The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Six: Return to Edoras
I stopped to rest when I assumed I was about halfway to Edoras. I was weary as my panic levels dwindled. I was also worried. I expected to catch up with Eothain and Freda by now but they were nowhere to be seen or found. I dismounted the horse and let her rest and drink from a little stream. I looked at my reflection in the water. I had not paid any heed to my looks since the last I looked in a mirror all those years ago standing next to Da.
I was a woman now. I was tall, but not quite as tall as Morwen. All the roundness of childhood had melted away from my face and body. I wasn't nearly as broad as Morwen either; I was thin but my hips were fuller and added a sharp contrast from my waist. My features were defined, my cheekbones striking. The gleam of the sun off the water seemed to make my emerald eyes glow. I noticed that I had dirt on my face and hands. I undressed and bathed quickly as the mare rested in a spot of grass. As I splashed water on my face my fingers traced the scar on my cheek. I was returning to Edoras and I would also possibly see Eomer again. Would he recognize me? Would he find my weathered hands and scared body ugly? Would his eyes still have that terrifying spark? How had he changed over these long years? I felt my cheeks grow hot and left the water and dressed.
I remounted the horse and continued on the road to Edoras. The sun would be setting soon. I learned my lesson long ago not to venture off the beaten path in the night. As the darkness crept over the grassland the chill of the waning winter claimed my flesh. I soon felt frozen, but I did not stop. I had to get to Eomer….Edoras. I had to get to Edoras.
I slowed the horse down to a near crawl and tied a rope around her neck. I secured the rope around my waist and fell into a half sleep. I stirred at the sun's first light and I recognized my surroundings. The west road was about to meet up with the east road where I encountered that strange fellow all those years ago. I was upon Edoras. My heart seemed to leap into my throat as I saw the front gate come into view around the bend. As I grew closer I saw a couple of guards in the watch tower. They spotted me and hustled about.
"Open the gate for the lady!" one called out.
I stopped as the gates began to open slowly. A guard was waiting on the other side next to a stable hand. I dismounted the mare and turned her over to the hand.
"Where may I escort you, Lady?" the guard asked.
"I bring urgent news of the Westfold and I wish to speak to Théoden King as soon as possible." I said.
The guard's expression changed dramatically.
"I am afraid that the King is indisposed as of late." He said solemnly.
"Is everything alright?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"The king has been ill for many years. All requests must first achieve the consent of the King's counsel." He said.
"How may I go about getting the consent of the counsel?" I asked.
"The counsel is also indisposed. I am sorry, Lady." The guard said and he bowed and returned to the watch tower.
For eleven years I had to lock my true away deep inside. I had to keep a polite smile on my face and do what I was told. I never talked back once. I never raised my voice. I thought for a moment that I had forgotten that part of myself. After this confusing jumble of introductions I found a growling somewhere deep down inside like a hibernating beast beginning to awaken.
I lifted the hem of my skirt and ran up the main road to the steps of Meduseld. I took the steps two by two until I came to the front door. The door open and I felt a strange joy overcome me as a man and two guards wearing their helmets came out to meet me. The man was Hama. He had changed little since I last saw him. He was just as rusty, and fat as ever!
"I am sorry, Miss. But no one is allowed in the hall today. The prince has been badly wounded and the court is mourning." He said.
"I have important news of the Westfold." I said. I tried to be stern, but I was so happy to see Hama again that I couldn't stop smiling. He gave me a funny look noticing me staring at him.
"I'm sorry, Miss." He said and he bowed and turned around quickly to escape the awkward situation I put him in.
"Please, Hama!" I called out. He turned around and raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know me?" he asked.
I hesitated. I had not spoken my true name in so long I almost had forgotten it. "It is I, Déorwyrdhnes." I said. His look got even more confused as he searched his mind for why he was supposed to know that name. "Déorwyrdhnes," I said again, "Deya?" I could not believe he did not remember me! Would Eomer have forgotten me as well?
He stared at me for a long time and then a look of great shock came over his face and a huge smile spread from one of his ears to the other. The next thing I knew he had me in a great big bear hug.
"You have sprouted like a tree in Fangorn!" he said and he released me. "You are more lovely than I remember, Child! Whatever became of you?" he asked.
"There will be a time to catch up on days gone past later. I must speak to King Théoden." I said. "The Westfold is being ravaged by the Uruks." I said.
"We know of the Uruks….and the wildmen. There is a greater evil here, but I cannot speak of it. There are foul ears within the halls of the King." He said.
"Foul ears?" I asked.
"I can't say anymore, but I will announce your arrival at once." He said. I nodded and Hama went back inside with the guards.
