b2mem | Carry Him Not, by Kaylee Arafinwiel

B2MeM Prompt: March 3 - A thing that happened today

Format: Drabble-size? (Almost triple drabble)

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Warnings: None

Characters: Aragorn, Gilraen, OCs

Pairings: Arathorn/Gilraen (not seen, but obviously)

Summary: Arneth, Arathorn's sister, is tired of Gilraen's coddling the Chieftain's Heir.

A/N: "Inspired by something that happened to you today" - I was watching the USWNT video of Mal and Lindsey chattering in their 'secret language' which consisted mostly of meows and 'meeps'.

Summer, TA 2932

Gilraen returned to Tâduin with the flock of children around her, the little ones carrying berry baskets and the older girls burdened with the large pack-baskets. She would have been, too, had she not been carrying her own babe.

Now that they were safely back in the village, Gilraen removed the strap from her forehead and swung him down, placing the board safely on the ground. She unstrapped Aragorn and lifted him to his feet.

“He’s old enough to walk by himself, Gilraen.” Lady Arneth turned to regard her brother’s wife with wry amusement. “Why do you insist on babying Ara? Halbarad began toddling about everywhere many rounds of Ithil ago.”

“He needs protection,” Gilraen began, but the happy burble of Aragorn’s chatter distracted her – she turned to see Halbarad and his older brother, Hallatan, pull Aragorn into whatever game the small boys had begun playing. They babbled at each other in the language only small children seemed to understand – the tongues they first learned of bird and beast, growing up wild in the wood.

“Meep meep!” Aragorn crowed, and Halbarad happily replied with a bird whistle.

Shaking her head and smiling, Arneth settled back against the tree. “Sit with me, Gilraen. Aragorn is safe. His back is strong and straight. Carry him no more.”