After I met the Lady Eówyn, I was invited to a banquet that night that
would be held in her honor. I had never been to one of these banquets
before. In fact, I am not entirely sure that this was not the first
festival since my arrival. Because I knew these banquets were important
affairs, I retired to my rooms to dress. The serving ladies, Meira and
Tavah, were thrilled to be given the opportunity to dress me in the formal
styles of Rohan. We got into a bit of a spat about the proper way one
should look when attending a royal banquet. I would have worn my brightest
gown and best jewels and done my hair most elaborately, whilse they
disagreed. According to their law the guests should never outshine the
hosts. They would have my wear white or pale green and dress my hair down.
We compromised. I wore a gown of their choosing; bright white of delicate
linen, but my hair was done in intricate curls, plaits, and twists with
flowers woven into the braids. When I looked at myself, in the quite lovely
gown and dainty silver filigree jewelry, I was wont to agree with the
fashion advice of Meira and Tavah.
Tavah walked with me to the doors of the Golden Hall and patted my shoulder encouragingly. I pushed open the doors and was immersed in sound and smell and light. Tall white candles lit the corners of the hall not reached by enchanting moonlight and starlight. Sheer white curtains and bright green banners waved in the night breeze. The flickering of the candles added to the pulsing mystery of the music. Musicians stood in a corner, beating upon many different sized drums. My feet would not still. They kept the beat even as I walked. I was swept away with the swirling dancers before I even realized that I was moving. Now the musicians played a slow steady rhythm while blowing on high-pitched flutes. Now the drummers' hands were a blur as they beat upon the bass drums, the strings singing with their mournful voices. My heart beat madly and my breath came in short gasps, but not because I was tired. I had, in fact, never felt so alive. The music stirred deep in my soul.
I do not know how long I danced thus, before my eye fell upon Lady Eówyn and Eómer King. They danced with a fierce abandon that told me that they felt the music as I had. My feet stopped moving as my entire being focused on dancing of the brother and sister. Eówyn's long hair whirled about her waist. Her feet moved lightly, swiftly, like quicksilver. The music had stirred my soul, but it was in, it WAS her soul. Eómer danced around his sister with the same graceful ease. They never looked away from each other, and they shed soft tears in the cool evening. It had been many years since they had danced on a happy occasion. The others stopped dancing as well, watching the royal siblings. Their dance was too beautiful to miss by one's own dancing. The music slowed a bit, the flutes and strings played a sad melody. The two dancers slowed with the music and their dance reflected the sadness of family long separated. Suddenly the drumbeat picked back up again. Faster and faster the beat grew. Eómer and Eówyn whirled around each other faster than the eye could discern. Suddenly the music stopped with a loud crescendo. The pair ended in perfect time, facing each other with their hands at their sides. No one spoke for a breathless moment as the two shared a dear reunion. At last the King spoke, still watching his sister.
"My friends, let the feast begin!"
A loud cheer erupted from the men, and there was a general movement toward the long tables about the hall. For the first time my mind acknowledged the delicious aromas wafting from the steaming dishes. The Lord and Lady of the hall took their seats at the head table, but I did not notice. At the last beat of the music I had realized how little I had in common with these people. When the music swirled about us I did not notice the difference, but now as they settled about the tables to talk of land and crops, I felt alone. I took a seat at a low table and silently took a bit of bread. I was wishing very much that I had not come when I hear a discreet cough beside me. I turned to see a man in strange livery. From his dark eyes and dark hair I surmised that he was not of Rohan. He was, in fact, a man of Gondor, part of the Lady's entourage. He gave to me a small deferential bow and spoke respectfully.
"The Lady Helen's presence is requested at the head table."
I gave a little gasp. I had not expected to be asked to take this honor. I was surprised that the King would take enough notice of me to make this request. I decided that I would leave.
"No thank you, sir. Please tell his majesty that I am not insensible of the honor given me, but I would prefer to sit here with people of my own station."
He frowned a little at me speech and I fervently hoped that I had worded it well. He shook his head a bit as he replied. "Although I am sure that his majesty the King of Rohan desires your presence as well, it is the Lady Eówyn that bids you sit by her."
This was a complete surprise. I had decided that the Lady was cold and important, and I no more thought she would take notice of me then I would take of a peasant. Ah, how cold I was in those days. I look back at them with no small measure of shame. By calling myself a lowly farm girl I mentally exalted myself for my humility. At the same time I placed myself far above the station of those poor farmers. I believe at this point I stuttered a weak refusal, but I cannot forget the look on the man's face as he answered me.
