Guest/Hello_LOTR: thanks for the review. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Warning: mature themes, graphic scenes below. Please be aware before reading.

"My Lady, breakfast is served" the maid said as she entered the bedroom.

Ava made no move to acknowledge she'd heard. She hadn't been able to get out of bed for the last 3 days. The sobbing had eased and now there was just grieved silence. The healers had been summoned, but she refused to be seen. Though she had no appetite, she'd forced some morsels of sustenance into her for the sake of the child she carried.

Thranduil had respected her demand to be left alone. He had not attempted to come to her. He surely knew she would've refused to see him, but not for the reasons he may have thought. The maid left the tray on food on a side table, but remained in the room.

"My Lady, Lord Wyrran is here and wishes to speak to you." The maid explained, in response to Ava's questioning look.
Before Ava could open her mouth and refuse him, Wyrran's voice floated in from the other side of the bedroom door.
"Ava, you have 15 minutes to get dressed. Then I'm coming in. I'm not going to be turned away." The tone reinforced his conviction that he would speak to the Queen today. Ava was too bewildered to argue, and agreed to let the maid brush her hair and dress her. On cue, 15 minutes later, the King's chief councillor entered the royal bedchambers.

"Lord Wyrran, what can I do for you?" Ava greeted him coldly, shoulders crossed.

"Your highness" Wyrran said, bowing. "You cannot lock yourself in this bedroom forever. It's time you come back to the real world. To your son and your husband and your people."

Ava looked away, for she knew he was telling the truth. Wyrran stepped towards her. "I know your loss has been tremendous. But I also know you must've realized by now you were in the wrong when you blamed Thranduil."

A sob escaped her. She nodded slowly. "I know I hurt him terribly. I knew it the moment I said those words."

"Then go to him Ava. He needs to hear you say this. Don't you know he needs you? He had not felt love until he met you. His family, it's the most important thing to him. To have to give that up almost killed him. I was there that day. He was going to give in to the orc's demands, but I did not let him. It would've been the end of our people, Ava. He really had no other choice" Wyrran beseeched her.

"I know Wyrran. I do not blame him, I never did. I was in so much pain. I was angry he kept it from me. I carried her for 7 months, and to lose her like that…" Ava trailed off.

Wyrran stared at her, his look conveying the unspoken message that she must know what she needed to do.

"How can I go to him after what I've done? I don't deserve his forgiveness" Ava said sadly.

Wyrran let out an exasperated sigh. "You know, that's the same thing he said. You're both hurting unnecessarily. End this Ava, for your own sakes."

Ava hesitated only a moment before deciding her marriage, her family were worth fighting for. They were worth admitting she had been wrong. She hastily grabbed the thin cloak that was hanging on her chaise and headed out the door without another word. She did not see Lord Wyrran's relieved expression.

She did not find her husband in his study, nor the great hall, nor the gardens. By the time she reached the stables, she was beginning to lose hope.
"His highness went out for a ride this morning. He left very strict instructions that he was not to be disturbed" the stable hand reported, upon questioning by his Queen.

"Where did he go?" Ava asked.

"I know not my Lady. He headed into the woods" came the answer. "Your highness, you're in no condition to ride" he stable hand added pointedly.
Ava knew he was right, but that would not stop her from reaching her husband. The longer she waited, the more their bond would be damaged. She could feel her husband's pain through their connection. She took a deep breath and focussed on the bond, it would lead her to him. She deliberately eluded the guards stationed at the palace gates. She and Thranduil needed to speak alone. After what seemed like an eternity of walking through the woods, she finally caught sight of Thranduil's horse, grazing peacefully in the distance. They were in a secluded part of the woods, he had chosen it so as not to be disturbed. It was clear he wanted to be alone. Ava braved herself for any kind of reception and quickened her already aching feet.

Thranduil's keen ears heard the approach of another elf from behind.

