It had been almost four years since his journey had begun. So many things had changed. Especially him, Frodo thought. He and the
other hobbits had remained at Minas Tirith for about three months after Aragorn and Mariell's wedding. Frodo had been amazed at
how well Mariell had slipped into her roll as Queen of Gondor. But then he realized that Mariell had always been good at taking care of
people, and that was what a queen did. She seemed very happy with her new life and her husband and Frodo was happy for her. When
he left her to return to the shire he had done so knowing that his sister was where she belonged. He and the other hobbits had left about
a week after the marriage of Faramir and Lady Eowyn. He knew that Merry and Pippin had wanted to stay for their wedding and so he
had remained also. They'd returned to the Shire finding it exactly as they had left it. The hobbits would never know what Frodo had
done for them, and Frodo was fine with that. The four of them knew and that was all that mattered. They had sat around a table at the
Green Dragon that night, not speaking. But just looking at each other they knew that they would not forget. Frodo still laughed when he
remembered how Sam had strode up to Rosie Cotton and asked her to be his lass. A year later they had married and a year later little
Elanor Gamgee was born. Frodo had written of all of this to Mariell and she had written back expressing her joy. She had also told him
that she and Aragorn were expecting. And that was how he came to be sitting with her in the gardens of Minas Tirith on this day. When
he'd arrived at Minas Tirith two months ago Aragorn and Mariell had been surprised but thrilled to see him. He had claimed that he had
come to be with Mariell during her last few months of pregnancy, but he knew that Mariell could see right through him. Since he'd
returned to the Shire he'd been trying to pick up where he'd left off, before the ring had come to him. But it wasn't so easy to pick up
where he left off. The nightmares still plagued him and he could still feel the pain of his wounds, both emotionally and physically. It
seemed that some wounds went too deep. One day he'd picked up Bilbo's old red book. And he'd sat down and began to write. That
was the other reason he'd come back to Minas Tirith. There were so many stories to tell and he couldn't remember them all. So when
he was not with Mariell he spent his time recording the accounts of Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Mariell, Faramir, Eowyn, Arwen, and
Gandalf, when the wizard was around. He sat on the grass now, the remains of his and Mariell's picnic lunch strewn about him. He sat
with the book on his lap, writing furiously. Mariell sat on a bench sewing a blanket for her baby. He looked up at her and smiled. She
caught him looking and raised an eyebrow.
"What?" she said.
"I was just thinking that it's true what they say about pregnant females," he said. Mariell glared at him, though he could see the smile in
her eyes. She set aside her sewing and placed her hands on her waist, or what passed for a waist on a woman who was nine months
pregnant.
"And what do they say about pregnant females, Frodo Baggins?" she asked him. Frodo's grin widened more.
"That there is nothing on this earth more beautiful," he said. She lowered her eyes and blushed.
"What's this?" Frodo said teasingly. "The Queen of Gondor blushing?" Mariell laughed. They went back to their tasks and all was silent
for a long time. Then suddenly, Mariell gasped.
"Mariell," Frodo said his head snapping up. "Mariell what is it?" Mariell's eyes were wide and her hands were holding her belly.
"It's time," she whispered.
"You'll wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like this, Aragorn," Gimli grunted at him. Aragorn ignored his adviser and continued
to pace. It had been almost six hours since Frodo had run into the throne room yelling that the baby was coming. He'd run to the
gardens where Mariell had sat on a bench, holding her stomach and breathing very hard. He'd gathered her in his arms and ordered a
servant to fetch Elrond. His foster father had come from Rivendell three weeks ago so he could be here to deliver the baby. He'd
hovered about the room while Elrond, Arwen and Eowyn attended Mariell. He been thrown out of the room about an hour ago, Arwen
told him he was in the way. It was torturing him to be out here while his wife suffered such agony.
"Honestly Aragorn," Legolas said beside him, "you've seen Mariell take down Nazgul and orcs, do you really think she can't handle
giving birth."
"Rather interesting," Faramir said. "Orcs do not scare our king in the least yet he quivers in fear at childbirth." Aragorn
glared at his advisers who were having a good laugh at his expense.
"Just wait till Arwen and Eowyn give birth," he snapped at them. He cringed as Mariell's scream was heard. Frodo stepped forward
and put a hand on his arm.
"Don't be frightened for Mariell, Aragorn. She's always been strong." Aragorn knew that. He smiled as the image of his wife hacking
off the head of an orc filled his mind. It was amazing, he and Mariell had fought many battles together but he never worried for her going
into battle as he did for her right now. Another scream was heard and then a wonderful new sound filled his ears. The sound of an infant
crying. He felt his knees turn to jelly and Legolas and Faramir quickly grabbed his arms before he collapsed. His heart raced as Eowyn
entered the hall with a huge smile on her face.
"Your highness," she said bowing. "You have a daughter." Aragorn thought his heart would burst. Frodo and his advisers congratulated
him and patted him on the back but his was lost on him. Eowyn took his arm and led him back to see his wife and daughter. Eowyn
opened the door and gently pushed him inside. Lord Elrond stood by the fire wiping his hands with a cloth. Arwen sat on the bed a
small bundle in her arms. His gaze went to his wife who lay against the pillows looking exhausted but joyous. She smiled when she saw
him. Arwen stood and walked to him carrying the small bundle. "Your daughter," she said to him as she placed the bundle in his arms.
Aragorn was filled with wonder as he looked down at the small being in his arms. She was so tiny. Dark hair covered her head. Her
little face was scrunched up and her tiny mouth opened in a yawn. She opened her eyes and stared at him in wonder. "My love," he
whispered in wonderment. "She has your eyes." Mariell smiled from the bed and held out her hand to him. He went to the bed and
carefully sat down next to her. Mariell reached up and gently stroked her daughter's cheek. Aragorn could not take his eyes off the
perfect little creature that he and Mariell had created with their love.