Disclaimer:
I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who has created the wonderful books named 'the Lord of the Rings'
Chapter 8: Rohan.
So the little fellowship set out from Rivendell to continue their journey. They took the old South Road to Rohan. This was a beautiful road, running through various landscapes. To their left the Misty Mountains were always visible. Usually clouds concealed the tops, but a few times they actually saw the white snowy tops. They were traveling over hills and there were little rivers everywhere where they could refill their water supplies.
First they traveled through a region named Eregion, this used to be a place where elves lived, and it seemed to Elanor that she could still feel their present, though they weren't there. The second region, which they passed through, was called Dunland, this was the country where the King had spend a long time of his life, with the rest of his kin. That was what Legolas told Elanor in one of the many stories that he told while sitting around the campfire or simply talking while walking through this amazing landscape.
When the third week of traveling commenced they were close to the gap of Rohan. They had not seen many people in the first two weeks so it was a relief to see that people indeed lived in Middle Earth. For traveling through such an empty land, made Elanor believe that they were the only ones left on this world. But in the Gap of Rohan were little villages in which they were happily greeted.
The last week that they spend on horseback was going far better for Elanor. She felt familiar with her pony now and her back and bottom weren't hurting too much anymore. Legolas had been teaching her elvish the entire way, so now she could make little sentences, but she did not like to make a fool of herself, so it was more the greeting that she used a lot. And 'Thank you' was something that she used often as well. Diola lle, was that in elvish. It was strange to use this language, but Elanor liked it nonetheless.
"There it is, Edoras," It was Legolas who had broken the comfortable silence, it made Elanor look back to the sight in front of her, she had been staring to the sky so to say. It was simply beautiful what she saw. Everywhere around them was green open grassland. This they had seen for the last week, but now in the middle of the plain a green hill rose. They were close enough to see the many wooden houses on the slopes of the hill. On the top of it was a building that seemed to have a golden roof. A wooden wall surrounded all of this and there was just one gate, at least from the point of view of Elanor.
Elanor could do little more then staring. It seemed that the roof of the great hall on top of the hill was spreading a golden light. Could it really be made of gold? It was Gimli who answered her unasked question, "Quite impressive, don't you think? Before I saw the Golden Hall I never thought that hay could give the impression of gold," he was gazing around Legolas' back, to have a look upon Meduseld. "I've never seen something like this before in my life!" Elanor muttered as they urged the pony and the horse on.
It took them the remainder of the day to get to the city. It was cold and the wind was blowing. Elanor had wrapped her cloak tightly around herself, but she still felt chilled to the bone. Finally they reached the gates. "Who wants to enter Edoras?" A voice called from one of the towers. It was getting dark and though Elanor tried to see the one who had spoken, she could not. Yet Legolas seemed to have seen the man, "Legolas, prince of Mirkwood, Gimli Lord of Glittering Caves and Elanor Gamgee, daughter of Samwise the brave," he replied. "Open the gates was the answer that they got."
Legolas had dismounted and now only Gimli was sitting on the horse, looking quite uncomfortable. Elanor suppressed a giggle and followed Legolas, she still was seated on Bill, but still she was smaller then Legolas. They were welcomed by a group of soldiers, leaded by Haleth, for that was how he introduced himself. " The King awaits you, my lords and lady. And a warm dinner as well," he leaded them up to the stables of Edoras. There Elanor dismounted, she was shivering from head to toes by the time they were walking up the steps. The Rohirrim knew how to take care of horses, so Elanor knew that he was in good hands. Now all she wished for was warmth.
The steps leaded to a platform where two guards where standing. Just as Elanor put one foot upon the platform the doors swung open. A nice warmth welcoming them and a huge man. "This must be the King," Elanor thought as she looked up to him. The man smiled to her and made a polite nod, " Welcome, friends, to Edoras, I hope you had a comfortable journey?" Elanor bowed to the king, but it was Gimli who spoke, "Riding on a horse for 3 weeks is not my idea of a comfortable journey, and you know this Éomer." The King laughed and then turned his attention to Elanor.
