AUTHOR'S NOTE: School is truly becoming an obstacle in the world of writing and I am sure some of you know this already. In my first week I already had lots of homework and quizzes :P!! I will truly try to work around it but I am warning you that I may not be getting more ch.s on very fast as you can see with the past two or three chaps. Thank you all once again very very much!! Enjoy ch. 30!
Aragorn had received word from a servant of the Tower that Arwen wished to speak with him alone. It was two months after the Mid-year's celebration. He finished speaking with a man who had come to him in the throne room and went swiftly to the quarters where Arwen was waiting. He slipped the winged crown from his brow for he needed it not in his time with his beloved to set it upon a small table.
Arwen stood at a window gazing out from that high place over a land lush and fertile. She held her hands clasped before her, resting against soft velvet of burgundy of her garments. A bright gem hung upon her pale brow catching the light of the sun streaming in golden beams through the window. Her eyes glittered when she turned her head as he entered.
"Estel...you did not take long," she said.
He smiled and walked slowly forward with his hands at his waist. "I must put aside all other things for you, Undómiel. You are far more important to me than anything else on this earth."
Her lips quivered with a smile and her keen gaze returned to the lands once again. Aragorn came beside her and also looked out upon Gondor. He had done so before many years ago when he first had been crowned King of both Gondor and Arnor.
Aragorn wondered what it was she had wished to discuss of in privacy, yet he had learned long ago to wait for her to choose to speak first. Whatever was on her mind, she was taking a moment to gather her thoughts. Her grey eyes were distant and searching of things unseen.
"You have been...different of late," he murmured at last.
She said nothing.
He glanced down at her. He knew not what it was, yet there was an air about her that had shifted somewhat for the past two months. Each time they went to rest for the night he could feel it like an unseen presence he continued to search for. Suddenly he paused in his thoughts. Something came to mind.
He slowly turned around to stare at his beloved. His eyes were glazed over with absolute wonder. "You..."
He did not even say another word before her entire countenance became glorified by a smile lit by the sun. She was more beautiful then than ever he had seen her. He grasped her hands and a shining grin fluttered across his lips.
"Life has awakened," she murmured running a finger along his unpointed ear. "I knew you had no need for me to tell you, my love. You knew."
Aragorn lifted a hand to her smooth cheek. "There are no words to speak. To have a child is a joy beyond words or feeling. I truly cannot express my heart."
Arwen laughed as she slowly placed her arms around his neck and rested her head against his broad chest. It was a place she had found warm comfort many times uncountable and in the solace of his gentle arms that entwined about her as though they were one.
"I love you," Aragorn murmured into her shadowy hair. "I love you more than life itself."
"As I love you, Estel...As I love you."
As the months drew on, words spread through Minas Tirith that the Queen Evenstar was with child. Many guessed it would be a son, few saying a daughter would be born first. Those in the White Tower spoke together in thrilled whispers whenever they caught a glimpse of their fair Queen with a slowly rounding belly.
Arwen walked to where the White Tree flowered and the water of the fountain churned. She sighed and looked out over the land remembering how far her eyes had once pierced when the life of the Eldar still remained. Now what had been sharp was duller or blurred, yet she rarely paid heed to such details any longer.
The Guards of the Citadel watched her out of the corner of their eyes, not in suspicion, but in renewed wonder. Lush grass brushed beneath her feet as her long, pale skirts trailed behind. She suddenly recalled the time when she stood beside Nimloth with Aragorn and Frodo the Ringbearer approached to request leave of the King. She had given him the bright necklace she wore to remember Aragorn and herself as he took her place on the Grey Ship. Arwen wondered then where Frodo was at that moment in the West.
It had been five and a half months since the conception as her belly now rounded noticeably and the summer faded as autumn settled over the land. The wind was crisper and the green transformed to warm colours of fall. The sun shone high in the sapphire heavens where there was not even a wisp of cloud obscuring the deep blue. The Fields of the Pelennor was a mass of emerald shifting beneath the sun's golden rays and Anduin glittered like a wide ribbon of fish scales running across the land.
