Hi all! Here is the second chapter in this new story! Thank you to those of you who let me know that I messed up Faramir's family tree. That was just a complete oversight (and forgetfulness) on my part. That has been fixed in the first chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter Two (Mareke)
After Na'man told me of my fate to marry the Rohirric King, I went to dinner in a stupor.
There had as yet been no formal announcement of my betrothal, but even so the King of Rohan said nothing to me that evening. He did not approach me and from what I could tell he did not even glance in my direction. I had hoped for even the slightest show of warmth as some sign that everything would turn out well.
I returned to my rooms and allowed Oyna to prepare me for bed without saying a word. We always spoke to one another so it was entirely strange that neither of us said anything.
Normally, my companion offered comfort through her chattering, but I believe she was just as shaken as I was at the news.
The next morning, I found that I could do little more than sit by the window in my bedroom. Tea was set before me, but I let it grow cold.
"You should eat a little something, Mareke," Oyna said, when the sun was high in the sky and I still had not moved.
"I could not do such a thing even if I wanted to," I replied, not looking at her.
While she refrained from doing such casual things in the presence of anyone but my brother and I, she sat at the small table across from me, unbidden. "Perhaps it will not be so bad," she said. "It seems frightening now, but he could be a good husband. He is busy with all of the negotiating. It is not an ideal for courting."
"Courting?" I scoffed. "He need not court me at all. I assume the documents between him and my brother have already been signed."
It was Oyna's turn to remain quiet.
"I knew this was a possibility, but it seems I let it remain too abstract in my head and now I am shocked." I sighed. "Actually, I thought I might never marry. There are so few eligible men left at home and who abroad wants to marry the princess of the enemy?"
"None of that," Oyna replied. "Your brother was invited to these talks. King Elessar does not think of Harad as the enemy anymore. You will do yourself no favors by making yourself an outsider."
I shot a quick look at her. While she was my closest friend and confidant, she had also rarely allowed me to pity myself.
I remained silent for a while, but another thought came unbidden to me.
"How old do you think he is?" I asked, looking to Oyna.
It was obvious that he was much older than me, but that was not what had really begun to plague me in that moment.
"I would imagine in his middle thirties," she replied.
"Nearly twice my age," I replied.
"But still very handsome. And quite well built," Oyna said.
She was not wrong, but his looks did little for me when I had never said a single word to the man who was shortly to become my husband.
"It is not so much his age that worries me," I said.
"Oh no, there is a great deal more to worry about."
I rolled my eyes at the unhelpfulness of her statement. "Indeed, but right now I am mostly worried about his daughter."
Oyna raised an eyebrow.
"I am not equipped to be someone's stepmother," I said. "What do I know about any of that?"
"You of all people should know what a little girl in her position might need." She continued when I did not respond. "What did you need growing up without your mother?"
"Surely it is not that simple," I replied.
"You might be surprised."
"Luckily, Princess Artanis does not have to deal with her father's harem," I scoffed.
"Indeed. Those women were not good to you or your brother when you needed them. I would say you will know exactly what to do if only because you learned at a young age what not to do."
I sighed once more, completely overwhelmed.
"Distract yourself," Oyna bid, handing me a book I had chosen from the library a few days earlier.
I tried, I truly did, but I found myself rereading the same sentences over and over again, not taking in any of the healing information on the page before me.
Far too quickly for my liking, the morning turned into afternoon which led to the evening and the inevitable gathering for dinner.
Oyna helped me get ready as she normally did, but I sat pensive before the vanity.
"What if he speaks to me?"
"Would that not be better than him not as he has done this entire time?"
"I am not sure. The silence is manageable. It requires nothing from me."
Before Oyna could answer, there was a light knock at my door.
"Come in."
My brother poked his head in, before entering at his full height.
"Oyna, could I have just a moment with my sister?"
She dipped her head. "Your Majesty," she said, before disappearing through the door he had just entered.
Without a word, Na'man sat on the foot of my bed and put his head in his hands. I turned on the stool to look at him.
"Na'man?" I said quietly after a long moment.
"I am so sorry, Mareke," he whispered, not looking up at me. "I did not know what else to do. I am not a good enough diplomat, it would seem, to secure this alliance without a marriage."
I rose and went to sit next to him, pulling his hands away from his face. "This was to be expected," I replied, though as I had to Oyna earlier, I am not sure it was.
"Was it?" Finally, my brother looked at me with bloodshot eyes. I did not want him not sleeping because of his decision. He had important work to do for the Realm.
"You serve our people by ruling and guiding them. I shall serve them by securing goods and friendship."
