Luna walked awkwardly down the hall. She was heavily pregnant with her second child. She hated feeling this way, big and awkward. How was she supposed to rule her people like this? Her husband was thrilled, of course, and of course Luna was thrilled, but she hated being reduced to a stately waddle. Luna couldn’t see her feet anymore, and that was really irritating, she had been forced to ask Elrohir to put on her shoes, and he had been more than willing. Luna pressed her hands to the small of her back, which was aching something fierce. Luna sat down, and sighed when the cushions swallowed her large frame. All the sudden the door to Luna’s right opened, and there stood Kerowyn. “Luna! Sweetheart! How are you?” Kerowyn asked, sitting next to her friend.

“My back hurts from my stomach, and my stomach is huge. I can’t see my feet, and I’m not even sure their there anymore!” Luna complained. Kerowyn smiled.

“Your butt is bigger, and your breasts are bigger…” She wiped a tear from her eye. “It is just a magical time.”

Luna stared, daggers shooting from her eyes. “Magical? How about painful? And full of shit?!” Luna demanded.

Kerowyn stood. “Well, Mellon, it is.” She smiled, patted Luna’s shoulder, and walked away, humming to herself.

Luna shook her head, watching her friend. She tried to stand up….in vain. After several tries she finally got herself into a standing position. She started to waddle in the direction of hers and Elrohir’s room. Suddenly pain slammed into her. Luna doubled over, eyes watering, as she realized that she was having a contraction. “Dammit…” Luna moaned. “Why now? Elrohir!” She said. Elrohir opened the door, and saw his wife doubled over in pain.

He ran over to her, and helped her to a padded bench. “Luna…Melleth, what’s wrong?” he asked. Luna shook her head, sweat beading her brow.

“Contractions…get….Linwe…” Luna muttered, breath coming in short gasps. Suddenly Elenwe appeared and ran over to her friends.

“I’ll go get Linwe!” She yelled, and took off. Elrohir helped his wife stand, and supported her as they together walked to the healing wings.

Elenwe burst into the healing wings, startling Linwe, who was cutting some herbs. Linwe was going to say something when she saw Elenwe’s slightly panicked expression.

“Linwe…Luna….is….in…labor…” Elenwe panted. Linwe rushed to make a bed ready, and to let Sanariam know, who came in with herbs and clothes for Luna. Linwe ran to the door, where she met Luna, and Elrohir. Linwe reached over to Luna, and helped support her. Luna had her eyes clenched shut, and she was walking very stiffly. Suddenly she stopped and doubled over, groaning. Elrohir bent next to her. Linwe had to give him credit; he was very calm this time around, talking softly to Luna. Luna nodded her head to whatever he said to her, and stood. She let Linwe and Elrohir steer her to the bed and she sat down on it. Elrohir sat next to her and rubbed her back, talking to her. Elenwe walked over to them, a small smile on her face.

“I hate to do this to you, but I have to send you away now Elrohir. Let’s not have a repeat of last time.” Elrohir nodded, and kissed Luna on the forehead, then followed Elenwe out the door. Once he left the room, Elenwe came back in, shut the door, and locked it. Luna had already changed clothes, and was lying down, and, it looked like she was asleep. Elenwe looked at Linwe. “You need me to do anything?” she asked. Linwe nodded.

“Get Lord Elrond. I don’t want her contractions as bad as last time. Poor Elrohir still has the scars.” Linwe said, a chuckle coming from her lips.

“Yes. I will go.” Elenwe said, laughing. Luna’s first pregnancy and labor was long and painful, for everyone. Linwe didn’t give her pain relieving herbs, and Luna had scratched Elrohir’s back pretty badly, she drew blood, and Elrohir needed stitches for one of them.

Elenwe ran down to the big house where Elrond lived. She knocked on the door, and when a servant answered it, she rushed in. Celebrian was walking through the entry hall when she saw Elenwe. “Elenwe…what brings you here?” She asked.

Elenwe smiled. “Luna is in labor, and I need Lord Elrond…or rather…she does.”

Celebrian smiled a wide smile. “I will get him, and her son is here, his father dropped him off.” Celebrian left the room, and Elenwe went into the next room, where Luna’s son, Arteden was playing. The three year old lifted his arms when he saw Elenwe, and she picked him up, cradling him in her arms. Elrond appeared in the doorway.

“Well, are you coming? My feeling is Luna wants someone there!” Elrond said, a smile touching the corners of his lips. Elenwe smiled, and set Arteden down. The twosome made their way to the front door, where Elenwe was surprised to see Celebrian waiting for them. Seeing Elenwe’s questioning look, she smiled.

“I missed Arteden’s birth, I won’t miss this one. After all, I have been present to Kerowyn’s last child, as well as her daughters’ children. Now I must see Luna’s child come into this world. Elenwe nodded and the three left the house, and headed to the great house where Luna lived. They hurried upstairs to the healing rooms (and in this case, birthing rooms) and walked in.

