Disclaimer: The characters, events and places you recognize are copyright to J.R.R. Tolkien, his estate and heirs, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, and their licensees. Any characters, events or places you don't recognize are my own creation and copyrighted to me.
A Hidden Hope – Chapter Five
By Dancingkatz
Late February T.A. 3019 - Edoras
The door to Theodred's bedroom opened quietly and a black clad figure entered the room from the darkened corridor. Grima Wormtongue, publicly known as the King's Advisor and not so publicly known as the current power behind—or in this case, next to—the throne, smiled as he saw that Eowyn had fallen asleep in the chair next to the bed. She had shut herself away in the futile hope that her cousin would survive if she tended him. She was such a deluded girl, but very beautiful. Her insistence that she be allowed to fight like a man, her demanding the right to ride a full stallion instead of a more suitable gelding or mare, even the fire that burned in her eyes when she was angry or upset, fascinated him.
Even in the plain blue and brown gown she wore and with dark smudges under her eyes, she was beautiful to him. She'd twisted her corn-silk yellow hair into a knot at the nape of her neck to keep it out of the way, but several strands had fallen loose and now softly framed her face. Grima was about to give into temptation and run his fingers through the strands when Theodred, moaned and began muttering.
"…give me my sword…there are too many of them…get them behind the palisade…no…not…"
Startled, Grima jumped and the heavy sleeve of his robe knocked a pewter goblet from the small table that sat next to the chair. The resulting crash woke Eowyn, who seeing the King's advisor leaning over her, struck out with her fists and feet. "Begone, snake. You have no business being here."
Grima drew himself up to his fullest height, in spite of the bruises she was certain to have left on his chest and told her in his haughtiest tone, "I am on the King's business. His majesty requested that I check on the condition of his son."
"Liar. My uncle doesn't even know his own name anymore, much less that he has a son. He only parrots what you whisper in his ear." Eowyn glared at him and shoved him towards the door. "Now get out!"
Grima stepped away from her and gave her a mocking bow, "You wish is my command, lady. I will make certain to inform the King that his son is under the care of a veritable watchdog. It's such a pity, that your watchfulness will make no difference in the end." He paused at the doorway and ran his eye over her one last time. "If I were you, lady, I'd make sure to say my farewell sooner rather than later." He kept his gaze on her until the closing door hid her from his sight. She was truly a magnificent woman, especially when angry; and she'd be so much fun to tame. But first he had work to do.
When Eomer had brought Theodred to Edoras from the Fords of Isen, it had appeared that the prince would die within the day. Apparently, Eowyn's stubbornness—for she had little skill in anything save swordcraft—was keeping the King's son alive. Well, that would have to change; Grima's true master needed the throne of Rohan empty with no troublesome heirs around to argue his claim.
With Eomer banished under pain of death, Theoden about to fall completely to pieces, all that was needed was the prince's death to make everything ready for Rohan's new Master to take his place publicly. And once Saruman was ruler of the Mark, then his faithful servant would be granted a fitting reward. Oh, yes.
Just a bit of this and that in the water that Eowyn used to clean the wound, and Theodred would be back on the downward path to Bema's Hall. And this time there would be no calling him back.
April T.A. 3018 - Helm's Deep
Spring was well and truly settled on the Westfold and the herds were growing sleek and healthy out on the green pastures. The broodmare herd had been allowed to leave the paddock and were presently grazing while their foals were discovering the joys of racing about and playing tag with each other before returning to mother for a meal and a nap.
Theodred sat easily on Brego and watched as Æðeltungol and Léohtstyrr raced each other. At the moment Æðeltungol was leading, looking as though nature had turned topsy-turvy and the filly was chasing her own shadow. The colt looked to fulfill the promise of his birth; he was less mud coloured and the rich black of his coat was beginning to make an appearance. His sister was almost as dark but the white hairs that indicated that she'd grey as she grew older were readily apparent to those that had eyes to see.
The year had lived up to the omen of the twin first-born so far. The weather had been kind; the sun warming but not too much so, just enough rain at proper intervals to green the fields but not flood them. Even the number of orc raids were down a bit, since the amount of game available was increasing.
Of course, that didn't mean that the Riders of the Mark would decrease their vigilance. Not all orc-kind hunted for food; some were under orders from Isengard, and others from the Dark Tower. But things had eased up enough that Theodred had no need to feel guilty when he decided to relax and take some time for himself.
