There was something strange and menacing in the air that evening in June. It was rather early actually but the clouds were gathering low and the world suddenly turned yellowish and muted. There was no rain still, but the stiffness was unexpectedly noticeable and Eomer even choked. The plains were adorned with all sorts of flowers and weeds, but that particular hour smelled of dust. Eomer patted Firefoot's back — he was not riding, he was walking besides his horse. He didn't want to go back to Meduseld, and he almost feared the night that was now rapidly approaching. Emerald was not there and he was surprised to know that without her he felt uneasy and unhappy. A fortnight ago she went to Ithilien to visit Eowyn and little Elboron, and she was so happy and eager to leave Meduseld, that it made Eomer angry. He told himself that he would be better off without her, but deep inside he knew that without his wife life now seemed insipid. Eomer took to drinking every night, as in days of yore, and that gave him nightmares. He was once again in that gloomy times of no hope and those dreams made him wake up shaking and crying. Alone. But the thought that Emerald was finally having a good time with people who respected and loved her — that was comforting. How come that he wasn't the one to make her happy? Eomer was bound to admit that she tried her best to make him happy and pleased. She was a good queen for his people, his palace was now a very cheerful place, and she always distracted him from gloomy thoughts and made him laugh.
Nah, not anymore. Eomer shook his head and frowned, shivering. The first raindrops fell on the grass and it made the meadows make strange whispering sounds.
"I should drink less," thought Eomer. "It does me no good".
Yes, for the last few weeks Emerald didn't try to follow his every step, didn't look up into his eyes to see if he's happy anymore, didn't try to amuse him. Even in the night she became colder, while Eomer felt closer to her than ever before. She took to sitting up late alone in his study.
"And we never went to the glittering caves", Eomer thought suddenly. It was the only thing she ever asked of him. He felt sick with himself.
The rain now began to pour in earnest, but Eomer was so unwilling to go under the roof, that he still lingered around. At long last he heard thunder and finally mounted his horse.
At the palace there was some commotion, and when Eomer entered it he saw that maids were running to and fro merrily and the whole place looked much more pleasant than several hours before. He knew at once — his queen was home. Eomer shook his damp hair and hasted to go into the halls. Everything was getting ready for late dinner and the fire was roaring. His people were also happy that queen was home, so they wanted to welcome her heartily, it dawned on Eomer. Emerald herself was nowhere to be seen, but people in the hall looked through the whole bunch of great goods she brought them from Gondor.
Eomer found her upstairs. She had already taken a bath and was now sitting by the fire, combing her hair. Emerald merely looked at him entering and hailed him curtly. Oh, that was so unlike her. Eomer waited for his queen to get ready, went with her downstairs and sat there patiently, while she was chatting with anyone but him, gave her smiles to anyone but him, told new anecdotes from Gondor, discussed new fashions with the noble ladies and complimented every new dish at the table. He noticed that she had no mead or wine and didn't pour it to himself either. He wanted this endless night to end and to be finally with his wife alone.
Long after midnight the feast was over. Emerald started undoing her hair when they entered their bedroom, but Eomer could take it no longer. He closed the door and sat near his wife's chair right on the furs in front of the fire. He was so tall that their eyes were nearly on the same level, except Emerald didn't look at him. Eomer took her chin with his hand and lifted it.
"Emerald, I need to know what's going on."
There was a silence for several moments and Eomer was wondering why on earth would she refuse to talk to him. But Emerald trembled and finally spoke, dropping her eyes to the floor.
"I needed to talk to you long ago. But I was so frightened that even escaped to Ithilien just to avoid it. And it is hard to me to speak now, so please, promise me not to interrupt me till I finish".
"Of course".
Eomer heard his own voice, so confident. But that was definitely not how he felt at the moment.
"I am with child", said Emerald simply.
...
"I am with child", she said.
Well then, Eomer did not utter a word. She was too afraid to look at him to see his reaction, so she continued hastily.
"I knew it for a while, but I also knew that once you became aware of it you'd shun me. So I didn't have the courage to tell you straightaway."
"Why would I shun you?" said Eomer quietly, forgetting his promise to keep silent.
Emerald was so surprised at his question that lifted her eyes. It seemed so obvious to her and she couldn't make out why it wasn't as obvious to him.
"Well... you know. Because my duty as your wife would be considered fulfilled. I am no fool, Eomer. I know you loathe me, I know that the only reason for you to bear with me is to have an heir".
Her tone was not bitter, it was so matter-of-factly that it made Eomer numb. Emerald went on.
"And I... I loved you so madly that every day I wanted to postpone our parting, even for a little while."
"Parting!" Eomer jumped to his feet. "What are you talking about, Valar save me?"
She stood up too and made a step towards him.
"I talked to Eowyn and perhaps I can stay in Ithilien with her while I'm pregnant. And maybe a little longer with a baby, not to bother you here."
She looked at Eomer and saw his face white, white as a snow. Was it with fury?
"So you figured it out nicely", said he through gritted teeth at last.
"I just hope that you'll let me stay by my child while it is still little", mumbled Emerald, not quite sure what an outburst to expect. Her knees were feeble so she sat down once again.
Eomer paced through the room to reach for an ewer. Than he poured all the water in it on his head and rubbed his face vigorously. Thus calmed down he turned to Emerald, who sat still.
He then sat by her feet and buried his face in her skirts. They sat quietly for a long, long while.
"I lost my mother and father too early. How could you think that I am able to deprive my own child of its mother?"
He looked at Emerald.
"When I married you, I knew that I was marrying a very good, noble, generous heart. Everyone who knew you told me that. But all the dark years of war left an imprint on me, so when you became my wife, I took cruelty, sneering, condescension as a shield. But every time I hurt you, I hurt myself instead."
Emerald looked at her husband incredulously.
"You're so much more than I deserve. True, I hated you now, when you told me your plan of our separation, but I have no one to blame but myself for that."
He paused.
"I love you, Emerald, I love you more than the life itself. It took me too much time to understand that there is nothing shameful in love for the kindest person I ever met".
Her eyes were still wide and Eomer saw that she didn't believe him yet.
"You think me a tyrant, and maybe I really am one, for I'm not letting you go elsewhere. You are the queen of Rohan and my wife. Is it a good enough reason to stay with me, Emerald?"
"It is", she said almost inaudibly and touched his brow, as if to check if he was real. He caught her fingers with his lips and felt an urge to claim her at once as his.
Lying there, feeling her body burning under his kisses, Emerald was looking at the waxing moon through the window. She was afraid to fall asleep, for she feared to find in the morning that it was just a dream. With his face buried in her black locks slept Eomer, his right palm on her belly. A nightingale sang somewhere, and queen's heart sang along with it.