Tolwyn's fourteenth year passed quickly. Before she knew it, her lessons were near completion and her 15th birthday was approaching. She wasn't told what was going to happen to her after her birthday; she just assumed she would live at the Golden Hall like her aunt Eowyn had done.
June 25th arrived, sunny and bright. Tolwyn dressed in a creamy white dress that was her aunt's that had been saved just for that day. Her father and brother were home, and after a small breakfast she joined them in the throne room. They both stood and bowed to her as if she were a lady now. Then they walked forward until her father was on her left side and her brother on her right. They each offered her an arm, and she linked elbows with them. Together they strolled out the doors and stood in front of the Golden Hall. A small crowd of townspeople that had gathered there cheered before going off to their morning chores again. Eomer took the lead and after unhooking arm with Tolwyn he began to walk. Elfwine and Tolwyn, still arm-in-arm, followed their father to the royal stables. He led them to a stall near the end of the stable, where Baldor the Meara was standing.
"As you were promised, my daughter," Eomer said. "It is your 15th birthday, and Baldor is yours." Tolwyn smiled and politely hugged her father. From her brother's lessons she knew how to ride the temperamental Mearas and how to care for them. The difference between the ancient breed of Mearas and regular horses is that Mearas understand the speech of Men. She let Baldor sniff her outstretched hand, then petted him. He was a full-grown stallion now, but still only a little bigger than a normal horse. Except for the near-human look in his eyes, Baldor looked like any normal dumb horse.
The three nobles strolled together around the city for a while. Eomer and Elfwine talked about battle and politics; Tolwyn, feeling awkward, stayed quiet. The day passed eventually, and at sundown there was a feast at the Golden Hall. Every noble person in Edoras was invited, and there was enough food to feed 10 whole villages for a month. Tolwyn ate enough to fill her, then sat quietly at the table and watched as everyone talked and laughed. She knew she should be celebrating; but somehow she felt uneasy about her future, that something was going to happen soon to change her life forever.
In the evening, after most of the court nobles had been dismissed, Tolwyn met her father and brother in a small study. Her father who had his back turned toward her as she stood in the doorway said, "I have something to give you, Tolwyn. It was my mother's, and your great-grandfather King Thengel's before her. I doubt you will have use for it in this age of peace, but still, take care of it." With that he turned around and presented to her a dagger. At least, he called it a dagger. It was as big as any small-sword and quite sharp. It had two emeralds and two diamonds embedded in the cross-guard and three galloping horses engraved on the blade. The horses got smaller as they got to the tip of the blade, and the "line" they were running on was wavy as if it were the hills of Rohan.
"It's beautiful," she breathed as she took it from her father. "Oh, thank you! I will treasure it forever!" She threw her arms around his neck (making sure not to cut his ear off, of course) and hugged him. Elfwine watched this all with an approving smile. He had not seen his father and sister this close since she was a baby. A servant came on his order and took the dagger in its plain black scabbard to Tolwyn's chambers. The three of them sat in chairs near a roaring fireplace and began to talk. The conversation was trivial matters such as the weather until…
Eomer turned to Tolwyn with a strange look in his eye. "Tolwyn, dearest daughter, would you like to travel now that all your lessons are over?" She nodded eagerly. Elfwine, again silent, raised an eyebrow at this. He knew Eomer did not want to take any risk of Tolwyn being hurt, and travel involved many risks. But he stayed silent. Eomer sat in thought for a few seconds more, then asked, "Have you ever heard of Eldarion?" Tolwyn searched her memory for a minute then responded, "He's the son of King Elessar, isn't he? The Prince of Gondor?" Eomer nodded. "Oft has he ridden into battle with his father and Elfwine and I. He is brave and strong, and a gentleman as far as I know. And," he paused and glanced at Tolwyn, "He is in need of a wife."