Eomer's ward

With thanks for Japete and Kime who kindly left reviews... it is really nice to know someone out there is reading this story!




Dan sat patiently at his desk, waiting to be excused from his morning lessons. Outside he could hear the whoops and shouts of children; the first heavy snowfall of winter had arrived in Edoras the day before.

The village boys had made plans to take a sledge and go out into the valley where the snow lay deepest on the hills; Leod had told him of the great ice slides that could be made, and Dan, unused to such adventures, was desperate to go with them. Eager to be free and join in the fun, the youth looked anxiously at the old tutor who sat behind his desk, examining the translation that Dan had just completed – again! Dan began to tap the table from a mixture of nerves and impatience, but a stern look from the tutor soon stilled his hand. Eventually, after some agonising minutes the tutor nodded his head, giving the sign that the lesson was finished for the day and the young Lord of Gondor was free to go. Pushing his chair back noisily, the boy bowed respectfully, before taking his leave with great haste. Once outside the room, Dan ran the whole length of the hall, and down the steps into the winter wonderland, rejoicing in his afternoon of freedom.

“Dan!” a young voice shouted from within a crowd of boys, all busily making a stockpile of snowballs.

Dan ran over, pulling on a thick woollen vest as he went, his feet crunching in the crisp white snow.

“At last little lord, we thought you were never to be set free!” joked the youth, “how long can it take to learn your letters?”

“My tutor made me copy all my work out again – and yet I had made only one mistake!”

“I am glad my father does not make me learn letters, I would hate to be sat in there all morning when there is all this snow to make merry with,” replied Leod, squashing a snowball down the back of Dan’s neck.

“Aghhhhh!” screamed Dan at the sudden cold.

“Look, we have some sitting ducks to aim for, “said Leod nodding in the direction of the Royal Guard which stood on sentry duty at the doors to the great hall.

Dan grinned wickedly as he picked up a snowball and cupped it in his hands,

“They will not be able to give chase either!” he replied as he pulled his arm back and threw the snowball with force at the target.

Leod gasped out loud, the smile on his face vanishing as he saw the snowball miss the guard, instead hitting the back of the king’s head who just happened to pass through the doors at that moment.

Dan laughed aloud not realising yet who the recipient of the unlucky snowball was. He giggled, holding his stomach, as the man turned around shaking the cold and wet snow from his hair.

“Ha! T’was a good shot!” Dan laughed; ready to run if necessary from the soldier, his face suddenly becoming aghast as the identity of the man was revealed. Eomer glared angrily at his ward

“DANIMIR! To me, now!”

Dan took in a deep breath and bit his lip, as he nervously made his way over to the wet and angry king of Rohan.

“I beg pardon My Lord, I did not know it was you . . . I thought you were one of the Royal Guard,”

Eomer looked down on the youth, the side of his face bore a red patch from where the snowball had struck, he did not look amused!

“So you think it is acceptable to terrorise my warriors with your games!” exclaimed the king, his face stern and serious.

“W …Well, they are easy targets sir, they cannot give chase, … if they are on sentry duty,” said Dan quietly, as he lowered his eyes to avoid Eomer’s gaze.

“Yet you will see I am NOT on sentry duty boy and therefore at liberty to deal with you here and now,”

Dan gulped, embarrassed of what the king may do to him in front of all his friends, he stared at the floor, his hands moving nervously at his side. The rest of the boys all stood in silence, looking anxiously at the exchange. There was hushed silence as all in the square waited to witness the fate of the boy from Gondor.

“I am sorry sir,”

“Oh you will be!” shot back Eomer in terse tones, his voice falling silent before he added, “look at me!

Dan winced and raised his head slowly expecting to see the strict face of the king, but instead he saw the king’s eyebrow cocked in a look of amusement

“How fast can you run boy?” asked Eomer, bending down and gathering a great handful of snow, the mischief in his eyes clear for all to see, as he formed a great snowball between his hands.

“Very fast sir,” replied the boy, a smile of relief breaking across his face as he realised his Lord was jesting.

“Then you had best make haste,” said the king taking aim.

Dan turned from the king and began to run, but he did not reckon for the deep snow that soon slowed down his escape, his boots sinking into it, causing him to stumble. Eomer laughed at the sight of the struggling boy, and then set off in pursuit, his long legs easily outmatching the youth.

