Ailith hummed as she walked through the halls of Edoras, her basket in her hands. She met Éowyn walking away from Théoden's bedchamber.
"Oh, are you going out?" Éowyn said hopefully.
"Yes, I am."
"Do you need some company?"
Ailith's heart gave a guilty twinge. She didn't like leaving her friend to suffer whilst she got to work relatively freely. Every time they ventured out, the cares seemed to lift from Éowyn until she was as bright as she used to be, before her troubles.
"Not this time. Some of the herbs I am looking for are in awkward places. It will be easier if I am by myself."
"Oh. I was wondering if we could practice with the swords for a little while."
Ailith placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Éowyn, I promise you that we shall practice when I get back. You have a natural gift with a blade; you should trust your abilities."
She saddled her horse quickly and rode slightly North. When she was some distance from the City, she slowed and whistled, two high notes that carried on the breeze. From somewhere to the left, an answer sounded. She spurred her horse towards it.
She crested a hill and reined her horse in when she saw the waiting figure.
"My lady," the Rider said. He bowed as she dismounted.
"Greetings, Boda. How is the Fortress?" she asked.
"It struggles without you, milady, but we manage. Hala asks for your permission to marry."
"Hmph. I think she is far too young but if it is what she desires and if Merewald thinks there is nothing ill with the match then by all means, she may marry. Now tell me, what news from the scouts."
"The night before I left, a scout from beyond the Limlight rode into the Fortress and gave the strangest report we have heard told in many a year. He said he saw a party of eight flee down the Dimril Dale and into Lórien. At night, the hills swarmed with goblins and other foul creatures but they could not or would not enter the wood."
"The dwarves?" Ailith asked. "The party of dwarves who sought to take back Moria?"
"Nay, milady. One of the party was a dwarf but he was not of the original explorers."
"And the others?"
"An elf, two men and four boys."
"Children?" Ailith exclaimed. "You expect me to believe that four children walked through the darkness of Moria?"
"I said it was a strange tale," Boda said apologetically. She sighed and folded her arms.
"What of the adults? Did he recognise them?"
"One of them. He said it was Captain Boromir, the eldest son of the Steward of Gondor. He said the other looked like a Ranger."
"Beleg?"
"No, milady. I am sorry but there has been no word from or sighting of Lord Beleg since he left us."
"I see. Thank you for the news, Boda. I will see you again next month. And give my congratulations to Hala for her marriage," she said, mounting her horse. He inclined his head.
"Safe riding, milady," he said.
"And you," she replied.
She gathered some of the herbs needed to replenish her stores and then rode back to Edoras. She made her way straight to her workroom and began the slow process of updating her inventory. Her pen paused over one entry.
Athelas - Two leaves
Beleg had given her five. Three had been lost in various medical procedures; an amputation, a difficult birth, a horrible accident involving an axe. She had crushed them and added them to boiling water to make a calming vapour that had relaxed all three of the patients. She had no idea if they had any other medicinal properties. The calming effect was reason enough to keep them.
She was slightly worried about only having two left in her possession. She didn't know where to find more; certainly she had never found it growing in Rohan. What would she do when she had used what was left?
"You know, you really have some nerve. If Éowyn knew what you were doing, she would feel betrayed," a voice said behind her. She turned in her seat to see Théodred standing in the doorway. His handsome face was twisted into an ugly grimace.
"You are given the chance to move around as you please, knowing full well that Éowyn is bound to my Father, and instead of trying to help her, you sneak out of the City on the pretext of gathering herbs to meet with a lover!" he snapped.
"Wha-what?" she gasped.
"Do not try to deny it! You were seen!" he barked, striding across the room. "You rode out of the City and met with a Rider on the plains! This isn't the first time either!"
"You mean Boda? He isn't my lover; he's one of my men! He commands my scouts; he was giving me a report!"
"If what you say is true, why didn't he come to the Hall to deliver his report in the presence of the King?"
"To give a report to the King is to give a report to Gríma! What goes on at the Fortress is the business of mine and the King and no other man's!" she said hotly.
He faltered and stared at her.
"He isn't your lover?" he ventured. She sighed and slammed her pen down on the desk.
"No he is not. If you must know, he is married with two children and a third on the way. And anyway, even if he was my lover, what does it matter? I have done nothing to harm my honour!"
"You are a high-born lady of Rohan. It is not only your decision on who you-" he began but she stood up, sending her stool crashing to the ground.
"Prince and future King or no, don't you dare tell me who I can and can't love!" she shouted.
There was a terrible pause and Ailith wondered if she had finally crossed the line.
Théodred suddenly stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and kissed her passionately. She completely froze in his embrace, waiting for him to draw back from the kiss. After what seemed like an eternity, he stepped back, his poor face bewildered. She opened her mouth to say something but he hurried out; not making eye contact with her.