A/N Thanks to everyone again, and I try to take everyone's suggestions
seriously and incorporate them into my work. It's just so hard( =P This
chapter contains vague references to traces of sex, but it's so faint I'll
keep it at PG. For those of you wondering, Tangwystl is a Welsh name,
because I don't know the type of names the Rohirrim use. And, before I
forget, I thousand thanks to my wonderful beta, rabid cow.
~~~~ EAU DE HORSE DUNG ~~~~
Stinking. The entire kingdom just stinks of horses. I hate the damned things, and here I am, surrounded by them. Not just them, their smell. My chamber over looks the courtyard( and the stables. The room is nice, even when it is filled with incense and scented flowers, in an unsuccessful attempt to drown out horse dung. It has white washed walls, and everything my old room had. In fact, I'd swear this is far larger, and more luxurious than the hole Father had me in. Yet still, not as big as his.
I should be glad we do not share a bed, but I am not. Not when my place is taken by his whore. Tangwystl. Half the men here are in love with her, the rest simply entranced. But she does not share their beds, and if she did, I'd not even know her name. But while she shares his, I'll damn that name. I do know what's going on, though he does so endeavour that I would not. The sly glances, the 'innocent' touches. None escape my notice. I would not that he shared with me, nor that he was alone, but if their stolen moments only meant nothing. To make it worse, she is pregnant. The entire court knows that it is Eomer's, since she is unmarried. I would that I was pregnant with his child. But I am not, and he does not love me. He loves the copper-haired woman who bears his child. I just hope it is a son.
~~~~NORMAL POV~~~~
Eomer paced incessantly. Tangwystl was in the chamber next to him, but he daren't enter. The birthing chamber was a place where men simply did not go. He heard her fevered shouts occasionally, and a few soft moans, and it tore at his heart, but Tangwystl had refused to abort the child. She wouldn't even use a contraceptive. This birth, though, was difficult in more ways than one.
If it was a male child, Lothiriel had every right to return to Dol Amroth and have the marriage contract burnt, the rings melted, and the dowry paid back. Perhaps that would even have turned out neutral, but he'd all ready spent 100 loads of the silver. Several had been spent on Lothiriel, yes, but he had the feeling Imrahil wouldn't really care. He couldn't repay that 100 any way. Not in his life time. No, if it was a son, his kingdom, reputation, and family was in tatters. He simply hoped for the best.
*********
Lothiriel put on a cloak. She had to find Eomer. Perhaps he would allow her to look around in Edoras, as she was choking here, asphyxiating on the horse-smelling air. She left her chamber, and set off. Where might he be? She contemplated his whereabouts briefly, before simply running off to look for him. He wasn't in his chamber, or the great hall, or the throne room, or the armoury, or anywhere as far as she knew. Then it hit her. Tangwystl. Why hadn't she thought of that woman before? She set off towards the small annex of chambers Tangwystl and several of the ladies in waiting lived.
She pushed open the wooden door which led into the entrance hall of the quarters. There was absolutely no one there. She walked in. There was no noise, no nothing. Then, just as she turned to leave, she heard a clatter and a crash. She spun round.
"My lady! I didn't... didn't know you'd come... not here... especially not right now!" stuttered Aleneve.
"Aleneve! Such a welcome for your friend! Now, what did you mean... right now!?"
Lothiriel's eyes narrowed. Aleneve's eyes frantically searched the entire room, as if looking for an answer. Her mistress' eyes, however, were drawn to something else. Aleneve hadn't dropped a meal on a tray, as Lothiriel had first assumed, but a sponge, bowl, towel, and herbs. Birthing equipment...
"Yes! Thank you!" cried Lothiriel, and dashed from the room. The birth would be at the healer's. Lothiriel practically ran through the streets of Edoras towards the healer's. She finally arrived at the thatched, whitewashed building. Inside there was little sound, but for a piercing, high squeal. Lothiriel smiled in triumph as she entered the building. There, in a seat together, Tangwystl looking tired, and Eomer the same, the King of Rohan and his lover held a baby between them.
Tangwystl stood up, and wrapped it in cloth, before sitting down again. Tangwystl bit her lip. She loved this child she'd just brought into the world, but what when Eomer discovered? What would happen when he knew the child must be cast out, almost, just so he could go on. Would he? Could he?
