It is the chief city of Rohan and the seat of its Kings, a truly majestic sight to see from afar is the city that rests atop a hill. Edoras, meaning 'The Courts,' is located beneath the White Mountains at the northern end of Harrowdale. There is some confusion as to when the courts where established and by whom. Greater confusion covers Edoras' establisher than its actual establishment within the culture of the Rohirrim, which was some time between the Third Age 2510 and the Third Age 2570. It is assumed first that Eorl was the establisher as it's said that he 'chose for his dwelling a green hill before the feet of the White Mountain that were the south-wall of his land'. This description reasonably seems to be the foundation of Edoras but then Eorl lived, not in Edoras, but at nearby Aldburg in the Folde. So then, was it Eorl's son Brego, who established the courts at Edoras? Although it is not known for certain who the constructer of Edoras is or was, Brego was the builder of Meduseld, Edoras' great hall…
Deep within the Golden Hall of Edoras, Da-Yina awoke to the sun shining into her room through her open window, cursing she sat up bleary eyed. She attempted to glare at the window and the offensive light it was letting through but she only succeeded in giving the appearance of having a severe squint. Sighing in irritation, she rubbed her face trying to wake herself; she had thought that she had closed her curtains the night before.
Feeling sufficiently awake, she stood up and took one-step then groaned as she unearthed all the aches-and-pains that were in her muscles. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steel her self for the coming pain she knew walking would bring. Although she could hobble and limp and this would lessen the pain, she knew better. Those actions would simply make the pain worse in the long run and could possibly give her another injury. It was best to be strong, cope with the pain, and allow her body to heal properly.
Da-Yina smirked through the soreness as she walked, "that will teach that vain pignut of a baker's son!"
Her smirk soon disappeared at her muscles' continued litany of complaints as well as the thought that her king would be unhappy with her behaviour. 'I had to defend my honour!' she reasoned to herself, 'That idle-headed brat needed to be taught a lesson, especially after he called me a weak female! He should never have told me to go back to my kitchen!'
Although she could feel it, she wanted to see the damage the baker's son had done to her and so she turned her head to look over her shoulder at the mirror on her far wall. Her neck cracked with the movement and she winced, feeling the discomfort. Twin, raven hued eyes found themselves in their reflection and she smiled broadly at the sight of her 'war wounds'.
Da-Yina walked steadily over to the mirror to inspect the large dark purple bruise covering the entirety of the right side of her face and she felt this wound was to be the most revered from her recent battle. She examined it closely, not caring at the pain her wandering fingers brought as she poked and prodded the tender swollen skin. 'That little cretin, look at this!' She thought, but was not angry she was instead impressed.
"He better look worse then I do!" She said giving her abused wound another poking.
She then went on to inspect her other wounds that were simply a multitude of cuts and grazes on her arms and legs, which she thought were highly unimpressive. Then she found an alarmingly large contusion on her abdomen, "Whoa, this prevails over my face!" her eyes wide in her excitement she lifted up her nightshirt to get a look at the damage to her stomach. Her arms complained about holding the shirt up and she was having trouble seeing over them so she discarded the shirt completely. Standing naked before the mirror, she turned on different angles to appreciate fully her incredible wound.
"Well, well, well…" She muttered turning to another angle and caressing the skin from under her left breast to her right hip, "I guess that loaf of bread really was as hard as he said it was!"
She chuckled then moved slowly to her drawers, 'I can't be bothered with a bath especially with all those servants who think I don't know how to wash myself. Best to get Eomer's lecture over and done with, then I can go show Morohtar my bruises!' With her day plan formed, she extracted her riding clothes from the drawers and tried to dress quickly but immediately gave up when her new wounds were continuously aggravated. After donning her leather shift, she squatted down to put her boots on. Da-Yina was not about to aggrieve the bruise on her abdomen by bending over unnecessarily, she had been in too many fights to make that mistake. Ever since she could remember, she had been fighting.
'She scared her mommy to death with her face! Her daddy hated her for killing his wife! She wanders around from town to town! Without a sound, without a sound!'
The children sang while skipping around her in a circle with their hands clasped together. They all had smiles on their faces and where laughing at her. Who ever said that children were innocent? The children all giggled together when their little ditty was complete and then looked at her expectantly.
What was she supposed to do, perhaps sing them a rhyme back? She closed her eyes as she thought, she had never created a rhyme before so she hoped that it was okay considering.
'The little boy wants to be a man but all he can do is hold his mommy's hand. What to do when his father calls? Hide behind his mother's shawl! Little boy cries like a girl but can't fit in because he makes everyone hurl! Father walks in and slips on his face, the little boy is such a disgrace!'
All the children were silent while they looked between her and the boy, who was the leader and had started the whole affair. The little boy choked back a sob then bit out, "bitch!" and then he cried, "You're a stupid bitch!"
She'd never heard the word before and didn't know what it meant, "what's a bitch?"
The little boy sneered at her, "I don't know it's a grown up word! My daddy uses it when mommy doesn't do what he asks. That's what he calls her and that's what you are!"
"Can you find something to rhyme with that?" she asked and he picked up a stone and chucked it at her in response. The other children quickly following suit.
So she had been chased from another town. The children had been right about her wandering from town to town, each town she went to she was eventually driven out if not by the children themselves then by the parents.
After that, she had been wandering for a couple of weeks. Once again having to fend and provide for herself, which was surprisingly harder then first imagined. Time passed and she soon found herself drifting in an open field, there had been grass as far as her small dark eyes could see and although she felt she should be afraid, she was not. She couldn't remember ever being afraid.
There was a deep mysterious knowledge within her that spoke of her strength and her survival, she listened to it and followed its directions as though an invisible string were pulling her forward. Past small shrubs and hefty rocks she eventually found herself walking among large mounds with flowers covering them and she stopped to look, her childish mind finding the flowers strangely curious. She picked one of the white flowers bringing it up to her nose to smell it and then she placed it in her bizarre braided and beaded hair.
"Little girl, where are your parents? Should you not be at home at this hour?"
She looked up to find a man silhouetted by the setting sun; she did not know him so she continued to inspect the flowers, ignoring him. The man crouched beside her, touching her shoulder to get her attention, "Orcs come out at night, you really should get home. I can take you home if you like?" He moved his face closer to hers and although she did not move from her bent position, her eyes shifted to glare at him. "What is your name?" He asked her trying to ignore the intensity displayed within the eyes of the child.
Her eyes widened and she stopped glaring at him, she looked down at the silver necklace that was around her neck and she lifted it up over her head, handing it to the man. He examined it closely turning it this way and that till he flipped it over completely to find an inscription written neatly on the back of the unusual piece of jewellery. "Da-Yina" he read aloud then looked at her, "You're name is Da-Yina?" She had had to think over that and her knowledge told her that it was indeed her name and so she nodded her head affirmative.
Turning to the man, she looked down at her chest when she felt a weight there and touched her returned necklace pensively. "Well Da-Yina, my name is Mordemirdanian or Mordemir for short. What do you think?" it was obvious that he was trying to get her to speak but should she?
