I could think of no genuine reason to say no to Aragorn, and so opened the door wider for him. He strode over to the wide window and looked out over the city. I joined him.

He turned and dropped onto one knee in front of me, taking both my hands in his and looked directly into my eyes. I took a deep breath before he spoke. 'My lady, you are truly one of the most beautiful and brave ladies that I know.' He'd started worryingly well, but it really wasn't what I wanted to hear and I wasn't sure how I was going to extricate myself from this situation. 'My lady,' he continued, 'If it weren't for my respect for Sir Gwaine, I confess I would have approached you before now to tell you that. Since meeting you again at the naiad's spring, I confess that there was a longing in my heart for you that I had never before experienced.'

'Aragorn-'

'Please let me finish, Beth. It was Sir Gwaine who gave me permission to approach you to spend one night with you. And I could think of nothing more pleasurable.'

'But-'

'Which brings me to my apology. I'm afraid I cannot stay, although I know it was what was agreed with Sir Gwaine.'

'You . . . you can't?'

He nodded. 'I can only think I was under an enchantment of some kind as I no longer feel so . . . compelled.'

'You don't?'

'You are still beautiful, my lady, but it would appear not. But I do not know why.'

'I think it was an enchantment, Aragorn. It was this bangle the naiad gave me.'

'In that case, I must apologise for my behaviour. Yet I do not know why this enchantment came to be broken.'

'I do. You have seen Arwen?'

'Arwen? Yes, I have just left her. But what does she have to do with it?'

'Did you . . . exchange a kiss, perchance?' He nodded, his lips twitching into an involuntary smile. 'When you kiss your true love, it appears it breaks the bracelet's enchantment.'

'Then my heart is glad we came here.'

'Mine too, Aragorn. There are many trials ahead for you, but you will be happy with Arwen.'

'Truly?' He looked at me hopefully.

'Truly,' and he rose to his feet and we hugged.

He was still holding me when the door opened and Gwaine entered.

'It's all right,' I said quickly. 'The enchantment is broken.'

'I came to apologise to Beth for my behaviour. And I must apologise to you too, Gwaine.'

'Not necessary, Aragorn. The magic was strong.'

As Aragorn left the room, Gwaine joined me at the window. I entered the warm circle of his arms and laid my head against his shoulder. 'Thank goodness that is all over,' I said.

'Yes,' he said, but I found him strangely unconvincing.

'Are you all right?' I asked, looking up at him.

He smiled and stroked the hair away from my forehead. 'I'm with you, and I'm never going to leave you. Now, we don't want to waste that comfortable bed, do we?'

'Gwaine, what did Gimli say?'

'Shhh, it's not important right now. What's important is that I do this,' and he kissed me. 'And this,' and he began to run his hands over my body.

I stopped worrying and sank into his kisses and caresses, inching our way over to the bed. 'This is so much easier to take off than chainmail,' I said, removing his tunic.

He untied my dress at the shoulders and it slithered to the floor. 'We should always wear elven clothes,' he said. 'In fact, are you sure you don't have a bit of elf in you?' and he pushed the hair back over my ear.

'Ha! You can talk! But I'd rather have some knight in me.'

'That can be arranged,' and he manoeuvred me towards the bed. 'I want you.'

'I want you too.'

'Always and forever.'

I was enjoying his declarations, but now it was time for him to put his mouth to better use and concentrate on kissing me. Fortunately he was easily persuaded and it was wonderful to run my hands over his lean muscular torso, my fingers tracing over the curves and angles, and a yearning to be protected by him.

He read my body language as I pressed myself against his body and his strong arms enfolded me. I allowed him to set the pace, complying with his body's requests of mine. It was wonderful, being so submissive, feeling so protected, and I sank so willingly into his embrace, into his kisses, into his love.

'Beth, oh Elizabeth,' he whispered as he pulled the covers up over us and leaned over me and I was lost in the love in his eyes, although at the back of my mind was the worry that there was something important he was keeping from me.

Gimli and Gandalf were taking Sorvad further into Middle Earth and were leaving shortly after breakfast. We almost missed them, Gimli apologising for his behaviour and Gandalf promising to return to Camelot as soon as he had made arrangements for Sorvad. Aragorn would be staying on in Rivendell, but Gwaine and I decided to go back to Camelot.

The elves loaned us horses and ensured we had sufficient food for the journey and we set off towards Camelot. We had discussed about whether to take the route via the Dark Tower, but in the end decided on the most direct as we both wanted to get back to the castle.

Those few days were wonderful. Just me and Gwaine, perfect weather, making camp in the evenings, curled up together under the stars. Sitting watching the flames, leaning comfortably against him, I finally got to tell him the full story about being captured by Sorvad and being rescued by the elves, he told me about the south pass and Sauron's reaction to being presented with Sorvad.

'What was Sauron like?' I asked.

'Well, we didn't really see him. Just heard his booming voice saying that he didn't want Sorvad back. He sounded very angry.'

'Could be like the Wizard of Oz then,' I commented. And then had to explain the film, which sounded more and more weird the more I tried to explain it, what with Kansas and the tornado, the witches and the munchkins, and the lion, scarecrow, the tin man and the yellow brick road . . . until he just sat there, a bemused look on his face. 'Anyway,' I concluded, 'the wizard was just an ordinary man pretending to be very important. But I don't think Sauron is like that. I think he IS actually very important. And evil. And I'll shut up now.'

'I have no idea what you've just been telling me, but I love just watching you talk. Come here,' and he kissed me in amusement. 'Being married to you is going to be so interesting.'

'We are going to get married then?'

'Of course we are!'

'It's just that after what happened at the Dark Tower with the bracelet, I wasn't so sure.'

'It was just shock at seeing the bracelet.'

'So what did Gimli say about it?'

There was a pause. 'You need a Dwarvish Runemaster to remove it.'

'Oh? Not the naiad?'

'No, she can put it on, but it's a binding bracelet. Only dwarvish magic can remove it.'

'Did he know any runemasters?'

'He's going to find out if there are any, and where they are.'

'IF there are any? You mean he doesn't know? Gwaine, what happens if I can't remove it?'

He pulled me closer against him. 'As long as I'm with you, you're safe. And I'm going nowhere,' and he refused to say any more even though I was very aware there was obviously very much more to say.