Part 191 of the Elfwine Chronicles. The Elfwine Chronicles are a series of one-shots built around the family group of Eomer, Lothiriel and Elfwine. The total number will depend on how many ideas I get for new vignettes.
A/N: At long last (I never intended it to take this long), here is the follow-up to "Adventures of Theodred" and "Home". I started this story but then it got lost in life the past few years. This will progress a few story lines.
My thanks to Lialathuveril for her comments/corrections to this, and to Lady Bluejay for her helpful input.
Family
Chapter 1
(March, 46 IV - Edoras)
Esgalmir stood gazing over the Riddermark from her vantage point on the terrace of Meduseld. She tugged her shawl closer as the wind sent a chill through her. Hard to believe that it was March already. Any day now, the wedding guests would be arriving at Edoras. Meduseld had been in a state of preparation for a fortnight, determining where everyone would be housed in addition to the plans for the wedding festivities themselves.
Soon she would be a wife. Growing up, she had longed for such a thing, but as she got older and saw how others viewed her with her lamed leg, she had begun to falter. She had still wanted it, but she had begun to fear that it was impossible, that there would never be anyone who would want her. And then Theodred had come into her life. She had not even noticed how deep her feelings ran for this young man of Rohan until he had declared his love for her. It seemed that surely it all must be a dream that would fade away in the morning light. But here she stood in Edoras, soon to be wed to the son of the king. It was too wondrous to even consider without thinking she should pinch herself and awaken.
Strong arms came around her shoulders, and she did not need to turn to know it was Theodred. A kiss was pressed to her hair. "What are your thoughts, my love?" he questioned softly, tightening his embrace.
Now she did turn her head enough to see his face. "Merely that life is wonderful!" she told him sincerely. "I can scarce believe all this is truly happening to me. Never did I allow myself to imagine such dreams could come true!"
He chuckled at her words and turned her more, to get better aim at her mouth, kissing her fervently. "Believe it," he breathed as he drew back slightly afterwards. "If it is a dream, then we share it."
He pulled her close again and she rested her head against his chest as they both turned their gazes outward to the horizon. Initially, she had been extremely self-conscious displaying affection for him in public, but Rohan was far more relaxed about such things than Gondor and she had eventually allowed herself to enjoy showing her feelings for her betrothed.
A cloud drifted in front of the sun, and simultaneously her thoughts went to her brother. He would not approve of the behavior she had developed while here. No doubt he would take her to task about it when he arrived for the wedding. Involuntarily, she stiffened at that realization, and Theodred glanced down curiously, quirking a questioning eyebrow.
"I was just thinking of Anbarad, and his reaction to the changes in me since I have been in Rohan. I do not think he will approve," she confessed.
Theodred shrugged and offered her a lopsided grin. "It is little matter! He will only be here a few days before we are wed, and then your behavior will no longer be his concern but mine. We will just have to try and act appropriately when he is around, until after the wedding!"
She laughed at his nonchalance, and knew that in his mind it truly was that simple. Still, she would be cautious around her brother. While it was unlikely he would ever even consider breaking a betrothal to the king's son, she did not wish to suffer his censure during this time which was meant to be so happy.
Theodred's stomach rumbled then, and they both smiled. "Come," she told him, "I will not keep you from break of fast any longer!"
xxxxx
As it turned out, rain delayed the visitors from Gondor and Anbarad did not arrive until two days before the wedding, which suited the betrothed couple just fine. Neither was eager to have him join them, but there was no way to avoid inviting him. Faramir and Eowyn had teasingly made it clear to Theodred how he had indebted himself by making them endure traveling with Esgalmir's brother and his wife, both of whom seemed incapable of intelligent conversation. The one advantage they had, when the weather permitted, was that most everyone elected to ride rather than use the carriage, with the exception of the insipid pair, and thus the Steward and his wife had dodged their presence for a time.
Faramir knew that Freahelm would want to attend the wedding, and made certain to invite him to make the trip in their company. Freahelm would have liked to bring Belwen along, but she could not be spared from the bakery for that length of time, and she had readily urged him to go without her. Wanting to stop briefly for a visit with Hyrde and his family, Freahelm had borrowed one of Faramir's guards and ridden on ahead of the entourage. His friends were delighted to see him again, and he was amazed at how much the children had grown in just the short time since he had last been with them. Before continuing on to Edoras, he promised to find a way to bring his wife to meet them, and make sure that Theodred did also.
