The Lost City Of Cirus

Author's Note:
Sorry about the huge delay but I had exams and so had to put my writing on hold. But they are over now and here is the last chapter for The Lost City Of Cirus. I hope you have enjoyed it and thank you to all who have reviewed along the way your support on the story has really helped along the way, thank you.

Thirty-Eight
Years Later…

"Ada! Ada!" A small voice called out as a blond Elfling ran across the footbridge hanging over the river in front of Mirkwoods palace.

Legolas looked up from the bow he was re-stringing to watch the small Elf run towards him. He smiled and lent the bow against the stone cliff face of the palace before he bent down to scoop the small boy up into his arms.

The Elfling flung his arms around Legolas' neck and Legolas kissed him on the cheek before tipping him back slightly to look into his bright yellow-green eyes.

"Now Aniond, what is it that you have coming running to tell me?"

"Aragorn is here!" The young boy squealed.

"Aragorn?"

"Yeah, he's ridding through the forest right now with some guards." A voice piped up from down by his feet.

Legolas looked down as a tiny hand tugged gently on the bottom of his leaf-green tunic. There by his leg stood a small boy, the same age and height of the one in his arms but with bright blue eyes and dark wavy air. The two boys had very similar features but while the blond boy had the pointed ears of an Elf the other was lacking this trait.

"I take it you both saw him then Indus?" Legolas addressed the small boy now clinging to his leg.

Both nodded vigorously and pointed off down the path leading up to the bridge.

"Well then my sons we shall sit here and wait to see if you are right."

With that Legolas sat himself down upon the grass, placing Aniond back on his feet as he did. Indus sat beside his father and lent his head on his shoulder. Legolas ran a hand playfully through his hair, effectively messing it up until the boy batted his hand away.

"Ada! Why are you sitting there? We should go get Aragorn!" Aniond objected.

"Don't be silly if he is on the road as you've said, it will bring him straight here."

Aniond sighed in defeat and too sat by his father's side. Legolas shook his head, the twins could be a handful at times but he loved them all the same for it. They were good boys when they wanted to be and really only served to remind him of how he had behaved when he was an Elfling.

The three sat in silence for a while, eyes trained on the path before them. Waiting for any signs of the approaching King and his entourage of guards. Indus looked up at his father's blank face before he placed a small hand on his shoulder to gain Legolas' attention.

"Father, do you think I should go tell mother that Aragorn's coming?"

"It is a nice thought Indus but I think Aquila needs her rest right now."

Legolas smiled down at his son, concern that his mother was missing out shinning bright in the young child's eyes.

"Besides" Aniond piped up "mother's too fat to walk now anyway."

"Aniond!" Legolas cried out "Don't say such things!" He looked worried before he added "especially not in front of your mother."

"But mother isn't here and she is fat." The boy looked confused. "Why would she care anyway?"

"First of all Aniond you know very well your mother is not fat, she is just heavy with child at the moment. Secondly you shouldn't speak ill of your elders, especially your parents. Last of all one thing you should know about all women is they're very sensitive, especially about their weight and even more so while they're pregnant."

Legolas looked sternly down at the young blond boy who eventually turned his eyes up to face his father's gaze. They sparkled with tears that were threatening to spill over and Legolas took the boy into his arms to comfort him.

"I'm sorry Ada. I didn't mean it."

"I know you didn't Aniond but sometimes you need to remember to think about what you're saying before you say it." He smoothed a hand over his son's blond hair as he felt him nod his head against his chest.

A light touch to his back gave him cause to look to his other side where Indus had wrapped his arms around him and lent his head on his shoulder. Legolas took one arm from about Aniond and encircled his other son, pulling him into the shared embrace.

"When will the baby come?" Indus finally asked his father.

"The healers say any day now so we need to make sure Aquila gets plenty of rest."

Both boys nodded vigorously and Legolas grinned at their eagerness to please. The sound of hoof falls caused him to look up from the twins and sure enough, rounding the corner, was the King of Gondor. Arwen, his son Eldarion, and four guards accompanied him, all riding upon horses.

