Chapter Two- A Neglected Friend

“Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence!”

Eomer looked up from grooming his horse and rolled his eyes, a smile playing on his tired and parched lips.  Standing before him was Gaviwyr, his chief guard and trusted confidant.  “Hello friend, beautiful night isn’t it?”

“Where in the world have you been?” Gaviwyr demanded as he picked up a brush and began grooming the horse where Eomer had left off.  The poor beast was soaked in sweat; burrs and thorns matted its muddy fur.  King Theoden would have caused a mighty ruckus had a horse been returned in this condition during his reign.  Only now, it was the King himself who did the returning.

“I am sorry,” Eomer started unconvincingly, “I didn’t intend to go so far…or stay out so long…I hope I didn’t cause too much trouble.”  He collapsed into a pile of coarse, green hay, with his forearm stretched across his eyes.

Gaviwyr stopped his brushing.  He patted the horse on its neck and led it into an empty stall.  Returning to Eomer, he lifted his master’s arm from off of his face and set it at his side.  Looking hesitantly into Eomer’s eyes, Gaviwyr pleaded, “Eomer, why don’t you confide in me anymore?  Did we not used to play together, ride together… even fight together?  Am I no longer your friend?”

Eomer tried to look unconcerned as he contended, “Of course we are still friends Gav!  I really don’t know what you are so concerned about.”

Gaviwyr’s face fell and his eyebrows furrowed into an obvious display of frustration.  “Fine.  If you don’t want to tell me what is bothering you, you don’t have to.  But there was a time when you trusted me.  A time when my opinion mattered.  What time is it now Eomer?  Whom do you turn to now?”

With that Gaviwyr turned to walk away.  He intended to storm out, but he only made it as far as the stable doors when he stopped suddenly.  He knew he was being selfish-- his friend was hurting somehow and needed his help, even if he was too stubborn to ask for it.  So he leaned back, sliding down against the doorpost.  He sat hunched over with his chin resting on his arms, trying not to make eye contact with Eomer who still rested in the hay not 15 feet away.  He would wait here until Eomer was ready to talk.

Eomer was surprised when Gaviwyr didn’t leave.  He wanted him to leave.  His staying made Eomer feel even guiltier than he already did for lying to his best friend.  I can’t just lay here and let him wallow in MY misery!  He rolled to his side and pulled himself into a sitting position.  Resisting the urge to roll his eyes and sound condescending, he asked, “Gav, what are you doing?” 

Gaviwyr couldn’t help but smile; the incredulous look on Eomer’s face was fairly amusing.  “I am waiting for you to come to your senses.”  He was now hiding his face in his arms, trying not to let Eomer see his foolish grin. 

But Eomer did see it, and he couldn’t help but respond.  He bit his lips trying to keep them from curling into that tell-tale smile.  “Dwarves Alive!  Can’t you just let me sulk!” he laughed.  He knew how foolish he looked, trying in vain not to smile.  Like a four year old who forgets why he is even throwing a temper-tantrum in the first place.

“Brother, I could not leave.” Gaviwyr replied, suddenly turning more serious.  “I will not let you think that you have been abandoned.  Not by me.  Not ever.”

Eomer was horrified when he felt the pricking of tears in the corners of his eyes.  Kings do not cry!  He turned his head, trying desperately to find some excuse to avert his attention.  He walked back over to his horse who was happily feeding in its stable.  “I’m sorry I have been so distant,” he said loud enough for Gaviwyr to hear.  “I don’t know what is wrong with me.  I feel like I am a different person.”

Gaviwyr sighed.  “You are a different person Eomer, you’re the King!  You have the responsibility of an entire nation in your hands!  That is no easy life Eomer, you know that!  You knew that when you accepted Theoden’s request.  But why are you troubled?  You are still Eomer!  Still a fearless warrior!  A warrior who valiantly aided his people in the Deep, who defied Sauraman and Grima, staying true to what he knew to be right.  And above being the King and a warrior, you are a good friend and a good person.  You are a king among men, not because of your bloodline, but because of your heart!”

Eomer had not expected such a fervent reaction from his friend.  His heart fell to think that he had neglected one so caring.  He knew he didn’t deserve all of the compliments that Gaviwyr had bestowed upon him, and yet he felt better because of them.  “Surely if you can see so much good in me, I must not be as much a failure as I think.”

Gaviwyr nodded in agreement as he walked over to Eomer, taking his arm and sitting him down.  “Sit.  Talk.  Unload your burdens.  I will listen.  But first, tell me where you’ve been these past three days.”

Eomer related his tale with utter abandon.  Never did it feel so good to confide in a friend.  In Eomer’s mind the situation by the river was a small matter.  He didn’t understand why his heart would not settle on the matter and forget it.  He admitted to Gaviwyr that he felt guilty for having stayed as long as he did, but he also swore to him that his intentions were nothing but pure.

Gaviwyr assured Eomer that he knew his intentions could be nothing but pure, and that he should forget the matter and not worry about it anymore.  “But why did you leave in the first place?” 

“I needed to get away from here-- away from being the King.”  He took a deep breath and sighed, “Gaviwyr, forgive me.  When I left I did so because I felt I had been abandoned.  Ever since Eowyn left for Gondor I have felt so alone.  I know that I could have turned to you, but at the time, it didn’t seem that way.”

“Surely.”  Gaviwyr replied.  “But I feel there is more than loneliness making you unhappy.”

Eomer stood and started pacing in front of Gaviwyr.  “I am used to roaming, Gav!  I am used to riding with our company, never settling for long.  Never worrying about myself, but rather a higher cause.  Now our warriors are stationary.  I am stationary!  I am surrounded every moment of the day by masses of people.  I feel like they watch me ceaselessly.  They expect me to be a great King!  But I still feel like a little boy who misses his family.  I miss them so much Gav…”

“Eomer, you put far too much pressure on yourself,” Gaviwyr interrupted.

“I know.  It all makes sense when you say it, but in my heart I still feel insufficient.”

“You shouldn’t.  You were born to be a leader.  And as for missing your family, there is no shame in it.  You don’t have to hide your sorrow.  People don’t expect you to be as rigid as stone.  Theoden wept openly when he found his son had died.  Grief is normal, if you stifle it, you stifle you own life.”           

“I know,” Eomer resigned.  He stopped pacing and stood over Gaviwyr, offering him his hand.  Gaviwyr accepted and Eomer pulled him to his feet.  “It’s late.  I have kept you long.” 

“Not longer than I was willing.  Do you feel any better now, or have I been speaking to the horse’s rear?”

Eomer laughed.  “I do feel better.  In fact, I feel more at rest now than I have in the past month.”

“Good.  Now go sleep.  No…actually, go take a bath.  You look like you fell into an Oliphaunt pile.”

Eomer picked up a chunk of moldy hay and tossed it at Gaviwyr.  “Yes, I suppose I do.  I never did get that bath in the river last night.”

The two left the stables and walked back to the great house.  As they separated to go to their rooms, Gaviwyr quipped, “Sweet dreams, look out for young men with swords and sisters.”