Table [rory]

It was the eighth day since I'd met Flyn that was how I was measuring time now. It had taken us three days to reach Edoras after my little...potty dancing episode. Ḗomer had been quite nice to me that day for all of ten minutes until Théodred and Ḗomer had a loud fight, which resulted in me having my broken torch returned, and Ḗomer hating my guts again and sulking like a child. I stayed with Théodred always on the journey back, he took me to the toilet a couple of times every day without waiting for me to ask, I rode on his horse and saw little of anyone except maybe Grimbold.

Edoras was nothing like I expected it to be but it was completely beautiful, mostly it was brown and natural, like falling back in time until you got into King Théoden's' Halls. Despite looking old and under-cared for it was the most beautiful room I'd ever been in, the walls were lines with gold coloured panels that made the whole room much more royal somehow there were paintings, maps, weapons and jewels coating places around the room. The first time I went in the room, was the most scared I'd ever been...accept the time I was attacked by orcs...or in Ḗomer's' presence.

By the time we'd reached Edoras I'd gotten so lonely and had completely given up trying to communicate with anyone except Grimbold, even Théodred seemed as though he had given up speaking to me and had started talking at me. Grimbold reminded me of my grandpa Tom for some reason, they looked nothing alike and I was still quite young when he died but they were both strong and unbelievably kind at the same time.

After we'd arrived Théodred and Grimbold had pulled me to one side and put his hand over my mouth gently, he'd left it there and nodded at me. All I'd gotten from that was, don't open your big fat mouth. I'd been led in front of King Théoden and stood before him while a slimy, repulsive man yelled at me, I just stood and took it, trying my best to look innocent and confused, which was easier than I'd expected. I looked down the floor the whole time, and noticed nothing or anyone around me.

Ḗomer had come along half way through and handed the king my purse full of change, Théodred didn't look very happy at this and said a few harsh words at Ḗomer before leading me back out of the building with the man still shouting behind me.

The weeks that followed went very quickly after that. At first I'd been given to Grimbold and taken back to his house, I'd never experienced anything like it. The stares from his family and the people that were outside as he led me there, arm around me were horrifying.

The first night is something I wouldn't forget in a hurry either. A woman took me to a separate room and I'd been given a bath.

That's right, given a bath.

When I'd realized the woman was going to stay in the room as I undressed and washed I'd fought it for the best part of an hour, until Grimbold had been called up and had looked at me, said a few words in his language with his arm on my shoulder and left again. I let the woman, who I assumed was his daughter bath me and wash my hair, in freezing cold water. I'd later learned her name was Frea. Frea looked disgusted after I'd gotten dressed and had seen the murky, mud bath I'd left in the metal tub.

Grimbolds' house was a full one despite there only being six rooms. I slept in the same room, and mattress as Frea, and three other girls whose names were Driol, Milair and Drilair shared a large mattress across the room. There was one kitchen, dining, living room, one bathroom, and the other three somehow housed two married couples, another of Grimbold's sons, Grimbold and his wife Aleah, and seven young children.

The night I arrived they all sat on the floor around me for dinner, relaxed and laughing and joking like a the kind of family you see on TV, and even though you know they're just actors, you resent their happiness, because you just do. It was heart-warming to watch, despite feeling awkward and completely out of place between Grimbold and Frea and making me miss my family a hundred times more than I had been already.

I'd never thought of having children before, my Dad, Aunt Jane and Tommy had said more than a few times that I reminded them of my mother as I was growing up. The idea of having children and leaving them repulsed me, especially after all my family had been through. But I watched the huge family smiling and chatting happily together and couldn't help feeling a great sense of loss at the thought of never having anything like this.

I'd only stayed with Grimbold for one night, the next morning I'd been passed on to Flyn with my bundle of English clothes and useless possessions and had only seen any of his family other than him once, Frea.

He seemed pleasantly surprised when he saw me, clean and wearing one of Grimbold's daughter's dresses. Flyn's house was very unlike Grimbold's, they had as much room and more possessions but there were only three people living there. Flyn's mother Dora, seemed very unhappy at having me there at all, and William who seemed to be related to Flyn somehow but not Dora. I'd never noticed how alike William and Flyn looked until we'd arrived in Edoras.

