Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

Sanctuary

OIOIO

Warning: Yes this is an m-preg, as in male pregnancy. I know anatomically it is impossible in the real world but I like the idea (mainly for the Legolas suffering that goes with it). Please, if you are dead set against this kind of thing then don't read then complain that you weren't warned.

OIOI

Thank you so much to everyone who is still reading and everyone who has added me to their alerts/favourites lists and, of course, to everyone who has reviewed. I appreciate them so much.

Enjoy:

Chapter 20 ~ Open Your Eyes

OIOI

"Legolas?" Elrond asked when he noticed his love standing out on the balcony in the darkness. Elrond climbed from the warmth of his bed and stepped up behind the blonde Elf and placed his hand on one slumped shoulder. "What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep," Legolas said softly, not looking around.

"Did the baby keep you awake?"

Sighing, Legolas answered, "He's settled now."

Elrond wrapped his arms around Legolas and said, "I'm sorry, melleth nin."

"Did he wake you?"

"No."

Somehow this didn't make Legolas feel any better but he nodded anyway. "Good."

"Come back to bed. You need to rest."

"You go. I'll be there in a minute."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I just needed some fresh air," the young Elf answered softly.

"All right. Don't be too long, you need to sleep," Elrond told him, placing a kiss on Legolas' cheek before he pulled away to return to bed. Legolas just leaned forward onto the railing and looked out at Rivendell. A deep, unexpected sadness washed over him and tears pricked at his eyes. He forced them back though unwilling to fall apart again.

Eventually, he turned and went back inside, closing the doors behind him to keep out the cold. He peered into the nursery but the baby was sleeping – mercifully. Climbing back into bed, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep. A moment later though, Elrond's hand was on his arm and he opened his eyes to find Elrond looking down at him in concern.

"Are you all right, Legolas?" he asked in a whisper so as not to disturb the baby next door.

"Yes. Why?"

"You moaned," Elrond replied kindly.

"Oh. I'm fine."

"Are you in pain, melleth nin?" Legolas didn't answer immediately so Elrond sat up, more alert. "Legolas, tell me, please. I need to know. Are you in pain?"

"Just…sore," Legolas admitted quietly.

Elrond leaned over and turned the lamp up so he could see properly. "Legolas, why didn't you say sooner?" Legolas just closed his eyes wearily in answer as Elrond climbed out of bed and walked around to the other side of the bed. "All right, where abouts does it hurt?"

Legolas ran his hand over his still slightly swollen stomach, realising there was no point in arguing or lying anymore. "And my back," the blonde said quietly.

"Can I take a look at your stomach?"

"Elrond, it's late. Go back to bed. This can wait until morning."

"No, this cannot wait until morning. I told you before; you need to tell me if you get uncomfortable."

"It's not that bad; just sore," Legolas protested, his temper beginning to fray.

"If it's enough to keep you up at night then it's bad enough to worry about," Elrond told him sternly, lifting up Legolas' nightshirt and peeling the bandage away.

Legolas replaced his hand over his eyes. "I just want to go to sleep," he murmured helplessly.

"You'll sleep better if you're not in pain."

"I'll sleep better if you leave me alone," the prince told him loudly.

Rather started by the venom in his voice, Elrond stood back. "Legolas…"

Before he could continue, the baby started crying in the next room.

"Now look what you've done!" Legolas exclaimed before sitting up and brushing Elrond's lingering hands away.

He went to get out of bed but Elrond told him, "No, Legolas, you can't get up yet, not until I know you're all right."

"Well, I can't just leave him crying."

"Legolas…"

"Fine, you take care of him then," Legolas snapped, standing up and going to the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" Elrond called over the crying.

"I don't know!" Legolas shouted, his fingers raking through his hair. "I need…" He could hardly hear himself over the noise. "Would you shut him up!"

