Éomer walked back up the steps to the Golden Hall, not stopping until he reached his chambers. Pulling off his armor he sunk down into a chair by his study; he was exhausted. There had been little time between when Mithrandir had found him and his éored, the Battle of Helm's Deep, and when he returned back to Edoras. A bath had been drawn up for him while he was down at the stables, which he was grateful for. Shedding the rest of his clothing he eased into the near scalding water; closing his eyes he breathed in deeply the smell of rich oils that had been infused in the water.
His thoughts wandered to the girl he had just been with at the King's Stable. He had never seen her before in Edoras, for he would have remembered it. She was petite, especially for a woman of Rohan. Her hair was cut at the shoulders and darker than most, though bleached by the sun. He was surprised to see delicate lines etched into the sides of her eyes when she smiled; she was not a girl as he first though but a woman closer to his age. Her skin would have been fair, but he could see she was splashed with freckles and deeply tanned from years of working under the sun. She was confident, even when she seemed to falter upon their meeting. He thought her beautiful, and couldn't stop himself when he asked her to stay for their feast.
The water in the wooden tub was beginning to cool, Éomer got out and dried by the fire. Weary from travel, he chose not to wear his armor and only donned his green tunic, breeches, and his belt. He left his chambers in search of his sister, he worried about her in the growing darkness. She had a sternness about her that had not been there before, as if the joy had been taken from her. Theodred's death had affected them all, but Éoywn seemed changed by it the most. He thought she might enjoy the company of Aldwen and found his sister in the small garden across the halls from their chambers.
"I've always found this garden comforting," he said as he sat beside his sister.
"I remember we always used to play here when we were young."
The two sat in silence for a while, enjoying the stillness of the garden.
"There is a woman from Broadacres here I thought you might enjoy the company of," Éomer broke the silence first. "I apologize, but I told her that you could help attend to her should she needed anything if she chose to stay for the evening. She's a bit...travel weary."
Éoywn looked at him with surprise. She knew that her brother worried about her being different than most others in Edoras, but he had never tried to introduce her to other women before.
"How unlike you, brother," she laughed. "I did notice her ride through the gates earlier today. That horse of hers is much too large and almost threw her off right in front of the guards. I was impressed by how she was able to manage him. I think I would like to meet her."
Aldwen left the King's stables not long after the two men had left her; she wanted to walk around Edoras while she could. It was starting to get dark and she could see the townspeople starting to head up towards the Golden Hall. Although an invitation was extended to her, she did not feel like she belonged at a feast to honor those who had fought at Helm's Deep. Though she would not deny there was evil stirring in Middle Earth, she wanted no part in it. She did not feel battle hungry like these men who surrounded her. A woman dressed in white approached, pulling Aldwen from her thoughts. She was a classic Rohirric beauty with long blonde obedient hair, she was tall and strong with a purposeful stride. Aldwen knew immediately she was the White Lady of Rohan
"Good evening, My Lady," Aldwen bowed politely, determined not to forget this time.
"You must be Aldwen from Broadacres, please call me Éoywn. My brother told me I might still find you in the city, I'm glad that I could meet you. Were you about to walk up to the Golden Hall?" She seemed genuinely happy to meet Aldwen.
"To be honest, I did not know a feast was being held. I took no part in the battle your people are celebrating. And to be vain, I look like I slept in a barn." Aldwen looked down towards the ground. She could have simply declined, but Éoywn seemed kind and she did not want to be dishonest.
"Are you so unfamiliar with your own people for you to think yourself to be unwelcome? Come, if you would like, there is still time to make you ready."
Aldwen didn't have the heart to say no to Éoywn, she already seemed so kind even though they had just met each other. The two chatted easily as they made their way up to the Golden Hall; it still was mostly empty but all was ready for the evening to begin. Éomer had been sitting with Éothain in conversation when he saw Aldwen walk in with his sister. She looked over in their direction and he couldn't help but smile when he saw them together. Aldwen quickly dropped her gaze, a slow warmth creeping into her cheeks. She hurried to catch up with Éoywn. Once in the privacy of her chambers, Éoywn asked one of her handmaids to start preparing water for a bath. Aldwen stopped Éoywn with a gentle hand on her arm.
