Thanks for the reviews :) once more. I've never had this many before! Lady
scribe of avandell – Thanks for pointing out it wasn't clear. I went back
and changed it, but so you don't have to go back. Archanion is the land
that belongs to the estate of Mayda's family (the estate Maydir is
pretending he owns) – He was in fact lying, he ran to save his skin.
The heir of Théodred
Chapter Nine
Éomer had ridden out into the dark angrily, had Lothiriel waited any longer to follow him she would never had picked up his trail. The moon gave enough light to follow the faint trail that Éomer's steed had left. Mainly the young Amrothian followed the sound of the horse galloping away in front of her. Their horses were similarly matched in speed, as most of the Rohirric horses were, the lords of all horses. Eventually after an hour's chase Éomer's fury waned enough to let his wife catch up with him in the moonlight.
As the young queen pulled alongside her husband she reached out and took his hand, grasping it to calm him even more. Her touch always soothed his temper and this time was no different, though the disappointment and pain remained. Éomer sighed deeply and placed his other hand on top of Lothiriel's. He caught her gaze and smiled lovingly at her.
"What would I do without you my love?" he asked softly. Lothiriel feigned an expression of deep thought.
"You would probably end up somewhere beyond the sea of Rhûn before your temper and pride gave in," she eventually suggested. Éomer laughed heartily and kissed her slender fingers one by one.
"And become subject to torture and agony by the wretched Easterlings," he finished.
"Something to that accord, yes," his wife giggled and she swung one leg over her saddle. With a firm helping hand from Éomer she swung herself from her steed to his and settled herself behind him, before she wrapped her arms around his strong chest and rested her head on his back.
"I am much happier with this arrangement," the king eventually said, his voice resonating deeply in his chest, allowing the queen a small smile of affection. She listened to the faint beating of his heart and silently agreed with him, thinking for the thousandth time that she could not be happier than when she was when she was with him.
"We will get her back," the young woman eventually said softly. Éomer chuckled sardonically and shook his head.
"What will remain of her when we do, I dare not think," he muttered. At this Lothiriel lifted her face and stared at the back of her husband's head.
"You have reason to believe he has harmed her?" she asked sounding shocked. She would have expected if this had been the case, he would never had posed Mayda with the choice of allowing Maydir to stay. "What did you see when you went swimming?" Éomer shook his head sadly remembering the poor battered child.
"Many faint scars, none recent enough to have occurred since we found her," he explained. "She has not been touched since I brought her to safety!" This as much gave him some peace of mind. " She told me it was orcs."
"Perhaps Maydir then is undeserving of our malice towards him," his wife said softly, rubbing his shoulders in an attempt to ease his tension. " Though he does not act as an innocent man."
"No he does not." The couple fell into silence one more and Lothiriel rested her face once more, and they remained so for many hours, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's presence, an unspoken love and friendship passing between them.
X X X
Mayda stared at her uncle in surprise, what was this new form of wickedness? Or was Maydir's kindness genuine. He had not shouted, he had not lashed out, no, he had simply wished her well and goodnight. Brow furrowed deeply with suspicion, the girl did not need telling twice and she ran from his sight. The heavily packed great hall was heaving with the return of an éored from the north. Nobody noticed the small form slinking between them and creeping out into the fresh night. She slipped away down the steep slope towards the city wall and had soon made her way out of the sleepy village into the wild.
She knew full well that she was breaking her uncle's rule of not stepping foot outside the village past nightfall, but the girl desperately needed to pour her heart out to the howe that housed her passed father. It was not rare for wolves to come close to Edoras at night seeking out the stray sheep that the shepherds let graze on the plains surrounding the village. Aware of this danger Mayda still treaded her well-paced route and she sat down on the gentle slope of the hillock.
"If you were here then no one would be arguing over me," she muttered sadly, pulling up a couple of weeds. "Can't you come back?" She looked up hopefully, but of course, the night remained silent around her. " Couldn't you tell Eru he made a mistake? Maybe I will tell him." The warm wind rushed around her, bringing to the child the scent of flowers from far away lands. She lay down and looked up at the stars, looking for the constellations her father had taught her many years ago. The wind picked up its pace and Mayda could have sworn she heard a familiar haunting tune carried on the soft breeze. With a smile the child began to sing the ancient lamenting song Eowyn had taught her the night before.
It was her soft singing that caught the attention of Éomer and Lothiriel many hours later on their return to Edoras. Éomer looked outraged for a moment at Mayda's disobedience and the risk she had placed herself in, but Lothiriel quickly reached out and touched his hand.
