Many things have changed since the day Elrond confessed that he loved me. I never thought that I could be this happy. I admit that I was nervous on what Elrond's sons would think about our relationship. Turns out that I had nothing to worry about as they had even placed bets on when it would happen. It seems that all those years of waiting made Elrond quite impatient and moved our relationship along fairly quickly. We were married and bonded to one another within a year. All of Imladris residents were happy for us, even Glorfindel.
Everything is absolutely perfect. Well, it would be perfect if it weren't for the pain of these damn contractions. It is all Elrond's fault anyway; he was the one who wished for another elfing. It is not as if I were not excited at becoming an Ada but why did it have to be me who carried the child. It has been an excruciating year filled with morning sickness, late night cravings, back and foot pain, and the absolutely worst of all was having to relieve myself almost every hour. All that pain, however, did not compare to what I was going through now.
"Just a bit more Erestor and you will be ready to push, my love," Elrond says while stroking my hair lovingly.
"It is easy for you to say. I am the one in pain and having to push a baby the size of a watermelon from my body through a birthing canal that by all means should not exist in a male body," I yell at Elrond through another contraction. Can they possibly get any more painful and why where they lasting longer and becoming more frequent. Deep down I know the answer but all this pain was making my forget everything that Elrond and the healers told me to expect all this last year.
"I know it hurts sweetheart but think about the wonderful gift we have been given. Can you imagine how she will look like and how you will feel when you can finally hold her in your arms?" Elrond whispers against my ear while gently caressing my check.
"Aye, I am sorry Elrond. It just hurts so much. How much longer?" I ask hoping the answer will be soon.
"We are just about there, my love. Just a few more minutes while the healers get everything set up," he answers placing a loving kiss on my brow and moving to inspect the birthing canal.
"Elladan please get a blanket ready and Elrohir please help Erestor," I can hear Elrond say from somewhere in the room.
"You are almost done Erestor soon you will have the most beautiful elfing in your arms. And then maybe you can stop yelling at Ada so much, even if it has been most entertaining," Elrohir says taking my hand in his.
"It…was you and Elladan w…who suggested I make your Ada fawn over me and suggested I make him experience this pregnancy in full," I pant through another contraction.
"Ah, I will talk to the both of you later," Elrond winks. "Erestor it is time push as hard as you can on the next contraction love."
Finally, it is almost over I don't think I could take any more of this pain. "Now Erestor. Push now," Elrond yells. I push down as hard as I can. If I though the pain was excruciating before, it is nothing compared to what I am feeling now. It feels like I am breaking in two.
"You can stop now, Erestor. Do the breathing exercises that we practiced before," I can barely hear Elrond talking. "Elrohir guide his breathing."
"Erestor try to match my breathing. You are doing great. Just a few more pushes and you will be done."
"Breath, just breath, it is really easy for you to say. Just breath, I want to see you going through this. Telling me to breathe as if it did not hurt enough," I ranted trying to comply as best I could.
"Push now, Erestor," Elrohir echoed Elrond. I once again pushed feeling as the head slowly exited my body. "Good, Erestor, you are doing well. Just one more push to get the shoulders through." Good just one more push and the pain will be over.
"Now Erestor," I heard Elrohir speak into my ear. I did as I was told tightening my hold on Elrohir's hand hearing the bones pop. Elrohir did not even make a noise but instead encouraged me. I didn't mean to break his hand but I admit it felt good knowing someone else was hurting too besides me.
The pain was even worse than the last push but at last, I felt the child leave my body. "She is here and absolutely beautiful," I could hear Elrond saying. All of a sudden I could hear the wailing of my baby.
"She is beautiful Erestor, so very beautiful. It makes everything worth it I believe, including my broken hand," Elrohir said wiping my forehead with a cool cloth.
"I…I am sorry Elrohir, I didn't mean to," I apologized crying painfully.
"It is alright Erestor, not a big deal. Come now don't cry, Ada will bring the little one in a few moments and besides it gives me an excuse to laze around while Elladan and Glorfindel do all the real work. I could even help you but please stop crying," Elrohir babbled.
"Shh, don't cry my love. Look at our little miracle. She is absolutely beautiful just like her birthing Ada," Elrond says as he places my baby in my arms for the first time. They are absolutely right, she is the most beautiful elfing in all of Arda.
"She's beautiful, absolutely beautiful," I say caressing her soft cheek with my finger.
"What should we name her," Elrond asks as he strokes her soft dark hair.
"Arwen, her name is Arwen," I say looking up at Elrond.
"Aye, Arwen," he says before kissing me deeply.