HAVEN

This story is a part of the Hope of Mirkwood series, therefore I would recommend going back and reading the others before this one.

The story takes place in the Forth age, after the events of the Lord of the Rings, and it will revolve mostly around Legolas' life in Ithilien.

Characters:

Thranduil (His wife, Emelin, died giving birth to Kirion in Coldness)

Legolas (born TA 1037)

Faneth (Legolas' wife, died in War of Light and Darkness)

Maliel (Their daughter – born TA 2510, married to Elrohir)

Hithel (Legolas' younger sister – born TA 2032, sailed)

Gwaur (Hithel's husband, sailed)

Kirion (Legolas and Hithel's younger brother – born TA 2493)

Alfirin (Legolas' minder when he was an elfling)

Yúcalë (Alfirin's nephew)

Legolas' old team:

Aewon, Húron, Gruinor, Osbon, Ecthel, Thand, Amath, Callon, Roben, Pengon, Hiwon, Maer and Taenor

Warriors trained intensely by Legolas, elite team in Mirkwood.

*Of these only Gruinor, Roben, and Pengon are still alive.

O

Chapter one – One last battle

The year 3019 of the Third Age

From the very moment the orcs had flooded upon their ranks, the world had once more turned to chaos as they stood there before the towering Black Gate of Mordor. The very sky was covered with thick layers of cloud that blocked out all light in an attempt to strengthen the darkness in this last battle.

Battle cries, guttural snarls from orcs, desperate orders, screams of pain and grief, and piercing shrieks from the fell beasts circling above their heads as they were attacked by giant eagles swooping down from the overcast sky to fight their shadowed kin, for if orcs were made from elves, tortured and mutilated, then it is possible that the Nazgul were eagles once. Everything mixed together in an unbearable noise that would not cease.

In the middle of this chaos, Legolas swirled, flew, and turned like water in motion, effortless and infinitely powerful. His white, twin knives cut through the air with nary a sound, already covered in black blood as they pierced the orcs that surround him just as easily as they would cut through water.

He caught an orcish scimitar on one blade while driving the other through the creature's throat, and black blood spattered upon his alabaster skin even as he withdrew his blade and caught the next weapon upon it. Another orc crept up behind him so he drew one of his blades across the throat of the orc in front of him before swirling around and burying the same knife in the other's chest, hardly taking a moment to breathe.

"Twenty!"

A reluctant, but feral, smile spread out upon Legolas' lips as the shout reached his ears and even as he dispatched the next orc he racked his memory for a count.

"Thiry-two!" Legolas chuckled. A roar of indignation followed the statement.

As Legolas kicked one of the orcs in the head and sent it sprawling to the ground, his sapphire blue eyes lifted from what was immediately around him. There he saw Gimli hacking furiously at the orcs in his reach. His friend was like an explosion of emotions and ferocity barreling through the battlefield. There was nothing elegant about the way he fought, but the shear brutality and roughness that the axe represented when he wielded it was still a force to be reckoned with.

Legolas was torn from his musings when he was forced to duck another blade and suddenly he found himself within the fight once more. The last fight… The last battle... Emotions he did not even understand welled up inside his chest constantly even though he pushed them down and numbed them as effectively as possible to focus. He did know, though, the weight that lay beneath every slash, behind every thrust, it was the weight of grief, of hope, of pain, of relief, of sadness, and of complete and utter fear…

Through his whole life, he had fought for this day and in the recent years this had been his target, this had been his reason to keep going and battling his way through every single, agonizing day. Now here he was… and what terrified him was the fact that he did not know what he was going to do when it was over, he could not think past the fight…

Suddenly a more ancient scream reverberated through the air. The sound was almost like that of a tortured animal, filled with agony and feral anger. Immediately, it sent a shiver racing down his spine, for the sound was agonizingly familiar. Legolas faltered in his flowing movement and gasped as it felt like shards of ice were thrust mercilessly and repeatedly through the old scars left by Sauron's black sword.

His face twisted into a grimace and he had to fight himself to keep holding on to his knives when all he wanted to do was to clasp his hands before his ears and shut his eyes so tightly that it would block out the memories that well up inside him of excruciating pain and harrowing coldness.

As he clenched his knives tighter in an attempt to keep his grip, he noticed that the orcs around him had also frozen, their eyes glazed with fear. The Nazgul shrieked as well and fled from the eagles, towards the Mountain of Doom.

