"I'll walk," Sedryn said. "Just give me your arm."
Boromir held his arm out. Sedryn took it with a smile and together they set off for the Throne Room. When they left the infirmary Sedryn filled her lungs with fresh air.
Eomer, seeing them, smiled and walked to them. "Are you going to the Throne Room?" he asked.
"Yes, we are," Boromir answered. "But we don't know where it is – can you show us?"
"Certainly," Eomer answered. "This way," he said, going ahead.
Soon they arrived at the great halls of Meduseld. "I'll present you," said Eomer when they were before the doors.
"Thank you." Sedryn said. A few moments later, the massive doors opened, a sentinel standing on each side of the door. Utter silence reigned as Boromir and Sedryn walked through the doors and up the rug leading to Theoden—the numerous people in the room were absolutely still. Both Boromir and Sedryn suppressed a shudder of revulsion upon seeing the pasty-looking man sitting next to a white-haired, frail-looking Theoden. Closer and closer they walked but Sedryn found she could not tear her eyes from Theoden. He looks ill, she sent to Boromir. She sensed his agreement.
Look at Grima's chair, he sent back to her. Indeed, his chair was nearly as intricately carved as Theoden's. He presumes much.
When they approached the steps to the throne they knelt, though it took Sedryn a bit of maneuvering to actually kneel instead of fall.
"Arise." Theoden said, drawing himself upright. "You are welcome in Rohan."
"Thank you for your kindness to us." Boromir said.
"Your faces are known to us; we wouldn't dream of turning you away." Theoden said, then began to cough, choking. Both Sedryn and Eowyn sprang to help him but Grima waved them away, digging out a bag of lozenges to suck on and handing one to Theoden.
Although she was repulsed by Grima's cold fingers Sedryn did not back away. "My Lord, are you ill?" she asked.
"Bah. 'Tis merely the illness of old age," he said, waving her away.
She tilted her head. "My Lord, I am a healer; please, perhaps I can help you," she pleaded.
Grima stood up. "Enough. Can you not see that he would rather be left alone?"
Sedryn's eyes flashed, angry that anyone would try to interfere with her helping. "My Lord?" she said.
"Thank you, Lady Sedryn," Theoden answered. "Your kind heart does you justice, but I think that there is nothing you can do for me."
Bowing her head, she limped back to Boromir's side.
"Now then," Theoden said. "Is there anything you lack?"
"No, Lord." Boromir answered. "We only ask your blessing when we leave."
Theoden smiled. "What good would the blessing of Rohan do for the Courage and the Healing of Gondor?" he asked.
Remembering Denethor's dream, both Boromir and Sedryn were startled to hear those names drop from Theoden's lips, but they recovered quickly. "The blessing of one as venerable as you are, Theoden King, would be nothing less than a benefit to any undertaking." Boromir answered.
Theoden was pleased with Boromir's answer. "You are very gracious, Lord Boromir," he said. "It is a pity that trade and travel between our lands has fallen so low."
Boromir's brow creased. "What do you mean?" he asked, alarmed.
Theoden frowned. "Do you not know?" he asked. "Trading and bartering has gone down to the point that both your traders and mine make hardly any profit at all. I do not know if it is the signs of the times we live in, yet it alarms me."
After a pause, Boromir answered, choosing his words carefully. "I have been receiving weekly reports that trade was flourishing," he said.
Sedryn did not miss how Grima followed the exchange between the two men, his eyes flickering back and forth between them as they spoke.
"Indeed?" Theoden said, his eyebrows raised in astonishment.
At an impasse, neither man knew what to say next.
"What brings you to Rohan?" Grima asked, breaking the silence.
"Rohan is not our ultimate destination." Boromir answered. "My father the Steward has sent us on a task that requires us to travel to Rivendell," he said.
"To do what?" demanded Grima.
"With all due respect, sir," Boromir answered. "I am not at liberty to divulge that."
"Did you receive a message from them?" Theoden asked. "A Lord Elrond?"
"Yes," Boromir said, surprised.
"So did we." Theoden said. "Shall we take counsel about it privately?" he asked.
"That would be wise, lord." Boromir answered.
"Then tell everyone to leave us, please, Grima." Theoden told his counselor. "Bring Theodred and Eomer here; they should hear this. Eowyn, this may concern you as well," he said to the woman standing at the foot of the steps, on the other side from Grima.
Grima, arising from his chair, bowed to Theoden. "Theoden-King has urgent business that requires privacy," he said loudly. "Please, leave us."
As soon as the throne room had emptied, he again bowed to Theoden. "Shall I send for refreshments for you and your guests whilst I search for milords Theodred and Eomer?" he asked.
"That would be well." Theoden answered. "Light refreshment, if you please, Grima. Lunch was not so long ago."
So a quarter of an hour later a maid brought in cups of thick, milky tea and some salted nuts and fresh apples to where Theoden, Boromir and Sedryn, and Eowyn were waiting.
After taking their choice of refreshment, they separated; Boromir finding himself with Theoden, Sedryn with Eowyn.
"Hello," Sedryn offered tentatively to Eowyn.
