FINDING HEART
CHAPTER TWELVE
BY DRAGONWIND





See chapters one and four for disclaimers

Thanks for the reviews. Feed my muse, keep em coming




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Konner looked up at Laure with weary eyes. "Hello, Mother."

She folded her arms across her chest, staring intently at him. "What do you have to say
for yourself, young man?" she asked, using her disciplinary tone.

"I apologize, Mother. I did not plan on getting Aalyssa with child. Yet."

"I am ashamed of you, son. You have dishonored her, Konner. Impregnating her before
marriage. It was bad enough that you were sleeping with her outside of wedlock."

"Dishonor was never my intention. I realize I did wrong by her. I am sorry I disappointed
you and Father."

Laure nodded but stayed where she was. "I am not only angry but also hurt. Just the
knowledge of what could have happened had you not come to your senses. What if you
had asked someone else to be your wife? What do you suppose would have happened
to Aalyssa?"

"It was not intentional, I assure you." Konner hung his head, staring at the floor. "I was
very wrong. I followed my urges instead of my brain."

Laure sighed and set on the edge of the bed next to him. "At least you are going to do
the right thing. And thankfully the announcement had already been made, so there can
be no question of your feelings. And she is far enough along that none should think the
baby belongs to that creature who took her."

"I will never hurt my Aalyssa again. I love her with all of my heart," Konner admitted,
dropping his face into his hands.

"I know you do, my darling. I know."

Konner began to shake, the held back fears and tensions of the past week overcoming
him finally. "I could have lost her forever and never known about my baby."

"I know, darling, I know," Laure said softly, taking him into her arms. "Let it out, darling.
I have been worried about you holding everything back."

He wrapped his arms around Laure. "I do not ever want her hurt again. I have to protect
her. I could just go downstairs and kill Marissa."

"We all feel that way, my love. We have to trust the punishment Elrond has issued is
the right path."

"I do hope so. I asked Marissa that day where Aalyssa was, Mother. Point blank I asked
her. And she boldly lied to me."

"She is very ill, Konner. Her mind is not normal," Laure whispered, stroking Konner's
hair.

"I know and I keep telling myself that. But her lies could have gotten my Aalyssa killed.
And I know it is wrong, but I will never forgive her for that."

"Nor will I or your father. And stars knows Legolas will not. Your Father and I love
Aalyssa as a daughter, and we have a grandchild on the way." Laure smiled as she
spoke. "As much as we wish it had happened as it should, with marriage first, the baby
is a blessing."

Konner nodded. "I am going to be a father, Mother," he informed her with a smile.

"Yes, you will be," she agreed, kissing his head.

"I cannot wait. And I am truly sorry we were not wed first, Mother."

"I know, Konner, I know."

"My Aalyssa is going to be a mother."

"I do look forward to watching you both," Laure grinned.

Konner looked up again and smiled brightly at her. "A baby," he said quietly.

Laure chuckled softly. "The novelty will wear off, my son, trust me on that. And I shall
enjoy watching the two of you deal with the challenges of parenting."

"Never shall the novelty wear off of being happy that I am to be a father."

"Just wait, darling. I know what is ahead while you do not."

"Me. A father. Just imagine it," he whispered. He looked wistfully toward the door,
forgetting his Mother was upset with him. "I should be with Aalyssa."

"No, you are not married yet," Laure scolded him. "Aalyssa will sleep well into morning.
You may see her when the sun rises and not a moment before."

"She still has nightmares from that night, and she is frightened when she wakes up,
Mother. I have been there for her every time."

"I will be sitting with her tonight, darling. You need your rest too," Laure said soothingly,
brushing his hair from his face. He was one of the few elves who had hair that was not
perfectly straight, but rather wavy and very unruly.

"Thank you Mother. And when she wakes from one tonight, please assure her I did not
abandon her," Konner pleaded.

"I think she will know that darling."

Konner looked up, his eyes wet with unshed tears. "Just tell her, please. Reassure her.
That is what she thought out in the forest, you know, thanks to Marissa. That I
abandoned her to her fate and did not come after her. She has grown accustomed to
waking up in my arms every night since then. It will be different for her tonight."

"I think I can comfort her, Konner. You need to sleep, my darling."

"I am too excited to sleep. Thank you Mother, for loving her and offering to take care of
her."

Laure picked up the mug she had brought in with her and handed it to Konner. "Drink,
darling." She smiled as she watched him, knowing it would not take long for the
sleeping potion to kick in. "And I have always loved our little Aalyssa."

