The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Three: In the Presence of the King
I felt numb as I sat in the lukewarm water of the tar lined wooden wash tub. I had my knees pulled to my chest, and I rested my chin on them. Da sat on a little stool behind me going through my freshly washed hair with a golden comb.
"Your hair is such a lovely colour." She said. "I have not seen such a deep crimson in many years."
She had been trying to initiate a conversation since she returned to the infirmary after Eomer left. Her concern was genuine. I imagine I was in quite a state when she returned; me all puffy eyed and shaken. She led me from the infirmary to a small guest room down the hall where the bath had been readied. My bandages were taken off and my wounds cleaned before I stepped into the water where Da scrubbed and rinsed my matted and blood caked hair.
I glanced at the bed in the corner. A basket of fresh dressings and ointments lay next to a brown, wool chemise and a regal looking gown of green velvet; no doubt borrowed from the grim looking sister of Eomer.
"The King is a kind, and understanding man. You need not fret, Child." Da said as she returned my now manageable hair back into the water of the tub. I still said nothing. At least my identity was still a mystery to her. I wanted to keep it that way.
Eohides and another woman I didn't know, nor ever learned her name, came in to help dry and dress me. Da finished tying the cords at the back of the green dress and then led me over to a mirror in the far corner of the room.
"Very pretty." Da said smiling. "As if nothing has happened."
I stared at myself. We had a mirror back at our hall in the East Emnet, but it was in my parent's chambers. It had been a very long time since I had last seen myself. My crimson hair had gotten very long and flowed down my back to just above my knees. I was tall for my age as well. My face was losing the roundness of childhood. I could see a lot of my father in me. I had his high cheekbones and slender neck, but I had my grandmother's eyes. Because of these eyes I was given her name. I have been told that in her day she was considered the most beautiful woman in the world of men. I did not hold beauty on a high pedestal. Beauty blinds the true light of the soul.
As Eohides and the other woman went about cleaning and removing the tub from the room Da pulled back and braided my hair.
"I think it would be lovely if you were to stay with us here at Meduseld. Lady Eowyn could use a friend of close age. She hasn't been quite the same since her mother died." Da said. I could tell by the tone of her voice she had given up on conversing, but now rather spoke just to hear herself talk. So Eomer's sister is named Eowyn.
Eohides and the other woman had carried the tub out of the room. A few minutes later as Da pinned the last braid back above my ears there was a loud knock at the door.
"Come in!" Da called out.
The door opened and Eomer entered. He was no longer wearing his armor underclothes. He stood tall in a pair of brown, wool breeches that had a golden pattern down the outer side and a fur trimmed, leather jerkin over a white, cotton tunic. He nodded his head toward us.
"Lady Da," he said first looking at her. "Deya." He said glancing at me. This time his eyes did not linger on me but rather looked somewhere past me instead. "I will be your escort to the hall of the King."
Was he embarrassed of his earlier actions? It wasn't like him to fear my gaze.
"Yes, Lord Eomer." Da said standing up bowing slightly. "She is ready."
I did not stand. I stared at him feeling my temper flare again for revealing my name to Da. It mattered not. I would soon be home and Edoras and everyone within would forget all about me. He came over to me and held out his hand.
"If you would so do me the honor, Deya." He said. This time he did look into my eyes, but they were hazy and didn't hold the warm they had earlier. I had never met a person with such lively eyes before I sighed and stood up without taking his hand and headed toward the door on my own.
"Are you so proud that you cannot even address a farewell to the woman whose medical skills spared your life?" Eomer asked coldly. I stopped and turned around glaring at him.
"Good day, Da." I said giving a quick nod and walked briskly down the hall.
I soon heard the door shut and footsteps behind me. I did not look back until I was stopped when a hand grabbed my arm. I was flipped around and Eomer had a firm grip on both of my shoulders. He was leaning down glaring into my very soul. His face was no more than a dagger length from my own.
"I know you are noble and proud, but I have had enough of this high and mighty attitude." He said sternly.