The man watched her silently wondering if the girl was able to use her tongue or not, "are you okay?" it was a stupid question but he felt he needed to ask anyway but he didn't receive an answer, the girl just stared at him. "Do you want me to take you home?" he asked again, he needed to get home to his pregnant wife and make sure she had everything she needed.
"No", was all she said then she turned her back on him walking a couple of paces away before stopping and picking another white flower and placing it in her hair.
Mordemirdanian felt confused and hoped that his child was not as hard to deal with as this one seemed to be but decided to leave the child to it with a final warning, "don't stay out too late, remember about the orcs! They are dangerous!" He gave the outlandish child one last look before turning his back and making his way back inside Edoras' gates and to his wife and home.
Sitting down she felt muscular arms wrap around her waist pulling her to a hard chest and into a strong embrace. She looked over her shoulder and found herself staring into bottomless eyes. She did not speak.
"You should go with him Da-Yina", were the only words that passed between them before she felt the strong arms leave her and the presence surrounding the being vanish. She did not cry though she felt she would in time, she stood up and followed the path the man had taken to the city, picking a white flower in passing and placing it in her hair.
---
As she finished dressing herself, she slowly pulled her long dark hair into a ponytail with a leather band. A knock sounded on her chamber door just as she finished with her hair, "speak quickly!" she called, "I am in a foul mood!"
"And his lordship a fouler one, King Eomer wishes to speak with you!" The messenger called back, "I ask that you do not keep him waiting!"
Eomer had already humbled the messenger with his incredible temper, she could tell, "You may tell his 'lordship' that I will see him at my own leisure!" She declared loudly in order for the messenger to hear her clearly through the door. She waited a moment for a reply but instead she heard the messenger's fading footfalls so she ventured out of her room.
Meandering through the long corridors down towards the kitchens, Da-Yina entered and the cooks greeted her warmly. She often visited the kitchens not just to get food but also to help the kitchen staff with their chores and to cook for King Eomer. Always enjoying cooking and feeling that just since she was living under Eomer's roof did not make her royalty, she made herself useful.
She plucked one of the freshly roasted apples up from its dish, eating it there on the spot as she waved to one of the kitchen hands who shook her head in knowing. Da-Yina had worked with the woman two day's earlier and if she remembered correctly, they had baked carrot cakes.
Next she filched a fresh bread roll from the baking tray it rested on then moved on to pilfer a slice of leg ham as well as a slice of cheese then she headed for the exit. She stopped short when she spotted a bowl full of wild cherries. She hesitated then shrugged her choice made she stole a handful and left the kitchens. After taking two steps, she considered going back for another roasted apple but then decided against it.
Walking along the corridors, shoving food in her mouth as she went, she contemplated all the punishments that Eomer was likely to give her. 'Maybe he'll make me clean out the stables by myself again, he loves that one…' She shoved the slice of ham into her mouth and chewed heartily, 'or perhaps he'll make me scrub Meduseld from top to bottom!' She chuckled as she remembered the trouble she had caused to have Eomer dish her out that punishment as she finished off her slice of cheese.
---
Sixteen-year-old Da-Yina chuckled as she hid behind King Eomer's throne waiting for him and his important dignitaries to arrive. It was a year and a half after her father's death on her birthday. Her mother was already dead having died giving birth to her little brother, Morohtar. Eomer had taken them both in as he had been a good friend of her father's but she hated his pity. She had not really planned this, it was spontaneous as she did not truly hold anything against her King he was just so stiff, it was as though he asking her to do it to him.
King Eomer and his dignitaries entered Meduseld jovially, Eomer headed straight for his throne and sat down heavily as he had been on horseback all morning and he felt some slight fatigue. As soon as his weight hit his throne, however, a sound of the passing of wind emanated from his person and he just hoped that no one else had heard it and luckily, for him they had not.
The dignitaries gathered around the king making 'witty' remarks to each other. Everyone stopped talking immediately when there was a passing of wind heard and they all looked at each other wondering who the culprit was. Eomer tried not to react to the sound as he put his hand in his hair wringing it slightly. Da-Yina tried not to laugh as she held both her hands to her lips again and waited for their talking to begin once more, she would make the next one even louder.
Some shrugged the interruption off and others forget completely as they began to talk of important matters to do with peace and other diplomatic affairs. Eomer could feel his anger grow when just as he finished making a significant statement everyone one in the room heard an emission of intestinal gas from the anus and it sounded from his direction.
He knew that everyone thought he was the cause, he knew the cause and it was hiding behind his throne trying its utmost not to laugh. He could not do anything about the abomination while the dignitaries where in the room, and so he simply had to survive through and bide his time. His revenge would come and she would not enjoy it…
---
"Ha ha, it was worth it! He was so mad!" She chuckled again finishing off the last cherry just as she arrived at the two substantial maple doors leading to Eomer and his throne. She swung them open and strode in much to the disappointment of her thighs.
Taking a bite out of her bread roll impertinently, she grinned with a mouthful of chewed bread up at Eomer sitting upon his throne. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed some of the servants repairing torn banners sporting Rohan's colours and she watched as Eomer dismissed them from the hall. 'Aw, no audience' she thought mordantly then her eyes twinkled with mischief as she asked, "My Lord you wished to see me?"
Eomer glared at the unruly woman, "Da-Yina I must reiterate my self for I feel you are far too stupid to comprehend what I say if I fail to repeat myself more than once."
Da-Yina's smile grew, 'he's been rehearsing that!'
Eomer's lip twitched into a semi snarl at the mocking smile he found himself looking at. "You are not to brawl, start fights, finish fights, teach people lessons, show people how it is done, wrestle, do battle with, partake in free-for-alls, duel, quarrel, skirmish, have a melee and/or bash the daylights out of someone and/or anyone", Eomer adjudicated his face stern. Da-Yina did not reply as she tried to think of what violence that left her, she took another bite of her bread roll and stared at Eomer. "I must say, the Baker's son did a fine job on you", he hassled, trying to get a reaction from his charge.
That did it, "You should see him!" She declared her head held high in arrogance, even though she hadn't seen the impudent pignut yet she knew that he must look a picture.
Eomer watched as Da-Yina began turning the roll around in her hand as he reviewed what he was to say. He knew that no matter what way he put it she was still going to chuck the roll she held at him and possibly grab the nearest guard's sword and hurl that as well. He was well accustomed to ducking. He decided it best just to get it over with, "because of your recent behaviour I am commanding you to marry within three months time. Then your husband shall have the honour of your company and the responsibility of making sure you stay out of trouble, as well as out of my hair".
Da-Yina's grin disappeared and at the same instant, her wide eyes metamorphosed into glaring slits. She hurled the bread roll at Eomer who did not even make the effort of dodging the flying foodstuff and as a result, it hit him directly in the chest and bounced down to the floor. 'Well there's the roll', Eomer thought already feeling incredibly drained even though it was still only morning. Disobeying Eomer's earlier instruction not to quarrel, Da-Yina shouted at her King, "No man would ever be able to control me! I will not marry!"
