Third Person POV
It had been five months since they had left the white city and Aragorn was desperate to get home, something akin to uneasiness had been growing in his mind these past weeks and he had just last night announced to Faramir that they would be leaving for Gondor within the week.
"My lord," Aragorn looks up from sharpening his sword as one of the scouts approaches him immediately alert.
"What news?" he asks wincing internally at the tightness in his own voice as he does so,
"Messengers from Gondor are approaching," the scout replies and Aragorn feels his entire body tense as thoughts of Peyson race through his mind. He is on his feet and moving towards the messengers before they have even reached the camp and by the time they dismount and hand him the letter they have he is almost frantic. He retreats to his tent on shaky legs and once alone sinks heavily onto the ground and with shaking fingers opens the letter, his heart stuttering as he reads the words.
Aragorn,
You must return home immediately. We have spoken at length of the bond you share with your wife but it is only now coming to light just how strong and dangerous this bond is. I believe that being apart from you is killing her and she has this morning fallen into a deep sleep that she cannot be awoken from.
She is fading Aragorn, I fear that the only hope we have for her survival is in you returning as quickly as possible.
He lets out a choked sob as he re-reads the words and Faramir who had been waiting outside the tent rushes in immediately, fear for his own wife and city plastered across his face.
"My King… Aragorn, what has happened?" he asks desperately and Aragorn looks up passing the other man the letter and flinching at the intake of breath from the younger soldier. "We leave now, the others can follow behind us, we can be home in less than a week if we ride hard," Faramir says and Aragorn nods trying to gain control of his emotions as Faramir leaves to tell the army and prepare the horses.
"I'm coming my love, hold on," he whispers into the silence of the tent before standing and strapping his weapons to him leaves the confines of the tent and moves quickly towards Faramir and the horses.
By the time the two warriors arrive at Minis Tirith they are both exhausted and Aragorn is frantic with worry, his entire body humming with fear as they ride through the levels of the city, barely registering the cheers of those who see that their king has returned.
"Faramir," they both swing round and jump down from their saddles as they hear the cry and in a blur of movement Eowyn throws herself into Faramir's arms, his own closing tightly around her causing Aragorn's heart to constrict painfully.
"I have missed you my love," he whispers to her and she tightens her grip even as tears of joy pour down her cheeks they are mingled with those of worry and grief.
"Peyson… she…" her voice is faltering and quiet but Aragorn and Farmair both stiffen immediately,
"Where is she? Where is my wife?" Aragorn almost shouts, aware that he is being far too harsh in his speech and he sees this as both of them flinch in front of him but he cannot bring himself to regret it such is his panic.
"She is in your rooms, we cannot wake her," she says before having to run to keep up with him as he sprints towards his rooms and his love.
Crashing through the door he feels the air knocked completely from his lungs as he tries to take everything in. She is lying motionless on their bed, pale and thin save for the noticeable bump. His legs fail him then as he sinks to his knees beside her, his hands trembling violently as he reaches out to her.
"She is…" he chokes out as he senses someone in the doorway,
"The baby is healthy as far as I can tell, she has sacrificed her health to keep it safe," Marriana replies as she approaches him and rests a hand on her forehead.
"Why did no-one… why did she say nothing in her letters?" he asks hoarsely, unaware of the tears making steady tracks down his face.
"She knew you would return and that your duty was too important and I believe that she felt guilty," the woman sighs and he looks up then in confusion.
"What could she have to feel guilty about?" he asks and she smiles sadly even as she now begins to wipe the queens brow with a damp cloth.
"She let you go too easily, she felt that it was her duty to go and fight not yours but she allowed you to go and didn't really understand why until her pregnancy was revealed, something in her already new and she protected the child even subconsciously. I think that she believes that she sacrificed you for the child and the guilt has been eating her up," and he chokes on another sob at these words as Mariana graciously leaves them and he crawls onto the bed beside her, pulling her gently into his arms and burying his head in the crook of her neck as he weeps.
"Oh my brave and stupid little one," he cries holding her more tightly, "please do not leave me, you must wake up and come back to me, I promise you that we shall never be apart again, that we shall stay beside one another for ever if you wake up," he whispers the words over and over again in both Westron and Sindarin as he continues to cry and eventually he drifts into an exhausted sleep with her held tightly in his arms.
Peyson's POV
"You have been here too long my friend it is time you returned home," Boromir sighs and I look up at him with a smile.
"I am not sure I know how," I say quietly and it is his turn to smile as he rests a hand on my forearm,
"You simply need to close your eyes and listen," he replies and so with a sigh I do, I close my eyes and concentrate on listening. For a while I hear nothing other than Boromir breathing beside me and my own heartbeat but then suddenly I hear whispering and so I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter and concentrate harder.
"I hear him, I hear Aragorn," I announce excitedly, my entire body relaxing as I hear his voice as if for the first time in forever.
"Good, now concentrate and go to him, and tell Faramir that I greatly approve of his choice in a wife, she is a strong and beautiful woman, tell him, tell them all that I am watching and I am proud," he says and I feel his lips on the top of my head even as my body begins to grow lighter as if it is being pulled into the air and drifting away in the breeze.
"Okay, I will, goodbye Boromir," I mutter and then my body is heavier again and I can feel aches I had forgotten about, hunger deep in my bones and movement in my stomach as well as strong arms around me but before I can work any of it out darkness takes me and I fall into what feels like the first real sleep I have had since before Aragorn left.
When consciousness finally begins to seep back into me I can feel someone shifting on the bed beside me and then movement and finally I hear voices too. I am too tired and weak still to open my eyes just yet but take some solace in the fact that I can at least feel and hear things properly again.
"She is breathing more evenly again and her heartbeat is stronger," thats Gandalf's voice speaking,
"Will she be okay?" the voice that replies sends shock and joy rocketing through me so quickly that I let out a little whimper. Aragorn, he is home, he is with me again. "I am here my love, it's okay, I'm right beside you," his voice soft and his breath warm against my ear.
"Aragorn," I manage to whisper, my fingers gripping his, where they held mine, weakly.
"Yes little one, I'm here," he repeats and I can hear the emotion in his voice.
"Boromir… he… I'm back," I manage, my words a whisper and I am aware they make hardly any sense but I do feel him tense as I mention our fallen friend and it is a long moment before anyone says anything.
"Rest melamin and sleep, I am not going anywhere, I will be here when you are ready to wake," he whispers.
"Do not leave her," I hear Gandalf say, "she grows stronger having you here but you must not leave her, I will have food and drinks brought here, you need rest also, I think she will be well but we must give it time," he finishes and I hear the door close quietly before the bed moves again.
"I am right beside you little one, forever, sleep now and regain your strength," he murmurs and I wince a little as I hear the exhaustion in his voice before finally relaxing into his embrace and letting sleep wash over me once more.