Hi all! I apologize for my delay! Life has been crazy. I hope you enjoy this update. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think!
Chapter Forty-Five (Mareke)
I had urged Aragorn to wait on making a decision about his council until after we returned from Annuminas. Wiping the council completely and replacing the members with those more like-minded to my husband would be the best thing that had ever happened to the Realm, but it had the potential to cause more problems than ever as well. I implored him to set it aside while we were in Annuminas and to enjoy the time with our family and friends who had accompanied us to see the state of the place for ourselves.
Faramir and his family as well as Beinion and his joined us in Annuminas. Like we had been, they were quite taken with the place.
"It feels peaceful again," I said, early one morning, a couple of weeks after we had arrived, before we had risen from bed.
Aragorn pressed a kiss to my temple. "How long until your son comes running in here though?" he asked, with a laugh.
"My son?" I propped myself up and looked down at him. "It takes two, Your Majesty."
"He certainly gets being a terror from you though," Aragorn laughed. "He was so calm when he was an infant. I am not sure what happened."
My jaw dropped in mock offense. "I am sure I know not what you mean."
"No?" Aragorn rolled so he was on top of me.
I brushed his hair out of his face and grinned, before stretching up to kiss him.
"I am taking this no further with the threat of of your son bursting through at any moment," Aragorn said.
"There is a little fun to be had in the thrill," I teased.
"No," Aragorn kissed me once more before rolling away and getting out of bed.
"I thought I married the bravest man in all of Middle-Earth," I called after him.
Our bedroom door opened and Arathorn hurried in, trying to crawl into the tall bed.
"What did I tell you?" Aragorn asked, as he hoisted his son onto the mattress so he could get to me, before disappearing into the washroom.
"Good morning," I said to him as he cuddled against my chest. "Did you sleep well?"
He nodded and gave a big yawn as I ran my fingers through his curls.
Adnan, in his constantly growing state, had begun to sleep a little later in the mornings and so it was normally just Arathorn and I for at least an hour.
Aragorn came back out fully dressed and ready for the day. "Faramir, Beinion, and I are riding out a ways to check on a few settlements. We will back for dinner. Perhaps the ladies could go into the market to check on things there?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. He rubbed Arathorn's back and our son did not fuss.
Slowly, but surely Arathorn was losing his exclusive attachment to me, which was both a relief and bittersweet. Shortly after we were to return to Minas Tirith, we would be celebrating his third birthday.
"I am sure we can do that," I said with a nod and a smile.
"Very good. I will see you both this evening." Aragorn pressed a kiss to my lips and one to Arathorn's forehead before he was on his way out.
"Are you hungry?" I asked Arathorn as I rose and reached for my robe.
I turned and watched as Arathorn cuddled himself into the warm spot I had just left in the bed. "We can wait then," I said with a light laugh.
When I was sure his eyes were closed once more, I went to the washroom to prepare for the day before I sent servants to invite Vanya and Eowyn and the children to join us for lunch before we headed into the market.
I came out and Arathorn was still sleeping and there was no sign of Adnan so I walked out onto the balcony outside of our bedroom. It was a little chilly and so I tightened my robe around me.
My eye caught the riders as they rode out and a smile came onto my face as I watched my husband, hair blowing in the wind as they picked up their pace and rode around the lake towards the nearest settlement.
I stayed outside until I could not see the men any longer and when I turned, Adnan was stepping onto the balcony. He was rubbing his eyes, his hair a rumpled mess. He reached his hands above his head and stretched before looking at me. There was something so grown up about the gestures. I had been picking up on all of the changes in my son since I had learned that his time in Gondor was limited.
"What are you doing out here, Mama?" he asked.
"Just getting some fresh air. Trying to entertain myself while my two sleepy boys lay in bed."
Adnan smiled up at me and I walked over and pressed a kiss to his forehead. He was growing more bashful about such displays of affection, but since we were alone he allowed it.
"What should we do while we wait for your brother to wake up?" I asked, walking back inside. We went straight out of my chambers and into the sitting room so as not to wake Arathorn. I did not often get time with just my eldest and I wanted it to last that morning. "Are you hungry?"
Adnan nodded and I sent a servant to fetch our breakfast. I was not sure if my eldest would ever grow out of his ravenous appetite.
"Where is Strider?" Adnan asked as we took our seats at the table. I poured myself a cup of tea and selected some fruit and cheese as Adnan piled his plate high with everything that had been brought.
