Title: Taken

Author: Crimson Coin Aragorn yearns for the life he has left behind. But his desires are fulfilled in a way he never imagined.

Rating: PG13. R in later chapters

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters within. They are from the mind of Tolkien and are borrowed.

Archiving: Ask first, please.

NEW NOTE: Alright, so I came to the conclusion exactly what this is gonna be. Slightly AU, as you can already tell and I am taking some liberties in order to make my story work. I know Eowyn and Faramir are taking an important part of this story, but they are just as important as Arwen/Aragorn.

Eowyn smiled brightly, tugging a little harder on her husband's arm as they strolled through the marketplace of Minas Tirith. Her eyes casually scanned the vendors and all their goods, making sure her arm stayed protectively linked in his.

Faramir chuckled, amused at her display of possessiveness. "Do you fear that someone would steal me away?"

"Always," she answered, dryly, her tone giving no hint of jest. But after a moment's pause, she glanced up at him, a flicker of mischief hiding behind her eyes. "But I am deterring my own would be suitors, thank you very much."

He stopped, a huge grin on his face as he turned to her, grabbing her shoulders as he leaned down, his nose to hers. "Perhaps I should stake my claim then."

She placed her fingers against his lips, both silencing him and preventing him from his desire. "I am not so sure the people of this city would appreciate their Steward ravaging his wife so in the marketplace."

"Who said I would ravage her?" he breathed, closing the final distance for a soft kiss.

He touched her with nothing more than his lips, holding the kiss as long as he could and Eowyn felt her knees weaken at the fire he ignited within her at so gentle and intimate a gesture.

"I would never ravage you in public," he said, pulling back from her. "I would not want others to get any ideas. And I finally now see how stuffy the people of Gondor are. They would not appreciate such a rabid display of affection."

Her eyes flickered with desire and intimacy. "They may not. But I would not mind." Before he could respond or even honor her request, she continued walking through the market place, leaving a slack jawed Steward behind.

Faramir took a few moments to gather his wits. Her words had shocked him. True, his White Lady was never one to censor her thoughts nor her actions, though she never quite cared for flirtatious teasing. She always wished him to speak plainly and to cease talking in riddles. He considered his speech poetry, not riddles and it took some time for Eowyn to enjoy his compliments.

He quickened his pace, catching up with her and slipping his arm in hers. His heart burst with overwhelming affection when she looked up at him and smiled. Oh, her smile. He could sit down and write sonnets about the beauty of her smile, her eyes, her every feature. His revere slowly dissipated when he realized she was speaking.

"... never understand why. I never had this kind of attention in Rohan and to be honest, Dear Husband, I am not sure that I am fond of it."

Faramir shook his head. "I'm sorry, Love. What did you say? What are you talking about?"

"Are you not listening?" She quipped back, though her tone slightly scolding, her eyes still danced. "You are already good at blocking out the voice of a nagging wife."

"Nay, My Lady," he responded with a chuckle. "I was too engrossed in your beauty." He leaned down, his lips near her ear so he could whisper only to her. "I am always engrossed in your beauty, my Beautiful Shieldmaiden."

Eowyn's smile brightened as she turned her head slightly, her voice matching his hushed tone. "Maiden no longer."

"Indeed not. Maiden no longer. But you are still my Shieldmaiden. My Wild Rohirrim Wife. My Love whose beauty exceeds that of Lúthien herself." He reached out, stroking his fingers along her cheek then through her silken gold locks. "My Untamed, Free Spirited Warrior. My ..."

"Hold your tongue," she chided with a laugh. "I fear you drown me with such undeserved compliments, My Lord."

"Only if you inform me of your troubles."

Eowyn's eyes carefully scanned the area around them. "It is the ever present guards that follow our every step. I wish for freedom."

"Then my Lady shall have it. Do you still wonder why I had brought my old Ranger's cloak?"

She glanced down at the ragged green cloak in his arms. "I must admit, I think it odd that you have brought it, hid it from these guards as best you could and abandoned your usual cloak."

"You shall see, My Beautiful Wife. Do you trust me?"

She smiled. "Always."

"Then fear not. Simply do as I do, and as I say."

