Break Forth The Dawn

By Krystie Jamison

Chapter Three: Mother to Daughter

A day had passed after Théodred's death. Éowyn did tell her uncle of his son's death later that evening, but he did not hear, for his mind was twisted, as was his face, beyond recognition.

"He is almost as dead as Théodred, Eáránë," Éowyn said afterwards, "for I know him not. He no longer looks at my face with recognition but with blank eyes."

Éowyn folded her hands in her lap and a single tear fell from her sad eyes. "I feel locked up and alone, Eáránë. Death is on Rohan's door, and if no one can make the king better, than all is lost."

Eáránë looked into her friend's face and smiled a sad, sorrowful smile. She could see her mother from the corner of her eye and knew she was waiting to talk to her. She walked up to her mother's side and they walked out of the room whispering, to leave Éowyn in peace.

"How is Éowyn?" Tarí asked her daughter, once they were out of earshot.

"Sad. She is grieving, but is also suffering a loss that I cannot help her recover from," came the reply.

Tarí looked back at Éowyn, who still sat in the same place. She looked back at Eáránë. "You cannot understand the loss of a parent for you have lost none, yet."

Eáránë searched her mother's eyes. "What do you mean, yet?"

Tarí sighed. "Your father's health is failing. He is doing his best to keep alive for all of us, but it will not be long before…"

Eáránë shut her eyes and looked down. Her father was the only thing that was keeping Rohan together at the moment.

"How long do you think he has, Mother?" she asked.

Tarí shook her head. "I do not know, but it will be soon."

Eáránë nodded. "Is there anything else?"

Tarí shook her head. "Not now. But if any riders approach, know that Wormtongue has forbid any weapons beyond the doors."

Tarí looked her daughter in the eyes. "I love you, my beautiful, smart, wonderful daughter. You have been our capitol's one consolation since Éomer left. I thank you for everything".

Eáránë smiled at her mother through tears. "Thank you, but I'm not the one who deserves the credit. I am just as in the dark about this whole cumbersome situation as you, and you know that."

Tarí shook her head. "You have been able to hold on to your courage and hope, unlike the rest of us. You father told me what happened yesterday after Éomer left. He is very thankful to have you for a daughter, and so am I."

Eáránë wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded. "I'm trying my best to keep our spirits up with all the death and fear around here."

Tarí smiled. Her daughter had always been the one to brighten everyone's spirits whenever something was wrong. As a child she had watched her mother and father suffer through some bad times, but they got through because of Eáránë. She was a full-grown woman. She was bearing everything with such ease, you might not have known all the troubles she carried in her head.

A call from somewhere in the great hall sounded that riders were approaching, and Eáránë Eáránë's head turned. A guard was standing there.

"Milady," he said. "Three riders from the north."

Eáránë's eyes brightened, and she nodded and then turned back to her mother. "Hope is here."

A/N: I hope that you understood this chapter. I was kinda just writing in circles I think. If you didn't understand it or you want to clarify something, please feel free to ask me and I'll be sure to post the answers on the next chapter, which is almost done. To those who have already reviewed the first and second chapters, please feel free to review every chapter! I really like to hear your thoughts on both chapters! Thanks so much!

Here's to my reviewers:

Meg Ishiro: Thanks, and I'm glad that you were able to understand the story. The next few chapters should be a little bit more revealing to the story line, so please keep reading and reviewing!

Mesphia: Thanks for the review. I'm glad that you like Earane. I just hope that she stays true to courage and hope in the next few chapters.

P.S. Thanks to any other people who have read this story and decided not to post a review! Thanks for reading! Oh, and one other thing, the next chapter will be a lot longer, for those of you who like long chapters.