[Kalimac]

I'll give it a shot, BW - hope it passes muster.

It was in the Houses of Healing that Meriadoc and Peregrin, the Halflings, first came to be told the tale of Hama - who, though dead before ever any of the Fellowship had seen him, had yet helped to ensure their victory. Eomer told the tale thus:

"Men will speak much of the great deeds at the Hornburg, and of the valour of Theoden King and Erkenbrand of Westfold, but naught would have fallen out in such wise, had not Hama saved me from the most fell of enchantments. For on the morning before Gandalf and his companions arrived at Edoras - some two days after I had encountered the three wayfarers, and lent them horses - I had dispute with Grima, the Wormtongue, and denounced him as traitor and spy of Saruman. Not ten minutes had we spoken together, when Wormtongue grew exceedingly wrathful and drew forth a decree, signed in a quivering hand by my King, declaring that I should be banished forthwith from Rohan.

"He had scarcely done this when a shadow fell before my eyes and I grew weak in understanding, for I knew not how to proceed; it seemed that a great change had overcome my very soul. For how could Eomer, sister-son of the King (to whom I was ever loyal) be conceived of as slinking away upon the orders of the Wormtongue, framed in the King's hand though they might be? But voices whispered to me that I should leave, and when I considered where I should go, I grew more amazed still, for memory of familiar places was fading from me. Scarce could I recall even the existence of Erkenbrand of Westfold, and he seemed like to vanish from my mind altogether.

"This being so, I left the Golden Hall, weak and ill, and there encountered Hama, a staunch and loyal guardsman. "My lord Eomer," he cried, "What fell sickness is upon you?"

"I have been banished," I cried, "And though I consider it a coward's deed, yet do I feel compelled to leave without battling my foes, or slaying the Wormtongue, which he hath long deserved. And my memory grows dark before me, and I can scarce remember the paths of this land which I have known since childhood, and the face of Erkenbrand fades in my sight."

"Banished!" cried Hama, and his face became grave. "But surely this is not according to Canon!"

"I know not what you mean, good Hama," said I. "But I cannot battle this strange change in my fortunes."

"This cannot be allowed," said Hama. And ere I knew what had happened, he had left his post and entered the Golden Hall. I followed as one in a dream.

"Wormtongue!" cried Hama. "How came you to cast such a spell upon my lord Eomer? Do not deny that you have done so; you have learnt from the foul craft of Saruman, and have disordered his mind, and breached the code of Canon, more sacred to us even than the laws of Eorl our ancestor. Did you think that my lord Eomer would leave without a cry, simply at the command of one such as you?"

"You have incurred death thrice over," said Wormtongue, advancing on Hama. "Who are you to judge what Canon permits?" And with that Wormtongue drew a sword, saying, "Come, I challenge thee!"

"Hama drew his own blade, and at the first clash of steel the shadow fell from my mind, and I was once again Eomer of Rohan, not one who would be meekly banished from my own land. I drew my sword, and hastened to intervene in the fight, but alas! The Wormtongue was even more cunning than cruel, and as he fled from Hama's sword, he slipped a small dagger from his belt and stabbed Hama in the back, and Hama fell dead.

"Poison," said Wormtongue. "As were his words. As for you, my lord Eomer, Rohan is no longer safe even with you as an outlaw, if you will turn the very guards of the King's house against him! You shall not breathe free air again, no, now you must lie in the dungeons beneath Edoras." And before I knew what had happened, he had summoned other guards and bade them take my weaponry and put me in irons, and I did not strike at them, for these men were good, and hated to do the Wormtongue's bidding. And yet I felt a strange lightness as they took me to my prison; my mind was again clear, the face of Erkenbrand restored to my memory. The next day the Grey Wizard came to Edoras with his companions, and the rest of the tale you know.

"But I remember with grief and honour good Hama, for had he not risked his life against the Wormtongue, I might yet be wandering exiled in th wilds, my mind disordered and my sight dark. And had my men followed me, as I believe they may have, never could we have held Helm's Deep until Erkenbrand came with the White Rider. Grievous would have been the loss for us, and for Gondor as well."

"I wish I could have met him," said Pippin. "He sounds a good fellow to be with in a pinch." But Merry was silent, and considered Eomer's tale long in his heart.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:15 PM January 03, 2004: Message edited by: Kalimac ]