I am so sorry! I can't even begin to apologize for how long it's been. As I told those who reviewed the last chapter, I recently got a new job that I love, but has actual responsibilities so I can't write at work anymore. I'm going to be better I promise. I will update at least every other week. Please don't desert me because of this. I know it's awful, but I will fix it. I hope you enjoy this update!

Chapter Twenty-Five (Aragorn)

"This sand came from Harad," I told Adnan as I dipped my fingers into a bucket of the fine white stuff.

"What are you going to do with it here?" He asked curiously.

"It will be used to repair the walls around the city, lad," Gimli answered.

Adnan was clearly puzzled. "But it is soft. Our enemies could break through a wall made of sand."

I had to laugh as the boy was not wrong.

"But when it is combined with with a few other components it becomes very strong, Gimli said. In addition to the new gate, my friend was also seeing to mending the perimeter wall of Minas Tirith, for it had sustained considerable damage during the battle on Pelennor Field.

The little boy looked between the two of us, still disbelieving.

"You will see," I promised. "We had better get you back to the palace," I said. "You have one more lesson with Legolas before you are done for the day."

"I think I shall come with you. I have been in the sun for too long," Gimli said, falling into step beside me as we began the ascent to the seventh level of the city.

Every time we descended more than a couple of levels, Adnan would be panting and lagging behind on the way back up. I stopped on the fourth level and lifted him up. He scrambled onto my back, hanging on tightly.

"You are getting nearly too big for this." I was panting as I climbed with his extra weight. "You are nigh on five years old. Five year olds must get themselves up the steps," I jested.

"Then I will not turn five," Adnan grumbled in my ear. "Too much work."

Gimli laughed. "It only gets worse lad."

We finally made it into the palace and Adnan slipped off my back, leading the way to my study where Legolas was to meet us.

"Of course now he is full of energy. He enjoyed a leisurely ride up here," I chuckled, watching as Adnan struggled to open the heavy door.

I opened it for him and he slipped in, eagerly went over to where Legolas was standing, observing a map I had spread out on the table.

"How do you manage to get him so excited about the alphabet?" I asked the Elf.

"My people have our ways," he said with a secretive smile and I thought back to all I had learned from Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas reached for Adnan's hand. "Shall we go practice your letters?"

Adnan latched onto him and they headed for the library. The boy had taken to our language effortlessly, but Legolas said he struggled to remember the letters, which would make it difficult to learn how to read and write.

Gimli and I sat down and began mapping out the next phases for repairing the wall around the city.

"Gimli," I said, a thought coming to me. "Mareke has begun working with the orphanage. She told me that the building is in deplorable condition. Perhaps you might be able to find some time to go look it over and see what might be done. I am attempting to allocate resources for her project, but am finding it difficult to know where to start."

The Dwarf nodded. "Of course. I can do it tomorrow. I will ask Mareke to accompany me so I can hear in her own words what she wants done."

"Good idea," I agreed. "I will try to come as well. I have not yet seen it."

We went back to our work. We discussed the project for hours. I knew the repairs were necessary, but I did not much care for how forboding and unwelcoming the wall made my city look.

"There are design elements that would make it more elegant and inviting without losing its strength," Gimli offered.

I nodded. "Please draft something up for my approval."

Before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. My brow furrowed. I was not expecting anyone.

"Enter," I called.

The head healer in the city stepped through the door. "Your Majesty," he said with a low bow, beard nearly brushing the stone floor.

"Herion," I said politely. I had respected the man since I had met him after the War. He had done amazing work with the wounded men. "What can I do for you? Is everything in the Houses alright?"

"Might it be possible to speak to Your Majesty in private?" He asked.

That worried and confused me. I wracked my brain trying to imagine what the healer would need to discuss in private.

Gimli took his cue and left. When the door closed I looked at Herion. "Please, speak freely now."

