A/N

Wow, only one chapter out and already two reviews! I am honored! Thank you guys! I will not keep you waiting any longer. All I have to say is, enjoy!

Várar

'Tauriel, we cannot keep her here,' a male says as he glances at a laying form. 'She does not belong here.'

'What would you have us do then?' A female, Tauriel, asks, a hint of anger in he voice. 'Send her away in her condition? She will never survive. It is a long journey back to her home.'

'Father will be furious.'

'She is with child!'

There is a silence between the two as they look at the female before them. She is covered by cuts and bruises, though most of them have almost healed. It is clear she has traveled for at least a couple of weeks before she was found and from the looks of it, she was fleeing from something.

'Is this the dwarf Feren has informed me about?' a new voice asks and both of them look up.

'My lord.'

'Father.'

'My lord,' the female says as she takes a step towards the tall lordship. 'We cannot send her away in her condition. She is with child!'

'Tauriel,' her king says as he raises his hand, while taking a few steps forward. 'I am a cautious king, not a heartless one. She will stay here until she is fit to travel. Until then she will be our guest.' He looks at the dwarrowdam and then at the two elves behind him. 'Her and her child.'

'Yes my lord.'

'It's curious though,' the king says as he turns around again. 'I have never seen a dwarrowdam without her disguise. They actually look like females of other races. Who would have thought?'

Before anyone can say another thing, the female slowly opens her eyes. She coughs a few times as her eyes try to focus. The she-elf, Tauriel hastes to her side, giving her a cup of water, which she gladly accepts. The poor dwarrowdam must have been dehydrated from the looks of it.

'Thank you,' she says quietly, her voice raspy as she slowly turns her head to the elf.

Her bright blue eyes look up to meet the hazel ones of Tauriel and they widen in shock. Her eyes travel the room, spotting the two other elves there as well. One she has seen once before, back at Erebor. King Thranduil.

'Do not fear,' the king says politely as he sees the frightened look in her eyes. 'We mean no harm.'

'Why am I here?'

'My people have found you in my forest. You must have passed from lack of food and drink.'

The female nods slowly, still not at ease.

'Please, my lord,' the dwarrowdam begs as she tries to sit up straight. 'I need to...'

But the moment she sits up, she regrets it as pain soars through her body. A throbbing pain remains in her lower back as she lays down again. She moans in pain and tries to roll on her side. As the pain subsides again, she turns to look at the elves again.

'Legolas,' Thranduil says as he turns to his son. 'Send someone to feed our guest. Tauriel, you are to stay by her side and make sure she has everything she needs.'

'Yes, my lord.'

Then the elvenking turns around and leaves. Legolas follows his father, leaving the two females alone. Tauriel looks at the dwarrowdam with worry in her eyes. She is in bad condition. Dehydrated and malnourished and with her body having to take care of two, she looks even more fragile.

'Thank you,' the dwarrowdam says quietly.

'You should save your strength,' Tauriel says as she gives her the cup of water again. 'You will need it when your child comes.'

'I guess so,' she says as she places a hand on her abdomen with a smile. 'It should not be long before it comes.'

'Will it be your first?'

Tauriel is curious about the female. She has never met a dwarf, let along speak to one. She had always thought them to be loud, proud and ungrateful. At least that is what she has heard from the others. And yet this female is willing to except help from them. Even thanking them. Or maybe it is the situation she is in?

Tauriel thinks about it for a moment as the dwarrowdam takes a few sits from her cup. If Tauriel were to be found by another race, in the same condition, would she not try to stay at their good side?

No, she would probably try to get back home as soon as possible. But then again, she can not quite place herself in that condition. She is still a young elf, being only 550 years old. And she does not posses the bond this mother already has with her child. Would she ever feel such thing with such a small, defenceless creature?

'I will be right back,' Tauriel says as she takes her leave. 'I am going to get you more water.'

'Gefn,' a voice says from behind her and she turns her head to see Tauriel standing in the doorway. 'You should not be out of bed.'

'I need to stretch my legs,' Gefn says as she waggles around the room. 'Laying in bed all day is driving me mad.'

The she-elf sighs as she makes her way over to the dwarrowdam. A little more than a month has passed and Tauriel has been watching over Gefn during that time. Though still weak, the dwarrowdam has settled in with the elves. Not that she would have a choice. With only a few weeks to go, Gefn is in no state to travel.

