Aragorn gazed absent-mindedly at the horizon as he leant against the railing of his bedchamber's balcony. The sun was already setting, colouring the sky with streaks of orange and purple, yet the King's mind was far from appreciating its beauty. Aragorn sighed deeply. He was still brooding over the events that took place just the day before; Legolas' dramatic premature labour and the healers' discovery of the drug in his drink had been weighing heavily on his mind. But the matters revealed to him afterwards disturbed the King the most.

FLASHBACK

Aragorn's eyes snapped open as he felt someone pulling something from between his hands. The King was surprised to see Glorfindel standing in front of him with the baby in his arms.

'I thought of relieving you from the baby so you could sleep more comfortably,' the blond Elf explained. 'I'm sorry if I disturbed you.'

'No need to apologize,' Aragorn said, shaking his head. 'How long have I been sleeping?'
'An hour,' replied the Elven Lord.
'I think I've rested enough,' Aragorn glanced at the sleeping Elf beside him and sighed. 'He has been through an excruciating experience,' he sighed.

'Aye, but with your help, it will pass,' Glorfindel said. 'Now, if you aren't planning to return to sleep, will you please clear the bed?'

Aragorn raised a dark eyebrow at the Lord.
'Honestly, Elessar, the babe needs her rest,' Glorfindel chastised. 'And until a more suitable accommodation is prepared, this bed belong to your daughter.'

The King laughed amusedly.

'It was too early; we haven't prepared a suitable wardrobe or even ordered a crib to be made.'
'There will be plenty of time for that,' the blond Elf assured.
Smiling, the King got off the bed. He watched fondly as the Elven Lord placed the baby on the bed and surrounded her with pillows and cushions. Then, the two left the two sleeping Elves in peace, ensuring the door was securely locked after them.
'I wish to speak to Adar,' Aragorn said.
'Indeed,' Glorfindel answered. 'There are so many issues that need to be discussed.'
'You know?' the man asked.
'I had my initial suspicions; Elrond confirmed them before he left.'

'May you please call him?' Aragorn asked. "I don't wish to leave Legolas alone."

'Certainly.'

With that, the blond Elf left the room.
A few moments later, Aragorn was in his private study with Elrond and Glorfindel.
"I need to know everything, Ada," He spoke as the three sat on couches surrounding a small table.

Elrond sighed before taking out a small vial full of a purplish liquid and placing it on the table.

'This is the milk that was in Legolas' cup,' He said in Elvish. 'The purple substance is a drug called Lútha îdh [Enchanted repose].'

Aragorn blanched, recognizing the name almost immediately. However, his initial fear turned into rage as his mind registered the purpose of the drug.
"Who would dare to do such a thing?!!" The King exclaimed angrily as he stood up and started to pace; fury and rage were evident in his eyes. He knew the drug quite well. It was one of the few poisons in Middle-Earth that could affect Elves. Rare as it was, though, not everyone knew about it or came across it. Aragorn's mind worked quickly, trying to count those who wanted to harm Legolas' child and had some knowledge of Elven remedies and where they could be found, but he found none.

The two Elven Lords watched as the man paced, waiting for his anger to subside. Soon enough, Aragorn ceased his pacing and looked at them.

'Who do you think has done it?' he asked.

'We don't have a clue,' Glorfindel replied. 'But rest assured that we will find them. In the meanwhile, some matters need to be addressed.'

'What matters?' the man asked as he returned to his previous seat.
Elrond cleared his throat before he spoke.

'Estel, as you know, even the smallest quantity of Lútha îdh will cause an immediate miscarriage in the earliest stages of Elven pregnancy. However, since Legolas' pregnancy was in its late stages, it would've needed some considerable amount of the drug to cause such a violent reaction.'

'Isn't this enough dosage?' the man asked, gesturing to the small vial.
'Not quite,' Elrond replied. 'The purple colour does indicate a high quantity of the drug but not the sufficient amount for the drug to interfere with the process of a natural birth.'

'What are you saying?' Aragorn whispered darkly, feeling the fire of his anger rousing once more.
'We fear that Legolas has been given the drug for a while now, in small insignificant amounts, perhaps, to avoid detection,' Elrond replied, noticing the rage that swept through the King's grey eyes. 'When he had taken a larger amount of the drug, his natural healing abilities tried to counteract the drug, but since the drug was already coursing in his blood, the interaction between the two factors was disastrous.'

By now, Aragorn's body was shaking violently with unspeakable fury, his eyes revealing the fire blazing inside him.

'Calm yourself down, Elessar,' Glorfindel advised.
'How can I calm myself when you're telling me that my husband has been drugged for the Valar knows how long!' the King was seething. 'This is treason, Glorfindel. High Treason!'

'Anger will not let you know who did it!' Glorfindel retorted. 'Do you think that we're not upset about this betrayal? Both of us are furious at what has been done to an Elven Prince and the son of a very close friend. But blind anger never solved anything.'

Aragorn took several deep breaths in an attempt to tame his anger. The blond Lord was right; blind anger never solved anything.

'I'm sorry,' the man whispered. 'As you said, anger will not lead us to the culprits, whom we should all work to find as soon as possible. At any rate, I'm grateful to Lord Elrond for saving Legolas and my child. They are safe now, and that's all that matters.'

