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Chapter 5 Reason clouds my eyes
The weeks flew by. They were full for Winifred. Her wrist was fully healed and her ribs didn't need binding. Every morning after breakfast Winifred would go to the stables. When Eowyn had directed Winifred to the royal stables to see whom she could get lessons from the master of the stables had waved her off to the stable boy. Eldwyn was a young man, with light blonde hair just reaching his shoulders. The first couple of weeks she learned how to care for horses from the young stable hand. He was a few inches shorter than Winifred and had yet to grown any facial hair. He blushed profusely every time Winifred was around.
Eventually she learned how to properly mount and dismount. She had now advanced to slowly walking in a fenced in area for training, all on her own while Eldwyn watched near the fence. She started to become more comfortable and confident in the saddle, some time's she would even trot. When she did she would giggle with excitement. Soon she would be able to do a full gallop without miss directing the horse or losing control.
After a couple of hours in the morning spent with horses, Winifred would then go to where the King's guard would train. Though her presence there was never welcomed, and she was often given disapproving looks from the guards. Finding someone to train her in the art of weapons was the hardest part. Gamling had taken pity on her and had become her instructor. He was an old man who was a member of the guard. He had blonde hair streaked with grey that stopped just at his shoulder, his tan face, wrinkled with age, and he had an unkempt short beard. But he was very patience with her and took much time explaining each stance, and every weapon. She had made small progress here. Eowyn would only join her once or twice a week, since her own talent far exceed Winifred's.
Winifred would break for lunch then continue training with Gamling until mid-afternoon. Whenever Gamling was on duty his son, Gerard, would take over. Gerard was much older than Winifred and was a guard at the entrance to Edoras. He had similar hair and beard as his father. Gerard taught through sparring. Whenever Winifred trained with him, her body would ache by lunch. Though Gerard did not like teaching a woman the skills of warfare, he did not go easy on Winifred.
For the rest of the afternoon until dinner Winifred would be with Cyfarwydd. Cyfarwydd was ancient. He was the bard of Meduseld in a sense. He had thin long grey hair and his face was leather from long exposure to the sun. He knew all the tales of Rohan and many of Gondor. He had bad sight and would often get distracted and go on tangents. It would start with him taking a long time to explain one word, that would develop into a story or song that he had forgotten about and the lesson would end with Winifred curled up in a chair completely enthralled by all that Cyfarwydd was telling.
Out of everything she was learning this was the slowest going. Winifred was fine with it. She enjoyed her time with Cyfarwydd. Sometimes he would just sing the entire time. She enjoyed listening to it, even though she didn't understand the words when he used the native tongue. Sometimes Cyfarwydd would spend all day with Winifred. He would keep her company from the stables to the training area with the guard. He enjoyed watching her spar with Gerard in particular.
Aside from her daily training, that exhausted her out enough as it is, she had to constantly watch what she said, and slow herself down. It mentally drained her, having to put so much consideration into everything she said. She had expected a lot of questions about her homelands and her past, but none were asked, except from the king who was naturally a curious person. But even those inquires were not of a personal nature. They were too polite and would not pry unless she opened the conversation. Most didn't want to upset her, since she had to flee from her land at its darkest hour. When she finally realized this she continued to stay tight-lipped about mentioning the past. She was still upset about never seeing home again.
Eowyn slowly warmed up too Winifred. While she was still cold and distant, Eowyn would go out of her way to find Winifred, even if it was just to sit quietly together. Eowyn was devoted to Theoden King. Most of her time was spent serving him. With that meant being in the same room as Grima.
Grima hated Winifred, he feared what she saw when she pasted by Isengard. Winifred made it plan as day that she found him repugnant. He tried to keep Winifred away from the king as much as possible. Keep the king for council in his chambers, or placing someone else to sit next to the king. The king often remarked when this would happen, and Winifred would be placed across from him, so he could talk to her.
When Theoden took his meals in the golden hall, he often had Winifred sit next to him and tell him stories. The stories would then lead to conversations of philosophy, politics, art, education, defense or other intellectual musings. Grima hated when this happened. He would often get ignored for the evening. Theoden always seemed strong when he spent many nights in enlightening discussions with Winifred. Theoden thought Winifred was clever, facetious, and wise, even for someone so young.
