Legolas had managed to memorize every crack, stain, design and swirl in the ceiling. However this being the infirmary the ceiling was fairly mundane and soon he had nothing left to look at. He was forced to think about his 'problem' that was currently growing in his stomach. Almost as though it had some sort of cosmic script the child chose that moment to kick Legolas in the ribs. It was that small movement that brought the full reality of the situation crashing down on Legolas.
Gods he was pregnant!
He was pregnant with Estel's child and he couldn't tell him because he had broken up with him not six months before (And because his family would probably try to shove a stick up Estel's @## and roast him over the fires of Mt. Doom). And no matter how much he tried to tell himself that he was over Estel it still hurt that he was forced to give him up because he couldn't have children. And now that he was with child he was alone, life is not fair.
His dark blue eyes widened as a very disturbing thought crossed his mind. How exactly was he supposed to give birth to this child. Sure people told him he looked girly with his long blonde hair fair complexion and slim body and he supposed it was true. But he was positive he was a man. He didn't have the 'equipment' that women had. After glancing to see that no one was in the room with him he slipped his hand down to check on his 'equipment'. He was thoroughly relived when he found he had no unexpected parts down there. And so that meant all that was left to figure out was how the heck this happened.
A few hours later Adnilem walked in and approached the bed carefully.
"Hey" she said softly, concern in her eyes "how are you?"
"Pregnant. You?" he said sarcastically not taking his eyes off the ceiling. Adnilem reached a hand to stroke his hair and he swatted it away.
"You know they're only like this because you're the youngest and you look like mom" she said.
"No I don't suppose I would know that." He snapped angrily.
True he was the youngest of their family but he had never known his mother. He was the odd looking one in his family. All his siblings looked exactly like his father so he supposed he had to look like his mother.
"No need to get mad at me. I'm only trying to help" Adnilem scolded him softly. "I was sent here t partially relieve your fears. The healer said you would be able to give birth normally though he still doesn't know what happened. And...."
She hesitated as though she wasn't sure she should tell him
".....father has a spell that will reveal the child's sire after birth" she finished in a rush leaving her rather breathless.
"WHAT?!" Legolas screamed his eyes expanding to about five times their normal size. "Is there anyway to stop the spell from working?"
Adnilem got that look like she was having an inner moral dilemma but when she saw how distraught her little brother was she went against her better judgement and told him.
"The spell only works if it is preformed soon after the child's birth. The spell uses the bond the child has with its parents while in the womb but as the child grows older the bond dissolves"
"How old?" he asked through clenched teeth. This was not good.
"I'm not sure." She sighed. "A year ten months maybe" Her eyes narrowed when she saw the calculating look in Legolas's expression.
"Please Legolas for the love of god do not do anything that would cause Father to summon Mirkwood's armies for the first time in twenty years." She said in a low voice very close to begging.
He looked at her his face the picture of angel innocence. "Adnilem would I ever do anything like that" he asked softly while sounding hurt in a little-boy-has-just-been-slapped-by-a-parent voice.
Adnilem closed her eyes and tried to remember all the times he had used that exact same tone of voice while framing her for some small misdeed. When she opened her eyes however he had the most adorable set of puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. She felt her resolve crumbling around her like a poorly built sandcastle.
"Please" she begged "just promise me that you'll stay here and you won't do something crazy"
"Of course I promise Adnilem" he said in an I-pledge-to-be-a-boyscout-voice and flashed her a sincere white toothed smile. "Now could I get some sleep please I'm tired."
She sighed "Of course you can Legolas" and got up to leave and whispered goodnight on her way out. So relived was she that she failed to notice that the fingers of his left hand had been crossed the whole time.