Screams echo off the walls of the Citadel, the type of screams that sent sane people running in the other direction, but I've never been considered sane. Outside was just as bad, summer storms hitting us hard yet even they didn't seem as bad as the way Andrea's raging inside. Another scream sounds from the direction I'm heading, making me wince and pick up my pace.
All too soon for my liking I open the door to the King's chambers, out of breath as I walk through the sitting room to the bedroom door where Aragorn, Legolas, and Haldir are hanging out. Aragorn's pacing back and forth, chewing on his thumbnail and sending nervous glances at the closed bedroom door. "Bet he wasn't so nervous when I was born," I quip, taking a moment to catch my breath and gather my courage.
"I think he may have been worse," Leggy answers, watching his best friend. "You had the finest midwife in Mirkwood."
Patting Haldir's shoulder, I continue on into the bedroom where Andi is lying on the large bed, squeezing her poor handmaiden's hand as tightly as she can. The blonde's face is tomato red and wisps of blonde hair stuck to her from the sweat, brows scrunched together and teeth grinding as she struggles through another contraction. The midwife knelt at her feet, demanding another hard push. Knowing my job, I move to place the warm linens I held next to a basin of warm water, ignoring the way my hands are shaking.
"I'm gonna kill him," Andrea shrieks around a sob, her free hand gripping the sheet underneath her. She'll be pissed once she recovers, those sheets were brand new and she could only get them from Rohan; Éomer had given them to her just last month when he stopped by before going to visit his sister and Faramir. "I'm gonna bury him, dig him up, and kill him all over again!"
"Want me to go get Adar and make your work easier," I ask, looking at her over my shoulder. The baby would be here any time now and I know that I wanted Haldir with me last year. She nods quickly, eyes clenched shut as she let out a low moan.
"Men are not allowed inside," the midwife states with a disapproving look in my direction. I square my shoulders and gain the haughty expression I've seen Thranduil make whenever I argue with him, smirking a little when it makes the other woman blush and focus back on my best friend.
"You just worry about getting my sibling and best friend through this safely while I focus on my idiot father." Proud that I managed to sound completely collected and not the bundle of nerves that I am, I push the door open, grab Aragorn by the back of his shirt collar, and yank him inside before kicking the door shut behind us. "Go comfort your wife."
He's gone ashen, pale gray eyes fixed on Andrea as the tremor in his hands picks up again. Honestly, it's a miracle that men have survived this long given how they get squeamish at the simplest of things. It's because he's vowed to protect Andi the best he can, but childbirth is something that's out of his hands and he's absolutely terrified of it.
"Men are not—" I cut him off with just a look, pointing towards my crying friend. "Of course, there are exceptions." His shaking increases as he mumbles under his breath," sleep-deprived, knife-wielding daughters being the largest one." Andrea lets out another loud scream of pain, drawing his complete attention. "I'm here, Andrea." He untangles her hand from the sheet and holds it in both of his while I grab a simple white linen to clean the baby off once it arrives. "You can do this, Mel, just a few more pushes."
Then a new cry echoed in the room, strong and nearly as loud as Andi's. Carefully as I can, I help to clean the baby before wrapping it in a pale blue blanket; made of soft satin and warm fur to protect it from the chill in the air.
"It's a boy," I grin, with a relieved smile. Andrea lets out a breathless laugh, smiling at her husband and releasing her poor handmaiden. The baby's cries slow and turn into content noises, my baby brother looking around curiously as I cradle him in my arms. "Hey, little man. You're so cute, I bet you'll be an awesome baby brother." I continue the quiet talking as I cross the room to Andi's side of the bed. "You wanna see your adar and mommy? She worked really hard to get you here and she's excited to see you." Aragorn gently takes him from me, matching expressions of pure awe on Andi and Aragorn's face as they stare down at the newborn. "What are you gonna name my baby brother?"
"Samwell," Andi answers, smoothing down the tuft of light brown hair on her son's head. She laughs softly at Samwell's big yawn, tears gathering and making her pale blue eyes shine. "Come here, Ash." I sit on the edge of the bed, smiling down at my family.
The storm outside rages on, but all was calm inside the Citadel.
*~ONE WEEK LATER~*
Aside from my handmaiden, the throne room is empty for the first time this week; no more confused guests that were lost or wanting to pay their respects or Dwarves with small trinkets for the new Prince. Adar and my husband had ridden out to meet our newest guest around fifteen minutes ago, so I shouldn't have to occupy the hard throne for too much longer; it's an uncomfortable thing, not even the velvet cushion offering much of a break.
"King Elessar should be back soon, Princess," Elara assures me and I nod absently, shifting in my seat and kicking my legs back and forth. Elara proves correct as the sound of hooves on cobblestones reach my ears soon enough before they divert to the stables. From the amount sound, I can conclude that a lot of people have arrived to celebrate little Sammy's birth and they would stay for a few extra days to rest themselves. A few minutes later, the great doors of the throne room open and a large procession of Elves and Men enter the Citadel with my adar at the front, a none too pleased look on his face. Something happened that he doesn't like and that means bad news for the rest of us. "My King," Elara curtsies and then helps me to stand.
"Elara," Aragorn nods in acknowledgment," why don't you go find Haldir and Andrea, tell them to meet us in the council chamber." Great, with this much walking I'll lose the extra fat from Ariel's birth sooner than I'd thought.I barely reach the others when a woman shoots forward, her hands on her narrow hips with a disapproving look. Her auburn hair falls in soft waves down to her hips, half of it braided intricately in the style of the Elves, her brown eyes seem to see through me into my soul and then I realize exactly who the lady is when she opens her mouth.
"Why exactly is Larien dressed in men's clothing?" I raise an eyebrow at Adar, lips pursed. He gulps, knowing that my look means he was in deeper shit than he had originally thought. "You're supposed to be a king now; the least you could do is make sure she has proper clothing!"
My mother has returned and good Lord is that lady pissed.