Title: "Restless"

Author: Leiasky

Synopsis: Aragorn is restless and yearns for freedom he had as a Ranger. Aragorn and Arwen take a trip to the Shire to see old friends. The journey is long and quite disruptive….

This is an AU story that does not follow the timeline of the book.

Rating: PG-13 - NC-17

Spoilers: No.

Pairing: Aragorn / Arwen.

Disclaimer: I'm not Tolkien. I don't own these characters. (darn!) I make no money. Done for fun.

Additional Info: Movie-verse.

This story is going to be a little different. I have ideas for specific scenes but nothing to fill in the ‘gap’ in between. So, each chapter will be a specific ‘Day.’ Hopefully it all makes sense. Aragorn and Arwen have been married for 5 years at the start of the story.

Archive: If you like, just tell me where.

"Restless"

by Leiasky

"Day 1"

The cool breeze ruffled his hair as he watched the White Tree sway in the wind, smiled wryly as flocks of birds, even at night, soared to destinations unknown. He gazed longingly at their wings, silently wishing that his had not been so thoroughly clipped. While the City slept, there was still activity in the streets below. Always activity. Always someone awake and moving, securing the City from those who would see fit to destroy its beauty. Crystalline eyes fell over the secure gates, rebuilt not long ago by the Dwarves, experts in stonework. Riders came and went, patrolling the outer regions of the kingdom for any lingering evil that resided in the hills. Once, long ago, that was his duty. Protecting the Shire and its outlying farms. Protecting the people of Bree, and the kingdom, recently rebuilt, known as Arnor. Now, he was the recipient of such protection and, while not at all unwelcome, it was tiring.

"You long for the freedom of the wild," Arwen stepped behind him and wrapped slim fingers around the hand that lay flattened against the cold stone window. Her other hand slid up his back, slowly kneading the skin, before delving into the long, dark locks that fell to his shoulder.

He nodded but remained silent. The restlessness had been growing in every decision he made, in every word he spoke. Arwen could see it in his eyes and in his stance.

"I can feel it, love," Arwen stepped into the circle of his embrace as he opened his arms. She rested her head against his chest as his arms tightened around her shoulders. He absently rubbed at the silk to keep her from catching a chill.

"I love Gondor," He began after several moments of silence, gently stroking her hair. "I love its people. My people."

"But?" She tilted her head and looked into his troubled face.

"I simply long for a bit more freedom." Long fingers delved into her hair and he breathed deeply the fresh scent dripping from her freshly washed skin.

Arwen pressed her lips to his whiskered chin and whispered, "Come with me."

Arwen took his hand and led him toward a far corner of the bedchamber. Decadent tapestries hung from the walls and large, ornately carved wooden sculptures framed their work, accenting the designs embroidered into the fabric. Arwen released her husband’s hand and reached behind one of the large statues. He could hear her depress stone lever, but was not prepared for what happened next.

Arwen quickly pulled him away from the sculpture as it slid to the side, revealing a small pathway, barely large enough for a full sized man.

Aragorn’s mouth fell open and Arwen gently brushed a fingertip across his lips. "You’ve already had final meal, my love. Close your mouth." Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam. "Dessert is not to come for a while yet."

Aragorn shook his head and blinked, splitting his attention between his wife and the darkness before him. He snatched a candle from where it rested on a nearby table and glanced into the dark passageway. The candle’s light flickered against the stone as he stepped cautiously into the tunnel.

"Such caution is not necessary," Arwen draped a cloak across her shoulders and stepped behind him. "I’ve explored the pathway thoroughly enough."

"You’ve what?" Aragorn turned his full attention on his wife, eyes wide. "You could have been…."

"It is a passageway built for escape if the City were ever attacked by an invading army." Arwen took his free hand in hers and brought it to her lips. She kissed the palm slowly, then his wrist, before settling it against her cheek. "Tonight, it will serve as a path to….freedom."

The beginnings of a smile tugged at his mouth and he drew her into his arms. Slowly, his mouth descended and captured her lips in a breath-stealing kiss. "I should have known. You always were a rather curious elf." He whispered against her cheek.

"It has served me well," She smiled, eyes dancing.

"That it has," he grinned as her lips pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth. A simple tilt of his head and their lips met. One hand tightened around her waist and pulled her against his body. The other trembled with growing desire as it held the candle up and away from the shifting fabric of their clothing.

They remained in one another’s arms for a few moments, hands tangled in one another’s hair, soft kisses dropping on any bit of visible skin. "I think," he murmured as one hand dipped slowly below his belt, "that we should remain here and finish …"

"We can finish what you’ve started along the way….." Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight as she pressed her body against his side.

"What you’ve started," he corrected her with a smile as he pulled her tightly against him.

"Or once we reach our destination." Arwen continued as if he’d never interrupted.

With a mischievous grin to match her own, he added, "Or both," before capturing her lips in a deep, penetrating kiss.

After several seconds, she stepped away and depressed the lever that would set the statue in motion. It settled into place with a soft thud, casting them into darkness with only the flickering of the candle for light.

"Well, my Evenstar, whatever shall we do now that darkness has fallen?" His voice was low, husky as he held her tightly against him.

"You are the light, the hope, against my darkness. What say you, my King?" She answered, her voice low.

"Whatever you wish is as if a command," He whispered against her lips, catching her wandering hand before it was able to part the fabric of his tunic.

"Not here. There is more room where the passageway splits." Arwen whispered, leaning in to gently bite the lobe of his ear.

She grinned at the tremor that she felt race down his frame and gasped as he nearly picked her up in an effort to locate this fork in the tunnel.

The tunnel was long and soon they were walking slowly, distracted with the blatant groping in the dark, the slim hands that slid seductively down and around his body. "We are never going to get to this fork if you don’t stop." Aragorn growled, his voice deep with arousal.

"Then turn around and let me relieve this undue stress." She raked her nails down his chest to his belt, before hooking her fingers into the leather that draped loosely over his hips.

"I can wait." He hissed, drawing her up against him quickly before her roaming fingers brought him too far to turn back. He captured one hand in his and brought it to his lips. Their eyes met briefly before his teeth sunk gently into her wrist. Fabric parted and her other hand slipped between its folds drawing his lips from her skin with a shocked gasp.

The hand forgotten, he bent to capture her lips, sucking the air from between them like a vacuum. "How far?" He growled.

"Walk, love," She whispered in return, removing her fingers from between the folds of the tabard. "Not far." A small grin played across her features as he led her quickly down the passageway.

A small burst of air, fresh and cool, whirled through the darkness, a welcome change to his burning skin. When they reached the fork, a faint flicker of light could be seen at the end of the shorter passage. Aragorn set the candle down in the tunnel that revealed only darkness. When he turned around and reached for his wife, his eyes narrowed at the sight of her back pressed flat against the farthest wall. Her eyes seductively rolled down his body and he quickly crossed the distance that separated them.

He caught and lifted her into his arms, his mouth coming down and capturing her lips in a hard, possessive kiss. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling gently at the strands and causing him to growl into her mouth. She smiled against his lips, a nipped playfully as his hands quickly lifted the skirts about her waist.

"So urgent, love," Arwen whispered against his lips as she played with the neckline of his tunic.

"Your doing, woman," Aragorn hissed as he quickly parted the folds of the confining fabric covering his legs and steadied her against his hips. He pressed her back into the wall and groaned loud and long into her mouth when their bodies met.

--------------------------------------------------

The candle was nearly spent as the King and Queen re-arranged their clothes and began to stalk, hand in hand, down the dark passageway. At Arwen’s insistence, they had taken the longer, darker route. "I hope your screams did not awaken whoever may be at the end of this path." Aragorn teased.

She scoffed and simply answered by sliding a hand around his waist and hooking her fingers into his low-slung belt.

"Where does this passageway lead?" Aragorn grumped. It was taking far too long for them to traverse the distance and he was tiring of this mysterious passage. "The candlelight is waning and I see no light at the end of this tunnel."

"Well, had you not felt the need to stop at the fork, we would have reached the entrance before the wick burned to its end." Arwen smiled at his back as he only grunted in response.

"We should have taken the other pathway." He moved a bit quicker, hoping to reach the end before the candle burned down completely.

"That would have led to the courtyard near the White Tree. Hardly far enough for you to stretch your restless wings."

"The light wanes, we must hurry. The keen eyes of even an elf would do little better than my own here."

"I know my way." Came the quick reply and Aragorn didn’t ask. He’d discover her secrets given enough time.

A warm breeze ruffled their hair and Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief that they were nearing the passage end.

"Not far now." Arwen moved in front of him. "I will lead. You don't know the way."

Aragorn frowned and glanced at the candle, flickering in its last throws of life. "Well make it quick or we will be stuck here for the remainder of the night."

"As long as we are together," Arwen stopped, turned toward her husband, and flattened her hands against his chest. The candle flickered out just as her mouth covered his in a gentle kiss.

He groaned against her lips and shivered against the hands he felt sliding down his chest. "Insatiable." He muttered, flinging away the candle. He flattened his hands against her backside and pulled her against him.

Several moments later, she stepped away. Her hand disappeared into the darkness and they could hear the movement of stone as a large statue moved to reveal a clear, starlit sky. Moonlight streamed into the passageway and Arwen took Aragorn's hand and led him through the doorway.

Arwen pressed a secret control and the statue of the last Gondorian king slid back into place.

Aragorn stood quietly, gazing out over the small river that served as the closest outlet to the Anduin. The starlight reflected off the steady flow of water and the moon cast its bright glow on the couple below. The white walls of the City could be seen not far away, but farther than he would have ever guessed they’d traveled.

Arwen took his hand and led him to a small glen, secluded on three sides by dense foliage. Water trickled in a stream at their feet and small creatures moved through the grass, stalking their prey.

"Come here often?" Aragorn asked, smiling at his wife as she removed her cloak and spread it atop the blades of grass. Sitting down, she beckoned to him with open arms.

"Not often," she answered, eyes drifting toward the water. He settled behind her and drew her into his arms. "Only when I need…..solitude."

"Gondor is a far cry from the peaceful forests of Rivendell," Aragorn wrapped his arms around her shoulders and nuzzled her hair with a whiskered cheek.

"It is as much of a change for me as your leaving the wandering life of a Ranger and becoming King of both Gondor and Arnor." She leaned into his arms and sighed, eyes fluttering shut as his lips closed around the tip of her ear.

"True." He whispered, nibbling down the curved lobe and sending tremors racing down her spine.

"You've taken on a great deal of responsibility in a very short amount of time," Arwen arched her head to give his wandering lips easier access to the creamy skin of her neck.

"Hmmm," he muttered, rubbing a whiskered chin along her collarbone.

"Perhaps it is time to visit some old friends," Arwen offered, trembling, as his hands slid around her waist and pulled at the fastenings of her dress.

"Your wish is my command." Came the muffled response.

Suddenly, shocking him from his passion-induced haze, she turned and knelt before him. Settling her hands along the side of his face, she gazed at him with a passion kept in check only by a thread. "Send for Legolas and Gimli. I'm sure they would be quite upset if we were to make this journey without them."

"And where exactly are we to journey?" His hands settled at her waist and tugged at the thin belt holding closed her silken dress.

"To visit Arnor, of course," She leaned down and dragged her mouth across his before stopping just below his ear to whisper, "By way of the Shire."

Aragorn's eyes widened as her lips closed around his lower ear and began to suckle like a babe. As her belt fell from her hips, he parted the folds of her dress and pulled her tightly against his hard chest. "Quite a long journey." He murmured, eyes dancing as she settled herself onto his thighs.

"I’m sure you will be up for the task." Dark eyes danced as nimble fingers removed his own belt. She pushed him onto his back and slowly removed the fastenings of his tunic, baring burning skin to the evening chill. Moonlight glinted off their bare skin as they finished their passion-filled evening beneath the stars.

Chapter 2: Day 5

"Mae govannen, Elessar!" Legolas honored Aragorn with a traditional elven greeting before clasping his old friend in a tight hug.

"Mae Govannen, Legolas!" Aragorn smiled at his friend as the elf moved to bow to Arwen. She stood nearby patiently waiting for the old friends to part. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Legolas bowed deeply to Arwen and took her hands in his. "You look radiant, Evenstar. This life suits you."

Arwen smiled widely and squeezed the fingers that delicately held her own. "Thank you, Legolas." She cast a loving look at Aragorn, who watched the exchange with an amused smile. "There is no place I would rather be."

"Your journey was safe?" Aragorn looked around, noting Legolas' visibly absent, vertically challenged traveling partner.

"Aye, indeed it was." Legolas said. The elf noticed the concerned look Aragorn tried to mask. He looked back toward the entrance and straightened - the perfect epitome of a woodland elf. When he said no more, he caught the muffled snort of annoyance from the King. An amused smile crept along the normally unemotional features and the pale blue of his eyes began to dance.

"Alright," Aragorn finally broke the silence, "Since you have not the slightest intention of telling me where Gimli is, I'll ask.

Legolas simply stared and Arwen muffled a very feminine chuckle with a hand clasped over her mouth. Aragorn shot her an annoyed look before pinning his gaze on his elven friend.

"He lost a bet and will be along shortly," Legolas said flatly.

"Elininga! Legolas," Aragorn rolled his eyes and raised his arms as Arwen quickly stepped into the circle of his embrace. "Will you two ever cease this useless bickering?"

"Never." Legolas smiled at the fond memories of his constant battle of wit with his friend. "It is all too amusing to continually prove to him how inferior he is to elves."

Arwen's eyes sparkled and she cast a sidelong glance at her husband. He caught her eyes and raised a finger. "Not a word."

At this, Legolas allowed a small chuckle as Arwen placed a quick kiss to her husband’s cheek. "Never would I presume to admit that the race of Men are inferior to my own people."

His hand tightened around her waist and he favored her with an arrogant smile, "You’ve had no complaints."

Legolas scoffed and took a step back as the couple dissolved into laughter.

A few moments later, a rather irritated Gimli wandered into the garden, mumbling incoherently.

"Welcome Gimli!" Aragorn released his wife and strode forward to greet the Dwarf. "Thank you for coming."

"I could hardly refuse a summons from the King himself," Gimli replied, bowing low before sending a sneer in the direction of where Legolas was standing with the Queen.

Aragorn nodded to his guard, who acknowledged the signal and removed himself to the outer garden to give the King and his guests some privacy.

Gimli stalked toward Legolas, eyeing him with contempt before gracing Arwen with a wide smile and a low bow. "Greetings, Lady Arwen. You look as stunning as ever."

"Why thank you, Gimli." Arwen reached for her husband's hand as he moved to stand beside her. "And thank you for answering Aragorn's summons so promptly."

"It is my duty," Gimli nodded and, sticking his nose up at Legolas, added. "I also see the craftsmen I sent to complete repairs on the southern wall have come and gone."

"Beautiful and unmatched work as was expected." Aragorn nodded, and took a seat along the lip of a large fountain that sat nestled into the surrounding foliage. He motioned for his guests to take a seat in one of the ornately carved benches as Arwen stood behind her husband and rested crossed wrists on his shoulder. "We cannot thank you enough for your generosity."

"It is my honor to serve." Gimli said. Looking at the lone bench before them, he exchanged a quick disapproving glance with Legolas. The elf moved to the side of the bench and leaned against the tall pillar that served as a support for the overhang above. Gimli grunted his disapproval and took a seat, resting his axe against the opposite support pillar.

"To where would you like us to accompany you?" Legolas asked before Aragorn could frame the question. His elvish senses were as keen as ever and the Prince figured he'd once again prove how inferior all other Races were to the Elves.

"Leave it to an elf not to mince words," Gimli scowled.

"We'd like you to ride with us," Aragorn reached up and covered Arwen's hand with his own, "to Arnor."

"By way of the Shire," Arwen added with a smile.

"I would dearly love to see the hobbits again!" Gimli nearly bounced out of his seat. "When do we leave?"

Legolas shot him an annoyed look for shaking the pillar before turning a calm gaze on his friend and King.

"Your heart yearns for its wandering days," Legolas said simply, reading Aragorn's thoughts as easily as he would read a piece of parchment.

"A bit," Aragorn admitted after a few moments of silence. "I miss our old friends, the hobbits. I would like to see them again."

"We will simply visit the rebuilt city of Annuminas while we are there to fulfill state obligations," Arwen added, running a hand through the back of Aragorn's hair.

"Which brings us to another point," Aragorn said, a mischievous grin alighting his crystalline gaze. "We want to make good speed and the court will insist on a royal escort larger than I care to approve."

"We will serve as your personal guard for as long as you have need," Legolas said, nodding to Gimli. "But you may find it difficult to convince your court that we are all the protection you need."

* 

"Absolutely not." The Chamberlain addressed the King, eyes wide with indignation. He paced the hall, irritated that the King would even have the gall to voice such a request. "My Lord. I can not allow you to make such a long journey without the appropriate escort."

Aragorn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "This will not be a formal visit. Such a large entourage will not be necessary." He cast a desperate look at Faramir who simply smiled sadly, pity for Aragorn’s situation clearly visible in his eyes.

"It is necessary for your protection." The Chamberlain was obstinate in this decision. "Protocol requires that you be accompanied by - "

"Legolas and Gimli will be our chief escort," Aragorn stood and drew himself to his full, intimidating height. If the Chamberlain found Aragorn’s interruption rude, he made no mention. "They are more than capable."

"Sire," The Chamberlain began, slower, so that the King understood the importance of the necessary entourage. "You will need squires for armor, servants for the baggage, attendants for the queen, a herald for announcing your arrival into Arnor, a bard for entertainment and your champion will be necessary. Stable boys will accompany you as well to care for the horses each night. I will accompany you to supervise." The Chamberlain regarded Aragorn with a look that was meant to stop any and all refusal. "That you will be protected by a well-armed escort goes without saying."

Faramir pressed a gloved hand to his mouth and coughed a laugh into his hand, drawing the attention of a very annoyed Aragorn. The Steward struggled to calm the mirth threatening to burst from his lungs and simply coughed again to clear his throat. He forced the laughter from his eyes, wiped the smirk off his face and nodded slowly to Aragorn.

Aragorn exchanged an exasperated look with Arwen, who sat silently on the throne next to him.

"A champion will not be necessary." Aragorn stated firmly. " I will defend my own honor, should it be challenged, as well as that of my wife. The champions will remain here." The King turned to the aforementioned men. "No insult is intended, Sirs, you will be needed here should someone challenge the throne while we are away."

"None taken, My Lord." The King's champion stood and bowed before returning to his seat. "We are yours to command."

"One attendant for the queen is all that will be required," Arwen nodded as Aragorn turned to her for approval. "Arwen is quite capable of looking after herself."

"The rest -" Aragorn sighed, pinning the Chamberlain with a stern look. "I do not want it to take a year to get there and a year to return. I have made the journey in little more than a month riding alone."

"My Lord," the Chamberlain began, "You have a kingdom to rule and a kingdom whose royal council dictates that whenever the King leaves his realm, these individuals must accompany him."

"We understand your frustration," Faramir stood and the Chamberlain bowed, giving the Steward the floor. As he strode to the center of the hall, he favored each member of the council with a direct look, before turning his full attention on Aragorn. "This is your first long journey from Gondor since your coronation." He paused and nodded reverently to Arwen, who sat behind her standing husband. "It has been five years, and in that time, you have rebuilt the White City to its former glory and beyond. This Council will not let you set foot outside this realm without adequate protection and attendants." The Steward regarded his King with a pitiful look. "I’m sorry, but that is how it must be." Faramir winced at the harsh tone he had no choice but to use. Even he would not dare speak to the King in such a manner but he also knew the Council would not let Aragorn leave the City with his wife and only the barest minimum of an escort.

