So you know how I said I'd try to incorporate Heledir (not Haldir) in my next chapter? I think I succeeded.

Also, thanks to my mom for sharing her vast knowledge on this subject.

"Good morning, my lady."

"Taen!"

"Ah, yes, forgive me. Good morning, Sky."

The queen rolled her eyes. "Hi. Um... I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to worry anyone. Or, um, eat all your cheese."

"Oh, do not worry about that; I am just glad you are not sad all the time like Lanthirel was for a while around this point."

Sky paused outside the council chamber. "Sad? Sad how?"

"She was tired and did not enjoy things as much, but did not last long, thankfully, and was never as severe as I have heard it can be sometimes. I suppose it did happen a bit later, but I do not expect you will have to worry about it."

"Aw, that doesn't sound fun," Sky said sympathetically. "For either of you."

"It was not so bad; I learned some new ways to cheer her up." Taensirion glanced into the room. "I think they are ready to begin."

"Yeah," Sky agreed, making a mental note to ask Lanthirel about this later. She wandered in to sit beside her husband, who smiled fondly at her before beginning the meeting, and she prepared herself to listen to a whole bunch of very boring but also vitally important stuff. Her stomach felt a little jumpy this morning, but she thought she'd be fine.

Everything proceeded as planned at first, with various topics being discussed and argued over, but then, just as Taensirion's son-in-law Heledir was explaining how the recent changes in Lórien had affected what goods they traded in, Sky squeaked and jumped out of her chair.

Thranduil jerked out of the half-asleep state he had slowly been sinking into. "Eithryn?"

"I need to throw up," she yelled over her shoulder as she bolted out of the room.

All twelve elves were left sending concerned looks after her or shuffling through their notes in an embarrassed manner. Thranduil, who was used to his wife being sick by now, cleared his throat. "I will be right back."

Before he could reach the door, however, his wife returned, looking just fine. "Okay, I'm good. Keep going, Heledir."

Everyone else looked extremely doubtful. "...Are you certain?" Taensirion asked.

Thranduil was in complete agreement with his favorite advisor. "Eithryn, I am not sure this is wise."

"I'm fine," she insisted cheerfully.

"Hmm..." He nodded to Heledir, and the meeting went on.

Heledir had just gotten to what he recommended be done in response to the changes in Lórien's culture when Sky jumped up again. "Never mind, not fine!"

Thranduil followed her out. "Taensirion, would you take over?"

"Of course, my lord... Do continue, Heledir."

. . . . . .

"Ah, Sky... you are feeling better this time, I hope?" Heledir did not want his report interrupted again. Not that he was annoyed about the events of the last council meeting, of course, but some of the changes he was hoping for had not been put into effect because of her illness, despite the efforts of his father-in-law.

She held up her hands in apology. "The morning sickness part is over, I promise."

"Thank goodness."

The meeting begun—after a few wary glances Sky's way—and they had just gotten to Heledir's turn when Sky nudged Thranduil and whispered in his ear. He paused to wait.

Thranduil called a servant in so Sky could whisper in her ear, and then the queen turned back to them and blushed. "I'm sorry, I just... need something."

"I understand," said Heledir, who had watched his own wife, Faena, go through pregnancy twice. "As I was saying, my lord and lady, Lórien has a new source of wealth in their ingenious new cloth..." He quickly explained what new items they might wish to buy and was just getting to how he thought their trade policies should be adjusted when the servant returned, bearing a plate of garlic bread, which Sky accepted eagerly. "...um..."

"Go on," Sky urged, tearing into the hot bread. "I'm really sorry... cravings, you know?"

"Right, right," agreed Heledir, trying to remember what he had been talking about.

. . . . . .

"I swear I've had enough garlic bread today," Sky promised Thranduil as she sat next to him at the next council meeting.

"What a relief." He subtly reached under the table to touch her abdomen, which was becoming noticeably rounder. "And you are not going to collapse on me?"

"I've been working on the whole energy management thing, and I predict that I have plenty left to make it through this boring meeting without falling asleep." Her energy levels had been fluctuating rapidly lately, and apparently running in circles doing whatever she felt like at any given moment led to a total crash a few hours later. Who would've thought?

"I will take your word for it. Well, shall we get started?" he said more loudly, getting the attention of the other elves.

Sky sat up straight, determined to pay perfect attention and create no distractions this time, and that was what she did as elf after elf talked and talked and talked. She really did feel perfectly fine, with just the right level of energy, and her emotions weren't doing anything weird, and... wait... what was that? She directed her attention away from Heledir, who was still on the topic of changes in Lórien, but nothing else happened, so she reluctantly returned to listening—

There it was again! A sort of tickling feeling, but inside her, like the morning-sickness butterflies had returned, but were behaving themselves this time. She gasped and put her hand over the source of the movement. Could it be...?

