Chapter 41
Edoras, September the 27th, 3019
Amrothos flopped onto his bed. Face buried onto the pillow, he went through the list of things he was supposed to have done that day, making sure he had forgotten none.
Rohirric lesson, check.
Sending out a whole bunch of letters to various Gondorian noblemen with whom he had advised the King to stipulate trade agreements, check.
Make his weekly round in the hall to ensure the families knew neither he or the Queen had forgotten about them and coming spring, a more appropriate accommodation would be provided, check.
Arrange for the birth gift he intended to give his nephew, check.
Do all of the above without letting on his inner turmoil, check.
Now finally alone in the quiet of his room, Amrothos kicked off his boots and crawled under the blankets without caring for removing his clothes. He had gone on like that for the past week and he fully intended on continuing until better times came because if he stopped now, he was going to crumble like a wreck.
The nights were the moment he dreaded the most. With nothing to keep him occupied, his thoughts turned dark and no matter how much he wracked his brain out, he just couldn't make sense of what had happened, couldn't make sense of how quickly he had fallen for Ealith, couldn't make sense of why she would return his kiss if she didn't feel something – anything!, for him. Most of all, he couldn't make sense of how she could leave the hall that day and run home proclaiming she too wanted to anticipate her wedding.
Amrothos groaned and forced his eyes shut: it was unlikely he'd get much sleep, but he'd try nonetheless if only for Lothíriel 's sake. His sister had more important things than his heartache to worry about and if showing he was well rested was going to make her feel better, then he'd try his very hardest.
It was always difficult to keep track of time when you fall in and out of a restless sleep, but it must have been a few hours before dawn when his numbed brain registered some weird noises at the door. The doorknob was rattling, like someone was trying to force his way in. "What in the world…", Amrothos growled. He crossed the room in long strides, unlocked the door and flung it open, determined to give a piece of his mind to whoever thought it a wise idea to bother him at such late hour. He didn't get a chance to do so however, for a cloaked figure shoved him backwards and forced his way inside, hastily locking the door as he did so.
For a chilling moment, Amrothos regretted not having taken his dagger with him. He raised a fist, ready to knock down the intruder and… "Aldwyn?!".
"Sssh! They'll hear you!", she snapped. Chest flattened against the surface of the door, she listened for noises on the other side. "I think one of the guards has recognized me, but maybe I managed to get away with it".
"Well you certainly won't now! What do you think you are doing here? Sneaking in my bed? Get out, right now, and maybe I'll forget to report this to the King".
"Oh please, you're so full of yourself! You think I'm here for you? What for? To seduce you, so I can secure the chance of a life of boredom in some fancy Gondorian palace? Spare me, I beg you", she barked back.
The curtains had not been drawn and she rushed to close them. Amrothos wanted to yell at her to leave, but something about her demeanour was odd. Aldwyn was one of those persons who, if rubbed the wrong way, could go from shimmery happiness to terrible wrath in a matter of seconds. He had seen it often enough but that night, she looked different. Her hands were either fidgeting with the fabric of her dress or balled in fists, her lips pursed so tight they had turned white. She was angry, yes, but there was more simmering just beneath the surface. Aldwyn would be in enormous trouble if someone found out she had disobeyed the King's ban. So, what pushed her to take such risk?
"I'm not here for you", she said again, almost solemnly.
"Unless you entered my room by mistake, I find it hard to believe. If you needed to talk, you could have waited until tomorrow and approach me like any normal person would".
"You think I haven't tried? May I remind you I'm not supposed to enter Meduseld and you haven't left these walls in days! I tried to get a message to you, but you couldn't even bother to read it!".
"What message? What are you talking about?".
"Hasn't Beyrith given you one today? Yesterday too?".
She actually had but caught as he was with his duties and concerns, he had completely ignored the little memos that kept materializing over his desk. "Alright then, spit it out. What's this all about?".
Aldwyn subjected him to a thorough assessing look. After a long tense silence, she plopped heavily on the bed, as if fatigue had suddenly caught up with her and she couldn't stand a moment longer. Shoulders hunched and head hanging forward, she looked nothing like shieldmaiden he knew.
Cautiously, Amrothos sat beside her.
"Do not make me regret this", she said and handed him a folded paper.
It was a rudimental map, he realized. "What's this for?".
"This", she said pointing at the sketch of a tower, "is my family's estate in the Westfold. I trust you'll be able to get there by dusk. I drew the map so don't expect it to be too precise. It should be enough to guide you to our wood cabin. It's isolated, but if you follow the river Westward and then trail the crest of the hills until you see this rock wall in the distance, you should be able to find it".
"Why would I need to travel to this cabin?".
She took a deep, shaky breath, like one would do when searching for the courage to commit an act, the consequences of which are not certain. "Ealith did not marry Alling".
Amrothos felt like he had been shaken awake by means of a punch in the guts. He stared at Aldwyn, trembling fingers closing compulsively around the piece paper.
