DISCLAIMER: I added a scene to the end of the last chapter because I am a bad writer and thought I could fit it in somewhere else later, but I couldn't. It's just a bit of family fluff, but you might want to read it before this update.

I once again apologize for my delay. I hope you'll forgive me and read this update anyway. I will admit it's a little dark..Enjoy.

Chapter Thirty-Five (Mareke)

Early one afternoon on a warm spring day, Adnan and I were climbing back up to the palace after a long morning visit to the orphanage.

As we entered the palace, Beinion rushed up to us.

"Beinion? Should you not be in a council meeting?" I asked. I knew that Aragorn had mentioned one when he briefly told me of his day before we went our separate ways.

"The King has not joined us," he replied nervously. It was much unlike my husband to neglect his duties.

I knew the council would find it unseemly to send a servant to fetch the King as though he were someone of common birth.

"You have had no message from him?"

"He sent a servant to say that he would be a quarter of an hour late as he was going to tend to the Crown Prince's nap himself, but that was over an hour ago."

I nodded. Aragorn had insisted on spending the morning with Arathorn.

"I am heading to our chambers now. I will see if I cannot find him and send him to you."

Beinion nodded and headed back to the council chambers while Adnan and I made our way to our chambers to search for Aragorn.

It did not take us long to find him. He was lying on one of the sofas in the sitting room fast asleep with Arathorn sprawled on his chest, sleeping hard as well. Toys were scattered all over the rug and it looked as though they had had a very full morning that had exhausted them both.

"Can you find Lady Ioreth and have her send our lunch to your room?" I whispered to Adnan. "We shall have a picnic."

He scampered away and I turned back to my husband and youngest son.

Aragorn looked so peaceful I knew I would not be able to wake him. He had his hands laced together on Arathorn's back and our soon-to-be toddler had his thumb in his mouth. His plump cheeks were flushed and when I gently laid my hand on his head I felt his damp curls. My son was sleeping hard as only a babe could.

I looked back at Aragorn. In sleep, the lines on his forehead and around his mouth and eyes were not so apparent. He had successfully navigated another planting season with very little trouble from the rural nobles, though he had been tense for months; prepared for the worst.

I brushed his graying hair away from his face and then pulled the blanket from the arm of the sofa over both of them.

Adnan had spread his own blanket over the floor for our picnic lunch when I joined him in his room. I could only imagine what Lady Ioreth was thinking.

After a few moments, a servant came in bearing a heavily laden tray of food that my eldest dug into before it was settled on the floor. The servant looked to me, confused by the eating arrangements.

"Please inform the King's councilors that he will not be attending this afternoon's meeting," I said as though there was nothing out of the ordinary.

The woman nodded and left. I slowly lowered myself to the floor, already a little unsteady in my movements. Luckily, Adnan did not notice as he was too preoccupied with his lunch.

Even though I was nearly half way through with my third pregnancy, I was hesitant to tell Adnan. His reaction to our expecting Arathorn had been unpleasant at best and I was not eager to repeat it.

After the night of the thunderstorm, Adnan had taken to his brother more than he ever had. There were afternoons when we would all three of us go into my study for hours at a time and I could count on Adnan to entertain and keep his brother out of trouble.

I feared though, that while Arathorn was too young to understand, adding another sibling to the mix might push Adnan to his limits.

And so once more, I had pleaded with Aragorn to keep the pregnancy private for as long as possible. With each passing day I knew I did not have much time left.

After we finished lunch, Adnan and I continued to play and then read in his room. I was midway through a tale about a daring, brave knight when the door opened.

Aragorn stepped into the room with our son on his hip. Arathorn's head was resting on his father's shoulder. Until he saw me.

Then he was reaching and fussing to be in my arms. Aragorn helped me to my feet with his free hand and Arathorn lunged for me.

"Why did you not wake me?" Aragorn asked quietly, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"I did not want to disturb either of you. You looked too peaceful," I replied.

