Authors' Note: Here is my ninth chapter. Thank you so much for the reviews! Yes, I did correct the time of Elenwen's pregnancy from nine months to twelve months. Thanks again to the reviewer who brought that to my attention. Now this chapter is again from the spilt POV, it start's off with Elenwen's and then switches to Haldir's. Thanks again! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien's work.

Chapter 9 Relief

            I felt his hands loosen their grip on my shoulders and then tighten once more. His blue eyes were wide, showing their beautiful cerulean deeps with great clarity. I stood in silence, a small smile creeping its way up to my lips. I let him stammer dumbly for a few minutes his tongue unable to produce proper words. Finally he managed to string together a few intelligible syllables.

            "You're what?" his hands were shaking ever so slightly upon my shoulders, which was very rare for him.

            "I am with child meleth nin, we are to have an elfling," but before I could finish the sentence he gripped me in the most bone crushing hug I have ever received. For a few seconds I felt my breath being smothered from my lungs as my face pressed against his chest. He was rocking me back and forth saying something that I could not hear. Then he realized that he was near choking me and loosened his embrace

            "Oh Elenwen," there were tears in his eyes. "I cannot believe it. I am going to be a father!" I now lay my arms around him and rested my head in the crook of his neck, planting kisses on his soft skin. He ran his hands up and down my back. When he next spoke his voice was tear constricted. "A baby, a child, our own child. What did the healer say about your condition? Are you both healthy?" I stepped back to look up at him.

            "From what she could tell so far, yes, but I will return tomorrow and see what else they can tell me." Suddenly he became serious as I was speaking, I knew what was coming.

            "You must not remain on the guard then," he met my eyes with a loving yet firm stare. "It is for your safety and for the safety of our child. I do not know what I would do if I lost you both." Now this, I had pondered greatly since hearing the news of my pregnancy. For the first few months, I would still be able to serve on the borders but did I even want to? Haldir would not stray from my side especially now that I was with child. And I knew that Lintelin had been put in her place when I had trained for three days with them. She would not dare act so disrespectful towards me again. Staying in our flet would not be as bad now, I decided. Some ellith experienced nausea and sickness in the months preceding their pregnancy, it would be best if I did quit.

            "Of course Haldir," I moved forward once more and wrapped my arms around him, sighing contently. He seemed surprised that I did not argue with him and did not question me.

Haldir's POV

            I had tried to delay my leave the following morning, wanting to spend as much time with her as possible. I did not see her often and we needed much more time together. But now, I wished to see my brothers, they needed to hear the most wonderful tidings that Elenwen had brought me. A child! I still could barely comprehend it. Long had I pondered on fatherhood the night before. My wife would make an excellent mother. She had a natural maternal instinct running through her veins. But would I make a good father? I had been in the company of a few elflings, but generally I ignored them. Maybe with my child, it would be different. I didn't think that my child could possible be a rude, insolent, disrespectful being. No, my babe would be raised well and loved well. Now as I saw my own beloved siblings, I could no longer hide the smile that threatened to invade my stoic nature.

            "Why brother!" Rumil exclaimed as he had always been the lighthearted one. "You seem all alight this morn? What news have you?" I let a laugh escape my lips, something that was never heard when I came to post.

            "It is my dear Elenwen," I sat besides them on the wooden floor of the guard flet. "She will not be joining us anymore."

            "And you laugh?" Orophin seemed nervous of a sudden. He had always upheld the same calm nature that I possessed. I decided to pay no heed to him.

            "I laugh for another reason," he seemed to relax. "Great news has been brought to my household."

            "What is that?" Rumil asked curiously.

            "Elenwen is with child," they both stared at me after I had spoken. Then when the shock had worn off, they too laughed. Orophin clapped me on the back with a smirk

            "My, my you have done well brother," he jested. "Father would be proud." But Rumil did not seem to share in our joy.

            "He is making us look bad," he tried to tease me but was unable to keep a bright smile from spreading across his joyous features. "He is already married and now will have a beautiful baby! We have never even entered into a single long term courtship!"

            "Well, I am the eldest," I said. "You may follow in my footsteps." At this, we all chuckled merrily and I allowed them to continue on with their chatter. They were discussing their becoming uncles with much enthusiasm when something caught my ears. It was the voice of an elleth and quite a beautiful voice. The maiden was singing, her song rose above the treetops and mingled with the sweet air. A shiver ran down my spine as I leaned over the side of the flet. There on the ground danced the fair female, her long golden hair catching some of the risings sun's rays. I caught my breath in my throat as I beheld her beauty. Rumil too, leaned over the edge of the flet.

            "Oh mae govannen Lintelin," he called down to her.

Elenwen's POV

            I hummed a little as I set our small table. My visit to the healers in the afternoon had been most informative. They had explained everything to me and now I was not quite as nervous. Though the thought of labor still frightened me, for I had never experienced such great pain before, I still would have a baby by the time it was all over. I was both overjoyed and relieved that Haldir's reaction to my pregnancy had been a positive one. He seemed just as excited as me. Dinner simmered softly over the flame, I had tried my best to add several new spices to the stew, hoping that it would improve some. The door opened silently (I had finally remembered to oil it) and Haldir entered. He smiled and rushed to my side. But instead of planting a kiss upon my lips or cheek, he kissed my abdomen.  I laughed and ran my fingers through his silky hair. We had a most enjoyable meal, over which we discussed names for the babe, though we did not know the sex. The evening was almost perfect, until, as he was clearing the table with me (he had insisted on helping for he said I should not exert myself in my current condition) he began to discuss Lintelin. He boasted of her wonderful fighting skills, but then he told me something that I didn't know.

            "She has a beautiful voice as well," he said, flashing a brilliant smile in my direction. "I heard her singing on the way to her post this morning. Such a voice I have not heard in years." I near dropped the bowl I was drying. Singing had been my one talent, the one thing that I could call my own. Haldir had loved my voice, he used to beg me to sing for him and always I would comply. But now, that had been stolen from me. My husband must have noticed a change in my manner, for he questioned me.

            "What is wrong love?" his eyes narrowed as he questioned me.

            "Nothing," I turned my back to him.

Mae govannen: Well met

Meleth nin: My love

Elleth: Female elf