Rose Red and Leilyra  Both of course ;)
Fiona Rayne  No, actually, no relation although he was going to be at first. I was going to use Rumil, Haldir's brother until it occurred to me that I couldn't send him to the west with Brí because he was still in M-e at the end of the 3rd age, so that's why the character is a guard-type person.  When I went to change his name I had him as Hamir, but kept typing Halmír for some reason.  It wasn't until then that I noticed how similar it was to Haldir, but at that point I just said 'screw it' ;)
LaJiggles  *is poked*  ;)

I'm not sure if Elven births would be much different than human ones, but I only have my own experience to go by.  Tolkien (so far as I know) never got into details about it and I didn't want to invent something.  So, the event here will seem quite human, which may or may not be unelvish  ;)

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Return to Valinor
By: DLR 2003

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Chapter Five

A castle, somewhere between Valimar and Tirion

Culurien shivered in the cool spring air and regarded her surroundings with distaste.  "It is so . . . stony."

"It is," Elrond agreed.  "It is a castle, after all."

Culurien wrinkled her nose.  "And damp."

Elrond sighed.  "Fires will help.  It has been unoccupied for many years."

"Centuries apparently," Culurien said with a snort.  "Perhaps we should continue to look."

Elrond refrained from rolling his eyes.  "I have looked, if you recall.  I have done nothing but look for months.  There is simply very little available in our size requirements." 

She gazed at him with pleading eyes.  "Perhaps you would reconsider building?"

He pulled her into his arms.  "Was it not your wish to have our own house as soon as possible?  Building would take years and demands constant supervision.  Quite frankly, at this stage in my life, I have no desire to devote time and energy into building a house." 

He pushed a lock of hair from her face.  "My wish is to give the whole of my attention to you and our children."

Culurien groaned and released herself from his embrace, seeking a seat.  "Your children are getting very heavy, I heartily await the day when you can share in the carrying of them."

Elrond smiled and sat on the stone bench next to her, placing his hand on her swollen abdomen.  "Are they behaving today?"

Culurien chuckled.  "Yes, they are being good little elflings, giving their mother some much needed peace from punches and kicks."

Elrond placed his ear next to her belly, listening.  "Two little souls, part of you, yet entities unto themselves."  His eyes widened in shock as daylight suddenly became night.  A blinding flash lit the sky followed by a deafening boom of thunder.

Elrond sat upright with a jerk, seeing only what was unfolding in his mind's eye, feeling as though he was drowning in the torrents of rain that ensued. 

Culurien touched his arm, concerned.  "Mellhîr?  What is it?  What is wrong?"

He closed his eyes and shuddered.  When he opened them again the night had faded back to daylight.  He took a deep breath and turned to her.  "We must return to Tirion, now."

Culurien looked askance.  "You saw something?  What was it?"

Elrond shook his head, confused.  "A storm of great magnitude.  It has filled me with the most terrible feeling of foreboding."

Culurien was confused as well.  "This is something we should escape from?"

Elrond knitted his brow.  "My instinct tells me to flee."

Culurien stood.  "Let us do so then.  Where is Lindir?"

"I know not," Elrond admitted.  "In the stable with the horse and cart perhaps?"  He put his hand on her shoulder.  "Stay, I will seek him."

Culurien approached a nearby window after Elrond had left her.  She swore with feeling at the rusty catch that defied her fingers and wiped a clean spot on the grimy glass. The afternoon sky had turned grey, but there was certainly nothing threatening looking on the horizon in this direction.

She winced and laid a hand on her abdomen as a sharp twinge seemed to run from one side of her belly to the other.  It passed quickly and she dismissed it from her mind.  This was not the first time she had felt such pains, they never lasted long as a rule.

Culurien began to make her way to the stable, there was really no point to waiting here for Elrond to come back and get her.  She stepped carefully, many of the floors on the second story were made of wood and they were rotted in places.  It certainly seemed as though renovation was going to be as time consuming as building, but Elrond had apparently made up his mind and she had no wish to argue with him.

We will make it a home, she thought, glad they had brought with them to Aman many of the beautiful tapestries that had adorned the walls of Imladris.  Most of the other artifacts of the ancient Elven kingdoms of Middle-earth had stayed back there where they belonged.  There would be no Hall of Kings here in Valinor; no remembrances of the past.