"Please, please come. It's for my Lady." When he said this I realized how very much he loved "his lady." I was learning the nature of true nobility, and their chance to rule in a way that would make even their servants love them. I suppose I nodded my agreement, for the next moment I walked across the hall and seated myself by the lady's side. She was dressed much like I was, in a simple white gown, but her golden hair was loose, and she wore a lovely crown. Her true title was that of a Princess in Gondor, but that is a lesson in politics and nobility that I have not the time nor inclination to tell.
We exchanged some pleasantries during the course of the meal. She asked me a great deal about Spruce Havens, and I told her everything. I remembered it as it was before the war. I told her of the great horse pasture to the front of the house. I told her how I could look out at any moment and see a dozen of the fine animals grazing or running. My tale interested the King so that he turned from the nobleman at his side and listened as I told of the new breed my father had been developing. It was to be one that was comfortable enough to ride all day. When the war began he sold his breeding stock to a man in Tennessee. We kept only a few workhorses and our own hacks. The two of them were sympathetic to my plight. Eómer told me of his own steed, and Eówyn matched him by telling of her horses in Gondor. We passed a pleasant evening.
As we neared the end minstrels with their violins walked to the center of the room. Eówyn smiled at me.
"Now we will hear stories and tales. The history of Middle Earth and Rohan will be presented in song!" She was very excited. My excitement lasted until the minstrels began to sing of people I had never heard. Helm and Eórn and countless others were lauded in song. My eyes were nearly closed in sleep when I heard a familiar name. A wiry minstrel whose name I had not caught bowed before the King.
"Now I will sing to you of Frodo the Nine-Fingered and the War of the Ring." He lifted his bow to his strings. Just at that moment a small voice piped up, "And Samwise the Brave! Don't forget him! Frodo couldn't of done it without him. At least that's what my dad says."
Laughs floated about the room as the embarrassed mother tried to shush her child, but the minstrel turned to the little boy and bowed deeply. "The young one is wise indeed. It is a lesson to us all, that the largest deeds may be done by the smallest person." He bowed again and began his tune. It went on for a long time. This was the second time I had heard the story, but it was the first time that Samwise had featured in it so largely.
After the minstrels came more dancing. It was not so wild this time. The Lady Eówyn chose not to dance, so I danced with Eómer King. He taught me the steps I did not know. Bit by bit the crowd thinned. As the morning sun arose the last guests had left the hall. The Lady Eówyn sat alone at the high table. I sat beside her, grateful for the rest for my feet. She smiled at me a bit, but her eyes were once again on her brother. He walked toward us, bidding me goodbye. He kissed Eówyn's cheek, then walked slowly onto a balcony. Eówyn watched him, then whispered to me.
"I would that my brother could find the happiness that I possess. The shadow has retreated, but I fear that a greater burden has fallen upon his shoulders. Now he must rule a kingdom." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "My brother is very lonely."
Tavah walked with me to the doors of the Golden Hall and patted my shoulder encouragingly. I pushed open the doors and was immersed in sound and smell and light. Tall white candles lit the corners of the hall not reached by enchanting moonlight and starlight. Sheer white curtains and bright green banners waved in the night breeze. The flickering of the candles added to the pulsing mystery of the music. Musicians stood in a corner, beating upon many different sized drums. My feet would not still. They kept the beat even as I walked. I was swept away with the swirling dancers before I even realized that I was moving. Now the musicians played a slow steady rhythm while blowing on high-pitched flutes. Now the drummers' hands were a blur as they beat upon the bass drums, the strings singing with their mournful voices. My heart beat madly and my breath came in short gasps, but not because I was tired. I had, in fact, never felt so alive. The music stirred deep in my soul.
I do not know how long I danced thus, before my eye fell upon Lady Eówyn and Eómer King. They danced with a fierce abandon that told me that they felt the music as I had. My feet stopped moving as my entire being focused on dancing of the brother and sister. Eówyn's long hair whirled about her waist. Her feet moved lightly, swiftly, like quicksilver. The music had stirred my soul, but it was in, it WAS her soul. Eómer danced around his sister with the same graceful ease. They never looked away from each other, and they shed soft tears in the cool evening. It had been many years since they had danced on a happy occasion. The others stopped dancing as well, watching the royal siblings. Their dance was too beautiful to miss by one's own dancing. The music slowed a bit, the flutes and strings played a sad melody. The two dancers slowed with the music and their dance reflected the sadness of family long separated. Suddenly the drumbeat picked back up again. Faster and faster the beat grew. Eómer and Eówyn whirled around each other faster than the eye could discern. Suddenly the music stopped with a loud crescendo. The pair ended in perfect time, facing each other with their hands at their sides. No one spoke for a breathless moment as the two shared a dear reunion. At last the King spoke, still watching his sister.
