Hi everyone,

I suppose you can technically consider this the last chapter of the story proper, for Haldir and Benny.

What a journey it's been. 1 year, some 350,000 words, 200 reviews (horseyyay, you're number 200 and you've been with me since the start. Lots of love to you my darling) and a lot of amazing friends later we've come to the end.

I can't actually believe that - I never thought this day would actually come. I confess, I've had a little cry. I don't know what to do with myself now this true epic is over.

All there is left to say is thank you all, from the very bottom of my heart. Lurkers, reviewers, new readers and old ones - if you've made it this far, then I salute you and thank you for indulging me. This, as Tim Minchin said, was definitely a shiny thing out of the corner of my eye; I'm glad I spotted it and grasped it with both hands, because this has been an amazingly fun year with you all.

Without further ado, and with lots of love: enjoy.

MM -x


Pie Jesu, pie Jesu; pie Jesu, pie Jesu; qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem... The words swirled in my mind and I hummed quietly, leaning forward on the railing of the ship with crossed arms. The Latin words called to me, and I recalled the first song I'd sung this time in Middle Earth had been in Latin. It seemed fitting that my last one in the same land would be too.

A pretty song, and in but a moment I would hear it from your lips as well as from your heart. I digress; have you seen our little Lita?

I chuckled as not one, but two voices interrupted the song in my head, the wind whipping my hair behind me where my silver circlet didn't hold it. I could hear the young girl's slight steps, an occasional giggle, and I knew she was somewhere behind me and to the left, but with the lap of the waves I was occasionally losing where she was.

Incoming, I believe. She's trying to sneak up on me, the little bugger.

"Mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy... ooft!" I felt the weight of the small child bounce against my knees, and the blonde bundle fell on her behind with a thud. Sometimes, it was fun to let her think she'd surprised me – she always looked suitably pleased.

"Hi there. What's got you in a tizz, my sneaky little troublemaker?" I lifted her up off the floor and held her against my hip, watching again as the waves rocked the boat we were in gently.

"Daddy says we're nearly home." She advised me sagely. "Except... Well, Mummy, that doesn't look much like home to me." She pointed to the mass of land that was coming closer every single second, her grey eyes inquisitive and slightly confused. Her little accent was a source of great amusement for me; she'd grown up listening to the broad drawls I used with Tori and Gimli and mimicked it without even realising. She even spoke in our old language, so we took care to make sure we were careful in what we said so she could learn.

Oh blimey did she learn, and I'd still not forgiven Tori quite yet for teaching her the phrase fucking bitch accidentally. The judgement on the particular Lady – one of the Ladies of the court who flirted shamelessly with Legolas whilst staring on with disgust at his warrior-wife – was a just one, but not a phrase I'd needed my daughter to learn quite so young.

I'd not needed the particular Lady to hear it from Lita's lips, either. Arwen had been in unrelenting hysterics for days afterwards and couldn't look at the woman in the eye for a month. Children were an absolute minefield and one I'd not been remotely prepared for despite warnings from both Arwen and Haldir. My heart clenched as I thought of my friend, now gone, and instead I looked over the edge of the ship where water lapped against the wood.

The trip to the Undying Lands had not been what I had expected, certainly from the words in those texts I had so adored. I'd thought that the wide curve of the earth would fall away below us, but it hadn't been the case. There had been no sudden point of change which showed me we were no longer in Middle Earth proper, and we hadn't sailed into the stars, but that morning as the sun rose a mass of land had appeared, almost shining as the white cliffs reflected the light.

"Nor does it to me, little one, but it will be our home ever more." I assured her. "You'll see your grandparents and your Aunty J too. You might even have cousins!" I exclaimed, ruffling her hair.

"I don't care about cousins, Mummy. I want my little brother." She reached down to pat the swell of my stomach, and giggled as our very active son kicked back in greeting. "Hi, little bean." She greeted him, as she would always do the first time she saw me each day. I was so glad she was excited about having a sibling – I had been scared she would be jealous but she was already telling me with great animation about how she would teach him to sing with her, and the different toys they could share to play together.

"You'll like having cousins, little Lita." I used her nickname and she scrunched her nose.

"I'm not little. I'm twenty five!" She puffed her chest out proudly before her little face clouded. "Why will I like having cousins, Mummy?"

"Well, for a while your brother will be too little to play with you. Having cousins will mean that you can play away all day!" I grinned.. "Maybe you shouldn't have cousins, I expect you'll get into all sorts of trouble"

"I will not!" She pouted again, and I heard Haldir's chuckle as he approached us. "Put me down, Mummy." I did as she asked and she trotted over to him, hugging her Father's legs.

"I think your Mother is right, my darling." She stomped her feet and then ran off, probably to find Legolas or Gimli to bother. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss to my neck in greeting. "You look beautiful this morning."

"Thank you. I feel huge." I commented. "It's getting to the time when I can't see my feet, already. " I frowned, looking down. It had come much sooner - I wasn't far off the size I'd been at full term already and we were only half-way through. I was keeping a steady watch and had read many texts as part of my healer studies, and it generally seemed to be that the second babe would be a larger one.

