Campdóm and Lufian.
Well, my work in the kitchen is done. The stew is not much but 'twill sustain us for a few more days. Halig has been longer on patrol than usual. He left me with enough coin, but the future is ever uncertain and I must needs keep some ...in case....no... "Think not such morbid thoughts," I chide myself. He will return. He will.
I sigh and leave the kitchen. Our daughter Darelle sits with her dolls, playing happily. She misses her Papa so, and I...well never have I liked being alone in that great bed. Not without my love resting beside me. But, I endure these absences, for without the strength of arms and courage of our brave riders our country would be over-run.
A sound outside the window causes both of us to raise our heads. Darelle smiles suddenly, leaping off her chair and scattering her toys. "Papa!" she cries, as she dashes outside to meet him.
He is home and safe. I collect myself afore joining them. He is spinning Darelle round and the sound of their laughter brings tears to my eyes. He sees me. Oh my love, how weary you look.
He beckons me forward, and the feel of his hands upon my shoulders and his gentle caress is enough to almost make me weak. He is back and he will be mine only this night. He grants me but a simple kiss, which is enough for the moment.
I tell him there is water heating and a warm stew for supper.
When he tells me he will merely wash in a bowl I inform him that his scent is much worse than a rain-drenched warg, whilst giving him a pointed look. If he thinks he will bed me smelling so he is sorely mistaken.
Halig insists on helping me fill the metal tub. I leave him then, assuring him of privacy. If I stay any longer I fear I would yield to him. That will come later, although I see the disappointment on his face as I leave our bed-chamber.
Darelle is patiently sitting at the table. I pour the stew into a pot and stir it over the fire.
Halig enters the room. I glance at him, he looks so different when not in armour, but still carries himself well.
I tell him the stew is ready and serve it. Halig takes a spoonful and looks at me his face unreadable for the moment. I know 'tis not much, but we manage. Had I known of his return today there would have been a much grander table set for my husband. Oh! He frowns, he likes not the supper, but on seeing him smile again I feel easier in my mind. Tomorrow will see a supper fit for Theoden King.
Darelle is the happiest of children as her Papa takes sees to her rest. Her eyes have never left his face since his return. She will sleep well tonight, in the knowledge that her beloved father shares the same roof...and I have to admit so will I.
Well this will not get the dishes cleared and washed. I hum a little tune as I finish the chores, and my heart is glad at the sound of the two voices coming from Darelles bed-chamber. I hear Halig promise to play with her tomorrow. I smile at this. My husband is a powerful man, a warrior through and through, but ever gentle with his child.
I meet Halig in the hall. His gaze is tender, eyes dark with desire. A delicious chill runs through me at the thought.
We are alone. I must touch him. I must know that he is whole and hale. I rub his chest and cannot help myself to brush past his breeches. I need him.
"You certainly are eager," he says playfully
I smile up into his dear face, "And you are not?" I reply, knowing full well how aroused he is. He kisses me, teasing kisses that melt my bones. I had quite a few suitors before Halig, but no man can compare to him. He is my love and my life.
We walk into our bedchamber and I quickly divest my husband of his tunic. "What is this?" I cry, my eyes fixed upon a new scar on his chest Oh that he was hurt and I knew not: in pain and I could not care for him and relieve his suffering. He tells me there is no need to fret, but I do worry. Every time he is on patrol. Every time he raises sword and spear in battle. How can I not?
Suddenly though he trips and falls onto the bed and in his foolery pulls me atop him. I cannot help but giggle at this, and he joins me in laughter.
Then we are kissing again as I feel his caresses upon my body. My blood turns to fire as I react to his touch, and know he is now well aroused from my own ministrations.
This will go no further whist I am clothed. I undress, aware that he is watching my every move as I slowly remove each piece of garment. He is patient as I do so but I know my husband, his patience is not endless and I cannot be so cruel as to cause him discomfort if I prolong this teasing act. He divests himself of his breeches as I move to lie beside him and our bodies touch.
His mouth and tongue blaze a path across my breasts, his hands create an unstoppable tension deep within me. I love the feel of those strong hands: the rough calluses brushing over my most sensitive places. I can stand no more. I want him. I need him within me.
"Take me husband," I whimper. He nestles over me and fills me slowly. Oh, the feeling is almost too much. I raise my hips to meet every gentle thrust from him and I start to tremble, the feelings strong and unstoppable. Soon I feel his body tense and I lose myself in his maleness, clenching round his thighs and crying his name in my throes. I feel my love shuddering under his own release, and I revel in hearing my name whispered with love upon his lips.
This closeness afterwards is always so precious, as I cradle him in my arms, his own body still trembling from his excursions. He is spent now and not just from our love-making. The last weeks have been hard, the battles trying and wearying. He sleeps within my embrace. Home again.