Winifred told stories from Shakespeare to children's tales to the Odyssey by Homer. It took nearly 3 weeks for Winifred to then go into the mythology of the Greeks and Romans, their Gods and Goddesses. He asked her many questions that Winifred did not know the answered to but he enjoyed the tales all the same.
When Winifred got him in a particularly good mood or into a state of contentment, she would gently make small suggestions.
"My king, the healers in my land would not allow one who is ill to drink mead or wine. It weakens the immune system and can prolong recovery. I am surprised your healers have not told you this." Winifred innocently said. Theoden would normally listen to what she had to say and ask her what she would do.
"Well my king, you should only drink water that has been boiled, to assure that any contaminants are boiled out. Then bottle it. When I feel sick I drink a gallon of clean water a day, to flush out the system." Grima would try to oppose these changes. Some times Winifred succeed other times when she pushed too hard Theoden would not feel well and eat in his chambers with Grima for a few days. She always felt guilty when that happened, and had to remind her self why she was doing this.
Theoden seemed as weak as when Winifred arrived, but his mind was awakened. He seemed more there. The stimulating conversations with Winifred seemed to be helping.
A month and a half had passed before Theodred rode back through the gates of Edoras. Winifred was with Cyfarwydd, they were sitting outside in front of Meduseld. Cyfarwydd was recounting the line of kings of Rohan. Winifred couldn't remember how they had landed on this topic but she didn't dissuade him.
"…And so, with Helm Hammerhand the first line ended. His sister's son would start the second line.." Cyfarwydd said. Winifred was snacking on an apple when Theodred rode up to the golden hall. He smiled at Winifred and slide from his horse, handing the rains to Eldwyn, who had come out of the Royal stables.
"Lord Theodred, you have come back." Winifred standing in front of Theodred, He bowed towards her and greeted Cyfarwydd.
"So you are her teacher, Cyfarwydd?" Theodred said. "Yes, my lord. She is a good student." He bowed again and departed down the hill.
Eowyn came out to see Theodred. Winifred stepped to the side as they embraced.
"Theodred." Eowyn said. "How long will you stay?"
"I leave tomorrow. It has been too long since I have come to council with the King." He answered. Eowyn looked disappointed. But lead him inside to see the King.
That night Winifred sat between Theoden king and his son Theodred, Eowyn was across from Theodred. They were a lively bunch. Theoden was directing Winifred to which of her stories to tell Theodred. In return, Theodred told stories of earlier days here in Meduseld. Winifred had never laughed so much in the hall of Meduseld before. Grima left the meal early, while the rest of the guest remained to continue talking.
Soon enough everyone departed and Winifred made her way to her room still laughing. She gentle opened her door and shut it behind her.
"Good evening, Lady Winifred." Said a cold voice.
Winifred nearly screamed as she turned to find Grima in her room, he was standing in front of her wardrobe. Its doors wide opened and her things scattered about the room. She opened her door. "You are not welcomed here worm tongue. Leave." Winifred calmed herself, not wanting Grima to think he was getting under her skin.
Grima ignored her. "So many curious things the Lady keeps in her room." Her camping bag from home was in his hands.
"You are not as well versed in long journeys as I, Grima, there are many things you have no knowledge of." She said cool, and collected.
"What of this book." He held her notes from her time with Gandalf. Winifred silently sent a 'thank you' to Gandalf. No information was in that notebook. Only histories, customs, and maps were in that journal.
"Well, worm you wouldn't travel far from home to a distant land unless you did your study on the area." She said keenly, Winifred could tell he didn't have anything on her. She had been smart to hind most of her things from home beneath the floorboards. She made sure not to look in that direction, not wanting Grima to pick up on anything.
"And this wooden stick," he said holding it with the barrel resting on the ground. "Why is there metal running through it." He asked, the lack of knowledge for what he held gave Winifred inspiration.
"It was my grandfathers walking stick. My father wanted me to have something to remember him by." She said easily. Grima looked like he was going to continue this charade when Winifred heard a booming voice calling her name from the corridor.
