*** To all my wonderful readers: Thank you for your ongoing support! I hope you enjoy this little bit of fluff I wrote as a thank you. The story continues in Part IV of Two Thrones: Legolas, Ion nîn. Look forward to seeing you over there!

Chapter 56 – Bonus Epilogue

SUMMARY: In which we jump ahead a teensy bit, to see our newlyweds add an addition to the family!

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"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why."

― Mark Twain

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City of Dale, 16th of August 2947 T.A.

"How are you doing up there, Rhian?" Hannah asked, as she and Sigrid helped make some final preparations. "Daeron! We agreed, remember? I'll handle this end, and you handle that end! Now get up there and be with your wife!"

"But—"

"You're a husband today, not a Healer." she waved her hands. "Shoo, I say! Go on!"

Rhian raised herself up on her elbows. "Daeron Adamarion," she panted, "if you don't get your arse up here, you'll never lay a finger on me again, do hear me? AHHH!" she cried as another contraction hit.

Instantly the Elf was at her side and was stroking her brow. "Just breathe, Hind Calen…"

She groaned, then gave him a filthy look. "Don't touch me! Did I say you could touch me?"

He quickly took his hand away, and looked at Hannah.

She shrugged. "You've seen it a thousand times."

"But that was different…" he stopped talking when Rhian let out another howl and blindly grasped for him.

"Daeron! Help me! Why aren't you…". She yowled, grabbed the front of his tunic and pulled him towards her with incredible strength, but unfortunately she caught one of his nipples in the process.

"NÊG!" He howled in pain. "I naegra nin!"

"You wanna switch places with me?" Rhian snapped. "Oh, shit, Shit. Shit. SHIT, THAT HURTS! I SAID, don't TOUCH me!" She yelled, when Daeron grabbed her fingers and tried to loosen her grip.

"But Meleth nîn…" he yelped again. "You are pinch—Ah, nêg!" He gritted his teeth as her fingers curled and pulled again.

"Don't you 'Meleth nîn' me! Why am I even awake? You could've put me to sleep, like you did with Darryn, or at least made it so I couldn't feel all this!"

"But you told me not to! You made me promise!" He whined, and managed to free himself but dropped her hand quickly. "You told me—"

"Why did you listen to me!" she panted. "You're the Healer, not me! OhHolyMotherFuckingGods!" she moaned.

"Rhian you said," he reminded her in a soothing tone, "no matter how much you were going to beg—"

"FUCK WHAT I SAID!"

"...and you made me promise not to do it, no matter how much you yelled or cursed, or—"

"Even if he could right now, it's too late." Hannah checked her. "Okay, lovey, it's time for us to push. Come on; let's bring your new baby into the world!"

Sigrid took her place on the other side of Rhian, and Daeron supported her back and together they began.

"Oh, gods…" she laid back down on the pillows between contractions, then looked at him. "Tell me the truth: did you?"

Daeron eyed her warily. "Did I what, Meleth nîn?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. Did you look?"

"I…"

"Daeron?" she scowled. "Oh. My. Stars. You did, didn't you?"

"Well… I tried not to, really I did, but—"

"Daeron! You promised! When I got pregnant, you and I agreed that we would wait, and be surprised! We weren't going to find out if it was a boy or a girl until the baby was born!"

"I am sorry, Hind Calen. You were sleeping so soundly one night, and I just—"

"You rat! How long have you known?"

His head sunk into his shoulders. "Eight months?"

"You've known for eight months? EIGHT MONTHS? And you never said a word? How could you?"

"I just wanted to make sure all was well…"

"So," she rasped, "let me see if I understand this. You listen to me when I make a stupid decision and tell you I want to feel the 'joys of childbirth?'"

"But you said you—"

"And you don't listen when we agree to be surprised when the baby is born? A decision which involves no pain at all?"

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"You bastard! You sneak! You've known all this time whether Darryn is getting a brother or a sister and you didn't tell me? Why didn't you wait?"

Daeron finally lost his temper. "Because it is what I do, Rhian!" he shouted. "I thought I could wait, but this is what I do! I am going to make sure our baby is healthy and positioned correctly!" he wrung his hands, just as another contraction hit, and they were back in business.

"OooohhhhhhYouBastardYouLookedWhenYouSaidYouWouldntYouBastardYouBastardYOUBASTARDYOUBASTAAAAAAAARD!" and she sunk back on the pillows, red-faced and panting.

