Chapter 11

Fengel shook his head. "I do not. Hama has been with me since I was made a knight." he leaned forward and stroked Hama's neck fondly. "My father has three, though. And his father has two."

Eomer looked back toward the fountain before he could stop himself. "What about the wars with Mordor? There must be too many names to list on the fountain?"

"There's a log book. The most heroic are on the fountain." Fengel shrugged. "I've never seen it, but it's rumored that it's kept next to our Lord's bed. Displayed so he can remember the cost of war and tread carefully."

Theodred snorted softly. "If more were like your Lords, this world would be a better place."

Fengel grunted. "I suppose." He rubbed Hama's neck again. "It has led to many accusing our Lords of shying away from war."

Eomer scoffed. "I have never heard the King say so."

Theodred shook his head. "Who goes looking for war where there isn't a need for it?"

"Bregdan." Eomer offered dryly.

"Ceorl." Fengel piped up a moment later.

Theodred rolled his eyes a little and bobbed his head. "Durhamians and Fundrumites...always biting at each other's throats."

Fengel snorted. "That's the understatement of the age."

Theodred glanced at him and nodded. "Father has thrown them out a few times because of their fighting."

Eomer nodded. "I've had to toss them from the city limits a few times myself."

Fengel laughed to himself. "I wonder what would happen if they just...traded lands."

Eomer scoffed and shook his head. "What is this?" he looked over at half walls that lined the road on both sides.

Fengel glanced at him. "The horse pastures. For when it's bad weather, or at night."

Eomer looked over the pastures and whistled softly. "So much grass."

"They deserve the best, do they not?"

Theodred made a pleased noise and chuckled. "I am so sorry, Aldor. You haven't seen grass like this in years." he patted his chestnut's shoulder.

"He'll get the chance for a bit." Fengel shrugged.

"Where are the stables?" Eomer wondered, looking over the pasture again. He couldn't even wrap his mind around the amount of time that it took to bore into the rock just to create a home. Much less so to create the great expanses of pasture land and gardens that would keep the people and their animals fed year round.

"Just up ahead." Fengel half pointed, smirking at him.

Eomer scoffed quietly and looked ahead of the horses that were in front of them. He wondered idly if the stable would be carved into the rock like some of the houses, or if it would be built up in free space.

It was nearly the size of Edoras's main hall. Built up nearly two full levels high. Large stones marched up the corner posts and along the bottom row. The roof was slate thatched. There were windows built into the stonework every few feet, one for each stall.

"Stalls on two levels?" Theodred wondered, looking at Fengel and raising an eyebrow.

"Why not?" Fengel wondered, tilting his head and smirking slightly.

"I guess-"

"It's not like in Edoras. My forefathers had the stone. Why not use it?"

"Where did all the extra stone go?" Eomer wondered, pulling his horse to a gentle stop and dropping off lightly.

"Buildings mostly." Fengel shrugged. "I really don't know. I'm sure my Lord would." He lightly dropped off Hama and rubbed his neck and then his forehead. "I don't ask many of the questions you are."