Eduwiges of Faldham rode in through a small side gate on the massive oval wall of Minas Tirith. The detritus of battle engraved on her from helm to boots. Weariness darkened her face like a starless night weighed down by gravity. Normally graceful in her movements she clambered down off of Oenone and staggered as her legs took the weight of her body. Eduwiges stepped forward and wrapped her adrenaline weakened arms around her steed’s neck in love and gratitude. Horse and rider had saved each other from death several times that day as the rush of Orcs and Uruks slavered to put an end to them. The endless skirmishes and night raids upon the dark lord’s lines were beginning to take their toll on the young woman and her mount.
‘Well,’ she muttered to herself, ‘You wanted to ride with the hounds. You wanted to become steel. This is the price you pay.’
She led Oenone to her stall in the city stables and stripped the accoutrements of battle from the large black steed. Despite her exhaustion Eduwiges loosened the straps of the hardened leather bardings that protected the horses body and propped it on the wooden stand. Off came the saddle and blanket. She brushed her, checking her for cuts or abrasions that might need to be tended to. Edu took care of Oenone herself. She always waved away the stable boys and girls with a smile and kind word. The proud steed was her love. Eduwiges went outside the stall and gathered a bait of food and dropped it in the feeding trough. She grimaced at the diminishing amount of hay and oats in the stable’s silo. The enemy had been successfully cutting off supplies to the city.
Oenone taken care of, she gathered her gear and waved the stable girl over. Eduwiges dropped a bit of coin into her hands, ‘Thank you for watching over her, she really likes you.’ she said.
The stable girl smiled shyly and replied, ‘Your welcome Miss. She’s lovely!’
‘That she is, that she is,’ Eduwiges answered thoughtfully, ‘I won’t see you again for a fornite unless trolls are at the gates. We both need a rest. See if you can find a carrot or two to feed her with a bit of kingsfoil.’
The girl nodded eagerly and Eduwiges patted the freckle faced young woman on the shoulder and left the stables.
The long walk to her quarters on the soldier’s tier was a slog. Her tiny room welcomed her with quiet. She walked in and plunked her gear on the floor. This time she would allow the squires to clean her equipment. Dirt and mud thrown up by other riders clogged the straps and grooves of her armor. She would check it of course for wear and tear before she set out again. Eduwiges of Faldham always inspected her armor before putting it on. A habit drilled into her by her father Alfara of Edoras
She stepped out into the hall and called for one of the squires to help her out of her gear. Evreth came quickly. He was a large, shy lad who would soon be called to join the rest of them on the battlefield. It had not yet become so dire they needed to stick youngsters on the walls but it was close.
Evreth helped Eduwiges peel herself out of her armored jacket like a sea crab abandoning his shell for another. Soon she was down to her shift and not much else. Evreth conspicuously avoided looking at Edu’s curvy figure.. He took her greatsword and other weapons. ‘Do they need cleaning or repair Eduwiges?’ he asked.
‘No.’ she replied. I took care of it myself. She flipped Morinehtar, her one handed blade and handed it hilt first to Evreth, ‘Would you ask Bergrin if he could fix my scabbard? The seam has split and she was dangling half in half out. I almost lost her today because of it. If he cannot repair it, ask him to replace it. But do not throw it out.’ Eduwiges said. She stretched her arms widely and heard her shoulders and elbows pop with fatigue inadvertently giving Eveth a full look at her chest. The thin shift doing nothing to hide her curves.
‘Aye ma’am, I wull,’ Evreth blushed scarlet, took the sword and scurried quickly out the door. His friends always pestered him about the woman from Rohan. He was smitten with her and they teased him relentlessly.
Peeled of her cumbersome equipment, Eduwiges picked up her bathing towel and headed towards the baths.
