A Rose By Any Other Name

Yue: LMFAO!!! Yeah, I love the robe thing too! That came to me just as a spur of the moment thing. And I love the way you played that out with her. It kept me laughing for quite some time. BTW, I still can’t get her to let go of the damn robe now thanks to you doing that… *Looks over at Asca out of the corner of her eye. Asca sees this and growls clutching robe tighter to her chest.* ^^ Anyway. Thank you for the wonderful review. I hope this quenches your thirst a little.

Sister Kitty: Awww… Thank you so much for worrying about me. ^^ I’m so happy that I mean so much to you, even if it is just for my fic. ^^ Anyway. Here’s the next chapter. Do keep up the reviews love. I always enjoy hearing from my faithful regulars. ^^

JW: Valar! I Think I’m seeing double! LOL! Wow… There’s a lot to respond to there. But as to your categorizing of everyone’s attitudes to her, you are mostly right. ^^ I’m glad you saw it as that too. ^^ As For Galadriel and Celeborn treating her like a daughter, in some ways they do, just veryvery plainly or meaning it as that. For the brothers thing, save for Haldir, that is absolutely correct, the hobbits, not so much little brothers, ast bst brothers, save for Pippin. Friend and younger brother would fit for him though. ^^ Gandalf and Gimli you got down perfectly, and wow… you just are reading my mind about Thranduil! As for Haldir, I’m not quite sure where I’m going to go with him. It may turn into the grudging elder brother, but then again, it may not. ^^ BTW, Most of your questions will be answered with this chapter. ^^ Read, Review, Enjoy!!!

Also, as for questions weather I am coming from the book or the movies, a little of both is true. I like some things from both, and others are made more plain in one than the other. I like a mix for this fic. ^^ So really, it’s not solely canon nor fanon. Thank you very much and I look forward to reading more of your reviews! Much loves! Enjoy!!!

~~~A Rose By Any Other Name~~~
Chapter Twenty-Two

Ascadholiel’s days went along quite comfortably, her evenings usually spent meditating, or communing with nature as the elves called it, sometimes with Galadriel joining her. Nights were still bad, and very stressful for her. More often than not, night would find her crying herself to sleep, wrapped in Legolas’ clothes, cuddled around the pillow he had rested his head on, sleep eluding her for the longest time.

For two months all of this went on, a daily routine she had become accustomed to and comfortable with, the stress sometimes making her tired and nauseous at times. That is, until one day, something changed.

Ascadholiel was walking alone to breakfast for once, her mind as always on her absent lover, and contemplating what her day was going to be like, as she always did. She was feeling a little below the weather and was quite glad that Celeborn had sent Haldir out to the border for some unknown reason. This of course meant that she wouldn’t have to suffer Haldir through weapon’s training this day, this fact being a source of great relief for her.

When the young human came to the large entry hall where she and the fellowship had stood before the Lord and Luponupon arriving in Caras Galadhon, she heard Celeborn and Galadriel speaking, quite seriously. Then she heard a smooth, unknown voice. She stood just out of the entryway, not exactly hiding, but not wanting to interrupt, and she listened. The unknown voice speaking currently in Sindarin, and in her opinion, sounded a little fatalistic.

“*…In Rohan. The men of that country need our aid, or they will fall.*”

Celeborn spoke next. “*Why should we send our finest warriors ightight and die for men, especially when they are needed here in these dark times? The Last Alliance is over.*”

Galadriel spoke. “*The time of the elves is nearly over, and our people are leaving these shores. Men must find their own strength now.*”

The unknown voice spoke again. “*Then I will call for volunteers. They need help to combat this evil. They are facing unspeakable odds and tens of thousands of fighting Uruk-hai. Surely you have seen that the Fellowship has failed! Two of the Halflings were taken, two are still on the path to Mordor, and one other of the fellowship has already been slain. The other three are heading to Rohan. Will you damn them as well?*”

Ascadholiel didn’t hear what else was said after that. Her eyes were wide and unseeing as her mind played the strangers words over and over. ‘One already slain, the rest, damned.’ Everything rushed to her at once with the reality that of the sole thought that Legolas would die, if he was not already dead, and that she would more than likely never see him again.