Actually, he ought to go back to the keep and see if all was ready for the surprise he had planned for Edlyn. She'd agreed to join him on a ride this afternoon, once she was certain that she wouldn't be needed for anything in the kitchens or barns. He smiled as he kneed Brego round and started back to the gate. Erkenbrand accused him of having an overdeveloped sense of duty, but the older Rider's was just as bad. And he'd raised his daughter so that her sense of duty rivaled the two men's put together. Probably Edlyn had gotten her elder brothers' share, he snorted to himself.
Deor and Ceorlaf seemed to have been out chasing something and gotten lost when the line was formed to receive a sense of duty. They were still in disgrace and clearing the middens, having not yet properly apologised to their sister for their disrespectful and rude comments regarding her activities in the barns. A reluctantly muttered "sorry, sis" just didn't cut any ice with Theodred, so the two of them were back to being hip deep in the inevitable results of several hundred horses eating their heads off, not to mention the chickens and pigs and other livestock that kept the Keep fed. Perhaps in time the fumes would clear their brains of idiocy and they'd finally behave the way Riders were supposed to.
The guards at the gate saluted the Second Marshal as he rode through to the inner bailey. Yes, it was definitely a perfect day for a ride and picnic. But first, he had to make certain that certain other arrangements had been completed.
Edlyn set the last of the cleaned platters on the shelf and stretched, pleased with her morning's work. She turned around and her eye landed on the stack of pots that still sat needing to be cleaned.
"Oh, no you don't! Out! You've done more than enough work this morning, Edlyn. Leave something for the rest of us to do!" Freawine, a widow who had taken over the running of the kitchens several years earlier after the death of her husband, shooed Edlyn towards the door, snapping a dishcloth at her, when the younger woman seemed reluctant to move. "Go and enjoy this lovely weather for once!"
"But, Frea…."
"Don't 'But, Frea' me! A young woman your age should be out where a handsome Rider can see her; not shut away in the kitchens or barns at all hours. I was married and with a babe by the time I was your age!" Freawine chuckled at the blush that suffused Edlyn's face at her words, and gave her a hug. "So my suspicions were right, there is a certain Rider that has caught your eye. Here, give me that apron and go change into something that isn't stained with dirty dishwater."
Freawine paused as one of the other women pushed a heavy saddlebag into Edlyn's hands. "Go and enjoy yourself. I don't want to see you back in here until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. Shoo!"
Any reply Edlyn might have made would have to be made to the closed door that she was suddenly on the opposite side of, so she shrugged and carried the saddlebag to her family's private quarters, where she changed clothes to something more suitable for riding.
Edlyn pulled the saddlebag up onto her shoulder and pushed the door to the inner bailey open. The bright sun blinded her momentarily after the relative dimness of the Hall. The breeze was warm and tugged at the hem of her riding skirt.
"Edlyn!" Theodred ran up the steps to the courtyard in front of the hall, smiling widely.
Still waiting for her eyes to adjust, Edlyn turned towards his voice. "Hello, Theodred. I hope you're starving. Freawine packed enough to feed the eóred."
He laughed, "That's good, because I feel like I could eat enough for them all. Now, close your eyes."
"Why? Oh, all right. But take this bag first. My arms are going to fall off." Edlyn closed her eyes, the smile still on her face.
Theodred took the saddlebag and rested it against his boot then carefully bound a strip of soft felted wool over Edlyn's eyes, being careful not to pull her hair. "Trust me not to let you fall down the stairs?"
She'd been smiling a lot more recently, and it seemed to only take the sight, sound or thought of Theodred to curl the corners of her lips upwards. "Yes, I trust you." She paused as the scent of his skin wafted to her nostrils. "I think I've always trusted you," she added softly, so only he could hear.
Theo caught his breath. He'd never, ever had anyone other than Boromir say anything like that to him before. And meant so much to hear those words from Edlyn; even more than when his beloved shield brother had told him the same thing years before. He picked up the saddlebag with his right hand and took Edlyn's elbow to guide her down the steps towards the gate.
Edlyn found she had no qualms about making her way down the steps with Theodred's hand on her elbow. Her smile grew wider and a chuckle slipped out.
"I haven't worn a blindfold since the last time I played "pin the tail on the Mearas" and that was back when I was 8 years old!"
