The first thing she noticed was the sick feeling that was swimming in the pit of her stomach, the second was that her hands were bound behind her back and she was lying on a cold hard floor.

“Where am I?” She called out quietly into the darkness of the room. A figure she recognised as Bellamy’s aid walked forward.

“Right now, you are in the palace store rooms Princess and it is not one that is used often” He said looking down at her. Lothiriel frowned.

“What are you going to do with me?” She demanded, “My Father will not stand for this!”

“Your Father has no choice!” Jasper spat, “Bellamy has enough men to easily take over this place since your brothers took half the guard with them...and at your Fathers insistence I might add. He may as well have signed his own death warrant!” he finished with a vile chuckle that Lothiriel sneered at.

“I do not understand...the Prince would never abdicate the throne to a man like Bellamy. Your plan is fruitless!” She growled and Jasper once again let out a hearty laugh.

“If you say so Princess, but I think it would be in your best interest to keep your mouth shut!” he growled, “We are waiting for Lord Bellamy’s signal so until then button it!” He snapped and Lothiriel shrank back against the wall and the floor.

They waited in silent for what felt like hours, the only sound was that of Jaspers ragged breathing and the drip of condensation from the ceiling. Lothiriel looked up at Jasper who was still wheezing.

“So what are you getting out this? Bellamy’s plan I mean” She said and the man looked up, seemingly surprised that she had spoken to him at all. He looked thoughtful then shrugged.

“Money” he answered simply. Lothiriel shook her head in disgust.

“Is that all that matters to you then? Money?” She asked and Jasper frowned leaning forward off the wall to balance his weight on his knees with one hand, his other one pointing a grubby index finger at the Princess.

“Listen, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth! I had to work for everything I had and I still work for it” He snapped but Lothiriel would not back down, seeing that she had touched a nerve.

“Surely you did not always do this kind of work?” He shook his head.

“No, I was a blacksmith” He said, his face suddenly softened “I had a family once, a wife, a son and two beautiful little girls. We were happy, I earned an honest living that was enough to keep up comfortable, kept us fed and clothed”

“What happened?” Lothiriel asked gently. She suddenly felt deeply for the man in front of her. His face twisted back into a scowl.

“When the first attacks from Mordor came to Gondor, they attacked my village. Killed my daughters, took my son from me and my wife...And the Steward sat by and did nothing while my entire life burned before my eyes!” He snapped and Lothiriel shook her head again.

“You are not alone! Many people suffered the same thing but King Ellesar and Faramir are doing everything they can to help people rebuild” She protested, “They cannot bring your family back but they can help you become the man you once were” Suddenly, as if he broke from a trance, Jasper leapt forward and gave Lothiriel a had slap across the face.

“Silence! Do not talk of what you do not know!” He shouted but paused in his anger. A tiny bell could be heard in the distance and he smiled. “Come on Princess, we’re needed” He said and he grabbed her and hauled her to her feet, not that Lothiriel noticed, her head was still spinning from the blow.

If there was one thing Imrahil hated when he was working, it was noise and it sounded like there was a war happening outside his very hall. With an irritated frown he looked up from his papers towards the door, maybe he would send a guard to shut the racket up. With another irritated sigh he stood up letting the papers fall to the side of his throne. It was not often he worked from the throne room but today was supposed to be the weekly meeting of the subjects and for some reason that was running late also.

“What the devil is going on out there...” he muttered but as soon as he took his first step the doors to the great hall burst open, men dressed in black all filing through and over powering his own guard. Walking towards him was Bellamy, a smug smile on his face.

“Bellamy what is the meaning of this!” Imrahil shouted but Bellamy looked all around him.

“Oh yes, this will do nicely. I can see myself in here certainly” he said taking in the ornate blue and silver cravings. Imrahil looked confused.

“I demand to know what you think you are doing Bellamy” He shouted and Bellamy gave him a hard glare.

“I believe it is time for a change Prince Imrahil. Your way of ruling is long overdue for an upheaval! Your palace is completely taken over by my men. You are outnumbered and over powered!” he said and two of his men grabbed Imrahil by the shoulders. Bellamy walked closer to him and pulled out a dagger, pointing it at Imrahil’s throat.

“You will abdicate the throne and announce me as the new ruler of Dol Amroth” he growled but Imrahil scowled.

