This one is for Klose :)
May. 3rd, 2003 12:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartSo, Klose, here is the fragment you wanted to read. *g*
Emissary of the Mark
(Elfhelm's adventures in the land of Rhún)
A few remarks before you start reading:
1) The religion of the Rohirrim is entirely my creation, made up on the basis of the pagan Anglo-Saxon beliefs.
2) Frána son of Gámlód was a name first considered (and then rejected) by Tolkien for Wormtongue. I found it in the HoME-books and created the character.
3) Idis, Théoden's daughter existed shortly aside (or, at some point, instead) of Éowyn. Since it is explicitly said that Queen Elfhild died while giving birth to Théodred, I made Idis a bastard child, who was acknowledged by her father nevertheless.
4) The Lady Aud, Théodred's wife and the rest of Erkenbrand's family are my OCs. To Aud's fate see: ''Ice Blossom''
Chapter One: The Quest
[Edoras - the 4th day of Eostre-monaţ (1), in the year 3014 of the Third Age]
The Spring Festival was in its full bloom when Elfhelm son of Hengest, the Marshal of the garrison of Edoras, arrived in the Golden Hall of Meduseld. He would have come earlier, but he had to break up a short but ugly fight between a few of the warriors under his command, who had already celebrated the return of spring with a few tankards of mead beyond their endurance (and *that* meant a *lot* among the Riders of the Mark). Then he had to regroup the next watch, for one of the wounded would have been on duty within the next cycle.
Then he had to return to the halls of his own family, on the other side of Edoras, in order to put on something more appropriate than his mail shirt and the tunic that got stained with the blood of his fighting, drunk warriors. Which included washing first, of course. And after all that, he had to climb all those endless steps up til the doors of the Golden Hall.
Small wonder that he came too late.
Háma, the doorwarden of the King, ushered him inside urgently, and he tried to sneak in without being seen. Frotunately, all guests were occupied with the events of the celebration and no-one paid any attention to him.
Théoden King had already chanted the ancient hymn in honour of Eostre, gold-haired goddess of dawn, spring and new life. Now he sat comfortably in his high, canopied seat in the feasting hall of Meduseld, with his only son, Prince Théodred the Brave on his right and his sister-son, Éomer son of Éomund on his left, carving the roasted hare with the ceremonial knife and sending his bites of choice with the servants to the selected guests of honour.
On the other side of Théodred sat his wife, Aud of the deep eyes, with her father Erkenbrand, the Master of Westfold and lord of the Hornburg, while on Éomer's left his sister, the Lady Éowyn sat - tall and slender and proud, called Steelsheen among the men of the Mark. She was clad in flawless white, and a blackened silver clasp, adorned with the likeness of the White Tree of Mundburg - an old family heirloom from her grandmother, Morwen of Lossornach - fastened her cloak on one shoulder.
'Twas easy for Elfhelm to find his own family - his father, the *Maegtheow*(2) of Clan Éowain and Lord of the Eastfold, was seated opposite Erkenbrand, newst to the Lady Éowyn, with his firstborn and second-born sons and their wives, and there was also a seat left free for Elfhelm, on the side of Idis, the wife of his brother Adhemar.
The sitting order, dictated by rank and age, was a time-honoured tradition never questioned among the men of the Mark - yet Elfhelm wished now that there were a way to change that order. Even after two years of separation, it still hurt him to be near the golden princess who had chosen his second-eldest brother above him.
For a princess the golden Idis was, though born in the wrong bed. Ever since Queen Elfhild had died in childbirth, four times ten years ago, Théoden King steadfastedly refused to take an other wife. And yet, though once only, he proved too weak against his own loneliness and the charm of a fair common maid - he fell in love with her whom he could not wed and make his new Queen, and from their passionate love Idis was born, a daughter of great beauty.
Only two summers after her birth, sunny young Ebba - her mother - caught some strange fewer and died slowly and painfully during the next winter, to the great grief of the King. Idis, however, was sent to Altburg, to Théoden's sister, and there she was raised by gentle Lady Théodwyn, together with her own, much younger children, until the Lady, too, died.
Idis then returned to Edoras with Éowyn and Éomer, and there she remained and was raised and taught as any princess would, helping to raise her young cousins. Then, nearly ten years ago, young Elfhelm had been sent to Edoras, to serve in the *éored* of the King's knights, met the princess and fell in love with a passion only a youth of barely twenty summers is able to.
That Idis was two years his elder bothered him not - unlike the people of Mundburg, who had the disgusting custom to wed their daughters to gnarled old men that could have been their fathers thrice over - the men of the Mark often bond themselves to slightly older women. Prince Théodred himself was three years younger than the Lady Aud, too.
But Idis returned his passioante feelings not, though she never was aught but friendly to him. Yet when - three summers later - he fianlly dared to offer her his heart, she gently but firmly rejected him. Telling him that she already had benn promised - to Adhemar, his own brother, no less -, and even if she were not, she never had seen and never would see aught but a brother in him.
