Chapter Nineteen
In the second year of the Fourth Age, the May wind blew strongly as Eomer stood beside Frige in front of the main doors of Meduseld. They awaited the arrival of Gimli who led one hundred dwarves from Erebor to Rohan. When he had received the letter two months ago which requested whether the dwarves could establish a settlement in the Glittering Caves, Eomer had gladly allowed them to travel to Edoras.
Even with the expansion of Meduseld completed, the hall could not hold that many guests at one time. So the dwarves would be setting up a camp about a mile outside the walls of Edoras until Gimli had formally negotiated a contract for the dwarves who would live in the Glittering Caves. Eomer suspected that Gimli would also want to negotiate a trade deal, which Eomer would welcome. Helm's Deep was now restored but if he could arrange for dwarves to do regular maintenance work there, the fortress would remain strong for a long time to come.
"That is a horse of Dale that Gimli rides if I am not mistaken," said Frige as the dwarves entered the city.
Eomer looked closer and saw that she was right. The horses of Dale were smaller then the horses of Rohan and Gondor but they were very hardy, sure footed, and could carry as much weight as a larger horse. In Dale the animals were used by shepherds to manage their flocks, as a first horse for children, and were also popular with the dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills given their strength and their stature. As he had wanted to diversify the breeding stock of the herds in Rohan, Eomer had signed a contract with King Bard to purchase fifty of the mares and bring them back to the Mark. The stable master had been pleased with the purchase. The first foals between the stallions in their own herds and the mares that he had purchased would be born soon.
"Well met, Gimil. I bid you welcome to Meduseld. Please take a drink from this cup as a sign of the hospitality of this hall," Frige greeted the dwarf who was flanked by two other well armed dwarves. Gimli eagerly drank the cup dry.
"Well met, Queen Frige, Eomer King. Would you mind if myself and my men have something to eat before we are shown to our rooms? It has been a long journey," Gimli said.
"I have alerted the kitchens that you would likely wish to eat. Come inside and do so," she urged him. Eomer and the dwarves quickly followed her into the hall. Once they sat down at a table, Frige motioned to the servants, who brought lamb stew and ale for the dwarves, some fruit and bread for himself, and some tea and a bowl of chicken liver for his wife. Gimli looked at Frige closely.
"I do not wish to be rude but what are you eating?" Gimli wondered.
"I am eating chicken liver with spices. Such a dish would not normally be appetizing to me, but a woman's tastes change when she is with child. I have learned not to question it and simply eat what my body wants during this time," Frige explained.
"So how much longer is it before we can meet the newest member of the House of Erol?" Gimli asked.
"In about three months," Frige told the dwarf as she placed a hand on her large belly. Eomer looked his wife closely.
"Whether the child is a son or daughter I will welcome their arrival, my lady," Eomer told her. She smiled at him then went back to eating. Once they were done eating, Eomer walked with Gimli to his study where they began to negotiate a contract for the dwarves who would live in the Glittering Caves.
The summer seemed to pass quickly. Eomer tired to pay more attention to Frige as her belly expanded and her discomfort grew. They were sharing a bedchamber again unlike the last time Frige was with child. When she complained of her back aching or swollen feet, he would rub her feet or back. Frige always kissed him afterwards as thanks for such ministrations. Although he still found Frige attractive at this time, Eomer did not wish to threaten the health of the babe so they had not been intimate since they had learned of her pregnancy a month after the harvest festival.
Eomer still remembered the moment a month ago when they had been asleep. He had one hand on his wife's belly as he slept facing her. Suddenly he had felt some movement under his hand which had woken him up. Frige had sleepily told him that was their child moving and had urged him to fall back asleep. The child had moved again which had made Frige shift in her sleep. He had told his unborn child to allow Frige to get some sleep. As if the child had heard him, the movement stopped. Soon both of them fell back to sleep. Even since then, Eomer had been impatient to meet this child.
It was late August when that moment arrived. He and Frige were walking back to their bedchamber after the evening meal when she suddenly stopped and gasped. One of her arms wrapped around his back while her other hand moved to her stomach. He steadied her with an arm around her shoulders.
"Is it time for the child to be born?" he asked her.
"Aye, our child will be born soon. Assist me to the healer's room," she replied.
"Do you have any idea how long this will take?" he asked her as they walked to the healer's room.
"Hours. Do not pace outside the room. Go and-," the rest of her sentence was cut off there when she doubled over and groaned. He steadied her as she breathed deeply. Her face told him that she was in a great deal of pain. Once she could breathe normally they continued to the healer's room.
"You are a strong woman, my lady. You can do this," he told her.
"Thank you for the encouragement. We will speak again once our child is born," she answered him as they entered the healers room. He gave her once last look as the healer led Frige away to a bed. Eomer left the room. He found his wife's other children and told them what had happened. Neither Aelfric, Isabel, or Etheldred seemed concerned or worried and so he told himself there was no need to be concerned. Before the silence between them could become uncomfortable, Ebba turned to Frige's oldest son.
"Aelfric, you should show Eomer King what you've been learning with the spear. In the meantime I will read Isabel and Etheldred a story," Ebba suggested.
