A fortnight has passed since Elani arrived in Rohan, and thankfully Eowyn has kept her as a lady's maid. Elani started to thrive in her position and got more comfortable with her duties.
Currently, the windows were open, letting the daylight in so she could readily read all of the letters that had come in for Eowyn's attention. Eowyn went out on a ride with her brother, Eomer, who she had met due to her position. He treated her kindly as many of the other people of Rohan. She sighed, looking up and wondering if Eowyn would teach her how to ride.
A knock behind her startled her from daydreaming of riding like Eowyn, and she turned around to see Grima. His face remained expressionless, but his gaze took the surrounding in before landing on her. "Where is Lady Eowyn?"
"She went out for a ride with Lord Eomir," Elani stood up. "Do you need something of me?"
"I suppose you will have to do," Grima growled. "Come with me."
"Ah," Elani jumped, slightly surprised that he summoned her. "Give me just a moment to put these away." He nodded at her request. Miriam would be pleased that he is treating her better from that one day in the servants' hall where no one could look in.
She hurried to his side and her hands fidgeting in front of her. He led the way to the king's hall, which he had his own, whereas Eowyn and Eomir had their bedchambers on the same hall.
It came as a surprise when she found herself in King Theoden's private chambers. "You know how to read and write, yes?" Grima said, moving quickly to the table where she noticed a large pile of papers. "I would have asked Lady Eowyn. However, she is out. That just leaves you."
"Oh," Elani said and took a seat across from him where another pile of papers lay. She had a feeling that he wanted Eowyn's help, but since Elani was the only one present in the room. He had to make do with her assistance. She did if Miriam could help out as well. She mended the Prince's clothes, but she also minded the other matters that regarded his day-to-day task. "Do you think we should get Miriam?"
"That wench can't read," he scolded. "Now, start with that pile right next to you. The king needs our assistance without some meddlesome woman who caters to the Prince's needs getting in the way."
Miriam can read and has helped Elani with the system she works with currently. A stack for replies to the letters that didn't need anyone's assistance, a stack that needed Eowyn's direct answer, and lastly, a pile of letters that could go to the various people who worked in Rohan that could use their skills to fix the issue.
But she didn't want to delay anything, so she immediately started to read. Hours later, and they still sat at the table reading, they realized they had made it through most of it. She wondered if Grima felt truly panicked about failing the King.
She placed the last letter on the stack she sorted so that she or Grima could answer it. Then she stood up, taking the stack that could be given to the right people within the castle. "Hold it right there," he replied, a firm hand on her shoulder stopping her from turning around.
"Yes?" She asked. He understood that the one stack was meant for the King and the other he could answer himself.
"Where are you going with those?" Grima asked at the stack of papers in her arms.
"I will give them to the people who can handle it," Elani answered. Grima clicked his tongue and sighed but turned around to get the small stack of papers. He would hate it if he figured out that Miriam had come up with this strategy. However, it would be the only way that they could get through all of the letters.
"Let me see them," he held his hand out, and when she handed them over to him, their hands brushed against each other. While he froze for the briefest of the moment, she jumped at the sudden touch. She relinquished them and ran them in her mind over and over again. His hands felt warm despite his sickly complexion, and they lacked the rough callouses like the other men and even some women here in Rohan.
His eyes flickered over to her and back to the documents. He handed them back, careful this time not to make any connections to her touch. His nimble fingers flicked through the stack of papers, confirming all that they worked through together.
"See that you do that," he answered.
"I'm just going to finish up getting things through with Lady Eowyn's letters," Elani answered him. "It is significantly less, and I should be able to get it done in less time."
"Very well," Grima answered with a nod. She watched him walk around the table back to his spot. He looked a little lost after he sat down. His eyes snapped up, and they made eye contact. "Thank you." A thrill ran up her spine, and all she could think of replying with was a quick bow at the hips and hurried out.