"What is it?" Thranduil's attention had been drawn by her quiet gasp, and now everyone's eyes were on her.

"I think I just felt the baby move!" she told him, amazed by the sensations within her body.

He inhaled sharply and placed his hand next to hers with a look of wonder on his face.

"I don't think you'll be able to feel it yet," she apologized. "Oh! There it is again! Hi there, little one," she told her baby, gently rubbing where she felt it moving. "Oops... Sorry, Heledir," she said to the one elf who wasn't gathering around the king and queen.

"It is fine," he promised, waving away her apology while putting his other hand over his face.

. . . . . .

"Aww, look at you," Kilvara gushed, putting her hand on Sky's growing tummy. "The baby must be getting so big!"

"Yeah," Sky agreed, moving away from her friend's touch. "Could you, um, not do that, please?"

Kilvara looked crestfallen.

Oof. "Not in public, I mean," Sky amended quickly.

The other she-elf perked up. "Oh, no problem, I get it." She went to sit down next to Heledir, who looked like he had a bad feeling about this meeting.

Sky went to her husband for comfort. "Why does everyone have to touch my stomach? I don't mind when you do it, just to make that clear, but it's different with them, like, 'Hey, Sky, let us put our hands here without asking first.' It's weird."

"You are referring to Kilvara, I imagine?" asked Taensirion, who had just been speaking with the king.

"How'd you guess?" she muttered. Thankfully, she could sense Thranduil resolving to protect her should anyone try to do that in the future.

This meeting begun just like the last three, and Sky settled into her chair to listen. Her baby wriggled a little, and she smiled and rubbed back; he or she seemed to like that. She couldn't really tell, of course, but she thought her little one was happy.

But then, what if it wasn't? What if the kicking meant something was wrong? If the baby moved all the time, did that mean it was sad all the time, or scared? She remembered what Taensirion had said happened to Lanthirel when she was pregnant, where she was unhappy so often—could that happen to babies?!

She burst into tears.

"Anyway," Heledir was saying, "I strongly suggest we—oh... Oh dear..."

Sky looked up at Thranduil, her eyes wide and watering. "I don't know if the baby's happy or not..."

Thranduil had no idea what she was talking about, but he gave her a hug anyway. "Do you want to go speak to Felrion?"

Oh, that was a good idea; surely he'd know what kicking meant, and how to help if the baby wasn't happy. She cheered up immediately. "Yeah."

"Would you like me to come with you?"

"Sure." This might be important information, after all. And come to think of it, she really wanted some cherries, so she might be gone a while.

"All right. Taensirion, you are in charge."

Taensirion gave his son-in-law a sympathetic look. "Perhaps next time?"

"Next time," Heledir agreed, wondering if he would ever get his ideas approved.

. . . . . .

"I promise I won't do anything this time," Sky promised the Sindar who was eyeing her suspiciously. "Really. No getting sick, no random breakdowns, nothing."

"Thank goodness," Heledir told her, relaxing a little. "I tell you, I was beginning to get superstitious."

She laughed. "Sorry."

He smiled and made his way to his seat.

Unfortunately, it began to look like Heledir would not get to speak at all this time, as the meeting was slowed down by several arguments that threatened to take up most of their time. Luckily, Thranduil and Taensirion were able to break them up, and Heledir saw his turn approaching with just enough time to spare.

"Hfff!"

Everyone turned to stare at the queen, who was doubled over (as far as she could be at this point), looking startled.

Thranduil was beside her in an instant. "Are you all right?"

She made a sign that they could only interpret as "Can't breathe!"

This, of course, distressed Thranduil considerably, and several elves volunteered to get a healer, but Sky shook her head and mouthed something which none of them heard.

Thranduil moved closer to her. "Can you say that again?"

"It... kicked... me," Sky was finally able to gasp. "In... the... lungs."

"Oh," said Taensirion, recognizing this event.

"Why me?" wondered Heledir, who knew everyone would be fussing over the queen for the rest of the meeting time.

. . . . . .

Sky yawned and propped her chin in her hands, listening to Thranduil and Taensirion debate whatever it was that was so important. The baby had kept her up for a while last night (at least she now knew her son or daughter's constant motion was a good sign), and the warm spring air was making her sleepy. But she had... to stay... awake...

Taensirion broke off the debate, laughing. "My lord, I do believe your wife has fallen asleep."

Thranduil raised an eyebrow and turned around, and then chuckled. It was true; Sky's head was pillowed on her arms and her eyes were half-closed, which indicated a deep sleep in elves. "Hmm. So she has." He glanced outside to check the time. "Well... Taensirion, do you think you can handle the rest of the meeting?"

"I suppose I can."

Heledir let his head fall onto the table with a thud as the king carefully picked up his wife and carried her out. "Rrrgh..."

