*** Hooray, I made it!! The wedding is done! Here's the last part, and it's a lot longer than the first two parts, and it includes the wedding night everybody was asking for so insistently. But watch out, it's highly romantic (or corny, *lol*). I hope you enjoy the chapter. ***

"So what do you want to talk about?" Steward Ribensis asked his son-in-law as soon as they were alone, seperated from the celebrating mass of people. He clasped his hands together behind his back while Boromir crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"You know very well what I want to talk about with you," Boromir replied grimly. When the dark-haired man didn't respond and just looked at him with expressionless eyes, Boromir continued, "I just want to set something straight here. If you ever again hit my wife or cause her harm in any other way, I will make you regret it."

To his growing anger, his father-in-law only smirked insultingly and then said in a low but hostile voice: "Do you seriously think you are in the position to tell me how to treat her correctly?"

"Absolutely," Boromir replied firmly. "These are my lands."

"Your father's lands," the Steward corrected him. "You're not even ruling this empire. You are merely the son of the Steward. You are the Captain of your father's armies, you take his commands and execute them. I admit that you do an extraordinarily good job, but it's still only executing commands. You are Denethor's puppet of warfare, nothing more, whereas I am his ally. I'm on the very same level as the man who orders you around. You might not like it, but I am your superior."

"Only because you are my father's closest ally it does not give you the right to bash Aerilyn!" Boromir exclaimed, infuriated.

"I am her father!" Ribensis snapped, provoked.

"I am her husband!" Boromir barked back.

"But only because I was willing to give her to you which wasn't the easiest of choices, believe me! And she is still my daughter and always will be my daughter, no marriage will change that! Nothing will ever -"

"She carries my child!" Boromir blurted out, interrupting his father-in-law who stared at him, thunderstruck.

"What?!" Ribensis then yelled, his dark eyes flaring up.

"You heard me," Boromir replied. He spoke calmly again, suddenly aware of the significance of what he had just spilled so thoughtlessly, driven by his rage.

"When?" Ribensis asked, his gaze piercing Boromir. "When did that happen?!"

"This is not of your concern."

"This is not of my concern?!" the Steward exploded and lunged forward to grab Boromir by his collar. The only few years younger man raised his arms to block the attack, but the impact was too hard and the two crashed against the nearby wall only a second later. "You soiled the virtue of my only daughter and have the effrontery to tell me that this is not of my concern?!"

"You wouldn't even have known of this if I hadn't told you, and I surely didn't tell you because I wanted a lecture on mannerly behaviour before marriage!" Boromir yelled back and pushed against his father-in-law with such an abrupt movement that the slightly older men let go of him and stumbled backwards a little. "I was hoping that if you knew about her current situation you would realize that you are treating her wrong," Boromir explained stiffly, adjusting his distorted collar. 

"Isn't this somewhat insane, you telling me what's the wrong and what's the right thing to do?! You who impregnated my well bred daughter I don't know how many days or even weeks before she was married to you?!"

"Isn't it even more insane to hit your own daughter who is pregnant with your grandchild?! Maybe even your grandson?! Did it occur to you that you could kill your own heir, the heir to your own empire, by beating up Aerilyn?!"

"I didn't beat her up, I merely -"

"You're not very far from it!" Boromir interupted, reminiscing about Lyn's swollen, bruised face. "It's still very hard to miss the damage you've done! And I swear to you, if you ever touch her again, or if anything happens to my child because of your aggressions, it will be your turn to receive the thrashing!"

"You wouldn't dare –" Ribensis started, but got silenced by his son-in-law again. This time it was Boromir who took his opponent by the collar and shoved him into the nearest wall.

"Don't be so sure about it!" Boromir hissed. "I tell you one last time, stay away from my wife! And I advise you to leave Atalar alone, too!"

"Now this is something that is not of your concern!" Ribensis spit out, clutching Boromir's shoulders and pushing back against him until they disconnected from the wall of the corridor again.  

"Aerilyn suffers from what you do to him! She is scared because she believes her own father will eventually beat her brother to death! And Atalar is completely disordered because of your long-term abuse! Don't you see what you're doing to your children?!"

"Atalar has always been the weakest link in our family, it's not my fault he turned out the way he did," Ribensis pressed out. "He's nothing more than an annoying boy who's a disgrace to all of us."

"A disgrace?" Boromir replied angrily. "I don't know Atalar very well, but from what I saw I can tell that he is fair-minded, clever and very thoughtful. Other parents would be grateful to be gifted with a son like Atalar and never dare beat the life out of him! You treat your son worse than a straying dog!"

"He isn't my son!" Ribensis shouted in frenzy. Now it was Boromir's turn to stare at his father-in-law in a totally flabbergasted manner.

"He isn't… I don't… What?" Boromir stuttered and even let go of Ribensis, still staring at the older man whose hostility seemed to be blown away all of a sudden.

"You heard right. Atalar is not my son," Ribensis told Boromir and tried hard to hide the tremble of hurt and hate in his voice. 

"But… Atalar and Aerilyn look so much alike…" Boromir muttered, still not capable of digesting the news.

"They both come after their mother, that's why. They do have different fathers, though. Aerilyn, my little gem, was fathered by me. Atalar is the result of an… unfortunate misconduct of his mother in the early years of our marriage. I assume she felt neglected because I was hardly keeping her company at all. Back then, I'd rather spent my evenings at the training grounds or with my male comrades than with her, which might sound familiar to you, I guess."

Boromir didn't reply but waited for his father-in-law to continue.

"Well, when I married my wife, I told her that no matter what happened, I would always love and stick to her. And to that promise I still hold, and I held to it even when she betrayed me. We all make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. I forgave my wife and haven't regretted it for one second. It might surprise you, but I'm not the heartless monster you obviously see in me. I love my wife dearly, and also my daughter." 

"And Atalar? Even if he is not of your blood, he grew up in your family. As your son."

