The Birth of Dawn and Twilight
Written By: Shelly LeBlanc
~Author's Note: Bwahahahaha! Finally, the actual birth has finally come. Are you excited? I am . . . of course, I only had two reviews from last chapter, so I am slightly sad *pouts* I don't ask for much, just a little word here or there about how you liked (or disliked) the story. I haven't had any real flames, just people arguing over the thought of Legolas and Arwen being *slaps hand over mouth* Oops, I almost gave it away (like you didn't know before, but I would like to think I'm surprising somebody!). But they are good arguments, so I do not mind. Anyway, read on and enjoy.
Ah, yes. It wasn't until recently that I realized that Haldir was NOT Celebrian's brother, but I am putting that in anyway. For it will be much interesting in the third story at Helm's Deep (I am still unsure if I will go with the film version or book version)~
**Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters in this story except for Isawien, the Queen of Mirkwood, and some other random people. All characters are copyrighted by J.R.R. Tolkien, and who ever else owns the Lord of the Rings trilogy.**
Chapter Six – The Coming of the Twins
When Celebrian awoke on the fourth day of her arrival, she could tell it was mid morning. The sunlight splashed upon her face, leaving it a warm glow. It was a comforting gesture from the sun, but she knew that was not enough to awaken her from her slumber. She raised her head slightly at the room that was empty, save herself, and found nothing that could have disrupted her sleep. She laid her head back down, resolved to not awaken again until noon until she felt it; the thing that had woke her up just a few moments ago. Labor pains.
She was ready to have the babies.
"Elrond!" Celebrian cried, hoping he was near by to hear, but got up from her bed just the same. Her joints were stiff and her stomach was cramped. Not for the first time since the announcement of her pregnancy did she feel like a water balloon, but this was the first time she felt like she was going to burst. Another wave of pain hit her, stalling her from getting out of her bed. She groaned, closing her eyes. "All right, little ones. You want out, I get the point. Stop turning me into a punching bag, okay?" she spoke softly to the children inside her and the contraction subsided. As quickly as she could, she lifted herself from the bed and found her robe. She saw no point getting dress, hoping to only go a few feet before finding her husband, or someone to inform him.
Then she would go back to bed and never leave it again. Celebrian nodded, that sounded like a marvelous plan.
She finally stepped out of her quarters, and searched the halls. "Oh, of all the times to be deserted! Elrond!" she cried out again, walking down the hall in search of anybody who could help her, using the wall for support. "Elrond!"
Another contraction kicked in, almost doubling her over. How did they get so strong so fast, she wondered. It was longer for her first set of twins.
As she was trying to control the pain, she heard a gasp from in front of her and she raised her head. There stood Kind Thranduil, gaping at the site before him. Celebrian was about to say something but another wave came, then finally dying down, leaving her gasping for air.
"My-my Lady! Are you well?" The King finally seemed to have snapped out of his shock and moved forward, helping the wall support her.
Celebrian was still trying to catch her breath, "Yes . . . yes. It's just . . . I need my husband . . ."
"He is in the library, my Lady."
"Good . . . can you get him . . . and tell him . . . it's time?" she panted out, relieved to have finally given the message to someone. She took herself off of the wall and placed most of it in Thranduil's capable hands. He quickly took hold of her and lifted her in her arms.
"I will, my Lady. As soon as I get you to bed." With that, the King of Mirkwood started walking towards her room. With her breathe finally caught and the pain turned to a dull ache, Celebrian blushed at having to be carried to her room like a child.
"I'm well enough to walk now, Thranduil, the contraction has passed," she protested, but did not move from his arms. She was not about to fall out of his arms ungracefully and injure herself or her yet-to-be-born children.
"I know, my Lady," Thranduil said as he passed her through the door that she had left opened and moved her towards the bed. "But I will feel safer if you got to your bed safely." He placed her gently on the bed, and proceeded to make her comfortable before she finally forced him to leave.