As Tauriel places the plate with hot food on the table, Gefn stares ahead of her. Her due date is coming soon. She has told Tauriel it should come during the end of summer and begin fall. Around a feast dwarves call Durin's Day, their new year.

'It is raining outside, isn't it, Tauriel?'

'Yes it is,' the she-elf answers, looking surprised. 'Why do you ask?'

'I love the rain. I can not wait to feel it in my skin again.'

Gefn turns to look at Tauriel with a smile. Then she slowly wakes her way over to the table to sit down. Her ankles are swollen and her babe has dropped. A good sign, for it getting ready. Though that doesn't stop it from kicking and moving around. And somehow it always seems to be active at the most inconvenient moments.

Still, she is glad. It is still something from home. Gefn missed her home. Back at Ered Luin she would have had Dís around to pass the time. And her adorable son Fíli, the sweet thing. She misses her friend. She misses Vigr. Even though their marriage had not started with love, she has grown to love him eventually.

And she misses Thorin as well. The best leader one could ask for, her most trusted friend. After Dís ofcourse. Would they be worried about her? Or maybe they think she has died? It would not surprise her. After all, she could just barely escape the orc-raid. Well, she will surprise them all, when she returns next spring. Her and her babe.

'I can not allow you to go outside, Tauriel tells her as Gefn eats her soup and bread. 'You might get sick. But I can try and see if I can prepare a bath.'

'That would be nice,' Gefn agrees as the she-elf calls out for someone. 'Thank you again, Tauriel. I owe you a lot.'

'You owe me nothing.'

Tauriel smiles at the female. She is glad she can help her where needed. They have gotten good friends in the past few weeks. And now with her pregnancy coming to end, she feels even excited about it. Would it be a boy? Or maybe a girl? Would it be a red-head like her mother? Or maybe it will bare more resemblance to its father? Not that Tauriel would know what the father looks like. Gefn rarely talks about her home, perhaps she is homesick?

'It won't be long now,' Gefn whispers as she rubs her hand over her belly. The child is kicking again, making her whole belly move with it. 'Then I can finally meet you.'

'Do you have any thoughts on a name?' Tauriel asks as she pours in a cup of tea for both of them. 'Does your culture have any traditions concerning naming a child?'

'We usually name our boys after their father,' Gefn explains. 'For example, my husband's name is Vigr, son of Vigo. So if I were to have a son, it will probably be Vigarr. Though it's not really a tradition, more so a habit to honour the father's side.'

'And what about daughters?'

Gefn laughs at the curiosity of the she-elf.

'For our daughters we are free to chose. Usually we use a name that describes the child. Is she feisty, or calm. Or if it is a future we wish for her to have.'

'So you will come up with a name once you have her in your arms.'

Gefn nods. Though she already has a perfect name for a daughter. No matter what she looks like or how she behaves. The name will be perfect for her. But only time will tell if she is having a son or a daughter.

As Gefn enjoys her meal, she thinks about Ered Luin. About Dís. She would be delighted if Gefn would return with a daughter. It had been Dís's idea to combine their houses if it would ever come to that. And after she had given birth to her son, Dís seemed to like the idea even more. For a new royal blood-line would start with her Fíli.

At Gefn's question about a new royal line, Dís only said Thorin would not marry. He had set his eyes on the wrong dwarrowdam and somehow he still can not let her go. But who the lucky dwarrowdam is, Gefn doesn't know. And with Frerin gone, the line will continue with her son.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door and an elf-maid walks in.

'The bath is prepared, as requested, Tauriel.'

'You seem nervous, my friend,' Tauriel states as she looks at the female.

Gefn has been walking through the halls all day, earning strange looks from the elves. Not only for her behaviour, but for seeing a dwarf as well. She has tried to stay out of their way throughout her stay, but today is different. She feels different.

'I'm not nervous,' Gefn says as she turns to look at the elf. 'I am feeling restless. I think it is the weather.'

Tauriel smiles knowingly as she keeps following the dwarrowdam. To be honest, she will miss Gefn. It's nice to have another red-head around. For there aren't many elves with auburn hair. Most have a pale blond hair, others darker hair. But there are only a hand full with auburn hair. And to have found the same feisty personality in a dwarrowdam is a nice change.

'Perhaps,' Tauriel says as she rounds a corner. 'There is a storm coming.'

'Aye, there is,' Gefn agrees and she stops for a moment. 'The air seems dense.' Then the dwarrowdam turns to look at the taller female. 'Tauriel, can I ask you something?'

'Hm?'

