Arteden Birth-- Labor Only

~~~Luna suddenly dropped the tray of tea and fell to the floor. Elrohir dashed to her side. "What's the matter, Melleth-nin?!" he asked. Luna held her stomach in pain and grunted.

"It's here."

"THE BABY!!!!" she shouted in exasperation. Elrohir blanched and stared at her a moment, the next he began to fanically rush around.

"Right! Gotta get you to Linwe! I'll go get your things! But your clothes are--and your dagger is--"

"NNNOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!" shouted Luna. Elrohir ran and helped her up.

"Yes, Melleth. Right, Melleth." Slowly they arrived at Linwe's healing chmabers.

"Linwe! Linwe!" Stummbled Elrohir, "Luna, it's the Luna! I mean the child is in-- I mean--" Linwe stuck an herb directly into his mouth as she did so often with Kerowyn.

"She's in labor?" Elrohir nodded. "Take her over to that bed, then go and get her things." Elrohir lead Luna to the bed where she plopped down and he began for their bedroom. Luna let out a yelp of pain as a contraction hit her. Elrohir spun around.

"What?! Are you alright?!" Luna had no time to shout her answer for Linwe pushed Elrohir out the door while saying,

"Just go get her things!" Sanarium came in and helped Luna to a comfortable spot on the bed as Linwe mixed liquids. She then sent Sanarium to tell the others and fetch Elrond. As she did Elrohir burst through the door, dishevieled and a pack in hand.

"Here!" Elrohir handed Luna some robes and set the pact at her bedside. Luna stared at Elrohir, who stood there breathing hard.

"Will you leave so I can change???!! she shouted.

"Huh? But, why--" started Elrohir, before Linwe set on the otherside of the door way and shut it. Linwe rushed around mixing this and that calmly and Luna did not mind her presence. She changed and Linwe gave her a cloth for her forehead as well as a glass of water. She when settled the sheats about Luna and reluctantly let Elrohir back in. Moments later Elrond walked in with a pleasant smile upon his face.

"What's that for?!" snapped Luna, "Why are you so damn happy?" Elrond let the smile fad and quickly began to ask Luna questions about how she felt, resulting mostly in her giving carcastic and mean comments. Linwe pardoned them and held Luna's head as she had her swallow a liquid. Luna made a horrid face, but Linwe merly handed her the water. Luna was incredibly thankful for her at the moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kerowyn and Elenwe had merely heard about the predicament as Sanarium ran by, so they made their way to the birthing room. Kerowyn reached the door first. "Ah, finally, let's go in!" she noticed Elenwe was silent and not right behind her as she had been. She turned around with a questioning look.

"You want me to go in there with you...?" Elenwe stammered. "ARE YOU NUTS?????!!!! Luna's bad enough when she's normal, but in labor????????!!!!!!" Kerowyn took her arm and pulled on it.

"But we have to be there for her!! I know what birth is like, it's terrible!"

"ALL THE MORE REASON NOT TO GO IN!!!!!!!"

"Elenwe?! Are really going to be so cruel to her and leave her?!" Elenwe turned around and began to walk down the hall.

"She's a big girl, she can take care of herself." Kerowyn grabbed her by the arms.

"I can't believe you!! Come on it won't be so bad!"

"YES, IT WILL!!!" It turned into a tuging match between the two in the hall.

"Elenwe! Let's go in and say hi!" said Kerowyn cheerily.

"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!!!!" Elenwe took hold of the pillar that sat before her on the railing and held tight. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!! SHE'LL KILL ME, SHE'LL LITERALLY KILL ME!!!!!!!!"

"She's not a monster!"

"SHE WILL BE!!!!" A thought jumped into Kerowyn's mind. She let go and Elenwe clinged to the Pillar. Kerowyn scratched her head.

"Wow... I can't believe what a coward you're being... such a baby..."

"WHEN IT COMES TO LUNA IN LABOR, I'D RATHER BE A COWARD THAN DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!" Kerowyn began to pull on her again in disbelief that her name calling didn't work. Inside the screams were unknown to the others, for Luna had been yelling from a contraction, cursing Elrohir.

"Look what you've done to me, You Goyemka!!!!" she screamed as she pummeled him with her fists.

"Melleth, I--" he pleaded.

"NO!!!" said Luna, "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Elrohir tried to beg in vain as Linwe wished to the Valar that he'd shut up. "I want Kerowyn and Elenwe!!!!" shouted Luna.

"But--" Elrohir tried again, but he cried in pain as Luna dug her nails in his back and dragged them down. Linwe pulled him away and shoved him into Elrond.

"Get him out of here and treat him!" she said sternly. Elrond did as ordered and took him into another healing chamber with Elladan. He was lying on his stomach, on the bed as Elrond made a pain reliever when Iodhil came in. He starred at the gashes down Elrohir's back and Elladan tried to comfort him.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuu... She got you good..." Iodhil walked out to the hall, "Man! I'm glad I wasn't in there. Did you see what she did to Elrohir?" He suddenly became aware of the two maiden's struggle and stared at them.

"SEE!!! Luna tore Elrohir up and she loves him!!! What do you think she'll do to me???!!!" Elenwe said as Kerowyn pulled harder.

"But Luna loves you as a friend!!!" she protested.

"THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO SAVE ME!!!" Linwe opened the door and walked out.

"She's asking for you two." Horror struck Elenwe's face and she whimpered, but Linwe would not take no for an answer. She took Elenwe's arm and twisted it sharply, Elenwe imidiatly fell to her control, repeating: "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" She lead her into the room and closed the door with Kerowyn at their side. Elenwe saw Luna lying in the bed and under her breath said,

"Valar, help me..." Luna stretched her hand out to her friends, while she breathed hard.

"Ah... Kerowyn... Elenwe... I missed you guys..." Kerowyn pushed the stiffened Elenwe up to Luna's bedside.

"How are you doing...?" she asked softly. Surprising Luna replyed kindly. Kerowyn elbowed Elenwe.

"H-hey, Luna...." she said. Elenwe started to fluff her pillow.

"Don't do that!" snapped Luna and Elenwe's hands shot into the air.

"Okay!" Down the hall Legolas, Searyn, Meahan and Sanarium hurried. Sanarium had had trouble finding them since she was sent to tell everyone. Sanarium, Meahan and Legolas walked in. Sanarium imidietly began to make medicines for Elrohir's condition, which she had already heard about. Meahan and Legolas walked up to Luna's bed side.

"Hey there, Luna." greeted Legolas. Luna picked up an empty cup from the nightstand and flung it at Legolas, hitting his forhead.

"I DON'T WANT YOU IN HERE EITHER!!!!" she screamed. Meahan set her hand on Luna's shoulder.

"Would you like me to leave as well, Luna?" she asked with a small smile.

"Yes, Hannon lle, Meahan..." Luna retorted tiredly. Meahan guided Legolas out into the hall and shut the door. He held his head as he bled a bit from his injury. Their eyes fell upon Searyn, who sat before them with his arms crossed.

"That's why I didn't go in." he said. Back inside Kerowyn looked around, but suddenly couldn't see Elenwe anywhere. Her eyes wandered to the chair that sat against the wall on the other side of the room from Luna's bed. There, behind it, she saw green clothes in the shape of a person.

"Elenwe... will you get out here..." Elenwe slowly raised her head above the chair.

"Linwe... she needs more medicine... More... she didn't take enough...." Elenwe stammered.