That hit Elfhelm hard, and he was glad that shortly thereafter he was sent out to the Gap with the troups that guarded the Fords of Isen. Later he was sent to Mundburg, for he spoke Westron flawlessly, and served near the garrison of Cair Andros, where cavalry was desperately needed. Finally, two years ago, Théoden King chose him for the diffidult post of the Marshal of Edoras. He became the protector of the capital and the King's Lands - the most important officer aside of Háma, the Captain of the Household Guard. What is more, at times of war even Háma and his Guards stood under Elfhelm's command.
That was a great honour for a third-born son and such a young man to that. It showed clearly Théoden King's trust in his faith and his abilities, and Elfhelm was, indeed, very proud of his King's trust. Alone his heart was broken; for on the very Midsummer Feast that was the begin of his new office, Idis finally accepted Adhemar's proposal, maried him and left Edoras to live with her new husband's family in Stowburg, Elfhelm's home of old.
Long have they waited for this day to come; for Adhemar, too, had served on perilous places, then caught a long and painful illness, and it took him years to fully recover. But now they had been married for two full years - and that was the very length of time that Elfhelm had not seen the princess, avoiding the rare chances to go home. He had not even seen his little brother-sons, the younger of which was born during the last winter.
In all that time he had hoped that one day his heart would recover; trhat he would be able to look at Idis as a sister and a dear friend only. Yet it was not so. His passion burst into flame anew upon seeing her again, and it proved nigh impossible to keep his shaking hands under control. With downcast eyes he sat on her side, forsing down the honourary bites of the traditional roasted hare and boiled eggs the King gifted upon him as a sign of his affection, giving short, clipped answers to both Idis and Erkenbrand's younger daughter, Déorwyn, who was seated opposite him, hoping desperately that the feast would be over, soon.
Which was a hope in vain, of course. The great feasts of the Mark ususally lasted all night; in most cases even through the following two days. Hardly was the celebratory dinner eaten when the servants brought huge tankards of beer, ale or mead - what ever the guests asked for - and Gléowine, Master Singer of the King, came forth to entertain them with his fierce songs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
End notes:
(1) Approximately April.
(2) Clan-Master - the highest authority among Clan Éowain. I consider Éomund, Éomer's father as a member of this Clan, though from another House. Further references to Elfhelm's family can be found in chapter 3 of ''The White Lady of Rohan''.
Emissary of the Mark
(Elfhelm's adventures in the land of Rhún)
A few remarks before you start reading:
1) The religion of the Rohirrim is entirely my creation, made up on the basis of the pagan Anglo-Saxon beliefs.
2) Frána son of Gámlód was a name first considered (and then rejected) by Tolkien for Wormtongue. I found it in the HoME-books and created the character.
3) Idis, Théoden's daughter existed shortly aside (or, at some point, instead) of Éowyn. Since it is explicitly said that Queen Elfhild died while giving birth to Théodred, I made Idis a bastard child, who was acknowledged by her father nevertheless.
4) The Lady Aud, Théodred's wife and the rest of Erkenbrand's family are my OCs. To Aud's fate see: ''Ice Blossom''
Chapter One: The Quest
[Edoras - the 4th day of Eostre-monaţ (1), in the year 3014 of the Third Age]
The Spring Festival was in its full bloom when Elfhelm son of Hengest, the Marshal of the garrison of Edoras, arrived in the Golden Hall of Meduseld. He would have come earlier, but he had to break up a short but ugly fight between a few of the warriors under his command, who had already celebrated the return of spring with a few tankards of mead beyond their endurance (and *that* meant a *lot* among the Riders of the Mark). Then he had to regroup the next watch, for one of the wounded would have been on duty within the next cycle.
Then he had to return to the halls of his own family, on the other side of Edoras, in order to put on something more appropriate than his mail shirt and the tunic that got stained with the blood of his fighting, drunk warriors. Which included washing first, of course. And after all that, he had to climb all those endless steps up til the doors of the Golden Hall.
Small wonder that he came too late.
Háma, the doorwarden of the King, ushered him inside urgently, and he tried to sneak in without being seen. Frotunately, all guests were occupied with the events of the celebration and no-one paid any attention to him.
Théoden King had already chanted the ancient hymn in honour of Eostre, gold-haired goddess of dawn, spring and new life. Now he sat comfortably in his high, canopied seat in the feasting hall of Meduseld, with his only son, Prince Théodred the Brave on his right and his sister-son, Éomer son of Éomund on his left, carving the roasted hare with the ceremonial knife and sending his bites of choice with the servants to the selected guests of honour.
On the other side of Théodred sat his wife, Aud of the deep eyes, with her father Erkenbrand, the Master of Westfold and lord of the Hornburg, while on Éomer's left his sister, the Lady Éowyn sat - tall and slender and proud, called Steelsheen among the men of the Mark. She was clad in flawless white, and a blackened silver clasp, adorned with the likeness of the White Tree of Mundburg - an old family heirloom from her grandmother, Morwen of Lossornach - fastened her cloak on one shoulder.
'Twas easy for Elfhelm to find his own family - his father, the *Maegtheow*(2) of Clan Éowain and Lord of the Eastfold, was seated opposite Erkenbrand, newst to the Lady Éowyn, with his firstborn and second-born sons and their wives, and there was also a seat left free for Elfhelm, on the side of Idis, the wife of his brother Adhemar.
