Restless

Spoilers: No.
Pairing: Aragorn / Arwen.
Disclaimer: I'm not Tolkien. I don't own these characters. (darn!) I make no money. Done for fun.
Additional Info: Movie-verse.
This story is going to be a little different. I have ideas for specific scenes but nothing to fill in the 'gap' in between. So, each chapter will be a specific 'Day.' Hopefully it all makes sense. Aragorn and Arwen have been married for 5 years at the start of the story.

Archive: If you like, just tell me where.

"Restless"

Chapter 1

"Day 1"


The cool breeze ruffled his hair as he watched the White Tree sway in the wind, smiled wryly as flocks of birds, even at night, soared to destinations unknown. He gazed longingly at their wings, silently wishing that his had not been so thoroughly clipped. While the City slept, there was still activity in the streets below. Always activity. Always someone awake and moving, securing the City from those who would see fit to destroy its beauty. Crystalline eyes fell over the secure gates, rebuilt not long ago by the Dwarves, experts in stonework. Riders came and went, patrolling the outer regions of the kingdom for any lingering evil that resided in the hills. Once, long ago, that was his duty. Protecting the Shire and its outlying farms. Protecting the people of Bree, and the kingdom, recently rebuilt, known as Arnor. Now, he was the recipient of such protection and, while not at all unwelcome, it was tiring.

"You long for the freedom of the wild," Arwen stepped behind him and wrapped slim fingers around the hand that lay flattened against the cold stone window. Her other hand slid up his back, slowly kneading the skin, before delving into the long, dark locks that fell to his shoulder.

He nodded but remained silent. The restlessness had been growing in every decision he made, in every word he spoke. Arwen could see it in his eyes and in his stance.

"I can feel it, love," Arwen stepped into the circle of his embrace as he opened his arms. She rested her head against his chest as his arms tightened around her shoulders. He absently rubbed at the silk to keep her from catching a chill.

"I love Gondor," He began after several moments of silence, gently stroking her hair. "I love its people. My people."

"But?" She tilted her head and looked into his troubled face.

"I simply long for a bit more freedom." Long fingers delved into her hair and he breathed deeply the fresh scent dripping from her freshly washed skin.

Arwen pressed her lips to his whiskered chin and whispered, "Come with me."

Arwen took his hand and led him toward a far corner of the bedchamber. Decadent tapestries hung from the walls and large, ornately carved wooden sculptures framed their work, accenting the designs embroidered into the fabric. Arwen released her husband's hand and reached behind one of the large statues. He could hear her depress stone lever, but was not prepared for what happened next.

Arwen quickly pulled him away from the sculpture as it slid to the side, revealing a small pathway, barely large enough for a full sized man.

Aragorn's mouth fell open and Arwen gently brushed a fingertip across his lips. "You've already had final meal, my love. Close your mouth." Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam. "Dessert is not to come for a while yet."

Aragorn shook his head and blinked, splitting his attention between his wife and the darkness before him. He snatched a candle from where it rested on a nearby table and glanced into the dark passageway. The candle's light flickered against the stone as he stepped cautiously into the tunnel.

"Such caution is not necessary," Arwen draped a cloak across her shoulders and stepped behind him. "I've explored the pathway thoroughly enough."

"You've what?" Aragorn turned his full attention on his wife, eyes wide. "You could have been...."

"It is a passageway built for escape if the City were ever attacked by an invading army." Arwen took his free hand in hers and brought it to her lips. She kissed the palm slowly, then his wrist, before settling it against her cheek. "Tonight, it will serve as a path to....freedom."

The beginnings of a smile tugged at his mouth and he drew her into his arms. Slowly, his mouth descended and captured her lips in a breath-stealing kiss. "I should have known. You always were a rather curious elf." He whispered against her cheek.

"It has served me well," She smiled, eyes dancing.