She watched as he straightened tall, his eyes searching the market place. Almost impatient, he looked carefully, hoping to find the distraction he needed. Eru must have been smiling on him that day.

Faramir pointed across the market. "Guards, there. That woman. Stop him."

The guards, alarmed, immediately obeyed their Captain and raced to the woman he pointed at, continuing after the man who was walking away. One of the guards grabbed the lanky man, yanking him around to face him. "What do you think you're doing? You were caught taking money from that young woman."

"What?" The smaller man shivered, his eyes widened in fear and confusion. "I ... I did not. I did no such thing."

That same woman raced to the guards. "No, stop. What are you doing? Leave him alone."

The guards, unsure of her reaction, released the man though kept the two surrounded. "This man was spotted stealing."

"He did not," the woman rebutted, her eyes demure but her tone strong. "This is my betrothed. I know he put his hand in my skirt pocket but he didn't take anything. He ..." the woman blushed furiously. "He ..."

The man bowed his head too, stepping next to the woman and wrapping his arm around her waist. His hand slowly caressed the woman's waist then down her hip.

The guards seemingly understood at that moment and some of the younger one's couldn't keep the ridiculous smiles off their faces. The head guard only shook his head. "Let's get back to Lord Faramir." The guard's face fell. "Where's Lord Faramir?"

Eowyn chuckled when Faramir quickly grabbed her hand, ducked down and swiftly maneuvered through the throng of people. She couldn't believe they were skulking about their own city in a desperate attempt to be alone. "They're calling you, My Love." She said with a laugh.

"I know, My Dear. And I wish to be completely out of their sight." He pulled her into one of the side alleys and threw her against the wall.

Her back hit the wall with force and she was unsure at his sudden actions. He wasted no time, draping his tattered cloak over his shoulders and clasping it around his neck.

He pulled the hood up, hiding his hair and partially covering his eyes. He did not miss the flicker of want that crossed his wife's face, nor the way she licked her lips with hunger. He licked his own lips. "And now, My Dear Eowyn, I'll teach you how to disappear."

Her breath caught in her throat as he stepped closer and she shivered as his arms band around her, draping the cloak over both of them as he pinned her to the wall. Her eyes widened, her heart racing as he leaned down, ensuring he encased her completely from view. She licked her lips again when he lifted her cloak's hood, draping it over her head to hide her a bit more as well.

"Find him! If anything happened to him, I'll have your heads!"

Faramir smiled at his guard's voice but he cared not. How could he when such a delicious woman stood before him, her body flush against his and her hands slipping beneath his cloak to roughly caress his back through his deep green cloth tunic. He inched closer still, his lips hovering over hers. "Within a few seconds, the guards will run by and ..." he trailed off, his lips tweaking with a winning smile.

Eowyn leaned even further into him. "Then perhaps we should ... disappear?"

"I agree," he breathed, his lips brushing over hers. "My Lovely Wife." He pressed his lips to hers, his hands traveling over soft curves, ensuring his cloak still encased her. He moaned when she responded with vigor, coaxing his lips apart and he desperately accepted the deep sensual kiss she offered.

She sighed into his mouth, leaning further into him, her body caving with the rush of tenderness and desire that flowed through her veins. Her knees buckled and she yearned to rake her fingers through his hair. But she resisted, knowing he needed the hood to hide them.

He moaned again as he titled his head a little further, his tongue tangling with hers in such a gentle yet still passionate kiss. His heart melted, his body surging with the unyielding pleasure she always offered. It shocked him sometimes how her kiss was so unlike her personality. His wild White Lady of Rohan, uncaged, free, full of life and passion. Yet her kiss was always tentative, soft, unsure. So self conscious, even frightened.

No matter how many kisses they shared, no matter how many times they had consummated their love, she never regained confidence. She remained as tentative and nervous as their first kiss. It was as if every kiss was her first. And he loved her for it.

"Such a wonderful kiss," she mumbled into his mouth, panting on his parted lips as they stayed as such, breathing each other. "Did they pass?"

Faramir nodded, his breathing ragged as he tried his best to control himself.

Eowyn smiled, teasingly brushing her lips along his. "My Love, I thought you said you would never ravage your wife in public."

He chuckled, caught and found out. "I apologize, My Lady, if I have indeed offended you."

