Thanks for the reviews as normal guys, soooooo appreciated!! As for the
posting new stories for my tales, well I might, but I'm halfway through
this one here now, so I'll carry it on here.
The heir of Théodred
Elfwine: Part Four
And so three weeks passed and over this time the three children grew inseparable. As winter drew on they would spend the days out in the snow exploring the land and inventing games. Mayda taught the boys how to ride like the Rohirrim and in turn they taught her how to duel as one from Tolfalas, an island well famed for its sword masters. Finally though they came to the seventeenth of December. It was a difficult time for Mayda and the boys as it was the first Mettarë (Yule – last and first day of the year, a time for gifts and celebration) they were spending away from home, but despite this they could not ignore their excitement; they were, after all, going to be spending the following few days in Minas Tirith, enjoying the festivals and the parades that took place at the end of the year. Also, to add to their glee, they would all be meeting hobbits for the first time.
So they rode out early on the seventeenth with heavily laden ponies trailing behind their little procession of horses. It was an enjoyable ride as they sung Mettarë carols and taught each other folksongs from their lands, though Eowyn quickly had to intervene when Mayda started to sing a song she had no idea was actually very rude, needless to say the girl was very confused, she had after all been taught this song by her uncle Éomer one night, granted, he had been very drunk.
Slowly but surely, they made their way over the snowy hills until finally they reached the recovering city of Osgiliath around noon. Seeing it brought back many memories for Faramir, as it always did when he passed this way, and he fell very silent as Mayda explained to the boys what had happened there. Soon they had crossed the bridge and were heading out over the Pelennor fields with the beautiful white city of Minas Tirith rising in front of them. The boys, who had never seen workmanship of this magnificence before, gasped and they could not utter a word until they were in the city and making their way up the tiers to the palace of the King where they had been invited as guests of honour.
"The beauty of this place is well beyond anything we have in Tolfalas," Dior finally uttered.
"Though grand this city is," Faramir said with a smile. " I recall being awed by your home Caladhir, the City of a thousand Lights," he said for the sake of his wife and niece. "It is hewn from a mountain the colour of gold, and sparkles so when the sun is rising from a long night, or setting beyond the clear seas. Never before have I seen such beauty," he said smiling at the memory of the Golden City of Tolfalas.
"Well in that you are mistaken sir...Faramir, for myself at least, my eyes shall never see such beauty again should I look on anything other than this city," Dior said, but he caught Mayda's eyes and looked at her intently. She raised one eyebrow before blushing and looking away, pretending to be very interested in Lindnîn's mane.
"And besides, it was not our people that hewed Caladhir from the Ered Laurë, it was the Elves from long ago who made our home great," Huor said sadly. " The towns built by our forefathers are not so pleasing to look upon."
"And do these Golden Mountains truly appear to be golden?" Mayda asked, her mind racing with the imagery Faramir and the boys were painting in her mind. The boys looked at her with broad smiles and nodded.
"When it is very early," Dior began.
"Or very late!" Huor piped up.
"The entire Western coast of the island is alight with a golden lustre," Dior continued. "It is a reason our forefathers first settled there, they believed the mountains would make them rich, but alas, there is no true gold in Tolfalas, and they were tricked, but it has many other reasons to remain, so they took up home in the deserted haven of the Elves." Mayda nodded, completely captivated.
"I should very much like to see it one day," she said eventually, pulling herself away from her daydreams of gleaming cities across a clear blue sea. Dior grinned roguishly.
"Then one day you shall princess," he said firmly.
"Come on children, this is where we will leave our horses," Faramir's voice suddenly came and the children looked up to find they had arrived at the King's stables. Within half an hour the small party had made their way up to the plateau of Minas Tirith where the King stood waiting for them, his beautiful wife at his side holding their young son close.
"Faramir!" Elessar cheered when his eyes fell on the small bundled up party. Faramir grinned broadly and managed a small bow before his liege pulled him into an embrace. Finally they parted and Faramir bowed deeply to the beautiful Queen Arwen, before stepping aside to allow Eowyn to greet the royal couple. Finally they turned on the three companions.
"You remember my niece my lord?" Eowyn said placing her hands on Mayda's shoulder. Mayda bowed gracefully.
"How could I forget?" Elessar said cheerfully. " Of course I remember Mayda. I recall the last time I was in Rohan she showed me to a wondrous swimming hole," he said with a broad smile. "And she entertained my son so well that he kept demanding we return for her." Mayda grinned sheepishly and waved to young Eldarion who was desperately trying to get her attention. With this the King of the Reunited Kingdom looked on the two boys standing beside Mayda looking at him in awe; they had heard tales of this legendary man and whenever they had play-duels they always fought to play the part of Aragorn the Ranger.
The boys practically bent double as the King's gaze fell on them, something that made said king laugh out loud.
"You must be Galdor's boys," he said taking in their appearance; well, what was visible of them from beneath the heavy cloaks and hoods. They nodded quickly.
"Yes my Lord, I am Dior, this is Huor," Dior said quickly. Beside him Mayda was suppressing a grin, she had never heard the boy sound so grovelling before. "I thank you for your kindness at letting us stay in your home during this busy time." Elessar smiled broadly at the boy and nodded.
