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“Then you should not,” his sister replied and stepped closer to her brother to comfort him.
Hanasian kissed his wife’s cheek on the cheek, brushed a finger down the panes of her face, traced the delicate lines that he so loved.
”Rest now dear heart. Sleep deeply and may your mind fill with pleasant dreams.“
Rin’s sole response was to breathe deeper, an encouraging sign. Hanasian stood and took his sister’s hand.
”Come, let us walk in the sunlight, as once we did when we were children in Rivendell.”
The two left Rin sleeping soundly. Hanasian saw Farbarad sitting directly across the hall from the door he was gently closing behind him. The Ranger was twirling a twig in his hand. Hanasian recognised the gesture. Farbarad had a habit of twirling or stroking things when he was thinking. It was a habit he shared with the woman sleeping on the other side of the door. He looked up from the idly spinning twig to Hanasian and Halcwyn and then slowly unfolded his long frame to stand.
Hanasian said, ”I have much to discuss with you, but it can wait until tonight. I know you’ve had no rest this past night. I can ask someone else to stand watch so you can remedy that.”
“No,” Farbarad reflexively answered, ”I’ll watch and make sure Rin isn’t bothered, even by me. I do not sleep well in daylight hours anyway.”
While his response was no surprise to Hanasian, Farbarad betrayed his weariness by stretching. He barely suppressed a yawn. The Ranger’s sense of duty, the oath he had sworn decades ago, was keeping him on his feet. Like as not it had kept him on his feet through the long years Rosmarin was lost to the world she had been born into. Farbarad would not stand down now.
Hanasian told him, ”I wish Rin to sleep her fill and not be disturbed unless King Eomer himself comes calling. Understand?”
“Not even you?” Farbarad muttered and Hanasian hesitated, squinted at him for a brief moment before turning away to go.
Farbarad said nothing further, expression carefully blank now. He offered a belated nod of acknowledgement that he would do as bidden. Hanasian felt his sister’s hand curve around his own and together they walked down the hallway to the front courtyard.
Outside, the festival was in full swing and the spirit of Edoras matched it. Lively bustle, bright colour, laughter and music eddied up and down the slopes around Meduseld. They would not find anywhere that was quieter than there where the banners flew, so they just walked around the perimeter of the golden hall in silence. Their circuit brought them to a stone bench that faced out over the Mounds of the Kings below. It was even quieter there, for it was a sombre place.
”I wish we were still children playing in Imladris. That time seems so long ago, more than the years that have passed,” came Halcwyn’s wistful words.
“Yes, I can see those days if I look hard through the fog of years. All the study we did there. I remember the scents in spring,” Hanasian said remembering. They sat silent for a time, and when it was broken by Halcwyn it was done so reluctantly, with trepidation.
”I need to know something my brother. Has King Eomer spoken to you of anything that befell in the western lands?”
“No, he has not. With all that has happened, there has been little opportunity for private discussion of any sort,” Hanasian sighed as he reviewed the events of the previous hours. His wife had excelled her demonstration of disdain for anything approaching diplomacy.
"I will need to speak with him soon, in hopes of preventing a major incident between two, no three realms,” Hanasian replied.
Halcwyn hesitated for a moment, then said, ”If all the trouble could end here and now, I would be pleased. But troubles do not. The solution of one seems to bring another or many. It is why I have come to see the King. It is about a matter that I am told you were involved in.”
Hanasian was silent for a moment, suspicions rapidly forming, ”Sister, I am weary and have not slept. I have no need of further riddles. Please, speak plainly to me. What troubles you?”
Halcwyn turned her face to look out over the vista before them. When she spoke, it was in a halting whisper, ”I killed her.”
“Killed who?” Hanasian exclaimed in initial surprise but then a dark thought filled him with sudden gloom and he guessed, ”Karlina…”
He drew a deep breath and pushed it slowly out again. Then he turned his sister to face him and saw the bright shine of tears in her eyes.
”Why? How? Please dear sister, tell me all of it!”
Halcwyn gasped several times before she could speak but even so, her voice was dull and broken.
”I had a dream. Father came to me and told me that I needed to ride. The next day I did so. As it grew toward evening, I met two men who said they had been in your company. They told me that I would find one who had caused much grief to you and your family riding southeast. They described her clearly and said you wanted to kill them. I felt as though I was still in the dream. All I could do was nod and they left. I rode home but the next day I rode out early and at speed.
