Sorrowful Twist of Fate

The breeze floated by with a gentle and calming feeling. It blew through the trees and the sunlight seemed to dance on the ground and in the air as it did so. It was very comforting, but for Elenwe it was not comforting enough. The day she would have adored just made her feel worse, for the fact that she could not enjoy it loomed over her. She leaned on the railing of a third story balcony of Mirkwood Palace, she wanted to be alone, she wanted to escape from everyone down below. She held her stomach, the feeling was coming back again. Kerowyn called to her as she stepped onto the balcony. "It's almost time to go... ready?" she asked. Elenwe grabbed her things,

"Ready...but tell me why we have to go on this little jont again." Kerowyn smirked as they headed for the door,

"It's an annual walk & picnic that we take every end of summer."

"Oh yeah..." said Elenwe. Kerowyn took a closer look at her friend. Just as she thought, she looked a little pale. Kerowyn shook it off for the time being, knowing that any questions from her now would only result in Elenwe saying she was fine and possilbly even anger her.

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Thranduil, Legolas, Iodhil, Lindir, Kerowyn, their children, Elenwe and a few others (Guards and what not) made their way out of the forest at last. Elenwe sank a little inside when she saw the rocky hill side they were begining to climb over. "What a day to feel like crap!" she thought to herself. She knew she could make it, but not without difficulty. A while later Kerowyn looked back at Elenwe. Now she was definetly pale and breathing a little hard. Kerowyn turned to Thranduil, "This looks like a good enough place to rest." she said. Thranduil agreed and called the prosession to a halt, thinking Kerowyn wanted the children to have a moment. Some took out water canteens, Kerowyn brought one to Elenwe who was sitting down, "Here." she said in her gentle voice. Elenwe stared at Kerowyn a moment while she caught her breath. Her friend wasn't stupid, if she hadn't known before, then she definetly knew now of Elenwe's condition. She took a drink of the cool water gladly,

"Honna lle..." she said, handing the cannteen back.

"I know it's none of my business... but..." Elenwe held up her hand,

"I'm way ahead of you Ker... but I don't wanna ruin the picnic or anything. Besides...it's not so easy..." Kerowyn looked at her friend,

"You should at least tell Legolas....." she said coscily. Elenwe sighed, Kerowyn was right but she didn't want to admit it.

"Okay." she said, standing up.

"Okay." Kerowyn walked back to her children and Lindir while Elenwe pulled Legolas aside.

"There's... something I need to tell you." she said, the dread of the words soon to come from her mouth filled her voice.

"What is it, Melleth-nin?" he asked, concern tetering on the end of his own sentence. Elenwe looked down, wondering how she could possibly tell him, she took a deep breath. She looked him in the eye and hesitated,

".....I'm..... I'm pregnant." she spat out at last. Legolas's face slowly sank into a worry filled look of sorrow.

"What's this?!" shouted Thranduil, who had overheard. Elenwe spun and looked at him then at the ground, her heart sinking. "You're pregnant?! ...Wonderful! Absolutly wonderful!" His face was bright with a joyful smile. Various elves clapped and smiled in response. Kerowyn shrank in horror, this was terrible. "I can't believe it..." Thranduil continued, "I shall have a indyo!... Ha ha ha ha... a grandchild!" Each word was a dagger which pierced Elenwe's heart, she tightened her grib on Legolas's arm and began to tremble.

"Ada..." Legolas tried to get his father's attention, but he didnot hear.

"This is reason to celebrate! Ha, ha! A grandchild!" Legolas shouted this time,

"Ada!!" Thranduil turned to him,

"What is it Ion-nin?" he noticed his son's serious face, "Arn't you happy? You shall be a father." Elenwe could listen no more, she turned and ran into the woods as quickly as she could. Kerowyn ran after her. "What is the matter?" Thranduil said to himself looking at the woods.

"Ada..." Legolas started again, "There will be no child....." Thranduil was taken back,

"What do you mean?" Legolas didn't look his father in the eye anymore,

"Years ago Elenwe was injured in a battle... on the frail chance of her ever becoming pregnant.............. the child will be a miscarrage... everytime...". The silence in the procession was that of the dead and Thranduil's face became like the grave.

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Elenwe ran, out of breath and gasping, through the woods. She penetrated deep into the trees before she finally stopped and slumped over on a tree for balance. She banted hard with her emotion being released in her voice. Her knees buckled and she slipped on the ground in a swift motion, still holding onto the tree. Kerowyn ran up to her, "Elenwe.....!" she took deep breaths and stared at her for a moment. "Oh... Mellon-nin..." She fell onto her knees and hugged her friend though she didn't move.

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