"Do you just have a basin I could wash my face and hands in?" Aldwen asked.
"Of course, but if I may now be honest. You are covered in dirt, you smell like horse, and you have hay in your hair. Please, let Hilde attend to you. Take your time, these are my private chambers and you will not be disturbed."
"Well, if you put it that way..." Aldwen laughed. She appreciated Éoywn's bluntness.
Éoywn smiled and took her leave. Aldwen peeked around the corner to find Hilde emptying large buckets of hot water into a bath, she wanted to stop her but thought better of it. Aldwen simply thanked her before she left. She folded her dirty clothes and eased into the tub, it seemed like it had been ages since she had sat in a hot bath and reveled in the hot water and floral smell coming off the water. Suddenly Hilde appeared back in the room and took her clothes.
"What are you doing?!" Aldwen nearly jumped out of the tub, modesty was never a high priority with her.
"Your clothes are not suitable for tonight, miss. I've laid something more appropriate at the request of Lady Éoywn."
Aldwen sighed, she wasn't going to win this. "As Lady Éoywn wishes. Just please, do not get rid of my clothes."
Hilde simply smirked and left the room. Aldwen sank lower in the tub water and tried to relax. She scrubbed her hair clean with an urn of soapy water Hilde must have place nearby earlier. Satisfied that she had sufficiently scrubbed the days of travel off of herself, Aldwen walked out to where Hilde had laid out some clothes for her. A simple green shield-maidens' dress, white tunic, and belt had been laid out for her. Aldwen hadn't worn a dress since she was a small girl, but appreciated that her host had picked something simple. Her boots were also placed by the door, though someone had cleaned them almost to a dull shine. Pulling the dress on, she was surprised the clothes actually fit her. Shrugging, Aldwen pulled on her boots and left Éoywn's chambers. The sound of a party were already floating down the corridor. The feast was in full swing when Aldwen appeared. She walked the perimeter of the Great Hall, watching the townspeople with interest. She walked past a bearded man who all but shoved a full mug of ale into her hands. Laughing, she took a deep drink. A man whom she recognized when she first arrived walked up to her.
"It is good to see you again, Lord Aragorn." Aldwen nodded.
"I'm glad to see that you stayed, the road to your lands is dangerous as of late."
The two chatted easily for awhile, Aragorn was curious how a young woman had taken to working with her uncle's war horses. She felt comfortable around him; he seemed genuine and did not pry about anything to do with her uncle raising her or her being out in society on her own. Aldwen noticed that he was guarded when he spoke, and spent more time asking questions about herself than talking about what brought a Ranger to Rohan. A third companion walked up to their conversation to trade words with Aragorn. He as an elderly man that looked familiar to Aldwen, though she couldn't remember why.
"Mithrandir?" she asked hesitantly.
"I have been called that," he turned to face her with a quizzical smile.
"If I am remembering correctly, you use to come to Broadacres when I was a child. I am Aldwen, my father was Alhelm. I live on the southern boundary at the stables of the horsemaster on the hill. You used to come up to my father's house to purchase salves from my mother" She couldn't believe she actually remembered all of this; it was such a long time ago.
"Your memory serves you well Aldwen, I remember your family." He looked at her suddenly with sympathy in his eyes. "I remember your mother well, and her love for you."
"You knew my mother?"
"I did, your mother was known well in these lands as a skilled shield-maiden. She was trained by Lady Fríthild herself. When she found out that you were going to be born, she approached King Thengel who she had sworn her oath to and asked to be released from her duties so she could be a mother."
Aldwen didn't know what to say, she had never known this about her mother. She had many memories with her that she could remember, but none of them were ever about being a shield-maiden. She had always thought that her mother was a healer; her and Aldwen would frequently spend time collecting herbs to turn into salves. Her mind was suddenly spinning with questions she wanted to ask Mithrandir; she had never come across someone who spoke so openly to her about her mother.
