The sounds of Eomer's footsteps echoed through the silent halls as he paced back and forth nervously. A cry bounced off the walls and stopped Eomer's pace. Without thinking he turned and ran through the halls to the chamber where Lothiriel lay. He brushed past two women leaving the room without a word or a response to their smiles and small respectful bows. His eyes search the room, attempting to take in everything at once. His heart skipped a beat at what he saw.

"Lothiriel...." He trailed off, unable to find words.

Mirdra came forward from where she stood by Lothiriel's side and smiled at him. "Congratulations your Majesty." She said. "I see I can keep you away no longer." She teased him gently. "You always were impatient, even as a babe yourself."

"Yes well, this little one seems to have inherited that trait from his Father." Lothiriel said, her voice was amused; yet exhausted. She was holding a small bundle wrapped in blankets in her arms, beaming up at her husband across the room.

The King moved to his wife's side, kneeling beside the bed. He kissed her cheek gently; afraid anything more would break her. "Are you well my Lady?" He asked softly, his eyes searching hers for assurance.

She smiled, "Well enough, I am not the first woman to have a child you know."

Eomer grinned and kissed her again, feeling a bit more confident. "Good. Then I may ask you my next question." He looked at her attempting to keep his expression serious. "Where did you learn to curse in Rohirric like that?" He asked. Remembering hearing several choice phrases echoing off the walls while Lothiriel was giving birth, that had distinctly come from his beautiful and gentle wife's mouth.

Lothiriel laughed, "I am your wife. Do you think I merely close my ears whenever you utter a few choice phrases of your own?" She teased, her grey eyes sparkling with joy. The bundle in her arms let out a small wail and she shifted the babe in her arms. "Now come meet your son, Eomer." She said softly.

Eomer turned his gaze onto the tiny little child, any apprehension he was feeling melted away as he saw his son for the first time. He was so tiny and helpless, and looked so completely at ease cradled in his mother's arms. Eomer felt the need to protect this bundle, and pride swelled through him. He had helped to make this. The love between himself and his wife had created this tiny little new life. It was a wonderful feeling. He reached down to touch the child and his gaze turned once more to Lothiriel who was watching him closely, a ghost of a smile playing at her lips.

"You may hold him if you like, Eomer." She said softly. "After all, he is your son as well." She reminded him.

Eomer licked his lips and reached down to gently take the babe from his mother's arms. "How do I--?" He asked his wife, searching for guidance.

"You are fine, just mind you support his head." She said, watching as Eomer shifted the child into a comfortable hold. "Much like his father, his head seems to be too big for his neck to support."

Eomer gave a small snort of laughter and took his eyes off the child to meet his wife's gleaming eyes. "Well my love, that is why we have you." He then looked back to the child, surprised that he wasn't crying. "What shall we call him?"

"Theomund." Lothiriel replied with a tone that meant she had obviously put great thought into this. "His name shall be Theomund."

Eomer met her eyes once again. He was touched by the tribute to his Uncle and Father in the child's name, and his eyes silently thanked her. "Theomund." He said softly, letting the name hang in the air for a moment. "It is a good name for the Prince of the Mark." He told her with a smile. "Theomund it is."

*

Eomer was pulled from his dream sharply by footsteps echoing across the room. It took him a moment to remember he was sitting his throne in the Hall and not his private chambers. The dream had been a sweet memory, one that he was reluctant to return from. It had been four long days since Lothiriel had finally realized the child was dead, and four days since she had left her bed or uttered a word to him. There was something in her manner that frightened him, her eyes were empty and she seemed so cold, as if she herself were also dead. Eomer was suddenly aware he had lost track of the hour. It must be very late, for the Hall was dark. Even the fire had been allowed to extinguish, only one torch cast some light into the room.

Eomer turned to his gaze to find the source of the footsteps, and was surprised to see Amrothos crossing to him looking resolute. "There has been no change." He told his wife's eldest brother before he even had the chance to open his mouth.

Amrothos stopped in front of the King gazing up at him. "I did not come to inquire as to my sister's health." Amrothos sighed, taking a step closer. "I came to inquire about you."

"Me?" Eomer asked, surprised. He stood crossing to take the torch and light the others to bring more light to the Hall. "I am fine."

"Are you?" Amrothos asked, his grave face showing wisdom as he watched the King. He placed a hand on Eomer's shoulder, "Come Eomer. Let us talk as brothers." He said gently.

Eomer turned to face the young Gondorian Lord his face a mask of fury. "I beg your pardon, Lord Amrothos, but what comfort could you offer me? You have no wife, nor have you lost children. How could you possibly know what it is like to watch the woman you love more than anything slowly allow herself to be buried by the weight of a lost child?"

Amrothos took a step back, he looked as if he was fighting a great battle inside his mind, and finally he spoke. "Do not assume I am a strange to death, Eomer King." He paused, as if searching for words. "I lost the woman I loved to fever a mere four months ago, Eomer."

