"Valandil... So you were named after the youngest son of Isildur..."

Valandil looked up at Thranduil as he mused to himself. He had seen the woman briefly when she had been brought back to Dol Amroth; her belly was swollen, far more than any other he had seen before and she did not look well. Even her walking, although she did her best to hide it was clearly laboured.

And he had seen this before, in his brother's wife, who had sadly passed not long after the very troubled birth of his only nephew.

So he knew time was short. And he had already wasted a week travelling here.

The lands he crossed to arrive in Greenwood had been crawling with orc. It was as if they had been charged with searching for something.

Prince Adrahil had informed him to expect that the Elven King would send help. However this was not what he expected.

The King of the woodland realm looked apathetic, perhaps even disinterested in anything he had to say.

"Your Majesty, the Lady will go into labour any day now." Valandil repeated calmly, despite the voice that screamed inside his head. The pain of watching his brother raise their son, who never felt the love of a mother, although some time ago, still felt fresh.

"Valandil, your efforts are likely as futile as those of the one you are named after." Thranduil mused again. "I offered the woman you speak of sanctuary here. But she declined it. What makes you believe that she would wish for my help now?"

The tall fairhaired elf, who was not much taller than himself, turned slowly and began walking back to his throne. One of the guards had informed him that the Elven King would descend from his throne only if his interest was sparked.

"My Lord, Prince Adrahil sends me upon her very request." The words slipped past his lips before he had time to contemplate on the consequences of telling a lie to the King of the woodland realm. "She had been experiencing pains, similar to childbirth, and believes it is a sign of the imminent."

Thranduil seemed to stop mid ascent at Valandils words, although he didn't turn back.

Heart beating out of his chest now, as he wondered whether the elf somehow knew he was lying, Valandil kept silent at first.

"Pains?" He turned sharply, almost predator like, slowly descending the steps once more. "It is not even close upon eighteen moons since her gestation yet?"

Valandil felt a wave of nausea and perspiration broke out across his forehead as he tried his damnedest to avoid squirming.

"No Sire, but she looks exceptionally large - in no way that I have seen with a child of man." He reiterated with a new found self-assurance. "And she does not look well with it either..."

Thranduil bore his strange piercing gaze at his visitor, narrowing his eyes and pacing ever closer.

Valandil felt as though his chest was tightening as he carried on fighting off the panic that was arising within him. But it was too late now, the lie was growing.

"If indeed she was in pain, why did you not begin by informing me of this?" Thranduil spoke sternly now, narrowing his eyes at the emissary from Dol Amroth.

"Your Majesty, I am weary from my journey; there were many orc roaming across the lands between our settlement and Greenwood. I rode here as fast as I could, considering the urgency, rarely stopping for rest or food." He explained, feeling bolder with his own explanation. "In truth, my lord, I fear the order, memory and rational thinking has left my mind."

Thranduil watched him with an unblinking stare for several moments, clearly assessing him.

"There is little I can do against the fate which the Valar weave for the lives of mortals." Thranduil finally concluded, his eyes betraying a tinge of sadness as he gracefully extended a hand. It was a gesture somewhere between a dismissal of his guest and the surrender to a greater power than what he possessed.

"Please Sire, I beg of you to send your healers back with me to Dol Amroth." Valandil pleaded again. It was heartfelt and in no way a lie. "She is not any old mortal woman, there is something different about her. And I do not believe you would have granted me an audience if you felt nothing for the plight of this lady..."

Despite his best efforts, it appeared that Thranduil did not care. He had turned away once more and had begun to walk lazily back to his throne.

"Please my Lord! The truth is: I fear for her life," Valandil repeated again a little more firmly. "And fate might bring us to this point, but you can choose what path to take..."

...

She felt the trickle of fluid as another wave of tightness ripped through her.

It was pain she hadn't experienced before.

Moving to the side of the bed she grasped the blankets hard, taking deep breaths. Then once again she slipped her feet over the side of the bed and onto the ground, gritting her teeth for the pain again.

Another trickle of fluid made its way down onto the floor.

"Towels... Oh God..." As the pain eased she was able to stand without doubling over and began to look around the room for what she needed. "Could do with an epidural, some gas and air, and an obstetrician right now..."

Muttering to herself, she found a pile of towels and a night gown which she set down at the foot of the bed.

Then slowly she attempted to undress herself. It had been sometime since she had been able to reach the back of her dress.

Suddenly the door to her room burst open and in rushed Ghia followed by a team of women, whom she imagined were all midwives. They followed the Druedain healer-woman, bustling around her room and preparing what they seemed to require in silent co-ordination.