Around him he heard the rejuvenated cries of the soldiers as they realized what was happening, but Legolas didn't follow them as they surged forward against the still indecisive orcs, and he barely registered as Gandalf commanded something through the sounds of battle. Icy tendrils had snaked their way deep inside him from his scars, the wounds he had known would never truly heal.

Just as Legolas blinked his wavering vision into focus and raised his knives, a loud rumble resounded through the field and the ground seemed to shake beneath his feet. Unable to keep his feet, Legolas collapsed to his knees with a grunt.

"Legolas!" He heard Gimli's gruff voice shout through the fog that surrounded him, but just as he was about to turn his head an even more ear-splitting shriek sounded through the air. Gasping, Legolas clasped his hands over his ears but forced his eyes to stay open and focused on what was happening inside the gates of Mordor.

A resounding rumble, explosions, and cries of panicked orcs joined in with the horrendous shriek and before their very eyes Morder began to crumble. Fire and ash erupted from the depths of the mountain of fire and the Black Gate crumbled into nothingness along with the Towers of the Teeth. Greatest, though, was the sight of Barad-Dúr, the black tower of adamant, as it crumbled without the power of the one ring, the flaming eye of Sauron screeching and wailing at its peak, but growing dimmer.

The eye burned out. In a brief second it seemed as though the whole world stood still, all sounds were muted and all actions had paused. In this moment a large shadow rose from the tower, rising up towards the violent skies, cackling and vast, and Legolas found that he recognized the shape of Annatar but this time he was not beautiful and haunting, instead Sauron's evil and decay shone through the disguise.

The large shadow stretched one of its hands threateningly out towards their army but then suddenly it whipped its head slightly to the right and Legolas found himself caught beneath the weight of Annatar's gaze, his hand readjusting its aim to him. Immediately, he cried out as ice was driven even more violently through the scars in his chest and he hunched over in response to the pain.

The whole world seemed to disappear and it was just the two of them, just like it had been in Dol Guldur. He knew that this was the last attack that Sauron could make, the last attempt to drag someone down with him before the power of the ring disappeared completely.

The last fight between light and darkness.

Legolas pushed his power through the walls around his mind and light burst like a wave of water out from his body, rolling and flooding over to field and over the darkness of Mordor. As the light cast itself against the vast form of Annatar a mixture of a scream and a roar was ripped from the shadow and suddenly sound and motion returned to the world around them. A mighty wind followed in the wake of his light and it tore through Mordor, blowing away the great shadow and collapsing the last of the Black Tower. Orcs were fleeing in panic over seeing their Master overcome and conquered.

As the wind swept violently over the land, the thick clouds that covered the sky were washed away and the brilliant light of the sun burst through the darkness, momentarily blinding him with its splendor. Warmth seemed to be absorbed into his chilled body as the rays of the sun danced upon his wet cheeks.

It was over…

"Faneth did not give her life for you to die!"

"She gave her life for freedom!" Legolas roared, "She allowed me to go because she believed that one day, we would not have to be afraid, and we would not have to live under the crushing weight of shadow and by the Valar I will see her wish accomplished! I will be there when the clouds roll back from the sky and the light is allowed to shine through without hindrance! I will be there when the war of light and darkness comes to an end!"

It was done…

Legolas gazed unwaveringly towards the sun but even the warmth and hope that the light brought with it could not contain the waves of grief that rolled over him, knowing that Faneth wasn't there to see everything they had hoped for come true. As he closed his eyes to the light, he pushed another tear down his cheek.

I wish you could have seen this Faneth… The sun is shining once more… Finally the world is safe for our daughter and our grandchildren…

"Laddie?"

Gimli's hesitant voice made him open his eyes once more and gaze at Gimli, who was standing uncomfortably before him with a mixture of worry and apprehension in his eyes. The dwarf's axe was black with the blood of orcs and he could see no signs of wounds on him.

"The sun shines, my friend," Legolas whispered.

"Aye," Gimli agreed, the tension leaving him. He reached out to place one of his hands upon Legolas' shoulder.

Legolas once more looked towards the sky, seeing the eagles circling overhead and flying towards Mordor. A strange sense of numbness was starting to fill him and, not for the first time, he felt that his purpose was completed… He felt an overwhelming urge to concede defeat as well, an urge to leave the new world he had fought for to the next generation, for he had lost nearly everything in trying to achieve it and there was almost nothing left.

