The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 134

Elrohir swore in elvish as Legolas stumbled on the rocks falling to his knees as a pained moan left his lips. The prince’s hair hung about his face in long wet tendrils the rain cascading down his face and soaking his clothes through.

“Aye it hurts, no further please……” Legolas cried out weakly to Elrohir, the prince’s strength beginning to leave him as his labour slowly progressed. Elrohir had tried his best to see the prince to safety but everything that could possible have gone wrong had happened. While preparing Iest for their escape from the men’s camp a band of orcs had swept into the encampment searching for fresh meat. Unable to collect more than a few meagre supplies for their journey Elrohir had been forced to hastily mount Iest, with Legolas draped unceremoniously in front of him. At the pace that was needed to escape the orcs Legolas had been bounced and bumped around like a toy ship on the river and in his condition it was neither healthy nor acceptable. Then the rain had come. Like a torrent from the sky the clouds had let down their fury upon their very heads. Through the blinding rain, the cold winds and the sharp bite of falling branches from the trees Elrohir had ridden on his right hand buried in Legolas blood soaked tunic forever feeling for signs of complication.

Now however as Legolas progressed further into his labour, riding upon Iest’s back had become impossible, the pain unbearable for the prince. They had reached the rocky edges of the mountains before they had been forced to walk. Iest still followed them obediently towards the safety of the caves further up the ridge. Rangers often used the caves as shelters during the winter and Elrohir hoped he had picked one that was currently unoccupied. Their pace had slowed considerably since dismounting from Iest, Legolas forced to stop with every contraction that overtook his body. Elrohir was becoming worried about Legolas condition and with the prince now on his knees and breathing erratically the half elf was now certain Legolas was too close too dawdle.

“Put your arms around me, I will carry you the rest of the way.” Bending down beside the prince Elrohir gently eased Legolas into his arms before standing up slowly. The rocks had become slippery with the rain and Elrohir did not want to risk loosing his footing by being to hasty despite the situation. Shifting Legolas into a more comfortable position Elrohir began the last steep climb up towards the cave, ignoring the way Legolas’ fingers dug into his shoulders as the prince fought the pain of labour.

With a crack of thunder and a streak of lightening across the sky Elrohir finally stumbled into the cave. Adjusting his eyesight to the darkness Elrohir let out a sigh of relief when he found the cave empty, and a store of wood stocked dry around a makeshift fire pit. Rangers of the wild liked to keep such shelters readily stocked for their own and others use and Elrohir silently thanked the valar for the small mercy he was offered.

“Iest!” Calling the brown mare into the dry cave Elrohir ungraciously pulled one of the several blankets from the saddlebags and threw it onto the dry grass matting layered on the floor. With ease Elrohir lowered Legolas onto the soft blanket smiling mildly as Legolas let out sigh of happiness to be out of the rain and lying still on the ground. Their journey had considerably drained Legolas strength and Elrohir was sure that the prince would struggle through the birth of his child due to his fatigue. Yet there was nothing Elrohir could have prevented and so instead the half elf began hastily setting a fire and heating several flasks of water with what little he sto stolen from the camp of men.

“Elrohir.” Legolas’ raspy voice drew Elrohir from the fire and his activities to ready himself to aid Legolas delivery. The prince’s cries of pain had lessoned somewhat with his stillness but it was obvious he still suffered greatly. Moving to the prince’s side with a small goblet of warmed fey wine Elrohir gentle helped the prince to sit before dribbling some of the warm mixture into Legolas’ mouth. Thank-fully Elrohir had found a small amount opotepotent calming herb in the bottom of Iest’s saddlebags and while it would do little to aid Legolas in giving birth it would help to lesson the pain and calm the prince down. “I am cold.” Whispering softly having swallowed the comforting sips of wine Legolas attempted to nestle into Elrohir for warmth but the half elf merely shook his head gently.

“Let me get you out of these wet clothes first.” Legolas nodded weakly before gritting his teeth tightly together as another contraction swept over his body. With loving care Elrohir slowly stripped Legolas of his wet garments ensuring at all times that Legolas felt no unnecessary pain. Elrohir blushed a little at seeing Legolas naked but the prince didn’t seem to notice. Once naked, Elrohir began to gently sponge the warm water from the fire over Legolas’ body washing away the blood that had dried and stuck to the prince. It would be impossible for Elrohir to properly oversee the delivery of Legolas child with Legolas’ body so caked with blood and fluid that the opening in his lower abdomen was unseen. The prince didn’t seem to mind the warm bath and Elrohir rejoiced in finding a way of gently soothing Legolas pain.

When Legolas was finally clean Elrohir slowly lowered the prince down onto the blanket again before covering him over with two of the three blankets that remained, ensuring that he kept one of the thickest blankets for the child. Everything that could possibly be made ready had been done and with a poke of the fire to ensure its continuity Elrohir lay down beside the prince to wait. Easing himself onto his side Legolas turned over to snuggle into Elrohir’s body taking warmth from the elf who was looking after him.

“How will I know when it is coming?” Elrohir smiled gently against Legolas forehead as he soothed his hands back and forth down Legolas’ back. The fear in Legolas voice did not go unnoticed and Elrohir felt extremely sad for the innocent young elf before him. It was virtually unheard of for an elf so close to the passing of his majority to give birth to a child. Legolas had been completely clueless when he’d bound to Glorfindel and now as he questioned Elrohir about his pregnancy, the prince’s true age was beginning to show.

“You will feel it when it is time Legolas. Now try and rest a little for you will need your strength. Do not fight the pain just concentrate on slowing your breathing allowing the pain to pass.” Legolas nodded gently and rolled onto his back again trying to do as Elrohir had told him as another wave of pain hit him. It would be a long night for them both, but not as long as for those still fighting the battle unseen on the plains below them.

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

(A.N) Sorry it's been a while I did my wrist again at work and I now have a purple cast on my fucking wrist which makes typing difficult hense the long time between updates. Anyway sorry it's been a while but I hope you enjoy what's to come.