On her way back to Eowyn's bed chamber and ran into Miriam. They squeaked, jumping away from each other, "Oh, I am so sorry." Miriam's hand rested on her chest while still holding a tray with the other hand pressing it against her body to keep it from tipping over. "When you didn't come for lunch, I decided to bring some for you and see if you needed any help. Where are you coming from?"
"Oh," Elani sighed, feeling touched by the woman's thought of her. "I was in the King's chamber. Grima needed help. I supposed he went to see if he could get Lady Eowyn's help, but I was the only one there, so he recruited my assistance."
Miriam's face shifted from concern for Elani to complete annoyance to find out where Elani was this entire time. "He kept you there this whole time?" She scolded, seamlessly moving the tray from her stomach to her hips as her other hand went to it. Miriam looked just a thread's space away from going down there to scold him.
"He didn't keep me there," Elani answered, holding her hands up. "I saw his situation and decided to help." She did feel bad for not standing up for Miriam but wasn't sure if that was something that she did to get Grima to leave her alone.
She only ever answered directly to the Prince and rumors from the other servants in the castle about her relationship with the Prince. Elani hadn't dared to ask Miriam herself, but she saw how the Prince looked at Miriam when she wasn't looking.
"Um," Elani stammered, "let us head to Eowyn's chambers so I can eat the food before it gets cold." Miriam sighed, but Elani turned to head in the direction of the chamber. She heard the shifting of the tray and the steps of Miriam following behind her.
Elani opened the door and was relieved to see that Eowyn hadn't returned from the ride. A jolt of concern shot through her body, and she gave Miriam, who gave her a curious look in return. "Are they normally out this late?" She asked.
"Oh yes," Miriam answered. "They are normally out this late, come eat your lunch, and I will read through Lady Eowyn's letters." Elani sighed, again appreciative of Miriam's help as she led them to the table and got the letters out. Miriam set them up in three stacks, took the stacks that Elani had taken from the King's chamber, and knowingly set them on the stack where they would go to the people who could fix it. She took the unread pile of letters and read while Elani dug into her lunch.
•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈•Elani woke up in her bed, hearing the soft pattering of rain against the roof. Perhaps that is why they spent most of the day riding. Elani sat up in her bed and swung her feet out of her bed before getting ready. Once she finished, she crept into the main bedchamber where Eowyn slept soundly.
The routine that they formed together slipped over her shoulders like a warm shawl. It gave her something to look forward to and along with the bonds she is creating here. She blew out the flame to heat the water and started to light some candles. It is a drastic difference from the village where she was born and grew up. It gave her something to look forward to and along with the bonds she is creating here.
She went out back into the bedchamber and cautiously opened the window. When she saw that there were no strong winds, she opened it. She went to the other side and did the same to the other windows.
"My Lady," Elani said, shaking the blonde woman's shoulders. Eowyn groaned and rolled onto her back to open her eyes. "Your bath is ready," she told her.
"Thank you, Elani," Eowyn said, her voice hoarse from just waking up.
Elani bowed at her hips and then left to head to the kitchen as usual. She got greeted by many of the people who worked in the castle as she did. When she got into the kitchen, she saw Miriam helping out with the chef. She sliced through the meat as skillfully as many other kitchen staff.
Miriam and Elani made eye contact as Miriam glanced upward, "Good morning Elani," Miriam said warmly, and then the other staff all echoed a greeting. "Just wait a moment, and we'll have Lady Eowyn's breakfast ready," Miriam said.
"Alright," Elani said and sat down at one of the tables in the kitchen. Another of the maids placed a mug of warm mead for the weather today. She took a cautious sip before realizing that it had cool down to a ready temperature to drink.
When she saw that Miriam was getting ready to set the food on the tray, Elani stood up and started to assist her. Elani noticed that all of the food was enough to feed two people. "Alright, there you go," Miriam said and shooed her off. She smiled at her and headed back to Eowyn, and her feet came to a stop when she saw Grima standing at the door.
