Hi, Everyone! I know I have been gone for a long time and I am very sorry. I am not very good at updating as you can plainly see :) I hope you enjoy this one-shot as much as I enjoyed writing it! As always, Comments and Reviews are welcome!
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own nothing. Wish I did...
Summary: A very exciting event is about to take place in King Thranduil's halls. A bundle of hope against the darkness.
Thranduil shifted in his seat at the head of the long oval table that was in the War Council Chamber trying desperately to keep from pinching the bridge of his nose. All around him, his Commanders who were most trusted to keep his people safe, were squabbling like elflings who weren't getting their way. The hour was late and most sensible elves were in bed, not sitting in a council chamber.
Beside him, Turon, the Commander of The Greenwood's army, tried to follow the conversation, well, more like the screaming match that was taking place in Thranduil's council chamber. The King wasn't even sure what they had been discussing, but one thing led to another and now everyone was yelling nonsense and a few occasional curses at one another. He looked over to where Celegnir, his Archery Commander, stood and bit back a chuckle. Celegil, Celegnir's wife and also Commander of the Home Guard, was flailing her arms around, yelling at her husband and he was yelling right back. Listening closer, Thranduil discovered they weren't even yelling about war matters, instead, they were arguing over whether or not Celegil's mother should come visit. He resisted from rolling his eyes and turned back to the main chaos. As Thranduil was about to raise his voice and stop this disgrace, the doors to the Council Chamber opened. He frowned, Council was not to be interrupted unless there was an urgent matter that required his or one of his commander's attention. A young healer shuffled forwards nervously and the conversation died down but no one stopped their arguing.
"Well, what is it?" Thranduil asked sternly through the chatter.
The healer shifted from foot to foot, "M-my Lord, Lord E-Elrond h-h-e," the elf stopped and gulped, obviously intimidated by the King and the elves yelling around him probably didn't help matters any.
"Out with it! What message do you carry?" Thranduil asked, his patience growing thin.
"Lord Elrond sent me to tell you that the Queen is in labor!" The healer blurted. He gulped, eyes wide as he waited for his king's response.
Everyone suddenly became deathly quiet and turned towards the healer with unbelieving eyes. Everyone knew the queen was eagerly expecting a child in the spring but it was still winter, much too soon for the elfling's birth.
"What?" Thranduil muttered weekly, sitting in shock, trying to process what the healer had said. He did not think this summons would come for another few months. It is much too soon, he thought.
"Your Majesty?" The young healer asked hesitantly.
Thranduil barely noticed Turon standing up beside him.
"Well, it seems as if our dear queen is giving birth to a stubborn little elfling who wants to see the world," The Commander chuckled, trying to relieve some of the tension from worry for they knew not if the child or the queen would live.
"Aithil," Turon addressed the Commander of the Western Guard, "You and Celegil inform the people of what is happening, no doubt word that the Queen is in labor has already spread, we do not want people thinking the elfling or the Queen has already perished. Tell them that Lord Elrond and Lady Belegriyl are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of the Queen and the baby. We will update them as soon as we know more. Emerthenil, you and Amathon go and talk to the warriors that are in the palace."
Thranduil was still sitting in shock, give him orcs, give him spiders, he would even fight a balrog without fear but when it came to an elfling, his elfling, he was terrified.
Aithil and Celegil stood up and hurried out of the chamber as did Emerthenil, the commander of the Northern Guard, and Amathon, the commander of the Eastern Guard.
Celegnir walked over and clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Well, Mellon-nin, I highly advise that we go to healing wards before Lady Celebrian or Lady Belegriyl or both come and drag you by the hair."
"Yes" was Thranduil's mumbled response. The two commanders rolled their eyes.
Turon shook his head, dark braids swinging, "Come on Thranduil, you soon will have an elfling!"
The King's head snapped up, "I'm going to have an elfling! I'm going to be an Ada!"
"How very perceptive of you," Celegnir smirked, "Now that you have that straightened out, we should probably go to the healing wards. We would not want Adilya to stop speaking to you."
"Well!?" Thranduil asked Elrond nervously as he hurried up one of the main corridors of the healing ward flanked by Celegnir and Turon. Elrond looked up, shutting the door to the royal healing room behind him.
"How is she!" The King asked urgently. Elrond sighed, "She is okay for the moment. There is no stopping the birth, she is going to have this elfling tonight. Belegriyl and Celebrian are in there with her now."
