Legolas's eyes bulged.

Two enormous wargs were pursuing them, at alarming speed for such burly creatures. The horse lept over a fallen tree, and Alasse shrieked as the steed's hooves hit the ground. Legolas commanded the horse to keep running, but he himself flew off and rolled into a ball under the tree. He huddled down and prepared his bow.

He could feel the vibration of the enormous paws pounding the trail he and Alasse had just fled over. Legolas held up his bow. One of the wargs hopped over the downed limb, and Legolas fired. His arrow pierced the wicked creature straight up the throat into the brain and it instantly collapsed. He then hopped on top of the corpse and quickly prepared his bow for the oncoming other warg, heading straight for him.

Legolas narrowed his eyes and fired. The shaft darted directly into the creature's esophagus. It dropped lifelessly.

Legolas exhaled, but he did not follow his sister right away. He waited, listening if there was any further danger pursuing them. The only sound he heard besides his steed's hooves in the distance, was birds chirping up in the trees, and other little animals pattering about on the forest floor. They'd returned to the area once they knew the great beasts were slain, though they kept their distance from the dead wargs. It was clear.

"Legolas! Help me!"

Legolas whipped his head around. "Alasse…" He took off at a flawless sprint. What had happened?! Had the wargs attacked from another path? Legolas raced through the forest, leaping smoothly over large boulders and downed limbs. To his enormous relief, Alasse was not covered in blood, or struggling to escape from dangerous creatures. But something was wrong. She was hunched, leaning precariously over the horse, clutching her protruding stomach. Her face was pale, and she was wincing in pain. "Alasse?" Legolas stood at her side. Her skirt was wet.

"Einior Muindor! The baby's coming!" Alasse cried, her eyes flashed with helplessness.

Terror pinned Legolas's body. What was he to do?! "Are...are you sure?" He squeaked innocently.

"YES!" The elleth snapped furiously.

"Alright." Legolas gulped. "Uhh...alright. Listen, you stay on the horse. We'll go back for help-"

"I can't make it that far!" Alasse shrieked.

"Uhm…look, I'll find a safe place for you, then I'll get help-"

"Don't you dare leave me!" Alasse snatched at his shoulder and began slipping from the horse. Legolas quickly caught her, but barely. "Legolas, promise you won't leave me!"

"I-I won't leave you." Legolas agreed. Ohh, Valar, be with me!

"Not now! It wasn't supposed to come yet!" Alasse panicked.

What do I do? We need aid! Legolas thought. Alasse clutching his sides, Legolas pulled out one of his arrows split the feathers straight down the middle, then fired, back toward help, back toward their father.

Arod nudged Legolas in the chest. Legolas stared at him. The horse knelt before him. The elf nodded gratefully and helped his sister onto the horse's back. "Arod, show us the way. Show us a safe place." Legolas murmured in Elvish. The horse held his majestic head erect and rather than advancing forward on the trail, he trotted away from it, deeper into the forest of trees. Trusting the steed's sense of direction, and hoping he wasn't making a mistake, Legolas jogged alongside, one hand on his sister's side to keep her steady.


Alasse was moaning and becoming more agitated with worry. They'd been moving along for about twenty minutes when Arod stopped. He knelt again and Legolas helped Alasse off of him. Where did you bring us, Melon nin? There's nothing here! Legolas thought. Then he grimaced.

They were in a glen with a mossy ridge. Under the moss and ferns was a hole, leading into the side of the hill. No! Not a cave. Elves were not easily intimidated, but Legolas did not like being underground! It cramped his spirit and made him feel as if his body was going to fold in on itself under the dark, limited space.

"Help me!" Alasse begged him.

"Just hold onto me." Legolas told her, and to his chagrin, he led her to the small cave. Ordinarily, she wouldn't be happy about this either, but right now she was so disoriented that she probably didn't care. Legolas helped her inside, and once she collapsed to her knees, she couldn't get up. Legolas heaved his hands underneath her armpits. "Here, lie down." Legolas said as he gently helped her lounge back against a large rock. Alasse trembled. "Shh. Easy there. It's okay." Legolas told her.