"Well Your Majesty, it is my pleasure to inform you that the Queen is expecting a child." He looked at me expectantly.

"That is wonderful news," I finally managed to get out.

For some reason, my heart had begun pounding in my chest and there was a faint buzzing noise.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" he asked, stepping towards me.

"I am fine," I said. "More than fine. I am thrilled." I waved him away.

"I am glad," Herion said. "Obviously, the Queen will be under my care, rather than a midwife's, for the duration of the pregnancy."

I nodded, not quite listening. "Then she is in the best of hands."

"If either of you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send for me. Otherwise the Queen and I will have regularly scheduled visits."

"Very good. Thank you so much, Herion," I said, dismissing him.

I was grateful when Gimli did not immediately return to my study, not appearing to have waited outside the door.

I sat heavily in my chair and ran my fingers through my untamed hair.

My reaction to the news was unexplainable. For years, decades, I had imagined that such an announcement would be one of the happiest days of my life, but what I was experiencing was pure panic.

Mareke and I were still just getting to know one another, had only recently settled into a contented and normal routine.

How would we handle a baby? How would I handle a baby? Mareke had done everything before, but my hands on experience had begun with Adnan who was interested in all of the things I could show him.

What was I supposed to say to Mareke when I next saw her? Congratulations?

I sighed and tried to divert my attention back to a stack of parchment, but it was to no avail.

Eventually, Legolas and Gimli both returned to my study. Mareke had taken Adnan to Beinion and Vanya's earlier in the evening and would be staying for dinner.

I had invited Legolas and Gimli to join me for our own private dinner, but during all of my thinking about other matters I had forgotten.

"You were not in your chambers, mellon (friend)," Legolas said as they entered.

"I lost track of the time. Forgive me," I replied.

"No bother," Gimli said. "We can have food sent here just as well." He left the study once more to find a servant.

While we waited for the food, Legolas and Gimli talked around me. I contributed one word answers and grunts of acknowledgement once in a while.

As we sat down to eat, Legolas stared at me. "You are distracted, Aragorn."

I sighed. I was not sure if I should tell them what I had learned so shortly after the initial announcement. They were my closest friends and the only people in Minas Tirith I felt comfortable confiding in.

"Mareke is going to have a child," I said quietly.

"Well that is good news, is it not?" Gimli asked.

"Strange news," I replied.

My friends studied me curiously.

"I do not know," I sighed. "Obviously, this was the end goal of our marriage, but I am not certain that I am ready."

Legolas and Gimli were silent, never having been confronted with such a situation themselves.

"It will just require some adjusting," Legolas said gently.

"Act as though you do not know," I instructed.

They nodded. We went back to our meal and I changed the subject.

ooooOoooo

The next afternoon, Gimli and I went to meet Mareke to go to the orphanage. My palms were actually sweating.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"A bit nervous," I admitted.

"You must have seen her countless times before you knew," he said. "And besides, this is official business. You do not have to have the conversation just yet."

He was right. I ran a quick hand through my hair and then we entered Mareke's sitting room.

My wife was sitting on a sofa with Adnan on her lap, reading a story. Lady Belethiel was knitting in the corner. Though it seemed as though it should have been enthralling, it was just after lunch and the little boy was dozing against his mother's chest.

Mareke looked up at us and gave a gentle smile.

Because I knew of her condition her tiredness leapt out at me. There were half circles under her eyes and she was not as fresh faced as usual, seemingly dreading standing.

"Lady Belethiel, would you mind finishing the story?" She asked, trying to move Adnan off of her.

"No Mama," he groaned, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck.

"Sshh," she stroked his raven curls and rubbed his back. "I will be back before you know it. This will not take any time at all."

Lady Belethiel approached and removed him from his mother. Mareke kissed his forehead and turned to Gimli and I.

"My apologies," she said. "Shall we set out?"

"You might need a cloak," I blurted out.