The two Elves exchanged worried glances.

'What?' Aragorn asked, noticing their uncomfortable expressions.

'Aragorn,' Elrond said carefully. 'Legolas wasn't in danger at all. The drug was meant to dispose of his child...' The dark-haired Elf allowed his voice to trail off, not knowing how to break the news to his son.

'And?' Aragorn hissed, feeling a dreading shadow looming over his soul.
'And, I fear that she isn't out of danger yet,' Elrond supplied.

'What do you mean?'
Elrond closed his eyes briefly and sighed. He had been considering all the consequences of Legolas' incident, and some of his conclusions were more gruesome than others.

'If Legolas indeed had been given the drug over a long period,' he began slowly. 'Then I fear it would still have lethal effects on the child, even after her birth.'
Aragorn dared not move or make a sound as he stared silently at the Elven Lord. His mind simply refused to understand his father's implications.

'Aragorn,' Elrond tried again. 'You know how Lútha îdh affects the body, and without the strong Elven immunity, long exposure to the drug will surely lead to the eventual death of an infant. Elven babies develop their immunity after six months after their birth. There is a huge chance that Legolas' child will—'
'No!' Aragorn exclaimed. 'Don't say it.' He glared at his foster father, tears slowly forming in his grey eyes.

'I'm sorry, Estel,' Elrond said. 'But we must consider every possibility. If Legolas' daughter lives past those six months, then I can positively say there is no danger to her life.'

The King slumped back on the couch as his breath became shallow.

Six months?
Did Elrond genuinely expect them to live six months in absolute worry?

Fretting every time their little girl made a sound or cried, or even hiccupped?
He might ask them to wait a year or one hundred years.
'You have the gift to see what will come to pass,' the King said, staring at his father. 'One year, that's all I'm asking. Just look into the future and tell me if she would be with us in one year.'

'I'm sorry, Aragorn. I can't.'

'You can't, or won't?' Aragorn asked darkly.
'I can't,' Elrond said wistfully.
The King just nodded.

'I would appreciate it,' he said. 'If you don't mention anything to Legolas when he wakes up, you must not tell him anything about the drug or his child's fate.'

'Is it wise to keep such a thing from him?' Glorfindel questioned.
'He has been through a lot,' Aragorn said. 'I don't want apprehension and fear to ruin his happiness with his child. She will be fine. I'll do whatever I can to ensure it. Also, we will track and catch the assassins quietly and discreetly.'
The two Lords nodded in affirmation.
'We must question the servants responsible for Legolas' meals as soon as possible,' Glorfindel said. 'to find out who put the drug in his milk.'

'You take care of it, Lord Glorfindel,' Aragorn said. 'I can't trust myself if I had to question them.'

'Alright, I will,' the blond Lord replied. 'But to avoid such an incident from happening again, I suggest that we request some Elven servants from Ithilien to come and cook and serve meals for the royal family. They have to be someone in a position of great trust.'

'Elves?'
'Aye,' Glorfindel replied. 'Who would be more loyal to Legolas than the Elves of Mirkwood?'

END OF FLASHBACK

And so it was done.

As soon as they finished their meeting, Lord Glorfindel sent an urgent message by pigeon to Ithilien, requesting some Elven staff to serve Legolas. The Elves had arrived in the morning, accompanied by an Elven Lady called Gwîneth, whom Lord Glorfindel charged with caring for the little Princess. Also, the blond Elf issued a stern order to the guards standing at the royal chamber doors not to allow anyone to enter the chambers without permission from Aragorn or himself, regardless of the visitor's identity or the reason for the visit. An order for which Aragorn was very grateful. He didn't wish to see anyone or deal with anything until his nerves settled.

'My Lord,' the soft voice of Gwîneth snapped Aragorn from his thoughts.
'Yes, Lady Gwîneth?' he asked, looking at her over his shoulder.

'A Lord named Faramir is asking for an audience with you,' she replied. 'He had been asking since this morning, but I had always dismissed him. However, now he's saying he won't leave until granted an audience.'
Aragorn let out a small laugh.

'It's all right, Lady Gwîneth,' he said. 'He's my Steward. You may allow him to enter.'
With a slight bow, the Lady left.
Taking a deep breath, Aragorn exited the balcony as well. He walked to the bed, checking on his sleeping husband. The King kissed the Elf's forehead softly before leaving the bedchamber.

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Faramir, who was waiting in the living room, jumped from his seat as soon as the King exited the bedchamber.

"Aragorn," he exclaimed. "I've been trying to see you all day, but you've never left your chambers since yesterday, and those guards won't let me in by Lord Glorfindel's orders. Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel did not explain anything, and the Elves who came from Ithilien—"

"They came under my orders, Faramir," Aragorn said as he sat down, mentioning that the other man should do the same. "And as for the guards, I didn't wish to see anyone or deal with anything just yet. Lord Glorfindel was acting under my orders. I'm still unhinged after yesterday's incident," he admitted to his friend. "Legolas hasn't woken up yet either, and I don't wish for him to wake up and not find me by his side."

"How is he?"
"He's fine, according to my father. I just wish that he would wake up."
"The Lords of the council have been tormenting me since yesterday with their questions and inquiries about what had happened to the Prince Consort," Faramir said. "Some already believed that he's dead."

