Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the lord of the rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. You do not need to read the other stories to get this one but here we go. Hope you like it.
Small padding feet was as Aragorn would later recognize the only warning he ever got before a small bundle knocked him backwards, straight into his throne. "Oef." Aragorn exclaimed, feeling all his breath leave his body when his back hit the stone behind him.
"King Elesar, are you alright, sire?" Faramir exclaimed, shocked at seeing his king slumbered down in his seat. Aragorn and Faramir had been working on the defence of Ithilien when it had hit Aragorn, causing him to stumble backwards. Aragorn shook his head, clearing his head from the confusion he felt from the hit. He slowly sat up a little bit straighter, his hand going to his head while he grimaced when he felt the bump that was beginning to form there.
"Aye, Faramir, I am fine." He answered to his stewards questioning gaze. He cast his gaze downward, at the little bundle of energy in his lap. The next moment his head snapped back up when a woman came rushing into the throne room, shouting and apologizing at the same time.
"You little brat get back here. I told you specifically not to go into the throne room and disturb the king and the steward but you would not listen. I shall send you to bed without a story, now come here. Excuse me, my lords; it was not my intention to storm in here like that. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, I shall take the prince and be off again, he shall not disturb you again." The maid bowed low before the king and the steward while she glared at the prince who had been entrusted in her service.
Faramir stalked forward, intending on given Eldarion back to her but before he did, he turned and addressed the maid. "You are forgiven, I am sure the boy was just wondering where his father was. I shall give him back and you can be off again."
Eldarion paled in sight and he clung to Aragorn's tunic, his little fists clenching the fabric between his hands. He hid his face into his father's chest, trying to melt into the king's arms. Aragorn's frowned upon seeing the boy's pale face before his face disappeared all together. His arms came up to wrap the boy in them and he slowly sat a little bit forward, rocking slightly while he answered in a soft and calm voice, making it clear to be understood. "No, he shall remain here."
He ignored the looks of Faramir and the maid but soon the steward answered, using the king's own name to draw his attention. "But Aragorn, think. He cannot remain here; we have much to talk about concerning the defence of Ithilien. You have a kingdom to think about."
Aragorn fixed Faramir with a hard stare that had scared many a foe in the time when he was still a ranger. "But I am a father before a king, Faramir. We have been talking about this for days now, nearly a week and in that week I have hardly seen my son and you have hardly seen your wife, your pregnant wife, I might add. We have not gotten any further then a week ago and for some reason I do not think we will today, with the presence of Eldarion or without. Ithilien is not a risk as for the moment, Mordor has been defeated and true as it may be, much has yet to be restored but Gondor is safe, as is the rest of Middle Earth, we made sure of that. If you do not heed my word as a friend, I shall order it a king. This boy needs his father and that I shall be here for him."
With a wave of his hand he dismissed the maid but she refused to be send away. "But my lord, let me take him. He just weary and needs a rest…"
"Don't we all. Now leave and take the rest of the day off, I shall take care of his needs." Aragorn answered, dismissing her once again. This time the maid obeyed and left the two men and the boy alone.
"Aragorn, surely you must…." Faramir tried but he got no further when Aragorn looked at his steward and asked. "Have you felt you child move yet?" Faramir looked puzzled by the question but then he sat down on the stairs and answered. "Nay, not yet. The child is silent and Eowyn has not yet felt his movements."
Aragorn smiled at the man and said. "Then you shall soon. As a father to another father, it shall change your life. When I first felt Eldarion, well when Arwen allowed me to feel him, I was amazed. Amazed at such a little life, growing inside somebody and I felt love and respect for Arwen. I swore I would do whatever it took to make him happy and never would be to busy to play with him. A vow I intend to keep, least off all when he is really all I have left." Aragorn looked back at his son safely tucked into his father's arms.
"Perhaps you are right and we have been busy lately. I would love to spent time with Eowyn again; perhaps I should take the night off." Aragorn nodded encouragely and softly called out, his hand stroking the brown hair of the boy. "El, will you come out of hiding? I am not mad at you."
