Aragorn turned in time to see his wayward wife weaving her way through the crowds towards who she believed was their friend.

He thought better of calling to her, avoiding the unwarranted attention that such a move would cause.

But his smile soon appeared as he saw the Mitrandir hug Arwen.

Coming towards them, he smiled and saw Arwen drop away from them as the old friends welcomed one another.

"What brings you to these parts?"

Arwen stood quietly at Aragorn's side and noticed that Gandalf studied her equally as intently as she did him.

"I came to visit four of my favorite people and see how you were all doing."

Aragorn nodded. "And you knew to come to Ithilien because?"

Faramir appeared. "Because I sent for him."

"You did?"

He nodded to Aragorn. "Yes, once we learnt of the Queen's condition."

Arwen threw up her hands. "Condition, Faramir?"

The men chuckled as Arwen stormed away muttering about inconsiderate men who couldn't say expecting.

Eowyn led them off in the opposite direction. "She'll be fine once she cools off."

*~*~*~*

Aragorn studied the older man closely. "You're not here for light hearted games, are you? You're here for something more."

Gandalf looked back at Faramir and Eowyn who were studying some trinkets before walking them forward.

"No, no I'm not. I'm here for something far more serious. Something of importance to you and the Evenstar."

Aragorn blinked. They hadn't told anyone outside of Faramir and Eowyn.

Gandalf saw the flash in the younger man's eyes and nodded. "Yes, I come now at a time of joy to warn you of danger. Arwen and the life of your unborn heir are in grave danger."

"What do you mean?"

Before they could continue the discussion, they heard screams. They came rushing to the screams and found Arwen sitting dazed on a log while the guards ran off.

"What happened?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine, I don't see what the fuss was about. The guards are being way overprotective and I just want to go home."

Aragorn looked to the head of the legion of guards who spoke.

"Her Majesty was with the children when a knife was thrown."

She looked up. "I subdued the man and I don't have a scratch and I would feel much safer at the Palace."

Aragorn leaned forward and stood his wife on her feet.

"I agree, I think you should be home where you can be examined by a healer." He turned and called to Ravenne.

"Go ahead and called for Nerwen, she traveled with us and Arwen trusts her."

Eowyn was about to protest but the look from Aragorn silenced any doubts.

"Arwen needs to be around people she knows and feels safe with. That includes the family's healer. Nerwen is Arwen's lady in waiting's sister."

Aragorn was about to continue when he saw something on the ground and paused.

Handing Arwen for a moment to Gandalf, he reached for it and paused.

"M'lord?"

"Do you have a piece of cloth?" The leader of the palace guards nodded and handed it to him.

Arwen lifted her head from the wizard's shoulder and found it hard to stay awake. It was just that she was feeling so heavy.

"What is it Aragorn?"

He quickly gathered the knife and folded the cloth protectively over it. "Nothing Arwen, let's get you safely back in the Palace."

Taking her from the wizard, he noticed how unresponsive she was as he scooped her up in his arms.

"Evenstar?"

Her head slumped against his and he let out a cry of warning to any one who was in his path that they were going to be crushed.

*~*~*~* Aragorn paced as he watched the door for the second time in as many days.

"She will be alright, you know this."

He looked to Eowyn. "No, no I don't know this. Arwen gave up her immortality for me, the knife was poisoned."

Faramir spoke from the desk. "We don't know there's a correlation."

Aragorn slumped into a chair. "We don't know there's not."

He lunged out of the chair and came to his cloak, removing the packet that contained the knife.

"It's been laced with a toxin I've seen only once before."

Before Faramir and Eowyn could hear more, there was a soft knock at the door to the library.

Gandalf appeared as Eowyn opened the door.

"Aragorn, it's time we spoke of this. You need to be prepared."

*~*~*~*

She felt as if her body was on fire, but yet nothing could soothe her, which worried the healers who were by her side.

A lone tear trickled down her cheek as she softly whimpered a name. "M'lady?"

Arwen rolled away, again calling for the thing that could calm her best..

Estel.

*~*~*~*

"What are you saying Gandalf. That I could lose them both and if by some lucky chance, they both survive, I could lose the child once it's grown?"

He nodded. "Yes Aragorn. The child is destined for greater things that the feats that you have accomplished. There are forces that have decided that there are ways to ensure the child never reaches breath."

"I came as soon as I saw the signs indicating that the prophecy was leading to Arwen."

Aragorn began to pace the length of the room. "Arwen should never have been put into this situation. Arwen should have gone to Valinor. At least there, she would have been safe."

He stopped pacing and looked to the door. "Why haven't we heard from Nerwen?"

*~*~*~* Eowyn was sent to check on the sleeping Queen while Gandalf, Faramir and Aragorn discussed ways to keep Arwen safe for the next few months of her condition.

She crept to the door and found Nerwen bathing the forehead of Arwen, who was feverishly calling for Estel.

Nerwen looked up and froze. "M'lady?"

Eowyn smiled. "It's alright. His Majesty sent for me to check in on her to see how she was. Is there any news that I can report back?"

Nerwen nodded. "You can tell him that she calls for him and I think that while there was just a scratch on her hand, it twas enough to allow enough poison in to cause a fever. Fates allow and gods willing she may yet cause this fever to break."

"She calls for him?"

Nerwen crooned gently to the Queen, who seemed to settle. "Aye, Estel is her family's name for the King."

*~*~*~*

Arwen woke up a few hours later and found Nerwen sitting fast asleep in the chair beside her bed.

Disoriented, she carefully slipped from the bed and paused only to lay a blanket over her caregiver before gathering a robe of her own and went to find Aragorn.

*~*~*~*

"Gandalf, is this the right thing to do?"

"Your majesty, this is the only thing to do. The fellowship was called for the destruction of the ring, how fitting that they come back to preserve the precious gift of the life of your heir and your Queen."

Arwen stood quiet near the door as they spoke.

"Where is the justice for a life yet unborn, where is the justice for a life long fought for Gandalf? The child's mother fought for our life together, how did it come to this that I could lose them both now and if they somehow survive this, then we could lose this babe as it grows?"

Arwen felt a fist in the pit of her stomach.

"Arwen should know of this Gandalf, she should know of the plans for their safety."

She didn't chose to wait for further word; she turned and ran from the hall.

*~*~*~*

She moved quickly and stealthily through the stable, moving towards Asfaloth with the saddle. "I cant stay here, I WONT stay here."

She was gone before the stable keeper was even aware of anything being dislodged.

*~*~*~*

"You didn"t see anything?"

Nerwen looked close to tears. "I checked on her, she was sleeping soundly m'lord and it appeared that the fever had broken. I must have felt that it was safe to rest my eyes for a moment."

Eowyn calmed the healer. "Aragorn, she couldn't have gotten far. We have people searching the grounds."

Gandalf also joined in calming the frantic King. "The call for the fellowship has been put out. They'll be coming soon."

"What good will it do if they cant be found?"

Faramir returned. "Asfaloth is missing."

Aragorn closed his eyes. "What is going on?"

*~*~*~*

Legolas woke with a jolt, his senses seemingly screaming on full alert.

His breath slowly calmed down and he realized that he called a name.

"Evenstar."