A/N: When presented with the task of writing an Elvish wedding ceremony, I worried and fretted over how I would make it appear as Tolkien may have wanted it. With a combination of the information that is written in LACE on Elvish marriage practices in days of peace, and the combination of Christian principles (after all, Tolkien was Catholic), I hope that this chapter seems satisfactory to my wonderful readers/reviewers.
WARNING: High R rating for this chapter. If you do not wish to read the part that receives the high rating without missing anything terribly important, the part after the line break should not be read. However, I have tried my hardest to remain as ambiguous as I can manage in the descriptions.
Chapter 31- Melethril
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Marriage of Legolas Thranduilion and Emlin Haldiriel
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Emlin sighed as she fell into her seat at the head table beside Legolas. It had been a busy night for her, dancing with her father and uncles, Aragorn, Thranduil, Valandir and even Elladan and Elrohir at one point. She had almost not been able to dance with Legolas the entire night until he finally stole her away from his father. She had thus far had a wonderful time at the celebration, but now she wished for the actually ceremony that was always placed at the end of the celebration that would allow them to leave.
She heard Legolas laugh at something and she turned to look at him. He looked truly magnificent this night with his robes of green and browns, much like Thranduil wore upon their arrival to Mirkwood, and also with the intricate circlet about his head. And despite the loveliness of his material coverings for the evening, Emlin could feel a new sort of exuberance emanating from him. "What is so funny?"
"The expression upon your face, meleth," he smiled, "I have never seen you looking so vexed."
"I was only hoping for a quick end to this celebration." She replied.
Legolas chuckled and leaned in to her, "I thought you would never ask."
Emlin was slightly confused until Legolas stood up from his seat and walked to his father. They spoke in hushed tones for a few moments and Thranduil smiled widely, turning to glance at her. She felt the warm blush creep to her face as he looked at her, knowing what he must have been thinking about her want to leave the celebration so soon. True, she wanted to be alone with Legolas, but it was still slightly embarrassing to think that Thranduil knew it. A few moments later, her mother took a hold of her arm and led her to stand in front of the High Table, beside Thranduil and Legolas. The elves on the field grew quiet and expectant without a call for attention from Thranduil.
The King sighed and smiled brightly, "We, who have gathered in this circle, are now privileged to witness and to participate in a ceremony celebrating, the public acknowledgment of a love which Legolas and Emlin have for each other, knowing that by our presence here with them, we are saying that they, together, are loved by many others. We have come to surround them as they stand before us in this center, where now Legolas and Emlin in essence say, 'Welcome to our marriage! Welcome to the Celebration!' We remember, theirs is a love whose source is the affection of those who loved them into being. We also remind them that they are performing an act of complete faith, each in the other; that the heart of their marriage will be the relationship they create. In a world where faith often falls short of expectation, it is a tribute to these two who now join hands and hearts in perfect faith."
Her mother took a hold of her right hand, as Thranduil took hold of Legolas', and slowly her hand was placed in his. Just that act alone brought a slight chill to her body. Emlin sighed and glanced quickly at Legolas before turning to look at Thranduil and her mother. Her mother began, "Emlin, please face Legolas, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you."
Emlin did so and looked at his hands as her mother continued, "These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your binding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you. These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time. These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in worry, and hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you."
Emlin heard herself sigh though she had not planned to do so. She heard Legolas chuckled lightly under his breath and she glanced up to meet his eyes as her mother continued, "Legolas, please hold Emlin's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go."
At that point, her mother paused for a moment, as if to let the last statement hang into the air. Emlin giggled to herself and glanced in the direction of her father, standing beside Thranduil and Tuilindë. There was no doubt that her mother had directed it towards her father. She continued, "Legolas, these are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you've both had a long hard day. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you also worry, or console you when you are grieving. They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life. Together as one, everything you wish for can be realized."
Thranduil then spoke, "Eru, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Legolas and Emlin see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name."
Emlin felt herself smile again. She had never felt so elated in her life. Then Thranduil spoke again, "Will you pledge your solemn vow to Emlin under the name of Manwë, the greatest Valar and ruler of the winds and airs, who through all the ages of this world has remained with the one, Varda, at his side?"
"I will." Legolas spoke confidently and then gazed down at her, with an astonishing amount of attention as he continued. "I, Legolas, take you Emlin, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst, and through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep, under the blessed name of Manwë."
"And Emlin, will you say the same pledge to Legolas, under the name of Varda, for she is Manwë's queen, Keeper of the Stars and the true ruler of the two?" Her mother spoke clearly, only letting a soft smile cross her lips.
Emlin laughed, finding that everyone else was laughing with her. She took a deep breath to calm herself before beginning with her promises. Really, she did not feel nervous, she was just not sure she had remembered her words correctly. "I will... I, Emlin, take you Legolas, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst, and through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep, under the true ruler who goes by the blessed name of Varda."
