Ch. 25 -  “I will always protect you!”

Éowyn sat staring into the slowly dying fire just outside one of the large tents that housed her refugee people.  She was transfixed watching the glowing embers and the now only occasional flicker of flame, fighting to flare, fighting to burn in a clear flame and not just a remnant glowing ember, a shadow of its former glory.

“Couldn’t sleep, My lady?” Gamhelm’s voice snapped Éowyn out of her trance with a start.  He settled in next to her on one of the logs that had been placed there earlier as makeshift benches in front of the fire.  He proceeded to adjust her cloak, one side having slipped off her shoulder.  “I’m sorry to have startled you.”

Éowyn gave her longtime friend and confidant a distracted smile and gathered her cloak around her more securely, “Not to worry, my friend.  I was merely contemplating the fire watching it burn down.”  She paused, and after a few silent moments, “What is happening, Gamhelm?  How did it come to this?”

Gamhelm looked at his daughter-of-the-heart, at the sad, confused look upon her face, “Oh My Lady, I do not know.  All I know is that there is evil in this world and that we must always fight against it to make sure that it doesn’t hold sway.” 

Éowyn smiled, a thin, wan smile that showed her true feelings of grief and sadness. The need to always show strength to her people, taught at her father’s knee and then her uncle’s receding briefly before only Gamhelm and Holdlith and only when they were alone; family that was not of blood.  Tears she could no longer stop, nor had any wish to, flowed as Gamhelm enveloped her in her own special bearhug.  She wept for her cousin, interned under simbelmyne with little ceremony and no time for mourning.  She wept for her uncle and brother off to fight, feeling fear for their safety; a fear never shown when sending them off; taught to her at her mother’s knee. The woman’s lament.  Tears for her people and the young Riders at her command, forced to grow up too soon.  Quiet sobs easing the pain of her heart; knowing that the pain though, would still remain until the battle was won. 

Gamwyn had awoken to cold and felt to her side.  Emptiness.  She got up wrapping the large wool blanket around her and as she tried not to trip on the ends of the blanket hanging beyond her feet she picked her way through the sleeping people.  At the entrance flap as she untied the lower ties she heard low voices.  She quietly stepped outside of the tent and re-tied the closures.  What she saw melted her heart; her dear husband holding a sobbing Éowyn.  She watched over them for a few minutes.  The sobs grew less as Éowyn fell into an exhausted sleep in the arms of her beloved father-of-need.  Gamwyn then stepped quietly forward and sat next to Gamhelm and placed the large blanket over the three of them and meeting her husband’s sad and tired smile she snuggled against him to provide what warmth she could.

~*~*~*~*~*~

They arrived in Dunharrow at nightfall the day after sleeping in Upbourn.  They camped overnight before attempting the Stairs of Hold. In the morning Éowyn stood at the base of the cliff holding Lightning’s reins as she looked up at the narrow passageway known as the Stairs of Hold.  A steep diagonal passage that cut back on itself up to the plateau above where the long-ago Men of the Mountain hewed a large encampment out of a small cave.  When and why was lost to time.  Even more than Helm’s Deep, this was the last resort for the people of Rohan.  Her heart sank at having to retreat to such a place; that the times demanded such an action.  

She looked up at Holdlith atop Lightning not realising that those thoughts were still written across her face.  Her friend returned the look with compassionate eyes, “We do what we must when the times demand it.”

Éowyn smiled reluctantly at her words giving the briefest of nods in response.  

“The path is narrow.  Do you think the carts will be small enough?” Gamhelm voiced, guiding her away from her sorrows.  

Éowyn turned to him at his words, “Are my misgivings that obvious, my friend?” she spoke in a low voice thinking that either her uncle or her father would be most disappointed.

“No, My Lady.” Gamhelm smiled kindly.  “But you cannot hide your heart from those who love you.”

~*~*~*~*~

Some of the larger carts it was determined were not small enough to fit upon the narrow track up the cliffside. Saelith’s was one of them.  “I don’t see why my–” That was as far as she got before Éowyn pinned her with a look.  She immediately stopped, “Sorry, force of habit.”  

Éowyn genuinely smiled then, “It is good.  None of us are at our best this moment.” and lifted a satchel off the cart and handed it to Háláf, “Find a place on another cart for this, Háláf.  See that the carts have even distribution in as much as possible.”