"You will survive, as you did before, and I shall walk each step by your side. You do still look beautiful."

"Mmm, flattery will get you everywhere." I turned my head to look at him, and he captured my lips in a gentle kiss.

"I rather hope so." He pulled me a little tighter against him and I blushed. "All these years and you still flush at my teasing."

"Yes, and?" I asked expectantly and he laughed, kissing me again as we stood at the front of the boat. When I was pregnant I could feel his emotions more keenly, and he was certainly enjoying the curves of my figure quite thoroughly.

"Oi, stop eating each other's faces for like a minute will you? Christ, you're parents!" Tori admonished. "And you're bothering the crowd."

I looked up, startled, and I realised we'd almost docked. "Ah, when did that happen?" I muttered to Haldir who shrugged, kissing me again for good measure. Tori came to stand next to us with a frown as we docked, and the people waiting for us parted as a blonde body actually hurtled up to the boat, sprung over the side and directly into Tori's arms.

"Er, hi?" I looked down at J, who was almost crushing her twin as they talked rapidly – our mother tongue coming far more naturally to them it seemed. "Hey, do I not get a hug?"

"Holy fuck, you're pregnant." J looked up in surprise.

"Jesus, mind your language." Tori scolded automatically, eyes roaming wildly for my child. Yes, I'd absolutely instilled the fear into her on that score.

"Er, well..." I began, and Legolas appeared from the boat's lower cabins with Litawen slung over his shoulder much as he had done with me nearly a thousand years ago.

"Bernadette, you misplaced your demon. Well met, Lady Jade, it is wonderful to see you again." Lita looked at Tori and J with a look of confusion on her face before it seemed to dawn on her that they were twins.

"Mummy, are they like Elladan and Elrohir? Legolas, put me down." She demanded, and the Prince snorted as he placed my somewhat precocious child on the deck. Lita walked up to J and held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Litawen. I'm twenty five!" She offered a toothy smile and J took her hand, shaking it, completely bewildered.

"Benny, you broke J." Tori commented as J stuttered to speak to my daughter.

"Hmm, looks like it." I grinned, and turned to Haldir who was looking out at the milling people intently. "Do you want to get off and take a look for your family?"

He opened his mouth to speak when I heard a frustrated voice. "Get out of the way. Damn it Glorfindel, move, I wish to see my son!"

"Bets on Thranduil?" Tori muttered to me under her breath in English and I snorted as I laughed. Lita looked at me strangely before turning back to J again, talking to her about some nonsense or other, and I giggled.

"Fool's bet." I answered back in the same language, which we had kept so fluent through the years.

"Mummy?" Lita's voice suddenly went very quiet and subdued.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked her, and she flung herself out of J's arms to me. I crouched down carefully to pick her up, her legs wrapping around me as best she could manage because of my 7 month bump.

"Daddy looks funny."

Of course. Of course. How could I be so bloody stupid?

I turned to look up at Haldir who was staring at the dockside with wide eyes, his hands gripping the rail as he watched on. I walked up to him, resting a hand on his and squeezing. He took my hand instinctively, looking down at me. "What do I do? You have more experience with this than I."

"Shut up and go say hello, you prat." I teased him. "I'll sort out our things and find my parents. They're going to go mental when they see trouble here."

"Remember what I said about my Mother and grandchildren." He warned before kissing my hand. He turned and took a steady jog down the gangplank, just as another elf finally made his way to the front. He looked so much like Haldir it was unnerving, and the two stared at one another before embracing fiercely. I felt tears well and I sobbed, earning a scowl from my daughter.

"Who is that man hugging Daddy, Mummy?"

"That is one of your Grandfathers, little Lita." I sniffed, feeling the barrage of Haldir's overwhelming joy in my chest, but my momentary distraction was all she needed.

"Cool!" She exclaimed - modern English mingling with Sindarin - and fast as a shot, she was out of my arms and making a beeline for the gangplank. I cried out and tried to follow her but with my awkward weight distribution I didn't have much of a chance.

"Legolas, grab her!" I shrieked, trying to warn him, but he turned too late and she was gone in a flash before anyone had a chance.

xxxXxxx

Haldir

He faintly recalled how Bernadette had appeared when first she had found her Father alive once more. He had not felt her so keenly then but he had not needed to - her inability to breathe and the ensuing tears, shortly followed by the aggression and then eventually acceptance were all etched upon her clearly for all to see.

Haldir had feared he would feel the same - that he would feel the startling anger and resentment he had harboured within him for over a thousand years. Instead, as strong arms held him he was transported to the last time the elf before him had said goodbye; he had taken it for granted that he would return, as the young and even not so young were prone to doing, and instead grasped the elf before him with equal strength.

"I have missed you." His voice was raw in his throat as he let himself be held. He had always loved his Father, but as a young man he had been too proud to truly say it or demonstrate it. Bernadette had taught him much, it seemed, for now he had not only the courage but the desire to express the words in his heart.

