Son of the Eldar

Title: Son of the Eldar
Author: TICS
Rated: NC17
Genre: Slash, Mpreg, Romance, Angst, AU Movieverse
Pairings: Aragorn/Legolas
Summary: Takes place after the Return of the King. Arwen took her father's advice and sailed to Valinor, leaving Aragorn bereft. Legolas steps in to comfort the King, and finds himself in a situation which he had never dreamt possible.

Son of the Eldar
Part Two


...Three months later...


Legolas rode silently, his back straight but his heart heavy as each of his mount's steps took him further from his husband. He often thought of Estel in this manner, as his husband, although he never gave in to the temptation to address him as such in public. Only in the privacy of their chambers did he run his fingers through Aragorn's thick black hair and call him husband. It became an endearment used only when alone with each other's company, for Legolas had no wish to constantly remind those of Aragorn's court that their King had chosen to mate with another male.

Aragorn had little patience for Legolas' reasoning, the Elf knew. He was quick to take Legolas' elbow as they walked to dinner, or pat his hand, or simply bestow a love-filled smile in his direction, and stoically ignored the raised brows and whispered comments that such actions invariably drew.

But Legolas was far more aware of Aragorn's position that perhaps even Estel was...he knew that Sovereign or not, the opinion and respect of one's subjects was what kept a King strong...without it, his realm could crumble. Having been raised the son of a King had its merits, most notably an understanding of politics within a kingdom. Legolas' feared that his presence was detrimental to Aragorn's position.

The Wood Elf often agonized over it, spending long hours of the night while his husband slept and he, himself, could not find peace in reverie, pacing the floor or staring out the window at the stars. In his fantasies, he was accepted as Aragorn's mate, their relationship commonplace, and no one would blink an eye when Estel put his arm around his waist or kissed him beneath the White Tree, but in reality the people of Gondor were obviously uncomfortable with the fact that their King's mate was male. In truth Legolas often felt that he was living a lie, for he would strive to present the image of being simply a brother to the King...a companion and nothing more. The lie was eating away at the Wood Elf, twisting his innards, cramping his muscles, and causing him pain that was at times nearly unbearable. Such illness in Elves was unheard of as far as Legolas knew, and finally, after nearly six weeks of such torture he had been forced to tell Aragorn of his pains.

Estel had immediately ordered Legolas to bed, and had examined him carefully from head to toe, but could find nothing amiss aside from a tenderness over the Elf's belly. Aragorn thought it the result of the cramping the Elf had been experiencing, and gently rubbed balms into Legolas' soft skin seeking to relieve it. He prepared draughts and ointments, drawing upon his Ranger's knowledge of herbal remedies, but to no avail. All gave Legolas little, if any, relief from his symptoms. Finally, in desperation he had sent Legolas to Imladris, where Elrond Half-Elven still lingered. Aragorn still harbored some ill feelings for his erstwhile foster father for Elrond's part in convincing Arwen to sail, but he felt he had no other recourse but to ask his aid in treating his husband. Though Gondor had healers, they had no experience in treating the Firstborn.

So it was that Legolas found himself on horseback, flanked by a full compliment of honor guard and ascending into the foothills of the Misty Mountains and the realm of Imladris. He prayed that Lord Elrond would find and relieve the cause of his illness, and that he would be accepted by his kin and would not be faulted for usurping the Evenstar's place in Aragorn's bed.

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"He is quickened."

"No...certainly there is a mistake...an error, my Lord," Glorfindel said quietly as he stood near Elrond Half-Elven in the Healing Rooms of the Last Homely House, eyeing the golden Elf who lay on a bed on the far side of the room. "Surely something else must account for the Prince's condition. It is impossible."

"There is no mistake. He is quickened with life," Elrond replied firmly, frowning at the tall golden Slayer. He washed his hands in a bowl of fresh water, drying them afterward with a soft cloth.

"How can this be?" Glorfindel asked, his eyes widening as he gazed upon the Wood Elf who lay slumbering, recipient of a powerful draught prepared by the Elvish healer. "He is male! He cannot carry life within him...we are the Bearers of the Seed, not the Bearers of Life, Elrond!"

"You seek to lecture me on Elvish anatomy, Glorfindel? I have been versed in the healing arts since before the Fall of Gondolin...and I have seen many things in my lifetime that have belied an explanation. Who knows the workings of the mind of Eru, or can fathom his reasoning?" Elrond responded, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "I only interpret...I do not claim to always understand my findings."

"How will...the babe...he has no...er...how?" Glorfindel stammered, obviously perplexed by the dynamics of the situation. "Do you know, Lord Elrond? Have you thought that far ahead?"

"Of course I have...it is why I chose to give him the sleeping draught before examining him. I wished him not to understand what it was I was looking for until I was certain," Elrond sniffed, rolling his eyes at the golden-haired warrior beside him. "His body is changing, Glorfindel. . His pain is caused by this transmogrification...it is accommodating itself for his future needs."

The Elf Lord walked across the room, Glorfindel following, coming to a stop next to Legolas' bed. He gazed down at the Wood Elf with a mixture of pity, concern, and amazement. "The babe develops in a sack that has formed between the wall of Legolas' abdomen and his outer skin. His belly is developing a flap, Glorfindel...a...pouch, much like a haversack. When his time comes, I believe this flap will open, allowing the babe its freedom. Perhaps then it will then disappear...or perhaps not. Eru only knows what plans He has made and to what end."

"Does he know?" Glorfindel asked, as his turquoise eyes searched that area of Legolas' belly that was covered by a thin white sheet, looking for anything that seemed amiss. Other than for a slight roundness, it seems no different than his own.

"Nay...not yet. He believes his ailment to be caused by worry for Aragorn's position." Elrond shook his head again as a sad look crept into his eyes. "I know how much it hurt Estel when Arwen set sail...I tried to explain to him that what his heart felt for my daughter was only what others thought proper and that his true feelings were for another, but he would not listen. I could see it in his eyes when he looked upon the Archer, and I could see that same look in Legolas' eyes when he looked upon the Ranger."

"'Tis a difficult path they have chosen, my Lord," Glorfindel said softly, the sincerity in his voice evident as he spoke from experience in such matters.

"Aye, but not one they would have chosen willingly, Glorfindel. Had I not intervened Aragorn would have married Arwen and their lives would have been spent in a lackluster marriage of little love. They would have grown to dislike one another...perhaps loathe one another. They each would have blamed one another for their choices, and my daughter, my heart, would have forfeited her immortality for naught. I could not allow it, and now, as I gaze upon this Wood Elf and see the hand of Eru touching him, I know that I chose the correct course of action. Aragorn's and Legolas' love was meant to be...I can sense it. There is no other explanation for the miracle that Eru works before our very eyes."

Glorfindel nodded silently, then noticed that Legolas' eyes had begun to flutter. "He awakens, my Lord..."

"Aye...if you would leave us now, Glorfindel, I would allow him the courtesy of privacy when I tell him of his condition," Elrond said softly, smiling at the Slayer.

Glorfindel took one last look at the Wood Elf, then nodded and quickly left the room, glad that it was not he that was to impart such news to the Woodland Prince.

TBC...