SETTLING OF THE WEREGILD
Around Noon, May 2, 3020
Written by Hobbitness
The tall, ominous scaffold that stands outside the Great Hall
of Dunharrow will not be used after all. It has been suddenly
rendered unnecessary by the arrival of two Riders from the front
of the ongoing war - Elfwine and Leofen, the father and brother
of Ceolwulf. Though neither Eomer King nor the Lady Eowyn believed
it was he, the prisoner who accidentally killed Oslaf was in truth
the erstwhile King's Knight, Ceolwulf son of Elfwine, who was
thought dead at Pelennor. When Elfwine and Leofen identified him,
they cleared all the prisoners of their espionage charges, thereby
saving their lives.
Now a gathering is underway in the Great Hall. Eomer King sits upon his throne, his sister Eowyn beside him. They await the coming of Elfwine and Leofen to settle the matter of the weregild for Oslaf's death. Elfwine and Leofen make their way through the crowds that surround the Great Hall of Dunharrow. Old friends call out to welcome them back from the war or to congratulate them on the rescue of Ceolwulf, but they keep their hard stares fixed straight ahead. They must obey Eomer's summons to the Hall, though they would rather not see him.
They are furious at the King who almost hanged their kinsman without granting them a chance to identify him. Their only thought is to dispense with the necessary protocol as soon as possible and return to Ceolwulf, who waits outside with Vardamir, Adibe, and Debanni. They open the doors and stride into the throne room. The tapestries on the walls seem to change color and pattern in the firelight. They bow gravely to Eomer. "Hail, my King," Elfwine says in a flat tone.
Eowyn portrayed by Eowyn
Elfwine and Leofen portrayed by Hobbitness
Eomer portrayed by Wraith
Eomer: *He looks to them, nods
and then says* Hail, Lords Elfwine and Leofen
Eowyn: *Eowyn looks to Elfwine and Leofen, repeating
her brother's words* Hail, lords.
Eomer: *He looks briefly over to his sister out of
the corner of his eye and then back to the men* You have been
summoned here this afternoon to discuss matters of import to all
of us
Eomer: *He looks into Lord Elfwine's eyes* Your son
has been in grave error and has committed a terrible crime. This
demands a blood payment, as you well know, Lord Elfwine, but never
can there be any payment for the life of a son *he looks down*
Are you prepared to offer a suitable weregild to Oslaf's father?
Elfwine: *Only with great effort does he restrain his
rage* It is true that there can be no payment for the life of
a son, yet you would have taken mine from me without granting
me the chance to prove his innocence!
Elfwine: I have heard the story of Oslaf's death from
one who was there. In the dark Paths of the Dead, they could
not tell who was friend and who was foe. When my son was captured,
he mistook his own people for the Southrons who were pursuing
him. Oslaf's death was pure accident.
Elfwine: My son is guiltless, yet you would have hanged
him! *He pauses for breath, swallowing the words "And you
speak to me of crime and blood payment!"*
Elfwine: My own fear for the life of my son Ceolwulf,
and the loss of my youngest, Hereric, makes me feel for the father
of Oslaf. Of course we are willing to offer a weregild. As much
gold as he wants, and the finest horse from our stables. But I
cannot bear to hear my son spoken of as a criminal!
Eomer: *His eyes lowered, he glances away as a stab
of guilt surges through his mind, then he looks back to Lord Elfwine.
He thinks, "The man tries my patience. Ever has he been a
hot-head!" A flush comes over his face as he thinks, "I
will keep my temper!"*
Eomer: Many have lost in the wars, the house of Theoden
not the least, nor both the houses of Oswald and Elfwine, and
many others, but they all died in battle in honor.
Eomer: Your son came here by strange paths and uncertain
ways and in a company of enemies. What should we expect but perfidy
when your son and his friend travel with two Haradrim women! I
cannot believe that their motives are pure here!
Eomer: *Against his will, his eyes stray to his sister
Eowyn, remembering the shame her journey by strange paths and
strange ways brought upon their house. How it took him many long
months past before he had ever been able to forgive her when she
was guiltless of anything. The painful thought flits across his
mind, "Does she still think of that dark demon and his carresses.