"What are you doing still awake, Lady Winifred." Theodred happily asked, coming to stand in her door frame. Then he saw the scene within her chambers. He looked befuddled for a moment.
"What is this, Grima?" He asked seriously. "Why are you invading Lady Winifred's chamber?" Theodred's face had lost all the merry making that had occurred earlier. It became filled with silent rage, and made Winifred fearful.
"I have doubts of this stranger from the north. She is not to be trusted." He said quickly.
"She is a guest of our King, and friend of Gandalf the grey, that is testimony enough for her. Why do you think this is behavior our king would approve of?" He said stepping further into the room. He brushed past Winifred. His presence was larger than life compared to the meekness of Grima. He was almost shrinking, he had not yet been question by anyone in the golden hall before.
"She is not what she says, my lord. I wanted to make sure for my self that she was not a threat to Theoden king." Grima said his voice trembled a little.
"She is a woman." Theodred said. "She is not a threat to permit the ransacking of her room in Meduseld." He answered stepping ever closer to Grima. Winifred was offended by this, but kept her mouth shut. Theodred meant well, Winifred silently wished he had made a different point to counter Grima's defense. She didn't have time in her schedule to add woman's suffrage to it.
"I think its best you leave this room and never enter it again. And never walk through this corridor. This corridor is now off-limits to you. The woman of the court should not worry about someone destroying their possessions." He said as he turned to the side and extended his arm, showing Grima the way out. Theodred clearly put this hallway off-limits for Eowyn's benefit as well. Grima took a moment, deciding if he would stand for being pushed around as such. With Theodred staring intently at him, he hastily headed for the door. As he left the room he tripped over Winifred's feet, he stormed down the hallway and left.
Winifred turned to look at Theodred. "Thank you, my lord." Theodred nodded at her and assessed the damage. Not much had been destroyed, but it had all been tossed around with no care. He walked back to the door of her room and stood in front of her looking very serious.
"I am sorry, Lady Winifred. Please accept my deepest apologies on behalf of my house. The servants will clean this up, and I will have a new wardrobe ordered and anything else you so need to make up for what has transpired here tonight." Theodred said bowing at her then sweeping out of the room and down the hall. Eowyn passed him in the hall, mirth was still in her face when she passed him but noticed his expression. She looked at Winifred who stood in the entrance of her room.
Eowyn approached her. "What has happened?" she asked as she came to stand before Winifred, she looked in and saw the state of Winifred's room.
"What has happened to your room." Eowyn said at all the destruction. Winifred walked further into her room. She started to pick up her things from her home. Putting it back into her camp backpack and putting it in a chair. Then she saw her dark blue dress and matching robe, it was still safe in the wardrobe. She didn't care about the other clothes on the floor.
"Grima paid my room a visit while I was out." Winifred said exasperated, sitting in the chair at her desk. "He seems to think I am a threat." Winifred took this as a compliment, maybe she was doing more harm to Grima's plan then she realized. "I walked in on him ransacking my things, then Lord Theodred came and saw what he was doing. He has been ordered to never enter my room again or to walk through this corridor." Winifred said. "I am glad about that. He's a slime ball."
"What possessed him to do such a thing." Eowyn said, her face becoming stone again.
"Who knows." Clearly Winifred knew. "I will deal with this in the morning. I'm exhausted and the events that have just taken place in my room are not a comforting thought. Please send the maids away for tonight. I will manage." Winifred said Standing and turning away from Eowyn. Eowyn being a true Lady took the hint and deafly shut the door behind her. Winifred held her breath as she listen to hear Eowyn close her door. A moment later she heard it.
She leapt at the desk chair and quietly pushed it aside. She fell to the ground as she rubbed her hands across the floor. Finding a corner, she pulled. She started down the hole and saw the little box of Eomer's. The dust had not been disturbed. She slumped against the desk in relief. She then went to her camping bag from home. Deciding what to do.
In the end Winifred ended up placing the entirety of the bag into the hole, including her gun. She didn't want to risk Grima getting his hands on ANY of her things from home. Some things required some extra maneuvering to get into the hole. When she finished she carefully looked down into the hole again. She had been careful not to disturb the dust. Her items were pushed into the deep sides, out of sight from anyone looking into the hole. She looked for a moment longer, then put the floorboard back. She put her chair under the desk and made her way to her bed.