"Very well. Good night, Isabel, Etheldred, Ebba," Aelfric said. He left the room. Eomer quickly followed him. Eomer took a long moment to look at Frige's eldest son as they walked to the sparring ring. Aelfric had recently turned thirteen and he was beginning to look more like a young man. His muscles were more defined and his voice was lower then even a year ago. Eomer suspected he would need to start shaving his face soon. He had grown a few inches and he seemed comfortable with the added height. Eomer suspected that Aelfric would not grow to his height but he would be tall nonetheless. Mayhap he had inherited Cerdic's height, Eomer thought.
"Show me what you have learned about spear throwing," Eomer requested of Aelfric once they had set up targets and had each taken a spear. Aelfric nodded then demonstrated a throw. His spear hit the edge of the target.
"Watch my throw," Eomer said. He threw the spear at the target which landed in the centre.
"Can you show me how to do that?" asked Aelfric. Eomer nodded then adjusted Aelfric's stance and his hand on the spear.
"Throw from your shoulders and use your other arm to balance yourself," he advised Aelfric. The young man did as he was told. This time his spear hit closer to the centre of the target. They continued spear throwing for some time. Aelfric turned to Eomer.
"I know I will lose but can you show me how to fight better with a sword?" he asked.
"You are not too tired?" wondered Eomer.
"No. Besides, it will be hours before mother gives birth," Aelfric said.
"How do you know that?" Eomer wondered as they put away their spears and picked up wooden practice swords. He would not dare to use steel with anyone who could not defend themselves as well as he could, thought Eomer.
"I met Etheldred soon after she was born and mother told me it took four hours for her to be born." Aelfric explained.
Eomer merely nodded and then slid into a defensive stance. Aelfric attacked first. The young man had good footwork and very good coordination though his blows lacked strength. That would come with time, Eomer knew. He won easily then showed Aelfric how he had disarmed him. They didn't talk apart from Eomer giving him instructions which Aelfric then tried to follow. Aelfric proved to be determined and listened well to what he had to say. Eomer knew he would never be the boy's father but mayhap he should spend more time with Aelfric, he thought. He had the benefit of having Theodred as a companion after his father Eomund had died but Aelfric lacked such a figure in his life. It was clear to Eomer that King Bard cared deeply for Frige's children but he was in Dale and could do little about their upbringing. Eomer had very little understanding of how to care for Isabel or Etheldred but training a young man to fight was a subject he knew a great deal more about. He could also spend some time riding with Aelfric. He may not become a Rider but that did not mean Aelfric should not learn how to ride a horse with skill.
"Enough. I am tired. Thank you for the lesson," said Aelfric some time later.
"If you wish to fight again, I would welcome it. Would you be free to go riding some time next week?" he asked as they left the sparring ring.
"Why?" wondered Aelfric as they walked back to Aelfric's room.
"I would like to spend more time with you," Eomer explained.
"Are you not busy being king?" wondered Aelfric.
"My duties do keep me busy but not enough to spend time with you," Eomer told him.
"May I speak freely?" asked Aelfric. Eomer nodded.
"Why have you chosen to further our acquaintance now?"
"Because I wished to give you guidance if you needed it. There are few young men of your own years in Medusled."
"So your effort has naught to do with increasing my mother's opinion of you?" he questioned. Eomer was somewhat surprised at the question. Young he may be, but Aelfric was quite perceptive, he thought.
"I care a great deal for your mother but I am well aware that I will never be your father. If you can overlook that fact, we may get along readily," Eomer answered.
"I will consider your offer, Eomer King. Good night," Aelfric concluded.
Before Eomer could reply, Aelfric had entered his room and shut the door on Eomer who stood out in the corridor. He sighed. It would take longer then he had first realized to get to know Aelfric, he thought. But he thought he would make the effort nonetheless regardless of Frige's opinion on the matter. For now, Eomer walked back to their bedchamber. He got dressed for sleep but found he could not fall asleep.
It was the middle of the night when Eomer was disturbed by a knock on the door. He quickly put on a robe over his nightshirt and then answered the door. The tired face of Ebba met him.
"What news?" he demanded of her.
"The queen has borne you a son. Both she and the child are hale. Would you wish to meet them now or in the morn?" she replied.
"I will see them now. Though I will not stay long as I know my wife requires rest," Eomer told her. Ebba nodded and turned to leave. Eomer followed her to the healers room. He was soon left alone inside the room. Frige nursed the infant with her right breast and so it was a moment before she noticed his presence. Eomer slowly made his way to the bed and then looked down at his wife and son. His son had his blonde hair and chin and his mother's grey eyes and nose.
"What think you of the name Elfwine?" he quietly asked her. She switched their son to her left breast and waited until he had resumed nursing before she answered.
"That is a good name. Well met, Elfwine, son of Eomer," Frige declared as she looked down at him. Eomer felt tenderness as he watched his son eat his first meal.
"Some of the Eorlingas have called my reign blessed for the reason that we have been at peace after the Battle of Aldburg. But this child is another reason to rejoice," Eomer said softly as he stroked his son's head. He looked at her more closely.
"After he has eaten his fill, you should rest," he told Frige.
"I intend to. Do you wish to hold Elfwine while I do so?" Frige wondered. Eomer nodded.
"I hope you are well pleased by our son," she said. He nodded. Soon his wife was asleep and Elfwine was held in his arms. His infant son yawned and then fell asleep shortly after his mother. Eomer watched Elfwine for some time then gradually found himself falling asleep. Eomer settled more comfortably in the chair and allowed himself to join Frige and Elfwine in sleep.
