Disclaimer: Same as always.

A/N: Here is the next chapter. There is probably only four more chapters left after this one. I'm going to end this one soon, but I have ideas for a next one. Hope everyone continues to enjoy this story though. Let me know what you think of this chapter.

Chapter 9

Announcement

3 months later

"Okay, Linriel. What is this all about?"

Linriel smiled sweetly at Elrohir. She let go of his hands and twirled around. Her golden blonde hair glistened in the light of the sun. "Isn't this place wonderful?"

Elrohir placed his hands on her shoulders. "Yes, it is beautiful. But why have you brought me here?"

"Why Elrohir, this is where you proposed." She said as she looked around at the rose garden.

"I know that. But that doesn't answer my question, unless you intended to propose to me this time"

Linriel grinned sheepishly. She walked away from him, closer towards the pond in the center of the garden. "Since this place was important to my mother, you chose here to propose to me. So I have chosen this place to tell you some news."

"What news?" Elrohir asked, becoming impatient.

Linriel turned to face him. Her face glowed with excitement. "I'm pregnant."

Elrohir's mouth dropped. "You mean… we're going to have a baby?"

"That would be the idea." Linriel replied laughing.

Elrohir ran to her and swept her up into his arms. He twirled her around. Linriel's laughter was infectious and he began to laugh with pure joy. He placed her on the ground and kissed her. "I'm going to be a father."

Linriel nodded with a smile. Elrohir hugged her again.

"I can't wait to tell Ada, Elladan and Arwen."

Linriel blushed slightly. "Arwen all ready knows."

Elrohir glared playfully at her.

"I'm sorry. I wanted you to be the first to know, but I had to be sure before I did. You may tell your brother and father though and anyone else you wish to tell."

Elrohir grinned. "Both our fathers are going to be enthralled."

"We should tell them tonight over dinner."

"I think that is a great idea." He hugged her again. "I'm so happy. How long have you known?"

"Well, I started suspecting last month, but I wasn't positive until this morning."

Elrohir smiled as he thought about that for a moment. "So it probably happened on our honeymoon in Lothlorien."

Linriel nodded with a grin.

Elrohir chuckled. "Come, until tonight, you and I are going to spend a little romantic time together."

"But what about the paper work you promised to help Legolas with?"

Elrohir shrugged. "It can wait. Right now, I feel like taking a walk with my wife."

She smiled. Elrohir placed his arm around her and began to walk around the rose garden. The garden was just beginning to blossom again. It had died out after the war, but now the gardeners had worked hard to bring the garden back to life. It wasn't an easy task, considering that the air was still cool and spring had not yet come, but it was beginning to look beautiful once again. Elrohir could have cared less though, at the moment. It could have been the bleakest day outside with darkness surrounding him, yet in his heart it would be a clear, warm summer day. The past three months with Linriel had been the best time of his life. Every day he was excited to wake up and find her beside him. He would kiss her brow and watch as she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him. She was amazing and he loved everything about her.

Deciding details about their life together had not been the easiest thing thus far, however. He wanted to live back in Rivendell and take her away from the dangers and darkness of Mirkwood, but she wanted to live closer to her friends and family. She also had duty as the Princess of Mirkwood and marrying Elrohir had not changed that. Elrohir was rather reluctant to leave Rivendell life behind, but he understood that Linriel belonged in Mirkwood. Coming to a decision had not been easy, but they finally decided that Mirkwood would be where they made their home.

Despite his willingness to compromise, Elrohir was saddened that his father and brother would be leaving. They would depart tomorrow and journey back towards Rivendell. He would miss them terribly, especially Elladan, but he was quite happy to start his own family.

Linriel would be having a baby soon. A son perhaps, whom Elrohir could teach archery and sword. He would grow up strong, wise, and taught in many things. Or perhaps a girl who would be sweet and gentle like her mother, but strong and fierce if the time called for it. No matter, boy or girl, the child would be his. He would be a father.

------

Linriel smiled at Elrohir as they sat around the dinner table later that night. He smiled back and reached under the table to squeeze her hand. The family dinner was a pleasant one full of lighthearted comments and old stories. Everyone was gathered around. Thranduil and Elrond sat at the head like usual. Legolas sat to the left of his father, Linriel was to his right. Beside her sat Elrohir, of course, and Arwen sat beside him. Elladan was sitting beside Legolas. Kalen was also sitting with them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with close friends and family.

