Alright, I made some changes, because of the review I got. I realised that Mystikal19 was right, so thanks for your review!
Disclaimer:
I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who had created the wonderful fantasy story 'the Lord of the Rings'.
Hama' Daughter
Chapter 1
Edoras – 3016
February was cold, more then usual. The always-present winds were blowing over the country and the snow lay still over the rooftops. Just as every evening the sun was bright orange, and there was barely any light left.
"Father? Is that you?"
"Yes, dear, where are you?"
"Over here!"
A young woman stepped out of the second bedchamber and looked to the older man who was fully clad in armour. The house, though small, was well furnished and a fire was burning in the fireplace. The woman was wearing a simple, but warm dark green dress and smiled to her father.
"Dinner is almost ready."
With a sigh Háma, doorward of King Théoden sat down on one of the chairs that stood around the table in the middle of the room. Tiredly he rubbed his face, not seeing the concerned look that his daughter send to him.
"Thanks dear, how was your day?"
Lathwen smiled slightly, "As good as it could be, I cleaned the house and helped our neighbours, their little son is still sick. And yours?"
Another sigh escaped the mans lips, "I can't believe that Théoden King trusts that counsellor of his. Grima, you know him. It seems that our King grows tired of life, he looks old, Lathwen."
His daughter placed a plate with some bread and hot soup in front of him, before sitting down herself, she looked concerned as she dipped the bread into her soup, "I know, I spoke Éowyn yesterday, she says that her uncle barely listens to other advisors then that Grima."
For days this had been the topic of conversation in Háma' home. It was nearby the Golden Hall, so that when there would be an emergency the doorward was close by. Ever since his wife died ten years ago, he shared the house with his only child and daughter. Who wasn't such a little girl anymore. 28 she was now and to Háma she was the prettiest girl in all of Rohan, but he was her father.
The rest of the meal they ate in silence, when they had both finished Háma broke it.
"Theodred asked if you would come to the Hall this evening."
Lathwen looked up quickly a slight flush visible on her cheeks, "Did he… did he say why?"
But her father shook his head, "He didn't," then he feel silent, "Be careful, child, don't say anything about Grima, he has eyes and ears everywhere."
Lathwen knew that she had to take that warning seriously. She and Theodred had been seeing each other for two years now and had confessed their love, but Theodred did not want his father to know. Théoden wasn't himself anymore, and Theodred was afraid that Grima was going to find out and do something against it.
That evening Lathwen quickly walked up the steps and nodded to the guards outside the Golden Hall who opened the door for her. She was well known there, for a part because her father was their captain, but also because of the fact that she had a friendship with Éowyn. But nobody else knew about her love for Theodred.
There he was, sitting in a dark corner of the hall, glancing to the door and a smile appeared on his face as he saw her, but quickly it had disappeared again and he nodded formerly to her.
Lathwen bowed and said, "My Lord, you called for me?"
"Yes, Lady Lathwen, would you please follow me?"
The Prince' voice sounded stern and detached, but Lathwen knew it to be an act, they were easily overheard in the large hall.
"Of course my lord."
Without looking back Theodred walked to a small door that leaded to the private quarters of the family, he leaded her to the so a familiar little corridors until they stood in front of Éowyn' room. He held the door open for her and Lathwen peaked inside.
The white lady of Rohan was standing in front of a window, gazing over the fields.
"Go away!" Éowyn said not even turning around.
Lathwen looked up to Theodred who pushed her inside before he stepped in himself, closing the door behind him.
"Éowyn?" Lathwen said carefully taking a step towards her.
"That worm has forbidden me to ride out on the plains alone," Éowyn spat out as Lathwen carefully laid a hand on her shoulder, "He said that there had to be at least four soldiers if I wanted to ride out."
Lathwen wasn't surprise by the venom in Éowyn voice as she spoke about the advisor of King Théoden.
"And Éomer has decided that he agrees with!" Éowyn exclaimed in anger, just at that moment her brother stepped into the room.
"I've said nothing like that! I said that it might be a smart idea to take some soldiers with you."
"Nothing will happen to me as long as I stay close to Edoras, and even if I wished to go out of sight; I. Can. Take. Care. Of. Myself!" Éowyn said now turning to her brother. Lathwen could see the fury in her eyes, which was now directed to Éomer.
But Éomer too, Lathwen noticed, was furious although he tried not to yell at his sister, "You aren't going out alone, I'm responsible for you and I don't want it! And uncle needs you…"
"That's enough!" Lathwen finally said, loud enough to make the siblings both look to her. As she noticed that she had their attention she continued, "It's no good fighting with each other over this. Éomer," the lady turned to the nephew of the prince, looking straight into his eyes, "Your sister needs her freedom, and if you feel more secure, I shall go with her if she wants to riding."
Éomer huffed, but he did not speak, lucky for Lathwen that she had known the siblings ever since they had arrived at Edoras. They had not trusted her from the beginning but as Lathwen had been ordered to take care of them they began to trust her all the same.
Now Lathwen turned to the other sibling, just as determent, "You can't go riding alone anymore, Éowyn, the times are changing, but you have to promise me that if you want to go riding, and I can't go, that you will ask either my father, or your brother or cousin to go with you."
Éowyn looked still just as angry as before, but she did not speak for a long time, finally after a loaded silence she said, "Alright then, as long as no soldiers are coming with us, that's alright." Lathwen could see that Éowyn wasn't glad with the proposal, but the niece of the king could not simply ride on the plains anymore, too much had changed.
Lathwen ushered Eomer and Theodred outside before she closed the door behind herself. She was unbelievably angry with Grima Wormtongue, yet she tried to hide her anger, for then Eomer would surely do something that he should not do.
With a simple not Eomer turned around and stalked to his own room. He closed the door quite loudly, to say the least. Theodred, without even looking at her walked further into the corridor and then opened the door to a little storage room, quickly Lathwen slipped inside, followed by the prince.
Theodred wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her slowly, in responds Lathwen closed her eyes and laid her hands on his shoulders, pulling him closer.
"Thank you," Theodred said huskily before placing his lips on hers again.
Lathwen could only moan in responds, Béma she had missed him! And to think that it had only been a week ago that she had seen him.
"Please, Theodred," she finally said as he lifted his lips from hers, "We need to talk."
"You're right." the Prince sighed as he said down on a barrel that stood in the little storage room.
He pulled her on his lap and closed his eyes. Lathwen stayed silent and waited until he would speak while she played with a lock of his hair.
" I can't believe what father is doing," Theodred finally began and Lathwen stopped in her movements, " He doesn't believe that Grima is giving him wrong advises, he eats dinner alone and is barely seen in the Golden Hall, all he seems to care about is that worm. Sometimes he even pretends that I'm not there. He…"
The prince' voice faltered for a moment, but he continued quickly.
"He doesn't believe a word of the reports coming back. Lathwen…" he said looking into her eyes.
"I think there is going to be a war soon."
At this Lathwen gasped and bit her lip… At that Theodred pulled her even closer and embraced her.
They sat there for a long time, not daring to move.
TBC...