Here is the last full length chapter of this story. I haven't decided how long the epilogue will be, but there is a good chance that it will be shorter than the last chapters have been. I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter Twenty-Seven (Eomer)

There was a light knocking on my study door. I groaned inwardly, praying to Bema above that it was not another of my advisors come to discuss some other issue with me. I had hardly gotten any work done at all in the past few days due to the constant interruptions and more matters of state being added to my already overflowing pile of documents. I was desperately trying to get ahead of my work so that I might have some time to spend with Lothiriel and the new baby upon the impending delivery.

"Come in," I grumbled.

"Surely you are not growling at me, husband," Lothiriel said, her rounded stomach leading the way into my study.

I chuckled and beckoned for her to join me on my side of the desk before she could get settled in the opposite chair. "I would never growl at you," I assured her, nuzzling into her neck. I rested my forehead on her shoulder as she settled herself in my lap. Instinctively, one of my hands splayed itself over my ever-moving child. "Though you do not often make the trek to my study these days."

"You would not either if you were in my state." She smiled gently.

We sat in a comfortable silence for a moment longer. It was nice to have a respite from work with Lothiriel's familiar weight on my lap.

I continued on with signing my name to a few documents while she sat on me, but I was pulled from that when she stiffened and inhaled deeply through her nose.

"What was that?" I asked when she seemed to relax once more.

"My pains began early this morning," she said offhandedly.

I stood up quickly, jostling her terribly so that she groaned as she clutched my arm. Righting her, I looked down into her face. "Is that not something quite serious? Why did you not tell me?"

"I could have woken you long before the sun was up, but your child could have arrived in a few hours from then or it could arrive days from now. There is no telling with this sort of thing," Lothiriel said calmly, rubbing her hands over her swollen stomach.

She was larger than she had ever been when expecting Artanis, which had made me nervous to think of delivery. I was determined to be present this time, no matter what was customary.

"Well then, what should we do now?" I was trying to match her calmness with my own, but was not sure I was successful.

"The pains are not sharp or close together enough to warrant going to the healers," she said. "I would like to stay away from them for as long as possible before I am at the mercy of their probing hands." Lothiriel watched me wringing my hands. "You can go back to work. I will send for you when it is closer to time."

"Absolutely not. I will go with you to our rooms if that is where you will be comfortable."

"You have plenty of time to do some more work. It will be better that way for after the child is born," Lothiriel insisted.

"I want to stay with you. For all of this," I returned.

"Fine. Then I will stay in here," she conceded. "But at least pretend to be working so that I do not feel bad."

I nodded and returned to my desk, constantly watching Lothiriel out of the corner of my eye as she paced around the large study.

The sun was beginning to set when her pains began to intensify at all. I was trying to draft a document to be sent to her father. It was the first of many I would hope, that would list all of the things that we could give to Dol Amroth that they did not have near the coast. It should have been a happy occasion, but as soon as Lothiriel began to whimper from the pain I lost whatever small bit of focus I had had.

Her face screwed up and her knees buckled as she gripped the window sill behind my desk. I stood and went to her.

"What can I do?" I whispered.

"Hold me," she moaned, leaning her head back into my chest. I rested my hands on her gravid stomach and could feel the pains through the tightening of her womb. "Lothiriel." I could only say her name. I felt so helpless knowing I could not stop this pain that was wracking through her body, that I could offer her no comfort.

ooooOoooo

A few months earlier, we had gone on our last ride together. I had been more nervous and attentive to her through her second pregnancy than I had her first.

"Really Lothiriel, you do not have to go with me this time," I said, saddling Firefoot and moving onto Roheryn. It was not that Lothiriel could not do it herself, but that I would not let her lift the heavy saddle.

Lothiriel had taken it upon herself after Yule to accompany me when I spent the day journeying through Edoras and a few surrounding villages. She said it showed that we were in solidarity and that there should be no more rumors about the fate of our marriage.

Even though she was even then quite heavy with our child, she insisted.

"I do not want you to be uncomfortable," I said firmly.