"My friends, let the feast begin!"
A loud cheer erupted from the men, and there was a general movement toward the long tables about the hall. For the first time my mind acknowledged the delicious aromas wafting from the steaming dishes. The Lord and Lady of the hall took their seats at the head table, but I did not notice. At the last beat of the music I had realized how little I had in common with these people. When the music swirled about us I did not notice the difference, but now as they settled about the tables to talk of land and crops, I felt alone. I took a seat at a low table and silently took a bit of bread. I was wishing very much that I had not come when I hear a discreet cough beside me. I turned to see a man in strange livery. From his dark eyes and dark hair I surmised that he was not of Rohan. He was, in fact, a man of Gondor, part of the Lady's entourage. He gave to me a small deferential bow and spoke respectfully.
"The Lady Helen's presence is requested at the head table."
I gave a little gasp. I had not expected to be asked to take this honor. I was surprised that the King would take enough notice of me to make this request. I decided that I would leave.
"No thank you, sir. Please tell his majesty that I am not insensible of the honor given me, but I would prefer to sit here with people of my own station."
He frowned a little at me speech and I fervently hoped that I had worded it well. He shook his head a bit as he replied. "Although I am sure that his majesty the King of Rohan desires your presence as well, it is the Lady Eówyn that bids you sit by her."
This was a complete surprise. I had decided that the Lady was cold and important, and I no more thought she would take notice of me then I would take of a peasant. Ah, how cold I was in those days. I look back at them with no small measure of shame. By calling myself a lowly farm girl I mentally exalted myself for my humility. At the same time I placed myself far above the station of those poor farmers. I believe at this point I stuttered a weak refusal, but I cannot forget the look on the man's face as he answered me.
"Please, please come. It's for my Lady." When he said this I realized how very much he loved "his lady." I was learning the nature of true nobility, and their chance to rule in a way that would make even their servants love them. I suppose I nodded my agreement, for the next moment I walked across the hall and seated myself by the lady's side. She was dressed much like I was, in a simple white gown, but her golden hair was loose, and she wore a lovely crown. Her true title was that of a Princess in Gondor, but that is a lesson in politics and nobility that I have not the time nor inclination to tell.
We exchanged some pleasantries during the course of the meal. She asked me a great deal about Spruce Havens, and I told her everything. I remembered it as it was before the war. I told her of the great horse pasture to the front of the house. I told her how I could look out at any moment and see a dozen of the fine animals grazing or running. My tale interested the King so that he turned from the nobleman at his side and listened as I told of the new breed my father had been developing. It was to be one that was comfortable enough to ride all day. When the war began he sold his breeding stock to a man in Tennessee. We kept only a few workhorses and our own hacks. The two of them were sympathetic to my plight. Eómer told me of his own steed, and Eówyn matched him by telling of her horses in Gondor. We passed a pleasant evening.
As we neared the end minstrels with their violins walked to the center of the room. Eówyn smiled at me.
"Now we will hear stories and tales. The history of Middle Earth and Rohan will be presented in song!" She was very excited. My excitement lasted until the minstrels began to sing of people I had never heard. Helm and Eórn and countless others were lauded in song. My eyes were nearly closed in sleep when I heard a familiar name. A wiry minstrel whose name I had not caught bowed before the King.
"Now I will sing to you of Frodo the Nine-Fingered and the War of the Ring." He lifted his bow to his strings. Just at that moment a small voice piped up, "And Samwise the Brave! Don't forget him! Frodo couldn't of done it without him. At least that's what my dad says."
Laughs floated about the room as the embarrassed mother tried to shush her child, but the minstrel turned to the little boy and bowed deeply. "The young one is wise indeed. It is a lesson to us all, that the largest deeds may be done by the smallest person." He bowed again and began his tune. It went on for a long time. This was the second time I had heard the story, but it was the first time that Samwise had featured in it so largely.
After the minstrels came more dancing. It was not so wild this time. The Lady Eówyn chose not to dance, so I danced with Eómer King. He taught me the steps I did not know. Bit by bit the crowd thinned. As the morning sun arose the last guests had left the hall. The Lady Eówyn sat alone at the high table. I sat beside her, grateful for the rest for my feet. She smiled at me a bit, but her eyes were once again on her brother. He walked toward us, bidding me goodbye. He kissed Eówyn's cheek, then walked slowly onto a balcony. Eówyn watched him, then whispered to me.
"I would that my brother could find the happiness that I possess. The shadow has retreated, but I fear that a greater burden has fallen upon his shoulders. Now he must rule a kingdom." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "My brother is very lonely."