"I'm fine. I just want my husband here, it will take a while before they actually come." Thranduil made one last check on her comfort before finally leaving the room, causing the mother-to-be sigh in relief. Thranduil was a good Elf, just slightly overprotective.
But Celebrian's relief did not last for long, for another wave of pain flowed through her body, causing her to curl into a ball. It was not the worse pain she had ever felt, but it was a reminder that it only gets worse.
The door opened suddenly and a frantic Elrond rushed into the room, followed by Thranduil and Haldir closely at his heels.
"My love, are you all right?" Elrond called, coming to her side quickly. She straightened as much as she could and smiled at him.
"As much as one can when creatures are trying to get out from inside you," Celebrian joked, trying to hide a wince with a smile. But Elrond saw through the smile at the pain, and rested one of his hands on her forehead and the other on the now taunt belly. They sat quiet for a moment until Elrond could feel the tension leave her body again and the labor pains ceased. Celebrian took a deep breath in relief.
Haldir moved to the other side of his sister's bed, in hopes to comfort her when the next contraction hit. But he was only there a few moments before Celebrian sent him away with an errand.
"Find out mother, she will want to be present," she requested, and continued when he saw the hesitance in his eyes and demeanor. "Do not worry, dear Brother. I have my husband here now, I am fine."
Haldir quickly left to follow his sister's orders, with Thranduil close behind him. She didn't even need to tell him her request for him. "I will go to my wife and make sure she has eaten, then we will join you as soon as possible."
Celebrian laughed, "Do not rush, we still have another day of this." She turned her laughing eyes to her husband, who could only give her a weak smile in return. Her laughter died then and she asked him what was wrong.
"We do not have a full day, my Lady. It seems your contractions are getting closer much faster than normal. These children are ready to be born. I say by night fall you will have your children," was he reply, meeting her eyes briefly before continuing his exam. Celebrian widened her eyes at the statement. This labor was going much faster than her last, and it scared her a little. Her husband somehow felt this and stopped his examination to turn his stone gray eyes to her sapphire blue ones. "Do not fear, my love. So far everything looks well. One of the children is already in birthing position, and no doubt the other will unbreach itself when it has room. If need be, I will go in and do it myself."
The eye contact never broke between them and neither spoke, for their eyes said enough. Elrond's told of his love and how much he would do to keep harm from befalling his wife and children. Celebrian's proclaimed her own love for him and showed that she had full trust in him.
The silence was broken with the entrance of the Lady of Lorien and Haldir. Only moments after their arrival, Celebrian was hit by another wave of pain. So the next few moments were spent with Elrond, Galadriel, and Haldir soothing Celebrian's pain. Somewhere in the middle of that contraction, Thranduil and Isawien arrived to contribute their help, though there was not much to be done. Haldir assigned himself the tasks of bring Celebrian refreshments and whatever else she needed to stay healthy and comfortable. The Lord of Imladris was a very well prepared Elf and there were very few things that he did not already have in the room that he needed, and it was only Thranduil that collected those items. Isawien and Galadriel just stayed by the expecting mother's side to comfort and entertain her.
This was the first time since Isawien came to Lorien that she ever left her room or had to entertain someone else. The few days she spent in the company of Celebrian before that morning had worked wonders. Just the thought of being present at the birthing of the twins excited the Queen enough to have an appetite. Her face didn't seem as ghostly and her smile made the lines of sorrow disappear. Celebrian knew that if she hadn't had this Elven lady by her side, she would have throw something at her husband for putting her through this much pain again.
Hours past since everyone had entered the room. The contractions got stronger and closer together. It was almost sunset before Elrond announced that the first child was ready to be born.
Everyone got in a position to help with the birthing, for they all wanted to help. But Elrond only allowed Isawien to be on the bed with Celebrian as he placed himself at the foot, waiting for the child. Thranduil stood by the side of the bed that was closest to his wife, while Haldir was stationed at his sister side of the bed, holding her forward with the help of the pillows propped up behind her back. At her daughter's request, Galadriel had opened the balcony window and stayed there, alternating her glance between the falling sun and Celebrian.
