A/N: Hi all, I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to re-read what I had written and perfect it. But here it is, the chapter that you all wanted, though there is one more chapter and I plan to post that too. So, once again sorry for the delay and enjoy this next chapter.











Disclaimer: Tolkien's mind created it, I am trying to manipulate it.





Chapter 48: Announcement

When they finally returned to the woods of Eryn Lasgalen, Legolas was spotted well before they made it near the dwelling. Messages of welcome were called down from the trees to Legolas while other messages were sent back to the dwelling to inform the King that his son had arrived. So, when the two weary travelers arrived, King Thranduil was at the stables to greet them.

"Celebfaer, I see you found my son and rescued him from the Dwarf." Thranduil said once they were dismounted and standing in front of him.

"Father I told you Gimli is an Elf-friend, in high favour of the Lady of the Wood."

"Just because he is in favour of the Lady does not mean I have to like him." The King responded matter-of-factly and Celebfaer tried to hide her smile.

Legolas just rolled his eyes then offered his arm to Celebfaer. "My Lady?" He said and she smiled at him, then threaded her arm through his and let herself be led through the kingdom on the arm of Legolas to the King's study, while Thranduil followed them wondering what was going on.

Once they were in the King's study, Thranduil sat in his normal seat behind the desk, while Legolas waited for Celebfaer to be seated before he turned to address his father.

"Father I wish to tell you something that may seem a little odd, even odder than my friendship with Elf-friend Gimli the Dwarf, and I hope you will not exile me or disown me." Legolas said looking straight into his father's gaze, not one bit ashamed of what he was about to say. Thranduil frowned at his son, wondering if he was ill.

"Continue Legolas, you have never been one to avoid a topic and I doubt you wish to start now." The King replied looking to Celebfaer, who was looking at her lap, a frown on her face and wondering what Legolas was about to say.

"I have fallen in love." Legolas said simply and the King nodded as though he had suspected as much, but Celebfaer looked up at Legolas in surprise.

"About time! I only had to wait almost 3000 years. I need someone to take over the throne and it may as well be you." Thranduil said and then his eyes slid to Celebfaer still sitting in the chair, looking at Legolas with the same shocked expression, before his eyes went back to where his son was standing. "Now, don't be shy, who is the lucky maiden?"

"Celebfaer, second-daughter of the Queen Asura, Queen of the Fairies." He said bowing his head slightly and the King nodded to Legolas, as Celebfaer looked at Legolas, this time with happiness and love written all over her face.

"I believe I have known since I saw your reaction to her the day she first arrived in Eryn Lasgalen." Thranduil said with a sigh. "You love one of another race." He said almost sadly but Legolas stood his ground and looked his father directly in the eyes.

"I do father. And I will not hide her for any reason. She is the one I love and we will not hide our love any longer." Legolas said proudly and the King nodded then smiled broadly.

"You shall not have to Legolas. There is no law against it, so I approve of this and bid that in due time you shall be wedded and then may you one day take the throne." Thranduil said, then he walked over to where Legolas was standing, then taking his son's hand, he placed it in Celebfaer's and smiled at the two of them. "I am glad, for Celebfaer has earned my respect and is worthy of you." He said, before walking back to one of the chairs in the room and sitting down. "My son, I grow tired and I wish to travel to the west, so you shall have to govern Eryn Lasgalen." He added and Legolas bowed to his father.

"I shall try my best in your absence to govern and rule Eryn Lasgalen forest, but you are not yet absent and until you are I shall stay in my place as heir." He said and his father smiled at him again.

"Now, my son, I wish to talk to you in private, so if you don't mind showing Celebfaer to her rooms, we can talk after you come back." Thranduil said and Legolas nodded, but then Thranduil turned to Celebfaer a smile on his face. "You are worthy of my sons love Celebfaer and I wish you well in your years with him." Thranduil said and then Legolas escorted her to her rooms.

"Legolas........" She said looking up into his eyes when they got there, but he shook his head and put his fingers to her lips, silencing her.

