Eorling Mead Hall

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine listened to Kara, trying very hard not to betray how much he wanted her to feel welcome and confident. If one is to play the part of an eorl, one must withhold judgement, at least in seeming. So he said to himself, but he wasn't sure if it rang true, nor if he could achieve such a goal. When Kara had finished speaking, he was greatly pleased with her words, for she had spoken in a way that he tried to speak to others. She was looking down, waiting for his words.

"Frodides has told me the same of you, Kara, that your skills of the board have vastly improved since you first came to us, and you were no mean cook then. There is a problem, however."

Kara looked up then, worriting in her eyes and a sudden down turn on her lips.

"Frodides wishes to stay on, you see."

Kara swallowed. Her fear was obvious, that the Mead Hall needed but one cook.

"Nevertheless, Frodides has told me that though she wishes to stay on for now, she says that she wishes to only if she can have you as apprentice. For though she knows that you have learned much, there is much more she wishes to teach you. And I would have your learn these things."

By now Kara's frown had disappeared and her eyes had lit up, and she seemed eager.

"I ask you, Kara, will you agree to an apprenticeship of a year and a day under the tutelage of Frodides?"

Kara looked to Frodides, who was smiling and nodding, seemingly quite happy with herself and the prospect of having Kara as her student.

Kara smiled. "I have told you already, lord, that this is a good place. I do not wish to leave."

Eodwine smiled warmly, for he liked Kara well. There were things about her that reminded him of the daughter he had lost, or of how he imagined she might have turned out had she lived.

"Then you shall stay."

"Thank you, lord!" Kara smiled.

"I called you so early that you and Frodides could be excused to your work in the kitchens. Off with you! We shall be wanting good food after this hungry work." Eodwine grinned and winked.

Kara grinned as she scurried off to the kitchen, Frodides limping after.

"Next, I call Léof!" Eodwine said. The lad came forward, barely limping at all anymore on his hoof-stomped right foot, and stood before Eodwine.

"You know my questions, Léof, but I will repeat them. What think you of service to me? How have you fared?"

[Firefoot]

Léof stepped forward nervously, but not because he feared Eodwine would send him away. He knew what he was going to do.

“You know my questions, Léof, but I will repeat them. What think you of service to me? How have you fared?”

“I have fared well, my lord, working here. I did not know what to expect when I came to Edoras; for a while it seemed I would not find work at all, but you gave me a chance, and I have done my best to prove the chance was not ill-given.” That was right; Eodwine had given him a chance, and it had been without inquiries to his circumstances. Why should that matter any more now, after Léof had proven himself? “I have worked hard and done my best to fulfill my duties. I would be honored to continue serving as your ostler.” And that was all. Let Eodwine judge him for what he had done, and not what his father had done to him. The question of his sister coming was a separate issue; he would bring it up with Eodwine when the time came. Besides, he owed it to Gárwine for him not to find out in so blunt a way that Léof had practically lied to him before they even really knew each other. Léof did not care to lose what seemed to be his only good friend in this place (with Æðel and him not talking) in such a way. Having so justified his decision, Léof was able to meet Eodwine’s gaze openly and without fear.

[littlemanpoet]

Now this was interesting. Eodwine was sure that he had seen Léof looking very nervous when he had first come into the Hall. Now the lad had spoken plainly and clearly, and with a good bit of confidence. Eodwine was actually impressed. He watched Léof measuringly for another moment or two, and did not see so much as an ill at ease shifting of foot to foot; the lad looked at him, eye to eye, simply awaiting the Eorl's response. Eodwine allowed a slow smile.

"Léof, you have done well as ostler. I have just one complaint."

The crowd murmured at that, for so far Eodwine had said no ill thing to the others. He waited for the murmurs to die down, every eye turned to him, waiting for the possibly fatal words.

"It is the matter of your foot. Not that you had an injury, for that could happen to any good ostler with a terrified horse or two to mind. No, it was your refusal to have it cared for. I do not know what passed through your mind to be so mulish about it, but as you know, I overruled you and forced your foot to be looked at, minded, and we hope, healed.

"So I ask you, not only if you will submit to my orders and rulings as they are given, but will you also submit to the rulings of those in whom I place my authority? What is your answer?"

[Firefoot]

Of course that would come up. His confidence wavered visibly as a multitude of thoughts passed through his mind in the space of a few seconds. Certainly this was a reasonable request, and Léof could not say it was surprising, either, although the thought had never occurred to him. But his pride – in the house of his father, rebellion had come as second nature to him; he was used to looking out for himself, although of course Eodwine had no knowledge of this, close-mouthed as he had been. Eodwine’s word, he had accepted as the rule when he had come here asking for work; but to place himself in submission to still more people…

You are foolish, considering your mule-headed pride at a time like this. Would you have Eodwine send you away because of your pride? Surely you would be able to walk away with your head held high, you and your foolish pride!

But still… having to listen, if they thought they knew what was best for him - Thornden, Garwine, Æðel... Léof wondered if Eodwine knew just how much he asked of him.

He raised his gaze from the ground to meet Eodwine’s once more. He hesitated, then nodded slowly and spoke clearly. “It is no easy thing for me to say, but, yes, I will.”

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine did not know fully why, but he felt pity rise up within him. He would never tell this to Léof, who desired no man's pity, but Eodwine perceived an unnamed need in the lad. He knew that he had asked an open ended question, and that by answering it in its fullness, Léof was saying much. Now that he had so spoken, Eodwine spoke carefully in return.

"Léofric, you shall remain my ostler. Only one man's authority stands at all times between mine and you, that of my steward. All others will have no call to give you command unless I say so. Thus it shall be for a year and a day, if you choose to remain as you have been this past month. Would you?"

Léof's face had cleared as he listened to Eodwine's words. Though he could read no minds, Eodwine could tell well enough that the lad was glad to be under only one other in Eodwine's Hall.

"I accept your terms, Eorl," Léof responded.

"It is well, Léofric. You may stand down.

"Next, I call Saeryn of the Folde!"

Saeryn looked suddenly at Eodwine in confusion, for they both knew that she was a guest in his Hall and no laborer except by choice. She slowly rose in her confusion.

Eodwine stood and stepped down from the dais. He faced her as she stepped out of the gathered crowd and approached him. By instinct, she took a place opposite and facing him so that his dais and chair could be seen between them by Gárwine who stood by the door.

Eodwine smiled, knowing his purpose, and allowed his smile to broaden ever so slightly, for he intended to enjoy the speaking of it.

"Lady Saeryn, I stand before you as an equal, for you are wellborn. You are my guest, and up until today have been under no obligation to me except what you have chosen."

He had piqued her curiosity; it was all over his face. He allowed a glance to the one called Farahil, who was watching intently. Degas looked quite curious as well.

"Today is a different day," Eodwine declared. "And so I ask you, Lady Saeryn, if you will consent-" Eodwine paused, allowing a murmur to run like a trickle through the gathered crowd before quieting. "-to be the Lady of this Hall-" The murmurs of the crowd flowed like a stream gathering speed. Saeryn's eyes had widened and her mouth had parted. "-until at least one of us should marry?" Stunned silence. Eodwine could feel the eyes of all upon him. He was enjoying it. He could see in his peripheral vision the confoundment of Degas and the astonishment in Farahil. Was that a little bit of outrage, too? He kept a small smile on his face, watching Saeryn carefully.