As they finished eating, however, Linriel was excited to announce her news. She looked at Elrohir and nodded. Elrohir grinned and stood from the table.

"If I could have everyone's attention." He started.

All eyes turned to him and Elrohir could not hide the excitement on his face.

"I have an announcement for everyone to hear." He looked down at Linriel who smiled brightly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Linriel and I are happy to announce that she is pregnant. We are going to have a baby."

Smiles brightened everyone's faces. Thranduil cried out in delight. He stood and took his daughter into his arms.

"I'm so happy for you."

Linriel giggled. "You are going to be a grandpa."

Thranduil chuckled. "My first grandchild. This is the best news I could have hoped for."

Linriel smiled. She hugged Elrond who shared the same excitement of having a grandchild as Thranduil.

Elladan patted his brother on the back. "Congratulations, gwador."

Elrohir smiled with a nod. "You are going to be an uncle. Uncle Elladan. It has a nice ring to it."

Elladan laughed. "Indeed it does."

Legolas hugged his sister. "I'm so excited."

She nodded her head. "And you shall be Uncle Legolas."

Legolas laughed.

After a few moments, Thranduil called their attention and held up a wine glass. "We must toast to this special occasion." Everyone nodded and grabbed their own wine glasses. "To my beautiful and lovely daughter, Linriel, to her charming and exquisite husband, Elrohir, and to their darling little baby, I wish long life and happiness to them all. May all their years be blessed." He raised his glass high. Everyone else followed suited, then took a swig of the drink.

------

Legolas plopped down on the ground near his sister. After dinner ended and they had celebrated, the younger elves went outside for a walk. Everyone but Arwen and Kalen that is. Now they were resting next to a huge oak tree. It was their common meeting place.

Legolas smiled as he looked at Linriel. "It seems like just yesterday Naneth use to take us here to play and she would spend hours playing hide and seek with us or chasing us around. I remember you telling me that when you grew older you wanted to be just like her." He grinned at her. "Now you are going to have your own child."

Linriel smiled. "I wonder if it is a girl or a boy."

"Perhaps we will have twins." Elrohir spoke up. "Ada has a twin and so do I, so perhaps we shall have twins."

Linriel laughed. "I don't think I would want twin elflings. One elfling gets into enough mischief. I don't know how your father managed to raise two of them, two boys at that."

"I resent that." Elladan spoke up. "Elrohir and I were perfect angels."

Legolas laughed. "You aren't even angels when you sleep."

Elrohir smacked him. "Like you are the one to be talking, mellon nin."

Legolas pouted. He poked lightly at his sister and whispered to her. "You are suppose to defend me."

Linriel laughed. "And say what?"

"I don't know. That you keep me out of trouble or something."

"That would hardly be the truth. Usually you are the one pulling me into it."

Legolas crossed his arms. "I am not.."

Everyone laughed. Their jokes and banters continued for a short while longer, until Linriel turned to Legolas. "I know Arwen had to finish packing to go back to Lothlorien tomorrow, but why did Kalen not join us?"

Legolas shrugged. "I do not know. I told him we were all going out by the big oak tree to talk and have fun, but he said he had some stuff to do. He said he may join us later."

Linriel nodded, but her face held concern. "Am I the only one to notice that he has been distant the past few months?"

"Come to think of it, he has been." Elrohir said.

Legolas nodded. "I too have noticed it, but I know he has been busy. Perhaps it will pass in time."

Linriel sighed and nodded her head. "Perhaps." She stated, though she was far from believing it. She would have to talk with him tomorrow before he left to escort Arwen back to Lothlorien. He and a few other guards would escort her and then they would travel with Elrond and Elladan back to Rivendell. Most of the elves from both realms had all ready returned to their homes. Only Elrond and his children remained in Mirkwood. It would be a while before Kalen and the other Mirkwood guards returned home, so Linriel knew she had to talk to him. Perhaps it would be nothing and she was just worrying over petty stuff. With a sigh, she pushed it to the back of the mind. She wouldn't worry about it right now. Right now she was simply happy to be among her friends and to know that inside her a small life was growing. She was going to be a mother.

Subconsciously she placed her hand on her stomach. Her child was yet too young for her to be able to feel any movement, but she smiled anyway. She made a silent vow that she would raise the child in the way that was right and that she would strive to be the best mother she could be.

Elrohir looked at her and seeing her with her hand on her stomach made him smile. He placed his hand on hers and rubbed gently on her belly. Then he leaned close and kissed her.