"No bowing for me please," he said gesturing them to come in, "And no calling me king either, just Éomer." These words were more directed to Elanor, then to Legolas or Gimli. Elanor knew that they had fought side by side on the battle in front of the Black Gates. That at least was what her father had told her. With a quick smile up to the King Elanor almost ran inside to the fire, completely forgetting that Éomer had no idea who she was. She warmed her feet and hands in front of the fire, soon joined by Gimli, Legolas and the King.
A blush crept onto Elanor' face when she realized her rudeness. She turned to the King and said, " My name is Elanor Gamgee, I'm sorry, but I was so cold and when I saw the fire I simply couldn't resist it." Éomer laughed and nodded, " You are forgiven, Elanor and I welcome you to my hall." – "Thanks for your welcome then, Éomer Kin… Éomer," Elanor corrected herself when she saw the mock-warning look that Éomer gave her. Only then she looked around in the big hall.
It seemed to Elanor like a single long, big room. The roof was supported by pillars and they were old decorated with carvings of horses. In the middle of the room was a fire place, where they were now standing and right above it was a louver in the roof to let the smoke out and the light in. On every wall woven cloths could be seen that had people on it and horses. It seemed to be a kind of story as you looked from cloth to clothes. At the sound end of the hall stood the throne of Éomer on a platform that was only three steps higher then the rest of the floor. But another throne stood right of the King' throne. There a young woman sat and on her lap was a little child.
Éomer, who had followed Elanor' gaze around his hall, smiled, "This," Éomer said, leading them forward, "Is my wife Lothíriel and my son Elfwine." Again Elanor wanted to make a bow, but Éomer stopped her. The Queen looked to the hobbit with a soft smile on her face, "Elanor I presume?" the hobbit nodded a bit shyly, "It is good to see a hobbit again, the last time when I saw one was 26 years ago at the wedding of King Elessar and his wife Arwen," Lothíriel had a soft and gentle voice, and to Elanor she was like the opposite of Éomer who had a louder voice.
"Then you must have seen my father there as well, along with Master Merry, Pippin and of course Master Frodo," Elanor spoke with a smile on her face. The Queen nodded, " I remember them vividly, are they all in good health?" The smile on Elanor' face slowly faded away, " My father surely is, and the same goes for Merry and Pippin, but Frodo is gone… To Valinor if I remember correctly." Lothíriel looked to Legolas for an answer, "The Valar gave the ring bearers special permission to enter the Undying Lands. This is a place of rest for the elves, my lady," Legolas said, "But let us not linger on this subject, for it is not a nice one."
Lothíriel smiled, " Of course we shall not, dinner is being prepared and I guess you would like to refresh yourself before we eat, I will show you your room, Elanor." the Queen got up and held her son grabbed on of her hands, looking to the hobbit in front of her with curious eyes. Together with the Queen Elanor walked out of the Hall through a little door somewhere in a corner.
" Oh, we completely forgot you, did we not Elfwine?" The Queen said, looking with a smile to the little boy. " This, dear Elanor, is our son Elfwine, and he is 5 years old now." Elanor smiled to the boy who smiled back to her, "How old are you?" Elfwine asked, it was the first time that he had opened his mouth. " I'm 26 years old, Elfwine." The boy looked up to her in wonder, "But your not so much taller then me." Elanor laughed, "No I'm not, but hobbits are a lot smaller then people, Elfwine."
As they got to her room Elanor thanked them, which earned her a smile, "Nothing to worry about Elanor, your bags are already in there, we will see you at dinner. Say goodbye now Elfwine." The boy waved and Elanor waved back as she closed the door. The room was not so big as the one she had slept in Rivendell, but still bigger then at home. It was beautifully decorated, just as the rest of the hall. Gold and dark green were the colors that were seen mostly.
In the hall, not only the noble family had been present, but other people as well. Advisors, Elanor thought they were, but it would be more likely if they were soldiers. She was surprised by the dark hair of Lothíriel, for all the Rohirrim that she had seen until now had blond hair. Or was she not one of the Rohirrim? Elanor did not know; that was a question that she would ask at dinner, if she had the change. Now she walked further into the room. There was a bowl with warm water standing ready and a towel next to it. Gratefully Elanor used it.