"But I missed a council meeting."

"I sent word to cancel it. You looked as though you could use the nap more than the meeting. And besides, I do not think the Realm will crumble around us if one council meeting is called off." I reached up and stroked his stubbly cheek.

"We can only hope not," he said, giving me one of his mischievous smiles that made his gray eyes twinkle. He kissed the palm of my hand before going to see what Adnan was up to.

Arathorn laid his head on my shoulder and sighed as though he carried the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders and would much rather be asleep.

We sat in an overstuffed chair in the corner of Adnan's room and watched as Aragorn tried to teach Adnan a game of strategy.

Arathorn was content to sit on my lap and I ran my fingers through his dark curls. It took him awhile to wake fully, but eventually he slid from my lap and crawled towards his brother.

Adnan turned away from the game when his brother reached for him with his chubby hands. He allowed Arathorn to use him to pull himself to his unsteady feet. Arathorn bounced there happily, grinning at his brother and father, showing off the few teeth he had.

"He will be walking soon," Aragorn observed.

"Oh do not say such things," I sighed. "He gets into everything as it is."

Aragorn reached a hand out to his son and he carefully moved over to bounce on chubby legs in front of his father.

Once more the lines seemed to melt away from my husbands face and he seemed a much younger man, smiling fondly at his son.

We spent quite the contented afternoon hiding away in Adnan's bedroom. I was overjoyed that our family had finally found some peace and that the new baby would join us at a time free from strife.

"Can we have another picnic for dinner?" Adnan asked hopefully.

Aragorn had risen and was perched on the arm of the chair I occupied.

"I cannot get back on the floor," Aragorn said dramatically.

"Mama did for lunch," Adnan insisted.

"Well yes, but your mother is much younger and more spry than I am." He gave my shoulder a squeeze and I knew he was putting himself down to that I could remain comfortable.

I rubbed my cheek on the hand that rested on my shoulder and gave Aragorn a grateful smile.

We spent the rest of the day together, the four of us, and I could not help but soak it in. Our days as a family of four were numbered and while I was certainly looking forward to welcoming our new addition, I would miss the simplicity of two children.

After both boys were tucked snuggly into bed that night, Aragorn took my hand and led me back to our own bedroom.

I went to my vanity and let my hair fall loose about my shoulders and took out the small earrings I had worn that day. I did not bother sitting down and Aragorn came up behind me. His hands travelled around so they were on the bump of our second child.

"I can see the babe through your dresses, Mareke," he whispered. "We must tell Adnan soon."

I sighed and looked at him in the mirror. "You know how it went last time. Surely you can understand if I do not want to go through that again."

"I do understand. I do not want to experience that again any more than you do, I assure you, but it must be done. It will be worse if we do not."

He pressed a kiss to my neck, moving my hair to the side.

"You will not soften the blow of what must be done with kisses," I said, though I let my head fall back on his shoulder.

"Then I will stop and you will have to summon the courage from elsewhere," Aragorn murmured against my neck. His hands left me and he went to undress and go to bed.

When I was in my nightgown, I joined him in bed and laid my head on his shoulder. I felt him press a kiss to the top of my head.

"It will be fine," he whispered. "He has grown considerably in the last couple of months, Mareke. He has really come around."

I nodded. "I know, but I feel that it might just be too much for him right now. It has been so peaceful of late."

"I know it has, but as I said you are showing. The court knows that there is to be another child. If we do not tell him, and soon, there is a real possibility that someone else may mention it in his presence."

I was silent for a long moment. His reasoning was logical and I knew he was right, but I still did not want to deal with it.

"If he finds out from someone else I can only imagine that it would make it that much worse."

"Alright, alright," I said grudgingly. "I will tell him, but I want a few more days."

"Mareke," Aragorn began.

"Please Aragorn. Just a few more days of peace."