"The evening before the ceremony, she had a breakdown. She called off the wedding and… Bema you have no idea the chaos that ensued. Alling was devasted. I never liked him, yet even I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He tried to convince Ealith she was simply having wedding-jitters and when he realized there was nothing he could say that would make her change her mind, he became angry. I've never seen him like that. He was completely out of his mind, told her he'd bring her the head of the Gondorian bastard who had brainwashed her and turned her against him. Given you are the only Southerner around here, I assume he was referring to you. Alling's father confronted Haleth, threatened to withhold Ealith's dowry and declared he'd bring the matter in front of the King. Then he had the nerve to say some unwise words about the Queen and everybody lost it. Guards had to intervene or the situation would have gotten completely out of control. Marshall Erkenbrand has forbidden both families to leave the Hornburg until the matter has been sorted out, but Ealith… she said she needed to get out, that she couldn't stay a moment longer. I have never seen her so shattered, not even after she returned from the war. She, Haleth and Erkenbrand agreed something. I don't know what – no one would tell me, but Ealith was allowed to leave. She asked me if she could stay for some days at my family's cabin and of course I consented. The following morning, she was gone".
"Something happened between the two of you, didn't it? Something more than the intimate rendezvous by the river".
There was no point denying. But Aldwyn was Ealith's closest friend, which meant the story was not his to tell. He remained silent, eyes staring blankly ahead.
"The night the Gondorian troubadours performed in the Golden Hall, I saw you and Ealith together, down by the spring. You told her something and she laughed. She looked so at ease and light-hearted… I knew then yours was more than an innocent friendship. Alling saw it too, I believe, because that's when he started pressing for anticipating the wedding. He was a litany, gave her no break. I once snapped at him and Ealith and I got into a huge fight. She accused me of being judgmental, I told her she was a fool if she thought her marriage with Alling was going to be a happy one. We didn't talk for days. Eventually, I swallowed my pride and apologized to each of them".
Amrothos found his voice, albeit shaky and strangely squeaky. "I tried to talk to her, to keep her from marrying Alling. But when I went to her house, she had left for the Hornburg already".
"So there's still some fight in you. Good. I thought you had turned into a coward".
"I hid in the stables for days, so I'd say you weren't too far off the mark. I just… I hadn't intended for things to go this way. They just did". He stretched the paper, tried to get the wrinkles out. "Why did you give me this?".
"Because I'm done with watching Ealith running".
"What if she no longer is. What if the reason why she didn't tell you where she's going next, is that she wants to be alone. Maybe you shouldn't be giving me this paper, maybe I shouldn't…".
A punch hit him on the shoulder. "Bollocks. You think I don't know what Ealith is doing right now? I can bet you my sword hand she's moping around and blaming herself for being such an awful person, for causing pain to poor old Alling and all that. And what about her? You think she's had it easy? You think I should sit here and watch her flog her own back raw without raising a finger to stop her? I have no idea what she's planning to do next, but one thing I know: you two need to talk. So, take that damned paper, saddle your horse and go to her".
"Why are you doing this? I mean, you…".
"I what? Liked you? Hoped that at some point we could be something together? Yes, I did. But we never promised anything to each another and you don't see me crawling around collecting the shards of my broken heart either. We were not meant to be, I suppose. Ealith is my best friend and if you think I care more about you and I having a chance to be together than I do about her happiness, then think again".
Her eyes were misty but determined. Amrothos knew then just how much those words had costed her. "Aldwyn, I…".
She stood before he could say another word and rushed to the door in quick, hurried steps. There, she halted, her back to him: "If you ever harm her, Prince, if you ever dare breaking her heart, Queen's brother or not, I swear I will make you regret the day you set foot in Rohan".
It took Amrothos two full days to make it to his destination.
Getting to Lady Aldwyn's estate had been easy enough, but then everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.
Upon riding by the ancient fortress, the keeper had insisted he stay for the night, claiming the forest was too tick for someone unfamiliar with the area to keep his bearings in the darkness. He had shrugged his shoulders and kept going. By morning, he had no idea where he was: he wandered aimlessly for hours, frustration mounting and eventually exploding when shortly after dawn, he realized he had gone full circle and was standing once again in front of the estate, the same keeper from the evening before giving him the proverbial I told you so look from one of the first floor windows. He reluctantly agreed to rest for a couple of hours and upon leaving, he was given some food and a new map, one with enough landmarks to hopefully guide him to his destination without further hiccups. He followed it scrupulously, constantly fighting the urge to spur his horse into a mindless gallop, least he got lost for good. By the early afternoon, he had trailed backwards the gurgling river that flowed behind the estate until it was naught but a rivulet dripping down the craggy slope. At the keeper's advice, he remained at the foot of the hill and headed South for a few miles, until he entered a large clearing on the side of which was the dark mouth of a cavern. There, he turned his horse up the steep slope. He had expected the forest to thin at the top, but it didn't, and even an instruction as simple as trail the crest proved challenging to follow. He was on the lookout for the rock wall Aldwyn had spoken of and when he finally saw it, his heart rolled into a fast beating.
He had no idea what he would tell Ealith, no idea how she would react upon seeing him there. When it came to women, he had always considered himself confident and self-assured. Not that he had never been rejected – plenty of times in fact, but it had never bothered him because, he realized now, it's easy to be a gracious loser when you are not too emotionally invested. Now it was different though for he wasn't simply invested. No, he was emotionally chocking, so much so that he had spent the entire ride thinking of that exact moment, without ever being able to focus on it for long enough to gain a shred of clarity. His mind just kept going back to the events of the past couple of months and there was not a single question to which he had been able to give an answer. The most important of which were: did Ealith reciprocate his feelings? Or had he been but a mean to understand the mistake she was committing by marrying Alling? And was he glad or rather terrified that he had opened his heart out to her, that she knew his darkest thoughts and memories, that she had seen him at his lowest?