Elrond stared at Legolas in stunned disbelief. "Melleth…"

"Just look after him. He likes you better anyway," Legolas told him in dejection as he left. Elrond desperately wanted to follow his love but he had to take care of his son first.

Honestly, Legolas didn't know where he was going. He couldn't think straight. It seemed that his tired mind had had enough. For a while he merely walked off his anger, just stalking through the halls, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was so engrossed in the simply joy of being away from the screeching that he didn't even see Glorfindel before he ran right into him.

The seneschal exclaimed and stepped back in shock, looking over at what had just hit him. "Legolas! What are you doing out here?" The blonde prince just shook his head. "Are you all right?"

"Yes."

"Where is Elrond?"

"In bed, probably," Legolas answered somewhat bitterly.

"It is late; should you not also be in bed?" Legolas shook his head again, wiping his eyes. "Come, I will walk you back to your rooms."

"No, I don't want to go back. I can't go back there," Legolas said with a sob.

Startled, Glorfindel asked again, "Legolas, is everything all right?"

"I…I can't. I needed to get out."

"Mellon nin…"

"Can I stay with you tonight?" the prince asked in a soft voice. "Please."

For a moment, Glorfindel could only stare in amazement and sorrow. "Of course. Come, I'll make you some tea," he finally answered, leading Legolas toward his own rooms. It wasn't like he could turn away the obviously distraught prince. "Come in," he invited, opening his door to the prince. Once inside, Legolas sank gratefully down onto the couch as Glorfindel lit the lamps and placed his papers away in his desk. "Can I make you some tea?"

"I'd just like to go to sleep if you don't mind," Legolas said in a small voice.

"Uh…yes, of course. You can take my bed, Your Highness."

Legolas shook his head firmly in protest. "No, please. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. Please, go on to bed. I'll be fine out here on the couch."

"I cannot let you sleep on the couch."

The younger Elf ran his slightly trembling hand over his eyes. "Please, I'll be fine. I just want to sleep," Legolas said, lying back on the sofa.

"As long as you're sure." Legolas nodded again. "All right. I'll fetch you a blanket." Unfortunately, all Glorfindel could find was a thin throw but he supposed it would have to do. When he returned to the lounge Legolas had positioned a pillow on the couch and was trying to kick his slippers off without sitting up. Concerned by how gingerly Legolas seemed to be moving, Glorfindel leant down and offered, "Let me help." He pulled the slippers off and placed them on the floor. "Try to sleep for a while."

Almost painfully, Legolas pulled his legs up and laid his head down on the pillow, tears slipping down his face occasionally.

Glorfindel laid the blanket over him and then tentatively smoothed Legolas' golden hair back gently. "Try and rest, Your Highness. I'll be in the next room if you need anything."

"Thank you," Legolas whispered as Glorfindel turned the lamp off and went back into his own room.

"You're welcome, mellon nin."

Legolas closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep but now that it was quiet and he had calmed down, he found that he couldn't sleep. Guilt and grief washed over him and ripped more cries from his lips but he buried his face into his pillow so he didn't disturb Glorfindel in the next room.

Of course, Glorfindel heard. He was sat in bed listening intently for any sound in the small lounge. When he heard the soft crying, he froze. Really he didn't know his boundaries with the prince. Should he go in and offer a shoulder to cry on or should he keep his distance? Should he go fetch Elrond or leave the prince alone? He really wasn't cut out for this kind of thing – treading in his lord's business. It was a fine line and he wasn't sure he should cross it.

A while later, the crying stopped and Glorfindel settled in for a tense night.

OIOI

When Glorfindel, fully dressed, stepped into the lounge the next morning, Legolas remained asleep on the couch on his side, one arm draped over the edge, fingers scraping the carpeted floor. The seneschal smiled gently and went to his desk to retrieve his work for the day. A moment later there was a rustling from behind him and Glorfindel turned to see tired blue eyes looking to him.