"Release me!" I demanded returning his glare.
"Everyone has let your disrespect slide in pity of your circumstance, but I will not tolerate it any longer. You may be some kind of princess wanna be back home, but you are in the house of the King. Da has more power and influence than you ever will have in these halls. If you were not an honored guest you would be exposed to the full penalty of justice for your rude actions. If you dare to try and continue this rough and tough ruse in the presence of the King, I shall see that you do face retaliation." He said.
His eyes were borderline on that raging spark from earlier. I remained silent and nodded my head. He let me go. I saw the warrior spark leave his expression and he held out his arm.
"Now, if you would be so kind, Deya." He said bowing his head slightly. I took his offered arm and we were soon walking toward the mead hall.
We walked in silence. I couldn't help but notice that Eomer must have bathed as well. He had a slight woody, soap scent wafting off of him. It matched his deep, brown eyes. He really was quite tall for his age like a tall tree in the forest. I peeked out of the corner of my eye and studied his face. It still had so much of a boyish demeanor to his features. It was almost comical compared to his body. My gaze drifted to his own eyes and I realized that he was peeking at me as well. I felt embarrassed and averted my gaze back in front of me.
"I find it strange now that after your forceful words in the infirmary toward me that you are so silent now." He said.
"I have nothing to say." I said bluntly.
"Nothing to say? Or perhaps I have made you realize you may not be a skilled as you thought and that I now intimidate you." He said. I stopped and removed my arm from his.
"How pompous!" I exclaimed. "You call me high and mighty and scold me for thinking of myself in high regard and then you would do the same for yourself?"
"Will every word I say spark an argument with you?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"I am sorry. I am not accustomed to having conversations in which insults are commonplace." I said.
"I was only trying to make light conversation. Anything but this silence." He said crossing his arms. "Surely there must be something of interest to you here. You are in Edoras. There are many a fineries here. Surely you must have at least a question."
I thought for a moment and an evil grin came to my face. I turned to face him fully. "Very well, I have thought of a question. What was it that Theodred said to the King as you entered that flustered you so?" I asked.
His eyes widened and he turned the same shade of pink as before. "That is of little importance." He said and continued to walk down the hall. I followed behind him quickly.
"Now who is stricken with silence?" I asked.
"It matters not!" he said speeding up his steps.
"Wait!" I said. I had to lift the hem of my dress just to keep up with him. He finally stopped at a grand archway. I grabbed a hold of his arm stopping him. "Tell me!" I demanded.
He looked down at me. Where his gaze was once direct his eyes now darted from one of my eyes to the other like a nervous rabbit trapped in a burrow. A servant woman came to the archway.
"The king is ready for you now, Miss." She said smiling and bowing her head toward Eomer.
I looked at her and nodded and then looked back to Eomer who still remained silent. I looked away from him and went to enter the hall. Eomer grabbed my arm again. I turned around and looked up at him.
"Theodred said….." he hesitated.
"Yes?" I asked.
"He said 'It is obvious now why he lingered so around her,' " he said quickly and then he let me go and walked briskly back down the hall leaving me dumbfounded and confused in the archway.
"Miss?" the servant asked breaking my trance and bringing me back down to the earth. I shook the thoughts from my head and followed her into the hall.
I was humbled once more. I had thought it impossible for this house to be any grander but the mead hall put all the rest of the intricate décor to shame. King Théoden sat proudly on a magnificent, wooden throne on a raised pedestal. He smiled as I approached. Theodred sat in the smaller throne to his left. I recognized the guard that was standing to his right. It was Hama. He was much stockier than I had originally thought. In fact I imagined that he could not even look upon his own shoes over his round midsection. His face was almost as round as his belly and was taken over by a bushy beard that was the same shade of rust as his hair. His nose was wide and he had large nostrils like a horse.
I walked over directly in front of the king and curtseyed before him. Prince Theodred sat in the smaller throne to the king's right.
