Chapter 10: Lightning Crashes

"Come on, Arwen, I can see the head!" Myraneth cried. Beside her, her only child was holding swaths of towels and blankets, anticipating the arrival of her cousin, "Cassy, get ready, the head's almost out!" The room was bathed in light as Myraneth took the edge off of any pain Arwen was feeling.

After the head of the baby came into the world, the body slipped out easily. Arwen lay back, panting.

"She's beautiful," Myraneth whispered.

"She? It's a girl? I finally have a daughter?" Arwen cried.

"Yes. Cassy, go and get Estel, please." Myraneth passed the crying baby to her mother. The instant Arwen took her, the baby stopped crying, and instead breathed in short gasps, "That's not fair at all."

Arwen's reply was lost when her frantic husband burst into the room, followed by a mellow Elven Prince.

"Arwen!" Aragorn cried. He started forward—and promptly fell on his head, "Myraneth!" Came the muffled cry from the king with a blanket covering his head, "What did you put that blanket there for?"

Myraneth was cleaning up the mess of blood and other bodily fluids, "Estel, give me that. I just used that to wipe off your daughter."

Estel stopped trying to tug the blanket off his crown. It hung loosely by the side of his head, making him look for the entire world like a mummy that hadn't quite been fully embalmed yet, "My…daughter?"

Myraneth snatched the blanket, tearing it on the metal, "Is the word so foreign to you, Estel? If I remember correctly, you shouted 'Myraneth has a daughter' about four score times when Cassy was born until my husband knocked you out with the wooden hobbyhorse you gave said daughter."

"Your Eryn behaved quite ungratefully there."

"You annoyed all of us to no end, like that time with the merry brothers singing and Prince Ranger Killer."

"Hey!" Legolas cried.

Myraneth cuffed his ear.

Legolas took no notice. He looked like a child at his first midwinter festival, "Can I see Estel?"

"He's on the ground, Greenleaf."

"No, Estel II. Estel Jr? Baby Estel?"

The King picked himself up off the ground with about as much grace as he had smashed into it with, "Leggy, I haven't told them yet."

"Told us what?" Arwen piped. Aragorn finally made his way over to her without once more treating the floor the way he treated the bed with his wife in it.

"Legolas," Aragorn became distinctly aware that Legolas had not responded to his jibe, "Had an idea for a name. He told me while we were waiting, and I liked it."

"She is to be Estel. Is that not what Legolas just said?" Arwen whispered.

Aragorn looked into the face of his daughter. The little girl's eyes were not his, nor Arwen's. They were the same colour as Myraneth's, and Arwen and Myraneth's Mother before.

"She has Celebrian's eyes," he whispered back. Tears pooled in Arwen's eyes. Her older sister was already in tears.

"Then it is settled," Arwen whispered through her tears, "She will be Estel Celebrian. Does anyone object?"

Legolas put an arm around Casanovia as both of them shook their heads. Estel just gazed at Arwen, answering her with his eyes.

Arwen turned to Myraneth. The older girl's hair obscured her own ocean-and-brown eyes. When she felt her sister's gaze, Myraneth looked up, "Arwen, it's so beautiful. I know Mother would love it." Although she didn't look it or act it sometimes, Myraneth was the oldest of her three blood siblings. As of about twenty year previous, she was the oldest Elf that existed on Middle Earth. She would carry this title unto the ending of the world.

"An Elfish godmother and a Fairy godfather. I think that is appropriate."

"As it is with all four of your other children."

"No! If you recall, Leggy, you are Elladrion's godfather."

Legolas was not the type to ignore a jibe like that twice, "Keep talking, Aragorn, and you won't be siring any more children."

From her place on a small bench at the foot of the bed, Myraneth gave a small, "Oh!"

"Mother?" Cassy asked, "What is it?"

Myraneth shook her head, "Tis nothing, Cassy," She winced, putting a hand on her abdomen. Myraneth looked to her hand. The fabric of her leggings was stained red right between her legs, "Cassy, get your Father, right now."

Cassy did as she was bid. Aragorn left his wife's side and crouched in front of his sister, "You are—"

Myraneth shook her head, "I was."

"You didn't tell us?"

"I'm not far along. The risk of losing it was too high."

"What is going on? Are you alright, Myraneth?" Arwen asked from the bed. She hadn't yet the strength to stand up.

"I'll be fine, Arwen."

"Why did you insist upon delivering Estel? You know the risk skyrockets with stress!"

"By Valor, what are you two going on about!" Legolas cried, "What is wrong with Myraneth?"

Estel stood up and turned to his brother, "She miscarried."

Legolas' cerulean eyes widened and he was promptly tackled. By two half-Elven princes calling themselves Aramore and Brego.

Outside, howls filled the air. Two particularly loud ones signified that Riku and Cassan were near.

Electricity split the clouds, and even the clouds seemed to be crying.

"The queen has a daughter. Valor all bless the little princess," Legolas whispered, "But the Lady of the Wolves has lost her child."