But his daughter had asked him to stay…

"What was the final count?" Legolas asked and if his voice shook then Gimli didn't comment on it.

He needed to keep fighting…

Gimli grumbled gruffly under his breath and involuntarily Legolas felt the corners of his lips curve in amusement. "Thirty-six," Gimli finally muttered annoyed, glaring at him as if daring him to overstep it.

A chuckle bubbled up inside him and flowed past his lips like the clear sound of silver bells. "Forty-one."

Immediately, Gimli grabbed his axe and looked around for more enemies. He would have run off after the fleeing orcs if Legolas had not placed his hands upon the hands that gripped the axe. Gimli's brown eyes moved and locked onto his sapphire blue.

"I think perhaps that we have spilled enough blood already," Legolas said softly. "You have shown beyond doubt the stubbornness and the fierceness of the dwarves and I am proud to have fought beside you in this last battle, Elvellon." [Elf-friend]

"Legolas!"
Legolas looked up and felt relief flood him when he saw the identical figures racing over to battlefield towards him. Elladan and Elrohir were slightly bloody but nothing about them gave any hint to larger wounds. Elrohir reached him first and kneeled before him, looking over him anxiously before leaning his forehead against his, their eyes closing.

"You have done it, my friend," Elrohir whispered. "If this victory belonged to anyone then it is you."

Legolas shook his head against Elrohir's. "This victory belonged to the fellowship and most especially to Frodo and Sam, for without them Sauron's realm would never have fallen."

"Gandalf has gone in search of them," Elladan said as he kneeled beside his brother. "Gwaihir agreed to carry him to Mount Doom. …You are wounded, Legolas."

Elrohir drew back and Legolas opened his eyes to look down himself. His green tunic was stained red upon his chest, but he felt no pain from the wounds, only numbness. He could not remember getting touched by any blades…

Elrohir reached out and drew up his tunic and undershirt as much as the leather straps that tied his twin knives and his quiver to his back would allow. A small gasp left him when he saw where the blood had come from and he reached out to place his fingers against Legolas' chest.

"I don't understand," Elrohir whispered. "These wounds were healed long ago."

Legolas was still staring at the blood that flowed in rivulets down from the newly opened scars left from Sauron's black sword and remembered the feeling of shards of ice stabbing through them. Suddenly, pain and coldness flooded through his body as if the memory had unlocked whatever hid the sensation from him and he grunted, grimacing.

"They were never healed," Legolas ground out, "not completely. They remained as a connection between Sauron and I, just as the wound from the morgul blade will forever remain upon Frodo. This was Sauron's last attempt at dragging me down with him, luckily he was already weakened because of the destruction of the ring and therefore easy to fight off."

"Easily fought off or not, these wounds need treating," Elladan said. "They are not healing as they should. The bleeding is not even slowing down. Come Legolas, Aragorn has set up a place to take care of the wounded." He reached down and pulled Legolas to his feet, placing his arm over his shoulders when he felt Legolas stagger.

"Master Gimli, would you find Aragorn and bring him?" Elrohir asked, "I think that his skills will be necessary."

"Of course," Gimli responded gruffly and took one last look at Legolas before hurrying off after Aragorn.

The twins hurriedly shepherded Legolas over to where the wounded were being brought, never once letting him support himself. Blood started flowing faster from the wounds because he was standing upright and moving, and so by the time they reached the target he was leaning alarmingly against Elladan's support. Elrohir ducked under his other arm and they moved him over to a vacant spot, laying him down carefully.

Once Legolas was down, Elladan hurried off after bandages and other supplies while Elrohir took Legolas' chilled hand in his. It was obvious that the wounds unnatural; they seemed to be sucking the life from Legolas, making him bleed more than he should, keeping his natural healing ability from working…

"Hang on, Legolas," Elrohir said and took off his cloak to press it against the wounds in an attempt to stem the blood flow. "Estel will be here soon."

"Doesn't he more important things to see to…?" Legolas whispered with a halfhearted smile, while flinching at the pain. "There are many others who have been injured… and many who will turn to their King for instructions…"

"Don't be a fool, Legolas," Elrohir said vehemently, placing more pressure on the wounds as the blood began to soak through the cloak. "I can think of nothing that could be more important than helping you. No matter how you try to wave off your part in Sauron's destruction, we all know that it is largely thanks to you that we are here today …that we were able to win today. No one is more deserving of the peace that is to come than you so don't you dare give in now!"

