The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Eight: The Wizard and the Three Strangers
At some point during my grief and guilt ridden outburst I fell asleep. I woke when I heard heavy footsteps outside the door. I lifted my head. The fire had burnt down to a few glowing coals that casted the room in orange shadows. I sat up and looked at the window. It was dark now. I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered when the cool air reached me. I felt a little bit better; or rather I should say that I now felt very numb. I broke my own heart as I realized that I had stomped on Eomer's. The pillow I had been clutching through my sad little nap had fallen to the floor. I leaned over and picked it up. I fluffed it briefly and returned it back to the head of the bed. There was a strange crispy noise as it landed on the other pillows. I raised an eyebrow. I scooted toward the headboard and I felt under the pillows. My fingers grazed the sharp edge of a piece of parchment.
"Ow!" I said pulling my hand back. I looked at my finger to make sure it wasn't bleeding but I couldn't see anything in the darkness. I stood up and went over to the fireplace. I threw in three logs and added a handful of straw. I lit a match and set the dry straw ablaze. I dug around in some drawers and changed out the candles that were on the tables. I lit them as well. The room now had a nice, warm glow. I cringed when I looked down at the floor. I hadn't realized it earlier but they were quite dirty. That would be my next task. I could feel the grime under my bare feet.
I returned to the bed and moved the pillows down to the foot of the bed. There was a little cabinet that built into the carved headboard of the bed. A corner of parchment stuck out at the bottom. I opened the cabinet. Inside were two books; one of them was the same book Eomer had been reading that day in the infirmary. It had a light green, velvet binding. There were also two small daggers and three pieces of parchment at the bottom. The parchments were very crumpled as if they had been handled many times. They were probably notes on sword skills or horse breeding notes. I picked up on and turned it over. I gasped.
They were no notes of academics or military plans. They were magnificent sketches and they were sketches of me. Or at least of what I looked like when I was thirteen. The first one was of me sleeping in the infirmary. The second was of me wearing what looked like the green gown I wore when I was invited to supper with Théoden King and his family. The third one almost made laugh out loud. It was me, but I was wearing the armor of the Rohhirum and I was holding a sword in a fighting stance. These were very good. Who drew these?
I returned the sketches to the bottom of the cabinet; a little more organized so they would protrude out. I picked up the book with the green cover. I opened it and found myself shocked once more. It was not a normal book of words of wisdom or poetry. It had come with blank pages, but most of the pages were covered with drawings and doodles. Some were of horses and some of Edoras and the plains. There were drawings of the mead hall and of Théoden sitting in his throne in his better years gone past. All of the drawings had the same sratchy style. I then noticed several pieces of charcoal sticks at the bottom of the cabinet. Eomer was the artist in question. He was the one that drew me so fierce and yet so tenderly. I could picture him sitting in his chair in the infirmary watching me as I rested. His fingers delicately running the charcoal over his blank page as he shaped the deep waves in my flowing curls sprawling over the pillows. I felt my cheeks grow hot and my heart fluttered in my chest. I returned the book to the cabinet and shut the door. How would he draw me now if he were here now? Would he stand by the fireplace as I laid in his bed watching him watching me. His eyes beginning to burn as then studied the groves of my neck muscles and the curve of my hips under his blankets. I reached up and covered my reddening face. I was never a modest woman, but even in my own little day dream I felt embarrassed thinking of him staring at me so intimately.
I heard more heavy footsteps outside the door in the hall and was brought back into reality. I stood up and crossed the room to the door and opened it. There was man standing to the left side of the doorway who turned to look at me as I stepped out into the hall. I had never seen him before. He was tall, but not nearly as tall as Eomer. He was also thinner and less muscular. His hair was a dark blonde and he had an interesting and unique face. It was very square. He had large cheeks and a large, flat forehead. His eyes and nose were small and seemed squished in the center of his face. He was older, probably about the same age as Hama, but he had a shorter beard and a thick neck.
"Lady Deya? Why are you awake at such an hour?" he asked.
"Who are you?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Forgive me, lady, I am Gamling. I am second in command of the Edoras defense. Hama told me to send guards to your door in the night to protect your integrity. I found no guards willing to take the task so I came myself."
