Sorry for the time away folks but I can still promise you that I am working on this story. So here is a little update that is long overdue. I have sort of changed my direction a little and I hope you like it? Maybe makes it more a little suspenseful? I don't know I'll let you guys be the judges!

Thanks so much for your patience and your reviews as always cheers to;

ZabuzasGirl, Win Lockwood, Celticank, Dreamingin2Eternity and of course fan (yay new update at last I hope you enjoy the new direction) and Guest (aw thank you)

Also hello new followers and thank you for following...


26. Discovery

Ellenya paced the small space of the chief healer's clinic room, her face blank and eyes unfocused. It had been a fortnight since she had returned to the familiarity of her home. Elrien was taken into custody of her Adar and treated like an esteemed guest. Thranduil had made his declarations clear, Elrien was a gift from the Valar and the hope his deceased his wife had sworn would come. Frankly Ellenya felt her beloved Ada had gone quite mad eventually cracking under the strain of the wickedness of Mirkwood. She did not have the time to waste arguing with him and had thrown herself quite forcefully back into building the defenses of her home instead putting all her hope in a fantasy!

There was so much to do, so much to fix and so much to plan, and so little resources at her disposal. It was her furious determination that laid her to ignore the strange sickness she had been suffering under. Ellenya had at first reasoned it was fatigue from her journey home, and then when she continued to feel worse she assumed it was her separation from Elladan. She would openly weep for she missed him so dearly that it hurt to even recall his face. When the sickness started Ellenya became worried, very worried and so she consulted Torwen. Ellenya hoped it was just stress or a reaction to all that passed in recent months but her heart was presenting her with a much more terrifying scenario. One that she was not ready to explore and thus would not pull it to mind.

"My lady?" The chestnut haired and fair faced medic spoke gently as she opened the door of her office. Torwen smiled sympathetically at the blond haired beauty whom she had cared for since childhood. Ellenya turned to look at her, the elleth's terrifying ice like eyes were suddenly swimming with emotion when she regarded the soft look on Torwen's face.

"Do I need to take some rest Torwen? Because it is quite poor timing if I do," Ellenya composed herself and folded her arms about her chest as she directed her question to the kindly healer.

"Ellenya," The healer began and crossed the room to take the Princess's hand. Naturally Ellenya bristled at the touch but Torwen persisted. "There is no easy way to say this and I wish I could tell you this under happier circumstances-"

"Torwen?" Ellenya cut the healer off and dropped her hand, backing away ever so slightly as she shook her head in denial.

"You are with child my dear," Torwen quietly answered and watched as the news slowly hit the other elleth.

Ellenya froze for a moment not really knowing what to think or what to feel. It was only when the she heard herself begin to sob harshly that she realised her plight. Crumpling to the ground she clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle her anguished cries, and placed another on abdomen. How was this possible? This was not what she wanted! It could not happen so swiftly? Or was it what she wanted? She was happy in Imladris she was picturing her life there with Elladan, even considering a family wishing to make happier memories. What a twisted way for the Valar to grant her such an answer now. If by some miracle she could survive the oncoming battles then how could she face this pregnancy alone? What if Elladan did not come home? How could she raise their child without him, it would not be fair. She had been raised without a parent and it was difficult at times when she craved a mother figure. Would her baby be forced to live through the same trauma? So much doubt and fear, this was not what she had planned.

"Ellenya child it is alright," Torwen gently wrapped her arms around the shaken elleth and held her tight. Her own Naneth had reacted in the exact same way when she had discovered she was carrying Legolas on the eve of her husband leaving for war. It would be hard for the young elleth but she was more than strong enough to cope with the burden.

"Torwen," Ellenya sobbed quietly into the healer's chest as she gripped her arm for comfort. "I am not ready for this; this was not what I wanted."

"Your Nana said the same thing when she learned she was carrying your brother," Torwen soothed as she stroked Ellenya's silken hair. "But she endured and so shall you. We are never ready for the task of motherhood my dear and it never happens at a convenient time. But you must see this as a blessing Ellenya, you carry life within you. The Valar they are sending us a message; that the days shall be renewed for your children."

Ellenya pulled back to regard the wise healer for a moment. She had never thought of it in such a way as that. It seemed quite whimsical like something that would be told to comfort a weakened mind. However Torwen knew the headstrong elleth well enough to know such fantasies would not wash with her. More tenderly now Ellenya pressed both her hands to her belly and stared at it, feeling for the first time a sense of deep reverence for what she carried. She could feel it now that she let her heart tell her the truth. The little flickers of light that were within her own fae, a secret that even her own body had kept hidden from her. A secret that was unravelling itself now that she knew what to feel for, such love and hope she invested now within herself.