"Ah," Elani cleared her throat, and he looked up. "Do you need Lady Eowyn?" he didn't say anything, only stepping away from the door to allow her access to it. Eowyn sat at the table, dressed in her clothing for the day.
"Ah, Elani," Eowyn said with a smile, only to lean back to see that Grima loomed behind her. "Yes, Grima," she prompted him to speak up.
"Nevermind," he muttered under his breath and hurried away. Elani turned back around to face Eowyn, who had this… odd look on her face. Her eyes brimmed with concern, and her brow furrowed with thought.
"Please close the door, Elani, and come join me," Eowyn said.
Her words startled Elani as she found herself pausing and starting and then pausing again. "I beg your pardon?" Elani asked as her stomach tied itself in knots.
"You noticed that is enough food for two?" Eowyn asked. "I am certainly not going to eat it all." She gestured to the other chair across from her, and finally, Elani found her feet as she came to the table.
Eowyn helped place the food between the two of them and handed her a plate so she may place the food of her picking onto it. They ate in companionable silence, and Eowyn helped her stack the dishes back onto the tray.
"I will return, My Lady," She bowed once more and started back to the kitchen. Elani didn't know what to think because Eowyn wanted to eat breakfast with her. She wouldn't be able to share a lunch or dinner with Eowyn as she would be with her family in the main hall for those occasions. After assisting Eowyn, Elani would return to the servant's hall and typically eat with Miriam and her daughter.
She walked past the pillars, and she caught the tiniest bit of ghastly pale skin compared to her light brown skin. The only other person with this same skin tone was Miriam. She snapped her head in the direction where she thought she saw it, and there was no one there. Her eyes searched the darkness for any sight of what she could have sworn that she saw.
The tray started to get heavy in her grip, and she decided that she needed to head to the kitchen quickly to return to Eowyn. She dropped off the tray at the area where everyone dropped off the dishes. Then she headed back to Lady Eowyn, who stood out the door waiting for her.
"I know the weather is bad, but I want you to come to the stable with me," Eowyn told her.
"Oh?" Elani asked. She would follow Eowyn anywhere she needed her to go, but curiosity piqued her attention. They headed over to the front, and Eowyn pulled on a cloak and gave one to Elani, something she had to mend to suit her height so it wouldn't drag on the ground behind her.
They hurried along to the main stable, which is even more significant than the castle itself. Rohan is known for their esteemed horsemen and horses across the land. Yvette spotted both of them and hurried over, and she bowed to Lady Eowyn.
"I have found the gentler of geldings, My Lady," Yvette told Eowyn.
"Let us go see them, shall we," Eowyn said, her eyes taking in the young girl with great pride. Yvette nodded before turning on her heels to lead them to the last three stables. A tan gelding with a white patch over his left eye, an all-white gelding, and one pitch-black gelding. The black gelding stretched his head out to nibble on Yvette's shirt, and she used her body to push his head away.
"Here they are," Yvette said. "This is Raven," she said to the black gelding. "This one is Star," she said, gesturing to the tan gelding. "And this one is Moonlight." she pointed to the white gelding.
Eowyn stroked the long face of Moonlight, admiring the majestic and large animal. "These are excellent choices, Yvette. You'll be a worthy horse woman yet." Yvette beamed at Eowyn's praise. "Now go ahead and finish the rest of your chores."
"Yes, My Lady," Yvette bowed and left them with the geldings. Elani always got struck with awe by Eowyn's grace and kindness that she showed. Even when she thought people couldn't see her, she acted only with compassion and strength.
"These are all wonderful horses for you to learn to ride," Eowyn said, referring back to Elani.
"You need me to learn how to ride, My Lady," Elani is shocked at how fast it had come to her to learn.
"I might have heard from someone you are interested in learning how to ride," Eowyn smiled, and Elani wondered who. "My cousin told me that it is an interest of yours. I'm aware that you are close to his chambermaid."
"Oh," Elani said, now everything made sense. "Yes, My Lady, but I don't want this to get in the way of my duties."