"I see. Thank you, Gamling. It is a brave and chivalrous act and your services are appreciated." I said smiling at him.
"Have I woken you? I am sorry" he said.
"No, you did not wake me. I fell asleep earlier in the afternoon." I said. I glanced down the hall and noticed that Theodred's door was still open. I reached back behind me and closed the door to Eomer's room.
"May I escort you, lady?" Gamling asked.
"No, I am going to sit with Theodred for a while." I said.
"I shall remain here then and keep watch the hall. If you should need anything please let me know." He said. I nodded at him and walked down the hall to Theodred's room.
The room was also very dark and I went about lighting a fire and the few torches that dotted the walls. Theodred's condition looked unchanged. If anything he was growing more pale and clammy. I noticed as I walked toward the bed that his bandages had leaked through to the blanket that covered him. I smelled infection rising from the damp sheets. I checked the bowl of water that was on the bedside table. It was ice cold. I looked around the room. There were no fresh bandages or ointment. I peeked out my head back into the hall.
"Gamling?" I asked.
"Yes, my lady?" he said walking over.
"Can you find someone to bring me a medical basket? Theodred's bandages need to be changed. " I said.
"I shall fetch it myself." He said nodding his head and he hurried down the hall. He came back a few minutes later with two baskets handing them to me.
"Thank you, Gamling. I will also need some hot water and clear, cold spirits. I think the prince may also have the onset of an infection. Do you know if there is a woman named Da who still resides in Meduseld?" I asked. Gamling looked saddened.
"Lady Da is my mother. She and nearly all of the other loyal servants were dismissed five years ago when the king's illness turned sour. She is not allowed to return to the hall." He said.
"Then I shall have to work extra hard." I said hurrying back into Theodred's room. I had to do my fair share of cleaning and even stitching caring for Lord Mekastre's children and grandchildren over the years. I set the baskets down by the bed. I tied back my hair and rolled up my sleeves. I gently pulled the covers off of Theodred and I rolled them up and set them by the door. I would launder them as well as Eomer's clothes the next afternoon. Gamling had returned with the water and spirits.
"Can I do anything else to help, my lady?" he asked.
"No, Gamling. You can return to your post if you want. I think I have things under control here." I said as I set the steaming pitcher on the table.
"I shall return to your door then. I promised Hama I would keep an eye on you." He said and he left the room. I found a pair of scissors in the basket and started to cut Theodred's old bandages. I cringed as I peeled one after another off of his chest and abdomen. His wound was much graver than I had thought. His stomach had been cut open and the acid was eating away at his flesh. Blood and puss oozed out reeking of infection.
Once all the soiled bandages had been removed I started wiping away the grime. I was surprised no one had attempted to at least try to stitch up the wound. I started to wipe off the sweat from his face and he stirred. He opened his eyes.
"Eowyn?" he asked and he reached up his hand. I dropped the rag I was wiping him with and took his hand. He squeezed it.
"No, it is Deya." I said squeezing it back. He turned to look at me and opened his eyes fully. A weak smile spread across his face.
"Deya…..Deya…." he said barely above a whisper. "You are more lovely than I could have ever imagined. I am jealous that it was my cousin and not I who won your favour." He said. I blushed.
"You need to rest, Prince Theodred. I am going to try to stitch up your wound. It will be more comfortable for you if you are sleeping again." I said.
"Why did you leave?" he asked. "You were greatly missed."
"I am right here, Theodred. I am not going anywhere." I said.
"No, you left….you left Eomer. He spoke of nothing else for months." He said.
"Theodred….." I whispered. His eyes fluttered closed and he was unconscious again. I felt my eyes water. I regretted that I barely knew him and I had judge him harshly when I first met him. Now, I was going to try and do everything that I could to heal him and keep him alive. I would give Eomer's his cousin back.
It took me several hours to stitch Theodred and wrap him back up with clean bandages. I had rinsed the wound with the spirits. He twitched a couple of times from the sting. When he was comfortable again I changed his sheets with Gamling's help. I found a fresh, wool blanket in a trunk in the corner and covered him. I fell into a half sleep at some point, because I was roused by the sunlight shining through the windows. I was half lying on the floor and half leaning on Theodred's bed. Gamling must have come in to check on me for I found a sheet draped around my shoulders. I stood up and checked Theodred's bandages. A great smile came to my face. The wound had not leaked through the entire night. The wound had finally dried. I had done it! I had saved him!
