AN1: Wow, sorry this took so long (again). *skims through chapter* Wow! writing this bit seems ages ago - i'm now at the end of the war of the ring (yes, i know that's not much further than i got in previous authors notes but hey) and only have 2 or 3 more chapters to write - slightly crimped by not having a computer with word on but i shall get there and I do have some ideas! Anyway back to the story.

AN2: Note, at this point I am going to start skipping over some births (though not all) on account of the fact that most of the last 20 odd chapters have been births and marriages and I am sure you are getting as bored of them as I am. I shall attempt to summarise how many children have been born to each family, etc. when I have finished with the assorted family growth for the moment – that should be by the time that the Istari come to Arda.

Chapter 25

The birth of Ingwë and Airatari's son was the cause for great celebration throughout Valinor as many had doubted, until Airatari's arrival in Valinor, that their king would marry let alone reproduce. The fact his first born was a son and quarter maia was just the icing on the cake for the elves of Valinor. The joy was not greater anywhere other than the houses of Ingwë and Eönwë though.

Unlike various males had been, when Airatari went into labour, Ingwë had not paced or fidgeted at all. He had simply sat outside the bedroom she was giving birth in, staring at the wall like he couldn't entirely believe what was happening. When food had been brought to him he had eaten it without a word or much sign of attention to what he was doing. The assorted males who sat with him suspected the reaction was to the fact he couldn't quite believe that after all this time, that he was actually going to have a child. It seemed that the pregnancy hadn't been quite enough time to accustom himself to the idea.

When he had finally been let into the birthing room, he had walked, somewhat wobbly, into the room and sunk onto the bed beside his wife. He had drawn her into his arms and kissed her face several times, whispering about how much he loved her, over and over until Riona had brought forth the little baby boy with his father's glowing blond hair with only the slightest shimmer of the red of his mother's hair. The baby had opened aquamarine coloured eyes which glowed with the same energy that his parents did and smiled up at his father gently.

Ingwë had smiled back and greeted him, naming him Culdaron. The baby had yawned and gone back to sleep. Ingwë had curled his wife back into his arms and held the pair of them as both went to sleep, wearing the most serenely content expression anyone had seen on his face.

XXX

Culdaron turned out to be one of the best behaved babies that anyone could remember, happily taking the stream of visitors through to see the new crown prince of the elves, content as long as he was in his parents' arms. The only time he had been anything other than perfectly behaved was when he had decided to chew on Manwë's finger who took it with good grace, laughing and carrying on with his blessing.

Aside from every noble elf in Valinor, every one of the Valar dropped by with gifts as well since Ingwë was well loved by all the Valar. Most of the gifts of the valar had been somewhat ethereal, in terms of characteristics rather than objects. For instance, Manwë had gifted Wisdom and Varda had given him the ability to see both sides of the argument. All of the characteristics gifted had been aimed at making him grow up to be a good king or second for his father. The only exception had been Aulë who had gifted him with a chain and pendant which could (should he marry) be separated into two separate necklaces that would provide protection and quick healing from injuries.

He quickly learnt to crawl at which point the sense of mischief which pervaded anyone related to Riona began to show. Very soon he had to be watched at all times of the day as he could move very quickly and had an innate talent to find trouble, whether it be through moving a chair and climbing on it to open a door or falling into every muddy body of water he could find, somehow laughing everything off no matter how scared his parents were.

XXX

Thranduil sat observing his wife as she nursed their infant daughter, listening to the elf that was his head of staff describe the chaos that had resulted from Legolas's and the Twins latest prank.

The three ellyn in question stood on the other side of the room, wearing appreciative smiles. Their three squires stood, not far off against the wall with blank masks though Sador's face betrayed a hint of long suffering. Thranduil suspected the young elf had attempted to pull them back from this prank.

Sighing deeply, he dismissed the elf and assuring him he would attempt to deal with the problem.

The three young ellyn smiled beatifically at him, as soon as he turned to them and attempted to convince them that they really weren't guilty, honest!

Unfortunately for them Thranduil didn't believe them and thus, the trio spent the next week mucking out the stables.

XXX

The next several years saw a baby boom within the house of Eönwë with Fea and Ereinion having another set of twins, though this pair was a son and a daughter and then Vanimallë and Dinembor had a son as well and in Arda, Thranduil and Erywen added a second daughter to their own brood of younglings.

Much to the bemusement of Arallë, amongst others, was that Thingol and Melian announced that they were way overdue another child and that, since there seemed to be a wealth of playmates around at the moment, that they would also be having another child, producing a second daughter shortly after Fea and Ereinion's second set of twins were born.

XXX

Around six months after the birth of Vinyacalo, Dinembor and Vanimallë's son and the youngest of the assorted children born, Arallë received a message from Mandos that was unusually formal. She read the missive with a startled smile which quickly warped into a pleased one as she reread the note.

After some time of contemplation she had got up and gone to find Riona, who was conveniently sitting alone with her lace cushion in one of the quieter gardens out the back of their wing of the house where the children were forbidden to go unattended.

When Riona had read the message, she grinned up at her great niece, sensing the maia's pleasure at the content.

"Have you told Airatari or Dinembor yet?" Arallë grinned mischievously and shook her head. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"

The younger maia grinned and laughed.

"I thought it would be a nice surprise for them. Anyway, they are rather busy at the moment." Riona gave her a hard look and then shook her head and laughed.

"If anyone was in any doubt about you being related to me then..." She grinned at her niece and the two laughed.

XXX

Thranduil watched his step mother suspiciously as she played with his two daughters. Having had nearly as much to do with her upbringing as Galion, Eama, Daffyd and Tuima, he recognised when the lady was up to something and the way she couldn't help grinning every time she looked at him, her daughter or Dinembor.

Eventually, when she gave Erynfaer back to her mother, he managed to take Arallë aside and ask what she was up to. She just gave him a cryptic look and stated that it was a surprise. No matter how hard he tried, he could get no better answer out of her.

Eventually Arallë leant up on her tip-toes and kissed his forehead.

"Don't worry Thranduil, nothing bad is going to happen, I just want to keep this secret for the moment. You won't have to wait long before finding out what it is. Aunt Riona is helping me prepare what is necessary, though I understand that hardly reassures you." Thranduil sighed and gave in. Unlike his father, he had no problems recognising when not to rush in head first and fight until he lost.

XXX

Much later on, after the dream vision was over, Riona and Eönwë lay in bed, talking to each other. After a fair bit of inconsequential pillow talk, Eönwë got on to a subject that interested him more.

"Out of curiosity love, what are these preparations you are doing for? They seem somewhat unusual." Riona smiled at her husband, face soft with pleasure. She had never stopped adoring it when her husband referred to her as 'love'.

"Oh, the house will soon have a new resident and Arallë and I are preparing for them." The maia lord raised an eyebrow at his wife curiously.

"Dare I ask who this guest is?" Riona grinned and kissed him several times before answering. Her husband's eyes widened for a moment before he grinned.

"And neither of you have seen fit to tell other interested parties?" She smirked at him.

"Nope, we felt it would make a good surprise." Eönwë flipped his wife over onto the bed and nipped and sucked his way down her neck.

"Well, that will make tomorrow entertaining." Riona's answer was in the form of a groan as his lips caressed a pleasure point at the base of her neck. "On other subjects, how do you fancy adding to the baby count?"

Eönwë took the inarticulate noise Riona made as assent, still enjoying how, even after more than four millennia of marriage; he could reduce her to an inarticulate mess in a matter of minutes.

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AN: if i get a review in the next day or so i shall update tomorrow - if whoever reviews works out whats about to happen i'll post two chapters!