The answers laid just ahead of him and no matter how bloody nervous he was at the moment, Aldwyn was right: he and Ealith could no longer afford running.
The cabin was well-hidden among beech and maple trees, hard to find unless you knew where to search. Amrothos wasn't surprised when he pushed the door to find no one was in, for he hadn't seen Ealith's horse outside. Her things were everywhere though. Her cloak hung from a hook, her bow laid on a chair, her empty saddlebag rested beside the cold fireplace. A thick mat and two neatly folded woollen blankets were in the corner. There was a half-loaf of bread on the stove and inside a cabinet, he found aged cheese, cured meat and a few jars filled with pickled vegetables. His stomach grumbled loudly. He thought about helping himself with something to eat, but quickly changed his mind: raiding the pantry while Ealith was away was surely not going to speak in his favour.
The hours ticked by agonizingly slow. Unable to sit idle any longer, somewhen in the mid-afternoon he grabbed an axe and went in search of wood for the fire. He chopped it on the stump and piled it by the door, only taking a few logs inside in case Ealith needed them for the night.
He could hear water flowing in the distance and seeing there was no well around, he decided he could fill some buckets. The moment he stood, he caught the sound of flapping wings and stopped dead in his tracks, eyes fixed ahead, ears almost buzzing as he recognized the stomping of approaching hooves. For all the grand things he had considered doing or saying, he just stood rooted on the spot, mutely observing the approaching stallion. There was no rider in the saddle and he blinked in confusion, until he felt the sharp tip of a sword press against his spine.
He turned around slowly, hands raised for good measure.
Ealith's eyes were wide with wonder and incredulity. The hand that held the sword lost some of its steadiness and allowed the pointy end to drop, until it was resting against the soft soil. She wore plain trousers and a brown tunic, her hair was for once pulled back in a long braid. She was beautiful, Amrothos thought.
"I-I found tracks in the forest", she stuttered, one hand vaguely pointing at the direction her horse had come from.
Her chest was heaving and the sword suddenly fell from her trembling hand. Fearing she might be about to pass out, Amrothos reached for her shoulders, only wishing to reassure her. She winced and her eyes fluttered closed. When they opened again, he saw something there that made his knees weak and instantly shattered his self-control.
He pulled her closer, his body leaning towards hers – slowly, giving her a chance to stop him, time to push him away.
Instead, she closed the gap between them in one breathless gasp, her body moulding into his.
After that, everything was a blurred madness. Somewhere at the back of his mind he knew they should stop, but lacked the will do it. And when he lifted Ealith and she responded by wrapping her legs about him and deepening their kiss, his only thought became taking her inside the cabin and tear their clothes off. He did so, stumbling blindly backwards, almost tripping on the porch's steps, barrelling into the door and slamming it shut with the heel of his boot.
His cape was the first to fall, quickly followed by his tunic and the thin shirt he wore underneath. Ealith's lips trailed down his neck, her hands roamed the bare skin of his back. He put her down, just for long enough to unfasten the belt that held her trousers, somehow managing to get rid at once of her undergarments and shoes as well. His breeches followed and when she gently stroke him, he had to brace himself on the wall, a strained groan rolling out of his chest. He stood like that for a moment, desperately trying to exert some control over his body. His fingers were fidgeting with the hem of her tunic, the last piece of garment standing between them: "Are you sure?", he barely managed to ask, his throat too tight to speak.
She swatted his hand away and removed the clothing herself.
Amrothos drank in the sight of her lightly tanned skin and taut body. Again, he moved slow, because he lacked the strength to stop but maybe she didn't. And again, she stepped right into his arms, pressing her body against his and shredding the last vestiges of his self-restraint. He pushed her down onto the mat, one hand kneading the swell her breast, the other gliding over the curve of her waist, sliding further down to curl around her thigh. She was soft and pliant, craving his touch and rewarding each gentle stroke of his fingers with a throaty whimper, a warm kiss, a teasing nip. He kept at it for as long as he could, until he realized if he did not have her, then and there, he'd end up bursting like a randy lad being laid for the first time.
He nestled between her legs and cupped her face. Her eyes were the deepest blue, dazed, clouded in the same lust he knew veiled his. Amrothos gave in then and sheathed himself in one slow, deep thrust. He had meant to stay there and savour the feeling of her embrace but instead, he pulled back and built a steady rhythm that filled the cabin with the sound of their lustful moans. Tension coiled in his lower abdomen. Ealith's heels were digging onto his back, her hips grinding against his and urging him to let go, to not hold back anymore for she yearned for him just as much as he yearned for her.
He slid a hand beneath her and grasped one firm buttock, claimed her mouth in a searing kiss while he thrusted with abandon, revelling in each tremor and chocked whisper, unsure which were hers and which were his and not caring to find out either.
The forest grew dark around their little cabin and hours later, he and Ealith lay facing each other, only their fingers touching, a half dozen candles casting a warm aura on her naked skin. Amrothos wished he could make love to her until dawn, until he had erased the little frown that had already returned to mar her face. But he knew they needed to talk, that there were things that needed to be said.
"Do you think me a lesser woman?".
Not what he had expected her to ask, he crooked an eyebrow. "Why would I?".
