"Wake up maggot." some one yelled above me. Pain flared in my head. I
groaned and rolled over to block
the light from the hole directly above me.
"I said get up." Cold water splashed over me. I sat up gasping. My eyes wide. I looked up at my attacker.
"What was that for?" I demanded. I reached up and inconspicuously pulled the cap straight on my head.
"It's training time." The man above me said. I groaned and slowly got up. I stumbled behind the man outside
and into the huge main hall. I saw Eomer sitting on his throne holding his head. I smiled. I wasn't the only
one feeling the drink from last night. I was shoved rudely into place beside a bunch of other young boys. I
looked them up and down and nearly sighed in disgust. They were mere boys.
"Allright. This is to test you to see if you are worthy for King Eomers army." The big man who had thrown
the water on me. I stood there shivering in my wet clothes. Someone thrust a sword into my hands and then
I was shoved into a ring where another man was standing at ready with a sword. I gasped when I figured
out what was going on. The man thrust the sword at me. I dodged away and turned on him. The sword
heavy and awkward in my hands. I thrust it at the man but it was knocked from my hands.
"Allright." The huge man said. A new man took my place. I backed up to the edge of the crowd and
watched from a distance. The others fought well. All having been trained by there fathers for this day. I
shrugged not really caring about fighting.
"Not really a fighting lad are you?" I turned sharply and saw King Eomer at my side. I turned back to the
fighting.
"Not really." I said. He nodded.
"Well get used to it. That's what you'l be doing for awhile until you decide to leave." He said. I nodded.
"And with your size I would think that you would be fleet on your feet." I thought about this and nodded.
Eomer
"Here hold it like that." I told the lad showing him my sword hand. He watched me closely then imitated my
sword hand.
"Good, good." I told him.I did not know why I had taken such an interest in this boy. " Now swing like
this." I demonstrated and he followed. "Good now like this.... Good. You'll be an expert in no time." He
grinned . I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and again noted his girlish features. I knew that he was
not a fighter as soon as I saw him holding the sword. It had been a week since my man Davken first put a
sword in his hand, and I had felt pity for the lad who could not even hold the sword properly. I had taken
his aside and taught him a few things
Three weeks later.
I watched Covren fight outside of a window. He was doing much better. Using his small size and speed
against his oponant. He dove around his openant now and stuck him in the back with his sword. More of a
dagger. For it was shorter then an average sword and longer then a dagger. The openant turned on him and
hit his fingers. Covren dropped th sword to his other and shook his injured one to free it of the pain. I
remembered a week earlier when I had passed him and smelt him.
" I swear on the elves Covren. You smell like a rotten fruit basket." I told him. He turned a bright shade of
red and ran off to take a bath. He had refused to bathe with the rest of the men. I had a new set of clothes
sent to him. He had worn them and I was pleased to see him nicely. I would not have ragged men in my
army. Yet he had insisted on wearing that awefull cap.
He wore it now. Wisps of dark hair still peeking out like they had the first day I had seen him. I turned back
to my messenger.
"You say that she is coming with Faramir and the children at the weeks end." I said. The man nodded. I
looked out the window again.
"Have the servants prepare rooms for them. " I told the man. He nodded.
"Yes my Lord." he said then he left. I stared out the window at Covren. He fought like a girl. It disgusted me.
I turned from the window and walked quickly from the room.
Covren
I fought a man named Liondred. He had taken to me like flies to a dead thing. I was his personel training
dummy. But I had excelled at the art of swords. I chose one of elf make. It was smaller and lighter then those
of the men of Rohan. I was faster and more agile then him so I got more hits in then he did. But he still
managed. My fingers still throbbed. Suddenly Liondred smiled and dropped his sword dlightly. I looked at
him confused and the turned to see what he was looking at. I gasped and started to back up a little. But
Eomer was moving so fast towards me that I couldn't go far. He grabbed me and forced me to drop my
sword. And before I knew it I was on the ground. My arm pinned painfully under me.
"You fight like a girl." he shouted in my face. I cringed. He got up. I slowly regained my feet.
"Maybe that's cause I am a girl." I muttered under my breath. He turned to me.
"What?" He shouted. I grabbed my hurt arm.
"I said I would try to be less girl like." I said. He looked as if he didn't beleive me for a moment then he
turned and walked to the edge of the group. At the edge he turned and motioned for us to start again. I told
myslef to fight like them to show them what I saw.
" Coem Covren." Liondred said tauntingly. "You girl." I rushed him and swung the sword. Liondred blocked
my sword with his own. I imediatly pulled back and swung again before he could thrust at me. I kept
attacking and attacking and before I knew what had happened I had worn myself out. I grew sluggish.
