Part 66 of the Elfwine Chronicles. The Elfwine Chronicles are a series of one-shots built around the family group of Eomer, Lothiriel and Elfwine. The total number will depend on how many ideas I get for new vignettes.

A/N: Yeah, I know – where are the other two Elfwine Chronicles (#64 & 65) I mentioned having ready? Well, I decided that they weren't quite ready yet and I'm still working on them. Then I got this idea finally moving so I have been focused here for the moment. (And thanks to Tracey for her questions/observations that helped flesh out the storyline a bit differently than I had originally expected.)

I think the inspiration for this story comes from rynogeny's "Heart of the Horselord". No, there really isn't even the vaguest similarity between the two, but I had discovered her story when she was up to about ch. 17, and never found the time to go back and catch up on the earlier chapters. I finally did that the other day, and I suppose just that it is so well written and has so many wonderful original characters in it somehow got me jumpstarted working on this piece about Theomund, that has been floating in the recesses of my brain for a while now. Anyway, if you want something good to read, go check out her story.

Note that we have jumped quite a bit ahead in the timeline. The year here is 41 Fourth Age, which means Eomer is 70, Lothiriel is 62, Elfwine is 40, Theodwyn is 33, Theomund is 31, Morwen is 27 and Theodred is 18. You will discover some of what the family has been up to in the interim, though I likely won't go into depth on each one in this particular story. You will see some of the other family members as they interact with Theomund.

from Old English: Fele - faithful; Orgel - pride; Eledher - fire hair; Frideswide - strong peace; Renward - horse guard; Abeodan - announce (yeah, the meaning is dumb for a horse, but I liked the sound of the word! - he whinnys a lot, okay?)

Artistic Design

Chapter 1 (early Sept., 41 IV)

"My lord?"

Theomund looked up from the metal he was molding to see his aide standing in the doorway. "Yes?"

"There is a woman here who wishes to speak with the 'owner'. I…do not think she wishes to buy anything."

His curiosity piqued, Theomund rose to follow him to the other room.

Upon turning twenty years of age, Theomund had purchased a blacksmith shop and adjacent building, setting up a business for himself. The blacksmith shop still functioned in all manner of metalwork for everyday needs, but Theomund himself designed various pieces of a more decorative nature. Much of the nobility of Edoras and the surrounding areas was fond of obtaining items he had made, and then displaying them in their homes, usually not bothering to mention that they had been purchased from the King's son rather than being a gift from the King's son. Now, some eleven years after going into business, it had become something of a status symbol to own work by Theomund.

In the next room, Renward introduced him to the woman, "My lord Theomund, this is Fele."

The woman bobbed a curtsy at him as Renward left them. "My lord, thank you for seeing me."

She shifted nervously, considering what to say next, and Theomund appraised her silently. She was likely only a few years younger than he was, and her clothing suggested she was of the lower class, though it was perfectly clean and tidy. Her most striking feature was her dark red hair, which presently was pulled back into a nondescript single braid down her back, though he very much suspected it would be spectacular if seen loose around her face in full sunlight.

"My lord, I am...hoping...you would be willing to let me rent out space in your business and make use of your fires. I...I make jewels for ladies and do not have the means to make them on my own. I would give you a portion of my profit in exchange for this." She stumbled to a halt and watched him a bit fearfully, almost as though she expected him to shout at her.

He frowned at her behavior and rubbed his chin. "May I ask why this is necessary? Do you not have a husband or father to care for you?"

She blushed with embarrassment, and he thought he detected a tinge of shame also. "I...my father died a few months ago, my lord, and...and...my husband left me nearly two years back. I must work to provide for my mother and my child." Her voice had become very soft and he barely caught her final words.

He had never considered letting out space, but there seemed little harm in it if it allowed the woman to make a much-needed living. Curiously he asked, "Are you from Edoras?" He was surprised he knew nothing of her, but sometimes gossip about the poorer class of people did not reach Meduseld.

"No, my lord. I am from Aldburg. Some friends helped us get enough coin to move here, in hopes that I could find a better market for my jewels."

He found it disconcerting that she would not look at him, and kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Aldburg. He would have to speak to Elfhelm and Freyda to see if they knew anything of her. They had stayed on in Aldburg for a number of years after Elfhelm gave up his post as Marshal of the East-mark, but finally had decided to move to Edoras to live out their days since two of their children had located here.

"Do you have any samples of your work that I might see?" he asked, and was rewarded with her finally bringing her gaze up to his face.

"I do not have anything with me, my lord, but I could fetch some if you wish to see them." Her voice held a note of hopefulness, and he had a sneaking suspicion that no matter how bad her work was, he was about to give in to her. He could not bear to burden her with a rejection.

"I would appreciate that," he told her. "Then I will decide. However, I will accompany you. I need to stretch my legs. I have been sitting too long this morning." He gestured toward the door, and despite a look of dismay, she led the way out.

He suspected she did not wish him to see her abode, but he wanted to know exactly what her circumstances were before he involved himself. He could better judge that in person than by hearsay.

