Darkness was falling as the sun disappeared from the sky. It vanished early this time of year. Dèorhild glanced up at the dark grey sky once more before running up the steps, turning into a hall, crossing the main courtyard, and heading up the stairs to the upper level. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and she knew there would be a storm that night. She walked along the hall that overlooked the courtyard, and passed an open door. Dèorhild stopped and looked in, seeing Èowyn straighten out something that was beyond her vision at the moment . Dèorhild knocked on the open door.

Èowyn glanced up at the figure in the door and smiled. Dèorhild entered and saw a beautiful dress of a deep purple colour. She gasped softly in surprise. She had never seen any dress that beautiful, even in Edoras.

"Is that what you're wearing tonight at the dance?" Dèorhild asked, a half smile on her face.

Èowyn nodded, still smiling. "What are you wearing?"

Dèorhild shrugged. "I don't know yet, as I don't really have anything suitable."

"Just as well. I have something for you." With a flourish, she produced another garment, this one the greenish-gray colour that matched Dèorhild's eyes. It had gold embroidery at the collar, sleeves, and waist, and continued down the length of the skirt.

Dèorhild objected, saying, "Èowyn, surely that was unnecessary."

She laughed in return. "No, it isn't. It's one of my old dresses, though I only wore it once. I had a feeling you wouldn't have brought something like this back from Rohandras, even if you still had it. Please, I want you to come tonight."

Dèorhild thought for a moment and then acquiesced.

The sounds of laughter, talking, and lively music drifted out from the newly completed building into the stormy world beyond. The wind had picked up and thundered rumbled in the distance, but that mattered little to those inside. Storms had come and gone before. Èowyn entered the building, Dèorhild close on her heels.

Lanterns were hung at even intervals on the support beams of the structure, providing ample light for all underneath. In the center was a roaring fire set atop stones to prevent the building from burning to the ground. Meat was roasting on the fire, and tables were set up all over the room, with benches and stools scattered about the tables. Foods of all sorts covered the tables, and the majority of those there had already commenced eating. Dèorhild followed Èowyn and they both sat down and like the others, began to feast in their turn. Strains of music were sometimes heard as the musicians were tuning their instruments in preparations for the dancing soon to follow.

Soon, as all were more or less finished, the tables and benches were push to the walls. Youths and maidens, men and women, each grabbed hands and began to dance. Dèorhild watched as the couples turned and wove their way in and out of the circle in time to the lively tune played by the fiddle, harp, piper, and someone playing a sort of drum that kept the tempo. Those not dancing clapped in time to the music and Dèorhild could not help the smile that was on her face. Then the dance was over and soon others joined for the next one. Théodred appeared out of nowhere and took Èowyn's hand as the music began again, this time a different tune and rhythm.

https://youtu.be/3t3HAxJ1gKY

The song finished, and Éowyn came back, laughing at something Théodred said. Déorhild looked up at their arrival. "Déorhild, you need to find someone to dance with," Éowyn prompted, still with laughter in her voice. 

Déorhild shrugged. "It's been so long, I've almost forgotten how to dance."

"I don't believe it," Éowyn replied. She was going to say something more, but Théodred pulled her into the new circle of dancers as another dance began.

This dance was different, involving intricate footwork of each partner in turn, but Déorhild had danced that dance all her childhood, and something within her responded to the movements of the others. Then, she felt someone stand next to her and she turned, seeing Éomer watching the others. He looked at her and smiled. "Not dancing?"

"I suppose not."

"Is it because you don't know how, or that you have no one to dance with?"

Déorhild smiled. "The latter."

"Will you dance with me then?"

Déorhild stared at him, but she saw that he was not joking. Taking the hand he offered, they began to dance.

In a few moments, they had joined the circle of dancers. Déorhild mentally reminded herself of the rhythm so that she would not disrupt the perfect timing of the other dances. Point-turn-down, point-turn-down, side, side, turn and down. 

https://youtu.be/LxjqeLhsyHo

After that dance was over, Éowyn came up to them while Théordred went to another part of the building--Déorhild didn't see where. Éomer smiled at his sister and asked, "Will you join us for the next dance?"

Déorhild looked at them both, bewildered. "Three partners for once dance?"

Éowyn nodded. "Aye, one man and two women. It's a fling. (1) Fairly simple." She laughed. "After the dance you just did, it will be very easy."

Déorhild shrugged, smiling. "As you say."

They joined hands, Éomer in the center and Éowyn and Déorhild on either side. The steps were simple enough. Point-point-point-cut-down, step-step-step, and then the pattern was repeated on the left foot, and the whole thing once more. The pattern complicated after that, with all three weaving and turning. Yet on the whole, it was simple, as Éowyn said. It was only after the dance had finished that Déorhild misstepped and nearly fell, but Éowyn grabbed her arm in time, laughing. "Déorhild, what happened? You are a better dancer then my brother and I put together, and yet you nearly fell?"

Déorhild grinned. "I suppose I had to prove that even dancers make mistakes." She was about to say something else when the smile disappeared suddenly from her face. Éomer and Éowyn turned to see what she was looking at. Two boys, scarcely over ten summers old, had taken a firebrand, still lit and had run outside with it. Éomer started after them, making his way swiftly across the floor. But it was too late.

Suddenly the thunder boomed, seemingly right above them, and at the same time flames sprang up at the corner of the newly built barn where the youths had been headed. Déorhild felt her heart turn inside out with fear. The flames spread quickly over the new, dry wood, and the people inside hurried to escape the flaming building. Déorhild felt someone grab her hand and she looked up to see Théodred pull her and Éowyn outside.

The cold air hit her like a wall after the heat of the fire within. Déorhild gasped when the icy wind blew among the people standing outside. She turned and then, with the rest, watched with dismay as the new barn burnt to the ground. And then from nowhere, she heard a voice inside her mind. You will be blamed.

So! I finally finished this chapter. What do you think? Btw, this story goes along with The Daughter of Elrond as well, if you're bored waiting for an update from this story. ;-)

(1) Moves are from the Highlander Fling.