It had been two weeks since Aragorn's friends had arrived. He'd sent out inquiries into other villages and kingdoms to learn of any possible, unusual stirrings or troubles besides the horse problems.
Aragorn decided to head to the coast himself with Legolas, Eomer, Gimli, and Faramir to see for themselves if a war was brewing or if it was rumors. And if he could put an end to the mess before things got out of hand. He hated leaving Alasse, but he told her that he'd feel better if he knew for sure what they were dealing with. Alasse tried to be brave but cried a lot when he departed. She was grateful that Arwen and Tatsu were there with her. They were beautiful moral support.
Aragorn had been gone for over a week, and Alasse missed him all the time. She prayed they were safe and heading home soon. She was ashamed that lately she'd been unusually snappy and short-tempered with her friends and servants. Every time she was rude to them, she cried, feeling so guilty. Her anxiety grew every day that Aragorn did not return to Gondor. She'd nearly lost him the last time they had been separated so long, and she was having ugly flashbacks from that horrible time. She painfully remembered the torture Aragorn had been forced to endure under Merlyn's hand. What if someone was using the threat of war as a ruse to kidnap him again and use his rank as king to their advantage? Alasse would not rest until her husband was in her arms again.
In the mean time, Alasse's stomach had grown much larger in the short time Aragorn had been away. Just another three and a half months til that baby came out. It felt like forever though! "I don't know how I shall ever fit back into my regular gowns again!" Alasse told Tatsu one night as the nursemaid brushed her hair in bed and Alasse rubbed her hands over her belly.
"Oh, you will, love. I've seen it happen." Tatsu smiled.
"How did Lady Celebrian do it, carrying two of them? I am only carrying one! And...well, look at me!" Alasse declared.
"That can be quite common with the first-born children. You look like the very essence of life, child." Tatsu said wistfully. Alasse shook her head.
"I feel more like a water-logged feeding trough." She muttered.
"But just think of the child we shall meet! A lovely little boy, with your hair and his father's eyes. Your laugh and his father's calm voice."
"What if it is a girl?"
"Then I shall be just as happy, if not more so!"
"It's so unfair! Lord Elrond already knows, and he has only checked the baby once!"
"You could've asked him, you know." Tatsu scolded playfully.
"I know. But that would take away part of the bliss when we meet this child."
"You sound like your mother. That is exactly what she would've said. Yet, at the same time, you have your father's stubborn pride, trying to force yourself to not bend and ask Lord Elrond."
"I wish they were both here right now." Alasse said longingly. Tatsu squeezed her arm.
A few days later, one of the watchmen from the citadel came rushing to Alasse and Arwen in the great hall. "My lady!" He bowed.
"Gerald, what is it?" Alasse asked.
"The king has returned! He and his party are just outside the city gates!" Gerald announced happily.
Alasse cried in relief. Arwen hugged her. "They're alive! They're okay." She said. Alasse quickly wiped her eyes.
"I apologize, Gerald. I didn't intend to make a scene." She said.
"There is no need to apologize, my lady." Gerald replied with a knowing grin. "It does my heart good to see you smiling again."
"Thank you for informing me! You may leave." Alasse told him. Gerald bowed and left the room.
"Shall we go to greet them?" Arwen asked.
"I should like to meet Aragorn in the garden. Will you send him to me, please?" Alasse asked. Arwen smirked.
"Ahh, of course." She nodded.
"Thank you." Alasse nodded and started waddling her way through the halls to her and Aragorn's private garden.
Alasse would've been skittering to the garden, if her stomach was not in the way! She felt more happy than she had in days. Aragorn was back! "Your father is home, little one." She told the baby. "He's home! I am so glad. He shall join us soon."
Alasse was passing through one of the outer chambers to the tower that opened into the garden. She wanted to put some flowers in her hair and looked lovely for Aragorn when he came to meet her. He really liked when she wore flowers in her hair.