"Ladies – at least respectable ones, are supposed to remain maidens until their wedding night. I obviously wasn't".
He pinched the bridge of his nose and made an effort to look contrite. "I must confess something, Ealith". He inhaled deeply, let the air out in a long, forlorn sigh. "I wasn't a maiden either before tonight".
She threw one of the folded blankets in his face. "You are incorrigible. I was being serious!".
"So was I", he murmured and grabbed her before she could move away. "Why would the fact that you were intimate with your former betrothed diminish my opinion of you?".
She did not answer, her teeth tormenting her bottom lip. He wished he could let her see that he truthfully did not care, so long Alling was her past and he her present. "Will you tell me what happened?", he asked instead.
Ealith shook her head. "You go first".
"Alright". He took her hand, his thumb drawing lazy circles on her palm. How could such simple touch be so marvellously soothing, he had to wonder. "After that day in the cellar, in my mind I re-played what had happened about a million times. I had already come to terms with the fact that I felt something for you, but for the life of me I could not understand you. Why did you want to marry Alling? Why did you kiss me back? Did you feel for me the same way I felt for you? I thought about the way you run away from the hall, and told myself there was the answer I was looking for. I did then what I can do best: I found myself a quiet corner and wallowed in my own misery". He shrugged his shoulders. "It was my sister who eventually found me and knocked some sense into my head. Which I know does not reflect well on me: I mean, I'm a grown man and yet there I was, head stuck in the sand. I just thought it was a hopeless situation and feared the scandal I'd make by coming after you. I did it though: I went to your house and ask to speak to you. That's when your uncle's housekeeper told me you had left and were likely already married".
"Then Aldwyn returned to Edoras and told you what had happened, didn't she? There are only few people who know I'm here and among them, she's the only one who was allowed to leave the Hornburg".
"She sneaked in my room at night, if you can believe it. I almost kicked her out when she barged in".
"Classic Aldwyn. She's the best, most precious friend I have. She tried so many times to talk me out of marrying Alling, but I refused listening. The day you kissed me, I run off and went searching for him. I confessed what had just happened, blurted it all out".
"What did he say?".
"At first, he was angry. Then he just held me and said he forgave me, that he knew the war had left me broken and confused and that the Gondorian scum had simply taken advantage of my fragile state to lure me into his arms. He said he'd still marry me, but at one condition: that we'd leave immediately for the Hornburg and marry as soon as we got there".
He gritted his teeth. How quintessentially Alling to say such thing!
"He didn't put a knife to my throat, Amrothos. He didn't force me to leave with him. He asked me to make a choice, and I chose to stay with him instead of breaking our engagement, which was the only sensible thing to do at that point. Alling is not the villain of this story. I am".
"Do you love him?", he asked, his chest tightening painfully as he waited with bated breath for her answer.
"As a friend, sure. How could I not? We grew up together. But as a man with whom I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with? No, but I always refused acknowledging the nature of my sentiments for him".
"Why?".
"Because I'm a coward". She pulled her hand away and turned to lie on her back. "My father loved Alling like a son. My mother adored him. Even before a wedding proposal was made, everybody simply assumed we'd marry once we came of age. And diligent Ealith went along with it, because Bema forbid she might for once disappoint other people's expectations! Don't get me wrong, as a young teen I was happy enough with the unspoken arrangement. But then we grew up and the spark was gone. The last two years before the war were frantic. I took comfort in his presence and avoided questioning my feelings for him. Then the war came, my father died and the world around us started falling apart. We faced what we thought might be the doom of our people and the night before the Muster of the Rohirrim rode out, Alling came to my tent in Dunharrow. We cried, said our farewell. And we made love".
"The journey to Minas Tirith, I felt… nothing. An empty shell. In my mind, I was riding to my death and it did not bother me".
Amrothos resisted the urge to pull her in his arms. Ealith had never really open up with him about what had happened during the war, and he sensed that she needed to let it all out.
"I was under the command of Grimbold. Have you heard of him?".
"Yes. He was slain on the Pelennor Fields".
"Our regiment was wiped out by the Haradrim, crushed beneath the feet of the mûmakil, their tusks red with the blood of our horses. I lost mine, fought on foot for an atrocious time before I managed to get the mount of one of my fallen comrades. My memory of what happened is blurred, but only selectively. I don't recall fighting, I don't recall killing. Though killing I certainly did. All I remember is death. Death everywhere. The blood on my armour. The trumpeting of the beasts, the neighing of the wounded horses and the cries of the dying men. The stench. Whether I fought valorously or let the enemy cow me and hid in fear, I honestly cannot say. I managed to make it out practically unscathed and three days later, I joined the host marching to the Morgul Vale. The battle on the Slagg-hills had barely begun when I was wounded. At first I didn't feel any pain, only the warmth of blood coating my neck and soaking my clothes underneath the armour. I knew it was bad, was sure I was going to die but, in that moment, I wasn't scared. I took down the orc who had struck me and lied on top of him, drifting in and out of consciousness. The pain became impossible to ignore and I remember that every time I opened my eyes, I was almost annoyed. Not dead yet? Damn, how long do I have to suffer here? Little did I know it was only the beginning. When they got me to the healers hours later and cauterized the wound, I cursed them, begged them to let me die. There were so many wounded that willow bark concoctions were scarce. For days I did not move, did not speak. Even the slightest movement was agony and I dreaded the change of the bandages. I only sobbed, didn't even have the energy to fight them anymore. The first time I looked in a mirror, I almost retched".