Culurien assessed the structure as she made her way through the various halls.  At least the stone-works seemed very sturdy and apparently all the doors and windows were secure; she had seen no obvious encroachment of nature penetrating the interior. 

It was a castle, though.  She pursed her lips.  With a moat, no less.  She missed the trees of Lothlórien and Eryn Lasgalen.  At least Imladris, as imposing as it was, had been constructed of wood, with the surrounding forest and waterfalls incorporated into its design.  This place, however. . . she shook her head and sighed.

The sound of Elrond's voice reached her as she approached the main entrance.  He was standing in the arch of the great doorway, talking to someone outside, Lindir, apparently.  He turned to face her just as she came within sight of him.  "Ah, Linariel, you are here, thank Elbereth.  We must depart immediately."

"Are you certain there is need for such haste?" she asked as he helped her into the cart.

With a lift of his eyebrows he directed her gaze.  "Regard the western horizon."

Culurien turned and caught her breath.  The sky behind her was black with storm-clouds.  "Well then, why do we hesitate?  Into the cart with you and be quick about it."

Elrond grinned as he took his seat next to her while Lindir picked up the reins and urged the animal into a brisk trot.  Elrond gathered the blanket closer around them and Culurien lay against his chest dozing as they headed east, away from the approach of nature's wrath.

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A sharp jolt forced her into wakefulness and she immediately became aware of the wind-driven rain lashing against her.  She clutched at Elrond as Lindir swore vehemently.  "What is happening?"  Culurien cried, barely able to raise her voice above the noise of the storm.

Lindir was inspecting the damage by the light of the near continuous flashes of lightning.  He grunted and swore again.  "We have lost a wheel, Lord, and quite possibly the axle as well."

"How close are we to the village?"  Elrond yelled.

Lindir shook his head.  "I cannot gauge the distance; we have not been making normal progress with this weather."

Elrond wiped the water from his face.  "Go back or go forward?"

Culurien gasped in pain as the muscles of her abdomen tightened forcefully.  Suddenly she was sitting in a warm wet puddle that was not rain water.  "Oh, no!"

Elrond turned to look into her panic stricken eyes.  "What is it?"

"It is happening," she whispered.  "Why is it early?  Oh Eru not now, please."

He could not hear her quiet voice, yet he understood every word.  He turned back to Lindir.  "What say you?" he repeated.  "Go back or go forward?"

Lindir shook his head.  "We cannot out-run the storm, Lord.  I think we are closer to the castle than the village.  We should go back."

Elrond nodded.  "I agree, unharness the horse."

Elrond assisted Culurien onto the animal's back.  She grimaced and doubled over with pain once more.  Elrond paused, uncertain.

Lindir correctly interpreted his indecision.  "You mount as well, ride with all haste back to the castle.  The horse cannot carry all of us, I will follow on foot."  Elrond hesitated still and Lindir gave him a shove.  "Respect your elders and go, would you?  I will be fine."

Elrond gripped his servant's arm in gratitude and swung himself onto the horse's back behind his wife.  The storm continued to whip the atmosphere with frenzy as he urged the animal into a gallop back to the west.

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It was one of the smaller rooms, not far from the main entrance.  It had a bed and a fireplace, and not much else.  Culurien perched on the side of the bed wincing as Elrond reappeared with the fruits of his foraging.

"They are dusty and moldy, but they will do," he said, spreading the blankets over the bed.  He relieved his wife of her rain-drenched clothing and covered her with the various furs and woolens.

A fire, Elrond thought.  Definitely the next priority.  He was thankful to see a good supply of logs and kindling.  He was not so thankful a short time later when the room filled with smoke, driving him to open a window.  "Mandos!" Elrond swore, stamping out the fire.

Culurien looked at him with watery eyes.  "What is wrong?"

Elrond continued to swear.  "The flue is blocked, apparently."  There were chimney rods leaning in a dusty corner and he fitted several sections together, inducing them up into the stubborn airshaft.

