A Wind in the Meadow

4. Thengel

- Mid Nov SR 2957 -

Whether by Theoden's design or Thengel's intention, the next despatch to Hornburg was carried out by another rider. Thorongil found himself at loose ends in Edoras and was glad to play Theoden's training partner. He was even more relieved when the arm-master took charge of Theoden's tutelage. Beyond some basic skills, it seemed shield-work was one area his past had not provided for. And so he became both a fellow student and partner to Theoden.

In two weeks, he found himself sparring with the King. Thengel had taken to spending some time in the evening to watch Theoden at training. After a week of studying him with Theoden, Thengel had asked if Thorongil would be willing to demonstrate his sword skill. It was immediately obvious to Thorongil that Thengel was a very good swordsman, even superior to Fastred. But Thorongil was also the better of the two when he was not burdened with a shield, which proved more of a hindrance to his swordsmanship.

Now that he had spent much time in the King's company and at court, Thorongil began to notice some tension in Thengel. Something was not going well. Although he hid it well from his family and advisors, Thorongil knew Thengel was as restless and frustrated as a caged lion. The evening bouts became less a practice session and more an outlet for his tense energy as time progressed. Thorongil grew ever more nervous. Thengel threw himself with recklessness that bordered on manic. Only quick reflexes had saved him from impaling Thengel by accident.

Thorongil found himself cornered one evening. He feinted to the left to force Thengel back, but Thengel met him head on. Their swords clashed and slid against each other. His sword point slipped past Thengel's guard, towards the neck. With a shock, Thorongil changed direction and threw himself against the wall. Thengel seemed to realise his peril and fell back. Thorongil overbalanced and crashed into the sword bins. Wooden and blunt practice swords clattered around him as he looked frantically for the King. With a sigh, he saw that he had not murdered the King of Rohan. Even so, Thengel sported a long gash in the arm.

Theoden, shaken out of astonishment, ran immediately to his father. "I'm all right. I'm not too hurt." Thengel reassured him. But he remained at his father's side as Thorongil cleaned and bound his wound. Then, Thengel declared the lesson ended and sent him off to bed.

Thorongil waited on Thengel as he wondered what the King might say of the incident. Thengel, in turn was silent for a while. When Theoden's footsteps had faded from hearing, he turned towards Thorongil and clasped his shoulder.

"I am sorry for putting you in such a difficult position," he said softly. Thorongil looked up in surprise. Thengel met him eye to eye. "I know what you did at the last moment. Thank you. And forgive me."

The next morning, Thorongil found himself summoned to the king's presence.

"I have something that belongs to you," he said as he gave Thorongil a long bundle, wrapped in linen. "I'm afraid it had slipped our minds till today. It seems I need to apologise to you once again."

Puzzled, Thorongil unwrapped the bundle. As he unveiled the sword, scabbard and belt, he felt the earth lurched beneath his feet.

-.-.-.-.-.-

An old man sat beside him in the campfire. Five horses stood tethered to one side of the clearing.

"We are at the Mering Stream. Across which you would enter Anórien of Gondor," said the old man.

Then, the man sitting across the fire said, "As we had agreed, both of you will wait here. If we did not return or send word by June, assume the worst. We will leave the horses with you."

He nodded. Tomorrow, three of their company will go east. Tomorrow, a long wait will begin.

-.-.-.-.-.-

"Thorongil!" Thengel's voice woke him. Much to his embarrassment, he found himself lying on a couch in the room. Seeing that they were alone, he knew the King must have carried him there and had loosened his collar. Then he remembered. Everything. "Thorongil?"

"Sire, there was another man with me that day ..." It was not a question.

"Yes."

"Where is he? Is he ...?" Something in the Thengel's tone made him hesitant. He found that he could not ask it. His voice had deserted him. But Thengel knew the meaning of his unvoiced question.

"He is." Thengel answered gently. "We had buried him at the steading. I hope that is acceptable."

"Thank you." Head bowed, Thorongil was silent a long while. "I beg a boon, Sire." Thengel studied him in silence. Thorongil felt himself weighed and measured.

Thengel was no fool. He knew Thorongil had finally regained his memory. He also knew that there were some things Thorongil did not wish to reveal. Now, he had to decide if the mysteries Thorongil kept would endanger Rohan. Turgon was right. In the end, it came down to a judge of character. How should he judge Thorongil's character? Should he demand disclosure from his mysterious guest? Should he refuse?

Finally, Thorongil heard Thengel said, "Go to Helm's Deep. One of Erkenhelm's Riders will take you there."

TBC ...


Footnotes:

1. (Thengel, his third child and only son, left Rohan when he came to manhood and lived long in Gondor, and won honour in the service of Turgon.) Strangely, Thengel left Gondor in 2953, the same year Turgon died.
Conjectures: In looking up Thengel's history, it appears there's some parallel between Thorongil and Thengel (leaving own people to serve in foreign land, tho' their reasons are different) as well as between Thengel and Ecthelion (policies and ideals). Also, Thengel and Ecthelion must have both learned from the same man, Turgon. Suggestions of a possible story here...

2. Erkenhelm - OC. A captain stationed in Hornburg, Helm's Deep.

In 2957, the canon characters are :

Age - Name
05 - Eomund, father of Eomer
09 - Theoden, son of Thengel
26 - Aragorn, son of Arathorn
36 - Morwen of Lossarnach, mother of Theoden
50 - Gilraen, daughter of Dirhael, mother of Aragorn
53 - Thengel, son of Fengel, King of Rohan
71 - Ecthelion, Steward of Gondor

Author's Note:

Seems a lot of things left unsaid (and hopefully need not be said) between two men. Is it too disjointed?