Faramir Fiction Archive

Éomer: Memories (NC-17)

Written by J_Flattermann

11 November 2011 | 6966 words

Fic: Éomer: Memories [Part 4]
Pairing: Éomer, King of Rohan/Théodred and Faramir
Genre: Slash
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 1749
Disclaimer: Pure fiction. No copyright infringement intended.
All characters belong to their legal copyright holders.
Beta: The wonderful ingrid44, who is patience impersonated.
Thank you so much my friend.
Summary: After the war Éomer mourns for Théodred and Faramir stirs up feelings unintentionally

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Part 4

During the burial ceremony Éomer had to restrain himself. Seeing Théodred’s sarcophagus stirred his emotions more than he had anticipated. Reminding him that he had been forbidden to attend his cousin’s funeral. The anger and disappointment still tormented him. So when all left the tomb to return to Meduseld for the conclusion of the ceremony Éomer stayed behind.

He stood towering over Théodred’s sarcophagus tears streaming unhindered down his face. He flung himself upon the carved figure on the lid crying at the acute pain of his loss. With all his strength he pushed apart the two lids of the sarcophagus. Théodred’s body was still unaffected by decay as his burial had not been long past. Seeing his lover lying so still, so unmoving was so painful that a low wail escaped his lips. Overcome with grief he threw himself into the sarcophagus. He hugged the beloved corpse tight kissing the cold lips. “Oh, Theo, my Theo. Why, why?” Suddenly it was as if his cousin was speaking to him. ‘Gather your strength, my love. I shall be with you always, always. My love for you is unfaltering.’ Éomer untied the tunic of his cousin’s burial clothes and laid his hand on his lover’s chest. The skin was cold to the touch and there was no heartbeat. Hot tears fell upon Threodred’s chest and Éomer bent down to kiss each droplet landing on the white skin.

Éomer looked over at the double casket of his uncle and aunt. That was when he made his decision. Théodred would be re-buried. When his time came he would share Théodred’s tomb.

His mind was made up. As soon as these festivities were over and the guests gone he would take the necessary steps to make the changes needed. For now he had to return to his guests and so he heaved the lids back into place after kissing his lover farewell.

Returning late to the banquet held in honour of King Théoden Éomer was greeted with raised eyebrows from his sister. He excused himself saying that he had wanted to pay his respects not only at his uncle’s grave but also to say farewell to his cousin. “Éowyn, you know very well that I was not allowed to attend his funeral. So I took this opportunity to say my farewell to Théodred.” Éowyn blushed slightly. She had forgotten all about that due to the rush of events over the last months. “Oh brother, I am sorry. I had forgotten all about it. Of course you wanted to pay your respects not only to our uncle but also to cousin Théodred.” She cried. Soon word spread among the visitors as to why Éomer had delayed returning to the Golden Hall. Everybody expressed their sympathies and understanding.

The next day the Eotheod, which the Rohirrim called themselves, prepared the Golden Hall for the wedding of their Princess to the Steward of Gondor, to be followed with the Coronation of their new King. All banners of mourning were taken down and carefully folded up. The newly appointed Marshalls of Rohan carried them to their future king who himself took them to the Tombs There he draped them around the sarcophagus of his uncle. This done the women busied themselves putting up garlands of flowers in preparation of the upcoming wedding.

Éowyn was in her old room surrounded by the wives and daughters of the nobility of Rohan and Gondor. Queen Arwen had insisted on her wearing a lovely Elven gown as her wedding dress. She had nothing left of her mother’s wedding finery except the veil. King Elessar had announced that on return to Minas Tirith the preparations would begin for Faramir’s installation. The ceremony would proclaim Faramir’s new title and governorship. Éowyn already knew that Faramir would be named Prince of Ithilien and given jurisdiction over Ithilien. However they would continue to live in Minas Tirith.