Culurien sat up on her elbows and watched in amusement as the soot of centuries cascaded down on his head.  Elrond choked as he evaded the better part of the deluge but emerged blackened, nonetheless.  He coughed and spat, wiping the soot from his eyes.

Culurien laughed through her pain at the sight of him.  "Whatever are you doing?"

Elrond refrained from comment until the fire was drawing to his satisfaction, some time later.  "Well, I thought I was attempting to ease our children's entry into the world by providing comfort for them and their mother."

"And you have," she said, patting his back as he took a seat on the bed next to her.  "Attend to your own needs; I will be fine for a while."

"Thank you."  Elrond kissed her, leaving a black smudge on her face.  "I believe I hear Lindir, he must have sprinted the entire distance."

Culurien gazed fondly after him as he left the room, then fell back gasping as a strong pain occupied all of her attention.

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Lindir took one look at Elrond and laughed out loud.

Elrond waited patiently for his servant to compose himself.  "It pleases me to afford you so much amusement.  When your mirth has subsided, do you think you could assist me in heating water?"

Lindir controlled himself with a supreme effort.  "Indeed, at once, Lord."

This act was accomplished in the enormous kitchen fireplace and Elrond washed quickly.  By the time he was once more free from soot, Lindir had returned from his quest to search for dry clothing.  "I am sorry, Lord; this was all I could find."

He deposited a bundle on the table and unfolded it for Elrond's inspection.  There were two garments, both of them made for females.  A very beautiful red dress and also a gown of purple.

"The violet dress would fit you the best, Lord," recommended Lindir.

Elrond smiled.  "I think not."  He checked the status of his clothing drying before the fire.  "Cold and naked is preferable, thank you all the same."

Lindir stripped off his wet clothing and struggled into the red gown.  He presented his back to Elrond.  "Would you lace me up, Lord?"

Elrond stared at him in eloquent silence.

Lindir waited patiently.  "Please.  It will not stay closed unless it is fastened."

Elrond sighed and complied, rolling his eyes.

"Thank you, Lord."  Lindir's gaze fell on the rejected garment.  "Are you certain . . .?"

"No."  Elrond lifted a bucket of warm water.  "Hurry, please."

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Culurien panted as the pain ebbed and she was able to breathe more easily.  Elrond and Lindir came into the room, straining under the weight of the water buckets.  She wondered if her eyes deceived her and she raised herself up onto her elbows in an attempt to focus clearly.

Lindir busied himself around the room, a vision in rather dusty red silk, while her dear husband was quite naked and more than a little bit blue with cold. She wordlessly lifted the blanket, inviting him to join her under the covers and he accepted gratefully, shivering as he lay down against her warmth.

She pushed his damp hair back out of his eyes and smirked.  "You did not get an invitation to the ball?"

Elrond snorted.  "I refuse to wear female garments, the very idea is ludicrous."

"Indeed," said Culurien, her lips twitching as she looked at Lindir.

That elf had found a chair and was sitting in front of the fire, warming himself.  "This outfit cries out for a shawl of some kind," he muttered.  "How do you ladies bear it?  I am freezing."

Culurien smiled at the discomfort of her musical companion of old, then knitted her brow in pain as her own discomfort took precedence.  "I suddenly think to inquire about your knowledge of midwifery."

Elrond held her tightly as the pain subsided.  "Not extensive, but adequate, I deem.  I was present at both of Celebrían's confinements as well, so do not fret, everything will be fine."

He gathered a blanket around himself and moved to the foot of the bed.  "With your permission, I will make an examination?"  He parted her legs and she gasped in pain at the intrusion.  "I am sorry, just a little bit further . . ." He withdrew his hand, finally, satisfied with what he felt.  "They are very high up still, we have plenty of time."

"Wonderful," said Culurien groggily.  "Hours of this?  Something to look forward to."

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"You BASTARD!!" 

Lindir awoke with a start, looking around dazedly until he realized where he was.

"Uhhhhnnnn!"  Culurien clenched her teeth and choked out another colorful oath.  "You did this to me you miserable- Ahhhh!!!" 

Lindir stood and approached Elrond who was sitting at the foot of the bed. "Lord . . .?"

