Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings, and all its characters, races, and creatures, as well as our beloved Middle Earth, belongs to JRR Tolkien.
"I hate you, Elrond," I said nastily, without apparent provocation.
"What would prompt you to make such a malevolent remark, young one, when all I try to do is help you?" Elrond asked hurtfully. He really did look as if I had touched a nerve.
"Perhaps it is a side effect of whatever herb you slipped in with the Valerian you gave me earlier," I seethed at him.
"I did no such thing," he said in denial. "The drink I gave you contained spring water and powdered Valerian root and naught else."
"Are you telling me truthfully, Elf lord?" I asked disrespectfully.
He looked at me sternly, those forbidding brows drawn together in a frown. "I have yelled at you, called you names and brought you to tears; but I have never lied to you."
A bit cowed, but still unconvinced, I had to know. "Then how do you explain this giddiness I feel?" I practically wailed the question at him. "I should be weeping, but I am laughing. My baby's life is in danger, and all I can do is giggle!"
He came and sat down on the bed beside me.
"Maeren, have you given any thought to the idea that perhaps your mood is just your mind reacting to the stress of this situation?" he asked trying to soothe me.
"My mind has never reacted to stress in this way," I whined, trying to suppress a smirk at the funny sound of my own voice.
"Well," he returned, "as the wise ones say, 'there is a first time for everything'."
I smiled again, then remembered myself, "Curses! Why does my mind have to choose now for a first of this type?"
"Would you prefer to be weeping?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yes!" I said vehemently. "That would be more appropriate to the situation, and I would definitely feel more normal!"
"I could shout at you or call you names," he offered. "Would that help?"
"No, I would probably find something funny about it," I replied. "It matters not right now, for—"
I could not finish my sentence. I had tensed with the pain which lanced through me. Eru, how it hurt. As the old wives had predicted for ages past, I had forgotten the intensity of the pains of childbirth after my first was barely out of the womb. It was all coming back to me now. Even though this baby was still fairly small, the process was the same as one full term and delivering it would be in the same painful way as the first. Valar, why did you not create males with the capacity to bear the offspring for our species?
The pain was soon over, at least according to Elrond it was. He said it had lasted but only a few seconds. I wondered to myself how long he would deem it were he the one who had to suffer it?
The spasms racking my body were coming more frequently now, once every ten minutes, give or take five minutes either way. It would not be long before I would be suffering them one atop the other—that was really fun. I could hardly wait. Things were no longer seeming quite so funny now. That was a good thing. I think.
There was a subtle knock on the door and Elladan entered. He crossed the room quickly and joined his father standing beside the bed. I was no longer propped up on the pillows. I was more comfortable lying flatter for now.
"Good," Elrond greeted his son, "I am glad you are here. This is the way we will proceed."
I had a feeling some of this instruction Elrond was about to impart to Elladan was going to be a wee bit on the facetious side. Perhaps it was in the manner of his delivery, no pun intended. He didn't bother to leave my bedside for one thing, nor did he mask his words to soften their meaning. He was up to no good, and Elladan was in for a hard time of it.
Looking his son directly in the eyes, without even a hint of a smile, Elrond told Elladan the procedure to be followed during this birth.
"I want you to catch the baby," he said nonchalantly, "and make it presentable for its mother, while I see to Maeren afterward."
"Catch the baby?" Elladan asked, seeming confused.
"Yes," Elrond answered, as if he were dealing with one who was slow witted. "Catch the baby. You understand—as Maeren pushes it out of her body, you guide the baby's head out and catch the rest of the infant's body as it comes free. Oh, and do not forget the cord. I will do the actual cutting of it, but wait until I do, before you attempt to give the infant to Maeren."
I feared Elladan was not going to have to witness the actual birth in order to faint, by the green tinge his skin had taken on. I felt sorry for him. This was not something to take lightly, and I was not going to allow Elrond to continue doing this to him.
It seems the heartless Elven lord had a heart after all. He softened his face and steadied Elladan's wobbling stance with a hand on his arm.
"I was merely jesting with you, Elladan," Elrond said. "I knew you were nervous about witnessing this, and I was teasing you. I was wrong to do so. All you need do is assist me. If I need something I will ask you for it, that is all. Can you do that, or should I send for Haldan? You need not attend at all. I will understand, as will Maeren, I am sure."
"I will understand, Elladan," I agreed. "I knew not that you had never attended a birth before. It can be a very daunting thing to witness the first time—even the first several times. No one will think the less of you for not being here. You should have seen Elrohir run when he witnessed me in the throes of one of the childbirth pains."
