Thanks once more for the reviews! Lady scribe of avandell - :) no, a likeness to the Trojan Horse wasn't intended, I haven't actually read the Iliad nor seen 'Troy'. I know vague details of the story, but that's about it. No I was thinking that they needed some central decorative theme indoors and as the horse is central to the lives of the Rohirrim I figured I would revolve it around that: I am Eowyn – It really made me smile seeing that :) glad you're enjoying it. Klaw – I often feel bad about making her seem a little too mature, but then I remind myself that she's had to grow up fast and sometimes she may seem a little too old for her years, I just think of it as part of her charm.

The heir of Théodred

Elfwine: Part Five

"Wake up!" Huor shouted at the top of his voice as he burst into Mayda's room early the next morning, but when he saw the empty made bed he stopped in his tracks and furrowed his brow. He had been sure he was the first to wake, perhaps she was already having breakfast, but as he turned to leave movement caught his eye. He looked around to see what had drawn his attention. It was a piece of parchment, fluttering slightly in the light breeze coming in from a crack between the drawn shutters. Frowning heavily the boy stepped forward and eyed the delicate script that adorned the folded letter.

"Faramir!" he called into the corridor beyond, sensing that these matters were now beyond him. When no reply came he called louder, going against everything he had ever been taught by his father and the strict tutors of the Golden City. Moments later a door creaked open and Faramir rushed out rubbing sleep from his eye, but ready for anything. The sight could have made Huor smile; save he was too worried for his friend. "I believe there is something you must see," the boy said gravely and he led the sleepy man to the parchment Mayda had left behind. With a dubious glance at the boy Faramir lifted the parchment and began to read with a horrible feeling of foreboding. As he reached the end of the letter he sighed deeply realising his weariness was not unfounded.

"That girl," he uttered helplessly and he walked out of the room head hanging. Huor followed, his heart pounding anxiously, but he held back as Faramir walked into the chambers he shared with his wife. He did not shut the door so Huor saw as he walked over to his sleeping wife and shook her shoulder gently.

"Eowyn," he said softly as she began to stir. "Mayda has gone." This had the effect Faramir desired and Eowyn bolted right up in bed.

"What?" she demanded, only her tired eyes betraying that she had been asleep only moments before. " What do you mean she has gone?" Her husband pushed the letter into her hand and she read it feverishly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear Auntie Eowyn and Uncle Faramir,

As you have probably realised I have gone, but I beseech you do not worry and that you do not feel too angry with me. I have taken Lindnîn and am now on the road to Edoras. I am so sorry and I will return as soon as the celebrations are spent. I have thought hard and realise now that I can offer you no explanation for why I so desperately need to return home. All I ask is that you forgive me and trust that I have a very good reason for being naughty, even though I cannot put it into words.

You need not worry for my safety, you know no harm will come to me on the road, as soon I will pass into Rohan and come into the custody of my uncle's riders, they will escort me to Edoras safely.

I wish you a wonderful Metarrë and hope that when I return I will still be welcome.

All my love, Mayda

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As she came to the end of the letter Eowyn looked up at Faramir with a hurt expression, but she knew her niece had not done this to hurt them, she had done it because of her attachment to her foster-parents. In a way they had accomplished what they had set out to do and that was to restore the girl's faith in those who loved her.

"What are we to do?" Faramir asked worriedly. "Should we send my men out to retrieve her? Or..." Eowyn smiled and shook her head.

"My darling, she has gone because she needs to. We will not do her nor ourselves any favours by forcefully retrieving her," she explained gently. Faramir hung his head and sighed deeply. What would Éomer say when his niece turned up on his doorstep again. Aside from being elated at her return, would he not trust Faramir with her safety again? Had he failed?

X X X

Mayda traveled through the night as much as she dared before she found a small dell to wrap up in for a few hours once she had passed into Rohan. As the temperature was well below freezing she had a very uncomfortable night and woke up just after dawn with very stiff joints.

"I am going to catch my death out here my friend," she said softly as she wrapped her bedroll up once more and pushed it into the top of her pack. Lindnîn bayed softly and nuzzled the side of her face. "Yes I know you are hungry," the girl chuckled. "You shall be glad to hear then that I came away from dinner last night with my pockets laden with stolen bounty." With this she pulled out an apple and fed it to the horse. She herself nibbled slightly on a pastry, but was too cold to give it any serious thought and was soon stuffing the remains back into her bag. "Come on," she sighed as she climbed gingerly to her feet and heaved herself onto her steed's back. "Let us hope we soon come across riders of the mark, I could not spend another night in such conditions!"

