Chapter 11- here it is! I say it every-time, but thanks you so much for the reviews and support. I got so many kind reviews for the last chapter, and y'all really can't know how much it means to me, so thanks so much I'm so glad people liked the way she told everyone. I was worried about that. And Thanks to The Lead Mare for you're super sweet review! If I could write a summary of last chapter, it would be "Ailith says screw you to the double standard:) . Pretty soon here, when I have more time, I want to start reading some of y'alls stories. I'm sure there fantastic:) You know what would make this story even harder to write? If Ailith was considering not keeping the baby. But I don't think thats really an option in this scenario. As you may be able to tell, I'm having a lot of fun with Glorfindel and Erestor. Who weren't even supposed to be in this story at first. I just need to write a separate fanfiction with them before they take over this story. And I just realized I forgot all about poor Lindir. I am having so much fun with all these elves. I'm just going to have to write some other fanfic. I really want to write one with Glorfindel playing with a little bored Arwen. Tell me if you'd like that. Stupid Tumblr, making me want to write about baby elves. ...Anyway, enjoy, and sorry for that super long intro;) Oh, and one more thing, thanks to Borys for the inspiration for the first scene-
"So the adenenth is pregnant." Elrond was looking steadily at Aragorn. "Do you know anything about the father Estel?"
"For pity's sake ada, don't even start in on that. You know that's ridiculous." Arwen looked annoyed.
"I was simply asking if he knew who the father was."
"A simple question leads to more." Arwen slid her arm around Aragorn's waist and threw her father a defiant look. It struck Aragorn that she looked very much like her grandmother for a moment. He decided that now would be a good time to speak up.
"I know the father is a boy from Bree who abandoned her. I think she said his name was Arden."
"Abandoned her? Why do humans do things like this?" Erestor was standing near the door, a quill tucked behind his ear.
"There are faults in all the races Erestor." Arwen said mildly.
"The point is, we have a pregnant, homeless girl on our hands." Elladan had reluctantly rejoined his father, but there was still an icy wall between them. Elrohir was leaning next to his twin.
"Well what do we do?"
"At the moment I would say we just let her rest and care for her." Legolas was fletching an arrow, his mind only half in the conversation.
"It won't be easy for her anywhere. She's a girl with no family who is pregnant with a bastard." Elladan was refusing to look at his father, or anyone but Arwen for that matter.
"It doesn't matter who the father is. She's the child's mother." Aragorn felt a flair of protectiveness.
"Oh dear, it does sound like things are getting heated in here." Glrofindel strode in, casually knocking the quill out from behind Erestor's ear as he passed. "Where is the adeneth anyway?"
"She's asleep." Arwen bent down to pick up Erestor's quill, which had rolled to a halt by her feet, and calmly handed it back to him. "Let sleep heal her."
"Speaking of which, regardless of anything, we need to check on her and see how things are doing with the child. I wish I had known, I would have tried to help her more." Aragorn thought of how he had knocked her over in their sparring lessons.
"You did everything you could have." Arwen kissed his cheek, gaining disapproving stairs from her brothers and father.
"We'll check on her tomorrow." Elrond nodded to them and left. Elladan walked out briskly, refusing to talk to Elrohir, who followed him anyway. Arwen shook her head.
"Just because Elrohir didn't storm out with him."
"You're brother has a temper pen tithen, that's all." Glorfindel was leaning against Erestor and had draped his arm over his shoulder. This arrangement didn't last particularly long, as the belabored record keeper shrugged his arm off in annoyance. Glorfindel smiled. "Just like Erestor no?"
"It would seem Erestor had good reason Glorfindel." Legolas had looked up from what he was doing.
"Surely not. I was just showing affection." Glorfindel ruffled Erestor's hair.
"For Eru's sake Glorfindel! I am TRYING to keep records!"
"See what I mean about the temper now? Erestor, you really must work on that. And invoking the name of Eru so casually? Tsk."
Erestor groaned and turned to leave. "I must be going." he nodded and left. Glorfindel winked at Arwen and held up Erestor's quill, which he had somehow taken once again.
"i think he'll need this. I better return it." he easily sped out the door.
Arwen shook her head. "He still calls me pen tithen. Some things never change. He used to play with me when everyone else was busy." She smiled fondly.
"Well, you best hold onto those memories, because I fear Erestor is going to kill him." Legolas looked mildly concerned.
"That would be a pity. Well, I've had enough for one day. I'm going to my rooms." Arwen nodded to Legolas. Aragorn turned to follow Arwen.
"I'll walk you there."
"It wasn't even an option for you not to."
xxxxxxxxxx
Darkness swirled around her. She was so cold, colder than she'd ever been in her life. Cold beyond her bone, cold into her soul. The wind whispered around her, and then it was gone. Everything was utterly still. She was in the snow, pure white. But everything else was blacker then black. There was no movement, no noise, only her own breathing. Suddenly she heard a distant warped voice singing. It was her mother. The song was familiar.
