The Life of a Ranger.
Chapter 16.

Elrond, Glorfindel and Arwen were sitting, talking one evening. Estel, Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas, who had been visiting Minas Tirith, were out on a hunting trip.

"And then..." Arwen stopped.

"Arwen? Is anything wrong?" Elrond asked, when she didn't carry on talking.

Arwen cried out and clutched her stomach. "My water's just broken. The baby's coming."

"Glorfindel can you go and get the healers. I'm going to take Arwen up to her chambers," Elrond said, helping Arwen up.

Arwen lay down on her bed and Elrond sat down next to her.

"Well he or she has decided to come early," Arwen said, smiling up at her father.

"You were a fortnight early too you know," Elrond said as the healers and Glorfindel entered.

"I just need to talk to Glorfindel quickly but I'll only be over there alright?" Elrond said.

Arwen nodded as one of the healers came over to ask her some questions.

"Do you think you could ride out and find the boys Glorf? Estel said they were going to follow the Anduin south. They are not that far from here, I can feel them," Elrond said.

"Of course I will. I'll go and get ready and I'll leave as soon as possible," Glorfindel replied.

"Thank you mellon nin," Elrond said, clasping his shoulder.

"Ada," Arwen cried, as Glorfindel went off to get ready.

Elrond walked back to his daughter's side and took her hands in his. He gently tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear with his other hand.

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"'Dan," Estel hissed. "Dan wake up."

"What's wrong?" Elladan asked groggily.

"Listen. I'm sure I heard hooves but I wasn't sure. Can you hear them?" Estel asked.

"Yes, I can hear them," Elladan said. "Someone's coming this way. Whoever it is is alone."

Elrohir and Legolas nodded in agreement.

"Who goes riding through these lands at this hour?" Estel called.

"Estel, is that you?"

"Glorfindel," the four of them said as Glorfindel rode into the firelight.

"What are you doing here?" Estel asked.

"Arwen went into labour earlier this evening. Your father asked me to ride out and find you," replied Glorfindel.

Immediately the three elves started to pack up camp while Estel got the horses ready. They all knew how much Estel wanted to be present for the birth of his first child.

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At 8 o clock the next morning Arwen's bedchambers were filled with the crying of a baby.

Elrond smiled at Arwen and said, "You've got a son Arwen, a little boy."

"Is he alright?" Arwen asked.

"My Lady he's fine," one of the healers's said, handing the baby to her.

"Is there anything else you want My Lady?"

Arwen didn't answer. She was staring, mesmerised, at the small child in her arms. Her child.

"We'll be fine now, thank you," Elrond answered.

The healers bowed and left the room.

"I can't believe it," Arwen said, her eyes not leaving her child. "I've got a child. Estel and I have got a son."

"What names had you two been thinking about for a boy?" Elrond asked.

"Eldarion."

"You know he looks just like Elrohir when he was born. They're both very quiet too. Elladan made enough noise for two anyway."

Arwen laughed.

"I wish Nana were here," she said, looking up at her father.

"I know you do," he said, wrapping his arm around her. "I wish she were here too." He looked down at the baby and said, "I think someone's getting sleepy."

"That makes two of us," Arwen said, yawning.

"Well he's almost asleep so why don't I put him in his cot and you can get some sleep too. I'll stay here in case he wakes," Elrond suggested.

"Thank you Ada." She pressed a gentle kiss on Eldarion's forehead and then handed him to Elrond.

When Elrond sat back down next to the bed Arwen threw her arms around him and said, "Thank you for making all this possible Ada. Thank you for allowing me to marry Estel."

"Your welcome my daughter," Elrond said, returning the hug. "As long as my children are happy I am happy."

Arwen lay back down and fell into a deep sleep.

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Elrond heard quick footsteps and the bedroom door was opened and Estel rushed to the bed.

"Is she alright?" he asked, taking one of her hands in his.

"Yes she's fine."

"And the baby?"

"He's over here," Elrond said, walking over to the cot. Estel followed him.

"They haven't been asleep long so you might want to go and have a wash and get changed now," Estel said.

"Good idea."

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Arwen woke up and heard a voice talking. She lowly opened her eyes and saw Estel sitting by the bed, holding Eldarion and talking softly to him.

"Can you see that lady in the bed? She's your Nana, your Mummy and she's the most beautiful person you'll ever meet," he was saying.

"Well that man that is holding you is your Ada. He's the most brave and handsome man in Middle Earth," Arwen said.

"Mela I didn't know you were awake," Estel said.

"When did you get home?" she asked, sleepily.

"Not long after you both went to sleep." He looked back down at the child and said, "What are we going to call him then?"

"I thought we had decided on Eldarion," Arwen replied.

"You didn't seem very keen on that name I thought."

"No I like it."

"Eldarion it is then."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Estel said.

Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel and Legolas came in.

"Hey little sister," Elladan said. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine thanks. We'd like to introduce you to your new nephew, Eldarion," Arwen said, proudly.

"You two missed lunch," Elrond said. "So we thought we'd bring you up some food." He handed the tray he was holding to Estel.

"Thanks Ada."

"I'll hold Eldarion for you while you eat Arwen," Elrohir offered.

Arwen handed him over and took the tray from Glorfindel.

Laughter filled the room as Estel, Elrohir and Legolas told Elrond, Glorfindel and Arwen about how Elladan had fallen off his horse into the stream and frightened the deer away.

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I'm really sorry it's taken so long to update but I've been busy at school with tests and things. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon.

nic, Elven Kitten, grumpy and Ymmas Sirron thanks for the reviews.