Liondred took advantage of this and swung his sword into my arm. It cut through the fabric of my shirt.
Then he spun and just before he cut my head off he stopped and held the sword against the side of my
throat. I stood there not daring to breathe. He pulled away and turned and bowed to the King. I looked at
him and bowed slightly then I turned and headed into the barracks. I heard feet crunch in the snow behind
me and follow me into the barracks. I sat my bed and pulled the cut in my shirt open to look at the wound.
Nothing serious. It looked like it would need to be stitched up. I ripped a bit of blanket from the foot of my
bed and wrapped it around my arm. Outside the shirt.
"You should let my doctor look at that." Eomer said behind me. I turned my head slightly and saw his
shadow on the floor.
"It will be fine." I said. He walked over and sat on the bed next to me.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." He said. I was shocked. A man had apologised to me. A woman. Of course he
wouldn't have if he'd known I was a woman. "But you have to admit you do fight like a girl." I thought about
this and then smiled.
"Yes I do." I admitted. It was the truth.
"You really have improved over the last few weeks." He told me. I saw that he looked at me as he would
have a younger brother. I sighed inwardly. Oh well. "I'm proud of you." He hit my arm. I cringed.
"My sister is coming at the weeks end to visit." He told me. I nodded. Why would he be telling me this.
I noted his well chiseled face. My heart skipped a beat. It had been doing that everytime I had seen him for
the last week. I sighed inwardly. It was just not being able to look and act like a girl for so long.
"I want my men to look their best. So no more fights with Liondred until after they arrive." He said. I sighed.
That might be a problem what with him always challenging me. He got up and as he was leaving the room
Kiel entered the room. I flopped back onto the bed and sighed.
"Covren." He said as he walked through the door but he stopped when he saw Eomer. He bowed low. Eomer
patted his shoulder and then left. Kiel watched him go and then he turned to me.
"Are you allright?" He asked me. I pursed my lips and nodded. He sat next to me.
"You really should avoid him." He said. I nodded again.
"What did he want?" I shrugged.
"He just told me his sister was coming for holiday." I told him he nodded.
"Well. Be on your guard around that one. He is smart." He patted my back and stood and left. I listened for
his footsteps to fade then I flopped down on the bed.
"This is going to be the longest week of my life." I groaned. I stood up and picked up my sword and headed
back out to practice some more.
Eomer
The night before Eowyns arrival I had a banquet for my men in the hall. I laughed with them and made jokes
with them. Yet through out the entire night I noticed the Covren. He sat with a man I had fought with in the
war of the Ring. They talked but little. Instead deciding to sit in silence and eat and drink their fill. I watched
them and wondered if they were not related. They looked alike in face but I could not see Covren's hair and
so did not know if they truley could be kin. I turned away from them and laughed with the men. The next
time I turned to them Covren was watching me intently. Though when I looked at him he looked away. The
man he sat with. Kiel I think his name was. And they began to talk. The drink was getting to my head a little.
I shook myself and stood to leave.
"Goodnight." I called to the men.
"Hail King Eomer." They cried then went back to their drinking and talking. I wrapped my cloak about me
and walked through the empty, cold halls thinking. I remembered Aragorns words and I felt a pang of
lonliness. I shook the feeling from me and resolved that on the morrow I would begin my search for a wife.
I walked along the ranks and inspected my men. I corrected a few of my men but other wise they were
perfect.
" Very good." I called to them. I had noticed that Covren wasn't among the ranks right away. He arrived late.
But he was the best looking man there. His face was scrubbed and shiny. His clothes newly washed and his
cap even looked slightly better. I smiled at him and then walked ahead. At the head of the ranks I stood and
waited for the carriage to aproach the gates and enter.
Covren
I stood there staring straight ahead praying that my unbound hair would not escape my cap. I had not had
time to braid it up this morning being to busy scrubbing my face and cleaning my clothes. Liondred, who
stood right next to me, pushed me against the man on my other side. He shoved me back. I hit Liondred.
"Stop it." He hissed and shoved me back. The other man growled and shoved me.
"That's it." Liondred yelled and attacked me. He grabbed my arms and forced me to the ground. I fought him
as hard I could but he was stronger. He landed a punch on my face. I saw starsfore a moment then I got my
legs under me and I threw him off of me. I heard Eomer shouting at us to stop and I saw some of the men
grabbing Liondred. I stumbled to my feet and stood there shakily. The hit effecting me. I squinted at
Liondred and saw that he was fighting off the people holding him. Eomer walked over to me.
"What happened." He shouted. I didn't answer I just watched Liondred. He broke free and came at me. I was
too dazed to do anything. I felt his body hit mine and all the wind was knocked from my body. I landed on
the ground and rolled onto my side clutching my stomach.
the light from the hole directly above me.
