The beginning of a new life Chapter three
"Well, well, it seems our dear Gríma is a box full of surprises. Don't you agree with me, Willow?" Epona looked at me from behind her mug of ale.
I only snorted, clearly I had miscalculated the abilities of this Man. "Epona, you are not considering seriously starting this trade with him, are you?"
"But of course I'm ready to trade on his conditions. My dear Willow, after I read the entire contract I was asking to myself why I never thought of it before. The man has a good mind in that horrid head of him." She smiled widely. Beautiful creature indeed, my cousin, though with rudeness in her appearance that could not leave mistake of the doubtful condition of her breeding. Daughter of Fairies she was, but her heritage came from other veins than Fairish pure blood, someone in her ancestry had to be a mortal, a Rohirrim probably. The possibility made me shudder in revulsion. That odd custom of our ancestors to have intercourse with other races really was an affront to my beliefs.
"You are not thinking clearly, Epona. What about your people's pride? You always praised yourself in the skill of your breeders in producing the finest horses, using your own steeds and mares. And now, you lower yourself to use the horses you have already sold to them?"
"Do you have a notion of how difficult is to produce a totally black steed from parents that are not entirely black themselves? It is exhausting to keep track of the lineage of each of our horses. Seriously, I prefer to leave the job of inquiring about ancestry to you, Willow. Besides, pride is a thorn in my side, when it comes to matters of estate; I have to keep my people well fed and happy. This deal is what I need to start to have some spare time for myself." She drank her beverage to the bottom of the container.
"But, are you not afraid that this man is trying to steal your secrets? What if he learns how to breed his own horses?"
Epona laughed aloud, the lack of composure she showed sometimes annoyed me. "If he had wanted to do this job by himself, I'm quite sure he could. See, the chap has the skills and the knowledge. In fact, by what my servant told me, I can skim he was ready to do it; he only changed his decision in order to maintain the tradition. He wouldn't dare to insult us in such a fashion. Gríma is a brilliant politician, he managed to change his decision as well as the way it had sounded in a matter of seconds. My poor Enion was trapped in his web of honey without remedy."
"So it seems you are too."
"Don't misunderstand me, Willow. I'm quite old and cunning myself as to be ensnared by words, not matter how sweet they are. If I agreed with this trade is because it suits my people and me nicely. So, it's a point for Gríma, because Enion told me the ambassadors were present in the bargain. Oona probably is delighted to find he is skilful in the fine art of trading, and as for Robin, almost certainly is in bliss to know someone so much like himself."
I clenched my teeth in wrath. Yes, Robin, that fiend, he surely would be eager to find an escape for the worthless man from this situation. I knew it was not wise to send him as an ambassador.
"So be it, but I am quite sure he will break his façade at the end. A wicked man as him is not able to keep his evil intentions from the wise eyes of Fairish kin." I reassured myself with these words.
"You always can stay and watch the seal of this contract when he comes next week."
"I rather strangle myself to death than stay a moment in the same room with that...that bastard son of a jackal!"
When I left the hall I still could hear Epona's laughter ringing in my ears.
"Gríma, you are losing your concentration, at this pace you will never learn to use your new abilities." Banshee was losing her patience, my concentration was broken anytime my thoughts wandered towards the contract I had sent.
"I'm sorry, love, I just can't focus."
"So it seems." She sighed in defeat.
Banshee was trying hard to teach me some control over my new magical talents. I still kept on using human ways to do the simplest tasks, as lighting candles and such. But I had to learn to do it with magic. If I was going to be a Fae, I had to accommodate the Fairish ways. Lighting candles, using my will and not my hands, the basics in Fairy education, even the youngest children could do it. But my mind kept on slipping away, at this pace I would have to go to school with the Fairy children.
I walked toward the window and sat on the windowsill. From my vantage point, sitting there in the highest tower of the castle, I could contemplate the city. People were going through the streets, occupied in their chores, small kids were engaged in games of all kind, and females exchanged words, surely sharing spicy rumours. For all that, the Wolven People were somehow not so sunny in their countenance, they were merry in a fashion only I could appreciate. I have noticed how the citizens of this region were reserved and not really showing their joy, but there was not doubt they were happy. How I loved them, my people, so alike myself, their black raven hair, their clear irises, and hearts full of passion under their calmed appearance.
