Chapter 3:
The two hobbits were greeted warmly, and were allowed to pass, and so continued up the hill. They were remembered well, even though they hadn't been to Edoras since returning from their great adventure all those years ago. Merry was the first to notice the somber atmosphere that dampened the spirits of Edoras, and his fears escalated as he remembered the last time it had been like this. His thought's rushed back to the funeral of Theoden, and he urged Pippin onwards, desperate to find out what had happened. Pippin was blissfully unaware of all that was going on in Merry's head, and was just pleased to be back. He had always liked the hill top city, although Minas Tirith would have the special place in his heart, just as Edoras was special to Merry. They soon reached the steps leading up to the Golden Hall, and there dismounted, leaving their ponies to be taken to the stables. Mounting the steps, within minutes they were stood outside the door's leading into the hall. Taking a deep breath they strode forward, the door's opening soundlessly before them. They stepped inside, their eye's taking a few minutes to adjust to the dim light inside, before gasping.
***
They were greeted with the sight of a hunched man, bent over a bed bearing the body of a woman. They came forward slowly, not daring to say anything, unsure of whom the woman was. As they neared the bed, Merry gave an anguished cry before running to the side, tears spilling down his face as he looked upon the woman once again. Pippin too was distressed, but he had not had the same bond as Merry had had with the Lady, so was not quite so overcome with grief as Merry. The man finally looked up when Merry had cried, and came to his side, putting a comforting hand around the hobbit.
"She died peacefully, Master Holdwine, much to her annoyance. She always wished to die in battle, but although that was not her fate, she shall still receive the honor and glory she always wished for."
King Eomer spoke softly to Merry, who was crying silently as he looked upon the bed.
"The white Lady of Rohan and Ithillien shall always be remembered."
Grief came once again to Eomer as he said this, and his voice shook as he continued.
"I loved my sister dearly Master Holdwine, as I know did you, but although she would not want us to be sad for her I think she would be honored that you had come from your small country to say goodbye to her."
Merry tried to stop his tears, but no matter how hard he tried they just kept coming. Finally he moved, and picking up the Lady's hand, he kissed it gently before placing it back on the bed and saying,
"Farewell Eowyn, the white Lady of Rohan and Ithillien. You shall always have a place in my heart."
Pippin bowed his head at this, and remained silent, handling his grief as best he could. After some time, Eomer led Merry and Pippin away from the main hall, so they could talk and refresh themselves.
***
The funeral for the Lady Eowyn was held the following day, Eomer had waited for Merry and Pippin to arrive before she was to be buried. King Aragorn had been to pay his last final respects some day's before, but had been unable to stay for the funeral much to his distress, but there were still many Gondorians present at the funeral, for the Lady Eowyn had been well loved in Gondor as well as Ithillien and Rohan. Merry was glad for Pippin's presence, and but for him, he would have given up there and then, and laid himself down to die next to Eowyn's burial mound and let his life seep into the ground around him. Eowyn had been as special to Merry as Theoden had, possibly even more, and it was like going back a year to when Estella had died. Pippin helped Merry to get through his grief once again, for he knew what Merry was going through as Faramir had died five year's ago. Eowyn had lived in Ithillien after Faramir had died, and had stayed there until her brother had asked for her to come once again to Edoras when his wife had died the previous year. Eowyn had decided to stay with Eomer in Edoras once again, and had died quite peacefully in her sleep. Loosing two people that he had loved dearly in such a short space of time, had hit Eomer hard, and he had aged dramatically in the past few weeks.
The funeral meal was a sober affair, and there was very little talk and many tears. Eomer's son was particularly quiet, as he had loved his aunt as much as his mother; Brego was also extremely worried about his father, Eomer, who was failing fast. Merry remained quite and withdrawn for several weeks after Eowyn's funeral, and spent long periods of time on his own, going for long walks and locking himself in his room for hour's at a time. Pippin was persistent, and gradually Merry became more and more sociable, joining Eomer for long talks, and he started to regain his old self once more. Several months passed, and Merry and Pippin spent many long hours talking with Eomer, and doing various quiet tasks. Eomer seemed to become more like his old self when he was around them and they moved into autumn without even realizing how much time had passed.
One dark evening, the four of them were in Eomer's private room enjoying another long talk. Brego had settled into having the two hobbits around and enjoyed their company as much as Eomer did. Merry and Pippin had settled into life at Edoras as easily as sitting down to a pint of ale at "The Green Dragon". They loved being back amongst old friends, and were happy for moments like this where they were all together just happily talking. Eomer left quiet early, complaining of a headache and retired to bed, leaving the others to continue talking for a while. They didn't stay up much longer, and soon were all saying their goodnights and retiring to bed.
