Homesick, a.k.a. Lovesick

By The Last Evenstar

Disclaimer: Not mine! Nothing is mine! Come on, you should have learned that by now. If it's on fanfiction.net, it's stolen! *Fondles stolen Aragorn*

A/N: I did noting for a week, trying to think of ideas. Finally I got tired of my inbox being so empty and went back to my original thought. Please, PLEASE tell me whether or not you like it!

Arwen watched Aragorn sleep. His lips were parted slightly, and his chest moved up and down in constant rhythm. He had a faint smile on his face, as if dreaming of some far-off happiness.

Should I wake him? she deliberated. Or get up quietly and let him sleep? Affection toyed with general amusement as she pondered the dilemma.

It turned out that her pondering was in vain, however, for a few moments later he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing her, the faint smile became a grin so wide that she wondered if his face could hold the strain.

"Good morning," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek.

He wrapped his arms around her. "Good morning." He kissed her softly. "Now I'm going back to sleep."

She giggled, snuggling up against his warm body. "Shouldn't you get up and attend to your kingly duties?"

He yawned. "You know, I've been King a while now and still haven't figured out what those duties are."

She wrinkled her nose. "Good. Do queens have duties?"

He nodded gravely. "They involve kissing the King, making love to the King, and, oh, yes – letting him sleep."

She grinned. "Then it's only fair that the King should have duties too."

"Unfortunately, that's the popular opinion among my advisors."

Her grin widened. "I bet I have MUCH different ideas than they do."

He drew the coverlet tighter around the two of them. "I hope. Although this one fellow has been looking at me in a very funny way –"

"Estel!" She tried not to laugh. "Should I be jealous?"

"Probably." He smiled wickedly. "It WAS him I was planning to marry, but then you showed up, and -"

She yanked the covers off of him. "That's it. No more duties for you!"

He yelped. Grabbing her around the waste, he caught her in a long kiss. Once she loosened her grip on the covers, he pulled them back.

"You're a very tricky man, Estel," she said, kissing him again.

Unfortunately, it turned out that Kings do have duties – real ones. When Aragorn was called away to a meeting after breakfast, Arwen decided to take the opportunity to explore her knew home.

After walking in on a peace summit and a very embarrassed young couple, she decided it was best just to memorize the way to and from the courtyard and her bedchamber and learn the rest over time.

What disconcerted her most were the people. In Rivendell she had handmaidens, but they were all friends she had known for thousands of years. Here, a host a strangers seemed to be everywhere, vying to do her bidding. Obviously men were not a private people.

In the courtyard she found Éowyn, polishing a sword. She didn't know the girl that well, but figured it was better than not at all.

She smiled brightly and made her way over to sit down. "Hello, Éowyn."

The shieldmaiden looked up in surprise. "Good morning, Your Highness."

Arwen frowned. "You don't need to call me that. 'Arwen' will do." She paused. "You don't call Aragorn 'Your Highness'."

Éowyn smiled ruefully. "I probably should."

The elf shook her head. "He hates it." She searched for a topic of conversation. "I hear you're betrothed to Lord Faramir."

The girl grinned shyly. "We're to marry at the end of the month."

"You're from Rohan, aren't you?" Éowyn nodded. "What is it like there?"

The shieldmaiden grinned and got a far-off look in her eye. "It's wonderful. My memories of the Golden Hall are not all happy, of course, but in general it was a place of great comfort. The people are wary and mistrustful, but at heart they're truly good. Edoras is a beautiful city – green grass, and shining stone, and a wonderful view of the mountains."

It was apparent the Éowyn loved her homeland very much. "How do you deal with . . . being away? Do you get homesick?"

"Sometimes," Eowyn admitted. "The people of Gondor are quite different from my own. It feels strange not to be conversing in my native tongue."

Arwen smiled. The girl could have been describing her very feelings. "I know what you mean. I would never give this up for anything, but –" She swept a hand out over Minas Tirith. "It isn't home. I hope that soon it will be."

Éowyn grinned. "This country has no choice. I'm MAKING it my home!"

Aragorn was bored to death. All the countries agreed that they were at peace with each other; did they really have to specify how? I must be no good at this King bit, he thought ruefully. It's a wonder they haven't fired me already.

Eomer was talking now. Do Kings get lunch breaks? Aragorn wondered. He looked around nervously. I hope they don't ask my opinion.

Eomer turned to him. "What is your opinion, Aragorn?"

"I agree with you," Aragorn said, hoping he could trust his friend's judgement. "So – have we come to an accord?"

General nods filled the room. Aragorn sighed in relief. "Very good, then. Er – everyone dismissed."

I must sound like I have no idea what I'm doing, he thought, making his way out of the room. I hope no one picks up on that.

Faramir elbowed his as he waked past. "You had no idea what you were doing, did you?"

The King groaned. "Did I agree to something very stupid?"

"Well, we had already finished the peace talks. You told Eomer you agreed that horses were superior to humans."

Aragorn groaned. "So much for everyone's opinion of me."

Faramir chuckled as they walked out into the courtyard. Arwen and Éowyn were sitting together on a bench further down. "Well, well, my friend. Looks like you and I both got lucky in our direction."

Aragorn grinned and made his way over to his wife. She looked so lovely, sitting there . . . the sunlight shone off her soft brown hair and when she turned, she looked so beautiful that Aragorn felt his breath leave him.

She got up and walked over to him, her smile full of love. "Hello, Your Highness."

He laughed and caught her in his arms. "Hello, my lovely Queen." He kissed her deeply, not minding who was watching. "I love you," he whispered.

In his arms, Arwen could not remember for the life of her what she had been complaining about only minutes before. "I love you too."

He reached down and kissed her again, making her lips tingle with a sweet sensation. "Will you do me the honor of gracing me with your presence at the noontime meal?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

She squeezed his hand and fell into step. "I would be honored, my lord." She paused. "Will you be away for the rest of the afternoon?"

He nodded. "I have many duties." A wicked grin spread across his face. "However, they are all up to you."

She laughed as they made their way into the hall. "I guess there are some benefits to being a queen."

He paused in the entryway to kiss her again. "Not as many as there are to being a king."

Arwen noted several people watching them with interest. "I memorized the way to our rooms," she whispered.

He grinned. "Good, because I didn't."

A/N: So? Did you love it? Hate it? Could you care less? Why not take ten seconds out of your day and review?