The months passed by as the seasons pass by each year

The months passed by as the seasons pass by each year. Ainion and Legolas went many weeks without seeing each other (they did not wish to arouse suspicion), but Ainion never stopped thinking about his now pregnant lover. He remembered well how he felt when he carried his child in his womb and he knew that Legolas would be feeling the same, along with the added pressure of having to keep it secret.

What surprised Ainion most of all was that whenever he did see Legolas – in the Great Hall for example, he never seemed any larger. How was Legolas hiding this? Ainion had planned that when Legolas was five or six months pregnant and when it was impossible for Legolas to walk around without people noticing the obvious, he would have to remain in their secret home, but Legolas was now five months pregnant and yet there was no sign of it on his body. Ainion wanted to ask him how this was possible but he never got the opportunity – pulling him into a corner and someone overhearing was a risk Ainion was not willing to take. If the people of Mirkwood were prepared to beat him purely because he loved another man, what would they do to Legolas if they discovered he was pregnant?

One morning, Ainion was sitting in his throne talking with a few members of the court when he saw Legolas passing through. He still looked no larger (making Ainion feel even more curious) but to Ainion's surprise and confusion, Legolas was walking with the aid of a stick.

"My Lord?" Ainion called to him, who immediately stopped walking and looked up to him.

"Why are you walking with sticks?"

"I tripped a little while ago and hurt my ankle" Legolas lied convincingly.

Ainion, unconvinced yet not showing it, nodded and let Legolas go on his way. That afternoon, Ainion could take it no more. He wrote a letter to Legolas, asking him to meet him secretly tonight. Ainion rode at sunset – as was the normal time for their meetings – and was surprised to see Legolas' horse already there.

As he entered the house, he saw Legolas standing there as if on duty, waiting for his lover.

"You wanted to see me, Ainion?" Legolas asked.

"Yes, I did" said Ainion with a serious tone, shutting the door tightly behind him.

He faced Legolas and his eyes met Ainion's. Ainion's eyes were sharp and hard (they always had been) but they showed clear signs of concern and worry.

"How are you doing this?" asked Ainion.

Legolas gave him a slightly bemused look: "Doing what?"

Ainion, his eyes never leaving Ainion', placed his hand on his abdomen.

"How are you hiding it?" asked Ainion.

As his hand touched Legolas' abdomen, he realised that it didn't feel like skin. What he touched wasn't soft or warm – it was hard and stiff. Ainion looked down to where the bump should be and felt it with his fingertips. It was completely solid. He looked back up to Legolas in complete bewilderment. Legolas sighed.

"Help me sit down" said Legolas.

Ainion, at first, didn't see why Legolas couldn't see himself down, but as Legolas began to walk with his arm around Ainion, Ainion saw that Legolas was clearly in pain and having difficulty. What had he done to himself?

Legolas sat down on the bed and asked him to take off his tunic. Ainion carefully underdid Legolas' tunic and pulled it off over his head. As he undid Legolas' pale blue shirt, he gasped at what he saw.

A large, strong metal structure, like a cage, was clamped tightly around Legolas' torso and abdomen.

"Can you take it off for me?" Legolas asked, totally relaxed and ignoring Ainion's shocked expression.

Ainion moved round Legolas to face his back and gasped again as he saw tight bolts and metal things clamped onto Legolas' back, holding the metal structure together. Ainion, with the most extreme caution, undid the clamps and the metal structure suddenly loosened its grasp. Legolas gasped and exhaled suddenly as the pressure was suddenly lifted.

He looked as he was going to fell forwards, so Ainion quickly (yet still with caution) leant forwards and placed his arm around Legolas to pull him backwards. Legolas laid his entire body weight onto Ainion's chest, his head resting on his shoulder, eyes shut and lungs heaving gently.

Ainion looked down Legolas' beautiful body and saw the bump now clearly evident in Legolas' abdomen. It was round and beautiful to look at, but what caught Ainion's attention were the harsh red lines that crossed Legolas' stomach.

