Chapter 16 – Rohan Ho!

When Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf had travelled across the floodplains of the Entwash several months before, they had found it all but deserted. In a desperate bid to protect his people from the increasingly frequent and more daring attacks by orcs (from east, west and north), Theoden had insisted they retreat to Edoras, Helm's Deep or at least the valley behind Edoras.

Now that the War was over, the tiny hamlets and farmsteads were occupied once more. On the occasion that they saw a distant hovel or home, smoke could often be seen from a chimney. The sounds of the odd lowing cow or neighing horse became increasingly common the further into Rohan they went.

They did not cross through any village or even pass too close by to the few they saw. Even so their progress did not go unnoticed.

The afternoon after they left Fangorn behind them, they surprised a group of children fishing in a stream. The children stood, speechless and staring, as the elves slowly passed by. A tiny, snotty-nosed toddler waved and grinned, though, and many of the Eldar returned his greeting, but the two older children, both fair-headed boys, grabbed the tiny child's hand and headed off at a run towards a distant group of huts.

The company was so large that by the time one child returned with a nervous looking woman and several adult males, the last few elves were still passing the spot where the children had been first encountered by those at the front of the procession. The humans kept their distance and were wary, yet not afraid so much as in awe at the spectacle.

It was Penny's first inkling into the reaction they might receive both in Rohan and in Gondor. Though she had not until that moment really realised it, she had got used to elves and how they looked and came across. Of course, she still had times when the sheer beauty and wonder of them was a bit much, but nothing like it used to be when she had first arrived in Imladris. She remembered how blown away she had been when she had first laid eyes on Elladan, how extraordinary and fabulous he had seemed, and how that fact alone had convinced her for the first time that she could not be hallucinating it all.

She realised that seeing a few hundred elves all together like this, and among them the most powerful and beautiful in all Middle-earth, must be utterly mind-blowing for those who had never seen elves before. Even for those who had fought alongside Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas, this would still be something jaw-dropping in its splendour.

It was nearly two and a half weeks since they had set out from Lothlorien. As they journeyed on, the dark line of the Emyn Muil forever to their left and the grass in tall swathes about them (so tall in fact that Penny stuck to riding most of the time), the ground grew flat and wide. The Misty Mountains slowly petered out till at last Penny was able to see the Gap of Rohan.

She stared at it for quite some time, when Glorfindel pointed it out to her, as if willing Orthanc to appear out of the distant horizon.

"It seems strange to think of all that has happened there only recently. Is that not so, Pen-ii?"

Glorfindel seemed to be talking as much to himself as to her, barely seeming to notice her murmur of agreement.

Summer was also well and truly in full swing this much further south, and it all showed. The grass was tall, and the plains and meadows were filled with flowers everywhere they looked. Many trees were in blossom, and bushes bore the swelling beginnings of fruit. Slowly they picked their way past brooks edged with weeping willows and wound through reedy bogs; they spread themselves broad as they wandered through pastures and green swathes of grassland; individuals stopped on occasion to wave at children in the distance or smell the summer meadow flowers that grew everywhere.

Then at last after a few days, the White Mountains loomed large before them, their peaks capped with snow even at this time of year, given their height.

As the train headed over a slight swell and down into a hollow, each pointed out to those behind them the line of mountain peaks ahead. Penny peered as best she could but could only just make out a valley and nothing more. Keen elvish eyes could clearly make out something else in the valley, though, and Penny knew what it was even before she was told: a hill and, at its height, a golden roof glinting in the summer sun.

Not only that, but all the elves saw a group of riders heading towards them from its direction.

"Can you not see them?" Rhimlath was astonished. "I forget how lacking in some skills you mortals can be."

Penny glared at him.

Travel was beginning to get to Penny. She was footsore and saddle-sore most of the time these days – even the balm Mireth had given her was not working as well as it used to. Her temper was getting increasingly shorter.

Rhimlath was in danger of getting an earful any day now.

"The Rohirrim are indeed as tall and fair as I have been told," Lindir quickly cut in. "They are easily as tall as the Dunedain… or most Dunedain at least."

