Lothìriel, Esquire

Chapter One

Lothìriel looked up as Boromir took her hands in his own, his gaze was piercing "Lothì, I know you know this. But you must promise me to be careful. I know you are used to riding and hunting, and I know you have fought before, but being a part of a company of men dedicated to fighting is different. Stay back. Watch and learn. You must stay safe."

"I will, Boromir. You should be more worried about yourself. After all, I'll be surrounded by an èored. You'll be off all on your own," she pulled her hand out from his and patted his cheek with a grin.

"You little…" he pulled her into a hug and ruffled her short hair, "I have to say, it is uncanny to see you in a tunic and trousers, not quite as fetching as a ballgown, my dear."

Lothìriel grimaced and gave him a shove, "You said we wouldn't talk of it anymore."

Boromir held up his hands in apology, "You are right, I did. It is difficult to get used to though." Lothìriel turned away to lightly brush the muzzle of her gelding.

"Thank you. For gifting me Nightfall," she leaned in and blew into the gelding's nostrils gently. "He's a magnificent animal."

Boromir snorted, "Ladybird would hardly have been suitable for this. Imagine me asking the Rhohirrim-"

"Eorlingas," Lothìriel interrupted with a grin, "I'm sure they'd prefer if you called them by the name they call themselves."

Boromir grunted, "Eorlingas then. What was I saying?"

"Nothing, you were saying nothing," she grinned again as Boromir closed his eyes and shook his head briefly.

"I've given Lord Éomer the letters in case anything happens to me-"

"Which it won't," Lothìriel scowled. She felt Boromir tense beside her.

"Lothì," she glanced over at him, "We've talked about this before. You have to accept-" he stopped, ran a hand through his hair, and sighed, "I've given Lord Éomer the letters. You know what is in them. I'm riding out at first light tomorrow." Lothìriel bit her lip and nodded, gently tugging on Nightfall's long black forelock.

"And I will wait for you here," she whispered. She stumbled as Boromir gave her a little shove.

"Don't get sentimental on me now," he teased lightly. Lothìriel frowned before launching herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing, after a brief moment, she felt his arms come round her as well.

Éomer grinned as he watched Éothain grimace, "Éomer. You can't be serious. You're taking a Gondorian squire? And a runt at that?" Schooling his features quickly as Éothain glanced at him, he nodded solemnly.

"Boromir has asked us to keep his squire while he goes…on a journey." Éomer caught himself and amended his words as he remembered the secretive nature of it. "I'm sure the lad will do fine here, maybe even put on some muscle. He is a bit scrawny." Éothain grunted disapprovingly, and moved off a few paces.

"I'm going to get some supper. Are you coming?"

Éomer shook his head, "I'm going to talk to the lad first. Do you know where he's at?"

Éothain pointed a thumb back towards the stable, "I think Lord Boromir was talkin' to him in the stables. Maybe bawlin' him out for something, he sent all the stable lads out."

Éomer's brow wrinkled slightly before he turned to head to the stable. He took the path that led to the side door and stopped upon reaching it, voices sounding from the inside.

"I still wish I could go with you." Éomer paused, that doesn't sound like a squire talking to his lord.

"And I've told you, you can't. You know this. You know …ed. What …. vision …." The last words were muffled as if they were spoken low, and Éomer stepped forward again, his eyes narrowed, what is being said?

"I do know." A small sniff sounded, fabric rustled.

"You also know we can't talk about this here."

Éomer frowned, that was said clearly enough, he walked into the stable, "Lord Boromir," he said as he rounded the corner, "What can't you talk about here?"

Boromir and the lad-Barwon? Berglon ?- both started and stepped away from each other. Boromir looked irritated.

"Éomer," he gave a slight bow, "Are you alone?" Éomer nodded.

"Well then. I had hoped for another chance to talk with you this evening, we shall just clear a bit more up then."

"Do you want to send the lad away."

Boromir gave a slight grin, "I doubt if you could pry him away. Clings like a limpet this one does." Éomer raised an eyebrow, what on earth is a limpet?

Boromir shook his head, "No. we'll not send him away, he knows this all anyway." He leaned against the nearest stall door, and the lad stood behind him, arms crossed. "I apologize in advance, Éomer. I know the men of the Mark dislike dissembling." Éomer's face fell into a neutral mask. This was not a good start to a conversation. "As you've probably guessed, my squire is somewhat more than a squire to me. And I can't tell you much about it." Boromir's eyes pierced into Éomer's, "It is not that I think you untrustworthy. Just that the secrets we have to keep are bigger than ourselves. You know I don't say this lightly."

Éomer nodded slowly, "We've long been friends, Boromir, we've shed the blood of our enemies by each other's side, and for each other's people. I do trust you."

Boromir reached out to clasp his arm, "Thank you. What I can tell you then," he stepped in and lowered his voice, "There is evil creeping into Gondor, and my father isn't innocent in it. The lad is a cousin, of sorts, of mine and would be used as a pawn, an effective pawn, to the detriment of himself and our country. He will not seem much of a squire at first, but he learns fast. And," Boromir took a breath and exhaled it loudly. "This is going to sound ridiculous, but, he'll probably make an odd comment, time to time, possibly make it sound life or death like. You should listen to him…" Éomer thought on this for a moment, watching Boromir, even as Boromir stared at him.

"I think I've understood your fairly nonsensical explanation. And I get the feeling that you don't want any questions asked or for me to guess at your meaning."

