Happy sunday everyone!

Katia0203: thanks so much for the review. You're always so knowledgeable!

Ponytail Goddess: agree, these two are slowly starting to look back at their marriage and come to terms with what went wrong

Earthdragon: yes, it was slightly scandalous what Eldrin did. Eldrin obviously thinks he's better than Haldir. But also, he does have a shared history with Lara that Haldir doesn't. The necklace was of great sentimental value to both of them and could have certainly been gifted in a more tactful way. But since he doesn't respect Haldir, he really didn't care. You're right, Lara was definitely triggered at that delivery, but it did force her to come to terms with her loss and she did grow from it.

Pat: thanks for the kind review! I hope this story keeps you engaged!

Lara awoke the next morning, comfortably in bed covered by blankets. Haldir had taken care to carry her to bed after she finally fell asleep in his arms the previous night. She heard his voice murmuring to another's at the door of her suite, before closing the door. He entered the bedroom when he heard her stir.

"Meleth, are you awake?" Haldir asked.

"Mmmhmm, who was that?" she wondered.

"The chambermaid, she had a message. Arwen and Aragorn have given us the day free to rest." Haldir stated. "What will you do?" he asked, as he handed her a cup of coffee.

Lara took the hot mug and sipped the beverage slowly. "I think I'd like to go the market, browse, explore..."

"Shop" Haldir smirked.

"I promised Toby I'd bring him something from the trip. Perhaps you should join me, keep an eye on me so I don't buy too much?" Lara teased.

The market was a crowded and lively, lined with stalls filled with merchants selling everything from household wares to jewellery. Scents of grilled food intermittently wafted through, from the stalls selling street food. Lara led the way, searching each stall for objects of interest. Her arm was linked casually with Haldir's, at some point, she unconsciously slid her hand into his. They lightly bantered about which tunic Toby would like. Lara objected to Haldir's attempts to by their son a toy sword, causing Haldir to (reluctantly) retreat from the idea. Two tunics and a toy later, Lara heard a loud voice through the crowd.

"My Lord! My Lady!" the man's familiar voice shouted. Lara scanned the crowd and saw a young a man pushing his way towards them. The father of the baby born last night, he was beaming from ear to ear. When he arrived before them, he gave a low bow.

"Lachlan" Haldir greeted. "How fare your wife and child?"

"Well as can be my Lord. Thanks to you. I am out for provisions, we've run out of diapers already!" the man replied, he seemed to be happy to do the chore. "King Aragorn and Queen Arwen were by this morning. They said you'd likely be too busy to come see the baby, but passed on your best wishes. I thank you!"

Lara appreciated her friend's tactful way of removing her obligation to a visit. Certainly due to concern of causing her more distress.

"Well, if you have time, you're welcome at any time. Carwyn would love to give you her thanks and have you visit the baby!" Lachlan declared eagerly.

Before Haldir could say a word, as he was about to give a noncommittal answer, Lara spoke. "Of course we were planning to visit, how's this afternoon?" Her husband was tactful enough to hide his surprise. But Lara knew it was the only kind thing to do; she could deny the happy parents. After bidding Lachlan goodbye, Haldir looked at his wife expectantly.

"We will have to find a gift basket here" Lara said, looking around at the stalls. The marchwarden's eyebrows raised. "Well we can't visit emptyhanded!" she said in an exasperated tone. With that, she took his hand and led him through the market with a purpose.

As Lara fingered through baby clothes at one of the stalls, she murmured "did they have a boy or girl? I didn't notice."

"It was a boy" Haldir said reluctantly. He was worried that visiting the new family would be difficult for her. She had been emotional just the night before, crying for hours before finally succumbing to exhaustion. It had nearly wrenched his heart out, to see his wife in such grief. But he knew she had to go through it in order to heal and he was glad that she had finally let herself experience it.
She put down the onesie in her hand and looked at him. "I'm alright Haldir. I can go for a visit without falling apart. I know nothing will bring back our baby, but I can be happy for the one we helped save yesterday."

Haldir placed a soft kiss on her brow. "I like the gray one" he said, pointing to the onesie in the middle of the pile. Lara smiled "gray one it is. Now pay the man". Haldir chuckled and obliged. They added a few more items to their basket before starting the walk back to the palace. When they walked through the gardens, Lara stopped again to admire the roses. She loved their rich fragrance and vivid colors.

"I never told anyone this, but when I found out I was pregnant, I was disappointed and I wished I wasn't. Toby had just started school and I was looking forward to having less chores to do and more time to myself. Does that make me a bad mother?" she asked.

"No meleth" Haldir said immediately. There was no doubt in his mind. "Everyone has doubts, but you loved our baby. It's time you forgive yourself."

"You had no doubts." Lara challenged.

