Rider of the Mark

Rider of the Mark 29

Romancing the Stone Madam

***

Gamling rode into Edoras, tired, hurting, but mentally refreshed and energized.

***I'm going to find her, not stop, not sleep, not eat, until I've found her and we've hammered this out and she agrees to marry me...***

As he entered the stable yard, he saw Riders milling about, at loose ends. As they saw him, elbows and winking were flashed, men suddenly became busy, most of them dispersing, moving away from the barn. He dismounted with a grunt of pain and led Dréogan towards the door. "Haleth, have you seen Lady Aefre?"

Haleth ducked his head deferentially. "She's in the stable, tending to Adenydd."

"Good."

***Finally, we can deal with this...***

He limped into the stable, Dréogan following him, seeing the familiar dark head in Adenydd's stall, the dapple in an empty stall across from the thoroughfare. He didn't realize that Haleth had signaled Abéodan and Willan and now the threesome were tiptoeing around the barn to an open stall window outside of Dréogan's and Adenydd's stalls.

Aefre's head came up, hearing him enter, searching for him, giving him a long look, before her head went back down again. "It's too soon for you to be riding."

Gamling grunted in response. Slowly, feeling the muscle pull at his side, he unbuckled and removed the saddle and the saddle pad from his stallion. Without his normal grace, he put the saddle on its peg. He found his curry brush and picked it up from his assigned shelf.

Keeping a wary eye on that exasperating woman, lest she bolt when his back was turned, he measured honeyed oats and placed them in a feeding bag. Cursing the Orc that sliced him, he made his way back to his destrier and hooked the bag over Dréogan's muzzle and ears. While Dréogan ate his food, the Horse Lord began to brush and groom the horse, enjoying the routine, the feeling of familiarity of the chore.

"I believe your mare must have the cleanest stall in Edoras."

It was trite, forced.

Abéodan grimaced and mouthed, "Lame. So lame!"

Aefre's voice echoed eerily over the stall. "I did Dréogan's as well."

Gamling peered in and over his stallion's back, to see that she had indeed picked and cleaned his stall. "Thank you. You didn't have to."

"It was no bother. I figured you would be tired anyway."

This was true; he was exhausted and knew that just the simple chore of currying the big stallion was going to do him in. In silence they finished cleaning, combing, with a pat to respective rumps and both horses were sent to their stalls. Gamling finished tossing a small pallet of hay into Dréogan's manger, to turn and see Aefre pulling the muck bucket from Adenydd's stall.

"Here," he stopped her and handed her an identical pallet, "I'll do that."

"Gamling, I-"

"I said," this time the tone was forceful, with an edge, "I will do that."

Outside, Willan's eyes widened and Haleth and Abéodan ducked, Abéodan shaking his head in disbelief. "If it's his wish to woo her, he's going about it the wrong way!" the young Rider hissed.

Although his attitude sent bristles up Aefre's back, she quietly set the muck bucket down and took a flake of hay to Adenydd's manger. There was quiet for a few moments, Aefre giving herself a few deep breaths to settle her very raw nerves, Gamling pulling the muck bucket towards the stable doors. He returned down the thoroughfare to see Aefre leaning against the stall wall watching him intently.

He swallowed and gulped once, steeled his expression...

***Back straight, Remember... you are the Rider, you ARE the Horse Lord...***

"You've hidden from me."

"Yes."

***Damn! Straight forward. should have known...***

"Why?"

Aefre shrugged. "I was angry." She stared at him intently. "It was childish and a silly thing and I shouldn't have hid, but I'm STILL angry."

"Angry? At what?"

"At you!"

Their voices were starting to rise and the trio outside the open window didn't have to strain to hear the argument clearly. Gamling well recognized the scowl on Aefre's face and his was now screwed into the scowl his mother had cherished since the day of his birth.

"What did I do?"

Aefre's foot was tapping angrily and her arms were crossed over her chest. "You asked me to marry you."

Quesioned looks and mouthing of 'What?' passed among the three outside.

Gamling grabbed the pitchfork leaning against Adenydd's stall door and hung it on a nearby peg out of Aefre's reach. "How does my asking you to marry me cause me to be the object of your ire?"

"I AM NOT A STUD FEE!"