"Theodred!" I said excited as I grasped his hand. My smiled faded quickly. His hand was very cold and his fingers were stiff. I stared at his face as panic spread down my spine. "Theodred?" I asked reaching up to his forehead. He did not stir. I quickly felt his neck. Nothing….
I fell down to my knees as the tears flowed from my eyes down my cheeks. He was dead. Even after all my hard work he was dead. I had failed him and I had failed Eomer. I cried out loud and Gamling rushed in.
"Lady Deya?" he asked. He saw me weeping on the floor and then looked at Theodred. "No…" he whispered.
"I tried so hard…." I said in between sobs. Gamling rested his hand on my shoulder in comfort.
"You did all that you could. My mother would be proud if she saw you at work. Your actions were not in vain. Theodred knows of your toil and kindness toward him." He said.
"But…." I said in between sobs.
"You should leave him be and go about your day. I will inform Hama and Lady Eowyn." He said and he left the room. I stood up slowly and took one final look at Theodred before I returned to Eomer's room. I shut the door behind me. I leaned against it and wept for several minutes.
When the grief had passed I washed my face and hands in the cold, stale water in Eomer's wash bin. I looked down at my dress. I had a couple of stains from my endeavors of the night. I went over to the trunk where I had put Eomer's clean clothes and dug around. I was hoping to find an old sleep gown but found only shirts and breeches that were way too large for me to attempt to wear. I looked back down at the floor. I was already dirty. I might as well go ahead and clean the floors.
I went to the kitchen and prepared a bucket of soapy water. I found two brushes that were decently clean. I returned to Eomer's room and started scrubbing the floor. I needed a mindless, repetitive motion to keep my mind off the state of things. I finished the floor in about an hour and set the bucket and brushes next to the pile of dirty clothes I had to deal with later on. There was a knock at the door.
I wiped off my hands on the dress quickly and hurried over to open it. It was Hama. He had a wooden crate under his arm.
"Good morning Deya." He said and he set the crate down next to the door. "Gamling told me about how you passed the night tending to Theodred. That was very selfless."
"It was the least I could do." I said. "I have hurt many through my actions of the past and have much to redeem myself for."
"Don't fret about the past, Deya. It is what it is, the past. The important thing is that you are here now when your king and country need you most. I am proud of you." He said. I said nothing and looked down to my feet. He noticed and he rolled his eyes. "Eomer would be proud as well." He said laughing.
"How did King Théoden receive the news of Theodred?" I asked looking back up at him.
"Eowyn was trying to tell him as I passed through the mead hall. I doubt he will do anything. He has been lethargic and slow for many years." He said. "I can't stay long, though. There is much to do." He said.
"I understand." I said. Hama walked briskly back down the hall. I returned to the room and shut the door behind me. I picked up the crate and set it on the bed. I untied the strings that held it shut and opened it. I pulled out the fabric that was inside. They were two simple wool dresses. One was brown and one was a deep red. There was also a tan chemise and some cotton leggings. I changed quickly washing up again. I braided my hair and pinned it back. It had grown long again. I picked up the bucket to return it to the kitchen. After it was properly replaced I would start on the laundry.
As I went out into the hall I saw Grima standing by Theodred's door. The door was open and he was listening intently. He did not see me and I backed up slowly back into Eomer'r room. I shut the door leaving it open a crack to watch what this black snake was up to. He finally entered the doorway.
"Oh, he must have died sometime in the night." He said as he entered Theodred's room. I opened the door and set the bucket down. I tip toed to the door and peeked in. Eowyn was on her knees at Theodred's side weeping. Grima approached her.
"What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir." Grima sat down at the foot of Theodred's bed and looked at Eowyn. "I understand. His passing is hard for you to accept…" he reached out and touched her shoulder, "especially now that your brother has deserted you."
"Leave me alone snake!" Eowyn yelled standing up quickly moving away from him. Grima looked at her and an evil smile spread across his face.