"Is it so hard to understand why it is impossible for me to tolerate him? Everytime I look at him, I see the man who had my wife. I see characteristics and physical features that he didn't inherit from my wife, but from that man. And I can't help but hate him for reminding me day by day of what happened twenty-five years in the past. The only reason he was born is because chances were low that my wife would have survived an abortion. I didn't want to risk losing her." 

"Atalar isn't responsible for what happened," Boromir said. "He's not the cause but the victim of these rotten circumstances."

"I know," Ribensis replied quietly, and Boromir saw that the Steward would never be able to change the way he was looking at his wife's son who wasn't his own, even if he knew that he did him wrong. It would be futile to continue to discuss this with him.

"Does he know?" Boromir asked after some moments of silence. Ribensis shook his head.

"No, he doesn't. Neither does Aerilyn. And you'd rather not tell any of them."

"They deserve to know," Boromir stated determinedly.

"You won't lose a word about this! Aerilyn's world would crumble to pieces if she knew about it. She has a very close link to Atalar."

"I know. But I doubt that their relationship would suffer if they knew the truth. Unlike you, your daughter loves Atalar, and the fact that they don't share their father wouldn't change that."

"How can you tell, you barely know my daughter. I don't want her to suffer depressions because of this. She even could fall ill if she learned the truth, she is very sensitive and emotional, and as you know she isn't in good health right now. She's weakened from the assaults. It would be unwise to tell her."

Boromir took a breath to reply something, but his father-in-law cut him off.

"Can't we find a solution we both would feel comfortable with?" he asked.

"I guess you have a suggestion?" Boromir responded unemotionally.

"You will forget what I just told you. You won't tell Aerilyn or Atalar, or any other person. And I will restrain my influence on my daughter."

"Restrain your influence?" Boromir repeated sceptically and cocked an eyebrow.

"I won't attend to her education anymore. I'll leave that to you. That's a very generous offer."

"No, it's not generous," Boromir denied, "But acceptable."

"We have a deal then?"

Boromir nodded slowly, not really content with the outcome of the situation, but at least he had achieved what he wanted in the first place.

Legolas found Atalar in the stables. He was sitting on the floor of one of the empty, dark boxes, head lowered, back leaning against the wall and hands curled into the straw that covered the ground.

"Atalar, what are you doing here?" the elf asked and stopped right in front of the entrance of the box. The young man didn't respond but brought a hand to his face, obviously to wipe away tears.

"What happened?" Legolas wanted to know and stepped closer. When Atalar raised his head and revealed blood-shot eyes, the elf squatted down in front of his new-found friend and looked at him questioningly. "Atalar, what happened?" he repeated with growing concern.

"I don't know," the dark-haired man breathed and sniffed faintly. "It was her."

"It was her?" Legolas repeated in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I can't describe it. That elven maiden… Arwen. It was as if she suddenly was in my mind. She saw what I felt. She felt what I felt. I could see my own pain in her eyes. Legolas, believe me, I didn't want to do this to her…"

"You didn't do her harm," Legolas assured him, but Atalar wasn't easily convinced.

"I made her cry," he whispered, conscience-stricken. "She was hurting."

"Arwen chose this herself because she wanted to help you. She shared your pain willingly, you didn't force it on her. She saw the despair inside of you and tried to lift some of the burdens from your heart by establishing a mental connection with you. Considering the way you affected her, I would say she was successful. How do you feel?"

"To tell the truth, miserable. It scared me."

"Probably because you're not used to share your grief and accept comfort," Legolas assumed and sat down on the straw too, shifting into a more comfortable position.

"I think I owe her an apology, after all I just abandoned her on the dance floor. She must think I'm a mannerless, rude brat."

"No, I'm sure she understands. But you should go and talk to her, I bet she is very worried about you," Legolas suggested.

"Are all of your people like that? All elves, I mean?" Atalar asked and picked up a few straws to twiddle with them.

"Like what?" Legolas asked.

"Warmhearted. Devotional. You care for people you don't even know. That's not really common among the people I come from," Atalar explained and the sorrow in his voice indicated the sadness that had kept him company almost all his life.

"Well, we are a very sensitive and emotional folk. But Lady Arwen is exceptionally empathetic and kindhearted, even amidst my people. She's the fairest and most gracious being I ever had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of," Legolas said earnestly.

"Then I'm honoured that she bestowed her kindliness upon me. And I'm even more embarassed that I was so disrespectful in the end. I hope she will forgive me."

"I can assure you that resentfulness isn't one of her qualities," Legolas said with a weak smile and was glad to see Atalar smiling back a little.

"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow after breakfast, if that's possible. I can't go back right now. I'd rather stay here for a little longer."

"Of course," Legolas said. "If this is the place you draw strength and comfort from, you shall stay as long as you wish."

"I've always been at the stables a lot," Atalar told Legolas and his smile broadened from the memories. "Lyn was in love with our horses. She spent more time currying the horses than any of our yardmen. We held a lot of conversations in those stables, about everything that occupied us, while we were grooming our horses or just sitting on the straw like we do now. I'm going to miss that a lot." With a downhearted sigh, Atalar let the straws fall from his hand back to the ground, following them with his dark, watery eyes. "In the stables life was different than in the fortress, especially at nights when my parents were asleep. It was the only place and time Inunyen and I could be together, more or less. One night we even danced together. That was a long time ago, I can't even remember the occasion of the festivity that was going on that night. All I know is that everyone was celebrating and the music was so loud that it could still be heard at our meeting place in the stables. I just abandoned myself to a spontaneous impulse when I asked her for a dance then, and at first she laughed at me. She wasn't used to dancing, I guess she was actually a little scared and only laughed because she wanted to cover up her insecurity. But eventually she accepted and we danced. I felt her trembling in my arms and she didn't dare look me in the eyes. I didn't know what to do or say to make her feel more comfortable… so I just told her that I loved her. I didn't really think about it, I just blurted it out, and Inunyen looked up, right into my face. I'll never forget the expression in her eyes. She was in shock about my statement. I could see that she was nearly crying and it ripped my heart to pieces to see her like this. I repeated my clumsy declaration of love to her, but that only caused her tears to spill over. Can you imagine that? Inunyen crying?" Despite his grief Atalar couldn't help smiling faintly and Legolas returned the soft smile with warmth and sympathy in his gentle gaze, but he didn't say anything since he didn't want to interrupt Atalar's thoughts and memories.

