A/N- Hey guys! Well here's the next chapter. Sorry its taken me so long, but life has been hectic lately. Hope everyone likes this chapter. Maybe one or two more reviews? Please?
Sarahbarr17- Like I said you'll have to wait a while to find out Aletha's past. For now she likes living in the future and won't bring up the past until she has to. As her author, I won't ruin it for her. Aletha is a little out of place, but she finds the good things about being there as well in this chapter.
Aletha as forced to wake up to get ready for the dinner. The maids tried to wake her up, but every time they approached her she simply threw pillows at them. When Eowyn came in to get her up she grabbed the post. Eowyn huffed and went into the bathroom before she came back with a bucket of cold water. Aletha still had her head under the pillow so she didn't see Eowyn coming closer with the offensive bucket. The screech that came from Aletha's room could be heard all around the castle. Eowyn came running out of her room as Theodred and Eomer came running up.
"What happened?" Theodred asked.
"I was just getting her up." Eowyn smiled. Before Theodred could ask another question Aletha's door opened and the now soaked woman stood in the doorway with another bucket of water. Eowyn gave a small yelp before trying to hide behind her brother and cousin, but Aletha's bucket of water was able to spill its contents on the woman before she could find the safety she seeked. Theodred and Eomer just laughed at the two wet women before returning to their rooms to finish getting ready.
When Aletha reentered the room the two maids were standing in a corner trying to hide the smirks on their faces. "What?" Aletha asked. She was still a bit grumpy from being woken up and then agitated from being woken up with a bucket of cold water.
"Your bath is ready my lady. Eowyn also brought some new clothes for you, for when you are finished bathing." The older maid said.
"Thank you." Aletha said quietly. She followed the maid into the bathroom where a bath had been prepared. Aletha nearly groaned out loud as she slid into the warm bath. The water started soothing and relaxing her muscles from the instant that she got into the bath. She decided there might actually be some good things to living in a town after all.
Aletha was smiling once more as she walked out of the washroom relaxed and clean. Her muscles were now loosened once more and the shampoo had refreshed her hair. It made her hair smell like lilacs, but she didn't really mind. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and smelled the lilacs as she ran her fingers through it to get the rest of the tangles out. Aletha then looked over at the bed where the dress that she assumed Eowyn had laid out for her. She grasped the dress from the bed and walked out her door and across the hall to Eowyn's room. It only took three knocks for Eowyn to answer the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Aletha standing in the hallway only in a thin robe with her dress in her hand. "No!" Aletha growled.
"What do you mean no?" Eowyn asked. Aletha shoved the dress into Eowyn's hand and pointed at it.
"That is what I mean. I am not wearing that dress! There is no way you are getting me to wear a dress!" Aletha said.
"You must though. Your clothes are being washed and mended currently and we don't usually have women wearing men's clothing. This is all you have currently." Eowyn said, trying to get Aletha to take the dress back.
"No! I won't wear dresses. I'd rather wear my robe then!" Aletha growled. Eowyn was about to make a retort when a door down the hall was opened.
"What is going on?" Theodred asked walking out of his room. He was surprised to find Eowyn holding a dress though she was dressed and ready and Aletha standing in just her robe. Her hair was still wet and drying over one shoulder and her robe falling off the other. When she saw Theodred she pulled her robe up to hide the skin and let her hair fall back behind her again.
"Aletha refuses to wear the dress. She'd rather wear a robe than the dress." Eowyn huffed.
"Aletha, wear the dress. I will try and find you a tunic and leggings after tonight. Plus not all the men are trustworthy when they drink. They might take a robe as a… invitation." Theodred explained. Aletha thought about what he said before grabbing the dress from Eowyn with a dramatic sigh.
"You owe me! I expect to have the tunic and leggings by tomorrow because I am not wearing a dress after tonight!" Aletha yelled over her shoulder as she returned to her room to finish getting ready.
"Thank you Theodred." Eowyn said with a tired smile.
"It was not a problem. I just wanted to know what all the yelling was about again." Theodred said. He finished buttoning up the rest of his shirt before walking down the hall. He found a group of his men and Eomer sitting around talking in the main hall.
"You had to bring the wildcat back didn't you?" Eomer asked with a smile.
"Aye I did. You must say it is entertaining though is it not?" Theodred responded.
"Aye, she is." Eomer agreed. "What was the fight this time?"
"She does not want to wear a dress." Eomer gave Theodred a look asking if he was serious. Theodred just smiled and sat down next to his cousin. "She will wear a dress tonight, but I promised to find her a tunic and some leggings tomorrow."
"Edoras will never be the same again." Eomer muttered. Theodred patted his cousin's shoulder and let out a small laugh.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Eowyn retrieved Aletha from her room for dinner a half hour after the confrontation over the dress. She gasped when she saw Aletha in the dress, only to receive a glare. Aletha's dress was a pale green with an emerald colored sash around her waste. Half of her hair was pulled up in a bun while the rest flowed down her back in waves.