"I will go to her," she said softly. "She has come to no harm." Sighing the king nodded and waited for Lothiriel to dismount her horse before leading the young stallion back up to the stables. As for the young queen, she softly paced the worn path to where her niece lay watching her. Within no time Lothiriel sat at her side and lay down to look up at the stars alongside the child.
After a long silence, and realising that she was not in trouble, Mayda continued with her song. After many repetitions Lothiriel grew curious.
"What is this song you sing? It sounds sad," she said softly.
"It comes from ages past...my father sand it to me..."
X X X
As the weeks began to pass Mayda did not revert back into her fearful self, as Maydir was surprisingly pleasant to his niece, even when they found themselves alone. Éomer and Lothiriel were well aware of his good nature and they began to wonder whether they had jumped to conclusions in accusing him of all sorts of wicked things.
A joyous event was approaching. Lady Arwen, queen of Gondor, had just given birth to a son, the heir of the throne. The presentation of Prince Eldarion was promising to be quite the event as many old friends were travelling to the Minas Tirith for the celebrations. Mayda was terribly excited to be returning to Gondor and pestered everyone she could find about the plans for their departure.
On the morning before they were due to set out Lothiriel was surprised to find Mayda was absent from breakfast. Excusing herself she headed through the corridors until finally she heard a faint coughing sound. Frowning, she sped up her pace until she had located the sound was coming from Mayda's chambers. She quickly knocked before rushing in to find the bedroom empty, though she did notice the air felt stale and there was a strange acrid scent about.
"Mayda?" Lothiriel called.
" Auntie..." a pained sound came from the bathroom, followed by the unpleasant sound of the girl being sick.
"Oh my darling, you are ill," Lothiriel cried dismayed. " I am going to fetch the healer!" Within ten minutes she was back with the elderly medicine woman of the village. By now Mayda had finished retching and had found her way back into her sweat-soaked sheets by the time that three people filed into her room. On Lothiriel's return to the golden hall she had encountered Éomer who looked incredibly worried to hear of Mayda's condition.
Lothiriel held back the child's very anxious uncle while the healer checked her over, but finally the old woman stepped backwards, allowing Éomer access. He rushed to the little girl's side and sat down taking her cold hand in his. Meanwhile the healer was discussing her condition with Lothiriel. By the time the healer left to concoct a drought, Lothiriel was looking grave. Mayda looked at her through her swollen eyelids and felt her heart sink.
"Auntie?" she croaked.
"The healer is going to try her best to make you better by tomorrow my darling, but..." Lothiriel paused and shook her head. " I don't think you will be well enough to go." Mayda groaned and threw her blankets off herself angrily, but she instantly regretted it as she started shivering violently. Éomer smiled tiredly at her before tucking her in again.
"Does she know the cause of this illness?" he asked his wife. Lothiriel shook her head and frowned.
"It is most strange, she says that the shade of Mayda's skin is too grey, she thinks this suggests poisoning of some sort, though from where she cannot say," Lothiriel explained sitting down beside Éomer on the edge of the bed.
"Have you eaten anything while out on your adventures?" Éomer asked. Mayda shook her head earnestly. "No berries or..."
"No," Mayda whined and she started coughing again. " Can I still go to Minas Tirith even if I am sick?" Lothiriel smiled sweetly and shook her head.
"By no means will I allow you to travel if you are sick my darling," she said sympathetically stroking the girl's hair away from her face. " There will be other times to visit Gondor!" Angry tears welled up in Mayda's eyes and she turned away from aunt and uncle. Éomer smiled and kissed her forehead before getting to his feet and ushering Lothiriel out.
"What are we to do with her?" he asked.
"There is nothing we can do my love," Lothiriel said gently. "Neither you or I can miss the presentation of Prince Eldarion. It would be most inappropriate."
"But she cannot remain alone," Éomer countered. Lothiriel shook her head and bit her lip in thought.
"Maydir," she suddenly said. Éomer shook his head quickly.
"Oh no!"
"My darling, you said yourself not two days ago that he seems to be a most loving uncle to Mayda," she said pleadingly.
"Yes, I said he seems," Éomer grumbled crossing his arms petulantly. " That does not mean that he is." Lothiriel smiled fondly at his behaviour and reached out to touch his arm.
"Even Mayda does not fear him anymore," she said gently.
"Perhaps not when we are never too far away, but how will she feel when we announce she must spend two weeks alone with him?" Éomer asked.
"We do not have a choice my love, neither of us can remain with her and it would pain me to think she was alone." Éomer sighed and nodded. Even though he didn't like it, Lothiriel was right. Neither of them could stay, and even Maydir was better than no one at all.
"Very well, I shall go ask him."