"All right, Celebrian, push when I count to three," Elrond said, readying himself for the birth of his third child. Celebrian nodded at her husband's words and closed her eyes, ready to endure the pain. She had asked for no medication to numb it and had regretted it for only a moment.
"One, two," Elrond spoke, eyeing the opening which showed the top of the child's head. "Three."
Celebrian pushed with all her might, screaming out in pain. After a few moments, the pain was gone, and so was the child from inside of her. She collapsed in relief, gasping for air. She only opened her eyes again when she heard the cry of an infant.
The room was only lit by candles, for the sun had gone down and it was the early moments twilight was accruing. It gave the room an unnatural glow, and it sent shivers down her spine. But those shivers disappeared when she took a glimpse of what laid her husband's hands.
It was a tiny Elfling baby, crying it's little heart out from being taken from its warm and wet surroundings. A mass of dark curls covered its head, and its pink face was scrunched up as wails came from its tiny mouth.
"Celebrian . . . meet our daughter," Elrond said in a whispered awe, placing the baby on her mother's bosom. Celebrian gave a cry of delight as she grasped her child, tears falling from her eyes.
"A daughter, our little girl." Celebrian stared at the creature she was holding with wondering. The infant's cries never stopped, but her mother never paid much attention to them. The child was perfect, beautifully perfect. The redness of the skin was already fading out (except for the face, which was pink from the infant's screams) and revealed porcelain skin. Her dark hair was almost totally cleaned from the towel that Haldir had been rubbing over it while the child was in her mother's arms.
Finally, the cries from the little girl died down, and she opened her eyes for the first time since entering this would. When Celebrian stared into them, she saw the deep pools of an ocean. Her daughter had only slightly darker eyes than her own, most certainly taking after Celeborn's, the infant's grandfather, eyes.
"Oh, Elrond," Celebrian whispered, "She's beautiful."
Elrond moved from where he was at the foot of their bed to her side, placing an arm around his wife's back. "She is . . . she looks just like you."
"Except for her hair," Haldir interrupted, gazing down upon the now quiet infant. "And she has Father's eyes."
"She is fair, indeed," Thranduil said, looking over his wife's shoulder, who had tears in her eyes.
"She's perfect," Isawien said, resting a hand on the child's chest. "And very healthy, from the looks of it."
Elrond smiled. "She is." He then looked at the couple that sat next to him and his wife, and said in a serious voice, "Maybe this is the incentive for you two to try again."
The room was quiet for a moment; then Isawien turned to her husband. "It may be indeed. We shall need to talk about it later, after everything is done here."
Thranduil's smile grew so big, one would have thought it would break his face. "Agreed, my dear wife," he said, and kissed her gently. Celebrian smiled warmly in their direction, before turning to the other, to where her mother stood, watching the interaction with a emotionless look on her face. She broke out of it when she felt her daughter's eyes and smiled. Celebrian's smile widened.
"Mother, would you like to hold your granddaughter?" Galadriel nodded after a moment's pause and came to the bed, reaching out to the infant. Celebrian placed her daughter in her arms and sat back to watch the interaction. Galadriel cradled the child in her arms and backed away to where she stood before. She faced the baby to the moonlight and together they looked at the night sky (at least Galadriel did, the infant had already fallen asleep).
A flicker of emotion crossed the Lady of the Golden Wood's face, one that her daughter could not identify with, so Celebrian called out. "Mother, what is it?"
Galadriel turned her attention away from the stars and back to her daughter, but she did not explain anything to her. She only said, "It is nothing of importance at this moment of time. As Isawien said before, there is another child that needs to come into this world right now. We will concentrate on that for now. I will tell you when the time comes."
Celebrian nodded, and looked at her husband. Elrond had already removed himself from her side to go back to the foot of her bed. He checked her condition, then turned his eyes towards her.
