The next morning Legolas was on the boats before anyone even woke up. Through the day he kept to himself, singing in undertones in his beautiful fluid language. Gimli could not understand the meaning of the lyrics but he heard the melancholy and sorrow that vibrated on the silvery voice . Once the melody was cut by a choking sound -yet the redhead had not the heart to turn and face the pain he knew would be written in those sapphire eyes- before it started again .

When they made shore Gimli rushed to grab both their bags and jump out of the embarkation. He left them with the others' and hurried back to offer his hand to help Legolas off the boat, all in the span of a few seconds. Aragorn snorted at the dwarf's antics but the blond in question seemed to take no notice, simply accepting the help and perching himself on a tree branch as soon as he was on land .

Gimli deflated, having failed in lifting his friend's spirits.

Boromir closed behind the ranger to murmur in his ear "Is it because of what I said yesterday?" with genuine remorse.

"Nay" He shook his head and eyed both man and dwarf "I fear it might be something worse: Longing"

That was enough for Gimli -who had listened to many tales of culture and home from the Prince- to connect the dots. An idea formed in his mind.

After a few hours of dozing in the tree Legolas was called down for supper. Landing light on his feet, he was met by eager hobbits wanting to know of the baby's state. The smile he gave them as he reported its welfare didn't last nor reach his eyes. The blond seated by the fire and Sam leaped to serve him a full square of lembas with roasted fish.

"I also made some berry sauce" the hobbit spluttered watching Legolas eye his plate as if it would bite him. "I had thought it to be for the morning but if you want some you can have it. You know what they say, life without sweets is bound to be bitter" he laughed nervously "But you couldn't know they say that because it's a Shire saying . And I don't know if you even like berries. Of course you do, I've seen you eat them dozens of times. And now I'm babbling." Sam seated back down, red as a beetroot.

Legolas sighed and took a bite of lembas to ease his companion "This is fine, my friend. But you exaggerate with the portions"

"Nonsense" exclaimed Pippin, indignant "You forget you are now eating for two"

"Aye but that applies for two elves, not two hobbits" a fine eyebrow arched along with the corners of his mouth.

The youngest hobbit grimaced and looked down, suddenly fascinated by his toes "In my defense, I was starving"

All laughed around them and Legolas noticed for the first time someone was missing "Where is Gimli ?"

Frodo was relief to be distracted from his own food "By the river. He said something about a rock"

"Not a rock, dear Frodo." The booming voice was followed by a bush of orange hair and a sturdy body coming from behind one of the boats. Gimli stopped right in front of Legolas and place a small heavy object in one of the slim hands "A token". He didn't let go, instead pulling the elf to his feet and taking him away from the others to have a bit of privacy, meal forgotten . "I'm sorry, lad, about how I reacted to…you know" he gestured over his own belly. "You did not mention this about your people during our walks- and I was quite shocked"

"Will you not ask why I hid this from you? Or why I refuse to abandon the quest?"

Gimli shook his head and squeezed on the hand he still held on his own "I'm sure you are tired of that query. Besides, I don't need to. I understand"

Dark eyes stared up at his and Legolas' heart jumped with gladness at the acceptance in them. He raised his open palm to scrutinize the object inside. It was a flat river stone of a bright green shade masterfully carved with intricate patterns. There were also a few Khuzdul runes describing a circle and in the center a single elvish character that he had taught Gimli how to draw . The mark of Legolas' royal House.

"It is our costume to give the expectant mother one such as that one to place on the dwarrowling's crib. To ward off evil." Gimli fidgeted with his hands. "Although usually is crafted on a gemstone. This is the best I could find, I'm afraid"

"It's perfect. Thank you" he rasped, voice thick with emotion. It wasn't every day that a dwarf shared their culture with an outsider –less of all an elf- for they were private by nature.

"Do your people have similar ones?" Traditions for when a little one arrives, I mean" The redhead specified as they returned to their friends .

Legolas smiled at the bright memories before answering "Elflings are always cause for celebration, even if there have not been any for centuries. We gather family and friends for a party to announce the pregnancy, once the couple feels ready. Some do not do it until it's obvious they are showing, however that is considered extremely rude"

The hobbits peaked up at the topic. "We also celebrate new little hobbits greatly ", sang Pippin.

"The future parents invite everyone to their party and there's lots of food and music" said Merry.

Sam nodded with a piece of fish still held in hand "Each family brings a gift for the little one"

"And the games! We play many games such as making riddles and songs with the names the parents picked up, or trying to guess the baby's gender . Some even bet on it" The lightheartedness in Frodo's voice and grin was a rare sight for his companions. "My Uncle Bilbo won ten barrels of Old Toby when I was born because of that" He laughed, all echoing him.

It was an odd tradition in Legolas' view, given that he already knew of his child's gender early on due to their bond, and some elves went as far as to know their babe's future appearance . He stated as much when the four hobbits got everyone into making their guess. The look on their faces was priceless! They begged for Legolas to tell yet he denied them. The only one who didn't try to convince him was Estel. Having grown up with elves he was aware of the privacy of the matter, only ever shared among the parents-to-be. Still the ranger humored Merry by betting on a girl when they resumed their game.

