The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Twenty-four: A Shadow in the Dark
We packed up camp at first light, Rembaulk managed to catch a rabbit for our breakfast…with his bare hands, and Don Vonce pulled a little flute out of some hidden pocket and played a merry tuned while we ate and actually exchanged pleasantries with each other for once. I was thankful that Rembaulk didn't make a fuss about riding on Don Vonce's horse. Soon, we were once again galloping down the west road and making fantastic time.
Just as the sun passed midway through the sky I led Don Vonce and Rembaulk up the steep, grassy hill that over looked the town. Don Vonce trotted up next to me with Rembaulk sitting behind him. When he laid his gaze on the scorched and scarred landscape below him his eyes looked pained. Many people down in the town were busy at work patching roofs and raising new houses and barns, but the smell of blood and death still lingered in the wind.
"How can someone commit such an atrocity?" Don Vonce asked looking toward me. "Burning houses and crops…killing woman and innocent children…"
"This world is filled with just as much evil as it is filled with goodness. For every good deed done unto one's neighbor somewhere someone is lying in a puddle of cold blood." I said.
"That is a pretty poetic description of war for a woman." Don Vonce said.
"I have seen more of war than you will ever know, Gondorian." I said to him sternly and I gave Thenhines a gentle kick in the side and started down the hill.
Since the town was nearly surrounded by the glistening lake to its south, the town had no need for a wall or fortification. A town like this should never have been attacked in the first place. It was a farming and textile town. As I approached the outskirts of the town a couple of guards came to us walking is brisk strides. I halted the horse.
"My Lady," one of the guards said, "You have come in the wake of a great tragedy. The house of our good lord Mekastre is not available for the weary traveler. Unless you have urgent business I must ask you to turn away or continue on. I am sorry for any inconvenience this might bring."
"I have urgent business, sir." I said.
"What is it, my lady?" the other guard asked. I looked down at him and gasped.
"Grimwast? Is that you?" I asked. Grimwast stared up at me for several moments and then his face exploded in shock.
"Drega? Could it be? You live?" he asked.
"Yes, better than alive really." I said smiling at him.
"Lord Mekastre would welcome you graciously!" Grimwast said taking hold of Thenhines reins. The other guard reached out and stopped him.
"What is this business that you speak of?" he asked me.
"I was sent by Théoden King to escort these two gentlemen here to the house of Lord Mekastre." I said.
"And who are these two gentleman?" he asked.
Don Vonce urged his horse to take a few steps forward. "I am Don Vonce of Calembel in the Kingdom of Gondor. The Istari Gandalf sent word for me to come and help with the rebuilding of Rohan." He said. The guard nodded his head and then looked behind Don Vonce.
"And you friend?" he asked.
"This is Rembaulk The Legendary Ent Rider." Don Vonce said. Both Grimwast and the other guards burst into laughter.
"Ent rider? Are you drunk?" asked the other guard.
"If you're riding an Ent than I'm spending every night in bed with the eleven Lady of Light!" Grimwast said. Don Vonce and Rembaulk only scowled at them.
"Would you please announce us to Lord Mekastre?" I asked looking back at Grimwast. "I would like to begin my return to Edoras before sunset." I said.
"Yes, yes, of course." Grimwast said nodding his head, "Wait, you do not intend to stay? You do not intend to return to your post? That is against the law." he said.
"The day the Uruks came Lord Mekastre released me from his service. I serve another man of nobility now in another house and I must return to my duties as quickly as possible." I said.
"I understand." Grimwast said. "Come, at least permit me to stable your horse at my house. It would be a great honor to aid a servant of the King." I nodded at him and I dismounted the horse. Don Vonce and Rembaulk followed my lead. The other guard came over to us.
"I will escort you Lord Mekastre." He said bowing his head.
"Thank you." I said.
The guard turned around and led us through the town. Several wagons were here and there loaded up with wood and supplies. People were rushing around with baskets of hay for thatch and buckets of tar for their roofs to keep out the rain. I spent a good portion of my life in this town and walking these streets. After the burning…I knew nothing. Recognized nothing.
As we rounded a newly raised barn I saw a familiar gate with magnificent horsed carved directly into the dark wood. I breathed a sigh of relief. Lord Mekastre's house was untouched. Two servants were hanging shirts out on a line. I did not know them. Lord Mekastre must have released all of his old staff when we fled the town. Many of the faces and friends I once knew were probably long dead and buried…or burned.