Both Willan and Haleth recoiled and Abéodan smote himself in the head.

"You're not a ... what?"

Aefre's hands were clenched in tight white balls. "Béma! So lost in passion you forgot? Stud fee. For Dréogan servicing Adenydd the morning you returned me to Dunharrow. The stud fee you decided on was my hand-"

" I know what I said!" Gamling bellowed. "I didn't mean it as an insult!"

Outside, the trio was laughing silently. Abéodan doubled over, painful hisses erupting from his mouth. Haleth was shaking his head and Willan was rubbing his eyes in shock with the heels of his hands.

"I know you didn't, but it came out as one! Stud fee! Béma, how dense can you be?"

Abéodan mouthed, "Pretty dense," to Willan's affirmative nods.

" Obviously, I'm the densest Horse Lord in the Riddermark!"

"Don't yell at me!"

"I'm! NOT! Yelling!"

Haleth had his hands in his hair, eyes squeezed shut.

"Aefre," Gamling's voice had lowered to a moderate growl. "I simply asked you to marry me-"

"No, you did not! You demanded my hand in lieu of stud fees! I! AM NOT! A Stud Fee!"

Gamling's eyes were narrowed, his voice now a dull, furious hiss. "What do you wish, My Lady?"

Aefre pushed against him, glaring defiantly, her finger poking a rhythmic tattoo on his chest. "What do I want? Do you want me to marry you?"

"Even though I'm having second thoughts, it would still be nice."

"Then perhaps," she thumped him once, "a sincere proposal?"

Gamling flinched at the touch of her fist and backed up a step. "A sincere proposal? That's all you want is a sincere proposal?" Without thought, his hand moved to where she had thumped him, massaging the small hurt.

Abéodan had his face in his hands, peering sheepishly through his fingers.

"Truthfully," Aefre was now tapping her finger on her lip, "I'd like a romantic proposal, but I"ll take a sincere one. Yes," she nodded affirmatively, "a sincere proposal will be just fine."

Willan threw his hands up in despair and proceeded to stalk off through the mud, only to have Haleth grab him by the tunic in an attempt to make him stay.

"Romantic?"

Abéodan KNEW this tone of voice, as low as it was. He too grabbed Willan by the tunic. "Stay! Please! She's in danger..."

"Romantic? You don't think I can be... romantic?"

"Gamling-" Aefre became cajoling, in a sense, contrite. She had a feeling that didn't quite set right...

"You don't think I can be, do you?"

Both of her hands were now on her hips as Aefre steeled her backbone. "A sincere proposal of marriage would - Gamling?"

The Horse Lord turned on his heel and stormed towards the door. "Stay here!" he ordered over his shoulder. He disappeared into the bright sunlight.

"Stay here?" Aefre crossed her arms. "This does NOT bode well, for you M'lord Marshal!" She stormed to the door, looking into the yard, through the brightness of the afternoon sun. "Damn you!"

There was no sign of the Rider, Aefre bounced on the balls of her feet, peering into the yard, trying to see where he had disappeared off to. Willan, Abéodan, and Haleth were shushing each other and hiding around the corner of the barn.

Within minutes, Gamling reappeared from around the fence, clutching a hastily-pulled fistful of elanor and rosemary-

***Oh Béma forgive him - he's been in the cook's herb garden!***

He approached her in an angry huff and grabbed her by the arm.

***don't think I can be romantic, huh? I'll show you... should be easy; say something sweet! Disgusting but I'll stomach it for you...***

He headed her back into the barn, making sure the door was shut behind him and not seeing the three Rohirrim running around the side of the barn again, sliding in the mud, trying to find a good listening spot.

Gamling thrust the hastily gathered bouquet at Aefre. "Well," he shook them once for good measure. "Take them!"

Aefre smirked and took the bundle from the offering hand. "Cook is going to be very angry-"

With a sigh of resignation-

***Romanticromanticromantic I can do this...***

- Gamling sank painfully to one knee in the dust. "Aefre, would you-"

"What are you doing?" she whispered. "Gamling, you don't have to-"

"Would you PLEASE be quiet?" Gamling squeezed his eyes shut.

***Béma, if anyone walks in I'll never live this down...***

"What's going on?" Abéodan whispered. "I can't hear!"