What happened here tonight was good. Before they had no reason to distrust him. Now, there was proof that he was a snake. Winifred knew this wasn't the straw that would break the camels back but the first in a series of events that were to happen. Winifred hoped this offered a reprieve from Grima hiding Theoden in his chambers alone.
She rolled over and fell into uneasy sleep. Dreaming of Gandalf telling her she had failed in her task and all of middle earth had fallen.
When Winifred woke, it was to a team of maids, quietly putting her things away. She saw that her breakfast had been delivered to her room. Winifred was glad, she could take a moment for herself, be alone and not have to work so hard. She feigned sleep until the maids had completed their tasked and left the room.
Winifred spent the day lounging in her room. Not because what had happened in her room upset her. No, she just used that opportunity to be alone. Her life had been turned upside down just 2 months ago. She wanted a little break away from all that she had to do. Have a moment to catch her breath. Maybe her absence from the golden hall would make people think it had greatly affected her. That would not be a bad thing Winifred told herself.
Finally when the evening had come, there was a knock on her door. Winifred nearly wanted to feign sleep again.
"Enter." Winifred called out. Looking over from her seat in front of the fire. Eowyn came in. her face was neutral, but her eyes were gentle today.
"You have been missed today." Eowyn said coming to join Winifred.
"I was exhausted." Winifred answered simply.
"Theodred left in the early hours this morning. He bade me to tell you goodbye. Before he left he had it made so there would be guards at either end of the hallway. No men are allowed to pass." Eowyn said.
"Hmm, well I'm glad that is the outcome." Winifred said. "Has the king been told?" she asked.
"Theodred briefly talked to him. I do not know what was said but the king was not feeling well and took to his room for most of the day." Eowyn answered.
"Theodred has ordered you a new wardrobe. And has made it clear that any wish or desire of yours to be done." Eowyn added.
"That is too generous, besides most of my dresses were perfectly fine." Winifred sighed.
"You won't be able to stop him from changing his mind." She told Winifred.
"I thought so much. I hope he consulted you about the dresses." Winifred lightly smirked at Eowyn.
A week had passed since the incident. Guards were kept day and night in hers and Eowyn's hallway. It was now a part of the golden hall that was constantly guarded. Many people outside Meduseld were not aware of the changes. But those who worked within were aware of all that had happened. It was comforting. Winifred had gone back to her schedule with a little more vigor. Gamling, being part of the king's guard had heard what had transpired. He also started to take her training more seriously and intensely.
Gerard would now come when he wasn't on duty to aid with her training. Sparring with her while Gamling watched, he would call out instructions or see what Winifred's weaknesses were. She was still a beginner.
She was getting instructions from Gamling about technique when Eomer came around the corner.
"Lord Eomer." Winifred said, dropping her hands to her side. He came to her and bowed.
"Gamling, I will be taking up the rest of her day." Eomer said. He held out his arm for Winifred to take. She looked perplexed but didn't argue. His face was devoid of emotions, but his eyes looked stern.
Soon they were walking down the hill, and out the open gates in silence. Winifred could feel the tension radiating from Eomer, she did not want to start this conversation.
"Theodred sent a rider to Aldburg. He felt that I should be aware of what transpired." He finally said. They were walking around the fields before Edoras, eventually they started following the river.
"Oh," Winifred said. "You didn't come all the way to Edoras because of this did you?" She looked at Eomer but he seemed to have ignored this. Not sure what she wanted to say, but she tried to formulate her feelings on it. "I have always felt uncomfortable around him. He isn't fond of me. I don't think he appreciates my conversations with the King." She said. "But I'm not afraid of him, while I was surprised at his actions. I was never in fear of him."
Eomer nodded. "He is a strange person. And recently I have begun to feel uneasy with him being alone in the golden hall with little supervision." There was a moment of silence when Winifred became aware of the thick muscle of Eomer's arm that held hers delicately.
"I never thought to hear my self say this…but I am glad you are learning how to defend yourself." He said not looking down at her. A smile crept on to Winifred's face.
