EbonyBeach: Thank you for at least trying. You were the only person who actually thought about it. But no, good try, but it's not that. Thanks for the review!

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Viviana: Thank you. That was my aim. I tried to get him to sound as cute as poss, so hopefully it worked!

The True Evenstar: Beez kneez. Cool! Thank you for reviewing again!!

Ioreth was found in the Houses of Healing, just as Aragorn had suspected. She had just finished tending to an old lady with a bad knee, who was currently hobbling down the steps back into the courtyard, then out of the seventh level gates.

She smiled warmly as Aragorn approached. Ever since meeting him, she'd always had a soft spot for the King, particularly since he had healed most of the sick and injured during the war of the ring.

She turned her gaze on the Queen and her rounded belly and smiled. "What can I do for you today my Lord?" She turned back to Aragorn. "I wish for my wife and child to be seen to."

He looked at Arwen. "I know my wife is quite capable of bearing a child, but," he said, looking back down at Ioreth, "she has had no care or treatment since we found out she was with child back in Lorien." He finished with a smile.

Arwen was looking down at her feet trying to avoid eye contact with her husband, as though she was embarrassed by the whole scene.

"Right then, if my Lady does not mind, I'd be most happy to see her just through here." Ioreth motioned to a room to the left of them.

Arwen let go of her husbands hand and walked straight in, still not entirely happy about being there, but willing to do it for her husband's sake.

Aragorn didn't know what to do-should he go in with his wife, or should he wait outside? The answer seemed made for him when a guard knocked on the main door, and poked his head around the side. "Ah, excuse me my Lord. Lord Legolas from Mirkwood has arrived. He says he bears important news from King Éomer of Rohan."

Aragorn's eyes lit up at the thought of seeing his friend again, but his attention was brought back to Arwen when he heard the door shut quietly.

He looked at it in surprise, but decided to leave the two women in peace while he spoke with Legolas. He nodded his thanks to the guard, and bade him tell Legolas that he would meet him in the main council room.

He took one more glance at the door and told himself to move, and his attentions suddenly loomed back on the threat of war with the Dunlendings.

He quietly strode down the many halls and corridors until at last the huge wooden door of the main council room was in sight. He hurried forth, and opened it quickly. He found Legolas sat at the table with Faramir and surprisingly enough, Éowyn.

"Legolas my good friend!" He clasped his friends shoulder in a welcome gesture. "So good to see you again. How have you been?"

Legolas laughed. "Very well thank you. I bring news from Éomer."

Aragorn nodded and indicated for him to sit once more. "Faramir, Éowyn, good to see you here as well. I trust you are well this morn."

Éowyn nodded. "Yes thank you. I was hoping to find Arwen today, do you know where she is?"

"Yes I'm sure she'd enjoy that. She's currently with Ioreth, but I will go to her once Legolas has shared his news and I shall tell her that you are seeking her."

Éowyn thanked him, and Legolas started to speak. "Well, we all know of the sudden movements to the North. Well it has been no different in Rohan. Reports began flooding in of unwanted activity in the North not long before you left Lorien. King Éomer paid no heed at the time, but it turns out the Dunlendings were on the move. As you may well know, they were headed to the Easterling settlements to the North of Mordor. They have now all moved and there is not one person left. Suspicions have arisen and everyone in Rohan is on high alert. I have spoken to Éomer of the allegiance between here and Rohan, and he agrees to come to your aid should you be attacked, and hopes that the same will go here should an attack be launched on Rohan."

Aragorn nodded his head. "Of course we would. I am glad to hear that we have back-up. They have been quite unnerving."

Legolas smiled and continued. "I told Éomer that I would be staying here for a while, by your leave of course, and if anything should happen I shall send word or go to Rohan immediately."

Faramir looked at Aragorn, then Legolas, and finally spoke. "Do we know why they have moved to the Easterlings settlements?" he asked.

Aragorn shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Hopefully we will receive news from my scouts at the borders, but as of yet there has been no news."

Legolas sighed and looked down. "I have no objection to them moving, after all they've taken everyone with them, but I just do not trust them. They have been enemies of Rohan and Gondor for Ages, and so have the Easterlings. If only we knew what they wanted..." he trailed off deep in thought.

They all sat in silence for a while, each trying to think of a reason why the Dunlendings would have moved. Aragorn sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Well I still don't know. Now if you will excuse me I am going to find my wife, and see that she is well."

Legolas, Faramir and Éowyn all stood and bowed their heads, much to Aragorn's annoyance. He sighed lightly, shook his head and walked out of the door.


In the meantime, as Aragorn went to the council room to meet Legolas, Arwen was happily talking to Ioreth about all that had happened since she found out she was with child.

Ioreth seemed extremely interested, but her face showed a look of worry when Arwen explained about the mirror and the fact that she had fainted and been out cold for a couple of days.

She stopped when she saw the look on Ioreth's face. "My Lady, you didn't experience any pain at all during this time did you?"

Arwen thought for a moment. "No I don't think I did. I remember a flash of pain through my head, but nothing else."

Ioreth tapped her head in concentration. "And the babe, he didn't feel uncomfortable or in distress at any time?"

"No. As I said the only pain I experienced was when I first looked into the mirror. Other than that, I haven't felt anything."

Ioreth looked up suddenly. "You haven't felt anything? Are you sure? Have you felt the babe at all since then?" Arwen had a look of terror upon her face. "I think so. I mean it's kicked a couple of times." Ioreth sighed deeply. "Thank the Valar then my lady. All is well. A kicking or moving child is a good sign. Would you mind if I checked the babe?"

"No not at all go ahead." Arwen lied slightly. She did mind really, but then again, at least she would be able to tell Aragorn that everything was ok, and have him leave the subject alone once and for all. Or so she hoped.

Ioreth's warm hands searched carefully around Arwen's swollen abdomen. Eventually she stopped, and reached up with one hand to grab the queen's slender fingers. "Here my lady, here is the head, and the body." She said, slowly moving Arwen's hand around.

Arwen gasped and felt tears well in her eyes.

Ioreth started mumbling to herself quietly, while looking from different angles of Arwen's stomach, and sometimes gently laying her hands back onto Arwen's sides. After a couple of minutes she stood and proclaimed: "Well my lady, you have about three months to go until the birth. Give or take a week maybe, but I'd say you were about six months gone."

"Six! Are you sure?"

"Certainly my lady. In three months time you will have a babe in your arms." Ioreth seemed calm about the whole situation, but Arwen was in a state of shock. "I didn't think I was that far gone..." she paused while thinking to herself, collecting her thoughts. "Well thank you for you time and help Lady Ioreth. It is most appreciated."

This time she meant it. If Ioreth hadn't of told her how far she had gone, then she would of waited another month or so until she started to ready the nursery. But now she knew, she had to get to work straight away. She thanked Ioreth once more, who told her to think nothing of it, and that she was glad to help, and then rushed off as fast as she could to make plans of the nursery.