Eomer's brow furrowed with confusion and his anger falter. "I had no idea you were--"

"Oh we were not wed." Amrothos interrupted. "She was a dressmaker's daughter. The one who made Lothiriel's wedding dress actually, but a servant nonetheless. We had loved each other since I was old enough to find women of interest. But it was always honorable, I had heard of how some noble men took servants as mistresses, and I did not want Lissara to feel I was creating that life for her. I was slow to speak to father of her, for I felt he would not approve of such a union for one of his sons. I was trying to soften father up to the idea and work of the courage to speak of wedding her when the fever took her." He took a deep breath finding the words of finality. "But death got to her before I did, but I have vowed never to love another, and I will hold to that vow."

Eomer stared at the younger man in shock. "I am sorry Amrothos."

The Dol Amroth Lord took a deep breath and met the eyes of his brother-in-law. "I tell you this for there is still hope Eomer. Lothiriel lives, she lives Eomer!" He clasped his shoulder tightly. "Where there is life, there is hope."

Eomer was about to reply when a scream broke the silence of Meduseld. Eomer's eyes widened and he looked at Amrothos in fear. "Lothiriel."

They both jumped up and ran to her chamber, passing several bewildered servants and guards on the way. None of them would enter the royal chamber for they had been ordered not to disturb the Queen.

Eomer and Amrothos both burst through the doors and skidded to a stop at the sight that met their eyes; a pool of blood on the floor, and Lothiriel standing with a long knife, ready to make her final blow.

"No!" Eomer reacted first, diving across the room and knocking the knife from Lothiriel's hand, tackling her to the ground. Struggling to keep Lothiriel still he turned to Amrothos. "Go for a healer! NOW!" He commanded.

Amrothos, pale with fear for his dear sister, nodded and quickly left the room, pulling the door shut behind him. His logical mind found it better if the servants did not witness what almost happened in that room.

Lothiriel cried out, trying to free herself from Eomer's grasp. "Let go!" She shouted, her eyes flashing in anger.

"No!" Eomer refused, tightening his grip and ignoring her wild kicks and attempts to grab the knife from where it fell across the room. He used his weight to pin her to the ground and held her hands to the ground above her head. "Lothiriel."

She still struggled, fighting tooth and nail to free herself, like a wild animal. Her eyes were strange, as if focused only on ending her life. She made another attempted to grab for the knife.

Eomer being so much larger than Lothiriel her attempts were all in vain. He easily hauled her to her feet, grasping her arms tightly, ignoring the blood pouring from a wound on her arm for the time. She winced with pain and Eomer's eyes softened. He hated hurting her, and his grip loosened. However, Lothiriel took full advantage of this and attempted to escape once more. Eomer gripped her arms once more and shook her hard, as if to try to shake her from a nightmare.

"Lothiriel!" He shouted her name. "Lothiriel!" He startled her to a halt in her struggle and he pulled her close, his face a mere inch from hers. "You listen to me. I love you, you hear me? I love you! And you will not do this! You will not lose yourself to grief! If I have to lock you in chains to keep you from yourself then so be it! I WILL NOT LOSE YOU TOO!" His voice was an angry, stern growl as he spoke. His legendary fury was brought out in full force, and his wife fell limp against him, shaking as tears ran down her cheeks.

"You need an heir, I can't give you that." She sobbed, failing at her attempt to fight her tears.

Eomer shushed her, gently stroking her back and pulling her close into a comforting embrace. "There will be other children, my love."

"How can you be sure?" She asked, her voice unstable, choking on her sobs. "You should find yourself a new wife, one who will give you a strong son. It is what is best for Rohan."

Eomer took a small step back and lifted her chin to meet her eyes. "You are what is best for me, and therefore what is best for Rohan."

"But it is my fault our son is dead." She replied, her voice soft, tears flowed down her cheeks, tears that had remained unshed until this point. Now they came as a flood, engulfing her bodying into shuddering sobs as her husband held her against the tide of sorrow and tears. "A mother should know if her son is dying, I slept while my baby drew his last breath."

Eomer swallowed the knot that was forming in his throat and tightened his arms around her. "I slept as well Lothiriel." He kissed her forehead, wiping her tears as they fell. "You are not to blame. You must not carry this burden, it is swallowing you whole." He told her, hearing his own voice crack slightly as he fought the growing lump in his throat. "And I need you Lothiriel."

She looked up at him, her grey eyes wide. She blinked slowly, and comprehension seemed to fill her features. "Eomer..." She started to speak, but trailed off her eyes moving from the puddle of blood on the floor, and her husband. She closed her eyes, her face growing very pale. "What have I done?" She whispered, before her knees gave way.

Eomer caught her in his arms and quickly moved her to the bed. He glanced at the wound on her arm with apprehension. He was no healer, not by a long shot, but as a soldier he knew that she had lost a lot of blood, and that in addition to her refusing to eat, and the trauma she had been through was dangerous for her health.

