Deorwyn: Book One of the Eryniel Saga

Part Two

I Aresse Selda

That Is, the Nameless Child

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Day 15++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Delwyn and Grima

"How are you doing today, my sweet lady?"

The young Lady Delwyn looked up from her patient laboring at her wax tablet and smiled happily up at Grima Wormtongue, who gently ran his hand through her long, tawny gold hair. He knelt down beside her and studied her laboriously crafted Rohirric runes, nodding his approval.

"Well done, Del," he said, and smiled. The tense, pinched expression that was always present in her face slowly began to fade away. She smiled wider, and put her stylus down. "Your parents are staying for the year, then, at Meduseld?"

"Yes, sir, Master Grima," she murmured happily.

"Wonderful, my sweet girl. That means we can stay together for a very long time, doesn't it?" He grinned when she smiled, and stroked her hair. She was so much in love with him now, so much in love, she would do anything for him, anything at all. The sweet little thing, so innocent and gullible, the perfect tool. "Delwyn, my dear, I need to speak to you on something very, very important. Can you keep a secret for me, dearest lady?"

He smirked inside where she couldn't see and stroked her cheek with the backs of his knuckles when she nodded emphatically.

"Delwyn, the Lord Eomer has been snooping into our business. We're in trouble if he gets too close, and he's getting too close, sweeting. He's getting far too close. I need you to do something to distract him, to lead him away, anything. You have to do this for me, my little one. He's planning something, and you've got to find out what it is. Do you understand me?"

"Oh, yes, Master Grima. I can do that. Anything you want."

He cupped her face, ever so gently, and stroked her tiny, rosebud mouth, smiling gently, paternally. "You're a beautiful, sweet girl, Delwyn," he said. "Your parents do not appreciate you as they should. But I do. Oh yes, my sweet one, I appreciate you. Now, back to your studies."

"Yes, Master Grima," she said softly, smiling. She had a pretty smile, he had to admit. But the charm and sweetness of it were lost on him. He swept from the room with a rustle of his cloak, humming softly to himself under his breath, while his little puppet went back to her schoolwork.

oo8oo8oo8oo

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