Raksha The Demon
· 26 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Very amusing chapter - I particularly liked the conversation between Amrothos and poor Hallas about Eomer's dragon-hunting and souvenirs.
You've written Lothiriel and Eomer as a very cute, but believable, couple.
Author's reply
Hello Raksha,
you never know, Eomer might even have a dragon's tooth lying around somewhere, after all one of his ancestors killed Scatha the Worm. Glad you like Eomer and Lothiriel, I'm getting rather fond of them myself after all the trouble I've put them through.
Lia
Elendiari22
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Awesome chapter! I love how they managed to get rid of Lothiriel's suitors, though I did feel rather bad for one or two of them: the nice ones, who wouldn't have forced Lothiriel into a subservient position. Still, I'm glad they're off.
And that engagement kiss! Whew! The whole hall will be in an uproar over that one for a long time. I'm curious to hear what Eomer said to Imrahil, and how Lothiriel will react. Looking forward to the next chapter!
~El
Author's reply
Hello Elendiari,
don't feel sorry for Lothiriel's suitors, after all it was up to them to stand up to Eomer and none of them managed to.
As for what Eomer said to Imrahil, you will find out but not for a while. Now I have to get her to Rohan first.
Lia
Nilmandra
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Well, geez, I want to marry Eomer!!
I love how he drove off the suitors, but I particularly like how things are done in the Mark. :D
Author's reply
Hello Nilmandra,
sorry, Eomer's already very much taken, but the Mark does sound like quite a nice place, doesn't it. Maybe we should all move there?
Lia
Bodkin
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Just love the connivance of Eomer, Lothiriel and her younger brothers in getting rid of the seven suitors. They didn't stand a chance - a very professional hatchet job. And some of them, certainly, are no loss at all! Artamir, for example, deserves to spend more time in Elphir's company! And some of the others - Pelendur - Egalmoth - are really far too wet to keep Lothiriel happy.
Love Amrothos and the dragon's tooth story. Not to mention his repeated dramatic deaths.
Great chapter - and five months isn't that long. Eomer did well to reduce the betrothal period, as I'm sure Imrahil isn't keen at all to leave his daughter in another country. Although maybe the kiss at the end might just make him relieved to get her safely married, before anything else happens.
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
I think Amrothos has made up for trying to drown her as a child, don't you agree? Dreamflower also suggested Elphir and Artamir seem to made for each other, as for the rest of the suitors they are no loss at all. Presumably even Imrahil has realized this.
I agree Eomer did a very good job at reducing the betrothal period, the question now is only how he did it?
Lia
Dreamflower
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
I love the way the suitors melt away one by one. Belecthor was the most sensible--he was observant, and knew when to cut his losses without any hints. I am thinking that if Eomer did not exist, he might well have proven adequate.
The demonstration of Eomer's prowess as a warrior, sparring with her brothers was a brilliant idea. While Belecthor did not need a hint, Tarlang at least proved intelligent enough to *take* one--clever lad.
I have to say, I loved the way Lothiriel handled Pelandur all on her own. *snerk* "Not bad for a beginner" indeed! She does love to rub it in, doesn't she?
And Egalmoth is a decent dancer, I suppose, but not only is he rattled by Eomer's presence, but he's also rattled by a little thing like the princess he's wooing having killed a man. Honestly, you'd think he'd appreciate a woman who could protect him, wouldn't you? *evil grin*
Amrothos is just a *wicked* boy, isn't he? Poor Hallas, he never stood a chance against Amrothos' tall tales! Did they have plays in Dol Amroth, I wonder? How much would Imrahil object if his son decided on a career on the stage? And Hallas isn't exactly reeking with bravery, is he?
And it's too bad Elphir is already wed. Seems like he and Artamir are two stuffy peas in a pod. I absolutely adored Eomer's comeback to them: “It might not be appropriate to a Princess of Dol Amroth, but it is appropriate to a Queen of the Riddermark.”
A perfect line!
I was a bit surprised at Eomer thinking that Lothiriel could not disguise herself as a Rider, when he knew darn well his sister had gotten away with it. I would bet Lothiriel had not forgotten, but wisely did not remind him of it.
I loved her frank confession about her "experiment", and Eomer's amused reaction. Of course, he might not have been so sanguine if all the other suitors had not already been disposed of.
And the ending? I am very glad that Eomer showed those stuffy Gondorians just how to really kiss!
Lovely chapter, dear! I suppose you are getting close to the end. This is the first Eomer/Lothiriel I've read, though I came across a couple of others that were posted about the same time. For a story with no hobbits, it is a lot of fun, and I will be sorry to see it end.