"Lift me up..." Haleth proceed to scale the wall, trying to pull up to the high placed window.

"Aefre," Gamling began again, eyes still squeezed shut.

***this is harder than leaving her at Dunharrow***

"Would you please share my cloak,-"

"Oh... Gamling..."

"-share my trencher, my tankard, my bed, but mostly, " he opened his eyes to see....

...the roof?

He seemed shocked when he realized she had sunk to her knees and was kneeling in front of him. Her fingers slid into his.

"-Share my life?"

"Yes."

***THERE! That was easy. Béma, I never want to do that again***

"What are they saying?" Abéodan was pushing Haleth higher.

"I think he proposed! I can't hear. Push me a little more!"

Gamling was smiling, his head lowering towards hers.

"I love you, you big oaf."

He traced her nose with the tip of his. "Do you now?" He kissed her once, his lips tarrying over hers. "Was that romantic enough?"

Aefre was caressing his jaw line with the tips of her fingers, lightly ruffling the hair in his beard. "It was perfect." She kissed him back, her taste lingering. "Do you think we can get up now? We're in the dirt and the air is a little-"

"OOF!"

There was the sound of a body hitting the dirt in the stall next to them, Growling, the Horse Lord jumped up stiffly and threw open the stall door. Haleth lay sprawled in an enclosed stall, the stallion in it staring balefully at the boy. The echo of running feet could clearly be heard from outside the stall.

"Boy, you've fallen in shite." Haleth looked underneath himself in horror to see just that. "Who?" Gamling pointed at the window from where the youngling had fallen from.

"Abéodan and Willan."

"Well, " Aefre had joined Gamling, "Willan won't talk, however Abéodan..."

"I'll deal with him," Gamling growled at Haleth who was pale and wide eyed, not knowing whether to be upset he had fallen in the horse's pile or knowing that he was the object of the wrath of the very large and angry Horse Lord staring down at him.

"We didn't hear anything, honest."

"Are you sure?"

"Well," he stood up awkwardly, brushing himself clean and trying to steer clear of the stallion's rear end. "We heard Lady Aefre yell she wasn't a stud fee and we heard you yell something about being romantic-"

"Oh, Béma..." Aefre gasped and turned away from the stall.

"-but we didn't hear you propose or anything."

"Or. Anything."

Haleth had the good sense to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Gamling."

Gamling rolled his eyes and reached out, "I think," he grabbed Haleth roughly by the shoulder and yanked him towards the front of the stall, "that your Rider training begins now."

"Yes, Gam- ... sir."

"Your first task is to find Abéodan and tell him in no uncertain terms that if he does not want to spend the rest of his life mucking stalls, he'll not say a word."

"Yes... sir..."

By this time, the Horse Lord had pulled the youngster completely from the stall and was shutting the gate behind him, "What are you waiting for?"

"Yes... sir...."

Haleth took off in a rush, barreling through the barn's cracked doors. "Béma!" Gamling swore, shaking his head angrily. "So much for a quiet proposal." His fists were setting on his waist. "I don't suppose we can just let someone catch us wrapped in my cloak and do away with the ceremony?"

"Your mother," Aefre had stepped up to him and threaded her arm beneath his around his waist, "claims she has caught us wrapped in your cloak."

"Oh," Gamling sagged in relief. If that was the case, she could just announce it and they wouldn't have to go through all the aggravation. "Good."

"I still want a ceremony."

"Damn!" The Rider pulled her into his embrace. "Does this mean I have to wear new clothes?"

"Yes."

"And new boots?"

"Yes"

"And the flowers?"

Sweet, sweet lips canvassed his mouth. "Most definitely the flowers! But only for the day. Just the once."

He kissed her back "Just the once?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

Aefre pulled away with a grin and pulled him towards the stable door. "I don't intend on marrying you again. Now," she continued as they exited the barn, "do you want to announce this from the rafters or subtly?"

***Clang the bells, shout from the rooftops, I'm getting laid every night of the week!***

"Subtly."

"Then," she steered them from the barnyard and towards the front of the Great Hall, "we had best hurry. Haleth will yell across the Hall to Abéodan to not tell anyone we're getting married, and that will be the end of that."

