Eomer's ward

Chapter 7


Dan woke up early the next morning and grinned to himself with excitement. At the supper table the night before the king had acquiesced, after some gentle persuasion from Eowyn and a good deal of wine to soften his mood, agreeing to take Dan along on the Yule Hunt the next day.

The lad had been ecstatic when Eomer had said he could go; suddenly finding his voice and asking endless questions about what weapons they would use, and which animals they would hunt and how they would follow a trail until at last Eomer, eager for some respite from the chattering lad, had ordered Dan to bed. Disgruntled and pouting at this untimely implementing of his bedtime, he had nevertheless taken his leave and retired to his room, the ache in his backside reminding him not to push his guardian too far.

After his stable duty, which he completed in record time, Dan sought out the Stable Master for permission to take his leave and go up to the hall for his breakfast.

“You are cheerful this morning young sir,” enquired the old man, checking over Firefoot’s stall.

“I am to join the men on the hunting trip,” beamed Dan, unable to hide his youthful excitement.

“That is an honour indeed,” replied the Stable Master as he scanned his young helper’s work critically. Picking up the empty water bucket he thrust it into the boy’s hand with a look of exasperation, “horse going to fetch its own water is it?”

“Oh…sorry!” Exclaimed Dan sheepishly as he realised his error and ran outside to fill the bucket from the well. The dawn was up and the winter sky was clear and crisp, a perfect day for a hunt Dan concluded as he hurried back in with the bucket, water slopping all over the stone flags of the stable floor. The Stable Master gave an exasperated sigh,

“Pass it here! Get yourself up to the hall, you are no good to me this morning, your mind is not on your work.”

Dan passed the half empty bucket of water to the old man, a look of nervous anticipation on his face,

“Sorry… I erm...”

“Be off with you… and make sure you behave yourself on this hunt.” He took the bucket and placed it down noting the puddles of water that spoilt the otherwise orderly and clean stables and sighed again.

“I will, I promise,” replied the boy solemnly before turning and running out of the stable and up the path to the hall.

****



Eomer sat at the table and held his head in his hands. The disapproving look of his sister said it all!

“Sister, your words may be silent, but your stare alone is enough to make my head pound.”

Eowyn snorted,

“I would think your head is pounding enough without any help from me! You have only yourself to blame brother,” she said smugly as she served her brother his breakfast, setting down a bowl of steaming oats before him. “You drank too much wine last night.”

“Yes - I KNOW!” snapped Eomer irritably as he picked up the bowl and sneered, “What is this?”

“Porridge, eat it, it will help line your stomach and keep you warm for the hunt.”

“I am not an infant Eowyn,” he exclaimed petulantly as he shoved the bowl childishly across the table. “I will have a man’s breakfast,”

Eowyn shook her head and gave her brother another disapproving look as she turned to one of the servants,

“Bring the king some bread and meat… it seems my lord cannot stomach porridge this morning,” said Eowyn sarcastically to one of the young serving maids.

Eomer gave his sister a dark scowl, his temper already frayed he was in no mood for her taunting this morning, and even less in the mood for boys that RAN through the hall!

“WALK!” he barked without even turning his head to see who the culprit was.

Dan stopped in his tracks and stood hesitating on the spot, grimacing at the reprimand.

“What have I told you about running in the hall?”

“I…I beg pardon my lord,” replied the lad nervously looking over at Eowyn for aid.

“Come and eat Danimir, you have a long day ahead of you,” said Eowyn kindly to the boy as she pulled out his chair.

Dan walked the rest of the way over to the table at a respectable pace, sat down slowly and carefully glanced sideways at Eomer’s stern face.


Eowyn set out a bowl of porridge before the boy and passed him a spoon.

He looked at the thick sticky mixture of oats, his nose wrinkling in disgust,

“Porridge? But . . . I do not like porridge.”

“It is good for you, eat it,” replied Eowyn quietly as she striped the leaves from a bunch of herbs hurriedly.

