Title: Mists of Valinor - Birth
Author: Genesis Grey (helfireclub@hotmail.com)
Disclaimer: Tolkien's estate owns everything. I own nothing. If I did it wouldn't be fanfiction.
Authors Notes: Okay, sorry this took so long. Very, very sorry. *begs forgiveness* Life's been a real pain the last few weeks with finals and job hunting, but enough of that. Now, for notes that pertain to this part of the story. I didn't want elf babies to be exactly like human babies, so their eyes are open pretty much immediately and they're rather active. Think superbabies I guess. ^_^ (Name meanings according to the Encyclopedia of Arda: Elrohir means Elf-rider/knight and Elladan means Elf-Man.) Hope you all enjoy the chapter, and please leave a review if you have any comments whatsoever. I really appreciate it!

::Birth::

"Do you need a hand, my Lady?"

With a small sigh Celebrian laughed and held out her hand to the blond elf standing in front of her. "If you would please, Lindir," she said as he helped her out of the chair and steadied her on her feet. She shook her head as she rested a hand on the small of her back and the other on her swollen stomach. "I cannot imagine how my mother retained her stateliness while she was pregnant with me," she said with a shake of the head. "Obviously not a talent she passed on to me. I can't even stand by myself any more."

"I am not one to try and understand the mysteries of bearing life," Lindir said, his usual cheeky grin even brighter than usual. "But I, for one, think you are doing a wondrous job of retaining the dignified and luminous air that has always surrounded you, my Lady of Imladris."

Celebrian laughed. "How is it that you are not yet married, Lindir? With your way with words you could have any maiden you wished."

"Only one? Should not one, such as I, be shared among the masses?" he jested before a shadow seemed to fall over his face. "No, my Lady, in truth I was married long ago when I dwelled in Greenwood the Great, before I came to lovely and fair Imladris. But she chose the company of her forbearers over mine and I refused to leave Middle-earth for her if she would not think to stay for me." He sighed and shook his head. "I suppose, in her mind, it was the only choice."

Celebrian furrowed her brow. She was curious, but she did not wish to pry into a subject that clearly brought her friend so much pain. "But enough of the past," Lindir said, as if instantly recovering; his smile back in place as he held out a hand. "Let us talk of more merry events, like the bright future and your child. Have you and Lord Elrond decided on a name yet?"

"We have some idea," she replied, deciding it was best to let the topic drop for now as she took Lindir's hand and they walked from the Hall of Fire. She was thankful Lindir was around to make sure she took her daily walk around the gardens. She was in the last days of her pregnancy and had grown so large it was hard to motivate herself to move. "We think Arwen would be a good name if it is a daughter."

"Fitting for any daughter born to the Lord and Lady of Imladris," Lindir piped in as she continued.

"For a son we have been having more difficulty, but I believe we have decided on Elrohir," she pursed her lips. "At least, if it seems to fit." She shook her head. "I suppose the child can chose another name that suits him or her when they grow older, but my parents did so well for me that… Ugh!" she let out a cry of pain, falling to her knees and clutching her stomach.

"My Lady Celebrain! What's wrong?" Lindir shouted, kneeling beside her.

"Nothing… nothing's wrong," she panted as she tried to control the pain, reaching out and clutching Lindir's hand, "it… it's the baby… ah! Get Elrond! The baby… the baby's coming!"

---

Celebrian let out an uncomfortable moan as she shifted on the bed, clutching Nenwen's hand as the maiden ran a damp cloth over her forehead. She was completely exhausted and the night wasn't near over yet. Pain claimed her again and she clenched her teeth together, forcing herself to breathe deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Until the pain subsided once more.

Elrond hovered closely and Celebrian decided if she were in any less pain the hovering of an elven lord would have made her laugh. Outwardly he seemed as calm as ever, but to any that knew him it was clear he was a nervous wreck, pacing about the room and wringing his hands behind his back. Not that she could blame him. She could just imagine the look on his face when Lindir had rushed in with the news that his wife had gone into labor.

The pain passed as Nenwen reminded her to keep breathing. The advisor ran the cloth over her neck and face to wipe the perspiration away. Elrond came and sat beside her on the bed, stroking the silver hair away from her sweat slicked face. "Do not worry," he said calmingly, "it will not be long soon and then you can rest."

