Author's Note: Yes. This is it: the final chapter! Really, it's just tying up a few loose ends. And yes, to Reona- this might just have a sequel.
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Legolas woke to the delicate sound of soft singing from the room next to his. He lifted his head, blinking the haze from his eyes as they adjusted to the darkness of night. For a moment his tired brain couldn't quite grasp what was going on and then he remembered- the third night back in Imladris! His lover! His child!
Oh Valar, what was going on now?
He rolled out from under the sheet, stumbling to the connecting door and opening it gently in case he was only hearing things. From all he remembered of the way he had been acting in the past three anxious months, he would not have been surprised to know he was going mad.
The door opened just a little and he peered in. A slight figure stood at the window, singing a lullaby he hadn't heard before. And the moonlight shone to cover both child and father in a silver sheen. The softest of gurgles told him that the infant was wide-awake and looking for something to do.
He did not even realize that the song had ended until the deep voice called to him. "Do not stand in doorways, Prince of Mirkwood. Come and greet your daughter."
He grinned slightly and stepped forward, padding noiselessly across the cold floor in bare feet. He was pleased to note that Elrond had at least dressed warmly enough considering he must have been woken up from his sleep.
"She is awake, is she? I'm sorry she woke you," Legolas said softly, coming to stand behind the half-elf.
Elrond turned slightly in his seat and offered her up with a tired smile. "It won't kill me, Legolas. I have been tired before."
"But not recovering from something that nearly killed you," Legolas said with a bitter severity, "Indeed, I should order you back to bed! Erestor and your sons will have my hide if they know I let you sit up like this."
"You let me do nothing," Elrond said, the words soft and carrying a healthy warning in its stiff tones, "I do not need a nursemaid. I am somewhat older than my daughter and I would thank you to remember that."
"I meant no harm..."
"I know," Elrond broke in quickly, "There is a... bad taste to concern these days. It feels constrictive. I apologize for snapping."
That got Legolas' attention. For not only did he truly believe that Elrond apologizing to anyone for reacting in such a way was ridiculous, but he had a few demons of his own that needed to be exorcised before he could be comfortable again in that beloved presence.
"You have no need to apologize," Legolas hissed, rocking his daughter gently in his arms and smiling down at her even though his eyes held sadness, "If anything, I should beg for your forgiveness. I left you to languish in that- that wagon... and with those humans!"
Elrond stood up and turned, catching the window sill before he pitched head- first out the window in that irritatingly persistent dizziness that he was still waiting to be rid of. Elladan had spoken to him of this, as had Aragorn and Arwen and Glorfindel and a few dozen others. Even Thranduil had contrived to see his grandchild alone for a few minutes and demanded that the Lord of Imladris do something to ease his son's faltering spirit.
"You broke him; now fix him," the King had said bracingly.
"Melme, you did not leave me to languish anywhere," he began patiently, the other hand reaching to cup a pale cheek, "The slavers were the ones responsible for my ill-health, not you. There is no blame to be placed on anyone here... except Aurief and Herdir. I believe Galadriel and Celeborn will do all in their power to see that both will suffer for it. We need not worry about it. It is in the past."
Legolas was silent for so long that Elrond began to fear he had said something wrong. But one look in those blue eyes told him that the others had been right- Legolas was tearing himself up inside over something. When Legolas did move, it was to step away from the half-elf to take their child back to the crib in the outer chamber. The wet nurse looked up from her chair and nodded to his silent glance. Taking the baby gently, she made her way from the rooms to take a walk in the gardens.
Then Legolas went back to Elrond and stood just far enough from him that he would not give in to temptation and catch the thin figure up in his arms. For one thing, he feared breaking bones as Elrond was still much too thin from his ordeal, and for another, he did not know how the other would react to such a silly gesture.
"Is there something wrong, Legolas?" Elrond prompted, sitting on his bed and gesturing to the blond to sit beside him. He would have preferred to do this anywhere but in the bedroom where his daughter had been conceived, but still. He could not choose such things and did not try.