Ah, yes. Penny had forgotten that. She was not a shortarse, it was true, but compared to six foot Dunedain… Still the Rohirrim had to be shorter than most elves, which would save her getting a crick in the neck half the time like she did if she spoke to someone like Glorfindel or Celeborn. 'Must drive the hobbits do-lally having to converse with people twice their size,' she thought.

Within a few hours, as the company had stopped to eat, the riders were nearing steadily and at last were visible even to Penny. It was an small group of twenty or so helmed riders carrying shields and spears. Two dark-haired riders were leading them, both riding without bridle or saddles.

Their imminent arrival was eagerly awaited and most ate quickly, packing their things away to then stand, hands shielding their eyes as they watched the riders get closer. Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel stood forward a little, as a sort of impromptu official welcoming party. Arwen, Erestor, Glorfindel and the leading advisors of Lothlorien stood just behind them.

As soon as they came within earshot, Elladan and Elrohir, matching mithril head circlets holding gems shining on their brows and grinning from ear to ear, waved and shouted a greeting. Within minutes they had drawn near, slowed their steeds and leapt to the ground to warmly embrace their sister, father and grandparents.

The Rohirrim hung back a little. Though they were no doubt used to Elrond's sons, they were still a little overwhelmed at the sight of so many elves together, just as Penny had guessed they would be.

Two, with dark horse's manes trailing down from the back of their helms, urged their stallions forward towards Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel. The slightly taller of the two spoke, introducing himself and his companion as the Second and Third Marshalls of the Mark respectively.

Penny did not understand a word and had to have a whispered translation from Mireth. She did not recognise the names he had used either, even though she knew this had to be Elfhelm or Erkenbrand who was speaking. She suddenly remembered Elrond's initial confusion when she had used 'Eomer', 'Theoden' or 'Eowyn' when she had told him all she knew just after Halbarad had left.

Oh, great. Just great. More bloody confusion lay ahead, it would seem. It had taken her long enough to get her head round the real names of the hobbits.

Whoever he was, he went on to say that the King bade them welcome and asked if they would all do him the honour of staying with him as his honoured guests so they could rest a while before continuing their journey. It was, he continued, a privilege for Rohan to be able to greet the future queen of Gondor and her kin, and pay her homage. Gondor and Rohan were ever bound in alliance. As the arms-brother of King Elessar so the King declared Gondor's queen-to-be was to be treated as his sister and one deserving of tribute. Further, all of Rohan was at the disposal of the kin of those who had so valiantly fought alongside the Rohirrim to defend their lands against the Enemy. Indeed elves were held in great esteem and honour now they had been seen to fight so fearlessly and well.

Elladan and Elrohir looked vaguely smug at that point, Penny noted.

So saying the man (who Penny had now worked out was Elfhelm after puzzling over Mireth's rough translation of 'Ellon-Headpiece' for a moment or two) dismounted, stepped towards Elrond and bowed low. It was obvious who Elrond was, even without being introduced. Not only had his sons greeted him warmly as only sons could treat a father, but the likeness between the three made it clear they were close kin.

Elrond inclined his head and then replied in similarly flowery terms, introducing himself by his full title and lineage. As he indicated Celeborn and Galadriel the Rohirrim stiffened in their saddles slightly, their eyes widening and trying not to gasp. The reputation of Lothlorien went before it (even if most of it was superstitious bunkum and despite the best efforts of Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn and others to dispel such notions). Elrond thanked Elfhelm and accepted King Eomer's kind offer. Then he stepped forward and grasped Elfhelm by the forearm, smiling broadly.

"Any who are the friends of King Elessar and have helped defeat The Enemy with such noble valour as we have heard tell of your deeds, are friends of ours also."

Elfhelm, clearly surprised at the gesture, smiled in return and a cheer went up from the Rohirrim behind him.

Of course, it was all pure theatre, Penny thought to herself. She watched Elrond introduce the future queen of Gondor while Elfhelm bowed low and Erkenbrand dismounted to do the same. The stay in Rohan, if not pre-arranged, was only to be expected. They could not have travelled through it without calling on Eomer, given his deeds in the war and that three elves fought with his people. Equally Eomer could not have ignored them and not invited them to Edoras, especially not given Arwen's presence among them and the purpose for which they were travelling.