"I do not know how to live in peace, Ro…" Legolas mumbled, closing his eyes and allowing his head to roll to the side so his cheek rested against the pallet. "I have no purpose in the new world…"

Elrohir choked out a sob and leaned down so his forehead rested against Legolas'. "You have a very important purpose…" he choked. "You are going to be the grandfather of my sons… and I would have them know you… I would have them look up to you… You do not need to know how to live in peace Legolas… You didn't know how to fight when you were born either; it was something you learned… We will teach you to live in peace."

"…I'm beginning to feel old." Legolas chuckled bitterly.

"I should hope not…" Elrohir smiled with forced amusement, sadness evident in his voice. "If you are beginning to feel old then where does that leave me? Almost a thousand years older than you, married to your daughter, and about to have my very first children?"

"You'll be a perfect father…" Legolas breathed.

"And you'll be a perfect grandfather."

"Elrohir!"

Elrohir jerked up his head up and looked almost frantically in the direction of the voice. He saw Aragorn racing across the plain, dodging pallets with wounded as well as healers and soldiers. Gimli was trailing slightly behind him, breathing heavily.

"Legolas?!"
"He's still with us!" Elrohir shouted back, knowing what conclusion Aragorn must have drawn when he had seen him lying halfway draped over Legolas. The way that his foster-brother sagged slightly in relief showed that this assumption had been correct. When he looked to his right he could also see Elladan hurrying towards them with his arms full of supplies.

Turning his attention back to Legolas, he looked sternly into the now open, midnight blue eyes. "You listen to me now," he demanded. "You are going to fight this and you are going to allow us to take care of you without protest, and the moment you are well enough you are coming with Elladan and I when we ride back to Rivendell. It is almost time for the twins' birth. Your daughter is going to need you by her side. Do we understand one another?"

Legolas sapphire eyes softened. "Aye," he breathed. "…We understand one another…"

At that moment, Aragorn skidded to a halt beside the pallet and kneeled at Legolas' side. His steel grey eyes roamed quickly over Legolas' body before motioning for Elrohir to lift the cloak he was using to staunch the bleeding so he could see the wounds. Aragorn's expression turned grim and he looked back to take in Elladan's progress before moving closer to the head of the pallet.

"I saw what happened," Aragorn said softly, placing his hands against Legolas' cheeks and turning his face towards him, gazing deeply into his dark eyes. "Sauron was reaching out towards me… I know he was… but then it was like his attention was jerked to something else and when I turned I saw you, kneeling on the ground. I could see that you were in pain, but I didn't think he had the power left to do something like this…"

"…He possesses a great hatred for me…" Legolas breathed, his sapphire eyes half-lidded in exhaustion. "…It gave him… enough strength…" Shiver raced over Legolas' body and Aragorn was able to feel the coldness of the elf's skin beneath the surfaces of his palms.

A moan left Legolas' bloodless lips as his eyes first blinked sluggishly in an attempt to stay awake before sliding shut. Aragorn called out his name and shook him, but Legolas' body had already gone limp and consciousness had fled him.

Just as Aragorn was about to despair, Elladan reached them and kneeled beside his twin. Quickly, he handed Aragorn a few leaves of Athelas as well as a basin with hot water. Aragorn wasted no time in placed the basin in his lap and placing the leaves against his lips so he could breathe his strength into them. Then he crushed them and a sweet and fresh fragrance filled the air as they were cast into the warm water.

Aragorn took a small towel that Elladan was holding out towards him and soaked it in the water before gently cleansing the reopened wounds upon Legolas' chest. Afterwards, he soaked the towel once more and wrung the access water from it before placing it upon Legolas' forehead, keeping his hand upon it and closing his eyes.

A long moment passed where no one moved. They watched as Aragorn grew pale and sweat began to appear upon his brow. But then Aragorn once more opened his bright, silver eyes.

"Awaken Legolas, you who has fought more than any," he commanded gently, but with unmistakable authority. "It is time to rejoice instead of despair for at long last the darkness has been defeated by light. Walk no more in shadow, but join those who love you."

At those words, Legolas' sapphire blue eyes fluttered open once more and for a while they stayed locked in the strong gaze of the new King before he looked around him. Elrohir, Elladan, and Gimli were all watching him with unbarred emotions in their eyes.

All tension left Legolas' body at this and he returned his eyes to Aragorn before whispering softly, "So be it…"

Aragorn smiled to him and leaned over him to press his lips against his forehead before whispering, "Rest now."

