Erchirion and Amrothos did not know what to expect when they arrived at Meduseld. Everything seemed grey, as if the life and color had been stolen from the city. Even the air seemed different from Erchirion's last visit to the Golden Hall for the wedding of their dear sister to the Rohirrim King. It had been two years since that date, and the brothers last visit with their sister, and they wished it were under better circumstances. News of the death of the child had reached Dol Amroth barely a week after the news of his birth. As soon as their father told the brothers the nature of the message they had gathered a small escort and made haste to Edoras. Of course, this was after an argument over who would go to Edoras and who would stay in Dol Amroth. It would not do for the entire family to leave the city. Imrahil had dearly wanted to go to his child, but he also knew that Erchirion had always been her favorite, and he was needed in the city. Alphros, Elphir's son was going through a tricky stage, and needed his father at home. So, Erchirion and Amrothos quickly gathered supplies and headed for Edoras the next day. Erchirion hoped the messenger had been exaggerating his sister's state. She had always been so strong, what could have driven her to madness?

Erchirion gripped the reins tighter in his hands to contain his anger. Eomer. Erchirion felt his old resentment of the King surface once more. Deep down, Erchirion knew that his sister loved her husband, and very deep down, he respected, even liked the King of the Mark. However, Erchirion's natural reaction was to protect his sister, and he resented that the King seemed to have disappeared after the death of their son, leaving his sister alone to deal with her grief.

Amrothos seemed to since his brother's mood and turned a cautious eye to his older brother. "Surely Eomer King will have returned by now. I will have been over a month since the child's passing."

Erchirion did not reply but forced himself to loosen his grip on the reins. As the brothers approached the Golden Hall they looked up, hoping to see their sister waiting to greet them. However, she did not appear, even as they dismounted and approached the doors there was no sign of her. The door opened, and an elderly woman stepped out, a surprising greeter, but the relief on her face turned the brother's hearts cold.

"My Lords. I am Mirdra, the mid-wife." She said breathlessly, offering a rather clumsy curtsy. "You are the brothers of the Queen I presume?"

"Yes, how is our sister?" Erchirion spoke quickly, forgetting his manners and not bothering with an introduction. He took the woman by the arm and leading her into the Hall to speak more privately, with Amrothos following.

Mirdra dropped her voice low, so that none could hear save the brothers. "Unwell I am afraid. She grows worse by the day." The woman began to wring her hands nervously. "Her mood changes often. She will go from angry and hostile to sad and distant. Her majesty does not acknowledge that her son has died, my Lords, and grows violently angry at any who tell her the truth. I had to order guards placed at her door and do not allow the servants anywhere near her." The woman sighed, exhaustion showing clearly on her aged face. "Not that it matters. Her majesty has taken to her rooms, refusing to allow entrance to any and refusing to come out. She does not seem to comprehend any words I say, my Lords."

Alarmed by this report Erchirion could find no words, he stared dumbly at the woman, as if uncomprehending her words. Perhaps she was speaking in Rohirric? That could not possibly be his sister she was describing!

Luckily, Amrothos recovered more swiftly than his brother. "And the King? What say he of this?" He asked, anxiously.

The mid-wife sighed again, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "We have had no word of the King since he left the city. The Queen asks for him in her more subdued moments. She does not seem to comprehend how much time has passed since-" She trailed off.

Amrothos bit his lip firmly, his brow furrowed with worry. "Who is governing in the King's absence?" He asked.

"The King's council and advisors. They bicker constantly without leadership. I do not meddle much in politics, as I am merely a mid-wife. However, it seems Marshal Elfhelm has been trying to control them. I seem to have run of the household for the moment." She seemed to brush off the matters of government with a wave of her hand. "It shall be under control my Lords. If there is one thing I know about young Eomer King, it is that he is a man of honor and his word. He will return and set his kingdom in order. He is much like his father in that manner."

"How is it you are so certain, madam?" Erchirion suddenly asked, having found his voice again. His words were laced with anger.

