A/N: Well, I near the end of my tale. But never fear: there is one more chapter to conclude this saga. (After the one that follows here.) Many thanks to all of my reviewers, both the new and the faithful. Enjoy!

The Beginning

The she-elf moved slowly down the narrow path. He watched her to stop to inhale the sweet scent of the flowers and a pleased grin crept onto his face. The elf was obviously late into her pregnancy, and the cumbersome bulge at her front would hinder any of her actions. However, he knew that he could not very well abduct her here in the royal gardens. Patience, he reminded himself. The right moment will soon show itself. He took one last look at the wife of his enemy (who was still oblivious to his presence) and stole away through the trees.

X X X X X

Fiondra breathed deeply. The aromas emanating from the roses were heady and intoxicating. Her child took this time to remind her why she was waiting here. "Yes, little one," she soothed, rubbing the spot where a tiny foot had kicked. "Your father will soon come to join us."

Presently, Legolas appeared with an intense look upon his face, one that Fiondra recognized to mean that he was deep in thought. She moved toward him and watched as he blinked and then gave her a tender smile. "Hello meleth nin," Legolas greeted her.

"Hello," Fiondra responded and met him for a light kiss upon the lips. "What news from Faramir?" she asked, guessing at the cause of his anxiety.

True to form, her husband sighed deeply and replied, "Not much. This man seems to have disappeared entirely. I know not where else to look. We did send a messenger to Aragorn to inform him that the man may be tempted to likewise threaten him."

"That is well," Fiondra said cheerily. She mustn't let Legolas know that she too was worried, more so for the safety of their unborn child than for herself.

Legolas did not seem to notice the forced tone of her voice. "Nevertheless, I wish I knew more. I do not like that you are so close to your time and a madman is still loose, set upon revenge against me."

Fiondra put her arm through his. "I wish you would not worry so," she told Legolas as they started toward their modest home. "Everything will turn out for the best; of this, I am sure."

"I hope you're right," Legolas replied quietly. He stared off into the distance and fell into silence.

X X X X X

Fiondra rose with the dawn and slipped out of bed. She put on a serviceable nut-brown dress and braided her long hair. The elleth grabbed a gathering basket and went back to the bedchamber.

Fiondra sat on the bed where Legolas still slept. All night, he had fretfully tossed and turned. A few hours before, Legolas had finally drifted into a light slumber. Now Fiondra unwillingly whispered into his ear. "I'm leaving to go pick some herbs so that I can dry them for winter."

Legolas stirred and mumbled some word of acknowledgement. Fiondra giggled softly and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She got up and absently rubbed at a dull ache in the small of her back. Before leaving the room, she put on a shawl to guard against the crisp, autumn air outside.

Fiondra appreciatively strolled through the woods, occasionally stopping to gather a bunch of marjoram or a sprig of mint. When her basket was nearly full, she came upon a small, bubbling stream. Fiondra set her basket upon the ground and cautiously crouched down. She cupped her slim hands and drank some of the chilly water.

Fiondra had just stood up when a twig snapped behind her. Alarmed, she turned to flee, but her movements were too slow. A pair of rough hands jerked her arms painfully behind her back. Fiondra cried out in shock, and her eyes darted wildly to try to ascertain who her attacker was.

Her suspicions were confirmed when he growled, "Shut yer mouth."

Fiondra's heart sank. Legolas wouldn't notice that she was missing for quite some time. She could always scream, but by now she was too deep in the forest for anyone to hear her.

Fiondra knew she did not have the strength or limberness to fight and run away. For now, her best chance for survival lay with intelligence, serenity, and diplomacy.

As calmly as possible, Fiondra asked, "Please sir, what is it that you want with me? Riches?" To her dismay, there was a slight tremor in her voice, but her abductor did not seem to notice.

The man was lost in thought for a moment, but then he replied, "Mostly I just want to cause that elf Legolas some of the same pain I've had to suffer. But a nice sum of gold wouldn't hurt either." He pulled Fiondra along with him aggressively, but she barely noticed.