Dinner that evening was a pleasant affair. Elanor sat next to the Queen and half of the dinner they were in conversation about various things. Yet she concentrated mostly on the food, she was as hungry for warm food as any other hobbit would be after mostly eating cold dinners. Finally she dared to ask her question, "Beg your pardon, but you do not look like your husband." Lothíriel looked to her with her eyebrows raised, " I mean, you don't have blond hair, like all of the Rohirrim." A smile appeared on Lothíriel face and she laughed a bit, "That's because I'm not a Rohirrim, I'm a … Excuse me Was," she said with a look to her husband, "A princess of Gondor, Dol Amroth to be more precise." – " I didn't know that…" Elanor said with a shy smile on her face.
"Lovely little fellows, these hobbits," Éomer said to Legolas and Gimli, who were sitting next to him, "A shame really that Aragorn has chosen not to let any of us inside the Shire. That reminds me, how did you get in?" Both Legolas and Gimli laughed at the expression of confusion on Éomer face, "Pippin gave us a special treatment, if you like to call it that way," Legolas said with a smile on his face. "How does he fare lately? And what about Merry? Our Knight of the Riddermark?"
At that Elanor looked up from her food, " Master Pippin is the Thain of the Shire now, Éomer and Master Merry is the Master of Buckland. They have their own families now!" This was information that neither Legolas and Gimli, nor Éomer and Lothíriel had heard. "Do they now?" Gimli said he seemed surprised, "I never thought that they would settle down, least of all Pippin!" They laughed and Elanor said, " In fact, Master Pippin married first, Master Merry a few years after that."
It was an enjoyable evening and at the end of it Elanor remember that she still had letters and a few small gifts for the King. She excused herself and not much later she came back with three letters and a little box. "Éomer," she said, approaching the King, "I have some letters from you, from the Shire and this gift from Master Merry, Master Pippin and my father." Éomer curiously took the letters and the gift box from Elanor and thanked her. It seemed to Elanor that he could not suppress his curiosity for the Horse Lord, opened the first letter.
The Hall fell silent, even the soldiers who had been drinking the whole evening at the end of the hall, close to the doors. For the hall was packed with people and it seemed to Elanor that it was always like this. Éomer seemed unaware of his surroundings and his Queen watched him with a knowing smile. When Éomer had read all three the letters he looked up with a big grin on his face, "People of the Mark, you have all been greeted by Master Pippin, knight of Gondor, Master Samwise Counselor of the North-Kingdom and of course Master Merry, Knight of the Riddermark!"
The hall erupted in cheering and Elanor had a huge smile on her face, "And!" Éomer continued, " Master Samwise has gifted us some soil from his garden, it is to Elanor to explain why." Again a cheering swept through the crowd and hesitantly Elanor got up from her seat, only so that she could stand on it, she wasn't used to talking to crowds. "Well I had no idea my father was going to give you people of Rohan, this mighty gift." She saw some people looking up to her as if she was mad, Elanor smiled slightly, "Good earth, good sand is one of the greatest gifts in the Shire, it really means a lot if one outside of the Shire, receives this gift." This earned her a great applause and with a mock bow Elanor sat down again.
Indeed it was seen as a great honor for outsiders (as hobbits call them) to be gifted with some sand from the Shire. Elanor had always thought it to be a bit ridiculous. For the Shire wasn't the only place that had good earth for growing things, but it seemed to be a good tradition to her and she had grown to like it. Not that it was used much, now that no man was ever to set foot in the Shire again. It was a tale that had been told from parents to children. And a well known one.
Her stay in Rohan was a pleasant one (Well which stay had not been pleasant yet?) but after 4 days Legolas said that they had to get going, if they wanted to reach Minas Tirith before the winter would set in. It was yet another 10 days of travelling to the city, but Legolas wanted to make haste. Elanor couldn't really do anything else then agree with him, though she had already made friends with the King and his family. Éomer assured her on their parting that he would visit Minas Tirith a couple of times in her stay at the city. And Elanor was very pleased to hear this.
And so they parted. The sun was barely over the mountaintops when the little Fellowship traveled further, to Minas Tirith. The place where Elanor would stay for… as long as she wished.
Dear readers
Chapter 8 already. I can't say that I'm not happy with this story. but please leave a review behind.
And I'm still looking for a beta reader… anyone?
Maikie