"The child is still breached, but it shows no signs of leaving the womb any time soon. We might be waiting a while before the baby is ready to be born." Celebrian closed her eyes, and let out a breath. This was not how the last twins were born, they came right after another. But she was thankful since the baby was still breached.
Everything was quiet in the room. Celebrian opened her eyes again to find that the infant had changed hands from Galadriel to Haldir and was now being placed in a bassinet at the side of the bed. She was not awaken by the movement, and she slept soundly in her tiny bed. Celebrian decided to follow her daughter's example and rested her eyes again, hoping to have a few hours of sleep before the next contractions began.
* * *
Celebrian had only two and a half hours of sleep before she felt the pain, and but they were not as bad as before. Thinking something was wrong, she looked at her husband with fear, but was reassured that the pains she felt was the baby turning itself.
"It's a strong baby, I can feel it already," Elrond said, smiling. "I think it's using its feet."
The baby finally unbreached itself after a few hours, and the contractions started again. The labor for the second child was much shorter, but much more painful. Celebrian was already sore from one child coming out of her; two were a strain. But she felt no weakness, for this was nothing she could not handle.
When her husband told her to start pushing, she pushed with her eyes opened. She wanted to see this baby come out, feeling guilty for shutting her eyes with the first child. Through the haze and the pain, she saw Elrond in front of her, ready to help the baby out of it's mother's womb. Isawien was at her right side, encouraging her to keep breathing and to keep pushing. Thranduil said no words, neither did Haldir, who was at her other side. But their presence was a comfort to her.
Celebrian also saw her mother, still standing besides the window. By the light that played on Galadriel's beautiful face, Celebrian knew it was almost dawn. Suddenly a strong contraction took hold of her and she returned her gaze to her husband, and pushed. Finally, Celebrian felt the child exit her body.
The first light of dawn filled the room of Elrond and Celebrian as the second twin let out his first cry.
------------------------
Review Thanks
Silvertoekee: Oh, you so good to me! Here's the next chapter for being so cool.
Elemental flair: Thank you! I hope I will keep you interested!
Written By: Shelly LeBlanc
~Author's Note: Bwahahahaha! Finally, the actual birth has finally come. Are you excited? I am . . . of course, I only had two reviews from last chapter, so I am slightly sad *pouts* I don't ask for much, just a little word here or there about how you liked (or disliked) the story. I haven't had any real flames, just people arguing over the thought of Legolas and Arwen being *slaps hand over mouth* Oops, I almost gave it away (like you didn't know before, but I would like to think I'm surprising somebody!). But they are good arguments, so I do not mind. Anyway, read on and enjoy.
Ah, yes. It wasn't until recently that I realized that Haldir was NOT Celebrian's brother, but I am putting that in anyway. For it will be much interesting in the third story at Helm's Deep (I am still unsure if I will go with the film version or book version)~
**Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters in this story except for Isawien, the Queen of Mirkwood, and some other random people. All characters are copyrighted by J.R.R. Tolkien, and who ever else owns the Lord of the Rings trilogy.**
Chapter Six – The Coming of the Twins
When Celebrian awoke on the fourth day of her arrival, she could tell it was mid morning. The sunlight splashed upon her face, leaving it a warm glow. It was a comforting gesture from the sun, but she knew that was not enough to awaken her from her slumber. She raised her head slightly at the room that was empty, save herself, and found nothing that could have disrupted her sleep. She laid her head back down, resolved to not awaken again until noon until she felt it; the thing that had woke her up just a few moments ago. Labor pains.
She was ready to have the babies.
"Elrond!" Celebrian cried, hoping he was near by to hear, but got up from her bed just the same. Her joints were stiff and her stomach was cramped. Not for the first time since the announcement of her pregnancy did she feel like a water balloon, but this was the first time she felt like she was going to burst. Another wave of pain hit her, stalling her from getting out of her bed. She groaned, closing her eyes. "All right, little ones. You want out, I get the point. Stop turning me into a punching bag, okay?" she spoke softly to the children inside her and the contraction subsided. As quickly as she could, she lifted herself from the bed and found her robe. She saw no point getting dress, hoping to only go a few feet before finding her husband, or someone to inform him.