She let out a shaky breath, her fingers reaching unconsciously for the ragged skin on the side of her face.
"My uncle had been injured at Helm's Deep, though not gravely, and had thus stayed behind. When he received news that the war was over, he sent someone looking for me. I was slightly better by then and so I asked his man to take me back home, told him I'd rather take my life than spend another day in the House of Healing, watching more and more people die around me - not the fast, adrenaline filled death of war, but the slow, hollow one that rips apart the heart of even the bravest man. The journey back home was misery. The day we arrived in Edoras, I found Alling and my uncle waiting for me. I still felt the empty shell I was when I left, I was embarrassed and ashamed of the scars I carried. As if the midst of all that we had lost, they were of any relevance! Alling rarely left my side and that very same day, he proposed to me. I-I broke down then", she gulped, her voice cracking, "like a man lost in the desert who spots an oasis in the distance and can't believe his eyes. I clung on him, on what he was offering, like the selfish coward that I am".
"You were in pain, distressed…".
"I know!", she yelled back, sobbing, "But what excuse do I have for the months that followed? Once the pain ebbed away, how could I not see that I was deceiving him, how could I not see that the feelings I was professing were nothing short of a lie? Even after our paths crossed, even after our night talks by the river became the only time of my day that was worth something, I still told myself I was just being silly. I chose to stay with Alling and pushed you into Aldwyn's arms, because that's what a good friend is supposed to do, is it not?".
Amrothos moved to comfort her, but she slid away. A blanket wrapped around her shoulders, she sat by the window and for a while, she was silent. Only once she had calmed down, did she return to him. "When Alling asked me to marry him, I was in no state of mind to take any decision, let alone one as important and with lifelong consequences such as that. I think my uncle knew, that's why he urged me to slow down. I did not listen and look how I screwed everything. Five months have passed since the day I returned from Gondor and I haven't moved of an inch, Amrothos. I'm stuck, my life is trapped in the same dark place I was back then. I'm just very good at hiding it, at keeping people from worrying for me so that I won't be a burden to them. I thought that if I kept busy, if I went on with my life as if nothing had happened, eventually I'd be fine. But I am not fine. I do not regret this", she said motioning to the two of them, a sad smile curving her lips, "but if you came here with the intention of asking anything of me, please don't".
Amrothos suppressed the bitterness those words elicited. He had not known what to expect coming there, but he would lie if he said a part of him hadn't dared hoping he'd return to Edoras together with Ealith. But he understood how she felt and was not going to press her for any commitment. "What will you do?".
Ealith relaxed at that, as if she had expected him to fight her and was relieved she wouldn't have to defend her choices. "Because of my family's business, my uncle knows many among the herdsmen living in the Eastemnet. Some of them were visiting the Hornburg while we were there. I asked him to arrange for me to spend the winter with them. I need to find some clarity, Amrothos, and for that I need to leave Edoras and its burden of memories behind, forget for once about all the grand expectations my family has always put on me. Coming spring maybe I'll return. Or maybe I won't. I'm not allowing myself to plan so much in advance".
"When do you leave?".
"In nine days from the Hornburg, meaning in seven days from here".
He removed the blanket from her shoulders and nuzzled her neck. "I understand".
"You won't try to make me change my mind?".
"No. In seven days, I'll saddle your horse myself. Until then, just please let me just stay here with you".
They didn't leave their cabin until the late afternoon of the next day. Actually, they rarely ever left the cot and the only reason they eventually did, was because they had run out of food and were both starving. Ealith kneaded a loaf of bread and left it to leaven while they ventured out: "It will be dark soon, so let's try to be efficient. I will check the western side of the woods, you get the eastern one. It rained heavily last week, so there should be a lot of mushrooms. Collect as many as you can, as well as herbs and berries if you find them. Blackthorn and honeysuckle are common in these woods".
Amrothos nodded absentmindedly - she had honestly lost him at mushrooms. "What are you planning to cook?".
"A stew most likely. If we find penny buns, we could also grill them on the fire".
Oh, he'd find them alright! Without further ado, he rolled the sleeves of his tunic and delved into the forest, scanning the bushes around his feet. About an hour later, he returned to the cabin with a hefty bounty and a smile stretching from ear to ear.
"High time you came back, I was about to come searching for you. Were you successful?".
Actions speak louder than words, so he simply dropped the content of his basket on the table.
Ealith nodded and started counting, seemingly unfazed. After she had reached six, she shook her head in dismay: "When I proposed to look for mushrooms, you did not think worth mentioning you have no idea how to distinguish a poisonous one from an edible one?".
Amrothos scoffed. "Please, I'm a mushroom connoisseur".
"Are you? Then tell me what's this".
"A penny bun, obviously".
"Wrong. This is a devil's bolete which, as you may guess from the name, is anything but an innocuous, tasty mushroom".
"You don't know what you are talking about".
"Alright then. I will grill this, and you will eat it and prove me wrong".
Amrothos hesitated. Pride demanded he defend himself from the incoming onslaught. On the other hand, he was well aware that like the spoiled Prince that he was, he had never bothered to go looking for mushrooms and always focused solely on eating them. "Poisonous you say?".
