Chapter 7.
The day had already been in existence many hours when Éomer finally looked up at the sun. It was shining down on the fields with an exuberance that lightened his heart. A chilly closing of fall was coming closer but the high and mighty sun did not seem to notice. In fact almost all the grasses were dead, and crunched beneath their horse's hooves as they went on towards Edoras.
They had just finished visiting each of the fallen rider's houses. They had told their wife or child or parent (sometimes all three) that they would never see their relation again. It was a daunting task to say the least, to stand there and tell them the news without show of emotion, politely decline staying and move on to the next house where they would repeat it all over again. Éomer wondered if he sounded as cold as he felt when they visited each home, if he looked as uncaring as he thought he did as they quickly visited one after another.
He thought of Dengal and his sister again and of their meeting this day in the courtyard. How had Éowyn become so conniving? Couldn't she see what a womanizer Dengal was? He would show her, on Éowyn's part the affection might be sincere but on the other hand she might desire the relationship knowing that Éomer did not like the match. Enough approved, quality time together would show the true nature of their attachment.
"And what has carried you away so deep in thought brother?" Théodred asked continuing to refer to Éomer as he always did despite his father's change.
"Éowyn."
"Dengal eh?"
Éomer turned with a laugh, "Am I the only one in our family who did not know of their recent attachment?"
"I suppose, though father might be unaware."
"Well then, since you know all about it you need not ask me about it and you can leave me to my own thoughts."
"Fine, I will, though I would like to know what has caused such a deep frown on your face concerning it."
"I went looking for Éowyn last night as you know and there I found Dengal and her together."
"In her room?" Grimbold asked as he spurred his horse up to their sides.
Éomer glared at him jokingly, "I do not remember including you in this conversation. Of course not in her room, but in the hall outside which is nearly as bad by my reckoning. They were…"
"Oh let me guess, staring into each other's eyes talking in quiet whispers, then just as there lips meet they notice you are there watching them," Théodred said in a star-struck voice.
"Exactly, then Dengal runs away like a scared dog with his tail between his legs and you yell at Éowyn a bit," Grimbold finished mimicking Dengal's cowardly expression.
Éomer looked at both of them quite amazed, laughing out loud as the two imitated the scene "Yes, how did you both know, is word of my sister's iniquity all over the blasted kingdom?"
Both of the other men laughed, "Of course not, it was a guess on my part and I daresay on your cousin's," Grimbold said trying to regain his composure.
"I'm happy it has brought amusement to someone," Éomer responded trying to act disgruntled, and not succeeding. Grimbold was a good man, almost five years older than Théodred and happily married. He was a good commander and a brave leader who would rather die than leave his men behind. It was only by good fortune or some intervention from a power greater, which had kept him alive in all probability. The thought sobered him, it could have been his bride and two children that they had broken the news to, it could have been Éowyn, or Théoden.
The other two continued to laugh as they approached the gate to the city. They opened with a creak and a groan and the men spurred their horses up to the top of the first hill. They stopped at the barns outside of the Golden Hall to return the horses to their stalls. Éomer led Dæcer to his stall beside that of Cenemod, Théodred's equine companion. Beside Cenemod's stall was a large one reserved for Shadowfax, the only mearas to grace the royal stables. Éomer removed the saddle from Dæcer's back and rubbed his nose gently.
The royal stables were almost as large as the throne room of the great hall. They were a calming place, full of the smell of fresh hay, and horses. They were always busy, and men rushed to and fro constantly cleaning the horses' hooves or brushing them down. Here was peace, here was a pause in the day's busy circle, to rest for a moment and enjoy the company of some of the finest friends ever to be found, the horses.
From afar Dæcer looked grey but in actuality, he was dappled over the whole of his body. He had been a companion through the whole of four years and had proved a faithful spirit. Éomer turned and was startled to see an old man leaning against the rails of Shadowfax's compartment. "Sir, may I ask what your business in these stables," he asked cordially, wondering how he had not noticed him before.
"Well that was a most polite way of saying get out as I have ever heard," the man chuckled, his voice a deep, scratchy sound, "By asking me that, you ask me my name, my purpose, and my hurried absence all in one statement." The man continued with another chuckle and a sigh.
