PLEASE READ: Thank you for your reviews, I'm sorry I couldn't respond individually, but thank you all the same. I forgot to ask this question in my last update. I would like to know who my readers (you guys) would like to see me write a story involving next. I generally like to pair a character from LOTR with an OC, and so far I have one vote for Glorfindel. Let me know who you guys would like to read about next considering I have two Legolas and two Eomer stories out now. Thanks so much and let me know who you'd like to read about, and let me know what you thought of this chapter! Oh, just so you know, this isn't the last chapter, I believe I have one or two left so let me know who you'd like to read about. Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 36

A week had passed and Éomer had yet to see Avelina, Madar refused to let Éomer even into the bed chamber. He stood in their sitting room towering over the older man with anger clearly written on his face. "Why can I not see her? She is my wife!" Éomer practically yelled.

"She is ill, my lord," Madar said calmly. "It is best to limit the contact she has to help her body fight the sickness. It is not an easy sickness to fight, and she needs much rest." Éomer sighed and paced the room when Cynwise opened the door and stepped out.

"Madar, she is asking for him. You know she has been doing much better, let her see him," she said gently. Madar sighed and nodded his head.

"Very well, but not for long." Without even a second thought the kind made his way past Cynwise and Madar and went into the room. Avelina was pale and her eyes looked tired, but greeted him with a small smile.

"Hello love," she said softly and he moved quickly to her side. He sat on the bed and took her hand tightly into his own.

"Hello, little one, you are warm," he said. Avelina laughed quietly.

"My fever broke two days ago, but they would not let me see you just yet. They wanted to make sure I'm going to recover, but with the exception of being tired beyond anything, I feel fine." Éomer smiled and raised his hand to her pale cheek.

"You do look better." Avelina sighed as she closed her eyes at his touch.

"I have missed you so much. It seems as though it's harder to be parted when I know you are just beyond the walls than when you are thousands of miles away." Éomer laughed when she opened her eyes and saw the same sparkle deep within their depths. He lowered his hand and nodded.

"I feel the same, Avelina," he said gently. "I was nearly ready to rip Madar apart if I could not see you today." Avelina laughed once more and nodded her head.

"I know. I heard you loud and clear love." He chuckled and shook his head. She sighed again and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired." Éomer squeezed her hand.

"Then I will let you rest, but I will be back." She opened her eyes and gave him a small smile.

"Alright, but do come back soon." He smiled and leaned into her and kissed her forehead.

"I will, I promise," he said gently as he looked down at her. She nodded and closed her eyes letting sleep take hold of her recovering body. Éomer sighed and let go of her hand before he slowly left the room. He would come back to her soon, it relieved him to know she was doing better, but he still worried all the same.

Another week had passed and Avelina was doing much better. She had nearly fully recovered, but was not yet well enough to leave her and Éomer's suite. She sat in the sitting room next to the fire watching the flames dance. The sun was nearly set and she sighed. She wanted to get out of her room; thankfully Madar told her that if she kept up at the rate she was going, she would be able to leave her chamber in two days. The door slowly opened. Avelina looked at the door and smiled when she saw Éomer walking into their suite carrying a tray with their evening meal on the tray.

"Hello," he said as he walked inside and closed the door behind him. Avelina shifted in the chair and laughed gently. Éomer smiled at her and was happy to see that her color had returned to her skin and the tiredness had left her eyes. She was still slightly weak but she was almost back to herself.

"Are you eating dinner with me once more love?" she asked as he sat the tray down on the small table in between the two chairs and in front of the small sofa. He nodded and helped her stand from the chair.

"I am, little one, but I wish for you to share the sofa with me." She grinned and nodded up at him and walked with him to the sofa. She sat down and thanked him as he gave her a plate. They ate quietly and spoke softly until their food was gone and he tucked her hair behind her ears after he had sat her plate back onto the tray. "I'm glad you are well again, I have been so worried." Avelina laughed.

