Disclaimer: it ain't mine, I'm just borrowing it. Don't bother suing, all I've got is my Next Gen DVDs. No Elves or Rangers were harmed in the writing of this Fanfiction. I put them back how I found them…honest!

As all ways a huge big thank you and hug for my beta reader. Thanks, I love you lots.

Chapter 5 – New Life

Athiel studied her reflection. It didn't show yet. But she was sure. She'd felt the barely conceivable fluttering of new life over a month ago now. She was just too scared to tell anyone, least of all Thranduil. What if she was wrong? The feeling could just be wishful thinking. She smoothed her gown down across her stomach. No, she wouldn't say anything, not yet.

'Have you told him yet?'

She jumped guiltily and glanced backwards, momentarily worried, but smiled with relief when she saw that it was only Maikath.

'Told who, what?' she asked, feigning innocence. She couldn't know. Could she?

'That you're with child.' Maikath smiled, trying to put the younger woman at ease. She was still trying to make amends for many years of harshness. 'When you've seen as many pregnant women as I have, you'll be able to tell as well. How far gone are you?'

Athiel was so flustered by the old queen's assurance that she answered without thinking.

'Three months. Yes three months at least.'

'That's good,' Maikath said approvingly. 'But you must tell Thranduil. He's got to be told soon.'

Athiel nodded but then lowered her eyes, unsure of how to voice her uncertainties.

'But what if…what if I lose this baby too? What if it's born too soon again? He'd never stand it!'

Maikath took Athiel's half-trembling hands in hers.

'Then why don't you go and speak to Hachon. He's been studying childbirth problems almost non-stop since you lost the first one. If anyone can help, he can. Maybe he'll set your mind to rest.'

Athiel nodded. That was a good idea. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner?

'Yes, I'll do that.' She hesitated, torn between old suspicions and the strange new trust that had grown between them 'You won't say anything to anyone, will you?'

Maikath squeezed her hands in support and gave her a conspiratol wink.

'Of course not, you silly child. It will be our little secret. Then when you're happy to tell everyone, I can be as surprised as they are.'

A wide grin crept across Athiel's face in thanks and she sped from the dressing room in search of Hachon. She found him in short order tending to a young boy who had fallen and cut his knee, and watched as he skilfully cleaned and bandage the injury, before dispatching the patient with a honey sweet to rejoin his playmates with tales of his heroism. Turning around, the healer raised a questioning eyebrow at seeing her in his office.

'Are you well?'

'I need to speak to you… privately.'

Hachon nodded, and firmly shut the door. He motioned her to sit on one of the many chairs and sat opposite her. Leaning forward, he took her hands in his and sat waiting.

Athiel sat staring at her hands. 'I think I'm with child,' she whispered.

'And?'

'I'm not sure, I think I am. But I don't want to say anything yet, not until I'm sure.'

'Has anyone else any idea?'

'No. Yes.' She fidgeted. 'Lady Maikath. She says it's obvious.'

'Well if Maikath thinks you are, then there's a very good chance you are. Will you take off your dress and lay on the couch for me?'

She quickly did so, her hands resting protectively on her stomach. Hachon moved them to one side and began to gently palpate her lower abdomen. The prodding provoked another flutter, this time a lot stronger. She smiled.

'Can you feel it?' asked Hachon.

She nodded, 'It's like having a tiny butterfly inside you. I thought I'd imagine it.'

'Are your breasts sore?'

Again she nodded. 'Hot and swollen, and very sensitive.'

Now it was Hachon's turn to smile. 'Well Lady Athiel, I'm very pleased to say that yes, you are with child again. About three months, I would say.'

'Are you really sure? I don't want to tell Thranduil unless you're really certain.'

'I have dealt with many pregnant females in my time as healer. Not all of the elf kind but I can safely say that I have never examined a more pregnant woman.'

Athiel's face lit up with a smile of relief.

'Then I must tell Thranduil! I'll find him and tell him now.'

Hachon shook his head, chuckling at her sudden eagerness.

'I'm afraid you won't, my lady. He's out with a patrol, checking the boundary guard. He won't be back until tonight.'

Athiel spent to rest of the day in a haze of anticipation, not being able to settle to anything. At last she heard the sound of the horses returning in the courtyard. Unable to hold back her excitement any further she ran into the yard, straight into Thranduil's arms.

'Steady there, my lady. I've only been gone a little while,' he said.

'You've been gone hours,' she corrected. 'And I have something very important to tell you.'