"That it has," he grinned as her lips pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth. A simple tilt of his head and their lips met. One hand tightened around her waist and pulled her against his body. The other trembled with growing desire as it held the candle up and away from the shifting fabric of their clothing.

They remained in one another's arms for a few moments, hands tangled in one another's hair, soft kisses dropping on any bit of visible skin. "I think," he murmured as one hand dipped slowly below his belt, "that we should remain here and finish ..."

"We can finish what you've started along the way....." Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight as she pressed her body against his side.

"What you've started," he corrected her with a smile as he pulled her tightly against him.

"Or once we reach our destination." Arwen continued as if he'd never interrupted.

With a mischievous grin to match her own, he added, "Or both," before capturing her lips in a deep, penetrating kiss.

After several seconds, she stepped away and depressed the lever that would set the statue in motion. It settled into place with a soft thud, casting them into darkness with only the flickering of the candle for light.

"Well, my Evenstar, whatever shall we do now that darkness has fallen?" His voice was low, husky as he held her tightly against him.

"You are the light, the hope, against my darkness. What say you, my King?" She answered, her voice low.

"Whatever you wish is as if a command," He whispered against her lips, catching her wandering hand before it was able to part the fabric of his tunic.

"Not here. There is more room where the passageway splits." Arwen whispered, leaning in to gently bite the lobe of his ear.

She grinned at the tremor that she felt race down his frame and gasped as he nearly picked her up in an effort to locate this fork in the tunnel.

The tunnel was long and soon they were walking slowly, distracted with the blatant groping in the dark, the slim hands that slid seductively down and around his body. "We are never going to get to this fork if you don't stop." Aragorn growled, his voice deep with arousal.

"Then turn around and let me relieve this undue stress." She raked her nails down his chest to his belt, before hooking her fingers into the leather that draped loosely over his hips.

"I can wait." He hissed, drawing her up against him quickly before her roaming fingers brought him too far to turn back. He captured one hand in his and brought it to his lips. Their eyes met briefly before his teeth sunk gently into her wrist. Fabric parted and her other hand slipped between its folds drawing his lips from her skin with a shocked gasp.

The hand forgotten, he bent to capture her lips, sucking the air from between them like a vacuum. "How far?" He growled.

"Walk, love," She whispered in return, removing her fingers from between the folds of the tabard. "Not far." A small grin played across her features as he led her quickly down the passageway.

A small burst of air, fresh and cool, whirled through the darkness, a welcome change to his burning skin. When they reached the fork, a faint flicker of light could be seen at the end of the shorter passage. Aragorn set the candle down in the tunnel that revealed only darkness. When he turned around and reached for his wife, his eyes narrowed at the sight of her back pressed flat against the farthest wall. Her eyes seductively rolled down his body and he quickly crossed the distance that separated them.

He caught and lifted her into his arms, his mouth coming down and capturing her lips in a hard, possessive kiss. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling gently at the strands and causing him to growl into her mouth. She smiled against his lips, a nipped playfully as his hands quickly lifted the skirts about her waist.

"So urgent, love," Arwen whispered against his lips as she played with the neckline of his tunic.

"Your doing, woman," Aragorn hissed as he quickly parted the folds of the confining fabric covering his legs and steadied her against his hips. He pressed her back into the wall and groaned loud and long into her mouth when their bodies met.

--------------------------------------------------

The candle was nearly spent as the King and Queen re-arranged their clothes and began to stalk, hand in hand, down the dark passageway. At Arwen's insistence, they had taken the longer, darker route. "I hope your screams did not awaken whoever may be at the end of this path." Aragorn teased.

She scoffed and simply answered by sliding a hand around his waist and hooking her fingers into his low-slung belt.

"Where does this passageway lead?" Aragorn grumped. It was taking far too long for them to traverse the distance and he was tiring of this mysterious passage. "The candlelight is waning and I see no light at the end of this tunnel."

"Well, had you not felt the need to stop at the fork, we would have reached the entrance before the wick burned to its end." Arwen smiled at his back as he only grunted in response.