He laughed. "I haven't thought about playing that game in more years than I care to think about. All right. I'm letting go of your arm for a moment. Just stand still right here." He stepped away from her then went through the open gate to take a pair of reins from the youngster who was holding them, and drew the mare that had patiently waited there closer.
The mare stretched out her neck and sniffed at Edlyn's face, curiously.
Edlyn heard and felt a breath on her face and felt the tickle of what could only be a horse's nose against her cheek. Then the inquisitive equine gave a stray strand of her golden hair a gentle nibble and caught at the trailing end of the blindfold, tugging it loose.
"Oh!" Edlyn looked at the horse that stood before her in delight. "Oh, you are so beautiful."
She raised her hands and held them flat to let the golden-hued mare sniff them, then introductions accomplished, reached to stroke the glossy neck and flaxen mane. "What's your name, beautiful one?"
"Gyldenides. From the Eastfold." Theo caught her hand and wrapped her fingers around the reins beneath the elegant palomino mare's chin. "She's yours."
"Mine? But..." Edlyn was stunned. She turned her head to look at Theodred as her hand continued to stroke Gyldenides' neck.
Theo put a finger on her lips to silence any protest. "Mægenróf is no longer able to safely keep up with Brego when we ride. She will carry thee safely at my side, where," his voice softened to a whisper, "Thou art always even when duty calls thee to serve again apart from me for short time or long. At my side, where thou belongs."
Edlyn couldn't pull her eyes away form his and found herself answering, "My heart rides evermore with thee whether o'er field or under tree, thy breath mine own, each heartbeat sings, till danger's end to home thee brings."
Before she could say another word Gyldenides decided that her rider should be paying attention to her and get on with the riding out; otherwise, why had she been tacked up? The mare sidled and snorted, sounding exactly like a chaperone politely coughing to remind her charge that there were other things in the world besides a handsome stallion.
Turning his head, Theo whistled and Brego clattered up the stone causeway from where he'd been waiting, somewhat impatiently for his rider. Then he laughed as the bay stallion practically missed a step as he took note of the palomino mare.
Edlyn joined in the laughter as Gyldenides coyly arched her neck and nickered.
He caught the reins beneath the stallion's chin, and pulled Brego's head towards him. "You'll have plenty of time today to flirt with the golden lady, Brego. Be a gentleman for at least a small time?"
Edlyn stifled a giggle and bit back the words that almost spilled out from between her teeth. Brego a gentlemen? Bema forbid!
While Theodred conversed with the stallion she checked over Gyldenides' harness—which was also new—and found that whoever had tacked up Gyldenides had done so properly. The throat latch wasn't too snug and the braided nose band was padded with fleece. The saddle blanket lay smoothly and the girth was properly snug. Even the lengths of the stirrup leathers were exactly right.
The youth that had originally held Gyldenides then stepped forward bravely and offered to hold Brego's reins, so that His Highness could assist his lady to mount. Theo knew that Edlyn was perfectly able to mount on her own, but he went to one knee and cupped his hands for her foot.
Suddenly shy, because though he'd helped her mount on a few of their previous rides there was something different about him doing it now, she stepped up and let him toss her into the saddle. Once seated she looked own at him and said, "Thank you." They both knew it was for more than just the gift of the mare or the assist to mount.
Theodred ensured her foot was secure in the stirrup iron and smiled up at her as she gathered her reins. "As I thought, the two of you are perfectly matched."
"Oh, no. She far exceeds me." Then her eyes twinkled and her smile turned mischievous. "I hope you're not going to leave the saddlebag lying there on the pavement. Our lunch is in there!"
Theo laughed again and rescued their lunch just in time to prevent Brego from dragging the hapless youngster across the flagstones to seize the bag as a treat. Within moments the bag was secured to the back of Brego's saddle along with a rolled blanket and Theo was aboard his irrepressible mount, thanking the youth and bidding him go see Freawine in the kitchens for his reward.
Then the two horses, bay and gold, were given their office and trotted down the causeway ramp. When they reached the bottom Theodred turned west and set Brego into a canter. Edlyn pulled back gently on her left rein and gave Gyldenides a touch with her left heel and the mare flowed into a smooth canter drawing alongside the stallion.
"Where are we going?" Edlyn asked after they'd been cantering for some time.
