Éorl the Young was but sixteen years old when he became the Lord of the Éothéod, and was still in his youth nine years later when his people’s ancient allies in Gondor sought their aid against their foes, the Balchoth of the east and fearsome Uruk-hai. Steward Círion sent many messengers to the North, but only one, Borondir Udalraph, survived the journey to Framsburg. Borondir bore the Red Arrow and the Seal of the Stewards, calling upon Éorl to renew the ancient friendship between their peoples, and after much deliberation Éorl agreed. He led the Éothéod into war upon the Field of Celebrant, turning the tide of the battle in the favor of Gondor and destroying the Balchoth and the orcs. They chased their remaining enemies across the plains of Calenardhon, ridding that land of evil.
After this great victory, Círion returned to Minas Tirith to recover, but asked Éorl to meet him again in three months upon the banks of the Mering Stream. Éorl led the Éothéod back into the North, and in Framsburg wed Lisswyn the bard, who immediately set about immortalizing her husband’s deeds in song. When the time came, Éorl returned to the South and was led by Círion to the hill of Amon Anwar where Elendil, the first King of the Dúnedain, was buried in secret. Círion offered the land of Calenardhon to the Éothéod in perpetual alliance with Gondor, and Éorl was honored to accept.
Upon Amon Anwar, Círion and Éorl swore an Oath, even in the name of Eru Ilúvatar himself, of lasting friendship between the two realms. This solemn vow was witnessed by Círion’s heir Hallas, Prince Zôrahad of Dol Amroth, two other Councilors of Gondor, and Éorl’s captain and dear friend Éomund. Should ever Gondor or the Éothéod need aid, they needed only to send the Red Arrow born first by Borondir to signify their plight, or else to light the warning beacons of Gondor across the White Mountains to summon support.
Éorl returned to the North bearing the joyous news of a new land and old allies. He led his people back to Calenardhon, where he founded the kingdom of Rohan. That name was coined by Hallas, son of Círion, who was close in friendship with Éorl. As the new King organized his nation, he was supported by Lisswyn his wife and Éomund his captain, both equally dear in his heart; indeed, it was rumored that Éomund was welcome in the bed of the King and Queen.
Éorl ruled from Aldburg, a green hill in the shadow of the White Mountains. Even as he aged, he retained his youthful vigor and his golden-yellow hair, and his bond with Felaróf his mighty steed only grew stronger. But the peace of Rohan could not last forever, and when the Easterlings attacked in vengeance for their defeat upon the Field of Celebrant, Éorl fell in battle attempting to repel them. He was buried in the first royal mound, and Felaróf, who perished alongside his master, was buried with him.
King Éorl was succeeded by his son Brego, who continued to defend the borders of Rohan against the invading Easterlings and the Dunlendings who had dwelt in Calenardhon before the Éothéod’s migration hither. His wife was Meregith, a warrior who fought by his side, and together they had three sons: Baldor, Aldor, and Éofor. After he and Meregith fought off their enemies, Brego began construction on the Golden Hall of Meduseld upon the hill of Edoras.
When Meduseld was completed, Brego hosted a great feast and invited all his people’s allies to attend. Among these were Steward Hallas and Prince Alêthir of Dol Amroth; Alêthir’s son Karsalimir was awed by Brego’s skill in riding upon the son of Felaróf and determined to attempt the feat himself. Karsalimir was denied, but in later years returned to Rohan and perished in an unlawful attempt to mount one of the mearas. This was not the only tragedy foreshadowed upon that night of celebration, for at this time Brego’s eldest son Baldor vowed to pass through the Dark Door and walk the Paths of the Dead.
This mountain pass had been discovered by Brego and Baldor some years earlier, and it was explained by Hallas that it was a relic of another ancient Oath like unto the one sworn by his and Brego’s fathers. King Isildur of Gondor had sworn with the King of the Mountains an Oath of alliance in the name of the One, but when he called upon the Men of the Mountains to fulfill it, they broke their word and refused to go to war against Sauron, whom they had worshipped in years past. Isildur cursed them and their king, proclaiming they would have no rest until the Oath was fulfilled, and as the years passed on the King and his people faded into restless wraiths haunting their former lands, luring unwary travelers into their clutches, never to return.
Baldor balked at the terrible repercussions of such an Oath, so like the one which he himself was bound to as a descendant of Éorl, and determined to traverse the Paths of the Dead to prove the legend false. When a year after Meduseld’s completion Baldor embarked alone upon his journey into darkness, he was lost in a temple of Sauron, starving to death after the ghosts broke his legs. Baldor’s skeleton would not be discovered for five centuries, until Aragorn and the Grey Company passed through the temple on their own adventures.
Upon the loss of his beloved son and heir, Brego withered away in his grief and perished less than a year later. His second son, Aldor, now took up his crown and became the third King of Rohan, while Éofor his youngest son was granted the lordship of Aldburg.
