Chapter 24 ended with:

"I am doing good. You?"

I ended my relationship with Amareth, which was a relief. I am still angry with you, but I will forgive since I can see that you love her. The Valar help you with that spitfire you took as a wife. I will like her, I know, and will support both of you. However, he did not say these words.

"Good. I would like to talk to you about the request for protection that Lake-town sent."

Things were back to normal between father and son.

Chapter 25 - Sickness

6 months later

Ninaelil was looking at her queen with concern. It was the third morning in a row that Valerie was waking up with a sickly complexion, feeling nauseous for an hour before she was able to come out of bed.

"You are still not feeling well, your Majesty?"

"I am fine. Just give me a few more minutes, Nina. I could use some more sleep."

Ninaelil gently touched Valerie's forehead to verify if she was feverish and fortunately, the queen was not. The housekeeper left the queen's bedroom, deciding that it was time to go seek the help of the chief healer. The queen had been minimizing her health issues, and quite frankly, Ninaelil was not sure how to handle those since elves never got sick. The healing staff was mostly specialized in the treatment of the injuries of the Greenwood warriors.

She went to the healing halls and entered the office of the chief healer, knocking on the door frame to get the attention of the ellon who was writing on a parchment. Ellavon and Ninaelil had been childhood friends and knew each other very well. He was a talented healer, able to treat the most serious of injuries and always staying calm in the most dire situations.

"Ninaelil, we do not see you frequently in these halls! What can I do for you?"

"I am concerned, Ellavon. I need your advice. It is about the queen. I fear for her health."

"Tell me what your concerns are."

"She has not been feeling well for the past few days. She is nauseous, sleepy, dizzy even. How is that even possible?"

"The queen is a half-elf, we are still discovering to what extent her human side is present. I am not pleased to hear that she can get sick. She will be the first patient in as long as I can remember with a sickness we will treat in these halls."

"Can you see her now?"

"Of course, our queen is the highest priority! Is the king with her?"

"No."

"No?"

"He is not aware that she is unwell. She did not want to add to his worries."

"He must be feeling it through their bond!"

"Their bond is… unusual. They do not seem to feel each other as they should. We discussed this, her and I. I have come to believe that it is due to the fact that she is a half-elf."

"It is possible. Let us go visit her. Where is she now?"

"Still in her bed."

"At this late hour?"

"She could not find the strength to get up."

When Ellavon stood beside the queen's bed, he tried to ignore the signs that showed that the king had spent the night there, the second shape in the bed, some objects belonging to an ellon, even that faint smell of sexual encounter that lingered in the air. He had heard that the king shared a true bond with the queen, that this was not a marriage of convenience. He was glad to get confirmation of that, although he would never show it.

The queen truly looked unwell. She had this greenish complexion that could be caused by an indigestion. Sure enough, as the queen opened her eyes to look at him, her eyes grew big and she dry heaved. Only his quick reflexes allowed him to grab a nearby pot to help the queen before she threw up some bile.

"Your Majesty, I assume you did not have breakfast yet?" he asked after helping her clean herself.

"No, I did not," Valerie whispered.

Ellavon sent a look full of reproach to Ninaelil. The presence of the pot near the bed showed that Ninaelil had witnessed the queen being sick before. She had omitted to mention that. He would have to do a physical exam, but the queen showed many symptoms of pregnancy that he had heard the mortal females were suffering from.

"I have a few personal questions to ask you. Please answer me honestly, this will remain between you and I. Ninaelil should leave."

"I have nothing to hide from Ninaelil."

"Very well. The king and you are having encounters of a sexual nature regularly?"

"Yes," Valerie answered, her complexion going from greenish to a nice pink flush.

"At what frequency?"

"At least once a day."

"Since your bonding?"

"Since we arrived here."

"When was the last time that you had your monthly cycle?"

Valerie remained silent. She could not exactly pinpoint when.

"It has been around two months," Ninaelil answered for her.

"I would make the assumption that you may be with child, your Majesty. Although I would need to proceed with a physical exam to confirm my suspicions."

"It is not possible. Thranduil said that an ellon controls the fertility of his semen, and he decided we would wait a few years before we attempt to have a child. An elfling is not part of his short-term plans."

This was puzzling to the chief healer. The queen was right, ellyn actually controlled the potency of the seed, and he tended to agree with the queen that the king was not planning to have another heir anytime soon.

"Can I please proceed with a physical exam then? To try to find an explanation for your symptoms?"

The queen nodded, and Ninaelil gently pulled the comforter that hid the body of the queen. Ellavon started by checking her pulse, then palpated her neck to see of her lymph nodes were swollen, and eventually moved to her stomach. This time, he definitely felt a swelling that was abnormal. He examined her a little further, but he was certain his original assumption was right: the queen was with child, and was probably three months along, although you could barely see it with your eyes.

"Your Majesty, I must congratulate you. You will have an elfling to take care of in a few months from now."

Ninaelil made a little ecstatic noise, which had Valerie look at her as if she had grown a second head.

"How is it even possible?" she asked the housekeeper.

"I do not know, but this is the greatest of news! I am so glad!" Ninaelil replied, climbing on the bed to take the queen's hand in hers. "I am relieved that you are not sick. We will all take care of you, you will have nothing to worry about!"

The queen still looked stunned, but she seemed well and was no longer in need of his expertise. Ninaelil was there to help her absorb the news.

"Your Majesty, I will visit you every morning from now on to ensure your continued health. I bid you a good day, and congratulate you again on this wonderful event."

The healer left as the two ellith were no longer paying attention to him.

"I must tell Thranduil right away," Valerie said, slowly overcoming her surprise. "Please find my dress robe, I cannot wait until I am entirely dressed."

When she entered Thranduil's study, he was with Bronadon. The councilor's eyes bulged when he saw his queen in her dress robe and he did not wait for the king to dismiss him. He almost ran out of the study, closing the door behind him.

"My dear, you know I prefer when we maintain a certain decorum in front of the staff," Thranduil chided her.

"I have the most amazing news to share, my love. It could not wait."

She sat in his lap, smiling like a lunatic. "Ellavon just confirmed it. I am with child."

It took a little moment before the king reacted, but it was not the reaction she had been expecting. He made them stand and then pushed her away from him.

"Who is the sire of the elfling you are carrying?" he spat.

A/N: in the next chapter, an explosive situation unfolds, as Thranduil's evil side comes to the surface when he thinks she is cheating on him...

Stubs1101: Being a femme fatal is the quickest and easiest way Valerie found to gain some control over her relationship!

Princessnera: Valerie will soon take care of his absence of expressions. She can understand if he is like this with strangers, but certainly not with her.

Riddicks-gurl1988: Congratulations on your recent marriage. Was the announcement what you expected it to be?

Glassary: Thranduil is used to always win. Since Valerie likes to win too, it is best for Thranduil to let her do what she wants so he doesn't lose face in front of his people!

Lyryenn: so yes, she got pregnant after all their activities. But the news didn't create the reaction she was expecting!

W: Legolas finally accepted what had happened between Thranduil and Valerie. Quite frankly, only his pride was hurt, so as a mature ellon, it was time for him to let go. And he get painlessly got rid of Amareth at the same time…

AHealingRenaissance: the bond discussion will happen very, very soon. Especially after she is being accused of cheating on him!

ObiLucius: Did you like Thranduil in the Legolas version? As a father-in-law, he was quite horrible for a time!

Maggie: this story is taking place after the events of The Hobbits. I will start putting the years at the beginning of each chapter soon.