"You would miss them, would you?" Banshee put her hand on my shoulder and pressed in sympathy.
"Yes, I never thought I could feel that I belong in any place, or among any kind of people. But here, at your side, surrounded by them, I feel at peace."
"Keep the faith, my love, you left a good impression on the ambassadors. The trade was fair, and if I know Epona as I think I do, she will be delighted with the bargain." My sweet Banshee, always a support to me. How could I doubt her words, since she had always come out with the right advice in my times of need?
In that moment, I noticed a large bird coming our way, by its shape I could see it was a hawk, a very large one. I left my place when I realized the bird was searching a spot to land on. It did land, on the windowsill I had been sitting on. The hawk was enormous, not as the eagles from Middle Earth, but nonetheless, its figure easily occupied most of the window.
"See, here is the messenger you've been waiting for." Banshee came closer to the bird and it reached forward one of his talons, bowing slightly at her. She bowed in return and took a roll of parchment that was attached to the bird's leg.
The bird bowed again, and shrieking noisily fled away.
"Here, Gríma, read, it's from Epona. That hawk is one of her messengers." She handed me the roll and my hand trembled when I reached for it.
I opened the parchment and swallowed hard, trying to pull myself together. I read. I could feel a strange warmth running all over my body, as if my heart had stopped suddenly and then had started to beat again. Epona had accepted, and was awaiting me to seal the bargain. I had gotten many successes in such negotiations in my past life, to the point of making me feel even bored of my victories. But this one was special, it was a step forward in the path for my salvation. I could demonstrate Banshee's family that I could be as fair and clever as any of them. Epona, the captain of the riders from Avalon told she was eager to enter in pact with us, under all my conditions, not adding or taking a letter from the original contract.
"From the look on your face I could say she agreed."
"Yes, she agreed! Oh, Banshee, this is my first victory!" I ran to her and embraced her lithe body, raising her in arms as one would raise a little child. I spun with her in my arms, feeling intoxicated with this new joy. Laughing like a fool. Then I put her down and noticed tears of sheer happiness were running down my cheeks.
"Calm down, my love, you said it well, it is your fist victory. But there are many more to be achieved before you could claim yourself safe among us. One of those is the command of your new gifts. And, if I can remember properly, we interrupted our session of training. Shall we resume your instruction now that you are calmed enough?"
"Yes, of course." I exclaimed and looked at the seven stems chandelier we were using for our practice. The seven candles lit up instantly at my wordless command. Though, it seemed I used too much strength, because they melted to liquid wax in the blink of an eye. I looked at Banshee sheepishly.
"I assure you less enthusiasm is in order. But, do not be troubled, it happened to me too when I was learning." She chuckled, and with a wave of her hand the candles was restored to their original state.I felt bad about this trip to The Golden Grasslands, primarily because of I was doing it without Banshee at my side. She had a province to attend to, so many estate issues awaited for her, and she could not indulge herself in a trip like this since she still was a princess of such a big land. Another unnerving thing in this was the company I had for my trip. Yes, along with the party of Fairies from Shadowy Woods that formed the escort, the two ambassadors rode as well.
Their company distressed me somehow. Even when I had a glimpse about their personality, there were some things deeply hidden inside them. Yes, I could feel them shielding against my intent to skim more about them.
Oona rode one lovely white pony that was in reserve for her visits to our lands. I realized she was one of the visitors that often graced Banshee with her presence. I really had got used to her, and liked her even more because I knew she was one of the Fairies that stayed with my beloved even in her moments of grief. Her strong character didn't lack a special warmth I couldn't deny. But still, she was one of my judges.
Robin, oh Robin, that was another story. He didn't rode one of our horses, of course, his first attempt to climb one of the black stallions from our stables had finished with a quarrel between the lithe Fae and the strong horse. This latter even attempted to bite him. So, he decided to fly.
