Well once again I've fallen into a terrible posting routine. If you're here, I hope you can forgive me.
Things are moving fast for Marke and Eomer and I don't see them slowing down anytime soon! Enjoy!
Chapter Three
As my brother had indicated, I was not given very much time to adjust to life in Rohan. Within a week of my arrival, the wedding between myself and Eomer-King had been scheduled and planned.
Upon my arrival, I was shown to the Queen's chambers, that would, after my wedding, be the rooms that our entire family would share. Since the previous Queen's passing, Artanis had remained in the nursery that was attached while supervised by her nurse, Dernhild. However, Eomer had returned to his bachelor's quarters. Artanis and I were then, already living alongside one another.
"It is nice to have someone to share breakfast with," she said one morning, a few days after we had arrived from Minas Tirith.
"Indeed it is," I agreed. "You have been a lovely companion so far and have taught me much of your home."
Artanis had been my constant companion when she was not attending the few lessons she took. She was still too young for a full day and so she only went for a few hours to practice her letters, both Rohirric and Westron, as well as riding practice with her father. She had confided in me that her father was teaching how to wield a sword as well.
While most of what I had learned of Edoras and Meduseld had agreed with me, the food did not. There was nothing the Rohirrim seemed to believe in more than a hearty bowl of porridge in the mornings to start their days. I found I could not handle the heavy substance settling in the bottom of my stomach.
The fruit selection was sparse and so most days I made do with an apple at most. I had also been dismayed to find that their morning drinks were either weak tea or ale, nothing like the dark, aromatic beverage we had at home that gave us Haradrim a bit of energy.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Artanis asked, breaking me out of my reverie of fresh fruit and cacao beans.
Excited was not necessarily the correct word for how I was feeling about marrying the little girl's father, but that was not something I would share with her.
"I hope we shall all get to spend more time together once we are married," I said.
So far I had only shared two dinners with Eomer and we had been accompanied by those who were in Edoras for the wedding, including the Prince and Lady of Ithilien. I had not spoken much at those dinners and Eomer had not spoken to me at all. Only after one had he pulled me briefly aside to see that all was in order in my rooms and with my schedule, which was practically non-existent.
"He is quite busy," Artanis agreed. "You could come with me to the stables today for my lesson."
"No, that is alright," I replied, thinking that nothing would warm the King to me less than barging in on his limited time with his daughter, whom he seemed to adore. "There are a few things left that need my attention before tomorrow."
The little girl nodded. "If Leofwyn comes, could you tell her that I'd like a length of green ribbon for my hair?"
"I will see what she can do," I assured her.
Artanis slid from her seat and went back into the nursery where Dernhild waited to help her dress her for her riding lesson.
A few moments later she came out in her breeches, long tunic and boots with her chestnut hair in a long braid down her back.
"Enjoy," I said, giving a small wave as she left the room with her nurse and a small company of her father's guards.
Without Artanis, I faced a tedious morning ahead.
"That child is rather demanding," Oyna said, emerging from the bedchamber where she had been laying out my things for the day.
"I find her quite enjoyable," I replied with a laugh, following my companion back into the bedchamber to dress in a plain dark blue dress.
As I had known, my clothes from Harad would not suit in Rohan and so I had been growing accustomed to the plain cotton dress the Rohirric women wore in the warmer months of the year.
While a corset was not required, there were laced in either the front or back of most of the dresses that were tied very tight. At home, my stomach was not covered let alone constricted so it was an adjustment, but they were not as awful as I had imagined.
"Do you find it odd that your wedding is to be in the morning?" Oyna asked, not looking at me as I settled at the vanity for her to dress my hair.
"I am not familiar with the customs here," I replied with a shrug, closing my eyes as her fingers massaged my scalp for a moment.
Of course, I found it odd to have a wedding ceremony in the morning, but I did not voice that. As the Queen, and a foreigner at that, it was not my place to question the decisions made by Eomer-King and those who surrounded him.
