"How are you fairing, children?" Solatiri asked as they continued riding to Helm's Deep.
"Fine", Eothain said. "Freida's falling asleep."
She smiled as she looked at the little girl who was starting to nod off.
"Give her to me."
Eothain pulled his horse alongside hers. Solatiri picked up Freida and said her in front of her so she wouldn't fall off. Solatiri smiled as she watched her nod off to sleep. Taking care of the kids made her happy. She couldn't wait until her own child was born.
"Hallath, don't wander off", she said following Hallath who rode up along Theoden and Aragorn. "Hama wanted me to watch over you, little brother."
"Why do you address Father by his name?" Hallath asked.
"I have no emotional connections to him. As does he."
The looked ahead as they heard Gimli lose control of the horse he rode. The horse ran ahead making him fall off.
"It's alright", he assured everyone. "Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate."
"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time", Theoden said.
"My Lord?" Solatiri said.
"She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then, she was left alone to tend her king in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have loved her as a father."
"My Lord", Solatiri said. "If it's of any comfort, my past is worse than hers. You know of my father, Hama."
"Hama?" Theoden said. "So you're the little girl he disowned years ago."
"Yes. I was raised by maids. I had no mother or father to give me love. I spent my whole life wondering if they were alive and why did they send me away."
Hallath listened to his sister's story with tears in his eyes. Hama was not the man he thought he was.
Solatiri bundled Eothain and Freida in blankets as they stopped to rest for the night.
"Rest up now", she said. "Tomorrow we will reach Helm's Deep."
"We'll see Mama there, won't we?" Eothain asked.
"You just might."
She watched Aragorn who sat sharpening his sword.
"Are you hungry?" Eowyn asked as she walked up to them carrying a cauldron of stew. "I made some stew. It isn't much, but it's hot."
She scooped some into bowls for the children. The children took the bowls and ate as if they were starving. Eowyn scooped some more into bowls for Aragorn and Solatiri.
He took one bite out of the stew and froze after one bite. Solatiri tasted her stew and stopped as well. It tasted horrid! The chunks of meat were nothing but fat. Not wanting to hurt Eowyn's feelings, the two chewed their food and swallowed. Aragorn nodded trying to make her feel more confident about her cooking.
"It's good."
"Really?" she asked happily.
She turned to walk away. Solatiri looked at Aragorn and shook her head before pouring the stew on the ground.
"I pity the man she marries and cooks for", she mumbled.
He nodded and poured his stew but stopped as Eowyn turned back toward them.
"My uncle told me a strange thing", she started. "He said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistake."
"King Theoden has a good memory", Aragorn said. "He was only a small child at the time."
"Then you must be at least 60."
Aragorn smiled as he shook his head.
"70?" Eowyn asked to which he shook his head again. "You cannot be 80!"
"87", he answered.
"You are one of the Dunedain", she said surprised. "A descendant of Numenor, blessed with long life."
"The Dunedain?" Solatiri asked. "But I thought they had long since disappeared. Boromir told me his mother was one of the last."
"There are few of us left", Aragorn said. "The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago. I knew Finduilas. She was a good woman. Boromir was fortunate to have her as a mother."
"I'm sorry", Eowyn said hoping she didn't disturb him with bad memories. "Please, eat."
He looked at her with no choice but to finish the bad stew as she watched.
The sun began to set as everyone settled for the night.
"My lady, we cannot sleep", Freida said.
"There, there", Solatiri said. "Just close your eyes and think of your mother's smiling face."
I couldn't say farewell that day
Because that would've meant admitting we could no longer meet
So I lied that it was alright until the very end
Whenever I think about the truly valuable things
I hide away my true self
Solatiri watched Freida close her eyes as she drifted off to sleep. She watched Eothain who watched her as she sang.
Too cowardly to act selfishly
The city where you aren't present
Is far too large for me alone
Where should I walk towards?
Eothain fell asleep next to his sister. Solatiri looked at Aragorn who sat smoking his pipe. So he knew Boromir's mother.
"Boromir…"
Solatiri looked at the sky toward the Elendil star where she knew Boromir was.
Diamonds overflow
And roll sparkling down my cheeks
No matter how sad a time
I wish for the strength not to get hurt
The star began twinkling making Solatiri smile as a tear came rolling down the side of her face.
I am always too late and get left with regret
Whenever I shield my heart, the barrier grows thicker
Everyone has tears falling behind their smiles
With my fingers, I am still counting all the things you gave me
I will never forget them
Solatiri looked at Hama and Hallath who were across the way guarding Theoden. She watched Hama be the father he was never to her. She felt hurt seeing her brother receiving all the love and care she should've gotten.
Unstoppable diamonds
Escape into the starry sky in sad colors
Though I can no longer see you
I have no choice but to walk forward
I stand still, look back and search again and again
But our shared memories are far off
And the moon is gazing at my shadow only
Solatiri wiped the tears from her eyes as she laid down to rest for the night.
Diamonds overflow
And roll sparkling down my cheeks
No matter how sad a time
I wish for the strength not to get hurt
The minute she closed her eyes the first thing she saw was Boromir's smiling face.
I couldn't say farewell that day
Because that would've meant admitting we could no longer meet
So I lied that it was alright until the very end
Surly I will one day become able to
Not regret about being my docile self
Song used: Diamond by Alan