Author's reply
Hello Dreamflower,
nice to see you still like this story even though it's lacking hobbits (they won't come to the wedding either as I don't think they would have left the Shire again so soon after returning from the war).
As to which suitor to choose if Eomer hadn't come along, that's a difficult one. I think she would best have gone for one of the younger ones, but definitely not Artamir. He would suit Elphir, though, that's true! Maybe a divorce and a sex change for one of them is in order?
Regarding disguising herself as a man, it has to be said that Eowyn had 6000 riders to hide herself in, probably had Elfhelm's help and rode under the cover of the darkness that came out of Mordor, altogether easier than riding out of your father's castle in plain daylight.
Lothiriel was frank about her experiment, but I have to warn you Eomer should have been equally frank about his words to Imrahil. But then, you'll see. *evil grin*
And there's still a few more chapters to come!
Lia
Merenwen
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Hahah. I loved how they frightened off the suitors. It amuses me so much. Poor men, being so intimidated by the King of Rohan.
I also love Amrothos' speech about the dragon and all, and his dying. It suits the youngest boy role well.
Wow. I want my own Eomer, please and thank you! :)
Author's reply
Hi Merenwen,
it's hard standing up to the King of Rohan, especially when he's backed up by Lothiriel and her younger brothers.
And I'm afraid I do not have a supply of Eomers, but you could always check Ebay ;-)
Alison H
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
Oh, that was a wonderfully funny chapter!The poor suitors never really stood a chance and I laughed just thinking of them quivering in fright before Eomer!
I can just picture Amorothos 'dying' after a bout with Eomer--there is an Amorothos in every family I think.He won't change!
Elphir is still a pain in the neck and I was glad Eomer betrothal kiss left him beet red--he has to grow up.Lothiriel is a grown woman now and he has to learn that she has her own life to live.
Oh, and THAT kiss left me a little weak-kneed , too!
Eomer is HOT!!
Thanks again for the update and I look forward to more of this brillant story.
Ali.
Author's reply
Hello Ali,
glad you liked it, I had great fun writing those suitors out of the story. As for Elphir, he will have more suffering ahead of him once those two really get going, but then he deserves it! Barbarian manners!
Lia
Mum's the Word
· 23 February 2006
· Chapter 25: The seventh suitor
I love it when a plan comes together!
Intimidating the other suitors was excellently done!
Author's reply
Yes, I think there's not much that can stop those two once they have made up their mind. Glad you liked it!
The two last chapters... they left me speechless! I'm so intrigued about Eomer's plans...
More please!
Greetings
MPG
Author's reply
Hola MPG,
you'll find out about Eomer's plans next week and see what happens when Lothiriel is 'just herself'...
Greetings, Lia
Bodkin
· 17 February 2006
· Chapter 24: Dol Amroth
It's great seeing Lothiriel being efficient and knowledgeable about her role in running a Prince's household. Her father might think she's mainly ornamental - but that just goes to show how little he has thought about the ins and outs of administering big estates. It won't do Eomer any harm to see that side of her, either.
But they'll have to last a long time on a couple of discreet ... meetings. And abduction - even if it's more of an elopement - won't go down too well in Gondor. They might just have to come up with a cunning plan.
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
I agree completely with you. Maybe Imrahil won't realize until Lothiriel is gone how little 'ornamental' she is - although she is ornamental ;-)
As for the abduction, I think they will just have to be patient and maybe come up with a 'cunning plan' to convince her father. That last sounds like Blackadder - do you know that series or is just coincidence?
Anyway, I think you'll like the next chapter. I was grinning evily the whole time I wrote it.
Lia
Dreamflower
· 16 February 2006
· Chapter 24: Dol Amroth
This is going to be a fascinating engagement--I think the two of them are going to leave a good many Gondorian heads spinning! Not least those of Lothiriel's father and brothers! *grin*
Author's reply
Hello Dreamflower,
it should prove to be interesting, yes. I think there will be food for gossip at the court of Dol Amroth for many weeks to come, even after Eomer has left. Elphir won't be pleased!
lia
Nilmandra
· 16 February 2006
· Chapter 24: Dol Amroth
I am glad Eomer gets to see Lothiriel in her element, doing all these things she is good at. He can see that she will be a fitting Queen as well as wife and lover.
I can't wait to see what they have planned for the other suitors. :>)
Author's reply
Hello Nilmandra,
Yes, I thought it would be good to see that side of Lothiriel as well. As for the suitors, they won't know what's hit them...
