Footnote

Summary: Lothiriel and Eomer reconsider their marriage.

Disclaimer: Eomer, Lothiriel, Faramir, Eowyn and all other character's belong to J.R.R Tolkien and Tolkien Enterprises.

Distribution: Fanfiction.net

Author's Note: All mistakes in this story are my own doing and I take full responsibility. As I was writing this, the story took on a different turn that I had originally intended however I really like it.

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… I am discrete because it's sometimes wise

Just to shut your eyes

How sure? How right?

Can anyone be on sight?

I said I had Hope. I lied…

Sarah Slean- Elliot

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The long sheaves of grass danced lightly in the light caress of the westward wind. Rohan the proud horse kingdom had been waiting for this day for years. Not since the young wife of Theoden graced the halls had there been a queen of Rohan. Though many people of Rohan had wished for a queen to rule with the king, they were unsure of what to deem about this stranger from the sea, who would soon be in control of a kingdom she knew nothing about.

Countless rumors circled the young princess wherever she walked. Many whispers claimed that she was a witch who had cast a spell on their Lord that her dance was one of Luthien, beguiling and bewitching. Others claimed that she was an elven princess, like that of Queen Arwen whom the King admired. Very few of the Rohirric people knew of what their new queen looked like. The young woman opted for staying indoors rather than perusing through the markets.

Lothiriel knew of all the rumors, daily she sent her maid through the streets of Rohan to collect the gossip. It was a political alliance that was what the people of Rohan decided; she was nothing more than a bargaining cow in their minds. A woman of Gondor nobility traded to concrete the pact of Eorl.

It was quite discouraging. She and Eomer did not have a beautifully heartbreaking story like the King and Queen of Gondor, or an angst ridden tale of heroics like that of her cousin Faramir and his lady love Eowyn.

Their first meeting was when Eomer, after a drinking contest with Gimli during his Coronation, was sent stumbling to the houses of healing where she was stationed for the night. He had not looked so regal and fine when she first saw him, leaning heavily on her cousins arm muttering nonsense of dwarvish boasting, he had smelled overpoweringly of mead and horses. Still there was something about the man that had caught her attention, and later her affections. She had not known that he was the new crowned King of Rohan until his sister came to collect him.

They met later at one of the numerous noble functions; her father led her to him and forced them into a dance. He spoke to her candidly about the night they first met, and she was shocked to find that her had remembered her face.

He replied that he could never forget so fair a face. By the end of the dance, they made plans to meet again. 

And now, she was standing in front of a tall looking glass and was adorned in finest silks of Dol Amroth and preparing herself to become Queen of Rohan.

Queen of a people that already despised her. Lothiriel grimaced at the thought, and nervously twisted her hair on the top on her head, a style that had become popular in Dol Amroth. Her glossy black hair piled upon her head seemed to solidify the common thought of Gondorian severity, the last thing she needed was to resemble a school marm.

Sighing she loosened the hair, and threw down her comb. She was roomed in farthest corner of the hall from her groom. She supposed it was logical that the groom be kept away from the bride until the hand fasting to prevent any premature… couplings. However, she missed Eomer's company.

The King of Rohan, it seemed had a reputation for being impatient and an often uncouth individual. That was the reason given to her sternly by her brothers as they hauled her away from her husband to be. Her father was fond of Eomer and admired him and their union greatly, however Imrahil wanted to keep his only daughter's reputation pristine. Appearances had to be maintained.

When Eomer had proposed to her on the beach of Belasaf, with the moonlit night illuminating them and the waves lapping at their feet, it had felt so right. Their engagement was kept secret for many weeks, allowing Eomer time to prepare Rohan for the news.

It was now, that she stood alone in her room that she wondered if she was making the right choice. She loved Eomer greatly, more than she had thought humanly possible. Before Eomer she had glossed over the strange emptiness within her, now that he was by her side he completed her.

However, how many lives did they have to ruin to be happy? True her father seemed happy over their intended marriage, but he was one of the few.  She did not wish to spend her life wrestling for the affections of a people who seemed so adamant to dislike her.

Just as she was debating whether to throw of her wedding dress and run off into the sunset a knock sounded at the door. Hesitantly she opened the large wooden door, revealing her cousin on the other side.

Faramir bowed slightly before entering the room. Faramir glowed faintly in the dusk the small closed of room; he bore the manner that only a man in love could. Lothiriel could not help grinning at her cousin's obvious happiness. It was a startling difference from the solemn soldier she had seen last year.  Despite the difficult trials her cousin endured, he was a stronger and better man.

Faramir grinned softened slightly when he saw her composure. "Are you nervous?" He inquired sitting on a nearby chair.

" Yes." Lothiriel nodded, her eyes never strayed from the mirror. She chewed her lips nervously then turned from the mirror. " Do you think they'll like me?"

Faramir looked confused for a moment before answering her. "Who?"

"Everyone." Still seeing her cousin's confusion she elaborated. " I don't think that everyone approves of my marriage to Eomer."

"Who?"

" The townspeople, the nobility. They either make me out to be a conniving witch or a trading agreement."

Faramir smiled grimly and rose from his seated position he grasped her hands tightly and forced her to look up at him. "You cannot live for others, Lothiriel. I have not known Eomer king for long, but I can see that he has fallen deeply in love with you. Do not let a few petty whispers ruin what chance for happiness you could have. What all your questioning comes down to is whether or not you love him."

Lothiriel wretched her hands away and hastily turned away from her cousin. "Leave me."

" Lothiriel." Faramir objected placing his hand on her shoulder. " Don't…"

"Now." She ordered opening the door, bolting it after he had left.

Long shadows were cast into the room, it was nearly time. She paced in the room, her white dress trailing behind her with each step. Finally, with a look of resolution on her face she threw open the door and left the room.

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