Eomer sighed, leaning forward as he rubbed his dirty blonde hair. He considered himself a strong man but he could not handle Da-Yina. He would have tried to marry her off to one of his guards but he feared they would rather date an orc.
"Besides", she continued, speaking the thoughts that were in his mind aloud, "No man in Rohan would marry me freely, your plan is counterfeit, Eomer". She crossed her arms over her chest in a show of defiance and she increased the intensity of her glare.
Eomer had thought long and hard about his punishment all night, he was sick of hearing complaints about Da-Yina's brutality from the Baker and because he was unable to discipline her properly, he would find someone else to look after her. "My dear Da-Yina, not all men dwell in the land of Rohan. We are able to search elsewhere for your husband, we have the means", Eomer rested his head on his hand as he looked towards her with smug-filled eyes. Da-Yina opened her mouth to retort when Eomer continued, "besides which I won't be searching for your husband" he smirked when confusion crossed her features.
"Then who?" She asked then suddenly became angry, "if you think I'm going to marry anyone that bastard Arthus picks your sorely mistaken!"
'Arthus… I never even thought of him. Having that diplomat choose her husband would have really pissed her off', he smirked at the fantasy that played swiftly in his mind before answering her. "No it's not Arthus, Da-Yina, so calm down. It is you. You are going to pick your own husband within the time limit of three months. So, do you have anyone in mind?" His smirk grew at the flabbergasted expression displayed upon her face.
Da-Yina was stupefied, at a lost. She had no man in her mind that she wanted to marry. "Do you have anyone in mind?" she asked in return, looking at him.
Eomer now found himself at a loss, as he had not expected her to ask him if he knew, 'perhaps she's taking this seriously!' He did not know of any man that he would want to marry Da-Yina let alone one who wanted to marry her. What was he to say to her? Eomer's forehead scrunched up in thought. He had absolutely no clue and he knew that she knew that he had no clue. 'Stupid woman…' he growled in his mind.
---
He just cleared the mountains and he looked down upon the open fields, he could see the hill with the town resting on its summit in the centre of the expansive grasslands. He had been riding hard for many days following the Hithaeglir to Isengard and then riding further passing through the Gap of Rohan and finally coming to his destination of Edoras.
His mission was to ride to the Men and inform them what had been transpiring within the Elvin realms. He rode to Edoras with a message for Eomer from his father, the Lord of Rivendell. As he rode, suddenly he was throne from his black bay mare and he landed heavily on the mixed terrain of grass and rock.
He attempted to rise from his sprawled position and an invisible energy rammed him with deadly force throwing him back several feet and scaring his mare into a panicked gallop. His head held an enormous heaviness, he saw a slight displacement in the air before him then everything was dark and he felt numb, unconsciousness rushed over him.
He felt his eyes open but it seemed somewhat a foreign action, he blinked away the spots in his vision and noticed that the sun had moved higher in the sky. Using the sun's position as a guide, he was able to tell that he had been unconscious for a little over two hours. He stood up but then he had not moved. He furrowed his brows in confusion but his brows did not furrow. 'What's going on?' he thought panicked and frightened.
"You're mine now, Elf!" it was an evil sickly voice like a mix between a snake's hiss and metal scraping on metal and it sounded within his mind and seemed to grate against his very soul. It would have made him shiver with disgust and fear but he no longer had control over his body.
His body started walking with the natural grace of any born of the elf race. He felt blocked, all his senses where nullified he couldn't feel! The panic and fear gripped him tighter but it was all for naught, he was trapped, powerless inside his own body! And all he could hear was the resonating cackle of whatever now held control over it, over him.
---
Da-Yina stalked from Eomer's hall after being dismissed from his presence, as he watched her he thought, 'no doubt she is going to find her younger brother and whatever mischief he happens to be in'. Morohtar, Da-Yina's younger brother, respected him and was actually a lot easier to deal with and Eomer found this fact strange as Da-Yina had practically raised the young lad herself.
Aerin had died while giving birth to Morohtar, such a poignant affair… It was heart wrenching for many of the people as Aerin had been one of the most beautiful and loved of the womenfolk in Edoras. He was not surprised when Mordemir broke down but then Da-Yina had been there and had somehow brought him back from the precipice of despair.
He did not know the depths of love Da-Yina felt for the man she called father but he knew that they were great and unfathomable. Da-Yina had been crushed when he had died while defending Edoras but at the same time proud of his efforts. Mordemir had died on her birthday what's more and the next day she had been in the market with clear eyes buying food for her brother.
Eomer was unable to comprehend the workings of her mind. She did not act like any woman he knew and he was not sure if this was because Mordemir had raised her as if she were a son or that Aerin had instilled in her a great deal of practicality before her passing.
Eomer sighed and ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair, he was expecting an emissary from the elves anytime now and heavy thoughts about a girl he could not control did not help his stress. 'How did Mordemir do it? How did he have so much respect from her? Why do I not?'
He did not want as much respect as she had for her father and did not expect it but for her to have some respect for him, it would not go astray. He almost never pulled rank on her because he wanted her to feel as though he was her friend rather than just her King or an old friend of her fathers but she did not seem to understand or just plain ignored his efforts.
'I wonder what I ever did to make her think I was a 'big dummy'. Ever since I have known her, she has been insulting me, though her curses have grown with her age', he thought as he waited, scratching his bearded chin.
'I have never raised a hand to her, I have always been respectful and courteous, or at least tried to be, and yet she seems to take joy, pleasure even, in aggravating me!' Sometimes when he thought back on the days he would notice that in some of her dealings with him she would try to provoke him into striking her, he could never hit her, she was a woman. The very thought of hitting a woman disgusted him.
'Did Mordemir ever strike Da-Yina?' Not that he could remember yet she always called him 'sir', did whatever he requested and was ever respectful. 'Perhaps grateful?' he considered in his mind but shook that thought away, 'if so she would be grateful for me taking her in much like Mordemir had done, she is just an enigma'.
"Morohtar, do you know of where your sister is?" Eomer had asked all those years ago.
'…All those years ago?' Eomer thought incredulously, 'twas a mere three years ago'
Eomer walked reluctantly through his town, the town he and his men had defended from the recent orc raid. His men and Mordemir had protected him, Uruk-Hai had been present in this run much larger and scarier looking than usual. He shook his head as he walked, he had just told his best friend's son that his father was dead, Morohtar had snapped. He had screamed his rage and pain out as he fell to his knees with tears pouring from his tightly closed eyes and down his cheeks.
Now, after that ordeal, he had to tell the dead man's adopted daughter, the daughter that adored her father and would do anything if he just so asked her. How would she react? Much like her younger brother's heart wrenching wail or would she blame him and become violent, make it known that she wished him dead?
He knocked on Mordemir's door then hung his head in shame and watched his fingers as they wrung themselves. "Good evening Eomer", she had spoken coldly as though she already knew what information he harboured, no doubt she did. Why had her King arrived at her door instead of her father if not to tell her of unsavoury news?