The two caught up with the wedding travelers just as they drew near Edoras, and there was much excitement as the end of their journey arrived. Brandir and Gamling efficiently got everyone directed to their lodgings. The Golden Hall was buzzing with all the greetings taking place. Morwen and Caranhir had come with their brood this time, and Mirlas quickly overcame her shyness to eat up all the attention paid her by aunts, uncles and cousins. Randir was less sure when he found himself being passed around among family members, and after several minutes of tolerating it, he began to wail long and loud until he was returned to his mama.
The youth of the family just put in a token appearance to greet the relatives, and then were off to follow their own pursuits. Only Eledher and Frengod of the Rohan group were close to Mirlas' age, and not greatly interested in spending time with a girl. They hastily disappeared under the tables to play with the Meduseld dogs, and became oblivious to the commotion swirling around nearby. Once Randir had been calmed, he quickly fell asleep and Caranhir took him off to the nursery to put him down for a nap. Soon all the visitors had retired to their rooms to rest or freshen themselves for the evening. Anbarad and his wife had not lingered to acquaint themselves with all these children. They had none of their own and were not comfortable around them, so they pled fatigue and hurried off to their room after a cursory greeting to Esgalmir.
Once the Hall was mostly emptied, Esgalmir drew a weary breath. The tension had been exhausting and she was glad this first moment was over. Now if she could just endure the next few days, she would be fine. Sensing her thoughts, Theodred caught her hand and drew her after him. Silently they made their way arm in arm toward the stables. When she realized what he had in mind, Esgalmir balked.
"Theodred, I do not think it best that we go for a ride just now. Not with all these visitors and a long evening ahead of us," she protested.
He drew her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "They will not notice our brief absence, and you need to get your mind off tonight. If you do not stay occupied for the next few hours you will simply sit and fret about things," he observed, and she could not dispute his assessment of the matter. Nodding consent, she let him guide her inside and saddle their horses.
xxxxx
Elfwine watched the tension lines deepen on Esgalmir's face. Her brother had cornered her, and was clearly voicing disapproval with something, thus causing her distress. Almost from the moment he had arrived, Anbarad had been finding fault with everything she did, and Elfwine had noticed her increasing agitation. The man's presence was making what should have been a pleasant, happy experience for her into something miserable.
Swallowing the last of his wine, he moved in their direction. Time to put an end to this. He would not let the pompous fool ruin this evening for her.
"Esgalmir," he called out as he drew near, causing her and her brother to turn toward him. "Will you dance with me?" he smoothly inquired, fixing a steady gaze upon her.
Her eyes went wide at the question, but before she could respond, Anbarad blurted out, "My lord, she cannot dance! She is a cripple!"
Esgalmir's face flamed, and she ducked her head in humiliation, but Elfwine ignored the ill-mannered remark as he said, "You underestimate your dear sister, Anbarad. She is capable of far more than you give her credit."
As Esgalmir's head jerked up to look at him, Elfwine stepped in close and clamped his left arm around her waist. Unnoticed by all but Elfwine, Theodred moved similarly next to her, wrapping his right arm firmly around her waist from the other side. "Hold on to us!" he instructed softly, a loving grin tweaking his mouth.
With a deep breath, she did as he had directed, and a moment later the pair had swept her into the dance area. People were just beginning to gather for the next dance, but paused as they saw the unusual trio. All moved back to clear a space in the center as the musicians struck up a lively tune. Stepping in unison, the brothers bobbed and weaved around the floor, setting a winding course. The onlookers began to clap and cheer them on, amused by this new endeavor. Esgalmir's feet were barely skimming the floor with the two of them holding her up. Initially she was nervous, but their skill seemed surprising if this were indeed something new. She suddenly realized this could not be the first time they had danced in this fashion, though she did not know the particulars. Later, she would have to remember to ask Theodred about it, but for now she merely intended to focus on her charming partners, and thoroughly enjoy every moment of this rare experience.
From the sidelines, Anbarad watched the spectacle with mortification, not noticing Faramir's approach until the Steward was right beside him. When he became aware of the other man, he hastily apologized, "My lord, I must beg your pardon for my sister's unseemly behavior. I fear this wild land has made her lose all sense of decorum."