"You do not hate me?"
"I could never," I assured him, squeezing his hands. "You have been my protector since I was born. I trust you completely."
"We need this alliance badly and I did not expect it to come so easily. However, I think they do not trust me entirely. They want someone I care about to be in their hands so that I will not betray the agreement."
"You would not do such a thing."
"Of course not, but they do not know me. And they only know Harad as a previous enemy. So I have had to sacrifice my sister, who I love best."
"You are not sacrificing me. My life is not over." Even as I said all of the correct things to reassure my brother, my stomach flipped and my mouth went dry. But I could not express my doubts to Na'man. He had the weight of our Realm and family on his shoulders.
"It does seemingly work out for everyone. Gondor wants us closer, we need protection against our half-brothers and those who would plot against me, and Eomer needs an heir."
I thought I would heave when he mentioned a Rohirric heir. I had not gotten that far along in my panicking quite yet.
Just as marriage had seemed far off, if possible at all, so did becoming a mother. I had been prepared to live out my days in Na'man's court, helping Fisrah tend to their growing family.
"You will be the only one to suffer. Besides our family who will miss you dearly."
"Who is to say I will not find happiness in Rohan?"
"You are just saying these things so that I do not feel worse than I already do."
I looked at him for a long moment. "Perhaps," I whispered. "But I would do anything for you and Harad and so here we are. We cannot tell the future."
Na'man sighed, but nodded. "I will hate to send you off from here."
"From here?"
My brother closed his eyes and let his chin fall to his chest. "Yes. Our paths will diverge here in Minas Tirith. Eomer-King wants to depart as soon as possible and he wants the wedding performed quickly upon your return. I am not sure if that is good news or not. You will not be under so much scrutiny immediately, but then you may not get the wedding you want or deserve. The King is not interested in another to-do as this will be his second wedding."
I nodded. "That is fine with me. I will be able to get my wits about me without having to worry about all that goes with a wedding."
"I will never not feel guilty about this, but I do appreciate your kindness," Na'man said. "I will let you finish preparing for the meal." He bent over and pressed a kiss to my forehead before departing.
I was grateful when Oyna did not immediately appear back in my chambers. Managing to still my shaking hands, I fastened my gold hoop earrings, the fine chain that connected one of those to my nose ring, and slid bangles onto both wrists.
I wondered how I might put on a brave face for my brother when I was entirely overwhelmed by the situation.
"I seem to have lost some color," I said, when my companion returned.
Without a word, she set to dipping a brush into a rouge pot and expertly applying it so there was an attractive flush to my cheeks.
"His Majesty said he would be waiting in the sitting room," Oyna said, as she tied me into a royal blue top with a matching skirt.
I took a deep breath and nodded before joining my brother.
"You look lovely," he said, offering an arm.
"Thank you."
"Harad may be lucky to gain Rohan as an ally through all of this, but Eomer-King will be quite lucky to have you as well."
"I can only hope that I will prove to be a good wife to him," I said.
"You could do nothing else."
There was no warning in Na'man's voice. He and I both knew that I was too obedient and dutiful to do anything other than perform the role of wife and eventually mother just as I was supposed to.
We settled into our seats and once more I was seated next to the Steward. Luckily, his wife was on his other side and preoccupied with their young son.
It had been a few days since the Prince of Ithilien and I had spoken.
"I hear congratulations are in order, Princess," he said, looking kindly down at me.
"Indeed," I replied, trying my hardest to smile as well. "Perhaps you could tell me about your brother-in-law. We have not had the opportunity to get to know one another just yet."
Faramir gave a thoughtful nod. "He is a very brave ruler," he said. "He has become a shrewd and wise leader over the last seven years since he was crowned. I am not sure there has been another time in history that Rohan has prospered in such a manner."
"And what is he like as a man?"
"Ah, now that is more difficult to answer. In all of the years I have known Eomer, I am not sure that I understand who he truly is. Unless he is with his eoreds, he keeps to himself. I think he lives a very interior life when he is not with his men. And Artanis of course. He loves her more than life itself. Since my cousin, Lothiriel, passed he has been very hands on with his daughter's care. Much more than most men might have done."
"What happened to your cousin?" I asked. "If you do not mind my asking," I followed up quickly, realizing that might be too personal a question.
"Lothiriel was sent to marry Eomer right after the War was over in order to solidify Gondor and Rohan's alliance and promise of friendship. Very soon after their wedding she found out she was expecting Artanis and the babe came in March. In Rohan, at that time of year, there is still the possibility of rather foul winter weather and Lothiriel, having lived her entire life in Dol Amroth, was not prepared for such a thing especially after the delivery. She took ill shortly after Artanis was born and she simply never recovered."
