#tolkienocs

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // laywyn

Joy in Water

Laywyn was the sixth child and the most ambitious. She desired power and autonomy and, above all, legacy. She was alike to her brother, Trygve, ageing similarly to the Dunedain and retaining her youth to the end of her life. After she came of age, Laywyn spent her time in the court of Gondor, as one of Queen Arwen’s ladies, learning statecraft and the workings of nobility.

After the skirmishes and battles with the Haradrim in the Fourth Age, Laywyn assisted in the peace treaty and negotiations with the ambassadors that had come to Gondor, lead by a Prince of a kingdom neighboring Harondor. By the conclusion of their visit, Laywyn had won his heart and he announced an upcoming marriage that would create a lasting peace between his kingdom, Gondor, and his lady’s homeland of Rohan.

The marriage was heralded throughout the lands as a sign of healing the divide of the Men of Middle earth. Laywyn’s marriage was fruitful, both in children and in fulfilling her ambitions. In time, she became Queen to when her husband ascended his seat, enjoying a period of unprecedented peace. But this was not to last. There were still many who were displeased with this foreign queen and her half-blood whelps, as well as those who disliked the influence of Gondor on their realms. Faced with treachery, both within and on his borders, the King retaliated by calling his people to arms and going to war with the rest of Harad. He denied military aid from his northern allies, stating that this was a matter for the Haradrim to deal with, but accepted the help of food and supplies.

The King spent the rest of his life fighting, losing his life on the battlefield along with most of his sons and daughters who were of an age to aid the war efforts. And so, though the war was won, and the Haradrim united in an empire, the likes of which have never been seen before, Laywyn lost her husband and all but three of her children; a daughter who had managed the military supplies and routes, and two younger children who had not yet seen even five years. She ascended to the throne as Sovereign, after her eldest daughter refused the throne, preferring to support her mother in administrative matters.

Laywyn ruled her empire for almost 160 years, choosing to abdicate at a similar time as Eldarion, with whom she shared friendship, and had maintained a correspondence all these long years. They had rejoiced when their plotting had succeeded, and the fostering of their children had resulted in strong bonds of love, as well as a marriage between their realms. Their shared grandchild, who would one day rule the reunited Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor would have allies on all sides.

As with Trygve, there is much controversy surrounding Laywyn’s passing, over whether they were simply long-lived Dunedain or Peredhel. It is recorded in letters to her siblings, friends in the Gondorin court, as well as the testimony of her own children, that Laywyn had bid them farewell before she laid down to eternal sleep.

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // sunnwyn

Sun’s Joy

Sunnwyn was the eldest child and daughter and was much beloved by her parents and people. She was a symbol of light and rebirth after the years of war and darkness, and for that she was named after the warmth of the glowing sun. She grew, along with the other children that the Rohirrim were blessed with, and her growth was no different than the children of Men.

She was alike in features to the people of her father, Éomer, with flowing golden hair and a love for all creatures equine. And was loved fiercely in return, especially by her younger siblings. Sunnwyn became a lore-keeper and loved most singing the songs of the Hobbits, taught to her by Meriadoc Brandybuck, Master of Buckland, who once had been sworn to her great-uncle Théoden Ednew, King of Rohan.

Sunnwyn was instrumental to brokering a ceasefire and the beginnings of a peace with the Dunlendings that would last several lifetimes of Men. She married a Chieftain of one of the Dunlendings tribes that bordered Rohan, having several children that would continue her work.

Sunnwyn lived a full life, by the standards of Men, and passed peacefully to the Halls of Mandos in her sleep. 

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // mildwyn

Gentle Joy

Mildwyn was the youngest, and it is not confirmed whether she shared a father with her siblings, for she was born in Lothlorien almost 9 years after the death of King Éomer. Her mother, Fealasse, announced that she was born of an elven pregnancy that had a length equivalent to the Valian Year before the rising of the Sun and Moon, and stated that the late King had been aware of his unborn child and bid her to name their daughter Mildwyn, before he passed. Although there was much uncertainty, no one could deny the similarities Mildwyn bore to her father and Rohirric kindred. However, to put the populace at ease, Mildwyn was removed from the line of succession, although she was still considered to be Éomer‘s daughter for the rest of her life.

She aged akin to her elder mortal sisters, Sunnwyn and Burnwyn, reaching adulthood before her brother, Ethelfrith, which was the source of much amusement to her family due to his protests and sulks at still being coddled.

Not much is known about Mildwyn’s life due to her avoidance of public settings which would always involve careless and callous remarks regarding her birth and legitimacy. Likewise, the cause and date of her death (if she died) is also unknown, as she did not sail West nor reside with any of her siblings still in Arda. 

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // fastred

Firm Counsel

Fastred was the seventh child and youngest son. He came to his majority in Edoras and was a Marshal of the Riddermark. He carried word to the Shire when his father requested the company of Master Holdwine, and escorted Merry and Pippin back to Edoras.

Afterwards little is known, for he took to wandering the wilds, drifting between the hearths of his kith and kin. It is said that he chose to accompany his mother in her path following her departure from Imladris when his siblings came of age. However, this is all mere rumor and no one who knows of his whereabouts spoke of them.

The last confirmed sighting of Fastred, wherein he had the visage of an elderly man, was shortly after the departure of his siblings to Valinor. He had a loud argument with his brother, Ethelfrith, where he was heard to curse the Valar for abandoning them and the grief they had caused his family due to their favoritism of Luthien and the lack of choice for the rest. He rode away from Gondor to the South and passed through his sister Laywyn’s lands.

