Wild Monster

by Matthew Harrington

  "We should go." Elle said, looking over to where she had left Gadriel, she was surprised when she found that Gadriel was not alone.

  "Artanis! You came back." Mae, happy to see her mare, rushed forward and embraced her mare's long neck sweetly. The mare neighed at her indignantly, as if she was saying "of course I did!" The sisters laughed then moved to mount their horses, hoisting themselves onto the saddles.

  "Alright then, let's go." Together they cantered from the trees then galloped across the open plain to catch up with the others, letting themselves feel the wind and freedom of riding. They were so in tuned with the synchronized galloping of their mares that they were plenty surprised when they suddenly heard the sound of another rider coming up fast beside them. Instantly wary, the sisters turned their heads to face whoever was coming at them. Then Maethien's features relaxed as she realized who it was.

  "Eomer!" Mae called out. "What are you doing here?" She asked curiously, amiably. Saeleth's question, however, was not as friendly or happy.

  "Did you wait for us?" She asked, her tone sharp enough that it made Mae's eyes widen in surprise. Her sister never snapped at people like that, she was usually always in control of herself, sometimes infuriatingly so, and if she didn't care for someone she just treated them with indifference... but right now? She was being,well, rude and there was a wild barrage of emotions flitting across Elle's eyes that Maethien could see even as they galloped toward Rohan. Maethien was even more surprised to see that Eomer was completely unruffled by Elle's sharp words, in fact he looked rather amused. What the hell?

  "Elle!" Mae said, her tone slightly chastising.

  "Worry not, Maethien. I quickly discovered that your sister is quite an enigma." Eomer called out. Mae blinked in surprise, then suddenly threw back her head and released a sincere and happy laugh.

  "I'm honestly not sure whether to deem that a compliment or an insult." Elle muttered, prompting a smile to the warriors face.

  "A compliment of course, Elle. I know no woman who is capable of such puzzling mystery, compelling contradiction, or humorous wit while also being strong, loving, and loyal." And for once, Saeleth was utterly speechless, her eyes wide with surprise as she turned her head to look at Eomer. The warrior smiled at the elleth for a moment, allowing her to see the sincerity of what he had just said... then he turned to face forward and shrugged dismissively, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  "On the other hand," Eomer suddenly said with a smirk. "Being an enigma could simply mean that you are an infuriatingly contradictory and complex character who does't even know what it is that she wants, feels, or believes. There is such a thing as being too complex, Saeleth." Maethien burst into a fit of laughter at the utterly flabbergasted look that crossed her sister's face.

  "Why you-" Saeleth growled and drew in a breath. "Infuriating? You want to know what's really infuriating?!" Elle asked, a threat in the tone of her voice as she turned her head slightly toward Eomer. Both riders seemed fully prepared to launch themselves into an argument that would leave Maethien to clutch at her sides from the laughter she would not be able to contain.

  The three riders rode all the way up into the stables, the people of Rohan looking after them as they passed, the sound of Maethien's laughter could be heard all around. The two riders with her finally took a break as they lead their mounts into their stalls, she was thankful when Eomer was lead to a stall farther away from theirs. She really needed a chance to take a breath, but when she looked at Elle's face she took off laughing again.

  "This isn't funny!" Elle complained and actually pouted as she began to untack Gadriel.

  "Yes, it is actually. My goodness, who would have thought that Eomer could be so..."

  "Infuriating? Frustrating? Aggravating?"

  "Incisive." Maethien said, smiling when she saw her sister scowl. She finished untacking Artanis then patted her horses nose before walking into her sister's stall and gripping her shoulders to turn her around to face her. "Elle... I think he likes you." It was then that Mae wondered if she had been as incredulously blind to the truth about Aragorn's possible feelings as Elle was of Eomer's possible feelings for her.

  "And you like him too." Maethien watched Elle open her mouth to object and lifted a brow, challenging her to object. "Elle. Come on. What do you feel when you're with him?" She asked, and grinned when Saeleth let out a sharp breath, lifting a hand to rake it through her hair.

  "What don't I feel would be the shorter question! I feel everything! He can make me so frustrated, then happy, then so annoyed, then warm. For the lack of a better word, I feel when I'm around him." Elle burst, her words slowly getting quieter and quieter as she slowly began to realize the meaning behind her words.

  "See?" Mae asked with a smug grin. "You like him, Elle. We both know that you've always needed someone that can challenge you and your complexities. That can make you lose control in a good way an make you laugh and, apparently Eomer can do that." Maethien knew she was heading in the right direction when Saeleth said nothing. It was when she knew that she had no argument left to dish out that Elle usually found herself saying absolutely nothing. Mae knew that. Smiling, Mae reached out to take her sister's face into her hands and leaned close to press a quick kiss to her forehead.

  "Mull over that while we go to the celebration, huh?" With that, Saeleth laughed and wrapped her arms around her big sister's waist while Mae wrapped her arms around her little sister's shoulders, the perfect picture of sisterly affection. Together, they wandered out of the stables and made to find their friends.

  "Eowyn!" Maethien complained when the princess held out a pretty light blue dress. "Come on, Eowyn, wear something with a little more color. Please?" Maethien pleaded with a smile, hopping up and down on the bed where she sat, watching the princess decide what to wear for the celebration.

  "Something like this." Elle spoke up and pulled out a scarlet dress. "Tonight is a celebration! Wear something dazzling!" The princess looked from one sister to the other, then glanced down at the brilliant red dress... and sighed her defeat.

  "Alright." She conceded, though she was smiling at that fact. She took the dress and moved to change behind her screen. "Don't you think it's a little... noticeable?" The princess asked hesitantly, making the sisters glance at each other with wide grins.

