Author's Note: This is a work of fiction, I have tried to keep true to Tolkien's work, though there are times I might not have got it right. I apologize for this, though my main reason was to entertain.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of The Rings, nor any of the characters from it. I do own a full scale replica of Éomer's helmet and sword….

Thunder Watch

Chapter 1

A small hand tugging on Eldarion's arm was what woke the young heir. Slowly opening his eyes he found not only Elboron who was standing by his bed, pulling on his arm, but Elfwine pressed against the older boy's side. At first he wondered why they had woken him, then he heard the distant boom of thunder from the window.

The three boys were good friends, in part he believed because they all understood the position the other was in. As the heir of Gondor he was expected to always behave himself with great composition, or at least as much so as a child of eight years of age was able to. He understood the demands on his father, and why he must sometimes be a King first and father second. He understood it, for the fate of their Kingdom and its people did rest on his father's shoulders. He was glad to do what he could to aid, though it was not always much. At least he could show understanding.

Elboron, son of Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien, as well as Éowyn, sister of the king of Rohan was only one year younger than was he, and quite mature. He was as soft spoken and compassionate as his father, and yet as fierce as his mother. Courageous and serious minded for his young age he was a very good companion and Eldarion viewed him ever as his equal in every way.

Youngest and smallest was Elfwine, son of Éomer, King of Rohan, and Lothíriel who had been Princess of Dol Amroth before she wed the Rohir, and was cousin to Faramir. Expected to be as hot of temper as his father he did not disappoint in this regard. His fury when angered could be frightening to behold, and Eldarion was glad it had never so far been directed at him. Of his mother's gentile manners was not much yet seen, though he clearly showed the compassion of both his parents. It was not disappointment over a meal that would bring out his temper but injustices of one boy bullying another, or the ill treatment of an animal.

Living so much further away the two Gondorian boys saw less of him, but cared just as much for him for it.

It was why they had chosen since they were all very small to share the same bedchamber when they were all together. Sometimes they bedded down in the same bed all three of them, or Elboron and Elfwine had their own cots.

Eldarion had quickly discovered another advantage to the situation. Not only did it mean they could have whispered conversations in the dark, or even sometimes a quiet game, but there were more stories before bedtime as well. The Rohirrim in particular were great at stories, as it was how they shared and remembered their history. Either Éowyn or Éomer might tell them, and all three boys would listen enthralled.

Now though it was obvious that stories were not what was on their minds, at the sound of another boom of thunder, and a brief flash of lightening in the room Elfwine gave a small choked whimper.

Instinct took over a sleep muddled brain and Eldarion threw the cover back and wrapped an arm around his friend. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"The storm woke us, Elfwine was scared," Elboron stated. Then the boy bit his lip. "I am scared also," he admitted, pressing in next to Elfwine.

"It is naught but a lightning storm, it can not touch us here," Eldarion gazed at the window. The glass panes allowing the flashes of lightning to play across the walls of the room. He supposed it could be scary, but it was not something he had ever feared.

"I am scared," Elfwine whimpered and Eldarion rubbed his back gently. He was after all only six years of age, it was not so strange that he would be fearful. This was why he was older, so that he could look after the two younger boys. Even if Elboron did enjoy to remind him that he was but a year younger, and therefore did not need as much looking after as did Elfwine. Eldarion would remind him that Elfwine was only a year younger than Elboron, so if Elboron did not need Eldarion to look after him, then Elfwine did not need Elboron.

Elboron did not like that reasoning, Elfwine was his cousin by blood, and younger, and therefore it was Elboron's responsibility to look after him. It was sweet, all his eight years of experience told him, and neither one needed to be babied. They were just younger, and that was how simple it was. They were younger, he was older, so he was the one who should see to them.

"It is okay to be scared," he stated softly now. For the little Rohir was generally fearless and would face any danger head on. To hear him declare himself to be scared was strange, and Eldarion wondered for a minute if he should go wake his Ada. Certainly he was supposed to do so if he needed them, though this time he was uncertain.

There had been trouble in the east once more, the Easterlings seemed to be determined to push and prod on occasion to see what progress might be gained. So far, Aragorn, King of Gondor and his father, together with Éomer King of Rohan had always pushed back fast and hard. It was why Elfwine and Elboron were in Minas Tirith. As the two Kings left, Faramir was left in the city to see to all the affairs of state while they were gone. Lothíriel did the same in Rohan, and Éomer had laughed when he claimed he only wanted to spare her the difficulty of looking after their hellion of a son at the same time. Though Eldarion knew it was so the three boys could spend more time together.

