Hers

I think my wife was amazed in the end how much food Edric could put away. While I laid out a bedroll, my cloak and began going through my leather armor, he inhaled enough food for three people. I contemplated sending more coin or food to the east; surely this man-child of mine was eating his mother and my friend out of house and home. I wondered if he tasted any of the food. I do not believe he truly savored any of it, that he simply threw it over his taste buds and into the back of his throat, washing it down with watered wine.

Between bites, swallows and gulps, he informed me that two and half days before, boys from the village were fishing on the river and noticed smoke across the way. By the time an adult reached where they played, monsters – orcs – were clearly seen on the waters edge, eyeballing the shore across.

They immediately sent for Gamling, still a standing captain in the Rohirrim Army. He had not been idle for all his so-called retirement. He bred fine riding horses, his wife, my former lover, bred Taynors, - huge, heavy, feathered draft horses - most of which went to Gondor and her principalities, but in the years he lived there, he also trained up a local militia. He had made sure the town was surrounded with a large, tall fence. Not content with a wood one, he instantly ordered its reinforcement with stone, both inside and out. According to my son, no sooner than one layer was complete, he ordered a second layer, and a third. At first, the townspeople thought him insane, but the headman agreed and no one, according to Edric, argued with the Tondhere.

Upon seeing many orcs gathering across the river, Gamling immediately set all the larger farm animals on the outlying farms to be herded quickly over the hills and loosed into the west, while those close to the town were brought into the walls. Supplies and food were immediately brought into the settlement, the gates barred and shut and the fastest rider in the area – Edric – sent to Edoras. This was accomplished within two hours.

“Father told me to ride west until I reached a good sized river and to follow it north until it forked. I was to take the left fork to Edoras.”

“And how were you to know you were in Edoras and not Aldburg?” Lothiriel was very unhappy and I was in no mood to cajole her at this time had his mother's personality.

“Why not only by Meduseld, the Golden Hall sitting on the hill,” he answered blithely, “but also by the stench of the city.”

I had to laugh, which only infuriated her more. “I am sure, living out in the open air of the east with nothing but fields and the river, the air is much fresher than it is in a large city. You would hate Minas Tirith.” I turned to Lothiriel. “Please go to the kitchens and bring up rations and tack for my bags. We will talk before I leave.” As she brushed by me, I gently grasped her arm and kissed her. “I promise. I do not wish to leave you angry. Please.” For a moment, she bowed up, the angry sea in her eyes. “I have never lied to you in all of our marriage, nor strayed,” I assured her. “Please.”

Then she relaxed and bowed her head. “I will listen.” The door closed softly behind her.

Edric watched the exchange with open interest. “My apologies. It was not my wish to upset the Queen with ill news.”

I was still looking at the door, trying to decide how to direct my questioning. “It was not the news you brought that upset her. Tell me,” I looked at him over my shoulder, “what do you know of your father?”

“My father? Well, Gamling-”

“No,” I interrupted, a finger wagging. “Not Gamling. Your father. Tell me what you know of your father.”

Edric chewed thoughtfully. “My mother was widowed. Her husband’s name was Irminric and when he died and she discovered she was expecting me, she sold her home and property in Aldburg and moved to the east. She wanted a new start.”

“And what else did she tell you?”

“That he was a king among men.”

That pleased me and made me smile.

Edric continued. “She told me Gamling knew my father,” my ears perked at that. “Many times I have asked him about him. But all he has said was that my father was a brave soldier who sacrificed much for Rohan.”

That he did, Edric. That he did. Including the love of a good woman and the love of a son.

“It is a funny thing, however,” he continued thoughtfully. “I left so very quickly and mother was upset. I overheard her tell Gamling that I would find out, that everyone would know. She wanted to send Sighere or Hlothere or just to call up a neighboring village. But Father said Sighere is an excellent bowman and Hlothere is too young.” He stared at his empty plate. “He feared the neighboring villages were too far and would not be able to help, so he sent word to them to protect themselves, making sure to inform any of the nomads as well. I asked Father before I left what she was afraid I would find out.” He looked up and stared at me. “He said to ask you. You would give me an honest and true answer.”

For so many years, others had paid the price for me. Wudurose paid the price of love by stepping aside for Rohan, allowing me, pleading with me to wed Lothiriel. She made it easy for me; I did not have to set her aside, something, in truth, I was unable to do, unwilling to do. Gamling paid the price being the go-between, a horrid position to be put in, a position I ruthlessly cast him into. He curried her wrath, bowed down to me, followed my orders, my demands without question. Even after he married her, he still paid the price, raising the king’s bastard, sneaking and hiding information.

And now. Finally. I would be the one who paid. I relished it, shrank from it. Would he hate me? Embrace me? Blame me? Vilify me?

