Wow! I went back to respond to reviews and did not realize how long it had been! I am so sorry! I've got two other fics that were just bursting to get out so the writing schedule has gotten a little cramped! I apologize! But also check out those fics if you're interested. One is HP and the other is another version of Mareke and Adnan with Eomer.

I went back and forth on writing this in Adnan's perspective and, I'll admit, I'm not sure it came out as well as I would've liked. Writing from a child's perspective is hard! But I did it anyway and I hope it's not too distracting. Enjoy!

Chapter Fifty-Two (Adnan)

My chin slipped out of the palm of my hand where it had been resting while Strider and Jidd talked of the updates and changes they wished to make of their alliance. It had been in place for over five years and both Realms were in a very different place than they had been then.

"I am not sure I can speak to that," Strider said, when Jidd asked about perhaps upping the number of horses that were being sent from Rohan in exchange for the medicines coming out of the Haradrim jungles. "Eomer would know better than I."

I caught his eye, when I righted myself once more.

"I think that is enough for today, Hashad," Strider said, winking in my direction as I blinked slowly. "Come, Adnan. Let us see what your brothers are up to."

As I stood, I bowed slightly in my grandfather's direction before following Strider from the study.

"I am sorry I dozed off," I said quietly, trailing behind him.

He slowed his pace so that I could catch up. "I do not blame you," he replied. "All of that is terribly boring."

I grinned.

The sun was sinking below the sand dunes as we made our way back to my mother's rooms. I had found that while my family was still in Harad, my rooms were too lonely.

There were always people coming and going from my mother's rooms and they were full to the brim with Shuk and the twins. Mostly, I was alone in mine.

"Tomorrow we shall wake up early before it is too hot and practice with your blade. I have told you grandfather that I will not be attending any meetings and neither will you. How does that sound?"

I nodded eagerly. "Wonderful!"

"Good. So eat a good dinner and get some sleep tonight, alright?"

I nodded once more as I passed in front of Strider to enter his rooms, as he ruffled my curls.

"There you are!" Mother exclaimed, rising from the cushion where she had been sitting on the floor, looking over a stack of documents that Aragorn had left her before we'd met Jidd. "I thought you would be negotiating all night."

"Heavens no," Strider said. He pressed a kiss to Mother's lips and my nose scrunched up. "I could not take another minute of that today. It went on and on."

"Well there is much to be adjusted, it would seem," Mother said, gesturing at the stack of parchment where she had just been.

"Dinner was brought over an hour ago," she said, guiding us toward the low table. "I can have it sent to be heated."

Strider waved her away. "I do not know how anyone eats anything hot in this place to begin with," he chuckled. "Where is Shuk?" he asked.

It was oddly quiet in Mother's rooms without Shuk running around. I knew the twins would already be in their bassinets in the bedroom.

"He could not wait to eat, but when he was through Gimli offered to take him into the gardens."

I took my seat and piled my plate with the pita bread I liked as well as smoked meats and fruits.

I avoided my mother's gaze until she cleared her throat and I added a few pieces of roasted squash, peppers, and eggplant to my plate.

"Adnan and I are going to spend the morning in the training rings tomorrow," Strider said before I could complain about the vegetables. Sometimes I thought he knew what I was thinking.

"That will be fun," Mother replied. "A nice change of pace from your tutors and your grandfather's study."

I nodded, trying to force a bite of eggplant down.

We finished our meal and Mother and Strider talked over a few things that they would need to take back to the council in Minas Tirith. A few times, I caught her looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Adnan!"

As I left the table, Shuk came hurtling into the room, chubby arms and legs flying. I braced myself for the inevitable impact of my brother colliding with me. "Blocks, Adnan! Blocks!" he exclaimed.

I looked at Mother.

"Only for a little while. Both of you need to get some rest, especially if you are going to train with Strider in the morning."

Gimli finally entered as well and helped himself to the food and beverage.

"Alright." I took Shuk's hand in mine and led him into the nursery where he slept. I hardly remembered, but it was where I had spent the first few years of my life before Mother and I went to Minas Tirith and everything changed.

"What should we build, Shuk?" I asked.

