Chapter 09
~~~...~~~
There was an inn in the hamlet, that boasted of three rented rooms and a common room with what Gamling said was almost the best cooking in the Eastenmet. Almost, after his own wife, that is. I knew for a fact Wudurose was a wonderful cook; there had been many a day while on patrol, before the War, all I thought about was coming home, sitting in the tub in her home and eating her food.
I had not thought of that in years.
I was offered the biggest of the rooms, but I turned it down. There were offers to quarter members of my éorad in homes, but they declined. Patrols were scheduled, arranged. The townspeople were exhausted, so we sent them to rest while we continued to sweep the countryside and watch for unwelcome guests. We would get our rest when Elfhelm and his éored arrived, which I figured would be sometime the next morning.
And he would arrive with my son.
I checked on the wounded, giving them a pat, a reassuring word, congratulating them on a job well done. I went into the common area, sat with Tondhere, among others, ate a fine meal, imbibed in a rather heady ale, shared in some Old Toby, sending smoke rings at the chimney, along with several of the older men and listened to stories and history through their eyes. I remembered when my father was still alive, he would tell me to listen to the elder Rohirrim and keep their words in my heart. They remembered things we had never seen and passing along our history was our duty.
It was times like these, I wished my cousin Théodred, and my uncle Théoden, were alive and here, adding their lives to these. It occurred to me when we brought Théoden home, that I hadn't listened enough, that I hadn't had enough time to listen.
And I felt cheated. I knew my children were cheated.
And so it was.
As it became late, I checked in on Gamling. He was awake, his daughter curled up next to him. All I could see was her curls, reddish-gold, like her father's.
"She fears I will die and she is determined to spend every possible minute with me, as if her very presence will frighten Death away."
"She is her Da's girl."
"Or so her mother says."
I took in the white line of his mouth. "You are still in pain?"
"I am angry."
I sat carefully on his bed. "What angers you, my friend?"
"I am angry because I am in pain!" he spat. His daughter grunted and he lowered his voice. "I am in pain, I am being given pain killers, my wife is fussing over me, my daughter is fussing over me, your healer is fussing over me and I am acting like an invalid!"
"Because you are an invalid!" Gamling began to growl, so I continued without breath. "And when Edric arrives, he will fuss over you."
"Edric fusses over no one, except Eadwynne."
"I will believe that when I see it." I wiggled, trying to make myself comfortable. "Where is Wudurose?"
"Making me a late supper and another poultice for my shoulder. I told her I wanted ale, but-"
"But I told him no." Wudurose glided into the room, a rider I recognized, holding the door open for her. She carried two trays, one with a hearty stew, the other with a smelly paste in a bowl with cloths. My healer followed her.
I looked back at Gamling, sliding from the bed. "You will eat and do everything she tells you to. This is the King's edict."
"The King can kiss my-"
"The King is not injured and lying abed," I retorted merrily. "And with a young shield maiden curled up at your side!" I turned and winked at Wudurose."It took me five tries to get that right! Get well." I turned to Gamling's wife. "I am heading to the outer fields and homesteads to patrol. I will more than likely sleep in one of the homes or barns if I need to."
"Our home is open, Éomer King." She sat the two trays down, sitting next to him with the stew and a spoon. "I will be spending the night here, with this wretched beast I call husband." With her back to me, effectively dismissing me, she began to feed her growling, but not fighting, husband. Gamling was scowling, but eating.
I made my way out, into the main yard. Tondhere was there, along with several of my men. One, with new braiding on his cloak, came to me to make his report.
"Captain Éothain found two orc carcasses in a corn field on the outer reaches. We stripped them and burned them and he has left three to stand guard over the fire."
I thanked him and sent him back on his patrol duties, watching him puff up in the torchlight.
I mounted my stallion, riding through the town, checking on people, guards, sentries. I then made my way out through the front gates, both men there seeming upset that I was alone.
But I wanted to be alone.
I rode down the main path, remembering as I went along the same trail I used earlier. I found the bonfire, following the stench of burning orc flesh, checking in with those who drew the short sticks. Éothain caught up with me as I left, insisting on coming with me, talking about this and that. His wife had given birth to their fourth child; one would think it was his first child, the way he carried on.
"You are worried."
"No, I wish to be alone."
He kept up with me anyway, pressing my ire. "Sire, might I speak freely?"
I continued my rambling walk. "You will anyway."