It was his turn to sigh. "Fine. You can have three days, but this is really quite ridiculous. You are the parent."

"I know. I know. But I am enjoying this period of peace and I promise I will be done with this secret when the three days run out."

ooooOoooo

Two days later, I was sitting in the garden watching Arathorn and Duma rolling around together in the soft grass. Adnan was at a lesson. The sun was shining down and it was a lovely spring day to be enjoying the fresh air and listening to the delighted giggles of my youngest as the leopard playfully pushed him around with his large paw. Duma was the most gentle of creatures, but I knew he would kill if anyone came near my sons. When Arathorn was exhausted, he threw himself onto the cat and laid his head on the soft, spotted fur. Duma lay there, not moving a muscle as my son began to doze.

I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. The winters were long and hard in Minas Tirith and I missed the sun desperately during the cold months.

"Mareke."

I turned to see Aragorn striding to me and I smiled at him, though it faltered when I saw the look on his face. It was serious and he did not return my smile. He held a rolled piece of parchment.

I stood as quickly as I could. "Aragorn? What is the matter?"

He did not speak until he was standing right in front of me. He held out the parchment and I took it, though I did not unroll it. I looked to him, waiting for an explanation.

"I have had news from Harad," he said quietly, brow furrowed.

Immediately, my heart was in my throat. Adnan could be being summoned back to Harad. My brother could be dead.

"And?" I said when he did not provide any more information.

"Your father is ill. Very ill. Apparently he collapsed and is nigh on his deathbed. Your presence is requested at his bedside."

My hand went to cover my mouth. When I regained a hold on myself to some degree, I unrolled the parchment and scanned it quickly. It had come from my father's most trusted advisor and the one who had been corresponding with Aragorn and his council since our alliance began.

The letter fell from my hand and I looked back up at my husband. "I must go to him."

"Mareke," he said my name with a deep breath. "Is that wise?"

"It is not a matter of wisdom. It is a matter of family, of blood," I replied. "I will not be able to live with myself I do not go to my own father while he is on his deathbed.

"Harad is not safe," Aragorn said, his hands wrapping around my upper arms.

"Harad is not safe for Adnan," I amended. "I am nothing of value to my brother."

Aragorn sighed and closed his eyes. "What if he dies and you are there and your brother takes the throne? You would be in his hands. After all that has happened, perhaps you should stay here."

"My father would not request my presence if it were unsafe. Especially after what happened during our last visit."

I watched Aragorn mull it over.

"The letter was sent by my father's most trusted advisor," I added. "I have known that man since I was a child."

My husband was close to giving in. I needed him to. The thought of my father so close to death was unbearable. I had to get to him, to see him.

"What about the child you carry?" Aragorn asked. It was a weak last defense. "Who knows how long you will be there."

"I can still travel now," I replied. "And I will write to you constantly to keep you abreast of the situation. Hopefully, I will not be there long, but if I am then the baby will be born there."

"I wanted to be with you this time," he whispered.

"I know you did. But this is my father. What would you do if you had the opportunity?"

Without hesitation he responded, "Go to my father. No matter what. I wish I had had that same opportunity."

Unexpectedly, he pulled me tight against his chest. "I will send my most trusted men with you. But you must be careful and observant constantly," he warned me. There was a franticness in his voice.

"I will," I promised. "And will you promise to look after the boys?" I asked, looking into his gray eyes.

"Of course. Though I will be a poor substitute for you. We will miss you tremendously."

ooooOoooo

Only Aragorn saw me off two days later when I was leaving. The sun had not yet risen. I was surrounded by a dozen men and Oyna.

Just as when we had gone to Rohan, I did not say goodbye to my sons, though I had explained to Adnan that I had to go to Harad to see his grandfather; that he was ill. If I had seen the two of them sleeping peacefully that morning, I would have faltered in my decision to leave.

