17th March, Year 67, Fourth Age

In the life of a queen, nothing was private. I was more aware of that now than ever before. The room was packed to bursting. Not only with the midwives and various servants, but also with members of the Crown Council.

The birth of the heir to the throne of Rohan and Arnor had to take place in front of witnesses. What an irony it was! For the last month, according to protocol, I had been kept on strict bed rest in a stuffy, darkened room. Only my four maids had been allowed entry.

And now, as I lay exposed and sweating in my bed, suffering unimaginable pain, half the court was gathered around me. How long had this been going on? An hour? Five hours? I did not know. Finally, on the instructions of the obstetrician, I pushed again with all the strength I could muster. The pain seemed much stronger than anything my body could withstand. I screamed and was sure I was about to die.

Then finally my child was there. A murmur went through the crowd. The midwives hurriedly set about cleaning the newborn. For a terribly long moment there was silence. Just as fear gripped me, however, the silence was broken by the unmistakable cry of a newborn. I let myself fall into my pillow, exhausted. It was done!

The midwife wrapped the child in an embroidered cloth with the coat of arms of Rohan and handed me the little bundle. I knew what was expected of me now. I was to show the world my son, the heir to the throne. But the world could wait. For a long moment I had eyes only for my son. He was beautiful. He had the same dark brown eyes as Théodred, with which he looked at me curiously. "Halò, a balach.", I said lovingly and touched his tiny hand with mine. Then I tore my gaze away from him and looked proudly at the assembled crowd.

"Dhia glèidh prionnsa Alaisdair!" (God save Prince Alasdair)

18 April, year 67 B.C.

As I stepped into the bright light of the sun, the two months I had spent in the dark room were almost forgotten. I had received my mother's blessing in the early hours of the morning and was thus welcomed back into society. Théodred was the first to greet me.

"Mo bean, mo banrigh! A dhia glèidh a' Bhanrig!" (My wife, my queen! God save the queen).

It became a feast the likes of which Rohan had not seen since the end of the War of the Ring. I, however, was not interested in all the dignitaries and other guests that day. Let the Crown Council deal with that.

I spent every free minute in the nursery with my son. I was convinced that he already looked very much like Théodred. Only his light hair gleamed reddish, just like mine. I hadn't been allowed to see him since birth and once again I cursed protocol for all its rules. "My lady?" A maid handed me a letter with my mother's unmistakable seal. I dismissed her with a wave and sat down on a bench to read.

"My beloved daughter! I can hardly put into words how happy your news has made me. A prince was just what Rohan needed. You should be proud of this achievement. But I warn you, do not think you are in a false sense of security now! Pray daily to Eru for Prince Alasdair's health. And let your husband return you to your bed as soon as possible. It only begins with this son. You must also think of Arnor, your second born will rule the land of your birth when I am gone. There needs to be an heir and a replacement for both kingdoms. I know it's a lot to ask. But Arnor must remain a separate kingdom, no matter what the cost. Never forget that, my dear child.

PS: The gossip at your coronation was more than a little entertainment. When King Eldarion was younger, he spent a lot of time with an Elf woman. She often travels through Middle-earth and soon I will receive her in Fornost. And who knows, maybe you too in Meduseld?"

I must have read the letter through five times, and each time I got angrier. Finally I crumpled up the paper, threw it into the fireplace and watched with a certain satisfaction as the document burned. This was so typical of my mother! My son and heir was only a month old and already she was chiding me to have children. What did she think she was doing? That children grow on trees? Strictly speaking, she was also partly to blame for the present dilemma. If she and my father had not spent so many years apart, there might at least be a sister besides me to ensure the succession to the Arnor throne.

However, my anger did not change the fact that my mother was right. With an only son, my task was not yet complete. No one knew whether he would survive his first years or have a fatal accident later. All the prayers in the world could not change that. So I would have to receive my husband in my bed for a very long time, I thought with a sigh. The act itself was not unpleasant or even painful, I was only bothered by what a mess it was every time. I hated the sticky stuff on the sheets and between my legs.

Nevertheless, I welcomed my husband back to my bed this evening, because I had a duty to fulfil....