A/N: Eomer Chronicles 1: In the Elfwine Chronicles, I have made passing reference to how Eomer and Eothain met and became friends, and I decided I wanted to write that story. The problem is, what to do with it now. It doesn't really fall within the scope of the Elfwine Chronicles, but it definitely ties to that storyline. Additionally, I have at least one other idea for this time frame that I might eventually write, and it would also be "oddball". I finally decided that I would create Eomer Chronicles, and add this (and any others I write) to that as chapters. As with the Elfwine Chronicles, they will not necessarily be in chronological order, but I don't anticipate there being very many of them (though who knows – I originally only intended to do 3 Elfwine Chronicles and now there are 178 of them, as well as the several "backstories" associated with them). Guess we'll see…

Beginnings

(Edoras, 3002 III)

The three boys chased along the backstreet of Edoras, snatching at one another and laughing. Turning a corner, the leader and largest of the boys nearly collided with another lad who was approaching from the opposite direction. All of them skidded to an abrupt halt and stared warily at each other.

"Who are you?" the leader asked. "I have not seen you around before." He ran a shirtsleeve across his runny nose.

The new boy facing him seemed about his age, and was fairly tall and gangly. He had the look of someone who had grown a few inches recently. Eothain noted the neatly combed hair and fine clothes that he wore, pegging him as one of the nobles' sons. Probably prissy and conceited.

"I am Eomer," the boy answered quietly, after a moment, but offering no further information. "Who are you?" he asked in return, a flick of his eyes encompassing all three of them.

"I am Eothain. And this is Cadda and Aldfrid." His eyes shifted at a movement behind Eomer and a young girl peeked around at them. "They have got you playing nursemaid, I see!" He let out a derisive laugh and the other boys did likewise.

"Be silent! Eowyn is my sister," Eomer snapped authoritatively, startling Eothain.

Yep – prissy and conceited, just as he'd thought. "Ooh, isn't she cute," he sneered. "Are you going to play dolls together?" Due to being larger than most boys his age, and both strong and agile, Eothain rarely feared a confrontation with others, and it was clear this lad was no match for him.

Eothain never saw the fist coming that smashed into the side of his face. He stumbled back as a fire lit in his eyes. "So that's how it is? Well, I'll teach you a lesson in manners!" With a growl, he launched himself at Eomer, taking them both to the ground, and the other two boys eagerly closed in to watch the scrap. Eothain had never lost a fight, and they didn't anticipate this being the first time he did – this lad was in for a thrashing! No one in their right mind got Eothain angry!

"Eomer, don't! Uncle won't like it! Eomer!" Eowyn wailed at the scuffling boys.

Her pleas went unnoticed as the two tussled, partly because Eothain was finding this fight more difficult than expected. No one else could hold their own against him, but this gangly boy was doing pretty well for himself. What he lacked in muscle and weight seemed to be made up for with determination and…something else.

There was a rage in Eomer that must have bubbled below the surface until it was set off by the taunts. Now he didn't seem to see or hear anything. There was just his fists flying as fast as he could throw them, and the apparent satisfaction at the sound of flesh meeting flesh. He didn't even appear aware of Eothain's blows that were landing on him in return, just the release that came with…hitting something.

Startled by the ferociousness of the attack, Eothain was doing little more than defending himself against the onslaught. He could not see that his words should have caused such a strong reaction in the other boy, and he wondered at Eomer's behavior.

All of a sudden, something heavy landed on Eomer's back, breaking his rhythm of punching. Only as his vision seemed to clear did he appear to notice that he was sitting on the other boy, and had been pummeling him for all he was worth. At least he was until the girl had interrupted. She had jumped on her brother's back, wrapped her arms around his throat and then let the weight of her body do the rest, choking him into submission.

Eomer wrestled her arms away from his throat, coughing a little as air was able to return to his lungs. "Let go, Eowyn!" He was finally able to shrug her off, and rubbed at his neck.

"Uncle will be angry, Eomer! You should not fight!" his sister retorted, hands on hips.

Eomer glanced down at Eothain, who was gazing at him with surprise and caution. Eothain tentatively swiped at his nose that was trickling blood, and watched as a remorseful expression appeared on Eomer's face. Quickly he stood up off Eothain, then suddenly reached his hand down to help him up. "Sorry. I…I do not know what got into me."

