The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 101

Legolas stared idly up at the trees they passed by Elladan’s arms still wrapped protectively around his waist. In a way the elder twin’s concern for him was most welcome but in others it was causing problems. Legolas had already dodged some of Celeborn’s questions about his health when they’d stopped for lunch. His fathers too had seemed to settle down enough in each other’s company to being questioning his health. Legolas had been surprised to see the two of them actually riding side-by-side talking together in a civil manner about border security and their duties at home. Not willing to upset the balance Legolas had remained silent for the trip merely conversing with Elladan when a topic of interest arose between them. Elrohir had stayed close also riding beside them for most of the way. He had halted the large company of elves several times already to check on Legolas’ health and while most were unhappy about the delay non-had complained to insuring Legolas wellbeing.

Now however it was getting towards night and while they’d stopped for the evening meal a few hours ago Celeborn had pushed them on his eagerness to arrive at Imladris forcing them to ride through the night. The pace had been slow going though, with so many elves now in the group and many of them on foot, or injured slaveere ere was little they could do to quicken the pace. Legolas had noted with some confusion that while his elder brother Hale and his pregnant wife had accompanied Thranduil Talion was not among them. Legolas had not had time to question his father about Talion’s absence but assumed that they must have left him behind in order to look after the kingdom.

“Are you cold?” Legolas shook his head from his distant gaze into the shadowy figures of the tress around him to look back over his shoulder at Elladan.

”Nay just a little tired that is all.” Legolas smiled warmly back at the twin before turning his attention back to scanning the company of elves about him. For a moment he was too busy watching his two fathers converse that he hardly noticed as someone drew their horse up along side Elladan’s. Glancing to his right Legolas was surprised to see Gwendolyn, the only female among the company and his brother’s wife. Legolas had nevermalrmally met the young she elf having always been ushered from the room whenever her or her father were visiting. Legolas observed that she was very plain looking, her hair not golden but more red than anything. She was plump too, fatter than most elvan women despite her pregnancy, and she was short. Legolas could not see what Hale liked in the she elf but then again he supposed that Hale hadn’t had a lot of choice in the matter. Wondering what she was doing riding beside them Legolas smiled warmly across at her.

“I do not believe I have had the pleasure of meeting my husbands brother, you must be Legolas?” Legolas was a little shocked by the forwardness of the she elf beside him and promptly nodded his head as she beamed at him.

“Aye that is me, and you must be Gwendolyn, my brothers wife?” Not knowing what else to do Legolas stated the obvious and watched as the young she elf blushed a little and nodded in reply. Before anymore could be said Celeborn’s voice rang out from the front of the company drawing them all to a halt.

“We shall rest here for the evening, the injured are tiring and we must make a quicker pace tomorrow.” There were some muttered sighs of relief at Celeborn’s command and everyone obediently spread out either side of the path. It would not be much of a camp but Legolas was relieved to be allowed to get down from the horse and stretch his legs. Sliding from the horse after Elladan had done so Legolas followed the twins over to a large oak tree where Thranduil, Haldir, Celeborn and Hale were settling for the evening. There was silence between the elder as each rearranged their own blankets and seen to it that their men were either on watch or taking rest. Legolas was just about to sit down himself next to Elladan when Gwendolyn appeared in front of him. Now not sitting on a horse Legolas could clearly see the extent to which the she elf’s stomach stuck out, her outer cloak barely touching in the middle. Legolas tried hard not to stare at her unnervingly wishing that he would never get that huge during his own pregnancy.

“Come ait dit down my love and rest.” Legolas watched as his brother stood offering that his wife take his place on the blanket he had spread out fhem hem both next to Thranduil.

“Nay I wish to walk for a little while, Legolas will you join me?” Legolas was in shock as Gwendolyn dismissed her husband and turned questioningly to Legolas. Not knowing what to do Legolas looked at his father and brother for any answer but found both of them glaring at him suspiciously.

”I…..I am not……it doesn’t……..”Legolas stuttered as he tried to think up an excuse but in the end he could do little else but nod his acceptance. The last thing Legolas wanted to be doing was wandering around the darkened wood with his brother’s wife, no matter how nice she seemed to be. Seeing the woman with child was a little too confronting for him considering his own situation and he was trying desperately not to stare at her huge belly as they began to wander along the path. As the rangers had said on their visit to Imladris, Gwendolyn indeed waddled like a dwarf and Legolas had to slow his steps in order for the woman to keep up. For a while they merely walked in silence neither looking at each other as the surveyed the quiet forest around them.

“I am disappointed I did not get to attend my brothers wedding, you look very happy together.” Awkwardly Legolas broke the silence first a little unnervy Gwy Gwendolyn’s silence. Glancing sideways Legolas watched as the she elf rubbed his stomach idly with her hand a funny smile playing on her face.

