Please Read: And so my dear friends, we come to the end of another story. I didn't mean for it to end here, but somehow it just seemed right.There have been good times and bad, happy and sad, fluff, sweetness and enough sugar to make anyone hyper... I fear this is the end... I'm going now... goodbye...

But alas! I am not gone, not yet... you don't get rid of me that easily! There do be this final chapter that lays here on ahead, and I thinketh I might be able to throweth in a fluffy epilogue... but then again, maybe not... you see, it all rests on this ye ol' chappie, and how many wondeful reviews I do get... then, and only then, will you getteth your happy epilogue!
Now, on with the show, before I turn into a medieval monk...

Disclaimer: still Tolkein's... bow down before him, he is your king!
Rating: nope, you're not focing me into R-rated territory! still PG-13....
Dedications: again, to everyone who loves me enough to review andtell me I'm amazing (!!), even if I'm not... (by the way: Claire, are you wearing a hat?!)

And so, everyone, for the final time, let's get it on... (or in A/A's case, off...!)

Last Chapter: The Truth Of The Heart (and Arwen's dare...!)

Aragorn was sulking - again. Even though Arwen knew he was pretending like before, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. She sat next to him and put a hand on his knee.

"Meleth, I'm sorry," she told him, but received no response. "To capture your innovative use of the bedposts, surely we need a bed? And since there aren't any in Minas Tirith that aren't being cleaned, there's nothing we can do." She took his hand and squeezed it, making him meet her eyes. "I hope you don't think I'm denying you your fantasy on purpose - I think you know there would be more than enough... pleasure in it for me."

He sighed, smiling finally. "I know, I'm sorry."

"Look, it's less than an hour till sunset, when the cleaning stops and we can go back to the palace. Then you can dress me up, tie me to the bedpost and do whatever you want with me!" They shared a mutual grin at the thought, before Aragorn stood up.

"When is Legolas bringing the children back?" He asked.

Arwen smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Not until tomorrow. He owed me a particularly big favour."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows and he pulled her close. "He did?"

She nodded with such innocent sincerity that he was struck by how like their mother his four girls were. Arwen pursed her lips. "I wasn't supposed to tell you," she whispered in a secretive whisper, "but I took the blame for him once." She looked around as if expecting the Elf to be there. "It was Legolas, not me, who stood on your favourite pipe and broke it."

Before he could respond, she placed her fingers on his lips and moved closer. "Don't be too hard on him," she said softly. "He was so very sorry, he just couldn't bring himself to face you and his shame."

Aragorn almost laughed. "Legolas Greenleaf, ashamed? Are we talking about the same Elf here?"

Arwen smiled. "Tall, blonde, incredibly handsome and the greatest warrior of the third age?"

He hit her backside playfully, a hurt look on his face. "Watch what you say woman! I thought I was your incredibly handsome warrior, but no! Fine then, I'll go and find someone who really loves me! I'm sure I saw a horse around here who looked interested..."

Arwen laughed. "A horse? Darling, is that the best you can do?"

He kissed her nose. "And what could possibly be wrong with a horse? Apart from the smell of course... and the eating habits... and the teeth... and the long face... and perhaps the fact that the sleeping arangements could be a bit difficult... On second thoughts, maybe I should think about what's right with a horse..."

She smiled and kissed him. "Oh Estel, you are so cute!"

He gave her a 'never-call-me-cute-again' look to which she laughed. "At least horses don't answer back!" He muttered, but kissed her all the same.

When they broke apart, it had begun to grow dark. They sat together on a bench and Arwen had an idea. "Estel?"

"Yes?"

"Seeing as you asked me before to perform your dare - which will wait till later - it is my turn to ask you. Truth or dare?"

He groaned and turned pleading eyes on his wife. "Oh Valar, not this again! I thought we'd finished!" Laughing, she nudged him in the ribs and he sighed. "Fine... Truth. But this had better be the last!"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Alright. What was your worst nightmare as a child?"

It took him a while to remember, but slowly it began to come back to him. "I used to dream that I was forced into a corner all the time, bullied by people, and I knew I'd never be able to escape." He laughed softly. "I think I was actually experiencing the foretelling."

Arwen's eyes narrowed. "How do you mean?"

