Maiel of Rohan

Maiel stood in the guard tower looking out across the landscape, her eyes always searching for the horsemans return. She knew of his journey to seek for Theodred and although she feared for the Kings son she feared for the seeker more. She heard a bell sound and she ran down the steps her dress flowing behind her. She ran through the town and up the steps into Meduseld. Eowyn stood tending the King as always and Maiel went over, 'Eowyn, it is my turn.' Eowyn smiled her face pale in the dim light, 'You were looking for him again,' Maiel blushed slightly, 'I only seek to bring you word of his arrival.' Eowyn smiled a little something she did rarely in these dark times. 'Then go seek him again, I would stay with my Uncle.' Maiel nodded her head, 'As you wish.' She wanted Eowyn to let her share the burden but Eowyn was stubborn and would not. Maiel sighed and left her alone with him, spying Grima out of the corner of her eye, how she wished to thrust a sword through his face and cut out his evil tongue.

Maiel stood looking out over the land for what seemed like an age but was no more than a few days watching. All the time she wondered what had happened. Then at last she saw rising dust and then as the dust came closer horses, then figures until at last she could see him, and Theodred. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she thought it might explode. She turned and ran down the steps greeting his horse as he dismounted, 'Firefoot,' she said softly and the horse whined a greeting to her. 'Maiel, quickly Theodred.' As he spoke her name she fought hard to keep composed. He knew her only as companion to Eowyn and as a healer. 'Someone should fetch Eowyn my Lord.' She said as she scuttled along after him trying to keep up with his long strides. 'You are right.' He called out to a guard asking him to fetch his sister. 'What do you need?' he asked of her, 'Banadages and clean water, my bag, I need my bag of herbs.' Eomer nodded his head and after leaving her with Theodred ran to get it himself.

Maiel worked on Theodreds wounds cleaning and dressing them before applying bandages. Eomer stayed with her all the time and it made her nervous. His presence did that to her, it had always been that way, ever since she could remember. 'Give him a little water,' she said and saw his hands as she continued to work. Finally she was done and she motioned him into a corner, 'Theres nothing I can do.' she said quietly. 'What do mea mean nothing?' he voice convade his authority and his panic, 'My Lord the wounds are deep and the bleeding will not stop. It is only a matter of time.' He looked at her and her heart wept for him. He grasped her arm, 'Are you sure?' 'Yes my lord.' Her heart was pounding in her chest. He nodded his head and moved back over to where Theodred lay, sitting on a chair. He sat for only a few moments until Eowyn burst in. Maiel remained in the corner and watched the siblings.

She watched the pain on each face as Eowyn realised nothing could be done, 'Who?' she asked, 'Who treat his wounds?' Eomer looked over at her and had she not been wedged between walls she would have collapsed under the gaze. 'Maiel,' Eomer said. As he uttered her name out loud her knees began to give and she sagged alittle. She put her hands to her face to tried and hide the blushes. 'There was nothing that could be done.' She said softly and simply. 'Too many, too deep.' She shook her head feeling the change in the air. Eowyn looked to her friend, 'Maiel, you are the best we have.' It did nothing to ease her heart as she felt that gaze on her.

At last they rose and she stood in her corner looking over, 'I must return to our uncle,' Eowyn said. Eomer nodded, 'I have grim news for him,' he sound deeply angered and she watched his face. 'Forgive me for any wrong doing on my part, I know you would do nothing other than your best.' She nodded to him and nearly gasped aloud as he gripped her tightly in his arms, 'My Lord Eomer.' She managed to mumble out, 'Always Eomer to you.' He answered before following his sister.

She sat with Theodred and ran a wet cloth across his brow. He opened his eyes but he was no longer with them, he was running free now over the plains although his body lingered on. She washed his face gently wiping away the dirt and grime that had covered it, he was handsome and the heir to the throne of Rohan but that time would soon be over and it would pass to Eomer, or at least she hoped so. Grima cast his shadow across the Kings mind and he was no longer himself but nothing she had managed to try had helped.

She had nearly drifted into a slumber when Eowyn returned to the room, it was filled with the scent of oncoming death yet she sensed hope still within her friend. She seemed to have been crying and Maiel was puzzled, 'Eowyn, there was nothing to be done.' She feared her friend felt some kind of guilt about Theodred's condition, 'No Maiel, it is much worse. We have been left alone here.' Maiel looked at her, 'Alone?' Eowyn looked at her friend and gripped her arm, 'My Uncle banished Eomer, only you and I know it was not the King.' 'Grima,' the name came out like a curse. Eowyn nodded her head, 'One of the women will come and watch Theodred for a while, we should rest, it has been a long day for both of us.' One of the healers of the house entered the room and Maiel nodded, 'For a little while.'