"That's exactly what they're hoping for, I'm sure," Aragorn remarked darkly under his breath but loud enough for the young Steward to hear.

Faramir let out a defeated sigh. While agreeing with his King that some of the Lords wished Legolas out of Gondor, the son of Denethor hoped that Aragorn wouldn't always assume the worst about all of them.

"They are worried, Aragorn," he reasoned. "You left in haste after declaring that Legolas was in deep pain. Then, hours later, they got the news that he had given birth two months earlier than scheduled without an apparent reason. Rumours of blood-stained sheets and a dead Elfling were circling over the castle. The kitchen staff was replaced with Elves from Ithilien, and everyone was banned from seeing you for two days. I don't blame them for assuming the worst."

Aragorn sighed, frustrated, as he stood and walked to the fireplace. He didn't wish to deal with this right now, not trusting his temper.

"Aragorn," he heard Faramir saying. "You must at least give me something to tell the Lords. An accident such as—"

"It wasn't an accident," Aragorn snapped, facing the young Steward. "What happened to Legolas was not by any means an accident."
Faramir paled upon hearing his King's declaration.

"You mean..." the blond man couldn't even complete the sentence.

"Yes, Faramir," the King hissed. "Legolas had a premature delivery because he was poisoned. Whoever did it wanted to eliminate the child and Legolas in one blow." Feeling frustrated, the raven-haired man turned around, slamming his fist against the porcelain mantel of the fireplace.

"Whom do you suspect?" Faramir asked; a dreadful feeling was slowly filling his soul.
"No one yet," Aragorn replied, taking a deep breath. "The drug used isn't a usual poison. Whoever has done this must be familiar with Elven herbs. I can't think of anyone who possesses such knowledge in Gondor."

Still, the young Steward couldn't shake the uneasy fear away. He wondered if he would press his King for more information, but one look at the other man convinced him otherwise. Aragorn didn't need unnecessary prying at the moment. The blond man took a deep breath and walked to his King.

"Aragorn," he said softly. "I swear on my honour, not only as your Steward but as your friend, that whoever did this will be brought to justice. I promise you, my friend."
Aragorn looked back at the blond man, offering him a small smile of gratitude. He placed his hand on the man's shoulder and squeezed it slightly.

"Thank you, Faramir. Legolas and I desperately need loyal friends more than anything else."

Faramir smiled back reassuringly.
Suddenly, the two men heard an agonized cry coming from the bedchamber.

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A soft moan escaped his mouth as he slowly started to regain consciousness. His whole body ached as if he had fought a cave troll alone. His muscles agonizingly protested as he turned to one side. Legolas' eyes snapped open in panic when his hand unconsciously rubbed against his flat stomach.

"Aragorn!" he cried frantically, jolting up; tears of fear started streaming down his cheeks. "Aragorn!"
"Legolas, what's wrong?" Aragorn rushed quickly to his husband's side.
"My child!" Legolas cried frenziedly as memories of his past ordeal came back to him. "What happened to my child?"
"Legolas, calm down," Aragorn assured his distraught husband, taking him into his arms. 'Calm down. Your child is fine. I promise. She's fine. She's fine,' he repeated in Elvish soothingly as he pressed Legolas to his chest.

Slowly, Legolas calmed down as his husband's words sunk in. He pulled away, looking directly into the man's grey eyes.

"She's-she's fine?"
Aragorn nodded, smiling warmly.
"I want to see her," Legolas whispered, looking around the room.

"She's in the next room with her nursemaid." The man provided.
"Nursemaid?" the Elf asked.
Aragorn just smiled before getting up and heading to the next room. Moments later, he emerged, carrying a royal blue bundle in his arms.

Legolas' eyes sparkled, and his hands clutched the blankets as he fought the urge to jump and snatch his daughter from Aragorn's arms. He instinctively elevated his body, trying to see the little babe clearly as Aragorn approached the bed and sat on the edge.

Aragorn lowered his charge into Legolas' waiting arms.

Legolas inhaled sharply as he held the little body of his daughter in his arms. He stared at her in awe before extending a shaky hand and touching her delicate face. Gently, he traced his daughter's soft cheeks, tiny pointy ears, pale blonde hair, adorable nose and rosy little mouth with his fingers. A gasp escaped his mouth when suddenly she opened her eyes, revealing the most beautiful turquoise eyes he had ever seen. Eagerly, he unwrapped the velvet blanket, drowning in the sight of her tiny body. He smiled fondly as he counted her little fingers and toes. Tears of joy trickled down his cheeks as he slowly lifted her, hugging her to his heart.
'My little jewel,' he whispered. "Míreth."

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Aragorn smiled as he watched Legolas worship his little daughter. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever witnessed. A pang of pain hit him, remembering Elrond's words about the baby's possible fate. Shaking his head, the King of Men vowed that he would not allow such a thing to occur. Legolas' daughter would live a long, happy life, no matter what.
"Legolas," he said. The blond Elf looked up at him as if he had just noticed his presence. "Lord Elrond told me that he wished to see you as soon as you woke up," he said. "I suppose he wants to examine you."
"Oh," Legolas said. "All right, then."

He smiled, turning his attention back to his daughter. He didn't want to leave his little girl yet but knew he had to comply. Lord Elrond was a devoted healer who would undoubtedly want to ensure his patient was in good shape after such a painful ordeal. Plus, Legolas was feeling a stinging, searing pain in his abdomen.
"Lady Gwîneth," he heard Aragorn calling.