“You are going to get very wet little lord” boomed the king, as he threw several snowballs straight at the youth, hitting him repeatedly on the head and back.

“Owwww!”

Dan reached down into the snow and threw another, this time hitting Eomer on the chest,

“Ha!” he laughed, running off once again.

Many of the villagers all turned from their work to see the amusing spectacle of their king dodging snowballs as he chased the boy through the square. When eventually the child was caught and brought down, a cheer from the soldiers watching rang out.

“You are going to get what you deserve,” began Eomer, taking handfuls of snow and pushing it down the front and back of Dan’s shirt. “This is revenge for all my men!” he laughed, as he rubbed a great handful of snow in the young boy’s face

“Aghh, no, …it cold…aghhhh . . . ” complained the boy, struggling to escape this torment as the snow filled his mouth. He tried to get up, but was held firmly in place by the king’s strong arms.

“Lost for words little one?” teased Eomer, laughing along with his men who had followed their Lord through the village. Eomer finished by pulling the struggling boy up by his collar and pushing a great handful of snow down the back of his breeches then giving him a firm swot to his backside.

“Next time you throw a snowball at anyone on sentry duty you will answer to me!”

Dan reached back with his hands as the snow filled his pants; slivers of ice ran down his legs, the soaking complete.

“Aghhh, . . .I’ll remember that sir,” he replied pulling the wet breeches away from his body.

Eomer laughed heartily, and slapped the youth on the back. Dan smiled, shaking the last of the snow from his clothes; his cheeks flushed pink with the chill of the day.

“Take yourself and your band of troublemakers over there,” Eomer nodded in the direction of the group of boys, “and go play your games elsewhere.”

Eomer turned to leave, the boy following closely behind,

“We have a sledge and we are going to ride it down the hill in the valley, Leod says there is a great ice run, “ began Dan excitedly walking along besides his liege lord.

Eomer stopped and turned back to the boy a look of concern on his face.

“The East fields are out of bounds to all boys, Leod should know that, his father will have his hide if he catches him going near there!”

Dan looked worriedly at the king,

“But we will be back before dark My Lord,”

“There have been reports of Orcs in that area.”

“B...But...”

“I will not argue with you boy! You are forbidden to go near that valley, any of you!” Eomer swung his words in the direction of the boys waiting across the square.

“But, Leod says EVERYONE goes there to run their sledges, it is not fair!” Dan complained bitterly shaking his head, “I have been waiting all morning to go! I have completed all my lessons and everything…please sir, we will be careful,” Dan pleaded.

“If I hear you have disobeyed me in this Danimir, you can expect a sound thrashing!” threatened the king. “Do you heed me boy?”

Dan pouted, his stance defiant as he crossed his arms and stared ahead, struggling to find the words to answer.

“YES!” he answered eventually.

Eomer raised an eyebrow in warning.

“Yes sir,” repeated Dan, this time more respectfully.

“Good, now be off with you before I find you something to do. And do not be late back, my sister has a special supper planned, you will remember the last time I was foolish enough to miss an appointment with her my ears rang for days afterwards,” the King mused, walking away towards the stables, rubbing once more on the wet spot at the back of his head.

******

By the time the boys reached the valley, all were convinced it was a bad idea. The king himself had forbidden them to go and yet they had ignored him, sneaking off undetected. Dan shivered, both from the cold and from the uneasy feeling he had sensed when he entered the valley. The snow lay deep and undisturbed and the place was silent. The sky above was white; it was as if they were a million miles from Edoras, exposed and alone.

“It is up there, look!” said one of the boys pointing to the ice run that had been formed high up on one of the hills.

Dan looked up and smiled at the glittering slide of ice.

“Tis awesome!” he said, staring in wonder at this strange new sight.

A wide sheet of ice had formed from one of the many little streams that ran from the mountains, creating a perfect slide right down the side of the snow covered hill. All the boys looked at each other and beamed, then without speaking they all took to the hill, all thoughts of doubt and worry gone from their mind.

Dragging the sledge up behind them, the boys reached the top and positioned it precariously at the edge of the run.

“Who will go first?”

All the boys looked at one another and then at the drop, each surveying the other’s faces for any sign of fear.