“Can I not have some eggs…or even some bacon?” ventured Dan optimistically.

Eomer, suffering badly from a hangover, was in no mood to pander to the boy’s whims as he rubbed his temples,

“EAT IT!” He snapped, giving the lad a stern look.

Dan picked up his spoon and with much reluctance began to eat the offending porridge, grimacing at the taste.

Eowyn rolled her eyes, tut-tutting in disapproval of her brother’s temper,

“You are like a warg with a sore head!” She admonished, brewing up a tea of lemon balm, “I take it you are still going hunting then?”

Eomer gave his sister a deep frown, took a piece of bread and cheese from his platter and stuffed it in his mouth roughly,

“Your disapproval is more than evident little sister,” he replied with growing annoyance. “Are you suggesting I am not fit to hunt?”

Eowyn looked on superciliously,

“You are the king now Eomer, you may do as you see fit, although the men will be looking for their new king to bag the first deer and I fail to see how you can do that when you can barely hold your head up!” Eowyn smiled sweetly at her brother, knowing she had railed him as she passed the tincture of tea to him.

Dan looked from one to the other, listening to the banter going back and forth across the table as he tried to dispose of the remaining porridge in his bowl to one of Eomer’s hunting dogs.

The king growled as he took the cup from Eowyn and downed the foul concoction in one, banging the cup down on the table he looked at his ward and barked, “Have you finished that yet?”

Dan pulled his dish back from the dog’s mouth and slid it under the table,

“Y… Yes”

“Good! Then let us be gone from this hall. I seek the solitude of the mountains, for both my head and my ears will benefit from the peace they offer,” the king said peevishly as he rose from his seat and marched off beckoning the boy to follow. Dan stood up surreptitiously placing the half eaten dish of porridge on his chair; he followed the king from the room.

*****

Danimir was thrilled to be riding out on the Yule Hunt and in his excitement to get going had forgotten his cloak, he ran back through the hall once again to retrieve it.

It was an old Rohan custom to go hunting after the first snows; an ideal time to supplement the meagre winter meat rations for the village.

As the horses and knights assembled on the stable yard outside, Eowyn came down the steps to bid Dan good hunting and gave him a parcel of food for the trip,

“I have packed plenty of food,” she said pushing the parcel into the boy’s hand, “seeing as the dogs ate most of your breakfast!”

Dan let an impish smile slip from his lips as he blushed at being found out.

Eowyn held the horse’s reigns, “The eored awaits you Danimir,” she added softly, the smile on her own face letting him know she was not really angry.

Dan gave Eowyn a broad grin of relief before quickly stuffing the parcel into his pack and mounting his horse, eager to get going, his excitement clear for all to see.

Eowyn chuckled at his antics before wandering off to the front of the line to bid her brother good hunting also. She found Eomer sitting stony faced on Firefoot, his ire already raised by the waiting. Eowyn reached up and offered him a parcel of food,

“A sore head and a short temper… that should make for a long day in the saddle.”

Eomer scowled as he reached down from atop his horse and took the proffered parcel. If anyone else had spoken to him like that he would waste no time in letting them feel his displeasure, but this was Eowyn, the sister whom he loved dearly and so used to her disapproving tongue over the years, he took her scolding in good grace,

“Is the boy ready yet?” he asked gruffly, nodding in the lad’s direction

“Yes, he is ready now, but Eomer… be NICE to him!”

Eomer snorted at his sister’s warning and unable to resist the opportunity to tease her, barked out in an angry voice,

“DANIMIR!”

Eowyn’s smile slid from her face and she glared up at her brother in warning.

“COME UP FRONT - you may ride with me; I have instruction to be NICE to you!” added Eomer, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he bowed his head to her before nudging his horse forward to lead the twelve men and one small boy out of Edoras.

