CHAPTER 3
The arrival of the Rohirrim

The morning sun climbed from the east horizon and the town was slowly coming to life when Aragorn lit his pipe. He was standing on the same balcony as the day before, his eyes fixed on something in the distance when Gimli joined him.

'You made her pretty angry at supper, you did boy.' he said and lit his pipe.

'Her anger does not stem from my words' Aragorn said.

Gimli went on as if he hadn't heard him. 'I'm surprised she didn't throw us out the way you went about it!' Aragorn studied his pipe.

'Fury clouds one's mind; let's hope her mood has eased overnight.' he continued, 'We cannot linger, by morning we should move out.'

Gimli grunted in what Aragorn interpreted as agreement.

'Do you see that?' Aragorn turned Gimli's attention to a vast camp set up right outside the town's walls.

'What is it?' Gimli prodded

'That is Rohirric banners if my eyes are not deceiving me.' he said.

Legolas stepped out on the balcony;

'Your eyes have always been keen my friend, that is indeed a Rohirric banner' he said.

'That's impossible!' said Gimli. 'If word was sent it would still take days riding from Edoras, even with haste.' 'It cannot be an answered call,' Aragorn simply stated. 'It is as if I recognize the banner, or else King Théoden's one step ahead of us. Come; let us speak to the Queen.'

Followed by the others he walked back inside. At the stairway they came across Finngal who immediately addressed them;

'Ah, my lords! I was instructed to find you. Her Highness requests your presence; she is to be found in the throne room, if you would all please follow me.' After only a brief hesitation where they exchanged glances they followed Finngal, who was already making his way back the way he had come.

Queen Aema was awaiting them as they stepped through the big arched doorway leading in to the throne room. Standing in front of her throne with her back straight and a stern look on her face she looked truly regal. She was wearing a more dramatic crown this day. Diamond studded fringes radiating from her golden, partially braided hair like sunbeams over the horizon at dusk. Her dress was of deep red velvet with lavish golden embroidery covering the bodice and surrounding the hem. In truth, she looked magnificent. The three men offered her courteous bows.

'Lord Aragorn,' she said in a formal tone of voice. 'What is the meaning of this?'

'Pardon, Your Highness?' Aragon said, seeming perplexed.

'Last night you spoke to me, offering me certain advice on how to face the road ahead. Later I was woken from my sleep to offer King Théoden's men admission to set up camp outside my town, yet I have not sent for them. Even had I done so, their arrival here in mere hours is outside the realm of possibility. Would you care to explain to me how that came to be?'

'Your Highness,' Aragorn said. 'Nothing has been done on your behalf, this I swear to you. Of the Rohirrim presence, I know nothing'

Her posture became a little less rigid.

'It may very well be so, my friend.' Barely did she finish before Finngal appeared, walking up the aisle leading to the dais on which the throne stood. With a sweeping bow and in a clear voice he proclaimed;

'Éomer, son of Éomund, Third Marshal of Rohan!' he stepped aside and disappeared into the background of the room.

Queen Aema placed herself on the throne, surprise showing on her face. The three men exchanged glances for they too recognized the name, they had heard it not long ago. Mere moments later, the sound of approaching steps echoed through the room. A man in armor appeared with four of the queen's guards following. Strong, on the brink of forceful were his steps as he rapidly made his way down the aisle. His hair was long, some of it gathered in a braid on the back. He looked like a man who had been traveling for some time and on his face they could read concern. He stopped at the steps leading up to the dais, offering the queen a courteous and deep bow.

'Welcome Éomer, son of the Riddermark.' She said with a smile. 'Please rise.'

He did so.

'Your Majesty, I thank you, but I'm afraid I can no longer claim my former titles. I stand before you simply as Éomer, son of Éomund.' he said, his eyes lowered as if he was burdened with shame. 'I honor you, Queen of Romen and I have come to ask your aid.'

'Éomer, son of Éomund. No matter your title, you stand before me as an ally and as my kin. Whatever you may ask of me I will indeed consider, within realm of reason,' she said. The smile had left her face, instead it was mirroring his concern. 'Would a more confidential setting be more suitable for discussing this matter?'

Éomer looked up and regarded the room, seemingly taking in all the eyes and ears around him. He froze when he caught the three men standing to his side. Aragorn acknowledged his recognition with a small nod.

'Perhaps you're right, Your Majesty.' Éomer said.

'Very well then, we will proceed to my study.'

The study laid only a short way into the east wing. It was a neither large nor small room. Her intricate, heavy desk placed a little to one side of it with chairs and a table placed in front of a unlit fireplace. The walls were lined with bookshelves and the room had an atmosphere of being frequently used, almost like walking in on something and truth be told, it might even be considered a little cluttered. Alise was just finishing putting the wine down on a serving table next to the chairs when Finngal showed them into the room.