She shut her eyes as she pressed her face against his hand. Rest. That sounded delightful. "Would you two like a moment alone?" Nenwen asked as she pulled away from Celebrian, making sure the elven Lady was tucked comfortably under the covers. "The child will come soon and I should fetch some blankets and warm water."

"Thank you," Elrond nodded as the advisor, and apparent midwife of Imladris, bowed and departed from the room. As soon as the door clicked shut he looked down at Celebrain, his gray eyes full of concern for her well-being. "How do you feel?"

"Tired," Celebrian answered, "and worried."

"What worries you?" Elrond asked, taking the damp cloth Nenwen had left and running it over Celebrian's forehead and high cheekbones before adjusting the pillows to make her more comfortable.

"I fear the child will not be born healthy," she confessed with a frown as she ran a hand over her swollen stomach. Days ago Nenwen had made the offhand comment that she had grown larger than the average pregnant elf. Upon seeing the stricken look on Celebrian's face the advisor had tried to cover up the comment by saying it was the human blood. That had not helped. "What if the child is unwell?"

"It will be fine," Elrond assured her, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he placed a hand on the blankets, touching the hand she had on her stomach. "There is nothing wrong with your pregnancy. I assure you of that."

"If you are sure," she conceded with a sigh as another wave of pain came and went. "You are the one with the gift of foresight, not I."

Elrond smiled conspiratorially and Celebrian smiled back, reaching up and tapping his cheek with her long fingers. She was not quite sure what he was smiling about, but his pleasant facial expressions were terribly infectious. She caught his robe in her hands and pulled him closer, kissing his cheek and stroking his face. At moments she almost wanted to curse him for the amount of pain she was enduring, but then she once again became lost in those storm colored eyes and remembered how much she truly loved him.

She jumped and they both looked up at the sound of a ruckus outside the room. "If you spill that water Glorfindel I will hang you up by your ears," Nenwen's voice rang through the door as she pushed it open warily. She peeked around to make sure it was alright to enter before fully entering, her arms stacked high with blankets. Glorfindel followed with a basin of water that he set down near the bed.

"Good evening, Glorfindel," Celebrian said with a thin smile as she waved for Elrond to go and greet his seneschal. Nenwen took a seat beside her again, trying to make her comfortable. The elven lady let out a sigh to relieve the tension in her chest as the elven lords spoke. She felt so nervous and uncertain as a hundred questions filled her head. "Have you been at the birth of many children, Nenwen?" she asked quietly as the advisor tied her silver hair back.

"Every child since the founding of Imladris," the maiden answered with a proud smile. "Forty-eight to be exact and eleven when I was in Lindon. Don't worry so much. Lord Elrond is an excellent healer. You have nothing to fear. By the end of the night you will be exhausted and have a healthy child."

"I hope… Ah!" Celebrian screamed, curling over her stomach as pain shot through her. Suddenly Elrond was at her side as Nenwen tried to get her to relax and lie back on the bed. The blankets were thrown off her body as she forced herself to lie back and breathe through clenched teeth. Someone was yelling for Glorfindel to help with the blankets as her nightgown was pulled up. Elrond had moved from her side and was speaking with Nenwen. They seemed to be in agreement that it was time.

"You need to breathe, my Lady," Nenwen's voice finally penetrated the intense veil of pain. Celebrian could only grunt in response as her hands twined in the silken sheets of the bed. She tried desperately to focus on the calming sound of the melodic feminine voice. She heaved in painful breath as the advisor coached her to breathe and rubbed her bare arms reassuringly. The pain only seemed to increase as Elrond called for her to push.

Shutting her eyes and letting her head fall back on the pillows Celebrian concentrated, trying to force the pain from her mind. But it hurt so much. "You're doing well," someone said, "the child's coming. Stay focused." She choked back a cry and pushed, trying to expel the child from her body. She would love it no matter how healthy it was or what gender it was, but it needed to be born now so the pain would stop.

A cry filled the air. Small and powerful. She gasped and opened her eyes, instinctively trying to sit up. "Give it a last push, my Lady," Nenwen said, wrapping her arm around Celebrian's shoulder as she helped the elven lady. Celebrian cried out miserably and forced herself to push once more.