Not unexpectedly, she led him toward the poorer section of town and to the door of a boarding house. The man at the desk glanced up disinterestedly, then did a doubletake and exclaimed, "My lord! Welcome!" He wiped his hands on his shirt and scurried around the desk. "How may I be of assistance?"

Theomund raised a restraining hand and smiled pleasantly. "Be at peace. I am here visiting one of your boarders briefly." The man's gaze flicked to Fele with obvious surprise, but he nodded and moved away from them without comment.

While the two men were conversing, Fele eyed her companion more closely. Something about the desk clerk's behavior made Fele even more uneasy about this. Who was this man, Lord Theomund? She had inquired about nearby blacksmith facilities when she arrived in town, and was told his was the closest, but she had seen ample indication that he was more than a mere merchant. Perhaps he was of noble birth? The thought made her even less inclined to have him see her humble living arrangement.

Still, he seemed determined, and she did not dare refuse him if she hoped to have his agreement to the bargain. She led the way up the stairs to the second floor, and down a dark hallway to the end. Calling out to her mother as she opened the door, a moment later she was greeted by her three-year-old, who raced up and flung himself at her knees. "Mama! Mama!"

Picking him up, she kissed his cheek. "Hello, dearest." Small arms wrapped around her neck briefly before the child turned to stare shyly at Theomund.

"And who is this?" Theomund inquired, grinning at the boy.

"Eledher, my son."

Without warning, the boy reached for Theomund and exclaimed, "Hello!"

Mortified, Fele wrestled to hold the squirming lad. "Eledher, no! He does not want to play with you! Be still!"

"On the contrary," Theomund said, reaching over and plucking the boy from her arms. "I am happy to meet you, Eledher. My name is Theomund." He tickled the boy's belly and was rewarded with a childish giggle.

Fele watched the two of them with some dismay, though she saw no recourse but to allow it. Just then her mother came up behind her.

"Lord Theomund, this is my mother, Frideswide," she introduced and the other woman, after assessing him a moment, bobbed a curtsy at him.

"My lord. It is a pleasure to meet you." She hesitated slightly, then inquired, "Does not the King have a son named Theomund?"

Theomund grinned pleasantly at her. "He does, and I am he. I did not think myself well known outside of Edoras."

Fele gave a gasp of horror. The King's son! And she had... Quickly she moved to take her son, but Theomund just grasped the boy more firmly and gave her a teasing look, causing her to blush as she let her arms fall.

Mumbling softly, she told him, "My lord, I am so very sorry! I did not realize who you were. I asked for directions to a blacksmith shop, and it never occurred to me –"

He interrupted her gently, "It is of no consequence. You sought a blacksmith shop and you found one. Now all that remains is for you to show me the fruits of your craft so I may judge whether or not to accept your proposal."

Her eyes came up to meet his, forming wide uncomprehending orbs. "You...you would still consider allowing me space to work?"

"I do not see any reason to reject your proposal out of hand. Unless I do not think you have any chance of making a living, once I have seen your work, your request is reasonable."

She merely stared at him for several moments, until her mother nudged her and quietly directed, "Get some of your pieces to show him, Fele."

Pulling herself from the daze she was in, she nodded and moved away. Frideswide gestured to a nearby chair, one of two at a small table. "Will you be seated, my lord?"

As he settled in the chair, Eledher announced, "I have a wooden horse. Want to see it?" Before Theomund could respond, the boy wriggled off his lap and took off across the room, causing Theomund to chuckle.

Frideswide smiled apologetically. "He is a very friendly child, my lord. He does not let anything stand in the way of making a new friend and sharing his toys."

Theomund laughed. "He sounds much like me as a boy! My sister tells me I was so agreeable it was annoying!"

An instant later, Eledher thundered back to them and lifted his arms for Theomund to pick him up. Hefting the boy back into his lap, he paid earnest attention to the wooden horse being shown him. Meanwhile, Fele had returned with a few pieces of jewelry in her hands and hovered uncertainly nearby, not sure whether he wished to be interrupted or not.

Glancing up, he held out a hand for the pieces and she gave them to him. Placing them on the table next to him, he shifted Eledher to his other leg and studied them, even as he listened to the little boy chattering away about the toy. Theomund had a good eye for beauty and these were exquisite pieces. Once she got the business going, her work should prove quite popular, though he thought she had made a wise decision in coming to Edoras, a more high-toned place than Aldburg. With the royal court here, the local nobility were always in search of new ways to impress one another.

Kissing Eledher's head, he told the lad, "I must speak with your mother now, Eledher. But I thank you for showing me this wonderful toy. Perhaps we will meet again." He set the boy down and, unhappily, Eledher let his grandmother lead him away.

"You are very good with children, my lord," Fele observed, and then blushed at the forwardness of the comment.

He grinned. "I have many nieces and nephews for practice."

She was startled. "None of your own, my lord?" Then thinking the question rude, she blushed again and lowered her eyes.