She cocked a single brow, teasing him in every way she knew how. "In truth, My Lord, I accept your apology. But it is also quite hot standing here wrapped in two cloaks with my husband before me. I fear it is very unbecoming of me to appear so."

Faramir smiled. "Then let us return home. It is almost dusk." He linked their arms, tossing the hood back so the breeze could caress his face. He pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead before leading her back out into the streets. "I must admit, Eowyn, that when you kissed me in the garden earlier, I did not expect you to wish me to accompany you to the markets. I assumed you had something ... different ... in mind for us."

"Nay, I missed you, My Lord," she answered with confidence. "It has been long since we could spend time together like this. I wished for your company."

He was about to respond when loud shouting echoed behind him. Curious, he turned and his eyes widened as he quickly grabbed Eowyn and spun her out of the street against a building.

Arwen, though managing to be careful, did not slow her horse as she raced up the road to her home. She did not notice the looks people flashed, nor the concerned Steward and his wife to the side. But she knew her husband was following behind her and she was in no condition to face him.

Aragorn wished to call his wife, wanted to scream her name, praying she would listen and slow down. But he could not do that. Whether out of respect for her or the formalities of the Gondorians, he did not know.

Faramir wrapped a protective arm around Eowyn, pulling her against him to ensure she would not be injured by the rushing pace of the King and Queen. Once the two horses had galloped passed, he turned to the woman at his side. Reaching out, he touched her cheek, his eyes searching hers. "Are you alright? I did not jostle you, my Love."

"I am fine," she responded swiftly, waving off his concern for her. "Was that Ar ... the King and Queen?"

He nodded. "That is who I saw. What think you?"

"I think there are problems. And I think we should be returning to the castle with great haste."

"I agree," Faramir answered then grabbed her hand, swiftly walking back up to the castle. "You speak to Arwen. I will find the King."

"What do I say?" she asked, a hint of worry in her tone. "I am not one for comfort. I am not the healer with words of comfort. I am not skilled with such gifts."

"You are skilled, My Love." He responded. "Arwen, though she may be angry, is still an Elf. If her anger is with someone else, surely she will not vent that anger on you. And anyway," he glanced back over his shoulder at her. "You pulled me back from the shadow. If you have been able to give me hope ..." he sighed.

She smiled, flattered though the worry still raced through her heart. "My Lord, what I have done for you, I still do not understand." She stopped, tugging on his hand so he would stop too. "I know not how to comfort. I am a warrior, a Shieldmaiden. I am not one for speech."

He cupped her face, pulling her towards him and he placed a warm kiss on her brow. "You will be fine. But from the look of Aragorn when he raced passed us ..."

"Yes, yes," she said quickly, grabbing his hand as she ran back to the castle. "We must hurry.

Eowyn quickened down the corridors of the palace, desperate to reach the Queen's rooms before Aragorn. If her husband had succeeded, the King was probably in his study to discuss the recent events. Panting delicately, she bustled up the final set of stairs.

Two guards stood tall and stone-like at the end of the hallway. Slowing her pace to a leisurely stroll, she approached the two men. "Is the Queen in her chambers?"

"My Lady," the guards addressed then bowed in respect. "Aye, the Queen is in her chambers but she had requested no audience."

"This is important personal business." Eowyn said, simply. "I shall tell her that you did not wish to physically restrain the Steward's wife for it would have been most improper. I shan't be long."

Before the guards could respond, she entered the door, closing it quickly behind her and flicking the lock. She didn't want any unnecessary intruders. Gathering her wits, she turned.

The fire burnt warm in the hearth; candles illuminated the corners and shadows of the room. There was no light from the bedchamber nor the bathing room. But the balcony blinds were drawn.

With a nod, Eowyn approached the small balcony, not surprised when she found the Queen.

Arwen sighed, placing her hands on the stone balcony as she leaned over to see the bustling streets below. Her head hung, her shoulders slumped. This was not the Elven Queen anyone knew. "Why have you come?"

Her calm voice broke Eowyn from her thoughts and she nervously licked her lips. "Faramir and I were in the streets of the city when you raced by. We were quite worried. It was unlike you ... if I may be so bold."