***
Pippin was woken early the next morning by an urgent banging on the door to his room. Stumbling out of bed he cursed as he tripped over a book that he'd been reading the night before. He managed to finally reach the door, and pulling it open was greeted by a white and shaking Merry. Immediately Pippin woke up properly, and ushered Merry inside, sitting him down in a chair, and sitting down opposite him, worried as to what had gotten Merry into such a state.
"What is it Merry? What's wrong? What's happened?"
Pippin was getting more worried by the second as he watched Merry. Merry took a deep breathe before answering.
"It's Eomer. He's really ill. The Healer say's he's dying, there's nothing they can do to help him. It's just a matter of time."
Pippin was stunned. This couldn't be happening. Merry was looking just as bad as Pippin felt. They sat for several minutes in silence, before Pippin finally started to take action.
"Right, come on. Just let me get some clothes on, and we'll go and see what can be done."
Merry sat in silence, staring in to space not really seeing anything. Pippin pulled on his clothes as quickly as possible before helping Merry up, and guiding him out of his bedroom and along the corridors to Eomer's bedroom. When they got there, the Healer was still with Eomer and Brego was sat next to his bed holding his father's hand. Brego looked up as they entered the room. He smiled weakly at them, before turning to the healer with a questioning look on his face. The healer looked sadly up at them.
"There's nothing I can do. He's maybe got an hour left. I'm sorry."
The healer finished making Eomer as comfortable as possible before bowing and leaving them alone in the room. Brego motioned for the two hobbits to sit down in the two chairs on the other side of the bed, before retreating into himself once more. They sat in silence as the long minutes dragged slowly past. Eomer murmured in his sleep once or twice but other than that they were all silent. After an hour and a half, Eomer opened his eyes suddenly, and looked around the room at them. He tried to smile at them, but found it to hard after three attempts. His breathing was ragged, and he tried to talk to them in between gasps.
"Thank.... You, for...coming, and ...being with me, here...at the end...of all things...You are both..so....so..so dear to me.... I am so ...glad you are here.... Thank you...!"
After smiling once again at the two hobbits, and saying this, he turned his head slightly towards Brego.
"You shall....make....a wonderful.....king."
Eomer smiled at Brego before continuing,
"Look after kingdom....I trust you.... make me proud....I love you...always have...always....will."
Eomer's breathing became even less frequent and more labored, as he tried to continue.
"Will see Eowyn...once more...and Theoden...do not be sad...but I will not....say do....not ...weep....for...not....all....tears....are....an.....evil. Love you....all.....dearly....."
And with those last words Eomer's eye's closed and he departed from Middle Earth forever.
***
The three sat in silence as the room grew dark around them, each trying to cope with their grief in their own way. Eventually Brego stirred and said hoarsely,
"I'd better go and tell the people."
He stumbled stiffly from the room, leaving Merry and Pippin sat in the room. Eventually Pippin stood up, stretching from being in one position for so long and then tapping Merry softly on the shoulder, he helped him rise from the chair, and together they left the room, Merry leaning heavily on Pippin for support.
***
Eomer's funeral was held three day's later and Aragorn and Arwen rode from Minas Tirith to pay their final respects. If possible even more people were there than there had been at Eowyn's funeral, and the people gathered were extremely distressed at the passing of their great king. The day passed slowly, and the feast in celebration of King Eomer's life was a sad one full of regret at his passing and sadness, the two hobbits were not the only one's who had been close to the King. At the end of the feast the two hobbits left with King Aragorn and Queen Arwen to a private chamber to talk. They had not seen each other ring many long years, and they had much to discuss, including what was to happen next.
"Have you considered coming back to Minas Tirith with myself and Queen Arwen?"
Aragorn asked towards the end of the evening. Merry and pippin looked at each other before Pippin replied.
"We talked about it, but had come to no decision. I personally would like to go back, but I also do not want to leave Merry."
Merry thought carefully about this before he answered.
"I also would like to go back to Minas Tirith, but I want to stay here for a while first. I want to see Brego's coronation before I go."
Aragorn smiled at this before replying,
"That's fine, we are staying for the coronation as well. We shall leave four day's after the coronation, you can join us if you want. Think about it, and let us know."
After this Aragorn and Arwen bid the hobbit's goodnight before retiring to their room, leaving Merry and Pippin a lot to think about.
