Hi all! As you can tell I am having a wild Saturday night and decided to finish the update I've been working on for a while. This one is pretty fluffy compared to the last few chapters so I hope you enjoy the change of pace.

Chapter Thirty-Two (Aragorn)

The summer that followed my birthday was one of the happiest seasons of my life.

It had taken a concentrated effort from Mareke and I to prove to Adnan that everything could go back to normal. My heart broke to see how wary he was of us together at first.

Once we had proven our worth again, I spent a blissful summer with Adnan on horseback and in the practice rings with our swords.

His sixth birthday passed with a picnic in the private gardens with all four of us, followed by a "men's ride," as he termed it, for he and I, capped off with a small dinner celebration.

Shuk was six months old and developed more of his personality every day. Though he aged at a slower rate than other babies, he was slowly becoming more animated and reaching milestones.

One afternoon, after working for hours, I allowed myself a break and left my study early.

When I entered our rooms, I found Mareke reading on a sofa alone.

She looked up at me with a welcoming smile.

"Perhaps I should leave and allow you to enjoy your much deserved solitude."

"Nonsense." She shook her head and laid the book she had been reading on an end table.

"What does Legolas have you reading now?" I asked. My friend had been acting as tutor to Mareke as well, giving her books he thought would be interesting or useful.

"A history of his Realm and people," she replied.

"Thrilling," I said as I draped an arm loosely around her shoulders. "How did you get this alone time anyway?"

"Adnan is still at a lesson and Shuk is napping," she responded.

"And how long will the baby sleep?" I leaned toward her and whispered so my lips grazed her ear.

Mareke laughed lightly. "Perhaps another half an hour."

My hand trailed up her thigh and I kissed the dark column of her throat. "Perfect." I pushed her back on the sofa and kissed her lips, burying my hand in her loose, unruly hair.

"This is hardly the place," Mareke protested, managing to put some space between us.

"It is the perfect place." I went back to kissing her and fondled her chest over the bodice of her dress, finally feeling her body relax underneath mine.

I began to unlace the top of her dress, but she caught my hand and staid it. "Leave it," she whispered.

Mareke had insisted that she remain clothed or that torches be put out every time we were intimate after Shuk was born. After six months, I could no longer tell the difference in her body from before she had carried my son.

"Let me see you, Mareke," I said quietly, looking into her dark eyes.

She shook her head, an adamant no. I sighed and rested my forehead on hers.

"Continue," she said rather forcefully.

My fingers went to the ties of my breeches and I settled myself between her legs.

Just as I gripped her dark, smooth thigh to pull her into me, someone cleared their throat near the door.

I jumped and looked over the back of the sofa to see Gimli and Adnan, the Dwarf covering the little boy's eyes.

Mareke adjusted herself underneath me and I stood, followed by my wife. Gimli could not suppress his laughter when Mareke popped up and her hair was a mess.

"I shall leave you all alone for explanations," he chuckled releasing Adnan who looked at us curiously.

After Gimli had departed, Adnan looked between his mother and I. "What were you doing?"

I looked to Mareke, but she had seemingly frozen at the prospect of an explanation.

"Tickling!" I exclaimed, reaching for him.

Adnan shrieked and ran away.

"We will be picking up where we left off," I said to Mareke, kissing her cheek before I went chasing after Adnan.

ooooOoooo

A month later, I came back to our rooms late at night after a particularly grueling day and found Mareke propped up in bed, nursing Shuk. I collapsed next to them and stroked the soft, dark hair of my son.

"You are not normally up with him at this hour," I observed.

"He did not eat much today for some reason, so now we are awake."

I could tell that she had been asleep before, her eyes were bleary and her hair was flattened on one side.

"You look exhausted," she said.

"It was a very long day," I replied. "There was a long council session and then many documents to be looked over."

Mareke pulled her sleeping shift back up on her shoulder.

"This arrived today," I said, handing Mareke a parchment from Rohan. It was the official invitation to Eomer and Lothiriel's wedding.

I took Shuk and put him against my chest, patting him on the back. His familiar weight and scent were a comfort after a long day. He still rarely cried and was content to just watch everything going on around him.

"How lovely," Mareke said.

Along with the formal invitation, Eomer had also sent a personal letter saying how much it would mean to he and Lothiriel if Mareke and I could attend.

I had granted the ultimate permission for Lothiriel to marry Eomer seeing as I was her sovereign.

"You obviously must be in attendance," Mareke said when she finished reading Eomer's letter.

