Disclaimer:
I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who had created the wonderful fantasy story 'the Lord of the Rings'. Also I took some lines from the movie, as you might notice, they of course belong to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
Hama' Daughter
Chapter 4
Edoras, February 28th.
So much had happened. In such a short time. Yesterday, no Lathwen could not bare to think of that horrible day just yet. But it was in her mind, constantly. Theodred, her love, had died, he had passed to the halls of Mandos, and without him knowing, he left his beloved, friends and family behind in utter chaos. Éomer had heard that orcs had entered Rohan from the East Wall yesterday, on the day that his cousin had died.
Éomer, still filled with grief had set out immediately, not even waiting to get permission from the King, because he already knew that Théoden would not give it. For it had been before he set out that he had told his uncle about Theodred' death, but no sign of grief had been seen by Éomer. That was when he decided that he had to take action himself. Something had to happen before things would get out of hand.
Háma had led his daughter back to their house, nobody yet knew of the relationship that Lathwen and Theodred had had, and although he was angry with himself that he was doing this to his daughter, he knew that it had to be done. If people found out that the prince was that they would look up strangely to see a mere servant staying with his body the whole day. At first Lathwen had protested, but she was too tired, to week to protest anymore.
Éowyn had staid with her cousin. Only just before Éomer had set out she had left him to say goodbye to her brother. It had been a sad goodbye, with the return of their death cousin they had both realised that the world still wasn't rid of all evil. And even that it had began to grow. Lathwen knew that the siblings had to endure the loss of their parents. In her prayers to Bema she hoped for Éomer to come back safely so that his sister would not have to endure another loss.
And Lathwen? She staid at home and went to the hall to do her job, just as usual. Only now she wasn't laughing, and her face was pale. She avoided conversation as much as she could and staid out of the way of the King and his advisors. But every morning after breakfast, and every evening, after dinner she went to the prince' room and sat there, on his bed. Staring to his face which was now cold and white.
It was hard for her to understand that her love wasn't there anymore. Háma watched his daughter carefully and every spare moment he had, he spend with her. He was worried; this wasn't his cheerful girl, happy with the people around her. To Háma she was more like a ghost. And the thing that worried him most was that she barely cried. At least not when there were people around. At night, he heard the woman' muffled cries and it was then that he went over to her room and took her in his arms. Singing old lullabies and cradling her. He knew how it felt to lose the one you loved most.
Near Fangorn, February 30th in the morning.
"What business does an elf, a man and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!"
Éomer, wary from battle and personal loss, had ordered his eored to surround three people and now he looked intently to the three of them. Strange company indeed. They were heading back to Edoras, and quickly, for they had left without permission.
"Give me your name, horse master, and I shall give ya' mine."
His eyes fixed on the dwarf he handed his spear to his friend and second in command Éothain before dismounting and stepping closer to the three of them. He held his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nobody could be trusted these days and he was anxious to return to Edoras, as quick as he could. He had left Éowyn behind in grief and he himself was still grieving as well.
"I would cut off your head, dwarf," Éomer spit out, "If it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Éomer had not even noticed that the elf had drawn his bow as the arrow was already directed at him. His riders reacted quickly by drawing closer with their spears.
"You would die before your stroke fell."
If the man had not interjected things could have looked worse for the Third Marshall.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas of the woodland realm. We re friends of Rohan and of Théoden your king." the man had spoken and Éomer looked to him in wonder. This was Isildurs heir? He had spend enough time learning the history of Rohan, but the one of Gondor as well, his uncle had insisted upon it. Sometimes they had been joined by Theodred… no, he had to focus now.
Slowly Éomer removed his helmet and looking from Aragorn to Legolas to Gimli and then back to Aragorn he said: "Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that we have set out without permission. The white wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
"We are no spies," It was Isildurs heir again who had spoken, "We track a pack of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They've taken two of our friends captive."
The Uruks… they had only just left them.
"The Uruks are destroyed," Éomer said, "We slaughtered them during the night."
"But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?"
The dwarf had spoken and to Éomer he seemed desperate for news. Finally he began to trust them a little, although he still found it strange that neither he nor his men had seen these travellers at first. Yet he had never heard of a hobbit before, but Aragorn explained quickly what they looked like.
"They would be small, only children to your eyes."
Éomer shook his head sadly, "We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them." he pointed backwards to where they had come from. Smoke was to be seen rising on the fields.
"Dead…" the dwarf said, it seemed like he did not believe it.
He knew how the dwarf must feel now, it seemed that these three had had a bond with those two hobbits. Losing a friend was hard, Éomer had experienced it just days ago. And now he was confronted with the real world again. People died, end of story. He could go into grief, which only would be for three days, but Éomer knew that something had to be done, that is why he had set out.
