The old ways

Elrond had halted his elves and ordered a short rest. It felt good to stretch the legs and walk around for a bit. He had wandered off for a short distance, when he suddenly saw a cloud of dust and sand in the distance. It obviously was a rider, moving at a very fast speed. And he was coming towards them.
The elven Lord turned around quickly, calling out to his warriors, since he couldn’t see whether is was friend or foe.
Even Arwen jumped immediately, hoping it would be her fiancée Aragorn. But as they stood and waited, it soon became clear that it obviously was a messenger of some sort and he was wearing the colours of Gondor.

The horse came to a skidding halt before the Lord of Imladris and tried to catch his breath.
“Are you the Lord Elrond I was sent out to seek?” the young man panted.
Elrond nodded slowly wondering was this was about.
“My Lord, Lord Aragorn has sent me on a most urgent request. We have an elf among us that is in need of your assistance.” The blue green eyes bore a slight frantic look.
Elrond felt Arwen relax beside him and heard her sigh faintly with relief. Obviously Aragorn was safe and whole.
“What elf are you speaking of?” Elrond inquired, scolding himself for being more worried about his sons, instead of being generally worried.
“It is the noble prince of Mirkwood, my Lord.”
“Legolas?” Arwen interrupted.
“Yes, my Lady.” The young warrior turned to face Arwen.
“What ails him? Was he badly wounded?” Elrond took this situation in his hand.
“No, my Lord. Naught a scratch.”
“But then why this hasty message?” dark brows furrowed above glinting blue eyes.
“My Lord, this might sound somewhat strange, but I assure you, it is the truth I speak.” The man took off his helmet and shook his brown hair.
“Then speak!” Elrond’s voice thundered. This was getting extremely irritating.
“Forgive me, my Lord. The prince of Mirkwood is currently, well...., he is expecting, my Lord.” Strong fingers fumbled helplessly with the reins.
“Expecting? Expecting what?” Arwen was confused, but Elrond seemed to have understood immediately.
“What of his condition? You said he is in need of my help. How far is he?” the tall Lord of Imladris steered his horse nearer to the man.
“His condition is weak, Sire. How far I do not know. It does show however. About that much.” The warrior held his arms before his own body in a half circle in lack of a better explanation.
Elrond couldn’t help but smile at the young man. “I see, has Aragorn said anything, what might be the problem?”
“Yes, my Lord. He said something about a failing heartbeat. And lack of movement.”
“By the Valar! Where is he now?”
“My Lord, he is on his way to Minas Tirith. Some of our men, Gimli the dwarf and Lord Haldir are accompanying him.”
Elrond let out a breath he had unconsciously been holding. “Haldir!”

Elrond shot around. “Arwen I need to go to Minas Tirith immediately.”
“But father, we are not supposed to arrive there before the King has returned. You told me so yourself. It would be a terrible breach in protocol. You told me that man are very concerned about things like that. Couldn’t you meet with them somewhere outside the city?”
“No, Arwen. I need to be somewhere secure. Somewhere where I have peace and quiet. Maybe I will have to open his body. And I cannot do that anywhere in the open field. I wiI will go incognito.” Elrond turned to one of his elven warriors and talked with him shortly. Both turned to some of the large entourage and swapped cloaks with some of the servants.
Lord Elrond returned to his daughter. “I will go with Falnethir to Minas Tirith. We will try to slip in unnoticed. You Arwen will continue as if nothing had happened. Camp outside the city once you have reached it. I will meet you there and then we will enter the city together later as it was planned.”
Arwen nodded solemnly and turned her horse to the waiting entourage.
She could hear the horses of her father and Falnethir race into the distance.


Thranduil felt uneasy as he let his horse trot through the forest of Lorien, knowing very well that he was being watched. But to his surprise, they were neither stopped nor greeted. As the wood grew closer, he could feel Galadriel’s power descending on him. Every time he felt her presence he had to suppress a shudder.
After some hours of slow riding through the thick woods they reached Caras Galadorn.
Life seemed to be more merry now, then it had been during his past visits. Clearly the knowledge of Sauron’s fall lifted even the hearts of these stuffy Noldor elves.

