I'll just leave this here...
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Chapter 40
Evie POV
"Are you alright, My Queen? You look a bit pale."
Evie stopped in the middle of the corridor in the Palace, her soft yellow skirt fluttering around her legs as she turned her green eyes on the elleth that had been walking beside her, her own eyes full of concern.
"Yes. Well, no. I've felt a bit off all week actually, Melui."
"Have you been eating enough?"
"I've tried to. Some things haven't been agreeing with me."
"Come to the healing halls with me and I'll have a look."
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose.
A warm hand tugged hers forward.
"I always have time for you. Come."
And so they strolled side by side to the part of the underground palace that was warm and forever smelling of fresh herbs. The red head took a deep breath in and smiled, the aroma instantly helping her relax.
"Have a seat on here."
A quick pat of the white bed when they entered a private room.
Evie hesitated for a moment before sitting down.
"When you say 'off', what do you mean?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You said you felt a bit 'off'. I've not heard this term before."
"Oh. My tummy has been a bit unsettled. Strong smells have made me feel a bit ill."
" Is that all?"
Quizzical brown eyes surveyed her form.
"Isn't that enough?" she laughed, "Yes, thankfully that's all."
"Ok, let's have a look at you."
Experienced hands did a sweep over the woman's body, coming to rest on her middle.
"What if I have a parasite?" Evie remembered a conversation she had had with Haleth about a human she had seen suffering from tapeworm.
"hmmmmm." The healer's hands glowed for a moment before her lips twitched.
"Yes. Definitely a parasite."
"What? Will it kill me?"
This time the healer couldn't help it and laughed.
"No. you're safe."
"How do we get rid of it?"
"Your body will do it by itself in time. Nine months if you wish to be specific."
Green eyes looked at the healer in confusion before going wide.
"A child is a most precious gift. Congratulations!"
"But, that's not possible. Elves choose when to conceive."
"For elves, yes. " A hand was gently laid on her shoulder.
"I don't understand."
"You are not an elf. Your very being is charged with magic."
"But…"
"Magic that creates life, Evie!"
Silence as that knowledge sunk in.
"What if I'm not ready for this?"
"You will be. In time. Now, we don't have any recorded history of elemental pregnancies, so you must take extreme care. You understand?"
"Yes, Melui."
"I mean it. You always seem to find trouble."
"Trouble finds me."
"I'm not laughing. What are you doing today? Off to have lunch with the young Prince?"
"How did you know?"
"It's Wednesday. You are a creature of habit, as we all are."
"Yes, I suppose."
Melui walked forward and opened the door, Evie right behind her.
The Healer addressed the passing guard dressed in green and brown.
"Amour, please escort our Queen to the kitchen. She is not to lift anything heavy until I say so."
A short bow followed.
"Of course Lady Healer. When you're ready My Queen."
"I'll send some herbs for you to have in your tea. Take care….And Evie?"
Evie looked at the healer, "Yes?"
"The King will be pleased."
And with these departing words, the healer turned to the left and down the corridor.
The woman smiled to herself, not knowing how the healer also seemed to know what to say to put her at ease and turned to the guard waiting for her.
"Shall we?"
"As you wish."
A masculine hand waved her to take the lead down the hall.
"Whatever is the matter with you today, Honey?"
A grumpy hmmmppfff in response.
"I made these cookie especially for you and even they can't make you smile."
No response.
"Well, I better pack them up and send them to your Adar then."
Bright blue eyes dropped their grief a moment to widen in fear.
It came out in a rush.
"youandadararereplacingme."
"Hold up. Go slower and repeat."
A deep breath was heard.
"You and Adar are going to replace me."
"Where on middle earth, did you hear that?"
"Eveth said he saw you go to the healing halls this morning."
A hand was waved for him to continue on, the red headed woman not seeing the connection.
"Eveth said the only reason for you to go there would be that you were replacing me with a baby of your own."