"Will the elfling live?" Turon spoke in a strained voice, asking the question that he knew Thranduil could not bring himself to ask. Celegnir placed a hand on his king's shoulder in silent support. Elrond sighed again and ran his hand down his worried face, "I will not know for sure until the elfling is actually born. I will not lie, I have never even heard of an elfling being born this soon let alone delivered one. I am very confident that Adilya will survive, though. It is a good thing I decided to come up a month earlier than planned."
Thranduil nodded, grateful for that small mercy. He fervently hoped that this elfling would pull through, he didn't know what would happen if the unthinkable happened...he would probably fade.
A pained moan, along with soft murmurs and soothing hums came from the door they were talking in front of. Thranduil whipped his head around to stare at the oak door as if he could make everything all right with his fierce stare.
"It won't be long now. I had better go help Belegriyl and Celebrian. I will come and get you soon Thranduil." Elrond smiled encouragingly and disappeared into the room where the queen was birthing her first child. Thranduil sighed and ran a hand over his weary face.
"Come on, Thranduil, we'll wait with you." Celegnir led him over to an armchair across from the royal chambers. Turon pulled two chairs over and stood, "Don't worry about the kingdom, Celegil, Aithil and the others will see to things."
Celegnir nodded, "And Thranduil, have hope, your wife is strong and if that elfling that is being born in that room right now is anything like his parents he will be fine. I have a feeling that our prince or princess is going to take Middle Earth by storm!"
Thranduil smiled feebly,"Hannon le, Mellon-nin."
"Right then! I will go get the wine and perhaps swipe some tarts from the kitchen." Celegnir rubbed his hands together with a wicked twinkle in his eye.
Laughter rang throughout the healing wards.
"Do you remember that time when Rainor was furious with Thranduil over that trip to one of the human settlements and Celegnir and Turon hid him for a week!" Emerthenil exclaimed through laughs.
Thranduil nodded, "Aye, I remember at one point they told me to hide out in a cave they had discovered so I made my way towards it only to find out that a bear had beat me to it." He threw a mock glare towards the two elves who smiled sheepishly.
Amathon poured some more wine into everyone's glass. After everyone was reassured, Amathon, Emerthenil, Celegil and Aithil came to the healing wards to keep Thranduil company. They were all expecting news from Elrond very soon. A muffled scream came from behind the door they were sitting in front of. All the elves turned to stare, all laughing ceased as they were brought back to the fearful reality they were facing.
The door creaked open and Elrond peaked out, "Thranduil, it's time."
The king's expression morphed from happy to pained and fearful, this was it, these next few minutes will change his whole kingdom's future for better or for worse. He let out a deep breath, rose to his feet and swept his robes toward the door.
"May the Valar be with us all this night," Turon murmured as Thranduil shut the door.
Adilya was propped up on pillows in the middle of a large bed, her hair pinned back and her hands had death grips on Belegriyl and Celebrian who sat on either side of her.
She managed to shoot a glare in her husband's direction, "About time you showed up! You sure were there for the making of this child but when the fun part comes you don't show up till most of the work is already done!"
Thranduil stopped in his tracks, shocked at his wife's bluntness.
"Ignore her Thranduil, she is in pain, she doesn't know what she's saying," Celebrian looked up from her place on the bed.
"I do too know what I am saying!" Adilya snapped. She let out a pained growl.
"Shhh, dear, calm yourself, focus," Belegriyl soothed, "Get over here Thranduil, she is not going to bite you."
Belegriyl put Adilya's hand in Thranduil's and joined Elrond at the foot of the bed where he was making preparations to catch the baby.
"I'm in pain, I'm tired and I'm worried sick about my elfling, so do not blame me if I do bite you," Adilya grumbled. A few tears leaked out and her fierce expression crumbled into a sob, "Oh, Thranduil, the b-baby. It's too early."
Thranduil pressed a kiss on top of her sweaty head, tears in his eyes as well, "Oh my love, I know, I know. Be strong, Elrond will do everything in his power to help our elfling."
Adilya nodded once and let out a grunt with a new spark of determination in her eye.
"Okay Adilya with the wave of pain, push," Elrond directed the queen.
"Oh shut up, Elrond! Have you ever tried to push a baby out! Are you even qualified to do this! I seem to remember that time not too long ago when that poor elf went into labor and you couldn't even stand up let alone birth a child!" The queen got out between grunts. Everyone looked at Elrond, bewildered, for no one had heard that story before.
The tips of Elrond's ears turned pink, "I am going to pretend you did not say that...alright now, push!"