Boromir nodded, and nudged the lad with his leg, "Bregion, you have anything you want to add?" Bregion, right. The lad shook his head, his black hair tumbling into his eyes. He pushed it back with an impatient hand and an irritated murmur. "Well then, how about we get some dinner, I'm getting hungry."

Éomer waited as the lad stood then motioned for them to precede him and escorted them out of the stables, waving the lads back in as they left.

"So Bregion, have you been a squire long?" He asked, trying to make polite conversation. The lad shook his head, his hair again falling into his eyes. Boromir reached out to ruffle it, and coughing a bit, said under his breath, "he's had about two weeks at it." Éomer's eyes widened and he involuntarily turned towards Boromir, almost stumbling a step. "But," Boromir added as the lad batted away his hand, "he's used to helping men into and out of armor, lacing up and such, he can stick on a horse like a limpet, and while he may not know much about a sword, he's good with a bow."

Again with the limpets… "If he's going to be likened to a limpet with frequency, perhaps you wouldn't mind informing me what exactly that is?"

Boromir grinned, "It's a small sea snail that clasps onto rocks, or the bottom of ships. Once they're attached it's ruddy impossible to get them off. Take that as his sign. And pick the battles you want to fight, he'll listen right away when it's important, but there may be some other things you'll find him digging his heels in about."

Éomer nodded a bit uncertainly, so a difficult squire, who doesn't know what he's doing, as his ears caught a muttered, "I am right here, you know?" from Bregion.

Silence reigned for a moment before Éomer turned back to the lad and tried again, "How old are you?"

The lad's shoulders hunched, "Four and ten last fall." A chill of unease ran through Éomer, one of those things they're dissembling about, but why lie about the lad's age?

"Well, we'll get you into training with the lads on the morrow. See how you do."

Boromir stopped and turned towards him. "When you said you could use a squire, I assumed you meant to ride with you."

Éomer shrugged, "That was the initial thought, but if he's only had a few weeks of training…it would be far safer for him if he trained the rest of the summer first. I would usually put a lad off until they are at least six and ten, and with your permission would do this now as well, but-"

Boromir held up a hand to stop him, before looking around. They were just before the steps of the hall, and soldiers stood at the top ready to open the door for the Marshal. "One moment if you please." He turned and began walking around to the gardens instead, after a glance and a shrug at the guards who were watching from the top Éomer followed. Boromir led him straight on the gravel path until the came to a wider crossroads with a good view of the surrounding area. Then turning to face Éomer, he came to the point quickly, "He needs to ride with you now."

"Now."

"Yes."

Éomer looked at Boromir his eyes hardening, "Excuse me, Boromir, but I was under the impression that I was Third Marshal in the Riddermark and not you. If the lad is only four and ten, and if he's only had a couple weeks at being a squire, then it is not just his safety, but the safety of the men who might get hurt trying to protect him that I am worried about."

"I'll have you know-" Bregion began to interject, when Boromir stopped him with a single glare.

"I am sorry for speaking so abruptly, Éomer. I do understand your concerns and if there were not other extenuating circumstances wouldn't argue this. Perhaps," he lowered his voice, "It would ease your mind somewhat if you knew that we were not exaggerating his age by making him older, but…younger?"

Éomer nodded slowly, "That the exaggeration is that way, does reassure me somewhat. Has the lad ever seen battle before?"

Boromir looked at Bregion, and he answered for himself, his voice pitched a bit higher than it had been before, "A…party…I was with was attacked by brigands once. We were on foot at the time, I had the use of my bow. And also," here he glanced uneasily at Boromir who gave the lad a nod, "we've had corsair raids that have made it to our city a few times," he hesitated again, "I was in some of the groups that helped to repel them."

Boromir took over again coughing lightly, "As you can see, there are details not to be mentioned. But the lad has seen and been personally involved in combat enough times that you should not have to fear him freezing up because of it."

"Has he ever faced orcs before?"

Boromir looked troubled, "No. He has never seen an orc in the flesh before."
Éomer barked out a harsh laugh, "What other kind is there?" Again Boromir and the lad both looked uneasy. "Well? If you haven't seen an orc in the flesh-"

"Visions, Éomer," Boromir pulled Éomer closer, and Éomer could feel his breath in his ear, "the lad has fought orcs in visions before. It was as real to him as you standing before him now. Please though. We must speak of something else." Stepping back Boromir looped his arm around Bregion's shoulder and led him further down the wide path.

Éomer stood, staring for a moment, before turning to catch up with them with a long stride, "What do you mean-"

He stopped abruptly as Boromir raised his hand again, "I cannot tell you more than that. Please, Éomer, we are not asking this of our own volition. Others higher than us set us on this course, including the secrecy within it. We do not know why, but for you to know more is dangerous, not just for us, but for you also," Sighing Boromir ran a hand through his hair. "What if we gave Bregion a little test. We'll let him clean and polish your weapons and what armor you have tonight, then give you a demonstration of his riding, and his shooting. If it is acceptable, he can go with you, with the understanding that while you are not on patrol, he will be in extra training with the lads."

Éomer thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "That sounds like a fair compromise, Boromir. Fair indeed. We'll do the main of it in the morning, ere you depart?"

"Agreed. I would prefer to have less eyes on him."

AN: Just to be clear. This is not a complete story, and I don't know when it'll be done. I do have the beginning and most of the ending done, just need to add in the middle and edit the ending.