"I do not want to hide you anymore Celebfaer." Legolas said, then he kissed her.

When they broke off, Celebfaer looked up at him once more. "I love you Legolas Greenleaf, of Mirkwood forest." She said. "And you had better get back to your father, for he is waiting and a King is never one to be kept waiting. Besides, I shall be here when you are finished."

"I shall be back soon melamin." He said then he turned and walked from the room.

***************************

The next few years flew past, and though the kingdom was made aware that Legolas had finally chosen a bride, there was no talk of an actual wedding yet. The two were merely content to wonder around Eryn Lasgalen, when Legolas was not needed to help his father, so oblivious to everything else that they could easily be surprised by the guards or anyone else that approached them.

Eventually after 9 years Thranduil grew impatient, so he sent one of his servants to seek out Legolas with a request for Legolas to come to his study.

Legolas and Celebfaer were sitting, in their favourite spot. Celebfaer was talking softly to Legolas, and although he was listening, he was also threading flowers through the braids he had put in her hair, amazed that she had not pulled the braids out yet.

"The braids suit your hair melamin." He said softly when she paused in what she was saying and Celebfaer just sighed.

"I have told you many times Legolas and I tire of telling you. I am no Elf, and braids are customary for Elves, not Fairies."

"Then, will you at least tell me the fashion of the Fairies so that I may be able to do your hair that way instead?" He asked, a soft smile on his face. He knew what her answer would be; it was always the same every time they had this argument.

But this time, he did not get to hear her response, because one of his father's servants approached them.

"My Lord, the King requests your presence." The servant said and Legolas nodded, his face becoming serious and he let go of Celebfaer's hair.

"Where is he?"

"In his highness' study, my Lord." The servant responded with a bow.

Legolas assumed it was urgent, because the whole kingdom knew that late afternoons was the only time in the day that he could spend time with his future wife. And because of this many of the Elves did not disturb them unless it was absolutely necessary. So, leaving Celebfaer sitting where she was, looking into the water with a content smile on her face, Legolas rushed off to his father's study.

"Legolas." Thranduil said in a commanding tone when Legolas entered the room. "Sit down."

"You requested my presence." Legolas replied once he was seated, looking at his father questioningly.

"Legolas, nine years have passed since you arrived back in Eryn Lasgalen, with Celebfaer and told me that she was to be your bride, however, as yet I have not heard any talk of a wedding. The people of Eryn Lasgalen get weary as do I and I wish to sail to Valinor soon." He said a touch of anger flashing in his eyes and Legolas gave a start.

He had not been expecting this. "Father......." Legolas started, but he could not find anything to say to his father. He had been so happy just seeing Celebfaer and spending time with her that everything else left his mind when he was with her. He had known that they needed to discuss plans for the wedding, but every time she was near him, he could not even think straight anymore and all he could think about was her. "..... we have not yet discussed it." He said truthfully and Thranduil sighed.

"Have you already........?" The King started, cocking an eyebrow at his son in question, but Legolas' outburst stopped his words.

"Father, I wish to wed Celebfaer the proper way, and I shall not take her before that day has come." Legolas said, outraged, but using a commanding tone. Thranduil was a little surprised at the power behind his son's voice and he knew that Legolas would one day make a good king.

"Legolas, if you have not decided when within the next month, I shall decide for you." The King said firmly, then he turned and walked from the room.

So, Legolas rushed back to the gardens to find that Celebfaer was still sitting there.

She seemed to be oblivious to her surroundings, but when Legolas walked closer, she turned and looked up at him, then smiled. The flowers that he had put in her hair were still there, but the braids he had done, were not. The braids never lasted longer than a few minutes anyway and this time she had placed the flowers in her hair in a way that he had not seen before. She always claimed whenever he braided her hair that because she was not an Elf, she was not worthy of braids that in her opinion were the mark of Elves.