"Oh, but you are alone. Who knows what you've spoken to the darkness…" He said standing, "in the bitter watches of the night when all your life seems to shrink." He moved in toward her and started to circle her. "The walls of your bower closing in about you. A hutch to trammel some wild thing in." He stared at her. His eyes darted around her face. "So fair….." he said and reached up resting one of his hands on her cheek, "So cold. Like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill." He moved his hand down to her neck.
For a moment, and only a moment, Eowyn looked comforted. She closed her eyes as if she was giving into his twisted seduction and relished his touch. But her eyes opened again and she glared at him.
"Your words are poison!" she said and she stormed out of the room nearly colliding with me.
"Sorry." I said getting out of her way.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"I was on my way to the kitchen when I overheard you. I didn't mean to eavesdrop." I said looking down. It was impossible for me to look her in the eye after she had scolded me the day before. She walked past me and hurried down the hall.
I looked back into the Theodred's room. Grima was standing looking at his hand that he had touched Eowyn with. He looked at me at once.
"What do you want?" he asked in a harsh tone.
"Do you think you even stand a chance with Eowyn?" I asked.
"How dare you. You are one to talk. I have heard whispers of your name in the shadows." He said. Suddenly he startred circling me like he had Eowyn. "You claim your name is 'Deya' yet I have heard you called other names; Harpy, demon, the beautiful ghost who would enter the favour of the Marshall of the Mark and weave dark and sinister dreams. You and I are not so different." He said stopping between me and the doorway. I glared at him.
"I am nothing like you. You are a cruel and cold man. If I were in charge I would have you tried and held accountable for Theodred's death. No doubt somehow your actions in poisoning this land led to his downfall anyway." Grima laughed at me.
"You are such a fool!" he said. "Do you not realize who is next in line to the throne now that Theodred has passed?"
"Hopefully, anyone but you." I said coldly.
"Do you think he will return and sweep you off your feet? Do you think he will choose some scared and tainted weed out of handful of flowers? Even in your darkest dreams of desire you will be forever parted." He said and he left the room quickly. I shut the door to Theodred's room. His words were meaningless…..I hoped they were anyway. I picked up the bucket and took it back to the kitchen. I emptied it and hung it back on the wall. I rinsed out the brushes and returned them to their proper place as well. I knew I had to do laundry, but I was starting to get hungry.
I entered the mead hall. Théoden was sitting in his throne again. He didn't look any better than he had the day before. Grima sat in the chair next to him. He watched me cautiously as I entered. I saw Hama sitting at a table by the front door eating a sandwich. I walked over and joined him. He smiled and then he divided the sandwich and handed it over to me. I took it and started to eat.
"Thank you for the dresses." I said in between bites.
"There were my wife's from her yesteryears. They are still a bit loose on you though." He said and half laughed.
"It is much better than going around soiled or naked." I said.
"Knowing you, you would parade around naked without a qualm. So whatever became of you these long years? Where did you go?" he asked.
"I returned home with the ill news of my father. My family and I traveled to the Westfold for a time. My brother and mother passed this life and I entered the service of Lord Mekastre of the Westfold where I remained in his service until his town was attacked and I came here." I said. Hama offered her water goblet to me and I took a sip.
"A maid?" he asked.
"Yes. I lived a humbled life." I said.
"Why didn't you wait for an answer from the king? He was very understanding and was going to…." Hama was cut off by Gamling who rushed over to him from the front door.
"Hama!" he said catching his breath. "Gandalf the wizard is approaching with three others. They just passed through the main gates of the city and are heading up toward Meduseld."
Hama stood up at once and almost tipped the table over with his big belly. "Gandalf?" he asked. He looked over his shoulder at Théoden and back to Gamling. "I'll handle this. You stay near the king." He said and then he looked at me. "Deya, I want you to stay near me. This could get ugly." He said and he hurried over to Grima. I stood up and followed him.
"Grima, Gandalf is coming to audience with the king." Hama said. Grima's expression turned sour.
"He comes alone?" Grima asked.
"No, there are three others with him." Hama said.
"Disarm them before they enter and make sure you also take the wizard's staff." Grima said sternly.
