The terrain had become rugged and less direct, forcing the Woodland elves to seek less traveled roads. To make matters worse, the weather was becoming foul. Dark storm clouds were sailing south in the sky, toward their direction as they continued north. They were hoping to reach the shores of Esgaroth before the rains came.
The ominous clouds finally burst, dumping heavy rain over the earth. Thranduil and his household were forced to move to higher ground. He knew that many streams ran on these features of the mountains, and refused to allow his party much less his daughter and her child to be caught up in flash floods.
An ugly thunderstorm that decided to make itself at home for three days caused a major delay. They made camp, doing their best to keep dry and prevent their poor horses from drowning by standing in the endless cloudburst. The trees provided a bit of shelter, but all in all did not keep everyone completely dry. Legolas feebly attempted to lead patrols to scout the route ahead, but the thick showers blighted even the elves' gifted sighting to see beyond what humans could not. After reporting to Thranduil, father and son agreed that the best thing to do would be to wait out the cloudburst.
Safely waited on inside the king's tent, Alasse had taken this time to read to the baby, stories of the history of Lindon, Minas Tirith, Imladris, the Greenwood, Edoras, Numenor, the love story of Beren and Luthien, the Golden Wood of Lothlorien, the bravery of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. In a way, it helped her keep busy when she was lonely for Aragorn. Tatsu tended her faithfully, brushing her hair, primping her, gushing over the baby-to-be, and sneaking or lack thereof the princess's special cravings.
Although her due date was still a few weeks away, Alasse was anxious to get home. She didn't want to give birth while they were still traveling! She wouldn't be able to relax until they were on the familiar king's road into the Woodland Realm, prayerfully with her baby still inside her body! Thranduil assured her over and over that they'd make it in time, but with every passing hour that the rain didn't let up, Alasse grew more worried that the child would arrive out here in the wild.
The sun finally broke through on the fourth day. Legolas led a troop to scout for safe paths. Although they didn't find any flooded streams on their intended route, they did return riddled with mud, and they would have to take a slight northern detour as a landslide had washed away one of the cliffs they'd been planning to cross. Thranduil chose to allow for one more day for the ground to dry better before embarking further on.
After being cooped up inside for three days, Alasse emerged from the tent, craving some fresh air and a change of scenery. The sky was sunny but the ground was damp and muddy. "Are you sure you should be out, Sister?" Legolas asked.
"I feel I will go mad if I am ordered to remain in that tent for another hour!" Alasse retorted.
"I am just glad I shall not be the horse to bear your-" Legolas was cut off when Alasse quickly reached up and firmly clasped her hand over his mouth.
"Don't you dare remark about my baby weight!" Alasse hissed vehemently. Legolas innocently held up his hands in surrender. Alasse released his mouth.
"I wouldn't really." He said wryly.
"Well, if our child cannot recite the history of Middle-Earth by the time he or she learns to speak," Alasse sighed, patting her stomach, "then I have utterly failed their education! I shall have to leave that to someone more equipped with that knowledge! I feel I have told the infant everything they shall read in the history scrolls!"
"Then I shall have a highly informed nephew or niece." Legolas said. "Stay close to the king's tent. We are fortunate to have a solid ground for a base, but the gravel can be slick from the rain."
"I'll be careful, Muindor." Alasse nodded. She waddled over to where she saw Bellethiel and some of her soldiers sharpening their weapons. "Good morning, mellon nin." She greeted. The beautiful army captain looked up and smiled at her princess.
"My lady." She bowed her head. "It's good to see you out and about."
"It's such a relief to be outdoors!" Alasse exclaimed.
"You look well, princess. That baby appears it could arrive any moment!"
"Please don't say that!" Alasse gasped, hugging her stomach. "I'm afraid you may be right."
"Don't worry, mellon. If that is to be the case, you will have many friends here to help you through it." Bellethiel smiled warmly.
"I know." Alasse nodded. "Have you seen the king?"
"I believe he is with the cartographers, inspecting the maps." Bellethiel said. "He said he would look in on you when he was through."
"Thank you." Alasse turned and began to step up the small ridge to the tent where she could see Thranduil bending over maps with the other elves. "He'll probably send me back to my chambers," she mused, shaking her head.
Her foot caught some loose pebbles, ordinarily not cause for alarm, but enough to cause a pregnant female to easily lose her balance. Alasse tried to catch herself, but her legs folded under her and she fell, rolling down the slighted little ridge. She landed on her side.
