Author's Note: Wow! I cannot believe all the reviews I have received for that last chapter! Well, to be honest I cannot believe all the reviews I have received for this whole story! Thank you all so much! And yes, that song is an original composition. Now this chapter I found particularly difficult to write for it is also completely from Haldir's POV, so I hope it is good. And I know that everything will seem okay by the end of this chapter, but there will still be the unresolved issue of Haldir's possible infidelity and Elenwen confronting him on that with the help of Galadriel, so I do promise you a few more chapters. Thanks again! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien's work.
Chapter 21 Birth
Haldir's POV
"Elenwen! Elenwen!" my voice was soft, so as no one would hear my frantic calls. Oh where could she have gotten too? My wife had run off, leaving the Festival behind for some strange reason. It must have been something I said, perhaps it was the fact that I had been talking to Lintelin. I knew she hated the elleth, but I did not think she would mind me having a casual conversation with her. I thought back to the moment she had disappeared; tears had been streaming freely down her pale face. What had I done to upset her so greatly? The other elves present had given me looks of contempt when my wife had fled. My own brothers seemed to cover their faces in shame almost. Only Lintelin appeared unruffled, in fact she had been smiling. Things were not right. I could feel a chill running down my spine. Years of being a commander had given me an extra sense when it came to trouble. I had discreetly moved in the direction that my beloved had run, trying to attract as little attention to myself as possible. Now I was searching the woods adjacent to the Festival grounds, moving as quietly as I could. I chorused her name over and over again. So my surprise was great when I heard my own name called.
"Haldir! Haldir!" it was my brother Orophin. His voice carried a great amount of tension and worry in it.
"Orophin!" I spun around and headed in the direction where the voice had first sounded. "What is amiss?" I asked as I finally emerged from the thicket.
"The Lady wishes your presence immediately," my younger brother said, wringing his hands in anxiety.
"Does she know that Elenwen is nowhere to be found?" I hissed uncharacteristically down at him.
"I suspect so," he tugged at my arm pulling me back into the Festival. We moved quickly through the crowd, our heads down, murmuring apologies to any unfortunate elf we may bump into. The Lady was standing with Lord Celeborn and as usual her face was unreadable. I bowed deeply and then straightened, allowing a worried look to curl upon my countenance.
"Captain," her voice was soft. There was strange light in her eyes that I had never seen before. "I believe you have misplaced your wife."
"Aye," I moved nervously, shifting my feet slightly.
"Well, we have just received a message from the healers informing us that your wife has started her labor," the Lady observed me coolly, an amused look crossing her face.
"She is in labor?!" my mind reeled and I felt swamped with dizziness.
"Yes," Galadriel nodded slowly, "I suggest that you attend to her right away, the baby could come at anytime now." I shook my head vigorously and began to move in the direction of the healers' flet.
"Thank you hiril nin," I said as I passed her, but suddenly she reached out to grab my forearm. I was startled at first by this strange action and stared back at her.
"Tell me, Haldir," her voice was barely above a whisper, "did you enjoy her song?" I took a step back, was this not the question that Elenwen had asked me just before her leave-taking?
"Yes," I answered slowly, too preoccupied in my own thoughts.
"Good," she replied. "Be on your way then."
I made it to the healers' flet in less than ten minutes, my heart pounding in my chest, fear gripping to my very being. What if something happened to the baby? What if something happened to Elenwen? What if something happened to both of them? How could I live? I tried in vain to push these tortuous thoughts from my mind. But any attempt to calm myself was shattered as a cry filled with pain broke the stillness of the flet. It was Elenwen, I was sure of it. Never before had I heard her cry out in such a manner. My heart lurched and I gasped, as she screamed again. My ears ached and I all but turned in a circle to discover where the sound was coming from. A door down the hallway swung open suddenly and out stepped a healer, the same one who had been tending to my wife throughout her pregnancy. She was an older, motherly elleth with a ready smile. Yet right now she could offer me almost no comfort as I searched for my beloved.
"Ah Captain Haldir!" she stepped forward, a broad grin tracing its way upon her lips, "I thought I heard someone enter, we've been expecting you." She was so calm and unflustered while I, the seasoned March Warden felt positively faint.
"Where is she?" my manner was more forceful than I had intended it to be. "The Lady told me that my wife was in labor, about to have our child."
"Well, I do not know if she is about to have the child, that can take some time," the healer said. "But she is in labor. Oh, the poor thing is so nervous. She came to us quite distressed. We have been waiting for your arrival for I know she will calm the moment she sees you. Come, I will bring you to her!" With that, the elleth turned on her heel and moved back into the room from which she had originally exited. I followed her pensively, trying to mask my fear from my already fearful wife. She was lying on a large bed, her blond hair in complete disarray and her normally pale face flushed with heat and drenched with sweat. A few other healers (all female) had gathered around her. They were trying their best to soothe her. One was even grasping her hand and kneeling by her bedside.