"Torwen I cannot be certain," Ellenya gasped softly as she cradled herself tenderly, "But I believe it is twins I carry."

Torwen smiled broadly as she watched the profound moment take place for the hard hearted elleth. She always knew Ellenya was sensitive and gentle and had she had a normal upbringing those traits may have been more visible. Yet now those true traits shone through very plainly for all to see and it gave the healer hope that this could truly be the wounded elfling's saving grace.

"I believe that to be very probable your highness," Torwen answered the awestruck elleth. "Though it is early days yet and much can change. But your husband was a twin as was his father before him so really it is no surprise."

"No, I guess not," Ellenya just about managed to choke out in a strained sob. "I wonder will they look like him? Will they have their Adar's gentle spirit or his kind eyes? Or maybe they will have their uncle's playfulness?"

"Or there Naneth's beautifully strong spirit?" The healer injected causing Ellenya to stifle a soft chuckle.

"Hopefully not her disgraceful temper," the elleth added with a smirk making the healer erupt into fits of laughter. Torwen hugged the princess closer and placed a comforting kiss on her brow.

"Oh Torwen I drank in Imladris and in Rohan?" Ellenya suddenly shrieked and sat bolt upright her eyes wide with panic. Her mind suddenly racing with all the things she could have done to harm her precious cargo. All her reckless behaviour suddenly seemed incredibly stupid and any future risk would now need to be carefully calculated. She was now solely responsible for the little ones she carried and they relied entirely on her.

"Do not worry child you did not know," Torwen chuckled softly remembering many ellith cry the same words to her over the years. "Just be sensible now. I will bring you some tonics and herbs that will be useful for you to take. You will need to slow down Ellenya and I expect your Adar will insist you remain within his halls."

"Torwen he cannot know," Ellenya yelped and stood to her feet quite quickly. "He will only worry; he will try and send me away. I need to be here for my people and I will not leave my husband. I will not abandon hope that my children will have their Adar."

"Ellenya," The other elleth warned shaking her head in disapproval. "You cannot keep this hidden from your Ada; furthermore I will not keep this from my King. Thranduil, he will sense it Ellenya, you know he will."

"Then I will keep it hidden for as long as I can!" Ellenya shrieked angered by the healer's boldness. Torwen simply nodded at the younger elleth knowing her temper full well. With a strained sigh the Princess nodded once at the kind medic and spoke in softer tones; "I will tell him when I am ready but until then you are not to utter a word."

"Yes my lady."

The healer nodded sadly as she watched the harsh walls surround the princess once again. With that said Ellenya swept out of the room slamming the doors forcefully behind her as she strode determinedly out of the healing halls. Her face setting itself back into its cool and composed mask successfully hiding the turmoil raging on within her. Ellenya had become an expert at disguising her fears from others and sometimes successfully keeping her own Adar in the dark. Now she was not so sure if she could keep up this pretense. The fear she now felt over the innocents that she had brought into this war, was enough to shake her to her very core. Deep down she knew her Adar was the only one that could possibly understand her panic, but to tell him she only risked to drive him further into madness. This was not his concern, this was not his burden, she would need to be strong enough and she could.

Locking herself into her bedchambers she quietly crept to her bed and took in her arms the pillows Elladan would have slept on. Breathing in the smell of the fabric that held the faint scent of her beloved, she nestled her face in the pillow and felt the tears prick her eyes. Ellenya spent the rest of the evening incessantly praying that the Valar would take pity on her. She begged that in some way that they could find a way to alert Elladan of the news. Maybe he would come to her if he knew? It was a vain hope because how could he leave the war now? However maybe it would enough to remind him to stay alive, that it was not just her that needed him now.

xXx

Elladan was quite used to having visions disturb him particularly now that he actively searched for threads of destinies that were linked to those he loved. So it came to no surprise to him that his mind wandered during a restful period on the Grey Company's journey to Harrowdale. At last reunited with his brother Elladan rested a little easier but not much. Still Elrohir had insisted he take the first watch and Elladan did not feel much like complaining, soon he would not have the chance to rest. Evidently as much as his body craved the rest his mind would not allow him such luxuries tonight…