"Did I not make myself clear this morning that I was NOT to be disturbed?" He said harshly, without bothering to turn around.

"Thranduil, it's me. We need to speak-" Ava said, she tried her best to be gentle.

"Ava, please believe me when I say whatever fury and hatred you feel towards me, I know it is well deserved. I hate myself more than you ever could" the King said bitterly. "You should not be out here, please go back to the palace." He did not await her response before he began to walk away.

"Thranduil!" Ava called out, begging for a chance. "Thran –" she felt a sharp pain across her abdomen. She took a deep breath in but the pain did not ease. Clutching her abdomen, she bent over. The second contraction was even stronger, bringing her to her knees. She grunted and bit her lip.

He was there instantaneously. He had one arm around her and the other hand rubbed her abdomen.

"Are you alright?" he asked, all traces of resentment vanished from his demeanor.

"Contractions" she said breathlessly. "My due date was yesterday."

"Can you walk? We need to get you back to the palace."

Ava looked at her husband uncertainly, but nodded indicating she would try. They made it a few steps before the pain was so intense she fell against him. Then, she felt a rush of warm fluid down her legs, soaking the bottom of her dress.

"My water's broken" Ava said miserably, stating the obvious.

"The elfling is keen to arrive" Thranduil said, trying to lighten the mood. "I will carry you."

It turned out to be a bad idea, for no sooner had he lifted her up did the pain intensify. The position was so uncomfortable for her that she screamed in pain. Realizing that was not an option, he gently guided her to the nearest tree trunk and settled her sitting against it. Ava was breathing deeply, the pain causing tears to form in her eyes.

"I will go for help" Thranduil told her, and he moved to stand. This panicked Ava and she grabbed his arm.

"No! Please don't leave me" she sobbed.
"Darling I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to the horse, there's a field medical kit in the satchel. Then I'm going to send the horse back to the palace. It will alert them I need help, and the horse will guide them to us" he explained, to which Ava visibly relaxed and nodded her assent. She reluctantly let go of his arm and he proceeded.

In the time her husband briefly stepped away, Ava counted 2 contractions. Each crescendoed in severity to the brink of unbearable pain before easing. She had nothing to ease the pain but deep breaths and clutching harshly at the ground. After what seemed like eternity, Thranduil returned with a satchel in hand. He hastily scattered the contents. Ava complied when he instructed her to lift herself up so that he could slide a blanket beneath her. Then, her husband undid his cloak and wrapped it around her. Night was beginning to fall and temperatures along with it. The cloak was a welcome relief and she was warmed instantly.

"Thranduil, you will be cold" Ava said.
"Don't worry about me. You're the one in labor" Thranduil laughed. Ava smiled in response.

"Here comes another one" she gritted, as another wave of pain arrived.

"I have nothing for the pain Ava" he said regrettably. All she could do was groan.

"Ava, take some deep breaths" he soothed, rubbing her swollen stomach.

She leaned against the tree trunk, the rough edges of the bark digging into her back. "Thranduil, I came here to tell you –"

"Shh, Ava it doesn't matter now" he said.

"NO, Thranduil please. I wanted to tell you that I acted horribly. That it was wrong of me to blame you, hurt you the way I did. It was not your fault. I should not have been in the woods alone. I'm just as much to blame…" she trailed off as the pain intensified. She could tell the memories were painful for him, and he stayed silent.

"Thranduil, you're a good King, a good father and a good husband. You did the right thing that day in the woods. I know you had no choice. Your love has kept our family together. It's an honor I have not deserved as of late" she managed in between the waves of never-ending pain. "Forgive me" she asked earnestly.

Her husband took her hands and brought them to his lips. Then he lowered his lips and gently grazed her belly. She smiled as she felt the frays of their bond restored.

The night was long. Thranduil helplessly watched as his wife fought valiantly through the pain. The sheet beneath her was now soaked with blood, and there was no end in sight. Ava grew more and more weary as dawn crept upon them. Then, she felt a pressure building below.