  "That's the point, Eowyn." Mae called out, prompting a giggle from the princess as she stepped out from behind her screen, the sisters gaped. The glimmering fabric clung to her lean body and the golden patterns embroidered on the gown swirled everywhere, shades of scarlet and ruby blending in beautifully with the gold.

  "Beautiful." Maethien breathed with a smile.

  "That she is." Elle added as she drifted forward to turn the princess around so that she could fix her hair into something a little more celebratory. She braided a thin section of blonde hair on either side of the woman's head, to create a sort of circlet of braids, and overlapped them beneath her head, using a pin the keep the braids in place. She then lifted the most of Eowyns cascading hair and pilled it into a messy, yet enticing, bun at the base of of her neck, leaving the rest of her luscious curls loose in a very simple and pretty half updo. Ah, the perks of having lived in the 21st century.

  "There." Elle said. "Perfect."

  "Hmm," Mae came up behind the women, tapping her finger to her lips thoughtfully as she gazed upon Eowyn's jewels. "One last thing." She mumbled, then brightened when she spotted what she'd been looking for. "Ah! There we go." She breathed and took a ruby necklace from her jewels and clasped it around her throat gently.

  Eowyn smiled at the sisters and quickly powdered her face before standing and turning in a full circle. "Am I ready?" She asked comically, smiling when the sisters flushed subtly and laughed.

  "You are ready." Maethien concluded.

  "Good. Now it's your turns." Eowyn pointed at both sisters who immediately beamed. The sisters had absolutely no aversion to a little dressing up. Actually, they really enjoyed putting on the long,
flowing gowns. The princess laughed pleasantly at their eager expressions and quickly wandered to a corner of her room where a large chest sat alone, she knelt before it and opened it wide.

  "My uncle bid me to give you these."Eowyn said softly as she pulled out two bundles, neatly folded within an intricate cloth. "The King wishes you to wear them to this celebration." She added as she approached the surprised sisters, setting one package into Mae's hands and the other into Elle's. "And you cannot refuse the King." Eowyn added with a humorous smile. She looked at the sister's faces once more then proceeded to peal into a fit of giggles. They looked positively stunned.

  "I... But... We..." At a loss for words, Mae looked down at the neatly folded package in her hands for a moment, then lifted her tearfully joyous gaze to the smiling woman.

  "Thank you, Eowyn." Elle breathed, struggling to speak over the stinging of emotion at her throat. "We'll be sure to the thank the King as well." Mae nodded her eager agreement.

  "It is our pleasure. Now go! Get changed! We have a celebration to attend." The princess needn't have told the sisters twice, for immediately the elleth's turned and flew to their rooms to change.

  In her room, Maethien softly unwrapped the gown from it's protective cloth and breathed in a soft gasp when she set eyes on the beautiful gown the Eowyn and the King of Rohan had given her. It was a bold indigo with long flowing sleeves and a deep brown leather corset that would hug to the curved of Maethien's abdomen; adorning the rich brown of the gown was a deep lavender jeweled belt that wrapped neatly around the center of the corset, the silk on the inner skirt an equally deep lavender as the jewels at the midsection. Maethien was enchanted by it's beauty and she smiled the entire time that she slid carefully into the beautiful garment.

  Meanwhile, Saeleth was slipping into her own gown, loving the feel of the silky fabric as it tickled her skin softly. All she could seem to do was smile, the King of Rohan had been incredibly generous in his gift, and Elle couldn't seem to calm the rush of happy emotions whirring inside her. The gown was a midnight blue with a flowing silky mantle clasped at her shoulders with blue jewels and intricate bead-work, long angel wing sleeves smooth against her skin in a material so fine it looked as if it had been spun by spiders. The gown was long, simple, and flowing, the only trace of sparkle on the neckline of the gown where an intricate web of deep blue gems and gold and silvery bead-work adorned the bodice like stars.

  Eowyn beamed when Maethien emerged from her room, looking like much like a warrior princess. She had been right to suggest to her uncle that the gown wold suit Maethien well. The elleth spun around gracefully and Eowyn was happy to see that her friend enjoyed the gift immensely.

  "You look like a vision, Maethien." She breathed, then turned when Saeleth emerged from her room next, gleaming in a gown like the night sky, her golden hair flowing down like a waterfall of golden starlight against the midnight blue. Maethien released a wolf whistle, making her sister laugh and spin in a circle so that the flowing dress would fly around her.

  "Looking good, little sister." Mae said with a genuine smile.

  "Thanks, Mae. You look stunning, yourself." Elle grinned, nodding appreciatively at the flowing indigo gown that her sister wore.

  "I am happy that you liked your gifts." Eowyn said, smiling grandly at the sisters who returned her brilliant smile.

  "We love them." Elle corrected as Maethien gave into temptation and spun around in a circle once more, prompting the princess to laugh again. It amazed Eowyn, how two elleths as mighty as they could suddenly become beaming children with something as simple a pretty gown... they truly cherished every little thing that came their way.

  The sisters watched solemnly as Eowyn walked slowly up to where King Theoden stood at his throne, his kind eyes on his lovely niece. The princess of Rohan bowed her head respectfully and offered the holden goblet to her uncle, then moved to stand to his side when Theoden took the goblet into his hands. Eomer, now the prince of Rohan, stood proudly beside his uncle as well, his gaze solemn and regal.

  The King raised his goblet in his hands and faced his people, everyone stood immediately, lifting their goblets as well as Theoden King spoke.

  "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." The King raised his goblet high. "Hail the victorious dead!" He declared.

  "Hail!" Everyone echoed and lifted their goblets and tankards high before taking a hearty sip in honor of their fallen warriors.

  TO BE CONTINUED.