Hama nodded to him. He also nodded at me. I followed him to the front doors to wait for the party to arrive. I was a little excited. I had heard stories of wizards when I was young and to think I was about to meet one. I felt like a child again. I noticed that some of Grima's thugs were filing into the hall. The guard at the window nodded at Hama. The wizard and the three strangers were here.
The guards opened the doors and Hama walked out to greet them. I stood behind him as he and a few guards went out with him. The elderly chap wrapped in the grey cloak must have been the wizard, Gandalf. He had long, white hair and an equally long, white beard. The three strangers were quite strange indeed. One was a man. He was a tall, dressed like a ranger and had very long legs. His dark hair fell to his shoulders. He was very handsome but his beard had flecks of grey from time. The second was an elf. He had long blonde hair half pulled back. It was the first time I had ever seen an elf, however, he wasn't as good looking as the stories of his people would have led on. The third was a bulky dwarf. He was wearing heavy armor and he had a long braided, red beard.
"Ah!" Gandalf said and Hama approached them and a big smile spread across his face.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame, by order of Grima Wormtongue." Hama said. Gandalf looked over to the man and nodded and then he looked over to the elf and dwarf and nodded. The three quickly began to turn over their quivers, swords, and knives. The dwarf looked less than enthused about handing over his battle axe. When they were done Gandalf looked back to Hama.
"Your staff." Hama said.
"Oh….." Gandalf looked shocked and hurt. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick." Hama rolled his eyes and sighed. He turned around and led the four men into the hall. Hama stopped and bowed to the king before he walked off to the right of the hall. I followed him. Gandalf held onto the elf's arm as they entered the hall. Hama and I went to stand by Gamling. Grima leaned into Théoden's ear.
"My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming." He said. The thugs that had entered were now following the four men as they neared Théoden's throne. "He's a herald of woe." Grima continued.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King." Gandalf said loudly.
"He's not welcome." Grima said to the king. The king looked up at Gandalf.
"Why should I welcome you….Gandalf Stormcrow?" he said weakly and he turned back to Grima.
"A just question my liege." Grima said. "Late," he stood up. "Is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear." He stepped down from the King's platform and walked toward Gandalf. "Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent." Gandalf said sternly. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." He said and he held up his staff to Grima. Grima's eyes widened.
"His staff…." He said terrified. He then looked over to Hama. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!" he said backing away. The thugs rushed through the people of the court standing at the sidelines toward the wizard. Gandalf keep his eyes on Théoden. The three strangers quickly moved and engaged the thugs. Gamling reached for his sword but Hama stopped him. If Hama had his hand on Gamling…he could not stop me. I ran from his side up to the nearest thug that was about to lay a blow on the back of the head of the man with the long legs. I jabbed him in the kidneys and then kicked the back of his knees. The man with the long legs turned around and when he saw me he raised an eyebrow and a puzzled expression came to his face. Another thug rushed us and my curled up fist quickly met with his face breaking his nose. Gandalf approached the king.
"Théoden! Son of Thengal!" he said and raised his hand in respect and recognition. I had a choke hold on a thug that had snuck up on the dwarf, but I looked up to see what was happening. Théoden's eyes widened for a moment and he rose up as if he knew his name, but he quickly slumped back down into the throne. I let go of the now unconscious thug and the dwarf gave me a puzzled look much like the man but smiled and nodded at me before rushing another one of the thugs.
"Too long have you sat in the shadows…." Gandalf continued. The elf knocked out the last of the thugs. I saw Grima on the floor. He was trying to scoot away from the fight. The dwarf gave a burly sound as he rushed over and placed his foot on Grima's chest forcing him back down. Grima raised his hands and had an expression of a coward as I ever saw one! I nearly burst out laughing.
"I would stay still if I were you." The dwarf said.
"Hearken to me!" Gandalf exclaimed. He had reached Théoden. All the bystanders of the court slowly walked toward the king to watch the commotion unfold. I stood in between the man and the elf. My heart was racing, but not from the fight. I was anxious about the king and whether this wizard would cure him…..or kill him. Gandalf raised his hand to Théoden.
"I release you from this spell." He said and he closed his eyes in deep focus. I held my breath…nothing happened.
