[Lalwendë]

Reading what formendacil and davem have just posted raises some interesting questions. Firstly, it is likely that Eomer was not the natural next in line to the throne; most of us would view a line of succession to naturally follow the 'first born' logic. If Theodwyn had older sisters then Eomer would have been likely to have cousins and even if Rohan used primogeniture to determine the succession then it's likely he would not have been first in line.

It is possible that Eomer was the first male in line to the throne - he was the Third Marshall of the Riddermark, wouldn't Theoden and Theodred have been first and second?

Theoden also has to name Eomer as his heir, which is odd. Surely the line of succession would be well known? Comparing Rohan with the real world, there is a long and bloody history about lines of succession to the British throne. And the same happened in Numenor.

However, the culture could have been different in Rohan. If this is the case, that the king had to formally name his heir, then Saruman would have been all too well aware of this and would have sought to exploit it - by killing Theodred, discrediting Eomer and having his quisling Grima try to wheedle his way in.

Grima was clearly someone of high status already in Rohan, who has chosen a non-military path to success, and he must have already been in a position to get close to Theoden in order to deceive and manipulate him so thoroughly. We do not know exactly how close he could have been to the 'royal family' or line himself, but he must have had some supporters within Rohan, even if they may have been only willing to go along with him due to his position of influence on the King. If he had gained the throne somehow, there would certainly have been civil war.

This makes me think about Eowyn's sense of desperation again. Her 'cage' could have been the bars which she saw closing around her as Grima's influence grew stronger. Meeting Aragorn who was inspirational, and who had the right qualities of nobility she could have seen in him what had been suppressed in her own country where the men no doubt were in fear of Grima. This could have even prompted her to think about how at the last she might have to fight against the doom which was heading for her. When she was told to stay behind again after Aragorn left, and then yet again when the Rohirrim made for war, her fear of ending up a chattel may have risen a little more each time until she thought she may as well fight alongside the men as much as risk dying at the hands of the orcs. Aragorn seems to have woken her from her fears and made her realise what was making her so afraid.