"Well, do not worry about me. I can protect myself. And I will look out for Eowyn. I know Lord Theodred and yourself must be concerned for her as well," Winifred said. Eomer gave a grunt to show that he heard her.
They continued the walk, Eomer seemed to have said all he wanted too but did not turn to go back to the city.
"How was your journey with Gandalf?" Winifred ask looking up at him.
"Well. I enjoy his council, he is wise and knowledgeable in many things." He said returning her gaze, Winifred nodded in agreement with Eomer. Winifred was silent again, but Eomer looked like he wanted to say more. They began a light conversation on Edoras. Eomer inquired about her life here. She began with her normal day here in Edoras. She talked about the young stable boy who got stuck with teaching her about horses. She explained her training sessions with Gamling and his son Gerard. She spoke warmly of Cyfarwydd. Eomer started to smile when she told him how her lessons were not getting very far. He laughed gaily when Winifred told him of how distracted he would get by his own storytelling. They soon turned back to the city, falling into easy comfort with each other.
They slowly made their way back to the golden hall in time for dinner. It was a strained event. Theoden ate with them in the golden hall. Eomer sat next to him. Grima was on the other side. Eowyn took the seat next to her bother. Winifred was next to her, those around her where council members. They spoke in their native tongue throughout the evening. Winifred didn't mind. She was replaying the lovely afternoon spent with Eomer. She had enjoyed the privacy of it all, how close she was able to stand to him. She was sad when it came to an end.
The next morning she made her way to the royal stables, She hadn't seen Eomer at breakfast and assumed her too had left early in the morning, back to Aldburg.
When she entered the stables looking for young Eldwyn, instead she found Eomer alone. He was holding the reins to a beautiful golden horse.
"Lord Eomer." She gasped, coming up to him, patting the horse when she was close enough.
"In private company please call me Eomer, Winifred." He said to her. Winifred smiled at this, too embarrassed to look at him.
"Eomer." She said looking at the beautiful horse instead of Eomer.
"This is Barefoot, she is descended from the Mearas." Eomer explained. "Would you like to ride her today?" He asked her. The horse was already saddled and ready to go.
"Really?" She said finally looking up at Eomer. "Are you playing the part of my instructor today?" She playful asked.
"Yes, I will judge your progress for myself." He said. Handing her the reigns and going off to get another horse. Winifred mounted Barefoot. Eomer had mounted his steed as well.
"This is my horse, Firefoot." He said to Winifred and led them out of the stables. He didn't turn to the fenced in area Winifred always went to, instead made his was to the gate.
They spent the day together. Eomer lead her to the slopes of the mountains behind Edoras. Eomer spent time showing Winifred how to led a horse. Explained about the Mearas. Soon he brought out swords for them to use for training. He even had a light lunch packed.
He was a gentlemen, he never intruded her personal space. He truly spent the day training her with Barefoot and with swordplay. She learned a lot from him. She listened to his every word.
Too soon the day was up and they rode back to Edoras.
"Thank you for today." Winifred softly said as they approached Edoras. He nodded to her giving her a fleeting smile.
Eomer had gone back to Aldburg in the early morning the next day. He had given instructions to Eldwyn that Barefoot was now Winifred's. Winifred was shocked at this gift, since it came with the leather saddle depicting the banner of Rohan. Eldwyn told her that Barefoot was one of Eomer's horses, and since this horse was descendant of the Mearas, no finer gift could be given in all of Rohan. Winifred turned her head away so Eldwyn couldn't see her cheeks blush or the wide smile that light her face. Winifred made it a point to graciously thank lord Eomer when he was next in Edoras. He just nodded like it was nothing. Winifred knew better than to believe this caviler attitude.