"I am so sorry," I said quietly.
I wondered if Faramir saw the parallels that I was drawing between Lothiriel and myself. How much better could I possibly fare after having lived all my life in the desert heat. I had never seen snow, never experienced the biting cold. How could I expect to remain healthy in those long Rohirric months without the sun and warmth?
"It was a long time ago," Faramir said, interrupting my racing thoughts.
"Lothiriel's family, do they have a role in the Princess' life?"
"They do," Faramir replied. "Artanis spends some time in Dol Amroth every year and they visit when they can on her birthdays. As do Eowyn and I."
"That is lovely," I said.
Throughout the meal, I glanced at where Eomer sat with King Elessar, but he never once met my gaze.
It seemed that our first word would not be shared that night.
ooooOoooo
The next morning, I found myself walking through the corridors rather aimlessly. I could not spend another day as I had the day before, sitting and thinking of what my future was going to entail.
"Princess Mareke!"
I turned at the sound of the bright voice to find Artanis and her governess, Dernhild.
"Good morning, Princess," I said, with a small smile.
"What are you doing?" she asked without preamble.
"You know, I was just sort of wandering around," I replied.
"Maybe you would like to come to the stables with Dernhild and I. I was going to check on my foal."
"That sounds lovely if you do not mind."
The little girl gave a shrug and continued on her way, not waiting for me to catch up.
"I hear you are going to be my stepmother," she said bluntly, when we began to descend the levels of the city.
Taken aback, I did not respond immediately.
Artanis looked up at me questioningly.
"I am," I said.
"Aunt Eowyn is not happy about it," Artanis said. I tried not to smile at her youthful thoughtlessness.
"I am not too worried about what your Aunt Eowyn thinks." I looked down at her. "What do you think?"
Artanis shrugged again. "I am not sure. I do not really know you."
"That is true," I agreed.
"Can you teach me black magic?" she asked eagerly.
"Black magic?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aunt Eowyn said you know it," she said earnestly. "She told my father that you will wreak all kinds of havoc upon our family and people." Artanis looked delighted with the prospect of chaos.
I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. "Maybe when you are a little older."
Artanis gave a wicked grin as we approached the stables. I had not been there since we had arrived in the city, but I understood that I would have to grow more comfortable with the animals and how revered they were by the Rohirric people.
When we entered the stables, Artanis went skipping ahead until she was before a stall and pulling the door open.
"This is Stybba," she said, gesturing at the chestnut colt.
"He matches your hair exactly," I said with a smile.
"He does," she agreed with a smile, pulling a sugar cube out of the pocket in her dress.
I watched Artanis carefully tend to her horse, brushing his mane and making sure he had plenty of hay and water. She let him take one last sugar cube and then we exited the pen.
"Who taught you how to do all of that?" I asked.
"My father," she replied. "Would you like to see his horse?"
"I would," I agreed, following the girl a few stalls down.
"Firefoot is the most impressive horse to have been bred in Rohan in many generations," she recited. Artanis did not open the pen, instead climbing up the gate so she could look in.
The horse we were looking at was one of the largest I had ever seen. The dapple-gray stallion gave a snort when he saw Artanis, turning in his stall to greet her, nickering softly and nudging at her shoulder.
"I brought them, you greedy beast," she laughed, digging in her pocket for more sugar cubes, offering her flat palm to the horse.
She told me a little bit more about Firefoot, how he had been her father's steed during the War and how he was also very brave. "He helped my father single handedly take down an Oliphant."
Before I could respond, we were interrupted. I was grateful at first not to have to talk about the creatures of my home and the devastation of my people during the War. That is until I turned at the voice.
"I should have known I would find you here, little one," the King of Rohan said, his voice low. He smiled indulgently at his daughter. "Oh, Princess Mareke," he said, when he looked over at me.
"I was showing her Stybba and Firefoot. She should know our horses if she is going to join our family," Artanis said, hopping down from the gate.
"Indeed," Eomer replied, not taking his eyes off of me, though they had lost the warmth they had bestowed on his daughter.
We stood in an awkward silence, Artanis looking back and forth between the two of us. It seemed silly and a bit too late for introductions as we both clearly knew who the other was and how deeply our fates had become entwined.
"Princess Artanis, we should get you back to your rooms so you can wash up for the afternoon meal," Dernhild said gently, gesturing for the child to join her.
"I will meet you in Merethrond," Eomer promised. Once the little girl was out of sight, he turned back to me. "Might I escort you to your rooms, Princess?"