I felt my heart quicken its pace. In my joy of seeing Hama I had forgotten all about Eomer. He could be anywhere and could pop out of any door. I reached up and smoothed my hair. What would he look like? What would he sound like? I couldn't remember his voice but it no doubt changed too over the years.
Several minutes went by. Hama had not returned yet. I drew in a deep breath and walked over to the edge of the stairs. Would they keep me waiting out here all morning? There was a mild wind. I looked out over the plains and the peaks of the White Mountains. Both of the double doors of the hall were suddenly trust open. I turned back around expecting to see Hama. I froze. Eomer stood in between the doors looking around desperately in all directions.
His eyes connected to mine and they sparked like fire. He had grown into a fine man. His face was far from that of a boy anymore. He was a man. His brow was broad and his chin was robust and had a groomed, short beard and royal mustache. His head rested on shoulders that were at least a foot more broad and he was at least two feet taller. His eyes had not changed in the least. They stared into my soul as they had in the yesteryears. They burned as he gazed at me. They traveled all the way down to my feet and back up to my eyes stopping in a few key places. He was a man alright. I smiled at him.
"Hello Eomer." I said.
Even though he was in his full, heavy armor, he ran from the door suddenly toward me. I expected him to stop and greet me, but he did not stop. He practically tackled me at full force and I almost fell backward down the stairs. He wrapped his arms around me and embraced me so tightly that I could not even hug him back. My arms were pinned under his. My face was pressing into the armor on his chest. I felt his breath in my hair. His hands gripped me as if he would never let go.
"I cannot breath, Eomer." I managed to say barely.
He lightened his grip but kept his arms wrapped around me. He stared at me with an expression of disbelief as if I were a dream.
"Deya…." He whispered as he lifted one of his hands to my chin and tilted it up toward him. He was very close and I realized he was getting closer. My heart pounded in my chest. He stopped when he was barely a needle length from my own lips. His other hand left my back and he traced his finger along the scar on my cheek.
"This should not have scared." He said. He finally spoke. The sound I wanted to hear! His voice had become quite deep and his accent was sharp and his dictation was regal. I could not draw my eyes away from his and I was too flustered to attempt to form coherent words.
"Ahem, Deya?"
Whatever this moment between Eomer and I was shattered and we both turned to see Hama standing in the doorway. He made a throat clearing sound and raised an eyebrow to Eomer. He immediately took several steps back away from me.
"I must return to Theodred." Eomer said nodding his head to me. He avoided Hama's stare as he re-entered the hall. Hama motioned me to come over by him.
"Yes, Hama?" I asked.
"Lord Eomer was about to address the king when I announced your arrival. You may enter with me as an escort, but you must wait until addressed to speak." He said.
"I understand." I said and I began to follow him but he stopped. "Try not to react when you see the king. He has changed much since last you walked these walls." I gave him a puzzled looked but nodded and followed him inside.
The once lavish walls and carvings were now covered with dust and cobwebs. The entire hall had an invisible shadow lingering over it. There was a thick gloom in the air. I followed Hama up the right side of the hall between the tall columns and the wall. I looked toward the throne and felt a great lump in my throat. With every column I passed by I got a clearer and clearer view of the King. Théoden was a mess and it took a great deal of me to not react as Hama had asked. The king's once kind, and open face had become shriveled and pale. His eyes were clouded over and his matted, unwashed hair and beard nearly claimed his face like sprawling weeds. He was hunched over and draped in his finest clothes as if ready to attend his own funeral.
A woman was kneeling at his feet. She was thin, but very fair and had long golden hair that reached down her back. Her face was so stern that it looked like it was carved from stone. Eomer walked up and stood beside her. His eyes flashed to me for a brief moment before settling on the king.
"Your son is badly wounded, my lord." The woman said.
"He was ambushed by orcs." Eomer said. The king did not react to their words. "If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force." Eomer continued on.
"That is a lie!"
Everyone turned their attention to the far right of the king to an archway. A man emerged. I raised my eyebrows in shock. It was the man I had passed on the road on my journey home all those years ago. He looked as ill-humored as ever. He was more pale than I had guessed in the dark and his hair looked as if it had not been washed in many days. I also realized that he had no eyebrows. It only added to his twisted and sinister appearance. Eomer looked less than pleased to see him enter the mead hall. The man crept up to the right of the king like an insect.
"Saruman the white has ever been our friend and ally." He continued as he knelt before the king. The king leaned over and muttered barely above a whisper.
"Grima…Grima…..Grima…."
Grima looked from the king to Eomer and the woman and back to the king.
