"Thranduil?"
"Yes Dawn?"
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"The thing we did last month in the library." He turned and looked at her. She stopped brushing her hair and met his gaze in the mirror.
"What do you think we did?"
"If I knew, I would not have asked you." He raised an eyebrow.
"Are you mocking your king?" She smirked and slowly made her way to bed.
"Maybe." He walked over and laid on next to her.
"I do not recommend continuing such things."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Because you may not like the consequences." She smirked and kissed his nose.
"I think I will take my chances." He groaned and kissed her neck. She was about to say something when she suddenly sat up and ran over to the other side of the room. Thranduil sat up just in time to see her throw up out the window.
"Dawn?" She finished and wiped her mouth. "Are you alright?" She walked back over and sat in his lap. "Dawn?"
"I do not think we should talk about it now."
"I think we should."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now tell me what is wrong." She looked down and bit her lip. "Tell me now."
"I am…"
"You are what?!" She glared and got off of his lap.
"Well if you want to know so badly, I am with child!"
"What?"
"Did you not hear me? I said I am with child!" Thranduil frowned before getting up and leaving. With child? She is with child? Nine children? He was going to have nine children? Did he want another child? He didn't think so, but what could he do?
Legolas opened the door to his father study. Thranduil was sitting by the window reading. Legolas frowned before walking over and sitting next to him.
"You need to talk to her," he said a while.
"There is nothing to talk about."
"Nana is four moons along, she told you two moons ago she was with child, and you have hardly spoken a word to her. I do believe that there is something to talk about." Thranduil glared at him before returning to his book. "Alright then do not say anything to her. Maybe you should just give her a gift."
"Why would I do that?"
"A gift for the babe." His father gave him an annoyed look. "Give her something to show that you care, or at least pretend to care."
"And what would you give her?"
"Maybe…"
"Maybe what?"
"Maybe you could start with the truth."
"What truth?"
"That before she forgot everything she wanted nothing more than to leave, or that you are the one who put her in that condition."
"No."
"You owe her that."
"I do not."
"Ada, not only did you put her in her current condition, you have also had her bare five, now six, children." Thranduil glared at him. He knew he was right. "And I think I know something else you owe her."
"You what?" Thranduil closed his eyes and sighed.
"Need I say it again?" Dawn got up and walked over to the window.
"Why? Why did you not tell me?"
"Because that is one less thing I wanted to deal with."
"Then why are you telling me now?" He glanced up at her annoyed.
"Because I 'owe' you this." She turned and glared at him.
"Legolas made you do this, did he not?"
"He did not make me do anything. He suggested I do it. I simply chose to listen."
"You foul, cruel man! I hope you die a horrible death, and they let your body rot in a hole!" He stood and looked so angry that a giant spider may have looked kinder.
"DO NOT INSULT ME! HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR YOUR CHILDISH DESIRE TO GET AWAY SO BADLY, YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER LOST YOUR MIND!"
"WELL MAYBE IF MY HUSBAND WAS NOT SUCH AN ASS HOLE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER WANTED TO ESCAPE IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"DO NOT TALK TO ME THAT WAY! I AM THE KING!"
"YOU ARE THE WORST KING I HAVE EVER MET!" She turned and left, slamming the door behind her.
"Legolas better had been right, or else I will kill him."
As time went on, the tension between Dawn and Thranduil increased. They neither spoke nor looked at each other. She was mad at him for lying. He was mad at her for… Well he was always mad. Neither was willing to give in. They did have an eternity.
On June 27th, Dawn's birthday, Thranduil finally broke the silence.
"Dawn, come with me."
"No."
"You are coming with me, now."
"No, I am not."
"You are coming with me. Even if I have to drag you, you are coming with me." She glared. She knew he rarely made empty threats. She slowly stood and followed him outside. "Close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Because I told you to." She rolled her eyes before closing them. He led her through the garden to the pond. "Open them." She did and gasped.
"Is that…Is that for me?" He nodded and she stared in disbelief. By the pond was a large cottage. He led her inside and she looked around in awe. It was warm and cozy.
"There are four bedrooms upstairs. It should be plenty of room." She looked by the fireplace and saw a small crib. Inside the crib were three stuffed bears and a blanket.
"You did all of this for me?" He nodded and her eyes began to water. "Thank you." She hugged him and started to cry. He hugged her back awkwardly.
"You are very welcomed. And I…I am sorry."
"I am too. Lying is a bad thing to do." Thranduil pulled back and looked at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"I may have only pretended to forget everything."
"You what?!"
"I only wanted to see how you would treat me if I was not myself. And I wanted to see…"
"What?"
"I wanted to see if-" She suddenly grabbed and squeezed his arm.
"Dawn?" She looked up at him while taking a deep a breath.
"I think it may be time to meet our little elfling."
For two hours Dawn labored away bringing her elfling into the world. Thranduil, Legolas, and Dearon all stood by her side. In fact both Dearon and Thranduil had lost all feeling in their hands.
"I hate you!"
"No, you do not hate me."
"Yes I do!"
"No Dawn. You do not."
"Well, let us see how much you like me when you have to deliver a babe out your-"
"Please stop!" Dearon groaned. Dawn glared at him and he looked away in fear that she may kill him when this was over.
"One more push," said the healer. Dawn nodded before screaming and pushing. Soon a loud wail filled the room. "It is a boy." Dawn smiled before frowning and held back a scream.
"I think there may be one more." The healer handed the babe to Dearon before preparing for the second one, only it wasn't just a second one. It was a second and third one: two girls.
"Did that really happen?" Dearon asked as he and Legolas left with the healer.
"I do believe so."
"What should we call them?" Dawn shrugged.
"The boy does look like you. I think we should name him after your father, Oropher." Thranduil looked up at her surprised.
"Are you sure?" She nodded and he smiled. "Thank you." He looked at the older girl. Like her brother, she had blonde hair and blue eyes, except his were more of a bright blue. Hers were more of a crystal blue. "I think we should name her Sapphire."
"I like it. What about the other one?" The last babe had light brown hair and hazel eyes. "She reminds me of my mother, Hazel."
"Her name should be Hazel. Do you agree?" She smiled and nodded.
"Thank you." He slowly took each babe and placed them in their cribs. Thank goodness he had two spare cribs. When they were all asleep, he came back and laid next to Dawn.
"What were you going to say earlier? Right before you went into labor."
"Hum? Oh that. I was going to say I wanted to see if you…If you loved me."
"Dawn-"
"You do. I know you do." He looked away. She grabbed his chin before pulling him in for a kiss. This time, Thranduil wasn't surprised and kissed her back. It was deep and full of passion. When they pulled apart, she searched his face for doubt and was surprised by what she saw. The illusion around his face faded away and she saw what he really looked like. What the serpent did to him. He smiled and kissed her again. She smiled into the kiss, and when they pulled apart, she laid her head on her chest.
"I love you Dawn."
"I love you Thranduil." He smiled a true smile. And as they fell asleep in each other's arms, they both knew things had changed for the better. They would both love and cherish each other forever. It was the dawning of a new day.
The end. Thanks for all the review and comments. I might make a sequel, we'll see. Anyways, thanks and please read my other stories.