Her wish was granted merely an hour later. Though the riders caught the girl rather by surprise as she rose over a bluff to be confronted with an eored, who, though they were not assuming a battle formation, still looked rather intimidating. Lindnîn rose up in surprise and Mayda nearly slid from her saddle-less back. Fortunately she had thrown her arms around the horse's neck and remained in place. She uttered some soft reassurances and soon she was leading Lindnîn down the little slope to the captain of the eored: a man she did not recognize.

"Are you lost child?" the captain called to her as she came within hearing range. Mayda wrinkled her brow slightly; did he not know who she was?

"No, I am traveling to Edoras," she said and she pulled down her hood to reveal her face fully, yet still the captain showed no signs of knowing her name nor her position, though several of the riders began muttering to each other under their breath. "I know where it lies and I know where I am."

"What is your business in the Mark?" the captain continued. Mayda felt slightly putout at being asked this question. She was aware that the man had no idea who she was, but it did not ease her pride.

"I am Théodwyn Theodri, I live here," she said petulantly. The captain looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding with a look of realization on his face. It would seem he did recognize her.

"Of course," he said simply, not showing any sign of humiliation, something that made the highly proud child feel a little vexed. "I apologise my Lady," the captain continued and he half-bowed his head to the girl. "How may we be of service?" Mayda grinded her teeth for a moment feeling awkward. She had almost forgotten the informality that Rohan enjoyed, and she had also forgotten that many of the riders stationed far from Edoras were even less inclined to show her the reverence only a few in Edoras showed. Normally it did not bother the young princess, but it would seem the formality of her newfound friends from the Golden Isle was rubbing off on her.

"Well," she began uneasily. "I was hoping that I might be granted an escort as far as Edoras. It is a long road and I am weary to go it alone..." She trailed off as she was finding the captain's unreadable look unnerving. Everything felt wrong. Eventually though the captain clapped his hands together once.

"Very well," he said with a curt nod. " That will not do of course. We cannot have a princess of the Mark gallivanting across the country unaccompanied." Mayda bit her lip hard.

'I was not gallivanting,' she thought angrily 'I would not know how to gallivant!'

The captain was now calling out in a booming voice to several riders and relaying their new orders to them. As six riders rode forward Mayda could have sworn they looked pleased with themselves. It was not surprising as the captain instructed them to remain for the celebrations and then return on the second day of the New Year. They were instantly ready for departure and the captain turned on the princess with a mildly expectant look. Mayda wrinkled her brow wondering what he was expecting her to say.

"I thank you," she eventually said stiltedly and she nodded her head to the man curtly, deciding she didn't like him one bit.

"My regards to your uncle," he said with a wild grin and with this he turned on the rest of the eored and sounded the call to continue on the road eastward. Mayda watched them go with a sour look. She had no idea who that odd captain was, how was she supposed to give his regards to Éomer? Besides, how dare he be so casual as to refer to the King of the Mark merely as 'your uncle'! Bristling slightly she turned on her escort and smiled weakly at them.

"To Edoras?" she suggested trying to regain a sense of composure. One of the riders nodded and they set off at a quick yet easy pace.

X X X

After a three-day ride Edoras finally came into view and Mayda's heart leapt for joy. She could not fight the broad grin that spread across her whole face. She was finally home where she belonged. A torrent of emotions nearly swept her into a sob, but she stifled it deftly and nodded to her companions, urging them to lead the way. And so it was that Mayda returned to Edoras. Many turned in shock as the princess passed them in the streets staring determinedly ahead; they had all been informed that she would be away until spring. The girl did not heed them and soon she had reached the steps to the Golden Hall, where she abandoned her trusty steed and carried on on foot. Soon she reached the unguarded doors – unguarded as it was the eve before Metarrë and most were given an evening free of work – and breathed in deeply before pushing the door open forcefully. It went easily and soon she stood in the large hall and found to her surprise no decorations where there ought to be many.

Éomer looked up from the villager in front of him and squinted slightly. A small figure stood silhouetted by the waning evening light. He could not guess who this child could be and what they would want with him, but as the child stepped into the hall looking shell-shocked torchlight fell on her face and he knew instantly who it was. With his jaw hanging he scrambled to his feet and ran halfway across the hall sliding to a halt on the highly polished tiles.

"Mayda," he uttered in disbelief. The girl looked on him with despair in her face, but it would seem her emotions got the better of her and she sprinted at the king nearly knocking him to his feet as she dived at his waist. Éomer quickly released her hold and dropped down before her. "What are you doing here?" he asked with wide eyes. Mayda's lower lip began to tremble and she shook her head.

