Chapter 36: An Oath of Love

"When are you going to settle down with an elleth?" Giselle asked one day.

Elrohir and Elladan exchanged looks. "Why would we want to do that?" Elladan asked.

Giselle raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me you guys don't want to settle down with an elleth?"

"Not at the moment." Elrohir replied.

"Though we are not saying we do not enjoy the pleasures women provide," Elladan interjected.

"But we are not ready for intimacy as you and Legolas show."

"Intimacy?" Giselle raised both eyebrows. "Legolas and I are… we're not that intimate." She finished, blushing a bit.

"Well in public you two are modest but I don't want to think about what happens behind closed doors." Elladan supplied.

Giselle laughed. "You two are incorrigible. But I love you anyways."

"We love you as well, Giselle." Elrohir responded.

Giselle had been in Mirkwood for two weeks already. There had not been a welcoming feast and there wouldn't be one, which made Giselle happy. She just didn't support the idea of having a huge feast every time somebody left of came.

"Have you seen him today?" Giselle asked.

"Seen who?" Elladan asked casually.

"Legolas!" Giselle responded. She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"He was heading toward the archery range this morning." Elrohir answered.

"He needs to keep his body perfectly toned for someone special." Elladan added just loudly enough to be heard by Giselle.

"You know, you two act like mortal children instead of elves."

"We are part mortal, love." Elladan retorted.

"You still act like children." Elladan and Elrohir laughed. Giselle rubbed her temple and suppressed a laugh. "You're right, that was a petty retort." She gave each twin a small hug before excusing herself and walking toward the archery range.

After getting lost only once she emerged outside of the caves and onto grass and dirt. Just around the trees a field would open up that would ultimately be where Legolas was. And sure enough, Legolas was there on one side of the field, his bow raised and Giselle heard the thud of the arrow meeting its target dead center all the way on the other side of the field.

Giselle knew Legolas heard her for he tilted his head to the side briefly and nodded lightly before taking another arrow out of his quiver and already had it soaring through the air before Giselle realized it. She stood to the side until all of Legolas' arrows were gone.

Legolas turned to her and Giselle smiled and walked over and hugged him. Legolas took his bow into one hand and held his other hand out for Giselle and together they walked towards the target. All the arrows were in the dead center of the target, all except one which must have been at the most two centimeters off. Legolas removed each arrow and examined them closely, looking to see which ones he could salvage and which ones were beyond repair. Though Giselle personally thought it was a futile thing to do since each arrow had been split in half be the next arrow.

"You know, some elves say it's such a waist of an arrow when it gets split in two by another arrow."

"Do they?" Legolas asked lightly. Giselle nodded.

"Well they won't say such things to me, I'm their prince."

"Oh really?" Giselle giggled.

"Yes."

"Mmm, you know what I have a craving for?"

"What?" Legolas asked, not caring that she changed the topic completely.

"Coffee. I haven't had a cup of it for so long!"

"What is coffee?"

"Oh, it's a drink, that's served hot and is delicious and addicting and helps keep you awake."

"I see." Legolas said, letting just a hint of mirth leak into his tone.

"Are you done?" Giselle asked.

"For today, yes."
They made their way to the caves. Legolas' thoughts dwelled on a certain question that he had been musing about for more than a few years now. He believed now was the time to pose it aloud. Giselle's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"Well, I'm gonna leave you here, bye." She leaned up and gave him a peck on the cheek before opening her door and vanishing inside.

He blinked- not noticing that they had made it to the royal corridor- and walked into his own room, taking his bow and quiver and placing it on a desk. He then began stripping off his clothes while he walked into his bathing chamber and prepared himself a bath. Afterwards he sat on his bed fingering the cool band of metal between his fingers.

Over and over his fingers rolled the ring, and over and over his thoughts strayed from one thought to the next.

Finally he left his room and knocked on Giselle's door. Upon hearing an 'enter' he opened the door and greeted Giselle.

Giselle got up from her desk and smiled at him, before taking a tendril of his damp hair and curling it around her finger. "I see you've taken a bath," she stated, removing her finger from his hair.