"Almost there, almost there." She told herself encouragingly as eagerly stepped toward the door.
Suddenly, everything happened so fast. Alasse felt as if something rough tugged around her ankle, and as she bent over to see what it could possibly be, she lost her balance and was unable to stop herself from stumbling! Next thing she knew, she was on the ground on her side. Her side really hurt and her shoulder burned. She lay there, gasping, trying to grasp what had just happened. Her hands went to her stomach as she tried to breathe through the stunning discomfort. "Wha-what happened?" She asked nobody. She tried to sit up or at least lean over so she wouldn't be on the ground but she could not raise herself from the cobblestone floor. Not now! Not when Aragorn was coming to see her.
"H-help! HELP!" She called out. She didn't want everyone to overreact and treat her like glass, but there was no way she was getting up by herself. "Someone, please help me!"
Three guards from the tower came rushing out of it and ran anxiously to her side. "My lady! Are you hurt?" They all asked at once.
"I need help getting on my feet." Alasse grimaced.
"No, no! Stay still, Your Majesty." One of them told her firmly.
"King Elessar has returned. He...he should be entering the citadel any moment now. Go...go find Lady Arwen, please." Alasse bit her lip. One of the guards dashed away.
"Your Majesty, are in pain?" Another one asked.
"It...it is nothing, I'm s-sure." Alasse said shakily. Her mind was sobbing with fear. My baby! Is my baby alright? Have I harmed our child? Is the baby alright?
"You! Fetch every healer in the kingdom!" The guard kneeling next to her told his partner. Alasse finally just let her head fall back on the ground. She clutched her stomach with white knuckles, more from fear than from pain. The guard offered her his hand and she squeezed so hard she was sure he was going to lose the blood flow from it.
"I'm sorry." Alasse wept.
"Think nothing of it, my lady. I am glad to be of service." The guard assured her. "Help is coming, and I'm sure the king is on his way."
Arwen arrived with the speed of an elfling on a sugar high. She quickly knelt at Alasse's side. "Alasse! What happened?!" She asked, panting.
"I...I do not know." Alasse shook her head. "Where is Aragorn?"
"Are you in pain?" Arwen asked, surprisingly calm although she looked anything but!
"A little." Alasse gulped.
"And the baby?" Arwen asked, gently running her hands around her friend's stomach, feeling for the infant and checking for injuries.
"I...I don't know!" Alasse wailed. At the mention of the baby, her fearful emotions stepped in and she could not stop the flow of frightened tears. Arwen channeled her inner spirit to reach the baby's, closing her eyes softly. Just then, Alasse felt a ruthless jab to her ribs. "Ahh!" She gasped. But at the same time, she welcomed it. Well, the child was definitely still alive!
"The child is breathing." Arwen said in relief. "Quick, fetch Erana!" She told the guard.
"Yes, Lady Arwen. And we have already sent for the other healers." He answered.
"Good."
"ALASSE!" Aragorn cried in panic when he saw her on the ground. Aragorn was normally frighteningly level-headed, even under the most dire danger. But this was not one of those times. His gray eyes were wide with fear. Although Arwen had insisted he stay back while she went to sort out the situation before he had a heart attack, several of Aragorn's faithful guards had been unfortunate enough to land in a heap on the ground as he'd whizzed passed them. He'd have to apologize for that later.
"Alasse! Speak to me!" Aragorn exclaimed when he reached her.
"You don't have to shout, Aragorn." Alasse groaned.
"Ohh. Darling, what happened?"
"I am not sure."
"The baby, can you feel the baby?" Aragorn panted, placing his hands on her large stomach. Alasse bit her lip as the child kicked her again.
"Yes!" She gritted her teeth.
"Are in pain, my love?"
"Not as much as the pain of everyone leaving me here on the floor instead of helping me to my feet!" Alasse snapped. Then she cried again for being so short-tempered. She was so happy Aragorn was here. But right now, he was on the verge of driving her mad, and she just wanted to be in a soft bed instead of the hard cobblestones. And everyone else seemed to be taking forever to help her off it!
