Otay kiddies, this might be the last chappie, but I knew I had to revise this story. For those who read this story before and are just now tuning in, I beseech you go back and read chapters 12-14 because I changed them! Changed Changed Changed!
To my faithful reader, (if any remain) I loved all your reviews. I know I am really bad with updating, but I always finish my stories… Mary Sue's Letter will be completed soon.
Earlinde didn't want to wake up, she was wrapped in her husband's arms, limbs entangled and sweat still felt on her skin. The sun hit her in her eyes and she couldn't go back to sleep. She rolled over and groaned at the weight on top of her and buried her head in her husband's shoulder.
He groaned as well and looked down at her.
"A'maelamin, Good Morning." He sighed.
"Good Morning Indeed, can we go back to sleep please?" she moaned burying her head deeper into his shoulder. She heard his laugh as much as she felt the rumble of his shoulder. She smiled herself and kissed his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
He buried his head in her shoulder and he arms lifted to fist into her hair. "I love you." He murmured.
A soft knock on the door roused them. Haldir glared at the headboard of the bed, the opposite of the door.
"Who is it?" Earlinde called as Haldir rolled off of her and looked over the edge of the bed for his pants. He handed his wife her night gown as she swept toward the door.
Rumil smiled sadly when she opened the door. His voice was low as he looked at his brother grumbling and pulling his pants on.
"Lady Arwen and Galadriel, Lady of Light, as well as the Lords and Mithrandir think its time to go now." He whispered his eyes on the ground.
Earlinde realized that his voice was so low because he was afraid to give away the tears that threatened to fall, not from his brother's glare.
"Rumil, we will be ready in a few minutes. Shall we meet in the courtyard in 15 minutes?" she asked, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Aye, Orophin has made ready your mounts, they shall be ready for you soon." Rumil smiled weakly and then a tear he didn't mean to escape did. Earlinde pulled the taller elf to her and embraced him.
Haldir sauntered over and watched the two briefly before putting an arm on his shoulder.
"Brother, we will miss her dearly." Haldir whispered to his younger brother.
"Haldir, we have served her faithfully for many decades, millennia even… Lorien will be so empty after her… I don't know how the Celeborn wishes to stay." Rumil said, wiping at dried tears.
"The Lord remains?" Earlinde turned her question to Haldir who nodded.
Rumil nodded and then smiled, "Well you two lovers, I should let you to get dressed… No fooling around okay? She's with child Haldir!" Rumil broke into his regular smile and laughed.
Haldir put his arm possessively around his wife and swung his other arm around his back to pinch her behind. She yelped and jumped into his awaiting arms.
"I will do what I please with her!" He commanded with a smile on his face. He kissed her and looked at Rumil over her hair and winked at his brother.
Rumil nodded, taking his queue and leaving. Haldir shut the door and looked at his wife.
"Time to get undressed." He said, completely serious.
His wife looked at him with a smile on her face. "Darling, you mean get dressed." She smiled again.
"Yes my dear," He said wrapping his arms around her front behind and smiling, "But in order to get dressed, you must first undress and since you are undressed, it'll be easier access…" His voice trailed off as he began to lift her night gown up.
"Haldir my love," She paused as the offending garment was thrown across the room, "fetch me my tunic." And she pushed him onto the bed and pulled her tunic from the dresser.
Before he recovered she was pulling her leggings on and smiling innocently. He glared at her as he laced his own leggings and pulled her into another kiss.
COURTYARD
Ready in their mounts Galadriel, Celeborn, Arwen, Legolas, Thranduil, Elrond, Rumil, Orophin, Gandalf, Gimli and the hobbits were solemn. Aragorn quickly descended the stairs to the yard followed by the two March Wardens descending in their guardian attire. Arwen gasped audibly as all eyes turned to the Guardians.
Galadriel's heart swelled with pride as her Warden mounted his horse, followed by his new wife on her own mount. They looked regal, both commanding and caring. Haldir nodded to his wife and spurred his mount to the head of the column, just behind the King, and in front of Galadriel.
LATER
The concession moved swiftly with low conversations taking place until they neared there destination. It would take a few days, but they were making good time.
DAYS LATER
They reached the Grey Havens in due time, and Cirdan greeted them with a smile. Haldir helped his Lady Galadriel down off her mount.
Galadriel turned to her husband in the first public display of affection Earlinde, and Haldir had ever seen. Galadriel threw her arms around Celeborn's waist and buried her head into his shoulder.
"Do you still wish to stay my love?" She whispered as a single tear escaped her eyes and fell onto his shoulder. Celeborn wrapped his arms around her and lowered his head into her hair.
"It's not my time my love, there is much that I need to do here before I leave." Celeborn sighed.
"I will miss you, I will think about you everyday. You know I will always be with you, love." He continued.
Galadriel squeezed him tighter, "All these many years we have not been separated since Lindon…" Her voiced trailed off as she threatened to cry again.
