Geliriel counted the days until Amrod returned. More often than not, she was found sitting in her customary seat by the window, looking out into the distance. She would smile and hum quietly to her child. The time was growing closer, and soon she would be holding her son, rocking and singing to him.

During the times when she wasn't at the window, she spent in the company of Glinneth and Orainwen. The two women had become like sisters to her and she loved them dearly. They'd spend their days sitting in front of the fire, Glinneth and Geliriel working on making clothes or toys for the baby, and in Orainwen's case, mending clothes for all of them. They talked about everything, from the weather to manor gossip.

There wasn't as much gossip to be had. Many of the men had gone away with Amrod to Doriath. Only a few were left behind, and Berior had been strangely absent. Geliriel knew he would have extra duties here, but thought he'd be by a few times. It never occurred to her that he'd leave with the army.

One evening, after they had finished dinner, they were seated in front of the fireplace. Geliriel remembered something she had been meaning to ask Orainwen, and now had the chance to ask.

"Orainwen, I hope you don't mind me asking but, you were awful quiet the evening before the army left. Why?"

"I'm sure Glinneth has already told you about how I've always been after Berior. Well, He had told me two nights before the mobilization that he wanted to go. He wanted to fight alongside Lord Amrod. I was terrified and asked him to stay home instead. I was afraid he wouldn't come home. Only a few men were allowed to stay behind, and Lord Amrod gave him the choice of staying or going. At the last possible moment, he chose to go."

Geliriel watched as Orainwen put aside her mending and looked, unseeing, into the fire. She did not speak, nor did she cry. Geliriel moved to put an arm around the seamstress, and tried to comfort her. But, while Orainwen thanked her for the gesture, she would not accept the comfort. Hurt, Geliriel moved back and picked up her sewing.

"I'm sorry, my lady, but I cannot allow myself to think the worst. He will come back, of that I'm certain. He promised me he would."

"Yes, Orainwen, I understand. But you are not the only one to have your beloved go to Doriath. Amrod has gone as well, and I am almost as steadfast as you in trusting that he will return."

"You'll forgive me, ma'am, but Lord Amrod had to go because he is bound to the oath he took long ago. Berior is not bound. He had the choice to stay and he didn't."

Geliriel, still hurt, said no more. It was Glinneth who ultimately mended the rift between the lady and Orainwen. She spoke into the painful silence, a tear falling down her face.

"Must we fight each other? Our men have gone, but we must remain strong. Orainwen, the comfort lended to you is from one woman to another. It need not be looked upon as comfort given in grief. The men you love are gone, and we all hope for their quick and safe return." She held out her hands, one to each woman. They hesitated, then took the offered hand. Glinneth looked meaningfully at the free hands of the two. They looked at each other, then Orainwen took Geliriel's hand.

"I'm sorry, my lady. Please forgive me. I've never been in a situation such as this, nor have I had friends to see me through it."

Geliriel smiled her forgiveness. "Orainwen, both you and Glinneth are as sisters to me. I only want to see you both happy, and I want to be there for you both as you've been there for me."

They sat there in their circle, holding hands and not letting go. Each said a silent prayer to Iluvatar, each with their own prayers. Soon, the sewing forgotten, they raided the kitchen for the sweet rolls Noreg had made earlier in the day. Bringing them back to the fireplace, they sat and talked again long into the night.

After breakfast the next morning, Geliriel and Orainwen found seats by the window. Glinneth had gone to the manor to see about getting more wood for the fire, as well as more food for the kitchen. They sat in companionable silence, watching the lightly falling snow. It must've been at least an hour, possibly two, when Orainwen suddenly grabbed Geliriel's hand. She looked excited, and pointed toward the west garden. Geliriel looked and saw what Orainwen was getting so excited about.

"They've come home," she said, half to herself. She squeezed Orainwen's hand and they sat and waited a little more.

Finally, not being able to remain seated, Orainwen released Geliriel's hand and ran out of the door. 'Silly girl forgot her cloak,' Geliriel thought. She smiled fondly as the girl ran further away. 'I certainly hope Berior is near the front. She will get impatient if he's not.' She got up from her chair as well, and went to the door. She put on her cloak and got Orainwen's, then went to stand in front of the cottage. She wouldn't be able to run as Orainwen had done, but she would wait. Amrod would come to her, as he had before.

It seemed like an eternity. She could barely make out where anyone was in the snow, but soon she saw one pull away from the rest and ride toward her. He eased his horse to a stop and then dismounted, walking slowly to her. She couldn't help her tears of joy as Amrod gathered her up in his arms, holding her to him. He pulled away first, laying his hand on her belly, greeting the child. The baby moved just then, as if he were welcoming Amrod home as well. Geliriel chuckled softly, and Amrod smiled. Then he took her hand and led her into the cottage and straight up to her bedroom.

There, he took her in his arms once more and kissed so passionately and fiercely, it was as if he had been gone years, not weeks. His hands sought the clasp pin of her cloak and managed to get it undone. The cloak slid to the floor. His hands then came to cradle her face as he broke the kiss. He reached up and took the piece of cloth that was holding her hair back and sent it down to meet the cloak on the floor, running his hands through her long auburn hair.

She had not been inactive herself. She had also released the clasp of his cloak and it joined hers on the floor. She also took the piece of leather that held his hair back and threw it to the floor. In his eyes, she saw both love and barely contained lust. There was also a mix of other emotions, but at the moment, she didn't want to know what they were. All that mattered was Amrod. She was about to speak, but he bent to kiss her again. His hands roamed her body and hers followed suit over his. Again, he broke the kiss and again she saw the barely contained lust in his eyes.

"Darling, what's wrong?" she asked, concern filling her voice.

He backed a step away, leaving a cold space between them. He placed his hands on her belly. 'This is why he keeps himself from making love to me,' she thought. She knew in her heart that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. It seemed, though, that he would wait until after the baby was born before he would do anything more than the heated kiss they had just shared.

"Not yet," was all he managed to say. She nodded and understood his need to wait. It made her love him that much more. She reached for his hand and took it, bringing him back to her. She stood on tiptoe to kiss him herself. For a moment time seemed to stand still, and the only two people in the world were Amrod and Geliriel.

They parted once more, breaking the kiss, and she guided him to lie down upon the bed. She turned back the blankets, and he slid under them. Then she joined him, her back to his torso. He wrapped his arm about her and the baby, and for the rest of the day and night they remained in bed. No one dared disturb them, and they fell asleep.