. . . . . .

The next time, Heledir was especially tense: he had to leave early this time to attend some visiting diplomats. He should have just enough time to finally give his recommendations to the king... but somehow he doubted it.

As usual, everything seemed to go well at first; Sky looked alert and healthy, and everyone was getting along reasonably well, perhaps because of the fine spring weather. But, as usual, the queen disrupted his plans.

First she was cold, and Thranduil had to call in a servant to fetch her a blanket. Then she decided the proximity of the chair to the table was squishing her very large abdomen, so she scooted it back, which was rather loud because getting out of the chair to move it was way too much effort right now. Then, after taking the blanket off, she decided she was too hot and needed to sit by the window, and then Thranduil, of course, had to be next to her. Then, when she continued to shift around uncomfortably, Taensirion had to pause and ask if she needed anything. She said no, but a minute later, she once again wanted the blanket, which had been left at her previous position, though she insisted she liked where she was and didn't want to move back. And finally, she made Thranduil switch chairs with her, as his was bigger and softer.

Heledir gritted his teeth when the king asked if he had anything to say, because the amount of time Sky had taken up was exactly the time he would have needed to explain to Thranduil what he wanted, but now... "Actually, my king, I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

"Very well," the king agreed absently, distracted by his wife's newest attempts to find a comfortable position.

. . . . . .

"Last try," Sky announced, and for a moment, Heledir thought she was speaking to him. "I don't know how things keep happening, but if I cause any trouble this time, I'll stay home until the baby's born." She looked down at her bulging belly. "If there's even another meeting before then. So. If I yelp 'cause the baby kicked me, ignore it. If I fall asleep, leave me here. If I move too much or start crying, kick me out, and don't feel bad about it. Got that?"

"Got it," Thranduil agreed, and all the elves laughed (some more nervously than others).

All went well as Thranduil and Taensirion explained some new policies they were implementing (though everyone was keeping an eye on Sky). Nothing happened as Thranduil gave a speech, either (though everyone was too busy waiting for something to happen to the queen to remember later what it was about, including him). And all Sky did when Heledir began to talk (haltingly, expecting every moment to be interrupted) was fold her hands over her swollen abdomen. He wasted no time, reminding everyone of the background information he had previously explained several times, and plunging straight into his first idea—

"Oh!" Sky cried, bolting upright, or at least trying to.

Heledir slowly closed his mouth and began to put away his notes as everyone who had not already been looking at the queen did so.

Sky's eyes were wide. "I think I'm... well, hold on, it might be a false alarm..."

Everyone waited expectantly. Sky shifted her position a little, and Thranduil knelt next to her, suddenly having some trouble breathing.

Soon Sky relaxed. "I don't think that was a real one?" she told Thranduil uncertainly. "It didn't hurt."

"Probably not, then," said Taensirion, who had come over to give support to the king should such a thing be needed.

Thranduil looked terrified. "Perhaps we should go find Felrion, just in case?"

"Oof... okay. Help me get out of this chair."

Heledir slowly crumpled up a page of his notes as they left, and then he turned to his father-in-law, who, as usual, was now in charge. "I think I need to take a walk," he said calmly, before gathering up his surviving notes and heading for a part of the forest where he could scream without alarming anyone.

. . . . . .

The little prince or princess did not end up coming before the next meeting, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when Thranduil showed up alone; Heledir was thrilled when the first thing the king did after starting the meeting was turn to him and say, "I believe you have something to tell me?"

"I do," Heledir confirmed, and he plunged straight back into his list of changes. Barely had he begun, though, before Thranduil stood up and walked over to look out the window. "...My king?"

"Please continue," Thranduil said absently, bending down for a better view of the path along which any messengers coming to tell him Sky was in labor would travel.

Heledir was about ready to quit his job, but if his many, many years of dealing with irrational and greedy folk from other parts of the world had taught him one thing, it was how to control his temper (not that he had really possessed a bad one in the first place). "My lord, I get the impression you are not listening to me."

"Nonsense," said Thranduil, pacing back and forth in front of the window.

Heledir sighed deeply, remembering when he had been in that situation, and came to a painful decision. "If you would like to go check on her, my proposal can wait."

"I think I shall," Thranduil announced, and he did not even gather up his papers before rushing out the door.

Heledir sighed again.

Taensirion wrapped up the meeting quickly—there was not much to discuss this time—and pulled Heledir aside as he dismissed everyone. "Let me see those plans of yours." He took the packet Heledir handed him and flipped to the back page, where the king's signature was needed. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was looking, he dipped his quill in the bottle of ink on the table and scribbled down a perfect copy of Thranduil's signature. "If anyone comments, tell them to speak to me."

Heledir's mouth dropped open, and he actually hugged his father-in-law.