Legolas just pursed his lips, not giving any other clue. Suddenly he gave a yelp, bleaching as he reached for his small belly. Seeing the pain written in his friend's brow Aragorn was by his side in an instant, and surprisingly enough so was Boromir . Placing an expert hand under the silky tunic and resting it against the soft skin the healer felt the muscle beneath taunt as Legolas' own bowstring . "Help me lay him down". The men did so and as soon as Legolas' body stretched the pain seemed to leave him. "That's better. How far along are you, Legolas?" Aragorn inquired.

The elf closed his eyes, puffs of air passed his lips as he tried to catch his breath. "Little over nine months". Legolas could feel the unbelieving stares around him. Aragorn hurried to explain that elves gestated for exactly a year. Probably as courtesy to Boromir considering the man would have thought him going into labor by human standards . On the back of his mind Legolas heard a voice asking about the child. Panic-stricken, he shot upright clinging to the first thing his fists closed unto. Which happened to be a very embarrassed dirty-blond man's tunic.

"My child!"

Wrapping his hands on the distressed archer's wide shoulders Aragorn carefully turned him around to meet his own grey orbs, prying him away from Boromir . "Calm down, Mellon. Everything is fine"

"But the pain…Nin Gwinig…"

"Your baby is safe. It's perfectly normal to star feeling some contractions by your stage on the pregnancy. Your body is preparing for childbirth." Blue eyes widened further. "It does not mean this will be soon", he remarked. "But they will get stronger until it happens"

Legolas just acknowledged it with tired resignation.

When they left that morning it was not Gimli in his boat but Merry and Pippin- having switched so the later could help the pregnant elf with paddling .

Over the next few days he was in equal parts amused and annoyed by his companion's antics. They never gave the archer chance to pick up his own bag and constantly helped him in and out of the boats whether he wanted the aid or not . Legolas wasn't accounted for the watches anymore, not that he got much sleep anyway. His nourishment also was supervised with the uttermost care. On one occasion Boromir had emerged from the forest behind them with a bounty of rabbits and a very self-satisfied looking Pippin in tow after Legolas had confided on the hobbit that he craved for an elvish hunting dish that consisted of the animals- which Aragorn had cooked for him . He got asked to feel the baby at least three times a day and the questions about both of their health came even more often .

All in all, he felt cared for and safe as if he was with his family back in Mirkwood and finally allowed himself to be just happy in the wait for his baby .

Then they were attacked on the edge of Rauros Falls and everything broke, the fellowship included . Frodo and Sam had left for Mordor on their own. Boromir had fallen. Merry and Pippin were taken away by orcs and Saruman's foul creations. And Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas pursued them.

Three days and nights they ran, with only brief pauses for rest or to better track their way. Several times Gimli looked up at Legolas' face in worry only to find his eyes glazed and unfocused, lost in elven dreams . It weighted on the dwarf as much as Aragorn to see their friend pushed to this exertion but there had been no other option . They had to rescue the hobbits and having Legolas go back to Lorien on his own would have been even more dangerous than him coming along .

By the time they came across the Rohirrim Legolas was all but shacking on his feet, a few drops of sweat well concealed on his hairline . The grim news Eomer bestowed did not help either. All remaining blood seemed to leave the blond's face at the prospect of having lost their small friends to dead as well . Discreetly Gimli rested a hand on the small of Legolas' back as he looked close to fainting. Eomer seemed to realize that too, for he handed them two of the magnificent horses of those lands before giving a sympathizing word for their pain and leaving them behind . Though grateful for the gift –and beyond his own despise for the big animals- Gimli wasn't certain it was better for the tattered elf to ride than to continue on foot .

The site of the battle was not a far ride and the sight was horrible. Their hopes shattered the further they looked. Legolas stood still to the side. Head hanging and hand clutching his middle, a single quiet sob escaped his lips. The heartache adding to the increasing pain that clawed at his insides, coming back and forth through the day and stronger each time .

All of sudden there was a spark of light on their situation, a hope that Merry and Pippin may be alive. And everything else was forgotten for the time being as they followed the clues. Only to be halted again as they came to face the limits of Fangorn Forest.

"What madness drove them in there?"

Gimli's musing was cut by a shriek. Turning round, they saw Legolas on his knees curling around his middle. Fair features contorted into a grimace and mouth open in a silent cry. Both man and dwarf rushed to his side.

"Did the pain come of sudden? Is it a contraction?" urged Aragorn, the healer in him taking over.

After a deep breath Legolas managed to utter through clenched teeth "Been having them all day…stronger now…and shorter apart"

Feeling his hands grow cold, Aragorn collected the shaking elf into his arms. With a sharp intake of breath, he noticed moisture on the back of his thighs. Searching the frightened blue eyes he found that Legolas already knew. Yet he felt like nodding and voicing it out for their companion. "You are in labor"

A second passed. Then two more. Gimli reacted eloquently .

"What!?"