"So then it shall be," Aragorn dismissed the Council with a wave of his hand and turned to his wife. "We will leave on the morrow." Arwen slid her fingers into his outstretched hand, stood, and walked out of the great hall with her husband.

Once they were out of sight, Aragorn leaned against the stone wall and sighed. "So much for the easy way."

Arwen leaned into his arms and he could feel her body tremble as amused laughter began to bubble from her lips. "Oh love, it is the way of things. We will just have to follow the flow."

He leaned his forehead against hers and flattened his hands against her back. "A little freedom. A little peace and quiet away from," he waved a hand in the general direction of the hall, "that, them, this."

Arwen slid a finger under his chin lifted his gaze to hers. "And here I thought you'd stopped running from your responsibilities." She pinned him to the wall with a questioning gaze.

"I have," Aragorn said quickly, taking an immediate defensive posture. "Some days, it is just…too much."

"I know," she pressed her lips to his in a gentle, understanding kiss.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and pulled her against his chest. When she slid her fingers into his hair and pulled him deeper into the kiss, he groaned against her lips. "Insatiable, elf."

She slipped out of his embrace and motioned toward where the Council waited. "I believe you have more business to conduct today. I’ll be waiting for you this evening." With a wink she turned and floated down the hall, the soft material of her dress kissing the polished stone as she walked.

Chapter 3: Day 25

"I do believe my count ended higher than yours, Legolas." Gimli argued, holding tightly to his stallion's reins. He would never be quite comfortable atop the four legged creatures but, for this journey, he had been required to get used to it, or stay behind.

Aragorn rolled his eyes and steered Roheryn closer to Arwen, who simply chuckled and gazed down the path ahead.

"I beg to differ," Legolas shot back, eyes darting around the landscape as they spoke. "You clearly mis-counted the number of kills that evening. Perhaps it was the blow to the head that you received."

Gimli huffed and shot back a comment Aragorn did not completely hear. Arwen had taken his hand and settled it atop her thigh as the horses walked along the trail. That simple gesture had served to thoroughly distract him. "As much as I hate to remove your hand, love, I believe we should trot along a bit faster, perhaps the motion will jar them from their current feud."

"Unlikely, but lets make the attempt," Arwen removed her hand and gripped the reins tightly. As Roheryn trotted ahead of her, she gave Asfaloth’s sides a bit of a squeeze, urging him alongside her husband.

When the guard and the rest of the entourage noticed the change in pace, they matched it, keeping close to the king and his wife so as to protect them should trouble fall into the path.

Aragorn’s plan worked for a time, and he quietly watched Arwen as they rode, entranced by her simple beauty. Her hair blew around her face as the breeze tugged strands of the long, dark mane from its braid.

When the sun began to set, the caravan stopped at the base of the mountain. Aragorn chose a site greatly surrounded by trees, their leaves full and green in the midst of the summer bloom. This would serve to protect and insulate the caravan as the temperature dropped.

Legolas scouted ahead, leaping off his horse before Gimli had the chance to follow the much more limber elf.

Aragorn could see that Legolas enjoyed loosing the Dwarf in the forest. His speed and agility, not to mention his familiarity with the trees, gave him much more of an advantage than the Dwarf would ever admit. Gimli muttered beneath his breath and followed the direction he 'thought' Legolas had gone.

The stable boys rushed to prepare a proper brushing for the horses, tending first to Roheryn and Asfaloth as the King stepped into the forest for a few moments of solitude.

Royal Guardsmen were never far behind and Aragorn sighed as he settled into the ground at the base of a large oak. Its roots delved deep into the earth, surrounding him as he sat between the dark wood. He leaned his back against the large trunk and closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the day's journey roll off his shoulders.

Once Arwen finished speaking with her attendant, she joined her husband. The Guardsmen took a few steps away from the couple, giving them what privacy they felt safe enough to permit.

"The journey is progressing much faster than I anticipated," Aragorn admitted, holding up his arms in an invitation Arwen could not refuse.

She sat comfortably on his lap and leaned deeply into his tight embrace. She closed her eyes and listened, the deep baritone of his voice reverberating through her back as he spoke. "But it does not satiate your restless blood."

He smoothed her hair and pressed a kiss to the side of her forehead. "We are never alone here. In ways it is worse than the City." Leaves rustled above them and Aragorn took a deep, relaxing breath. "But in many it is better. It is truly good to be out in the wild again, regardless of who trails on my heels."

Arwen nodded and pressed a kiss to his whiskered jaw. She laced her fingers through where his hands were clasped together at her waist and rubbed her thumbs slowly along his skin.

Silence fell as he bent over and pressed a slow kiss to the shell of her ear. A smile spread slowly across his face as he felt the tremor race down her spine at the simple touch. Encouraged by her reaction, he slowly rubbed his lips along the length of the lobe, stopping at certain points to press a short kiss to the sensitive skin. When he reached the pointed tip, his lips closed over the shell and she whimpered, sinking even deeper into his embrace.

"Perhaps the woods are not the best place for you to be exploring the more sensitive portions of my body," she whispered, abruptly turning so as to face him. When she set her hands on his upper thighs for balance, he quickly swallowed a muffled groan. But she smiled knowingly at him, eyes sparkling even in the rapidly approaching darkness.

"I believe it is time for bed, my Lady," Aragorn breathed hotly.

She took note of the drop in his voice and the crackle in the air now alive with the sparks of passion. "Yes, I do believe I agree." Arwen said as she stood. "They should have the pavilion set up by now." She reached down and held out her hand to her husband, who took it and pulled himself to his feet. Before turning away, he executed a most spectacular bow over her hand and pressed a lingering kiss to the soft skin.

When they returned, their pavilion was set up, food was cooking over the fire and guards had formed a parameter around the camp. Arwen immediately disappeared inside, but not before she tossed a look toward her husband that warned him not to be long. Arwen's attendant, seeing her enter the pavilion without her husband, moved to follow her charge.

Aragorn noticed this and held out his hand to prevent the young woman from entering. "Arwen is well. The evening is your own." He smiled down at the girl and she nodded and bowed to her liege before moving back to her own small bedroll.

A squire and guardsman approached Aragorn and proceeded to ask him a few questions about the company and the planned path for tomorrow. Aragorn answered as politely as he was able but, the recently kindled desire for his wife's touch, long held in check on this journey, was slowly beginning to boil his blood. The longer he was made to wait, the more impatient he became. Finally he just dismissed the two and rubbed at his eyes muttering something about exhaustion.

Just as he reached for the pavilion's flap, a rather exasperated Chamberlain interrupted his escape.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked calmly. He could feel the edges of his temper begin to fray, but he smiled politely.

The Chamberlain shot an annoyed glance at a bickering Gimli and Legolas, who had recently returned from securing the perimeter of the camp. "Do they ever stop?"

Aragorn chuckled, long and loud. It had been a standing bet between himself and his wife how long the Chamberlain would last before mentioning Gimli and Legolas' strange friendship. He mentally ticked off the days and groaned inwardly. Arwen won.

"It used to be worse." He admitted and they listened to the next few exchanges, unsure as to whom to declare the winner for the evening.

"It would be a lovely gift if we could be spared the sound of your attempt to pull a howling boar from your nasal passages this evening," Legolas settled onto his blanket and closed his eyes.

Gimli looked at Legolas horrified. Before he could frame an answer, Legolas continued.

"If you are incapable of preventing such an occurrence, could you please sleep at the head of the camp so as to scare away any large animals that may consider using us as its evening meal." Legolas said calmly, eyes still closed, senses outstretched to feel for any threat, veiled or evident.

"I don't know why I tolerate your treatment of me!" Gimli scooped up his blankets and scowled at Legolas. "Aragorn should send you up into one of those trees you love so much to spare us your unneeded boasts about elves and how you are so far above we mere mortal creatures. Forget not, Legolas, it is we 'mortals' who saved your collective hides during the War of the Ring."

"They used to mean every rude word they said to one another." Aragorn grinned at the irritated Chamberlain.

"They don't mean such words now?" The Chamberlain shot an exasperated look at the unlikely friends, "You could have fooled me."

Gimli muttered a few choice words in the tongue of the Dwarves as he passed the Chamberlain and the King, and Aragorn chuckled. The Chamberlain glanced at his King with a slightly confused look.

"The comment was rude, and rather untranslatable in any language."

The Chamberlain rolled his eyes and shook his head. He executed a perfect bow and added," Are you in need of anything else this eve?"

Aragorn smiled, "Nothing at all."

The man nodded. "Your meal will be delivered soon."

"No rush," Aragorn smiled at the Chamberlain and quickly disappeared behind the pavilion's curtain before anyone else could stop him.

-------------------------

Aragorn navigated his way around the silk hanging from the ceiling and stopped suddenly when he stepped into the makeshift bed chamber.

Arwen sat atop the furs, long hair flowing down her back as she attempted to comb out the knots from the day's travel.

Aragorn knelt beside her and covered her hand with his own. "Let me."

Wordlessly, she released the comb and turned her back to her husband. As he began to slowly brush her hair, she closed her eyes and sighed. His hands worked gently, pulling and smoothing the long, dark strands. Tremors raced down her spine when he leaned over her shoulder and unashamedly sucked the tip of her ear into his mouth. The comb fell forgotten to the furs as Aragorn trailed the back of his hand down the length of her neck. With the other, he delved into the smooth locks, and pulled her head to the side, baring even further the smooth, creamy skin.

"It has been far too long," Aragorn whispered against her neck. He nuzzled the skin with a whiskered chin as his hands slid around her waist.

"Yes," she melted into his embrace as his hands began to unfasten the intricate clasps that held the dress firmly secured to her body. Before he had finished with the first, there was a rustling inside the pavilion. They heard a small voice call to them from the other side of the hanging silk.

Aragorn tore his fingers away from the fastenings and cursed beneath his breath. Arwen chuckled and nudged him with an elbow to the side.

"Meal, my Lord," the servant called shyly.

Aragorn raised a curious eyebrow and waited for Arwen to decide what kind of hunger was more important. The only answer came in the form of her own fingers quickly unfastening the clasps on her dress. When the material slid down her shoulders, Aragorn called to the servant, "Leave it, please." To Arwen, much lower, he said. "We're not hungry."

"Only for one another," she whispered, cautious of the ears that could still be waiting on the other side of the cloth door.

------------------------

Aragorn leaned back, exhausted, drawing Arwen into his arms. She rested her cheek against the damp skin of his shoulder and pressed a kiss to his whiskered chin.

The rumbling outside the pavilion continued and Aragorn considered asking Gimli to move. But, he reconsidered, realizing that the Dwarf's snoring was probably the only thing that prevented the entire camp from becoming aware of what kind of 'rest' their king and queen were getting.

"Ah," Aragorn breathed. His muscles ached, his body was entirely satiated and he was finding it difficult to remain conscious.

Arwen could feel his fatigue and cupped his cheek in her hand. "Sleep, love. You will need rest for tomorrow."

Aragorn looked down his nose at her upturned eyes then sighed heavily. "There are times when I envy the speed in which elves recover."

Arwen chuckled and settled herself tightly against his side. "Sleep now." She flattened one hand against his bare chest. She could feel the strong and steady beat of his heart reverberate in her ears and she, too, closed her eyes.

Unfortunately, the close proximity to Gimli's snoring, caused the couple to remain awake, and mostly sated, for the entire night.

Chapter 4: Day 45

Arwen shot her husband a playful smile as she moved to mount Roheryn. The stable hand, used to releasing the reins to the King every morning, stared at her in awe.

"I will ride with Aragorn for the first part of the morning," she told him and he moved to help her into the saddle. She accepted his help with a small smile. Please ready Asfaloth so I may move to him when my husband tires of me pushing him out of his saddle."

"Never," Aragorn walked around a few of the saddled and waiting horses and smiled up at his wife and then down at the stable boy. "You will get no complaint from me." He winked at the boy and then mounted his stallion behind Arwen.

As he settled behind her, she shifted her hips and leaned back against his chest. When his arms came down around her shoulders to grasp the reins, she arched her neck and looked into his eyes. "You look well this morning." She whispered against his cheek.

"As do you, regardless of such little sleep." He flattened a hand against her stomach while the other held tight to the reins.

"Tonight, perhaps Gimli will sleep in a tree." Arwen offered with an amused smile.

"Love, please don’t give me any ideas." Aragorn groaned and whirled Roheryn toward the head of the caravan. "Ever since Legolas refused to sleep next to him, he has made his bed far too close to us for my taste."

Legolas brought Arod around to stand beside the King and Queen. There was something different about the Prince of Mirkwood this morning, and it wasn't lack of sleep. His eyes flickered with a secret knowledge and Aragorn stifled a groan of realization.

While Arwen leaned down to speak with a servant, Aragorn narrowed his eyes at his elven friend.

"Gimli's snoring does not drown every sound from the forest." The elven prince muttered quietly, careful that Arwen didn't overhear.

Aragorn winced and squeezed his eyes shut at the implication of Legolas' words. Aragorn began to redden with embarrassment but not before he noticed the deep flush tint his friend's ears.

Aragorn took a deep breath and Legolas offered his friend a small smile. He leaned toward Aragorn to be sure no one could hear his next words. "Worry not, I slept in the river."

Aragorn blinked as Legolas pulled Arod around and trotted toward the back of the company. He fought another flush of embarrassment mixed with amusement at the thought of Legolas needing to find comfort in a cold river solely because he could hear a simple passionate encounter.

He resolved to speak more of this with Legolas when Arwen was not within earshot.

-------------------------------

When they had stopped for the evening, and night fell over the camp, Aragorn crept out of the pavilion like a thief, stalking toward the tall trees for a bit of solitude. He slipped through the watch of the royal guards and made for the dense forest. What he didn’t notice was the lithe form of a very limber elf following not far behind.

Aragorn found a large, tall tree and climbed easily into it, relieved to see that he still remembered his basic Ranger training. He breathed deeply of the bark, of the freshness of the air and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Legolas sat above him, staring down into his face. Aragorn sighed.

"Can I get no peace?"

"I will not let you alone in the forest, regardless of how safe these woods appear to have become." Came the soft reply. A blond head glanced back toward the direction in which they had just come and smiled. "No one followed us."

Aragorn nodded and fell into a thoughtful silence. "I was too harsh, I’m sorry."

"It is understood," Legolas said. "This has been a long trip, and we have not yet reached our destination. That stuffy Chamberlain is enough to grate on even the most patient man’s nerves."

Aragorn chuckled. "He says the same thing about your banter with Gimli. I do believe you are driving the poor man slowly insane."

A pale eyebrow raised in amusement. "And you complain?"

"Not at all, my friend." Aragorn admitted with a wry smile. "Not at all."

The two fell silent as they heard the crashing of footsteps below. "Find him!" The Chamberlain hissed to the royal guard. "I can’t believe you allowed the King to simply walk out into the dark forest without so much as an honor guard!"

Aragorn’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight torn with the choice of calling out his location or simply letting the Chamberlain think he had gone deep into the forest. The poor man was probably nearing heart failure at his disappearance. Aragorn smiled again as his mind whispered ‘little victories, take them while you can.’

"No one saw him leave, My Lord Chamberlain." The captain of the guard said, eyes wide with fear.

"Then you and your men need to be better trained!" The Man refused to hear reason. "I do not want excuses. I want you to find him." A long, deep sigh escaped his lips and he looked into the dark forest dejectedly.

Aragorn’s eyes caught those of his elven friend and Legolas nodded in understanding, observing his King’s unvoiced command. They remained completely still, watching with interest as the guards trouped through the forest.

"I’m certain no ill has befallen him," The Captain attempted to reassure the Chamberlain but his calm voice only served to infuriate the man even more.

"Well, had you been more watchful, you would know for certain!" The Chamberlain whirled on the Captain of the Guard, eyes bugging as if they would pop out of his head. "If one hair on King Elessar’s head has been hurt, I will hold you personally responsible."

Hearing the Chamberlain’s treatment of his well-trained men strengthened Aragorn’s resolve to remain right where he was – out of the Chamberlain’s sight. The Ranger in Aragorn, however, found it very difficult to keep from slitting the Chamberlain’s throat for the unnecessary delivery of such harsh words.

Soon, the guards had moved on – at the Chamberlain’s insistent nagging - determined to find their missing King.

So concerned with the goings-on below, Aragorn did not see Legolas’ head snap in the opposite direction, eyes piercing the darkness as if it were daylight.

"Come," Legolas stood, easily balancing on a branch no larger than the circumference of his wrist. His head was turned toward some invisible prey, his ears listening for the barest hint of sound. "There is trouble about."

Aragorn frowned and stood, a little less gracefully, atop the branch on which he had been sitting.

Slowly, they began to climb the trees, moving from branch to overlapping branch with little effort. Legolas slowed to a pace Aragorn could keep up with, the man having not the training or the balance to move swiftly atop swaying branches.

When Legolas deemed they’d reached a far enough distance away from the camp, he crouched low, balancing precariously above a small rock-ladden stream. Aragorn looked around in the darkness, letting his elven-trained instincts take over. He looked toward Legolas, whose nose was turned into the wind.

"There is a foul stench on the air," Legolas whispered, eyes piercing the darkness. "We must be wary."

Aragorn’s eyes narrowed. "Is the camp in danger?"

"I do not think so." Legolas turned to his friend, hearing immediately the concern for the Queen in his friend’s simple question.

Without warning, Legolas leapt from the branch and landed lightly on the ground below. Immediately his head jerked up and sniffed the air. When Aragorn landed solidly on the ground next to him, Legolas shoved his friend to the side, drew his bow and knocked an arrow faster than the eye could see.

"What is it?" Aragorn gritted as he nearly tripped on a protruding rock. As Aragorn peered into the darkness, two yellow eyes appeared before him. Bared teeth gleamed in the moonlight, haunting in their ferocity. The stench was nearly unbearable, made worse as the creature launched itself off powerful hind legs toward Aragorn.

"A Warg," Legolas loosed an arrow that caught the advancing creature in the shoulder. It fell to the ground with an angry yelp but immediately gained its feet and continued to stalk toward the King. Aragorn drew Anduril, its ‘shing’, as it was released from its scabbard, echoed across the quiet forest and into the ears of the searching royal guards.

"If there are no others, we should be able to take him," Legolas loosed another arrow, this time catching the snarling wolf in chest, dropping him instantly. But behind him, two more evil creatures lunged.

Aragorn caught the first in the chest, his blade slicing tendon and bone, dropping the vile creature where it stood. With an elegant flourish, Aragorn drew his blade from the torn flesh and brought it up to parry the flaring teeth that gnawed at his tunic.

"The guards!" Aragorn cried, concern for the well-being of his people carried in his voice. "Their senses are not so keen, they will be overtaken caught by surprise should there be more of these vile creatures about!" Before Aragorn could say any more, the creature’s teeth punctured the skin of his arm, drawing a shocked cry from the King’s lips.

Material ripped and blood flowed heavily from the wound as the creature’s teeth caught Aragorn’s arm. Aragorn blinked back the tears that pooled in his eyes. Skin was ripped painfully away from bone as Legolas fired two arrows straight into the Warg’s side, causing the creature to release Aragorn’s arm. Another arrow straight into the chest, silenced the Warg’s snarl for good.

