Lothiriel lay numbly on her bed, she so very badly wanted to sleep, but dreams would not take her. She rolled over to see that her husband did not lie beside her. She stared at his empty side of the bed they shared, wondering where he could possibly had gone. Perhaps their son had been crying too much and he had gone to another room to sleep? Yes, she supposed that had to be the answer. Her poor husband tried so very hard to stay awake whenever the baby cried, wanting to feed in the middle of the night. He had told her that if she lost sleep, he ought to not sleep either.

She smiled to herself, well, as noble as his intentions were they certainly weren't very practical. She was surprised at how wonderful he was with the baby. Eomer had only seen infants at a distance in the past, besides his sister when he was very young, and was nervous before the child was born as to how he would learn to care for something so tiny. However, from the moment he laid eyes on Theomund, the strong Warrior-King had lost all his worries and simply loved his son. It amused Lothiriel the effect the baby had on him. He would tell the infant all the lore of the Rohirrim, and would add some tales of his own, which usually involved Eomer saving one of Lothiriel's brothers from grave peril. She laughed, recalling such a night.....
*

"And then your very brave, but rather foolish Uncle Erchirion sprang forth into the fray setting himself in the middle of a group of extremely horrible orcs and the situation would have been very grave indeed had your Father not taken immediate action. My brave mount Firefoot and I charged through the band of orcs, swinging left! Swinging right!" Eomer stood over a small wooden cradle, very animatedly talking to the one-month-old infant which lay inside, drooling as usual, but his eyes followed his Father's motions, as if listening. "Then one of the foulest creatures ever unleashed stood over me and-"

Lothiriel, who had been standing in the doorway watching since her brother's alleged foolish leap into the fray, cleared her throat. Eomer spun around to see his wife standing, raising an eyebrow amused at his behavior. "And then?"

"And then...." Eomer trailed off, searching for an ending that Lothiriel would not tan his hide for repeating to the child, or make him too much of a liar. "And then it ran away at the sight of your Mother!" He gave Lothiriel a teasing grin, "For your Mother, little one, is a force no other can match!"

Lothiriel laughed lightly crossing to her husband, who gave her a light kiss on the lips in greeting. "Keep telling him that, hopefully Theomund will remember this tale when he is older and ready to cause mischief of his own."

Eomer laughed softly, "And you believe that such a little thing could cause much trouble?" He asked, gazing from his son to his wife.

Lothiriel gave a rather un-ladylike snort, "He's your son!"

"Oh really? That is good to know. There were all those rumors-" He teased her, ducking as she attempted to swat at his head.

She laughed, too amused to even attempt to be angry, "Eomer!"

*

Lothiriel was pulled back to the present suddenly. Was that a cry from the baby? He had been awfully quiet. She rose from her bed and went to the cradle. "Little one, are you-"

She stopped suddenly, and stared at the cradle in shock a moment. It was empty. Panic filled the young mother's mind as she looked down at the cold white blankets. Where was he? She could have sworn she heard her son crying. Who could have him? Perhaps Eomer had him, but what if the babe was hungry? Her mind would not rest until she knew who had her baby, and she felt in her heart that he needed her. Her hands shook with fear and anxiety as she quickly threw a dressing robe over her nightdress. Without consideration for her appearance, or what people would think of a Queen who wandered the halls of Meduseld in her nightdress, she ran out in search of her son.

"Your majesty?" Mirdra, the mid-wife, an elderly woman with kind eyes and a soft voice, approached the young Queen the very instance she stepped out of her chamber. "My Lady, are you well?"

Lothiriel looked at Mirdra confused and concerned for her son. "Mirdra, where is my son?" She asked, softly.

Mirdra's eyes widened, and she placed a calming hand on the young Queen's arm, guiding her back into her chamber. The servants who had been passing the royal chamber stopped and stared at Lothiriel in shock.

"Lothiriel, my dear, please, come back into your chamber." Mirdra said softly, catching the eye of one of the young servant girls who often waited on the Queen and summoned her over to help.

Lothiriel grew angry with Mirdra and broke free from her surprisingly firm grasp. "Mirdra, where is my son?" She demanded.

Mirdra was silent, and cool pity reflected in her gaze as she regarded the Queen. "You poor dear, come my Queen, you should rest."

Lothiriel glared at the elderly woman and turned to the servant at her other arm, taking a step towards her. "Where is Theomund?" She commanded.

The young serving girl stepped back from the angry Queen, eyes wide with fear. She exchanged a glace with Mirdra, afraid to answer.

"Answer me!" Lothiriel shouted, shaking with the rage only a mother with a child in danger could find. "Where is my son?"

The girl's eyes searched Mirdra, who nodded slowly. Her gaze returned to the angry Queen, filled with tears of fear. Her voice shook as she spoke, "My Queen.... I am sorry, but- but-" The girl took a deep breath. "Your son is dead, my Queen."

Lothiriel stepped back as if she had been struck. "That's not true." She whispered, she suddenly remembered her son lying cold in his cradle. She shook the vision away. That could not have happened. It must have been a dream, a horrible nightmare. Her son could not be dead. It was not possible.

Suddenly, she struck the girl across the face. "That's not true!" She shouted. "You are lying!" She then turned away from the frightened maid, who had stepped back from the Queen, clutching her cheek, and back to the mid-wife. "Where is my husband?" She demanded.