"Alasse!" Legolas sputtered as he came into view.
"What in Durin's name happened here?!" Gimli huffed.
"Does nobody know how to really help a pregnant lady?!" Alasse wailed. "Get me off this floor! Please!" Aragorn could've kicked himself. He felt so stupid. Why wasn't his healer instinct kicking in?
"Legolas, please?" Aragorn asked pleadingly. Legolas nodded and hurried over. He and Aragorn carefully helped Alasse to sit up then, placing their arms around her waist and keeping hers on their shoulders, with Gimli pulling her hand, they brought her to her feet. "Can you walk, Alasse?"
"I think I can, but not without help." Alasse moaned. The child inside her was not happy with the turn of events and wanted to know what was going on.
"Aragorn, can we help?" Eomer asked.
"Could you bring a litter?" Aragorn told him. The words had hardly left his mouth when several guards appeared with one. Aragorn and Legolas helped Alasse lie down on it, then she was carried inside.
"I'm alright, Aragorn." She said, holding his hand. "I just need rest."
"Save your strength." Aragorn told her, his rough hand trembling.
"I'm not in labor." Alasse laughed, only slightly more calm now.
"You don't know that! Faramir, fetch every healer you can find!"
"Aragorn, Erana is on her way." Arwen told him calmly.
"Ohh, thank Eru!" Aragorn breathed.
My silly ranger, Alasse thought as she was carried inside. But she didn't know that Aragorn had very sound reason to seem less than sane in this moment after what he'd discovered on his travels!
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Faramir, Eomer, and several others were gathered on the grand staircase waiting for news on Alasse and the baby. Aragorn paced up and down like a caged animal. Gimli smoked more vigorously than usual. "I think we should check out the area where she stumbled." Eomer said, breaking the tense silence.
"What for? The lass unfortunately had an accident, a hazard that comes with her condition." Gimli sighed.
"That is true, but I feel the notion to check it out anyway." Eomer insisted. "Will you come with me, Gimli?"
"Ai." Gimli nodded.
"I shall stay here." Legolas said. Eomer nodded and walked down the stairs with the dwarf following. "She is not in labor, Aragorn." Legolas tried to keep his friend calm, although he was as worried as Aragorn was.
"And the child is still moving." Faramir added.
"Yes, I know." Aragorn said quickly. He had indeed learned some ill tidings on his venture to the South, and it had been burdening him all the way back. And just as he is about to set foot on his own doorstep, he comes home to find his pregnant wife hurt, when she has had no such incident through this entire pregnancy!
"Sit, Estel. You look rather sick." Legolas said.
"I can't sit down." Aragorn argued. He anxiously rubbed his face with his hands.
"Ahh. Erana." Legolas said softly. Aragorn turned and raced up the stairs to the female healer.
"Erana! How is my wife?" Aragorn flew to her, speaking breathlessly.
"She is resting. She's to be on strict bed-rest for at least two weeks." Erana said firmly.
"Is she alright? What about the baby?"
"The baby is alive, and well as far as I can tell. But that is why Alasse shouldn't be moved. I want her to stay still to be sure. Your wife sustained a bruised hip, a scrape on her shoulder, and some bruises on her belly. I have given her some cold compresses. I wish to remain here tonight to monitor her and the baby, just to be on the safe side."
"Thank you, Erana. I would appreciate that." Aragorn nodded. "I cannot understand it. She has not had a fall since she's been pregnant, even though I hover over her like a crazed Mother Hen!"
"Well, it is not unheard for even elves to stumble while carrying children. Though I would like to know what she tripped over when it happened so we do not have to go through this again."
"She tripped?" Aragorn straightened up.
"That is what she said."
"May I go see her now?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Tell Alasse I shall be up soon. I wish to see what Eomer and Gimli have discovered. Or haven't discovered." Legolas said. Aragorn bowed his head and hurried to see his wife. Legolas exchanged a concerned look with Faramir.
