Authors Note; Heya guys & sorry for the long wait - I just can't seem to write lately! Anyway, here's what I managed to muster up, and again, a special thanks to my reviewers:-) You guys are so sweet! The last chapter and this may be kinda short, but they'll get longer - promise:-) And also, it hopefully won't take so long for me to update with the next chapt. I've done some lil updates on my writings in progress which you can find under 'Teasers' on my bio page... Oh, and just before you read below, just wanna add that I've written this (and all my fics) with the movie characters in mind,so when I feature Aragorn, picture his/Viggo's (fab!) face and hear his (fab!) voice from the films, as with the rest of the people that'll pop up. And it may be worth noting that Eldarion is as in the vision in 'The Return of the King' also - he's so adorable! LOL! NEway, here is the first chapt. of my latest fic! All the best 'til again and hugs in advance to my reviewers... (Here's your 2nd part Grumpy! )
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Chapter 1 – The Birthday Breakfast
Though the tired King had hoped for a seamless, quiet breakfast, it was little surprise that the royal breakfast was somewhat more chaotic than usual. It was always eventful having 3 young children to watch, but today had a young boy's energies surging with excitement added to the table.
"But I don't have to eat it, Naneth – you even said I was a big boy now!"
"Perhaps I did," Arwen admitted, adjusting her seat, "but that does not mean you can pass breakfast when the notion takes you. Your father is much older than you, and even he must eat in the mornings as the rest of us do."
For once, the trick of being compared to his father did not work, and Eldarion proceeded to plead his case, "But I'm not hungry. And I so much to attend today!"
"Darling, you shall not be able to attend to any duty with an empty tummy! And worry not - eating breakfast will not get in the way of you 'attending' to the playground outside."
"A breakfast is the most important meal of the day, ion-nin (my son)," Aragorn said, reaching for the berry jam, "The reason why I am big is due to my eating of breakfast."
The perhaps heightened theory seemed to please Eldarion for only a second, and the wisdom he was now acquiring with age came to be of use, "Uncle Gimli eats lots of breakfast, and he is not big!"
"Yes, but Uncle Gimli is a dwar….."
"And what about Master Samwise? And Master Merry….and Master Pippin! He ate two breakfasts when he stayed here last!"
"If Eldarion is not having any breakfast, neither am I!" Elraen stated, dropping her spoon.
"Or me!" the youngest child added, folding her small arms in protest. Sadriel was never to be outdone by her older siblings.
The stone room was momentarily quiet as the King and Queen observed the small mutiny around the dark wood table. Their children were a stubborn bunch when they decided to be, and as they rigidly remained loyal to one another, they proved strong opposition. But in such case, so to were their parents.
"We are of men and they of other breed. But unless all of you want to become as small as Uncle Gimli or the Hobbits, I suggest you eat your oatmeal," Aragorn teased in effort to coax them, "Or do I need to feed you all directly?"
In proving he was no longer a little boy, the Prince picked up his spoon in reluctant defeat, and after an exaggerated sigh, he sharply drove it into his bowl. "When I am King, I can banish breakfast!" he muttered.
"And we shall see how long you remain King after that!" Aragorn smiled in amusement, cutting his slice of bacon. As much as his son seemed to pretend and know about becoming a King, he had so much yet to learn, such as food being a key to pleasing not only Hobbits, but often the greed of men.
Whilst settling to enjoy a nice hot sausage, Aragorn glanced around the large table to see the family return to their plates. His wife was contently indulging in her bread and cheese. The clatter of Elraen and Eldarion's spoons tipping off of the ceramic bowls could be heard and it was clear that they consumed their cereal. However, a third 'clang' was void and the King found his youngest sitting still and sullen in her chair.
Confused as to why she had not accepted the possibility of becoming a hobbit or a hairy dwarf as threatened by him, Aragorn could think of no reason as to why she abstained from breakfast. No one else seemed to notice, and he had little choice but to inquire. "Sadriel, is there something the matter with your food?"
It took sometime for her to answer as she firstly just blinked at her plate. Her cheeks had turned crimson and her watery eyes glistened. "I want a birthday," she then answered in a pout.
There was a short quiet in the stone room as everyone now noticed the minor hiccup.
"How silly you are, Sadriel! Everyone has a birthday!" Elraen scoffed matter-of-factly. It was hard having the most sense out of the three and often found herself answering her siblings' questions and worries.