"He went to one of the settlements with Faramir and Beinion. We are going to go into the market with Vanya and Eowyn after lunch."
"With the babies?" Adnan huffed, folding his arms across his chest.
"If we knew the state of the settlement the men were visiting you could have gone, but there are many uncertainties right now in Arnor, habibi," I said gently. "It might not have been safe."
He was itching to be a man grown, but for the time being he was still in that awkward age when he was lumped in with the women and children, but did not completely belong there.
My son just looked at me. "I know it is frustrating," I said quietly. "Discuss it with Strider. Perhaps you can ride out somewhere else with him. Somewhere we have reports from."
"Can I stay here this afternoon?" he asked, not quite appeased.
"Stay here? By yourself?"
He nodded.
I thought quickly. "Alright, but Lady Belethiel will know. She will not have to be with you all of the time, but just so that someone is aware that you are still here."
"Fine," Adnan tried to grumble, but I could see that he was smiling a bit. It was the first time I had left him alone and not asked Lady Belethiel to stay with him constantly.
"Mama! Mama!"
"In here!" I called back to Arathorn, trying to not laugh at the panic in his voice. He came flying out of the bedroom and towards the table, reaching up for me.
"Are you awake this time?" I asked as he began reaching for what his brother had left on the table and not devoured.
The morning went by peacefully. I wrote a letter to Lothiriel expressing how much I wished they could have joined us and invited them to join us the following summer when Adlanna was old enough to travel.
Just as I was putting my writing things away, Eowyn and Vanya entered my rooms, a gaggle of children between them. Marilla and Elboron immediately went to join Arathorn, who was playing with his wooden figurines on the floor.
"He has gotten better about sharing," I assured Eowyn.
Whatever Aragorn had done or said to our son in Edoras had worked. His moods had mellowed out considerably and he was no longer desperate for my attention. Aragorn had done all of those things so that we might know some peace if there was ever another child.
As Vanya settled herself across from me at the dining table where I had been writing, I was confronted with the fact that though Arathorn's behavior had improved, there was no sign of another child for us.
My friend rested her hands on her stomach that was beginning to swell and let out a long breath. I tried to smile.
"I am surprised that Beinion let you travel in your condition," I said as lightly as I could manage.
"He did not have much of a choice," she replied. "We have nearly four months to go besides."
"Well I am glad you are here. Both of you," I said, smiling at Eowyn.
"So we are going into the market after lunch?" Eowyn asked, adjusting the blankets around Finduilas.
"Arathorn and I are and I was hoping you all would join us. We need to get an idea of how the new goods from Rohan and Harad are doing."
We ate lunch, or tried to, but with four children under the age of four it was rather chaotic. Adnan sat at the head of the table away from all of the fussing and scrambling.
On our way out the door, I pressed a kiss to his head, though in the presence of others he tried to duck away. "Stay out of trouble," I warned him.
The marketplace was much busier than I remembered it being when we visited the first time. The number of stalls had increased and there were more people. Most of the new stalls consisted of goods from Harad. The seed and horses from Rohan had been sold and given away in Minas Tirith before people set out for the land they wanted to claim.
"This is quite impressive, Mareke," Eowyn said, walking beside me with Finduilas on her hip and Elboron hanging onto her hand. "Lothiriel wrote to me of your conversations in Edoras. I would say it is working."
I could not help but smile, showing a little bit of pride in the proceedings that had at first made me so uncomfortable.
"We have had good reports since we arrived," I said modestly.
Arathorn tugged on my skirts and I hauled him onto my hip, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"Beinion was looking forward to riding out to the settlement. He was optimistic about that as well," Vanya said.
"As was Aragorn," I said. "Of course winter is not too far off and that is a whole different scenario for rough settlements such as these, but we hope we have prepared them to the best of our abilities."
We strolled around for another hour or so before we headed back. As the mothers of little ones, we went our separate ways to lay the children down for naps. After lunch and the walking and wandering about, they were all exhausted.
As we parted ways, I did not extend an invitation for dinner, which was probably rude, but I could not muster it just then.
Lady Belethiel greeted Arathorn and I at the door. "Did Adnan behave?" I asked.
She nodded. "He did. He walked around the lake with a guard. They took their time. He is back in his room now, working on something that Master Legolas sent with him I believe."
"Very good. Thank you for keeping an eye on him. It is as independent as he shall get for the time being," I said with a light laugh. "I am going to put this one down. I can handle them for the rest of the afternoon."
Lady Belethiel nodded, giving me a brief curtsy before she left.