"Glorfindel, bring me those blankets!" Elrond bellowed as Celebrian felt herself collapse against Nenwen's shoulder. She expected a sudden rush of relief as she watched Elrond cradle the child and Glorfindel help to wrap it in a blanket, but the pain remained constant, if not worse. "Elrond?" she squeaked as a tear slipped down her face. "Hurts… still."

"What's wrong?" Nenwen asked the elven lord as the word 'wrong' rang in Celebrian's ears. Panic filled her mind. Was there something wrong with the child? Or was it with her? She shuddered and howled as pain wracked her body once more, her only comfort was the sound of crying. The child's lungs were working well. Perhaps the problem was with her then.

"Nothing," Elrond answered Nenwen's question, and Celebrian felt the near uncontrollable urge to call him a liar. "Nothing is wrong," he continued, now speaking to his wife as if knowing her thoughts. "You are still in labor."

Her eyes darted toward the wailing bundle in Glorfindel's arms. Wasn't labor over once the child was born? Pain shot through her and she grabbed Nenwn's arm, arching back against the bed. Would this night never end? The advisor tried to loosen the vice-like grip, even as she once again tried to instruct Celebrian to breathe. "Just… a bit longer, my Lady," Nenwen coaxed, though her eyes darted uncertainly at Elrond. "Right, my Lord?"

"No… I can't do this anymore…" Celebrian whimpered, shaking her head back and forth like a petulant child. "Please…no more… Hurts… too… hurts so much… Make it stop…" Suddenly Nenwen disappeared from her side and she yelped before strong arms wrapped around her and comforting words were whispered in her ear. Elrond. "I don't want to do this any more…" she mumbled weakly, pawing at her husband as the pain increased.

"I know you are tired and I hate to see you in pain," Elrond said, pressing a kiss to her head as his hands stroked back her long hair. She cried into the shoulder of his robe before he pulled away, taking her face into his hands and forcing her to meet his eyes. "But there is still another child to be born. You must do this."

Another child. The words swirled around in her pain stricken mind for a moment before realization dawned. "Twins?" she panted in disbelief. "But that hasn't happened since…" she trailed off. Elrond had a very good idea of when the last pair of elven twins were born. Pain coursed through her again. She grunted and clutched her stomach. "Ah!"

"It's almost over, Celebrian, and then you can rest," he promised, as if bargaining with her. "Please, you must try for a bit longer."

She grit her teeth together, but nodded nonetheless. There was no other choice. The child had to be born. "Hold me," she pleaded, knotting her hands in her husband's robes.

"I can deliver this one," Nenwen said from somewhere in the room, "if you can keep her breathing regularly."

Elrond nodded as he gathered Celebrian in his arms. She let out a sigh of relief, even as her hands twitched in his robes. "Breathe love, breathe," he whispered as she tried to focus on his voice, as she had with Nenwen's, ignoring the intense waves of pain that racked her body. He rubbed calming circles on the back of her neck, "that's it. You're doing well. Just listen to my voice and push. The child needs to breathe itself."

She grunted, arching her back and curling her toes as she focused on Elrond's voice. After what seemed like eternity another cry filled the air. Sweeter and softer than the first, but just as welcome to her ears. Her body slumped back to the bed and she panted in exhaustion, closing her eyes. The pain was dim now. Almost unnoticeable compared to earlier moments. She let out another breath of relief, wrapping her arms around Elrond's midsection and pressing her sweaty face against his chest as she opened her eyes.

Nenwen was wrapping the second child in a blanket as she ordered Glorfindel about and began to clean the children in the warm water. A smile formed on her face as she watched the two elves caring for her children and listened to the gentle sound of Elond's heart beating. He ran his fingers through her hair as she had so often done with his dark locks. "You've done so well. It's over now," he murmured, curling long strands of her hair around his fingers.

"W… what…" she tried, unable to completely form the question.

"Sons. You've given me sons," Elrond answered knowingly as Celebrian smiled happily. After a moment the elven lord moved, standing up from the bed and carefully lifting his wife to carry her the short distance to the couch. Taking a seat and he cradled her in his lap as Nenwen lay the second child in a cradle, Glorfindel hovering close still holding the first child. Both were now clean and wrapped in fresh blankets. The advisor turned and began to strip the sheets and blankets from the bed, quickly replacing them with clean ones.

