The Tale of A Warrior Maid
Chapter 12
Kesteral flung herself into her tent, in a desperate attempt to escape her confusion. She closed the flaps behind her and lay down on her blanket gathering her thoughts. How could he even ask me, we just met? She sat up and began to remove her armor. Then again, maybe we are meant to be together, both of us feel the same, both of us feel connected, but even if I did say yes there is no possible way we could marry, not after I marry the emperor, it wouldn't be the same. Why did this have to happen right after I agreed to go to the Haradwaith. When I was first asked if binding myself to Pharazon was a problem, it wasn't like I had feelings for someone, it passed my mind of coarse, but it didn't really matter. Then Dernhelm had to come along and. listen to me, support me and worst of all he told me how he felt. Now I do have feelings for someone, feelings I can't get rid of. Oh, but I do wish to marry him, to be loved. I could decline Elessar request, but his hope is in me, Éomer's hope is in me, Dernhelm's too, not to mention everyone else's. Valar, why do my decisions have to have such consequences? Why must I meet the man of my dreams right after I agree to give my heart to a monster, to spend eternity living with a man I will wed, only to kill him? She threw her helmet on the ground in frustration. "Is this some sort of curse as punishment for leaving home, because if it is, I'll go back?!" She cried out to no one before breaking into tears. I have agreed to the king's request, now I must fulfill it or be haunted with a guilty heart for eternity. I hope Dernhelm will understand. Besides if we did marry what would our children be like? Short little boys with pointed ears, they'd be little monsters them selves." With this she fell into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning she awoke at first light and remembered the King's command to visit Arwen and Éowyn at the Palace. She found that she had slept with her mail and jerkin still on. Her leg guards where half off and her helmet lay on the ground beside it was her belt. Picking them up she left her tent and sat by the camp fire to put them on. One of the cooks handed her a piece of bread and a cup of mead, she took them gladly. When she got back she would need to find Dernhelm and tell him her decision. After eating she made her way through the camp to the gates of the city. The huge entrance was already open to the morning tradesman and merchants. She walked up the city listening to the buyers and sellers in the bustle of the market that seemed to span the whole first layer. She continued through the next gate and then the next till she made her way the palace. It glowed a brilliant white and when she ventured in she could see off to one side the white tree in the palace garden, resisting the temptation to stop she continued to a large pair of doors which she suspected lead into the throne room. Beside them stood a porter and two guards, one of whom was catching a morning nap.
"Hey Gilden, wake up!" the other called out to his partner. "It's the new translator, from what I've heard she's a real wild fire, weilds those blades of hers like a whirlwind of terror. Oh, how dos you dos miss, sorry about my friend here, he gets a bittired this early in the morning. Go right in the Lady's are waiting for you."
"Thank you," Kesteral replied as the porter opened the large doors to reveal a grand room set with many chairs. Nat the back sat two women, Arwen in the center and Éowyn at her right. They where talking quietly before noticing she had arrived.
"Kesteral of Orthanc, we have been hoping to visit you. My husband sent word of his request of you, I am not too sure what I can do too help, but Éowyn believes she ca help you." Arwen greeted.
"From what Aragorn, has written I suspect you will need to know some unarmed combat. I taught myself to fight without blades when Worm Tongue served in my uncle's court. We where not allowed to bear arms, but with Grima's constant approaches, I felt I would eventually need to defend myself. Eventually I did decide to conceal a blade in my dress though, when his approaches grew more violent." Eowyn told her, "I need you to change into some more suitable clothing, I belive I have some dresses of my daughter's still that may fit you. There's no use learning how to fight in a gown with out wearing one. I will go and fetch it, Arwen can tell you a bit of what she knows, and doubtless she has a few words of wisdom for you." Éowyn got up and left through a small door in the corner of the room, Kesteral was left with the one women she dearly wished to speak too, a half- elf who like she would had chosen mortality.
Chapter 12
Kesteral flung herself into her tent, in a desperate attempt to escape her confusion. She closed the flaps behind her and lay down on her blanket gathering her thoughts. How could he even ask me, we just met? She sat up and began to remove her armor. Then again, maybe we are meant to be together, both of us feel the same, both of us feel connected, but even if I did say yes there is no possible way we could marry, not after I marry the emperor, it wouldn't be the same. Why did this have to happen right after I agreed to go to the Haradwaith. When I was first asked if binding myself to Pharazon was a problem, it wasn't like I had feelings for someone, it passed my mind of coarse, but it didn't really matter. Then Dernhelm had to come along and. listen to me, support me and worst of all he told me how he felt. Now I do have feelings for someone, feelings I can't get rid of. Oh, but I do wish to marry him, to be loved. I could decline Elessar request, but his hope is in me, Éomer's hope is in me, Dernhelm's too, not to mention everyone else's. Valar, why do my decisions have to have such consequences? Why must I meet the man of my dreams right after I agree to give my heart to a monster, to spend eternity living with a man I will wed, only to kill him? She threw her helmet on the ground in frustration. "Is this some sort of curse as punishment for leaving home, because if it is, I'll go back?!" She cried out to no one before breaking into tears. I have agreed to the king's request, now I must fulfill it or be haunted with a guilty heart for eternity. I hope Dernhelm will understand. Besides if we did marry what would our children be like? Short little boys with pointed ears, they'd be little monsters them selves." With this she fell into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning she awoke at first light and remembered the King's command to visit Arwen and Éowyn at the Palace. She found that she had slept with her mail and jerkin still on. Her leg guards where half off and her helmet lay on the ground beside it was her belt. Picking them up she left her tent and sat by the camp fire to put them on. One of the cooks handed her a piece of bread and a cup of mead, she took them gladly. When she got back she would need to find Dernhelm and tell him her decision. After eating she made her way through the camp to the gates of the city. The huge entrance was already open to the morning tradesman and merchants. She walked up the city listening to the buyers and sellers in the bustle of the market that seemed to span the whole first layer. She continued through the next gate and then the next till she made her way the palace. It glowed a brilliant white and when she ventured in she could see off to one side the white tree in the palace garden, resisting the temptation to stop she continued to a large pair of doors which she suspected lead into the throne room. Beside them stood a porter and two guards, one of whom was catching a morning nap.
"Hey Gilden, wake up!" the other called out to his partner. "It's the new translator, from what I've heard she's a real wild fire, weilds those blades of hers like a whirlwind of terror. Oh, how dos you dos miss, sorry about my friend here, he gets a bittired this early in the morning. Go right in the Lady's are waiting for you."
"Thank you," Kesteral replied as the porter opened the large doors to reveal a grand room set with many chairs. Nat the back sat two women, Arwen in the center and Éowyn at her right. They where talking quietly before noticing she had arrived.
"Kesteral of Orthanc, we have been hoping to visit you. My husband sent word of his request of you, I am not too sure what I can do too help, but Éowyn believes she ca help you." Arwen greeted.
"From what Aragorn, has written I suspect you will need to know some unarmed combat. I taught myself to fight without blades when Worm Tongue served in my uncle's court. We where not allowed to bear arms, but with Grima's constant approaches, I felt I would eventually need to defend myself. Eventually I did decide to conceal a blade in my dress though, when his approaches grew more violent." Eowyn told her, "I need you to change into some more suitable clothing, I belive I have some dresses of my daughter's still that may fit you. There's no use learning how to fight in a gown with out wearing one. I will go and fetch it, Arwen can tell you a bit of what she knows, and doubtless she has a few words of wisdom for you." Éowyn got up and left through a small door in the corner of the room, Kesteral was left with the one women she dearly wished to speak too, a half- elf who like she would had chosen mortality.