"Rhian!" Daeron hissed, "My parents are out there, and you just accused them of never being married—"

"Don't yell at me!" She screwed up her face and began to cry. "I'm trying t-to have your baby, and y-you're yelling at m-m-m-me!" She sobbed. "I w-wanted our baby to meet us at the same time and now it loves you and doesn't even know m-me at all!" She wailed.

Instantly, the Elf felt terrible. "I am so sorry, Meleth nîn. I truly did not mean to hurt your feelings, but I had to make sure she was well..."

"Well, you did!" She bawled. "What if my b-baby likes you m-more than me? Of course, our baby is going to love you more! I just—"

"Oh, no, no, Hind Calen!" He took her hand and stroked her hair. "Our baby loves us both, and you know I love you more than—"

"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHYourTouchingMe!" She growled and geared up again, "AAAAAHHHWhyAreYouTouchingMeOhMyStarsThisBabyIsGonnaBeStuckInMeForeverrrrrrrr—"

"Come on, sweetheart," Hannah urged, "Big push now!"

"WhatTheBloodyFuckDoYouThinkImDoing!" Rhian groaned, and took another breath. "GaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Shouldn't be long now," Sigrid sponged her face. "You're doing really good."

"You promise?" Rhian's eyes were closed as she collapsed on the pillow.

Another contraction. More pushing. "GetItOutGetItOutGetItOutOfMeeeeeEEEEEEEEE!"

"I can see the head!" Hannah cried with a smile.

"You can?" Daeron rushed down to the business end. "Oh… there it is…"

"Daeron!" Rhian flailed out her arm. "Where are you? Don't leave me!"

"Sorry." He quickly grabbed her again and helped her sit up. "there is a great deal of curly hair…"

"Oh," she looked at him in wonder as she blew out short breaths. "Really?"

"She has my hair color, Hind Calen." He grinned. "She is going to have your curls and my auburn hair!"

"She? Oh, it's a little girl? Oh, I love you!" she cried. "We're having a little girl!" Rhian took a deep breath, "Oh, here comes another one… DaeronAdamarionIamNeverDoingThisAgainAsLongAsILiveDontYouEvenThinkOfLayingAFingerOnMeAgainYouFilthyBastardOhFuckYouAreSleepingInTheSpareRoomForTheRestOfYouFilthyMiserableLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!"

"Almost there, Rhian!" Hannah encouraged, after the contraction was over. "You're doing just fine, pet."

"It's really a little girl?" Panted Rhian. "I'm sorry I yelled, babe; I love you so much, I shouldn't have told you not to look..."

"I know, Hind Calen. Our baby is a little girl and she will be as beautiful as her mother." He kissed her temple. "I love you so much!"

"Oh, Daeron, she sobbed. "I love you, too—OHYouSonofaBitchHowCouldYouDoThistoMe!" she paused to take another breath, "ICantBelieveHowMuchThisHurtsImGoingToCutYourBallsOff!"

"Keep going," Hannah said, cheerfully. "Come on, sweetie - big push for me!"

"OhshitISwearIllCutYourCockOffAndCookItAndFeedItToTheCatIfYouEverComeNearMeAgaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIN!"

Daeron winced and instinctively tucked his pelvis in.

"The head's out! And would you look at all this beautiful hair!"

He was going to go look, but she grabbed his arm, "Don't leave me…" she sobbed. "You can't leave me. I'm so sorry I yelled, and I'm sorry, love, I didn't mean it and I love you so much and I'm sorry."

He kissed her forehead. "I know. I love you, too." Daeron smiled at just as another contraction hit.

"That's it!" Hannah cried with excitement. "One more push and my new granddaughter will be here. Come on; here she comes!"

"OhFuckilyFuckityFuckFuckFUCKIHateYourRottenStinkingGutsAndIllCutYourThroatInYourSLEEEEEEEEEP!"

"Ooooh!" Hannah said proudly. "My lands! I've heard my share of cursing in this business, but you're the best I've ever come across!"

Despite himself, Daeron grinned, "She is good, is she not? I am impressed!"

"Here it comes, Rhian! One more big push for me, and you'll have a daughter! Come in; take a nice deep breath, and..."

Daeron squeezed her hand, as he supported her shoulders. "Push, Meleth..."

"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYouFuckingCocksuckingWormHowWouldYouFeelTryingToPushOutSomethingTheSizeOfAHorseThroughYour—"

"Annnd… Here she is!"

The room was filled with the lusty cries of the furious little girl, who was laid on Rhian's chest with several blankets, and Sigrid started to rub her down briskly.