At dinner Eowyn had Aletha sit at a table with Theoden, Theodred, Eomer, Gamling, and Eothain. There were a few other people who gave her their names, but Aletha forgot them in a matter of minutes. Eowyn also pointed out who Grima was and Malik, the old head advisor.
"Lady Aletha, I hear you saved countless lives of our men." Grim said as he slithered up to her. He really did remind her of a snake.
"I saw some orcs and did what I thought was right. Now drop the subject." Aletha snapped.
"A sharp tongue from such a pretty face." Grima smiled. He tried to reach out and slide his hand down her cheek, but Aletha rolled her head back so he couldn't. Looking for a means of escape she saw Eomer talking to some people and left the advisor to join the other man's conversation.
"Two more colts have been born along with three more fillies." Eothain said.
"It is good to hear of more births. Hopefully they will be weaned before the final war. We will need their mothers in battle." Eomer said.
"Aye, that we shall." Theodred agreed. "Who are the sires?"
"Firefoot is a sire to one colt and one filly. I believe the other colt and another filler are of Sundancer. The final foal is of Tooya, Tallum's stallion." Eomer said.
"They have the best sires, they should be good horses when they grow up." Theodred said.
"Um, where are the foals kept?" Aletha asked quietly. The men all turned to her surprised she had been listening.
"Why? Are you going to steal one?" Eomer asked. Eowyn gasped at her brother's response to Aletha, but it appeared that Aletha just brushed it off.
"I just want to see the foals." Aletha said with a shrug. "I don't need a horse in my traveling. I like running and climbing."
"Well then you shouldn't worry about finding them." Eomer replied. Aletha glared at Eomer before she took a couple slices of meet and walked out of the room. Eowyn glared at her brother who simply ignored her and continued eating. Eowyn go up to hopefully find where Aletha went, but was stopped by Theodred.
"She needs time alone. She isn't used to all of these gatherings. She's been through a lot and forcing her into a dress did not help. Don't worry about what your brother said. She has gotten used to him over the couple of days that she's been with us."
"You better be right, Theodred." Eowyn said. She sat back down and started eating.
The rest of the night went smoothly enough. Small conversations took place all around the room. Eventually the men went back to their homes and Edoras quietly fell asleep except for a few guards and other people. Aletha had left the hall and went outside to sit on the edge of the stairs in front of the Golden Hall. When she was done eating she explored the stables and said good night to Anual. She walked out the opposite end of the stable from which she had come in and game to see a pasture with mares and their foals sleeping in the middle.
"And Eomer thought it would be hard to find." Aletha muttered. She walked over to the edge of the pasture and leaned on the fence.
"He thought you wouldn't look for it." Theodred said coming up behind Aletha.
"And you did?" Aletha asked turning around to face the Prince of Rohan.
"I believed you would want to prove him wrong." Theodred said. Aletha didn't know how to respond to his comment since he was actually right. As Theodred walked over to the fence, Aletha just followed him with her head. "The golden filly and dark bay colt are Sundancer's. The paint filly is Tooya's and the other two are Firefoot's."
"They're beautiful." Aletha said with a small smile. "I've seen some wild foals before, but that was when I was traveling deeper into Fanghorn. It was in a time when Fanghorn was still safe and evil didn't run so wild."
"If only those times could have lasted longer." Theodred said.
"I believe they should have been destroyed sooner. That way the fate of the world would have been decided sooner. Hopefully the peaceful times will return again." Aletha said quietly. "When do you expect me to leave?"
"It is up to you. You can stay in the Golden Hall with us as long as you want."
"Aren't I imposing though?"
"Of course not. We would be honored if you called Edoras your home."
"Eomer wouldn't be." Aletha sighed.
"Eomer will get over it. Eowyn has changed since you have arrived. She has become happier in the one day you have spent here. It would be amazing to see what would happen if you staid longer."
"But I am not of noble birth." Aletha said. She was stull trying to figure out a reason why she would be wanted there.
"If you stay you will be considered a Shield Maiden of Rohan, a sign of respect and nobility. Birth will not matter." Theodred answered. "Anyways, Eowyn tells us you like your bed."
"Can I leave whenever I want?" Aletha asked.
"No one is locking you into your room nor tying you to the bed. You are free to do as you please." Theodred said. "Come, it is late and you still must be tired." Aletha nodded and walked back to the quiet hall with him.
"Goodnight my lade." Theodred said when they reached Aletha's door.
"Goodnight and thank you my lord. Can I ask one more thing?" Aletha asked. At Theodred's nod she continued. "Call me by my name please. Not my lady or Lady Aletha, but just Aletha."
"Of course. Unless I am with council members, please call me by name as well, like you have been doing." Theodred smiled.
"I'll do that… Theo." Aletha smiled at the name she found for Theodred. Theodred smiled as well before finally leaving for his room.