Ch. 3

Winter Solstice 3007 TA - Edoras

The Great Hall was alight with candles made specially for the Solstice.  The scent of fir trees wafted about the hall and green boughs from trees in the shouldering mountains were cut and brought in not only Meduseld but all homes in Edoras.  It was the day that chased away the darkness of winter holding forth the hope of spring and new life.  

It was the tradition in Edoras for the King and his family to give not only the boughs from the trees in the shouldering mountains, but specially made candles, a barley loaf baked with special Solstice spices and herbs, a packet of mulling spices and a log for each hearth in Edoras to be burnt on Solstice night. Throughout Rohan similar traditions were held to celebrate the coming of the light in the new year, the local nobility giving to their people.  The candle was used to re-light the hearth and then kept lit in each house all night to welcome in the dawn.

Éowyn sat with her family in the private main chamber in Meduseld wrapping some of the parcels to be given out and remembering much the same celebration in Aldburg.  She always remembered the look on Papa and Mama’s faces giving to the people of the town and surrounding farms.  They always looked so joyous.  She had helped make the candles and tie the green ribbon around the parcels to give to their people.  It was her favorite time of the year.  Warm and cozy with Mama, drinking a little of Papa’s mulled sweet wine, teasing Éomer about how her bows were better than his.

“What are you thinking, lytling!”  Uncle Théoden asked as he broke her reverie wondering at the thoughtful look on his niece’s face.

Éowyn spoke without thinking, “Mama and Papa and us sitting at home in Aldburg preparing bundles.  I miss them.” She rarely spoke of her parents because it still hurt to think of them even after the years had passed.  She realised what she had just said and quickly added, “But I love you, Uncle and you too, Théodred.  She looked from her uncle to her beloved cousin whose eyes were unusually bright.  She felt her uncle’s hand on hers and looked at it.  A finger lifted her chin and she looked into her uncle’s blue eyes bright with unshed tears.

“I know you do, lytling.  And so do I.”  He thought of his dear sister, Théodwyn and Éomund whom he had held as a brother, gone way before their time. He kissed her forehead, “It is good to remember and this time of year is especially good to remember the love we have been lucky enough to have had in our lives.”  He stood, “Éomer,” who was seated on the other side of Théoden, “Stand up and come here.”  Éomer stood trying to hide his tears welling.  One on each arm, Théoden hugged them both.  “Every day I thank Bema you came to me.  Éomer you have grown so strong and so good.  You make me so proud.  I have two sons. Théodred,” He reached out a hand to his son who quickly grasped it, “And you Éomer, you grow more like your father each day!  And then there is you, Éowyn, my daughter who I could not love more!  I am a very fortunate man!”  He kissed Éowyn on the top of her head and Éomer on his forehead.  Once again he grasped his son’s hand.  "Solstice blessings on all three of you!” He looked in the eyes of the three he loved best in this world savouring the moment. He then laughed a bit, “Well I suppose we should get back to the job at hand.  Shall we?” All nodded and then bent their heads to the task of wrapping and tying. Théoden looked across the table again thinking again how fortune had blessed him.  He smiled and bent to wrapping again.

The Solstice Gifting being one of Éowyn’s favourite parts of Solstice in either Aldburg or in Edoras she was as bright as the sun, helping to hand out the parcels of candle, loaf, bough and log with a few sweets for the little ones, all brightly wrapped and then given on the morning of Solstice Eve.  She got to see the smiles on the children’s faces and the grateful looks of the less fortunate when they saw there was a little extra unobtrusively added into their parcels to help them through hard times.  Later on in the evening they would gather near the stream that ran through Edoras and a bonfire was lit on the green.  Songs were sung and stories were told and Théoden would say a few words giving thanks for the blessings of the year and hope for the future year.  Then each household would light their special Solstice candle and return home to relight the hearth and place the solstice candle on the mantle above the hearth and where it would burn all night.

After people took their leave of the bonfire going back to their houses with their gifted hearthfire bundles, Théoden touched Gamhelm’s arm. “It is time!”  The stablemaster and his wife nodded and lit their candle and moved towards the residence.  Théoden caught his son’s eye.  Théodred nodded with a smile and went to gather Éomer and Éowyn who was still gazing into the bonfire, transfixed.  She loved to watch the flames jump and crackle.  She focussed on the flame and all else faded into the background.  Éomer touched her arm and she genuinely jumped.  

“Miles away again, my sister?”  Éomer teased lightly. 

“Aye!  What is it?” she said  vaguely annoyed that her fire gazing was interrupted.

“We are going inside.  There is something that needs doing.”  Éomer ended enigmatically. “Come along.”

Éowyn followed her brother with a question growing in her mind.  She entered the family’s private chambers and what she saw amazed her.  Gathered were her uncle, her cousin, Gamhelm and Gamwyn.  They were standing around a candelabra that had at its base a large squat lit candle.  Behind it were four stems that twisted around each other to form a tree trunk each branch reaching just above the large candle and each branch positioned around the main candle to form a backdrop of candles. It was the Passing On candelabra used in the ceremony for those chosen to advance along the path to become part of an Eored.  “What is this?” She looked at her uncle.  