I looked at him in wonder, his floating form showing its splendour under the sun took my breath away. He surely knew how to put my poor skills in the art of fly to shame. Even though I am slender by nature, my body looked stocky compared with his. One could swear he had not bones at all, so beautiful and delicate were his movements in the air. As a feather carried away by the breeze.
"Show-off!" exclaimed Oona, rolling her eyes. "I tell you, Gríma, that Fae looks like he has cotton for brains. Though, when he is not jesting or acting like a fool, one could hear his scheming mind reeling wildly. Pity he is not taking his role as heir to the crown so seriously."
"So, he is Queen Mab's first heir?"
"Aye, her older son. But he doesn't like the title, I suspect it's because being a King means responsibility he doesn't desire. There was a time when Banshee had a vision of another one being crowned as our King. Robin just laughed aloud, and almost kissed her in gratitude." She chuckled and I knew why, Robin trying to kiss his gloomy sister was something that could make anybody burst in laughter. "Look at you, Gríma, I swear you look even more handsome when you have that smile painted on your face."
I hadn't notice how my lips had curved upside faintly at the thought. What would my old kinsfolk think if they see me smiling? Not the old sneer, or the mischievous grin, but a real smile. Banshee's love had been a wonderful balm for me. Though, I still had the scars of my past inside my soul, and from time to time I could feel them pulling me to the dark void that once had been my life.
"Hey, Gríma, are you still here?" Oona was looking at me strangely. "You turned paler all of a sudden."
I sighed, yes, it had happened again. It was happening more often lately. Since Banshee had announced the Council's decision. I felt the shadows winning inside me. I could not say that I hated openly those proud Fairies, well, maybe only Willow, but I could not deny my wounds had opened anew. Hated, exiled, just for my appearance, my origins, and my true self. How could they don't understand that I was trying hard to change? Trying to be a better person just for my love for Banshee. In those moments I felt the darkness engulfing me, if just only for some seconds, still as strong as ever. And I was supposed to conquer it? How to do it? My love for Banshee was deep and surely had changed me somehow...but still.
"I think is the sun, I am not used to ride under daylight, and I prefer night rides." I lied, and hid my eyes from the scrutinizing glance of Oona. I could feel that what she lacked in other kind of magic, she had in the power of her purple eyes.
"Of course, but don't worry, we are close to our destination." She said, but I could say she was not so convinced by my answer. "Ah, look ahead, beyond those hills lays The Golden Grasslands. Prepare yourself, Epona's' realm is such a sight even for those like me who have seen it already."
I nodded and kept on riding. The surge of my inner shadows had subsided and my countenance stayed undisturbed again. Some more meters and we were climbing the hills. When we gained the top I gasped in awe. The Golden Grasslands, a very suitable name. The planes were golden all over, a pale shade of gold, like the hair of the horse masters. The pastures swayed gently moved by a soft breeze. I noticed the grass was tall, and as green as the one back in Rohan. But the top of it was adorned with thousands of yellow flowers.
"Incredible, isn't it? Ah, we are in time for the harvest so the lands are filled with flowers. The hay obtained from this kind of grass is absolutely the secret of the wonderful horses that they breed. The flowers, when dry and ground to dust, sparkle like gold. The breeders add it to the water the horses drink." Oona explained this to me while I stayed still marvelled by the vision.
Not only the vision, but also the rich smell that emanated from the blooming fields. Sweet, so sweet, but not so strong. It left me with a feeling so known, yet so enigmatic. After some minutes, I smiled with realization, it was just like those times when I could smell Banshee's scent, while I was not sound sleep nor totally awake. Or my times back at Rohan, when I could sense the faint smell of warm bread backed by my mother. It was like the intoxicating and indecipherable mix of odours that one could catch barely when riding through a field recently bathed by the cold winter rain.
"So, you have sensed it too? Ah, the smell of them is different for everybody. For me is like the scent of dry wood burning down in the forges, or the opulent smell of the air of my chambers under the mountains, perfumed with Sandalwood and Myrrh. The name of the flowers is Nauthbain."