I was standing in front of Aragorn before I mounted my horse. He looked at me apprehensively before pressing his forehead against mine. Both of his hands went to the child I carried. "Be safe, Mareke," he murmured before pressing a sound kiss to my lips.

I nodded against him. For the first time since I had arrived in Minas Tirith, I found myself not wanting to leave and not because I was leaving both of my sons, but because I was comfortable and enjoying the recent peace.

"Go," Aragorn growled, pushing me gently away from him. "Before I change my mind."

I turned and mounted my horse with a little more difficulty than usual. Willing myself to not turn around and look at my husband,my group began our long journey to Harad.

ooooOoooo

A week and a half later, we crossed the border of my homeland. We were a ragged and exhausted bunch by then, but we still had at least two days before we reached the capital city. That was an optimistic estimate as the sand and unfamiliar terrain caused our mounts to move much slower.

Between the heat and the sheer exhaustion that was enveloping me, I had quickly done away with Aragorn's instructions to be constantly vigilant. I was nearly dozing that afternoon when I heard the shouts of the men. When I jerked myself to alertness, I saw them fall off of their horses left and right, arrows were flying from every direction it seemed as men rode over the dunes and surrounded us.

There were only a few of Aragorn's men still alive and they drew their swords as the other men rode toward us. We were grossly outnumbered.

"Leave only the women," a man yelled in Haradrim and I looked up to see that the Haradrim men had plenty to spare as a few sat on their horses and watched the bloody scene unfold.

It did not take long for the few remaining Gondoran soldiers to fall to the curved blades of the darker men.

Oyna was sobbing beside me and I tried to shush her as the apparent leader rode towards us. I pulled on courage I did not know I had. I could not run from them. I was completely surrounded by nearly twenty men. Not one of them had fallen, they had executed their ambush so suddenly.

"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded.

"We do not answer to you, princess," the man said with a triumphant grin. I knew he had used my old, less grand title to intimidate me.

"And who do you answer to?" I asked, trying to keep my back straight.

Without a word, the man reached for my arm and drug me from my horse to his. Roughly, he pulled a cloth bag over my head and bound my hands tightly behind me.

I heard Oyna scream and assumed she had gotten the same treatment.

The man held me tightly above my swollen stomach and we set off at what seemed to be a dangerously fast pace.

I feared many things in those blind hours. I feared I would lose the child i carried. I feared I would never see Aragorn and my sons again. I feared that I would lose my very life.

I knew when the sun set as the air slowly took on a chill. I also knew when we passed from the desert into the jungle. The air was heavy and damp and much harder to breathe.

Our pace slowed not long after the air changed. I had not spent much time in the jungle regions of my home, but I knew that the trees grew thickly and the horses had trouble navigating the roots that poked up through the ground.

My stomach was roiling, trying not to imagine what was in store for me. My heart was pounding and I could smell my own sweat and that of the man behind me, who had me pressed firmly against his bare chest.

"Nearly there now, princess," he said and his hand brushed across my breasts.

I gave a yelp at the intrusion, but it only caused him to chuckle. He was joined by the other men that rode with him.

"I have never had a princess, you know," he said as the horse beneath us came to a stop.

Once more, he pulled me roughly down and tried to right me on my feet, while simultaneously dragging me forward. I heard a door open.

"You shall not begin with me, for I am a Queen," I retorted.

The bag was ripped off of my head. "Even better," the man said, leaning down and running his tongue up my neck to my earlobe. I cringed and a shiver ran up my spine.

He threw me roughly into the ruggedly hewn shack. I stumbled and fell, trying to roll so that I did not land on my child. It took my eyes a moment to adjust and when they did, I wished they had not. The shack was ancient. Roots and vines made up the floor and I could see the mold on the walls and the ceiling. There was a crumbling table in the middle of the one room and a mildew covered bed in the corner.

A moment later, Oyna came crashing through the door. She had blood running from a cut on her temple.