Lara awoke the morning after Haldir returned for leave alone in bed. The marchwarden had found out the previous day that his wife was expecting another elfling. Perhaps he has run away, Lara thought darkly, for she so wished to run away. She threw on a loose tunic and tights and padded out of the bedroom. Her husband was located in the spare room, which was currently sitting empty. He was humming to himself as he knelt on the floor, making measurements of the room dimensions.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

Haldir's head jerked up in surprise. "Meleth, did I wake you? I was just taking measurements" he said sheepishly.

"I can see that. What for?" she continued the interrogation.

"Well this would be the nursery. I thought we'd go order some furniture today, so we'd need the room dimensions. Also, Inaya wanted to know when you'd like to get together to plan the blessing ceremony. I'll schedule my leave so I can be there…"

Lara brought her hand to her forehead in irritation. She did not want to discuss a nursery, or baby furniture, or blessing ceremony. She did not want to see anybody for they were surely going to tell her how lucky she was to have another child on the way when she was feeling exactly the opposite. To say out loud she did not want the baby would be blasphemy. How could she not want another elfling? It would be scandalous. Yet, deep down, she could not deny that that's exactly how she felt. Another child would be more loneliness, unhappiness.

"Stop it! I don't want to deal with it. Not today" she vented her frustration at the one person she held responsible for her current predicament.

Haldir stood up, absolutely confused. "Are you not feeling well? Should I call the healers?"

Lara grunted in frustration and left the room. He followed her out, concerned. "Lara, is something wrong?" She didn't answer him. She ran out of the flet as fast as she could. Haldir did not follow her, for just as she left, Toby emerged bleary eyed from his bedroom asking for breakfast.

Lara paced the small clearing in the woods she had ended up, after wandering aimlessly. She balled her hands into fists in frustration. Something must be wrong with her. How could she feel anything but joy. She had the perfect life: a beautiful son, an adoring husband. That's at least how it appeared. She did love her son and her husband. Yet, she was so unhappy. She told herself to pull it together. She had a son to look after, she had duties to perform – the other wives of the Galadhrim looked to her for strength.

"I don't know what I did to upset her" Haldir confessed quietly. Toby was in the living room playing while Inaya and Haldir sipped coffee in the kitchen. Haldir had brought the child to Rumil and Inaya's for he sorely needed advice.

"She's probably overwhelmed. Preparing for a baby is a lot of work Haldir." Inaya replied sympathetically. "Don't worry, she'll find her stride. She's such a good mother to Toby, I'm sure she'll thrive with two children."

"I wonder if she…she doesn't want another child?" he said.

"Don't be ridiculous, of course she's delighted to have another baby!"

When Haldir returned to their flet with Toby that afternoon, he found Lara busying herself in the kitchen.

"Nana!" Toby called out. Lara affectionately embraced the child when he ran up to her. "What's for dinner?" he asked.

"Your favorite" she answered.

"Cake?" Toby asked incredulously.

Lara giggled. "You wish! We're having meat pie." Toby smiled and ran off to play before dinner.

"Lara, how are you feeling" Haldir asked cautiously.

"I'm fine" she answered stiffly.

"I'm sorry if I upset you this morning. There's no rush with the nursery, we can talk about it some other time." He offered.

Lara silently released the fist she'd made when Haldir brought up the nursery. "Yes, another time" she said.

Haldir came up behind her and lovingly placed his hands on her abdomen. "Lara, our children, you've given me the best gift…"

Haldir shook his head slowly. "I have doubts."

Lara gave him a disbelieving look. "I doubt I have been as good a husband as you expected or deserved. I think I have caused you much unhappiness."

"I have not been the wife you deserved. I have been angry with you and I have hurt you. That has hurt our family" Lara admitted. "I don't want that for us. I don't want that for Toby. Can you forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, meleth" Haldir answered. He tilted her head up and met her lips. She buried herself in his chest and he wrapped his strong arms around her.

"My lord and lady! Please come in" Lachlan stepped aside to let Lara and Haldir in to their quarters.

Carwyn sat on the sofa cradling the newborn. She was beaming.

"Please, don't get up Carwyn" Lara insisted, as the woman began to shift. "How are you feeling."

"I feel well, tired but happy he's alright"

"We're so glad" Lara said warmly. She handed over the gift basket, to much gratitude from the hosts ("you shouldn't have!").

"Would you like to hold him, Lady Lara?" Carwyn asked, already reaching out her arms to hand the baby to her.

Lara took a deep breath and wordlessly accepted the tiny bundle. The baby was sleeping soundly and didn't even notice the change in scenery. She brought the infant to her chest and swayed gently. "He's beautiful" she breathed. Then she looked at her husband, whose eyes were full of emotion. "Haldir?" she asked, drawing his gaze towards the child.

"Marchwarden, go ahead, he's a calm baby" Carwyn encouraged.

The marchwarden stepped forward and carefully took the child from his wife. Lara gazed at him. The marchwarden was a large and imposing figure, yet he had the gentlest touch with the infant. She smiled, her son was lucky to have a father like him.