Legolas realised then that the reason they had not discussed it was because he did not know if she would accept an Elvish wedding with Elvish terms of wedlock. But everyday before his own eyes she became more Elvish in her ways and manner. It had gotten to the point where Legolas looked at her and except for the wings that clearly showed now, and her un-pointed ears, she looked exactly like an Elf.

"What did your father say?" Celebfaer asked innocently, and Legolas smiled at her, then came to sit next to her nuzzling her neck for a few minutes, making her laugh before he answered.

"He wants us to decide on a day that we shall be wedded." He said, not looking up from her neck, but before he could go back to what he was doing, she pulled back and forced him to look her in the eyes.

"An Elvish wedding?" She asked uncertain and scared all of a sudden and Legolas nodded, slowly.

"Melamin, I love you with every piece of my soul, but if you do not wish for an Elvish wedding, we could......." He started but she shook her head.

"No. Legolas, your father is right. It matters not to me what the wedding is, as long as it is you that I wed." She said, the smile returning to her face and Legolas smiled back at her.

"Thank you." He said, then he started to braid the end of her hair again, but she shook her head and stopped him.

"Enough of that. We have some planning to do." She said, then she fluttered her wings, lifting herself off the ground slightly, before she came back to him, and he hugged her. He was so used to seeing her use her wings that he no longer even battered an eyelid when she did it though most of the other Elves did.

"I love you, melamin." He said and she smiled.

"And I love you, melamin." She replied. The brief silence that followed was sweet as they were willing to stay wrapped in each others arms forever. But they could not stay like that for very long and they both knew it.

"How long do you think it will take for me to learn all the things that there are to learn about an Elvish wedding?" Celebfaer asked eventually and Legolas laughed.

"I shall teach you myself as we plan it." He said and then he silenced her with a finger to her lips so that she could not protest. "Shhh." He said, then he kissed her again.

So, they set a date and as soon as they decided on a date - early in the next spring - they started planing the wedding. As each plan was made, Legolas taught Celebfaer the traditions behind each part of the wedding. There were not many, but the worst one that Celebfaer argued with Legolas the most about was the fact that the night before their wedding, the bride and groom were supposed to braid each other's hair, in true Elven fashion, then leave it like that for the wedding itself.

"Legolas, I cannot allow this!" She said when she first heard it but Legolas shook his head.

"It must be done and you are not allowed to remove the braids until three months after we are wedded." He said and she shook her head.

"I cannot do it!" She said and he laughed.

"Braids look good in your hair. And it is custom." He whispered as he hugged her and nibbled on the top of her ear.

"Only if I have to." She said weakening slightly and he laughed, then kissed her.

"Thank you." He said then he continued on with the teaching, but it was not the end of the arguments, particularly about the braids.

They argued about most things, mainly because Legolas wanted the wedding to be a completely traditional Elvish wedding, and some of the traditional Elvish things that they had to do, Celebfaer would disagree to. Elves were not ones for simple things; everything that they did was extravagant and beautiful, and weddings were no exceptions. So there were many arguments between Legolas and Celebfaer, and although they tried to keep them private there were some instances when they became public.

For example, the rings had to have three white gems embedded into them, to symbolise the silmarils, most precious of all gems to the Elves. Then added to that, in tradition of Eryn Lasgalen there needed to be two emeralds, then another gem of the bride and groom's choice. The ring had to be embedded in gold with intricate designs for the arrangement of the gems. Legolas and Celebfaer were at the ring-marker's stall going over the designs that he had done for the rings when one such argument took place.

Celebfaer looked at the design of past rings, then the design of the rings for her and Legolas and shook her head. The gold band of their rings was all twisted so that it looked like golden rope, but Legolas' gems were in different places in the band to where hers were. On Legolas' ring the gems were to be interwoven between the gold string like twists not to mention that they were to be smaller gems. But Celebfaer's ring had the gems arranged into a flower-like pattern on the top, and the same style gold band as the one planned for Legolas but her ring was to have small diamonds scattered throughout the gold twists.

"Legolas, we cannot." Celebfaer said once the ring-maker had showed them the designs.

