Chapter 14.
Éomer checked his reflection in the pool of water as he headed towards the Great Hall. Dengal and Hild's betrothal had been announced the day after they had returned from the battle. He rubbed his still sore leg softly as his thoughts were interrupted by a clattering of hooves over cobblestones. A horse trotted in tiredly as he looked up. The horse neared and slowed and the figure dismounted. He approached with a hand held up, palm facing outward.
"This is a chance meeting," the familiar voice said with a merry laugh, "son of Éomund, Éomer is it not? It has been many years since I first met you. It was at your sister's party," he said coming forward.
"Boromir, the son of the steward, yes I remember you. Forgive me; the years have been long indeed. But what brings you here?"
Boromir looked at Éomer's garb, "For whatever party you are headed to. It has been to long since I first heard the merry tapping of feet in your uncle's golden hall," he paused and the smile turned to a more pensive look, "I come on my way to the elven city of Imladris, on a matter of business actually. I hoped to break my journey here."
"Imladris? That is some way from here… We are glad to have you here in Aldburg though; you are welcome to join the celebration."
"I think perhaps it would be better if I simply rested for the night. It is necessary that I leave early tomorrow, but I thank you for the invitation."
"I understand, I hope you enjoy a peaceful night," Éomer responded as a servant took Boromir's horse and another led him to the soldier's quarters.
Éomer continued on to the Great Hall. Music seeped out from the room as he entered. He saw many of the soldiers sitting at the table to his right and he looked further on to where couples were dancing and the fiddler tapped his foot to the tune. Dengal and Hild were among them. Éomer felt a tug at his tunic and he looked down at Leofwyn.
"Hello cousin, why were you late?" she asked.
"I had to see too an old friend. You look very pretty today."
"Thank you," she said giggling.
Her dress was white with dark green trim and golden thread created the design of horses' heads with manes flowing down the sleeves. Her red hair was caught up in a half-bun, uncharacteristically tidy.
Éomer mock bowed and took Leofwyn's hand, "Would you care to watch the dancers my lady?" he asked.
"Yes indeed," she said blushing profusely and tottering to link her hand in his proffered arm. He led her to the table where the soldiers sat.
They all rose and inclined their heads toward the little lady which embarrassed her and entertained her very much. As they sat Leofwyn chattered on about the dancers, their dress, and her sister Hild. The dancers sat down as Ceneleod rose and called them to attention.
He held a large goblet in his hand, "My lords and ladies! Friends, and relations, or perhaps friends of relations," he said glancing at Dengal merrily while everyone laughed politely. "We are here to salute Dengal and Hild on the occasion of their betrothal!" he said followed by another burst of cheering.
Éomer raised his glass, and the hall reverberated with the shouting, "Westu Dengal hal! Westu Hild hal!" they yelled and drank. Dengal and Hild smiled at each other happily.
The dancing began again after they had feasted and Éomer offered to escort Leofwyn to her room for the night since it was growing late. Leofwyn was strangely silent as they walked to her room and yawned many times. Éomer shook his own head drowsily as he opened the doors to his own quarters. The music of the fiddler still faintly played from the hall.
All was quiet the next morning. Doubtless many had not returned from the party till very late. Éomer's footsteps reverberated dully as he approached the room the servants had directed him to. He rapped on the door lightly and slowly it opened revealing a dressed and wide awake Boromir.
"Éomer, come in, come in. I am surprised to see you this early, though I was just getting ready to make my departure," he said gesturing to a chair next to the bed.
Éomer sat gratefully and Boromir smirked at his tired expression, "Did the dancing weary you?" he asked amused.
"No," Éomer yawned, "these early hours. However I wanted to see you off. No doubt you must be leaving soon. What business draws you away so quickly?"
Boromir continued to pack his extra clothes and his expression grew somber, "In truth? Dark business, the business of a country struggling to keep Sauron's domain restricted to Mordor. I go to the elven city to seek an answer and some wise counsel. And perhaps to learn the meaning of a dream that has haunted me for many months."
"I see," though in truth Éomer felt terribly perplexed, "Is there anything else that you shall need for your journey? Food? Supplies?"
"I am in need of some more travel food and a good knife, my own was washed down a river in a flood near the mountain's rivers," Boromir said rolling up his blanket and strapping on his sword belt.
Éomer gathered what he asked for. As Boromir mounted his horse in the courtyard, as the sun's rays started to warm the cobblestones, Éomer cautioned him, "Ride through the Gap of Rohan and try to stay away from Edoras, and any scouts from the Golden city. I do not think they would hinder you but many strange things have happened there of late."
"I will try," Boromir said and urged his horse on, out of the city. Éomer found himself pushing away thoughts of Edoras guiltily. Aldburg had become a haven to him. It was a place where the stink of Saruman's treachery did not fill every cranny. Saruman…the helmet!
He had the evidence to prove the Istari's guilt. The sign on the helmet of the strange Uruk-hai was a white hand. That was the very same symbol as that of Saruman. But Boromir was already gone and he could not warn the brave Gondorian of Isengard's treachery. He groaned inwardly, how could he have forgotten?
Perhaps this place was too much of a rest. As he stalked inside to retrieve his belongings he passed Dengal, "We will ride for Edoras immediately, assemble the men."
Dengal stared at him shocked, "My lord…"
"You may stay Dengal with ten other men to guard the Folde. I will not draw you from the city, but I must leave immediately."
Éowyn smoothed the rough hair on the colt's nose gently and watched with amusement as his tongue darted out to lick her hand. His dark hair was messy and stuck up all along his neck. His gangly legs made him look all the more a clown but promised for a fast steed in the future.
"We shall call you Windfola, in hopes of many quick rides across the plains," she had spent many weeks in this stall with the new foal. It was an escape from Grima and the dimness of the halls. In the hall she could visibly see the change, the darkness of the corridors, and the coldness of the hearth.
A cold wind blew across her back and she shivered slightly. Autumn was coming swiftly this year, and it almost seemed the world would be caught in eternal winter, and spring would never return to the plains. A shadow moved in the corner of her eye and she turned to see nothing. And to be greeted only by the sound of Windfola's soft snickering and a crying baby in the city.
She turned back to the colt and rubbed his nose, "It will turn out right," she said reassuring herself more than him.
Note: Hey everybody! I'm updating again already…strangely out of character :) I hoped everybody liked Boromir's return, Sadly it's the last time he'll appear in this story. I promised responses to all my reviewers… so here they are!
kezya- Thanks for the review! I will probably finish the story in about 3 or 4 more chapters, but who knows how quickly I will get it updated, thanks for the review!
Mystikal-Thanks for the review, I hoped you liked the little bit I had with Dengal and Hild. I am not much of a romance writer, as you can probably tell. Thanks again.
Eokat- You are completely right, and that chapter extremely confusing. I meant to have Ceneleod as Théoden's brother-in-law but completely forgot where I was going with that… So sorry. Thanks for the review! It was completely helpful and reminded me of where I was going. I've edited the chapters so they actually make canonical sense.
isilhen- Thanks for the reviews you left! I'm not planning on killing off Dengal but who knows… jk, thanks again.
Voldie on Varsity Track- Thanks for the cookie! I hope you like the rest of it!