The last image to burn itself into her mind was of her beloved Legolas, his beautiful blue eyes closed forever in the sleep of death, never to open again, never to sparkle as he smiled at her. Of Legolas’ cold body, which would never hold her or make love to her again, covered in his life’s blood and so utterly still and laying alone on the cold, hard, blood-soaked ground, never to run and play with his friends and family. His treasured bow, laying broken and snapped beside his lifeless fingers, never to be strung and shot again. His bloodied, golden hair laying in disarray, never for her to run her fingers through or watch him braid again as they prepared for the day. His lips, blue and slack in death, never to kiss or be kissed again. Gone. Gone forever.

Ascadholiel heard a scream as she suddenly felt herself falling, though all of that seemed so far away. The scream was of someone in anguish and agony, and her heart broke at the sound. Then she realized, the scream had come from her, and then she was aware no more.

**********

The next time Ascadholiel woke up, she was being carried. Vaguely she thought to herself, ‘You know… I should be used to this by now.’ She opened her eyes and looked up into the face of an elf she had never seen before. His hair was raven black, a silver coronet gracing his regal brow above finely arched eyebrows. His face seemed timeless to her, old and yet young, his eyes the silver of starlight, and having a quality of one who had known much grief and yet much joy in his time. There was wisdom there. Great wisdom.

When the elf set her down on a bed, she looked around and recognized the healer’s talan. It had been quite some time since she had been there. She was very confused when she finally asked, “*What… what happened?*”

Galadriel’s face appeared on the other side of the bed. She spoke in Westron so it would be easier on Ascadholiel in this confusing time. “You collapsed child. Do not worry. Lord Elrond will assist you.”

Ascadholiel looked back over at the elf who had carried her, and he gave her a light smile. She blinked a few times, then, “Oh! So you’re Lord Elrond! I have been told much regarding you. I…”

Galadriel stopped her with a light touch to her shoulder. “There will be time for pleasantries later, Lady Ascadholiel. Let Lord Elrond take care of you now.”

Ascadholiel nodded, not quite sure still what had happened, her mind was a little foggy.

Elrond placed a gentle, cool hand to her brow. “How have you been feeling lately and how are you feeling now?”

Ascadholiel thought for a moment and then said, “I’ve been a little queasy or the last few days, and tired as well. Minuscule aches, heightened irritability, usually around Haldir, though that occurrence is normal. I’m not a healer or a doctor, but my first intuition is flu, and maybe a little PMS.”

Elrond cocked an eyebrow. “PMS?”

Ascadholiel nodded. “The irritability a woman gets before she menstruates each month.”

Lord Elrond nodded. “I’m going to feel your abdomen to see if I can feel anything that might be making you ill.”

Ascadholiel nodded and lay still as he put firm, yet gentle pressure on her abdomen, moving his palms about. At one point she moaned a little bit and almost curled up. “Valar, you’re going to make me sick if you persist.”

Elrond smiled a little and removed his hands, looking up at her gravely then. “I need not persist. I know what it is now that is making you ill. Your abdomen in hard, firm in a way that is not usually normal.”

Ascadholiel’s mind shot into overdrand and it was clear that she was beginning to panic. “Hard? You… you mean a growth? A tumor? But… but I… no…”

Elrond put a gentle hand to her shoulder to keep her from sitting up. “Hush. Do not worry so. I said it was firm. I did not say it was a tumor. There is growth there yes, but that is natural. You are with child.”

Those simple words shocked Ascadholiel into full silence as she tried to wrap her tired, stressed mind around what was just said. Her left hand slowly moved down to her abdomen, while her other dug the pendant out of her gown and clutched it to her heart. Her eyes closed, tears finally beginning to leak from them as she whispers a name in both joy and sorrow. “Legolas.”

