Chapter Twenty-four, Healing and a Surprise

Aragorn and Legolas had just finished healing Evelina and Merry with the Athelas water making the black veins disappear from both of their arms. However, Evelina was still unconscious but they had hope as they were expecting Andromeda to arrive any minute with Teddy. Neville and Luna were going around healing all they could with the help of Haldir and Gandalf, so most people were healed or healing thanks to magic and potions. While Sirius fixed some of the buildings to avoid further injuries if the buildings collapsed and Boromir, Faramir, Eomer and Theodred were going round with the able soldiers to clean up the city moving the dead to the crypt or disposing of the bodies of the enemy.

Suddenly the doors opened to the infirmary and Andromeda came rushing in a bag draped over her shoulders. "Teddy is with Haldir." She answered their unspoken question. "I suggest you either go see him or see if you can help where you can while I heal Eve. She will be out of it for much of the day and won't wake up until late tonight if not tomorrow." Andy suggested as she got to work on Evelina. Aragorn and Legolas spared one last look at Evelina before leaving the room to find Teddy and Haldir.

"Andromeda is healing Eve as we speak." Aragorn answered the unspoken question when he and Legolas finally found Haldir and Teddy in what would be their room. Haldir nodded before turning back to play with Teddy but the toddlers attention was caught on the two who had just entered the room. "Daddy! Papa!" Teddy cried reaching out for Aragorn and Legolas. "Hello Teddy." Aragorn and Legolas greeted kissing and hugging their son.

A few hours went by and as the rather large family were sitting down for dinner Andy came into the room a tired smile on her face. "How is she?" Sirius immediately asked his cousin a worried frown on his face. "Eve and the babies are fine, she's all healed and will make a full recovery. She's sleeping now and will wake tomorrow. Though with all the stress she's been under there is a chance the babies may come early." Andromeda told them.

"Will...will they survive if they come early?" Faramir asked hesitantly, having been filled in on all that's happened by his brother. "They will yes." Andy assured. "She is seven months tomorrow so if they do come exceedingly early they will be small but they are strong and fighters like their mother and magic will also help them. Twins and triplets usually come early anyway but with the amount of stress she's been under there is a possibility that they could come within the next few days."

"But," Pippin said worriedly. "What if the Orcs arrack again?"
"Do not worry Peregrin Took that is unlikely to happen." Gandalf's tried to assure him and everyone else. With that said it was a rather somber dinner a fare.

***

After dinner the odd family had a meeting in the throne room where they decide they would march to the Gates of Mordor and draw out Sauron's armies and clear out his lands to give Sam and Frodo clear pass to the Mountain of Doom. "Neville, Luna, Eoywen can you stay with Andy and help her with Teddy, the people still healing and Eve?" Sirius asked them who agreed to stay along with Faramir who was still healing.

It was decided they would leave at first light as they all left to ready them selves for the  final battle tomorrow. Sirius and Theodred went with Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir to their room to see Evelina, who was awake and sat up in bed hugging a sleeping Teddy. "I'm sorry." Was the first thing she said when she noticed them coming into the room. "I just wanted to help and keep my family alive and protect Merry as he was sneaking with you. But I failed. I couldn't save grandfather. I'm sorry Papa." Evelina said to Theodred tears running down her face.

Seeing how upset Evelina was as she sat sobbing clutching her son to her, the men's anger immediately drained away as her fathers approached the bed sitting on either side of her wiping away her tears. "Don't apologise Eve." Theodred said softly running his hand through her hair. "From what Merry told us you did save him. You saved him from the wraith and I'm proud of you for that. But, it doesn't mean we condone you joining us in  the battle. You and the babies could have been seriously hurt or killed. We understand why you did and you, Neville and Luna saved a lot of lives but it doesn't mean we like it." Theodred said firmly.

"I'm sorry." Evelina apologised quietly averting her eyes from her dads and her mates. "We know Pup." Sirius sighed holding her hand and tilting her head up to look at him. "We know. But it was silk a very foolish thing to do. We could have lost you, Teddy  like have lost his mother again. I can't loose you Pup as much as you can't loose me. None of us can bare the thought of loosing you. So you have to swear to me this time that you will never do something like that again!"
"I promise daddy. I promise." Evelina cried as Sirius pulled her and Teddy into a hug.

