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Chapter 35

Avelina sighed as she looked out over the plains of Rohan that surrounded Edoras. It had been five years to the day that Éomer and her had spoken their vows and became man and wife, and he was not there to share it with her. He had a trade council with Gondor, and had been gone for nearly two weeks. He was not even expected back for another three. A knock sounded in the study door and Avelina turned and looked at the old wood. "Enter!" she called as she sat down at the desk, looking over the parchment that was sent for her to review regarding the preparations for winter. She heard heavy footfalls and looked up to see Eothain smiling down at her. She frowned. "Eothain?" she asked and the man laughed.

"Of course, it is I. Who else would I be?" he asked. Avelina dropped the parchment and stood then.

"What in the world are you doing here?" she asked quickly as she walked around the desk and stood before the much taller man. "You rode with Éomer to Minas Tirith; surely the trade council is not finished!" Eothain laughed again and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Avelina," a voice said from the door and she looked to her right to see Éomer standing in the door way. He looked incredibly tired, but other than that he seemed fine. She looked at him in disbelief before she freed herself from Eothain's hands and rushed over to him. She threw her arms around his neck and he stood straight lifting her slightly from the ground and wrapping his own arms around her waist.

"How are you here? Why are you here?" she asked in a whisper against his neck. She felt his chest rumble and then heard his quiet chuckle. He lowered her and she disentangled her hands from his hair.

"That was not how I pictured your greeting upon my return," he said quietly as he cupped her cheek and met her gaze. Avelina blushed, still after all their time together his touch and quiet tone would still cause her blush to cross her cheeks. "The council finished two days ago. Eothain, Nador, and I left Minas Tirith soon after so I could return home."

"Two days? It is a three day ride from the White City, how did you get here in only two days?" she asked.

"By only camping half a night and riding at a steady pace, only breaking enough to water the horses," Eothain said from behind Avelina. She pulled back from Éomer and saw a smirking Eothain. "If you will excuse me, I must greet my own wife and collapse in my bed. I do believe I am getting too old for rides like those, my friend." Eothain patted Éomer's shoulder before he left the room, the action provoking a small giggle from Avelina. Once the man had gone down the corridor Éomer stepped further into the study and pulled Avelina flush against him before he captured her lips feverishly. Avelina moaned against his lips. It had been so long since she had last kissed him like that, well not that long, but long enough to seem like an eternity.

"You did not think I would miss the celebration of our wedding, did you?" he asked his breath warm against her lips. Avelina sighed and looked up at him. For the last four years, the celebration of their wedding had been a private affair between the two of them and Avelina enjoyed ever single second of it.

"I had hoped that you would return, but I did not expect you to return to the city for at least three more weeks, that is what Gamling had told me anyway." Éomer sighed and ran his fingers through her unbound hair.

"We had finished the agreements early, and I was very thankful for that." Avelina nodded and swallowed hard at the feelings his fingers gently massaging her scalp were sending through her.

"Tell me, do you have news from Éowyn?" she asked as she closed her eyes. Éomer chuckled.

"I do, she bid me to share her good news with you." Avelina opened her eyes then as Éomer's hand freed itself from her hair. "Her and Faramir are with child," he said quietly. Avelina's smile left her face but she quickly plastered a fake smile on her lips. She needed to be happy for her sister, and she would be. Éomer could read her eyes all too well. When Eldarion had been born three years earlier, Avelina longed for a child of her own, and they had yet to conceive. She had confessed to him shortly before he left that she feared there was something wrong with her, something that would not allow her to bare a child. Of course he told her she was foolish to think such a thing, and that it was just not yet their time, however, he knew she did not believe him.

"That is wonderful news. I must send her a congratulations letter in the morning," she said quietly. Éomer nodded before he kissed her tenderly.

"I know that look all to well, little one." Tears slowly came to her eyes but she held them back. "Think nothing of it. We have discussed this before." She nodded and sniffed quietly meeting his gaze full on. Éomer smirked and ran his finger down her cheek then down her jaw line. "I see no reason why we cannot try to achieve the same goal this night, just as we always do." Avelina blushed again and laughed softly before she put her hands on his chest and pushed him back slightly.

"Only after you have a bath, horse master," she said quietly. "As much as I love horses, I do not wish to share my bed with one." Éomer raised an eyebrow at her change in mood, but did not question it. There was a genuine smile across her lips once more and he would not say a word to change it.

Three weeks had passed since Éomer's return and he had been extremely busy, she had barely spent any waking time with him. The only time she would see him, would be when he came to bed and wrapped her in his arms. He would fall asleep quickly but she would lay awake and study his face until sleep would claim her. However, that night was different.

She laid awake under the thick heavy furs while the fire burned steadily. Her stomach ached and she had felt nauseas all day with a deep cough and ache to her head. She spent most of the crisp late fall day in bed. Cynwise had brought her chicken soup but the smell of the warm broth just sent her stomach swirling.

She was freezing under the blankets and she knew she had caught the sickness that was going around, and she knew that Éomer had yet to find out. The heavy door to the chamber opened and she heard him quickly run into the bed chamber.

"Avelina," he whispered before he kneeled next to their bed and took her hand. She looked at him, her body trembling slightly. The panic she saw fill his eyes broke her heart.

"I am alright, Cynwise was going to retrieve Madar to administer the proper herbs. I'll be alright," she said. Éomer raised his hand to her forehead and felt her heated skin.

"I'll see what is taking Cynwise so long," he said firmly before he stood. Avelina squeezed her hand has hard as she could and he stopped.

"It's late, Éomer, she probably had to find Madar or wake him." Éomer sighed heavily before he kneeled next to the bed once again.

"Avelina, this sickness has already killed two children, and bed ridden five grown men for the last week. I do not know what I will do if anything happens to you." He held her hand tightly and she sighed.

"I'll be fine," she whispered and closed her eyes. "You should go, we cannot risk you getting sick too."

"I do not wish to leave you." Avelina opened her eyes and gave him a small smile.

"I'm afraid you must, my lord," a deep elderly voice said from the door. Éomer and Avelina looked to the doorway to see Cynwise and a disheveled looking Madar. "It is not wise for you to be here. Cynwise and I will take good care of her and you shall be able to see her in the morning." Éomer stood ready to argue that he did not have to leave his wife when she coughed hard. Éomer looked at her and frowned before Madar moved him out of the way and held a damp piece of cloth to Avelina's mouth. "Take deep breaths, my lady," he whispered and Avelina did as he instructed. Cynwise put her hand on the king's arm and he looked at her.

"Come, your majesty, I will ready another chamber for you to sleep in. She is strong, and she will beat the sickness." Éomer looked back at Avelina as Madar gave her a liquid to drink and the face she made at the taste. "It is for the best my lord." He nodded wishing he could at least kiss her before he left, but he knew that would not be wise decision. With a reluctant nod he followed Cynwise from the room and down the corridor, all the while worrying for his love and hoping that she would pull through as Cynwise said she would.