Elrond started a little then raised an eyebrow and turned his eyes to his mother-in-law for an explanation.

Galadriel, who is now petting Ascadholiel’s head gently, looked up at her son with a smile. “The fellowship found her on Caradhras and she traveled with them until they reached my woods. She was even wounded in Moria. She is a princess of Mirkwood now. Prince Legolas’ bonded. It is his child she bares now within her womb.”

Elrond smiled and nodded at this happy news. “I see. This is a very good thing.”

Ascadholiel opened her eyes, eyes that seemed to sparkle now, and looked at Elrond as the Elf Lord spoke, his hand still on her shoulder. “So Legolas has finally found love. You must be quite extraordinary, and also blessed. Perhaps you would be the one to dispel his loneliness?”

Galadriel, a gentle smile thick in her voice, “She already has. Never have I beheld his heart so light as when he was with her, or even just thinking of her.”

Ascadholiel blushed and then slowly sat up, her hand still on her belly. “He’s not the only one who’s had his loneliness dispelled by this union. Every day I live, I live for him, and now for our child. Our child.” She closed her eyes again in bliss, both arms now hugging her belly. She whispered in Sindarin, her love’s language, “*Oh my love, we are going to have a child. Our love has created new life within me. Hurry back so you can see it.*”

Ascadholiel’s eyes suddenly snapped open, panicking again. “Oh Valar!” She grabbed hold of Elrond’s robes in both hands. “It was your voice I heard before! You said one of the Fellowship had already died! Oh Valar! Not Legolas! Please not Legolas! I… I couldn’t live without him! Please!” Tears were pouring down her face now and she was trembling badly.

Galadriel helped her sit up and sat on the bed behind her while Elrond settled down beside her on the edge of the bed. Galadriel rubbed her back to soothe her, and Elrond, having the instincts of a father, and knowing she needed one right then, and a healer, wrapped his arms around her to try and calm her, one hand caressing her hair.

Ascadholiel leaned into him, burying her face against his chest as she sobbed and panicked.

He spoke to her soothingly, his deep voice rumbling gently in his chest. “Hush now. It is well. Stress is not good for your babe. Try and calm yourself and worry not. Legolas is alive and well. Sadly it was Boromir of Gondor who fell, bravely defending the Halflings, Merry and Pippin, to his last breath. Your bonded is well. Take heart, aranel (princess).”

Even with the assurances, it took some time for Ascadholiel to calm down and finally stop crying, though the elves knew that it was also because she was mourning the loss of her friend Boromir. Finally though, she did settle down and stop crying, still leaning for support into the elven Lord her friends and husband spoke so highly of, her breath shuddering out every once in a while and her nose stuffy.

Elrond leaned back and looked into her face, wiping away her tears gently as he smiled at her. “There now. All will be well.” He got up for only a moment and took a vile of thick, gel-like substance off if a shelf. He sniffed it, then came back and dabbed a little bit on her upper lip, underneath her nostrils. As she breathed in the fumes of the stuff, her nose cleared and she could breathe easier. Elrond smiled again. “Better?”

Ascadholiel nodded and smiled a little shakily before Galadriel spoke, speaking again in elvish for Ascadholiel’s learning benefit. “*Are you hungry Ascadholiel? You were on your way to break your fast were you not?*”

Ascadholiel nodded but then said, “*I do not believe I would be able to successfully keep anything down though, after such grievous news.*”

Galadriel nodded. “*I understand, but you must at least try to eat something. Remember, a child grows within you now and depends on you to take care of yourself.*”

Ascadholiel’s hand went right back to her belly, a slightly awed/disbelieving look on her face. “*It’s still so heard to believe that Legolas and I are going to be parents… but not hard at the same time.*”

Elrond smiled and helped her to her feet, then escorted her out of the healer’s talan and back towards the dining hall, Galadriel in tow. “*Indeed. Your child will also be the first elven child born in more than 2000 years.*”

Ascadholiel started at that, still rubbing her abdomen with here hae hand, the other tucked around Elrond’s bicep. “*Really? Then Legolas is among the youngest elves.*”

Elrond nodded. “*As are my own children.*”

Ascadholiel nodded with a little smile. “*Ah yes, Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen.*”

Elrond looked at her questioningly.