Still, it was an entertaining spectacle of public diplomacy, 'entente cordiale' and etiquette at work.

There was a slight hiatus while everything was readied after lunch before they could start off again. In the saddle, Penny took the opportunity to study the Rohirrim in detail. They were every bit as dashing as she had hoped.

They were tall and proud, their blond hair plaited to their shoulders. All were broad-shouldered and, especially compared to the lithe elves, built like brick shithouses, frankly. Several were bearded. Of course, they were in the full garb, as was appropriate given they were here as a royal welcoming party. Their mail shone bright and their spears and shields, emblazoned with the white horse of Rohan on a green background, looked terribly impressive.

Only on close observation might you have noticed that some of the shields were newly painted to cover the odd dent, hole or scratch. Were it not for the fact that much of their faces were covered by beard or helm, scars still a livid red might have been seen on the cheek of one or two as well.

Looking at them, Penny was very aware of how human they were. She had got so used to elvish company that to be with humans again suddenly made the elves seem to stand out more than they had done in ages.

As they set off, with the Rohirrim leading the way, Erestor was heard to mutter to Rhimlath.

"See? Elrond speaks perfect Westron. There is no issue of 'northern dialect.' They understand him perfectly."

"It was never Elrond's Westron that was under scrutiny, Erestor," Rhimlath retorted.

Just at that moment Glorfindel suddenly remembered that Erestor needed to advise him on something at the same time as Lindir decided to ask Rhimlath about an obscure piece of lore he apparently needed to settle for a song he was working on.

Thus, thankfully, peace was restored before it could all kick off again.

Word of their journey must have spread fast among those who lived in the valley beside the Entwash. They were not numerous by any means but enough that there had been several times already when people had come to stare or children run alongside them for half a mile or so. These well-wishers and oglers became ever more numerous as they neared Edoras, several of the children shouting out to any of the Rohirrim they recognised.

So far Penny had not been noticed.

It did not take too long, though, for one of the children to see that one amongst all the splendour looked desperately ordinary. In fact, compared to the elves around her, Penny stood out like a sore thumb, little did she know it. The child shouted something out to her, presumably in Rohirric because none of the elves reacted. One of the Rohirrim riding up ahead heard the cry, though, and turned towards the shout only to then look in the direction the child was pointing.

He spotted Penny and turned to say something to the man next to him. The second man, once he had also turned to see Penny and confirm what he had just been told, urged his horse forward to ride to the front of the eored to speak to Elfhelm. Elfhelm then peeled off from the company while Penny was pointed out to him. Elrohir, being the nearest, was then called for and as Elfhelm pointed directly at Penny, Elrohir smiled, laughed slightly and started chattering, no doubt explaining her away.

At this point, feeling very uncomfortable as the object of unwanted attention, Penny feigned ignorance, slid out of the saddle and out of view. She offered her place to Eleniel who was nearby. Only a minute or two later she neared Elfhelm, watching her as she walked past him. Elrohir, who was still beside him, called out to her.

"It is good to see you again, Pen-ii. Well met, indeed."

She stopped and replied in kind, ignoring Elfhelm's curious gaze. Elrohir nodded approvingly.

"Erestor's lessons have worked marvels, I see. You speak Sindarin very well now. Very well done, Pen-ii."

"Thank you, my lord." She hesitated saying his name in case she got it wrong. It was a while since she had seen either brother and they were very alike. For all she knew it could have been Elladan she was talking to, though something about his demeanour told her otherwise. "Erestor has been most patient and the others have helped."

"Ah, but Westron is beyond her, I fear," Lindir said, smiling as he stopped to join them.

He and Elrohir greeted each other warmly and then Elrohir introduced them both to Elfhelm. The conversation switched to Westron, naturally enough, at which point it became clear to Elfhelm that Penny did not understand a word he was saying to her.

He seemed confused.

"But the Dunedain and even the kûd-dûkan spoke a tongue very near our own."