"I said get up." Cold water splashed over me. I sat up gasping. My eyes wide. I looked up at my attacker.
"What was that for?" I demanded. I reached up and inconspicuously pulled the cap straight on my head.
"It's training time." The man above me said. I groaned and slowly got up. I stumbled behind the man outside
and into the huge main hall. I saw Eomer sitting on his throne holding his head. I smiled. I wasn't the only
one feeling the drink from last night. I was shoved rudely into place beside a bunch of other young boys. I
looked them up and down and nearly sighed in disgust. They were mere boys.
"Allright. This is to test you to see if you are worthy for King Eomers army." The big man who had thrown
the water on me. I stood there shivering in my wet clothes. Someone thrust a sword into my hands and then
I was shoved into a ring where another man was standing at ready with a sword. I gasped when I figured
out what was going on. The man thrust the sword at me. I dodged away and turned on him. The sword
heavy and awkward in my hands. I thrust it at the man but it was knocked from my hands.
"Allright." The huge man said. A new man took my place. I backed up to the edge of the crowd and
watched from a distance. The others fought well. All having been trained by there fathers for this day. I
shrugged not really caring about fighting.
"Not really a fighting lad are you?" I turned sharply and saw King Eomer at my side. I turned back to the
fighting.
"Not really." I said. He nodded.
"Well get used to it. That's what you'l be doing for awhile until you decide to leave." He said. I nodded.
"And with your size I would think that you would be fleet on your feet." I thought about this and nodded.
Eomer
"Here hold it like that." I told the lad showing him my sword hand. He watched me closely then imitated my
sword hand.
"Good, good." I told him.I did not know why I had taken such an interest in this boy. " Now swing like
this." I demonstrated and he followed. "Good now like this.... Good. You'll be an expert in no time." He
grinned . I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and again noted his girlish features. I knew that he was
not a fighter as soon as I saw him holding the sword. It had been a week since my man Davken first put a
sword in his hand, and I had felt pity for the lad who could not even hold the sword properly. I had taken
his aside and taught him a few things
Three weeks later.
I watched Covren fight outside of a window. He was doing much better. Using his small size and speed
against his oponant. He dove around his openant now and stuck him in the back with his sword. More of a
dagger. For it was shorter then an average sword and longer then a dagger. The openant turned on him and
hit his fingers. Covren dropped th sword to his other and shook his injured one to free it of the pain. I
remembered a week earlier when I had passed him and smelt him.
" I swear on the elves Covren. You smell like a rotten fruit basket." I told him. He turned a bright shade of
red and ran off to take a bath. He had refused to bathe with the rest of the men. I had a new set of clothes
sent to him. He had worn them and I was pleased to see him nicely. I would not have ragged men in my
army. Yet he had insisted on wearing that awefull cap.
He wore it now. Wisps of dark hair still peeking out like they had the first day I had seen him. I turned back
to my messenger.
"You say that she is coming with Faramir and the children at the weeks end." I said. The man nodded. I
looked out the window again.
"Have the servants prepare rooms for them. " I told the man. He nodded.
"Yes my Lord." he said then he left. I stared out the window at Covren. He fought like a girl. It disgusted me.
I turned from the window and walked quickly from the room.
Covren
I fought a man named Liondred. He had taken to me like flies to a dead thing. I was his personel training
dummy. But I had excelled at the art of swords. I chose one of elf make. It was smaller and lighter then those
of the men of Rohan. I was faster and more agile then him so I got more hits in then he did. But he still
managed. My fingers still throbbed. Suddenly Liondred smiled and dropped his sword dlightly. I looked at
him confused and the turned to see what he was looking at. I gasped and started to back up a little. But
Eomer was moving so fast towards me that I couldn't go far. He grabbed me and forced me to drop my
sword. And before I knew it I was on the ground. My arm pinned painfully under me.
"You fight like a girl." he shouted in my face. I cringed. He got up. I slowly regained my feet.
"Maybe that's cause I am a girl." I muttered under my breath. He turned to me.
"What?" He shouted. I grabbed my hurt arm.
"I said I would try to be less girl like." I said. He looked as if he didn't beleive me for a moment then he
turned and walked to the edge of the group. At the edge he turned and motioned for us to start again. I told
myslef to fight like them to show them what I saw.
" Coem Covren." Liondred said tauntingly. "You girl." I rushed him and swung the sword. Liondred blocked
my sword with his own. I imediatly pulled back and swung again before he could thrust at me. I kept
attacking and attacking and before I knew what had happened I had worn myself out. I grew sluggish.
Liondred took advantage of this and swung his sword into my arm. It cut through the fabric of my shirt.
