Author's Note:

There is one update you may have missed.


Théoden

The rain pattered listlessly outside his window, the puddles on the ground making lazy swirls when the raindrops disturbed them. Théoden watched them from his chair, his legs crossed carelessly one over the other.

The rain matched his mood perfectly. He felt devoid of any warmth, his heart incapable of feeling any love. He felt just as cold inside as the chilly weather out of his window. He was wrapped in his cloak, the tray full of light food still untouched on the small table before him. He paid it no attention. Instead, his eyes drew towards the empty chair across his own, the shawl on it undisturbed for the last three weeks. He refused any servant who dared remove her things. He left them the way they were. Her book was still open on her desk. Her hairbrush was still lying on the bedside table, where he brushed out her hair before she realised she was in labour.

Thunder and lightning split the sky, and the turmoil of grief and pain grew in his heat. She was no longer with him. Soon, her scent would face from her clothes. The throne that stood beside his will forever stand empty. He buried his wife, and his comrades told in few polite words to be thankful he didn't bury his only son along with her.

Tears tracked down his cheeks on their own accord. The memory of his unhealthily pale wife on a blood-sodden bed was forever branded in his memory. In the future, he will never forget her weak admission of her love to him, her quiet pride when he was presented with his firstborn and heir, her surprise and unbidden joy when he fussed over her health. But she died on that very same bed she gave birth on. He spent a long time after, kissing her fingertips and eyelids and weeping silently before he finally gained the courage and composure to rise and let the maids tend to his wife's body.

"Brother?"

He turned towards the door and gazed dully at his sister Théodwyn. She was so much like him, except in the form of a woman. Her concerned look turned into a compasson one when she saw his tears.

"Oh, my dear, poor brother!"

Théoden's silent tears turned into racking full sobs. In few steps, Théodwyn's travelling cloak fell behind her and she knelt befoe him. She embraced him as best as she could, larger and taller as he was comparted to her. Théoden held on to his sister and didn't care when he wept like a child on her shoulder.

"My poor, poor, sweet brother," Théodwyn soothed. "Béma have mercy upon you, and your heartbreak." She pulled him back and wiped away the tear stains. Lightning crackled and bathed the entire room in bright silver light. "You'll see her again." She whispered. "You'll be with her again, in the halls of our forefathers." She kissed his forehead. "She died honourably like all women who died in childbirth."

"I miss her." His voice was ragged and he didn't doubt his face was haggard from exhaustion. Théodwyn's eyes watered and she only nodded wordlessly. "It's barely three weeks."

"Such is the nature of love, brother mine." She kissed his forehead. "But that is the beauty of love. You yearn for your companion while worlds apart and once you are reunited, it is as if no time was passed." She stroked his one hand and gave him a reassuring smile. She looked past him, over his shoulder in fact, and a servant approached them with a large bundle of blankets in his arms.

"Ah, this is my brother-son," she said once she lifted Théoden's son and Rohan's heir. She cradled him in her arms and hummed softly to him. "He is indeed beautiful."

Théoden raised his hands to take his child and his sister immediately surrendered his son. He looked at the fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked healthy baby boy with a tuft of golden hair and light blue eyes peeking from under half-asleep eyelids. Théoden smiled down at him.

The clouds parted and sunlight broke through to mingle with rain.


Author's Note:

1356-2478: Thank you! I always found the lesser popular characters more fun to write with. :)

Guest: Thank you!

anthi35: Aw, thank you!

Lord Illyren: I couldn't resist that question at all. ;)