Title: No turning back
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Summary: Sequel to Luthien's flute. Aragorn, Arwen and the family visit Rivendell.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.
A/N: This chapter takes place 2 years after the last one.
Additional info: Aragorn and Arwen's children:-
Eldarion 29
Galadwen 26
Celebriel 23
Luthien 21
Silmai 6
Chapter 2
The morning after the night before
*2 years later*
Aragorn stood from the table and raised his glass. Instantly the room went quiet as their King made his speech.
"My lords and ladies, welcome to Minas Tirith. I am not a King that stands before you now but a father." Aragorn looked towards Galadwen, who was beaming back at him. He winked at her, his vision a little impaired and his words a tad slurred, before continuing.
"We are here to celebrate the second anniversary of my eldest daughter Galadwen and her husband Lothvain."
A huge applause went up through the hall, everybody was in high spirits.
Aragorn continued to speak. "I remember when Galadwen was just 7 years old and she asked me where babies-" Arwen's hand slid up her husband's leg in an attempt to stop him from continuing. Galadwen was clearly cringing at what her drunken father might say next. Every thought went from his mind as he gazed down at his wife, who stood and took his glass from him.
"Galadwen and Lothvain."
Everybody raised their glasses and toasted the happy couple.
Arwen leaned over to talk with Celebriel. "Are you looking forward to seeing Rivendell?"
Celebriel's eyes danced. "I fear that once I get there you will never be able to tempt me home." He silver eyes were brighter now then ever they had been, she was most certainly a woman now at 23.
The entire family were travelling to Rivendell at first light to visit Arwen's brothers and meet with the lord of Arnor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What are you hiding in here for?" Lothvain found his wife in the serving quarters. She turned and looked at him, so kind and warm. A smile came over her face as she walked up to him and placed a kiss on his whiskered lips. "Eldarion and I used to hide in here when our nurse maid tried to bathe us."
He chuckled and ran his hand over her bare arm. "You really miss this place don't you."
Galadwen couldn't deny it. Although she saw her family often, it was not the same as it was.
"I miss that I will make no more memories in this place."
Lothvain wrapped his arm around her slender waist. "Perhaps we can make new memories in our own home, perhaps our children will hide from their own nurse maid."
Galadwen looked to the floor. He wanted children and as he said, he wasn't getting any younger. She knew that she shouldn't lie to her husband but something inside of her told her to hold back, to wait. She had been taking a herbal potion, an Elven mixture to make sure she would not fall with child. Her mother had helped her to make it but was disapproving that Galadwen would lie to her husband.
She brought her face back up to meet his and saw such love shinning from them that she instantly felt lightened. "It takes time my lord. We have not been wed long."
Lothvain felt awful that he had put his beautiful wife under such pressure. "I am sorry my love" he kissed her full on the mouth. "You are all that I need."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luthien was getting cold. He was late and it angered her. Every night at dusk they would meet by the white tree, the only time in the day they got to spend alone. Her eyes glance down at her body. She was now 21 and had changed a great deal. She was most certainly a lady, a beautiful one at that.
A noise coming from behind a bush startled her. "Who is there?" She walked closer to the bush with caution. "Astald?"
As she stooped to look, she felt something hit her on the back of the neck. She raised her hand to feel and saw that it was an acorn. She felt another, this time on her arm. She grinned despite herself, as she saw a laughing Astald standing behind her.
"I suppose you think that is funny?"
He strode towards her, now tall and toned. He pulled her in to his arms and kissed her on the forehead.
"I think it was a little funny." He held on to her and rested her head on his shoulder. Luthien closed her eyes and felt content and loved.
"Where were you, what took you so long?" She looked up at him and saw that his face was troubled.
"I was speaking with your father."
Instantly Luthien looked worried also. "And what did he say?"
Astald ran his hand over her cheek to comfort her. "He said that we are too young to wed and that he is happy for us to continue courting, but no more of yet."
Luthien knew what was really bothering Astald.
"Astald, he thinks of you as a son. If we were older then he would grant our marriage, it has nothing to do with your stature."
Astald looked down at her. "How can you say that? You are a Princess of men and Elves. I know not who my father was. I am in no way worthy of your hand and we both know it." He dropped his eyes to the floor. "And so does your father."
He continued to study the floor. "I owe your father my life, he saved me in every way possible. I have loved him as though he were my birth father. I just wish I knew that he was happy of our love."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun came bursting through the window, making Aragorn burrow deeper under the covers. Arwen, who had been awake for hours, laughed at her husband. He certainly looked worse for wear. "It is no use hiding your shame in there Estel, the entire Kingdom now think you once worked as a court jester."
Aragorn grunted at his wife's loud tone. His muffled voice bellowed from where he lay. "I am the King, should I not be respected by my people and my wife!"
Arwen just giggled more. "You have my respect my King." She mockingly bowed.
Aragorn came up from his hiding place and looked at her. How could she look so damn good after such a late night? Damn Elves!
Arwen noticed the tone in his eyes. "Do not look at me like that, it is no fault of mine that you insisted on dancing on the tables."
Aragorn's eyes flew to her face. "I didn't?"
She giggled even more. He didn't remember, oh how fun this would be.
"You also started to remove your clothing whist dancing in front of the old lady of Lebennin" she lied with a triumphant smirk.
He groaned in to the pillow. "Never ever let me drink that evil stuff again."
Arwen snuggled down next to him and rubbed her soft cheek over his rough one. "I love you, you drunken fool."
Aragorn smiled up at her and reached his hand to the back of her head. He pulled her down to him and kissed her hard on the mouth.
"You still taste of the evil stuff." She nuzzled her face in to his neck and began to kiss down his torso.
Aragorn couldn't think of a better way to start the day and as much as he hated to say no to his beautiful wife, they were going to be late.
"Meleth, I would like nothing more but we can not keep the others waiting any longer, we were supposed to leave at first dawn."
Arwen treated him to a wanton look and continued her seduction. "But you my love, are the King. The highly respected King." She kissed him again on the mouth, enjoying the sweet taste of ale.
"Your people and you wife, do as you say."
He smiled and brushed the back of his fingers over her face. "Why do I feel as though my ego is being stroked so you can get what you want?"
She gasped in mock horror and began to get out of the bed. "Well if it is only what I want, then I am sorry I tried to make you do something so awful."
Aragorn leapt at her and flung his arms around her. He pulled her back down to the bed.
"You know how your fiery temper turns me on." He pushed himself against her and stole her breath with his kiss. Damn Elf, she had won again or at least he would let her think that she had won. For the first prize was most certainly as enjoyable for him as it was for her.
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"Good morning Naneth, Ada." Eldarion smiled at his parents as they emerged in to the stables. Aragorn mounted his horse and shouted out to the man at the front. "We will ride easy this day, we have my daughter and granddaughter riding with us."
Arwen looked at Silmai and Estelai, now six and two. "Yes we must ride easy for the children, it has nothing to do with the King's aching head."
Aragorn glared at her, annoyed at himself for making such a fool of himself. Every hour that passed this day, Arwen told him of more outrageous antics he had gotten up to the night before.
