2

Of Facts and Horses

When she had been comfortably seated and given a glass of water Théoden asked Ánáwyn to relate her story, "My nephew tells me you cannot remember much of your former life, but if you would oblige me, I should like to hear what you can remember."

Áná nodded and began, "I am Ánáwyn, my lord, daughter of Éoliné and Dángorl. My mother was mortal and my father of the elven folk. When I was very young my mother was killed; I cannot recollect how. Then, some twenty years later, my father disappeared, leaving me alone. I have no memory of why I was making my way, wounded, across the fields of Rohan; I only know that I lived in a small settlement on the borders of Mirkwood. I will understand, sire, if you desire of me to leave; for I am sure that most who hear my story believe me to be bad luck…"

Théoden cut her off, "Desire Éoliné's daughter to leave my city; her only place of refuge?" he cried.

"You knew my mother?" she asked, incredulously.

"No I did not but your mother was my great grandmother's closest companion and my great grandfather loved her as a sister. It was very sad for them both when she left with your father although she came to visit many times. In fact I could almost say she was here more than in your small village. She even brought you a few times although even if you had not lost your memories you were so small then that you would not remember. Liné; for that is what she was called, she was so proud of you; her little elfling. She knew then that, although you were not a full blooded elf, you would still have the option of an immortal life, and this made her exceedingly happy. But one year she never came to visit and after that no one had any word of her. It grieves me to learn that she was killed, and I am sorry for your loss."

Áná nodded her head excepting his sympathy, "I do not even remember her much any more."

"That is a shame Ánáwyn, for, as I hear it, she was a noble and a kind lady. You were lucky to have her as your mother. Now," Théoden said, sounding more business like, "I must ask you to excuse me because I have some things to attend to but I hope to see you at supper."

Áná rose and, curtseying to the Théoden King, she departed out of the door through which she had entered. As she shut the door behind her and turned around she ran into a very tall young man, she looked up and realized it was the prince, Théodred. Ánáwyn immediately dropped into a curtsey, apologizing softly.

Two large, strong hands came into her vision and lifted her up, "There is no need to apologize, I was not watching where I was going; and please, call me Théodred, I prefer it to 'your highness' or 'my lord'."

"As you wish, my– Théodred."

He laughed, "I thank you my lady."

She smiled slightly and hurried past him, down the hall blushing though she did not know why. Théodred looked after her; I wonder if I will ever understand that girl he thought. Why is she so shy with me, she is certainly not so shy with my cousins. He sighed and continued into the room, Áná had just come out of, to speak with his father.

As he entered his father addressed him, "Ah, Théodred just who I was just about to look for. I have a favor to ask of you."

"Father may ask you a question first?" Théodred interrupted swiftly.

"You may my son."

"Who is that young woman whom I ran into when I was on my way in here?"

"Not so young as one might think."

"She is an elf?" Théodred asked surprised; if she were she was very short for one.

"She is only half yet she has choice to be immortal." Théoden replied. "And it is this young woman, Ánáwyn, whom I wanted to speak with you about. I would like you to give her a tour of Meduseld and of Edoras and to acquaint her with our customs."

"Of course father, I would love to." Théodred replied, a little too hastily, and blushed.

Théoden smiled slightly at his hasty response, "Well then, you may as well begin before supper."

Théodred bowed and hurried out to find Ánáwyn. It was only after he left that he realized that he had no idea where her room was located, so he wandered around for some time before he met Éomer heading down the hall in his direction.

"Éomer, cousin!" he hailed, "Can you perhaps tell me where the lady Ánáwyn's room is located? For I am supposed to lead her on a tour of the city yet I know not where to find her."

"Come cousin, I will show you." Éomer said laughing. He turned an began heading in the direction that Théodred had been walking, and after a few turns he stopped in front of a door that was not far from Éowyn's and his own. "Here you are cousin." He said and left him standing in front of the door.

Théodred remained there for several minutes before he collected enough courage to knock. Finally he stepped up to it and knocked firmly yet softly three times then stepped back and waited. A soft voice bade him enter and he opened the door and stepped inside.

Ánáwyn had her back to him doing something he could not quite make out and at first she thought he was Éowyn, "I am almost ready Éowyn, I just have to finish tying my –." She began turning around as she spoke. When she saw who it was a little gasp escaped her and she dropped her eyes, "I am so sorry my lord I was not aware…" she trailed off awkwardly.

"No no, do not apologize, there is no way you could have know who was standing behind you. My father has requested that I give you a tour of Meduseld and the city, but I can see that you are busy so it can wait."

"No, no" she protested, "I am sure Éo will not mind. She could even come with us, if that is alright with you my lord."
"That is fine with me and please, as I said before, call me Théodred."

She smiled slightly, "Of course Théodred but only if you will call me Áná, for I am no lady."

"Well then," he said laughing, "we have a deal… Áná."

Just then Éowyn came in through the door which Théodred had left open behind him when he had walked in. "Áná, what is going on? Is something wrong?" she asked.

"What! Do I always have to be the bearer of ill news?" Théodred asked indignantly, "I was here because father asked me to give Áná a tour of Edoras."

