Chapter Ten
The days slowly passed, and Celemirë's stomach began to expand. She had new clothes made to accommodate her new figure, and she laughed as she saw her large, round, pregnant stomach. Legolas' eyes were fixed on his wife, and he hardly left her side. Each day he would take her outside in the fresh air to walk, holding her arm steadily. At times, Celemirë would protest, saying that she was too tired, but Legolas always coaxed her gently and patiently.
"Fresh air is good for you, my love," he would say. "You need to walk. Walking is very good as well."
"And how do you know this?" she asked.
"Your mother." Legolas smiled.
Spring came to Ithilien suddenly. The air was full of the songs of male birds as they tried to woo a female. Celemirë and Legolas, walking together through the trees, would look at each other and smile. Legolas took Celemirë to the river near to their home and seated her on a rock, as he sang to her of his love for her in Sindarin.
"Legolas, you do not need to remind me of how much you love me. Unless, of course, you plan on abandoning me! Or perhaps the reason you are singing is because the male birds have made you jealous. Perhaps they are signing to me?" she teased.
Legolas gave her a mock hurt look, then took her in his arms.
Spring was soon followed by summer. Celemirë was excited, for on the midday of summer, she turned eighteen years of age. Legolas surprised her by taking her to Dol Amroth. There, on the beach, they heard and saw the white gulls crying, and the sea called to them.
"Why do the white gulls call?" Celemirë sang softly.
Legolas turned her so that she faced the West.
"A day will come when we will sail away, Celemirë." he whispered.
At long last, Celemirë began to feel more pain. Fall arrived. Her stomach slowly lowered, and she knew the time for her delivery would come soon. Her three handmaidens began to make clothing for the child. Elessar and Arwen sent a beautiful baby bed as a gift. Legolas placed it in their bedchamber. Celemirë would often find him gazing lovingly at it.
One night, Legolas came to the bedchamber to find Celemirë gasping for breath. She looked up at him and said weakly:
"Call Elenath, Forfirith, and Amorith!"
The three handmaidens appeared shortly afterwards, looking anxious. They brought with them many cloths and vessels of warm water. Legolas watched as they made Celemirë relax against the pillows, then parted her legs. Celemirë turned to Legolas.
"Will you stay?" she asked.
"I will." Legolas replied.
The three handmaidens spoke to Celemirë softly, telling her to relax and take deep breaths. Legolas took hold of Celemirë's hand.
At first, Celemirë felt no pain. She pushed her hardest, but it did not seem that the baby moved very much. For several hours she felt no pain, yet beads of perspiration ran down her body. Then, suddenly, the pain came with great force. Celemirë wanted to scream. She took hold of Legolas' hand and squeezed it hard. Elenath exclaimed softly:
"Almost, my lady! Almost!"
Celemirë pushed her hardest, and the pain became more intense. Tears ran down her face, and her breathing was in short gasps. The three maidens were now talking excitedly to each other. Celemirë stopped, unable to go further. Legolas urged her to continue.
"Come on, Celemirë!" Legolas whispered.
Celemirë bit her lip and pushed. The sun rose just as the child passed out of her. The pain was unbearable. Her maidens were quiet. Then Forfirith spoke, and in her voice there was great excitement.
"Iell!" she exclaimed. "A girl!"
Legolas closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer to the Valar. Then he turned to Celemirë, who lay on the bed, hair askew, body glistening with perspiration. Her face was pale and wan, but there was a smile upon her face. Oblivious to the fact that the maidens were still present, Legolas seated himself beside Celemirë and took her in his arms. He smoothed the hair from her face before kissing her. Celemirë moaned softly. He nuzzled her face, her neck, and ran his hands over her breasts. She only looked into his eyes.
When he let go of her, he found the maidens with their backs turned towards them, the newborn child in their arms. They were wrapping her with the blankets they had made, cooing softly. When they finished, Amorith brought the girl to Legolas.
"Congratulations, my lord and lady." she said. "Your daughter."
Legolas took hold of his daughter, eyes shining brightly. She had fair skin and blond curly hair. Her eyes were a shade of both blue and gray. She flailed her tiny fists and began to cry.
"She is beautiful." he whispered.
"And hungry," Forfirith said. "We shall leave you now. When you are finished nursing her, my lady, we shall bathe you."
The door closed softly behind them. Legolas laid the newborn child in Celemirë's arms and settled himself down beside her. He watched as Celemirë held her daughter with slightly shaking hands, eyes welled with tears. She traced her child's pointed ears with her fingers.
"She is Elf!" she cried.
The child cried again.
"I will feed you now." Celemirë said softly.
After a few tries, Celemirë managed to nurse her daughter. Legolas observed quietly, watching as mother and daughter connected. He felt a sense of happiness he had never felt before. Celemirë smiled.
"Legolas…" Celemirë said. "I have chosen a name for her."
"What is it?" Legolas asked.
"Elanor."
"It fits her well, Celemirë."
Celemirë smiled down at her newborn child. A light breeze blew around the room softly. Legolas turned to speak with Celemirë when he noticed that she was resting. Elanor had long since finished nursing, and now lay asleep in her mother's arms. Legolas removed her gently from Celemirë's arms and then placed her in her bed. He then drew the covers around Celemirë after lowering her into the bed.
"Where is our lady Celemirë?" the maidens asked when Legolas emerged from the bedchamber.
"She is resting." he replied. "She nursed Elanor."
The maidens bowed curtly and went away. Legolas walked down the corridors of his home with a wide smile upon his face. The servants who saw him as he passed understood his happiness. Over breakfast, Legolas informed the household of his new daughter.
"Her name is Elanor," he added proudly.
There were many cheers and congratulations. Legolas ordered messages to be delivered informing his sire, Celemirë's family, and Gimli of the happy tidings.
Celemirë rested until midday. Legolas came just as she was getting out of bed. He looked at her with a gleam in his eyes.
"Celemirë, let me bathe you." he said softly.
Celemirë smiled.
He carried her to their private bathing room. There was a hole in the roof of the room that allowed water from a small waterfall outside to cascade down into the room. There was a spell on it so that the water was warm, not icy cold. Legolas took a small washcloth and applied a sweet-smelling salve on it. Then he rubbed the cloth all over Celemirë's body, making sure to be gentle. When he finished, Celemirë thanked him with a passionate kiss.
"That was the best bath I ever had, Legolas." she told him when they returned to their chamber.
Celemirë went over to Elanor and looked down at her. Legolas' eyes strayed to his wife, wrapped in a large cloth. Legolas felt hunger inside him for her. They had not made love since arriving at their home from their trip to Imladris.
"Ai, all the pain was worth it!" Celemirë said softly.
Legolas went quietly behind Celemirë and placed his arms around her waist. She straightened and turned around, dropping the cloth. Legolas caressed her gently. Celemirë moaned. Legolas' chest was bare, since he had taken off his tunic when he bathed her. Celemirë lunged at the belt that held his leggings. It came off, and the leggings followed suit.
"I have never seen you to be more beautiful than today. I have been starved of you for so long." Legolas said.
"As have I, Legolas." she whispered, as he swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed.
They threw the cloths she had lain on during the delivery to the floor. Celemirë had just enough time to slip under the covers before Legolas drew her to him. He felt her legs wrap around him, and he knew that was his signal to start. Celemirë felt him fondle her gently. Then he placed his mouth on hers, and it was then that she felt her passion and hunger for him return. They drank in each other as if it was their first time. Legolas spared her no chance to catch her breath, and when he finally released her, she was panting uncontrollably.
"I would have gone further with you, but I feared I was too intense." Legolas said.
