The Edge of Night

Half of Her is Missing

"You cannot blame yourself." Eowyn says as she and Elfwyn prepare for the funeral. Elfwyn places her simblemyne circlet upon her head. Whereas it used to provide her comfort, a piece of the mother she had never been able to meet, now it just brought her confusion.

"Believe when I say, I can. He was injured, and I was not here. Not only did I abandon my people in their greatest time of need, I left my twin brother to die."

They go their separate ways once they are done getting ready, Eowyn going to join the ladies at the graveside, and Elfwyn to join the royal processional that will follow the body of her beloved twin brother through the city to the resting place of all the kings who came before.

The morning is cold but the sun shines brightly, reflecting off the golden accents. She follows in silence beside her father, their faces identical as they do their best to mask their true feelings. They stand before the crypt, and the gathering Rohirrim pass her brother out of her sight, as her cousin sings an ancient song of mourning. Once he is laid to rest, and the stone is placed back in front of the entrance, everyone leaves. Everyone, save for a grieving father, his teary-eyed daughter and a wizard. She dabs her eyes again, unsure of when she would ever stop crying. "I will be fine Elfwyn," he assures her.

"That is not true. But if you would prefer to shed a tear for him in private, I will let you." She says before placing a kiss on his cheek and making her way back up to the hall.

"Do you plan on telling your father that you have bound yourself to an elf?" Legolas asks when she enters the main room, finding it empty save for the remaining members of the Fellowship.

"What happened with her and the elf?" Gimli asks, having not been caught up on exactly what happened in Lothlorien.

"Today of all days, Legolas, I do not need you to be like this. I have just buried my brother, my twin. I pray you will never know this pain as it is something I would not wish on even my worse enemy. No, I have not told him yet. I'm sorry that in laying my brother to rest, I haven't found a time to inform my father that I was married to the March Warden of Lothlorien!" With that, she moves to exit back to her rooms, only to be stopped by her father and Gandalf entering with two children, a boy and a girl.

The two royal daughters help get something to eat situated for them, placing blankets around them to help warm them up. As they do, the children chatter to them in Rohirric. "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree." Eowyn tells Theoden as the children sit and eat.

"Where is Mama?" The little girl asks.

"I do not know little one. But we will find her." Elfwyn says to her quietly as she places a blanket around her shoulders.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head-on." Gandalf suggests. At this though, Elfwyn turns and harshly looks at him. Rohan was in no position to launch an attack. Half of their men were currently gods knew where. "Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."

"You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."

"Eomer is too far away at this point to be of any immediate help." Elfwyn says, defending her father.

"They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Elfwyn is right. Eomer cannot help us." He turns back to Gandalf. "I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."

Aragorn takes the pipe from his mouth. "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not." Elfwyn shakes her head at this. She had grown to care for Aragorn, as she had Legolas and even Gimli, since they set out from Rivendell. But she knew her father well, even in this new form where he stood, cautious, over-thinking every move. He would not take kindly to Aragorn's... advise.

"When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."

"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asks.

"We will make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Empty the city and if confrontation occurs, we will be fa it from a fortress." With that, what remaining members of the guard were still there jumped into action, preparing themselves and the citizens of Edoras for the long journey ahead of them.

Elfwyn retreats to her rooms, packing her things. She stares at the baby blanket that once covered her and Theodred, one of the few remaining things she had of him. She is brought out of her memories by a knock on her door. "In all the confusion, I have not checked on you since you have been back." Her father says, a sad smile on his face once he sees what she is holding onto.

"I am fine." She says, wiping away some tears that fell.

"You lost him just as I did. You are not fine." When she doesn't continue, he sighs. "But if you wish not to speak of it, then I shall respect your privacy."

She does not elaborate on this, choosing instead to change the subject, a move he recognized as one of his one. Elfwyn was more like him than anyone realized. "How did you know I was back? That is, how did you know I had left?"

"Eowyn informed me on some of the things that I was... responsible for, while I was under."

"I do not blame you for what came to be. Saruman is powerful. We were fools to think he would just let us live in peace."

"You seem to have found yourself, though. My daughter, a warrior maiden returned. You have made me very proud, even if I could not see it before." He goes to say something else but thinks better of it. "You will be ready? To leave when we must?"

"I will do as my king commands."

"What about as your father asks?"

"Yes, I will do that too."