Chapter 11

The birth of the Evenstar

Ever since Nana had said she was pregnant again the twins and I had been over the moon happy for her and ada. Well not only for them, but we were also getting a little sister, and that in itself was amazing to us. The valley was as happy as it had been when it was announced that Nana was pregnant with the twins. Well, wishes came from Lorien, the woodland realm, and Arnor. It was a very happy time and I tried to enjoy it as much as possible.

I could not stop to think of the future I had seen in my foresight though and that of the love that would be between Arwen and Aragorn, but also the sadness I would feel when she picked the choice of Luthien and would stay behind as we sail. For me, there would be no choice in it. I would want to go to Valinor with ada and keep the family as whole as possible. But that would not be my choice of Arwen. She had to follow her heart and I would respect that, after all, what don't we do for love?

Here I sat in a chair outside the healing ward after Nana got into labor this morning and heard Nana's screams while she was busy giving birth. Only ada was in with her and her healers. I sat in the hall with the twins and I must say I did find it amusing how worried they were by her screams.

"It is all natural Elladan" I finally said to the twin that spoke the last. "Giving birth is not an easy thing to do and you two should be happy you do not have to go through such a thing."

My little brothers looked at me and shook their heads.

"You should know sister. You remember our birth better than we do as you were there and how Nana acted then" Elrohir added.

"I was and I do. You two took forever to be born, I think Nana was in labor for at least four days" I said with a teasing tone to my voice.

"That cannot be," Elladan said. "We did not take that long" Elrohir added.

"Did you not? I remember it very well!" I said as I crossed my arms. "I must have read at least eight books from Ada's library before you two came out"

"She must be teasing us brother," Elladan said to Elrohir. "Of course she is, see that grin on her face she is exaggerating it much" Elrohir added. At that moment Glorfindel showed up.

"I think Elwen is being kind to you, for I remember it took you two at least six days to be born" He shot in as we sat there disguising it.

"The old are teasing the very young brother" Elladan finally said. "They are and it is not kind" Elrohir added.

"Says the joke and teasing masters of the valley" I added with a burst of laughter in my voice.

"We are not that bad…" Elrohir tried to say before Glorfindel again voiced his opinion.

"I think you two should be happy you have such a tolerant sister, ada and Nana. If not many in the valley would have thrown you two in the river long ago" He said with a grin.

"What I have I tried to tell them for years, my friend," I said to Glorfindel "And I know who would be first in line," I added

"Who?" Said the twins in one voice.

"Estelwen" I added with a grin on my face.

"Estelwen loves us" They shot back at me.

"Estelwen loves the family, you two least of all though" I shot back. "There is a reason why she's my helper and handmaiden and not yours," I said with a satisfied grin on my face.

"That is because you are so old, Elwen" The twins added rather too quickly.

I didn't honestly know exactly how old I was as most of the years on earth were filled with pain, different faces, and so on. Elrond had tried to figure it out by looking into my memories, but it was hard for him as he didn't understand Earth and all the technologies he saw in my memories. In the end, he believed me to be close to adulthood when I arrived in Middle Earth and put my age around 90 years of age, but something had also stopped him from looking as far back as he could.

"I am not old" I shot back. "Glorfindel, on the other hand, is," I said teasing the elf lord.

"Compared to you three even the trees in the yards of the valley are old too, for you are so very young," he said with a smile and again he looked at me with a stare like he didn't fully mean what he said. It did truly worry me.

"You really do sound like Gandalf at times," I said to the elf lord.

"Gandalf? Who is that?" was all Glorfindel could respond.

Ohh darn. I said to myself, not a name I should let slip just yet…

"Just someone wise you will enjoy talking to" I tried to respond as cryptically as I could.

"If you say so little one," he said and shook his head.

At that moment the doors opened up and ada came out with a little elfling in his arms. Her eyes were fully closed and asleep as she had been through such an ordeal today. Being birthed into the world is no easy thing for a baby either.

"Elwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel" ada said with a smile.

"Let me introduce to you all our second daughter. Arwen"

All of us doted on her and wanted to get a good look after asking how Nana was. Ada said she was fine, but asleep as birthing a little elfling was a tiresome affair. We all nodded and then he handed Arwen to me as I stood there I gave my little sister a kiss on her forehead as I had with my brothers.

"Welcome to Imladris and our family, Arwen, the noblest of maidens, you will grow up and be the Evenstar of our people," I said to the surprise of the others.

I then handed her off to Elladan who gave her a kiss on the forehead too and he handed her off to Elrohir who did the same. Both of them shared some words too her as well before Elrohir handed her to Glorfindel.

"I think Elwen is right, you are to be the Evenstar of our people." He said with a smile. With that, she opened her eyes ever so little just for a moment and sent us all a smile before drifting back to sleep and Glorfindel handed her back to ada. He stood with us for a bit before he bid us good night and turned to go back into the healing ward we said good night and that we would see Nana tomorrow when she had some sleep. She very much deserved it.

