A/N: Glad you are enjoying this! This is the longest chapter of the four.
Chapter 2
The smell of smoke was strong on the morning breeze, but Eothain reported that the fires were completely out and no longer a danger. It was a somber mood among the group assembled for breakfast in the Golden Hall later that morning. Once the meal was eaten, Theomund led the men back to the site to salvage anything they could. Lothiriel had protested his going on Fele's behalf, but he had insisted that he did not want them to suffer the trauma of looking upon their ruined home just yet.
Even so, the sight of the charred cottage was almost more than he himself could bear. Why did this have to happen to those who were so undeserving? Likely they would now end up back in the boarding house, with even fewer possessions than they had before.
The last of the cottages that he and Freawine were renovating was almost ready, so at least one of the families could move in there. He did not like the thought of the other two being without a home, and he knew Fele would consider herself lowest on the list of those who should receive aid, but he would not stand idly by and let either suffer further. It would draw down his resources considerably, but he would focus his attention on clearing away the debris and rebuilding the cottages as quickly as possible.
Renward's voice broke through his reverie. "Theomund, do you need assistance?"
He smiled at his aide, appreciating the thoughtfulness that had brought him to the scene this morning. He might have expected the man to know he would be here, and to offer his help. "Thank you, Renward. Let us see if there is anything to be saved." Slowly they began a meticulous currying of the ruins.
As most of the furnishings were of wood, virtually everything had been damaged. Some of the furniture had only been partially burned, and he thought he could replace a leg or back of a chair fairly easily. The table was too far gone and even though the wardrobe and chest were not destroyed, the clothing was so full of smoke he could not bring himself to want Fele's family to wear a constant reminder of this tragedy. He would see that they got fresh clothing to wear instead.
A moment later, Renward handed him something, and he smiled as he looked down to discover Eledher's toy horse – the one the boy had shown him when they first met. He had later learned that Frideswide's husband had made it for him. He was glad it had survived. He dropped it in the pile of items they had collected and continued the search. When at last they had found all they thought untainted, they gathered it up and took it to the shop. He would clean and repair what he could before returning it to Fele.
Dispiritedly, he said his farewells to Renward, leaving him to deal with any customers that came in that day for Theomund or Fele, and made his way back up the hill.
Arriving in the Golden Hall, his heart was cheered by the sight that greeted him. Dariel and Theodwyn were in the midst of the refugee families, sorting through piles of gathered clothing and seeing that everyone had at least one change of clothes. Not surprisingly, Fele hung back from the group somewhat, reluctant to take part in the charity.
Stepping into the fray, Theomund reached for a dress he recognized as having belonged to his sister. Though Theodwyn was taller than Fele, they were shaped similarly, and he held it out to Fele. "This will need hemming before it will fit you, but it will look wonderful with your hair," he told her softly.
A tear trickled down her cheek as she reached for the dress with both reluctance and embarrassment. "Thank you."
Unable to stay his hand, he stroked her head comfortingly. "Do not weep, Fele. It will be all right. I salvaged a few things, and I will help you get whatever else you need. I will not allow..." His voice trailed off. He had been dangerously close to admitting his feelings, and he wasn't at all sure that was what she needed to hear just now.
Once the clothing was finally allotted, Lothiriel spoke to the group. "You are welcome to stay here for as long as it takes you to make other arrangements. I do hope you will let me know if you require anything. This is Durucwen, the head housekeeper. She will assist you in any way necessary. Do not hesitate to call on her as well."
Once the families returned to the rooms they had been given, Frideswide and Eledher entered the hall. Upon seeing Theomund, the boy ran to him and was quickly scooped up. Hugging Theomund's neck tightly, he said through tears, "We do not have a home anymore, Theomund!"
"I know. I know. Do not weep, little one. All will be well." He tickled the boy slightly, eliciting a giggle, then teased, "Surely you do not mind staying in my old room, do you? I always rather liked that room!"
"That is your room?" Eledher asked, his eyes growing wide with excitement.
"It is," Theomund assured him. "I spent most of my life in that room. I slept in that bed and looked out that window, just as you are doing."
Eledher grinned and stated solemnly, "It is a very nice room. Thank you for letting us stay there, Theomund."