"What is he going to do? Take you to bed and return to work?"
My eyes shot open at that.
"That was out of line," Oyna said. "I am sorry."
I shook my head. "I am not sure it was." I sighed as Oyna began braiding the hair at the crown of my head away from my face.
"I wish I could help you," Oyna said.
"Should I be frightened?" I asked, voice trembling.
"I do not know. His Majesty does not seem cruel," Oyna replied.
"No, but he does not seem to care even the slightest for me."
Oyna was quiet for a moment. "But he has a daughter and he is tender with her. Perhaps that is a good sign that you will not suffer at his hands…and other parts."
An unexpected laugh burst from my lips and I clapped my hands over my burning face. "Oyna!" The laughter died when I realized how naive I truly was. "I have no idea what to expect or how any of this is supposed to go."
"I wish I could help you," Oyna repeated, as yet also unmarried and so clueless in the ways of the marriage bed, despite her sometimes vulgar remarks.
I nodded and remained silent as she finished my hair. As I was rising from the stool at the vanity, there was a knock at my bedroom door. I indicated that Oyna should open it as I stood and smoothed the skirt of my dress.
"Oh Leofwyn," I said with a smile.
"I have your wedding gown, Your Highness," the older woman said with a quick curtsy. Without more preamble, she laid a cloth of gold gown on my bed.
"It is lovely," I whispered, staring down at the beautiful garment. I had not expected something half as nice for what would be my brief morning wedding ceremony.
"The seamstresses have been at it since you arrived, working night and day," Leofwyn said.
My measurements had been taken the afternoon I had arrived, when I had first learned how soon the wedding was to be.
"I will have to find a way to thank them for their hard work," I murmured, running my hand over the bodice. I picked the dress up and it was much lighter than I had expected, feeling nearly weightless.
"I will be back to help you dress in the morning," Leofwyn said. "Unless there is anything you need of me in the meantime."
"Oh yes, actually," I replied. "Princess Artanis was hoping to have a length of green ribbon to wear in her hair for the ceremony."
"I am sure we can manage that. Is there anything else, Your Highness?"
I chewed the inside of my cheek for a moment, unsure if I would speak or not. "Perhaps there is something else with which you might help me. Only if you have the time, of course?"
The older woman nodded.
"Leave us," I bid Oyna. She picked up the dress and disappeared.
"What can I do for you, Your Highness?"
I gestured for her to sit at one of the chairs before the empty fireplace. I found I could not join her, nervous as I was to begin the conversation.
"You have known His Majesty for a great deal of time, is that correct?" I asked, pacing before the mantle.
"I have," she replied, giving a warm smile. "I have known the King since he was just a lad. Elfhelm was in the service of Theoden-King for a very long time. When Eomer came to court after his parents passed, poor dear, my husband and I were not much younger than he is now. Because Theoden was not married, I offered myself as some type of maternal figure to Eomer and Eowyn. His Majesty fit right in with my brood of eight."
My eyes widened at the mention of eight children.
Leofwyn laughed. "That is right. I had eight children and not one set of twins in there. Hopefully you will be so lucky."
I felt my face flush, but did not draw attention to it. In a day, I would be a Queen and I could not be embarrassed.
Seeming to understand what I was really asking of her, Leofwyn softened and I could see what Eomer would have found in this woman after his own mother had passed.
"I understand that you and have His Majesty have not been able to spend much time together," she said. "But you have nothing to fear from him. He carries a great burden. It took much effort and time to get Rohan back to what she was before the War and we are not quite there yet. But he also constantly has Princess Artanis on his mind. He knows what it is to be an orphan and he does not want her to feel that way. Since she was born and Queen Lothiriel passed, he has given her a great deal of his attention; more than almost all men would or could in his position. I believe that sometimes that loss of his first wife lingers and he worries for his daughter, but she is a healthy, sprightly creature."
"What can I…"I trailed off, unsure of what I was asking.