"You are of course more than welcome," he said and he looked to Faramir with raised eyebrows. He of course knew of the ways of the Lord's house in Tolfalas, and knowing this he had set a wager with Faramir the last time they had come to dine at the White City that the Prince of Ithilien would not be able to ease their formality and timidity by the time Mettarë came. It would seem he had won. Faramir knew this too and shook his head tiredly, raising his arms in a helpless motion. Elessar grinned broadly before turning on his young guests once more. "Come, let me show you were you will be staying," he said holding his arm out to the children. The boys stepped forward timidly, but Mayda rushed to his side – she idolized the King as he had taught her how to prowl like a Ranger, something that had seriously vexed Éomer as she kept pouncing on him from the shadows – and she regaled him with her hunting successes since the last time they met.
By the time they had reached a series of elegant guest chambers King Elessar felt as though he were Aragorn the Ranger once more as the young girl's tales had rekindled his desire for the wild once more. So much so that as he left the girl in her chambers he promised her he would take her and the boys on a hunt after the festivals were over. This promise had Mayda reeling, so much so that she barely paid any attention to her aunt and uncle when they came in to leave Elboron in her care.
"Mayda," Eowyn laughed once she ignored what they were saying to her for the third time. "Pay attention to your uncle," she admonished fondly.
"We are going to discuss..." Faramir pulled a face that made Mayda giggle. " Formal matters with the King. Would you be so kind as to ensure Elboron stays out of trouble?" Mayda nodded quickly.
"Of course uncle," she said and she took Elboron's hand. "We shall be on our best behaviour!" Faramir smiled broadly and knocked her chin.
"You had better, or I will box you up and send you back to Rohan," he said cheerfully before heading out of the door. Mayda then turned on her aunt with a doe-eyed expression.
"Can we explore the city while you are discussing formal matters?" she asked pleadingly.
"Please?" little Elboron whined in a perfect imitation of his cousin. At this Eowyn laughed out loud.
"My dear, what have you been teaching him?" she asked Mayda, but the girl adopted an innocent expression. "Very well," Eowyn said and she too headed towards the door. "But you ought to heed your uncle, that was no empty threat!" With this she left leaving Mayda feeling slightly apprehensive. Surely her uncle wouldn't pack her in a crate? Moments later though two people appeared in the doorway.
"I cannot believe how you addressed the king," Huor gasped as he rushed in. Mayda wrinkled her nose and stared at the boys in confusion. "Well you spoke to him as though he were Faramir or Eowyn!" Mayda furrowed her brow.
"But I know him, I have met him many times in Rohan and he is a lot of fun," she complained. "He does not mind it I assure you!"
"He is the King, you cannot treat him purely as a playmate," Dior reprimanded causing the girl's cheeks to glow bright red.
"I do not treat him as a playmate," she countered petulantly. " Not everyone is as formal as they are in Tolfalas!" With this she stalked out of the room dragging Elboron with her. The boys stared at each other in shock before running after her.
"Where are you going?" Dior called to her fast retreating back.
"We are going exploring," she called back coldly and with that she was gone leaving the boys feeling a little angry with her, and yet thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
X X X
Mayda stalked for a long time, her eyes burning with anger. She could not explain why their comments had infuriated her so, but all her pent up emotions over the last few days were beginning to well up as a sob in her throat. All she wanted was to be home with Éomer and Lothiriel. Elboron's little legs were exhausted by the time she brought both of them to a halt in front of the White Tree of Gondor.
"Why are you angry?" her little cousin asked helplessly. Mayda closed her eyes and crouched down at his side.
"I miss my home," she replied truthfully. Elboron tilted his head to one side before eventually nodding.
"Me too," he said knowingly. Mayda smiled despite herself and sighed. Rohan might not have had the same grandeur and elegance as its neighbour, but the princess had taken her father's land as her own and loved it more than anything. Mettarë was a magical time of year in Rohan; Edoras would be lit up with thousands of little candles and hung with hundreds of banners, wreaths decorated with a symbol for everyone in the household would be hanging from the doors of houses and inside would be the traditional carved horse decorated with elegant cloths and wooden ornaments.
Mayda sighed deeply thinking to her own home. Their carving was always the largest of Edoras and decorated with such vigour – she was normally the chief decorator – which many of the villagers came to see it and add a little piece of their own to it. Their wreath though was not grand at all, it was in line with the simple design of all others across Rohan. Mayda thought fondly of her symbol, the White Tree of Gondor inside a crown atop a horseshoe. She had found her father's symbol in a box of decorations that had been hidden away for many years and found it to be the horseshoe and the crown, so she requested to have the White Tree added and take it as her own. Her eagerness had sparked Éomer to return to the tradition of decorating Meduseld; something that had not been done since before the dark times started.
On the Second day of Mettarë – the first day of the New Year – the maidens of the house would wear a wreath of candles and horseshoes and join a parade of their peers around the village. Mayda had loved the previous two years where she, Laiken and Arin had led the parade at an incredible pace; something they were later told off for, but had many in stitches of laughter at the time – including Éomer.
"I want to go home," she whispered suddenly. Mind racing she made up her mind, she was going home, if she set off once everyone had gone to bed and rode without much rest she would make it home by the First day of Mettarë. Invigorated with the notion of seeing her foster parents again she looked on Elboron with a broad smile.
"Come, let us explore," she said and the two raced each other over to the steps leading down into the lower levels of the city.