Mareke looked at me curiously. Her gaze then travelled to the window, outside of which there was a brightly shining late May sun. "I will be alright."

I nodded and let the matter rest, not sure what had come over me. Mareke took my offered arm and Gimli walked on her other side as we left the palace and descended the levels of the city.

I kept catching Gimli smiling up at Mareke and I shook my head. He was all bite.

Mareke explained what she had learned about the orphanage so far and laid out what she wanted to change and expand on the building itself.

When we came upon it, I was shocked. It was in nearly complete disrepair.

"Children live here?" Gimli asked in disbelief.

"Yes. It is shameful, is it not?" Mareke said, surveying the place with a determined look.

Gimli and Mareke entered ahead of me to see what needed to be repaired structurally speaking.

As soon as Mareke stepped foot in the doorway she was rushed by a herd of children, the littlest one reaching up for her. Mareke, though she was exhausted, effortlessly propped the little girl on her hip and took another's hand in her free one, causing some bickering amongst the others who were not touching the Queen, as she continued to walk and discuss renovations with Gimli.

She had only been visiting the orphanage for a few weeks, but she had thoroughly integrated herself amongst the children. I had not expected to see her so familiar with them,nor had I expected for the children to want to be so close to her. I had imagined that she came and spoke and planned with the proprietess, but it seemed as though she had been trying to bestow some of the love and affection on the children that they were so obviously missing.

"We have recently discovered that the building behind this one is vacant. I would like to purchase it and join them together so that one building could be used for cooking and laundry and in the other building the bedrooms could be expanded upon and made more comfortable," Mareke was saying after I had focused once more on the conversation.

"That will be quite expensive," Gimli said, smoothing his beard as he looked around.

"I imagined as much, but it is necessary," she said firmly.

Mareke turned back to me and the child she carried hid her face bashfully. "When is your next council meeting?"

I stared at her confused before responding. "The day after next. Why do you ask?"

"This project will require more funds than I currently possess," she said simply. "I will need your council to approve my request for more money."

I was rooted to the spot as she and Gimli walked away. Surely Mareke knew that she would not find many friends in my council chambers.

The tour concluded with the children begging Mareke to stay with them. She crouched down on her haunches and gave tight hugs, promising to return soon. She bid the woman who ran the place goodbye after a brief, quiet conversation.

The three of us were mostly silent on our way back to the palace. Gimli left us at the door to Mareke's chambers. "What you are doing is incredibly admirable, lass," he said gently.

"Thank you, Gimli. I appreciate your support more than you know," she replied.

I guided her into her sitting room and she sat heavily on a sofa. Lady Belethiel and Adnan were nowhere to be seen.

"You know, Mareke," I said, sitting across from her. "I can ask for the orphanage funds on your behalf. You do not necessarily have to go before the council."

"This is a project that I have undertaken and I wish to take full responsibility for it," she said calmly. "You have much to contend with as it is and I do not wish to add to those burdens unless it is absolutely necessary."

Unless I wanted to very plainly lay out the reception she would received from my council, and I assumed she already knew what she was walking into, there was nothing I could say.

"Very well," I stood once more. "I will see you for dinner." I pressed a kiss to her forehead and left.

I had meant to speak to her of the child, but while her courage was blossoming, mine had seemingly deserted me.

ooooOoooo

The day of the council meeting arrived and I was nervous for my wife. I found myself unable to focus on the matters that preceded Mareke's. I had to be reminded several times what we were speaking of.

My mind wandered back and forth between Mareke appearing before the council and the fact that I still had not revealed that I knew of her condition.

"And for our last matter of business we will be entertaining a request from Queen Mareke," my chief, and eldest, councilor said. Already I did not care for the tone of the older set and the looks they exchanged between one another.

A page was sent to retrieve Mareke where she was waiting outside of the council chambers.