Surprisingly she had welcomed him inside and offered him a seat at the table, he had politely refused and stood with sagging shoulders, his knuckles were white as his fingers held tightly to his helmet he gripped under his arm. He looked down and to the side, away from her as she bustled in the kitchen, he could smell her delicious cooking. How could he tell her the one she loved most in the world had departed from it?
He sighed painfully then cleared his throat. He glanced at her as she turned from stirring a boiling pot to look at him with a delicate eyebrow raised. He could not hold her intense gaze, not now when he felt so guilty, her eyes burrowed right through him and into his soul, they devoured him, and he could not look.
"Mordemir…" he began, a long silence echoed throughout the room till his next timid words, "your father", he didn't know why he said it but it was as though he needed to clarify who he was. "Your father died last night in the protection of Edoras", he cleared his throat again, a large lump kept forming there, he glanced at her keeping an eye out if she decided to come at him with a cooking knife.
"He… he", Eomer grinded his teeth together then glared at her challengingly, "he died protecting me!" he growled at her fiercely, emotionally, then waited for her reaction.
Da-Yina turned completely around and she bit her lip as she looked away from him. He felt incredibly bad now, what a fine way of breaking it to her that her father was dead, yell it in her face as though he was rubbing it in! He hung his head in shame, kicked himself internally, and then walked over to her ready to apologise.
"Da-Yina… I…" he began to say but she turned around understanding shining in her eyes and a small smile on her face, she shook her head at him as she placed a slender finger to his lips silencing him. She shook her head again then turned from him, continuing to cook.
He had no idea what had just happened but at least she had not tried to kill or maim him. He took a step back out of her way, retreating backwards towards the table, and he watched her as she persistently cooked. 'Perhaps this is her way of dealing with it. Maybe she will cry later when no one is near or watching. She always acted so tough but she is just a woman, why doesn't she cry?'
Morohtar had entered the room then, through the back entrance, and had come up to whisper in his ear while looking meaningfully at his sister, 'do you wish me to tell her?' There was a slight glare in the boy's eyes and Eomer knew that the lad still had much anger and heartache to let out before he would be able to continue with his life and look after his sister.
'I have already told her…' he had whispered his reply as he watched her toss some chopped carrots into a boiling stew. Morohtar had looked at him shocked then turned his head to watch his sister, he snarled, and he took a step forward.
"Do you care nothing of father?" he shouted at her tears were already forming at the corners of his eyes. "You heartless bitch!"
Morohtar landed heavily against the large wooden table, he pulled himself up with the help of a chair as he held one hand to his now throbbing cheek. Eomer had barely seen Da-Yina move, she had such speed it was incredible, she had turned and slapped Morohtar so hard it had sent him flying back a ways.
Da-Yina did not say anything as she glared down at Morohtar, even though he was a head taller. Morohtar looked at his sister and his eyes softened when slowly but surely, a lone tear slid from her slitted eye and down her rosy cheeks. "Da-Yina… I…" He began to apologise but was cut off by another slap, this time Morohtar caught himself on the table before he fell.
"Don't!" she shouted then breathed in holding back a sob. "Don't" she whispered turning her face away from him. Eomer wasn't sure if he should be there or not, he felt incredibly uncomfortable and didn't want to move lest they turned their attention to him, he stood still and closed his eyes to give them privacy.
This small movement alone seemed to catch Da-Yina's attention, she moved over to him placing a warm hand to his cheek, and so he opened his eyes again. She licked her lips as she glanced away momentarily, she then moved away from him and reached for a heavy jar pulling the lid off roughly.
She walked back to him, stood in front of him looking up, as he was a good three heads taller than she was. "You're a big dummy, Eomer", she said with a slight smile then she handed him a cookie and told him politely to leave her house. He did so, eating his cookie as he went.
'An enigma…' Eomer thought wistfully in the solitude of his mind.
---
"Morohtar!" Da-Yina called out to her brother when she finally found him out in the spacious fields surrounding Edoras. He was wrestling with his friends near one of the wall fortifications and she gave a little wave to the guards who were watching the fight and no doubt placing bets. Her younger brother looked up when he heard his sister's call; this effectively gained him a hard punch in the ribs and he rolled away from the group of vicious teenage boys as they wrestled.
He stood to his feet, wobbling a bit form the pain of the strike then he looked at his sister who looked a little more high-strung then usual; he didn't feel like fighting her today. He was a witness to the lesson she gave the Baker's son, she was brutal, and he wondered silently if this was the real reason men didn't want women to fight. She never let up and she didn't just punch, she kicked as well. She fought dirty.
Da-Yina walked over to her brother, punching him in the shoulder in greeting. Morohtar took it then sighed, shaking his head, "I don't feel like fighting you today, Da-Yina", he confessed. Both brother and sister were really close and they kept no secrets from each other, he wasn't afraid of telling her how he felt and she wouldn't hold it against him, even though she may be a bit put out at the time.
"Morohtar, take a closer look", Da-Yina replied gesturing to her body, which was a nice mottled black and blue. Doing as she asked, Morohtar looked her up and down; she was a little more bruised today then usual but for the most part she appeared as she normally did. Even with all her bruises, it had never stopped her from fighting him or anyone else in the past and he told her so.
She laughed, "Well lucky for you, I don't feel like fighting", she became serious, "I want to talk to you Morohtar", she admitted softly.
Morohtar looked back, over to where his friends were still wrestling; it looked as though Nathan had the upper hand and he scratched the back of his head before finally shrugging his shoulders. She nodded, took a glance at the still fighting adolescent males and then started walking away, leading her brother away to some place where they could talk privately.
---
He had all of his memories for all intents and purposes he could be him; he knew how to act in given situations, he knew the language of his people and he knew how to move and walk, just as an elf would. He found the elf's body surprisingly comfortable, and he also found that tormenting him was even more enjoyable then he would have first imagined.
Elladan was constantly screaming in his little isolated area, the place where the mind left to when in a coma, but he didn't have to worry about that he soon quietened. The Elf did it every day, he would scream, threaten and plead but after a while, he would quiet down and become silent. It didn't matter when Elladan started his screaming session as he could just block him out and he could scream all he wanted and it wouldn't effect him.
It had taken him a while to find Elladan's stray mare and the horse was always on edge. That was the worst thing about animals; they had that sixth sense. The horse would soon get used to his presence however, so that wasn't a problem for him either. It was incredibly easy acting as Elladan and he often mocked the imprisoned elf whenever he had a spare moment to do so, just to add insult to the already enflamed wound.
Coming upon Edoras was a welcoming and foreboding sight at the same time as interacting with the people here that knew the elf and fooling them would be the true test. He started off his charade by giving his weary horse over to the stable hand who came over to tend to the horse and giving the horse one final pat and some Elvish words of thanks, he turned away.
A man came down to greet him and he followed after the man as he lead him to Meduseld, he gave the stable hand a backwards glance as he lead his black bay away. The stairs were the easy part to climb the real mountain that he would have to scale was in fooling the King in his own court, the new king Eomer and his Hall.