Legolas got to his feet, releasing the boys who also got up to stand beside him. Both Aniond and Indus looked excited to see Aragorn. They had met him once before, two years ago and had very found memories of him, his wife and their son, whom the two boys had befriended.

"King Elessar! It is good have you with us again." Legolas called out as the small company approached.

They rode their horses up to the bridge where they dismounted and allowed the stable hands to take the horses to the stables while they walked the remaining distance, over the bridge and to the gateway to Mirkwoods palace.

"King Legolas." Aragorn smiled widely. "It is most wonderful to see you again my friend." The two embraced before Aragorn released Legolas so that he could hug Arwen and apply a swift kiss to her cheek.

"And look at little Aniond and Indus. You have grown much since I saw you last."

The twins smiled up at him before he picked each one up and hugged them tightly.

"Now tell me Indus, has your mother taught you to fly yet?"

Indus looked disappointed and from that Aragorn could guess the answer to his question all too easily.

"No. She has not been able to. I only grew my flight feathers this year but at the moment she cannot fly herself."

Aragorn looked over at Legolas in frightful concern, only to have the Elf laugh at him.

"Do not fear Aragorn, it is nothing to be concerned about. She is merely with child and the process her body goes through while carrying does not allow her to shift forms beyond a certain stage of the pregnancy."

Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief before he grinned slyly at Legolas.

"She carries your child again Legolas?"

Then Elf nodded, smiling proudly rather than blushing as he did when he had announced his wife's first pregnancy.

"Congratulations to you both Legolas." Arwen smiled at Mirkwood's King.

"Do you think it will twins again?" Aragorn questioned as he glanced over at Legolas' two sons, now running off to play with Eldarion.

"For Aquila's sake I hope not. Their birth was hard on her." Legolas looked a little down cast but Arwen slipped a finger beneath his chin and lifted his eye to meet hers.

"She will be fine Legolas. She is stronger than many give her credit for."

Legolas smiled at her and nodded.

"This I know well Arwen, thank you."

"Will we be able to see her?" She questioned once she'd dropped her hand to her side again.

Just as Legolas was about to answer an Elven woman came rushing out from the palace doors.

"King Legolas!" She called and he turned to face her, waiting for her to continue. "The baby is coming my Lord."

Wide-eyed Legolas jumped into action and thanked the Elf before rushing into the cavernous palace. He quickly reappeared, remembering he had guests still standing out the front.

"Gwenneth" he addressed the Elf "would you show the King and Queen of Gondor to their rooms and see that they are taken care of?"

She nodded and bowed, accepting the King's task that he had appointed to her.

Legolas then disappeared back into the palace and ran as fast as his swift feet could carry him to the royal chambers, where Aquila would be laid out upon his bed preparing to give birth to their third child.

Aragorn tapped lightly on the door Gwenneth had lead him and Arwen to. After they'd been shown to their room, treated to a delightful lunch and left to occupying themselves for several hours Gwenneth had finally caught up with them and informed them that if they wished they could see Aquila and Legolas now.

So here they stood, outside the royal chambers, waiting patiently for the door to be opened to them. Sure enough the door swung inwards and Elanus stood before them. She ushered them in with a warm smile before closing the door quietly behind them.

The large bedroom was taken up mostly with the huge four-poster bed at its center. It's usual rich green sheets were piled on the floor to one side of the room; to the other was a pile of bloodied sheets. New crisp white sheets had replaced the now crimson ones on the bed and under them lay the exhausted from of Mirkwood's Queen, her usually shinny dark brown hair now dull and matted to her forehead and the sides of her face. The tall blond Elf that was her husband stood by the bedside with his back to the door.

As the couple entered the room Legolas turned his head to see whom it was but his head was caught mid-turn by the tiny hand that reached up to grasp a lock of his hair. Legolas turned his head back and laughed quietly, bending his head to coo quietly to the tiny babe in his arms.

"You'll have to let go my lovely or daddy can't see who's here to visit."

He held a finger out to the newborn and the tiny hand was happy to exchange the lock of golden hair for the offered digit, taking it into a toothless mouth to suckle upon it. Legolas smiled brightly before he turned his attention to the royal couple waiting just inside the room.

"Aragorn. Arwen. Please forgive my rudeness before, as your host I should have seen to it that you were comfortably housed before I left you."

