Growing Under Shadow
Chapter Three
Éowyn was now six. For her birthday she was given a horse from her uncle, a dress from Éomer and a bridle and saddle from Théodred. She now rode with her brother and cousin and their agreement had not been broken. Théoden taught her how to walk, trot, canter and she was about to learn how to jump and gallop. He allowed her to do swordplay with Éomer and Théodred and her skills advanced phenomenally. No more marks appeared on her skin and she was happier than ever.
She stood on the Steps of the Golden Hall in a daydream, not believing how lucky she was to have family like this.
"Éowyn."
She was snapped out of her daydream by a familiar voice. She turned around and saw her brother standing by a pillar. His face looked grim and she could not understand why, for life was better now than it had ever been.
"What is it?" Panicked Éowyn.
"It's Grima. He's convinced the king to go to Gondor to meet with the Steward. Our dear uncle has been blinded by his trickery and has left him in charge." Said Éomer.
"When does he leave?" Gasped Éowyn, putting her hand to her chest.
"Sunset." Said Éomer.
Éowyn looked to the floor as one salty tear fell onto the stone. "I'm going with him."
"We cannot. Théoden says we must stay behind and look after Edoras." Sighed Éomer.
"I do not believe this is happening. We were doing so well Éomer! So well!" Cried Éowyn stamping her foot on the ground.
"I know." Said Éomer running to hug her. "Please, do not cry."
"Right." She wiped away her tears. "I know what we will do. There is a barn down next to the gates. We will stack it with food from Palar's shop and some weapons. You and Théodred can move the hay bales forward so the barn looks full of hay but leave a space at the back and make some sort of door at the back as well. I'll sneak everything down from the hall."
"Alright." Nodded Éomer. "But how do we escape Grima?"
"We will wave our uncle off from the gates. Théodred and you can run to the barn from there and I will distract Grima. I will tell him I need to feed the horses and I'll go into the gap in between the houses and the wall. I will get to the barn from there." Smiled Éowyn. "We can do this."
"We can." Agreed Éomer.
"Right. I will go and get Théodred." They smiled at each other and went their separate ways.
Éowyn walked up the steps and into the shining palace. "Théodred." She shouted. There was no answer. "Théodred?" She shouted again. She heard a scuffling behind her. She turned every hair on her body raised.
Seeing nothing there she relaxed as a hand covered her mouth. She shrieked and raised her foot, slamming it into her attackers shin. She elbowed him in the stomach, then the face before eventually scrambling away and turning.
"Théodred!" She gasped kneeling down. "Did I hurt you?"
"I am fine." Théodred breathlessly replied. "My stealth is improving though."
"It is excellent." Said Éowyn. "I hate this. Being scared in my own home."
"It will be over soon." Théodred reassured her. "What is it?"
"Come with me." Said Éowyn.
They ran through Edoras down to the gate and into the barn. Éomer was already there moving hay-bales around. Éowyn slipped through the small gap at the top and Théodred followed.
"Théodred, Éomer will tell you everything. Éomer, make the door first and move the hay bales on the back wall over here. Keep one hay bale handy and we can use it to cover the door." Éowyn informed them.
With that she ran to Palar, a friendly old storekeeper who sold everything from swords to food. He knew every child in Edoras by name and he could tell a story about any man's life. Éowyn was one of his favourites. She showed true courage and spirit and always returned to him for more stories. She liked nothing better than to hear tales of her mother and father, even her grandfather, but she often questioned him on his knowledge of history, as he always told stories of childhood and the mathematics did not seem quite right to Éowyn. But Palar would reply, "history is my game and one I like to play." So she got no straight answers. She would ask why he hid his ears and had no beard, but he would say, "Does a man need a beard to be accepted?" She was very confused over his whole manner, but since she turned six she would keep her questions at a minimum and try to work things out for herself.
"Good morning Mr. Palar." Smiled Éowyn closing the wooden door behind her.
"Good afternoon miss Éowyn, as that sun won't get any higher!" Replied Palar. Éowyn scrunched up her face in confusion. Palar laughed. "You will get wrinkles, not all people remain as youthful as I!"
"That is something I shall not worry about till I am as old as you." Éowyn replied cheekily.
"I doubt you will ever reach my age." Palar folded his arms in front of him.
"How old are you?" Asked Éowyn.
"An accomplished young lady should not ask a man's age unless they are courting." Palar wagged a finger at her.
"Well then, I say we are courting, because I want to know how old someone who knew my great-grandmother when she was my age is." Said Éowyn imitating Palar's crossed arms. "And be quick with it for I have work to do."
Palar laughed again and ruffled Éowyn's hair. Éowyn giggled. "Very well, I am 5147 years old."
"I do not believe you." Éowyn turned her back on him and looked around the store. It was not very well lit and she could see dust floating around. Swords engraved with elvish lined the walls and sacks of horse grain were in the corner. The straw roof had a small ledge below it where strange looking boxes were stored and at the back of the shop were bridles and saddles and other horse-related things. A small door was next to the counter with a worn out step in front of it, which led into a room filled with vegetables, pulses, grains and bread.