X X X
Eventually with growling stomachs Mayda and Elboron returned to the palace, but they never got any further than the threshold. Standing before them were three...hobbits? Mayda's jaw dropped in surprise. They were such small things, definitely a little shorter than she was. She had always been told they were short, but these creatures were impossibly small! Curly hair adorned their heads and none of their youthful faces were bearded. They looked like they could be quite merry, but at this moment they were bickering.
"Excuse me?" the young girl asked tentatively. The hobbits looked up impatiently, but seeing that it was just two children their expressions turned much more gentle. "I was just wondering if you might be Merry and Pippin?" she asked the two males. They looked to each other with a glare, but turned on Mayda with proud smiles.
"Merry at your service my lady," one of them said sticking his thumbs behind his braces and leaning back on his heels.
"And I'm Pippin," the other put in quickly, then with an elbow to his ribs from the female hobbit he quickly added, " This is Diamond my...lovely...fiancé." Mayda grinned gleefully at them, thinking them to be so quaint.
"If you do not mind my asking," she said bashfully. " Why were you fighting?" At this all three hobbits burst into a very detailed story, each trying to out-talk the other with their explanation. The result was that Mayda could not get a clear story, except that she managed to discern that food was at the root of the problem. After they had all finished speaking an awkward silence followed in which not only Mayda's but also all three hobbits' stomachs rumbled.
"Do you feel that you could call a truce and help me find the kitchens?" Mayda eventually asked. The hobbits nodded quickly and for a moment a happy grin passed between them all. They gladly showed her and Elboron the way and soon they were sneaking past the cooks and stealing away with arms full of treats. They were all in fits of laughter by the time they had found a quiet place to eat their bounty.
"I see you have done this before," Mayda laughed as she ripped off a piece of bread to feast on. The hobbits all nodded proudly, their fight forgotten.
"So who might you be? You seem to know us, but I've never met you before, though you do look familiar," Pippin asked. Mayda smiled.
"My name is Mayda," she said. "My father was Théodred of Rohan," she added with a lump in her throat. Pushing away the makings of a sob she looked from one shocked face to the next.
"But he didn't have a child," Merry said eventually. " Isn't that why Éomer became king?" Mayda smiled and nodded tiredly.
"My dear fellow, that is one long tale that I am loath to explain so late in the day," she said good-naturedly. "I now live with my uncle Éomer, who yes, still remains king and my aunt Lothiriel." Merry and Pippin nodded.
"How is Éomer? I haven't seen him in a long time," Merry said smiling with the memory of the tall Horse Lord. Mayda smiled sadly.
"He is well, he and my aunt are to be parents," she said hanging her head slightly. The hobbits instantly saw that she was not entirely happy about this so kept their congratulations low-key. When all was said and done, Mayda looked up at them with a small smile.
"Tell me how my aunt Eowyn and uncle Éomer were when you first met them!" she said sneakily and sat listening to the few embarrassing tales that the hobbits had to tell of her family. They had the girl in hysterics until they mentioned Théoden, her later grandfather. At his name she fell silent.
"I never met him," she finally uttered and she looked grieved. "Papa used to speak fondly of him, he used to tell me stories of his valour and his victories and since my uncle and aunt have done the same."
"He was a great man," Merry, who had seen him die, stated firmly. He moved to put his hand around the girl's shoulders, but suddenly an outraged call of the head cook sounded from around the corner.
"Oh no, time to run!" Pippin hissed and in an instant the little band of rascals had gathered up the rest of their hoard and rushed off sniggering under their breath. Without realising where they had run to they came across Mayda's quarters and she dived in dragging Elboron with her.
"We're going to try and make it to our wing," Merry whispered to her with a mischievous grin.
"We'll see you at dinner!" Pippin added and they were off. With a toothy grin Mayda shut her door and pressed her ear up against it as the portly cook ran past.
"Sir?"
'Oh no!' Mayda thought.
"Huor, get back in your room," she whispered, hoping he wouldn't give her away.
"What are you doing with that cleaver?" Dior's voice now came. Mayda's eyes went wide and she bit her lip, oh it would hurt if she was caught.
"Scamps been thievin' from my kitchen again," the cook complained. " You boys 'aven't seen anyone come through 'ere 'ave you?" There was a pause in which Mayda bit the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from making a noise.
"Not to our knowledge kind sir," Dior eventually replied and Mayda heard the cook stalking off grumbling. With a heavy sigh of relief Mayda slid down the wall beside the door as Elboron rushed off to inspect her packs for something to play with. Moments later a knock came at the door and she reached up to turn the handle allowing the boys to rush in and close the door behind themselves. They were staring at Mayda with wide eyes of admiration. She still felt a little angry with them though and avoided their eyes.
"Did a little more than explore in the end did you?" Huor asked hungrily eyeing up the bread she still held. Feeling significantly less hungry now she threw it to him without catching his nod of thanks. Dior sighed heavily and crouched before the young girl.
"I humbly apologise for what we said, it was not our intention to offend you," he said with such resolution that Mayda looked up into his hypnotic large eyes and saw the kindness that lay there. She fought to suppress the smile his eyes brought to her face. "We are not accustomed to the..." The boy wracked his brain for a word to adequately describe the different lifestyle Mayda led to theirs. " Freedom that you experience!" Mayda nodded.
