Eomer’s turn

Another well-known lateral thinking puzzle

“A man of Dol Amroth,” said Eomer, “wanting to visit his kinsman in Lond Daer, hired a fisherman to take him and his wife by boat.”

He poured himself another goblet of wine.

“They set sail in late spring,” he continued, “when the weather was warm and the wind fair. But, two days out of port, they ran into a terrible storm, were driven off course, and shipwrecked upon a tiny island, somewhere west of Andrast. The wife, sadly, perished in the wreck—”

“This is not,” said Gimli, “one of those stories where the men suddenly bed one another, is it?”

“No,” said Eomer.

“Good.”

“Weeks later, they were rescued by a passing ship, and the man was taken safely to Lond Daer where his family held a great feast to welcome him.”

“Now that is more like it!” Gimli drained his tankard of ale.

“Amongst the many delicacies laid out upon the table was a roasted albatross—”

“Albatross?”

“A sea bird—it is a local speciality, apparently. The man took one mouthful of the meat, and immediately asked to be excused. Some time later, his kinsman found him in the guest quarters, dead. He had taken his own life.”

“How?” asked Eowyn.

“He had fallen upon his sword,” said Eomer, “but that is not important. What is important is—”

“Why?” said Legolas.