"What is uncomfortable is having you force me to sit around all day doing nothing. I am becoming one with the sofa in our rooms," she retorted, somehow managing to get her foot into the stirrup.

"Use the mounting stool for Bema's sake!" I exclaimed, reaching to help her as she hauled herself up and over the saddle, looking down at me in annoyance when she was seated and ready to go.

"Why do you refuse to treat me like a shieldmaiden when I am the Queen of them?" She asked as we rode out of the stables.

"Because you are not just any shieldmaiden. You are my wife and that is my child you carry. I wish for you both to be safe."

"Well you are irritating me," she said shortly. "I know what I can and cannot do. A woman with child is not disabled, Eomer."

I endured that ride, trying to focus on my people, but all I could think about was what was out of Lothiriel's control, such as a spooked horse or rowdy village.

After that, through much protesting and yelling, I put my foot down and was not spoken to for at least a week when I ruled that she would ride with me no longer..

ooooOoooo

She turned in my arms and I made room for her stomach. Her head was resting on my chest. With the next pain, she gasped and actually bit my tunic to keep from crying out.

I wanted to take on the suffering for her. I had endured terrible injuries before, but I was beginning to realize that the trial of bringing a child into the world was definitely more painful and exhausting than anything I had ever personally faced.

Reaching around her, I kneaded the muscles of her back, which I could feel tighten as well. Her body had become a vice, ready to expel our child into the world. I was looking forward to that exact event until that very moment when I realized what it would mean for Lothiriel.

"I think we should go to the healers," Lothiriel finally said, long after the sun had sunk behind the hills.

The weariness in her voice broke my heart, but I wrapped an arm around her waist and we made our way, slowly, to our private healing room.

"I thought we would be seeing you soon, Your Grace," the older healer said. "How are you feeling?"

"How does it look like she is feeling?" I snapped. I had not expected for my words to ring so sharply, but I wanted the ordeal to be over for my wife.

"Eomer," Lothiriel said gently. "It is alright. It is all a process."

"Well I wish we were through with it."

Lothiriel ignored me. "The pains are more frequent and regular, but my waters have not yet broken."

The healer pondered this for a while. "Having to break them myself will be more unpleasant and uncomfortable than if we wait a while longer. "Continue walking around here and I shall keep an eye on you." She helped Lothiriel out of her dress, so she was standing in her shift, her stomach becoming more visible. "Will you be staying, Your Grace?" She asked me.

I nodded resolutely and took my wife back into my arms, helping her walk around the room and swaying with her when the pain became too much for her to move.

It seemed like hours passed before Lothiriel passed into the next phase of bringing our child into the world. I knew that I was exhausted, so I could not imagine how she felt as she gave a moan of relief, her waters finally breaking. She was leaning her weight on the footboard of the bed and her head fell to her chest when she was relieved of the pressure.

"There you go, Your Grace," the healer said, guiding her to the bed to lie down and be examined.

Lothiriel reached a hand out to me and she bit on her bottom lip as the older woman's hands probed her most private regions to check the child's progress.

The older woman shook her head. "There is still a ways to go."

Lothiriel groaned in frustration.

"Is there nothing that can be done?" I demanded.

"The prince or princess will be here exactly when they are ready," she replied.

I looked down at Lothiriel. She had thrown her head back on the pillows and I thought she might cry. It had been over twelve hours. The sun was near to rising again. I sat on the bed next to her and put my forehead to hers. "You can do this. I know you can," I whispered.

"Movement is never a bad idea," the healer said quietly, though she had stepped away from us.

Lothiriel's hair was damp from her sweat and I pushed it away from her face. "Let me help you."

She put her hands in mine and I helped her to stand from the bed. We managed to walk around a little bit between the pains. I imagined that I would be covered in bruises from where she was gripping my arms. When the pains got too strong she would squat down and bounce on the balls of her feet. It seemed to help so I knelt before her to balance her as she breathed and groaned through the tightening of her womb.