Arwen looked up and an eagle soared high above the city barely in sight. She wondered why it was hovering over Minas Tirith as it was. There was no prey in the city big enough for an eagle its size.
Aragorn had been bursting with joy and pride since the day he knew of Arwen's being with child. She had felt him watching her with intent eyes many times when they would wake with the sun or stand together in the day. It made her smile faintly each time.
King Èomer of Rohan arrived in the glorious city as Arwen's time drew near. He had come alone leaving his wife and three children in Edoras this time. They had come before, yet he pass through the gates accompanied only by his proud steed. Its hooves clattered on the white marble streets as he led it on through the six levels until they came to the seventh where Èomer was allowed entrance as many times before.
He was still proud and mighty, yet his yellow hair was streaked with much silvery-grey in his older age, and the lines of his face were no longer those of chiselled youth. But his grip was as strong as ever on sword or lance as he rode his mount with skilled precision equal to the days of his youth.
Aragorn heard of his arrival and rose from his throne in the Hall of Kings and stepped down from the dais once the doors were opened. His friend of many years and trials bowed low before him.
"Dear Èomer, glad am I to see you again," he said in a voice gilded with elation. His eyes darkened when he truly looked upon the Rohirrim man who no longer appeared as he once had. Aragorn seemed little changed from the ending of the Third Age, yet many whom he loved had passed through time much more quickly and with much more wear than he ever would face. He placed a firm hand on Èomer's shoulder. "Come, friend, let us sit together and speak."
Èomer nodded with a clear smile and returned the warm gesture. "Of course."
After speaking of trivial matters and discussing concerns of both kingdoms, Èomer paused and looked upon King Elessar with gleaming eyes.
"I have heard word...word that Queen Evenstar is with child at last. Is it true?"
Aragorn's eyes burned with unbarred delight. "Indeed it is true. I now may finally experience the joy you, and many others I know, have over the years. Patience is rewarding."
"As I have realised many times," Èomer chuckled. He stroked his grey beard. "I pray to the Valar it is a mighty son who bears the burden of kinghood as well and wisely as you do, my friend."
"Thank you," said Aragorn. "That is my wish as well though a child, whether a daughter or son, is enough to set my heart aglow as it is now. I will call for Arwen so that you may speak with her. She would be glad as I am to see you after all this time."
And so she was brought to the parlour. Her face brightened when she saw the aging king of Rohan sitting near Aragorn. She was holding her large belly with one hand and reached out the other to Èomer who took it and clasped it with both of his after rising at once to his feet in her presence.
He smiled. "Greetings, fair Undómiel. I came as swiftly as I could when I heard the splendid tidings. The people of Rohan are overjoyed to hear that the renowned King and Queen of Gondor are to have a son or daughter to uphold the noble blood of both your lines." He sat once Aragorn had aided his beloved in being seated beside him. "I hope to come again once this child of yours is born."
"As do we," said Aragorn.
"The time is shortening," Arwen murmured with a pleasant smile. "It shall not be long now."
Èomer was given quarters to stay in as long as he wished, and Arwen found herself alone with Aragorn. He had his arms crossed over his chest and he stood gazing into the fire that had been kindled in the marbled hearth.
"You know, do you not?" he murmured when she entered the room.
"Yes...I do."
He turned his glittering eyes upon her. "We are to have a son?"
Her eyes sparkled like burnished mithril in the firelight and she grasped his hand softly. "Yes, we are. You had no need to ask, I see."
He laughed quietly and let his arms fall to his sides. He was silent then for a lengthy amount of time until Arwen gently fingered the sleek material of his sleeve.
"Night has come and the sun is set. Let us go to rest as our friend Èomer has done." Aragorn's face was clouded for an instant and she held his arm when she saw it. "You are anxious for him?"
"I age none at all it seems while he is grey with many winters already. I fear it will not seem long before he is also gone as many have passed afore him. It grieves me to think of it."
