Eomer's ward

Thanks to my beta SilverMoonLady, in who's genius I stand in awe!




Chapter 1 - "My brother will suffer no fools."

“I don’t know why you think that I will be any better at my lessons in the middle of that backward place than I am here. And there is no good reason for me to learn their barbaric tongue or their silly customs.”

Faramir peered down at his cousin, taking care to show none of the frustration he felt in the face of such sullen and prideful resistance.

“There is very good reason,” Faramir began, looking at the boy fondly. “A man of noble birth is expected to be educated in many things and your lessons here in Gondor have been sorely neglected in the last year. Besides, it will not be so bad, Danimir. Rohirric history is full of heroes and brave deeds - you might find you enjoy it," he added, trying to engage the young man’s interest.

“You’re just trying to get rid of me…” Danimir pouted. “Lord Denethor would never have sent me off with strangers to live below my station and far from my kin.”

Faramir repressed a sigh. He had feared that Dan would view the arrangement this way, and he could not deny that there was at least a little truth to the accusation. The clearing of Ithilien’s vales and forests was taking up a great deal of his time, and his new responsibilities kept him from Minas Tirith as much as his duties as a Ranger had before the War. He barely knew this lad, having seen him but twice in the year since he had been placed under the Steward’s care when he was orphaned.

“Danimir, you are not a little child anymore. You are thirteen years old, and more than ready to take some steps to guard your future. Seize this opportunity; learn all you can from the Rohirrim. They are peerless riders and warriors, and you should not discount the advantages of having friends in the household of King Eomer.”

The boy did not reply, but his resentment was writ clear upon his face. Faramir had little doubt that it would be a very eventful year for all concerned, and his beloved bride-to-be might well come to regret prevailing upon her brother to accept Danimir as his ward.

~~~~

Danimir had been in Edoras for almost a week, and he hated the arrangement no less than he had the day he had arrived. He had seen little of the busy King, but had had his fill of the ancient tutor that he had been handed to. Faramir had insisted, and in his ward’s presence no less, that Danimir receive lessons each day in Rohirric history and language. He had also made it clear that he thought little of Dan’s discipline and motivation.

“Do not spare the rod, good sir, for neither he nor I will thank you for it. I leave him in your capable hands,” Faramir had said in his quiet voice before returning to Gondor.

And so, Dan had spent the last few afternoons cooped up in the hall with only the hopeless boredom of his lessons for distraction. He had quite literally jumped at Eowyn’s suggestion that he ride out with the King on the next day.

~~~~~

That morning, Eowyn went to the stables to see them off.

“Behave yourself – my brother will suffer no fools,” began Eowyn, offering the boy a parcel of food for the journey. Dan mounted his horse and took the parcel from her with a loud sigh.

“Do not vex him, young sir,” she warned. “You will feel his wrath, and it is no light burden, believe me.”

The ride had been much longer than Dan had anticipated, and he shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. He was hungry and cold and his back ached – this was not the adventure he had expected. They had ridden for hours across the Mark, yet when they had reached the village of Kerrinore, Eomer had stayed but a short while, taking neither food nor rest, before they were off again on their return journey. Already irritable and weary, Dan pulled his cloak around him and shivered as the heavy afternoon downpour ran water down his neck, adding to his misery.

After a few hours, Eomer finally gave the order to stop and take rest. Dan grimaced as he slid down from his horse. As the men milled around, tending to their horses, Dan untied the flap on his pack and pulled out the bread and cheese that Eowyn had given him. He was so hungry he thought he would die if he did not eat soon; it seemed so long since breakfast! He shoved a piece of the crumbly cheese into his mouth and savoured the sharp taste.

“Boy!” shouted a voice from behind him. “See to your horse before yourself – he needs water.”

Dan turned to look at Gamling, who was adjusting the straps of his saddle. He nodded to the boy gruffly and walked away.

Dan rubbed his weary head and sighed heavily as he rose. He was so tired he thought he might fall asleep standing up and decided the horse could wait.

Dan sat back down and, cursing quietly to himself, continued his meal. The soft bread filled his stomach and he chewed every mouthful with satisfaction. Lost in his own thoughts of a hot meal and a soft bed, he was not aware that he was being watched.

“Where is your horse?” a sharp voice suddenly demanded from behind him. There was no mistaking the King’s stern tones.

