Warnings: childbirth
Word count: 1716
Other:
The happiest days of Haldir's life: your wedding day, the day he learns he will be a father, and the day he becomes one.
Silk ribbons hung from the trees, highlighting the gorgeous autumn colors of Lothlorien. You were standing in front of a mirror, twirling in circles and admiring how the hem of your dress followed your movements. Lady Galadriel had been right, it was the right dress for you, even if you had been hesitant in the beginning. The pure white fabric and the silk infused with diamonds were something that would gather attention, and you preferred not to gather attention to yourself. But Galadriel had reminded you that most eyes would be on you either way, as you were the bride (her comment didn't help the situation), as it was the march warden's (and yours, of course) wedding.
You checked the braids in your hair for the hundredth time, making sure the yellow and orange crown was still neatly in place. It was a gift from King Thranduil. He had heard of the wedding and upon hearing that it was happening in autumn, he had wanted to show his support. And Haldir had a good relationship with the king from the days he used to deliver messages to Lady Galadriel.
You were surprised by how calm you were feeling. The crowds unnerved you, sure, but you were too excited to marry the love of your life. You knew that the moment you would lay your eyes on him, the feeling would go away.
Poor Haldir, on the other hand, was a mess. He had never been the best with emotions. He still couldn't believe you had agreed to marry him. You were an odd match, the hardened march warden and a quiet poet that spent most of her day reading, but it worked, and you were happy. You would read him stories and poems as you sat in the library. In return, he would tell you stories of the battles he had fought and the places he had seen while traveling middle-Earth.
Haldir was shifting nervously, waiting for you to enter the hall from the massive wooden doors. Everyone was sitting down, silent, waiting. The doors opened, letting in a golden glow of light. A gasp ran through the crowd. When Haldir saw you in the dress you were wearing, so white it was glowing and the small diamonds glittering in the hem, a long train trailing behind you, tears filled his eyes. You were so beautiful, and the small, slightly nervous smile calmed his nerves as you made your way to him. At that moment, nothing else mattered but you two. He couldn't remember a day when he had been happier.
- - - -
Your heart was hammering in your chest as you left the healer's room. Pregnant. If you were pregnant, the child would be here in little over eleven months (elven pregnancies take a full year). You were ecstatic (of course), as well as nauseated, but that was probably the smell of the leather of the -. You sprinted to the nearest bathroom to throw up. There were a lot of smells the little one didn't like. You had been throwing up because of pungent smells for a while now, and it had unnerved Haldir greatly, as sickness was one of the few things he couldn't chase away from you with his sword.
Slightly nervous, you made your way into the room you knew Haldir liked to give orders in before they headed out on patrol. You had to hurry if you wanted to reach him before he left the kingdom for the evening patrol. You couldn't wait to tell him, even if you were quite nervous. You hadn't conversed about having children.
You made it just as they were about to head out.
"Haldir?" You called for him, and he appeared in full armor, sword strapped to his hip.
"Beloved, what are you doing here?" Haldir bent down to kiss your forehead, and you smiled into his chest. Haldir had a tough exterior and the only one that could get through it was you.
"I just need to speak with you. Would it be possible if someone else went instead of you?" You asked shyly, and Haldir nodded slowly, getting slightly nervous. He knew you went to see the healer this morning. Was there something wrong?
The patrol left and Haldir turned to you, blue eyes scanning every inch of your face.
"Is everything alright?" You could hear the uneasiness in his voice. You grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I am perfectly fine. I am better than fine." Tears sprung to your eyes, and you took in a wavering breath.
"I am pregnant." Haldir stiffened at this and didn't say anything for a moment. He just stared at you. You moved the hand you were holding to your stomach and pressed it there.
"I am pregnant, Haldir. You're going to be a father." His eyes flew from your face to your stomach and back again.
"W-What?" You couldn't help but let out a laugh at his face.
"I am pregnant, darling. We're going to have a baby." You kissed his cheek, and this brought him back to earth.