Éowyn was in Minas Tirith as well with Faramir, though their chambers were further away, and with them still slept Elboron's three year old brother. Elboron had his own chambers if he wished it, but especially when Elfwine was with them they did prefer to share.

Had it been a normal visit in peaceful times, he would not have hesitated to leave the chamber and wake either his father or Éomer. With Faramir and Éowyn having the baby, he was far more reluctant to wake either of them. If not for the risk of also waking the child. It was not as if he absolutely needed Elboron's father or mother at any account. If the younger boy was frightened or hurting, either one of their parents would be quite welcome by him. Just as Eldarion had always been able to be comfortable by Éowyn, Faramir or Éomer and his wife just as well as by his own parents.

It was not an uneasiness to enter the King of Rohan's bedchamber that had him hesitating now, for he had indeed done so before. It was knowing that Éomer, as well as his father had arrived safely home only the day before. Though they had said nothing of wounds or hardship they had both carried themselves in that stiff and careful way that Eldarion knew they had suffered injuries even if nothing so severe as to cause concern. This information he had not wanted to share with Elfwine, for if his father did not say anything so as not to worry his son, it was not Eldarion's place to do so in his stead. He did not think either Elboron or Elfwine had noticed, and he was certain the adults wished it to remain so.

Where else he would not have hesitated to go to wake his father or Elfwine's, now he did.

Obviously he had also taken too long pondering the situation, for Elfwine had scrambled up on the bed to wrap his arms around him. "I am scared," he declared again. "I want Fæder."

"Éomer King is sleeping," Eldarion bit his lip. "He and Ada seemed very tiered, and it is only a storm."

"The storm makes me scared, so I can not sleep," Elfwine pouted. "I know it is a storm. Storms are very scary."

"They are," Elboron nodded. "I am scared also."

"I do not think Éomer would be cross," Eldarion mused. "Though I do think we can manage for ourselves. I know it is scary, I am not really scared, but I know it is scary. Storms are, but it might not have to be."

"How would it not be?" Elfwine pouted.

"Ada says sometimes we are only scared for we do not know the thing we are scared of," Eldarion tried.

"I know what a storm is," Elfwine glowered. "That is why I am scared of it."

"Lightning could strike," Elboron stated.

"Yes, but not here," Eldarion stated. "We are safe here. I am certain of it. Though when you wake it is very hard to go to sleep again, but we might not need to. Not right away. If we snuck to the kitchen, we could find something to eat I am certain. And we can put a blanket over the window, and we would not see the storm. We could pretend we're camping, and we are only hearing the wind in the trees."

"The wind does not make booms," Elfwine pouted. "I would rather go to Fæder."

"Why don't we try my idea first, and if it does not work, I will go with you to your father," Eldarion promised. "I do not want you to be scared, I never would, but I think though they would never turn us away our fathers are tiered."

"Fæder was," Elfwine nodded slowly. "And I am going to be a warrior. Warriors can not be scared of a storm can they?" he asked with a small sniff.

"It is not never being scared that makes you a brave warrior," Eldarion wrapped his arm around the smaller boy. "It is doing the right thing even if you are scared. A warrior can be scared, it does not make him less of a warrior. It only means you are weary of the danger and take what steps you can to avoid it."

"I am scared, but I am also hungry," Elboron mused. "I think I want food. I need to grow big."

"Come then," Eldarions slipped out of bed, hurriedly pulling his robe over his nightshirt he looked at his companions. Neither had robes, though he thought Elfwine was too small to need it. The young Rohir did not seem overly worried about modesty. He passed Elboron a shirt, and then led the way into the corridors. The stone floor was cold under their bare feet, but it allowed them to slip quietly through the halls. Passing a few sleepy sentries that were not overly worried about any threat, and certainly not three small boys.

Leading the way into the kitchen Eldarion pondered the situation. Kitchen raids were not encouraged, but nor where they forbidden. His mother had tried to sound stern, but his father had been light of heart and cautioned him to mind well what he took. It was alright for a hungry boy to sneak a bit of bread or cheese late at night, but it was not alright to take something that would add to the burden of the kitchen staff. This instruction he had taken to heart, and so he contemplated their choices. Elfwine already looked less worried though he jumped sometimes if there was a particularly loud boom of thunder from outside. Elboron had started looking around hopefully, so he did not seem to be very scared anymore.

