Ithilion

Title: Ithilion
Author:Githoniel
Part: 4/??
Pairing: Melpomaen/??
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer:All elves belong to Mr. Tolkien!!!
Warning:AU, slash, male-preg.
Beta: my alter ego
Summary: There has never been much happiness in Melpomaen’s life, but when he finds out he is pregnant, he knows things have to change...
Authors Note: // = thoughts, ~~ = memories


Part 4


Melpomaen stayed with Gildor and his pregnancy developped as normal as could be. After a few months the morning sickness stopped and his belly grew steadily. He was now about 8 months far along – a few more weeks and his child would be born.
//And what will happen then?// Melpomaen asked himself very often.
For his unborn child, he had come here, for the growing life inside him, he endured Gildor’s moods again. The gipsy elf used Melpomaen just as it pleased him and the young elf accepted every foul touch. When Gildor was very angry, he yelled at Melpomaen and beat the young elf’s hands and arms with his belt. There were few days, when Melpomaen’s skin was not covered with wales and dried blood. The young elf endured even that, just happy, that the gipsy lord spared his belly the blows.

But the closer the time of birth came, the more Melpomaen worried. He couldn’t let the child grow up among Gildor’s wanderers, where he was nothing but a whore, but he also couldn’t walk the wilds with a little elfling. He would have to wait until they reached another elven realm and hopefully, he could stay there with his child. Maybe he could work as a scribe or something like that – he knew how to read and his handwriting was acceptable.


***

The wind was strong and cold. Winter would come any day now –the air already smelled of snow. Gildor and his elves had made camp near a human settlement in Eriador.
Melpomaen had left the warm fur-covered tent of Gildor. He had suddenly felt very hungry and longed for some dried meat with honey, a special craving of his these last weeks. Walking had become rather difficult now and he always tired easily. Still he knew, asking Gildor to get it for him would only lead to insults or worse...
So he had thrown Gildor’s warm fur cloak around his shoulders and walked to the storage tent to still his hunger. Once there, he was panting heavily even though it had been just a few steps. He sat down on one of the wine barrels and stroked his belly.
“Well, my little trouble-maker? It’s time for you to leave my womb soon. Though I’m not sure if the world outside will be truly better for you.”

He reached for the dried meat, that hung from a rope above him and cut down a few small stripes. After that, he reached for the honey pot.
“Do you see, what you are doing to me, pen-neth? Argh, those things you make me eat!”
And with that, we dipped the meat into the honey and eagerly wolfed it down.
After his unusual snack, he rubbed his belly. He closed his eyes and felt the child move within his womb. Pure love flowed through his body. This was one of those few peaceful moments in his life.
But his rest was suddenly disturbed, when his child kicked him hard!
“Ow!!! You are quite active today... At least you didn’t aim for my bladder this time! Ahhh! Stop it! Eager to be born, huh? The healer said you have to wait a few more weeks.”

Melpomaen got up and slowly, very slowly walked back to Gildor’s tent. Just when he wanted to enter, he heard voices. Knowing that Gildor didn’t like to be interrupted, Melpomaen turned and wanted to walk away, when he suddenly heard his name.
“And what about Melpomaen? I never understood, why you let that little whore stay with you!”
“You don’t begrudge me my little pet, Sellian, do you?”
“No... but what about his child? Will you also take it in? I cannot picture you playing the loving parent with an elfling at your feet.”
Gildor laughed.
“No... no, you are right, I have no intention playing father for that little bastard child.”
“But what will happen, when it is born?”
“It will not stay with us. I’ve talked to one of the inn-keepers in the town. Men are always eager to get their hands on an elven child. That man pays a good price for the elfling. He will bring it up, so it can later work as a servant for him.”

Snowflakes began to fall, when Melpomaen fought for breath. He stood outside the tent, frozen to the spot and his heartbeat stopped for a second, when he heard Gildor’s words. His child! Gildor wanted to take his child from him! Wanted to sell it to a man as a servant! In his mind, the young elf saw his own childhood in thousand pictures and he wanted to scream! He couldn’t let this happen to his little one – history musn’t repeat itself! Never!
Melpomaen didn’t wait a single minute longer, he stepped backwards away from the tent into the darkness, then he turned around and ran.

***

His legs hurt, but he ignored it, his feet burned, but he didn’t give it a thought, he was freezing, but didn’t felt it. He ran and ran away from the camp into the forrest. Soon, they would notice him gone and start searching for him, not because he would be missed, but for the price, the human inn-keeper was willing to pay for his child. He had to get away from the camp... he couldn’t stop running now. But all to soon, he was running out of breath and had to stop. He leaned against an old tree, everything was spinning and his belly hurt, for the child was kicking again..
“Be still, pen-neth. We have to flee... “ – he pressed his palm against his womb and tried to calm his nerves a little. He had to think now. Where could he go?

He had just taken a few moments rest to regain his breath, when he heard a noise behind him. This couldn’t be Gildor, he would never make so much noise. A second later, he heard the sound of metal against metal – a fight. And the nightair carried a stench to his nostrils – Orks!
//NO! Elbereth, why now!!!// Melpomaen thought and started running anew. He knew, if those orcs would find him, his fate would be worse than in Gildor’s camp. He ran through the woods without looking, as long as his legs would carry him. Just when he had left the forrest behind him, they refused their job. Melpoaen fell, but landed soft in the fresh fallen snow.
That moment, a searing pain shot through his abdomen.
“Eru Almighty – not now! That has to be a nightmare... It’s too soon! It can not be born NOW!!!”
Another wave of pain rushed through him and between his legs, he felt blood. He knew that male pregnancies were difficult and that the birth was dangerous for both, father and the child even with a healer around... but here, lying in the snow all alone....
The bleeding became worse.
//This is it then, the end... I’m so sorry, pen-neth. It’s all my fault. I wasn’t strong enough to bring you in this world – I failed you!//
Melpomaen took a last look into the night sky. The clouds had opened a little and the full silver moon shone through.
More pain....
“I love you, pen-neth!” Melpomaen whispered and closed his eyes.
Just this moment, a shadow emanated from the woods and moved over Melpomaen’s snow and blood covered body.


Tbc.