"We should have taken the other pathway." He moved a bit quicker, hoping to reach the end before the candle burned down completely.

"That would have led to the courtyard near the White Tree. Hardly far enough for you to stretch your restless wings."

"The light wanes, we must hurry. The keen eyes of even an elf would do little better than my own here."

"I know my way." Came the quick reply and Aragorn didn't ask. He'd discover her secrets given enough time.

A warm breeze ruffled their hair and Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief that they were nearing the passage end.

"Not far now." Arwen moved in front of him. "I will lead. You don't know the way."

Aragorn frowned and glanced at the candle, flickering in its last throws of life. "Well make it quick or we will be stuck here for the remainder of the night."

"As long as we are together," Arwen stopped, turned toward her husband, and flattened her hands against his chest. The candle flickered out just as her mouth covered his in a gentle kiss.

He groaned against her lips and shivered against the hands he felt sliding down his chest. "Insatiable." He muttered, flinging away the candle. He flattened his hands against her backside and pulled her against him.

Several moments later, she stepped away. Her hand disappeared into the darkness and they could hear the movement of stone as a large statue moved to reveal a clear, starlit sky. Moonlight streamed into the passageway and Arwen took Aragorn's hand and led him through the doorway.

Arwen pressed a secret control and the statue of the last Gondorian king slid back into place.

Aragorn stood quietly, gazing out over the small river that served as the closest outlet to the Anduin. The starlight reflected off the steady flow of water and the moon cast its bright glow on the couple below. The white walls of the City could be seen not far away, but farther than he would have ever guessed they'd traveled.

Arwen took his hand and led him to a small glen, secluded on three sides by dense foliage. Water trickled in a stream at their feet and small creatures moved through the grass, stalking their prey.

"Come here often?" Aragorn asked, smiling at his wife as she removed her cloak and spread it atop the blades of grass. Sitting down, she beckoned to him with open arms.

"Not often," she answered, eyes drifting toward the water. He settled behind her and drew her into his arms. "Only when I need.....solitude."

"Gondor is a far cry from the peaceful forests of Rivendell," Aragorn wrapped his arms around her shoulders and nuzzled her hair with a whiskered cheek.

"It is as much of a change for me as your leaving the wandering life of a Ranger and becoming King of both Gondor and Arnor." She leaned into his arms and sighed, eyes fluttering shut as his lips closed around the tip of her ear.

"True." He whispered, nibbling down the curved lobe and sending tremors racing down her spine.

"You've taken on a great deal of responsibility in a very short amount of time," Arwen arched her head to give his wandering lips easier access to the creamy skin of her neck.

"Hmmm," he muttered, rubbing a whiskered chin along her collarbone.

"Perhaps it is time to visit some old friends," Arwen offered, trembling, as his hands slid around her waist and pulled at the fastenings of her dress.

"Your wish is my command." Came the muffled response.

Suddenly, shocking him from his passion-induced haze, she turned and knelt before him. Settling her hands along the side of his face, she gazed at him with a passion kept in check only by a thread. "Send for Legolas and Gimli. I'm sure they would be quite upset if we were to make this journey without them."

"And where exactly are we to journey?" His hands settled at her waist and tugged at the thin belt holding closed her silken dress.

"To visit Arnor, of course," She leaned down and dragged her mouth across his before stopping just below his ear to whisper, "By way of the Shire."

Aragorn's eyes widened as her lips closed around his lower ear and began to suckle like a babe. As her belt fell from her hips, he parted the folds of her dress and pulled her tightly against his hard chest. "Quite a long journey." He murmured, eyes dancing as she settled herself onto his thighs.

"I'm sure you will be up for the task." Dark eyes danced as nimble fingers removed his own belt. She pushed him onto his back and slowly removed the fastenings of his tunic, baring burning skin to the evening chill. Moonlight glinted off their bare skin as they finished their passion-filled evening beneath the stars.