Author's Note: Hey, it's your favorite authors again! We definitely thought we posted this chapter, sorry...We have an important note later in the chapter, so DON'T FORGET TO READ IT.

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Chapter Four

Over the next two months, Elrond, Legolas, Severus, and Arwen (a little) helped to get me situated before the baby came along. Sevi, of course, was just as clueless as to where everything was as I was, so he wasn't of much help, but he did what he could.

Elrond hastily threw together a bedroom for Sevi, not wanting the two of us to have to share. Every night, however, Severus would mess up the sheets and pillows in his bedroom to make it look like he had just walked out of bed and came into my room. We would often stay up all night, just enjoying each other's company and thanking God that Sevi was able to make it here.

"I wouldn't have my baby delivered without me there to tell you it was okay," he said to me one night.

"Aw, Sevi, you're amazing," I said, throwing my arms around him. And we just sat there and hugged each other, and although the circumstances kind of sucked, I had never been so happy in my whole life to be holding someone so wonderful as him.

Elrond and I began growing closer each day. Although I still wasn't exactly happy about being thrown into another world that I didn't know at all, he was trying hard to make it an easy transition. As Legolas had predicted, he had Arwen teach me Elvish so that I could interact with the residents. She had already taught me to read, write, and say my name, "hello" (mára aurë), "how are you?" (manen nalyë?) "do you understand me?" (heniach nin?), "from what land do you come?" (O man dôr túliel le?), and "goodbye" (mára mesta), among other things. I found it extremely easy to learn.

"That is because you are Elven. Technically, this is your native tongue, and the language flows in your blood. For the first year of your life, you heard these words being spoken all the time," Arwen explained one day. I felt sort of stupid, being taught by my younger sister, who giggled at the idea of me having a boyfriend, not to mention having had sex with him.

And in the night time, when Severus would come and see me, I would teach him some things to say in Elvish.

"Repeat after me," I commanded softly. "Le no an-uir nîn?"

"Lay no ahn-oo-ear neen?" he said in broken Elvish.

"Good, excellent," I said, half-lying. He was still having trouble mastering the accent, but that was understandable, because he wasn't Elven himself.

"What does it mean?" he asked.

I had hoped he would ask that question. I replied softly, "It means, 'will you be mine forever?' "

"How do I say 'yes'?" Sevi questioned.

I smiled. "Tancave," I said, pronouncing the words like than-kah-vay.

He smiled back. "Well, in that case, tancave."

I kissed him softly and murmured, "Le mellon, rochben nîn."

He didn't bother to ask what I was saying. I think he figured it out by the look in my eyes.

- - -

"Beri, I have a question for you," Arwen asked me one day.

"Ask me anything," I said absent-mindedly.

"It's going to sound kind of suspicious and weird," she continued.

"That's alright. Believe me, with this life I'm living, nothing is out of the ordinary," I said.

Arwen took a deep breath and asked, "You and Naracion had to, you know, do it to get pregnant, right?"

This was going nowhere fast. Why did she want to know about Severus' and my experience with sex? I straightened up slightly and said, "Well, yes, why?"

"I was just, you know, wondering . . . I kind of wanted to know, out of pure curiosity . . . what's it like?"

This was definitely one of those hand-hits-forehead moments, but I was afraid to upset my little sister. "Well, you're right, that is sort of an odd question," I murmured.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Arwen said hurriedly.

"No, no, it's alright, you asked, and you don't really have anyone else to ask," I said, defeated. I sighed.

"Well, basically, it's one of those indescribable things that everyone wants to know what it's like without having to do it, but you kind of have to in order to know what I mean," I began. "It's absolutely amazing, the most powerful thing you'll ever feel . . . that is, unless you don't really love the person. But I know I love Naracion more than I've ever loved anything or anyone in my whole entire life."

"So you really can't tell me anything?" she asked, a frown growing on her face.

"Nothing that will mean anything to you," I said, shrugging.

This time, Arwen was the one to sigh. "You're so lucky," she said. "I wish I had someone like Naracion who would always be there to take care of me."

"Aw, is that what's bothering you? Is that why you're curious to know what it's like?" I asked, sitting down next to her and putting my arm around her shoulders. She nodded quietly.

"Oh, sweetie, don't worry about things like that. You're beautiful, smart, talented, and not to mention a princess. There is no way on Earth – or in Middle Earth, for that matter – that you won't find a guy. You're still young. Enjoy youth while you can."

Arwen smiled a little. "You sound like mother used to."

"I guess I'll have to be a little of both – a mother and a sister," I replied, hugging her softly.