"I would like to help...?" Prince Adrahil offered quietly from where he stood by the door. He had felt a pang of sadness in that moment for the woman as he saw her on her own in that room surrounded by so many women who were otherwise strangers to her, during her time of need. He could only imagine what turmoil her husband may have been going through at this very moment himself, as Adrahil imagined the dwarf scouring the lands searching for her. "That is if you will allow it, of course, my Lady?"

All the midwives bustling about the room stopped for a moment to look at their future ruler with mixed expressions of surprise and confusion before then looking to her.

She appeared to have only registered his words a few moments later, as she slowly turned to look at him and nodded quietly.

He would be the only other besides Ghia that was a friendly face to her during her labour.

"Here, screen, my Prince," Ghia smiled encouragingly, handing him a screen to hold, as she helped Shobha out of her dress and shift. "Girl will need strong hand to hold, it is good, you stay, Sir."

Stepping carefully out of her many layers, Ghia was quick to pull the voluminous nightgown over her quickly.

"You, lady: get fire going better. We need plenty hot water." Ghia instructed one of the midwives, who didn't hesitate to follow her request. She had taken the role of a bossy mother as well as a healer after Shobha's arrival in Dol Amroth. And several of the royal midwives who had begun with a speech of how women had given birth since they were put on Arda, had been rapidly cut down by Ghia. The Druedain matriarch had delivered many babes since she had learnt the art of healing from her own father, and in over five dacades she had only lost one mother and babe.

She had prided this on taking great care through the labour and before, for it was not a simple process. It had turned out that her adminition of the Dol Amroth midwives had sent her great respect amongst the younger midwives who were eager to learn from her.

Shobha bent over a little clutching the foot of the bed as another contraction hit her unexpectedly.

"Good girl," Ghia rubbed her back gently. "Be strong - for babies..."

Shobha fought through the pain to stand up, clearly surprised, as Adrahil, also shocked wrapped an arm around her waist gently to help her stand.

"You mean the babe..." He asked Ghia.

"No Prince, girl here strong. She survive great river, marry big dwarf king, her spirit strong." Ghia smiled again as she carried on readying things around them, placing towels, bowls and other items near the bed, as if it were just a normal day.

"Yes, yes. I know our Lady here is strong, but what does that mean?" Adrahil inquired impatiently this time.

"No, Prince does not understand; girl here carry twins for dwarf king. It very rare. I know not how happen," Ghia seemed to pause to think for a moment. "Girl very pretty, perhaps body very fertile... Perhaps dwarf king enjoy girl much..."

"Twins?!" Shobha finally exclaimed.

Adrahil looked at her worried. He was well read enough to know that the birth of twins was considered quite risky for both mother and babes.

"But girl?! You knew, no?" Ghia looked up from where she stood sorting out the towels. "This why so full recently, and why so big and early. They good size too... Dwarf King be tall, no?"

"Yes he is..." She whispered. Twin births were high risk even in modern medicine, particularly of bleeding afterwards. There was little that could be done in middle earth for medical complications; no blood transfusions of saline drips or medications, let alone surgery. Perhaps all the predictions around her bearing a child for Thorin were right: Perhaps she would not survive.

"I swear to you my lady, we will return you to him..." Adrahil vowed to her, as he saw the sorrow on her face.

"It is time my lady," one of the midwives spoke up from behind. "We will help you into bed, so we may examine you..."

As several women approached her, Adrahil held his hand out.

"There is no need, I will help," he replied gently assisting her to get comfortable. "Hold my hand, my Lady..."

He offered his hand to her, kneeling to the side of the bed.

"You will get very sore and tired if you do that all night," Shobha smiled. "Pull up a chair or sit on the side of the bed. "

"Very well, my lady." Adrahil pulled up a small chair. "Are you in much pain?"

"It's tolerable for now." She replied, lying a little, as the pain was mounting. "Prince Adrahil, please can I ask you for a favour?"

"Anything, my lady."

"I need you to write a few letters for me. Would you?"

"Of course my lady -"

"And...a sort of...final wishes list.."

Adrahil was unable to hide the sadness from his own face at her request.

"Don't be upset, please. It is better to be prepared isn't it? I know I can focus if I have done this." She explained gently, attempting to alleviate his heavy heart. "I just wish I could have seen my parents and Thorin one last time..."

...

"I swear this to be true, my Lord..."

Thorin watched the Rohirrim Lord closely as he had iterated his tale. It certainly appeared that this man was not lying, or perhaps that he believed what he saw to be true.