"She clung to me while she cried her heart out and I murmured oaths of eternal love, again and again, until she somewhat calmed down," Atalar continued with a low voice. "And then… I kissed her for the first time. We ended up sharing a lot more than just this one kiss that night, and I wish I could tell you that it was romantic and slow-going, but it wasn't. We were both too scared of the consequences that were waiting for us if we would be discovered in a situation like this, that's why it was a short-lived encounter. It was very hurried and somewhat untender, at a not so comfortable but rather cold location, but it was what we both had waited and yearned for for a long time. We were together and that was everything we wanted. I only wish I would have had the chance to show her that it could be different. I wish I would have found a way to treat her with the endearment and cautiousness she deserved."

"You can't turn back time, Atalar. You should treasure and cherish those moments that came your way, and not blame yourself for not taking a different path," Legolas said softly.

"But I can't stop wondering what could have been if I had stood by her from the beginning. Or if I had asked her to go away with me much earlier. Nothing of this would have happened. Lyn wouldn't have nearly died, Boromir wouldn't have undergone imprisonment and torture, and Inunyen would still live. If only I hadn't been such a coward."

"Stop it now, Atalar. It's senseless to put all the blame on yourself, because it's not true that everything that happened was your fault, and you know that," Legolas insisted. "You don't know what would have happened if you behaved differently. Maybe it would not have changed a thing. You can't tell and you will never know. You have to accept what happened and the way it happened and go on with your life. It's far too precious to waste it with useless considerations about unalterable events."

"I don't think it's useless to bear Inunyen in remembrance," Atalar snapped, hurt.

"That's not what I meant. Not at all. I only fear that you're slowly drowning in self-accusation and self-pity."

"Have you ever lost somebody you loved so much that you thought you couldn't go on without her? That you wanted to die yourself when she passed away?" Atalar asked, his voice starting to crack.

"No," Legolas answered quietly.

"I thought so. You would speak differently if this ever happened to you."

"No, I wouldn't speak at all if this ever happened to me. I would be dead," Legolas replied matter-of-factly. When he saw that Atalar didn't understand, he added, "Elves can actually die of a broken heart. If our beloved one dies, most of us are fated to eventually pine away. But you are human, and life will go on for you. Don't toss away what possibilities fate gave you. You have no idea how extraordinary a gift it is to be able to overcome the greatest of possible grieves."

"I'd be more than grateful if it was possible for us to swap places. I envy you and your people," Atalar said and rose to his feet. "I'll go back to the halls. All the talking made me thirsty," he added and was gone before Legolas could say any more.

Once back at the great hall, Boromir spent the evening with watching Aerilyn who did her best to ignore him completely. She sat across the room with Atalar who seemed a little absent, most of the time he was staring into the goblet of wine that was in front of him, and when he wasn't staring, he was drinking. Hours elapsed and she didn't even throw one single glance towards her husband who felt more and more miserable with every passing minute. Finally, it seemed that Atalar and Aerilyn had some sort of disagreement as Boromir could see them talking to each other in an agitated manner, until Atalar stood up and retreated to another corner of the hall, leaving his sister behind at the table they had been sitting at. Boromir knew that he wouldn't get a better oportunity to talk to her alone and quickly rose from his chair to cross the room. When he saw his wife rising as well and walking away in an oposite direction he picked up pace but lost sight of her when she left the room. He followed past the door she had exited through and finally found her on one of the balconies. When Boromir stepped outside to her, she stood with her back to him, her hands on the balustrade, gazing over the city that lay to her feet.

"Do you want to ignore and run away from me for the rest of the night?" Boromir asked as he came closer. He considered stepping right behind her and offering reconciliation just by taking her in his arms without anymore words, but then decided to come to a halt at some distance. He still couldn't predict how she would react and didn't want to make things worse.

"What do you want?" she suddenly asked. Her voice was firm, but low as she spoke. He could see that her hands clutched the balustrade a little too hard.

"I've come to offer armistice," Boromir told her quietly and waited for her reaction. When she gave one, it wasn't at all what he had expected.

"I had a dispute with Atalar," she told him, still not turning around. Her voice was rather monotone and he had difficulties guessing her emotions without seeing her face.

"I know, I've seen you quarreling," Boromir told her and then asked carefully, "What happened?"

"I told him that he drinks too much and he got really enraged. But I'm only concerned about him. I think he tries to drown his pain with alcohol, but it won't work. He's only going to suffer even more from it." At last she turned around and when Boromir saw the desperate expression on her face he was by her side with three quick strides and without hesitance drew her into a tight embrace. She didn't reject him but leaned against him and sighed deeply.

"I don't know what to do," she murmured against his chest.

"Maybe it would be best to just leave your brother alone for some time. He needs to come to terms with a lot of things and I have the feeling that's something he should do on his own. I doubt that he will do something foolhardy. He eventually will get over it, but it takes time," Boromir said, slowly stroking her back.

"You're probably right," Lyn replied. "So… what exactly are your offers?"

"Offers, my Lady?" Boromir asked.

"You said something about armistice. You will need to provide a little more than just extending the white flag," Aerilyn pointed out and backed away a bit to look up at him with a wry smile.

"Can I think about it for a moment?" Boromir wanted to know.

"No. I have a better idea."

"Do you?"

"Yes," she nodded determinedly, "Instead of waiting for you to come up with something acceptable, I simply tell you what I want."

Boromir couldn't supress a small snicker and said, "Your armistice negotiations would be very much of my liking, if I wasn't the losing party."

A smile spread over Aerilyn's face as she said, "I assure you that after my negotiations, each party will be beneficiary."

