"She finally surfaces," Tadion chuckled sipping his beer looking at the hand of cards he held.

"What the hell did you do." Thawon spat. His eyes burning holes at Legolas. He shifted uncomfortably. Norin stood firmly, her hand holding Legolas's without fear.

"Calm yourself, Brother," The elf holding Thawon's shoulder said. "Let us sit and we can discuss this like adults."

"I will not 'calm myself', Lugon!" He shrugged the hand off his shoulder and took a step towards the pair. "He swans around like he owns the place, taking whatever the hell he feels like!" He jabbed Legolas's chest, squaring up to the taller elf. "She's already married and Far is laying in a bed with only one leg and barely his life and he comes along and sweeps her up like Far never existed!"

"That's not ... I" Legolas flustered over his words. Norin still stood silently at his side.

"If you believed that sham, you're dumber than I took you for." Tadion muttered chucking some cards on the table. The elf next to him had also returned to their game. "Please, do sit. He'll tire himself eventually." Norin chuckled and sat with her brothers, her hand still wrapped in Legolas's, who needed a little more encouragement to join them with Thawon still being held by his brother.

"Honestly," the elf playing cards with Tadion sighed. "The more attention you give him, the braver he'll feel." He dealt out four hands of cards, Tadion and Norin both taking a hand with the forth being pushed towards the seat next to Norin.

"House rules," Tadion smiled, almost sweetly. But Legolas wasn't fooled - he'd seen that look on Norin's face before. It relaxed him, much to his surprise.

As the night wore on, games were played - and lost - ale was consumed and food devoured. The hobbits began cheerful chanting and singing, pulling unsuspecting members of society into dances and jokes. Norin gave into Pippin's quarter hourly requests for a dance, sighing as she laid down her cards.

"Don't let them cheat," she said confidently before leaving a chaste kiss on Legolas's cheek.

"Tsk," muttered Lugon. "There's only one person at this table who cheats."

"And they're just about to leave," Tadion nodded. Norin waved her hand at them and walked off with the hobbits, shaking her head. "So, My Lord, or can I call you brother?" Legolas choked slightly on the ale he'd just begun to drink. Three of the brothers shared a small laugh, Thawon glared daggers at his brother.

"If you would like," Legolas said carefully eyeing Thawon.

"What are your intentions with her?" Thawon spat.

"Now, now," Rimon answered tapping the deck of cards on the table. "Play nice, he's not used to our ways yet."

"He bedded Norin," Lugon laughed. "Thawon's a pussy cat compared."

"You don't have the highest of opinions of my wife, do you?" Legolas's opinions of the brothers began to sour again. This time, he was allowed, warranted, his anger.

"We do," Tadion cut in before the others could continue. "She is a fantastic warrior, she's funny and caring with a heart of gold, somewhere under it all. However, she has a temper, a bad attitude and she hasn't a diplomatic bone in her body. She can make life very difficult, but at the same time completely amazing."

"In short -" Lugon finished. "She's an absolute nightmare. But you know all about that don't you?"

"I..." Legolas didn't know what to say.

"What. Are. Your. Intentions?" Thawon gritted his teeth.

"I love her." Legolas met his eyes. Familiar blue hitting grey. "I have since I was a child."

"You gave him reason."

"I know that now." Legolas felt shame. His actions caused Norin a lifetime of pain that couldn't be taken away. He'd seen the scars on her feet and ankles - and plenty more to go with them - he knew what she'd been through. "Had I know what would come of her, I would never have left her in his reach."

"Even though you came for a princess and was met with a half breed slave to the guard?" Rimon laid Legolas's mistake on the table. "Would you have loved her as you say, if you'd know what and who she was as a child?"

"I didn't make a conscious decision to love her, it just happened." Legolas began to study the wood grain of the table. "I didn't leave because she wasn't a princess, I left because I thought everything had been a lie, a game, I suppose. I thought I had imagined the affection in her words. I didn't think for a moment that he could do something like that to her."

"He is quite something," Tadion nodded. "We all bare the marks of his 'love'."

"Norin worst of all." Rimon agreed.

"Can she really be that disobedient?" The brothers looked uncomfortably between themselves.

"Yes, and no." Tadion finally answered.

"She is defiant to a point," Rimon continued. "Though it was more the fact that her breathing irked our father."

"Ardis's body, quite obviously, cannot stand the torment The Lord prefers. Norin's birth weakened our mother to the point of death." Tadion nodded sadly. "She took away his 'play thing' and he's been punishing her ever since." The was a heavy silence across the table as another hand of cards were dealt. Legolas looked over at his wife. To watch her dancing and laughing with the hobbits, it would be easy to assume she was like every other elleth in the land. Forever cherished, loved and wanted from the moment she was conceived. He vowed to himself in that moment, that would be all she knew from then on.

