Chapter Four

Arwen sighed as she tried to undress for bed. Despite having two months left before the baby was supposed to be born, she was already incredibly uncomfortable. She longed to be able to unbutton her own dress or take off her own shoes. But her growing stomach was making it impossible.

Aragorn heard his wife's frustrated sigh as he set his boots in the corner. Guessing what the problem was, he stepped up behind her and began to carefully unbutton her dress. After helping her slip out of it, he slid his arms around her waist and stroked her belly gently. She leaned back against his chest and smiled gratefully at him in the mirror.

After a moment, she sighed again, "Meleth nin, I hate to admit it, but I can't take off my slippers either. Perhaps you could help?"

Aragorn laughed. "Of course, my lovely wife!"

Arwen rolled her eyes as he helped her sit on the edge of the bed, "Lovely? I am as large as a house, and I still have two months left! I am hardly lovely!"

Her husband shook his head as he knelt down on the floor, the dark curls flopping, giving him a boyish look. "You could never not be lovely, Meleth nin! If anything, having another life growing inside you has increased your beauty!"

He pulled off the slippers and set them aside. Getting to his feet, he gently pushed her back against the pillows before laying down next to her and cuddling her close. But before he could begin covering her with kisses, she pushed against his chest. "Are you sure you aren't just saying that, Aragorn? You don't find me slightly less appealing?"

Instead of answering, Aragorn pressed his lips up against hers before leaning down to kiss her enormous stomach.

Then he straightened up to stare at her face. "Does that answer your question?"

"I'm not sure! Could you repeat yourself?"

He smiled and once again kissed her lips, her neck, and her stomach, laughing as their baby resisted the confinement. "Listen to me, Tithen pen, I suggest you get used to your ada and amya showing affection! Because you will see it a lot as you grow up!" With another laugh, he gave her bump one final pat before turning back to peer into her face. "But, in all seriousness Arwen, you will always be appealing to me! In fact, you are irresistible! And not just your body! Though I certainly do love that! Your heart, and the way you love me, and this child," He stroked her stomach, "I love our life together! And I love you!"

Arwen gave him a grateful kiss and covered his hand that rested on her stomach. When another kick landed against their locked hands, she also addressed her belly, "Your ada is right hina nin! (my child) You will grow up with a man who will not only love me but you as well. And I can just imagine the number of kisses and embraces you will receive! And he will do more than just show you physical affection. He will teach you many things about life. If you are a boy, how to be a man. And if you are a girl, how you deserve to be treated by a man. You are blessed to have him for your ada. Just as I am blessed to have him for my husband." It was hard to tell if her next words were toward him or their baby. "We both love you more than you could possibly know!" However, the deep kiss she gave Aragorn after she finished her speech, made him guess it had been for him.

He stroked her dark hair, then caressed her fair skin with his fingers, loving the way it shown in the moonlight. How could she ever doubt her own beauty? She was stunning. But then, maybe that was part of her charm. Their kiss deepened.

Later that night, they cuddled together, savoring each other's company, and talking over the hopes and dreams they had for their child and perhaps the others that would come in the future.

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