"From what Cynwise had been telling me, you held yourself up in your study working steadily and only coming out long enough to check on me. She said she worried for you because you were going to work yourself silly." Éomer laughed and pulled her close to him. He sat back on the sofa and she rested her head on his chest. It was true he had been getting many things accomplished the last two weeks only because he often found that his thoughts would be drawn to Avelina and he needed something to occupy his mind to keep from worry for her. She sighed and closed her eyes. "Have you heard from Éowyn, yet?" she asked. Avelina's congratulations letter had gone off before she fell ill and she had yet to know if Éowyn had responded.

"Aye," he said as he shifted slightly and pulled an envelope from his vest. "This arrived this afternoon." Avelina sat up slightly and broke the wax seal and pulled out the parchment. Her eyes scanned the paper and tears came to her eyes as she read her sister's words.

"My dear sister,

I received your letter three weeks ago and one from Éomer two days later and another just this morning. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to respond, but we had been in Minas Tirith and your letters were left with our maid.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am certain that I will need them and I am glad to hear you are doing much better. Éomer's first letter was barely legible he had written so quickly and his second told us that you were doing better and regaining your strength everyday.

Do not take my next words heavily, Avelina, but I know how badly you want a child, and even in your kind and loving words, as I read I could hear the slight sadness in your voice. I know you and Éomer will have a child soon, I can feel it so do not worry.

With much love,

Éowyn"

Avelina smiled and carefully folded the letter back up and placed it in the envelope before she pressed it to her chest.

"Are you alright, little one?" he asked. She looked up at him and nodded.

"I'm fine," she said quietly a she looked at Éomer.

"Good news I hope," he said as he pulled her close again. Avelina nodded and sighed as she wrapped her arm around him and held him tightly.

"Yes, good news," she said quietly before she closed her eyes and listened to the steady rhythm of his heart below her ear. Éomer sighed and closed his own eyes as he let his exhaustion slowly take over and joined Avelina in a peaceful summer.

Eight months later Avelina stood with Faramir and Éomer outside the birthing room in Ithilien. They could hear her cries and so many times Avelina wanted to join her sister, but was told that there were enough hands and they ensured her that Éowyn would be alright.

Éomer walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him and sighed before she turned and wrapped her arms around him. "I wish they would let me help, I feel so useless," she said gently. Éomer chuckled.

"Why is it you always feel the need to help even when your help truly isn't needed?" he whispered. She looked up at him and shook her head.

"I do not know," she sighed and looked over at Faramir who was close to pacing. "Perhaps I can help." Éomer followed her gaze and slowly let her go so she could talk to Faramir. "Are you alright?" she asked gently as she put a hand on his shoulder. Faramir looked down at her and gave her a half hearted smile.

"I am just nervous," he said. Avelina nodded and opened her mouth to speak when a loud scream echoed from the room. She stopped and turned to look at the door. Faramir stepped away from her and she lowered her hand. It seemed like the three of them held their breath until the cry of a baby soon filled the air. Avelina sighed heavily and smiled when she looked at Éomer. There was a look in his eyes and she knew what he was thinking, but she would not become sad at the thought of what he was thinking. She had found something out that morning when she had gone to one of the Ithilien healers and had yet to tell him. She walked over to him an he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The door opened and a young maid smiled at the three of them.

"Lord Faramir, do come Lady Éowyn and your daughter await you," she said and he smiled brightly before he looked at Avelina and Éomer. The pair nodded for him to go and he smiled before he left them alone in the corridor. Éomer sighed.

"Our day will come, little one," he said as he squeezed her shoulders.

"Aye, that it will. About seven months if the healer's calculations are correct, and hopefully it will not be as painful as Éowyn's sounded," she said casually. She felt him nod slowly and then his body stiffened. She looked at him to see his face looking down on her with an expression mix of confusion, happiness, and excitement rolled into one.

"W-what?" he asked and she turned in his arms.

"Just this morning, I met with the healers, I'm with child Éomer," she said quietly. "We're going to have a baby." Éomer smiled brightly before he grasped her face gently and pulled her into a kiss. Avelina sighed and returned his kiss before he pulled away quickly and held her at arms length. He ran his hands down her uppers arm so gently she knew that he thought he would break her. Avelina laughed and threw her arms around him. He stiffened a moment before she kissed under his ear and he sighed deeply before he wrapped his arms around her and they just held onto each other. Both were happy for Éowyn, Faramir and for themselves because they were going to have what they had wanted for so long.