My younger brother was not very creative. Normally, he wanted to see how tall I could build a tower before he got to knock it down. And that is exactly what we did several times over that night.

I happily went along with it, until I wondered who would build his towers for him when he returned to Minas Tirith without me. I wondered if he knew he was going to return without me, that we would never be together as much as we had been before.

I watched him as he gleefully tore down all of my creations, but found I had to force a smile when faced with his joy.

A half an hour later, Mother and Strider appeared in the doorway. "Alright, that is enough for today. Time for everyone to get some sleep," Mother said.

I stood and headed for the door.

"Would you like me to walk you to your rooms, Adnan?" Strider offered.

I shook my head. "No, thank you. See you in the morning."

"I am worried about him," Mother whispered, not quietly enough, as I headed for the door.

As soon as I exited, guards trailed me down the hallway to my rooms, which were, as usual, empty save for the few servants tending to end of day matters.

I went straight to my bedroom where a nightshirt was lying on the foot of the bed and the silk sheets had already been turned down for me.

"Will you require anything else, Your Majesty?" the older serving woman asked, near the door.

"No, that will be all. Thank you." I stood there until she had left and then I changed into the nightshirt, folding my clothes neatly and putting them into the chair in the corner. When I woke in the morning, they would be gone to be cleaned.

I looked around and, with nothing else to do, put myself to bed.

ooooOoooo

Sweat was rolling down my face and sand stuck to it as Strider and I moved around the practice ring.

"This infernal sand," he muttered, lunging out of the way of my practice blade.

I could not help but laugh. Of course, he was still the best swordsman that possibly lived, but it was entertaining to watch him struggle away from the nicely packed dirt and grass in Minas Tirith.

"You think that is funny?" he asked, delivering a gentle blow to my arm.

I sucked in my breath and furrowed my brows, focusing back on the practice session at hand.

"Move your feet," Strider instructed. "You are stuck in one spot and very easy to knock over," he said. To demonstrate, he swiped my sword away with his own and then knocked into my shoulder with his so that I went sprawling into the sand.

I took the hand he offered and got back to my feet, dusting the sand from my damp skin and clothes as best I could.

"Adnan!" I turned to the gate of the training ring to see my uncle, Baran, standing there. "Your Jidd wishes to have you join him in the throne room."

"I told Hashad that we would not be participating in ruling matters today," Strider said firmly.

"Then you may argue with him. I was just sent to fetch the Prince," Baran returned.

I looked back at Strider who sighed, but nodded. "I will tell your mother," he said. "Join us for a swim afterwards?"

I agreed and followed Baran, who helped me brush the rest of the sand from my clothes. I was learning every day that plans did not often stay cast in stone when you were a member of the ruling class.

We entered the throne room just as a large group of people were filing in.

"Ah, Adnan," Jidd said, indicating that I should sit on the throne next to his. "It is the one day of the month when I dedicate myself to doling out justice for crimes against the crown and our people."

"Are there many?" I asked.

"They are lessening the further we get away from the War and the more stable the Realm becomes, but there are a fair few," he responded.

I nodded, but felt my hands grow clammy, unsure of what I might witness. So far my lessons in ruling had been relegated to Jidd's study and once or twice his council chamber. Strider had also normally been with me, but now it was just Jidd and I, with Baran standing behind the thrones, hand on his curved blade.

ooooOoooo

My family was laughing in my mother's private pool. The twins must have been down for a nap because it was just Mother, Strider, and Shuk splashing around in the refreshing water.

"Oh good! You are here!" Strider exclaimed from where he sat on the opposite edge of the pool when he saw me. "Join us!" Shuk was hanging onto his knees and practicing putting his face in the water.

I shuffled to the edge of the pool and immediately my mother was moving swiftly toward me. "Adnan?" When I did not answer, she grew more frantic. "Adnan! What is the matter?"

Strider was quickly on his feet, drawing Shuk out of the water, and hurrying toward me as well.

I could only shake my head.

"Where have you been?" Strider demanded, kneeling in front of me. "What happened?"

