A/N: So this is probably the longest chapter that I've written, also one of the hardest to revise. I wanted this to be perfect and, after a little debating, I'm pretty satisfied. I hope you guys like this chapter, because it's slowly becoming my favorite. The only music suggestion I can make for this chapter is "The Grace of Undomniel" from the The Return of the King Soundtrack. You can start at the beginning with the music. Review responses are at the bottom.
I was alone in the dark. My body felt weightless, but I could still feel the pain radiating from my legs and shoulder. My body was burning. I kept asking for death, because it would be so much simpler than trying to fight this burning.
"Braedia," I heard a voice calling.
I couldn't place the voice, but it sounded slightly, distantly familiar. I tried to find the source in all of the darkness, but I couldn't see anything. Then suddenly, I was standing, looking down at my own body. I was in quite a state, but I felt relief from the pain.
"Braedia, aewig [my little bird]," the voice came again.
I started and looked around; only one person ever called me that name. I gasped as I turned to face a man I hadn't seen in many years.
"Ada," I breathed, tears coming to my eyes.
I ran to embrace him, but he took a step back before I could touch him. I was confused, and that confusion only increased as I saw the expression of sadness on his face.
"You shouldn't be here," he said softly.
I shook my head, trying to figure out his meaning.
"The Valar work in mysterious ways, my daughter. It is best not to question them," he said, chuckling a bit.
I looked back at him, allowing a little smile to dance across my face.
"I have much to share with you. Shall we sit?" he said, motioning behind him.
I saw that a stone bench had appeared from nothing, and I nodded. We walked to the bench and sat down side by side, but I was aware that he was very careful not to touch me. Part of me was still amazed that he was even here, but most of my mind wondered over his strange behavior.
"Where do I begin? I have been burdened with much knowledge, all of which you would benefit from knowing. Perhaps I should explain how I am able to come to you," my father said, almost as if he was speaking to himself.
I stayed silent, letting him gather his thoughts. I was just so grateful to see him after so long.
"Did you mother ever tell you how her family came to Gondor?" Ada asked, turning to look at me at last.
His eyes were the traditional grey of Gondor, lacking the green tint I had. I shook my head silently.
"You great-grandmother was widowed at an early age, her husband falling victim to the Wildmen that roam the Westfold. Because he was slain so soon into their marriage, they had not had the chance to conceive an heir," Ada began.
My brow furrowed in confusion. If my great-grandmother and great-grandfather never had children, how did I exist?
"One day, your great-grandmother took in an injured traveler, a man who dressed in black and grey, and spoke near perfect Sindarin. A man similar to another that you know very well," Ada said, looking at me expectantly.
My eyes went wide and I gasped a little in realization.
"A Dúnadan Ranger," I whispered.
My father was describing Aragorn almost perfectly, and he was the chieftain, so it only stood to reason that his Rangers were similar to him, at least in dress and manner.
"Your great-grandmother healed him, and the two lived together for a time. Their home was on the outer edges of her village, so the arrangement remained a secret. A widow and a stranger living together when they were not married was just as scandalous then as now. It only became worse when it came to light that she was with child," Ada continued.
I blushed, feeling the embarrassment that my ancestor must have experienced.
"The Ranger was not unkind, and he helped to bring her to his family here in Minas Tirith. He had to return to his company in the north, but once your grandfather was born, he tried to be part of his life as much as he could. The Ranger's family helped take care of them, even teaching your great-grandmother the Common Tongue. That, of course, did not stop her from passing her native tongue on to her son," Ada said, speaking of my mother's father fondly.
"The Eorlingas are very proud of their heritage," I said, thinking of Éomer and his pride.
Ada chuckled a little, but did not respond and was silent for another moment.
"That is how Naneth learned Rohirric, isn't it? Grandfather taught her?" I asked, trying to encourage more talk.
Ada nodded with a smile. He looked at me, almost expectantly, as if he was waiting for me to continue. I looked into my lap, thinking over what he had said. If my great-grandfather, by blood, was one of the Rangers of the North, that would mean I had Dúndedain blood in me after all. But, that blood had been thinned over three generations, and shouldn't be strong enough to induce the sort of traits that were so famous among them.
"Do you remember what I did, aewig? What my role was for Gondor?" Ada asked.
"You were second to a captain. You were stationed in Ithilien," I said slowly, remembering the long absences with a little pain.
