A/N: Interesting chapter. It develops Elentari and Theodred's relationship a lot more. I hope it's acceptable.
Thanks to Miriel Amarian, for being a great author and being understanding when everyone around is irritatingly ignorant of the beauty of Tolkien. Hunter's Jewel and/or Children of Feanor-NOW, please... Check out her work ppl! She's awesome!
Nayana: Thanks for being so loyal and loving tragedy!
Ah, come on people! Please review! It seems that everyone's either on vacation, or has abandoned my story. I would like to think it is the former.
Thanks to Susan, as always, for her well-rounded critique and loyalty! You need to update!
Review!
Chapter 33: Illness and Loneliness
Theodred returned to a home in disarray. Theoden was locked up with his counselors and captains all day, requiring Theodred's attendance, for scores of Orcs were running freely upon their lands, killing at will. They had not enough men to defend their borders. Theodred would not be permitted to stay at Meduseld for any longer than two days, for he was needed to defend their borders, especially at the Gap. Eomer would be moving up in position in his eored, becoming lieutenant and in charge of a small platoon.
In the household, women were rushing to and fro, some neglecting their duties, for there was no one to set them right, for a few days after the unfortunate death of her mare, Elentari had collapsed while standing outside the Golden Hall, shielding her eyes to gaze southwards, and had taken to her bed. Eowyn did not permit herself to stray from her side, unless it was to fetch something she wanted, for she had seen another woman, one as dear to her heart, waste away in this very hall, and she had no intention of renewing the experience. It was one of the few memories she held of that woman, her mother only in name. Eowyn knew that she was wounded by the death of her mare, as everyone did, but the girl sensed it was something deeper. Ever since their first meeting, Eowyn had sensed the presence of something behind the deceiving smile, in those melancholy eyes; some distant sorrow that no one could touch, nor understand.
When Theodred finally got out of the stifling council chambers of his father and councilors, he strode straight into Elentari's chambers, to find Eowyn sitting by the fireplace, half asleep, and Elentari was dozing, propped up on a pillow, with a letter on it that she was apparently reading before she fell asleep. With one look, Theodred knew it was from Gondor, and the writing upon it was messy and scrawled, so he guessed it was Boromir's, but he left it alone on her pillow, and took her hand. She looked so pale, the color drained even from her lips, and Theodred knew if he held her, she would feel lighter.
He sat there until he heard Eowyn stirring, and turned to face her.
"Theodred!" she exclaimed, rather loudly, which caused Elentari to stir a little bit, but still stayed asleep. He put a finger to his lips, and beckoned Eowyn to move outside with him.
"How is she?" he asked worriedly.
"Better," Eowyn said truthfully, but even that wasn't very good, "I've coaxed her into eating some, and this time, she actually kept it down."
"Do they know what's wrong?" Theodred was worried, for Eowyn would not meet his eyes. Not hearing an answer, he raised her chin up, so she could not look away, "Eowyn. Tell me."
"They, they say they do not know what it is. She won't eat, and when she does, most of it comes back up. She coughs frequently, and I see traces of blood that she tries to hide." Theodred could see there was something she was holding back. "That is what the doctors say. What do you think, Eowyn?"
"I think she misses home," she said flatly, "Sometimes at night, when she thinks I am asleep," ever since her infirmity, Eowyn had taken to sleeping in her room, "I hear her crying, though she tries hard not to make any sound. When she is asleep, she calls out, crying for her brothers, Boromir, but more often Faramir."
Theodred was confused, for though she evidently pined for home, she seemed to have adjusted to life in Rohan rather well, but then again, he was not home long enough to be sure.
"And what of you?" Eowyn questioned, "I know Uncle is locked away in council. How long are you staying?"
"I leave tomorrow morn," his heart was heavy, and he sighed audibly.
A shadow passed by his cousin's eyes, and she questioned, "Where will you be sent?"
"The Gap," he replied, "Orcs are most plentiful there. They run across our lands, unchecked, killing at will," there was a hateful fire in his eyes as he spoke of those foul creatures.
"When will you be home?" she sounded almost childish.
"I do not know," his eyes were grave.
Eowyn sighed, "She misses you too. Almost every day now, she asks me when you will return." Though his heart soared at this, it was also very heavy, for he felt guilty to leave his young wife alone at home so often, especially when she was clearly ailing. He looked over Eowyn's shoulder, at the door, and he heard coughing behind it. Anxiously, he pushed the door open, and strode in, Eowyn following him.
She had awoken, and was now coughing violently, her body racked by them, into her pillow, and when the fit finally subsided, and she looked up at them, he could see blood upon it, along with the letter from Gondor.
Her pallid face broke into a smile as she saw him, and he strode over, kneeled by her bedside, kissed her hand, and murmured, "My Lady."
She giggled, "I would think you were begging a favor by the way you greet me. Come now, we are not in court." Theodred turned, as he saw Eowyn shut the door as she left them. He let go of her hand, and swept her into his arms, embracing her passionately, though he was careful not to hurt her.
