Thank you all for your reviews and I'm glad you all enjoyed this story. I loved writing this one. I'm working on my next one because it seems as though Haldir has won in the voting catagory, but for those of you who wanted another character I am also working on a Glorfindel and Boromir story and will post one of them after I conclude the Haldir story. I hope you like this chapter!

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

Chapter 40

"Euric!" Avelina yelled as she chased the five-year-old down the corridors she laughed as she lifted her skirts and chased after him. The little boy's laughter echoed off the wall as he ran into the main hall only to be scooped up into the arms of his father.

"Are you running from your mother again?" Éomer asked and the boy giggled.

"Yes, papa, she wants to give me a bath before our guests come," he said breathlessly. Éomer chuckled when he heard his son speak and looked up to see a flush faced Avelina. Euric squirmed in his father's arms and Avelina smiled.

"Your sister lets Cynwise bathe her without trouble, why must you always give me trouble my son?" she asked as she walked over to the two men in her life.

By some miracle, three years after they had adopted Euric Avelina had become pregnant. Madar could not explain it nor could any healer that resided in Edoras, but she carried their child to term and gave birth to a healthy baby girl that they named Annora. Éomer's council had petitioned to have Annora names rightful heir to the throne as seeing she is his blood child, but he would not hear of it. To both he and Avelina Euric was their blood child even though he truly wasn't. He knew he had another mother and father and that they watched over him. Euric never showed them any different affection, however, he was only five and as far as he was concerned he knew no other love than the love of his parents, Avelina and Éomer.

"I do not want a bath!" Euric cried as he clung to his father who seemed that he could control his chuckling. Avelina gave her husband a cheeky smile and he winked at her causing her cheeks to flush deeper and Éomer's smile to grow.

"But you must, Euric, King Elessar is due today with his wife, son and three daughters. You do not want them thinking that you've played in the stables all morning," Avelina said. Euric lifted his head from Éomer's shoulder and looked at his mother confused.

"But I was playing in the stables all morning," he said matter of factly and Éomer once again began to laugh. Avelina rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

"That you have, but-," Avelina was interrupted by a little voice behind her.

"Mama!" Annora called and Avelina turned around and smiled at her daughter whose hand was wrapped around Cynwise's finger. The two year old let go and rushed over to her mother. She was dressed in a dark maroon dress and her gold and copper locks hung in long ringlets around her head held back by matching ribbon. Avelina scooped up her daughter and turned back to face her husband after giving Cynwise a smile.

"Look, your sister is ready and you are not," Avelina said. "If you do not wish for me to bathe you, will you let Cynwise?" Avelina asked hopefully and Euric looked at his father. Avelina knew he would not bathe unless Éomer told him so, so she met her husbands eyes.

"Euric, your mother is right you know. We do not wish to make a bad impression on the King of Gondor do we? After all, the last time he and his family came to Edoras, you were but Annora's age," Éomer said. Euric sighed and looked at Avelina.

"I'll take a bath mama," he said and Éomer let him down. The golden haired little boy walked over to Cynwise who smiled at him and took his hand and led him down the corridor to the bathing chamber. Avelina sighed and looked at Annora who smiled brightly at her. She couldn't believe that she had two children of her own and both were healthy and happy, she just hoped that as they grew older that she could protect them from the challenges they would face.

Seeing the look on Avelina's face, Éomer smiled. At times she would just get lost in her thoughts, especially as she looked at their children. Annora was their miracle child, but she was not shown more love, in fact Avelina tended to spoil Euric while éomer doted on Annora, which would explain why the little girl held her arms out to her father. Avelina blinked and smiled at her before she handed her over to Éomer.

"She is her father's daughter," Avelina said as she tucked one of Annora's curls behind her ears as the toddler laid her head on Éomer's shoulder and brought her thumb to her mouth. Éomer smiled and pulled Avelina flush against his left side and held her securely around the waist to him. She looked up at him and put her left hand on the left side of his chest. He kissed her softly and Avelina sighed as she closed her eyes. A small giggle broke their kiss and the two looked at their daughter.