---
Even without the added burden of dealing with the enigmatic female that he had graciously taken under his wing, the day would have been long and arduous. The added stress of having to talk to her was just the icing on his very large cake. He sat upon his throne, listening to his 'advisors' as they prattled on about the current affairs of the land and what should be done, nothing to do with waring or battle mind; everything was concerning the more 'boring' aspects of being a sovereign.
He had had about enough advice for one day and he was seconds away from dismissing the pompous nobles for the day when suddenly the doors to his hall swung open and thinking it was Da-Yina returned, he let out a deep groan of exasperation. He was pleasantly surprised however, as Elladan, son of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, walked through the door and into his throne room.
As Eomer was sitting on his throne at the other end of the hall opposite to the elf, Elladan had to raise his voice so that he would be heard," I beg your pardon, Lord Eomer. I have very important news for you from my father!" When he was standing in front of the King of Rohan, he stopped and bowed low to Eomer, who inclined his head in a mutual sign of respect.
---
Out in the fields of Edoras, they sat beside each other on the soft grass. They had spent the entire day out in the fields that surrounded their home town but they had moved around for the majority of it until Da-Yina's thighs' horrendous complaints became too much for her and she had to sit down. They had finally decided to sit on a hill and talk there as they had a great view of the moon that now hung high in the sky, bringing light to the otherwise dark evening.
"I can't think of any man that would ever want to lay so much as a finger on you, Sister!" Morohtar jested pushing Da-Yina so that she fell forward.
"Well my dearest brother", Da-Yina mocked, "I, however, can think of a great many number of men who all wish to flock to your door to ask your hand in marriage; they do not come though for they fear me!" Da-Yina burst out laughing at her brother's expression.
"Fear of you?" He asked incredulously, "They stay away through fear of me; I'd give them such a beating if they ever tried anything with me!" he said with self-assurance as his sister merely snickered at him.
Their unimportant banter could sometimes last for hours so this was a relatively short round and sometimes, the rancour could turn into a full-blown fisticuffs war. Da-Yina's snickering giggles soon subsided and she was about to open her mouth to continue their conversation when her brother suddenly cried out. She looked at him strangely for a second as he jumped to his feet and began pointing at what appeared to be moving rocks.
Da-Yina squinted her eyes to see through the darkness of night, and at the shadowy movement. As the advancing boulders came closer and were struck by the moonlight, it illuminated the unknown and they recognized them for what they truly were, orcs!
---
Eomer smiled listlessly at Elladan relieved that he wasn't Da-Yina as he didn't think he could cope with another verbal bout with her. "What news do you bring for me Lord Elladan?" Eomer asked, knowing that bad news was imminent as he waved his 'advisors' away opting to deal with this matter over the, in his opinion, unimportant affairs of Rohan.
"Your Highness, there has been, as you know, an increase in orc activity however, in Rivendell, my home, the increase has been incredibly lofty in comparison to places such as Edoras. Many of my people have left for the undying lands, again as you know, and the few that have chosen to stay are either inexperienced or incapable of defending Rivendell from the relentless orc attacks. We have recently received some reliable information". He paused for effect making sure that he had the perfect amount of worry and pain in his voice before continuing, "The orcs are preparing to attack Rivendell with a large force that we have no hope of surviving let alone defending against!"
Eomer sighed as he asked the question he already knew the answer to, "What do you wish me to do on this matter, Elladan?" he asked throwing away all previous formality.
"We require aid to fend off the orcs and we feel that there could be more orcs heading this way, sire, to Edoras, even though the orcs have primarily been focussing their attacks on we elves. Perhaps they feel that we are few and so easily disposed of, unfortunately for us, they are correct". Elladan hung his head then raised it when Eomer began his reply.
"Rohan will grant you this aid", he assured, "for we do not wish any ill on one of our allies, however low their population might be", he said pointedly then continued. "And I thank you for the intelligence on the matter of orcs heading to Edoras", Eomer motioned to a guard, "Send in Arthus, my guest and I will need to talk with him". The guard quickly did as his King commanded, scuttling away and disappearing.
Elladan felt slight surprise at how quickly Eomer had opted to help the Elves' plight, though he did not let it show openly. He had thought that it would take at least a few hours, perhaps even a day, before Eomer was finally convinced to send aid to Rivendell. Standing with a straight back he watched the door the guard had departed through to fetch 'Arthus' and he almost jumped when Eomer suddenly began talking again, "Perhaps you could help me with a problem I have, Elladan?" Eomer asked while slouching in his throne with his head resting in his palm.
Elladan thought about Eomer's strange request for a moment before finally deciding to answer with a question of his own, "What do you ask of me, my Lord?" Elladan bowed his head in respect as he asked as he was curious to know what Eomer wanted of him and he looked at the king with open curiosity when he brought his head back up. Just what could he help the King with?
"It concerns a young woman", Eomer began then waited as Elladan opened his mouth to speak.
"Do you need help in areas of courtship, my Lord?" the tall, dark-haired elf questioned with a frown.
Eomer smiled, "Yes, actually it does" and he chuckled before continuing, "though I do not wish to court her, oh no. Her name is Da-Yina". He paused at this point, paying attention to how Elladan reacted, as he knew-full-well how wide spread Da-Yina's bad reputation was.
He squirmed on the inside at the intense scrutiny the King was now watching him with, perhaps a test, he thought, I haven't made a mistake have I? He frowned in thought, then it clicked, and he grinned broadly, he finally recognized the name of the woman Eomer spoke of, as her reputation was well known among the men of Rohan. He had often heard tales of her when he stopped to rest in the numerous taverns that were scattered throughout the land, or, at least, the elf had.
Eomer picked up where he left off with a brief cough to clear his throat, "she is continually getting into fights and brawls, she is disobedient to astronomical proportions and I think she needs a man to settle down with or at the very least, to keep her out of my hair". Eomer spoke with a tone of long suffering stress and anger and he took a deep breath before proceeding, "no man in Rohan would ever marry her, however! I even tried to pay the men but she has such a reputation…" Eomer growled clenching his fists into tight balls on the arms of his throne.
Elladan had felt shocked when Eomer had growled but he didn't and he snickered in his mind at the elf's fretfulness. "I have heard a great many things of this, Da-Yina. A few of them outside of Rohan however, word travels it seems", He informed the latest king, trying not to grin as he did so.
Perceptively, Eomer noticed the withheld grin on Elladan's face and he grew angry, "Will you help me find a husband for the harpy or will you not, Elladan?" Elladan lost all control then at the indignation on the King's face and he shattered into giggles. Through his laughter, Elladan with a great deal of effort was able to give Eomer his answer, Elladan was then dismissed with an angrily waved hand. Leaving the Hall and trying to gain control over his laughter Elladan thought about how he was going to help the King of Rohirrim: 'keep the harpy out of his hair'.
