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wondereye: Was I that obvious!
Èomer and his men had just reached Aragorn's camp when one of Aragorn's men shouted, "My Lords, a rider approaches! The same path the King of Rohan himself just came from!"
Èomer wheeled Firefoot about. The stallion let out an excited whinny. Èomer recognized the racing filly immediately, but not her rider. What need is Rohan in that Braenna would willingly give up her beloved filly to a messenger? he questioned in his mind.
Aldor stopped Minuialwen before the two kings, Aragorn on foot and Èomer still astride Firefoot. They both smiled as Minuialwen and Firefoot greeted one another like parted lovers. They then turned to the boy.
"My Lord, Edoras is under attack. The Queen was out riding when she saw the band of orcs and wild men approaching the city. When she returned, she was shouting orders like a general," Aldor revealed.
"What is the last thing you saw, Aldor?" Èomer asked him.
"The gates closing as the first lines of orcs and Dunlendings crested the rise before Edoras...maybe a hundred leagues from the city," Aldor replied.
"It may be the same band we are looking for, Èomer. Reports said they were heading toward Rohan the last they came in. Give my men ten minutes to break camp and mount up," Aragorn said. "I should have rode out to meet you."
Ten minutes later, they were quickly riding back to Edoras. When they arrived, Èomer was temporarily relieved to see the gates of Edoras still shut. They charged toward the band, hoping to end this quickly.
And quickly they ended it indeed. The band of two hundred stood no chance against the five hundred men of Gondor and Rohan before the gates. The band was indeed the same one that had been attacking villages in Gondor.
They piled the dead and let them burn. Èomer rode into the city and up to Meduseld. Gamling met him on the stairs, looking worried as well as considerably pale. Èothain came up behind Èomer, both men looking confused at Gamling's appearance.
"What is it, Gamling?" Èomer asked worriedly.
"It's the Queen, my Lord," he replied. "I was trying to make her go into the hall when a look of pain and fear filled her eyes. She fell unconscious into my arms and has yet to waken. She is, of course, in with the healers. I took her there immediately."
Èomer ran up the stairs remaining and to the healing chambers. Aefild, their best healer, stopped him. He glared at the small woman, wondering what Èothain would do if he were to toss the man's wife aside to get to his own. He decided against finding out.
"She will be fine, Èomer. The pain she felt was her body going into shock. She rode hard to get back here with her warning, but her body was too weak for it," Aefild assured him. "She is only sleeping. She should waken soon."
"I believe the King would like to stay here until his love awakens," Èothain remarked, enveloping Aefild in his embrace. "You need to do so...and I myself would like to stay out of concern for my friend."
"And you may. I see no harm in it. Perhaps she would wake faster if her king were to speak to her," Aefild suggested.
Èomer smiled at her. They walked over to where Braenna lay. Èothain sat in a chair, pulling Aefild into his lap. Èomer sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. He lifted it to his lips, laying a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
"Wake up, little one. I've come home to you," he said softly. "Please open your eyes."
An hour later, Aragorn and Gamling had taken occupation of the two other chairs in the room. Braenna finally stirred. Her eyes opened slowly to see Èomer gazing down at her. They shared a smile. Braenna sat up and hugged him close.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Gamling brought you unconscious to me after you slipped into unconsciousness outside," Aefild replied. "The pain you experienced was your body going into shock due to your hard ride in a weakened state. When was the last time you took a meal, my Lady?"
"Evening meal...the day before yesterday. Yesterday morning, the mere scent of food set my stomach twisting up in knots," Braenna replied.
"Exhaustion, nausea...any cravings?" Aefild wondered.
"I have been drinking more tea," Braenna admitted.
Aefild leaned in and whispered another question in her ear. Braenna gave her an odd look. "Two weeks before the wedding, why do you ask?" she replied to whatever Aefild had asked her.
"Exhaustion, nausea, cravings for tea, and that," Aefild listed. "My Lady, I do believe you are with child."
"What?" she and Èomer both asked.
"I believe I may be able to confirm or deny that," Aragorn said, standing. "If neither of you mind, that is."
"Go right ahead, Elessar," Braenna agreed.
He placed a hand low on her stomach. He smiled broadly after a moment. He indeed felt the stirrings of new life within her. "It would seem Arwnen, Èowyn, and you will be having babes mere months apart," he remarked.
Braenna and Èomer let out cries of great happiness. They held each other fiercely. Braenna sighed contently as he kissed her tenderly.
"A victory and an heir all in one day. There is much call for rejoicing, my Lord," Èothain pointed out.
"There is also much need to feed the Queen before she loses strength again," Aefild said. She bustled off to the kitchens.
Aragorn excused himself to go see to his men. Èothain went home to see his children. Gamling went to oversee preparations for that night's feast, leaving Braenna and Èomer to each other.
Èomer claimed her lips again in a passionate kiss. They shared a very happy smile. "I love you," Braenna whispered.
"And I love you," he replied, taking her hands in his. "I always will." He pulled her to him. They sat there, holding each other, until Aefild returned.