"And I you, Haldir; and I you." Hearing his voice again brought back a fresh bout of memory, of hunting trips and archery lessons and raging arguments with the man who had only wanted to do best by him. A Father himself, he now knew just the struggles and balances that came with parenthood and he had no idea how to begin to apologise.

"I am sorry for being a true menace, I know not how you bore me." He spoke, the words muffled in the robes his Father wore. The man laughed, standing back and grasping his son by his shoulders. Haldir had never realised how alike they were in appearance; his brothers had taken after their Mother far more than he ever had, it seemed.

"I may guarantee this, my son; I was much, much worse. True you were perhaps a little prideful, but it was nothing we could not manage for we loved you. We still love you, and but for the wisdom upon your brow and in your eyes it feels in my heart as if I never left and all of time stood still. It is I who should apologise." His Father spoke earnestly and Haldir let his brows arch, a look of disbelief mingling with humour upon his face. "Ha! Now, that is a look I have not forgotten. So often I have been on the receiving end of it, it has become engraved upon my heart."

The bone-crushing embrace returned, this time instigated by son rather than by father. "You taught it to me. I would impress upon you this; never apologise." Haldir spoke with fire, stepping away to grasp his Father's hands in a gesture his younger self would never have dreamed of. "Even here, in Valinor, your actions gave me the opportunity to live a life far more fortunate than I deserve. Captain I became, then Lord if you will have it, and now the very greatest of all my titles..." His words trailed off to nothing as one hand rose to above his heart where the coil of his wife's soul was housed, usually so serene but for her songs.

He felt it; panic in is heart that wasn't his own. He tried to find the source of it, but there was simply not enough time as Bernadette's fear and stress shot through him. As soon as he heard Bernadette's distressed cry out loud and recognised the pattering steps of his child, instinctively he turned to catch Litawen before she injured herself. She was much like her Mother in that regard, and headstrong to boot. He held her tightly and lifted her to his side, balancing her on his arm as he tapped her nose in a gentle scolding with only a small shake of his hands as his heart tried to recover.

"Do not run away from your Mummy, little one. It distresses her and well you know it. It is not good for your little brother for her to feel anything other than joy." To his own ears his voice sounded choked and he forced himself to calm and forget the elf by his side for one moment. He could not have her rocketing around Valinor with no regard for her safety and if he did not impress it upon her now she would be gone again. He forced himself to breathe more carefully, and then cleared his throat with raised brows as his child tried to shy away from answering.

He watched her eyes, so like his, become sad and she nodded. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I was excited."

"I know it, but we must stay close for if you get lost here, we will not be able to find you and all the wild animals will eat you. Will it happen again?" He asked her, mind now thoroughly distracted from his Father.

"No."

"Do you promise?" Haldir questioned further, and she bobbed her head emphatically.

"I pinky promise." Lita held out her hand and he wrapped her little finger in his – that was a trick her Mother had taught her and it worked surprisingly well.

"Good." His daughter suddenly seemed to realise where she was and looked at her Grandfather nervously. The distraction of his unruly child had provided him the respite his heart needed to begin the next part of his reunion - introducing his family. "My greatest titles; Husband, and Father. This is my daughter, Litawen." She buried her head in his neck, peeking out with a smile before hiding again. "What is this, little one? Now, I know you could not possibly be shy." He teased her and she giggled.

"I am so happy for you, my son. Your daughter is beautiful, and doubtless your wife is also." Haldir cocked a brow, bowing his head in agreement.

Speaking of wives. He heard Bernadette speak within his mind and he turned to greet her, holding out one hand for her to take as she neared. He loved when she was with child, for it made their bond as strong as when they had very first wed. He frowned as he saw her hand on her back, rubbing it with some discomfort as the rest of their party disembarked from the boat. "She would like very much to find her Mother, and scold her naughty child."

"You have been on your feet too long." He said critically and she glared at him. "Do not give me that look, my love. Oh, my apologies. Father, this is my wife Bernadette. Bernadette, my Father, Tauryn."

"Well met, daughter." he looked somewhat overwhelmed, and Haldir suddenly felt remarkably sorry for him as he was bombarded not only by his eldest son, but his pregnant wife and their first-born.

"And to you too." She bowed her head, in no state to curtsey at that time. "I really would like to find my Mum. Do you think Glorfindel will have an idea where they are?"

"I expect he would, but Jade would be far more likely to know where they are still."

"Excellent idea – honestly, my brain has stopped working today. You be good for your Daddy, trouble." Bernadette kissed their daughter's golden head. "A pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to getting to know you better. For now, have a wonderful day the both of you." Her smile shone again before she dashed away, catching up to her sisters who were just a few paces ahead. Suddenly he felt a wave of panic, and then her voice echoed sharply in his mind.

Escape, escape, escape. I see Thranduil, and remember we brought Gimli with us.

Noted. Haldir tried not to visibly wince, staring after his wife who had just a hint of a waddle as she marched on ahead – he was of half the mind to follow her to avoid the King.

"She seems quite the lady." Haldir's Father commented, bewildered, and he couldn't help but laugh, distracted from the scene he dreaded.

"Oh, you do not know the half of it. I had hoped to take time to introduce you more slowly, but Litawen oft has other plans."

