Who: Lothiriel When: night before her wedding What: Wedia breaks and tells Lothiriel that she is to wed Eomer Where: Edoras
After the funeral, and crowning of Eomer Lothiriel had gone more into herself, staying in, or only walking by herself refusing Wedia going with her completely. Even going as far as being snappy with Wedia which she hardly ever was because she knew her impending doom was getting closer. Now it was the night before her wedding to someone other then Eomer and she was being fitted for her dress not at all into or even paying attention.
Wedia watched thinking if she knew, if she knew who she was marrying she would be caring more, she wouldn't be just sitting there at the table looking listless, and nodding her her head at everything shown her. If she didn't stop this, and these tailors actually put the dress together as she has agreed to with everything she was going to be the gaudiest looking bride walking down the aisle, with her hair looking like a flower garden on top of her head.
Wedia suddenly clapped her hands and Lothiriel actually snapped out of her stupor and stared at Wedia wondering what she was doing. Wedia said gruffly to the tailors to leave them and they can come back in a while when she came to get them. She needed to talk to her lady, and it was urgent. Lothiriel cocked her head, and wondered what all of a sudden was so urgent that Wedia needed to talk to her about. "What do you want to talk about Wedia?" She thought oh god was Wedia going to talk about the wedding night? She didn't want to talk about it, let alone think about it. It just seemed intimidating, frightening, and down right gross if she were supposed to even sleep in the same bed with anyone but Eomer. Even the thought of it made her scrunch her face up in a way that she did when she was smelling fish, as she hated fish even though she lived on a sea faring region that mostly dealt in fish and fishing.
Wedia pulled a chair up next to Lothiriel, and took her young charges' hand in hers. Wedia loved this young lady, had enjoyed bringing her up, and watching her grow. She also was very proud of the young woman she had become even if she wasn't the perfect Gondorian woman, she was a fine mix of the wild of the land she was going to become queen of, and the elegant women she could be when need be from the strict Gondorian training she had been taught. Wedia looked at Lothiriel to make sure she was definitely paying attention to her. "Sweetheart, I have been keeping something from you. Something I thought should be told to you from the beginning." Lothiriel's eyes got big, and she breathed out a "What, Wedia?"
Wedia looked down ashamed, really, that she had ever went along with the council's advice or Lothiriel's father. They were men, and while they thought they were smart and wise most times they were more clueless of things then most. She sighed. "I was sworn to to keep a secret from you." Lothiriel cocked her head, and looked shocked. She couldn't believe it Wedia and her had always been honest, open, and trusted each other explicitly. "A secret, Wedia? What?" She couldn't even think what it could be. She had become so complacent in the fact that she thought she was marrying someone else, and hope pretty much dead within her of every being able to marry Eomer that, that thought never came to her mind. She just wished Wedia would quit beating around the bush and get it out.
Wedia sighed again and then looked into Lothiriel's dead eyes about her future, and then finally spit it out. "Lothiriel, I can't stand the way you have been all sulky, and I know your heart belongs to someone else." Lothiriel took an in breath looking down at her hands. She had thought she had been so crafty, she thought she had at least kept her true feelings away from Wedia, but she should have known better, the woman knew her completely. She remained silent looking still at her hands ashamed that Wedia knew that she had given her heart to someone else even though she was to marry another. Wedia lifted her young charges head to look at her gently from her chin. "Sweetheart, no more looking like that, your heart is safe, my dear. You are to marry Eomer, and were always to marry him. He is your betrothed so please quit sulking and enjoy the rest of this night. You still have time to change your designs and make a beautiful gown that Eomer would be proud to see you in."
Lothiriel just stared for a minute at first it was having a hard time sinking in. It had taken so long for her to accept her fate she thought she had, had, and now, now, it seemed like her dream was coming true. "Eomer? I have always been betrothed to Eomer?" She looked up at Wedia. "I am not marrying someone else?" Tears of joy gathered in her eyes and Wedia finally got the reaction she was looking for, as she threw her arms around her and said louder, "I am going to Marry Eomer!" Wedia did a quick "Shhh... I was not to tell you, you can not act like you know, or speak of knowing anything to anyone." Wedia looked away. "Not even Eomer, I am sorry, but I was sworn not to tell either of you by council, and your father. I would get in terrible trouble if they were to find out I disobeyed." Lothiriel's bright eyes stared into Wedia's, and she breathed, "No, Wedia, I would never betray you. You have been so loyal to me all my life. You will have a position with me always until you no longer want to work for me." Wedia's eyes got wet now, as this was exactly what she had wanted to hear. "Thank you, my girl." Wedia hugged her, and her eyes sparkled with mischief of her own.
When the tailors came back in they would see a red eyed Lothiriel, and Wedia glaring at her. "I have told her she needs to be more serious with this whole affair despite the fact that she seems not to be into it. I think she will be better at advising you to a proper design to her dress now." Wedia said gruffly. The tailors looked at the red eyed Lothiriel, and they nodded at Wedia. They were used to dealing, and working with reluctant brides.
Lothiriel even though trying to look more down then she was, was actually bursting with joy, and was much more attentive of what they were showing her now. She chose a champagne crushed velvet with gold lace and ribbons. She wanted it to be simple yet elegant. She also wanted to feel regal and beautiful. She wanted it to reflect both houses of Gondor and Rohan to show the combining of the two in her and Eomer. So she had the crushed velvet that was made from the Gondorian women in Gondor, and the embellishment on the gown with the design of the Rohirrim braids and knots that they were so well known for. After that she decided that since her gown was going to be short sleeved she would have a detachable cape to go over her arms of delicate off white lace with gold embroidery. The Tailors would be working through the night and much of the day until they finished it. They were just happy that it seemed that Lothiriel had simple taste that would make it easier and faster for them to make for her.
When they left her she let out her joy of her good luck by dancing around her room, and then plopping on her bed with a great sigh. She couldn't wait for tomorrow, she just wished she could tell her intended that she was who he was marrying. She had to hope that he would know it was her under the veil.