A/N: Ain't mine, don't sue. If you read the last chapter and thought it thoroughly sucked, guess what? I thought it did too! So it has been totally rewritten to not suck. Please read it if you haven't yet. Now on to the next chapter! Slightly graphic. If you have a weak stomach, too bad.
Miriel
It had been less then a month since Legolas and Arathia had bound themselves to each other. It was a month of the greatest joy that either of them had felt before. On the morning after their wedding they had completed their marriage. Ever since then Legolas had been anxious to receive the blessing of his father to be mortal. But each time he decided to go, Arathia would stop him.
"Not now. We may be bound by a bond that none can break, but your father is cunning and loves you dearly. I want a bit more insurance."
Legolas was not entirely certain what Arathia meant, but trusted his wife. In the meantime the couple made plans for their new life together. First they would go to Imladris and see Gilraen and Aragorn so that Arathia could say goodbye to them. They would then return to Mirkwood for awhile and then go onward to Dale where they would begin a simple mortal life beyond the care of any. Legolas wished to remain near to his homeland even if it would be closed to him. Once again Thalionsul and Calawen were in on their scheming. But today none of these thoughts clouded the lovers' minds.
The day dawned bright and crisp. The woods seemed to sing with the freshness of it all and the name "Mirkwood" did not in the least bit fit this paradise that Legolas and Arathia called home. Arathia had risen early today to watch the sun rise as Legolas slept on. She sat a top the boulder in her clearing and smiled softly while gently caressing her stomach.
"Yes, today will be perfect," she whispered to herself. She did not know Legolas had come to sit with her.
"Quel amrun* my wife," he said as he sat upon the boulder with her.
"Quel amrun my husband," Arathia replied and gently kissed Legolas. Legolas slipped his arm around Arathia's waste as he gazed at her. She seemed different today. More beautiful. More full of life.
"Vanimle sila tiri re,"**Legolas said.
Arathia laughed gently. "You are too kind Legolas."
"I only speak the truth my wife." Legolas tried to look indignant, but only succeeded in a comical frown.
Arathia laughed again. She was full of laughter today and wondered if she would be able to get it all out.
"You know what words I love?" she asked.
Legolas was surprised at the question. "I think I can guess. But I will not. Tell me what words do you love?"
"Husband, wife, marriage, love. Those are words I love."
Legolas nodded in agreement.
"But there are others," Arathia continued as she stroked her stomach. "Words like son, daughter, children, mother, father, family. Those are words that I truly love."
Legolas' eyes went wide. He turned to Arathia whose smile had turned to that of one with a secret who terribly wanted to share it.
"You mean...?" Legolas didn't dare say it.
Arathia's smile turned to the mad grin of a schoolgirl as she took Legolas' hand and placed it upon her womb.
"They are all words that will apply to us soon," Arathia whispered.
Legolas could barely contain his joy. He was to be a father! And Arathia was to be the mother of his child! He lept down from the boulder and lifted Arathia up, twirling her in the fresh morning light and showering her with kisses. Their laughter filled the clearing like a bird's song.
"Careful!" Arathia eventually choked out through peels of laughter.
"Oh! Yes!" Legolas gently set Arathia down and then began to dance madly about the clearing as Arathia laughed at him.
"I'm going to be a father!" he shouted.
"Shh! Someone may hear you silly!" Arathia giggled.
"I don't care! I'm the luckiest elf in all of Middle-Earth! No in all of Ea! And I'm going to let everyone know!" With that Arathia and Legolas kissed once more and began the longest wait of their lives.
It did not take long for Calawen and Thalionsul to know of their friends' latest joy. Since Calawen was a healer, she agreed to be the midwife for when the baby was born. But she was also especially happy for this child would be either her niece or nephew.
"And you will have the guarantee of the King, Legolas!" Thalionsul had added.
"So that's what you meant when you said 'a bit more insurance!'" Legolas said to Arathia.
"Well, I had to be certain," Arathia replied. "But don't ask yet. Not until our child is a month old."
Calawen agreed with Arathia. "You have to be careful. Having babies is no easy task."
So once again Legolas held off asking his father's blessing, but that was nothing compared to the seemingly eternal wait for his child's birth.
