Restless

Chapter 7

"Day 57"


"When are we scheduled to leave for Annuminas, My Lord?" The Chamberlain fell into step with the King as he walked along the small cobbled road.

The King gazed out across the large green fields and winced. His success at avoiding the Chamberlain throughout the day had obviously come to an end. Aragorn clenched his fists and even went so far as to rest one hand on the hilt of a sheathed Anduril. If the Chamberlain asked him one more time when they would be bound for Annuminas, he would cleave the man’s head from his shoulders.

Work continued all around them as hobbits hoed their fields and planted their seeds for the upcoming season. The awe of seeing such a large contingent of 'big people' had worn off and the women had gone back to carrying their baskets of fruit from the fields, occasionally walking by the King and offering him a taste of their harvest.

"Eager to leave the hobbit life, so soon?" Aragron forced a small smile.

"I will be the first to admit this is not the kind of life I would chose to ." ." The man met Aragorn's gaze before looking away. Rarely could he stare down his King. "But I go where you go, and I-"

"And you remain where I instruct?"

The Chamberlain's mouth snapped shut at the insinuation that he had honestly been expecting for quite some time. Moments of silence followed as the man searched for the correct words with which to voice his question. The King watched his Chamberlain's reaction quietly, never breaking the stare with which he had pinned the man into silence. Finally, the Chamben asn asked, "Do you mean to leave me in Arnor?"

"Is that what you would like?" Aragorn asked.

"I would never presume to -"

"It had crossed my mind," Aragorn admitted, interrupting the Chamberlain. He pinned the man in place with another stern look.

"I am yours to command, My Liege," Came the now trembling voice. "I'll have you know, that it would not be my choice to remain in Annuminas."

"Then please do not question my decisions or voice such - displeasure at my actions." Aragorn's words were more biting than he intended and his gaze softened in silent apology. "I know you are yet yet used to my rule but it will not soon change and you would do well not to forget your duty."

"Yes, My Lord." The Chamberlain nodded and fought back a wince of disgust as Elanor ran up to Aragorn and wrapped chubby arms around his leg.

If Aragorn noticed the quickly-masked look, he gave no hint.

"Thank you for your time," Aragorn said curtly, dismissing the man with those final words.

Aragorn smiled down at Elanor and she looked up at him with large, innocent eyes.

"Where are you going?" She asked, ever curious.

"For a walk. Would you like to come?"

An emphatic 'Yes' answered his question, turning the heads of everyone within earshot of the child.

Aragorn chuckled and lifted the child into his arms. He walked away, leaving the Chamberlain to his thought as hobbits bustled with work around him.

As Aragorn walked slowly down the cobbled road, he was transfixed with the child's bubbling enthusiasm and innocent features. She chattered nonstop, pointing out different facets of the surrounding landscape.

"And that is the party tree that papa planted. It's already really big and it was only planted a year before I was born. Papa said its because he planted it using sand he got from the elves." Elanor smiled up at the King, big eyes looking over every unusual feature. When a tiny hand reached toward his face and tentatively touched his whiskered cheek, he smiled, crystal eyes taking in the beautiful wonder of life sitting in his arms.

A glitter of metal caught his eye and Aragorn looked over the child's shoulder in momentary concern. Thin lips split into an amused smile as he saw Gimli, sitting on the ground beneath the tree, several hobbit children in his lap and many others sitting transfixed at his feet.

As Aragorn and Elanor neared the large tree, they could overhear the end of what appeared to be a very fascinating story.

"…..and it fell into a huge chasm, never to be seen again!" Gimli exaggerated every word, raising and spreading his arms to heighten his description.

The children cheered and then gasped in surprise when they noticed a large shadow fall over them. Aragorn stood smiling behind them, holding a deeply interested Elanor. The girl squirmed out of his arms and joined the other children, begging them to re-tell Gimli's story.

"Intoxicating, aren't they?" Aragorn asked, eyes lingering on the children as they all at once tried to re-count Gimli's tale for the little girl.

Gimli stood and nodded, recognizing the longing look in his friend's gaze. The Dwarf clasped the King on the arm, chuckling loudly. "Take one or two with you when you leave, they appear plentiful!"

"How like a Dwarf," Legolas jumped from the tree and into their circle. "So inconsiderate of other lives around you."

