Four

Before I go further, disclaimer! I don't own any of the characters apart from those of my own making. Also, I have taken some inspiration from the films to supplement the bits Tolkien was vague on, but I don't own any of that either.

A note on the name "Nienna". She is one of the Valar, a lady of pity and mourning, who grieves for the hurts done to Middle-Earth. (Silmarillion).

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She had never seen a table so rich. The carved wood groaned under the weight of the food. Down the centre were tall black candlesticks with yellow, lit stumps of wax in. A fire blazed in the hearth, with a stag roasting on a spit above it, giving off the heavy scent of venison. On bronze and copper platters were meats of every kind – honey-roast chicken, minted lamb, rabbit stew in black pots, salted pork, sliced ham and even a suckling pig. Freshly baked loaves of bread were still warm on the inside of the crumbly crust, and there were dishes of golden butter, homemade jam, honey and marmalade. Eighteen lumps of different cheeses littered the table amongst baskets of green and red apples and ripe pears. There were dishes of varying vegetables all steaming temptingly, and tureens of leek and potato soup. There were jugs of water, flagons of ale and decanters of wine. Arìanna had never seen such a feast.

"Arìanna," came a familiar deep voice. She turned and smiled at Éomer. He was dressed in his royal armour – a long dark green tunic, heavily embroidered, a brown breast plate, inlaid with silver, and brown leather gloves with gold stitching. These gloves he removed as he proffered his hand. "Come, sit near me. We can talk." She dipped her knees in curtsey and took his hand, feeling the roughness of his callused palm. She looked for Frinan, but he was sitting with some of his comrades from the éored, and they were in deep discussion.

This was the funeral feast for Freyja. And though this was not a custom, it was not shunned by even the most dour of the Rohirrim. Théoden was at the feast, but he did not eat, nor move, nor speak unless it was to his companion – Gríma. He sat in his ornate chair, a shrivelled, frail old man, his eyes clouded as if in blindness, and his gnarled hands clutching the wooden arms of his chair. After the food had been eaten – in most – servants came and cleared away the platters, replacing them with twelve almond cakes, studded with raisins, laced with honey and topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon. There were also jam rolls, jugs of fresh cream, dishes of mixed nuts and seeds, baskets of more fresh fruit, a huge sponge cake doused with thick, golden syrup, warmed slices of bread covered in butter and marmalade and sprinkled with sugar then baked to a delicious brown. More wine and ale was brought forth, and Arìanna's chalice was filled with more burgundy-coloured wine. She was offered freshly-made pastries, with a flaky base and creamy centre. As she took one, she turned to Éomer.

"Éomer. You wished me to sit and talk with you, yet you have not spoken one word all night. Are you well?"

"Of course," Éomer smiled, drinking deep his mug of ale. "I… I just have no conversation to make." He watched her fair face closely, and saw the weariness on her forehead and under her eyes. There were grey shadows beneath the iridescent jewels. He forced a smile. "But speak we shall! We can speak of everything you wish." So they did, deep in conversation they went, unaware of those around them – not noticing the watchful eyes of Théodred, nor the hopeful glance of Éowyn, Éomer's sister.

The food was eventually cleared away and the table split into two parts, each half pulled to either side of the room to make space in the middle. Arìanna rose, her flushed cheeks grave again, and Frinan came to her side so that they stood before Théoden in his throne. Next to Frinan, Théodred stood, taking his father's place as the older man could not move from his seat. A servant handed them a silver goblet filled to the brim with bright red wine. First Théodred clasped it, and announced loudly;

"This drink we sup in remembrance of thee, may you rest in happiness in the Great Halls Beyond." He took a sip as those in the halls raised their drinks and said;

"Rest in happiness." Théodred passed the cup to Frinan, who then said;

"In our hearts we grieve for thee, as deep as Nienna." He took a sip, and passed the cup on to Arìanna as everyone announced;

"Grievance." Arìanna then spoke confidently, but her hands shook and her eyes were closed.

"And in our hearts, we hold remembrance close, oh loved one. We shall meet, in the Great Halls Beyond, but we do not forget thy memory." She took a sip.

"We will not forget thee," came the reply in unison, and everyone drank deep.

The evening grew into night, and soon people began to disperse, their stomachs full and heads spinning with drink. Arìanna left silently, donning her cloak of blue-grey and lifting the hood. She waited for Frinan on the out-step of Meduseld, that rested on the peak of the hill, brooding over the rest of Edoras. She looked out over the plains, the green grasses now shadows, and the mountains black peaks. She sighed, hugging her arms about her to trap the warmth that the seeking wind strived to take from her. Arìanna heard movement and turned. It was Éomer. His cheeks were flushed with the heat of the hall and drink. He stood next to her, not saying anything, but looking out over the plains. His hands were tucked behind his back.

"I am sorry for your loss, Arìanna."

"Thank you. I will miss her."

"As will many," he answered, and after a pause, added: "I hope that your new duties as a healer, as increased as they are, will not draw you away from the stables. I like your company in the mornings." He smiled shyly at her.

"Nothing could draw me from Caradien. Nor our conversations," she replied softly, as someone stumbled down the stair, on their way to bed. Éomer reached out and touched her cheek with fingertips. Slowly, he leant in, his eyes closing. Instinctively, Arìanna shut her eyes and tilted her head to him. Their lips collided in the softest of kisses, brushing each other for no longer than a second until they were disturbed by the rowdy arrival of Frinan. Arìanna, starting at Frinan's shout of;

"Arìanna! Come! Homeward bound are we!" stepped abruptly away, her eyes flashing a glance to Éomer's before she averted her gaze.

"Good night, Éomer."