Life After Death
NOTE: I don't own LOTR or any of the characters.
With my brother banished and Théodred injured I hurried back to his side. Along the way I sent a girl to bring me water and bandages for my dear cousin's wounds required proper attention and not that make-shift job.
I entered Théodred's room ready to tell him all that has happened while I had been away only to find the sight of Grima Wormtongue inspecting my cousin. The councilor was leaning over my husband-to-be's body a little too closely for my taste. What was he up to? What was he even doing in there to begin with?
"What are you doing in here?" I voiced my thoughts; my voice was civil yet cold. I could never bring myself to be completely civil with the man, not even when I a child.
I startled him it seems since he jumped away from Théodred's bedside. I softly glared at him, this was very suspicious to me, but that could have been paranoia on my part.
"I was checking on my Lord's son upon His request," he told me.
I mentally snorted my disbelief. My Uncle barely could speak so how could he possibly have requested Grima to examine his son? Instead of demanding this of him I pointed out to him, "I have informed my Uncle of my cousin's plight."
He was at a loss of words to say in return, meaning he must have entered the hall while Éomer had been speaking earlier. All he did was gulp while in the back of his mind he was obviously trying to piece together what to say next.
I saved him the trouble. "You may inform my Uncle that his son is severely wounded," I told him coolly.
If nothing else I wanted to stay in the room, alone, with my cousin and I knew the only way I could accomplish that was by removing Grima out of the room with all the merest civility in my power.
Grima nodded and moved to the door, the entire time he had kept his wanting, desirous eyes upon me. It scares me when he does that, especially when I'm alone in a room with him and no one there to come to my rescue-should I ever need it.
Why does he look at me so? I know that people often say I am beautiful, numerous women I have spoken to have said so, but I do not see what they do. I do not see myself as beautiful, so, again, why has Grima eyed me so for these last four years?!
With one last glance at me, he left Théodred and me alone, and for that alone I am grateful.
When I heard the door close securely behind Grima, I veered to Théodred and sat down upon his bed, once again looking over his wounds. "Théodred," I whispered, I was not collective at that moment, but I soon gathered my bearings. "Théodred, if you can hear me, it is your cousin, Éowyn."
Théodred's head moved towards my voice again, but this time he also opened his mouth as though he meant to try to speak to me. Hope rose in me; hope that he did in fact hear me and that I was not deaf to him.
"Grima was here," I said to him, keeping my voice to a loud whisper. "And I do not believe it was to see how you were." He groaned as though in annoyance-or alarm-so I grabbed his hand and held it to my cheek to comfort him with my presence.
Théodred had once told me that the greatest comfort to him was knowing that my presence was always near when he most needed it. I never truly understood his words for I always thought that when he most needed me was on the battlefield, but now I believe he always needed me the most when he was not on the battlefield risking his life.
Either way, it felt great to talk to him and be under the belief that he did hear me. At the same time if felt odd that I was the one talking instead of him, normally I would be the person to listen and Théodred would be the one chatting endlessly. How strange that the tables should have been turned on me.
*****
This may sound a bit queer but I have never, ever, seen my cousin bare-chested before. Yes, it is true, but there I was removing his tunics as best as I could-of course with the help of Háma, who kept Théodred in a sitting position. I was wrapping bandages around my cousin's wound and I needed all the help I could receive and Háma volunteered his services to me.
As I have mentioned, I have never thought very highly of men, in the sense of matrimony, so I did not swoon over Théodred. That did not stop me from noting that he had a well defined chest for a man of his age.
I do believe that Háma even winked at me while I wrapped the bandaging around Théodred's abdomen, but it could have been a trick from the lack of lighting in the room.
It was late in the evening and I had not eaten dinner. After finding Grima alone in the room with my cousin's unconscious body I refuse to willingly see him again for the remainder of the night. Háma had came to me though, bearing food, water, a fresh tunic for Théodred, and bandages, even a pint of ale.
Háma has been slipping ale to me for the last six years, saying, "You're Rohirrim, and every Rohirrim should have a taste for ale, even the women." Thankfully, Éomer and Théodred never found out, for I think they both would have strongly disapproved of it.
"Thank you, Háma," I whispered, finished with my task and taking the bloody cloth and tunic to the water basin, to be disposed of. While I did this, Háma was slipping on a fresh tunic over Théodred's body.
"You are welcome my Lady. Is there anything else you might require service with?" he politely inquired but I could hear the weariness in his voice. It had been a long day for him as well as me.
"No, that is all," I assured him as he laid my cousin upon the bed. I knew he was exhausted and I did not wish at detain him from his much needed sleep than I had.
"Very well," he nodded. "Good night my Lady."
"Good night," I murmured before I heard the door close. I smiled upon Théodred's resting form on the bed, for he appeared to be younger than what he truly was, he seemed to be no more than a child.
"Éomer has been banished, Théodred, so it is only you and I," I managed to tell him as I situated myself on the bed beside him again. I did not like sitting on the chair for it gave me the feeling that I was only allowed to look on rather than do something more.
He moaned again, it seemed to be his only was of communication. It was much like how a babe used its wails to convey its needs, at least that was how I thought of it.
"I do not understand why Uncle has banished him, Éomer has been nothing but loyal to him," I continued to talk; it felt like there was weight being lifted from me as I spoke. It was so relieving to be able to pour my emotions to someone, even if that someone seemed to be unconscious, but I held the hope that Théodred did hear and understand me.
Ripping off a piece of my bread, I dipped it in my ale, to soften it. "Théodred, if you can hear and understand me, open your mouth," I requested. This would be my only true way of discovering if he in fact could hear me. I prayed that he could, I really did for I wanted nothing more than for him to open his mouth as a sign that he did hear me.
Slowly, oh so slowly, his parched lips parted a bit and I knew right then that he had heard me. Tears of joy were welling up in my eyes but I dared not shed them, that was always something Éomer had taught me; to never shed a tear for it could be taken as a sign of weakness, especially since I was a woman.
Placing the softened bit of bread between Théodred's lips, I watched in earnest to see what he would do. Would he close his mouth and eat the bread or would he do nothing until I told him to? I knew not but I was willing to wait for my answer.
I did not have long to wait and my little patience was rewarded in the most positive of ways. Théodred closed his mouth on the bit and began to chew on it a couple of times before swallowing it. He made such a face at the taste. I suppose it was not what he was expecting.
"It is bread soaked in ale, to soften it," I informed him, trying to keep my laughter at bay. But why should I have kept my joyful laughter inside? I should have been cheering out loud at that moment instead of bottling it up inside of myself.
If I had been leaping for joy and laughing at knowledge that my cousin was conscious to the world around him, I would have completely missed the movement to his mouth and the tiny sound that had came from his lips.
I leaned close to his lips and whispered in his ear, "What did you say?"
I wanted to catch every word that came from his breath.
"Wa…ter…" he murmured.
I did not hide my tear this time; to hold back that one tear of delight was not in my power. Even if it had been in my power to fight off that tear I do not think I would have, for who was there in that room with us to see my tear? No one and that was what comforted me the most. That knowledge comforted me as well as knowing that Théodred had spoken.
Théodred had spoken to me!
THANK YOU Alarielle and Evenstar Elanor for reviewing and being so understanding. Again, I thank you!