"Please can I go for a walk?" I pleaded with Marianna. She sighed, and finally gave in.
"You may, but do not be gone for too long, will you?" I nodded, and stood from my bed. I was not really that sore, but I needed to move after a 3 weeks or so in bed.
"I promise, now go, Marianna, and stop fussing! Selena and baby are fine, and they will be coming with me!" I shooed her out, and she threw me a bottle of the pain killing concoction. I thanked her, and pulled on a simple white dress that tied under my significantly bigger bust with blue ribbon. The sleeves were tight to the elbow, and they tied with blue ribbon before flaring out to my middle finger which could only just be seen.
I pulled it on and had Lizzy help me with my hair, which had grown and was now in traditional Elvish style. I changed baby and Selena, and put Selena in a pale rose dress with flowers on it, and baby in a miniature tunic that had dark blue leggings and a pale blue top. I put their tiny shoes on, and placed them side by side in the basket. It had a hood that could be attached, it was white with lace. I fixed it on, shading their sensitive skin from the sunlight. I pulled on my own shoes and kissed Lizzy on either cheek before picking up the basket.
"I will see you in a few hours, if not; you know I will be in the rose gardens, by the stream or looking in the mirror in the clearing." I assured, waving at her.
"I will be out for lunch, so I will see you after that, and be careful!" She grinned, and I walked down the winding steps, basking in the late morning sunshine.
Quite soon, I was mobbed, literally. Six or so female elves came up to look at the twins, who clearly loved the attention. I smiled as the last two left and continued, deciding to go to the mirror. I missed Legolas too much, and I needed to see his face. I picked up the skirt with my free hand and walked down the winding steps, enjoying the dappled sun through the leaves. Placing the twins by the fountain, I filled the mirror and looked into it, imagining Legolas like I had done so many times before. I saw him standing in a wood, looking with his eyes full of love at someone bent over something...someone in a white...
"Legolas?" I gasped, turning found to see him standing in front of me, his arms open as I ran into them, hugging me. I felt tears dripping down my face, but I paid no attention. All I could concentrate on was him, here, now. I kissed him, pulling his head down, weaving my hands into his hair as I had longed to do for so long.
"I am here. I am back." He said softly into my hair.
"I missed you so much. I cannot believe you missed the birth of our children!" I lead him over to the basket, lifting baby out to him, positioning his arms.
"This is baby, as we have called him for a week and a half. And this..." I lifted out Selena. "...Is Selena. I've left baby for you to name, like I promised to you."
He smiled at me, dropping a kiss onto his forehead. "What do you thing about Haldir?" He asked, wrapping his free arm around me, as it took only one hand to hold him. I looked at the baby, tears in my eyes.
"Welcome, baby Haldir." I said, kissing Legolas softly. Haldir yawned, opening his eyes wide, looking around. Soon, Selena was awake too, and she opened her deep brown eyes, looking at Legolas.
"Say hello to daddy." I said, and she waved her arm around, grabbing my finger and putting it in her mouth. "Thanks, sweetie, I really wanted you to do that."
Legolas laughed, and then turned around, as a voice had just spoken softly behind us.
"There is only one thing I have to ask." Lady Galadriel said.
"I have made my choice. I am willing to loose my immortality for the love of Elanor and of my family." Legolas said quietly, handing baby Haldir to me.
"So be it." She said, and held out her hand, as if to take something. A small ball of golden light appeared from Legolas's chest, and it floated in her hand for a moment before being absorbed into her. "He, as you do, has a longer mortal life."
"I have one question, My Lady. The twins; are they..."
"They have most of the Elven attributes, but are mortal unless they so choose to be Elven in full. It must be their choice. I should not tell them until they are old enough to use it responsibly." She said, and walked up to us.
"Do you wish to hold them?" I asked, smiling at her. She nodded.
"It would be an honour to touch such a beautiful child." I held out Haldir to her, and she took him.
"This, My Lady, is Haldir. And this is Selena." Selena reached out to her, and grabbed her finger.
"My March-warden and your mother. Haldir would have been proud to have a child named after him, as would your Selena." She smiled, and handed him back to Legolas, who had a dazed look on his face.
"He will be feeling strange, wont he, after loosing his immortality." I stated, poking him in the side. His eyes focussed.
"Ow." He muttered, rubbing his side.
"You should get back; your sister is looking for you." She handed me my basket, and I placed the twins in it.
"Thank you, My Lady, for everything you have done for us. I am forever in your debt." I whispered.
We walked up the steps slowly. "How does it feel to be mortal?" I asked tentatively, scared of his reaction a little.
