Here is my last update. There will be an epilogue to follow, but this is it for this story otherwise! Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

The pain was so intense that I fell to my knees, despite holding onto Eomer. He dropped down beside me and tried to look into my face. My eyes closed with the pain, though, and he remained silent.

"Dera," he said urgently. "What is the matter?"

I groaned through another pain. "The baby is coming. Call for Tamina," I managed to get out.

"It's too early." Eomer slipped his hand into mine.

"You can't tell a baby that," I muttered. "Call for Tamina."

Eomer stood and pulled me first to my feet and then into his arms, cradling me to his chest, disregarding the blood that was staining his clothes. He laid me on the bed and hurried out of the room, sending a quick look back in my direction.

While he was gone I allowed myself to truly panic. I didn't want him to see my fright for fear of scaring him as well. I had birthed two large baby boys, but there had never been pain like what I was experiencing or nearly as much blood. Something had to be wrong.

Tamina came hurrying in moments later with a midwife from Rhudaur. Eomer was following them. The older midwife turned around and tried to shoo him away from the room, but he stood resolutely by the bedside, resting one of his huge hands on my forehead.

"My wife needs me," he said sternly.

"Men don't witness these things for a reason, Sire." The woman began preparing her things at my feet and Tamina took her place on my other side, as she had done for both of my previous childbirths.

"Out of your dress, Your Highness," the woman said to me. Tamina began to help me, but it was difficult as there was so much pain.

"If you're going to be in here, Eomer-King, you'll have to help," the woman ordered. Eomer looked abashed for a moment and then also began to help with the dress.

The old woman began looking me over and I saw her face grow grave. My heart fell before I was gripped by another pain. They had been terrible at first and they only grew worse.

I had never seen Eomer's face so pale. The woman continued her examination, probing my most private places with her fingers. I wasn't as embarrassed as this would be my third birth. It only added to the pain and I turned my face into Eomer's strong stomach to stifle my moan. One hand ran through my hair and the other slipped into my much smaller one.

"Your labor is progressing extremely fast. In a few moments I believe we shall begin to bring this little one forth into the world."

In the next few minutes I moaned and groaned and yelped through the pain, nothing helping. Eomer remained silent and the few times I glanced into his face I saw my own pain reflected, perhaps two times over. His soft eyes were scared and his mouth was set in a grim line.

I was intruded upon again as the woman checked me one last time. "Well let's bring a child into the world," she said, giving me an encouraging smile.

"Dera," Eomer whispered. He bent over and pressed his lips to mine. Despite the pain and fear, having him close to me again made everything seem alright. I wanted to cling to him. I wanted to have him make everything go away, to back up and go back to his arrival back to Edoras, but as the sharpest pain yet took me over and I groaned into his mouth, I knew that wouldn't happen.

"Eomer-King, I'm going to need you to take your wife's foot," the old woman said, nodding at Tamina who had already taken one of my feet in her hands.

Eomer shook himself back to reality and it only took one of his hands to hold my little foot. He looked down at me, truly petrified. My husband, it would seem, had seen many gruesome things in training and battle, but watching his child being born might prove to be too much.

The old woman positioned herself at the foot of the bed. "You've done this before, Your Grace; you don't need me to tell you what to do."

I nodded and shortly thereafter another sharp pain overcame me and I bore down with all I had. My body strained against itself, but it seemed like there wasn't any progress made.

I had done nothing in Rhudaur and I should have felt refreshed and ready for a birth, even though it was early. However, I felt anything but refreshed or energized. I felt exhausted and as I continued to strain I only became more tired. During my previous births I had felt as though I was getting somewhere with all of my work, but I didn't feel the same at all.

I continued to push and push, but nothing happened and I saw Tamina and the older woman exchange a worried look. Eomer had remained silent, still stunned by what he was watching. I sank back onto the pillows, with an exhausted sigh and looked up at him.

"You can do this," he said. "I know you can, Dera." He pressed a kiss to my forehead and wiped the sweat from my brow.