Legolas eyelids slid shut.

O

Legolas gently touched the side of Arod's white neck to steer him after Elladan and Elrohir's horses as they turned onto the path that wound down the mountains that surrounded Rivendell. Two days after the victory before the gates of Mordor, they had set out towards Rivendell so that they could make it back in time for Aragorn coronation in the beginning of May.

Elrohir rode at their front and it was clear that he was anxious to get back to Maliel. His eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the path before him and he spurred his horse quickly down the path. Elladan turned to Legolas and gave him a smile filled with amusement at his twin's plight but it faded when he saw the worry in his friend's sapphire blue eyes, darkened evermore with the grief of losing Faneth.

"She will be fine," Elladan reassured him. "My father will be with her, and Maliel is strong."

Legolas nodded curtly but didn't say anything; instead he focused on making it down the path as quickly as possible, just like Elrohir. Therefore, it wasn't long before the ground beneath the hooves of the horses turned to cobblestone and they entered the courtyard before the doors of the Last Homely House.

Erestor and Glorfindel stood waiting upon the steps that led to the door, warned of their coming by the sound of the sentry's horn. Legolas saw the relief in Glorfindel's eyes as he looked him over briefly before turning to Elrohir. Erestor was already on his way to the twin.

"Elrohir, Maliel has been in labor for some hours now," Erestor said to Elrohir. He was about to say something else but the twin had already stormed into the house and Legolas wasn't long to jump off Arod and run after him.

They raced straight to the healing ward, but Legolas grabbed Elrohir's hand and yanked him back before he could enter the only closed room. The twin was about to yell at him but Legolas just dragged him over to a basin by the wall and pushed his hands into the water. Getting the hint, Elrohir quickly washed his hands and face while Legolas stripped him of his weapons, cloak, and outer tunic, which were all dirty and stained.

When he was somewhat clean, Elrohir turned to Legolas with widened eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but Legolas just pushed him towards the door.

"Just go to her, Ro," he said and watched as Elrohir hurriedly opened the door and slipped inside. For the brief moment the door had been open, Legolas had been able to hear the strenuous breathing of his daughter as well as her cry of joy when she had seen Elrohir. He was just about to start pacing the floor when a familiar voice rang out through the healing ward.

"Legolas."

Legolas spun around and saw his father sitting on one of the chairs in the ward, an abandoned book in his hand. For a moment they just stared at each other. Legolas could see the strain and the tiredness in his father's expression as well as the worry in his light blue eyes.

Blinking himself out of his stupor, Legolas moved over to the chair and kneeled beside it, placing his hand upon his father's thigh and gazing up at him, concerned.

"I heard that war had reached Mirkwood as well," Legolas said.

"Aye," Thranduil responded with a small smile and placed his hand against his firstborn's cheek, "it reached us. Under the command of one of the Ringwraiths, the orcs of Dol Guldur launched three attacks against our realm and Lothlorien. We managed to push back the attacks, and in coalition with Lothlorien we decided to march against the fortress. The fight happened under the trees in the southern forest and many of the trees were lost because of a great fire.

"Despite this, the combined forces of Mirkwood and Lothlorien, Beorn and Radagast managed to defeat the armies of Dol Guldur, though not without casualties… Galadriel went into the fortress and destroyed it for all eternity, banishing the shadow and shattering the walls. I met with Celeborn under the trees and gave him the Southern part of the forest for his help, just as the middle part was given to Beorn and the woodsmen. I kept everything from the mountains and upwards to myself…"

A large smile suddenly appeared on Thranduil's lips and he brushed Legolas' hair behind his ear on one side. "I cast 'Mirkwood' away and renamed the forest 'Eryn Lasgalen'." [Wood of green leaves]

Legolas stared at his father with widened eyes before letting his head fall into his lap with a groan. "Please don't tell me you named the forest after me…" He muttered despairingly.

Thranduil laughed at that and continued to brush his hand over his son's hair, his hand shaking slightly. The sheer relief of seeing Legolas hale and whole had been enough to leave him completely frozen when his son had first entered the ward with Elrohir, and it had been a while before he had been able to find his voice enough to call out to him, since his son obviously hadn't felt his presence.

No real word had been able to reach them because of the war, and although Elrond had received news of the destruction of Sauron and the war before the Black Gate, he hadn't been able to tell him of Legolas' fate. To have his son near after almost a year filled with fear for his fate after he had gotten the letter from Legolas saying that he was going on the quest was a blessing without equal.