Elrond laughed and said, "Indeed, he did run. You truly need not stay."
"No, Father," Elladan said, his voice stronger and his color no longer that of a pea, "there is no need to send for help from the healing halls. I will be fine. And if I find I am having difficulty, I will leave in plenty of time to fetch Haldan if necessary."
"That will be fine," Elrond said, slapping Elladan on the arm. "For now, we wait and hold a hurting woman's hand and soothe a perspiring brow. That is all we can do until things heat up, as they say."
The Valerian was indeed beginning to work. I was becoming drowsy. Great. Now that I could rest, I could not rest. The pains of childbirth were coming at regular ten-minute intervals; not particularly inducive to a good restful sleep. The Elves had both drawn comfortable chairs up beside the bed, in which they sat and spoke quietly in Elvish or watched me until I finally told them to cease doing so. They were making me nervous.
The chairs in which they were sitting, belonged to a small table that sat against the wall nearest the door. I often sat at that table and read, or wrote letters to Arwen. Elrond regularly sent messengers to Minas Tirith for one reason or another. How I wished to see Arwen again. I had known her but a brief time, but I liked her tremendously well. And Faramir. I also wrote to him. And I received letters back from them both. It was such a treat the first time I actually received a message from the Elven messenger. Elrond sent for me. He did not just accept the message for me. No. He sent for me, and the messenger presented the leather message pouch to me with a bow. It was most impressive and delightful. For me and Elrond both. I stole a glance at the usually serene Elf lord's face, and it was alight with pleasure at seeing me so happy. It is in life's simplest delights that true happiness is found.
I was becoming distinctly uncomfortable now. Elrond decided it was time to check on the baby once more. It had been almost two hours since he had done so. He again uncovered me and bared my belly, and again laid his hands against the restful swelling on my body. It was so quiet. As he stood there motionless, I became fearful that the infant may not still live. Elrond suddenly sat in his chair and placed his ear against my abdomen. Cold waves of fear rushed through my torso. He raised his head and covered me again. He turned to face me and smiled.
"Worry not," he said, though the conviction in his voice was not very convincing. "Its heartbeat is strong yet, but it remains very still. However, your labor progresses, and it should not take much longer, I do not think."
I said nothing, I simply nodded that I had heard. A pain was descending in waves from my waist down the small of my back, encompassing my entire lower body and climaxing just between my hip bones. It was pure agony, and I gasped louder than ever this time.
Elladan dipped a cloth into the basin of water standing on the bedside table, wrung it out, and began sponging my face. It felt very good—cool and soothing. He continued to wash my face and neck until the next spasm overtook me about two minutes later. He paused then and placed the cloth in the basin and took hold of one of my hands. Elrond had stationed himself on the other side of me on the bed, and held my other hand, doing all he could at this time; comforting me and calming me with words of encouragement.
The pains were coming in tandem now, seeming like one continuous stabbing knife. I wanted to scream, but knew it would do no good. I settled for moaning and weeping. It accomplished the same goal, without leaving one's throat so sore. Elladan alternated between wiping the tears from my eyes and bathing my face with the cooling water.
Then suddenly the urge hit me.
"Elrond— " I said insistently. "It is time for me to push."
"No, Maeren," he said, "wait until I see for myself."
"Elrond," I said through clenched teeth, "what is to see? The baby is too small to tear me! Allow me to push for Valar's sake!"
"Do not push until I give you leave," he commanded, in a no nonsense tone.
"Whatever you say, your majesty!" I said through the pain and my tears of frustration.
"That is better," he said haughtily, "and I very much like the title. I hope you remember to use it when things are once again back to normal.
"Elladan, move please," he said quietly, "I have to uncover her. Unless, of course, you would wish to enhance your education a bit more." Elladan gave his father a wide berth then.
Elrond drew the bedclothes completely down the length of the bed until they were mounded on the floor at the foot of it. He then drew my nightdress up well past the swelling of my abdomen, and gently steepled my legs, spreading them and bending my knees and placing my feet flat against the mattress. I would have been embarrassed, but I was well past caring by now. The pain and the pressure was unbearable; I just wanted to push this baby out of my body.
He seemed to be taking an eternity getting himself ready to deliver the baby. I wanted to scream at him to get ready, the baby was coming. I had to push now; I just had to.
"All right, young one," he replied, as if he had read my mind, "you may do as you wish now."