Legolas excused himself from the game, this was met with nods and a low growl from Thawon. She didn't turn, or tense, as he slipped a hand around her fine waist while she laughed and dance with the Hobbits, one holding either of her hands. She leaned into him slightly, still laughing and dancing with the hobbits. Legolas felt his own face breaking into a smile. He'd never paid the hobbits much attention, they were loud and uncoordinated. But he admitted, in that moment, he'd misjudged his opinion that they were, mostly, a liability and nothing more. They were peaceful folk, who clearly enjoyed music, food and wine and had no place in war. Though they'd obviously quickly learnt how to see the light in the darkest of hours.

"Gi melin." He whispered softly against her vibrant hair. She hummed slightly and returned his sentiments, although louder. "May I steal the Princess?" Legolas aimed at the two hobbits, who stopped their dancing, looked between each other and departed. His wife turned in his arms and, with a small irritated sigh, looped her arms around his neck.

"I do wish you wouldn't call me that." She tutted. Legolas untangled one of her hands from behind his neck and pulled her into the more formal dancing pose he was used to.

"But it is your title." He was confused. "I am a Prince, we are married, it is custom that you take my title." Norin rolled her eyes and dropped her head against Legolas's broader chest.

"We are. But I'm a half breed." She sighed. "Your father isn't going to take any of this well in the first place, me taking a title I don't have the pedigree for will tip him over," Legolas chuckled.

"Adar was rather fond of you," He admitted.

"He doesn't know me."

"No, but he was impressed by you." Legolas explained. "When I came to the mountain, your strength and drive -"

"You mean stubbornness?"

"Yes, I suppose," He nodded. "He commented on it once. How he wouldn't have minded if I'd insisted on bringing the 'little fire' home." She laughed.

"He'd have quickly found me insufferable, I hear he and I are rather fond of the same wine," She looked up at him, cheek and mischief in her eyes. "How would we have ever decided who gets access to his stores?" Legolas chuckled at the idea. One way or another, they'd have to settle that argument soon. He smiled as he kissed her lightly.

"I've heard from some of the elves that he will be arriving soon."

"Here?" Legolas nodded and held her small frame tighter against him. He didn't want to share her yet.

"He wants to wish the new king well on his coronation." Norin nodded, resting her head against Legolas again.

"I supposed I'll have to wear some fancy gown for the ceremony then, if you're father's here." Legolas chuckled. She'd only worn the dress today because it was all the maids had provided her. She'd sulked and promised she'd find some breeches over the next few days instead.

"I had hoped you'd find them more comfortable." He admitted in a low voice, just audible to her over the noise of the pub.

"Oh?"

"I have been considering how much easier it will be to enjoy your body," Legolas let the hand on her waist drop slightly and pinched the fabric waterfalling from her hips. "When all that's needed is to find a dark corner." He felt how she melted against him. How her hands gripped him tighter for a moment.

"You're insatiable," She sighed looking up at him with large blue eyes filled with lust.

"Only where you're concerned, my darling." She giggled and slapped his chest.

"Well look at you, Sister!" A voice sounded over the din of the pub. She turned to the voice, and Legolas spied an ellon making his way through the crowd to them. He was taller than some of her brothers, Tadion's height perhaps? His dark hair was plaited back behind his ears in travelling braids and his clothes mirrored that of the brothers.

"Saewon!" She called out and ran to him, her arms looping his neck and he embraced her in one arm, spinning them both around.

"A dress? Who domesticated you then?" He laughed. Their relationship seemed considerably less formal than some of the others did. He was closer to Norin in a way that even Thawon wasn't.

"Curse of war," She shook her head. Then turned back to Legolas. "Brother, meet my husband." Saewon stood taller, trying to match Legolas's height as his eyes shifted from joyful to hatred.

"Husband?" He looked Legolas up and down, standing protectively at his sister's side. "What ever possessed you to bed this pen-ind idiot?"

"You will play nice," She tutted slapping his chest. "Or I'll set the dwarf on you." Legolas chuckled at her threat. "The boys are that way, Thawon's sulking-"

"What else is new?"

"And Rimon's in some serious debt to Tadion."

"Oh, well, that is new." Saewon looked serious. "Maybe fatherhood has changed him."

"Did I hear that Thalel is with child?" Norin turned fully to her brother. A warm smile played on his lips as he nodded confirmation. Norin slapped him.

"Ouch?"

"What are you doing here then!" She scolded, hands on her hips.

"Someone has to keep you vexatious lot in check." He muttered lightly and waved his way off to join the ellyn at the table who greeted him, mostly, joyously.

"He likes you," She said quietly, a small smile on her lips as she caught herself in her husband's arms.

"Really?" Legolas scoffed. "I'm not sure we were in the same conversation."

"He didn't insult you, argue with you or stab you," She shrugged. Legolas brought her into his arms again.

"Shall we go for a walk?" Legolas hummed. He had questions burning in his mind now.