"A song! A song my Lord! Give us another!" Legolas walked out into the cool night air, leaving the sounds of laughter and singing behind him. The moon was waxing full and the cloudless night had given her full leave to color the lawn brilliantly. He turned his eyes towards the palace and thought back to earlier that afternoon, when that messenger had run up. What had he said to Araorë?
{He is awake…come quickly? No…no she was awake…she.}
"My Lord?" Carandoliel emerged from the tent as well, cloaked in a burgundy cape lined in soft fur. She waited behind Legolas, not wanting to disturb his privacy if he so desired it.
"Yes Carandoliel? Has the singing begun again?" She walked up to his side and rested her head upon his shoulder; he in turn wrapped an arm about her shoulders, drawing her body closer to his own. Carandoliel looked up at the sky and fixed her gaze upon the milky white moon.
"Of course my Lord. We have had so little to celebrate I fear your father will have quite a sight to greet his eyes upon the morning. It is so wonderful for your people to see you alive." Legolas smiled and turned his face down towards hers. She was no longer watching the moon in the sky, but in his eyes.
"Are they the only ones so pleased to see me?" He leaned down and kissed her lightly, feeling her lips turn up into a smile as he did so.
"No my Lord. Not the only ones." He smiled as well, but it quickly faded as he felt his eyes being dragged back towards the eastern wing. Carandoliel nestled tightly into his shoulder and followed his gaze.
"Why are you allowing that to trouble you on such a happy night?" Her intuition had always amused Legolas as it did now and he thought to answer her honestly but found that even he could not place his finger upon what was bothering him. The creases in his forehead deepened as he tried to gather his thoughts and remember all that had happened at the top of the stairs.
"There was something…something that I missed. Something was wrong with the way that servant appeared." Then suddenly, a small flicker was fanned into a flame in the recesses of his mind and he realized what was troubling him.
"He was holding his side." Legolas spoke the words as though he had just discovered the key linchpin in a seemingly perfect story. Carandoliel felt like smiling at his foolishness but decided against it and spoke as seriously as she could.
"He had been running, his side was hurting because he could not breathe fast enough…nothing more." At this Legolas pushed away from her slightly and placed his hand upon her chest just below her left breast.
"You breathe from here, correct?" Carandoliel felt her face flush hot at his touch and tried to remove his hand to his stubborn refusal as he repeated his question.
"Yes of course!" She exclaimed exasperatedly, hoping no one was watching their little scene. He slid his hand down her side until it rested just above her hips and nearly touched the small of her back.
"Then why was he holding his side here? Unless…" He let his hand drop and fell into silence. Carandoliel's own idea was kindled as she put her hand where Legolas had laid his own.
"Unless he was hurt…really hurt. Like a cut or a whelp…" She spoke with uncertainty, for although it solved the riddle of Legolas' euphoria, it did little to shine any light upon the larger problem.
"I realized as much as well…but what could they be keeping? An animal? If so, why was my father so reluctant to speak about it?" His head began to ache and he realized that the night of celebrating was quickly turning to the morn. Dismissing the thoughts for a later time he offered Carandoliel his arm and escorted her into the palace.
Upon entering, thoughts of their earlier conversation slipped from his mind and he found himself marveling at Carandoliel's beauty in the soft candlelight. Her eyes captured the orange glow inside of the palace and drew him closer towards her.
"Do you love me?" The question caught her off guard and for a heavy moment there was silence as she fixed her intense green eyes upon him.
"Without question my Lord."
"Enough love to…last…for all time?" He reached down and picked up her small hand, cupping it within his own. Her fingers were soft against his calloused skin and for a moment he thought to withdraw his hand, but she wrapped her fingers through his and held them tightly.
"My love is constant and never-changing. I shall love you until the seas and mountains are no more." She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed his rough and tired hands with her warm lips.
"Then you do not regret your choice?" His insecurity was set to ease the moment she looked into his eyes. She need not answer, instead she tucked herself once again against his shoulder and together they made their way towards their bedchamber.