"It's a surprise," he answered and grinned at her.
"Another surprise? Does that mean you're going to blindfold me again?" she teased.
"Should I?" he teased her back. "It seems my first surprise was a success."
"Oh, it certainly was. Gyldenides is lovely! Her gaits are so smooth. She's perfect. Thank you, again."
Brego seemed to have his eye on Gyldenides and hadn't given in to temptation to do any of his usual tricks, but rather followed Theodred's instructions to the letter. It was obvious the two riders that he wanted to impress the pretty mare. Finally, Edlyn grinned and told Theodred to give Brego his head. "He's been so good, it's going to kill him if he doesn't get to show off soon."
The only thing that Brego liked better than running full out was sugarloaf and the sweet treat only beat out the former by a hair, so when Theo gave him his head, the big bay gave a loud neigh and happily settled into his league-eating gallop. Gyldenides obviously wanted to follow but was too well trained to just take off after Brego. She waited for Edlyn to give her the necessary signal and the distance between the two horses gradually lessened.
After a time Theodred pulled Brego back to a gentle canter and allowed Edlyn and Gyldenides to catch up. He didn't need to ask how the run went because Edlyn's delighted expression said it all without words. Gyldenides, like Brego, was lightly sweated but it appeared that the gallop hadn't distressed her in the slightest. In accord, Edlyn and Theo settled the horses down to an easy lope and they continued westward.
They were an hour out of Helm's Deep when Theodred turned Brego south and up a path that led into the mountains. Edlyn followed and looked about her with interest. The path was reasonably smooth and wide enough for a single horse and rider to travel but it switched back and forth so that it initially looked like one of the dead end valleys that peppered the White Mountains. However, this path eventually led to a beautiful pocket valley green with grass and watered by a small but noisy stream that tumbled down from higher elevations. There were even some trees, birch, beech and a few others that Edlyn couldn't identify, most of them situated as a grove near the southern wall of the valley.
Theodred was watching for Edlyn's reaction and smiled—yet again!—as she halted Gyldenides and looked round with delight. "This is lovely! I had no idea…."
"Hardly anyone knows about this valley, Boromir and I discovered it several years ago, completely by accident," he told her, nudging Brego towards a clump of five birch trees. "The only way in or out it is the way we came."
Edlyn followed, all the while looking about. This was a small piece of paradise as far as she was concerned and she realised that it was a refuge of sorts for Theodred, away from the keep and the responsibilities of being the Second Marshal. "I promise I won't tell, though if you really wanted to keep the location a secret you ought to have blindfolded me again."
Theo had dismounted and was removing the saddlebag and blanket from Brego's saddle, and being hindered by the stallion's attempt to approach Gyldenides. "Stop that, you big idiot!" he growled, punching Brego in the shoulder. "Or you can spend the day hobbled and wearing your saddle."
Edlyn couldn't tell whether it was the punch or the threat that changed Brego's mind, but the big bay stood foursquare and allowed Theodred to remove the saddle and bridle. Gyldenides seemed unimpressed by his shenanigans and was more interested in rubbing her forehead against Edlyn's shoulder once she'd dismounted. "Finished?" Edlyn inquired, as golden horsehair flew to settle on her blue riding gown. "Scratching will be more effective if you let me take your bridle off, you know."
Gyldenides immediately stood still and turned expectant eyes on Edlyn as if to say Well, get on with it then! The saddle was set next to Brego's and the bridle hung from a convenient branch and the mare suffered Edlyn to check her legs and feet before being released to her own devices.
Which seemed to consist of leading Brego a merry dance as she'd allow him to approach and then would oh-so-innocently move away, apparently in search of a more succulent clump of clover!
Edlyn watched the two horses and laughed aloud, the sound harmonizing with the musical babble of the stream.
"Do that again," Theodred's voice purred over her head as his strong arms wrapped themselves around her.
"Do what?"
"Laugh. I like to hear you laugh; it's like the sun coming out from behind the clouds."
She turned in his arms to look up into his face; a face that was marked by stress and worry. "I never realised you were a poet, too." Then rather than let things get too serious, she turned her head to look at the horses. Brego had just reached over to snaffle a particularly succulent clump of clover from right in front of Gyldenides nose. The mare immediately snatched the clover from his mouth and danced away. The stallion's affronted expression was priceless and the man and woman found themselves laughing like drains.