After pushing some more and yelling and screaming and groaning, I felt the familiar burning that meant something was happening. I fought the pain and used it until there was a brief break in the pain.

"I see the baby, Your Grace!" The woman exclaimed. Tamina stroked my leg encouragingly and Eomer leaned back away from the terrible scene before him. "Well take a look at your child, Eomer-King."

Eomer looked at me and I gave him a weak smile. He leaned towards my feet and seemed awestruck. AS he stood watching, I felt the urge again and bore down with everything I had left.

"Come help your child into the world," the woman ordered Eomer. She motioned for him to come around the bed, placing my foot down. She took his hands and placed them strategically and I felt the baby slip from my body and into my husband's able hands.

He was quickly back by my side as the baby was taken from him to be cleaned and swaddled. I fell back onto the pillows and closed my eyes. I was terribly exhausted and I didn't know if I could fight my way out of the fog.

"Dera," Tamina said softly. "You have a daughter."

I opened my eyes and looked at her blearily as she placed the bundle in my weak arms. Eomer reached over and stroked the baby's cheek.

"Is she alright?" I asked quietly.

Tamina nodded. "She's very small, but she seems otherwise healthy. She has all of her fingers and toes and a nice healthy cry."

I nodded and tried to hold the baby out to Eomer. He took the small bundle and while he was occupied with his first daughter, I looked at Tamina.

"She'll need a wet nurse," I muttered.

"Dera," Tamina began.

"Please," I stopped her. "Just summon one."

Tears filled the woman's eyes, but she nodded her assent. "Watch over her," I said. She nodded again and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"I love you like you are my own daughter," she murmured, trying to get the King's attention. She went to leave the room.

"Tamina, can you fetch my sons please?"

The older woman was still working furiously at my feet and she seemed flustered. I peered down at her. "There is too much blood," she said. Eomer's head snapped up, out of the reverie his daughter had created.

He stood and paled again at the site of the stained sheets, more red than they were white. "Do something!" He exclaimed, startling the baby into a cry.

"Please, just take the baby and leave us. A wet nurse is coming," I told the older woman.

"I can't just leave you," she shook her head.

"There is nothing you can do," I smiled sadly as Eomer handed over the bundle.

"Dera, what are you doing? You need help!" He moved onto the bed.

I shook my head. "Sshh." I rested my head on his shoulder. "It's alright."

He was silent for a moment. "I am so sorry for everything, for yelling at you in Edoras and especially for getting angry with you now. This is all my fault."

Tears came to his eyes and I was sure it was the first time I had ever seen him cry. He rested his forehead on the top of my head.

"No, this is no one's fault. I love you, Eomer. That is all that matters now."

The door opened and Tamina led my sons in. I quickly tried to cover the blood and Eomer helped me throw the blankets over the stain.

"Boys, you have a sister," I said quietly. They were both rubbing their eyes blearily. Eoman was climbing onto the bed with Eomer's help and Eohere was placed him Eomer's lap by Tamina, who quickly left, but not before I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Where is she?" Eoman asked sleepily.

"She's tired," I told them.

"Its hard work being born," Eomer added. "You can meet her tomorrow.

"Now listen to me," I said. "I want to you to be very good for your father, alright?"

They looked at me puzzled. "Are you going somewhere?" Eoman asked.

"I'm going away, but don't worry we'll see each other again."

They were too tired to question me, as it was the middle of the night. Eomer moved them so I could hug and kiss them. "Now Tamina is right outside the door. She'll take you back to bed."

I watched them walk out of the room, Eoman hanging onto Eohere's chubby hand.

Eomer wrapped his arms around me. "You can't leave me, Dera. I can't do this without you. I can't be a father. I can't be a King. I can't even be a good man without you." He was nearly sobbing into my sweat-soaked hair.

"Ssh, yes you can," I murmured.

"I love you," he said. When he said it, it seemed as though he were far away, not holding onto me. I could feel darkness creeping around me and I clung to Eomer just as he held onto me.

"Help them remember me," I whispered.

The End

There you go. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter. I love reviews and constructive criticism! There will be an epilogue (hopefully soon).