Chapter Twenty-one: Celoneth
Legolas was ignorant of what was occurring at his home. He did not know that Avathar had vanished and that his sire was preparing his most trusted advisor to leg his way as fast as he could to southern Eryn Lasgalen to warn Gil-celeb and the others. He did not know the truth about Falathar, and that it was most likely that he was Avathar. All he knew was that he was going to see Míriel in less than a fortnight.
He journeyed all day and night with his guard. They came to the land of the Woodmen and Beornings five days after leaving the palace. He hardly noticed that those they passed watched them with suspicion. Many whispers followed them wherever they went. And whenever they chanced to stop at a village, they were turned down. No one wanted to speak with them, for Gil-celeb had warned them not to deal with any strangers. The Prince was a stranger to them since they knew him not.
"What is the matter with them?" Legolas said in frustration when an innkeeper refused to let them inside.
His guard shook their heads.
"To my knowledge, our alliance is not broken." he continued. "Do they not know that I am the Prince of northern Eryn Lasgalen?"
However, he did not trouble his mind further. He supposed that because they lived so far in the Wood, they never saw Elves before, and thinking them evil, had turned them down. He himself could not blame them. After all, he reasoned, it was better to be cautious than to be sorry.
Another five days passed before Legolas and his small band of guards entered into Eryn Lasgalen. At the border, border wardens who allowed them to pass only after they provided evidence to convince them that they were indeed who they appeared to be.
"Why do you question us?" Legolas asked them. "You know me."
"We are under orders, Prince. A deceiver walks abroad." they said.
After they had left them, Legolas turned to his guard once again.
"Something is not right. I can feel it." he whispered to them.
His guard looked at him silently.
They came in time to the concealed white stone bridge and crossed over it swiftly. Legolas remembered when he had carried Míriel in his arms, recollecting the warmth of her body. Just as they neared the palace gates, a small bird fluttered down onto Legolas' arm.
"I know you! Annarámainen is your name!" he cried.
Annarámainen warbled softly. He heard movement in the surrounding trees. Aerandir emerged, with Míriel on his arm. The pair stopped in their tracks unexpectedly.
"Legolas?" Aerandir said, amazed. "How wonderful to see you!"
Míriel smiled wanly at him.
"Le suilannon, ernil!"
Legolas dismounted immediately. He embraced Aerandir warmly.
"Manen le, mellonen?"
"Im vaer." Aerandir replied heartily.
"I see that you are well on your way, Míriel." Legolas said, joining them in their causal stroll. "It will not be long now."
Míriel laughed softly.
"Indeed, it will not be long." she said. "I wish it is soon."
Legolas sent his guard ahead of him with Arod. Annarámainen settled herself on Legolas' shoulder and sang sweetly.
"What brings you here?" Aerandir asked after some time.
"I decided to come and visit because it is easier for me to come than for you to come, regarding Míriel's current condition." Legolas said.
"Oh, but we could have come. It has been many long years since I have been up north." Míriel told Legolas.
"Man gonoded eraid derithach?" Aerandir asked.
"For several weeks, if you do not mind." Legolas answered.
Aerandir chuckled.
"If we do mind, we will let you know." he joked.
The trio spent an hour outside. Míriel held them back with her slow steps. Aerandir was patient as he helped her, supporting her back steadily. Legolas saw the dire love Míriel had for Aerandir in her eyes, and he knew, once again, that what Avathar had told him was false.
"I apologize," Míriel said suddenly, "but I can go no further."
She was breathing hard now, her hand resting on her stomach. She was quite pale. Aerandir was alarmed as he looked at her.
"I will carry you, my dear." he said.
Legolas watched as Aerandir lifted Míriel carefully into his arms. The Princess wrapped her arms around her husband's neck weakly. She closed her eyes. Legolas saw her bite her down on her lips constantly. Slowly, they made their way to the palace gates. About several hundred feet before the gates, Aerandir made a strange face.
"Your dress is wet from underneath…" he said apprehensively.
Míriel nodded.
"The—child—is—coming!" she said between gasps.
Aerandir blanched.
"You are only nine months pregnant!" Legolas said.
"It—matters—not!" she breathed. "I—am—going—to—deliver!"
Aerandir shouted frantically, and the gates were opened. He rushed through them as fast as he could, with Legolas trailing behind them. Into the palace Aerandir went, passing quickly in the halls until at last he came to his chamber. Legolas opened the door, and Aerandir went in. Amorith and Giliath looked up from their stitching.
"What is wrong with our lady?" they cried, springing to their feet.
"She is going to deliver." Aerandir said.
There was an audible gasp from the pair of handmaidens. They dropped their stitching and rushed to Míriel, who now lay on her back on the bed. She was moaning and panting.
"Fetch some large cloths, and a vessel of hot water." Amorith said to Giliath. "And be quick, too! Do not stop along the way!"
Giliath left the chamber in a hurry. Legolas watched as Amorith attempted to turn over Míriel while Aerandir held her so the handmaiden could unbutton the Princess' dress. Míriel protested.
"Rip the dress! I cannot bear the pain! Rip the dress!" she said.
"But my lady—" Amorith began.
"Do you hear me, rip the dress! And rip whatever else!"
Amorith hesitated slightly before ripping the dress. Legolas turned his face away. He could still hear the Princess moaning.
"Legolas, go and wait in our sitting room." Aerandir said to him.
"Very well. Annarámainen will keep me company." he said, looking at the small bird still perched on his shoulder.
Annarámainen chirped in reply.
As the Prince left, he saw Giliath enter. In her hands was a large silver vessel of hot water, and strewn over her shoulder were several large cloths. Behind her came Gil-celeb, an anxious expression on his face.
"Legolas! Fancy seeing you here!" he exclaimed.
"I am going to the sitting room." the Prince told him.
"I will come with you then. Aerandir is with her?"
"He is."
"That is good. At least he will be able to comfort her, hopefully."
While Legolas and King Gil-celeb made themselves comfortable in the sitting room of Aerandir and Míriel, the Princess was beginning to undergo labor. The pain was very intense, about tenfold what she faced before at its worst. She squeezed Aerandir's hand and closed her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath with each contraction. She did not wish to scream since Legolas was present. She was thankful that Aerandir was beside her. He was whispering soft words into her ears to encourage her.
The hours passed. From early afternoon until very early morning the following day Míriel was in labor. Just before dawn, as Legolas and Gil-celeb were both stirring from their rest, they heard the cries of a newborn. Gil-celeb jumped to his feet, his ears twitching. Legolas pressed his head to the wall and listened intently. Gil-celeb copied him.
"Hîr nín, hiril nín, you have a daughter!" Amorith said.
The Prince and King embraced. Then they went into the bedchamber. Míriel was covered with a sheet. Aerandir was cradling his daughter. Amorith and Giliath were looking on, beaming widely.
"Sell nín, what wonderful news!" Gil-celeb said, kissing her cheek.
"Congratulations!" Legolas said.
"Have you thought of a name for her?"
"Her name is Celoneth." Míriel whispered. "It means river."
Sindarin Translation:
- Man gonoded eraid derithach: how long will you stay