He smiled and teased, "And you spotted that with your own eyes? Marvelous!" She slapped his chest playfully and turned to her bed.

"I love you." Legolas said. Giselle turned her head to him and smiled when she noticed he was still by the door.

"I love you too." She replied. "Come on! It's time to eat!" She slipped on her shoes, grabbed his hand and pulled him along after her to the dining room.

The mid-day meal went by well enough. And the rest of the day went by pretty quickly. The evening meal had been delayed due to a conference with Thranduil and his advisors, and he seemed a bit ruffled at the dining table. So when the meal was over, the sun had set and the moon was just beginning to appear.

Legolas and Giselle were in Giselle's chambers, and Legolas was telling Giselle the time he first visited Rivendell.

"…All day they had been switching off, and I had not had the slightest clue! It wasn't until the evening meal, when both showed up, that I realized they were twins, and it wasn't until I left to return to Mirkwood did I understand I had been a part of a prank of theirs."

"Well it wasn't as terrible as some of the things they could have done." Giselle intoned.

"True," Legolas agreed, "But to this day I have not brought it up and neither have they. And I can trust you to not make any mentions of it?"

"Why, too much pride involved?" He looked at her sternly.

Giselle brought her hands up. "Yes, yes! I won't mention it. But Legolas this is a bit ridiculous. Are you afraid of what they might say to you?" Upon seeing Legolas open his mouth to say something; Giselle quickly cut in "Okay never mind. Let's change the subject."

"Fine," Legolas agreed. He stood up from her bed and Giselle stared at him confused. "Giselle… I love you so much..." He paused and Giselle tilted her head to the side; she knew there was more to this than simple exchanges of affection. "Giselle… will you bond with me? Will you become my wife?"

Giselle's eyes widened in surprise and her mouth parted slightly. "When I said lets change the subject you really changed the subject."

Legolas' face was unreadable, but inside his heart was pounding and he was praying to the valar that Giselle would say yes. He watched her surprised face and started to feel the first drops of doubt creep into his thoughts.

Finally she looked up at him and smiled brightly. "Yes!" She laughed as Legolas quickly scooped her into his arms and spun her around. He took the ring from his pocket and slid it onto her finger.

He then kissed her repeatedly, his hands traveling from her arms down to her thighs before coming up and resting on her waist. Giselle linked her arms behind his head and as the kisses became more passionate, held his head towards her own. Legolas broke from her lips and made a trail of fire down to her neck. Giselle sighed softly and rubbed his ear in the lightest of touches.

The response was immediate. Legolas attacked her skin with his mouth more vigorously and brought his arms under her bottom, bringing her up. Giselle wrapped her legs around his waist to keep her balance. After a while Giselle broke from Legolas and whispered in his ear. "We have to stop… before we're lost."

Legolas placed her on her feet and groaned. "I know, but I don't want to." Giselle smiled widely and they both stood close to each other, breathing heavily.

"Take a cold bath." Giselle told him.

"I think I will," he responded, shifting uncomfortably. Giselle laughed and Legolas grinned. They reunited for a long kiss before Legolas stepped back and made to the passage connecting their rooms. "You're going to be my wife!"

Giselle smiled lovingly. "And you're going to be my husband."

Legolas took one step towards her and Giselle closed the distance, sharing one last kiss for the night. They broke and Legolas slipped into the passage.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Legolas turned around and Giselle closed the door and leaned against it. She grinned broadly and looked at her hand where a simple silver band now lay. She laughed softly and danced around her room, thinking this night would be engraved in her mind forever.

The next morning Legolas and Giselle told Thranduil of their plans to bond. At first Thranduil had stared at them impassively, placing his fork down on his plate very slowly. And just when Giselle was beginning to think that Thranduil hated this, his impassive face crumpled and he broke into a wide smile, jumping to his feet to congratulate them.

"Finally you've taken a bride, Legolas! And a fine choice I must say. We must prepare at once!" He went to Giselle and hugged her in a fatherly manner before taking her hands and spinning her around in a fast waltz. He then let her go and clapped his son on the back.

"A celebration is in order!" He cried delightfully. Giselle smiled, not caring if a feast would be in order. She was just relieved that Thranduil approved of their bonding together. Whatever she read about him being a grouch all the time was certainly not true!

