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Aragorn, King of Gondor, woke to the shining sun streaming in through the thin curtains, and the sound of birds chirping in the trees. The bed moved beneath him, and he looked down to see his sleeping wife still held against him in the early morning. Her blonde waves were splayed across the pillows, and her arm draped lazily by her head, but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even after being married for fifteen years, he was still caught off guard by how lucky he was to have the woman in his arms. Like him, she had been gifted a long life, her mother's blood strong in her veins as well as her brothers.

He rose carefully and quietly so as not to disturb her, and went to dress for the day. Hopefully this one would be peaceful and free of meetings and decisions. As he went to begin his duties for the day, Aragorn walked softly to the bed and brushed the long waves of hair from his wife's face, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead in an attempt not to wake her. Miriel moved in her sleep, a smile gracing her lips, and the King exited the room silently, closing the door behind him as he made his way down the halls. A smile remained on his face as always, and he greeted the various people he met kindly, especially his Steward and Advisor, along with his Advisor's wife. She was the one who told him where to go next, the patch of green below the balcony of the royal chambers.

As he stepped into the crisp morning air, the sounds of laughter led him toward his destination, and he paused to lean against the stone wall of the castle when he arrived. Three children ran about the yard, chasing each other back and forth. A teenage girl with dark waves braided back from her face and shining blue eyes chased her siblings, making them squeal with laughter as she drew closer. The two little ones seemed to be around the ages of five and ten, a boy and girl. The little girl had hair of a reddish gold color braided tightly away from her sparkling pools of blue, and the boy of around ten years of age was the spitting image of Aragorn himself. The three finally collapsed in their laughter onto the green grass, and Aragorn pushed away from the wall, making his presence known.

"Having fun so early without me?" The three children immediately stood, attempting to catch their breaths. The eldest girl spoke up respectfully.

"I'm sorry, Father. Did we wake you?" The young boy looked down, speaking next.

"We weren't trying to be loud, Father, honestly." The little girl stepped up last, looking up at her father with big blue eyes.

"We're sorry, Father." Aragorn chuckled.

"You didn't wake us, but having fun without your father is certainly stepping out of order." The three children struggled to hold in their giggles. The eldest girl smiled at her father.

"Are we in trouble then?" He crossed his arms, feigning a stern look, and sending his youngest into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, very much so, Almarian. You, Logon, and even little Estel." Logon shook the dark waves of hair from his eyes, blinking his grey eyes up at his father's identical pair.

"What are you going to do, Father?" Aragorn pretended to think for a moment.

"I'm going to... tickle you!" With that, he lunged towards his children, and they sprinted off, giggling as they dodged his arms. This went on for some time, until another voice sounded through the morning air.

"What is going on out here?" The four froze, and the three children immediately ran towards the newcomer.

"Mother!" All three rushed into Miriel's arms, and she managed to keep from falling over from the force. She wore a woven dress not unlike the one Aragorn she remembered from Rivendell all those years ago.

"What on earth is going on here? You all have classes this morning, and Almarian yours started an hour ago!" Almarian groaned, throwing her head back in annoyance.

"It's not fair, mother! Why do I have to take more classes that Logon and Estel?" Miriel chuckled, pushing stray hairs from her distraught daughter's face.

"Because you are older, not to mention the first in line for the throne." Almarian huffed, but little Estel, the spitting image of her mother, tugged at the woven gown.

"One day, Mother? Please? We'll catch up tomorrow, promise!" All three children clamored together until Miriel held up her hands, and her stern expression melted into a warm smile.

"Alright, one day." They began to thank her, but she held up her hands again, a mischievous glint coming to her bright eyes. "But that means I'm on your Father's side." The three children shrieked and darted away across the lawn towards the small lake, and Aragorn pulled his wife into his arms, kissing her deeply before she could say a word. They pulled apart breathlessly, and he smiled at her.

"Good morning, my darling." She chuckled.

"Good morning indeed." Miriel looked to the lake, where the children were once again chasing each other, this time on the sand. "You know we're going to have to chase them all the way into the water this time." Aragorn laughed loudly.

"Aye, we must. Shall we, my darling?" She smiled.

"We shall." And together, the King and Queen of Gondor sprinted down the hill, chasing their giddy children straight into the frigid water of the lake, splashing around until the day came to an end.

The road goes ever on and on, but that does not mean it stays the same. They reigned for many more happy years before departing Middle Earth together, to whatever the next great adventure may bring.