“I came across a woman riding hard, northeast. She stopped when I hailed her and we talked. I knew as soon as I saw her that it was her. She was exactly as they had described. I killed her, as soon as I was sure it was her. No thought, no feeling, no remorse.
“It was as I rode home that I began to realise what I had done. As though the world had started to fall upon me. I could no longer sleep. I could no longer talk to my husband. I could no longer feel. What have I done?”
Halcwyn took a breath and hugged her brother. He felt her tremble.
He said, ”I could tell you that you should not have done this, or gotten yourself drawn so deeply into my troubles. Yet I too yearned to do what you did at first. I began to know my captor in the short time our paths crossed. I suspect I received much better treatment because she was among the conspirators.
“Her name was Karlina and she hailed from Gondor. She claimed I had met her mother once and she believed I was her father. It wasn’t so, for I did not know her mother in that manner. She had fallen in with some who desired to force Rosmarin to turn to their favour. They sought to use me as a lever to that end and Karlina saw this as a way to find me.
“Yet none of this excuses her for her part in all of this, in all that followed. This matter still remains shrouded even now. I suspect King Eomer wishes to speak with me of a matter he has yet to disclose. I fear it has to do with Karlina, whose body may lie in state here.”
“I have come to confess my crime to the King. I will put myself in his hands,” Halcwyn said.
Hanasian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they sat quietly for some time before he whispered to her, ”All these long years I had wished that you had been spared our father’s curse. He was, for the most part, a good man who did bad things. Too many times I have found myself wondering he would do. For the most part, I have done the opposite. But there have been times…”
He sighed and then looked deeply into Halcwyn’s eyes, “This will not bring to ruin you my sister. You are our mother’s daughter. Permit me to speak to the King on your behalf.”
“No, I cannot hide behind you brother! I will find no peace in that!”
Hanasian hushed her and earnestly said, ”To kill a person is to take all that they have and all that they will ever be away. But that is not all that is taken. It changes something in you. You can never go back. You can only learn to live with it. I wish I could say more of comfort dear sister.”
They were silent for a moment, both looking down at the stones below their feet. Hanasian squeezed her hand and whispered, ”We will go to the King together.”
Halcwyn hesitated and fighting back tears she said, ”You are burdened already with troubles. You need see to mine.”
Hanasian was about to speak when a voice in the shadow of the hall behind them said, ”What troubles you Lady Halcwyn?”
A cloaked man approached and looked out over the tombs of his ancestors as he threw back his hood. Startled, Halcwyn lurched to her feet and swiftly jerked a curtsy.
”My Lord!”
Hanasian bowed silently but King Eomer did not look away from the mounds below.
”You may speak freely, Halcwyn, daughter of Forcwyn of the Westmarch of my realm.”
The King was usually polite in his words, but stern in their meaning. These were nothing short of a command for her to speak. Hanasian had heard the tone only hours earlier. His wife had chosen to defy him. He watched his sister now, wondering what she would choose. Halcwyn hesitated and looked to her brother to find him expressionless.
Eomer then turned to her and said, ”Look not to your brother! The Ranger from the North will not speak in your stead. You will remain silent, my old friend.”
Halcwyn knew her doom was upon her, ”Sire, I have come to place myself before your mercy.”
Unsurprised, King Eomer asked, ”What can you tell me of thithes woman who rests here? That is why you have come, is it not?”
Halcwyn paused, wondering how he would know this already. Perhaps he had overheard her speaking with her brother.
”I think… I’m not sure…” she stammered uncertainly.
Eomer then pressed, ”You know of whom I speak?”
Hanasian broke his silence then, ”She is Karlina, one of the party that kidnapped me from my home just before my daughters were born.”
Eomer issued him a stern look and gestured the man to silence. He turned back to Halcwyn, who stood miserably by her brother’s side, and asked again.
”You know this woman?”
Halcwyn was silent at first, then, ”No… yes… I don’t know…”
”A strange answer. Let me refresh your memory. Both of you, come.”
Eomer took several steps but neither Hanasian or Halcwyn followed. Eomer turned back as two guards stepped forth, ”We are going now. The manner is, of course, of your choosing.”
