A/N: thanks to Sapphire Immortal who read this
The embassies were long and tedious. They had complaints about soldiers looting their fields, an allegation that had no evidence to back them up. We let them know that, but we also promised to keep an eye out for the supposed soldiers. The full council had been summoned, so the proceedings to a good deal long then they actually needed to. Therefore, it was with immense gratefulness that I retired to my chambers to get dressed for the night's banquet.
I didn't see Éowyn when I entered the room, so I assumed she was with Arwen. The two had become great friends in the last year. I doubt few would have seen the intense friendship coming from a graceful, eloquent elf and the rowdy, tomboyish Rohirrim. Aragorn and I were probably the only ones not surprised by the development, because I always knew the two would get along splendidly.
I grabbed a fresh, delicately embroidered blue tunic from my wardrobe, and had just donned it when Éowyn entered the room.
"Oh, I should have come a minute earlier." She said suggestively as she trailed her fingers along the seam at my shoulder. I shivered pleasantly and gripped her in a hug.
"Not now Éowyn, you know I cannot resist your touch, and we really cannot afford to miss this dinner, regardless of how much fun it would be." I told her as I regretfully let her go. I grabbed my belt off the bed and began to clasp it around my waist. She moved in front of the mirror and started going through her jewellery box.
"Where were you and Arwen just now?" I asked conversationally. She smiled and nodded her head as she handed me a necklace. I took it gently and she turned around, lifting her beautiful golden hair off her neck. I looped the necklace around her delicate throat and began to fasten it.
"Did you have fun?" I asked, casually. She laughed happily and nodded her head as I let go of the clasp and reached around the front of her to straighten the pendant. She let her hair fall on my arm and grabbed my hands, bringing them down to her flat stomach. She leaned into my embrace and I leaned my head against the top of hers.
"Faramir?" She said softly after a moment.
"Umm?" I murmured, nuzzling my cheek against her golden ringlets. She grasped my hands and laid them flat against her stomach, rubbing them against her in small circles. I opened my eyes at this and stared at hers in the mirror. They were wide, with traces of what looked like tears forming in the corners of them. She had a brilliant smile on her face as she continued to move my hands against her.
"Would you love me still if I yelled at you for no reason, if I was unreasonable, moody, and cruel even?" She asked finally, her voice still soft. I nodded my head wordlessly before kissing her hair.
"You know I would, Van Melda." I said as I stared into her piercing gray eyes. She stilled her hands and let mine rest against her stomach for a moment before she turned in my arms. She looked up into my eyes now and rested her hands against my chest. I gripped her waist and stared at her, waiting for her to tell me what was going on.
"Faramir, I-I'm-I'm pregnant!" She finally said, her voice choked with emotion. I stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly before gripping her in a bone-breaking hug. It took me a while to finally let the message sink in, but my strong wife, who defeated the Witch-King of Angmar…is pregnant! I'm was more than obliged to say that I was speechless! The wonderful thought was pure ecstasy. I twirled her around as I laughed in delight. She wrapped her strong arms around my neck and squeezed herself nearer me as I twirled us around the room, joining in with my joyous laughter.
"Really?' I asked as I gently set her down on the ground again. She nodded her head and smiled all the wider, tears of utter happiness falling down her beautiful face. I picked her up and set her on the bed as I stood in front of her.
"Van Melda!" I exclaimed, kissing her soundly on the lips. "You've just made me the happiest man in all of Gondor!" I knelt down in front of her and gently touched her stomach. In there, I know a child is waiting to come and greet us.
"I promise to love you regardless of what you're like. I promise to be a good father, to protect you no matter what." I said whispered lovingly, whispering to the life within my beautiful wife.
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We were almost late to dinner. I had to help straighten Éowyn's dress back up and fix her hair from where I'd messed it up when I'd twirled around with her. We'd arrived barely on time and took our seats next to Aragorn and Arwen with obvious glee.
I couldn't wait to tell Aragorn. I'd been the first person he had told after Arwen had told him, and I wanted him to be the first to hear the news from me. He could sense something was up with me as he stared at me curiously, as I sat down by his side. I suppose my excitement showed, but I didn't care. Éowyn`s pregnant!
"I shall tell you after the feast Mellon Nin." I whispered to him, positively grinning like a fool. He smiled and nodded his head.
"I look forward to it; it must be good news indeed if it has both you and Éowyn glowing so much." I smiled in response and he stood, addressing the crowd. He welcomed the embassy graciously and gave a few remarks about how we should all strive towards friendship, and that our being here tonight proved that peace was indeed possible between our two groups.
We then sat down to dinner and began to feast. The food was delicious and the wine was excellent. The table had people pleasantly converse with one another, where the topics ranged from relationships to one another to oddly enough, how to fish at ease at an ice pond full of trout. I caught Éowyn's eyes at that moment, and she was laughing so merrily I had to follow. Though my thoughts were thoroughly preoccupied with the idea of becoming a father, I did notice a woman I had not seen earlier feasting at the Haradrim's table. She sat far away, so her fine features was not easily distinguished from the rest of her people, but nonetheless she was unmistakable.
It was the woman that had caused my brother to behave so oddly so many nights ago.