CHAPTER 10
The Journey continues
They rode along the western road. They were expecting only one more night in camp before Edoras should come into view. Aema was still worn and Éomer felt no less worried since they had received the news of her pregnancy. When she got too tired she would sit in front of him atop Firefoot and steal naps during the day. He tried to get her to eat more than she wanted. More than once now, he had been the cause of her emptying her stomach. He felt horrible every time. He would hold her long locks and stroke her back as her body convulsed and she whimpered. It was not pleasant, he knew that, yet there was nothing he could do to help her. She would probably argue that it would be a great help if he stopped bringing her smelly food. But for one hurling at the faint smell of butter, it would leave only water as an option to bring. No matter what she said, she nurtured his heir, and his heir needed food to grow strong. What a wondrous thing it was. This woman now sleeping in his arms were creating life as he watched. He had many a times felt mighty in the midst of battle. Swinging his sword, striking enemies. He felt strong as he lifted his love into the air as if she weighed nothing at all. He felt like a rock when she disappeared into his arms, as if he could snap every bone in her body if he was not careful. Yet now, for the first time in his life, he felt little. Inadequate. She was creating life and he was doing nothing. If he had thought her in control of him before, merely for his unwavering love for the girl he stood utterly defenseless now. One look from her and he was fully at her command. What else could he do? Inside of her, gnawing on her strength, lay his child. He had always wished to see her safe, but now, at a mere imagined threat, his muscles tightened. He would die thrice to save her. He would sooner have his head, slowly cut off with a spoon than see her suffer. His breath caught, he needed to distract himself from such thoughts.
Aema moaned into his chest, she was still sleeping but he would have preferred to offer her a soft bed instead of this. He placed his cheek on her head and whispered softly;
'Hush my love. We are not many leagues from tonight's camp ground. We shall reach it soon.'
As far as the people in the procession went, none had paid any mind of the queen's faring. Éomer and her rode at the front, surrounded by the elves, Aragorn and his wife, the hobbits and other friends. Many of them knew, but were courteous enough to show discretion in the matter. Éomer sent riders up along the way to ready their accommodations each eve so that Aema would not have to wait. He had done so this night as well, therefor when the road took a slight turn north the tents came into view. Soon they had reached the camp and he brought Firefoot to a halt. Aema awoke and he helped her off the horse. As so many night's before he sat with her in her tent. Trying to get her to eat something and much to his joy she slurped down some broth this eve upon which she laid down and he tucked her in.
'Éomer.' she said.
'Yes min'litha.'
'Have you thought of a name for our babe?'
He smiled and sat down on the edge of her cot. He leaned on his arm, planted firmly on the other side of her and with his other hand, he stroke her belly. She was not yet showing obvious signs of pregnancy but he knew her body so well at this point he could make out the burgeoning roundness of her lower abdomen. He smiled at her,
'Nay. Have you?'
'A little.' she admitted.
'We do not yet know who this little one will be. Will it not be hard to find a suiting name until we know?'
'We know some things..'
'You know something? Prey tell!'
'We know this babe is loved. We know he or she will bring us joy. We know we will feel proud no matter who he or she may be, am I right?'
'As always, my love.'
She continued.
'I thought of Earenwyn for a little girl.. Do you like it?'
'Earenwyn..' Éomer tasted the word. 'Joy of dawning light..' he smiled. 'It is beautiful, min'litha, and a fitting name indeed. But what of a boy?'
'Déormund.'
'Hm, fierce as a wolf, the brave mind of battle kings of old.. You expect much of our son. What if he comes out a rabbit?'
Aema gave off a high pitched noise at his words and struck his upper arm.
'My son will be no rabbit, Éomer, son of Éomund. You watch your tongue!'
He laughed and buried his face in her neck. Nibbling her soft skin since he knew it drove her to the brink of madness when he tickled her. He kept on until she shrieked with laughter. Then he paused, his face close to hers. Her panting slowly seized. Then he kissed her soft lips.
'Rabbit or not, I shall love you both until the end of my days min'litha.' He kissed her good night and retired.