After another hour or so of that, Lothiriel looked at the healer. "I have to push." There was a desperation on her face that I had never seen before. "I have to push now."

I helped Lothiriel back onto the bed and the healer agreed that it was time to bring forth the babe.

"Not like this," Lothiriel moaned. It seemed that lying on her back was making her extra uncomfortable.

"Your Grace, move the Queen to the edge of the bed."

I did as I was told and helped Lothiriel so she was sitting on the very edge of the bed. The healer pushed a stool under feet that brought her knees up higher.

"Hold her up."

I sat behind Lothiriel, my legs on either side of hers, so that she could press her back into me as she pushed. It took most of my strength to keep her upright, she was straining so hard against me and her own body.

My wife had nearly become an animal. I had never seen anything like it. She had a focus despite the pain that I had not ever seen from a wounded soldier. Her small hands wrapped in the sheets and she pressed her chin to her chest, not making a noise until the pain had passed and her body was allowed to relax for a brief, blissful moment.

Only once did she truly scream. I would have traded my body with hers to relieve her of the pain she was feeling in that instance, for I knew it must be intense to make her make such a noise.

"The child is crowning," the healer said, from her position kneeling at Lothiriel's feet. "Once the head emerges the hard part will be done."

Lothiriel twined her fingers in mine and gave another fierce push.

"You have done it, Your Grace. We're almost there now." The old woman took Lothiriel's hand from mine to feel the downy head of our child. Lothiriel actually gave a delighted laugh, despite her exhaustion. "One more push and you can meet your babe."

I was anxious for the whole ordeal to be over. After being a part of it, I could understand how so many women lost their lives to childbearing.

Lothiriel bore down one final time and it was all over.

I supported Lothiriel as her body sagged into mine. As gently as I could, I moved her back against the pillows after the cord between mother and child had been cut. Her black hair was plastered to her flushed face and neck. I kissed her forehead and cheeks as I dipped a rag into a basin of cool water, which I then applied to her sweaty face.

"Lothiriel," I could only breathe her name, completely in awe of what she had just done. There had been many men over the years that I would have considered brave and strong, but my wife had put that into perspective for me as she delivered our child.

My attention, though, was immediately diverted as a lusty wail issued through the room. I watched intently as the babe was cleaned.

"You have a son, My King," the grey-haired midwife said as she handed the bundle to me.

Lothiriel had not been the only one to carry extra emotions during her pregnancy. Seeing her in such a condition had made me constantly think of our daughter, which had in turn, made me constantly worry for the health of the child she carried. I had sat for many hours in my study with a lump in my throat, thinking of Artanis and what had become of my marriage after that.

There was a solid weight to this child though. His lungs seemed to be in good order as indicated by the wailing he was doing.

As he calmed down, his baby blue eyes opened and I peered down at him, pulling his hands and feet from the bundle to make sure all was in order. He was perfect. He would be strong and noble, there was no doubt in my mind. As I looked at the blue eyes, I only hoped they would turn green, like the ones that were watching me from the bed.

Eventually, the child started to cry in my arms once more.

"Your son is hungry, Your Grace," the healer said gently.

I made my way back to Lothiriel's side and gently transferred my son to her arms after she slid her damp slip off of her shoulders. The babe latched on without a problem and began suckling hungrily. Lothiriel sighed and laid her head back on the pillows, closing her eyes.

Cupping the child's foot in my hand, I continued to watch in awe. I could not help myself, but I gathered Lothiriel into my arms and kissed every inch of her face. "You are incredible," I murmured.

Lothiriel smiled at me wearily. "What shall we call your son?"

Several ideas had run through my mind during Lothiriel's pregnancy, but they had all revolved around naming my son after people I had known in my life. I had strayed from that idea. I did not want his life to be impacted by those that had lived before him. I wanted him to make his own decisions and grow into his own man.

"I am not sure," I admitted. "What do you think?"

Lothiriel switched the child to the other side. "I was thinking perhaps Elfwine."

"Elfwine," I tried the name out.

"For without Legolas, you might not have lived to father this child," she said quietly.