"Do not be a burden to him. He has a fair few of those already," Leofwyn answered what I could not speak.
"And tomorrow?" I asked, as the woman rose to leave. There was a note of desperation in my voice.
"Tomorrow?" Leofwyn turned to face me. "All weddings…and forgive me, beddings, are different, Your Highness."
I sighed and nodded, resigning myself to not knowing how the following day would go until it was upon me.
"I shall see you in the morning, Leofwyn," I said with a small smile. "Thank you for all you have done so far."
The older woman gave a slight bow of her head and left.
ooooOoooo
There were no festivities the night before the wedding ceremony, outside of a dinner with the few guests who were in attendance. I had hoped there might be dancing or something to distract me from all that was to come the following day.
Instead, there was only trying to avoid the gaze of the Lady of Ithilien who I felt watching me over her goblet throughout the meal.
Unfortunately, I had also been separated at the table from Artanis who was sitting on her father's other side.
It was not only the Lady Eowyn who was staring, but there were several noblemen and their wives from all over Rohan who were in attendance to see their King wed. From their curious, if not disgusted and almost hostile gazes, I could tell I was not who they thought the King should have chosen as his second wife.
I attempted to make small talk with the man sitting next to me, but was not successful outside of the requisite pleasantries.
Though I was sitting to Eomer's right, he did not once glance over at me or check on how I fared, but I had grown, in the short amount of time we had been betrothed, to not expect such a kindness.
Finally the meal was concluded. Had I not been facing such a monumental change in my life, I might have remained hungry. Like their breakfasts, the Rohirrim favored heavy food at all meals and none of the meat stews or potato dishes had appealed to me.
When the meal was over and everyone was excused from the table, Artanis hurried to me.
"Did you see the ribbon Leofwyn left on your bureau?" I asked, smiling down at the chipper creature.
"I did! It is lovely and it will go beautifully with my dress."
"Might I escort you back to your rooms, Your Highnesses?" A deep voice asked behind me.
"Yes, Papa!"
I turned to look up into the golden face of the King. "Yes, Your Majesty," I said, more subdued, taking the arm he offered as Artanis took his offered paw of a hand.
Father and daughter chatted, Artanis very animatedly, on our way back to the chambers that we would all share in less than a day.
"After the ceremony tomorrow, you shall spend the day with your Aunt Eowyn," Eomer told his daughter when we before the door.
"Will we go riding? The last time Aunt Eowyn was here she took me to the Snowbourne!"
"If she is feeling quite up to it," Eomer said, a firmness in his voice. "Do not pester her. Your new cousin will be here very soon and she might be tired."
Artanis nodded, but I could see the restraint it took for her not to roll her eyes.
"Now give me a kiss and see yourself to bed. You have to be up early." Eomer knelt before his daughter and I smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his stubbled cheek. "I love you, Daughter. Sleep sweet."
"You as well, Papa." Artanis disappeared into our chambers and I was left with the King.
Not knowing what to say, I merely bid him a hasty goodnight.
"I shall see you in the morning, Your Highness," he replied, not offering a smile.
ooooOoooo
"Do you think you shall need the tonic tonight?" Oyna asked me as she slipped my dressing robe from my shoulders, leaving me in only a silk nightgown, one of the few indulgences I was allowed from Harad. I had been uncertain if I would continue to wear them once married, but I was then positive that the King would have no interest in what I wore to bed. I was not sure he even knew what I looked like, he had glanced at me few enough times.
"I have never needed it more," I replied, without any mirth in my voice.
Oyna brought me the goblet that held the sleeping tonic I had prepared earlier that afternoon.
"How was the dinner?" Oyna asked hesitantly.
"Well if looks could kill, the Lady Eowyn would have had me slumped into my stew at the dining table. And His Majesty did not speak to me until we were right outside these doors."
"I see," Oyna said, not having a witty remark to comfort me on the night before my wedding. "Well take this and sleep deeply. By this time tomorrow at least it will all be over."