"Papa kissed mama," she teased as she sat up straight. Éomer laughed and Avelina smiled as she shook her head. The door to the hall opened and a guard stepped in.

"Excuse me your majesties, but our guests have arrived," he said before he stepped back out of the now open doors. Avelina's eyes widened.

"They are early and I have yet to change," she said quickly as she pulled back. Éomer smiled at the slight panicked look that filled his wife's face. She looked lovely to him in the dark brown dress she wore, but he knew she wanted to dress properly to great their friends. "Tell them I will be out shortly, I'll be ready by the time Euric is finished and we will come out together." Éomer laughed and nodded as he watched Avelina rush out of the hall and disappear down the corridor. He looked at Annora to see her smiling and laughed.

"She is always in a hurry isn't she?" The little girl just nodded and he sat her down next to him holding onto her hand firmly. He looked towards the door and grinned when he saw Aragorn walking into the hall with Arwen at his side holding the newest edition to their family, little Melda. Eldarion walked proudly at Aragorn's left side as he held onto his other sisters' hands. The boy was almost ten and was the spitting image of his father. "Aragorn," Éomer said with a smile and Aragorn returned it with a bow of his head. Éomer bowed his head as Aragorn stopped in front of him with his family around him.

"Hello, my friend," Aragorn said and looked down at Annora who looked up at him with wide eyes. Aragorn kneeled and smiled at her. "You must be Avelina's little miracle, Annora." She smiled brightly and nodded before she let go of her fathers hand and hugged Aragorn. Aragorn smiled and returned the small child's embrace. She was just a year younger than his second daughter, Raina, and four years younger than his eldest girl, Lindariel. Annora let go and smiled up at Aragorn as he stood straight again. Swishing was heard and everyone looked to the side and saw Avelina standing there with Euric who looked much better than he had just moments before. She had unbound her hair and let it flow over the soft white dress she wore and walked over to the group.

"Hello, and welcome," she said quickly and looked down at Melda who had fallen asleep in Arwen's arms. "Oh, she is most precious." Arwen smiled.

"As are yours," Arwen said and Avelina met her eyes and smiled at her.

"Thank you," she whispered before she stepped back. "Well, I do suppose you all would like some refreshments or would you like to rest for a time?" she asked politely as she fell into her spot next to Éomer, and the two week visit of the King and Queen of Gondor began.

Sixteen years passed and with a few bumps along the way, but mostly peace filled the years that Avelina and Éomer's children grew. Avelina stood in her old chamber in Minas Tirith and smiled at Annora as she adjusted the flowers in her hair and the lacings of her white gown. "Oh, mama, why do I feel as though I'm going to explode?" Annora asked with a heavy sigh and Avelina smiled as she looked at her daughter, remembering those exact same feelings that she experienced twenty-eight years earlier.

"It is your wedding day, Annora, it is expected as such and I felt the same way the day I married your father," Avelina said gently as she looked at Annora's reflection in the looking glass. There was a quiet knock on the door and it slowly opened to reveal Éowyn. "Do come in sister and see your niece." Annora turned around and smiled at her aunt.

"You look beautiful Annora, I am not certain if your father will let you go," Éowyn said. Avelina laughed and nodded her head in agreement and Annora blushed.

"I am so nervous," Annora said before she sighed and looked in the looking glass again.

"Trust me, my daughter; you have nothing to worry about." Annora looked at Avelina through the glass and smiled. Another knock echoed in the room, but it was firm and steady. "Enter!" Avelina called and Éomer stepped into the room. Avelina smiled at him, even though he was in his early fifties, he never looked better in her eyes. He stopped just short of closing the door and looked at his daughter.

"Annora, you look beautiful," he said as Éowyn and Avelina walked to his side by the door.

"She does, and you have to give her away today," Avelina said gently as she laced her fingers with his. Éomer looked at his wife and kissed her forehead.

"That we do," he whispered before he looked back at Annora. "I'm afraid it is time." Annora nodded and Avelina let go of her husband and took Éowyn from the room. The two women made their way down the corridors to the courtyard where they were to join the others for Annora and Eldarion's wedding.

THE END