***A/N: Well, I hope ya'll are happy at how fast this chappie came in! Hehe! So read and enjoy…oh, and just fyi, I listened to ROTK soundtrack, number 5 when I was writing this…I guess it kinda inspired me…just to let you know… lol. Enjoy! Don't forget to review!
Chapter Eight
The close forest air was sliced with Maeg's screams and cries of pain. Sweat dripped down her nose and she clenched onto Aragorn's hand, her knuckles turning white.
"I know it is painful, but you must listen to my words," Gandalf soothed, laying down his staff and cloak next to him on the ground.
Maeg whimpered and laid her head on the grassy floor, gulping in air. Tears spilled on the side of her face.
"I don't want to do this!" Maeg cried out, another stabbing pain catching her.
"There is now choice now," Gandalf said, a glint in his eye for the moment before she lurched up and screamed. Gandalf took a deep breath before he began giving orders.
"Gimli, stop standing their and boil the water from my water bag," Gandalf said, his voice filled with authority. "Legolas, take this cloth and rip it into four strips; hurry!" Gandalf handed him a thin cloth from under his cloak and tossed it to the on-looking Elf.
Before long, Gimli had started a small fire with the wood he could find laying on the floor, and held the water bag, which really wasn't a 'bag' in the first place, but a clay jar, over the flames.
"What would you have me do, Gandalf?" Aragorn inquired, looking to him with concern. Maeg tightened her grip on his hand and she moaned, biting her lip which caused blood to drip off her lips.
"You are best where you are," Gandalf muttered, taking the heated water from Gimli's shaking hands. Gimli stepped back, stumbling over his feet as he stared at the pale maiden as she gave a cry before she sat up once again.
Gimli looked up into Legolas's face whom set the cloths beside Gandalf's knee. His face was etched with concern, his brow curved slightly over his blue eye, his jaw clenched. Legolas met Gimli's eye; reading it, he nodded and followed Gimli up the rocky edge and they stood their, their backs turned from the scene.
"Do you suppose they think we are abandoning her?" Gimli asked Legolas, squinting his eyes as Maeg let out another blood-curdling scream. Legolas turned back to Maeg, tears awash on her face, her hand tightly clutching Aragorn's.
"No," Legolas answered quietly. "We are giving her space…" Gimli nodded before he set his hands upon his ears to keep the heart-wrenching cries at bay.
"Gandalf," Aragorn said, turning from Maeg's sweating face to look into the Wizard's. "We must do something…we shall bring every Orc and Goblin to us…"
Gandalf nodded in agreement before he looked sorrowfully to the restless dame. He snatched one of the clothes which he had Legolas rip.
"Maegraukowen," Gandalf whispered, looking into her eyes. His brows curved with pain as he lifted up the cloth. "We must keep your screams from reaching any unwelcome ears…" his voice trailed off as she nodded in understanding and opened her mouth so he could place the strip of cloth between her lips. She bit into it as another pain stabbed her. She cried in pain, but the cloth muffled it.
"You can do it, Maegraukowen," Aragorn encouraged, putting both his hands to cover her one. She only stared in his eyes before another pain hit her.
The sun was beginning to lower, its welcoming rays slowly diminishing. Maeg's screams had died down somewhat, yet moans could still be audible.
Gimli sighed, his broad chest heaving as he turned to Legolas as he looked to the sky, his hands resting on his raised knees.
"It is quiet," Legolas muttered without blinking or turning his head. Gimli nodded, clearing his throat gruffly.
"Do you suppose we can go down…?" Gimli asked shyly, feeling out-of-place as he slightly turned to catch sight of what was happening.
Legolas stood up suddenly and held out his hand to help Gimli. Gimli took it gratefully and awkwardly stood up.
"It is time," Legolas said simply before he leapt from the edge of the rocky edge. Gimli shook his head and lifted his eyes up.
"You better be right, Elf,"
Legolas walked into sight of the three, Gandalf muttering to Maeg who was weeping and clutching Aragorn's hand. Aragorn's face was pale, his eyes filled with fear.
"Oh no," Legolas whispered as he jogged gracefully toward them, his throat swollen.
Aragorn looked up suddenly, his jaw clenched together. He swallowed hard, seeming to be unable to speak.
Legolas just looked to Gandalf without saying anything, his question shown clearly in his pale blue eyes. Gandalf slowly raised his head, beads of sweat resting upon his brow.
"The babe is…" Gandalf started, his voice cracking. He lowered his head. Legolas fell to his knees, his brows curving with horror, his face paling.
"It won't cry…we can't get the babe to cry…" Aragorn muttered; his voice weak and hoarse. His stomach tightened as he realized his words. The lump in his throat grew so he could barely breathe, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Maeg wept, her body shaking with her sobs.
"It cannot be," Legolas said, getting up and going to Gandalf who held a small bundle wrapped in cloth. He set his jaw and gently took the babe from Gandalf's old hands and began to murmur to it in Elvish, his hand stroking the babe's stomach and head.
Slow minutes passed, Legolas' soft voice floating in the air, mingled with Maeg's sobs. Aragorn stared helplessly towards Legolas, willing the babe to cry out.
Gimli still stood on the edge of the rock, his hand clutching his ax at his side, tears dripping down his cheek and landing on his rough beard. He sniffed loudly and wiped the salty tears from his face.
"It is gone, lad," Gimli said to Legolas, who still held the babe. But Legolas paid no heed as he rubbed the babe's chest with his delicate hand.
Legolas clenched his jaw one last time and closed his eyes, his hand resting on the chest of the wee one as he muttered in Elvish.
A sudden cry burst from the bundle in Legolas' hands. Legolas smiled, relieving his held breath. He turned to Maeg, who stared in bewilderment, tears still on her cheeks. He tenderly laid the babe in her arms and caressed the babe's cheek. Maeg smiled in awe and cuddled the babe, a sudden laugh exploding from her healing heart.
***A/N: Tada!!!! Wow, how intense! I sure hope this chapter is good and not too drawn out or anything, so review!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!