All eyes were on the royal couple as Aragorn and Legolas entered the banquet hall. It seemed like everyone was trying to penetrate the elf's skin and actually see into his stomach. Legolas allowed a small, closed-lip secretive smile to curl his lips. He'd deliberately worn a tunic that was a bit snug and that little bump was just showing enough to cause whispers, both of excitement and of hesitant disbelief.
"You look beautiful tonight," Aragorn whispered to him. "Well, you always look beautiful but tonight...tonight you're luminescent."
"I like that word," purred Legolas playfully, breaking his own rules of decorum by looping his arm through that of his husband's. He'd always refused to do that in public, his pride stopping him from letting Aragorn lead him around like the nobles did with their spouses. While Aragorn was the king and he claimed no official rule over Gondor, Legolas just couldn't stand being viewed as the weaker half of their relationship. He needed to enter court functions in no other manner than standing on his own two feet. But tonight was a special occasion.
"Welcome, my king and prince," said Faramir formally, rising to his feet as they came to their places at the head table. "I must apologize for Eowyn not being here to greet you as well, but her brother has been has been occupying her attention all evening."
Legolas scanned the room. "Eomer is here?" he asked. "Where? And when did he arrive?"
"He's right over there," Faramir replied, pointing to a table not too far off where Rohan's king sat surrounded by Eowyn, Gimli, and the hobbits. "His party arrived this afternoon; we tried to let you know, but the guard outside your room said –"
"Something about dire circumstances?" supplied Aragorn, feeling slightly embarrassed. It wasn't proper for the king of Gondor to allow such a distinguished guest to go unacknowledged for so long; but more importantly, Eomer was a good friend. He'd really been looking forward to his visit.
"That guard is very diligent," commented Legolas diplomatically.
"He's like a toddler that's just learned a new word," scoffed Aragorn. "It could be interpreted as an insult that we weren't there to formally greet the King of Rohan and his company."
"Don't worry," Faramir assured him. "He knew within five minutes of his arrival that Legolas was in the Houses of Healing yesterday so he understands why you might be a little preoccupied. Besides, he's been more thankept busywith spoiling my daughter, catching up with my wife, and visiting with Merry. Eomer and Eowyn seem very determined to teach that poor hobbit until he's fluent in the Rohirric language."
"Well, it's to be expected if Merry wishes to be a proper rider of Rohan," chided Legolas with amusement. "Still, I'll rectify our inadvertent rudeness right now and go say hello. Are you coming, Aragorn?"
Aragorn hesitated for a split second. "In a moment, my love," he promised. With a nod and a smile the elf hurried off.
Faramir and Aragorn watched as Sam, Merry, and Pippin all jumped to their feet, falling all over themselves to offer Legolas a seat. Once he'd taken his place at the table, Pippin actually took a roll of bread off of his own plate and gave it to him. "Now that's real friendship," observed Faramir fondly.
"Mithrandir was right about hobbits," added Aragorn. "They can still surprise you even after all these years." He bit his lower lip. "Faramir? May I ask you a question?"
Faramir started, but then nodded. "Of course, Aragorn," he replied, dropping the courtly formalities in his surprise. Judging by the tone of his voice, the king needed a friend and not a steward.
"You and Eomer...you two didn't get along at first, correct?"
"I wouldn't put it quite that way," Faramir frowned, racking his brain for the right way to explain it. "It was more that he was very protective of his sister, especially at that time. After all, she'd just gone through so much with Wormtongue's intentions, King Theoden's death, her injuries after the battle with the Witch-king, and her feelings..."
His voice trailed off as he and Aragorn exchanged an awkward glance before simultaneously looking at the floor. Faramir was very aware that Eowyn once had romantic feelings for Aragorn – she'd told him herself before they'd fallen in love. While he knew he had nothing to be jealous of on either of their parts, it was still a slightly uncomfortable topic. "Was that the only problem?" questioned Aragorn,wanting to move them past this just as much as he wanted to know the answer.
"No," continued Faramir. "It was also do to the fact that he didn't know much about me. Until you three came to Rohan with the news about – Boromir" – his voice hitched a little – "all I was to him was the lesser son of the steward. He just wanted to make sure that I was worthy of her before he gave us his blessing."
"How did you convince him that you were?"
"I didn't," he responded wryly. "No one is good enough for Eowyn as far as Eomer is concerned, but he realized that his expectationswere a little too – impossible – and decided to settle for what makes her happy. I would think that you of all people would understand that."
Fantastic; now he had to deal with the fact that he was a disappointment to Legolas' father. "But he does like you," stammered Aragorn, allowing his frustrations to vent through a little. "What did you do to make him accept you?"
"I didn't do anything special," Faramir insisted. "I was polite and friendly to him, loving and respectful to his sister, and let him make up his own mind. I didn't" – he hesitated, his court formalities finally catching up with him –"Are we still talking as friends?"
"Of course."
Faramir took a deep breath and plunged forward. "I didn't, ah, make an idiot of myself by trying to force it."
Aragorn let out a weary sigh. "I suppose that it's obvious, then?" he asked rhetorically, heat creeping into his cheeks.
"Not to everyone," comforted the steward hurriedly. "I just have had a better view of it, with King Thranduil living in Ithilien and all."
"Well, he won't be living there for awhile," Aragorn groaned. "The twins have to go back to Rivendell to get more information about male pregnancy, so he's going to be moving into the citadel. That's why he's not here right now; he's supervising the move of all of his things. Now the people of Minas Tirith can see me make an idiot of myself. Ai, Valar! What if he decides not to leave after the baby's born?"