Thranduil looked up when the door opened and watched as Elladan and Glorfindel entered the ward. The two of them smiled at the sight of the King and the Prince, for Legolas hadn't bothered raising his head from his father's lap, and Thranduil was still brushing his hand over his hair. They sat down of one of the beds and Elladan began telling Glorfindel of the journey home as well as the war of the ring.

Their conversation faded to the background, though, as Legolas and Thranduil began speaking once more.

"How did you come to be in Rivendell?" Legolas asked softly, turning his head slightly to the side so he could look at his father.

"The battle of Dol Guldur ended in the beginning of April and your brother offered to take over in managing Eryn Lasgalen so I could go to Rivendell to be with Maliel," Thranduil said as he brushed his fingers over Legolas' cheek. "I only arrived yesterday myself. I didn't know if you and Elrohir would be able to arrive in time for the birth and I didn't want her to be alone."

"Thank you," Legolas said softly. He was silent for a moment but then asked in a whisper, "Did anyone that I know die in the battle?"

Thranduil sighed, wishing that Legolas hadn't thought to ask. "Callon passed, Legolas, as did Urion and Tharbadon. There are others but you know these best."

Before Thranduil's eyes it seemed as though yet another part of his son was ripped out cruelly and Legolas' form sagged in a mixture of pain and weariness. Guilt welled up inside him because he knew that he was the one who had condemned Legolas to the life of a warrior.

Just thinking back to the happy elfling Legolas had been before he had thrust him mercilessly into a world of pain and horror threatened to make tears well up in his eyes and he was forced to breathe deeply to hold them back. Closing his eyes, Thranduil let a short prayer pass through his mind before he leaned forward and placed a kiss against his son's forehead.

He then drew back and continued to caress Legolas' silvery-white hair while asking, "What about you? How did you come to be here?"

"We rode from Ithilien a few days after the demise of Sauron so we could be here in time for the birth of the twins," Legolas answered wearily.

Thranduil could see that there was more to the story but he could also see the exhaustion on Legolas' expression. "There will be time later for you to tell me the whole story," he said gently. "For now I am just happy to see that you've returned in one piece. You look tired though, Legolas, …tired and strained."

"It has been a long journey," Legolas muttered.

"I do not doubt it." Thranduil was silent for a moment but then said, "Follow your own advice and wash up now, because soon it will be time for you to meet your grandchildren, and as you are now I'm not sure Elrond would let you within ten feet of them."

Legolas chuckled softly and got to his feet. He walked over to the basin, in which Elrohir has washed up, and dipped his hands into the clear liquid, washing away the grime and dust of the road. Leaning down, he splashed the water onto his face and combed wet fingers through his hair, untangling the braids and the worst knots.

When he was finished, Legolas dried himself with one of the towels and walked over to the cabinet that stood against the wall of the healing ward. Opening the topmost drawer, Legolas extracted Elladan and Elrohir's spare sets of clothing. He threw one of the sets to Elladan, who caught it with a smile, and both of them changed out of their travel-stained clothes.

Thranduil watched as Legolas changed, saw the scars that mapped his son's body and the bones that showed just underneath his skin. It was clear that he had lost even more weight during the quest, and there were many signs of wounds just recently healed. Elrohir's tunic hung painfully loose as it fell over Legolas' torso.

He opened his mouth to say something but the next moment a moan was hearable from behind the door between them and where Maliel was giving birth. Legolas' head immediately swirled towards the door, his eyes widened with worry. Without even thinking, Legolas rushed to the door only to stop himself inches from grabbing the doorknob. He stood there a moment but then began pacing before the door; his expression darkening as more sounds of pain came from the room behind.

Suddenly the muffled sound of Maliel hurling insults and curses at Elrohir sounded through the door and Legolas stopped pacing for a moment, a smile curving on his lips. She was her mother's daughter… that much was certain.

Barely half an hour passed after that before a howl of pain came from the room quickly followed by the shrill wailing of a newborn child. Legolas froze completely and stayed frozen throughout the twenty minutes it took for the sounds to pierce the air once again, just as strongly. Soon both laughter and gentle murmuring came from behind the door but Legolas was unable to make out what was said.

They didn't have to wait long before the door opened, forcing Legolas to take a hasty step backwards to avoid a collision, and Elrond came out with a smile upon his face. Legolas could feel the weight of the healer's eyes as they quickly scanned both him and Elladan before storing away his observations for later and smiling to them once more, "You can come in now."