The young man led her in and a hush fell over the room. She had not worn purely Gondoran clothes since the first few months after her arrival but she was adorned in a heavy, purple gown and her thick, golden circlet that she only wore on the most important of occasions. A small smile played on my lips. Mareke was reminding them that she was their queen without saying a word.

She carried herself with a formidable grace to the head of the table. Her eyes softened for the briefest of instances as she looked in my direction. "Your Majesty." She gave a curtsy and her eyes went stony again as they swept over the table. "Councilors."

Mareke paused making sure she had their complete attention. "Gentleman, I am here to ask you to consider allocating more funds to the city's orphanage. Of late, I have been a frequent visitor to the place and I can tell you that the conditions are substandard by far. Besides the physical conditions of the building itself, Melda, the woman who cares for the children, does not have the capital to properly provide for the children. Everything she receives from the Realm goes to them and she practically lives in poverty as she keeps only the bare minimum for herself. This woman should be lauded as a hero, the children should live in comfort and be offered an education and other resources so that they will in turn grow into valuable members of Minas Tirith's society. I have had the treasury numbers explained to me and there is a sufficient amount of money that could be used for this without negatively impacting any programs or people in service to the Crown."

The entire room was silent and I felt myself beaming with pride. My wife had spoken eloquently and conveyed just enough of the passion she had for the project.

The silence, unfortunately, did not last long. I had been foolish to think that she might win the men over so easily. I could override any decision they ultimately made, but Mareke had insisted on doing it herself to spare my already precarious reputation. She cared naught for hers.

My councilors began to whisper to each other.

"Your Majesty, you truly believe that this is the best use for the Realm's resources?" One bearded, old man asked.

Mareke nodded. "I do. I have already allocated more than half of my own annual allowance to the orphanage, but that will not be nearly enough to cover the long term initiatives I have in mind."

"You think more should be provided than just a roof and food, Your Majesty?" Another older man asked her.

"Of course I do," she said evenly. "I believe an education should be provided as well as apprenticeships so that they will be contributing members of society one day. It seems as though you think these children are somehow less because they have no family to care for them as though that is within their control," she said, locking her dark eyes on his.

"There might be family members to care for these children if not for the war your people brought upon us, Your Majesty," another piped up.

"Perhaps this is so close to your heart because you have a son who was very nearly in the same situation as these children?" Another man jumped in as well.

Mareke stood stock still for a moment. I was nearly on my feet to reprimand them all for their disrespect when Mareke, much more quietly than before spoke. "Perhaps you are right counselor," she said.

I was gripping the table, my stomach churning.

"My own son could very easily be in the position of these children because of decisions made by my father, late husband, and a select other few. But I had no part in making those decisions and it is not my guilt that has urged me to work for these children."

The room had gone silent once more.

"All children deserve some basic level of care and I would think the same if Prince Adnan's father had lived or died. I know many of you have children that you love deeply. Why does your empathy end with your own flesh and blood? You and your children will lose nothing if you agree to this," she finished firmly standing across from me. She surveyed the men with her pitch black gaze.

"Are there any more arguments against what the Queen is proposing?" I asked lowly, not able to take my eyes from my wife. There could be no further argument. As Mareke had said, she had seen the treasury numbers, as had I, and had found money that was not currently in use by any other critical program. If they were going to argue now they would expose their true issue with what Mareke was asking and that was Mareke herself.

"I for one think that there could be no better use for this money," Beinion said from where he sat near Mareke. She smiled gratefully at him. "I cannot understand why we have taken so long to discuss this matter. It is all too simple in my mind. We should take the vote, Your Majesty."

I looked around the table one more time. "All in favor of transferring the funds the Queen has requested."

"Aye," everyone said, some more enthusiastically than others.

"Very good. That concludes today's meeting," I said standing.

No one else stood as I walked to Mareke and offered my arm. As we left the council chambers no one said a word and I did not speak until we were closer to the royal quarters.

"We should have dinner privately this evening to celebrate your success," I said, practically beaming down at her. "Truly I have never seen them left speechless. I learned a few things from you that I shall use in future meetings."