"Oh, good morning. I didn't mean to wake you. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

Glorfindel knew that to be a lie but he did not comment on it. "Good. I have to get to the office but please feel free to stay as long as you like. Take my bed if you want."

Legolas smiled weakly, slowly sitting up. "Thank you but I should get back.

"Oh, right. Shall I have breakfast sent to your rooms?"

"Thank you but I'm not really hungry."

"All right."

Legolas stood and folded up his blanket, placing it nearly on the back of the sofa. "Thank you for putting up with me. I hope my presence wasn't too disruptive to your night."

"You were no trouble," Glorfindel assured.

"I should go."

As Legolas went for the door, Glorfindel said, "Legolas, if there's ever anything you need – to talk or anything – I want you to know that I'm here. My door is always open."

Glorfindel could have sworn he saw tears pool in bright blue eyes before Legolas said, "Thank you," and left quietly.

Legolas dragged himself back to his rooms, guilt still gnawing away at him. At the door, he paused, suddenly nervous at facing Elrond after his words the night before. How could he face his partner after that? Not only did he insult the Elven lord but he had yelled at his son. However, he couldn't stand out in the hallway forever so he took a deep breath and opened the door.

Immediately, he saw Elrond, dressed for the day but pacing anxiously around the room. He looked up though when the door opened and visibly eased when he saw Legolas.

"Thank the Valar!" he exclaimed, rushing forwards to meet his love. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Legolas replied softly, closing the door behind him.

"Are you sure? Come and sit down." He held out his hand for the prince but Legolas didn't come forward. A moment later, he lowered the hand and the relieved smile dropped from his lips. "Where did you go last night?"

"Just around," Legolas answered vaguely.

Tense silence followed between them but it was Elrond who eventually broke it. "I'm going to speak to Glorfindel and Erestor this morning, get them to cancel my meetings for the next few days so I can be here with you and the baby."

"You don't have to do that."

"Legolas…"

"Go to work, Elrond. Rivendell needs you," Legolas said, walking past him into the bedroom then into the nursery where he found his son still sleeping. He thought that Elrond might come after him but a minute later he heard the living room door quietly open then close and he actually released a sigh of relief. Avoiding the problem seemed to work well enough and it suited him just fine. Leaving the baby to sleep, Legolas went into the bedroom and sat tiredly down on the bed.

OIOI

"My lord, may I have a word?" Glorfindel asked quietly, peering around the door to Elrond's office.

Looking up from his papers, Elrond said, "Yes, of course, come in." Glorfindel did so, closing the door behind him. "What is it?"

"It…it's about Legolas."

"Oh. Right," Elrond mumbled.

"He…He came to me last night. Or rather, I found him wandering the corridors."

"You found him?"

Glorfindel nodded, sitting down. "I brought him back to my rooms. He slept on the couch," the seneschal added quickly when he realised what he'd said.

Elrond smiled softly in amusement. "I don't doubt it, mellon nin."

"He seemed rather upset."

"Yes, I know."

"May I ask what happened?" Glorfindel enquired cautiously.

Elrond ran his hands over his face and groaned. "I don't know. I was trying to help him and the baby started crying and then he just…he snapped and ran out." Elrond looked up to his friend and advisor. "I've never seen him lose his temper like that, Glorfindel."

"He's tired."

Scoffing gently, Elrond shot back, "Everyone's tired, not just him."

"Elrond, don't do that. It's not fair. You know he's been through a lot."

"We all have!"

"It's different for him."

"Why? Why is it different for him? He is not the only one who is suffering!"

The ancient Elda kept his calm in the face of Elrond's anger. "He carried those babies inside him for twelve months and you know fully well how hard that was for him, he had to give birth to them and then deal with losing Anara. You said yourself when you were preparing for this that it would be hard on him. Don't ignore that now, Elrond; it's not fair on Legolas."

Elrond sighed but nodded. "I know you're right. I just don't know how to talk to him anymore. Everything seems so hard now, Glorfindel."

"You have to be patient with him. It takes time."

