A SHIELDMAIDEN ONCE MORE
Morning of May 2, 3020
By Angmar
Eomer sat alone in his room idly toying with the handle of the empty tankard in his hand, his long legs spread out in front of him. "The robes of a king are far heavier than mail," he thought as he sat there, "and the crown of realm outweighs the heftiest helm. Theodred should have been king, not I."
A light rap was heard at the door. "Brother, may I come in?" asked the soft voice outside.
"Yes, Eowyn, you may enter."
The door swung open and his sister, clad in white raiment, stepped into the room. He rose to his feet and set his tankard down on the small table that served as his desk. Both were silent for a long while, facing each other, a tension between them, until Eowyn said, "Is my brother so gloomy that he does not ask his own sister to sit down?" A faint smile flickered at the corners of her lips.
"Nay, Eowyn," he said and sighed deeply. "Please be seated. Take the chair I was sitting in. Tis far better than this stool." He moved aside from his chair and waited until she had sat down and then he pulled up the small stool and sat across from her.
She laughed softly and said, "Is now the Lady of Rohan higher than her brother the king?"
"Well, Eowyn," he said ruefully, "this afternoon I feel least of all in my own kingdom."
"Oh, brother," she said, and reached forward and took his hand in hers. "Do not be so distraught. We both made a mistake that could have ended in the most regrettable ways!"
"Aye, sister, my judgment could have brought about the death of two innocent men and the banishment of two women who were little more than thralls of their own people, the Haradrim, and the return to a dire fate."
"Brother, my judgment was as poor as yours, so do not be so harsh upon yourself," she said as she clasped his hand tighter.
"We were too quick, sister, in dealing out judgment. Amends must somehow be made for the injustice that has been done to them, while by the same token Oswald and Osric have no recompense for the loss of son and brother!" he exclaimed. "Ceolwulf has shed innocent blood, and there is no denying that, and 'tis one stain that my pardon will never blot." He looked into his sister's face, seeking in those gray eyes a look of affirmation, and he was pleased when he found it.
"Eomer," she squeezed his hand, "the reports say that among the goods which were taken the night that Oslaf was slain were two pack horses, each whose packs contained a sizable burden of gold. Would that not suffice as weregild and preserve to some degree the honor of Ceolwulf's family?"
"Aye, sister," he said, "that is what I had considered, but even though, no doubt, the treasure was the ransom sum paid by Ashtum for the retrieval of his family, gold is unknowing metal and cares not who possesses it. Let this, then, stand for the weregild."
"A wise decision, brother," she said. "While there can be no remedy for our unsound judgment, neither can there be remedy for the loss of Oslaf son of Oswald, but honor demands that Ceolwulf pay weregild and thus two ills are eased."
"I have done everything I can to rectify the damage that my hastiness has caused. I have sent forth couriers to announce to all the villages that Ceolwulf son of Elfwine has returned at last with Vardamir his friend and the two women Adibe and Debanni."
"Oh, but brother," she said, "when Ceolwulf is mended, and I pray that he will be soon, invite him and his family to our hall and offer him his old rank back as King's Knight."
Eomer looked at his sister and a small smile came over his face and he put his hand over hers. "My sister is growing wise in her old age," he said and quickly pulled his hands away from hers and sprang away out of her reach. As she charged at him, fists raised to strike him, he caught her by both wrists and, laughing, said, "Ride again, Eowyn, as a shieldmaiden with my eored."
She gasped at him with astonishment. "You would let me, brother?"
"Oh, I insist," he said, his voice mischievous. "All that pent up anger might be better dissipated on a patrol than blacking my eyes."
She laughed and he laughed with her but he kept his grip upon her hands and eyed her warily. "Brother, I yield. Now release me."
"Tomorrow at dawn, be mounted up. We ride with my escort to inspect the other tower that is being built upon the mountains."
"You really give me permission to ride as shieldmaiden once again?" she asked, still dismayed.
"After the winter caged as you have been, I fear I must," he sighed with mock resignation. "If you stay here, you might become so rowdy you might find that Lord Aldor who governs in my stead will have you sent to the guardhouse and I do not know if even they have the sword arm to withstand you."
Her laughter was musical and full of mirth. Eomer released her fists. "It is good to hear you laugh again," he said. "Now come, let us go out into the hall and meet with Lord Elfwine and his sons Ceolwulf and Leofen. Then after that," he said, looking to her, "let us share a tankard of mead together."
"I would like that very much," she said as she walked through door and into the hall, arm and arm with her brother.
"And," he said, looking straight ahead, a serious expression on his face, "I can outdrink you any day!"