I closed my eyes, trying to think what to write. There was so much that
had happened in the five years that we had been separated, that I hardly
knew where to start.
He had left one morning while I still slept – that night I had told him I wouldn't marry him. I hadn't seen the necessity for it, the way I saw it, we were already married, in our hearts and minds if not in the marriage registers. He had gotten huffy and I told him we'd discuss it in the morning. He'd rolled over, and when I woke up the following morning he was gone.
*&*
Three months later I discovered something that caused me to burst into tears again. But I told nobody but Kera. She had taken over regency for me when I sunk into depression just after Legolas left, even though she was pregnant with her first child. A wave of widespread dislike for the Legolas had spread over the country, and I had done nothing to prevent it. To tell the truth, I wasn't entirely pleased with him either.
*&*
Nine months after Legolas left me, I gave birth to two daughters. The first was blonde, but stillborn. I named her Raiza, which meant 'lost one' in the old language. When the second girl was born, I despaired of her life, until she screamed loudly and looked at me accusatorily with familiar blue eyes. Her hair was a tuft of ginger on the crown of her head, and I recognised her.
"Welcome, Bria."
*&*
Weak though the birth had left me, I led Raiza's mini-funeral. It was then that I saw the extent of my popularity, when what seemed to be the entire population of Anorondor turned up for the funeral, and many cried as though Raiza had been their daughter, not mine. Bria grew stronger by the day, and was never at a loss to voice her opinions, even as all she could manage was a lusty wail when she was displeased.
A nagging thought returned often to me, that I had not told Legolas of the birth of the twins, and the death of the first. Already Bria showed signs of her father's smile, and she often looked at me with the same calculating expression that he had.
But I never told him, feeling that I was unready to face him, even to tell him of the birth of his daughter.
Bria grew up to be a very attentive girl, although she was as flighty as Éowyn and Kera had been when they were younger. Kera often despaired of her, and apologised profusely for ever putting me through the same thing she went through with Bria. Kera had her own little boy, who drove me wild even more than Bria did, with his constant disappearances. Often the servants around the reclaimed palace would find the two children in unusual places, and often the servants nearly had heart attacks when the two children jumped out at them.
When Bria reached five years old, I began teaching her about Anorondor, its history, both past and recent. After all, she was to be Queen after me, no matter how long I lived. But the thought nagged at me even more now that Bria was older, and almost everything she did reminded me of her absent father. That was what brought me to my current activity, trying to think of what to write, and how to tell Legolas that I had borne and brought up his daughter for five years.
*&*
Okay folks, tell me if you like it. I know this bit is short, but it could get longer, if you want me to make it so. Istalindar
He had left one morning while I still slept – that night I had told him I wouldn't marry him. I hadn't seen the necessity for it, the way I saw it, we were already married, in our hearts and minds if not in the marriage registers. He had gotten huffy and I told him we'd discuss it in the morning. He'd rolled over, and when I woke up the following morning he was gone.
*&*
Three months later I discovered something that caused me to burst into tears again. But I told nobody but Kera. She had taken over regency for me when I sunk into depression just after Legolas left, even though she was pregnant with her first child. A wave of widespread dislike for the Legolas had spread over the country, and I had done nothing to prevent it. To tell the truth, I wasn't entirely pleased with him either.
*&*
Nine months after Legolas left me, I gave birth to two daughters. The first was blonde, but stillborn. I named her Raiza, which meant 'lost one' in the old language. When the second girl was born, I despaired of her life, until she screamed loudly and looked at me accusatorily with familiar blue eyes. Her hair was a tuft of ginger on the crown of her head, and I recognised her.
"Welcome, Bria."
*&*
Weak though the birth had left me, I led Raiza's mini-funeral. It was then that I saw the extent of my popularity, when what seemed to be the entire population of Anorondor turned up for the funeral, and many cried as though Raiza had been their daughter, not mine. Bria grew stronger by the day, and was never at a loss to voice her opinions, even as all she could manage was a lusty wail when she was displeased.
A nagging thought returned often to me, that I had not told Legolas of the birth of the twins, and the death of the first. Already Bria showed signs of her father's smile, and she often looked at me with the same calculating expression that he had.
But I never told him, feeling that I was unready to face him, even to tell him of the birth of his daughter.
Bria grew up to be a very attentive girl, although she was as flighty as Éowyn and Kera had been when they were younger. Kera often despaired of her, and apologised profusely for ever putting me through the same thing she went through with Bria. Kera had her own little boy, who drove me wild even more than Bria did, with his constant disappearances. Often the servants around the reclaimed palace would find the two children in unusual places, and often the servants nearly had heart attacks when the two children jumped out at them.
When Bria reached five years old, I began teaching her about Anorondor, its history, both past and recent. After all, she was to be Queen after me, no matter how long I lived. But the thought nagged at me even more now that Bria was older, and almost everything she did reminded me of her absent father. That was what brought me to my current activity, trying to think of what to write, and how to tell Legolas that I had borne and brought up his daughter for five years.
*&*
Okay folks, tell me if you like it. I know this bit is short, but it could get longer, if you want me to make it so. Istalindar