A/N Momentum, we are trying to keep it. Must. Get. To. Dwarves.

Back to work tomorrow, hopefully we can keep the brainpower going despite that. Fingers crossed!

Also, hehe...heheheheeeeeeee.

Enjoy!

The light mood they'd found by the Anduin turned stale as they cut north east between Emyn Muil and the Dead Marshes. The land was dry and craggy to their left and hazy to their right. Scouts had to be sent ahead to check their path and ensure they wouldn't walk into a mire. Everyone seemed to be a little uneasy until they passed the marshes. They were a dark place, even without Sauron's presence to the south, and they could all feel it. At the slow pace of their company, it took them three days.

But then they came out into the Wilderland and it opened up into a soft, hilly plain patched with trees and forests, their road for the next few weeks as they turned north.

With so many people traveling, it necessitated a slower pace that left time in the evenings to rest while the sun was still low in the sky.

Boromir grinned several feet from her, knees loose and ready with his sword in his hand. "You have improved, little sister."

She twirled her sword like a taunt and grinned back. "Had to." She struck, he parried, and she dodged. She rolled over her shoulder experimentally, kicking up dust in the dirt patch they'd found to practice in. She popped up to his left and almost caught his knee before he blocked her and they kept on. The roll had been so smooth she almost forgot to check in with herself afterwards, finding it hadn't hurt in the slightest.

Spurred by her tested flexibility she picked up her pace, becoming bolder in her attacks. This of course, only goaded Boromir to do the same and she started to sweat.

"Were you holding out on me this whole time?" She panted.

He chuckled. "I thought it best to first build your confidence. Am I not still commanded to train you as my own men?"

She stepped back a couple feet as he came at her with more fervor, feeling strong again and rising to his challenge. She gained those feet back and then some with several smooth blows. It was almost like old times, except now they were a little more closely matched. Evenly matched? Never. But it was closer than before.

"And don't you ever forget it." She agreed.

Flutes played from several of the campfires that were popping up around the camp and the bustle of cooking and the huffs of horses filled the air around them.

He was gaining on her, closing the space between them until she only had a few ways out. With a quick snap she got his blade out of her way and spun around him, backing up several more feet to get space again.

The fight was finally getting the best of her and she raised her hand to call a pause as she bent over her knees to catch her breath.

He kept his distance with a knowing smirk. "Oh no, I'm not falling for this again. I'll stay well out of your range."

"Just gimme a minute." She laughed distractedly. The spin threw her off, something she was apparently not fully ready for yet. Her head clearing she straightened again and took a deep breath. "I'm not always trying for the upper hand you know."

"I don't condemn it, except when I'm the one of falling on my arse."

Josephine pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes for a second, feeling her balance off again as she did. When she opened her eyes he'd lost his grin and took a step towards her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah." She said quickly. "Think I overdid it." It would pass, she knew it would, she just needed a second.

"Halbarad!" He called over to the ranger who'd taken the opportunity of their training to rest beneath an ancient oak tree several yards away. "Would you fetch a waterskin?"

Josephine felt the world tilt a little as she turned her head and Boromir had her by the arms as it settled again.

"Dizzy." She mumbled, trying to hold as still as possible so it would pass. She'd stayed hydrated today, it couldn't be that. Was she really still suffering the toll of the journey? Either way, she couldn't pass out here, not in front of a dozen soldiers and whoever else was nearby. As soon as one knew, the whole camp would know and before she knew what hit her they'd be thinking she was on death's door from the strain of travel. "I'll be fine, just help me back to the tent. I'll pretend I wrenched my ankle or something."

He stepped away long enough to sheath his sword and help her with hers and that was enough time for her to start wavering again.

Aragorn had been checking on Roheryn and Galador when a commotion came over the camp like a wave, closely followed by several voices calling for him. Hand on the hilt of his sword he took off at a run, pushing past others heading towards an old oak on the other side of camp. A soldier called for a growing crowd to make way and for a second, he could have been standing back at Morannon once again.

His heart dropped as Boromir bent over Josephine's prone form. "Boromir-" He fell to his knees beside her and pressed his palm to her forehead.

