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The heir of Théodred
Chapter Five
Éomer stared at the sleeping form of his niece and for the hundredth time that evening he pondered at all Lothiriel had told him. It had taken the child the greater part of an hour to release her uncle fully, and even once she had done so she still remained at his side. In the presence of her idol the child reverted momentarily to her old free-spirited self and she told him all about her adventures and her plans, though when asked she would not say why she had been down by the howes in the middle of a storm. Though as soon as she had stepped not ten paces from him she grew timid and watchful, something that pained Éomer to see.
The king of the Mark could not understand it. He caught glimmers and glimpses of the girl Lothiriel had described and yet for the most part he saw the shy little creature he had rescued from the clutches of the foul folk. It grieved Éomer to see her afraid in his home, as he had hoped that by now she would feel as though it were her home as well.
By sundown Mayda started feeling weak as the effects of lying in the rain and the cold all morning were catching up with her. Lothiriel had bustled her along to bed, feeding her a drought native to Dol Amroth and had returned assuring her dear husband that the little girl was going to feel better in the morning. Éomer though wanted to see for himself and had followed Lothiriel to her side.
"She looks frightened," he finally whispered and he uncrossed his arms taking a few tentative steps towards the girl. "I don't want her to be afraid! What has happened to her my dearest?" Lothiriel shook her head gravely.
"Not two weeks ago a rider from Gondor came seeking Mayda," she explained softly, watching as the girl fitted in her sleep. " He named himself as Maydir, Mayda's uncle and guardian. He demanded she be released into his custody, which of course I could not allow." Éomer was staring at her intently. "So I invited him to remain as a guest of the Mark until you returned and could address the matter further with him."
"Why have I not met this rider yet?" Éomer asked, his brow furrowed into a suspicious frown. "Surely a guest of the Mark would come and greet the King on his return?" Lothiriel nodded.
"He is an odd character my darling," she said sadly. " Your sister does not trust him, as dear Mayda acted very strangely when he first arrived. She seemed almost afraid of him, yet now she is at ease with the man." Éomer's frown grew firmer and he looked away, wishing dearly that he could meet this man. "Though since his arrival she has grown timid once more." Éomer muttered something under his breath, but what it was Lothiriel could not know as Mayda stirred and opened her eyes. Catching sight of the two people Mayda felt most affection for her face cracked into a smile and she coughed slightly at the effort of trying to speak.
"Hush my darling, wait until the morning," Lothiriel cooed gently, stroking the girl's damp hair from her forehead. " Your fever is waning, that in itself is a small blessing." As Lothiriel held a damp cloth to her niece's head and chest Mayda reached out with outstretched fingers to Éomer. He smiled charmingly and walked round the other side of the bed. As he sat down Mayda's small fingers entwined round his and she closed her eyes feeling safer than she had felt in a long time.
As her breathing turned slow and rhythmical once more Éomer turned on his beloved wife with a truly happy smiled, before turning back in wonder to look at the small fingers wrapped around his. Lothiriel laughed and the sound was as music to Éomer's ears.
"My lord," she said fondly and she reached out to stroke his brow. " You act as though you have never seen a child before." Éomer smiled sheepishly and looked once more into those enchanting eyes.
"It is remarkable how much I care for her already," he said sounding amazed at the words coming out of his mouth. "I know nothing about her, yet I know that no child of Théodred could be anything other than wonderful," he added thinking of his departed cousin. Lothiriel nodded in understanding. She too had been amazed by how easily she grew to love this girl as though she were her own. "I feel as though I am giving something back by keeping her," he uttered, mainly to himself, as his thoughts strayed to his first few days in Meduseld. In those frightful times he had been overcome by trying to console a heart broken Eowyn, and yet trying to find solace for himself too. Théodred, already several years older had taken the young Éomer under his wing, and through his kindness had fought away the nightmares and the uncertainties that plagued the child. Finally it would seem, Éomer was getting the chance to repay his cousin's kindness.
This precious moment could have carried on as both Lothiriel and Éomer were more than content to remain close together watching over their charge. However, moments after Éomer had fallen silent a scream rang through the corridors. Lothiriel and Éomer looked at each other in surprise, instantly recognising the culprit.
"I knew we rode through the night for good reason," Éomer said jubilantly and he carefully pried Mayda's clammy fingers from his and kissed her hand goodnight. Lothiriel tucked the girl in before the couple rushed out following Eowyn's cries. They found her in her chambers with an anxious Faramir hovering by the side of the bed. The elderly midwife was sat by Eowyn's side talking to her softly. Lothiriel ran to join them.
