As Arwen lay down for the evening, she cast a questioning look at her husband's back. She knew he'd finished his conversations with Imrahil and she'd heard them say their farewells before the Lord of Dol Amroth returned to resume command of the other elven ship.
Finished drying his wet face with a cloth, he turned to face her, feeling her eyes burning into his skin.
"I'm sorry for my behavior these last few days, Estel."
He tilted his head and smiled softly. In a few steps he was sitting beside her, his hand cupping her cheek. "You have nothing to apologize for."
She closed her eyes, feeling the shame of her behavior wash over her like an ocean wave. The changes in her body had become more drastic and seemingly unbearable since they'd left Annuminas and she knew she was wrong to take out her frustration on her husband and King.
When he bent over her and pressed his lips to hers, relief flooded through her frame and she returned his kiss. It had been so long since they'd enjoyed the pleasure of one another's touch. Her enthusiasm grew when he gathered her into his arms to continue the caress. Her hands slid into his hair and he pulled her body against his. As his lips danced across her own, she trembled. His lips traced a searing line of fire wherever they touched and she whimpered his name. Strong, yet gentle, hands slid across her abdomen to lovingly cradle the babe growing within. Her hands covered his as their eyes met, locking as they together sat hand in hand with their babe beneath their touch.
The rain began to patter against the surface of the ship, creating a musical rhythm to which they kissed. "Estel…." Arwen whispered, drawing his eyes to her flushed face. Her fingers toyed with the hair falling along the sides of his face and she smiled, an inviting smile that aroused him beyond any control he attempted to exercise.
He pressed a finger to her lips and nodded, his eyes speaking volumes without him having to utter a word. When he slid down in the bed to cover her body with his own, she whimpered from the delicious heat of his skin. Slim fingers quickly began to shove away the fabric covering his lean form, baring the beautifully tanned skin to her hungry gaze.
He tugged at the ties keeping her robe closed, his mouth finally descending to capture her lips in a fiery kiss that sent a whirl of pure desire down her spine. As his hands flattened against her bare skin, the ship lurched so sharply they were nearly thrown from the bed.
Aragorn grunted and reached out a hand to steady himself and his wife.
"Elbereth, what was that?" Arwen stared wide-eyed at her husband and became instantly worried at the look of uncertainty mirrored in his eyes.
"Must have been a strong wave," Aragorn answered, dipping to nuzzle her neck once again. "Before the sun set, it looked as if there was a storm approaching."
Arwen groaned, as much from the fire he was awakening in her body, as the prospect of becoming even more ill due to heavy Seas. She arched her neck, pushing away all thoughts of sickness, and let the desire wash over her like the most powerful wave the sea could toss at them.
The ship shook once again, and this time, they could hear commotion on the upper decks, shouting and…..a ear-splitting cry that sent shivers down the spines of the royal couple.
Aragorn leapt to his feet and reached for a sheathed Anduril as Arwen re-tied the fastenings of her robe and reached for Aragorn's elven knife.
"Stay here!" Aragorn turned, his hair in disarray, his tunic open to the waist.
He threw open the door just as two elven warriors arrived. "Guard her with your lives!" He cried and rushed down the corridor.
Screams continued to echo down the step-case as he raced to the upper decks. The door had been thrown open and water had sloshed onto the neatly polished wood, slicking the floor. Aragorn stood in the doorway, Anduril clenched tightly in his grasp, staring in disbelief at the torrent of bodies and blood strewn upon the deck. The rain thinned and washed away the blood, leaving a red tinge to the nicely polished wood.
"Aragorn!" Legolas cried, seeing his friend staring in shock at the disaster strewn about the deck. "Move!"
Before Aragorn could react, a large, scaly something sailed toward him, and connected, sending the High King of the West into the bulkhead with a sickening thud.
The last thing Aragorn saw before darkness closed around his mind was Celeborn and Cirdan rushing toward him, their clothes covered in blood and their eyes full of a fear that sent a surge of terror down Aragorn's veins.
---------------------------------
Sorry so short. Well, maybe not * evil grin *