"Oh, I know that."

"Just take care of him, mellon nin. I don't like to see either of you unhappy."

"I am trying, Glorfindel, I really am."

"I know that. And I'm here for both of you if there's anything you need," the captain gave his lord the same as offer he had given Legolas that morning. He got up then and went to the door, glancing back at his downtrodden lord. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Elrond looking so forlorn with regards to Legolas. It frustrated him no end that there was so little he could do to help.

OIOI

On an errand for his lord, Glorfindel hurried down the corridor towards Elrond's rooms but just as he reached the door, he heard the loud wailing of the baby within. Strangely, concern welled inside him. The cries no longer sounded like the normal whinging of a child demanding attention but rather cries of genuine distress. He knocked gently on the door but received no response so cautiously opened the door. The lounge was dark and empty and although it looked to be a complete mess with clothes, blankets and various other belongings scattered all over the chairs and floor. Following the sound of the screeching, Glorfindel opened the bedroom door slowly, giving the prince a chance to tell him to stay away should he wish.

When Glorfindel looked inside the bedroom it was dark due to the closed drapes but he could just make out the baby lying squirming and screaming on the bed. He rushed forward to help, looking about for Legolas and found him sitting on the far side of the room on the divan with his head buried in his hands, sobbing to himself. The prince's despair was drowned out by the baby's screams so Glorfindel concentrated on the infant first.

Carefully, he picked the squirming baby, only half-dressed, up, wincing at the wailing noise. At being shown some attention, the baby's cries eased slightly so assuring Glorfindel that he was otherwise unharmed. He then turned his attention to the baby's father, who hadn't seemed to have even noticed that he was no longer alone or that the room was quieter than it had been.

"Legolas?" Glorfindel called, stepping over a few stray shirts that lay on the floor. "Legolas, are you all right?" Not getting any response, Glorfindel used his free hand to push aside a cloak on the divan then sat down next to Legolas, placing his hand on the prince's trembling back.

For the first time, Legolas seemed to realise that he was no longer alone and jerked upright when he felt the touch on the back. He blinked blearily and looked over at the person sat next to him. It seemed to take him a moment to identify the seneschal. "Glorfindel?"

"Mellon nin, what is wrong?" Glorfindel asked in concern, his hand moving to Legolas' shoulder. The prince just turned away, trying to wipe the tears away from his face even though it was completely pointless now. "Legolas, please, tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing," Legolas whimpered, wiping his face with his sleeve.

Glorfindel looked the prince over and frowned at the state he was in. His clothes looked like they were days old and wrinkled, his tunic was buttoned only halfway and his shoes remained untied. His hair remained un-braided as it had done for several months but it hung limply and dully in a mess over his back and shoulders like he hadn't washed it in ages. All that was nothing compared to his eyes though. Once bright and lively, they were now dull, filled with sadness and despair. Dark circles from lack of sleep shadowed them and tear tracks from seemingly endless hours of crying made their way down colourless cheeks.

"Legolas," the Elda whispered sympathetically, pulling back the blonde hair so that he could see the prince's face properly. "Obviously something has upset you. You can tell me, mellon nin," Glorfindel assured over the crying of the baby, which had quickly started up again as soon as Glorfindel's attention was diverted. "Legolas?"

Turning around to face the seneschal, Legolas looked about him. "What…? If you're looking for Elrond, he left for the office hours ago," the prince told him calmly as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"No, I wasn't looking for Elrond. I left him in a meeting. He sent me here to fetch some papers he left behind this morning," Glorfindel replied in confusion at the abrupt change.

"Oh." Legolas looked around the dark room. "I don't know where they are. On his desk probably. Sorry I can't help," he shrugged, glancing briefly down at the child crying in Glorfindel's arms and nearly losing control of his already tenuous emotions again.

"It doesn't matter about the papers. They're not that important anyway. It's you I'm worried about."

Legolas cleared his throat and pushed his hair back from his face. "Why?"

