Prologue
It has been three years. I have one younger sibling, his name Eldarion, he is two. After ada's crowning Legolas and I were planning to get married on May 25th but a day before our wedding Thalion attacked us. I lost the baby due to the attack. We still are not married and have not tried for another baby. I want a child, I really do but Legolas and I barely see each other anymore. Same for ada, I barely see him. Nana is busy with Eldarion and business that ada can not tend to so I don't see much of her either. All of our friends have gone home to start their lives. These days I roam the halls of my home alone and sad. I blame Thalion for everything.
This afternoon I head out to the courtyard and look around. I spot Legolas and then ada beside him. "It is our best chance Aragorn. What else would you have me do?!" Legolas asks hotly.
"Stay here and not risk your life!" Ada answers and I step out from where I had wanted to sit and draw.
"What in Arda are you planning to do Legolas? I come out here to find a quiet place to draw but overhear that!" I state appalled.
"Elora, this-this doesn't concern you." Legolas answers softly.
"My ass it doesn't concern me! If you're even thinking about doing anything that involves Thalion and risking your life…"
"Elora, you can't stop me! It's to protect you!" Legolas yells cutting me off.
"Well what if I don't want to be protected anymore?! I'm not a child anymore! I don't need your protection! It's your life that's being threatened not mine!" I yell and ada steps between us.
"Either you two calm down or leave." Ada says firmly.
"I'll leave, if he wants to risk his life fine! Let him! Let him break every promise he ever made to me!" I yell, angrily walking off back inside.
I slam the bedroom door and lock it. I slide down and wrap my arms around my knees as the tears soak my cheeks. I bury my face into my arms and sob. "Elora, open the door." Legolas pleads and I remain sitting there, not moving and not answering. "Elora, please." Legolas begs and I give in.
"Go away." I state and he steps in, closing the door behind him, and pulls me into his arms.
"Elora, please forgive me."
"Why?" I step back out of his arms, angry. "Why should I? You would readily through your life away just to protect me! That's not bravery, that's stupidity! Risking your life is not protecting mine, Legolas, because you are my life! If you died I would not want to live another second, I wouldn't want to take another breath, without you!" I yell as hot tears drip off my face. Legolas pulls me into his arms and his head in on my shoulder.
"I won't ever let you go." He whispers. I hear the tears in his voice.
"Don't you dare leave me alone here." I reply and his arms wrap tighter around me. He stands up straight and I wipe away his tears.
"Never." He pulls my face up and kisses me long and hard.
The next day I wake up in my bed alone again. I had been meaning to talk to him but things took a different direction last night. I sit up and look around the empty room. Today is my nineteenth birthday. I get up and slip on a dark blue dress and my boots, I refuse to wear anything but. I open the door and walk around the halls getting a few 'happy birthday my lady' from people who pass by. I feel and itching in the sleeve of my dress so I reach to itch but feel something in my sleeve.
I pull it out and it's a piece of paper. I unfold it, it's a picture of a baby. There is a note at the bottom if it. It reads:
Happy birthday, sorry about the baby. If I would have known I would have been more careful. I hope you can find your beloved Legolas this morning.
I run as fast as I can in this stupid dress. I enter the throne room and ada and nana look up alarmed. "Where's Legolas?!" I ask panicked and out of breath. I hold up the note and ada draws Anduin.
"He said he was going to be in the archery field." I turn and run, I don't care if I don't have a weapon on me, I need to protect Legolas.
We make it to the fields and I take off at a sprint when I see the glint of a sword through the trees. "Legolas!" I throw myself into him just as he releases and arrow. It shoots into the trees as Legolas and I hit the ground.
"Elora what is Arda is going on?!" He asks startled.
"Why you little!" I turn to see Thalion staggering out of the trees with an arrow in his shoulder. Legolas jumps up and fits another arrow to his bow and let's it fly without hesitation. Thalion disappears before the arrow can hit him. He reappears in front of Legolas. "You want a fight." Thalion draws a dagger across Legolas's lower abdomen. "You got one." Thalion continues.