Looking up in confusion, Legolas was surprised when the door to the adjacent bedroom opened, and an Elven maiden entered.
'Gwîneth?' he exclaimed. 'Man ceridh hí? (What are you doing here?)'

'Mae g'ovannen, Ernil Legolas.' (Well met, Prince Legolas.) Gwîneth greeted, curtsying. 'Gwannas lû and.' (It has been too long.)
"You knew each other?" Aragorn asked as the blonde she-Elf walked over to their bed.
"Gwîneth's mother was my mother's best friend and Lady-in-Waiting," Legolas explained. "Gwîneth was raised with us in Mirkwood's Palace. She's the same age as Mallorn."

"Indeed," she said with a smile. "My mother was also the unappointed head of Prince Legolas' nursemaids," she reminded humorously, making the blond Prince flush in embarrassment. "He was quite a handful as an Elfling. He had, under Mallorn's guidance, of course, wreaked havoc all over the Palace."

Aragorn chuckled, noticing how the tips of his husband's ears turned into a deep shade of red.
"You haven't answered my question, Gwîneth," Legolas spoke, trying to hide his obvious discomfiture. "What are you doing here?"
"I came from Ithilien on Lord Glorfindel's orders to take care of your daughter," she replied.
Legolas blinked in confusion, looking at the Elven maid before looking at Aragorn.
"You were unconscious for two days, Legolas. And we would've needed someone to care for the child eventually," Aragorn explained. "Lord Glorfindel suggested that we acquire one of the Elven maidens who reside in Ithilien to care for our little princess."

"I arrived in Ithilien a few days ago with a convey from Mirkwood," Gwîneth added. And when I heard that you needed someone to care for your child, I couldn't think of anyone more suitable than myself for the task."

Legolas stared at the two before him as his mind slowly registered what was said to him. "Two days?" he finally asked. "I was unconscious for two days?"

"Yes, but you are fine now," Aragorn reassured. "Lady Gwîneth, would you please inform one of the guards to summon Lord Elrond?"
"Of course, my Lord." With a slight bow, the maiden left the two.

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Faramir stood at the door when Aragorn rushed to comfort his husband. A wave of guilt washed over him as he witnessed Legolas' distressed state, feeling like an intruder for having to see such a scene. During the past three months, he had always seen the Elven Prince in a quiet and composed demeanour, something the young Steward had always believed to be a nature to all Elves. But seeing the elegant Prince in such a state, panicked and vulnerable, was more than he could bear. Faramir shook his head and left the royal couple in peace, doubting that he would be missed. He left the royal wing and walked through the long corridors of the castle, trying to clear his head. The information that his King had disclosed to him was indeed horrifying.
Someone tried to kill Gondor's Prince Consort and his unborn child.
Although his King hadn't said it clearly, the Steward knew the suspicion would primarily fall upon the Lords of Gondor before anyone else.
Faramir sighed.
Almost one hundred Lords had the consent to attend the court and the formal occasions; twenty of them formed the council of advisors.

Finding a nearby bench, the blond man sat down as his mind pondered the matter. Legolas' relationship with the Lords was rather peculiar. For those who only attended the court, the blond Elf was merely their King's spouse. They didn't have direct contact with him, so it was hard to figure out the nature of their feelings towards him. None of them had shown an open hostility, but that didn't mean they hadn't any. Faramir knew that some of the Lords hadn't accepted their King's choice of a spouse until now.
The Lords of the Council were another story.
Legolas had built a relatively good relationship with most of the council's Lords during the last two months. Initially, the blond Prince seemed uninterested, but Legolas' behaviour changed entirely after his outburst during the second meeting. He started participating in the Lords' debates, suggesting the best solutions for any problems they faced as the Kingdom slowly pulled itself from years of regression. Not only that, Legolas' diplomatic interactions with the Lords had gained him their trust, if not their friendship.

The Steward was enormously impressed with how the Prince dealt with the Lords, leading them courteously to see his point of view when they disagreed, an attitude far different from their King's.

Aragorn tended to treat the Lords like a group of rangers. He would usually listen to their arguments thoroughly before giving them orders in the most commanding voice that accepts no disputes. Legolas would skillfully lead them to see matters the way he did, making it look like it was their opinion all along.
This attitude gained him the Lords' enthusiasm to collaborate with him... well, most of the Lords, at least, Faramir reminded himself. Some still refused even to acknowledge the blond Elf as a ruler of Gondor. But to think that they would resort to...
Faramir shook his head in dismissal. He couldn't imagine the scandal that would result if the poisoning attempt were indeed carried out by one of Gondor's Lords, not to mention the consequences for Gondor's relationship with all the Elven realms.
"Lord Faramir,"

The Steward was snapped from his thoughts upon hearing his name. Looking up, he saw Lord Herumacil, one of the council's Lords, standing before him.

"I'm glad to run into you. I heard that you went to the Royal win," the young Lord said.

