return

appendix a 1405
battle, riding in disguise; and was known after in
the Mark as the Lady of the Shield-arm. 1
Éomer became a great king, and being young
when he succeeded Théoden he reigned for sixtyfive
years, longer than all their kings before him
save Aldor the Old. In the War of the Ring he made
the friendship of King Elessar, and of Imrahil of
Dol Amroth; and he rode often to Gondor. In the
last year of the Third Age he wedded Lothíriel,
daughter of Imrahil. Their son Elfwine the Fair
ruled after him.
In Éomer’s day in the Mark men had peace who wished for
it, and the people increased both in the dales and the plains, and
their horses multiplied. In Gondor the King Elessar now ruled,
and in Arnor also. In all the lands of those realms of old he was
king, save in Rohan only; for he renewed to Éomer the gift of
Cirion, and Éomer took again the Oath of Eorl. Often he fulfilled
it. For though Sauron had passed, the hatreds and evils that he
bred had not died, and the King of the West had many enemies
to subdue before the White Tree could grow in peace. And
wherever King Elessar went with war King Éomer went with
him; and beyond the Sea of Rhûn and on the far fields of the
South the thunder of the cavalry of the Mark was heard, and
the White Horse upon Green flew in many winds until Éomer
grew old.
1 For her shield-arm was broken by the mace of the Witch-king; but
he was brought to nothing, and thus the words of Glorfindel long before
to King Eärnur were fulfilled, that the Witch-king would not fall by the
hand of man. For it is said in the songs of the Mark that in this deed
Éowyn had the aid of Théoden’s esquire, and that he also was not a
Man but a Halfling out of a far country, though Éomer gave him honour
in the Mark and the name of Holdwine.
[This Holdwine was none other than Meriadoc the Magnificent who
was Master of Buckland.]