2. Surprises
After dinner Arwen and Aragorn retired to their chamber and as there had been no company that night, this was reasonably early. They began to undress as the rain started to fall outside in the cold, dark night. The fire was lit and the furs on the bed looked inviting. They both wore long, linen garments which had been warmed by a maid earlier in the evening. They climbed into the enormous bed. Arwen moved her body until she was lying next to her husband with her torso pressed against his hip. He put his arm around her and kissed her soft, fragrant hair.
"Aragorn, my love, can I tell you something." she whispered into his ear.
"Of course, anything you wish. I can tell you in earnest that after what I have seen in my life there is little that will surprise me."
"I am expecting a child."
Aragorn sat up as quickly as if he had been burned, knocking Arwen to one side.
"That is the truth? You are not jesting with me?" he asked
"No, it is the truth." she replied, trying to suppress a smile.
"Well that did surprise me but it is the nicest surprise I believe I have ever had! Do you know when the child will arrive?"
"Six months from now. So you are pleased?"
"Surely I am pleased! Did you think I would be otherwise? My Evenstar, nothing you could ever do would displease me, no matter how wicked or evil it was. I love you with all my heart."
"I love you to, I didn't know whether you would think that it was too soon in our marriage? After all my parents were married for forty years before I was born. And as long as I am in charge of my own mind then I swear I will never do anything purposefully to displease you. It would break my heart if you were to ever to be ashamed of me." she whispered pulling back down into the warm, safety of the bed and furs.
Then together they fell asleep, Arwen foetus like, curled in the arms of her husband. They were content, nothing on the earth at that time could have made them happier and indeed in the many following years nothing did make them happier until their second child was born.
After dinner Arwen and Aragorn retired to their chamber and as there had been no company that night, this was reasonably early. They began to undress as the rain started to fall outside in the cold, dark night. The fire was lit and the furs on the bed looked inviting. They both wore long, linen garments which had been warmed by a maid earlier in the evening. They climbed into the enormous bed. Arwen moved her body until she was lying next to her husband with her torso pressed against his hip. He put his arm around her and kissed her soft, fragrant hair.
"Aragorn, my love, can I tell you something." she whispered into his ear.
"Of course, anything you wish. I can tell you in earnest that after what I have seen in my life there is little that will surprise me."
"I am expecting a child."
Aragorn sat up as quickly as if he had been burned, knocking Arwen to one side.
"That is the truth? You are not jesting with me?" he asked
"No, it is the truth." she replied, trying to suppress a smile.
"Well that did surprise me but it is the nicest surprise I believe I have ever had! Do you know when the child will arrive?"
"Six months from now. So you are pleased?"
"Surely I am pleased! Did you think I would be otherwise? My Evenstar, nothing you could ever do would displease me, no matter how wicked or evil it was. I love you with all my heart."
"I love you to, I didn't know whether you would think that it was too soon in our marriage? After all my parents were married for forty years before I was born. And as long as I am in charge of my own mind then I swear I will never do anything purposefully to displease you. It would break my heart if you were to ever to be ashamed of me." she whispered pulling back down into the warm, safety of the bed and furs.
Then together they fell asleep, Arwen foetus like, curled in the arms of her husband. They were content, nothing on the earth at that time could have made them happier and indeed in the many following years nothing did make them happier until their second child was born.