They all stayed in the room for a few more hour assuring themselves that Evelina and the babies were alright when Andy came in to check on her and gave her a clean bill of health but told her she was still on bed rest for a few more days for the babies sake. Eventually they fold her o the plan to for to the Gates of Mordor at first light to help Sam and Frodo. She was of course frightened for her family and friends and swore she would not follow them this time and they all swore they would do their best to come back to her, Teddy and the babies.

As the night wore on Sirius and Theodred hugged and kissed their daughter goodnight kissing Teddy's forehead as well as they left for their room as Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir changed into sleep wear and each held Evelina in their arms hugging her tightly and kissing her. Aragorn gently placed Teddy in the small bed beside theirs as they climbed into bed with Evelina. All three of them praying to the Vallor that they will come back to their mate and children as they drifted off into a fitful sleep.

***

When Evelina awoke the next morning the sun was pretty high in the sky and she noticed she was alone in the bed and sent a prayer to the Vallor and the Wild Hunt that her family and friends will come back to her after today. "Allal gwathel." Luna greeted as she came into the room carrying a tray of food for her and Teddy. Neville, Andy, Eoywen and Faramir following in behind her. "How are you Eve?" Eoywen questioned her cousin as she watched the young mother help Teddy eat his food.

As Andy waved her wand summoning some chairs for them to sit on as Evelina swallowed what was in her moth before answering. "I...I keep getting these twinges." Evelina grimaced as another one struck much stronger than the last, just as she finished helping Teddy eat and finished the last of her food. Andy immediately jumped into action taking her grandson off of Evelina much to the toddlers horror. "No grandma! I want to stay with mummy!" Teddy cried as he was handed to Neville.

"How about we go and play with your toys with uncle Faramir?" Neville asked hoping to distract Teddy.
"No! Unca Nev! I want to stay with mummy!" Teddy shouted. "Mummy hurt! Babies hurt mummy!"
"How long face you been having these twinges?" Andy asked trying to ignore her grandsons shouts.
"They started not long before you came in." Evelina admitted honestly feeling horrible as she ignored her sons cries. "What's going on Andy?" She asked fearfully.
"It appears you're in the start of labour Lina." Andy answered after reading the results of the diagnostic charm.

"What?!" Evelina cried. "No. No, no, no! It's too early. I can't loose them."
"Hush now." Andy soothes running her hand through Eve's hair. "You won't loose them I promise you Eve. You're seven months today. Yes, they will he small, but they are resilient like their mother and with magic and potions they will survive. I've had the potions ready for months." Evelina nodded and wiped away her tears as she held her arms out to Neville for Teddy. "Mummy!" Teddy cried holding on to his mother tightly as he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"Shhh baby." Evelina soothed rubbing Teddy's back to calm him down while trying to ignore the pain from her contractions. "Teddy hunny why don't you go play with uncle Nev and uncle Faramir. Mummy needs to do something and you can come see me later and you'll see your new siblings."
"Want mummy." Teddy argued.
"I know baby I want you too but uncle Faramir has a boo-boo and hurt and he needs you to make him feel better by playing with him." Evelina tried to convince her son. Teddy pulled back to look at his mother before nodding his head. "Okay mummy." Teddy agreed. "I help unca Faramir and come have mummy cuddles later."
"Of course you can my good boy." Evelina praised kissing her son's forehead.

Her eyes widened as she felt the bed and her night gown become wet as her waiters broke. "Right off you go." Andy said handing her grandson to Neville noticing Evelina's eyes widening. As the door closed behind them Andy got to work. "Eoywen help Eve up and into a new night gown her waters have broke. Luna we need towels, a cloth and a bowl of warm water while I quickly transfigure the sheets into clean ones." Andy instructed as they all got to work to prepare the young mother to bring the triplets into the world.

Gently Eoywen helped Evelina out of the bed and into a new night gown and tiring her hair up into a rough bun before helping her on to the now clean bed, propping her up against the pillows with a towel covering her bent legs. "Breathe Eve. Breathe." Andy coached as she and Luna finished setting everything ready while Eoywen sat on the bed next to her cousin holding her hand and placing a wet cloth on her forehead.

"Why do they have to come now!" Evelina cried, her words turning into a scream as another contraction hit. "Half of our family are fighting for their lives."
"Don't think about that now Eve." Luna insisted. "Just think on bringing your babies into the world. And when they win and come back they'll be greeted by three new babies." She tried to calm her sister in all but blood down.