The woman met his eyes evenly. "It was I who first held the King after his birth. I have watched him grow from afar, as I have with many children. There is much one can learn about a man when he is very small, and I have faith in my King. Mind your tongue, Lord of Dol Amroth, for even though the King is not here, it is still his Hall." There was surprising strength in the old woman's voice, and wisdom behind her words.

Amrothos stepped in quickly, ever the negotiator. "Forgive my brother madam. He is weary with travel and worry for our sister."

Mirdra nodded, "Understandable, my Lords." She offered no apologies, but took Erchirion's arm, urgently. "I do not know if it is best for you to see her, but I have done everything I know to do. Many women have lost children before, and I have seen some that lose their minds, like the Queen. There is never a standard for mending the emptiness such a loss causes. I do know that the Queen is not herself, nor is she in her mind." Mirdra hesitated. "Such a sight can be, disturbing to say the least." She licked her lips nervously. "Do you wish to see her? Perhaps, after you have rested?" She paused again, allowing the two men to think. "I will think no less of you if you refuse."

Erchirion did not need rest. He wanted to see his sister. He could not believe all that Mirdra said true unless he saw her. "Yes."

Amrothos was less certain. He glanced at his brother, and then shook his head. "No, I will rest first." He turned to his brother. "I cannot bear to see Lothiriel now, if it is as Mirdra says. Please forgive me brother."

Erchirion's gaze softened and he tightened his grip on his younger brother's shoulder. "There is nothing to forgive, dear brother."

Mirdra called over a servant and gave the girl instructions in Rohirric to show Amrothos to his quarters. The girl quickly replied, and seemed at ill ease, watching the conversations with wide-eyes.

"Now then, Prince Erchirion, I shall take you to the Queen." Mirdra said, guiding him down an adjacent corridor and out of sight.

The young servant watched them for a moment and then suddenly seemed to remember her purpose. "Your Highness, if you would follow me?" She said in common tongue. Her common was a bit slow, as if she had not grown up using it.

Amrothos followed the girl down the corridor. She stopped before a room and led him inside.

"I hope this is to you liking?" She asked.

"Yes. Thank you." Amrothos replied.

She bobbed a curtsy and turned, but hesitated at the door. "Will you be able to help the Queen?" She suddenly asked.

Amrothos stared at the girl, she was no more than sixteen, and was watching him with wide and innocent eyes. He was surprised by the forward question. He sighed, "I hope so." Was all he could reply.

The girl hesitated. "I was training to be one of the Queen's maids." She informed him slowly.

Amrothos chuckled softly. His sister had hated her maids back in Dol Amroth. She had often called them, stuffy, over-bearing hens. "I am sorry."

The girl smiled faintly. "Do not be sorry. Her majesty was always very kind." She paused again. "I saw the Queen, shortly after the death of the babe." The girl shuddered at the memory. "I hope you can help my Queen." With that, the girl, blushing furiously at her questions and replies, quickly turned and escaped down the corridor to the kitchens.

Amrothos sighed, left alone to his thoughts. "So do I my dear girl." He sank into a chair, squeezing his eyes shut, trying to forget the frightened look behind the girl's eyes at the memory of her recent encounter with his sister. "So do I."

* * * * * * * * * * *

The room was dark. The only light was from the faint red glow of the warm embers. The fire had been allowed to die, filling the room with only a remnant of its former warmth, light, and joy.

Erchirion paused a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He shivered slightly at the cold that seemed to grip the room. "Lothiriel?" He asked, glancing around, searching for her. "Sister?" He could see a figure in the corner, sitting in the floor, ever still. He stared at her for a moment before coming to the realization that it was indeed his sister. "Oh Lothiriel." He whispered.

She looked like a ghost. Her white nightdress seemed to glow through the darkness giving off an eerie light. Her skin was so very pale and seemed to glisten with sweat. Her hair was undone and strung over her shoulders, and it had obviously not been brushed for days. Lothiriel did not look up from her seat on the floor, Erchirion stepped closer to see that she was rocking a small cradle, and humming a soft lullaby. The sight broke his heart and he struggled for words.

"Lothiriel?" He came closer to her, hoping she would look up and smile brightly and everything would be fine. Erchirion kneeled beside his sister, and stopped the cradles rocking. "Lothiriel?" He asked a little louder.