'Don't you get tired watching over me? I mean you have been looking after me ever since I came here.'

Tauriel looks at her friend with a weird look, then she laughs. No, she has not gotten tired of being around Gefn all the time. She has had learned a lot about dwarves and their culture. It intrigues her to learn about other cultures.

'How could I grow tired with you around?' she asks Gefn. 'Every day is a new adventure with you. I have learned a lot from you.'

'I am gla-ah!'

Gefn winches as a sharp pain enters her body and she doubles over. For a moment everything seems to disappear around her as the pain gets stronger. She hears Tauriel say something to her, but she can't seem to understand her.

Then the pain subsides again and she stands up straight again. Finally the words Tauriel's lips had formed register in her head and she nods. Yes, she is alright now. Though she wonders what that was just now.

'Perhaps it is better that you return to your chamber.'

Gefn agrees. She has heard of the pain before the birth of a child. Is this the pain they had talked about? Does this means her babe is coming? Gefn smiles a the thought. If so, her wish has come true for her child to be born on a rainy day, for she can hear the thunder outside.

Just as Gefn reaches her chamber, she feels another pain enter her body like a wave. A nagging pain in her lower back. And suddenly she is frightened. Is it going to take long before her babe is born? Will she be ready? Can she raise a child?

Again the pain enters her body. This time even stronger than before. It lingers in her lower back, staying there even longer than before. Gefn begins to pant as the pain becomes stronger with every wave. Is it suppose to be like this?

'Gefn, I am going to call the midwife,' Tauriel tells her as she helps her in the chair. 'You are in labour, and it seems your child is in a hurry. Can you manage on your own for a while?'

Gefn nods her head as the pain subsides again. She watches as Tauriel leaves her chamber, making sure to look back at the dwarrowdam one last time, before the she-elf disappears. Gefn looks around. Maybe she should find herself a distraction, but what? She tries to remember what Dís had done during thee time before her labour.

Dís had done some reading early on, when the pain was not that bad. But Gefn can hardly manage them now and she is only just starting. And it will only become worse with every passing moment?! How will she be able to manage that?

'Ahhh,' Gefn moans as another wave of pain enters her body and she stands up.

She needs to move! She just have to! As she slowly rocks with her hips, the pain seems to be less intense. As Gefn looks around, she notices a piece of cloth laying on the table. That's it! She will go and clean her room! She cannot bare her babe in this room. Not with all that dust everywhere!

Not that there is much dust to be found. And soon Gefn finds herself cleaning the same book over and over again, only to be replaced by a wave of pain. And by the time she has had started cleaning for the third time, Tauriel returns with another she-elf.

The brunette midwife laughs as she sees Gefn, saying something in elvish to the scowling Tauriel. Gefn glares at the she-elf, not liking the fact she doesn't understand what she is saying. But Tauriel suddenly begins to laugh as well as she looks at the female next to her.

'I do not see what if funny,' Gefn says through grinted teeth as another wave of pain enters her body. They seem to come even faster now and linger longer.

'You are cleaning the room,' the midwife says as she walks over to Gefn. 'It is a common thing to see when one is about to labour. It is called nesting.'

'I do not care what it is called!' Gefn hisses at the female as the pain returns. 'I just want this over with!'

Gefn is furious with the female and she doesn't even know why. She has only just entered the room! The elf asks Gefn how long ago the pain has started and Gefn answers truthfully. Then she asks how much time is between each contraction. But before Gefn can answer, her body already answers the question for her.

'I need you to lie down,' the elf orders and Gefn obeys.

She feels her stomach, and then she turns to Tauriel, telling her to get towers and a bowl of hot water. As the said elf leaves, the midwife feels how much dilatation Gefn has and her eyes widen.

'Your child is coming fast,' she tells Gefn as she cleans her hand. 'You are almost fully dilated. I have rarely seen such fast labour.'

Gefn asks if she can sit again, but once she does, she feels warm liquid between her legs. It almost feels like she is pieing and she looks down in panic, afraid to see blood. But to her relief it is clear liquid. It smells funny, sweet even.

'Do not fret, it is your water that has just broke.'

Another contraction follows and Gefn pants, but it doesn't seem to pass. Gefn falls back on bed, panting heavily. She want to be done with this. Why does it hurt so much! She needs to yell at someone, anyone!

'Please, make it stop,' she begs as she rolls on her side. But it doesn't help.