A bitter chuckle escaped the Queen and she only shook her head. "I have not been myself lately. I ... bother not."

"Nay," Eowyn persisted, stepping a little closer. "Do tell me, My Lady, for I may understand. Though I do not have your wisdom, I do find ourselves in similar positions at this moment."

Arwen turned, her deep eyes swirling with the current of oceans. "You are out of place."

Eowyn bowed. "I am sorry," she responded, her voice shaking slightly. "I did not wish to offend you. I only wish to help."

Again, Arwen sighed. "Nay, I am sorry. It seems as if I can not control my emotions and I know not why." She paused a long moment, her eyes drifting over the city and then out to the mountainous horizon. "Perhaps it is being mortal. But never before have I felt such fires and I know not how to control them. I did not think that my decision would result in this catty inability to control myself."

Eowyn chuckled, holding a hand up when the Queen seemed angered. "Nay, I do not laugh at you. I laugh at myself. I have never controlled such emotions. I see no need to. That fire is how I know that I am alive. When the fire within me suffocates, so then I know that I must be dead."

"For you ... perhaps," Arwen said, her voice unwavering, her control returning. "But this fire you speak of is not a fire that burns within me."

"My Lady ..."

The Queen shook her head. "We speak intimately, yet you address me so. Nay, in private company, Dear Eowyn, call me Arwen."

Eowyn smiled. "Arwen, then if you would bid me to speak as myself and not the respectable Gondorian I am to be in court."

A genuine smile on her face, the Queen nodded. "I hear you like to speak plainly. Then you may always do so in my company."

Eowyn released a sigh of relief. "I believe what frustrates you is the same of that which frustrates me." She glanced around the city. "I hate this place."

At the admission, Arwen bowed her head, unrelenting to speak of her heart.

"It is so cold, so uncaring. There is no fire, no passion. There is no carefree thought, no freedom. This place is a cage, a prison. And if it is a prison to the Wild Lady of Rohan, I do believe it would be a cage to an Elf of Rivendell."

Arwen did not respond at first. How odd that one could so easily read her. She was not sure if she approved or was frightened by Eowyn's quick perceptions. "Indeed."

Eowyn's eyes brightened. "Then Faramir told me we were going to live in the forests of Ithilien and I could be free." She sighed. "I do not fair well here. I am not made for this kind of life."

"Did you hold Aragorn dear to your heart?"

Eowyn's smile fell from her face, her expression one of horror. Her face paled and she licked her lips. "I ..."

Arwen kept her gaze straight, eyeing the sky. "I have heard stories." Calm, reserved, the Queen turned to face Eowyn. "I do not hold you at fault. I just wish to know."

Refusing to show weakness, Eowyn straightened, her head high and shoulders square. "I had loved Elessar once. Though now remembering back, it was more infatuation. He represented freedom to me. He could take me away from Edoras and the corruption and the pain. I sought refuge not love. I see that now."

"And Faramir?"

"What of him?" Golden hair brushed across Eowyn's face and she quickly wisped it away. "He is my husband. I am afraid I do not understand your questioning. You have directed this conversation away from you and onto me. I do not love Elessar, if that is the answer you seek."

"As easily as you read me, I can see you." Arwen said slowly. "I am happy here. I do not see this as a cage or a prison. Yes, I miss the forests but with Aragorn, I can ignore my need for that land. I ignore the call to the sea and my desire for my family. The fire you speak of, from within, does burn inside of me but only when it comes to my Estel."

Assured that she was being attacked, Eowyn clenched her jaw.

"My control broke today. I snapped at a young boy who did naught wrong. He only did what he was instructed and I see now that with Aragorn's position, we have no private life. I said many things I should not have and now Estel knows my thoughts. I fear for what he will do."

"I do not understand. What is this to Faramir and I?"

"It is not that I am unhappy here," Arwen continued. "Yes, I do miss the forests and I know the King will do everything he can to bring me solace. But I am frustrated because of the wariness I am approached with. I know many nobles speak of me behind closed doors and do not approve of our marriage. Yet I have also heard them speak of you. And speak of your love for Aragorn and your marriage to the Steward instead."

Eowyn's eyes flashed with a wave of understanding. "They would have had me marry him in your stead."