"Yes, thank you," I replied.
Eomer offered his arm and I was surprised, as I looked at him a little more closely, that he was wearing only a light linen tunic with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
I carefully laid my hand on his bare forearm which was coated in a thick pelt of fair hair.
"I hope my daughter was not bothering you," Eomer said, when we emerged back into the warm May sunshine.
"Not at all," I replied. "I quite enjoyed her lively company. I was facing a morning of aimless wandering and she saved me from that."
"Lively company," Eomer laughed. "That is a polite way of putting it. She is an absolute scamp."
I smiled to hear him speak of his daughter. The love he had for the little girl was abundantly obvious.
"I shall look forward to getting to know her better," I said, the first time either of us had alluded to our future.
At that, Eomer went silent and he did not say another word as we climbed back to the Citadel.
"Thank you for the escort, Your Majesty," I said quietly, once we were outside my chambers.
"Your Highness," he said, with a bow of his head before he turned and left.
Oyna was pacing around the sitting room. "There you are! I was about to pull your brother from his meetings! You said you were just going for a walk in the gardens!" She scolded me.
"I just had my first encounter with my betrothed."
ooooOoooo
Two days later, Oyna and I were sitting on the floor of the sitting room organizing a few new herbs that I had gotten from our visit to the Houses of Healing.
"The Head Healer said that these would have to be dried," I said, putting a bunch of roots into a mesh bag.
It had been one of my mornings better spent in Minas Tirith as I had also been able to share some of my knowledge with the Healers of Minas Tirith.
There was a knock on the door and Oyna rose to open it.
"The Lady of Ithilien," I heard my guards announce to Oyna.
Quickly, I scrambled to my feet, adjusting my top and skirt, trying not to appear too disarrayed to the intimidating woman.
"My lady," I said, when she entered the room, swollen stomach leading the way.
"Your Highness," she said coldly. "I have come to perform a task that is customary and required before a woman marries into the Rohirric royal family."
"I was not aware of such a thing," I replied. "But I am happy to do whatever is needed."
"I am sure you are." Lady Eowyn looked down her nose at me. "Truthfully, I am not sure it is totally necessary in this instance since with the few clothes you do wear, I can see just about everything I need to."
I began to panic then. "What do you mean?"
"Disrobe, Princess. I am to inspect you for any flaws and disfigurements that might indicate a fertility issue, illness, or anything that would be otherwise displeasing to the King."
"You know what displeases your own brother about the female form, my lady?" Oyna asked.
Eowyn and I both shot her a warning look for very different reasons.
"This is entirely inappropriate," I replied, my panic turning quickly to anger.
"I can tell my brother that you refused to comply. I am not sure what that would do to the agreement and treaty between Harad and Rohan."
I thought of my own brother then and how desperately he needed me to go along with this marriage and make a success of it. Lady Eowyn knew that and was using it against me.
Without a word, I gestured Oyna forward and we began to untie my top and the stays at the back of the high waisted skirt I wore that day.
I forced myself to keep my arms by my side once I was completely naked. I would not cower and cover myself in front of the other woman.
"I am not sure if I should consider all of these tattoos a blemish or not," she remarked, not quite to herself. A cold finger traced the snake on my right arm.
I met her gaze with fierce eyes. She stood in front of me taking every single inch of my body in before she began to walk around me.
"Bema above only knows what your children will look like," she muttered from behind me. I had to grit my teeth to keep from replying.
"Eomer knows what you look like, which is why I cannot believe he agreed to the match, and I see nothing else wrong other than the tattoos and dark skin. Quite frankly, I am surprised, but it would seem your body will not stand in the way of your marriage."
Without a word, Lady Eowyn made her way to the door and I stood there silently fuming.
Oyna had fetched my robe and draped it over my shoulders.
ooooOoooo
My time in Minas Tirith too rapidly came to a close. When I had first arrived, I would have thought that the visit could not have gone quick enough. But that was when I thought I would be returning to the comfort of my home. Instead, the end of my time in Minas Tirith was brought about by the departure of the Rohirric party for Edoras.
It was a week after I had been escorted from the stables by Eomer-King and in that time he and I had shared not another word. There had been gifts though.
I donned one of them on the morning of my departure, a Rohirric riding outfit.
"Are you going to have to change your entire wardrobe when we get there?" Oyna asked with distaste. "Am I?"
"I would assume so. I shall be the Queen of the Riddermark and you will be my attendant. I would think we will have to look the part."
I was not any more encouraged than her as I stood in front of the tall, burnished mirror. The outfit consisted of a loose, long gray tunic and brown riding breeches with knee high boots.