"I think we will find the best things in here," he led the way towards a larder he knew contained mostly leftovers. There was less chance of taking something they should not have done that way.

Inside the larder, all three boys looked around themselves with amazement. Certainly it seemed heavenly to three small boys. Shelf after shelf filled with bread, cheese, pies, sausages and jars with preserve, honey and an endless number of treats.

Looking over the choices Eldarion started picking out items he thought suitable. In a small pile he sat several delicate hand pies, a large piece of honey glazed ham. A couple of soft fluffy bread rolls and a wedge of cheese. Elboron found a crook of chilled milk, and Eldarion added some sausages and cold cuts of roast beef. Finding a jar of mustard that he poured some of onto a saucer, moving the pie that had been on it to another one.

"How do we carry it?" Elboron finally mused as he regarded the pile.

"We need to find something," Eldarion looked about himself for something, smiling softly as Elfwine found, and added an apple braid to their pile of spoils. The first he had seemed to want for himself since he woke Eldarion.

Elboron quickly shrugged out of his borrowed shirt and laid it on the floor, the boys piling their treats upon the soft fabric. Folding it up into a neat bundle.

Carrying it back they snuck just as quietly through the halls, though more cheerful of heart as they contemplated the feast that would be waiting for them. While Elboron pulled the blanket from the bed and spread it on the floor, Eldarion tried to get one over the window. When he was not able to fasten it, he instead hung one from the candelabras on the wall, allowing it to hang down on the back of a large armchair. By hanging one more from the chair to the mantle over the fire place he was able to create a screened off area of the room.

Elfwine, gripping the wooden sword he still used to carry though he knew it was a child's toy studied the result of their efforts carefully. Then scooting into the small cave like area he nodded slowly. Occasionally a flash of lightning would play over the walls, but the blankets were thick and muted the sound somewhat from behind them.

"It is like being a ranger," Elboron declared cheerfully.

"I do not wish to be a ranger," Elfwine pouted.

"You need not, rangers and the riders of Rohan are very much alike," Eldarion beamed. "Does not Éomer King speak of sleeping out on the open plains? Just like Father did as a ranger?"

"He does, and I shall be a rider," Elfwine declared. He laid his wooden sword in front of him with a most serious look on his face.

They had no cups, so the three boys drank the milk from the jug, dividing the food between them as equally as they were able. Elboron broke the cheese in three parts, but he was not able to make them the same size.

Taking the smallest of the three pieces, Eldarion smiled. "I like ham better," he declared, for there was one more slice of ham in one pile than in the other two.

Elfwine laid his hand flat on the apple braid, forcing his wooden blade through it at the tips of his fingers, then repeated the action only to find that the piece left over was not even half as big as the other two. "When Fæder does that, they come out the same," he pouted. "And he does not even need use his hand…"

"There is a piece missing from it," Elboron pointed out. "It must be why, but it does not matter. "You are the smallest, so you should have a big piece."

"I'm the eldest, I should have the smallest," Eldarion decided.

"It is silly that the biggest should have the smallest," Elfwine frowned. "But if you have a bite of both mine and Elboron's, it should be much the same."

"Yes, it should," Eldarion declared with a happy smile, for he liked the apple braid very much. He had certainly been willing to take the smaller share, for it was Elboron and Elfwine whom had been scared and the food already seemed to have offered them some small measure of comfort. Elfwine still threw worried glances around the room as the thunder sounded, but he no longer seemed so terrified. It was like his father said, Eldarion mused. Men could face many a thing that frightened them, if they only had something pleasant to turn their thoughts to. Lying awake, listening to the storm and seeing the lightning flashes as they lit up the room, the two smaller boys had had nothing but their fear for company. A raid to the kitchen, and now the impromptu meal had given them something else.

Elfwine spread a thick layer of jam and mustard onto the slice of cold roast beef, licking his fingers clean with a content sigh.

However Eldarion was beginning to suspect they had overestimated how much they could eat, for there was plenty left, and both Elboron and Elfwine were starting to look decidedly sleepy. Elboron's eyelids were dropping before he shook himself awake again, and Elfwine had made himself comfortable leaning against him.

"I think we should go back to bed," Eldarion stated. "Unless you still want me to get your father?" he had to ask the question, for if either boy was still scared, he would be glad to do it for them.

"I am okay," Elboron decided thoughtfully. "I am too sleepy to be scared."

"I am a little scared, but not so much anymore," Elfwine decided.

