Chapter 13
Eomer grunted and bobbed his head. It crossed his mind to wonder why it was that Edoras was the capital. The next thought he wondered was why when there was trouble that they always went to Helms Deep. Why wouldn't they come here. He had heard stories of the times when war loomed on the horizon and Fastreddonians were the only ones to answer the call.
Then again, perhaps they didn't want to house the entirety of Rohan's people in case of trouble.
As they got closer, the jutting stone on either side of the gate started to take shape. Horses, four times the size of life, standing in the stone, ready for war, dressed with spiked peytrals, crinets, and shaffrons. Chain link reins went from rings mounted like bits in their stone teeth. Each had a Fastreddonian knight astride, fitted out with the most wicked looking pikes that Eomer had ever seen. And the carvings didn't stop with just the front of the horses, it was the full horse. Spiked cruppers covered their hips and even the flanchards were covered in spikes.
Eomer looked over the horse to his left and whistled softly, half under his breath.
"Do you come to war like this often?" Theodred wondered, looking at Guthred and then Fengel.
Fengel shrugged. "My father has a set of armor like that. But I couldn't tell you if it's used often."
"We haven't had a proper war in many years." Eomer mused in a half grateful tone.
"A thing to be grateful for." Theodred agreed.
"If they go to war like that and the horses die heroically to reach the fountain..." Eomer's voice trailed off, and he half shook his head again. He suppressed the urge to wish for war. The thought crossed his mind to wonder if his new horse came with the armor that he was looking at.
"Do I get armor like that?" Theodred wondered, looking at Fengel.
That answered that question then.
Eomer ignored whatever vague answer that Fengel spouted off, jumping to the conclusion that it was probably something only Fengel and Hama would ride to war with if it ever came to that. Though even that might not be true, since he was in the Rohirrim.
Didn't matter much. It was awe-inspiring, and brought a feeling of dread to his heart, and they would be at his back.
"Eomer." Theodred's voice called. "Coming?"
Eomer blinked and looked over. He walked briskly to the group and nodded. "Terribly sorry."
Fengel looked around, almost like it was his first time past the walls of the keep.
Eomer glanced at him. He nudged his elbow as they walked. "You don't live here?" he wondered, his voice low.
Fengel scoffed softly. "I grew up in the town. Only Lord Duhelm and his family live here."
"The whole keep just for them?" Theodred wondered in a quiet tone. He looked around once they were past the main wall. "These look like barracks and training grounds."
"The Waerrith and Grimhelm guard the Lord and his family." Guthred informed.
"Eomer glanced at Theodred and cleared his throat. "The Waerrith? They are just a legend."
"Do not let them hear you say that." Guthred looked back at him and a smirk half pulled at his lips. "They would be inclined to agree."
Fengel chuckled quietly to himself. "I've seen them." he mused, looking between the two of them.
Theodred looked at him sharply. "You have?"
"Of course I have. I grew up here." Fengel chuckled quietly to himself.
Theodred looked around. "Are they here?" he wondered quietly.
"Unfortunately not, Sire."