The vision was very clear and it gripped his heart with such emotion that it almost had him calling to her. Before his waking eyes Ellenya stood with her back to him staring quite intently at something in her arms. Elladan was well aware that he could not force his presence to be felt in any vision, but oh how he wished he could for this one. It seemed like a painfully long time before the vision changed and it surprised him to see his father enter the hazy dream and approach his wife with outstretched arms. Elladan watched on as his Adar took from Ellenya's arms a tiny wriggling bundle and smiled adoringly at it. He heard the unimpressed whimpering of an infant being parted from it's Naneth and the sound moved him in the strangest of ways. The vision focused more intently on the face of the youngster his Adar had now propped upright to place a gentle kiss to its forehead. Though the baby was very young it had the tell-tale mop of thick dark hair that was a family trait. It's features reminded him of Elrohir's and his own but what shocked him was the startling pair of blue eyes. Eyes that could only belong to his Naneth, because they were an exact copy of Ellenya's and he his spirit knew instantly what had transpired…

"Ellenya!" Elladan shrieked as he sat bolt upright from his sprawled out position on the hard ground. He lifted his hands to his head and felt the uncomfortableness of the perspiration gather at his forehead. What had he done? He had left her and his child alone and unprotected in that Valar forsaken wood.

"Elladan? What is it? Is it Ellenya is there something wrong?"

Elladan slowly lifted his gaze to regard the woodland prince as he crouched by him. Legolas had keen ears and was quite persistent in checking in with his new brother in case he inadvertently picked up anything to do with his sister or his home. The Prince's youthful and generally quite jovial visage was contorted in worry, and had been since Ellenya and Elrien had left them at Edoras. He was just as stressed and anxious about his sister and his strange new friend as Elladan was. So it was most difficult for Elladan to lie to the good tempered Prince.

"No it was just a dream," Elladan spoke quickly and dropped his head into his palms. He was a terrible liar but Legolas was always too trusting, and he hoped he would not pick up on his dishonesty.

"Would you like me to sit with you?" Legolas offered thoughtfully. "You can tell me if you wish? I am sure it is no worse than the night terrors I have suffered of late?"

"No!" Elladan replied a little more harshly than he intended but it was for the other ellon's benefit that he was not privy to this information. "No Legolas it is fine but I appreciate the offer. A walk will probably help me more."

Elladan scrambled to his feet and hurried away from the perplexed glare of Legolas. Breaking into a slight jog until he was clear of the encampment, he needed to clear his mind. The grieved elf quickly found a few scattered boulders to hide behind and when he did he quietly shed his own tears. This was no dream he felt the certainty within his fae that Ellenya did indeed carry his son. The thought brought with it a tidal wave of emotion but mostly it brought terror. Not for himself but for her and his child, he could not protect them from the coming storm. He could not force her to flee west and he doubted even Thranduil could manage to reason with her. She would stay now for him, she would wait until he returned. For a moment Elladan very nearly sought out his horse in an attempt to go back for her and run with her. Yet it was only a fleeting whim and not at all possible. If he left now and the enemy won then there would be no escaping Arda. There was not enough time for that and he would not allow any child of his to be born into such a world. No he would stay and he would fight for his son's freedom, whatever the cost. But this did not mean that Ellenya would not have chance to protect their child, he would send word to his Grandmother and if anyone could shield them from the enemy she could.

With this thought Elladan sought out his twin and his intelligent hawk. He often lamented Elrohir's insistence on taming that ill-tempered bird but right now he was never so thankful for it. Predictably Elrohir was found diligently patrolling the encampment borders, and was a little bemused to find his brother sprint quite manically toward him.

"Elrohir I need to send an urgent message to Grandmother," His twin gasped out and practically threw himself at him. "Can you call upon your hawk?"

"Yes of course but what could be so urgent?" Elrohir asked as he gathered Elladan's anguished expression and suddenly grew very uneasy. His twin was always the calm one very little ruffled Elladan, unless of course it concerned a certain wayward Princess. "What have you seen? Has something befallen Ellenya?" He asked in a grave voice gripping his twin's shoulders.

"If my visions are certain then yes Elrohir she is in need," Elladan replied quite firmly unwilling to discuss the topic any further.

"Elladan?" Elrohir pushed he could sense the grief in his twin and it unsettled him something was very wrong.

Elladan was not sure if he meant to answer his brother or if it had all just become too much for him to contend with in his own mind. But in one exasperated groan he admitted the truth of his predicament; "She is with child Elrohir, she is carrying my child and I cannot help her. So please do what you must to make sure that damned bird makes it to Lorien!"