“Aye but you did not miss much I assure you so there is nothing to be disappointed about.” Confused by the she elf’s so easy dismissal of her own wedding day Legolas stared openly at Gwendolyn as she continued to rub her stomach. “Hale and I had been together for at least three months before we married, the ceremony was merely a formal confirmation of what was already happening.” Still confused by Gwendolyn’s meaning Legolas remained silent as his brother’s wife continued unprompted. “We do not love one another Legolas I am not so deluded as to think that this is love. Nay your father insisted that I become pregnant before he would allow your brother to marry me, in order to prove my fertility and thus guarantee heirs.” Shocked by what Gwendolyn was telling him Legolas paused their walk and stared blatantly at the she elf who continued to wander a few steps ahead of him before stopping herself and turning back to face Legolas, an unreadable expression on her face. “I may not have love Legolas but I am comfortable in my situation. Your brother is attentive to my needs and serves us well in the bedroom, I am not in want of money and our quarters at the palace befit even the wealthiest of merchants. I am content with my life Legolas, and with the birth of my child I will known that they are raised by a good man and that I have done my duty as Hale’s wife.” Legolas frowned totally confused now at why Gwendolyn had just spoken so freely to him concerning her private affairs. Unable to keep his tongue Legolas questioned the she elf pointedly.

“And what in all of that is my concern, that you must be explicit about your life? My brother cares less for me than a stable hand and while I love him as my kin his personal affairs mean nothing to me.” Legolas folded his arms haughtily across his chest watching in amazement as Gwendolyn laughed a sweet innocent giggle before shaking her head.

“You are right Legolas your brothers private affairs are non of your concern but it is obvious I have not made my point clear to you yet.” A little frustrated with Gwendolyn’s hidden intentions Legolas turned as if to leave sick and tired of being with this strange woman. It was clear pregnancy had deprived her of competent brain function if she had any at all to being with. “You turn your back afraid of what I will say, just as you are afraid of him, and of yourself.” Legolas stopped mid stride and turned hastily back at the infuriating woman.

“I am not afraid of anything!” Legolas growled at her not knowing why he was angry when he did not understand what she was saying. Again Gwendolyn laughed this time taking the few steps necessary to come face to face with Legolas.

“You have love Legolas, the rarest gift to have ever been given yet you risk it for a path you have not walked upon yet. You do not know the future Legolas, and on a path you have not taken you cannot predict its end.” Legolas could only stare at Gwendolyn like she had lost her mind until her hand came down to rest on his stomach making him stiffen and freeze to the spot. “The child you carry is male, he will have blonde hair like his fathers but his eyes will share both blue and green. He is beautiful like you and his heart is pure. He will grow up knowing the truth of all the elvan realms, of his ancestors and of his destiny. For his life alone all will be willing to give theirs to save his and it will be to the echo of his cries that the war between our realms will come to an end.” Legolas merely stood staring into Gwendolyn’s strange brown eyes unable to tear his gaze away from the emotional pools of dark that sucked him in like a whirlpool. “I will die tomorrow Legolas. I will give my life to save my daughter’s but I am not sad because I know that she will not follow me. My foresight has taken your fear from you, that little part of you that always feared it might all be wrong is gone. Your son will do a great many things Legolas Greanleaf, and because of it my daughter will live a happy and fruitful life until she is ready to leave this world. Do not be afraid Legolas, you have love. Glorfindel’s love is what will keep you here and it will be that love you draw strength from so that you may carry on.” Gwendolyn’s voice trailed off and Legolas could feel the tears rolling down his face as the woman before him leant forward and gently kissed his forehead. “I have waited my whole life to tell you that Legolas, and I pray that you never forget it.” Legolas managed to nod still aw struck by what had just happened. The moment however came to an abrupt end when Legolas watched Gwendolyn double over breathlessly in pain her face contorted in pain as she clutched at her stomach.

“Gwendolyn? What is wrong? What is happening?” Legolas desperately held on to the woman’s arms helping her to kneel on the ground as she continued to groan and curse at her pain.

“It is the baby, it is time.” Panicking Legolas shook violently as he tried to think straight all the while watching as Gwendolyn chocked back a scream at her pain.

”What do I do?” Legolas flung his cloak off and wrapped it uselessly around Gwendolyn’s shuddering shoulders as she began to breath deeply as the pain subsided a little.