Then she would go back to bed and never leave it again. Celebrian nodded, that sounded like a marvelous plan.
She finally stepped out of her quarters, and searched the halls. "Oh, of all the times to be deserted! Elrond!" she cried out again, walking down the hall in search of anybody who could help her, using the wall for support. "Elrond!"
Another contraction kicked in, almost doubling her over. How did they get so strong so fast, she wondered. It was longer for her first set of twins.
As she was trying to control the pain, she heard a gasp from in front of her and she raised her head. There stood Kind Thranduil, gaping at the site before him. Celebrian was about to say something but another wave came, then finally dying down, leaving her gasping for air.
"My-my Lady! Are you well?" The King finally seemed to have snapped out of his shock and moved forward, helping the wall support her.
Celebrian was still trying to catch her breath, "Yes . . . yes. It's just . . . I need my husband . . ."
"He is in the library, my Lady."
"Good . . . can you get him . . . and tell him . . . it's time?" she panted out, relieved to have finally given the message to someone. She took herself off of the wall and placed most of it in Thranduil's capable hands. He quickly took hold of her and lifted her in her arms.
"I will, my Lady. As soon as I get you to bed." With that, the King of Mirkwood started walking towards her room. With her breathe finally caught and the pain turned to a dull ache, Celebrian blushed at having to be carried to her room like a child.
"I'm well enough to walk now, Thranduil, the contraction has passed," she protested, but did not move from his arms. She was not about to fall out of his arms ungracefully and injure herself or her yet-to-be-born children.
"I know, my Lady," Thranduil said as he passed her through the door that she had left opened and moved her towards the bed. "But I will feel safer if you got to your bed safely." He placed her gently on the bed, and proceeded to make her comfortable before she finally forced him to leave.
"I'm fine. I just want my husband here, it will take a while before they actually come." Thranduil made one last check on her comfort before finally leaving the room, causing the mother-to-be sigh in relief. Thranduil was a good Elf, just slightly overprotective.
But Celebrian's relief did not last for long, for another wave of pain flowed through her body, causing her to curl into a ball. It was not the worse pain she had ever felt, but it was a reminder that it only gets worse.
The door opened suddenly and a frantic Elrond rushed into the room, followed by Thranduil and Haldir closely at his heels.
"My love, are you all right?" Elrond called, coming to her side quickly. She straightened as much as she could and smiled at him.
"As much as one can when creatures are trying to get out from inside you," Celebrian joked, trying to hide a wince with a smile. But Elrond saw through the smile at the pain, and rested one of his hands on her forehead and the other on the now taunt belly. They sat quiet for a moment until Elrond could feel the tension leave her body again and the labor pains ceased. Celebrian took a deep breath in relief.
Haldir moved to the other side of his sister's bed, in hopes to comfort her when the next contraction hit. But he was only there a few moments before Celebrian sent him away with an errand.
"Find out mother, she will want to be present," she requested, and continued when he saw the hesitance in his eyes and demeanor. "Do not worry, dear Brother. I have my husband here now, I am fine."
Haldir quickly left to follow his sister's orders, with Thranduil close behind him. She didn't even need to tell him her request for him. "I will go to my wife and make sure she has eaten, then we will join you as soon as possible."
Celebrian laughed, "Do not rush, we still have another day of this." She turned her laughing eyes to her husband, who could only give her a weak smile in return. Her laughter died then and she asked him what was wrong.
"We do not have a full day, my Lady. It seems your contractions are getting closer much faster than normal. These children are ready to be born. I say by night fall you will have your children," was he reply, meeting her eyes briefly before continuing his exam. Celebrian widened her eyes at the statement. This labor was going much faster than her last, and it scared her a little. Her husband somehow felt this and stopped his examination to turn his stone gray eyes to her sapphire blue ones. "Do not fear, my love. So far everything looks well. One of the children is already in birthing position, and no doubt the other will unbreach itself when it has room. If need be, I will go in and do it myself."