Thus it was explained that Penny was a stranger, found lost and wandering and with no knowledge of their languages.

"Ah. I see." Elfhelm nodded slowly to himself for a moment or two.

"Come, we must head on," Elrohir said.

As the three males turned their horses and Penny made to join the throng once more, she caught Elfhelm's gaze. Suddenly, it seemed wary, she thought.

Or it could have been the shadow from his helmet, of course, and Penny just being paranoid.

"It would seem your presence among us is causing a little comment."

Erestor had this knack of sidling up beside her without her even realising it. Long centuries of being Elrond's 'eminence grise' she imagined. Actually, that was unfair, but even so it could be a little unnerving.

"Yes, so I noticed. He does not seem too happy about it."

"Well, you are a novelty. It was probably assumed you are a wife of one of the Dunedain, but even then why travel all this way, and why alone. You generate questions, Pen-ii. It is your gift." Erestor was smiling broadly, intending his comment to be a light-hearted one, a joke.

Penny was not so sure it was that funny, truth be told. She glanced ahead nervously, to see Elfhelm was still throwing the occasional puzzled glance in her direction even as he trotted forward with Elrohir to rejoin the Rohirrim.

Oh, great.

It had not really occurred to her what the reaction of the Rohirrim or Gondorians would be to her. She had been more concerned by the threat of being left behind in Gondor or else the lack of communication skills.

But now…

She sighed. She was back to being 'Freak Penny' again. Fan-bloody-tastic.

She was determined she was not going to let this spoil her growing excitement that she was about to see Edoras, though. She was probably imagining it, anyway. If the elves thought she was fine, if Elladan or Elrond and the rest could vouch for her, then the Rohirrim would not have a problem with her, right?

Right?

Even as she tried to convince herself, Erestor said something to her and pointed straight ahead. Penny had been so lost in her thoughts she had not really looked much beyond the grass or the horse's backside in front of her. Now that she finally did so she realised she could see it clear as day, and the sight was enough to put all other considerations out of her head.

"Oh… but it's wonderful!" she breathed.

Erestor tilted his head to one side as if musing whether 'wonderful' was quite the word he would have chosen. It was pretty enough, with the gold glinting off the roof of the Meduseld as it did in the afternoon sun. A little showy for his tastes, perhaps... He understood well enough, however, that it meant a lot to Penny.

She had a grin on her face like a Cheshire Cat. And it got broader the nearer they got.

For a while Edoras disappeared as they neared trees and then crossed over a well-used ford across the Entwash (probably the same one Gandalf and the others had used) but then it was back, high and proud, shining like a beacon against the mountain valley dark with lengthening shadows behind it.

It was stunning.

The palisade around the base of the hill was several feet tall, and even from some distance Penny could see figures on top of it, only their shoulders and heads visible where they were clearly standing on some kind of walkway or embankment behind. The closer they got, the greater the number of people appearing on the palisade pointing, cheering, hallooing, waving and generally making a great rumpus.

A crowd of people had already formed outside the gate and others were making their way towards them, past the barrows that housed the Rohirric kings of old. Many more that lived within the valley or nearby had come to witness this extraordinary sight. It was a 'once in a lifetime' experience after all – the kind of thing that the small children running alongside them would tell their great-great-grandchildren about if they lived that long.

The elves never once stopped singing as they approached (having started soon after they had set off).

Once they reached the base of the long, low slope leading up to the gates, they stopped while the horses were unloaded. Several ellyn, with the help of a few locals, started setting up tents and awnings. At the same time Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn and Arwen, along with a large group from both Lothlorien and Imladris, followed the Rohirrim on horseback towards Edoras.

Penny was hesitant, not sure which direction to go in. She was desperate to see the place, but presumed this was the diplomatic party in which she had no need to be involved. She seriously contemplating just tagging along anyway, especially given Lindir was going too, but decided to hold hard and wait to be invited.

She was not.

So she stayed put and helped set up camp instead.

