Chapter 24

Continued

Tilda covered her mouth with a heart wrenching cry as she saw Ony fall from the sky. Bain wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she turned to bury her head in his chest. Sobs burst thru and Sigrid looked at Bain with tears in her eyes.

Bard and the army slowly lowered their arms while the glow dimmed. The light seemed to retreat back to nothing revealing charred orcs, wargs, and mountain trolls. The ground seemed untouched. Not a single one of them lived. The only figure standing was Elena. She held her swords loosely as she staggered from the battle field towards Bard. Bard urged his horse forward and he slid from the saddle as he reached her. Her swords slipped from her hands and she started to fall. Bard caught her right before her knees hit the ground and they tumbled down together. He held her tightly as he pulled her into his lap. He rocked her and buried a hand in her hair. He leaned down to kiss her roughly. He grew alarmed when she didn't respond. He pulled back to look at her.

She blinked hard a few times before closing her eyes. She had a heavy bleeding gash on her forehead. Bard felt the large tear in the back of her tunic and pulled her tightly to him so he could peer down at her skin. A mangled wound ran from her shoulder blades down to her lower back. He looked over at Marik with alarm and Marik increased his pace towards them. After seeing her back, Marik rushed off to find a healer.

Elena had been bandaged enough to get her to Dale. Once there they cleaned her thoroughly and re bandaged her. She was left in her bed in one of her soft elven gowns breathing softly.

Bard sent Captain Alan and his retinue to fetch the children. A distraught Tilda begged them to find Ony amongst the wildflowers by the field. Their search went on for hours before Lieutenant Prazin found him. He carefully picked up the still bird while Tilda watched with silent rivers of tears falling down her cheeks.

Once the children made it back, Tilda took Ony from Prazin. She retreated to her room and laid him in the tiny bed she had made him atop her dresser for afternoon naps. She stared at him for a few minutes before sniffling and turning towards her bed. She flopped herself on top of it and cried herself to sleep.

Alan sent men to clean up the battle ground. Marik watched him go thru the motions of making sure everything was cleaned up and everyone was alright. Everyone's eyes seemed a little dimmer after word of the Queen's battle and wounds made their rounds.

Bard stayed by her side. Paralee brought him food, but he didn't have the heart to eat while his wife and lover lay so still.

After two days Alan came in to inform him of the arrival of the elves. King Thranduil had arrived with his most gifted healer. They entered the bedroom and Thranduil immediately moved off to the side. An elleth approached the bed and laid a hand upon Elena's forehead. She had the same colored hair as Thranduil only it was braided into one large, thick braid with a metal clasp at the end.

"Where is Ony?" she asked softly.

Bard looked up at her frowning, "You know of Ony?"

The elleth looked at Bard, "Of course. I'm the one that made him and gifted him to Yende."

"She prefers Elena," Bard said softly before he frowned deeper, "Ony was a gift from her mother."

The elleth smiled widely with sad eyes, "Yes."

"Your her mother?" he asked as the frown fell and his eyes widened.

She nodded, "Yes, I am Alcarin Silme."

"I'm afraid Ony didn't make it," he said haltingly.

"Just because he does not breathe does not mean their is no life left in him," she said.

Thranduil stepped out of the room to ask after Ony. Tilda appeared with him in her arms and entered the room.

"What do you want with him?" Tilda asked stubbornly, "Mum gave him to me."

Alcarin looked at TIlda in surprise, "My daughter entrusted you with Ony?"

Tilda nodded.

"Just lay him on her chest above her heart," she said as she motioned to Elena, "It is a great honor for Ony to be given to you."

Tilda set Ony down on Elena's chest and looked at Alcarin, "What do you mean?"

"I made Ony," Alcarin said with a sad smile, "So a piece of me would always be with her. He is made by a tie between our two souls. When she used her magic in such a great amount it took energy from me thru Ony. That's how we knew to come so fast."

"Will she be alright?" Tilda asked as her voice wobbled.

Alcarin ran a hand slowly down her daughter's body as she inspected her with her healing magic. Her hand halted at her stomach before moving on. She smiled brightly and turned back to Tilda.

"Her and the babe will be just fine in a few days," she said.

Bard's head whipped up to look at Alcarin with wide eyes, "Babe?"

"Yes," Alcarin said nodding, "About two months along I'd say. An elleth normally carries for a year, but she is not a full elf. I myself only carried her for ten and a half months before she decided to greet the world."

Bard smiled widely with tears in his eyes as he looked down at Elena. His look softened as he thought of them raising their child. Tilda took one of his hands and smiled at him for the first time since Ony fell. He took Elena's hand and squeezed it gently before lifting it to his lips to lay a kiss upon it.

Two Days Later

Elena slowly gained consciousness and opened her eyes to a dim light. Ony was cradled between her breasts sleeping deeply. She blinked hard a few times before moving her head to the right. Bard was asleep in a soft chair that had been pulled to the side of the bed. His head laid next to their clasped hands. She smiled weakly and brought her other hand across to tangle into Bard's hair. He jolted with the touch and moved his head enough to look up at her. She smirked as his eyes widened and he sat up in the chair.

"Did you think I was going somewhere love?" she whispered.

"I admit I was worried until your mother helped you recover," he said quietly.

Her eyes widened, "My mother was here?"

"She still is," he said smirking, "And from what I understand... she never really left you. She gave you Ony, a piece of her soul."

Ony tweeted once in his sleep before settling back done. In another form it may have sounded like a snort. Elena chuckled at him before turning back to Bard.

"What happened?" she asked.

"The most powerful magic anyone has ever seen," Bard said in awe of her, "Not only did you defeat the enemy... the land was untouched, untainted. You've been in bed recovering. We all thought Ony had died, but it turns out he just needed you."

She stroked his feathers causing him to turn bright yellow. She smiled as wide as her weak state would allow. More rest was needed for a full recovery. Bard cupped her face and stared into her eyes. He kissed her tenderly before bringing his forehead down to meet hers.

"From now on you don't leave my side," he whispered sternly.

She chuckled, "For the children I would do it again in a heartbeat."

"Well you have one more child to worry about now," he said smirking knowingly at her.

She raised a brow in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

He ran a finger down the side of her face before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "You are with child love."

Her eyes widened and tears gathered in her eyes, "Really?"

"Yes love," he chuckled, "Tilda has been bouncing around with the news of a new sibling. She claims a baby brother to boss around would make her happiest."

"As long as its healthy I'll be happy," she said smiling before she pulled him close for a more passionate kiss.

"Perhaps its time to pass the mantle of General to Alan and just be my Queen and mother to my children."

She smiled, "Perhaps. Besides I'll still be at your side and armed... so I will still hold to my oath."

"That is true love."

Conclusion

Elena made a full recovery. The news of the new babe spread across Dale, Erebor, and the Greenwood bringing joy in its wake. Elena did pass the role of General onto Alan.

Alan eventually asked for Sigrid's hand and they were married happily for many years. They had many children who all grew to be loyal to Dale and its people.

The babe did turn out to be a boy who looked exactly like his father although he had his mother's eyes and a slight point to his ears. He eventually became the General after Alan's passing and stood by his family's side.

Esgaroth was rebuilt on the shores of the lake and became prosperous once more.

Bard was revered as an honest and kind king until his death thirty years later.

Instead of fading, Elena stood watch over King Bain and his descendants. Years passed and her knowledge became unrivaled. Everyone knew her fierceness in the battlefield, her loyalty to Dale, and her love for the royal family. She truly became the Heart of Dale.