Very few times in his long life had Glorfindel been outright stunned by another person but he certainly was with Legolas in that moment. Was the prince really serious? Anyone with even an ounce of common sense could see that there was something wrong.

Pushing aside his incredulity, Glorfindel said, "I heard the baby crying."

"Yes," Legolas mumbled, looking down at his screaming son once more, his calm façade cracking as a sob choked in his throat and tears blurred his vision.

"Legolas, is something wrong?" Glorfindel asked gently.

The blonde shook his head as more tears slipped from his eyes. "He won't stop."

"The baby?" Glorfindel asked pointlessly.

"He won't stop crying," Legolas himself cried softly.

Not exactly a child-care expert, the seneschal offered, "Maybe he needs feeding or changing."

"Damn it, I've tried that!" Legolas shouted, brushing off Glorfindel's hand off his shoulder angrily. "I've tried everything and he…he just won't stop," he sobbed, leaning forward and replacing his head in his hands in utter despair. "I don't know what else to try."

"I see." How he wished he was better able to offer comfort to his friend but he really knew nothing about babies and was at somewhat of a loss now.

"I don't know what to do," he openly sobbed into his hands.

Glorfindel laid his hand on Legolas' back and stroked up and down, hoping to offer some comfort. "It's all right," he whispered. For a long moment, the prince just cried, shaking slightly as if his sobs were tearing him apart.

"It doesn't stop," came Legolas' muffled, cracked voice. "He doesn't stop."

"Shh." Glorfindel moved his arm around Legolas' shoulders and pulled him up into a hug. The prince immediately buried his face into the seneschal's shoulder and Glorfindel held him close. "I've got you. How long has he been crying?"

"I don't know! He just won't stop. He won't stop crying. Nothing I do seems to work."

"All right, just calm down, mellon nin. It's going to be all right."

"I don't know what to do," Legolas sobbed loudly against Glorfindel's shoulder. "I can't. I can't do this anymore. I just…He screams and screams and I can't stop him. It's too much. I can't do it anymore."

Sensing that the young Elf was dangerously close to panic, Glorfindel hugged him and said, "All right. Calm down. Take some deep breaths, mellon nin."

Legolas did so but they were extremely shaky. "I thought I could handle this but…I just, I can't do it anymore."

As Legolas rubbed at his eyes, Glorfindel said, "I understand. It's going to be all right."

Another sob escaped the prince. "I can't handle…I'm so…I'm so tired, Glorfindel. I'm so tired." At this he seemed to calm against Glorfindel, as if just the admission made him better able to bear the weight of his responsibility. "I just want him to stop crying for one minute. I want to go to sleep," he choked out over the noise of the continuous screeching.

"Shh, it's all right." He looked down as Legolas sat up straight. "All right, you stay here. I'm going to go and get Elrond."

Legolas shook his head, wiping at his eyes. "He's in a meeting," the prince said weakly.

"He can be disturbed for you; the meeting's not that important," he said, standing up. "Besides, you need him more than Erestor."

"I'm sorry. I'm all right."

"No, you're not. You can't take care of your son in this state. Stay here; I'll be right back."

Legolas barely heard Glorfindel leave, nor did he really notice that his rooms were now quiet. In his state he could still hear the cries ringing in his ears, his head pounding mercilessly. The pain in his stomach had grown greatly in the past couple of days, no doubt due to the fact that he hadn't had time to rest properly, until he could think of little else. All he really wanted to do was to curl up into a ball under a thick, warm blanket and rock himself into a deep, oblivious sleep. It didn't seem that that was going to happen though.

Meanwhile, Glorfindel went straight to Elrond's office, where he was in deep conversation with Erestor over the comfort of the human delegates who were getting increasingly restless within Imladrian walls.

"Finally; I thought you'd gotten lost," Elrond said when the door opened. He looked startled to find his son in the seneschal's arms. "Hey," he grinned, standing up and walking over to them. "What are you doing here?" He took the squirming baby from Glorfindel's arms.