He hugged the boy tightly. "I am happy to do so. Oh, and I have something for you." He reached for the toy horse he had set on the table when he came in. "I thought you might like this back."
Eledher eagerly reached for it, turning it over in his hands to check it for harm. "Thank you!" There was the briefest pause and then he looked questioningly at the man holding him and asked, "Did you bring my sword and shield also?"
Theomund's jaw tightened and he shook his head. "I fear not, Eledher. They did not escape the fire. But do not fret. I will make a new one for you as soon as I can."
The boy laid his head sadly on Theomund's shoulder. "Why do bad things happen?" he murmured questioningly.
"I do not know, but we will get through this, dear one. Be strong." From the corner of his eye, he could see Fele beginning to weep and her mother wrapping a consoling arm around her. Turning, he led the way to their room to afford them some privacy.
By the time they were there, Fele had regained some measure of composure and observed with tremulous voice, "I should get to the shop. I have work to do and certainly now we will need the income."
Handing Eledher to Frideswide, Theomund caught her shoulders. "Not today, Fele. Just rest. There will be time enough for work tomorrow." He impulsively pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Play with your son and try not to worry. You are not alone in this."
Before he gave in completely to the urge to embrace her and kiss her passionately, he moved away to the door. "I will be in and out most of the day, but Mother will send someone to find me if you need me. Just let her know." He smiled back at the sad trio before exiting and closing the door.
xxxxx
The next few days were difficult for everyone. Hampered by the injury to his left arm, there wasn't much Theomund could do in the way of working on the final cottage, but several riders of the King's Guard volunteered to work with Freawine to complete it so one of the families could move in at once. The other family had relatives in town who agreed to take them in for a while, and Theomund assured them he would get new cottages built as quickly as possible.
When word spread of his intent to try to get the cottages built before winter set in, quite a few men came forward to volunteer their time to help. Theomund had a reputation among all in town for his kindness and generosity, and he had helped many who were in need. They were pleased to have an opportunity to repay him in some measure. The debris from the fire was quickly cleared away, abetted by a cooling of the weather as fall finally began to show itself. Within a week, lumber had been hauled to the site and the framing was underway by mid-September.
The Harvest Festival turned into not only a celebration of the year's bounty, but of no lives having been lost and the fire having been kept from spreading further.
Fele and her family reluctantly remained at Meduseld after Lothiriel insisted upon extending them her hospitality. Suspecting they would resist any attempts Theomund made to keep them there, the queen made the offer instead. And if the men proved successful in getting the new cottages built, she pointed out it was senseless for them to move twice. Frideswide hadn't been entirely certain whether there was an ulterior motive behind Lothiriel's offer or not, but she urged Fele to accept anyway. Perhaps the proximity to the royal family would help Fele feel more comfortable with them and their friendship, and pave the way for her to consider Theomund.
Certainly, Eledher was ecstatic at the prospect, particularly since Theomund had been continuing to stay in his brother's room while Theodred was away, and was readily available to play with him in the evenings. Knowing his brother wouldn't mind, he borrowed the sword and shield passed down to him at age four to continue teaching Eledher, and all the attention he was receiving seemed to help ease the child's trauma.
Not so readily eased was Fele's despondency. Her eyes bore a haunted look even a fortnight after the fire, and consequently Theomund had insisted that she and Eledher attend the Harvest Festival with him. He fervently hoped a few hours of games, dancing and fun would help restore her vivacity. Their mothers accompanied them, and Theomund very much suspected it was so they could look after Eledher and enable the couple to dance, for which he was very appreciative.
By the end of the evening, Fele did seem a little livelier than when it had begun, and Theomund was pleased with the outcome as they returned to Meduseld with Eledher asleep in his arms.
The little family had been at Meduseld for nearly a month when Lothiriel found Fele enjoying her garden. The young woman looked up uncertainly, still not confident that she was not overstepping her bounds, but the queen hastened to assure her she was quite welcome to seek refuge there.
"I have worked hard to make this a peaceful spot, for any who desire to use it. I always find it clears my mind to sit here in the sun and smell the flowers," Lothiriel explained.
"You have succeeded. It is very tranquil. I have come to sit here several times when I wished a bit of solitude."