He held her at arm's length. There was something different about her. A new gloss of beauty seemed to have invaded her. She glowed with a deeper inner luminescence.

'What is it, melamîn?'

'I'm with child. We're going to have a baby.'

Thranduil's mouth opened and closed several times as he groped for something helpful to say at this pronouncement.

'Are you sure? Have you seen Hachon yet?'

'Yes, she has seen me, and yes, I'm very sure. Your delightful wife is three months pregnant. You didn't waste much time, did you, you dirty old man?' said Hachon, grinning as he entered approached them. 'Congratulations.'

Everyone in the courtyard was grinning with the news; Athiel was well liked by all who dwelt in the Wood. However, some of the joyfulness seemed to drain from them when Maikath walked into the yard.

'What's all the excitement?' she asked. Although she had seemed to change since Thranduil had returned, many were still distrustful of her. How would she react to this news?

Thranduil himself, however, had no such compunctions and ran straight to his mother, sweeping her up into his arms to spin her around and around.

'We're going to have a baby! We're really going to have a baby!'

Maikath, true to her promise, acted as surprised as everyone else, expressing her joy at the news with only a knowing wink towards Athiel who stood surrounded by a grinning assortment of the halls' denizens. At last, the Wood would be a happy family place.

'Enough, enough,' she cried to her ecstatic son. 'You'll make this old lady giddy.'

'You'll never be old mother!' Thranduil sang out merrily. 'Not now! We're going to have a baby!'

Maikath shook her head and clucked her tongue with exaggerated disapproval.

'Men! Only good for one thing. Come, Athiel we must start preparing. Clothes must be made; the cradle needs to be readied. Thranduil!' she shouted. 'Stop acting the fool, and the rest of you, get back to your chores. Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's only a baby. Anyone would think that Eärendil was coming to stay!' Then, putting her arm around Athiel's waist, she gently led her indoors.

'Now Athiel, I don't want you exerting yourself. You must get plenty of sleep. I'll have Hachon mix you a raspberry tea to take each day. And you must eat well.'

Hachon coughed loudly in the background, causing Maikath to stop her list of instructions. She turned, glaring at Hachon and about to launch into a tirade at him for interrupting her, but Athiel placed a hand lightly on her shoulder in gentle reproof. Maikath paused for a moment and took a deep breath; it was so easy to slip back into her old ways. She smiled an apology to Hachon.

'I'm sorry Hachon, you're the healer. I would recommend raspberry leaf tea. Doubtless you will be able to suggest others.'

A sign of released breath around the courtyard could be heard from the congregation of elves gathered there as they relaxed and began to return to their duties. Hachon stepped between the two royal ladies and draped his arm around their shoulders.

'Come to my parlour,' he said with a dirty grin, 'And I'll show you my herbs.' This earned him a dig in the ribs from both of them but the trio made their way to his office, laughing and joking as they went. Hachon waved them towards the chairs and placed three goblets on the small table, which he filled with wine. Maikath raised an eyebrow.

'It's all right,' Hachon said, 'In fact I would recommend a small goblet of wine every day. It's good for the heart. Mind you, only one while you're carrying the future king.' This caused Athiel to blush a brilliant red.

'Is there any way of find out if the baby is a boy or a girl?' she asked.

'No. There're lots of old tales telling of how it's possible, but I always think that waiting to find out is the best way,' he replied. 'Now how are you really feeling? Now that you've finally told Thranduil?'

'Relieved, happy, scared.' She shrugged helplessly. 'I don't know.'

'Right then. From tonight I'd like you to have some wild yam and black haw tea. Every night just before you retire. I'm not saying that it could happen again but that should help to prevent miscarriage.'

Maikath nodded, she had heard of the tea being used in the past.

'It's just a precaution you understand,' Hachon went on. 'In addition, you should drink as much raspberry leave tea as you can. It strengthens the womb, and will make the birth easier.'

Again, Maikath nodded, she was pleased that the healer had suggested her own idea, and as blithely as if their almost-altercation earlier had never happened.

'Have you got the makings?' Hachon asked Athiel.

'I'm sure I can find them.' she replied.

'There's no need for that,' said Maikath, 'Once Riawen finds out, you'll have to find her something to do to help. She could make the tea. That's if you feel she'd be able to do so, Hachon?' she added quickly.

Since she'd had that little talk with Thranduil she had taken upon herself to try to make up to the orphaned child for her poor previous behaviour. She was teaching Riawen her letters, and training her in household management.