"We can speak later about this if you wish Aldwen," he put a comforting hand on her shoulder, sensing her desperation.
She smiled, content for the moment that she had some sort of connection with her past through the wizard. Aragorn had taken his leave of their conversation and Aldwen was left alone in her thoughts as Mithrandir moved on to speak with the Ranger alone. Her thoughts wheeled uncontrollably when she noticed Éoywn standing silently beside her.
"Is everything okay, Aldwen?" she asked.
"Yes, I was just lost for a moment," she replied, drawing in a deep breath. "Thank you for getting me ready, I am happy that I stayed."
"You're most welcome. My brother was the one who approached me first and suggested that I seek you out, I am glad that I did."
"Did he? I was certain after my embarrassing introduction with your uncle this afternoon he thought me a leper! He hardly spoke two words to me the whole afternoon." Aldwen proceed to tell Éoywn about her first meeting with the king earlier that afternoon, which left the two shaking with laughter. Aldwen hardly noticed as Éomer walked up beside his sister and placed an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm happy you managed to find her," Éomer said. Aldwen could see his eyes were beginning to get glassy from the ale; he handed Aldwen and his sister another mug full. Éomer couldn't help but noticed how different Aldwen looked when she cleaned up. Her hair, which was untamed on their meeting, now fell in well kept waves to her delicate collarbones. Her skinned seemed fairer since the dust from the road had been washed away, though you could still tell she was a hard working woman. She was not wearing the tunic and coat she had arrived in, but it seemed unlikely she was a woman who traveled with more than one change of clothes. He smiled then, turning to Éoywn.
"Are those your clothes from when you were a girl?" he suddenly asked sending the two women into another fit of laughter
"Forgive me, Aldwen. I could think of nothing else to give you that would fit you; you're so petite."
"Think nothing of it, my uncle always tells me the best things come in small packages." she replied. "I just hope Hilde didn't burn my clothes, I am rather fond of that coat." It was not lost on Aldwen that the Marshall had been staring at her.
The hour was beginning to grow late, the townspeople were filtering out of the Golden Hall towards sleep. Aldwen, after finishing her fourth mug of ale, still needed to find a place to put her bedroll for the night. She had been sitting with Éoywn and Éomer most of the night enjoying pleasant conversation. Eventually she pulled herself away, feeling a desperate need for sleep. Excusing herself, she walked out into the crisp star filled night.
"Do you have a place to sleep for the night?" she heard low Éomer's voice next to her.
"I have made arrangements for myself." She had stopped walking to face him. She was closer to him than she had expected and her heart began to beat faster at his nearness. She wouldn't deny that she was attracted to the man and was flattered he seemed to take in interest in her. She also knew both of them had indulged heartily in the nights' festivities. She could easily keep the night going with him if she wanted it, but instead she just bowed her head in parting.
"If I may bid you a good night then, I am glad you decided to stay." he bowed his head slightly, keeping his eyes on her. He watched her as she turned and walked down the steps towards the warmly lit houses of the town; he wanted to follow her. She was quick witted and confident, she made him and Éoywn laugh regularly when they spoke together that night. Though, underneath her confidence and humor Éomer thought he could pick up traces of sorrow, skillfully hid behind a veil of amiability. He knew it unwise to try and get involved with someone when tomorrow was far from guaranteed, but Éomer had never been one to squander an opportunity.
Aldwen walked away from Éomer, having no such arrangements made for herself that night. She thought about turning back, just to see where the night would go. She shook her head, her morals weren't that loose and knew she had indulged a little too much. Her saddle bags and bedroll were still in the King's Stable with Artair. She walked down to the dimly lit stable to find her belongings; it was warm and quiet inside. Having no other options Aldwen grabbed her bedroll and Artair's saddle blanket and settled down in the fresh straw for the night. With the ale sitting warm in her belly and a strong roof over her head, it wouldn't be close to the worse place she had ever slept.