He didn't hide my basket, she thought in relief. Eru, help Legolas to find it! After some time, Fiondra wriggled a bit and allowed her shawl to slip to the dry leaves that crackled underfoot. Legolas would know that they had come this way. She just hoped that he would come after them quickly.

X X X X X

It was mid-afternoon before Legolas became concerned. He dimly recalled Fiondra telling him that she was leaving to pick herbs. However, in her condition she should not have been doing much of anything, much less bending over and lifting things. He was worried that she might have hurt herself out in the forest alone. Or worse, the elf thought grimly. That man might have seized her.

Legolas grabbed his bow and quiver and slung them over his back. He strode out the door and saw a group of children playing some game that involved the chasing of a ball. Faramir's son was one of the children. "Elboron!" Legolas shouted.

The boy whirled around with a confused look upon his face and saw Legolas gesturing for him to run. Elboron hurried over to the elf, and panting, he asked, "What do you need, my Lord?"

Legolas stared into the boy's eyes and explained, "My wife is missing, Elboron. I think that some harm has befallen her. Will you tell your father this?"

"Aye, milord," Elboron assented and promptly started for the palace.

Satisfied, Legolas turned toward the woods where Fiondra would have gone, to begin his search.

X X X X X

Fiondra was not sure how long they had been walking before the first pains started. The ache in her back had spread until it reached her front. At first, she had ignored it, fervently hoping that it was just from not resting enough. Not until a sharper pain had stabbed her did she fully realize: her baby was impatient to be born.

Pain wracked her body. Fiondra gripped her middle in fear and alarm. Her captor was not likely to stop for her sake. "Please," she gasped. "I'm going into labor."

The man halted abruptly and peered at her through bloodshot eyes. "Wot!" His breath hitched in sudden panic and he dropped her arm.

Fiondra grimaced and repeated, "I'm going to have my baby soon."

The man took a minute to determine what he should do. "Well," he said slowly, "If I leave you here, your babe might die, and you to boot. That should leave Legolas some suffering, now won't it?" He pulled a length of rope out of his pocket and advanced toward Fiondra.

"No!" she shrieked as he tied her wrists behind her back. She struggled with the man as he secured her to a thick tree.

Her foot connected with the man's shin and felt some small satisfaction as he bellowed. "You bloody she-elf," he swore at her. "I might as well slit your stinkin' throat now." He unsheathed a long, menacing knife and reached toward her.

Horrified, Fiondra felt herself slip into blackness as the man's repulsive face neared hers. The last thing she was aware of was the warm fluid of the birth-casing break between her legs.

X X X X X

It had not taken Legolas long to find Fiondra's basket, or for that matter, her shawl. Faramir and some of his had joined in the hunt with Legolas after they had received his message from Elboron. Éowyn had helped at first as well, but after they had found the basket and shawl, Faramir had sent her to Legolas and Fiondra's home to wait, along with Fiondra's belongings.

It was when Legolas saw the man bent over an inert Fiondra with a knife in his hands that the elf snapped. Fluidly he notched an arrow to his bow and sent it flying into the man's heart. The human gave a strangled cry and crumpled to the ground.

Legolas rushed over and found Fiondra fine, but in a faint. Faramir inspected the man's body and announced soberly, "He's dead."

Legolas gave a curt nod and gathered Fiondra into his arms. She stirred and opened her eyes to him. In a small voice she said, "Legolas…I knew that you'd find me."

"Of course I did, meleth nin," he replied gently.

Fiondra placed a cool hand on his cheek and told him calmly, "I'm going to have our babe."

Nervously, he gulped. "Now?"

Fiondra almost laughed but instead just smiled. "Yes, my love." She cringed as another spasm rippled through her. "I do believe he or she is in a hurry."

"Eru," Legolas breathed and began taking bigger steps. Fiondra moved restlessly in his arms and he suddenly wished that he could fly.