Adilya curled up and pushed with a yell. Celebrian murmured softly to the elleth and clutched her hand while Thranduil smoothed her hair back. Belegriyl looked up and placed a hand on Adilya's knee, "You are doing good, one more push!"
Adilya obliged giving the rest of her strength into that one push. Thranduil leaned over and saw Elrond catch the elfling in his arms. The healer whisked the baby away, trusting Belegryil and Celebrian to take care of Adilya.
"My baby! The baby isn't crying! Thranduil, go to the elfling!" The new nanneth demanded, wiping tears from her eyes.
The other two eleths fought tears and clutched their best friend's hands in support. Thranduil hesitated not wanting to leave his wife and also wanting to see if his baby was alive. Elrond started vigorously rubbing the elfling's chest as soon as he saw it wasn't breathing. 'Please breath, please breath! Come on penneth, you can do it!' He chanted in his mind. Then to his surprise, the child opened its eyes to reveal bright blue eyes. Elrond stared in wonder at the smallest elfling he had ever seen. The baby softly mewed as it's breathing became slightly more normal. The Rivendell Lord sighed in relief, the baby now had a good chance for survival. He peeked under the blankets that he hastily swaddled the child in.
He smiled, murmuring, "A Prince. The Greenwood has a fine young Crown Prince! Welcome to the world, your highness."
He lifted the babe to his chest and held him protectively.
"Elrond" Thranduil came up behind him and asked fearfully.
"I think everything is going to be fine. I will keep a close eye on him over the next few days though just to make sure there are no complications."
The King of Greenwood closed his eyes in relief, a smile touching his lips.
Elrond raised an eyebrow, "Don't you want to hold your son?"
Thranduil's eyes snapped open, "A son! I have a son, a little Prince."
"Aye, now, are you going to hold him?"
"I don't want to break him!"
Elrond rolled his eyes and forced the baby, gently, into the new Ada's arms.
"Wow," Thranduil breathed. Elrond nodded and smiled down at the baby.
"Thranduil!" Adilya called out frantically from her place on the bed, trying to get a look at her child who had been too quiet for too long.
The Ellon's looked over to where the three elleths sat.
"You had better take that baby over to your wife before she gets up to come over here herself."
Thranduil lifted the child onto his chest and murmured to his new baby.
"My love, everything's going to be okay. Everything is fine" he passed the child to his nanneth. Adilya peered into the baby's face, memorizing every detail. Celebrian and Belegriyl looked over Adilya's shoulder and cooed to the bundle.
"We have a son," Thranduil murmured, not wanting to break the peaceful silence. The queen smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.
"What are you going to name him?" Celebrian asked in the same hushed tones as Thranduil.
Adilya looked at her husband, "What do you want to name him, love?"
His eyes widened, "You are letting me pick?"
"As long as you don't name him something silly."
Thranduil thought for a moment, "Legolas...Yes, Legolas."
Adilya looked at her baby and nodded, "Legolas. It suits him."
After Celebrian, Belegriyl and Elrond gushed over him and held Legolas, Thranduil finally got another turn.
"I'm going to go show him to Turon, Celegnir and the others," he said, making his way towards the door, still mesmerized by this small life he helped create.
"I hope everything is going well..." Emerthenil trailed off as the door creaked open.
Thranduil walked out looking down at a small bundle, shutting the door quietly behind. All the elves that had been waiting in silence stood to their feet. A chorus of, "Is everything okay!" and "How is Adilya?" rang from the small group.
"Everything is fine. The baby is fine." The King reassured his friends. Everyone gathered around Thranduil to admire their new royal.
"Do we have a Prince or a Princess?" Amathon asked.
"A Prince," the new Ada smiled proudly.
"He's so small!" Aithil squealed softly, "What's his name?"
"Legolas"
"A perfect name for a Crown Prince!" Celegnir declared. Turon turned to walk down the hall, "Where are you going Turon?" Thranduil called after him. The commander turned and smiled.
"I'm going to announce to the world that Legolas Thranduilion, Crown Prince of the Woodland Realm was born happy and healthy and soon will be causing a bunch of trouble around this palace!"
Everyone laughed as Legolas chose that moment to grace his father's hall with his wails, seemingly to prove that Turon's statement was true. Frantically trying to shush his son, Thranduil prayed that his elfling would not cause trouble.
He didn't know how wrong he would be.
The End
Thanks for reading, hopefully, I can publish more soon! Remember to leave a Review!
Elvish Vocab:
Mellon-nin-My Friend
Ada-Dad/daddy
Nanneth-Mom/Mommy
Hannon-le-Thank you
I think that's it! See ya later :) ;)