Haldir and I lay curled together upon the soft mat I had pulled forth from times when he and his brothers would visit. Those brothers at the moment were flanking us, Rúmil behind me, and Orophin behind Haldir.

My Galadhrim had finally drifted off to a light sleep after we took turns rocking and holding him.

My poor bonded… he was paralyzed because the orc axe nearly severed cleaning through his spinal column, and he was not taking this well anymore.

There were several times where we had all been at the brunt of his ill moods, but we took it with good humor knowing how he felt. His back, even two weeks after the incident, pained him if it were touched, though no open would remained, and so we took to bathing his back in Athelas.

At first, he took the fact that he could not move his legs pretty well and with good humor. Soon, however, that good humor faded as days passed into weeks and became bitterness.

I felt his heart beat strongly within his chest, and I sighed, brushing my fingers through the hair that was in my face.

Lying there, I felt a spasm in my stomach, my nausea returning full force. I tried to lie still, hoping to the Valar that the queasiness would abate.

Unfortunately, I was not so lucky, and I quickly detangled myself from the pile and fairly bolted to the little washroom.

Retching was never one of my favorite activities. I ended up with sore muscles and a very bad headache, so I always guarded myself so I never received any blows to my stomach or head. In truth, I tried to avoid all pain because it always ended up with me retching. This time, however, t’was not from any would I suffered this sickness, but rather the small little presence within me that, day by day, was making it’s company known.

I exhausted myself, as was normal, and after a moment I rose upon my knees to rinse my mouth out with water, putting clove under my tongue.

After a few minuets of sitting there with the clove stinging my mouth, I spat it out, rising upon my shaking legs to reclaim my place in the sleeping pile.

I slipped between Rúmil and Haldir, and gratefully sunk down, my head falling upon my pillow.

I was almost asleep when I felt soft fingertips brush through the hair at my temple.

Wearily, I focused my eyes upon Haldir’s blue ones, and I noticed that he was awake.

“Lle tyava quel?” he asked softly, seeming to be aware of my pounding head.

“I… yes I am…” I held my tongue to see what he would say.

I watched as one of his eyebrows arched, telling me quite plainly that I was not being believed.

“Mani?” I asked crossly.

“That is what I am waiting on you to say, a’mael.”

I sighed, moving myself a little closer to him so I could lie with my forehead pressed against his. I took a deep breath, steadying my shaking body.

“This is what you and the Lady of Edoras spoke of, is it not?”

I looked into his starry eyes. “Yes…” I shifted, holding his hands closer to my body, trying to warm my own cold ones. “Haldir… remember the time we had that… unexpected visit to Imladris?”

His hands squeezed mine. “Aye… I do.”

I looked down at our clasped hands, my thumbs gently caressing his skin. “What if I said that this falls along those old lines?”

His thumbs gently returned the favor, gently brushing my cold skin. “I would ask if it goes well or badly… however I would be very pleased…” He freed his left hand to gently cup my cheek. “Vendea, please say what is on your mind, what you are thinking. Please do not hint at it…” He smiled slightly. “I am no good at riddles.”

I took a breath, feeling tears prick at my eyes when I closed them. “Haldir, a’mael, coiamin…” I felt the tears start to trickle down my face. “I bare your child…”

“Vendea,” he whispered softly, his fingers gently taking away the tear tracks. “Please look at me…”

I opened my eyes, seeing him through a silvery field of tears.

“Amin mela lle,” and with that, he closed the small distance between us and captured my lips with his in a very soft and gentle kiss.

His hand left my cheek to gently stroke the very slight curve of my belly.

“Iire? When did you find out?”

I laughed gently, resting one hand under his cheek, my right upon his hand that rested upon my belly. “After the battle when we found you barely breathing…” I nuzzled my face against his. “I became ill and Estel and Legolas found the cause before I even knew…”

“Why did you not speak of it sooner?”

“I was afraid that the same as what happened before would transpire, so I kept silent waiting as Lord Elrond had spoken of for those days to pass.” I slipped even closer, my body pressing to his. “I wanted to make sure this child would truly be sheltered and survive.” I sighed, the fingertips of my right hand danced upon his hand, making little patterns. “I wish now that I spoke of it sooner… You need much to help for you to go on.”

Haldir slipped his right arm under my head, pressing me close to him while his left hand stayed still upon my belly.

“Amin mela lle,” he sighed gently, holding me against him as well as he could. His fingers stroked my belly through the thin silk of my tunic, gently kissing my face. “Why are you ill this time?”

“I… do not know… I can only think of the fact that the child is secure within, and my body has not adjusted to the presence.” I sighed, wrapping one of my hands in his hair. “I am sorry I woke you. Normally, if I lay still, I do not have the urge to empty my belly.”

His hand rose to gently brush against my temple. “And your head aches?”

I sighed softly at the feeling of the tentative touches against my temple. “Yes… Although my head does not hurt as badly, it can still make me stay still.”

“Amin hiraetha,” he whispered against my ear as I pulled myself closer, resting against his chest.

“No, no sorry, Haldir,” I whispered as I placed my finger against his lips. “I am happy that this has happened, and most fortunate,” I murmured quietly. My fingers stroked through his silvery hair.

Darkness surrounded me, enveloping me in a warm embrace. I did not wish to move, and just allowed my body to float along the currents in the river.

I felt more than heard the soft string of elvish that caressed my skin, and I sighed, sinking into the warmth of the words.

A light shone on my face, and I moaned, trying to bat it away with little success.

My eyes fluttered with the intensity of the light, and finally, I opened them to look into two worried faces.

My tongue seemed to be stuck to the roof of my mouth and I tried to swallow, wetting my parched mouth slightly. My fingers twitched, my body shook as pain seemed to douse every nerve.

Haldir’s hands gently held my left, softly stroking the skin. “A'maelamin,” he whispered softly, almost afraid to touch me.

I tried to make my mouth work, but no sound came out.

“Vendea, please do not try to speak. Just rest and allow your body to heal.”

I slowly turned my head, my cloudy vision taking in the tall form of the Lore Master. I tried to speak again, and he laid one long finger against my lips. “Trust me, Vendea, do not speak. We will talk in depth later once you have physically recovered. Do you remember why Haldir came here with you?”

I thought, my brow furrowing in agitation. Finally after drawing a blank, Haldir answered my unspoken question.

“You were bleeding, and it did not abate. By the time Lord Elrond took you from my arms, you were unconscious, still bleeding badly. We… could not save…” He choked, bringing my hand to his face to softly kiss the fingers as tears glimmered on his cheeks.

I felt the bed shift and I felt Elrond’s hand upon my lower stomach. “The child could not be saved, Vendea…” His left hand gently settled upon my head. “Amin hiraetha…”

Tears stung my eyes, and I closed them, my hand tightening upon Haldir’s, the other clawing the sheets beneath me. I barely felt it when Elrond pried my hand from the sheets to clasp his around mine.

My body curled in on itself as I snatched my hand back from Elrond, curling upon my side while Haldir stroked my hair back from my face with soft and loving words.

He allowed my head to be pillowed upon his lap, his left hand wrapped around my back while his other tangled in my hair, letting me cry as he was crying.