Legolas let his gaze move from Elrond and into the room behind him. Immediately, he found himself locked in his daughter's sky blue eyes and for a moment nothing else existed. Even through obvious exhaustion, Maliel's eyes shone with relief and joy at seeing him. As tears welled up inside her eyes, he could no longer stay standing in the doorway and instead he hurried to her, pressing a kiss against her clammy forehead.

"Hey there, Princess," Legolas said softly.

"Ada…" Maliel greeted with tiredness in her voice. Nonetheless, she smiled brilliantly to him, and he found his worry dissipating enough to focus on more than just his daughter.

Elrohir was sitting on Maliel's bedside, glowing with joy, with a wriggling bundle in his arms. The baby's twin was lying on Maliel's chest with a soft, white blanket wrapped over him and his daughter's hand resting lightly upon his back. Legolas' eyes widened slightly with wonder and he crouched beside the bed so he was able to see the baby's face underneath the blanket. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers over the baby's red and warm cheek with the outmost of gentleness.

"His name is Naruvir," Elrohir's voice sounded.

Legolas reluctantly took his eyes off his grandson and looked up at Elrohir. The twin had gotten up from the bed and was walking over to him, Naruvir's twin still wriggling in his arms. When he stood before Legolas, Elrohir carefully handed the precious bundle over to him.

"And this is Caladel," he said softly, proudly. "Our firstborn."

Legolas' arms cradled Caladel with so much care and tenderness that it was almost painful to look at. Caladel settled almost immediately in his arms as his calm and gentle aura seeped through the blanket wrapped around his grandson to keep him warm. Legolas gazed upon the baby in his arms, his sapphire eyes gentle with wonder. Wisps of auburn hair covered the top of Caladel's head, and from what he had seen under the shadow of the blanket, the same could be said about Naruvir.

Legolas watched as Caladel's tiny nose crinkled slightly before a huge yawn spread the baby's lips. Afterwards, two large eyes were reluctantly opened to the world and Legolas found his eyes locked with a pair of pure, silvery grey, outlined with dark eyelashes. Caladel squinted at the light coming in from the windows and soon closed his eyes once more with a whimper.

Instantly, Legolas shushed him and caressed his soft cheek gently, moving his finger over his features almost as if he was etching them into his memory. Caladel waved his arms slightly so Legolas' fingers soon found their way down to one of his tiny hands, holding it and watching as the little fingers curling themselves around his finger.

The others in the room were watching Legolas with the baby with smiles upon their lips. Elrohir had sat down beside Maliel once more and the two of them were alternating between gazing at Legolas with their firstborn, and looking after their precious Naruvir. Thranduil moved over to them, congratulating his granddaughter softly and gazing upon his youngest great-grandson.

Legolas seemed only to be aware of the little baby in his arms, murmuring softly to him and caressing him. He was so unlike the innocent baby he held in his strong arms… The shadow of hardship and grief hung over him and his shoulders almost couldn't hold up the burdens laid upon them any longer, whereas Caladel was free of all care and troubles.

From the way Legolas was clinging to his grandson, it seemed to them as though Caladel was the only thing that kept him from collapsing.

When some time had passed, Elladan stepped forward with a smile and asked softly, "Can I see my nephew as well?"

Legolas looked up at him, tears in his eyes. "What?" He asked softly, not having registered what Elladan had said.

Elladan shook his head and walked over to him, briefly resting his forehead against Legolas'. "Never mind," he said and gazed down upon Caladel in Legolas' arms.

They stayed like that for a while but soon both Caladel and Naruvir began whimpering and crying. Legolas and Maliel shushed them softly, trying to comfort them, but Elladan and Elrohir just smiled knowingly.

"Come, Legolas," Elladan said gently and guided Legolas over to Maliel's bed. "We best not keep the two of them apart for too long."

Understanding what he meant, Legolas gave Caladel over to his father who gently laid the baby beside his brother so Maliel cradled both. Almost instantly the twins' tiny hands found each other and they stopped crying.

A/N: I just graduated from my school today so I thought the best way to celebrate is to post the first chapter of the follow-up to 'War of Light and Darkness', despite the fact that I haven't written more than a few chapters the past four months because of school and exams... (Glad that's over! :D - for now)

P.s. I hope you enjoyed the last scene as much as I did ^_^