*****

By late afternoon the hunt had reached far into the mountains where the best hunting was to be found. The king had made the first kill and brought down a mighty stag with his bow, eliciting a loud cheer from the eored as superstition dictated that it would bring good fortune to Rohan for the following year. Dan had helped to track the animal and Eomer had showed him how to stalk it, waiting in the undergrowth for the right moment to strike, before the king had loosed his arrow and killed the animal with one shot.

Eomer, now recovered from his earlier hangover had lost his grumpiness along with his headache – he was enjoying himself, lost in the wilderness and silence of the mountain, that is, except for the constant chatter of the boy!

“Danimir, do you never cease with your questions?” Eomer enquired in a loud voice, as he bent down and cleaned his hunting knife of blood in a deep fall of snow by the base of a tree. “There was a time when you first arrived at Edoras when you would not speak! You spent most of your time skulking around the hall, cursing your cousin the Steward for sending you here… am I not right?” Eomer asked teasingly, as he dared the boy to admit to his former faults.

Dan’s first thoughts were to deny the accusation but the mock tone of annoyance on the king’s lips was not lost upon him and instead he nodded, admitting his guilt,

“Aye my lord, I …I did.”

Eomer stood up straight and put the knife back in his sheath,

“You wanted to be here no less than I wanted you here,” replied Eomer in his usual blunt manner. “Yet, here we are halfway through the year and neither one of us is too much the worst for it…well, except for the suffering of my ears!” He added, winking at the young boy.

Dan grinned and without thinking added quickly,

“And the suffering of my backside my lord,”

The king pulled his head back shocked momentarily by his ward’s quip and then slowly broke into a deep belly laugh himself at the boy’s cheekiness,

“I should take you over my knee again young lord for your cheek outstrips your age!” he exclaimed in mock indignation, “The Steward will wonder where his quiet sulking ward has gone to when he returns in the summer.”

“He comes to Edoras to marry Lady Eowyn sire, he has no interest in me . . . I doubt he even remembers I am here,” replied Danimir shrugging his shoulders idly as he picked up the king’s quiver and slung it over his shoulder ready to walk back to the waiting horses.

Eomer did not make comment, but pondered silently to himself if what the boy said held an element of truth, had Faramir forgotten all about his ward?

*****

The hunt went well ensuring enough meat would sit on the tables of Edoras through the cold winter months ahead, the riders happy and fulfilled as they made their way towards the cave that would serve as their camp for the night. Dan was still on a high and even the numb ache in the seat of his pants from his belting the day before could do little to spoil the thrill and enjoyment of his first hunt. As the day drew to a close he lingered near the back of the column, his earlier youthful energy now spent, he was content to sit in silence and listen to the men’s voices, warm and jovial as the eored moved through the forest, the light of the day fading before their eyes.

Once at the cave, Dan slid tiredly from his horse and led it over to where the others were sheltering their beasts for the night. The sky was almost dark and the snow was now crispy and frozen beneath his feet as the chill of the evening set in. Lifting the saddle from his horse Dan took it over to the edge of the cave and threw it down on the floor. It was at that moment that he saw the boar from the corner of his eye scoot across the forest floor, its foraging disturbed, causing it to make a run for the trees. Dan let out a yell of surprise at his discovery and in his excitement grabbed his bow and ran - off into the dark forest without waiting for either permission or help.

Eomer turned his head at the commotion and shouted after the boy to return but it was too late; Dan was determined to bring home the bacon himself! Eomer cursed aloud at the boy’s defiance and was about to go after him when the marshal put his hand up,

“Leave him to me sire,” offered Gambling who had not yet dismounted.

Eomer nodded his approval, confidant in the knowledge that Gambling would sort out the defiant child!

Dan chased the boar through the dark forest, trying to keep it in sight at the same time as trying to nock an arrow, a much harder task than the foolish boy anticipated as he tumbled over a tree root, falling down into a pool of water and losing his weapon in the darkness. He lay dazed on the freezing ground, as the boar came towards him grunting and squealing, its small piggy eyes flashing in the moonlight, saliva drooling from its mouth. Dan scrambled to his knees trying to feel around for his weapon or a stick to fend the wild animal off, his heart racing as it screeched and ran straight for him, its tusks glinting menacingly.

