It was a dark, cold rainy night in Lamedon, in a house that stood somewhat taller than the others a man paced forth and back and back and forth in the hallway outside the bedroom, his wife cries and screams on the other side of the door spurred on by a older woman. "What have I done..to deserve this wait.." Clayton, as the mans name was said to himself as he paced up and down the hallway. He could only hear the screams and cries his wife made yet he knew very well what he had done..
For nine months now he had known and nothing gave him more joy than to hear that his beloved wife, Celine was expecting their first child. He can remember the day she told him about it as he smiles for himself for no one else is there to see him as he paces up and down in an eager wait " Please may it be a strong and healthy child..boy or girl that does not matter.:" he whispers to himself when the bedroom door swings open and slams into the wall as the older woman stick her head out "You..yes you..bring towels and hot water." she spits out before grabbing the handle to the door and slams it shut again behind her.
Clayton stands where he had turned when the door swung open, baffled by the old woman's words to him as he stutters "Y..y..yes.." unsure of she heard him before she went back inside. He seemed to almost jump down the stairs down to the kitchen fow the hot water then ruses over to closet in the hall to get the blanket and then to the bathroom to get some towels as he then rushes back upstairs with the gathered items and taps the door, the door swings open and a thin arm and bony hand comes out and takes the items from him before shutting the door shut again. He tries to gaze into the room and briefly catches Celine's eyes as she gives him an unsure smile before the thick door hides them from each other again.
He starts to pace again back and forth, back and forth as Celine's screams gets louder and louder for every push she makes. For every scream she lets out Clayton looks towards the door, wishing he was there with her now..to give her his strength as well. Still nothing else but Celine's own screams and the old woman's harsh voice urging her on. He looks on the door, could it be that she gave birth to a dead child? he thinks for himself as it goes quiet in the room after five long hours. A few moments goes by before the door opens up and Celine's voice is the first that greets him "Clay..dear? Come in and meet your son." she says with her soft and sweet voice. Clayton stands speechless in the hallway before coming to the door "A son?" he says and smiles "A son! I have a son!!" he lets out again this time louder as he makes his way into the room.
Celine sits in their large bed, the bedsheets are bloodstained, her face is rather paler than usual but she smiles and gives her husband a kiss when he comes over "Is he not beautiful dear?" she asks Clayton that now sits on the bed next to her "He is gorgeous dear.." he whispers to her as he strokes the baby's head. The baby blinks at his touch before going to sleep in his mothers arms " Tim.." hes father whispers as Celine smiles to him "That is a beautiful name dear..Tim..our little Tim.." she says to the baby and to Clayton.
A few minutes the family spends together before Clayton follows the old woman downstairs and thanks her for her help and pays her and watches her leave. He draws a sigh and smiles for himself as he heads up the stairs to join his wife and newborn son again.
The years passed on as Tim grew up to be a copy of his father, mimicking his father in every movements, with a stick in one hand and a shield his father had mad for his forth birthday " 'M goin' t' stick you father" he used to say as he charged his father wit ha cheerful shout as his father usually stood by the forge "Oh no the brave soldier attacks again! Help me Celine!" Clayton always said when his son came at him, not meaning anything at all, Clayton took a stick he had by the forge and pretended to be defending himself but always surrendered much to Tim's joy every time. A few days later Clayton was summoned to Minas Tirith again to be a soldier in Osgilliath, both him and Celine knew that the day would come. They told Tim who of course became sad by the news but nodded and packed his little bag he had, making sure his shield and stick sword was there.
Shortly after coming to Minas Tirith Celine told Tim that he would have a little sister as well. The news of this was all what Tim needed again, the boy ran around and cheered in the house and then looked at his mother " 'M goin' to 'ave a sister.." he said to her as she did not know that already. Celine nodded and said "I know Tim..she is growing here.." she took her sons hand and placed it on her slight rounded stomach. Tim smiled and ran off to tell his friends about it as Celine stood up and looked out the window on her son as he ran up the walkway and met some friends and they darted around a corner, surely to make trouble for themselves or so, just like her and her father had done when they were young and was just friends.
The day came..it was time for Tim to become a big brother, Clayton, his father was home and with his wife, Tim sat in the living room with a friend to his mother that was watching Tim, Tim never said anything, he could not, he was too excited to talk. After many hours his father came down "Tim..come here my son.." Clayton said to Tim who in return looked at his father, giving him a grin an ran past him and up the stairs. "He has not said a word..he has just been waiting.. Did it all go well?" the woman asked and looked at Clayton. "It has gone well indeed both the mother and the child is in good health..It is a daughter and her name is Kimberly." Clayton said to the woman who in return nodded and walked over to him "Take good care of them now Clay..they need you to stay alive.." she said as she walked past him. Clayton nodded and went upstairs.
Kimberley grew and became a copy of her mother and foremost the little sister and play friend Tim had wanted. The wo were not to be parted from one and the other at all. This was to be like so under Kimberly's childhood. As Tim turned sixteen and Kimberly or Kim as Tim called her turned twelve disaster struck the family as the house burnt down..Tim was the only one that made it out alive, he desperately tried to save his father and mother and Kim but it was not to be.. the house collapsed by the flames and the flames took them from him. Devastated Tim had nowhere to go but to his fathers captain of who he had known now since he was twelve and signed up for the army, willing to take his fathers place and walk the same way as that of his father.