"Legolas …" said Ainion in shock, "how long have you been wearing this?"

"For the last few weeks, maybe a month" Legolas replied, having regained his breath.

"Since the swell became obvious"

His palm held his 'bump' as he spoke. Ainion's attention was brought back to Legolas' swollen abdomen and began to stroke and massage it gently.

"I made it myself. That way, I can walk around my home and no-one will notice my pregnancy".

Ainion could hear fatigue in Legolas' voice, but what worried him most was Legolas' body, the child and how it was going to cope with this new contraption.

"Legolas, listen to me" said Ainion with sternness in his voice.

"You cannot continue to wear this thing. You'll kill yourself!"

"Ainion, I'm fine" Legolas reassured his terrified (and rightly so) lover.

"It took a little bit of getting used to, but it's fine. This way, my pregnancy is secret".

Ainion desperately tried to dissuade Legolas from this foolish plan:

"Legolas, the baby needs room to grow. If you restrict it in this way, you will crush the baby and more importantly, hurt yourself".

"What do you mean 'more importantly'?" said Legolas suddenly, standing up with a fierce look on his face.

"The baby is just as important as I!"

"I know" Ainion replied cautiously.

Ainion wondered what to say for the best. He knew the pregnancy had to remain secret and he knew that Legolas did not want to leave his home, but he couldn't watch Legolas hurt himself either. Legolas was completely oblivious to the fact that this could destroy the baby. He also knew that at this stage in the pregnancy, Legolas was prone to mood swings.

"Legolas, please try and understand …"

"I can take care of myself!" Legolas snapped back.

Ainion gave Legolas a shocked look: "What's wrong with you? I'm only trying to help you".

His voice contained a hurt tone and Legolas' mood softened when he saw his face and heard his voice.

"Will this hurt the baby?" Legolas asked clearly.

"I don't know for sure" said Ainion, even though his heart was screaming 'yes'.

"But the problem is that the baby, to stop itself from being crushed, will move backwards inside of you, and that means it will start growing against your back, which could lead to severe discomfort for you. It could cripple you".

Ainion's eyes pleaded to Legolas to stop wearing the metal cage.

"I would rather damage myself than let this secret be discovered" said Legolas plainly.

"You don't have to damage yourself to keep this secret" Ainion replied, almost begging on his knees.

"You can stay here away from suspicious eyes – here you can relax and be at peace whilst you wait for the day of birth to arrive. We'll tell them you have to leave on some important trip or something".

"But I don't want to leave my home!" cried Legolas.

"They'll suspect us – they'll wonder where I am!"

"Legolas …" said Ainion calmly.

But Legolas carried on regardless, his voice becoming more and more frantic with fear and concern for his child.

"They'll ask questions, and I don't want to put you in that position …"

"Legolas …"

"If I'm gone for too long, they might start looking for me …"

"Legolas …"

"And what if they find this place?! They can't harm my baby …"

"Legolas!" said Ainion loudly, making Legolas jump a little.

Silence filled the room. Legolas stared at Ainion with wide fearful eyes and hurried breathing. Ainion looked at Legolas and did not see a warrior or a King, but Legolas; his beloved Legolas that he loved so very much …

He leant forward and passionately kissed Legolas. The first time Ainion kissed Legolas, it was to take him away from reality – the motive for this kiss was no different. Legolas was so concerned about the child that he no longer carried any care for himself and this worried Ainion greatly. What also worried Ainion is that Legolas did not seem to realise how much this could damage the child as well as himself.

Legolas returned Ainion's kiss with the same passion that Ainion delivered it with. He had so many emotions inside of him, sometimes he didn't know which one was which. He loved the child within him so much, and he loved Ainion so much – the greatest fear that claimed his heart was that someone would discover their secret and destroy everything they had created together. This relationship was so perfect and so beautiful in Legolas' eyes and he would be truly heart-broken if it had to end.

