Honour Before Love

Chapter Six - Lothlorien

Legolas had been surprised when Galadriel had requested his presence
and he went with trepidation in his heart. This was the mother of
Elrond's wife and also a powerful elf who could see your deepest
thoughts. Not a combination he wished to confront on his own. Her
first words confirmed his fears.

'I know you still love my daughter's husband and I know you carried
his son and have kept this from him,' she said calmly. Legolas
looked at her in dismay.

'I am sorry,' he said. 'I cannot help loving him, but I never knew I
could carry a child.'

'Do not blame yourself, young Prince. 'Fate had brought you along
this path, but now you have come to a fork in where you must choose
your own destiny.'

Legolas looked at her confused.

'I do not understand,' he confessed. 'I see only one path...and that
leads to Mordor.'

'You could choose to stay here...or even go back,' she replied, her
blue eyes seeming to see right through him.

'I must go on,' he instantly replied. 'I will not fail Frodo.'

'But what if you had another to consider?'

'Another?'

'Your child.'

'What do you mean?' he asked in alarm. 'Is Jarab in trouble?'

'No,' she replied. 'I do not speak of your son, I speak of your
daughter.'

'But I do not have a daughter!' Legolas replied in bewilderment.

'Not yet, but even now you carry her inside you. A second daughter
for Elrond.'

'I am pregnant?' Legolas asked in disbelief. 'It cannot be true!
The Healers said it was only possible for me to have one child.'

'None the less it is true,' she assured him. 'The choice you must
make is a difficult one. To go on could risk both your lives, but to
turn back may risk the quest.'

'What should I do?' pleaded Legolas. 'Surely you can tell me?'

'Both paths are dark to me,' she admitted. 'This is a decision I
cannot make for you.'

Legolas' head was whirling as he left the presence of the Lady of the
Woods. He desperately wished for someone to confide in, someone to
counsel him. His thoughts immediately turned to Aragorn, but were
just as expediently dismissed. For one, the future king had more
than enough burden with the death of Gandalf without another thing to
worry him. Plus, as his child would be a sister to his beloved
Arwen, he did not think he would get unprejudiced advice.

His thoughts turned to the others in his group, the hobbits he
summarily dismissed, they were simple folk and would probably have
difficulty understanding his predicament. Boromir, he considered too
wrapped up in his own problems. Suddenly he despely ely wished for
Gandalf, who could always be counted on for wise, if not necessarily
immediately lucid, judgements.

His eyes went to the dwarf, Gimli, and instantly he knew his choice
was made. In the time they had spent together he had begun to
appreciate his steady values and outspokenness. If anyone would
listen and advise without bias, he believed Gimli would.

Nervously he approached the dwarf, who stared at him through narrowed
eyes.

'Would you care to walk with me, Gimli? I would like to show you
more of the beauty of Lothlorien.'

If the question surprised the dwarf, he hid it well, perhaps seeing
some of the turmoil evident on the elf's face. He merely nodded his
assent and followed Legolas out of the small clearing.

They walked some way without speaking, until Legolas was sure they
were out of the range of even elvish keen hearing.

'You have something on your mind,' Gimli stated. 'Is it something to
do with what Lady Galadriel spoke about to you?'

Legolas sighed. 'Yes, it is. I desire your counsel if you would
hear me out. Though I must warn you that the subject is a delicate
one and I do not wish to cause you affront.'

'There is little left in this world that would shock me,' the dwarf
replied wryly. 'I would be glad to hear your woe, though I am a
little surprised you would confide in me rather than another elf.'

Legolas could not help a small smile.

'Though these elves are my kin, I know them not and I would not feel
comfortable speaking to any of them on this subject.'

'Then I am honoured, Master elf and will gladly listen to you, though
I do not admit of any real ability to give good advice.'

They continued walking through the forest, Legolas pondering how to
start.

'Lady Galadriel has told me of something most disturbing,' Legolas
began hesitantly. 'Something I did not believe could happen to me
again.'

'Are you ill?' asked Gimli, concern showing on his face.

'No, not ill exactly, but it does concern my health...my body...'

Gimli looked at him, puzzlement plain on his face.

'If you do not spit it out, I cannot possibly help you,' he said.

Legolas tool a deep breath and mentally prepared himself.

'Galadriel told me...she said...that I carry a child...a
daughter...inside of me.'

Gimli stopped dead and gazed at the elf in disbelief.

'That is absurd,' he blustered. 'You are male, you cannot carry a
child.'

'It is not absurd and I know perfectly well it is possible,' Legolas
replied quietly, but firmly. 'I know because I have already borne a
son.'

'A son? I understood you had two sons with your wife and one of
those...' he trailed off realising what he was saying and looked at
the elf apprehensively to see if he had caused offence.

'Jarab, my eldest son, and who is still living, is not a product of
my union with Alemi. Though I did not know it at the time, I already
carried him when I was wed.'

'And the father? I assume there *is* another male involved?' Gimli
asked, trying to keep his tone level.

'Yes, there is. But he knows nothing of his unwitting fatherhood.'

'And this latest one?' a horrifying thougose ose unbidden to
mind. 'It's not Aragorn's is it?'

Despite the situation, the elf could not contain a chuckle at the
look on Gimli's face.

'Nay, Aragorn is a dear friend, but his love for Arwen consumes him.
Both my son and my future daughter share the same father.'

'And who is that?' asked Gimli before he could stop himself. He held
up a hand. 'No, do not feel you have to answer that, it is none of
my business.'

'No Gimli, that I have come to you means I should be totally honest
with you,' Legolas replied earnestly. 'But you must promise not to
speak of this to anyone.'

'You have my word.' Gimli replied a little gruffly.

Unconsciously Legolas rested a hand on his stomach.

'The father is the Lord of Imladris,'

'Lord Elrond?' the dwarf asked, startled. Once again stunned where
he thought nothing else could.

Legolas told him, without restraint, of their shared history and the
brief rekindling only a month before.

'And now I do not know what to do,' Legolas finished. 'I pledged my
life to this quest, little knowing that I would be pledging another
life - an innocent life - as well. You should know I had not planned
to return from this journey no matter what the outcome.'

Gimli was shocked. 'You mean you...?'

'Wished to die? Perhaps. All I know is that I had no plans to
return to Mirkwood or Rivendell.' He looked at Gimli
pleadingly. 'What do I do now? I do not wish to risk the life of my
child, but I do not wish to leave this quest. I feel that I am
needed here.'

Gimli looked at him in contemplation.

'Truth be told, your bow would be sorely missed if you turned back.
I am not sure we would have escaped the mines of Moria without you.
But I cannot make such a serious decision for you. Do not make a
rash decision now, however, whilst the news is still so young. You
must think long and hard before deciding upon a course of action.'

Legolas nodded solemnly.

'You are right, my friend, but I would appreciate having your ear
again. You make me see things more clearly.'

'I will always be a willing listener,' the dwarf replied
gravely. 'Though I think you should make Aragorn aware of the
situation.'

'No, I will not burden him further,' the elf firmly replied. 'This
must stay a secret between us if I do go forward with you.'

Gimli grunted in the affirmative, but showed his displeasure. In
silence they turned back towards the settlement.

'Do you still love him?' Gimli suddenly asked out of nowhere.

'I gave my heart into his keeping the moment we met,' the elf replied
softly, his tone wistful. 'And there it will dwell for all eternity.'

Gimli felt an unbidden wetness fill his eyes at the sadness of the
other's tone and blinked it back furiously. It was at that moment he
swore that, if Legolas did remain with the quest, he would protect
him with his own life.

TBC.