Aha…a chapter finally and the birth nonetheless. As I have said many chapter before now family issues, medical issues and school issues arose, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for being so late with this but I do hope the chapter was worth it. I love you all to death lol. Where would I be without you're reviews to keep me going, be they constructive, rude or very nice lol.

Emily

" Legolas do not move so much…you'll cause further damage!" Eowyn cried reaching forwards to push his shoulders back against the cushions.

" Do not touch me!" Legolas hissed trying to wrench free from the woman's grasp. " You cannot know how it feels." The pain was at the peak of its crescendo and he felt tears blur his vision as he fought to control his voice.

" I know I do not understand Legolas…but try to grasp the fact that I do not want any more harm come to you or the babes than need be…ah!" The elf had twisted her hand at an awkward angle and she squirmed desperately to relinquish the hold. Any more pressure and she was sure the bones would snap. With a great jerk of her arm she managed to pull free and fell back onto her haunches, cradling the fist in her lap. For instant she was surprised at how much blood had seeped its way into the pale fabric of her dress and she grimaced.

Panting raggedly, Legolas fell back amongst the pillows, skin pale and glistening. The hair stuck to his face and he moaned arching forwards again. " They are closer…yea gods…they're tearing me to pieces!" He bunched up the blankets in his tightly curled fists and let out a gut wrenching cry.

All the color drained from the lady's face at the sound and she felt her composure slipping for the first time since they'd been in the woods. Another splash of blood soaked into the blanket and she let out a low breath trying to calm herself. Legolas' labored breathing and cries of pain were breaking down the barrier steadily.

" LEGOLAS!!!" For a second she did not believe what she'd heard and strained her ears attentively in the direction from which the shout had come from. Yes, she could hear the pounding of feet. There was hope yet!

" Aragorn we are here!" she climbed to her feet clumsily, the pain in her hand all but forgotten.

Seconds later a figure came bursting into the small clearing and Eowyn found herself gripped by the shoulders and spun around. She let out a scream of distress and started to struggled. " Eowyn it is I, Aragorn. Stop!" At these words she went still and found the king's face before her, staring intently.

" Aragorn…" She whispered with momentary relief but slowly it faded into a look of worry. " He bleeds too much…it has been like this for hours."

" Faramir is hurt, go to him and tend him while I stay here…he is naught but twenty yards that way." He turned the woman in the direction from whence he had come. " I do not believe it to be too serious but I do not want him to be left alone." He released her and gave her a gentle shove. Without another word she took off into the woods.

" Aragorn…" Legolas voice was hoarse with pain and Aragorn felt a tightening around his heart. He went to where the elf lay nestled amongst the blankets and pillows, falling to his knees beside him. Immediately his hands sought out a delicate wrist and he searched diligently for a pulse and when he found it, it only deepened his concern.

" You heart races…" He sighed, leaning forwards to plant a kiss on the sweat slicked forehead.

" I know it does…" Legolas broke off, face twisting in agony. Aragorn soothed the hair back from his face and reached for the cloth Eowyn had left on the ground. His eyes caught sight of the blood and he pushed back the dizzying fear that it brought forth.

" How long has it been as such?" He questioned, fingers probing beneath the Prince's swollen stomach.

" Right before Eowyn and I left…" He arched forwards letting out a strangled cry and Aragorn caught the elf's flailing hands.

" Just breath…try to concentrate." He murmured in a soothing voice. " It will be over soon enough… the babes have already started their descent." Aragorn received no answer and continued to speak nonsense in an effort to distract Legolas. " Just another hour at most…"

The next ten minutes passed at an excruciatingly slow pace for both. Legolas suffered a series of contractions unlike any he had yet experienced and Aragorn was at a loss. Despite his years of apprenticeship under Elrond he had little knowledge of childbirth. One who was going to spend the greater part of their life out in the wild with a group of men did not need such knowledge and therefore he had never gone out of his way to acquire it. Silently he cursed his foolishness.

The sound of Legolas' ragged staccato breaths and cries pain became stronger as the time wore on and Aragorn's apprehension rose with each new sound. " Legolas…Legolas listen to me…you need to calm yourself…" Legolas' eyes widened.

