Chapter 40: The little baby

Maelui was shaking as he entered the cell… Touching Florien's dead body was not on the top of his wants list. Maelui was not squeamish, but still, it was a dead body and more importantly, Florien, who had been close to him. Maelui could not remember the time his mother died so now, death seemed like a strange thing to him, an elf. Elves where not suppose to die!

Maelui put a hand behind Florien's neck and another beneath the bloody elf's legs. Maelui carefully and slowly raised Florien's body in his arms, not wanting to disturb or disrespect the dead, and slowly brought Florien's body out of the cell and over to the wall across from the cell.

Maelui lay Florien down and took off the cloak Florien had been wearing. It was old and torn but Maelui couldn't leave Florien's body uncovered, it grieved him too much. Maelui put the cloak over Florien's body, but stopped at Florien's neck.

Maelui looked at Florien's face, it would be hard to cover him now that he realized it… It would be the last time he saw Florien, and even though he got angry with Florien every time Florien would try to convince him that his real name was Locien, Florien was so nice and Maelui felt an instant bond with the redhead from the first moment he noticed Florien.

As Maelui stared at Florien for what seemed like ages, Maelui felt something. Looking at his hand, nothing was on it, but Maelui was touching Florien's neck. Maelui was about to move his hand in disgust (now having blood on his hand) when he felt it again… Very light and rapid, little thumps…

Maelui was feeling a pulse. Maelui knew it at once, it was Florien's pulse, and Florien was alive! Just barely alive by the looks of it, but if Maelui was given the chance the redheaded elf would live!

"Maelui, finish up! I want Florien's cell cleaned, it must be bloody!" Veassen snapped, knowing Maelui was taking far too long to say his goodbyes.

"Sir… It's Florien-

"Yes, I know it's him, I know he's dead, get over it and continue on with your work!" Veassen did not get a chance to let Maelui speak up.

"No, sir, I mean, Florien has a heartbeat, Florien is not dead!" Maelui couldn't help but smile a tiny, slightly happy smile at the words he spoke… Maelui's only true friend was still alive!

"Oh, really? Then throw him in his cell and lock him up, then get over it and do your job!" Veassen was much more aggressive because of his vision problem he was suffering from at the time.

"But, my lord, sir, Florien's will not make the day if he is not healed! Florien has already lost much more blood then he ever should, we cannot leave him like this or he will surly pass on to Mandos!" Maelui spoke up; doing his best to be certain Florien would live to see his father again.

"Fine, heal him. I want him alive anyways." Veassen threw some handfuls of medical supplies that he had had on him in a tiny bag. It was not too much nor the greatest, but Maelui could use it.

Carefully, Maelui cleaned and bandaged Florien. Maelui gave the medicine he then mixed to Florien, making sure the elf swallowed it carefully and then lay him down in his cell.

Maelui left once he was sure Florien would be able to handle being alone for a bit. Maelui was certain he'd pass by and enter as many times as he could between tasks, without angering Veassen in the progress.

Maelui locked the cell, as he knew Veassen was waiting and listening to hear the click of the metal lock that imprisoned the redhead for the entire year.

Maelui, with sadness and difficulty, left Florien to his own as he continued to do his tasks. Florien remained asleep during them, so Maelui kept checking back to make sure the elf was only sleeping, and to be certain Florien was not dead or about to die.

Veassen could hear it when Maelui entered Florien's cell, and would have yelled, but chose not to. Veassen left Maelui alone despite the constant checks on Florien's sleeping body that nearly drove Veassen insane, hearing the lock click open and shut repeatedly so much.

When Florien did start to stir, Maelui ran to the cell. Maelui was so nervous and at the same time excited that he had much trouble getting the key, so much trouble that by the time he had the right key in his hand, Florien was sitting upright, rubbing his eyes.

"Mandos…?" Florien moved his hands and looked around. He heard the lock click open and Maelui enter slowly. Florien looked around the room, panicked.

"No, no no no! I'm not supposed to be here anymore!" Florien slammed his fist in the floor; wincing at the pain it caused him and his bandaged wrists.

"Florien, don't worry-

"Don't worry? I want to be dead! Who saved me?" Florien asked, a bit harshly but Maelui put the tone of voice aside since Florien did go through a traumatizing event and he did nearly die.

"I did… I cannot let you die, and since I found you this morning alive and near death, I had to help!" Maelui sighed. He knew Florien would snap and yell at him for bothering, but Maelui was going to stick to his excuse because it was simply the truth, nothing more and nothing better.

Florien, as Maelui guessed, was quite upset by the fact that he was not dead yet, and even more angry with Maelui because it was Maelui's fault that he was still alive.

After at least a good ten minutes of being yelled at, Florien suddenly grew quiet. The young redhead gasped, and starting having much trouble with breathing at all. Maelui rushed to Florien's side and forced Florien -with gentle force- to lie down.

Maelui was very careful and soft as he tried to get Florien to breathe once more. Florien, though he had expected and wanted to die, copied Florien's breathing pattern and was soon breathing properly, but too shocked and tired now to argue.

"Than..." Florien tried to say the full sentence, but his breathing was hard and it was taking a lot of effort to pronounce any of the phrases.

"Your welcome, Florien. Don't stress yourself to speak. Just relax, please." Maelui soothed his friend calmly. Florien nodded his head and would have lay his head down if an awful sight approached him.

"He's conscious now? Well he should be happy to know I've regained my vision." Veassen was looking down at Florien, a slight glare in his eyes.

