tanaquiljall | Entries tagged with éomer

Fluff. Because sometimes fluff is good. *g*

Day 338

as part of the Handy With A Sword series.

Exercised

The air was still chilly when Faramir stepped outside. He followed a splurge of noise to a water-meadow stretching between the pavilions and the river, where knights of Rohan and lords of Gondor, come to attend his wedding, were sparring good-naturedly.

His uncle and soon-to-be-brother stood watching the matches with a critical eye.

"Seeking a bout, nephew?"

"Aye, if any will partner me."

From behind him, a familiar voice challenged, "I will spar with you, lord."

Éomer laughed at Faramir’s surprise. "If you have not already had the honour, Prince, I can assure you my sister is a formidable opponent."

I was asking

sgafan some horsey questions that came up when I was writing some of the drabbles I'm doing for

elena_tiriel's birthday, and she was telling me about how she used to snap horseflies with towels to stun them so she could step on them. And then she said I dare you to write a drabble with Eomer snapping rags to kill horseflies.

*g*

Snap!

Under a cloudless sky, the cousins watered their horses. Éomer, stripping off his sweat-drenched tunic, stooped and wet his neckerchief in the slow-flowing water.

Firefoot stamped and flicked an ear as a horsefly weaved drunkenly from amongst the reeds and settled on his neck. Quick as a flash, Éomer twisted the scarf and snapped it out. Stunned, the winged pest fell into the water, struggled and drowned.

A moment later, Éomer felt a gentle slap across his own shoulders. Turning in protest, he saw Théodred stepping on a fly he had flicked in like fashion from Éomer’s naked back.

elena_tiriel seems to be on a bit of a roll with the "compare and contrast" prompts. She asked me to look at the fact that Frodo was adopted by his uncle, and Éomer and Éowyn were adopted by their uncle.

Day 322

Adoptive

Frodo did well enough in the rough-and-tumble of Brandy Hall, but Bilbo saw his eager look when he visited Bag End. It would be a kindness to the lad to adopt him.

Of course, it would be a kindness to Bilbo, too, to have someone to share his passions with.

***

Éomer and Éowyn did well enough in Aldburg, but Théoden saw his nephew’s struggles to be master ere time. It would be a kindness to bring them to Edoras.

Of course, it would be a kindness to Théoden, too, to have children other than his only son to dote upon.

gwynnyd asked for Teen Éomer and Théodred daring each other to go to the doorway to the Paths of the Dead. As Éomer and Théodred weren't actually teenagers at the same time, I made this Éomer and Éowyn. And it was supposed to be a light-hearted piece but ended up not.... :-(

Day 209

Ghost Hunters

"D'you think you see just the Dead – or everyone who ever died?" Éowyn tilted her chin challengingly at the path disappearing into the gloomy wood. But she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

Éomer ran one hand over his head while with the other he fingered the knife at his belt. "I don't know."

Éowyn took a step closer to him – but he was the one who reached for her hand.

"D'you think we could see mother and father?" she whispered.

Éomer squeezed her hand. "I don't think so." He gently tugged her back. "Come on. Let's go home."

elena_tiriel gave me the quote:

'It is true that we are not yet at open war with the Black Land, and there are some, close to the king's ear, that speak craven counsels; but war is coming.'

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 2, The Riders of Rohan

which inspired this:

Day 120

Ill-advised

"Merely an isolated raiding party?" Éomer's incredulous laugh turned into a snarl as he strode down the hall at Aldburg, Éothain scurrying at his heels. "Does he think me dotard like my uncle? I lose count of the times these foul creatures have despoiled our pasturelands. Would he let them compass the walls of Edoras itself before we sally forth?"

Slowing his steps a little, Éomer shook his head angrily. "That his crooked tongue in my uncle's name forbids pursuit is reason enough to give chase! I fear he speaks so to some wider purpose, though I see it not."

Another quote from

elena_tiriel:

Théodred and Éomer... were... devoted to the King,... and they did all that they could to thwart the influence over him that Gríma gained when the King's health began to fail.... Théoden was sixty-six; his malady may thus have been due to natural causes.... But it may well have been induced or increased by subtle poisons, administered by Gríma. In any case Théoden's sense of weakness and dependence on Gríma was largely due to the cunning and skill of this evil counsellor's suggestions. It was his policy to bring his chief opponents into discredit with Théoden, and if possible to get rid of them.

Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen

Day 113

Countermeasures

"What can we do?" Éomer balled his right fist and slammed it into the palm of his other hand.

Théodred looked around cautiously before replying, though they stood in the centre of the paddock. "Words will not serve us. That tongue of his twists them like a tangled rope, cunning as Scatha."

Éomer's hand strayed to his dagger. "There is a short answer to a tangled rope," he muttered.

Théodred put a restraining hand on Éomer's forearm. "And a quick route to a slipknot around your neck. Let us rather untangle the rope and make a noose for the Worm."

Denise told me I will drool over anything you write about Imrahil.

Day 106

as part of the Wild Swan series.

Sires

Imrahil, leaning on the paddock rail next to Aragorn, watched enviously as Éomer put the war-horse through its paces. "My bloodstock may be the finest in Gondor, but is nothing compared to the royal stud of Rohan," he admitted.

"Perhaps in time that might be amended." Aragorn grinned slyly. "I think Éomer King is minded to put a stallion of Rohan to a filly of Dol Amroth, if you are agreeable."

Imrahil spluttered. At last he found his voice. "Does my king command it?"

Aragorn laughed. "Nay, my lord. But I think you will not find better temperament and breeding."

rakshathedemon asked for Celeborn/Eowyn interaction.

Day 41

Daughter of Kings

Celeborn, returning Éomer's courteous greeting as the new King welcomed Arwen's wedding party to Edoras, was strongly reminded of his forefather, Eorl, seen in Galadriel's Mirror five hundred years past.

Moving on to the White Lady, he remembered an older time. Grey eyes that had known grief and hardship. A figure tall and strong, crowned with golden hair. In her gaze, courage no less than her menfolk's.

Celeborn had not thought of Nienor, daughter of Húrin, Mourning, daughter of Morwen, in six thousand years. Now, bowing before this joyous maiden, his heart wished Éowyn lasting happiness with her raven-haired lord.

(Guess who's been reading her copy of The Children of Húrin. And remembering that Celeborn was probably hanging around in Doriath at that time. And, of course, Éowyn's name translates literally as horse-joy....)

elena_tiriel gave me the quote:

'Ghân-buri-Ghân will not lead you into trap. He will go himself with father of Horse-men, and if he leads you wrong, you will kill him.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 3, The Muster of Rohan

which prompted this:

Day 37

Do we walk in legends?

Éomer, glancing at the headman pacing beside Théoden's horse, could not help but remember childhood tales.

The scent of horse sweat, saddle-soap and fire-smoke always reminded him of evenings in the great hall at Aldburg, when the Chief Marshal told tales. Of Woses, who caught children straying too deep into the wild woods – and ate them. Or whose poisoned darts transformed hunters into beasts that returned to savage their own homes and families – and on being killed, turned back to men.

Yet had Aragorn not taught him that legends might spring from the green earth – and be otherwise than told.

Denise said I've always wondered what the Paths of the Dead would be like after the Ring War. Could they be used for travel now? Who would be the first brave souls to attempt it?

I may revisit this prompt, as I didn't completely answer it, and it's a very interesting one, but today's drabble was inspired by these questions. *g*

Day 29

Dare to pass

Éomer edged Firefoot through the Dimholt, dank despite the bright sun high above. The leaves whispered to one another.

They reached the the dark doorway. The King paused, head tilted as if listening.

"'Tis a gloomy place still," he murmured to Elfhelm. "But I no longer feel the evil that once dwelt here." When Elfhelm nodded agreement, Éomer gathered his reins. "Perhaps others may dare the door at last."

Elfhelm swiftly reached out a hand to stay him. "Aye, others, my King. I would counsel you not to enter into needless peril when your people have such need of you!"

telperion1 said she was interested in the founding of the dwarven colony of Aglarond.

Day 18

Gifted

"Éomer King." Gimli bowed low, his beard sweeping the floor of Meduseld. "I crave a boon."

"If I may repay you for your swordplay before the gates of the Hornburg, Master Dwarf, I would. Name aught that is mine, save only my sword!"

"You repaid me many times in the caves below." Gimli bowed again. "Yet it is that same corner of your land I would name. Grant me and my kin leave to dwell there, and we will fill your treasury with jewels and gold."

"No need. My land is already enriched enough by your friendship... Lord of Aglarond."