Chapter 23: Surprises

Two months after the wedding, I started to feel sick. I had no idea what was wrong with me and Aragorn worried over me at all times. It was starting to get annoying, even though I thought it was sweet that he cared for my well-being.

"Maybe we should go see Ada," Arwen suggested one day while Aragorn was dragged by Legolas to one of his meetings. He wanted to miss it to make sure I was alright, again. I wiped my mouth and drank some cold water, making sure the remnants of vomit was washed away. "You know he's in Lothlorien, so my grandmother could help you as well if needed."

"If you can get Aragorn to agree, I will," I replied with a small smirk, knowing my husband would not give in that easily. My Husband. I'm still slightly shocked that we are actually married. A frown graced her fair lips and her eyebrows furrowed, similar to her father's but not as deep.

"Alright. I'll do it. I have to get you to my father at any cost," my unofficial sister declared determined, with a sly grin forming on her face. I rolled my eyes before they widened again and I threw up, smelling today's lunch wafting from the kitchens. "If it's the last thing I do," Arwen murmured, before holding my blonde hair back and rubbing my back comfortingly.

"Absolutely not!" I heard Aragorn's voice echo throughout the hallway. Arwen asked him, that much was obvious. "She needs to see a healer! My father could help her, you know he could!" Arwen argued in reply. I rolled my eyes and laid my head back down on the pillow.

"She can not go traveling in these weather conditions! If she is sick she will only get sicker!" Aragorn told her sternly, walking quickly into the room where I waited with a fuming Arwen following.

"Then call him and my grandmother here! You can not figure out what is wrong with her so call for them!" "What about the healers here?" Arwen scoffed, "You have ten times the healing ability they do so quickly give up that option. Besides, I have already taken her to them. The young fools had no idea what was wrong with her." Lie. She just doesn't trust them with me. He eyed her suspiciously then rolled his eyes, giving up.

"Alright, I will send a messenger to Lothlorien as soon as I can," Aragorn said with a sigh. I weakly smiled and sat up quickly. I groaned and covered my mouth and stomach as Arwen rushed over, grabbing a bowl on her way. I retched without actually vomiting because I had already thrown up everything I ate. I saw Aragorn look away pale, trying not to be sick himself as a sad expression appeared on his face.

"Have you eaten anything at all today, love?" He asked, turning back to me when I finished. He walked over to me and stroked my hair. "Nothing that I have not thrown back up," I replied bashfully. A grim frown appeared on his face and he nodded his head once, agreeing with his own unshared thought before turning back to Arwen.

"You're right. I'll send for them now," was all he said before quickly walking out of the room.

"I told you I could get my brother to send for father," she replied slyly and I laughed the best I could as she helped me lay back down. She looked at me in thought for at least ten minutes before speaking again, "I'm going to get you some plain bread from the kitchens with a goblet of water to see if you can hold it down. If it works, at least then you wont be starved to death by the time my father and grandparents get here."

"Alright," I agreed and watched with weary eyes as she gracefully walked out of the room before closing my eyes for a quick nap.

When I woke, I saw a few slices of cheese and bread along with a glass of water waiting for me on a silver tray with a folded note. I opened and quickly read it, eagerly awaiting my lunch.

'Aranel,

These are for you. Feel free to eat what you want, but be careful and eat slow, you don't want to be sick again, do you?

Arwen'

I smiled at her thoughtfulness and ate hesitantly, not feeling like being sick after I had just woken. The door opened and my brother walked in with a smile.

"Good, you are up. We were getting worried and Arwen has been setting new plates with the same note out each day, hoping you woke up quickly," he said, grinning when he spoke about Arwen. I looked at him confused. Days? I thought I only fell asleep for a few hours.

"Yes, you have been asleep for days. Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, and Lord Elrond have already arrived. It seemed, when the met with the messenger half-way to Gondor. They were already heading here. Lady Galadriel said she saw something in her mirror," he explained. "Lord Elrond wouldn't see you unless you had woken. Finish your food -not fast, there's no rush- while I go get him."

I nodded and ate calmly, knowing my foster father would understand if I was still eating when he came. Surprisingly, I finished just as they came in, with Lady Galadriel following behind them.

~Congratulations.~ I turned my head to look at Lady Galadriel, knowing she was speaking to me. I looked confused but then shook it off, turning back to Elrond. "Legolas, I am sorry, but I would like you to leave the room," Lord Elrond said. "This could get personal." My brother and I shared a startled look but he nodded at the two and left.

*Good luck,* I hear him say to me as he left to go to Aragorn and Elrond's daughter, his soon-to-be wife. They would be married in July.

"Now, as I said to your brother, Aranel, these questions may get quite personal, but I need the answers to confirm what I think you have," Elrond said, then shared a secret smile with his mother-in-law. I nodded my head showing I understood.

"Alright, so your symptoms include: nausea and vomiting, strange food cravings, drowsiness, and a larger appetite. Am I correct?" I nodded, swallowing nervously. "Now for the other questions. May I ask when was the last time you had your menstrual period?"

My face flushed red but I answered slowly while trying to remember, "A week before the wedding, I believe..." Recognition hit me and I looked at the two shocked, "You think I'm with child!"

"Not think, dear one, know. We were already riding here because I had seen it in my mirror. I had called Elrond with my husband and I to make sure, just in case the mirror was wrong. When the messenger met up with us on the path from Lothlorien to Gondor, we knew instantly. Dear one, you are going to give birth to twins," Galadriel explained and my face paled.

"H-how do I tell Aragorn? We have not even spoken about having children of our own. I do not think we are ready."

They both chuckled. "No parents ever do, that is why we are here; to help you learn how to take care of them. We also want to see the to children when they are born. No matter what, Aranel, you and Aragorn are our family. If Aragorn loves you as much as he says, he will understand and stay with you throughout this joyful time," Elrond said with a gentle smile.

I smiled widely for the first time in weeks and reached out to hug them both.

*What is it, sister? I feel your spirits uplifted again,* Legolas asked though our connection.

*I'm with child!* I told him excitedly. I heard a thump and looked through my brother's eyes and started laughing. The graceful elf had fallen over! I'm feeling better already!

A/N: TWO IN ONE DAY! (I forgot I already had this one written) So, enjoy it, review, and now you can wait patiently for the next one! Lol about Legolas falling over though!