Eothain raised up on his elbows to stare at this odd fellow. Give him a whipping like that and then apologize? When Eothain had been the one to start it? The hand still hovered in front of him and finally he reached to grab it, allowing Eomer to pull him to his feet.

"Your uncle really gonna be angry with you?" Eothain mumbled, not sure what else to say.

Eomer shrugged. "Maybe. I might be able to sneak in and change clothes before he finds out."

"You new around here?" Eothain asked, brushing the dirt off his clothes.

A nod was the only answer, but then the boy explained, "We are from Aldburg."

"Your parents move here, then?" Cadda inquired.

There was a long pause and Eothain noticed tears welling in the girl's eyes – Eowyn, was it? Something wasn't quite right here…

"No," Eomer replied after a moment, then met the boy's gaze squarely, "they died. We have come to live with our uncle now."

All the air went out of Eothain's lungs. The boy had lost both his parents? That was tough luck. This Eomer, he was alright.

"Yeah, well, then maybe we'll see you around." He pointed down the street they were on. "See that house at the end, on the right side? That is my house. Why don't you come by tomorrow after breakfast and we can…you know." He shrugged.

Eomer eyed him warily, then nodded. "If Uncle does not mind, I will come."

"Yeah. Well, see you then," Eothain answered awkwardly.

Catching Eowyn's shoulder, Eomer steered her back toward the main road and Eothain watched them go. As they turned uphill off the side street, he curiously moved forward to trail behind them out of sight. Where did they live? Did he know their uncle? By the time he got to the main road, the two were no longer alone. A man was with them and obviously questioning Eomer about his dishevelled appearance.

"Isn't that…Theodred? The King's son?" Aldfrid asked after a moment, as he and Cadda crowded up behind their friend.

Eothain's eyes narrowed. "Yes," he murmured. Uncle? Theodred's father? The King?

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling for Cadda. "Have to go," the boy said, waving as he dashed toward home.

"Guess I should get home, too," Aldfrid said. "Mother will have supper ready soon. See you tomorrow?"

Eothain nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts still on the two newcomers. Slowly he turned and made for his own house, pondering the recent events. His father was just turning in the gate and waited for him, so that they entered the yard together. Glancing down, Garmund queried, "You been fighting again?"

Eothain shrugged. "Just a small argument. It did not last long."

"And you won, I take it," his father chuckled, all too aware of the boy's reputation.

To his surprise, Eothain shook his head slightly. "Not exactly."

Before Garmund could ask further questions, they had entered the house and Beornwyn was telling them, "Get washed. Supper is ready."

They moved to the wash stand and the conversation lapsed. Once they were seated around the table and dishing food onto their plates, Garmund told them, "News from up at Meduseld. Marshal Eomund's wife has passed on also. The King has brought her children to live with him."

Eothain's ears pricked up as his mother remarked, "Our poor Lord. He lost his dear wife and now his beloved sister as well. Will his house ever know happiness?"

"Aye," Garmund murmured, tucking into his meal. "It is fortunate for the children, though, to have someone to take them in. Not all are so blessed."

"What are their names?" Eothain asked curiously, though suspecting he already knew.

"Eomer and Eowyn," his father replied, glancing at him. "I think the boy is about your age, Eothain. It might be nice if you befriended him."

Fighting back a guilty blush, Eothain took a hasty bite of potato. After swallowing it to give himself time to appear nonchalant, he shrugged, "Maybe I will." It was noncommital but, all things considered, he had started on that path already – in a roundabout fashion, that is.

His thoughts went back to the fight and the sight of Eomer standing over him, apologizing and helping him up. Maybe the lad wasn't so prissy and conceited after all…

THE END

2/22/09

2991 - Eomer born

2992 - Eothain born

2995 - Eowyn born

3002 - Eomund killed by orcs; Theodwyn dies shortly thereafter (Eomer-11, Eowyn-7)

Aldfrid – "old peace"

Cadda – unknown

Beornwyn – "warrior joy"

Garmund – "spear protector"

Eomer becomes acquainted with a boy named Eothain. Eomer Chronicles 1