"Erestor, could you excuse us for a moment?" Glorfindel asked quietly.

"Yes, of course," the major domo answered, collecting his papers and quickly but discreetly leaving the office, pulling the door closed behind him to offer them some privacy.

"Where is your daddy then?" Elrond cooed to the baby, who gurgled up at him.

Glorfindel answered his question though. "In your rooms crying his heart out."

Elrond looked up sharply. "What?" he asked in concern.

"You have to talk to him, Elrond."

"About what?"

"Oh, for Valar's sake, open your eyes! He is one more wail away from tearing his own hair out."

"I don't know what you…"

"Come on, Elrond. He's exhausted, massively overwhelmed and perilously close to completely falling to pieces," Glorfindel said in an exasperated tone.

"He said he was all right to look after the baby."

"Of course he did!" Glorfindel exclaimed a little too loudly. "He is still – despite what he claims – the overly proud, stubborn prince of Mirkwood. He would say he was fine; especially in front of you."

Elrond frowned. "Why in front of me?"

"Because it comes so easily to you and it doesn't to him. This," he pointed to the baby held protectively in Elrond's arms, "terrifies him. No matter what he tells you, he can't manage, Elrond. He can't do it all on his own. He is in pain and he is so far beyond exhausted that he's barely thinking straight. He needs you to help him, Elrond, because he is falling apart right now."

"I didn't…"

"I know that Anara's death has been hard on both of you but you cannot leave him by himself now. He needs your help." Glorfindel didn't pause to allow his lord to interrupt. "You said yourself that it would take him some time to recover and he is nowhere near well enough to be spending all his time on his feet taking care of an extremely demanding baby. He is shattered, Elrond. Go and look after him. Get him changed into comfortable clothes, tidy up that room, clean him up, give him something ridiculously strong for the pain and, for Valar's sake, get him into bed and force him to sleep if you have to. He deserves that after everything he has been through." He gently took the child from Elrond's arms. "Go on. I'll look after your son for a while. Give Legolas a baby-free day before he drives himself completely insane."

"Thank you, mellon nin," Elrond smiled weakly.

"Just go and take care of your prince."

Elrond nodded and rushed from the room. When he entered his rooms, he found the blonde Elf just sat on the couch with his head in his hands. Apparently he didn't even have the energy to cry anymore.

"Legolas," Elrond said softly but didn't receive a response. He knelt down on the floor in front of the prince and placed his hands on Legolas' knees.

The blonde Elf looked up at the touch, startled. "Elrond?" he asked, his voice hoarse and weak. As if snapped out of his misery, Legolas looked almost frantically around the room for his son. Panic lit his eyes and clearly showed on his face.

"He is fine. Glorfindel has him," Elrond quickly assured.

Legolas breathed a sigh of relief but then tears filled his eyes again at the thought of what he had done and he choked out, "I'm sorry…So sorry."

"Shh, it's all right," Elrond smiled kindly, reaching up to caress Legolas' pale, tear-stained cheek with a warm hand. The touch elicited another sob from Legolas so Elrond moved onto the divan and pulled the young Elf into a hug, holding him close and hushing him. "It's all right, my love. I'm here now."

"I'm sorry," Legolas cried against him.

"For what, melleth nin?"

Legolas closed his eyes as his whole body shuddered under the weight of his cries. "I can't take care of him. I'm a failure."

"Oh Legolas," Elrond sighed, kissing the cold forehead. "You are not a failure in any way, do you hear me? You are an amazing parent, Legolas. I am so proud of you."

"I'm not. I can't look after him on my own. I thought I could handle it but I can't," the prince cried.

"You don't have to deal with this alone, melleth nin. This is my fault. I shouldn't have left you all alone. This is my fault, not yours, understand?"

Legolas shook his head against Elrond's chest. "It's not you."