Legolas whirled quickly around to be sure there were no more of the vile beasts lingering in the darkness. Once satisfied that there had been only three, Legolas rushed to his friend’s side.

The pain of the bite stung more than the King wanted to admit, and Legolas immediately grabbed the torn flesh and plunged it into the cool water of the stream. Aragorn bit back a cry of discomfort.

"We must cleanse the wound before the poison sets in," Legolas ripped the shredded material away from his friend’s arm and scrubbed roughly at the skin with a fistful of nearby leaves.

Aragorn winced in pain at the harsh treatment but understood what his friend was trying to do. Fresh blood ran down his arm taking the poison of the Warg’s bitewith it.

Guardsman, having heard Aragorn’s earlier cry, trampled heavily through the trees until they reached their King. The Chamberlain moved from between the guards, a scowl permanently affixed to his wrinkled features. "My Lord! You should not have left camp without the appropriate escort! We heard your cry!" His eyes fixed on Legolas’ hands. "You've been injured - " He knelt beside Aragorn and Legolas favored him with an unemotional stare.

Aragorn glared at the man. "I am fine." He looked around at the guard that surrounded him. "And did you leave protection in the camp for my wife?"

The Chamberlain stood, snorting his disgust at Aragorn's complete disregard for his responsibilities. "I assure you the Queen is well protected, My Liege."

As Aragorn spoke with his Chamberlain, Legolas gathered a few herbs and squeezed the juices into Aragorn's open wound. Aragorn hissed in pain, drawing an angry look from his Chamberlain.

"Let him work." Aragorn gritted. "He is the best healer among us. He knows what he is doing."

"You may have a difficult time using the arm for the next few days." Legolas advised. "It will be stiff and may burn a bit." When he finished cleansing the wound, the elf placed a few leaves against the torn skin and wrapped them with a frayed piece of Aragorn's tunic to stop the bleeding.

"I'll be fine." Aragorn assured his friend. When he stood, his head began to swim and his eyes crossed.

"The effects of the herbs." Legolas said as the Chamberlain shot him a cold look. "As well as the loss of blood." The Elf turned to the Chamberlain. "We must get back to the camp or we will be carrying the King to his bed."

------------------------

Arwen paced inside the pavilion. Royal guardsmen stood inside and out, weapons drawn and at the ready. Arwen's elven blade was never more than a few feet from her hand. She was torn between rage at him sneaking off and fear that he had been injured. The Chamberlain wasn’t the only one who may not survive the journey to the Shire.

When Aragorn, Legolas and the Chamberlain stepped through the flap, hours after he’d left, Arwen breathed a deep sigh of relief. She rushed to her husband and embraced him tightly, murmuring a few select elvish phrases into his ear.

"You're injured!" Arwen's eyes went wide and she quickly examined the rest of him to be sure he was still intact.

"Not badly," Legolas led Aragorn to the bed-chamber and assisted in the removal of his torn shirt.

Once bare-chested and wearing only a pair of loose-fitting breeches, Aragorn settled into the furs. "I think I'm fine for the rest of the evening." He stared at the men who insisted on remaining to lend their assistance and yawned. The herbs had begun to take the desired affect.

"Indeed you are," Legolas knelt beside his friend and gently touched his wrist. Noticing Arwen was otherwise occupied with the Chamberlain and a servant, Legolas leaned closer to add, "At least I will get some sleep for the next few nights."

Aragorn's eyes lit with understanding and he stifled a laugh. The herbs had not yet begun to affect his wit and he winked at his friend. "Oh, I don't know. Arwen can be pretty persuasive - "

Legolas stood quickly and shook his head. "There are some things, my friend, that I don't need to know. I've 'heard' enough for the rest of my days."

Arwen, hearing the end of the conversation, favored both men with a curious look.

"Don't ask," Aragorn smiled affectionately at his wife and Legolas bowed in respect before making his escape. He was not going to be the one to have to answer Arwen's questions about his conversation with her husband.

When the Chamberlain began nattering about protocol, leaving a secured camp to wander in the woods and various other ‘duties’, Aragorn's eyes began to cross. "We'll discuss this later. The herb’s medicinal properties are beginning to take affect and I will not be responsible for things that I should say from this moment forward." He gritted between clenched teeth.

The Chamberlain’s eyes widened and Arwen covered her smirk of amusement with the back of her hand.

Once Arwen recovered, she assured, "We will be fine for the evening. I will call should we need assistance." Arwen's gentle voice was a stark contrast to Aragorn's deep, rough tone.

The Chamberlain bowed gracefully and stepped out of the pavilion, the guardsmen following close behind.

"And apologize to my Captain on your way out!" Aragorn called loudly, the annoyance in his voice shining through with amazing clarity. "Not many men can successfully track a Ranger."

Arwen knelt beside her husband a brushed a few strands of hair that had fallen across his clouded eyes. "Don't ever do that again. I don't care who you think you are and who you wish you still were."

He turned sleepy eyes toward her as she settled into the furs beside him. She opened her arms and he settled into them, resting his head against her chest. He draped his injured arm across her waist and mumbled a response before falling into a deep, medication-induced sleep.

Arwen glared down at the sleeping man, her anger fading as she stared at his bandaged arm. She would have words with him in the morning when he was awake and unable to use medication as an excuse to extract himself from an argument.

Chapter 5: Day 54

Men on horseback were becoming more frequent along the small dirt road and Aragorn smiled. Pleasant memories of this place filled his thoughts and he was suddenly glad that Arwen was at his side. He wanted her to see this place, see the lands, which he, and his ancestors before him, had protected for generations. He wanted to share with her the feelings of the place he long called home.

It was clear the passing men, women and children, had never seen such a royally dressed caravan. By the looks of awe and the gaping jaws as they passed, the people would indeed wonder who these strange travelers were, and to where they were going.

They pushed onward, without rest, determined to reach Bree by sunset, before the gates were closed to outsiders.

When the caravan arrived at dusk, Aragorn was pleasantly surprised to see the wooden gates standing open. The gatekeeper stepped out of his 'office' and stood unmoving at the uncommon vision of royalty that stood before him.

"I will announce your arrival," The Chamberlain sat arrogantly forward in his seat and cleared his throat. He stared down at the dirty, unwashed gatekeeper that stood gaping at the caravan, eyes wide and searching every horsed member as if each were an enemy there to ransack the town.

Aragorn glanced uncomfortably at Arwen before turning his attention to the smiling Chamberlain. "That will not be necessary."

The Chamberlain favored the King with a very unsavory glance. "My Lord, it is customary to announce such an important visitor. You, Sire, as King of these lands, more than adequately fit that description."

The gatekeeper turned his attention to Aragorn, eyes wide with recognition. Before either man could say another word, the trees beside the caravan rustled and shook. Royal guardsmen drew their blades and dropped lances from their upright position, to cross before the King. Such a practiced and precise maneuver would be enough to dissuade anyone in the area from foul play.

"Wait," Aragorn held out a steady hand as a Ranger stepped out of the trees, wide smile crossing his dirty face.

"Aragorn!" the man gasped, his face lighting with recognition. "It is good to see that you've finally decided to travel to your Northern Kingdom! We've heard rumblings of your journey."

The gatekeeper turned and ran town the dirt-covered road toward the Inn.

As the Ranger walked toward the King, the guardsmen sheathed their weapons and righted their lances. If the Ranger took note of the momentary danger, he made no mention.

Aragorn leaned down in his saddle to grip the Ranger's hand and forearm in greeting. "Thank you, Súrion. It will be good to see how the Grey Company has done in my absence."

"Much has been done!" the man exclaimed. "You will not recognize your old home, my friend."

Aragorn nodded as the man noticed Arwen sitting astride Asfaloth, quietly watching the exchange. "My Lady," The ranger bowed deeply. "What a beautiful addition you make to this troupe."

Arwen smiled widely as the Ranger took her hand and kissed it gently. "You didn't think I was going to let my husband travel all this way without me?"

"Not at all," the Ranger winked at Aragorn, knowing full well the many years the former Chief of the Dunedain pined after the seemingly unattainable elven princess. "The people will be glad to see their Queen."

"But, you've just arrived." He regarded Aragorn with a wink." Get yourselves settled and then come to 'The Pony'," he threw a questioning look at Arwen, "If the lady will allow."

Arwen smiled at her husband and nodded at the Ranger. "I wouldn't think of keeping him from reliving old memories and visiting old friends."

"I would like to visit the Inn again. I spent so much time there as……"

The Chamberlain shot the King an indignant look, "Surely you do not intend to set foot 'inside' one of these shabby-looking pieces of architecture? I must advise…"

"I'm quite sure I know exactly what your advice will be, Sir." Aragorn glared at the Chamberlain and the man immediately swallowed any retort waiting on his lips. "But the last time I looked, I was still the King and you, merely my advisor."

The Chamberlain's eyes widened and his mouth gaped at such an apparent degradation of his responsibilities and title. He glanced down at the Ranger, who was carefully hiding a smile, then back to the King. "With all due respect, My Lord. I am not merely your 'advisor'," he gave a disgusted snort at the simple title, " I am responsible for every…."

"Forgive my hasty reply. I am quite well aware how important you are to me and to the smooth running of my kingdom," Aragorn said, eyes locking with those of his Chamberlain.

It was clear that the Chamberlain had not expected such a quick and honorable apology as the man simply sat in silence for several moments.

Aragorn leaned down to his friend, whispering "Mark this day, I believe I will never render him speechless again."

Arwen chuckled quietly, eyes catching the mirth in her husbands gaze as he turned Roheryn and urged the stallion slowly within the city gates.

The Chamberlain shook his head and followed, shouting orders to his servants to prepare a camp for the King's tents.

People stepped out of their dwellings and stood in the street, holding lanterns and candle's by which was their only light to see the royal entourage. The gatekeeper appeared at the door to the Prancing Pony, pointing toward the King, who now rode at the head of the caravan. Barliman the barkeep stood behind the gatekeeper, mouth hanging open, and eyes wide as a saucer of cat's milk.

Aragorn pulled Roheryn to a stop in front of the 'Pony' and smiled at the stunned barkeep. "It has been a long journey, and my men have had to endure my lengthy tales of your legendary ale. Please supply them with all they desire." Aragorn noticed the surrounding streets fill with people but still Barliman said nothing. "You will be well paid." Aragorn added and the barkeep blinked, the promise of coin shaking him from his shocked stupor.

"King?" The man muttered in disbelief.

Before Aragorn could frame a response, his Chamberlain did it for him. "Yes, before you sits Aragorn Elessar Telcontar, King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. Receive him and his company as befits his station as your Lord and King."

Arwen watched her husband wince at the lengthy title. It was something she was sure he would never get used to hearing, regardless of how long he sat the throne.

Aragorn sighed unhappily and shot a look of disgust at the satisfied Chamberlain. The man merely smiled widely and settled smugly into his saddle.

"Well, whaddaya know," a fairly intoxicated patron stumbled out the door behind Barliman. "They were so desperate for a King they crowned one of them Rangers! Why Strider, I've never seen you looking so fine!"

Arwen exchanged an amused look with her husband but beside them the Chamberlain gasped in horror at the perceived insult. A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd, echoing the Chamberlain's horrified gasp at the drunkard's audacity. "Why, how dare you make such a remark. You shall…"

"Stand down, please." Aragorn raised a hand, silencing the Chamberlain immediately.

"Why thank you, Sir." Aragorn addressed the drunkard directly, leaning forward in his saddle to meet the man's clouded eyes. "It was a long, hard road, but I've fulfilled the destiny for which I was born."

Barliman still stared in shock at the man whom he'd seen for the better part of his life, always quiet, sitting in a corner, watching - always watching. A wanderer. A Ranger. Now King of the rebuilt Northern Kingdom of Arnor and it's sister Kingdom of Gondor. The gatekeeper elbowed Barliman and the man quickly shook the dazed look from his eyes and met the kind, crystal gaze of the King. "You men are welcome here now and always…Sire." The word rolled off his tongue uncomfortably and Aragorn smiled in understanding.

"Elessar is how you may address me. Titles are a formality here that I do not wish to observe."

"My Lord…" The Chamberlain began to protest but was silenced as Aragorn continued to address the barkeep.

"It has been a long and tiring journey, I would most definitely like a mug of your renowned ale. Even Gondor does not brew it so well." Aragorn turned the discussion to a topic in which he felt the barkeep would be more comfortable.

At this, Barliman smiled widely. "Well come in and we will serve you up right! As many pints as you can drink!"

Aragorn nodded and smiled. "Soon. First, I do believe there are a great many people who would like answers to some burning questions." He turned to address the gathered crowed. "Please give us some time to clean up from our long journey and I will see each one of you."

--------------------------

Aragorn rubbed tired eyes as the last person was escorted from the pavilion. Arwen slipped through the thin veils of silk that served to separate the 'rooms' inside the large royal tent and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. He leaned into her arms and sighed, eyes slipping shut as her sweet scent floated around them. When she slid her hands into his hair and gently massaged his scalp, he released a heavy sigh.

"I should hold my attentions or you will not get your pint of Barliman's ale," her voice was soft as she spoke.

A deep chuckle was his only response and she ceased her attentions. "Go. Get out and have your fun before I keep you here, tied to your kingly duties."

He whirled out of the makeshift throne and caught her in his arms. "Ah, and what pleasant duties those are."

She dropped a kiss on his lips and turned out of his embrace. "I'll be waiting." The silk parted and she disappeared into the makeshift bed-chamber.

Aragorn stood torn between the anticipated sweet kisses of his wife and the long-missed pipe and ale of Barliman the barkeep. The King shook his head, unable to believe he was even contemplating the choices. He moved to follow his wife when two Ranger's stepped in from the night chill.

"We were told the people were done for the evening." Súrion smiled. "Shall we continue a long-absent custom?"

Aragorn's eyes lighted at Súrion's companion. The long distant relative and the second in command of the rebuilt kingdom stepped forward and clasped Aragorn in a tight embrace. "It's good to see you, my friend."

Aragorn smiled widely. "And you, Elendur!"

Aragorn grinned and reached for where Anduril lay propped against the makeshift throne. Within a few moments, the belt was clasped low around his waist as he walked toward his kinsmen. Before exiting the pavilion, he cast one apologetic look at the silk draped from the roof, vowing to make it up to Arwen when he returned.

------------------------------

It was uncomfortable for Aragorn to sit in the dusty tavern, unable to blend into the shadows, as was his usual custom. Now, he sat surrounded first and foremost by royal guardsmen, charged with his safety, second by the Rangers, whom he had missed in his long years of absence. Then last came the people still awake at this late hour, many intoxicated and some unable to do anything but stare at the royally dressed men that lined the walls of the establishment.

His discomfort was noticed immediately by the keen eyes of his kindred.

"Take pipe with us, Aragorn!" Elendur clasped his friend on the back and shoved the pipe, as well as a small pouch, into his hand. "There is none better."

Aragorn smiled widely, and nodded. "Truer words have never been spoken, my friend." As the king emptied the contents of the pouch into the end of the pipe, he observed. "The crop has been large this year."

"Indeed it has," Súrion admitted. "The shortage lasted only while Saruman and his evil servants controlled these lands."

As Aragorn placed the pipe between his lips, he began to relax, old memories flooding his mind as the leaf began to dull his senses.

Barliman himself served their ale, but he could find no words with which to speak to the former Ranger. His discomfort was palpable as Aragorn knew all too well, having felt it himself before he began to consume large amounts of ale and hobbit leaf.

Several dirty, ragged men sat in the corner silently watching the King and his companions. They whispered quietly to one another, evil smiles spreading across their features as they listened.

Time passed swiftly and the men recounted stories, sat in silence at the memories, and mourned the passing of many a friend. Soon, a very sleepy Chamberlain strode stiffly into the room, eyes searching for the King.

Elendur elbowed Aragorn in the side, who immediately turned wide eyes on the visibly annoyed man.

"My Lord, the hour draws late. If you wish to reach Arnor tomorrow…"

Aragorn, lips loosened a bit by the ale, and smelling of sweet hobbit leaf, clasped the Chamberlain firmly on the shoulder in a severe breach of protocol that left the man too stunned to speak. "Why, you’ve lowered yourself and entered this tavern. I’d never have thought it possible!"

The Chamberlain simply stared at the slightly intoxicated King. The gathered Rangers and royal guard quickly brought mugs to their lips, whether empty of full, to hide their amused smiles at Aragorn’s rather loud, direct comment.

"It is good enough for a King, yet not for the King’s Chamberlain?" Aragorn’s eyes suddenly cleared and the slur vanished from his words.

"I am – unaccustomed, to these places, My liege." The Chamberlain stuttered, eyeing the nearby Rangers, as well as the patrons, who watched the exchange with great interest.

"I see." Aragorn took a slow draw from his pipe and closed his eyes, savoring the enjoyment of its taste and aroma. "But," Aragorn stood suddenly and handed the pipe and small pouch to Elendur, "My man here is correct. The hour is late and it is time for bed. If I am fortunate, my wife will allow me her warmth for the remainder of the night." A few drunken cheers followed the comment and the Chamberlain winced in disgust.

"We do not ride to Arnor, tomorrow." Aragorn clasped the hands of his fellow Rangers before turning to the Chamberlain. "We ride to Hobbiton."

The Chamberlain’s eyes widened. "My Lord. Would it not be prudent to have told me this earlier? Everyone is expecting to reach the Northern Kingdom tomorrow and…"

"That’s why I’m telling you now," Aragorn interrupted and saluted his old comrades with an old Dunedain gesture of respect. "I realize you long for the comfort of a real bed, but I have my own agenda for the remainder of our trip. There are old friends I wish to visit. Even your heart may be softened by the sweet laughter and smiles of the children of the Shire."

After a short pause, the King continued. "We will be making a stop in Hobbiton before reaching our final destination."

No one noticed the men in the corner smile in appreciation at the King's comment. One stood and made his way silently out of the tavern as the others leaned closer to hear more of the King's conversation.

When the Chamberlain opened his mouth to protest, Aragorn raised a silencing hand. "It is not your place to question my decisions, Sir." The annoyance in the King’s voice was more pronounced, thanks to the ale. "See that it does not happen again."

The Chamberlain nodded slowly as Aragorn turned on his heal and strode out of the tavern, two royal guardsmen at his heels.

-------------------------------

Arwen rolled over as her husband pulled off his clothing and slid into the furs beside her. The sweet scent of the Halfling’s leaf fell like a curtain around them nearly masking the indistinguishable scent of Barliman’s famous ale.

"I trust you had a good evening?" Arwen whispered, dropped a warm hand atop his bare chest.

He mumbled something incoherently and she chuckled. He draped a hand low on her waist and pulled her against his side with a heavy sigh.

"I see." She was unsure whether to laugh or be annoyed with him. It was obvious he’d had a little too much - of everything, but she did not begrudge him some time to relax with old friends. Once they reached Arnor, he would assume strict Kingly duties once again. The Chamberlain would see to that.

When he brought her hand to his lips and dropped a tender kiss to the open palm, she smiled warmly. "I’m sorry to have left you for so long." Came the slightly slurred apology and she grinned. She pressed herself against his side and rested her cheek against the bare skin of his shoulder. Turning his head, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before drawing her into a tight embrace.

"You smell good," Arwen whispered against his skin, really much too tired to begin an evening of passion so late. Her mind was tired from the journey but her body was beginning to wake from the intoxicating aroma permeating his skin.

