The Tale of Eiadric – Epilogue

Several weeks later...

Eiadric stood outside the heavy wooden doors facing the two Marshal’s Guards. It was a chill night and Eiadric felt a shiver as he stood in the stone hallway waiting. The lit torches along the walls did little to warm the place up. ’Autumn has come early this year’ he thought to himself. But he tried not to show his discomfort and checked his urge to pull his cloak tighter around him.

He had just come from tending to his horse which was a part of the daily routine that he enjoyed the most. The stables of the Hornburg were at the very bottom of the fortress and it was all but empty at this time of night.

He had long ago grown accustomed to the life at Helm’s Deep even though it offered little in the way of everyday civil comforts. It was certainly easier to lead a “normal” life when he was stationed at Aldburg in the East-mark. Not least because it was in his home town. But also because Helm’s Deep was a purely military installation close the Gap of Rohan. Close to the enemy.

Suddenly there was a rapid double-knock from the inside the doors. The Guards snapped to attention and opened the doors in one fluent motion. A man Eiadric recognised as Erkenbrand came out and walked past Eiadric and down the hallway. “The Second Marshal will see you now.” Said one of the guards.

Eiadric stepped into the chamber which was surprisingly dimly lit. But it was warm with a fire burning in the hearth at the far end.

“Eiadric.” Said Théodred sharply but with a friendly tone.

Eiadric took a few steps into the room and swiftly knelt with his head bowed low. “My Lord--”

“Come, come. We need to talk. And we can’t do that with you staring at the floor the whole time.” Said Théodred. “Sit with me.”

Eiadric rose and walked over to a heavy table in the middle of the room and sat down across from his lord. The table was littered with parchments and maps.

Eiadric was still not comfortable being so close to the Second Marshal of the Riddermark. He was after all King Théoden’s son and sole heir. Eiadric had never risen past leading an Outrider unit of twelve men and a week ago hadn’t even been addressed by a man of such high rank, let alone had a private conversation with one. Things were certainly taking a swift turn. Eiadric could feel that his life was not going to go back to what it once was.

“Tell me, how long have you been in my eored now Eiadric?” inquired Théodred.

Eiadric paused before he answered “Five years my lord. And before that, six years with the Third Marshal in the East-mark.”

“That is a long time.” Said Théodred looking across at Eiadric. His eyes were bright, revealing a sharp mind behind them. “And you have been through a lot. Specially these past months.”

Eiadric nodded solemnly. His memories were still painful and he was suffering even though he tried his best not to show it.

“Tell me again of your escape from Dunland. Tell me about the men that helped you. Rangers you called them?”

Eiadric took a deep breath. “Aye my lord. That is what they called themselves. Rangers of the North. They showed up out of  nowhere and saved my life. I will never forget that. And even if I would have survived the escape, I doubt I would have made it all the way back though the gap of Rohan if it wasn’t for them.”

Théodred sat quiet for a moment pondering. “What were they doing there? As fortunate as it was, rescuing you could hardly have been their real task.”

Eiadric nodded. “They said that they were going south to deliver an urgent message to Gondor my Lord. I didn’t press them for information but they did tell me certain things in the days that we journeyed together. I gathered that they watched over the lands of the North. They talked at length about how they were troubled that Eriador was falling under darkness, unbeknownst even to its very own residents. They said that what they lacked in numbers they made up for in strength of unity and influence. That they were led by a great man. They also mentioned old Stormcrow, or the Grey Pilgrim as they called him. How they know him I’m not sure. But I could tell that he is highly revered by the rangers. And despite their simple clothing it became very clear to me that these men were of noble lineage. They exuded the kind of strength reminiscent of the noble men in the songs and tales of yore.”

Théodred listened intently, hanging on each word Eiadric spoke. When he stopped Théodred remained silent for a long time gazing at the table with all its maps. Eiadric sat respectfully silent, not wanting to disturb his masters train of thought.

“It is decided...” said Théodred as he looked up. He stood up now and paced back and forth in the room as if this would help him express his thoughts. “These are troubled times Eiadric. The world is all grown strange. Great forces are at work. I can feel it. Things are happening outside our borders that we cannot explain. Orcs are attacking from the north, east, south and west. And your reports from your capture puts it beyond any doubt that Isengard is now an enemy rather than the ally we always trusted.”

“And my father... his illness...” Théodred stopped pacing, shook his head and grimaced, clearly disturbed by what he was now saying.

“My father does nothing. He sits in Meduseld and rots away. And so do Rohan’s hopes of survival along with him.”

“This will not do.” He said sharply as turned and looked at Eiadric. “I will not... I cannot allow this to happen. We must act! But we cannot act when we are blind. We must gather more information. You, Eiadric, must venture north and seek out these Rangers.”

Eiadric looked up and stammered. “But… But my Lord.”

Théodred drove on. “Fate has chosen you Eiadric. You are the only one of us that has been within the walls of Isengard and survived. You are the only one of us that has had contact with the Rangers. You are the only one they can learn to trust. And you are also one of the most capable men in the Eored.” Eiadric blushed.

“I want you to travel north. Seek out the rangers and find out as much as you can. Aid them if you must. Gain their trust. Go wherever the trail leads you and report back with anything of importance to Rohan. This is the only way. You must see that Eiadric.”

Eiadric could see it clearer than Théodred could have known. He felt very deeply that he was no longer in control of his own fate. That it was now tied to the greater forces in movement in this world and there was nothing he could do to change it.

It was his destiny to seek out and thwart the plans and schemes of the Enemies of The Mark!