"Different. I have a feeling that I have taken my life for granted, and that I can now appreciate it at last." He smiled. Suddenly, Haldir began to cry. I sighed and held the basket out to Legolas, who took it, and I pulled out Haldir, rocking him slightly.
"What's wrong darling, are you hungry? Or do you need to be changed?" I sniffed, nothing smelt bad. "We'll go find somewhere to sit, shall we, so I can feed you, then. After that you can have a nap, baby. Shhh..." I whispered to him. We increased our speed just a little, and I sat down on a bench in the rose garden, thanking the Valar I had put a square-necked dress on. I slid the dress down just enough so that he could get to my breast, and he began to suck, and I giggled as Legolas blushed and turned around a little.
"Legolas, you have seen me naked plenty of times. You are the strangest creature, now..." I handed him Haldir and took Selena who was starting to wail. "Pat his back until he burps, then put him back in the basket."
"There you are! Oh, hello Legolas, I see you returned safe and well. See, Elanor, you did not need those trips to the mirror after all." Lirrian panted her cheeks red. "Legolas, your father is here. He wants to see you, something along the lines of coronation...Gondor...Ah; he's in the main hall." I interrupted.
"Lizzy, slow down." I instructed. "Breathe in, out, in out..." I tucked myself back in and patted Selena until she let out a not so feminine burp, placing her in the basket.
"Legolas, does your father know about us?" I asked, suddenly scared.
He shook his head. "No, though he will have heard of our marriage, to be sure. It will be hard to break, especially about the fact I, I am mortal." He looked out, shaking himself and standing.
"As they say back home, time to face the music." I said, tucking my free arm in his and holding the wicker basket in the other. The twins were gurgling and making cute baby noises, and I laughed, big mistake.
"Ah, pain..." I hissed, And Legolas chuckled.
"Come, let us see my ada." The three of us walked together, and Legolas began telling us of his of his journey after leaving Lothlorien, about how Boromir tried to take the ring. We got as far as being re-united with Gandalf.
"I still cannot believe he is alive." I said, shaking my head. We had reached the main hall, and we both took a deep breath. Time to face the music.
)(()()())()()()()()()()()()()
"I...I... my son, are you saying that you are mortal?" Legolas's head was low, looking at the ground.
"I am, Ada. I love my wife and my children more than is possible of any race. If it was to mean I lost my immortality, it was a small price to pay for those whom I love." I gave his hand a small squeeze, and then spoke quietly.
"My Lord, if things were to happen this way, then they would happen. I cannot say that this is entirely my fault, because it takes two to fall in love, but I know I did my fair share. I love your son more than anything in this middle earth, except perhaps our children." I said, meeting his eyes. "I am sorry, My Lord."
"I have lost my son, just as I lost my wife." He said angrily.
"That is not true! I am still here; I will be alive for at least 180 years! Mother died, and died to save me and Lleren. Ada, I do not know how it feels for you, but if I find out that my son or daughter wishes to become immortal, I will not try to dissuade them if their heart is set on it, especially for love."
The two looked at each other in silent communication, and I stood awkwardly for a few moments, and then busied myself with Selena and Haldir, not wishing to witness any severe arguments. It had been easy to tell his father of our marriage, and obviously of the twins, but when it came to his mortality, it was different.
I lifted Selena and Haldir out of the basket and held one in each arm; they kicked each other, gurgling. I found that I could hold both of them in one arm if I had them sat on my lap and resting on my arm, so I sat on one of the dining chairs, letting them relax on me. I felt someone sit in the chair next to me.
"Ada did not take it well. He is leaving. Oh, there is Aragorn's coronation in but a few weeks, and I had hoped you would wish to join me." He smiled, taking Selena off me and holding her himself.
"You mean I can get out of here? How far is it?" I breathed in a rush, and he laughed.
"About 8 days journey on horseback, are you sure you are up to it?" I waved a hand.
"Of course, I shall just pester Marianna for full healing before we go, silly. She feels that it would be better for me to heal naturally, but I don't care! Oh Legolas, I need a break from these woods, I need to get out into the open! And I want to show the fellowship the twins, should they be there, and Arwen! I've missed her." I sighed, shaking my head.
"Come, let us go to the healing house, I am sure Marianna will be ecstatic to see the twins again. She clearly adores them." I chuckled, taking Selena off Legolas and putting her back in her basket, along with Haldir.
"You should have seen her the last week or so, it was so funny. She was constantly at my talan, checking up on them." I stood, and handed the basket to Legolas. "You carry them for a while, you're perfectly capable."
"I am not happy about doing this, Elanor. I do not think that such stressing things should be taken lightly, but under the circumstances...I will." I let out a whoop, and it woke up one of the twins as it had started to cry a little. Legolas picked up Selena and rocked her gently until she was calm again, which took quite some time.