The two hobbits were greeted warmly, and were allowed to pass, and so continued up the hill. They were remembered well, even though they hadn't been to Edoras since returning from their great adventure all those years ago. Merry was the first to notice the somber atmosphere that dampened the spirits of Edoras, and his fears escalated as he remembered the last time it had been like this. His thought's rushed back to the funeral of Theoden, and he urged Pippin onwards, desperate to find out what had happened. Pippin was blissfully unaware of all that was going on in Merry's head, and was just pleased to be back. He had always liked the hill top city, although Minas Tirith would have the special place in his heart, just as Edoras was special to Merry. They soon reached the steps leading up to the Golden Hall, and there dismounted, leaving their ponies to be taken to the stables. Mounting the steps, within minutes they were stood outside the door's leading into the hall. Taking a deep breath they strode forward, the door's opening soundlessly before them. They stepped inside, their eye's taking a few minutes to adjust to the dim light inside, before gasping.
***
They were greeted with the sight of a hunched man, bent over a bed bearing the body of a woman. They came forward slowly, not daring to say anything, unsure of whom the woman was. As they neared the bed, Merry gave an anguished cry before running to the side, tears spilling down his face as he looked upon the woman once again. Pippin too was distressed, but he had not had the same bond as Merry had had with the Lady, so was not quite so overcome with grief as Merry. The man finally looked up when Merry had cried, and came to his side, putting a comforting hand around the hobbit.
"She died peacefully, Master Holdwine, much to her annoyance. She always wished to die in battle, but although that was not her fate, she shall still receive the honor and glory she always wished for."
King Eomer spoke softly to Merry, who was crying silently as he looked upon the bed.
"The white Lady of Rohan and Ithillien shall always be remembered."
Grief came once again to Eomer as he said this, and his voice shook as he continued.
"I loved my sister dearly Master Holdwine, as I know did you, but although she would not want us to be sad for her I think she would be honored that you had come from your small country to say goodbye to her."
Merry tried to stop his tears, but no matter how hard he tried they just kept coming. Finally he moved, and picking up the Lady's hand, he kissed it gently before placing it back on the bed and saying,
"Farewell Eowyn, the white Lady of Rohan and Ithillien. You shall always have a place in my heart."
Pippin bowed his head at this, and remained silent, handling his grief as best he could. After some time, Eomer led Merry and Pippin away from the main hall, so they could talk and refresh themselves.
***
The funeral for the Lady Eowyn was held the following day, Eomer had waited for Merry and Pippin to arrive before she was to be buried. King Aragorn had been to pay his last final respects some day's before, but had been unable to stay for the funeral much to his distress, but there were still many Gondorians present at the funeral, for the Lady Eowyn had been well loved in Gondor as well as Ithillien and Rohan. Merry was glad for Pippin's presence, and but for him, he would have given up there and then, and laid himself down to die next to Eowyn's burial mound and let his life seep into the ground around him. Eowyn had been as special to Merry as Theoden had, possibly even more, and it was like going back a year to when Estella had died. Pippin helped Merry to get through his grief once again, for he knew what Merry was going through as Faramir had died five year's ago. Eowyn had lived in Ithillien after Faramir had died, and had stayed there until her brother had asked for her to come once again to Edoras when his wife had died the previous year. Eowyn had decided to stay with Eomer in Edoras once again, and had died quite peacefully in her sleep. Loosing two people that he had loved dearly in such a short space of time, had hit Eomer hard, and he had aged dramatically in the past few weeks.
The funeral meal was a sober affair, and there was very little talk and many tears. Eomer's son was particularly quiet, as he had loved his aunt as much as his mother; Brego was also extremely worried about his father, Eomer, who was failing fast. Merry remained quite and withdrawn for several weeks after Eowyn's funeral, and spent long periods of time on his own, going for long walks and locking himself in his room for hour's at a time. Pippin was persistent, and gradually Merry became more and more sociable, joining Eomer for long talks, and he started to regain his old self once more. Several months passed, and Merry and Pippin spent many long hours talking with Eomer, and doing various quiet tasks. Eomer seemed to become more like his old self when he was around them and they moved into autumn without even realizing how much time had passed.
One dark evening, the four of them were in Eomer's private room enjoying another long talk. Brego had settled into having the two hobbits around and enjoyed their company as much as Eomer did. Merry and Pippin had settled into life at Edoras as easily as sitting down to a pint of ale at "The Green Dragon". They loved being back amongst old friends, and were happy for moments like this where they were all together just happily talking. Eomer left quiet early, complaining of a headache and retired to bed, leaving the others to continue talking for a while. They didn't stay up much longer, and soon were all saying their goodnights and retiring to bed.