"You ought to trust me," she said firmly, but finally the smile she was holding back took hold of her face. "And instead of frowning upon our ways you ought to enjoy them." Dior grinned and nodded before turning on his little brother.
"Pass me some of that, I am ravenous!" he ordered affably and held out his hand for the chunk his brother ripped off for him and Mayda told them all about her encounter with the hobbits, though the boys would not believe how small they were.
X X X
"Oh my darlings I am so sorry!" Eowyn's voice came as she rushed in and lifted Elboron up into a motherly embrace. "I forgot to tell you where you might find your lunch, we dined in the King's council chambers and I did not remember until just now that you had no idea where you could find yours." She rounded on the three older children sat by the balcony playing a game with wooden soldiers – they were in fact re-enacting the great Battle of the Pellenor fields, Mayda of course, taking charge of the small soldiers on horses claiming to be the great host of Théoden, poor Huor was forced to be the foul folk. " You must be famished!" Eowyn continued slightly less dramatically when the children barely reacted to her. Mayda quickly nodded urgently to the boys before looking on Eowyn with a wounded expression.
"Starving," she lied effortlessly, fearing word of the cook's misfortunes coming to her aunt's ears ensuring she be boxed up in a crate by her uncle Faramir. Though she intended on returning to Rohan for the festival, she did not want to make the journey boxed up in a merchant's crate. She had been read 'There and back again; a hobbit's tale' by Éomer over a succession of many nights and had no desire to end up as the dwarves from that tale.
"But we can wait until dinner is served," Dior quickly added. Eowyn gave the children a calculating look before taking her son's hand and leading him to the door, where she looked back once more, looking very much like she wanted to ask them what they had done, but deciding in the end she was better off not knowing, she led Elboron away.
"Huor!" Mayda suddenly burst out even before Eowyn had shut the door. " What are you doing? The Witchking did not kill Gandalf!" she complained rescuing the small white figurine from underneath Huor's small black figurine.
"Oh!" Huor exclaimed, now thoroughly putout. "Do we have to do everything exactly the way it happened?" Mayda and Dior glared at him.
"No!" Dior said tiredly. "But you cannot eat Mithrandir..."
X X X
Much later that evening when their stomachs were growling once more, Eowyn and Faramir came to collect their charges and couldn't help but snigger slightly at the argument they were wrapped up in: whether or nor horses flew during the Battle of the Pellenor fields and whether or not the Witchking became king of Gondor and married Gandalf the Wise, as you can see, the children had become quite carried away with their game.
Only the sight of the hobbits in the grand dining hall stilled the boys and they stared at the three little hobbits with dropped jaws. Mayda grinned triumphantly and uttered a soft 'Ah ha' to them under her breath. They were too shocked to heed her and soon they were all sat near the head of the table, the boys still staring at the hobbits in a very obvious manner. Eventually Mayda had to stamp on their toes under the table, which brought them back to their senses.
Dinner itself became a very quiet matter for Mayda herself as she plotted a way to escape the well guarded and well watched palace. One thing was certain, that as dinner progressed she grew more and more resolute as the lump in her throat grew. She desperately wanted to see her foster parents once more.
The other guests were far from quiet as the hobbits took it upon themselves to entertain these peculiar exotic boys with tales from the shire – most of them inappropriate for the ears of children – and by the end of the night the boys were giddy with what they had heard. So much so that they did not pay attention to their friend, who said a very resigned goodnight to everyone before slipping into her chamber unnoticed where she immediately took out a piece of parchment and a quill to write the note she had been planning through the latter courses of dinner.
Soon her note was complete and she was ready to escape as soon as the hive of activity in the corridor died down. She had to feign sleep when her aunt and uncle came in to bid her goodnight. If she faced them she would not be able to hide what she was planning to do.
So the girl waited and after another hour everyone had long fallen silent. So creeping as quietly as she could she heaved her heavy pack onto her shoulder, making sure she left the gifts she had intended for her family and friends on her bed with the note, before heading out. She moved stealthily, having learnt a little of what Faramir and Elessar had taught her of being a ranger and soon she was out in the courtyard. Here she left her belongings and made her way to the stables where she luckily only found one stableman caring for the steeds. He seemed shocked to see her.
"What are you doing up at this hour?" he asked suspiciously. Mayda thought hard before feigning a very distraught expression.
"I cannot sleep good sir," she said with a whimper and she rushed to Lindnîn's side burying her face in her mane.
"There there," the stableman said awkwardly patting her back as though she were a horse. Feeling quite winded Mayda breathed in deeply before resurfacing from Lindnîn's long sweet-smelling mane.
"May I take her for a walk, that normally calms me?" she asked hopefully, pouting excessively. The man looked weary to release one of his charges, but the little girl was so adorable and so helpless that he could not refuse.
"Of course!" he said and he helped attach a bridle for her to lead the steed with. He then saw her to the door and Mayda led her steed down a level before scampering back up to collect her belongings. She was worried of how she would ride without a saddle, it was something she hadn't done on many occasions, but she was going to have to learn quickly.
She uttered soft commands and reassurances in Elvish to her dear friend as they walked, trying to still the surprised horse. Soon they had silently made their way to the main gate and found it still open as it would be until midnight. The guards seemed a little surprised to see her, but she covered her head with her cloak and passed them nonetheless and within no time was out in the night, heading home where she belonged.