He shrugged. "I am not opposed to the notion, but as yet I have not found the lady to do the honors. As merely the second son of the king, rather than the heir, I am not so much sought after by the ladies of the nobility as my elder brother was. And once he was lost to them, they might have considered me except for my annoying penchant for behaving as a common laborer. I think I embarrass them because of my trade. But it is part of who I am, so I will wait until I find the lady who desires all of me, not just my royal relations."

Rising, he nodded to her. "I think we have an agreement, Fele. Come by when you are ready to begin and we will work out the details. I have a smaller furnace and tools that I use for crafting decorative pieces that might be of use to you more than the large fires of the blacksmith shop."

She hastily stood and curtsied to him. "Thank you, my lord! I do so very much appreciate this!"

"One thing, however," – she looked up questioningly at him – "I do not think I can work alongside someone who is constantly curtsying to me and calling me 'my lord'! I realize you must do so in public but, please, I would have us be more informal while we work."

Uncertainly, she nodded agreement to this unusual request. He gave her a grin, called a farewell to her mother and son, and was out the door before she regained her senses.

xxxxx

By the time Fele returned to Theomund's shop two days later, she found it had been redesigned. Adjacent to his work area, a new work area had been built, with the two of them sharing the furnace.

She stared in astonishment at what he had done for her, in so short a time. "My lord...Theomund," she exclaimed, "this is too much! You should not have gone to such trouble for me. I can never repay you for this!"

He grinned. "I do not expect you to repay me. This is what I will find workable in having you here. You will just have to indulge me in that! I am not giving you a choice in the matter!"

She blushed, but murmured, "Thank you!"

He gave her a tour of the building, both his small workshop and the larger blacksmith shop, and showed her where he kept his tools. She was very impressed with the artistic work that he did personally and could not refrain from telling him so, pleasing him greatly.

It did not take long for Fele to get settled in and begin working, anxious to have an income once more. What little money they had was running low, as were their food supplies, and all too soon they would owe rent on their room. Theomund had designed and hung out a sign for her business, and a few visitors coming to see him looked over her display, but paid little attention to it.

He could tell by the strain on her face that she was beginning to get worried that her work would not sell. When the next person came in, once they had concluded their business, he guided them over to her display area. Politely, the woman looked disinterestedly over her wares, for Theomund's sake, and idly asked how much a certain necklace was.

"Five –" Fele began to say, but Theomund cut her off.

"That piece is fifty. She misspoke." Fele's eyes got round in alarm, but she did not dare argue with him.

He reached for the necklace, and studied it, then commented, "I was thinking of buying this piece for my mother."

Next to him, the woman's eyes lit up with sudden interest – jewels by this nondescript woman were not necessarily appealing, but jewels that might be worn by the queen certainly were.

Smiling, Theomund turned to her and offered, "However, if you would like this jewel, I can always have Fele make another piece for Mother."

Eagerly the woman opened her purse. "Thank you, my lord. That is most kind of you." Without hesitation she forked over the money and watched possessively as Fele wrapped the jewel in a cloth for her to carry.

When the woman was gone, Fele blurted out, "What are you doing? I cannot ask that much money for my work!"

Theomund smiled devilishly at her. "Perhaps you cannot, but I can! And they will pay it, too, if they think the queen admires your work. Furthermore, after you have designed a piece especially for my mother and she has worn it publicly, you will find yourself with more business than you can handle!"

"But...but...that is dishonest. The queen has never seen my work! I cannot let customers think she approves of it just to get them to buy things!" she sputtered.

Theomund placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back into her chair. "Calm down, Fele. I am not asking you to do anything dishonest. Trust me, I know my mother, and she will admire your work once she has seen it. You will design a piece especially for her, I will buy it and give it to her and, when she has worn it, you will have to deal with the consequences. End of discussion."

Fele felt like she should object more, but all that he said made entirely too much sense. At length, the best further argument she came up with was, "Even so, I cannot charge such high prices for these–"

He cut her off. "You are a fine jeweler, Fele, but you know little about selling things. If you offer your work for five then that is all they will think it is worth. If you charge fifty, they will believe it is worth fifty. And it is worth fifty. I know what I am doing. Trust me, please."

She could think of nothing more to say to refute him and finally sighed in defeat. "Very well, if you are sure."

He leaned down and tapped her on the nose, startling her. "I am sure. Now get to work on that piece for my mother. The sooner she wears it, the sooner your business will be booming!"

Swallowing hard, Fele tentatively asked, "I...do not suppose...would it be possible for me to meet her? Your mother, I mean? If I could do that I would have a better feel for what she might like."

Theomund rubbed his chin briefly, then nodded. "An excellent point. Get your cloak. We are going to have dinner with the queen."

End note: It is not essential that you read the Elfwine Chronicles in the order they were written, but there is an advantage to doing so. The more of them that I wrote, the more likely I was to make reference to one of the previous ones and something that happened there. If you want to read them in order, go to the top of this page and click on my name (Deandra). That will take you to my profile page. Scroll down and you will find all the stories I have written. The Elfwine Chronicles are in order from bottom to top since ffn shows them in the order they were posted. A few were posted out of number order (#15 came after #17, I think), but you can read them in posting order or number order since those few won't be affected in the story content.