"The sun will rise in her golden chair, and her beams they are her golden hair..." The song had made her laugh as a child. Now it seemed a cruel mockery. She screamed into the blackness, she was so cold, her body was turning to ice. She felt her ribs cracking. The child was tearing its way out..
She woke up screaming, soaked in sweat. Her entire body still felt cold. Arwen was suddenly sitting next to her, holding her and rocking back and forth.
"Shhh, Ailith, it's alright...Shhh"
She slowly began to come back into herself. She let out one last shuttering gasp.
"Arwen...What? Where?"
"You fell asleep in the garden. Estel and I brought you back to my room. You're safe, it's alright."
"Everyone knows now.." She felt so groggy.
"It's alright. You're safe here, I promise. We will take care of you."
"If...what if I die...I think it's going to kill me." She was sinking back into darkness
"No Ailith. You won't die. Everything is fine pen tithen. Everything is fine..."
The rest of the night passed in a dreamless haze. She woke up in the morning feeling drained and sore. She was more hungry than she'd ever been. Arwen was sitting nearby, reading.
"Good morning Ailith. Are you hungry?"
"Yes thank you."
She ate the food Arwen brought thankfully. Light bread and honey comb and fruit. She even managed to keep it down. She was in no mood to talk, and Arwen seemed to realize that, remaining silent. Finally when Ailith had finished she spoke.
"We need to check on you Ailith. Make sure that everything is going alright."
"I...I'm fine. We don't have to."
"I know you don't want to Ailith. But there's nothing to feel any shame about." Arwen placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Yes there is."
"You are a beautiful strong young woman. And you will make a good mother."
"I don't want to be a mother at all. I wish I had never been so stupid."
"Ailith. We all do stupid things."
"Even elves?"
"Yes. Even elves. And those things often lead to blessings un-looked for."
"Or curses."
"Come on Ailith. Lets go. I promise that it will be fine."
She reluctantly followed Arwen through the halls.
"Will I hear the tale of Beren and Luthien tonight?"
"Yes. We'll eat in the main hall, and you can hear the minstrels.
"Do you think Estel's a good name if it's a boy?"
"I think it's a lovely name."
"I will name it after my mother if it's a girl. But I won't name it after my father. Or it's father."
"It's your child. You are the one who chooses." Arwen smiled at her. "That man was a fool to let you go Ailith. You are a wonderful young woman."
"I hope he dies." Ailith felt a ragged bubble of anger building in her chest. She wished him nothing but ill. She prayed the baby would look like her and not him. She expected Arwen to say something wise and calming about how wishing evil on people only led to evil, but she didn't.
"I would wish him ill to if I were you. But he doesn't deserve another minute of your time."
"He doesn't even deserve a second of it!" Ailith smiled.
"Less than a second." Arwen put her arm around Ailith's shoulder. "Here we are. Don't worry. My father just wants to make sure you're alright."
"I'm aware."
xxxxxxxxxxx
Aragorn was watching the birds as they bathed themselves in the little fountain. He was still tired. He hadn't slept much last night.
"She's resilient for a human." Legolas was sitting next to him, calmly weaving twine out of grass.
"Yes. She is resilient, perceptive, and determined. A remarkable girl."
"Where will she go?"
"I don't know." He heaved a deep sigh.
"She's so young. She's still a child, and yet she's with child."
"It's not so very uncommon among humans Legolas."
"That makes it right?"
"I didn't say that." They sat a moment in silence.
"How is your father?"
"He fares well. But he grows ever more determined to isolate himself and his people from the rest of the world."
"Your father is stubborn, but he is wise."
"You met him but once."
"I'm noting what I saw that once."
"Remember the time we got cornered by giant spiders?" Legolas smiled, changing the subject. Aragorn knew he didn't like to talk about his father, as Legolas's relationship with him was a strained one.
"How could I forget?"
"I'd never seen you go that pale before."
"I don't like spiders mellon nin."
"Don't like them Aragorn? I'd say that looked more like terror."
"I still killed more than you."
"Only because I let you."
"Hmm" Aragorn heard someone approaching. He turned around and saw Arwen and Ailith.
"Greetings Ladies." He stood up and smiled.
"And to you meleth e-gur nin" Arwen kissed his cheek. Aragorn saw Legolas smirk out of the corner of his eye. Ailith was looking away from him. He hadn't seen her since last night.
"Hello Lord Aragorn." She said softly.
"Ailith, I thought we'd discussed this. Just Aragorn, or Estel, is fine." He squeezed her shoulder. "Sit down. The sun feels pleasant." He looked at Arwen questioningly. She kissed his cheek again, using the opportunity to whisper into his ear.
"She's fine. So is the child."
They all settled down on the grass. Ailith looked tired and strained. Legolas smiled at her kindly.
"Congratulations on your little one Ailith. A child is a rare gift among my people."
Ailith looked surprised. "Thank you My Lord."