"Orcs are roaming freely across our lands." Eomer interjected. Grima looked up at him with as scowl and stood up. Eomer continued speaking, "Unchecked. Unchallenged. Killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman." His expression was on borderline with rage as he dropped a blood stained helmet to the feet of the king. A slender white hand print sprawled on its cowl. Grima's eyes drifted down to the helmet and for a moment he looked a bit nervous. The woman glanced at the helmet as well and then looked up at Grima. I felt sure that the conversation would bend in favor toward Eomer. Grima's face twitched a bit, but he finally spoke.
"Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind." He said kneeling down to the king again. "Can you not see? Your uncle is wearied by your…" he looked over her shoulder at Eomer. "..Malcontent. Your warmongering."
Eomer's expression flashed with full blown rage. "Warmongering?" he asked as the anger leaked into his voice. He reached out and grabbed Grima by his cloak and dragged him to the side of the hall. He slammed him up against a column.
"How long is it since Saruman bought you?" Eomer asked "What was the promised price Grima? When all the men are dead, you will take your share of the treasure?"
Grima looked terrified. Suddenly his eyes flashed to the right. Eomer followed his gaze. The woman that was at the king's feet was walking away from the throne to return to the halls. She stopped and looked toward Eomer a bit concerned for only a moment until she saw Grima and continued walking on with anger in her steps. Eomer's face grimaced up in rage and he reached up and grabbed Grima by his chops.
"Too long have you watched my sister….Too long have you haunted her steps!" he said. Grima looked petrified. Suddenly, several men who looked not of Rohan filtered into the mead hall and surrounded Eomer and Grima. Grima's fear melted away as he looked around at the men and his mouth twisted into a sinister smile. Two of the men placed their hands hard on Eomer's shoulders and Grima removed his grip away from his face.
"You see much, Eomer son of Eomund." Grima said straightening himself up from the column. His expression turned stern. "Too much."
One of the men quickly hastened a blow to Eomer's mid-section. Eomer cried out and immediately tried to free himself from the grip the men had on him. I gasped and started to take a step toward him. Hama reached out and grabbed my arm.
"Don't you dare." He whispered. I turned my gaze back to the horror that was unfolding around Eomer.
"You are banished forthwith from the Kingdom of Rohan and all its domains…" Grima continued. Eomer began to thrash around wildly desperate to free himself.
"Urgh!" he exclaimed
"…under pain of death." Grima said looking down upon him.
Several more men now had a firm grip on Eomer. He glared at Grima as a snarl twisted up on his face.
"You have no authority here. Your orders mean nothing!" he said. One of the men swiftly punched him again and he cried out. I lifted my hand to cover my mouth as my eyes watered up from the scene. I felt so helpless.
A cocky expression came to Grima's face. "This order does not come from me. It comes from the king." He held up a bit of parchment and it unfolded down. "He signed it this morning."
Eomer looked in utter shock and pain to see his uncle's weak and scribbled signature on the parchment. He looked back up at Grima and I watched his face twist up in rage again.
"NOOOOOOO! URGH!" he yelled as the men dragged him out of the mead hall.
"No!" I exclaimed and tried to loosen Hama's grip on my arm.
"Stay still, child. Grima may be weak but his minions are strong and could do a lot worse to you than kill you." Hama said giving me a fatherly look.
Grima walked slowly back up to the king and took a seat in the chair next to him.
"Bring forth the girl from the Westfold." He said rubbing his chin where Eomer had grabbed it. Hama finally released me but he leaned in close to my ear.
"Please do nothing rash," he whispered.
I slowly approached the king and Grima.
"What is this news you bring of the Westfold?" Grima asked calmly. The way he said it also sounded more like a rehearsed line than a question.
I felt my temper ripen. The beast that had been hiding deep inside was fully awake…and hungry for blood. I felt my nostrils flare as I walked right up to Grima on his fake "high and mighty" pedastal. I lifted my hand and slapped him across the face. He squealed out like a woman.
"How dare you!" he exclaimed rubbing his cheek.
"I can tell you nothing of the Westfold that you do not already know!" I said and I hurried in the direction after Eomer. Hama was soon following me down the hall.
"Nothing rash, I said. Of course slapping the King's Counsel isn't rash." He said as he finally caught up with me.
"He deserved it." I said. "Where would they take Eomer?" I asked.
"Eomer matters not! You have to go back and apologize right now. If he passes a judgment I can do nothing to save you!" Hama said reaching out for my arm again. I turned around so fast and ripped my arm away so quickly that I saw the fat ripple in Hama's cheeks.
"WHERE?" I demanded.
Hama looked at me and sighed. "The stables. He is allowed his horse and his sword." He said. Hama was about to say something else but I was long gone down the hall.