Finally, their breathing again under control, they went to the spot under the trees where Theodred had dropped the saddlebags and blanket and set out their picnic. Freawine had done more than provide them with a "simple repast" as Theodred had requested.
The woman had eyes in her head—thank you very much!—and could see very well that the Second Marshal fancied Erkenbrand's daughter, even if the girl seemed to be blind to it so far!
So instead of the usual plain bread, farmer's cheese, apples and meat pies, she'd provided them with thinly sliced slices of roast venison inter-layered with slices of tender chicken, a compote of fruits and root vegetables in a spiced vinegar sauce, twice-baked potatoes covered with cheese, crumbled bacon, and chives (surprisingly still warm from being wrapped in parchment and three layers of heavy linen), a half-dozen rolls made of finely milled white flour that were scored with the initials "TE", a large pat of butter, a pot of quince jam, a small slab of sharp yellow cheese and another of a blue-veined white cheese, two parchment wrapped packets each containing a baked apple stuffed with sultanas, cinnamon, nutmeats and honey and a variety of other tasty and exquisitely prepared items. At the bottom of the saddlebags were two bottles of mead and a pair of pewter beakers.
"Honestly, I asked for a picnic, not a high-day feast," Theodred told Edlyn as she set out the food on the blanket in the shade of the birches.
"Maybe she's practicing for Bema's Day?" Edlyn suggested as she dished out the food onto the two plates that had also been provided. "No wonder that bag was so heavy."
Theodred made inroads into the chicken, venison and sharp cheese but avoided the compote. Edlyn raised an eyebrow. The sweet-sour dish was one of her favourites, especially when the seasons grew warmer. Sliced parsnips, turnips and carrots were seethed in a mixture of vinegar, honey, mint, cloves and other spices along with whatever apples or pears were left from the winter store until all were tender and then allowed to cool. It was surprisingly refreshing and Edlyn could happily have made a meal of it on its own.
"Don't you like it?" she asked Theodred, indicating the still half full container.
"I dislike turnips," was his answer, as he reached for another roll and more of the sharp cheese.
"Boiled and mashed and eaten all winter long without salt or seasoning, I agree, turnips are better left as pig food. But this is wonderful. Try it, please?" Edlyn speared a piece of turnip along with a slice of apple and carrot from the dish and offered it to him.
Looking askance, Theodred reluctantly took the proffered food and Edlyn practically dissolved into giggles as his expression changed from one of resigned acceptance to one of near bliss.
"It's—good," Theodred finally said after swallowing. "I would never have believed that turnips could actually taste good."
"It's not what the dish is made of it's how it's made. So shall I finish this off or do you…?" Edlyn grinned as Theodred gave a mock growl and seized the dish, holding away from her. "All right! We'll share!"
She also got him to try the blue-veined cheese crumbled over the chicken, which experiment was less successful. "More for me then."
In turn he insisted she try the twice-baked potatoes, in spite of her complaint that baked potatoes were usually hard and what was the point of taking the time to bake them when the texture was no different than a raw one?
"Turn about is fair play. Besides, you might like them this way," Theodred told her, between bites of his portion. "You'll want to hurry up, it's not quite as good once it gets cold."
The potato certainly smelled good, so Edlyn dug a spoonful from the middle of it. Surprisingly, the white flesh was fluffy and soft, and when she tasted it she discovered that somehow Freawine had incorporated butter, salt and other seasonings into it. She finished it with delicate greed. She'd have to find out how these were made because it was definitely something she wanted to eat again.
As if reading her mind, Theodred explained that the potato was wet, rolled in salt, roasted in the coals of the fire and then cut in half. The interior was scooped out of the skin and mashed together with butter and seasonings and replaced into the skins, after which the potatoes were wrapped in parchment and placed back in the coals to bake again. The cheese, bacon and chives were placed on top when the potatoes were taken out of the fire.
After eying the baked apples with a hint of regret, Edlyn sighed and lay back on the blanket, closing her eyes against the sun. "I can't eat another morsel. As it is, I'm afraid Gyldenides won't be able to carry me!" It was lovely to be away from the keep and away from her responsibilities for once. The fact that she was sharing this unexpected holiday with Theodred was a bonus, one she really wasn't sure she deserved.