A question nagging its way through Gamling's thoughts...

"How long?"

"How long what?"

As they began to climb the wide stair in front of the Golden Hall, Gamling realized how close he held the woman to his side. The guards were staring at them, curiously. By keeping her in his firm grip, his actions were speaking loud and clear.

He tightened his grip.

"How long before we have the ceremony?"

"Oh," Aefre made a moue in thought. "A few weeks, I would suppose."

"A few? Weeks?"

***Damn! When did I sound like a mouse?***

They were nearing the top . "Yes, I need a new dress; you need new clothes."

"Can't you just find something lying around? That dress you were wearing when I arrived back from Gondor would be just fine."

"No!" Aefre stopped and stared at him horror. " That's a work dress and besides, I need a real wedding dress. And you need celebratory clothes, as well!"

"Damn."

Aefre was deep in thought, not taking notice of the Riders' knowing looks. Smiles disappeared quickly at the Marshal's glare. "I have to plan the celebration dinner with the cook..."


"Celebration dinner? Are we inviting all of Rohan?"

"Your mother is here, but we'll need to send for the rest of your family. I haven't met your sisters..."

***Béma, she'll love them, they never stop talking! It's why I left in the first place! Can I run now? I can be in Gondor in two days, I've not seen Mordor; the sea, the sea would be nice...***

"-we have so much to plan...*

***We??? WE??? Mordor! Mordor looks gooooood...***

They entered the Golden Hall, made their way to the dining hall, long tables set up with serving wenches flittering back and forth with heaping trays of roast mutton and rabbit. There was a slight lull in the conversation as the two entered together, heads close in conversation.

The table of Riders breathed a sigh of relief when Gamling sat down next to Aefre, grateful he was seemingly relaxed and not growling at them. A large trencher was set in front of Gamling; meat, roasted potatoes steaming. Aefre's stomach lurched and she asked for some fruit and plain cooked vegetables. As they removed their eating knives from their belts, Alardis set a mug of mead in front of Gamling. She went to set a second in front of Aefre, when Gamling's hand shot up and gently grasped the girl by the wrist.

"Wait."

The entire room fell silent, all eyes...

***Subtle... this is as subtle as a cattle call..***

"Aefre?"

"Yes, Just Gamling?"

Gamling was not a stupid man and he could feel every ear in the Hall listening to their small corner. "Will you share my tankard?"

"Yes."

Silence.

Inhale.

***youcandothisyoucandothisbreeeeathe...breeeeathe...***

"Always?"

"Yes."

The roar that went up was deafening. Every lusty, bawdy toast he had ever made to the impending doom of a Rider was heaped on his head ten fold. At one point, he whispered to his mother, he would purposely leave the door unlatched and open if she would kindly catch him and Aefre wrapped in his cloak.

She smacked him angrily. "Gamling! How could you cheat your bride or Edoras of a celebration? They need something happy to look forward too!"

***Grrrrr...***

The ale flowed, plans were being made - without his opinion being asked, thank you very much!

‘Wedding celebrations are the making of women,' his da had told him once while digging out a hoof. ‘Best just wear what they tell you to wear, and show up at the proper place and time.'

Gamling's da had been a wise man.

Abéodan had wished them luck and happiness, head bowed and blushing. Willan had grabbed Aefre in a bear hug and started to do the same to Gamling, remembering almost too late, Gamling's still-healing side.

No one heard the young woman creep in the doors, bags in hand, eyes wide. She searched the room, the crowd, finally settling on the one she sought. She watched the scene, realizing after a few minutes exactly what she was witnessing. She almost turned and left, but she looked at the bruises on her arms, steeled her backbone and strode purposely towards the couple.

A few of the men saw her first, poking each other and whispering. When women saw her, they muttered angrily...

...how dare she...

...Who does she think she is?...

If she heard them, she paid them no heed. She simply walked up and stopped in front of the Horse Lord and his Lady.

Gamling saw her first.

"Eadignes?"

The young woman bit her lip, dropped her bags, her things, on the bench and locked her gaze on Aefre. She pulled nervously on her sleeves, trying to hide what was there.

"Lady Aefre? You said you'd help. You said you would. You promised. I quit. I quit, I did. Now what do I do?"

***
Tbc
***