"Braedia, it is time you knew. I was no mere soldier. I was a Ranger. And yes, there are those among the ranks that cannot trace their lineage back to the traditional ends. But I can, with most certainty, say that I am of Númenórean descent," Ada said slowly.
I looked to my father, more than surprised. Now that this was revealed to me, aspects of my life made more sense. The dreams and natural proficiency for Sindarin were chief among them, but other things like my slightly enhanced sense and endurance seemed to more logical now. And my father's appearance here now also seemed to fit. Ada smiled and I saw him begin to reach for my hand, but then stopped and his face grew sad again.
"Braedia, I have been sent here with a purpose. The Valar have seen your bond with this Éomer," Ada said.
I blushed a little, feeling a little embarrassed by my actions now. Ada laughed, and my heart soared at the sound. It had been so long since I had heard it.
"Do not fear my judgment, aewig. He is a good man," Ada said, still chuckling a little.
I smiled at his approval.
"But Éomer's part in The Music of Ainur was sung long before he was born. His fate lies with another woman," Ada said, suddenly very serious.
My smile slid off my face like water, and my heart clenched with anxiety.
"It will not be impossible for you to gain the favor of the Valar, but there are many things that you must face in order to earn the right to live your life at his side," he continued
"Name it and it shall be done," I answered without having to think about it. I would do anything to be with Éomer.
Ada gave me a look that showed he feared that I would say that. "Firstly, you were gravely injured during the battle. You were poisoned, and you will need to heal once that has left your system," Ada said.
For a moment, the burning I had all but forgotten came back, and I whimpered in pain. Ada looked at me sympathetically and the pain ebbed. It didn't go away entirely, but enough for me to focus on the words Ada was saying.
"You will have to find a way to convince Éomer's people that you are worthy to rule. Éomer is king, and if you succeed, you could be his queen. But the men you have to persuade will be even more stubborn than you," Ada said, teasing me gently.
I smiled at his teasing, but my heart sank at his tidings. I had not thought of that very much when I chose to give Éomer my heart, but admittedly, there had been many other things on my mind.
"And you will have to face the woman that fate had intended for Éomer," Ada said.
My gaze snapped to him. His tone implied that the last hurdle would be the greatest, though I doubted any woman that knew of my position and feelings would stand in my way.
"Who is she?" I asked softly.
"You will learn in time," Ada said.
"You have much knowledge, but you do not know whom I will have to face in order to win Éomer's heart?" I asked, confused. It felt strange that he would withhold this when he had been so open with everything else.
"I know, but it would be unfair of me to reveal this to you before you are ready," Ada said, his voice growing sad again.
I nodded vaguely, looking away into the darkness. The burning pain was coming back, and I wanted to rub it away. But, then my heart began to ache as images started to flood my mind. I vaguely knew of the women of the Rohirric court, and an image of each woman in Éomer's arms, wearing the mantle of the queen flashed before my eyes, each bringing more tears to my eyes. But then my mind brought back the old dream of Éomer's wedding day. I clutched my torso and bent forward under the weight of my despair. Ada stood and looked down at me. I looked up, trying to find answers in his sympathetic gaze.
"You do have the opportunity to be free of this pain and this burden," Ada said.
He extended his hand to me with an impassive expression. I looked at him, confused yet again.
"Come home to me and your mother. If you take my hand, you will be free," he said.
I felt surprised, for death could not be that simple. Could as be as selfish as he was suggesting I could be? Could I just leave everyone and everything I loved behind? What of Éowyn? Narmírë? Legolas? What would my death do to Éomer? I knew what it meant to lose someone that I loved. Could Éomer handle that burden?
But, as I thought of him, I felt something change in me. It felt as if there were arms around me, holding me in a warm, comforting embrace. I took a deep breath, and a familiar scent washed over me: salt air from the river of my childhood mixed with baking grass, honey, and horses. I looked up at my father, a new light in my eyes.
"What you ask of me would require that I believe the pain I am feeling now is too much to bear in comparison to the joy that a lifetime at Éomer's side. While I do admit that it would selfish to leave everything behind in order to be free of the pain, it would be even more selfish of me to fight for my own happiness and the happiness of all of those around me," I said strongly.
I stood, facing my father with my chin high.
"And if I learned anything from you, Ada, it was how to be very, very selfish," I said, making sure my words came out clearly through my shaky voice.
I expected Ada to be disappointed, but his face broke out into a grin.
"And I could not be more proud of you, my daughter. I wish you strength, and I hope you will have many years of happiness," Ada said.