Of course, the fact that Penny was the only one with a saddle had been noted by some who whispered to each other, nudging and pointing. It also became clear, after one or two of the humans milling about attempted to engage Penny in conversation even if they dared not speak to the elves just yet, that she spoke no Westron or only understood a few phrases.

"Not to talk I," was about the best she could manage, and even that was a struggle. She would shrug apologetically. She noticed that, after a little while, she was avoided or ignored (by the adults at least).

It was strange to see humans again. Strange in a nice way, though. Okay, she could only see them from a distance, since it was mainly the elves setting things up with the help of only a few individuals, but even so. There were kids running about nearby, but they would not come too near. If any elf stopped to say something to them they would go very quiet and shy, staring in awe at this tall, beautiful, near shining being bending over them.

Similarly as the party following the Rohirrim wound its way between the barrows of the kings and reached the gates, the shouting and whooping from the crowd both outside and up on the palisade quietened to a watchful awe. As Elfehelm and the rest, with Elrond and Celeborn close behind, rode through the gates, soldiers on either side blew on horns, the sound echoing through the valley and bouncing off the mountains around them.

Within an hour they were back, by which time dusk was beginning to fall. Most of the children brave enough to stick it out had finally got over their initial wariness of the elves and were now running in and out of the awnings and tent ropes laughing and playing chase. Many of the men were admiring the horses, none of whom would be stabled, but would remain as they were, as ever close to camp. Hay and water had been brought to them – indeed they had been treated with as much respect as the two-legged guests of the Rohirrim, but that was probably no surprise.

Once back from the Meduseld, Elladan went out of his way to find Penny since he had not had a chance to greet her with more than a nod and a smile in her direction before. Like his brother earlier, he showed pleasant surprise at the progress she had made in her language skills.

"Father tells me you have become quite at home in Imladris, that you have settled in well."

Penny nodded. She would be sorry to leave it and hoped she would not have to. She suddenly realised Elladan was looking at her with a serious expression on his face.

"My lord?"

He started, as if suddenly aware of what he was doing. "Forgive me, it's just…"

He glanced up at Elrohir who was chatting with Celebdor and a group of Galadhrim at a little distance to Elladan. Elrohir, catching his brother's look, furrowed his brows and crossed over to them.

"I have not had the opportunity to talk to Father in any length or detail about what you may have told him even before we left, let alone afterwards," Elladan continued. "But we always understood your knowledge was… detailed, shall we say."

Penny instinctively glanced around her, even though it was well known amongst the elves now that she had had some foresight in the War, so such talk did not have to be as discreet or secret as it had been before.

"It still seems astonishing to me that it should have been the case, yet you knew all that we have faced, did you not?"

Penny did not know how to answer him. She was a little thrown by his question.

"Yes… and no, Elladan. I did and yet could not even begin to imagine the horrors of battle…"

Elrohir was quietly listening beside his brother. The two exhanged a glance, as if sharing unspoken thoughts.

"Pen-ii?" Elrohir spoke slowly, his voice gentle and filled with compassion. "I know Aragorn sent word north, but I do not know if Father told you. If he did not, then forgive me for bearing sad news, but you should know that Halbarad-"

"I know," she cut in quickly. "I thank you, Elrohir. I know. I have known for some time."

There was a moment of awkward silence as Penny struggled to deal with the wave of emotion that hit her suddenly. Elrohir sighed sadly, shaking his head a little and murmuring he was sorry, but Elladan's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in Penny's reaction.

"Even that?" he said quietly.

Penny stared at him for the barest of moments before her gaze fell. She felt her eyes were wet with tears. She nodded. "I told your father before you… I tried to stop…" She could not finish her sentence. "Excuse me," she muttered, turned and left them.

She did not cry. She had long and long ago grieved for him, but it was still upsetting to be reminded. Her throat was so tight it hurt her.

She wondered if they had seen it happen. She was half tempted to…

Then she decided it was best she did not know.

As she sat in the doorway to her tent watching as the last few things were readied, she glanced back towards the brothers and noticed they had been joined by two Rohirrim. One was a young man, not even her age but quite a few years younger and barely into adulthood. The older man she assumed to be his father. The two, clearly comrades-in-arms of Elladan and Elrohir, were being given the honour of being introduced to Elrond.