"Lothiriel's first act as Queen of Rohan would be to throw me in a dungeon if you were not there." I rose and laid Shuk in his cradle. I stood over him for a moment. He stared at me with his piercing gray eyes as I adjusted his blankets.

"I suppose that is true," she responded,slipping back under the covers to go back to sleep.

"Mareke, I was thinking," I began as I pulled my tunic off.

"Hmm?" she responded drowsily.

"What if only you and I were to go?"

She rolled so she was facing me. "Only you and I?"

"Yes." I took a deep breath. "We could leave the boys here."

Here dark eyes widened. "Leave the boys here?"

"Hear me out-"

Before I could begin, she was sitting up once more and talking rapidly. "I have never been away from Adnan, never left him at all. Arathorn will still be nursing in October. You cannot leave an infant or they will forget about you."

I sat on the bed and stilled her wildly gesticulating hands. "You have been away from Adnan."

"I did not want to be," she said fiercely.

"I know, but it might be good for all of us. If things progress as we think they will, Adnan will have to return to Harad without you. Perhaps in the near future."

"So I should just seperate myself from him to avoid that later pain?" she demanded.

I sighed.

"And what of Arathorn? He will still be at the breast."

I nodded. "I understand. I was thinking it might be nice to get away just the two of us, spend time away from the court together."

Mareke's face softened at that "Oh," she said quietly.

"Many couples go on such a trip after they are wed. I thought we could go on our own trip."

"Two and a half years and a baby later?" she asked with a light laugh.

"Better late than never," I said leaning in to kiss her gently.

"It does sound somewhat appealing," she admitted as she settled back under the blankets. "I shall think about it."

ooooOoooo

Mareke had decided to tell Adnan that we were going to Rohan alone only a few days before our departure. When I saw his tantrum, I agreed with her decision. We could not have lived through his loud protestations and wailing for more than a few days.

Adnan threw himself on the floor quite uncharacteristically.

"Eowyn will be mad if you do not bring me!" He flailed about for good measure. "Eomer too!"

"That is a chance Strider and I will just have to take."

I stood away from the whole mess. In many respects, I had taken on being a father to Adnan, but I was hesitant to discipline a child that did not share my blood.

"This is not fair!" He yelled after a few more moments of kicking and flailing around.

"Get up, Adnan. I am not amused with this. You are a big boy and are not handling yourself as such," Mareke said sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"This is your fault!" he shouted at her. "You made me angry! You are leaving me! Why are you so awful to me?"

Quickly, Mareke bent down and snatched Adnan up by his arm. Her hand landed on his small behind with a sharp crack.

He looked at her in shock. He then looked to me, but I said nothing.

Immediately, when he saw no one would come to his rescue, he burst into tears and went tearing into his room.

Mareke sighed and rubbed her temples with her fingers. "I have never done that," she said very quietly. "Do you think I am awful too?"

"Oh Mareke," I murmured, pulling her into my arms and against my chest. "Of course I do not."

"Well I do." She rested her forehead against my chest.

I pressed a kiss into her wild, dark curls. "I am not sure what else there was to do." I put my hands on her cheeks and moved her so she was looking up at me. "He will be fine. He has learned many lessons today. The world does not revolve around him and he cannot speak to you like that."

"I am not so sure this is a good idea," Mareke said.

I pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Hush. None of that. It will be fine. He will forget about it before we return."

ooooOoooo

Mareke had decided that we would leave before the sun while both of the boys were sleeping. I knew that if she was faced with leaving them again, we may not make it out of Minas Tirith.

"Are you ready?" I whispered. Lady Ioreth had been braiding her hair for travelling. Mareke nodded and stood.

Luckily, Arathorn's cradle had been moved into Adnan's nursery so that a night nurse could watch over both of them while we were away and take Adnan to his temporary wet nurse if needed during the night.

Mareke started to move toward the nursery, but I took her hand gently and shook my head.

Lady Belethiel was in the sitting room, waiting to see us off.

"The princes will be fine, Your Majesties," she said, gently, sensing Mareke's concern and hesitation.

"Of course they will," I agreed. "They are in the best of hands."

When Mareke had been carrying Arathorn, it had been stressed that she interview the highest of qualified candidates to be his nurse, but she had insisted that it be Lady Belethiel. Of course she was qualified, as she had cared for Adnan since his arrival, but there were older women from better families who were deemed more suitable. However, Mareke had had a long discussion with Adnan's nurse about her caring for the Crown Prince as well. She had at first refused, but Mareke had pressed her, saying that she wanted the boys to spend time together even when Mareke could not be around. She also did not want to go through the process of getting to trust someone else, when she knew and had much respect for Lady Belethiel.

