A/N: It was hard work to make up the names for my OC’s. I stole the name “Galetta“ from my favorite pudding brand ... sowwie.

Chapter 2

Theodred kept gazing at Elwyn; her eyes reminded him of endless ponds, filled with dark water. She bit her lip and then walked back to her sister’s side. Theodred followed her, afraid of what he would see.
Emwyn was pale and cold sweat covered her forehead. She had lost a lot of her beauty and she looked older than she really was.
“Theodred, the baby ... he ... he’s dead,“ she whispered.
The young Prince sat down beside her and stroked her cheek.
“It’s not your fault,“ he whispered. “You couldn’t do anything. It’s not your fault.“

Emwyn fell asleep soon and so the Prince and her sister left her. Theodred saw how Elwyn wiped her eyes and he felt sad.
“Is there anything I can do for you, my lady?“, he asked, softly.
“Go,“ she whispered. “You do not belong here and our pain isn’t yours.“
Theodred felt like she had just slapped him. Those people were his **friends**, of course their pain was his!
“My lady, I can understand that you are sad, but ...“
“No, my lord, I don’t think you understand. Emwyn does not need a Prince right now. She needs her family. She needs people who have experienced pain already. I doubt you ever have.“
“I lost my mother,“ Theodred whispered. “She died when she gave birth to me. I’m grateful that the same thing did not happen to Emwyn.“
“Are you trying to tell me that you’re **happy** that the baby died?!“
Elwyn raised a hand to slap him, but Theodred held her back; it was easy to deal with her for she wasn’t very strong.
“Do nothing you might regret later,“ Theodred said and walked out.
Elwyn watched him as his steed galloped through the gates.

August, The year 3017 Four months had passed since Emwyn had lost her baby; sad, grey, neverending months, but eventually she had learned how to live with it.
The midwife had talked to her a lot and Emwyn knew that she was not the only one woman who had to go through this.
She sat outside and let the sun warm her. Halrad was in Edoras, visiting Theodred and she did not expect her husband to come back too soon when suddenly she saw a rider approach.
“Good morning, sister!“
“Good morning, Elwyn.“ Emwyn got up and walked down a few steps to help her sister out of the saddle before one of the servants could do it; Elwyn did not like to be touched, but she was too polite to say so.
“How are you?“, Elwyn asked.
“I’m good. The sun is helping me a lot.“
“Indeed ...“ Elwyn sighed. “Can I talk to you about something?“
“Of course.“ Emwyn led her younger sister into the hall and gave her a glass of juice, before she sat down herself. “What is it, little sister?“
“It’s father, he ...“ Elwyn sighed. “He wants me to get married.“
Emwyn stayed silent. She had seen this day come, but she had hoped for her sister that it wouldn’t be so soon; Elwyn was seventeen years old, most of the girls of her age were already married and their father wanted to see his younger daughter with a husband, too.
“You knew that he would ask you to get married sooner or later,“ Emwyn said.
“Of course I did, but ... there’s no man I love.“ Her voice sounded bitter. “You love Halrad at least. Who do I love?“
That was a question Emwyn could not answer to.

Eowyn, lady of Rohan, slipped through Meduseld, carefully; she had no desire to meet her uncle’s “dog“, Grima Wormtongue.
She felt sick whenever she saw his disgusting face; he tried to be nice, but Eowyn somehow knew that he was not completely honest.
“It’s ridiculous. I’m hiding in my own home,“ she murmured and hurried to her brother’s chambers.
“I made it,“ she sighed and leaned against the door as soon as she was in.
“What’s wrong?“, Eomer asked, frowning.
“I was avoiding Grima,“ his sister replied. “I do not wish to meet him.“
“Who does?“ Eomer sighed. “Unfortunately our uncle likes him. I would’ve thrown him out of Edoras months ago.“ He shrugged and turned back to cleaning his weapons. Eowyn picked up a dagger and moved it through the air, gracefully.
“You can keep it,“ Eomer said. “It’s not really useful, just something pretty to impress ladies with.“
“Thank you, brother.“ Eowyn hugged him and kissed his cheek. Eomer smiled; his sister was the only one who was allowed to touch him in such a way.
“Well, the reason why I came here, Eomer, is not to steal your weapons. I was looking for Theodred."