Faramir nodded in affirmation.
"Have you seen the King or the Prince Consort?"
"I've seen the King," Faramir replied as he stood up. "Prince Legolas and the little Princess are fine," he assured him as the two walked together.
"What had happened to the Consort, Faramir?"
The Steward sighed deeply. He couldn't disclose what the King had told him in a moment of confidence.
"I'm not sure," he said. "None of them said anything to me."
Herumacil grabbed his arm and pulled him into a corner.
"There have been some rumours," the Lord whispered seriously. "A servant was summoned to clean the King's chambers after the birth, and there was some gossip about sheets full of blood amongst the servants."

"I've seen the Prince wake up, Lord Herumacil," Faramir assured. "He's fine. And I'm sure Lord Elrond is examining him as we speak. I'm certain the King will fully explain what happened to us by tomorrow. But for now, let us leave the Royal family in peace to rest and heal."
The other Lord just nodded in response.

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Elrohir sighed deeply as he watched his lover sulking in one corner of the room. It had been like this since his father refused to allow Mallorn to see Legolas the day before. The blond Elf was too furious when they left. The dark-haired Elf winced, remembering how Mallorn took a vase and slammed it against the wall when they reached their chambers before occupying the same corner he was in right now and starting to sulk. Elrohir had never seen that side of Mallorn before; the blond Elf was always smiling and cheerful. Until they came here, Elrohir mused. Mallorn's concern over Legolas seemed to bring out his darker side.
'I can't take it anymore!' Mallorn suddenly exclaimed, snapping the Noldo from his thoughts.

'Meleth,' Elrohir said quietly, reminding himself to stay calm. 'We've already been to Aragorn's chambers and were turned away. So unless we were asked to go there, we won't be able to enter those rooms; even the fellowship members weren't allowed to enter.'
Mallorn frowned deeply. 'I'm not a member of the fellowship. I'm Legolas' older brother, for Elbereth's sake. I can't believe that I'm not allowed to see him.'

'He's fine,' Elrohir soothed. 'Don't you trust Adar's healing abilities?'

'That's not the point. I want to see my baby brother and my niece.'

'Patience, Meleth, patience.'

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Elrond frowned deeply at the Elf lying on the bed, noting the bloodstains on Legolas' nightshirt. Lifting the shirt, he saw that the bandages beneath were also stained.
"Have you moved abruptly, Legolas?" the ancient Elf asked.
"Yes," Legolas replied guiltily. "When I first woke up, I noticed my belly was flat. I panicked and sat up suddenly."
Elrond sighed as he proceeded to change Legolas' bandages.

"Please refrain from sudden movements next time until your wound is fully healed," he advised.
Aragorn, who was sitting at one corner and holding his daughter, stood up and walked over.

"The wound hasn't healed yet?" he asked, looking at his husband. A frown graced his face as he noticed the still open wound along the Elf's abdomen.
"Legolas' healing abilities are slowed because of the pregnancy," Elrond explained as he finished his work. "From the look of the wound, I suppose it would be completely healed in five days, and I expect you to remain in bed during that period, Legolas." He shot the blond Elf a pointed look, at which Legolas just blinked.
"Don't worry, Adar. I'll ensure that, even if I have to tie him down," Aragorn reassured.
"Give me my daughter," Legolas said cheekily, ignoring the man's remark. He gently sat up before extending his arms to his husband.

"Have you named her?" Elrond asked.

Aragorn exchanged a warm smile with the blond Elf.

"Míreth," Legolas replied. "Her name is Míreth." (Jewel/Treasure)

Elrond smiled. "Your brother and friends had been worried about you and your child. Do you think you can handle a visit from them?"
"Of course," Legolas replied happily. "I can't wait for them to see my Míreth."
Elrond nodded before looking at Legolas thoughtfully. "Have you eaten anything?"
Legolas shook his head in response.
"Then you should eat something before meeting your friends, and maybe you could try and feed your child as well."
Legolas blushed at the Lord's suggestion. He didn't know how but didn't wish the Lord to know that.
"You should try, Legolas. It is good for the child. It would help her body to develop immunity," Elrond said, noting the blond Elf's reluctance.
"Yes. Well..." Legolas' voice trailed off.
"Yes?" Elrond asked.
"I don't know how," Legolas whispered so softly that even Elven's ears could've missed it, lowering his head.
Elrond chuckled.

"Perhaps Lady Gwîneth would be of assistance, then. Aragorn, would you please call her?"
Nodding, the man rushed to call the Elven Lady. A moment later, the King returned with the Elven maiden, who was informed of the situation. With a smile, she began instructing her Prince on how to hold his daughter during nursing. Legolas looked up, noticing how Elrond and Aragorn stared at him expectedly. They weren't going to watch him while he nursed his daughter, were they?
Noticing Legolas' discomfort, Elrond cleared his throat. "Aragorn, let's leave Legolas and Lady Gwîneth alone."

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As soon as they were in the living room, Aragorn asked, looking straight into Elrond's eyes. "Ada, is Legolas' slowed healing due to his pregnancy or the drug?" He simply had to know.
The ancient Lord let out a deep breath before replying. "Mainly because of his pregnancy, but I wouldn't dismiss the idea of the drug affecting Legolas' body."
Aragorn closed his eyes briefly and sighed before opening them again. He walked to a chair at one corner and sunk into it.
"Don't overthink, Estel," He heard the Elven Lord saying. "As I had said before, there is no danger in Legolas' life now."
"Only on Míreth's," the man choked. Looking up at the ancient Lord, he heard himself saying, "Isn't there any antidote at all?" Desperation was evident in his voice.