What does she dream those nights when she arises and, unable to
return to her bed, she wanders restlessly through the hall? Does
she remember the nights with him in the Dark Tower? Does she dream
of him, and can she still hear his voice call her in the night?
If I think thoughts like this, they will drive me mad!" He
tries to dismiss the dark images from his mind but he knows they
will return. "My poor sister!"*
Eowyn: *Eowyn catches her brother's glance; she knows
he thinks of her. Slightly abashed, her gaze darts down to her
lap, but then she looks back up, her head held high. Still she
swallows slightly. Indeed those who come back to the Mark from
the Dark Land oft travel by strange paths.*
Elfwine: *Elfwine knows of Eowyn's sojourn in the Nameless
Land, but he barely notices the silent exchange between the King
and his sister. His voice rises of its own accord*
Elfwine: Perfidy! You would expect perfidy from Ceolwulf?
Remember of whom you speak! Remember what he was! Remember how
he fought for Theoden King, his dedication, the many scars he
received in battle for Rohan! Many have lost in this war, as you
say, but so too have many been captured and enslaved. This is
no perfidy!
Elfwine: *Now his own eyes flicker toward Eowyn and back
to Eomer with a suppressed accusatory light* Ceolwulf had not
the chance to prove his own identity, much less the reason why
the women were with him. And it turns out he has them for safekeeping!
My son is guiltless, my lord!
Eomer: *"I must not become angry," Eomer
slowly repeats the words to himself. "The hall... is... no...place...
for... brawls." When he finally speaks, he tries to remain
calm. "What would my uncle, Theoden King, do?" The skin
on the side of his face twitches, showing that he is becoming,
in spite of himself, angry.*
Eomer: *"Calm," he thinks to himself, "calm."
Then he sees Eowyn out of the corner of his eyes. His right hand
involuntarily clenches. "Calm, calm and measured," he
says to himself.*
Eomer: Doubtless your son has honor and valor, but
Lord Elfwine, your son lacks in wisdom. *He thinks, "And
so do you, Eomer son of Eomund! Still," he reasons to himself,
"I am king here, and while the king's rule must be just,
it must also be firm."*
Eomer: Lord Elfwine, you speak out of turn in this
hall! Silence, man! *he says and raises his hand* I know you are
distressed about what has happened and what has almost happened,
but it did not! Do not attempt to press this matter as a redress
for old grievances between your house and mine!
Elfwine: *"But that is exactly what this matter
is, a new grievance between our houses. The fact that you are
now King does not make you exempt from paying any redress to one
whom you have wronged!" he thinks. "But true as this
may be, I cannot say it here in the Hall. Wrong or not, he is
still King, and I must obey, though it grate on my soul."*
Elfwine: *Not trusting himself to speak, he bows curtly
to acknowledge Eomer's words.*
Eowyn: *Eowyn knows that the two men keep casting their
glances at her. The matter of Ceolwulf son of Elfwine troubles
her, for what befell him was so much like what happened to her
a year before. "At least he is not enchanted by an evil spell,"
she thinks to herself, but then the thought comes to her: "Nay,
instead he is mad."*
Eomer: Let past grudges lie in peace, or attempt some
reconciliation between our houses. I have spoken to Oswald father
of Oslaf. His word is, though nothing can bring his son back from
the halls of the fathers, he will accept as proof of the good
faith of your son Ceolwulf all the gold brought into Rohan by
your son and his... friends.
Eomer: *He thinks of the tawny skinned Haradric women.
"How can I call them 'friends'? Their people have been age-long
enemies of ours and always is there enmity. Now reports have reached
me that the Haradrim seek to stir up unrest in Dunland."
His mind is filled with these heavy matters.*
Eomer: *"I will have the women watched discretely,
judiciously. No one will know, but every step they make will be
reported to Lord Aldor, Head of the Council, and Lord Wulfhelm,
Lord of Dunharrow, and my officers." He resumes talking.*
Eomer: Oswald asks in addition to that gold five good
mares and a young stallion. Will you pay this weregild? *he says
as he looks to Lord Elfwine and Leofen.*
Eomer: *He thinks, "That gold would probably have
bought the whole village of Grenefeld, where once Oswald the Isensmith
and his family lived." He thinks with a grim feeling, "His
son's death has made him rich!"*
Elfwine: *Elfwine cannot keep his eyes from widening.