"Oh no Legolas, you don't have to apologize for anything." Arwen comforted him. "You had to be here for the birth of your child." She smiled at the babe in his arms, still sucking upon his finger.

Wrapped in a soft white blanket with bright blue eyes and the smallest amount of blond hair on an otherwise bald head Aragorn could see the newborn would grow up in the likeness of the King.

"Well then Legolas" Aragorn began "does Mirkwood have a new Prince or a Princess?"

"Princess." A soft voice croaked from the bed.

"Aquila." Arwen smiled warmly as she sat on the bed beside Aquila.

The Roc pulled herself up into a sitting position. Arwen then took the other woman's hand in her own.

"How was it for you? Better than the twins I hope."

Aquila laughed as best she could, despite her exhaustion, and shook her head.

"Yes the birth was not nearly as bad this time."

"She did so well." Legolas said proudly as he stepped up to the bed, the tiny baby girl clutched safely in his arms. "You did so well me love." He stepped to Arwen's other side so that he could lean down and press a comforting kiss to his wife's soft lips.

Mirkwood's young Princess objected to Legolas' attention being taken off her with a tiny whimper, which slowly escalated in volume. Legolas straightened himself and rocked her carefully in his arms, trying to sooth her wails.

"She does not want to share her father." Aragorn quirked.

"She is a smart girl." Aquila added with a smile.

Legolas pressed a soft kiss to his daughter's forehead and cooed softly to her, her wails slowly dying away as he hushed her.

"Quiet now my Princess, you mustn't cry with Gondor's King and Queen here."

Finally nothing but the occasional tiny whimper was emitted from the newborn and Legolas walked her back to the bed to sit on its end when a knock sounded at the door. Elanus opened it a crack and poked her head out to see who it was. She pulled her head back inside and turned to Legolas.

"It is your sons my Lord." She informed Legolas.

"Send them in Elanus." Legolas said with a smile.

She opened the door and the two boys came scampering into the room, throwing themselves onto the bed and into their mother's arms.

"Mother!" They both cried out and threw their arms around her.

Aquila winced slightly as the boys hugged her a little too tightly but despite the initial pain she pulled them close and kissed them both.

"My boys."

Aquila kissed and hugged the twins again before Aniond began to fidget, embarrassed by his mother's display of affection.

"Mother!" He wrinkled his nose and tried to pull away from his mother.

"Oh Aniond, Aragorn and Arwen don't care if I kiss you."

Legolas laughed at his son who proceeded to put up with his mother's affections, while Indus also giggled at his twin.

In the wake of the twins a tall male with spiky flame-red locks that trailed to the back of his neck strode into the room. His talons clicked loudly as he crossed the stone floor and onto the lush carpet covering most of the royal bedchambers. He wore a high collared cloak and a golden circlet adorned his brow. In his right hand he clutched a tall scepter, its base taping quietly on the ground with each step he took, it's top crested with a Golden Roc, wings extended upwards and a circular red stone atop it's head.

"Pandion!" Aquila called out from the bed.

Her brother grinned at her and lent against his scepter. He cocked his head to the side and laughed loudly as his nephews launched themselves at him and attached themselves to his legs.

"Uncle Pandion!"

He dropped the scepter he was holding and it clattered to the floor as he lifted one twin up in each arm.

"King Pandion." Aragorn addressed the Roc. "I didn't realize you were visiting too."

As soon as Pandion had placed the boys back on the ground he embraced the King of Gondor and the two smiled warmly at each other. Relations between the Rocs and the race of Men had improved considerably since Pandion had been made King. Audax had handed his crown over when Thranduil had invited him to join him on the ship to set sail from the Grey Heavens. Since then Pandion had seen to it that the pathway from the City of Cirus into Mirkwood was completed and that the treaties between Men and Rocs were rewritten.

"I came as soon as I'd received news of the birth. Congratulations to you both." He smiled at Legolas and Aquila. "Aviceda sends her congratulations as well but she unfortunately had to remain in Cirus with Hieraaetus."

"How are your wife and daughter?" Arwen asked.

