I finally updated! I'm so very sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I'm having a big case of writer's block on this story, but like I said before I'm slowly chipping away at it. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you all so very very much for your reviews. As always, let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 48

Aria and Legolas made their way down the corridors to the dinning hall where the king and queen were waiting for them. Aria was nervous and still rather upset from her dream, but did her best to block those thoughts from Legolas. She felt his eyes on her as they walked and she looked up at him. Aria smiled at him and he returned it. "There is something I would like to discuss with you after the morning meal," Legolas said.

"What is it?" she asked, but Legolas just smiled and shook his head.

"After the meal and after we share our good news with mother and father." Aria pouted but Legolas shook his head again. "That is not going to work Aria." Aria smiled and laid her head on his shoulder as they walked. Soon, they were inside the dinning hall. Legolas pulled out Aria's seat and she sat down as she smiled at him. Legolas returned her smile and sat down next to her. Thranduil laughed quietly and looked at Elráwien who gave her husband a smile of her own. They ate their breakfast in silence and soon as they enjoyed their tea, Legolas cleared his throat and looked at his parents before he took Aria's hand and laced his fingers with hers. "Mother, father, there is something that Aria and I would like to tell you." Elráwien lowered her tea cup and looked at the pair.

"What is it?" she asked and Legolas looked at Aria. Aria cleared her throat and sat her own cup down onto the saucer in front of her.

"Well, I am . . . with child," she said as she looked at them. Elráwien all but dropped her cup in her lap and Thranduil just looked at her and then Legolas. Legolas smiled and squeezed her hand. "Legolas, why aren't they saying anything?" she asked him through her link, slightly worried.

"They will, Aria, they will," Legolas responded and suddenly Elráwien stood and rushed over to Aria. She pulled her from her chair, freeing her hand from Legolas', and Aria was enveloped in a large embrace. Aria laughed and put her arms around her mother-in-law. "Told you," came Legolas' voice in her head and her smile widened.

"This is wonderful!" Elráwien exclaimed as she pulled away. She looked at Legolas and then back at Aria. "The first in centuries, oh, this is joyous occasion." She walked over to Thranduil who had now stood and was smiling happily at the pair.

"This is indeed wonderful news. Although, I will say I did not expect this so soon," Thranduil said. Legolas smiled and stood. He wrapped his arm around Aria's waist and she looked at him.

"Nor did we father, but we couldn't be happier," Legolas said. Thranduil smiled and nodded his head.

"In three days we shall have a feast and celebrate this happy occasion," Thranduil said. Elráwien smiled and nodded.

"Yes, we must. It will be wonderful and then we shall begin preparing the baby's room," Elráwien said. Legolas cleared his throat and the other three look at him.

"There is something I would like to discuss with the three of you," he said the four of them sat back down. "During our time in Minas Tirith I spoke with Aragorn regarding Ithilien. The forest there needs rebuilding, and I would like to take a party of elves and move to Ithilien to rebuild the forest and the city." Aria looked at him with a smile on her face. She loved the idea. That way she would be close to Arwen and Aragorn, as well as Éowyn. She looked at Thranduil and Elráwien. Elráwien looked confused but Thranduil just looked at his son.

"You want to leave Mirkwood, permanently?" Elráwien asked and Legolas looked at Aria.

"It will only be until Aria and I decide to sail," he said. "Would you come with me to Ithilien Aria?" he asked through her link and she smiled at him.

"I will go anywhere you wish Legolas. I would love to go to Ithilien with you. We would be closer to our friends," she said to him. Legolas smiled and then looked at his father.

"Legolas," the king said as he looked at his son. "This is what you wish?" Legolas nodded.

"Aye, father. I wish to rebuild the forest to it's former glory. Make it even better for the free peoples of Middle Earth to enjoy, for my child to enjoy." Thranduil looked at his wife who nodded with a sad smile on her face.

"Then we shall make it so." Legolas smiled and bowed his head. Aria looked at Elráwien who gave her a smile.

"There is something I would like to give you Aria. Please, come with me," Elráwien said as she stood. Aria looked at Legolas who smiled.

"Go," he said. "I must make the arrangements for our journey. We must take it before you are unable to travel." Aria nodded and kissed him gently before she stood and followed Elráwien out of the hall. Elráwien smiled at her and led her through the corridors to her and Thranduil's chambers.

"I do not know if this will come of use to you, but it was given to me by my mother when I became pregnant with Legolas before she sailed across the sea," Elráwien said as she pulled a wooden chest from the larger chest that rested at the foot of their bed. Aria walked over to the bed, where Elráwien had sat it down. Elráwien opened the chest and pulled out a pale green silk dress the size specifically for a baby. It was beautiful, something one would put on their baby when presenting her to others. "It was to be what my daughter wore when she was shown to the people, however, as you know we had a son." Aria smiled at Elráwien.

"It is beautiful. You have taken great care of it for it to last this long and look as though it was just finished hours ago," Aria said as she felt the soft material. Elráwien smiled and nodded.

"I have, but it was made with great care to last millennia and that it has. I would like for you to take this with you to Ithilien. If you have a daughter, I wish for her to wear this when you present her." Aria smiled and felt tears come to her eyes at the gracious gesture by her mother-in-law.

"I would be honored. If I am to a girl, I promise you that I will dress her in this dress for all the world to see her." Elráwien smiled and put the dress back into the box. Elráwien hugged her tightly. Suddenly, a horn sounded and Elráwien quickly pulled away and looked towards the window. "What's happening?" Aria asked quickly. Elráwien looked at Aria and furrowed her brow.

"There is an attack in the forest. Come quickly." Elráwien closed the box and returned it to the chest before the two elleths took off down the corridors. Once they arrived outside the hall, they found Thranduil talking to Legolas who now had his bow in hand and his quiver on his back along with his long knieves. "Thranduil, what is happening?" Thranduil looked at his wife and daughter-in-law. Aria walked over to Legolas and put her hand on his left forearm. He looked at her sadly.

"Spiders are coming close to the city. Too many for the patrols to keep them at bay," Thranduil said quickly. "The warriors are going out to aid the others."

"Let me go with you," Aria whispered to Legolas. He shook his head and kissed her forehead.

"Not this time, Aria," he whispered back. "Not this time." He kissed her lips and she frowned.

"Legolas, with my powers the spiders will be defeated quicker." He sighed and shook his head again.

"Yes, they would be but at what cost?" She stopped her protest at the look on his face. "I will not have you drained of your energy while you carry our child." He paused and rested his hand over her lower stomach. "Protect our child Aria, and I will protect us and our people." He kissed her lips tenderly before he and several other soldiers left the hall.

"I love you Legolas, come back to me. Come back to us," she told him through their link. She felt his determination double and she smiled.

"I love you Aria, and I promise I'll come back to you and to our child," he responded before he blocked her so she could not feel his emotions. She hated when he did that but she knew he was doing it to protect her from worrying. Little did he know it only made her worry more.

"Come Aria, let us wait in the study," Elráwien said. Aria nodded and followed Elráwien to the study to sit and wait for her love to return.