She soaked in the luxurious hot water of the spring fed pool. The drone of the fountain trickling into the water hypnotized her into a half conscious lull. Steam rose from the top of the surface and dissipated in spinning curlicues as the warm air reached into the cooler. Like dance partners the steam twisted off into mini-tornados and vanished. Eduwiges sat on a marble bench. The water came to her chin and soaked the back of her hair. The heat kneaded her muscles like gentle fingers, slowly unknotting the aches and pains of the day. Bruises and welts faded from the minerals of the spring which fed the baths. She closed her eyes and thought of the voice of her father and tried to make sense of the dreamlike battle in Eregion.
Suddenly she was in Ost-in-Edhil fighting for her life with her dead father cheering her on. It had to be a dream, but it was not. Each of her friends, Addie, Xanderian, Calidis, Ahmo and Nethrida were all there and each remembered, just as she did. Eduwiges did not understand the powers that brought them across time but she knew Calidis had need and that was enough for her to go through the gem wrought portal the pale elf created.
Screams filled the air with sounds of war and running feet. Once again her greatsword sang and enemies fell. Emotionlessly this time as the teachings of Xandilif and the hounds invaded the muscle memory of her soul. However, the joy of battle could not be smothered. Eduwiges smiled with each blow that slew another orc. Suddenly, strange magic caused her to falter and as the enemy moved closer her dead father’s voice filled her mind.
‘Now there is much to see lass, do not wander lest you be lost in what is no more my sweet daughter.’
She shook her head, surely. Her sword lowered and the triumphant cry of the enemy rushed forward’. Confused, her doom sought to overtake her.
‘Rouse yourself my child! Do your blood proud! Evil runs rampant here and the day is lost, yet something of the future may be saved!’
Sword back up she fought off the enemy as they rushed her. Her sword singing a melody of destruction. Grim faced she could see the others struggling as well. Then the troll arrived and her heart nearly failed as the monstrosity stormed into the building. The chant of Droog, Droog! Filled her ears.
‘Strike my girl! Strike as I taught you! Strike for those who you must protect! Fight! Elfward!’ the voice in her head commanded.
A battle cry screamed from her throat and her memory was purged under the river of adrenaline flooding her body.
‘Eorlingas!’ Alfara of Edoras cried out. ‘To see my daughter surpass me at arms! Has ever a father been prouder! Drive forward Eduwiges! You have the advantage!’
The words Eduwiges thought she would never hear from her father.
‘Fight girl! Fight rider of the Elfward!’ She was spurred on with a mania she never thought possible as she performed feats that were seemingly impossible. She smiled as she sailed by her friends, waving to them as she crashed to the ground, unhurt.
Suddenly, another voice. Not her father speaking to her. This voice, gentle and sneering, accusing.
‘Thiss is your father.’ A vision of Alfara, hands tied, face and body pulverised by unimaginable blows filled her eyes. ‘Youuu’ the voice hissed. ‘You were not there to save him. Even if you could have been you would have failed. His last words were to you Eduwiges, crying out for you to save him. His last words calling for you and you, did, not, come! You strive so hard, lovely Eduwiges but you always come up short.’ The accuser said.
Tears poured down her face as she readied herself for another onslaught. Unsteadily she stared at the ground. Alfara’s voice boomed in her ears again. ‘My fate is my own sweet daughter not yours and not that filth from the east. I am with your mother and at peace. Rise girl! If my honor was stripped from me in death you will regain it for me! Rise! Do what I could not. Strike!’
Her eyes snapped open and once again she saw the steam rising from the pool. Her body had slid down the marble slab she rested on and her face was almost covered by the hot water. Eduwiges sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. She had left her father with bitter words and ridden away from Faldham determined to prove to him and herself what she was fully capable of as a warrior. She never looked back until fate, with her friends returned her to Faldham and his burial mound. Now she understood. Alfara of Edoras never doubted her abilities. He wanted her safe. The things he must have been embroiled in; the fight for control over Rohan, the darkness clouding the future. Alfara wanted her away. He drove her away. To keep her safe. To keep her alive. Her father did not want his doom to be hers.
Eduwiges sat up straight. Her breasts coming out of the water. Chest Heaving.
‘I will return father. I will return and I will avenge your death. There was more to this than that thug Thunar. I will return and I will find them. I will give you back your honor.’ She vowed.
