Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 for full disclaimers.
Diola lle, my friends!
Evenstar Elanor… I'm standing in the corner, hanging my head in shame! I promise it is correct in this chapter. Glad you liked "cancerous canker." You would have been disappointed if there weren't some Grima bashing in my story.
Utsuri… Glad you enjoyed, despite the fact it was a fairly sad chapter. Personally, I hated the idea of him just getting home and then he's off to war again. Real emotional tug-o-war.
Mercury Gray… I do so like it when you think the chapters keep getting better. Hopefully the last few will not disappoint!
Chapter 8: Death and Life
A dark pall of uncertainty had clung Edoras since the Rohirrim left for Gondor, seeping in under the doors of each house and bringing with it fear and misery. Each morning, children waited on the walls, eyes scanning the hills and horizon for signs of the herald who would bring word of the battle's outcome. Carly didn't know which was worse: the waiting or receiving bad news. Finally, the call went up. A Rider was returning.
Everyone crowded into the central square of Edoras. Faces were pale. Mothers and children clung together, fearful and hopeful. Carly had been in the Great Hall and hurried down the stairs as fast as she was able to without losing her balance. She was two days past when Sibley thought she'd have the baby.
"I bring news of victory against the forces of Mordor," the Rider announced in a booming voice. A cheer that dropped to a murmur ran through the crowd. Victory! That at least was good news.
"But it is my sorrow to tell you that Theoden-King has passed to the Halls of the Ancestors…" A wail erupted, grief for the fallen king, and renewed grief for their fallen prince who lay cold in his cairn outside the city. Carly covered her face with her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"… Eomer, son of Eomund, is now King of Rohan," finished the Rider. He paused, allowing a moment for the grief to peak and wane. "And there is more news to tell. Eowyn, sister of Eomer-King, rode to battle and stood against the Witch King, ruler of the Nazgul, to defend Theoden-King. By the sword, she slew the wretched creature and was nearly felled herself by his foul magic."
Not Eowyn! thought Carly. He said nearly… oh, please let her be well.
"Lady Eowyn was healed in Gondor by the King who has returned."
Another murmur raced through the crowd. Lady Eowyn had been in the battle? She had defeated the Nazgul? A King had returned to the White City? The full tale of the battle at the White City would be an epic to behold, but there was more pressing news that the people of Edoras wanted – and dreaded – to hear.
"Tell us, Rider," said a woman in the crowd. "Tell us of the victorious dead. Tell us, Rider, the names of the fallen."
He opened a scroll that he was carrying; a record of those who would not return to their families. Carly took a deep breath and stiffened her spine. Gamling was one of the King's Men. If he had fallen at Minas Tirith, his name would be one of the first read. She would not have to wait long for her news…
"Hear now the names of the victorious dead… Abeodan, son of Almund… Anfeald, son of Eadig… Ceolwulf, son of Gifre… Eadic, son of…"
Carly stopped listening as her heart surged. Gamling's name had not been read. He is still alive! My Gamling is still alive! She rubbed her hands over her stomach and felt the baby kick. He will come home to meet his child! All the gods be praised!
But the sorrowful sobs that surrounded Carly soon drowned out her elation. She turned when she heard a familiar voice wail a protest to the sky.
"No! He cannot be dead! No. No…"
It was Aedre, one of Carly's cousins. Aedre had been married only six months and now she was a widow… Carly folded the sobbing girl into her arms, hoping it would bring Aedre some comfort or solace.
"Eomer-King will return to Edoras in two week's time with those who survived the assault on the forces of Mordor," said the Rider. Then he solemnly rolled up his scroll. There would be no more news. The crowd gradually diminished. Aedre's mother and sister came and took the distraught young woman away.
Carly went back to her home and put some wood on the fire. She sat in a chair and stared into the flames. She pressed her hands to her belly.
"Your Father's coming home to us," she whispered and started to cry. She was so relieved, and yet, she almost felt guilty because so many had lost the men they loved. A few minutes later the baby began kicking vigorously. Carly started to laugh.
"Ah, I never thought those first few months that you would ever be able to kick so hard, little one. Surely you will be thumping your heels into the sides of the horses before you're able to walk!" She thought back to the day she discovered that she carried Gamling's first child.
"Are you certain, Sibley?"
The older woman laughed heartily. "I've been a midwife for a great many years, Carly. I know how to tell a woman is pregnant, and you – my dear – are definitely pregnant." Touching her middle softly, Carly looked at Sibley and started to smile.
"Are you surprised?"
"Yes… I mean, no…" Carly turned red. "I mean, it is rather an inevitable outcome of marriage, is it not?"
"True, but it is still a surprise the first time it happens to you, isn't it?" Sibley remembered her own happy wonder when she discovered she was pregnant with Hama's first child.
Carly nodded. She thanked Sibley and hurried home. Gamling was in attendance with the King and wouldn't be home until after dark. The afternoon passed with interminable slowness and Carly did everything she could to pass the time. She swept the hearth and put some wood on the fire. After basting a chicken with rosemary butter, she spit it and put it over the fire to roast. By the time Gamling came home, the entire house smelled delicious. They sat and talked about what had happened in the Golden Hall and other simple things while they ate.
After dinner she came up to where Gamling was sitting near the fire.
"Gamling?"
"What is it?" He could see the shy smile on her face. He reached a hand out and pulled Carly into his lap. She put her arms around his neck and smiled again.
"I've not been feeling well lately…"
Not feeling well? Gamling was concerned, but nothing in Carly's manner indicated she was upset or scared.
"Have you been to a healer? What's wrong?"
"I went to see Sibley."
"Sibley? She's not a healer, really. She's a midwife…" He caught himself and looked up into his wife's face. His eyebrows went up. Could his wife possibly be…?
"I'm to bear your child, Gamling…"
The smile that broke over Gamling's face was more than Carly could have hoped for.
A sharp pain rolled over Carly's lower back and she pressed her hands to her belly. She stood up from the chair and before she'd taken a full step, the hem of her dress was suddenly soaked. My water's broken! The baby is coming! She made her way to the door and opened it.
"Sibley!" she shouted. "Sibley!"
Hama's widow only lived a short way from Carly and the midwife's youngest daughter heard Carly's calls
"Fetch your mother, Hertha" said Carly. "My baby is coming. I need a midwife!"
That's all for now, folks… please read/review and let me know what you think!