The main double doors at the front of the house opened up and Lord Mekastre himself came out. He looked as well as ever standing tall for his age. He took a bit more caution on the few steps of the platform his house was built on and he headed in our direction. He spread his arms open and a smile spread under his wiry, bushy white beard.
"Drega!" he exclaimed coming in my direction. I smiled at him and welcomed his open arms in a friendly hug.
"You look well, my lord." I said. He placed his hand on my shoulder.
"But look at you! You are a woman of Edoras! I can only imagine what feasts you have seen and the delicacies you have tasted." He said.
"I have seen more blood than feasts. I have tasted more tears than delicacies." I said. He gave me a funny look.
"Come on in, come on in. I will have the cook put a chicken on the spit and have the finest feather beds prepared for you." He said.
"I appreciate your hospitality, but I do not intend to stay. My task was to escort these two gentlemen into your service." I said gesturing to Don Vonce and Rembaulk.
"Oh! Yes," Lord Mekastre said, "The Gondorians the Istari requested."
"I would like to return to Edoras with all haste with your leave that my task has been completed." I said and I bowed my head.
"Is there such a pressing matter in Edoras?" he asked, "I would have thought that after the battle of Helm's Deep the royal court would be resting and going over plans should another threat arise."
I blushed as a vision of Eomer's eyes flashed in my mind. I looked away from Lord Mekastre.
"I have important matters to attend to." I said. "Please pardon me if I seem rude to refuse you as a gracious host. You have been good to me in the past and were a kind and good master. I shall never forget your generosity."
He nodded his head. "I understand. You have my leave to go." He said and he turned to Don Vonce and Rembaulk. "Come, my guests. We must get you rested and settled in. On the marrow, we have a country to rebuild." He said.
Don Vonce came over to me and he put his hand on my shoulder, "I will not say that it has been a pleasure in sharing your company…but I can say that you are truly brave and a worthy solider. I wish you a fair journey back to the capitol." He said.
"Thank you, Gondorian." I said nodding my head.
"Farewell…woman." He said and half smiled as he walked past me toward Lord Mekastre's house. Rembaulk approached me with his usual sour expression. He reached out both of his massive hands to my shoulders. He nodded his head and for the first time his mouth twisted into a smile.
"Rembaulk say goodbye." He said.
I nodded back at him. "Good bye. May all your…ent riding be…without splinters."
Rembaulk quickly followed behind Don Vonce. I watched them enter the house. Sometimes it never ceases to amaze me how the strangest of people known in the littlest amount of time can have the biggest impacts on one's life. Don Vonce, Rembaulk, Lisawe, Haldir…even Eomer. I sighed and I turned away from Lord Mekastre's house and headed for the stables. Thenhines was happily grazing from a troth of oats. He looked up at me when I entered. I looked into his big, black eyes. He trotted over to me and nudged my hand with his nose. I petted him all the way up to between his ears.
"Are you ready for the journey back to Edoras my four legged friend?" I asked him. He whinnied and nodded his head. Then he turned from me and walked over to where his saddle sat on a small table. I smiled at him, "You are a good companion Thenhines."
I saddled and mounted him quickly trotting slowly out of the stable. We headed for the west road. Once Thenhines hooves left the blackened grass and met with the solid dirt of the road I leaned down and whispered into his ear.
"Fly Thenhines. Fly me back swiftly into Eomer's arms."
Thenhines reared up and whinnied vigorously. He took off down the road. I don't know exactly what happened that afternoon. I had been galloping for about an hour when it seemed like the wind stopped. The air grew silent apart from a fair voice in the air.
"Sweet child of the line of great horse lords…child with the spirit that has been touched with fire that manifests within your crimson hair…child with eyes unclouded by hate or evil that shine as green as crested sea waves…you carry the blood of a dear friend of my kinsman…and my kinsman know of the great role you have yet to fulfill is this play of fate…the path laid before your feet is broken and forked…you asked to fly…then we will give you wings…."
The woman's voice was smooth and soothing like the lullaby sung to a babe. It was beautiful and deep like an angel speaking from the bottom of a well. It was probably just a figment of my imagination. The nearer I drew to Edoras the more my thoughts were haunted by a pair of warm, woody brown eyes. I tingled inside feeling his phantom fingertips sinking into my skin. The scent of his sweat mixed with his natural musk and the hint of soap and oil. Remembering the warmth of his ragged breath in my ear whispering my name under a deep growl of pleasure.
The moon was full in the sky above me and it did seem as if Thenhines lifted into the air. I did not stop at the stream with the tree. I did not stop at the fork in the road. The stars seem to whisk by like dancing fairies. Edoras loomed from the horizon illuminated by the sharp moonlight.