"Then you should tell me. Your Mother will be over the moon that you wed, and she will be delighted to meet her grandchild." He reached out to touch Lita's head of golden curls, and she peeked out from behind the curtains of hair that hid her face.

"Hi." She said shyly.

"Well, hello."

"Daddy, put me down." She said suddenly, and his Father grinned as Haldir did so, making sure to keep a hold of her hand. She was growing like a weed and was keen to be off in the world, much like her Mother. In the last two years she had developed greatly, and he expected that she would reach maturity as quickly as Bernadette had.

"She is a little madam, make no mistake." Tauryn commented as they began to walk, careful to take smaller strides so her little feet could keep up.

"Aye, that she is. Trouble, boisterous, noisy, and yet somehow inexplicably charming at the same time." Haldir looked down at his daughter, whose eyes were roaming around the harbour with fascination. "She also has an attention span of a gnat." He commented as she tried to run ahead, tugging her back.

"Yes, so did your younger brothers if I recall correctly." He chuckled. "Oh, Glorfindel, my apologies for earlier." He addressed an elf whose back was turned to them.

"Haldir, welcome!" Glorfindel spun with a bright smile, and went to hug his friend before stopping short. "Well, you were busy." He looked down at the little girl, who looked up at him with her head tilted. He crouched down to her height, bright blue eyes meeting her curious steely ones.

"Hello, my name is Litawen." She introduced herself with a little more confidence than she had with his Father.

"Are you indeed? Well then, my name is Glorfindel, and I am one of your Uncles. It is lovely to meet you."

"Mummy talks about you. She says you are meddling and nosey." Litawen informed him, and Haldir choked at her forthright comments.

"Litawen, mind your manners." He scolded her, but she clearly wasn't listening as her attention was captured by a small bird that had hopped into the path.

"Oh Haldir, it is fine. It is not the first time I have heard it, nor shall it be the last." Glorfindel brushed it off with a wave of his hand, standing straight again. "Congratulations, my friend. Fatherhood suits you."

"It had better, our second is due in a little under 6 months." He said with only a little pride, giving Litawen a tug to start walking again as she picked some flowers from the verge.

"Wonderful, truly. Would you like me to take her to Benny for you? It will give you time to get reacquainted with your family."

"That would be most kind. I know she has gone with her sisters to find her Mother."

"I would offer to put money on how long it takes for Benny to run away from the smothering, but I feel it would be a fool's bet. Come, my Lady, let us find your mother." Glorfindel held his hand out and Litawen took it decisively, not looking back as she wandered along next to her new-found family.

"Uncle?" His Father began. "By the Valar, what has happened since your Mother and I came to these shores?" Haldir snorted at the delicate phrasing, but didn't dwell on it. It would do him a disservice to resent him as he once had, and he had seen the way his wife had tortured herself over the same thing. There would be a time for those heavier discussions, but it was not then. That day was one for joy, and he would have his Father see the true happiness brought to his life.

"It is a long and somewhat unbelievable story which I will of course tell in full to both of you. However, Lord Glorfindel is wed to one of my wife's sisters and Legolas, son of Thranduil, the other."

"I should have realised, my mind clearly has slowed. I have met Lady Jade many times but never linked the stories she told. I do wonder why Glorfindel never informed me."

"Because he is an ass and enjoys it." Haldir said blandly. "Even the Undying Lands could not mellow that."

"As it ever was. So, tell me more about your wife."

Haldir opened his mouth to speak, but as he did so he heard a sound somewhere between a shout and a roar. He'd not seen Thranduil pass, but he knew the sound of rage that was unique to the King of the Greenwood.

"Legolas, what have you done?"

"Move, and move quickly. The last of the Fellowship of the Ring came with us – Victoria and Legolas, but also a Dwarf Lord named Gimli. Such honour he deserves and as he has been granted passage to these lands I know that the Valar too must see the truth in it. However, I doubt that Thranduil shall see it as such and I have no desire to watch the carnage that I am absolutely certain will follow."

"Well I know Thranduil's fell moods; come, this way." His Father gestured sharply, and he navigated through the milling crowd with ease – Legolas could clear his own messes.

xxxXxxx

"Go up Haldir, your Mother should be in the kitchen." His Father advised some time later, as they followed a woodland path along the coast to a small talan. It was a little overwhelming, and he was as happy as he had ever been as he realised that there were mellyrn trees, tall and proud, where homes were built.

"Are you not coming?" He asked, but his Father waved him on ahead.

"I was hoping to find your brothers. Orophin lives only a moment away with his wife, and I expect Rumil will be nearby as always."

"Oh, do tell Osellë that Benny is here if she has not already heard. They were particular friends and she will be glad to have her company once more." He nodded with a warm smile.

"Benny? What a curious name. I will of course." The other elf offered a shallow bow of his head before heading further along the path they had come. Haldir took the stairs two at a time, fraught with excitement and nerves at being with his family once more.

He entered through the front door and heard a gentle song climb and swirl. It was stunningly familiar and he let the tones warm his heart along with the smell of fresh bread and yeast. Like with Bernadette, the smell reminded him of what it meant to be home.