'Tis morn, and I stretch to wake myself fully. Halig is not there. On rubbing my hand over the sheet I realize he has not been long out of bed, and the dull sound of logs being split tells me where he is.
"Pity", I giggle. I would have loved a repeat performance of the night before...but Darelle might have been roused and disturbed us.
I smile to myself and hastily get dressed to prepare breakfast for us. I enter the kitchen and find that Halig has hewn enough kindling to last us for days. I silently watch as he builds a fire, and when he notices I am standing beside him he rises and gently kisses me. I ask him to wake our daughter and this he readily does. He loves her so.
I prepare a good breakfast for all of us. Halig is a big man with an appetite to match. "And not only for food." I muse, blushing slightly at my wanton thoughts.
Soon we are all tucking in to bowls of good porridge.
I have a hard day ahead of me and depart to meet with the other women of the village. I leave Darelle with her Papa, her face alight with joy to be spending some time with him.
The coin left from my husband's last visit will see a feast for all. Many of my neighbours gladly assist me in the butchery and preparation of such. Older girls watch the young ones as we work, some of them deftly plucking the fowls that will be roasted along with other sweetmeats.
My neighbour, Huilda, sits by my side as I prepare the sauces and seasonings for the food.
"Hailg is home then," she nudges me and winks. "I thought you looked tired this morn. Not much sleep, eh," she sniggers, causing others to look my way and smirk.
"Aye Huilda, and glad I am that he is beside me once more...if only for a short time."
She notices my sad expression at the thought of his departure, and pulls me down into her amble bosom. "Tis the way of things, child. Women must ever remain to tend the house while the men are away to fight. 'Tis almost as they enjoy it that way."
A few more voices join in after hearing our words.
"Men...huh! A quick grope and hump and 'tis over. I never enjoyed the act"
"Oh, I don't know, my Denulf is always most attentive to my pleasure"
"Well, it is most overestimated in my opinion. They get thepleasure, we pick up thepieces, bearing childrenand looking to their needs..I did care for my husband ..and when he fell in battle I mourned him, but never felt the need to wed again. I can live happily without a man in my life, thank Bema.
"Oh," I add, "I could never want for a better husband but...." sudden tears form in my eyes. "I do worry so..he is ever a warrior and for this I do fret."
"Well tonight he will dine well, as will all our men...he will return Rowen." I smile at my friend and wipe the unshed tears away with the back of my hand.
This is the time when gossip is rife as we bake and prepare delicious fare for our men-folk and families. A new face joins our group, kneading a mountain of dough with much ferocity and scowling deeply as she does so.
"Why the face, Beorwyn?" inquires Huilda, ever the one to jump feet first.
Beorwyn stops her insistent pummelling and sighs, "'Tis my eldest, Edlyn. She returned home last night, home from her husband."
Gasps went round the circle. Edlyn was but recently wed, a matter of a week.
"But why?" many women inquire.
Beorwyn smiles a little, "Oh, she has returned to him, her father, took her straight back this morn. 'Tis why I am late. Seems she liked not the marriage bed. Took one look of her husband naked and fled sobbing to the privy. Sigbert is a patient man, but will not wait forever to consummate the marriage, if she minds him not this night she will be released from their union. Her father was furious and 'twas all I could do to stop him from striking her. I sent him to the tavern whilst we had a talk about things."
Laughter filled the air as the talk turned a little bawdy. Most women fall to discussing this issue and much comparison is made about their husbands' anatomy and first impressions. I recall my own bridal night, how I remember feeling the same...but my love was gentle and tender with me. Indeed 'twas a most 'interesting' night. I feel my face redden slightly, and not due to all the cooking that surrounds me.
"I notice your lips are silent, Rowen," Huilda teases, with laughter, nudging me once again.
"I shall refrain, ladies." I say, "I do not want to make you all jealous." I grin broadly as shrieks of laughter ring through the kitchen.
The day passes quickly and on my return I find that Halig and Darelle have partaken of some stew and have both left to wander among the greensward.
'Tis a most delightful place we dwell within, though sometimes I feel Halig would prefer to live within the boundaries of Aldburg itself, under the protection of Lord Eomer. I like this place, but if my husband requests that we move I shall follow him gladly. For he ever cares about his family and if my suspicions are true there will be another little one to care for after the yule celebration. I am certain he will want to be close by once he realizes I am with child again.
Now I have the table set with many varied dishes awaiting thereupon. I am quite tired after my chores but feel as excited as a young maid as I listen for the return of my husband and child. Footsteps and voices outside signal their arrival, "I am glad the two of you returned when you did," I say. "I just finished setting the table, and I was afraid the food would grow cold before you got back. Where did you go?"