"It is not in the past," Legolas sighed finally, shaking his head and staying where he was, "It plays in my head every minute. Three months, Elrond; you could have died before then."
"But I didn't," his lover emphasized, holding out a hand that brooked no argument, "I did not die- just as you knew in your heart I would not- and we have our daughter. All is well for us."
Legolas took the hand but still did not sit, only standing before the half- elf. He looked down at the tired face with the grey pallor still tinging the light bronze skin as he absently played with the slender fingers of the hand he held.
"What is it that troubles you now, Legolas?"
"You will think me a child..."
"Nay, melethron; I already believe it," Elrond said, smiling as he saw the dark look he was given for that crack. "Enough dramatics! Tell me simply and truthfully what it is that gives you that unbecoming frown."
Legolas sighed gustily again and then wryly decided not to. He might end by blowing Elrond away, what with the shocking weightlessness of the Elf Lord. "What if such a thing happens again?"
"It will not," Elrond said confidently.
"Why not?"
Elrond looked up at him for a moment in contemplative silence and then shrugged. "The healer assures me that I can bear no more children. The birth was too irregular and it has damaged whatever it was that allowed me to carry them. I cannot conceive now even if I were to be used as concubine."
Legolas glowered at the distasteful reminder of what had faced his lover and sat down beside him. "That is not the point," he contested hotly, "What if something were to happen to you again. What if you were to be hurt, or die as you almost did this time? What if I could not find you in time? I would go mad. And if these three months were anything to go by, I'd send everyone around me mad too!"
"I sincerely hope that you will not! Glorfindel and Erestor would be very dangerous if they went mad," Elrond commented, "However, I do see your point. Insane Balrog Slayers aside, I would not like you to be so affected. Legolas, if something were to happen to me, then it will happen. If the Valar will it, then it will be so. There is nothing anyone can do to change that."
"I know! But I cannot accept it!"
"Legolas, I know you feel guilt but..."
"It is not guilt that makes me fear for you," Legolas interrupted. He looked expressively to the innocently enquiring Elf Lord and then blushed when realization dawned. "I will not say anything because I know you do not feel the same."
"I- I... I mean, there... what... I... Are..."
Legolas calmly put a hand to Elrond's mouth, effectively silencing the stunned half-elf. "As I said, I do not expect you to reciprocate my feelings. And truly, I would not know how to act if you said you did! Let us not speak of it."
Elrond still stared at him with wide grey eyes and nodded slowly. He had never thought that such a thing would happen! Lovers, yes; but in love? He hadn't thought! No, an annoying little voice said in his ear, you never gave anything much thought before you bedded him, did you?
He wanted to defend himself but filed it away in his mind for a private moment. He did not want Legolas to think he was hearing things. It would probably make the Sylvan elf rouse the entire household in a panic. He hurriedly tried to think of a safer topic that could be discussed in the darkness of night as they sat on his bed together.
"What shall we name her?" he asked. Of course, since Legolas had unconsciously left his hand over Elrond's mouth and Elrond had forgotten to first remove said hand, it came out as a jumble of sound.
The hand was promptly removed.
"What name shall we give our daughter?" Elrond asked, more sedate now.
For an hour they debated the topic, trying to fix a name that would aid her in her unspecified quest as well as suit her heritage from both fathers. They narrowed it down to nothing. Neither of them quite liked the suggestions that the other presented and in the end, they both went to their separate beds feeling very disheartened at the prospect of naming the lively little parcel that constituted their daughter.
The next morning, Elrond insisted on being taken to the dining hall. Legolas offered him his arm and lectured him all the way there. The few elves who met them, stared after the two with mixed curiosity and worry. Fantastical stories of male pregnancies and slavers filtered through the hallways, passing from pointed ear to pointed ear. The Lord of Imladris was currently the source for much speculation and rumours. And for that his people thanked him.
"Ada, what are you doing out of bed?" Elladan questioned.