“Never” He spat, “You are a fool if you think I shall allow you to rule!” Bellamy chuckled and clicked his fingers.

“But you forget my Lord; I have something very precious in my possession” another two of his men dragged Lothiriel forward and Imrahil paled. “You will hand over power to me, or she will die”

“Father do not do it!” Lothiriel shouted, “Do not give in to a man like him!” Bellamy simply laughed, like the whole situation was an amusing game. He turned back to Imrahil and the dagger once again hovered above his throat.

“I give you one more chance...abdicate the throne” Bellamy sneered. Imrahil straightened his back, lifting his chin in defiance.

“No matter how much the wind howls, the mountains shall never bow to it” He said and Bellamy huffed.

“Have it your way, take him to the dungeon!”

They paused at the gates of the outer wall of the palace and Faramir frowned. Something felt different; call it his warrior’s instinct. The two guards at the front of the gate were men that he did not recognise.

“Something has gone very wrong here” Faramir muttered and Eomer frowned. He could also feel the strange tension in the air. Slowly Faramir kicked his horse on and the rest of the Rohan party followed the soldiers all following their king. The two guards said nothing as they entered but they gave Faramir and Eomer a filthy look. Eomer raised his hand and they stopped their horses, a page boy running over to collect them.

“What has happened here? Why is it so quiet?” Faramir demanded from the small boy who would barely lift his eyes to him.

“The guard have all been replaced by these strange men my Lord, but we cannot get any answers. We’ve just been told to ignore it” He muttered as the other servants took the horses from the 4 royals. Behind him, Faramir could hear Eomer order the Rohan soldiers to be on their guard and to wait for him.

They marched through the halls not once being stopped or even spoken to but something was certainly off. Every servant they encountered would keep their eyes to floor and hurry down the hall as if terrified to be caught stopping and each guard would give them a sly smile or a glare. With all the force he could muster Eomer shoved open the great doors of the throne room to a very different sight.

Gone were the rows of immaculate Swan Knights along each wall, ready to give their lives for the Royal family and instead there were huddles of men all dressed in whatever they pleased, their weapons all strapped to them and in front of him the most shocking sight of all. Lord Bellamy was sitting on the throne, Lothiriel standing at his side. Beside them, on either side were two archers, arrows relaxed in the bow but ready to fire.

“Bellamy! What is the meaning of this? Where is the Prince?” Faramir shouted in rage and Bellamy merely shrugged.

“Oh both of them are cooling off down in the dungeons, now I have taken power I thought they should have a little down time” he said with a smirk and Lothiriel rolled her eyes next to him and sneered. Eomer could not take his eyes from her; she was just a beautiful as he remembered only now she was caged.

“Taken power?” Eomer exclaimed, “Bellamy, this is treason. King Ellesar will not stand for this!” his eyes were flashing in anger at the audacity of the man. Could he really be so arrogant to think that he would get away with this? Bellamy bristled at Eomer’s presence.

“Well now this is a surprise my Lord, all the way from Rohan” Bellamy sneered suddenly looking at Lothiriel and then back to the King. “Is it not funny how you always seem to end up in the middle of my affairs?” He growled. Suddenly Eothain stepped forward and Lothiriel held a ghost of a smile.

“This affects us all Bellamy, we have a right to be here!” Eothain said and Bellamy cast his glare to him.

“And how might you be?” he asked almost sounding disinterested. Eothain took another step forward.

“I am Eothain, I represent the settlement of Kvatch” He said, his voice ringing proudly. Bellamy froze for only a moment but his eye began to twitch, a habit that Lothiriel had noticed.

“Kvatch?” Bellamy growled, “So you would have been aware of our missing princess then?” He asked and Lothiriel begged Eothain with her eyes to deny everything.

“Yes, I found Lothiriel and brought her to Kvatch” he said, “I do not see what that has to do with you” Bellamy suddenly stood in anger.

“I am her future husband and you should know that the penalty for kidnapping is death” he growled. With a click of his fingers and a wave of his hand an archer from the left suddenly pulled back his bowstring and allowed the arrow to be set free. It flew through the room with a whisper and landed straight through Eothain’s throat. He grasped at the wound in vain, blood splattering only the marble floor and his body falling. The gurgling sound reverberated in Lothiriel’s ears; another man who had been killed because of her.

“Murderer!” Eowyn shouted in anger but Faramir held her back.