Hanasian nodded and took Halcwyn’s hand as they followed the king, the two guards in their wake.
Coming to the morgue, the body of Karlina was uncovered. Hanasian saw the woman who had been a part of his abduction and all the sorrow that had followed and his blood started to seethe. It was with difficulty that he kept himself in check. Halcwyn cringed and turned her face away.
She nodded, ”I killed her.”
“You did?” Eomer asked yet it sounded more like a statement, ”The incisions are well placed. At first thought she may have been attacked from behind, but upon closer inspection it was clear she had been taken head on. I was certain that you would recognise her.”
“Her death that is the reason that I have come. I place myself at your mercy and will abide by whatever my King deems just.”
Halcwyn bowed as she spoke and Hanasian sighed. Eomer’s forehead crinkled in deep thought. He considered Hanasian at length.
“Hanasian, you seem to be at the centre of much troubles. First all that has happened across the night and now this, with your sister.”
He didn’t wait for Hanasian to answer and instead turned to the Ranger’s sister.
”Know that you have placed me in a difficult situation. There is some question as to her identity. You cannot say who she was, but your brother can.”
He looked over at Hanasian and asked of all that had happened. Hanasian told him all of the time of his capture. Eomer listened to the sorrowful tale. It explained a great deal, he thought. A great deal indeed.
After further consideration he said, ”You speak of it much as my captain did when he brought her body here. He suspected you had done this.”
Hanasian nodded solemnly, ”Good men died, my home attacked, my son terrified and my wife heavily with child. I would have, there were many times I could have. I could have, and should have let her drown. And when I learnt the fate of my daughters…”
“Yet you did not. Instead, you saved her so she could be slain by your sister? It makes no sense.”
Eomer rubbed his temples and then rubbed at his chin with his thumb as he thought. He finally said, ” There is much to decide in this matter.
“First, there was some doubt that this occurred within Rohan’s borders. Considering the circumstances surrounding the woman, I cannot rightly say that this was not warranted.
“However, my captain said she had claimed she was a citizen of Gondor. Word has been sent, and should word come back that identifies her as such, then my hand will be forced. It may not fall to me to determine your fate Lady Halcwyn.
“You have yet to be charged with anything. Nor can I permit you to go free. Until this matter is closed, you will required to remain here as my guest, confined to the hall.”
Hanasian turned to her and said, ”You are not being sent to the cells, yet you will not be free.”
Halcwyn curtsied to the king, saying, “You are most merciful my King!”
The two guards appeared beside Halcwyn, and they escorted her to her room, which would serve as an informal cell. Once they had gone, Hanasian turned to the King and found the man studying him.
”I could have closed this issue by simply locking her up in the deep until word arrives. And that is what I fear may yet occur… dependant on what, if any word should return.”
“Aye, I thank you, my Lord. It is a fine line that you walk.”
“It was all I could do for the sister of a comrade of the Great War. However, if things were like this in the realm of Gondor, would Aragorn do anything different? I cannot say. For now, this is a matter to be dealt with in Rohan,” Eomer replied with a heavy sigh.
Hanasian nodded, ”I am sorry that our time here has been so. I fear there will never be a time of peace, whether it is a cheese festival in Rohan or the Mid-Summer markets in Bree. Even at home something will undoubtedly raise its head. There seems to be very little, if any, rest.”
Eomer stared at the stones on the floor, and Hanasian could see the years in his face. He had become King of Rohan suddenly and he had ruled well since. But when it came to rest, there was none for a King and nor was there any for his wife, the Lady of Cardolan. He had hoped that freeing herself of the ghosts of her past would reduce the burden she carried on her shoulders. He had felt its weight gradually increasing, though she said nothing of it. So many secrets to lift, so many things to cram into that far too busy mind of hers. So many regrets and sorrows crowding her conscience.
Eomer’s next question surprised Hanasian, as if the King guessed the direction of his thoughts.
”Rosmarin… she wasn’t in Edoras alone, was she?”
All Hanasian could do was remain still and silent. His wife had striven to keep her brother free of events here, fiercely protective of him during the interrogation of the preceding evening. Such fire in her then, almost savage, the response of little girl, abandoned in a dark world with only her brother to lend her hope.