"You, mistake me sir, it is only that, the horse you watch so keenly is quite a wild one and I feared you might attempt something that was not wise," Éomer replied
Quite confused by the man's words, Théodred had already left and no one was around to help him should this man turn out to be a violent lunatic.
"Well, since you asked so kindly, my name is Gandalf, Gandalf the grey by many. Your name I take is Éomer son of Éomund if I am not mistaken."
Éomer looked at him perplexed, "It is, are you Gandalf the wizard of who so many speak?"
"Indeed I am, Gandalf means me. Though I would not know if I am the one of whom so many speak, however I am a wizard as you call it. Now if we are quite done with the necessary pleasantries I think it is time you took me to your uncle. I have tried unsuccessfully to gain entrance to the hall with my friend three times this day. We both are in need of shelter and I am quite sure your uncle will give it, if not gladly then out of courtesy."
"Your friend?"
"Yes, oh I suppose he needs a lengthy introduction as well. This is Strider a ranger from the Northlands," Gandalf said motioning as a man stepped out of the shadows to his side.
Éomer looked with curiosity at both of them. As a people who did not lie, it was impossible to lie to the people of Eorl undetected. Éomer saw no falsehood but he was confused by why a wizard would visit Rohan in such a way, and why the guards would not let him enter. He sensed no evil about them though mystery seemed a heavy aura about the wizard's companion. He was an ill-shaven man, and his cloak showed sign of much traveling, his face half-shadowed by a hood was not pleasant to look upon but it was not conniving like that of Wormtongue.
"I will show you to my uncle," he said simply and closed the gate to Dæcer's stall. He did not know what it was about this wizard that made him want to help, but he did for some reason, and his gut told him that alone, was good enough.
They followed behind him as he walked up the steps to the doors. The two guards on duty stopped him, "Lord Éomer, who may I ask are these two men?"
"They are friends Hama; they come with me to the king, now if you would let us pass?"
"Of course my lord if you desire it," he answered.
As they entered Éomer could hear one of the guards question Hama, "But I thought Grima told us if those…"
"Grima is not lord of Rohan…" and then the doors shut behind them.
Théoden was just sitting on his throne as they entered; they had caught him without the honey-tongued snake beside him. "My lord, this is Gandalf the Grey and his companion Strider of the northlands, they seek shelter and your ear."
"I know Gandalf but not his companion. Why have you come Gandalf is their ill news to be spoken?" Théoden asked, with a soft chuckle.
"We only ask shelter for the night my lord, but silence also. I would not have word of our arrival and departure travel."
"Shelter for only one night I will grant to you and your strange friend. The silence I will grant also if you both leave quickly upon the morn."
"You are gracious Théoden king, I thank you."
"Wizard's thanks, is what worries me, Gandalf the Grey." Théoden concluded and dismissed them all.
"I will show you the way, if you desire it, the hall is not the easiest place to maneuver in," Éomer offered.
"I have been here many a time before but you may show my friend here, I have other business to attend to," the wizard replied and turned quickly.
Éomer nodded and left the throne hearth through the back door, turning to make sure that Strider was following. The man's silence disquieted him but he said nothing assuming the wizard and his companion's business was their own. Strider walked with a confident gait of one who had traveled much and seen much. His right hand rested on his sword hilt idly, and the other swung in the rhythm of his pace. They soon reached the guest quarters and Éomer left the man to the room.
He suddenly remembered his appointment with Éowyn and groaned. He turned quickly and hurried to the garden, the best way to deal with such a problem would be to take care of it immediately, he almost regretted the necessary time it would take, he wanted to learn more of the wizard and what business brought him here.
Note:
Hey everyone, I am so happy more people have been reviewing my story, many thanks! I have changed a lot or should I say added a lot for chapter 6 so please reread that. I also am going to start editing the original chapters so there will be better grammar and so on though there aren't going to be any plot changes.
Also I know I will get lots of complaints about straying off canon but I promise I am not, Gandalf and Aragorn went into the wilds to search for Gollum around this time period and it stated in the appendices they searched practically everywhere so in my version that includes a stop in Rohan.
Isilhén- thanks again for sticking with this story, I hope you keep reading it. I really like the beginning chapter of your new story I hope you update soon
KAT226- thanks so much for reviewing, it is really encouraging to know more people are reading this story!
Sirabella- thanks for reading my story, I hope you keep reading it!