"I am sorry," Éomer softly spoke before he whistled, "Hasufel, Arod." he presented the two horses to the elf and the man. "May these horses bear you to better fortune then their former masters. Farewell."
He nodded before he mounted his horse, then he looked back to the travellers, "Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands." then he turned to his eored and shouted, "We ride to Edoras!"
Edoras, February 30th in the evening.
Finally, Éomer and is eored had returned safely to Edoras. They had slaughtered the Uruk-hai and had met some strange people on the way, but it had been good to be out of the city. Especially for Éomer who grew anxious to kill the worm who had caused him so many troubled thoughts. At the gate they were greeted by the guards who had opened the gate already.
"Éomer!" one of them called and Éomer dismounted quickly while his eored rode further into the city. Only Éothain followed behind him.
"You are to go to the Golden Hall immediately, Théoden King wants a word with you."
Éomer groaned but nodded to the man before mounting his horse again followed by Éothain.
"You should be careful my lord," his friend said as they rode up to the hall.
"I'm sure it's that worm again," Éomer spat, "Don't worry my friend, he has no authority and my uncle would never do something as throw me in the dungeons."
They both smiled a bit, but neither of them was reassured.
And end up in the dungeons, he did. By order of the King. But Éomer did not believe that his uncle would have sign such an order if he knew what it meant.
Éowyn was unbelievably furious.
Edoras, March 1st.
Lathwen was sitting wrapped in a plaid in front of the fire in her living room. She was gazing into the flames with a slight smile on her face for she was thinking back to happier days. Tomorrow the funeral would be held, but not thanks to the king. No it had been Háma and Éowyn who had made sure that there would be a funeral soon enough. Lathwen hated the King, at least the person that he had become. The only one he listened to was that worm! Her musings were disrupted as Éowyn barged through the door.
"It is a wonderful day for a ride, you know."
Lathwen looked up still with the same sad smile on her face, her eyes were red, for she had been crying just a moment ago.
"A ride Éowyn? And how were you planning to do that? The gates are locked, nobody is allowed entrance except for messengers."
Her voice was dull and raw from so much crying.
Éowyn simply shrugged, "We'll avoid them, and I talked to your father just a moment ago, he said that if we would only circle Edoras it would be alright, for there are guards everywhere."
Lathwen sighed and shook her head, "I guess I can't stop you… just a moment let me change into something more comfortable."
Éowyn, who was already dressed in her riding outfit, smiled and leaned against the door, "Hurry up, the horses are waiting."
"Yes, yes…" Lathwen muttered, quickly walking into her bedroom to emerge only a moment later, dressed properly for riding.
Éowyn truly was a strong person. Only yesterday her brother had been thrown into prison and still she looked after others. No wonder that she was called the white lady of Rohan. Lathwen had been angry when she found out that Éomer had been put in prison, that was the first time that she had showed another emotion besides sadness. It had been a good thing to think of something else, not that the event was good. Now Lathwen was truly looking forward to a ride around the city.
"Where are those horses of yours?"
Soon they were out on the plain, riding in a fast canter around the capital of Rohan, but as they had completed half the circle they slowed the horsed down to a trot. At first they rode in silence, Éowyn did not dare to break it yet, because she had barely talked with her friend since Theodred' death. Lucky for her she did not have to start, it was Lathwen who started to tell her how she and Theodred had first met.
"I was sixteen years old when I first met your cousin, five years before you arrived here with your brother. I remember it well, my father had just been appointed as doorward in Théoden' hall and there was a celebration because of that. It was my first feast in the Golden Hall, my parents had decided that I was old enough to go now, you couldn't imagine how glad I was." Lathwen chuckled a little before she continued.
"Can you imagine standing there, on the side while everybody' dancing. I was the youngest present, no boys of my age. There were young boys, yes, but they were not interested. That was until the prince came over to me. I was nervous! I mean I was wearing a simple dress compared to the noble lady's that were present as well. And then the Prince of Rohan decides to come over to me!"
Éowyn smiled as she saw the expression on Lathwen' face. It was one of joy and happiness, quite the contrary of what it had been just a moment before. Lathwen looked to Éowyn and grinned.
"Did you know what he asked? I can hear him say it still. 'Would this lovely lady honour me with a dance?' "
The women both laughed and Lathwen shook her head, "I only danced four dances that night; One with my father and three others with Theodred. I had such a good time. We did not only dance, no he listened to my wailing about the chores that my mother made me do and all other things that keep the interest of a sixteen-year-old girl. He never laughed and took me serious. I guess that is when I first fell in love with him."
They had almost reached the gate, and before they were in earshot of the guards Lathwen reached for Éowyn' hand, "Thank you," she whispered and Éowyn simply smiled to her, "It will be alright, Lathwen, I'm sure it will be."
TBC….