Part 72 of the Elfwine Chronicles. The Elfwine Chronicles are a series of one-shots built around the family group of Eomer, Lothiriel and Elfwine. The total number will depend on how many ideas I get for new vignettes.

A/N: Well, here it is – more Theomund and Fele. The chapter lengths are a bit uneven, but it was necessary to find reasonable break points. Don't know for sure what my next story will be, but I am open to any suggestions of "mischievous boy activities" that could be adapted to Middle-earth. Eric has given me two that I think I can use, but more are welcome.

Blessings

(Jun, 42 IV)

Chapter 1

Frideswide looked up from her mending at the knock on the door. She rose, smiling once again at the realization they were in a home rather than a boarding house. Even though they had been here for over a month, it still seemed almost a dream. They had certainly been blessed the day Lord Theomund had come into their lives.

Humming slightly, she opened the door and then came to a stunned halt. On the doorstep stood the Queen of Rohan and, if she was not mistaken, the queen's daughter-in-law, Dariel. Struggling to regain her wits and her voice, she stammered, "My lady! W..welcome!" For a moment she just stared, then blinked and offered, "Will you come in? It is an honor to have you visit us." Suddenly she remembered to curtsy, and the queen smiled in amusement.

"I fear I have startled you, Frideswide. My apologies. I do not know if you have met my daughter, Dariel. She is Elfwine's wife."

"My lady," Frideswide acknowledged, desperately curious as to the meaning of their presence. For an instant, trepidation filled her, but she pushed it aside. She had heard nothing of the royal family to make her react so.

The two visitors glanced around the room and their eyes lit on Eledher, playing on the floor, but presently gazing up at the two women curiously. At length he announced, "You are Theomund's mama."

Lothiriel smiled at the boy and bent over slightly. "I am! And you are Eledher. Theomund speaks very highly of you."

The boy beamed and informed her, "Theomund is my friend! He took me riding and is teaching me to use a sword!"

The queen ruffled the boy's hair. "Eledher, if your grandmother does not mind, would you go with Dariel to run a few errands? You could help carry her bundles."

Instantly Eledher was on his feet. "Can I, Grandmother, please?"

Briefly, Frideswide hesitated. This was becoming more and more curious. Finally, she nodded. "Very well, but you must behave and do as Lady Dariel tells you, Eledher. Do not run off or give her any trouble."

"I will not!" the boy exclaimed, almost jumping with excitement.

Dariel reached for his hand with a laugh. "I am certain he will be fine. We will see you in an hour or so."

When the two were gone, Frideswide eyed the queen speculatively a moment, then invited, "Please be seated. Would you care for some tea, my lady?" She gestured to the small living area.

When they had been ready to move into the cottage, they had expected to do without furniture for a while until they could afford to buy some gradually over time. But Lord Theomund had an eye for detail, and he was well aware of how few possessions they had. Upon their arrival, they discovered he had secretly made a few pieces for them – a table, four chairs and two beds. Three weeks later, they had found him at their door with two chests for clothing, and a fortnight after that he turned up with a small wardrobe.

Arguments that they could not accept such generosity from him had fallen on deaf ears, and he had insisted they could not live in an empty house. Further, he claimed he had enjoyed working in wood for a change, rather than metal, and was thinking of adding some furniture to the offerings in the shop. Reluctantly, they had graciously received his gifts.

Apparently, the queen was aware of that history, for she ran a hand over the table and smiled. "Theomund does nice work, does he not?"

"He does," Frideswide agreed, adding, "and he is a most thoughtful and considerate friend to us."

Lothiriel gave a small sigh and regarded her hands in her lap. "Which brings us to the reason for my visit."

The trepidation returned with a vengeance. Was the queen upset about her son's involvement with peasants? Frideswide had not thought she had any objections, always before this being ever so kind herself toward Fele. She bit her tongue and waited for the queen to elaborate.

Lothiriel raised her eyes to meet those of the other woman and, apparently sensing her unease, assured her, "Do not be alarmed, Frideswide. I come to speak with you as one mother to another. My son is a very open young man, and I doubt very much you have not guessed that he has developed feelings for your daughter. While she was still married to Orgel, he would never have spoken of such things or dared to approach her, but now the situation has changed."