"Mother, how wonderful to see you again." Haldir entered the kitchen where the lady was kneading bread and humming to herself, rapping his knuckles on the door as he entered simply out of habit. He learned very quickly how easily Bernadette became startled when she was baking, so he always made sure to announce himself.

"Haldir!" She gasped, and quickly wiped her hands on her apron before she hugged him with all her might. He returned the embrace, suddenly engulfed in a wave of memory from his childhood. Her hair held the scent of flowers and bread and all that was good, except that she seemed remarkably smaller than he recalled. "Goodness, you shot up rather suddenly. Your brothers are not quite so long in leg as you." She smacked his hip with a smile.

"I always have been the tallest. How are you? I feel like it has been a lifetime since we parted." The blonde lady touched his cheek gently.

"It has been, it truly has. I am so sorry for all that you suffered at my hand. I am so proud of you, my son."

Haldir felt the tips of his ears grow hot. "It was not all of my doing. Lord Celeborn assisted me greatly, more so when Rumil and Orophin were very young."

"Still, it was a challenge and make no mistake about that! Now, tell me what you have been up to." She went back to kneading her bread and he began the tale of what happened since she had sailed, the hours passing easily and more joyfully than he had even hoped for.

Suddenly, as he was just coming to Bernadette arriving in Lothlorien, he heard a shriek of laughter that was incredibly familiar. His Mother was frowning as he washed his hands quickly, dashing to peer out of the window. He saw a golden head of hair in the tree and sighed with not a small amount of aggravation.

"Is that your apple tree?" He asked his Mother, and she nodded. "For goodness sake; one moment Mother." He quickly left the door and walked down the stairs that followed the curve of the tree. "Lita, come down from there!" Haldir called, jogging up to the tree his daughter had found herself in.

"No Daddy. I like it here!" She said cheerfully, picking an apple from the tree and taking a bite.

"Litawen, down, now." His tone brooked no argument and the little girl looked slightly sad before glancing down at the floor.

"I think I might be stuck." She said, suddenly fearful at the height and Haldir sighed, holding his arms up to just below where she was.

"Jump to me, little one."

"Don't drop me." She demanded and Haldir laughed, gesturing again. She flung herself into his arms much as Bernadette had done and he spun her around as she shrieked and giggled. "Daddy, stop please!" he placed her on his hip, tapping her nose.

"What have you done with your Uncle?" He asked, and she pointed in his direction where he was talking with Tauryn, Rumil and Orophin. "Ah, so you escaped his clutches?"

"He wasn't exactly watching, Daddy." She advised him, and he made a note to have words with those who would look after his miniature demon that both eyes needed to be fixed on her person at all times. "I didn't really escape. He has lots to learn." She took another nibble of her apple. "I like this apple. It's tasty."

"Your Grandmother and Grandfather own it, so you can have as many as you like. Do you know, child, I might even believe you planned this little stunt just to worry them." He assured her and she smiled, before snuggling into his arms.

"Maybe, but Mummy does always say I'm trouble so they need to learn that, don't they?" She said bluntly, and then yawned. "Daddy, I feel sleepy"

"Rest, little Lita. You have had a very exciting day and I know full well you slept all of an hour last night." No sooner had he spoken, the child had fallen asleep against his side and the apple fallen out of her hand with a thud. It never ceased to amaze him that once she had decided to sleep, she was away almost instantly, and her eyes closed just like her Mother's and equally as deeply.

"Oh, my son." He heard his Mother as he balanced the child carefully whilst picking up the discarded fruit. "You did not say you had wed."

"I was getting to that part when this troublesome young lady elected to escape from her watcher. Nor is it my fault you entirely failed to notice the ring on my finger." He spoke in a hushed voice. "It would be best if we invited Father to this conversation, for he does not know the full tale. It is somewhat of a convoluted and strange one."

"Of course. Oh, he is with Glorfindel and your brothers."

"Yes, they can come too. Together, they know the whole story and then some I expect." He waved the men over who were in some discussion or another. "Did you locate Bernadette?" He called.

Rumil embraced him firmly, always far more free in his affection, and Orophin grasped his arm in greeting with a fleeting grin.

"I did, but she was with Jade taking a moment to rest. Jade said her back was troubling her a little." Haldir nodded. "Osellë has already gone to meet her – you know that they will be thick as thieves and it may help with her discomfort to have another healer look at her."

"She has this time around, certainly more so than with Litawen. Come, let us go upstairs – I was just getting to the point when you brought Bernadette to Lothlorien." He gestured to the elf-Lord who followed them.

Glorfindel looked on fondly as he remembered the day, walking up the stairs to the flet. "How the time flies."

"It does indeed. Mother, have you somewhere I might let her rest?" He indicated to the child in his arms.

"Yes, of course. Place her in our bedroom, you can see through from the sitting room to check on her without entering." She explained and he did so, selecting an old blanket and carefully draping it over her.

