Chapter 10

The four elves chatted for a while then Legolas and Manquárë returned to their dwelling. As it was near to lunchtime Manquárë prepared a light meal for the two of them. After they had eaten they sat in the communal area of their dwelling and talked. Legolas rested his head on Manquárë's lap. She absently played with his hair and then noticing he'd drifted off to sleep slowly unfastened his braid and loosened his hair letting it flow down over his shoulders. She began finger combing his hair and softly singing a song. Finally she had finished so quietly reached for a book and read whilst Legolas slept. He slept for an hour waking when Manquárë gently lifted his head so she could get up to answer the call of nature. When she returned to him he was sitting up his hair gently falling round his shoulders.

"Did you undo my hair melamin?" Legolas asked.

"Well who else would idiot?" Manquárë said.

"Don't worry I'm not mad at you. I'm not expecting to fight in any battles today" Legolas said.

A few weeks later Manquárë began to suspect she was with child. Her body had undergone several subtle changes that she had also noticed in other female elves who were with child. However she didn't' know for certain and wouldn't know until it became more obvious. She was very excited, as she had longed for children for the past 50 years. Legolas had gone away on a hunting trip so she wouldn't be able to inform him until his return which wasn't for a few weeks. The next few weeks proved to be long and lonely although there was no shortage of company for Manquárë. She was firm friends with a number of the female elves who lived in the community and they would gather each day and sit and talk about what was happening.

One morning a messenger arrived informing Thranduil that Legolas had been captured by Orcs and was being tortured for information. He summoned Manquárë and told her he had bad news.

"What is it Father?" Manquárë said.

"Legolas has been captured by some Orcs and is even now being tortured to extract information from him.

Manquárë paled at this news and the world seemed to spin around her. Mercifully darkness quickly descended. She woke in her bed a cold compress on her head her friends sitting beside the bed.

"Hey Manquárë are you feeling better. We heard that you'd fainted"

"No I'm not all right I just received the most horrible news" Manquárë said.

She quickly elaborated what Thranduil had told her bursting into tears when she had finished.

"Oh Manquárë that's awful. Do you know whether he's still alive or not?"

"I have no idea and what makes it worse is that I'm with child and he doesn't know yet"

"You're joking" her best friend Ellaire said. She had met Ellaire whilst in Lothlorian and Ellaire was staying with her whilst she was away.

"I'm not joking. I know I'm with child as my body has been changing"

"If its any consolation you haven't been told he is dead so presumably he is still alive" Ellaire said.

Manquárë waited and hoped over the next week and finally another messenger arrived telling Thranduil that Legolas was still alive but only just. Some elves from Rivendell had attacked the Orcs camp freeing Legolas in the process. They were bringing him to Mirkwood as he spoke. Thranduil conveyed the news to Manquárë who was visibly relived. Now she faced an anxious wait until he arrived. She was not sure what she was going to see so she prepared herself for the worst. When the Rivendell elves arrived they were bearing a stretcher which contained Legolas. Manquárë took one look at him and nearly fainted. He was in a bad way but the worst thing was that the Orcs had cut his hair off and Manquárë knew he'd be horrified when he found out. Elves never cut their hair and it was their pride and joy. Manquárë herself always brushed her long brown hair until it shone.

Legolas was semi conscious and Manquárë could see from his face that he was in great pain.

"Manquárë?" he said his voice strained from the pain.

"It's me melamin" (my love) Manquárë said.

"I don't know if I am going to continue to live. I am tired and in great pain"

"Of course you're going to live melamin. Why you're going to be a father a'maelamin" (my beloved)

"You're with child?" Legolas gasped out.

"Yes I am" Manquárë said.

Legolas managed to smile for a few moments then fell back exhausted from the effort. Manquárë watched as he was carried away hoping the healers would be able to restore him to health.

3 weeks later Legolas finally walked through the door of their dwelling. He was still recovering but well enough to return to Manquárë. It had been touch and go at first as his injuries had been severe but the healers had pulled him through.