“He said that he would meet Halrad. They should be back soon.“
“Oh, good.“ With a smile she left her brother alone and ran back to her room. She hid the dagger in a pocket of her long dress and went out again to go and wait till Theodred came back.

Theodred was sitting beside Halrad on the darkgreen grass of a meadow; their horses were drinking the clear water of a pond.
“Oh, Halrad. What shall I do?“ Theodred sighed and threw a stone into the river which caused his steed to shy away. “Sorry,“ the Prince murmured; the horse put its head on his shoulder to calm him down. “I can’t find a girl! Father said I have time till next year, then I have to marry Lady Anled.“ He shuddered. “She’s almost thirty! I could be her son!“ Halrad raised an eyebrow. “Well, almost,“ Theodred admitted. “But still. It’s just not fair.“
“Well, Em and I introduced you to a few ladies and you did not like them. They were pretty, they really were and you seemed to like Lady Galamin a lot, but then ...“
“Halrad, that is the reason. I can’t marry her when I like her! I could never ride to battle like I used to when I know that I might never return to her!“
“Well, then just go for Lady Anled. You despise her.“
“NO!“
“Then I can’t help you, friend. Is there no pretty girl you dislike?“
Theodred thought for a moment.
“Elwyn.“
Halrad frowned and got up. “There’s no way you will hurt my sister in law. She is a good girl, even though she might not seem like it.“
“I heard rumours, Halrad.“ The Prince got up himself. “Your father wants her to get married. The only one who is interested in her is Lord Galetta and you know damn well what he did to his last wife!“
Lord Galetta’s wife had died a few years ago because he had beaten her to death. Halrad winced.
“I know, but ... I keep hoping that she will find a better husband.“
“Face reality, Halrad. No one wants her because of her looks. I do not care about that, though. She is an antisocial person and I dislike her. I certainly won’t be sad to leave her behind.“
Theodred knew that his words were hard, but he would not take them back. Halrad got up and held Theodred’s steed, so that the Prince could get back up.
“Will you treat her well?“, the older man asked.
“I will give her everything she asks for, but do not expect me to get ... romantic.“
The young Prince was on his way to Emhal’s house to ask the old man for the permission to marry Elwyn.

Lord Emhal was more than pleased to welcome such a high guest to his home. The old man led the Prince to a table in his great hall and opened a bottle of his finest wine himself for he had sent away all of his servants to be alone with the young man.
“Well, what can I do for your highness?“, he asked, politely.
“Lord Emhal, as you probably know I am friends with your daughter, Emwyn. I also got to know your other child, Lady Elwyn. I wish to take her as my wife.“
“Wha?! E-e-elwyn?“
“I hope my wish does not interfere with your plans for her?“
“N-not at all, your highness, not at all. I’m giving you my leave to marry her.“
The rest of their conversation is not worth being mentioned. Only one hour later Prince Theodred left Emhal’s home on the back of his great steed.

Elwyn knew that something was different when she returned home. Her father was jumping around like a young rabbit and even twirled her around when she entered the hall.
“What’s the matter, father?“, she asked.
“Prince Theodred was here this afternoon,“ Emhal replied with a smile. “My favorite girl.“
Elwyn frowned; she did not like these news. She noticed a woman sitting at the table. She got up and went on her knees before Elwyn. The girl told her to get back up.
“What’s your name?“, the young lady asked.
“My name is Tollin, my lady. I’m a dress-maker.“
“What do you need her for, father?“ Elwyn didn’t feel comfortable at all.
“Child, the Prince wants to take you as his wife!“
“WHAT?!“
“Those are wonderful news, I know.“ Emhal grinned. Elwyn was used to talking openly with her father and this would certainly be no exception.
“Never! I will never become his wife, I hate this ...“ Emhal pressed a hand on her mouth and pushed her on a chair.
“You don’t mean to tell me that you will refuse the PRINCE?!“
“I do not want him! I never asked for him and he does not like me!“
“No one says ‘no‘ to the Prince of Rohan. Especially not you, child. You may be pretty, but no man wants to marry you for your ... exotic features.“
“I know that to them I’m just a dirty Easterling, but I would have thought that my own father loves me!“
“I do and that is why you will marry him. You will go to Edoras next month and meet the King. He will ask you questions and you will answer to them. You won’t play an idiot just because you feel like it!“

Elwyn and the dress-maker spent endless afternoons with trying on new dresses and then, one month she was on her way to the Golden Hall, leaving her youth behind.