Fall came and faded into winter and winter relinquished to spring. The snow was still melting and the crocuses were just beginning to bloom. Arien's soft rays fell upon Legolas' sleeping form. Arathia was awake and watching his chest gently rise and fall, the girth of her womb keeping her from being closer to him. She gently stroked his face with the back of her hand not wishing to disturb him.
"And yet you should," she thought to herself with a smile, "He has waited just as anxiously as you have for this day." With that thought she delicately kissed Legolas' cheek.
"Wake up my love. 'Tis a new day."
Legolas stirred from his sleep and smiled upon his beloved.
"So it is. And how are we today beautiful?" he asked with a smile as he playfully brushed Arathia's rich brown curls away. He had asked her that question in the plural every morning since Arathia had told him. But today something was different. Although the air in the house was nice and cool, a thin sheen was upon Arathia's forehead and she seemed a little edgy. But Arathia just smiled and patted her belly.
"We're very good this day. Legolas, I know it's early, but could you please go and get Calawen?"
Legolas was out of bed and dressing before Arathia had finished the question. Arathia would have laughed at him if she hadn't been in so much pain.
"Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back!" Legolas said before running off to get his sister-in-law. Arathia just shook her head as he ran off.
It didn't take Legolas long to reach Calawen's home. Calawen was already up and tending to her freshly planted herb garden. Legolas doubted she had slept at all during the night. The only reason he slept was because he enjoyed being so close to Arathia. Calawen looked up when Legolas entered her home's clearing.
"Mae govannen Legolas. Is it Arathia?" Legolas didn't even get a chance to nod his head in reply before Calawen had rushed into her house to get her basket of herbs and was back out again, rushing towards Legolas and Arathia's home. Legolas followed behind as the elves raced back. Calawen fired a stream of questions at Legolas.
"How long has she been in labor? Has her water broken? How close together are the contractions?"
But before Legolas could answer any of Calawen's questions they were back at the house. A piercing scream cut through the morning as the two entered. Arathia had one hand gripping her womb and the other hand grasping the side of the bed.
Legolas rushed to his wife's side and took her hand. "It's alright Arathia, I'm here. Everything's going to be just fine."
"You have no idea... how much... this hurts!" Arathia exclaimed.
Calawen had already gotten to work as the couple spoke.
"She's farther along, then I'd expect. Arathia dear, when did the contractions start?" asked Calawen.
"Sometime after midnight."
"Alright, Legolas, keep her calm. Her water should be breaking soon and then your baby will be here. Until the, I'm going to make a draught to help ease her pain."
"Did you here that Arathia? Our baby will be here soon," Legolas said a bit too brightly. Arathia was only able to nod with a weak smile before another contraction seized her.
"Here have her drink this." Calawen handed the drink to Legolas who in turn helped Arathia sip some of it down.
"How's that?" asked Calawen.
"A bit better," said Arathia, "But it still hurts."
"I never said it would get rid of all the pain. Now you try to relax. I'm going to heat up some water now. At the rate you're going the baby should be here very soon."
Calawen was right. Within the next two hours Arathia's water had broken and she was pushing.
"You're doing wonderful," encouraged Legolas.
Arathia didn't answer and only squeezed his hand more tightly. Her hair was damp with sweat and she could swear that this baby was going to kill her. Every so often a scream would escape her throat.
Finally Calawen said, "Alright Arathia, I can see the head. Just one more push and your baby will be here! Now push!"
Arathia took a deep breath, squeezed Legolas' hand as hard as she could and pushed with a scream. Within a moment a smaller cry came as Arathia's ended.
"It's a girl! Legolas, Arathia, you have a beautiful daughter!" Calawen handed the blanket wrapped newborn to her parents.
Legolas and Arathia were stunned. Arathia's tears had turned from those of pain to shear bliss and Legolas joined her in tears. Their daughter was more beautiful and more amazing then either of them could have expected. Stunning blue eyes of her father. Curly tufts of brown hair from her mother. Ten little fingers and ten little toes. And two little pointed ears. She was perfect in every way. Legolas and Arathia didn't speak for fear of ruining the moment.
"She perfect, like a jewel," whispered Arathia.
"That's what we should name her. Miriel ***," said Legolas.
"What a perfect name for a perfect girl. Miriel, I'm your mother."
"And I'm your father Miriel and your mother and I love you more then anyone else in the world."