Lothiriel suddenly looked up, meeting her brother's gaze for a moment before turning from him and staring down into the cradle. "He sleeps so soundly." She commented softly. "My mother used to sing that song to me. Did you know that?" She asked, raising her eyes to his.

"I remember." He said softly. He reached out to touch his sister, give her some comfort. He felt so very helpless.

At his touch she immediately jumped and jerked away. Her eyes widened. She quickly glanced back to the cradle, alarmed and turned back to him. "Where did you take him?" She asked sharply.

"What?" Erchirion blinked, confused by her sudden change in mood. "Lothiriel?"

"My son!" She jumped to her feet. "Where is he? They have taken him I know it!" She suddenly looked frightened, as lost as a child. "Please, I need to know where my son is. Please, will you bring him to me?" She asked. "Please?" She begged.

Erchirion stared at his sister in shock. "I..... Lothiriel..... I..." He stuttered for a moment, searching for words. "I cannot."

She stared at him as if searching for something, and then nodded slowly and back away from him, in a corner of the room. She sat pulling her knees to her chest and began to rock. "Then you are just like the rest." She whispered. "You say nothing." She took a deep breath, "Please leave."

Erchirion did not know how to reply to his sister. He stared at her for a moment, rocking continuously, as if the world would end if she stopped. He did not want to upset her, and so he turned slowly, and left the room.

There was much activity in the corridor, and the servants rushing by were talking excitedly. He turned to the guards, "What is happening?" He asked.

"The King has returned!" He said holding back a sigh of relief.

Erchirion was neither filled with joy nor relief at these words. Instead he clenched his fists in rage and went to meet the King, hot rage that would boil the sea itself ran through his blood. Oh yes, he would greet the King, but the words would not be kind.

* * * * * * * * * * *

A/N- Erchirion is NOT happy. Watch out. And for those of you who read my last story, yes, I know, I am playing off many of the same emotions I ALREADY explored in Erchirion. Well, I figure that people don't live their lives broken down into short stories. We don't go. Oh, wait, I was over- protective and jealous LAST year, well then I won't feel like that anymore. Hehe! Anyway... um... yeah I don't know WHY Mirdra kind of told them off... it just happened. And I also don't know that Mirdra delivered Eomer and his son too... actually it's kind of a stretch... but HEY! It COULD happen! Quite frankly I don't know where Amrothos and Erchirion came from! I wasn't PLANNING on them being in here... it just sort of happened.... I guess I felt like planning with more characters. I think I needed some NON-crazy people in here too.....

Elessar King: Hehe! Yes... ice cream sounds good. And I'm glad Faramir found the long lost lemon... or rather, you found it and threw it at Faramir. Either way lemony goodness :-) My final words of wisdom to you for today are.... NI!!!

Everlong: Hehe! Look! I hurried just for you! Hehe! Anyway, my plan is to have Eomer deliver all the baked goods so people will not notice the lack of ice cream, as ice cream tends to melt.... but thanks for reviewing! Yay you!

Lady of Legolas: Sigh! I know! How could he leave her? Hehe! The answer is because I made him! And I did that because I am slightly weird and write weird messed up pieces of works like this! Thanks for reading :-)

Isa: I made you cry? Really? Wow! Hehe! Anyway, thank you so much for the review! My roommate thought I was quite insane when I jumped out of my chair and said "WOOHOO!! I MADE SOMEONE CRY!!" That's not something a person should be proud of! I think Lothiriel's not the only person who needs help anymore! Maybe she can recommend a good therapist for me?? Hehe! Thank you so much for the review!

Blue Iris: Thanks so much for the review! Wow... I made people cry! Hehe! As weird as it sounds do you have any idea how exciting that is?? Hehe! Thanks for reading :-)

Go on... push that review button! I dare you! I DOUBLE dare you! I TRIPLE dare you!!! GO!! REVIEW!! What? You're leaving? Aren't you forgetting to review?? Haha! I caught you! I know your mind....... you think you don't have time to review.... but you DO!! LIAR!!! Okay, sorry. I just really REALLY want reviews!