Stiffly, Frideswide anticipated where she was going with this. "And you do not wish to have him become involved with...my daughter. That is...understandable, my lady."

She was startled when the queen reached across the table and grasped her arm, saying frankly, "Do not misunderstand me, Frideswide. I have not come here with objections; I have come seeking solutions, and what I hope will be a happy resolution for all concerned."

Frideswide's expression clearly reflected her uncertainty about the queen's purpose. Rising, she moved to put the kettle on the fire to heat water for tea. "I am not sure I take your meaning, my lady."

"Please, call me Lothiriel. In private, I hope we can be friends and not so formal." Frideswide's head pivoted around in amazement at this unusual request, though clearly the queen was as Fele had described her.

Continuing, Lothiriel explained, "I know what my son's feelings are for Fele but, as I warned him, we do not know what her feelings are for him. I do not think her past will easily enable her to love and trust again."

Wanting to be very sure she correctly understood, Frideswide asked, "You do not object to Theomund loving Fele...or her loving him in return?"

"Of course not!" Lothiriel assured her. "Fele is a delightful girl and, more importantly, she has completely captured my son's affections. It has taken him a long time to find someone, for he is a rather unusual young man."

The queen idly let her fingers play with the fringe of a cloth laid in the center of the table. "I know there are those who believe that nobles should marry nobles. That is especially true in my homeland of Gondor. But Eomer and I are more concerned with the happiness of our children than forming political marriages. Elfwine's marriage to Dariel resulted from their love for one another and no other reason. If there is a side benefit of stronger ties between our countries, that is fine, but it is not the reason for the alliance. Both my daughters have married soldiers, which many would consider 'beneath' them socially, though one of them is of noble birth. But they are loved and they are happy, and their husbands are fine, honorable men. We could not ask for better companions to our daughters. And Fele is a wonderful woman. One need only look at Eledher to know that, to see how well she has raised him in spite of her tragic marriage and difficult circumstances."

Lothiriel paused, contemplating her next words, but Frideswide interrupted with a question. "And what is it you seek from me...Lothiriel?"

"First, I hope to discover your thoughts on what Fele might be feeling for Theomund, and second, I hope to gain your support in helping her to overcome any misgivings she might have that would keep her from caring for him, if she were so inclined."

It was a straightforward answer, and Frideswide pondered it for several moments. Wryly, she commented, "If the matter was left up to Eledher, they would be wed today! He almost worships Theomund, and...and I think the feeling is mutual. Your son is very good with the boy, but I think he loves Eledher also."

The queen nodded, waiting for her to continue and she soon did. "Fele has not confided any feelings for Theomund beyond friendship, and even that she believes to be an incredible thing. We are peasants. We have lived as peasants our entire lives, and been treated as such by others – until we came here and met Theomund. A lifetime of experience does not disappear overnight."

Frideswide went to pour the tea and brought two mugs to the table. Lothiriel eyed her curiously, then asked, "And what of you, Frideswide? Would you oppose their union, if Fele were to desire it?"

Almost apologetically, the woman shrugged. "I am a mother, like you, Lothiriel. I want what is best for my child; I want her to be happy. If happiness can be found with Theomund, then I would embrace it completely – particularly knowing that you and the king do not object. Fele is a good girl, and she did not deserve what befell her, but it will be difficult for her to overcome that. I very much hope that she can, and that she not only allows herself to care for Theomund, but finds that she loves him."

After taking a sip of the tea, Lothiriel nodded. "Then we are agreed. May I count on you to do whatever you can to help her along that path? I do not know how much I am able to encourage her, but I will certainly try to make it clear to her that she has my approval to follow that course. I do not want to encourage Theomund to pursue her unless I think there is some chance she will have him."

Frideswide emitted a mirthless laugh. "Would that not be something? The king's son rejected by a peasant girl?"

The queen smiled in response. "Aye! But gratitude and love are not the same thing. We must wait to see how this plays out."

xxxxx

Theomund blinked, and mentally shook himself. He realized he had been staring into space for some time, and he set down the metal piece he had been molding. Shoving back from his work table, he rubbed his face. Almost a year. That was how long he had known Fele. Despite the change in her circumstances, as of last May when Eomer had dissolved her marriage to her abusive husband, Orgel, he still hesitated to approach her with his feelings. His mother had brought up several issues when he confessed his love for the woman, and he could not easily dismiss them. Did she care for him, love him? He knew she was fond of him, certainly was grateful to him for the things he had done for her family, but love him?