Pulling the door closed until it was just ajar, Haldir listened fondly as Glorfindel embellished upon his meeting of Bernadette as he was prone to do. "Why do you always do me such a disservice?" He complained, and Glorfindel rolled his eyes before launching back into the story. His Mother nudged him with a smile, and he put an arm around the smaller lady tenderly as she listened. "He exaggerates, truly."

"Hmm, I shall see that for myself when I meet this Lady of yours. I rather suspect he tells the truth."

Haldir tried very hard not to blush at her motherly admonishment, instead turning back to them as Rumil took up describing the first time they had met as she all but stole a bowl of fruit from his hands. "Anything I might have done to her pales in comparison to Osellë's ministrations."

"Oh now, be fair. Bernadette pushed her in a washing tub."

"For spreading particularly vile rumours. Bernadette was not innocent, it is true, but your wife went above and beyond that." Rumil leaned back against the counter, bickering easily with Orophin.

"They forgave each other, and now look! They are as close as any sisters you would find."

"It seems like this Mirkwood Lady destroyed all peace that ever was in Lothlorien." His Father frowned, and Haldir felt suddenly defensive then for her – he had feared others would make this very judgement of his passionate, free, and loving mate. His Mother spotted his softer expression and must have recognised it's significance as she shot a warning glance at her husband.

"Aye, perhaps; but she also filled the woods with song and a joy that had long since been missing. When you meet her you shall see it, but she is eternally young of spirit despite all the darkness that has touched her. I rather think I had no choice but to love her completely." His voice was soft and he felt the thump of her heartbeat next to his, her spirit holding his own fast as it always did.

"Poetic indeed. Now, do continue Rumil." His Mother commanded of her youngest son, and they all chose to ignore the slight waver in her voice and the tear in her eye.

xxxXxxx

Benny

"Mum, Dad!" Jade shouted and I winced at the volume. "Visitors."

Rather than a talan that I was used to, their home was more like a house. It was very open, with only a few internal rooms and bedchambers completely closed off with doors from the outside. Wood curved into arches and a swirling staircase, and I touched the smooth carvings with awe.

"Oh dear Valar, Bernadette!" I heard Mum's voice before I saw her, and she had the widest smile I'd ever seen as I twisted. "You're as big as a house! You must be near soon."

"Hi." I embraced her tightly and she placed her hands on my growing belly with delight. "And no, just over half-way."

"No." She gaped. "Do you know what you are having?"

"A boy, as far as I can tell!" I looked down, feeling the curious flutter of life as I always did. Working as a healer certainly had its perks. "Though it's odd. It feels a bit different to the first time."

"First time?" She said faintly. "You already have a child? Oh, what have I missed – you have to tell me everything. Come and sit down before you fall down."

Dad was already in their front room, reading as I walked in. I wasn't yet waddling which I was remarkably pleased about. "Hi there, Grandad!" Mum gushed and he looked up with a frown that slowly transformed into a beam.

"Benny, welcome home." He moved right away for me to sit down and I did so gratefully, feeling the tension ease. "Congratulations, sweetheart. You must be due soon!"

"Everyone has been saying that, but I'm not quite seven months gone." I said with a grimace, placing my hand protectively on my stomach and the other rubbing my back.

"Really?" He looked as confused as I, but then shrugged it off as mum came in with a tray of tea, Tori hand-in-hand with J as they spoke together coming behind her.

"So, tell me all about it." Mum said and out of habit I turned in my seat, putting my legs over my dad's lap. He began massaging my feet as I explained about our daughter, and Mum burst into tears as I explained about Litawen.

"Have you seen a healer?" Mum asked as we discussed my son. "You're big, Benny. I'd worry he might come a bit soon."

"I thought it would just because I've already had one, and I am a healer. Ladies always seem to be bigger the second time around. You should have seen Arwen by her sixth." I shrugged. "I've been checking every now and again myself and everything feels okay. Just a bit... fuzzy. I can't quite get a grip on him the same way I could with Lita."

"Bernadette, your stomach precedes you." I heard a familiar drawl and before Dad knew what was happening I was on my feet and in Osellë's arms.

"You're a vile creature from the pits of Moria." I answered in greeting, and she grinned as she gave me a squeeze. "Did you add to my book?" I asked and she nodded, eyes alight.

"I did indeed – did you find my diaries of any use?"

"Absolutely. Elladan and Elrohir helped me too from time to time." I began, but Mum interrupted us with a polite cough, and we both turned to look at her. "Yes?"

"Osellë, would you take a look over Bernadette? She says she's not quite 7 months gone but she's a bit..." Mum gestured with a frown and Osellë's brows creased. "She hasn't seen a healer yet."

"Again I say, I am a healer specialising in pregnancy." I said drily, only for Osellë to ignore me as Mum had.

"Of course, I can now. May I use your bedroom?" Mum nodded and she took my hand, leading me through the maze of inside-outside rooms and up the stairs.

"Have you communicated with the babe?" She asked as she got me to lie down, and then with no fanfare lifted up the tunic I wore for comfort as dresses often felt too warm. Her fingers were cool and probing as she felt around the solid bump.

"Yes, well, sort of. He feels fuzzy. I have a little girl too, and it's not quite the same as it was with her."

