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The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower

CHAPTER 44

Éomer sat on his throne, looking far more serious than the amiable young Man who had been jesting and exchanging tales with the hobbits at the feast the night before.

Freddy standing at one side with the other hobbits of the embassy felt apprehensive. While he considered that the King would be both fair and just, he had no idea how this situation would be resolved. Berilac reached up and put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. He caught Freddy’s eye. “Merry trusts him, you know.”

And that *was* great reassurance, as was the knowledge that *Frodo* trusted Éomer as well. Still, it was largely an unknown situation. He glanced across the Hall, where all the Rohirrim who had gone on the embassy were lined up, including Danulf. Behind them stood the Gondorians. Legolas and Gimli stood there as well. Here and there were other Rohirrim--the Lady Eormangilda stood near the dais today, but not beside the throne as she had when they were welcomed.

Éomer cast his gaze toward the great door at the end of the Hall. “Hending!” he called to the doorwarden, “have the prisoners brought forth.”

Hending turned and opened the door, and two burly guards came in, escorting Clovis and Cado between them. The two looked like small children between the tall Men. Their hands were bound, their eyes downcast, their faces white with fear. The guards brought them halfway up the Hall and halted.

There was a long silence, as É omer studied them. “Clovis and Cado, sons of Clodio Banks, you stand accused of offering violence and harm to one of my Riders, who was in your land as part of a peaceful delegation, there to treat with your own people. For your actions, you have been cast out of the Shire, and are no longer under the protection of your people. You are here to answer for that crime before me.”

The King drew in a breath and sat back in the throne, his eyes never leaving the two hobbits. “Let us now hear what happened on that night.” He looked at É othain.

Éothain stepped forward. “By your leave, Éomer King. On the night which this happened, the Thain of the Shire was holding a great Ball, to honor the Ringbearers, Sir Meriadoc and Sir Peregrin, and to introduce those of us who had come to treat with the leaders of the Shire. We did not wish to leave our encampment completely unguarded, and therefore lots were drawn, between our Men and those of the High King, to see who would stand that duty. The lot was drawn by Danulf, Danhelm’s son, one of our Riders. He it was who remained to take that duty, while the rest of us went to do honor to the Ringbearers and their kin.

While at the Ball, young Bergil, Beregond’s son, of Gondor, was sent to take Danulf some of the party fare. He returned quickly with the word that he had found Danulf unconscious and all the horses gone.”

At this point, Éomer interrupted, and asked Bergil to come forward and tell what he had seen and done. The lad looked up apprehensively at Targon who gave him a nod, and then wiped his hands on his surcoat and straightening up he stepped forward. He had been told he would have to do this, but it still made him feel nervous. In a clear steady voice he told of how he had discovered Danulf on the ground by the fire, and how he had run for help.

“Thank you, Bergil.” When Bergil stepped back, Éomer cast his gaze on the Riders. “Danulf, Danhelm’s son, tell us how you came to be injured.”

Danulf blushed, for he was still embarrassed over having been caught off-guard by hobbits, but he told of how he had been alerted by the nervousness of the horses. “I stood to draw my sword, my Lord King, and then knew no more, until I wakened in a tent with my brains rattled and a headache.”

Legolas then told of how he and Frodo had found the stones, which had been thrown to knock Danulf out and spook the horses. And he told of the button, clearly torn from a jacket, found near the scene. And Gimli told of the search which had led to the finding of the injured Opal Took.

At this point, Éomer drew forth a letter. “We have here a report, written by the Ringbearer himself. He states that the missing button was discovered to have come from the jacket of the prisoner Clovis Banks. The prisoners were confronted and subdued by Sir Meriadoc, Holdwine of the Mark. Upon being questioned by the Ringbearer Frodo Baggins, both of the young hobbits confessed to their ill deeds. They hoped by their attack on the embassy to disrupt the good will between the Men and the Shire, and thereby prevent any investigation that would bring to light the treachery of their father Clodio Banks, who had aligned himself with enemies of both the Shire and the High King.” He glanced at the letter once more, and then cast his gaze at the accused. “Do either of you deny any part of what has been spoken here today?”

Clovis shot a look up at the King, and then back down, without saying anything. Cado glanced up briefly, his face white, and said in a low, but clear voice, “N-no, sir.”

There was silence, as Éomer studied the two hobbits intently. Then he nodded as if to himself.

“Clovis and Cado, sons of Clodio, you are members of a race whom we hold in high esteem. Moreover by the reckoning of your own people and in your own land, you are mere youths. Furthermore, we have seen that you acted out of misguided loyalty to your own father, whose own honor was in question. Still, your crimes must be punished.

“As you have no property with which to pay a weregild, which would be owed both to Danulf Danhelm’s son, who was injured by your actions, and to myself, for he is one of my Riders and was representing me in your land, this is my judgement:

“Clovis, Clodio’s son, you will be bound over to this court at Meduseld to serve me and my people for one year and one day. You will be put to work in the scullery of the kitchen, and will answer to the head cook, Grimhild, and after her, to the Lady Eormangilda, my aunt and chatelaine. Your day will be spent in the scullery, and in the beginning, your nights will be spent in your cell. If after three months you have performed your tasks well and willingly, you may be given room with the other servants at night. Any attempt to escape will add another month to your sentence, for each attempt that you make. At the end of one year and one day, you will be free to do as you will, and go where you will, save only that you may not return to your own land, from which you have been forever banished.”