"How can you be certain it is my Consort, beyond accepting her word?" Thorin frowned.

"She was heavy with child, my Lord, I could not find it in my heart to question her more," Theobald replied. "It would not be right Sire."

Theoden patted the shoulder of his cousin gently sympathising, since Theobald's own wife was with child.

"Perhaps there might have been some features that distinguished her, which you may recall Cousin?" Theodon urged him gently.

"It would be hard not to notice her even in a crowd, Theoden," Theobald attempted. "She is an Easterling woman, clearly of noble blood, and yet she spoke perfect westron. Even her Sindarin, or what she knew, was excellently announciated... And a beautiful maiden too, even though she is worn for carrying such a large babe."

Thorin glanced at Theoden in frustration, if there was any hope that it was her, he needed a little more proof, otherwise he would be wasting several days more of a journey to travel to Dol Amroth only to have to continue on his search elsewhere. It was precious time he would be wasting if it were not her.

"Och, it is late. If this lad cannae tell us more, then we should just go and see anyway Thorin." Dwalin finally spoke.

They had been riding non-stop for days, and as they had travelled further south they had found the lands much more perilous with more stray orc roaming about. Their ponies would need a rest too, so they would need to borrow a horse from the horse masters. It was not a journey he relished taking, and so he would rather get it done as fast as possible. "If we borrow a horse, leave our worn out ponies here to rest, then it will take us only a day's journey... And we have never had so much as a hint of her where we have searched previously, this is the best lead we have. What d'ya think eh?"

Thorin glanced from Dwalin to Theobald, who didn't look too alert at this late hour. They were fortunate to have found Theoden a welcoming host, who was kind enough to have awoken his slumbering cousin and attended to the dwarves himself.

"Thank you Cousin Theobald, we are most grateful, go and get some rest now." Theoden bowed his head and let his cousin begin walking back before turning to Thorin and whispering. "Dol Amroth have been friendly allies for many years now, I see no reason why they would wish to lie to us. If you wish I will accompany you - "

"My Lords - there was something I recall, now. A little unusual, her hair was not very long, unlike any eastern maided I had ever heard of, who are renowned for braids as long as rope and as shiny as jet. Her hair had been pinned back but much of it was escaping as if it were much shorter. Perhaps it had been cut when she was lost in the wild?" Theobald suddenly called out excited for having recalled that detail. "And she wore a braid with a gold bead woven into it..."

Theobald hurried back through the grand gallery that lead to where the Rohan Throne stood empty in white stone and draped in gold and red silk, for the old King Thengel's comfort.

"I could draw it for you... A distinctive pattern it was too. A raven, gold stars..." Theobald waved his hand near his head as if to urge himself to remember and slowly he raised his hazel eyes up in the dark towards the dwarven King, when he suddenly spotted it's twin, there in his own hair. "By Orome's Spear!"

Theobald gasped again, as he moved closer to Thorin, quickly grasping his cousin's arm to raise the lantern he carried so it shed more light on the Dwarven Kings face.

"It is exactly the same as that bead, you wear in your own hair, your Majesty!"

Thorin slowly reached up to the lock on his left. It was his grandfather's warrior bead. He had given it to her the day he had asked to court her.

The others watched as the corners of his mouth slowly twitched up into the faintest smile.

"It's her."

They were words spoken with caution.

After searching for so long, and receiving the raven from Fili, his heart had been broken, and he had arrived in Edoras a hopeless soul. To grant him even a further glimmer of hope only to have it taken away would break him entirely.

"Then we have no time to waste Thorin!" Dwalin grinned patting Theobald on the back so hard that he had to steady himself. "Well done laddie!"

"I will accompany you. There is a mountain pass, which will avoid travel through Gondor and any unnecessary delays." Theoden advised. "We can then follow the Ringlo from where it surfaces and follow it to the bay of Belfallas. But in truth once we arrive in Edhellond the remaining journey is nothing."

"Aye, Prince Theoden, your help in our time of need shall not be forgotten." Thorin tilted his head in gratitude, as the tall, fairhaired Prince of the Riddermark led the way out of their grand halls and towards their stables.

"Let us hope that our journey is not hampered by orc..."

"Something draws them south, we too noticed on our travels."

As they arrived in their large stables, a couple of guards hurried over from a watchtower.

"You Highness, we have received word of the east fold being raided by orcs again," the guard spoke with urgency bowing his head.

"Very well, I shall lead the Rohirrim." Theoden declared glancing at Thorin apologetically. "The mountain pass is not far from there. If you are happy to ride with us King Thorin?"

