NOTE: Legolas' mother's nickname is Greek, as are the infants' names.

Chapter Eleven: Naming the Infants

Legolas was overcome with emotion. He leaned down and kissed her passionately, aware of the strong scent of her perspiration. Yet it was like wine to his nose. Everything about her seemed beautiful that night. As he deepened his kiss, a sound interrupted them: the infants' cries.

"They are hungry, I think." Síriel said.

The door to their bedchamber opened, and Celebrindal entered.

"I apologize for bursting in on you like this. I heard the cries, and so I hastened." she said. "They are hungry. You can tell from those cries."

Celebrindal went on Síriel's other side and showed her how to place her infants securely in her arms, one at a time, and then how to properly administer their feeding into their tiny mouths. Síriel shook with nervousness as Celebrindal directed her gently.

"Like this?" the half elf said anxiously.

Celebrindal shook her head and smiled soothingly.

"Here, let me show you, mellon nín." she said softly.

Legolas stepped back as Celebrindal made her way to his side. She hesitated a few moments before placing her slender hand delicately on her friend's left breast. Then with her other hand, she placed Síriel's free hand in the correct position before withdrawing her own hand quickly.

"This is the proper way, Síriel. Do not be nervous, it takes all new mothers some time before they learn the correct position." she said.

She remained awhile to make sure that Síriel was comfortable.

"I will return after some time." she said, then left the chamber.

Legolas watched her leave with a smile on his fair face.

"We are truly blessed to have her with us." he told his wife.

She nodded.

"We are." she confirmed.

Legolas edged closer to the bed to better watch his wife as she fed their daughters. He felt a sense of pride as he observed the bonding that was happening between them, and his love for his wife surged. She had given him two beautiful girls that he would willingly sacrifice his life for. They had their mother's eye color, a deep green, like the color of the mallorn leaves in Lothlórien. Their skin was much fairer than hers was, but darker than his was—a light sandy color, with a pale golden glow to it. Their hair color was quite different from their parents'. Both of the daughters had silver hair. Síriel fingered it thoughtfully.

"I wonder from where they got their hair color. My sire's family are all golden haired, mother's family are all either red or dark haired, and you and your sire are golden haired." she said.

"That is no mystery to me, my dear. You see, my mother had silver hair. It runs in her family." Legolas said. "Your riddle is solved!"

"Oh, I forgot about her! I never saw her. What was she like?"

Legolas smiled, and his sapphire eyes became misty. He turned so that his back was to his wife and closed his eyes as he spoke:

"She was the most beautiful lady I have ever seen. She had fair skin, the clearest eyes ever to be found—a deep shade of gray. Her hair was the envy of the kingdom. It was quite long with waves in it. Its color was shining silver that glinted like the moonlight, like that of our daughters. Her voice…it was unearthly. When she spoke, the flowers would bloom. That was why my sire privately named her Talia, which means 'blooming'. Her true name is Míriel, which fits her well. I miss her. She died when I was young. The spiders attacked her. That was why I joined my sire's army, to avenge her death." he whispered.

Síriel reached out her hand and placed it on his back.

"Goheno nin (forgive me). I meant not to bring back such painful memories to you. I am sure you miss her. I miss my own mother as well." she said.

Legolas turned around slowly and took her hand in his.

"You did not bring back painful memories to me at all. I always think of her. I love her very much. I was very close to her. I only wish she were here now. I know how proud and happy she would be." he told her.

Síriel smiled up at him tearfully.

"I wish the same about my mother." she said.

Legolas took the infant from her so that she could feed the other.

"What shall we name them?" Legolas asked her.

"I was wondering the same thing myself." Síriel answered.

There was silence as they thought of names. Síriel stared out of the window at the moonlight, noting how it fell on her infants. She slowly fingered the hair of her second daughter as she fed her. Then it dawned.

"What about Selena and Selina?" she said suddenly to Legolas.

Legolas looked at her.

"Selena means 'moon', and Selina is 'lunar glow' in my tongue. I think it is quite fitting, since they are twins. And their hair is silver, like the color of the moon." she said excitedly.

"And it bathes them now." Legolas said slowly.

Síriel nodded hastily.

"Very well, Selena and Selina it shall be!" the Prince agreed.