The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 125

*************************7 MONTHS LATER*************************

Legolas waddled as quickly as he could manage up the hallway two trays balanced precariously in his arms. It had all happened so quickly after Glorfindel had left for the borders. Weeks had turned into months and with the changing of the seasons had come the wounded. Messengers brought daily reports of attacks on the borders the orcs fighting as if they had nothing to lose. A flood of enemy had swarmed up from the south and were now continuously attacking the eastern and southern borders. Reports from Lorien and Mirkwood told the same tales of attack and many injured.

Unable to spare men at the borders wounded were being sent back to Imladris on the backs of their own horses with only the grace of valar to protect them. It was now a daily ritual that Elrohir would be sent out to gather those wounded who had made it back to the last homely house. Guest rooms had become temporary wards to house the injured, Legolas even giving up his own bed for a guard captain who had lost his arm in battle and required 24-hour care. None of them had slept more than a few hours a night the screams of the injured plaguing their dreams. Elrond was a constant vigil in the healing house tending to those most in need of care. Elrohir too busily bustled to and from the rooms his knowledge in mixing potions and herbs serving Elrond’s requests day and night. Lindar had been assigned the task of seeing to the dead and while his duties were by far the worst he did not complain. Wherever possible Elrond found time to read reports and send word back to the borders and the other realms and where there was no time to read for himself, Legolas had followed him around reading the reports aloud to the elvan Lord as he continued to heal the wounded.

In the last seven months Legolas had almost doubled in size his belly now protruding considerably from the front of his robes. The tailors had had no time to sew him new things, their duties reassigned to making armoury with the blacksmiths, which could be sent to the borders in aid packages. Thus Legolas had been resigned to wearing Glorfindel’s robes everything he owned having grown to small for him. There had been little time for Legolas to ponder on his pregnancy and even less time to marvel in the considerable changes in his body. Training with Gandalf had long ended when the first of the wounded had begun to pour in but what little Legolas had learned had served him well with his growing weight. Admittedly he now waddled rather than walked and required Elrohir’s aid in getting out of bed in the mornings but all in all he was coping well.

It had been more than a few months now since he’d first felt the child kick him inside. At first he had panicked believing himself to have injured the child but when the kicks slowed and became more intermittent Legolas realised what was happening and marvelled at the feel. Legolas had not spoken to anyone of the kicks however, determined not to burden anyone with his problems. Elrond, Elrohir and Lindar were all too busy already to bother about his situation and Legolas did not want to take them away from their duties just because he was a little uncomfortable.

The baby, Legolas had begun to realise also had no sense of timing, the restless kicks usually coming at the most inconvenient time. For instants now as he was carrying two full trays of herbal medicines when Legolas could not spare a hand to sooth his child it decided it was time to move about. Legolas grunted at a particularly swift kick from his child and hurried his steps towards the healing the wing. Entering the room Legolas spotted Elrond by the bedside of an injured solider and quickly made his way between the rows of bunks over to Elrond’s side.

“Thrbs rbs you requested my Lord, Elrohir is following with the rest.” Elrond looked up from inspecting the soldier’s shoulder wound and smiled tiredly up at Legolas, his belly almost making contact with Elrond’s chin.

“Thank-you Legolas put them by the table in the corner and have Lindar begin handing them out.” Legolas nodded understandingly and carried the trays to the table indicated, relived to put them do so that he could sooth the baby within him which was mercilessly squirming around inside him.

“Rest little one, you are making me feel ill.” Legolas spoke softly in Sindarian to his child as he slipped a hand beneath his robe and began soothing his stomach with small circles. Legolas did not realise he was being watched until a warm hand came to rest in his lower back making him jump a little. Legolas glanced cautiously over his shoulder having hastily removed his hand from his robe.

“Are you well Legolas, you look a little pale?” Elrond turned Legolas slowly around to face him the half elf’s hands coming up to softly inspect Legolas features. With the movement of his child and the never ending duties Las has had very little sleep. Compared to everyone else who managed least a few hours rest a night Legolas had had none, the baby moving about too much for him to settle. The last few nights it had begun to get worse and Legolas had thrown up several times after some particularly nasty kicks from the child.

“I am just tired that is all.” Legolas tried to step away from Elrond to continue with his duties but the half elf did not relinquish his hold on the prince’s arm, instead gently pushLegoLegolas so that he was forced to perch on the edge of the desk.

“Legolas do not lie to me, how do you feel?” With his tone serious Elrond pressed his hands softly to Legolas’ chest somewhat surprised to find the prince’s breasts already beginning to fill. Legolas blushed a deep crimson colour as Elrond unceremoniously untied the first few ties of his robe and drew one of the small developing breasts into his hand. Legolas winced a little in pain at Elrond’s touch but the half elf was unphased and continued the same inspection on the other breast. “Well?” Elrond retied Legolas robe before stepping back a little to let the prince stand up again. Legolas stared at the floor feeling guilty for having lied to Elrond.