"Very well." Grinned Palar. "I would not believe me either. Now, you came here for a reason, what does the young lady wish for?"
"Some food to last me for." She paused and counted on her fingers. "For five days at the most."
"Something special!" Palar clapped with glee. "I have exactly what my little princess needs." Palar propped a ladder against the ledge and climbed up. "Nobody in Rohan has this in their pantries, not even your uncle." He winked at her as she looked in wonder. Palar took the top off one of the boxes and took something wrapped in leaves out. He put the lid back on and climbed down the ladder. "Now, do not show anybody this and if anyone sees it do not inform them of where you got it." He put the leaf bundles on some paper on the counter and wrapped them up in string. He walked into the back room and scuffled about.
Éowyn walked over to the swords and took a long, slightly curved sword off the wall. She swung the sword about skilfully, noticing it was almost as tall as her. A floorboard creaked behind her and she swung clashing swords with Palar.
"Well done shield maiden." Smiled Palar, taking the sword from her and putting it back where she found it. He put the sword in his hand behind the counter where more bundles lay.
"What did you get out of those boxes?" Questioned Éowyn running her finger down the sword she had just had in her hand.
"Lembas!" gasped Palar. "Elvish way bread."
"What are you doing with elvish things?" Questioned Éowyn again.
"Just like them!" Palar shook his head and chuckled to himself. The ignorance of the girl was very amusing.
"How much do I pay for these?" Éowyn gathered the bundles in her arms.
"Nothing, nothing. You just run along." Palar pushed Éowyn to the door.
"Thank you." Shouted Éowyn, leaving the shop and reaching the barn.
She managed to get a chest with some small daggers in before Éomer and Théodred managed to finish their task. Now all she had to do was get some swords.
"Right, you are doing very well. I shall fetch our swords; I shall not be more than five minutes. Éomer, remember the spare hay bale. I think you can stop now, everything seems all right. Try and get a lock of some sort for that door though." Encouraged Éowyn. She loved to tell her brother what to do and decided that it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. She was a lot better at planning things than the other two.
Théodred went out of the barn to find a lock and Éowyn and Éomer set off to the golden hall. They reached the top of the steps and split up, Éomer went to the armoury to get the swords and Éowyn went to find some clothes. They both agreed they could escape Grima if they stuck together and they had no intention of splitting up.
Chapter Three
Éowyn was now six. For her birthday she was given a horse from her uncle, a dress from Éomer and a bridle and saddle from Théodred. She now rode with her brother and cousin and their agreement had not been broken. Théoden taught her how to walk, trot, canter and she was about to learn how to jump and gallop. He allowed her to do swordplay with Éomer and Théodred and her skills advanced phenomenally. No more marks appeared on her skin and she was happier than ever.
She stood on the Steps of the Golden Hall in a daydream, not believing how lucky she was to have family like this.
"Éowyn."
She was snapped out of her daydream by a familiar voice. She turned around and saw her brother standing by a pillar. His face looked grim and she could not understand why, for life was better now than it had ever been.
"What is it?" Panicked Éowyn.
"It's Grima. He's convinced the king to go to Gondor to meet with the Steward. Our dear uncle has been blinded by his trickery and has left him in charge." Said Éomer.
"When does he leave?" Gasped Éowyn, putting her hand to her chest.
"Sunset." Said Éomer.
Éowyn looked to the floor as one salty tear fell onto the stone. "I'm going with him."
"We cannot. Théoden says we must stay behind and look after Edoras." Sighed Éomer.
"I do not believe this is happening. We were doing so well Éomer! So well!" Cried Éowyn stamping her foot on the ground.
"I know." Said Éomer running to hug her. "Please, do not cry."
"Right." She wiped away her tears. "I know what we will do. There is a barn down next to the gates. We will stack it with food from Palar's shop and some weapons. You and Théodred can move the hay bales forward so the barn looks full of hay but leave a space at the back and make some sort of door at the back as well. I'll sneak everything down from the hall."
"Alright." Nodded Éomer. "But how do we escape Grima?"
"We will wave our uncle off from the gates. Théodred and you can run to the barn from there and I will distract Grima. I will tell him I need to feed the horses and I'll go into the gap in between the houses and the wall. I will get to the barn from there." Smiled Éowyn. "We can do this."
"We can." Agreed Éomer.
"Right. I will go and get Théodred." They smiled at each other and went their separate ways.
Éowyn walked up the steps and into the shining palace. "Théodred." She shouted. There was no answer. "Théodred?" She shouted again. She heard a scuffling behind her. She turned every hair on her body raised.
Seeing nothing there she relaxed as a hand covered her mouth. She shrieked and raised her foot, slamming it into her attackers shin. She elbowed him in the stomach, then the face before eventually scrambling away and turning.