Éomer led his sister through the honour guard. The maidens of Rohan held garlands spanning the aisle high above Éomer and Éowyn’s heads. Éomer left his sister facing her future husband. The crowd moved closer to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom sharing their cup of wine and their exchange of vows. Gandalf handed the golden chalice to Éowyn who took a sip and then offered it to Faramir. He laid his hands over hers and both raised the chalice to his lips. The couple then promised to care for each other and to carry on doing so until they either agreed to separate or one of the partners died. The couple then walked out of the Golden Hall to plant a tree together. The tree would represent the growth of their relationship.

While Éowyn and Faramir were planting the tree of partnership, Éomer went to his quarters to change. Herumer and Fasthelm assisted him in putting on the King’s gown, armour and ceremonial cloak. When he re-entered the Golden Hall all guests had resumed their places in Meduseld. Herumer and Fasthelm walked ahead of their king while the rest of the captains fell in behind. Éomer walked up the aisle, stepped on the dais and sat down on the throne. King Elessar stepped to Éomer’s left while Faramir positioned himself to the king’s right. Gandalf stepped in front of the throne holding the crown up for all present to see. The gathered assembly hailed the crown. Gandalf then turned and placed the coronet on Éomer’s head. Again the hails filled the hall. As soon as the crowd quieted Gandalf stepped forward again and announced the reestablishment of the Oaths. The two Kings would go out and before the tomb of the Kings reaffirm the vows. King Elessar was to give the Gift of Cirion while King Éomer would renew the Oath of Eorl.

Gandalf had searched the archives in Minas Tirith until he found a report on the original wording of the vows. Cirion and Eorl had exchanged their vows on the tomb of King Elendil on Amon Anwar, now called Halifirien. That site was to far to reach in one day’s ride and besides the wording had to change as Cirion had been a Steward of Gondor. This time the vows would be exchanged between two Kings and not between a Steward and a Chieftain. After consultation with the two Kings, Gandalf decided the celebration should be held over the tomb of King Théoden.

It fell to King Elessar to start the ceremony and standing face to face with Éomer King, the High King of Gondor raised his voice.

“I will now declare what I have resolved, with the authorization of the High Kings of Gondor, to offer to Éomer son of Eomund of Eastfold, King of the Eotheod, in recognition of the valour of his people and of the help beyond hope that he brought to Gondor in time of dire need. To Éomer I will give in free gift all the great land of Calenardhon from Anduin to Isen. There, if he will he shall be king, and his heirs after him, and his people shall dwell in freedom while the authority of the High Kings endure. No bond shall be laid upon them other than their own laws and will, save in this only: they shall live in perpetual friendship with Gondor and its enemies shall be their enemies while both realms endure. But the same bond shall be laid also on the people of Gondor.” Thus were the agreed words changed from the original to fit the occasion.”³

This oath was answered by Éomer as follows:

“Great King, the gift that you offer I accept for myself and for my people. It far exceeds any reward that our deeds could have earned, if they had not themselves been a free gift of friendship. But now I will seal that friendship with an oath that shall not be forgotten.”⁴

Just as in the olden days the two Kings stepped up onto the tomb accompanied by the Prince of Dol Amroth as an envoy of the High King and Fasthelm newly proclaimed 2nd Marshall of Rohan as esquires. For when Eorl and Cirion had exchanged their vows Eomund, Chief Captain of the host of the Eotheods who had been Éomer’s forefather and the Prince of Dol Amroth the forefather of the current Prince had also functioned as Esquires confirming the validity of the exchanged vows.

So Éomer stepped forward and spoke: “Hear now all peoples who bowed not to the Shadow in the East, by the gift of the King of the Mundburg we will remain to dwell in the land that he names Calanardhon, and therefore I vow in my own name and on behalf of the Eotheod of the North that between us and the Great People of the West there shall be friendship for ever: their enemies shall be our enemies, their need shall be our need, and whatsoever evil, or threat, or assault may come upon them we will aid them to the utmost end of our strength. This vow shall descend to my heirs,to all such as may come after me in our land, and let them keep it in faith unbroken, lest the Shadow fall upon them and they become accursed.”⁵