"I always wondered if what they said was true," Aragorn rubbed a whiskered cheek against the top of her head, breathing deeply of her freshly washed hair.

Arwen sighed and burrowed deeper into his embrace. "Hmm?" She rubbed her cheek against his skin and trailed her fingers down his chest.

"The leaf is an aphrodisiac, love." In one fluid motion, surprising, considering his level of intoxication, he rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his own. When he captured her lips, she inhaled deeply, eyes fluttering shut as she trembled with excitement beneath him.

"I think you will get no sleep this night," Arwen sighed as his hands relieved her of her sleeping gown and began to roam gently, but urgently, across her silken skin.

"Worth it," he murmured against her lips.

She arched her back and whimpered against his mouth as his fingers found what they sought, and delved deep, testing her readiness. Her eyes fluttered shut as his fingers found that sensitive spot and began to move in urgent circles. Her hips jerked in response to his touch and she sucked in a deep breath. Her hips met each plunge of his fingers into her wetness and her eyes squeezed shut at the rapidly approaching release.

"Aragorn!" She cried into his lips as he settled between her thighs and entered her in one, smooth stroke.

She raked her nails down his back, whimpering as he moved strong and steady above her. His scent overwhelmed her senses and his touch enflamed her already tingling body. Their lips met in a kiss that crushed the breath from the both of them, and he groaned long and hard into her mouth. A thin sheen of sweat covered their skin and as quickly as their little interlude began, it was over.

He spent himself within her with one, last, deep arch of his hips, crying out her name in an intoxicated delusion. Her hands tugged at his hair as she followed him into sated oblivion.

Arwen lay exhausted beneath him, her body trembling from their quick, passionate coupling. He pulled her into his arms as he rolled onto his back and covered their chilled skin with the forgotten covers. Without words, they fell into a deep, sated sleep, worrying not what the next day would bring – except very little rest.

Chapter 6: Day 55

Work stopped and heads popped up from between the tall crops. Men and women alike stood stunned in place as they watched the royal entourage slowly move down the dirt pathway and into the Shire.

Hobbit children stared wide-eyed at the colorful standards that rose far above even the head of the tallest mounted man. Unlike their familiarity with Gandalf, not a single child moved an inch toward the approaching company. They simply whispered in excited chatter to one another, eyes fixed on the passing caravan.

Hobbits followed behind the strangers, keeping at a far enough distance to enable them to disappear into the foliage and the nearby crops should these 'intruders' turn hostile.

Passing by a nearby hobbit home, Aragorn raised his hand and the company glided to a halt behind him. He leaned down and smiled at the petrified woman who could only stare at him. In her hand was a garden tool that she gripped like a vice, ready, if necessary to swing it at the 'tall one'.

"Might I ask which path will take us to the home of Samwise Gamgee?" Aragorn's question only served to frighten the woman even further.

She stared on in shocked silence until her husband cleared his throat and squeaked out a, "That way." He pointed down the road but offered no more information.

Aragorn smiled politely as the man stole glances at Arwen, obviously stunned by her beauty, and the fact that she was the only woman riding in a company of men. His mouth hung open like a love-sick child until his wife struck him with a not-so-polite elbow to the side.

"Might you be willing to guide us?"

The woman gasped and gripped her husband's arm tightly.

"You have no need to fear me or those who ride in my company," Aragorn said, striving to reassure the couple standing before him as well as all the rest who were hiding in nearby bushes. "We are old friends of Sam and Merry and Pippin."

Leaves rustled to their left and Aragorn looked over Roheryn's other shoulder to see a tiny hobbit girl staring wide-eyed up at him. "I'll show you how to get to Bag End."

"Thank you, little one." Aragorn smiled warmly at the little girl. "Would you like to ride with me?"

The little girl gasped and then giggled when her little friends whispered at her to come away from the stranger.

"Yes, sir."

Aragorn smiled widely and reached down toward the girl. Grasping her firmly under the arms, he lifted and settled her into the saddle in front of him. When the child's eyes widened in fright at being so high above the ground in the arms of a large stranger, Arwen reached out to calm her.

"There is no need to fear, young one." Arwen's voice was soft and delicate and the little girl smiled widely. "My name is Arwen and you are sitting in my husband's arms. He would never harm you."

"Aye, my manners!" Aragorn rumbled from behind the girl, startling her. "I am Aragorn, young one. We ride from Gondor, a kingdom far to the south."

Murmurs of excitement rippled through the hobbits and many stepped out from where they were poorly concealed to get a better look at the King and his Queen. Merry and Pippin had no shortage of tales concerning the Kingdom of Gondor and their journey with it's, then, future King. Their names were well known in the Shire, and a collective gasp of relief flooded the hearts of the hobbits.

"I'm Lily," She smiled happily, nearly bouncing out of the seat with excitement. She, too, had heard the tales of those who fought in the great battle of the Ring.

Aragorn wrapped an arm loosely around her waist and gripped the reins. "Which way, little one?"

------------------------------

News of their impending arrival preceded the royal company and soon Pippin and Merry appeared at the top of the hill, smiling down at the approaching caravan. Behind them, Bag End was nestled peacefully into the surrounding hillside, its gardens filled with blossoming flowers- some native to Hobbiton, some carried from far-away borders to find a new home in the Mayor's garden.

Before the horses glided to a halt, Pippin was on his knees greeting his King. He was still a soldier of Gondor regardless of how long he had been out of the King's direct service. Merry, as a Rohirrim soldier, fell to his knees beside his friend, honoring the King of the Reunited Kingdom.

"Welcome to the Shire, Lord Aragorn!" Merry cried. Since he had not yet been given leave to rise, he craned his neck to look up at the Queen. "And Lady Arwen! What a pleasant surprise!"

Aragorn dismounted Roheryn and lifted Lily onto the ground. Turning to Merry and Pippin, he raised his arms, "Rise my friends, please! Welcome me not as your King but as your friend and former traveling companion."

"We welcome you as all three!" Merry stood as Aragorn knelt before him and embraced the hobbit tightly.

The door cracked open behind them and everyone, Man, Elf, Dwarf and Hobbit alike, turned their attention to the top of the stone steps.

Sam popped out with a beaming smile, Elanor skirting around his feet and down the steps before he could stop her. Rosie appeared suddenly at Sam's side and called to her daughter, who expertly ignored her mother's call and made straight for Merry and Pippin.

"Aragorn!" Sam rushed down the steps and embraced the still kneeling King. "It's good to see you!" he turned to Arwen, who slowly dismounted Asfaloth. "And you, Lady Arwen!"

"What brings you to the Shire?" Pippin asked, smiling as he watched Legolas and Gimli approach.

"Ah - a need to stretch some restless wings, to see some old friends and to check on a re-built city." Aragorn looked down at Elanor with an amused grin. The little girl bounced around Arwen's skirts, barely daring to touch the luminescent fabric.

"You will stay with us?!" Sam smiled at his friend. He glanced at Rosie, who shook her head in affirmation.

The Chamberlain eyed the diminutive hobbit warily. He'd seen a few of these vertically challenged individuals before but never imagined that there was a whole blooming town of them. They apparently lived in dirty, simple homes, with no regard for the comforts to which he was accustomed. These dwellings were hardly suitable for a King. "My Lord," the man began and the hobbit looked up at him with wide, kind eyes.

Aragorn shot the Chamberlain an immediate silencing look.

Arwen filled the silence by taking Sam's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, "We would be honored."

The uneasy tension was broken as the hobbits cheered and Aragorn and Arwen, Legolas and Gimli, followed the diminutive hobbits into Bag End. Merry and Pippin directed the rest of the caravan to the large field, usually used for grand parties, on which to pitch their tents, then followed their friends into the hobbit hole, eager for news of Gondor.

Throughout the day, hobbits from all over the Shire paid a visit to Bag End, reminding the hobbits who lived within its walls of a day not long past, when the visitors bore gifts for Bilbo Baggins' one-hundred and eleventh birthday celebration.

By the time darkness fell, the King and Queen, as well as their gracious hosts, were exhausted. There were more hobbits in the Shire than Aragorn could ever remember and every one of them wanted a word with him.

Finally, Aragorn called for his guards, stationing them outside the door to politely inform any further well-wishers that the royal couple, and the home's inhabitants, had gone to bed.

But bed, did not necessarily mean sleep……

----------------------

"Mmmm," Arwen arched her neck as Aragorn trailed feather-light kisses down the smooth skin. Slowly, he brushed a whiskered cheek against the softness of her neck, drawing a soft sigh from her lips. Long, pale fingers wove into his hair and tugged at the strands. Her body trembled as his lips found that sensitive spot along her nape.

When his hands slid beneath the thin material covering her willowy form, she gasped drawing an amused smile from his lips.

"The hobbits, love," Arwen advised, as his thumb slowly traced circles around a rapidly hardening nipple. Tremors raced down her spine when his fingers closed on the sensitive bud and squeezed gently. "We mustn't be too loud."

"I can be quiet when the need arises." He murmured against her neck.

Arwen's hands slid down his bare back to massage the tanned skin. A mischievous smile crept across her lips as her hands slid beneath the covers barely covering their semi-clothed bodies. "I feel - " He groaned against her neck as smooth hands enveloped him. "That may be necessary."

------------------------

"Arwen!" cried the tiny voice. Small hands tapped against the polished wood in an effort to gain an answer from those sequestered behind the door

Aragorn grunted against Arwen's neck and she raked her nails down his back. "Hurry," Arwen whispered urgently as his thrusts turned from long, languid, torturous strokes, to at once short and rough. His mouth covered hers, swallowing her urgent cries and preventing his own.

He muttered a string of elvish curses into the side of her mouth, grunting in frustration as he worked to finish what they'd begun before the child's sensitive ears heard their muffled cries. In his fevered passion, he couldn't even remember if he'd locked the door.

His body shuddered and he buried his mouth once again into her neck to keep his cries as quiet as possible. With one final, hard thrust, he squeezed his eyes shut and gripped her hips. Warmth spread throughout her body and she trembled beneath him in the fiery aftermath of a powerful climax. His lips covered hers in a most fervent, desperate kiss just as Elanor turned the door-handle.

Darkness saved the couple more embarrassment as Aragorn quickly rolled away from his wife, and toward the door ,while Arwen pulled the thin coverlet over their bare skin. He squinted as the small candle the child held cast shadows against his bare chest. Arwen was shielded from the child's eyes by her husband's body and she frantically reached for a robe in which to cover her bare skin. She quickly slipped the silk around her shoulders and leaned over her husband's shoulder, as Elanor's eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Arwen! Are you hurt!" Elanor asked as she stepped into the room, eyes wide with fear. "I heard you screaming!"

Aragorn smiled kindly at the child, blinking as she stepped closer with only a candle to light her way.

Sam and Rosie skidded to a halt at the door, eyes wide with horror.

"Oh curse me," Sam muttered, stepping cautiously into the room and grasping his daughter's arm. "Elanor! You know you are not to go into any room unless you knock first."

Arwen peered over Aragorn's shoulder, smiling at the thoroughly embarrassed hobbits.

"But I thought Arwen was hurt!" The child's eyes were wide with fear. "And, I did knock! No one answered!"

Sam couldn't meet Aragorn's eyes and Rosie didn't dare look in the direction of the couple.

"Come here!" Rosie took Elanor's arm, tore the candle from her hand, and swept her out of the room without so much as another word.

"I'm - I'm," Sam stuttered, unable to meet Aragorn's eyes. He stared at a non-existent spot on the floor. "I don't know - I'm - what to say."

Aragorn opened his mouth to speak when Sam regained control of his senses long enough to blurt a quick. "I'm so sorry!"

"It is already forgotten," Aragorn smiled, attempting to ease the discomfort of his diminutive friend. Arwen slid a hand around her husband's waist, fingers brushing lightly against all too sensitive skin.

"She won't bother you again," Sam blushed, unable to find a graceful way out of the situation. "I'll see to it."

"Thank you, Sam. I'll be sure to lock the door this time." Aragorn smiled sympathetically while at the same time attempting to stop the creeping of his wife's hand down toward his already tightening groin. "Don't punish her too greatly."

"No, No," Sam backed out of the room, "No, I - I won't." He quickly closed the door behind him, leaving an amused King and Queen of Gondor in the darkness of their room.

"Well," Aragorn sighed, rolling onto his back and drawing Arwen into his arms. "There has to be a first time for everything."

"I'm sure it will not be the last," Arwen chuckled as wandering hands flattened against her backside to pull her tightly against him.

"Now, where were we…….."

-------------------------------

"You’ve done well for yourself, Sam. The Shire looks bustling with activity and the crops seem plentiful." Aragorn took a seat at the small table and crossed his legs beneath it. The hobbits had no Man-sized chairs so Rosie had gathered a few pillows for the King and Queen to sit on. "Quite different than my years wandering through your countryside as a Ranger."

"It’s amazing," Rosie smiled, setting a plate on the table before Aragorn and Arwen. "Ever since Sam returned, and used the soil given to him by the Elves, the Shire has not been the same." She regarded Arwen with a kind and thoughtful stare. She had heard about Arwen’s decision to give up her immortality for her husband and had spoken at great length with Sam about that decision. For the woman to have such a beautiful and dedicated queen in her home now, was something Rosie had never imagined.

"Galadriel’s gift was well used." Arwen smiled thoughtfully and nodded in thanks to Rosie for the food. If she was saddened by the mention of her long-departed grandmother, she gave no sign.

"There have even been more children born in the Shire than ever before, and the cattle have multiplied to herds larger than we can control! Everything is so plentiful!" Sam exclaimed. "Never in my wildest dreams, and there have been many," Sam added with a grin, "did I ever think this is what would come of the Lady’s gift."

Arwen squeezed her husband’s hand beneath the table and gazed at him out the corner of her eyes. Thankfully, the discomfort of the previous night had not carried over into the morning.

"Is it true you are going to visit Arnor? Or, what has so far been rebuilt of it?" Sam asked.

"We are bound for Annuminas to see the capitol, yes. The Rangers have settled there and have begun to re-populate the City. It will no longer be a valley and hillside full of old ruins." Aragorn said with a smile. "Though the ruins of old will remain intact as a remembrance."

"I've heard the stories of the Dwarves coming this way bringing stone-carving tools." Sam said with a thoughtful smile.

"The dwarves have labored long and hard to rebuild what was once a beautiful kingdom. The work they’ve done in Gondor is breathtaking. I am eager to see Arnor in all its renewed glory." Aragorn paused to take a bite of bread and cheese before continuing. "I don’t know when I might again return."

"Of course, that answer is simply a façade for the Chamberlain and the King’s Council," Arwen added with a smile. "Aragorn wanted to see you again, and your family."

Rosie blushed and Sam cast a questioning gaze toward Aragorn. "Really?"

Aragorn smiled and laced his fingers through those of his wife, giving them a gentle squeeze beneath the table. "Indeed it is. The Council would never have approved of me making such a long journey to see old friends, so I have combined the trip with one they would be more apt to approve."

"But can’t the King come and go as he pleases?" Rose asked innocently. She was clearly unfamiliar with royal protocol, as was Sam.

"In most cases, no." Aragorn smiled tenderly at Rosie. "There are matters in which I have no control. Though I may rule Gondor, and Arnor from afar, there is very little I am permitted to do without the approval of the Council."

"Well, that’s a mistake, make no doubt." Sam muttered.

Aragorn chuckled. "Some days, I feel the same."

"Aragorn!" Elanor ran around the corner and launched herself into the King's arms. He gave a muffled ‘oof’ as she collided with his chest at a full run.

Arwen chuckled and Rosie looked at her daughter in horror. "Oh, I’m so sorry! Elanor come here now. Have I taught you nothing about being polite." She glanced at the King, embarrassed. "I’m sorry. She’s a rather bubbly child."

"I see that," Aragorn wrapped his arms around the girl and gave her a tight squeeze. "It's all right." He stared down at the happy, innocent face before casting a sidelong glance at his wife. "She’s the sweetest child I have ever seen." He smiled at Sam and Rosie. "You are very blessed to have her. I’m told that you will be expecting another soon?"

Rosie blushed and Sam smiled proudly. "Yes, indeed. In about another six months or so."

Aragorn smiled. "It seems the crops and cattle are not the only plentiful things brought about by Galadriel’s gift."

Rose blushed and Sam coughed back his surprise at the King’s comment.

Elanor settled herself on Aragorn’s lap and began to eat off his plate, shoving bread and cheese in her mouth so fast no one could stop her.

"Elanor, chew it!" Rosie admonished.

"Are you feeling better this morning?" Elanor’s big wide-eyes stared at Arwen.

Aragorn nearly choked on his bread and Sam almost snorted milk out his nose. Rosie looked properly horrified but Arwen shook her head. "I’m better, little one." She shot her husband an amused glance. "Thank you for asking."

Arwen reached down to break the bread and cheese into smaller pieces for the child and when her hand brushed the smooth softness of the child’s skin, a powerful longing filled her heart and she inhaled sharply.

The topic was forgotten as Elanor squealed in delight when Aragorn tickled her. The King cast a concerned look toward his wife, masked under the guise of an amused smile at Elanor's antics.

Elanor leapt off his lap and ran around the table, cheese in hand, in an effort to get away from the King's tickling fingers. She snatched a piece of bread off his plate and stuffed it into her mouth before her mother could take it out of her hand. The child crawled under the table to get away from her mother and raced down the hallway, but not before snatching another piece of bread - this time off her father's plate.

Sam just shook his head while Rosie stood and chased her daughter down the hallway in an effort to extract the fist-full of food the child had managed to stuff into her mouth "How long will you be able to stay?"

"For a few days at least." Aragorn answered, grinning as Elanor’s squeals echoed down the halls.

"If you are going to Annuminas would it not have been better to take the High Road from Bree?"

"Indeed it would have and my decision to come here first has been a bone of contention with the royal Chamberlain ever since we set out from Bree." Aragorn chuckled, picking a piece of food from Arwen’s plate since his had disappeared into the mouth of a rambunctious hobbit child.

"He does seem a bit….tense." Sam admitted with a frown.

"He’s not quite used to my way of doing things."

Arwen chuckled at Aragorn, remembering the many times the Chamberlain had spoken to her ‘off the record’ about her husband’s unorthodox decision making.

"He’s been quite unhappy for the entire trip. I may leave him in charge of Annuminas to spare our ears his whining on our journey home."

Arwen stifled a chuckle and stared at Aragorn. "That may be the straw that breaks him, husband."

"He would be away from me and have his own regent to serve. I would think it would please him greatly."

"You would do that to Aldamir?" Arwen asked with wide eyes.

"He’s headed the Dunedain since my crowning and he’s done well with the rebuilding of Arnor in my absence. I think it would be a perfect match."

"If the Chamberlain is not seen returning you to Gondor with every hair in the same place as when you left, he will be dishonored." Arwen said with a smile. "It is a matter of pride for him and regardless of how frustrated you make him, he’ll never willingly stay behind when we journey back to Gondor."

Aragorn huffed in disgust and turned to Sam, "Let me now extend an invitation to you and your family to visit Gondor whenever your schedule allows. You are welcome at any time."

Sam beamed before wincing at the screams now piercing every wall in Bag End. "Thank you. We may well, take you up on it."

"Simply make your way to Annuminas and tell Aldamir there that you require an escort to Gondor." Aragorn moved to stand – or kneel - as he was too tall to stand comfortably inside the Halfling structure. "I must attend to a few duties, however, before my Shadow comes to inform me once again of how lax I’ve become in my responsibilities."