"Hello," Eowyn answered, smiling just as tentatively as she cradled her teacup in her hands.
Encouraged by the smile, Sedryn carried the conversation. "I think I remember you from last night, though I may be mistaken," she said.
"No, I was there," Eowyn demurred. "I am glad to see you so much improved."
Sedryn blushed, but was spared the embarrassment of replying by the advent of Eomer and another, more slender man Sedryn assumed to be Theodred. Suddenly Grima appeared behind them, and judging from his breathless state Sedryn guessed that Eomer and Theodred had not slowed down for him as he explained why they were being summoned to the throne room.
"Sorry, Father." Theodred said. Sedryn was captured by his voice – it was different from the others she had heard in Rohan. It was neither the husky baritone of Eomer nor the thin voice of Theoden nor even the superior, condescending tones of Grima, although that last one didn't really surprise her.
"Eomer and I were out in the fields, drilling some troops." Theodred said.
Sedryn smiled when she saw Theoden's face brighten.
There are rumors of this man's voice, Boromir sent to her, that say that he can, just by virtue of speaking, make a horde of Orcs surrender.
I believe it, she answered. What an interesting voice he has!
I think I know him, Boromir sent. We fought together.
"Meet our guests," Theoden said. "This is Lord Boromir of Gondor, the heir to the Stewardship, and his wife Lady Sedryn. This is my son Theodred; Eomer you of course know."
"It's a pleasure to see you again!" Theodred said, stepping forward and shaking Boromir's hand.
"Likewise, but you never told me you were Theodred Prince of Rohan!" Boromir answered, a grin on his face.
Theodred laughed. "It is my little idiosyncrasy – when I am with my men I am only Theodred, nothing more." He said.
"A wise measure," Boromir approved. "Well," he continued. "It is my very great pleasure to introduce you to my wife, Sedryn."
At Boromir's side, Sedryn smiled at Theodred.
Theodred smiled. "Any lovelier and a man would be forever transfixed. Welcome to you, Lady Sedryn! It takes a special woman to deal with him." He said, pointing with his thumb at Boromir.
She laughed. "Believe me, the sentiment is reciprocal – it takes a special man to deal with me!"
"You know each other?" asked Theoden. "How?"
"It was close to the border between Gondor and Rohan," Theodred answered. "We were checking on the outlying villages and ran into one of the pesky Dunlending patrols heading for Ithilien. We ran into Boromir, his brother Faramir, and a crew of men following them. If it wasn't for them I don't think we would have survived – the patrol of Dunlendings was far greater than we had been told, and we had some hard fighting to do. But in the end we won out and went our ways, having only told each other our names and where we were from. I knew he was Denethor's son, but I never told him I was your son."
"Well," said Grima, having finally regained his breath. "Such chance meeting proved fortuitous to you both."
"I do not think it was chance," Theodred demurred thoughtfully, remembering the power he had felt when he and Boromir led their army against the Dunlendings. He knew that if his plan was sound Boromir would back it with all his formidable courage.
Definitely not chance! Boromir sent to Sedryn. It was like having Faramir next to me, he told her. Theodred is—he stopped. Theodred is cunning, very cunning, he said.
Oh. Sedryn sent back. So that's another part of the puzzle. We've got Courage, Healing, Wisdom, and Cunning – we have Strength, Honor, and Loyalty left to find.
"Well." Theoden said. "That bodes well for the business at hand. Theodred, Eomer, the reason I asked you here is because Boromir and Sedryn are on their way to Rivendell after receiving the same messenger we did from Elrond."
"Ah." Suddenly the jocularity slipped from Theodred's face to be replaced by a stern mask. "It is a very long way," he said.
"It is," Boromir agreed. "And not all those who have searched for it have found it. Indeed, we are loath to travel such a road but the Steward has commanded it."
"How do you intend to find it?" Grima asked.
His dark eyes resting on Grima, Boromir thought about his next words. Finally he spoke: "We have no sure knowledge as to where the Elves are, yet we will follow the old road as far as we can before branching off northwards in the direction of a region called the Shire. Rivendell is rumored to be on that road."
Theoden nodded. "Eomer, what say you?" he asked.
"I think that if they are going, we should go too." Eomer said.
"I agree," Theodred concurred.
"Eowyn?" Theoden asked.
After a pause, she nodded. "Yes," she said. "If the Elves have sent messengers to both Rohan and Gondor they may have sent them elsewhere. This may concern something bigger than we realize."
"Then we are agreed?" said Theoden. "Grima?"
"We must do whatever your Lordship deems best," he answered obsequiously.
Theoden nodded.
"If I may, Lord," Boromir interjected into the ensuing silence. "It would be best to travel together. That is if you will to send someone." He said.
"Indeed it would." Theoden concurred. "I must take thought as to whom."
"Shall we leave you, then, Father, while you think it over?" Theodred said. "We can meet again tomorrow. Eomer and I can show Boromir and Sedryn Rohan, and Eowyn needs some time in the sunlight."
"Certainly," Theoden said. "I forget you are young. Do not hurry back."
"That would be fine, Father, thank you. I'll check in once we get back."
"Then all is well." Theoden said.