I am sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I refused to go to sleep tonight until I had it up. I have reached a part in the story where there is no longer a perfectly set story line for me to follow so it took a bit to change gears as it were. I hope you like it and I promise I am back to writing so the next chapter isn't going to come out next year. Let me know what you think….

Chapter Forty

Dragon's Fire

The month of September was coming to a close and Jesse and Haldir were spending their days watching as their daughter took to her new home like a fish to water. As the last days of the month were slowly creeping by Jesse watched the skies for any sign that Pyre and Firetooth were coming. Finally on the last day of the month one of the Lady's guards found the future queen lounging with her daughter in one of the Lady's rose gardens, practicing the child's letters.

"My Lady," the young guard said nervously, "Our Lady has asked that you go to the clearing near the ruined tower. Our Lady has said that you my Lady have three guests waiting there."

"Thank you," Jesse said with a smile, "Would you please see that my husband is told also? I am sure he will wish to greet my guests." Once the guard had left she turned to her daughter and asked, "Shall we go and greet our friends, my little dove?"

Soon Jesse and Brigid were entering the clearing and beheld a magnificent sight. Before them were three massive dragons, Pyre, Firetooth, and a beautiful teal and silver colored female.

"Look Mamma, Py and his Papa is here," Brigid said with a smile as she ran to Pyre's side, "Hewwo Py. Hewwo Fitoot. Hewwo Pwetty Dwagon."

At the child's innocent words all of the adults present in the clearing began to laugh merrily. Not able to calm herself enough to speak Jesse greeted her friends using her mind just as Haldir entered the clearing accompanied by his father, Boromir, and Idril, 'Hello Pyre, Firetooth and you must be Starfire? Pyre has told me a great deal about you.'

'Greetings Princess Jessica,' the female dragon greeted in her mind, 'my mate speaks well of you as well. You have blessed us greatly by releasing his father from those dreadful marshes.'

'It is good to see you once more, Princess;' Pyre growled his greeting into her mind as well, 'The Lady of the Wood has offered my father, my mate and I, the use of the caves across the glade as dens. My mate is ready to lay our egg and the caves will shelter and protect her and our hatchling well.'

Smiling Jesse looked toward the female dragon for a moment before answering, 'Our children shall grow together my friend.'

"Your clan shall always be welcome in our home, Lord Pyre," Lady Galadriel said with a radiant smile, "For as long as the elves remain you shall be able to look to the Golden Wood for safety and peace."

That night as she laid her head down to sleep, Jesse could not help but smile at the memory of Brigid with the dragons. She was such a unique child. Most adults would fear to go near such large creatures but Brigid showed absolutely no fear in the presence of what most would call monsters. Her actions had already become the talk of the city.

"She has found her place among our people, my love," Haldir said from his place next to her, "She has earned their respect and love, without even making the attempt. They will see her as one of our own now."

"I know even the elleths that handled our marriage less than well, have shown their admiration of her," Jesse agreed with a grin, "I still remember the looks on their faces the morning after we bonded."

Laughing into her hair her husband said, "Yes that was a most enjoyable morning. Though, I do remember being threatened with an axe before I was even able to break my fast."

"Admit it you miss Gimli already," she laughed teasing his ear with the tips of her fingers, "You and Gimli became good friends before it was all said and done."

"Only to you my wife, shall I admit such things," he responded pulling her closer and capturing her lips with his own. "Now wife, it is time to sleep," he added breathlessly as they came apart, "Morning shall come before you know it and you must maintain your strength."

The month of October came and the air became colder as fall began to take hold of the world around them. Jesse and Haldir had settled into their lives and enjoyed watching as their daughter flourished in her new home, while eagerly awaiting the birth of their twins. Haldir, no longer wishing to be parted from Jesse, had decided to step down as March Warden of the Golden Wood and Amras, Lórwyn's brother, had been chosen to take his place.

"Are you sure that you want to give up being March Warden?" Jesse asked as she lay curled against his body the night following the announcement, "You loved being March Warden."

"Yes I did," he replied honestly, as he took her into his arms, "But I love you and our children more. I do not wish to be parted from you any longer. It was another life time for me, my love. I no longer need to hide myself from life as I once did." Bending his head, he kissed her with all of the passion and love she had unlocked within his heart before he continued, "My place is at your side now, my love, and I wish to be no where else."

Swallowing a lump that had formed in her throat, Jesse whispered softly, "I love you so much. I don't even want to think what my life would have been like had I not found you. You and Brigid are everything to me now." Running her hand along the plains of his muscular chest she looked up into his gray eyes and added, "You are my heart, my soul, and my world. I love you, Haldir."

Days later as Jesse was preparing dinner for her family, a knock sounded on the door of their home. "Rúmil, would you get that for me," she called out, as she bent to retrieve the roast from the oven, "I have my hands full right now." As she placed the steaming pan onto the table she could hear Idril's strained voice from the sitting room. Wiping her hands on wash cloth she quickly went to see what was wrong. Stepping into the room she found Idril near hysterics and her poor clueless brother-in-law nervously shifting from foot to foot not knowing what to do. Coming to his rescue she ordered, "Rúmil be a dear and finish setting the table and send Orophin to get Boromir and Haldir for dinner, and tell them to bring your father as well." Once she was certain that the younger ellon had gone to do what she asked, Jesse turned her attention to Idril, "What is wrong Idril?"

"Something is dreadfully wrong Jesse," her friend replied, "I do not know what to do." As she spoke Idril paced from one side of the room to the other worrying her hands in the folds of her dress, "I fear that I have become ill."

Taking a moment to center her mind, Jesse reached out to Idril's aura and found that her theory was correct. Trying to keep the laughter out of her voice, Jesse informed her terrified friend, "Idril you are not sick. You my dear sweet Idril are suffering from something that happens to most females when we find love. You my dear are pregnant. You will be fine in about eight months. Congratulations."