Chapter 7: Day 57

"When are we scheduled to leave for Annuminas, My Lord?" The Chamberlain fell into step with the King as he walked along the small cobbled road.

The King gazed out across the large green fields and winced. His success at avoiding the Chamberlain throughout the day had obviously come to an end. Aragorn clenched his fists and even went so far as to rest one hand on the hilt of a sheathed Anduril. If the Chamberlain asked him one more time when they would be bound for Annuminas, he would cleave the man’s head from his shoulders.

Work continued all around them as hobbits hoed their fields and planted their seeds for the upcoming season. The awe of seeing such a large contingent of 'big people' had worn off and the women had gone back to carrying their baskets of fruit from the fields, occasionally walking by the King and offering him a taste of their harvest.

"Eager to leave the hobbit life, so soon?" Aragron forced a small smile.

"I will be the first to admit this is not the kind of life I would chose to live." The man met Aragorn's gaze before looking away. Rarely could he stare down his King. "But I go where you go, and I-"

"And you remain where I instruct?"

The Chamberlain's mouth snapped shut at the insinuation that he had honestly been expecting for quite some time. Moments of silence followed as the man searched for the correct words with which to voice his question. The King watched his Chamberlain's reaction quietly, never breaking the stare with which he had pinned the man into silence. Finally, the Chamberlain asked, "Do you mean to leave me in Arnor?"

"Is that what you would like?" Aragorn asked.

"I would never presume to -"

"It had crossed my mind," Aragorn admitted, interrupting the Chamberlain. He pinned the man in place with another stern look.

"I am yours to command, My Liege," Came the now trembling voice. "I'll have you know, that it would not be my choice to remain in Annuminas."

"Then please do not question my decisions or voice such - displeasure at my actions." Aragorn's words were more biting than he intended and his gaze softened in silent apology. "I know you are not yet used to my rule but it will not soon change and you would do well not to forget your duty."

"Yes, My Lord." The Chamberlain nodded and fought back a wince of disgust as Elanor ran up to Aragorn and wrapped chubby arms around his leg.

If Aragorn noticed the quickly-masked look, he gave no hint.

"Thank you for your time," Aragorn said curtly, dismissing the man with those final words.

Aragorn smiled down at Elanor and she looked up at him with large, innocent eyes.

"Where are you going?" She asked, ever curious.

"For a walk. Would you like to come?"

An emphatic 'Yes' answered his question, turning the heads of everyone within earshot of the child.

Aragorn chuckled and lifted the child into his arms. He walked away, leaving the Chamberlain to his thought as hobbits bustled with work around him.

As Aragorn walked slowly down the cobbled road, he was transfixed with the child's bubbling enthusiasm and innocent features. She chattered nonstop, pointing out different facets of the surrounding landscape.

"And that is the party tree that papa planted. It's already really big and it was only planted a year before I was born. Papa said its because he planted it using sand he got from the elves." Elanor smiled up at the King, big eyes looking over every unusual feature. When a tiny hand reached toward his face and tentatively touched his whiskered cheek, he smiled, crystal eyes taking in the beautiful wonder of life sitting in his arms.

A glitter of metal caught his eye and Aragorn looked over the child's shoulder in momentary concern. Thin lips split into an amused smile as he saw Gimli, sitting on the ground beneath the tree, several hobbit children in his lap and many others sitting transfixed at his feet.

As Aragorn and Elanor neared the large tree, they could overhear the end of what appeared to be a very fascinating story.

"…..and it fell into a huge chasm, never to be seen again!" Gimli exaggerated every word, raising and spreading his arms to heighten his description.

The children cheered and then gasped in surprise when they noticed a large shadow fall over them. Aragorn stood smiling behind them, holding a deeply interested Elanor. The girl squirmed out of his arms and joined the other children, begging them to re-tell Gimli's story.

"Intoxicating, aren't they?" Aragorn asked, eyes lingering on the children as they all at once tried to re-count Gimli's tale for the little girl.

Gimli stood and nodded, recognizing the longing look in his friend's gaze. The Dwarf clasped the King on the arm, chuckling loudly. "Take one or two with you when you leave, they appear plentiful!"

"How like a Dwarf," Legolas jumped from the tree and into their circle. "So inconsiderate of other lives around you."

Aragorn sighed loudly, ready for another round of incessant banter to erupt between the two. But his eyes met those of his elven friend briefly, flashing silent thanks for the interruption.

"Ah, Legolas," Gimli chuckled low, "You need to lighten up, my friend. A sense of humor is what you elves sorely lack." Gimli turned to Aragorn, eyes full of amusement, "Well, that is - with the exception of Lady Arwen."

Aragorn chuckled as the Dwarf addressed Legolas once again. "You're starting to sound like that pompus, stuffy Chamberlain."

Gimli turned to Aragorn and said with all seriousness. "Truly, Aragorn, you should consider leaving him behind when we depart. Why, I would stay as well just to see how long it takes before his head explodes in frustration."

Aragorn laughed and it was Legolas' turn to roll his eyes.

"Need I ask what you gentlemen are discussing?" Arwen rounded the large tree, smiling widely at the startled looks on both Gimli and her husband's faces. Legolas simply arched his head, seemingly un-surprised by her arrival.

Aragorn held out his arm and Arwen slid her hand into his upturned palm. "Gimli was just giving me advice on what to do with my overbearing Chamberlain."

Arwen smiled knowingly at the dwarf as the children began to jump and cheer from the vicinity of Arwen's feet. They called her name and reached for her flowing skirts, all seeking the beautiful elf's attention.

"See," Gimli winked at Aragorn before stalking down the path. "You should take a few of them home."

"Children!" Rosie called to the little ones. "Leave Lady Arwen alone for a while. She doesn't need you hanging off her at every waking moment."

The disappointing sighs were quite loud as the children attempted to talk Rosie out of shooing them into another field to continue with their play. Arwen smiled affectionately and bent to hug each one of them, at least sending them off with a smile.

"But I'm Aragorn's favorite!" Elanor hugged the man's leg and refused to let go, even to give Arwen a hug.

"Elanor Gamgee you release Lord Aragorn's leg right this minute and go back to Bag End!" Rosie bent and attempted to pry the child's arms away from the silk-clad leg.

Aragorn knelt and held out his arms to the child, who immediately leapt into them. "You need to listen to your mother. I have some duties to attend to but I will see you later this evening." He focused his attention completely on the child, crystal eyes holding the child's gaze with an unforeseen strength.

"Promise," Elanor's lip curled into a pout.

"I promise," Aragorn smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to the girl's plump cheek.

Reluctantly, Elanor left his arms and took her mother's outstretched hand. When he turned to his wife and friends, they were all staring at him.

"You are going to spoil that child and then her parents will never be able to control her." Gimli laughed, head shaking.

"Well, am I not an honorary uncle?" Aragorn grinned at Arwen, who gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "And as such, I believe it is my duty to corrupt the child beyond her parent's ability to correct."

Arwen laughed and Gimli chuckled.

Legolas eyed his friend with an amused stare. "Remember that, Aragorn, when you are pulling your hair out in frustration with your own children, thanks to my 'corruption' of them."

Gimli laughed, lifted his ax and began walking down the cobbled road. His loud chuckle echoed along the stones and his voice could clearly be heard over the plowing of the nearby fields. "Now that I can't wait to see!"

Aragorn smiled at Legolas as the elf quickly disappeared into the trees, leaving him standing alone with his wife, their hands intertwined like tree roots in the soil.

"Nor can I," Arwen leaned into his embrace and rubbed her cheek against his whiskered chin.

He smiled knowingly at Arwen and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a deep embrace. She sighed heavily, breathing in his tremendously masculine scent mixed with the, ever popular, halfling pipeweed. When his lips dropped to the side of her mouth to plant a long, leisurely kiss to the soft skin, giggling could be heard coming from the vicinity of some short shrubs.

Arwen slid out of his embrace with a wink and crept around the bush, startling the two children from where they knelt eavesdropping and watching the couple.

"Did your parents never teach you that watching someone in secret is not polite?" her voice was filled with an amused lilt as she attempted to scold the little ones.

"We’re…"

The girl’s apology was interrupted by horrified screams echoing from far down the road. Arwen stood quickly and threw a worried look toward Aragorn, whose hand had already moved to the hilt of his blade.

"Run home!" Arwen commanded as she joined her husband’s side. "And don’t look back."

Chapter 8: Day 57

"Hurry up!"

"I am hurrying!"

The children had been gagged to keep them from crying out and then tossed over the men's shoulders like a sack of grain. The men darted through the forest, weaving through the trees and hip-height brush in an effort to put as great a distance from the Shire as possible. Branches snapped against the children’s faces and the small cuts began to draw blood. They whimpered through their gags, eyes wide with fear.

"We must make it to the bridge! We will take the ferry across and leave them stranded." The leader ducked under a branch. " It's twenty miles to the nearest crossing. They'll have to negotiate with us for the brats' release."

"And they look plenty wealthy to me! Bet they'll pay a LOT for these brats."

"Well then let's hurry before those mounted men come after us!"

The brigands didn’t notice a cloaked figure following in the shadows, its movements undetectable except by the most experienced tracker.

-----------------

Aragorn and Arwen raced toward the sound of hysterical screaming. Hobbits gathered in front of Bag End calling for Sam, for help, for someone to hear them.

"What’s happened?" Aragorn asked as the hobbits gathered around the King.

"Brigands!" One hobbit cried.

"Big people have stolen the children!" Another added, rubbing his head.

"What? Where?" Aragorn asked. Everyone answered at once and he took a step back, trying to pick out the necessary information from the influx of frightened babbling. "At the northern edge of the Shire?" He repeated after hearing someone mention the location.

King's guards had joined them, surrounding the immediate area in case their Liege was in danger.

"Not far." One frightened woman said.

"Where’s Elanor?" Rosie stepped out of the small gate from where she had just returned to tending her garden. She’d left her daughter playing with some friends near the end of the road which led to the northernmost end of the Shire, and now the child was no where to be seen.

Amidst the confusion, no one heard Rosie’s question. The hobbits were roaring their frustration and anger at the King, who was busy attempting to restore some semblance of calm.

"Where’s Elanor!" Rosie cried, looking down the small dirt road on which she had left the child playing. Eye’s wide with fear, she turned to the other woman, "I don’t hear her!"

"Your – children? What kind of people would steal children?" Arwen’s eyes widened as she cast a horrified look at her husband.

Aragorn signaled to his guards to bring Roheryn as he turned to the nearest hobbit. "Which way?"

The frantic woman pointed down the road, rocking back on her heals and wiping the tears from her eyes.

Aragorn turned to the Captain of his Royal Guard and issued immediate orders. " Leave half the royal guard here and set them up in a wide perimeter around the Shire. Protect these people as if they were members of the royal family."

Two Rangers or Arnor arrived on horseback followed by Legolas. "We will accompany you."

Aragorn nodded to the Rangers. "Your tracking abilities will be of great use." To Legolas he added. "And your keen senses."

When Gimli began to protest about being left behind, Aragorn silenced the Dwarf with a raised hand. "I need you to stay here. Protect the Shire, and my wife." Aragorn stared at the dwarf. "I leave Arwen in your capable hands."

Aragorn took Roheryn's reins and nodded to the mounted company behind him. "I want at least one brigand alive to tell us where their camp lies. The rest," Aragorn pulled himself into his Roheryn’s saddle with one leap, "will be brought to trial based on Shire laws - and the laws of the Reunited Kingdom."

Arwen gathered the frightened women and ushered them into Bag End, quietly assuring them that her husband would bring back any children who had been taken and exact swift and final revenge for any harm done to them.

She watched Aragorn ride away and whispered a silent prayer into the wind for his safety.

----------------------

"We can’t be everywhere at once, Sire," The Ranger Súrion said as they trotted down the road. Well-trained eyes darted around them, careful not to miss any signs that the brigands may have been so careless to make in their haste to escape. "We are less numerous around the Shire now that we have begun to rebuild Annuminas."

Aragorn nodded and then turned to the Ranger riding at Súrion's side. "Please return to Arnor and inform Aldamir that we will be delayed until we find these brigands."

When the Ranger had departed, Aragorn turned his attention to Súrion. "Perhaps I should leave a guard here when I leave, to ensure the safety of the Hobbits." His eyes darted to and from every tree, every branch, every trampled piece of grass, searching for any sign that the brigands had passed over the terrain. It felt good to be on a trail once again, putting to good use the tracking skills for which he had been well trained. They would find those brigands, he simply hoped that they found them before the children came to harm.

"That might be a good idea. I will also send for more Rangers to patrol the outer regions of the Shire." Súrion’s senses were as stretched as they could be, searching for a clue as to what happened to those brigands. A snap of a twig alerted the Rangers to a small movement and Aragorn raised his hand to halt the company.

"Come out!" Aragorn called, hand resting on the hilt of Anduril. When he received no response, he nodded to his guard and they drew their blades at once. The clang of metal leaving their leather sheaths echoed through the quiet forest. Aragorn nodded to Súrion who dismounted and disappeared into the trees.

Aragorn continued to demand the stranger show himself, distracting whoever was hiding enough for Súrion to make his way around their flank. With a loud yelp, the scruffy looking brigand was dragged to his feet by his already torn collar and held securely in the tight grip of the Ranger. Súrion pulled the man toward Aragorn, and threw him down at Roheryn's feet.

"Where have you taken the children of the Shire?" he asked, the tone of his voice leaving no room for argument.

Silence greeted the King's demand.

"You can tell me now, or I will beat it out of you."

The brigand stared up at Aragorn, who looked every bit the stern and mighty King of the West atop Roheryn. The stallion dug his hooves into the dirt, flinging up particles of dust and grass.

"I-I," the brigand stuttered as his eyes flicked back and forth from Aragorn to his obviously angry steed.

"Spit it out or it appears that Roheryn here would like to begin the beating," Aragorn ran his hand lovingly down his stallion's neck.

"By the bridge." The man spit out quickly, gaining his feet quickly and attempting to take a step away from the stallion.

"So they can take their captives quickly across the river." Súrion stared at Aragorn and tightened his grip on the brigand's collar.

"Bring him." Aragorn commanded and favored the man with a stern look. "If we do not reach the Brandywine bridge before your comrade's have crossed, you will executed in a most unbecoming manner." He turned to his men. "Let's Ride!"

When they arrived, the brigands were carrying the gagged children onto the ferry. Weapons were drawn faster than the eye could see and Legolas had an arrow nocked and his bow aimed before a brigand even knew he was there.

The King's mounted company leapt easily over the wooden fence surrounding the area and slowed to a walk when the brigands noticed their approach.

"Release those children and you may go in peace." Aragorn snapped quickly.

The man who appeared to be the leader of the rag-tag bunch pushed to the front of the other two men, holding a squirming and frightened Elanor. "Come any closer and I'll slit her throat."

Aragorn raised his hand to halt the company.

"If you so much as hurt a hair on her head," Aragorn leaned forward in his saddle. "Your limbs will be ripped from your body and fed to you for breakfast." The tone in the King's voice left no room for argument. "Do not try my patience."

The man slid a knife out of a hidden sheath and flattened it against a pale cheek. "Come no closer."

Aragorn lifted his eyes to the sky and shouted something in a language the brigands could not understand. A horrified cry echoed through the evening sky, drawing the King's eyes toward the man who had uttered the terrible sound.

The arrow jutted from the joint of the brigand's arm, preventing him, should he even make the attempt, from moving the knife any closer toward Elanor's neck. The man released the child and reached for the arrow, attempting to pull it from where it was quite securely lodged in the bone.

When Elanor hit the ground, she stood and ran immediately toward Aragorn. He leaned down and scooped her into his arms while shouting another command.

"Release the children NOW!" he tucked Elanor under his arm and drew his sword.

"Kill them!" The man who had just lost his own captive cried, and his men exchanged worried looks.

Another arrow sailed straight into the man's chest, piercing his heart and killing him instantly.

"You will release those children or suffer a similar fate," Aragorn hissed, his voice stern and unwavering in his demand.

With their leader dead, the men stared at the King and his guards. When they didn't move quickly enough, another arrow sailed into a nearby post, startling the three brigands. They exchanged a few paranoid looks and dropped the children like sacks of grain and turned to board the ferry.

Three frightened little girls ran toward the mounted company, each reaching for a hand already extended to lift them into the safety of a soldier's arms.

"Bring them back alive! They will be tried in accordance with the laws of this land." Aragorn shouted to his men and two broke off from the company, led by Súrion, and made for the crossing twenty miles away.

Elanor buried tear-stained cheeks into Aragorn's tunic and shivered. "Easy little one. We will make all haste back to the Shire. No more harm will come to you." He brought his cloak around his shoulders and covered the trembling child. As they trotted back toward the Shire, Aragorn began to sing a sweet lullaby he had learned as a child. The elvish words soothed the children in the darkness and they were soon fast asleep in their soldier's arms, tear-stained cheeks the only evidence of fear left on their faces.

-----------------------------

"He's gone where!?" The Chamberlain howled at the guard left in charge when his Captain went with the King.

The man didn't wait for the substitute captain to answer. "It's dark! He's not returned and there is no sign of him! How could you let him run off after those - ruffians!"

"My lord, he gave us no choice," the man defended. "He is our King and it is our duty to obey his commands."

Arwen sat watching out the low, circular window. Hours had passed and she could still hear the Chamberlain barking orders to the remaining royal guards. It was good to know he was at least as worried for Aragorn's safety as she, even if it was for different reasons.

Her thoughts were only for the safety of her husband and the safe return of the missing children. As the initial shock wore out of the systems of all the mothers waiting at Bag End, Arwen stole a bit of time for herself.

As the hours passed and she had time to think, she became furious with Aragorn for leaving her behind. But in the rush to not allow any further distance between the brigands and the King's men, she hadn't even thought to mount Asfaloth and ride out with her husband. Comforting the hysterical hobbits whose children were missing had been foremost in her mind. But, now that it was quiet, her fear, and her anger, began to war for the upper hand in her mind. A dark ripple had begun to grow in her mind and she had been unable to stop its talons from gripping her heart with fear.

When she stepped outside for some fresh air, the Chamberlain approached.

"It would be wise for you to remain inside, my Lady." The man bowed low in greeting as he spoke. "I have deployed guards around the area but…."

"My husband deployed the guards before he left." Arwen interrupted, in no mood to deal with the man's arrogance tonight. "Do you not think I could defend myself against brigands who steel small children?"

"I did not-"

"Tensions are high and I have fallen prey to the emotions from which they stem, my apologies." Arwen turned away and lifted her head to the stars.

The Chamberlain watched her in silent awe as she whispered into the night the rhythmic language of the elves. When finished, she turned sad eyes on the man who stood in silence, watching as if in a daze.

"A prayer to Elbereth, our goddess of the evening stars, for their safe return."

"It was - beautiful." The man found his voice and smiled at his Queen.

Suddenly, Arwen turned on her heal and walked quickly down the stone steps and out the gate.

"My Lady!" The Chamberlain called. When she didn't answer, he rushed down the steps after her.

"I am taking a guard and going after my husband. I will wait here like a weak-willed wife no longer." Arwen continued to walk down the road to where their horses were stabled.

"My Lady!" The Chamberlain gasped in horror. This family was going to be the death of him! "I cannot let you do this."

"You can and will let me do anything I choose." Arwen reached the make-shift stables and moved to saddle Asfaloth.