"We must." He said, smiling and kissed her on the neck. All the Elves in the kingdom were now used to their public shows of affection and Legolas knew that if he kissed her on the neck she would normally agree with anything he said. "The last gem, we can pick together, but the three white and the two green, must stay." He said, smiling at the plan for the rings.

"Legolas, can I not get a ring similar to yours?" She asked and he shook his head. She was weakening, but Legolas could tell from her stubbornness that this was one issue that she would not be easily persuaded with.

"Celebfaer, the Queen must have an ornate wedding ring for it goes to the firstborn daughter when you travel over the sea and the firstborn daughter wears it around her neck on a chain until she is wedded." He said without thinking and saying it only because she wished to learn the traditions of the Elves.

Celebfaer looked at Legolas as soon as he had said it; not sure to be shocked about having a daughter or not being able to follow Legolas once he departed over the sea. Eventually she looked away from Legolas' gaze a sad look on her face.

"My daughter shall never inherit it." She said sadly then, before she got up and walked away from the ring-maker's store.

Cursing himself for his foolishness, Legolas apologised to the ring-maker then ran off after her, leaving the ring-maker wondering what was wrong and why she had reacted so strangely. Many of the Elves assumed that because Celebfaer was to wed Legolas, that she would travel to Valinor with him once he decided to depart, but only she and Legolas knew any different.

Legolas found Celebfaer not long after, sitting beside a small garden bed, looking at the flowers as though she had never seen them before.

"Celebfaer......." Legolas started, a little shocked at where she was, but Celebfaer silenced him by raising her hand.

"What is this? I have never seen it before." She said looking at the flower amazed at its beauty and Legolas sighed sadly.

"It is the garden my father built for my mother once she left us." He said and Celebfaer turned around to look at him. "It is a tradition that the King builds a garden worthy of his Queen once she departs to the west or if she dies." He added, looking at the flowers and not at Celebfaer.

"You have no sisters Legolas. Did your mother take her ring with her?" She asked softly sensing that it was a sensitive subject.

"Nay." Legolas said, then he lifted a chain from underneath his tunic to show her that his mother's ring was on the end of it. The three silmarils were there; as were the emeralds of Mirkwood, but the gem that they had chosen was a sapphire. "She loved the sea, so my father had one of the Sea Elves dive for the sapphires that they have on their wedding rings." He said, looking down at the ring and Celebfaer reached up and touched his hand, making his fingers wrap tightly around the ring. "I wear it close to my heart so that she is forever with me." He added and Celebfaer nodded. "As I do with the Carnelian."

Celebfaer looked up at Legolas surprised that he still carried it after all this time, then she sighed. "I think you have just chosen the gem that shall be on our rings." She said and Legolas nodded, but she was not finished. "Keep the designs, Legolas. They are too beautiful to be thrown away." She said softly and a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you melamin." He said softly, taking her hands and putting his forehead down to hers, so that their foreheads were touching. "I shall have to tell the ring maker." He added pausing slightly before he smiled down at her again. "But first, let us walk together." He said, then letting go of one of her hands the two walked off into the woods, hand in hand and heads close together as they talked softly.

**********************

Eventually the arguments stopped and everything was arranged and set in place. So, before Celebfaer knew what was happening, it was the night before their wedding. They had decided that the day after they were wedded, they would journey off to the Fairy Realm, because Celebfaer felt it was the right time to show Legolas to her mother. But that night, there was a feast for all and Celebfaer and Legolas retired early to go for a walk in the gardens.

When they made it to their favourite pond, they sat down and without saying a word, Legolas' hands started braiding Celebfaer's hair.

"Melamin, I shall not make you look like an Elf if that is what you object to about the braids." He said and she laughed.

"Legolas, I care not about the braids. Tomorrow we are to be wed and that is all I care for." She said and then they sat in silence as Legolas went about his work.

When he was finished, it was Celebfaer's turn and she braided his hair in the same way that it always was, which made him frown.