X X X
Needless to say Maydir was very concerned to hear his niece was ill and before Éomer posed the question he asked if he be allowed to remain behind to care for her. With a sigh Éomer had agreed and now stood outside the girl's room as he heard Maydir expressing his concerns to her in person. He scowled, despite his recent show of good nature; there was still something very untrustworthy about the man. He waited a long time before Maydir finally left the room. Once the other man's footsteps had died away he entered the room and found his niece looking far from angry, tearful or afraid. In some way this annoyed him and he couldn't figure out why. Although to others his jealousy was clear as day.
"How do you feel to be left behind with your uncle?" Éomer asked stiffly hovering by the door. The child looked to him sickly and shrugged her shoulders.
"I would rather come," she croaked. " But as I cannot, his remaining behind does not bother me." She coughed slightly and closed her eyes tiredly. "Uncle Éomer?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me a story," she ordered weakly. "One about you and papa when you were young!" Éomer smiled despite his mood and sat down in the armchair beside the bed. He wracked his brain for one he had not told her yet, as initially she had pestered him daily for stories about her father and their youth. Suddenly a funny tale popped into his head and he settled down to tell his niece of a series of events involving a wager, Eowyn and a herd of cows that saw both Théodred and Éomer parading through Edoras in a pair of dresses.
X X X
The party setting out from Edoras was very subdued the next day in the absence of the young princess. Mayda had showed definite improvement overnight, but was nowhere near well enough to travel. So she waved them off with tears stinging at her eyes until they were long out of sight. Eventually she headed back to her room and to her surprise found Maydir waiting for her in the armchair.
"Hello uncle," she said cautiously, wondering why he had come. She had climbed gingerly back into her bed before he spoke.
"There is something I wish to discuss with you." His tone showed none of the pleasantness he had shown her the last three weeks. He seemed oddly serious.
"What is it?" Mayda asked even more cautiously, a spark of fear making her shudder. She pushed it away however, thinking he had changed, she just knew he had.
"It is about your rejection of the throne." Mayda's eyes grew wide and she pulled back into her pillows. Feeling a surge of courage, she looked suddenly stubborn and stuck her chin out into the air.
"And I stand by it," she stated firmly. Maydir remained silent. " What of it?" she eventually asked impatiently.
"You are going to reconsider your decision..."
X X X
More to come soon. Sorry I didn't update yesterday, was up to my elbows with paint (quite literally), I was helping my mother's class paint a huge panorama and then I crashed into bed the second I got home from exhaustion.
The heir of Théodred
Chapter Nine
Éomer had ridden out into the dark angrily, had Lothiriel waited any longer to follow him she would never had picked up his trail. The moon gave enough light to follow the faint trail that Éomer's steed had left. Mainly the young Amrothian followed the sound of the horse galloping away in front of her. Their horses were similarly matched in speed, as most of the Rohirric horses were, the lords of all horses. Eventually after an hour's chase Éomer's fury waned enough to let his wife catch up with him in the moonlight.
As the young queen pulled alongside her husband she reached out and took his hand, grasping it to calm him even more. Her touch always soothed his temper and this time was no different, though the disappointment and pain remained. Éomer sighed deeply and placed his other hand on top of Lothiriel's. He caught her gaze and smiled lovingly at her.
"What would I do without you my love?" he asked softly. Lothiriel feigned an expression of deep thought.
"You would probably end up somewhere beyond the sea of Rhûn before your temper and pride gave in," she eventually suggested. Éomer laughed heartily and kissed her slender fingers one by one.
"And become subject to torture and agony by the wretched Easterlings," he finished.
"Something to that accord, yes," his wife giggled and she swung one leg over her saddle. With a firm helping hand from Éomer she swung herself from her steed to his and settled herself behind him, before she wrapped her arms around his strong chest and rested her head on his back.
"I am much happier with this arrangement," the king eventually said, his voice resonating deeply in his chest, allowing the queen a small smile of affection. She listened to the faint beating of his heart and silently agreed with him, thinking for the thousandth time that she could not be happier than when she was when she was with him.
"We will get her back," the young woman eventually said softly. Éomer chuckled sardonically and shook his head.
"What will remain of her when we do, I dare not think," he muttered. At this Lothiriel lifted her face and stared at the back of her husband's head.
"You have reason to believe he has harmed her?" she asked sounding shocked. She would have expected if this had been the case, he would never had posed Mayda with the choice of allowing Maydir to stay. "What did you see when you went swimming?" Éomer shook his head sadly remembering the poor battered child.
"Many faint scars, none recent enough to have occurred since we found her," he explained. "She has not been touched since I brought her to safety!" This as much gave him some peace of mind. " She told me it was orcs."