“I think Dan should go first, it is his first winter in Rohan!” said Leod, handing Dan the rope of the sledge. Hesitating briefly, Dan took the rope and trying to appear brave, immediately sat himself down on the wooden sledge, tucking his legs into the board in front. He peered over the edge of the drop, butterflies fluttering in his stomach as he took in the sheer decent before him. Leod smiled wickedly,

“See you at the bottom!”

Dan felt the sledge being pushed and before he could protest it was over the edge and shooting down the hill at brake neck speed. Dan let out a yell of delight as the sensation of speed filled him, his long dark hair flying back in the wind, his hands gripping tightly on the rope, the sledge hurtling on and on towards the bottom of the hill.

The others looked on from the top, clapping and shouting behind him as he came to a stop at a deep snow bank.

“Danimirrrrrrrr!”

Dan stood up, grinning wildly,

“I would not have missed that for anything!” he shouted back, pulling the sledge behind him as he made his way back up the hill for more!

******

Eowyn was in the kitchens preparing for the feast when one of the young maids came running into the room out of breath and panting, she ran over to her mistress to inform Eowyn hysterically that the young lad from Gondor had been badly injured whilst out in the valley.

“He is covered in blood they say, and I saw a guard carrying him up the steps. Oh my Lady, he is terribly injured, they have taken him to his room,”

Eowyn stared at the maid in shock, her stomach turning as she remembered the last time she had seen a man brought home injured - her cousin Theodred bleeding and dying before her eyes. She let out a loud shriek and clasping her hand to her mouth, she ran from the kitchens to the lad’s room to find him lying on the bed, his face and clothes splattered with blood. Eowyn gripped the side of the bed and looked in horror at the guard.

“What has happened?” She gasped, taking in the sight before her.

“He collided with a tree by all accounts my Lady,” answered the guard who had helped the lad home.

“A tree! How badly is he injured?” Eowyn asked, pulling away at Danimir’s clothes, searching his body frantically for any wounds, her hands pulling open his shirt, but there were no wounds to be found. Eowyn looked in confusion to the guard.

“It looks worse than it is My Lady, it is more his pride that has taken a knock I would say. I found him on my patrol and brought him straight back here. Stupid fools, they were warned not to go up there, only last month a woman from one of the villages was killed in that valley by orcs.”

“Orcs!”

The guard nodded,

“Aye, we have been tracking them for weeks now” he replied picking up his sword from the side of the bed, “I must get back to my patrol My Lady, I will bid you good day.” he added before giving a quick bow and leaving the room.

Eowyn turned to look at Dan once more. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally realised his wounds were only superficial and he had suffered naught but a bloodied nose. Eowyn shook her head,

“What were you doing you stupid fool, look at the state of you,” she snapped, her anger born out in relief that the lad was unharmed. “I was told you were mortally injured, and yet I find you have nothing more than a bloodied nose!”

Dan pulled himself up on the bed and grimaced at the abrasion to his hand.

“I could not stop the sledge, it just went out of control and ploughed into the tree,” he replied trying to wipe the blood from his face with the back of his sleeve.

Eowyn huffed angrily. She dipped the cloth into the bowl of water that the servant held besides her and wiped away at the young lad’s face, scowling and muttering at him as she cleaned his scratches none too gently.

“Oww!” complained the youth, frowning at Eowyn, “that hurts.”

“Good!”

Dan tried to pull away from her as Eowyn dabbed salve at the scratches on his face and hands, complaining as the ointment stung his wounds,

“Owww…. Ai…it stings.”

“You cry like a baby!” She admonished sharply, and continued in her task, unperturbed by Dan’s objections. When she was satisfied with her efforts, she passed the salve to the servant and gave instruction that a clean shirt was to be brought for the boy to change into. Dan reluctantly took off his soiled clothes and quickly put on a clean shirt, all the time warily looking at Eowyn who was still visibly cross with him.

“I am starving.”

Ignoring Dan’s comment, Eowyn bundled the soiled clothes up and passed them to the servant.

“Can I have some food?...Can I go to the kitchens?”

“Take these and put them to soak. Tell cook we shall take supper in an hour.” Eowyn instructed the servant curtly.