I nodded thoughtfully. "It is a good, strong name." I smiled down at the pair.

Upon our announcement that we were going to have a child, Gimli could not resist and asked that he and Legolas might be able to stay in Edoras until the child was born. I imagined that they would shortly be around to meet my son.

As soon as Elfwine was sated and drowsing, Lothiriel handed him back to me. I let her rest until Elfwine woke once more hungry again.

"Will you send for our guests to meet our son?" Lothiriel asked.

"Of course," I said, kissing her forehead. I first sent for Amrothos and Dernhild who had also wanted to stay to see the birth of our child.

Bregdan came bursting into the room first and he launched himself onto the bed, causing Lothiriel to gasp and wince.

"Bregdan!" His mother exclaimed. "For Eru's sake, be gentle."

Amrothos swooped onto the little boy and placed him on his lap, forcefully holding him still.

Lothiriel was gracious. "He is alright. This is exciting, is it not?"

Amrothos had to hold Bregdan's hands as he kept trying to prod the baby. Dernhild joined her family on the bed and took Elfwine into her arms. "He is beautiful," she said with a tender smile.

"Elfwine," Lothiriel told them.

"Well it looks like I am in trouble," Amrothos sighed, watching his wife with the new baby.

I chuckled.

"I already have my hands full," he grumbled, as he tried to wrestle Bregdan away from the baby.

They stayed for a while longer and finally Bregdan was able to hold still long enough for the baby to be transferred to Amrothos, where Bregdan "helped" hold him.

I was tense, watching the whole spectacle, but Lothiriel was calm.

"We will do better next time," Amrothos promised as he threw Bregdan over his shoulder to the little boy's delight.

Dernhild hugged me tightly. "Congratulations."

When they were gone, I turned to Lothiriel. "Are you exhausted?"

"Of course I am, but I would like to see Legolas and Gimli."

"Very well."

Gimli came into the room in almost the same fashion as Bregdan. "Well where is the little bearn?" he demanded.

Legolas entered behind him much more serenely.

Elfwine was handed over to Gimli from Lothiriel and I was surprised to see that his eyes began to well up.

"What a gift," he said quietly, not even feigning gruffness. "You know I have never held a bearn so small, lass. I am so glad you let us stay."

"I am very glad you wanted to," Lothiriel said gently. "You look like a natural."

"Well, what is his name?" Gimli asked, shaking himself from his sentimentality.

"Elfwine," I said, not looking at the Dwarf, but at Legolas.

"Elfwine," Gimli spluttered, looking at his friend.

"I am honored, truly." Legolas smiled at me and reached out to clasp my forearm.

"He might not be here if it were not for you," I said, trying to keep my own emotions in check. My life, in that moment was as close to perfect as I could ever hope to get, but if it had not been for Legolas there was a good chance that I would not even be standing there.

The elf took my son from Gimli and walked around the room with him, cradled close to his chest. I had always been fascinated in the differences between his people and mine. He was so graceful and purposeful.

Elfwine began to fuss in his arms, but Legolas merely began murmuring to him in his own tongue rather than handing him back to Lothiriel. The movement immediately stopped and Elfwine was still once more, one small hand reaching out of his blanket to grasp a strand of Legolas' fine blond hair.

"You do me great honor, Elfwine," Legolas said as he gingerly sat on the edge of the bed and pressed a kiss to my son's forehead before handing him back to his mother, also placing a kiss on her forehead. "Congratulations." He smiled at me one last time before looking at Gimli. "Come Gimli, we should let the new family rest. They will not come by it as easily as they should like from now on."

Gimli gave one final look at Elfwine and then followed Legolas.

"We will name the next one for you, Gimli!" I called out after him. I could hear his low rumble of a laugh through the door.

Lothiriel held out Elfwine for me to take and as she did I noticed the 'A' pendant around her neck. She had hardly held the babe since he had been born and I found that strange. When Artanis had been born she would not let our daughter leave her arms, except for the few moments I was allowed..

