A/N:

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it.

Chapter Twenty

The afternoon light streamed into his room as Eomer looked out the window onto the landscape. It was now October. He had been in Gondor for one month. For the first two weeks of his time here, Eomer had been in Minas Tirith with King Elessar. Eomer had been gladdened to renew the Oath of Erol with King Elessar which had also included the formalization of certain land deeds between Gondor and Rohan. Eomer had also negotiated a contract with the other king so they could build and man a series of small garrisons along the border between Gondor and Rohan in order to facilitate improved communication, defence, and trade between their two kingdoms.

After he had said farewell to Elessar, Eomer had rode to Ithilen to stay with Prince Faramir, his sister, Eowyn, and his young nephew, Elboron, at their estate, Emyn Arnen. As he looked out onto the series of hills that surrounded Emyn Arnen, Eomer was reminded of his rides with Frige to the mountains that overlooked Edoras. They had not gone riding while she was with child and had only gone once after Elfwine's birth before he had departed for Gondor. He found he missed those times with her. Eomer also missed her presence at the table beside him at mealtimes in the hall, her advice during the King's Council, and her warmth beside him in their bedchamber.

A short time later, himself, Eowyn, two of the King's Riders, and two of Eowyn's guards rode through the yellow leafed trees of the hills around the estate. They were quiet until they came to the top of the largest hill. Eowyn stopped her mare and Eomer stopped Firefoot alongside her. She turned to look at him.

"What ails you, brother? It is unlike you to be so quiet or to request a ride with me in the middle of the day," Eowyn wondered.

"It does not concern you," he told her. She was his sister and he loved her, but Eomer was not certain if he wished to discuss the current state of his marriage with her.

"Please tell me," she insisted. He looked at her for a long moment then nodded.

"I miss my wife. There is much to keep me occupied in Gondor at present but I find I wish to be back in Meduseld instead," he admitted.

"Could it be that you have fallen in love with her?" she wondered.

"All I am certain of is that I would not wish to rule Rohan alongside any other woman," he answered.

"Does she love you?" Eowyn asked.

"While I know Frige cares for me, I know nothing further of her feelings," he admitted.

"Then why do you not write to her? You do not have to talk of your feelings but I am certain she would welcome tidings of your time in Gondor," Eowyn urged him.

"We have not exchanged letters since I left Edoras," Eomer told her.

"Why not?" she wondered.

"I do not think she cares to hear my tidings or my feelings," Eomer protested.

"You are the worst letter writer in Arda, Eomer. Will you talk to your wife about this subject when you return to Meduseld?" Eowyn asked him.

"Aye, I believe I must. On the subject of spouses, where is Prince Faramir this day?" wondered Eomer. He had not seen the man at the midday meal which was unusual. Eowyn sighed.

"Last night he received a report of a band of thirty orcs in North Ithilien. He assembled a group of men and rode out to kill them all this morn," Eowyn said. She turned her horse around and began to ride back to the estate. Eomer did the same.

"But why did he not tell me this? I would have gladly joined his men," Eomer replied.

"I know you would have. But I do not wish to see you hurt needlessly. Ithilien is Faramir's land to defend just as Rohan is yours," Eowyn told him.

"I understand," he told her. She smiled at him. They remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the estate.

Three days later, Eomer and two King's Riders left Emyn Arnen and rode to the Elven colony that Legolas had established in South Ithilien. The elven colony was named Eryn Aur. Prince Faramir had told Eomer that translated as Forest of Sunlight in the common tongue. Legolas, or more properly Lord Legolas as he now was, had told Eomer that he should ride the Harad road two days south from Emyn Arnen then turn east on the morn of the third day. Once he had crossed a steam, Eomer and the King's Riders would be in his lands and would receive an escort to his hall. Eomer followed the instructions that had been given to him. He and the King's Riders found a wide stream on the afternoon of their third day riding. They watered their horses and then crossed the steam which was swiftly flowing but fairly shallow. They had ridden not even a mile through a path that had been cleared in the trees when Firefoot became restless and tossed his head about.

"What is it?" wondered Eomer. A moment later he had his answer. A black haired female elf suddenly stepped into the path in front of him while two blond haired elven men stopped behind the King's Riders who rode behind him. All three elves had bows in their hands and quivers on their backs. Eomer reined in Firefoot to stop.

"State your name and business in Eryn Aur," declared the black haired female elf.

"I am Eomer, King of Rohan and these men are my guard. I am expected by Lord Legolas," Eomer declared. She took a long moment to look over them all.

"Follow me," she declared then turned and began to walk quickly down the path. Eomer and his guards did so. The morning sun hit the leaves of the trees which created patterns of sunlight on the forest floor. Once he saw that, Eomer began to understand why this forest had been named by how it looked in sunlight. He knew orcs had ravaged these lands and so he was impressed by how hard the elves here must have worked to restore these forests in the four years since the war had ended. They rode for another two miles before the forest path gave way to a large clearing. There was a wooden building to the right and a slightly larger wooden building beside it. But those were clearly not the hall that Legolas had mentioned. The hall in the centre of the clearing had large steps which led from the ground up to a massive wooden platform that was built among the trees. The wooden walls and roof of the platform still had the tree bark on. There were thick wooden doors at the front of the hall. He could see smaller wooden homes with walkways between them besides and behind the hall that were also set into the trees.