"Then do not, my love. Think of the new life fast approaching instead." She smiled and grasped his head in her hands to kiss his brow. "Come and rest your weary mind and forget of the troubles of the world for a time."
And indeed he did as dreams of a dark-haired son flying into his arms with crystal laughter soothed his thoughts and turned away his concern.
Èomer departed two weeks later and bid them farewell with a shining smile. By this time the word he had heard some weeks ago had spread over all of Middle-earth like fire in the wind. The Elves were especially interested—those who were left in Ithilien—and word of blessing was sent at once to the Elfstone.
Arwen Undómiel was now in the ninth month of conception. It seemed the air had become tense with anticipation in the Tower of Ecthelion and her belly swelled with haste. Aragorn tending to her more often than to his kingdom, yet the people heeded it not for they also waited almost impatiently for the glorious day. When would it come?
Aragorn and Arwen had withdrawn to bed, yet she had difficult falling into a restful sleep. She sat up and knew then as a searing pain rushed through her why rest would not come that night. It would not for a few hours yet.
She laid a hand on Aragorn's arm and he woke immediately, sitting up beside her. "What...?" He stared for a moment and leaped from the bed to dress quickly. The time had come.
Aragorn was not permitted to enter the room in the Houses of Healing where Arwen had been brought as the pain of birth began to quicken. He paced outside of the door being anxious and thrilled at the same moment though revealing little sign of it. The warden had at first chuckled and shook his head when he saw Aragorn behaving as he was.
The stars were shining brilliantly in the sky and the moon's glimmering beams fell upon Minas Tirith with a tender caress. Few were awake at that hour. Nightingales sang in the shadowed boughs of the trees and the wind whispered softly words of comfort to the sleeping.
Aragorn stood at a window as he waited patiently. In the light of the moon and stars his eyes gleamed and his hair shimmered. He appeared an Elf-lord out of the West or a King of Númenor, that had been destroyed, stepped upon the shore of a lesser land. He did not wear a crown, yet it seemed one could be seen upon his noble brow. He was tall and mighty with wisdom uncounted among Men blazing in his eyes. The warden had been about to approach him to speak words of solace, yet he halted abruptly when he laid eyes upon his King.
Aragorn turned when he felt the slight man behind him. "Yes?"
"My King," he said bowing quite low, "I hope the birth of your..."
"Son..."
"...your son is blessed beyond your greatest thoughts and wishes. May the Valar keep him safe and give him the greatest gifts of Men...and perhaps Elves."
Aragorn thanked him warmly and the warden passed once again into the slim corridors. He came to the door of the room where Arwen had been placed and listened to the warm coaxing of an older woman and the shuffling of hurried feet moving about the room to prepare for the delivery. Arwen herself was making little sound even in the agony of birth but for very few moans of pain and labour.
The moon had set a few moments later and a twinge of grey appeared in the East. Stars faded one by one as grey twilight blanketed the land in a light dim and pale. At last the sun thrust her head over the high mountains and a blush of gold lined the horizon. All grey and shadows faded as the sun swathed the land in a golden mist that moved languidly over the fertile earth. The brilliant white clouds were suddenly lined in rose and gold like gems set in a brooch of azure blue above Middle-earth.
At that moment the door opened and a young woman smiled at Aragorn though her face was pale with weariness. "It is done," she said beckoning him forward. "You may enter now."
He felt he could not move at first for the joy was overwhelming. After waiting for so long the day had come. After watching those he loved with their sons and daughters he now could care for his own.
The young maiden opened the door wider as he stepped slowly forward to enter. The room was lit with golden light warm and beautiful. The three women departed at once after seeing him pass through the door. There on a bed covered in white linens lay his beloved Undómiel pale and worn yet so beautiful he could not breathe. In her arms resting against her breast was a small bundle that he could not see at first though he knew it was his son. His son.
Arwen looked up slowly and gave him a faint smile. Her eyes were sparkling as tears formed in her eyes and caught the golden light. "If only you could see your face, meldanya..."