The front gates were open and I hastened through them and up the road to Meduseld. Once in the stables I jumped off Thenhines and led him to his pin. I undid the saddle and hung it up. I grabbed the belt with my sword and dagger and hurried up to the side door of the hall.
I rushed through the kitchen and down the hall. I slowed upon reaching Lady Da's door and I opened it gently. Her fire was still burning, but burning low and casted the room with just enough light so that I could see her sleeping with her back toward the door. I tip toed inside and crossed the room over to my crate. I unbuckled my breastplate and shoulder guards and laid them gently on the floor. I undressed quickly and went over to the wash bin and cleaned up. I slipped into my plain white chemise and I unpinned and untwined my hair and let it fall. I crossed the room again to Lady Da's wardrobe. I replaced the tattered cloak I had barrowed. I went to close it when something caught my eye. There was a black cloak hiding in the back of the wardrobe. I bit down on my lip. If I was sneaking around like a shadow I might as well look like one.
I wrapped the cloak around my shoulders and secured it…loosely. I tip toed back across the room and out the door into the hall. I looked to the left and right. There was no one in sight. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves leaning against the door frame. I had to get to Eomer. I made a promise.
I hurried down the hall on the balls of my feet to be as silent as possible. I turned down the next hall and reached Eomer's door. There was no light coming from under the door this time and for some reason that brought a smile to my face. I gently lifted the latch, opened the door, stepped inside, and reached it. The moon beams shone in through the window and I could see the silhouette of his bed…as well as him sleeping on it. He was asleep and I could hear his calm breaths going in and out of his chest.
I undid the strings of the cloak and let it fall to the floor. I crossed the room slowly. When I reached the bed I climbed onto it on my hands and knees and crept over next to him. He was lying on his back. I reached out and caressed his temple. He groaned and stirred. He raised his hand up to his face as if to swat away a fly but when his fingers brushed the back of my hand his eyes open. When his eyes met mine a smile spread across his lips. He reached out for me and drifted his finger tips from my cheek and down the side of my neck. He sent shivers down my spine. I moved so that I was above him.
"Deya…" he whispered. I moved my hand to his lips.
"Shhhhhhh, my love." I said and I leaned down. I brought my lips to his and he welcome them with a hunger. His hands moved to my waist. He grabbed hold of the fabric of my chemise and lifted it until my womanhood was exposed. As I continued to taste the salt of his sweat on his lips he moved one hand up my thigh and in between my legs. He found my button and when he started to rub his thumb against it I had to break our passionate kiss to gasp.
He sat up and quickly pulled off the sheets with his other hand. He was already completely naked. He moved his lips to my neck as I twisted my fingers up into hair. While his one hand continued to pleasure me his other he used to stroke his own manhood. I gently grabbed his chin and pulled his lips back to my own. He groaned as let the tip of my tongue trace along his bottom and lower lip.
His hands went for my hips and gripped me forcefully. I broke the kiss and stared into his eyes. He guided me slowly on top of him. As I lowered myself he reached down and positioned the tip of his manhood at my entrance. As he slid into me he closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief. When he opened his eyes again he wrapped one of his arms around my waist bracing me and pulled me as flush against him as possible.
He bucked his hips upward and I gasped again. I twisted one arm around his neck and the other around his shoulder and under his arm. His other hand that remained on my hip pushed me gently rocking my hips back and forth against him. It was slow and wasn't as dire as our first coupling had been, but it was awe inspiring. His eyes burned for me with a passion and a fire. They darted around my face watching every gasp and twisted uncontrollable expression that his deep and attentive thrusts brought to me. After several minutes he stopped suddenly. My expression took on a worried took and I moved my hand to his cheek.
"What is it?" I asked. "What's wrong? Do I displease you?"
"No!" he said his breaths still ragged from our love making. "No, you please me greatly. I want to feel you against me. I want to hold your breasts in my hands." He said. I stared at him for a moment and then I leaned in and placed a feather light kiss on his lips. He did not expect the kiss to be as light and when I leaned back his face followed me briefly.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked him. He stared into my eyes and then down at my lips. He glanced at my hair and then gently ran his fingers through it. He gave me a gently push and I backed up off of him.
"Turn around." He said softly. I looked at him and did as he bid.
I remained on my knees as he lifted the chemise over my head. When it fell to the floor his hands moved back to my hips. One hand slid down my torso to my thigh and across my womanhood while the other hand rose up and cupped at my breast. He rubbed my nipple with his thumb as he buried his face into my hair and neck. He rose to his knees and pressed his body against my back.