"I was planning to eat, but if you have another suggestion, I will listen," Elrond said pleasantly, too happy by far to be home to worry overmuch over his children's scoldings. They had gotten so much worse since the birth that he had developed the habit of listening to them with only one ear, gliding away into his thoughts as they tried to wrap him in cotton wool lest he break.
Arwen rolled her eyes and grinned as Elladan huffed in his seat and threw up his hands in mock surrender. "He will not listen," she laughed, "Even now he is thinking only of how to persuade Erestor to let him start work again."
Elrond looked startled and stared at his Evenstar. He blinked in confusion and then smiled ruefully as the others laughed at Arwen's perceptiveness. The only person missing was Aragorn, and he had promised to return in a few weeks for a short visit. After all, he had grinned, he needed to introduce himself to his best friend's child and his Arwen's new half-sister!
"Legolas and I were thinking of names for the child," Elrond began.
The three Peredhil children looked to each other and then turned to Glorfindel and Erestor. Just as Legolas began to suspect something, they looked to the two fathers and chorused, "Bronwe," in one voice.
Elrond was a bit taken aback but thought it over. He asked for Legolas' opinion with naught but a raised eyebrow. The blond nodded, smiling as he reached beneath the table for his hand. "It seems fitting," he whispered, "It took much faith to have her. And I placed all faith in the Valar that they would bring both of you safely back to me."
Arwen pointedly stared down at her plate and busied herself with eating as if no intimate conversation was occurring at the table. Erestor and Glorfindel followed her example, but the twins unashamedly listened in.
"Bronwe," Elrond murmured, tasting the name on his tongue, "It will remind her of happier times in darkness. We are agreed then?"
"I like it."
They looked to the others. "While I am certain that all of you have heard every part of that conversation," Elrond said dryly, "let me clarify it- we accept your suggestion."
Elrohir turned kindly to Erestor. "You will have another student soon," he said joyfully, "Imagine the delight!"
Erestor turned white and choked. He looked to Glorfindel and both shivered as they looked imploringly to their Lord. Elrond only looked sweetly back at them with a mocking look of warning, as much as if to say- "Dare you insult my child?"
"Yes," Erestor gulped, "Delightful!"
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Legolas woke to the delicate sound of soft singing from the room next to his. He lifted his head, blinking the haze from his eyes as they adjusted to the darkness of night. For a moment his tired brain couldn't quite grasp what was going on and then he remembered- the third night back in Imladris! His lover! His child!
Oh Valar, what was going on now?
He rolled out from under the sheet, stumbling to the connecting door and opening it gently in case he was only hearing things. From all he remembered of the way he had been acting in the past three anxious months, he would not have been surprised to know he was going mad.
The door opened just a little and he peered in. A slight figure stood at the window, singing a lullaby he hadn't heard before. And the moonlight shone to cover both child and father in a silver sheen. The softest of gurgles told him that the infant was wide-awake and looking for something to do.
He did not even realize that the song had ended until the deep voice called to him. "Do not stand in doorways, Prince of Mirkwood. Come and greet your daughter."
He grinned slightly and stepped forward, padding noiselessly across the cold floor in bare feet. He was pleased to note that Elrond had at least dressed warmly enough considering he must have been woken up from his sleep.
"She is awake, is she? I'm sorry she woke you," Legolas said softly, coming to stand behind the half-elf.
Elrond turned slightly in his seat and offered her up with a tired smile. "It won't kill me, Legolas. I have been tired before."
"But not recovering from something that nearly killed you," Legolas said with a bitter severity, "Indeed, I should order you back to bed! Erestor and your sons will have my hide if they know I let you sit up like this."
"You let me do nothing," Elrond said, the words soft and carrying a healthy warning in its stiff tones, "I do not need a nursemaid. I am somewhat older than my daughter and I would thank you to remember that."
"I meant no harm..."
"I know," Elrond broke in quickly, "There is a... bad taste to concern these days. It feels constrictive. I apologize for snapping."
That got Legolas' attention. For not only did he truly believe that Elrond apologizing to anyone for reacting in such a way was ridiculous, but he had a few demons of his own that needed to be exorcised before he could be comfortable again in that beloved presence.