"Sounds good," Boromir said in a low voice, raised a hand to her face in order to cup her cheek and placed a light, heedful kiss on her lips. She didn't back away or protest.

"I take this as an armistice acceptance," he said, almost questioned, his mouth only inches from hers that curved up in a lovely smile. Instead of replying anything, she simply returned the kiss with more pressure and wound her hands into his hair to hold him close. Boromir wondered why it had taken so long for them to make up again, and why he hadn't tried to take the first step much earlier, but in the end he was just glad that their quarrel was forgotten and the peace between them was restored.

They went back to the hall side by side, but didn't stay long. Soon they decided that it was time to retreat to their private chambers. They took separate tours around the great room to talk to several guests for one last time in order to thank them and bid them farewell. Aerilyn avoided Atalar as long as possible, but at last he was the only one left of the people she wanted to wish a good night. With mixed feelings she approached and then greeted him, but he didn't show any reaction. Aerilyn waited for some more moments, but he didn't even look up at her.

"Well then… good night. I'm leaving," she said gloomily and wanted to turn away, but suddenly her brother jumped to his feet, causing her to face him again.  

"Lyn... wait," Atalar whispered and softly grabbed her slender upper arm to draw her closer.

"Oh, Atalar!" she sighed in disgust and turned her face away. "How much did you drink? You smell like -"

"Lyn, please," he interrupted her and ran a hand through her hair, clumsily brushing off some of the delicate decorations. "I want to tell you something. Something important."

"Is something wrong?" she asked wonderingly when she saw the more than concerned gaze in his dark eyes.

"My little Lyn..." he murmured softly and brought his second hand up to her head to cup her soft cheek.

"Atalar... What is it? You behave oddly tonight," Aerilyn said.

"I only wanted to tell you that..." He sighed slowly and leaned against the wall that was right next to them to keep his balance.

"What, Atalar?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to yell at you like that."

"It's alright. I'm not angry with you," Aerilyn assured him and smiled. "Good night, Atalar."

"That wasn't everything. There's something else I want to tell you," Atalar said but didn't speak on.

"Make your point, brother," Lyn urged him, getting a little impatient. "Boromir is waiting for me."

"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," Atalar bubbled out, obviously grateful that he didn't have to start on the topic. "I want you to know that you don't need to do anything you don't want to."

A little smile spread on her face when she realized where their conversation was going to.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Atalar asked, causing her smile to grow even wider. "If he does anything that causes you pain, that rough lout..."

"Hush, Atalar, he won't," she assured him.

"I just want you to know that you don't need to do everything he wants or tolerate everything he wants to do to you, only because you are married to him now. If he gets rude or something, just tell me and I will make sure he'll regret it."

"You are so cute, thank you," she said and gave him a soft kiss on his heated cheek.

"Lyn, please, I'm deadly serious about this," he poured and grabbed her wrist in clumsy haste. The sudden seriousness in his voice let her smile fade away slowly.

"Do not fret, brother," she said softly and gently caressed his cheek that was hot and reddened from all the alcohol he had drunk this night.

"How could I not?" he asked. "How could I not worry about this after what happened to you? After what those bastards did to you?"

Aerilyn's brows furrowed and she gently shook her head in confusion. "I do not understand, Atalar..."

"I know they violated you," he whispered. "They… misused your body to satisfy their sick desires."

"No!" she said, shocked, and framed his face with both hands. "Nobody did something like this to me."

"But you were completely undressed when we found you," he breathed, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Oh, Atalar…" She moved closer to hug him tightly and felt him pressing his face into her hair. "You are terribly mistaken. Nobody took advantage of me in such a horrible way."

"Is that true?" he asked into her hair, his voice faint and a little shaky. She was so sorry for he must have plagued himself with these gruesome visions of several men raping her brutally, and decided that she owed him an explanation and the truth about the day of the assault.

"Yes. I would never lie to you, you know that. And the reason why I was undressed when you found me…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Atalar pulled back to look her in the eyes again. Aerilyn swallowed nervously but continued after a short pause.

"Boromir had made love to me shortly before the assault took place," Aerilyn told him truthfully. "That's why I was naked. It was him who undressed me, not the assassins."

There was a long moment of silence between them and Aerilyn already feared that Atalar was so drunk that he didn't understand the meaning of her words and would faint any second, or that he woul get angry about her revelation, but then he took a deep breath and asked: "Was he gentle with you? And careful?"

"Yes, he was. I... enjoyed it."  She blushed at her last words but doubted that he noticed.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. And relieved," Atalar said, surprising her with a genuine smile. "I was worried to death."

"You are always too worried and somewhat overprotective. There's no need for so much concern anymore," Aerilyn told him and smiled back. "After all we are here, safe and alive, arent't we? Although I doubt you'll survive the night if you keep on drinking like this."

They both chuckled and the blush on Atalar's cheeks even deepened a little.

"You better leave now," he said, still grinning. "Don't let your husband wait for much longer."

"Thanks, Atalar, you are the best big brother a girl could wish for" she said and pushed herself on her tiptoes to place another quick kiss on his cheek. "And don't overdo it with drinking."

"Now who's overprotective and worried?" he asked teasingly, but Lyn just rolled with her eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow, dear brother," were her last words and then she was gone. Atalar sighed and turned around to the hall again. Although it was very well past midnight, there were still a lot of couples dancing and many people eating and chatting, but he couldn't make out any faces. His sight became blurrier and blurrier, but he was sure he could still see enough to find something decent to drink.

"Don't you think you had enough for tonight?" a soft voice asked from his left when he minutes later poured himself another goblet of wine. Atalar's head snapped to the side where the familiar voice had come from and he needed some time to focus on the face that was next to him.

"No, I don't think so," Atalar said slowly, concentrating hard on getting the words out in the right order.

"That's probably because you can't think straight anymore," Legolas pointed out. "You can't even walk properly. Or stand upright without aid."