"I wish to wed you as you are and any other style would not look right Legolas, my love." She said and Legolas nodded.

"Thank you." He said.

Then as was custom they parted ways and went to their own rooms, knowing that they would not see each other until mid afternoon the next day.

****************************

The next day, the servants came to Celebfaer's rooms, ready to prepare her for the wedding that would not start until mid afternoon.

The dress she wore was silver and the fashion of the dress was half-Elvish half-Fairy. The Elvish part of the dress was the bottom, as it was long and the silver slippers that she wore on her feet. The top half of the dress was styled in the fashion of the Fairies. Conservative enough for a wedding, but showing a little more at the top than most Elves were used to. The sleeves of the dress were full length but from three quarters of the way up the arms, there was a slit so that the sleeves merely draped over her arms. The embroidery on the dress was incredibly fine as Celebfaer had done it herself. It told of her love for Legolas and how when they had first met she had merely wanted friendship, but then without her knowledge the friendship had turned into love. It was written in Fairy Runes, so none understood it but herself, though she intended to one day teach it to Legolas.

Once she was ready, there came a knock at her door and the servants rushed to answer it.

It was Arwen and with her she had brought a garland of flowers that would be placed upon Celebfaer's head. So, the servants, having done their job, left Arwen and Celebfaer alone.

"Celebfaer, Legolas will not know what to do when he sees you. That dress truly is magical."

"Thank you Arwen. I am sure you looked more beautiful on your wedding day, for there is no beauty that matches that of the Evenstar of her people." Celebfaer said and then Arwen put the garland down on the bed, then embraced Celebfaer.

"My friend, I have wished for this day to come for so long that I cannot contain my happiness for the two of you." Arwen said, a tear sliding down her cheek and Celebfaer smiled.

"As had I, for the day of your wedding to Aragorn. I am sorry that I missed it."

"All is well." Arwen said, then a small silence fell.

The silence was broken by the sound of a horn, symbolising that the hour of the wedding had come. Upon hearing the horn, Celebfaer jumped and Arwen smiled, then walked over to where she had placed the garland on the bed.

"You know that this garland shall be replaced with a small silver crown once you are wedded to Legolas." Arwen said and Celebfaer nodded.

"It is to symbolise that I shall be Queen. The mark of an heir to the throne." She added and Arwen nodded.

"Come, let us go, for they will be waiting."

*******************************

The ceremony went until the sun went down and the stars came out. Legolas and Celebfaer's hands were tied together by ribbons, symbolising the bond that they would share over the years and the love that they had for one another. Their hands remained tied until the ceremony was over and Thranduil untied the ribbons, so that Legolas was able to take the garland of flowers off her head, allowing room for Thranduil to place the silver crown on top of her head.

It all went by in a blur for Celebfaer for the only person that she wanted to see was Legolas and he was the only person that her eyes saw. In fact Legolas was much the same, not wanting to let her go in fear that he would wake up from the dream only to find himself back in Minas Tirith, dying of a broken heart. They were not separated from each other for more than a few minutes during the entire night. The whole feast after the ceremony had been spent looking at each other out of the corner of their eyes, their knees touching under the table.

After the feast was finished, Legolas offered Celebfaer his arm and they were the first to walk to the hall, where there were many songs and dances later on that night.

Celebfaer had been so oblivious to everything except Legolas that when Aragorn approached she nearly had to pinch herself before she would believe that he had Sam, Merry, and Pippin in tow behind him.

"Aragorn, have you taken up wizardry, for that surely is not Sam, Merry and Pippin behind you!" Celebfaer said and Legolas, Aragorn, Sam, Merry and Pippin laughed.

"Indeed it is us Lady Celebfaer, and it is wonderful to see you again also." Merry said, bowing his head slightly.

"You are taller than I remember you." She said, though she noticed Pippin was eyeing Aragorn as though waiting for a command from the King.

"I tell you it was all that ent-draught that we drunk! As Gimli said, isn't that right Pip?" Merry said and Pippin nodded.

