Chapter 3
The news of Celeglin's death sent Mithlin into a deep void of sorrow and grief. Despite the support from her brother in law's family she would not venture from her rooms or do what she had once enjoyed. All she did was sleep, eat...the bare necessities for living and keeping her unborn child alive; for she could not succumb to her grief knowing she carried her love's child. She would wait until it was her time.
She often hoped the birth of Celeglin's child would manage to break her from her grief, give her some comfort, but the thought that she had been separated from Celeglin ever plagued her mind. It was considered a danger to the child if the parents should be separated while it developed. Mithlin spent long hours to push such thoughts from her mind so she could sleep.
It was one afternoon in the late autumn whenMithlin struggled to reach her door as pain spread through her body. She would not be alone for this. Grasping tightly on the handle she leant against the door and breathed heavily, praying there would be someone near outside her room she pushed the door open. Looking down the corridor both ways, Mithlin despaired for it seemed there was no one indoors, then looking down the corridor again she spotted a shadow of someone walking away
"Wait!" she cried, before gasping in pain. To her relief she heard footsteps coming back around the corner
"Mithlin?" a small voice asked, somewhat shocked.
"Tinwë!" Mithlin sighed thankfully as she looked up and saw her niece with a wide eyed expression on her face. "Hurry – fetch your mother – quickly!" Tinwë nodded fearfully in reply and then hurried off.
Feeling too weak to move back to her bed, Mithlin leant against the doorframe, trying to calm her mind. Minutes seemed to drag by until she heard footsteps again. Looking up to see Tathariell and Tinwë rushing around the corner seemed to be the most wonderful sight ever.
"Oh, Mithlin," Tathariell said comfortingly as she supported her.After ushering her inside the room and helping her to the bed, Tathariell went back to the door where Tinwë was hovering around. "Go tell your father to fetch Lord Elrond here, I fear we will need his skills of healing," she said quietly so not to alarm Mithlin who lay fitfully on the bed. Tinwë nodded understandingly, then with a quick glance to Mithlin she ran off to find her father.
Mithlin's face was paling with the strain as Tathariell walked back to her. Taking her hand, Tathariell tried to remain calm and speak soothingly to her. There was a small knock on the door and Tathariell turned around to see a maid standing in the doorway
"I was sent by your husband, he is fetching the Lord now...he said you would need help,"
"Yes: I believe we will need more female hands," said Tathariell with a faint smile.
The maid glanced down at Mithlin and bit her lip in worry, still no child had come and it seemed that Mithlin was struggling to cope.
"I hope the Lord arrives soon," she commented to Tathariell worriedly.
"Celeglin!" Mithlin muttered deliriously, as she turned her head restlessly upon the bed. Tathariell nodded in reply to the maid and felt Mithlin grip her hand tighter.
Reviews please! Only the epilogue to come...and then if you like it a sequel : )