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Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.

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Chapter 7

Glorfindel smiled as he watched Mandawen set herself uneasily upon the stone bench. Lord Elrond said she was due to give birth in three weeks, but for Mandawen she wanted the child to come much sooner, especially since the pain her lower back was growing more consistent as the day progressed.

"Don't smile," Mandawen said as she sighed heavily, but there was a smile on her face. Glorfindel had helped her a great deal over the last four months, as had Alya but she found the Elvin lord's presence quiet comforting. She figured it must have been the power he gave off. "You don't have to carry around a large rock under your garments." Glorfindel chuckled and moved to stand before her.

"That is true, Mandawen, however, soon, your child will be in your arms and you shall still have a large rock to carry around," he said with a pause, "only it will be in your arm instead of inside you." Mandawen managed a small smile and nodded her head. Glorfindel moved and sat next to her. Mandawen looked off into the distance and sighed softly.

"This place gives one a great sense of peace. I don't think if I had not been here after Heldreg's passing that I would have made it," Mandawen said suddenly. Glorfindel looked at her closely and frowned. "When he died, I felt like a part of me was ripped away and it died. It was if I knew nothing than the pain that was in my heart." She paused and looked at Glorfindel. "If I had been in Bree or in Rohan, I would have died right along with him, but here . . . here it as if my heart found a place to mend. It has been five months since his passing, and I feel surprisingly well." She gave him a smile, one that he could easily tell was not forced, but a true smile.

"I am glad you are doing well," he said gently and her smile grew as she put her hand on her stomach. Glorfindel looked at her hand before he looked back at her face. His blue eyes met hers and he smiled in return. "You are very strong, for one so young." Mandawen shook her head and looked down at her stomach.

"I alone did not make my heart mend," she said softly. "The will to have my child grow, and the kindness given to me by your people . . . that has shown me that there is more to hope for. More to want to live for than to perish for, and I am not really that young anymore."

"How old are you then?" he asked her. Mandawen looked up at him and lowered her hand from her stomach.

"Twenty-two summers as of August," she said and Glorfindel smiled.

"You are young, very young, only a child in the eyes of my people."

"Yes, but I am not a child. I am, or I was, a married woman with a child of my own soon to make his presence known," Mandawen said. Glorfindel studied her face once again, and indeed she was right. In the time he had spent with her, it was as though he was teaching her the skills she would need in life, like a guardian watching over a child that was not their own. Looking at her then, he saw that she was very much a woman in her own right. As he took her in, she gasped and grabbed at her stomach.

"Mandawen?" Glorfindel asked snapping out of his stupor. Mandawen shifted uncomfortably and tried to stand. Glorfindel stood quickly and helped her stand. "What is it?" he asked and Mandawen looked down at her dress. Glorfindel followed her eyes and saw her dress was wet. Mandawen opened her mouth to speak when a fierce pain ripped through her stomach. She cried out and her grip tightened on Glorfindel's forearms. She leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder. "You're child is coming," he whispered as he held her gently. The pain slowly passed and Mandawen took a deep breath as she pulled back from him slightly. "We must get you to your room, and I must retrieve Lord Elrond," Glorfindel said quickly.

"All right," Mandawen whispered and on shaky legs, she fell into slow steps with Glorfindel who led her through the city to her chamber, which thankfully was not far. They were nearly to her room, when another pain ripped through Mandawen. She gasped, biting her lip hard as she leaned on Glorfindel. She held back the scream that threatened in her throat and Glorfindel's grip tightened on her while the pain subsided.

"We are almost there," he told her softly. "Come on, Mandawen," he whispered and she nodded as tears fell from her eyes. The pair finished making there way down the corridor and into Mandawen's room. Glorfindel settled her on the bed and pushed her dark hair from her face. Mandawen looked up at him and he gently held her face in his hands. "I will return with Lord Elrond, I am not one to deliver a babe." Mandawen moved her hands to his wrists and gripped them tightly.

"I am afraid," she whispered shakily. Just hours earlier she was not afraid to give birth, she was hoping for it, but now all she wanted to do was stop it from happening.

"Don't be, you shall be fine," he whispered before he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Glorfindel pulled back and walked from the room thoroughly confused as to what he had just done, but convinced himself that the mortal woman was afraid, and he merely wished to comfort her. However, Mandawen's attention was on her stomach, forgetting the gesture by the Elvin lord. She was about to become a mother, and Heldreg was not there to hold her hand.

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Glorfindel moved quickly, but he didn't have far to go. Lord Elrond, Alya, and Beinion were moving quickly down the corridor. Alya and Beinion were carrying cloths and bowls of water while Lord Elrond was free of his heavy robe and dressed in dark robes with sleeves that went only to his elbow. "You know then?" Glorfindel asked and Elrond nodded.