"Thranduil, I think I need to push" Ava whispered. He husband seemed not to hear her, his head was turned away, as if focussing on something in the distance.

"Help has arrived. I will meet them. Will you be alright for a moment?" Thranduil asked. Ava nodded, putting on a brave front that she did not know she had.

The King scrambled up and sprinted towards the party of riders from the palace. Soon, Ava heard urgent voices and the sound of many horses riding towards her. Quickly, the healers unpacked their supplies. The sheet beneath her was changed for a fresh one, and a pillow was propped behind her. The head healer murmured something she could not hear to Thranduil and Wyrran, both of whom now wore worried expressions.

"Your highness, I need to examine you" the healer said gently.

She nodded, too tired to speak, and parted her legs in assent. Whatever he was doing was extremely painful and she let out a scream. The King winced.

"We will not have time to return to the palace. You will have to deliver here. The conditions are not ideal, but we will make do" the healer said seriously. Ava nodded wordlessly again. In the background, she heard Wyrran order the captain of the guards who had arrived with the contingent to secure the perimeter.

"Do you feel the need to push yet?" the healer asked.

"It just started" Ava croaked.

"Good, with the next contraction, push" the healer instructed.

It did not take long for that opportunity to arrive. Ava clutched her husband's hand as she bore down hard, feeling the child within her descend slightly. She openly cried as the pain was so intense. After a brief rest, the healers ordered her to push again. It was after nearly an hour, and Ava was near exhaustion, that she finally felt the baby leave her body. With one final push, the elfling was brought into the world.

Ava collapsed backwards, relieved and exhausted. She could hear the healers work quickly to warm the infant. She breathed deeply as the pain began to ease. She smiled when she heard the loud cries of the baby, unhappy at the sudden change in scenery.

Thranduil accepted the healer's offer to cut the cord, the momentous occasion not lost on him.

The child was quickly swaddled and the precious bundle handed to its mother.

"A son, your majesty. Congratulations" the healers said

Ava felt a surge of love towards the tiny newborn. He had his father's icy blue eyes and the pale hair so characteristic of his people. Ava offered the child to Thranduil, whose eyes were filled with tears.

"Meet your Ada" she murmured. She watched with a soft smile as her husband coo-ed the baby and brought him to his chest, to keep him warm.

"Your highness, we must remove the afterbirth" the healer said gently, trying not to intrude on the private family moment.

Ava nodded, motioning for Thranduil to keep hold of the baby. It was far more painful than she anticipated, she groaned and once again grasped at the blanket she was sitting on. With the tissue, came a large flow of blood from between her legs. The bleeding did ot stop. This set off a flurry of activity from the healers. Bandages, clamps, herbs were urgently called for. Ava began to shiver.

"Your highness, stay with us" one of the healers said urgently. Thranduil looked up from coddling the baby to see a growing pile of bloodied bandages.

"Ava!" he cried. She seemed to be slipping away.

"I don't feel well" she said drowsily. Alarmed, the King handed his child over to Lord Wyrran and rushed to his wife's side. He shot a questioning look at the healers.
"She's hemorrhaging" the healer said tersely.

"Do something!" he ordered, an uncharacteristic emotion in the command.

"We are doing everything we can, you must try to keep her awake" the healer directed.

The King turned again to his ailing wife. "Ava, stay with me. Please! Please stay awake. You cannot leave us. Legolas is waiting for you. Our baby needs you. I need you!" he pleaded.

It was a losing battle, for Ava was already drifting in and out of consciousness. She gave one last glance at her husband, laden with her affection, before she drifted into darkness.

This is NOT the end! One (maybe 2) chapters left to tie up the story. I had an ending planned out for this story, but I realized it won't conform to the canon, but I think the canon would be a very sad ending to the story. So I'm going to take a few days to think about the ending.

Leave me a review!