He sat the mug down and yawned. "I really am not sleepy, Mother."

"I strongly suggest you claim a side of the bed before your brother comes in."

Konner lay down on the left side of the bed, mumbling. "Bah. Sleeping with Legolas. He
is no where near as soft as Aalyssa. Does not smell as sweet either." He paused in his
rambling to yawn and smile. "Aalyssa. . .my Lyssie," he continued to mumble.

Laure smiled and chuckled lightly as she pulled the cover up over her son's shoulders.
"I think Legolas will be pleased to know that," she said softly.

"Maybe. . .maybe...I want my Lyssie."

She bent to kiss his forehead. "Sleep, Konner. She will be safe, I promise."

"Not tired," he yawned again. "But all right, Mother. Night."

Laure walked out the door, shaking her head.

Thranduil looked up from his seat. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," she smiled. "He is babbling in his sleep about Legolas not being as soft as
Aalyssa, nor does he smell as good."

He laughed, "I should think Legolas as well as Aalyssa would be relieved to hear that.
Are you ready to retire for the night?"

"I fear your bed will be lonely tonight, my love," she smiled sadly. "I promised Konner I
would sit with Aalyssa."

"I understand, though I thought she was doing better. He has concerns for her then?"

"He tells me she still wakes at night from nightmares."

"Nightmares of the forest, I suppose?

Laure nodded. "The forest and the evil Marissa has woven around her. Time, my love.
Time is what she needs, and the sooner they are wed the better."

"Yes, Konner is the best medicine for her," Thranduil agreed. "Elrond said he would
give me an answer in the morning concerning a wedding."

"Good, good."

Thranduil leaned his head to the side, looking thoughtful. "Marissa has certainly done a
number on our little Aalyssa. In a way, I think she did more damage than her parents."

"Yes, but time will mend her."

"Time, Konner and the baby," he corrected her.

"Who will distract her and focus her heart and mind on more important things," Laure
agreed.

"While I would have appreciated for Konner not to have done this," Thranduil said, "I
have to wonder if this is not for the best, so Aalyssa would not have to wait three
months for a wedding. You better get in there before little one wakes up. I will go fall
asleep in a large, empty bed," he sighed before standing and kissing Laure.

Laure smiled warmly at him. "It will not be for long, just until they are wed."

"I know, but still. That bed. So big, so cold, so empty." He kissed her softly. "Good
night, my love."

Laure returned the kiss and smiled. "It could be worse. You could be sharing that bed
with our sons."

He chuckled. "True enough. And neither of them are as soft as you or smell as good.
You know, I am glad Konner thought of that." He teasingly leered at his wife.

She smiled lovingly at him. "Thank you, my love. Good night, love. I will miss you as
well."

Thranduil kissed her again before heading for their room.

Laure entered Aalyssa's room, grinning. She sat down with a book in the chair next to
the bed.

Aalyssa stirred restlessly, half asleep. Softly, she called out, "Konner?"

"Shhh, little one. He is asleep."

"Is he all right?"

"He is fine, just sleeping."

Aalyssa nodded in the dark. "All right."

Laure set the book down and reached out to rub Aalyssa's cheek. "You need to rest
also."

"I miss him," she said quietly. "I miss feeling his heartbeat while I am asleep. I miss
feeling safe in his arms."

"I know, little one, but he needs his sleep too."

Aalyssa reached over and pulled the pillow he had been using to her and wrapped her
arms around it. "I know."

"Now, sleep love. You need your rest for you and the baby."

"I know," Aalyssa repeated groggily. She threw the pillow back where it was. "It is just
not the same." A few minutes later, sleep reclaimed her.

Laure stood and kissed her then sat back down. She picked up her book and began to
read again.


Legolas entered his room after completing his patrol duty to change into something
warmer. His eyes widened when he found his brother there. "Konner?"

"Mmmm?" Konner said groggily. He opened one eye. "Hi Legolas."

"What are you doing in here?" he asked suspiciously.

"Mmm. . .Mother and Father said I had to sleep with you until Lyssie and I are married.
Sorry."

"Why can you not sleep somewhere else?" Legolas sighed in exasperation.

"Mommy made me. Hold on, will move over and make more room for you," Konner
offered, not realizing he was already on the edge of the bed. Without warning, he rolled
off the side, landing with a thud on the floor.