"I missed you and..." The girl trailed off and her lip trembled more. Had she been horribly mistaken? Was her uncle glad for her to be gone and was now cross that she had dared return? Her fears were almost instantly stilled though as Éomer pulled her into a powerful embrace.

"I am so glad you are here," he finally exclaimed his voice thick with emotion. Mayda breathed in his familiar scent of horses and leather and smiled into the folds of his tunic. She truly was home. Neither had time to say another word as a loud utterance of surprise and joy broke them apart. Mayda's eyes now fell on her aunt, still not showing any large indication that she was with child, as it was early days still. Lothiriel was glowing though and as she ran across the great hall her lovely face was cracked into a beaming smile.

"Mayda!" she cried joyfully and she swooped the girl up into a motherly hug, and as she squeezed all the air out of the child, Mayda did not object. "Oh my child," Lothiriel whimpered, succumbing to her heightened emotions, but as soon as her tears had started to fall she pushed back from her foster-daughter and looked her in the eye. "How do I find you here?" she asked worriedly looking around the hall for Eowyn or Faramir. "Did you come alone?" Now Éomer was looking serious. Mayda stuck out her chin defiantly and nodded once. She tried to ignore the look of anger that temporarily etched her uncle's features, but for a brief second it had been as clear as day and it made her feel wicked.

"And my sister," Éomer said climbing to his feet. "She knows nothing of your departure?" Mayda looked genuinely guilty, but she nodded again only once. Her uncle instantly turned on one of his councilors. "Send word to Lady Eowyn in Minas Tirith, she must be told that her niece has returned to us safely!" he ordered. The man bowed his head and rushed off leaving Éomer staring at the girl with a disappointed look on his face. "You could have been hurt," he said with a hint of anger. Mayda looked away, she could not meet his gaze.

"Éomer," Lothiriel said gently and she placed a reassuring hand on Mayda's shoulder. "The girl must be exhausted after such a long ride, allow her a moment's rest..."

"Why are there no decorations?" Both Éomer and Lothiriel looked to the girl in surprise and then looked away as soon as they had done so. Both looked saddened, yet also rather sheepish.

"We did not," Lothiriel eventually began, but then she paused and looked to Éomer with a stern look. He sighed in defeat and dropped down on one knee before his foster-daughter once more.

"It was not the same without you," he said earnestly and for a moment he no longer looked vexed, but genuinely glad for her return.

"But tomorrow is Metarrë," Mayda stated with a small frown. "You cannot celebrate if you have not even unearthed the horse! May I do it?" Her request came so suddenly that Éomer was quite taken aback and he blinked several times unsure of what to say. He ought really be punishing her for her dangerous and naughty escape from Gondor, but now she was before him – something both he and his wife had silently wished for – he could not deny her.

"Of course," he finally said and quickly he climbed back to his feet. "But mark my words my girl," he said with a small satisfied smile. "You will not walk away from this unpunished!" Mayda cringed dramatically despite herself, something that made Lothiriel burst out laughing and swoop down on her for another embrace.

"Come," the glowing mother-to-be said happily as she dropped the girl to her feet and stood up. "Let us go and find the decorations. Now tell me," she continued as Mayda took her hand and they walked away in the direction of Meduseld's stores. " Eowyn has written to me and told me all about Dior and Huor and how you three can no longer be parted."

"They are the best!" Mayda piped up happily.

"Tell me all about it," Lothiriel said with a broad smile and so they went leaving Éomer staring after them with mixture of feelings. On the one hand he was happy that Mayda was with them, on the other he was both angry and afraid that she had made such a journey alone and without a word to anyone, and lastly, an emotion that caught him by surprise, was protectiveness; hearing Mayda's words trailing away of her exploits with these...boys...made his skin crawl.

Shaking his head he headed over to the villager who had witness the entire thing and nodded slightly to him, before taking the throne ready for business once more.

X X X

By nightfall the Golden Hall was restored to its usual festive state, with the large carving taking centre stage in the grand hall. Already many of the villagers had dropped by to hang their usual offerings on the grand carving. The wreath was once more hung on the door and just as Mayda had been hanging her symbol on it her three friends had surprised her with a snowball, triggering an impromptu snowball fight, which half the village's children joined in with – and many of the adults too.

Mathain, Laiken and Arin helped Mayda with the grand horse and soon she had them in stitches of laughter with tales of her new friends from the South. Though Mayda did notice Mathain went very quiet whilst she told her stories – and Laiken and Mathain were outraged to hear that Lalaith was spending the festival season with the kitchen staff of the White House of Ithilien. Lothiriel all the while had been helping her foster-daughter and even Éomer managed to help a little, though he was still trying to maintain an air of disappointment with the girl to let her know she had been disobedient. At one point his façade broke down when Mayda jumped out from one of the banners at the head of the hall decked from head to two in streamers and decorative cloth. He had not been able to stop himself and he broke out into reams of laughter – something that had stilled Mayda's worried heart. She now knew he did not hate her, he was merely disappointed with her, and she could well understand why.