The next few months went by swiftly. Theodred and Eomer didn't let so much time elapse between visit to Edoras. Between the two of them it was rare for three weeks to go by without one of them appearing. Their stays were rarely more than 2 days. Winifred hadn't spent a whole day with Eomer since the day he had trained her out in the fields surrounding Edoras. They barely spent any time alone in fact, Gamling had informed Winifred that he always asked for updates on her progress, Eldwyn said the same for her horseback lessons. Eomer sat next to her at meal times when he could and was friendly towards her. They would have easy conversations and sometimes the evening would go by without either of them noticing that they had forgotten about the rest of the table. When Eomer or Theodred were in Edoras they spent most of their time in council with the King, Eowyn didn't see much of them either. They both were busy keeping the borders safe for the people of Rohan when away from Edoras. The new wardrobe Theodred had ordered for her arrived in time for the cold months ahead. They were all in the Rohan fashion, and rich looking. Eowyn remarked that Theodred had in fact made sure these robes were fit for a Lady of her beauty and high standings.
Her training with Barefoot improved vastly. They began to bond, some thing that was imperative with serious horseback riders, as Eomer once called it. Her training with Gamling and Gerard also was improving by leaps and bounds. After what happened in her room, the King's guard warmed up to her training with them. Before they knew it, they all added to her training, Each having their own strength to aid her. Almund was a member of the King's guard. He was not very loquacious. He was a master bowmen, weather on ground or on Horseback. He always watched her training sessions quietly in the back. Some times it unnerved Winifred until one day he offered his services. On mornings he was not on duty they would ride on horseback and train with archery and then do a little target practice afterwards.
Eowyn once asked her why she trained so intensely. Winifred contemplated. She knew the battles to come, for that was the biggest reason behind it, but the back-story could help give her the reason Eowyn was searching for.
"I was force to flee from my home land because I could not aid my people." She lamented. "I know the dangers that bubble on the outskirts of these borders. The fear of the horse lords will not keep them at bay for long. I fear that war will scar these lands… I will not stand by a second time and flee from the fight. I have done my duty as a Lady. It is time for the duty to myself to take precedence." Eowyn drank in her words. After this she looked at Winifred with more respected and admiration. Her cold and standoffs personality would disappear when they were in private. Winifred became her confidant, and soon Winifred could read her stony expression like a book when outside closed quarters.
Learning Rohirric was an uphill battle. In all honesty she was learning more from the stable hand Eldwyn, and the king's guard that assisted her, then Cyfarwydd. Often Winifred was too drained from all the activity of earlier to protest when Cyfarwydd started on a long story or poem. When the months grew colder, and the days shorted he started singing.
"You will need to know these songs for the Yuletide. They are popular songs for drinking and dancing." He wheezed once after a long verse. This piqued her interest.
"Yuletide?" She stammered. He simply nodded his head. "What is a Yuletide?" she asked directly. Cyfarwydd paused his singing and thought long and deep.
"Hmm… it is a celebration that takes place during the longest night of winter, the Winter solstice. It is an old tradition. The feast used to last 12 days but with unrest growing on our borders that is not possible anymore." He explained. Winifred balked when she heard that it used to last 12 days. "It lasts two days now." Winifred still looked shocked that a feast could last so long. "The morning on the first day is normally spent with your family, exchanging gifts, by noon people gather to feast together. Here in Edoras they go to Meduseld. It is a splendid time. It is a time for people to forgive old grievances, and lay down weapons of war." Cyfarwydd said, while beginning another song, this one a lively tune.
The weeks leading up to the Yuletide was busy for Eowyn and Winifred. They had many things to prepare for the Yuletide celebration that was to happen here in Meduseld. Stocking up the wine cellar and the kitchens. Extra hands were added to the kitchen staff and livestock was brought in to be near the kitchens. Eowyn told her that people often came to Meduseld just for the Yuletide feast. Most people coming had someone to stay with but it was not uncommon for the hall to be full of people sleeping on the floor. Every room had to be packed with cots, all except permanent residents of the golden hall, and Ladies of the court were included in this. There wasn't much decoration that happened, Winifred would come to learn.
Days before the Yuletide, she was out with Almund when she found some mistletoe. She also cut some holly and pine branches. Almund didn't understand why she was collecting it all. But soon she had a bag full.
That night after eating dinner she asked a servant where to find a nail and hammer. Eventually she got a hold of it and hanged an arrangement she had made, Holly, Pine and mistletoe. It smelled like Christmas. She was so gleefully seeing it hang before her door. Such a small thing made her so happy. Winifred was in such a great mood even Grima couldn't bring her down with his passive aggressiveness.
