Fear No Darkness

Chapter One

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We hierdon þara horna on þæm hringde beorgum
þæm sweorda scinde on þæm suð-cynerice.
Stedas gongdon eodon to þæm Stana-Lond
windlice þæm morgena. Wig wæs onælde.


We heard of the horns in the hills ringing,
the swords shining in the South-Kingdom.
Steeds went striding to the Stoningland
as wind in the morning. War was kindled.
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Raucous laughter filled the Great Hall of Meduseld as the two hobbits finished their song and tipped up their tankards. Théoden stood, hands folded behind his back, chuckling at the two imps.

The king surveyed the room. So many faces now missing. Their victory at Helm's Deep had been sound, but not without grievous loss. Their feast tonight was not only to celebrate their conquest, but to honor those who had been lost. Rohan had much to be grateful for.

Scanning the crowd, he found himself once again searching for a particular face. He had caught himself doing so on several occasions since the White Wizard had freed him from Saruman's spell. It had been heartbreaking to find his son had died while he had been bewitched, and he could not bear the thought of it happening to another he loved.

The evening passed, the boisterous crowd finally thinning late into the night. Théoden said his farewells and headed for his chamber. Creaking the heavy wooden door open, he stepped into the darkened room. The dying fire cast a soft glow in one corner. He strode to the hearth, selected a log and tossed it into the grate. Picking up the poker to encourage the flames, he leaned on the mantle shelf above the hearth.

"Sy ðu hal, Hlaford min." The soft voice came from behind him. Startled, the king turned quickly as a lamp flickered to life on the table. His heart pounding, he stared at the woman seated in the chair. A smile crossed her lips at his apparent stupefaction. He blinked hard and looked again, as if trying to focus his eyes. She rose from her seat and approached him.

"Has it been so long that you have forgotten me, Hlaford min?" She glided across the floor and stood in front of him. "You were never before one lacking words."

Théoden gaped at the lady before him. He had looked for her at every opportunity since recovering his mind and will. He had wanted to ask about her, to inquire as to her whereabouts, but to do so would have violated the promise he had made her. The only thing she had ever asked him for was her privacy. She did not wish the entire city of Edoras to be privy to her affairs. So he had refrained, afraid his inquiry would induce too many questions.

"Edlyn," he finally murmured.

She chuckled. "Théoden, I thought when Master Gandalf freed you from that spell you had regained your power of speech."

The king smiled. "'Tis not that spell which has rendered me speechless, my Lady," he said softly.

Edlyn raised her soft grey eyes to his blue, her mouth curving into the smile that made his heart stop. "Edlyn," he whispered, pulling her into his arms, tight against him. "I have looked for you ever since..." his voice trailed off as she pulled back and looked up at him. "I have missed you, Edlyn."

"And I, you, Hlaford min."

"For much longer, I deem," Théoden said, cupping her face in his hands. He could not help but smile at her. Her reddish hair was neatly braided, set with cords of gold that accented the blonde highlights, here and there touched with grey. Even at her age, her fair skin was smooth, save a few small lines that appeared in the corners of her eyes when she smiled. "I am sorry, Edlyn, for what I must have put you through."

She put a delicate hand over his lips. "Do not speak of it, Théoden. The power that held you is no more. It will not separate us again."

Théoden shook his head. "Yet I must regret the time lost." He hesitated. "My son is dead."

"I know," Edlyn responded, taking his hands in hers. "I was there, at his burial."

The king looked surprised. "You did not see me. I did not wish to make it more difficult for you," she explained, before he could ask. "Circumstances were complicated enough."

"I had so hoped you were alive," he said softly. "I feared you had been lost as well, when I heard that your village--"

"It will take more than a marauding band of Dunlendings to off me, Hlaford min," she teased. "I stayed for a while with family, in the north, but I returned when news of your victory at Helm's Deep reached us."

Théoden drew in a deep breath, pulling her to him again. "My dearest Edlyn," he said quietly, his gaze searching her face. "I have no right to ask anything of you, I know..."

"Théoden, you know that you have only to ask, and whatever wish I can grant you, I will."

"Edlyn, will you stay with me this night?"

The woman smiled, releasing his hands. She stepped back, and reaching behind her, drew the cords from her hair, letting the red curls tumble from their braids. The king exhaled slowly, his smile widening as she stepped toward him again. "Giese, Hlaford min, I will."

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Sy ðu hal, Hlaford min - Greetings, my Lord
Hlaford min - my Lord
Giese, Hlaford min - Yes, my Lord