"Not enough to kill you. But plenty to make you spend the night emptying your bowels. This on the other hand", she said holding another one, "is lethal. My guess is you thought you were picking a paddy straw, and got instead a death cap. Again: the name is decidedly self-explicatory".
A man must know when it is time to sound the retreat. "Fine, you win. I will throw them away. Is there anything else I can help you with?".
"Yes, go fetch some water".
"Using me for the hard labour, I see".
"Hardly so. Just picking a task I am confident you can take care of, without getting us both killed".
"Very funny", he muttered, feigning offense as he stepped again into the cool night.
Maybe it was because they had barely eaten during the day. Or maybe it was because Ealith had cooked their meal and he suspected she could feed him mud, and he'd still love it and ask for more. Either way, Amrothos thought the stew she made for dinner was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten in his entire life. He gobbled down two generous portions and would have gladly gone for a third one, had there been any left. He took a slice of bread and scooped any leftover from his bowl as well as the pot, then finished the meal with some cheese and confiture. At the end he was full, happy and ready to sleep until morning.
Which was exactly what he did.
"Amrothos, wake up".
He snorted and snuggled away. A moment later, the blanket was unceremoniously torn from his grip.
"It's past dawn and there's a place I'd like to show you. Wake up!".
With an exasperated sigh, he turned back. "Can't this place wait until later?".
"No. It will take us three hours to get there and I don't want to be in a rush. Come, I brewed you some tea and we can eat breakfast on the way".
Knowing it was pointless to argue, he crawled towards his clothes and made ready. Ealith later explained she was taking him to a lake and upon witnessing his scepticism that a three hours ride would ever be worth a lake – especially considering there were much closer ones they could have dropped by, she not so diplomatically told him to stop whining.
They rode through the woods, mostly in silence, until she steered her horse on a winding track. It was a remote area and yet here and there Amrothos noticed the tell-tale signs of sporadic travellers – wind washed bonfires, an old shack, a rudimental trough. After a long and strenuous climb, they reached a green plateau which offered a gorgeous view of the towering mountains. The northern peaks were covered with what he supposed was perennial snow and between rugged pinnacles, glaciers extended over moraine steep valleys.
Ealith led him across the plateau, in and out of majestic spruce woods until all of a sudden, the landscape opened to reveal some three hundred feet below them, waters of the most wondrous turquoise colour. Amrothos immediately headed downhill, but she was quick to stop him: "We'll get to the lake later. But first, I'd like to go for a walk. I must warn you, the track is quite exposed and not suitable for the horses. We should leave them grazing here. Are you up for it?".
He took a deep breath. There was something revitalizing about the air up there, something that made him feel full of energy. "Let's go!".
Ealith's warning proved well-founded. The trail was steep, climbing up on loose gravel and crossing a multitude of small brooks that dripped down the mountain. His pride took a hit when he realized just how easily she hiked her way, nimble and sure footed, whereas he was often forced to lean for support and stop every now and then to catch his breath. Finally, after about an hour, they reached a vantage point from which the view over the lake was, if possible, even more stunning. They sat on a boulder and quenched their hunger with a small refreshment of dried fruits and bread.
"And? Was it worth being pulled out of bed in the early hours?".
"It was", he just said, trying to fill his senses with the beauty and peace that was all around him.
"There's a small community of shepherds who bring their herds up here during the summer. After feeding on meadow grasses, the animals produce a type of milk we call heumilch. It has a distinctive aroma that gives their cheese a unique flavour".
"Have they left for this season already?".
"Yes, the droving towards the valley normally happens during the first half of September".
"Can one swim in the lake?".
"In summer, yes. Now it will be too cold, even by our standard! We can fish though - there is plenty of char and trout".
"Ah, now you are speaking my language: water, fishing… leave it to me!".
This time, Amrothos managed not only to live up to Ealith's expectations, but to actually surpass them: he easily caught two big trout, cooked them to perfection and, in a display of great chivalry, he meticulously cleaned her portion of skin and bones before presenting her the food. "The Prince has his uses after all!", she taunted him after she had finished eating.
"Did I pass the test then? You won't go around telling everybody how spoiled and useless I am?".
"I never said you are useless".
"What about spoiled?",
"Now now. Don't push your luck".
The rest of the week flew by quickly and too soon, Amrothos found himself making good of his word.
He had gone around his daily routine as if it was just another normal morning but for every bridle he fixed, for every strap he secured, he could feel his time with Ealith coming to an end and the uncertainty of what was to come looming over him. When she approached him, he could see the same emotions mirrored in her eyes and it took him all his willpower to simply smile and lift her in the saddle.
He was desperate to speak about what would happen coming spring, when he was expected to return to Gondor and she to settle down in the Westfold. Desperate to demand she promised she'd come back to him so they could resume things where they had left them. But he didn't give voice to any of it, for he knew Ealith was not ready for that kind of conversation.
He stretched to kiss her one last time and watched her riding away with a heavy heart. For another two days he lingered in the cabin, trying to collect his scattered thoughts and examining the depth of his feelings, marvelling at how they had thrived in the face of the most difficult months he had ever lived.
Finally, on a rainy autumn morning, he packed his things and left.
Four weeks later, in the early hours of November the third, Edoras awoke to the news everybody had been waiting for. Elfwine, firstborn of Éomer Éadig and his wife Lothíriel, Crown Prince and heir to the throne of Rohan, was born. Celebrations erupted in every tavern and every house, dragging on for well over a week as people saw their hopes for a better future renewed once more. The euphoria was quick to spread well beyond the city's walls and horns were raised everywhere across the country to honour the joyful event.