X X X
More to come soon. Sorry to go into so much rambling details with Tolfalas and Rohan's Mettarë traditions :D I just get a kick out of inventing little things like that.
The heir of Théodred
Elfwine: Part Four
And so three weeks passed and over this time the three children grew inseparable. As winter drew on they would spend the days out in the snow exploring the land and inventing games. Mayda taught the boys how to ride like the Rohirrim and in turn they taught her how to duel as one from Tolfalas, an island well famed for its sword masters. Finally though they came to the seventeenth of December. It was a difficult time for Mayda and the boys as it was the first Mettarë (Yule – last and first day of the year, a time for gifts and celebration) they were spending away from home, but despite this they could not ignore their excitement; they were, after all, going to be spending the following few days in Minas Tirith, enjoying the festivals and the parades that took place at the end of the year. Also, to add to their glee, they would all be meeting hobbits for the first time.
So they rode out early on the seventeenth with heavily laden ponies trailing behind their little procession of horses. It was an enjoyable ride as they sung Mettarë carols and taught each other folksongs from their lands, though Eowyn quickly had to intervene when Mayda started to sing a song she had no idea was actually very rude, needless to say the girl was very confused, she had after all been taught this song by her uncle Éomer one night, granted, he had been very drunk.
Slowly but surely, they made their way over the snowy hills until finally they reached the recovering city of Osgiliath around noon. Seeing it brought back many memories for Faramir, as it always did when he passed this way, and he fell very silent as Mayda explained to the boys what had happened there. Soon they had crossed the bridge and were heading out over the Pelennor fields with the beautiful white city of Minas Tirith rising in front of them. The boys, who had never seen workmanship of this magnificence before, gasped and they could not utter a word until they were in the city and making their way up the tiers to the palace of the King where they had been invited as guests of honour.
"The beauty of this place is well beyond anything we have in Tolfalas," Dior finally uttered.
"Though grand this city is," Faramir said with a smile. " I recall being awed by your home Caladhir, the City of a thousand Lights," he said for the sake of his wife and niece. "It is hewn from a mountain the colour of gold, and sparkles so when the sun is rising from a long night, or setting beyond the clear seas. Never before have I seen such beauty," he said smiling at the memory of the Golden City of Tolfalas.
"Well in that you are mistaken sir...Faramir, for myself at least, my eyes shall never see such beauty again should I look on anything other than this city," Dior said, but he caught Mayda's eyes and looked at her intently. She raised one eyebrow before blushing and looking away, pretending to be very interested in Lindnîn's mane.
"And besides, it was not our people that hewed Caladhir from the Ered Laurë, it was the Elves from long ago who made our home great," Huor said sadly. " The towns built by our forefathers are not so pleasing to look upon."
"And do these Golden Mountains truly appear to be golden?" Mayda asked, her mind racing with the imagery Faramir and the boys were painting in her mind. The boys looked at her with broad smiles and nodded.
"When it is very early," Dior began.
"Or very late!" Huor piped up.
"The entire Western coast of the island is alight with a golden lustre," Dior continued. "It is a reason our forefathers first settled there, they believed the mountains would make them rich, but alas, there is no true gold in Tolfalas, and they were tricked, but it has many other reasons to remain, so they took up home in the deserted haven of the Elves." Mayda nodded, completely captivated.
"I should very much like to see it one day," she said eventually, pulling herself away from her daydreams of gleaming cities across a clear blue sea. Dior grinned roguishly.
"Then one day you shall princess," he said firmly.
"Come on children, this is where we will leave our horses," Faramir's voice suddenly came and the children looked up to find they had arrived at the King's stables. Within half an hour the small party had made their way up to the plateau of Minas Tirith where the King stood waiting for them, his beautiful wife at his side holding their young son close.
"Faramir!" Elessar cheered when his eyes fell on the small bundled up party. Faramir grinned broadly and managed a small bow before his liege pulled him into an embrace. Finally they parted and Faramir bowed deeply to the beautiful Queen Arwen, before stepping aside to allow Eowyn to greet the royal couple. Finally they turned on the three companions.
"You remember my niece my lord?" Eowyn said placing her hands on Mayda's shoulder. Mayda bowed gracefully.
"How could I forget?" Elessar said cheerfully. " Of course I remember Mayda. I recall the last time I was in Rohan she showed me to a wondrous swimming hole," he said with a broad smile. "And she entertained my son so well that he kept demanding we return for her." Mayda grinned sheepishly and waved to young Eldarion who was desperately trying to get her attention. With this the King of the Reunited Kingdom looked on the two boys standing beside Mayda looking at him in awe; they had heard tales of this legendary man and whenever they had play-duels they always fought to play the part of Aragorn the Ranger.
The boys practically bent double as the King's gaze fell on them, something that made said king laugh out loud.
"You must be Galdor's boys," he said taking in their appearance; well, what was visible of them from beneath the heavy cloaks and hoods. They nodded quickly.
"Yes my Lord, I am Dior, this is Huor," Dior said quickly. Beside him Mayda was suppressing a grin, she had never heard the boy sound so grovelling before. "I thank you for your kindness at letting us stay in your home during this busy time." Elessar smiled broadly at the boy and nodded.