" Calm myself?" He gasped knuckles white. He's managed to grab a hold of Aragorn's tunic and he pulled tightly, throwing his head back. Aragorn leaned forwards with the motion and Legolas moaned again. " They are tearing me to shreds! AI!"

" No they aren't…it only feels like that…" A hand drifted down underneath the elf's stomach once more. " It's getting close…you're going to need to push." Aragorn instructed gently. He was going by instinct and prayed to the Valar that he was right in his choices.

" I can't." Legolas hissed through gritted teeth. "You don't understand…auh…" He grunted, sweat rolling down the sides of his face. He shook his head quickly, sending the drops flying through the air. Aragorn flinched as one landed on his cheek before dropping into the stubble of his chin.

" Trust me…Legolas you must do this or I could lose you all."

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"Faramir? My love…wake up, please…" Eowyn implored softly. She had torn through the various layers of her skirt to provide bandages for the man who now lay with his head cradled in her lap. Silently she leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Legolas' screams echoed throughout the small woods and Eowyn cringed. Her thoughts drifted to the pair and she sent a silent prayer, fingers working absently at the knots in Faramir's hair. It was maddening to sit by idly while so much happened but the thought of abandoning her husband was unspeakable. She would no sooner give away the secrets of her kingdom to an orc.

" Mhm…" The moan was quiet and at first she thought she'd imagined it but slowly Faramir's head turned to the side, face burying itself against the soft fabric of her dress.

" Faramir…" She whispered hopefully, peering down at him.

" Where am I?"

" You're still in the woods…do not move-" Eowyn stopped abruptly at the sound of an exceptionally loud scream. Her head whipped around so fast that it made her dizzy but she ignored it and focused her eyes in the direction the cry had come from.

" Legolas…the babes…" Faramir began to struggle into a sitting position. " The King needs me." Eowyn grasped him firmly by the shoulders to pull him back down but he shook off the hold and scrambled into painful looking stoop. A wince seemed poised on his lips but he did not utter a sound. " We must help them…you're a woman, you must know of these things." He clutched one of her hands and pulled her to her feet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

" Legolas please." Aragorn pleaded. " You must…you need to."

" I can't…" Legolas moaned head lolling back against the pillows. " I can't…I'm so tired…" Aragorn shook his head and gripped the elf's hand tightly. Legolas caught his gaze for a moment before turning away, eyes sliding closed.

" Yes…now…come on…you need to push." Legolas looked as though he were about to shake his head but paused mid motion. The pain crested again, contorting his face into a vicious grimace and he let out a loud cry. "Now…" Aragorn urged gently. " Push now…yes, yes…that's it…"

" Aragorn!" Aragorn's head snapped around and he hastily took in the appearance of Faramir and Eowyn.

" Eowyn you must know what to do, help them." Faramir gasped, sinking to his knees close to the king. Eowyn's eyes widened and she glanced between elf and man.

" But I haven't any idea of how a male gives birth Faramir…how can I-" She was cut off by a sharp cry. Aragorn turned his attention back to Legolas, one hand reaching out now to brush the hair from his eyes and the sweat from his brow.

" You need to push again…everytime meleth…" He coaxed softly, capturing on of the Prince's shaking hands in his own.

" He's right Legolas." Eowyn said softly coming to kneel with them. " I know nothing about male childbirth but I do know about normal births and what the King says it true. You must or both you and the child could perish." Legolas let out another cry, fingers digging into the back of Aragorn's hand.

" I'm trying…" He gasped out, back arching off of the pillows.

" Try harder." She urged and caught his other hand. Legolas' face screwed up in pain and Aragorn could see the tendons in his neck bulge under the effort. " That's good…keep talking to him…" She whispered to Aragorn and then gently ran her hands along the underside of the elf's stomach searching determinedly for the opening.

" This will all be over soon…" Aragorn assured tenderly and used his free hand to stray continually to Legolas' face, caressing the sweat slicked sink. He could hear Eowyn muttering orders to Faramir but heeded little of what she was saying.

