The old ways

"I am sorry, my friend. I should have chosen my words more wisely. You have lost you bonded, and so it is only natural that you are weak." Aragorn patted the leg beneath his hand. "No, Legolas, that was only half of that what I meant. Forgive me. I am at a loss at how to explain to you what I saw when I entered this room. I believe you wanted to keep your bodily condition from me, and I don’t doubt that you had your reasons for it. But when I came in here, I saw Gimli bent over your lower body in a most distracting way. I am ashamed to say I thought of indecencies and I pulled him from you. The poor soul was only taking your measurements and was furious at me. And when I turned to look at you, you were nearly unconscious, and then I saw your lower abdomen. Gimli wanted to make me believe it might be a swelling because of an injury, but I have learned enoughLordLord Elrond’s house to know what it actually was. Even though I have never witnessed something like this with my own eyes, I knew it. I think it is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen that had happened to my dearest friend. I will not tell anybody else, but I want to make sure that everything is all right. I presume Gandalf knows about it as well, but he might not be with us the whole way so I will check on you from time to time. And when you need the rest or help, just give me a sign. It will be less conspicuous, if I call for a halt."

Legolas looked at the ranger with tears brimming in his eyes. Somewhere deep inside he wished that none of this had happened, that he wasn't pregnant and he never had left Mirkwood. But then again he was overwhelmed by the consideration and devotion of his friends and the way they helped him. The pain of loosing Haldir burned still so strong and he doubted that he would ever get over it, but their help and strength made it a little bit easier.

Legolas smiled at his friend ever so slightly and nodded.

"Will you let me have a look at you?" Aragorn asked in a soothing voice.

Again a single nod told the ranger all he needed to know. The elf would let him do what ever was necessary.

Aragorn got up from the end of the bed and moved over to the left side. He glanced at the elf again before he pulled the blanket away. Legolas was still stripped to the waist, his leggings still open and was lying flat on his back. Aragorn rubbed his hands together, so they wouldn’t be too cold on the elf’s skin and touched the bulging flesh carefully. Some light bruises coloured the pale skin near the hip and lower ribs, but obviously the part were the child grew was unhurt.

"Are you experiencing any pain or spasms?"

Legolas shook his head. To be honest he didn’t feel much right now. His body was numb from the pain of his soul.

Aragorn probed gently, uttering a satisfied sigh, when he encountered nothing unusual. The womb was soft to the touch, without hard bumps or dents, and the abdominal wall was soft too, so there was no fear of an infection.

Aragorn had just finished his examination, when a soft knock at the door announced a visitor. Quickly covering the elf with the blanket, the ranger turned and called out "Enter."

The door opened hesitantly and Gimli peered inside the room.

"Gimli!" Legolas called to his friend. "Why do you hesitate? Come in!"

"Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt anything. Don't get me wrong but I though that you two are talking, or worse, fighting. Something like that." He shuffled inside, one hand hidden behind his back.

"No, you were not interrupting anything. I told Legolas that I know about his condition and what to do from now on, and he actually let me have a look at him." Aragorn smiled as he sat down again at the end of the bed.

"Good, that is relief to hear!" Gimli turned to Legolas "I was worried you know?"

Legolas blushed slightly and shook his head "You needn't be worried, I am better than it looks. And now that I have my own healer at my side, as well as my living armour, nothing can happen to me."

"Ah, but there is something that will give you even more protection than I can. Me and Aragorn have something for you."

"Don’t believe a word he says." Aragorn interrupted the dwarf. "I have only watched him. He did all the work."

Now it was Gimli’s turn to blush, though his beard hid most of it. "No, Aragorn. I cannot take all the credit. If it hadn’t been for your knowledge of the elven language and their spells, it would never have been looking like it does now."

Legolas listened to their banter and was surprised that it actually made him smile.

"Come, Gimli. Tell me. What are you going on about." The elf looked at the dwarf with a little sparkle in his eyes.

Gimli shuffled his feet for some moments, before his withdrew his hand that had been hiding behind his back.

He stuffed a piece of leather into the elf’s hands and moved away from the bed quickly, as if he was expecting mocking laughter from the elf.

Legolas looked in amazement at the leather in his hands