TBC...
* Quel amrun = Good morning
** Vanimle sila tiri re = Your beauty shines bright today
*** Miriel = Jewel lady
Miriel
It had been less then a month since Legolas and Arathia had bound themselves to each other. It was a month of the greatest joy that either of them had felt before. On the morning after their wedding they had completed their marriage. Ever since then Legolas had been anxious to receive the blessing of his father to be mortal. But each time he decided to go, Arathia would stop him.
"Not now. We may be bound by a bond that none can break, but your father is cunning and loves you dearly. I want a bit more insurance."
Legolas was not entirely certain what Arathia meant, but trusted his wife. In the meantime the couple made plans for their new life together. First they would go to Imladris and see Gilraen and Aragorn so that Arathia could say goodbye to them. They would then return to Mirkwood for awhile and then go onward to Dale where they would begin a simple mortal life beyond the care of any. Legolas wished to remain near to his homeland even if it would be closed to him. Once again Thalionsul and Calawen were in on their scheming. But today none of these thoughts clouded the lovers' minds.
The day dawned bright and crisp. The woods seemed to sing with the freshness of it all and the name "Mirkwood" did not in the least bit fit this paradise that Legolas and Arathia called home. Arathia had risen early today to watch the sun rise as Legolas slept on. She sat a top the boulder in her clearing and smiled softly while gently caressing her stomach.
"Yes, today will be perfect," she whispered to herself. She did not know Legolas had come to sit with her.
"Quel amrun* my wife," he said as he sat upon the boulder with her.
"Quel amrun my husband," Arathia replied and gently kissed Legolas. Legolas slipped his arm around Arathia's waste as he gazed at her. She seemed different today. More beautiful. More full of life.
"Vanimle sila tiri re,"**Legolas said.
Arathia laughed gently. "You are too kind Legolas."
"I only speak the truth my wife." Legolas tried to look indignant, but only succeeded in a comical frown.
Arathia laughed again. She was full of laughter today and wondered if she would be able to get it all out.
"You know what words I love?" she asked.
Legolas was surprised at the question. "I think I can guess. But I will not. Tell me what words do you love?"
"Husband, wife, marriage, love. Those are words I love."
Legolas nodded in agreement.
"But there are others," Arathia continued as she stroked her stomach. "Words like son, daughter, children, mother, father, family. Those are words that I truly love."
Legolas' eyes went wide. He turned to Arathia whose smile had turned to that of one with a secret who terribly wanted to share it.
"You mean...?" Legolas didn't dare say it.
Arathia's smile turned to the mad grin of a schoolgirl as she took Legolas' hand and placed it upon her womb.
"They are all words that will apply to us soon," Arathia whispered.
Legolas could barely contain his joy. He was to be a father! And Arathia was to be the mother of his child! He lept down from the boulder and lifted Arathia up, twirling her in the fresh morning light and showering her with kisses. Their laughter filled the clearing like a bird's song.
"Careful!" Arathia eventually choked out through peels of laughter.
"Oh! Yes!" Legolas gently set Arathia down and then began to dance madly about the clearing as Arathia laughed at him.
"I'm going to be a father!" he shouted.
"Shh! Someone may hear you silly!" Arathia giggled.
"I don't care! I'm the luckiest elf in all of Middle-Earth! No in all of Ea! And I'm going to let everyone know!" With that Arathia and Legolas kissed once more and began the longest wait of their lives.
It did not take long for Calawen and Thalionsul to know of their friends' latest joy. Since Calawen was a healer, she agreed to be the midwife for when the baby was born. But she was also especially happy for this child would be either her niece or nephew.
"And you will have the guarantee of the King, Legolas!" Thalionsul had added.
"So that's what you meant when you said 'a bit more insurance!'" Legolas said to Arathia.
"Well, I had to be certain," Arathia replied. "But don't ask yet. Not until our child is a month old."
Calawen agreed with Arathia. "You have to be careful. Having babies is no easy task."
So once again Legolas held off asking his father's blessing, but that was nothing compared to the seemingly eternal wait for his child's birth.
Fall came and faded into winter and winter relinquished to spring. The snow was still melting and the crocuses were just beginning to bloom. Arien's soft rays fell upon Legolas' sleeping form. Arathia was awake and watching his chest gently rise and fall, the girth of her womb keeping her from being closer to him. She gently stroked his face with the back of her hand not wishing to disturb him.