Just as one contraction fades, another takes its place. There is almost no pause between them now. Another feeling enters her body. She needs has the urge to push. No, she needs to push! Right now! But the midwife stops her.

'You need to wait, dear,' she tells Gefn calmly, patting her hand. 'She will be here any moment now.'

'I-I can't,' Gefn gasps. 'It hurts too much!'

'Tell me, how many children do you do you have?'

'N-none. This will be my first!'

Gefn is starting to sweat as she tries to overcome each contraction. They are getting even stronger and the urge to push is getting even greater! Gefn gasps as another contraction follows, just as Tauriel enters the chamber. The midwife wastes no time and calls Tauriel over immediately. She is worried about something, Gefn can hear it in her voice.

'The child is coming too fast,' she hears her say to Tauriel. 'If it goes on like this, it might damage her from the inside.'

'Please,' Gefn begs, grasping the hand of the midwife with her sweaty hand. 'Please, I need to push! Aahh!'

Gefn pants as the pain is getting stronger. She feels something snap as the pain slowly fades again. She doesn't care what the elf is saying to her anymore. She needs to push right now! So she does as another contraction comes. She pushes even though the midwife tries to stop her. Gefn can't help it. She can no longer control her body.

The voices slowly start to fade to the background as she pushes again. Then she falls back into the pillow, panting heavily. Another contraction comes and she gathers the strength to push again, and again, and again. She moans in pain. She can no longer take it! She has to stop! She has to go back!

But she doesn't. With one final push, she suddenly hears the cry of a baby. Her baby! The background voices turn back to normal as she feels the small creature is being placed on her stomach. She has no idea how long she has been pushing. All she knows she is that she has her beautiful child.

'Gefn, I have to take her now,' Tauriel says softly as she covers the babe with a blanket. 'She needs to be cleaned up.'

'She?' Gefn asks quietly. 'I have a daughter?'

'Yes,' Tauriel smiles as she holds the child at eye-level. 'And she is a beauty.'

Gefn nods. Yes she is. Her beautiful daughter, her blessing, her oath. Gefn smiles as she reaches her hand out to touch the small hand of the infant. She watches as Tauriel carries away her child. Even as the room begins to spin, she watches the she-elf with the infant. She watches as she lowers her arm, no longer having the strength to hold it out. She watches until everything turns black.

Tauriel walks towards the great wooden throne, a small bundle in her arms. She looks down at it, to see the sleeping form of a small infant. As young as the child is, her auburn hair is already striking against her pale pink skin.

'My lord Thranduil,' she says as she salutes her king. 'I have come to tell you Gefn has given birth to a daughter last night.'

'Ah, very well,' Thranduil says as his eyes glances at the small bundle. 'And how does the mother fares?'

Tauriel looks down for a moment. The image of Gefn fresh in her mind. The look of utter happiness as she held onto her daughter. A smile no words are worth to describe. Yet Tauriel is overcome by sadness as the child slowly stirs in her arms.

'My lord, Gefn has passed away this morning.'

Thranduil looks up in surprise. He had not thought the female to be so weak still. She had seemed to have regained her strength back. The elvenking stands up from his throne and walks over to Tauriel. His eyes still on the infant.

'How did that happen?'

'She died due to blood-loss,' Tauriel answers sadly. 'The child had not turned. We tried to stop the bleeding, but it was all in vain.'

Thranduil hesitates for a moment. It has been a long time since he had seen an infant. Even Tauriel had not been this young when he had found her and taken her in. Still, he seems to be drawn to the child and he slowly places his hand on her head.

Bright blue eyes slowly open, looking around unfocused. So small, so innocent, so fragile. Without thinking Thranduil takes the infant in his arms, leaving Tauriel staring at him in shock. But he does not see it, or he doesn't care as he turns around and walks over to his throne again.

'Does she have a name?' he asks Tauriel as he sits down with the child in his arms.

'Yes, my lord.'

'Well?'

'Várar,' Tauriel says as she remembers the name Gefn has given her daughter. Várar, as a reminder of an oath she once had made with a dear friend.

A/N

Wow, this chapter was actually hard to write. But for me it is an important chapter, the introduction of Várar. And concerning Thranduil, I'd like to think he is not as cruel as he is made out to be in the movies. The way I always thought him to be, is a cautious king, which isn't that strange, seeing he is living in a forest with giant spiders! So you will be seeing a diferent side of our elvenking.

If you don't like that idea, well, too bad ;)

Anyway, feel free to write a review. I love reading them :D