He had waited, not always patiently, these past few months, trying to give her time to adjust to her newly acquired freedom from Orgel. He had hoped that part of that adjustment would involve a flowering of feelings for him, but he could not truthfully say he had discerned any such thing. Nearly four months later, they still seemed only good friends and co-workers. She was less reluctant for him to spend time with Eledher, but he was not sure that could be attributed to fondness for him so much as a desire to do right by her child.

He let out a growl of frustration. This was maddening, this not knowing. Most of his life he had been confident in what he did, boldly reaching out for whatever he wanted. Why now did he hesitate? The truth was, though, he knew the answer. Fear. Fear that she would not, could not love him. The one thing he wanted more than anything else ever before, and he could not see a way to guarantee success in acquiring it.

The bell on the shop door jingled and he pushed aside his thoughts as he rose. Wishful thinking was not going to get him any nearer to his goal.

Wiping at the sweat on his face and running down his neck, he went to see who had come in. Summer was fully upon them, and the past few days had been miserably hot. He wasn't sure why he was even working today. Next to a hot furnace was not the place to spend a blistering day. Fele had escaped from it by going to deliver jewels to several of her customers. Likely the ladies would invite her in for a cool drink and talk, so she could while away most of the day in a more comfortable manner than he was.

Suddenly a grin split Theomund's face. What good did it do being the owner of the shop if you couldn't take the day off whenever you wanted! Once the visitor had been dealt with, he quickly banked the furnace fire and locked up. Striding off down the street, trying to keep to the shadiest path, he made his way to the cottage.

The door was open, trying to catch a breeze through, and he knocked at it, calling out for Frideswide. When she appeared, she invited, "Theomund! Come in. Would you like something to drink?"

He nodded gratefully, already parched from the short walk. After he thirstily downed several mugs of water, he explained his purpose. "I have come to see if Eledher might be allowed to go swimming with me. It is far too hot to work."

The woman considered a moment, then nodded agreeably. "I do not see why not. I am sure he will enjoy it."

"You are welcome to join us, if you like?" he offered, with a grin.

She let out a laugh. "I think my swimming days are long over, and riding makes me stiffen. No, I think I prefer to sit here in the shade, and hope for a breath of wind to ease my discomfort."

Moments later, Theomund and Eledher were making their way to the stables. Not wanting to bother with a sword, Theomund picked up two riders to accompany them, and they were soon headed for the swimming hole. It was all Eledher could do to contain his excitement, and Theomund felt better just being with him, if not particularly any less hot.

Unwilling to frolic in the water while a guard stood miserably by, Theomund had brought two with them so they could take turns standing watch and joining in the refreshing fun. By the time they returned to Edoras, as the sun was dropping toward the horizon, the guards' uniforms were a bit worse for the wear, but who could object when they had been following orders?

The heat of the day only abated partially at night, and it made for sticky sleeping. It had not taken long after returning from the outing for Theomund to find himself sweating as much as before. As did most others in the city, he turned in early, finding that lying quietly in the dark was cooler than being up and doing anything, especially since even the light of a candle was more extra heat than he desired.

The past two nights had made for fitful sleeping, and this night was proving no different. Even so, he must have drifted off. It was difficult to tell how much time had passed when he heard the shouts, and instantly came fully awake. "Fire, fire!" a voice yelled from the streets.

Leaping from his bed, he rushed to the window and quickly determined the direction. And then he had to struggle for breath. It was in the direction of the cottages! Wrestling himself into some clothes and boots, he tore out the door and down the street, joining others who were also hurrying to the scene to help.

Near panic seized him the closer he got; the fire was...too close. As he turned a corner, his heart leapt into his throat. Not just too close – one cottage was almost totally engulfed in flames, and Fele's roof was burning. Like a madman, he raced toward the door, screaming for her. "Fele! Fele!"

He could hear coughing and Eledher was crying. Not bothering to wait, he crashed against the door, bursting it open and fell inside. The smoke stung his eyes, and for a moment he choked before able to get enough air to call again. "Fele, Eledher – where are you?"