Elrond regarded him with a smile.  "You must have been very tired to have slept so soundly through this din.  Please tend the fire."

Lindir cast a concerned look at Culurien who lay on her back, panting heavily, covered in sweat, with her eyes closed.

"Everything is fine," Elrond reassured him.  "It will not be much longer now.  The fire, please?"

"Yahhhhhh!!" his wife screamed.  "It is all your fault!  Eru RUE the day I ever met you!!"

Elrond evaded being kicked and examined her progress.  His breath caught in his throat as he saw the crown of a tiny head.  He reached up and shook her into sensibility.  "Linariel, you are almost there, I need you to push now, concentrate all your energies on that."

She gasped and bore down, making a strong effort.

"Again!"

She complied, gritting her teeth and with a gush of fluid, Elrond suddenly held his daughter in his hands. He sat frozen for a moment, just gazing in astonishment at the most beautiful sight he had seen in quite some time.  He shook himself, remembering his duties, and checked her air passageways for obstructions as she let out a loud wail much to his relief.

Culurien began to gasp out sobs upon hearing her baby's cry and held out her arms as Elrond placed the tiny girl into them.

He turned his attention back to the one who followed.  "Push, Linariel, push!"  A second head crowned as Culurien focused and concentrated.  Elrond's eyes widened in shock. "Stay, stop at once!"

Culurien panted shallowly and looked at him with glassy eyes.  "What is it? Tell me!"

"It is all right."  Elrond soothed her.  "Merely go slow, the babe is entangled in his own life-line."  He took his son's head in his hands and freed him from the restrictive umbilical cord that was wrapped around his neck several times, threatening to strangle him.  "Continue now, Linariel, push." 

Culurien laughed with relief as the delivery was completed finally.  Elrond did not like the bluish tint to his son's face and he did not get as quick a response from the baby boy as he did with his sister.  He breathed a little bit easier as the infant's color improved and he wailed feebly. 

Both babies were crying now as Elrond assisted them in each finding a breast to suckle.  Culurien watched them with a slight grimace, mildly repulsed by their slimy appearance.

Elrond smiled at her expression.  "You have not yet delivered the afterbirth, when that happens, I will tie off the cords and give them each a washing."

Culurien lay back exhausted and smiled happily, cradling a child in each arm.  "They are still beautiful, despite all that."  She spared a glance for her tired husband.  "I love you."

Elrond chuckled.  "I know, in spite of anything you may have said to the contrary just recently."

"You know I did not mean it."

He resumed his place in the bed beside her and stroked the tiny faces with his finger.  "Words do not exist that would adequately express my love for you and our children."

She looked into his eyes.  "They are unnecessary, for your heart is an open book for me, I can read it with ease without them."

Elrond leaned over and placed a long tender kiss on her lips.

Lindir coughed discreetly.  "I will conduct a search for food, Lord, although my hopes are not very high."

Elrond nodded, dismissing him.  "And now to attend to the cleanup of this joyous experience."

Culurien protested.  "Must you?  Look at them, they sleep so peacefully."

Elrond smiled wryly.  "I would sooner wash the blood from them now, while it is still damp, than try to scrape it off later, once it dries.  The same applies for you, regard yourself."

She grimaced.  "I would rather not."

Elrond frowned.  "First though, a cradle of sorts."

Culurien shook her head.  "Nay, that is unnecessary, I have no wish to be parted from them."

Elrond contemplated her for a moment.  "I understand you, but consider this if you will.  Tis simply a dangerous practice.  They are so small; you or I could easily roll over and smother or crush them unintentionally, without even noticing.  Would you risk this?"

Culurien paled.  "Thank Elbereth I have such a wise husband, this possibility never occurred to me."

Elrond smiled and his lips sought hers as he returned to his earlier interrupted activity.  His newborn daughter stirred and punched a tiny fist into him as she began to cry and hiccup both at the same time. 

He sat back with a grin as Culurien looked bewildered.  "What does she want?"

"To nurse, I would imagine.  When in doubt, assume hunger."

The infant was no sooner settled and quiet when her brother began to wail.

Culurien turned to Elrond helplessly and he chuckled.  "You had best become accustomed to this sound; we are likely to hear no other for many months to come."

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