“My back aches and my chest is tender. The babe moves within me restlessly and allows me no sleep at night. I am lucky to keep down a few mouthfuls of lembas the constant motion making me sick to the stomach.” Legolas sighed as he noticed another figure approaching having heard what he had just spoken of to Elrond. Elrohir stood cautiously behind his father staring at Legolas with worry. Elrond sighed and placed his hand soothing against Legolas swollen stomach feeling for himself the restless movement of the child within.

“You should have come to me Legolas if you were uncomfortable.” Elrond gently chastised Legolas but still soothed his hand across the prince’s stomach willing the babe within to still.

“I did not feel it was necessary. You have more important things to take care of, I am capable of living with my uncomfortableness.” Elrohir snorted incredulously from behind his father at Legolas reply, unbelieving that Legolas would say such a thing.

“You are important to us also Legolas. Perhaps you should not be doing as much as you are.” Elrohir folded his arms across his chest and looked for support of his idea to his father. Elrond nodded in agreement and gently patted Legolas stomach in warning.

“The reason the child moves so much is because it is unhappy that you are moving to much. If you are not rested neither is your child. Like a tired grumpy elfling it is telling you that it needs rest.” Elrond reached behind Legolas and removed a small vial of mixed herbs from the trays Legolas had brought in earlier and gently pressed it into Legolas hand. “Drink this and then return to your chambers. It will help you sleep.”

“But my duties……” Legolas shook his head in refusal but Elrond pressed the vial insistently further into Legolas hand urging him to drink.

”I will hear no refusal Legolas. You need sleep to rest your body. Already your chest is beginning to swell a sure sign that the birth is not far away and I will not have you compromising your health at such a time. Elrohir and Lindar can cover your duties until you are rested.” Legolas was not willing to argue further with Elrond’s curt tone the Lord’s own fatigue making him seem angrier than he probably needed to be in the situation. Obediently Legolas downed the liquid gagging at thel tal taste before Elrohir handed him a small vial of honey wine to wash it down. “Good, now Elrohir will walk you to your room and insure you are comfortable. Lie on your side it is a better position to sleep in, in your condition.” Again Legolas nodded and with an unexpected kiss on the cheek from Elrond Legolas followed Elrohir from the healing halls towards the room they now shared.

Once at the room Legolas sat down awkwardly on the end of the bed as he watched Elrohir close the curtains darkening the room in order to aid Legolas slumber. The last thing Legolas wished to be doing right now was sleeping, when so many soldiers lay injured needing attention back in the healing halls. So far Legolas had been kept too busy to ponder on his uselessness but now as Elrohir gestured for him to undress Legolas felt truly alone and helpless. Reluctantly Legolas stood and allowed Elrohir to help him off with his robes. None of the nightwear fit Legolas anymore and so the prince merely slipped beneath the sheets of the bed naked.

As Elrond instructed Legolas shifted onto his side and smiled distantly as Elrohir perched himself on the edge of the bed, having reached over and undone Legolas braids for him.

“There you look better lying down already.” Elrohir smiled cheekily and brushed a stray strand of hair from Legolas face before moving to stand from the bed. Legolas stopped him however with a quick hand to his wrist, pulling the half elf back down to sit next to him.

“I miss Glorfindel Elrohir. It pains me here to not have him close.” Elrohir sighed as he watched Legolas press his hand against his heart the prince’s eyes fatigued yet sad as they stared up at Elrohir. With what messages had come from the borders little had been spoken of about, Erestor, Filgree and Glorfindel’s whereabouts or their health only that the borders were holding if only just. Elrohir had also seen the same sadness reflected in his fathers eyes earlier that week when Erestor’s name had been mentioned in the wards. It was a pain seen only in lovers torn apart by circumstance, tongionging, the pying and the uncertainty. Sympathetically Elrohir stretched out along side Legolas and gently slipped his hand beneath the blankets to begin caressing the warm swell of Legolas’ stomach. The fluttering kicks he felt took Elrohir a little by surprise but he merely smiled and continued to caress the restless child growing inside Legolas.

“Aye it is he who should be here comforting you and your child not I but there is nothing we can do to bring him home.” Legolas sniffled back tears the sleeping potion Elrond had given him beginning to make him feel weak and floppy. “You are but maybe a few weeks if not less away from giving birth Legolas and there is little chance the war will end in such short a time. You must accept thatis nis not going to be here when the time comes.” Legolas began to sob now fatigue making him over emotional as Elrohir gently wrapped his arms about the prince’s body holding him tightly against his chest. “Shhh Legolas you will be well I promise, now rest yourself you are tired and emotional neither of which helps your situation.” Elrohir softly pressed a kiss to Legolas forehead his hand still soothing the baby which was beginning to calm down despite it’s fathers unease.

“Will you stay with me?” Legolas whispered tiredly against Elrohir’s shoulder the herbal sleeping po beg beginning to take effect. Elrohir smiled and nodded gently as he settled himself down under the covers beside his friend.

“Aye I will stay with you until you fall asleep and will return for when you wake. Now be still and sleep my prince.” Before Elrohir had even finished his sentence Legolas had gone limp in his arms the emerald green eyes of the prince having turned vacant, and his breathing becoming deeply even…

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