They passed the stream where Fiondra had stopped for a drink hours before. "Listen," the elleth said to Legolas breathlessly. "The water sounds like it is laughing at us."

Legolas listened but did not slacken his pace. "It does," he agreed. He nearly cried with relief when their home came into sight. Instead he shouted, "Éowyn! Fiondra's gone into labor!"

The Rohirric woman hastened to the door and beckoned to Legolas. "Quick," she said. "Put her in your bedroom."

Legolas did as told and carefully laid his wife on the bed. Fiondra gave him a dazed smile but it rapidly faded to a grimace.

"Get out!" Éowyn scolded both Legolas and Faramir who had followed the elf into the bedroom. "Birthing is a woman's business. Faramir, fetch Idril. Legolas, I'll let you know when you may see your wife again." With that, she shut the door in their face and bustled over to attend to Fiondra.

Faramir gave Legolas a sheepish shrug. "She may be bossy and stubborn, but I love her anyway. Good luck, my friend." He patted the elf on the back and set off to do his wife's bidding.

X X X X X

Night fell and the babe still had not been born. Tendrils of brown hair lay plastered to Fiondra's forehead. She cried out and Éowyn gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's almost over," the blonde-haired woman soothed. "It's almost done."

"Aye, that it is, milady," Idril agreed. "All you need to do is give one last push. The babe's head is already out."

Fiondra panted and gritted her teeth. With one last violent shudder, the babe spilled into Idril's waiting hands.

"It's a girl!" the proud nurse announced.

Fiondra sobbed happily. Éowyn hugged her gently and asked, "Do you have a name for her?"

"Yes," Fiondra responded happily through her tears. "Lalaithnen. It means laughing water."

"A lovely name for a beautiful child," Idril announced. "You hold your daughter while I clean you up, and then you can see your husband." She handed the small bundle to Éowyn, who placed it in Fiondra's arms.

"Hello, little one," Fiondra crooned, gently smoothing the dark hair. She quieted the baby's furious squalls and was pleased to find that her daughter had eyes as blue as Legolas' own. "Welcome, my little Lalaithnen."

X X X X X

Later, Legolas came into the room to find his wife and new daughter lying against numerous fluffy pillows. As he came near, Fiondra opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Oh Legolas. Come meet our daughter."

He sat on the bed and gazed with unbridled awe upon the tiny being. "WE made that?" he asked incredulously.

Fiondra laughed gently. "To my recollection, yes, we each had some part in creating dear Lalaithnen."

"Is that what you named her?" Legolas asked.

"Yes." Fiondra gave him a look. "Do you know why?"

"Not really," he confessed. "I do know that you thought the stream sounded like it was laughing today."

"That is one reason," Fiondra agreed. "Our daughter is also named for the fun we shared in the bathing brook in Mirkwood, and for your love of the sea."

Legolas regarded the name with newfound acceptance. "It is a fitting name for our daughter," he conceded simply.

"Good," Fiondra responded. "Now, would you like to hold Lalaithnen?"

"Me?" Legolas felt his jaw drop slightly and felt abashed and the wry look his wife gave him. "But I might drop her!"

"You will not," Fiondra retorted. "Here." She held out her arms and instinctively, Legolas reached for the babe.

In shock, he looked down at the bundle of blankets. Lalaithnen peered up at the new face in curiosity. She soon lost interest though and gave a small yawn. When she fell asleep, Legolas relaxed.

Fiondra smiled at the picture Legolas and their daughter made. He leaned over and gave her a deep kiss without disturbing the sleeping babe. "Hannon le," he thanked her.

Fiondra merely smiled and closed her eyes. It was she who ought to thank him. Ever since they had met in her exiled home, life had been nothing but an adventure for her. Marriage and motherhood would be just another of the many that Legolas had given her.

X X X X X

Aww…I love babies! One more chapter to go…I don't know if I'm happy or sad. Please review!