A/N: I've decided how long the story will be (finally). It will go through Chapter 33, and then I'm done! This could be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Anyway, many thanks to: janai, HyperSquishy, Austin B, Luthien Ancalime87, butterfly-elf, and spidergirl130. I'm grateful for your comments, praises, and suggestions.
Incidents at Ithilien
"The woods of Ithilien," Legolas announced to the elves that had followed him from Mirkwood.
"Indeed." Fiondra gave him a wan smile.
Legolas knit his dark eyebrows. "Are you feeling well?" he asked his pale wife.
The elleth replied, "I am just tired of traveling. I wait for the moment that I can finally rest in our new home."
"Soon," Legolas promised, tossing her an anxious grin.
Bemused, Fiondra followed on Etul as Legolas entered the forest on a narrow path. She groaned softly when the mare stumbled over a tree root. Eru, help us get there quickly.
X X X X X
"Welcome friends." Faramir's strong, quiet voice rang out across the clearing. A radiant Éowyn stood by his side, holding the hand of a toddler. On Faramir's other side, a young boy with golden hair stood boldly.
Legolas dismounted and went over to Fiondra, to lift her off of her horse. Together they walked over to the royal family. "Well met," Legolas said to the Prince and Princess of Ithilien. "This is my wife, Fiondra."
Fiondra curtsied out of habit and murmured, "My lord and lady." She smiled at the children and stated, "These are your young ones? They are beautiful."
Faramir beamed proudly. "First, there is no need for such formalities. I am Faramir; this is my wife, Éowyn. And these –"
"These are our children," Éowyn interrupted, grinning at her husband. "Elboron," she gestured to the young boy. "And Finduilas." The little girl glanced up at the sound of her name, but hid her face in her mother's skirts when Legolas reached down to tousle her tawny curls.
Fiondra laughed lightly and Legolas shrugged. "Perhaps she'll warm up to me later."
"Finduilas is just shy," Faramir said apologetically.
"That's a long name for such a wee one," Fiondra commented.
Éowyn nodded in agreement. "She's named after Faramir's mother. But for now, she's simply our Fin."
Fiondra knelt down to coax a glimpse of the toddler's wide, blue eyes. "Hello, little Fin."
Cautiously, Fin peeked out from behind Éowyn's emerald gown. Apparently, she felt safe, for the girl thrust out her stubby arms at Fiondra and allowed herself to be picked up.
Legolas glared at his wife's teasing grin. "Show-off," he muttered.
Faramir fought back a chuckle and suggested, "Shall we show you to your rooms? We have enough houses for your fellow elves, but I'm afraid your home is yet to be built."
"That would be fine," Legolas reassured the Gondorian man. Turning to the other South elves, he said, "I suppose you should each go find some form of lodging."
The elves recognized dismissal and dispersed toward the buildings to the east of the large palace.
Satisfied that his subjects were well taken care of, Legolas took Fiondra's free hand and closely followed Faramir, Éowyn, and Elboron.
X X X X X
"These will be your rooms until a proper home is built for you," Faramir said, gesturing to the chamber with elaborate wooden furnishings.
Éowyn asked, "I trust that they are satisfactory?"
"Quite," Fiondra replied. She handed a fussy Finduilas to the Rohirric woman gratefully.
"I thought we might have a banquet tonight in honor of your coming," Faramir began.
Éowyn broke in. "The banquet can wait, husband. Can you not see they are exhausted?"
Faramir hastily looked at a weary Fiondra, and an equally tired Legolas. "My apologies," he said sheepishly. "The banquet can wait till tomorrow."
Fiondra smiled her thanks and Legolas ushered the family out of the room, again expressing gratitude.
The instant Legolas had shut the door, Fiondra collapsed on the bed in a heap of tangled skirts. She moaned softly, drawing Legolas' attention to her.
"Fiondra!" Panicking, Legolas ran to his wife. He crouched on the bed next to her and lifted her pale face in his hands.
Opening her eyes, Fiondra smiled languidly at her husband's worried look. "Forgive me, meleth nin. I am so tired. I think I overtaxed myself on this journey."
"You are hiding something from me," Legolas accused her quietly. "What's wrong? Are you ill?"
Fiondra laughed softly. "I can't become ill; you know that." She reached up to smooth the lines from his forehead. "I carry our child."
Legolas gaped at Fiondra, who suddenly blushed and looked away. Shocked, he asked, "You're going to have a baby?" At the elleth's shy nod, Legolas whooped, "I'm going to be an ada!"
Fiondra laughed happily and Legolas buried his face in her cinnamon hair. She stroked the back of his head absentmindedly while he placed lazy kisses along her neck.
Legolas rolled over and wondered aloud, "How long will it be until the baby is born?"
"About a year, Legolas," Fiondra replied, turning over to face him.
Looking with awe at his glowing wife, Legolas crushed his mouth to hers. Then he started, and asked anxiously, "Am I hurting you?"
Fiondra shook her head. "I am not made of glass, meleth nin."
Legolas placed his hand on top of Fiondra's flat stomach. "Im meleth le," he told her.
Fiondra moved her hand to rest on top of his. "And I love you."
X X X X X
A few weeks later, the sounds of carpentry rang through the trees of Ithilien. Both men and elves labored together to construct Elvish homes for the newcomers. Although there were some small homes built for them already, most of the elves wished for houses suited more to their own kind.
