Fic: Witan Day, LOTR, gen

[caitri]

Title: Witan Day
Author: caitri
Rating: PG (Some violence)
Word Count: 507
Summary: Éomer as a new King. Written for anutty1.
Disclaimer: With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and Karl Urban while I’m at it.



It is early morning, and a breakfast of oat porridge and a cup of ale sit on a nearby table, untouched. He has no stomach for this, and curses himself for a coward.

“My King?” Erkenbrand’s voice through the door. “Are you ready? All are assembled.”

“I come.” Éomer is wearing the heavy ceremonial cloak that Théoden wore before him; it is said that the first to wear it was Fréaláf though Éomer doubts it; it just doesn’t look that old. He emerges from his chambers at a fast clip; today will be the first time for which he has sat before petitioners. He can hear the low rumble of dozens of voices in the Great Hall, and when he emerges they grow silent. He climbs the dais and sits down. “Who is first?” he asks his Chief Marshal, and his voice echoes throughout the room.

“Wealtha of Grimslade,” Erkenbrand answers, and the woman steps forward. She bows low, and proceeds with her tale. After her case is heard and judged, there is that of Aelfred of Dunharrow, and then Freca of Calenardhon.

They have been at this for over half the day when a horn is sounded and a Rohir runs into the Hall. People rumble and stir at the intrusion. “Speak! What has happened?” Éomer demands impatiently.

“Orc have been sighted, highness.” The Rider bows low, removing his helm to show his face as Ceorl. “We estimate some four dozen, on the plains. The Second Eored is preparing to ride.”

Éomer is already up. “I ride with them,” he says immediately, slipping off the ceremonial cloak. A serving man appears to take it from him, and he’s already moving to the armory for his gear.

“Éom—your majesty, you can’t!” Éomer represses a grin as Erkenbrand corrects himself; the Marshal is no more used to this courtliness than he is.

“I am King, I can go to and fro as I like,” he says stubbornly. “If I can’t, what’s the point of being King?” Several of the Riders from his old eored overhear this and cheer loudly.

They ride out soon enough at speed, fast as their horses’ hooves will take them. Firefoot is all but quivering with delight, and Éomer gives the Mearas his head. They’ve both been stifled too long indoors.

They overtake the Orcs soon enough, and the fight is over and done with minimal casualties. The foul creatures have had little heart since the fall of Mordor. Afterwards they build the pyres and two dozen men are left behind to watch it burn as the remainder return to Edoras.

It is just past nightfall when they enter the city. People cheer their return, women running to greet their men. They retire to the armory to clean their gear, and then back to the Hall for ale and song. There is much laughter and the light is warm. His people are happy. Éomer sits and watches them, and considers that mayhap, just mayhap, he’ll be able to do this thing after all.

Comments

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

I don't think too many apologies have to be made. It's very in keeping with the charector - or, at least, how I picture Eomer. Especially the line, “I am King, I can go to and from as I like. If I can’t, what’s the point of being King?”

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Heh, glad that worked for you. I wondered if maybe that was a bit more flippant than I generally picture him.

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

Flippant? I sort of saw it as like a call back to the kings of old - who fought an died to protect their kingdom. If Eomer doesn't do the same, what kind of king and, ergo, example, would he be?

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I can see that. The way I'm thinking of him, though, he's just really uncomfortable being inside doing political things because all of his adult life has been spent out on the plains on patrols and stuff. He never expected to do otherwise and, particularly in a new time of peace, he's more than a bit overwhelmed. :)

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* either way, anything's better than sitting inside all day, solving other people's (oft petty) problems

Fic written for me?!?

[anutty1.livejournal.com]

This is exactly why I love Eomer, he's stubborn, maybe a bit foolhardy, a bit prideful but he knows who he is, and who he is is a rider of Rohan, and nothing, not even being King is more important than that. I loved, loved, loved this; the language, the imagery, all of it making me love this character even more. FANTASTIC work!

Re: Fic written for me?!?