When he had reached the main habitat of Lorien, he dismounted and his warriors followed his example. Just as he turned towards the largest tree where Galadriel lived he saw her gracefully descending the long ing ing stairs.
“My Lord Thranduil! It is so good to see you!” she exclaimed and smiled brightly at him.
“My Lady.” Thranduil bowed his head ever so slightly.
“Come, you must be tired and famished. Let us entertain you for tonight, so that in the morning you will be well rested, for I believe you wish to continue your way to Minas Tirith, am I not right?”
“Yes, you are right as always, my Lady.” Thranduil forced a smile on his face.

Only a short while later they were gathers along long tables, set out in the open, plates upon plates of the most delicious foods were placed before them and even Thranduil had to admit that the wine wasn’t so bad.
“My dear Thranduil, have you had word of your son?” Celeborn leaned past his wife and cocked his head at the Mirkwood King.
“No, sadly not one word after they left Rivendell so long ago. But I believe him to be still alive, for I am sure I would have felt it , would he have died.”
Galadriel placed a slender hand on Thranduil’s arm and smiled at him. “Oh, he is in good health let me assure you. I have seen it in my mirror. And you will be pleased I hope to hear that Legolas and Haldir have found to another again.”
A truly bright and happy smile spread on the features of the stern King of Mirkwood and he laughed at Galadriel.
“Oh, and something else, dear Thranduil. I am not sure if I make the right decision by telling you this now, but I believe it is better you know beforehand, instead of finding out the hard way."
Cobalt blue eyes narrowed faintly “What, my Lady? What has happened?”
“Don’t worry. Nothing bad, let me assure you. Now, how to tell you?” Galadriel thought for a moment. “Many, many years ago, long before Legolas and Haldir separated, Legolas had made up his mind about something. He went to Elrond for assistance and later he stayed here in the care of our healers and Elrond himself.”
“Healers?” Thranduil interrupted with a concerned look on his face.
“Nothing to worry about. Legolas must have come upon some old text scrolls and books, I believe in your library. He had set his mind on it. He underwent the procedure to become fertile.”
Thranduil draw in his breath sharply.
“It was successful, but they separated shortly afterwards. I am right to presume that your son has not told you anything about it, right?”
The King of Mirkwood shook his head slowly and sadly.
“Now, when the fellowship stayed here on their journey south, Haldir and Legolas made up and have at last found their true happiness. Unknown to them, Legolas became pregnant right in the beginning of their renewed passion and relationship. I did not know at the time, but I saw it in the mirror later. So when you come to Minas Tirith, you will find your son carrying his first child and your grand child.”
Thranduil’s look had changed from worry to unknown glee and he beamed at the Lady of the wood. He was beyond words and was only able to nod at her to continue talking about it.
“Tomorrow I will give you something, which I want you to take to Legolas as a gift from Lothlorien. It is an old tradition here. We give a sapling of a Mallorn tree to any mother, who will give birth to a child. So when the child is born, the tree is planted and symbolises the connection between us elves and the nature surrounding us.”


Legolas felt sick from the ever swaying motions of his litter hanging between two horses.
He was more than fed up with laying down all the time and a part of him thought it would make no difference if he was laying or riding by himself, now that his child was obviously going to die anyway. He had long given up hope and even Haldir’s never ceasing encouragement helped any more. Sometimes he would have loved to scream at them all to leave him alone in his grief and despair.
“Look,” Legolas heard Gimli say to Haldir “Minas Tirith!”
Instantly Haldir reached down to Legolas hand taking it in his. “Legolas, my love. We have made it. Tonight we will have a healer to take a look at you. Please open your eyes. Look at me!”
But the blond elf kept his eyes shut.
Haldir shook his head in dismay and looked up again at the towering walls of the main city of Gondor.