As midnight loomed Éomer approached his niece and wife and sat down beside them on the floor by the carved horse. Mayda instantly knew what he had come to say.

"I must insist that after a light bite to eat you retire for the night," he said passively, his eyes shining with affection. Mayda beamed at him and without another word she lunged at his head and hugged it in its entirety before breaking away and running out of the hall in the direction of the kitchens. Lothiriel smiled lovingly at her husband.

"She knows she has misbehaved," she eventually said stroking a stray lock of hair from his face. "You need not torture yourself so, you are allowed to feel happy with her return." Éomer looked at her with a tired smile. Oh how she read him well.

"That is not the point," he countered. " Whether she knows it or not is not the issue here. I must maintain a steady hand in my raising of her or she will believe that it is acceptable to bend rules and run wild whenever she wants. And with a girl like Mayda, that is asking for trouble," he explained, though his heart wasn't in it. "She needs discipline!"

"She needs a loving father and a loving mother," Lothiriel said softly and she took Éomer's hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. "Don't you see? Her returning to us indicates her acceptance of this little one," she continued lifting Éomer's hand to her belly.

"She has a loving father and mother," Éomer said softly. "What she also has is a father who will not cater to her every whim. She is growing up fast..." He paused and closed his eyes. This much was true. Though only a few weeks had passed he already saw a remarkable change in his charge. Perhaps not physically, but her time away and her company with boys had changed something inside of her and to her uncle it was as clear as day. It pained him more than he could explain. "And every move we make at this stage will be crucial. I am more than happy she has returned, but she will be punished." Lothiriel gave him a doe-eyed expression.

"At least wait until the celebrations are spent my love," she said with a slight pout. Éomer grinned and jumped to his feet.

"I would not have it any other way," he said and he lifted Lothiriel into his arms so suddenly that she yelped slightly in surprise. "Now let us also get something light to eat before retiring." His tone indicated only one thing and it made Lothiriel blush slightly.

"Can we not retire straight away?"

X X X

Mayda woke up the next day with a start. She felt incredibly disorientated, but soon her memories came flooding back: of the escape and the night before, Lothiriel and Éomer creeping in in the early hours of the morning to wish her goodnight and to wish her a happy...

The girl sat straight up in bed and she rushed to her shutters, pulling on some heavy boots as she went to protect her feet from the cold slate. Once she reached the window she flung open the shutters and looked out. The snow was falling and the sun just creeping over the rolling hills towards the west. It was the first day of Mettarë! It had finally come! Rushing back to her dressing room she found a thick cardigan and dashed out into the corridor heading straight for her uncle and aunt's chambers. Without knocking she burst in and found both asleep facing each other.

"Mettarë, Mettarë, Mettarë!" the girl shouted as she kicked off her boots and jumped onto the foot of the bed, bouncing up and down with uncontrollable excitement. Both Éomer and Lothiriel woke with a start, but upon seeing who it was they sank down onto their elbows and watched her exhaust herself with broad smiles on their faces. Within no time the girl dropped down to her knees and pulled herself up the bed to find herself between her foster-parents. "Mettarë," she uttered weakly. Éomer grinned boyishly.

"So we have heard," he said reaching out and flattening her hair, which was still standing up on end. Then suddenly as if realising some terrible mistake Mayda's face fell and she suddenly looked timid.

"What is it darling?" Lothiriel asked sitting up slightly. Mayda looked up with tearful eyes and shook her head.

"I had made you both gifts," she said sadly. "But I left them behind in Minas Tirith!" At this both Éomer and Lothiriel burst out laughing, they had suspected something much more sinister when she suddenly looked so crestfallen.

"You need not worry about that," Éomer said with a broad smile. "For we too had sent you many gifts. They were to be presented to you this morning by your aunt and uncle, but as you have run away you will have to wait." Though Éomer had been expecting the girl to look a little disappointed, she instead smiled cheerfully.

"Then we shall have a festival without gifts," she said and she lay down between them, snuggling down into the soft mattress. "Just the three of us with no complications!" Lothiriel looked to her husband with a truly happy smiled before settling down beside her foster-daughter.

"Yes," she said softly kissing Mayda's forehead. "Just the three of us."

"For the last time," Mayda added and no twinge of anger or hurt entered her voice.

X X X

More to come soon, some on, no complications with this girl around?