Chapter Thirty-three: The First Night as Husband and Wife

After Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, and King Thranduil had ridden away, Legolas and Míriel returned inside to the palace. Amorith and Giliath followed, though somewhat shyly. Celoneth was awake and crying loudly; it was her feeding time again. Míriel went to her chamber, with Legolas, and nursed her daughter. When she finished, she handed her back to her two loyal handmaidens.

"If you do not mind, I wish to spend the remainder of the day with Legolas." Míriel told them. "After all, we are wedded."

Amorith and Giliath smiled.

"Of course. We will take care of Celoneth." they said.

"Even her feedings?" Míriel asked.

"Even her feedings. Worry not. Go. Legolas awaits you."

The Princess watched as her infant was taken away from her. She heard her handmaidens chuckling softly to each other. Would Celoneth be all right? From whom would she nurse?

"Míriel…"

Legolas came behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, biting her ear gently.

"Celoneth…" Míriel began.

"What is the matter with her?"

"Amorith and Giliath have taken her. They say she will be all right, but who will feed her? I do not wish for her to starve."

"She will not starve, meleth nín. I know you trust Amorith and Giliath. They will allow no harm to come to Celoneth."

"Are you sure?"

"Estelio nin. Come, Míriel."

The truth of the matter was that the Princess was stalling for time. She knew Celoneth was safe, but now that she was alone with Legolas, and they were finally wedded, she was feeling somewhat shy. It was not that she did not love him, she did, but she was too overcome with emotion. Legolas sensed it, and decided it was best to leave her. When she was prepared, he knew she would come to him willingly.

Already it was late afternoon. The sun was beginning to set. Legolas went to a table where a vessel of wine was set and filled two goblets. One he gave to Míriel. He stood a little ways from her.

"I could not rest at all last night." he began.

Míriel looked up at him quickly.

"Is that so, Legolas? Neither could I." she told him.

The Prince smiled. He would play it out slowly. He could wait. Furthermore, they had the entire night ahead of them.

"I am so tired." he said, and fell onto the bed.

He closed his eyes, but kept them open just enough to watch

Míriel. She was sipping her wine slowly, her eyes on Legolas. When he pretended to have fallen fast asleep, she relaxed. He watched as she rose from her seat and drew the curtains shut. When she was walking back to her seat, he rose quickly and caught hold of her hand. She gave a cry.

The Prince pulled her beside him onto the bed. With one swift movement, he had removed his crown and threw it across the room, where it clattered onto the floor. Then he removed his tunic. He was now solely attired in his leggings. His light shoes he removed.

With one hand encircling her waist, Legolas laid her underneath him. Then he cupped her face with both his hands and began to assault her lips with his. Her arms went almost immediately around his neck as she moaned in response to his aggressive yet passionate kiss. Then she removed one arm and began to wander her fingertips down his chest. Legolas felt her tracing his abdominal muscles, and his body that was strengthened by his warrior training. When her fingers wandered close to his groin, it began to stir uncontrollably.

He broke the kiss. Something had caught his eyes. Her arms from underneath were scarred. He had not noticed it before in the Wood.

"What happened?" Legolas asked, indicating her scars.

Míriel turned her face.

"They are from Falathar. My entire body is scarred. Did you not notice before when we were out in the Wood?" she said quietly.

Legolas felt anger course through him. How did Falathar dare to do such an evil thing to Míriel? May he never rest, even in his death!

"I did not notice, Míriel." Legolas told her.

He turned her face towards him. There were tears on her face.

"Weep not. He is dead." he whispered. "You are safe from his evil."

He resumed their kiss. Legolas found the fastens to her dress. He trailed his lips from her mouth, across her jaw line, and onto her neck. Míriel had her hands in his hair now, and she was moaning more frequently, encouraging him on. The Prince rolled them both over once the last fasten was loose. Míriel was now on top of him. The Prince pulled her dress off of her body. The Princess smiled, and threw her leg over him and sat up, so that she was straddling him. Legolas cupped each breast of hers gently in the palms of each of his hands.

"Will you not remove your leggings?" Míriel asked.

He laughed and replied:

"You must do that."

He noticed, while her head was bent, that her entire back was covered with dark marks and scars. No doubt it was the doing of Falathar. He found himself feeling a new surge of love and protectiveness towards his new wife. He would never allow her to come to harm. Then her head was raised, and Legolas felt his leggings being pulled off him.

Míriel settled onto the bed, straddled out her legs, and opened her arms for him. He descended onto her again. His lips found her mouth once more as he entered the swollen flesh between his legs into her.

Míriel gave a gasp that was muffled by Legolas' kiss. She arched towards him at the feeling of her husband inside of her. Legolas deepened his kiss in attempt to relax her. When he was satisfied that she was relaxed, he began to move the same rhythm he had moved in her the first time he had entered into her, slowly in the beginning than faster. They were both moaning and whimpering now. Míriel drew her legs around his waist, causing Legolas to groan as he found himself able to reach deeper. He felt her nails digging into his back as the intensity increased. He caressed her body with one hand.

Legolas broke their kiss once more to bite her ears gently. He heard Míriel whisper his name intimately several times as they felt each other tense up in anticipation of the climax they were both waiting for. He gripped the sheets, and thrust once, twice, three times. Míriel cried out his name quietly as Legolas' seed spilled into her. The lovers clung to each other, riding out their orgasms. Then they collapsed onto the bed, bodies glistening with sweat. Both were panting quite heavily.

"Míriel…" Legolas said, nuzzling her neck.

The Princess closed her eyes in ecstasy. It was no doubt in her mind now which was the more passionate lover: Aerandir or Legolas.

"I have something to tell you." she whispered.

Legolas looked at her.

"I have conceived." she told him proudly.

"Now? How did you tell?" Legolas asked.

Míriel smiled lovingly at Legolas. She cupped his face and pulled him down on top of her. Then she said into his ear:

"I conceived a fortnight ago."

Legolas lifted his head to look at her.

"You mean in the Wood?" he said.

Míriel nodded.

"That was why I was resting last night." she said.

Legolas stared at her in disbelief.

"Are you angered with me?" she said.

Legolas smiled.

"I am not." he said. "Has anyone told you your eyes are beautiful?"

Míriel smiled proudly.

"Aerandir has. It was the first thing he loved about me. He said my eyes are the same colors of the Sea, for Aerandir grew up by the Sea. His first true lord was Círdan. When he came here, and he pined for the Sea, he would look into my eyes and say, 'Here lies the colors of the Sea, Míriel, captured in your eyes. When the waters are clear it is blue, and when they are not, it is gray'. I miss him greatly." she whispered sadly.

"May he may find peace in death. He was a good mentor, a fine friend, and, I do not doubt, an ardent lover. I hope I may please you as he pleased you. I wish that he were still alive." Legolas said.

"I wish he were alive, too, Legolas, but if he was, then you would not have wedded me and I would not have healed. I would have died."