“Aye My Lady.  It shall be done.” he stated, fist over heart and admiration in his eyes.

Saelith looked at her, “How do you do it?”

Éowyn looked back at her while she moved another lighter satchel for Heohelm to carry with his good arm. “Be careful, Heohelm.  You really shouldn’t be carrying too much.”

“Aye, My Lady.  But needs must.  And I will be careful.”  he stated quickly smiling, forestalling another protestation by his lady. 

“See that you do!” Éowyn countered.  She looked back at Saelith. “Do what?” 

“Get people so willing to do your bidding for you.  Those two riders would ride through a brick wall for you from the looks on their faces.”

Éowyn looked nonplussed at Saelith’s words. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 

“You really don’t, do you?”  Saelith said as she grabbed a box to hand it to a waiting rider.  After handing off she realised that she too was falling under Éowyn’s spell.  She shook her head and continued unloading the cart. 

The climb up the trail went slowly; there was only room for one horse and cart at a time and three people walking abreast.  There had been a few missteps to cause small rocks to dislodge but no mishaps of consequences until Éowyn looking back saw Háthain, the boy belonging to Folca, the stableman under Gamhelm, stepping a little too close to the edge, “Háthain! Step back!”  To her horror she saw the gravel crumble below the boy’s feet as he slipped over the side, “Háthain!” she screamed as she threw the reins up to Holdlith and ran to the side.  She peered over the side as she felt two strong arms circle her waist holding her, keeping her from slipping over the edge herself.  “Háthain!”  she screamed again. “Are you there?” she prayed harder to Béma than she had ever prayed before to hear Háthain’s voice.  Every second stretched interminably until she heard “I’m here..”  Her heart soared, “We will get you up, just wait and stay still.  We will get you up, My dear!” in as confident a voice as she could manage.  She turned around in the arms that were holding her.  “Déor! Get rope!  We must go down and get him.”  

“Aye, My Lady!  There is some in the near cart.  I know because I packed it myself!”

“Go!” Éowyn then looked at those who could gather on that portion of the path.  She walked to Folca and Maerlith, Háthain’s parents.  “We will retrieve Háthain, do not doubt that!”

Folca spoke in a whisper, “We have faith in you, My Lady!  What must we do?” 

In answer Éowyn grabbed the rope handed to her by Déor and looked around as she spoke .  “We will…” she said, spying a rocky outcropping that would serve her purposes as a flash of memory informed her actions. “loop this rope around this outcropping of rock,”

~*~*~*~*~*~

3002 TA – Hills near Aldburg

“Wait until you see the outlook from this promontory!  You will love it.”  Eleven-year-old Éomer promised his sister as they were scrambling towards the hills near Aldberg, having evaded Guthhild, Éowyn’s nurse once again.  He adjusted the length of rope he hefted on his shoulder that he brought in an afterthought of whimsical caution.  “It’s like you can see forever!”

Seven-year old Éowyn liked the sound of that.  She wanted to see forever.  She wanted to look beyond Aldburg.  All the happiness seemed to evaporate since her father had died.  If she could see forever then perhaps she could see her father and pass on a message to her mother.  She seemed so sad of late.  

Éomer looked at his sister and saw the frown crinkle her forehead.  He felt a little twinge in his heart.  He was doing this because she had been so withdrawn and sad of late.  Barely a snarky comment had passed her lips in days and while he pretended to be annoyed he missed her quips and smart remarks.  He was trying to look after her just as father had asked in his last words to him.  “Unless you are chicken of course!” he said purposefully riling her to remove the sad frown from her face.  It worked. Too well.

“Chicken!  I’ll show you!” Éowyn challenged and started sprinting to the base of the hill.

“Wait up!  Éowyn!”  Éomer ran after his spirited sister.

They scrambled up the hill taking paths where they existed, scooting along more treacherous sections where more caution than enthusiasm was needed.  They taunted each other when one lagged behind.  They reached the top and Éomer was right.  The view was breathtaking.  Éowyn did feel as if she could see forever and that her father was just over the horizon.  It was the happiest she had felt since he had died.  