"Don't you have something better to do than bother me?" the young human snapped and took another sip from his drink. "For example… stroll through the halls and look pretty or something like that?"

"Why are you so hostile?"

"I'm not hostile. I just want to be left alone."

"As you wish," Legolas said stiffly and a little hurt and left as quietly as he had appeared.

About half an hour and several drinks later, Atalar suddenly felt an awkwardly strong tiredness come over him. His legs almost buckled when he got up from the chair he had been sprawled over during the later hours of the night, but somehow he managed to keep his balance. Slowly, he made his way to the exit of the hall, one hand permanently gliding over the nearby wall for support. When he staggered along the first long corridor, Legolas caught up with him and took hold of his elbow.

"Do you need any help getting to your chambers?" Legolas asked, honestly concerned. He backed away a little when Atalar ripped his arm free from his gentle grip. The young man almost tripped over from the abrupt movement but managed to keep on his legs.

"You are worse than any of my nursemaids have been when I was a little boy! I slowly get the impression that you're trying to foster me!" Atalar hissed, slightly swaying back and forth as he tried to regain his balance.

"Sometimes I get the impression that you still are a little boy that's in need of proper fostering!" Legolas shot back a little angrily and again grasped Atalar, this time at his upper arm.

"I can walk on my own!" Atalar exclaimed and tore himself free clumsily but with quite some strength, then made a few uncoordinated steps only to slump forward to his hands and knees. With a sigh, Legolas squatted down in front of him.

"Did you hurt yourself?" the elf wanted to know.

"No... no, I'm fine, I just... I..." 

Before he could speak further, Atalar felt an overwhelming wave of nausea washing up his body but couldn't bring himself to react to it in any way. He couldn't coordinate his motions, he couldn't even get his tongue to form words. His body just wasn't obeying him anymore. The last thing he was aware of were deft, strong hands pulling him up and then the purely beautiful scent that seemed to emanate from all ethereal beings as his head dropped onto Legolas' shoulder, his face coming to rest in the softness of the elf's silken hair.

"What a pretty bride she was," Arwen sighed, pulling the decorations from her hair with graceful, fluid movements. "Boromir is a lucky man."

Aragorn turned around to face her, a smile crossing his rugged face. Arwen returned his stare and raised a delicate eyebrow, silently inviting him to speak out loud what he was thinking.

"He is by far not as lucky as I am," Aragorn stated, causing Arwen to smile amusedly.

"You always have been good at sweet-talking me, Estel," she said teasingly and turned back to the huge mirror. While starting to brush her long hair, her head slightly tilted to the left, she turned serious again. Aragorn, who wasn't oblivious to his betrothed's thoughts drifting away, could no longer hold back the question that was nagging at him ever since he had come back to the halls after Boromir's injury had opened.

"Do you want to talk about what happened between you and Lord Atalar?" he asked calmly, regarding Arwen with gray, gentle eyes.

Some moments of silence passed until she opened her mouth and said, "I'd prefer to think about it for a little longer, I can't put into words yet what we shared."

"I understand," Aragorn replied. "But will you tell me how you fare and ease my concern?"

"Don't burden yourself with needless worries, my love. I am fine."

"You were crying," the dark-haired man pointed out.

"Yes, I was. His heart suffers from so much pain and desperation. The intensity took me by surprise," Arwen explained. "He's a very emotional person."

"Is he?" Aragorn said a little stiffly.

"Yes, he is. He tries hard to hide his emotions, but it's easy to break through to him. It was… extraordinary," Arwen said, faintly smiling at the uncommon tone in his usually well-balanced voice. She raised her eyes and observed Aragorn through the mirror, her smile growing wider when she captured the expression that showed bluntly on his face.

"Don't tell me you're jealous, Estel!" she exclaimed and almost laughed out loud.

"Well, what do you expect? I find you dancing with another man and afterwards have to listen to you telling me how extraordinary he is," Aragorn said but couldn't suppress the tiny smile that was tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Yes, because it is the truth. I felt that Atalar is special the second I lay my eyes on him, even before he spoke to me. He's a kind person and his spirit is pure and genuine. But it is also the truth that it is silly of you to be jealous. Don't you agree?"

"How could I ever contradict you, my heart?" Aragorn asked as he stepped closer to her. "Let me do this for you," he added in a low voice, softly took the brush from her slender hand and started to carefully smoothen her hair with it. They stood for a while, silently, until they both raised their heads the very same second, their gazes meeting in the mirror.

"There is no reason for being jealous. I love you, Aragorn. Only you," Arwen whispered, not leaving his gray eyes.

"And I love you," he whispered back, shoved her long hair aside and bowed his head to press a loving kiss to her exposed, bare neck.

"Yes. So much that you won't marry me," she said ironically in a low, somewhat frustrated voice.

"Arwen..." he sighed, continuing to kiss and nibble on her silky skin, his stubble scratching her lightly. "I will marry you, one day. You know there is nothing I'd rather do. But the time isn't ripe. I want Boromir to -"

"- to crown you after he became the ruling Steward of Gondor, I know. You made a promise to Boromir and to that you will stick. And I understand your motives. I just hope you won't forget the promise you once gave to me."

"No, never would or could I forget this pledge. You have my word, like you already have my heart," Aragorn whispered against her skin. He let the brush fall to the ground and snaked his strong arms around her slim figure while she savored the caresses of his tongue and lips against her sensitive neck. When he opened his eyes for a short moment he saw in the mirror that her eyes were closed and her full lips slightly parted in sensual pleasure. This only encouraged him to proceed, and when he ran his rough hands up her body, gently squeezing and massaging every spot he came across, Arwen turned in his hug and rewarded him with an openmouthed, deep kiss that made his senses go hazy. After a long moment of soft and gentle kissing she withdrew slowly, leaving him panting, his chest heaving against her with rapid motions.

"Love me, Aragorn," she whispered almost inaudibly and placed another kiss on his heated lips, an almost shy one this time. "I desire to feel you. All of you. Your hands, your arms, your lips... your everything."