If it were he, he wouldn't have agreed to help but considering he was possessing the elf, he had to accept. The elf, naturally, was a goody-two-shoes and as a result of this, would have offered willing to help in any way he could. So as to keep his deception sound and intact he had to act as the elf would and that meant accepting Eomer's request in trying to find a life partner for the rebellious adolescent, whether he liked it or not. At least he was able to laugh at the king that was some reparation.
---
Elrohir, brother of Elladan, rode towards Edoras with thoughts of his brother running through his mind. Although he had laughed openly at their departure, he was becoming worried about his twin. Something was wrong and he could feel it, something wasn't right with his brother. No, he had to be wrong. He was just feeling his brother's concern over loosing the bet they had made, that was it for sure. There was absolutely no cause for him to worry. He kept trying to tell himself this but deep inside him, he knew that something was awry he just didn't know what because he could still feel his brother and he was alive and well but something was… anomalous.
Earlier at their home in Imladris, he had wagered that he would be able to beat his brother to Edoras; Elladan had scoffed and warned that he would not. They had taken different paths to Edoras both choosing their preferred route, even though his route was longer he knew he could still beat his brother to Edoras but something dark nagged at his heart. Thinking it was just the new threat of evil and orcs he brushed it off, and tried to forget about it.
Elrohir rode on, whispering his black and white mare to swiftness with a few elvish words. It was not far to Edoras now; he estimated it would only be a short two hours more ride and then he would be upon the home of the horse lords. He was very pleased with his horse, Raina, she had been a loyal horse and even in her maturity, she was still as fast as the wind and as beautiful as the open sky.
Suddenly riding on the wind, a battle cry reached his fine ears and the howl was inexplicably female. Murmuring to his horse to change direction he followed the whoops and hollers of the, by the sounds of it, battle mad female. Elrohir halted his horse, Raina for a moment so he could listen with more clarity. From what he could make out there were two humans, one a female and the other a young male. He could also hear wild grunts and growls, he knew the sound; it was Orcs. He uttered a word and his mare kicked into a gallop, he shouldn't have stopped to listen, but he didn't think that the Orcs would already be upon Edoras!
Cresting a hill, the foul stench of orcs hit him like a slap in the face and even Raina reeled at the smell. He could clearly see the battle now and he estimated ten orcs and he quickly cast around for any sign of the two humans he had heard but he found none. Drawing his bow, he knocked an arrow, pulled the bowstring back, and then let it fly at the nearest orc, a direct shot to its foul and ugly head.
---
Da-Yina chucked her head back, her hair flying, and as she stood to her feet, she noticed an orc fall; it looked as though it had an arrow protruding from its skull. She ignored it, dead is dead and tackling the nearest orc, she pulled the leather strap that held her hair in a ponytail free and her hair whipped about her wildly in the wind.
Spitting a braid out of her mouth, she wrapped the leather around the orc's neck and pulled it tight. The orc struggled but she had it pinned with her thighs and knees, she pulled harder, cutting off its flow of oxygen and soon there was another dead orc; she had strangled it to death. As soon as the creature went limp, she was on her feet with a dark look in her eyes and she watched for her next target, and just like the one that was now lying limp at her feet; she would send it to its oblivion.
Morohtar luckily had a dagger in his boot, which he had pulled free as soon as he recognized what the fetid shadows were and he readied himself for battle. He had already stabbed three but they still fought and he knew that he would have to start actually bringing them down and killing the wicked creatures if he wished to survive this fight if not the night.
He could hear his sister's incomprehensible shouts and cries to his side and he worried after her, not only would he have to survive but he had to make sure she did. He would give up his own life if it meant that his sister would still be able to live. He grit his teeth with determination, only the orcs would die this night! Morohtar rearranged his grip on his dagger and then charged the nearest orc, stabbing it through the mouth and up into its dastard brain.
---
Elrohir took down two more orcs with his Elvin swiftness just after he had witnessed a human girl strangle an orc to death with her hair tie. He had been shocked that she could have done the deed; she appeared to be crazed with battle. He didn't know many humans, especially females but he didn't think that they would have such incredible inner-strength to be able to bring down an orc with only the leather strap that bound her hair.
Suddenly, an orc leapt at his horse and she attempted to side step but the orc had caught them both off guard; Elrohir fell from his horse. Raina bucked back and then gave her all to fend off the attacking orc but Elrohir shouted her away and stood to his feet. Unsheathing his sword he watched out of the corner of his eye, his horse retreating to safety; if worse came to worse she would return to carry him away.
---
Da-Yina heard a man shout as she broke the neck of another hideous orc and let it fall heavily to the ground. She knew the voice wasn't that of her Morohtar so she turned to the sound and found an attractive male unsheathing a beautiful sword and then running an orc through. She also noticed in the distance that a piebald horse was galloping off over some hills. A strong wind blew and a scent came to her nostrils but it wasn't anything orc, it was familiar yet not at the same time; she shivered.
Morohtar jumped out of the way of an orcs ill-made blade and elbowed it in its ugly face, following through by ramming his dagger into the creature's eye and straight to its brain. Pulling on the blade, he got it free from the orc's skull as well as a whole lot of brain tissue and black orc blood. He heaved in a breath and then turned to see how his sister was fairing and he found her looking at a man near a hill, who parried an orcs strike before neutralizing the beast.
Slowly, a large, smelly orc reared up behind his sister but he was too far away to do anything but shout out a warning to his sister, "RUN!" He was knocked away by another orc and he let out a mighty roar and pushed at the beast's chest and then got his leg up and kicked it in the jaw. He was on his feet in a split second, his dagger firmly held in his grasp and his eyes holding a deadly glare.
---
Elrohir heard the young man's shout and looked up from his fifth kill to see that the human female was in danger from being eviscerated by an orc, was it an orc? It didn't matter! Pulling his knife from its sheathe, he flung it at the offending orc and then began running towards her.
---
Da-Yina heard her brother's shout and feeling worried, she turned to see him but she saw an orc instead! Her eyes widened because what she saw was not a regular orc, it was larger, uglier and darker. Her mind raced as she tried to find some strategy that would have the outcome of her being alive after killing it but the thing looked her in the eye with its own fiery red and orange ones. She could feel its evil power and was frozen by it.
She didn't know why she couldn't move as far as she knew, she had never felt fear like this before. She should be able to move! She felt as if she were held by some spell, which gave the malignant beast a free shot at her. It was bringing its arm up ready for the killing blow and she could do nothing about it! She should be able to block the blow that it was about to deliver to her or at the very least dodge it yet she found her body as if it were stone, she was paralysed! 'What a way to die!' She cried in her thoughts.
---
Morohtar watched in amazement as the man snatched up his knife with lightning speed and threw it at the orc, which held Da-Yina paralysed somehow. He let out an involuntary whoop of joy as the knife hit its mark and the orc fell leaving his sister unscathed and alive! He didn't think he would be able to keep on living if his sister died. First, his mother, then his father, he couldn't live without his family; life wouldn't be worth it if his sister wasn't in it.
