Thank you all for your reviews. I'm glad you liked Chapter 51, I liked writing it. I hope you all like this one. I think I've only got one or two more chapters in me for this story, but we'll see. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 52

Aria woke quickly to the sounds of Maldor crying. Over five years had passed since the joyous day they welcomed Maldamiriel and Maldor into the world. Arwen and Aragorn welcomed a son, Eldarion, a year after Maldamiriel and Maldor were born and Faramir and Éowyn welcomed a daughter, Leofwen, seven months after Eldarion was born. Aria stood swiftly from her bed and wrapped her body in her robe before she walked through the door that joined her and Legolas' room to their children's room. As she entered their room she saw Maldor sitting up in his bed with large tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Man sa pen dithen? (what is it little one?)" Aria asked quietly. Elvish always seemed to smooth both children when they were upset. Maldor stopped his tears and looked at his mother with extended arms. She smiled at him and quickly lifted him into her arms. She kissed his forehead before he buried his face in her neck. She looked to Maldamiriel's bed and found it empty. "Your father has taken your sister and left you behind this time. Is that why you weep?" she asked. Maldor lifted his head and shook it, his blonde locks flailing about. His light green eyes were filled with unshed tears as he looked at her.

"No nana. Ada woke me and asked if I wanted to go with him and I told him I was tired. I fell back to sleep. Nana, I had a dream. A bad dream," the small boy said. Aria smiled and brushed the blonde hair from his face.

"Tell me of it little one," she said as she sat down on his bed still holding him. Maldor buried his face in her neck once again before he began his tale.

"When father took Maldamiriel and I through the forest yesterday there were these creatures being surrounded by the patrolmen." Aria's eyes widened. Legolas had not told her anything about that. "They were large and black I could smell them from where we stood. Oh, nana, they were foul. They growled and looked at the patrolmen before a fight broke out. Ada watched it carefully and kept us hidden behind him and one of the large trees. The patrolmen killed the creatures and Ada called for one of the men to come to him and give him a report." Maldor raised his head and looked at his mother. "The patrolman said that they were a 'rouge band of Uruks'. What are Uruks nana?" he asked. Aria shook her head and cupped the young child's cheek.

"Nothing that concerns you my son. When you grow older, you will learn the history of Middle Earth and what Uruks are. Until then I want you to forget those creatures. They are no longer alive and will not harm you so no more dreams." The little elfling nodded his head but was not oblivious to the distress in his mother's eyes. She smiled at him and kissed his forehead before she sat him on the floor. "Now, let us ready for the day and we shall find your father and Maldamiriel and have them join us for breakfast." Maldor nodded his head and smiled at her before he rushed into the wash room. Aria smiled at him and looked out the window. "Legolas," she called to her husband through their link.

"Yes, meleth nîn?" came Legolas' voice.

"Maldor and I ready for breakfast. Bring Maldamiriel to the dinning hall, there is also something we must discuss after our meal," she said as she went into her room and pulled a dark blue dress from her cupboard and began to dress.

"We are on our way. Is everything alright?" he asked. Aria could feel his apprehension and sighed as she slipped into the dark blue fabric.

"We will discuss it after we eat and the children go for their studies," she replied shortly before she slid on her shoes and walked into the children's room.

"As you wish meleth nîn." Aria sighed and walked in to see Maldor standing in a pair of black leggings and his brown boots looking over his tunics.

"How about the dark green one?" she suggested and Maldor looked at her with a smile before he nodded and pulled the tunic out and slid it over his head. "Come here so I can braid your hair Maldor." He finished tying the front of his tunic and sat at his sister's vanity. She rarely used it. Maldamiriel was every inch a daddy's girl. She lived and breathed everything that was her father, which didn't surprise Aria in the least because she was the same way. Maldamiriel even wanted to begin learning the bow, but Legolas had told her she had all the time in the world and that she would begin to learn the bow when he felt she was ready. Aria swiftly plated Maldor's hair in the same royal braid Legolas always wore and smiled. Where Maldamiriel was like Legolas, Maldor was like her. He was even beginning to show signs of the ability to manipulate the elements and Aria knew she would soon begin his training. "There. Your father and sister are waiting for us, let us go." Maldor nodded and stood before he took his mother's hand and walked down the corridor.

As they walked they saw Legolas and Maldamiriel walking towards them. Aria smiled when she looked at her little girl. Her long auburn hair in a braid down her back, and dressed in dark green leggings with a matching short skirt over them, and a matching tunic. She had a bright smile on her face and let go of Legolas' hand before she ran to her mother. Maldor did the same and ran towards Legolas. Maldamiriel wrapped her small arms around Aria and smiled up at her.

"Good morning nana," she said brightly. "Ada took me to the archery field this morning to watch the Elvin archers." Aria smiled at her daughter and put her hand on top of her head.

"Really? Tell me, how were they? Were they as good as your father?" she asked with a smile. Maldamiriel shook her head feverishly.

"No one in all of Middle Earth is as good as ada, but they were good." Aria laughed quietly as she kneeled in front of her daughter and tucked some of her stray hair behind her tiny pointed ear.

"I am glad you enjoyed your outing with your father," she said to her daughter. Maldamiriel smiled. "However, when will you spend time with me? I grow lonely for my daughter." Maldamiriel smiled and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck.

"When ever you wish it nana." Aria smiled and returned her daughter's embrace with a smile. She looked up and saw Legolas carrying a laughing Maldor in his arms as he walked to Aria. Aria scooped up Maldamiriel in her arms and walked towards Legolas. She smiled at him and kissed his lips tenderly as they held their children.