The eye contact never broke between them and neither spoke, for their eyes said enough. Elrond's told of his love and how much he would do to keep harm from befalling his wife and children. Celebrian's proclaimed her own love for him and showed that she had full trust in him.
The silence was broken with the entrance of the Lady of Lorien and Haldir. Only moments after their arrival, Celebrian was hit by another wave of pain. So the next few moments were spent with Elrond, Galadriel, and Haldir soothing Celebrian's pain. Somewhere in the middle of that contraction, Thranduil and Isawien arrived to contribute their help, though there was not much to be done. Haldir assigned himself the tasks of bring Celebrian refreshments and whatever else she needed to stay healthy and comfortable. The Lord of Imladris was a very well prepared Elf and there were very few things that he did not already have in the room that he needed, and it was only Thranduil that collected those items. Isawien and Galadriel just stayed by the expecting mother's side to comfort and entertain her.
This was the first time since Isawien came to Lorien that she ever left her room or had to entertain someone else. The few days she spent in the company of Celebrian before that morning had worked wonders. Just the thought of being present at the birthing of the twins excited the Queen enough to have an appetite. Her face didn't seem as ghostly and her smile made the lines of sorrow disappear. Celebrian knew that if she hadn't had this Elven lady by her side, she would have throw something at her husband for putting her through this much pain again.
Hours past since everyone had entered the room. The contractions got stronger and closer together. It was almost sunset before Elrond announced that the first child was ready to be born.
Everyone got in a position to help with the birthing, for they all wanted to help. But Elrond only allowed Isawien to be on the bed with Celebrian as he placed himself at the foot, waiting for the child. Thranduil stood by the side of the bed that was closest to his wife, while Haldir was stationed at his sister side of the bed, holding her forward with the help of the pillows propped up behind her back. At her daughter's request, Galadriel had opened the balcony window and stayed there, alternating her glance between the falling sun and Celebrian.
"All right, Celebrian, push when I count to three," Elrond said, readying himself for the birth of his third child. Celebrian nodded at her husband's words and closed her eyes, ready to endure the pain. She had asked for no medication to numb it and had regretted it for only a moment.
"One, two," Elrond spoke, eyeing the opening which showed the top of the child's head. "Three."
Celebrian pushed with all her might, screaming out in pain. After a few moments, the pain was gone, and so was the child from inside of her. She collapsed in relief, gasping for air. She only opened her eyes again when she heard the cry of an infant.
The room was only lit by candles, for the sun had gone down and it was the early moments twilight was accruing. It gave the room an unnatural glow, and it sent shivers down her spine. But those shivers disappeared when she took a glimpse of what laid her husband's hands.
It was a tiny Elfling baby, crying it's little heart out from being taken from its warm and wet surroundings. A mass of dark curls covered its head, and its pink face was scrunched up as wails came from its tiny mouth.
"Celebrian . . . meet our daughter," Elrond said in a whispered awe, placing the baby on her mother's bosom. Celebrian gave a cry of delight as she grasped her child, tears falling from her eyes.
"A daughter, our little girl." Celebrian stared at the creature she was holding with wondering. The infant's cries never stopped, but her mother never paid much attention to them. The child was perfect, beautifully perfect. The redness of the skin was already fading out (except for the face, which was pink from the infant's screams) and revealed porcelain skin. Her dark hair was almost totally cleaned from the towel that Haldir had been rubbing over it while the child was in her mother's arms.
Finally, the cries from the little girl died down, and she opened her eyes for the first time since entering this would. When Celebrian stared into them, she saw the deep pools of an ocean. Her daughter had only slightly darker eyes than her own, most certainly taking after Celeborn's, the infant's grandfather, eyes.
"Oh, Elrond," Celebrian whispered, "She's beautiful."
