The Lady and the Lord

Disclaimer: Everything is owned, with the exception of Kelley and other minor characters by the estate of JRR Tolkien and from LOTR trilogy by Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. I am not receiving any profit off this work of fiction.

AN: Hello there, here is another chapter. It focuses on what is happening with Kelley in the Mark while they wait for word from Gondor and how she is dealing with being the new Lady of the Mark in Edoras. Next chapter she will learn about what is happening in Gondor. Thanks again to all our readers and reviewers, I love hearing from you! Have a great night and God bless.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Alone in Edoras

I dismissed Alditha after she helped bring in our bags, saying I would care for the children so she could have a bath and the evening off. The rest of it could wait till the morrow. My father whose chamber was near ours, took a bath while I bathed the children, then he watched them while I took mine. We had a pleasant dinner together, considering everything. It was not till the children were sleeping when he looked to me.

"Kelley." He spoke it gently, tenderly as he did when comforting me as a child when I fell off my horse or woke up scared from a storm. It was enough and the tears I had been holding in, sometimes struggling to do so, came.

He held me close as I wept, feeling comforted by his presence. Once I finally managed to bring myself under control, I pulled back as he kissed the top of my head. Wiping the remaining tears, he spoke.

"I will stop by here as often as I can. I do not like the idea of Lord Osric being here all the time as he has returned."

"He was an advisor before being dismissed was he not?" I asked confused.

My father sighed as he paced slightly around. "Yes he was or is. However, he will, without Lady Eowyn, I believe, may give you a hard time."

"I know he does not know me but Théoden King left me in charge of the Mark with Eowyn."

"Yes, he did, but that does not mean Osric cannot force you to give them to him or if the men do not return, take control until Eomund is of age."

I stared at him for long moments before speaking, knowing there was more. "What are you not telling me?"

He gave another sigh. "He wanted to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Eomer but Théoden King dismissed the offer. While it was not much known outside of Aldburg and family, you and Eomer were in the midst of your courtship and Théoden King was well aware of your growing attachment and wanting his sister son to be happy, was not going to gainsay it. From what I heard from Prince Theodred, Lord Osric was not pleased about it."

It made more sense now, at least some. "That was years ago and his daughter married well did she not?"

"She did but not as well as you and now his disappointment has returned."

A sudden thought occurred and I grabbed my father's arm. "He would not try to discredit my marriage would he?"

My father hugged me briefly before answering. "He would be more of a fool than I thought if he did. Your marriage was not only blessed but joined by Théoden King himself and he would not dare disinherit the only other male heir of the kingdom."

That gave me great relief though slightly troubled by my father's account. It gave me insight that I would have to stay strong around Lord Osric. It gave me even more temptation to ask my father to stay but knew I needed to prove myself.

With that my father and I talked about other subjects before turning in for the night. The following morrow, we broke the fast in the hall, Lord and Lady Erkenbrand with Lady Elfhelm and her family joining us. We tried to keep up the mood with pleasant discussion but it was difficult. Soon they were off, with both my father and Lord Erkenbrand vowing to send reports of what they found when doing patrols. Erlina and Eomund had trouble seeing my father off as they were used to seeing him often but he promised to visit soon. When he had ridden away, I'd never felt so alone.

The next days I found it difficult to stay busy. Edwina ran Meduseld well and I was hesitant to interfere, though when Eomer was named the heir, I became The Lady of the Mark and had every right to do so but did not feel altogether comfortable in doing so. So, unless asked, I let them proceed as they have done so. Until one morrow when Edwina stepped into the solar I was sitting in, the children playing on the floor.

"Pardon me my lady, but there is something we could use your assistance with."

I set down my sewing and nodding to Alditha who was also sewing to mind the children. "Of course, Edwina."

With that we left the solar and headed toward the royal apartments. I was curious but refrained from asking until we reached a door and pushed it open.

"With events as they occurred, there was no time to ask but we are unsure of what to do with Prince Theodred's rooms." The housekeeper stated.