Eowyn had retreated to her rooms and Maiel would soon follow her there, something they had not done for a long time, but she did not want to leave her friend alone. As she walked down the corridor to her own rooms she spied Grima out of the corner of her eye. He approached and licked his lips as he passed her by, she knew she was not his target and felt nothing but revulsion for him, 'If you touch her I will kill you.' It came out before she could stop it. Grima stopped and turned to look at her, 'Do not thinur pur position safe here Lady Maiel. I could have you removed in an instant.' Maiel lowered her eyes, she could not risk that. He looked at her but missed the danger her eyes held.

Inside her room she looked at the large trunk that lay at the foot of her bed. It was locked as the door had been, these times were full of mistrust. She drew a chain from beneath her dress and there dangled two keys, she placed one in the lock and turned it. It almost seemed to groan as she did so before she pulled it upwards. Inside lay things she had hoped to never use but now that might not be easy. Her sword had been her fathers something Theoden King had gifted to her. Long hours of practise alongside Eowyn had given them skills and she could use it. Its handle was slender and had silver and black grooving with a small horse engraved on the top of the blade. The sheath was silver and held it like a glove. She picked it up and placed it inside a pack before pulling out the second of her weapons, her bow, this was hers and she loved to use it for practise, she pulled it hearing a twang that was familiar. Again she placed it in the pack and wrapped it before closing and locking the trunk.

As she locked the door behind her she heard footsteps but she knew this place better than most and made her way to ns rns room without being seen. She knocked twice then waited before knocking three times. The door creaked open and she entered. 'I fear I may have done something foolish,' she said softly. Eowyn closed and relocked the door, 'What did you do?' Maiel placed her pack on the bed and unwrapped it, 'I told Grima I would kill him if he touched you.' Eowyn smiled, 'We have been friends for many years, that was not foolish, but Grima will be after you now.' Maiel nodded her head, once she would have said her place as ward of the King would have kept her safe but no longer.

They sat in silence and at last both fell asleep on the bed as they had done as small girls. When she awoke she found Eowyn gone and light streaming inside the room, dawn had broken, at once the thought came to her, Theodred. The young prince was her friend and she had spent many hours with him as a girl. His laughter had been infectious and his daring deeds had led them into many misadventures, where they normally had to added, assisted and rescued by Eomer.

As she dressed in some of Eowyns clothes her eyes welled with tears as she knew the prince had probably not lasted the night and now Eomer was gone. The door suddenly burst open, 'Come, Come quickly.' She looked at Eowyn before exiting the room and hearing the door lock scrap after her. Eowyn grabbed her hand and dragged her to the main hall. She could see strangers, not all strangers Gandalf, Gandalf was here. She felt a surge in her heart.
She watched as Gandalf approached the King and Eowyn ran out. Grima was there and then the guards that were loyal to the sniviling scum ran forward but the band of strangers stopped them. Maiel grinned as Grima was sent onto his back. Then Eowyn moved to try and stopped Gandalf who seemed to be hurting Theoden but she was caught by one of the strangers, a dark man. The air was changing and she could almost feel it crackle as Gandalf moved closer and closer and then the dankness that had filled the room suddenly lifted. The King was growing younger before her eyes and Eowyn ran to him.

Maiel watched from the shadows as the events unfolded before her and she felt a sense of relief. She did not move for sometime and then she heard her name as Eowyn called her. She rarwarrward and outside into the sunshine. She had to explain to the King what had happened.

She stood behind Eowyn as the bier entered the tomb of Theodred and she cried silent tears for her friends, her land and her King. After the doors shut she walked with Eowyn back to the halls of Meduseld but her friend was distracted. She said nothing and waited for her to speak but she said nothing.

Maiel had returned to her duties helping the ill when she recieved word that they were leaving Edoras. Eowyn stood in the doorway of her room, 'Aragorn thinks we should go.' She had talked of nothing but the stranger since she had arrived as Maiel placed most of her possessions in the trunk. It would be remaining. In her pack she had her herbs, her sword and her bow. 'Aragorn said did he.' She was amused, perhaps her friend had found a man this time. Eowyn blushed. 'Come on we should leave now.' She shut and locked the door behind her.