All present stood silent and awestruck at the powerful words. And so King Elessar raised his voice again and in the ancient language of the Númenoreans he spoke: “Vanda sina termaruva Elenna noreo alcar enyalien ar Elendil Vorondo voronwe. Nai tiruvantes I harar mahalmassen mi Numen ar I Eru I or ilye mahalmar ea tennoio.”⁶

Followed by:

“This oath shall stand in memory of the glory of the Land of the Star, and of the faith of Elendil the Faithful, in the keeping of those who sit upon the thrones of the West and of the One who is above all thrones for ever.”⁷

King Elessar’s voice rang out and silence prevailed until Gandalf stepped up on to the tomb and declared “We all have witnessed the exchange of the Gift and Oaths provided by the ancestors and upheld by their heirs. Now let us follow in the path of our forbearers and seal this celebration with a festive banquet. Join us again in Meduseld, the Golden Hall to feast and rejoice.”

And thus the bond between Rohan and Gondor had been renewed to last the many generations which would follow.

The End

³ Original words of the Gift of Cirion as written by JRR Tolkien in “Unfinished Tales – Part Three: The Third Age; II Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan; (iii) Cirion and Eorl” Harper Collins Paperback Edition page 392.
“I will now declare what I have resolved, with the authority of the Stewards of Kings, to offer Eorl son of Leod, Lord of the Eotheod, in recognition of the valour of his people and of the help beyond hope that he brought to Gondor in time of dire need. To Eorl I will give in free gift all the great land of Calendardhon from Anduin to Isen. There, if he will, he shall be king, and his heirs after him, and his people shall dwell in freedom while the authority of the Stewards endures, until the Great King returns. No bond shall be laid upon them other than their own laws and will, save in this only they shall live in perpetual friendship with Gondor and its enemies shall be their enemies while both realms endure. But the same bond shall be laid also on the people of Gondor.”

⁴ Original words of the response of Eorl to the Gift of Cirion as written by JRR Tolkien in “Unfinished Tales – Part Three: The Third Age; II Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan; (iii) Cirion and Eorl” Harper Collins Paperback Edition page 393
“Lord Steward of the Great King, the gift that you offer I accept for myself and for my people. It far exceeds any reward that our deeds could have earned, if they had not themselves been a free gift of friendship. But now I will seal that friendship with an oath that shall not be forgotten.”

⁵ Original words of the Oath of Eorl as written by JRR Tolkien in “Unfinished Tales – Part Three: The Third Age; II Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan; (iii) Cirion and Eorl” Harper Collins Paperback Edition page 394
“Hear now all peoples who bow not to the Shadow in the East, by the gift of the Lord of the Mundburg we will come to dwell in the land that he names Calenardhon, and therefore I vow in my own name and on behalf of the Eotheod of the North that between us and the Great People of the West there shall be friendship for ever: their enemies shall be our enemies, their need shall be our need, and whatsoever evil, or threat, or assult may come upon them we will aid them to the utmost end of our strength. This vow shall descend to my heirs, all such as may come after me in our new land, and let them keep it in faith unbroken, lest the Shadow fall upon them and they become accursed.”

⁶ Original words of Cirion responding to the Oath of Eorl as written by JRR Tolkien in “Unfinished Tales – Part Three: The Third Age; II Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan; (iii) Cirion and Eorl” Harper Collins Paperback Edition page 395
“Vanda sina termaruva Elenna-noreo akar enyalien ar Elendil Vorondo voronwe. Nai tiruvantes I harar mahal-massen mi Numen ar I Eru I or ilye mahalmar ea tennoio.”

⁷ Original words of Cirion responding to the Oath of Eorl as written by JRR Tolkien in “Unfinished Tales – Part Three: The Third Age; II Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan; (iii) Cirion and Eorl” Harper Collins Paperback Edition page 395
“This oath shall stand in memory of the glory of the Land of the Star, and of the faith of Elendil the Faithful, in the keeping of those who sit upon the thrones of the West and of the One who is above all thrones for ever.”

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