Lothiriel let out a laugh. "You find Meduseld rather 'busy', do you? Rightly so. Exactly the reason I think this garden is so important." As they spoke, the queen was pruning several bushes of dead branches and old flowers. Finally setting her basket aside, she went to sit next to Fele on the bench.
For several moments, she said nothing, then softly inquired, "May I ask you something?"
"Of course, my lady!" Fele stammered, surprised the queen was hesitant to do so.
"Perhaps this is too personal, but I was wondering if you possibly have fond feelings for my son?"
With a sharp intake of breath, Fele stiffened. Her eyes reflected her alarm as she exclaimed, "My lady, I assure you I would never presume to –"
Gently laying a hand on her arm, Lothiriel interrupted her. "Fele, why not? Why is it wrong for you to have feelings for a man? You are no longer married to Orgel. Your life is yours to do with as you choose now."
"But, my lady," Fele blurted, "he is royalty and I am just a peasant!"
"You are just a woman, and he is a man. While many do not think the classes should mix, particularly in love and marriage, I have never held with that notion, nor has the king. And we have not raised our children to think thus. Do not limit yourself on what you may feel and for whom you may feel it. You are as worthy as any other woman. The only thing that matters is how the two of you feel about one another."
Rising, Lothiriel picked up her basket and smiled down at the woman who was staring at her in utter bewilderment. The queen reached out and stroked her head, then silently moved away and went indoors, leaving Fele to ponder her words. Lothiriel did not know if the nudge would do any good, but at least she had given the woman something new to think about and hopefully made it clear that Theomund's parents would not stand in the way.
Certainly in one sense, the conversation had the desired effect. Fele found her thoughts, and her eyes, turning to Theomund regularly, and the queen's words kept returning to her mind. Surely...surely the queen had not meant to say she would welcome Fele as Theomund's wife. He was much too good and kind to settle for someone like her when there were so very many worthier women to be had.
When they had first met, he had claimed that the noblewomen were not interested in him because of his propensity for acting like a common laborer. Yet, her own eyes witnessed the appreciative looks that women gave him. She did not think it likely any of them would turn down his offer of marriage. So why, then, was he still unmarried past the age of thirty? Clearly he adored children, and she very much suspected he would like some of his own, so that would not be a deterrent. Presumably, he simply had not fallen in love with any woman yet, but that did not necessarily mean that he would consider a peasant wife since he had found no one in the upper class. He could look for someone acceptable in other lands, as his siblings had. He did not need to settle for just anyone.
After more than a week of not being able to put such thoughts out of her mind, Fele was feeling quite frustrated. Why had the queen even brought up this matter in the first place? Yet, even as she was annoyed by the conversation and her musings on it, Fele began to realize that a tiny part of her hoped...no, maybe just dreamed, that it might be possible for the king's son and a peasant to love each other.
xxxxx
In honor of the completed cottages, Meduseld held a feast in late November. Rain had slowed things at the end, but they were at last intact. There was still more that Theomund wished to do to improve them, but they were sufficient at this point to house the burned out families, and that was the most important thing. The day after the feast, a contingent from the king's guard turned out to get the families moved back in. Donations had been made at the feast, of furnishings, food and such necessities to get the families started again, and Theomund waived the rent for the next two months to enable them to buy anything else they might need.
It was with mixed emotions that he helped Fele and her family move into their new home. He would miss having them so near, and having an acceptable reason for spending so much time with them, as he had at Meduseld. Their move into the cottage marked his return to his own home, but it felt colder and emptier than it ever had before.
The rainy days of fall drifted into the snowy days of winter, and it turned out to be a bad year for illness. Many were down with fevers, and the healers were on constant call to assist anyone in need and prepare elixir to treat them. For a while it seemed Fele and Theomund had managed to avoid catching anything, despite interaction with a number of people who had come into the shop while obviously unwell.
But their luck ran out as Theomund began to increasingly cough, and by the end of the day it was evident he had caught it. Fele accompanied him home and made sure he ate some hot soup and bread before turning in, and then went for the healers. Only once they had brought his medicine and she knew he had taken it, did she leave him for the evening.