The Elven Lord shook his head in response. There wasn't any antidote because the drug wasn't a poison per se. It was simply a substance that induced miscarriages. Its effects on infant babies were merely because they lacked the immunity to naturalize them. Elrond was sure that his son was well aware of this, yet his newly found fatherly instincts were desperately trying to cling to any possible hope.

"Aragorn," the Lord of Rivendell said quietly. "There is a fair chance that Míreth will survive. Don't lose your hope, my son."

Aragorn looked anything but convinced. His grey eyes spoke of great pain and despair.
"Don't worry yourself over this matter, now," the Lord said, walking to his son and reassuringly touching his shoulder. "If it will ease your mind, I'll remain here until Míreth is out of danger."

"Thank you, Ada," The man said, looking at his father with gratitude.

"Now, I'll order some food to be delivered here; make sure that Legolas eats it all," Elrond instructed. "Then, your friends can visit."

Aragorn smiled, nodding his head.

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Gwîneth smiled in amusement as she watched her Prince surrounded by his friends. It was indeed a weird yet pleasant sight to watch as different races gathered around Legolas' bed, all doting on the little Princess, not to mention the antics of the little halflings and the hilarious teasing between her Prince and his dwarven friend.

The Elleth was surprised when four hobbits accompanied by a dwarf rushed into the royal chambers, requesting to see the Prince.

True, King Elessar had informed her that their friends would be visiting Legolas shortly after the Prince had finished eating and changed into fresh clothes, but she had never imagined that their friends were hobbits and a dwarf. Nevertheless, she had shown them to the resting Prince.

Two hobbits rushed to him as soon as they entered the bedchambers and jumped into the bed, occupying each of the Prince's sides before starting to fuss over the infant in his arms, practically preventing anyone else from having as much as a glance at her. Lords Elladan and Faramir came in afterwards and stood at the foot of the bed, smiling amusedly.

Gwîneth noted that the King leaned on the wall next to the bed, watching his husband and friends with a warm smile. As she had observed since her arrival, the King of Men was passionately in love with her Prince. Every action and glance of him was full of adoration and affection.

The Elven maiden found herself smiling in satisfaction. Like his family members, she was apprehensive about Legolas after his return from the war. Then suddenly, the news of his secret marriage and pregnancy, odd as they were, raised hope in her heart that he might not be lost just yet. And now, seeing how his human husband adored Legolas made her enormously delighted and contented.

"Legolas," Pippin's voice returned her from her short reverie. "Three days ago, you said it was too early to deliver the baby."
"I know, Pip," Legolas replied. "But it seems that Míreth was so eager to meet you all that she decided to come out earlier than expected."
The young hobbit smiled broadly, seemingly pleased with the answer.
"I was extremely eager to meet you as well, little one," he cooed over the blonde Elfling.
"But now that Legolas has given birth," Merry chipped in. "We'll be returning to the Shire sooner than planned."
"Really?" Legolas looked up questioningly at Frodo and Sam, who nodded in affirmation.
"We had agreed to stay here until you've given birth," Frodo explained. "After all, we don't want to overstay our welcome."
"You'll never overstay your welcome, Frodo," Aragorn said. "You can stay here permanently if you wish."

"Thank you," Sam replied. "But we really should return to the Shire. After all, my fiancée is waiting for my return."
"Yes," Merry teased. "After so many years of admiring Rosie from afar, Sam finally got the courage to admit his love for her. It seemed as if Sam was waiting to go on a quest outside the Shire to have the courage to confess his love to her finally." Everyone laughed as Sam blushed at Merry's declaration.
"Umm... Why doesn't Míreth look anything like Aragorn?" Pippins' question stopped the laughter.

Legolas stared at the young hobbit, taken aback at the sudden question. He then looked at his husband, seeking his help.
"Thank the Valar that she doesn't look like me," Aragorn replied, clearing his throat. "I don't think she would be a pretty girl then."
Everyone laughed at the light joke, but Pippin wasn't convinced yet.
"But she hasn't taken anything from you," he insisted. "She took her blond hair, pointy ears and fair skin from Legolas. Her eyes are different shades of blue from Legolas' eyes, yet not like yours."

"Mallorn's eyes are different shades of blue than mine," Legolas replied. "So are Aredhel's. Yet, we are brothers from the same father and mother."

Pippin frowned, still unsatisfied with the answer.

"Speaking of Mallorn," Gwîneth decided to interfere. "I haven't seen him since my arrival. I thought you said he's coming here, Lord Elladan?" She looked at the dark-haired Elf.

Elladan shrugged. "That's what he had told me when I informed him that Legolas was awake and expecting us."

Gwîneth raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Maybe I should go and see what has detained him then. If you all will excuse me." Without waiting for a reply, the Elven Lady bowed and left the room. The two Elves present tensed as they watched her go, praying that nothing drastic would happen when she met up with Mallorn and Elrohir.

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Mallorn and Elrohir stood at the door, arguing with the guards, who refused to let them in without permission.

"I'm Prince Legolas' brother," Mallorn growled. "Move out of my way, Human, or I'll separate your head from the rest of your body with my bare hands."