"Not when your safety is at stake." The man called for the guards and ordered them to surround the entrance. "The King would have me killed if I let you go." He stepped forward and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Please, Lady. I know how you feel. The King is an exceptional tracker. There is no other better suited for such a chase. He will return. You know this as well as I."

Arwen took a few deep breaths, her rage calming. "I will wait the night out. Should my husband not return by daybreak, you will send with me two riders and I will track Roheryn myself."

The Chamberlain sighed and watched her walk quickly back to the hobbit hole. He looked up at the stars and silently prayed to Arwen's Elbereth that Aragorn returned before daybreak. He would not look forward to forcibly restraining the Queen should she make this same attempt in the light of day.

-------------------

Arwen had just stepped outside for a bit of fresh air when she heard the sound of hooves striking the cobbled road. She brought her wrap tighter around her shoulders and rushed down the steps to wait behind the closed wooden gate. Aragorn was the first person she saw as Roheryn rounded the small hill, carrying his charge. He looked as if he was carrying something in his arms and Arwen's eyes widened. She waited patiently for him to dismount, a sleeping Elanor nestled securely in his arms, before opening the gate so that he could come through unhindered. He bent to press a quick kiss to her lips before making his way up the steps and into Bag End. His guards followed and soon the whole home was alive with the sound of relieved parents and happy children.

It didn't take long for Aragorn to realize that Arwen had not followed him inside and he left the happy parents in search of his wife. She was waiting where he'd left her, clearly trying to decide if she was going to be angry with him.

When he embraced her from behind and dropped a kiss to the top of her head, she stiffened. His eyes narrowed at her coldness and he tightened his arms around her waist. He rubbed a whiskered chin against her ear before pressing a lingering kiss pointed tip. "What's wrong?" He asked, his breath hot against her ear.

"You left me behind, Estel," Arwen said sharply.

"Would you have preferred I take you with me into an unknown danger?" He asked incredulously.

"I would have preferred a choice." She said, willing herself and her body to remain stiff in the wake of his attentions.

"Had you asked, my decision would have been no." Aragorn flattened his hands along her stomach and pulled her against him. His heat and closeness began to settle into her blood but she was determined to remain indifferent until he realized the point she was trying to make. "I refuse to put you in needless danger."

"I needed to be with you," she said calmly, still refusing to face him even when his hands gently pressed her in that direction.

"You are with me now." He nuzzled her neck, pressing delicate kisses along the tender skin.

She tore out of his embrace before her body gave away the desire his ministrations had begun to fuel within her blood. She glared at him, dark eyes blazing. "You were in danger and you left me behind to pick up the pieces should you not come back!"

He blinked, dumbfounded as to why this situation warranted such a strong reaction.

"You don't understand, do you?" Arwen stared, fingers clenched into fists at her sides.

Aragorn stepped toward her and held out a hand. "I've been gone on far more dangerous trips, love, for a much longer duration. Why now is this affecting you so?"

"I feel something dark closing in on us." Arwen admitted reluctantly. "I don’t know what it is. But some warning on the outer edge of my senses."

"Whatever this is, we will face it together." Aragorn said.

Her big eyes were wet with unshed tears. Before she could frame a response, Sam ran through the closed gate and up the stone steps. He'd been gone all day performing his duties as Mayor of the Shire and it appeared he had just found out about the children having been kidnapped. Apparently, he didn't even know they had been found.

Aragorn and Arwen watched through the open door as Rosie greeted her husband and embraced him tightly. They kissed and hugged, sharing their mutual fright at the prospect of loosing their eldest child.

"I want to have a baby." Arwen whispered as she watched the two close the circular door and walk away arm in arm.

Aragorn glanced at his wife, taken aback by her sudden admission. A small smile crossed his face he turned Arwen to face him. Arwen stiffly leaned into his embrace, still unable to shake her anger at her husband's actions.

"Is that why you're so upset?" A hand moved to the back of her head and gently smoothed the dark locks that fell down her back. He could feel his shirt dampen with her tears.

"They are all so happy here. It's such an innocent place. Untainted by the rest of the world." Arwen said. Slowly, she looked up at him through dark eyelashes. "I don't want to lose you. And I want a baby. Your baby."

A long finger trailed the line of her cheek and he bent to press a gentle kiss to her lips. The tears had left a salty taste on her skin and he tenderly cupped her face in his hands. Slowly, he used his thumbs to brush away the wetness from her cheeks. "Well, we can go back to the pavilion and work on - "

"Just kiss me." Arwen interrupted and Aragorn was most happy to oblige.

The darkness that surrounded her thoughts fell away as her husband pulled her into his arms.

---------------------------------

Aragorn and Arwen sat atop their steeds, large smiles upon their faces. Aragorn turned to Sam, regarding him with a kind smile. "This will become official when I return to Gondor, Sam. But, you will hear the words from my own lips, now." He turned and addressed the entire gathered crowd of hobbits.

Aragorn took a deep breath and glanced at the Chamberlain. The man would be proud of Aragorn's next words, though he may be hard-pressed to admit it. "As King of the Reunited Kingdom's of both Gondor and Arnor, I hearby proclaim the Shire and all of its surrounding lands free under the protection of the northern scepter of my rule. No men shall enter this land without my leave, or that of my authorized representative who resides in Arnor."

Aragorn smiled at the look of satisfaction that crossed the Chamberlain's face. He turned his attention to Sam. "Events such as what occurred during our stay here, will never happen again. You shall live in peace, uninterrupted by the concerns of the outside world." Aragorn turned once again to the people. "This I owe you, as your King, "he turned to Sam once again. "and your friend."

Sam held Rosie in his arms and smiled warmly. Elanor pouted beside her parents, reluctant to let the King leave.

"I wanna go with you!" the child wailed loudly, holding out her arms to the mounted man.

Aragorn exchanged a knowing look with Arwen.

"When you become of age," Arwen began, leaning over her mount to bring her closer to Elanor. "Your father will bring you to Gondor and you will be made a maiden of Gondor. One of the Queen's maids."

Elanor's eyed widened and she nearly bounced out of her father's hold. "When? When?"

The royal couple exchanged an amused look and chuckled as Sam attempted to calm the excited child. They blatantly ignored the horrified grunt and annoyed look the Chamberlain shot them upon hearing this news.

"When you are of age to travel to Gondor and receive the title, little one. We will send for you." Aragorn reached down as the child launched herself into his arms. "Until then, carry yourself as a future maiden of the Queen of Gondor."

Elanor nodded, wide-eyed, at Aragorn and wrapped chubby arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly, tears falling down round cheeks.

Chapter 9: Day 59

Aragorn glanced at his Chamberlain as the horses walked along the King’s Road – renamed and rebuilt just as the City toward which they were traveling. The man had acquired a smile for the first time in weeks, ever since they left the Shire, and Aragorn had no need to guess why. The man was clearly grateful to be away from Hobbiton and the little creatures that inhabited the holes dug deep into the rolling hillsides.

Aragorn sighed quietly. He was going to have to speak to his Chamberlain if the man was going to continue in his service. His superior attitude was the first thing that would need to change. His opinion of the Hobbits, and now, even comments made in passing about the rebuilding of Arnor, sounded far too prejudiced to suit the Chieftain of the Rangers and the King of the Reunited Kingdom. Aragorn was all too well aware the opinion many of Gondor’s citizens held toward the people of the North. Denethor, Boromir’s father, and Steward of Gondor before he died, had held a similar contempt for the people who Aragorn led for more than sixty years.

What they did not know was but a small piece in a very large puzzle that had kept the Rangers and those they protected, safe from the evils of Angmar.

Aragorn knew that the Chamberlain’s opinion of the Arnorian people was that they were cowards. Hiding in the forests while a great evil grew in the east and besieged all that stood in its way – including its once powerful sister city of Gondor. They did not realize that the Rangers, direct descendents of the Numenorean Kings, were too few to protect any but their own borders. And they had a greater duty – to teach and protect the line of Isildur.

They were not far now from Annuminas – the once great Capitol of the Kingdom of Arnor. Aragorn contained his excitement at seeing his people, his friends, again. It had been far too long. Even now, to his Ranger’s trained eye, Aragorn could see the Arnorian sentries well-hidden within the surrounding trees.

They had been following Lake Nenuial for several hours, the very lake in which the old City of Annuminas had been built. Ruins still protruded from the ground, testament to the decay and desertion that had befallen the once great city.

Aragorn had chosen to rebuild the Capitol of the West a bit further from the Lake and into the ancient, towering hills of Evendim. Much more difficult would it be to lay siege to a city backed into the base of these hills.

Legolas trotted beside Aragorn and tossed a glance at the King. "We are being followed."

Aragorn shot his friend a wide smile. "Of course we are, my friend. The Rangers of Arnor let no one wander their hills without first determining if they are friend or foe."

"Indeed," The Chamberlain overheard the conversation and began to watch the forest very carefully. He saw nothing, which both worried and reassured him.

"You will not find them unless they wish to be found," Aragorn grinned, tossing a wink into one of the trees where he could see a well-armed Ranger concealed from view. "Arnorian Rangers have elven blood and as such are nearly as good as pure-blood elves at concealing their whereabouts."

The Chamberlain huffed in disgust, and it appeared to Aragorn that the man apparently shared the opinion of many Gondorian people on the subject of elves as well. The man settled himself in his saddle, looking expectantly down the road as the excitement of seeing the rebuilt city grew.

Legolas raised an amused eyebrow at Aragorn’s comment, realizing that the King had mentioned the Rangers being as proficient as the elves so as to disgust the Chamberlain. Legolas knew full well that Aragorn would never presume that his people were as good as the elves at anything.

They rode on in silence, Aragorn and Arwen in the lead. Several hours passed with no activity until the caravan crested a small hill. Asfaloth and Roheryn stopped and those following quietly behind, glided to a quick halt.

Arwen’s audible gasp rippled down the column of soldiers who served as royal escort. Her full lips parted and her eyes widened as she was among the first to see the rebuilt Kingdom of Arnor in the return to its former glory.

Towers spiraled into the air within solid stone castle walls that disappeared into the surrounding hillside. Large watchtowers stood far above the City, nestled into the hills much like the old watchtower of Amon Sul. It’s chief tower, annun, sat atop the great hillside of Evendim, and like its name, faced toward the sea - west.

The City, to those familiar with Gondor, was a striking difference. The outside walls were dark, therefore blending into the natural surroundings with ease. Large, ornate gates were book-ended by large trees that obscured the casual observer from seeing the sentries posted at the top of the great wall. Indeed, it appeared if the Rebuilt Kingdom had been raised out of the mountain and the forest itself.

Inside the outermost walls were four rings, much like the seven rings that comprised the walls inside of Gondor. Aragorn had employed Dwarven smiths to construct these walls, and Elvin engravers to etch the elaborate and distinct design into each ring.

As King of the Reunited Kingdom, Aragorn had plans drawn up almost immediately for the rebuilding of Annuminas. As he had reunited the two once great kingdoms, so he wanted to show a unity between the peoples of Middle Earth. Each ornate and distinctly carved ring within the City had been created with the people whom they represented in mind.

The first gate, facing due south, was a homage to the little people – Halflings – Hobbits – who played such a large roll in the destruction of the Ring of Power. Their simple, peaceful way of life was depicted in the images of sprawling hillsides, fields of crops and hobbit holes, etched beautifully into the polished wooden gate.

The second gate - or ring- represented the Dwarves. It’s distinct difference from the peaceful and serene depictions of life etched into the Hobbit’s gate, provided all who passed, a representation of how even the most different of creatures can unite for a common goal. The gate was made of solid mithril, mined from the deepest caves, and given as a gift to the King Elessar. Upon it were etched the designs of dwarven life –and the entrance to into this ring was a reproduction of the gate into the great Mine of Moria.

The third gate was polished and pristine, wrought with precious metal mined from the unknown places where only the fairest creatures of the world walked. It stood facing the West, toward the Sea. And from atop it, you could see the crystal blue waves kissing the shore miles away. This gate stood for the elves, wisest and fairest of all creatures in Middle Earth.

The final and tallest ring stood as a homage to all that had come before – Numenor. The designs etched into the precious metal depicted life as it was known on the lost Isle. Intricate scrollwork and design covered the walls that faced toward the East – the seat of power from where the current King ruled – Gondor.

Aragorn smiled as he looked on in silence – and slight awe, for he had not seen the City in its completion. Arwen slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently, realizing what it meant to him to see the great City re-built once again.

"How different it looks," Aragorn said quietly, a hint of wonder in his voice. "Such a change in six years."

From where they sat, it was possible to see over the castle walls and into the first ring – where cattle and farmers had taken up residence. Aragorn smiled as he located a particular set of ruins – the pieces were all that remained of the former fallen City of Annuminas. The new City had been built around them and they had remained untouched – Aragorn’s only mandate when construction had begun.

"It is a sight to behold," Gimli smiled, recognizing the work of the dwarven smiths he had sent to Arnor years before.

"Yes, Gimli," Aragorn turned an appreciative eye on his friend. "Your people are to be commended. It is beautiful."

"Nearly rivals the beauty of Gondor." Legolas chimed in from where he had steered Arod beside Arwen.

The Chamberlain huffed indignantly. "It is impossible to match the beauty and the splendor of the White City."

Legolas turned toward the Chamberlain and smiled slightly, "Only elven cities could match such beauty."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Arwen smiled politely as she reached over and squeezed her husband's hand in an effort to calm the reaction she knew was bubbling just under the surface. "Beauty is in the eye of the individual. Gondor has an old and ancient beauty. It is wrought with the history of Kings." She cast a sidelong glance at her husband who gave a small smile at her words. "Arnor is in many ways, a forgotten city. The once great and powerful northern Kingdom ruled from afar by Numenorean Kings. It should be different, yet similar. Aragorn’s designs have assured that the similarities between the Kingdoms will remain."

"Yet this place, to those who have lived and defended its borders, is filled with a more painful and destructive history than even Gondor." Aragorn said to no one in particular. "I lived here and defended these borders for much of my adult life. There is a history here that is as ancient as the oldest city in middle earth."

The Chamberlain listened quietly, unwilling to question his King’s comments. It was apparent to all who listened, that Aragorn spoke from a deeply embedded sense of loyalty to this former great kingdom.

"Come, let us enter the City." Aragorn shook himself from the memories and cleared his mind. "I have old friends that I am eager to see again."

"My Lord," It was the Chamberlain’s chance to finally interrupt as he urged his steed before the King. "Your herald is duty-bound to announce your arrival. He has been far underused this journey."

Aragorn sighed and nodded to the clearly excited man. There was no way he could come up with a reason for a quiet entrance into the rebuilt kingdom so instead drew himself up in his saddle and smiled at Arwen.

The Chamberlain nodded to the standard-bearers as they raised their arms and unfurled the King’s banner. The herald joined the Chamberlain in the front of the company and the two men smiled at one another before continuing on toward the city.

The Queen straightened and released her husband’s hand with a wry smile. Side by side they rode down the path that would lead them to the magnificent hidden gates of the rebuilt city of Annuminas.

--------------------------

Work stopped as the heavy gates swung open to admit the King’s Company. A horn sounded from the top of the watchtower, alerting those inside the walls that an important visitor had arrived.

Work stopped inside the walls as farmers looked up from their herds and women and children stopped where they stood, holding their baskets tightly. Children tugged on their mother’s skirts, asking in hushed whispers who was coming.

Arnorian soldiers saluted and bowed low, recognizing Aragorn for who he was, even if the people did not immediately understand. Frantic whispers rippled among the commoners and soon everyone was on their knees, bowing to their King as he passed.

Each closed ring opened to admit the company, the guards that stood at each magnificent work of art, saluting and falling to their knees in utmost respect. The gates remained open so that the people working in the outer rings could follow the King’s company to the castle gate.

Large pillars, carved in the likeness of Elros and Isildur, the first King of Numenor and the Last King of the Reunited Kingdom, stood at the entrance to the castle itself.

Soldiers, clad in suits of leather with a white tree emblazoned upon their chests and a single star – a symbol of the long lost Isle of Numenor - lined the steps leading into the great entrance of the King’s castle.

Rangers of Arnor stood beside the soldiers, smiling widely as they watched their friend, now King, ride through the fourth gate

Aldamir, the acting Regent of Arnor, stood at the base of the stone steps waiting patiently for the Royal company to reach him. In his hands, he held a coronet of polished mithril with a perfectly oval diamond embedded into the center, the symbol of the Kings of Arnor. Aragorn retained the scepter of Annuminas in Gondor, but the coronet, long thought missing, had been returned to Annuminas’ when Aragorn and Gimli had found it among Saruman's possessions in the tower of Orthanc. It had a duplicate, which Aragorn retained in Gondor for the more formal occasions. Very few knew that the coronet in Gondor was not the true Elendilmir.

Aragorn had spirited it away from Gondor with the newly appointed Regent as a symbol of his rule in the rebuilt Kingdom. The rumor that the diamond in the center of the coronet contained some unknown power, had been lost over the generations. It was a secret Elendil had taken to his grave. There was no one left who could tell the King of the rumored power contained within the diamond. And the High King of the Reunited Kingdom did not have enough curiosity or time to investigate. The only knowledge he had of such rumors were stories told in his childhood, most, long forgotten over the years.

The royal herald, having had very little to do on this trip, since the Chamberlain had deemed Bree unimportant enough to use his skills, trotted forward and cleared his throat. The company glided to a halt before Aldamir and the herald raised his hands as well as his voice.

"Behold! My lords & ladies, all you folk of Arnor, make way for their Royal Majesties, Elessar & Arwen, king & queen of the Reunited Lands of Arnor & Gondor. Pay honor to the Captain of the Host of the West, he who can command the Legions of the Dead, he who has vanquished the Dark Enemy."

Aragorn winced and forced himself to remain still and quiet. Arwen reached out and slid her hand into his and squeezed it gently; a small gesture of support for a custom that would remain a part of his reign.

The herald went on, and on, listing titles and accomplishments, until Aragorn felt as if he would die from boredom.

"Kneel before your most noble lord: Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor - Aragorn son of Arathorn, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, chieftain of the Dunedain." The herald finally finished and Arwen smiled – until the herald’s last words reached her ears.

"Pay homage to your queen: Arwen daughter of Elrond, child of the line of Lúthien & Beren, Undómiel of the Elven folk, fairest lady of all these lands. Pay honor to she who is the Evenstar, who inspires your King."

Aragorn held back a stifled laugh at the surprised look she quickly masked under guise of a wide smile. He gave her own hand a reassuring squeeze, comforted to know that he did not have to bear the repeating of such flattering titles, accomplishments and lineage history alone.

Soldiers and commoners alike fell to their knees in respect and trumpets called out the King’s arrival to the four corners of the castle walls and beyond.

The Chamberlain wrinkled his nose at the relatively short proclamation and visibly sighed. This would have gone for twice as long had they been in Gondor and the King would have received the proper respect, and much more.

Aldamir smiled at Aragorn as the King dismounted, and then dropped to one knee out of respect for his friend and King. "Welcome, my Liege."

"Aldamir," Aragorn smiled widely and motioned for his friend to rise. "It is good to see you again."

Aldamir gained his feet and held up the coronet. "Please receive this crown as an affirmation of your status as our Lord and King, and wear it proudly."

Aragorn nodded and allowed Aldamir to place the coronet across his brow. The afternoon sun glinted off the mithril circlet, bathing Aragorn’s head in a halo of light. "My thanks to you. It will again remain after I have gone, as a symbol of my rule." Aragorn moved to Asfaloth’s side and raised his hand.