The King asked another question, ”Who does she think she is protecting?”
Certainly not herself, Hanasian thought with considerable chagrin and exasperation. Was it too much to expect that once in a while she would not cast herself into the fire? Hanasian felt uneasy. It was not his place to answer these questions, but he answered anyway, ”It would have to be her brother… or one whom she knows as her brother.”
“He is not of Cardolan’s royal lineage then. Who is he?” Eomer asked, determined to get at the truth.
Hanasian walked a few steps towards a stone pillar and stared at its base.
”Let me tell you something… as one friend to another, one who has shared battle with you, not as husband of the Lady of Cardolan, or a man answering the King of Rohan, or the Captain of the Black Company to the Commander of the Rohirrim….” he said
Eomer boots scuffed as he came to stand beside Hanasian.
Hanasian sensed the other man nod and he continued, ”While my sister Halcwyn is so very much our mother’s daughter, once in a while our father can emerge in her. So too in me. I know it well. And Rosmarin’s foster brother is remarkably similar.
“I see him as my brother, in spirit and by marriage. Men like him are uncommon: at times reckless and at others, calculating.”
“So who is he?” Eomer asked again.
Hanasian ran a finger over a seam in one of the pillar stones, ”His name is Lochared. He is the Standardbearer in the Black Company, a free company presently commanded by the Northman Videgavia, and presently sworn to the service of Cardolan and King Aragorn.
“Presently, he is Steward, overseeing the lands that were recently allocated to my wife. A prefect of sorts, if you will, in the service of King Aragorn. You won’t find a better scout, or dare I say, and officer in anyone’s ranks. I’m unsure how he will perform as an administrator and may prefer one of your cells, should it come to it, after a while. Loch has a restless nature.”
“I have no intention of locking him up. I have bigger issues to manage. For example, how was Treagon was able to live so long here without being noticed? How many apprentices did he recruit? What untimely deaths involved his hand and how many other attempts? Not to mention the necessity to keep the sister of a friend and comrade in arms under house arrest.
“I just wanted to know the truth of twenty years ago. Would that your wife could be fully truthful with me.”
Hanasian slid his finger down the pillar but said nothing. Rosmarin might be honest with Eomer, if she trusted no harm would come from it. He was certainly not going to assure Eomer that his wife would trust the King of Rohan. Sometimes, he was not even certain she trusted him. They stared at the pillar in joint silence.
Hanasian finally stirred, ”I must take my leave my friend. I need to talk with my sister, privately. Does Eomer, King of Rohan, give me leave to talk to his prisoner?”
“I do,” Eomer said, still looking at the pillar. Hanasian bowed slightly and turned and walked away.
He was nearly to the door when Eomer said to him, ”We will speak again, you and I. If the Lady of Cardolan agrees, I should like you both to join me at the table of the tasting as judges. I will allow your sister to sit with us as well. It will be a fine conclusion to this year’s festival.”
Hanasian turned to him and nodded. Rin would not be easily convinced to go, but if there was cheese to sample perhaps she would be amenable. At least as amenable as a bear cornered by wolves.
Hanasian wasted no time coming to the door of the room where his sister would abide until the King granted her release. He fervently hoped no word would come back from Gondor. The guards stepped to the side to let him pass. He tapped on the door and when she opened it he could see she had been weeping. Hanasian closed the door behind him and kissed her brow.
”Tell me again about how you got word and description of Karlina? Who were them men from the Company?”
“Our cousins, and also one other. He said he had been with the Company in the east.”
Hanasian sighed, his suspicion was confirmed. Ever since Bear and Foldine had been healed by his wife, both men had been inclined to abandon their better judgement when it came to the woman they owed their lives to.
He said, ”Frea, Folca, Fordwine. Rohirrim, each of them. But why did they call on you to be the assassin?”
”They didn’t call on me. They just told me because it was a family matter. I asked for the necessary information and each knew they couldn’t stop me,” Halcwyn walked to the window and looked out to the day beyond, ”You know I can’t remain here, caged. It will drive me mad.”
“Sister, you must, or more woe will find you. Eomer must wait for word for a time. I do not think it will be long,” Hanasian said to her.