It was another hour and a half of Evelina crying out in pain as her contractions got stronger and much closer together. "Okay Eve. On the next contraction I want you to push as hard as you can." Andy instructed as Luna sat on the other side of her friend holding her hand. "Okay push." Andy told her as Evelina screamed as she pushed as hard as she could squeezing the hands in her own. "That's it well done Eve you're doing so well." Andy praised.

It was another half an hour and Evelina was starting to get exhausted. "Okay Eve one more big push and you'll have your first baby." Andy coached the young women who she saw as another daughter. Evelina nodded crying out as she pushed with all her might. She leaned back against the pillows with a tired happy smile on her face as she heard he cry of her first baby. "Congratulations Eve, it's a boy." Andy praised as she and Luna cleaned him up, gave him some potions and dressing him in a blue baby grow with a matching hat and scratch mittens and wrapped in a blue fluffy blanket and handed him to his mother.

"He's gorgeous." Evelina smiled with happy tears shinning in her eyes. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine. I've given him a potion to help him just in case but otherwise he's perfectly healthy. He's six pounds exactly and that's Aragorn's little boy." Andy assured as she gently pulled the hat off his head showing the black curls on his head. Evelina smoked kissing her son on the head as a contraction hit again.

Luna quickly took the baby off of Evelina placing him in the Moses basket by the bed as Evelina brought her next hold into the world. This one coming quicker than the first, now that her body was used to it. And within a matter of minutes the next baby was born ten minutes after the first. Another boy who weighed just under six pounds with platinum blond hair on his head, he was cleaned and dressed in a green baby grow also with matching hat, mittens and fluffy blanket.

Andy gave the new baby the same potions and did the same spell to determine who the father was before handing him to his mother. "He's a little smaller than your first boy but just as healthy as his older brother." Andy smiled handing the new baby boy to Evelina. "He's had his potion as well and that's Haldir's son."
"Thank you Andy." Evelina smiled. "He's just as gorgeous as his brother." Now that she was able to get a good look at her sons for the moment, Evelina could see that her first son looked exactly like Aragorn except he had her nose and chin. He was going to be a mini Aragorn as he grew up. Looking in her left arm at Haldir's son she could see he was the perfect mix of both of them. He had Haldir's hair colour and his node, ears and chin but he had the same eye colour, eye shape and face shape as her.

As her two boys were starting to fuss she quickly breast fed both of them and winded them gently once they were finished. She was smiling happily at both of her sons in each arm as they drifted off to sleep once more when a contraction hit again. Passing her now sleeping sons to Andy and Luna to put back in the Moses basket as her next child was ready to join the world.

Her smallest child finally joined them with a loud cry as Evelina rested fully against the pillows utterly exhausted. Her new baby was a little girl snide father was Legolas was born half an hour after her first child and twenty minutes after her second. She was much smaller than her brothers weighing only five pounds. "Congratulations Eve. You have a little girl who is definitely going to be a mini you as she grows." Andy laughed hanging Evelina her daughter dressed in a pink baby grow, hat she scratch mittens and wrapped in a pink fluffy blanket. "I know she's much smaller than her brothers but I've given her two potions and she'll be just fine." Andy assured when eve looked up concerned.

Evelina nodded and looked back down at her beautiful, Andy was right she was definitely a mini her with her blood red curls and emerald eyes. But she could also see Legolas' nose and chin on her daughter. "I love you my little one. You and your three older brothers." Evelina told her daughter softly stroking her cheek as she fed her daughter when she started asking for food. Once she was finished and winded she was placed in the Moses basket next to her brothers.

"What are you going to call them?" Eoywen asked smiling happily at her her cousin.
"Leo, Logon and Lily." Evelina told the three women. "Logon means 'the warm one' in Elvish. I think it suits him." Evelina said smiling over at her babies.
"They're perfect Eve." Luna smiled serenely. "Leo is a Dunedain like Aragorn and also a wizard she will definitely look like his father. Logon is an Elf wizard and a perfect mix of you end Haldir. Lily will be exactly like you; a kitsune witch." Luna informed her friend happily.
"Thank you Luna." Evelina smiled happily holding Luna's hand.