"Legolas, what are you thinking?" He asked seriously.
"I am thinking that Eomer's random urge to check the area where Alasse fell was not a much needed savior from boredom as I first thought." Legolas frowned.
"You mean, you think that-"
"I mean I think that we should join them."
Aragorn quietly stepped into their bed chamber. Alasse was lying in a reclining position surrounded by fluffy pillows. She had poultices on her right side. She was slowly stroking her belly. Arwen was sitting on the bed across from her and Tatsu was standing near the head of the bed. Arwen smiled when she saw Aragorn and stood up. "She's doing well, Aragorn. But I think the both of you need some quiet time to yourselves." She said.
"Thank you, Arwen. Tatsu." Aragorn agreed. The two elf maidens slowly shuffled out. Aragorn came to the bed and squeezed Alasse's hand as he leaned close to her. "Alasse...melleth nin. Oh, you really scared me!"
"It scared me too. Aragorn, is the baby okay?" Alasse asked anxiously.
"Yes, Alasse. Erana says our baby is still well." Aragorn nodded, stroking her hair and grasping her other hand on top of her stomach. Alasse cried.
"I was so afraid I'd killed our child!" She wailed.
"No, no." Aragorn kissed her face. "I am sorry this happened and that I wasn't standing with you to prevent it."
"I...I wanted to meet you in the garden. I was nearly there too, when something jerked my foot."
"What?!" Aragorn gaped at her, frowning with concern. "Something pulled you down?"
"I am not sure. I had almost reached the door when I felt something tug around my foot. I tried to look down to see what it was, and...that is when I fell." Alasse explained.
Aragorn clasped her hand tightly in his and leaned his head on her stomach, wrapping his other arm protectively around it. He was fighting off the urge to shed tears. His heart pounded in terror. Could it be? Alasse soothingly stroked his hair.
"It's okay, Estel. As long as the baby is alright, I will endure the bumps and bruises." She murmured.
"Alasse, I...I cannot bear to think of losing you, or our baby!" Aragorn told her. Alasse frowned at him. He wasn't usually so overly dramatic. Of course, that had changed when she became pregnant. But still, his agonized manner was unsettling.
"Aragorn, is something wrong?" She asked seriously. "Something has been eating away at you. Please tell me what it is! So that you do not need to bear it alone." Aragorn looked up at her fair face with pained gray eyes.
"Darling, I...just want you to be safe."
"You brought bad news back with you, didn't you?"
"I…"
"Aragorn!" Legolas barked as he flew into the room.
"Legolas!" Alasse glared at him. "You are lucky you found us mourning over this incident and not making love, or I would send you hog-tied back to Ada!"
"I apologize for barging in, but I must speak with Aragorn now." Legolas answered grimly, not firing back with any amount of humor.
Aragorn glanced up at Legolas questioningly. Legolas let his blue eyes bore into the ranger/king. Aragorn had a nauseating feeling in the pit of his stomach, and it wasn't from sympathy pains for his wife! "I will be back, Alasse." Aragorn said, softly kissing her stomach and then her forehead. He gave her hand one last squeeze before joining his brother-in-law.
"Legolas, what is going on?" Alasse asked seriously.
"We will tell you soon. But I must speak with Estel!" Legolas told her.
"That isn't very reassuring." Alasse hissed, shuddering. Something was wrong!
When Aragorn came out of the bed chamber, Legolas gripped his arm. "Not here." He whispered in Elvish. Tatsu and Arwen went in to see Alasse while Legolas dragged Aragorn down to the grand staircase.
"Legolas, what is it?" Aragorn asked worriedly.
"Estel, this is bad! Alasse's fall was no accident!" Legolas growled. Aragorn forced himself to breathe and squared his shoulders.
"What do you mean?" He asked lowly. Legolas tilted his head toward his friends. Eomer was standing there, holding...a rope!