“But I am hungry now…. I want something to eat before I die,” grumbled Dan loudly climbing down from the bed.

Eowyn, her head aching from the tension and shock, finally snapped,

“You could have been KILLED today, if not by a tree then by an orc! I could have been laying you out for your funeral instead of washing your wounds. I have seen too much of death to know how it feels, to smell the stench of blood - and now you ask me for FOOD!” She shouted, staring frighteningly at Danimir.

Dan gulped. He was well aware of Eowyn’s temper, but he had yet to experience it first hand himself! He sat back down on the edge of the bed and bit his lip. The atmosphere was tense as Eowyn fought to control her emotions whilst Dan sat in complete silence.

“I could hear you shouting from across the passage. I wondered which poor male had incurred your wrath.”

Dan gasped aloud at the sight of the king standing in the doorway, his arms wrapped across his chest, a smirk playing on his lips.

Eowyn spun on her heels at the sound of her brother’s voice; her face deadly serious. She was in no mood for her brother’s teasing this day!

“Do you see this, do you?” She said gesturing towards the bed where Dan lay. “Your ward nearly got himself killed today! How many more of my kin am I expected to prepare for a funeral?”

Dan’s face went pale at the thought of Eomer becoming involved in all of this and uneasy feelings filled his stomach.

“… I am fine… honestly, it was nothing, just a bloodied nose,” he began edging himself off the bed eager to escape the room and any questions the king might ask.

Eowyn stared at her brother, her chin held high.

Eomer walked up to the bed,

“You look like you have been to battle little one?” teased Eomer playfully.

“It was just an accident sir, I fell and banged my nose, that is all” Dan replied trying to be purposely vague about the whole thing.

Eomer took hold of the boy’s face and examined it moving the head from side to side.

“Tis nothing more than a scratch Eowyn, he will live.”

Eowyn let out a loud snort,

“Is that all you are going to say?”

“What do you want me to say?” replied Eomer, his voice rising as he held up his hands, “I have things to attend to and I suggest you do the same and stop fussing over him.” Eomer made to leave, but was pulled back by Eowyn’s hand.

“Eomer! It is your duty to care for this child and yet you are going to say nothing to him! You should…. punish him!” Eowyn pointed to the boy.

Dan, all the time growing increasingly nervous began to bite his bottom lip and move towards the door.

“Do NOT remind me of my duty, lady, I am well aware of my responsibilities!” Boomed Eomer, glaring angrily at his sister. “So now you want me to punish him! Any other time I try to take the boy to task you run to his defence like a mother hen! What do you want me to do, thrash him for falling over?”

Neither noticed the young boy almost at the door, so wrapped up as they were in their argument.

“You are responsible for his safety! Aren’t you going to tell him off at least? He could have been killed today!”

“What are you talking about woman?” answered Eomer, irritated by his sister’s apparent over reaction to the lad’s tumble. “He has a bloodied nose that is all; he will not DIE from it! You are being ridiculous Eowyn.”

Eowyn seethed,

“I AM being ridiculous? So what about the threat from orcs?”

“What orcs?

“The guard said there were orcs sighted out there, he at least seemed to be concerned over the boy’s safety, even if you are not!”

“Guard? Eowyn what exactly are you talking about?” asked Eomer, confusion showing on his face.

Eowyn sighed heavily,

“The guard said there had been sightings of orcs in the east fields…. That is where he found Danimir.”

Dan cringed at the last few words and stopped dead in his tracks as he felt Eomer’s hand grip his shoulder. He let out a little squeak as Eomer pulled him back into the room.

******

Dan sat as best he could on the hard chair. He ate his food in silence; the thrashing he had received from the king had somewhat taken the edge off his appetite. He looked down at his plate and ached for what he had done. Eomer had been livid at being disobeyed when he discovered Dan had gone to the valley and an almighty row had broken out….

“YOU DISOBEYED ME!” the king had shouted in disbelief, “I gave you word that you were forbidden to go anywhere near that place only this morning – you are a defiant brat indeed!” Dan had tried to plead his case but Eomer would have none of it.

“I told you to expect a thrashing if you went near that valley!” Turning to his sister in fury he pushed the red faced child before her.