"Aye, we heard her cries from the garden," Elrond said and the Balrog slayer turned and led them to Mandawen's room. Elrond entered the room first and Mandawen looked up and sighed heavily. "It is alright, Mandawen," he assured her as he moved over to her. Alya moved to Mandawen's side and helped her stand.

"What's going on?" Mandawen asked and Alya gave her a smile.

"We must get you ready," Alya said softly. Mandawen furrowed her brow but let Alya lead her behind the dressing screen. Soon, Alya was helping Mandawen into a cotton night dress when another pain burned through Mandawen's stomach. Mandawen bit back her scream and doubled over, gripping her stomach. Alya let go of the fabric as it fell down Mandawen's legs covering her, and put her hands on Mandawen's shoulders. Mandawen took short breaths and closed her eyes tightly as she waited for the pain to subside. After a moment, Mandawen slowly stood and took a deep breath. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Mandawen whispered as she met Alya's grey eyes. "I did not think it would hurt this much." Alya gave Mandawen another smile and pushed Mandawen's hair behind her shoulders.

"It is only just beginning," Alya said softly and Mandawen nodded knowing all too well that the pain that probably awaited her was much worse than what she experienced that moment.

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Mandawen let out a scream as her lower half burned. Elrond sat below her, awaiting the arrival of the child. "You're doing well, Mandawen," Elrond said quickly. "The child's head is coming through." As the pain subsided and she stopped pushing, Mandawen fell back against the many pillows that propped her body up.

"I cannot do this," she said tiredly. Beinion wiped her brow with a damp cloth and looked down at her.

"You are doing fine," he told her gently. Mandawen felt tears come to her eyes once again as she turned her eyes to the ceiling.

"You must push again when the pain starts, Mandawen," Elrond said. Mandawen closed her eyes.

"I cannot do this alone," she whispered again. Her body was weak and she felt as though she could not continue. She could feel the pain start to come once again, but she didn't have the strength to push. Something warm wrapped itself around her right hand and she opened her eyes slowly to see Glorfindel standing at her right side.

"You are not alone, now bring your child into the world, Mandawen," he told her firmly. Mandawen felt a new resolve fill her and as the pain increased she nodded and bore down to help her child into the world. She squeezed Glorfindel's hand tightly and screamed as she felt her skin rip open.

"The head is clear," Elrond said quickly. "One more push, Mandawen," Elrond said and Mandawen took a slow deep breath and nodded. She tightened her grip on Glorfindel's hand, the elf squeezed her hand in return and she pushed. Elrond moved quickly and smiled as he looked at Mandawen whose head was once again against the pillows but when the cries of the baby filled her ears she lifted her head. "You have a healthy son, Mandawen." Mandawen laughed softly and flopped back against the pillows. Elrond handed the baby to Beinion and finished taking care of Mandawen. Mandawen looked at Glorfindel who smiled at her. The baby's cries still filled her senses and she wanted to hold her son, but her arms were so weak, she didn't know if she'd be able to hold even his light weight.

"You did well," Glorfindel told her as he let go of her hand.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly before she sighed. Glorfindel nodded his head and stepped away while Elrond moved her and worked on making her comfortable so she could hold her son for the first time.

Mandawen was soon settled on fresh sheets and a clean nightdress, and Beinion brought her child to her. "Here you are Mandawen," he told her gently and Mandawen took the baby. Alya moved next to her and sat down on the bed to see the child more clearly. The elleth had become so nervous during the birthing that she resolved herself to wait in the corridor, pacing the entire time.

"He is beautiful," Alya said and Mandawen nodded her head.

"He is," she whispered when she noticed the golden mop of hair on top the baby's head. For only a few hours old, her son had a lot of hair. "His hair is like his father's," Mandawen said softly. Alya nodded, but did not speak for a moment. Glorfindel, Elrond, and Beinion had left when Mandawen took her child to give her peace. Alya, however, remained.

"What are you to name him?" Alya asked and Mandawen shook her head.

"I don't know, Heldreg was to decide with me. We hadn't even thought of a name, and to be honest, I hadn't during my time here," Mandawen said.

"You have time to decide," Alya said. "However, it is time you sleep. I will tend to your baby while you rest." Mandawen looked at Alya reluctantly but nodded her head. She was tired, very tired and sleep would be very nice at the moment. "I will wake you went it is time to nurse him." Mandawen nodded and kissed the baby's forehead before she handed him to Alya. "Rest now, my friend."

Mandawen sighed softly as Alya stood and rocked the baby gently. Mandawen rested her head against the pillows and closed her eyes. Alya sang softly in the Elvin tongue to the baby. Mandawen found herself being lulled to sleep by the soft song and soon her mind was lost to the world of dreams.