"Just relax, Elanor, and it will be done quickly. Now..." She did the drifting hand thing again, resting it over my lower stomach. I groaned as it hurt a little, but it really was over quickly, and I was allowed to leave. I felt considerably better than I had done since the twins were born.
"Thank you, Marianna, for everything that you've done. I need to pack, and I...oh no, Legolas, I need something to put the twins in!" I moaned as we walked out of the doors.
He thought for a moment, and then nodded to himself. "I need some material, and some thread." I thought about it.
"Lizzy might have some; she is obsessed with making baby clothes." I giggled; it didn't hurt to laugh now. I smiled and spun around, my dress billowing. I suddenly had so much pent up energy, and I was practically bouncing.
"Legolas, I need to run, will you be fine with the twins for a half hour?" He shooed me off, shouting:
"I'll be fine, go!" I heard him laughing, but I was already running.
I breathed in the air, and quickly did an unexpected cartwheel. It felt good to run about again, and I couldn't believe I was still quite fit. I ran steadily around the parts of Lothlorien I knew, laughing. I sprinted up the steps to our talan, missing every other step until I reached the top. Legolas was sat on a chair with some while material, thread and a needle, and I waved at him.
"I feel so much better!" I gasped as I flopped onto the bed. Legolas chuckled, and rested above me, kissing me deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my eyes closed. "Mmmmm..." I sighed as he kissed my neck, and I pulled his head back up so our lips could meet again.
"We need to pack if we wish to reach Gondor in time." He whispered into my hair, and I sat up slowly, looking at the material Legolas had left on the chair.
"What are you making?" I asked, pointing at the cloth.
"A carrier, it ties around your neck and waist to hold the baby in front of you. One for me, and one for you."
I smiled, looking at the one he had finished. It had two small holes for the legs, and I was amazed at how quickly it had been made.
I packed a bag quickly, a nice dress that was a pale, shimmering blue. It tied with darker blue ribbon at the elbow, and the sleeves trailed to the floor, a glittery string woven into it. It had a slashed neckline that looped over my arms, leaving my shoulders and neck bare. I threw in a few simple tunics in red, dark green and midnight blue with black trousers for everyday wear. I placed in some shoes to match my dress as I would be wearing my boots, and then started looking through my baby clothes. I pulled out the sweetest white dress that had tiny little golden flowers on the chest. It had a gold ribbon around the waist, and it was really pretty.
"What about this for Haldir?" Legolas said, Lifting out a miniature white tunic and blue bottoms. There were even Mini knee-high boots. There were two, one in forest green
"Aw! They're so sweet! Fold them and put them in my bag, you can take the napkins and pins. Over there." I pointed to a drawer where they were stored.
"Why me?" He pulled a face. I groaned at him, and folded all the baby clothes into the bag.
"Fine then, but you will have to get used to it, Legolas. And anyway, you need to know how to change them properly. Give me Haldir, and I'll show you." I showed him how to fold the material and pin it. "Put the dirty one in that basket so it can be washed. If you see red marks on them where the nappy has agitated their skin, just rub this ointment onto it and it should go. Now... Change Selena and then we can get some sleep, after I've fed them, that is."
I pulled on my buttoned nightgown and unfastened it so Haldir could get to my breast. While he fed, I watched as Legolas changed Selena.
"Put her in the white all in one, it's her bed wear. Swap!" I said as I burped Haldir and passed him over.
Legolas dressed him in the other white all in one as I fed Selena, who was starting to whine from lack of attention. I sat as she fed, smiling at Legolas who was singing softly in Elvish to Haldir, who slowly drifted off to sleep. I patted Selena and she hiccupped, and then gave a gurgle before yawning and then burping. I buttoned myself up and began a soft lullaby to Selena.
"Hush my baby, do not cry. Wipe that crystal tear from your eye. Let the music that rocks you drift you to sleep, and in the land of dreams again shall we meet. Hush my baby, smile in your dreams. Dream of small golden flowers and babbling streams. As the sun rises then may you wake, and another day's journey again shall we take." I sand softly, and her eyes closed, she snuggled into me. I smiled at Legolas who was bent over his holder, and I tucked her into the basket, stroking her soft hair as I tucked them into the white blanket Lirrian had embroidered with their initials, S.G and H.G. Obviously she had done it today after she had found out what we had named baby.
"I am finished. We should sleep; we will have a long journey to make. All my clothes are in Gondor, unfortunately." He stripped down to his underwear and climbed into bed, and after I had checked the twins were asleep, I blew out the candles and joined him as the sun set.