She rolled onto her side and opened her eyes to find that Theodred had leaned back against the bole of one of the birch trees, his own eyes closed. He looked more relaxed than she'd seen him in weeks. He was normally so energetic and in command as he led the eored, and managed the Keep's people and resources, that she forgot that he was a full eighteen years older than herself. These days, the number of men who actually reached the age of forty, were numbering fewer and fewer; victims of orc incursions, illness, and—it mostly seemed—by ill-luck.
Her father Erkenbrand was nearly the last of his own generation still on active patrol. Childless in his first marriage to a lady named Osðryd, he had wed Edlyn's mother, Cynwise, after his first wife's untimely death from the winter-plague. Happily, within the year Ceorlaf was born, followed by Deor and then eventually Edlyn. Unfortunately, Cynwise and the twins she was carrying had died from complications of childbirth three years after Edlyn's birth.
Edlyn sighed. She didn't really miss her mother, having only the vaguest of recollection of the woman but it would be nice to have a mother to talk to about the way she was feeling about the Second Marshall. Freawine and the older women of the keep had taken Edlyn under their wing just as they had her brothers and any other child who had lost a parent, but she didn't feel comfortable talking to even Frea about this.
She'd never felt this way about anyone before. She'd be perfectly happy to stay here all day just looking at Theodred as he slept. Actually, it was probably a good thing that he was sleeping, because as certain as Idesgrǽg would drop twins in the spring, as soon as they returned to the keep someone—or more likely, several someones—would be at his stirrup with a crisis to be resolved and if he saw his bed before midnight it would be one of Bema's miracles.
Edlyn found she'd been growing fiercely protective of Theodred ever since the morning the first-born had arrived. She'd even told her father off for insisting that Theodred needed to know something concerning the next week's patrols in the middle of the night. Erkenbrand had looked bemused as she asked him if waiting until morning and after breakfast would make a difference in what could be done about the "problem." When her father had finally admitted that it would make little or no difference she'd told him, "There you are then. Wait till morning, after he eats. He can't ride out on no sleep and an empty stomach. And neither can you!"
She didn't know how long she lay there looking at him, tracing his features—almost as if she wished to memorize him—with her eyes, when suddenly his eyes opened. They gazed at each other in silence for some moments then he opened his arms to her and somehow, she found herself gathered into his embrace, his lips on hers.
The kiss was like none she'd ever experienced before and she found herself returning it gladly. Her pulse was fluttering madly and her soul was singing. It mattered not that Theodred was a prince, her father's commander, and the Second Marshal of the Mark. At this moment he was only a man, and the man she was irrevocably in love with. Rank didn't matter, age didn't matter, nothing mattered save that she was held tenderly in his arms hers twined about his neck, practically breathless with joy.
His lips released hers but his arms remained wrapped round her as he whispered, "Min heorte. Hlæfdige min. "
Edlyn settled her head against his chest and whispered back. "Ic þe lufan, Hlaford min. Þe nama awritan in min heorte." She smiled as his arms tightened about her and he dropped a kiss on her hair.
Suddenly their contentment was interrupted by Brego, whose nose for sweets had (finally) discovered the presence of uneaten baked apples and who currently was lifting the parchment wrapped package in order to carry it off for himself. In an instant Theodred was diving for the sweet, swearing colorfully and Edlyn was sprawled inelegantly across the blanket giggling madly as he pulled the packet from Brego's teeth and simultaneously gave the unrepentant beast what for.
"Not only are you rude enough to steal my apple you stole a lady's apple! That is completely inexcusable! Not to mention you would be sure to colic!" were only a small portion of the words that Theodred gave to his mount while Edlyn sat up and reassured Gyldenides who had charged over certain that her rider was in distress.
"I'm perfectly fine Gyldenides, I promise," Edlyn soothed the mare who looked askance at Brego and turned back to sniff Edlyn's face and hair as if to say Are you sure?
"Don't look at me that way. It's the lady you discommoded. Now apologise." Theodred frowned at Brego who lowered his head and finally looked ashamed of himself. There was no mistaking who was the senior stallion in this partnership!
Edlyn stifled her laughter as the bay stepped towards her, stopping once to look back at Theodred who wasn't budging an inch, and dropped his head to touch his nose to her hand. If a horse could look embarrassed Brego certainly did at the moment.