I hold up Legolas as he falls to his knees. Ada comes running and swings his swords but Thalion disappears but I see the tip of Anduin leave a cut across his cheek. "Legolas?" I put my forehead to his and he kisses my nose softly.
"I'll be alright. I am so sorry this had to happen on your birthday, I made a cake if it helps." He says and I laugh with tears rolling down my cheeks.
"We will have some when you're all bandaged up." I reply as ada helps him up and leads him to the house of healing.
Two months have passed and Thalion hasn't attacked again but we are still very careful. After I showed Legolas the note he went off somewhere and didn't come to bed until very early morning. He looked like he had been crying, and now, he barely says a word to me.
"Ada?" I ask as I enter the throne room. I run into Legolas who doesn't even glance at me. "Never mind, you're busy." I turn on my heel to leave.
"Elora, wait." Legolas says and I turn back around. "You need to hear this." He says and I shake my head.
"If the only time you're going to talk me, or even look at me, is when it has to do with Thalion then don't bother. It's been two months Legolas, I have been alone." I take the ring off and turn to him. "If you want to marry me then prove you still love me." I put the ring in his hand and walk away.
The tears flood over and I go out to the garden and hide myself amongst the violets. "Lellig? What is wrong?" Nana asks, sitting beside me with Eldarion in her arms.
"Thêl? Eldarion asks and I sigh and pull my younger brother into my arms.
"I-I have the ring back to Legolas." I answer and nana pulls me close and kisses the side of my head.
"You have been lonely, it is partly mine and your father's fault, we have not spent the time with you that you need. You may be nineteen but you still need the same amount of attention we give your brother. For that I am sorry Elora, please forgive me." Nana says and I nod.
"I can play with you." Eldarion offers and I laugh. My little brother wipes away my tears and I kiss his forehead.
"You are kind little brother." I state and he kisses my cheek.
"I love my big sister." I says and I smile hugging him tightly.
"And I love my little brother." I reply warmly.
"Eldarion, let us leave your sister be now." Nana takes his hand and I look around to see why. Ada comes over and takes nana's place. I put my chin on my knees knowing what is coming.
"Elora. Legolas has gone off somewhere and I can not find him." Ada says and I keep staring at the flowers the sway in the gentle breeze.
"Ada, I did what I did because I can't go on being ignored, being alone. He is the only one I have loved and will ever love but.." I trail off, biting my lower lip as it quivers. I bury my face into my dress.
Ada's arms wrap around me. "Lellig, are you pregnant?" Ada asks in surprise. I look up and place a hand on my stomach. "Arwen!" Ada calls and nana comes back and looks between the two of us. Ada helps me stand. "I think she's pregnant." Nana's eyes widen and a grin appears on her face.
Nana takes my hand and takes me to the closest room with a bed in it. "Lay down." She instructs and so I do. She presses her hands into my abdomen. As soon as she gets to the top she smiles at me.
"Well, it appears that you are pregnant." I sit up and look up at nana.
"How far?" I ask and she smiles.
"Two and a half months." I get up and run my fingers through my hair. The absence of my ring becomes very noticeable. "Go find him Elora." Nana urges softly, with a loving hand on my shoulder. I nod.
"I love nana, ada. And you Eldarion." I kiss them both on the cheek and Eldarion on the forehead. I lift my dress and use the bond Legolas and I have to find him. The bond leads me to the edge of the forest. I see him with his head against a tree. The way his shoulders move tell me he is breathing hard and I see tears drip off his face. I walk up behind him and cautiously take his hand.
Legolas turns around, blue eyes wide. I startled him. He pulls me close and cries into my shoulder. I wrap my arms around him I nuzzle my face into his neck. "I love you." I whisper and take my ring from his pocket and slip it onto my finger. "What are you doing out here?" I ask sensing something very bad.
"Challenging me." Thalion walks out from the trees and Legolas pushes me behind him.
"I wasn't challenging you! I was cursing your name." Legolas replies with his bow drawn.
"Eh. Anyway, how is that cut Legolas?" Thalion taunts and I pull out a dagger and throw it, it lands in his shoulder. He screams and Legolas releases his arrow but Thalion ducks. He rips the dagger out and throws it onto the ground.