"Right lets get you into a bath and we'll clean up and change your bed and you are to rest while the babies are sleeping Eve. Teddy can come see you later when you wake up." Andy said firmly as Luna and Eoywen helped her into the warm bath helping her to was her aching muscles and her hair. Once finished Luna cast a spell to dry, brush and plait her hair before helping her into a new clean night gown and then back into her now clean bed. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

***

It was around three o clock in the afternoon when Evelina woke up from her nap. She couldn't believe how long she slept having gone to bed around quarter to twelve. She had woken up just in time too as her babies were starting to wake up. Climbing out of bed wincing slightly as she was still sore, she stretched and made her way over to the babies who were starting to whimper. "Hello my little loves." Evelina cooed as she kissed each of their heads and stoked their cheeks.

Picking up Leo as he was starting to scream with hunger, she perched on the end of the bed and fed him while gently rocking Logon and Lily's Moses baskets with her magic to soothe them. Once she finished feeding Leo, she winded him and changed his nappy smiling as now with a clean nappy and a full belly he drifted off to sleep even before he was back in his Moses basket. Once he was covered to his waist with his blanket and his scratch mittens were replaced, she turned to Logon and repeated the process and then again once more with Lily and vanished the dirty nappies.

As she was kissing her sleeping children again Andy quietly came into the room carrying a tray of food, a glass of water and a pain potion. "How are you Eve and how are my new grandchildren?" She asked sitting on the edge of the bed as Eve climbed back in under the covers. "They're perfect Andy. They woke up hungry just after I woke up, so I fed them and changed their nappies and they fell back off to sleep." Evelina said happily. "I'm okay still a little sore though."

"That's good to hear. And it's to be expected you being a little sore, you'll be fine after a couple of days. But I've brought you something to eat and a drink as you missed lunch as well as a pain potion." Andy said handing her the tray.
"Thank you." Evelina smiled as she tucked into the sandwich and salad. Once she finished eating she quickly gulped down the pain potion and then downed the water to get rid of the bitter after taste. "Can I see Teddy?" Evelina asked. Andy laughed shaking her head as she took back the tray. "Yes. Your as bad as each other." Andy laughed. "He's been asking for you all morning creating merry hell. He's ended up crying himself to sleep because I made him have his nap." She said shaking her head.

Evelina couldn't help feeling guilty as she heard that, her heart clenching painfully. "Eve stop that. It's not your fault he's at that age where yeh throw tantrums. He was overtired that's all. He'll be okay now though and should be awake so I'll go and get him." Andy said standing up with the tray in her hands, stopping down she kissed Evelina on the head before leaving the room to fetch her grandson, Neville and Faramir.

Not five minutes later Evelina could hear little feet pounding on the floor as they ran to her room along with two louder thuds, no doubt Neville and Faramir running after Teddy. "Teddy slow down before you hurt yourself!" Faramir shouted to the little boy who was nearly four. "No! Want mummy!" Teddy shouted running faster to his mothers room as the door suddenly flew open reacting to Teddy's accidental magic. The door bounced off tube wall with a loud bang waking up the triplets with a frightened cry little tears running down their cheeks.

Evelina quickly got out of bed to soothe them stroking their hair softly as she used her magic to gently rock the Moses baskets gently humming a lullaby to them. Their cries soon faded into whimpers before they stopped all together and drifted back off to sleep. Once they were settled Evelina turned towards the door as she heard teddy stop in the doorway. "Teddy." Evelina called holding her arms out to her oldest son. With a cry of, 'mummy!' Teddy ran into her arms wrapping his little arms around her neck burying his face into her shoulder.

"I missed you mummy." Teddy said his voice muffled by her shoulder. Evelina smiled softly stood up winding slightly as she placed Teddy on her hip but she ignored it to soothe her son. "I know Teddy I missed you too." Evelina said running her hand through his hair. Looking up she saw Neville and Faramir enter her bedroom, she shook her head as they stepped closer their arms open to take Teddy noticing she was in pain.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed facing the three Moses baskets that were slightly before Teddy's bed, (he was sleeping with them until everything was over and the buildings were repaired). "I know you missed me Teddy I missed you too, but mummy was bringing your siblings into the world that's why you had to stay with your uncles. Did you look after uncle Faramir?" She asked smiling as she felt Teddy nod his head against her neck. "Good boy." She praised. "Would you like to meet you baby brothers and your baby sister?" She asked.

