Journey to the North (Sequel to Rangers of the North)

Chapter Eight: Bag End

(from the author: sorry for the slow updates! work and uni have been crazy. also writer's block is a bih)

Averael woke to the sunlight coming in through the shutters. Rain still dripped from the roof's eaves but the sky was clear and the world smelled fresh. Aragorn must have opened the window when he got up, she thought. 

He walked in, dressed, and smiled when he saw her awake. "Breakfast will be ready in an hour or so. There's a warm bath ready for you down the hall." 

"Thank you, love," she smiled. He helped her get out of bed - she couldn't get out on her own anymore - and she enjoyed the bath, wondering where it was best to have the baby. It was hardly in her control, but she could try to be somewhere safe when it happened. She wanted to be home soon, because if she had the baby before they got to their destination, they would have to wait for her and the baby to recover before they continued. They would be pushing it though- if they did make it to Arthedain before the baby came, she would likely be in labor as they rode in. 

Not to mention, she had been having odd dreams the closer they got to home. Not nightmares, not quite yet. They reminded her a lot of when she saw into the Palantir in Gondor, before the fall of Sauron. Her dreams were about wraiths, the Witch King and his servants, the Cargul, of which her parents were. It worried her, but the Witch King and his wraiths had disappeared in the War of the Ring four years prior. Still, she wanted to be careful. Angmar was close to Annuminas, but it hadn't had much activity in hundreds of years. After Angmar fell the Witch King went to Mordor. Still, Angmar was an evil place. 

She pushed it out of her mind and dressed before going to breakfast. Aragorn walked with her to the table where Eros was already feasting. He grinned at her when he saw her approaching. 

They all ate, talking lightly, and when they were finished Aragorn cleared his throat. "So, the choice must be made. Averael, I know you want to be home quickly, and if you have the baby here we will have to wait longer to arrive there. There is still a bit of a journey, and the baby will probably come before we get there." He said.

Averael nodded. "I want to try to make it home first. If that doesn't work, we can always stay in the Shire with our friends there for a time." Aragorn pondered, then nodded. 

"Sounds like a plan." 

***

They spent the rest of the day touring Bree and shopping for baby supplies. By the next morning they were ready to leave for the Shire. Barliman bade them a fond farewell and sent them off with pack lunches and a smile. 

They rode slow, not wanting to jostle Averael on the back of a cantering horse. It was aggravating in a way. She wished she could ride fast and get to Arthedain soon, but it wasn't safe. 

They made it into the Shire within a week, and then to Hobbiton. Samwise was living in Bag End now with his wife Rosie, daughter Elanor, and probably a few more children. Merry and Pippin were still here as well. She smiled softly and looked at Aragorn.

"I'll miss seeing Frodo." She said. 

"As will I." Aragorn answered. Frodo was in the Grey Havens now, with Bilbo and Gandalf. Sam was now Mayor of the Shire, Pip was Thane of the Shire, and Merry was now the Master of Buckland. She smiled to herself. They had all seemed to gain some title of sorts, even her and Aragorn as King and Queen of Gondor. Somewhere she had heard Gimli was Lord of the Glittering Caves in Helm's Deep now, and Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, was with him. Averael missed the Fellowship but was glad of the lifelong friends she had made. 

They rode up to Bag End and dismounted. Averael's stomach fluttered. She didn't think Sam knew they were coming. Aragorn laughed when he saw her face, probably reading her mind, and grabbed her hand. They stepped up to the door, which only came to their mid-torsos, and knocked. 

After a few moments, a young hobbit girl with long curly hair cracked open the door. She was probably no more than three years old. She stared up at them for a moment before running out of sight, calling for her papa. 

Sam appeared in the doorway next, opening the door wider before freezing in his steps. "Strider! I mean-- my Lord, and Aver-- you're pregnant!  But why would you- congratulations, my goodness-" Sam stuttered for a few more moments before Aragorn grabbed his hand and shook it. 

"It's good to see you, Sam. Please, just call me Aragorn. This is Averael's brother, Eros. We're traveling to Arthedain and need a place to stay for a few days." Aragorn said. Sam was still in shock, but shook himself out of his stupor and stepped aside.

"Come in, please, come in. What a surprise! Let me go fetch Rosie." Sam ran off and returned a few moments later with his wife in tow and introduced them all. "It's great to see you all. Let me grab some chairs, make yourselves at home, please. Mr. Frodo is gone now, of course, but I'll send for Merry and Pip."

The others were there within a few hours, and had much the same reactions as Sam. Averael had to give them all hugs from her chair, as it was hard for her to get down on her knees like Aragorn did. Pippin was especially glad to see her, and she gave him a big hug. They all chatted for a while and Sam set up his guest rooms, having needed to push two beds together to make one big enough for them. 

"When will the baby come?" Pippin asked Averael. 

"I'm guessing in about three weeks. We're going to stay here for a few days before heading north to make it in time to have it there." Averael smiled. As much as she enjoyed the suspense and excitement, she was ready to be home and for the baby to be in her arms.

"Sam, if we decide we won't make it in time, we'll probably turn back to have the baby here in the Shire. Will that be okay?" Aragorn asked. 

"Of course, Mr. Aragorn sir. Not a problem." Sam said immediately. "Anythin' for you two."