As they entered their chambers, Thranduil stopped abruptly. Beside his desk stood the most beautiful chair he had ever seen. He looked at his wife in astonishment. Ari reached for his arm and almost towed him, urging him to sit on the chair. Thranduil did so, deeply impressed by the beauty and the comfort of the chair. He looked up at his wife before he pulled her onto his lap, claiming her lips in a passionate kiss that left her breathless. When he broke their kiss, his eyes wandered over her face for a few silent moments.
"I recognize that this is your work, my love. I am deeply touched by your effort to please me. This chair is too beautiful to sit on."
Ari smiled at him lovingly. "I had always wished to repay you for your hospitality. That's why I made it. Fearing you might reject this gift otherwise, I decided to give it to you on our wedding day - as a gift," she added. "I am glad that you have accepted it."
Thranduil cupped her face in his hands. "My beloved wife… my queen," he whispered, "I could never reject a gift of yours, especially when it was made with love and devotion by your own hands. When did you find time to do this?" he asked, reaching for her hands to caress them.
"I have more than enough time since my husband does not have enough time for me during the day," she explained pouting. "His royal duties seem to consume most of his precious time, therefore leaving his wife bereft of his pleasant presence."
"Pleasant?" he asked with an air of fake disbelief.
"Yes, very pleasant," she breathed.
"I am sorry," Thranduil said between kisses.
"Apology accepted," she murmured against his lips.
Ari smiled and tried to get up, but Thranduil held her back. "I also have a small gift for you. It is not comparable to yours, though."
He got up, set her on her feet and walked over to his wardrobe. Thranduil stepped in and when he came back into the chamber, he was holding something behind his back. "When I met you in Dale, you had just injured your hand while working on a stool. The next day I visited you again, when you had finished working on it. I wondered about your words that day. You had said, 'May the stool last their kisses'. When I finally figured out what those words meant, I thought this might be a suitable present for our wedding."
Thranduil lowered his head and suddenly seemed uncertain but Ari smiled.
"My wedding gift is a stool?"
He nodded without looking into her face. Thranduil felt ashamed for her gift was a very personal gift, crafted by her own hands. His gift, on the other side, had been made by one of his carpenters. Even though he had liked his idea in the beginning, he was in doubt now. Ari walked up to him and reached behind him, grabbing the stool. She placed it on the floor and climbed on it. This was the first time that their eyes were on the same level while they were both standing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with passion. He could not help but kiss her back with the same yearning.
When Ari managed to free her lips from his, she grinned. "I have given you a gift on which you can sit. But you have given me something much more precious. It assists me to be closer to you. May it last our kisses."
He took her by the hand and led her straight into the bathroom. A bath had been prepared by Hurwen and Thranduil began to carefully undress his tired wife. He lowered her into the warm water before he began to undress himself. Ari lay back and closed her eyes. She breathed in the calming scent of the fragrant water and the floating flowers and within moments her body felt light and relaxed.
When Thranduil joined her, he settled behind her and she leaned comfortably against his strong body. He held her close and both of them simply enjoyed the closeness of their fëa's, their hearts and bodies. They stayed there until the water began to cool off. Thranduil helped Ari out of the bathtub and dressed her in a long, silk nightdress. He wound a soft cloth around his waist before he carried her to their bed, placed her onto the soft mattress and lay down next to her. Ari snuggled up to him while he held her close.
Thranduil was relieved. She was finally his wife in all respects. As her breath became even and she fell asleep, Thranduil turned to lie on his side to get a better view of her. She looked beautiful and peaceful. He kissed first her lips and then her brow and decided to let her sleep as much as possible. Later they would have plenty of time to make love.
Ari stirred in her sleep. Thranduil was gently caressing her face, brushing his lips over her cheeks.
"Hmmm," she hummed. "I wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning."
Thranduil chuckled. "I see, but it is not morning. It's nightfall."
Ari opened her eyes in surprise. Thranduil's face hovered above hers and he kissed her softly.
"I did not want to wake you, but Elrond said you have to eat something," he explained in a regretful voice.
Ari sat up and looked over to the table. She was indeed very hungry. Thranduil walked over and carried the tray with food back to the bed. He began to feed her and Ari was amazed at the food's taste.
"What is this?" she asked between bites.
Thranduil tasted the food, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Don't ask me. I have no idea. Elrond told me that Galadriel had it cooked it for you. It tastes quite unusual."
