Chapter IX

(language warning)

People stared agape, and I felt Mortelia's cool and disdainful glare. I was not the trash she had surmised I had been. I was Lord Éodain's granddaughter, which though it was not much to me, was apparently a great social class leap from where the other nobles had mentally placed me.

I felt so uncomfortable I thought my heart had expanded to the size of my head and was pounding my innards to pieces. My only thought was to breathe. Breathe and soon it will be all over.

And as soon as the silence began, it ended with people chattering, pretending nothing unusual had just occurred though it did not seem like normal talk, proof that some of them were still thinking heavily about me.

I did not move and inch from my seat, though my brain was desperately arguing with itself whether to run out. After a few moment's contemplation, I chose to stay put. There was no telling what would happen if I ran out on this one. It would be foolish to run in any case.

I looked up at Lord Éodain, meeting his eyes for the first time. "It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord."

He surprised me with a warm smile, "Likewise, my lady." I could still sense something else, perhaps his harbored feelings of distrust. I did not blame him. I would have been less than believing if my granddaughter suddenly turned up.

- Éodain's Point of View -

It did not seem possible that the scrawny little girl in front of me could be Adinel's daughter. Still, from what I had heard, this girl had been working as a slave for a long time. Of course she would be scrawny, though she had cleaned up nicely from yesterday.

I had wondered why this girl was sitting at the high table. The nobles were gossiping that the King had taken a fancy to her and wanted her to live her as his daughter. I doubted that. King Théoden was not that easily taken in.

Adinel looked much better than this... what was her name again? Oh, yes. Ardeas.

I honestly did not know what to make of her. Her face was very nearly as beautiful as Adinel. Very nearly indeed.

- Ardeas's Point of View -

I finished with lunch sooner than I had expected. Lord Éodain left soon after with the silence at our end of the table not making much conversation. I retired to my room claiming a mild headache, which was not entirely a lie. I had a lot over which to simmer.

I stared out the window of the room. The sun shone brightly, and the wind blew the grass around Meduseld lightly. The rest of the city was as busy as ever. People milled about. I had an excellent view, being on a much higher level. But it was unexciting, and soon my mind longed for change. Besides, I should not waste away the day watching others. Perhaps I could talk to Morwyn.

Morwyn.

The thought of her made me furious. Not at Morwyn, but at everyone in particular. Why should they mistreat her so? I could not tell anything different about her. She was not an orc. Why should they hate her? I made up my mind that I would continue to speak with her until I found out what was about her that made them hate her. Then I would decide for myself whether that deserved such utter abhorrence. It was against my person to act so rashly against someone else. I wish they would at least tell me why I should avoid her, instead of quickly turning cool and distant.

I think I would try to find her to talk. She was about my age.

I felt slightly tired. I lay myself down on the bed and closed my eyes, reaching for the comforting blackness of sleep. I was soon breathing deeply, ignoring the rest of the world and trying to gain rest.

After a nap that left me not in the least refreshed, I ventured down to the library. I might some beautiful pictures at which to look while I pretended to read. I wanted to at least appear intelligent, and besides, the library was a comforting place.

I was most surprised when I found Mortelia and her group lounging about the library. They did not seem the type who liked books, but I had only met them yesterday.

"Oh hello, Adinel's daughter," Mortelia exclaimed as she stood, her voice glazed with molasses. Either she was trying to make sure I would not report her to Théoden, or she was planning something. I was more inclined to believe the latter. She did not seem like one to be bothered by the former.

She continued:

"I had not expected you were Adinel's daughter, though I had had my suspicions, even though I was barely seven when the incident with Adinel occurred. What a scandal!"

I knew what was coming. It was only blatantly obvious. I began to browse the books on the wall, glancing through some and being careful not to pick up the one that had the pictures of the twins in it.

"Of course, if you really are Adinel's daughter, then I do not see why I was insulting you yesterday."

I glanced at her with a raised eyebrow before turning back to my current book's picture of Edoras under construction.

"You see, Ardeas, I had made a vow not to talk to bastards."

I turned to face her my eyebrows bent in fury on the insult. Of course I really was a bastard but that did not give her any right to remind me of something that beyond my control.

She and her group smiled maliciously, "Yes, you heard me right, bastard. I was entirely correct yesterday when I called your mother a whore, of course I did not know it for sure then, though I had conjectures about such. Your countence was a dead giveaway, if I do say so myself."

Her group made little murmurs of agreement.

I had had enough of this. I was going to slit her throat with anything that I could find.

"Excuse me, Mortelia, but I am thoroughly finished with listening to the incessant flapping of your mouth. What you say may be true, but to speak of it in such a way not only shows your lack of intelligence but also your lack of maturity."