Her enticing words made a tiny sound of anticipation escape from his throat and she sighed contently when he lifted her up in his arms in order to carry her across the room. Very gently he lowered her on her back, bedding her adorable body onto heaps of soft, precious blankets, and crawled over her on all fours.

"Aragorn. Estel. My beloved," Arwen's sweet voice purred through the night just before she was silenced in a most enjoyable way. Aragorn plunged down into the kiss, his slightly parted mouth connecting with Arwen's unbelievably soft lips in flaring passion, and they began to make love, their heated bodies moving against and with one another in perfect unison.

"So this is where you sleep," Aerilyn said after entering a beautifully furnished room that was pretty cosy despite its impressive size.

"Yes," Boromir said and smiled when he realized that she had never before been in any of his rooms.

"And you too, from now on," he added while lighting a few candles. "I hope everything meets your demands."

"Yes, it's more than sufficient," Aerilyn replied and sat down on the edge of the large bed. She carefully ran her hands over the light, fresh sheets, feeling the precious material soft and smooth against her fingers.

"If you want anything changed just say a word and you shall have your wish," he told her.

After all she is going to spend far more nights in this room than I, he thought, but didn't speak it out loud. He felt a painful glimpse of sorrow and guilt well up inside of him when he thought of the many lonely nights that were waiting for her. The many tears she would surely shed because he again left her alone. He also had to think of what happened to Aerilyn's parents because of her father's neglect of his wife, but forced himself to cast this thought asideSuppresing a small sigh, he stepped closer to his, or now their bed.

"No, I like it. It's beautiful," Aerilyn said, staring up at him with big, dark eyes that revealed her joyful excitement. "And besides, I wouldn't mind sleeping out on the streets as long as I have you to warm me."

He offered her his open palm and gently dragged her up again after she had lain her small hand in his. Silently, he lifted his other hand and she closed her eyes when it came to rest on the back of her head.

"I didn't mean what I said earlier," he whispered and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "It's inappropriate for a husband to be jealous of his brother-in-law. You love Atalar greatly and this is the way it should be. I don't want to be a disturbing factor when it comes to the relationship you share with your brother. I don't want to be a disturbing factor at all in your life."

Aerilyn opened her eyes and regarded her husband with such a tender expression in her eyes that a soft smile curved his lips.

"You aren't a disturbing factor," she told him. "You are my husband and the father of my child and I love you more than anything."

"Are you tired?" he asked softly while he dove the fingers of his right hand into her full hair and started to gently massage her scalp.

"A little," she murmured and then made a low sound of contentedness. "Mmmh, that feels nice..."

"Do you want to go to bed and rest?"

Her eyes opened lazily and the meaningful expression in her eyes made his pulse quicken up. He unawarely held his breath while waiting for her answer and it seemed like an eternity to him until her tantalizing lips parted and she whispered: "I'd like to go to bed indeed. But not for taking a rest."

"Oh, well," Boromir said in a low, deep voice and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "I think I know something else we could do in that bed."

"What could that possibly be, I wonder?" she asked, smiling, and closed her eyes again to cherish the feel of his lips against her skin.

"I think I should make love to you for all I'm worth, despite the fact that you seem to be expectant already." He gently kissed both of her eyelids and then the tip of her small nose. "I mean, just to be on the safe side."

"You accomplish your duties very thoroughly, my dear husband," Aerilyn said teasingly, her smile growing wider.

"Yes, especially if it is a duty of such importance," Boromir replied and smiled back, mischievously. "You see, I don't want to disappoint my people."

"Nor do I," she whispered back, flung her arms around his neck to draw his face towards hers and pressed her mouth upon his yearningly. Surprised but pleased by her passionate approach, he slid his hands around her slender body and quickly started to fumble with the laces and clasps on the back of her wedding dress. Soon he had to admit that it was impossible for him to open, especially with the hot kisses distracting him.

"Who did make this cursed dress?" Boromir asked frustrated. "Atalar?"

Aerilyn chuckled softly while he turned her around so he could see what exactly his fingers were fighting with.

"Good Lord! Methinks I need my sword to get you out of there!" he exclaimed when he examined the tight laces on her back more thoroughly. "It's a mystery to me how you can possibly move and breathe with this dress on."

"Now you see how much I'm torturing myself only to look pretty for you and your people," Aerilyn said.

"You look stunningly beautiful tonight I have to say, but that's not only because of this dress that leaves you no room to breathe properly," Boromir murmured while he finally managed to expose a tiny bit of her silky skin. "On the contrary. I'm sure you'd look all the more prettier without it."

"I wouldn't be particularly sad to get rid of it, either," she pointed out while he bent down to brush a kiss on the bare spot of her back he had just revealed with massive efforts. She felt him smiling against her, then a tiny warm breeze when he breathed out and finally his hot, moist tongue gently touching her sensitive skin. A soft, well-pleased noise slipped from her mouth and one of her hands swung back, groping for Boromir's body. She caught him by his outer thigh and held to him tightly as if she was afraid that he would let go of her again if she didn't. He continued to kiss and lick the nape of her neck and her upper back, simultaneously tugging at the taut laces and opening complicated knots and clasps, and soon her hand started to wander on him. Aerilyn felt her way up the outer side of his thigh until she reached his hip, then travelled back down again only to let her flat hand glide to the inner side of his leg. She was very aware of the changes in Boromir's breathing fashion when she again let her hand glide up, only this time on his inner thigh. A tiny, restrained groan vibrated over the spot of her skin his mouth was still fastened to when she finally reached the sensitive hardness that had emerged in his trousers. Curiously, she stroked him a little harder and with a little smile noticed how his breathing hitched.