Some of the men filed into the shack and took posts watching us. Their arms were crossed over their bare chests and they just stared. No one moved toward us and no one said a word.

"Are you alright?" Oyna whispered, though she stuttered in her fear.

"Fine," I replied, never taking my eyes from the other man.

"Clearly we are not going to escape," I said to the man. "Could you unbind us?"

He ignored me. My shoulders were aching from the position and my wrists were chafing. I could feel the rawness every time I moved even a tiny bit.

"What is the meaning of this?" I tried again. "Is this for ransom? Do you want money?" My voice got louder as he continued to ignore me. "You can have whatever you like. There is a start in the saddle bags."

"This is not about money, princess," he said vaguely. After that, he spoke to me no longer.

Oyna and I dozed against each other through the night. The fear had stopped pumping through my body so viciously and then was just a dull panic every now and then. I would wake with a start, remember where I was and go back to thinking of what might happen to me. Perhaps the sleep was my body's way of protecting my mind from those thoughts.

As the sun was rising, the door opened once more and in the dim lighting I made out my brother.

My heart sank. I should have known. How could I have possibly been so stupid? Even if I did not have Adnan with me, I should have known he would punish me just for having a child that could compete with him for the throne of Harad.

I scrambled to my feet unsteadily due to the binding of my hands and the child I carried which had begun to throw off my balance a bit even before I had left Gondor.

"Na'man," I began, rage boiling inside of me. I did not even think of my wellbeing.

"Sister, so good to see you," he said, in the oily voice that haunted my dreams on occasion. "And look at you!" He took a step nearer to me and I took one back, bumping into the wall. "You are well with child. Is this the second one? I am surprised you were able to bring that frigid King to your bed twice. He could not resist the heat of Harad." He chuckled and I thought I would be sick. "I am glad to see you were able to keep on acting as a broodmare. I never thought you would be good at much else than spreading your legs."

"What do you want from me, Na'man?" I demanded.

"See boys?" he asked, turning to his men. "As I just said, not very bright, this one. It does not take intelligence to lie on her back though." He turned to me. "Surely you can figure that out, Sister." He waited a moment and I remained silent. "No? I want your son. I want you to write to Gondor and request that Adnan be sent here to see his grandfather on his deathbed. Assure your husband that all is safe here for the boy." Na'man had turned again and was pacing once more.

"Over my dead body."

As quick as a flash, Na'man had turned again and the back of his hand collided with my face. The impact was so forceful that I crashed into the wall and slid down to the dirt floor. He bent swiftly and took my chin in his hands. The grip was vice like and I tried to jerk free, but it was impossible.

"Trust me Sister, that is more than feasible."

One of his rings had cut my cheek and I tasted blood as it ran down my face. I could feel also my cheekbone bruising.

"If you do not write to Gondor, I and these men will make your life a living hell. If your death happens during that process that will be quite a shame," he whispered venomously.

He stood once more and without a word to anyone went to leave the shack.

"Is Father even ill?" I called to him, but deep down I knew the answer.

"Of course not, you simple woman. He is in perfect health. He has no idea you were even on your way to Harad."

"But...his advisor?" My voice broke and I was ashamed of myself.

Na'man laughed in the bitter, cruel way that made my skin crawl. "Any man can be bought. I thought you would have at least known that. What did father give King Elessar to send you to Gondor? Silk, spices, sand?" He put his hand on the door and turned to look down at me. "Quite frankly, I am embarrassed to be related to you, Sister." He left and the door shut behind him.

Once more all was quiet, but I could hold myself together no longer. "I am so sorry, Oyna," I whispered through my tears. "This is all my fault. I have been beyond foolish."

The woman who had accompanied me through much, scooted toward me and I rested my head on her shoulder.

ooooOoooo

I tried to keep track of the days as they passed. If I was at all accurate, it had been five since we had been taken. It had been five brutal days. The men had apparently been instructed to torture Oyna and I until I agreed to write to Adnan. My arms and legs were littered with burns and small cuts and bruises from their of my eyes were nearly swollen shut and my lip was split. My nose may also have been broken.

