Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. There is going be to be a lot of Elrohir and Nienna in this chapter. So let's begin.
"My lord, two horses have been reported arriving into Eryn Lasgalen late last night. We have reasons to think it is the prince and the princess. What should we do?" Elrohir's gaze snapped back up to the guard standing in front of the throne room, reporting to King Thranduil. "What reasons do you have that it is Lord Legolas and Lady Nienna?" He asked, his blue eyes searching the ones of his head guard.
"Their description matched the ones we have from Prince Legolas and his wife. Both were Elves and the woman was heavy with child, about as far along as the princess would be. The woman was said to look very weary and pale. We await your orders, my king." The head guard bowed low. "Allow them in, tell all the guards to pull back, we shall await them here in the throne room, if you so wish, Elrohir." Thranduil looked back at the young lord.
"Yes, I do. I very much wish to see her." Elrohir looked down at his own two feet before he looked back up and answered. "Will you forgive your son for the fact that he left? And Nienna?" He saw Thranduil close his eyes before he answered. "I do not know yet, I suppose it matters on the manner of their return. If Legolas has forgiven her, then would it not be wise for use to do the same."
He fell silent before the head guard came rushing back in, shouting as he went and dropped in a half bow. "My Lord, we had a change of plans. There is only one horse with two riders. Prince Legolas has given us orders to get Lord Elrohir, it concerns his daughter." At those words Elrohir's heart took a dive to the pit of his stomach and he stood up, not even bothering to listen to Thranduil before he rushed outside, worry for Nienna guiding his steps.
He raced outside, quickly followed by the footfall of the lord of Eryn Lasgalen but before he reached the steps that would lead to the courtyard, strong hands stopped him and yanked him back, telling him to wait. He struggled fiercely, wanting to see his daughter this instance. "Stop, they have not yet arrived, you shall be tampered unless you remain here, at least until they have arrived." Thranduil's voice was soft and compassionated, he understood all too well the worries that consumed the young elf, worrying for his only child. Worries he has shared often enough.
Elrohir remained standing, while every viber in his being shouted to rush towards the gates, yet in his mind he knew Thranduil was right, he only hoped that the King's head guard wasn't. Soon he could heard the hoof beats of a horse nearing, yet it was, for Elrohir's sake at last another era before the horse came into view. Indeed carrying two riders as the guard had reported.
Legolas gently clacked his tone to stop the horse and his gaze shot up, searching the people he saw before him. No welcoming party, but he had expected that. His father was looking directly at him and next standing beside him, was the elf Legolas had wanted to see, Elrohir. "He is here, meleth, just a little bit longer, we are here." He whispered to the pale elf leaning against him, Nienna lifted her head up, looking around and hoping to see the person she was counting on to be here.
Nienna nodded briefly before her head rolled back against Legolas's shoulder, she was to weary to keep it up. Gentle hands picked her up and she was pressed into another pair of arms, leaning against a warm body and she slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the fading light. "Ada?" It was as much a plea as a question and she softly heard the rumbling in his chest before his answer reached her ears. "Hush, little one, I am here. We shall take care of you, try to stay awake but keep your eyes closed, alright, peneth. (little one)."
"Legolas, what has happened?" Elrohir slowly lifted his eyes to his friend's form, taking in the elf appearance. Legolas was not nearly as pale as his wife, and there were no dark circles underneath his eyes, proven that he had more sleep then Nienna. "I pushed her to hard and she collapsed yesterday evening. I should have realised it and not…" with a soft cry, Legolas bowed his head still sitting upon the horse. "No need to worry. I shall take care of her and you can see her within the hour. Sleep, mellon, there is no other I would trust her with but you." The words were accompanied by a gentle smile and Legolas felt his own lips tug up in responds while he nodded.
Elrohir gently put Nienna down and while putting an arm around her waist, he drew he close to him, helping her up the stairs and into the palace. A soft word stopped them from entering. "You can use my private room, it should give you enough privacy to do what you must do, Elrohir. And I hope it is familiar enough for Nienna to relax." Thranduil softly offered, brushing stray locks of hair away from his daughter in laws face. "I shall see to Legolas." He added softly, watching as Nienna smiled at him through half lidded eyes.
Not much later Nienna awoke to the sensation of once again lying in a bed, the mantras shifting slightly when her father sat down beside her. He rested a gentle hand on her forehead, concentrating to see if she had a fever. "How are you feeling?" His voice was a soft murmur but Nienna had never felt such a soothing sound before and before she could help it, tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes.
She sat up quickly and saw the smile appear on Elrohir's face while he opened his arms, inviting her for a hug. Nienna did not have to think about it and she buried her face in the space between his neck and shoulder, feeling his arms lock securely around her, while he rocked back and forth. "Tell me what is the matter, sweetheart?" He pressed a gentle kiss in her hair, waiting for her to speak.
