On the greensward in Edoras the fight between Éomer and Heruláth continued. Heruláth was, in truth, the better fighter because he had not been some nearly half the year away from his blade. But Éomer held his advantage in his uncontrolled, passionate rage. Nothing was going to take this fight from the man. It would have been very easy for him to have simply run Heruláth through when he knocked him down, but Éomer knew perfectly well that he needed to fight this out. It was the only way for him to release his out-of-control ire and be satisfied with the result.
The clash of steel on steel brought out more lookers-on in the failing light of day. For each attack there was a perfect parry and counter-attack. For the bystanders, this was becoming very concerning. Even for those who did not know Éomer's temper, it was now clear that not both men would be walking away from this. Aragorn thought his heart would stop when Éomer tripped backward while holding at bay a strike from Heruláth, but his friend rolled quickly out of the way of a heavy blow and he hooked his foe behind the legs, sending him to the ground as well. Éomer rose quickly and regained his self-control, though he lost none of his ferocity. Heruláth was still on his knees, attempting to get back the wind that had been knocked out of him.
Éomer at this point had no concern for a fair duel, this was no different to him than lopping the head off some repulsive, Mordor-bred orc. As the King of Rohan brought his sword downward in a great arch, Heruláth suddenly spun and thrust a hidden dagger into Éomer's side. The cry heard from Éomer was not so much one of anguish but of raging fury. Heruláth's defensive strike, however, had not been enough to distract the King from his mark and his sword found itself embedded deeply in the evil one's ribs. Éomer watched just long enough to spit at the defeated and dying man and to curse Heruláth's final breaths before staggering backward and dropping his sword as he allowed his own pain to flood him. Éomer fell to the ground, sending Aragorn and Gandalf running from the room where they were out of the palace and down to the King.
Pushing through the frantic crowd that now surrounded the King of Rohan, the King of Gondor dropped to his knees at Éomer's side. After a careful check of all vital signs, Aragorn pronounced Éomer alive but hurt and exhausted. He called a couple of men to bear him back to his chamber as quickly, and gently, as possible. Moving to Gandalf, who was knelt over the body of Heruláth. The Wizard simply shook his head, but Aragorn instinctively, and vainly, checked for breathing and pulse anyway. Seeing that there was nothing he could do to save the villain, even if saving was not deserved, Aragorn rushed back to Éomer.
---
When Éowyn heard the cry of outrage she did not immediately recognize it as her brother's and so she chanced a look out the window. Seeing Heruláth laying with Éomer's sword sheathed in his body, a wave of relief washed halfway over her when Éomer suddenly fell to the ground too. Éowyn's strength gave out and she dropped to her knees beside the window, tears claiming her.
When Aragorn had Éomer brought back into Meduseld, Faramir realized that Éowyn must have still been in the study. He hurried back along the corridor and knocked urgently upon the door. There was no response, but he could hear weeping within. He tried the handle, but found it locked.
"Éowyn? Please let me in." Faramir's voice was gentle, but imploring. Faramir knew he father would not act with such speed if Éomer was beyond his help, but he knew that Éowyn would not and would think her brother killed too. Faramir still received no reply but pain-filled sobs.
Just then Mithrandir's hand caught Faramir's shoulder as he was about to go and leave her alone as she apparently wished to be. "Lady Éowyn," Gandalf called. "Your brother wishes to speak with you. If you prefer to remain here, though, i will bear to him your -"
The door opened slowly and Éowyn stepped out. "He lives?" she asked in a whisper. Less than a moment later she was all but flying down the hallway to her brother's chamber.
She rushed into the room, drawing a rather annoyed stare from Aragorn who was trying to keep the place as peaceful as possible for the injured king. He did not hinder her, though, as she knelt beside her brother's bed. He was mostly finished with what he could do at any rate,
She remembered clearly the scent of athelas that filled the room and at once she felt more calm than she had in a long time. She took Éomer's hand in hers and he slowly opened his eyes.
Looking at her tearful smile, the king grasped his sister's hand. "It is over, Éowyn. Gandalf tells me i defeated him once and for all."
She nodded, moving to sit beside him. She knew his wound prevented her from embracing him and so she held his hand all the tighter. "Thank you, big brother," she said softly. She only used that title for him when her speaking was very heartfelt. "Always have you looked after me, Éomer, even when i resisted your guardianship."
"I should have done better, Éowyn," Éomer said in a strained voice. "I apologize to you. Had i been more attentive i would have seen that something was so very wrong."
"No you would not have," she insisted, impertinent as always. "I did everything to hide it from you. I wanted to fight for myself."
"You have always fought for yourself, little sister," Rohan's king said, almost teasingly. "You have never failed to own your troubles. That is an admirable quality, but you must learn to accept the help of others."
"I have learned that, Éomer," she said, just as Faramir and Gandalf came to the door.
The two newcomers remained quiet in the doorway as Aragorn assured Éowyn that her brother would be fine as long as he remained abed for a couple of days and kept to his study more than the stable for several weeks. Éomer looked very unhappy with that prognosis but Aragorn insisted that he was extremely lucky that his wound was not fatal and that the time requirement was precautionary so that the tissues and muscles had a fair chance to heal.
That night Éomer and Éowyn spent talking of many things from their childhoods to their futures. Éowyn told him that she now bore a child, or as Lady Galadhriel prophesized, two children. Fortunately, the combination of the pain from his wound and the calming influence of the athelas steam that still lingered kept from him flying back into a state of fury. When he asked her if this had been the result of the attack, she answered truthfully that she did not know. He questioned her meaning and she very delicately explained that she and her betrothed had been together one night when all hope for the future seemed lost. Éomer just shook his head and asked Éowyn to fetch him an ale.
---
Meeting again in Aragorn's chambers were Gondor's king, his son, Gandalf, and Imrahil. Maps were spread over every conceivable surface along with numerous candles, now that they had lost what daylight there was.
Gandalf and Faramir were in attendance in advisory and arbitrary capacity only. The meeting mostly concerned Aragorn and Imrahil, as the King felt it necessary to re-delineate the areas that Dol Amroth's soldiers kept watch over. It was Aragorn's hope that he could convince Imrahil to station a large fraction in Umbar, but he predicted correctly that the Prince would be less than pleased with that prospect.
The debate carried on long into the night. Though all involved had grown greatly drowsy, it seemed that for some sleepiness had the effect of making one much more stubborn.
---
Linda: MacBeth? Not quite, but not too far from the mark.
Any one else have any guesses? Hint: It was a very good, if not very popular, film.