"You are of course more than welcome," he said and he looked to Faramir with raised eyebrows. He of course knew of the ways of the Lord's house in Tolfalas, and knowing this he had set a wager with Faramir the last time they had come to dine at the White City that the Prince of Ithilien would not be able to ease their formality and timidity by the time Mettarë came. It would seem he had won. Faramir knew this too and shook his head tiredly, raising his arms in a helpless motion. Elessar grinned broadly before turning on his young guests once more. "Come, let me show you were you will be staying," he said holding his arm out to the children. The boys stepped forward timidly, but Mayda rushed to his side – she idolized the King as he had taught her how to prowl like a Ranger, something that had seriously vexed Éomer as she kept pouncing on him from the shadows – and she regaled him with her hunting successes since the last time they met.
By the time they had reached a series of elegant guest chambers King Elessar felt as though he were Aragorn the Ranger once more as the young girl's tales had rekindled his desire for the wild once more. So much so that as he left the girl in her chambers he promised her he would take her and the boys on a hunt after the festivals were over. This promise had Mayda reeling, so much so that she barely paid any attention to her aunt and uncle when they came in to leave Elboron in her care.
"Mayda," Eowyn laughed once she ignored what they were saying to her for the third time. "Pay attention to your uncle," she admonished fondly.
"We are going to discuss..." Faramir pulled a face that made Mayda giggle. " Formal matters with the King. Would you be so kind as to ensure Elboron stays out of trouble?" Mayda nodded quickly.
"Of course uncle," she said and she took Elboron's hand. "We shall be on our best behaviour!" Faramir smiled broadly and knocked her chin.
"You had better, or I will box you up and send you back to Rohan," he said cheerfully before heading out of the door. Mayda then turned on her aunt with a doe-eyed expression.
"Can we explore the city while you are discussing formal matters?" she asked pleadingly.
"Please?" little Elboron whined in a perfect imitation of his cousin. At this Eowyn laughed out loud.
"My dear, what have you been teaching him?" she asked Mayda, but the girl adopted an innocent expression. "Very well," Eowyn said and she too headed towards the door. "But you ought to heed your uncle, that was no empty threat!" With this she left leaving Mayda feeling slightly apprehensive. Surely her uncle wouldn't pack her in a crate? Moments later though two people appeared in the doorway.
"I cannot believe how you addressed the king," Huor gasped as he rushed in. Mayda wrinkled her nose and stared at the boys in confusion. "Well you spoke to him as though he were Faramir or Eowyn!" Mayda furrowed her brow.
"But I know him, I have met him many times in Rohan and he is a lot of fun," she complained. "He does not mind it I assure you!"
"He is the King, you cannot treat him purely as a playmate," Dior reprimanded causing the girl's cheeks to glow bright red.
"I do not treat him as a playmate," she countered petulantly. " Not everyone is as formal as they are in Tolfalas!" With this she stalked out of the room dragging Elboron with her. The boys stared at each other in shock before running after her.
"Where are you going?" Dior called to her fast retreating back.
"We are going exploring," she called back coldly and with that she was gone leaving the boys feeling a little angry with her, and yet thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
X X X
Mayda stalked for a long time, her eyes burning with anger. She could not explain why their comments had infuriated her so, but all her pent up emotions over the last few days were beginning to well up as a sob in her throat. All she wanted was to be home with Éomer and Lothiriel. Elboron's little legs were exhausted by the time she brought both of them to a halt in front of the White Tree of Gondor.
"Why are you angry?" her little cousin asked helplessly. Mayda closed her eyes and crouched down at his side.
"I miss my home," she replied truthfully. Elboron tilted his head to one side before eventually nodding.
"Me too," he said knowingly. Mayda smiled despite herself and sighed. Rohan might not have had the same grandeur and elegance as its neighbour, but the princess had taken her father's land as her own and loved it more than anything. Mettarë was a magical time of year in Rohan; Edoras would be lit up with thousands of little candles and hung with hundreds of banners, wreaths decorated with a symbol for everyone in the household would be hanging from the doors of houses and inside would be the traditional carved horse decorated with elegant cloths and wooden ornaments.
Mayda sighed deeply thinking to her own home. Their carving was always the largest of Edoras and decorated with such vigour – she was normally the chief decorator – which many of the villagers came to see it and add a little piece of their own to it. Their wreath though was not grand at all, it was in line with the simple design of all others across Rohan. Mayda thought fondly of her symbol, the White Tree of Gondor inside a crown atop a horseshoe. She had found her father's symbol in a box of decorations that had been hidden away for many years and found it to be the horseshoe and the crown, so she requested to have the White Tree added and take it as her own. Her eagerness had sparked Éomer to return to the tradition of decorating Meduseld; something that had not been done since before the dark times started.
On the Second day of Mettarë – the first day of the New Year – the maidens of the house would wear a wreath of candles and horseshoes and join a parade of their peers around the village. Mayda had loved the previous two years where she, Laiken and Arin had led the parade at an incredible pace; something they were later told off for, but had many in stitches of laughter at the time – including Éomer.
"I want to go home," she whispered suddenly. Mind racing she made up her mind, she was going home, if she set off once everyone had gone to bed and rode without much rest she would make it home by the First day of Mettarë. Invigorated with the notion of seeing her foster parents again she looked on Elboron with a broad smile.
"Come, let us explore," she said and the two raced each other over to the steps leading down into the lower levels of the city.
