LOVE! Rohirrim Style
Chapter 07
How to make the Queen laugh.
The clerk entered for the third time that morning, arms laden with bills. "My Lord…"
"What this time?"
"Flowers. Jewelers..."
Imrahil simply cleared his desk.
...~~~...
Elessar stared down from his high throne at the boy before him. "Who did he say he was?" In his hand, he held the messenger mark of the King of Rohan that the boy was carrying.
The middle-aged captain stood one step down and leaned closer. "He arrived at the gate, claiming to be from Rohan and asking for The White Lady and Prince Faramir." He leaned closer. "Truth be, he looks like one of them, but he is much too young to carry one of these," he nodded to the mark, "or to be wearing a Rider's cloak on his shoulders. 'Tis my understanding, they are not given lightly. He stormed across Pelennor Fields with such a fury, one of the guards pissed his leggings. He said it were as if demons chased the boy." He looked down at Haleth, as if measuring him. "I cannot imagine why the King of Rohan would send one so small, so far, in the dead of winter. The poor thing is half-frozen."
At the word 'small,' Haleth's head jerked up, steel darkening the blue eyes. Elessar leaned forward, a long ago memory springing forward. "I believe the King's messenger has taken offense of you calling him 'small.' You are," Elessar now addressed the boy, "Haleth, son of Háma. I remember you-"
'Let me see your sword'… the Ranger cut the evening with the weapon, causing the air to swish and rent. 'This is a good sword…'
"-You fought bravely at Helm's Deep."
The boy nodded. "You honor me. I remember well the courage of the Ranger and now King of Gondor and how you aided my people in our hour of need." For a swift second, his fist came to his chest, a salute.
Elessar leaned back to his captain. "Have you sent for Éowyn?" The man nodded. "Good. He is who he says he is. See his horse is well cared for and that there is a meal prepared for him in the kitchen. I suspect Faramir will house him with his men, but in case, prepare a bunk for him with the cavalry. He will be comforted by the nearness of the horses." He motioned for the boy to approach. "This," he nodded to his right, "is my wife and Queen, Arwen."
Haleth gave his lowest bow. "I remember when your bridal party came through Edoras." He paused. "I thought you the most beautiful creature I had ever seen," he blurted. He blushed furiously. "Forgive me."
"Wait until you see her angry." The King of Gondor was in a good mood this afternoon and he winked at his wife.
"I will not!" Arwen smiled. "Females love to be told they are beautiful. You are growing to be a gracious young man." She smacked at the back of her husband's hand, resting so close to hers. "Do not listen to him." She reached and took the mark from her husband, turning it slowly in her hand, her fingers caressing the engraving. "What news of the Riddermark?"
"Is Lady Éowyn here? I would like to speak to her."
"He is persistent."
Arwen nodded. "They are a stalwart people, wise and wonderful in their way. Steadfast and honorable." She looked down at the boy. "Is there a worry or a danger? Does Éomer King need our help?"
Haleth's jaw flapped twice, the urge to blabber his message right there on the dais. He was saved by the sound of the doors opening and running feet. "They said there was a messenger from Rohan." Éowyn ran in, hair flying. She saw the very young rider in a slightly too large cloak standing on the lower steps. "Haleth? Is something amiss?"
Haleth jumped down the steps, to reach her faster. The hissing of Rohirric consonants was not quite audible and Arwen sat up straight, her grin widening. "Oh my…" she whispered.
"What?"
"Shhh! I'm listening."
"WHAT? HE'S DOING WHAT?" Éowyn threw her hands on her hips. "WHEN? Has he left yet?" Haleth was trying to continue, whispering in a rush. "Oh stop, Haleth! Have you eaten?" He shook his head. Éowyn looked up at the King, who pointed innocently towards the nearest footman. She turned the young teen and shoved him towards the uniformed man. "Please, take him to the kitchens for some food. Then return him right back here. I'll take you to our home and find you a bed. Your horse?"
"Is resting comfortably in the royal stables."