"Shh, it's all right now," the Elven lord soothed gently, stroking Legolas' hair back.

The kindness really didn't help in the grasp of his emotions and he found himself just crying harder, suddenly releasing all his pain and insecurities on Elrond's shoulder. "It was my fault," he sobbed in despair. "It was all my fault."

"What was your fault, melleth nin?" Elrond asked, looking down at the distraught young Elf in his arms.

For a moment Elrond didn't think he would get an answer but then amidst shuddering cries, a small, quiet voice said, "Anara. It was my fault. I'm so sorry."

Tears blurred Elrond's eyes at these words and he pulled the trembling Elf tighter against him. "Oh, no Legolas. That was not your fault."

Legolas shook his head. "I didn't…listen. You told me to…to push harder but I didn't. I didn't listen to you and now she's…What if I had…pushed sooner…or harder. If I had listened…to you…I'm sorry."

"Legolas, no. Don't do this. Please don't do this to yourself."

Teary blue eyes looked up at Elrond as, with a loudly beating heart, Legolas confessed, "I knew."

"Knew what?"

"I knew that…something was wrong. I knew months ago but I did nothing," he said in a trembling voice.

"What do you mean?" Elrond asked calmly.

Drawing in a shuddering breath, Legolas said, "I could feel it, Elrond. I could tell something was wrong with one of the babies." A sob wracked his body but he pressed on. "I knew but I did nothing to help her. It's all my fault."

Wracking his brains to decipher what Legolas was saying to him, Elrond asked, "Do you mean the night of the diplomatic dinner?" Thinking back to the night Legolas had collapsed during the dinner with the human delegates, Elrond did remember Legolas mentioning something was wrong. A small nod confirmed his suspicions. "No, Legolas. Remember, I looked at you that night and both our children were fine. I checked myself and they were fine, I promise you that. You listen to me; this is not your fault. Anara…There was nothing anyone could have done, melleth. And there was nothing you did or did not do during the pregnancy or the delivery that would have made any difference, do you hear?" He pressed a kiss into Legolas' hair and rocked him gently. "It wasn't your fault, melleth nin. Please don't blame yourself. I can't stand to see you torturing yourself like this."

"I can't do this, Elrond," Legolas said in a choked – but much quieter voice than before.

"Shh. Right now it's just you and me and you don't have to do anything." For a while he just held his love close, letting him have his cry, guessing that he needed the release. "Shh, it's all right, melleth nin."

Another thirty minutes later and it seemed that Legolas had exhausted himself, as he sat quietly in Elrond's arms. "I'm sorry, Legolas. I shouldn't have left you to deal with this all on your own." He felt the prince shake his head in protest. "I have been so caught up in my work and our son lately that I have been neglecting you. Now, I know that you are in pain – don't even try to deny it – so let's start with that. I'm going to make you up something to help, all right?" He eased Legolas off him and went to the bathroom where he competently mixed the correct herbs together and also set the bath water running.

Once he had finished, he returned to Legolas' side and held out the vial for him. "Drink that down," he told him and Legolas took it off him and swallowed the liquid slowly. Elrond took the vial back from trembling fingers once the prince had finished. "It shouldn't take long to work. Right, now you are going to get into a warm bath, then have something to eat. Then," he ran his hand over blonde hair tenderly, "then you are going to get into bed where you're going to have a nice long, uninterrupted sleep, all right?"

It sounded so good that Legolas could only nod thankfully.

"All right. Come on." Elrond stood up and held out his hand to help the prince up. Legolas got to his feet and slowly followed his love into the bathroom where the bath was now ready. He turned the water off then turned to Legolas. "Let's get you undressed." His deft fingers easily unbuttoned Legolas' tunic and eased it over his shoulders, leaving the prince to remove his own trousers. He then helped him into the warm water and to sit down. "You rest in here while I send for some food. I'll be just in the next room."

