The Ballad of Fengel

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the incomparable J.R.R. Tolkien.

Rating may change later in the story.

A/N: Although I am a BIG fan of the movies, and I have read the books, I am not by any means an expert on the archival history and appendices. I am doing some research on these characters and timelines and such, but if there are inaccuracies that are addressed in detail somewhere, I will admit that I am not rabidly vetting all of the material with a fine tooth-comb. Please bear in mind that I am doing my best to honor the canon, but I am not a super expert. I welcome any help that would make the work more authentic and of course, constructive criticism! I apologize for glaring inaccuracies.

Xxxxxxx

The big events of your life don't always seem all that big at the time that they are happening to you. When you are an old man, like I am now, and you have plenty of time to look back over the memories, then they stand out, those times, like scars. You think to yourself, how could I have missed that? Wasn't I paying attention? A young man just jumps into life feet first, swinging his sword, and is blind to it all, I suppose. Or at least I was. Now I am alone with my memories.

I am getting ahead of myself. Let me begin at the beginning. I was a prince of Rohan, a mighty prince of the finest kingdom in Middle Earth. I was descended right from the first King of Rohan himself, King Eorl. It was a proud heritage to be part of, and I was born knowing I had better blood than most flowing through my veins. I was the fourth child of my father's loins, an enviable position, to be sure. My two elder brothers were heirs to the kingdom, and I got to enjoy the fruits of being royalty without the burdens that came with it. In short, my childhood was a paradise.

You might think that this favored position in the family would breed discontent between brothers, but it was just the opposite. I was looked upon with love by all who knew me. How did I manage such a feat? My brothers were older by the time I came along, and with only a girl child between us, they welcomed the addition of a male sibling. I, of course, adored them, and all was as it should be. My early years in the Golden House of Edoras were some of the best in my life, and as I am getting on in years, I can seem to remember those times more clearly than things that happened in later years. How can this be? Those days are long past! I am a man who has seen more than eighty winters, and yet those times are as clear to me as if they happened a moment ago. I can still remember the sun glinting off of Fastred's hair...

Xxxxxx

"Methinks this is a good tree to rest under, Brother." Fastred strode up to the very maple tree I was hiding in. I was hard put to stifle my giggles.

"Indeed, Brother. I am of a mind to partake of the noon meal, and this tree should do very nicely." Folcred stretched himself out and began to eat his lunch.

Fastred sat down with his back against the tree. Most people outside the family couldn't tell them apart, but of course I had no trouble at all. They were both very tall and thin, with long blond hair. I imagined that elves would have hair like that, but of course I had never seen an elf. I didn't even know if they were real or not. Sometimes in the evenings Father told us stories of great battles that were fought, and the elves were always the heroes. I would like to meet an elf one day, but I thought either of my brothers were probably better warriors than an elf. They certainly would have bigger muscles. Fastred and Folcred spent all day on the training field, either practicing with their swords, or with their horses. My heart swelled with pride just thinking of how fine they looked, and I was determined to be just like them.

Fastred yawned. "I think I may just take a nap here in this fine spot. What do you think of that?"

Folcred smiled agreeably. "Why, another fine idea. We have some time this afternoon to spend out here. Perhaps we will sleep it away." He bit into his meatpie.

At this bit of unexpected news, I couldn't contain myself. I was going to perpetrate some manner of mischief upon their unsuspecting forms, but at the news of a free afternoon with them, I couldn't afford to waste a minute. "Wait!" I shouted from high in the leafy branches. "I am right up here!" As a scrambled down gracelessly, I rained down all the dead twigs and leaves upon the twins' recumbent forms and created all the general fuss an eager young boy can. I dropped down almost on top of Folcred's head. "Can you school me in the art of swordplay? You promised!"

Fastred laughed, and deep grumble in his chest. "Look what we have here. A spy!"

"It seems so, Brother. Our rest is sadly disturbed. I suppose there will be no napping for us this afternoon."

I knew that they would relent, and I enjoyed being in the position of youngest in the family. "Before we begin, I am still hungry. Can I have half your pie?"

Fastred guffawed. "Give him an inch," he warned. "Don't do it. You are always encouraging him in the worst ways."

Folcred was a soft touch, and I knew it. He leaned over and ruffled my hair. "It seems I have an extra, Youngling." He tossed it to me, and I wolfed it down, the juice from the meat running down my chin.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down," laughed Folcred. "We have a few hours today. You will get sick at that pace."

"Oh, don't be such a nursemaid to him," said Fastred from his place by the tree trunk. "Can't you see the boy's growing up? How old are you now, Boy? Seven?"

"Eight!" I said around a mouthful of onions.

"As old as that, already." Folcred marveled. "Well, Brother, you are right. Nearly a man it seems."

I detected the mirth in his voice and felt stung. I jumped to my feet, swallowing the last of the food. "I am not a boy any more. I am ready to learn to fight!"

Folcred raised his hands. "I meant no offense, Fengel. Be calm. You are indeed growing up, and learn to fight you shall. He slowly got to his feet and stood before me so that I had to look into his green eyes. All the mirth was gone. "Just don't be in such a big hurry to grow up. Once it is upon you, there is no turning back," he seemed a little sad.

I was in no mind to hear lessons of this nature, and I whipped out the little wooden sword that I had stowed down the back of my tunic. "Make yourself ready, Foe!" I shouted.

A gleam came into Folcred's eyes. "Is that how it is to be? Then en guarde!" he responded, and came at me with his bare hands. I heard Fastred groan and get up to watch. "That is not how it is done," he commented, but got drawn into the fray, and pretty soon we were all on the ground in a tangle of limbs, gasping and laughing.

I can still see the clouds above us in the sky, the bright sunshine glinting off of Fastred's hair, and smell of the grass, and the sound of their deep laughter. It is one of my best memories, and I wish I could freeze time and make it into a diamond, hold it in my palm forever. The remembrance of those times brings a glaze of tears to these dried out old eyes and this atrophied heart. It's a mercy that I didn't know then of what was to come...