Finally she steeled herself, and released her grip on him. His face was masked, though she could read his every emotion as clear as if he was talking to her. Finally before turning away from him, Galadriel took his face in her hands and kissed him. Haldir, Rumil and Orophin stood but a few steps from them and each of their brows rose slightly up to their hairline. Rumil's bottom lip trembled a bit while his twin raised his head a bit higher, as to shake the tears from his eyes.
Haldir's eyes rested on his wife who stood by her Lord, smiling. As the farewells were said, and the ship took off, the hobbits could not contain their tears. The party turned and soon parted when they reached the pass that divided, one road to the Shire, on road toward Gondor.
Quiet settled over the group as the hobbits left, only to be broken by Arwen's soft sniff. Earlinde road close to her husband, her head bowed low.
Soon enough the reached Lorien, and Haldir, Earlinde, Rumil and Orophin and Celeborn said goodbye to the caravan and left.
Elessar, Arwen, Legolas and Gimli continued on. The King and Queen to parted with Legolas and Gimli when they reached the road to Gondor. The Elf and Dwarf, ever the friends continued on to Ithilian and spent sometime there before fulfilling there promises to each other.
And so it was that The Fellowship was disbanded, though the friendships lasted eternally.
LORIEN MANY MOONS LATER
Earlinde stood looking down out of the talan with her hands protectively around the bulge in her midsection. Her face was screwed up in pain. She stood barefoot between the chairs looking down to the ground watching the four elves rushing up the side of the tree.
Haldir's head popped out from the branches and he rushed to her side. Rumil was closely followed by Celeborn and Orophin.
Haldir became frantic, started wringing his hands. Earlinde screamed in pain again and wavered. Celeborn caught her in his arms before she fell.
"Get her inside!" Shouted Rumil.
"I wish there was a maiden somewhere to aid us in this!" Orophin shouted as he ran around the talan rearranging chairs.
Celeborn ushered a jello legged elleth into a talan bedroom and pulled Haldir into the bedroom. The two brothers ran in as well and shut the door behind them.
Earlinde lay down, as she let out another scream and then glared at Haldir.
"She's going to have the baby right?" Orophin asked looking at a wide eyed Celeborn.
Haldir moved over to Earlinde and knelt beside her on the bed. He placed a hand on her forehead and held her hand. He shushed her. She buried her head in his shoulder and whimpered.
"Maybe we should have called Arwen." Celeborn statement matter-of-factly.
"I think it's a little too late for that, My Lord." Haldir stated, fear certain in his voice.
"Are we going to do this?" Orophin asked again. Rumil looked at him aghast.
"Sure--- ah, Surely there is someway that we—I mean you know, she's our sister, and ah, well, you know… so you see… I mean, you can tell… ah… well, it's obvious…"
"SHUT UP! THIS BABY IS COMING RIGHT NOW! SHUT UP!" Earlinde screeched tightening her grip on Haldir's arm almost yanking it out of the socket. The latter three elves (Rumil, Orophin and Celeborn) started rushing around the room bumping into various pieces of furniture.
Earlinde turned to Haldir and screamed, "THIS! THIS IS YOUR DOING! NEVER AGAIN HALDIR! YOU HAVE THE BABY NEXT TIME YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF ORC WASTE!" Haldir's eyes widened as Rumil turned to him.
"Brother," he whispered "I thought she was a willing participant…" his voice wavered as Earlinde turned to him.
"SHUT UP!" she screamed as Rumil recoiled.
Celeborn finally wrenching her hand off of the ex March Warden pulled him up and slapped him. Haldir looked around in a frenzy then took a deep breathe. Earlinde quieted to whimpers again.
The four Ellyn moved to the foot of the bed and looked at her.
"How do you deliver a Baby?" Orophin asked. The other four in the room glared at him and he opened his mouth to protest, "I mean, I know how babies are delivered, its just how do we deliver this baby, I mean she almost killed Haldir…"
"Maybe if we open her legs and stand between them and bend down and try to ---" Rumil was cut off by Haldir
"NO ONE WILL BE OPENING MY WIFE'S LEGS!" he made for his brother when Celeborn put a hand on his shoulder.
"Haldir, we must deliver a baby. Kill Rumil later." He nodded to Haldir and then released the warden and walked over to Earlinde, careful to stay out of her reach.
"Earlinde! We are going to lift up your dress, but we are going to put this sheet over you, so that only part of you is, ehm… exposed, so to say." She looked at him and bit down on her hand to stifle a scream. She made eye contact with Haldir and whimpered again.
ONE HOUR LATER
Earlinde was sweat drenched and Haldir was patting her head down with a damp cloth.
"Hush my brave March Warden, you are doing great!" He encouraged.
"HALDIR! GET THIS THING OUT OF ME NOW!" She shrieked and then bit her lip in pain.
Haldir recoiled and walked over to the foot of the bed where Rumil, Orophin and Celeborn where standing. They looked like a sorry bunch of Ellyn.
Rumil stood his hand clad with oven mittens, Orophin with a pot on his head with rags in his hands and Celeborn held a book open with a graphic depiction of the female, uhh… tract. His fingers were following the birth canal as he mumbled.