"A baby?" You nodded.
"A baby?" You laughed and nodded again. He took in a staggering breath before he caught you off guard by pulling you into his chest and into a kiss.
Haldir wasn't the most affectionate husband and definitely not in public, but you welcomed the kiss and let yourself be surrounded by his scent as you got lost in the feeling of his lips. When you pulled away, you could see a tear making its way down his cheek.
"Oh darling, why are you crying?" You wiped it off with your thumb, and he tightened his arms around you.
"I-. I am just so happy." You smiled at him, pressing a kiss to his damp cheek.
"This is the happiest day of my life." He couldn't remember a day when he had been happier.
- - - -
Haldir ran up the stairs, jumping two steps in one leap. He was panting when he made it to your door, and he pushed it open just as you cried out in pain. He stepped inside, but he was pushed out of the room by one of the midwives.
"No men allowed inside. You know the rules, Haldir." With that, the door was slammed closed in front of his face, and he was forced to stand on the other side of it, listening to your cries. How was he supposed to remain sane listening to you screaming on the other side but not being able to do a thing to help? He ended up pacing the hallway back and forth, counting his steps. One thousand and forty-one. One thousand and forty-two. One thousand in forty-three.
He made it to two thousand and three hundred and seventy-nine when he was interrupted by someone standing in his way. He lifted his eyes to meet Lady Galadriel's, who looked at him with compassion.
"The baby hasn't arrived still?" Haldir didn't get the chance to answer as your loud cry echoed from the other side of the door.
"No," Haldir muttered and shifted his weight from one leg to another, itching to have something to do. Lady Galadriel smiled compassionately and sat down on the wooden bench that was next to the wall. Haldir couldn't be still, he felt like he would be crazy if he did. Galadriel couldn't help but laugh at the pacing of her march warden.
"How about you'll go to gather some flowers for Y/N? It would help you get your mind off things for a moment." Haldir jumped at the chance to do something other than pace.
He hurried down at the garden and headed for the white lilies, your favorites. He picked up as many as he could fit in his hand, all the while listening to the sounds resonating from your chambers. They only seemed to grow louder, and Haldir started to worry. You had the best healers and midwives with you, but sometimes that was not enough. His heart started beating faster.
What if you didn't make it?
What if the baby didn't make it?
How could he survive without you?
When he managed to snap himself out of his thoughts, he realized that your cries had stopped. Heart pounding, he ran back to the door of your room, fighting the urge to just storm inside.
A faint cry of a baby was heard, and Haldir's heart felt like it stopped. With the blessing of the healers that had just excited them, he stepped inside, holding tightly onto the stems of the flowers. However, when he saw you sitting up, propped up against pillows with a small white bundle in your arms, he practically sprinted inside and layed the flowers at the foot of your bed as he kneeled next to you.
"Are you alright, my beloved?" You smiled at him tiredly but nodded.
"I am perfectly alright. Very tired but alright." Haldir let out a breath of relief but it hitched as the bundle in your arms shifted and let out a small noise.
"Do I have a daughter or a son?" He asked, stretching his neck to see the little. You shifted slightly so he could see the face of your baby.
"You have a daughter, darling. Do you want to hold her?" Haldir kissed your hair as he hesitated. He was a warrior, a soldier. What if he hurt the baby? Luckily, you knew your husband well and knew what was running through his head at the moment.
"You won't hurt her, darling. Here." You gently handed her over to Haldir, who stilled completely as the little elleth opened her eyes.
They were bright blue, and the small tufts of hair on top of her head were pale blonde.
"She has your hair." You observed the loves of your life with warm eyes, but Haldir didn't answer. He was too enchanted by the little girl in his arms. He couldn't remember when he had ever been this happy.
I like writing about baby/child elves so here is another one. My first Haldir oneshot! He is one of my favorites. Sadly, he doesn't get enough love :(
Edited 9.12.2022