"And yet you should," she thought to herself with a smile, "He has waited just as anxiously as you have for this day." With that thought she delicately kissed Legolas' cheek.
"Wake up my love. 'Tis a new day."
Legolas stirred from his sleep and smiled upon his beloved.
"So it is. And how are we today beautiful?" he asked with a smile as he playfully brushed Arathia's rich brown curls away. He had asked her that question in the plural every morning since Arathia had told him. But today something was different. Although the air in the house was nice and cool, a thin sheen was upon Arathia's forehead and she seemed a little edgy. But Arathia just smiled and patted her belly.
"We're very good this day. Legolas, I know it's early, but could you please go and get Calawen?"
Legolas was out of bed and dressing before Arathia had finished the question. Arathia would have laughed at him if she hadn't been in so much pain.
"Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back!" Legolas said before running off to get his sister-in-law. Arathia just shook her head as he ran off.
It didn't take Legolas long to reach Calawen's home. Calawen was already up and tending to her freshly planted herb garden. Legolas doubted she had slept at all during the night. The only reason he slept was because he enjoyed being so close to Arathia. Calawen looked up when Legolas entered her home's clearing.
"Mae govannen Legolas. Is it Arathia?" Legolas didn't even get a chance to nod his head in reply before Calawen had rushed into her house to get her basket of herbs and was back out again, rushing towards Legolas and Arathia's home. Legolas followed behind as the elves raced back. Calawen fired a stream of questions at Legolas.
"How long has she been in labor? Has her water broken? How close together are the contractions?"
But before Legolas could answer any of Calawen's questions they were back at the house. A piercing scream cut through the morning as the two entered. Arathia had one hand gripping her womb and the other hand grasping the side of the bed.
Legolas rushed to his wife's side and took her hand. "It's alright Arathia, I'm here. Everything's going to be just fine."
"You have no idea... how much... this hurts!" Arathia exclaimed.
Calawen had already gotten to work as the couple spoke.
"She's farther along, then I'd expect. Arathia dear, when did the contractions start?" asked Calawen.
"Sometime after midnight."
"Alright, Legolas, keep her calm. Her water should be breaking soon and then your baby will be here. Until the, I'm going to make a draught to help ease her pain."
"Did you here that Arathia? Our baby will be here soon," Legolas said a bit too brightly. Arathia was only able to nod with a weak smile before another contraction seized her.
"Here have her drink this." Calawen handed the drink to Legolas who in turn helped Arathia sip some of it down.
"How's that?" asked Calawen.
"A bit better," said Arathia, "But it still hurts."
"I never said it would get rid of all the pain. Now you try to relax. I'm going to heat up some water now. At the rate you're going the baby should be here very soon."
Calawen was right. Within the next two hours Arathia's water had broken and she was pushing.
"You're doing wonderful," encouraged Legolas.
Arathia didn't answer and only squeezed his hand more tightly. Her hair was damp with sweat and she could swear that this baby was going to kill her. Every so often a scream would escape her throat.
Finally Calawen said, "Alright Arathia, I can see the head. Just one more push and your baby will be here! Now push!"
Arathia took a deep breath, squeezed Legolas' hand as hard as she could and pushed with a scream. Within a moment a smaller cry came as Arathia's ended.
"It's a girl! Legolas, Arathia, you have a beautiful daughter!" Calawen handed the blanket wrapped newborn to her parents.
Legolas and Arathia were stunned. Arathia's tears had turned from those of pain to shear bliss and Legolas joined her in tears. Their daughter was more beautiful and more amazing then either of them could have expected. Stunning blue eyes of her father. Curly tufts of brown hair from her mother. Ten little fingers and ten little toes. And two little pointed ears. She was perfect in every way. Legolas and Arathia didn't speak for fear of ruining the moment.
"She perfect, like a jewel," whispered Arathia.
"That's what we should name her. Miriel ***," said Legolas.
"What a perfect name for a perfect girl. Miriel, I'm your mother."
"And I'm your father Miriel and your mother and I love you more then anyone else in the world."
TBC...
* Quel amrun = Good morning
** Vanimle sila tiri re = Your beauty shines bright today
*** Miriel = Jewel lady