I rarely saw Dora during the four days that I stayed in her house, I'd had my own room and mattress there and hadn't left the house at all. Flyn and William got meals ready for me and helped me to clean dishes, wash clothes and sweep.

They both seemed very close and rarely left each other's sides, despite their being an obvious age difference. I got use to the sound of their laughter as well while I was there. At first I'd been insulted, like when I thought they'd be laughing at me as I did something strange like stomp my foot in annoyance or start talking English.

I'd learnt a few words from William, who found me greatly amusing and I'd taught him a few useless English words as well, he didn't seem to care that he'd never need them.

I'd learnt the words table, stool or chair, bread, hand, girl, boy and bath.

Bath.

Bath was definitely my favourite word. I'd had another bath on the fifth morning in Rohan, very early, it was still dark outside. William and Flyn both came running in, backwards and forwards heating water for me, as I worried about whether they'd leave the room while I was having a bath or not; they did to my great relief, after handing me a pretty green dress.

I only managed to get a thin white dress that was the first layer on, un-aided. I'd walked out carrying the green layer of dress, looking for William or Flyn to help me before I stumbled into a room with Théodred and Dora talking in.

I couldn't help but notice how much Dora fawned over Théodred as she spoke, despite being old enough to be his mother and a half. I was surprised Dora was in at all, it was very early though and I didn't know what time she left every morning.

I stood in the doorway unsure for a while and unnoticed before I spoke.

"Théodred" He turned to look at me blushing a bit, but still as happy as ever.

His smile made me smile back.

I was so happy to see him I skipped over and wrapped my arms around his middle dropping the dress clumsily. When I looked up he smiled wider, shocked, probably at my affection before unwrapping my arms from around him and picking the dress up from the floor, keeping his eyes on my face.

"Rory. Do you like the dress? It's one of my cousins, Ḗowyn's, not Ḗomer's." He let out a barky laugh that made me happier than I'd been since I'd gotten here. "I thought it would look pretty, with your brown hair. You look well at least, full of joy. I am here to take you back to Meduseld to stay with me, if that is what you'd like. Ḗowyn would like to meet you, and Ḗomer speaks of you still. I wouldn't want to take you away from somewhere which makes you happy. Would you rather stay here?" I'd almost forgotten how his voice sounded as he spoke, it didn't really matter that I didn't understand him, it was still familiar. I thought about replying in English knowing it would be no good before an idea came to me. I walked to the corner of the room ignoring Dora a bit, before I touched the table and spoke.

"Table." I continued walking around the room naming things I'd learned to Théodred, who seemed pleasantly surprised. "Window, stool, hand, girl...boy" I finished poking Théodred's shoulder gently lip twitching.

"Hair" He replied pulling on a lock of my hair that had fallen in front of my face as I bounced around the room.

"Hair" I repeated, unsure. Thinking it either meant hair, or brown or wet, or curly. Languages were hard work.

He turned to the woman next to him, having a brief conversation.

"Have you taught her to speak in these few days Dora?"

"Nay Sire, Will and Flyn have been teaching her, her words. William has been trying to learn a few words from her too, as he goes along."

"William is a good man. One of the best. Your brother would be proud of him."

"Aye, he was. But what of the girl m'lord? Shall I keep her here or are you to take her off elsewhere?"

"She seems happier here than I have seen her yet... What are your thoughts?"

"She hasn't been at all happy until today Sire, she has sat mostly in Eddards' old room, not talking or moving. Not till she came through that door and saw you has she shown any emotion at all that I have seen."

Théodred stood looking at me for a while, as they spoke my mood dropped a little. I'd been so happy when I'd seen Théodred. I'd thought maybe he'd forgotten me. I'd had days and days to think everything through again and I'd realized how kind everyone had been to me, especially Théodred. I'd really started missing the way his face scrunched up when he laughed and even how he'd babble on endlessly in spite of the fact the most productive word we'd both know being table.

"I...I wish we could ask where she'd like to stay."

"You're Théoden's' son my lord, she will go, I am sure, where you wish her to go."

"I think I will take her back with me, I'd like to be sure she is safe."

"Flyn and Will may be sad to see her gone. They have grown fond of her some."

"Why do you sound surprised? Are you not fond of her yet? She has been here near a week."