"Théodred!" She gasped kneeling down. "Did I hurt you?"
"I am fine." Théodred breathlessly replied. "My stealth is improving though."
"It is excellent." Said Éowyn. "I hate this. Being scared in my own home."
"It will be over soon." Théodred reassured her. "What is it?"
"Come with me." Said Éowyn.
They ran through Edoras down to the gate and into the barn. Éomer was already there moving hay-bales around. Éowyn slipped through the small gap at the top and Théodred followed.
"Théodred, Éomer will tell you everything. Éomer, make the door first and move the hay bales on the back wall over here. Keep one hay bale handy and we can use it to cover the door." Éowyn informed them.
With that she ran to Palar, a friendly old storekeeper who sold everything from swords to food. He knew every child in Edoras by name and he could tell a story about any man's life. Éowyn was one of his favourites. She showed true courage and spirit and always returned to him for more stories. She liked nothing better than to hear tales of her mother and father, even her grandfather, but she often questioned him on his knowledge of history, as he always told stories of childhood and the mathematics did not seem quite right to Éowyn. But Palar would reply, "history is my game and one I like to play." So she got no straight answers. She would ask why he hid his ears and had no beard, but he would say, "Does a man need a beard to be accepted?" She was very confused over his whole manner, but since she turned six she would keep her questions at a minimum and try to work things out for herself.
"Good morning Mr. Palar." Smiled Éowyn closing the wooden door behind her.
"Good afternoon miss Éowyn, as that sun won't get any higher!" Replied Palar. Éowyn scrunched up her face in confusion. Palar laughed. "You will get wrinkles, not all people remain as youthful as I!"
"That is something I shall not worry about till I am as old as you." Éowyn replied cheekily.
"I doubt you will ever reach my age." Palar folded his arms in front of him.
"How old are you?" Asked Éowyn.
"An accomplished young lady should not ask a man's age unless they are courting." Palar wagged a finger at her.
"Well then, I say we are courting, because I want to know how old someone who knew my great-grandmother when she was my age is." Said Éowyn imitating Palar's crossed arms. "And be quick with it for I have work to do."
Palar laughed again and ruffled Éowyn's hair. Éowyn giggled. "Very well, I am 5147 years old."
"I do not believe you." Éowyn turned her back on him and looked around the store. It was not very well lit and she could see dust floating around. Swords engraved with elvish lined the walls and sacks of horse grain were in the corner. The straw roof had a small ledge below it where strange looking boxes were stored and at the back of the shop were bridles and saddles and other horse-related things. A small door was next to the counter with a worn out step in front of it, which led into a room filled with vegetables, pulses, grains and bread.
"Very well." Grinned Palar. "I would not believe me either. Now, you came here for a reason, what does the young lady wish for?"
"Some food to last me for." She paused and counted on her fingers. "For five days at the most."
"Something special!" Palar clapped with glee. "I have exactly what my little princess needs." Palar propped a ladder against the ledge and climbed up. "Nobody in Rohan has this in their pantries, not even your uncle." He winked at her as she looked in wonder. Palar took the top off one of the boxes and took something wrapped in leaves out. He put the lid back on and climbed down the ladder. "Now, do not show anybody this and if anyone sees it do not inform them of where you got it." He put the leaf bundles on some paper on the counter and wrapped them up in string. He walked into the back room and scuffled about.
Éowyn walked over to the swords and took a long, slightly curved sword off the wall. She swung the sword about skilfully, noticing it was almost as tall as her. A floorboard creaked behind her and she swung clashing swords with Palar.
"Well done shield maiden." Smiled Palar, taking the sword from her and putting it back where she found it. He put the sword in his hand behind the counter where more bundles lay.
"What did you get out of those boxes?" Questioned Éowyn running her finger down the sword she had just had in her hand.
"Lembas!" gasped Palar. "Elvish way bread."
"What are you doing with elvish things?" Questioned Éowyn again.
"Just like them!" Palar shook his head and chuckled to himself. The ignorance of the girl was very amusing.
"How much do I pay for these?" Éowyn gathered the bundles in her arms.
"Nothing, nothing. You just run along." Palar pushed Éowyn to the door.
"Thank you." Shouted Éowyn, leaving the shop and reaching the barn.
She managed to get a chest with some small daggers in before Éomer and Théodred managed to finish their task. Now all she had to do was get some swords.
"Right, you are doing very well. I shall fetch our swords; I shall not be more than five minutes. Éomer, remember the spare hay bale. I think you can stop now, everything seems all right. Try and get a lock of some sort for that door though." Encouraged Éowyn. She loved to tell her brother what to do and decided that it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. She was a lot better at planning things than the other two.
Théodred went out of the barn to find a lock and Éowyn and Éomer set off to the golden hall. They reached the top of the steps and split up, Éomer went to the armoury to get the swords and Éowyn went to find some clothes. They both agreed they could escape Grima if they stuck together and they had no intention of splitting up.