Then he spun and just before he cut my head off he stopped and held the sword against the side of my
throat. I stood there not daring to breathe. He pulled away and turned and bowed to the King. I looked at
him and bowed slightly then I turned and headed into the barracks. I heard feet crunch in the snow behind
me and follow me into the barracks. I sat my bed and pulled the cut in my shirt open to look at the wound.
Nothing serious. It looked like it would need to be stitched up. I ripped a bit of blanket from the foot of my
bed and wrapped it around my arm. Outside the shirt.
"You should let my doctor look at that." Eomer said behind me. I turned my head slightly and saw his
shadow on the floor.
"It will be fine." I said. He walked over and sat on the bed next to me.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." He said. I was shocked. A man had apologised to me. A woman. Of course he
wouldn't have if he'd known I was a woman. "But you have to admit you do fight like a girl." I thought about
this and then smiled.
"Yes I do." I admitted. It was the truth.
"You really have improved over the last few weeks." He told me. I saw that he looked at me as he would
have a younger brother. I sighed inwardly. Oh well. "I'm proud of you." He hit my arm. I cringed.
"My sister is coming at the weeks end to visit." He told me. I nodded. Why would he be telling me this.
I noted his well chiseled face. My heart skipped a beat. It had been doing that everytime I had seen him for
the last week. I sighed inwardly. It was just not being able to look and act like a girl for so long.
"I want my men to look their best. So no more fights with Liondred until after they arrive." He said. I sighed.
That might be a problem what with him always challenging me. He got up and as he was leaving the room
Kiel entered the room. I flopped back onto the bed and sighed.
"Covren." He said as he walked through the door but he stopped when he saw Eomer. He bowed low. Eomer
patted his shoulder and then left. Kiel watched him go and then he turned to me.
"Are you allright?" He asked me. I pursed my lips and nodded. He sat next to me.
"You really should avoid him." He said. I nodded again.
"What did he want?" I shrugged.
"He just told me his sister was coming for holiday." I told him he nodded.
"Well. Be on your guard around that one. He is smart." He patted my back and stood and left. I listened for
his footsteps to fade then I flopped down on the bed.
"This is going to be the longest week of my life." I groaned. I stood up and picked up my sword and headed
back out to practice some more.
Eomer
The night before Eowyns arrival I had a banquet for my men in the hall. I laughed with them and made jokes
with them. Yet through out the entire night I noticed the Covren. He sat with a man I had fought with in the
war of the Ring. They talked but little. Instead deciding to sit in silence and eat and drink their fill. I watched
them and wondered if they were not related. They looked alike in face but I could not see Covren's hair and
so did not know if they truley could be kin. I turned away from them and laughed with the men. The next
time I turned to them Covren was watching me intently. Though when I looked at him he looked away. The
man he sat with. Kiel I think his name was. And they began to talk. The drink was getting to my head a little.
I shook myself and stood to leave.
"Goodnight." I called to the men.
"Hail King Eomer." They cried then went back to their drinking and talking. I wrapped my cloak about me
and walked through the empty, cold halls thinking. I remembered Aragorns words and I felt a pang of
lonliness. I shook the feeling from me and resolved that on the morrow I would begin my search for a wife.
I walked along the ranks and inspected my men. I corrected a few of my men but other wise they were
perfect.
" Very good." I called to them. I had noticed that Covren wasn't among the ranks right away. He arrived late.
But he was the best looking man there. His face was scrubbed and shiny. His clothes newly washed and his
cap even looked slightly better. I smiled at him and then walked ahead. At the head of the ranks I stood and
waited for the carriage to aproach the gates and enter.
Covren
I stood there staring straight ahead praying that my unbound hair would not escape my cap. I had not had
time to braid it up this morning being to busy scrubbing my face and cleaning my clothes. Liondred, who
stood right next to me, pushed me against the man on my other side. He shoved me back. I hit Liondred.
"Stop it." He hissed and shoved me back. The other man growled and shoved me.
"That's it." Liondred yelled and attacked me. He grabbed my arms and forced me to the ground. I fought him
as hard I could but he was stronger. He landed a punch on my face. I saw starsfore a moment then I got my
legs under me and I threw him off of me. I heard Eomer shouting at us to stop and I saw some of the men
grabbing Liondred. I stumbled to my feet and stood there shakily. The hit effecting me. I squinted at
Liondred and saw that he was fighting off the people holding him. Eomer walked over to me.
"What happened." He shouted. I didn't answer I just watched Liondred. He broke free and came at me. I was
too dazed to do anything. I felt his body hit mine and all the wind was knocked from my body. I landed on
the ground and rolled onto my side clutching my stomach.