The old ways

"What? Don't tell me. He got really mad with you didn't he?"

"Not really. He had found one of the books and wondered what I was doing with it. Instead of asking me about it, he monitored my actions. He always knew where I went and what I did. At first he wanted to interfere, but then, he told me he gathered that I wanted to surprise him and said nothing. But I will tell you about that later. During my stay in Rivendell, Mithrandir came to visit Elrond and they both talked about me and my plans. Anyway, they came to me and asked if I still wanted to go through with this. I told them how certain I was and that I would hold true to my idea. Gandalf then told me about the first step they would take. By casting a spell on my body, he would provoke the growth of the womb. The womb would be similar to the one a female has. It was to settle low in my abdomen and later they would grow a tube, connecting it to my lower large intestine. This tube was to transport the semen to the womb."

Gimli shuddered "Oh, I mean not to pry, but isn't that a bit weird? Well, I know for certain that even elves do have to relieve themselves from time to time and doesn't that cause problems? What if somethingyouryour waste does slip in?"

It took Legolas a second to understand and then it dawned at him. A chuckle escaped him "Oh no, my dear Gimli. This tube is closed at the end it only opens during orgasm and permits nothing else to pass other than the semen of the partner. So do not worry about that."

"Oh good. I wouldn't want to find a little brown elfling at the end of your pregnancy in my arms."

"Dwarves" Legolas muttered but continued. "After the hopefully successful growth of womb and tube, which would take about a year, I would have to start taking special herbal teas and other potions the alchemist would brew for me. Gandalf made it clear to me, that it was going to be extremely stressful on my body and it wouldn't be an easy goal to achieve. I remember that I needed a nights rest thinking about it and when I awoke it was clear to me that I wanted to go through it. So, early in mor morning I went back to Gandalf and Elrond and told them about my decision. It was then agreed upon that we would need to send Haldir away for a short whiler itr it was going to be quite painful in the beginning and he would surely see that something wasn't as it should be. To our surprise it was not all to difficult to persuade him to leave for Lorien in order to deliver an important message to Galadriel. Haldir suspected that Elrond needed a time alone with me, hence he had found out about my big secret and left twos las later. What I didn't know was the fact that Gandalf had written something about the treatment I was to undergo to her, for I needed the help of the Lorien healer and alchemists should I stay in the Golden woods during the process."

"It doesn't sound very romantic the whole thing." Gimli snorted.

"At the beginning it wasn't I can tell you that. When Haldir had left, Elrond summoned me to his private chambers so we wouldn't be disturbed. I was to lay down on Elrond's bed and he gave me a potion to drink to ease any upcoming pain. I was totally terrified and on the other hand as giddy as child. When the potion had lulled me into a sleep like state, Gandalf began the enchantment. There was some weird pulling and stabbing in my body and I felt nauseous. After two or three hours Gandalf was finished and looked worn out. It must have been very tiring thing for him. Elrond escorted me back to my room and made me lay down again. I stayed in bed for three days, after that bit of the procedure. Never had I encountered such a pain and sadness. I cried out for Haldir more than once. I longed for him to be there and comfort me. Hold me and tell me that everything was going to be all right."

Suddenly Legolas stopped and his breath hitched. He buried his face in his hands and his body shook with the sobs escaping him. Gimli stared at thf fof for a second and then quickly got up to hold him by the shoulders and let cry cry it out.

After some time the sobs grew quieter and Gimli felt Legolas straightening his back. "I am sorry, my friend." Whispered the elf. "When I remembered how much I missed Haldir and how he suddenly came back to me, I also remembered something else. That no matter how much I miss him now, he will never come back to me, never hold me again and that he will never see his child. He will never see it grow up, see it shoot his first arrow, fall in love and his first smile." Tears threatened to fall from those large blue eyes again, when Legolas suddenly turned sharply to Gimli "Gimli, you are my dearest friend. You must promise me, that if something ever should happen to me you will take care of my child. Look after it, tell it about the elven ways and give it the love Haldir and I could not. Promise me this!" Legolas got hold of the Gimli's hands and clutched them desperately.

"Don't talk about things like this, you crazy elf. Nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you. And besides, don't you think that your family in Mirkwood would be a wiser choice?"

"No! Many are leaving already. And my father doesn't even know about the fact that I can bear children. No, I want you to take care of my child. Please Gimli."

Gimli shuffled his feet in embarrassment "All right, all right. I will. But don't fret if I teach the little tyke some dwarvish ways too."

Legolave ave Gimli a bright smile and drew the square dwarven hands, he was still holding to his lips and kissed the knuckles. "I thank thee with all my heart, Gimli son of Gloin!"