Chapter 16

Several months later…

Rhiannon lay on her bed, along with a dozing Avariel, at five-thirty in the morning, watching nothing in particular on TV, and having both a nauseous feeling and an intense craving for pickles.

She'd been back to work, and the success in one of the most controversial, publicized murder trial of the decade with she at the helm of the prosecution, along with her notorious hard work, had earned her a partnership in the law firm where she worked.
The trial had lasted almost three months, something she was grateful for. Without work to focus on, all she had to do was think about her own life, instead of the life of a suspected killer. She'd had no time to think, to do anything really. She'd only seen Melissa five times in those three months, which made her feel irregular. She was used to seeing her up to five times a day.

Three days ago, her victorious verdict had come in, and the next day, she received word of her partnership.

Partners didn't have to go in nearly as early as the regular attorneys.

Her glazed eyes went over her choices: the ends of infomercials, like the Magic Bullet and that fabulous knife set, early morning cartoons, which all seemed to feature Scooby Doo, news items on the women who had been raped the night before, or Barney. She settled for Barney.

And then, as the bright colors flashed against the screen, blue, yellow and red, she was reminded of a color she hadn't seen for almost four months. Red. Speaking of irregular!

'Jesus Christ!'

She hadn't bought feminine products for months… Aunt Flo hadn't been for a visit in many, many weeks!

Nausea began to rise in her throat, but that didn't mean anything, right? Right?!

And then, she vomited, all over her comforter. She looked at it in complete abhorrence, and climbed out of bed, a hand over her heart and one over her stomach.

"It can't be."

And then, she brushed her teeth, and went to get some of those pickles she wanted so badly.

She decided to wait a few hours before calling Melissa. She looked at the clock: five twenty-four.

"Oh, to hell with THAT." Pickle in hand, she yanked up the phone and pushed memory key one.

Melissa's groggy voice answered.

"Yeah?"

"Missy?" She crunched down.

"Are you alright?" Rhiannon winced. Her best friend thought that the only reason for her calling at almost six in the morning had to be an emergency.

"I-I don't know… Are you sitting down?"

"No. I'm laying down. In my bed. Where I was asleep before you called."

"Missy, I think I'm pregnant." A yelp, a click, and the conversation was over.

Knowing Melissa would be over any minute, Rhiannon laid clothes out on her bed. She noticed a shining thread on the seam of her comforter while wiping it off for the wash. She peered closer, and realized that it was a hair.

You could sew with this stuff…

She immediately pulled it out, to be surprised by a lengthy rip. She stuck her hand in and fished around, pulling out a leather pouch. She opened it, and removed its contents. Two letters, and an enormous diamond on a chain of a white metal that she couldn't identify.

One was addressed to her, and the other was addressed to someone named 'Daralis'.

She opened hers. There, in curvy writing, was Legolas' last message to her.

Silmeamin -

I write this to you as you sleep, quite near to me. Your hair is falling onto your face, and your body is slowly rising with each breath you inhale. It seems that when I think I have found a moment in which you could not appear more beautiful, you prove me wrong. Perhaps my knowledge of what also rises as you breathe makes you that much more beautiful to me.

I am truly sorry for not having told you this, but I have known since the second time we were intimate that you carried our child. I feel certain that as you are reading this, you also know of your condition, one that could not have been caused without my full knowledge. I only knew, Silmeamin, that I wanted no other to carry my child, and I had hoped to be there with you. I am ecstatic over this news of our child's arrival, and my grievance at leaving you only parallels to my grievance at never seeing our little girl, and missing her birth. The Elves can die of heartache- the only thing I have to keep me alive is our memories and the knowledge that we have shared worlds before, and that possibility leaves a chance, slim as it may be, that I will see you again, and meet our daughter.
All I can attempt is to wait through the ages, as I have promised to do.

When an Elf gives his heart, he has no other to give. I love you, Rhiannon, and no one I ever encounter can change that, for I have fully given myself to you. The mere fact that we are apart physically will change nothing for me, as I hope it will change nothing for your love for me. Your beauty is not only physical, it is equally matched in your heart and soul, and the memory of your face and that heart and soul you have shared with me is more than enough to outweigh the pressures of anything or anyone else. The one thing you can always be sure of is my love for you- no condition, circumstance or event will ever dilute it.

