I Have no Regrets... Merely wishes

A Lord of the Rings story

By Nelarun

Thank you so much to my beta lindahoyland

Aragorn saw Faramir playing with his children in the gardens below. He and his family were on a visit to Ithilien. Aragorn felt an ache well up in him. He watched as his three children raced out to play with Faramir and their two friends. He gave a small smile as Eldarion and Elboron started arguing about trivial matters. He turned to go back to the house and smiled at Arwen as she joined him on the balcony. His beloved took his hand and started massaging it. "What troubles you so?" she asked softly.

Aragorn let out a sigh as Arwen started on his neck and shoulders. With every knot that vanished under her skilled hands, Aragorn felt as though another fear was being released.
"Not so much a trouble, more a regret," Aragorn replied, finally relaxing under Arwen's skilful hands.

"What regret?" Arwen breathed into his ear as she continued to ease him.

Aragorn sighed and turned to look at Arwen, cutting off her attempt to relax him. "If we had been allowed to wed when we first went to your father, we would have a child as old as Faramir by now. I see my own Rangers younger than I, with grand children the age of our own. And I..." Aragorn couldn't continue as he felt a lump enter his throat. Arwen gently placed her hands on her husbands shoulders and spun him around. "They are our children," she told him forcefully. "They are our legacy. And I have no regrets, merely wishes."

Aragorn watched as the five children and Faramir played tag; heard their laughter and when he turned to Arwen, a smile graced his face. "I knew I married you for more than your beauty," he told her. Arwen laughed. "Obviously I just married you for your title." she told him, then turned and
walked back inside, laughter floating behind her. Aragorn smiled and followed her.

Faramir looked up when Aragorn, Arwen and Éowyn walked out. The three suddenly started laughing; for there lay Faramir in the grass with all five children trying to wrestle him at once. He grinned at the picture he knew he must have presented, then laughed at the stunned looks on the children's faces as they were caught by their mothers and King. Instantly, they all tried to stand up and look respectable, not that it worked. Aragorn and Arwen walked over and picked up their youngest two while Eldarion walked beside them. Faramir had picked up his daughter while Elboron chatted animatedly to Eldarion.

Éowyn smiled as her daughter told the assembled group a story – one the two boys hurriedly denied, and shared a look with Arwen. They both shared the same understanding. Both had husbands who had struggled with who they were – at least who they should have been. And both had wonderful and beautiful children. Now they both shared the same family – if not by ties of blood, then by bonds of spirit.

A/N:

Fixed up the way the story was set out. Yay. Thanks for all who reviewed. It means everything to me!