"When did you start to feel the pain sister?" she asked taking Eowyn's hand and stroking it soothingly. Eowyn rubbed her bump and relaxed, the pain of the contraction was gone.
"Not six hours ago," she replied. "The pain was mild, I did not want to disrupt the celebrations, but it has been growing and closer together." The midwife clucked in a motherly fashion and started to concoct a draught that might ease the pain.
"There is still a long wait," she told Faramir who looked as though he wanted to burst into tears and laughter all at once. Then she turned back to the mother-to-be with a fond smile. "This is your first is it not?" Eowyn nodded tiredly. "Try and sleep my dear, you will need your energy when the time comes." Lothiriel nodded ardently and both she and the midwife went about trying to get the Lady of Ithilien comfortable. Éomer went to join his brother in law.
"Come brother, let us go and toast this fine evening, you are to be a father!" he said joyously. Faramir nodded feeling slightly shell-shocked and he looked to his wife for approval. He would not dare leave her if she so much as uttered the slightest noise of reprove. Upon seeing his expression Eowyn laughed.
"My dearest," she smiled fondly. "I must rest, you must go and enjoy this fine evening," she said. Faramir nodded gratefully and Lothiriel got to her feet so as the Prince of Ithilien might sit down. He took Eowyn's hand and leaned close to kiss her brow.
"I will be close," he whispered. "If you need anything, I will be here within an instant." Eowyn nodded and she winced as the ripples of another contraction announced the arrival of another gut-wrenching pain. She cried out and gripped Faramir's hand so tightly that once she had released him a minute or so later he could have sworn his fingers were about to fall off. Within no time Éomer though had whisked him away to the great hall where many were celebrating the return of some of the riders. With two pints of ale in hand they made their way to a quiet corner of the hall, if there could be such a thing, and drank to Eowyn.
"I cannot believe how much fortune has smiled on me this night," Faramir finally exclaimed and he breathed a sigh of relief he had been holding in for over a month.
"Well then here is to lady fortune, and what a strange creature she is," Éomer cheered raising his mug. Faramir grinned boyishly and knocked his mug with his brother in law's before taking another swig.
"So tell me, are you yet inspired to have children?" Faramir asked. Éomer chuckled and shook his head.
"Please my friend, I am not even married a season and already you see me up to my knees in children!" he laughed happily. " No, we shall wait a while," he added sensibly.
"Do not slight it dear brother," Faramir laughed. " You are already the whole world to one little girl." Éomer grinned and nodded contentedly.
"Well one is enough for now brother, certainly enough!" His thoughts strayed to the sick little thing that was his niece and he smiled. For now, he and Lothiriel would be content to look after Mayda, and pour their love and effort into her. The time for them to have their own child would definitely come, though for now it could wait.
"Here is to family then," Faramir said firmly raising his mug. Éomer smiled broadly and raised his own.
"To family. May they keep us, love us and drive us from our wits!"
X X X
Eowyn's screams were so close together now that Faramir had to restrain himself from bursting in to soothe her, but the birthing had started now and he abided by tradition, allowing the midwife and his sister in law to look after his wife. Éomer leaned against the wall feeling slightly intoxicated, but the constant screaming kept him from keeling over. Dawn had long passed and it was now well into the morning. Having not slept in days, and under the influence of several pints of ale, the young King was frankly amazed at Faramir's stamina.
"What is taking so long?" Faramir finally muttered pacing the floor worriedly. Éomer lifted his tired head to respond, but before he could utter his witty reply Eowyn gave one last almighty shriek soon to be followed by the wails of an infant. Both men jumped to the door and waited eagerly to be let in by one of the ladies. It seemed as though an eternity passed before finally the handle turned and Lothiriel let Faramir enter.
Once he had passed the threshold he was by Eowyn's side within moments and after kissing her passionately his eyes fell on the bundle that lay in her arms. A very pink and tiny infant lay swathed in towels, crying out for consolation. Faramir reached down and stroked the baby's hand, which instantly grasped his finger. Tears sparkled in the new father's eyes as he looked on his wife once more.
"Is it...?" Eowyn smiled tiredly and nodded.
"You have a son my lord," she whispered. Faramir kissed her once more and looked down on the infant boy...his son and he instantly knew he had never felt love like this before. It was so profound, that it took him rather by surprise and he let a few tears fall.
"Hello Elboron," he said softly as the baby stopped crying and cracked open his tired eyelids. The baby blinked several times before looking up at his parents with Eowyn's dazzling blue eyes.
"Our son," the new mother cried and she brought her baby close to her breast and finally felt as though the weariness that had grown in her heart during her hardships was washing away...she was complete.