"They are well but Hieraaetus is teething at the moment and Aviceda thought it best she remain at home with her seeing as this will only be a short trip."

He reached down and ruffled Aniond's hair before him and Indus ran back to the bed to sit with their mother. Pandion crossed the rest of the way across the room to stand at the end of the bed as the twins crawled across the sheets to reach their mother's side.

"Are you ok mother?" The brunette twin questioned.

"Of course I am Indus. You weren't worried were you?" Aquila gently stroked the soft hair of the youngest twin.

He shook his head, putting up a brave face so that his mother wouldn't think he was worried for her. She smiled, seeing right through his act but touched by his concern for her.

"Would you like to see your baby sister?" Legolas said as he sat on the bed with Aquila and their two sons.

The two boys nodded vigorously and crawled across the bed to sit to either side of their father. He held out the tiny girl for his sons to see and both leaned in to look at her, wrapped in a white blanket and clutched securely in their father's arms.

"Now remember she's still very new so you have to be gentle with her and remember to keep your voices down."

The boys nodded and peered down at their baby sister, smiles tugged at the corners of their moths and they exchanged a look with each other before for grinning up at their father who beamed down at them.

"She's so little." Indus whispered as he held a finger out to his new sister.

She reached up and grasped his finger in her tiny hand and Indus smiled brightly down at her. Aniond held a finger out so that she could grasp it with her other hand and laughed quietly when she did.

Legolas looked up from his three children and over at his wife who, though her hair was disheveled, her skin more pale then before, and the usual radiant gleam in her yellow-green eyes was dulled slightly, was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. She smiled brightly at him and he returned it with as much warmth as felt radiating from her.

He was suddenly compelled with an overwhelming desire to throw her their bed and take her beneath him like he had done on so many nights since they had been wed. Though he had to quickly blink the vision away before it began to affect him in more obvious ways, that and it was an entirely inappropriate thought to be having given the circumstances.

Aquila tipped her head to the side as Legolas seemed to get a strange look in his eyes but it disappeared as he shook his head and smiled over at her. Her eyes then slowly drifted closed and as her head fell to her chest she jerked it back up and struggled to keep her eyes open.

"You must be exhausted my love. We'll leave you so that you can get some rest."

Legolas stood from the bed and both Aniond and Indus followed his example. Aquila would have objected had she the energy but at that moment her eyes had drifted closed of their own accord and as all in the room crept from the royal chambers she fell into a deep and restful sleep.

Before he too left Legolas placed a soft kiss to her forehead and laid their new daughter down in the crib that had been placed beside their bed. The then quietly slipped from the room and closed the door with a soft click behind him.

When Legolas found the others they had settled themselves out on the soft grass at the edge of the forest in front of the palace. Arwen had settled in just beneath the shade while Aragorn and Pandion were stretched out, soaking up the sun. The children had already ventured off to see what trouble they could get themselves into to, though they were more than safe within the borders of Mirkwood.

"You must be very proud." Arwen smiled at Legolas as he sat himself down beside Aragorn. "She is beautiful."

"Yes you'll have to watch out Legolas, in a few hundred years she'll have every young Elf in Mirkwood chasing after her." Pandion laughed, adding a wink.

Legolas shot the Roc a look but it didn't stop Pandion laughing.

"Laugh all you want Pandion but just remember you have a daughter now too." Legolas smirked at the Roc, who suddenly stopped laughing. "Thought so."

"We heard of the birth of your daughter but please accept our regrets as to not being able to visit yet." Aragorn said as he shaded his face from the sun to see Pandion more clearly.

The Roc waved off the apology, knowing all too well the pressures of ruling a kingdom that kept one at home when they would rather be visiting friends and family. He was lucky enough to get away for the afternoon to be there for his sister at the birth of her third child, having roped Sphenurus in at the last minute to see to things of immediate importance while he was gone.

Arwen noticed Pandion's far off stare, the Roc had become more prone to such lapses since his father had given him the crown, but Arwen had a feeling that this wasn't the reason. She had decided this mostly as she noticed his moods improved dramatically when he had remarried, the topic she wanted to bring up was one she had avoided doing so up until now, but she felt it was time for the subject to be broached with the Roc King.