An arrow whistled past the kneeling boy’s head making him gasp as it hit the boar just a few feet from him, eliciting a piercing shriek as it fell over, its breath coming in short grunts as its body rose up and down inches from his face. Gambling jumped from his horse and taking his knife from his boot finished the animal off.

His attention now turned to the Gondorian!

“What in the name of VALAR did you think you were doing?”

Gambling grabbed the kneeling boy by the collar and dragged him up delivering an almighty wallop to his backside,

“Arghhhh!” yelled Dan, struggling to stand up on the slippery ice. “What was that for?”

Gambling, clearly not happy with just the one swot now bent the arrogant lad forward under his arm and lambasted him with half a dozen firm whacks to his backside, clearly felt through the wet and clinging britches. Dan danced on the spot yelping loudly as Gambling re-ignited the fire that the king had set there the night before. The final wallop was delivered with gusto, making Dan YELL!

“OWWWWWWW!… THAT HURT!” He screamed, his hands shooting back to rub frantically at the sting.

“GOOD! - That was the intention,” replied Gambling, glowering at the arrogant child. “You were ordered by the king to stop!”

Dan continued to rub at his throbbing bottom, his earlier excitement and bravery now gone as it was replaced with a scowling look of injustice,

“I wanted to kill it myself …I was not scared,” the last few words came out shakily as he looked at the fierce boar beneath his feet.

“You are a fool and a DEFIANT fool at that! ‘Tis too dark and dangerous to hunt at night and you are TOO young to be doing so on your own! Get back to camp now!” roared Gambling pushing the boy forward roughly.

Dan let out yet another yell as the marshal gave him a further stinging slap to hurry him on his way, both his pride and his backside having taken a battering, he was in no rush to return to the camp and face the music there.

Gambling picked up the dead boar, threw it over his horse, and followed, leading his horse the short distance back to the camp. As they came to the cave Gambling pushed the boy inside with a gruff command and then led his horse over to the others. A fire was now burning brightly, giving the cave a cosy feel as the men milled around preparing food and laying out bed rolls for the night. Dan wandered awkwardly over to the fire eager to warm himself, although truth be told, his backside was already more than heated as he tried unsuccessfully to pull the wet britches away from his skin, wincing at the movement.

“Gambling has a hard hand does he not,” said the King as he walked out of the shadows and stood before his ward; his arms crossed about him.

The boy gulped as he looked up timidly meeting the king’s stern gaze,

“I don’t know what squealed the louder back there in the forest - the BOAR . . . or YOU?”

Dan blushed to the tips of his ears to think that all the men had heard him being taken to task by Gambling and he groaned with embarrassment.

“He had no right to beat me thus . . . I was only trying to hunt the boar.”

“I DISAGREE! I think he should beat you some MORE! You took yourself off without seeking permission AND you put yourself in danger - acts of a foolish and headstrong boy who has no right to be on this hunt if he cannot do as he is TOLD!” Eomer roared, causing all the men to stop what they were doing and stare.

Dan gulped and immediately lost any more thoughts of arguing with his guardian as he squirmed in his shame.

“I beg pardon my lord,” Dan said quietly, his bottom lip quivering at the reprimand.

Eomer surveyed the crestfallen lad for a few moments, who judging by his sorrowful face was obviously regretting his actions. Sighing in exasperation he relented.

“Take those wet things off before you catch a fever.” Eomer threw the boy a blanket. “Wrap yourself in this, hang those britches of yours over there to dry.”

Dan caught the blanket and then hesitated before turning to face the wall and stepping out of his wet clothes.

Eomer caught sight of the lad’s bare backside, still bearing the familiar red handprints of Gambling that he remembered all too well from his own younger days. Eomer smirked at the memory before he turned away to seek out some food.