X X X
The heir of Théodred
Chapter Five
Éomer stared at the sleeping form of his niece and for the hundredth time that evening he pondered at all Lothiriel had told him. It had taken the child the greater part of an hour to release her uncle fully, and even once she had done so she still remained at his side. In the presence of her idol the child reverted momentarily to her old free-spirited self and she told him all about her adventures and her plans, though when asked she would not say why she had been down by the howes in the middle of a storm. Though as soon as she had stepped not ten paces from him she grew timid and watchful, something that pained Éomer to see.
The king of the Mark could not understand it. He caught glimmers and glimpses of the girl Lothiriel had described and yet for the most part he saw the shy little creature he had rescued from the clutches of the foul folk. It grieved Éomer to see her afraid in his home, as he had hoped that by now she would feel as though it were her home as well.
By sundown Mayda started feeling weak as the effects of lying in the rain and the cold all morning were catching up with her. Lothiriel had bustled her along to bed, feeding her a drought native to Dol Amroth and had returned assuring her dear husband that the little girl was going to feel better in the morning. Éomer though wanted to see for himself and had followed Lothiriel to her side.
"She looks frightened," he finally whispered and he uncrossed his arms taking a few tentative steps towards the girl. "I don't want her to be afraid! What has happened to her my dearest?" Lothiriel shook her head gravely.
"Not two weeks ago a rider from Gondor came seeking Mayda," she explained softly, watching as the girl fitted in her sleep. " He named himself as Maydir, Mayda's uncle and guardian. He demanded she be released into his custody, which of course I could not allow." Éomer was staring at her intently. "So I invited him to remain as a guest of the Mark until you returned and could address the matter further with him."
"Why have I not met this rider yet?" Éomer asked, his brow furrowed into a suspicious frown. "Surely a guest of the Mark would come and greet the King on his return?" Lothiriel nodded.
"He is an odd character my darling," she said sadly. " Your sister does not trust him, as dear Mayda acted very strangely when he first arrived. She seemed almost afraid of him, yet now she is at ease with the man." Éomer's frown grew firmer and he looked away, wishing dearly that he could meet this man. "Though since his arrival she has grown timid once more." Éomer muttered something under his breath, but what it was Lothiriel could not know as Mayda stirred and opened her eyes. Catching sight of the two people Mayda felt most affection for her face cracked into a smile and she coughed slightly at the effort of trying to speak.
"Hush my darling, wait until the morning," Lothiriel cooed gently, stroking the girl's damp hair from her forehead. " Your fever is waning, that in itself is a small blessing." As Lothiriel held a damp cloth to her niece's head and chest Mayda reached out with outstretched fingers to Éomer. He smiled charmingly and walked round the other side of the bed. As he sat down Mayda's small fingers entwined round his and she closed her eyes feeling safer than she had felt in a long time.
As her breathing turned slow and rhythmical once more Éomer turned on his beloved wife with a truly happy smiled, before turning back in wonder to look at the small fingers wrapped around his. Lothiriel laughed and the sound was as music to Éomer's ears.
"My lord," she said fondly and she reached out to stroke his brow. " You act as though you have never seen a child before." Éomer smiled sheepishly and looked once more into those enchanting eyes.
"It is remarkable how much I care for her already," he said sounding amazed at the words coming out of his mouth. "I know nothing about her, yet I know that no child of Théodred could be anything other than wonderful," he added thinking of his departed cousin. Lothiriel nodded in understanding. She too had been amazed by how easily she grew to love this girl as though she were her own. "I feel as though I am giving something back by keeping her," he uttered, mainly to himself, as his thoughts strayed to his first few days in Meduseld. In those frightful times he had been overcome by trying to console a heart broken Eowyn, and yet trying to find solace for himself too. Théodred, already several years older had taken the young Éomer under his wing, and through his kindness had fought away the nightmares and the uncertainties that plagued the child. Finally it would seem, Éomer was getting the chance to repay his cousin's kindness.
This precious moment could have carried on as both Lothiriel and Éomer were more than content to remain close together watching over their charge. However, moments after Éomer had fallen silent a scream rang through the corridors. Lothiriel and Éomer looked at each other in surprise, instantly recognising the culprit.
"I knew we rode through the night for good reason," Éomer said jubilantly and he carefully pried Mayda's clammy fingers from his and kissed her hand goodnight. Lothiriel tucked the girl in before the couple rushed out following Eowyn's cries. They found her in her chambers with an anxious Faramir hovering by the side of the bed. The elderly midwife was sat by Eowyn's side talking to her softly. Lothiriel ran to join them.