“So you want me to punish him! I will oblige you most willingly my lady,” Eomer had shouted, unbuckling his belt. Dan had felt his stomach lurch and had looked pleadingly at Eowyn who now stood impotent, her earlier anger dissipating fast.

“I am sorry,” offered Dan desperately as he was dragged towards the bed.

“You disobeyed me once before Danimir, the day you went to the boat house, well this time you will learn your lesson!” Replied the king, folding his belt over double as he instructed Dan to drop his breeches and bend over the end of the bed.

“Brother! Perhaps you are too hasty…I will admit I got a fright at seeing him covered in blood, but I think a thrashing may be too harsh.” Eowyn had reasoned trying to stay her brother’s hand. “He has been injured…his face will bruise.”

“Not as much as his backside will after I have leathered him,” relied Eomer turning to face his sister. “I think you should leave us Eowyn, this is between man and boy, tis no place for a woman.”

Dan frantic to escape the impending doom, calculated that it would be better to appeal to Eowyn rather than Eomer,

“My Lady. . . I am sorry; truly sorry…I won’t go to that valley ever again… I promise.”

Eowyn had looked worriedly at the lad and then her brother,

“Eomer…”

“Sister, take your leave. I will not be swayed upon this; the lad will face the consequences. I will not neglect my duty to discipline him.” Eomer had replied gruffly before snapping at Dan once more to ready himself.

Dan had watched in horror as Eowyn, unable to influence her brother had stormed from the room abandoning him to Eomer’s wrath.

The beating had been hard and swift. Dan had never been thrashed with a belt before and the effect of leather on skin had brought tears to his eyes after the first stroke fell. By the time the sixth and final stroke of the belt had landed, Dan was sobbing into his aloud the pain in his backside too much to bear silently.

“You can get up now,” Eomer instructed as he refastened his belt around his waist all the time staring at the young boy before him. Dan stood up straight and quickly reached down for his breeches, sniffling as he pulled them up, he looked sadly at Eomer.

“Next time you think of going near that valley without permission, remember the pain that my belt imparts – that should stop you from doing anything so foolish and dangerous again.”

Dan looked up at the king, his face wet with tears as he struggled with his hands to tie up his breeches,

“Y...Yes s...sir.” he replied trying to stem his sobs. He put his hands back and touched his backside tentatively, sighing soulfully.

Eomer, for all his stern appearance, felt a degree of sympathy for the child. He remembered himself what it was like to suffer a sound thrashing. His uncle, cousin, and even Gambling had all imparted their displeasure on him in his younger days by way of a belt – he knew that young Dan would be suffering for the next few days. Eomer walked over to the young boy and pattered him affectionately on the shoulder,

“You took your punishment well, learn from it boy…that was its purpose.” Eomer spoke quietly and with compassion. He gave Dan one last pat to his back before walking over to the door, where he turned, giving the lad a last glance before leaving, “I will expect you at the supper table tonight, take this time to think on what I have said.”

Eomer left the room, leaving Dan to his thoughts…

Dan looked up at last from his plate and surveyed the scene before him. There were many faces sat at table this night to celebrate the start of the Yule festivals, all of them smiling and laughing merrily. The king, dressed now in formal robes was talking away to Gambling who had joined the family for this special occasion. They were both recounting old tales to which all present laughed and cheered. Eowyn was smiling at their amusing tale too, her sweet face illuminated by the candles that shot shadows across the warm room. She looked regularly over at Dan and smiled happily at him. No one seemed to be angry or vexed with him any longer; it was as if the incident were forgotten already.

Dan put a piece of sweet cake into his mouth and contemplated his life in Edoras. Apart from the throbbing pain in his backside, it was a perfect end to a perfect day. He had ridden the ice slide and it had been exhilarating! Never, in all his years in Gondor had he done anything so exciting, never had he had so many friends! He knew he had paid dearly for his disobedience, but he did not regret it …he would not have missed his afternoon in the valley for anything. And now here he sat, admonished, but clearly forgiven, his belly full and his presence at the table welcomed. There were no sour moods or scowling looks to contemplate, it was all very different from his life in the Stewards’ House. Denethor would have scolded him for days and days, constantly reminding him of his misbehaviour and bringing it up at every opportunity. The king would not admonish him again… well, not until next time he misbehaved!

Dan liked it here…in fact he knew now he never wanted to leave.