Queen Mother's Arrival by Kaylee Arafinwiel

Mothers of the Nation

From the Instadrabbling on August 1 2021, CookieTurtle's prompts "Brave, lift, insight, strategic". Some time after Elwing's rather sudden arrival in the Star Isle, she has a heart to heart with her daughter-in-law, Queen Emeldir.

(At the moment, these are two loosely connected oneshots rather than a cohesive story, but they clearly belong together.)

"I'm not brave."

Elwing blinked, lifting an eyebrow. "Yes, you are, iel-nin. What makes you say that?"

Emeldir sighed, wringing her hands. "I am no one," she explained as she sat there in the infirmary, beside Elwing's bed. "Just an orphaned daughter with two scapegrace brothers, a scholar with no talent for woman's craft."

Elwing narrowed her eyes. "You are a daughter of the House of Beor, are you not?"

Emeldir sat straighter and nodded. "Distantly, yes, I am named for my ancestress."

"Then you have the heart of that blessed Woman within you. Was not the mother of Beren Erchamion renowned for her bravery? She was well known for her skill with blade and bow, a leader of Women in time of trial. So too will you be mother to your nation. Your four children bear that out already."

Emeldir's eyes widened at that insight, and she bowed her head in gratitude.

"Thank you, Mother," she whispered, and Elwing leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you for confiding in me, my daughter," she told Elros' wife. "You indeed are brave. Now, Manwendil spoke to me of strategic maneuvers his brothers use to best him at Warriors..."

"Ah." Emeldir smiled. "He should come to me. Who does he think taught them that game?"

"Indeed," Elwing agreed. "I think you should tell him so, Daughter."

"I will," Emeldir agreed, and the first Queen of Numenor left her mother-in-law alone to rest.