"I forgive you Brego. Just don't do it again," she told him. Gyldenides immediately snorted and turned a scolding eye on him as if to add You had better not if you know what's good for you!
Apology given, Brego turned away looking very put upon, especially since Gyldenides turned her back on him to fuss over Edlyn again. Giving the mare a final reassurance, Edlyn patted her and sent her back out to graze. Then her eyes still brimming with laughter, she walked over to Theodred and gestured towards the rather battered packet that he held. "Do you think they're still edible?"
"I hope so. Idiot horse!"
Other than being slightly squashed, the baked apples had taken no hurt so they sat next to each other and ate them while Theodred told Edlyn what his plans were for Æðeltungol and Léohtstyrr.
"They'll be well able to accompany Idesgrǽg to the Gather-Meet by the end of June. I want to show her as a broodmare, and how better to prove her worth than by showing the results?" He said after licking the honey off his fingers. As usual the baked apples were delicious but messy, and Edlyn gave into the temptation to kiss away a smear of honey that lingered on the side of his mouth.
He turned his head and met her lips and all thoughts of the Gather-Meet, the foals and such vanished from their heads.
When they broke the kiss, Theodred found that the sun had dropped in the sky enough that the tree's branches failed to block it from his eyes. "It's getting late, min heorte. We should start back," he told her, regretfully.
"I know. You have much to do," she responded. "It's been such a lovely day. Thank you for spending it with me, Hlaford min."
"The privilege was mine, Hlæfdige min." He drew her to her feet, embraced her one more time, then whistled for Brego and Gyldenides, before helping Edlyn pack up the remains of their picnic. By the time they had the horses tacked and ready to leave the only sign of their presence was the crushed grass under the birches.
Having been relatively well-behaved all day, with the exception of the incident with the baked apples, Brego decided to play one to his usual tricks, namely, bloating himself up so the saddle girth would be loose. Expecting this, Theodred punched Brego behind his shoulder and the stallion exhaled with a snort. The girth was quickly tightened and the saddlebag and blanket were secured to the cantle. "Trick number one, duly attempted and foiled. You aren't impressing the ladies, you know," he told his horse as he mounted.
Gyldenides had stood calmly as Edlyn tacked her up, accepting the bit without fuss and reacting to the tightening of the girth with no more than a backwards flick of an ear. It was as though she was saying See I know how to behave for my rider, unlike that uncouth clown over there.
They rode from the valley and down the path to the plain where Theodred paused to point out the subtle landmarks that would let her find the valley again, if she ever needed a refuge and he wasn't available to take her there. Once he was certain she knew them, they started towards Helm's Deep, Gyldenides easily keeping up with Brego.
Neither said much on the ride back as if to do so would end the wonderful interlude early. Both had tasks and responsibilities awaiting them the instant they passed the gates. His, being involved with the management and protection of the Keep's people, herds, and land, might be more far-ranging and apparently more important than hers, but within her smaller sphere of influence, Edlyn's abilities were needed and appreciated.
Brego and Gyldenides matched steps coming up the causeway and came to a halt in the Courtyard as Erkenbrand descended the steps from the Hall in full fighting gear, looking grim.
Edlyn shot Theodred a worried look as she dismounted. Three quarters of the eóred were in the process of mounting up and more men were heading for the stables to get their mounts.
"A messenger arrived less than a half an hour ago from Faerlinde's holding. It looks like more orcs," Erkenbrand told Theodred as two youths carried the Second Marshal's armor and war spear into the courtyard.
"Orcs wouldn't attack in the daylight, not a holding as large as Faerlinde's, nor one so far from the White Mountains." The Marshal was all business, donning his armor as he spoke. "Is the messenger still here?"
"He's in the Hall, Your Highness. His horse was near foundered when he arrived and he wasn't in much better condition."
Edlyn caught one of the boys who had brought Theodred's armor by the arm. "Take Gyldenides to the stable, untack her and walk her until she's cool. Don't give her any water until I join you." She patted Gyldenides and bade her to follow the boy, telling her that she'd be at the stable presently. She ran into the hall and called for Freawine. The older woman was bent over the messenger from Faerlinde's holding but she looked up at the sound of Edlyn's voice.
"Here I am, Edlyn. What do you need?"