"I…" Celebrian began, trying to gather enough strength to speak complete sentences as Nenwen ushered Elrond to bring the Lady of Imladris back to the newly made bed. "I want to… want to see them," she finally managed as she was carried back, laid on the comfortable mattress and covered with the rich blankets. She clutched Elrond's hand as if she was afraid he would leave. Her body hurt. But it was a dull, tired ache and easily ignored. She desperately wished to meet her sons.

"Glorfindel," Elrond called, gesturing with his free hand for the seneschal to come closer. Celebrian smiled, finally releasing her husband's hand as he took the first born child into his arms. She felt herself melt at the way Elrond smiled gently at the child. It was a look so full of love that she wanted to cry with joy.

"Can I hold him?" she asked, holding out her arms weakly.

Elrond smiled at her and there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes as he lay the child in her arms and walked toward the cradle. She sighed as the first born child gurgled. Her son was adorable. He looked like Elrond with a mop of dark hair and pale skin. His little hands were grabbing at her long hair already.

"We should let ourselves out," Glorfindel said, momentarily breaking the quiet that had overcome the room. Celebrian's head jerked up. She had forgotten he was still present. The shocked look from when the first child had been handed to him was still in place and made Celebrian let out a small laugh. The maiden beside him let out a gentle laugh as well before grabbing his arm.

"Tell me, is this your first birth, Glorfindel?" Nenwen asked as she led the dazed elven lord from the room, giving Celebrian the peace she wished. As much as she liked the inhabitants of Imladris, this was a moment for her and Elrond.

The child in her arms fussed, failing his little hands as if he wanted to get away. She smiled. He was absolutely the most beautiful thing in all Middle-earth. She furrowed her brow. "Where's my other son?" she asked, a sudden panic overcoming her as she looked around for her second born. It took her addled mind a second to realize he was the quiet bundle in Elrond's arms.

Her husband sat beside her on the bed with a smile, reaching out and stroking back an errand strand of hair with one hand as he held second child in the bend of his other arm. "Do not worry so. He is here," Elrond said, propping the child so she could see.

"By the Valar, they look so alike. I can't see a difference," she gasped, looking between the two children. Both children had the same dark hair, gray eyes, and pale skin. Elrond smiled amusedly as she continued to look between the two, trying to find some difference. "He seems smaller," she frowned, reaching forward and touching the second born child's cheek before giving the elven lord a worried look.

"Yes, but he appears to be healthy," Elrond reassured her as the child let out a burbling noise and tried to curl into his father's robes to fall asleep, as his brother began to cry and fuss in Celebrian's arms. Elrond smiled. "I think it is clear which one will be the more outgoing."

"Oh, yes," Celebrian sighed lovingly as she looked down at the child, rocking him gently. "I can already tell he will be quite a handful." She smiled up at Elrond before scooting across the bed to give him more room as she lay down. "Hush, little one," she mumbled as the child quieted in her arms. "Did you know there would be two?" she asked as her husband lay down beside her. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she readjusted the child more comfortably on her chest. The other child settled between them, seemingly content wherever he was placed.

"No," Elrond answered and Celebrian's eyebrow shot up as she recognized the hesitant tone in his voice. "But?" she prompted, shutting her eyes. She was truly exhausted. "But I thought it a possibility with how large you had grown," he admitted and Celebrian chuckled.

"You might have mentioned it to me," she said, her voice slurring slightly as sleep began to overcome her. "It would have saved me some concern."

"I do apologize," Elrond said, stroking her hair gently. "I did not want you to worry unnecessarily or disappoint you if there was only a single child." She nodded understandingly against his shoulder as he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "They are lovely," he whispered as she began to doze off. The children seeming comfortable sleeping beside them for now. "What shall we name them?"

"There is time for that in the morning," Celebrian promised dreamily, "in the morning Elrond."

---

The Lady of Imladris frowned thoughtfully as she paced the room, the younger of her twin sons lying comfortably in her arms as the elder slept in the middle of the bed. They were three days old and still had yet to be named. Elrond had said it could wait until she found the prefect names, and while she adored him for humoring her, the twins really did need names. With a light sigh she sat on the bed as the elder child began to wake. She leaned over and stroked his face as he kicked his small legs under the blanket he was wrapped in. It seemed logical to give the first born the name Elrohir since it had already been chosen. But somehow, as she looked at the child, it just didn't seem to fit him.