Haleth stopped and turned. "Might I go see him before dark? He will be confused and wonder where I am," he stumbled, "it being a strange place and all."
"Tell the cook I said to give you a treat for your horse." Haleth nodded to the King, before following the footman through the doorway.
Éowyn was pacing and cursing in Rohirric. "That man! OH! Béma preserve us, he is so dead! I cannot believe it! Of all the fool-hardy, stupid, hard-headed…"
"Excuse me." Éowyn jumped, as Elessar's hand weighed heavily on her shoulder. "Is something amiss?" He looked up at the dais, where Arwen was now covering her face, in attempt to hide her mirth.
Faramir chose this moment to run into the throne room. "Éowyn! I was told a messenger had arrived from Rohan. It is the middle of winter. Is something wrong? Why did Éomer simply not light the beacon lights?"
Arwen burst out laughing.
"Oh, aye, a messenger arrived. Too young for his first ride so far in such foul weather!" Éowyn spat.
Faramir had the decency to look puzzled. "I have known Éomer for but a short time, however he appears to be level-headed -" Arwen screamed with laughter and threw her head back, howling at the buttresses, "and… am I missing something? Why would Éomer send a young one so far in this weather?"
"But that's just it!" Éowyn spat. "Éomer did not send him! His Marshal and Lady sent him!" Arwen was now bent over, laughing at the tiles between her slippers. "All the worse, I rather doubt Éomer knows he is here! I am just going to kill him!"
Faramir tried to placate his wife. "I do not think killing Éomer is justifiable-"
"I killed the Witch King; believe me, I am quite capable of killing my brother!"
"And she never lets me forget it," Faramir whispered to the ceiling. "At least, the hobbit went home."
"I can go home!" Éowyn spat. "If Haleth can ride to here in the snow, I can return!" She nodded smugly to herself. "I can rush right to Meduseld right this moment and kill that idiot. I think that's what I will do." She smiled up at the King of Gondor. "Sire? Might I borrow your sword?"
"No!" Elessar moved to protect the sword that was not hanging at his side. "Lady Éowyn, is the King of Rohan no longer our friend?"
"Lady Éowyn," Arwen materialized next to her husband, finally in control of herself. "Why do you not go to the kitchens and join your young Rider. After such a long ride, he will be needy of a friendly face from home, one who speaks his language and praises him for a job well done. After he has finished eating and seen to his horse, Faramir can settle him with his archers, while you and I decide how to handle this. We will go shopping tomorrow."
"Shopping, oh no, shopping," Faramir was again addressing the ceiling. "It must be bad."
Éowyn dipped a curtsey and proceeded to the same door Haleth had gone through minutes earlier. "Oh, I do not know if shopping can fix this!"
Both Faramir and Elessar winced.
Arwen waited until the door had closed before giggling, "Apparently, Éomer has cabin fever and tires of waiting to marry his Princess." Both Elessar and Faramir nodded in commiseration. "So he has decided to go get her. I believe Haleth's words were 'contracts be damned.' His Marshal, Gamling, and Gamling's wife, Aefre, are trying to delay him best as they possibly can and have sent two Riders, one here to Éowyn and one to Dol Amroth, to Princess Lothiriel. It is their hope to detain him until the last true snowfall."
"That could be problematic if Prince Imrahil is not properly warned or prepared."
"I hope the messenger sent to Lothiriel is older and a bit more worldly than our young Rohirrim."
"Speaking of," Elessar offered up, "I have made arrangements to bunk him with the cavalry, unless you have other plans?"
"Thank you, but I will put him with my archers this evening, unless Éowyn wants to keep him close this evening, which she probably will. They are close to the barns and he will be comfortable. I have an archer who will take him under his wing, teach him a few things, and I am sure even at his young age, he could show your cavalry a thing or two. We will keep him busy until Éowyn and I leave for Dol Amroth."
"Until you leave for Dol Amroth?" Arwen queried. "Éowyn and I will be shopping for wedding clothes for all of us."
"But-"
"I agree with my beloved. We would not miss this for anything in the world."