I nodded, took the goblet from her, and threw my head back, downing it in one go.
ooooOoooo
The morning came far too early for my liking. I was a little bleary from the tonic still when Oyna woke me up and guided me to a warm bath.
I took a warm cloth and washed my face and then the rest of the body, taking an ewer and rinsing the suds as I rose. I knew I did not have much time before I was to be in the throne room for the wedding ceremony.
After I was dried with a linen sheet, I rubbed sandalwood oil onto my entire body, relishing in the scent from my home.
Oyna once more, wrapped me in a robe and sat me at the vanity to prepare my hair and face.
There was a knock and Leofwyn let herself into my chambers. "Your Highness," she said, bobbing a quick curtsy. She had an armful of petticoats and a shift. "Her hair will need to be left down," she said to Oyna.
Oyna met my eyes in the mirror and I gave a brief nod.
"Very well," my companion said, running her fingers through the sleep-tangled hair.
"I would also suggest simple makeup, if any," Leofwyn said.
"My face can be left bare," I replied.
Oyna looked between the two of us. "Then I suppose Her Highness is ready to be dressed."
I stood and allowed the robe to be removed, holding my arms up as Oyna slipped an ivory silk shift over my head. When that was settled, Leofwyn was holding a petticoat for me to step into.
"I think one shall do just fine," she said when she saw how I was looking at the piece of fabric. In Harad, we did not bulk our clothing, but let them glide over our bodies.
Despite all of that, I was excited to wear the dress that had been created for my wedding.
Very carefully, Leofwyn helped me into the gown and then laced the stays in the back, giving me an alluring waistline.
The sleeves hung to the floor and moved like liquid gold as I walked to stand in front of the full length mirror.
"You look beautiful," Oyna said.
I gave her a nervous smile in the mirror.
"I will be off to prepare myself if you are satisfied, Your Highness," Leofwyn said.
"Yes, thank you so much," I said, turning and giving her hand a squeeze.
"Elfhelm will be here promptly to escort you to the ceremony."
I nodded. Without a male member of my family present, Eomer had appointed Leofwyn's husband and his most trusted advisor to do the honor of escorting and handing me off to my groom.
Carefully, I sat back at the vanity, but too soon for my liking there was more knocking on my door.
"Your Highness," Elfhelm said, when he was permitted in by Oyna.
"Marshall," I replied with a small smile.
Elfhelm was a handsome man in his late sixties if I had to guess. Though it had been long since he was heading to battles, it could be seen in his posture and bearing that he had been a warrior.
"Are you ready?" he asked kindly.
"I believe so," I replied, looking over my shoulder once more at Oyna who gave a reassuring nod, following us out of my bedroom.
"Mareke!"
"Princess Artanis," I said with a laugh when she came out of the nursery. "You are supposed to be with your aunt."
Dernhild followed the little girl, huffing and holding the green ribbon in her hand.
"My nurse cannot get the ribbon right," Artanis sighed, not restraining herself from rolling her eyes then.
"Perhaps I can help," I said, kneeling and reaching for the ribbon, which Dernhild handed over with a sigh of her own.
"You look lovely," Artanis said, when had turned around. "I think Papa will like your dress a lot."
"I hope so." I gathered half of her hair in my hands and deftly tied the ribbon so it was in a neat bow. "There you go."
Artanis turned and hugged me tight.
"Run along to your aunt," I said patting her back and freeing myself, smiling after the child as she scampered away.
"I think now we are ready, Marshall," I said, straightening back up and smoothing my dress before taking his arm.
My heart began to truly pound in my chest when we left the safety of my chambers. The throne room was a good distance away through Meduseld, but not nearly long enough.
The heavy doors were opened and Elfhelm led me forward.
The noblemen and their families that had been present the evening before were in attendance, but other than them it was only Eomer, the Prince and Lady of Ithilien, Artanis, and Leofwyn. Those gathered filled less than half of the throne room.