"I am with child," Idril asked in shock, "How?"

"Idril, I think you know how," Jesse laughed as she guided her still shocked friend to the settee and taking a seat next to her, "Your little ones will come in early summer." Taking a moment to allow her words to sink in she finished by saying, "Tomorrow I want you to pay Larien a visit and have her check you over, but for now I want you to take a deep breath and relax. Dinner is just about ready and Boromir will be here shortly."

"What about the wedding? Boromir can not miss his brother's wedding," Idril all but cried, her emotions still a bit frayed, "How can I travel to wedding now?"

Placing a calming hand onto her friend's back, Jesse replied, "I do not see any reason why you will not be able to attend the wedding. It is to be held in Rohan and that is not overly far for you to travel this early on. Now Larien will know for sure but I do not believe that you shall have to worry over much about traveling that far."

That night Jesse found it hard to sleep, her mind constantly turning over the events of that evening. She was over the moon with joy for her friends and she looked forward to sharing the adventures of motherhood with Idril. Laughing softly into his wife's hair, Haldir whispered, "You need your rest my love. Our little ones need their mother to be strong and rested."

"I know, it is just that at about this time last year I was wondering how in the world I was going to save Boromir from that damned ring," she whispered as she turned to face her husband, "Now look at him. He is happy, with a wife, and now they have children on the way. It's just mind boggling to me is all." Pausing she curled further into the warmth of his body, before saying, "A year ago I could have never believed I would have you and our family. I would not have believed that I could be so happy."

Kissing the top of her head gently he added his own thoughts; "It was much the same for me. I used my position as March Warden to hide myself from my loneliness. I would spend more and more time on the borders trying to escape it." Placing his finger under her chin he gently tilted her head so that he could look into her beautiful green eyes and added, "When the Lady told me of the Fellowship's coming to the Golden Wood, I could never have believed I would find the elleth that haunted my every dream." Pulling the quilt over them he whispered softly, "Now sleep my love. The hour is getting late. You and our little ones need your rest and dawn shall come far too soon."

As the month of October slipped passed Jesse found herself thinking of her sisters more and more. Halloween was coming up and she found her memory going back to how she had once celebrated the holiday. For the Halliwell family it had always been a day to remember the matriarchs of the family line, a day to bless those that had come before them. She could still remember the first time she had helped Grams to light the candles. It had been a bitter-sweet day; Aunt Patti had been killed only three months before and they were to light a candle for her.

"What is wrong my love," Haldir asked her after they had put Brigid to bed the night before Halloween, "You have been lost in your thoughts for some time now and I worry for you. You seem so far away."

Sighing as she walked over to the window that gave her the best view of the nearly full moon, she tried to explain, "Tomorrow is Halloween. It was a very important holiday to the Halliwell family. It is a day when we remember all of those that we have lost, and I guess with all of the people we have lost in the last year I have just been thinking a lot about it." Turning to face her husband she continued, "After Grams died and my sisters got their powers, it was my job to say the blessing for those that had died. I have been thinking about it a lot lately."

"Perhaps you should think of performing the blessing then," Haldir suggested pulling her into his comforting embrace, "I believe that it would be good for Brigid to learn of such things as well."

A brilliant smile lit up her face, "I love you so much," Jesse cried, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips, "I am sorry I have been so out of it lately. I guess I am just still adjusting to not having my sisters with me."

"I have missed that smile," he whispered before taking her lips once more in passionate caress, "I love you my beautiful wife. Never forget that."

The following morning Jesse went to speak with Idril about her plans for that night. Since coming to Middle Earth the other elleth had become as much a sister to Jesse as Piper, Paige, Phoebe, or Prue and she wanted her friend to be there.

"Of course I would like to be there, Jesse!" Idril exclaimed in exasperation, "Boromir and I have been so worried about you lately. You seemed so sad." Handing Jesse a cup of coffee she asked, "Will you ask Pyre and the other dragons to come. He has been worried for you as well."

Taking a sip of the warm liquid Jesse replied, "I am sorry I worried you guys like that. I did not mean to." Pausing for a moment she took another sip before adding, "I would love for Pyre and the others to be there. I was actually thinking of using the clearing near their caves."

That night as the full moon rose into the sky Jesse led her family and friends into the clearing where Pyre, Firetooth, and Starfire were waiting next to a pile of dried timber. Once everyone had entered the circular clearing forming a ring around its perimeter, Pyre puffed a small blast of his fire breath into the pile setting it ablaze and bathing the clearing in a warm glow. Walking up to each person Jesse handed them each a slender white candle. Starting with Haldir she lit his candle and the tiny flame passed from one person to the next until everyone's candle was burning brightly.

Taking a deep breath Jesse walked into the center of the circle of her family and friends and began to speak, "When I was growing up I was taught from a very early age to look to those that came before me for guidance and council. Tonight is about that. Halloween for the Halliwell family was a night to celebrate the lives of those we had lost." Pausing for a second she turned and looked into each persons eyes before continuing to speak, "On Halloween we light candles for those we love that have died as a way blessing them. In this past year we as a whole have lost many. The war has left few untouched by its fury." Closing her eyes Jesse thought of all of those people that she had lost throughout her life, before she began,

"In this night and in this hour,

I call upon the ancient power,

Bless those that have been lost in the fight,

And guide them to your saving light,

Blessed be."

As the last lines of her blessing left her lips one name rang out in her mind, 'Chris,' before she blew softly onto the flame and it fizzled from existence. All around her one by one the others extinguished their candles and joined her in the center of the clearing.

That night surrounded by her family and friends the hole that had existed within Jesse's heart since the day that Chris had died, healed.