"How would it?" She asked. "If you are my Lady's Maid, then if I travel, you will need to travel with me, will you not?"
"Yes, of course," Elani said and bowed.
After Elani had picked out a mount, they spent the remainder of the day there, where Eowyn showed her where all of the equipment was and where to get the step stool to mount Raven.
Eowyn assured her that they would start even with Elani just mount and getting Raven to walk around when the weather cleared up. Again, on their way back to Eowyn's chambers to clean up and get ready for a dinner to be sent to Eowyn's chamber.
That glimpse of pale skin caused her head to snap in that direction, where she made eye contact with pale blue eyes. Grima quickly looked away and disappeared into the shadows of the castle. It amazed her how he could do that with ease.
•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈•A month has passed since Elani started to learn how to ride a horse, and Eowyn proved to be an excellent mentor and guide. However, Eowyn would flip it back onto her, saying that she had an outstanding student.
Elani had just finished dropping off the letters to the blacksmith, and when she crossed into the main hall to the more secluded halls. Grima looked distressed, trying to speak to a new guest that had come to Rohan yesterday. Elani came over to see what was making him upset.
"Is everything alright?" She asked. The man who is the visitor to this land looked down at Elani with more attention than he gave to Grima.
"I've been trying to speak to this so-called advisor about meeting the king," The man said. "I am Robin. What is your name?"
"I am Elani, and I'm a lady's maid of Lady Eowyn," Elani answered him. "I'm sure Grima has informed you that not anyone can obtain His Majesty's audience." She remembered his name but couldn't place where from.
"He has, but it's just not acceptable for an answer," Robin answered, his voice haughty as he looked down on her past his nose. Elani looked over to Grima for guidance but noticed that he had vanished. That alone distressed her, as she is not often wary about being alone with men. To her dismay, Robin also noticed that they were alone. "What about you?" He asked. "I'm sure as a Lady's Maid to Eowyn, you can help me."
"Why don't we go to the Hall where everyone is gathered, and I'm sure you can be helped better than," Elani said, stepping back, but he maneuvered around to where Elani's back was against the wall, and he had her pinned with little chance or room to make her escape.
"Oh," he paused, "I'm sure they can wait a moment longer." Robin's finger ran down her face, and she lifted her face to look at him with a finger under her chin. There was lust in that man's eyes, and her heart thudded against her chest to where it hurt.
"Excuse me," A clear voice broke the silence. Robin pulled away from Elani, and it cleared her line of sight to see both Grima and Prince Theodred. "You may not accost our staff here in the castle in this manner at all." The prince is handsome in the same way as Eomir, tall, broad-shouldered, and with long blond hair. She could see why Miriam was so consistently fond of the Prince.
"Ah, your Highness," Robin made the switch to a much brighter disposition.
"No," The Prince cut him off, "You will leave this castle now." He grabbed the surprisingly much slighter man by the arm and started to drag him off. "Grima, please make sure that my cousin's maid gets back to her safely."
"My Prince," Grima said when he scooped Elani close, hiding her by draping her body with his cloak. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, helping the cover stay where it was as he led her away from the secluded hall and when they were close to Eowyn's chamber. "Why did you intercede?" He scolded her. He allowed her out of his cloak, and she almost didn't want to leave. She felt so warm and safe in his cloak with him.
"You just looked… I just thought I could help," Elani quickly changed the subject from insinuating that Grima would ever need her help.
"I had it under control," he said. "You're lucky that Miriam was close by so she could run off to get the Prince." He said, stopping at the door. "Now, next time… Do not step in when I'm handing the more unpleasant side of assisting the people of Rohan. You're… You're too gentle."
He gave her a look that, in her heart, she wanted to take it in one way, but in other things to factor in, she knew that it couldn't be so.
"I'm sorry," Elani said, looking down, feeling like she disappointed him after he held her so close.
"Do not apologize," Grima said. His tone changed from scolding to something softer but still stern. "If you see something like that again… At least bring that woman along before jumping into it."