Mareke only laughed lightly as though it had been nothing. "I will see you this evening," she said as we approached her door.

"You were amazing. I am so proud of you," I gushed in a most uncharacteristic manner. I could hear her laughing even after she closed the door to her chambers.

I spent the rest of my afternoon doing some work in my study, though I could not fully tear my thoughts away from how regal and competent Mareke had appeared in the council chambers. A smile graced my lips all afternoon as I thought of the stunned faces of my councilors when she had a retort for all of their cold questions and comments.

I quit my work early to check on dinner preparations in my private dining room. We never ate there. If we forewent a public dinner, we ate in Mareke's chambers. It signified a truly special occasion for me to host.

Mareke appeared as the sun was setting. I assumed she had waited to put Adnan to bed before coming to my rooms.

She was wearing one of the more comfortable hybrid dresses, but she looked more tired than I had yet seen her.

We sat down and I reached for my goblet of wine and raised it. "To my fearless wife," I said simply, smiling across the table at her.

Mareke picked up her glass of water and raised it with a small smile in my direction. "Thank you," she said, before taking a sip.

We did not discuss the afternoon's events, but chatted about Adnan and other projects happening around the city.

When the meal was over, Mareke having not eaten much at all, I led her into my sparse sitting room and pulled her down next to me on the sofa even though I could sense that she wanted to return to her rooms.

I casually draped my arm around her shoulder so that she was leaning into my side. It was not a position that we had ever naturally assumed, but it was pleasant.

I knew I had to tell her that Herion had informed me that she was expecting.

"Mareke," I said quietly after a few long moments of deciding what to say.

"Hmm?" She replied drowsily, her head resting on my shoulder.

"I am not sure how to say this properly so I am just going to say it." I took a deep breath. "I know of the child you carry."

Mareke laughed. "I know you do."

"You do? How?" I spluttered. I thought I had been careful to hide my knowledge, but she was telling me I had not been.

"The afternoon we went to the orphanage you aggressively suggested that I wear a cloak outside when it was very warm outside," she continued laughing.

"That gave me away?"

"First time fathers are often nervous and overprotective," she said. "Adnan's father insisted that I could not go anywhere alone for the first few months until I convinced him otherwise." She stopped abruptly. "You do not want to hear about that."

"You can speak of him whenever you like," I assured her. "It does not bother me." It truly did not. Her past was her own and there was nothing I could do to change that, it would be futile to try and erase it.

"Not tonight." She shifted under my arm and looked at me with her dark eyes. "Are you happy at this news?"

The feeling of panic had lifted. I am not sure what had caused it to leave, but staring down at her I was overjoyed. "You have no idea," I said earnestly. "Are you?"

She nodded. "I thought that I might not have more children and I had always wanted a small army of them."

I laughed. "This is a good start then. Adnan will be pleased to have someone to play with."

The smiled melted from her face. "I would that we could refrain from that conversation for a while. At least until after his birthday in a month."

I raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"It has been only him for five years now," she said. She was quiet for a brief moment. "It will be hard for him to understand how this all works and he may be jealous that this a child of yours."

"Oh." I sat there trying to wrap my head around all of the intricacies of our situation that I had not yet considered and what that would seem like to a five year old. "I would like to help you tell him in any way that you wish. I would like to be present for the conversation. Nothing on my end will be changing."

"I know that. He will too, though it may take some time." She put her head back on my shoulder.

After a few minutes of silence, I moved so that she was sitting up. I took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. "I am so terribly proud of you, Mareke," I said quietly when I pulled away. "And I am excited for this next part of our journey."

I hope you loved it! I hope you'll still review even though I abandoned you for so long. I am begging for forgiveness. Please let me know what you thought. Per usual I am open to ideas as they make writing easier! Again, I am sorry a million times over.

Happy reading,

Avonmora