"Baran...he…" I felt as though I might be sick. "Cut off the criminal's hand," I could barely hear my whispered words over the blood rushing in my head.

Mother's face went pale. "Stay right here," she said quietly, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Strider swiped a hand over his stubbled face. "Would you like to swim?" he practically whispered.

I nodded, thinking it might cool my sticky body. Slipping into the water, I put my head under and tried to rinse away the mental image of the man's hand being separated from his body, the scream of agony that followed, and the rush of copper scented blood, but it was no use.

Then I was sure I was going to be sick. My stomach roiled as I hauled myself out of the water and hurried over to the shrubs, retching over and over until there was nothing left.

Strider had sent for Lady Belethiel to take Shuk and he hurried over to me, rubbing my back and holding me close to his body when I was through. I could not stop trembling.

"Why do you not go lie down in your mother and I's bed?" Strider suggested, tucking me under his arm and walking me through the sitting room. My mother was pacing back and forth near the dining table, but she did not acknowledge us.

Once in the bedroom, he found a towel and dried me off.

I stripped from my wet swimming clothes and wrapped myself in the towel before lying down.

"Rest for a while," Strider bid me, bending over to press a kiss to my forehead. He rested his hand on the same spot for a moment and then left the room, leaving the door cracked behind him.

I was not sure how much later, it could have been seconds or days, I heard voices in the sitting room.

"Father!" Mother said loudly. "What were you thinking?" she demanded.

"What are you talking about, Mareke?"

"The incident in the throne room," Strider said.

"The incident?" Baran asked.

"Yes, the incident!" Mother exclaimed. "You cannot have Adnan be a party to such gruesome acts! He is ten years old!"

"He is being trained to be a King," Jidd replied.

"Yes, many years from now!"

"Hopefully."

I crept quietly out of the bed and went to the door, peeking out so I could see the adults. They were all squared off to one another. Mother had her hands on her hips and was glaring at Jidd and Baran, Strider was leaning against the dining table, arms folded over his chest.

Mother continued on as though she had not heard Jidd. "He can sit in your study and go to council meetings, but he does not need to be exposed to such terrible punishments! He is beside himself!"

"Mareke," Jidd said gently. "He has to see these things so that he can become immune to it when it is time to rule. It is customary for boys to see such things. Your brother did."

"And look how that turned out," Strider scoffed.

I was still not exactly sure what had happened to my other uncle, but I felt that it had something to do with when Mother was hurt in Harad all those years ago. I had been so young that the details were fuzzy and then all of a sudden I was the Crown Prince.

Again, a comment was ignored.

"It is part of his education, Mareke," Jidd said calmly.

"Not for many years," Mother argued. "I will not leave him here if this is what he will be a part of. He is too young!"

"You no longer have that option, Mareke," Baran said scathingly. "You have made your choices and now you must leave your son to be raised here without his mother while you follow him back to the North and tend to your other children." He gave a dismissive nod in Strider's direction.

"How dare you?" Mother spat in his direction.

"Is that not the truth?"

My mother looked as though she had been slapped and Strider straightened to his full height next to her.

"I would be very careful how you proceed from here," he said in his dangerously low voice, the one that had always frightened me.

Baran took a step toward him.

"That is enough," Jidd said, standing between the two men. He looked at Mother. "Very well. We will do this your way. I want you to feel confident in your choice to leave Adnan in my care."

Without another word, Jidd and Baran left.

When the door closed, Mother turned to Strider. "What choice?" she asked, weakly. She buried her face in his chest and he pressed his lips into her curly hair.

I watched her body shake before I went back to the bed.

ooooOoooo

The next morning, I woke in Mother and Strider's bed, wrapped tightly in her warm embrace. It had been long since I had done such a thing, but I did not fight it. I laid there, dozing in and out of sleep until Mother shifted.

"Good morning," she whispered.

I rolled over so I could see her dark eyes.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Are you sure? We can talk about what you saw." She pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"I do not want to."

Mother nodded. "It will not happen again until you are ready. If that is ever the case," she promised.

There was a soft whimpering from the foot of the bed. So far, the twins did not actually cry. They were still too little, Mother said.