I mirrored his smile and Ada took a step away.
"I'll give your mother your love. I hope not to see you for quite some time," Ada said.
I laughed at his dry wit, but it was cut short as the pain came back to my body, as if a Mûmak was sitting on my chest. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt like they were being held shut. I felt like I was made of stone, and I had been dropped from the highest window of the White Tower, and I was falling down, down.
I woke with a start as I felt like I crashed into a bed. I was hearing different voices now, ones that I could place right away. It was Éomer, and he seemed to be arguing with someone. But that someone was losing the battle. I couldn't quite understand the words, but the feelings of outrage were clear in Éomer's voice. I wanted to move, to soothe him, but my limbs were like stone. I wanted to call out, but my voice wouldn't come to me.
"…no right to move her like that," Éomer was saying.
"The traditions of Rohan are different than those of Gondor. To them, she is only a servant and she has been lingering too long in the noble's ward. They moved her to free up the bed for someone of a higher rank," the someone was saying.
I could place the voice now. It was Faramir. I groaned a little and tried to move my head. It moved slightly, but the pain was too much and I stopped.
"I want her moved back, now. She is my lady, and deserves the best room that this city can offer," Éomer said, his volume hiding my noise.
I couldn't help the little soar of my heart as I heard him declare me his lady, but it was stilled when I tried to open my eyes. The light was bright, even in the little crack I had created. I winced and groaned again. This time, my noises were heard by those around me. There was a flurry of movement, and I heard a heavy body drop to his knees near me.
"Braedia?" I heard Éomer ask.
A warm hand took mine and raised it to warm lips. I moved my head again, and I was able to turn it toward his voice. There was a gasp of surprise, and I heard a voice shouting for Aragorn nearby.
"Éomer," I groaned, surprising myself with how hard it was to speak.
I wanted to open my eyes, to see his face, but the light was so bright after the darkness. A hand went to my face, but I knew it wasn't Éomer's. His hands were still clutching mine. This hand was rough, so I knew it wasn't Legolas.
"Edro i chent lîn [Open your eyes]," the voice whispered. Aragorn.
I tried but hissed as the light burned my eyes again.
"Dim the light," Aragorn ordered.
I saw that the red glow behind my eyelids faded and I cracked my eyes again. The room was blurry, but even with that impairment, I knew where I was. It was easy to recognize the smell now that my senses were coming back: pine smoke and salty air. The healers burned pine to help encourage the wounded to heal, a practice I always found to be foolish. I knew that I must have been originally placed in one of the luxurious rooms near the citadel that nobles often used when they were in need of healing. More than likely, I had been moved down toward the servants' quarters and into one of the smaller, more functional rooms that servants were often healed in. There was no need for a sitting room when servants were here no longer than absolutely necessary.
But I was brought from my though as my body hurt, and I could feel the burn from my shoulder and legs, but I felt weak in addition to that. I looked around, the mere motion of my eyes exhausting. Aragorn was kneeling near me, but Éomer was just as close, clutching my hand in both of his. Faramir was standing near the door.
"Legolas. Éowyn," I panted, intending the names to be questions, but my voice was too weak for that inflection.
"Safe, and relatively unharmed. The elf suffered no wounds. Éowyn has a broken arm," Éomer said, jumping at the sound of my whisper.
I tried to nod, but I just closed my eyes, exhausted.
"Braedia, stay awake. I need you to look at me," Aragorn said, his voice soft but commanding.
I opened my eyes with a little groan. I looked up at Aragorn, fighting to keep my eyelids open.
"What do you feel?" Aragorn said.
I whined, unable to find the words that would accurately describe the pain. Éomer raised my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.
"Can you move?" Aragorn asked.
I tried to shake my head, but the motion was even more tiring that looking around. I fought off the urge to faint, swallowing hard. Aragorn nodded to Éomer and stood.
"We're going to move you to a more permanent room. You have passed the worst of poison, but now your wounds will need to heal," Aragorn explained.
I felt the blanket being removed from my body, and I shivered from the slightly chill. But, very soon after that, arms were slipped under my shoulders and legs and I was lifted from the bed. I let my head rest against Éomer's shoulder, fighting not to fall asleep. It helped that my heart was beating wildly at Éomer's touch, but I fought hard to stay awake.
"I'm sorry, Éomer," I muttered softly, feeling the darkness approaching again.
I remembered what my father had told me, about Éomer being fated for another woman. It felt right to apologize for all of the hassle I would more than likely cause him.