Lia
Alison H
· 16 February 2006
· Chapter 24: Dol Amroth
Oooh, an early update! Thanks for this.I really enjoyed the banter between Eomer and Lothiriel in this chapter-they are more alike than they seem.Oh, and Lothiriel's boldness is obviously pleasing Eomer.I'm sure thet he WOULD abduct Lothiriel in the blink of an eye if he had to.Mmmm, being abducted by Eomer would be heaven! I laughed out loud when Lothiriel told him that she wouldn't be unwilling.Eomer is going to have his hands full when Lothiriel becomes his wife but I don't think he'd have it any other way!
Thanks again for the update.More, please!
Ali.
Author's reply
Hello Ali,
thanks for your quick review and I'm pleased you enjoyed the banter. I believe Eomer has found out she's not your usual Gondorian princess and Lothiriel has realized she can be honest about her feelings with him.
You'll see in the next chapter what happens when those two make up their minds!
Lia
Bodkin
· 11 February 2006
· Chapter 23: Misgivings
Oh - and by the way - I can understand how Finduilas's experience could well make Imrahil much more doubtful about Lothiriel engaging in a supposedly very good marriage with a foreign king hundreds of miles from home. It would naturally make you wary!
Author's reply
Hello again!
I didn't realize you left this review as well. No doubt Finduilas's marriage was considered a very good one when she made it and look how it turned out. She is described as being 'a lady of great beauty and gentle heart' - not quite the stuff Lothiriel is made of I think (Although Imrahil might not know).
Lia
Bodkin
· 11 February 2006
· Chapter 23: Misgivings
I love Imrahil's parting words! There is no way he is going to let Eomer upset Lothiriel! Them's fighting words!
He likes Eomer: he loves Lothiriel - but Rohan is just so far away, and Imrahil lacks the control over the King of Rohan that he would have over Lothiriel's other suitors. So many fathers would, I think, feel just the same. However, he also wants Lothiriel to be happy - so he will allow himself to be convinced. Hopefully.
And he's not going to get a sensible thought out of Lothiriel for a while - she and Eomer just need some time to get used to the idea that each loves the other.
Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly over the next few months!
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
that's also how I see Imrahil's thoughts. Eomer won't just be her husband, but also is a king and they will living in a far-away foreign country, so he has no way to protect his daughter if anything goes wrong between them. I think that's what's worrying him most, although he can't say so of course. He will have to rely on Eomer being a good man and maybe those parting words of his.
I had to laugh when I read what you wrote about Lothiriel. How true!
Take care, Lia
Dreamflower
· 11 February 2006
· Chapter 23: Misgivings
Ah, yes, I had thought perhaps it was the memory of Finduilas and how she had faded away when far from her home that made her brother into a somewhat overprotective father...
I liked this. It was far more realistic than his instant and enthusiastic agreement to have his daughter living so far away. Distance *meant* so much more in times like that. It has scarcely been a century since someone going more than just a few miles away parted from family in the knowledge that the journey could prove dangerous, or that, if something happened, word might never come back.
Author's reply
Hello Dreamflower,
yes, Rohan is several weeks' travel away and hard travel at that, so Lothiriel would be very much cut off from her family. I think what also bothers Imrahil, although he can't say so, is the fact that he has no 'handle' on Eomer like he has on the other suitors who are his vassals after all.
As for your other remark, I have always marvelled at the British living in India in the 18/19th century sending their children home to school for years at a time and before the Suez canal was built that journey used to take months!
Alison H
· 10 February 2006
· Chapter 23: Misgivings
While I understood Imrahil's concerns for his daughter I was glad to see Lothiriel assert herself and put forward her opinion.Ornamental indeed! I don't think she would ever let Eomer treat her in such a way and Eomer knows she can handle herself.I'm glad Imrahil gave his consent in the end!
Great story and I can't wait for 23!
Ali.
Author's reply
Hello Ali,
sometimes it's difficult to see what our nearest and dearest really are like. I think Imrahil doesn't know half of what Lothiriel has been up to lately and doesn't realize she's grown up considerably. No doubt he'll get a few eye-openers in the chapters to come.
Lia
Macphisto's girl
· 4 February 2006
· Chapter 22: Swordplay
Yeyyyy! This is what all the readers want!
Finally! Oh, so many things to say about this chapter... but I'm suffering from writer's block (at least in English, because all I can think right now is in Spanish =S)
maybe I'm in shock! I wasn't prepared for all this... Amazing!
Excellent story! Is all I have to say...
Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina! Take care,
MPG
Author's reply
Hello MPG,
glad you liked the chapter. You must think me a very sadistic writer if you weren't prepared for this. I thought the two had finally earned some romance. Now only Imrahil will have to agree. And I'm still worried about those suitors...
Saludos
Lia
Bodkin
· 4 February 2006
· Chapter 22: Swordplay
Goodness - the Amrothos / Eomer confrontation could have been nasty. I'm glad Amrothos recognised the dragon slayer almost instantly. He's an intelligent man.