His hand at my woman went to his member as he guided himself back inside of me. When he was sheathed he rocked his hips upward and held onto me tightly. This new position drew him much deeper inside of me and with every thrust it felt as if my whole body was set aflame. I started to moan.
"Yes…yes…yes…" I whispered in his rhythm. When I reached my peak it was much more intense than before. He groaned as the walls of my womanhood gripped him and he halted his trusts to feel my spasms of pleasure. He moved his hand to my chin and turned my head to the side to kiss me again.
"Eomer…." I whispered breaking from the kiss. He continued to thrust with a bit more urgency as he had done before now that he knew I had finished. He was a generous lover. My hands had been gripping at his arms but I raised them and wrapped them around his neck gripping at his hair. He swept my hair to the side to expose the side of my neck and he started to kiss and suck at my skin moving up to my ear and back down nearly to my collarbone.
He began to grunt and his fingers dug into me.
"Deya…." He whispered into my ear, "Ahhhh! Yes…..Deya…."
I felt the muscles of his thighs tightened as he throbbed within me, as his seed spilt from his member he bit down on the flesh my neck and I gasped as it sent a bolt of lightning down my spine. He remained there holding me and still within me as he panted and rested his forehead against the side of my face.
He kissed at my cheek and my ear. His hands ran down the entirety of my body and back up. He buried his face into my hair.
"I love you, Deya. I love you so much." He said turning my face to kiss him again. We finally broke our physical connection and he laid back. I laid half on top of him resting my chin on his chest.
"And I love you, Eomer. I cannot imagine a world without you, nor would I want to live in such a world." I said smiling. He smiled back at me and he caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers.
"There are no words in any of the tongues of any of the races that would describe the feeling that burns within me when I lay my eyes on you. You are other worldly, unlike any woman I have ever seen or have had in the past." He said. "You were sent to be both my gift and my curse."
I raised an eyebrow, "How am I a gift and a curse?" I asked.
"You are my gift because you prove to me that there are things, wonderful things, that this world has to offer and that it may not be quite as cold and cruel as it had led me to believe in the past." He said.
"And the curse part?" I asked.
"I am cursed now for whenever I fight I can only think of your face. I fight with a fury so as I may win and protect you…but I fight with a fear that I may never see you again. It's a feeling that tears me inside as one would tear a piece of parchment." He said and he yawned.
"We should sleep," I said, "I must speak with Lord Aragorn tomorrow. It's important and has to do with aiding in the destruction of the ring of power"
"Oh," Eomer said rolling his eyes, "They told you about that, did they?" He chuckled, "I surprised you didn't offer to take the ring to Mordor yourself."
"Hush!" I said as I play punched his chest, "I could have taken the task, but something or someone has been keeping me very busy of late."
He smiled at me and his eyes lit up. Oh, those eyes. How much I love those eyes. If I could stay here for the rest of my life and just stare into those eyes I would die happy and satisfied.
"Will you be coming back tomorrow night?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said, "Anything could happen between now and tomorrow. We learned that very well last time."
"They will probably give you your own room tomorrow. I heard Lady Da mention something of it to Eohides. She also mentioned that the door should have double bolts and be able to be locked from the outside." He said.
I giggled. "That may rule out many a nights ahead."
"I can pop the glass out of a window just as good as I can pop it back in." he said with a wicked grin. I rolled my eyes at him and I laid my head down on his chest. I let out a sigh. He looked down at me.
"Something on your mind, love?" he asked.
I looked back up at him, "What will happen if I am to become with child?" I asked. He seemed a bit taken back at first but he just shook his head.
"Nothing would happen really. You would give birth and Meduseld would welcome a new baby into its halls." He said. I raised an eyebrow at him and I sat up.
"You didn't seem to mention anything about marriage." I said, "That would seem the first response from a man to the woman who may be carrying his son or daughter."
"You're making an awfully big fuss about this." He said, "and you're not with child so what does it matter?"
My mouth opened in shock, "What does it matter?" I half asked half exclaimed.
"Shhhhhh!" he said sitting up holding up his hand, "Do you want to wake the entire hall so they can barge in and see us like this? Coming to be with child is not as simple as it may seem. My mother would lie with my father every single night and they never had another child after Eowyn. Most women go years without conceiving. You are just overthinking and you…'
"Overthinking? You think that I am overthinking?" I asked, "You avoided my comment about marriage. Are you saying that if I should become pregnant with your child that you would hesitate to wed me?" I asked. Eomer's face looked worried. I stared at him, "Would you wed me at all?" I asked weakly feeling tears well up in my eyes.