Ascadholiel smiled again, reading the look. “*Lord Celeborn is instructing me on the history of the Eldar. You play more than a decent and pivotal role in said history, thus I should know a decent part of your lineage and progeny. Also, Aragorn was quite fond of speaking of all of you.*” Ascadholiel chuckled a little then, feeling slightly giddy, and finding herself comfortable speaking with this elven Lord. “*Most of the Fellowship was also saying I should meet you and see if you would be willing to teach me the healing art.*”

Elrond smiled a little. “*You have an interest in the healing ways?*”

Ascadholiel nodded. “*Oh yes. Back where I come from…*” she was careful not to say yet that she was from another world, “*I was studying to be what is called a Medical Assistant. I don’t like people, at least other humans, much, unless they are in need of my help. I have a little bit of medical experience, but nothing that would be all to helpful here. I’m very interested in learning herb lore and the like. Legolas suggested on more than one occasion that should you and I ever meet, that I bring up my interest to you.*”

Elrond nodded in understanding. “*I would be honored to teach you for as long as I remain on the shores of Arda. Perhaps after your babe is born, you may travel to Imladris, my land, and for a time I could tutor you there.*”

Ascadholiel looked at him as they climbed the short flight of stairs into the main building where Celeborn and Galadriel usually resided and where they ate together. “*You would do that?*”

Elrond smiled back at her in an almost paternal manner. “*You seem to be a very intelligent woman, and also, Prince Legolas is a very good friend of my children’s, and also of myself. I am in his debt for taking part in this journey, and in yours for freeing his heart. He would not have bonded to you and you would not have conceived if you had not made him happier than he has even been before.*”

Ascadholiel blushed at all the compliments. “*Are all elves so poetic and flattering?*”

Elrond chuckled. “*We only speak the truth and give praise where it is deserved.*”

Ascadholiel blushed again and then looked up to see that they were almost there.

Celeborn appeared in the next archway and gracefully hurried over to them. When he reached them, he brought his hand up to his pupil’s face, then leaned down and placed a small kiss to Ascadholiel’s cheek. He stood strait again and smiled gently. “It is good to see you well. We were all quite worried when you suddenly collapsed.”

Ascadholiel smiled up at Celeborn, who, like Gandalf before him, had become like a father to her, and she spoke to him familiarly. “I apologize for worrying you so Celeborn. I’m fine. We’re, fine.” She said, her free hand rubbing her belly.

Celeborn smiled brightly as it instantly clicked. In a rare show of emotion, he pulled her away from Elrond and into a hug. “You are with child! That is joyous news! How far along are you?”

Ascadholiel looked up at Elrond from the circle of her teacher’s arms for the answer.

Elrond had a peaceful smile on his face as he said, “She appears to be about three months along, almost four.”

Ascadholiel whipped around then, her expression shocked as she faced Elrond. “Almost four? But that would mean I conceived in the Mines of Moria! But…” She seemed to deflate a little then at the realization.

Elrond cocked and arched eyebrow. “Did you not notice a change or secession in your monthly flow?”

Ascadholiel leaned her back against Celeborn for support, one hand on her chest just above the bust of her pale, forest-green gown, resting on Legolas’ braid. “I did but… I thought it was just from stress. I arrive at the realization now that, that was not the case.”

The three elves smiled at her kindly and Celeborn offered her his arm to show her the rest of the way to the table where breakfast was already waiting, Elrond extending the same courtesy to Galadriel. They all sat then and ate, Elrond making sure Ascadholiel ate well enough for a pregnant human.

