Tension between Rohan and Gondor in the fourth age

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I disagree, I think the oath refers to any threat, not just specifically Sauron and an oath of eternal friendship:

I don't mean that I think it refers specifically to Sauron. I don't think that. I mean that in later years Men might argue that it referred specifically to Sauron to try to negate its importance.

I just don't see rifts/tensions/war between Rohan or Gondor occurring during Eomer and Eldarion's time, or Eldarion's and Elfwine's. It won't come until the point where Men's moral decline has fallen and sworn oaths mean nothing to Men. Such a time in unforeseeable, at least unforeseeable to happen during Eomer and Eldarion's time.

This what I was trying to say; I think it would take multiple generations, as the wisdom of Men failed.

[Snowdog]

I see the Rohan/Gondor alliance/relationship similar to the Canada/U.S. one. A vast mostly undefended border and mutual interests. That said, if say Gondor get King Trumptamir, you could get the whole racial hatred thing going again ala Kin Strife.

[Mithalwen]

I don't think it is inconceivable though perhaps unlikely. The area makes better sense as two friendly countries rather than as a superstate given the white mountains between them. A lot would depend on population development and climate and also perhaps how long the direct lines of descent for the ruling families remained intact given the degree of intermarriage at the beginning of the Forth Age. In the real world, should Eomer's line fail maybe a Prince of Ithilien might claim the throne of Rohan (ok the Rohirrim seem to be less hung up on blood claims than the Gondorians but not impossible. An ambitious ruler of both Ithilien and the Mark might upset the power balance if a King of Gondor left a heir still a minor. It might be against the spirit of the victory over Sauron but it would not untypical of the race of men as we know them.