Love me?

I went near the fireplace, where a full-length looking glass was attached to the wall. It had been there for years, originally so the Kings of Rohan would be assured their armor and royal finery were attached properly, but the truth was, the Queens of Rohan used it more for the obvious reason. My wife and daughter spent much time preening before it, much to my amusement. I motioned for him to join me and to bring me my leather riding armor. As he rose from the chair, I inhaled.

“Irminric,” I began slowly, holding my hand out for the quilted arming doublet, “by all who knew him, was a wonderful, gentle man, who loved the soil, but mostly, loved your mother.” I dropped the doublet over my head and reached for the long, split maille hauberk. It rattled ominously. “He was joyous, loved to dance, and when he was bitten by a nest of young vipers two springs before the war, his death grieved your mother deeply.” Taking my leather brigandine, I slid it over my head and I raised my arm. “Buckle please.”

Edric immediately set to the task, not seeing his or my reflection in the glass. “But if he died two years before the war…” His voice drifted off. I put the one arm down and turned, raising the other.

“No, Irminric is not your father. Your father met your mother several seasons after Irminric’s death and he fell deeply in love with her. He wished to marry her, but he was a high-ranking soldier and times were grave. Always he thought, ‘after she finishes grieving, after this skirmish, after this conflict, after this battle’… Now my voice drifted off, lost in my memories. “He feared he moved too quickly for her. And then there was The War of the Rings.”

Edric stepped back. “So my father was killed in the war.”

“No.” I shook my head and bent over, fastening the chausses and adding the greaves. “Things changed when your father returned, things unforeseen.”

“He abandoned her?” Edric was horrified.

Infuriated.

I immediately went to work to soothe him. I motioned for my vambraces and put them on. “No. If anything he loved her more, but things changed.” I put on my maille riding skirt, showing him where to attach it. “And he was powerless to stop it.”

“I do not understand. If he loved her-”

“Oh, he loved her. Promised her that when the war was over, he would make her his. The world was changing and, as far as he was concerned, it could change all it wanted, but his love for her would not change and he intended on making sure they did not.”

Edric stood back, looking at my transformation from King to warrior. “What happened?”

“The world changed.” I looked at my reflection. Everything was in place, but my helmet. At this point I reached for him and pulled him next to me, so he could see both of us, side by side; see us as the world would see us.

As my wife had seen us.

And as he was now seeing us.

“The world changed and your father returned from the war, not as a high-ranking soldier, not as a Marshal, but as King.” I had him firmly by the shoulders and I squeezed to keep him from running, from falling, collapsing, “and that was a change your mother could not accept or fight…” my voice trailed off. Edric was staring at our identical faces in horror. “There is much more… much more I would tell you, but time is short and I have need to make sure your family and dwelling are safe.” I hesitated. “I need to make sure your mother is safe.” At this I leaned in and whispered. “Rest assured and Gamling will tell you this is true, I never stopped loving your mother. She has always remained dear to me and I did not set her aside or abandon her. She stepped aside for she was stronger than I. You were conceived in love. I loved you the moment I discovered you walked the soil of the Eastemnet and I have dreamed of this meeting. And I was ecstatic when she fell in love with Gamling and he with her. Both deserve such joy.” At this, I squeezed his shoulders and turned him around.

“Now, I wish for you to find Aedilhild, the steward’s wife. She will be in the Great Hall. She will put you in a room to rest. When you wake, find Ceorl and he will take you to Aldburg-” he started to interrupt, but I raised a finger, “Aye, I know you wish to return with me, but you are exhausted, as is your horse. Stalwart and hardy he may be, but both of you need rest and someone needs to tell Elfhelm how to get to your village.” I saw my wife come in with several satchels in her hands. I could tell she knew that my son knew the truth. He could not meet her eyes. “Your mother hid you for good reason and I have gone along with it, allowed it, if for anything, to appease her and ease her mind. If anyone comments on our obvious resemblance, you are simply a member of the House of Éomund. We share a common ancestor. It is his family mark you carry.” I tried to smile reassuringly. “’Tis not a lie. Go now. I promise, you will not be that far behind us. If I know Éothain, he has already sent word to Elfhelm to begin gathering his éored.”

Edric quietly went around the table, passing Lothiriel. Seeing his alarm, she put her hand out to reassure him. “It will be all right. Éomer King will make sure your village is safe and the orcs are routed.” She peered at him, attempting eye contact. “You need not fear.”

He dipped his head marginally. “Thank you, my lady.”

He left and she plopped the food pouches on the table, spreading them out and began to put them in my saddlebags. “Now quickly as we only have a few minutes. Tell me why you have a son that I do not know about?”