"Perhaps Maydir then is undeserving of our malice towards him," his wife said softly, rubbing his shoulders in an attempt to ease his tension. " Though he does not act as an innocent man."
"No he does not." The couple fell into silence one more and Lothiriel rested her face once more, and they remained so for many hours, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's presence, an unspoken love and friendship passing between them.
X X X
Mayda stared at her uncle in surprise, what was this new form of wickedness? Or was Maydir's kindness genuine. He had not shouted, he had not lashed out, no, he had simply wished her well and goodnight. Brow furrowed deeply with suspicion, the girl did not need telling twice and she ran from his sight. The heavily packed great hall was heaving with the return of an éored from the north. Nobody noticed the small form slinking between them and creeping out into the fresh night. She slipped away down the steep slope towards the city wall and had soon made her way out of the sleepy village into the wild.
She knew full well that she was breaking her uncle's rule of not stepping foot outside the village past nightfall, but the girl desperately needed to pour her heart out to the howe that housed her passed father. It was not rare for wolves to come close to Edoras at night seeking out the stray sheep that the shepherds let graze on the plains surrounding the village. Aware of this danger Mayda still treaded her well-paced route and she sat down on the gentle slope of the hillock.
"If you were here then no one would be arguing over me," she muttered sadly, pulling up a couple of weeds. "Can't you come back?" She looked up hopefully, but of course, the night remained silent around her. " Couldn't you tell Eru he made a mistake? Maybe I will tell him." The warm wind rushed around her, bringing to the child the scent of flowers from far away lands. She lay down and looked up at the stars, looking for the constellations her father had taught her many years ago. The wind picked up its pace and Mayda could have sworn she heard a familiar haunting tune carried on the soft breeze. With a smile the child began to sing the ancient lamenting song Eowyn had taught her the night before.
It was her soft singing that caught the attention of Éomer and Lothiriel many hours later on their return to Edoras. Éomer looked outraged for a moment at Mayda's disobedience and the risk she had placed herself in, but Lothiriel quickly reached out and touched his hand.
"I will go to her," she said softly. "She has come to no harm." Sighing the king nodded and waited for Lothiriel to dismount her horse before leading the young stallion back up to the stables. As for the young queen, she softly paced the worn path to where her niece lay watching her. Within no time Lothiriel sat at her side and lay down to look up at the stars alongside the child.
After a long silence, and realising that she was not in trouble, Mayda continued with her song. After many repetitions Lothiriel grew curious.
"What is this song you sing? It sounds sad," she said softly.
"It comes from ages past...my father sand it to me..."
X X X
As the weeks began to pass Mayda did not revert back into her fearful self, as Maydir was surprisingly pleasant to his niece, even when they found themselves alone. Éomer and Lothiriel were well aware of his good nature and they began to wonder whether they had jumped to conclusions in accusing him of all sorts of wicked things.
A joyous event was approaching. Lady Arwen, queen of Gondor, had just given birth to a son, the heir of the throne. The presentation of Prince Eldarion was promising to be quite the event as many old friends were travelling to the Minas Tirith for the celebrations. Mayda was terribly excited to be returning to Gondor and pestered everyone she could find about the plans for their departure.
On the morning before they were due to set out Lothiriel was surprised to find Mayda was absent from breakfast. Excusing herself she headed through the corridors until finally she heard a faint coughing sound. Frowning, she sped up her pace until she had located the sound was coming from Mayda's chambers. She quickly knocked before rushing in to find the bedroom empty, though she did notice the air felt stale and there was a strange acrid scent about.
"Mayda?" Lothiriel called.
" Auntie..." a pained sound came from the bathroom, followed by the unpleasant sound of the girl being sick.
"Oh my darling, you are ill," Lothiriel cried dismayed. " I am going to fetch the healer!" Within ten minutes she was back with the elderly medicine woman of the village. By now Mayda had finished retching and had found her way back into her sweat-soaked sheets by the time that three people filed into her room. On Lothiriel's return to the golden hall she had encountered Éomer who looked incredibly worried to hear of Mayda's condition.
Lothiriel held back the child's very anxious uncle while the healer checked her over, but finally the old woman stepped backwards, allowing Éomer access. He rushed to the little girl's side and sat down taking her cold hand in his. Meanwhile the healer was discussing her condition with Lothiriel. By the time the healer left to concoct a drought, Lothiriel was looking grave. Mayda looked at her through her swollen eyelids and felt her heart sink.
"Auntie?" she croaked.