The guard was about to retort when one of the doors behind him opened, revealing Lady Gwîneth.
'Gwîneth? Is that you?' Mallorn asked, totally shocked at the sight of the Elven Lady.

Gwîneth smiled at the question but said nothing. She politely informed the guards that the two Elves were expected before re-entering the room, followed by Mallorn and Elrohir.
'Gwîneth?' Mallorn asked. 'Man ceridh hí?' (What are you doing here?)

'Legolas had asked the same question upon seeing me,' The she-Elf laughed as the three crossed the living room. 'Is my presence here really that surprising?'

'Yes,' Mallorn replied, a broad smile adorning his face. 'But it's a pleasant surprise, I assure you.'
Gwîneth smiled shyly before focusing on the dark-haired Elf next to Mallorn.

'Lord Elrohir, it's a pleasure to meet you again,' She said, curtsying.

'Likewise, Lady Gwîneth,' Elrohir replied, forcing a smile on his face. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable upon seeing the blonde maiden. Due to the circumstances of her upbringing, she was acquainted with the twin Lords of Rivendell. However, Elrohir was apprehensive about her presence because of her former affiliation with Mallorn. The dark-haired Elf knew that Mallorn and Gwîneth had been former lovers around 100 years ago. Many had expected them to wed eventually, but the two abruptly relinquished their affair. A slight fear rose in Elrohir's heart as he watched Mallorn stare at Gwîneth with an unreadable expression.

'So, Gwîneth,' Mallorn asked. 'What brings you to Gondor?'

'I'm here as your niece's nursemaid,' she replied. 'It's quite peculiar, don't you think? Like mother, like daughter.'

'I wouldn't say that,' Mallorn said with a laugh. 'You are more like an aunt to Legolas' daughter than a nursemaid.'

'That's quite flattering, Prince Mallorn,' the she-Elf said coyly.

Unable to hear more, Elrohir nudged Mallorn slightly.

'We're supposed to go and see Legolas and your niece, Mallorn,' he almost hissed. 'You two can catch up with each other later.'

'Oh, yes,' Mallorn said nervously. 'I'll see you later, Gwîneth.'

The two elves entered the main bedchamber, leaving the Elven maiden alone.

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With a tired sigh, Legolas leant back on the pillows behind him as his whole body throbbed with pain. Their friends had long gone, and Gwîneth had taken little Míreth to the next room after she was fed.

"Tired, Legolas?" his husband asked as he half-laid beside him.

"Aye, my body is still sore," the blond Elf admitted. "I have forgotten how Merry and Pippin's company could be draining."

Aragorn laughed. "You've been through a painful ordeal and barely been able to rest adequately for your body to heal."

Legolas just nodded, looking away from his husband. Thinking of what had happened, the blond Elf pondered more. He had asked Lord Elrond earlier why he had given birth two months prematurely, but the Elven Lord's answer wasn't convincing. The Lord said it could be due to the overwhelming stress, but Legolas hadn't been stressed lately. He had purposely stopped attending official meetings and affairs not to stress his body, and he had been eating very well, too.

"Aragorn," the Prince spoke. "Do you think Lord Elrond was correct in assuming I've given birth due to overwhelming stress?"

"Of course," Aragorn replied, his voice betraying nothing of the sudden dread that filled his heart at his husband's sudden question. "What else would it be?"

"I don't know," Legolas said, looking straight into Aragorn's eyes. "I wasn't stressed when it happened, and I have been resting and eating well. Everything was normal except for some occasional pain."

"You forgot, Legolas, that you were very stressed during the first seven months of your pregnancy. You've only started relaxing after our second wedding in Gondor." the man said.

Legolas laughed, feeling a little bit foolish at his previous worries. Aragorn was correct. He had been stressed during the first months of his pregnancy, so that must be it. As his laughs died down, his eyes lingered on his husband's smiling face. Thinking of his labour also brought back the memory of a particular moment during the ordeal where Aragorn's strong emotions had rushed solid and vibrant through him, feelings that spoke of intense love and affection. Legolas looked away, feeling mystified and puzzled. The amount of love that surged through their bond at that moment wasn't like his developing feelings towards the man. They were much more potent. They felt as if Aragorn had them for years. Legolas' eyes widened at that thought.

Could it be that Aragorn had been in love with him all along?

Could it be that the Elf that Aragorn had claimed to love and had forsaken his attachment to the Evenstar for was, in reality, him?
"Brooding again, Legolas?"

The blond Elf nearly jumped as Aragorn's voice cut through his thoughts.

"This is indeed a bad habit of yours, Legolas," the man jested. "Pray tell, what are you thinking about now?"

"Aragorn," Legolas said in a low voice, looking directly into the man's grey eyes. "Are you in love with me?"

Aragorn's jaw dropped open at the sudden and unexpected question. His heart beat faster, and his throat became dry as he stared wide-eyed at the blond Elf. Letting out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding, the man sat up on the edge of the bed, giving his back to his husband.

"How-how did you know?" he asked quietly, not bothering to deny it.

The tone in which Legolas had asked his question told Aragorn that the blond Elf wasn't inquiring; instead, he was merely confirming a high possible suspicion.