I kept my eyes on Eomer, though he did not smile in my direction. He was very striking in a tunic of scarlet with gold stitching on the chest. His hair was combed and unbound around his shoulders and his beard looked as though it had been trimmed.
One of his other Marshall's was standing between the two thrones, ready to perform the ceremony.
Elfhelm took my hand from his arm and placed it in Eomer's waiting hand. He continued to hold it as the ceremony began. I could feel the rough calluses against my smooth fingers. For years he had wielded blades, shields, and spears and had pulled against the ropes and reins of horses, yet his hand was gentle as it enveloped mine.
The ceremony was in Rohirric and I had been learning when it was my cue to speak and how to pronounce the brief phrase that was required of me, after Eomer spoke his own agreement to take me as his wife and queen.
Briefly, I glanced around him at Leofwyn, who gave an imperceptible nod.
"Glacaim leat," I said, with as much confidence as I could muster.
A few more words were said by Eomer's Marshall and then, after receiving a nod, Eomer bent and kissed me.
His huge hands left my arms hanging limply by my side as he took my waist and drew me closer to him.
The kiss was not at all unpleasant, with his hands holding me firmly, and his lips against mine.
Eomer pulled away and looked down at me for a long moment with soft brown eyes.
Finally he looked away, leaving me breathless from the prolonged eye contact. "Please join the Queen and I for breakfast." He offered his arm and we led the crowd out of the throne room and into the great hall, where only a few of the tables, not all of them being needed, had been set and laden down with breakfast fare, porridge included.
I found I was still rather nervous, not knowing what else to expect of the morning so I ate very little.
Unable to contain herself, Artanis walked around her father's chair and came to stand at my side. "Are you my mother now?"
I felt Eomer stiffen on my other side, but did not look at him. "Well, no," I said. "Your stepmother after the ceremony, I suppose. But I can still be just Mareke to you if that makes you comfortable."
Eomer relaxed and I smiled at the little girl, who remained by my side throughout the rest of the meal.
Not many of our guests stayed very long, but all wished us their congratulations before they departed, most looking only at Eomer.
"Congratulations on a…striking match, Brother," Eowyn said, leaning on Faramir. They were the last to leave.
"Yes, congratulations to you both," the Prince of Ithilien said, much kinder than his wife.
"Come Artanis," Eowyn beckoned for her niece to join her. "Your father has much to tend to today," she said, the meaning of her words veiled to Artanis, but not to me.
Once they were out of the great hall, Eomer folded his cloth napkin and set it on the table, not meeting my gaze.
"Shall we?" he asked, standing and pulling my chair away from the table. When I was on my feet, he once more offered his arm.
It became apparent very quickly that we were headed back to our chambers and once more my heart went wild and I was afraid my hand would leave a sweaty mark on Eomer's undershirt.
"After you," he said when we were at the door. I stepped inside and then turned in the sitting room.
"Keep going," he bid me and I walked toward the bedchamber, opening the door.
Oyna was inside, but I quickly gestured for the woman to leave us. She did so, dipping into a quick curtsy and then hurrying past Eomer.
"Might I send for anything?" I asked, even though I knew he had just had his fill at breakfast.
For the first time since we had met, Eomer was intent upon me. "No," he said, quickly closing the distance between us. More shocking than our wedding kiss was what he bestowed upon me in that instance.
It was as though he was hungry, trying to devour me. My eyes were wide and arms were frozen at my side even as his went around me and began to unlace the stays at the back of the dress.
Eomer's lips trailed from my lips to my jaw and then to my ear and down my neck. He stopped only briefly to push the gown from my shoulders, which thankfully took the petticoat with it. I knew I looked better in just the silk slip, but then I realized that I was nearly naked in front of a strange man in a strange land.
His hands ran up my body until they were cupping my breasts, kneading firmly.
A breath escaped me and my pulse seemed to change. My posture relaxed, sinking against him, breath coming fast and short from the ministrations on my earlobe and column of my throat.
"What is that you smell of?" Eomer breathed against my neck.
