Éomer buried his face in his hands as Alise sat in stunned silence. A silence soon interrupted by Earen stirring in her crib. Éomer's outburst had awoken her but Alise was quickly there to hush her back to sleep. Once the girl was settled, Alise turned back to him.
'So the child is yours?' she asked her voice free of any expression.
'Indeed.' he murmured without looking at her. How could he?
'When? When will she birth this child of yours?'
'Late May.'
Alise returned to silence but he still could not bare to look at her.
'I ask your pardon.' Alise said and hurried for the door. Though he did not catch her face, her whole body told him that she was far from pleased.
'Alise!' he called out after her. 'Wait!'
She disappeared out through the door and he heard the echo of her running steps fade.
He called for an attendant to watch Earen and a short while later he sat off after her. He ran down the steps of Medulsed, forcing people to step aside for the rushing king. He had no time to care about their wondering looks. He made it to her house and banged on the door while trying to catch his breath.
'Alise!' he called. 'Please open your door!' He received no answer. Carefully he pushed the door and it gave way. He stepped inside and closed it behind him. He found her by the kitchen in the common room. Keeping her back to him, she wiped some bowls furiously with a rag.
'Alise,' he said. 'May I please come in?'
She slammed down the bowl she held, causing pots and mugs to rattle and fall. Placing her hands on the wooden counter top, she slouched her head, still refusing to face him.
'What would you have me say?' Éomer said, still standing in the doorway.
'I would have you tell me if you have indeed lost your mind?' she hissed over her shoulder.
Éomer struggled to find his words.
'Alise I am sorry.'
She let out mirthless chuckle and then tossed the rag into the mess of bowls and pots. Grabbing a couple of mugs and a pitcher she walked over and placed them on the table by the window. She filled the mugs with ale and gestured for him to sit while offering him one of them. She brought her own to her lips and swept it all down at once, then poured another one before finally sitting down opposite him.
'Oh my good lord. You need not apologies to me.' she said while her eyes trailed out through the window. 'You are but a man, am I right? A warrior of the north. A rider of the mark, a king. But how can you stand against urges? What good is a sword when you face temptation?' her dark gaze fell upon him and he dared not face it. He took a sip of ale.
'Where is your husband?' he said.
'In your stables I would assume. Perhaps on the training ground. Perhaps he rode out of Edoras. I know not exactly how he spends his days, I know I shall expect him home for supper.'
'Alise I..' he began.
'No, you needn't..' she interrupted. She seemed to have calmed down considerably. 'You must forgive me. It is not my place to..' she trailed off. 'The month of May, you said?'
'Aye.'
'What now?'
Éomer eyed her for a moment. He had already told her too much, but then again, since she already knew, what harm could she cause that she couldn't already?
'I sent word to her father this morning.'
Alise's eyebrows shot up and Éomer gathered strength for the rest.
'I am asking for his consent to marry her..'
Silence fell over the room for some time. After a short while Alise poured more ale for them both.
'Is it not too early in the day for several mugs?' Éomer said.
'Not this day.' she said and took a big gulp.
He followed her example and then fell into thought. Saying it out loud to made it all the more real. She had been Aema's closest confidant and friend. She was, except for his daughter, the closest thing to his wife he had left. If anything, that broad northern accent served as a constant reminder of the little land where he had found a little lady, who had captured all of his heart. Suddenly it all overwhelmed him. He had to clear his throat twice to rid himself of the sadness that threatened to overtake him.
'Rohan needs a queen...' she said and her words pained him. 'Rohan needs an heir.'
He slumped over in his chair. Studying the toes of his boots, his hands. Trying to focus on anything just to stop the tears from welling up.
'She is a good choice for a queen. And a lovely girl.'
'Mm.' Éomer said, still bowing his head.
'It is certainly the honorable thing to do..' she paused and swallowed. 'Do pardon my reaction earlier, it's just..' another pause. 'It has not been that long..' her voice broke into a whisper.
Éomer frowned and could feel his nostrils flaring from the straining self-control he was exercising.
'Éomer,' Alise said and waited until he looked up at her. Her eyes were brimmed with tears.
'Do you love her?'
No matter how hard he tried, a sob overtook him. He grimaced and turned away from her in a futile attempt to hide it.
'Oh Éomer..' Alise stood and walked over to him. She gripped his face between her hands and forced him to look at her. She wiped away the tears that stained his cheeks in a motherly fashion.
'You are King. No one who has ever felt the true weight of duty, will tell you it is easy. And this, Éomer, is your duty, if your house is not to perish with you.' She knelt down before him and took his hands in hers. Tears were now falling from her eyes. 'Not only must you produce an heir, you must also do right by this girl.'
Éomer closed his eyes and nodded.
'You have failed no one, do you hear me? Do right by this girl and you have failed no one.' she squeezed his hands. 'Aema knew the burden of the crown. She knew it better than I think you understand. How many times do you think I watched her place her people in front of herself? Marrying you is the only thing she ever did to please her own heart. You, Éomer was the happiest she'd ever been. You have to know that. However, she may have had some opinions about you bedding a princess you were supposed to look after...'
Éomer surprised himself with a chuckle,
'Oh, yes indeed. I am sure of it.' he said with a sad smile.
'Now,' Alise said while standing up and pulling him up with her. She wiped the last traces of tears off his face and brought him into an embrace. 'Now we clean up this terrible mess you made.'
He held her tightly for a moment. He felt less lonely than he had.
'Thank you.' he said as he released her. He looked at the woman in front of him and wondered whenever they became friends? But he felt a strong bond to her and he loved her dearly. In lack of his sister, he found to his surprise, Alise made a pretty good substitute.
Alise smiled at him.
'Off you go now. And put on something more regal than that drab tunic of yours. You are a King after all, at least try to look the part!'