Eomer said nothing. He only continued to stare until he finally closed his eyes and looked down instead. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks as I stared at him in disbelief. My mouth felt dry and I gulped before I spoke again.
"You know…" I said. He looked back up at me but remained in silence. I continued, "You know that you couldn't marry me even if you wanted to. You are bound to royal tradition now that someday you will be king. You say that you love me beyond words, yet you would bring me into your bed for sport knowing that you could never marry me." I shook my head as my voice began to break from my pain and anger. I looked back up at him…still nothing. I stood from the bed and picked up my chemise from the floor. I pulled it over my head quickly and crossed the room to the door.
"Deya, wait." He said and I heard him stand from the bed. I ignored him. I picked up the black cloak from the floor and tightly secured it around my shoulders. "I said wait!" he said walking toward me. He reached out his hand for me and I finally lost it.
"NO!" I yelled. "Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me again! The entire time you were gone I have been risking life and limb to try and earn a title as well as my stay in Meduseld so that I could be closer to you. I fought in battles, for you. I shed the blood of men and orcs, for you. I watched people I love die, FOR YOU….And all you care about is the next time we can sneak away and fuck like stallion and mare. I will get my own room in the hall, and I will have a door with a bolt. Don't you dare try to come to me in the night. I'll slit you from balls to chest."
"Deya…." Eomer said his own voice breaking. I just shook my head again.
"No, Eomer…no." I said and I opened the door and fled into the hall. All the emotion I held back in his room released itself. I ran past Lady Da's door and down the hall. I ran through the kitchen and out the side door. I ran down the stairs and past the stables. I ran to the edge of the wall that separated the royal top of the hill from the rest of the city and I fell to my knees and cried out in agony. I wrapped my arms around myself and wept.
Had it been folly from the start? He said that he loved me…had he confused his manhood with his heart? Was that fire in his eyes really just a flame that could be doused? Would his fire burn for his noble bride as it had for me?
I jumped when I felt weight land on the shoulders. I gasped and looked up. It was Aragorn. He had covered my shoulders with a heavy wool blanket. I stood up quickly and wiped away my tears.
"My Lord, I am sorry if I have disturbed you in the night." I said. "I had a bad dream and felt too enclosed inside. I needed fresh air."
"Deya," he said softly, "You do not have to lie to me. I know of your feelings for Eomer. I know what happened."
"How?" I asked. Had we been that loud? I felt my cheeks grow red with embarrassment.
"I was out on the other side of the hall having a smoke on my pipe when Legolas came to me and told me what he had heard. I rushed around trying to find you and comfort you and I thought you had fled from the city until you screamed. You are emotional and in pain more ways than one. I know that if you return to Lady Da's room she will only make it worse. You are welcome in my chambers this night, and fear not! I am a gentleman and my heart is firmly planted in the garden of another. I just do not want you to be alone to stew in your thoughts." He said.
"That's very kind." I said. "I was going to come and talk to you tomorrow anyways."
"Don't worry about that right now." He said and he helped me to my feet and put his arm around my shoulders in a friendly way.
"Did you find her?" Legolas asked as he appeared from around the stables.
"Yes, I think everything is going to be ok. She just needs to rest." Aragorn said to him. Legolas too put his hand around my shoulder.
"Don't think that this is the end, Deya." Legolas said, "Eomer had no idea that you were trying so hard to get a title, and once you have your title he will marry you in a heartbeat. I believe that he does truly love you."
"I'm not so sure that I want to marry him after all…" I said weakly.
"Don't say that!" Legolas said, "I know you. You are saying and thinking these things because you are upset. You will heal and you will find that you still love and care for him."
"Legolas," Aragorn said sternly, "I don't think this is what she wants to talk about right now."
Legolas didn't say as much as a peep all the way back into the hall. He broke away from us to return to the room that he shared with Gimli while Aragorn and I continued on to his room. He opened the door for me.
"You may have the bed, my lady." He said. "I will be fine with a blanket and pillow on the floor on that far side of the room. In the morning I will vacate for you to wash and change. We will talk after breakfast, I promise." He said.
I nodded my head. Aragorn really was a gentleman. Legolas too. Even Gimli was kind as he was a sarcastic brute. These strange men from so many strange lands really were my friends after all. They didn't see me as a frail woman, they thought of me as one of them, an equal. The dream told me that if I followed the prince I would find only blood and if I followed the king I would find only the dead…well, what if I follow neither?