We headed down the hall from the healing ward over to the family area of the house and even if it was late Lindir was still up and doing his duties.

"My lady Elwen, may I have a moment?" He said as he came over to me.

"Hello Lindir, may we take it tomorrow, I am very tired and it is late…" I tried to say, but the steward did not relent.

"My lady please I must beg you to come with me" I wondered why it was so urgent, but I decided to indulge him. After all, I had told ada to take care of Nana and the baby and that I could take care of whatever came up as I did when the twins were born.

"Lead the way my good Lindir," I said and yawned as I was truly tired.

"Thank you, my lady," he said and led the way, I didn't really think of it, but the twins did follow us due to their extreme curiosity.

"What is it Lindir?" I asked to see what information he would share with me.

"I think it is better if you wait and see for yourself my lady" he kept answering to my dismay.

As we came around the last corner to and into the main entrance of the house a figure stood there in a dark worn cape with the hood up. A bag by its feet and the quiver on its back were full of arrows.

"Lindir, you know we let anyone who needs it stay in the valley, there is no need for you to bring us to greet them," I said to him in as low a voice as I could so the hooded figure would not hear me.

He did not answer but just kept walking toward the hooded figure.

"As asked stranger, here is the lady Elwen." He introduced me and the hooded figure turned and pulled the hood back.

I would have known that red hair anywhere, her eyes sparkled like the light from the two trees of Valinor, and her smile was just the same as all those years ago. Her clothes were old and worn, clearly fixed on the road and she did not wear the uniform of the Sindar rangers anymore as she had written in the last letter I had received.

I stopped in my own steps as I could not move and the twins almost walked into me, but I did not even notice them. I could only stare at her as my body froze where I stood. Her smile started to falter as my body froze up.

"Tauriel…" was all I could say. She started to smile again. "Ohh TAURIEL" I screamed and ran towards her hugging her as we had never hugged before. This time I was not going to let her go. She smelled like she had years ago, even if it was mixed with sweat and dirt. I could still smell her under it all.

"ELWEN" She cried back and held me as hard as I held her. We stood there for what seemed to us as moments, but to the others were many long minutes.

"You finally came to me," I said as I let her go but a little and tears came down my cheeks.

"I had to my lady, I have missed you so ever since I left the valley with the woodland king," Tauriel responded.

"You are here? I cannot believe it ohh Tauriel." I cried out and hugged her even harder.

"I am here, and I will stay if I am allowed to" she responded and hugged me back yet again.

"And even more beautiful than before…" I said in a low voice our eyes then locked as we stood there in the hall of the last homely house.

"So are you my lady" she said low back and her grip on me was firm.

"What took you so long?" I asked in a demanding voice "The woodland realm is not so far if you take the high pass?"

"Nay it is not" she responded "But I took the long way around the southern gap by Isengard. And please do not say it is because I did not want to see you. I just needed to clear my mind. Long had I just been a Ranger and warrior. Now I want something more if I am allowed it!" she responded.

"If you are allowed it? Tauriel listen to yourself. You are on your own to decide what you want and I hope only it is the same as what I want!" I responded and pulled her to me.

"I hope so too and that the Lord and Lady of this realm accept it," she said and smiled as I pulled her to me.

"I know they will," I said smiling as I had not smiled in years and Lindir noticed it well as I could see him smile from behind Tauriel.

Then we heard a deep "Ehem" from the twins that had seen the whole ordeal.

"Is she the one sister? Is this the elf that hurt you?" The twins said and came up on both sides of me.

Tauriel looked at them both, Tall, black-haired elves as they were with the grey eyes of ada.

"Sister? I did not know you had two brothers my lady." I looked at her and kept her firmly in my grip.

"Last time you were here Tauriel I did not have either brothers or a sister. But now I got both." Her eyes landed back on me as I looked at both my brothers.

"Elladan, Elrohir. Let me introduce to you Tauriel of the woodland realm. The elf I have been missing so terribly all these years."

That piqued Tauriel's interest even more as I said It and so both my brothers bowed to her and introduced themselves.

"Welcome Tauriel of the woodland realm," Elladan said and Elrohir added, "Finally that is, we have looked forward to meeting you for quite some time." He said

"It is my honor to meet you lords," Tauriel said with a bow "and indeed finally it is for I cannot see myself anywhere else anymore. Long have I missed Imladris and your sister," she said and smiled at me.

"Ohh Tauriel," I said low yet all heard it as I smiled as they spoke and it dawned on me. She must be hungry.

"Lindir, tell the evening duty chef we need some proper food for a weary traveler and send word that the guest bath needs to be drawn and for Nuriel to bring her a dress or some sort of clothes," I commanded.

Lindir smiled and bowed "At once my lady," he said and he was off before Tauriel could say a word.