Arwen nodded slowly, her eyes springing with sadness though no other expression revealed sorrow. "Though they would have preferred a noble woman of Gondor, of his same race. Even you are not of the race of the man you married. But I feel they would have preferred you to me."

"I shall speak plainly to you," Eowyn stated. "A part of me will always love Aragorn. He healed me. He showed me what it is to be free. I saw freedom in his eyes and he showed me that one can be free despite the confines of sorrow and despair. He never gave up hope, he never fell into the pain and betrayal that surrounded us all. I love him as my King. But my heart belongs to Faramir."

"Yet you are imprisoned?"

"It is these walls that are my cage," Eowyn admitted. "These confines of life that I never knew."

"And are you certain that Ithilien will bring you the reprieve you seek?"

"Aye."

Arwen stepped closer, placing a soft comforting hand on Eowyn's shoulder. "You see Minas Tirith as a prison. Are you sure it is not marriage ... it is not Faramir that you see as a cage?"

Eowyn's eyes narrowed, her body tense at such an accusation. "Why say you such wretched things?"

"Because if it were false, you would not feel anger at their statement."

Eowyn made no response. Could the Queen be right? Did she see Faramir as a cage, a prison? Was it marriage that had locked her away? Thinking back over the last months with Faramir, even before their marriage, Eowyn recalled their words. His romantic wiles and poetic verse. The words 'I love you' rolled often from his tongue and yet she had never returned them.

She had thought she loved Faramir. There was no reason she should not. Faramir loved her so of course, she would love him. He certainly was a handsome man, but was that the only reason she desired him? No, that could not be. She loved Faramir ... at least she thought she did.

"Faramir, would never cage me," Eowyn responded. "I am free to my whim and he would not stop me. He knows I need to be free. That is why I wed him. I knew he would let me be free."

Arwen nodded, slowly. "I never meant to place doubt in you, Eowyn. I just wish for you to understand."

Eowyn's eyes, cold and hard turned on the Queen. "I fear I do not understand why you placed this doubt in me."

"Because if you doubt, then there can not be love."

Eowyn quickly shook her head, vicious in her attempt to clear her mind of such swirling thoughts. "I did not come here to be placed on a pedestal to be examined. I came here with intentions of comforting you and yet I take your leave with only confusion, doubt and heartache. Good night, Your Majesty."

Arwen watched with saddened eyes as the young Rohirric woman took her leave. The Elven Queen slowly shook her head. "By Eru, may you see the happiness you possess before it is too late."

Sighing, Arwen walked back into her chambers, rearranging her riding clothes, ensure they were tied snug. Picking up her cloak, she swung it around her back, fastening it carefully at the neck. Searching the room, she cursed herself for not taking her dagger from Aragorn and so instead, found his resting on one of the chests in the corner.

Fastening the dagger to her belt, she picked up the Elven short sword her brothers had made for her many years ago and held fast to the leather sheath. Moving quite silently, the Queen slipped from room and stopped in front of the guard outside her chambers.

The guard offered her a most curious look then cocked his head. "Your Majesty?"

Arwen licked her lips, stilling the nerves rising within her. "Tell none what you see."

"But my Lady, the King ..."

"Tell him not," she said, her voice leaving no room for doubt and to ensure her point was made, she looked at the two other guards placed by her door. "Tell none. I wish to be alone."

The guards nodded as the Queen whisked down the hallway, her cloak fluttering with her hastened steps. The younger guard glanced to his superiors. "Should we inform the King?"

The guard in charge shook his head. "I will not disobey my Queen. She wishes for privacy. We shall let her have it. In one hour, we will tell him of her departure."

The younger guard nodded. "We allow her the time to escape but still we can let the King know as quickly as possible." His eyes darted back and forth between the two other guards. "And who would tell the King?"

The two older guards smiled. "Why, you, Buryn, of course."

Buryn swallowed hard, his young face paling at the prospect of telling the King of the Queen's departure especially after a one hour delay.

The head guard turned to the other beside him. "Take a party of two and follow her. Stay far enough behind that perhaps she does not know of your presence. It would be on my head should something befall her under my watch."

(Can anyone see where this is going? Read and review please. I love to know what everyone thinks.)