"No one is silly, Elraen," Arwen interceded, gently reminding the younglings to respect one another. If she taught them nothing else, she taught them to respect themselves and others. The Elven culture had majorly based much of it's philosophy on such ideas and it was apart of her people in which she hoped to pass to her children. It would not prove easy, however.
The little girl was not satisfied with her sister's given answer and as always, it seemed she had to press on for more. "Can I have it tomorrow then?"
As the baby, Sadriel had been the object of most attention. It was never intentional to spoil her, but it was hard to avoid. However, the couple did their best to ensure that each of the children were treated equally fair. "I assure you daughter, you will have one very soon," he comforted, pushing his chair out from the table, "but today is your brother's day. Come, sit with me and let me help you with your breakfast."
The toddler jumped from her chair to her father's inviting knee. With small fingers tightly gripped around the delph rim, she presented him her plate before she was lifted to her new high seat. "Will I have a party?" she enthusiastically asked.
"Certainly, and lots of presents!" Aragorn answered, feeding her a spoon of her meal, "Just as your brother will receive lots of surprises today."
The birthday boy's face lit up upon hearing the last of his father's sentence. A 'surprise' had always meant something good to his knowledge, "You have got me a present, Ada?"
Aragorn looked to the Queen with a smile before turning back to his son, "Of course – and you shall receive it only after you finish your breakfast."
After his breakfast! He could hardly bear the wait for the five minutes it would take to finish the cereal. "Is it a sword?" the lad guessed in excitement, pretending to weild such a gift in the air and cheekily aimed toward his sister across form him.
Resuming to his plate, the King immediately knew of his mistake. There was no possible way for him to eat in comfort now, and if anything, Eldarion's manner only grew more active. "You may have to wait another six birthday's for one of thos….."
"Is it a small sword then!"
"It is not any sword, but that is all I'm telling you. It is a surprise. Now, eat your breakfast and you shall receive it all the sooner. Let us all eat in peace until then."
Aragorn may as well not have spoken. Eldarion was not to recieve a sword for his birthday, but it did not dishearten his pretend combat using only the thin air. His small arms spun around as he imagined he were fighting in a battle, continuing to use his sister's postion as his target.
Not one to tolderate someone invading her space, Elraen lost no time in expressing her annoyance, "Ada, Naneth...tell Eldarion to stop! He is acting wild around me!"
"Cease, my son...you know better than to proke your sister," the King said casually, having grown somewhat indifferent to such common situations.
He was probably to regret taking Elraen's complaint so lightly as Eldarion dismissed his father's lightweight attempt to settle him and the young boy continued in his mental fight. Then moving forward to kneel and heighten himself on the chair, Eldarion's moves grew more swift and elabourate. Eventually satisifed with his developments, he was now ready to finalise the enactment. With a last quick gesture, he sharply drove both hands forward in a stabbing action, as if he himself were stabbing an enemy. However, his hands moved maybe too soon and Eldarion managed to spill a near-full jug of fresh cold milk down on top of his sister.
Jumping with the sudden impact, Elraen gasped in annoyance and shock. Raising her hands and brows, she could at first only stare at the mess in which her brother made. "See what he has done," she exclaimed after catching her breath, "My dress is ruined!...You are more beastly than a Warg, you..."
"Son, I had asked you to cease - why must you be so boisterous? I find it hard to believe you are a boy of six. Apologise to your sister and fetch a cloth," Aragorn sternly commanded, eyeing his son in dissapointment.
Eldarion realised the upset he had caused and dared not to answer his father back, nor justify that the spill was unintentional. Wanting to regain some status as a big boy, he did as he was told. After the cleaning and his 'sorry', he sat quiet.
"Now," Aragorn wearily said, looking to those around him, "Let us please finish in peace."
For only a second, no sound of young voices echoed against the stone of the walls. The King's order was obeyed and Gondor's Royal family consumed their morning meal. That is, until the large heavy doors of the room opened. It was that of an adult voice which broke the silence.
"Your Majesty, Lord Legolas of Ithilien and Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves approach from the South-West," came the Royal Guard's announcement.
As soon as he had finished, the children hastily brushed past the stiff, uniformed man, gladly leaving empty seats behind.
"I believe there goes your efforts and plan for a successful breakfast Sire," Arwen teased, taking another bite of her dry bread in hope that it would hide her laughter.