"Braedia, do not dare utter those words again. I owe you my life. You will never again apologize for anything," Éomer said sternly.
I flinched a little at his rebuking, but I looked up at him as best as I could. He looked like he had not slept very well in some time. But, even then, he was extraordinarily handsome. I flexed my hand, and took hold of one of the edges of his chest plate. The leather was warm and comforting. I would have fallen asleep, but Aragorn kept reminding me to stay awake, if only for another moment.
"Éomer, can I ask you something?" I whispered, trying to conserve my energy by lowering my voice.
"Anything, Braedia," Éomer said, a little desperate.
I swallowed, feeling the weight of my exhaustion hanging over my head. Aragorn turned, and Éomer followed. I looked around, briefly distracted. I had been brought to one of the guest chambers in the White Tower, one of the better suites. There was a full window, and it let in the light from the midday. The breeze brought in the smell of the river with the light, but I did not get many more details before I was set down on the bed. I clung to Éomer, pulling him down with me. He knelt, allowing me to clutch at him.
"Will you say it now?" I whispered, starting to feel the darkness at the edges of my vision.
I wouldn't be able to fight off sleep for much longer. Éomer's face was confused for a moment, before his cheeks flushed and he leaned down to put his forehead to mine.
"I know what you ask of me, and know that I feel it. But I have many more words that I wish to say other than the three you wish to hear," Éomer whispered back.
I swallowed a little, fighting against the darkness with everything in me.
"Please. I do not know if I will awaken again," I whimpered urgently, my grip starting to slacken on his chest plate. The feelings of my impending doom hung over me as the pain only grew stronger.
Éomer took my face in his hands and kissed my forehead.
"Do not speak like that. You have passed the worst of your poison, and you will live to hear me say the words," Éomer said, growing more agitated.
"Éomer, I love you," I whispered, falling under the black for just a moment.
But I was brought back as a cool cloth was pressed to my forehead. Éomer wiped my face, and looked at me, almost a little exasperated.
"Please," I begged, feeling a tear leak from my eye. I needed to hear it, just so I knew that any fight that I would have to face would be worth it.
Éomer looked into my eyes, debating with himself. I blinked long and swallowed hard, fighting against the pull of sleep.
"Braedia, I do. I do love you, very much. Now rest now knowing that you are loved," Éomer said, sounding a little irritated, but mostly sincere.
I closed my eyes and smiled, overjoyed at the words. As soon as my eyes were closed, the darkness engulfed me and dragged me into a healing sleep.
A/N: So sorry for the lack of responses in the last chapter. I have them, and I may or may not put them up (if I have time; there was just so many). But these are the responses to the review for Chapter 34.
Charlotte: But cliffhangers are so much fun. I get sort of a twisted enjoyment in knowing that I get to inflict a tiny bit of torture on you for a couple days.
Lystan: Just my face? What about my brain, where all of this comes from? I kid, I kid. And I could never forget about Faramir, well, at least not for very long.
CrocScale: I'm glad that you liked that conversation. It was A LOT different in the original version (right, Certh? lol) and I was a little nervous about changing it. But your comment makes me happy that I did.
brandi: I hope this answered the question of her heritage. People have been begging, and I wasn't going to get into it at all, but I just had to indulge ya'll before you came after me in angry mob form.
Bluebonnet: Thank you. I accept that title with as much grace as I can.
x0Skay0x: I'm glad that I could be of service.
Willow: You DO remember that there is going to be a sequel, right? And that there are 10 more chapters (HOLY CRAP 10 CHAPTERS!) left to go? I couldn't kill our Braedia off so soon.
WV: Eh, not that much conflict. And I'm glad you shared your theories with me. Always good for a laugh whenever I get sad.
shereelouise60: I love this. People are always of two camps about cliffhangers: they either love them, or they hate them. And I love all sides, especially when I know exactly what it going to happen.
Venetiangirl92: I'm just as much of a hopeless romantic as the next girl, but it's just way too much fun torturing my characters to just let them get away without some heartbreak in the process. I just love playing God too much.
EarthMama: I will be writing both a Boromir/Braedia story and a Legolas/OFC (the wife I keep mentioning) as soon as I can find time to sit down and do it. They are both planned out, but I just need to put fingers to keys and write.
Certh: I know you didn't review, but we have been having our...differences shall we say, in our emails. Is this version any better? I got a second opinion on the topic we talked about, and I decided that you were right (as always). I'm just too stubborn for my own good :)