"Somethings coming through the grass." Legolas looked up. A long legged elegant chestnut hound burst out. Arwen gave a small shriek as the creature started licking her.
"Ryn! Down." She started laughing. Aragorn reached out and pet the dog. He had seen her born. Ailith looked delighted.
"Do you like dogs Ailith?"
"Oh yes! Barliman, he had a beautiful bitch, and she had puppies, and I helped!' She smiled and hugged the dog. "I didn't know there were dogs here!"
"Yes, they run wild, but they always come back." Arwen stroked Ryn's head.
"Ryn is such a pretty name, what does it mean?" Ailith giggled as the dog licked her. Aragorn was glad to see her laugh.
"It means hound of chase."
"My friend, he raised a puppy, and he would go out hunting with him, and I would go to. He let me name him. I called him Thingol. I didn't know back then that Thingol was Luthien's father. I thought it was just a pretty name. He caught a quail once, and we cooked it and ate it, and it was so good, but then Thingol stole it." Her eyes lit up when she was happy. Aragorn wished they could always be this bright. Ailith continued.
"One time, we got lost, and I fell in a bog, and Thingol pulled me out. But when we got home, Lana nearly took my arm off for going out in the wild, and ruining the dress she had just finished hemming.", She fell silent, stroking Ryn and smiling wistfully.
"I used to love to ruin my dresses, just because I could. My mother would get so angry. Well, most couldn't tell she was angry. But I could." Arwen handed Aragorn an apple.
Ailith smiled. She looked so tired and drawn though. She was to young to be so weighted down. The sun was beginning to set. A day passed so lazily in the safety of his home. He wished he could spend all of his days here. But in one way or the other that wasn't to be his fate.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
That night for the first time Ailith ate in the main hall. It was beautiful. Long elegant tables spread below a tall ceiling, upheld by pillars carved to look like trees. Fires burned, and tapestries depicting beautiful distant events lined the walls. Large windows opened out onto the valley, and the sound of running water served as a constant backdrop. The windows were open, so the fragrant air drifted in. It wasn't dark yet, so the silver light of the ending day filled the room. Elves sat at tables and on cushions, laughing and speaking in their musical language, some playing instruments, some singing. The food on the table was like what she had her first night here ten times over. Everything smelled amazing. She was wearing a dark green dress Arwen had given her, and her hair was twisted into a crown of braids. The dress was hemmed with golden leaves. But she still felt shabby around all these elves. They looked at her curiously. Arwen or Estel would introduce her to any who they came across. She smiled an said a few elvish pleasantries to each, and they smiled back at her in delight. She wondered if they knew her story. Estel easily spoke to all of them. She could tell he was very much at home. How was he at home both here and in the wilds? Estel was speaking to her, gesturing to a slight dark-haired elf with gray-green eyes who had walked up to them.
"Ailith, this is Lindir, a minstrel of magnificent skill. And Lindir, this is The lady Ailith, a traveling companion of mine."
"Greeting's lady Ailith."
"Greetings hir vuin."
"Ailith is a great lover of The Lay of Leithian. I told her she would hear it in full here." Estel had his hand on her shoulder. He hadn't removed it since they entered the hall. It made her feel safe. Like he wanted to protect her, show the elves that she was worthy. The kind of gesture she had always wished for he father to make.
"And that you shall. I promise you will not be disappointed." Lindir smiled and inclined his head before drifting off. She heard someone else approaching behind them.
"There you are Aragorn!" Glorfindel patted Estel on the back. The elf called Erestor was standing slightly behind him. They never seemed to be far apart. But from what she could tell, Erestor seemed to often be exasperated by his outgoing companion.
Dinner passed in a haze of wonder. She had never known that food could be so amazing. She sat between Estel and Arwen. She hadn't felt any sickness through the entire dinner. But her stomach felt heavy, like something was pressing against her bladder. But the things around her made up for it. She tried to pretend for a moment that Estel and Arwen were her parents, and she was an elf princess. The silly dream made her smile. The elf called Lindir stood up.
"We have a guest among us, the Lady Ailith. She has traveled hard and long, and she had expressed a wish to hear the Lay of Lethian as told by the elves. Shall we grant her wish?"
The elves cheered, and Lindir smiled. She wasn't sure how it started. Suddenly there was just music. And voices. They were singing in elvish. At first she felt a stab of disappointment. She wouldn't be able to understand what they were saying. But suddenly the words took shape around her, and she wasn't listening to the story, she was watching it. She was part of it. More beautiful, more complex, more awe inspiring then she could have imagined. She was floating on the golden river of memory. The refrain was sad and hopeful. She forgot who she was and lost herself in the story. She didn't know how long she drifted. When she found her mind drift back to her body it was dark, and the hall was filled with fireflies. She was crying. She realized she had lain her head on Estel's shoulder. He smiled at her.
"It's beautiful isn't it pen tithen?"
"Yes..yes it was."
So thats it for now. Sorry if this was a slow and short one, it's one of those in between chapters. New chapter soon! And then it will be picking up again.