AN: Yes i am alive (if suffering a nasty cold right now). Sorry for this taking forever, i intend to be a little more regular in posting but i'm afraid i cannot guarantee it - as probably previously stated but its been so long i can't remember.

Chapter 20

As usual, Galion and Eama entered the sitting room that led to Thranduil and Erywen's bed room only to stop dead. Sitting on the couch was none other than Arallë, lounging casually and smirking mischievously.

She grinned at the two of them and placed a finger on her lips as she looked towards the bedroom door. Carefully Galion closed the main door and the two made a beeline to sit either side of her and began whispering furiously.

"What you doing here?"

"What's happened now?"

Arallë smirked at them wickedly.

"You're not going to say hello?" Both glared at her. "I get this impression I'm irritating you..." She laughed softly and was about to actually give them an answer when the bedroom door opened and Thranduil leant against the door frame.

"Are you two planning on coming in anytime..." He trailed off as he saw who was sitting there. Thranduil just stared at his step mother in pure undiluted shock. Arallë looked him up and down. Thranduil was absolutely stark naked.

"You could have put some braes on at least." The blond grinned and snorted with laughter.

"Everyone here has already seen everything I've got anyway, so why bother?" Erywen made her entrance by ducking under Thranduil's arm and wrapping said arm round her waist. She had obviously only just put her nightdress on.

"So why are you breaking the Valar's laws again? Surely it can't be just because you want to visit." She asked sleepily.

"Mostly, though the primary purpose is that I was always taught it was bad manners not to deliver wedding invitations to one's family in person." The four elves blinked in surprise.

"You broke one of the Valar's major laws to deliver us wedding invitations to a wedding we can't go to by default of it being in Valinor?" Erywen asked incredulously. Thranduil, however, had closed his eyes despairingly.

"Why do I get this impression that we will be breaking some cardinal laws ourselves in the near future?" Arallë smiled beatifically.

"Because Riona, Ada and Ingwë are working on arranging a way to get you four and any other Arda bound elves that Ingwë and Airatari want at their wedding there?" Thranduil went and smashed his head against the wall.

"Why me?"

XXX

Thranduil had been selected as suitable male escort for Airatari – mostly since Oropher was indisposed, that made him her closest male relative.

As had been the case for Fea and Ereinion, Ingwë and Airatari married on the huge tor in the middle of a large amount of grass so the majority of the elves in Valinor could at least sort of see the ceremony. Riona had decided that, since this was the largest and most important wedding Valinor had ever seen and, most likely, would ever see since Ingwë had no intention of standing down as high king, or of getting killed.

There had been no way round having Manwë officiate this time round as the Valar was actually a friend of Ingwë's as well as one of the few people of higher rank than him within Valinor. Partly in revenge, Fea had decided the only processional suitable for an occasion of such magnitude was Handel's Zadok the Priest and a suitable accessional was the Hallelujah Chorus, also by Handel. When asked what the pieces were about by the admiring choir (who had all seen how effective her previous musical effort had been at Fea's wedding) she had said they were songs to Eru – which was sort of right. Ish.

Ingwë's party were all clad in cloth of gold. With him was Laurealos and one or two other Vanyarin lords that were close to their high king. Finarfin and Olwë were also there to support him as a 'brother rulers'. Thingol would have been included in that party but he was in the bridal party as a member of her family.

The bridal party, with the exception of the bride herself, who wore white, were in silver clothing. The designs seemed very simplistic until you were close enough to see the very fine designs weaved into the fabric. The ladies in the party had simple A-line gowns with sweetheart necklines and long puff sleeves. Aside from the complicate weaving of the fabric the only adornments were delicately jewelled neckline (diamonds and pearls) and belts woven of gold and silver with jewelled buckles that matched the necklines. The male members of the party were simply wearing open robes in a sindarin design of the same fabric with slightly wider versions of the woven belts over silver-grey satin tunics and hose.

When the bridal party was part way up the tor, Riona giggled quietly. Without looking behind her, Airatari rather suspiciously queried the sound under her breath.

"Manwë's just worked out that we have actually brought some elves from Arda by magic to be here for your wedding, rather than their dream vision selves. I think he might want to kill me later. Whoops." Airatari looked forward and caught the badly hidden look of profound irritation on his face. Thranduil snorted quietly beside them.

"As long as I don't get any stick from them for having been involved..." Riona laughed again.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll protect you from the big, bad Valar King." Thranduil shot her an acid look.

"Oh shut up." Riona wasn't the only one to giggle at that, though they turned serious as they reached the top of the tor.

The actual ceremony was very short. This was mostly because, unlike with most weddings, they had never bothered with a betrothal contract. At most highborn weddings (since to be married under elf law all that was actually necessary was to have slept together, the actual ceremony was primarily there to satisfy people's urges in the direction of formality) some time was spent going through the betrothal agreement as this covered the obligations the couple and their families and that was what took most of the time up. Without the presence of such a contract, all that was left to say were a few vows along the lines of promising to love and support each other for eternity.

After the last two weddings within the maia family, they were not quite so surprised when Eru turned up this time, in all his celestial glory. He smiled beatifically at the pair as he touched each of their brows in a sort of silent blessing.

"This has been a long time coming, for Ingwë, of all my children, has waited the longest for his soul mate. His patience today is rewarded with a young wife who loves him as dearly as an elf could wish for. This union shall be blessed with happiness and children." Suddenly there was a swirl of power around the pair as Eru did something. "Now, you who have been alone for so long will never be alone again."

Both elves blinked several times as they tried to work out what Eru had done. Much to their amazement, Eru then dropped out of his 'declaiming' voice to a volume that could only be heard by those on the tor.

"Have fun working out what my marriage gift is, it is up to you two to explore it." He turned to Riona and his aura gave of a sudden sense of mischief. "I approve of your choice of music." As she was staring at him in pure shock, Eru turned last to Manwë. "Don't bother getting angry about the actions of this family, they do my work alone and answer to me alone. Those aligned with this family also work for me and my purposes."

As the lord Vala, and everyone else on the tor just stared at the deity Eru and his presence simply evaporated. After several moments of absolute silence, Riona managed to gather her wits and signalled to the musicians to start on the recessional. Somehow the Hallelujah chorus seemed all the more appropriate suddenly.

XXX

Dinembor and Vanimallë were sitting to the side of the celebration, talking quietly. After finishing her plate of food, Vanimallë picked up Dinembor's arm and wrapped it round her waist before snuggling into his chest.

"Describe to me what is going on." The sindar smiled down at the golden haired elleth and tightened his arm.

"Finarfin and Fingolfin are dancing with Narinyë and Anna who both look delighted to be included with the adults. Elladan and Elrohir are over beside the buffet, it looks like they're trying to add spirits to the wine..." Vanimallë giggled.

"You're not planning on doing anything about that?" He smiled at her, though she could not see it.

"Nope, far too comfortable here." Vanimallë giggled again and leaned up to kiss his cheek softly. As she went back to leaning against his chest she took the opportunity presented to drop a few more soft kisses down his neck.

"So am I..." she whispered as she snuggled back into his chest.