Ascadholiel also noticed the knowing smile on Galadriel’s face. The human mock-glared at her between bites. “*You knew I was pregnant all along didn’t you?*”

Galadriel swallowed her bite and smiled. “*From the first day I met you. I saw it in almost every possibility in my mirror.*”

Ascadholiel nodded. “*And you decided to neglect in informing me of this state of my health because?*”

Galadriel smiled still. “*I believed it was not my place to tell you, but to watch over you and make sure everything went well with you.*”

Ascadholiel nodded, then looked down at her plate briefly and asked quietly, “*Does Legolas know?*”

Galadriel shook her head. “*No, he does not. I felt it would be too much of a distraction to him.*”

Ascadholiel nodded. She could accept this. She desperately wanted to bring up what was going on with the fellowship, but decided against it. Instead she spoke again, aiming her words to either Galadriel or Celeborn. “*So is that why Haldir has been going relatively easy on me? Obviously Celeborn didn’t know I was pregnant.*”

Galadriel nodded. “*Indeed. I gave Haldir strict instructions that he was to be extremely gentle with you, no knocking you about. He was to teach you only strict self defence.*”

Ascadholiel nodded and leaned back in her chair for a moment. “*That’s also why you wouldn’t let me practice archery. Pulling the bow and the way I would have to move my body might break the placenta. I say now, thank you.*” Now that she understood she knew perfectly why Galadriel had been so insistent that she not practice archery with then. And indeed, she was very thankful, her mind still not quite getting the fact that she was carrying a piece of her only love, growing inside her.

They spoke more as they ate, Celeborn and Elrond having their own quiet conversation as the women talked. When they were done and the food had been cleared away, Ascadholiel leaned back in her chair again. “So may I ask what the plan for this day is? Am I to assume that it will be the same schedule as every other uneventful day?”

Celeborn shook his head, his silver hair caressing his shoulders. “No. You have had quite a few shocks today. As Lord Elrond has arrived as well, we have many matters of import to discuss. I think it would be wise for you to take the rest of this day to relax and rest.”

Ascadholiel nodded and then stood as the Lord and Lady stood, Elrond standing as well. She switched back to Sindarin, knowing that she was suppose be be speaking it anyway. “*Very well. Thank you for the wonderful breakfast.*” She said, even though she ate with them every day. “*Lord Elrond, thank you very much for your help. It was a true pleasure to meet one my husband and our friends spoke so highly of. Their praises from what I have observed were not exaggerated and are quite deserved.*”

Elrond smiled, pleased with her compliments, knowing from her tone of voice that they weren’t just mindless flattery. He bowed his graceful head to her, his mythril coronet glinting a little in the silver light.

Ascadholiel smiled again and then bowed her head in turn to Celeborn and Galadriel. “*My Lord, My Lady, I hope to see you at evening meal?*”

They both bowed their own heads slightly. Celeborn stepped around the table to her side. “*Of course, Lady Ascadholiel.*” He supped her face in his gentle, elegant hands then and placed a small kiss on her brow. “*Go now and rest well. We will send mid-day meal to your talan if you do not attend here. We will also send Naurwen to assist you for evening meal.*”

Ascadholiel nodded and smiled up at Celeborn. “*Thank you my Lord.*” Then she nodded one more time, turned and walked out, heading to her talan to take a nap.

**********

A.N.: Yes, I know she says, “Valar” instead of god… but then again, she has been around elves for how long now? I hope this satisfied those of you who virtually were screaming and jumping at me to spill and tell if Asca was pregnant or not. ^^ Sorry again that it took so long, but RL issues keep getting in the way and I can’t get chapters out quite enough. ^^ I really am trying though. Thank you so much to everyone who is sticking with me so far. ^^ Keep reading, I am SO not giving up on this fic. ^^ Namaarie!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman