DISCLAIMER: IF YOU'VE GOTTEN TWO EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS THAT I'VE UPLOADED THIS CHAPTER, IT'S BECAUSE I ADDED SOMETHING TO THE END. I MADE A MISTAKE AND THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT IT IN A LATER UPDATE, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK SO HERE IT IS! I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION AND/OR ANNOYANCE.

Happy Monday everyone! I'm posting this very early this morning to help get your week started right. And to help anyone else who is struggling with Daylight Saving Time like I am. I hope you enjoy this update! I enjoyed writing this one. It's a little more fluffy than the last, as I know some readers were concerned with the state of things for our royal family in the last chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Four (Aragorn)

I woke up the morning of the New Year's celebration tense.

The months since Mareke and I had returned from Rohan had been grueling and I was not sure there was an end in sight, though Faramir daily assured me that the situation was becoming better.

With his help the crops and livestock due to Minas Tirith had been brought into the city, though my men who still remained loyal and who had been sent into the countryside reported that those near treasonous nobles had shown no remorse for their actions.

Many small matters were still being gridlocked in my council chambers even though I was present for every meeting.

I sighed and rolled over to see that Mareke was no longer in bed. As the celebration was that very night, I had no meetings to attend during the day, which I was grateful for.

Slowly, I rose from the bed though I had no desire to greet the day, meetings or no.

Mareke was sitting at the dining table, Shuk on her lap examining a spoon very closely.

"Where is Adnan?" I asked by way of greeting, pulling a platter of fruit towards me.

"Legolas took him to the gardens," she replied absentmindedly. She was making final adjustments to some document or another pertaining to the night's celebration.

I had offered my time to Adnan over and over again for whatever activity he preferred, but he had not accepted once.

"What are you working on?" I asked, peering over the table to see some sort of sketch.

"A seating chart."

"Seating chart?" I repeated. So far as I knew we had never used one before.

"Lady Ioreth has suggested that it might be helpful. In our negligence, certain families have been offended due to important seating being taken by by other nobles, mostly by those appointed to the nobility after the War."

There had been a few men who I had bestowed titles and land upon after their selfless and courageous acts during the fighting.

"Those men I appointed may sit wherever they like," I scoffed. "They fought gallantly. None from the old families donned their armor and joined me on Pelennor Field." I snatched the paper so quickly that both Mareke and Shuk jumped.

The fire was blazing and I strode toward it, crumpling the parchment as I went. It was devoured quickly by the flames and I watched until it was ash.

When I turned, Mareke was staring at me, lips pressed into a thin line.

"Those men can sit wherever they damn well please, "I repeated before I went back to our bedchambers to fetch my cloak and gloves.

Legolas had been working with Adnan since just after Shuk's birth on his archery and it had quickly become one of the boy's favorite pastimes.

As I entered the garden I heard the thud of an arrow hitting the target.

"Take a step back," Legolas said to Adnan as I stepped into the clearing.

The target they were using had a smattering of arrows in it already, several of them close to the center.

I watched silently for half an hour. When Adnan landed an arrow close enough to the center, Legolas would have him take another step back.

He had done so three times when his arms began to shake and the arrows landed further and further from the center of the target.

"You have exhausted yourself, little prince," I said, stepping forward.

Legolas, of course, had noticed my presence.

If Adnan was surprised to see me, he showed no sign as he glared. "No, I have not."

As though to prove his point, he held his hand out for Legolas to give him another arrow. The Elf did so and Adnan strung it in his small bow.

With some difficulty, I noted, he pulled the arrow back and let it fly.

It barely made it onto the target at all.

Adnan did not turn to face me and I knew I should not feel as I did in that moment, almost arrogant, but I did.

On top of everything I was facing from my nobles and councilors, Adnan had not come around to his mother or I. We had continued on as Lady Belethiel had suggested, making no concessions for his behavior, but he continued to act out.

"Time to go inside," I said firmly.

The boy huffed, but followed me. We returned to Mareke and I's chambers where lunch was waiting.

Adnan sat at the far end of the table and began piling food on his plate, trying to finish his meal and retreat to his room as soon as possible.

Since we had returned, Lady Belethiel had also suggested that Adnan have his own room. He was nearing his seventh birthday and it made sense for him to move out of the nursery that he slept in since his arrival to Minas Tirith at the age of three. It would allow him to feel a bit more like a growing boy, especially as he had been sharing it with Shuk.

I left him and found Mareke in her study, busy writing a letter as Shuk practiced his crawling. Unbeknownst to his mother, he had crawled over to a tall vase that sat on the floor and was reaching out to push it when I scooped him up. He gave me a gummy grin, as though he had known he was doing something he should not have and I could not help but smile as well.

"He is getting into everything," Mareke sighed and stood. She came over and pinched Shuk's chubby leg until he was squealing and belly laughing, squirming in my arms.

Mareke put one of her small, soft hands to my cheek. "A smile from you too?"

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "While I am hiding in here. Your son is in a mood."

She closed her eyes briefly. "He has been in a mood for over two months." She looked up at me in mock seriousness. "What if the mood is permanent?"

I chuckled. "Then we will have to hide in here forever." I shook my head. "Lady Belethiel assures us that is not the case though."

Mareke straightened and pulled her shoulders back as though she were going into battle and not to face her six year old son.

When we emerged back into the dining room, Adnan was attempting to sneak out the door, leaving a half full plate.

"Where do you think you are going?" Mareke asked and he froze, back to his mother. "Sit back down and finish your lunch."

Adnan turned and folded his arms across his chest, defiance in the gaze he bestowed upon his mother. "I do not have to."

"You do not?" she returned, arching one of her dark brows.

Adnan shook his head. "No. I can do whatever I want. I am a Prince."

It was Mareke's turn to freeze and I feared an eruption. Shuk had stopped gurgling happily in my arms and was watching the scene attentively as though he understood what was happening.

"And I am a Queen." Mareke walked around the table toward her son. "In my mind though, those titles are irrelevant and should not be thrown around as a justification for poor behavior." She crouched before him so he was forced to look into her dark eyes. "If I ever hear you or hear of you talking in such a privileged and entitled manner again you will be forbidden from going to the stables, the practice rings, and practicing your archery for two weeks. Do you understand me?"

Adnan looked away from Mareke. She took his chin in her hand firmly and guided it so he was looking at her once more.

"Do you understand me?" she repeated.

"Yes," he said, barely audible.

"Finish your lunch and then you will stay in your rooms until it is time to prepare for the celebration tonight."

Mareke came to me and lifted Shuk into her own arms. "Could you make sure he does as he is told?" she asked. "I am going to feed this one."

Mareke had often nursed Shuk in front of Adnan. She had always said that someday he would be a husband and a father and she did not want him to be one of those men who was uncomfortable with the functionality of a woman's body. However, that afternoon I could tell she wanted to be away from her eldest. There was a look of concern on her face and perhaps the slightest look of disgust after hearing his words.

I nodded and after she had disappeared into the bedroom, sat down across from Adnan.

He was aggressively spearing the vegetables on his plate with his fork and shoving them into his mouth.

Though she had begun to act otherwise in the past few months, I knew that Adnan's behavior was breaking her heart. Never in his short life had he treated her as he continued to then. He ignored her presence when he had once clung to her, sought her out above all others, needed her.

I did not know if I should say anything to him. His use of his rank and title had made me cringe as well and Mareke had been more than right to scold him.

The child that was sitting across from me did not at all resemble the little boy who had come to Gondor all those years ago.

I remained silent. There was not much to add to what Mareke had said.

When Adnan rose, I did as well and placed my hands on his shoulders, preventing him from going into his room.

"Your mother and I love you very much, Adnan," I said quietly, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. "I hope you know that."

He looked up at me and for the first time in months there was some softness in his gaze. However he did not return the sentiment and freed himself from my hands, going into his room.

With a sigh, I turned and went into the bedroom. Mareke was nursing Shuk as after a while they had been able to resume their routines and no longer required the aid of a wet nurse. She seemed very far away though.

"Where did he learn that it was acceptable to throw his title around?" Mareke asked, not looking at me.

I kicked my boots off and sat on my side of the bed. I stroked the soft hair of my son absentmindedly as he greedily ate his fill. "I do not know, Mareke. He knows he does not live a normal life and that he is of some import both here and in Harad. It is natural for such a thing to occur I think."

She finally looked at me. "You do?"

"Of course. But you handled it well. And you are raising him to be without ego. His trips to the orphanage are helpful to that. The chores he does around here also help. He will learn and we must continue to be mindful of his words and actions."

She nodded, though she still seemed not entirely convinced that I spoke the truth.

After a long moment of silence, Mareke looked down at Shuk. "I would not turn down a nap either," she said. He had fallen asleep against her breast, milk leaking from his mouth. She straightened her dress, cleaned the babe and gently laid him between us.

I could not help but stare at him as he looked so entirely peaceful. I reached over him and pulled Mareke closer to me, resting my head against hers. I pressed a kiss to her temple and then we both slid down under the covers, not bothering to take Shuk to the nursery, falling asleep on either side of him, hands both resting on his rounded little belly.

ooooOoooo

The peace was much too short lived. After a few hours we were roused awake to dress and prepare for the New Year's celebration.

I was tense. The feeling had left me for a short while that afternoon, but it came back as it seemingly always did during those months.

Public appearances had gotten worse since Mareke and I had returned from Rohan. Our reception was even colder than usual when we went to public events or ate in our public dining room with the nobles.

But Mareke had taken the same stance she did with her son and insisted we act as though nothing was the matter.

I was waiting in the sitting room, holding Shuk and waiting for Adnan and Lady Belethiel as well as Mareke.

My feet were on the low table before the sofa and I had Shuk lying against the length of my thighs. He was staring at me with his gray eyes that Mareke said matched mine.

Since he was crawling and able to move about on his own it was harder to catch him in his pensive moods. But in that instance he seemed content to just lay and observe me. I wondered very much what he was thinking.

"Quite the kingly pose," Mareke said as she entered the room.

Shuk immediately turned his head in the direction of his mother's voice and he squirmed, raising his arms.

Mareke came over and lifted him into her arms.

"Well this is the pose I enjoy the most," I said smiling up at the pair, standing up and straightened the heavy, embroidered tunic. I put a hand on Mareke's waist and pulled her close to me, pressing a kiss to her soft cheek. "You look lovely," I said, looking down at her.

She looked different. While she had not gone back to the traditional Gondoran clothing in light of everything going on, her dresses leaned more toward that look. She had her heavy golden crown on, not one of the lighter more flattering ones of Gimli's creation.

A moment later, Adnan came out of his room followed by Lady Belethiel.

I sighed. "I suppose we must go then."

Mareke nodded and the group of us left the safety of our chambers and to the great hall.

When we entered, the hall fell silent. We took our seats at the high table and Shuk was handed off to Lady Belethiel who took him back nearly immediately. The people wanted to see him and so Mareke always brought him to the public events we attended, though he was taken to bed soon after we sat down each time.

I brought my full wine goblet to my lips and drank deeply. The last thing I wanted to do was stand before the nobles and give a speech. I had thought over it constantly, but could not come up with anything to say.

Everyone was looking at me expectantly though. The feast could not begin until I had spoken.

Mareke gave my leg a gentle squeeze under the table and I stood grudgingly, clearing my throat.

"First off," I began. "I would like to thank all of you for attending tonight's festivities. We have enjoyed another plentiful year and I am happy to share some of that excess with you all as we celebrate tonight." The lie caused a physical pain in my chest. I had always prided myself on my honesty and standing before some of my people that night and saying things that I did not believe was very disagreeable to me.

"As many of you know, this has been a difficult year on several fronts. This has been a year of learning for me. This has been a year of roadblocks and adversity. The Queen and I have had some hand in creating this, but we have also worked very hard to do our best for this Realm. With the dawning of this new year,we hope to continue that work with all of you. Our hope for this year is to improve upon what we have already built and see how this Realm can move into the future. We cannot do this without your support and contribution. We cannot continue on as we have. There is no need for that. Some things must change, but many of the old traditions will stay the same. That is the way of things as the years pass."

I looked around the room to see the faces staring back at me. There were a few smiling faces, those of the younger councilors, but everyone had looks upon their faces bordering upon the hostile.

"Now let us celebrate the year that we have had with the food that has been provided by many of you." I left out that most of the food had not been brought into the city willingly. I raised my wine goblet. "To the new year! And to Gondor and Arnor!"

I sat down once more and drained the goblet completely, reaching for the pitcher to fill it once more, drinking again. There was a smattering of applause from the younger set, but other than that the only sound was people filling their plates.

I glanced sideways at Mareke who had not said anything, nor reached out to touch me. "You do not approve of the message?"

She sighed and looked at me. "Perhaps it could have been delivered with more grace and tact."

"I am through with catering to them," I replied. I ate little that was on my plate and instead continued to drink the and I did not converse throughout the meal. After half an hour the musicians came out and began playing.

"My Queen," I said, standing and holding a hand out for her to take so we could start the dancing.

She stood as well and put her hand in mine. I led her to the floor. We remained in silence as I led her around the dancefloor.

"I do not want to stay very late," I murmured, leaning down. My lips lingered on her earlobe.

"Aragorn," Mareke said, seemingly shocked that I would insinuate my desire on the dancefloor in the middle of a public event.

My hands travelled lower on her waist and I pulled her into me. "Grant me this one concession," I whispered.

Mareke turned her face so her cheek was pressed to mine. I felt her body relax under my hands. "Fine."

We stayed long enough to speak with Faramir and Eowyn as well as Vanya and Beinion, but within two hours of the celebration starting we were on our way back to our chambers.

Lady Belethiel saw Adnan to bed and Mareke and I disappeared into our chambers.

When she turned around to face me, I was already upon her, kissing her hungrily, hands pulling her flush against my body.

She gasped against my lips at the fervor of my desire for her. "What has gotten into you?" she asked as I kissed her neck and pushed her dress from her shoulders so it pooled around her feet.

"I want you,"I said, cupping her breasts and moving both of us back toward the bed.

I pulled my tunic and undershirt over my head, kicking my boots off as I pushed Mareke so she fell onto the bed. Perhaps it was the wine or perhaps it was the pent up aggression I was feeling after being around my nobles, but I needed my wife as I could not remember ever having needed her before.

I moved her so that she was lying on her stomach before I crawled in the bed, spreading her legs and entering her without much preamble. Mareke gave a startled gasp, but after I began moving within her, her back arched into me.

I buried a hand in her hand and pulled, drawing her head back so the dark column of her throat was exposed. I kissed her neck, causing her to moan. With my other hand I grasped her hip with more force than I intended.

Being with Mareke allowed me to forget all that happened in the last few months and that very night.

I reached underneath her body and kneaded her breasts, my chest pressed to her back as I moved with a forceful pace. I could feel my pleasure peaking as I drove into her pliant body. She was panting beneath me.

I shuddered and bit down on Mareke's shoulder as she cried out, body tensing beneath mine in her own moment of ecstasy.

We did not say a word to one another, exhausted from the carnal episode we had shared.

In the morning, I woke to sunlight pouring into the room. I had a slight headache from my overindulgence the night before. I looked over to Mareke, who was sleeping soundly, her face peaceful. The sheet was low on her hips and I frowned when I saw the bruises on her hips. I looked at her chest and there were faint markings there as well.

I ran my fingers over her body much more gently than I had the night before. She shifted under my touch and blinked her dark eyes open, studying me for a moment in silence. "I am not sure I am ready to lie with you again just yet," she said with a drowsy smile.

I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her full lips. "I am still recovering myself."

ooooOoooo

A month later, Faramir came into my study. He and Eowyn had not returned to Ithilien as things were still unsteady in Minas Tirith.

He dropped a stack of documents on my desk. "Everything has gone through," he said, smiling in his gentle way.

"What?"

"All of the initiatives you wanted taken care of since before and after your trip to Rohan have been approved by the council."

"Why?" I said automatically. "What caused the change in their attitude?"

Faramir shrugged. "I honestly have no idea. Perhaps we should not question it."

I nodded and shuffled through the stack of parchment. Information on the laws I wanted to be changed were there and tables outlining the state of the treasury and reports on how money could be moved around. Signatures from all of my council members gave approval for measures I wanted to take to ensure for safety provisions in the city and around the Realm that they had previously touted as frivolous and unnecessary.

"Perhaps we should not," I agreed. I looked back up at him. "If this continues for another month, you and Eowyn should return to Ithilien."

Faramir nodded. "Let us hope it continues on in this manner."

That evening, Mareke and I were sitting at our dining table. Adnan had eaten and been excused to return to his room and Shuk was sitting in Mareke's lap, playing with a few pieces of bread she had torn into small bites for him to eat.

"I have a request for my birthday," I said, leaning back in my chair as I finished eating.

Mareke raised a brow in my direction.

"I would like to go the King's retreat in Anorien."

"I did not know there was such a thing," she replied.

"There is. It is very small and private."

She thought for a moment, weighing her words. "The last time we left the court we returned to disarray. Is it wise to go away again so soon?"

I smiled. "I think we are moving past that time." I let that linger for a moment before continuing. "Everything that I have wanted done has been signed and brought to me. We are moving forward on changing a few of the laws and moving treasury funds around."

"Really?" Mareke asked excitedly. "That is wonderful news."