Celebrian and Elenwe launched themselves to Luna’s bedside, where Luna was in an uneasy sleep. It had been over and hour, and though the contractions were coming strong, there was not movement of the child. Elenwe stroked Luna’s hair, and Celebrian put a cool cloth on her forehead. Celebrian looked at Linwe, Sanariam, and Elrond. “You know that Luna is running a fever…right?” She asked. Elrond nodded. Linwe looked at Luna.

“She ran a fever last time as well. We aren’t sure why, none of the others did, except Kerowyn. We couldn’t get it to go down last time, and I already made her take an herb to bring it down, though I am not sure it will help.” Linwe said.

Elenwe nodded. She looked at her friend’s sweaty face. Suddenly her friend awoke and tensed, pain shooting through her. Luna let out a small groan, and her eyes fluttered shut again as the pain passed.

Elrond moved to where the herbs were and started making a tea. He added herbs, hoping to deaden the pain, and help the fever to go down. He finished just as Luna groaned again, clasping Elenwe’s hand, not tightly, but still clasping it. Elrond walked over to Luna and helped her sit up. “Luna…drink this. It will help.”

Luna nodded, eyes still shut tightly. She accepted the drink, and found herself numb from pain, and weak with exhaustion. Luna fell into a deep sleep, contractions passing un-noticed and fever going away a bit.

Many hours passed, and it was not until late in the night that Luna awoke to a bright room, and Elenwe asleep beside her, with Elrohir on the other side of her, asleep as well. It took Luna a moment to realize what had awoken her, her dreadful thirst. Almost as if anticipating her need, Linwe walked over to her with a glass of water. She helped Luna drink it, and then helped re-adjust the pillows. Luna looked wearily at her friend. Linwe smiled, and awoke Elenwe and Elrohir.

Elrohir smiled when he saw Luna awake, and stroked her hair and kissed her forehead gently. Elenwe just patted her friend’s hand, and then checked her fever. To Elenwe’s and Linwe’s dismay the fever had spiked again. Luna looked at her friends. “How long…has it been?” She asked slowly through parched lips. Elenwe looked at her.

“Just over thirteen hours.” Elenwe said, watching her friend. Luna sighed and leaned against the pillows. The pain was faint. Luna could not bring herself to sleep. Instead she went through her life since Arteden was born. She was awake for the long hours in the morning, and when dawn broke, was in full pain from contractions. Elrohir had left, needing to see his son, and take over Luna’s job as ruler. He promised her would be back, and Luna knew he would. It was well over twenty hours now, and the child had still not moved. Elrond, Sanariam, and Linwe were at a loss. They called for another healer, and a (-elf)man walked into, blonde hair in a braid. He studied Luna for a second, and then did an examination.

Elrohir was outside in the gardens, and Elladan and Legolas had joined him. Elladan was watching Elrohir pace sympathetically, and Legolas was playing with his son and daughter. Legolas briefly looked up, “How long?” he asked.

Elladan shook his head. “I have lost track of time…poor Luna…” He shook his head. Meahan had been in the birthing room for a total of two hours. Kerowyn had been in for up to ten hours, and Elenwe had been in for thirteen hours. Luna had been in for well over a day. And to top it off, she was sick afterwards. Elladan looked at his nephew, who was playing with his father’s braids as Elrohir held him. Elladan stood and took his nephew from his brother and looked toward the closed window that was the birthing room.

The new healer looked up and at the gathered people in the room. Just then a contraction hit Luna and she grabbed Elenwe’s hand…hard. Luna wished with all her heart that Elrohir were there with her. The contraction passed and she let go of Elenwe’s hand. Elenwe looked her mangled hand and back at Luna. “Linwe…” Elenwe moaned. “I think Luna broke my hand…”

Linwe walked over and looked at Elenwe’s hand. “Yup…it’s broken. Let me bandage it.” Elenwe hung her head and followed Linwe.

The healer dipped his head again and said something to Elrond while examining Luna. Suddenly pain lanced through Luna and she kicked the offending healer. The healer flew backwards and landed across the room. “You bastard!” Luna snarled. The healer looked at her and took off, running away. Celebrian came forward and stroked Luna’s hair.

Elrohir watched as a new elf came flying out of the house, with a bruise on his face. He turned to Elrohir. “You’re the husband of the elf-bitch in the healing wings?” The healer asked sharply. Elrohir squared his shoulders, and Elladan and Legolas stopped what they were doing.

“Yes, and you would do well not to call the queen of the sun elves a bitch…” Elrohir replied coldly.

“Well, I got news for you. She’s finally in labor! And look what she did to my face!” The healer said; spit flying out of his mouth.

Elrohir looked shocked. “But she’s been in labor for over a day now!” He said.

“Well now that damned baby can be born. And let me tell you, it’s probably going to—be” the healer didn’t finish his sentence as Elladan had slammed him against a wall. Elrohir was running toward the healing wings, and Legolas had gathered all three of the children and was taking them back to his and Elenwe’s home.

