Read Part 5
Conspicuous by their absence from the wedding were Éomer and Éowyn of Rohan. They had business to attend to at Edoras, but Éomer would soon return to accompany Théoden's body on its journey home...
...where the late king would be laid to rest in a barrow among the burial mounds of the Kings of Rohan.
The Riders of the King's House lifted their voices in a song written by Gléowine, the King's minstrel:
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope he ended;
over death, over dread, over doom lifted
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.(1)
A great company rode with Éomer on the fifteen-day journey to Edoras: King Elessar and Queen Arwen, Mithrandir, the companions Legolas of the Woodland Realm and Gimli of the Lonely Mountain, the halflings Frodo, Samwise, Meriadoc and Pippin, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn and their followers--including Thibinoriel, Eregiel, Calentauriel, Celebthondir and Thalinras--Prince Imrahil, Steward Faramir, and many captains and knights beside.
A great feast celebrating Theoden's reign as king and defender followed in Meduseld, the Golden Hall of Edoras, where Éomer announced the betrothal of his sister Éowyn to Faramir, who had succeeded his father Denethor as Steward of Gondor. In two years time Éomer himself would wed Lothíriel, daughter of Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
While some remained behind at Edoras following the feast--most notably Arwen, Faramir, and Prince Imrahil--others continued the journey west to Isengard where Fangorn ("Treebeard") and the Onodrim had restored much of its former beauty.
"Then Treebeard said farewell to each of them in turn, and he bowed three times slowly and with great reverence to Celeborn and Galadriel. 'It is a long, long time since we met by stock or by stone, A vanimar, vanimálion nostari! he said. 'It is sad that we should only meet thus at the ending. For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air..'"(2)
After their visit with Fangorn the company continued west to the Gap of Rohan. There Elessar bade farewell to his companions, and to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, before turning back.
As their journey continued the travelling party encountered Curunír and his servant Grima Wormtongue, whom Fangorn had permitted to leave Orthanc and depart Isengard. The meeting was predictably unpleasant.
The company then passed through Dunland and Swanfleet into Eregion. They spent a week in this land before finally bidding farewell. While Elrond and others were bound for Imladris, Celeborn and Galadriel and their followers turned east where they took the pass over Caradhras into Nanduhirion before finally reaching their home in Lothlórien.
~The Gates of Caras Galadhon~
'Nésa, whatever became of those steeds of Rohan?' Thibinoriel asked Eregiel as they approached the gates of Caras Galadhon.
'I wondered when you would ask about them,' Eregiel replied. 'King Théoden said that he would not part us from our friends, so he bestowed all five of them to Calentauriel and me. It was a generous gift.'
'All five?' Thalinras asked.
'Yes!' answered Calentauriel his wife with a laugh.
'So where are they now?' asked Celebthondir.
'Three we left at Edoras when we departed with the Grey Company,' answered Eregiel, 'I will explain who they are at another time,' she said. 'The other two we rode.'
'Rode where?' asked Thibinoriel.
'I am getting to that,' said Eregiel, laughing lightly. 'We rode with Elessar and the Grey Company as far as Calembel in Gondor. There Halbarad Dúnadan informed us that they were riding to war, and that we were not permitted to accompany them.'
'I am glad for that!' exclaimed Thalinras. Calentauriel embraced him tightly.
Eregiel continued. 'At Halbarad's advice we continued south to Dol Amroth where Lothíriel, the daughter of Prince Imrahil, gave us lodging. During Calentauriel's and my time there we become the companions, some might even say the personal guard, of the princess. We left the steeds of Rohan there when we went by ship to Harlond to attend the wedding.'
'It was a small ship,' added Calentauriel.
'That is quite some tale, nésa, but I discern that there is much you have left out,' observed Thibinoriel.
'Indeed,' answered Eregiel. 'Calentauriel and I would be pleased to share the full tale in great detail, but not until we have enjoyed a meal and some rest.'
'Of course,' said Thibinoriel with a smile. 'It is very good to have you home again.'
'And it is very good to be home!' said Calentauriel with a laugh of delight.
~The End~
(1) J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 'The Return of the King', Many Partings
(2) ibid.