X X X
Eventually with growling stomachs Mayda and Elboron returned to the palace, but they never got any further than the threshold. Standing before them were three...hobbits? Mayda's jaw dropped in surprise. They were such small things, definitely a little shorter than she was. She had always been told they were short, but these creatures were impossibly small! Curly hair adorned their heads and none of their youthful faces were bearded. They looked like they could be quite merry, but at this moment they were bickering.
"Excuse me?" the young girl asked tentatively. The hobbits looked up impatiently, but seeing that it was just two children their expressions turned much more gentle. "I was just wondering if you might be Merry and Pippin?" she asked the two males. They looked to each other with a glare, but turned on Mayda with proud smiles.
"Merry at your service my lady," one of them said sticking his thumbs behind his braces and leaning back on his heels.
"And I'm Pippin," the other put in quickly, then with an elbow to his ribs from the female hobbit he quickly added, " This is Diamond my...lovely...fiancé." Mayda grinned gleefully at them, thinking them to be so quaint.
"If you do not mind my asking," she said bashfully. " Why were you fighting?" At this all three hobbits burst into a very detailed story, each trying to out-talk the other with their explanation. The result was that Mayda could not get a clear story, except that she managed to discern that food was at the root of the problem. After they had all finished speaking an awkward silence followed in which not only Mayda's but also all three hobbits' stomachs rumbled.
"Do you feel that you could call a truce and help me find the kitchens?" Mayda eventually asked. The hobbits nodded quickly and for a moment a happy grin passed between them all. They gladly showed her and Elboron the way and soon they were sneaking past the cooks and stealing away with arms full of treats. They were all in fits of laughter by the time they had found a quiet place to eat their bounty.
"I see you have done this before," Mayda laughed as she ripped off a piece of bread to feast on. The hobbits all nodded proudly, their fight forgotten.
"So who might you be? You seem to know us, but I've never met you before, though you do look familiar," Pippin asked. Mayda smiled.
"My name is Mayda," she said. "My father was Théodred of Rohan," she added with a lump in her throat. Pushing away the makings of a sob she looked from one shocked face to the next.
"But he didn't have a child," Merry said eventually. " Isn't that why Éomer became king?" Mayda smiled and nodded tiredly.
"My dear fellow, that is one long tale that I am loath to explain so late in the day," she said good-naturedly. "I now live with my uncle Éomer, who yes, still remains king and my aunt Lothiriel." Merry and Pippin nodded.
"How is Éomer? I haven't seen him in a long time," Merry said smiling with the memory of the tall Horse Lord. Mayda smiled sadly.
"He is well, he and my aunt are to be parents," she said hanging her head slightly. The hobbits instantly saw that she was not entirely happy about this so kept their congratulations low-key. When all was said and done, Mayda looked up at them with a small smile.
"Tell me how my aunt Eowyn and uncle Éomer were when you first met them!" she said sneakily and sat listening to the few embarrassing tales that the hobbits had to tell of her family. They had the girl in hysterics until they mentioned Théoden, her later grandfather. At his name she fell silent.
"I never met him," she finally uttered and she looked grieved. "Papa used to speak fondly of him, he used to tell me stories of his valour and his victories and since my uncle and aunt have done the same."
"He was a great man," Merry, who had seen him die, stated firmly. He moved to put his hand around the girl's shoulders, but suddenly an outraged call of the head cook sounded from around the corner.
"Oh no, time to run!" Pippin hissed and in an instant the little band of rascals had gathered up the rest of their hoard and rushed off sniggering under their breath. Without realising where they had run to they came across Mayda's quarters and she dived in dragging Elboron with her.
"We're going to try and make it to our wing," Merry whispered to her with a mischievous grin.
"We'll see you at dinner!" Pippin added and they were off. With a toothy grin Mayda shut her door and pressed her ear up against it as the portly cook ran past.
"Sir?"
'Oh no!' Mayda thought.
"Huor, get back in your room," she whispered, hoping he wouldn't give her away.
"What are you doing with that cleaver?" Dior's voice now came. Mayda's eyes went wide and she bit her lip, oh it would hurt if she was caught.
"Scamps been thievin' from my kitchen again," the cook complained. " You boys 'aven't seen anyone come through 'ere 'ave you?" There was a pause in which Mayda bit the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from making a noise.
"Not to our knowledge kind sir," Dior eventually replied and Mayda heard the cook stalking off grumbling. With a heavy sigh of relief Mayda slid down the wall beside the door as Elboron rushed off to inspect her packs for something to play with. Moments later a knock came at the door and she reached up to turn the handle allowing the boys to rush in and close the door behind themselves. They were staring at Mayda with wide eyes of admiration. She still felt a little angry with them though and avoided their eyes.
"Did a little more than explore in the end did you?" Huor asked hungrily eyeing up the bread she still held. Feeling significantly less hungry now she threw it to him without catching his nod of thanks. Dior sighed heavily and crouched before the young girl.
"I humbly apologise for what we said, it was not our intention to offend you," he said with such resolution that Mayda looked up into his hypnotic large eyes and saw the kindness that lay there. She fought to suppress the smile his eyes brought to her face. "We are not accustomed to the..." The boy wracked his brain for a word to adequately describe the different lifestyle Mayda led to theirs. " Freedom that you experience!" Mayda nodded.
"You ought to trust me," she said firmly, but finally the smile she was holding back took hold of her face. "And instead of frowning upon our ways you ought to enjoy them." Dior grinned and nodded before turning on his little brother.