"My Lady, calm yourself, please." Mirdra pleaded, her eyes growing stern as she placed a hand on the Queen's shoulder. "Your husband has left the city for a time. Now, you are tried. Please, take some rest."

Lothiriel's expression suddenly changed, she smiled calmly, "Yes, rest..." She trailed off, retreated to her chamber. "I should rest while the child is sleeping." She said softly to herself. "Please tell my husband that I wish to see him when he returns."

Mirdra nodded, smiling kindly at the Queen. "Of course, your majesty." She said escorting the Queen into her chamber and seeing that she lay down on the bed. "Rest well, my Queen." She said, watching the young woman close her eyes as her head rested on her pillow. She felt odd, pitying the Queen, but she was only a woman after all, a woman who had lost her only son far to soon after his birth. She waited silently until she was sure the Queen was sleeping and then left the room.

The young maid was still waiting outside the door, looking worried and frightened. "The Queen has gone mad hasn't she?"

Mirdra regarded the girl and sighed, "You are too young to understand my dear. I feel that every woman who has lost a babe loses her mind a little. The Queen, well..." She trailed off.

The girl, only about sixteen and new to the royal household, sighed, "It is a shame. The Queen was always so kind. Do you think she will ever-?" She trailed off.

"Will the Queen recover her senses?" Mirdra sighed, "Tis too early to tell I fear." She then glanced at the girl, "Until that time, I suggest we keep the Queen's state as private as possible." She said sternly. "It will not do for word to get out that the King has left the city and the Queen is mad."

The girl nodded, "I will keep this incident quiet. However, rumors have started to spread. Several people saw the King leave the city in his state, and saw him strike his advisor. I do not believe this will stay quiet for long."

Mirdra closed her eyes an instant, "Yes well, that cannot be helped. Go see to your duties my dear." She instructed.

The girl nodded, and retreated to the kitchens with a troubled mind.

Mirdra sat on a nearby bench, waiting for the moment when the Queen awoke and would need her once more. She had delivered many babes in her time and mid-wife, and had helped many young mothers when those children died unexpectedly, but none of them had ever gone into such a state as Lothiriel. The Queen had been in this state for a week. Ever since she discovered her son, dead in his cradle. The King had left the city soon after the child was buried, unable to deal with his poor wife, who did not seem to accept her son was dead. Mirdra knew it pained him to see her in that state, for the King truly loved his wife. The open affection the royal couple showed one another had endeared them to the people, and the Rohirrim had much love for their young Queen, and had shared the joy of the birth of her first child, as well has the sorrow behind his loss. Indeed, they respected her mourning, but it would not do for the Queen to have lost her mind. They still needed an heir after all.

Mirdra, for all her skill and experience, was at a loss with how to help the Queen. She had tried everything, but knew she could not do this alone. She had a messenger sent out to the Lady Eowyn and to the Queen's family in Dol Amroth. Perhaps they would be able to help. Mirdra sighed, closing her eyes and hoping that word from Gondor would arrive soon. Without the King, she would be able to keep Lothiriel under control for long.

* * * * * * * * * * *

A/N- Yep. Lothiriel's gone crazy. So this chapter is longer than the other one :-) Which is good because I normally don't post such short chapters. And it explains a few background things. Okay, so for those of you who don't study human growth and development or whatever I think I'll just let you guys know this basic fact for the story now. Eomer and Lothiriel's first-born son died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I'm not an expert on this, but I do know what I learned in class. I'm sorry if anything I say is incorrect. I've also never personally had kids so exploring their emotional state is a bit of a challenge, which is why I'm doing it :-) I'm sorry you don't like the way I had the characters react. Feel free to review and tell me that :-) Which means you must review!! Hehe :-) My beta is also my grammar and spell checker on my computer... so if you see any need for me to get a real beta feel free to suggest that.... but also if you do this could you find me a beta too? Hehe! Anyway! Review! I had something important to say in this a/n but I forgot what it was.... oh yeah!

This story sort of goes with my other story, "Those We Love" but you can read it without reading that one! You really don't need one for the other because I didn't really do anything except set Lothiriel and Eomer up in the other story. I just thought I'd advertise my other story here :-)

Kezya- Thanks for the review. I'm afraid you may have to wait for the next update because this semester has really picked up. Unless you would like to write my case study.... (looks at Kezya pleadingly) PLEASE WRITE MY CASE STUDY!!! Hehe! Sorry, but I really don't want to do this project! However, the good thing about all this work is it makes me depressed and when I'm depressed I write this depressing story! So it's all good :-) Thanks for the review!

Pernauriel- Hehe! Thanks for the review! I hope you still like it :-)
Lady of Legolas- Yes, I agree it was a sad start... and it only gets sadder... sorry. But this story is what I write when I'm depressed.

Thanks those three people for reviewing! I love you!

The rest of you, you really should review! I love reviews! Good ones, bad ones, it's all good! Since I'm writing as I post then your suggestions actually might affect where I go with this story! But to do that, you must review!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll send you brownies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though I don't have any brownies, I'll find a way!! And I make really REALLY good brownies!! And cookies! I make awesome baked good!