"My Consort warned me - warned us all, that the darkness is growing..." Thorin warned Theoden. "I hope Gandalf will take heed at least now..."

"Well laddie - let us not delay then... Yer wife and me sister is in Dol Amroth," Dwalin urged them before grinning at Theoden menacingly. "We may as well take out a few orc while we're at it of course!"

...

"Thank you." She whispered back to Adrahil, who quickly looked away wiping his eyes for the emotional letters she had asked him to scribe on her behalf.

"I do not believe you will require these," Adrahil replied back quietly, putting the final parchment into an envelope.

"No - Thank YOU, your Highness, for scribing my words. I knew a Prince would have perfect handwriting," she smiled again reaching out to give his arm a gentle pat out of gratitude, as much as to reassure him. "A lot like Thorin's actually."

"My messengers have been sent to various kingdoms," Adrahil informed her. "Perhaps he has already received word?"

"You know, I... Was on my way to see Lady Galadriel when we were attacked..." She finally admitted ruefully. "I was actually going to ask her to send me back to my home -"

"Mithrandir would say the Valar have their own plans, and we simply have to see what our role is-"

She interrupted him as she squeezed his arm riding out a new and unusually painful contraction.

It prompted a sudden scurry about by the midwives, as they tucked in more towels, removing older ones.

"My lady, are you alright?" Adrahil asked trying to look calm, although seeing the previous pace of the midwives to now, made his own panic rise.

"Yeah.. just a little tired," Shobha sighed, laying back into her pillows.

"What is going on...?" Adrahil asked one of the midwives.

"We are just clearing up, your Highness," one of the younger midwives replied without making eye contact with either of them. "It is the way with child birth, Sire."

They both watched as the towels being removed were increasingly stained and soaked with blood. And Adrahil opened his mouth several times to question the midwives, as the fear in him arose seeing so much blood. It was akin to what he had seen in those men who had sustained grave injuries in battle.

"Are you feeling well enough, my lady?" He asked gently mopping her brow with a soft muslin, as he held one of her hands tightly in his. Carefully he brought her hand up to his chest, where he pressed it against his heart. The thought that she might perish that night giving birth filled him with a strange sadness.

But she seemed to be stoic about the whole situation. Perhaps even strangely aware of what may be to come.

"I have lost a lot of blood." Shobha finally explained. "It's too early to be bleeding like this. So chances are... If I remember my obstetric teaching right, it means something is not right..."

...

"Who sent you?! Speak filth, and you will be granted mercy." The Rohirrim warrior yanked the orcs head up to look at them.

"Kill me, it does not matter, more will come. You will bow to a new master-"

"What new master?" Theoden frowned at him from where he stood facing the creature, who was badly injured.

They had come across the band of orcs with a large number of wargs on the road to Minas Tirith. Some riders had gone on to check on the small village that stood bordering Gondor, while everyone else including Thorin and Dwalin had remained fighting until almost every last orc had been dispatched. But then Theodon had noticed a badly injured orc wearing heavy armour, which only a more responsible orc would have worn. Hence he had been kept alive for further questionjng.

"Speak up." The warrior prodded it in the back again, but the orc remained silent.

"They're searching for something.."

Dwalin spoke absentmindedly as he watched the creature. It seemed to respond to his words also.

"Where is your Queen dwarf?" The orc spat out between coughs.

"What did ye say?" Dwalin stepped closer ready to land a heavy blow to the creature when Thorin stopped him.

"They are searching for something..." Thorin spoke quietly to Theoden and Dwalin. "Or someone..."

"The pass is hidden just beyond sight, south of here. It is easy for our horses. But the land is wild. So take care and be on your guard," Theoden warned in a hushed voice turning to the two dwarves. "There was a reason you were attacked when you made that journey before, with your consort. Take my horse. He will ride faster, and keep you both safe. We will finish up here."

Thorin and Dwalin both bowed to the Prince of the Riddermark.

"We thank you for your help. And owe you a debt of gratitude." Thorin nodded, before turning to stride away only to be briefly halted by the final words the orc uttered.

"Flee dwarf scum. The master seeks a precious one, who would rule over all - she is within his grasp now," It coughed and spluttered. "And you are powerless to stop him-"

Theoden was quick as he severed the head of the orc.

"Go, my Lords!" Theoden growled. "If what this filth says is true, then we shall all be in great peril unless you protect your Consort..."

...

Dear all

Thank you for following the story all this time.

We are almost there, but I haven't quite decided about whether she should die or not.

(Saying that I do love a happy ending - it's kinda why I wrote this in the first place!)

so let me know your thoughts xx