The day before the feast Eomer and Theodred Arrived with their company, Eowyn told her that they had not missed a Yuletide in Meduseld yet. They spent the day before in council with the King since the next two days would be spent at the celebration. Eowyn and Winifred started organizing the rooms for the men.
"The maids will come early to help get you ready." Eowyn told her before going to bed.
The morning of the Feast Eowyn was right. The maids came in before the sun had peeked over the horizon to help her get ready. They made intricate braids in her hair so it was all gathered low on her head. Winifred asked for such a look. Then she asked for them to add the holly and pine pieces she had made to be place at the back of her head. She decided to wear a deep green velvet dress with a high collar. It had gold beading in the collar and through the bodice. After dressing quickly she excused the maids, grabbed her gift for Eowyn, and swiftly went to her room. She knocked then entered before hearing anything.
Eowyn was still getting her hair tended too.
"Happy Yuletide, Eowyn." Winifred said coming to stand behind her. Eowyn was wearing a Black dress, with gold in the bodice. It also had a high collar. It was beautiful and befitting of her. Eowyn laughed at Winifred. Turning to look at her just as her hair was completed.
"I have a small gift for you, I was told you exchange gifts in the morning." Winifred said handing over her gift. She had made a crown of holly, pine, and mistletoe for Eowyn. Eowyn smiled at it and placed it on her head.
"We decorate our homes with theses. Most bring in a tree and decorate it. The house is Full of garlands. They hang from beams, or on top of ledges, anywhere really. It makes everything smell like pine." Winifred explained. "Mistletoe is special. If you get caught under mistletoe with someone you are supposed to kiss. Most don't though, they get too shy." Eowyn was beaming at her.
"You never speak so openly of your home. I am honor to wear this. If I had known sooner we could have decorated all of Edoras with such things, since they are but a swift ride away." Eowyn said standing to give Winifred a hug.
Winifred felt slightly guilty at Eowyn's words. Yes, she told stories, but no stories of herself or her family, or anything related to her. Maybe it was time to open up a little.
"Come, we will have breakfast before all of Edoras makes its way here." Eowyn said. Winifred agreed, only stopping to grab a couple more gifts from her room.
The Hall was full of tables and benches, they lined the hall. A space for dancing was up front near the King. Winifred had not seen Meduseld in its full glory like this before. Already the company of Eomer and Theodred were eating. The mead and wine would not be brought out till after this meal was done. Eowyn and Winifred choose a table on the opposite side of the men. Theodred and Eomer came in just after them. They noticed Eowyn's garland crown when Winifred approached them.
"Just a moment Lord Theodred and Lord Eomer. I have made presents for you two." She pinned a small arrangement of holly and pine to Theodred's chest. She smiled up at him.
" There." She admired her handy work.
"What does it represent?" Theodred asked politely. "Her people decorate with these back home for Yuletide." Eowyn answered him, giving him a meaningful look. Winifred moved over to Eomer.
"Happy Yuletide, Lord Eomer." Winifred smiled brightly at him. Eomer gave a small smile and returned her greeting.
"Happy Yuletide, Winifred." He said softly so no one could hear. Winifred blushed giving him a smile.
"May I?" she indicated to the small arrangement. He nodded, and she pinned it to his chest. She smiled again when she saw the finished product. He too was wearing deep green.
"Yes, we decorate with these." She agreed with what Eowyn had told Theodred. "We call Yuletide, Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year. Everyone decorates their homes with these garlands. Most people also bring in a big tree to decorate. My favorite tree to have is a balsam. They have the strongest scent. It just makes every room smell like Christmas." Winifred smiled brightly, remembering a different time and place. She spent all of breakfast talking about Christmas traditions. She didn't even realize it. The rest at the table did. They had never seen her so illuminated before. She had never looked more beautiful or happy in Rohan. Many people in the golden hall noticed her smiling face.
Soon Breakfast was put away and the golden hall started to fill up. Last minutes preparations were made and all around the hall the huge mead and wine barrels were brought out and opened. A skewered pig was roasting over the large fire pit. The Yuletide feast had begun.
A/N: Thanks for tuning in. -C xoxo