Legolas let out a small breath and closed his eyes, panting from the effort. "Just think, when all of this is over we'll have our children with us…and we'll return to Minis Tirith and you can teach them archery and the art of knives and-"

" I can feel it…Legolas you need to push again…hard as you can." Eowyn said quickly pausing for a moment to wipe the blood from her hand. Faramir knelt behind her, a clean blanket folded loosely in his lap as he reached over and pulled the hair back from her face before fastening it behind her head. She seemed not to notice the gesture.

Legolas muffled another scream and squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched. Aragorn continued to whisper encouragement and assurances, eyes flickering down briefly. " That's good…again Legolas…" Eowyn's voice was faintly excited and he moaned, throwing his head back. " One more…one more…yes! Faramir give me your knife…" Her slender hand reached up and Aragorn gazed on with wonder at the small being cradled amongst the folds of Eowyn's skirt. It let out a small cry before blinking its eyes open sluggishly.

Eowyn cut the cord quickly and tied the end in a small knot and Aragorn continued to watch in stupefaction as the babe was gently put into the blanket upon Faramir's lap. " It's a boy…" He managed to whisper turning to face Legolas. " It's a boy!" The joy in his voice was barely contained and Legolas opened his mouth to speak but snapped it closed as another jolt of pain sent him reeling. He let out a choked cry

Aragorn eyes widened in sudden realization as he said, "There's one more…they're twins…there's one more to be born." Eowyn glanced sharply at the King for a moment before setting to work once more.

" Hold your son Sire…Faramir come here."

Aragorn barely had time to register was happening as the bundle of blankets was pressed into his arms and he gazed down at a bright pair of blue eyes. A small tuft of hair was plastered down against the child's head and Aragorn gently massaged the area with a corner of the blanket until the strands stuck up at odd angles. He felt an overwhelming sense of love and for a moment just stared at the small creature, taking in every detail. The slightly pointed ears, bright blue eyes, much akin to those of Legolas, small perfect little lips. He ran his thumb across the child's cheek marveling at the soft skin.

" Faramir wipe his forehead and hold his arms down…" Eowyn's words were quick and to the point as she instructed the steward. "Legolas I need you to push again…it's almost over and I know you're tired but you need to do this for me…yes…once more…" Aragorn turned his eyes towards the scene and felt as though he watched from a distance.

He could hear Legolas' gasps and grunts of pain and Eowyn's continual urgings and then her cry of triumph and seconds later another bundle was pressed into his arms. " You're daughter." Faramir breathed, eyes glancing down at the two. " She has your eyes…" He added softly and Aragorn could see his own wonder reflected in the Gondorian's face.

The King nodded mutely and crawled forwards slightly, nestling the babies against his chest he stared down at Legolas.

The elf's eyes were closed as he breathed and Aragorn's gaze flitted briefly to Eowyn who was pressing another torn piece of fabric against the laceration that ran across the prince's much smaller midsection. "He is tired my lord…he needs to rest." She said softly. Aragorn nodded and then looked down at the newest addition to his family.

Faramir had been right in deciding that she had his eyes. The gray orbs glistened as they took in their surroundings and she looked up at him with a calm stare as though realizing immediately who he was. A small yawn escaped her lips as a tiny fist stretched outwards before she squirmed into a more comfortable position.

"I want to get us back to the carriage…" He said looking up at his two companions. "I will carry Legolas, and I need you to carry the children."

" But my lord-"

" I would feel safer having them back in the carriage instead of out in the forest where no one can find us…" He cut off Eowyn quickly and extended the two small parcels towards her. She accepted them without a word and gracefully climbed to her feet, Faramir following.

"Love…I'm going to lift you…do not try to stand." Aragorn said softly and then very gently slid his arm beneath Legolas' back and then the other below his knees. Bracing himself the man slowly rose upwards. Legolas let out a small moan and Aragorn settled him against his chest. " I know you're in pain…I'm going to get you back to the carriage…you'll be more comfortable and then you can see them…they're beautiful." Legolas mumbled something unintelligible before nodding and letting his head fall back against Aragorn.