Thranduil left shortly after to make plans for a feast that night before heading to his usual morning duties of hearing petitions. Legolas and Giselle stayed behind, sharing glances at each other as two schoolchildren would.

Later that day, as the two were sitting together in a secluded corner of the library Giselle was looking at the silver ring adorned on her finger and turned to Legolas. "I have something for you." She turned and opened her palm to reveal another silver band. "I may not be so familiar with elvish tradition, but I do know that we exchange silver rings."

Legolas smiled as Giselle slid the ring onto his finger. Legolas asked her, "You do know what happens now?"

"Yeah, we eat until we gain three pounds, and prepare a wedding." Upon seeing Legolas shake his head she sighed and asked. "Okay, what happens?"

"It is custom, that once a couple becomes betrothed that the couple spend one or more years apart and then reunite on the day of the wedding services."

Giselle furrowed her eyebrows. "Wait… are you saying I can't see you and you can't see me for a whole year?"

Legolas smiled sadly. "It is customary, love."

"I don't like this custom" Giselle frowned. Legolas laughed. "And you shouldn't be laughing!"

"I am sorry Giselle. But we cannot change tradition. Our wedding will take place after a year of separation. And when we meet again…"

"We won't be able to keep our hands off each other." Giselle finished with a sly grin. Legolas laughed again and didn't respond.

A few moments afterwards Giselle got up and told Legolas, "I guess I better start packing if I'm to leave now."

"Leave now?" Legolas asked, confused. "You can leave in a few days."

Giselle shook her head and studied Legolas. She shook her head again. "If I stay a few more days, I don't think I'll be able to leave." With that she turned on her heel and left the library. Legolas watched her leave with a grin on his face.

He was completely elated that he was finally marrying the woman he loved more than anything. Legolas as a prince and an elf understood the traditions a wedding ceremony followed and he intended to follow through with them. But as someone madly in love, he did not think he could wait and follow traditions.

The rest of that day, for Giselle, was spent packing, with many frequent interruptions from Legolas. Giselle was able to write a letter to Elrond and her friends back in Rivendell of her upcoming marriage with Legolas, and how she would love it if they would attend in a year's time. Giselle would be spending a better part of the year in Lothlorien.

Just after she gave her letter to a messenger, and sent him on his way, she was scooped up into a giant hug. She turned around and grinned. "Elladan, Elrohir, were have you guys been today?"

"We've been around." Elladan said, releasing her from the hug so Elrohir could have his turn smothering her.

"When we heard the news from Thranduil, you were to busy packing and spending time with Legolas, that…"

"We thought it best if we didn't disturb you at the moment." Elladan finished.

"Nonsense," Giselle said, breaking free of the hug. "So, you two are going to be here for my wedding, right?"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Giselle."

She smiled. "Good."

"Who did you send a letter to?" Elrohir asked.

"To your father."

"Arwen is going to be happy for you, love. I'd expect her to come rushing to you five months before the wedding takes place."

"When are you leaving?" Elladan asked.

"Bright and early tomorrow morning."

"Ah, so tonight is going to be spent in fun." Elladan commented.

"Save me a dance, Giselle." Elrohir asked.

Giselle nodded. "I will."

"It's a shame you have to leave so soon, you have only been here in Mirkwood for two weeks."

"Well, I think once I'm married, I won't be traveling so much everywhere." Giselle told them. Thinking on it, she had done a lot of traveling in the past year or two, and she wouldn't mind settling down for longer periods of time.

The feast that night was loud and joyful. Elves were coming up constantly to congratulate the happy couple. Thranduil had given a very thoughtful speech that showed his much softer side and when he sat down the food was served and the feast had truly began.

Piles of venison, loaves of bread, mountains of fruit and vegetables adorned the head table, and Giselle certainly ate herself stuffed. It did not help matters when the tables were cleared and Thranduil took her out for a dance.

Right after that was a dance with Elrohir and then Elladan. When the dance ended and Elladan led her back to the table, she collapsed, somewhat gracefully, into her chair. When she had fixed her skirts about her, she slyly slipped off her high heeled shoes and sighed softly when the pressure was relieved a bit.