"Good morning Legolas," she whispered as she pulled away. Maldamiriel smiled at her mother and father, but Maldor stuck out his tongue and made a sick face.

"Good morning Aria," Legolas said with a smile. Maldamiriel sighed and laid her head on her mother's shoulder. Aria smiled and the four made their way to the dining hall where breakfast was waiting for them.

Soon, their morning meal was over and Maldamiriel and Maldor left for their daily lessons. As Aria sat her tea cup down she looked at Legolas. "Legolas, Maldor woke to a nightmare this morning," she said and Legolas looked at her with concern in his eyes.

"Did he tell you what it was about?" he asked and she slowly nodded.

"Yes, he told me of a pack of Uruks you and the children spotted being captured by patrolmen yesterday." Legolas stiffened slightly. "The Uruks haunted his dreams last night. Why did you not tell me of this?" Legolas reached over and took her hand into his.

"I did not want you to worry. The children were in no danger. I made sure of that." He gently squeezed her hand. "There were only four Uruks and they were easily handled. You know as well as I do that very few Orcs or Uruks remain. Most were destroyed when Sauron's tower was destroyed, but there are still a few bands that managed to escape. It has been six years since the war ended and nearly all are destroyed. There is no need to fear." Aria nodded.

"The world is no longer dark, and I do not want Maldor or Maldamiriel to have anything to fear." Legolas smiled and raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

"There will be nothing for them to fear, meleth nîn." She smiled at him and leaned over the corner of the table and kissed his lips deeply. Legolas raised his eyebrows and pulled her closer to him before he returned her kiss just as eagerly. Aria pulled away and took a deep breath as she slowly opened her eyes to find herself sitting on Legolas' lap and him smiling wickedly at her.

"Legolas," she said in a whisper. "We should ready because our guests will be arriving this afternoon." Legolas sighed.

"Aragorn and the others will not be arriving for several hours." He kissed her neck and she closed her eyes. Legolas stood with her in his arms. Aria gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck with her eyes wide and looking into his. Legolas smiled and kissed her nose. "The children are busy with their studies, and we have no obligations for at least four hours. Let us make the most of it." He kissed her briefly and Aria blushed as he carried her down the hall and into their bedchamber.

Aragorn rode into Ithilien with Eldarion in front of him. Arwen rode in a small carriage behind them as she held onto the newest addition to their family, Caladwen, their six month old daughter. "There is Ithilien, Eldarion, you have traveled here once before, but you were only Caladwen's age at the time," Aragorn said with a smile. Eldarion smiled up at his father and nodded before he looked back at the now great city and its large trees surrounding the homes. "You will get to meet some of my closest friends today, my son, so be on your best behavior."

"I will ada," Eldarion said and Aragorn ruffled Eldarion's hair slightly and smiled as they continued into the city.

"Nana, must I wear a dress?" Maldamiriel asked as Aria finished tying the lacings of her daughter's lavender dress.

"Yes, you must a wear a dress. The King and Queen of Gondor come to our fair city to visit with your father, Lord Faramir, Lady Éowyn, and the rest of us. You must dress like the young elleth you are," Aria said as she looked at her daughter's reflection in the mirror and smiled. Maldamiriel returned her mother's smile. "I know you prefer to wear leggings and tunics. I have to admit that I prefer them myself, but your father likes to see me wear the pretty dresses his mother and he had made for me so I wear them to please him, but there are times just like you where I insist on wearing leggings and tunics." Maldamiriel giggled and covered her mouth with her hand at the expression on her mother's face. Aria smiled and pulled the sides of her daughter's long dark hair behind her and tied it with a silver ribbon before she wove three small purple flowers into the binding. "There. Stand up so I may have a look at you, pen velui (lovely one)." She did as her mother instructed and slipped on her matching slippers before she twirled around for her mother. Aria smiled and clapped her hands happily. "You look beautiful my daughter." Maldamiriel smiled and bowed her head before she giggled once more.

"You look beautiful too nana," Maldamiriel said. Aria smiled and glanced down at her pale green and cream colored dress. There was silver embroidery on the gown in a swirl pattern on the hem of the dress that made it look like she walked through a pile of glitter that stuck to her dress. Her circlet sat upon her head as her hair was pulled away from her face. Aria looked at her daughter and held out her hand.

"Thank you, Maldamiriel, now let us join your father and your brother in the hall. I am certain they are waiting for us to go to Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn's home." Maldamiriel nodded and took Aria's hand before they found the two men in their lives standing near the door holding their cloaks in their hands. Legolas smiled at Maldamiriel and then his smile widened when he looked at Aria. Maldor helped his sister with her cloak and gave her a bright smile.

"You look very pretty Maldamiriel," Maldor said. Maldamiriel smirked at her brother.

"Don't get used to it," she said quietly. Maldor laughed.

"If nana had her way you'd be wearing a dress everyday." Maldamiriel stuck her tongue out at her brother and he laughed again. Aria smiled down at her children before she turned to Legolas and he helped her with her cloak.

"You both look lovely," he said as his eyes remained locked with Aria's and he fastened her cloak. "I am surprised you had enough time to ready, meleth nîn," he said to her through their link and Aria gave him a smile.

"You are lucky I had enough time," she replied and Legolas winked at her before he took Maldamiriel's hand. Aria smiled and took Maldor's hand and the four made their way through the city to Faramir and Éowyn's home to welcome Aragorn, Arwen, and their family to the city.