There was a short silence as she again looked up into Legolas' eyes. So much she saw there... so many feelings. One second he was mischievous, the next, somber. Other times he was secure within himself, while others he was not. But on this day, all she could see was the different degrees of love shining from his intense blue eyes.
Thranduil sighed, "Will you now give and receive a ring?"
"We will." They both spoke.
Her mother handed Legolas' band of gold to Thranduil so that he held both circles in his hand. Thranduil smiled, as if a moment of genius had hit him. "This circlet of precious metal is justly regarded as a fitting emblem of the purity and perpetuity of the Marriage State. The ancients were reminded by the circle of eternity, as it is so fashioned as to have neither beginning nor end; while gold is so incorruptible that it cannot be tarnished by use or time. For it is within these bands that lies the true Ring of Power. It is one of love and faithfulness, with these and as one being, you two may be indestructible. So may the union, at this time solemnized, be incorruptible in its purity and more lasting than time itself."
Thranduil handed Legolas the tinier and slenderer of the two rings, and Legolas placed it upon her right index finger. "Wear this ring forever, Emlin, as a symbol of love and peace and all that is unending."
Then she was handed Legolas' larger gold ring, and slid it upon his right index. Emlin smiled, knowing that the end was near. "Wear this ring forever, Legolas, as a symbol of love and peace and all that is unending."
Emlin smiled up at Legolas and sighed. Finally, she had made through the ceremony without any baubles along the way. She glanced at her mother, who was smiling brightly, though a tear had escaped her eyes and fallen down her cheek, and then at her father. He stood to the side with Tuilindë, and even his eyes looked as if they were welling with tears, but he controlled his easily. Thranduil placed his hands upon each of their arms and they turned to look at him. He smiled, "Legolas, you may kiss your-."
But he was promptly cut off, Legolas' arms going around her and his lips taking hers before Thranduil could finish. Her mind was oblivious to the world around her as his lips kissed her thoroughly, but chastely, so as not to anger the staunch propriety of some of the courtiers among the attendees of the celebration. Never had her mind been so completely turned to mush before by a simple kiss, but she liked that. And if this was only a simple kiss, what would happen later this night?
Legolas pulled away from her, though kept her within his arms as Thranduil chuckled, turning them towards the crowd assembled upon the field. "Gentle ellyn and ellyth, I present to you the Prince and Princess of Eryn Lasgalen and also the Lord and Lady of Ithilien."
Loud cheers and applause filled the air, as Legolas offered his arm to her as they descended down to the main lawn. Emlin was not quite sure what was to happen directly after the ceremony, so she followed Legolas' lead out to the field where the elves now backed away and created a sufficiently wide area for them. Legolas stepped back from her and bowed his head, and she did the same with a small curtsy. The minstrels to the side of the field began a song at a slow cadence, and Legolas placed a hand upon her hip and one in her right hand, and smiled brightly before whisking her off into the dance.
"No one said there would be a dance." Emlin replied, meeting his eyes.
He chuckled, "I devised this just to make you wait a little longer, meleth."
She smiled and shook her head in a disappointed fashion. "It is not so horrible for me, mell nín, but for you, I worry."
"You worry for me?" Legolas looked down with a slight hint of mischievousness in his eyes. "I did warn you this morn about paying for all those times you have tried to break me of my promise to you. It is you, meleth, that should be worried about something."
"I am not so worried." Emlin replied, dancing a little bit without speaking to him. In a movement that brought her close to one of his ears, though, she whispered, "I trust that you will be gentle with me, so I have nothing to worry about."
Legolas smiled slightly but said nothing more as the dance continued. Half way through the entirety of the dance, Emlin noticed that slowly but surely, couples from the circle of onlookers were joining in the dance, and Legolas was moving them to the side of the large field, near a dense outcropping of trees. In the next quick seconds, Legolas had encircled her waist with his arm and had pulled her behind the foliage. He placed a light kiss upon her lips, "Now we shall leave for the caverns."
Emlin followed closely behind him, realizing that he had called for the dance so that they could slip away as unnoticed as possible. It not only allowed them to make a smooth exit, rather than a more awkward one with everyone knowing exactly what they were heading to do. And it was also for this reason that Emlin was thankful for, as even though she was fine with everyone knowing why they were leaving, she did not necessarily feel comfortable with the knowing glances that she would receive as they left the celebration.
She could not remember the direction they had taken once they left the celebration, and especially not now as they entered the stronghold from a hidden side entrance. They turned almost immediately onto the familiar corridor that led to their rooms... nay it was no longer his room and her room. It was now their room. The realizations sent a flutter through her stomach, even though it would not really be theirs until the binding was complete.
Legolas stopped before the door, placing his hand upon the doorknob before looking at her. "This is your last chance, meleth, to turn back now."