Aragorn clapped Pippin on the back then. "Pippin, we are not in Gondor, we are in Eryn Lasgalen and among Elves, no harm can come to me here." Aragorn said and Celebfaer frowned, then for the first time all night she let go of Legolas.

"Pippin? Aragorn? Of what do you speak?"

"Pippin has become a man of the City. A guard in Minas Tirith, though when he is there, he is a guest only. I do not permit him to fight anymore." Aragorn said and Pippin nodded.

"But duty holds me to my word King Elessar." He said and they all laughed.

"Pippin, Merry, I must hear more of your travels once I parted with you in Lothlorien, if you would not mind telling me about it." Celebfaer said then and Merry and Pippin nodded.

"Certainly Lady Celebfaer." They said, bowing slightly and she laughed.

"Well, let us not waste time." She said, before she turned to Sam. "Sam it was good to see you again, and if you would care to join us you would be most welcome." She said and Sam nodded.

"I think I'll go get another ale." He replied, with a bow of his head.

So, Celebfaer looked to Legolas, who nodded to her then she walked off with the hobbits to find somewhere to sit.

Legolas tried to keep his attention on what Aragorn was saying after that, but his eyes would keep straying over to where Celebfaer sat with the hobbits. But, Legolas would not interrupt them until they were finished their story as Celebfaer had not seen them for many a year.

Eventually, after an hour, Aragorn put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Go to her Legolas. You have been waiting a long time for this moment, and I shall kill any that takes it away from you. Go to her and complete the union of marriage." Aragorn said and Legolas looked up at Aragorn.

"You too understand the longing."

"For I have had it. You should torture yourself no longer my friend." Aragorn replied, and Legolas merely nodded, then started to walk over in the direction of Celebfaer and the hobbits.

Celebfaer sensed Legolas' approach before she saw him. The hobbits had just finished their amazing tales and Celebfaer smiled at them, then clasped one of Pippin's, then Merry's hands in both of her own, then she nodded to them.

"Your bravery saved many and I am sure all of Middle Earth is grateful for your actions." She said and Merry and Pippin smiled.

Legolas was beside them then and he nodded. "Indeed they were very brave." He said and the hobbits smiled at Legolas.

"Thank you Legolas." They said in unison.

"Celebfaer, may I have a word?" Legolas asked, but the hobbits had already disappeared.

"On their way to find more ale I suppose." She said with a smile, looking up at Legolas.

"The gardens are calling." Legolas whispered into her ear and she nodded.

"Then we shall not keep them waiting." She said accepting Legolas' offer for help to get to her feet.

Wordlessly, they walked from the hall out into the gardens and none noticed their departure, for all were caught up in the magic of the singing and dancing that was taking place. Celebfaer and Legolas walked around the gardens for a short while, until they came to their favourite spot under the trees, where they often went when they did not want to be found.

"Melamin, there is one other tradition that I have not yet spoken of." Legolas said once they were there and Celebfaer turned to look at him, curious as to what he would say.

"I do not wish to dishonor the ways of the Elves Legolas, so please tell me of this last tradition so that I may fulfill it's wishes." She said and Legolas smiled.

"It is one that completes the union between man and woman. In fact to the Elves, the ceremony of the wedding does not mean all that much and if two Elves were to experience the act of love then they are considered already wedded. It is the binding of two souls to make one." Legolas said and Celebfaer looked up at him then nodded.

"Then speak no more and let us complete the union of our souls." She said softly and Legolas smiled.

"As the Lady wishes."

Back in the hall, Arwen after searching for some time, sought out Aragorn. "Aragorn, my love, where is Celebfaer, for I wish to speak with her." Arwen said and Aragorn shook his head.

"I cannot allow you to try and find her, my love for she will not wish to be disturbed, no matter how important the matter that you wish to speak to her is." Aragorn said and Arwen smiled at her husband, then kissed him lightly.

"I'm sure it can wait til next I see her." Arwen replied.