I headed for the small room that was Arathorn's with its miniature bed, but he clung to me when I tried to lay him down.
"Your bed, Mama!" he demanded.
I sighed. "Your father is not going to be very happy with me." Nevertheless, I made my way back across the sitting room to the rooms Aragorn and I shared.
I shed my heavy dress so I was just in my slip and then I settled in next to Arathorn. I was very tired, but I had a feeling it was not from the walking we had done.
ooooOoooo
I woke to the bed caving under someone else's weight. Aragorn was smiling down at me, pushing my hair away from my face.
Arathorn woke as well, burrowing against my side. I stroked his curls, looking guiltily up at Aragorn.
"I think you know what I would like to say about that so I am going to save my breath,"
I tried to stifle my laughter. "He will not be taking naps in the near future," I pleaded my case. "I should be allowed to enjoy them while I still can."
"Should you?" Aragorn grinned and pressed a kiss to my lips.
"We both think so."
"Well, I'm clearly outnumbered," Aragorn sighed.
Arathorn crawled over me and dropped to the floor, toddling out of our rooms to see what his brother was doing.
I stayed in bed, staring up at my husband.
"How was the settlement?"
"There is still some work to be done, but I think most of them will be able to stay through the winter. And the market?"
"Bustling," I responded. "Which can only be a good sign."
"A very good sign," Aragorn agreed, pressing another kiss to my lips, lingering a little longer the second time.
"Should you get out of bed? Are the others joining us for dinner?" he asked.
"I did not extend an invitation," I said quietly, looking away from him.
"Is everything alright? Are you well?"
"I am fine. A little tired."
I saw the hopeful look in his eyes immediately. When I had first realized I was carrying Arathorn, his father had caught me sleeping at the desk in my study.
My laugh came out much more bitter than I had anticipated or meant it to.
Aragorn's brow furrowed. "Is something the matter, Mareke?"
"I just needed the evening to myself."
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened," I sighed and sat up. "It sounds pathetic to even say it out loud."
"I am sure it does not. And you know you can tell me anything."
I looked away from him once more and I felt tears prick my eyes.
"Mareke," he said my name gently, taking my chin in between his fingers and turning my face so I was looking at him. His brow was furrowed with concern.
"I could not be around it any longer. We just came from Rohan and Adlanna and now Finduilas is here and Vanya is expecting again."
Aragorn was silent for a moment.
"And you had such a hopeful look when I said I was tired," I said before he could say anything.
"Mareke," he began, but I shook my head.
"You do not have to apologize for it," I said quietly. My heart was aching for him and myself and the child we should have had and the lack of any indication that we might have another.
"Of course I have to apologize for it. Look at all that you have already given me. I should not be making you feel guilty about anything, whether I intend to or not."
"The guilt will be there regardless of your facial expressions, Aragorn." Emotion began to surface. "But what do I have to complain about? I am the Queen of Gondor and Arnor. I can have anything I want. My life is full of luxury."
Aragorn shook his head. "Stop," he said gently.
"But truly, how ungrateful do I sound? I have two sons already. I have you. We have many friends. Why would I be lingering on this one thing?"
"Because it was supposed to be yours, Mareke, and it was taken from you. From us."
One tear slipped down my cheek. Not often did I linger on my experience in the jungle of Harad, but I could not help but think of the aftermath. It happened with much more frequency as those around us were expanding their families.
"You are the most amazing mother of anyone I have ever met," Aragorn said. "It is natural that you should want to share that with more than our sons. I want to see you do it. I want to have another child and enjoy the time of waiting and planning and its arrival with you and our sons."
The tears were falling rapidly by then and Aragorn wrapped me tightly in his arms, letting me cry into his neck.
"You do not deserve this pain, Mareke," he murmured into my hair.
"I should not dwell on this with everything else that I have been given," I whispered against him.
"Just because we have not yet conceived again, does not mean that we will not," Aragorn said gently, stroking my hair. "So perhaps in the meantime we should both be more mindful and present and enjoy this time with Adnan and Shuk."
I pulled away from him and wiped at my eyes before nodding. "I think you are right."
My husband pressed a kiss to my forehead and then my lips. "Gather yourself and I will send for a private dinner with just the boys."
He stood and I watched him go before I rose from the bed and went into the washroom to make sure I looked alright. I splashed cold water on my face and put on a casual dress before joining my family in the sitting room.
Adnan was telling Aragorn how he had been in charge of himself for the day. He was very proud of that fact and I ruffled his hair as I walked by. He and Arathorn were sitting on the floor, the younger playing with his blocks.