"That is Elvish for "beautiful thoughts""
"Aye, it is a flower that was brought here from Middle Earth. It doesn't grow there anymore. Avalon is full of things that were lost for the people across the sea. It's a pity the corruption of that land killed many of the species. But here they are safe, as long as the horse masters keep them as fodder for their beasts."
I stayed silent measuring her words. Simple grass, magnificent beyond all explanation. Then, what more wonderful things expected for being discovered? A whole world full of marvellous things...I could not lost this chance, I had to prove my honest intentions. Though, what were those intentions? Staying with Banshee to all costs, of course, because if I ever lost her my existence would be meaningless. Bringing good to my new people, that was quite clear in my mind. Gain the confidence of the Fairy Council that surely was one of my priorities. Was that enough? Was it what could make me conquer my wild inner world full of shadows? I didn't know, but I could not think of any other intentions at all in the moment.
"Ha ha, looks like our dear new relative stopped to smell the flowers. Didn't you, Gríma?" Robin had glided down to our stopping place. He was wearing that impish grin of him. "I know it's disturbing, it brings all kind of pleasant images and recalls to my mind. But, since my life has been full of rewarding experiences, I barely could sort out when one ends and the next starts." His eyes were unfocused, and clearly he was groggy.
Oona shook her head in sympathy. "Come on, Robin, climb on my pony, you should not fly in such state of giddiness."
The Fae did as he was commanded and mounted on the rump of the pony, his movements were clumsy, totally alien to him.
I looked at the display in wonder.
"Oh, it's just the effect of the flowers, for someone so immoderate as Robin, the flood of thoughts could make his brain block. Nothing that a good tea made with Athelas could not remedy." Oona explained me.
"I don't want tea, I feel just wonderful, really!" Now he was talking like a drunken man. He embraced Oona's waist and leaned his head on her shoulder.
"Yes, yes, you are." She said, looking at me with mirth evident in her rounded face.
We continued our ride through the lands of the horse masters. The steeds kept on delaying. Gnawing here and there a leaf of the green grass. Obviously they could not resist the invitation of such splendorous banquet offered before their eyes.
So, I decided to rest a little, giving them the chance to eat as much as they wanted.
Not to mention I was famished, as was the rest of the company. While we ate a light meal, I watched the horses. When they lowered their heads and bit on the grass, I could do nothing but remember my times at Rohan. My own horses, delighting in fresh hay and clear water. No, no Rohirrim steed would bear a foul creature riding it. Although, they were rode by the Nazgûl. I often felt pity for them. What abominable spell had Sauron put on my horses as to make them serve his evil purposes? My horses, I never sold any of them, never rode on them using spurs or whip. So dear were they for me.
Robin was sound sleep, snoring happily on a bed of grass. Seriously, he had been affected by the smell of the Nauthbain in a bad way. Oona was mumbling something about carrying an intoxicated fool around, while she boiled water using only her magic. She then took crushed leafs from a pouch she carried with her, and put them in the water. The air was filled suddenly with the fresh scent of Athelas.
I recognized the smell very well, I used it often. A shudder ran up my spine, that was not a good memory at all. Athelas, a plant I used to ease somehow the terrible pain I suffered from Saruman's hexes on my body and mind. How could I be so naïve in thinking something good could come from my allegiance with him? I was his slave, lower than a dog, only a tool to conquer the darkest desires of his rotten heart.
While I was thinking gloomily about this, a sudden pounding thump reached my ears. Strong and constant, like the sound of a heart. Hooves hitting over the grassland, I could recognize their sound, I grew up knowing this echo. Perhaps my looks tell volumes about my race, but I was Rohirrim at heart...at least when it was related to horses. I laid my head on the ground and listened, forty or maybe fifty horses, well-built beasts, and each carried a rider.
"Gríma, you don't need to use such archaic methods, why don't you use your Fairish eyes and look what you are trying to assume from what you hear?" Oona said, somehow amused by my display of human behaviour.