As the evening wore on a hot stew was soon readied and all sat around the fire eating their fill. As a skin of ale was passed around a feeling of contentment filled the cave as the riders relaxed, tired after a long day in the saddle. Eomer stretched out his long legs and leaned back against the rocks, pleased to be amongst old friends doing what he enjoyed most. He glanced over at Dan who sat huddled before the fire, yawning repeatedly yet valiantly fighting the sleep that his young body so obviously needed. Eomer smiled to himself, his ward was indeed a stubborn brat!

“Does the lad know the tale of these caves?” Asked one of the men, slyly winking at the King, “Has he heard about the Banshee?”

Dan opened his eyes wide and looked over at the rider,

“B…Banshee?”

“Aye little lord, they say she haunts these caves….an evil spirit with a face so hideous that all who let their gaze fall upon her die in terror. She comes in the night, when all are asleep and takes the spirits from the bodies of sleeping men.”

Dan caught his breath and looked around the dim cave. The wind outside howled and he pulled the blanket around him inching nearer to the fire. All the men nodded their heads and looked cautiously at the entrance to the cave. The sky outside was black. Another rider took up the tale,

“They say she wears a long black cloak and moves like a raven through these mountains, hiding in the caves and a forest, seeking out the young . . . for it is their life spirit that she needs to feed her desires.”

At that moment the wind blew into the cave making a wailing sound, Dan gasped and began to shuffle over surreptitiously towards the king. Gambling looked at Eomer and cocked an eyebrow; clearly they had the lad hooked! The riders continued to spin the tale, each adding further ghoulish elements until eventually poor Dan was rooted to the spot in terror, too scared now to even move or speak as he looked pleadingly at Eomer to save him.

“What was that?” Asked Eothain, as he threw a pebble behind Dan’s back causing the terrified lad to shriek like a wild Banshee himself and flee to Eomer, practically throwing himself down upon the King’s lap!

Eomer could not keep his face straight any longer and roaring with laughter, he wrapped his arm protectively around the shaking lad and comforted him.

“Enough!” He said putting up his hand up to try and silence the riders who were now laughing riotously too at poor Dan’s expense. Gambling shook his head and grinned at his king as he remembered a hunt many years ago when a youthful Eomer had fallen for the same tale AND reacted in much the same way. Wiping a tear of mirth from his eye Gambling winked at the lad.

Dan seethed in outrage at their laughter but the angrier he looked the more they laughed and there was little he could do but sit it out and take it in good humour. After a while the joke had run its course and the men made ready for sleep. They took out their bedrolls and began to lay them out around the cave. Dan’s roll was over the other side, away from the king.

“Come little lord, it is time to sleep,” Said Eomer standing up to shake out his blankets, he nodded in the direction of Dan’s bed, “Your bed lies over yonder.”

The lad did not move.

“Danimir! Are you listening to me boy?” Eomer asked, this time pointing to the empty bedroll that lay in the corner of the cave.

Dan looked over at it and bit his lip. He knew the tale was most likely just a ghost story . . . no truth to it…but even so . . . what if . . .? He stood up slowly, but still made no move to leave Eomer’s side.

The king, aware of the hesitating boy began to take off his boots and sword before climbing into his bedroll and pulling the blankets around him. Gambling did the same making his bed up but a few feet from the king’s.

Now left alone, Dan walked very nervously over to his own bed and sat down in the eerie silence. The cave was darker than ever and even though he tried to be brave, he couldn’t help feeling vulnerable and scared. The flames from the dying fire made shadows move along the stone walls and the wind whistled eerily through the entrance.

Eomer lay in the dark waiting. It did not take long.

As the first snores of sleep could be heard, a small figure scurried across the cave dragging something behind him. Eomer opened an eye and smiled smugly as he felt Danimir lay down his bed in the small space besides him and climb in quietly.

Gambling turned over and smirked at the sight of the sleeping boy sandwiched protectively between himself and the king…the fearless hunter indeed!