Florien whimpered quietly, shutting his eyes. He couldn't care anymore. He knew he would face a lot of pain from now until his death, Veassen's hands would cause his death, which he believed, but he didn't want to have to see Veassen. Veassen, as handsome of an elf as he was, was hideous to Florien because of all of Florien's pain and torment.

"Sir, please, don't touch Florien..." Maelui begged softly, looking up at Veassen. Veassen's vision was somewhat blurred, but he could see the pleading face of young Maelui.

"Don't touch him? I can barely see because of him, Maelui... Maelui, I think you should go continue with your work, leave me with Florien." Veassen ordered sharply, but despite his commanding voice, Maelui remained seated by Florien.

"If you hurt him, he wont survive... Sir, Florien was too close to death to be even touched gently! Please, leave him be. He needs to recover before he can go through any more trauma." Maelui begged his master. Sighing angrily, Veassen gave Maelui a kick before turning around to leave quickly and angrily outside.

Maelui gently stroked Florien's hair. Florien was now slipping in and out of consciousness, so Maelui kept careful watch over him.

"A-ada?" Florien asked softly. Florien's eyes were shut, and he just regained consciousness. Maelui, still treating Florien very gently, tried to soothe him.

"It's me, Florien. Maelui." Maelui was very soft and continued soothing him. Florien didn't open his eyes yet and sighed.

"Locien..." Florien whispered. Maelui wasn't going to argue, not this time. Florien just needed to rest; Veassen wasn't going to be gentle...

In Mirkwood

Tonus was seated beside Yáviel. Tonus still had a heavy heart from the loss of both Locien and Florien, Florien's loss weighing down on him most of all, but Tonus was keeping those feelings of pain and anger inside, on the outside, to everyone dear to him, Tonus was the happiest elf alive.

Of course, no one was aware that Tonus had any children, Tonus was still keeping it as a very well kept, big secret from all he knew, but to others, Tonus just cheered up. Only Yáviel knew it was much more than cheering up.

Only a month ago Yáviel had given birth to another child. Tonus just wished Florien was able to see the little baby.

Tonus was gifted with another beautiful son. The little child had a tuff of red hair, just like Florien had when he was born.

Tonus was holding the little child in his arms, softly cooing to the baby, Yáviel watching her husband closely. Ever since the baby had been given to them, Yáviel did not hurt her husband, physically or verbally, anymore. Yáviel never liked hitting or yelling at Tonus, she always did and always felt horrible afterwards, but the little baby brought peace, at least for some while.

Thranduil, unaware of this grandson, was just too happy to know that Tonus was in a much better mood. Elrond and other Rivendell elves remained in Mirkwood, still searching for the princess, her husband and brother-in-law. Elrond saw the change in mood, and though he questioned how sudden the change came, he was glad as well.

"Yáviel..." Tonus said softly, smiling at his wife who was dozing off. Yáviel still had to take care of the baby all by herself when Tonus wasn't there (though Tonus came now every day for as long as possible), and Yáviel was more than tired because of this.

"Oh... Oh, sorry Tonus... I almost fell asleep there, sorry." Yáviel opened her eyes and sat up straight.

"Don't worry sweetheart. You can sleep, but I think our little baby here should get a name, don't you? You know that tomorrow I wont be coming; ada needs me to report to a meeting with him. A month is a long time to go unnamed and-

"You took three months to name Florien. We called him baby boy for three months. But I agree Tonus; we need him to have a name. Do you have any suggestions?" Yáviel asked, smiling down at her son.

"I do, but first I want to hear what name you want this baby to go by. I chose Florien's name, after all..." It was hard for Tonus to simply mention his son's name, but he did.

"My names are foolish, Tonus... I want to name him Florien, but it wouldn't be right. No, let's not name him Florien, naming him Florien would make him have to bear being the 'replacement' of our first child. What is it that you have in mind?"

"...Faeron. But, if you do not like it, we can name him whatever you like." Tonus was timid to say the name. It was a bit like Florien, it did start with F and end in N.

"I think that Faeron is a beautiful name, Tonus. It's perfect for him... For our little Faeron." Yáviel said gently, looking at the newly named baby in her husband's arms. \

"Would you like to hold Faeron, Yáviel? You may..." Tonus offered the baby to his wife, who shook her head though still smiling at the precious boy in Tonus' arms.

"I need to rest... Please look after him well." Yáviel stood up, gave Tonus a soft kiss on his cheek and headed to her bedroom tiredly. Tonus watched her leave and then carried his boy into the kitchens to feed him some bottled milk.

"You've brought me closer to nana, little Faeron. She's never been so sweet and gentle, not since before your broth... Not for a long time, I'll tell you that Faeron. You're a perfect addition, I couldn't ask for better." Tonus whispered to the baby as he got the bottle ready and placed it at Faeron's tiny mouth.

Faeron, thirsty, began to drink immediately and drank most of it in time. Once finished, Tonus carried the little baby boy into Yáviel and Tonus' bedroom. Tonus lay the boy bedside Yáviel and quickly changed into something more comfortable that he had in the bedroom before he lay down beside his little boy.

Tonus held Faeron as Faeron fell asleep in between his parents, who where just too glad to have a son again...

To be continued...

I didn't expect to make Faeron! Originally the plan was that Yáviel would have a miscarriage, but I decided to be nicer...

Miss Telcontar: Well, now no one NEEDS to go, yay!

Melannie Amarie: Aw, don't worry about Florien. He's pretty strong, but he's still just a boy.

Bberry06: Well you see Bberry, myself unlike you cannot kill a character I have created...

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Veassen is scared of you...