"Unseemly?" Faramir questioned, raising a bemused eyebrow. "I think not. In fact, I believe I will petition your sister for the next dance myself." He gave Anbarad a pointed look and moved away, disgusted by the man's overwhelming sense of superiority.
Anbarad gazed after him, stunned with the reaction he had received. Had Gondor's Steward gone mad? Was he the only one who saw how inappropriate this all was? His thin lips pressed into an angry line, all but disappearing. Furiously he stormed off in search of wine. Whenever he lost control of a situation, he always managed to drink away his sorrows, to his wife's chagrin.
As good as his word, when that dance ended, Faramir appeared with Theomund in tow, and they swept Esgalmir into the next set. Faramir was a bit more halting at this manner of dancing, so there was much laughter and stumbling at the missteps, but despite the difficulties, Esgalmir was enjoying it immensely. She noted that Elfwine and Theodred had brought Morwen out on the floor in a similar threesome, and others were beginning to follow suit. It was not long until most everyone was on the floor and dancing thus. Having the most experience with this, Elfwine, Theodred and Morwen moved in front to lead the way. The other trios followed their course, keeping in a line behind them as they wound around the floor. The more trios that joined in, the more floor space became available to add to their path.
As the music ended, Esgalmir pled thirst and managed to guide her partners off the floor to give her a chance to catch her breath. Almost the moment she sat down on a bench, Theodred appeared with two cups of wine and sprawled next to her. Handing one cup to her, he slid his free arm around her waist as he took a drink, then asked, "Did you enjoy that?"
"Oh, very much!" she assured him. "How is it that you are so adept at such a thing. I have never seen similar dancing done here before this."
He grinned, then admitted, "We have not done it in several years. When Morwen was younger, she was very shy and though she loved dancing, she was reluctant to go on the floor. Theomund and Elfwine came up with this idea and essentially dragged her out there the first time, but she enjoyed it so much, and others simply joined in attempting it, that it became a way to get her dancing. When I was old enough, and big enough, I would do it also. Even as Morwen began to gain more confidence, and became comfortable accepting dance invitations from a single partner, we would still occasionally do it just for the fun of it. I had rather forgotten about it until I saw Elfwine catch hold of your waist and realized what he intended."
She smiled gratefully at her betrothed. "I must remember to thank him, and I thank you as well. I would not have attempted to dance otherwise, but knowing there was little chance of falling made it enjoyable."
He leaned and kissed her tenderly, then murmured, "Then I am glad Elfwine pursued it. But of course he would. Anbarad was troubling you?"
She nodded, glancing down at the wine cup she was turning slowly in her hands. "He has voiced disapproval with my clothes, my hair and my behavior. That essentially covers everything about me!" she answered bitterly.
"Shhhh! Forget him! His opinion is of no matter. Do you see anyone else here with disapproval in their eyes? Do the kings and queens of either Rohan or Gondor snub you for any of these things? Are you shunned by the Steward and his wife? Who is Anbarad to think his opinion is greater than theirs? He is small-minded and petty. You have been forced to tolerate his outlook on things all your life, but no more! From now on you dress to suit me, you wear your hair to suit me and you behave as I deem appropriate – and I deem anything appropriate that you choose!"
Tears sprang to her eyes at this declaration and she dipped her head to hide them. It took her a moment to recover her composure, but then she lifted appreciative eyes and told him sincerely, "I love you, Theodred, more than I can ever put into words. You truly must be the kindest, best man I have ever known."
He chuckled, seeking to lighten the mood, and kissed her nose. "Obviously, you do not know very many men!" he teased.
She slapped his arm in mock annoyance, then stiffened as she saw Anbarad making his way toward them. Theodred followed her gaze, then quickly caught the eye of Eothain who was standing nearby, sending a silent plea. Instantly, the big man intercepted the Gondorian and drew him off for a drink, clearly unwilling to take no for an answer. Theodred let out a laugh, commenting, "Eothain will have him under the table in short order! Then he will have far more embarrassing things to worry about than you!"
For just a moment, Esgalmir felt guilty, but then she pushed it aside. Anbarad got what he deserved if he was too weak-willed to stand up for himself. She knew Eothain could be imposing, but he would not force her brother to do anything, though Anbarad might be convinced he had no choice. That was his own problem, however. Catching Theodred's arm, she suggested, "Walk with me? I am desperately in need of moonlight, and kisses from a certain someone!"