Aragorn grabbed my hand as I walked by his chair, pressing a kiss to my palm. I smiled softly down at him.
ooooOoooo
We stayed in Annuminas to celebrate my twenty-eighth birthday. It would mark two years in a row that I had been able to celebrate away from Minas Tirith.
It was merely a casual dinner with our sons and our friends, but it was exactly what I wanted.
I had tried and tried to remember the many blessings I had in my own life while Eowyn and Vanya remained in Annuminas and it had gotten a bit better, though I did not think the negative thoughts would ever completely go away.
After the meal, most of us sat with a sleeping child in our arms. Faramir leaned back with Findulas on his chest while Eowyn held Elboron. Marilla curled around the bump of her sibling in Vanya's arms, and Arathorn slumbered against my chest. Adnan had taken himself to bed, trying to be the big boy he so thought he was.
"I wanted to discuss something before we are all to return to Minas Tirith," Aragorn said.
I looked at him and I knew he was referring to the matter of his council. He had not said about it during our whole trip, but he could not remain quiet with our return home looming.
"Recent events have led me to believe that it might be a good idea to phase out some of my older council members."
Faramir raised an eyebrow. "Have things gotten that bad?"
"The Annuminas situation could have been handled much more efficiently," Aragorn replied. "And that is just one example. I do not feel as though I am hearing any fresh ideas. We are several years into the New Age and still it seems as though we are stuck in the old days."
Beinion nodded his agreement. "Council meetings can be very frustrating with the current group."
"I hope you are not considering replacing my husband, Your Majesty," Vanya said with a mischievous smile.
Aragorn laughed lightly. "No, there are a few I will keep on." He looked over to me once more. "The Queen is not convinced it is a good idea."
I sighed. "The Queen is bearing in mind the considerable backlash that will follow," I said.
"And she is wise to do so," Faramir said. "Is it worth it, Aragorn? The old families will be outraged."
Aragorn shook his head. "I am happy to continue to include the old families, but we need fresh blood. They should send their sons to me or even some of their grandsons. I would like to add more of the men who were honored after the war with titles and land. Those are the opinions I want to hear."
"It would have to be handled appropriately, of course," Faramir said. "You cannot just remove certain members and replace them."
"Perhaps we should instate limits on how long a person can sit on the royal council," Beinion suggested.
Aragorn shook his head. "I do not agree with that. If someone serves me well they should serve as long as they like and as long as they remain beneficial to the Realm."
"You will have to handle this with tact," I said. "You should talk with those you are removing or replacing individually and explain to them your reasoning."
Aragorn nodded. "That will be an unpleasant task, but you are probably right."
"I think you should be done with the transitions before the New Year," I added. "We should not mar the celebrations with this."
Those around the table nodded their agreement. Later when we rose to go our separate ways, I went to bed with a sense of dread for the coming months.
"It will all be fine," Aragorn said, wrapping his arms around me as I stood at my vanity and removed my earrings. He pressed a kiss to the nape of my neck.
"And if it is not?" I returned, meeting his gaze in the mirror.
"That is not something to think about tonight." His hands were firm on my hips and he pulled me against him, kissing my neck and shoulder, pushing my dress to the floor.
His hands went to the hem of my slip and he pulled it over my head so that we were both looking at my naked body in the mirror.
Aragorn kneaded my breasts and bit gently at my neck. "What would you like for your birthday, my Queen?"
"You," I replied, turning in his arms and kissing him deeply, burying my fingers in my hair. I pulled in away. "You without your clothes," I corrected.
Aragorn laughed and pulled his tunic and cotton undershirt over his head. My fingers nimbly untied the laces of his breeches. Without removing them all the way, he turned me so I was once more facing the mirror and he pushed gently on my back so I was leaning over the vanity.
I stared at him hungrily until he pushed into me. My chin fell to my chest as he began to move. One of his rough hands held onto my hip and the other continued to knead a breast.
"Look at me," he growled and I did, meeting his grey eyes once more in the mirror. I bit my bottom lip and moaned at his long strokes.
The table shook under my hands as he began to move with more of a purpose. He continued to grip my hip, but the other hand moved into my hair, pulling it hard enough to expose my throat to his lips and teeth.
I felt myself losing focus as all of the different sensations began to overwhelm me. "Yes," I said, louder than I intended.
"Sshh," Aragorn whispered.
The tickling at my earlobe sent me over the edge and I crumpled onto the vanity as Aragorn finished.