"I thank thee, My King, for bestowing your kindness and resources upon a humble girl like myself. I am your honored and loyal servant, my lord." I said as politely as I could.
King Théoden busted out in a deep bellied laugh and stood up from the throne. "Rise, Child, this is but humble Rohan and I am but a humble man. There is no need for such propriety." He said stepping down to the floor. He gently rested his hands on my shoulders and beckoned me to my feet. Theodred stood up as well and walked over to his father's side smiling at me.
"Your presence has made this old wood barn a little brighter, my lady." Theodred said and he knelt down and took my hand bringing it to his lips for a light kiss. I wanted to pull it away quickly and smack him, but I suppressed my temper thinking back to Eomer's warning.
"Come," the king said, "Please join me and my family for supper."
"May I escort you to the table, Miss?" Theodred asked holding out his hand. I took it and was led to a nearby table that had been prepared with a roast fowl, boiled barely with salt, potatoes fried golden brown with a bit if onion, and steaming mead in fine golden goblets. It wasn't too long after I, the king, and the prince sat down at the table that Eomer entered with Eowyn following close behind him. I stared at Eomer but his eyes looked as if desperate to look at anything but me.
When everyone was finally seated two servants came over and began to serve the meal. Théoden turned to me.
"Would you like to introduce yourself or shall I?" he said. I looked up at him shocked and then averted my gaze down to the table. Eomer had told me not to lie to the king, but he failed to mention that the king already knew. I looked around at everyone nervously.
"My name is Déorwyrdhnes, but I go by Deya. I am the second child and only daughter of Lord Renweard of the East Emnet and Hearpestre of the Westfold." I said.
"I have not seen Lord Renweard since before you were born. I can see a lot of him in your face. When you journey home, you must tell him he has been missed in the Golden Hall." Théoden said.
"How dare you say she looks like a man, Father." Theodred said in a half laugh. He looked at me and smiled. "I would say that your beauty would only compare to that of the glistening dew on flowers on a summer sunrise."
I could feel my face grow hot. Not from flattery or embarrassment, but from anger. So far Theodred's first impression was leading me to believe he was a shameless womanizer. Not very princely in the least. I notice Eomer fidget about in his seat. I looked at him. He was glaring at his cousin. My anger melted away and now I had to try and suppress a giggle.
"All compliments aside, I would like for Renweard to visit for a stay. With talk of wildmen in our far northern borders we may need to discuss a new military strategy.
"I beg your pardon, Théoden King, but I have no intention of returning home to the East Emnet." I said. Both the king and the prince had confused looks on their faces.
"You wish to stay here then?" Theodred asked.
"No, I wish to leave Rohan." I said.
"Leave Rohan!" The king said sternly. He was in between sips on his goblet and nearly chocked. He set the goblet down briskly. "What fault do you find with my country?" he asked.
"I find no fault in your country. Rohan is beautiful and fine. My reasons are my own." I said.
"I respect your words. You are very proud and outspoken. When you decide to leave I will see to it that you will receive a new horse, but you will be missed when you leave." Théoden said smiling again. "However, where will you go if not Rohan?" he asked.
"I wish to travel north. That is all I wish to say.' I said. After Eomer's reaction to my truths earlier I dare not tell the entire Meduseld court and be made a laughing stock.
"Surely, though, you will not be leaving anytime soon. You are nowhere near healed enough to make such a journey. Perhaps, you would like to stay here at Meduseld for a time….a month maybe? I'm sure Eomer would oblige in showing you around Edoras and the nearer villages." Theodred said. I watched as Eomer casted his cousin a stare as if he would have chopped off his head that moment. Theodred kept a smug grin on his face. The servants had finished serving the table. King Théoden picked up his fork first.
"Now, we shall eat and be grateful for our lands and the people that keep them safe." He said.
"Hear Hear!" rang through the halls
Everyone else began to eat. I felt very content. I would not be sent home and my dream and joining the elves had been rekindled. I would be ready to ride within the month. Everything was right and peaceful.
