Disclaimer - No one from Lord of the Rings belong to me. (Darn!) Nanaylia and any other characters you don't recognize belong to me.

Summary - The war is over and everyone is trying to adjust to their new lives. But when both Legolas and Nanaylia, along with her newborn child, suddenly disappear into thin air, past secrets and tales that almost everyone forgot begin to surface.

Author's Note - I've had a few hints hidden in my stories since the beginning. Enough said.

00000

Thy Child

Nanaylia smiled as she stared at herself in the mirror. Arwen was standing next to her, smiling as she watched her friend's every move. Chimone stepped back into the room carrying a vase with several flowers sitting within it.

"I cannot believe this is happening," she whispered to herself as she absently rubbed a hand over her stomach. "I am wed to the elf I love and I am carrying his child."

"You look wonderful Nanaylia. It has been so long since I have seen you so beautiful, I almost cannot remember," Chimone told her with a smile.

Nanaylia gave her a sad smile before looking at the floor. Chimone sighed and knew she said something that brought back some long forgotten memories. Arwen stepped up to her friend and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"What is wrong, Nanaylia?" wondered Arwen.

Even before she asked the question, both elves knew what was going through Nanaylia's mind and it concerned them too.

"I worry for Legolas," replied the younger elf.

Both elves weren't the least bit surprised with the comment. Both of them knew that it hadn't been that far from her mind ever since the incident happened. What did slightly surprise them was the fact it came out of the blue during the conversation.

"Nanaylia, please do no think that any of this is your fault! You could not have possibly known what Shentree was up to when she followed your brother from Rivendell!" Chimone protested.

"Yet I never wanted it to be like this. When I returned after my lengthy stay in the Dark Forest, I had a belief that he should never have to suffer what I had to for centuries. But it is too late now," Nanaylia told her in a quiet voice. "And my child might have to as well, with the magic that remained in my blood from Manlin's meddling."

"Yes. I also hate to see that. It is so sad that it is something you are going to have for the rest of your life," agreed Chimone. "That incident is completely past us and Legolas has recovered from his own 'little' adventure. Elladan is with you again and your father is very proud of you after everything that you have done to protect and help your brother."

Nanaylia gazed at the elf that helped her father take care of her and her brother for so long with a questioning look on her face. Chimone nodded, though the smile on her face faltered slightly and it was enough to make Nanaylia worry.

"Elladan and I have been patiently waiting for this child to arrive. It has been almost a year yet it has felt like an eternity. Between the right time to tell our families and the war, we are more than ready to be parents. My father had mixed reactions when I finally told him that I was with child and who the father was," Nanaylia replied.

"All I am asking you is please be careful. I do not want anything to happen to your child before they come," Chimone told her, placing a hand on the younger elf's shoulder.

"Do not worry for I shall be careful now. I do not have to go out and protect my older brother from an unseen demon," Nanaylia told her.

Chimone nodded, though she wasn't fully reassured about the child. She had an uneasy feeling and Nanaylia could tell. Something about the coming birth was deeply troubling the confidante.

"Nothing will be amiss Chimone. This child growing within me is more than fine. I cannot explain it but somehow, I just know," Nanaylia told them.

Nanaylia headed over towards the window and leaned against the sill. Arwen watched her as Chimone placed a hand on her arm. The older elf motioned that they should leave and Arwen slowly agreed. They silently made their way for the door when they heard a voice call out to them.

"Chimone, Arwen, do not go just yet," Nanaylia suddenly said.

"What is the matter?" Chimone asked, becoming slightly worried. "Is it the baby?"

Both Chimone and Arwen returned to her side and they stared out at the fields outside.

"I wish my mother were here. I really want her to see this but I know she will never be here. She will never see her grandchild," Nanaylia said in a quiet voice.

Chimone lowered her head slightly. She could not imagine how the younger was elf was feeling about her mother. Ever since the elf was proclaimed dead all those centuries ago, it was hard not to think about the many times that she had stepped in to fill all those maternal roles for both her and Legolas.

'If there was only a way I could tell you how proud I am of your children,' she thought to herself.

00000

Elladan was pacing nervously back and forth in his room. Aragorn and Legolas were watching him.

"Elladan, calm down or else you are going to wear a hole in the floor. Everything is going to be fine," Aragorn told him.

"I know. I am just worried about Nanaylia. She is due with our child during the time that we are in Minas Tirith," Elladan replied.

"It was a consensual agreement that you and Nanaylia made to stay now. You know that," Legolas told him.

"What I know is with Aragorn recently being crowned king, he will not have too much time to spend with us but we both understand. We only wanted to get away from the pressures that Rivendell and Mirkwood provide us for a little while," Elladan said with a nod of his head.

Aragorn remained silent, taking in the information. They heard the door open nearby and they looked to see Elrohir walk into the room.

"Who is going where?" asked Elrohir, seeming slightly confused.

"Elladan and Nanaylia are going to be staying with Arwen and myself here in Minas Tirith for a while," Aragorn replied.

"Then I am staying as well," Elrohir protested.

Elrohir received dumbfounded looks from everyone else in the room. A smirk appeared on his face before deciding to respond to the unspoken inquiry.

"Listen, if you and Nanaylia were going off by yourselves to some private little grove, I would not invite myself along. But you are not so I am staying," he told them

Elladan rolled his eyes at his brother, causing everyone around him to laugh. Elrohir crossed his arms, waiting for the inevitable response from an enraged brother.

"You are not staying here!" Elladan protested.

"I am too. I mean, if you are going to be with Aragorn and Arwen, I cannot see why I cannot stay as well. I promise I will not get in your way," Elrohir told him.

The door began to open again. Everyone turned to see who it was and it completely opened to reveal Elrond and Thranduil. Everyone smiled as they walked up to the trio.

"So how is everyone doing?" wondered Elrond.

"Fine, even after finding out my brother and his new wife is staying here in Gondor after everything that has happened. Can you believe this Father?" Elrohir replied as he walked towards his father.

Elrond nodded his head, causing Elrohir to drop his jaw. The curious eyes on Elrohir's face made Elrond wonder how much the twins told each other anymore.

"I knew all about this and it would surprise all of you to know that I plan to stay as well," Elrond told them.

Everyone appeared shocked with the news. They glanced between each other, unsure how to deal with this revelation.

"Why is this Lord Elrond? Is it because the child is due during her stay in Gondor?" Aragorn asked.

"Yes, it is. Do not ask any further as to why I have to stay. I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone else, not even my own family," Elrond coldly told him.

Aragorn glanced over at the twins, who were just as confused as he was. He had to ask what was so special about this birth that was so different from any other. Thranduil narrowed his eyes, wondering what there was about his daughter that even he didn't know.

'Why does Elrond believe he has to stay as well? There are people to help deliver the child here. Unless he knows something he's not letting on. That has to be it. But what could it possibly be?' Aragorn thought to himself.

Aragorn decided not to press it any further. Neither Elladan nor Elrohir decided to say anything else either. Though they were all interested as to why Elrond felt he had to stay. Thranduil watched as Elrond turned around and stepped out of the room. The Elven king cocked his head to one side, a very interested look written on his face. Placing a hand on his chin, the thoughts swirled through his mind.

'I will have to ask him soon about what I need to know. He obviously knows something about my children that even I am not aware,' he thought.

TBC...