Arwen smiled and slid her fingers into her husband’s hand and allowed him to help her from Asfaloth’s back. In truth, it was not needed, as she was a more expert rider than he, but she properly allowed her King to assist her from her mount.

Aldamir bowed low to Arwen as the horses were removed to the livery by the stable-boys. "Welcome to Annuminas, My Lady. The City is honored by your visit."

"Thank you, Lord Regent." Arwen gazed at him with kind eyes, smiling at his likeness to Aragorn. "The City is beautiful. You and your men are to be commended for the exquisite workmanship."

"My Lady, That is indeed a compliment coming from one used to seeing such exquisite elven workmanship. My thanks." Aldamir led the King and Queen up the steps and then turned to face the crowd that gathered around to hear the King speak.

Aragorn smiled at the people, many of whom he knew personally, many who had married and settled with their families while the city was being rebuilt.

"Thank you for your toil and dedication to the rebuilding of this City. It is my hope that more will settle in the North, now that the threat of Angmar is all but diminished." Aragorn bowed to the assembly and smiled. "Thank you for not loosing hope and for standing beside me in our hour of most desperate need."

With those final words, he bowed deeply to his people and turned to follow Aldamir into the castle that would serve as his home for the next several weeks.

Chapter 10: Day 63

The cool breeze whistled through the trees, jostling the leaves from the safety of their branches. The feather light foliage was tossed about by the wind, many leaves coming to rest along the stone walkways only to be crushed violently underfoot. Some drowned a happy death in the tributaries flowing through this re-built kingdom. Still others plummeted to a more pleasurable end, settling atop dwellings, to bask in the beauty of the warm days and the starlit nights.

Far below the tallest tree lay a sleeping man, softly snoring beneath the falling leaves. The breeze ruffled his dark locks and they fell across his face with each strong gust. Peace and contentment settled across his features as he slept, the rigors of daily life forgotten in the tranquillity of the man-made glade.

He'd sought solace here in this hidden oasis; peace from the steady and never-ending demands of his royal Chamberlain. The man had finally nattered himself into a tizzy about some inconsequential matter and Aragorn finally decided he needed a bit of solitude - before the man was rendered limb from limb with a very dull knife.

Aldamir knew when his friend and King needed a break. Aragorn had been pummeled from every direction since his arrival, and the acting regent knew that if he did not let the man have a few hours of solitude, someone was going to pay for it. Unfortunately, such a breakdown would have had horribly painful consequences for the twitterpated Chamberlain and Aldamir was no fool to think that he wouldn’t be the one carrying out whatever order the King could think of to rid himself of the nuisance.

Aragorn walked for along time, admiring the workmanship of this land he grew up in and nearly no longer recognized. Spacious living quarters were built within a large, multi-tiered castle. Each level was hidden rather well within the hills and trees that surrounded the area, reminding him of elven architecture. Rolling hills and dense forests hid the new kingdom of Arnor from the casual eye and over a nearby mountain range, not far away, the sea struck the jagged rocks, slowly chipping away at millennia old foundations.

A small pool was nestled into the base of the largest hill where a natural fall of water cascaded over the rocks and into a small pool below. Well-trimmed grass surrounded the tranquil pool at the base of the falls, a small inlet carrying the overflow down the mountain and toward the sea.

Here, Aragorn found his much needed solace and he lay down in a bed of grass, nature's fresh scent and the falling water soothing his troubled thoughts and lulling him into a peaceful slumber.

And that is where she found him.

Dark eyes narrowed as they watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. A small, mischievous smile spread across her lips as she pulled the wrap tighter around her shoulders.

It was mealtime, and most of the nobles would be at their tables, eating heartily. She knew where he’d gone and had come to fetch him to meal, but instead found herself silently watching the man to whom she was bonded for the rest of her days.

They'd journeyed long through the united lands and to finally reach the newly built kingdom was both a relief and an added stress in her husband's already very busy life.

Arwen crept quietly along the tree-line, her wispy skirts kissing the blades of grass as she walked. A small smile began to spread across her lips as she stared at the still form of her sleeping husband. The peaceful, relaxed smile on his face was an image she wanted to capture forever. It was something she rarely saw anymore, and he'd only held the throne for a few short years. She stared for a long time, simply standing beside him, burning the image into her mind.

Slowly, she sank to her knees, careful to not disturb him. His nose twitched as she slid the back of her hand down his whiskered chin and along the nape of his neck. His heavy sigh caused a wide smile to spread across her lips as she leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his cheek. The long, dark lashes that rested against his skin fluttered with the unconscious movement of his eyes.

Before she could reach his lips, strong hands slid gently up her arms and beneath the wrap that covered her shoulders. "Interrupting the king while he sleeps is an offense punishable by…."

She leaned forward quickly and began to nibble on his lower lip, effectively silencing his feigned protest.

Callused hands, born from years of wielding a sword, lightly traced her collarbone, sending tremors racing down her spine. Those same hands rubbed gently along the skin of her nape, before sliding along her cheeks and into the long, dark mane that spilled over her shoulders and down her back. Gently, he eased her tongue away from where it tasted the lingering wine from his lower lip.

Her eyes sparkled with a playful gleam as she settled into a seated position beside him.

His gaze darted toward the sky, noting the time. "Did you bring the meal?" Crystal eyes sparkled as he waited for her answer. "I see no food, no settings, no….."

A slim finger pressed to his lips silenced his questions. "There will be no meal for you tonight."

Dark eyes searched his face as her hands slid down the neckline of his tunic, parting the silken material. He watched her, unblinking, as nimble fingers easily unfastened the familiar clothing.

"Starving your king is also a capitol offense." He said the words without the barest hint of a smile but the dancing crystalline eyes revealed his amusement. "You could be punished…"

Arwen leaned over his chest, her breath hot against his cheek. "Then perhaps I should submit to my king's whims and accept my punishment."

"I think that would be wise," Aragorn's voice dropped and his hands tightened in her hair. Slowly, he brought her lips to his and captured them in a deep, passionate kiss.

She melted into his embrace, all plans of her conquest of him fleeing her mind as his lips sucked gently at her own. After a few moments, and a few shocking bursts of desire that raced down her spine, she regained what remained of her senses. Small fingers wrapped around his wrists, prying his hands from her hair. "But, my liege, I have my own agenda for this evening and your control of this situation is not what I had in mind."

Aragorn's eyes sparkled as he licked the taste of her from his lips and settled comfortably back into the bed of grass. "Oh? Then what have you planned, my queen? I will…submit…. to your whims……for a time."

When she moved to stand, a curious eyebrow raised and he considered reaching out to stop her. A hard gaze nailed him in place as she lifted the silky material gathered around her ankles and straddled his hips. She settled herself against his thighs, smiling widely when a muffled groan escaped his lips. It was Arwen's turn to lean over and breathe hotly against his whiskered cheek. "I intend to ravish you, my husband." Her hips rolled across his thighs and his eyes lolled into the back of his head.

"I will go without a meal with that promise, wife." Aragorn's voice deepened with arousal and he shifted uncomfortably beneath her weight. His breeches became more restrictive with each passing second and Arwen smiled at his discomfort.

She rested her hands on his chest and slowly dragged her nails down the bared skin. She licked suddenly dry lips and gazed at him with eyes that burned through to his very soul. A tremor raced down his spine and straight to his groin.

When she finally reached his breeches, she expertly loosened the fastenings, and freed his stiff erection from its cramped confinement. A visible sigh of relief washed across his features and Arwen held back a grin of amusement.

Skilled hands slowly stroked his length, eliciting a muffled groan from tightly clenched lips. When she bent over his chest, her hair fell in a silken pool around them, its flowery fragrance intoxicating his senses and boiling his blood. Releasing him, a small hand trailed along the side of a whiskered cheek and down his neck before dipping to the edges of his open tunic. Dropping a lingering kiss to the side of his mouth, Arwen bared his chest and pressed her lips to the burning skin.

The lapping of the water against the rocks below soon matched their racing hearts and the sound drowned out all but the loudest moan as Arwen worked her way down his body. Fingers reverently traced the lines of every scar, every mark etched into his beautifully tanned skin. A testament to a life dedicated to the service and protection of others.

When she glanced up at him through dark eyelashes, his smoldering gaze pierced her soul more deeply than his body ever could. She could see the barely controlled passion in his heated stare and she trembled. The race of men were quite different than the elves in the ways of love. Where the elves were gentle and reverent, worshipping one another with a grace not found anywhere else in Middle-Earth, the race of men, comparatively, were brutes, taking what they wanted in ways that the elves could never comprehend. The unique mix of Aragorn's unrestrained passion, combined with his elven-learned grace and gentility, made him a most passionate lover. A lover Arwen would never tire of trying to tame.

Displaying perfectly the unrestrained passion of his race, Aragorn's fingers twisted into the shawl that hung loosely off her shoulders and tugged. The sudden movement drew her lips from where they were slowly making their way back to his painfully stiff manhood.

She was pulled deep into his arms, and his lips covered hers in a passionate, possessive kiss. The backs of his hands delicately traced the length of her arms, sending chills down her spine. His slow, deliberate strokes, the soft brushing of rough hands across smooth skin and whiskered cheeks that prickled the tender skin of her neck made her toes curl. When his lips covered that delicate place at her nape, she trembled, long and hard, the chill racing straight down her spine. Her head lolled into his hand, further baring the smooth, silky column of her neck to his hungry gaze. A soft whimper escaped barely parted lips and she could feel him smile against her skin. One hand supported the back of her head as the other continued its light path across her clothed body, slowly stroking the kindling fire that had been a simple ember not long before.

"This is not what I had planned for the evening." She whispered, her voice trembling.

"Your intent, indonya, was to seduce me this evening." He said, lips nibbling slowly across her neck to trail along her jaw line. "I may be a man, but I can see a set-up when it is sitting right on top of me."

Arwen chuckled, stifling a gasp as he bit gently down on her smooth skin. She could feel the muscles in his stomach constrict moments before he sat up, cradling her tightly in his arms.

"It has been far too long," he groaned into her skin.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, balancing herself atop his thighs. Small, soft hands slid down his whiskered cheeks, tracing the line of his beard from his ears to his chin. When she dropped a lingering kiss to his slightly parted lips, she arched her hips sharply against his drawing him swiftly into her. A long, loud growl escaped his lips as he captured her mouth in a deep, penetrating kiss. His hands slid down her back and settled her more tightly against his thighs, eyes crossing as her body tightened around him.

They rocked together for a time, simply enjoying the closeness this position afforded. Breath caught as thin lips covered every inch of her face with gentle kisses. Fingers laced through his hair, tugging absently at the strands as his mouth worked magic against the sensitive skin of her neck.

Without warning, Arwen arched her hips and leaned away. Aragorn immediately drew up his legs as support against her back and trailed his hands down the front neckline of her dress.

Skilled hands slipped between the folds of fabric to cup each breast while nimble fingers kneaded the tender skin and pinched the already hard, pink nipples. She arched her back sharply, driving him deeper. His answering growl caused an amused light to shine within the dark pools of her eyes. She rode him slowly, devouring every sensation, every tremor that raced down his body.

His blood burned. He nearly whimpered beneath her as he clawed at her remaining clothing. Clouded, crystalline eyes pleaded with her to end the agony, the tightness building in his groin. Every nerve ending was lit with a fire that threatened to consume him. A nearly unrecognizable sound uttered from somewhere in the back of his throat as he tried to urge her quicken her pace.

As the neckline of her dress slipped down over her shoulders, his lips immediately fastened onto the delicate cord that ran the length of her neck. A small whimper reverberated in her throat and her head lolled to one side. He murmured incomprehensible words against her skin as his hands slid down her arms to pull her hips against his thighs.

At her urging, he leaned back into the bed of grass and watched her with dark eyes. His hands gripped her waist tightly, guiding her, sliding her against his groin as tightly as he could manage.

She rose and fell atop him, urged quickly by the tension in his bunched muscles and his tight grip on her waist. His hips rose to meet hers and with each thrust his groan's deepened.

She slowly trailed the back of her hands down his whiskered cheeks and bent to take his lips in a searing kiss. His hands gripped her hips like a vice, his pace quickening until they were both panting from the effort. His hips jerked one final time before his seed burst from his loins, filling her with its warmth. His eyes crossed for a moment and he trembled from the intensity of his release.

Arwen continued to ride him, drawing out her pleasure until she leaned over him one final time and cried her release into his mouth. The pace slowed until they were rocking slowly against one another. As their heartbeat calmed, Aragorn settled his wife against his chest and allowed the cool breeze to dry their damp skin.

When she gazed at him through drooping eyes, he pressed long, lingering kisses to her cheeks before moving ever so slowly toward her swollen lips.

"Ahh," he breathed as he wrapped his arms around her hips and pressed her tightly against him. "Far better than any meal."

She smiled and shifted her hips, drawing a startled gasp from his lips. "I still hold the power, husband. Never forget."

His eyes sparkled in the waning light. "Never, wife." He was content to play her game if such immense satisfaction followed every such encounter.

Before she could respond, a startled gasp cut short their teasing banter and two sets of eyes glared darkly at the man who had intruded on their private time.

There stood the Chamberlain, eyes wide as a shocked deer, staring at them, his mouth agape with disbelief. That his King and Queen would allow themselves to indulge in such a public place was unthinkable to the man. Color began to rise in his cheeks until his face was the color of the setting crimson sun.

Aragorn groaned and Arwen quickly sat up, arranging her dress. She did not move from her husband's thighs, instead settled more comfortably atop them and covered as much of his bare skin with her dress as she could.

"What is it?" Aragorn demanded, making no effort to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"There - there is an envoy from the North who wish to set up trade routes with Annuminas." The Chamberlain answered quickly, struggling to remember just what message he deemed necessary to deliver. "I thought it best to find you to officiate such a trade."

"Has not Aldamir conducted trade with other people's in my absence?" Aragorn pinned the Chamberlain with a stern stare as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Arwen settled back on his legs but took great care in making sure her husband was still covered.

"Yes, but, since you are here, I thought it best that you make your presence, and authority, known to the people of the North."

"My people, the Dunedain, know me quite well." Aragorn gritted his teeth. "I was, I am, their Chieftain. Since it was they that have settled Annuminas, it would be quite difficult to forget my former presence in their lives."

"My Lord," The Chamberlain swallowed nervously, careful not to look at the Queen and her pale skin that glowed with the aftermath of loving. His disgust at witnessing, even having such knowledge, of this encounter warred with his amazement that she could possibly look any more beautiful. His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "I did not expect to find - find…"

"What?" Aragorn snapped, his patience nearing an end.

"You!" The Chamberlain cried, his temper snapping thanks to the King's tone and his own embarrassment. "Frolicking like children outside where anyone could see you. You are the King, you have a reputation…"

"You forget yourself!" Aragorn lifted Arwen off his lap and stood, uncaring as to his state of undress. He'd grown up with the elves and was quite unconcerned with nudity or relations with a lover under the sun or stars. He did, however, pull his breeches up and fasten them as he seethed in anger. "I AM the King and as such will pleasure my wife where and how I please!"

The Chamberlain took a step back as the King's tone changed to one he had never before heard. He averted his eyes as the King returned to some normal state of undress. Even Arwen cringed at Aragorn's seething tone, causing the Chamberlain to wince at the anticipated scathing remarks that were to follow.

An authoritative tone crept into Aragorn's voice as he continued. "Now, you will go back to the City and inform Aldamir that, by my leave, he will negotiate a trade between Arnor and its newly arrived guests."

"But, My Lord," The Chamberlain's voice trembled. "He has asked for you to-"

"Did you not hear me?" Aragorn interrupted hastily. "Those are my instructions. You may inform him that will be along shortly."

At the man’s hesitation, Aragorn added, "Carry them out and trouble me no more this night!"

Arwen approached her husband and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her touch seemed to calm his raging temper and the Chamberlain breathed a huge sigh of relief. But, when the man's eyes flitted over Arwen's very inappropriately dressed form, Aragorn growled and took a step toward the man who was now understandably frightened for his continued safety.

"You are dismissed!"

The Chamberlain wasted no time in putting as much distance between himself and the enraged King as possible. He stumbled over tree roots in his rush to escape, cursing as he hit the ground with a loud grunt. He picked himself up quickly and tossed a look over his shoulder to make sure the couple hadn't noticed.

They hadn’t.

But those spying from the bushes, had.

Chapter 11: Day 63

Aldamir gazed out over the City, watching the remainder of the envoy relinquish hold of their steeds to the stable boys. He had been there to greet these new people, had even met briefly with their captain, and then sent them to quarters to refresh. While Aragorn was here, he wanted to defer all decisions to the King and so had sent them away until Aragorn could be found.

The Chamberlain had been gone for a while now and Aldamir watched the road carefully, eyes darting back and forth from each possible pathway. The Chamberlain was far too anxious, where the King's safety was concerned, for his own good. Aldamir could see immediately Aragorn's annoyance with the man.

When the Chamberlain appeared in the distance, walking briskly down the cobbled walkway toward the castle, Aldamir's eyes narrowed. His appearance was less than pristine, and he seemed harried. Aldamir paused and regarded the man carefully. The Chamberlain had been sent to find the King. Why was he returning without Aragorn? And in less than clean condition as when he'd left not long before. The acting regent of Arnor turned and strode quickly off the balcony and down to intercept the Chamberlain.

"Where is Aragorn?" Aldamir's sudden appearance at the Chamberlain's side startled the man. Aldamir stared. Something was wrong. The Chamberlain was more agitated than normal.

When the Chamberlain failed to answer quickly enough, Aldamir pressed a little too harshly than he normally would have. "Where is the King? Has something happened? Did you find him?"

The Chamberlain's eyes widened at Aldamir's tone. In his agitated state, the Chamberlain forgot his station and blurted, "Yes, I found him! He wished not to be disturbed!"

Aldamir's eyes narrowed. That was very unlike Aragorn and very unlike a royal Chamberlain to be speaking to him in this way. Something must have happened and Aldamir needed to know what it was. Duty had always reined first and foremost in Aragorn’s mind and Aldamir found it very unlikely that he would simply refuse to appear when summoned. "You informed him of the envoy?"

The Chamberlain looked aghast. As if Aldamir would even dare to insinuate he had not done what he had been sent to do. "Of course I did, Sir. He refused to accompany me."

"What?" Aldamir couldn't believe what he was hearing. Something was wrong for Aragorn not to wish to great a new envoy to the rebuilt capitol. "Explain, please. You must return and fetch him. I would like him to-"

"Sir, he and the Queen are in the secluded glen." The Chamberlain snapped, gesturing with a flailing hand, down the path from which he had just come. "I interrupted them at a very inopportune moment. If you would like to face his wrath, then by all means, venture down there and see for yourself!" The Chamberlain turned on his heel and strode away, now fearful that if he turned around and looked at Aldamir, the man would order his death.

A dark eyebrow raised as Aldamir watched the Chamberlain stride quickly away. "Inopportune moment?" He chuckled to himself and glanced down the small pathway that led to the glade. "Aragorn, my friend, you may just have succeeded in tipping your irritating Chamberlain off the very precarious edge of sanity that he has been living on since you arrived." The man let out a hearty laugh and strode toward the receiving hall. He would deal with this envoy himself. It was nothing new or unusual. Far be it for him, or anyone, to interrupt Aragorn's few short moments alone with his wife.