"Pandion" Arwen spoke softly but paused to make sure she had the Roc's attention before continuing. "Did you go to the Grey Havens to see Elrond off?"

That sadness that had become all too common in Pandion's eyes now returned and he lowered his head slightly to hide his eyes from the others.

"No. We said our good-byes in Imladris before he went on to the sea with Galadriel. It was probably best that way. Had I gone with him to the Grey Havens I think I might not have been able to let him go, and he needed to go and my people need me here. So that is the way it had to be. I stayed with the twins in Rivendell for a few days before I returned to Cirus."

He paused to take in a shuddering breath, evident to the others that he was fighting back the urge to let the tears undoubtedly welling up in his eyes spill over. Arwen was just about to question him further when he continued.

"And in answer to your next question Arwen." He managed to force a smile but didn't lift his eyes. "Not a day goes by where I don't miss him but we can't always have everything we want in life and while my marriage to Aviceda may seem purely for practicality purposes she has been a good friend of mine since childhood and I do truly love her, and we are happy."

He finally lifted his head again. There was no sign of any tear tracks on his cheeks but his eyes glistened more than usual. Arwen studied the Roc carefully, his smile was more genuine now and the sadness in his eyes had dissipated. He looked better now, healthier than he had when she had seen him during the war. He had put his usual weight back on and his muscles were now more clearly defined on his body instead of bones. He looked healthy and genuinely happy, and for that she was glad.

"We shouldn't be dwelling sadness from the past. We are here to celebrate the birth of my niece. Why we are discussing my past loves I don't know."

Aragorn laughed warmly and draped an arm about the Roc's shoulders.

"You're right Pandion. So Legolas, what are you and Aquila planning to call your new daughter?"

"We don't have a name picked out yet so that's something we'll have discuss when Aquila has some of her strength back."

"Yes, poor dear." Arwen said with a smile. "Birthing a child does consume an awful lot of energy."

"We'll take your word on that." Aragorn said as he placed a swift kiss upon his wife's lips.

The adults sat in silence for a few moments as they watched the three boys emerge from the forest and sprint past them, only to disappear back amongst the trees again.

"Your son's are growing well Legolas." Pandion smiled as he watched the boys retreating backs.

"Yes…" Aragorn mused for a moment before he continued. "It is a shame the first did not survive."

Three pairs of confused eyes turn to him, expecting him to continue, but when he did not Legolas spoke up.

"First? I'm afraid I don't understand Aragron." Legolas looked thoroughly confused and Aragorn sighed heavily.

"I take it Elrond never told you then?"

"Told me what?…….. Aragorn, what are you talking about?"

"When Aquila fell in the war and Elrond took her back to the camp to heal her he had to do a full examination to be sure that the arrow wound was the only one she was suffering from."

Aragorn paused and watched Legolas eyes carefully for any sign that the Elf had already comprehended what he was trying to say. However he saw nothing but confusion so he continued.

"There was a child Legolas. Your child, she was carrying it when she was pierced by the arrow. Elrond said that had the arrow not been poisoned the baby probably would have survived. He told me the stress placed on her body by the injury coupled with having to fight off the poison caused the embryo to abort."

Legolas choked back what Aragorn could only assume was a sob and he was grateful when his wife slipped a comforting arm about the Elf's shoulder to consol him.

"How far was……"

Aragorn quickly cut Legolas off, knowing exactly what the Elf was trying to ask but not wanting him to have to suffer the pain of doing so.

"Elrond said it was only a few weeks, she wasn't showing and he doubted she even knew. You know as well as I that she would not have fought in that war had she know she was with child."

Legolas looked up, a small smile touching the corner of his mouth, and nodded.

"No, she would not have endangered our baby. Even if it had of meant swallowing her pride and staying behind when we'd gone to war."

The world before Legolas' eyes drifted out of focus as he recalled the number of occasions he had lain with Aquila when the child could have been conceived. It hurt; that there had been a child he would never know, more than would have though it could. But what hurt him far more deeply was that the man he thought to be one of his dearest friends hadn't told him of this loss until now.

"Why didn't you tell me Aragorn?"