"My lady I assure you it is not needed…" I gave her a stare when she tried to say it was not needed.

"It is needed," I said in a not strict tone, but a commanding one. "Come, let us get you bathed before the food is ready." I had already forgotten Elladan and Elrohir but as soon as I turned I was reminded of them.

"You two. Bed." Now that I said in a strict comment they were to train early with Glorfindel and had classes with Erestor after.

"Yes, sister. Both said. "Tauriel, we will have a longer chat tomorrow" the twins added as they turned to go back to their rooms in the family wing.

"Do I need to be worried?" Tauriel said in a low voice.

"Not at all," I said and smiled like I had not smiled in years.

"They are just very protective of me, even if they are still so young."

"I can see that my lady" Tauriel added and looked back at me as we held each other. Before I was stuck looking into her beautiful eyes again I told her to follow me, several servants had drawn a bath for her and I sent her in, she tried to say she did not need aid, but the servants wanted to hear nothing of it. Her clothes were old and very worn, she had repaired them many times it seemed and I asked them to Let Nuriel know and to take them with her for washing and repair.

I told the servants to lead her to the kitchens and hall as soon as she was done bathing. My heart was racing my feet as I came through the door and the night chef was already making an amazing meal of chicken, potatoes, sauce, vegetables, and other leftovers from the dinner I had not eaten either. There was no dessert left, but he said in a firm voice he would make us a proper-sized bowl of that too.

Not long after in a simple yet beautiful dress, Tauriel walked in with one of the servants.

"This… Is all too much my lady" She said in disbelief.

"It is not Tauriel, your clothes need to be mended and I asked the tailor to look at them when she can."

"That is also too kind my lady," she said trying to bow to me.

"Don't" I said and placed my hand under her chin. "Don't bow to me Tauriel" I said as a simple statement and lifted her head up. "You are really here?" I asked in a very low voice that none but she could hear.

"I am after so long I am…" She tried to speak more, but I simply cut her off by kissing her softly on her lips. Time stopped when I felt her respond in kind and kiss me back. It was such a very soft, tender, and loving kiss. We held it for many moments until I let the kiss go and pulled back, Tauriel stood there leaning after me, and her eyes opened. She let out a long breath and her smile was larger than I had ever seen it before.

"My lady…" she said before she bit her lip, her eyes shining like the stars in heaven. For my own part, I was speechless, it was so much better than I could ever imagine. Finally, she was here. Finally, I got to kiss her. This time I would not let her go. My arms were around her as the chef tried to speak to me.

"My lady, the meal is ready, if you two would come with me?" He said and we turned and followed him over to the table. It was a lot of food. Potatoes, chicken, sausage, and vegetables are enough for several elves.

"If there is anything my ladies need please just call for me," he said and bowed before he turned and left back into the kitchen to work on the dessert.

"Thank you Huthor," I said with a smile to one of the head chefs

"I am no lady…" Tauriel tried to say as he left.

"You are to me, my lady," I said to her with a teasing smile on my face.

"Elwen…" she said before her smile took over. "You kissed me!" She said in a disbelieving tone.

"I did… and I regret I did not do it before you left with your king, and you kissed back," I said looking down at the plate full of food.

"I too regret that now," Tauriel said and looked at me. "I just need to…" She said reached over the table and kissed me. I kissed her back the moment her lips touched mine and I blushed hard when she let go of it.

"You kissed me now," I said in all my blushed glory.

"I did my lady," she said as she blushed too. "I have been dreaming of it so many times I had to make sure it was real and not me under a tree in Greenwood dreaming of it"

"So have I…" I said and looked into the meal. "Tauriel, I know we had a short time getting to know each other, but I still feel more for you than any other I have ever met in a loving way. Except for family love of course… what I am trying to say is will you stay and give a lady of the Noldor a chance?"

"I was to ask you the same, my lady, if you would allow me to stay and see where the road takes us together or if it is not meant to be… if you find this lowly silvan elf worthy of it"

I smiled and looked at her like she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, for that she was and this was not one of my evening's dreams anymore. She was back in my house and I took the chance firmly with both hands.

"I would be honored to see where the road takes us Tauriel and so will my family I am sure of it" I took her hand as we spoke and she smiled back at me. The food that night was the best I had ever eaten. The vegetables tasted like cake to me with her there. The dessert was to die for and we praised the chef through the roof.

We took a starlight walk that night as we did so many years ago and I could not believe it. Tauriel was here, holding my hand. The stars truly had never been so bright in my life before. In that moment I could do little but rest my head on her shoulder.

"I know not what is the most beautiful I see this night," I said looking at her.

"Ohh? I think that star" she said and pointed "is the most beautiful I have ever seen.".

"And you are the most beautiful elf I have ever seen" I responded and kissed her cheek/neck.

Little did we know of Ada and Nana seeing us from their room and with smiles on their faces.