Chapter 96

Happier Plans

Thorin's POV

My little princess was with child and getting married. I couldn't even begin to describe how happy I was. My first granchild.

"~You've been smiling non-stop for almost an hour.~"

I turned to my wife and took her hand.

"~Is it a crime to be happy? You remember how happy I was when I found out you were pregnant. This is my first grandchild. Who knows if or when Joclyn will ever have a child.~"

"Hey!"

Elena chuckled.

"You can't say you're not happy."

"I never said that. I love seeing you happy."

I smiled at her.

"And Eomer is a good man. Eruraviel told me that if she didn't want to be queen that he would understand. That he would never force her to do anything. She chose to stand beside him, to be his queen."

I looked at Eruraviel. Eomer was setting up her bedroll. I nodded and squeezed Elena's hand.

"He is a fine young man. He will be a great king. He comes from a strong family."

She smirked.

"You're talking about how his sister killed the Witch King."

I chuckled.

"It is a most legendary defeat." she said.

I shook my head with a chuckle and we stopped to make camp. I watched Eomer with my daughter. It was like watching Thorin with me when I was pregnant with the twins.

Legolas' POV

Joclyn was laying on her back and looking up at the stars. She was so beautiful. She looked at me and I smiled at her.

"~What are you thinking?~" I asked her.

She moved into my arms and took a deep breath.

"I'm thinking that after my sister's wedding, I want to see Middle-Earth. I want to see more of the Misty Mountains, explore Fangorn, I want to see everything I read about growing up. And then..." she looked up at me. "~Then I want to have a family of our own.~"

I smiled at her, warmth spreading through my heart.

"~That sounds like a wonderful plan.~"

She smiled and I leaned down to kiss her soft lips. She ended up pushing me onto my back. I smiled and ran my fingers through her silky hair. I didn't even realize my hands were moving under her shirt until she stopped me.

"My father would remove your hands if he saw us."

I chuckled.

"I will be needing my hands in the future." I said.

She smiled and then laid her head against my chest and fell asleep.

Eruraviel's POV

We reached Edoras two days later. Eomer helped me off the horse and kissed my lips.

"Welcome home, my queen."

I smiled brightly and we went inside. Joclyn and Legolas disappeared soon after we arrived. I shook my head and went to rest. Eomer was to be crowned king the next morning, and in three days we would be married. My uncle arrived just in time for the coronation. He then said he would be performing my wedding.

"At least one of my nieces is gonna have a proper wedding." he told us.

Tio was very traditional sometimes. He said he didn't like that Joclyn had followed in her mother's footsteps by marrying in a special elven way as he put it. My mother laughed at him and a rather disgusted look came to his face. When I asked him what was wrong he told me I'd be scarred for life if I knew. I let it go after that. He'd walked away mumbling about proposing in a river.

Eomer came to me during the celebration.

"Are you feeling alright?"

I smiled and assured him I was fine before asking him to dance with me.

Thorin's POV

It was strange, seeing my children so grown up. I saw Legolas participating in a drinking game with Gimli. Apparently the young dwarf lost to the elf before. I found this very amusing and decided to go over and watch. Gimli was ahead in the sense that he'd had more to drink. Legolas seemed to be taking his time. After another drink and burp, Gimli passed out.

"Game over again."

The men of Rohan laughed and Joclyn wrapped her arms around her husband. He kissed her and then they both got Gimli up and took him to find a bed.

"Promise me you'll let me tell Gloin."

I smiled at Elena as she came over.

"As you wish."

She laughed and Thrain came over to us.

"Let me guess, Gimli lost again?"

"Your mother is quite excited to tell Gloin."

He started laughing.

"That would be the second time now. Maybe Legolas has some dwarf in him somewhere."

"Don't ever let Thranduil hear you say that." Elena said.

I smiled when I imagined the look on the elf king's face.

"Please let me tell him."

"No."

"Legolas and Joclyn intend to travel after the wedding."

"You're not going with them?"

"Not unless I'm asked. I think they need, what tio calls, alone married people time."

"Your uncle certainly has a way with words. Then since you won't be joining them, I have a special project I need your help with. You and your brother."

"And what kind of project would that be?"

"Well, I had a house built for your sister and the elf prince. What I need from you and your sisters, is help with the décor. I ask you. Because you know your sister better than anyone else."

He smiled.

"This should be fun."

I nodded and then took my beloved wife out to dance.