Fiondra walked carefully with a pitcher of cold water toward the grove where Legolas worked on the rough wooden frame of what would eventually be a house. She observed as he toiled with Faramir and some of his men to put a beam across the top for the roof.
When they had finished with that particular wooden beam, the elleth called, "Water!" Holding up the pitcher, Fiondra watched in amusement as the workers clamored to get off of the structure.
Legolas was one of the first to reach her. "Many thanks, meleth," he panted, and then kissed her soundly on the mouth. The ellon took the proffered cup of water and gulped it down quickly.
Fiondra shook her head, and offered the refreshing liquid to the rest of the men, who accepted it eagerly.
After drinking more water, Legolas asked, "Why are you out here? Normally, a servant brings us water." Faramir came over to join them, and to get some more water.
"If you must know, I escaped," Fiondra confessed. She poured Faramir more of the clear fluid.
He gave her a wink, and a knowing grin. "You were forced to stay inside by Idril, were you not?"
Fiondra sighed heavily and nodded. "I know that she is your old nurse, and I'm sure she means well, but I am about to go mad. Every day, I sit in the same chair, sewing the same type of baby linens, and all the while, I can only yearn for the moment Idril says that I must take a short stroll around the garden. So today, instead of walking through the gardens, I decided to walk this way, and bring you some refreshment."
"I am certainly glad you did," Legolas assured her.
Faramir looked thoughtful and told Fiondra, "Éowyn often felt caged both times she was pregnant. She finally put her foot down and told Idril that she would not be forced to sew when she wanted to do other things. Idril could not disagree with her. Éowyn's needlework is abominable, as she will readily admit to you. She just does not have enough patience. Regardless, Idril's only restriction on Éowyn was that must not ride any horses during her confinement."
Fiondra's eyes lit up. "Perhaps if I promise to do no riding, Idril will be more lenient with me."
Faramir shrugged. "Perhaps. But take in mind, this is your firstborn, and your child will be Legolas' heir. Idril knows this, and she will guard you and your health closer than ever."
"As will I," Legolas reminded her firmly. "I do not wish any harm to come to you, or our child." He put a hand on Fiondra's cheek, forcing her to look at him. "Promise me that you will not do anything to strain yourself."
Fiondra smiled and quickly placed a kiss on his lips. "I promise," she said, squeezing his hand. "But really, meleth, you worry too much! I am not that fragile."
Faramir glanced at the skeleton of the building and nudged Legolas. "We had best get back to work. I know you want to move into your home before your child is born."
Fiondra looked back toward the palace and ruefully said, "I suppose I should return as well. Idril is going to put me to bed."
Legolas grinned and hugged her. "Then I shall see you in our bedroom later, meleth nin."
Fiondra returned his embrace and then waved farewell. She relished the short walk to the palace, deeply breathing in the crisp air.
When in sight of the majestic structure, Fiondra noticed Éowyn's son and daughter playing with some of the village children. She soon got close enough to hear Elboron boast that he could ride his horse faster than any other rider could, save his mother and uncle Éomer. Another young boy challenged Elboron to a race, and Faramir's son accepted breezily.
The boys mounted their horses and as they started a countdown to begin the race, Fiondra noted with alarm that little Finduilas was gleefully toddling toward her, her doll trailing with her in one chubby hand. The horses' path would take them directly through Fin.
The horses began to gallop. Instinctively, Fiondra ran as fast as her legs would carry her. As the horses bore down upon them, Fiondra snatched up the dumbstruck Fin. The elleth tried to dash out of the way, but one of the horses' hooves struck her.
The last thing Fiondra saw before blackness took her was Fin's doll falling pitifully to the stony ground.
X X X X X
Éowyn had watched in horror as her son nearly killed her daughter. In shock, she had gazed in a mixture of gratitude and helplessness at Fiondra's heroic rescue of baby Finduilas. Yet when Fiondra had dropped, Éowyn had quickly regained her senses. She rushed toward the fallen elf and the wailing toddler.
Reaching them, Éowyn dropped to the ground beside Fiondra. She pried Fin from the grasp of the unconscious elf and handed her to Idril, who had hurried to follow her lady. Éowyn noted Fiondra's steady pulse with relief, but she was concerned at the elf's deathly pallor.
Grimly, Éowyn turned to her trembling son. She instructed Elboron, "Run and find Legolas and your father. Tell Legolas that his wife has been in a serious accident. Go!"
Elboron took off, and Éowyn grabbed hold of Fiondra's limp hand. She told Idril, "Go find the healers. We will need their aid."
"Aye, milady," the elder nursemaid mumbled soberly. She hurried away with the still-sobbing Fin in her arms.
Éowyn looked at the deathly inert elf. There was nothing to do now, except to pray.
While Éowyn started to pray fervently, she noticed Fin's forgotten doll. The ever-brave woman picked it up slowly, and allowed a single tear to roll down her pearly cheek.
Oh, if it weren't for the recklessness of youth…
X X X X X
Ooh…Cliffhanger! Sorry to cut it off there. Well, actually, no, I'm not. Comments and suggestions are welcome, as always. We're almost down to the home stretch now! Thanks to all of you, my faithful readers.