Lothíriel was sure she'd never be able to put into words how insanely dazed and bursting with love she had felt upon holding her son for the first time. And she'd surely never forget the look in Éomer's eyes when he had finally been allowed into the room, nor the way Amrothos had later broken into tears.
The weeks that followed proved starkly different from how she had envisioned them. For all the fanfare everybody put on childbirth and the tiny bundle of joy entering your life, she'd have appreciated if someone had spared a moment to warn her of how difficult the time after can actually be. It wasn't just about healing physically – though that had surely taken its toll, but rather struggling to regain a semblance of balance. She had had trouble sleeping, at times found it difficult to focus on even the simplest tasks. In a swing of erratic, overwhelming moods, she sometimes went from weeping to elated and then angry in a matter of minutes, leaving her frustrated and those around worried.
It wasn't until Yule that things slowly starting falling into a routine, giving her some much-needed comfort and finally allowing her to feel a bit more like herself.
For his part, Elfwine was quite simply the sweetest, most adorable child. Sometimes she'd spend hours just looking at him, still not quite believing that he was really there, that they had made him, that he was hers and Éomer's! He proved of course the best father a child could ask for, but that she had known all along. They had agreed she'd take a hiatus from her duties until the summer and unfortunately, that meant he was horribly overburdened. Even so, he always ensured to make time to be with them and were it for him, he'd be up every night to watch her feeding Elfwine. But she knew he needed rest and since their son was incredibly punctual, she had taken to sneak out of their bedroom shortly before he started crying. Éomer would grumble the following morning, to which she'd laugh and kiss him, and they'd be good until the next day.
If possible, Elfwine's birth had also made her closer to her brother. Amrothos kept her company at night and if at day she needed to take a nap, he was promptly there to relieve her. Lothíriel worried for him though: he had made great progresses at healing and caring for himself, but she knew his feelings and feared what would happen coming spring, should Ealith decide to walk a path he was not part of.
On the first day of Yule celebrations, she caught him sitting in the solar, surrounded by at least a dozen crumpled papers. "What are you doing?", she asked.
He lowered his eyes, reminding her of a child caught stealing cookies from the pantry. "I am writing a letter. Or at least I'm trying to".
"Will the letter be sent to the Eastemnet, by any chance?".
"No. In fact, it won't be sent at all".
"Can it still be considered a letter then, I do wonder".
"It can. I will deliver it personally. Just, not yet". He stowed away the quill and after one last disheartened glace, he collected his attempts and tossed them all into the fire. "I don't think Ealith would appreciate me sending her letters while she's trying to distance herself from her old life. But I thought I could still write her and give her the letters when she returns. I also had this done", he said and showed her a simple wooden case, polished and with edges painted gold.
Lothíriel hid her concerns behind a sincere smile. It was such a thoughtful, beautiful idea. "I hate to admit I haven't bought any Yule gift this year. Will you forgive my forgetfulness?".
"There's nothing to forgive. You've been occupied with more important things", he told her with a wink.
As if knowing they were speaking about him, Elfwine cooed quietly. "Would you mind looking after him for a little while? Éomer asked me to join him in his study. He didn't say what it's about, but it sounded serious".
"Uncle Amrothos to the rescue. Give me the little rascal".
"Are you sure? I can call the nanny if you'd rather finish writing your letter".
"Nonsense. I've been at it for most of the afternoon and only managed to produce fuel for the fire. Go and take your time, we boys will be fine on our own. Ain't that right, Elfwine?".
His chubby arms stretched towards him, gray eyes sparkling with laughter. She left the room to the sound of a happy gibberish conversation and headed for the study, knowing her own upcoming colloquy with Éomer was not going to be nearly as light-hearted. She found him leaning over his desk, pouring over maps of the Westfold. "You sent for me?".
"Yes. I'm sorry to bother you, but something came up and I need my Queen's advice".
"Of course. And please, do not apologize. I may be on leave, but that doesn't mean I want to become estranged with Rohan's situation".
"Léored sent a message warning of troubles brewing along the Isen".
"The Isen? That's nowhere near his stronghold".
"No. But it's right in the heart of Lord Wídca's one".
"Then why was Léored the one to inform you about it, and not Wídca or Erkenbrand at the very least?".
"Because Wídca has been careful to keep the news for himself. It's likely he hopes to get something out of it".
Lothíriel couldn't say she was surprised. Among all the members of the Council, Wídca was the one she worried the most about, for he exposed all the traits of a formidable opponent: a hero of the war adored by his people, smart but cautious, with great wealth at his disposal and fuelled by an ever greater thirst for power. "I take it Léored is honouring his side of the bargain and passing us information we were otherwise not supposed to receive".
"It would appear so. And that's just about the only good news you will hear today".
"Tell me then. What's happening?".
"There have been numerous incursions of the Dunlendings this past month. It appeared they built rudimental ferries and used them to cross the river and break into our granaries".
An old familiar rage surged through her veins. "Have there been casualties?".
"No. They were careful to time the attacks when there was nobody around. In a couple of cases they restrained the farmers and left them locked away, but otherwise nobody realized what had happened until long after they had dispersed and returned to their shores".