Part of me wanted to laugh as I looked down between my knees and saw him looking back at me, those brows drawn together, but with a smile on his face.
I pushed with the force of the contraction. It felt so good to be doing something, even though the pain was killing me. Of course the baby did not seem to budge, but right now I cared not. Just having the freedom to push is elating in itself to a woman in this stage of labor. I relaxed as the contraction eased and breathed deeply. Elladan was kneeling beside the bed at my head, holding my hand, and stroking my hair. My gaze caught his and he smiled at me.
"Not long now," he said. "Care to place a wager? A son or a daughter?"
"No wagers," I panted, but that was all I had time for. Another wave of agony hit, and I raised up on my elbows, intent on pushing this child out, more sooner than later.
I could not keep from laughing through this wave of pain, looking down at Elrond who was concentrating on the progress of my baby's head. He was sitting cross-legged on the bed at my feet where they were spread apart to give him access to the baby when it emerged from my body.
I pushed and strained with the spasm of the muscles of my womb, willing the baby to move downward and out of my body. But as babies will, it had a mind and a schedule of its own, and stubbornly refused to move again with this contraction as well. I lay back down onto the bed, breathing deeply again—weeping involuntarily with the emotion and strain of it all—not to mention the pain.
Elladan was there still, with his cool, damp cloth, running it over my face and neck. I blessed him and thanked him over and over, until the next spasm hit, which was only a matter of seconds.
Again, I raised up on my elbows, and this time, Elladan got the bright idea of climbing up behind me, and holding me up. I blessed him again, and he thanked me for the blessing. I laughed through my tears. I pushed and strained, hoping I was making some progress. The spasm was soon over, and I relaxed against him. He held me loosely. It felt so nice.
"With that last contraction, young one," Elrond said, "the baby crowned. You are very close now. Only one or two more pushes and your child will be born."
I started to respond, but choked back the remark. Another pain hit, so I concentrated instead on birthing the child. I pushed with all the strength left in me, and I prayed the same way. I believe it may have had a positive effect.
"We are almost parents, young one," Elrond said. Even with his half-scowl, he was beaming!
"Well," I forced out with the pain, "one of us is. I believe you—technically—could probably—be considered—a—grand—par—ent—"
I felt the tremendous pressure as the head emerged from me—the pain indescribable—followed by the rush of the body as it followed suit. And then I heard the cry. The squeaky mewling of a tiny infant. Elrond handed the squirming being to Elladan, who had risen from behind me and gently lay me back on the bed. He carefully accepted the baby, enfolding it in a towel. Elrond cut the cord, and then Elladan moved away.
"Rub him vigorously, Elladan," Elrond said, "and hold him upside down at intervals. It will help drain any fluid there may be left in his lungs."
"Him?" I asked shakily.
"You have a son, Maeren," Elrond said with tears in his eyes. It was then that I realized how much this child must mean to him. It really was as if this small boy-child was his grandson. Aragorn was raised here in Imladris as one of his own children, so it is no wonder he would look upon my baby as one of his own family.
"And a fine son he is, Maeren," Elladan said from the table near the door. At some point during my laboring, he or Elrond, or both of them, had set up a place for the baby—a small bed for it—him, I mean.
"Elladan," I asked with concern, "how is he? Is he breathing all right? How is his color? He is moving, is he not?"
"Young one, slow down," Elrond complained in Elladan's behalf. "Give him a chance to answer."
"He seems fine, Maeren," Elladan answered at last. "Ten fingers, ten toes, a tail—"
"Elladan!" Elrond said sternly.
"Sorry Father," Elladan said laughing, "I couldn't resist. The child is fighting me as if I were an Orc, Maeren. He is strong, and you can hear for yourself the voice with which he is complaining."
It was true; for being so small, he was squalling like he was exceedingly angry.
"Elladan, bring him to me," I said. "I know not what you are doing to him, but he does not like it, and I am putting a stop to it now."
Elladan brought my son to me then, all wrapped up in a clean towel and laid him in my arms. I gently bounced my son for a few moments until he became quieter, though he did not sleep; he merely looked around with those hazy eyes newborns have that see only Eru knows what. Elrond was still busy down at my 'nether end' but I had not even noticed, so entranced was I by the small being I held in my hands.
And he was so small. I carefully unwrapped him, needing to see for myself that he was hale. And he was. Tiny, to be sure. He seemed perfect, but he would be watched like a hawk for a few days—more like a few weeks, I would say—to make sure all was well with him.
A son. I had a son. I could not believe it.
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