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Hee, so glad you liked it!! *delighted squishes!*

[snoewhite.livejournal.com]

I have missed the LOTR fics so much! Eomer King would be smokin' hawt! I loved Karl with the long blonde hair!

[caitri.livejournal.com]

There just needed to be more Eomer, period. Rohan is just so much more interesting than Gondor, because it is so much more agrarian and warlike at the same time, and on top of that, in very recent decades they've had more of a mess politically that now has to be cleaned up!!

[snoewhite.livejournal.com]

You know we need a "Chronicals of Eomer King" I would so read/watch/drool during that! So hot! Have you ever read "A Mortal Love"? It's a fic about Eomer and Haldir. It's one of my favs. If you are interested I have a bookmark.
Good job, bb!

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Eomer and Haldir? o_0 Seriously? Link away!

[snoewhite.livejournal.com]

Okay this is one of my fav LOTR fic ever! I have had it bookmarked through three laptops.
here's the link

http://www.libraryofmoria.com/elrondglorfindel/amortallove.txt

let me know if you like it.

[amine-eyes.livejournal.com]

Oh I like how the people and him still aren't quite able to deal with peace for extended periods or having the time to sit and be courtly :)

Lovely characterisation of both Eomer and Rohan in this :)

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Hee, glad you liked it!! *G* Eomer and Rohan are both so fascinating!!!!!!

[weepingnaiad.livejournal.com]

Love this! I totally agree that Eomer would wear the position of state of heavily. He wasn't born to it, after all. All that was to be Theodred's domain, so I can see him taking any opportunity to ride and do battle.

:D

[caitri.livejournal.com]

<333

I can also imagine him being immensely insecure with anything that doesn't have to do with fighting, at least at first, because that's pretty much all he knows. And then slowly realizing he's actually pretty good with this whole kingship thing...

And do you know, I've looked and looked and cannot find when they officially make him king! They lay Theoden to rest a couple weeks after the Morannon but there's no mention of Eomer ever having a formal coronation or anything. *grumps at Tolkien*

Hey, btw, did you ever get a chance to look at my stbb? I was dying to know what you thought, but I know you had rl stuff going on and whatnot. *snorts at rl, taking us away from fandom and all!*

[morfin.livejournal.com]

Since Rohan is based on early Saxon culture, it's probable that any coronation would have been a simple affair, without the later elaborate ceremonies. The main part would have been accepting the oaths of allegience from the housecarls and the leaders of the Eored.

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Aha! Good to know, thank you!!!!!!!!!! *G*

[weepingnaiad.livejournal.com]

JRRT gave Eomer and the Rohirrim short shrift, I think. I know I have tons of f-listers that love and adore the Numenoreans, but, to me, that's just tales of medieval Europe redone. I much prefer the Rohirrim (although I really, really was an elf-lover, especially those that have little canon to them -- more palette to work with).

I haven't read your BB yet, bb! I'm sorry! space_wrapped came straight on the heels of BB and I've still got two stories to read over there (I'm a mod. It's only right that I read and comment on everything.)

Yours does hold a prominent place on my PC and in my phone, though. I think only sangueuk's is in front of yours. It's not fair that I have to work and, you know, have a life, with kids, one of whom is sick on our holiday.

I will definitely let you know what I think. I promise! Though I'm sure I will love it from the snippets that I've already seen.

&hearts

[caitri.livejournal.com]

Aw, no worries, bb! *squishes*

I wish I'd had time to sign up for the valentine exchange on jim_and_bones but with the exhibit coming up and me already oweing two fics, I decided that would not be a good plan. One of my goals for this year is to rewrite my stbb--well, parts of it, anyhow--as original fic. I've decided I've gotten addicted to Rohirrim!!

[blue-jack.livejournal.com]

You and LOTR. *shakes head at you* There isn't even any Jim here.

lol, but I do think this was very in-character for Eomer. He's not the type of guy to sit back and watch life happen nor let other people fight when he's able.

[caitri.livejournal.com]

What? There was a meme, there was adesire for Eomer. You can still leave a prompt if you want something, too. :P