"I don't see there's anything to be fond of My Lord, she is just as any girl of Rohan after all, only with dirty brown hair and no words in her mind."

"There is more to her than you think there is Dora. I will take her back to Ḗomer and Ḗowyn before people start rising, I think she might need help dressing..."

Théodred handed the dress back to Dora looking a bit miffed. I didn't blame him, Dora didn't seem like a particularly nice woman, very sulky. She didn't look happy any more as she took my arm and led me out of the room to help me dress. Despite pulling the strings that tied at the back much too tightly I left her with a thank you, before rushing back to Théodred.

It didn't sound like Flyn and Will were in anymore which I was a bit disappointed about, having breakfast with them was part of my new routine.

I reminded myself how nice it was to have Théodred visit and break that routine. He stood waiting for me next to the open front door and I couldn't help letting out a sad sigh. Everyone always left again.

I walked over to him anyway ready to wave goodbye, and to have a look outside. It was just as I'd remembered it the day I'd arrived in Flyn's house, but instead of few people about there was none. The breeze against my wet hair made me shiver, something which Théodred noticed, he took his cloak off and wrapped it tightly around me which I though was a strange thing to do.

"We could just shut the door" I pointed out rolling my eyes at him, earning myself a chuckle.

"You are strange."

It wasn't long before Dora returned with my bundle of clothes, matches, torch and playing cards. Then it clicked, off again. I wondered where I'd be taken this time, I hoped back to Grimbold's house, I didn't want to have to learn another set of names.

It was still dark outside, I wish I'd known why I needed to be woken up at crazy-o-clock. Théodred carried the pile for me in one hand and slid his free one through mine as soon as Dora had shut her front door. It felt weird, I'd never really held any ones hand before unless you count the last week in which I'd been dragged around places, not since I was young really. But holding Théodred's hand felt different. Weird, but nice weird. His hands were quite rough I noticed.

Théodred hummed as we walked, back towards Grimbold's house. I was a bit surprised when we passed it and carried on walking.

"Grimbold?" I swung our hands grabbing Théodred's attention.

"I can bring him to visit you in the next few days if you'd like that."

I took that as a no, on me going and staying with Grimbold again, I was gutted at the thought of settling somewhere else. I was being passed around Edoras like stray dog, going to whoever would have me. Just till Tommy, Toby and Minnie come at least, then we can all go home.

I hadn't thought about home yet, to me it hadn't really mattered where we were as long as the four of us were together. Aunt Jane must be going crazy. I stopped walking as a horrible thought occurred to me. Théodred tugged at my hand till I stumbled along next to him in a daze. The day we'd left for our walk I'd left a map pinned to the fridge with a little loop around the field we'd been staying in.

It's strange how you remember words people have said, especially when they led to disastrous situations, which should have and could have been avoided. That's how Toby's words flooded back to me, how they'd sounded the day he'd said them;

"We should follow it, there must be a decent place to camp somewhere along the lake,"

For the first time I imagined that map, stuck to the fridge with the little dragon magnet, I imagined the little red circle I'd drawn around Mr Jenkins campsite and I imagined the edge of the lake, more than six miles away, so far away it barely fitted on the local map.

I bet Jane has already rang around everywhere looking for us, I could almost picture her sat at home too worried to sleep and all because of one wrong turn on a harmless camping trip. It put everything into perspective, in those few minutes of realization. In the last few days I'd been settling in, trying to learn new words, making friends but all that was wrong, all I should be focusing on is getting back home again, with my real family.

We'd been walking for so long I hadn't realized we'd reached the steps back to the Kings Golden Hall and the yelling man. A man stood at the top of the steps, even against the black night I could make out his angry expression. He spoke a few words to Théodred harshly before walking down the steps glaring openly at me. I didn't much feel like dealing with an angry Rohirrim and I was sure Théodred wouldn't let anything bad happen to me, I stood waiting for him to reach the bottom step, trying to think of a witty remark to throw at him until I remembered English was useless here.

In a moment of madness I stuck my chin out indignantly and spat the first word that William had taught me nastily at Ḗomer.

"Table"


gah. thanks for all the reviews and follows/favs! i hope you all love EOMER and THEODRED as much as i seem too, or maybe a bit less, i take it to creepy extreme levels.