"We will be back before you know it," Mareke said and I could hear the tremor in her voice.

"We will be anxiously awaiting your return," Lady Belethiel replied. "But you must leave in order to return, Your Majesty."

I tried to hide my smile. "Legolas and Gimli are waiting." Mareke nodded and took my offered arm.

ooooOoooo

"I have never seen anything like this place," Mareke breathed when we rode across the border of Rohan. Everything immediately turned greener, the hills rolled, and a crisp fall breeze blew through the tall grass.

"There is no other place like it," I agreed, smiling over at her.

We rode for a few more hours before coming upon Edoras and up the hill to Meduseld.

Stable hands came and took the horses from the four us and the few guards we had brought along.

Before we even mounted the steps to the Golden Hall, both Eowyn and Lothiriel came tearing down towards my wife as though they were little girls. Legolas, Gimli, and I jumped out of the way so as not to be trampled by them.

They were all laughing as they collided and hugged each other. There was indistinguishable babbling about the wedding and then they were rushing up the steps and had disappeared.

"What in all of Arda was that?" Gimli asked, standing there stunned.

"I have no idea," I said.

A moment later, Eomer came out and came down the steps toward us, laughing deeply. "I apologize for such an informal greeting. Eowyn and Lothiriel have been waiting anxiously for the Queen's arrival."

"I could tell," I laughed, clasping his forearm and then hugging him.

Eomer took us inside and showed us to our rooms. We were joined by Faramir and the youngest two of Imrahil's sons.

"Where is the Queen?" Amrothos asked.

I chuckled again. "Your sister beat you to her, I am afraid. I am not sure when she will resurface."

"Hopefully in time for our dinner tonight," Eomer said. "Only our favorite guests are here so early and Lothiriel and I were very much looking forward to spending some time with you all before it gets chaotic with the wedding."

"I will track Mareke down myself," I promised.

"Rest first," Faramir urged us. "You have had long travels."

Legolas, Gimli, and I agreed and we retired into our rooms. I lounged in the sitting room while our things were brought in, but as soon as the servants were done with that task, I went into the bedroom to take a nap.

Just as I was kicking my boots off, Mareke came through the door.

"I thought I was going to have to track you down myself. Perhaps do battle with Eowyn and Lothiriel to free you."

Mareke laughed, as she pulled her heavy riding dress over her head. "I am not sure how you would have fared against the White Lady."

"How you wound me, wife."
"She would have done the wounding," Mareke laughed.

"Perhaps you are right, though I am hoping we are both out of practice." I snatched her around her waist and pulled her into the huge bed with me. "What sort of torture did those women subject you to?"

Mareke settled herself against my side and rested her head on my shoulder. "Oh I saw the wedding gown and the flowers and heard about the banquet and the officiant. Lothiriel is very excited."

"I can tell," I said drowsily. "Now let's rest before someone comes barging in to drag you away again."

ooooOoooo

That evening, we made our way to a small dining room where everyone was already gathered. Besides the families of the bride and grooms we were the only ones in attendance along with Legolas and Gimli.

"Ah there you are, Your Majesty," Amrothos said, coming up as soon as we stepped through the door. He took her hand and brushed his lips against her knuckles.

"My lord," she replied with a warm smile.

Soon enough, Erchirion was before her and then Imrahil.

"I am so happy to see you all," Mareke said. "And for such a happy occasion."

"Indeed," Imrahil agreed. "Allow me to introduce you to my eldest."

"Prince Elphir," Mareke said before they could be introduced.

"Your Majesty," he said, stepping forward, holding a bundle in his arms. He looked just like his brothers, if only a little older.

"Oh and who is this?" Mareke asked, stepping forward and adjusting the blankets so she could see the babe.

"This is my newest grandchild and my first granddaughter, Adanessa," Imrahil said proudly.

"She is precious," Mareke gushed. "May I?" she asked, holding her arms out.

"Of course," the man said with a light chuckle.

"And where are your little ones? I was told you have a delightful son," Elphir said, looking at my wife.

"The King made me leave them in Minas Tirith," she grumbled. "Though seeing all of the other children makes me miss them terribly."

"That is a bit dramatic," I said. "I recommended it as some time away, though I think I am the only one who had that idea."