Aragorn sighed loudly, ready for another round of incessant banter to erupt between the two. But his eyes met those of his elven friend briefly, flashing silent thanks for the interruption.

"Ah, Legolas," Gimli chuckled low, "You need to lighten up, my friend. A sense of humor is what you elves sorely lack." Gimli turned to Aragorn, eyes full of amusement, "Well, that is - with the exception of Lady Arwen."

Aragorn chuckled as the Dwarf addressed Legolas once again. "You're starting to sound like that pompus, stuffy Chamberlain."

Gimli turned to Aragorn and said with all seriousness. "Truly, Aragorn, you should consider leaving him behind when we depart. Why, I would stay as well just to see how long it takes before his head explodes in frustration."

Aragorn laughed and it was Legolas' turn to roll his eyes.

"Need I ask what you gentlemen are discussing?" Arwen rounded the large tree, smiling widely at the startled looks on both Gimli and her husband's faces. Legolas simply arched his head, seemingly un-surprised by her arrival.

Aragorn held out his arm and Arwen slid her hand into his upturned palm. "Gimli was just giving me advice on what to do with my overbearing Chamberlain."

Arwen smiled knowingly at the dwarf as the children began to jump and cheer from the vicinity of Arwen's feet. They called her name and reached for her flowing skirts, all seeking the beautiful elf's attention.

"See," Gimli winked at Aragorn before stalking down the path. "You should take a few of them home."

"Children!" Rosie called to the little ones. "Leave Lady Arwen alone for a while. She doesn't need you hanging off her at every waking moment."

The disappointing sighs were quite loud as the children attempted to talk Rosie out of shooing them into another field to continue with their play. Arwen smiled affectionately and bent to hug each one of them, at least sending them off with a smile.

"But I'm Aragorn's favorite!" Elanor hugged the man's leg and refused to let go, even to give Arwen a hug.

"Elanor Gamgee you release Lord Aragorn's leg right this minutd god go back to Bag End!" Rosie bent and attempted to pry the child's arms away from the silk-clad leg.

Aragorn knelt and held out his arms to the child, who immediately leapt into them. "You need to listen to your mother. I have some duties to attend to but I will see you later this evening." He focused his attention completely on the child, crystal eyes holding the child's gaze with an unforeseen strength.

"Promise," Elanor's lip curled into a pout.

"I promise," Aragorn smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to the girl's plump cheek.

Reluctantly, Elanor left his arms and took her mother's outstretched hand. When he turned to his wife and friends, they were all staring at him.

"You are going to spoil that child and then her parents will never be able to control her." Gimli laughed, head shaking.

"Well, am I not an honorary uncle?" Aragorn grinned at Arwen, who gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "And as such, I believe it is my duty to corrupt the child beyond her parent's ability to correct."

Arwen laughed and Gimli chuckled.

Legolas eyed his friend with an amused stare. "Remember that, Aragorn, when you are pulling your hair out in frustration with your own children, thanks to my 'corruption' of them."

Gimli laughed, lifted his ax and began walking down the cobbled road. His loud chuckle echoed along the stones and his voice could clearly be heard over the plowing of the nearby fields. "Now that I can't wait to see!"

Aragorn smiled at Legolas as the elf quickly disappeared into the trees, leaving him standing alone with his wife, their hands intertwined like tree roots in the soil.

"Nor can I," Arwen leaned into his embrace and rubbed her cheek against his whiskered chin.

He smiled knowingly at Arwen and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a deep embrace. She sighed heavily, breathing in his tremendously masculine scent mixed with the, ever popular, halfling pipeweed. When his lips dropped to the side of her mouth to plant a long, leisurely kiss to the soft skin, giggling could be heard coming from the vicinity of some short shrubs.

Arwen slid out of his embrace with a wink and crept around the bush, startling the two children from where they knelt eavesdropping and watching the couple.

“Did your parents never teach you that watching someone in secret is not polite?” her voice was filled with an amused lilt as she attempted to scold the little ones.

“We’re…”

The girl’s apology was interrupted by horrified screams echoing from far down the road. Arwen stood quickly and threw a worried look toward Aragorn, whose hand had already moved to the hilt of his blade.

“Run home!” Arwen commanded as she joined her husband’s side. “And don’t look back.”