Dragon Rider in Middle Earth

XXIV

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Rohirrim are gathered for Théodred's funeral. Théodred's body is carried toward the tomb on a bier made of shields and spears.
Èowyn sings with tears in his eyes while the men pass the body to the women, who place it into the tomb.

-Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende
(An evil death has set forth the noble warrior
A song shall sing sorrowing minstrels)

on Meduselde þæt he ma no wære,
Þæt he ma nowere is, þurh niedig rest.
(in Meduseld that he is no more,
That he is nowhere anymore, for his necessary rest.)

And mægen deorost.
Bealo...
(And that he is the dearest kinsman.
Killing took him...)

Arya stands close to Èowyn, giving the lady of Rohan a shoulder to cry on.

••••••••••
•••••

Théoden stands, with Gandalf, at his son's shut tomb after the funeral.

-Simbelmynë, ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son- he picks up one of the small, white flowers blooming around the grass of the tomb -Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house.

-Théodred's death was not of your making.

-No parent should have to bury their child- Théoden starts to cry and covers his face.

-He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls of your fathers. Westu hál. Ferðu, Théodred, Ferðu (Be-thou well. Go-thou, Théodred, go-thou).

Gandalf turns and sees two kids riding a horse. The boy falls off the horse.

•••••

Arya who had been on the walls of the city watching Gandalf and the king alongside Legolas and Aragorn had also seen the kids come into view and had wasted no time in jumping behind Legolas on his horse and galloping to the children's aid.

She swung the girl with one of the guards that had accompanied them and the boy behind Legolas.

-And what about you Nin híril?- he asked her placing a gentle hand on her arm my lady ( my lady).

-I assure you ,Nin hir, that I will be able to keep up- she teased him by using the same formal tone of voice he had with her (my lord).

He smiled.

And she kept the demanding pace the horses had thanks to the strenuous training she had had to undergo with Blödhgarm back in Ellësmera, only reducing it gradually as they neared the gates.

••••••••••

Inside the Golden Hall the two children ate from the wodden bowls avidly as Èown and Arya sat by their side watching over them. Both women had a softspot for children athough one wouldn't care to admit it.

-They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go, every rick, cot and tree- Èowyn stands to face her uncle.

-Where's mama?- the little girl asks.

-Hush- Arya says holding her shoulders gently.

-This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight- Aragorn warns the king -You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Èomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king- Aragorn turned back to the king.