"When did you start to feel the pain sister?" she asked taking Eowyn's hand and stroking it soothingly. Eowyn rubbed her bump and relaxed, the pain of the contraction was gone.
"Not six hours ago," she replied. "The pain was mild, I did not want to disrupt the celebrations, but it has been growing and closer together." The midwife clucked in a motherly fashion and started to concoct a draught that might ease the pain.
"There is still a long wait," she told Faramir who looked as though he wanted to burst into tears and laughter all at once. Then she turned back to the mother-to-be with a fond smile. "This is your first is it not?" Eowyn nodded tiredly. "Try and sleep my dear, you will need your energy when the time comes." Lothiriel nodded ardently and both she and the midwife went about trying to get the Lady of Ithilien comfortable. Éomer went to join his brother in law.
"Come brother, let us go and toast this fine evening, you are to be a father!" he said joyously. Faramir nodded feeling slightly shell-shocked and he looked to his wife for approval. He would not dare leave her if she so much as uttered the slightest noise of reprove. Upon seeing his expression Eowyn laughed.
"My dearest," she smiled fondly. "I must rest, you must go and enjoy this fine evening," she said. Faramir nodded gratefully and Lothiriel got to her feet so as the Prince of Ithilien might sit down. He took Eowyn's hand and leaned close to kiss her brow.
"I will be close," he whispered. "If you need anything, I will be here within an instant." Eowyn nodded and she winced as the ripples of another contraction announced the arrival of another gut-wrenching pain. She cried out and gripped Faramir's hand so tightly that once she had released him a minute or so later he could have sworn his fingers were about to fall off. Within no time Éomer though had whisked him away to the great hall where many were celebrating the return of some of the riders. With two pints of ale in hand they made their way to a quiet corner of the hall, if there could be such a thing, and drank to Eowyn.
"I cannot believe how much fortune has smiled on me this night," Faramir finally exclaimed and he breathed a sigh of relief he had been holding in for over a month.
"Well then here is to lady fortune, and what a strange creature she is," Éomer cheered raising his mug. Faramir grinned boyishly and knocked his mug with his brother in law's before taking another swig.
"So tell me, are you yet inspired to have children?" Faramir asked. Éomer chuckled and shook his head.
"Please my friend, I am not even married a season and already you see me up to my knees in children!" he laughed happily. " No, we shall wait a while," he added sensibly.
"Do not slight it dear brother," Faramir laughed. " You are already the whole world to one little girl." Éomer grinned and nodded contentedly.
"Well one is enough for now brother, certainly enough!" His thoughts strayed to the sick little thing that was his niece and he smiled. For now, he and Lothiriel would be content to look after Mayda, and pour their love and effort into her. The time for them to have their own child would definitely come, though for now it could wait.
"Here is to family then," Faramir said firmly raising his mug. Éomer smiled broadly and raised his own.
"To family. May they keep us, love us and drive us from our wits!"
X X X
Eowyn's screams were so close together now that Faramir had to restrain himself from bursting in to soothe her, but the birthing had started now and he abided by tradition, allowing the midwife and his sister in law to look after his wife. Éomer leaned against the wall feeling slightly intoxicated, but the constant screaming kept him from keeling over. Dawn had long passed and it was now well into the morning. Having not slept in days, and under the influence of several pints of ale, the young King was frankly amazed at Faramir's stamina.
"What is taking so long?" Faramir finally muttered pacing the floor worriedly. Éomer lifted his tired head to respond, but before he could utter his witty reply Eowyn gave one last almighty shriek soon to be followed by the wails of an infant. Both men jumped to the door and waited eagerly to be let in by one of the ladies. It seemed as though an eternity passed before finally the handle turned and Lothiriel let Faramir enter.
Once he had passed the threshold he was by Eowyn's side within moments and after kissing her passionately his eyes fell on the bundle that lay in her arms. A very pink and tiny infant lay swathed in towels, crying out for consolation. Faramir reached down and stroked the baby's hand, which instantly grasped his finger. Tears sparkled in the new father's eyes as he looked on his wife once more.
"Is it...?" Eowyn smiled tiredly and nodded.
"You have a son my lord," she whispered. Faramir kissed her once more and looked down on the infant boy...his son and he instantly knew he had never felt love like this before. It was so profound, that it took him rather by surprise and he let a few tears fall.
"Hello Elboron," he said softly as the baby stopped crying and cracked open his tired eyelids. The baby blinked several times before looking up at his parents with Eowyn's dazzling blue eyes.
"Our son," the new mother cried and she brought her baby close to her breast and finally felt as though the weariness that had grown in her heart during her hardships was washing away...she was complete.
X X X