The room started at the voice, and I entirely pleased to Krane at the doorway. He smiled sympathetically at me before turning a death glare on Mortelia and her group. Mortelia at first looked flustered at his arrival, intending to most likely scream for help when I attacked her then have all of her friends testify that I had the cause of it all, but now looked pleased. It was a good thing Krane had arrived when he had done, or I would have had blood on my hands.

"Hello, my dear Krane! How wonderful to join in our discussion, though your language is quite uncalled for. All that I said was true."

"Why you little..." I began, but Krane cut me off.

"Mortelia, it is people like you that make people like me want to hurt people like you. You are rapidly approaching your point of no return."

"Oh am I, dear Krane?" Mortelia said sweetly, entirely unfazed, though the rest of her group was growing uneasy.

"Quite. Now, Mortelia, I am afraid I must request that you apologize sincerely to Ardeas and promise that you will do no such thing as you have done now again."

"I cannot concur with your wishes, my lord, for no apologizing needs to be done, and surely I should always speak the truth."

My fingers were really itching to grasp a knife...

No, no. I could not kill her. I took a deep breath.

"Mortelia, in all my years of experience, I have found that insults and unconstructive criticisms all stem from jealousy. That should be something to think about."

"Jealousy? I hardly think so. Why would I, a lady of noble birth, be jealous of the bastard of an impudent whore?"

I did not reply. It took all of my self restraint to calmly walk from that room instead of snaking my hands around her neck and confidently squeezing her throat. I heard Krane practically yell at her.

I sadly smiled at his defense of me.

-

My fire had died. I did not want to argue with Mortelia anymore. Maybe her words had penetrated my barrier. The Bastard of an Impudent Whore. I felt tears prick at my eyes. I wished my mother, whoever she was, was here for me.

Nobody was in the room. I curled up next to the bed, pulled my knees up to my chest, and cried like the baby I am.

-

"I always look forward to a good cry, you know."

I was woken from my sleep by the voice of Morwyn. She tapped me on the shoulder and a shook the sleep from my head and turned around. I was surprised to see her. I had not expected her to come see me. She had seemed so anti-social before.

"What are you doing here? Éowyn might come in." I wiped my eyes.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed next to me. "That doesn't matter. What happened?"

I sighed, "Oh, nothing really. Just that blasted Mortelia again."

"What did she do?"

I broke down again, "She called me a whore's bastard." Tears began running freely again.

She pulled me into a friendly embrace, rubbing my back in a comforting manner. "You should not listen to her. She is just a bitch, and there is nothing anyone can do about it."

I had calmed down a bit before I pulled away and asked. "What are you doing here? I thought you did not like me."

Morwyn shrugged her shoulders. "I was afraid they had already told you about me and that you would scorn me."

"Why do they hate you?"

"My father was a murderer."

I was shocked. And confused.

She turned sadly away. "Yes, I know. I am a terrible, sick person."

I was flabberghasted at that. "What on Arda do you mean? They actually judge you for something your father did? And why do you stay on here if they hate you?"

She smiled morosely. "Yes. In the same way that Mortelia judges you for your mother's deeds. And the only reason I am here is my mother. She is the king's sister."

"You are Théoden's niece?"

"Yes, though I rue the day I met the man. And the rest of his family. Even Théodwyn's family."

"What happened to your mother?"

"Oh, she still resides here. My birth left her very weak, and she has remained an invalid. But as soon as she dies, I will be left for the vultures."

I stared in disbelief, but turned my gaze away when I truly understood.

"What about me? Am I not a bastard?"

Morwyn sighed, "Ardeas, you are, and I do not know why they keep you here. From what I have heard, however, your father was of noble birth, and so was your mother, even if it was out of wedlock. My father was a murderer, who had been forsaken by everyone. I am not even sure how my parents loved each other, if they did."

"Prejudices are too common."

"Much too common," she agreed with me.

I felt so awful. But I did have a kindred spirit in Morwyn, which was in the least, comforting.

She looked at me sadly, not finding words to say but I knew what she meant. They would scorn me too for my friendship with her, and she would leave now if I wanted her to leave.

She stood and with a "I hope I will see you later then," she was gone. There was not anything more to be said.

A/NI've been revising past chapters... most notably, I am currently revising chapter five which is most difficult. i have changed a few things in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. not anything big, mostly just minor details that don't matter. And as always, review. i am always looking for constructional criticism to help improve my writing. thanks! suggestions on what should happen next? i've got some of it thought out but if someone suggests a really good idea, i will look into it