"I remember Wudurose," he began. "I remember her in Aldburg, I remember seeing her throw a snowball in your face. I remember when she disappeared with the merchant's train."
"Do you?"
"It is said she has a son, a son she birthed before she married Gamling. One whose age would mean he was conceived before she left Aldburg."
"Who is talking so much, Éothain?"
He was quiet for a moment. "There was a rather nasty local riding with my group for some time. I sent him home because he was useless and a gossipy old farmwife. But before I sent him off, Esolhætt had a lot to say about the townspeople of this hamlet."
Oh. Him.
"And he had what to say about the townspeople?"
There was a great sigh coming from my captain. "Sire, I do not say this to ire you. Simply to warn you."
"You are irritating me by beating around the bush."
"He corralled me away from my men. He seems to think Wudurose's son is yours and that you have given Wudurose and Gamling much property and livestock to keep them quiet. He thinks you would pay him well to keep him quiet."
Blackmail. If this continued, most of Wudurose's fears would come to light and my heart clutched for her.
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him he was a pitiful excuse for a Rohirrim and that Gamling would string him up or drag him for spreading unfounded rumors about his wife." We ambled on, in silence. "Sire," he continued quietly, "a man like that, spreading such tales, is not a comfort to have running around."
"I am aware of that." My sigh was quite audible. "I suppose I shall have to have a chat with him." The fork in the road leading to Wudurose and Gamling's spread was within sight in the moonlight. "Go on with you. I will be fine."
I could feel his gaze on me, scrutinizing me, before nodding. "Patrols are running through here all night. I am one."
"Good." I nodded back and left him standing.
I rode around the main homestead, checked the barns, the rounded up horses and cattle that were now stabled. Everything was quiet. I then entered the house, using tender in my satchel to light a lamp and check each room. I climbed into the loft, looking at it, wondering, trying to see my son in it.
It was abandoned, stripped of all that was Edric. It now belonged to a little girl; rag dolls, a small cradle with scraps of quilting.
I climbed down, checking the rooms, checking under beds, in nooks and crannies. I noticed a door tucked in the side of the kitchen area. I opened it, to find a stairway that went down a dark tunnel. Lighting a bigger lamp and withdrawing my sword, I made my way down the stairs, reaching a dirt floor.
I had reached the root cellar.
There were shelves of jars of preserved vegetables and fruits, smoked meat hanging from hooks in the back, the coldest part of the cellar. Skins, furs were hung, drying. Around the edges, in the corners and scattered about, there were bundles of herbs, drying flowers, set to mask the smell of blood and death. I also noticed opened canisters of a clear liquid set about. When I sniffed them, I jerked back at the pungent odor.
Vinegar! A powerful scent diffuser.
I almost missed it, the light from my lamp glinting off the brass fastenings. A trunk was tucked under the shelves, out of the way, in a place where it was meant to be missed. I pulled it out, noticing the dust on it was only disturbed recently at the handle. Feeling like a thief, I opened it, only to be astonished at what lay inside.
The sword, the broach, and the hair clip I had given her so many years ago and the cloth I remembered well. Hair combs, other gifts, all laying atop the dress I removed from her body that night Edric was conceived. I reached to the side, beneath it and felt the lump of full purses. Very carefully, I made sure everything was straightened and shutting the lid, pushed the trunk back to its original lodging.
Once I was satisfied the home was safe, I left, securing the doors and heading towards the back barns.
And to Edric's home.
I checked the barns, checked, fed, and watered the livestock that was now in them, before bolting those doors and heading to the small house on the rise. I left Firestorm in the small, nearby barn, making sure he was rubbed, fed, and watered. I grabbed my saddlebags and headed to the dwelling.
I recall this had been Gamling's home, built when he first arrived. He spoke of it briefly, the first time he returned to Edoras. There was a simple, but well-tended garden area behind it. I entered the home, finding it clean, neat, sparsely furnished. Everything had its place, was in its place. There were designated areas for eating, sitting, sleeping. The fireplace was laid out, ready for its next use, a pile of wood stacked neatly beside it.
For the first time, I could clearly see my son in my mind's eye. This child of mine, who was no child, and could rightly claim he was certainly not mine.
And all the regrets in the world couldn't change it.
I took in a deep breath, breathing in his air, his lingering scent. Weariness overwhelmed me and kicking off my boots and outer armor, I slung my saddlebags on the table and grabbing my cloak, I curled up on the bed and went to sleep.
~~~...~~~