She turned her back on the window to look at him, ”And if word comes? What then? Will I be sent to Gondor? Will I suffer a trial here? What I did I did for my family. I will not regret it.”
Hanasian sighed, ”You rest easy here for a week. If no word has come by then, I’ll petition the King to set you free. But you have to rest easy until then.”
He reached into his vest and removed a bound leather bundle that tossed on the bed.
”Some clean parchment, ink and quill. Do some writing. It helps, I find. I must go now, but be ready to attend the tasting tonight. The King will be sending word to you shortly.”
Hanasian opened the door and was greeted by two spearheads. Once the guards saw it was him, they returned to their upright stance. Hanasian gave them a nod and hurried off.
He found Farbarad still sitting where he was before, still twirling a twig in his fingers.
Hanasian asked, ”All is quiet?”
Farbarad nodded as he stood, dropping the twig but not the brooding expression on his face.
Hanasian said, ”You’re excused. Try and get some rest.”
Farbarad remained motionless as Hanasian entered the room. He sat on the edge of the bed by his sleeping wife and kissed her soft cheek once he uncovered it from beneath layers of long, pale hair. She was sprawled on her stomach across the bed.
He whispered, ”If you feel up to it, we can sample cheese tonight.”
Best to start with the positives, he had found. All he earned was a murmured exhortation too blurred by sleep to comprehend. If she was speaking Sindarin, she had agreed. If she was speaking Dunlendic then he had no idea what she had said. Whatever it was, she did not wake. He watched her long fingers twitch with some dream. Agile, graceful, strong fingers. Fingers that could do remarkable things of many varieties. He drew a deep breath. With his wife asleep still, he had much needed time to sit and think about a good many things.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Loch sat at a large desk and fumbled with paper. He wasn’t the best reader or writer, yet this task he had been given seemed to mostly entail with dealing with the grievances of those who had something against their former lord. Voromir did not cut a sympathetic figure. Loch did what he could to settle things fairly and so far there had been few significant issues to place in a report of some variety. But, then, there was the local commander he had met here. The man was a regular in Gondor’s army and had been high in Voromir’s favour. Loch could not get past the sense that he remained an outsider here, even with the men that had once reported to Rowdy. Rowdy’s allegiance to his sister had been unswerving, but Loch was not nearly so confident in this commander.
It would be some time before men he could trust arrived for they were coming on foot. Months, he thought, at an outside guess. He knew they wouldn’t really fit in with the locals and would become his de-facto personal guards when they arrived. That suited him well for the Easterlings were some of the best men he had served with. Still, he needed someone he could trust here and now until they arrived. He had spoken with the sergeant about this, and requested someone he trusted to come work for him that was not involved with Voromir in the past and the sergeant had agreed to look into it for him. Noone had been produced. It probably needed to all go in a report. But who to send it to? His sister? His Captian? What about the King? And how would he get it there, reliably and unaltered? Loch scowled at the papers before him when no answers emerged and decided he needed some air.
Counting on the fact that there’d be no one wanting his ear about some ill Voromir had done to them waiting out the back, Loch slipped out the rear of the manse and found himself almost immediately accosted by a young soldier. He was younger than himself, even, and Loch had never seen him before.
”What is your name, soldier?”
The guard swallowed, ”Dorne”
“Who is your commanding officer?”
The guard hesitated before offering up a name.
Loch nodded to himself, ”You didn’t know his name?”
“I am new here. Recently assigned,” Dorne replied.
Loch persisted with his questions, ”Have you reported yet?”
Dorne replied nervously, ”No sir… just to the Sergeant. He said I needed to take this watch so I came immediately here.”
Loch ran his fingers through his hair. Rowdy had spoken highly of the sergeant. By Loch’s estimation the man was quite old for soldiering now, but it would not have been that way always. Like as not the man had signed on during the War. He was of that vintage. Loch eyed the young soldier before him. Perhaps the sergeant had been doing as he had said he would. Perhaps he didn’t need to worry about the sergeant… which meant no report...
”I see,” Loch said, turning his thoughts back to the younger man in front of him, ”From which unit have you come, and who did you replace?”
Dorne was clearly unsettled by so many question, yet he swallowed thickly and answered, ”I’m from Minas Tirith. My uncle is commander in the City Guard. I was sent here to gain some field experience. I don’t know who I replaced.”