Even so, Fele was agitated the remainder of the night, worrying about him. Not until well after midnight, as she was still unable to sleep, did it occur to her that she should have sent word to Meduseld so a servant could be dispatched to keep an eye on him. She was half tempted to rise and do it now, even at this unreasonable hour, but could not quite work up the courage to follow through.
Despite her essentially sleepless night, she was up early and hurried off to check on Theomund, assuming he would be too ill to come into the shop. She knocked, for propriety's sake, though she did not expect him to hear or answer, and eventually she just went in. He was as she had left him. The fire had burned low in the night and the room was very cold, so she quickly added logs and stoked it until it was burning brightly.
Theomund was shivering almost uncontrollably, though she was not certain whether it was due to the cold of the room or the fever. Either way, it was not a good sign. Her eyes filled with sorrow at his condition, and she regretted leaving him alone the night before. She rooted through cupboards and drawers, failing to find another blanket, and finally went to the room next door and stripped one off the bed there. She doubted very much he had taken any more of the elixir during the night, and thought it best to try to get more of it into him, though it took considerable effort to wake him sufficiently for him to drink it down.
He was burning up, and while his eyes looked at her, she did not think they registered who she was. Stifling a sob of concern, she squared her shoulders. She could not change what she had done yesterday, but she would not leave him again until he was well. Pulling off her gloves as the room was beginning to warm, she prepared a basin of tepid water and gently bathed his face. Between that and the elixir she had gotten into him, the chills appeared to subside somewhat and he slept more comfortably.
For a long time, she merely sat watching him sleep. As she did, she contemplated the situation, and then rose decisively. Pulling her cloak and gloves back on, she hurried to the shop to find Renward. He was building the furnace fire as she entered and warned him they would not be working that day. "Would you send word up to Meduseld that Theomund is taken ill with the fever. I am happy to tend him, but if they could spare a servant to assist me and act as companion, I would appreciate it. I do not wish to have my mother come as she would have to bring Eledher also, and they would be exposed to the illness."
Renward gripped her shoulder reassuringly. "Do not fret. I will send word immediately. I am certain a servant will arrive within the hour. And I will send word to your mother to let her know where you are for the duration." He paused a moment, thinking, then suggested, "You might want to check to see what food he has in the house. Theomund is not known for keeping a ready supply on hand. You may need to send the servant for provisions first thing."
Returning to Theomund's house, Renward proved correct on both counts. There was little food in the pantry and a servant did show up in less than an hour. However, apparently the queen knew her son quite well, and the servant had come bearing a bundle of provisions with her.
It proved fortunate that she had, for a snowstorm blew in later that morning and travel became unwise. Seeing no reason to heat the entire house, they kept fires going in two rooms upstairs – Theomund's and the one next to it. Lyfwyn was a seamstress in the Golden Hall, and had brought work to keep her occupied when Fele did not need her. She settled in the adjoining room to work, and Fele curled up in a large chair in Theomund's room to attempt to catch up on some of the sleep she had lost the night before.
For the remainder of the day, Fele drifted in and out of sleep. The chair proved quite comfortable, and was roomy enough for her to fit in a restful position. Several times, she administered more elixir to Theomund and again bathed his face and neck with the warm water.
Lyfwyn had prepared a soup for them, and wakened her to eat a light dinner at midday. When the evening came, Fele was reluctant to leave Theomund alone, so she and Lyfwyn found a settee that they managed to wrestle into his room for her to sleep on through the night.
The storm had continued most of the day, not letting up until sometime in the early hours of morning, and Fele awoke to an Edoras covered in a thick blanket of snow. She smiled with resignation; might as well be stuck indoors on a day such as this. Because of the unpleasant weather, and there being every evidence that it was bitterly cold outside, Fele was startled when they heard a knock at the door in the late morning.
Visitors was enough of a surprise, but that the particular visitors were the queen, Elfwine and Freawine was even more startling. Lyfwyn had gone to answer the door, and Fele was just coming down the stairs to see who was there. Hurrying forward with a gasp, she urged, "My lady! Do come in! You should not have ventured out into such a day!"
Elfwine looked around in surprise. "Why is there no fire lit?"
