DISCLAIMER: I own nothing that is Tolkien's……..
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ALIYA
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"How is the food?" Legolas pressed me, smiling only as he could.
"Better than the company!" I tried to snap back. It came out as a tease, but I think I meant it in my heart.
A week had slowly passed since I had had my heart-breaking conversation with Thranduil, and it was only my second time seeing Legolas since then. He had tried to get me to talk to him, but I wasn't ready.
I was restless, for I knew that this dinner, called by the King, and consisting of myself, Legolas, Kendre and Kaede, was meant so that he could announce his "retreat".
I tried to smile happily, but so much was on my mind. The King's coming absence, for instance, was wearing at me, and so was the constant illness that comes with carrying a child. Food sickened me, and my thirst could not be quenched my any liquid.
Legolas also threatened my unstable heart. I felt as though I wanted to hate him, but I could not. It hurt me to be torn and it hurt me more to think that he did not love me.
I looked up from mindlessly moving food around my plate. I had no heart or stomach to eat it.
Kaede was staring intensely at me. I focused on his eyes. He reminded me too much of his mother. Even though Kendre and Kaede were twins, I could see the differences plainly in their demeanor. Kendre was like Legolas. Fair, smart and eager to learn. Kaede was like Miama. Cunning, sly and ruthless. His attention scared me, but others things held my attention, and I looked away.
"So, what do you want to do tonight?" Legolas asked. It was a casual question, but I knew what he meant by it.
"I often wonder where a prince like yourself comes off with such presumptuous words…" I said, picking my words carefully, and giving him a sly smile. A smile that meant nothing at all.
I picked up the goblet that had just been placed in front of me by a servant. It was heavy and full with some sort of wine. I smiled again and took a sip. I had been doing a lot of smiling lately.
The night went on and the rest courses of dinner were served. I ate only a little, mostly drinking the addicting wine. Its taste stayed in my mouth long after I finished it, and I couldn't help but think that I had tasted it before. It seemed familiar….through all it's sweetness, slightly bitter, But I could not place the familiarness.
The King stood up, drawing the attention of the four of us to him. I looked at his pained face briefly and then looked away. I didn't want to see him go. I wanted him to be there, but I knew I must make it on my own now.
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LEGOLAS
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Aliya looked happy. Really happy, for the first time in days. I took her hand in mine and squeezed, surprised to find, as I had not noticed earlier, that her hand was thin, and that she did not squeeze back.
"You should eat more, Melamin…" I muttered to her, but I don't think she heard, for at that moment, my father stood up, about to speak.
He smiled, "My family-" he began, but go no farther.
Aliya cried out, and at first it seemed she was scared, but as she snatched her hand away from mine and clutched her stomach, I could tell she was in agony.
"Aliya!" Kendre screamed and ran to her as she crumpled to the floor. The King and Kaede seemed rooted to their spots, eyes wide.
I moved to help Aliya, but Kendre stopped me, "Get me some cold water from my goblet! Now! Kaede," she continued, as she lowered a moaning Aliya's head to the floor, "Go for the healers!"
He walked out the door a little slower than I would have liked. Kendre soothed Aliya as she ran her hands over her stomach, "Does it hurt here? Or here?" She asked desperately.
Through her apparent pain and disorientation, she nodded. Kendre looked stricken. I knew that she had been spending a lot of her time learning from the healers and midwives and from the expression on her face, Aliya's situation was not good.
I brought the water to her, she ripped a strip of material off her dress and soaked it, then rest it gently on Aliya's forehead. Aliya's eyes closed now, but her shudders and convulsions continued.
Kendre looked up at myself and Father, her eyes wide, "She is unconscious now." she said, as though that was not apparent, "Her child…I..... I think she is miscarrying."
I could not speak. Miscarrying? Losing the child?
My Father moved beside me as Kaede came back, followed by 3 healers.
"Wait!" I said, as they picked her up and began to leave.
"Shhh…" Father said sadly, "They will take care of her…There is nothing you can do now…"
I watched Kendre follow the healers out the doorway, bringing Aliya to a healing room and hopeful safety.
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