Author Note: Well this one ended in an unexpected fashion. It’s amazing what pops into the mind late at night, and Merry’s voice was quite specific…This is actually a combination of challenge #21 and #22, ‘cause life got in the way for a while.

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Truth and Treasure

By Songspinner

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“So,my lord King, are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to guess? That’s a fascinating look upon your face.”

Merry’s voice startled Éomer into looking away from the darkened plains below. “Ah…Meriadoc of the Shire. And what may I do for you this night? I hope the pony we gave you is serving you well.”

With an impish grin, Merry looked up at the tall man. “Change the subject back to my question, my lord. I never let Frodo get away with that trick, either, if you’ll pardon my impudence.”

Éomer shook his head, face still serious. “Well, then. I suppose that a Knight of Rohan deserves truth from his King.”

Moving quietly despite formal leathers and ceremonial adornments,

Éomer King had slipped from the Hall and managed to get to a small balcony. Overlooking the plains and facing away from the town, this place felt as though it could give him some measure of peace on this busy night.

He took off the crown newly placed on his head just a few hours before and ran it through his fingers, unable to find any trace of the repaired damage from his uncle’s killer. For some reason, he didn’t particularly feel like putting it back on just yet. And the informality of hobbits seemed a good lead to follow.

Gimli had done a nice job of it, he thought. The dwarf had taken it brusquely from the royal metalsmith with muttered apologies interspersed with what the man was fairly sure were Dwarvish curses.

Glancing sideways again, Éomer saw the young hobbit waiting patiently for a reply to his question. “I hadn’t expected this, my friend.”

“Ruling?

“Any of it. Theodred was to rule after my uncle. I had anticipated perhaps being leader of the Riders and spending my life protecting Rohan. Kingship was not in any vision I had of the future.”

Merry tugged at his green tunic pointedly. “I too, had not envisioned such a title as Knight of Rohan for myself. I thought of being the Master of Buckland after my father, but never thought I’d travel beyond the borders of the Shire.”

With a sad sort of smile, Éomer walked to the edge of the platform. “I am not sure that my training as a warrior will serve me properly in this new responsibility.”

“And you’re not sure,” Merry added quietly. “That being tied to the throne will allow you the freedom you once had as a warrior?”

The man’s eyes widened in astonishment at the hobbit’s insight. “How…?”

Merry laughed. “I seem to recall the day I realized that I would have to settle down and forsake most of my foolishness someday. Being behind a desk did not appeal to hobbit-lad who was barely of age, and days spent exploring forests and playing with my cousins were far more interesting. Training with my father, though, showed me how fascinating plans and maps could be. Not that I grew wholly out of a tendency toward foolishness, mind you.”

“Hmm.” Éomer nodded. “So that’s why you understand. I forgot that you were as old as you are. I apologize.”

“No need. Well, Master is not the same as King, and I’ve known all my life that I would receive that title.”

“As I did not. That was for my cousin, and I used to be quite angry with Theodred when my uncle sent him out with the other Riders. I suppose I thought he should take me along.” Éomer smiled down at Merry. “It’s not as though I could have been any help, I know, but I thought that I could protect him as he did for me.”

With a quick shake of his head, the hobbit returned the smile. “Ah, yes. I know that feeling all too well. There was a moment when Gandalf told us at Isengard that Frodo and Sam had gone off to Mordor alone, without us…I think I wasn’t sure whether to be worried or furious. Now that I think about it, I’m not convinced that Pippin and I would have been much help, but there was that thought for a moment that we could have helped him somehow.”

“You did.” The tall man answered softly. “You did things that allowed us to distract the powers of the Dark long enough to let them slip through. I wished that I could have helped my uncle, but at least my sister was there, and you, to help him.”

“I shall miss him. He promised to share stories with me, and I’d hoped to learn from him, as a father if it wasn’t presumptuous.” Merry glanced at his friend anxiously, clearly hoping he wasn’t trespassing on still-raw emotions.

“Nay, it is not so.” Éomer reassured him. “He was quite good at giving advice when I was young, before the darkness tried to take him.”

“We tried to help Boromir when we had the chance,” Merry continued in tones just as quiet, the smile fading into a look of sadness. “Two little hobbits were nothing against a horde of Uruk-hai. One grabbed Pippin and then I managed to fight a bit longer.” A darker smile returned for a moment, seeming out of place to Éomer’s eyes, on such a sweet face. “I seem to recall taking out a rather large Orc at one point, using a move Boromir taught us whilst we were in Lothlórien. Went in low and hamstrung him, and went after the one who had Pippin until another hit me from behind.”

Finally recognizing that cold expression on Merry’s face as one he was all too familiar with in mirrors, the King of Rohan rested a comforting hand on his knight’s small shoulder. “A brave attack. Boromir and my cousin knew each other fairly well from their travels between realms. I don’t remember the man well, but Theodred spoke kindly of him and with admiration. He must have been a good teacher to you both.”

“Sam tried as well, but Frodo didn’t really want to learn to fight. Somewhat ironic…” Merry looked up again, affection in his eyes now for his cousin and friend replacing fearful memory. “They have such different strengths, those two.”

“So they do. And they lend them to each other even now. Perhaps,” Éomer mused, “there is a lesson in seeing that.”

“That we are not alone in our new lives?” Merry agreed. “You will not have to shoulder the crown on your own…you have your sister, who certainly has wisdom and insight. I suspect that the King of Gondor and Arnor might have some advice as well.”

“And you shall have Frodo and perhaps even Pippin for advice when you take your title someday, my friend.”

“Before this journey, I’m not sure that the latter fact would have comforted me very much, but I think that I’ve changed my mind…”

The King laughed, and looked back toward the celebration with a shake of his head. “I suppose that we should return before we are missed.”

Nodding his agreement, Merry moved toward the great Hall. “That only proves it, my lord. That we would be missed means that we’ll truly have all we need to be able to figure this all out eventually.”

Éomer shorted his stride to match that of his knight. “We shall have to help each other, then, Merry. The advice of friends is something I shall ever treasure.”

“In the spring of the year, a message came from Rohan to Buckland that King Eomer wished to see Master Holdwine once again…”

-J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Return of the King, Appendix B”