"You have no need to apologize," Legolas hissed, rocking his daughter gently in his arms and smiling down at her even though his eyes held sadness, "If anything, I should beg for your forgiveness. I left you to languish in that- that wagon... and with those humans!"
Elrond stood up and turned, catching the window sill before he pitched head- first out the window in that irritatingly persistent dizziness that he was still waiting to be rid of. Elladan had spoken to him of this, as had Aragorn and Arwen and Glorfindel and a few dozen others. Even Thranduil had contrived to see his grandchild alone for a few minutes and demanded that the Lord of Imladris do something to ease his son's faltering spirit.
"You broke him; now fix him," the King had said bracingly.
"Melme, you did not leave me to languish anywhere," he began patiently, the other hand reaching to cup a pale cheek, "The slavers were the ones responsible for my ill-health, not you. There is no blame to be placed on anyone here... except Aurief and Herdir. I believe Galadriel and Celeborn will do all in their power to see that both will suffer for it. We need not worry about it. It is in the past."
Legolas was silent for so long that Elrond began to fear he had said something wrong. But one look in those blue eyes told him that the others had been right- Legolas was tearing himself up inside over something. When Legolas did move, it was to step away from the half-elf to take their child back to the crib in the outer chamber. The wet nurse looked up from her chair and nodded to his silent glance. Taking the baby gently, she made her way from the rooms to take a walk in the gardens.
Then Legolas went back to Elrond and stood just far enough from him that he would not give in to temptation and catch the thin figure up in his arms. For one thing, he feared breaking bones as Elrond was still much too thin from his ordeal, and for another, he did not know how the other would react to such a silly gesture.
"Is there something wrong, Legolas?" Elrond prompted, sitting on his bed and gesturing to the blond to sit beside him. He would have preferred to do this anywhere but in the bedroom where his daughter had been conceived, but still. He could not choose such things and did not try.
"It is not in the past," Legolas sighed finally, shaking his head and staying where he was, "It plays in my head every minute. Three months, Elrond; you could have died before then."
"But I didn't," his lover emphasized, holding out a hand that brooked no argument, "I did not die- just as you knew in your heart I would not- and we have our daughter. All is well for us."
Legolas took the hand but still did not sit, only standing before the half- elf. He looked down at the tired face with the grey pallor still tinging the light bronze skin as he absently played with the slender fingers of the hand he held.
"What is it that troubles you now, Legolas?"
"You will think me a child..."
"Nay, melethron; I already believe it," Elrond said, smiling as he saw the dark look he was given for that crack. "Enough dramatics! Tell me simply and truthfully what it is that gives you that unbecoming frown."
Legolas sighed gustily again and then wryly decided not to. He might end by blowing Elrond away, what with the shocking weightlessness of the Elf Lord. "What if such a thing happens again?"
"It will not," Elrond said confidently.
"Why not?"
Elrond looked up at him for a moment in contemplative silence and then shrugged. "The healer assures me that I can bear no more children. The birth was too irregular and it has damaged whatever it was that allowed me to carry them. I cannot conceive now even if I were to be used as concubine."
Legolas glowered at the distasteful reminder of what had faced his lover and sat down beside him. "That is not the point," he contested hotly, "What if something were to happen to you again. What if you were to be hurt, or die as you almost did this time? What if I could not find you in time? I would go mad. And if these three months were anything to go by, I'd send everyone around me mad too!"
"I sincerely hope that you will not! Glorfindel and Erestor would be very dangerous if they went mad," Elrond commented, "However, I do see your point. Insane Balrog Slayers aside, I would not like you to be so affected. Legolas, if something were to happen to me, then it will happen. If the Valar will it, then it will be so. There is nothing anyone can do to change that."
"I know! But I cannot accept it!"
"Legolas, I know you feel guilt but..."
"It is not guilt that makes me fear for you," Legolas interrupted. He looked expressively to the innocently enquiring Elf Lord and then blushed when realization dawned. "I will not say anything because I know you do not feel the same."