"Ha ha…." Every turned their eyes to the king. "Ha ha ha!" The king continued to laugh, mocking Gandalf. My heart sank. I feared the kind and warm king would never return. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey." He continued.
Anger spread across Gandalf's face as he reached for the edge of his grey cloak. He pulled it off his shoulders and threw it aside. There was a blinding light that eradiated off of Gandalf. Théoden was forced backward in the throne. There wasn't a speck of grey on the wizard now.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound!" Gandalf said and he jabbed his staff in the direction of the king. He didn't make contact but Théoden was forced backward. His face twisted up as he tried to fight Gandalf's power. He gripped the arms of the chair as he tried to fight Gandalf's power. I heard footsteps and turned to see Eowyn enter the hall. Her face looked horrified when she saw the king and she rushed to him. The man with the long legs grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Wait" he whispered. Eowyn looked at him and then back to the king. Théoden looked at Gandalf and spoke.
"If I go Théoden dies!" said he but in voice that was not his. It sent chills down my back….Saruman. Gandalf jabbed him with the staff again. He was getting closer to the king.
"You did not kill me. You will not kill him!" Gandalf said sternly. Saruman was using Théoden like a puppet! He made the king lean forward panting from the strain. He glared at Gandalf.
"Rohan is mine!" he yelled out only to be jabbed yet again.
"Be gone!" Gandalf continued.
Saruman through Théoden writhed in the chair. He tilted his head back and forth trying to fight the invisible force that was pushing on him. He finally got a good grip on the chair and lunged toward Gandalf.
"Argh!" he exclaimed.
"Ahhh!" Gandalf said and quickly trusted the staff across Théoden's forehead. The entire mead hall went silent. Théoden groaned and started to tip over forward from the chair. Gandalf sighed and stepped down from the platform. Eowyn broke free of the man's grip and rushed to Théoden catching him and pushing him back upright on the throne. Both Hama and Gamling were staring. Hama placed his hand on Gamling's shoulder to reassure him.
I could scarcely believe the sight before my eyes. Théoden took deeper and stronger breaths with each passing second as his eyes darted around the room. I watched as the old and pale melted away. Color returned to his cheeks and where his eyes were once milky they now turned into pools of a deep blue. The blonde resurfaced in his hair. He was Théoden King again, exactly as I had remembered him. His eyes came to rest on Eowyn. She had a huge smile on her face and her eyes turned glassy with tears of joy.
"I know you face." Théoden said staring at her. He studied her for a moment and a smile came to his own face. "Eowyn…..Eowyn…" Eowyn reached up and cradled his face smiling. I felt a smile come to my own face as well as many others in the mead hall.
Théoden's attention turned forward. "Gandalf?" he asked.
"Breath the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said leaning on his staff. Théoden then tried to stand. Eowyn helped him to his feet. He winced for a moment as muscles long forgotten were called upon.
"Dark have been my dreams of late…." Théoden said as he adjusted to standing. He looked around and his eyes stopped on me for a few seconds before he lifted his hands and looked them over.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword." Gandalf said smiling. Hama quickly walked up to the king and held out the king's sword. Théoden stared at it for a moment and reached out slowly touching the end. He finally wrapped his fingers around the handle and pulled it out. He held it up and looked it over. It was all coming back to him. His expression changed rapidly to rage and he casted his eyes at Grima who was still subdued by the dwarf.
Hama and Gamling grabbed Grima by his shoulders and drug him toward the front door. The king followed them slowly. Everyone else followed him. I trailed behind and stood in the doorway watching as Hama and Gamling threw Grima down the stairs. Grima tumbled down to where the stairs stopped and curved to the right. He cried out in pain. Théoden walked toward him. His eyes were red with anger. Grima looked up at him and started to crawl away from him.
"I've only ever served you, my lord." He said.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Théoden said infuriated.
"Send me not from your sight!" Grima said still trying to crawl away. Théoden had reached Grima and he raised his sword into the air.
"Urgh!" he said as he began to swing down the sharp blade. Grima squeal and raised his hands over his head. The man with the long legs rushed to Théoden and stopped his arm.