"Pass me some of that, I am ravenous!" he ordered affably and held out his hand for the chunk his brother ripped off for him and Mayda told them all about her encounter with the hobbits, though the boys would not believe how small they were.
X X X
"Oh my darlings I am so sorry!" Eowyn's voice came as she rushed in and lifted Elboron up into a motherly embrace. "I forgot to tell you where you might find your lunch, we dined in the King's council chambers and I did not remember until just now that you had no idea where you could find yours." She rounded on the three older children sat by the balcony playing a game with wooden soldiers – they were in fact re-enacting the great Battle of the Pellenor fields, Mayda of course, taking charge of the small soldiers on horses claiming to be the great host of Théoden, poor Huor was forced to be the foul folk. " You must be famished!" Eowyn continued slightly less dramatically when the children barely reacted to her. Mayda quickly nodded urgently to the boys before looking on Eowyn with a wounded expression.
"Starving," she lied effortlessly, fearing word of the cook's misfortunes coming to her aunt's ears ensuring she be boxed up in a crate by her uncle Faramir. Though she intended on returning to Rohan for the festival, she did not want to make the journey boxed up in a merchant's crate. She had been read 'There and back again; a hobbit's tale' by Éomer over a succession of many nights and had no desire to end up as the dwarves from that tale.
"But we can wait until dinner is served," Dior quickly added. Eowyn gave the children a calculating look before taking her son's hand and leading him to the door, where she looked back once more, looking very much like she wanted to ask them what they had done, but deciding in the end she was better off not knowing, she led Elboron away.
"Huor!" Mayda suddenly burst out even before Eowyn had shut the door. " What are you doing? The Witchking did not kill Gandalf!" she complained rescuing the small white figurine from underneath Huor's small black figurine.
"Oh!" Huor exclaimed, now thoroughly putout. "Do we have to do everything exactly the way it happened?" Mayda and Dior glared at him.
"No!" Dior said tiredly. "But you cannot eat Mithrandir..."
X X X
Much later that evening when their stomachs were growling once more, Eowyn and Faramir came to collect their charges and couldn't help but snigger slightly at the argument they were wrapped up in: whether or nor horses flew during the Battle of the Pellenor fields and whether or not the Witchking became king of Gondor and married Gandalf the Wise, as you can see, the children had become quite carried away with their game.
Only the sight of the hobbits in the grand dining hall stilled the boys and they stared at the three little hobbits with dropped jaws. Mayda grinned triumphantly and uttered a soft 'Ah ha' to them under her breath. They were too shocked to heed her and soon they were all sat near the head of the table, the boys still staring at the hobbits in a very obvious manner. Eventually Mayda had to stamp on their toes under the table, which brought them back to their senses.
Dinner itself became a very quiet matter for Mayda herself as she plotted a way to escape the well guarded and well watched palace. One thing was certain, that as dinner progressed she grew more and more resolute as the lump in her throat grew. She desperately wanted to see her foster parents once more.
The other guests were far from quiet as the hobbits took it upon themselves to entertain these peculiar exotic boys with tales from the shire – most of them inappropriate for the ears of children – and by the end of the night the boys were giddy with what they had heard. So much so that they did not pay attention to their friend, who said a very resigned goodnight to everyone before slipping into her chamber unnoticed where she immediately took out a piece of parchment and a quill to write the note she had been planning through the latter courses of dinner.
Soon her note was complete and she was ready to escape as soon as the hive of activity in the corridor died down. She had to feign sleep when her aunt and uncle came in to bid her goodnight. If she faced them she would not be able to hide what she was planning to do.
So the girl waited and after another hour everyone had long fallen silent. So creeping as quietly as she could she heaved her heavy pack onto her shoulder, making sure she left the gifts she had intended for her family and friends on her bed with the note, before heading out. She moved stealthily, having learnt a little of what Faramir and Elessar had taught her of being a ranger and soon she was out in the courtyard. Here she left her belongings and made her way to the stables where she luckily only found one stableman caring for the steeds. He seemed shocked to see her.
"What are you doing up at this hour?" he asked suspiciously. Mayda thought hard before feigning a very distraught expression.
"I cannot sleep good sir," she said with a whimper and she rushed to Lindnîn's side burying her face in her mane.
"There there," the stableman said awkwardly patting her back as though she were a horse. Feeling quite winded Mayda breathed in deeply before resurfacing from Lindnîn's long sweet-smelling mane.
"May I take her for a walk, that normally calms me?" she asked hopefully, pouting excessively. The man looked weary to release one of his charges, but the little girl was so adorable and so helpless that he could not refuse.
"Of course!" he said and he helped attach a bridle for her to lead the steed with. He then saw her to the door and Mayda led her steed down a level before scampering back up to collect her belongings. She was worried of how she would ride without a saddle, it was something she hadn't done on many occasions, but she was going to have to learn quickly.
She uttered soft commands and reassurances in Elvish to her dear friend as they walked, trying to still the surprised horse. Soon they had silently made their way to the main gate and found it still open as it would be until midnight. The guards seemed a little surprised to see her, but she covered her head with her cloak and passed them nonetheless and within no time was out in the night, heading home where she belonged.
X X X
More to come soon. Sorry to go into so much rambling details with Tolfalas and Rohan's Mettarë traditions :D I just get a kick out of inventing little things like that.