"I'm sure that won't happen –"
"And I won't be able to tell him to leave!" Aragorn continued to ramble on. It was a relief to be able to get all of this out to someone who could understand where he was coming from. "Legolas and I had a fight this morning because he needs his father and he thinks I'm the one who's being difficult. What if he still needs his father after our child comes? I'll be stuck living with someone who barely tolerates my existence; who will be in the prime position to teach my son what an uncouth moron I am."
Choking back his laughter at the poor Man's irrational panic, Faramir sputtered, "I'm – I'm sorry."
"Hey," a gruff voice interjected. Faramir and Aragorn looked down to see Gimli. "Your wife's wondering what's keeping you," he informed the steward.
"Thank you," said Faramir politely before turning to the king again. "Don't be too concerned, Aragorn; things will work out."
The Man and the dwarf stared uncomfortably at each other after he left, both keenly remembering their last conversation in the Houses of Healing. "I hear Thranduil's going to be staying with you two," Gimli finally said.
"You did?"
"He told me this afternoon, when I asked him why he wasn't getting ready for the reception."
"Oh." When had this happened?! When did Gimli become Thranduil's friend and not his? Even during the War of the Ring when the dwarf became so protective of Legolas, he and Aragorn were still close.
Gimli, not really aware of Aragorn's internal questions, went on: "That's...that's going to be a bit cramped, huh?" He had to say it before he lost his nerve. "Well-he-can-visit-me-a-lot-so-you-two-can-have-some-time-alone-and-I'm-sorry-for-what-I-said-earlier."
Despite himself, Aragorn managed a good-natured smirk. "That hurt, didn't it?"
Gimli looked pained. "You have no idea."
"Well, I accept," he told him, feeling a bit foolish. Perhaps Legolas was right; if he was seeing himself and Thranduil as such opposing forces that he didn't think Gimli could be friends with the both of them, something was definitely wrong. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad Legolas has you looking out for him."
"Oh – oh, why not?" Gimli lunged forward and hugged Aragorn in that room full of nobles and foreign dignitaries.
Aragorn let out a laugh. "Come on, you sentimental dwarf; let's go see Eomer." He glanced over and saw the Rohirrim's eyes widen almost impossibly and reach out as if mesmerized to Legolas' stomach. "It looks like it'll take both of us to keep his hands off of my husband."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOThe feast was winding down when Aragorn leaned over and whispered into Legolas' ear: "Are you ready, meleth?"
"I've been ready for this for a long time," smiled Legolas as he nodded his assent.
Aragorn returned the smile and discretely squeezed his hand before inclining his head ever so slightly to Faramir. At that signal, the steward rose to his feet. "Nobles of Gondor and distinguished guests," he called out. "The King Elessar and Prince Legolas request that all accompany them to the courtyard."
The crowd obligingly stood and followed as the royal couple got up and made their way out of the hall and through the corridors that led outside. The guards immediately opened the doors and shouted to the crowd of commoners outside: "Make way for the king and the prince!"
"People of the city," announced Aragorn. "Please come with us to the courtyard, as our business there concerns you as well."" He turned and shot a pointed glance at the guards. "And you will allow them to follow."
Legolas could hear the buzz of murmurs as he and Aragorn stood before the White Tree and faced the crowd. Hemarveled at times abouthow much he'd come to love the people of Gondor, but now wasn't one of them. It was because he'd placed him hopes with their world that he was able to conceive and now they were about to share his joy. He felt his son stir within him and know that the child approved.
Aragorn and Legolas shared a loving look. "My husband and I have tremendous news that will affect the future of Gondor," the Man told them. The people's whispers got even louder and more than a few eyes were now blatantly staring at Legolas' waistline.
"The male elves of old had a unique and extraordinary gift," he continued, his elation rising as the people looked on expectantly. "This gift was thought to be gone forever after the darkness of Sauron, but in this time of hope, peace, and renewal it has been restored to the Prince Legolas."
"And what gift do you speak of, my lord?" asked Cirion uneasily. Surely those ridiculous rumors weren't true!
"The most precious gift of all," Legolas told him serenely, all the while dancing a jig on the inside as he imagined the look that would be on the obnoxious Man's face when he found out. Aragorn raised his eyebrows at him, but gestured for him to continue. "For it is the gift of life. Yesterday, my husband and I found out that I am bearing Gondor's heir. He will be born in three or four month's time."
Silence, absolute silence, filled the air for a split second before most of the people erupted in cheers. Legolas let out the breath that he didn't know he was holding. "Thank you," he sighed, not really knowing who that sentiment was for.
The advisors were at their sides in an instant. "Congratulations," said one named Belecthor, and he meant it. More than one advisor was actually decent Men and pleased to see their social-climbing peers lose their last hopes at getting into the king's family by any means possible.
"Yes," sniffed Cirion insincerely, not at all happy that his last chance at worming his daughter into the king's bed was gone. Maybe this could be salvaged. "Of course we must hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the implications of this. I trust that your wife can spare you?"
The temperature dropped to frosty levels. "Husband," hissed Aragorn warningly.
"Of course," replied Cirion, sounding unconvinced. "My mistake."
Aragorn made a threatening move forward but Legolas caught him before he did anything rash. "I won't need to spare him," he said curtly. "I'm coming too."
Cirion could work with this. "It would be highly unusual for the king's – spouse – to attend an advisors' council," he stated, his words properbutvoice oozing contempt. Unfortunately, he was correct about that; although Aragorn sometimes extended an invitation for Legolas to come – especially when the meetings may concern him – it was a simple fact that no ruler of Gondor's spouse had ever attended. "Unless, of course, you believe this child gives you more power over the people of this realm."
"I believe nothing of the sort," Legolas shot back. "But it's my son that will be the topic of conversation, and I will be at any and all discussions that concern him. And I'll do more than just be there; of that you can be sure."
To be continued...
A/N: Wow! I've gotten 200 reviews for this story! Thank you all so much.