"So, how long do we wait?" Rumil whispered, crouching, ready to catch the baby when it flies out of its mother.
"It says here to push." Celeborn stated matter-of-factly.
"What are we pushing my Lord?" Orophin questioned.
"No, she must push." Haldir affirmed.
"Why should she be pushing anything in this state brother?" Rumil stood wiping his brow as the elleth in question let out a scream.
"Earlinde push." Celeborn stated. She nodded and screamed. Haldir rushed over to her as she punched him hard. He fell back, more stunned than from the force.
"Push again my child." Celeborn stated. His brow covered in sweat.
"Haldir!" she whimpered again as he grabbed her hands and pinned them to his chest.
"I'm here my love." He looked at her and smiled weakly, his lip already swollen.
"Who hit you?" She asked, looking at him before screaming again.
"OH! I SEE THE HEAD!" Rumil screamed
"Really! Oh Eru let me see!" Orophin shoved his brother aside and looked between her legs and smiled triumphantly.
"I knew I could do it! See, this is easy what is everyone overreacting too?" Orophin said as he straightened. The three Ellyn glared at him as Earlinde flung a pillow at him, that nailed him on the pot that was on his head. The pot smacked the ridge of his nose and he whimpered.
"RUMIL YOU SON OF AN ORC! EASY! YOU SHOULD TRY IT! YOU ORC! SON OF MORDOR! BANE OF MY EXISTENCE!" Earlinde fought against Haldir as he held her down from trying to get up and hit Orophin.
"Hey!" Rumil stood from the ground looking at Earlinde, "I'm RUMIL!" he shouted.
"I DON'T GIVE AN ORC'S REAR! I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO LOOK LIKE HIM!" Earlinde shrieked.
"I don't look like him!" Rumil said aghast, "He's a fat warg!"
Orophin took the pot off his head and stepped toward his brother threateningly. The pot was quickly removed from his hand by Celeborn.
"Orophin of Lorien, go to the corner!" Celeborn commanded, as Orophin settled in the corner.
His face drained color as Earlinde let out another scream.
"PUSH!" the Ellyn shouted. Earlinde pushed several times more as the popped out.
Celeborn stepped closer to Rumil who had reassumed his crouching position. Celeborn guided Rumil's oven-mitten covered hands closer to the head of the child and nodded.
"Just guide it out, don't pull." He whispered.
"PULL! PULL IT OUT! I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE, HALDIR TAKE YOUR CHILD! TAKE IT!" She grabbed his tunic and shoved him away.
He shook his head and remained sitting on the bed, repinning her arms to his chest and murmuring to her.
"A hard push and then another hard push Earlinde, c'mon." Celeborn stated, anxiety finally showing in his rather calm voice.
Haldir looked at his wife as her face screwed up and she pushed. After her second push she broke into tears, sobbing from the pain. Her husband pulled her into his arms when Celeborn shouted not to move her. He patted her forehead his fingers trembled.
Rumil's brow screwed up in concentration, as Orophin ran out and returned with a basin filled with warm water and two large towels. The twins crouched closer to the coming baby and Celeborn dropped his birth canal map to the ground and moved closer to the twins also bent over to get a closer peek.
The three shouted together, "PUSH LINDE PUSH!" as Haldir braced his wife for another push. She let a finally scream go until she fell against the bed exhausted. Suddenly a wail sounded to Haldir's ears and he whipped his head around to see Rumil cradling his baby.
"BOY! I'm an Uncle of a Baby BOY!" Rumil shouted as Orophin snatched the wailing child from his arms. Haldir advanced on Orophin and pulled his son from his brother's embrace. Haldir looked down at the child and then the wailing stopped.
Haldir's heart fluttered as the bluest eyes he'd ever seen opened to look up into his eyes. Tears fell from the March Warden's eyes as he looked at the elfing and brought him over to his wife.
"Earlinde, it's a boy, a beautiful boy." Earlinde looked up weakly at her husband and nodded. Haldir lowered the bundle in the towel to her as she peered over the folds and glanced at her son.
"He's beautiful!" she cried as her husband kissed her forehead and cradled the child. Celeborn and the twins left the new family alone.
ONE WEEK LATER
Earlinde smiled as she held her child close to her body, sheltering him from the wind. Haldir wrapped his arms closer about her waist and gazed over her shoulder to make a face at the child.
When little Hal saw his fathers face he gurgled and smiled a toothless smile. Orophin rode close to Haldir's mount, Rumil on the opposite side. Celeborn led the group toward the Havens as they made ready to sail away from to Valinor.
They had all decided that young Haldir should grow up in a safe place, away from the remaining orcs, and away from Arda, because it was time for Men to rule Middle Earth.
They reached the docks within a few days and Cirdan boarded the last ship with them. He smiled at the March Wardens' child and Haldir walked his small family to the end of the ship. He held his wife as they sailed away… The last of Cirdan's fleet to Sail Into The West.
a/n: Ah, the end…. So cute!