One Last Kiss
Part 9
Disclaimer: I don't own it...it owns me.
~*~
When Éomer heard the plans for the war, he thought at first that it
was madness. How could all four succeed without one mistake? Aragorn,
however, quickly pulled him out of his faze of disbelief by asking him
if he thought any set for the task were unworthy, including Éomer
himself. As the answer was, of course, no, Éomer was taken to the oath
of Eorl that he had renewed with Aragorn. He had sworn to follow the
Númenóreans to war whether it be in far Harad or Forochel. He would
fulfill his oath with no protest, if need be.
Aragorn approached the Rohirric King. "Éomer!" he called out.
Shaken from his thoughts, Éomer stood to greet his peer. "Good day,
Aragorn, or Wingfoot, if I may call you so."
Aragorn chuckled softly, though it sounded mirthless, "Aye, you may
indeed, my friend!"
"Do you seek me out for anything particular?"
Aragorn's face sobered, "I do."
Seeing the Gondorian King's face, Éomer frowned. That would not do at
all. "This is about the war, then?"
Aragorn looked sharply at Éomer, unsurprised that he had guessed so
easily. "Yes. Yes, it is." He took out his pipe and lit it for lack of
something else to do.
"We were all able to survive the War of the Ring, but will we endure
another such campaign? I did hope that my children would never know war
in all of their lives, but now I see that this cannot be so." Éomer
sighed, venting his sorrow.
"Alas, for I had hoped the same, but it cannot be. I begin to wonder if
every generation shall see at least one war, whether we work to prevent
it or no. I do not think the South and East shall ever cease wreaking
havoc upon our people." Aragorn tried to comfort him.
A thought then struck Éomer. "If we win, could not one of us take these
warring countries in as a province? Umbar and Harad, of course, would
automatically go to Gondor, as of old that was your land."
Aragorn shook his head. "I could take Umbar easily, I believe that if
they were asked to surrender to either the name King Elessar or Captain
Thorongil, they would not need a Council to decide. Harad would be a
bit harder. I could rightfully take back the Gondorian lands of old, but
what of the other parts of Harad? I will make no more war than is
necessary. How would Rohan fare with Khand and Rhûn under its belt?"
"It would be difficult, if not impossible." Éomer admitted. "My men are
battle hungry and I can feel my blade Gúthwine aching for fresh blood.
I would give you Khand and take for myself naught but the nearer lands
of Rhûn. Leave the rest for generations to come."
Aragorn nodded. "I will if you insist, and should we live to see the
day."
"I must insist, then."
Aragorn's Captain then walked up to the two Kings who had been sitting on a
log near the edge of the forest, devoid of any sort of guard. Bowing to
the King, the Captain said, "Forgive me, my lords, if I interrupt
aught, but the troops are restless to depart." Taking a look around, he
added, "Where is your guard, my lord? I might also ask the same of Éomer
King," he dared.
Turning immediately from his easy banter with a friend, to the stern
persona required from a King of Gondor and Arnor, Aragorn answered,
"The Rohirrim are much more sensible beings, Táwarstar. For, you see,
they do not force their King to go about accompanied by an entire éored
as you practically do to me." Turning solemn yet again, he added, "I
have ordered my own off for the moment." With that, he strode to his
horse, refused the stable hand's help in saddling him, as always, and
gave the orders to prepare to leave the glade in which they were
camping.
Shaking his head in ill-concealed mirth, Éomer did the same. They were
soon riding off into the sunset, ready to face the War of the New Age.
~*~
Please Review!
Part 9
Disclaimer: I don't own it...it owns me.
~*~
When Éomer heard the plans for the war, he thought at first that it
was madness. How could all four succeed without one mistake? Aragorn,
however, quickly pulled him out of his faze of disbelief by asking him
if he thought any set for the task were unworthy, including Éomer
himself. As the answer was, of course, no, Éomer was taken to the oath
of Eorl that he had renewed with Aragorn. He had sworn to follow the
Númenóreans to war whether it be in far Harad or Forochel. He would
fulfill his oath with no protest, if need be.
Aragorn approached the Rohirric King. "Éomer!" he called out.
Shaken from his thoughts, Éomer stood to greet his peer. "Good day,
Aragorn, or Wingfoot, if I may call you so."
Aragorn chuckled softly, though it sounded mirthless, "Aye, you may
indeed, my friend!"
"Do you seek me out for anything particular?"
Aragorn's face sobered, "I do."
Seeing the Gondorian King's face, Éomer frowned. That would not do at
all. "This is about the war, then?"
Aragorn looked sharply at Éomer, unsurprised that he had guessed so
easily. "Yes. Yes, it is." He took out his pipe and lit it for lack of
something else to do.
"We were all able to survive the War of the Ring, but will we endure
another such campaign? I did hope that my children would never know war
in all of their lives, but now I see that this cannot be so." Éomer
sighed, venting his sorrow.
"Alas, for I had hoped the same, but it cannot be. I begin to wonder if
every generation shall see at least one war, whether we work to prevent
it or no. I do not think the South and East shall ever cease wreaking
havoc upon our people." Aragorn tried to comfort him.
A thought then struck Éomer. "If we win, could not one of us take these
warring countries in as a province? Umbar and Harad, of course, would
automatically go to Gondor, as of old that was your land."
Aragorn shook his head. "I could take Umbar easily, I believe that if
they were asked to surrender to either the name King Elessar or Captain
Thorongil, they would not need a Council to decide. Harad would be a
bit harder. I could rightfully take back the Gondorian lands of old, but
what of the other parts of Harad? I will make no more war than is
necessary. How would Rohan fare with Khand and Rhûn under its belt?"
"It would be difficult, if not impossible." Éomer admitted. "My men are
battle hungry and I can feel my blade Gúthwine aching for fresh blood.
I would give you Khand and take for myself naught but the nearer lands
of Rhûn. Leave the rest for generations to come."
Aragorn nodded. "I will if you insist, and should we live to see the
day."
"I must insist, then."
Aragorn's Captain then walked up to the two Kings who had been sitting on a
log near the edge of the forest, devoid of any sort of guard. Bowing to
the King, the Captain said, "Forgive me, my lords, if I interrupt
aught, but the troops are restless to depart." Taking a look around, he
added, "Where is your guard, my lord? I might also ask the same of Éomer
King," he dared.
Turning immediately from his easy banter with a friend, to the stern
persona required from a King of Gondor and Arnor, Aragorn answered,
"The Rohirrim are much more sensible beings, Táwarstar. For, you see,
they do not force their King to go about accompanied by an entire éored
as you practically do to me." Turning solemn yet again, he added, "I
have ordered my own off for the moment." With that, he strode to his
horse, refused the stable hand's help in saddling him, as always, and
gave the orders to prepare to leave the glade in which they were
camping.
Shaking his head in ill-concealed mirth, Éomer did the same. They were
soon riding off into the sunset, ready to face the War of the New Age.
~*~
Please Review!