She smiled as she let the younger child sit in her lap and watched the elder rock himself. "The sons of Elrond Peredhel," she murmured proudly before a frown formed on her lips as she thought of the human blood.

Before leaving Lorien her mother had taken her aside with an ominous message, that the children of Elrond would be asked to make the choice between ever life and mortal death, that they would be counted among the half-elven as their father was. Celebrian could feel her hands shuddering as she thought of her sons following the path of Elrond's brother, Elros. She shook the dismal thought aside violently. Her sons would be counted among the elves. There would be no reason for them to choose otherwise; she would make sure of that. But the blood of mortals was in them and in the end the choice would be theirs.

With a sigh she smiled down at her twin sons, almost identical in their appearance. Such a choice would be a long time coming. For now she needed to find a way to tell them apart. She looked between the child in her lap and the one rolling on the bed, giggling and grabbing at her hand.

Slowly she was beginning to see some difference. They both had their father's dark hair and gray eyes, even his eyebrows; but with her high cheekbones and slightly slanted eye shape. They were also a bit more substantial than most elven children she had seen, stronger looking. But there were differences, though she doubted most would ever be able to tell them apart at a glance. The elder was a bit larger, perhaps taking more after his human blood, and his eyes were a touch narrower. The younger was smaller, but also seemed slimmer than his brother, and his lips a bit fuller.

"You two are going to be a fright to tell apart if I'm not allowed to get a good look," she said as the elder laughed and flailed his arms, wanting to be picked up. The other curled up against her stomach, sucking on his thumb. "Oh, very well," she mumbled, picking the fussing elfling off the bed, "up you go." He let out a shrill sound of delight that made Celebrian smile, even though he was shouting in her ear.

The true differences, even at three days, was clearly in their personalities. The elder was loud and constantly demanding attention, yet shunning it when it was lavished upon him. He was louder and more active than his brother who seemed happy to be carried around and sleep, and who had only cried out four times since his birth. That had worried Celebrian, that he was so quiet, fixing her with pleading eyes when he was hungry or wanted attention rather than letting out a bleating noise like his elder brother did. But Elrond still assured her that both children were born healthy.

"Oh!" Celebrian winced as the elder child pulled on her hair and began rocking as if to get away. "Want to be put down already, do you?" she said as she lay him back on the bed and watched him flail and let out a cry. She tried to pick him up again, but he only cried more until she set him down again. "What do you want?" she mumbled as something moved in her lap. She looked down to find a pair of gray eyes looking up at her, begging to be picked up.

"Well, I know what you want," she said, picking him up as she tried to think of how to get her elder son to stop crying. As soon as her second born was securely in her arms the cries of the other child stopped. Celebrian looked up in surprise as the child on the bed settled down and gurgled pleasantly. She blinked and shook her head. That was the second time such a thing had happened; that the quiet child had wanted something and the elder had fussed until it had been given.

She wondered if that was common in twins. For one to know the needs of the other. She wanted to ask Elrond, but whenever she brought up the subject of Elros a melancholy air filled the room. This was a joyous time and she wanted it to stay that way. "You'd never leave your brother, now would you?" she whispered as the child in her arms giggled and batted at her hair.

"Both of you need names," she sighed, looking down at her twins. "I can't keep thinking of you as my first and second born sons. What do you think of Elrohir?" she asked and the small child cooed. "Oh, I see," she smiled, "you want the name Elrohir." The child seemed to bounce in her arms every time he heard the name. "But what will we name your older brother then?"

She smiled down at the child on the bed as she lay down next to him, letting the younger twin rest on her arm. "What will we name you, my little elladan?" she asked as she poked the child gently in the stomach. He let out a loud happy sound and clapped his hands together. "Elladan?" she said again, cocking an eyebrow as the child laughed again. "You want to be Elladan?"

"Who are you talking to?" Elrond said as he entered the room, setting some papers on the table before walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed as Celebrian beamed at him. "You seem in good spirits," he said with a smile back at her as he lay down on the other side of the children.

"Oh, I am," she said, even as the children began to pull at her long silver locks again. "I think your sons just named themselves. Elladan and Elrohir."

TBC...