***
Pippin was woken early the next morning by an urgent banging on the door to his room. Stumbling out of bed he cursed as he tripped over a book that he'd been reading the night before. He managed to finally reach the door, and pulling it open was greeted by a white and shaking Merry. Immediately Pippin woke up properly, and ushered Merry inside, sitting him down in a chair, and sitting down opposite him, worried as to what had gotten Merry into such a state.
"What is it Merry? What's wrong? What's happened?"
Pippin was getting more worried by the second as he watched Merry. Merry took a deep breathe before answering.
"It's Eomer. He's really ill. The Healer say's he's dying, there's nothing they can do to help him. It's just a matter of time."
Pippin was stunned. This couldn't be happening. Merry was looking just as bad as Pippin felt. They sat for several minutes in silence, before Pippin finally started to take action.
"Right, come on. Just let me get some clothes on, and we'll go and see what can be done."
Merry sat in silence, staring in to space not really seeing anything. Pippin pulled on his clothes as quickly as possible before helping Merry up, and guiding him out of his bedroom and along the corridors to Eomer's bedroom. When they got there, the Healer was still with Eomer and Brego was sat next to his bed holding his father's hand. Brego looked up as they entered the room. He smiled weakly at them, before turning to the healer with a questioning look on his face. The healer looked sadly up at them.
"There's nothing I can do. He's maybe got an hour left. I'm sorry."
The healer finished making Eomer as comfortable as possible before bowing and leaving them alone in the room. Brego motioned for the two hobbits to sit down in the two chairs on the other side of the bed, before retreating into himself once more. They sat in silence as the long minutes dragged slowly past. Eomer murmured in his sleep once or twice but other than that they were all silent. After an hour and a half, Eomer opened his eyes suddenly, and looked around the room at them. He tried to smile at them, but found it to hard after three attempts. His breathing was ragged, and he tried to talk to them in between gasps.
"Thank.... You, for...coming, and ...being with me, here...at the end...of all things...You are both..so....so..so dear to me.... I am so ...glad you are here.... Thank you...!"
After smiling once again at the two hobbits, and saying this, he turned his head slightly towards Brego.
"You shall....make....a wonderful.....king."
Eomer smiled at Brego before continuing,
"Look after kingdom....I trust you.... make me proud....I love you...always have...always....will."
Eomer's breathing became even less frequent and more labored, as he tried to continue.
"Will see Eowyn...once more...and Theoden...do not be sad...but I will not....say do....not ...weep....for...not....all....tears....are....an.....evil. Love you....all.....dearly....."
And with those last words Eomer's eye's closed and he departed from Middle Earth forever.
***
The three sat in silence as the room grew dark around them, each trying to cope with their grief in their own way. Eventually Brego stirred and said hoarsely,
"I'd better go and tell the people."
He stumbled stiffly from the room, leaving Merry and Pippin sat in the room. Eventually Pippin stood up, stretching from being in one position for so long and then tapping Merry softly on the shoulder, he helped him rise from the chair, and together they left the room, Merry leaning heavily on Pippin for support.
***
Eomer's funeral was held three day's later and Aragorn and Arwen rode from Minas Tirith to pay their final respects. If possible even more people were there than there had been at Eowyn's funeral, and the people gathered were extremely distressed at the passing of their great king. The day passed slowly, and the feast in celebration of King Eomer's life was a sad one full of regret at his passing and sadness, the two hobbits were not the only one's who had been close to the King. At the end of the feast the two hobbits left with King Aragorn and Queen Arwen to a private chamber to talk. They had not seen each other ring many long years, and they had much to discuss, including what was to happen next.
"Have you considered coming back to Minas Tirith with myself and Queen Arwen?"
Aragorn asked towards the end of the evening. Merry and pippin looked at each other before Pippin replied.
"We talked about it, but had come to no decision. I personally would like to go back, but I also do not want to leave Merry."
Merry thought carefully about this before he answered.
"I also would like to go back to Minas Tirith, but I want to stay here for a while first. I want to see Brego's coronation before I go."
Aragorn smiled at this before replying,
"That's fine, we are staying for the coronation as well. We shall leave four day's after the coronation, you can join us if you want. Think about it, and let us know."
After this Aragorn and Arwen bid the hobbit's goodnight before retiring to their room, leaving Merry and Pippin a lot to think about.