The hurt evident in Legolas' eyes stung Aragorn deeply and he only hoped the Elf could understand Elrond's reasoning.

"When Elrond told me of the child the first thing I wanted to do was tell you my friend but he convinced me otherwise. You see we had almost lost you when you thought Aquila had departed from this place we feared what the knowledge that you had lost a child would do to you in your weakened condition. Not to mention Aquila too was in the process of recovering from her injury and Elrond thought it best we not risk the health of both of you by telling you of the child you had lost. I didn't realize he never intended to tell you though."

Legolas still looked hurt and Aragorn feared his friend might never forgive him for this.

"Please Legolas, you must believe me!"

Legolas managed a smile but it barely touched his eyes. The pain was still too great for him and he now worried over telling Aquila such news and how she would react to it.

"Aragorn please, it is not you I am upset with. I can understand why you and Elrond chose not to tell us but you must understand this has come as quite a shock. I think perhaps I will feel better in the morning once I have had time to think over it."

"Thank you Legolas." Aragorn said quietly, and genuinely meant it.

Both Arwen and Pandion exchanged a look but neither was really concerned for the friendship between the Elf and Man that had lasted all these years.

The four sat quietly for a while, content to let the river, churning along its course through the forest, wash with it any despairing thoughts. The sound of three small boys laughing and screaming as they chased one another through the forest soon rose up above the rivers babbling and the adults all turned their heads in the general direction of the noise until the three young ones came rushing out from between the tall trees and headed straight for them.

Arwen caught Eldarion round his middle and pulled him into her arms while he loudly protested her actions as the twins continued past him to throw themselves at Legolas and Pandion. Aniond tackled Pandion who ended up on his back as a result, while Indus wrapped his arms about his father's neck and rested his head on his shoulder.

Pandion managed to sit up with Aniond still attached to him and gave the child a playful glare. Legolas placed an arm about the Indus as Indus looked up at him with big blue eyes.

"Why are you sad father?"

Legolas couldn't help but smile at that. Of the two Aniond had always seemed naturally more confident while Indus had always seemed to have unusually accurate perception when it came to what those around him were feeling.

"Aragorn told me a sad story, that is all."

"What was it about?" Aniond asked from his spot seated upon Pandion's lap.

"Perhaps I shall tell you later."

The two boys nodded but secretly Legolas doubted her would ever tell them, at least not until they were grown and fully capable for understanding what he had to tell them. It was in that moment he suddenly understood why it had been so important for Elrond and Aragorn to keep this secret from himself and Aquila.

As the boys chatted hurriedly with Pandion, Arwen and Aragorn, Legolas turned his eye out to the west as the sun began to lower itself down towards the horizon. He would have to tell Aquila of their lost child, but not tonight she would be far too tired from the birth for him to trouble her with such a thing. Perhaps tomorrow when he had thought of a gentle way to break the news and she had regained some of her strength. He smiled though as he reminded himself of Aquila's strength and comforted himself with the knowledge that she would probably handle the news better than he had.

"What do all say to an early dinner?" He finally addressed the others.

They all nodded in agreement and picked themselves up from the soft grass to make their way back into Mirkwood's palace. Legolas sent the boys off with one of the palace servants to have them fed and sent to bed while the adults dinned in the smaller of the Palace's dinning halls.

Legolas crept into his chambers, night having fallen long ago, the twins already put to bed, and Aragorn and Arwen had too retired to bed. He carefully lent over the edge of the crib in which slept Mirkwood's tiny new Princess and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before he made his way silently to the large bed in the room's center.

He devastated himself of his clothing and slipped beneath the covers of the bed he shared with Aquila. He pulled her limp body to him and she sighed in exhaustion as she nuzzled her face against his smooth chest in her sleep.

He kissed her forehead and ran his fingers delicately through her now tangled locks and whispered softly to her.

"You have done so well my love. Our new daughter is happy and healthy and will grow up to be every bit as beautiful and wonderful as her mother."

"We must name her in the morn my King." A hushed voice replied.

"And we shall my Queen."

The two said no more as Aquila quickly slipped back into her restful slumber and was later joined by her husband. Who finally drifted off to sleep when he'd found the perfect name for their new daughter, Faerfain.

END