The Months of Waiting

A couple of hours laAragAragorn was alone in his rooms, thinking hard. He hadn’t actually yet told his wife about his pregnancy. He had preferred informing Legofirsfirst – after all he was the father of his child – a thought that made Aragorn somewhat confused. If Legolas was the father was Aragorn himself then the mother? He had always considered himself a man. Strong and muscled as he was his sexual identity had never concerned him before but now looking at himself in the mirror he saw his breast were slowly growing alongside his belly. Both were strongly feminine signs and he wasn’t sure what to make out of it.

Male pregnancy was verye ame among the race of men but not totally unheard of. Aragorn had never known he could become pregnant and he wondered now if his foster father had been aware of this possibility…his foster father! On that moment he almost panicked. He had entirely forgotten Elrond was coming today to see them one last time before sailing to the Undying Lands! While Arwen was somewhat tolerant and modern in her ways of thinking herher her was a different story. He would never understand the type ofatioationship Aragorn had with his daughter. Nor would he believe that Aragorn loved Arwen and that she was confident about that. No, Aragorn concluded, if Elrond found out his daughter’s husband was carrying a child and had thus inevitably been unfaithful he would kill him…or do something worse like cut his balls off.

Aragorn paled considerably and thought about leaving out of town for a sudden but important state visit but he quickly abandoned the idea. He took a deep breath and said to himself: “I’m the brave King of Gondor. I fear no evil.” He forced a royal expression to his face and eventually made it but it almost immediately disappeared when there was a knock on the door.

“Hold on! I’m not properly dressed!” He answered pulling hastily his robes on to appear at least reasonably dignified.

“That’s alright, My Lord. I prefer you that way.” Responded a sweet and a bit amused voice through the door. A few seconds later a brightly shining Evenstar entered the room and happily wrapped her arms around the king.

“Beloved, I was just told my father and my brothers have reached the city gates. We should go to welcome them.” She said but didn’t seem to be in a hurry. Instead she placed a warm kiss to her husband’s lips.

“Pregnancy definitely suits you, dear.” Aragorn told her smiling and caressing gently her belly through her le sle silken dress. Nothing prepared him for the response she gave

“You too, beloved.” saidsaid and giggled heartily as she saw his stunned face

“We elves sense these things…” She whispered

“Besides the Lord he fhe forests of Ithilien hasn’t really kept it a secret.” She continued now a little bit wickedly grinning. Thanks to Legolas probably half of the population in Minas Tirith had already heard the news. Arwen had long known about this love between him and her husband but she had always assumed Aragorn was on top when their lovemaking was concerned. ow low learn otherwise surprised her as well as amused her a little. It was one more proof to elves’ capability to rule over men.

“I…I’m…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you at once.” Aragorn muttered blushing but Arwen silenced him raising her hand to his lips.

“We talk about this later. Now let’s go to welcome our guests.” She had a strange gleam in her eyes saying that but Aragorn missed it. She had a plan for their fu.
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* * * * *

“I’m the king.” Aragorn reminded himself time and time again when he and Arwen watched the small party of elves approaching their home. He didn’t feel like a king though. Rather he felt like a little boy who waited to be told he had been bad. He recognized most of the elves and was somewhat amazed to see Lord Glorfindel among them. For years he had suspected his foster father had a very close relationship with his seneschal but he nevenever found any evidence about this. In his youth he had even tried to spy on them but it had led nowhere but falling painfully down of a tree. Seeing Elladan and Elrohir there made him miss all the adventures he had had before the War of the Ring and before becoming a ruler of Gondor. At least when he was a ranger he didn’t have to wear these silly royal dresses, he thought distastefully. He tried hard not to look straight at Elrond.

“My Evenstar!” Elrond greeted his daughter happily. The twins came to Aragorn.

“Good to see you, Estel!” dan dan said and gave him a really manly hug but soon pulled away his eyes wide in obvious shock

“Estel…? You…you are…” He staggered with his words. Elrohir pushed him roughly aside and hugged Aragorn in turn. Instead of showing signs of shock as his twin did he smirked

“Interesting…” He commented silently and leaned to whisper Aragorn’s ear so that others wouldn’t hear him

“I suggest you don’t let father to touch you if you wish to keep it a secret.”

Elrond didn’t no any anything funny going on as he was too occupied embracing his lovely pregnant daughter. Knowing about new life growing inside her made him proud of her although the thought of departing of her soon made him sad at the same time. He finally let go of Arwen and turned his attention to his adopted son. He stepped forward to embrace him too but quickly froze in his tracks as he saw Aragorn giving him a very formal royal bow. Such a cold welcoming took Elrond unpleasantly by surprise. First he just stood there gaping, though his face maintained unreadable for all who could see, then he managed to return the gesture in elegance only elven lords could show. “He is mad at me about something. I won’t leave here until I know what it is.” He thought frowning.

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