Alasse blinked, the wind knocked out of her. She tried to lean on her elbow to sit up but her fully pregnant abdomen prevented her without assistance. Her stomach hurt, and she hugged it. She lay there, trying to catch her breath. When she looked up, she saw several elves standing over her.
"Princess?" Bellethiel called to her. "Can you hear me?"
"Y-yes." Alasse whispered.
"Muinthel!" Legolas gasped, grasping her hand. "Are you hurt?"
"...not sure…" Alasse said. Everyone parted as Thranduil came bounding through.
"Alasse!" Thranduil shouted, rushing to her. "Find Maerwen!" He barked. "Alasse, speak to me!" Alasse reached out and touched his arm.
"Please...just help me up…" Alasse breathed.
"No, don't move! Not until Maerwen sees to you!" Thranduil commanded. He knelt beside her, hovering over her like a weeping willow. She winced, her hand clenching her stomach. The baby had just given her a savage kick in the ribs.
"Here is Maerwen, Hir nin." Voronwe told Thranduil. The female healer made her way to Alasse.
"Princess Alasse?" She touched her face. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes." Alasse nodded quickly.
"Are you in pain anywhere?"
Alasse bit her lip. "My...the baby...my stomach hurts." Maerwen pursed her lips, placing her hands on Alasse's belly. Another kick, Alasse gasped.
"The child seems agitated." Maerwen said. "Are you injured anywhere else, my lady? Can you move your limbs?" Alasse pulled in then drew back her legs and arms. "I do not see any swelling. A litter, quickly!" She said.
"The baby, Maerwen?" Thranduil asked anxiously.
"The baby is alive, my lord. But we must get the princess off of this ground right away." Maerwen told him. Alasse grimaced again. Some of the elves arrived with a litter. "Very good. Set it here." They placed it closely to Alasse's spine "Voronwe, Captain? Help me slowly shift her onto her back." The elves obeyed. Legolas jumped in to help. Legolas grasped Alasse's hand, gently tugging on her arm and Bellethiel carefully held her head in her lap, while Voronwe, Maerwen, and some other elves helped Alasse roll onto her back.
"Take her to her chambers." Thranduil said. Legolas and Bellethiel both lifted the litter and cautiously carried Alasse to Thranduil's tent. When they arrived in Alasse's section, they set the litter down.
"My lady? We're going to help you sit up and then get you onto the bed." Maerwen told her. Alasse nodded silently. Legolas held her hands and pulled her as Maerwen and Bellethiel put their hands under her armpits and heaved her to a sitting position then onto her feet. They slowly shifted her to the bed. Maerwen helped Alasse stretch out comfortably. "Hannon le." Maerwen told her friends.
"Is there any way that I can help?" Legolas asked.
"You have already, my prince. If I need more assistance, I will call for it."
Legolas nodded reluctantly. He didn't want to leave his sister until he knew she and her unborn child were out of danger. He gave Alasse an encouraging squeeze of the hand then left, with Bellethiel. Maerwen began checking Alasse over. She had an ugly scrape on the side of her stomach, and bruises, also on her arms and legs.
Thranduil entered after Maerwen had cleaned Alasse's little cuts and scrapes. "I'm alright, Ada." Alasse murmured.
"You let Maerwen be the judge of that!" Thranduil told her firmly. He closely observed the healer skillfully roaming her hands around Alasse's distended stomach and listening for the baby's heartbeat. Thranduil was very worried. They'd come this far! Maerwen finally stood up from her examination. "Well?" Thranduil demanded.
"As far as I can tell, the child is behaving normally." Maerwen assured him. "But I would advise we remain here tonight, to be safe, my lord."
"A sound choice, Maerwen." Thranduil agreed as he stooped down and covered Alasse's middle with a warm blanket. "Thank you."
"My king, I must insist that Lady Alasse remain on strict bedrest!" Maerwen declared firmly. "For at least a week!"
"A week?" Alasse sputtered.
"Ai. It's not debatable. As far as I can tell, Hir nin, the infant is alright. But this fall could induce an early labor. That is why she must be as still as possible."
"Hannon le, mellon nin." Thranduil said. "We will stay here for the night. When we break camp, she will ride in the wagon and you shall monitor her every hour."
"Yes, my lord. I shall return soon." Maerwen bowed her head. "I shall prepare a sleeping drought." With that, she whisked outside.
Thranduil came beside the bed and sat down on a chair. He grasped Alasse's hand. "I'm alright," Alasse murmured quietly. "Really."
"Are you in pain, meleth nin?" Thranduil asked sadly.