"It is Legolas and everything… I love him so much but I have done so many things wrong… I have killed my child… not even taking enough rest for this one and now…" Words escaped her and she buried her face once again in his shoulder while sobs overcame her. "Hush, Legolas loves you as well and we all make mistakes. It is the blood of the Noldor that flows through your veins. You have never killed your child or abandoned her. If you did that, then it would because you have that from me. I have never been the best father for you, Nienna, and I would always want things to be different between us."
"But you were thrown into this situation and you did not know what to do. Seas, Ada, do not say so. I love you, Ada, please, stop being so hard on yourself." She pleaded with him and Elrohir smiled gently at her, saying. "Hush now. This is about you now. I know we shall be alright, Nienna. Just relax, there will be time to speak later, I need to make sure you are alright first." He stroked her hair, feeling her relax to the touch.
Gentle he pressed her back to the bed, making sure she was fully relaxed on the bed. Nienna looked up at him, her eyes were closing on their own account and she relaxed fully with a sign. Elrohir looked at her and with a stifled cry realized how much alike she was to her mother. She would talk the same as Nienna did and her laughter would ring through the forest every time he was near her.
He closed his eyes, wishing she was here. He could still remember the haunting years after she had passed, he wished for death to take him, until father send him to Lorien where he recovered, where not every place remembered him of her and slowly he got his life back in order, he returned to Rivendell 20 years later, a more quieter and sadder person then before.
He looked back to see Nienna watching him and he gave her a sad smile, saying. "You are alike your mother, so much that it reminds me off her and it pains me. Yet I am very happy to see you once again. The only thing I want for you, is to have you smile again. Now let me see about that grandchild of mine, if you do not mind?" He cocked his head to the side, giving himself a younger appearance.
"It is not going to hurt, is it?" Her voice was anxious and Elrohir gently smiled while he shook his head and answered. "No, I shall explain what I am going to do. I am just going to see if the child is alright and then give you something so it should make you sleep. No poking or propping involved, Ada taught us how to feel the children within their mother's womb." Nienna nodded and slowly released the breath she did not know she was holding.
She closed her eyes and did not noticed Elrohir had closed his as well, laying a hand on her stomach to connect with the child. After a while he was rewarded with a deep sign while Nienna went completely limp and he opened his eyes to find that she had fallen asleep. Pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head, he dropped a blanket over her, saying. "Sleep well, my little one. May your heart and mind mend."
He slipped out of the room, smiling fondly when he saw Legolas curled up on a stone bench outside the room. "Legolas, Legolas? Legolas, for the sake of the Valar, awake, please." Blurred blue eyes opened up to his own and it took the elf a moment to realize where he was but then they became alert once again and Legolas said. "Is she alright? And the child?"
"Both healthy. Rest and being with you are the only things I advice, Legolas. Go to her and rest yourself, my friend. You are weary and need each other. Perhaps you should take her to Moriethel's grave later." Elrohir's expression was grim and he looked back at the other elf before him.
Legolas's hopeful expression fell and he slowly answered, drawing out the words and reaching inside of him to deal with the pain long buried there. "I have not even been to her burial, I was not there, I am the worst father there is…" A gentle slap to his cheek from Elrohir made him look back at the other elf. "I was there for both your sakes as was Thranduil. It is not a thing we would do well to remember and besides, you two need each other in this. It is in the past, mellon, but the child you are getting now isn't. Leave the past behind you, go as soon as Nienna wakes up. I am sure it is time you dealt with the grief."
With those words of advice he slowly help Legolas gain his footing, seeing that the younger elf was having trouble with it. "Should I accompany you to the room?" He asked, extending his hand to Legolas. Legolas smiled at him but he accepted the hand and answered. "I suppose I was more tired then I originally thought but should we not move to my own room instead of Ada's?" The deep voice of his father made him look up while the lord said. "Nay, Legolas. I shall take your room up for the night. You and Nienna both need to sleep undisturbed, only with each other. Go to bed my son, I shall have dinner and breakfast brought up to you, is that alright with you?"
Legolas nodded and with help from Elrohir he made it to the room, where he said goodbye to his friend, thanking him for everything that he had done. "No need, Legolas. It was my duty to do this. I am still your friend yet, as for now. I am also your father in law and a healer. I tell you to get some sleep and be with your wife. Both of you need each other and you need to start leaving this behind you. Go to sleep, mellon and let it heal you." He gently pushed Legolas towards the door and the elf obeyed , opening the door and closing it once again behind him when he was in the room.
His father's room was large to say the least and Legolas felt himself relax. It has been many times that he had found himself here, seeking comfort from his father. Now he sought comfort once again, yet not the comfort his father could offer. Comfort for his aching heart and weary mind. He crawled next to Nienna in the bed and when his wife curled up to him, both his mind and heart were comforted, for the time at least
Hope you liked it. You have to let me know what you want to see in the next chapter when Nienna and Legolas go see Moriethel's grave. And review of course.