I blushed, then stood up and looked to the direction the sound came from. I could not get used to the idea of my enhanced vision. I saw them, far away, maybe a good ten miles from us. Forty-five horses, beautiful beasts all of them, running like the wind. I had never seen such colour before, as slightly baked honey, almost as golden as the landscape surrounding us. As impressive as them were the riders, tall and proud, wearing white and gold clothes. They were not dressed as warriors, but still, they carried spears and pennants, as if they were in war campaign.
"Oh, finally, the welcoming committee!" Cheered Robin, who was now drinking avidly from her cup of tea, visibly recovered from his past drunkenness.
"Isn't that Epona riding in the front of them?" Oona narrowed her eyes, trying to focus even more her already keen eyes.
I looked at them and could notice the captain of this company. With each second that passed my heart drummed even stronger inside my chest. That was Epona, no doubt of it. I had seen her portrait in the Hall of Paintings back at Shadowy Woods. Though, the painting represented a calm, beautiful fairy, an epitome of good upbringing and education. I still can remember the minute I fixed my eyes on the portrait, the alabaster skin, the deep blue eyes, the candid expression of her face; innumerable golden braids adorned her regal head and a garland of yellow flowers crowned her. The beautiful slender body was wrapped in white silk. That image was so different from the tall woman who commanded the troop of Fairies that came to our resting spot. Obviously her face was the same, but the pale skin was now tanned, the hair was free to the wind, and she was not wearing a silken dress, but very male garments.
They were close in a heartbeat, so fast were their mounts.
My own escort had mounted and held a defensive stance. They were only doing their job, but I ordered them to put down their weapons and stay calm. They did it reluctantly, but obeyed anyway, since I was their Prince. Banshee had explained to me that Shadowy Woods was the home of the fiercest warriors, fifteen of them formed my escort. They were suspicious by nature, so much like myself, but if we were going to negotiate a trade, the better option was to look as peaceful as possible.
"Greetings, Gríma son of Gálmód, welcome to my lands." Epona uttered from her mount, then climbed down the stallion and came to me, her hand extended for me to shake it.
I accepted her palm and took it in mine. Then I bent one knee and kissed her hand. A gracious gesture from my part, not so common in these lands, then stood on my legs again. "It's a pleasure to have you welcoming us to this your beautiful home."
"Well, well, that was a very strange way of say hello. But I suppose I can get used to it." She laughed aloud, her courtiers accompanied her with their snickers. How beautiful she was. Maybe a hint of Rohirrim charm in her countenance. She could tie with Éowyn in a contest of beauty, but I could feel she was not icy at all. No, Epona was all warmth and sincerity...maybe too much for a lady of her status. But, being the Princess of such a paradise she could indulge herself in a little blatant expressions of her joy.
Then, to my total surprise and shock, she advanced towards Robin and embraced him in a bear hug that surely knocked all the air out of his lithe body. "Oh, lookie what we have here, a pesky, arrogant Fae!" She lifted his feet from the ground, as one could lift a feather. At this show of affection the horse masters started to laugh...as well some of my companions, Oona included of course. I felt the tension subsiding and sighed in relief.
"Arghh, Epona, enough, enough! You are choking me with your enthusiasm!" Robin said breathless, though I noticed he was especially delighted, even when his ribs certainly were crushed by now.
Epona released him at last and he breathed deep for dear air. She directed her attention to Oona, bowing in respect. "Dear cousin, I see you came to accompany our new relative. I'm glad you decided so, since we have many things to talk about. The last council was so thick and left not time for a real good kind of chat."
"I will be delighted, Epona, I have a few spicy rumours to share with you." Oona bowed in return and I could see a special glint in those alluring purple eyes of her.
"But no more delays, I'm sure you are tired and hungry, and a long time of breathing the air of the field could make Gríma feel a little dizzy. Not to mention if we let Robin continue to be exposed to the flowers' scent we will have to suffer his addiction to dance naked through the fields." At this remark even I started to laugh. The poor Fae victim of our jest blushed to the roots of his hair.
"You will pester me with that for eternity. Won't you, Epona?" said Robin, sheepishly.
"And beyond, you can be sure of it." Replied Epona and climbed on the saddle with the grace of a feline.
TBC
My gratitude to my reviewers.
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Blessed be
Kat