Legolas leant backwards onto the bed with Ainion on-top of him, careful not to hurt the baby. They kissed passionately and eventually, Ainion broke the kiss and looked deeply into Legolas' terrified eyes.

"I would rather die than see you or the baby hurt" Ainion spoke softly.

Legolas felt his love for his child and his loving friend swell inside of him and he almost wept.

"I am sorry, veleth nîn, I am so sorry …"

He shut his eyes tightly to hold back his tears.

"It's alright, shh …" said Ainion lovingly, kissing each of Legolas' eyelids.

"Don't wear it" whispered Ainion gently.

"It'll hurt you and it could seriously hurt our baby."

Legolas looked deep into Ainion's eyes and found it oddly difficult to make up his mind as to what was best.

"I've lost one child. I can't lose another".

"Alright" Legolas replied hesitantly, after a moment's pause.

"But I'll have to wear it for tomorrow".

Ainion gave Legolas a confused look: "Why tomorrow?" he asked.

"I've summoned a council for tomorrow at midday" Legolas replied.

"You do not have to attend" Ainion said sweetly, looking as if he may kiss Legolas again.

"No, I must" said Legolas , sitting up.

"They'll wonder where I am".

"Why are you so worried about people wondering where you are?" asked Ainion curiously.

"Because then people begin to ask questions" Legolas replied seriously.

"When they ask questions, rumours start to spread. Then people start getting hurt"

Legolas stopped himself there, knowing Ainion would understand him. Legolas expected Ainion to nod his head and say 'I know' or something like that, but he did not. Ainion saw an expression grow on Legolas' face that he had not seen before. It was difficult to describe, but Legolas looked into Ainion's eyes and swore an oath to him:

"I will never let them hurt you. Not again".

"It's not me I'm worried about" Ainion replied, gently gripping Legolas' hand. Ainion felt Legolas's hand on his own in return.

"No-one's going to get hurt. I promise you that".

Legolas nodded slightly, eyes down at the floor, not sure if he entirely believed Ainion or not. Ainion placed his warm, strong palm on Legolas' swollen abdomen and felt the child's sharp kick against Legolas' body. They both chuckled.

"He's strong" Ainion remarked.

"Like you" Legolas said, looking into Ainion's beautiful eyes.

Ainion returned the look and smiled as they kissed briefly once again.

"And you" he whispered between kisses.

There was a peaceful moment of silence between them as they enjoyed each other's presence as well as the presence of their unborn child.

"When shall I move in here?" Legolas asked.

"Whenever I need to" Ainion replied, "which will have to be soon".

"What will you tell them, when I'm gone for so long?" Legolas asked.

Ainion chuckled: "You are so full of questions, my lovely one".

"I know" said Legolas seriously.

"My mind is full of questions that need answers so desperately. Forgive me, but what is your answer?"

Ainion smiled.

"I'll think of something. I'll say you've gone to Rivendell on a special scout or something, and I've gone with you for protection".

Legolas nodded his head unconvincingly. He wasn't entirely reassured by Ainion's words, but he trusted Ainion and he knew he was intelligent enough to keep both elves out of serious trouble.

"Come" said Ainion, rising.

"We should get back".

Legolas agreed, nodding and also rose. As they walked outside to reclaim their horses, the sky above their heads glittering with starlight, Legolas had one more vital question to ask Ainion:

"Ainion?" he asked quickly.

Ainion turned Legolas just before climbing onto his horse.

"Will you be there with me? When the baby comes?"

Ainion smiled and walked over to Legolas.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world" he replied softly, kissing Legolas briefly yet passionately.

He looked deep into the deep sapphire pools on Legolas' face which hide a strong hidden fear.

"I will be there. I promise" he said.

Legolas smiled and nodded his head once to show Ainion his gratitude. They both jumped onto their horses and rode through the forest, back to their home that they both loved so dearly, almost as much as they loved each other.