"Well, I am constantly forced into corners from with there is no escape, and you are the bully!"

She hit him hard on the arm and he yelled. "That didn't hurt," she said, though she had begun to laugh.

"You don't know your own strength woman," he muttered, electing another contagious laugh from his wife, and soon they were both in hysterics. "What's... funny?" He managed, holding his chest as the laughter became painful. Arwen just shook her head, gripping his arms to try and calm herself down.

Eventually, (eventually being at least ten minutes later), Aragorn managed to look at his wife without laughing. "So what about you?" He said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Any nightmares?"

She looked at him. "I don't know about nightmares, but I certainly had dreams."

"What sort of dreams?"

"Hopes, wishes, aspirations."

He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "Which were?"

She smiled. "The usual, meet and marry a tall, dark, handsome stranger, have ten children and live out my immortality blissfully happy." It was only after she said it that she realised her mistake. "Oh Estel, I- I didn't think!"

He looked at her, grey eyes meeting blue, and she saw clearly hurt and - was it guilt? He spoke slowly, as if reading lines he'd learnt years ago. "Do you regret your decision to abandon the Twilight for this? For me?"

He looked so lost then, so sad, that she couldn't bear it. She kissed him softly, but it spoke more to his heart than any amount of passion or fervour. Looking into his eyes she said quietly, "I have never regretted my decision. Never. Estel, amin mela lle. Ever since that day we met in Lothlórien, I knew I would never be borne away on any ship. My life, immortal or not, is everything I could ask for. You are everything, and our children: you all mean the world to me. I thought you knew that."

He sighed, but some of the hurt had gone from his eyes to be replaced by a fierce love. "I did. I do. But sometimes I just wonder why- "

"Don't," she said simply. Their lips met again, more out of the need to feel safe and loved than any wild passions they might have been feeling at the time.

When they drew back, the mischievous twinkle was back in Aragorn's eyes. "I believe," he said, looking up to see the sun dip below the horizon, "it is time for us to retire. The palace should be clean enough for habitation now. And empty enough," he added, but it was not an afterthought - it was a blatant hint.

"You have a one track mind, Estel!" Arwen laughed.

He shrugged, grinning, and said, "Well, I try!" He picked her up then so suddenly that she screamed. Holding her to him under her knees and shoulders, he all but ran back to their clean, fresh - and empty - chambers.

When he had deposited her on the bed and locked the door, he blew out some of the candles that had been lit by the servants, plunging the room into semi-darkness.

He leaned over her, mesmirised by her beauty. Her dark hair fanned out on the crimson coverlet, a striking contrast to her porcelain skin. She watched him with darkening eyes as he ravaged her body with his gaze. When she reached up to claim his lips he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, undoing the lacing of her dress with practised ease.

When they were both naked and hungry for each other's continuing touch, Aragorn kissed her once more and stood, taking her hand and leading her over to the corner of the bed. Arwen, realising what he meant to do, smiled seductively and leaned against the bedpost.

Aragorn treated her to a knee-weakening smile. "Now, where's the rope?"

The End.

Aah, if Aragorn wasn't so roguishly sexy, I'd have tears in my eyes at the sadness of it being the last chapter and all... thanks for sticking with me guys! Who knows, maybe one day you'll get a sequel...

Sunshine:I would say VERY crazy, but then I guess I can talk...! Thank you so much for being such a great friend and helping me out with everything... I always get sentimental at the end of fics! :) ps Who is Jack Schitt?! so funny...

Valia-Elf: aah, biscuits biscuits biscuits... I just found a review I left for She Ran and it said "10 kisses from Dalfy in that baseball hat for you!"... well, you can take 10 more and 15 smakaroons from Gollum with his sexy bling (!!), just for the hell of it!

apsenniel: After receiving many threats from certain individuals (cough) which I believed to predict my premature death, I thought I'd better hurry up and update! Oh yes, and fantasies with Aragorn.... well, I can imagine the possibilities are endless!

viviana: oh holy one, your every wish is my command! hmm, anyways, death threats, hmm... it seems they've worked! Aah well, at least its one plus side to being ill! Be nice and I might just send a little epilogue your way...

Liregon: next chapter is here, thank you so much for your review!