It was only then that he kicked his boots and breeches off. He lifted me into his arms and gently deposited me in our bed, pressing a long kiss to my lips.
ooooOoooo
What followed were some of the most exhausting months of our marriage, if not our lives altogether. Aragorn went forward with filling his council with those he respected and admired and ridding himself of those he did not as soon as we returned to Minas Tirith.
There was widespread outrage among the old families and Aragorn spent many hours explaining himself to those members of our court and nobility.
I felt as though I did not see my husband until the New Year celebration. I handled the boys on my own and only rarely did we see Aragorn for a meal. Both boys asked me where he was and over and over again I had to tell them he was just very busy.
There were murmurings of unrest throughout the court. What I did not hear myself, Vanya brought to me. There seemed to be no real threat, but if felt as it had when I had first arrived. Everywhere I went there was whispering and grumbling.
One night a week before the New Year celebration, Aragorn came to our rooms just after both boys had gone to sleep. It was the earliest I had seen him since we returned to Minas Tirith.
"It is done," he said, flopping backwards on our bed.
I laid next to him and laid my head on his chest. "And?"
"Not many are happy with me," he said. "But it will pass."
"You do not think there will be any major issues to come from this?" I asked hesitantly.
I felt Aragorn shake his head. "No. Those men are not the type to cause trouble for fear of the consequences. Even for a good cause they were not particularly brave."
I laughed lightly.
"How are preparations for the celebration?" he asked, standing up and pulling his tunic over his head and kicking his boots off.
"Everything is settled as far as I know," I replied, standing as well and turning the covers down for us.
"Well then we should not think of these things and enjoy the celebration. And of course, Shuk's birthday."
"I cannot hardly believe that he will be three," I sighed, sinking into the mattress and rolling to face Aragorn as he settled on his side of the bed.
He merely kissed my lips gently and pulled me against his chest, falling asleep quickly.
ooooOoooo
The New Year came and went and it was one of the more unenjoyable events I had endured since arriving in Minas Tirith. Everyone was tense after the changes Aragorn had made to his council. No one was outright hostile, but many were as rude as they could be while still within the bounds of court etiquette. Those who had been snubbed talked through the entirety of Aragorn's speech and I was so distracted that I had no idea what he had even said. I remember clapping when he sat down.
Luckily, there were those who supported my husband and who had been added to the council. And there were those that had not been added, but were new to the nobility and would always think very highly of Aragorn.
Regardless, I was glad when the event was over. Aragorn insisted that we stay later than we ever had before to show that we were not intimidated or regretting the decisions he had made. Many of the younger set spoke with him and despite everything else there was a gleam in his eye as we made our way to bed. I was practically dead on my feet.
ooooOoooo
Two days later, we met with the new council for the first time.
None of them seemed surprised that I was joining them. Some seemed rather nervous to be in the council chambers. I hoped it would go away. Aragorn had been very careful in choosing his new council and I trusted that, trying to remember how intimidated I had been by the whole idea when Aragorn had required my presence.
The first meeting was intended to be very long as Aragorn filled the new council members in on everything they would need to be aware of. We talked of Arnor, the coming planting season, and the status of the treasury among many other topics. I spoke at length about my work with the orphanage and other social services I would like to see expanded upon in the White City.
The men nodded their agreement as I spoke and Aragorn touched my leg lightly under the table. There were many things I wanted to see happen in our city, but I knew we were on the right track.
As I was finishing up, the door flew open and banged against the wall, causing most of the men to leap to their feet, reaching for the small blades they carried in the palace.
"I apologize, Your Majesties," the breathless servant said. "But you must come quickly. It is the Crown Prince."
Aragorn was out of the door before I could even get to my feet. We sprinted down the hallways back to our chambers. I could not catch my breath and I felt as though I might be sick, worried that Arathorn had hurt himself somehow.
I was not far off. When we burst into the nursery, Lady Belethiel was sitting on the edge of the bed, dabbing at his face with a rag.
"He took ill this morning, Your Majesties," she said, worry etched on her face. "I put him down for a nap thinking it was nothing more than a slight fever, but it has only gotten worse."
Arathorn had been sleeping it seemed until we had come in.
"Send for all of my healing things," Aragorn said sharply to the servant who had fetched us. "Damrod and Duinhir know where they are."
"Mama," Arathorn said weakly. My heart broke to hear his voice without its normal strident tone.
I took Lady Belethiel's place, leaning over my son and brushing his curls away from his damp forehead. He tried to reach up for me and so I gathered him into my arms holding him close.