Loch squinted at him a moment, ”Remove your helm.”
Dorne hesitated, “Sir? I’m on guard…”
“Just do as I say. Even the local commander has to report to me whether he thinks of the matter.” Loch replied, under no illusions that the commander would have removed him already had the man not been loyal to a certain High King. Perhaps his reports should go to Aragorn, now that he thought on it. Dorne removed his helmet an revealed sandy brown hair, matted with sweat.
Loch nodded, ”You look like Videgavia… well, as a child, if he ever was one.”
“Sir? Who is Videgavia?”
Loch grinned at Dorne, ”Oh he was my… is my… never mind, I’m not sure myself anymore. How old are you?”
“Twenty as of last month.”
Loch nodded slightly, ”Well, I think I’ve just seen the face of my new, lone aft guard. Now, about your assignment here. Field experience here? Not sure I like the sound of that, unless they mean ‘outside of Minas Tirith’ experience. You are probably being groomed to be in the Palace Guard.”
Dorne shuffled uncomfortably, ”I doubt it, Sir.”
Loch scratched his beard. There is more to Dorne’s recent assignment to here, judging by the tone of that statement and the look on his face. He would have to talk with this man further but right of this moment there were other things that needed to be understood between this Dorne and himself.
”No telling what the future holds. Take today, for example. You arrived here and were posted to my back door. I needed some air so I come out here. Because we had this talk and now you have new orders.”
Loch directed his gaze right into Dorne’s dark eyes, just the way Hanasian and Videgavia did when they wanted to drive a point home. Or his sister, though when she did it the results could be a little unpredictable. Some sweated, some fidgeted, some legged it and some seemed to become unsteady on their feet. Except for Rowdy. Rowdy was the only one Loch had ever seen unaffected by his sister’s direct gaze. He missed the man sorely.
”Orders, sir?” Dorne asked, ”I’m on gua-
“Not any more. Instead of reporting directly to your local commander, you’ll report to me. I need eyes and ears close to me that are not bought and paid for by Voromir. I’ll give you your amended orders when you are relieved of duty. It will have a promotion written in.
“You’ll take them to the sergeant, not your former commander. He will sort it out from there. You’ll find the sergeant in my office when you’ve been relieved from your post here. Now, put that helm back where it belongs. You’re on guard duty.”
Loch reached out and pumped his hand vigorously. Dorne replaced his helm and Loch slapped the man on his shoulder.
”As for your uncle’s wish for your field experience, I’ll see to it that you get it. You should be relieved around about dinner time. Report to me after the Sergeant for dinner. You’ll be our guest tonight. No sense waiting about, eh?”
Loch disappeared back into the house, Dorne standing a touch taller than before. He wasn’t sure what had just happened and his smile revealed his lingering confusion. Perhaps things would be clearer after dinner.
In his place before his desk once more, Loch set himself to testing out his writing skills. He was glad then to have studied what he did from the more experienced Company hands. He had orders to write up for Dorne.
’Hereby upon assignment to Sergeant Algor’s command, it was recommended by Sergeant Algor that I take Dorne of Minas Tirith as my adjutant, reporting directly to me. The rank of corporal will accompany this appointment, with its pay grade. Signed Lochared, in the name of Lady Rosmarin, Lady of Cardolan and her liege–lord, High King Elessar of the United Realm’
He rolled it and then sealed it with some satisfaction. One problem dealt with, he poured himself some water. So far the day has proven interesting.
Dorne was relieved an hour before dinner and went immediately to report to the sergeant. Why the sergeant would be in Lochared’s office was a little confusing until Dorne arrived and found them both there. He stood at attention as both men stood.
”The sergeant has recommended that you serve as my adjutant,” Loch said without preamble, ”I had asked him for a suitable candidate some time ago.”
Loch held up a scroll with the sergeant’s army seal on it and handed it to Dorne. He then held up another with the King’s seal on it and handed it also to Dorne, ”And this is my approval. Also, the sergeant and I agreed that the rank of corporal will accompany such appointment, effective immediately.
“Your belongings have been placed in the room at the foot of the stairs. Go clean yourself up and make yourself presentable for dinner.”
Dorne gave a salute that would make his uncle proud and was off.