On the way down Éowyn was chattering away and not paying as much attention as she had on the journey upwards.  She turned around on the path down to look up at the crest of the hill.  She backed up a step because she could not see the tip of the hill for all the trees obstructing her view and she felt her foot give way.  She heard Éomer scream “Éowyn!!!” as she scrambled unsuccessfully for footing as she fell.  She slid downward quickly and broke her slide on a rocky protuberance with a soft thud.  “Éowyn!”  She again her brother scream.  “I’m all right!” she shouted.  She looked around the protuberance.  It wasn’t very big.  She tried standing up; she had landed on her backside but more gravel dislodged itself as she shifted.  

“Don’t move!”  She looked up and saw the very worried face of her brother leaning over the edge.  “I will get you!”  Éowyn nodded and gingerly placed herself back down wincing at the pain in her backside.  

Éomer looked around and saw two sturdy trees across the path almost right across from where Éowyn fell. He quickly swung the rope from over his head and thought how lucky it was that he had the rope.  He had brought it in a fit of whimsy.  All mountain climbers have rope and he was a mountain climber.  Now he thanked Béma for that bit of whimsy because he genuinely needed it now to save his sister.  He swallowed past the lump that was in his throat and quickly knotted the rope around one tree and slung it around the other tree.  At the end of the rope he tied what he hoped was a sturdy enough knot in a loop.  He went over to the edge to shout to his sister, “Éowyn! I am going to throw this rope down. Put the loop around yourself and I will pull you up!  Do you understand?”

“Aye!  I put the rope around me!” Éomer heard fear in his sister’s voice.  It sliced through him.  

“You are so brave, my sister!  Just a little bit more and you will be safe!”  He hoped to encourage Éowyn and himself.  This has to work he told himself; otherwise he had endangered his sister when he was only trying to cheer her up.  He told himself again, This has to work!  He breathed in deeply in an effort to calm his nerves so he could think straight.  “Here it comes!”  He threw it but he threw it too far and Éowyn tried to grab it and almost dislodged herself.  Éomer was almost paralyzed by fear as he watched Éowyn almost slip.  With his heart trying to pound its way out his chest Éomer carefully brought back the rope.  “I’m-I’m just going to lower the rope to you…”  Éowyn nodded; her eyes wide with fright.  He slowly lowered the rope until it reached his sister.  “Now put it over your head and around your waist,”  Éomer watched eagle-eyed as his sister did his bidding.  Once secured he called down, “Take hold of the rope and try to turn towards the mountain.  I have hold of the rope so if gravel moves again don’t worry. I’ve got hold of you.”

“All right.” Éowyn answered in what she hoped sounded like a brave voice.  She did not want Éomer to think she was scared.  She turned around and though some more gravel displaced and fell she had faith that Éomer would be holding on.  She was now facing the mountain.  “I’ve done it!” She called up happily.

“Good girl!  Well done, sister!” Éomer crowed encouragingly.  “Now start to climb up the rope and I will pull at the same time.” he said with a calmer voice than he was actually feeling.  He started pulling gently; his back to her and pulling the rope around the tree trunk.  He steadily pulled as she ascended; the sound of crumbling rock grating on his already fraying nerves.  He looked over his shoulder as he could see Éowyn clamber over the rock face, a look of sheer determination on her begrimed face.  She was at the edge.  “Just a little more.  I won’t let go of the rope until you are safely up here!”  Éowyn nodded, sparing no energy for words.  Finally with one last gentle lunge she was up on the path at last.  Seeing her safe, Éomer let go of the rope and pulled Éowyn up into a fervent bear hug.  Only at that point did Éowyn start crying tears, of relief and happiness.  They stayed in that hug for many moments.  Éomer breathing in deep repeatedly to stop the fierce tattoo that his heart was beating.  “Éowyn, I am so sorry.  I did not mean to lead you into danger!”

Éowyn pulled back to say, “It was because of my own clumsiness that I fell.  You saved me.  And I wouldn’t have missed that view for anything.  I felt like Papa was watching for us over the horizon!”

Éomer smiled and hugged her again, “Let’s get home! We are most likely being missed!”

Éowyn nodded vigorously and shuddered at what Guthhild’s words would be.  Rope retrieved and recoiled; Éowyn took her brother’s hand and looked up into his eyes. “Thank you.”