"My head hurts, Mama," he said quietly, face burrowed in my neck. I could feel the heat emanating from my son through his sleeping shirt.
"I know," I murmured. "Papa will make you feel better," I promised.
I looked up at Aragorn whose face had gone pale and drawn.
"You should go, Mareke. I do not want you catching ill as well," he said.
"I am not leaving him." I whispered fiercely. Arathorn tightened his grip around my neck.
"Lady Belethiel, please tend to Adnan until further notice, but if you begin to feel ill let us know immediately so we can at least keep him healthy," Aragorn said.
Our nurse nodded and left to tend to our eldest.
I laid Arathorn down once more, taking up the cool rag and mopping at his face.
The servant Aragorn had sent off came back into the room with a few bags full of Aragorn's herbs and salves. He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and then began to rummage through his things.
Kneeling next to the bed, Aragorn laid his hand on his son's forehead. "Does anything else hurt, Arathorn?"
Whimpering, the boy shook his head.
Aragorn went back to his supplies and drew out a salve that he then rubbed on Arathron's chest, soles of his feet, and temples.
In the dead of winter, illnesses were rampant in Minas Tirith, but in the palace we tried to remain isolated from them. All of us had suffered colds over the years, but for the most part we had avoided anything worse. Our luck had seemingly run out.
Eventually, Arathorn drifted back to sleep. I could not take my eyes off of him though. "Will he be alright?"
Aragorn was silent for a moment. "I believe so. If we can keep his fever under control."
I nodded. Neither of us made any move to leave the room.
Throughout the rest of the afternoon, we monitored his temperature, but he only seemed to be getting hotter.
"What do we do?" I asked Aragorn.
Without a word, my husband began to strip our son out of his sleeping shirt, before stripping down himself.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting him in a cool bath," he replied.
I followed when the bath was ready. Aragorn sucked in his breath as the water enveloped him and Arathorn's eyes shot open and he began to wail.
"Comfort him," Aragorn ordered, as Arathron began to struggle in his arms, trying to get to me.
I knelt next to the tub and ran my fingers through his hair and stroked his cheeks. "You are alright," I said gently. "I am right here. Papa is right here." I used the most soothing voice I could muster given the situation. "This will make you feel better. You must relax, my love."
With my arm extended over the tub, I could feel just how cold the water was. Aragorn splashed water on his son's back as the boy clung to him, occasionally trying to reach for me.
"How does he feel?" Aragorn asked after a quarter of an hour.
"A little better," I said, pressing a hand to Arathorn's forehead. All of the fight had gone out of our son and he looked at me with his weary eyes, head resting on his father's shoulder.
"I do not want to keep him in here too long." Aragorn shifted to hand me our son, who I wrapped tightly in a fluffy towel. "Take him back to his bed, pile all of his blankets on him, and have the servants stoke the fire. We must break this fever."
I nodded and left the washroom, doing as Aragorn said. My son's teeth were chattering as I wrapped him tightly in all of the blankets I could find in the nursery. The fire was roaring in the grate and I began to sweat.
Once more though, Arathorn drifted into a fitful sleep.
"Rest," Aragorn said. "I will watch over him for a while." By then the sun had long since set.
I nodded and slipped from my dress, but instead of going to my own room, I laid next to Arathorn.
I was not sure if minutes had passed or hours when I woke to the sound of Arathorn crying. "My belly, Mama, my belly," he whimpered.
Aragorn was sitting in a chair he had pulled up at the foot of the bed. It looked as though he had dozed off, but was waking as well, just in time to see Arathorn roll toward the edge of the bed and empty the contents of his stomach onto the floor.
"Oh my love," I murmured, rubbing his back as he retched and retched until there was absolutely nothing left. He was alarmingly hot as I had my hands on his face and back.
Aragorn had leapt to his feet going to send for a servant to clean the mess and bring an empty bucket.
No sooner had my son relaxed in my arms, then I felt his little body tense and begin convulsing. I freed myself from the covers and knelt over him, body still shaking in my hands. "No, no, no," I said over and over again. The shaking finally stopped and his dark eyes rolled back in his head.
Aragorn had rushed over to the edge of the bed.
"Arathorn," I said, taking him by the shoulders and trying to wake him. Panic settled over me as my son remained unresponsive.
I looked to Aragorn frantically. "Do something!"
There you have it! This one covered a lot. I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think. No hate comments or flames please.
Happy reading,
Avonmora