"I felt your emotions during the delivery," The man's body tensed at the reply and the casual tone that coloured it. Legolas sighed, looking ahead into the nothingness as he continued his answer. "Your emotions filled my heart when you held me tightly to your chest as Lord Elrond delivered Míreth. I only got to ponder upon them now, though. They were clear, strong, and deep." He turned his eyes to his husband's back. "How long have you been feeling this way?"

"Since our first meeting," Aragorn replied sincerely. "You took my heart the moment I laid my eyes on you, and every moment I spent within your presence only deepened my love for you."

"But you didn't tell me?"

"How could I?" the man replied with a low scoff, closing his eyes. "You were in love with Haldir. Both of you were my friends. I couldn't but love you from afar, knowing you'll never be mine. I couldn't be with you, yet I couldn't break free. Not even Arwen's love could free me."

Legolas stared at Aragorn's back. A mixture of feelings collided in his heart. He knew too well the pain of losing a beloved. However, he couldn't imagine how Aragorn felt as he was forced to watch him and Haldir together. The blond Prince felt sympathy towards the man and guilt for causing him such agony.

"Why didn't you say something afterwards?" he asked. "After Haldir's death?"

Aragorn turned around, looking at him pointedly. "What difference would it have made?" he asked bitterly. "You've been too drowned in your grief to notice anything; had it not been for the war, you would've followed Haldir into the halls of Mandos immediately after Helm's Deep. And after the coronation, you left Minas Tirith without saying a word. I hadn't seen you until your arrival to Rivendell, bearing the news of your pregnancy."

Legolas bit his lower lip as he looked away, unable to bear Aragorn's gentle indictments. "I'm sorry for being so selfish," he whispered.

"You weren't selfish, Legolas," Aragorn said as he slowly climbed back on the bed. Moving closer to the blond Elf, the man gently cupped his chin with one hand, encouraging the Elf to look at him. "You weren't selfish at all," he said.

"Why did you marry me, Aragorn?"

"Because I didn't wish you to die," the man replied, staring straight into Legolas' deep-ocean blue eyes. "Having to abort Haldir's child would've killed you for certain. I couldn't allow that to happen, no matter what. I didn't dare to hope that you would come to love me one day, but knowing that I could bring some joy and hope into your life again was all the motivation I needed to take such a step."

Legolas stared into his husband's grey eyes, marvelling at the deep love and pain displayed in them. He couldn't imagine the amount of selflessness that one man could demonstrate. Aragorn had nobly married him to allow him to keep the child fathered by another. At the same time, on more than one occasion, he had selfishly reminded everyone around him that he was in love with Haldir and would remain loyal to his memory for eternity.

"Aragorn," he whispered. "I'm—I'm forever in your debt for what you've done. I—"

"Don't say that, Legolas," cut off Aragorn. "I'm not as selfless as you might think, for I had dared to hope that you would see more than a friend one day." The man sighed, frustrated, as he ran one hand through his hair. "I—I had hoped that you would fall in love with—"

"I am."

Aragorn's body tensed at the whisper. His hands clutched the silken sheets underneath them as he fought the impulse to look at the blond Elf. He couldn't have heard what he thought he had heard, could he?

Suddenly, he felt a soft hand brushing against his, and he looked up at his husband, who was looking at him with warmth filling his eyes.

"I am in love with you, Aragorn," Legolas whispered again. "It's not as deep as I had felt towards Haldir," the Elf breathed with little guilt. "But I know I'm starting to fall in love with you."

Aragorn felt as if his heart would stop at any moment from the overwhelming joy that suddenly engulfed it. Legolas' shy declaration was something he hadn't expected. It wasn't a declaration of undying love, but it was more than the man had hoped for. Slowly, he closed the gap between them and took Legolas' red lips into a deep kiss.

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Mortardur paced fretfully in front of the fireplace in his living room, trying to think of a way to deal with the current events. His tired expression and the dark lines under his eyes indicated that he hadn't rested well for a while.
"What should we do now?" he nearly barked at the lonely figure standing in the shadows at one corner of the room.
"Nothing," Shadow replied.
"Nothing?" Mortardur spat. "The Prince Consort had given birth in what seemed to be a rather violent way. More Elves were summoned to the city, no one was allowed into the royal chambers without the King's consent, and that Elf Lord is currently roaming around the castle, questioning everyone. No one explained anything, and you're telling me we should do nothing!"

Shadow scoffed in annoyance. It wasn't his fault that everything went downhill suddenly. If those humans couldn't follow a few simple instructions, how could it be his fault?

"Everything was going perfectly as planned," he informed the Lord. "Until your servants put the wrong dose into Legolas' drink, which reminds me, they should be disposed of as quickly as possible."

"I've already taken care of that," the young Lord huffed. "No one will ever know what happened to them."

"Good."

"But what of the Prince and his daughter now?"

"We wait," Shadow replied. "Thanks to your servants' exploit, our hands are tied for now. Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel must be suspecting foul play, considering the sudden measures they've taken. We can't do anything rash; otherwise, someone can link us to the incident."

"By Aulë," Mortardur breathed. "The King will raise an uproar because of this."

"Naturally," Shadow commented as he approached the distressed Lord. "But fear not. As long as you keep your mouth shut, nothing will happen."

"Are you giving up on the Prince?"

"Never," Shadow replied. "I will have Legolas eventually. He should've been mine long ago, and I'll be damned if l allow another to snatch him away from me."

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To Be Continued...