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Chapter 4

Aragorn sprinted through the palace and out into the city, weaving his way through the streets to the market. He knew it would not take his wife long to solve the clues he had set, and figured he had about twenty minutes before she'd find his final message and go back to their chambers, where he would supposedly have everything ready.

He reached the tailors quickly, where he was met by the shopkeeper's wife, a nice lady who he had recruited earlier to ask his wife's opinions on materials. She handed him two large boxes, one containing a dress, the other a shift and a nightgown. Aragorn grinned when he saw the beautiful fabrics Arwen had unknowingly chosen for the first two items, though he himself had picked the material for the nightdress. He thanked the Gondorian woman and her husband for their fast, friendly work and paid them, before visiting to the perfumery across the street. There he picked up the scent Arwen had chosen, paid the perfumiere and ran back to the palace, ignoring the looks he was getting.

Arriving back at the palace ten minutes after he set off, Aragorn dropped the items on the bed and went into the bathroom to run the bath. He was slightly out of breath, but it was nothing to what he knew he would be later on in the evening. A smile crept onto his face at the thought, and he poured sweet-smelling oil into the hot water before going back into the bedroom and getting it ready for his wife.

"Sense of romance," he muttered as he began lighting candles. "Meleth, you have no idea..."

Arwen moved warily towards the lilac plants. She didn't know what she was expecting, but it was not what she found. Her keen Elven eyesight immediately picked out the message, tied to a small branch just below one of the violet flowers. She untied the parchment and read it, frowning as she did so. It was another clue, this time reading, "Water". There was only one place near that was related to water, and that was the fountain in the centre of the garden.

And so she followed her husband's trail, finding messages tied to plants and trees, benches and statues, each one leading her ever onwards with no indication as to what the point of the exercise actually was. Eventually she found attached to the rose bushes a small black, velvet-covered box, though it seemed to be locked. On the underside there was another note; one that made the butterflies dance in her stomach. "Your ranger awaits you," it said. Then, more suggestively, "Bedroom, now."

Aragorn turned off the taps as his wife entered their room. He heard he pause in the doorway and smiled as he imagined the look of complete shock on her face. As the seconds passed, he began to run his hands through his hair in anticipation - suddenly he had the suspicion she wouldnt like what he'd done.

Arwen couldn't believe what she was seeing, yet at the same time it all made perfect sense: the market, the meal, the mystery trail round the garden. She felt tears come to her eyes as she took in the sight before her. The room was bathed in the glow of hundreds of candles, which littered the floor, walls, dresser - every surface available. As she walked towards the bed, she saw the most beautiful gown, in a fabric that was she had seen before that morning. She smiled to herself as she felt that familiar fire begin to burn in her very core. Was there nothing her wonderful husband couldn't do? She noticed there were rose petals littering the bed, and picked out a trail which she followed to the bathroom, her heart beating faster with every step she took.

Aragorn almost forgot to breathe when he saw his beautiful Evenstar standing in the doorway. The look of complete and utter love for him on her face set his blood on fire. She was smiling, locked in his gaze, her eyes shining with desire and the threat of tears.

"Is this all for me?" She said softly, her voice thick with emotion. She could tell by his messy hair that he'd been running his hands through it - he always did it when he was nervous - but why was he nervous? And why did he have to look so damn sexy, leaning on the sink like that with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his hard, tanned chest for her hungry gaze? It was almost as if he was trying to brake her on purpose!

"Well," he began, "It was for Faramir, but Éowyn already had him booked- " He was cut off as Arwen all but ran the short distance across the room to him, throwing her arms around his neck as she kissed him hard on the mouth. Aragorn was not complaining though. He held her close to his heated body, moving his hand to the back of her head and pulling her forward to deepen the kiss. She moaned into his open mouth, sliding her tongue against his own, sharing his breath, his kiss, his heart.

When they broke apart they were both breathing heavily. Aragorn traced the path of a tear down her cheek with his thumb, pressing his smiling lips to hers in a lingering kiss, bringing a smile to her own beautiful face. "Why did you do all this?" She asked, allowing his hands to slide her dress from her shoulders.

He spun her in his arms and began to unfasten the lacing. "Because I love you."

She smiled and felt the blush rise in her cheeks. "So it had nothing to do with what I said last night about you losing your sense of romance?"

He slid the clothes from her perfect body, tracing the path of the material with his calloused hands. When he brought his hands back to cup her cheeks, she licked her lips, seeing in his eyes the effect she had upon him. When it became clear she would get no answer to her question, she raised her eyebrows and her mirrored her.

"Is my reason not good enough for you?" He asked, letting his hands slide slowly down her body, feeling her tremble beneath his touch.

Realising defeat, she smiled seductively. "Then if you won't tell me that, answer me this: just why have you stripped me naked, a slave to your gaze, when you have not given me the chance to return the favour?"

In response he took her hand and lead her to the claw-footed bath. The surface was covered in bubbles and strewn with rose petals, and for the first time Arwen noticed that the room was also filled with candles, so distracted she had been by her husband before.

With a grin, he helped her step into the bath, watching with ever-darkening eyes as she submerged herself in the hot water. As he began to massage elanor oil into her ebony hair, she lay back and closed her eyes, letting his skilled fingers take her to a place beyond paradise.

She believed, with good reason, that the evening was only just beginning.

Thank you everyone who reviewed! I'm sorry I don't have time to writeindividual thanks, but I promise they're coming next chapter! Thanks again! :)

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