”Please go and get your father.” Gwendolyn’s voice was barely above a whisper between her deep and heavy breathing. Slightly reluctant to leave Gwendolyn on her own while he fetched help Legolas stood and awkwardly looked around for help. They had walked a little father from camp than he’d realized and it would be a short run back up the path that Legolas was no sure he could make. Still Gwendolyn’s groan of pain made Legolas spring into action. Legolas had not run since he’d become pregnant any attempt at such physical exertion causing him to become violently ill, with the unnatural movement of his heavier stomach. There was little else he could do though and so steeling his nerves Legolas took one last look at Gwendolyn’s prone form before he bit his lip and began sprinting up the path back towards the camp, screaming his fathers name as he went.

With every sprint agony shot thought his body, and while the belt beneath his clothes went some way in preventing the movement of his stomach it still prevented him from fully getting his breath. So intent on blocking out his own pain Legolas did not see the wall of muscle stepping out onto the path in front of him until he’d run straight into it. Almost immediately as he came to a stop Legolas felt the vile rise in his throat and he barely managed to avoid throwing up on the person he’d run into as he flopped down onto the path on his hands and knees and was violently ill.

“Legolas!” Haldir’s voice engulfed him and Legolas breathlessly collapsed against his father, desperately trying to catch his breath as stared up at his father’s worried face.

“Gwendolyn………” Legolas had to stop mid sentence as he turned away from his father to be sick again. Legolas heard more people coming to gather around his body as another presence knelt beside him a soothing hand coming up to rest on his back.

”What happened Legolas, where is Gwendolyn?” Celeborn’s voice was far more calm than Haldir’s had been and the Lord’s touch went a long way to soothing him. Weakly Legolas pointed down the path he had just run down before slowly looking up at Celeborn.

“It is coming.” Legolas breathlessly whispered as he leant helplessly against his father who was now holding his hair back from hise ase as again Legolas threw up.

“Legolas tell us what is coming?” Celeborn spoke softly to Legolas trying to calm the youngster who seemed most unnaturally pale and out of breath for a supposedly healthy young elf. Legolas took a few more staggered breaths before looking up between Haldir and Celeborn to see Thranduil hovering nervously above them.

“The baby, it is coming now.” The words were not even out of Legolas mouth before Thranduil’s booming voice was commanding his troops to ready the group to leave for Imladris. All around him Legolas watched as everyone scrambled to their things as all the elders began organizing the group. Legolas could not focus on anything long enough to know who had gone to help Gwendolyn but the feel of Haldir lifting him from the ground into his arms was a little worrying.

“I will take Legolas Haldir. Celebrequrequests that you organize the party into two groups. He and Thranduil are riding ahead with my brother and Gwendolyn, she has gone into labour and Lord Elrond must help her. Send only the fastest and strongest riders with them for they will not stop. The rest of us will follow more slowly with the injured from Gondor.” Legolas heard Elladan’s voice quite close addressed Haldir who had not taken more than a few steps with Legolas in his arms when Elladan had stopped him.

“Very well but I want you to ride ahead as well. Go alone if you must but get Legolas back to Imladris as soon as possible, he is not well himself. I will lead what remains behind to Imladris and will join you in a few days.” Legolas felt himself being passed from Haldir’s protective embrace into Elladan’s, the more familiar smell soothing his churning stomach a little.

“Be careful Haldir.” Legolas heard Elladan’s voice echo in his chest as he addressed Haldir. A soft hand brushing a stray strand of hair from Legolas face made the younger elf shiver right before a soft kiss was pressed to Legolas cheek. Legolas was sure that it was Haldir who had just kissed him and even though he was still flushed from his run he blushed all the same.

“Aye be careful as well Elladan, the cargo you carry is worth more than the world.” Through his partly open eyes Legolas watched his father turn away and disappear into the mayhem of the group, already shouting orders to his own men in organization.

“Yes you are worth more than he realizes Legolas.” Legolas was surprised to hear Elladan’s soft whisper a reply to Haldir’s comment meant only for Legolas to hear. There was little time to contemplate the comment however as Legolas felt himself being pushed up onto a horse again right before Elladan sat down behind him. Weakly Legolas relaxed back against Elladan’s chest for the second time during the day as he again felt Elladan’s hands coming up around his waist and soothing gently across his stomach. “We will take the path less travelled Legolas, it will be safer than the direct route considering we are alone and I know it much better. There are more places to shelter that way too should we need too, places Elrohir and I used to play i elf elflings. It is also a little quicker I believe and far easier on the horse with two of us aboard.” Even though it was obvious that Elladan had made up his mind on which route they would take back to Imladris Legolas nodded weakly anyway in reply. “Good I am glad you agree with me Greenleaf, now close your eyes and sleep we have swift journey ahead of us.” Not needing any more prompting Legolas slide his eyes closed and let the healing sleep engulf him as the sounds of the horses hooves faded from his mind and he drifted into his dreamscape…

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/N) AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh don't you just hate it when everything is in chaos and no one knows what's going on???????