Danimir reluctantly looked up from his food. “Over yonder,” he replied, resuming his meal.

The sudden quiet of the camp was Dan’s only warning of impending trouble.

“You have left your horse fully saddled, untended while you sit here and fill your belly!” roared Eomer, kicking the food out of the boy’s hands.

Dan jumped up as the precious meal flew through the air, his own face red with anger and frustration.

“You will eat when you have fed and watered your horse, Boy!” seethed Eomer.

“I am hungry! I have not eaten since this morning!” Dan shouted at the King. “Besides,” he added sullenly, “there are others to see to the horses.”

“You want my men to see to your horse?” replied Eomer in mounting disbelief.

“Yes. I am a lord of Gondor. It is not fitting for one of my station to tend the beast,” replied Danimir with pert arrogance.

Eomer’s ill-concealed rage exploded in the face of the boy’s insolence. He threw down his helmet and grabbed the boy by the scruff of the neck.

“A lord of Gondor indeed! If you want to act like a spoilt child then I will treat you as one!”

Yanking him up to his feet, Eomer dragged Dan roughly over to a large rock. Sitting down, he pulled the young boy sharply across his lap.

“In Rohan, this is what we do to naughty, spoilt children – we spank them!” the King said, throwing off his gloves.

Danimir’s heart was pounding. He hadn’t expected this and he struggled to free himself from the King’s hold.

“Please my lord,” he began, but Eomer ignored him and, pulling down the boy’s breeches to add further humiliation, he spanked him soundly for all to see.

Dan cried out with each wallop as Eomer’s firm slaps turned his backside red.

“P..please…! No more my lord, I… I won’t do it again!” he cried out, but Eomer was unmoved.

The rest of the eored had now gathered around and were laughing at the humiliating spectacle before them.

“Let him have it, my Lord!” a voice shouted out and Danimir felt Eomer’s hand strike him harder than ever.

“I am sorry! Please stop…!” Dan screamed aloud, sobbing pitifully. “I can take no more, I beg p… pardon!”

Eomer eventually ceased the punishment and stood the boy up sharply. Dan grabbed his breeches and fastened them together, crying helplessly, all pride and arrogance forgotten. The pain from his backside was agony and he rubbed his buttocks frantically to try and quell the awful sting.

Eomer stood up and replaced his gloves, glaring at the boy.

“Well, little Lord of Gondor, how mighty do you feel now?” he asked sternly.

Dan looked down at the dirt. Huge tears filled his eyes and he ached for what he had done. He felt humiliated, stupid and very, very sore. He could sense the eyes of all the riders upon him and try as he may he could not stop the tears from rolling down his face.

Eomer walked up close to him and surveyed the pathetic boy before him

“You would do well to remember that we have a long year ahead of us, young fool. I am your liege and lord now, and you will obey me in all things or you will feel my wrath.”

“Yes, sir” Dan said quietly between sobs, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve. He hung his head in shame, too embarrassed to meet any of the eyes of the riders or their king.

“Come, the hour is late. We ride for home,” said the King suddenly and the men immediately busied themselves readying their horses to leave.

Danimir was left alone, still smarting from his punishment, and he walked with difficulty over to his horse. He knew he had been wrong to feed himself before looking to the welfare of his horse and he groaned as he leaned against the warm body of the animal. He wasn’t even sure how he was going to climb up into the saddle, much less ride all the way back to Edoras.

Eomer, already astride his horse, approached the miserable boy with a smirk.

“You would now expect your horse to carry you home, after such ill-treatment? You deserve no such service from the lowest mule in my stable, Boy. Besides, I doubt you could bear to sit in the saddle right now,” the King said mockingly. “You will ride home across my saddle, like the idiot boy you are.”

He heaved Dan up onto his mighty steed and laid him unceremoniously across the front of this saddle.

The men laughed loudly at the sight of the proud boy, now slung over the King’s horse like a bundle.

Dan tried to pull himself up. He wanted to apologize, to ask for another chance, but before he could speak, Eomer rapped him sharply on the backside with his hand.

“Be still!” he commanded.

Dan winced at the slap, which had reignited the fire in his backside, and he slouched hopelessly, too scared to anger Eomer further. Dan resigned himself to a very uncomfortable ride home.








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