"Oh…" Rhian sobbed. "Oh… she is so beautiful… I really wanted a girl…" she quickly looked up at her husband. "I would've been happy with a boy, but I really wanted a girl…" she stroked the baby's head and marveled at her. "Oh, look, Daeron; she's got your ears!" She cried with joy. "Oh, she's so beautiful!" Her sobs turned to hiccups of joy and exhaustion as she ran her fingers through the baby's auburn curls.

The Elf stared at this child, speechless.

This was really his child.

His little girl.

His and Rhian's…

"Hey, Daeron?" Through the fog, he heard Hannah's concerned voice, "Are you all right? You look a little—Oh, my lands; I should have known… ERMON! GET IN HERE!"

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Someone was slapping his face. Laughing. There was laughter.

"Daeron?" He felt cold wetness on his face, and something strong was passed under his nose.

"Ugh," he jerked his head, then squinted his eyes open, and saw Ermon grinning. "What happened?"

"Two things, actually," the Chief Healer laughed. "You fainted, and I won a great deal of money from Lord Percy's betting pool."

"Wh…" he looked around to see Sigrid and Hannah busy finishing up. Someone had put him on a chair, and to his right, Rhian was in the bed, holding their daughter. "Oh, no… I am sorry, Hind Calen..." He started to get up, but Ermon pushed him back down.

"No. Stay there for a few minutes." He handed Daeron some water. "Drink that. I am going to examine your daughter." The Healer took the child over to a side table and unwound her blankets. "She looks perfectly healthy, Mellyn nîn; I see nothing at all amiss. I have never personally encountered a Peredhel, though I have studied Lord Elrond's notes. Still, I want you to bring her to see me on a regular basis to record her progress." He wrapped up the crying child and took her back over to her father and placed the bundle in his arms. "Congratulations, Daeron and Rhian," he smiled, "she is truly lovely."

Daeron looked down in wonder. His daughter – their daughter blinked up at him with eyes the same deep green as her mother. "Suil, Iellig…" he said softly, as his vision swam. "It is true she has your eyes…"

Rhian scooted over on the bed, and winced a bit. "Come up here."

Daeron felt steadier, so he joined his wife on the bed, together they marveled over their child. "We have a daughter, Hind Calen."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. You have two Hind Calen now," she smiled up at him. "I love you."

He kissed her softly. "I love you, too. Now I have three treasures, instead of two. I am the richest Elf on Middle Earth."

She leaned her head against him, and sighed. "Was I awful?"

"Yes." He chuckled. "But your choice of words was impressive." He rubbed his chest. "And I need to check to make sure you did not rip my nipple off."

"Oh, no!" she gasped. "I'm sorry." She sighed. "I didn't mean it. I don't remember that."

"You are fortunate." He rolled his eyes. "So I will not be sleeping in the spare room, from now on?"

"No, silly." She giggled. "You can sleep with me, where you belong."

"Still," he smirked, "I will be sleeping with one eye open - I would rather not wake up to find my genitals missing."

"No! I didn't!"

"Oh, yes you did." he smirked. "And furthermore, next time, no matter how much you ask ahead of time, I am not allowing you to experience this 'joy of childbirth' like that again."

"You won't get any argument from me," she sighed. "What was I thinking?"

Hannah had finished up, and was wiping her hands, then wiggled her fingers. "Now, come on, hand her over; it's Granny's turn."

When Rhian gave her the child, she smiled. "Well, here you are… and aren't you a little beauty!"

"I am sorry you were angry, Meleth nîn, but I only 'looked' to make sure she was well." He kissed her. "I need to protect my child, and my wife. Do you understand?"

"I know. And I'm glad you did. I was just being silly and insecure and…"

"Pregnant," Hannah interjected. "You were being pregnant. Daeron did the right thing, pet, and he did it with my blessing. He'll do it again next time, whether you like it or not." She swayed the little bundle in her arms. "Oh, look at our little darling…. Your Da's going to have to beat the boys off with a stick when you get older." She turned back to the couple. "Have you decided on a name?"

"We couldn't really decide, so we're following your advice."

"Oh, good. I think it's always better to wait and see who they look like." Hannah said, as she handed her back to her father.

Daeron looked into the baby's green eyes, and thought of Rhian walking down the long aisle on their wedding day, with those same eyes, and her a dress of lavender and purple…

"She looks like an Iris, does she not?"

Then Rhian considered the little face and smiled. "It's perfect!" She kissed her daughter's auburn hair. "Hello, Iris."

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