Underneath it all

CHAPTER 7 - THE PICKNICK

When I woke I appeared that Haldir had been awake for some time already. He was preparing breakfast. Ietchetched lazily but sat up straight in the bed as I heard a soft knock on the door. Haldir went to open it, and outside stood an elf I had never seen in my life. "Is this where Legolas resides?" he asked. Haldir moved aside so the elf at the door would see me sitting in the bed. The unknown visitor blushed and looked away. Haldir apparently took pitty on the embarrassed elf and turned to me, "This is Imbë, the messenger."

"Oh, the letters to Mirkwood!" I exclaimed and smiled while swinging my legs out over the edge of the bed, slowly rising to my feet. "Let me find them for you."

I stood up gracelessly and moved over to the desk, picking up the letters before walking over to the door. Haldir was leaning against the doorframe, and the elf that was called Imbë bit his lip trying not to stare too obviously at me. I handed him the four letters, all with different names on them. "The first one is for the healer, the second for a guard called Talin, and the third is for an elf named Edwen. He is King Thranduil's personal servant. You had better hand over the letter for the King to Edwen too, for I would not want to worry about your well-being as well."

Imbë nodded and Haldir smiled, "Remember to bring any correspondence back to Legolas, should any of these elves have a letter for him too." Imbë nodded and put my letters into his bag he carried over his shoulder. "I bid you a pleasant day," he mumbled before he fled from the talan.

Haldir closed the door with a strange smirk. "I wonder if he could climb that rope ladder any faster without falling down."

"Did I grow fangs over night?" I chuckled.

"Nay, but pregnant males are a rare sight indeed, and not all elves are as comfortable with that as your friends," he said as he swept past me.

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The hours crept by. It was near noon. I was clothed in the new outfit Orophin had ordered for me. It was very comfortable indeed. I grabbed my bow and giggled, Elrohir was in for a surprise. I was looking forward to seeing him today, happy that he had invited me for an archery competition. I would have been greatly saddened if I were not to spend more time in his presence.

Haldir worried me though, for he had been acting weird lately. This morning when we had been eating our breakfast he asked me all kinds of strange questions about Elrohir. At first I had thought he was jealous, but I had pushed that thought away again, thinking it was folly. Haldir was my friend, why would he be jealous at Elrohir? After all I was only going to spend time shooting arrows with the Rivendell prince. We were not taking a stroll in the moonlit forest.

I shrugged and left Haldir's talan, hurrying to the pond where Elrohir had said that he would meet me. When I arrived I was surprised to find the spot empty. Elrohir was nowhere to be seen. I laid the bow on the ground and sat down on the edge of the pond. What had I been thinking? Had I been expecting something? I must have, otherwise I would not feel so disappointed. Of course he had invited me to come here. Had he just thrown me out of the dinner party he would have appeared rude. He would have to make some kind of amends, but he was not obligated to pursue it. He would properly come up with some plausible explanation the next time I happened to run into him. What had I been thinking? I frowned, feeling childish and stupid, and on the edge of tears. I knew exactly what I had been thinking. I had believed that he was interested in getting to know me, and perhaps that he had flirted with me a little.

But now when I sat here alone by the pond, watching the midday sun pass over my head, I felt like an idiot. As I had thought before, why would he flirt with me? It was a well-known fact here in Caras Galadon that I was not only stripped from my title as prince, but also carrying a child with an unknown sire. *No one* would even dare to get involved with me romantically. I slumped backwards on the soft grass and closed my eyes. Who had even mentioned romance? It was not like he had promised me anything. I had built up some odd expectation in my head.

"You are still here?" I suddenly heard a soft voice say.

I opened my eyes only to see a smiling freckled face with those large warm grey eyes. "Elrohir? I thought you weren't going to come."

"My grandmother had to have a word with me, forgive me. I did not intend to be this late," he said and poked my side, "I see you brought your bow. Good."

I chuckled and lashed out at his arm. "Of course I brought my bow, I was to humiliate you after all. That was the deal was it not?"

"Never," he beamed. "This will be the day, the Prince of Mirkwood will be defeated."

"I am not..." I whispered.

"I know, forgive me for my inconsiderate remark, I did not think," Elrohir said and sadness flashed in the grey eyes. "Shall I best you anyway?" he smiled again.

"Ha! Prepare to fail," I said with a grin and made a move to get up, but ending up with having Elrohir drag me to my feet. "I seem to have gained some weight," I said casually, "and you can wipe off that smug grin!"

Elrohir picked up my bow still snickering, "Come along then my girl." He laughed and easily avoided me as I lashed out once more.