------------------------

Aldamir watched the envoy approach from the top of the dais. With respect to the King, he did not sit on the throne, instead stood and waited for the envoy to reach the front of the King's Hall. The herald announced their arrival, his voice echoing off the polished stone walls.

The men bowed low and Aldamir nodded in return. "Greetings. Welcome to Annuminas, Capitol of the rebuilt kingdom of Arnor. I am Aldamir, Regent given charge of this land in place of the King who rules from the White City of Gondor. What brings you here?"

"Greetings, my Lord Aldamir. We travel far from the North to trade with the City and its people. I am Pak'na, chief of my people."

"What bring you? Our gates are open to all and we welcome all trade."

Pak'na and his second, Ma'lin, glanced nervously around the large hall. Finally it was Pak'na who spoke. "I understood that your King was visiting from his White City, will we have the chance to meet him?"

Aldamir's eyes narrowed. To answer a question with a question was very against protocol. Something didn't feel right. "Yes, he has recently arrived. He is presently otherwise occupied. Should you remain in the City for long, I will arrange an audience."

"Ah, good. I wish to meet this man of the West who has conquered such evil in the Eastern lands."

Aldamir stared down at the strangers. "There are not many who I do not know who reside to our North, from where exactly do you hail?"

It was clear Aldamir's question had caught Pak'na off guard but he managed to regain his composure before answering. "My people fled from the eastern realm many years ago; far from the evil that resided there. We did not wish to be overtaken, as so many of our neighbors, by the evil Eye."

"So you ran to a place ravaged by war?" Aldamir pierced Pak'na with a stern gaze. "Arnor has long been a kingdom in ruins, it's people scattered across the countryside for fear of the retribution of Angmar. We were besieged by their forces for many long

years . And those who did not join forces with the Witch-king, fought with us against him. There are very few who reside here that we do not know."

"We hid far to the North, Sire," Pak'na's hands shook and if Aldamir noticed, he gave no indication. "Only when word came that the Eye had been destroyed did we venture out of our secluded caves."

Aldamir nodded slowly and turned his attention to his second. "Please escort our guests to their chambers. I will summon them when the King has returned." He turned toward the two men who stood before him. "Please accept our hospitality. Meal will be brought to your rooms. I must ask that you do not wander the halls without an escort, however." Aldamir smiled politely. "It is a precaution taken with all new guests."

The two men barely had time to bow to Aldamir as the Captain of the Guard ushered them from the receiving hall. Another guard stepped forward at Aldamir's motion and listened carefully to his commands. "Have them watched. I get an uneasy feeling from them."

--------------------------

"Love, he was just informing you of-"

"Arwen," Aragorn nodded angrily. "He has gone too far this time and I will have words with Aldamir about his remaining in Arnor's service when we return to Gondor."

"You know that would dishonor him and his house." Arwen walked slowly, hand in hand with her irritated husband.

"No, what he's done is inexcusable-" A twig snapped and in Aragorn's heated temper, he did not hear. "I want him left here. Aldamir will put him to good use."

"I think if you calm-" Arwen was interrupted when several men rushed out of the trees, startling the couple.

Arwen's yelp of surprise was smothered as a dirty hand covered her mouth and she was pulled roughly away from her husband. She watched, wide-eyed over the hand covering her mouth, as Aragorn's fist connected with one of their attackers. He fell to the ground unconscious as the King whirled on another and thrust two fingers into the man's neck, dropping him to the ground instantly.

A fist connected with Aragorn's cheek, knocking him off balance as another man joined the fight. With a sharp kick to the stomach and a strong left hook, Aragorn dropped the man who had struck him. This took the other attacker out of his line of sight and it proved to be his undoing.

Several more men rushed out of the dense foliage and surrounded Aragorn, eventually forcing him to the ground in submission. Three of the attackers lay dead or unconscious as evidence of the valiant struggle Aragorn had waged.

Aragorn's arms were bound tightly behind his back and he was hauled to his feet. He was backhanded across the face several times, the last strike cutting his lip and causing a small trickle of blood to drip from its corner.

"Enough!" One of the men hissed, "We are not to damage him - too severely." The slanted eyes of the dark-skinned man narrowed as he watched his captive struggle against his bonds. His gaze shifted to the King’s wife, hair mussed from her own struggles, and his eyes sparkled with lust. He licked his lips and grinned widely making quite sure Aragorn could see his barely restrained desire for the elven queen.

"Let's get back to camp," the apparent leader ordered. "We'll be summoned shortly." As Arwen was pushed roughly passed the man, he reached out and grasped her arm. "You, my beauty, will receive treatment befitting your position."

"Do not touch her!" Aragorn hissed. He struggled against his bonds until he was struck over the head with the hilt of a curved blade. He fell to the forest floor unconscious as a dark hand cupped Arwen's cheek. The leader leaned toward the Queen, stopping when his lips were scant inches from her own. She attempted to pull away but his hand tightened on her jaw, leaving a small bruise.

"If you dare touch me, you will have all the host of Arnor to contend with," She hissed, midnight eyes glowing black with anger.

"Mmm," the man's eyes twinkled and he released her. "I like a fiery woman. I shall enjoy taming you." He laughed. "You shall cry out beneath me." He cast an amused look at her unconscious husband. "Perhaps I shall even make him watch me defile you."

"You would not live through the act," Arwen spat defiantly.

"We shall see, elf wench." He wrenched her from the grasp of his man and ushered her roughly toward his hidden camp. "We shall see."

Chapter 12: Day 63

Aldamir frowned. It had been too long, even for the King, to have not finished what the Chamberlain had interrupted. He turned and called for the Guard.

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Please go down to the secluded glade and fetch the King. I have it on good authority that he is there with the Queen."

"Yes, Sire. Right away." As the guard turned to leave, Aldamir added. "And be discrete. They have been enjoying one anothers’ company in private."

"Aye." The guard bowed quickly before leaving to carry out his assigned task.

The Chamberlain poked his head around the corner after the guard had gone. "They are still not back?"

Aldamir stared.

"They were finished by the time I accidentally found them." The man huffed. "Perhaps the King has a bit more stamina than I gave him credit for." An amused smile crossed his face at the thought.

"Enough!" Aldamir grumbled. "This is a matter we will not discuss now, or ever."

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"Let her be!" Aragorn hissed as he was jerked roughly away from his wife. His vision was still blurred thanks to the blow that had rendered him unconscious for a portion of their journey. His clothing was dirty and torn where they had dragged his unconscious body through the brush. A filthy rag was shoved into his mouth and tied tightly around his head in a vain effort to silence his protests.

Arwen struggled in her captor's embrace, watching the rough treatment her husband was receiving from the others. She could see his eyes were not completely focused on her and it caused her eyes to narrow in concern.

Their leader grunted and threw Arwen into the arms of a nearby man, "Enough!" He crossed the distance between himself and Aragorn and backhanded the King hard enough to draw blood. "You will be silent or I will take your beautiful Queen right here in front of you!"

Crystal eyes widened and then narrowed in spite but he ceased his struggle. When the man returned to Arwen's side, he pulled her roughly against him and flattened his hands against her well-rounded backside. He leaned down and whispered, loud enough for Aragorn to hear, into her delicately tipped ear. "Mmm, what a delicious treat you must be. So warm and tender, it’s a wonder you don't drive every man in your kingdom mad with desire."

"Release me," she whispered in return, bringing her knee into contact with his groin as a warning.

The man sucked in a quick breath as her knee came into light contact with his most precious organ. His eyes narrowed and he reached out and grasped her hair, tugging her face toward him. "One more move on your part and your husband will suffer a very agonizing, painful beating." Arwen lowered her foot to the ground and gasped when he pulled her, by the hair, into his arms. When he released her hair and slid his hands down her back to cup her backside, Aragorn hissed in anger. Arwen tried to step back but his iron-clad grip forced her to remain in place. He squeezed the plumb cheeks and arched his hips against her. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear loud enough for Aragorn to hear, "You will sate me soon enough."

Arwen trembled, feeling the physical manifestation of his lust pressed against her stomach. She was grateful for the clothing that she wore, but the uncomfortable sensation of his arousal still disgusted her.

He stepped back and laughed, then backhanded her a little gentler than he had her husband.

Aragorn launched himself with a growl out of his captor's grasp with a strength his guards had not anticipated.

"Lra'ka!" One of the men reached for Aragorn as another called out to their leader in warning.

Lra’ka quickly drew his sword and Aragorn skidded to a halt rather than be impaled on the blade. The sharp metal rested against his neck as he stared with wild eyes at his wife's captor. "I can see even the memory of a King fails. For you obviously do not remember my previous instructions. Now," he licked his lips as he cast a quick look back at Arwen, " you and your wife, will pay for your disobedience."

The other two men grasped Aragorn and bound him even more tightly as Lra'ka sheathed the weapon and wrapped his hands around Arwen's neck. "Hold her legs!" He ordered the other remaining man who stood behind her, "and part them when I command." He snickered at the horrified look that flashed in Arwen’s eyes.

Aragorn's struggle at his words did not go unnoticed and Lra'ka smiled. "Perhaps he will not watch this time. Just knowing it has happened, that I have defiled his precious Queen, will be enough." He turned and nodded to his men, who immediately brought the hilt of a blade down on Aragorn's head. The King crumpled to the ground, unconscious, as Arwen cried out in elvish to her husband.

"Carry him!" Lra'ka ordered as he pulled Arwen into his arms and pushed her through the dense underbrush. "We will travel a bit farther before we stop to take pleasure from this fair one's flesh."

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"My Lord!" The captain of the guard rushed into the castle, skidding to a halt as Aldamir and the Chamberlain turned curious glances toward the sweat-soaked man.

"What is it?" Aldamir's eyes narrowed in concern.

"I didn't not find the King, or Queen, but I found signs of a struggle."

"What?!" Aldamir demanded, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Gather a guard to search for them and set up a parameter around the city. I want no one to leave or enter until they are found."

The Chamberlain's eyes widened. " I shouldn't have left them!"

Aldamir turned toward the Chamberlain. "Go with the captain, show them where the King and Queen were last seen." As the Chamberlain hurried after the guard, Aldamir waved to his personal escort. "Come, we must find the newly arrived 'traders'. I sensed a nervousness about them during their audience. I believe they may have something to do with the King’s disappearance."

-----------------------

Arwen struggled in Lra'ka's grasp, biting back the tears as his iron grip bruised her arms. "Enough!" he threw her to the ground and straddled her waist before she could regain her feet. "I know how to stop your struggles!" Dirty fingers ripped at her clothing, tearing the elven silk from her shoulders and bearing her pale skin to his hungry gaze.

"Mmmm," he crooned. "I've never had an elf wench."

"And you will not - " She hissed before dirty hands covered her mouth. Lra'ka nodded in appreciation to his man as he ripped the dress away from her body. To his utter delight, she wore nothing beneath - evidence of earlier relations with her husband.

"Ohh, what a lovely surprise," Lra'ka licked his lips. His hands roughly cupped and kneaded her breasts as he leaned over and whispered against her ear. "I see your husband has already tasted your flesh this eve."

She struggled but Lra'ka was too large to be moved and his friend held arms so tightly she was sure there would be bruises. Her eyes widened in horror over the hand that covered her mouth as she watched him pull away to unfasten his breeches.

Arwen gasped and turned her head away as he pulled his swollen organ out of the confining material and leaned over her. He roughly gripped her legs and pried them apart, kneeling between her thighs so she could not easily clamp them back together. She struggled but his grip became painful as his hands closed around the soft flesh of her upper thighs. As he positioned himself to enter her, she heard a strangled cry to her left. Arwen turned sad eyes on the blurred eyes of her husband, who had just regained consciousness. He was bound and gagged but continued to struggle when he noticed what was taking place a few feet away.

Lra'ka sneered at Aragorn and taunted, " Lets see how she responds to my touch, King Elessar!"

Aragorn's cries drown out the whirl of the arrow as it sailed through the air and into Lra'ka's back. The man's eyes widened in shock mere moments before he fell lifeless onto Arwen. His weight pressed her into the ground, knocking the wind from her lungs. The man holding Arwen's hands stood quickly and turned to run, as did the two who had stood guard over Aragorn's bound body. Another arrow caught the first man in the chest, dropping him immediately, while two other's sailed into the leg and thigh of the men closest to Aragorn. One limped away into the brush and Aragorn's elven-trained senses could see Legolas trail the injured man from the trees above. The other dropped to the ground, gripping at his leg.

The Chamberlain clawed through the thick underbrush and ran past the King, ripping his cloak from his neck. He pulled Lra'ka's lifeless body off the Queen and helped her to sit, immediately wrapping his cloak about her shoulders to cover her nakedness. The Captain of Arnor's guard ordered his men to surrounded the area, securing it from any other hostile men possibly lurking in the shadows.

"You are unhurt?" The Chamberlain asked his Queen, concerned eyes searching for an answer that came only in the form of a nod. With this affirmation, the Chamberlain quickly moved to the Aragorn's side, hands shaking as he ripped the gag from his King's mouth. He quickly cut the bonds that held the man apart from his wife. "My Lord, we came as soon as we could!"

Aragorn ignored the Chamberlain and crawled to Arwen, drawing her quickly into his arms. He rocked her tenderly, whispering soothing words in her native tongue, before turning to the Chamberlain. "Thank you." Aragorn favored the man, who had been the bane of his existence on the entire trip to Arnor, with a kind and grateful stare. "Thank you." He breathed again, as he stood, Arwen comfortably ensconced in his arms.

Moments later, Legolas stepped out of the trees and surveyed the area before his eyes settled on Aragorn and Arwen. "He will trouble you no more."

Aragorn nodded to Legolas, exhaling a sigh of relief that those who had dare attack the King and his wife had been dealt with in the severest way. "Thank you, my friend." Glancing down at the man who had nearly raped his wife, Aragorn resisted the urge to take the nearest blade and plunge it into the dead man's still heart.

"We must return, Sire," The Chamberlain said slowly. "Aldamir went in search of the new trade envoy that arrived today."

"Is it they who did this?" Aragorn asked as they began to walk back toward the city.

"Aye, Aldamir believes it to be so."

"Then it is so." Aragorn said. "Aldamir is rarely wrong in these circumstances." After a few moments of silence, he added. "And he'd better save their treasonous hides to me."

They walked quickly through the dense brush and back to the trail from which they had been abducted. Arwen nestled into Aragorn's protective embrace, shivering slightly in the night cold.

"I will escort Arwen back to our rooms and then-"

"I am coming with you." Ebony eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

"Arwen - "

"Do not try to stop me, husband." Arwen squared her shoulders and stared hard at Aragorn. "These men wronged me as much as they did you. Justice will be swift, and I will be there to witness it."

The Chamberlain cast an amused look at Aragorn and made no effort to mask it when the King cast an exasperated look in his direction.

"As you wish."

--------------------------------

"Wha-what can we do for you, sire?" Pak'na smiled at Aldamir. "Has the King returned?" He glanced nervously at the guards that spilled into the chamber behind the Regent of Arnor. They fanned into every room and escorted three other men from various rooms in the spacious suite.

"Where are the rest of your men?" Aldamir asked, his tone leaving no room for hesitation or argument.

Pak'na blinked. "I don't know what you mean, my Lord."

Aldamir paced in small circles before Pak'na. He glanced at the three men who stood silently against the wall, surrounded by Kings guards. "You arrived with at least ten in your party. There are four of you here now."

Pak'na nodded and forced a small smile. "Ah, yes. We were all assigned chambers down this wing. Have you checked-"

"The rooms are empty." Aldamir said and waited for a response. When he received none, he continued. "Where are your men, ambassador?"

"I know not!" Pak'na's eyes widened. "If you have an accusation to make, Lord Regent, make it and be done!" He glanced at his men before searching the room, and the King's guards that stood at every conceivable exit.

Aldamir regarded the man with a curious stare. "What accusation might that be?"

Silence.

"Speak up."

"I, too, am eager to hear this explanation," Aragorn stared at the man from the vicinity of the door.

Aldamir bowed to Aragorn. "It is good to see you well." His eyes flicked over Arwen as she stepped in behind her husband. The Regent's eyes narrowed as he noticed her mussed hair and the Chamberlain's cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. He fought the urge to launch himself at Pak'na. "What has happened?" Aldamir glanced from Aragorn, to the Chamberlain to Pak'na.

Aragorn stepped further into the room, his guards following. The Chamberlain stood beside Arwen to offer his strength and support as the King strode slowly, carefully toward Pak’na.

"Was it your plan to have my wife and I abducted?" Aragorn stopped before the trader, crystal eyes hardening as he took in the stranger's aloof stance. "Or was there another whose orders you followed?"

"I do not know of what you speak," Pak'na's eyes widened and he took a step back, regaining the personal space the King had stepped into in an effort to catch the stranger off-guard. He bowed deeply, hoping that the gesture would temper the King’s rage.

Aragorn turned to the men being held against the wall. "What say you? Speak! I will give you only this chance before I stretch your necks from these castle walls."

The men glanced at the floor, wary of disobeying their superior but even more frightened of the King of the West.

Aragorn took a step toward them. "Did you work alone?"

Silence.

"My Liege," The Captain of Arnor’s Royal guard, who had been with the group that had rescued the King and Queen, stepped forward. In his hand was a bloodstained bag, heavy with unknown contents. "Perhaps this," he tossed the bag at Pak’na’s feet, " will loosen their tongues."

Pak’na’s gazed down in horror at the bag as it rolled to a stop at his feet.

"This is what we do to those who violate our laws and our people." The Captain’s dark eyes narrowed and Aragorn smiled at the barely restrained rage in his Numenorean Captain’s stance. "We will not tolerate such a blatant disregard for the safety of our King and Queen, nor will we sit idly by as you attempt to tear apart this kingdom."

Pak’na pulled open the bloodied strings and tipped the contents onto the marble floor. A collective gasp echoed from the lips of the men being held against the wall as the contents spilled out of the bag.

"No one lays a violent hand on our Queen and lives to tell the tale," The Captain's eyes narrowed and he did not need to look at the reactions of his men to see that they echoed their Captain's statement.

Arwen’s eyes immediately darted to her husband as a look of disgust crossed his face, quickly masked by a satisfied smile and a nod of approval to his Captain.

Pak’na swallowed nervously and backed away from the bloodied body parts that lay at his feet. "I – I."

"You will confess or you will be put to death in a most unbecoming way." The Captain’s harsh tone left no room for argument.

"Do not test the soldiers of Arnor," Aragorn stepped toward Pak’na. "They have been battle hardened by trials of fire and more pain and heartache than you can possibly imagine. Do not think you can dissuade or distract them."

Aldamir stepped next to his King and asked. "Did you give the order?"

A moment’s hesitation followed the question before Pa’kna lowered his head and whispered, "No."

Aragorn blinked and reached behind him as Arwen slid her hand into his. He was certain Pak’na had orchestrated this feeble attempt to capture him and had simply failed. The trader’s admission caused every soldier of Arnor to stiffen, raising the tension in the room to a thickness that could not be cut with the sharpest elven blade.

His admission meant that someone else had orchestrated this attack on the King and Queen. Someone who was clever enough not to reveal his identity to those he had hired to make this first attempt - This meant that there would be another.

Aldamir quickly barked orders for more guards to be brought into the castle and for the guard to be fortified and strengthened along the walls.

The gates were ordered shut and no strangers would be allowed in or out until the persons responsible for coordinating the attack on the King’s life was found.

THE END

TBC in 'Revenge'