"You look like a man," she replied.
"As do you," I shot back.
Oyna furrowed her brow and went to pack the remaining few saddlebags with Healing things and refreshments for the long journey.
There was a knock and then my brother entered. "Oh my," he said when he saw me.
"It is quite an adjustment," I agreed, trying to smile.
"You look like a Rohirric queen," he said, also forcing a smile.
"Well that is the hope."
"Oyna, could you leave us for a moment?" Na'man asked.
"Of course, Your Majesty," she replied, excusing herself.
"I am so sorry, Mareke," Na'man said for the second time after the door had closed, his voice cracking.
Without a word, I went to him and wrapped my arms around his middle, burying my face in his chest so that he could not see my tears.
"I wish Father were still here. I wish I was not faced with these decisions. I fear I have made a terrible mistake."
I sniffled and pulled away from him, wiping at my eyes. "No, Na'man," I said quietly. "You are a great king. We have known all of our lives that duty to our Realm comes first. This will bring peace and prosperity to not only our family, but our people as well."
"Let us not speak of duty," Na'man said, also wiping at his dark eyes. "I am going to miss you."
He did not indicate when, or if, we might see each other again.
"Write to me as soon as you arrive," he said.
I nodded, choking back the sobs that were threatening to escape my chest. "Give Fisrah and Amir my love."
Half an hour later, Oyna, Na'man and myself were making our way to the stables. The Rohirric party was already there when we entered.
Na'man went to greet Eomer, but as I watched there were no pleasantries. No promises to protect me and make me happy in Rohan. The two only grasped each other's forearms and discussed the logistics of our trip. It seemed that Eomer wanted to be in Edoras in less than two weeks.
"Your Highness," Eomer said, walking toward me with reins in his hand, not those of Firefoot. "I hope you will accept this betrothal gift. He is called Arroch." The King's speech was stilted and he seemed to be looking at a point just over my shoulder.
"He is beautiful," I said, running my hand over the horse's neck. He was black as night and much taller than any horse I had ridden before.
Oyna mounted her mare next to me and I turned to my brother to give him one final hug. "All will be well," I promised before mounting Arroch with some difficulty.
I heard the Lady of Ithilien's snicker and noted that she was much more at ease on her horse even in her advanced stage of pregnancy. I was not pleased that she was joining us in Edoras for the wedding rather than returning to Ithilien.
ooooOoooo
The last words Eomer spoke to me during our journey were when I was gifted Arroch while still in Minas Tirith.
Artanis and Faramir were my frequent companions during the long days in the saddle and the nights around the campfires.
"I must say, my lord, I am surprised that you and your wife are traveling to Edoras," I said to Faramir one afternoon to distract myself from the sun beating down on me as we made our way ever closer to Rohan. "The wedding is supposed to be a small affair, so I have been told."
"In addition to your wedding, Eowyn has been insistent our second child be born in Rohan. Her homeland means a great deal to her."
"I see," I replied.
"She has missed the hills and plains greatly since moving to the forest."
"Surely she cannot be unhappy there with you and Elboron," I replied, glancing over at him.
"Perhaps not unhappy, but homesick occasionally. Especially since Elboron has been born and he is being raised as the heir of Ithilien."
A pang shot through me. I had not considered what it would be like to raise a child in a different place.
I had helped Fisrah greatly with Amir ever since he had been born. Now that the prospect of becoming a mother was imminent, I thought how I would have liked to have her simple comfort and experience with me as I navigated motherhood. I would be utterly alone. Oyna would be with me of course, but she was not yet a mother.
"Faramir!"
We both looked ahead to where Eowyn was riding with her brother. The pair of them were both so stoic.
Faramir gave me a kind smile before spurring his horse ahead to join his wife and brother-in-law.
Luckily, we traveled without incident and were approaching Edoras two days shy of Eomer's two week goal.
"I shall never get on another horse again in my entire life," Oyna swore as we rode through the hills of Rohan's capital.
I had to laugh even though I was still incredibly sore. I was not sure how I would be able to walk through my new home after the long days in the saddle.
As the sun began to set, we came upon the Golden Hall, Meduseld, and my jaw dropped.
"Is the roof made of-?"
"It is straw," Artanis said, cantering up beside Oyna and I. "Lots and lots of straw that is replaced quite often."
In the direct sunlight, the roof looked as though it was made of pure gold.
"My goodness," I breathed. "It is magnificent."
There you have it! I hope you're enjoying this story far! I can't wait to hear what you think about the second chapter!
Happy reading,
Avonmora