I laid the sleeping Elfwine in his cradle and carefully got into the bed next to Lothiriel. "This does not erase her," I said, tracing her pendant. "We will tell him about Artanis someday."

Lothiriel nodded without a word and laid her head on my chest.

ooooOoooo

Five days later, as was customary, we were about to present Elfwine to the Rohirric people. Lothiriel had put the ceremonial gown that had been my Yule gift on the still-pink baby. She readjusted her green dress as she stood, obviously uncomfortable in the tight garment.

Healing had been slow for Lothiriel and she leaned heavily on my arm as we made our way to the landing of Meduseld, Elfwine cradled to my chest. The birth had been harder on her than her first and she was frustrated at not being back to herself yet.

Luckily, it was early summer and we could take Elfwine outside without having to bundle him up. Hama was waiting for us at the doors. Lothiriel straightened up and put on a smile for the people, her hand a light pressure on my arm. I nodded for the doors to be opened and we stepped outside to the roars and cheering of my people.

After a few moments of that, I raised my free hand, leaving Lothiriel to stand on her own, which she did while keeping a smile on her face.

"I present to you, good people of Rohan, your Crown Prince, Elfwine, of the House of Eorl."

The cheering and applause was deafening and my son began to cry in my arms. Lothiriel made no move to take him from me, which worried me. She had hardly held him longer than it took to feed since he had been born.

The people were chanting "Long live Eomer-King! Long live Queen Lothiriel! Long live Prince Elfwine!"

When Elfwine did not calm down, I waved to the people as did Lothiriel and we retreated into the quiet of Meduseld.

"Lothiriel, take him," I urged her when we were in our room.

"I just fed him. He is not crying because he is hungry," she said, removing her golden circlet and unlacing her dress.

"Why will you not hold him?" I asked, exasperatedly over the crying of Elfwine.

"I cannot!" She shouted, putting her head in her hands.

I quickly called for Adela and gave Elfwine to her when she entered the rooms.

"What in all of Arda is going on?" I asked, holding Lothiriel by her upper arms.

She had begun to cry and I could not get her to stop or to take her hands away from her face. Finally, she looked up at me. "I got attached to Artanis and then she was ripped from me. I cannot go through that again."

Realizing the multitude of conflicting emotions Lothiriel must have been feeling since our son's birth, I pulled her into my chest and stroked her hair.

"Lothiriel, you must know that that was a fluke. A very unfortunate fluke." I kissed the top of her head, understanding her distance finally. "You cannot treat Elfwine as though he shares that same fate. He needs you now for more than just for feeding and he will need you for a great many things in the future."

"I know," she whispered. "But it is hard."

"Our son needs his mother, Lothiriel." I tilted her chin up so she was looking at me. "He wants to be comforted by you, held by you. He already knows your voice and your heartbeat. Not even I can replace that for him."

ooooOoooo

It took a while longer for Lothiriel to move away from the emotions that kept her away from Elfwine. I had made it a habit to check in on them when I could get a break in my afternoons. Since our son's birth, when I would visit our chambers he would either be in Adela's arms or in his bassinet. Lothiriel would be in the window seat reading or sitting doing some mending, far from the coos of Elfwine.

After an inordinately large workload one morning, I entered our rooms quietly, not wanting to disturb any napping that might be going on. Lothiriel had taken to sleeping in the afternoons. The healers had recommended it when her healing had not been on track. She was not to tire herself out, which irritated her tremendously.

The curtains were drawn and it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting, but when they did my heart felt lighter and a smile came to my face. Lothiriel was asleep on her back with Elfwine sleeping on her chest, one small fist tucked under his cheek with a lock of her hair clutched there. He was tucked under her chin and her hands rested on his small back.

I wanted to stand there watching forever. I never wanted to lose the image of my wife and son so intimately connected and peaceful. After kissing both of their heads, I stood for a moment longer before leaving them to the rest of their nap.

Let me know what you thought! I'd also love to know if you any ideas for the next story, but I was thinking about Aragorn. I love your comments!

Happy reading,

Avonmora