Ari finished her meal with a contented yawn. Thranduil shoved the tray away and slowly lowered his wife onto the bed. Remembering Elrond's words that he should be careful and gentle with her, he claimed her lips in a soft kiss while he slowly began to remove her night dress. He circled her belly button with his tongue and kissed it gently. Ari giggled at his touch and wriggled under his body. He trailed kisses over her tummy until he reached the underside of her breasts, while he massaged her nipples with his fingers. She inhaled deeply as she enjoyed his attention to the fullest, a warm sense of freedom and peacefulness engulfing her being. When he began to lick and suck on her nipples, she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him gently upwards. Thranduil kissed her lips, while stroking her inner thighs.
His hand, warm and teasing, slid to her entrance and two slender fingers sought their way into her core, playfully searching for her soft spot. His tongue requested entrance into her mouth, brushing over the seam of her luscious lips and Ari eagerly parted them, breathing in his masculine scent, relishing his humming breath against her skin, feeling herself melt under the intoxicating warmth of his imposing body. He explored her mouth as if he had never kissed her before, his nimble fingers still massaging her soft spot. As she arched her back, drowning in desire, her erect nipples brushed his chest, making them both moan out at this sensation. Thranduil removed his fingers from her core and began to stroke her pearl. He deepened their kiss and sucked her tongue into his mouth, demanding her full surrender.
Ari pulled her tongue out of his mouth to breathe excitedly. "Make love to me, my king." She pulled his strong body onto hers, shivering in anticipation.
Thranduil smiled at his wife. "My love, we are married now. Call me Thranduil when we are alone."
Ari smiled blissfully. "And you call me Ari whenever you desire. And please, make love to me, Thranduil."
He kissed her brow. "Your wish is my command, my love."
With that he entered her with a slow and careful motion. He did not want to weaken her tonight. Thranduil pushed his full length into her and began to move. Ari wrapped her arms around his torso and tried to pull him even closer. When she began to move her hips, Thranduil halted. He looked deep into her eyes.
"Do not move, my beloved. I will do the work and you just relax and enjoy."
Ari nodded and closed her eyes, feeling his strength as he began to quicken his pace. A sheen of sweat covered his face and the first droplet landed on Ari's face. Her eyelids fluttered open and watched her husband in admiration. He always looked so handsome, under any circumstances, she thought. She raised her head to place soft kisses along his collarbone and up his neck, where she stopped to lick the vein that had now become clearly visible. Sucking and nibbling at his skin, tasting his musky and salty sweat, her warm lips and tongue spread shivering waves of pleasure all over his body. Thranduil moaned out and, driven by uncontrolled desire, he thrust harder and faster into her, forgetting how fragile she still was. Swept away by his entire being, Ari grabbed his butt, pushing him in further.
Thranduil buried his face between her head and the pillow as he breathlessly reached his peak. He slowed down and when he had spilled all of his seed into her womb, he slowly leaned over. Smiling impishly, he swiftly buried his face between her thighs. He kissed her folds softly, teasingly, and then, slowly, voluptuously, he started to lick her sensitive slick flesh. Ari shut her eyes again and moaned out when he began to circle her pearl with his hot tongue. He entered her with two fingers and found her soft spot once again. Thranduil massaged the tender spot and sucked her pearl simultaneously to make sure that his wife would soon reach her peak as well. Ari buried her face under her arms when shuddering orgasm claimed her body. Yet Thranduil did not let go of her pearl until the waves of pleasure had ebbed away. Satisfied, he lay down next to his exhausted wife.
"Your seed was very hot tonight. It upsets my womb," said Ari before she yawned.
Thranduil smiled. "We had not made love for a few months, my beloved. You will soon get used to it again."
Seeing the fine layer of sweat upon her body, he rose quickly. "My love, I will bring you some water. Please, wait a moment." He walked over to the table and filled a cup with water. But when he returned to his wife he noticed that she had already fallen asleep. Thranduil shook her shoulder gently until her eyes fluttered open.
"My love, I want you to drink something before you sleep," he said and helped her to sit up, before he held the cup to her lips, making sure that she drank enough.
"There is something else that I wanted to show you. Please make yourself comfortable and close your eyes," he said with a mysterious tone in his voice.
Ari did as she was told. She heard Thranduil leaving the bed. She fought back sleep and was glad when he returned quickly. Thranduil murmured some Sindarin words and after a moment of silence, he fixed his glittering eyes on her face.