Something flung itself at his knees and it took a moment to realize that it must be Eledher. Scooping the boy up, he called again, "Fele? Where are you? I have Eledher!"

A sob of relief sounded nearby and he turned to see Fele struggling into a robe and helping her mother toward the door. He followed them out, even as men were beginning to throw water on the flames. Something struck his arm, but he hurried on, not stopping to check it until they were clear of the cottage and he was sure they were all safe. He steered them toward a patch of grass under a tree, where the four of them collapsed on the ground, coughing the smoke out of their lungs.

Eledher had calmed just being held by Theomund, and the man turned his attention to the two women. Frideswide seemed unharmed, but in shock as she stared at the burning building. But Fele was sobbing uncontrollably. With a quick kiss to Eledher's head, he handed the boy to his grandmother and then reached over to pull Fele close, wrapping her in a strong embrace. Silently he held her as she wept. It was some time before the sobs eased, and just as they did, Renward approached. "Theomund, two of the cottages were destroyed, and a third is damaged severely, but no lives were lost."

Struggling for composure, Theomund nodded, then instructed, "Gather those who lost their homes. I am sure there will be room for them at Meduseld until other arrangements can be made." His eyes turned relentlessly to take in the smoldering buildings, flames still evident as the men fought to completely extinguish the fire.

Not wanting to let go of Fele, Theomund awkwardly got to his feet, pulling her with him, and then helped Frideswide to stand. Knowing the boy was too heavy for her to manage up the hill to the Golden Hall, he handed her daughter over to her and took the child in his arms. The other families were gathering nearby, and he led the sad processional up the street.

Already, men were coming down the hill, having been alerted. Eothain was in his shirtsleeves, and stopped to speak with Theomund as he was lacing his breeches. Theomund filled him in on what had happened, then instructed, "Set a guard for the night, please, Eothain. They do not possess much, but I would not want anything that survived to be lost to looters." The older man nodded, gripping his shoulder in consolation before moving on down the hill with a few riders.

Meduseld was abuzz, and Theomund was not surprised to find his parents waiting and two healers present. Once the families had been checked for injuries, they would be given rooms for the night.

Luckily, there were few serious injuries. All of them were still coughing and their eyes burned, but flushing with water had eased that somewhat and fresh air was gradually replacing the smoke in their lungs. Fele had been sitting numbly with her mother and son, awaiting attention. Their cottage had been next to the one that caught fire, so the other family was treated first. As Theomund came to join them, something registered in her clouded mind and she let out a gasp, lurching to her feet. "Theomund! Your arm!"

He looked down as she reached for his left arm, only then noticing the burned skin of his forearm. In all the confusion, he had forgotten about something striking him. It was now apparent it had been something that was aflame. He winced as she tried to gently ease his shirt from the wound and Frideswide rose, calling to the queen, "My lady! Come quickly! A healer is needed for your son!"

In an instant, Lothiriel was at their side, examining Theomund's arm as she pressed him down on a bench. Now that he was aware of the injury, the pain of it was beginning to seep in past the adrenalin that had concealed it until now. Wearily he rested his head on his clenched fist, trying to keep the pain at bay while the healer cleaned it.

A cool hand came to rest on his head, and stroked it soothingly. He assumed it was his mother, but when he looked up he found Fele watching him with concern. Grasping her hand, he pressed her palm to his cheek and hoarsely whispered, "I was afraid I had lost you!"

For once, she did not pull back and simply gave him a gentle smile. "Shhh! Everyone is safe, thanks to you."

He dropped his eyes. Gratitude. He was sick to death of gratitude. He wanted to hold her and kiss her until his mind was firmly convinced she was unharmed, and then he wanted to continue kissing her until the end of time. If she noticed his despair, she gave no indication and all stood in silence as the healer worked on him.

Once the arm was bandaged, Lothiriel instructed, "Give them your old room, dearest. I will see to the others. And then you should get some rest yourself. Do you want to stay here tonight? If so, Theodred's room is empty for now."

He nodded morosely. "I will stay." He did not add that he couldn't bear leaving this little family just yet.

Notes:

Brythild: brytta – giver, hild – war; "war giver"

Fealides: fealu – dark, ides – woman; "dark woman"

Durucwen: duru – door, cwen – woman; "woman of the door"

Lyfwyn: lyf – air, wyn – delight; "delightful air"