Éomer’s eyes filled with unshed tears.  “I will always protect you.”  He stated earnestly.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“I need four strong men!”  Éowyn commanded.  All ten men along the trail portion raised their hands. Éowyn looked nonplussed.  “Gamhelm, Folca, Déor… are you sure?” Éowyn eyed him, knowing his back problems.

“Aye!  Let me help!  I must be useful,” Déor stated emphatically.  Éowyn knew all too well that sentiment. 

“Aye then!  And Háláf!”  

Fist on heart, “Aye, My Lady!”

“Gamhelm!”

“Aye, My Lady!”

“Tie this rope around Háláf as securely as you can!”

“Aye, My Lady!”  Gamhelm proceeded to do just that.

Éowyn continued with the voice of command, “This rope will be looped around this rocky outcropping and you all will stand on this side.”  She motioned to the right side of the outcropping while she looped the rock with the rope, the free side of rope on the left.  She unraveled the length of rope near to the edge of the path.  She shouted down.  “Háthain!  Hello!”

“My Lady?” came the small, scared voice.

“We are going to lower a rope down to you.  Put the loop around you and place it around your waist.  Can you do that for me?”

Came the small, scared voice, “Aye, I can.”

“Good boy!” Éowyn said in a spirited voice, “We will have you up here soon!”  She walked back to the men.  “Aye!  Háláf. Stand here. Déor. here.  Folca and Gamhelm.”  Back to the edge, Éowyn called down. “Háthain!  I am going to drop the rope next to you!  Here it comes!” She dropped it down, “Do you see it?  Have you got it?” 

She heard a few scraping sounds and then, “Aye!” 

“Good lad, now place the loop around you!”  She waited a few moments, “Aye!” came the response.  “Good lad!”  She looked back at the men, “Take up the slack!” The men pulled until the rope became tighter.  Éowyn held up her fist to call a halt.  “Háthain!  See if you can stand and face the mountain, “Háthain?”

She heard some scrambling then “Ow!”

“Háthain!?  Háthain!”  She waited a few seconds that seemingly stretched into hours.

“I think my ankle is broken.” came the panicked reply.

Éowyn heard the panic and reached for a calm within herself to allay the boy’s fears.  “Háthain, listen to me.  Do not worry.  We will come down for you!  Do you hear me?”  She waited again.

“Aye, My Lady.  I hear…please hurry.”  

Éowyn stood up and began unbuckling her belt.  Gamhelm dropped the rope and took two quick steps toward her; a pit of fear forming in his stomach. “My lady?  What are you doing?”  

“I’m going down for him!” Éowyn stated matter-of-factly.  “Unbuckle me!”

“What?  You can’t.” The fear of a father for his child’s safety searing through his veins.

Eyes of command stared back at him. “I can and I will! Unbuckle me!” Feelings warred within Gamhelm.  Fear for her safety and resignation at the look in her eyes, reminiscent of her uncle when the safety of his people was at stake.  There would be no stopping her.  She was her uncle’s niece.

“Of all the bull-headed ideas…” He muttered as he threw her braid over her shoulder and began to unbuckle her corslet.    

Éowyn shrugged out of her mail and met eyes with her friend relenting somewhat.  “I must do this.  It is my responsibility and practically speaking I am the lightest one.”

Gamhelm pursed his lips and sighed, “What do you need done?” 

Éowyn smiled and then dumped her chain mail on the ground. She called down, “Háthain!  Take the rope off and I will come down.”

“My Lady?” said a confused little voice.

“Just do as I say, Háthain.”

“Aye!”  A brief pause.

She looked at the men, “Now pull up the rope!” 

“Pull!” Gamhelm instructed, giving Éowyn a chagrined look.

“I’m sorry, Gamhelm.  But I must do this!”

Gamhelm said quietly, “I know, My Lady.”  The last of the rope came over the edge.  Gamhelm grabbed the loop and made doubly sure the knot was secure. It had to be; it would be holding his lady, his daughter.  “All right! Let’s get this on ya!” 

“Wait! I need to re-tie this!” She took the rope from Gamhelm’s hands and deftly untied the knot.  Gamhelm watched as Éowyn’s slender hands first measured the rope and then flew through the motions to create an intricate knot system.  She separated the loops and placed one fabric-clad leg in one loop and the other in the other loop.  