And in that moment I resolved to do everything I could to get her an amazing boyfriend who would hopefully turn into an amazing husband.

- - -

All day, Severus had been acting kind of strange. He was extremely happy and fidgety, and I had no idea what was going on. I seemed to be the only one out of the loop, the only one who noticed this odd behavior.

"Is there any particular reason that Sevi's so upbeat today? Did you see him do anything particularly joyful that would make him act this way?" I asked Arwen, my official confidante.

Arwen shrugged. "I didn't see anything."

"Adele," I said sternly, using the English translation of her Elven name.

"Don't call me that!" she whined, stalking away.

I got the same response from Legolas and Elrond as well. And when I confronted Severus about it, he simply brushed it away.

"Happy birthday, love," he said, sweeping me into his arms.

"Thanks, but you seem to be more excited today than I am. Any particular reason?" I asked.

"It's just because our baby is going to be born any day now. I can't believe I'm going to be a father. It's incomprehensible. That's all it is, I promise."

"Yeah, I guess you're right . . . holy shit, we need to pick out a name!"

Severus pondered for a moment, then said, "I kind of like Lorelei."

I sighed as he put his arms around my waist and his head on my shoulder. "Yes, I like Lorelei too."

"And for her middle name, she can take the name of her beautiful mother," he whispered.

I smiled. "Lorelei Alexandria. I like it," I said. "If I remember correctly, Lorelei means alluruing enchantress."

"Ah, perfect for our daughter," Severus said.

"But what about if it's a boy?" I asked, suddenly finding myself praying for a girl. I wouldn't mind having my child share my name.

"Well then, he can be Lawrence Alexander. About as close as you can get to our original name," he said.

"Oh, aren't you clever," I crooned, kissing his head. "I can't wait for this baby to come."

He rubbed my stomach affectionately. "Me neither, meleth nîn," he said, showing off his Elvish. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get the food and stuff for the picnic."

"Alright. I'll see you soon."

- - -

Note: the following cake idea was not actually our idea – it was the idea of one of our friends, Kristen C., whom we love very much. So Kristen darling if you read this, this one's going out to you.

That afternoon, Arwen, Elrond, Severus, and I went to a large, grassy field filled with beautiful flowers that didn't grow on Earth. The breeze was light enough to dance playfully on the hem of my dress. Severus held my hand and helped me through the grass without toppling over, and Arwen stood on my other side to catch me if I fell. I felt sort of ridiculous, having everyone half carry me to the picnic spot, but somehow I would feel even more ridiculous if I actually did fall.

We finally found a spot under the shade of a willow tree where we laid out a blanket and sat down. Happy that I was somewhere that the Ministry couldn't punish me for doing magic underage, I called, "Accio picnic food!" and everything the cooks had prepared for us came zooming to our blanket. Arwen screamed and ducked for cover. I simply sat there and laughed.

The lunch was quite good. I had noticed that the cooks had taken a special interest in my favorite Earthen foods, so they had specially prepared some of them as a birthday gift. My mouth positively watered when I saw the fried chicken.

And then . . . the cake.

It was a huge, three-layer chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting, complete with candy roses. One piece was already cut out, showing the inside with the frosting between the layers. It looked like something off a box of cake mix you'd buy at the supermarket.

"Happy birthday!" they all chorused as Severus handed me the plate with the piece already cut out.

"Oh, this is beautiful!" I cried.

"Wait until she sees what's inside," I heard Arwen whisper. Severus leaned over and smacked her arm with the back of his hand.

"Why, what's inside?" I asked quietly.

Severus' frown faded. He picked up the cake with his hands and said, "Take a bite and see for yourself."

I was slightly wary as I opened my mouth, but even more so when I saw a glint of something shiny.

"What – is something glittering in my cake?"

Elrond and Arwen passed each other looks. Severus simply stood there and smiled at me. He took my hand and stuck my ring finger into the piece of cake. I felt something around my skin. When he pulled my finger out, beneath some cake batter was a golden band inset with a single diamond.

"I know we're really young – I mean, you're just turning fifteen today – but if I'm going to be this baby's father, I want to be the most dedicated father I can. And I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You're such an amazing person. I don't know how I ever lived without you."

My mouth was hanging open in shock. I couldn't believe I was fifteen and being proposed to. But at the same time, there was only one word I wanted to say.

Severus got down on one knee and asked boldly, "Alexandria Brooke Evenstar, will you marry me?"

I threw my arms around him and cried, "Yes!"

And through the tears in my eyes I could see that my father was nodding back at me.