"Sir! You cannot enter!"
Everyone stopped eating and turned their attention to the front door.
"Let me pass at once!"
My eyes widened. I knew that voice. Eomer noticed my reaction.
"Deya?" he asked. I heard him but I could not turn my attention from the door.
"Sir! Put down your weapon at once!"
"Step aside or I shall put my sword through your chest!"
Hama and the other guards quickly drew their own swords and hurried to surround the King. The front doors burst open and my father came storming in with his sword in hand.
"Déorwyrdhnes!" he yelled. He had the fire of hate in his eyes.
"Papa!" I said standing so quickly that the chair tipped over. He came over to me briskly and backhanded me across the face. I fell to the floor and clutched my face looking up at him in fear. He swung his sword and I felt the tip slice across my cheek. I cried out in pain.
"How dare you! Do you realize what kind of position you put our family in!" He said grabbing my hair to lift me up. I screamed. Blood from my cheek was dripping onto the floor.
"Lord Renweard! You will stop this at once!" the king exclaimed.
"This is none of your concern!" my father said back to him coldly. Eomer stood.
"You will obey your king." He said calming putting his hand on the handle of his own sword.
"You think you are intimidating boy?" my father said letting go of my hair. I fell back to the floor. I tried to crawl away but my father swiftly kicked me in my back with the heel of his boot. I screamed as I felt my wound tear open. I rolled over onto my back writhing.
The next few moments were almost a blur. Eomer cried out in rage and jumped up onto the table.
"Eomer!" the said exclaimed.
It was too late. Eomer lunged for my father knocking him to the ground. He managed to pin my father's arms down and began to punch him over and over again. Theodred pulled out his own sword and rushed over putting his arm around Eomer and pulling him off of my father. My father got to his feet quickly. He eye was now swelling up and his lip was busted open. He reached up and wiped a bit of blood from his forehead and spit out the rest from his mouth. His sword had been knocked out of his hands and he pulled a dagger from his belt and held it out.
"I come only for my daughter. Not to quarrel with some pubescent warrior." He said holding up the dagger in Eomer's direction. Eomer was now standing next to Theodred. He had calmed but now drew his sword out.
"You, sir, will leave this hall, and you shall never return." He said pointing it my father.
"I am not leaving without my swine of an offspring."
"I will not let that happen." Eomer said and he looked to the king. They exchanged silent words and the king nodded back at him. Eomer snapped his fingers and several armed guards filed into the hall and surrounded my father. The king drew his own sword and slowly approached him.
"Renweard!" the king yelled, "Drop your weapon at once. Can we not be civil?"
"Civil? Never when it concerns that brat!" my father said rashly and gestured in my direction. I was finally sitting up again. A mixed puddle of tears and blood had soaked down the front of the now ruined green, velvet dress. I could do nothing but watch the horror unfold before me.
"Renweard, for your actions of treason within my own halls, I hereby strip you of your title and deny you the rite of your daughter. I declare her a ward of Meduseld. You and the rest of your family are banished from the country of Rohan. Do you comply?"
Hate and rage looked as if it had encompassed my father like a cloud of shadow. He glared at the king with eyes like a beast. His face was twitching and then a wave of fear came over his expression as he realized the judgment the king had just passed. His eyes darted around the room nervously. Quite suddenly he went into a fit of hysterical crying and laughing at the same time and fell to his knees.
The king made his way to him with concern. "Renweard?" he asked putting his sword away. "Sheath your weapons!" He ordered the guards.
When the king was but a few steps from my father, my father looked up at him and then he looked at me. At once the rage returned to him and twisted up his face beyond recognition. It was as if my father was no longer human. He lifted the dagger to his own throat. I screamed as I watched him tear apart his own flesh. His blood splattered the king, Eomer, and a few guards and he seized about for a few seconds until finally falling to the floor limp. Blood flowed from his neck and all the emotions left his eyes in the presence of the king.