Three children rode in the wide green plains of Rohan, racing each other on their fine horses. Two were male and the other a young girl. The boy who was sitting atop a proud stallion was Éomer, son of Éomund - and he was a newcomer to living in the Golden Halls of Edoras along with the young girl, his sister Éowyn, younger than him by four years.
Their parents had recently died and their uncle, Theóden King of Rohan, has taken them in. Not out of pity, but because he loved them and adored his sister, Theódwyn. His son, twelve year old Theódred adored his two cousins and since they came to Edoras it was rare to see the threesome not together.
Éomer was a tall lad of eleven, with wavy straw coloured hair and flashing dark brown eyes. He had a quick temper and loved to listen to lore of old, full of delicious stories about killing orcs and Rohan triumphing over evil men. Like all children of Rohan, he loved horses and riding was an especial activity. Although hasty, he treasured his seven year old sister and liked to think he protected her. Not that she needed or cared for it.
Éowyn took after her brother and was also tall, with long, messy burnished gold that ran down her back. Her skin was paler than that of Éomer's, but she was always filthy, as she acted like a boy and felt no need for primping. Her eyes were large and full of unspoken passion - much like her mood, which was as changeable as the wind.
Theódred and Éomer enjoyed Éowyn coming along on their hunts and games, as she didn't act any differently from them, and she was especially quick and fast which was brilliant fun when playing. As Éowyn had been brought up in the company of boys and men, she knew no differently. Her mother had been the same - a fine horsewoman and quick to temper, and it obviously had descended into her children's blood.
When the two boys, who were close in age, went to learn how to swordfight, Éowyn followed. The men of the Golden Hall were amused at her feistiness, none more than the King himself, who indulged his niece, who he thought of as a daughter, in her surprising choice of pursuit. At first the men taught them all separately - thinking the young girl would be slow to learn and sluggish with a blade, but they soon found out she was as swift with a weapon as she was on horseback and possessed a special talent for the skill. Soon after, Éowyn was moved into the same lessons as her cousin and brother.
The men of the court loved the three youngsters like their own bairns, and it was a purple gift to both sides when the men would teach them the lore of Rohan and Middle Earth, or sing to them old folk songs. Nothing pleased the King better than to watch the enlightened faces of the trio as they repeated the songs, or jested with each other in the fields. It warmed his heart to see Éomer and Éowyn flourish under the hazy sun of Edoras. The peasant folk adored them also, as they were free from any snobbery and regularly conversed with them and played with their own children.
And so Éomer and Éowyn grew up, alongside their cousin, full of great songs, stories, friendship and love. But alas! One alone watched the three, and his thoughts were not so pure.
Their parents had recently died and their uncle, Theóden King of Rohan, has taken them in. Not out of pity, but because he loved them and adored his sister, Theódwyn. His son, twelve year old Theódred adored his two cousins and since they came to Edoras it was rare to see the threesome not together.
Éomer was a tall lad of eleven, with wavy straw coloured hair and flashing dark brown eyes. He had a quick temper and loved to listen to lore of old, full of delicious stories about killing orcs and Rohan triumphing over evil men. Like all children of Rohan, he loved horses and riding was an especial activity. Although hasty, he treasured his seven year old sister and liked to think he protected her. Not that she needed or cared for it.
Éowyn took after her brother and was also tall, with long, messy burnished gold that ran down her back. Her skin was paler than that of Éomer's, but she was always filthy, as she acted like a boy and felt no need for primping. Her eyes were large and full of unspoken passion - much like her mood, which was as changeable as the wind.
Theódred and Éomer enjoyed Éowyn coming along on their hunts and games, as she didn't act any differently from them, and she was especially quick and fast which was brilliant fun when playing. As Éowyn had been brought up in the company of boys and men, she knew no differently. Her mother had been the same - a fine horsewoman and quick to temper, and it obviously had descended into her children's blood.
When the two boys, who were close in age, went to learn how to swordfight, Éowyn followed. The men of the Golden Hall were amused at her feistiness, none more than the King himself, who indulged his niece, who he thought of as a daughter, in her surprising choice of pursuit. At first the men taught them all separately - thinking the young girl would be slow to learn and sluggish with a blade, but they soon found out she was as swift with a weapon as she was on horseback and possessed a special talent for the skill. Soon after, Éowyn was moved into the same lessons as her cousin and brother.
The men of the court loved the three youngsters like their own bairns, and it was a purple gift to both sides when the men would teach them the lore of Rohan and Middle Earth, or sing to them old folk songs. Nothing pleased the King better than to watch the enlightened faces of the trio as they repeated the songs, or jested with each other in the fields. It warmed his heart to see Éomer and Éowyn flourish under the hazy sun of Edoras. The peasant folk adored them also, as they were free from any snobbery and regularly conversed with them and played with their own children.
And so Éomer and Éowyn grew up, alongside their cousin, full of great songs, stories, friendship and love. But alas! One alone watched the three, and his thoughts were not so pure.
