B2MeM
Challenge:Image
prompt: Murmuring
Creek
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/the_winterwitch/13030705/5895/5895_original.jpg
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Family,
friendship, fluff
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Aragorn,
Faramir, Arwen, OFC
Pairings: Aragorn/Arwen,
Faramir/Éowyn
Summary: Aragorn, Faramir and their families
enjoy a summer afternoon in Ithilien.
A/n: A sequel of sorts to
“The Stuff of
Life”
http://lindahoyland.yolasite.com/the-stuff-of-life.php
The
characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate. No profit has been
nor will be made from this story
Fair
Ithilien was the perfect place to be on a hot summer day. The King's
Family, together with Faramir, Éowyn, their children and Elbeth had
taken a picnic into the woods to escape from the heat.
After the
meal was finished and packed away, the adults reclined beneath a
great oak in a forest clearing while their children played and the
horses grazed nearby.
“I
think I will stretch my legs,” said Faramir.
“I
will come with you,” said Aragorn. “We former Rangers find it
hard to sit still for too long!”
“I
will stay here a while,” said Arwen. She leaned back against the
tree and began to sing softly.
Éowyn
yawned. “It is too hot to move just yet.”
The
two men wandered down to the edge of the clearing where a crystal-
clear stream rippled. Both men knelt beside it to drink.
“This
reminds me of my days wandering in the North,” said Aragorn. “I
remember one warm day such as this in my youth when Halbarad led me
to such a stream. I was yet unaccustomed to the hardships of the wild
and was very hot and thirsty. I quenched my thirst in the stream and
told Halbarad that nothing tasted sweeter than water. He replied that
when I was King, I would have such fine wines that water would lose
its savour. Ah, Halbarad never doubted my destiny, would that he had
seen it come to pass!” Aragorn fell silent, lost in memories.
“And
has water lost its sweetness?” Faramir asked after a few moments
had passed.
“For
once, Halbarad was wrong. It has not.” Aragorn cupped his hands and
took another draught.
“Ada!”
a small voice called.
“Farawyn!”
cried Arwen. “Come back!”
“Want
Ada!”
Farawyn
toddled up beside her father. He called back to Arwen. “Farawyn is
safe with me, vanimelda.”
The
little girl eyed the stream curiously. “Fishes!” she cried,
pointing to the darting minnows and almost overbalancing. Aragorn
caught hold of her and steadied her. “Shall we catch you a fish?
Naneth will have a cup for you to put it in.”
Farawyn
shook her head.
“Would
you like to paddle in the stream then, my sweet?”
Farawyn
beamed.
“What
a good idea!” Faramir exclaimed. He started to pull off his boots
and stockings. Aragorn first helped his little daughter remove hers,
then did likewise, before rolling up the legs of his
breeches.
“Farawyn’s
gown will get wet,” said Faramir.
“It
will soon dry in the sun. It should not trouble her; she is after all
a Ranger’s daughter as well as a little Princess!”
Aragorn
took one of his daughter’s hands and Faramir took the other as they
waded into the shallow stream. Farawyn squealed then decided she
liked the feeling of cool water against her skin. She splashed her
feet happily.
The
three waded upstream where the trees grew more thickly, and pine
fronds overhung the water. The bed of the stream became rockier.
The water foamed as it rippled over the moss- encrusted rocks.
Farawyn laughed delightedly.
In
the distance, the other children could be heard playing while Arwen
sang.
“Is
there any better way than this to spend a summer afternoon?” mused
Aragorn.
“If
there is, I do not know of it,” said Faramir.