More Then you Seem

This chapter jumps from Rohan to Dol Amroth to Minas Tirith in the span of few days.

February 27 T.A 3019 - Edoras

A normal man would have faltered long ago. A common man would have given into his enemy and watched the evil wash over his lands. But Eomer was no common man, the Third Marshal of the Mark was a force to be reckoned with but slowly the drive was leaving him. He had seen the destruction that his uncle had allowed Rohan to fall prey too. Eomer knew that it was not his uncle’s doing as it was that Wormtongued advisor, but his uncle was still king and the people still looked to him to make decisions, for better or worse. But Theodred and he had always managed to thwart whatever foul scheme the dark one had devised. Grima had been unsuccessful in causing strife between the cousins and when the worm saw his golden speech useless at driving them apart he murdered Theodred. It had been only a day since his cousin had fallen in a well conceived trap at the Fords of Isen. Saruman and Grima had been successful; the white hand of Saruman had finally managed to destroy Rohan’s heir. But there was still hope, for he remained and a faithful eored followed him. It was that faithful eored that was with him now as he went against his uncle’s orders and pursued Orc that had entered their lands. In the back of his mind he knew his pursuit would cause his death, but death for country was noble. One day perhaps Théoden would see that his death, along with the king’s son was a noble one. That the great men of Rohan had died protecting the land they loved.

February 27 T.A 3019 - Dol Amroth

Lothiriel was reading to Elfwine an epic of his father’s lands about a king who fought a wild boar. The young boy, now 10, was engrossed with the story. Ever since that fateful day when his aunt Cerrywyn had saved him from the White Wizard and he had seen Eomer weep with tears of joy that he was safe he had been Rohirrim. The urgency of war had called his father away from him and his aunty Cerrywyn had gone to the white city of kings to heal. But it did not matter; Elfwine was embracing his Rohirric family and his mother was indulging him. He sat listening to her read the story as he caressed the ears of his beloved dog Aeoddy. Aunty Eowyn had given Aeoddy to him before she left for Edoras and the past four years the young prince and the dog were inseparable. Suddenly Aeoddy’s ears perked up and the dog ran barking toward the window. Following Elfwine and Lothiriel saw that the harbor was filled with black mast ships. The Cosairs had surprised the Swan Fleet and now battle was literally on their doorstep!

March 2 T.A. 3019 - Edoras

Grima’s treachery was complete! Theodred was dead, his uncle, following the advice of a poisonous advisor, was allowing the once proud kingdom of Rohan fall to the enemy. The enemy that now ran unchecked across Rohan’s once lush fields, pillaging and murdering those in their way. Eowyn was at Grima’s mercy and he, the Third Marshal was locked up in the cells. Accused of treason and plotting against his king he had been sentenced to death by hanging. He had always been faithful to his king, to the man that had taken him in as his son. It was not about the king now, Théoden was lost. It was about Grima and the evil pact he had manipulated with the evil ones. Eomer would die at sunrise and Rohan would fall by noon.

In the last few hours he had to live he thought back about how things had gotten so far out of hand. Hatred filled him and if Wormtongue was close he would put the traitor to death with his own bare hands. As evening became morning and his execution drew near he thought how he would get a final word to his sister. He wanted to tell her to be strong, that he would see her soon in the halls of their ancestors. When the time came he knew Eowyn would die fighting, and that made him proud. Then his mind shifted to his other family and fear completely overtook him. How would Lothiriel and Elfwine find out about his death? How long would it take for Gondor to fall once Edoras was reduced to ashes? No one would be alive to sing his praises to his son. Elfwine would grow, if he even lived through the war, and not know his father but only for a brief moment four years ago. He knew Lothiriel, like his sister, would go down fighting. He also knew that he would not see them again. Now he only wished he could touch his lover’s sweet lips one last time and embrace his son. Tell them both how much he loved them. Tell Cerrywyn that he was sorry for those years where she never truly had his love. Their situation was dire and in his despair he hoped to soon be reunited with them. For the moment they were all safe in Gondor. If there was any justice left in Middle Earth he hoped that in death they would be together what life had denied them. He only hoped that death came swiftly for them and that his loved ones would not suffer the evil times.