"It's time! I know it is!" Alasse exclaimed. "Legolas, the baby's coming!" Legolas chewed his lip hard as he quickly examined her, carefully feeling his hands around on her hard stomach. Oh, yes! There was no doubt: the baby was well on its way! Legolas could hardly swallow down the worry building up inside him. This wasn't how it was planned to happen! "Legolas..." Alasse whimpered in fright.

"Alasse? Love, just trust me." Legolas said soothingly, his tone gentle and calming. Inside, he was growing very anxious and all of his Elven immortality endurance could not have prepared him for this: he was no healer! Yes, he'd helped deliver baby animals, but this was different! How could he possibly deliver a baby? With no healers to assist, no proper equipment, no sanitary sterilization? No midwife? If only Arwen was here! She'd know what to do.

"Legolas, I'm afraid!" Alasse wailed. Oh, Valar, how she wished Aragorn was here! If only he was here, beside her, holding her hand! He was her anchor, her strength, her port in the storm.

"It's okay, Tithen muinthel." Legolas assured her. "I've got you. We can do this, okay? It will be alright."

"I'm so scared..." Alasse's lips trembled.

"I know, but there's no need to be. I'm right here. I'm going to help you." Legolas promised, stroking her hair. "Let's do this, alright? You can do it, darling."

Alasse was shedding tears. She was purely terrified. Aragorn was supposed to be with her when this moment came! But, as she looked into her brother's brave face, she felt slightly calmer. Legolas was here. Her big brother was here, looking out for her like he always had. She wasn't alone! She clung to his hands. "I'm so….glad you're here, Legolas." She panted.

Legolas smiled and kissed her sweaty forehead. She yelped as another contraction hit. "Take it easy, love." He said and scooted back toward her legs and opened the healing pack to prepare to deliver the baby. There were herbs, bandages, and balm inside. That was pretty much it!

Arwen, my love, I wish you were here! His mind called out helplessly.

I am here, Legolas. Arwen's spirit answered in his thoughts.

Melleth nin?

I'm here, Legolas. I'm traveling right now but I can sense the anxiety in your spirit.

Arwen! What do I do? There's no one else here. Alasse is counting on me. I cannot fail her!

You won't, darling.

Arwen, I CAN'T deliver a baby! I'm not a healer. We're in a cave, I have no bed sheets, no medical equipment like your father, no midwife…

Legolas, Legolas, shush. You will be fine. You must be calm. For Alasse's sake, you have to calm down!

I'm trying! What if the baby gets stuck? What if Alasse starts bleeding uncontrollably? What if I don't catch the baby? What if it's not breathing?

LEGOLAS! Breathe! Arwen's spirit demanded. Legolas froze. Take a deep breath. There. Now inhale. Exhale. Listen to me, you wobbly-kneed wood prince. You CAN do this. I know you have it in you. You're strong and brave. You can do this. I'll talk you through it.

What if I…

None of that, Legolas.

But…

See what items you have in the healing pack. You need to build a fire and boil the water from your flasks. If you have anything that can substitute for a bedroll or towels, unroll them.

Okay, okay. I can do that.

Most importantly, stay calm. Alasse needs you. Be the strong brother you've always been. This is just another scenario where she needs you to be there and keep her safe. You can do that, can't you?

I hope so!

You will! I will be there as fast as I can, I promise. But until then, I will help you.

I could kiss you right now!

Well, right now we have more important matters at hand.

I love you.

I know.

Alright, alright. I can do this. I can do this. I can-no, I can't do this. I can't do this! I CAN'T DO THIS!

"Legolas, help me!" Alasse blurted out, wringing his arm. He snapped out of his dreamlike state and looked down at her. She looked so scared, like when she was an elfling and would run to him for protection, from a bad dream, or foul creature, or bullies. He took a breath and let his protective, big brother instinct kick in. He felt a bit calmer.

"I will help you, sister. I'll be right here with you." Legolas smiled. Alasse nodded, breathing only slightly less raggedly.