”Many thanks, sergeant. You’re welcome to join us, of course.”
“My thanks, but no. Perhaps another time. I’m due to dine with the commander. After today, he’ll need some careful managing.”
Sergeant Algor gave Loch a hurried salute and departed with his copies of Dorne’s papers.
Rose had the small table set for three in a side room off the main dining room. Dorne arrived promptly on time in his dress uniform and found the dining room deserted. There was no one there. Had he made a mistake or was there another dining room. It was a large manse. Just as he was considering leaving, Rose stepped into the room. She wore a flowing gown, a warm caramel colour and she curtsied to him.
”Welcome to our table, Dorne of Minas Tirith!”
Dorne was stunned for a brief moment by her exotic beauty. She was quite unlike any woman he had ever seen before, and he had seen women from Harad on the streets of Minas Tirith from time to time. Still, it didn’t show as he bowed in return.
”M’lady. I am honoured to dine with you and my commander this evening.”
Loch wandered in casually, hands thrust into his pockets and looking pleased with himself, ”Welcome Dorne. I see you’ve already met my wife, Rose, the love of my life.”
Rose smiled indulgently and kissed Loch on the cheek as he strolled past. They sat down at the table and the evening meal was served shortly thereafter.
Loch asked, ”Do you have anyone waiting for you back in Minas Tirith, Dorne?”
Dorne sighed as he looked down at his plate, ”I do and she loves me in return. But her father sees things differently.”
”I would think being a young soldier would impress many a daughter’s father.”
“It was not because of what I was, but who I was. Too much of the North in my blood,” Dorne answered, pushing peas around his plate.
Loch frowned, ”Didn’t Gondor set to killing each other over that very same thing many many years ago? Kin-strife I think they called it?”
“Aye. You know your history well,” Dorne said.
Loch replied, ”The Dunedain really need to grow up both north and south. It’s been a source of trouble for up there too. In any case, you will do your girl proud here and then you’ll return and be appointed to the Palace Guard…”
“No, that is not likely to happen. Her father is a lieutenant commander of the Palace Guard, in temporary command while the commander is with the King in the north. He wanted to send me to the frontier, but it was only my uncle’s intervention that got me sent here instead,” Dorne answered glumly.
Loch glanced at Rose and his wife nodded at him before she said, ”So it was fate that brought you here, no?”
“And it was fate that put you on guard duty upon arriving, and sarge being where he was to order it, and so on,” Loch said between mouthfuls, waving his fork for emphasis in a way that seemed to irritate his wife and his sister both. Rose frowned at the waving silverware and Dorne finally resumed eating his meal before she continued on smoothly.
”Serve my husband well and he will look out for you in turn. He cares for his people. I should know.”
They fell to silence at that and continued to eat in that fashion until one of the guards ventured into the dining room.
”Pardon my disruption, Sir, but there’s a woman here who insists on speaking to the lady of the house. She says it is important.”
“What? Now? Can’t it wait until morning?” Loch replied.
The guard shook his head, ”She refused to leave to return tomorrow. She insists it is important and she insists that she must speak with the Lady Rose.”
Rose smiled at Loch as she stood, ”I am finished eating anyway. I will see what this important matter is.”
“I didn’t agree to be Rin’s Steward for a day filled with writer's cramp and nights with interrupted meals,” Loch grumbled but he stood anyway, as did Dorne, as Rose departed.
”Does this happen often?” Dorne asked once the men were seated again.
Loch said, ”More often than I care for. Anyway, Dorne, being that I gave you the job as my adjutant, I forgot to ask, can you write?”
“Of course sir,” Dorne answered.
”Good,” Loch stated happily, ”I’m not very good at it. Never really saw the point of it in the rocks of Dunland, for all of my sister’s efforts. I’ve come to realise that perhaps she may have been right, but I’ve only recently started to make any effort at it and in the field, at that. So I’ll have you do much of my writing, and maybe I’ll work on bettering my own under your direction. But first things first. Write that girl of yours!”
“I have no place to send it to without her father knowing,” Dorne said.
Loch lifted his brows at him, ”Surely you have some place, a mutual friend, or such you could send it to?”
Dorne shook his head, saying, ”I was ordered out the day after we were caught together.”