"I will have you! And all of middle earth!" He yells then disappears. I go grab my dagger and wipe the blood off in the grass.
"Elora." I turn to Legolas and he pulls my body against his. His eyes hold all of his emotions.
"Forgive me Legolas." I look down and he takes my hand while lifting my chin with his other.
"There is nothing to forgive. I have been neglecting you and leaving you lonely, that does not make a worthy husband. It is me that should be asking for your forgiveness." Legolas says and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Well you're forgiven and you're going to be a father." I state and I look up at him. He seems to be a little bit of shock. "Legolas?" I ask and his hand falls down to my stomach. I giggle at the look on his face. "Ada pointed it out and nana confirmed it, two and a half months." I add and he kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck and his hands are tightly pressed against my back.
"I'll make sure our child is brought into this world safely. I promise we won't lose the baby to the likes of him." Legolas says into my hair and I wrap my arms around his torso. I want to stay like this forever.
We head back inside and grandfather is standing in the hall. "I will take a look. Ah, Elora, Legolas. Congratulations." Grandfather greets us and I smile.
"How have you been grandfather?" I ask and he smiles.
"Very well, but missing my daughter and grandchildren." He answers and I smile then go up and give him a hug.
"I missed you too." I step back and Legolas bows with his hand on his heart.
"It is a pleasure to see you again my Lord Elrond."
"As it is you Legolas. I must say, I can not wait to tell you the news in a few months time." Grandfather teases and Legolas looks at me. I shrug.
"The gift of foresight let's you in on many things." I state and take his hand.
"Let us go take a walk in the garden." I pull him along and his mind is preoccupied.
"I am going to think about it the entire day now." Legolas states, referring to what grandfather said.
"Why not think about what room we are going to give our child?" I suggest and he nods.
"Well how about the one between your parents room and ours?" Legolas suggests. I think about it and nod.
"Yes that will work, but for the first little while he or she will be in our room." I remind him as he picks a white rose and puts it in my hair.
"Of course. And in honour of the promise we made my father, if the baby is a boy, we will name him Thranduil." Legolas says as he cups my father.
"And if it is a girl we will name her Arlayna." I add and he kisses my forehead.
Legolas puts his head on mine and we stand there like that for a few more minutes.
~Six Months Later~
I stand on the balcony and let the fresh scent of rain fill my nose. "Elora, Lord Elrond wishes to see us." Legolas says as he comes in from training the soldiers. I take his hand and he leads me to the hall.
As we enter I see that ada and nana and Eldarion, who turned three yesterday, are all standing around as well. I walk over to grandfather and he smiles. "I have seen your future and thought that halfway through your pregnancy would be a good time to tell you that you are having twins." Grandfather states and my eyes widen. "Boy and girl." He adds happily.
I look up at Legolas and he looks like he's about to pass out. I take him over to the sofa and ada puts a hand on his shoulder. "Are alright mellon nin?" Ada asks and Legolas shakes his head. "Are you not happy?" Ada asks and Legolas looks up.
"I am but….twins? Are you sure?" Legolas asks and I sit beside him.
"Grandfather's gift never fails him, and I know what's wrong. Legolas, you're going to be a wonderful father, after all, you can handle my brother." I remind him and he smirks.
"Yes that is true, I can also handle you." Legolas teases and I smack his arm playfully while everyone else laughs. He places a hand on my stomach and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Don't worry melamin, everything will be fine." I say encouragingly and he kisses the top of my head.
"I hope so."
~Six Months Later~
Legolas holds me close as grandfather tells us the horrible news. Our daughter did not make it. Our son cries as grandfather hands him to me. I look up and Legolas kisses my forehead. Grandfather had asked forgiveness for he did not see this but there is nothing to forgive, some things in life happen for a reason, they may not be the best thing but they happen anyway. I wipe away my tears and then Legolas's.
"Let's just be happy that we did feel her kicking and that we have our son, Thranduil. Next daughter we have, we will name her after her older sister." I state and Legolas nods.