'Thank you, we now ask for privacy, so that will be all.' Aema said and the two attendants courteously left the room.
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas were left behind. Legolas turned to Aragorn;

'What do you make of this?'

'I do not know but it seems we can safely assume the King is not behind it, but let's not entertains ourselves with mere guesses. The Queen will certainly send for us if she requires our presence. Let us go.' And with that they left the throne room to otherwise get about their day.

Aema bid Éomer to sit down as she did the same and then spoke;

'Now tell me; How's your King?'

'My king,' Éomer answered. '..has forgone sense for madness. Poisoned is his mind and his body twice the age of his years lived. Saruman has accomplices in Meduseld, corrupting the King's mind with untruths and deceit. When my attempts to reach out to my King had all failed and I was at a loss, overcome with a sense of defeat, I let my temper get the better of me and I lashed out on Wormtounge. Consequently he banished me from my home and my land and stripped me of my titles, all while my King, the man I love as a father, watched in silence.' He paused as he gathered himself. 'The men who followed me are still loyal to our King, but we are men of no country and therefore I have come, to find sanctuary in the land of Romen.' His eyes held hers, awaiting her reply.

She broke his gaze, got up from her chair and walked over to her desk carefully undoing her crown to place it on top of it. She continued to the serving table and after pouring two goblets of wine she walked over and offered one to Éomer. She sat down again.

'The situation which you describe is most bothersome. You were wise to come here, though I do not know if I can offer you what you seek. Times are hard and my people are struggling. More hungry mouths to feed are something I need to consider with care.' She said.

'I do not ask of you to stifle our hunger, I only ask of you permission to dwell here, safe from the prize of our heads.' He said. 'In return you shall receive our loyal services. Think of the strengthening of your military forces, Your Highness.'

She considered what he had said for a moment before finally responding to his request;
'You and your men have found sanctuary; you shall be welcome to stay in the land of Romen.'

'For that, I am ever indebted to you. On behalf of my men and myself I humbly thank you and ask that you will accept our service to you, Your Majesty.'

She nodded gracefully and fell silent.

'Éomer, son of Éomund. You no longer claim your titles and in your company I will not claim mine. Throughout our father's lives they shared a deep and cherished friendship, let us honor that.' She said at length.

He seemed surprised by her words but soon became more at ease.

'Of course…my lady.' She smiled at his use of a slightly lesser title and decided that it would have to do.

'The day might still be young but this calls for a sip of sweet wine. To ever friendship' she said as she raised her goblet.

'To ever friendship' Éomer replied before they both drank.

Slowly stirring the goblet in one hand she watched him for a moment.

'How is your sister?' she said.

Surprised by the mentioning of his sister he answered;

'Éowyn is suffering. She has grown distant and cold and Wormtounge is watching her ever so closely. It pains me to see my sister so.'

'Has she not found the adventure she was so desperately seeking as a girl then?' Aema said.

'She is bound to her King. Caring for him in a way she should not be expected to. If adventure is what she seeks, she will not find it within the walls of the Golden Hall where she is biding her time.' Éomer answered, saddened by the thoughts of his sister.

'I see,' was all Aema could say. 'I remember her being a lovely girl. The summer I spent with her after my mother's untimely passing is one of my fondest memories. She was adventurous then and I cannot imagine her any less so now.'

'I did not know you remembered that time.' Éomer said with a smile.

'Vividly,' she said 'I also remember a youngling who would rather pull my braids than bow to me' She gave him a smile.

'Well, young I was and hungry for life and maybe if you would have been as innocent as you looked, your braids would have been no target of mine. Undoing my saddle girth causing a proud boy and horseman at that to fall on his face in the courtyard, you were lucky you got away with only braid pulling my lady. My indignation stretched further than that.'

Her eyes glittered by the memory of mischief and they delved into memories of days passed.

None of them knew how much time had passed when a discreet knock on the door interrupted them. After being granted entrance, Finngal appeared.

'You Highness, I apologize for disturbing but it is now noon and your presence will soon be required for the upcoming inspections of the troops.' he said.

'Of course, thank you!' She replied stifling a chuckle.

She stood up as to get ready to leave. 'Well Éomer, I would have liked to stay and reminisce some more but the time of a queen is in short supply and I don't think more wine would be appropriate for I have other obligations I have to attend. I regret not being able to house your men but I insist on you staying here as my guest and maybe you and your closest men would give me the pleasure of your company at supper?'

Éomer, who had also prepared for departing answered;

'It would be our pleasure; I thank you for your immense generosity, Your Majesty.'

'Also' she said. 'I would very much like to personally bid your men welcome. May I ask you to accompany me?'
'Of course, Your Majesty. It would be my honor to do so.'
'Marvelous, meet me in the courtyard in an hours' time. '

With a deep bow he turned and walked out.