With his lips still lingering on her warm skin Boromir suddenly ripped her dress further open, tearing the precious fabric apart with a brusque movement. Slowly he got more than impatient about the situation. Aerilyn jerked slightly because of his energetic action, but did not say a word since he turned gentle again quickly. He felt her shudder when the tip of his tongue followed the line of her spinal column, starting off low between her delicate shoulder blades and going up to the back of her neck where he then gently nibbled at her skin, feeling the tender hair of hers tickling his lips. Her heavenly scent made his senses go hazy, and her taste was even more stimulating. He continued to kiss and suck on her neck while he slowly peeled the dress from her small body. When her clothes finally fell to the ground he moved his head to kiss her delicate shoulders and his hands carefully slid over her naked belly. Her hand was still on his crotch but didn't move anymore as she was fully concentrating on his motions now. He caressed her for some moments, her soft stomach, der round hips, her slim waist and her sides, until he guided his hands further up her body. He was aiming for her breasts, but before he could reach his goal she quickly twisted in his embrace and pressed her front against his body. While his warm hands came to rest on the small, soft swell of her bare bottom she stretched and pushed herself on her tiptoes, but still he had to bow his head down to make it possible for her to reach his mouth.

"I wish I was taller," she whispered and smiled against his lips.

"No, I love you just the way you are," he replied while he slid one hand back to the small of her back.

"Of course you do. You probably like the idea that I never will be able to snatch a kiss from you without your permission and aid.  I always will be dependent on your generosity on this matter."

"Oh, I think I will be very generous when it comes to subjects like this one," he replied and kissed her again as if to prove his words. Aerilyn laughed and broke from his lips.

"As if it wasn't for your own benefit!" she said and grinned.

"Then let me do something for mainly your benefit now..." Boromir replied with a  meaningful tone in his voice, easily lifted her naked form out of the pile of clothes and carried her to the bed. He held her light body tightly drawn against himself and he felt her heart pounding heavily against his own chest although he still was fully dressed. He carefully lowered her onto the soft, fresh sheets and bent down to kiss her belly while his hands explored the delicate skin of her inner thighs, gently spreading her legs apart so he could lower himself inbetween. For a moment his mind was occupied by the baby that was developing in her womb. It was growing this very moment, while they lay together in the night of their wedding. The thought of his yet unborn child made him happy and proud, causing him to kiss and caress Aerilyn's belly for some tender moments. Then he worked his way further up and noticed that she had crossed her arms in front of her chest. He sat up wonderingly, slid his hands down her sides and let them linger on her hips, gently massaging her warm skin.

"Remove your arms," he said softly.

Aerilyn shifted her gaze towards the candles that were on a table nearby the bed, but Boromir tenderly grabbed her chin and forced her to face him again.

"No," he said and slowly shook his head, "I want to look at you."

She batted down her eyelids and didn't respond.

"What bothers you, Aerilyn?" he asked and ran his hands up her sides again until he felt her ribs under his fingers. She had lost quite some weight since the assault had taken place, and her body that had been so very slender anyway was now far too thin. She still was beautiful, but she slowly started to look weak and ill. He almost feared that she would break if he embraced her too enthusiastically. He had to make sure she would eat more properly from today on, especially now as she had to eat for two.

"Why are you shielding yourself from my eyes? You didn't do so when we made love for the first time," he added and looked at her with dismay and concern.

"I wasn't disfigured back in those days," she whispered.

"What?" Boromir asked and almost had to laugh, so absurd were her words to him.

"I'm serious," she said and looked at him with sad eyes. "I feel uncomfortable when you look at me."

"There is no need to feel uncomfortable," Boromir said. "I love you. To me, you are the most beautiful being that dwells upon Middle-Earth."

He closed his fingers around her wrists and gently pulled her arms from her chest. He felt that she wanted to protest, but she didn't do it and only closed her eyes in embarassment while he heedfully pinned her arms down to the bed next to her sides, simultaneously crouching over her on all fours.

"The most beautiful being ever," Boromir whispered and lifted one of his hands to her body to gently touch her revealed skin. He drew half a circle with the tip of his finger, following the pleasing outer curve of her left breast, then slid further up to the exquisite peak where he lingered for a moment, watching the rosy nipple stiffen under his gentle touch, until he let his hand glide down again to the beautiful valley that lay between her breasts. When he carefully ran a finger over the scar that would always remind them of the assault, her free hand shot to his forearm and pushed him away abruptly.

"Don't," she said, her eyes open again. He discovered tears and despair in her eyes and it made his heart shatter to pieces to see her like this. He sat back on his heels, softly grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap, making her wrap her legs around his waist. Their faces were only inches apart and Boromir had to pull himself together to not lean forwards and simply kiss her fierily.

"Aerilyn..." he began and sighed faintly when she shifted her gaze down again. "Please look at me."

She obeyed and he saw the desperation in her dark eyes. They were so close that her belly softly pushed against his own every time she breathed nervous, shivering intakes of air, and the heat of her lap came through the fabric of his clothes that were the last and only barrier between the bareness of their skins.

"Listen, Aerilyn," he started again, his voice expressing nothing but pure affection and honesty. "When you look at yourself, you perhaps see only this scar and believe it made you ugly. But that is nonsense. Let me tell you what I see when I look at you. I don't see a displeasing scar, but the prettiest woman who ever crossed my eyes. I see the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I see the woman who bears my child. The woman I love unconditionally with everything I have to offer, everything I am. And nothing could ever change that. No scars, no disputes, no disease... Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"I was so afraid that it would repel you," Aerilyn breathed. A tear escaped from her eye and made its way over her face, leaving a glimmering, moist line behind. Boromir bent forwards and captured the salty droplet with his lips.

"No," he whispered against her glowing cheek and placed, gently sucking, a tender kiss on her soft skin. "Never think anything like that again."

He felt her embracing him tightly and pulling him closer to her body. He turned his face towards hers and their mouths met automatically, locking into a deep and loving kiss. While his large hands ran up and down her bare back, stopping for a moment to softly massage her slender shoulders and then again trail deeper down until he reached the beginning of her smooth buttocks. She breathed faster and deeper than before, but Boromir didn't dare press on, no matter how hard he wanted their bodies to unify. He didn't want to urge her but wanted her to decide on the pace and intensity of tonight's encounter. Considering the almost unendurable condition the lower regions of his body were in, he was more than grateful when Aerilyn showed that she was eager for more intimate contact.