"The healer is going to try her best to make you better by tomorrow my darling, but..." Lothiriel paused and shook her head. " I don't think you will be well enough to go." Mayda groaned and threw her blankets off herself angrily, but she instantly regretted it as she started shivering violently. Éomer smiled tiredly at her before tucking her in again.
"Does she know the cause of this illness?" he asked his wife. Lothiriel shook her head and frowned.
"It is most strange, she says that the shade of Mayda's skin is too grey, she thinks this suggests poisoning of some sort, though from where she cannot say," Lothiriel explained sitting down beside Éomer on the edge of the bed.
"Have you eaten anything while out on your adventures?" Éomer asked. Mayda shook her head earnestly. "No berries or..."
"No," Mayda whined and she started coughing again. " Can I still go to Minas Tirith even if I am sick?" Lothiriel smiled sweetly and shook her head.
"By no means will I allow you to travel if you are sick my darling," she said sympathetically stroking the girl's hair away from her face. " There will be other times to visit Gondor!" Angry tears welled up in Mayda's eyes and she turned away from aunt and uncle. Éomer smiled and kissed her forehead before getting to his feet and ushering Lothiriel out.
"What are we to do with her?" he asked.
"There is nothing we can do my love," Lothiriel said gently. "Neither you or I can miss the presentation of Prince Eldarion. It would be most inappropriate."
"But she cannot remain alone," Éomer countered. Lothiriel shook her head and bit her lip in thought.
"Maydir," she suddenly said. Éomer shook his head quickly.
"Oh no!"
"My darling, you said yourself not two days ago that he seems to be a most loving uncle to Mayda," she said pleadingly.
"Yes, I said he seems," Éomer grumbled crossing his arms petulantly. " That does not mean that he is." Lothiriel smiled fondly at his behaviour and reached out to touch his arm.
"Even Mayda does not fear him anymore," she said gently.
"Perhaps not when we are never too far away, but how will she feel when we announce she must spend two weeks alone with him?" Éomer asked.
"We do not have a choice my love, neither of us can remain with her and it would pain me to think she was alone." Éomer sighed and nodded. Even though he didn't like it, Lothiriel was right. Neither of them could stay, and even Maydir was better than no one at all.
"Very well, I shall go ask him."
X X X
Needless to say Maydir was very concerned to hear his niece was ill and before Éomer posed the question he asked if he be allowed to remain behind to care for her. With a sigh Éomer had agreed and now stood outside the girl's room as he heard Maydir expressing his concerns to her in person. He scowled, despite his recent show of good nature; there was still something very untrustworthy about the man. He waited a long time before Maydir finally left the room. Once the other man's footsteps had died away he entered the room and found his niece looking far from angry, tearful or afraid. In some way this annoyed him and he couldn't figure out why. Although to others his jealousy was clear as day.
"How do you feel to be left behind with your uncle?" Éomer asked stiffly hovering by the door. The child looked to him sickly and shrugged her shoulders.
"I would rather come," she croaked. " But as I cannot, his remaining behind does not bother me." She coughed slightly and closed her eyes tiredly. "Uncle Éomer?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me a story," she ordered weakly. "One about you and papa when you were young!" Éomer smiled despite his mood and sat down in the armchair beside the bed. He wracked his brain for one he had not told her yet, as initially she had pestered him daily for stories about her father and their youth. Suddenly a funny tale popped into his head and he settled down to tell his niece of a series of events involving a wager, Eowyn and a herd of cows that saw both Théodred and Éomer parading through Edoras in a pair of dresses.
X X X
The party setting out from Edoras was very subdued the next day in the absence of the young princess. Mayda had showed definite improvement overnight, but was nowhere near well enough to travel. So she waved them off with tears stinging at her eyes until they were long out of sight. Eventually she headed back to her room and to her surprise found Maydir waiting for her in the armchair.
"Hello uncle," she said cautiously, wondering why he had come. She had climbed gingerly back into her bed before he spoke.
"There is something I wish to discuss with you." His tone showed none of the pleasantness he had shown her the last three weeks. He seemed oddly serious.
"What is it?" Mayda asked even more cautiously, a spark of fear making her shudder. She pushed it away however, thinking he had changed, she just knew he had.
"It is about your rejection of the throne." Mayda's eyes grew wide and she pulled back into her pillows. Feeling a surge of courage, she looked suddenly stubborn and stuck her chin out into the air.
"And I stand by it," she stated firmly. Maydir remained silent. " What of it?" she eventually asked impatiently.
"You are going to reconsider your decision..."
X X X
More to come soon. Sorry I didn't update yesterday, was up to my elbows with paint (quite literally), I was helping my mother's class paint a huge panorama and then I crashed into bed the second I got home from exhaustion.