"S-s-sandalwood," I managed to get out as his breath tickled my throat.
"It is intoxicating," he growled, pulling me tight against his firm chest.
Once more his lips crashed against mine as one of his hands buried itself in my hair.
An entirely unfamiliar sensation was coursing through my body. I had lost the sense of everything around me except Eomer's hands and mouth on me.
The rough callused palms slid down my slip, scratching as they went and bunching the fabric up until he could pull the garment over my head.
A yelp escaped me when his mouth closed over a peaked bud, the other breast being enclosed in his hand once again.
I could not worry about being completely naked in front of him as I was experiencing pleasure beyond my wildest imaginings.
"Is that alright?" Eomer asked, lifting his head and looking down into my eyes.
I could only nod, panting and wanting him to continue.
Eomer's hands ran down my back, cupping my behind and holding me against the hardness of his body. After he kicked his boots off, he moved us backward toward the bed. When my knees hit the mattress, I fell onto my back and Eomer drank me in.
Instinctively, my hands went to cover myself, but his hands shot out and stopped them. "Let me look at you," he said in a gentle voice.
As he studied me, his hands went to his breeches and untied them, pushing them down to his ankles.
I gasped when he was completely free, not in fright, but a wave of desire rushed over me, however it was replaced once more by nerves, when he approached the bed.
Using his own knees, he pushed mine apart and I was completely exposed to him.
Eomer bent over me, framing my head with his thick forearms. My hands reached for the hem of his undershirt, but Eomer drew back quickly. "Do not do that," he said sternly. If I was not mistaken, there was a frantic note to his voice. "The shirt stays on."
I gulped and nodded. "I am sorry," I whispered.
Eomer closed his eyes briefly. "Your hands can go here." He placed my hands on his rock solid chest. "Or here." He moved them to his shoulders. "But I would especially like them here." He took my hands and carded my fingers through his golden locks.
Once more, he bent his head and began kissing my neck. My hips bucked of their own accord and I was not sure what it was I sought.
Eomer settled himself between my legs and he let some of his weight fall onto my chest, nearly crushing the breath from me.
I held my breath as his manhood pushed against the very core of me, but I found that I was ready to welcome him, though moments before I had had no understanding of what consummating a marriage looked like.
My hips rose to meet his and he paused. "Gently," he whispered, against my neck, causing a thrill to go up my spine at the same time my stomach seemed to turn into warm honey.
With a groan, Eomer pushed into me and the pleasure at once turned into a sharp, hot pain. I whimpered against his shoulder, my fingers tightening in his hair.
Again, Eomer propped himself on his elbows so that he was looking down into my dark eyes. His hands brushed the wild curls away from my face. "Are you alright?"
With a shuddering breath, I nodded. "Continue," I managed between my gritted teeth.
Very slowly, Eomer began to move again and while the pain still lingered, the pleasure returned simultaneously. I was filled completely by my new husband and though he was a stranger he was building something within my body I could not explain through the rocking motion of his hips.
"Yes," I murmured burying my face in his neck. "Oh." I repeated myself over and over as the wave of pleasure built, my stomach tightening. The clenching muscles released and flooded my limbs with a rush of feeling that tingles all the way to my fingers and toes. I gave a cry which I tried to muffle, though I could not hear it.
I did not hear Eomer give one final grunt in his release, could not really feel the entire weight of him which he settled on me for a moment after he was through. I could hear only the blood pounding in my ears and my own gasping for breath.
Much too soon, Eomer rose and disappeared into the washroom, though I could only watch him without moving or speaking. When he returned, he put his clothes back on and pulled his boots up. I propped myself up to study him, but he did not turn to look at me.
"There are things I must tend to this afternoon. I shall see you for dinner this evening."
And then he was gone.
There you have it! I hope you loved this update! I really enjoyed writing it and I have big things planned for what's ahead. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought. I'm also always opened to ideas you have for our couples!
Happy reading,
Avonmora