The older man beamed in pleasure at something Elrond said to him, but it was not him that Penny was looking at.

The young man had lost a leg just above the knee. He stood with a pair of rude looking crutches, the forks padded to provide some cushioning. In the gathering gloom Penny could not be sure, but there was something about his face that seemed strange as well. With the shadows it was difficult for her to see clearly, but it looked very much like there was a large, dark scar down one cheek.

Eventually Elrond took his leave of them and the young man said something to his father who nodded. They thanked the brothers, bade them farewell and turned to head off towards Edoras, the elder walking slowly so as not to rush too far ahead of the young man limping his way up the hill.

Mireth had come to sit beside her and seen what she was staring at.

"It is so very sad, is it not?"

Penny nodded, dumbly, too upset to speak.

"And yet, he is fortunate to be alive. Many with such a grievous injury do not live, or not among humans unless there is a skilled healer amongst them. I know our help will be needed here before we leave."

Penny looked at Mireth, wondering.

"Many are still sick with their wounds. Some may still lose limbs."

"After all this time?" Penny was astonished.

"Oh, indeed. Especially if the wound was badly or hastily treated, or has been neglected since. We will have some work tomorrow, I am sure. Elrond has already spoken to me and several others both from Imladris and Lothlorien who are skilled in healing."

The reality of war was hitting home to Penny the further south she travelled. Sauron had fallen and Saruman defeated, but at what cost?

Little did she know it, but to the west and east the ravages of raids in Rohan had been terrible. Homes and farms had been burnt to the ground, and men who had survived the battles had come home to find their livelihoods gone, or worse their women and children slaughtered. Entire swathes of the countryside between Orthanc and Helm's Deep had been utterly destroyed in the march of the Uruk-hai. Many widows suddenly found they had no farm, no man to provide for them, and had to throw themselves on the mercy of family or neighbours. Rohan was rich, but it would struggle and stretch itself thin to accommodate these newly dispossessed – distressed, grieving and utterly bereft in spite of the great victory that had been won.

As the youth disappeared slowly into the night and passed the first of the sixteen barrows – seven to the left and nine to the right - Penny noticed a circle of stones on the ground in front of the barrow nearest her on the left. Work had yet to start on it, but already the ground stood waiting and marked out to hold Theoden, King of the Riddermark, in a hill just like his fathers before him.

Much in Rohan was utterly changed and would never be the same again.

After the war Eomer changed the system of marshalls. Prior there had been no First Marshall for some while since Theoden had taken that role himself, the Second had been his son Theodred (and Elfhelm effectively filled the post afterwards, though he was never formally appointed), and the Third was Eomer. Eomer then made Elfhelm and Erkenbrand Marshalls of the West-mark and East-mark respectively. However, UT makes it clear this only happened after the burial of Theoden, hence Elfhelm and Erkenbrand are Second and Third Marshalls for the time being.

Tolkien used Old English for the names of people, places and things in Rohan. He did this to give the same impression that Rohirric would have had for Westron speakers since Rohirric was similar to a more ancient form of Westron (hence the similarity in terms between the native tongue of the Rohirrim and the hobbits). This means that 'Eomer', 'Meduseld', 'eored', 'Eowyn' (etc) are not the actual names but translations. It's the same as 'Frodo' is a translation of 'Maura', or 'Samwise' is a translation of 'Banazir'. The only trouble is, JRRT never gave us the original names for the Rohirric, other than literally one or two words and half-words, so don't ask me (for example) what Eomer's real name was, because I don't know and nor does anyone else, not even (I suspect) Christopher Tolkien, though he's probably the only person around who might. We know it would have been 'Lô-' or 'Loho-' something (as would have been 'Eowyn's name) since that corresponds to the OE 'Eo-' meaning 'horse'. With thanks to huinesoron and 'the Books bods of TWC' for their help over this issue.

kûd-dûkan - 'hobbit' in Rohirric

With many thanks to surgicalsteel for her invaluable help and advice on wounds, injuries, healing times, and all things medical.