The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Twenty-two: Two Days
Fuming…Absolutely fuming! I walked briskly down the hall toward Lady Da's room with my jaw clenched and hands in tight fists. I wanted to pound on the very walls and scream. All this time it had been Eomer who had gone away now it would be me. I should have said no.
"Deya, come forth. I have a task for you." Théoden had said beckoning me with his hand. My eyes widened as realization set in. I walked forward from the crowd of the rest of the court and stood before him.
"My Lord?" I asked.
"This is Deya." Théoden said turning toward Don Vonce. "She was a member of my royal guard during the battle of Helm's Deep."
"You left your life in the hands of this woman during such an important battle?" Don Vonce asked. Théoden didn't look amused.
"There is not a more loyal woman nor solider in all of Rohan. She has spent a great deal of time in the Westfold under Lord Mekastre. She can guide you to the town and introduce you to the Lord you will be working for." He said and then he looked back at me. "Can you do this for me?"
My eyes drifted around the mead hall. Of all the people that filed in to see this strange outsider Eomer was not one of them. I had come a long way and I had accomplished far too much to let it all go now. I still needed a proper title. I looked back to Théoden.
"Yes, my Lord." I said bowing my head down. "I would be honored to accompany these two guests wherever you wish."
Théoden smiled while Don Vonce scowled glaring at me.
"Splendid!" Théoden said.
"My Lord?" I asked reaching out a hand to him.
"Yes, Deya?" he asked.
"Am I to return back here to Edoras once the Gondorian gets settled?" I asked.
"Yes of course." He said. "News from Gandalf could come any day and we must be prepared for anything." He said and smiled. I smiled back half-heartedly and looked down at the floor. Théoden turned back toward Don Vonce.
"Would you like to fill your belly and rest your feet before you depart?" Théoden asked. "My hall is fully open to you."
"There will be no need for that. I want to depart at once. When I have a task given to me I set out to get it done as soon as possible." Don Vonce said. "Tell your woman solider that I will be waiting just outside the main gate." and with that he turned on his heels with all his fabric billowing in the air and walked back out of the mead hall.
Now here I am, hurrying about trying to gather up my things. I still had to ready my horse and fill a skin for the journey. The Westfold was just over a day's ride and then another day back. That's much too long to be away from Eomer. I wouldn't even have time to say goodbye.
Lady Da's door was open but she wasn't inside. I hurried in and dug around in my crate finding a clean chemise. I had no riding cloak so I opened up Da's wardrobe and helped myself to an older one that was starting to fray at the edges. I took out my breast plate and my shoulder guards and secured them as quickly as I could. I donned the cloak, wrapped up my things, and picked up my sword and dagger.
I hurried down the hall into the kitchens. I found a water skin and filled it from the barrel of drinking water. I took a loaf of bread and some dried beef and added them to my satchel as well. I went out the side door and hurried down to the stables. I found Thenhines already saddled and I attached my sword and dagger to his side. I grabbed his lead and headed around Meduseld for the main road.
Just as I rounded the corner to the front of the hall another rider in a cloak with the hood up came out of nowhere and into my path. Thenhines whinnied and nearly bucked.
"Please pay more attention to where you are going, sir!" I said rearing Thenhines around.
"Where do you think you are going?" the rider asked and my heart fluttered. I urged Thenhines to trot closer to the rider until I could see inside the hood. It was Eomer.
"Why on earth are you wearing that?" I asked.
"I saw you heading toward the stables in armor and with sword when I looked out my window. I didn't have time to dress properly and I didn't want to bring any attention to myself. Now please, tell me where you are going." He said and this time with the slightest hint of agitation.
"King Théoden has given me the task of guiding the Gondorian to the Westfold." I said.
"Gondorian? What Gondorian?" he asked.
"Don Vonce. He arrived at the hall not an hour ago. Gandalf requested his skills to come and help with the land and crops." I said.
"And you were just going to leave without a peep? Have I not been a generous enough lover for you to feel the need to tell me that you're going off with some strange man?" He ask.
"You cannot be serious?" I exclaimed. "It's the Westfold for heaven's sakes. It's not like I'm taking him back to Gondor. I will gone for two days at the most." I said. "And besides, just because we are lovers does not give you the right to tell me what I can and can't do. Now if you excuse me, I have a duty to my king to complete." I said. I gave Thenhines a little nudge.
Eomer reached out and grabbed my arm nearly pulling me off the horse.
"Let me go with you. I can bring a few more men from the Rohhirum as an escort." He said.
"I am already the escort for Don Vonce. Since when did the escort need an escort? You are being silly. You cannot just get up and leave; you have your own duties here in Edoras." I said. He grabbed hold of both of my shoulders.
"Then at least promise me that the moment you return you will come to me. I cannot bare thinking of you being so far away even if it is only for two days." He said and he stared into my eyes. I don't think I had ever seen him more worried or in that much pain before. He looked near tears. I thought back to the time when our roles were switched…and he was gone for much longer than two days. I reached out and gently caressed his cheek.
"I promise, my love." I said.
He gave me a half smile and then he leaned in and placed a feather light kiss my lips.
"I love you…" he whispered. "Hurry back to me."
I didn't say anything. I feared that if I opened my mouth I might begin to cry. I gave Thenhines a swift kick and he took off in a gallop down the main road toward the gate. I must earn my title and I must earn it soon. On my return I will request an audience with Théoden. He saw us in the hall the night of the feast. He must have known that something was going on. I would come clean and tell him my true intentions.
Don Vonce was waiting just outside the gate as he said on his massive black stallion as well as another odd looking man who had no horse.
"Woman, this is Rembaulk the Legendary Ent Rider." Don Vonce said gesturing to the other man. I looked him over. Where Don Vonce seemed to be of high breed and stock Rembaulk looked more like an actual ent than an ent rider. He was about the same height as Don Vonce but much stockier. His dark hair had a bit of a curl and was matted and pulled into a half ponytail. His skin was grimy and he had a large black beard that hung halfway down his chest. He wore no shirt but had leather straps criss crossed across his shoulders and he was wearing the same billowy breeches as his companion. His eyes were dark and held no warmth within them and were almost lost under bushy, black eyebrows as thick as Fangorn itself. I bowed my head.
"Rembaulk, it's a pleasure." I said. He said nothing back. I looked at Don Vonce.
"He's a quiet fellow. Don't take it personally." He said as he urged his horse to turn around a face the road.
"Does he have no horse?" I asked.
"Rembaulk no ride foul creature. Rembaulk ride only ent." Rembaulk said glaring at me. I didn't say anything back for fear of bursting into laughter. I secured my cloak. I led Thenhines down the west fork in the road.
"HYAH!" I said kicking him again and took off in a full gallop. Don Vonce was soon quickly galloping next to me. Rembaulk began jogging behind…far behind. This was going to be a long a tedious day indeed. Don Vonce soon came riding up next to me.
"Woman!" he yelled out. "Is this speed really necessary? The Westfold isn't going anywhere!"
I pretended not to hear him over the rush of the wind. The Westfold isn't going anywhere but I was. There and back as quickly as possible.