"Elenwen meleth nin," my voice was soft as I moved to take the spot of the other healer. I grasped onto her hand, feeling her sweaty palm enclosed in mine. "I am here now, do not worry, everything is going to be fine." I suppose I had expected her to look happy or relieved at my words, but whatever I had expected, it was nothing close to what she did. She slapped me, hard. My head snapped to the side, feeling the sting of her hand against my cheek.
"You son of an orc!" she screeched in a tone very unlike her sweet loving one. I stared dumbly at her, my mind completely blank, "how dare you encourage me to sing and then not even listen to my song?!"
"But…but," I stuttered, catching a glimpse of the shock on the faces of the healers, "I did listen to your song, you ran off before I could say anything. In fact I was talking to Lintelin about it. It was absolutely beautiful."
"Then why did you say "what song?" when I inquired if you enjoyed it," she shouted, I had never seen her so angry.
"I did not hear your question," I responded truthfully. "The glade was rather noisy, I am sorry if I phrased it in a manner that made it seem like I wasn't paying attention. I was simply trying to repeat your question." After I had said this I saw a barrage of emotions come over her face. She seemed sad almost, looking at me with woeful eyes. She was about to speak when another pain shook her body. My dear wife cried out and clasped my hand tightly. "Hush, hush," I murmured softly sensing the healers leave the room one by one. Elenwen did not answer, but I saw tears gather in her eyes.
The hours passed by slowly, seeming to last forever. The healers had informed us that it might take awhile for our child to be born. We sat in silence mostly, which was only disrupted by Elenwen's cries. She slept a little, during the late hours of the night. I however did not doze. I thought of my becoming a father in a few mere hours. So much had changed and would change. Our priorities would be rearranged and I was almost sure that we had a few sleepless months ahead of us. But that did not trouble me, I would be happy to care for our child. The sun was rising and its first golden rays fell upon Elenwen and me. She shifted suddenly and then cried out.
"Haldir, the baby's coming!" she whimpered. I snapped out of my stupor and moved closer to her. "Get a healer!" I could clearly sense the panic in her voice. But before I could even stand, the door burst open and in rushed several of the healers, who had apparently heard her shouts. Elenwen was sobbing; I had never seen her so frightened. I tired to hush her, but it was useless.
"Come dear, you must push! Push!" one healer urged. Elenwen followed their instructions, her face scrunching up with effort. I moved closer to her and rested my hands upon her shoulders to support her body us she pushed. Her head was on my chest and I could see the tears mingled with sweat trailing down her face. I tried to remain calm so she would not pick up on my own worry, but as I whispered encouragements I could hear my own voice shaking. "Once more push once more!" another healer shouted. My wife screamed and gave one more push, before falling back onto my chest again. A sharp, little cry reached my ears. The healers made joyful exclamations and one cried out to us.
"It is a girl! You have a healthy daughter!" Elenwen was sobbing once more, but this time not from fear. She was handed a small bundle of blankets that wailed shrilly.
"Haldir! Haldir!" she cried, I felt numb with joy. She lifted the bundle closer to me and I peered into it. Staring back at me were a pair of azure eyes, lined with tears, my daughter ceased her crying at the sight of her parents. My own tears were now streaming down my face as Elenwen handed her to me. I cradled the bundle gently, not knowing what to say. "We have a daughter!" I felt Elenwen's hand on my arm, her voice was hoarse and she emitted sobs every now and then. I leaned down and kissed my wife, feeling her great exhaustion. "We have a daughter!" she chorused over and over again, I looked up at the healers and they smiled brightly at me.
"We shall leave you and your family alone sir," one said and they exited. My wife beside me sighed and I saw her eyes cloud over as she fell into sleep. I leaned down and kissed her brow wishing her sweet dreams. Then I turned my attention back to my dear child. The baby whimpered and I rocked her back and forth slowly making soothing noises.
"Hush, hush, my little one," I whispered. "Ada is here, Ada is here." The babe quieted and stared up at me with great curiosity. She had a tuft of blond hair and a beautiful bright face. The infant had Elenwen's nose and my lips. I sniffled and felt my tears finally stay. The sun was shining through the gauzy curtains, casting a radiant light across the room this morn. "Laeranor," I mumbled, watching my daughter. "That shall be your name."
Meleth nin: My love
Ada: Father
Author's Note: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I do promise you at least three more chapters, for this story is not over yet! And by the way, Laeranor means "Summer Sun." Thanks again!