"No, my lord! No, my lord!" he said. Théoden's expression lightened as he looked up at him. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account." Said the man.
Théoden knew that the man was right and the rage of his anger left him. Grima stood up quickly.
"Get out of my way!" he yelled as he pushed through the crowd of people that had gathered to watch the scene and fled toward the stables. An elderly man knelt quickly.
"Hail Théoden King!" he yelled. All the rest of the townsfolk kneeled as well. Théoden looked upon them all. Even the man with the long legs knelt down to Théoden.
The king turned around back toward Meduseld. His eyes scanned through all of us and he got a puzzled look on his face.
"Where is Theodred?" he asked continuing to look around. His eyes widened and fear spread across his expression. "Where is my son?" he asked.
Hama approached him slowly with his head down. "King Théoden, Prince Theodred suffered a terrible wound at his last campaign at the Fords of Isen. He passed away last night."
Théoden's face was frozen as Hama's words sunk in. All of Edoras was silent for several minutes. Finally Théoden spoke. "Tell Eomer to have the servants help ready Theodred for funeral." He said in broken words.
"There are no more servants, my lord." Gamling said. "And Eomer was banished by Grima not two days ago."
Théoden's face revealed the battle that was waging inside him. His expression turned to grief. Hama turned around.
"Deya!" he called out. He motioned for me to come down to them. I hurried down the stairs to his side.
"Deya?" Théoden asked. "Renweard's daughter?" he asked looking at me.
"Yes, my lord. She fled here when the Westfold burned around her." Hama said.
"Westfold? Burned?" Théoden looked as if he would collapse at any second from shock. Hama turned to me.
"Run to my house." He said and he pointed across the skyline of Edoras. "It is the one with the crimson flag just over there. Tell my wife and daughter to hasten to Meduseld and tell them to go to the house of Lady Da and have Da round up the old servants." He said. I nodded at him. Before I took off I walked over to Théoden. I knelt as low and respectfully as I could.
"Théoden King, please forgive me for my actions of the past. From this day forth, I will do everything in my power to aid and to serve you until my last breath." I stood up and ran down the road before he could respond to my pledge.
I found Hama's house and did as I was told. Hama's daughter Julia looked just like him. She was just as stocky and round, but had very fair blonde hair with a hint of Hama's red rustiness. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes were fair.
"I will fetch Lady Da.' She said as she hurried around the back of the house. I headed back toward Meduseld. Théoden had changed into a regal outfit. He was sitting silent in his throne. Hama, Gamling, and Gandalf were sitting next to him and they all looked as if in deep council, filling him in on all he had missed in his dark days. His eyes drifted up to me as I walked toward the archway that led to the hall. He said nothing and returned his attention to his council. I headed toward Theodred's room to help prepare him. I had no fancy funeral gown to change into and I did not feel up to the task of laundry anymore.
The door was open and I found Eowyn sitting at the foot of Theodred's bed. Theodred had already been changed into his armor and his sword had been tied to his hands that were folded on his chest. She had changed into a beautiful blue, velvet gown and she had put up her hair with a thin golden crown of flowers. She looked up at me as I entered. I expected her to say something snide, but she smiled at me instead.
"Gamling told me that you spent nearly the entire night with Theodred before he passed. I saw the stitches. You tried to save him." She said and she turned back to Theodred.
"I took your words of Eomer to heart, Lady Eowyn. You were right to say them and I thought that if I could have saved Theodred it would have been a start on the road to forgiveness." I said.
"Don't heed my words. I said them in frustration. I should be asking for your forgiveness." She said.
"Were they true?" I asked.
"What?" she asked standing up. She draped a thin, black shawl over her shoulders.
"Did I hurt Eomer as you said?" I asked. She looked at me and looked down to the ground.
"I don't think it is my place to answer that question. You can ask him that yourself when he returns." She said. "You….."
We both heard the approaching footsteps as an elderly woman appeared in the doorway.
"Lady Eowyn! Lady Deya! Bless you!" Da said as she hurried over to us. She threw her arms around our necks and hugged us tightly. "You both are as fair as the spring rain." She said looking us over and then she saw the scar on my cheek. "What's that!" she said and she grabbed my chin and forced me to bend down to her as she got a better look. "That idiot! I am going to kill him! He used too big of a needle!" she said.