"You should change and come back for breakfast," she said, as she stood from the bed and went to the bassinets. "You will not have any lessons today."

I smiled and did as she bid.

When I returned, the breakfast table had been laid and Shuk was sitting in Strider's lap devouring the fried cinnamon bread we both loved.

"Careful," Strider laughed as I reached to take a piece. "This one is feral."

To prove the point, though he could not have understood the word, Shuk growled at me.

"Should we go for a ride before lunch?" Strider asked.

Mother came into the room with the Rainion and Rilien cradled snuggly against her chest.

"Yes!" Shuk exclaimed.

"I am afraid not you today, little one," Strider said.

Shuk opened his mouth, ready to roar in protest.

"We shall go see the leopards," Mother said quickly. "Perhaps Legolas and Gimli will join us."

Strider set Shuk on his feet and headed for the bedroom. "I shall meet you at the stables in half an hour," he said. "Prepare Fahall."

Grinning, I went down the corridor and out of the palace until I was at the stables. Guards had trailed me of course and when I went to pull Fahall's Rohirric saddle from where it was mounted on the wall, a stablehand came forward to assist me.

"I can manage, thank you," I said.

Aragorn had always made me tend to my own horse and I intended to keep the practice going.

"Nice and snug?"

I turned to see Strider enter the stables as I was putting the bit in Fahall's mouth.

"Yes," I replied, watching as he checked my work.

"Very good." He ruffled my hair and, much quicker than I had, saddled his own horse and mounted.

Even early in the morning, the sun was hot in the sky and I was disappointed, knowing we would not be able to keep the horses out too long.

"Your mother says you do not wish to speak of yesterday," Strider said, when we were away from the city, the guards giving us some space while still remaining vigilant. "Is that true? Or did you not wish to speak to her?"

"I did not wish to speak to her," I said. I looked down at the intricate pattern carved in Fahall's saddle horn. "Will I have to do what Baran did? Will I have to order that punishment someday?"

"No," Strider replied. "When you are king, you can do whatever you like. Within reason of course."

"That man said he stole because he could not feed his young daughter," I said quietly.

"It is not a weakness to show compassion," Strider replied. "It is admirable that you would want to know the whole story and proceed from there. You get that from your mother. You get many good traits from her. You know Duinhir, my chamberlain's apprentice?"

"Of course."

"Your mother saved him from punishment after a similar thieving incident in Minas Tirith. She gave him another way to live. Your people will respect you if you can do the same when it is your time to rule."

"How am I supposed to live here when Jidd does not think like that?"

"It will be difficult. It always is difficult when you do not agree with how things are done. But you can learn. And as you get older and take over more responsibilities you will have a say. One day it will be entirely up to you how you handle your justice system and everything else about Harad."

"That is a lot," I said.

Strider nodded. "It is. But I know that you will be a great king. You shall be wise and kind and intelligent. All things your people will look up to you for." He reached over and clasped my shoulder. "I will only be a letter away if you ever need counsel or guidance. And we shall not be separated permanently. Your mother has arranged that you will be in Minas Tirith for Yule every year."

I grinned up at him. "Really?"

"Really." He smiled back. "And I believe she intends to be here for your birthdays in the summer with your brothers and hopefully myself when I can manage it."

My heart lightened a bit then. "That is good news."

ooooOoooo

When we returned, there was more food on the table, but Mother was in the sitting room. As I drew near, I realized that my paternal grandmother was sitting on the low sofa with a twin cradled in each arm.

Her and Mother were speaking in Haradrim and my grandmother laughed as Shuk tried to make a large puzzle piece fit where it certainly did not belong from where he was working on the floor.

"Oh, Adnan," Mother said with a smile, standing to greet me.

Strider pressed a kiss to her cheek, but seemed uncertain about the older woman. When he had visited before, they had not met.

"Aragorn, meet my mother-in-law," she said, drawing us both into the sitting room.

My grandmother did not speak the Common Tongue or Sindarin and so Mother acted as a rapid translator.

Strider waved away the notion that she should stand and curtsy. "No, no. You are doing important work with the twins there and I am not worth the effort of obeisance."

Mother translated and my grandmother smiled.