Lyfwyn looked to Fele to respond, and she blushed. "We saw no reason to tend unnecessary fires, my lord. We have only been keeping two going upstairs where we are spending all our time. And, there is one in the kitchen. Perhaps we should sit there, or maybe you prefer to go directly to Theomund?"
Lothiriel headed for the stairs. "First things first. I wish to see my son, though I am sure you are taking good care of him." Fele trailed behind her and, after giving Freawine a slight nod, Elfwine joined them.
Lyfwyn stood uncertainly eyeing Freawine until he smiled, and encouraged, "Return to your duties. I will just have a look around and see if there is anything that needs doing here."
Freawine moved quickly to the kitchen to take note of food, firewood and water supplies. Deciding it would be best to add to their stock, he was soon back out the door and returning to Meduseld for the needed items.
Meanwhile, Lothiriel was checking Theomund carefully. "Has he shown any improvement?" she inquired.
"It is...difficult to say. He still coughs a great deal, and the chills take him now and then. I have been getting medicine into him regularly and it seems to ease his rest, but he is still quite warm and I do not think he recognizes me when he is awake."
The queen nodded, then reached for the bottle of elixir. Shaking it slightly, she turned to her son. "They will need more soon. Will you fetch some, dearest?"
Elfwine gave a slight bow. "Of course. I will return shortly."
Once he was gone, Fele stood nervously nearby as Lothiriel stroked her son's head, feeling awkward intruding on the intimacy, but not sure if she was permitted to leave. After several moments, Lothiriel offered quietly, "Thank you for tending him, Fele. It would distress me greatly to think he was here alone and ill. I have tried persuading him to employ at least one servant, but he can be stubborn." Unbidden, a smile creased Fele's mouth; she well knew of his stubbornness.
Lothiriel's eyes swept the room, noting the settee with a few blankets folded on it and guessing its purpose. Following the queen's gaze, Fele stammered, "I...I did not want to leave him alone in the night..."
Smiling, Lothiriel rose and moved over to pull the woman into an embrace. "Do not apologize for your concern. I am grateful for it, and for your attentiveness to his needs." She drew back and looked Fele full in the face, adding, "However, do not make yourself ill while tending him. That would do no one any good." Her hand stroked the side of Fele's head reassuringly.
Considerable noise downstairs interrupted the moment, and both turned to look toward the sound. Curiously, Fele went to investigate, with the queen following behind. Freawine was directing servants where to put firewood, buckets of water and additional provisions. Even once everything had been put away, there was still a pile of goods near the door, and Fele eyed it curiously. Turning to the servants, Freawine led them back outside as Fele watched with a perplexed expression. "Where are they going?" she finally asked of the queen.
"They are taking the rest to your mother. Without you there to help her, she may find it difficult to keep the cottage snug against this weather. And I do not want her to have to venture out into it any more than I want you to do so," Lothiriel explained.
Turning to the queen with a stunned look, Fele took a moment to find her voice, but then squeaked, "But you are out in the weather yourself, my lady!"
Lothiriel gave a laugh, admitting, "Aye! But I am accompanied by two strapping young men to see me safely through, and who will drag me forcibly home if they deem such is necessary! Still, I could not rest until I had assured myself that Theomund was all right. I do not doubt your care but, as a mother yourself, I am sure you comprehend my need to see it personally."
Fele smiled sympathetically. "Yes, I do understand that."
Just then, Elfwine returned with two more bottles of medicine. He warmed himself by the fire while they awaited the return of Freawine, and then the royal party said their farewells and made their way home.
When the excitement of the visit had died down, it was time for dinner, and Lyfwyn prepared a meal for them while Fele returned to Theomund's sick room. She sat down in the chair near his bed and stared at him.
More and more she was reaching the conclusion that the royal family was an incredible lot. True, much of what they had done just now was to aid their beloved son and brother, but to go to the trouble of seeing that Fele's family was also provided for in her absence went beyond the normal bounds of kindness. She had little doubt that if they saw any in need while they were out and about today, they would readily render aid, regardless of the person's status in life. She had never known people such as this, but she was certainly honored that they considered her a friend.
Lyfwyn's arrival with a food tray interrupted her musings, and the two women ate together by the fire, chatting about the king's family and their many kindnesses to their people.