The sitting order, dictated by rank and age, was a time-honoured tradition never questioned among the men of the Mark - yet Elfhelm wished now that there were a way to change that order. Even after two years of separation, it still hurt him to be near the golden princess who had chosen his second-eldest brother above him.
For a princess the golden Idis was, though born in the wrong bed. Ever since Queen Elfhild had died in childbirth, four times ten years ago, Théoden King steadfastedly refused to take an other wife. And yet, though once only, he proved too weak against his own loneliness and the charm of a fair common maid - he fell in love with her whom he could not wed and make his new Queen, and from their passionate love Idis was born, a daughter of great beauty.
Only two summers after her birth, sunny young Ebba - her mother - caught some strange fewer and died slowly and painfully during the next winter, to the great grief of the King. Idis, however, was sent to Altburg, to Théoden's sister, and there she was raised by gentle Lady Théodwyn, together with her own, much younger children, until the Lady, too, died.
Idis then returned to Edoras with Éowyn and Éomer, and there she remained and was raised and taught as any princess would, helping to raise her young cousins. Then, nearly ten years ago, young Elfhelm had been sent to Edoras, to serve in the *éored* of the King's knights, met the princess and fell in love with a passion only a youth of barely twenty summers is able to.
That Idis was two years his elder bothered him not - unlike the people of Mundburg, who had the disgusting custom to wed their daughters to gnarled old men that could have been their fathers thrice over - the men of the Mark often bond themselves to slightly older women. Prince Théodred himself was three years younger than the Lady Aud, too.
But Idis returned his passioante feelings not, though she never was aught but friendly to him. Yet when - three summers later - he fianlly dared to offer her his heart, she gently but firmly rejected him. Telling him that she already had benn promised - to Adhemar, his own brother, no less -, and even if she were not, she never had seen and never would see aught but a brother in him.
That hit Elfhelm hard, and he was glad that shortly thereafter he was sent out to the Gap with the troups that guarded the Fords of Isen. Later he was sent to Mundburg, for he spoke Westron flawlessly, and served near the garrison of Cair Andros, where cavalry was desperately needed. Finally, two years ago, Théoden King chose him for the diffidult post of the Marshal of Edoras. He became the protector of the capital and the King's Lands - the most important officer aside of Háma, the Captain of the Household Guard. What is more, at times of war even Háma and his Guards stood under Elfhelm's command.
That was a great honour for a third-born son and such a young man to that. It showed clearly Théoden King's trust in his faith and his abilities, and Elfhelm was, indeed, very proud of his King's trust. Alone his heart was broken; for on the very Midsummer Feast that was the begin of his new office, Idis finally accepted Adhemar's proposal, maried him and left Edoras to live with her new husband's family in Stowburg, Elfhelm's home of old.
Long have they waited for this day to come; for Adhemar, too, had served on perilous places, then caught a long and painful illness, and it took him years to fully recover. But now they had been married for two full years - and that was the very length of time that Elfhelm had not seen the princess, avoiding the rare chances to go home. He had not even seen his little brother-sons, the younger of which was born during the last winter.
In all that time he had hoped that one day his heart would recover; trhat he would be able to look at Idis as a sister and a dear friend only. Yet it was not so. His passion burst into flame anew upon seeing her again, and it proved nigh impossible to keep his shaking hands under control. With downcast eyes he sat on her side, forsing down the honourary bites of the traditional roasted hare and boiled eggs the King gifted upon him as a sign of his affection, giving short, clipped answers to both Idis and Erkenbrand's younger daughter, Déorwyn, who was seated opposite him, hoping desperately that the feast would be over, soon.
Which was a hope in vain, of course. The great feasts of the Mark ususally lasted all night; in most cases even through the following two days. Hardly was the celebratory dinner eaten when the servants brought huge tankards of beer, ale or mead - what ever the guests asked for - and Gléowine, Master Singer of the King, came forth to entertain them with his fierce songs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
End notes:
(1) Approximately April.
(2) Clan-Master - the highest authority among Clan Éowain. I consider Éomund, Éomer's father as a member of this Clan, though from another House. Further references to Elfhelm's family can be found in chapter 3 of ''The White Lady of Rohan''.
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Thank You!
Trying not to squee too much here. But that was a most wonderful snippet. A few typos, but they did not disturb my enjoyment of the fragment. :)
I usually get bored by narrative, I'm often more interested in dialogue- but somehow, I was enraptured enough to hang on to every word here. I thought the style actually managed to... what's that word I'm looking for... compliment (?) Elfhelm's character more. Poor guy, though, having the women he desires end up with his brother... ouch.
This seems like a good beginning, though: establishing thr lead character and beautifully drawing out Rohan culture at the same time.
I'm now looking forward to your Rhun. :D
Thank you very much for posting this fragment, though. It was longer than I expected, (which is good, obviously! ;)) and I liked it. I only wish I could say something more constructive. :)
Oh, and now I will have to read 'The White Lady of Rohan' and 'Ice Blossom'. :P *puts them on reading list*
Re: Thank You!
Date: 2003-05-03 04:35 am (UTC)