He slowed down after he had run a few paces and waited for me to catch up. "Where are we going?" I asked.

"To Mordor of course," he chuckled and rested his hand on my shoulder, "no, seriously, we are going to my favourite spot in the forest to shoot some arrows, and to eat this lunch." He held out a bag I had not noticed before.

"You brought lunch?" I asked amazed. He had thought of everything, and I couldn't help but feel a little privileged to be shown his favourite spot.

"Though I am not sure I brought enough to feed this monster," he said and smiled while poking my belly gently. Upon seeing my frown he clasped a hand over his mouth, "Forgive me, I did not mean that."

"It is alright, at least you said something, and you did not just stare and ignore it," I said sadly but managed a small smile.

Elrohir sighed softly and went back to babbling about the woods. I didn't really listen because I was too busy letting my mind wander. It had just not occurred to me until this very moment. I would have to give birth at some point. It was not the whole 'a healer is going to gut me' issue. It had just never occurred to me that this abnormality would face the light of day. It was one thing for me to walk around looking like a freak, but what about the child? It would have to live with me being its mother- mother? Was I a mother or a father?

"Legolas?" Elrohir said softly and shook my arm. I slowly turned my head to look at him, and he looked somewhat relieved, "You never answered me, is something amiss?"

"I was just brooding. I am sorry what did you say?" I suddenly noticed we had stopped.

"About the child?" he said and risked a little smile.

"Aye," I said and looked away. This was the first time I had admitted to worrying about the child in itself, and not just my general condition.

"Come," Elrohir said as he sat down in the grass. "Perhaps a meal in the sun will take your mind off these dark matters."

I sat down next to him and let the suns rays warm my skin, Elrohir handed me a bottle of water. "Have you thought of an name?" he asked casually.

"Excuse me?" I answered in a high-pitched tone.

"Have you..." he began once more, before I cut him off. "No, most definitely not!" I frowned. How could he even ask this of me? A name - bah! I was not even sure it if would turn out to be a child.

Elrohir looked guilty and bit his lip, "Forgive me Legolas, I was just trying to strike up conversation."

"Could we just talk about something else?" I said and sent the half-elf a pleading look.

Elrohir nodded and smiled shyly, "If that is what you wish."

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We ate some of the food he had brought in silence. Elrohir threw himself on his back and belched, before chuckling, "Sorry."

I laughed and poked his side, "Unbecoming manners for a Prince." He looked up at me with the most brilliant grin. How I wished I could lean over and taste those lips, and run my fingers through that soft mass of black hair that spilled out on the grass.

Elrohir shook me out of my musings. "Speaking of princes, did I tell you that Elladan will come this eve?" he said stretched lazily, putting me in mind of a large cat in a ray of sun.

'Wait, did he say Elladan? "Elladan? Here? Tonight?" I was painfully aware how stupid I sounded.

"Yes, I just said so - shall I take it once more for the Mirkwood elves?" he chuckled.

"What?" I said throwing my head back and laughing at myself. I had jumped right into his trap with both feet.

Elrohir fell into a hysterical fit of laughter. Once he sobered up some he blinked innocently, "It is just a saying back home, you know the 'and one more time for the Mirkwood elves.'"

I smiled and lay down slowly on the grass too, "You are silly Elrohir, did you know that?" I giggled.

"I think I've been told that more than once," he said and yawned before snuggling up to me. The half elf's eyes were already closing. I was happy that I had read about them closing their eyes, if I had not I would have freaked out. He yawned once more and crept even closer, wrapping an arm around me and resting his head on my shoulder. He blew little warm breaths of air on my neck.

As his breathing steadied, I couldn't control myself any longer and let my hand run through those dark silken tresses. It was just as soft as it looked, I mused. I felt Elrohir's mouth curl up smi smile against my skin. "Will you sing for me?" he mumbled half asleep.

I blushed from being caught in the act; "Sure," I said and began to hum an old tune.

"Why did you stop stoking my hair?" Elrohir mumbled and made himself even more comfortable, resting his forehead against cheek. I didn't answer but kept singing, while running my fingers through his sun-warmed hair again. This was bliss. I could not remember if I had ever felt this peaceful. I wondered why Elrohir had this effect on me, and why my large belly did not scare him from touching me. Even though Haldir and his brothers were not afraid of me either, their touches felt different.

Was I falling in love?

Elvish;
(Imbë = jewel - here used as a name)


-tbc-

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- This is beated by Steph. hugs to you my internet saviour :)
I want feedback - as always *smiles*


Az.