"I will," Elani said. She knew that Miriam wouldn't let anyone speak that way to either of them or let that man pull what Robyn did. She looked up, and Grima had already swept away his cloak trailing behind him, and her voice cut in her throat. She gathered her hands in front of her before walking into the chamber.
Eowyn stepped out for a brief moment, and Elani went to meet Miriam to get some supplies to fix some of Eowyn's dresses. She realized that she had them clutched tightly to her chest. Shakily, she went to her small chamber room and set things on her table. She started on what she had to stop when she initially left her room.
She floated throughout the rest of the day, thinking about how close Grima held her. That, to this date, is the closest he had ever held her. He entranced her, captivated her, and stirred feeling deep within her chest. She wanted to share it with someone. Yell to the mountains, how tenderly he held her, and how close it was.
She stared up at the high ceiling lying on her bed in the dark of the night. Maybe someone would just shake her out of it, tell her that she is being a fool and that it meant nothing to him. But it meant everything to her.
She woke up to the sound of rustling and fast footsteps. She jumped out of bed and opened the door to see Eomir, Theodred, and Eowyn rushing around the chamber. Eowyn spotted her and came to her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"My uncle had fallen ill," Eowyn told her. "We are going to go to him right now. Please see Miriam after you prepare for the day."
"What will you have me do?" Elani asked. Panic gripped her heart. The little interactions she had with the King had all been good. She knows that he is both respected and loved by his people.
"Please keep up with your daily tasks," Eowyn informed her. "The grand hall will be closed for the day until uncle is well enough."
Elani nodded as Eowyn joined both Theodred and Eomir at the door, and they had swept out of the chamber, leaving her shaken. After the silence overtook her, her feet started to move. She rushed down the hall, her feet pounding on the ground as she went to Miriam. She ran into a dark figure with pale hands shooting out to steady her.
"Watch it," Grima growled, but his snarled expression disappeared. "Have Eowyn and the others left?"
"Yes," Elani started, and tears burned her eyes. She hastily wiped her eyes with her forearm, and Grima's hands that held her shoulders gave them a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him.
"Let us get you to Miriam," Grima said, his typical venom in his voice for Miriam gone as again his arm gathered her close to him, hurrying down to the Prince's hall. Miriam sat at the table, biting her thumb, her brow furrowed. Her expression was shocked, then recognition hit, and then quickly, her face went neutral. She shot up.
"Elani," Miriam started as Grima gently pushed Elani forward.
"I will make sure that the Hall is properly closed," Grima told them. Him being the King's direct advisor, not a maid like the two women in the room with him, he had more power. "You two stay here. I will return and update you shortly."
"Very well," Miriam spoke up when Elani's voice became trapped in her throat. She nodded meekly.
When he left the room, Miriam rushed forward and closed the door. She snapped her head back and looked at Elani. Her eyes sharped as she fully turned around and stalked back to Elani. Miriam took Elani by the shoulders and ushered her to the table to sit her down.
"Let me get some tea," Miriam said. "You stay right here."
"Alright," Elani agreed. She stared at her hand folded in front of her on the table. Miriam pushed a cup in front of her. "Do you know anything of the King's status?"
"Not much," Miriam answered. "Grima came in while we were asleep, roused the Prince, and told him to get ready." Miriam sighed long. "When did you come across Grima?"
"After Eowyn, Eomir, and Prince Theodred all left Eowyn's chambers, I went to find you to see if you know what to do," Elani answered after taking a couple of sips. The tea warmed her body, and she started to bring warmth to her body.
"Interesting," Miriam said, her eyes curious tint. "I have noticed that Grima... Has stopped obsessing over Lady Eowyn." Elani watched as Miriam placed her cup down on the table. "It had been an issue that the Theodred worked on resolving. Now Lady Eowyn would never complain and can handle herself quite well. But something has changed."
"What," Elani asked. She heard the rumors about how Grima fixated on Lady Eowyn, but she never saw it.
"You."