He was soon rewarded when Eldarion poked his head out of his father's clothing. Upon seeing Faramir's face, he hid again. Aragorn softly poked the boy in his side and answered. "El, he is not going to hurt you, for the sake of the Valar will you trust Faramir already." The king smiled once again at Faramir, encouraging the soon to be father to interact with the child.
"Uhm, well, so Eldarion, how are you?" Faramir asked, scratching his head and having no idea how to do this. Aragorn looked at the man and blinked while he rolled his eyes and answered. "He is not a fully grown man, Faramir, he cannot answer you."
"Oh yes, right. So what should I ask him?"
"You still have a lot to learn, mellon-nin. Perhaps ask him if he wishes to play." Aragorn signed at the steward. "Oh yes, you are right. So, Eldarion do you wish to play perhaps?" Faramir was still uncomfortable with the little prince. "Pway?" Eldarion looked back up at his father and Faramir with hopeful looks.
"Yes, play." Aragorn echoed, smiling gently at him. "Pway horsey?" A smile broke onto the face of Eldarion. Aragorn grinned, he knew his son loved this game so instead he fashioned a game of his own. "I cannot play that game now; I have to be the king today, meleth." He mocked signed.
Eldarion sobered immediately and his lower lip quivered slightly. Faramir caught the change rapidly and said. "I am sure the king can play with you later, prince."
"Unless, I should let Eldarion have a hand at being the king for a day. I am quite sure he is good at it. What do you say, El? Do you wish to be king?" Aragorn ignored the look of horror upon Faramir's face and he smiled at his son. "Oh come on, Faramir, get a grip. It is not like he shall never be king."
"But he is two years old." Faramir exclaimed. "Yes, and you are 30, so what?" Aragorn answered in return, feeling like his brothers all of a sudden. Eldarion bounced off his father's lap and said. "Can I king, Ada?" Aragorn laughed and nodded.
Faramir looked at the pair with a confused gaze on his face, this was the real first laugh he had heard Aragorn give ever since… well since a long time really. He had heard the laugh quite frequently when Legolas was still around, even sometimes around Arwen but never as cheerful and as… hopeful was the word he was searching for when Aragorn was around Legolas. "Faramir?"
"Hmm." Faramir's gaze snapped back up to meet Aragorn's concerned once. "Are you alright? You seem distracted."
"Yes, I am fine. I just realized something." Faramir answered truthfully. Aragorn's gaze shifted slightly and he answered. "Yes?"
"Yes, well I realized how you looked upon Legolas every time he was here and how you laughed when he was around. And how lost you look now, Valar, you really loved him." Faramir finished, nearly screaming out loud. Aragorn adverted his gaze and answered. "Aye, I did. But he beyond my reach for now."
He turned back towards his son, pretending to have a light air about him but the boy noticed his father's sad mood and placed a hand on the king's knee and asked. "Ada, king?"
Aragorn looked back at his son and smiled gently while he answered. "Nay, little on, you are the king now, what do you wish to do?"
"Pway horsey!" Came the cheerful reply. Aragorn nodded and answered while he slung an arm around Faramir. "We are your faithful horses, your majesty." Faramir froze, looking positively shocked at his king's playful manner. "Go down on your knees and hands." Aragorn whispered quickly, still all smiles.
Still confused Faramir obeyed his king. "So which horse shall you ride today, sire?" Aragorn sat up on his knees, barely higher then his son. "Ride that horse." Eldarion pointed to Faramir. The steward sat up quicker then anything else and answered. "No, as loyal as I may be to you, I shall not be a… a … a horse for somebody to play upon."
"Oh come now, Faramir, it shall not hurt you. When you have a child the same thing is going to happen. Gently now." Extra weight was added to Faramir's back and the man was surprised at how little Eldarion weighted. "Horsey go." Eldarion cried, crying out with joy, bouncing on the stewards back.
Aragorn was standing next to the man, gripping the boy around the waist. Faramir suppressed a groan and started crawling, hearing Aragorn's soft footfall beside him. He found he enjoyed himself, hearing Aragorn whisper gentle encouragements to the both of them.