Celemirë gave a small laugh. She put her head on his chest, and placed her mouth on his neck. She heard him groan, and felt him press her firmly against him. Celemirë placed her head next to his. She ran her hands through his hair and nipped his cheeks. His tongue ran over her lips. Celemirë parted them in response, and their tongues swirled around each other. Legolas and Celemirë moaned softly in unison.
Elanor let out a small cry. Celemirë broke away from Legolas' mouth and looked towards the baby's bed. Legolas turned her face towards his and stroked her cheek. He then planted a kiss on her forehead, her breasts, and the space between them.
Elanor cried again.
Celemirë began to rise, but Legolas pushed her back down onto the pillows. Celemirë turned her face as Legolas attempted to nuzzle her.
"What is it, my love? Did I hurt you?" Legolas asked.
"Elanor." Celemirë replied.
Legolas let her rise. She went over to Elanor's bed and lifted her out. Legolas stared at Celemirë's legs hungrily.
"Are you hungry again, my little one?" Celemirë asked Elanor.
She returned to the bed and began to nurse her daughter. Legolas moved down and began to run his hands up and down Celemirë's legs. She moaned softly and twitched slightly.
"Legolas…" she whispered.
He lifted his head and saw Celemirë watching him with shining eyes. Her free arm was held out towards him, and he reached out and took hold of it. Celemirë squeezed his hand gently.
Elanor finished nursing half an hour later. Celemirë handed her to Legolas, who placed her in her bed. Then they both went and bathed together quickly. They dressed hurriedly, and Celemirë took Elanor in her arms. As they passed a window, they were surprised to see that it was evening. Legolas laughed quietly.
"It is your fault; you are too beautiful." he said teasingly.
Celemirë replied:
"Alright then, you shall not touch me for another year."
Legolas smiled.
They found the household gathered on a porch. All eyes turned to the baby in her arms, and Elanor was lifted and passed around. Celemirë did not fear. She knew the Elves had a passion for children and would take care of her. Legolas was beaming proudly. Celemirë slipped away.
She went outside and made her way to the spot where she was given her mother's immortality. Gazing into the West, she thought of everything that happened to her. Tears ran down her face.
There was the sound of a twig snapping. Celemirë turned around sharply, and found Legolas looking at her sheepishly.
"I tried to come closer without making a noise," he explained.
Then his gaze fell upon her tear-strained face.
"What is wrong, my dear?" he asked.
"Nothing is wrong. I was thinking of something that naneth told me once. She said that I would never understand what it is like to be a mother until I am one myself. She said a mother would sacrifice herself for her child's sake. She told me the bond between a mother and child is sacred." Celemirë began. "When I was delivering Elanor, my mother's words came back to me. I fully comprehend what she said now. Henion."
Legolas was silent for a few moments.
"My sire told me something very similar on the day of our wedding. He told me that family is very important. A wife should be cherished, not abused. Children should be loved." Legolas said.
Celemirë looked at Legolas.
"Legolas, since marrying you, I have come to see that the Elves are very blessed. They learned from the mistakes of Men. Elves are much more passionate and perfect in everything they do because they know, they have witnessed. They have the knowledge of many a century. At times I feel unsure of myself, because I was not born a full Elf. I am so very young compared to you." she said.
"Celemirë, when I first saw you, do you know what attracted me to you? It was something immortal in you that drew me to you. True, you were not born a full-blooded Elf, but you are part Elf. That blood showed itself in you strongly. I saw that if a mortal took you as his wife, he would never understand you, and you would perish. The part elven self in you drove the mortal self out. You acted beyond your years, with wisdom, such as any full elven maiden would act. Our household admires you, Celemirë. Many have praised me for wedding you. For they also see what I have seen: you are a true Elf at heart." Legolas responded.
Celemirë smiled through her tears. Legolas wiped her face and drew her closer to him. He traced her pointed ears with his hands. Then he lowered his mouth onto hers and kissed her passionately.