"I've missed you," she whispered, and it was the truth.
"I thought about you so much," he replied, "Even in battle, when Orcs were charging at me, I thought of you, and it gave me strength to move on, and at night, your face would not let me sleep."
She felt so light in his arms, even lighter than she had been in Gondor, and her skin was ashen pale, the blood drained even from her lips.
She sighed, "I wish I could be out riding with you."
He smiled, "If you do not get well, I'm afraid the healers would skin me if I allowed you to."
"What keeps you away from home longer than even Boromir? He says that Mordor has quieted a bit, though no doubt Orcs will come pouring out in even greater numbers soon," she looked towards the letter.
"Is it from him?" She nodded, and then asked wearily, "How long are you staying at home?"
He did not want to tell her, for he knew how much the news would depress her, and how hard she would work to conceal it, and how much it would tax her to do so, but he knew he must. "Tomorrow morn, I leave for the Gap." She closed her eyes and lowered her head as the words fell upon her. Then, almost to herself, she murmured sorrowfully, "Is it my Fate that all those dear to me should be kept farthest away?"
He embraced her once more, kissing her forehead, "You know I do not wish to leave you here."
"But you must," she replied, "That is what Faramir and Boromir used to tell me."
"I'm sorry," he really meant it, and she could hear the sorrow in his voice. "I never liked to stay at home, but I can't bear to leave you, especially now."
She smiled, "I'm fine Theodred. I don't know what these healers are fussing about."
He grew serious, "The fact that you cough up blood and vomit everything you eat?"
She shook her head, "I'm fine."
"Anyone can see you are not," his voice rose a bit.
"Please Theodred," she put up a hand to silence him, "Don't argue with me. I'm too tired."
He kissed her again, "I'm just worried about you," and one look at her pale face that was thinning by the day proved that he had grounds to be.
After folding the letter from Boromir neatly and placing it away, she cradled Theodred, as he rested his head in her lap, careful not to place too much weight on her, and told her of his adventures.
Her fingers were twisting his golden locks tenderly when Halas burst in, announcing that the King was coming, and before Theodred could rise, Theoden was already there.
"Pray, stay as you were," Theoden ordered, seeing the loving scene of a reunited young couple. "I've come to see how you were, Elentari, and to personally ask your permission to borrow your husband for a while. He is needed in council."
She did not hide the edge in her voice, "I would be fine, if you did not take my husband away from me so often."
Theoden's eyes were clouded, "For that I apologize most sincerely, but it cannot be helped. Come Theodred, we must discuss the best defense for the Gap." Theodred looked at her apologetically, and reluctantly got up, kissed her hand, and followed his father out.
Alone, Elentari sighed heavily, and after a coughing fit that she tried to stifle, lest Eowyn flew in fussing over her again, she took out Boromir's letter again. He had written that Faramir was furious, demanding to know why she would not write him. She would have thought it obvious. She knew that any correspondence between the two of them would not remain chaste for long, and she did not want to think what would happen if any read the letters. And besides, she was married to Theodred, she had given herself to him, she wanted and needed to stay faithful to him. She felt she owed it to him.
She missed him so much, her Faramir, and though one would think letters from him would ease her, she knew it would only add to her loneliness, her need for him. She could not say she was happy in Rohan, but content seemed to be enough. She did not love him like she did Faramir, no, that was impossible, but she could not help but liking Theodred. He loved her; that she knew, and she felt guilt gnawing at her every time he touched her, for she knew she could not return to him what he gave her.
She sighed, and looked southwards, willing her eyes to see the White City appearing out of the midst. She had hated the stone when she had lived there, but now, leagues away; she realized how much she missed it. She still abhorred the entrapment, but those entrapped with her she could not bear to live without.
She knew she was ill; anyone who saw her knew she was. She felt a great burden upon her, one that she could not shake. Whether it was loneliness, or just melancholia, she knew not, but she believed it had long planted itself in her heart. The seeds were sown in Minas Tirith, when she had felt the cold, stone walls closing in upon her, and the only place where she found comfort, other than Faramir's arms, was the Sea.
Slowly, her eyes closed, and she drifted into another world, where both the freedom of Rohan and the comforts of Gondor could exist at the same time, where both Faramir and Boromir, and Theodred and Eowyn, could live together, and the sound of the Sea was never far away.
Theodred returned from the council thoroughly drained and irritated. A counselor rising in his father's favor, Grima, had argued furiously with him, saying that his concerns were ill-based, that the Orcs could not possibly be that bold, all the while advising Theoden to ask Saruman for aid.
His scowl disappeared, replaced with a somewhat rueful smile, as he shut the door behind him, seeing his wife asleep, her face though ashen, content. He wanted to protect his people, but not at the cost of leaving her behind, alone and ill. Sighing, he threw off his coat, loosened his tunic, and sprawled out beside her. Sensing him there, she nestled closer to him, and he sighed contently; it felt so good to have her in his arms again.
A/N: Softer, more loving side to their relationship eh? Tell me what you think please!