"I can't believe they would do such cowardly thing. After the massacres they perpetrated during the war, after you've restored their borders and agreed to a peace they have done nothing to deserve, one that has already costed you discontent from those who have suffered at their hands. That they would break the treaty is unacceptable!".
Éomer remained silent, his eyes darkening in anger and disappointment. Ever since he had returned from the war, dealing with the Dunlendings had been one of those thorny issues constantly nagging at him. The decision to offer them a peaceful resolution had not come easy, but he had taken it in the hope of preventing history from repeating itself.
"What of Lord Wídca? Why didn't he inform you right away? Is he conspiring with them?".
"No - quite the opposite if we are to trust what Léored says. He acted swiftly, set up patrols along the river. They located and destroyed several of the ferries and on a few occasions, they managed to intercept trespassing Dunlendings. He gave orders to take no prisoners and had them all executed".
"He should have warned you right away, but I'm glad he did at least what justice demanded".
"There's more. Lord Wídca has retaliated by crossing the border himself. He led his men into Dunland, forced the villagers living in the settlements right across the river to retreat further up the hills. Léored has reasons to believe he's actively trying to expand our borders and gain more land for himself".
"Greedy maggot", she growled, the gravity of the situation leaving her shaking with anger. Éomer was staring at her and she knew he wanted to know what her thoughts were, but it was easier said than done for she didn't particularly trust herself when it came to Dunlendings. It had been almost a year since she had been abducted, since Zarn had assaulted her, since Cedarn had almost killed her. But the horror of those days was still fresh in her memory and she knew better than to trust her judgment on a matter that involved her abductors' countrymen. "I'm not sure my advice is worth much. I understand that under no circumstances should summary executions be condoned, but the Dunlendings were in open violation of the treaty, stealing and attacking defenceless farmers. However, Lord Wídca should have informed you immediately of what was happening and, even more importantly, he had no right to invade a neighbouring land without first consulting with you. You can't let that go unpunished, Éomer, or soon you'll have an upsurge of advisors who think they can do as they will".
"I know".
"What will you do?".
"I must travel to the Westfold and see with my own eyes what is happening. Lord Wídca is not expecting me and won't be able to get rid of the evidence of his wrongdoing. I will have to meet with the Dunlending chieftains as well, possibly tear up the treaty and make ready to deal with the consequences"
"You plan on travelling to Dunland?".
"I have no choice".
Lothíriel pulled a chair and sat down. The urge to beg him not to leave was like an itch and the words almost spilled from her mouth. It was all too soon for this to happen! Too soon for him to put himself in harm's way once again! Too soon for him to leave them! "When will you go?".
"I will leave tomorrow at dawn. The longer I tarry, the more we risk an escalation".
She almost gasped. Of course he needed to hurry, yet she had still foolishly hoped he could postpone his departure until after Yule. "How long will you be away?".
"Two weeks at least, possibly longer. I am sorry I have to leave you and Elfwine right at the beginning of the festivities, I…".
"You do what you must to keep us all safe. I am not happy, but I understand. Promise me you'll be cautious, Éomer".
"I'm taking half of my Eored and will ask Erkenbrand to join me with half of his. The Dunlendings are in no position to challenge us and risk open war. I will be safe, don't worry".
Lothíriel snuggled into his arms. "I will try".
Author's notes: again an awfully late chapter. Sorry about that but unfortunately, I can't write any faster at the moment. I hope you're still enjoying the story despite the slow pace!
Ealith did not marry Alling and had also told him about what had happened between her and Amrothos. Her situation was long in the making and the events of the war – losing her father, witnessing the destruction of her country at the hand of Saruman's forces, riding to war and being injured, only caused it to spiral out of control. She managed to hide it but in truth, she has been struggling just as much as Amrothos – if not more. She should have called off the wedding months before but didn't, only breaking up with Alling right before the great day, which must have been horrible for him. On the other hand, marrying him would have been just as wrong.
It's quite clear that although none of them has openly professed their feelings, Amrothos and Ealith are in love. After everything that has happened however, I think it's understandable that she wouldn't want to commit and she decided to leave without sure plans about whether she'd come back at all.
I always liked Aldwyn and wanted to have a female character who is strong and honourable enough to put aside her amorous feelings to help a friend.
As per the lake Amrothos and Ealith visits, shamelessly inspired by one of my favourite spots in Switzerland: Oeschinensee.
Katia0203: Amrothos could have never managed to stop it because – as you say, the Hornburg is a two days ride from Edoras. Likely Ealith stopped it herself, though if it wasn't for Aldwyn he would have likely never known until it was too late.
Christine: thank you! The move, well, it was planned for April but let's just say it may be on hold for this year because I kind of got cold feet after having spent some few exploratory weeks in Singapore… Maybe ten years in Switzerland are a too long time to ever want to leave this place, but we'll see :)
Catspector: you are absolutely right! Luckily Aldwyn stepped up and saw that they finally face each other and their mutual feelings. I understand it might seem like Ealith is running again, but she really isn't. She has acknowledged her feelings and the fact she's been unwell for too long, and understood she needs some time away.
tgo62: glad you're still enjoying it!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: sorry for leaving you hanging for so long! Hopefully the chapter was worth the wait!
anahvolf: thank you so much! Actually after I read your review I was feeling so motivated, I sat down and finally finished this chapter! :)