Legolas rolled his eyes as he walked around the other side of the bed. "Stars, Konner,"
he muttered, placing his hands under his brother's arms to help him back on to the bed.

"That hurt," Konner muttered. "Th-thanks, Legolas. I think our lovely Mother drugged
me."

Legolas chuckled. "Gave her a hard time about going to sleep did you?" He saw
Konner nod slightly. "I was just coming back for my cloak. I am going to go for a walk."

"At this hour?" Konner lifted his head slightly and tried to focus on the clock. "What time
is it?"

"Not too late. I need to think. Go back to sleep, Konner."

"I would offer to help. . .but I think. . ." Konner stopped as he lost the battle with sleep.



The storm returned late in the night. Laure had nodded off in the chair, the book on the
floor where it had fallen, forgotten.

Aalyssa stirred restlessly, a whimper escaping her. She sat up straight, crying, when
the thunder exploded in the night. "Konner? Konner?" She looked around wildly.

Her voice startled Laure awake, who saw a panicked Aalyssa. "Little one, it is all right.
It is just a storm."

"Konner, why did he leave me? He promised he would not."

"He is asleep just next door." Slowly Laure got in the bed. "Were you dreaming of the
forest once again, dearest?"

Aalyssa nodded, "But this time. . ."

"I know you miss him, love. Come to me," Laure encouraged her, holding her arms
open. "Let me take care of you tonight."

"Mama, "Aalyssa cried out, throwing herself into Laure's arms. "It was so frightening out
there."

"I know dearest." Laure maneuvered onto the bed, leaning against the headboard. She
gathered Aalyssa so her head rested on Laure's shoulder. "Would you like to tell me
about it, calmly?"

"I tried to scream for help when I heard the patrol. He made a fist and hit me in the jaw,
rendering me unconscious. When I woke, I was alone and it was so cold. I have never
felt such intense cold before, like it was devoid of life and anything good," Aalyssa said
softly, wrapping her arms around Laure's waist. "And I was so sure Konner was not
going to find me. I felt so alone."

"Because of Marissa?" Laure asked quietly.

"I still cannot believe she did not go get Konner or Legolas for me. I cannot believe she
hated me so."

"It is always hard to believe someone capable of such hatred. Especially someone we
have known for a long time. You have to remember, my little one, she is very ill."

"Yes, Mama," Aalyssa nodded. "The sounds were so strange and unnerving as well.
There was howling and screeching and...I tried to get up, I wanted to come back to
Rivendell, but my ankle gave out on me. And I did not know which direction to go
anyway. My wrists and arms were numb from being bound behind me as well. All I
wanted was to find safety."

"No sounds a darling girl like you should ever hear, little one." Laure hugged her close.
"I do so hate that your family did this to you. And I truly despise Marissa for making you
doubt Konner. You know, it is best you did not try to come back on your own. You could
have gotten more lost. One should always stay where they are when they realize they
are lost."

Aalyssa looked up at Laure. "But even so, I still held out hope he would come for me,
because I knew it was a chance he just did not know where to look. Mama, he
mentioned at the hearing that she told him I ran off with a man."

"But he never believed her, little one. He and Legolas searched relentlessly throughout
Rivendell until Mr. Took found them. He never lost his faith in you."

"If I had lost my faith in him, I think I would have already died of a broken heart when he
found me."

"Of that I have no doubt. Little one, I know I am not Konner, but if I sit here and held
you, would you go back to sleep for me? I am really concerned with you getting enough
rest. Pregnancy takes a lot out of a woman, especially the first time."

"I will try, Mama." She sat up while Laure got more comfortable, then curled up against
her. Aalyssa kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you, Mama," before laying her
head on Laure's shoulder.

"I love you also, dearest." Laure held her tightly until she heard Aalyssa's breathing
slow to the dream state. She loosened her hold slightly and allowed her tears to fall
quietly, thankful they had gotten her in time and away from her parents. And upset and
angry as well over what her best friend had done to her. Laure reached up and wiped
away a tear. Her tears were replaced by a smile when Aalyssa's arm moved from her
waist to up around her neck, pulling her close.

Laure lay there quietly, enjoying holding her daughter close. Her heart was hopeful she
would be able to wipe out a lifetime of damage from her parents and truly show her a
parents love, so she would know how to handle her children. She stroked Aalyssa's
hair and later, when she began to murmur again, Laure sang her the lullaby, which
quieted the younger woman.