The two males and the boy were so busy with the game that they did not hear Eowyn coming in. The former shield maiden of Rohan watching with amused interest and in surprise at her husband and king. She rested a light hand on the noticeable swell of her stomach. She was exited to be pregnant once again, after losing her other child two years before.
"Faramir?" She called lightly, both heads snapped up and she would have laughed at the expression on the lords faces. Within a fluid motion Aragorn swept his son in his arms while Faramir crawled to his feet, both of them offering apologies. She held up her hand and answered. "It is alright, you two just needed to get in touch with your inner child."
Her husband walked over and while kissing her cheek lightly, he rested two hands on her shoulder while Aragorn smiled almost guilty at them but she waved his apology away and answered. "Nay, Aragorn, you should have more fun, it has been a long time since I saw you smile, my friend, but it becomes you."
He would have answered if not for the child starting to fit within his arms; he gently lowered the boy to his feet. Eowyn smiled at Eldarion and the boy smiled back, taking a tensile step forward. "Does aunt Eowyn not get a hug from you?" Eowyn crouched down, extending her arms to the boy.
Soon she felt the gentle weight of Eldarion press against her and she saw the gentle smile spread across Aragorn's face. She closed her arms around him, careful of her growing belly. After a hesitation Eldarion pulled back, looking at her with curious eyes. He cocked his head to the side, wondering where the strange presence came from.
Still looking at her, the boy backed away, startling Eowyn while she asked. "What is the matter with him?"
"He can sense the child within you, Eowyn. I do not think he knows what the matter is." Aragorn softly answered, watching his son. Eowyn smiled in understand and reached out again, saying. "Come then and meet your new friend."
"But the child has not yet moved, has he?" Faramir questioned softly, watching as Eldarion stepped forward hesitated and was guided by Eowyn, watching as a curious expression settled on the boy's face at the moment his small hand touched her stomach. "No but the Elves can sense children within the womb, he can as well." Aragorn once again explained, entranced as well.
After a few moments the boy backed away again and while his eyes swept over Faramir, he ran back to his father. The king sat down on his knees at the reaction of his son. "El, what is the matter?" He questioned softly but a soft hand pushed at his shoulder, pushing him into a sitting position. Then the small hands tugged at his tunic, trying to lift it.
Aragorn struggled but to no avail and soon he felt his son gently hugging him and trying to find something. The boy appeared confused when he placed his hands on Aragorn's flat stomach. Aragorn gripped both his son's hands and asked, speaking quickly in the Elven tongue. "Son, speak to me, tell me what is wrong." He urged the boy. "Ada nin, Eowyn." Was all that Eldarion replied, pointing to the shield maiden and back towards his Ada. Aragorn's gaze shifted between Eowyn and his son but he did not understand it. Eldarion once again placed his hand on his father's stomach, hugging the older man. "Ada, Naneth." Was the whisper that Aragorn received.
In that moment it became clear to Aragorn and he hugged his son, answering in a gentle tone. "No, Eowyn is with child, ion Nin, not I." Eldarion yawned softly, resting his head against his father's shoulder. Taking his son in his arms Aragorn rose. The man walked forward, placing a gentle hand upon Eowyn stomach before he said. "He sensed the child but did not know what it was and became confused. That is why he pushed me and thought something was wrong. I think I shall take him to bed now, he has exhausted himself." With those words he was off, taking brisk steps towards his private chambers.
"He is spoiling the boy." Eowyn said. Faramir looked back at his wife and he answered. "Perhaps, I just think he has a different way of communicating with the young prince, but it is all he has left. For the first time today I saw him smile, smile like he used to do when Legolas still resided on these shores. They truly loved one another."
"How shall Eldarion react when he finds out that Aragorn is attracted to males?" Eowyn kept her voice low, not wanting to let the other people hear it. "I do not think Aragorn is attracted to males, but merely to Legolas. He loved Arwen as well. If Legolas is truly his soul mate, then it would make sense for them to be together." Faramir slung an arm around his wife's waist.
"Perhaps, Faramir, perhaps, only time will tell." Eowyn absentminded stroked her stomach, smiling when a kick took her attention and placing Faramir's hand atop her swell. The steward gasped when he felt the child kick against his hand while a smile lids his face. The king had been right; this did change your life.
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