“You call my sister-in-law a bitch one more time, and the Valar are going to have a new person to add to the halls of Mandos.” Elladan said, coldly. The healer shivered and quaked in fear. “Do you understand me?” Elladan asked.

The healer nodded and Elladan released him. The healer ran off and Elladan shrugged his shoulders. He went inside the house and sat in the kitchen with a cup of tea.

~~~

Luna shrieked as she struggled to rid herself of the baby. Linwe looked at Luna and smiled. Elenwe had one of Luna’s hands, and Elrohir the other.

“Just one more push Luna…and make it a good one.” Linwe said, encouraging her friend. Luna pushed with all her might, and Linwe said something, but what, Luna could not understand. She felt a great relief flow through her and she collapsed back on the pillows. She opened her eyes, and to her great horror, saw that she could barely see. Elrohir said something joyfully, and Elenwe grabbed Luna’s hand. Linwe walked over to Elrohir and handed him a bundle.

“Luna…what’s wrong?” He asked. Luna turned toward his voice.

“I cannot see.” She said. Elrond shook his head. That had happened to Celebrian as well. Their eye muscles strain and they lose sight for sometime, due to the muscle wearing down.

Luna was still, and Elrond realized she had fallen asleep. Linwe met his gaze, and they were both thinking the same thing, it was a repeat of last time. However, this time, they knew how to keep her from getting sick, and she wouldn’t allow herself to stay sick either. Elrohir handed the baby to Elenwe and bent over his wife.

“I love you, melda-nin, with all my heart.” He said. Luna did not stir, but Elrohir knew she heard him. He kissed the top of her head gently, and took the bundle from Elenwe again. He smiled. “Luna wanted her named Lorelai if it were a girl. So that is her name, Lorelai Elrohiridion.” He smiled, and left the room with the baby in his arms to show his brother.

~~~

Elladan was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea. The guards outside started to say something, but a voice shushed them. The doors opened and there stood Elrohir, a bundle in his arms.

“Gwador…my daughter, Lorelai.” Elrohir said, his voice thick with emotion. Elladan stood and hurried to his brothers side to look at the bundle. The baby was asleep, and she was beautiful. She had fair skin, and the beginnings of dark hair. Elladan couldn’t help but smile.

“She favors you already Gwador.” Elladan said. Elrohir nodded.

“And our son favors his mother…” Elladan took the bundle from Elrohir and cradled it against his chest.

“Speaking on their mother…how is she?” Elladan asked, curious.

Elrohir smiled. “Sleeping. She was saying she couldn’t see, and her fever spiked, but that’s okay, Linwe and Ada are confident they can keep her from getting sick this time. She already seemed healthier this time then she did last time.” They were interrupted by Legolas walking in, having put all three penneths down for a nap. He saw the baby and hurried over to see it.

“She is so small…” Legolas said, looking at the child. “What is her name?” He asked.

Elrohir felt a burst of pride when he answered. The men watched as the baby slept and No one noticed when Elenwe and Kerowyn walked in until Kerowyn squealed.

“Elenwe said she was beautiful but that was such and understatement!” Kerowyn reached over and took the baby from Elladan, and cradled it close to her chest. “She’s not just beautiful…she is perfect.” Kerowyn squealed.

Elenwe smiled. “I came to take the baby back to her mother…Luna can see better, and she wants to see her daughter.” Elrohir nodded and took the child, walking carefully back to his and Luna’s room, where Luna had been moved to. He sat next to her on the bed, and put the baby in Luna’s outstretched arms. Luna looked at her child and felt her eyes fill with tears. “Lorelai” she whispered, and hugged her daughter close. Elrohir hugged the two of them. Suddenly a blonde blur landed on the bed and Elrohir looked up to see Arteden sprawled. Elrohir laughed and grabbed his son, tickling him. Luna opened her arms to her son, and Arteden vaulted into them, hugging Luna round the neck. “Arteden, look. This is your sister, Lorelai.” Luna said to her son. Arteden looked at the baby gravely, and then kissed his sister’s forehead.

“What a wonderful family you all make.” A voice came from the doorway. There were all their friends: Linwe, Sanariam, Searyn, Elladan, Meahan, Lindir, Kerowyn, Legolas, Elenwe, Glorfindel, Fai, Moriwen, Nora, and Erester as well as Elrond and Celebrian. Everyone entered the room, and sat down, some on the bed, some on the floor, and some in various chairs scattered about the room. The room was full of quiet chatter, and Arteden was in his father lap. Suddenly Lorelei started to cry, a small whimpering cry. Everyone left the room and Luna fed the child. The child fell asleep right after being fed, and Elrohir gently laid the child in her cradle. He turned back and was going to say something to Luna, but saw that she had fallen asleep as well. Elrohir smiled, and covered his wife with a blanket, and kissed her gently. “Sleep well.” He said, and grabbed his son. Together father and son left the room, leaving mother and daughter to peaceful slumber.

THE END