---
Da-Yina stumbled back in shock, relieved that the orc was dead and that she was now free from its spell. But was it a spell or had she really been frozen with her own fear of the thing, she was unsure of herself. She had come so close to dieing! What would Morohtar have done if she had died? He would have no more family left if she had breathed her last breath then, Eomer would still care for him as he did now but Eomer wasn't family.
Enough regret, checking around she saw a lone orc retreating and the stranger was running up to a ridge, knocking an arrow as he went. Aiming, he pulled the bowstring taunt and then released it. She watched in awe of the man's abilities as the arrow hit its mark and downed the fleeing orc. She knew no man who was so skilled with bow and arrow and she had never been taught the weapon but she knew all about swords and was confident enough in her abilities using them. The orcs here would never have been a problem if she had had her sword!
---
'Ten', Elrohir counted as he lowered his bow and breathed a sigh of relief. The female had had a narrow escape, if he hadn't been there and hadn't noticed in time she would surely be dead now and the young man also. He turned around and laid his eyes upon the woman, she appeared fine now, if just slightly shaken.
The young man was running to her, it seemed that she heard the human male because she turned her attention off himself and to that of the young man. Elrohir silently watched as the young man enveloped the woman in a warm embrace and he received that as his reward. He felt he had achieved something wonderful as the two lovers had been re-united and were alive to love each other.
---
Morohtar ran to his sister with every intention of giving her a huge hug and when she turned to him before he reached her, a smile lit her face and she opened her arms to him. He threw his arms around her in a fond embrace as hers closed around him, they were both relieved that each other were safe and well. They didn't need to say any words to each other because they already knew each other's feelings, no words were needed, the embrace was more then enough.
---
Elrohir navigated his way down the ridge, squatted over one of the ten fallen orcs to retrieve the first arrow he had fired. It was still good, so he cleaned it and returned it to his quiver. As he stood and turned, he noticed the young couple staring at him.
The young man's face glowed, his smile taking up his whole face and lighting his eyes, "Thank you sir!" he exclaimed walking up to him and shaking his hand vigorously. "If it weren't for you my sister would surely be dead!" at the man's conclusion Elrohir's eyes widened, the shock he felt evident on his face, 'they were siblings?'
---
Da-Yina considered Elrohir's expression and she couldn't help but wonder why he looked so shocked. As the man had saved her life and that of her brother's, even if she didn't like to admit it, she decided to use her manners. Though some would say that she didn't have any she did and she used them. "Sir, may I be as rude as to ask your name and why you wear such a shocked expression?"
---
Elrohir snapped himself out of his shocked reverie, focused his attention back on to the humans, and to the question that the woman had asked him. "My name is Elrohir, son of Elrond Lord of Rivendell. I ask humbly that you forgive my shock fair lady for I was under the impression that your brother and yourself were lovers", he answered politely and with a bow of introduction.
---
Da-Yina and Morohtar stared at Elrohir for the longest time and then suddenly, similar to a flash flood, laughter fell from their lips. Sounds of mirth spilled forth from their mouths, their saviour had thought that they were lovers! The thought alone was madness and Morohtar fell to the ground, his legs started making whirling motions with his legs (similar to certain hobbits).
Da-Yina was able to resist gravity but this feat didn't take away from the humour of the situation, she did hold her sides but the fact that he had thought that her and Morohtar were lovers she was still caught up on what he had called her however. 'Did he say I was fair?' Da-Yina's mind questioned and she broke down into another fit of giggles.
She had never been told she was fair before, she had thought that fair women were usually light and pretty, blonde and white; fair. She had black hair and eyes and was tanned; she seriously did not picture herself being 'fair'. Da-Yina tried to gain control over her hysterical body, after a few tries she was finally in command again and she stood up straight but her hands still rested on her sides holding her insides in lest they fall out.
---
Elrohir regarded them for a few moments after their laughter had faded and then stopped completely, shaking his head he apologized, "Forgive me again, lady", he stopped when the boy snorted and burst into giggles again. He watched the woman but her face was stony and so he continued, "I was unaware that this was a joke", he was put out of course, he had made an honest mistake and he felt that it hadn't warranted such mockery.
She looked at him and then smiled, "you're forgiven, Elrohir. Where are you headed?"
Elrohir examined her, she had extremely long hair and it was all messy due to her recent battle. He found it strangely attractive, the way her hair fell and stuck out at weird places, a few strands falling in front of her face and masking one side and the motley beads added much character.
When she smiled at him, he almost gasped but he managed to change it into the clearing of his throat before he answered her, "I am bound for Edoras, my brother Elladan should have arrived there by now. We carry news from our father to the King Eomer". Elrohir glanced down as the young man carefully picked himself up off the ground.
"We can take you to meet Eomer in Edoras, if you like? We live there with him!" he volunteered as he brushed off the dirt and grass from his clothes with help from his sister to remove the hard to see places of his back and bottom. The act reminded Elrohir of a mother and her child.
"That would be most kind, young master", Elrohir replied. "Let us finish here first before we move on", he said as he turned away from them and whistled for his horse. The black and white mare soon arrived and waited patiently as Elrohir gathered up his stray arrows and slipped them into his quiver.
He turned when he had retrieved all the arrows that were good enough to be used again, only to find the young lady waiting by his horse with her brother close by. Elrohir soon returned and made sure he had everything before offering to give her a boost onto Raina. She didn't seem too thrilled to know that she was going to ride his horse and she pulled her hair away from her face in a show of nervousness.
His eyes widened in horror, the lady was wounded! He reached out his hand, lightly brushing it down the side of her face to inspect the contusion that lay there. She pulled back so he presumed he had hurt her. "My lady, I apologize if I have caused you pain, I was merely inspecting your wound", he bowed his head in a mark of reinforced apology.
---
Da-Yina was at a loss, no man had ever acted this way towards her, though he wasn't a man but an elf. She could see his ears clearly now, he was the most handsome person she had ever seen. When he had touched her it sent a shiver down her spine, Elrohir had caused no pain he had brought her pleasure.
She was so incredibly confused, she had so many emotions running through her at the moment, she didn't know how to react as she had never felt like that before. She didn't know what to do but she had to do something! She felt something warm on her good cheek, shocked she leapt backwards with an uncharacteristic squeal, then she realised what it was and she blushed with extreme embarrassment.
---
Morohtar had never seen his sister act this way before, 'since when does she squeal?' he thought perplexed. Elrohir was just concerned for her, an emotion he could fully understand. Da-Yina looked scare, he couldn't recall a time when he had ever seen her afraid of something. 'She just killed an orc with her hair tie and she's squealing because this elf is inspecting her bruise?'
She wouldn't be squealing over the pain, she had a high tolerance for pain and then there was her almighty pride. Her deep sense of pride he thought would never have allowed her to squeal yet there she was acting like the crying females she seemed to despise. 'What's her problem?' he wondered again, his concern for his sister growing.
---
Elrohir wondered about the woman also, what had made her react to him in such a manner? He didn't think he had done anything wrong, however he hadn't spent much time with humans and so he might have done something culturally incorrect. Even so, that didn't explain the looks her brother was giving her, he seemed just as confused by his sister's actions.
