More Then you Seem

“We will arrive in Dol Amroth in two days your majesty,” Eomer spoke with reverence to his uncle the king.

“So all is clear ahead?”

“Yes uncle, the scouts have returned with a full report on the road leading to the city. They are free and clear. If the weather holds we could possibly reach Dol Amroth by tomorrow evening.”

Théoden noted his nephew’s excitement about arriving in Dol Amroth soon and hoped that no mishaps would come from him concerning the princess or her child. He knew how strongly Eomer had felt about Lothiriel in the past and how devastated he had been when it was learned that the princess had married so shortly after Eomer’s nuptials. Again and again Théoden had wished Imrahil would have relented and let his daughter be happy with the man of her choosing; his nephew. But Imrahil was stubborn and the need to continue on the royal house of Rohan was great. He had not intended for Cerrywyn to be Eomer’s bride but her father had put up a convincing argument for a union and he had to finally agree to it. Eomer seemed content at least and so did Cerrywyn, until it became known that a child would not come easy for the newlyweds.

The king had his suspicion that the timing of the birth of Lothiriel’s child was more coincidence then anyone paid attention to. He had witnessed his nephew enter Lothiriel’s room the eve before his wedding. Eowyn’s return to Edoras with stories about Elfwine solidified what he had known in his heart; Eomer had been blessed with a babe after all. Just not from his lawfully wedded wife. He held nothing against Cerrywyn, she was an outstanding woman whom he was pleased to have in his family; but he knew Eomer did not love her as he did Lothiriel. His nephew was only keeping his wedding vow and the thought of a loveless marriage for one he held so dear caused grief in his heart.

“Uncle, uncle what is it? You seem distant.” His astute nephew asked.

Smiling at the now grown man beside him he replied, “It is nothing.” He changed the subject to Theodred ruling in his place and as a cheerful conversation began Grima, Theoden’s new advisor, came up to them wishing to add his two cents worth in the conversation.

As the men talked Eowyn’s thoughts drifted to her last visit to Dol Amroth and she was so caught up in memories that she at first did not hear her sister-in-law speak to her.

“Eowyn, I am nervous.”

“What of?” She had come out of her dream world.

“That I will not be able to make your brother happy. I dread seeing Lothiriel and her child. She was married just weeks after us and it seems as though on her very wedding night she was given Elfwine. Six years we have tried, no struggled to have a child. And for six years we have been barren. I know that at one time my husband loved the princess. It is just jealously and nerves I guess eating at me. I want Eomer happy and he has been so very happy ever since we found out that we would be spending time at Dol Amroth. It is not because he feels that the change of scenery and rest will allow us to conceive, but because he will see his radiant princess again.”
Eowyn bit her bottom lip while Cerrywyn spoke to her. Once the young lady paused she spoke up, “Lothiriel is happily married Cerrywyn and happy with a child from the man she loves.” Eowyn was crafting her words; she did not like it when Cerrywyn felt sorry for her and Eomer’s situation.

“Besides, it was always a one sided affair,” Eowyn lied to still her sister-in-law’s heart.

“What do you mean one sided?” For the first time in a while Cerrywyn seemed hopeful about her life with Eomer.

“He did love her at one time, do not mistake me. Yet he loved her she did not return his love.” Eowyn left out the part about Lothiriel eventually returning her brother’s love and affection.

“Do not worry. Eomer is faithful to you now as he was six years ago. Lothiriel means nothing to him anymore just a fond memory from childhood.” Eowyn was growing up and now the situation of keeping her nephew a secret from his father grew into a blight on her soul.

Cerrywyn rode up to Eomer’s side and took his hand. Kissing it gently she laid it back in his lap and told him, “I love you Eomer son of Edmund.”

He looked into her large, bright eyes and sighed. “I love you too Cerrywyn of Aldburg.”

Théoden shook his head at hearing Eomer’s words and turned away from the couple. Grima, picking up on the king’s altered mood, decided to get out of the king why, when Eomer spoke of his love for his wife, Théoden reacted so. Perhaps getting into the head of the king would not be so hard after all. Especially if it concerned his beloved nephew, after all Grima was now chief counselor to the king. Eomer’s words upset the king, all Grima had to do was find out why. Find out what secrets lurked in the family’s closet then find the best way to use those secrets against them.