The Wild Westfold

By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard

Chapter Two: Edoras

I heard whispers. Was I dead? I moved my head slightly and regretted it immediately. I definitely wasn't dead for I felt every bit of the ache that spread through my skull as if thousands of pebbles in an avalanche pounded against it. I slowly opened my eyes and met the familiar eyes of the horse on the flag hanging from the ceiling. He looked upon me as if with a mocking stare. Rohan was not going to let me go that easily.

I glanced around. I was still in the bed in the infirmary of the Golden Hall of Meduseld. I didn't appreciate the great honor I was being graced at the time, and I didn't realize that apart from the men and families of the Edoras defense the only others that entered the doors of the royal infirmary was the royal family itself. I was a rough spot torn from a greater cloth. I was a humble weed among the blossoms of an awe struck garden. My eyes darted around aimlessly for they were the only part of my body that wasn't sore. Sun rays were pouring into the room through the wavy glass of the windows near the tops of the walls. Some panels were stained green and yellow and casted quite a dancing spectrum across the already lavish decor. I dared to tilt my head. The few minutes I had been awake had dulled the ache slightly. There were no others in the room, but the door was wide open. I could hear the clinking of chain mail of a fidgety, young guard at the door; no doubt placed on duty there to quickly pass news of my condition…for better or worse.

I tried to sit up but pain irradiated through me from the tips of my ears to the ends of my toes. I stifled a groan as I remembered that my back had been wounded and infected. I lay still taking in sharp breaths waiting for the twinge to pass. The guard peeked in the doorway and then I heard him walk swiftly down the hall. I sighed as the pain dulled. I would not be alone for long. I drew in a quick breath, preparing myself, as I quickly turned to my side. I stopped to wait for the pain to lessen before I finally pushed myself up gently, and was finally sitting up. Every move hurt. Not only the shooting pains in my back but my hands and arms were on fire as well. The friction of the bandages chafed my raw and waxy wrists. The heavy blanket that covered me slid down.

I was wearing no shirt, but bandages criss crossed around most of my chest and shoulders. A normal girl of my age would have gathered the blanket back around herself but modesty was never a priority of mine. I had thick, cotton breeches on my legs and my hair had been braided and pinned to the top of my head.

I took notice in the chair near the bed. It looked as if it had been recently vacated. It must have been early in the morning; no more than an hour past daybreak. The fire looked freshly set and only a single candle burned by the chair next to an open book lain face down on the hide and fur cushion.

"Who...?" I said barely above a whisper.

I heard fast footsteps approach and Da entered the room. She paused in the doorway to look at me with a great smile of relief before she lifted the hem of her black, wool frock and rushed to me.

"Bless you, child! We had feared the worst!" she said sitting down on the side of the bed. She reached out and took my face in her hands. I gently shook my head freeing myself.

"I hardly think a night of fever is enough to fear the worst." I said looking at her sternly. She looked at me stunned and hurt that I had rejected her comfort.

"Child, you have been in fever for four nights." She said.

"Four nights?" I said shocked. It didn't seem that long. I hadn't even dreamed. Maybe I had died and came back. Da said nothing to me. She was wise and knew that the disrespect of a child was still within me. She glanced to the chair and noticed what I had noticed.

"He finally decided to get some fresh air. That's good. He never left your side for the most part." She said looking at me.

"Who?" I asked.

"Lord Eomer. There isn't a more loyal and dedicated boy in all of Rohan. When the King gives him a job, he does it tenfold. He was even speaking of taking the charge of your burial on himself." Da said.

"Please stop talking about worst fears and burials. I am not dead!" I said letting my temper flare.

Da got a stern look on her face and she pointed to me, "Now listen here child, I…." she was cut off when King Théoden walked in briskly with another man I had not yet seen. Da stood and bowed quickly.

"Théoden King, Prince Theodred." She said. I only stared at them; not even a nod. King Théoden walked over to the side of the bed.

"You are healed then, Miss?" he asked.

I shook my head yes.

"You should pay your proper respects to your prince and king." Theodred said sternly but kindly. I nodded at him but I still said nothing.

"I wish for her to come and speak with me in the mead hall when she is ready." Théoden said to Da.

"Yes, my king." Da said bowing again.

Théoden and Theodred walked out of the room. I watched as Theodred leaned into his father's ear and whispered something. I couldn't hear what was said, but just as Theodred whispered it he and the king turned right down the hall. Eomer came from the left of the hall and when he overheard Theodred's comment he turned a shade of pink more than usual.

Eomer entered. Da bowed her head again. "Lord Eomer." She said smiling. He nodded back at her.

"Lady Da," he said and then he fixed his eyes onto mine. "You are well, then?" he asked.

"As well as can be expected." I said coldly breaking his blunt gaze.

Eomer returned to his chair. He lifted the book, mentally marking the page before closing it and setting it down on the table. He blew out the candle and sat down. He looked at me again and his deep, woody eyes reconnected with mine.

There was something about those eyes I couldn't explain. They had an entity all of their own. They pierced through my rough and tough barrier and dug in somewhere at the very center of my soul. Those eyes terrified me and yet excited me all at the same time. The un-breaking gaze only truly lasted a few seconds, but it seemed to me eons before Da finally spoke and broke it.

"Lord Eomer?" Da asked.

"Yes, Lady Da?" he asked as his eyes darted from me to her.

