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Théoden

"Him?" Théoden remarked in disbelief. "You are marrying him?"

His sister looked up at him. He admitted that any man with good sense would find her beautiful, with her slim figure and large eyes framed with thick lashes. But not all men with good sense possessed a good heart.

"Aye. Do not say that you do not approve."

He did not. In fact, he was wholly against it.

Éomund loitered beneath them, surrounded by his comrades and seemingly unaware of the two royals who watched them from their platform. He was large, with the girth and height of an intimidating man. His dark eyes were brooding and his mouth was set in harshness.

"I do not approve." Théoden said flatly. Théodwyn was not upset. She only looked at him speculatively.

"On what grounds?" She asked. "He has done well in your service. He is loyal to you and this land. He looks after his comrades and is generous to the elderly, orphans and poor. What is it that you do not like about him?"

Too hard. He was too hard.

Théoden heard everything there was to know about Éomund. The man was simple and very easily understood. He was gruff, and his manners were berserk. His speech was blunt and all too often his tongue possessed a sharp cutting edge. He did not show love, or affection. In fact, Théoden supposed both feelings were beyond him. His sister, on the other hand, was soft and mild-mannered. She was too gentle for this world. And when she loved, she loved with all her heart. Éomund was kind of the man who would crush her entirely.

Éomund glanced up. His eyes met Théoden's and he and inclined his head. Théoden nodded in return. Éomund's eyes softened as soon as he looked at Théodwyn, even if his expression remained the same. That filled Théoden with doubt.

"I'll consider it." He said grudgingly and surprised himself when Théodwyn pulled him down and dropped a kiss on the crown of his head.

"Thank you, brother mine." She said lovingly before descending the stairs and joining the merrymaking in the Hall.

"I'll regret this," he muttered as he rubbed the place where she kissed and tried his best to look as intimidating as possible for his comrades.