"Yes! Thank you!" came a voice from the door, as it was swept open to reveal Lothiriel smiling triumphantly.
*
A/N I tried to try.
~~~~ EAU DE HORSE DUNG ~~~~
Stinking. The entire kingdom just stinks of horses. I hate the damned things, and here I am, surrounded by them. Not just them, their smell. My chamber over looks the courtyard( and the stables. The room is nice, even when it is filled with incense and scented flowers, in an unsuccessful attempt to drown out horse dung. It has white washed walls, and everything my old room had. In fact, I'd swear this is far larger, and more luxurious than the hole Father had me in. Yet still, not as big as his.
I should be glad we do not share a bed, but I am not. Not when my place is taken by his whore. Tangwystl. Half the men here are in love with her, the rest simply entranced. But she does not share their beds, and if she did, I'd not even know her name. But while she shares his, I'll damn that name. I do know what's going on, though he does so endeavour that I would not. The sly glances, the 'innocent' touches. None escape my notice. I would not that he shared with me, nor that he was alone, but if their stolen moments only meant nothing. To make it worse, she is pregnant. The entire court knows that it is Eomer's, since she is unmarried. I would that I was pregnant with his child. But I am not, and he does not love me. He loves the copper-haired woman who bears his child. I just hope it is a son.
~~~~NORMAL POV~~~~
Eomer paced incessantly. Tangwystl was in the chamber next to him, but he daren't enter. The birthing chamber was a place where men simply did not go. He heard her fevered shouts occasionally, and a few soft moans, and it tore at his heart, but Tangwystl had refused to abort the child. She wouldn't even use a contraceptive. This birth, though, was difficult in more ways than one.
If it was a male child, Lothiriel had every right to return to Dol Amroth and have the marriage contract burnt, the rings melted, and the dowry paid back. Perhaps that would even have turned out neutral, but he'd all ready spent 100 loads of the silver. Several had been spent on Lothiriel, yes, but he had the feeling Imrahil wouldn't really care. He couldn't repay that 100 any way. Not in his life time. No, if it was a son, his kingdom, reputation, and family was in tatters. He simply hoped for the best.
*********
Lothiriel put on a cloak. She had to find Eomer. Perhaps he would allow her to look around in Edoras, as she was choking here, asphyxiating on the horse-smelling air. She left her chamber, and set off. Where might he be? She contemplated his whereabouts briefly, before simply running off to look for him. He wasn't in his chamber, or the great hall, or the throne room, or the armoury, or anywhere as far as she knew. Then it hit her. Tangwystl. Why hadn't she thought of that woman before? She set off towards the small annex of chambers Tangwystl and several of the ladies in waiting lived.
She pushed open the wooden door which led into the entrance hall of the quarters. There was absolutely no one there. She walked in. There was no noise, no nothing. Then, just as she turned to leave, she heard a clatter and a crash. She spun round.
"My lady! I didn't... didn't know you'd come... not here... especially not right now!" stuttered Aleneve.
"Aleneve! Such a welcome for your friend! Now, what did you mean... right now!?"
Lothiriel's eyes narrowed. Aleneve's eyes frantically searched the entire room, as if looking for an answer. Her mistress' eyes, however, were drawn to something else. Aleneve hadn't dropped a meal on a tray, as Lothiriel had first assumed, but a sponge, bowl, towel, and herbs. Birthing equipment...
"Yes! Thank you!" cried Lothiriel, and dashed from the room. The birth would be at the healer's. Lothiriel practically ran through the streets of Edoras towards the healer's. She finally arrived at the thatched, whitewashed building. Inside there was little sound, but for a piercing, high squeal. Lothiriel smiled in triumph as she entered the building. There, in a seat together, Tangwystl looking tired, and Eomer the same, the King of Rohan and his lover held a baby between them.
Tangwystl stood up, and wrapped it in cloth, before sitting down again. Tangwystl bit her lip. She loved this child she'd just brought into the world, but what when Eomer discovered? What would happen when he knew the child must be cast out, almost, just so he could go on. Would he? Could he?
"Yes! Thank you!" came a voice from the door, as it was swept open to reveal Lothiriel smiling triumphantly.
*
A/N I tried to try.