But sadly, resting was not an option for Giselle that night. No sooner had she settled herself on the chair Legolas appeared and held his hand out to her.

Giselle shook her head. "Legolas I just sat down!"

He cocked his head to the side and hid a grin. "And I'm here to help you stand again." And with no further ado he swiftly had her on her feet and was prodding her to the dance floor.

"Legolas, I don't have any shoes on!" She whispered sharply into his ear. She noticed all the elves leaving the dance floor and crowding around the edges to watch them dance.

"You'll just have to make do, love. I want a dance with my future wife."

The music started, they joined hands and Legolas led her across the dance floor in graceful turns. As the dance ended, all the elves in the hall applauded in vigor as a faster, more upbeat song began. Elves once again joined them on the dance floor and Legolas once again led Giselle in a dance.

Giselle fastened her cloak around her shoulders and brought her hair up into a ponytail with a leather strip of material. Her room was barren. Everything she would be taking to Lothlorien was outside by the horses and everything she was leaving was in bags in some other room.

In the time that Giselle would be away, the room that Legolas and Giselle would share as a married couple was being prepared in an apartment complex further down the hall.

Her thoughts kept straying to last night, when Legolas had led her away from the dancing and the noise. And she blushed when she recalled how his lips felt on her skin. Valar she could not wait to see him again. To hold him and kiss him and do other things with him!

A knock sounded on her door and Giselle called for whoever it was to enter. She heard the door open and close and strong arms circle around her waist. She relaxed and leaned back into the solid chest of her fiancé.

"Hey," Legolas whispered into her ear, kissing her cheek quickly.

"Hey yourself," Giselle returned. She had to admit before Legolas proposed they had been modest, for the most part, as Elladan told her not too long ago. And since the proposal, they had become much more affectionate. Legolas seemed to glow with happiness. His whole face seemed to light up when he saw her. Giselle wondered how… 'Affectionate' they would be once they were married.

She didn't know, but couldn't wait to find out.

The weeks passed as Giselle and her company traveled from Mirkwood to Lothlorien. Giselle missed Legolas terribly and seeing nothing but trees the majority of the time did little to distract her mind from musing. Three quarters of the way to Lothlorien, Giselle happened upon someone she had not seen in a long, long time.

"Gandalf, is that you?" Giselle called in disbelief, sliding off her horse and making her way to where an old man with a long silver beard and a tall pointy hat stood by a chestnut horse and a hooded figure.

The man raised his head and smiled widely, revealing that Giselle was correct in her assumption. She grinned and closed the remaining distance between them and enveloped him in a hug.

"It's been too long." Gandalf told her, patting her back.

"Yes, it has." Giselle replied.

"I trust that you are doing well?" he asked with a slightly raised brow.

"Better than well," Giselle grinned. Gandalf noticed the silver ring on Giselle's finger and his eyebrow rose higher.

"Our paths do not cross for a few decades and you find it fit to go and get yourself betrothed." He said, amused.

Giselle giggled. Gandalf asked, "Am I right in assuming that you head to the Golden Wood?"

"You would be correct in your assumption, my dear grey wizard." Giselle answered.

"I hope you don't mind if we join your company?" Gandalf inquired, gesturing to himself and the hooded figure behind him.

"Of course not, Gandalf." Giselle told him. It was then that Giselle truly saw that Gandalf was not alone. Of course, she had noticed when she first saw his pointy hat but she had not paid the person any mind. Though now she was intrigued to see who would be accompanying Gandalf.

At Gandalf's urgings, the figure stepped forward and lowered the hood shielding the person's face.

Giselle's breath caught in her throat and her eyes stared in disbelief. Her mouth hung open and she opened and closed it a few times but no sound came out. Catching her voice, Giselle asked in a faint, disbelieving voice, "Mom?"

A/N I apologize to every one of my readers for the very long delay. I don't have anything to say except I'll try my hardest to never do that again. And that the reviewers who don't have an email address: your reviews are answered on my profile page! Please review to let me know you all haven't died since the last chapter.