Looking around, there were three other children running around; Elphir's two sons and Elboron.

"It is not a bad idea, Your Majesty," a tall, dark haired woman joined our conversation.

"My wife, Princess Talathiel," Elphir said.

"You could not have left this little one," Mareke said, smiling down at the bundle.

"No, but when she is a little older, perhaps we might have to consider a trip away."

"See?" I asked Mareke, peeking over her shoulder into the blankets. "Many parents would be grateful for the opportunity you are scorning."

Mareke laughed as she handed Adanessa back to her mother.

She was quickly taken away by Eowyn and Lothiriel once more and I found Faramir to discuss the state in which we had left Gondor. It was one of the rare occasions when we would both be out of the Realm.

The evening passed and before we realized it, we were all up too late and had had a bit too much to drink.

"Now perhaps you will admit that it is nice to be away from the boys?" I asked as Mareke and I made our way back to our room. "There is no one to take care of in the morning."

"If I overindulge there is always Lady Belethiel."

I sighed and opened the bedroom door. "You will not let me win."

"No. Never."

ooooOoooo

The Rohirric ceremony was like nothing I had ever seen. We all rode a ways away from Edoras to a lake that butted up against a forest. The bride and groom were barefooted. We stood in a circle around them and listened to their vows and watched the officiant tie a cloth around their hands, binding them together. There was raucous cheering when Eomer pulled Lothiriel to him and kissed her hard. She came up for air blushing.

We all made our way back to Meduseld and there was a huge banquet waiting for everyone.

"That was quite interesting," Mareke said as we took our seats. We had emphatically told Eomer and Lothiriel that we would not take the seats of honor that were prescribed to us and instead sat down the table so that Eomer and Lothiriel could celebrate with their families.

The food had hardly been touched before loud music started and Eomer jerked Lothiriel onto the dancefloor. Her long dark hair was unbound and went flying behind her as he twirled her and led her through the aggressive steps of the Rohirric dance.

Mareke and I watched the dancing for a while. The golden ale flowed freely and our mugs were refilled again and again.

Eomer danced with his sister and he kept trying to get Lothiriel to dance more with him, though she might have been traumatized from her first attempt and refused him again and again, grinning while she did so. To my surprise, Amrothos never asked Mareke to dance and I think he was intimidated by the fast paced music and the complicated steps. I was and was content to watch the goings on.

"Queen Mareke!" Eomer called from the floor. He was clearly enjoying himself and could not be torn away from the floor.

Mareke sat up straighter from where she was lounging against my side.

Everyone had stopped what they were doing and were watching the exchange. "Yes Eomer-King?" she called back.

"I was hoping you might join me for a dance. These stuffy Gondorans are not quite up to the task!"

I laughed heartily, peering around to look at Mareke's reaction. She had covered her mouth to stifle her own laughter.

"Luckily for you I have had just enough ale to accept your offer!" Mareke stood gamely, still laughing.

The music had started up again and the Rohirric people were stomping their feet and slamming their mugs on the tables to the beat.

I followed Mareke and stood on the edge of the floor. Lothiriel stood next to me with a bright smile on her face. "I hope she makes less a fool of herself than I did," she laughed.

"You shall get the hang of it, I am sure."

Eomer began dancing once more, which was amusing in itself. He was the largest man in any room and was fearsome to behold if you did not know him, but there he was, doing intricate footwork, swinging Mareke around the floor.

My wife studied his feet for a moment, before she leapt in and matched him step for step.

Eomer did not let her off the floor after the first song and it was after a total of three that he finally gracefully twirled her off of the floor where she landed in my arms. She was breathlessly laughing and I smiled down at her. Her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing hard.

Eomer had followed her off of the floor. "Thank you for the dance, Your Majesty." he said with a broad smile. "Now wife," he said lowly to Lothiriel. "I am tired of dancing and drinking." He scooped her into his arms easily.

The Rohirrim nearly shook Meduseld down with their loud cheering and stomping as Eomer and Lothiriel left the hall. She had her face buried in his shoulder in embarrassment.

After a moment, I looked back down at Mareke. "How about another ale?" I pressed a deep kiss to her lips.

"That sounds wonderful," she murmured against my lips.

Though the King had left, the festivities continued.

When I returned to Mareke, she was nearly doubled over watching Eowyn trying to drag Faramir onto the floor.

"The Queen went and danced and she is not Rohirric," Eowyn cajoled.

