The old ways

He didn’t have to track them for a long time, he heard panting breaths and a grunts from time to time. Shocked Merry clamped his hand over his mouth and crept nearer.

Haldir was standing near a little clearing with his torso bared and his bow in his hand. Dernhelm was standing behind him working his deft fingers over the sore and fatigued muscles of Haldir’s shoulders, while the elf was repeatedly pulling the bow to his farthest extent.

Sweat ran down his body and sometimes he screwed his eyes shut from pain.

Merry scolded himself for his vivid imagination and very quietly made his way back to the camp.

Sometime later Haldir and Dernhelm came b sit sitting down on their bedrolls. Merry was just about to slip into the slumber, when he heard Haldir whisper to him "The next time you want to know what we are up to, just ask. There was no need to creep up on us. Not while you trample through the vegetation like an orc."

When they had been on the road to Gondor for four days, they came upon some wild men. From them they received the news that the orcs were invading the city and Gondor fires were burning. Theoden King immediately called for a hasty approach while on the way towards the city of Minas Tirith, using a hidden path the wild men had shown them. The open roads towards the city were invaded by the fouls armies of Mordor.

Haldir grew more and more nervous the nearer they came to the city. Would he find Legolas there? Every night when the others were sound asleep, he willed himself to relax to an extent, that he was able to reach out for the bond he was sharing with his husband. With anticipation and joy he always felt for that second presence, humming steadily along the bond. He still wasn't sure if he was right in his assumption, but together with Merry’s theory, the probability of Legolas being pregnant was high indeed.

Haldir mused about that thought a lot. In the past Legolas desperately wanted to become pregnant, but everything changed and they were separated for a long time.

Had it been the Valar’s doing? That Legolas would become pregnant in a time like this? A time of despair and fear. Was it a flare of hope, a sign that eventually it was worth fighting for, a message to others, that not matter how hard the time was, it was always worth living for?

Every evening when Haldir fell asleep, after reaching out for Legolas, he did it with a faint smile on his face.

Legolas had made himself a bedding area on deck of the ship as he and Gimli were moving up stream. He couldn't stand the thought of sleeping under the deck in those stuffy narrow room with a ceiling that was so low, that he always feared bumping his head.

From here he could see the stars and breathe the fresh air, though a distinct foul smell hung in the air, no doubt coming from Mordor’s foul creatures.

For the several times Legolas tried to find a comfortable position, by wriggling himself deeper into the soft blanket beneath him.

Suddenly a shadow fell over his face and he looked up. Gimli was standing before him, his hands on his hips, one foot tapping the deck.

"You are supposed to rest, my friend. Go to sleep." He ordered.

"I cannot. My back is aching and I am hungry." Legolas mumbled.

Did Gimli just hear right, was the elf actually complaining that the was hungry.

"You surely have been in the company of those Hobbits for too long, my friend. I thought I never hear an elf complain about himself being hungry. But I have sworn not only to protect you, but also to look after you, I ask you, what do you crave?"

Legolas averted the dwarf’s eyes for a moment considering "I would have some soup of watercress, as main course fresh game and after that a large peace of lemon meringue pie. But since we don’t have any of that I will have to do with a piece of Lembas bread."

Gimli laughed. "It is good to hear you making a joke at long last again. Aye, I will fetch you some Lembas and a cup of fresh water to go with it." Gimli turned on his heel and vanished below the deck.

Legolas felt awkward. Even though he felt so tired and alone, the pain around his heart increasing with every day, the peaceful silence here on this ship and the slight rocking movement eased his mind and soul. To rest the body and relax ones limbs was precious indeed.

It took Gimli only a very short while to return with the promised food and he was beaming over his bearded face.

"Look what I've got you. They had fresh apples and some bread onboard. I’d say it'll be a welcomed change."

Legolas smiled his thanks to the dwarf and accepted the offered food. While he was munching the apple, in a half seated position, using the railing as a back, Gimli sat down beside him.

"How are you two doing?" he asked in a low voice.

"You know how I am feeling, as for the child, I don’t know. I hope it is all right. It feels okay, but I do not have any experience with it."

"Is the armour still fitting? It is not too tight yet, is it?" Gimli let his rough hand wander over Legolas belly.

"I feel somewhat constricted, but it doesn't hurt or anything. I haven't checked on it. I have been wearing it continuously for the last days. Though I feel myself growing within every passing moment." Legolas answered silently, throwing the apples core over board into the water.