Snickering, Theodred rose, pulling her to her feet. "See, there you go being inappropriate again! And, for some reason, I do not mind in the slightest!"
xxxxx
Unbeknownst to Esgalmir, the couple's friends had assessed the situation with her brother and determined to intervene. The next day at break of fast, with Anbarad looking a bit worse for the wear after all he'd had to drink the previous night, Eomer announced that it was traditional for the men of the betrothed pair's families to go off on a boar hunt to keep them out from under foot. Though Anbarad had no desire to climb on a horse or hunt boar, with both kings and the Steward participating, he could hardly refuse, so he steeled himself for a miserable day.
Esgalmir fought to hide her amusement, knowing full well that her brother rarely rode and thus would likely be very sore at day's end. Still, she could not complain at having him out of her hair for a good long while. His wife, though annoying, usually left her alone when Anbarad was not around. But the family apparently was leaving nothing to chance, for moments after Eomer's announcement to Anbarad, Lothiriel proclaimed the traditional tapestry weaving would take place in her sitting room just after breakfast.
Quirking an eyebrow, Esgalmir gazed at the queen, who gave her a wink when no one was looking. As Lothiriel explained it, the ladies of the family were to participate, though the bride herself was exempt since it was a gift to her. Eowyn was looking a bit less than thrilled by this turn of events, having endured this woman for the entire journey from Gondor, but she was given reprieve when Lothiriel suggested that perhaps Eowyn would be so kind as to keep an eye on the children while they worked.
Lothiriel was able to keep Esgalmir's sister-in-law occupied the greater portion of the day, and the woman was too intimidated by the queen to say much. Without her husband around, she was much quieter, and therefore less irksome, so the other ladies did not find their gathering unbearable.
When the men returned late in the afternoon, it was clear that all but Anbarad had enjoyed the outing. He looked thoroughly miserable, but determined to appear noble before his king. As soon as he could discreetly do so, he excused himself to his chambers to wash, and his wife hurried off to attend him.
The men had not encountered any boar on their jaunt, but then they were not truly intending to do so. Not wishing to risk injury to anyone, Eothain had led them on a carefully planned route that kept all safe, but was rigorous enough to be a challenge to them. Virtually everyone but Anbarad took the difficulties in stride.
To no one's surprise, he begged off joining them that evening, claiming he felt unwell, and he and his wife dined in their room. As a result, the remainder of the wedding party had a much more enjoyable time at their gathering.
TBC
ages of kids in March, 46 IV
Elfwine: Arawine (m): 23; Cirion (m): 18; Selinnan (f): 15
Theodwyn: Gerisen (m): 16; Arlof (f): 12; Frengod (m): 9
Theomund: Eledher (m): 8; Haldred (m): 2
Morwen: Mirlas (f): 6; Randir (m): 3
Adrahir, Tuilwen and Belinzil would all be 36 and likely did not come to Theodred's wedding
Eldarion/Luthiel and Elboron remained in Gondor to "run things" so their parents could attend
Erebraen – "lone wanderer"
Findam – "skilled hammer"
Re: marriage – Through discussions with Lialathuveril and Echidnagirl65, we realized that the concept of an actual, full-out wedding is more a modern convention. It was more likely in earlier times that couples agreed to marry, with consent of the bride's nearest male relative and barring public opposition. There might not even be any sort of formal 'event' in recognition of the decision and final accomplishment. As this is Middle-earth, however, it does not necessarily follow any particular practice found in history, and so there is room for creativity on the part of the fanfic author. The weddings I have previously portrayed in my stories have varied as to content, but mostly dealt with royal weddings, which I envision as being far more complicated than those of the average person. As this story includes a lower class wedding, I tried to bring it closer to the historical standard, while still including embellishments of my own devising.
Yáviérë – The harvest feast of Gondor
The harvest feast-day of the Stewards' Reckoning of Gondor, lying between the months of Yavannië and Narquelië. On a modern calendar, Yáviérë would have fallen on 21 September.
End note: It is best that you read the Elfwine Chronicles in the order they were written. The more of them that I wrote, the more likely I was to make reference to one of the previous ones and something that happened there. If you want to read them in order, go to the top of this page and click on my name (Deandra). That will take you to my profile page. Scroll down and you will find all the stories I have written. The Elfwine Chronicles are in order from bottom to top since ffn shows them in the order they were posted. A few were posted out of number order, but you can read them in posting order or number order since those few won't be affected in the story content.