"You can sleep in my bed, and you won't be alone," Eldarion decided. Taking his hand he pulled the younger boy gently to his feet, wrapping an arm around him in a brief hug as Elboron too scrambled up into the bed that was quite big enough for all three of them. Elboron took the other side, and Eldarion allowed Elfwine to get into the middle where he would probably feel the safest. He was not comfortable leaving them to take the uneaten food back to the kitchen so he left it where it was.

It made him smile how his two friends seemed asleep almost instantly, but though he was a little sleepy he found sleep slow to come as he wanted to make certain they were indeed sleeping comfortable before he allowed himself to rest.

He had no more than fallen into the lightest dose when the door to his chambers opening woke him up. Startled for a moment he wondered if more of the night than he was aware had passed and it was already the morn.

A glance towards the window where the lightning still split the darkness told him it was not so. Seeing the King of Rohan in the doorway he sat up with a smile, glancing to Elfwine who slept deeply beside him. Moving silently on bare feet the King of Rohan slipped into the room, shaking his head amused as he saw Eldarion awake. Even in nothing but shirt and breeches and with his hair sleep rumpled he looked like a formidable man. Though he had never had cause to be scared for the warrior himself, Eldarion could easily see why so many were frightened of him. Tall and muscular, with a way of moving that always seemed poised and ready.

Eldarion certainly understood why so many feared the strength of his sword arm, though for his own part he had always felt it meant safety.

"I thought it was my son I'd find awake when I woke from the storm," Éomer mused. "I felt it best to check on you, but it would seem there was no need for concern. I gather you boys made quite a nice evening of it." His gaze fell on the remaining food and the blankets strung up still and Eldarion found himself blushing lightly as the King of Rohan gave him that bemused smile he thought was teasing, but was not always entirely certain.

"Elboron and Elfwine did wake me," he stated softly. "They were afraid of the storm, and Elfwine did at first wish to go to you. I only thought," he hesitated, blushing and Éomer sat on the edge of the bed beside him, ruffling his hair lightly.

"Thought what?" the warrior prodded gently.

"I thought I should let you rest if I was able," Eldarion finished quietly. "I know you and Ada were very weary when you returned, and I know you were hurt, if not bad. I still wished you were able to rest, and though they were scared of the storm, they were not that scared," he started hurriedly, then paused. "I did not think Elfwine was ever scared of anything."

"Not much," Éomer gave him an amused smiled. "Though storms like this, aye, he is fearful of them. When you live in a city of naught but rock and stone, there is not much a little wind and rain can do to you. But when you live in a city built of wood and straw, it is good to be a little fearful of the lightning. The same as if you are surrounded by woods for miles around," he added. Nodding to Elboron who spent most his time in Emyn Arnen.

"I had not thought of that," Eldarion admitted with a sheepish look.

"Aye, there is no reason you should think of everything," Éomer ruffled his hair again. Smiling as Eldarion tried to duck away. "And though I think you are very considerate, you must know you could wake me? I have not yet been so weary I would not wish to know if either of you three needed me. I thought you were well aware of this?"

He looked almost worried in the darkness Eldarion thought, and it was strange. It was not how he had thought one of their mighty father's might ever look.

"It was not that I did not think we could," he hurried to attempt to explain. "I would have wished to avoided waking Uncle Faramir and Aunt Éowyn," for so he had been bidden to call them even if they were not related by blood. "But only for fear of also waking the baby."

"Aye, that is wise," Éomer nodded. "Babies tend to be very displeased and very loud about being woken when they do not wish to be."

"I have learned as much," the mere memory was enough to make him wince. "And I would not have wished to hinder them if they were really so scared it was needed. I would have gone to either you or Ada. I only felt I should try to comfort them first. They did wake me, so I felt mayhap I would be able to help them to feel more at ease myself."

"Eldarion, it is not your duty to always look out for them in every little thing," Éomer told him softly. "It is a great relief to me that you do as much as you do, but for that they are your friends, they are not your responsibility alone."

"I know, but I also wish to," he stated, hoping he would be able to explain himself. "I like it when they turn to me. I like that they trust me to do so. And I know I must not try to handle what I can not, for then they could easily come to harm. I must be very careful about that, but I felt if I could just help them see that even if the storm is scary, we are safe in here, they would not be so fearful. Ada has told me many times that sometimes when men have nothing to do but to contemplate the horror they fear, it shall grow out of proportion. I thought if one lies awake listening to such a storm, it must be much like that."