"It was not Eomer's fault. I did not care for it properly." I said.
"I'll see what I can do for it later, child." She said. "I want both of you to come and stand by me down at the tomb they will be laying Theodred. It is the most honored funeral position that is usually saved for the city elders." She said. Eowyn and I nodded and we followed her out into the hall. Da stopped and looked me over. "That can't be what you are wearing?"
"I have nothing else." I said. Da shook her head and sighed.
"We will join you in a moment, Lady Eowyn." She said and she grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hall.
The halls were filling up with the old servants and guards were escorting what was left of the thugs away with their hands in chains.
"Here we are! My old room." She said and she opened the door with a key in her pocket. "When they kicked me out I took this key with me. As far as I know, no one has entered this room in five years so most of my things should still be intact."
She opened the door and hurried in. The room was intact indeed, but very dusty and the air was stuffy. Da crossed over to a trunk in the corner of the room. She opened it and dug around. She pulled out a black, velvet dress with intricate gold embroidery.
"Here, this should fit you." She said holding it out to me. I changed quickly. Da stopped me to get a closer look at the scars on my back and shoulder blade. She said nothing but I could tell what she was thinking. I had an ugly body now because of my careless actions in youth. It mattered not. No one would be seeing me naked anytime soon.
Da and I hurried down the main road toward the gate. Edoras had emptied and all of its people were gathering in two long rows of mourners that stretched the way down the road, out of the front gate, and to the tomb that waited for Theodred. We met up with Eowyn a few feet from the opening of the grave.
Several minutes later Theodred's funeral party arrived. Théoden watched with a solemn face as the guards passed Theodred's body to the servants that were to lay his body on the slab in the tomb. Eowyn began to sing a prayer song that a few others joined in. It was very beautiful. Everyone slowly filled back into the city. Many of the people stopped and said their condolences to Théoden on their way. I waited a long time before I headed back. It was dark by the time I reached the mead hall. Eowyn was serving a bit of bread and cheese to the three strangers and there was a pot of stew on the fire pit in the middle of the mead hall.
They were all sitting at a table in the far left corner. I intended to go straight to Eomer's room. I wanted to be alone for a while and grieve for Theodred, but the man with the long legs signaled me to come over and join them.
I walked over slowly. "Yes?" I asked.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"You can call me Deya." I said politely. I wasn't in the mood for this chit chatty nonsense.
"Deya? Would that be short for Déorwyrdhnes?" the elf asked. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"How would you know that?" I asked.
"I met your grandmother once. She was very beautiful, but she cannot hold a candle to the beauty that was given to you. I never thought I would meet one of her decedents. She was well liked in my land in Mirkwood. Very kind hearted."
I was taken aback by his words. I had never dreamed I would ever meet someone who personally knew my "famous" grandmother for whom I was named.
"Leave the poor girl alone, Legolas." The dwarf said, "Let her sit and eat."
Legolas casted a look at the dwarf but said no more.
"I have never seen a maiden so fair, yet fight with such passion and fire as you did. It was like watching a snowflake battle with the sun itself. Where do you hail from?" asked the man.
"Forgive me, sir, but I am not accustomed to telling my life story to strangers." I said sharply. His eyes widened at my blunt response.
"Ha! You are quite the feisty little flower!" the dwarf said sipping his goblet. The man glared at him and then looked back at me.
"I am Aragorn." He said. "That is Gimli," He said pointing to the dwarf, "and that is…."
"Legolas. I overheard it already." I said. I wanted to retire for the night. "I was once from a noble family. The house of Lord Renweard of the east Emnet."
"Was once?" Aragorn asked.
"I will not trouble you with my bitter woes of the past." I said. He didn't say more.
"I see you wear no ring." Gimli said. "How is it that a noble woman of your status and beauty is not yet married?" He asked.
Eomer's eyes flashed in my head for a moment and I felt my cheeks grow hot. I stood up quickly.
"Forgive me gentlemen, but I am tired." I said and I started to walk toward the archway that led to the halls.
"Drega!"
I stopped dead in my tracks.