"It is rather." She smiles, and then goes on, a little more soberly.

"I can admit freely now we were hoping for a daughter, Feanaro and I... but after the Ambarussa we... had begun fighting, by then. And seven is a great deal more than most elven couples manage and I was growing weary. Feanaro had only to hear that to stop, for his own mother gave too much of herself to his bearing and could not remain, and that wound stayed with him ever since. Whatever our disagreements, he would not countenance to risk me that way."