Several times daily they offered me a quill and parchment to write to Aragorn, but I refused and they beat me. At least my brother knew that the only way Adnan would come was if I wrote to them myself. I feared that I was not strong enough to be that barrier.

The men grabbed at us and fondled us, always getting just near enough to what they wanted that it caused panic and then rapid relief. I almost thought that that tactic worked better to break us than if they had actually gone all the way through with their vile acts.

We had been given hardly any water or food. What we got was surely contaminated water and spoiled food. The first day we were both sick, though we could not get very far away from where we sat. As we grew weaker, they unbound our hands, knowing we could not fight them at all.

I had to force myself to eat and drink what little was given to me for the sake of the child. I only hoped that something of value could be taken from the disgusting mess that would keep it alive.

My brother came back on the fifth day. "I hear you are too stupid to be broken, Sister." He knelt in front of me.

"I am not the one stupid enough to fear a child." I spat at his feet. I no longer had anything to fear.

Na'man grabbed me by my filthy hair and slammed my head back into the wall. The rotting planks crumbled down around my shoulders. Oyna screamed.

My vision swam when I opened my eyes. I felt the trickle of blood as it ran down my neck.

"Then I have someone to see you." He stood once more. "Send him in!" he called.

A man, pale and familiar, stepped through the door. I gasped when I realized who it was.

"Herion."

"You have made quite the enemy, Sister. You keep amazing me with your ignorance. It is truly astonishing what you walked into Gondor and did." Na'man said with a smirk. "I am very glad for all of your missteps there. They have brought me one of my most trusted men." He smiled wickedly in the Healer's direction.

"Your Majesty," he said, mock deferential. "It pleases me to see you with child once more. Let me help with this one. I will have more success this time"

"Perhaps you will change your mind after this," Na'man said.

I watched in horror as Herion drew something from a pocket. It seemed to be a large vial of mud colored liquid.

Na'man knelt once more and gripped my hair, jerking my head back. With his other hand he clamped down on my jaw. Two of his men stepped forward. One held my hands and the other held Oyna back. I tried with everything I had to keep my mouth shut, but the pain and force was too much.

As soon as my mouth was open, the liquid was dumped down my throat and Na'man's hand clamped over my mouth. I gagged and retched on the foul stuff, but only managed to get a little of it out of my mouth, but most I had to swallow.

Tears leaked from my eyes as I struggled against my brother.

Na'man stood and looked down at me silently for a moment. "I hope your eldest is worth the life of your youngest."

Once more he left, Herion close on his heels. The Healer stopped at the door and looked at me with a satisfied smirk.

A sob shook my body. I knew what had been done.

oooooOoooo

Later that night, when the men were dozing, I groaned into Oyna's shoulder. My stomach was tightening frequently over and over again.

The pains had started nearly an hour after my brother had left.

I had not stopped crying since I been force fed the liquid. Even as my body told me that I needed to push, I was shaking my head.

Oyna moved to my feet. "Do not fight it," she begged.

I knew I could not prevent what was about to happen.

It was over quickly. There was no wailing of a newborn. I kept my eyes closed tightly, not wanting to see.

After the delivery of the afterbirth, I heard the tearing of fabric and when I opened my eyes there was no sign of the babe in the dark. I stared at Oyna's torn skirt and let her wrap me in her arms. My tears soaked her dress.

I thought over and over again how stupid I was. Just like Na'man said.

Per usual, I would love to know what you think. I think I write these types of chapters better than the fluffy ones, which does not bode well for our little family. I hope you enjoyed it. Please feel free to review and send me any ideas and thoughts you have. I'm always up for prompts for future chapters (for when this becomes fluffy again as I hope it will).

Happy reading,

Avonmora