"I must help ready Miss for her meeting with the king. She must bathe and get her bandages changed, and…." She stopped when Eomer cut her off.

"It is but early morning. There is plenty of time." He said and continued on as his eyes shifted to me again. "Besides, do you want to let a complete stranger before the king armed?" he asked and he reached behind the chair. He retrieved a small bundle of cloth and opened it revealing a dagger. It was my brother's dagger! He read the surprised and relieved expression on my face and tossed it over to me. It landed at the foot of the bed. I reached for it immediately pausing briefly for the pain. I picked it up and unsheathed the dagger looking it over and turning it in my fingers.

"You found it." I said smiling.

"That is an old and ancient blade." Eomer said. "One does not simply find a blade like that in the market place or black smith." He said. His eyes swept from me to the dagger to me and then to Da. Da understood his silent message. She stood and left the room giving him another nod. His eyes focused on me once more. We were alone.

"I am no fool." Eomer continued on from his earlier point. "You were the rider of the horse we found dead. He was a beautiful creature of noble blood and stock. Most young girls wouldn't be able to handle a horse like that. Or use a blade that like." He said and he gestured his hands to the dagger.

"What are you suggesting? You think me some kind of renegade vigilante? An assassin perhaps?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

Eomer's eyes widened and then he tried to stifle a chuckle, "An assassin wouldn't have let herself get captured by three wildmen."

I said nothing and glared at him infuriated.

"However," he said leaning back in the chair putting his hands behind his head, "You are no ordinary girl of Rohan. You obviously had no knowledge of the dangers of the Riddermark. The wool of your frock was very fine and the fur trim of your overdress was top grade. You are either the daughter of a noble family or a servant of a noble family who paid attention to lessons and stole from your charge."

"I am no servant!" I said quickly and proudly.

"Prove me wrong, Miss. What is your name? What house do you hail?" he asked.

"It matters not." I said. "I have no intention of returning home."

"Why's that?" he asked.

"There is no place for me there, or anywhere in Rohan. I have skills for a profession that I can never occupy." I said.

He raised an eyebrow, "What occupation is that, pray tell?"

I put my most prideful expression on my face. "A soldier."

He raised his eyebrow again, "You? A soldier? You think you have the skills to be a soldier?"

"I don't think. I know." I said sternly

"So where then were you going to profess your fine skills, Miss?" He asked.

"I was going north….to find the elves." I said.

Eomer burst out laughing in such a manner that I thought he would tip from the chair.

"How dare you!" I yelled.

"I am sorry." He said trying to catch his breath. "I wasn't expecting that. Please, I meant no offence." He said broken between his laughter.

I fumed. I stood up as quickly as I could. I had to grimace when I felt the pressure of the pulling muscles on my back. It was hard to keep balance as well with my head pounding. I held up the dagger and pointed it at his chest. He stopped laughing and gave me a look that only flared my temper.

"You cannot be serious, can you?" He asked. "You can barely stand."

"Try me." I said as serious as the dead.

He stared at me for a moment and then he stood up.

"I refused to fight a girl." He said crossing his arms. I felt my nose snare and I will admit that I lost my better judgment. I lunged forward.

Eomer moved swiftly. I will never forget the change in his eyes. Where there was once a warm compassion there was now a demonic hunger. His eyebrows furrowed and his mouth opened flashing gritted teeth in fury. A once noble gentleman had been transformed into a blood lusted warrior. It was the most fear inducing sight I had ever seen and would ever see. I felt the horror down to the core of my bones. This could have very well been the last moment of my life.

Eomer put his hand on base of his sword at his belt. I was frozen in fear. However, he took a step forward and suddenly pulled out his sword halfway jabbing the hilt into my stomach. I dropped the dagger and flew backward onto the bed. My back smacked the headboard and I cried out in pain. Tears poured from my eyes as I looked up at Eomer completely helpless. He returned his sword into its holster. The rage was leaving him and he had a new spark in his eyes. Perhaps he didn't quite think through his judgment either.

"Forgive me, Miss." He said. "You are strong. And you are passionate about your dream. If the skills you brag are as sharp of your dagger and tongue then I would rest in peace at night knowing every enemy of Rohan would be slaughtered." He picked up his book from the table. "I respect your intention of leaving Rohan and forsaking your family. Bravery is a rare and handsome quality." He said looking back at me. "But, I must do my duty. I know who you truly are. I wasn't sure at first but you have confirmed my theory." He said. "A report reached Edoras three days ago. Lord Renweard of the East Emnet reported that his daughter, Déorwyrdhnes who goes by Deya, had run away on his horse toward Edoras. He described the horse in his letter and I recognized it at once when we found it dead on the plains." He tucked his book under his arm and then came over to me. He rested his other hand on the headboard and leaned down toward me. He had a stern expression on his face.

"Do not try to lie to the king, Deya." He said softly and then he stood and took his leave. I didn't say anything as he left. Tears poured from my eyes and down my cheeks as I adjusted myself to sitting up on the bed once more. I cried not only from the pain, but knowing that I had failed. I would end up back home where I would be commanded, repressed, and broken into the woman they wanted me to be. I would become a silent wallflower like my mother and be married off to a noble stranger. A wife who's only job was to breed perfect little children of Rohan. If Eomer hadn't opened my eyes to how weak and ignorant I really was I would have taken my own life that day. But my curiosity for the spark in his eyes outweighed my fear of my fate.