He had expected to give the gold as weregild, but the horses
in addition! Five mares and a stallion! Why, that is almost
half of his stables! But then an image of Hereric leading his
own stallion into the stables comes into Elfwine's mind. Indeed,
no price can match the value of a son.*
Eomer: *Eomer relaxes slightly on his throne. He begins
to feel more confident but now comes the painful part.* Then it
is settled, Lord Elfwine *he says* but there is another matter
remaining between us.
Eomer: The Council and the King ask for the forgiveness
of you and your family, but *he says, not willing to concede a
point* the evidence seemed overwhelming to the guilt of your son
at that time. But no matter *he says and holds his hand up again*
this should settle it.
Eomer: And, *he says* there are certain lands in the
private holdings of the king in the Harrowdale Valley that I am
willing to cede to you and your family for now and all time. Will
you accept this as my offer of good faith? Now *he says* it is
over.
Elfwine: *Ever since he was a lad, Eomer has been proud
and headstrong. Elfwine can see the effort it costs Eomer to make
this apology. Elfwine manages a slight smile. He nods* Yes, my
King, we will gratefully accept it, and you have our forgiveness.
*He looks to Leofen, who nods as well* Now, if there is no further
business, Ceolwulf is ill and we must take him home. Have we your
permission to go?
Eomer: Lord Elfwine, there are yet more matters of which
we must deal. Amongst the items that were taken from your son
and his friend, there were two saxes, two daggers and two swords
of most unusual crafting and with runes inscribed on their blades
and hilts. I wish to give all weapons back to their owners and
I entrust the weapons into your safe keeping. These and all of
your son's and his friend's possessions have been loaded onto
one of the packhorses.
Eomer: When your son's company rode through the dark
path, they abandoned four horses and their tack. There were also
two packhorses, bridles and pack saddles. These horses had been
ridden for long days and had been sorely pressed. One of the packhorses
was injured in the skirmish in the cavern and is unfit for use
at this time.
Eomer: *He shifted his position on the throne* All
mounts save the one horse have had almost a fortnight of rest.
Take them and the packhorse with you down the mountain. I have
ordered them saddled and they are waiting for you outside this
hall. Now our business is finished and I think all has been settled
as amicably as could be possible. Let there be no more grievances
between the houses of Eomer and Elfwine.
Eomer: Go in peace, Lords Elfwine and Leofen, and may
your son soon be restored to full health. You are dismissed. *he
says and nods to them both.*
Eowyn: Farewell, my lords. *Eowyn says to them, a small
smile of apology upon her face.*
Elfwine: Thank you, my King and Lady Eowyn. *Elfwine
and Leofen bow again, then turn. The thud of their boots on the
wood floor is deafening in the ensuing silence. The guards open
the door for them, and they bow once more before leaving the Hall.*
Eomer: *He waits until the door closes behind Lord
Elfwine and Leofen and then he looks to the doorwarden* Let the
hall be opened and let those who had business be ushered in.
Eomer: *He turns to Eowyn* My lady, the tankard of
mead is sorely needed now. What say you?
Eowyn: Aye, mead would be most welcomed at a time like
this, to wash away the bitter taste of our mistakes. *she says
quietly*
Eomer: *He rises to his feet and offers her his arm*
Do not let your thirst be too great, my lady *he says and smiles
mischievously* else you will not feel like riding upon the morrow.
Eowyn: Nay, of course not! *she says, laughing lightly,
her spirits brightening a bit* I shall be fully in my senses on
the morrow, for I would not miss the inspection of the tower that
is being built.
Eowyn: *She puts his hand upon his arm and follows
him as he leads her down from the dias*
Eomer: *As he leads her to the table, he thinks, "Shieldmaiden
once more," and laughs to himself.*