"Aye, but she is not Gondoran either." With a sharp jerk, Faramir had freed his hand from his wife and gone to stand behind Mareke.

Eowyn planted her hands on her hips as I reached around her to hand Mareke another mug of ale.

"Stuffy Gondorans," I laughed.

We spent hours sitting and laughing with our friends. Eventually the ale went to my head and Mareke was leaning against me drowsily.

One by one people headed for bed until it was only Mareke and I, Legolas, and a cross-eyed Gimli.

"I could use some fresh air," I murmured against her temple.

We got unsteadily to our feet as she agreed with a nod.

"Good luck with Gimli," Mareke giggled, looking to Legolas.

"I shall need it," he chuckled good-naturedly.

I laced my fingers through Mareke's and we made our way to the gardens.

"The sun is coming up," she said laughing. "I have not stayed up this late in so long."

"It is not possible at home."

"No, it is not," she agreed. "Tonight was so much fun." She wobbled a bit as she walked and knocked into me.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, securing her to my side.

"It was." I kissed her cheek and then stopped walking, kissing her jaw and then her earlobe.

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking up at me with a small grin on her face.

"Ending the night memorably." I looked around and found the perfect spot. I pulled Mareke over to a hidden spot, pulling back the branches of a willow tree and sinking down behind a bush of orange fall flowers.

"You cannot be serious," Mareke said, yelping as I pulled her down beside me.

"I have never been more serious." I leaned toward her and kissed her deeply. As Lady Ioreth had not accompanied her, Mareke's curls were already down and wild.

"Aragorn," she protested weakly as I slipped a hand into the bodice of her gown.

"I have been thinking of this all night, please do not turn me down." I pulled her so she was straddling my hips. I reached up and buried my hands in her curls, pulling her down against my chest and kissing her once more.

"Please Mareke," I moaned into her mouth.

"Alright," she sighed. Her hands went to the ties of my breeches and moved her skirts.

When she lowered herself and surrounded me, I nearly cried out, but stifled it against her smooth neck.

I did not let her sit up, but locked my arms around her, keeping her close, as she ground her hips against mine.

She was panting heavily. I pressed her hips harder down with my hand. The other hand travelled under her skirt and along her soft thigh.

Mareke's hand gripped my hair tightly.

"Hold me," she said urgently turning her face into my neck. My arms wrapped around her once more and she moved with a need I was not sure I had ever felt from her.

"Aragorn," she moaned my name as she froze in her movements, shuddering around me.

I rolled gently so I was on top of her and continued on.

"Slowly," she begged, chest heaving.

I did as she bid, though it was torture after the sensuousness she had just bestowed upon me.

"What if we get caught?" she asked, quietly. The sun had risen even higher and the garden was nearly flooded with light.

"I do not care. Do you?" I asked, my pace picking up against my will.

"Not at the moment," she said her eyes closing.

I knelt and pulled myself deeper within her, hands gripping her dark thighs. Mareke arched into me and I could not take the feeling. I groaned and fell onto her, pressing my forehead against hers.

"Do we have to give our child a Rohirric name if that is where it was conceived?" Mareke asked, laughing.

"Nothing would give Eomer and Eowyn more pleasure," I chuckled.

"I am glad you suggested we come alone," Mareke said after a moment, looking at me with her dark eyes.

I had to laugh. "So that is what it takes to get a confession from you."

I seperated us and pulled her skirts down before tying my breeches.

We made sure we were all situated before we headed back into the Golden Hall.

We were almost safely to our rooms when we turned the corner and ran into Eowyn with Elboron holding onto her hand.

We all stopped awkwardly. It was quite obvious that Mareke and I had not yet been to bed and that Eowyn and her son were heading to breakfast.

"Good morning, Your Majesties," she said with a smirk.

"Eowyn," we said at the same time.

"We will let you be on your way," she said, stepping around us and pulling Elboron with her.

"Enjoy your breakfast," I said, courteously, hoping my beard covered my pink cheeks.

We continued on.

"Oh Mareke," Eowyn called. We turned to look back at her and she was clearly trying to stifle her laughter. "You have a twig in your hair."

There you have it! I have been loving all of the reviews and follow up feedback when I request a little more information! You guys are why I do this and you make it so fun and worthwhile to write the stuff that would otherwise just live in my head. Let me know what you thought of this update! Even if it's constructive criticism, I find it very useful and helpful for improving this fic.

Happy reading,

Avonmora