Eomer is better at practicalities than diplomacy, though. Once he started kissing, he was onto a winner. Trying to explain himself - well perhaps if he interspersed his words with actions, he would get on better. And at least they both know what they want now! Even if he didn't go down on one knee or provide red roses or any other cliche. (Her other suitors would.) And he brought Nightwind - that makes up for a lot!
Now all they have to do is convince Imrahil. And, even if he wants Lothiriel on his doorstep, it's very hard, in an aristocratic society, for him not to register the fact that his daughter will be a queen. And, even more important to a loving father, that the shine has returned to her eyes and that she is happy.
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
one of Eomer's ancestors did actually slay Scatha the dragon, so that's where I got the idea from. It was quick thinking on Amrothos' part, though.
I agree Eomer is better with actions than with words, although he did quite well in the end. He still has to work on his grovelling technique, but at least his kissing is up to scratch.
We'll see Imrahil's reaction in the next chapter. Rohan is very far away...
Merenwen
· 3 February 2006
· Chapter 22: Swordplay
Ah! I absolutely love this story! Each chapter is eagerly awaited.
And they have finally admitted it and are happy...for now, I suppose. It's good to see it, though. I was waiting for this moment for a long while now!
Author's reply
Hello Merenwen,
how nice to know my chapters are eagerly awaited! You've been very patient waiting for this reunion so I'm glad you enjoyed it. Next we'll see if Imrahil is happy about this development...
Nilmandra
· 3 February 2006
· Chapter 22: Swordplay
“I lied earlier on. I did mean to kiss you that night and I’m not sorry for it. In fact I enjoyed it and what is more I intend to do so again.”
Finally, Eomer says something smart! And he avoided the swan advice. Perfect. He learned his sister is fallible in her methods, but he has to admit the choice is right. :>)
Author's reply
Hello Nilmandra,
it was a narrow miss, but he did avoid the swan advice. That would probably have been the end of him, Lothiriel would have sent him packing no doubt!
Alison H
· 3 February 2006
· Chapter 22: Swordplay
Well, that chapter just about turned me to mush!! Wonderfully written with Amorothos' playfulness, Lothiriel's musings on horses and then Eomer's protectiveness when he thought that his love was in danger.I loved it!
Oh, and Eomer did quite well in telling Lothiriel how he felt without comparing her to a swan! They're made for each other.
I can't wait to read the reaction from Lothiriel's family when they realise that Eomer has come to Dol Amroth with only one purpose in mind.
Love this story and I can't wait for more.Update soon!
Ali.
Author's reply
Hello Ali,
that's what I like to hear, it was meant to turn you into mush! After all you've waited long enough and have been very patient. Glad you liked it.
Eomer seems to have finally caught the hang of how to deal with Lothiriel. We'll see how well he'll fare with the rest of her family in the next chapter.
Macphisto's girl
· 30 January 2006
· Chapter 21: Moonrise
I’m back. About the vacation, the place was very very warm, but I enjoy it anyway. Hope that some heat goes to the beautiful Switzerland…
Again I’m intrigued about the chapter… because all know the end… but there’s so many things that could happen until them!
Oh, this two are so cute! I’m sure that Eomer it’s going to follow his heart and run to Dol Amroth. And Lothiriel is still confused, but she’s discovering her feelings… it’s only matter of time… but not too much, in a month is her birthday! Hurry Eomer!
MPG
Author's reply
Hello Macphisto's girl,
none of the heat has come this far, I'm afraid.
We all know the end of this tale of course, because it's in the book, but getting there is what I find interesting. Not too many twists left now, but still quite a few chapters.
Lia
Dreamflower
· 28 January 2006
· Chapter 21: Moonrise
Yay!! Aragorn could not have given better advice! Now move it, Eomer, before it's too late!
Author's reply
Well, he's got a fast horse, hasn't he...
Bodkin
· 28 January 2006
· Chapter 21: Moonrise
Get yourself to Dol Amroth, Eomer. You cannot dither indefinitely or you will lose her. How is she meant to know you felt guilty for accosting her rather than disgusted with her unless you tell her?
I like your Imrahil. He cares more for Lothiriel than for convention - and, if he is prepared to accept one of Faramir's rangers, he should be able to cope with the idea of Rohan's king. Even if he does live a long way away.
And Lothiriel isn't about to find it easy to settle for any of Imrahil's choices - since she has already given her heart to a stubborn Rohir who needs to get there!
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
yes, he definitely needs to get there. Isn't it lucky for him all Lothiriel's suitors have something wrong with them, even if it's only being too short? As for Imrahil, it will be interesting to see what his reaction to the news will be...