Now Clovis did look up, pale and terrified. He looked around wildly, and cast a glance of appeal towards the other hobbits. The looks he received in return ranged from sadly sympathetic from Freddy, who shook his head, to frankly satisfied, from Denny and Rolly. With a choked sob, he burst into tears.

Cado looked at his brother briefly, but his attention was caught as Éomer continued.

“Cado, Clodio’s son, you will be bound over to Danulf Danhelm’s son, to live with him and serve him and his family in whatever way seems best to them, for one year and one day. He will bear responsibility for you and answer for your actions. Any attempt to escape will add another month to your sentence, for each attempt that you make. At the end of one year and one day, you will be free to do as you will, and go where you will, save only that you may not return to your own land, from which you have been forever banished.”

Cado became even paler, but he drew in a deep breath. “Y-yes, sir,” he said quietly. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he bit his lip.

“Danulf, Danhelm’s son,” É omer said, “you have said that you will accept the responsibility and service of this holbytla. Do you still hold to that?”

“Yes, my Lord King,” the Man said with a brief nod.

“Very well. Let it be done.”

The guards escorted the two young hobbits out, and É omer indicated that the court was at an end.

He stepped down from his throne and went over to where the other hobbits had waited. “I hope,” he said “that you found my judgement fair.”

Freddy nodded. “It’s harsher in the short run than what was done to them in the Shire, but far more just in the long run. But, do you think that the younger brother will be well in Danulf’s care? What sort of situation will he find there?”

Éomer smiled. “You have come to know Danulf in your travels--what do you think?”

“He is a kind Man indeed. But what of his family? Where does he live?”

“As a member of my personal é ored he lives here in Edoras. He has a small house, where he lives with his wife, his father and his three children. I think that he will take good care of Cado.”

“And Clovis?”

“Following the advice of several people, I am keeping him where he can be kept under close watch. I have been told he is not trustworthy.”

Freddy nodded. “I am afraid that’s wise. I am sorry to say, I do not think that Clovis has really learned much from his situation. I have hopes that Cado may.”

Poppy who had been standing nearby and nodding, cleared her throat.

Éomer glanced at her. “Have you something to say, Mistress Poppy?” he asked courteously.

“My patient has been fretting about his sons. I think he would rest easier if he could see them at least briefly.”

The King nodded. “That can be arranged. In the meanwhile, it is nearly time for the daymeal. I hope that you all will join me, and afterwards we may go to the stables. I thought that you would like to see the horses--and the ponies as well, for you will see the stock from which the ponies I have sent to Buckland have sprung.”

This proposal was agreed to with varying degrees of enthusiasm; lunch at any rate would be welcome. The people of Rohan did not have the customs of second breakfast or of elevenses, and though the Lady Eormangilda had arranged for fruit, bread and other such things to be kept in the hobbits’ chamber to assuage their between-meals appetites, there had been no chance to avail themselves of it on this morning.

___________________________________

Cado stood by the side of the Man into whose care he’d been given. He still felt a bit stunned. What was he to think of this? On the one hand, it sounded a better fate than his brother’s--nothing had been said of his sleeping for three months in a dungeon every night, for one thing. Even the one night, in that cell, alone, had been more than enough for him. But what would he do with Danulf? To what uses would he be put? He was to be the Man’s servant for a whole year!

He took a few deep breaths, to steady himself, and to unravel the knot in his stomach. Then, with a good deal of apprehension, he stole a look upward to the face of the Man at his side.

Danulf gave him a smile; it was the first smile the Man had ever actually directed his way, and Cado felt the knot unravel just a little. Maybe this year would not be so dreadful as he feared.

_____________________________________

Clovis followed the tall stern-looking Woman sullenly, not raising his eyes from his toes.

A year--a year and a day of scrubbing pots and slaving away In a kitchen!

And--he shuddered--three months of sleeping every night in that horrible dungeon, dark and alone.

Would he be able to endure it for a whole year? And yet--if he tried to escape, a whole month would be added to his sentence. He couldn’t stand that. What would he do?

She led him into a kitchen--a huge room, with many Men and Women bustling about. He felt like a small child, and wished he could simply sit down and scream like a faunt. But somehow he had the feeling that such antics would do him not a bit of good here.

The stern Woman snapped her fingers at him, and pointed to her side; he knew what that meant. His father had used the gesture often enough. He stepped up to where she pointed.

She summoned another Woman. “Mistress Grimhild, this is your new charge. You may put him to work as he is needed.”

“Yes, my Lady Eormangilda.” She gave a small bow of the head.

The stern-looking Woman cast a gimlet eye on Clovis. “Give no trouble here. It will not be tolerated.”

He gulped and nodded.

The stern-looking Woman swept out of the kitchen, and Clovis looked up at Mistress Grimhild.

She frowned down at him. “You look a child, but I’m told that you are almost an adult of your kind. Still, I suppose there are many tasks here you cannot do. You *can* however, scrub pots.

 





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