"She says you have a beautiful family," Mother said, sitting back down.

"None of which would be possible without my lovely wife," Strider said, sitting next to Mother.

I took a seat next to my grandmother and looked down at the twins.

"What do you think of the new additions?" she asked me.

I could hear Mother quietly telling Strider what was being said.

"They are rather boring right now," I replied with a sly grin.

"You are terribly naughty," she replied with a wicked laugh.

I spent the afternoon telling her everything I had been learning and doing and then I showed her my new rooms.

When we returned, Mother took her aside, but I followed.

"You know it could be arranged for you to live here," she said. "It would be no trouble. Adnan would like to have you near to him, especially in my absence."

The old woman shook her head.

"You have been stubbornly turning me down on this issue ever since Jibran and I wed," Mother sighed. "There is every comfort for you here."

"I would be uncomfortable," she replied. "You know that. I was not made for your palace. I quite like my home. And I know Adnan and I can share the responsibility of visiting each other."

I nodded and let her wrap an arm around my shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of her orange blossom oil.

ooooOoooo

The following morning, we had yet another visitor. My mother's companion from before her capture in Harad, Oyna, was announced.

Legolas and Gimli were in my mother's chambers as was Jadda, Vanya and Beinion. Gimli and Jadda each held a silk bundle that was a twin.

"What are you doing here?" Mother cried when she saw her friend.

"I could not stay away when I knew you all were so close!"

They hugged tightly, as though my mother were not the Queen of Gondor. She had never abided too terribly much by formality.

Oyna was upon me next, smothering me in a tight hug.

"Or should I curtsy?" she asked with a grin.

I shook my head and laughed.

"Oh my goodness," she gushed, walking into the sitting room. Without preamble, she lifted Rainion from Gimli's arms, who grumbled.

I did not remember him with Shuk, but the twins had made him very sensitive, which Strider and Legolas liked to tease him about.

"They are beautiful," Oyna said to Mother, with tears in her eyes.

The two women smiled at each for a long moment, but there was a sadness there.

Oyna spent the rest of the day with us.

Eventually, Jadda left in the evening, kissing my curls and promising that she would see me the following day. Though most of my time was spent with Jidd, they wanted me to understand what a Queen of Harad did as well, telling me that I would have to find one someday. The thought made me gag.

When dinner was through, Aragorn cleared his throat. "I must leave within the week," he said. "And since I do not wish to hurry you and the twins, we must discuss what is to be done."

Mother nodded. "I would like to stay for another month."

"I would agree," Strider said.

"We will return with His Majesty," Vanya said.

"Of course," Mother replied. "Get back to the girls."

Strider looked between his other two companions. "Legolas, I think you should accompany me back if Mareke is to stay here. I will need one of you to be there to assist with getting things back in order in regards to the council."

Legolas nodded. "I am sure Faramir did a fine job, but I would be happy to go with you, mellon."

"I will accompany Mareke and the children back," Gimli said solemnly.

"I appreciate that very much," Mother said with a grateful smile.

"You will not like this, Mareke," Strider said quietly. "But I think Shuk should come with me."

"What?"

I looked between the two of them, not sure why Strider wanted a fight so badly.

"You will have your hands full with the twins," he replied evenly. "And you will not be far behind us."

There was a scuffling of chairs as Gimli, Legolas, Vanya, and Beinion rose to take their leave, not wanting to be a part of the argument that seemed to be brewing. Mother did not pay attention to any of them. Only Oyna remained.

"What are you going to do with him when you arrive back in Minas Tirith?"

"Lady Belethiel will be with us."

"Lady Belethiel? Then what am I going to do with the twins on our journey home?"

"I can go with you," Oyna said quietly.

Strider and Mother turned to look at her; Mother beginning to shake her head.

"I will not stay in Minas Tirith longer than it will take to help you all settle," Oyna said quickly. "I am to be married near the Winter Solstice so I will have to return."

"Oyna! Why did you not say that?"

"It had not come up," she said with a smile. "Let me accompany you to Minas Tirith. It will be an adventure like the old days."