"Indeed," I responded. "Faramir and I cannot figure out why the change in my councilors, but it has finally happened. Perhaps they are tired of being stubborn just for the sake of being stubborn. Perhaps they have realized that I aim to improve this Realm." I reached for her hand across the table and gave it a squeeze. "Whatever the reason, I am glad for it. So I would like to go away to celebrate this achievement and my birthday. With just the three of you. No servants, no nurses, guards posted outside of the retreat."

"If you wish," she finally agreed, smiling softly. Shuk clapped his chubby hands.

ooooOoooo

My birthday dinner was a fiasco. When I had requested we go without servants, I had not thought to the fact that my cooking abilities stopped at anything outside of cooking over a campfire. And apparently, Mareke had never picked up the skill.

We both laughed as we attempted to make a suitable meal. We ended up with a sort of stew that did not taste quite right, but was edible enough.

Adnan had not been very pleased with it, but overall while we had been away he had been happier. He was free to roam about as he pleased. There was a forest near to the small retreat and he went there on his horse most days, guards trailing him from a ways away.

I had never remembered feeling so blissful or at peace since I had taken the throne. I indulged in a few goblets of wine as we ate and sat up late, talking and laughing more than it seemed we had ever had time to before. The boys were asleep in their respectful rooms.

Mareke sat next to me on the sofa before the fire and I had an arm draped over her shoulders. "Let's go to bed," I murmured, kissing her jaw and neck.

"Tired, Your Majesty?" she asked, looking up at me.

"Not quite." I stood and pulled her with me to our small bedroom.

The retreat was nothing at all like our palace in Minas Tirith. It was the size of a regular house, truly just a cottage. I loved it.

That night I took her gently, in quite the contrast to the night after the new year's celebration.

"Aragorn," she moaned my name into my neck. She stroked my hair and wrapped her dark legs around my hips.

When we were finished, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her against my side. "Thank you for another amazing birthday."

I had almost fallen asleep when I felt her shift and prop her chin on my bare chest. "Aragorn," she said quietly.

"Hmmm?" I asked, drowsily.

"I must tell you something."

"It must be important if it has kept you from sleeping," I mused, eyes still closed.

"I am with child."

I felt myself smiling before I opened my eyes. They adjusted in the darkness and I reached up to push her wild curls away from her face. "Mareke," I whispered. "That is the best birthday gift I have ever received."

I moved so that she was on her back and I was looking down at her. My hand moved to her cheek and I kissed her on the mouth soundly.

"When will the child be here? How far along are you?"

"I think it has been about two months. We can expect their appearance in October." She stared up at me with her big, brown eyes. "Are you happy? It could have been better timing with how unsettled things have been of late, I am afraid."

I shook my head. "Of course I am happy. Everything outside of our family is irrelevant." I kissed her forehead and then her cheeks and then did not stop kissing her face until she was giggling. "I want to fill the palace in Minas Tirith with our children."

"At this rate, we are on pace to do just that," she laughed.

My hand travelled down to her still flat smile slipped from my face and I felt somberness settled over me.

"This time will be different," I promised. "No one will hurt you this time."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down for a kiss. "I know," she whispered. "I know."

ooooOoooo

We returned to Minas Tirith and fell back into a normal routine, but the thought of another child lingered in the back of my mind and caused me to smile at the most random of times. Mareke had been seeing the young healer who had helped her after Shuk was born and things were going so much more smoothly this time.

One night, I came back late from my office to find our rooms silent, the boys being asleep and Mareke not in the sitting room. I walked into our bedchamber and did not immediately see her. As I looked around, I found her standing on the terrace overlooking the garden in her silk nightgown she had had made after the last shipment had come from Harad.

I silently walked behind her and slipped my hand around her waist. She jumped slightly, but quickly relaxed into my touch. Her hands covered mine on the small bump that was already showing a bit.

"You are going to catch a cold," I murmured against her warm neck. "Come to bed." I turned her in my arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She acquiesced and I pulled her back into the bedroom. She tucked herself in and I changed into my sleeping shirt.

"How have you been feeling?" I asked, as she pressed her back against my chest and I wrapped my arms around her.

"Tired," she said quietly. "But fine."

My hand once more went to the very small bump.

It was much later that night when I was woken abruptly. There was a loud clap of thunder and then I heard running feet. Our bedroom door flew open and Adnan came running in, terrified.