“I see…I’ll not ask the details. All the same, write her, even if you keep them and give them all to her when you do see her again,” Loch told him and tapped his nose,”It’s what all the Company men do when they’re in the field. The ones that can write…and have someone to write too. Part of the field experience.”
Dorne smiled slightly and said, ”I will sir. Thank you sir.”
They quietly finished the last few scraps on their plates and drank down their water.
When Rose returned, she said, ”I think you, Lochared, will need to hear what this woman named Katela has to say.”
Loch sighed, ”Dorne, you may want to come too. You can see what this job is all about.”
The three walked into the small room by the door where visitors calling on the Steward were seated. There sat a lean woman with auburn hair peppered with grey. Her face was fair and while the years had overtaken it one could still see the beauty of her youth showing through. She wore a dress that once had been quite fine, as far as Loch could tell of such matters. It still fitted her well but it was worn and stained in places and the hem was frayed, as if she had travelled far in it. Rose sat next to her as she seemed frightened by Loch and Dorne.
Loch leaned to Dorne and whispered, ”Observe, take notes in your head. Write it all down later.”
Meanwhile Rose looked to the woman and nodded encouragingly, ”Please tell my husband what you told me.”
She shuddered and finally said, ”Please, I come to you because I heard you are representative of the King in charge of all that Voromir had.”
Well, strictly speaking his sister was, but now was not the time to split hairs so Loch said, “Yes, go on.”
Katela then said, ”Voromir had taken my daughter, my only child.”
“She was abducted?” Loch asked.
”No…” Katela said followed by, ”Well yes, sort of.”
“What’s that mean? Was your daughter abducted or not?”
Katela swallowed hard, ”Voromir stole her away with his ideas. I warned her about him, but she wouldn’t listen!”
Loch sighed and stood, ”Look, seems to me that you’re saying your daughter wandered off chasing after an idea. Happens all the time. She’ll be home one day, unless the idea is a really stupid one.”
“No, that is my gut feeling. She won’t be back. That is why I have come to you. Will you not search for her?”
This sounded like nothing he should really have any involvement in. He was a Steward, not a marshal. However, one glance at Rose told him that he was involved whether he wanted to be or not.
”Very well, this is what I will do. Clearly you’ve come a long way with very little. Tonight you will lodge for us, plenty of room. We’ll talk more of this in the morning, after you’ve rested. My adjutant Dorne will get a detailed description of her from you then and we’ll ask around to see if she has been observed hereabouts. That is the best I can offer right now.”
“Thank you kind sir… thank you,” Katela said, rising to take Loch’s hand and kiss it.
As Loch’s cheeks flamed, his wife said, “I will see Katela settled in tonight.”
Loch nodded as he extricated his hand and strode out with Dorne on his heels.
Loch said to him, ”A lost daughter is a new one. Pretty sure we would have found a daughter by now if she were here. Still, my wife seems to have taken interest in this one. Try and get as much detail as you can tomorrow. I have a feeling we’ve a long day ahead of us.”
The next day Dorne was up early and Katela obliged him with a most vivid description. He was bent over his paper, sketching with charcoal when Loch arrived for breakfast.
"Good Morning Mistress Katela. I take it you slept well?"
Katela looked up and Loch could see she must have been quite lovely in her younger days. She had cleaned up well and a decent bed had thrown off the heavy weariness of the night before to some degree. Loch studied Dorne’s work from over his shoulder.
"I see you have been giving my adjutant details?"
"Yes" she said, brushing her long hair back over her shoulder so it wasn't hiding her face. Loch studied the sketch taking shape intently.
"I should have asked this last night. What is your daughter's name?” Loch asked and Katela pushed back sudden tears.
"I named her Ciara, but she went by the name of Karlina."
Loch tried not to show any emotion. He nodded and looked again at the sketch.
He said, "I think we have enough to go on, but if you wish to give any other details to Dorne here, please do so. Your dress is being laundered and tailored, and should be ready for you by this evening. I hope it will not be too burdensome to guest with us another night?”
Katela murmured that it wasn’t, distracted by the need to make small adjustments to the sketch of her daughter. Loch strode away then, went up to his office and closed the door behind him. He leant against it and stared at the opposite wall before he uttered one word. Translated loosely from Dunlendic, it meant rancid crushed goat oysters.