Hastily, she opened the buttons and clasps of his magnificent wardrobe, never disconnecting from his lips that were bruising hers so hungrily. While her hands slid underneath his clothes, snaking through openings she had just created, his hands retreated from her buttocks so he could free himself from all layers of clothes that covered the upper part of his body. She placed both of her hands on his broad chest and her eyes shot open when his skin didn't feel the way she had expected. She backed away a bit to look at him, and she had to swallow back a horrified sob of shock and affliction when her gaze  ranged over his body.

Suddenly she felt stupid and selfish. How could she cry about one single scar, how could she tell him she thought he would be repelled by it, when at the same time his body was covered with far worse marks of torture and pain than just a little healing scar from a single stab? She held her breath and carefully let her hand glide over his heavily bruised abdomen, his harmed ribcage, his violated chest and shoulders. She felt the unfamiliar irregularities of swellings and the rough scabbed surfaces of not so old wounds underneath her shivering fingers as well as thick and raspy scars of lacerations whose stitches hadn't been taken out again yet and the fabric-like surfaces of some bandages. As she touched him her eyes filled with tears and she raised her head again to look at his face.

"What did they do to you?" she whispered, her voice full of pain and horror, yet so soft and weak that he had trouble understanding what she was saying. "How could they?"

The tears started to fall when she imagined how the abductors must have tortured him to leave marks like these.

"Don't cry, my sweet one, it is over now," Boromir tried to calm her down and drew her into a protecting embrace. She hesitated to nestle against him and her body stiffened in his arms.

"I don't want to hurt you," Aerilyn explained and carefully kissed Boromir's collarbone, her tears splashing on his bare shoulder. He smiled faintly and kissed the top of her head.

"You won't hurt me. You never could. Your touch will never cause me pain. Only alleviation." He tilted her face up to resume the deep kisses they had started to share before the sensual atmosphere had been disrupted by the revelation of the whole extent of the tortures he had gone through. Aerilyn was reluctant to abandon herself to the passion he offered.

"Promise me that you will tell me if I hurt you," she whispered against his lips, not opening her eyes while she spoke.

"I promise," he whispered back and kissed her again, and this time she seemed to melt into him. Her mouth was so soft, warm and inviting under his demanding lips, so yielding and welcoming to his advancing tongue. He could have kissed her like this for an eternity, but knowing that his enfeebled body soon would claim for rest, he eventually broke from her lips.   

"Lie back down," Boromir ordered with a low voice and gently pushed her from his lap onto her back again. "And leave your arms like this," he added while he quickly got rid of the rest of his clothes.

"Aye, Captain," Aerilyn said with a small grin and remained lying still, feeling his gaze glued to her nakedness.

"Good girl," he muttered, returned her grin and threw his last piece of clothing to one of the piles that had gathered around the bed. She closed her eyes again, still smiling, and waited for him to join her. She couldn't wait for him to be close to her again, and not only because she wanted to feel his skin on hers. She still felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at like this, no matter how often he would emphasize that he found her the most beautiful woman ever.

She was glad when he finally lay down next to her and they instantly immersed into the wondrous interplay of their heated bodies. Slowly, nervous hands started to glide over excited bodyparts, longing lips got lost in passionate kisses and gentle nips, enthusiastic fingers explored and caressed every inch of burning skin, every crevice, valley, curve and swell their bodies had to offer…

They made love, slowly and carefully, and the horrible events of the past were forgotten when they spiraled up together towards the highest peak of feelings. This time it was Aerilyn who was thrown over the edge first and she didn't even try to keep from crying out her emotions. She didn't care who could hear her wanton outburst and therefor didn't hold back. This wasn't one of their secret meetings from the past, she didn't have to fear discoveries anymore. They were officially married, declared husband and wife, and nobody would or could separate them again.

She thought she would faint while waves of pleasure rocked her fragile form, one after another, drawing sweet, erratic moans from her throat and sending tremors all the way down to her toes. Her lids fluttered close and she desperately clutched to Boromir's body for support, pressing him tightly against herself. Suddenly oblivious to his serious injuries, she couldn't help digging her fingers in his skin, and Boromir didn't complain about the pain but held her even closer, burying his face in the black mass of her hair.

"I love you," she groaned in a whisper and turned her head to place a short, sucking kiss on his ear. "I love you, Boromir..."

The sight and feel of her climaxing body in connection with an oath of love and his own name slipping from her moist, kiss-swollen lips was all it needed to bring it to an end. With a restrained groan waiting in the back of his throat, he turned his head to face her and then kissed her roughly while his eyes slammed shut and his body tensed violently. He felt one of her hands diving in his hair, the other one clawing at his sweat-covered back, her slender legs encircling his waist and her soft mouth crushed against his sore lips, and it all merged into one overwhelming, intoxicating sensation. The blazing feeling of truly loving somebody and being loved just as ardently in return, and not only in a physical way. It was intense, explosive, extraordinarily beautiful and utterly exhausting, and when the onslaught of his climax slowly ebbed away again, he fell, softly, floating on the sense of delight that was filling the room, filling them both. And Aerilyn was there to catch him, to hold him and stroke him and free him of the traumatic dreams that haunted him since the long days and nights of torture in the dark, cold dungeon. For the first time since the assault, he felt entirely untroubled and simply happy. 

Afterwards they lay at rest together, eyes closed and bodies entwined in an intimate embrace of love. Suddenly the exhaustion from the long day came over both of them, causing Boromir to fall asleep a few minutes after his wife did. The first birds already started to sing when Aerilyn slipped into dreamless, peaceful sleep, securely wrapped in the strong arms of her husband of one day. The last thing Boromir thought before deep sleep overwhelmed him as well was that he felt like drowning. Drowning in bliss.

~ tbc ~