---
Da-Yina cursed herself for being a coward and then she strode forward intent on getting on that horse. Elrohir blocked her way however, "Milady are you well?" he asked softly while he observed her reaction. Watching as her forehead creased into a frown, as she stood straighter as well as her eyes contracting to slits.
Da-Yina looked up at him, she hated being short! Narrowing her eyes at him further as she mocked him, "No milord, I am not unwell". She built up her confidence a bit more before she continued with her excuse, "I am merely shaken up as a result of the orc's attack".
Elrohir smiled and bowed his head, "of course", he replied simply though he didn't buy her response. He was powerless to stop the feeling of apprehension he felt directed at this young woman. She was indeed very beautiful, even by elf standards and he felt attracted to her on that base alone, but it seemed as if she feared something. 'Maybe it's me?' he thought horrified.
---
Elladan strode into Eomer's Hall again, stopping before the Lord of the Riddermark, "Alas, my lord, I do not know of any man who would be willing to marry this Da-Yina. Most of my acquaintances are Elvish and I would rather not push any of them into a relationship such as that".
It was a sound excuse, it wasn't because of Da-Yina's reputation but because Humans were mortal and Elves were not, they could die of a broken heart however. The relationship would be difficult for both parties involved and he knew that Eomer knew this, he didn't have to do any work except for the five minutes it took him to come up with the excuse.
Keeping with his deception, he bowed respectfully to the lord before he made a suggestion, "We could send scouts out over the lands to see if there are men willing?" He watched through the elf's blue eyes as Eomer smiled wearily and moved slightly to find a more comfortable position in his throne. The man might seriously consider adding some cushions to it. "Some men might come simply for the challenge it implies", he continued.
---
"Do not think on it Elladan, I hear your brother will be arriving here shortly", Eomer commented waving his hand in a dismissive gesture in response to the suggestion. The problem of Da-Yina was an excruciating one as she was the biggest pain in the arse.
Elladan nodded in response, he could feel him, "yes he will be, and hopefully he will be able to shed more light on the situation concerning the increased orc levels and movements". Immediately after Elladan finished his sentence, the twin doors burst open and his 'brother' walked through them.
Elrohir made his way into the Hall of Edoras, inclining his head in greeting towards his brother with a relieved expression present on his face. Halting next to his brother and in front of Eomer on his throne, he began to report. "My lord Eomer, Orcs were headed this way. A fair lady by the name of Da-Yina as well as her younger brother were attacked in the fields outside of Edoras. The ten orcs that attacked were slain though I fear that more orcs will doubtless attack. Both siblings are safe and well, they lead me to Edoras".
---
Eomer watched Elrohir approach and noticed the way he held himself as well as the orc bloodstains on his exquisite clothing. It was blatantly clear from the bloodstains that the news Elrohir bore was not going to bode well for him or for Edoras.
He listened closely to everything Elrohir said concerning the orcs. 'So orcs are heading to Edoras are they?' he thought grimly. After Elrohir finished informing him of the imminent attack on Edoras he reflected for a moment before making a face, "did you just say orcs attacked Da-Yina?" he asked and when the lithe elf nodded affirmative he continued, "Did you also describe her as fair?"
---
Elrohir looked at Eomer with a mixture of confusion and disgust, 'after all I told him, those are the questions he asks?' Elrohir observed his brother out of the corner of his eye, the elf had his hand over his mouth obviously holding in laughter but why would he do that? "I did indeed, your highness", he confirmed looking back at the monarch, confusion once again edging onto his features.
Elrohir regarded the King of Rohan with a perplexed look upon his face as he witnessed the King breaking down into laughter. Eomer was laughing so hard that he fell from his throne, gripping his sides as tears of mirth slid down his cheeks. Elrohir feeling utterly puzzled asked, "Sire?"
From his fallen position on the floor, Eomer sat up and then laid his arm across his throne in an attempt to make himself more comfortable as he explained, "Da-Yina is the most obstreperous woman this side of Middle Earth", he declared then brushed himself off as he stood to his feet.
Elrohir looked at Eomer in disdain, shaking his head in disbelief, "I did not gather that impression, sir", he said coldly causing Eomer's eyes to widen as a look of genuine shock arrived on his face.
'Did he just say what I think he said', Eomer thought stupefied looking at Elrohir, as he wondered what Da-Yina had done, or had not done as the case may be, to not give the impression of her being an unruly banshee woman.
---
Elladan watching the conversation between his twin brother and the Lord Eomer thought on what his brother had said. "Sire what of the orcs?" Elladan asked, shaking himself out of his thoughts and looking up. He hoped that little display was believable; he had a sneaking suspicion that the brother was not going to be fooled for very long. Perhaps there was a way to get the twin out of the picture so his cover wouldn't be blown.
---
Eomer looked towards Elladan and nodded, "Indeed this is onerous". A thought struck him then and he suddenly grew fearful, "Aragorn sent a messenger to me a few days past. The messenger told me of a half-Elvin girl travelling this way to present to me some maps and apparently a package of great interest. Her only companions were Peregrine Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck both of the Shire".
---
He felt as though this was important, why would it be important? His eyes snapped up then and his whole body went rigid as he asked with trepidation, "Riel Lalaithion?" He brought all the fear that the true Elladan was feeling and he poured it into his stance, expression and eyes. It was imperative that he fooled them all!
---
Elrohir looked to his brother and saw the fear in his eyes. Elladan had been hoping to propose to Riel when he journeyed to Minas Tirith to tell the King Aragorn of the increase in orc activity. But for all his appearance of fear, Elrohir was unable to feel the fear of his brother and this confused and worried him at the same time.
---
"I believe so", Eomer replied in answer to Elladan's frightened query. "Do you know of her?" he questioned noting the fear in the elf's eyes and that his body was tense with panic. 'Perhaps Elladan is close to the female?' Eomer thought as way of explanation.
"I do", Elladan replied softly then his eyes clouded over presumably thinking of all the horrible things the orcs would do if they caught Riel Lalaithion. "She is the elf I hope to marry", he finished, his eyes unfocused and staring at nothing.
Surprised by Elladan's revelation, Eomer studied him closely as he thought, "So he's found a fair lady hmm? A female has finally caught his eye!' He had known Elladan for a while but never really closely as good friends are but he was pleased that the elf could find happiness in the still very dark world. 'How old is he anyway', he thought looking at him then he made a face, 'How old is she!'
Almost as though he were reading the King's thoughts, Elladan looked up and allowed a sliver of a smile on his lips, "Lady Riel has lived through sixteen winters, your highness". Eomer just gazed at the elf not even bothering to ask how he knew what he was thinking elves were like that.
Eomer was jolted out of his reverie however, when he was hit with an exception, well in his opinion anyway, idea. It was so good that it would even get Da-Yina out of his hair! Eomer quickly and excitedly told Elladan his plan whose face just as quickly became unreadable in thought. Elrohir's expression was easily read, however, he was offended.