“You will not get away with this!” Eomer shouted, every ounce of strength being used to hold him back. Bellamy waved a hand.

“I have nothing else to say to you, be gone from my sight” He said, “I will let you live but only because I wish no war at present” he sounded bored and he turned to Lothiriel. “If you all do not mind, I require a word with the Princess”

The way he was staring at her made her nervous and he began to walk from the room, she was to follow him. With a heavy heart and one last look at Eothain’s body, Lothiriel filed in behind Bellamy leaving Eomer to watch before he follow Faramir in the opposite direction.

He marched ahead of her in silence but she could practically feel the rage radiating from him. His eye had not stopped twitching since he had murdered Eothain. Eothain, even thinking his name brought unbearable guilt crashing down on her chest. What was he even doing in Dol Amroth? Maybe Eomer had asked him to come or he happened to be near Edoras at the time. Eomer did say they would keep up the friendship between Edoras and Kvatch. To see him lying there on the floor of her own home, a pool of his own blood was almost too much. She scowled suddenly, anger welling up inside her. Who was this man, this arrogant Lord, to think he could just waltz in and steal her father’s throne and her freedom away?

Bellamy pushed open the door of her Father’s study and allowed her to walk in before slamming it behind him. She remained frozen in the middle of the room, the thunder rolling outside and the clouds starting to gather into one large dark mass. It made the room dull and even less inviting. Slowly he walked around her, circling her like a vulture.

“Tell me Princess, Do you take me for a fool?” He asked quietly, his voice shaking in a barely controlled way. Lothiriel shook her head but did not answer; she did not trust her voice. “I find it strange how they all suddenly arrived; it was quite a shock to see them all there at once!” He said continuing his circle.

“What I do not understand is how Eomer and that boy Eothain came to be here...”

“The man you murdered!” Lothiriel suddenly spat, her indignation and rage coming from her throat like bile. Bellamy simply stopped and shrugged.

“He was a kidnapper and you know the law my dear...”

“Do not call me that!” She shouted, “I am nothing to you but a pawn!” He stared at her and for a moment she thought he was going to deny everything, to claim undying love for her. He shook his head.

“Not at all! You are so much more than that Lothiriel; you are a symbol, a trophy. Having you shows every man my character is strong and deserves such a beautiful creature” He said with such passion Lothiriel thought she may be sick.

“You are crazy! I am none of those things, I am a woman and I deserve someone that I love, someone that will cherish me!” She cried her thoughts on Eomer the whole time. Bellamy scoffed.

“Love? There is no place for love in our society. In time I am sure you will learn to tolerate our union” Lothiriel shook her head and scowled.

“No...”

“But of course my Bride you had to go and spoil it all...” He said quietly. His eye began to twitch again.

“I do not understand” She said confused, “I am not the one who has committed treason!” She shouted and Bellamy turned on her, the back of his hand landing hard against her face. She scrambled back to her feet, her cheek turning hot. He began to walk forward, forcing her to walk backwards, he was trapping her.

How had it all come to this?

This was just one of the many thoughts that flew through Princess Lothiriel’s mind as she found herself backed into the corner of the room. No escape.

He glared at her through cold grey eyes, not a trace of love hidden in the depths. The stone wall was cold at her back.

“How can you expect me to share my bed with a harlot who has already lain with another man?”

Lothiriel’s blue eyes narrowed in a sudden burst of anger and in defiance she stood tall with her back straight.

“I do not think you understand. I will not share your bed at all!” she spat, her dark hair falling over her enraged face. Lord Bellamy scowled in confusion at her but his eyes remained no less manic.

“Oh I know, I will not allow myself to be humiliated by a spoilt Gondor princess!” She yelped in pain and shock as he grabbed a fistful of her long hair, pulling her to her knees.

The first blow was harder than he had expected, her head spinning and her cheek burning from the force. She thought of many things to try and block out the pain.

She thought of her Father and how she could not bring herself to resent him for putting her in this position in the first place. She thought of her brothers and the vengeance they would bring, that would bring her some peace in the afterlife. Most of all, she thought of Eomer and the life they could have had together. At least she would die knowing he loved her.

“Where is your king now Princess?!”

Her eyes grew heavy with each blow, blocking out his voice and the spiteful words. She prayed soon that darkness would take her completely and that peace would come after.