Elrond went out into the corridor and summoned a passing maid, ordering some soup and hot tea for the prince. When he had returned to the bedroom, he immediately went about clearing up the messy room, picking up the clothes and shoes littering the floor and then threw the thick drapes open, letting sunlight flood into the dim room. He then pushed the balcony doors open to allow some fresh air into the stiflingly hot room. Already the room felt less oppressive and more relaxed. Elrond stripped the rumpled sheets off the bed and replaced them with fresh ones, plumping the pillows up so the bed was as comfortable as it could be.

When he was satisfied with the room, Elrond returned to find Legolas reclining back and dozing in the warm water. He perched on the edge of the tub and ran his fingers over the prince's pale cheek. Blue eyes fluttered open to focus on Elrond and the Elven lord smiled gently at him.

"Let's get you cleaned up then put you to bed," Elrond smiled, reaching over for the soap and flannel. With great tenderness, he washed Legolas off, noting every wince that passed over the pale features. He was rather concerned at how cold the blonde Elf's skin was despite the heat of the water but there wasn't much he could do about that.

Once the young Elf was clean, Elrond helped him out and wrapped him up in a large, fluffy towel, gently drying him. All Legolas could really concentrate on was remaining upright. As when he had first arrived in Imladris seven months previous, his body felt about ready to give up on him. Even as Elrond carefully dried him, he swayed on his feet, having to force his eyes to remain open. The one good thing was that at least the pain was beginning to fade, although Elrond's concoction was only adding to his fatigue. By that point though, Legolas really didn't care. After being pushed to the very limits of endurance, he was just too tired to care.

"Is that painkiller starting to work?" Elrond's voice washed over Legolas as he relaxed slightly. He merely nodded gratefully and Elrond smiled. "Good." He picked up the clothes he had chosen for the prince. "Can you help put these on?" Another nod came from Legolas and he slowly managed to step into his trousers with Elrond's help. The Elven lord decided it would be easier to do the shirt himself so he slipped the loose fabric over Legolas' shoulders and eased his arms into the nightshirt. "There you go," he murmured after he had buttoned up the shirt. "Come on, I've gotten you something to eat." He led Legolas slowly into the bedroom, where thankfully the maid had placed the food. Sitting Legolas down on the turned-down bed, Elrond reached for the bowl of broth and mug of herbal tea. "Try to eat something, melleth nin."

Legolas took the bowl from him and proceeded to eat the thick, tasty broth. The warm food felt good in his empty stomach – he hadn't eaten breakfast that morning, he simply hadn't had the energy. He also quickly finished off the tea Elrond handed him and had to confess that afterwards he did feel better. After he had emptied the bowl and mug, he let Elrond take them away from him.

"All right, let's lay you down now," Elrond smiled, moving the sheets out of the way.

"But…the baby."

"He is being well looked after by Glorfindel. He'll be fine. Right now I am far more concerned about you. You're exhausted, you have to rest. Go on, get into bed," Elrond encouraged, nudging Legolas to lie down and the prince found that he really couldn't argue so he shuffled backwards and laid back against the blissfully soft pillows. A small sigh of relief escaped him and Elrond smiled as he kicked off his own shoes, shrugged off his robe and climbed into bed next to his love, pulling the sheets up over them both. Immediately, Legolas shifted so his head rested on Elrond's chest. "Are you comfortable enough now?" Elrond asked, looking down at the blonde Elf lying against him.

"Mmhm," Legolas mumbled, his eyelids growing heavy again.

"Close your eyes and go to sleep then. I'll be right here." He arranged the sheets over the prince to ensure he was warm enough then urged, "Go to sleep, melleth nin."

"Thank you," Legolas murmured as his eyes slipped closed and sleep took him.

"You are welcome," Elrond replied but Legolas couldn't hear him. "I won't let this happen again, my love, I promise," he whispered. With Legolas in his arms, Elrond let his eyes go vacant, feeling more at ease than he had done in weeks.

To Be Continued…