This is a new story I thought of while listening to "Another Day in Paradise," by Phil Collins. And then my evil plot bunny attacked and expanded my original idea far past recognition. =) Enjoy!
Aragorn waved to Gandalf, Elrond, and the Hobbits as they continued on toward Rivendell. He hated the idea of parting from them, as he had a feeling, he would never see some of them again. Finally, though, he turned away with a sigh and forced a smile. "Let's go."
It was a very long ride back to the White City, but it gave him a chance to get to know his personal guards better than was possible in the formal atmosphere of the palace. One man, he learned, had three young children. He promised that one a week of vacation when they arrived. Most of the others, though, were young and unwed.
It was September 22 that they actually reached the place Aragorn now called home and as he rode through the winding streets, he recalled that the entire quest had begun on that very date many years ago when Bilbo left his ring to Frodo. Very few could detect his melancholy as he rode past however. He had put on a smile and waved genially at his gathered subjects. There was one, though, who saw through his mask, for she too recognized the date for what it symbolized. Her smile was just as cordial as his as she rode beside him, but she made up her mind to do something special for him.
Arwen went to her room as soon as she could politely leave. Aragorn believed that he she gone merely to bathe after the long journey, but as soon as she was out of sight, she sent for several servants, whom she sent off on various tasks. As she reached the level where the bedrooms of the royalty, and the stewards, were located, she found Faramir standing at the top of the stairs.
"You sent for me, my Lady?" He asked. He had grown to love the queen and so did not mind the urgent summons.
She smiled. "Don't worry. It's nothing too serious. However, it is Frodo's birthday and marks the anniversary of the day he first received the Ring. Elessar remembers and is rather saddened, I believe, because of the hurts that befell the hobbit as a result. So I was hoping you could arrange a way to get my husband out of the way for a while so I could set up a party without him noticing.
A/N Okay, this is not how I originally planned this fic. But consulting the timelines, I figured that the only way to get my storyline straight, was to start here and this story came out. I hope you enjoy and I will try to have another chapter out soon.