I stepped into the room, unsure myself. I took a moment to speak, running a finger through the dust on top of his desk, littered with parchment and ink bottles. Glancing around I saw the curtains drawn with their windows shut. "I think airing out the room and giving it a thorough cleaning will not hurt." I paused as I opened the wardrobe, seeing his clothes hanging there, as if waiting for their owner to return. Pushing back a sudden wave of grief, I managed to speak. "I think his personal belongings should be left to Théoden King…." I found my voice trailing off as I touched a tunic, feeling the soft velvet with my fingers.

She had followed my gaze. "Though Lord Eomer might be needing some of those soon."

While knowing my husband had a few nicer pieces he would need something much more so for Aragorn's coronation once the battles were over. "He is much more comfortable in his armor and basic tunics or…." I left off saying as in nothing but the way Edwina's lips twitched, she knew to what I was referring. "Once these chambers are cleaned, we can see from there."

"Very good my lady." She paused before continuing. "The other room would be Wormtongue's." With that we headed down the hall and she opened a door to reveal a dark depressing room. I wrinkled my nose at the smell.

I made no time making this decision. "Burn or destroy all of his personal belongings."

"The furnishings?"

I eyed the dark and dirty pieces. "Give the room a good cleaning and airing, maybe then they may be more appealing." I paused and saw the bed in the corner. "Remind me Edwina what was this before he moved in?"

"It was used as a sitting room." She said with a soft smile, remembering better times. "The King often ate in here in the evenings with Prince Theodred and especially when he first took in Lady Eowyn and Lord Eomer."

I could certainly see that. "Maybe he would not mind us turning it back into one again."

"Very good my lady."

It was some days later when Edwina found me darning some of my children's clothes. "My lady, pardon the interruption, but we have refugees coming into Edoras that will require assistance."

Setting down my work, I glanced up to her. "Who is normally in charge?"

"Lady Eowyn but she often had Lady Elfhelm assist her when Théoden King was ill."

"Please send for her. While I certainly handled ours in Aldburg I am not aware of your processes."

Edwina nodded, assuring me she would send for her before leaving the room.

Lady Elfhelm, who had already heard of the refugees, was nearly to the Golden Hall when our messenger met her. She was more than willing to explain how they helped them and asked how Aldburg been doing it. As Lady Elfhelm been leading the efforts so far, she took the lead with my assistance. Thankfully it went smoothly, as well as it could. I made sure to take the time to talk with the people, listen to their stories, assure them that they would be welcome in Edoras. Though what really disturbed me was the reports of their villages being destroyed, the loss of livestock and farms, the burnt and trampled fields along the road.

Lying in bed that night, it was not the absence of my husband that kept me awake but what they would return to that did. With the march of Isengard through the Mark, as well as previous raids, left it damaged, almost beyond the point of repair, that if we did not act now, our people would starve this winter.

The thoughts would not let me rest and I refused to fall into despair. I could no longer stay idle. Rising from the bed, I lit a lamp and sat down at the desk. Pulling out some blank parchment, I began to gauge my thoughts. We first needed to see how much was destroyed, how many villages were gone. Once we had a better picture of the Mark we could see about food and housing, then about which villages to rebuild. Once I completed that work, I found my mind quieted and was suddenly tired. Climbing back into bed, I closed my eyes and was able to sleep the remaining several hours to dawn.

Not wanting to let any more time pass, in the morrow, I continued my work. With the help of Lady Elfhelm and Théoden's King old steward, though he was doubtful of my plans, I was able to at least get a working knowledge of the villages and areas of the Mark, where the other refugees in Edoras had been coming from.

While still working on this, much to my children's delight, my father soon visited us. He did not stay long but they took full advantage of his attention. He reported some damages along his patrol route but there was good news that Aldburg was doing well with all the refugees and the herds were safe. It was only a few days after he left when Lord Erkenbrand stopped by on a routine patrol, making me thankful I did not have to send a message. He reported, in a small council, that no orcs or any such ilk had been seen or reported, the Dunlendings were calmer, quiet even with their defeat at Helm's Deep. I then asked him about what else he had found.

