The old ways

After they had reached a secluded spot, where the others couldn't see them, Aragorn bade Legolas to lie down. As if speaking to a child, Aragorn continued to speak to the elf while he pushed his tunic and shirt up and unlaced his leggings.

The size of the womb had grown quite a bit since the last time and Aragorn was hardly able to span it with his hand. Still the womb felt soft to the touch and most of the bruises were gone. Aragorn sat back on his heels as he thought for a moment.

"Legolas, have you got your little knife with you?"

The elf’s eyes flew open in dismay. "Is something wrong? Why do you ask?"

Aragorn put a comforting hand on Legolas’ swollen belly "No! Don’t worry. I was just wondering if I could borrow it and see if I can find an appropriate piece of wood for a device I wanted to make. It is a hollow tube made of wood. Normally one end would have a broad end like the foot of the winelet,let, but it is hollow all the way through. If you press the narrow end against the belly of pregnant person and press your ear against the broad end, without touching it with your hand, you can hear the heart beat of the child and the pulsing of the umbilical cord."

"How do you know that?" Legolas looked fascinated. In these few moments he felt like his will of life had grew a bit stronger. But it was not so.
ElroElrond taught me." Aragorn smiled at Legolas’ interest. "Please go back to Gimli. I will try to find some wood I can use for it."

Legolas dressed again and walked slowly back to their camp. He wondered about himself. There were moments when he was feeling not too bad, moments where he would tenderly stroke the swelling flesh of his body and would very quietly sing to the child. Then again there were times, when he didn’t even want to touch his own body. And it wasn't even in any sexual way, but the thought of touching his own flesh especially the area where the child grew repelled him. It seemed to him so unfair, so wrong and unnatural. He shook his head sadly and halted in his tracks.

He felt his partly lighter mood fade with every step of the way. Why was he here, what did he have to do with this war. The need to end it all was becoming greater than ever, but the end seemed not near to his eyes. He would never take his own life, for then he would not be allowed to pass into Mandos Halls, and that meant never seeing Haldir again. Not even in death.

A strangled sigh escaped his lips and he started walking again. Maybe he would get lucky in the next fight and a sword or arrow would hit him hard enough to let go.

When he came into the view of their bedrolls and Gimli who was sitting crossed legged near the small camp fire, he felt guilty. Guilty for his thoughts, guilty for his selfishness and for lit little interest he showed in his duty to be a guardian for this world.

Gimli noticed the lone figure approaching and stood up. He couldn't help but see the slender shoulders slumped and the head bowed a little. The elf was radiating his grief with every fibre.

So the dwarf called out to his friend. "Come my friend, join me here at the fire and tell me if you two saw anything on your walk." Gimli hoped that his voice was loud enough for the others to hear, for he did not want anyone to start asking question, why the elf and the ranger might leave the camp from time to time.

Legolas shois his head and answered, his voice strained "Nothing dear Gimli, nothing."

He moved over to his bedroll and lay down without uttering another word.

The dwarf threw his hands up in defeat and sat down again. He watched the elf, but Legolas didn’t seem in the mood to talk, so he restrained himself from further questions and tried his best to relax.

Not an hour had passed and most of the others of their company had laid down to rest, when Aragorn returned to them, smiling and holding a short round piece of wood in his hands.

"Where have you been all this time?" Gimli looked up at the ranger.

"I was trying to find the right piece of wood for my further examinations of our elf. I hope it works. Gimli would you be so kind as to sit here by Legolas’ side, to shield him and me from the view of the others." Aragorn motioned Gimli to a certain spot beside the dozing elf.

"Legolas, are you awake? I am going to open you leggings again, do not fear. I want to see if I am able to hear the heartbeat of your child." He started undoing the leggings for the second time this night and Gimli looked in utter bewilderment at him.

"The heartbeat? How can you hear that?"

"With this," Aragorn held up the little piece of wood. It was not bigger then one of the handles of Legolas’ hunting knifes.

Gimli cocked his head and muttered something into his beard.

Legolas didn’t show any signs, whether he was awake or not, but Aragorn ignored him and carried on with his plan.

As soon as he had bared the elf’s torso, he placed the smaller end of the wood against the middle of the bulge, producing from Legolas body. He held it until he had put his ear to the other broader end, and could hold the wood in place with a little pressure of his head. He took his hand away and listened. After trying the same procedure, under the guarding eyes of the dwarf, a bright smile lit his face.

"What?" Gimli leaned closer, pure curiosity written on his face.

Come here, Gimli. I can hear it. Strong and very fast, but that is supposed to be normal. Their hearts are very small still and so it has to work very fast. "Here." Aragorn got hold of the wooden piece again, without changing its position on Legolas body, and gestured for dwarf to come nearer." Put your ear against it like I did, when you are ready I will take my hand away again, and you can hear it."

"Why do you have to take your hand away? Wouldn’t it be easier if you...."

"No," Aragorn interrupted "you would hear my pulse that runs through my hand. And then you could not hear the child's heartbeat as clearly."

Gimli did as he was told and when Aragorn had taken his hand away, he could hear the faint but regular and fast thumping of the child's heart.

Unseen to them, streams of tears were running down the sides of the elf’s face.