Elrond moved from where he was at the foot of their bed to her side, placing an arm around his wife's back. "She is . . . she looks just like you."
"Except for her hair," Haldir interrupted, gazing down upon the now quiet infant. "And she has Father's eyes."
"She is fair, indeed," Thranduil said, looking over his wife's shoulder, who had tears in her eyes.
"She's perfect," Isawien said, resting a hand on the child's chest. "And very healthy, from the looks of it."
Elrond smiled. "She is." He then looked at the couple that sat next to him and his wife, and said in a serious voice, "Maybe this is the incentive for you two to try again."
The room was quiet for a moment; then Isawien turned to her husband. "It may be indeed. We shall need to talk about it later, after everything is done here."
Thranduil's smile grew so big, one would have thought it would break his face. "Agreed, my dear wife," he said, and kissed her gently. Celebrian smiled warmly in their direction, before turning to the other, to where her mother stood, watching the interaction with a emotionless look on her face. She broke out of it when she felt her daughter's eyes and smiled. Celebrian's smile widened.
"Mother, would you like to hold your granddaughter?" Galadriel nodded after a moment's pause and came to the bed, reaching out to the infant. Celebrian placed her daughter in her arms and sat back to watch the interaction. Galadriel cradled the child in her arms and backed away to where she stood before. She faced the baby to the moonlight and together they looked at the night sky (at least Galadriel did, the infant had already fallen asleep).
A flicker of emotion crossed the Lady of the Golden Wood's face, one that her daughter could not identify with, so Celebrian called out. "Mother, what is it?"
Galadriel turned her attention away from the stars and back to her daughter, but she did not explain anything to her. She only said, "It is nothing of importance at this moment of time. As Isawien said before, there is another child that needs to come into this world right now. We will concentrate on that for now. I will tell you when the time comes."
Celebrian nodded, and looked at her husband. Elrond had already removed himself from her side to go back to the foot of her bed. He checked her condition, then turned his eyes towards her.
"The child is still breached, but it shows no signs of leaving the womb any time soon. We might be waiting a while before the baby is ready to be born." Celebrian closed her eyes, and let out a breath. This was not how the last twins were born, they came right after another. But she was thankful since the baby was still breached.
Everything was quiet in the room. Celebrian opened her eyes again to find that the infant had changed hands from Galadriel to Haldir and was now being placed in a bassinet at the side of the bed. She was not awaken by the movement, and she slept soundly in her tiny bed. Celebrian decided to follow her daughter's example and rested her eyes again, hoping to have a few hours of sleep before the next contractions began.
* * *
Celebrian had only two and a half hours of sleep before she felt the pain, and but they were not as bad as before. Thinking something was wrong, she looked at her husband with fear, but was reassured that the pains she felt was the baby turning itself.
"It's a strong baby, I can feel it already," Elrond said, smiling. "I think it's using its feet."
The baby finally unbreached itself after a few hours, and the contractions started again. The labor for the second child was much shorter, but much more painful. Celebrian was already sore from one child coming out of her; two were a strain. But she felt no weakness, for this was nothing she could not handle.
When her husband told her to start pushing, she pushed with her eyes opened. She wanted to see this baby come out, feeling guilty for shutting her eyes with the first child. Through the haze and the pain, she saw Elrond in front of her, ready to help the baby out of it's mother's womb. Isawien was at her right side, encouraging her to keep breathing and to keep pushing. Thranduil said no words, neither did Haldir, who was at her other side. But their presence was a comfort to her.
Celebrian also saw her mother, still standing besides the window. By the light that played on Galadriel's beautiful face, Celebrian knew it was almost dawn. Suddenly a strong contraction took hold of her and she returned her gaze to her husband, and pushed. Finally, Celebrian felt the child exit her body.
The first light of dawn filled the room of Elrond and Celebrian as the second twin let out his first cry.
------------------------
Review Thanks
Silvertoekee: Oh, you so good to me! Here's the next chapter for being so cool.
Elemental flair: Thank you! I hope I will keep you interested!