Disclaimer: I haven't passed through fire and water to write witless disclaimers, but neither do I own Middle-Earth or any of it's contents.

Chapter 11

Consequences

Sky slid down the wall and buried her face in her hands. This couldn't be happening, not at a time like this. She hugged her knees and wondered how she was going to tell Legolas. He was a soldier and understood war better than anyone. He would know that now was not a good time. Sky could deny it no longer; she was pregnant. From her reckoning she was about two months gone but that in itself, raised a problem. It had been two months since Suiadan had raped her. Since then her marriage to Legolas had suffered greatly. She couldn't even have Legolas touch her. What would he say? He could go one of two ways. He could be furious if he thought the child was Suiadan's or he could be thrilled if he thought the child was his. Even Sky had no idea who the father was. She prayed silently that it was Legolas. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if it was Suiadan's. "Sky?" called a voice. Sky looked up as Legolas walked in.

"Are you alright?" he asked, "You look terrible, have you been crying?" Sky wiped her eyes. Legolas sat down next to her. Sky hesitated for only a moment before throwing herself into his arms. Legolas caught her in surprise. She looked up at him. "Do you remember when you asked me why I married you?" she asked. Legolas nodded quietly.

"The reason, I guess, was because I wanted my children to look like you," she said.

"You want to start a family?" he said. Sky nodded.

"We are in a war, it's not a good time," he said.

"I was afraid you'd say that," said Sky.

"Why?"

"Legolas there is something you should know," she said, "I'm with child." Legolas' face remained blank for a moment before he got up and walked away from her. He stopped a few feet from her. "How far?" he said, "How far along are you?" Sky looked down.

"Two months," she said, "I know what you're thinking. It may not be yours, it may be…"

"Don't you dare speak his name!" snapped Legolas, "He has the cheek to rape you and you dare admit he may have tainted our marriage!"

"What am I supposed to do?" shouted Sky, "Pretend it never happened? What if the child is his? And I give birth to it? What if it looks like Suiadan? Am I supposed to pretend it's yours? Legolas, we can't keep denying that Suiadan exists. He does until he's destroyed, he will always be present! What I want is your support, no matter what! Legolas, I'm scared and I need to know you're there! Now will you stay by me or… or do I have to leave you?"

"You'd leave?" said Legolas.

"If you didn't love me enough to stand by me, then…yes, I'd leave," said Sky quietly, "Legolas I hold a hope above hopes that this child is yours and deep down, I believe it is. The question is, do you believe it is yours?" Legolas turned around and looked at her. He looked into her blue eyes. "I pray that it is," he said.

"That's not the answer I am looking for," said Sky, "I don't want you to pray, I want you to believe. Now do you?" Legolas looked down for a moment.

"Yes," he said, "I believe it to be my child."

"That's all I wanted," said Sky as she got up and embraced her husband.

"We're going to be parents," said Legolas, smiling.

"When should we tell your father?" she asked.

"Now," said Legolas, "Come!"

"Are you sure?" asked Thranduil. Legolas nodded.

"Then, my son, I am pleased for you both," said Thranduil, "A child is a great blessing."

The news of Sky's pregnancy spread like wildfire and within days, Legolas' worst nightmare happened. As he walked through the corridors towards the throne room, he heard the words, "What is she thinking? Conceiving during a war! I heard it might not even be the prince's child!" Legolas froze and angrily glared at the maids who had been gossiping. "Just to put an end to your ignorance," he said savagely, "Humans cannot control when they conceive. So I suggest that I don't hear another word against my wife for her condition or I will be likely to have the guilty tongues cut out!" He hadn't meant it but the threat had silenced the maids.

Legolas took Sky's hand as they sat in the Great Hall, waiting for Thranduil to make the official announcement, mainly to confirm the rumors everyone had heard. Thranduil stood up and silence fell upon the room. "My lords and ladies," he said in a clear voice, "I am pleased to announce that my son, Legolas and his wife Sky are expecting their first child. The child is due in about seven to eight months time. Its birth will be a time of great happiness, I hope."

"You hope!" snarled a voice. A horrible, almost deformed little man had appeared in the center of the hall. The guards readied their swords but sky cried out, "No!" She stood up and walked towards the man. "My Master, Lord Suiadan, asks me to send a message," he said.

"Explains how you got in," said Sky, "Tell me, what is the dirty rat's message?

"He wants the people of Mirkwood to know," said the man, "That he has as much of a chance of being the father as the elf! He wants them to know, that you were no maiden when you were married! It was not the elf prince who took your maidenhood. It was my master!"

"Legolas saved me from Suiadan," said Sky.

"It doesn't change what happened," said the man, "My master says remember that he took you once since your wedding, about two months ago, that child you carry may be his!" Whispers began to flurry around the nobility.

"Please, give this reply to your master," said Sky, "From both me and my husband." Before the man could do anything, Sky's fist had collided with his head and sent him flying! "Ow," said Sky, looking at Legolas, "You make it look so easy and painless!" She turned back to the man. "Tell your master, he can believe what he wants," said Sky, "But I know this child is not his!" The man held his tongue as far as a reply but disappeared on a breeze just as Suiadan did.

A/N: Ok, short chapter but it gets the ball rolling on the rest of the story.