"I see." Éowyn said, "And what am I to do while you two are off taking in the sights of the city? Twiddle my thumbs?"

"We were actually hoping that you would join us." Ánáwyn said guiltily.

Éowyn laughed, "I was teasing Áná, I really do not mind. But perhaps I will come with you and correct my cousin's mistakes."

"Oh but I am never wrong cousin." Théodred returned.

"Well, if you two are finished arguing I, for one, would like to see Edoras." Ánáwyn said, feigning anger.

The two of them turned to her laughing and Théodred said sarcastically, "Oh excuse me your majesty, anything to please you."

He then held out his arm to her and she took it laughing quietly, "I thank you my lord." Áná replied, knowing immediately that she and Théodred would get along very well.

The three of them wandered about Meduseld and Edoras for several hours, until Éowyn was called away for some reason leaving Ánáwyn and Théodred alone together. Théodred asked her if there was anything they had not seen yet that she wished to. She shyly requested to see the stables and he seemed pleased by her answer. A few minutes later she was wandering through the huge stables in awe; there was one horse in particular that caught Áná's attention, he was a spirited stallion and his coat a beautiful red-gold that seemed to shimmer as he moved. His intelligent eyes looked at her curiously and he pricked his ears forward slightly whickering quietly. He then leaned his head down slightly and nuzzled her.

"You seem to have made a new friend Áná." Théodred spoke from behind her.

She smiled and looked around, "He is beautiful, what is he called?"

"His name is Isfahel or Fireheart and he very much lives up to it. Were you not of elven lineage I would be much surprised at his quick affection for you."

She smiled again, "May I go in with him?" she asked quietly.

He sighed, "Maybe sometime later for it is getting late and we both are expected at dinner tonight. We must get ready." Áná's face fell at his words but she followed him out nevertheless.

Théodred turned and led the way back up into Meduseld and escorted her back to her room leaving her, with a bow, at the door.

That night, after the meal was over, Théodred waylaid her as she left the hall, "Áná, would you do me the honor of taking a ride with me tomorrow morning?"

"I would love to." She replied, "but I have no horse and–"

He cut her off, "We may easily find you a horse, there are many in the city that grow fat for want of exercise."

Áná smiled slightly, "As you wish, when shall I meet you?"

"Please, come to the stables tomorrow morning at the eighth hour. I will await you there."

She smiled and bowed her head in assent and then left him, staring down the corridor after her. As she hurried away she could feel his eyes following her until she disappeared around the corner. As soon as she was out of sight she slumped against the wall, and found that she was sweating slightly. She couldn't understand why she was so nervous around Théodred, this had never happened to her around anyone before. She was partly looking forward to the ride but she was also dreading it. What could she talk about? It would be so awkward, so uncomfortable. She shrugged away her thoughts and continued to her room.

When Ánáwyn woke the next morning the sun was blazing down through the low window onto her bed. She sat up and attempted to rub the bleariness out of her eyes, then she squinted at the sun. She estimated by its position in the sky that it was not long till the eighth hour. She threw her covers off and stumbled sleepily to the chest of clothes at the end of her bed. Áná threw open the lid and rummaged through it until she found what she was looking for, her mother's old riding garments which had been left at Meduseld the last time she had visited. They were made up of leather leggings and a loose cotton shirt. Over these was worn a tunic of sorts with tight fitting sleeves that were slit up to the elbow allowing the silk trimmed sleeves of the shirt to be seen at the bottom. The 'tunic', from the waist downward, was split into four panels to allow the wearer to sit comfortably in the saddle. She donned these clothes hurriedly and practically ran down to the stables. The bells of Meduseld had just begun to toll the eighth hour as she got dressed and by the time she got down to the stables she was at least twenty minutes late. She was rushing through the door when she bumped into a tall someone. She looked up, apologizing, and looked right into familiar blue eyes– Théodred was just about to leave the stables having given up on her arrival.

As she turned her apology for bumping into him into an apology for being late Áná looked as though she were on the verge of tears, "My lord, I am so sorry, I do not wish to make excuses but I did not wake up as early as I planned. Oh, please forgive me!"

"Áná, Áná, there is no need to get so upset over it. I would never end a friendship for no greater reason than that my companion was later than he said he would be, for then," he said, laughing a little, "then I would have no friends at all."

One single tear escaped her eye, she brushed it away impatiently; why am I so upset over such a small thing? For the Valar's sake why am I crying? Pull yourself together Áná! "My lord– Théodred, please forgive me; I do not know what is the matter with me this morning but I think a ride could easily cure it. If you are still willing…?"

"I am. Come Áná the horses are still ready and the food I pulled together for lunch is still packed, let us leave at once."

She smiled and followed him through the dim doorway of the stables; it took her a moment to see which way he had gone for it was quite dark in there compared to the bright day outside. At length Áná's eyes adjusted to the dim light and she looked around. She spotted Théodred at the far end of the stable to her left and went to him, when she got there she realized that he was standing in front of Isfahel's stall.

Áná stared openly, "Is he yours then?" she asked.

"No" Théodred replied, "He is yours."