though Aragorn tried to get him to speak his mind on matters at hand. That was Eomer, contemplative until roused and a force to be reckoned with once provoked. Unfortunately provocation came soon enough.

It was dusk when Imrahil and his sons returned to their tents. “Elphir, may I have a word with you.” He was serene and tired.

“Yes father,” Elphir said as he walked on with Imrahil while his brothers went to their tents.

“You are my heir Elphir, Alphros is yours. When I die and you take your place who will be your helpmate? Who will raise Alphros with a mother’s touch?” Imrahil was trying to politely bring up the touchy subject.

“Lothiriel of course. She said herself that she wants to help me with Alphros.”

“Yes, yes I know but she is your sister and as a princess she will marry away from Dol Amroth.”

“Yes, but she will be close by.”

“Just think about perhaps taking another wife. It would not have to be soon and it would only be someone you and Alphros truly liked. Just help me bye some time Elphir.” He was imploring his son.

“Father, I understand where you are coming from and I understand your plight. I will allow ladies into Alphros and my life but on my terms. I will not promise you I will chose to remarry but I will promise that I will entertain the lord’s daughters to my abilities. If it would help make things easier for you.”

“It would. Now if I can just get your brothers to see the reasoning. I would never make a match that my children found unfavorable but I need time to get the lords off my back so I can consult the king. You saw them today; it is getting dangerous for the king.”

“You mean it is getting dangerous for the lords that plot against the king. Aragorn can handle any foe father.”

“I wish I had your optimism,” Imrahil was so tired now.

“Father, I will talk to my brothers. Help them see the foolishness of their ways and direct them to a temporary solution. They will agree with me. But what of Lothiriel?”

Imrahil just walked away from his son and into his tent. He went to the press and took out a skin of his finest cider. It had been a long day and a long drink would do him good; just as he broke the seal Lothiriel came in, in very bad spirits.

“Loti what is wrong,” he asked as he got up and hugged his daughter?

“I hate them father! I hate them all! Every last Gondorian lord in this camp!”

“Loti,” he tried to console her but she was not consolable. She jerked away.

“Lord Holmgreen has invited himself to dinner this evening, Lords Abell and Bell have expressed interest in keeping appointments with me, and Lord Gilmore is engaged!”

Ah, now he was getting to the root of the problem! Lothiriel had eyes for Lord Gilmore for years and now seeing that he was engaged to be wed hurt her. Of course it hurt her she was still fragile underneath her roughened exterior. He had forgotten that she was so tender toward Gilmore and hated to see her so sad. But usually things like this would not bother her so much.

“If it is any consolation I will not allow Holmgreen to dine with us, ever. As for Lord Gilmore I can do nothing about his engagement. I know it hurts Loti but you must look past his shortcomings and realize that besides the lords you mentioned there is a field of men out there.”

He could not believe he was having this conversation with his daughter! Should not a mother influence be telling her these things? Was he to treat her as he did his sons or should he be gentler? Might as well treat her like the rest.

“Lothiriel, I have asked your brothers to entertain offers from suitors to give me some time so I can look after our king. I do not care how you entertain them but would you do me the same favor?”

Her high pitched cry before she burst into tears let him know the answer. She would, but she would not be happy about it. He had been around men too long. He could deal with anything they threw at him but he was at a complete lose about how to deal with his daughter and her moods. Perhaps it was her cycle, her mother got the same way; weepy at anything at her time of month. He did the only thing he knew; he offered her a glass of his finest cider.