"Mama! Mama! Mama!" he exclaimed. He took a leap over the footboard of our bed and bounced toward Mareke who had startled awake when the door slammed.

"Easy!" I exclaimed, sitting up and reaching out an arm before he could collide with his mother.

When I had restrained him, Mareke sat up and reached her arms out to him. He buried his face in her neck. "You are alright. You are safe in here with me," she promised. "I know the thunder is frightening."

She looked at me with her dark eyes, over his head. He had not come to her in months. Tears were in her eyes. Adnan was clinging to her as she stroked his dark curls. I gave her a gentle smile.

There was another loud clap of thunder and Adnan yelped and flattened his body against hers.

In the nursery, Shuk began to wail, also startled awake.

"I tend to the other one," I said, standing up and heading into the nursery.

Shuk's face was red and screwed up. I lifted him gently from his cradle and held him against my chest. I had not held him in such a way in a long time, he was getting quite big.

I rubbed his small back gently, murmuring to him that everything was alright, that he was safe.

Shuk cried for a few moments longer until he was just hiccuping and fussing slightly.

Instead of putting him back in his cradle and returning to my own bed, I found myself settling in the rocking chair that Mareke had often occupied to nurse our son.

As I rocked slowly, I could not take my eyes away from my son in the dim light. He was looking at me intently and though many people claimed that he was an exact replica of me, if not a little darker, I could see Mareke in his eyes that had gone from baby blue, to gray, to nearly pitch black.

It was not just the color though. Shuk's eyes were soft with contentment when he was in his mother's arms, but they could be stubborn as well. He gave me the same looks she did when I deterred him from getting into things he should not or told him no.

If he was more similar to me, there were parts of the child that contained his mother's stubbornness and occasional ferocity. I knew my hands would be full as he grew up and the heat of Harad in his blood made its presence known.

For a moment, he looked up at me angrily, as though it were my fault he had been startled awake. Eventually, the rocking caused him to sigh and cuddle against my chest, though he continued to look up at me.

I found myself looking back down at him, uncertain how I had gotten to such a place in my life. How had everything come together so that I was awake long after midnight, rocking perhaps the most improbable child I could have had a hand in conceiving?

My life had been full of such twists and turns and even the decisions I had been the most confident in had not always panned out how I had anticipated.

And so I found myself staring down at a child who had all of my features, but darker.

I wondered what his life would look like. What it would be like to grow up in the Realm he was going to rule one day? What would it feel like to be raised under that pressure and expectation?

I would ensure that he would not be watched so closely and that he would know the wild. I wanted him to be a child for as long as possible, but I knew he would grow up too fast. All children did.

There had been a time when my life had been so uncertain, but as I rocked my son I knew that some things in both of our futures would be for certain.

He would explore all around him. There would be injuries from falling out of a tree or riding a horse too fast.

There would be fights. There always were for growing boys. He would come back to his mother and I trying to hide the tears from a bruised eye or split lip. Though I hated to think of it, those first fights as an adolescent would lead to actual battles and skirmishes. I could do all in my power to teach him to promote peace, but no reign was ever completely free of strife. I could pray that he would see little of it.

There would be love in his life. He might meet a young woman from Gondor, Rohan, or even Harad. I remembered how much of a man I felt when dancing with a woman for the first time and holding the waist of the girl I had shared a kiss with for the first time.

I hoped he would find someone who could make him happy. Ideally, she would challenge him, but also bring comfort to him during the trying times of ruling. I hoped he would look to his own mother as example of what he should search for in a wife and Queen.

Shuk had dozed back to sleep in my arms and the thunder storm had passed, but still I did not deposit him back in his crib. Instead, I stood and brought us both back to mine and Mareke's room.

She and Adnan were fast asleep, him molded against her body and wrapped tightly in her arms. I hoped it signalled the end of the months of his stubbornness and stony silence.

Gently, I laid Shuk next to his brother, putting a pillow between the two before I laid down myself.

I drank in all three of them in turn. Adnan and Arathorn would never be so young again. Within the year we would be a family of five and everything would change once more. I wanted to remain in that moment for a while longer, with just the four us, everyone resting peacefully, but I could not keep my eyes open and I fell into a deep sleep, hand resting on Shuk's rounded little belly.

There you have it! Let me know what you think! I love your reviews, even if they are constructive. Definitely send any ideas you have for the royal family my way. I've got the backbone of the fic planned out, but always love to hear what little snippets you'd like to see.

Happy reading,

Avonmora