Grandfather also admitted that my grandmother miscarried a baby before she had nana. Ada and nana and Eldarion come in. "Can I see my nephew?" He asks and I smile and kneel down.
"Do you want to hold him?" I ask and he nods. I show Eldarion how to hold him then hand my newborn son to my brother. I stand back up and Eldarion smiles as Thranduil stops crying and reaches a small hand up to his uncle's face.
"Well, looks like our son isn't going to be a daddy's boy or a mommy's boy, he's going to be an uncle's boy." I point out and everyone in the room laughs.
The next day we have a small funeral for our daughter. After Eldarion, Legolas, and I walk along in the garden. I have Thranduil in my arms while Legolas holds Eldarion's hand.
"Elora, I think my niece would be just like you. Really pretty and smart and strong." Eldarion states as he skips along beside Legolas. I smile and feel my heart warm knowing that my little brother thinks of me like that. "I promise I will protect Thranduil and his future siblings because I love them lots!" Eldarion says and happy tears stream down my cheeks.
"How was I blessed with such a brother?" I ask Legolas as he runs off after a stray puppy.
"Your parents have wonderful genes." Legolas answers and I laugh.
~Three Years Later~
I watch ada teach Eldarion, who is now six, how to wield a sword with sticks. Eldarion turns to me and waves and ada sticks him in the chest. "Never be distracted, even by your pretty sister." Ada states and I laugh. My dress is tugged on and I look down to Thranduil, who is now three.
"Can I go play?" He asks and I ruffle his brown hair.
"They aren't playing my boy. Your grandpa is teaching your uncle how to use a sword, your father will begin to teach you when you are your uncle's age." I answer and he looks on in awe. I place a hand under my protruding stomach.
"Go get your father Thranduil. Tell him your sister is ready to meet everyone." Thranduil runs off as ada runs over and helps me to the healing house.
Two hours later I am holding Arlayna and Legolas stands at my bed side with Thranduil on his hip. "My baby sister is cute! I want to hold her!" Thranduil says and climbs onto the bed. I place Arlayna in his arms and he sits very still while holding her, she is asleep.
The next day I was talking with nana, who just told me that she is pregnant. "Legolas likes to hog Arlayna. All night he held her and ended up falling asleep with her on his chest. If he keeps this up she's going to be a daddy's girl and never want to leave his side." I state and nana laughs.
"Just like you?" Nana teases and I blush. I never realized how much of a daddy's girl I was until recently. Nana laughs and we enter the hall. I look and see the scene I predicted so many years ago. Thranduil is standing at his father's side while Legolas looks down into his arms at the little pink blanket. I grin and go over to him and he smiles at me. I place my hand on my son's head and I feel him look up at me. I look down and smile he smiles back up at me.
~Seven Years Later~
"Nana!" Arlayna yells and I look to see that her and my sister Lenna are arguing again.
"You two enough!" I go over and switch teddy bears and then Arlayna looks down.
"I want ada." She says and I sigh.
"I know sweetheart, ada will be home soon." I answer. "Hopefully." I mutter to myself and pick her up. Legolas and ada went out with a group of soldiers to take care a camp of orcs that Faramir found in the far east of Gondor.
Thranduil, who is now ten comes running in with Eldarion, who is now thirteen. "Nana! Ada and grandfather are home!" My mood brightens and I set Arlayna down who runs past her uncle and brother.
I lift my dress and run out behind them with my brother, sister, and son at my side. "Ada!" Arlayna jumps into Legolas's arms and he barely has time to catch her. "I missed you!" She exclaims and I smile as Legolas kisses her nose.
"And I you my little princess." He replies then turns to me. I smile and he smiles back at me. He turns back to Arlayna as Thranduil goes up to him. Eldarion picks up Lenna and they head over ada. Nana is at ada's side. I go over to Legolas and take in our family.
This peace is being threatened, I vow to eliminate that threat. Thalion won't take this away from me, from my family. I think about our friends and wonder how they are doing. Have they started families yet? I get a feeling that question will be answered soon, but not for a pleasant out of the blue meeting.