A large sob came out of the young elf. The woman moved instantly to bring his little body into hers.
"Oh, Honey, no. We could never replace you. Your Adar and I love you way too much."
"So you're not having a baby?"
Evie face softened as she reached down to tip Legolas' face up to look at her.
"Actually, we are having baby, but you have an important big brother role to play."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. How else will they learn to use a bow? Can I share a secret with you?"
"Yes."
"When you love someone new, your heart grows to fit them all in."
"How do I make my heart grow?"
"One look and I promise it will."
"Thank you Naneth!"
Evie hugged the little elf tighter to her and kissed the top of his platinum blonde head before releasing him.
"You best be off to your lessons!"
"See you for dinner?"
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it."
A wet kiss on her cheek was the answer she received before the weight lifted off her and bounded down the path and out of sight.
Evie's heart sighed in relief that that had been sorted out.
She began to wonder how to tell Thranduil of their unexpected news, when she was interrupted by a messenger handing her a folded note.
"Thank you."
Evie smiled upon reading the parchment. "Care for a ride, My Queen? – T "
She dropped the note into the picnic basket, stood and looked at the young ellon waiting to be dismissed.
"Can you get someone to clear this up for me?"
"Right away, My Queen."
Evie turned and quickly made her way to the stables, wanting to have as much time with her beloved as possible, her mind turning over the words she could use to share their surprise.
The lack of movement in the wooden structure was not usual this time of day, but Evie took no notice having not spent much time in the stables of late and as she sought out a particular figure.
Stepping forward with a frown when she didn't see him, she called out.
"Thranduil!"
She waited for a moment before calling out to him again.
She broke out into a huge grin hearing the soft footsteps behind her and waited for his familiar arms to encircle her waist.
"This was such a great idea."
When she didn't feel him or get a verbal response, she started to turn.
She caught a glimpse of red from the corner of her eye before she felt something hard hit her on the back of the head and then she knew no more.
Thranduil POV
A few hours later, father and son were seated in the dining room, the large wooden table set for three.
The clock struck the quarter hour.
"Have you seen her today, my son?"
"We had lunch Ada and she said she would be here."
"She's never been late before."
Bright blue eyes addressed the nearby guard. "Find out where the Queen is."
"Yes, My King."
A door was closed softly.
"Maybe she's ill."
"With what?"
identical blue eyes looked at his father in confusion.
"You know. The baby."
Eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
"What baby?"
"It's ok. Naneth told me you wouldn't replace me."
"Replace you? Why would we…"
But he was interrupted when the doors slammed open, the guard returning breathless.
"It's the Queen! She's gone!."
Furious, the Elvenking stood and immediately strode to the door.
"Find Feren. I mean to get to the bottom of this!"
Inside he felt livid with fear as he stalked down the corridor to his private study, his robes flying behind him. His beloved gone. Again. And by the Valar, pregnant with his child.
He did not greet the Captain as he entered the already open wooden door.
"Where is she Feren?"
"The last guard to see her is being brought up."
A knock was heard on the study door a moment later.
"Enter."
King and Captain of the guard both watched the nervous guard shuffle into the room and bow, sweating from the tension in the air.
"Well?"
A nervous swallow.
"I gave the Queen a note, which she dropped into the picnic basket and asked me to find someone to clear up the mess. She took the right path out of the gardens."
Cold blue eyes jumped to Feren conveying his request.
"I'll find it. Come, lad."
The pair quickly filed out the door.
The Elvenking paced in front of the fireplace, tense with worry, his hands itching to pick up his sword and kill anyone standing in his way to find Evie.
The door opened again, the Capitan entered alone and held out a piece of parchment to the King, who read it in seconds, his anger increasing to new heights.
"Ride? I never wrote this. Who's handwriting is this, Feren?"
He handed the note over.
The captain didn't respond but rushed to the door after the King, one destination in mind for both of them
A/N - Oh no! Who do you think did it? Share your thoughts!