Darelle chattered about riding out of the village on Cyrten and she gave me a beautiful daisy chain. "Oh it is adorable! Thank you." I place it on my head as they both follow me into the kitchen. Darelle's eyes were as wide as the Entwash as she walked round the table gazing at the food...but why is Halig looking so..."How? Why?..." he says, his face quite stern...I feel my hands involuntary clench...have I done aught wrong?...I only want to please my love...to care for him as a good wife should.. and to love him...sudden tears fill my eyes. "I..I wanted you to have a real meal, after the poor excuse for supper...I was over at Huilda's all day cooking, and all helped me."
He smiles and my world is sunshine again.
We dine well this eve and others shall benefit as well. Ever we share our food and good fortune. We are close in this community and look to our own.
As Darelle and I clear the table and wash the dishes, my beloved takes the air and smokes his pipe. He knows I am not in favour of him smoking in the house. The weed is strong and lingers for hours.
After I settle our daughter for the night I enjoy the luxury of a rest. Soon I am joined by Halig and feel his arm around me as we cuddle close. I could stay within these strong arms forever more. We talk and I feel tiredness creeping slowly upon my, my eye-lids feel so heavy.....
I awaken in the cold dawn. He sleeps still, I will awaken him not..not for a while. He leaves this day back to rejoin the Eored. I indulge myself a little while longer and simply watch my husband as he sleeps. I reach out a hand to caress his long shaggy mane, his firm jaw and full lips. I reach over and plant a ghost of a kiss upon them, feeling my eyes mist over a little. Our time together has been too short. Eru knows when we shall be together again, when I shall lie once more in his embrace, feel his arms around me, inhale his masculine scent...and surrender myself to his touch.
I light the kitchen fire and as the water is boiling I see to cleaning his armour, and set it ready for him to don when he rises. Soon the sausages are ready and I return to check if he has roused from our marriage bed.
On opening the door, I hold my breath and see my husband dressed once more in his armour. "Good morning," I say, as his gaze travels my body.
"It certainly is now," he says after a pause..
My voice is weak, "I came to tell you that breakfast is ready," my words trail off, my legs are trembling, my heart pounding....He walks to me, his eyes dark yet gleaming and I feel myself melt as he takes me in his arms. And I am powerless to resist....I do not want to resist.
"I love you. I need you..." he growls, caressing my bottom with a teasing touch. His kisses are hungry and he raises my skirts to take me as we stand.
"Then have me," I gasp. I feel a rush of desire flood through me as his hands hold my buttocks to guide himself firmly into my trembling body...such strength within those arms, as his hardness impales me. I wrap my legs round his waist and he thrusts convulsively as our lips meet feverishly.
Soon my world is one of hard metal and tender bliss. The cold armour under my thighs increases my pleasure as my lips cry words that no lady should use to urge my love to more heights of pleasure. And he gives me more as we ride together and care not that our cries are loud and ecstatic in our mutual and extremely satisfying climax.
Then we are both breathing heavy, trying to concentrate on where we are and who we are. "I love you," I whisper, over and over...
I feel his lips rain kisses over my face as he slowly releases me and slips out of my body. He gently lowers me to the floor and steadies me, as my limbs seem not to want to support my satiated frame.
"Please say I have not harmed thee, my love.." he says with concern. To ease his mind I smile at him to show my love. "Rowen," he whispers, sending a thrill down my spine. "I want none other than thee, and I shall return I promise, my beloved."
I lean within his arms feeling his heart pounding. There is no other place I would rather be, no other man I would lay with. We remain so for long minutes and I revel in the strength and power that surrounds me.
"Your meal is growing cold," I whisper, as he dons his sword belt.
"I care not," he replies and holds out his hand to mine. He grins as I feel his large calloused hand surround mine. We enter the kitchen together, and I see his eyes take in the generous plate of sausages and eggs waiting on the table.
"You are too good to me," he says, leaning over for a kiss, and then sits down to tuck into his breakfast. "I really must do something special for you," he adds. I feel he wants an answer from this remark, but my heart is too full to speak at the moment. No greater pleasure I would have in this world is that that my husband should return to me, alive and whole. That is all I wish for...to hope for. He finishes eating and I rise. "I will awaken Darelle," I say, planting a soft kiss upon his lips.
And now he is gone again, gone to fight for his kin and homeland. And fight he will to preserve all that he loves.
Darelle weeps silently in my arms, after her Papa has left, and I rub my belly in hope and expectation of the new life that is growing within.
'Fare you well and return soon, my beloved.'
The End.
Campdóm and Lufian Duty and Love.