The accompanying letter is for our child when you feel that she is ready. I only ask that, since I can have no part in her upbringing, that you let me contribute to her life in the only way I can think of at this point - her name.

I would like you to name her Daralis. It means 'beloved one'. I ask so that she will know that I love her, no matter how far apart we may be, and that I always will. Her name is something that she will carry throughout her life and beyond, as is my love and protection of her.

And simply to prepare you, Silmeamin, you should expect some things from her. Although she is a Peredhil, she will have attributes of the Quendelie. She will heal quickly, age slowly, need less rest and be stronger and more capable than most, if not all of her peers. At a certain age, she may be given the choice to stay a mortal, or to become an Elf, living forever, as have the Peredhil children of Elrond, Lord of Imladris. The matter of her future lies with the Valar, and they cannot be questioned, challenged, or rebuked. Remember this always.

The chain is for you, though I hope that it will go to our child eventually. It is of Mithril, a fine metal that has disappeared from your world. The chain will never break, and the diamond will never wear away, making it a fitting representation of my love for you.

I know that I need not ask you, Silmeamin, to protect our child. I do beg of you, however, to always have her know that her father loves her. Her knowledge of my undying love for her is the only other thing you could give me, for you have given me everything I could ever want or need.

Never forget me, my Starlight, my Great Queen, for I will never forget you, no matter how many ages pass me by. I love you.

Namaarie. Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'.

Legolas

Rhiannon looked down at the paper. The ink was running in places from the teardrops that had fallen onto it. She protectively held the letter out from her person with one hand, wiping her tears with the other. She tried to stop, but knew it was hopeless. She melted off the bed onto a puddle on the floor, shaking with sobs and tasting her own tears. She missed him so much. It felt like a part of her was missing, and only after she had read the letter did she realize that Legolas felt t he same way as well. She eventually came to the conclusion that she missed the part of her that she had given to him, and she had the part of him that he had given to her to help her through it.

She heard Melissa's car pull up, and she quickly refolded the letter and put it back in the pouch, along with the second letter. She ran her thumb over the chain and looked at the diamond for a moment before replacing it, and when Melissa's key turned in the lock, she shoved the pouch deep under her bed and went into her bathroom to splash her face with cold water.

She was wiping when Melissa entered her bedroom. Water still clung to the tiny ringlets that framed her face, and her eyelashes sparkled as if hung with diamonds in the golden red sunrise.

She was mauled.

"Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh, Sweetie! You're gonna be a mama!" Melissa kissed her cheeks, and Rhiannon smiled.

She was going to be a mother. Half of her, and half of Legolas, kept safe inside her. It was marvelous, really, to simply ponder. She placed a hand on her stomach.

"Wow. I am going to be a mother."

"Tell me, Rhiannon. How is it that I am married, and you are having children before I am?"

Rhiannon smiled.

"I guess Elves are better." Melissa dissolved into giggles, unable to stop herself.

"I guess they are. Do you know how amazing this is? Oh Rhi, we're having a baby… I'm so excited!"

"So am I," she smiled. "I figure that I'm probably around four months right about now. I think I'll make an appointment with the doctor for later. I'll also have to call in to work and tell them I can't make it because of my appointment… My baby will always have to come first. Wow. I actually have a baby to come first."

"What do you think it is?"

"A girl. Definitely a daughter."

"Really? You'll have trouble on your hands!"

"Only if she's like you, Missy." Rhiannon winked at her best friend.

"Oh, shut up. What are you going to name her? Do you have any ideas?"

"I have one, yes. I just have to figure out her middle name."

"What are you going to name her?" Rhiannon shook her head.

"Not telling yet." Melissa made a dejected face at her denial.

"Fine, then. Ooh! Let's go online and look up names!" Rhiannon smiled. At least she was over it.

"I remember when we used to do that when we were teenagers!"

"I know!"

They rushed into the newly remade office, Rhiannon excited as ever.