Hidderknerkness

A/N: Here’s another short chapter. Still bored. Can someone else please update? I have nothing to read.
_________________________________

“He’s what?!”

Aragorn sighed, running his hand through his hair as he looked at the shocked dwarf. “He’s pregnant, Gimli,” he repeated, collapsing in the closest chair. “By my guess, he’s about three months along.”

Gimli gaped at him, having a hard time believing what he had just heard. ‘Pregnant? But he’s… he’s…’ “He’s male,” he said, finishing his thought aloud. He glanced at Legolas, who was still asleep. Now that he knew what to look for, he could see the gentle swell of Legolas’ belly that the elf’s arms had hidden from him before.

Aragorn nodded. “Yes, he is. But that doesn’t make a difference for a Mirkwood elf,” he said, leaning back in his chair. His concern for Legolas had just increased tenfold. Pregnancy was extremely dangerous for a male. They became vulnerable to ill, su, susceptible to the weather, they were weaker; no wonder Legolas seemed so out of it these past few months.

Gimli frowned, still confused as to how this was possible but finally accepting that it was possible. “Do you think he knows?” he asked, sitting on the bed and taking Legolas’ hand in his.

Aragorn looked incredulously at the dwarf. “Does he know? Of course he knows, Gimli! He would have known the minute he started to show,” he said, standing up and beginning to pace the length of the room.

Gimli watched him for a moment before turning his attention back to Legolas, studying the elf’s flushed features. “Why did he hide it?” he asked quietly, brushing a strand of golden hair away from Legolas’ face.

Aragorn frowned, pausing to stare out the window. “I don’t know, Gimli. Maybe he was scared.”

Gimli laughed in disbelief. “Scared? Of what? Being pregnant?”

Aragorn nodded, returning to the bed and staring down at its sleeping occupant. “Possibly. Or of how we would react.”

Gimli nodded; he could understand that. A few years ago, his sister had tried to hide her pregnancy. It wasn’t until her fifth month that their parents had found out; they were furious that she had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Fortunately, the dwarf that had gotten her pregnant agreed to marry her.

Gimli tore himself from his thoughts and glanced back at Aragorn. “Who do you think the father is?”

Aragorn frowned, trying to think of any male that Legolas might have had contact with three months ago. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Maybe Arwen would know.”

Gimli nodded absently, trying to think. “Well, whoever has been spending time with him recently is most likely the father.”

Aragorn cocked his head, mentally going through every male Legolas knew in or. or. He caught his breath when he realized that Legolas had rarely spoken to anyone these past three months. “Gimli, I don’t think anyone’s spent much time with him,” he whispered, dismayed. “He’s never spoken of anyone and no one ever speaks of him, outside of normal curiosity.”

Gimli paled. “You mean the father left him?!” he growled, anger flowing through him. “If I ever find out who did it, I’m going to kill them!”

Aragorn nodded, feeling angry himself. “You’ll have plenty of help, my friend,” he said, gazsympsympathetically at the pregnant elf. “In the meantime, we must do our best to convince him he’s not alone.”