********NOTE: the four lines that Celemirë sings to Legolas are from a song in Arabic that I have translated and modified. Once again, I have looked to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' for inspiration! I love PotC, mate! I also have taken a line from "Into the West".

Chapter Twelve

Celemirë gave birth a year later to another girl. Legolas named her Niphredil. She had straight dark hair with blonde streaks, blue eyes, and resembled her mother very much. Celemirë was happy with her two daughters. Elanor was now a little over a year old. She was walking and making baby sounds, her first attempt at speech.

"Nan! Nan!" Elanor called, running over to Celemirë, who was nursing Niphredil.

She held out a small bow. Celemirë recognized it as the one Legolas made for her. She smiled.

"Adar teaching you to be an archer before you can speak?" she asked, trying to retrieve the small bow from Niphredil.

"NO!" Elanor screamed.

Celemirë watched Elanor run off. Legolas came at that instant and scooped Elanor into his arms. She giggled madly and waved the small bow around. As a result, Legolas was hit hard in the nose by the bow. He gave a small cry of pain and kissed Elanor. He then set her down. Celemirë laughed. Legolas smiled. Celemirë finished nursing Niphredil. She placed her in her bed, and went over to Legolas, who had removed his cloak. Celemirë embraced him. He had been away for three days.

"I missed you, Legolas. Every night I sat by the window and hoped you would return earlier." Celemirë said, burying her face in his chest.

"I missed you as well." Legolas replied, kissing her forehead.

Twenty years passed. Elanor and Niphredil grew older. The Ithilien Elves said that there were never two flowers as fair as the sisters were. Their beauty was beyond mortal measure. Legolas spent his evenings watching his two daughters, smiling blissfully at them. They would practice their archery with him. Niphredil proved to be an excellent archer. One day, Legolas took Celemirë quietly aside and told her:

"It is time they go to Eryn Lasgalen. My father sent me a letter asking if we would send them to learn."

Celemirë, who was singing softly as she unbraided her hair, paused. She turned slowly to look at her husband.

"Send them away? Cannot they learn here?" she asked.

"My sire has not seen them for some time. They will learn under the best mentors, gweston. Avo 'osto, meleth nín." Legolas replied.

"So be it." Celemirë said. "I will go and inform them."

Celemirë found her daughters in their room, getting ready to rest.

"Naneth, what are these tears upon your face?" Elanor asked.

"Your father and I have decided to send you to Eryn Lasgalen to learn. It was your grandsire who encouraged us to do so." Celemirë said.

Niphredil bit her lip and looked at the floor. Elanor smiled.

"Alright, mother. We leave tomorrow, I suppose?" she asked.

Celemirë nodded.

"Niphredil, what is the matter child?"

"Nothing, mother." Niphredil replied slowly.

Celemirë returned to her bedchamber. Legolas was waiting for her. He was removing the plaits from his hair when she entered.

"You informed them?" Legolas asked her as she sighed wearily.

Celemirë nodded. She lay down on the bed on her back, and placed her hand on her stomach. Legolas paused.

"You are not pregnant, are you?" he asked quickly.

"I am not, Legolas." she laughed. "Why do you ask?"

"I thought perhaps you were, and I had not noticed it."

"Legolas, your eyes never deceive you. You always notice."

"I was going to ask if you wanted to conceive once more," he said.

Celemirë looked up at Legolas.

"You want another child?" she asked him quietly.

"Only if you want, Celemirë." Legolas said quickly.

The color from Celemirë's face drained. She took a few deep breaths. How could she tell him?

"Celemirë, what happened?" Legolas asked.

Celemirë rose to her feet and did not meet Legolas' gaze. She went to the far corner of the room, where Elanor's baby bed still stood. She ran her hands across the top of it, keeping her back to Legolas.

"When I gave birth to Niphredil, I had a hard time delivering her. She damaged me internally, Legolas." Celemirë said in a barely audible voice. "I cannot bear any more children for you."

Legolas stared at his wife's back. He stood and went behind her.

"Celemirë, why did you not tell me before?" he asked.

"I feared you would be upset with me," she replied.

Legolas turned her around to face him. Tears stained her face. She did not meet his gaze. Legolas wiped her face.

"Celemirë, you suffered needlessly. For twenty years you kept this from me? Why Celemirë? I love you." Legolas told her. "You know me better than that. I would have comforted you."

Celemirë nodded apologetically.

"I am sorry. Forgive me. You must understand me, though, Legolas. I was grieved when I learned the news," she said.

"Oh, Celemirë, meleth nín…" Legolas told her gently.

He carried her back to their bed and set her down tenderly onto the sheets. Then he lay beside her and stroked her hair. She was still in her clothing: a low cut green dress. He could see her cleavage. She

trembled slightly in his arms.

"At least we have Elanor and Niphredil, Celemirë. Look at them, they are two beautiful maidens. I am content. I do not blame you at all. It

was not your fault." Legolas told her.

"Yet, you desire more children! And I cannot give you any more!" Celemirë wept. "Find another wife who can bear you children, Legolas."

Legolas cried out in rage. How could Celemirë say that? His blue elvish eyes blazed angrily. He shook her.

"Celemirë! How dare you say that! Do you think I only wedded you so you can bear me children all of your life for eternity?" he said sharply.

Celemirë covered her face with her hands and turned over, weeping quietly. Legolas was breathing heavily. When he realized what he had done, he left the bed. He calmed himself before returning. He looked at Celemirë, whose body was shaking violently.

"Celemirë, I apologize. Forgive me!" he said, as he turned her over gently and removed her hands from her face.

She looked up at him with fearful eyes. She was shaking all over.

"Celemirë…I am very sorry. Will you not forgive me?" he pleaded.

Celemirë composed herself. She stared into his eyes. Legolas had never shaken her before, nor had he become this enraged. He had taken her completely by surprise. She blamed herself. For if she had not said what she had said, he would not have become enraged.

Reaching towards his face, Celemirë caressed his cheek.

"I blame myself for what has happened, Legolas. I should not have told you what I did. Yet-" she said.

Legolas placed his hand over her mouth and silenced her.

"Speak no more. I blame myself, for I should have been more understanding, more compassionate." Legolas whispered.

They made tender love that night. Both were trying to please the other so they would forget what had happened. At last, they ended, panting with exhaustion as they rode out their orgasms. Beads of perspiration ran down their bodies as they clung to each other.

"Do you believe you made the right choice wedding me?" Legolas asked, cupping her face in his hands and looking into her gray eyes.

"I followed my heart, for it never fails me. And I say to you, Legolas Greenleaf, do you believe you made the right choice wedding me? Would you rather have wedded a true Elf?" Celemirë replied softly.

"You are a true Elf, Celemirë. I do not regret my choice. I only wish I wedded you earlier. You are everything to me, Celemirë."

Celemirë smiled softly at him. Then she sang in Sindarin:

"All I dreamed for

has come true.

I enjoy my life

because of you."

"My parents were expecting me to wed an Elf. They did not expect him to be you. However, when they found out, father was quite proud. He told me I made the right choice." Celemirë said. "I made the right choice. I am very content as your wife, Legolas. I pray I am contenting you."

Legolas smiled.

"You are, Celemirë. Each moment, my love for you grows considerably. My lust for you never ceases." he told her.

The following morning dawned bright and clear. Celemirë was gone when Legolas awoke from his rest. He heard her voice with his keen ears coming from the courtyard. Rushing to a window, he saw her giving orders to a servant. He smiled lovingly at the sight of her.

In the dining hall, he found Elanor eating alone. She was dressed in blue, and there were flowers entwined in her golden hair. Legolas' breath was stolen as he gazed into her young elvish face. It was as if he was staring at himself in a female's body.

"Maer aur, adar! Manen le?" Elanor said in her clear voice.

"Im vaer, sell nín." Legolas replied. "Did you rest well?"

"I did, sire. And yourself?"

"I rested well. Now, go and prepare yourself for the journey. Where is Niphredil?" Legolas said.

"She is coming. I will go, as you said, sire. I have finished eating." Elanor said. "I am so excited about this trip."

She rose and kissed her father tenderly on his cheek. Niphredil entered the room and sat across from Legolas. There was a dreamy look in her eyes, and her hand strayed constantly to her lips.

"Niphredil, are you alright?" Legolas asked.

"Im vaer, adar…." Niphredil replied softly.

She stared at the food in front of her.

"Are you not hungry?" Legolas asked.

Niphredil shook her head.

"Well, I must go now and prepare myself." she said, and left the dining hall. "What a wonderful day I am having!"

Legolas watched her go with a puzzled expression on his face. He had noticed in the past few months that she was acting strangely, not eating or drinking very much.

"Hîr nín,"

Legolas was interrupted by a young male Elf with silver hair. He recognized him as the son of an Elf who moved from Eryn Lasgalen. The young male bowed to Legolas.

"The company is ready."

Legolas thanked him.

"Man eneth lín?" Legolas asked him.

"Gil-celeb i eneth nín, hîr nín,"

Niphredil came at that moment. When she saw Gil-celeb, her eyes lit up briefly. Legolas smiled to himself.

'She is in love with him, and he with her.' he thought.

"Niphredil, go down to the courtyard and pick the steed you want to ride. Gil-celeb, I want you to remain here." Legolas said.

Niphredil left quickly. Gil-celeb looked at Legolas.

"Gil-celeb, you are a smith, am I right?" Legolas began.

"I am," the young Elf replied.

The Elf Prince of Eryn Lasgalen took out a knife Gil-celeb had made for him and held it up so the young Elf could see it.

"This is a fine knife. I expect the one who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life." Legolas said with a slight smile on his lips. "Do you understand me? Go now and join her."

"Glassen, hîr nín," Gil-celeb said quickly. "Henion!"

The smith then bowed and hurried away. Legolas smiled and returned the knife in its sheath. Then he went outside and found Celemirë coming up the steps. She paused, and Legolas took her in with his eyes: her dark hair, her white face, and her gray eyes that he loved the most. Behind her, he saw Niphredil and Gil-celeb holding hands and speaking to each other. He remembered the first day he met Celemirë, and how beautiful she was to him. His heart fluttered uncontrollably.

"Legolas, I was about to call you." Celemirë said, coming up to him.

Legolas seized her by the arm and kissed her. Celemirë moaned and clasped her arms around him. She heard Elanor scream in delight:

"Niphredil! Tiro! Naneth! Adar!"

When Legolas released Celemirë, he saw everyone present in the courtyard watching them with smiles upon their faces. Legolas and Celemirë acted as though nothing had happened.

They convoy of Ithilien Elves who were escorting Niphredil and Elanor rode up to Legolas. Gil-celeb was beside Niphredil. Celemirë saw the light that shone in her daughter's eyes.

"May the Valar look after you, my daughters." Celemirë called.

"She loves him, Legolas." Celemirë said with excitement.

That night in bed, Celemirë wept quietly.

"I am happy for her. Gil-celeb seems to be very good. And we know his parents." Celemirë said. "May they dwell together happily!"

"Do you remember when we first met, Celemirë?" Legolas said softly, nuzzling her neck and face. "I knew you were the one."

"I fell in love with you, Legolas, instantly. You were the sort of Elf that I desired to wed: strong, handsome, understanding, wise, and compassionate. You have proven to me countless times over that my heart made the right decision. Words cannot express my love for you, Legolas. My dreams have all become living reality." Celemirë told him.

Legolas smiled. They rested in each other's arms.

Sindarin Translations:

Man eneth lín: what is your name

Gil-celeb i eneth nín: Gil-celeb is my name