It is unknown where Fastred met his end, or if he did, for there was no more news of him. It is generally accepted that, while Fastred had inherited the longevity of the elves, he was as mortal as the Dunedain, due to the age he showed last. In recent years, however, there have been murmurings of a revered immortal in distant lands, who freed the people from the yoke of tyranny. And that there flies a banner with a  horse running on a green field.

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // ethelfrith

Noble Peace

Ethelfrith numbered fifth among his siblings, in the order of birth, but of all them, he took after his mother the most in his looks and bearing, his elven heritage evident from the first time he drew breath. He grew slowly, even more than his elder sister Dawyn, and was the last of his siblings to reach adulthood. As he grew, it was apparent that he had taken after his Noldorin heritage, more than anything else, for he was skilled in the weaving of tapestries and the sewing crafts he had learnt from his mother, taking to them with a burning zeal not dissimilar to the Noldor of old with their crafts. His pride and confidence were evident to all, but none could deny his skill in the creation and adorning of his muses.

When his mother departed Edoras following the death of his father, she took him, along with his sister Dawyn and Arweniel, princess of Gondor, with her. He dwelt a while in Lothlorien, fading as it was, then Imladris, before choosing to return to Edoras as an older adolescent. Following that, he trailed after his sister, Burnwyn, in her travels, learning the cultures and fashions of peoples across Arda, as surely as she learned their lore.

After the passing of his older sisters, and the withdrawal of Dawyn from mortal society, he settled in Edoras to serve as an advisor to his brother, Trygve. Due to his skill and reputation, many people were drawn to Rohan, in hopes of winning apprenticeships or commissioning garments from Ethelfrith. He followed Trygve after his abdication, and dwelt a while with his siblings, until they decided to sail West.

Though Ethelfrith was of elven-kind, he chose to stay in Middle Earth, for he loved these lands too deeply to forsake them until the Second Music. He grieved deeply at his choice resulting in his sundering with his siblings, but he could not bring himself to regret it. 

Ethelfrith is said to have settled for a while in King Elessar’s court, and his son Eldarion after him, as a liason between Rohan and Gondor, but after that no more is known of him. Many of his creations were passed down through the ages and it is said that some form of magic keeps them as new as the day they were first created.

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // trygve

Worthy of Trust

Trygve was the fourth child, and eldest son, which therefore left him as the Crown Prince, and eventually King of Rohan, after his father’s passing. He aged in a manner similar to the Dunedain until he came to his majority, when the years seemed to freeze his visage in place, though it took quite a few years for this fact to be realized.

Not much is known about him, apart from that he was a good and wise king, ruling well, and ever bearing the loyalty towards King Elessar as his father had before him. Trygve, his cousin Elboron, and the Prince Eldarion were known to be good friends, though how deep this bond was, none can say.

Trygve came of age before his elder sister Dawyn, who was little more than a child still, at his crowning after their father’s passing. Trygve never took a wife nor sired child. Instead, he took one of his sister, Sunnwyn’s children, as his heir, continuing her work towards peace and prosperity between the Rohirrim and the Dunlendings. This was not looked well upon, for there were many who protested the idea of a King with the blood of a Dunlending flowing through his veins, but that is a story for another time. 

Once his heir came of age and was accepted by the Rohirrim, Trygve abdicated his crown and retreated to accompany his older sister Burnwyn, eventually sailing West. It is believed that Trygve had the Choice that was granted to Luthien and her descendants, but this rumor has never been confirmed or widely accepted, due to the varying natures of his siblings lifespans. The widest accepted theory is that Trygve was simply long lived as the Dunedain of old, but that too has its criticisms due to the normal human lifespans of his sisters.

@tolkienocweek // day seven // the children of eomer and fealasse // the twins

Stream of Joy

Burnwyn was the elder of the twins, and like Sunnwyn, was counted among the ranks of Men. She was fostered in the courts of King Elessar and the Prince of Ithilien, returning to Edoras when she reached her majority. Burnwyn’s love was in the lore and histories of the peoples of Middle Earth, and she took neither husband, nor any other partner in her life. She was found in the fields of her people, as often as she was found in the great libraries and lore-holds of the lands, for she said that the wisdom of history was not solely the domain of scholars. 

Of her relationships with her family, little is known, due to the scarce time Burnwyn spent in Edoras, and the varying age of the siblings. It is said that there existed a strong bond of love and warmth and fellowship between Burnwyn and her twin, though they were destined to be sundered from each other in the end.

Dew of Joy

Dawyn was the third child, and the younger twin to Burnwyn. Unlike her older sisters, her fate was that of elven-kind. She was still a young child, of an age akin to a five year old human child, when her twin Burnwyn returned to Edoras after her fostering. Dawyn was a young adolescent when she watched her father buried, followed by her elder sisters, though they lived long according to the lifespan of Men. After the death of her Burnwyn, Dawyn retreated into elven realms, refusing to risk the loss and woe that came with loving those who had been given the Gift of Men.

Dawyn was playmates with one of the princesses of Gondor, who had been sent to foster at Fealasse’s knees due to the friendship between their mothers, as well as the similar ageing of their daughters. Eventually, tired of the grief and heartaches of Arda, Dawyn sailed West, with her younger brother and beloved Arweniel, with whom she had shared most of her life.