Mother sighed and looked between Oyna and Strider. "Fine."

ooooOoooo

On the day that Strider was to leave, I crept into their rooms very early. I had not been able to sleep at all the night before.

When I entered their chambers, I saw Strider sitting at the table, staring off into the distance.

"Good morning," he said, causing me to jump. He could hear everything.

"Morning," I said, standing a ways away.

"Join me, Adnan," he said quietly.

I did as he bid and sat across from him at the table. He turned his attention away from the window where the sky was just beginning to lighten, to me.

"Do you remember when your mother and I told you that she was expecting Shuk?"

I felt my cheeks flush at the shameful memory.

Strider chuckled. "I can see that you do. And do you remember that I told you someday I would share with you what exactly it had meant that you had come into my life all those years ago?"

I nodded.

"I think today is as good a day as any," he said. With a sigh, he began. "I do not like to think about the man I was when you arrived in Minas Tirith with your mother. The War had gone my way, I suppose, but so many other things had not. Someday you will understand love and the pain it can bring and we will have another conversation then, but for now, just understand that I was very, very sad.

"I was not the King I had hoped to be, I was not the man I had known myself to be before the War. I was not very kind to your mother. I hate to think of it even now, how alone she must have felt. Had it been only her that had arrived in my city, I am not sure what would have happened between us.

"Luckily, that was not the case. You were with her. You brought back the light and joy to my life when I despaired of ever enjoying anything ever again. The delight you took in the simplest things I could show you and teach you...Well, Adnan, I truly cannot say what that did for me. I began to rise once more to the task of ruling and you bonded the three of us together so that I felt like I had a true family for the first time in my life."

I listened with rapt attention and was a little surprised when Strider paused to wipe at his eyes.

"And of course, you now know that Shuk changed none of that. In fact, while I got to enjoy his infancy, where I could not yours, I had the privilege of watching you work so hard and learn so much with Legolas and Gimli and even your Haradrim tutors to grow into the fine young man that is sitting before me right now.

"You changed my life, Adnan."

Without a word, I stood and walked around the table to him, letting him envelope me in his strong arms.

When he finally let me go, he wiped at his eyes once more. "I know that all of this is very scary and confusing for you," Strider said quietly. "I wish it had not happened this way, but there are very few things that we can control in this life. But I know that you will be a great King here. I am so proud of you already."

I nodded, trying to feel as confident as Strider was in me.

"When I leave today, this will be even harder on your mother."

"I know," I replied quietly.

"She loves you, Adnan. More than anything. She fought against this for as long as she could. Do not listen to what others have to say about her and the decisions she has been forced into in her life. She has always done what she thought was best for you."

I nodded once more and felt my own eyes welling.

"Come now," Strider said brusquely. "I am not sure why we are getting this emotional. We shall all be back together at Yule."

I gave a weak laugh. "I will look forward to it."

ooooOoooo

Once the sun had risen, we all escorted Strider to the stables where Legolas, Vanya, Beinion, Lady Belethiel, and Shuk were waiting.

It seemed my little brother did not quite understand what was happening just yet.

Mother had left the twins with Oyna in her rooms after Strider kissed them both farewell.

Mother had bid everyone else farewell, with teary kisses on Shuk's plump cheeks. She promised she would be not far behind him, though he had no idea what she was talking about.

"Be careful," she said quietly to Strider as he approached us.

"Always." He threaded his fingers through her curls and kissed her deeply on the mouth, not caring that he had an audience.

When he finally turned his attention to me, Strider looked me over for a long moment. "Take care of your mother and brothers?"

"I will," I promised.

"I love you both," he said, squeezing my shoulder and turning to his horse.

Once Strider was mounted, Legolas handed Shuk up to him.

My brother panicked when he realized that he was leaving without Mother. I slipped my hand into hers, as we listened to him scream for her as they moved away through the desert.

There you go! Like I said, not sure how I feel about it. I like the content of the chapter overall, but not sure I pulled off the voice of a ten year-old. Let me know what you think! I love all feedback and constructive criticism and any content ideas you have. The ideas of readers have inspired several chapters in this fic so keep them coming!

Happy reading,

Avonmora