It has been a long, long while, but the good news is that I have two chapters for you!

Brenna heard familiar voices as she drifted back into consciousness. Was that Tauriel she heard? Then she began to remember what she had learned just before she lost consciousness. Her eyes shots open and she looked into the face of her very worried husband.

"Twins! Kili, we're having twins! Our people don't have twins!"

"Actually they do, lass, it just isn't very common and most do not end entirely happily," said very blunt Oin. She looked around and noticed that in addition to her husband, Tauriel, and Elena, Dis and Oin had also joined them.

"How long was I out?" she asked ignoring the dwarrow's comments for the moment.

"Nearly an hour," answered Tauriel. Brenna nodded and tried to gather her thoughts. The elven healer now looked a little nervous, and she doubted it was over her fainting. She was sure it was over whatever information Oin had recently given. She took a breath to calm herself and asked Oin to explain himself.

"Well, lass, while twins are common enough in most other races, our people rarely do, as you well know. As I said, it often does not end well. We are a hardy people, but the matters of children have always been far more difficult than the other peoples of Arda. The last known case of twins was well over one hundred years ago, in the Iron Hills. In that case, the mother and youngest perished."

Brenna had always appreciated his bluntness, but today, she did not care for it. She took another deep breath and asked what they would do.

It was decided that the elven healer would stay for the duration of her pregnancy. The positive was that there were no other issues outside of the fact that her body housed not one, but two babes. The fact that she was able to tell the mother that she had sensed both a male and female child pleased her as well. Elena told her that the worry was not over the female child, as she was the smallest, but the male. If there was to be any trouble, it would come from him. Brenna caused a few chuckles over her exclamation that all male Durin's were trouble. Thorin and Fili would be told the news later, but most of the information would be withheld.

Once she had made it to the family sitting room, she was introduced to King Thranduil. She had missed him being introduced to her children, but she quickly saw that he was as enthralled with her children as everyone else. She noticed elven king and her eldest eyeing each other a bit, and she made a mental note to research how they might have gotten along in one of her son's past lives. That was still an odd thing to think. Her daughter, she could tell, had Thranduil wrapped around her littlest finger.

"Well, Princess Runa, though my library is not as large as Elrond's, I believe I may have what you seek. If your uncle and parents permit, you must come and visit my halls and peruse the shelves yourself."

Her daughter clapped with glee and she stifled her laugh over Thorin's murmured promise that he would not allow the long-eared ruler to lure their precious gem away. He was certain Thranduil wanted to keep the child, and, upon further thought, she could not rule it out. Lord Elrond had a similar look in his eye. Children were adored by both races.

The ancient king finally noticed their presence, and Thorin introduced them.

"Well, I have seen my share of dwarrowdam's and I must say that your family is overflowing with the loveliest I have had the fortune to behold. I congratulate your males on their fine taste in females. Princess Brenna, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. My son and daughter have spoken of you often. Your children are an absolute delight."

"Thank you, your majesty."

Thranduil would l depart two days later, leaving behind his son and daughter-in-law with their healer. Brenna thought back to how different her life now was. She wondered what the future would bring.

Another week passed and Mila delivered a son. He was named Bilfur. Brenna wasn't able to meet her friend's newest child until she brought him around. She cooed over the child, all the while thinking of her own predicament. She had begun to have nightmares. The royal family was nervous, Kili most of all, but no one gave any indication to those outside the informed. She did not wish to overshadow her friend's happiness with her news, though she wanted desperately to tell her. Mila would want to know, but Brenna couldn't bring herself to do so.

Her last month was soon upon her. Every day was a torture. Her body ached far more than ever before. To make it worse, she was having contractions, and they were doing nothing. The midwives and elven healer assured her it was normal and her body was simply practicing for the main event. Her body didn't need practice! She had already delivered three babies before! Kili was losing as much sleep as she was. Thorin had delegated his jobs to others while he sat with his wife.

More than once, she had tried to talk to her husband about the children, should the worst happen. He refused to discuss it, and after seeing the panicked look in his eye the last time she tried to speak to him of it, she decided to write it all down, and gave the letter to her mother-in-law.

Around their friends, all was well. They smiled, they sang and told their jokes and stories. With their children, they focused on making the best memories, but their children were smart. They could tell something was up. Daily the couple sent up prayers for favor to their Maker. Their nights were spent in each other's arms. Brenna tried to ignore it, but in her heart of hearts, she knew the birth would be difficult.

One week into her last month, the day finally came.

"You must keep pushing!" cried Dis

"I can't. I…I can't."

"Brenna, ye haven't got a choice."

"My lady, you have already delivered your daughter, now you must deliver your son," soothed Elena. "It will not be much longer."

Something was wrong, she could feel it. She felt weaker with each passing moment and the worried looks that crossed the faces of those within the room did not set her at ease, as they tried to do with their words. She glanced over to where Tauriel cooed and washed her daughter. She had barely gotten to see her before she was whisked away and the need to push returned. This last babe was much larger than any of his siblings. Birth had a way of making a female feel as though she were being ripped in half. This time, she was not so sure this wasn't the case.

She continued to push. The longer it took, the more hopeless she felt. She watched as Tauriel took her daughter out to meet her father, and update for him on her progress. A powerful contraction hit her and she pushed with what strength she felt remained.

"Good, Brenna! Good! One more good push like that, and we'll have the head. Then you'll need to push his shoulders through and then you're done."

Those words alone helped give her the will to continue. She was almost through! It took three more strong pushes and finally, he was out. He slipped from her body and she allowed herself to go limp. Dis helped ease her out of her squat and into a reclined position. They brought her son over for a moment before taking him across the room to be cleaned and bundled. She smiled. Her babies were so beautiful. Her body sudden seemed heavy and the world around her grew dim. She was almost certain Dis was shouting something, but her words were muffled. What was happening?

"No no no, Brenna! You must stay awake! You cannot sleep now!"

"Tell, Kili… I'm sorry."