"I- I... I mean, there... what... I... Are..."
Legolas calmly put a hand to Elrond's mouth, effectively silencing the stunned half-elf. "As I said, I do not expect you to reciprocate my feelings. And truly, I would not know how to act if you said you did! Let us not speak of it."
Elrond still stared at him with wide grey eyes and nodded slowly. He had never thought that such a thing would happen! Lovers, yes; but in love? He hadn't thought! No, an annoying little voice said in his ear, you never gave anything much thought before you bedded him, did you?
He wanted to defend himself but filed it away in his mind for a private moment. He did not want Legolas to think he was hearing things. It would probably make the Sylvan elf rouse the entire household in a panic. He hurriedly tried to think of a safer topic that could be discussed in the darkness of night as they sat on his bed together.
"What shall we name her?" he asked. Of course, since Legolas had unconsciously left his hand over Elrond's mouth and Elrond had forgotten to first remove said hand, it came out as a jumble of sound.
The hand was promptly removed.
"What name shall we give our daughter?" Elrond asked, more sedate now.
For an hour they debated the topic, trying to fix a name that would aid her in her unspecified quest as well as suit her heritage from both fathers. They narrowed it down to nothing. Neither of them quite liked the suggestions that the other presented and in the end, they both went to their separate beds feeling very disheartened at the prospect of naming the lively little parcel that constituted their daughter.
The next morning, Elrond insisted on being taken to the dining hall. Legolas offered him his arm and lectured him all the way there. The few elves who met them, stared after the two with mixed curiosity and worry. Fantastical stories of male pregnancies and slavers filtered through the hallways, passing from pointed ear to pointed ear. The Lord of Imladris was currently the source for much speculation and rumours. And for that his people thanked him.
"Ada, what are you doing out of bed?" Elladan questioned.
"I was planning to eat, but if you have another suggestion, I will listen," Elrond said pleasantly, too happy by far to be home to worry overmuch over his children's scoldings. They had gotten so much worse since the birth that he had developed the habit of listening to them with only one ear, gliding away into his thoughts as they tried to wrap him in cotton wool lest he break.
Arwen rolled her eyes and grinned as Elladan huffed in his seat and threw up his hands in mock surrender. "He will not listen," she laughed, "Even now he is thinking only of how to persuade Erestor to let him start work again."
Elrond looked startled and stared at his Evenstar. He blinked in confusion and then smiled ruefully as the others laughed at Arwen's perceptiveness. The only person missing was Aragorn, and he had promised to return in a few weeks for a short visit. After all, he had grinned, he needed to introduce himself to his best friend's child and his Arwen's new half-sister!
"Legolas and I were thinking of names for the child," Elrond began.
The three Peredhil children looked to each other and then turned to Glorfindel and Erestor. Just as Legolas began to suspect something, they looked to the two fathers and chorused, "Bronwe," in one voice.
Elrond was a bit taken aback but thought it over. He asked for Legolas' opinion with naught but a raised eyebrow. The blond nodded, smiling as he reached beneath the table for his hand. "It seems fitting," he whispered, "It took much faith to have her. And I placed all faith in the Valar that they would bring both of you safely back to me."
Arwen pointedly stared down at her plate and busied herself with eating as if no intimate conversation was occurring at the table. Erestor and Glorfindel followed her example, but the twins unashamedly listened in.
"Bronwe," Elrond murmured, tasting the name on his tongue, "It will remind her of happier times in darkness. We are agreed then?"
"I like it."
They looked to the others. "While I am certain that all of you have heard every part of that conversation," Elrond said dryly, "let me clarify it- we accept your suggestion."
Elrohir turned kindly to Erestor. "You will have another student soon," he said joyfully, "Imagine the delight!"
Erestor turned white and choked. He looked to Glorfindel and both shivered as they looked imploringly to their Lord. Elrond only looked sweetly back at them with a mocking look of warning, as much as if to say- "Dare you insult my child?"
"Yes," Erestor gulped, "Delightful!"