"Oh, how lovely. I cannot wait to meet her. Orophin and I have also been blessed with a daughter, she is just twenty five. Relax for me, my friend."

"Litawen is twenty five too! She's trouble, make no mistake."

"I expected nothing less. Bernadette, I confess I am not certain why... oh." She stopped suddenly, a hand either side of my bump. One was near the top, the other was near the bottom, and a small but sure smile began to form as she closed her eyes. I felt a familiar searching, the sensation sweeping across me, and then she stepped away with a nod.

"I'm not surprised you are so large, and I regret to confirm it will not get any better. You have two little boys in there, my dear. I suggest you request further maternity dresses and tunics to be made now. You were trying to find just the one child to speak with, and they were confused as they did not know which one you were trying to touch. Hence why you had the strange feeling, as they were both reaching out to you together." She explained.

"What? No, I can't be." I looked down at my stomach, and then burst into tears. What if Haldir only wanted two children? What about the birth? Mum had told me stories about how when she'd neared the end of her pregnancy with my sisters, her fingers only just touched around her stomach, and I vaguely recalled that she had been very large with my sisters the first time. What if I never went back to normal...

"Come here, my friend." She hushed and sat me up, putting an arm around me. "I can see your thoughts as clear as day. You need not fear, he will still love you and your body will recover. This is happy news!" She patted my belly gently. "On the positive, the chance is high indeed that you will have the little ones earlier than before. Anything from one to two months early would not be unusual for there simply isn't enough room. Where will you be staying?"

"We just arrived, I don't even know where our stuff is." I snorted and Osellë stood, leading me down the stairs. "We brought Gimli, and I spotted Thranduil heading that way as I was leaving the port. That will not end well."

Osellë wore a grimace that matched my own. "I rather think not, and I would have you kept away from anything that might cause you stress. I would like to be close by now. You are just under seven gone, is that right?" I nodded. "Then potentially you only have three months to go. There are always more risks with a twin pregnancy. I live close to Orophin's parents and so would suggest a home around there – many of our Lothlorien kin live in a small forest a little further down the coast, and into the mainland."

"I think Haldir would like that." I said faintly, still in a little shock. "How far is it?"

"About an hour by foot if you take a gentle walk, less by horseback. I all but ran from there and it took me not long at all. Would you like to go?"

"Yeah." We entered the family room and everyone turned to look at us, eyes expectantly.

"Twins." Osellë shrugged and Mum shrieked before hugging me, and I started to cry again. Twins. Two. Plural.

Haldir was going to have a fit.

As Osellë and I rode on horseback together, plodding comfortably and talking, I felt overwhelming fear capturing me like it never had before. I had always been so sure about everything to do with our relationship, so sure that we knew one another's hearts so thoroughly that nothing came as a surprise, but now I was physically shaking.

"Bernadette, calm yourself. It is no good for your children, and even less so for you. You have had quite the journey, and this is considerable news. Mind you, it is a poor show that you did not see it yourself. You call yourself a healer?"

"The last twins I experienced in the womb were my sisters, I was in my seventies, and you know those memories aren't always the clearest." I muttered grumpily. She eyed me cautiously, before her brows rose as if she had realised something.

"Do you need to eat?"

"Why does everyone think I need feeding when I'm in a bad mood? You just insulted me you daft bitch." I turned in my saddle to her, sitting side-saddle simply for comfort, and Osellë didn't even blink at my language. My plight wasn't helped by the grumbling of my stomach, and I covered it with one hand. "Traitors." I spoke, reaching to them one at a time and feeling their playfulness each time. They were going to be just as bad as Litawen, I could tell.

"Definitely hungry. Come, I rather think I shall feed you before we present you to your beloved's parents."

"Oh, shit." My mouth dropped, realising I needed to meet his Mother. His poor Father had been so swept up with Litawen and his son that he had barely noticed me, I was certain. If my memories served me well, it had been mentioned to me that she was a little like my own Mother and the thought made me shiver.

"You shall like Oreliel, do not fear, and she shall love you for you have provided her not only one but three grandchildren to fawn over so thoroughly."

"I'm certain." I crossed my fingers and Osellë laughed. "Wait, listen." I stopped my horse, and then frowned as I peered through the trees. "That is my child, in a tree, unsupervised. Heads are going to roll."

I kicked my horse in to a quick trot, covering the distance easily despite Osellë's cry for me to slow down. I pulled him to a stop outside a small home low in a tree, one of the mellyrn I had so loved in Lothlorien.

"Bernadette, calm yourself. We have come to the very home of those we seek."

"Excellent." I said brightly with mock cheer. "Get her down – introduce yourself as Aunty Osellë and she'll cling to you like a limpet." I assured her and the silvery-blonde woman sighed before she dismounted and went to the base of the tree, striking an easy conversation with my ridiculously curious child.

