CHAPTER 2

            That's how it had happened, that is how their Majesties had found out they were expecting once again... for a sixth time.

It was King Elessar's birthday anniversary and they were having a big celebration in honour of the King of the free people of Gondor, as they had done all the years of his reign for they were thrilled of the fairness of their lives and of their land and of their royal family, with all its young and healthy children.

There had been a grate ball and the King and Queen were dancing among all their guests and friends when suddenly as in one second she was holding the king, in the other she dropped to the ground unconscious. It all happened so fast, that it took a moment for the king and others surrounding her to actually realised what had occurred.

-"Arwen!!!" –shouted the king trying to get a good grip of his wife's tender body, as all the guests shared a surprised gasp and looked at the image displayed before them. The entire scene held a surreal sense to it.

           As opposed to before, everything started moving as in slow motion and somewhere in the back you could hear a person asking what had happened in a very high and disturbed voice. Many wonder exactly the same until a strong male voice was heard above all others saying: "the queen has fainted, something is wrong!"

As the murmurs of the people started, the queen's handmaidens and several others surrounded the royal couple and watched the king pick Arwen up –her fair and light crown dropping to the palace's floor with a cling –like sound as her head fell back– from the massive crowd agglomerated came the distinctive voice of a child...

-"Mama! mama!!... mama??" –cried the little one. It was the voice of Prince Eldarion, who -after obtaining no answer and being carried away by one of his nurses- burst into tears as he finally saw his father taking his mother inside, and then farther away from him where his little five year-old sight couldn't reach.

Aragorn took his queen inside their chambers while prying the entire time to the valar to let her be all right, to make whatever was striking his Evenstar not serious. His soul and mind reached out to her and salty hot tears rained down his cheeks and fell upon her beautiful and peaceful face as he laid her on the soft feather bed they had shared from the first night since they had been wedded. Something seem odd to him, as he looked down on her face, she was almost smiling!, he was sure of it.

-"Your Majesty?... My lord??"– Asked the familiar voice of Faramir behind him. –"The healers are outside, they wish to see the Queen. I've told them you will know what to do and will send for their help if you think it wise, but they insist, do to your Majesty's obvious distress, that it is better that they take care of the situation".

As an other tear from Aragorn's eye hit the queen's soft lips she began to stir calmly, as if waking up from a much pleasant dream. Aragorn unconsciously squeezed the hand he had been holding in between his very strongly causing her first reaction to be a frown...

-"Ouch" –she exclaimed in a barely audible whisper. Aragorn then realised what he had done and released the hard grip on her hand, he then looked worried and bathed her whole hand with kisses. She grinned widely and stared into his extraordinary eyes.

Aragorn heard a quiet sigh behind him and turned around remembering Faramir, who was still standing next to the door.

-"You may leave us now..." –He turned back to his love –"and tell the healers I appreciate their concern but I will take if from here." –Faramir bowed saying he would and retired. Elessar smiled down at his wife.

-"Are you all right??" –He asked her tenderly while caressing her hair with one hand and the top of one of her hands with the other.

-"Don't worry Estel, you did not hurt my hand..." –he was about to ask about the incident in the ball, but she put her fingers up to his lips and shush him. She touch the Elfstone on his forehead and softly said: –"I know what you mean... and am more than all right!!... I saw my father Aragorn, he kissed my cheek and told me my grandmother had news for me.. then she came to me, and she glowed as always, she took my hand and made me look into her mirror. Estel!!!... I am with child!!!"

The king was stunt with the news, he didn't know what to say so he just laughed and smiled so widely his face actually started to hurt. He picked her up again, kissed her passionately and spin with her in his arms several times.

-"Oh Arwen... my Evenstar, my love, my Queen, my everything!!!!! You can not have given my a better birthday present than this!!! An other child, an other reason of happiness, an other hope!!" –He just couldn't stop laughing and she couldn't help but join him.

He laid her back on the bed and position himself on top of her, she opened herself to him and held him very tight their faces very close. They looked inside each others eyes one more time, seeing their very souls before closing their eyes and kissing again.... and so they rejoiced lovingly, having created an other life together, an other proof of their eternal love.

They could still hear the soft footsteps of people outside and they heard vaguely when someone informed their concerned guests that everything was fine, the Queen was awake and resting, the voice was Faramir's... and people cheered and clapped happily but their Majesties did not pay attention to it... for they were right now involved in other more pressing matters.

And from that day on Aragorn had called their next offspring "his birthday present", and she believe it truly was.

******* ° *******

Arwen was again pulled from her thoughts by Helenna, this time the young maiden was touching her shoulder.

-"Excuse me your Majesty, I cannot help but be concerned, for I was calling you just now and you did not seem to react. Are you certain you are all right??- her face truly did express worry.

            Anwen just smiled and nodded calmly. –"I am certain, dear child. Now what is it you were calling to me for?"– she asked.  

Helenna, although not completely convinced, smiled as well and answered:      –"Just to inform you that Lady Eowyn has arrived. Her things have been settled in river side guest room."

-"Please, send her in." –replied Arwen, placing her hands above her tummy.

A few moments later Eowyn came in, and Arwen was surprised to see her with Arwind upon her hip and Arwel holding her hand. The Lady of Rohan looked utterly thrilled with the young three year-olds.

The minute they came in the room the twins shouted happily at the top of their little lungs, at the same time:

-"MAMA!!!!!" –Arwel twisted her hand out of Eowyn's grip and raced to her beloved mother. Arwen reached down for her highness and hugged her tightly kissing her cheek. Though it was hard, she managed to pick up her little treasure and set her on her hip, Arwel giggled sweetly.

As it happened most of the time Arwind immediately began to pout. The Queen thought Eowyn would put her daughter down to greet her, but the lady only did a quick curtsey and kissed her Majesty's hand lightly, while still holding the little girl tightly. Arwind crossed her small arms across her flat girlie chest with her lower lip still pouting out.

-"That is not fair!!! Hold me too mama!!"– the Princess stretched out her arms to her mother, and although she wasn't pouting any more her bright grey eyes and her whole face begged for her dear mother to take her as well.

Arwen smiled and reached to take her other twin as they both longed so badly, but then something happened that left Arwen extremely surprised, and latter on even suspicious, about Eowyn... she stepped back clasping Arwind closer to her, with both her arms, when the queen was about to take the child.

           And that was not it... Eowyn's right arm, that by now was holding the babe to her body with her palm on the back of the blond-ish little head, seemed to her, was not so much a protective gesture as it was a possessive posture... of a mother.