Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters; I am only borrowing them for fun for a little while. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Hurrying up the steps that led into the House, Aragorn tried to come up with anything that could have caused Arwen to send him such a message, but nothing came to mind. Turning towards their chambers, he quickened his pace and burst through the door. “Arwen?” he called looking frantically around their sitting room before walking into their bedchamber in search of his wife. Aragorn ran his hand through his hair in frustration when she was not in that room either. Spying the door to the garden open, he quickly slipped outside and made his way to their favorite bench beside a small fish pond. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Arwen sitting on the bench staring into the pond.
Dropping onto the bench alongside her, Aragorn took her hand in one of his and began caressing it gently while his other hand moved to her cheek, turning her face so he could see her eyes. “What is the matter, Arwen?” he asked softly. “Are you injured?”
Arwen shook her head, “No, Estel, I am not… injured.” She tightly squeezed his hand as she sought for the right words. As she noticed Aragorn looking alarmed she quickly continued. “I am just… I noticed something… different a few days ago. My body seemed to be changing and I was not sure why. I should have known,” she added almost absently, “I am almost three thousand years old and my father is… was one of the greatest healers on Middle-earth.”
“Arwen,” Aragorn growled. “You have not told me anything yet.” His eyes suddenly widened in understanding. “You are with child,” he whispered. A slow smile spread across his face and then widened into a grin at her nod. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly before pulling her against himself and wrapping his strong arms around her in a gentle embrace.
“You are pleased, then?”
Aragorn looked down at her in surprise. “Of course I am! It will be a wonderful thing to have a child. I only hope he or she looks like you,” he said teasingly, pressing a kiss into her hair.
“It will bring so many changes and I was concerned you would think it was too soon.”
“Of course there will be changes. But it will be an expression of our love for one another, Meleth-nín.”
“It is that,” Arwen murmured. “Now all we need do is wait… and come up with a name that is acceptable to both of us,” she laughed lightly and was quickly joined by the joyous laughter of the soon-to-be father.
Several peaceful moments passed as they watched the fish play and then Aragorn stirred and looked down at Arwen, “About that message you sent…”
Meleth-nín - my love
Written for the Middle-earth express challenge on the AragornAngst Yahoo board. Prompt #13 - Change.
Written for the Middle-earth express challenge on the AragornAngst Yahoo board. Prompt #13 - Change.