Not until late afternoon, did Theomund's fever ease, and at last when Fele awakened him to give him more medicine, there was recognition in his eyes. "Fele? What are you doing here?" he asked weakly.
Smiling tenderly at him, she answered, "Tending you, silly. Someone has to look after you since you will not do it yourself!"
He swallowed the liquid in the cup she pressed to his lips and then lay back wearily against the bedding. "I have dreamt of you caring for me..." he murmured groggily, slipping off to sleep.
As she washed the cup and set it aside, Fele mused on that comment. It was an odd remark to make. Why would he dream about her tending him in his illness? She spent most of the next hour with her mind drifting back to his words repeatedly. It puzzled her that he would say such a thing, but then perhaps it was the remnants of the fever and not an entirely lucid statement? Even as that thought occurred to her, another replaced it. Maybe she had misinterpreted the words he had spoken.
Her eyes turned to gaze at him questioningly, considering that possibility. "Caring for me" did not necessarily refer to "tending him" in his illness; it could also mean..."feeling affection" for him. Her stomach lurched at that realization. Surely he had not intended to declare such a thing. Surely it was the throes of illness that tangled his tongue, and caused him to mischoose his words.
But even as she tried to rationalize away the possibility of such an interpretation, another memory came to her, of his pressing her hand to his cheek in the Golden Hall after the fire, and telling her he was afraid he had lost her. At the time, she had assumed he only feared for their well-being, and had sought to reassure him that his bravery had gotten them to safety. Now she was not so certain about that.
Her head was swimming with dizzying replays of snippets of conversations that suddenly took on new meaning, the queen's words to her in the garden adding to the confusion. Since the day they had arrived in Edoras and made his acquaintance, Theomund had been completely insinuating himself into their lives. He watched over them, protected them, helped them...loved them. He had held nothing back. Was that what Queen Lothiriel had been trying to tell her in the garden, that Theomund...loved her?
Her hands flew to her face at the frightening realization that it was very possible, even likely, that such was the case. Rising, she paced the room, pausing periodically to stare at Theomund in horror. It could not be! He could not love her, should not love her. She was merely a peasant of obscure birth. She could not read or write, and only her talent for making jewels set her apart from anyone else. Had she not met Theomund and received his help, and that of the queen, it was not likely even her jewels would be of much significance. She might have made a sufficient income for her family to live on, but it would always have been a struggle.
So, how then, to explain the way her life had unfolded this past year. Without being aware of it, tears were streaming down her face unchecked. She did not deserve someone so good and kind...and wonderful, as Theomund. He should have a woman of noble birth for his wife, one who was beautiful, intelligent and his equal. One who was everything that she was not.
"Mistress? Are you unwell?" Lyfwyn's voice jolted her from her contemplation, and she turned with a look of confusion. Suddenly noticing her tears, she wiped hastily at them.
"I am fine, Lyfwyn. Do not be alarmed. I let my thoughts take a melancholy turn, that is all." She became aware of the darkness of the room, and realized it was likely time for supper.
Seeming to read her thoughts, Lyfwyn asked, "Are you ready for me to fix our meal?"
"Yes, that would be fine. Thank you." Only as the servant turned to leave did it strike Fele what she was doing. She was not talking as one servant to another; she was addressing the other woman, treating the other woman, as if she were the lady of this house. And Lyfwyn had been treating her similarly. Whatever concerns Fele herself might have, it appeared others were more tolerant of the position Theomund had put her in.
Now that she thought about it, even though she wouldn't expect any censure when the queen or Theomund was nearby to possibly overhear, she could not truthfully say that anyone had ever said or done anything to suggest that she was not accepted at Theomund's side. True, she was considered a merchant, and therefore less than the nobles, but her association with the king's son elevated her imperceptibly to another level. Theomund was so well thought of that no one seemed inclined to challenge anything he did.
By the time Lyfwyn returned with their meal, Fele had a pounding headache from her persistent thoughts. It was both a relief and a chore to focus on conversation with the other woman during their supper, but she did not want to give in to the turmoil in her head. Not so quickly as she would have liked, Lyfwyn finally went to wash the dishes and turn in for the night, leaving Fele to her solitude.