"Aye, it is," Éomer nodded. "And your father is a very wise man."

"I asked them if they would try," Eldarion looked at his sleeping friends. "To just put it out of their minds for a moment, and I promised if it did not help, I would get you. I would not have wished for them to be scared any longer than needed. I do not wish for them to be scared at all."

"You are a good friend to them," Éomer told him, and Eldarion ducked his head as he blushed.

"I try to be," he mumbled. "I see you and Ada and Uncle Faramir, and I hope we can have as much one day."

"I think, that you already do," Éomer told him, gently putting one hand on his shoulder and pushing him down. "And I also think you should be asleep, or you may find you will have to explain your kitchen raid to someone else but me."

"I am not scared of the storm, but after we ate, I found I could not sleep," Eldarion admitted.

"That is the trouble for the one who stands watch," the warrior nodded. "Would you like to hear the story of the storm horse then?"

"Oh yes, may I?" Eldarion smiled. For the Rohirrim used not writing to pass their stories and their history, but told it to one another, and it was always a pleasure to listen to them. They all seemed to have the soft melodious voices that made the tale as real as if you lived it when you were listening to them. He had heard Éomer tell many stories before, and they were always enthralling. He settled down, wriggling a little to get comfortable. Elfwine's foot was in his knee but he did not mind as he listened to the King of Rohan.

Though the low, soft voice quickly made him sleepy and he found it hard to stay awake and listen. It was with a soft smile of contentment he allowed the voice to fully lull him to sleep.

Smiling bemused to himself Éomer shook his head. A mere few lines of story, and the boy was out like a light. Rohirric children usually lasted longer than so, but then they were more used to the stories whereas Eldarion only got to hear them so often. He had not yet learned to fight against the soothing rhythm of them. That was indeed one of the reasons he had chosen the one he had, not only as it related to the storm outside, but as the rhythm in the words could make even an experienced story listener battle sleep through it.

More than once, as they were told the stories in his youth in Aldburg, had the teller himself been the one to find sleep even before the children that were listening. The man had been an old Rider with a leg that would not let him ride in combat anymore. So he was often the one to pass their history and lore to the children, and they in turn quickly learned which would put him to sleep so that they might seek other adventures on their own.

Shaking his head in memory of the amusement he pulled the cover up further over the heir of Gondor. Making certain that Elboron was covered as well, smoothing back a lock of hair from his forehead before pressing a kiss to his own son's.

He left the blankets as they were, but cleared away all the remains of their impromptu feast. Gathering up what was left of the food with a small wince. For indeed Eldarion had been right, they had not escaped the conflict entirely without injury though they were minor. It still seemed him what would have been naught but a minor inconvenience in his youth was now a source of greater discomfort. Even worse, plenty of those minor injuries he had never paid any heed at the time, now with age seemed to wish to make themselves known again.

The empty dishes he simply dumped in a wood basin in the kitchen, the few bites of remaining food in the pantry. The boys would not have got into any trouble for their impromptu midnight feast, certainly not as Eldarion's main concern had been the wellbeing of the younger boys. No, he never even entertained the idea they would need to answer for their actions. They were young boys though, and growing to enjoy a bit of mischief now and again. He saw no reason why anyone needed knowing what they had been up to, for no doubt would they at a later date wish to do the same. For no other reason than for the way any growing boy enjoyed sneaking an extra treat when he was able.

Better then no one thought to look for them performing the act, and it would be all the easier for them to get away with it. Cooks tended to guard their domains with a ferocity one might not expect, and they would sometimes take offence if one liberated even such items as had been deemed no longer worth keeping.

For all he was clearing away the evidence of their plunder, he still found himself grabbing a plum tart from one of the plates in the pantry as he restored it to order. He was not so naive he did not think the intrusion would pass unnoticed. Not only for the suddenly empty dishes that needed washing, but for that he would be much surprised if the staff had not known every morsel stored in the pantry.

Disturbing a few of the dishes on the higher shelves that would not appeal to children, only so much as so that they would be recognized as having been disturbed, he smiled to himself. Now, it would most likely be suspected that it was an adult that had been the culprit, and the palace contained many of such status that a forray into the kitchen would not be questioned.

Returning to his own chamber he paused by Eldarion's door, but it was all perfectly quiet inside and so he continued with a smile.

The children would be well enough for the rest of the night, all the more as they had each other.

The End Part 1

TBC

Thank you all for reading, please review, the Cricket is hungry...