"My beloved wife, there is something I have wanted to show you for a long time. However, I had decided to do it only after we would have been officially wed. It is elven magic. You may open your eyes now."
Ari opened her eyes and saw Thranduil's excited face hovering above hers.
She sighed smiling. "You are indeed very magical, my husband. But I must admit that I have seen you before."
Thranduil claimed her lips in a tender kiss before he moved out of her sight to lie down next to her, his arm rested above her head, his fingers entwined in her golden locks on the soft pillow. Ari gasped in wonder at the stunning beauty she beheld. A teardrop escaped her eye and for a few moments she remained still, speechless. Slowly, she reached for his hand and clasped it, squeezing it gently. Above her, where there had been the wooden ceiling of their bed, now hung the vast, starry sky, the same stars that shone above Mirkwood forest. She turned her head and kissed Thranduil in gratitude. Thranduil wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him as he kissed the temple of her head.
"The stars will remain above us all night, my love."
They continued to lie on their backs in each other's embrace and Ari fell into a deep, peaceful slumber while gazing at the beautiful starry sky above them.
A heavy feeling in her body made her awakening uncomfortable. Ari groaned and stirred, unable to lessen effect of the sensation. When she finally managed to open her eyes, she saw Thranduil sitting by her side. His eyes looked reddish and it was then that she noticed that a tear was flowing down his cheek. She tried to sit up, but he held her down with a gentle but firm hand.
"Shhh, my love, please lie down. You must rest," he whispered.
Ari furrowed her eyebrows. "Why are you crying?" Her voice was filled with concern. "Has anything bad happened?"
Thranduil shook his head, "No, my love. Something has indeed happened, but it is of a good nature."
Ari was still concerned. "But why are you crying, then?"
"My tears are tears of joy," he explained. "You are with child."
Ari's heart skipped a beat at his words.
"I am with child? Does this mean… I am pregnant?" she asked in total disbelief.
Thranduil nodded and smiled at her. Ari gently touched her belly before she pulled him down toward her and kissed him, while tears began to escape her eyes. He sat up and began to stroke her belly with deep affection.
"How can you be sure of that?" she asked.
Thranduil smiled and eyed her with great affection. "Elves can sense the presence of a fëa immediately. Especially when they are experienced. This fëa was not here last night. But I could sense its presence during the early morning hours. We will become parents."
Ari closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Her body did still feel heavy and she felt very tired. She snuggled deeper into the sheets and tried to relax. Thranduil gently placed her hands on her belly.
"Try to feel it, my love."
Ari looked at him in surprise. "How am I supposed to feel it? I am no elf."
"I will explain what you have to do. Now do as I say, close your eyes and breathe deeply."
He watched her intently until he sensed that she was peaceful enough. "Now imagine how your breath is entering your body, like a golden, gentle summer breeze that circulates within your womb. Each time you inhale, your breath will travel deeper. Breathe... breathe... are you there?"
Ari nodded slightly.
"Now focus your attention on your womb and just keep breathing. Yes... yes, that is good. And now send your heartbeat to that place. Do not think about it, just send it there. When your heartbeat reaches your womb, let it vibrate there."
Thranduil sat next to his wife and waited for her reaction. Ari just lay there and did as he had instructed her. She lay motionless and continued to breathe peacefully. After a while, Thranduil noticed that tears were streaming down her cheeks. A broad smile appeared on her face and she opened her eyes. She looked up at her husband, her emerald green eyes sparkling like gems.
"I can feel it. I can feel it inside me. There is life."
Thranduil leaned down and kissed her again. He cupped her face in his hands and smiled broadly.
"This is our child".
They stayed together in bed until midday, snuggling up and caressing each other, relishing this special moment together. A sudden knock on the door made them look up.
The door opened and Hurwen peeked in. She bowed to them. "My king, my queen, shall I prepare a bath?"
"Yes," replied Thranduil and turned to Ari.
"I wish to see Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel. I will bring them this auspicious news and return to you soon."
Before he left, Thranduil walked into the bathroom where Hurwen prepared the bath for his wife and spoke to her in a low voice. "Take care of my wife. When she has finished bathing, make sure that she returns to bed and rests."
Hurwen nodded and Thranduil left them. He needed to speak with Elrond and Galadriel, but first he would find Legolas and Galion.