He returned a look of happiness and pride.  “Éowyn, come forth.  Step inside the circle of your family.”  Éowyn choked up at the words.  They were the formal words that began the Passing On ceremony.  She stepped up and looked into the loving eyes of brother, cousin and  friends.  With a pounding heart and misty eyes she looked at her uncle, who seemed equally misty-eyed.  “My dearest sister-daughter,” He started in a choked voice, pausing and then continuing in a stronger voice, “This could not be done tomorrow with the rest of the youth Eored for reasons we all understand, but I could not allow this moment to go unmarked.  Let us begin.” He next intoned, “Who stands ready to testify that Éowyn, Daughter of Theodwyn should progress on her journey to serve the Mark.”

Éomer stood forth, “I stand forth to proclaim her growing prowess with the bow and vow to help her in her journey to serve the Mark!” He took a candle from a golden tray that sat next to the candelabra and lit it from the larger candle and placed it in one of the candelabra’s surrounding arms.  His eyes shining he turned behind him and then presented her with a bow.  He placed a brotherly kiss on the top of her head.  “Now you have your own bow! No excuses!” He whispered teasingly.  She looked at the bow, it was a beautiful piece of work.  Delicate scroll work along the limbs and a gently engraved script “E” just above the handhold.  She had seen this bow in the stables.  She had looked at it and thought whoever it was being made for was going to be so lucky.  She looked at Gamhelm and he gave a little nod. And then he stepped forward with a cough that sounded suspiciously like a sob. 

“I stand forth to testify to her growing prowess as a Rider and vow to help her in her journey to serve the Mark!” He took a candle and lit it from the larger candle and placed it in another of the candelabra’s arms.

Théodred then stepped forward, “I stand forth to proclaim her growing prowess with the sword and vow to help her in her journey to serve the Mark!” He took a candle and lit it from the larger candle repeating the same motion as the first two.  He turned and retrieved a sword and scabbard. “Unsheath the blade and place your hands at guard and hilt.  Swordpoint at the floor.”  He smiled as he presented the sword on both hands to his cousin. 

Éowyn grasped the sword and a thrill of recognition seared through as she touched the handle.  She unsheathed the blade and almost cried as she realised which blade she had pulled from the scabbard.  It was her blade, the one she had had a hand in designing and making.

“Put the blade point at the floor,”  Théoden said softly.  Éowyn looked at him with such happiness in her eyes that he almost burst into tears.  He saw her straighten her shoulder and try for at least a modicum of decorum.  A tear slipped down his cheek as he said, “You seek to continue your journey in service to the Mark?”

Éowyn cleared her throat and said strongly, “I do.  I accept the journey as it comes and will withstand all.  Learning and accepting there is still more to learn.”  She repeated the words that she had heard many times at the Passing On ceremony. 

“Rise my Sister-daughter.”  Théoden placed his hands on her at the cross of guard and hilt to help her up,  “Your path continues!”  Éowyn picked up the fourth candle and lit it from the larger candle and placed it in the last branch, symbolizing as it had been explained to her that she understood that training was a journey taken with others. With mentors and friends it was a journey taken together, a shared responsibility.  Just for a moment after having stepped back from lighting her candle to bow to Théoden as liege lord she thought she saw in her uncle’s eyes an emotion she could not discern, almost a sorrow or sadness.  She did not know which.  She looked down to adjust her skirt so as not to step on it and when she looked into his eyes again she saw nothing but pride and happiness.  She smiled back almost in reassurance.  

Gamwyn came forward, “Accept now this mantle!”  She looked at Éowyn imploringly, “I know I am not blood, but I feel that you are the daughter of my heart.  Théoden King asked if I would sew your mantle. I said that it would be an honour!”

“Oh! Gamwyn!  Thank you! Of course I will accept it!”  Gamwyn smiled and flushed with emotion as Théoden moved Éowyn’s hair away from her neck while the stablemaster’s wife placed the mantle made up the crimson and gold of Eomund’s family and the green and white of the Mark, a white horse rearing up at the joining of the colours of family and country.  Hugs all round and many congratulations.  Mugs were filled with the special mulled Solstice mead and family and friends retreated to the private balcony to view the coming of the dawn.

Théoden sat on the settee as a cold predawn breeze flowed through the family balcony. Gamwyn leaned against Gamhelm’s chest at the bannister, his arms around her.  Théodred and Éomer leaned on the railing sipping at more warm mead and quietly talking.  Théoden looked upon Éowyn, lightly dozing on his shoulder, in her newly bestowed mantle with her sword tucked under her arm but over the down blanket that covered her small form. In that moment of contentment an image of his niece flashed before his mind’s eye, Éowyn, seemingly older with her face begrimed held a sword and was slashing downward upon some unseen foe.  A battle swirled around her.  Within moments the vision was gone.  Somehow deep in his heart he knew he had just been gifted with the knowledge that this was the right path.  Pain and heartaches awaited; that could not be avoided but Bema be merciful, this path was right.  The dawn light reached across the sky.  Théoden gently nudged his niece awake, “Éowyn, Lytling!  Awake! The dawn has arrived!”  Éowyn opened her eyes and the new day’s light filled her vision.  The Solstice dawn had arrived and as always it betokened a future as yet unknown, the possibilities endless.