till forever falls apart

chapter 26: baby

Footsteps brought him out of his daydream and he looked up. His smile widened and he rose to his feet. "Meleth," he said. Idhrenel took his hands and returned the smile, "You look tired," she whispered. He leaned in and kissed her lips. Lord Elrond and his sons had left around about lunchtime that day so Legolas was adjusting back to being the only child in the castle. "Your loveliness does much to restore me," he said. "How is he?" he asked. "Resting, finally," Idhrenel said. She was as lovely as the spring day; the dappled light caressed her skin. Her hair shone auburn in the sun and her eyes danced. The smile on her face was different somehow. Catching her chin in his palm, he tilted her head to face him. "What is all this? You have something you want to say?" he asked. She squeezed his hand and sat down beside the fountain. She drew him down with him and laughed. "I cannot hide anything from you," she said. Thranduil frowned. "You never tried."

"And I wouldn't," she said. She took his hands again, her eyes met his. They were dancing, jubilant. She laughed again and shook her head. "If you could see your face right now. Don't look so scared!" "I'd not look so scared-" She silenced him with a kiss, and his mind eased. Whatever it was couldn't be awful, she was laughing after all. As always, she seemed to melt his cares away. Endless questions faded into nothing and her hand touched his cheek. He covered it with his and twisted to kiss her palm. "Do you remember the last time we sat here like this?" she said.

"Just the two of us?" he asked.

"Yes."

He thought for a moment. It had been a while. Since Legolas had come into their lives, they'd been very busy with bringing him up. It had only been a few centuries, and he was growing quickly. He caused a great deal of mischief and delight to both of them. Thranduil loved that little elfling more than anything, he had made them both so happy. "It was when you told me about Legolas," he said.

She took one of his hands and placed it on her stomach, "You're going to be a father, again." His heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened and his fingers pressed into the fabric of his wife's dress. All he could hear was the gentle tinkle of the water and the thudding of his heart. "Are you alright?" she asked. Her hand covered his and she smiled up at him. "So soon?"

"We have spent centuries waiting for these days, why wait any longer?" she said. 

He then felt tears falling down his cheeks. He and Idhrenel had tried for a baby for so long, but it had constantly failed so he didn't believe it was true. "Are you sure?" He questioned questioned wiping his eyes clear. Idhrenel gave him a deep passionate kiss and Thranduil soon believed that nothing could get better than this and he was right. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders; and she leaned against him, her small frame warm. "I know you don't want Legolas to be an only child like you were, it seemed right to have them all close together."

"You're right. Legolas is going to be so happy."

"We can't tell him yet, or anyone else" she said. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "I want us to enjoy this for a while, just us. We can do that for a bit."

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too." She looked up to him with that big smile of hers. How could he ever love another when she looked at him like that? She was his world, she made him feel that no matter how difficult or distressing he found the kingship, he could handle it. He had no idea what he would do without her. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. He was going to be a father again, he could feel his heart swelling at the thought. He couldn't wait to meet this new being they had created together. He smiled and kissed her again, content and at peace. 

"If it's a girl I want to call her Êlúriel." Thranduil smiled then he looked down. When he looked back up at his wife he said, "She was my best friend when I was a child, we did everything together, but she died during the battle against The Nordor." He paused. "Though I also like the name Elerrian..." He looked back down at his wife. "She was my nanny when I was younger." Idhrenel snuggled up closer to her husband noticing his sadness, "I wish I could have met her, I think we would've been good friends."