"She was fine and then she fell ill- dizzy she said." Boromir answered worriedly. "She was fine, Aragorn."

Josephine had gone pale, colorless against his hand as he said her name. It was only a few moments before she began to come to and he was able to take a breath. Too much physical strain, she likely pushed herself too hard too quickly. That was what he had to believe or he would begin to worry too deeply.

"The fuck-" She muttered. "Did I pass out?"

Boromir gave a nervous chuckle of relief. "And frightened me so badly I nearly joined you."

Halbarad came up and handed him a waterskin, then took Aragorn's silent nod towards the crowd and left to clear them out.

"Alright, her majesty will be fine. Not enough water was all. Back to your duties."

"In front of the men?" She groaned weakly.

Humor, always a relief to him in such times when she was able to give it. "Do not trouble yourself with the men, Halbarad will see to them. Come." He pulled her arm around his neck and picked her up.

"We've gotta stop meeting like this.."

She was better with each moment and the hurry in his steps became more and more about getting her away from the eyes of the camp and less about seeing to how she was faring. He could tell it had been brief, and given their short time in the city before she was once again traveling he was not fully surprised that she may have taken things too far. It was Josephine, after all. She was as stubborn as she was determined.

Their guards held back the tend flaps as he and Boromir went inside and Ciril came up behind them before the flaps had a chance to be closed.

Aragorn laid her down on their bed and immediately had to place his hand on her shoulder as she went to sit up. "Rest a moment longer."

"I feel fine." She argued. "I'm fine."

Her frustrations were palpable and he dared say her embarrassment over the camp seeing was helping the blood return to her face.

She pushed his hand away and forced herself up, glaring at the three as they waited to see if she would pale again. She didn't, and for that he was grateful.

He opened his mouth to ask her what had happened when Ciril cleared her throat. Aragorn was not one to ignore Ciril's input and shut his mouth as he looked over at her.

"My lords, a moment with her majesty if you please."

Not a question, but an order. One he could overrule but didn't dare. He looked to Ciril, then to Josephine whose face was tightened into a self conscious frown. "Boromir, we shall let the others know she is well. Ciril, if she-"

"I will send you for, majesty." She nodded towards the door, another order.

Aragorn bent down and placed a kiss on Josephine's forehead, then turned to leave with Boromir behind him.

Josephine watched them leave, eyeing Ciril suspiciously. "I'm fine." She said firmly, not sure why she'd just banished the king and his steward.

But Ciril was…dare she say, happy?

"Yes, you are quite well, majesty." She let out a short hum of confirmation and helped her to her feet.

"I've never seen you look so much like the cat that caught the canary, what are you up to?" She narrowed her eyes. "Aragorn can't propose marriage to me twice, so out with it."

Ciril just grinned, and for some reason that made Josephine more nervous than if she'd been worried. "I had my suspicions but now-"

"You're freaking me out, what is going on?!"

Ciril didn't mince words…usually.

"My lady," She said, taking her hands. "I've watched the signs, you are with child!"

Josephine froze. Then brushed it off. "Ciril, I can't be, I haven't bled since Rivendell. We've talked about this."

"And why have you not bled, if your strength has returned?"

"Stress." She didn't want to get excited, not when there was no reason to think this was anything other than dehydration and Ciril's own wishful thinking. "I've been under a lot of it."

Ciril looked at her like she was being foolish and relented to having to explain. "Your back has pained you for days and your tunics have become tight across the you had not noticed, I've had to let them out in the past week."

She hadn't, but Ciril was always making adjustments to her clothing as she mended things. "Long days of riding and I've been putting weight back on after the journey."

"Majesty, do you think I do not know the body I have been dressing since before your marriage? Or one that carries a child? At my age? The changes are clear."

Josephine looked off to a corner of the tent to think over what Ciril was saying. Could she…well, it wasn't like they'd been particularly careful lately. But her cycle hadn't started back again…then again it hadn't taken this long after the war and she'd been badly injured to boot. But surely the physical strain of her injuries from this trip were worse than…almost dying of blood loss at the Black Gates… "Holy shit."