It was two years after Anariel returned. She and Haldir had gotten married.
They were living happily in Lothlorien with their daughter, Avantarwen, and
anxiously awaiting the arrival of their second child.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Anariel was sitting on a blanket that Haldir had set out for her after they had eaten their lunch by the lakeside watching Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil play with Avantarwen in the water. Haldir climbed out of the water and sat down next to Anariel on the blanket.
"You look sad. Is something wrong?" Haldir asked, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
A sharp intake of breath escaped her lips. She put her hand on her swollen abdomen.
"Anar? What is it? Are you okay?" Haldir asked, immediately sitting up straight, looking at Anariel.
"It was just a slight contraction. There's nothing to worry about."
Haldir stood up and helped Anariel to her feet. "It's time to go," he said to his brothers. They nodded and carried Avantarwen out of the lake.
Anariel put her hand on Haldir's shoulder. "Don't worry, honey. I'm not gonna have it right now."
He smiled. "I know." He kissed her head and taking her hand in his, they walked back to their Talan.
~ Six hours later ~
Outside of the room, Haldir was pacing back and forth. Glorfindel was leaning against the wall.
"Haldir, it will seem longer if you continue to pace like that." Haldir stopped his pacing and stood next to his father-in-law.
"I know, Ada, I know."
Glorfindel put a hand on Haldir's shoulder.
"Don't worry about Anariel. You and I both know that she is strong and . . ."
The screaming of a healthy baby was heard. Galadriel came out of the room. "Haldir," she said. "You have two beautiful sons. And you can go in and see her now."
"Thank you," he said and all but ran through the door.
"How could we have doubted the love that they share?" Glorfindel asked Galadriel.
"I don't know, Glorfindel. For once, I have no clue."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Anariel was sitting on a blanket that Haldir had set out for her after they had eaten their lunch by the lakeside watching Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil play with Avantarwen in the water. Haldir climbed out of the water and sat down next to Anariel on the blanket.
"You look sad. Is something wrong?" Haldir asked, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
A sharp intake of breath escaped her lips. She put her hand on her swollen abdomen.
"Anar? What is it? Are you okay?" Haldir asked, immediately sitting up straight, looking at Anariel.
"It was just a slight contraction. There's nothing to worry about."
Haldir stood up and helped Anariel to her feet. "It's time to go," he said to his brothers. They nodded and carried Avantarwen out of the lake.
Anariel put her hand on Haldir's shoulder. "Don't worry, honey. I'm not gonna have it right now."
He smiled. "I know." He kissed her head and taking her hand in his, they walked back to their Talan.
~ Six hours later ~
Outside of the room, Haldir was pacing back and forth. Glorfindel was leaning against the wall.
"Haldir, it will seem longer if you continue to pace like that." Haldir stopped his pacing and stood next to his father-in-law.
"I know, Ada, I know."
Glorfindel put a hand on Haldir's shoulder.
"Don't worry about Anariel. You and I both know that she is strong and . . ."
The screaming of a healthy baby was heard. Galadriel came out of the room. "Haldir," she said. "You have two beautiful sons. And you can go in and see her now."
"Thank you," he said and all but ran through the door.
"How could we have doubted the love that they share?" Glorfindel asked Galadriel.
"I don't know, Glorfindel. For once, I have no clue."