Suddenly one of the men riding with them gave a shout and he pointed somewhat north.
Two shadowy figures on horses flew towards the large gates of Minas Tirith. They could hear the horses heavy breath over the distance.
When they came nearer, it was clear that those were no enemies and Haldir recognised horses of elven breed.
“Aiya! Man ealle?” Haldir shouted over to the two figures.
The horses were drawn to a halt and turned quickly into the direction of the little group riding towards Minas Tirith.
“Haldir?” one of the figures called suddenly.
Haldir recognised the voice immediately. “Elrond!” he whispered in awe.

They met right before cit city gates and when they demanded entrance, Elrond and Falnethir stayed in the back, hoping to go unnoticed.
The city guards opened and when Haldir explained their situation they were escorted to the house of healing without questions. Word had spread within Minas Tirith about the male pregnant elf and the people were seeing it as a light in dark times and many were hoping to see the miracle of the child birth among them here in Minas Tirith. Hearing that something was wrong with the fabled elf, worried the guards and they made sure that they reached the house of healing quickly.

Aragorn’s five men were relieved and Haldir, Gimli and Falnethir helped Elrond getting Legolas to a spare room.
When Les was was laying on the single bed in the room, Elrond removed the cloak and ushered Gimli and Falnethir out of the room. Only Haldir was allowed to stay.
Legolas stayed remarkably calm, while Haldir helped him to undress and lay down again. But it was not because he was so relaxed, no, he had already given up.
Elrond rubbed his hands shortly, warming them a little and stared at the round and swollen body before him. He had helped the young elf to achieve the goal of fertility, but he had never actually seen a pregnant male elf before. It looked beautiful and astonishingly natural. He took a deep breath pulling himself together. He had been told that something was wrong with the child. So there was no time to marvel at the sight.

With the utmost care and tenderness, Elrond started to probe and press the belly slightly. Checking how far it had grown and it’s consistence. After some time, he suddenly looked up and only concentrated on what his fingers were feeling. Quickly before a smile made its way to his lips he let go of Legolas’ belly and moved over to the door.
“I will be back immediately.” He strode out and closed the door quietly.
Haldir looked Legolas and stroked his face softly.u wiu will see, Elrond will take care of you and the little one. Everything is going to be alright.”

True to his word, Elrond returned within a very short time and carried something with him that looked familiar to Haldir, only that this instrument looked far more sophisticated then the one Aragorn was using.
Elrond leaned over Legolas again and listened for the child’s heartbeat, just like Aragorn had been doing it the last days before they left in a hurry to Minas Tirith.
“It’s no use Elrond.” Legolas muttered, but was silenced by Elrond immediately.
The Lord of Imladris changed the position of the instrument several times and then straightened up again with a very smug and satisfied look on his face.
“Remind me to tell my foster son, that even though he is a good healer, he should keep his hands away from pregnant females or males for that matter.”
Haldir looked at him in confusion.
But Elrond ignored him. “Legolas, listen. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your child. And I am sure I know why Aragorn had such problems finding the child’s heartbeat. He couldn’t find it because it was, should we say, blocked.”
“Blocked?” Legolas felt such a relief wash over him that tears made their way down his temples, but what was Elrond talking about?

Some Noldor warriors stood waiting, holding the horses of Thranduil and his seneschal, who were having a last talk with the Lady. The other Mirkwood elves had already mounted and waited along with the Noldor.

Thranduil bowed to Galadriel, a bit more than the day before and gave his farewell, when Galadriel motioned a young elven maiden over to her, carrying two bundles with her.
“My Lord Thranduil. Yesterday I promised you a gift for your son and I stand to my word. Here are the saplings I told you about. Make sure there are watered from time to time and give all my love to Haldir and Legolas when you see them.”
Thranduil stared at the two saplings wrapped up in finest linen and knotted his brow.
“But, my Lady, why do you give me two saplings?” he asked hesitantly.
But Galadriel only smiled at him and tilted her head to the side.
Thranduil’s eyes grew big “Twins?”
The Lady of the wood laughed and turned back to the large tree, still chuckling when she started to climb the steps.