"Nothing unbearable, Ada." Alasse gazed up at him. She was determined to squelch his discomfort and worry as much as was in her power. After she died from fatal battle wounds then came back to life, being inflicted with an agonizing scar on her middle, her life force nearly faltering forever after they'd found Aragorn, Alasse couldn't bear to see him frazzled with anxiety for her well-being. He'd been so heartbroken and afraid, Alasse never wanted to see him that way again.
"I will not have you or my grandchild arrive in the Greenwood less than in perfect health." Thranduil said.
Alasse massaged her belly. The baby was wriggling around inside. Alasse winced. "I think the baby might be hungry, Ada." Alasse said.
"Perhaps." Thranduil agreed. "I'll have a tray brought in."
"Thank you," Alasse murmured. Thranduil rose to walk into the other room and order some food.
With his back turned, tears slid from Alasse's eyes. She didn't want her father to see her like this. Here she was, bedridden, again! With pregnancy risks! Again! Was the baby really okay? What if her fall this time had caused some actual damage? Was that why the child was so restless? Because he or she was trying to get their momma's attention, that they were in trouble and needed help? What if she went into labor too early? What if she had to deliver prematurely within the next few hours?
At least the last time this had happened, she'd been home in Gondor, and Aragorn had been there with her. A pang hit her in the chest. Aragorn! If only he was here! He would grasp her hand warmly and firmly, calming the baby, and with his gentle voice, he would remind her that the baby would be alright, and...she'd be able to believe him!
She'd known that Aragorn would miss the birth of their firstborn, but she hadn't wanted it to be like this! Out in the wild, and in possible peril!
Estel, Alasse thought. Estel, when will I see you again? Our child misses you! I miss you!
Thranduil returned and his face dropped in dismay seeing his daughter crying. "Iel nin!" He breathed and came to her side. "What is wrong, my love?"
"Ada, I need Aragorn! I...need him." Alasse wept softly. Thranduil sat on the cot next to her and let her lean her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her arm.
"I know, sweetling. I know how much you miss him. But it can't be helped."
"If he was here, I wouldn't be half as afraid for the baby!" Alasse clung to him like an elfling.
"Shh. Set your mind at rest, my child. All will be well." Thranduil assured in Elvish.
Food was brought to Alasse, and after she'd eaten, the baby did settle down. Tatsu and Thranduil sat with her until Alasse drifted off to sleep. Tatsu faithfully tended her. Maerwen checked on the princess every hour.
The next day, after eating breakfast, they broke up camp, and Alasse was transferred onto the wagon on a bed. Tatsu and Maerwen both sat beside her to insure that she was comfortable and wouldn't be jolted around very much. "I feel like a barrel of apples all tucked in here." Alasse joked. The ellyth both laughed. Once Thranduil and Legolas were confident she was in safely, they began their trek.
Thankfully, the weather held out wonderfully for their journey. They would arrive at the shores of Esgaroth in four days' time!
They were a day's ride from Esgaroth. Alasse had been having back pain and her stomach had been feeling squeezed throughout the day. Maerwen monitored her constantly. So far, she'd said it was false labor, but Alasse wasn't so sure. But, having never been pregnant before, how was she supposed to know?
Thranduil decided to make camp just in case it wasn't false labor. Bellethiel led a troop to scan the surrounding area. Maerwen suggested Alasse walk around a bit, with assistance. The healer, and Legolas held Alasse's waist and her arms, and slowly walked with her.
Bellethiel and her soldiers came galloping back to camp. "Hir nin!" Bellethiel yelled to Thranduil. "Wargs, my lord! Just over the hill. They are coming!"
"WARGS!" Thranduil bellowed across the field. "Mount up! Archers to the ready!" He floated onto his horse, grabbed the reins of Legolas's steed and cantered to Legolas, Maerwen, and Alasse. "Get her out of here! Quickly!" Thranduil commanded. "Legolas, get your sister to safety before those devils arrive! Take her now!"
Legolas and Maerwen both helped Alasse onto the horse with great difficulty. Her foot stumbled twice in the stirrup, but they finally got her on. Legolas hopped up behind her. Clasping her tightly to himself, he ordered his horse to make a run for it. The horse skittered then flew across the ground, effortlessly carrying both elves into the forest.
Thranduil raised his sword to the sky, and led his army toward the slope of the hill, just as the wargs appeared. "Stay down!" Maerwen barked at Tatsu who curled up in the wagon as the healer stood and shot arrows at the huge savages.
Legolas kept looking over his shoulder, checking for wargs. He saw two pursuing them! He had to let go of his sister to shoot his bow and arrow. The horse's rapid movement was jolting Alasse around as she hung on for dear life, her stomach hurting more and more.