"Now these villages," He pointed out on a map that was spread out on a near by desk. "are completely gone but these can be rebuilt." He also gave me rough estimates on fields, cattle and such.

I held in a sigh, it did not sound good. I wondered how we could survive this winter. Though he assured me the survivors were doing as well as they could now that the orcs were destroyed around Helm's Deep. With the numbers he gave me, the amount that had come into Edoras and the ones I knew in Aldburg, it seemed the majority of the Mark was taking refuge in the larger protective holdings.

"If I learn more, I will send it on to you." He assured me. "I need to check in on the Deep before going back to patrol the border lands."

"Thank you. You and your men have earned my respect and admiration."

He bowed slightly smiling. "Are you thinking of purchasing grain and other food stock from Gondor or another land?"

As I was still working on that, I only said. "Possibly."

"What is the point of this discussion?" Lord Osric interrupted before Erkenbrand could add more. "The battle may never be won."

"On the contrary gentlemen." I paused watching each of them, who looked to agree or undecided at the least. "The men will return victorious and we will rebuild the Mark in peace and prosperity. We must be prepared. I refuse to hear otherwise."

Erkenbrand smiled, giving me encouragement to continue.

"Now, we gained some knowledge of how much damage is across the Mark. I think we can start planning to make sure the people have food and clothing and at least think about rebuilding."

"My lady, while I know Théoden King left you and the absent Lady Eowyn in charge, I do not think he meant for you to make decisions that should be left to him."

I took a moment to speak, to gather my thoughts. "I think Théoden King will be grateful we are thinking forward, to helping us survive this winter, that they have a home to come back to."

The council, more unsure of the thought of me than upsetting a recently recovered King, agreed we needed to conserve and gather resources for the next months, were clearly unsure of moving more forward than that.

After the meeting concluded, I saw Erkenbrand off where he assured me. "The council will come around. Your ideas are in the Mark's best interest. The council, after years of only a King, having a woman in charge will be a change."

"Though Eowyn has been like a Queen these years." I could not help but say.

"The people see her as such." He agreed but then continued on. "She runs Meduseld like one. While she has some influence, she really has no ruling power. While you, my lady, are one of our future sovereign and have considerable power, especially with Théoden King and Lord Eomer in Gondor."

That made some sense and after what happened with Wormtongue and not knowing me, could not blame them for being cautious. Though we needed to be working together to help the Mark survive, not fighting among ourselves with a struggle for power.

He gave me a smile. "You will do just fine my lady. Keep working on what we discussed."

I thanked him once again for his service and support before he left. After he rode away, I headed back inside the hall.

The next days I kept busy with the refugees and working with what was returned of the council about options for food and other supplies. The children and I often ventured into the village, giving the people hope and encouragement. It felt good to be so busy, it kept me from thinking of my husband, though tired at night, I often had trouble sleeping, my body aching for Eomer. The darkness of the night brought out my worst fears, the despair that threatened, that he would never come home. Yet I could not give in, clung to the hope he was strong enough to survive, to come home to us, that the armies of men would drive the darkness away. While around the court or townsfolk, I could not afford to show any sign of weakness but more importantly I could not allow my heart to fall into despair. Sighing I rose from the bed, the moonlight filtering through the curtains giving me enough light to enter the chambers where my children were. For some moments I watched them sleep peacefully, putting a hand on their backs, feeling their warm bodies, feeling hope for the future lighten my heart. Watching them sleep, I choose to believe, choose to have hope for the future, that despair would not rule me. The Mark would survive and become strong. I would believe there was always hope.

An: Thanks again, hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter.

Tibblets: Thanks. It does feel good to be really working on this story again. I am looking forward to sharing the rest of it with ya'll.