"Hey melamin how are you" Manquárë asked him.

"Still a bit sore but recovering well"

"Oh that's great" Manquárë told him.

"I'm a little self conscious about my hair though. I nearly lost my temper when the healers told me"

"Don't worry it'll grow long again"

"I know but I'm going to look weird until then"

Manquárë looked at his head and saw that his hair was still pretty short.

"I look like one of those humans don't I" Legolas growled.

"I'm sure everyone will understand" Manquárë told him.

"Can you remember much about what happened to you?" Manquárë asked.

Well the hunting trip was a success until we were ambushed by the Orcs. I killed most of them but one somehow got behind me and hit me over the head curse it. I was knocked out and when I regained consciousness was at the their camp. Believe me you don't want to know what they did to me. Suffice to say I suffered greatly. I remember when they cut my hair though as I was fully conscious. I was tied up and two of the brutes held me while another used his knife to shave my head. They had threatened to do so unless I talked. I had told them they could get stuffed and that I would reveal nothing"

"Legolas please tell me what else they did to you"

Heaving a sigh Legolas elaborated. Manquárë was aghast.

"I hope those Rivendell elves killed them," she said.

"They did" Legolas said.

Over the next 8 months Manquárë experienced all the joys and pain of pregnancy. Legolas gradually recovered from his injuries and his hair grew back. By the time Manquárë had reached the end of her pregnancy his hair was down to his shoulders and looked relatively normal. Manquárë was practicing her archery when she went into labour and the first she knew that her baby was coming was pain in her stomach. When she realised what was happening she retired inside to her bed and summoning Legolas despatched him to summon the healer. The healer came straight away and assessed Manquárë's condition. The birth was imminent so the healer prepared her to give birth. Not long after she began giving birth and after a surprisingly short time was the proud mother of a baby girl elf. Assuming it was over Manquárë relaxed, but to her surprise the contractions began again and it seemed that another baby was coming. A few minutes later another baby had been born, this time a boy elf. Legolas who had been present for the whole birth was bursting with pride.

"Well done melamin. Our children are beautiful aren't they" Legolas said.

"Yes they are and have you noticed the boy looks like you and the girl like me" Manquárë smiled.

"What are their names?" the healer asked.

"Nilcore and Firnnov" Legolas and Manquárë said almost at the same time.

They laughed as they realised they'd spoken together.

"Those are nice names," the healer told them

Manquárë smiled then fell back exhausted. Legolas held their children and marvelled over the fact that he was a father. He looked down at his beautiful children and began making plans for them in his head. Manquárë watched him out of the corner of her eye and when Nilcore began crying gestured for Legolas to pass him to her so she could feed him. This she did then Firnnov requested a feed so she fed her too.

A few days later Thranduil announced he was sailing to the undying lands leaving Manquárë and Legolas to rule Mirkwood. Legolas was sad but happy at the same time as he knew his father would be safe in the Undying Lands. He knew he and Manquárë had a heavy load ahead of them but determined to be the best king he could be. Over the next few weeks he helped Thranduil build a great grey ship to take him to the Undying Lands. When it was complete Thranduil called a gathering of all the elves of Mirkwood. They all came wishing to farewell their king. Thranduil gave a moving speech then motioned for Legolas and Manquárë to come forward. They did so carrying their children.

"I now officially pass my crown over to my son Legolas. Obey him as you did me"

Thranduil removed his crown and placed it upon Legolas head.

"I give you Lord Legolas and Lady Manquárë of Mirkwood and their children Prince Nilcore and Princess Firnnov"

The elves cheered and Legolas nodded to them. Manquárë smiled. Thranduil turned and boarded his ship. With a wave he set off. Legolas waved back.

"Aa' I'sul nora lanne'lle" (May the wind fill your sails) Legolas called out.

"Diolla lle" (thank you) Thranduil called back then was gone.

Legolas and Manquárë returned to their dwelling to prepare for their first day as King and Queen of Mirkwood.

The End

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