There were hurried footsteps coming toward him. They were coming to hang him for treason now. He did not even get to say goodbye to Eowyn. Stoically he rose to meet his executioners and that filth Grima; but instead he saw Gamling and Hama along with his restored uncle and his smiling sister!

March 9 T.A. 3019 - Minas Tirith

Imrahil and his knights had arrived in Minas Tirith just in time to fight. They had brought with them survivors from the costal towns that had fallen pray to the Cosairs ships. Also Lothiriel, Elfwine and Aeoddy had come to the City of Kings. There they would serve those in need and look after those that had lost everything. Duty to one’s country was paramount in these evil times and Lothiriel would make sure that she and Elfwine would serve both those of Gondor and of Rohan when the time came. They were directed to the Houses of Healing and there were reunited with a familiar face.

“Aunty Cerry,” Elfwine screamed with delight and ran to his aunt! Almost knocking her down as she struggled to catch the ever growing boy in a bear hug.

Lothiriel followed her son and bowed to the lady before her. “I am in your services my lady. Direct me as to what you need done and I will follow you.”

It was awkward for both ladies to meet once again. Cerrywyn was after all Eomer’s lawful wife, though Lothiriel had bore the Marshal a son. But times of crisis diminished any ill will and the next thing they knew they were both embracing each other as tears flowed down their cheeks.

Checking herself Cerrywyn put Elfwine down and told him where he might find some honeyed bread and cider. A treat that every little boy, Gondorian or Rohirrim, was sure to love. Once the boy and his dog ran toward the area he had been directed to Cerry’s countenance turned grim. Taking Lothiriel’s hands in hers she could not control the contortions her face made as the full impact of what she now had to tell the princess took hold.

“It goes ill in Rohan,” she broke into sob her voice barely audible. “Theodred has fallen, the king has turned his back on his people. Eowyn is a prisoner to the king’s advisor and Eomer is…” Cerrywyn’s voice was no longer audible and for a few seconds she was choked with raw emotions.

Trying to comfort her Lothiriel fought back the urge to shake the woman! Composing herself she said, “Eomer is what?” She froze, desperately wanting to know what had happened to Eomer but terrified that her worst fear was realized.

With breaking voice Cerrywyn said, “He is dead. Hanged they say by his uncle for treason.”

It was then that Lothiriel’s world completely crashed down around her. Until now she had always had hope that she would soon be reunited with her lover, with the father of her precious son. Now that hope was shattered, along with her world. She felt ill, dizzy, sick but finally allowed the darkness to pass. Calmly she asked Cerry one more question.

“How do you know that he is dead? Who told you this foul news and is it not possible that they have poisoned us with lies?” She did not want to believe he was dead. He could not be dead. They needed him.

“Your cousin Faramir had scouts in Edoras. Seven days ago, March 2, they came back with the news.”

If it had been some idol villagers or hearsay she would have still had hope. But her cousin’s scouts had told of the horrific events that had befallen Rohan. This time Lothiriel allowed the sickening darkness to take her. He was gone, all that was left of him was in Elfwine yet she could not find it in her soul to fight. Her spirit was broken. She would not tell her son yet but she would hold onto the boy for dear life. Regardless of her sorrow she had a duty to her son, family, and country.

Cerrywyn had dealt with her grief upon hearing the news of Rohan. She had loved Eomer but she had annulled their marriage in order to pursue the path that had been made clear for her upon her awakening from the blows dealt by the wizard. Eomer was faithful to her but loved another. And now his beloved was sick with grief, left alone to take care of a small son. Cerrywyn was a healer and she would make sure that Eomer’s family was taken care of. She embraced the princess once again, allowing the other woman to cry her anguish out on strong shoulders.


TBC - hope from a hobbit