Gamhelm looked at her in amazement. “Do I want to know?”  

Éowyn smiling sheepishly, “It is amazing what two children let loose in the fields and hills surrounding Aldburg can get up to.  Éomer and I, we experimented with rope fancying ourselves explorers.  We came up with this.”  She explained briefly as she twisted and then slipped the rope over her head and under her arms.  She had made a rope harness.

“My Lady…your talents never cease to amaze me.”  Gamhelm stated as he inspected it for sturdiness.  It was sound.  No wonder she had trouble adjusting to court life when she was a wee slip of a thing if this was any example of the sort of thing she had gotten up to in Aldburg.  It is also amazing that she had never hogtied Saelith when they were young; there were so many times the young lady had deserved it.  Éowyn inclined her head quickly.  Gamhelm looked at her fiercely.  “You be careful!”

Éowyn smiled and planted a quick kiss on his cheek not caring who saw this unexpected display of affection. “I will,” as she wrapped a binding cloth for the child around her neck. 

She went to the edge of the cliff, “Háthain?”

“Aye, My Lady?”

“I’m coming down for you.  You just keep still until I get to you.  Do you understand?”

“Aye, My Lady.”

She nodded to Gamhelm, who looked at the young rider with a bad wing, “Heohelm, you stand near the edge and be our eyes.  Be careful as the gravel is still loose.  We will have our backs to the cliff and won’t be able to see.  Can you do that for us?”

Heohelm replied, “Anything for My Lady.” 

“Good lad!” Gamhelm replied.  “All right, men!  Let her down easy!”  Éowyn climbed down.  A bit clumsily at first because she had not been rock climbing since she was a young girl in Aldburg.  But muscle memory was beginning to come back.  Though the men above were doing the heavy lifting so-to-speak she was able to ease her way down with her legs controlling her descent until she could place her feet on the small ledge upon which Háthain sat almost as still as a statue.  She looked at the frightened child and said, “My brave boy, you will fine.  I am here now.”  as she caressed his dirt-stained cheek.  “Now I need to tie this…” She unwound a length of cloth from her neck, “Around us both so I can climb up easier!”  The boy nodded. “Hug me!” Éowyn instructed and the boy immediately complied with such fervency that he almost choked Éowyn.  “There, There Háthain.  We will be up soon.  Just loosen the grip a little…”  His hold lessened by as many degrees as his fear would let him.  Éowyn wrapped the cloth around them both and tied it with a square knot. “Ready!” she shouted to the men above.  She placed her feet where the cliff wall and ledge floor met, grabbed the taut line and began climbing up the cliff face.  It was exhausting because she was encumbered by the child being on her front hugging her.  It would have been better had she been able to have Háthain hug her back, but he was far too scared to attempt it and there was very little space on the ledge upon which to maneuver, so the front it was. She heard Gamhelm’s worried voice, “Steady, Steady men.  You are hauling precious cargo there.”  

They finally achieved the pathway.  With one last heaving step and no small amount of gravel giving way, Éowyn and Háthain were on the path at last.  Panting she quickly untied the fabric that held the child bound and he stood up gingerly.  His parents quickly enveloped him in a bearhug; sobs of relief mingling with expressions of joy.  Éowyn was quickly surrounded by her own three Guardian Angels, Holdlith, Gamwyn and Gamhelm hugging her and patting her to see if she were whole.  She gratefully accepted their ministrations as she slipped from her harness and almost collapsed from exhaustion, stress and relief.

“Your uncle would be so proud, right now.  And Éomer would have my hide for allowing you to do it!” Gamhelm extolled.  

“As if you could have stopped her!” Gamwyn declared. 

“Aye, but a man can dream, can’t he?”

“Pish!” Holdlith said.  

Éowyn felt a tug on her skirts.  It was Háthain. He looked sheepish and said, “Sorry to have caused such trouble…And thank you for saving me, My Lady!” Éowyn picked him up and hugged him.

“That’s just Éowyn to you, Háthain!  We’ve been through an ordeal together and that makes us family.” She smiled at Folca and Maerlith and looked back at Háthain.  “And I will always protect you!”

~*~*~*~*~