"Theodred needs field rations and two water bottles." Before Edlyn could continue Giselde hurried from the kitchens with the requested items in her hands. "Thank you! Do you need my assistance with…"
"No, he's just exhausted. Take care of his highness."
Edlyn flew down the steps and found that Theodred had just finished donning his armor, while listening to Erkenbrand's report. She excused herself to Brego, who—scenting battle in the air—seemed more like a horse fresh from his box after a good night's rest than one who had been galloping at speed not a half hour since, and removed the remains of the picnic from the saddlebag, replacing it with the rations and water bottles. The one bottle of mead that they hadn't touched she left. Once the fighting was over, the bottle's contents might provide a bit of comfort to some of the wounded. Having secured the saddlebag she turned and found herself crushed in Theodred's embrace for barely a moment and heard his whispered "I'll be back, min heorte." Then he was in the saddle, war-spear in hand, calling for the eóred to ride.
She watched him out of the gate and down the causeway before running for stairs to the rampart wall. She leant forward, the late afternoon wind pulling at her gown and hair, and watched until the eóred was out of sight, only a dusty haze showing that they had passed out of the Coomb. Only then did she descend to the courtyard and head for the stables where a patient Gyldenides waited to be groomed and made much of. Only one thought was in her mind:
Bema, keep him safe! Please, keep him safe and bring him home to me!
TBC
Glossary:
Mægenróf "powerful"
Gyldenides "golden-lady"
"Min heorte. Hlæfdige min. " "My heart. My Lady."
"Ic þe lufan, Hlaford min. Þe nama awritan in min heorte." "I love you, my lord. Your name is written in my heart."
Author's Note: The fruit and root vegetable compote mentioned in the story is an actual recipe from medieval times, which I have actually eaten at an SCA feast. I have added apples to the ingredients list because I find that I like them along with the other ingredients. Here is the original recipe and translation (courtesy of the Medieval Cookery website hosted by Master Eduoard Haldai aka Dan Myers):
Source Curye on Inglish, Constance B. Hieatt & Sharon Butler (eds.): 103 Compost. Take rote of persel, of pasternak, of rafens, scrape hem and waische hem clene. Take rapes & caboches, ypared and icorue. Take an erthen panne with clene water & set it on the fire; cast alle þise þerinne. Whan þey buth boiled cast þereto peeres, & perboile hem wel. Take alle þise thynges vp & lat it kele on a faire cloth. Do þereto salt; whan it is colde, do hit in a vessel; take vyneger & powdour & safroun & do þerto, & lat alle þise thynges lye þerin al nyght, oþer al day. Take wyne greke & hony, clarified togider; take lumbarde mustard & raisouns coraunce, al hoole, & grynde powdour of canel, powdour douce & aneys hole, & fenell seed. Take alle þise thynges & cast togyder in a pot of erthe, & take þereof whan þou wilt & serue forthe.
Translated recipe:
A Compost of Root VegetablesWhile the name is less than encouraging, this recipe is basically cooked root vegetables in a sweet vinaigrette. If one or two of the different vegetables is unavailable then you can leave them out and add a little more of another instead.
parsley root, 3 parsnips, 3 carrots, 10 radishes, 2 turnips, 1 small cabbage, 1 pear, ½ tsp. salt, 1 cup vinegar, ¼ tsp. pepper, 1 pinch saffron, ground, 1 cup greek wine (sweet Marsala), ½ cup honey, 1 Tbsp. Mustard, ½ cup zante raisins (a.k.a. zante currants), 1 tsp. cinnamon (canelle),
1 tsp. powder douce (1 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. cloves, 3 Tbsp. ginger, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 2 Tbsp. sugar), 1 tsp. anise seed, 1 tsp. fennel seed
Peel vegetables and chop them into bite-sized pieces. Parboil them until just tender, adding pears about halfway through cooking time. Remove from water, place on towel, sprinkle with salt, and allow to cool. Then put vegetables in large bowl and add pepper, saffron, and vinegar. Refrigerate for several hours. Then put wine and honey into a saucepan, bring to a boil, and then simmer for several minutes, removing any scum that forms on the surface. Let cool and add currants and remaining spices. Mix well and pour over vegetables. Serve cold.
As Edlyn said, this tastes better than you'd think it would and is delightful on a hot day.
Theodred's favourite baked potatoes are based on my mother's recipe and is as easy as it sounds, though you may choose to use an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit instead of a fire.