Teddy pulled back finally looking at his mother. "You had the babies?" Teddy asked intrigued.
"Yes Teddy. They're sleeping behind you and will you be a good big brother and help mummy look after them until your daddies come back?"
"Yes!" Teddy shouted excitedly earning grunts from the babies. Teddy's eyes widened comically as he looked behind him at his sleeping siblings. "I mean yes mummy." Teddy whispered a finger on his lips as he looked over at his uncles. "Shhh babies sleeping."

Evelina, Neville and Faramir couldn't help it they laughed quietly at that Teddy was just too cute. "That's right Teddy we have to be quiet so we don't wake the babies again." Faramir praised his nephew in all but blood.
"Now, how about you and your uncles come and see the new members of our family?" Evelina asked happily as she stood with Teddy in her arms his finger still on his lip as Neville and Faramir moved further into the room.

"They're gorgeous Eve and the little girl definitely looks like you." Neville praised wrapping an arm around his sisters shoulder as Faramir asked, "Are they okay Evelina? They're really small." He asked concerned.
"Andromeda said they are going to be just fine but she gave them a potion to help just in case, though Lily had to have two potions as she's smaller than her brothers but other then that they're all really healthy." Evelina assured. "The first boy is Leo and is Aragorn's son, the second boy is Logon and Haldir's son and Lily is obviously Legolas' daughter. What do you think of your siblings Teddy?" Evelina asked her son who was staring at his siblings with a smile on his face.

"I love them mummy." Teddy confessed still not taking his eyes off of them. "I will look after them mummy and be the best big brother. When can I play with them?" He asked turning to look at his mother.
"I know you will be the best big brother Teddy. And you won't be able to play with them just yet." Evelina sighed happily glad Teddy wasn't showing any signs of being jealous of his new siblings. "Okay mummy." Teddy sighed a little disappointed he couldn't play with his new siblings. "But when they get older Teddy you'll be able to help your mummy and daddies feed them, teach them to walk and talk." Neville said trying to cheer his nephew up. "Okay unca Nev. I will help mummy." Teddy cried excited again. Evelina laughed and kissed her sons head.

"I know you will Teddy your such a good boy." She praised. For the rest of the day the family spent time in Evelina's room being joined by Luna, Andy and Eoywen getting to know their new family member Faramir and each getting a hold of the triplets when they woke up, all trying to distract themselves from the battle the rest of their family and friends were in each silently praying they would return. Teddy was the most easiest to distract from where his daddies and grandpas were by sitting on Evelina's lap as she helped him hold each of his siblings and gave them each a sweet kiss to their heads.

Later that evening as the sun began to set everyone returned back to the city with an unconscious Frodo and an extremely bleary-eyed Sam in-toe luckily no one was seriously injured and were all very eager to see Evelina, Teddy, Luna and Neville again. They were met Andy in the infirmary where they placed Frodo and Sam on the vacant beds. "Andy how's Eve? And the babies?" Sirius asked tiredly though he was greatly concerned for his daughter and grandchildren as he tried to hide a yawn. "They're fine." Andy smiled to the relief of everyone. "Eve had the babies this morning."

"What!?" Gimli shouted. "Is the Lassie and the little ones okay?" He asked concerned for his friend and her children.
"They are just fine Gimli." Neville assured. "She's with them and Teddy in her room you can go...." he didn't get time to finish as Sirius, Theodred, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Haldir, Gimli, Merry and Pippin took off running at a fast pace heading towards Evelina's room intent on seeing them as soon as they could. Boromir looked from Luna who was in his arms to where the others had run off he wanted to check on his friend and her children but he also wanted to stay with his mate. "Come Boromir I'll go with you to see my sister and nephews and niece again." Luna said serenely as she led him out of the infirmary. Andy, Neville, Faramir and Eoywen just laughed and shook their heads along with Gandalf who had decided to see Evelina in the morning as she would be rather crowded right now. As he helped Andy, Neville, Faramir and Eoywen heal Frodo and Sam along with the others still in the infirmary.

As the group of charged into Evelina's rooms they froze in the doorway nearly crashing into one another as they looked from Evelina with Teddy in her lap on the bed to the three muses baskets on the other side of the room startling Evelina and Teddy at the sudden noise.

End of chapter!

Elvish:
Allal: hello
Gwathel: sister not of blood