"Welcome to the hall of Eryn Aur. Dismount and your horses will be seen to. I will escort you to Lord Legolas," she told them. Given how skilled elves were with a bow, Eomer didn't feel he could take umbrage at being ordered around by the guard. So he dismounted from Firefoot as did the King's Riders from their own horses. Three elves took the horses and gently led them away to the larger building on the right. To his surprise, Firefoot did not protest at being handled by someone else as he oft did. Mayhap it had something to do with what the elf was speaking to the horse in his own tongue as he led the stallion inside the stables.

"Come," the black haired elf told them. Eomer and his King's Riders followed her to the large platform. The guard who stood at the entrance took a long look at all of them then stepped aside from the doors. The guard opened the doors and then walked inside. Most of the area was open but there were certain portions of the hall which had been converted into rooms. Light shone from white globes that were attached to the ceiling. There was a modest brown wooden chair near the centre of the hall which was carved with painted green leaves on the back and arms. Legolas sat at a table to the right of the chair beside a female brown haired elf as they looked down at several scrolls on the table. They were talking quietly but upon Eomer and the King's Riders entering the hall, Legolas looked up and rose from the table.

"Well met, Eomer King. Welcome to Eryn Aur. Enariel, we will finish this discussion later. Captain, please escort these King's Riders to their accommodation in the guard house. Unless you would prefer them to sleep in the same room as yourself?" Legolas said. The brown haired elf nodded to Legolas, took the scrolls, then rapidly walked away.

"Well met, Lord Legolas. I believe my men would feel more comfortable in the guard house than in this hall," Eomer replied.

"I suspected as much," Legolas replied.

"Are you certain we can leave you alone, Eomer King?" asked the King's Rider on the right. Eomer looked at him more closely and recognized him as Hann.

"I will be well. Go and rest. I will call you when I need you," he told them. The two men exchanged a look but did follow the black haired elf out of the hall. He and Legolas were now left alone in the hall.

"What did Gimli say when he saw this place?" asked Eomer as he looked around the hall.

"That this colony reminded him of a smaller and less ornate Lothlorien," Legolas replied.

"You have visited that realm?" wondered Eomer.

"Aye. Speaking of Gimli, how is he enjoying being the Lord of the Glittering Caves?" wondered Legolas.

"I believe that title suits Gimli well. Several of the dwarves of the settlement maintain Helm's Deep and we have a productive trading contract with them. Lord Gimli visited us in Meduseld at the feast to celebrate the birth of Elfwine," Eomer told him. There was a moment of silence between the two of them before Eomer spoke again.

"How many elves reside in this colony?" wondered Eomer.

"Nearly two hundred elves from Mirkwood followed me here and have helped to restore the forests of South Ithilien. Though I suspect you wonder how long this colony will endure as most elves have now sailed to the Undying Lands," Legolas answered.

"Aye. Will you sail to the Undying Lands yourself?" Eomer asked.

"Aye, I will sail to the Undying Lands once King Elessar has died. If Gimli still lives at that time, I will invite him also," Legolas replied.

"By that time I will be nothing but a memory and Rohan will be ruled by my son Elfwine or mayhap even his son given the long life of the Dunedain," Eomer answered.

"Time will tell all. But for now the future of Rohan is a hopeful one," Legolas said.

"Indeed," Eomer agreed. Legolas nodded then asked Eomer if he would wish for a tour of Eryn Aur. Eomer agreed. Legolas led him around the hall and then outside to the various homes that had been built into the trees. The colony was certainly unique to his eyes, Eomer thought.

A week later, Eomer left Eryn Aur and rode to Dol Amroth to spend some time with Prince Imrahil. They had met during the war and had become good friends afterwards. Before now, Eomer had never been to the sea. As he rode into the city of Dol Amroth he found the streets to be bustling with many different people. The sea itself seemed vast but changeable and the scent of the salt water was everywhere present. Prince Imrahil greeted him warmly and Eomer gladly accepted a tour of his palace which was built of white stone and set near the edge of cliffs that ended in the sea.

"How does your kin fare, Prince Imrahil?" asked Eomer.

"They are all hale, Eomer King. As you know, I am oft in Minas Tirith as one of King Elessar's councillors. That leaves the business of the administration of Dol Amroth largely to Prince Elphir. Prince Erchirion acts as an ambassador for Dol Amroth on my behalf so he is seldom in the palace. Prince Amrothos is very popular with the ladies of Gondor but he has not yet met the one woman that he wishes to wed. Princess Lothiriel is very content as the Lady of Pelargir. She and the Lord of Pelargir are expecting their first child in two months, who will become my third grandchild," Prince Imrahil told him.

"How did the two of them meet?" wondered Eomer.

"Lothiriel and Randel met during a ball in Minas Tirith a year after the war ended. Randel had inherited the tile of the Lord of Pelargir after his father died in the siege of that city by the Corsairs shortly before the Battle of Pelennor Fields. After the war was won, Lord Randel was given charge not only of the administration of the city of Pelargir, but was also charged with rebuilding the naval fleet of Gondor which is stationed there. When Lord Randel asked me if he could court Lothiriel, I allowed it provided that it proved to be a long courtship. I wished to ensure the two of them would suit each other well. So they did not wed until a year after they had first met. What of your kin? How do they fare?" Prince Imrahil explained.

"They are all hale. I am gladdened to have a heir to the throne of Rohan as is Queen Frige. Prince Faramir and the Lady of Ithilien are gladdened to have a heir to Emyn Arnen," Eomer replied. Prince Imrahil nodded and then asked him a question about his impressions of Dol Amroth.