I could hear familiar laughter from within the house and I sniffed, irrationally angry despite knowing Haldir would never intentionally lose track of our little girl. Some part of me must have known I wasn't truly angry at him, for when the words tumbled from my mouth they were in English, not in the Sindarin language I knew his family would speak.

xxxXxxx

Haldir

"Which miserable miscreant has been watching Litawen, Haldir?" Haldir looked up as he heard his wife speaking in her own tongue, and he stood to lean out of the window once more with a frown. "She has escaped. That isn't like you to miss her when she's on a mission." Benny looked displeased, and he had to agree with her sentiments. How on earth had she got out without them hearing or seeing anything?

"Damnation, she is far too like you for my poor heart to take. She was asleep not minutes before." He leaned on the frame with his elbows and head in his hands, perplexed. His very pregnant wife looked up at him, one hand on her hip and the other pointing, once again, to the apple tree. Osellë was stood below it, having a chattering conversation with the golden-haired child who had once again clambered into the boughs. She ducked as an apple was thrown at her with remarkably good aim and not for the first time Haldir considered giving her a training bow.

"Mind your language; we don't want a repeat of the Tori incident!" She hissed, and he smirked before turning back to his family. Everyone else looked faintly amused except for his poor parents, who looked blankly on. Glorfindel appeared to have explained to them that the tongue they had just heard was that of his wife, and he did not doubt that he'd also relayed the sentiment of her rather snappish words.

"That was not the language of Men. I thought you said that she had grown amongst them?" His Mother said curiously – her need to know, uncannily like Bernadette's, overthrowing her disbelief.

"No it was not – that was my wife's mother tongue. In the world of Men she was indeed raised, but the equivalent Age she believes would be the Sixth or Seventh. Much will change, including that Common Tongue which you recall." He explained and his Mother's lips pursed into an 'o', but he became distracted once more by the thrum of Bernadette's heart against his own. It felt distant, almost constrained, and he frowned as he tried to reach her to send what comfort he could.

"Well then, let us greet this lady of yours." She stood, taking his arm decisively and Glorfindel laughed, standing as well.

"Lady is a word only the very foolhardy would call Bernadette." the elf said, and his brothers dared to nod in agreement.

By the time he had reached the base of the tree, Haldir saw that his wife had clambered through the boughs with her daughter and was speaking to her with a gentle smile. Instead of Sindarin, that tongue she had adopted in this lifetime, she spoke in the comfort of her own language. He could see the slight shake of her hand, the clenching of her jaw, the fierce look in her eyes.

Something frightened her and when she steadfastly refused to look at him, Haldir knew that it was in part related to them, to him.

"One hand here, darling, and the other here." One delicate hand moved to the top of the swell, the other to the bottom. "Feel them?"

"Mummy, there are too many kicks for one baby." She spoke with childlike wisdom, but Haldir felt his heart stop in his chest whilst Bernadette stroked Litawen's fair hair as her little smile shone. "I shall have more brothers?"

"That's right. In here there are two little brothers for you. It means that Mummy has to be very careful over the next few months so they stay inside as long as they possibly can." Bernadette explained, dark hair fanning around her.

His darling daughter laid her head on the gentle curve of her mother's stomach, and listened with delighted giggles to the life within. The two lives, two precious souls gifted to them. Bernadette dared a glance at him then, eyes suspiciously veiled, and he felt at last her blinding fear of how he would respond to her news. She truly thought he would reject her – no longer have that same desire for her, and more importantly not want more children. Haldir blinked once and then once again to clear the clouds of shock before he reached up a hand to grasp her own through the branches.

"Two playmates for our little Lita. I fear that the world will never be the same again." Her language – English as so she named it – came as naturally to him as his own now for she was determined to keep it even after all this time. The slight crease in the corner of her eyes as she smiled tentatively was enough to set his heart alight, and she carefully swung down from the branch Litawen continued to occupy before landing silently before him.

"You're not upset, then? I'm not going to be the same. My body won't bounce back as quickly as it did with Litawen. There's so much more risk with twins and they are nearly always early..." She began to fret, hands wringing before her. Haldir sighed and placed a solid kiss to her lips, silencing her completely. He chose to ignore the snort of laughter that came from somewhere behind him, but he felt the hand gesture Bernadette was sending the individual as her hands moved. He chose to ignore that too.

"No matter what happens, I will be with you and we will weather it. I love you my beautiful, infernal creature." Her arms went about his neck then and she pressed herself as close as she could, hiding in his tunic for a moment. "Twins, two boys. Gods, we have only just managed to divest you of Elladan and Elrohir. Will this madness never cease?"

Haldir watched the realisation transform her whole expression and she laughed, hugging him tighter and jumping up and down a little. She looked down a moment later as a fair head snuggled between them, her small arms wrapping around his legs as tightly as she could manage, and smiled broadly.

Nothing, truly, could be more perfect than this moment.

I know. Bernadette's gentle voice echoed in his mind, the comforting sea-green pulse of her soul reaching out for his own so that he could feel his sons. Daddy.


Lots of love. Just the Epilogue to go, which I think you all rather might like even it it's unexpected.

Reviews, as always, make my morning (apparently many of my reviewers are in an opposite time zone to me so when I wake up to my phone buzzing at around 4am BST I can't stop grinning) and I can't wait to hear what you all think.

See you soon for the very last installment of What Grace Has Given Me.