The healer and Amrothos burst in the door, as if they had been waiting for things to quiet down. Mirdra was soon behind, quickly moving to Lothiriel's side like a protective mother.

"Your Majesty, may I ask you to step aside so I may see to your wife?" The healer, a mild mannered man with strands of whitened hair mixing with gold, asked, stepping over and glancing over the Queen, making mental notes of her condition.

Eomer stepped back wordlessly, he felt in a daze, as if in a dream. She had been back. His Lothiriel. He had seen her for that brief moment, she had understood. He felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder and turned. Mirdra was watching him with the sympathy and love of a grandmother.

The healer was hurriedly dressing Lothiriel's wounds. He turned and quickly hounded Mirdra with questions about her diet and health. He never asked how Lothiriel got those wounds for he felt it was not his place.

"Will she..." Eomer swallowed hard, his mind was finally catching up with all that had taking place this night. "Will she live?"

The healer paused and turned to the King. "I believe so your Majesty. She has lost a great deal of blood, but she is young and strong." He looked over his dressing and nodded with satisfaction. "She will need plenty of good meals and rest, but in time she should recover, should she wish it."

Eomer nodded, "Thank you." He said softly. Should she wish it he thought, but that was just the problem, did Lothiriel wish to live? Eomer sighed, running his hands through his hair and taking a deep breath. He felt completely helpless, and that was a feeling that Eomer did not enjoy. All he could do was wait, and hope.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N- Here's the next chapter! So don't hurt me! Hehe! I'll have to admit I'm a bit overwhelmed by the reaction of you wonderful reviewers! I'm flattered that you guys like my story enough to yell at me for leaving you hanging like I did. Wow! Anyway, Lothiriel is on the road to recovery... or not.... (well... if you read my other Eomer and Lothiriel story or know about Elfwine then you'll know I can't do anything too terrible to her!) Anyway, I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the next chapter because if I don't finish it by next week then I'll have to wait a whole week before writing it because my friends and I are going to a cabin in beautiful West Virginia (clears throat, I'm not a mountain hick, not at all! I just go to West Virginia on vacation, run over railroad tracks in my truck for the fun of it, and say the work y'all and take the -g off of words like puddin' :-) While that's great for me it's bad for you because I'm surely not going to write while I'm there (I will be working on making a movie with my friends involving an evil leprechaun that's trying to kill us! Yes, we are losers....) and I'll forget what I was doing here! It's crunch times ladies and gentlemen!

TeleriMaiden- Don't take back your forgiveness! Now I'm sad! Aww..... well... it's nice to know that you like this story enough to take away forgiveness and make me sad :-) But I have to ask, if I'm a good girl and write every night after work and think about what I'm going to write while I work will you re-forgive me??

Lady of Imladris- Here's an update! Don't kill me too! Also, I agree that those two have not updated in forever and it is quite sad. I'm also happy that you like my other one :-) Thanks for the support and thanks for keeping me on my toes with updates! And of course, you totally rule for reviewing!

Rohan-Nitpick- Of course I enjoy being disturbing! It's my goal in life! I think this story just comes from the fact that I'm usually a very cheerful person who never gets mad at anyone (well... I get road-rage, but who doesn't?). So I write a depressing story to vent my err.... problems.... or maybe I just enjoy torturing characters. I think that's it!

Kat- Thanks for the review :-) I'm trying not to keep you guys waiting too long! I really am! I'm glad you enjoyed my other story :-) Thanks so much for reviewing!

Lady of Legolas- Hm... why did she do that? I have no idea... probably because I told her to. Mwahahaha! Thank you so much for the praise :-) It really makes me smile after a hard day at work! Can anything be done? Boy I hope I think of something :-) Although I think they made progress in this chapter, don't you? Well.... we will find out if they did anyway! Happy reading!

Rabid Cow- (blink) Oops. I forgot about that BEFORE thing... well that makes sense doesn't it ;-) Thanks for the review. I seemed to have you a bit freaked out... sorry! Well, I'm not really sorry because my goal is to have you guys going AH! And judging by your Acking and Ahing I seem to have accomplished that goal! Yay!!! Thanks for acking and ahing! Yay you!

Thanks so much for the reviews! I'm happy! And yet... I want more reviews! If you review I will send you chicken and dumplings! I make REALLY yummy chicken and dumplings! I wonder how many of you guys have actually ever had chicken and dumplings..... well.... I make good ones :-) I'll even send Eomer to deliver them... as soon as I'm through with him ;-) He's still washing and waxing my car, but when he finishes it he'll be right over with chicken and dumplings. All because you reviewed. Which is a win/win situation! You got to express your opinion AND eat yummy chicken and dumplings AND be served by the King of Rohan who is rather yummy himself..... See? You can't lose!

REVIEW!!!!! PLEASE????