"I cannot believe you would even think I would want to." Emlin said quietly, "After all the arguments we have had because you were being quite the dim-witted elf, after all the words exchanged with my father over this issue, and after having to live through that entirely too long ceremony... you think I would leave you now?"
The answer seemed good enough for him and he leaned over her as though he were going to kiss her, but pulled her into the room after him instead. He let go of her arm so that he could turn back and shut the door. Emlin took the time to walk forward into the front sitting room of his chambers as he slid the privacy latch into place. The sound of the metal locking into place had a slightly ominous feeling about it, but she quickly brushed that thought away as his arms went around her from behind and she sank back against his chest. His lips rested upon her neck, and trailed up to her earlobe, ending at her ear tip, eliciting a soft sigh from her lips.
A shiver went up her spine as he did this, but he left her quickly to walk towards his sleeping chamber. "That is unfair, meleth."
Legolas turned back to glance at her, "Oh is it? I warned you."
"You are not planning on doing that the entire night, now are you?" She asked, watching him pour two glass goblets of deep red wine.
He handed her one of the goblets and smiled wickedly, "Not all night, but I plan on doing it while I can still withstand my need to have you completely. Now, you said you may need some wine before hand, if I do recall correctly."
Emlin looked down at the red liquid in the goblet, suddenly not really feeling like drinking as her stomach churned slightly form nervousness. "Is this the Dorwinion wine?"
"It is. Why do you ask?" He asked.
"If you wish me to be active this night, then you will not allow me to drink this." Emlin warned, "It is far too strong."
Legolas laughed and took a sip of his wine before taking her goblet and setting them beside each other next to the wine decanter. "You are very wise on that matter, because I wish you to remember this night."
Emlin giggled lightly as a blush inflamed her cheeks. She turned away from him, her eyes meeting the bed. This bed had not seemed so large and imposing a few days before when she had been in here looking for the secret passage, but now it looked utterly massive. Again, she felt his arms about her, but this time turned her so that she would face him. He looked deeply into her eyes as his fingers feathered across her cheek and down the side of her face, to her shoulders and then down her torso to circle around her waist.
"Do not be nervous, meleth." He spoke lowly, kissing the corner of her mouth, then her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. She could not help but focus her attention upon what his lips were doing as they moved down her neck, causing her entire body to turn into a rather wobbly thing.
"I am not nervous." She spoke as confidently as she could, though the slight shakiness in her voice belied what she had said.
Again, he drew her into a rather passionate and lingering kiss, before pulling away to look over her face. "You may say you are not nervous, meleth, but you forget that it is I who is your lover, and it is I who can tell such things. You tremble ever so slightly and tense whenever my mouth comes into contact with your body."
Emlin began to protest, but his tongue and lips laved across her bare collarbone, and she did indeed tense. "I do tense, but you must know it is not because I am nervous, Legolas. You have been with others, so you should know that it is the mere exhilarating touch from you that makes me tremble and tense."
Legolas captured her lips again and drew back, "You are nervous, meleth. You ramble a great deal when you are nervous. And to let you know, the others I have been with have never been as sensitive as you are."
"I ramble?" She questioned, watching as he easily removed the robe he was wearing, tossing it over a chair to reveal an equally impressive and opulent tunic and leggings.
"When I was brought into Minas Tirith with those injuries," he began, "you rambled quite sufficiently as you worked upon my barely covered body."
Emlin was silent for a moment, "Do you blame me?"
"Nay, I do not," he chuckled. "And I was very glad you rambled and took my mind off your hands and how near they were to me. It was very difficult to keep myself from becoming excited and offending you."
She smiled and let out little laugh, "I had an inkling as that being the reason for you trying to keep me from checking your leg."
Legolas sighed and carefully reached up to remove the circlet upon his head. He walked over to her, removing her circlet from her hair. "And speaking of you seeing me nearly nude, I believe it is my turn to see you."
With that said, he slipped her gown and shift off of one shoulder, the fabric falling down and revealing one breast to him. She reached behind her quickly, trying to figure out how he had done such a thing with the laces up the back still being tied. But much to her surprise, the ties were undone. How had he accomplished that without her noticing? Had he done it while he was kissing her? Though, she really did not care now that she had worry about what he would think of her bared body.
Now he came towards her after setting the circlets upon the chair his robes were on, his arms going about her waist again and drawing her into a long kiss. As his lips again focused upon her throat, she felt a hand come around her, pulling her arm from the sleeve, complete baring her breast. She sucked in a sharp breath, though she did not know if it was from nervousness or the fact that his hands cupped her and he slowly slid a thumb over the hardened peak. After a few moments, she decided that it was the sensation of his thumb that had caused it. Really, she was not so nervous any more. Now she was more anxious than anything.
His lips slowly made their way down her chest and paused for a moment as he quickly reached up to her other shoulder and pushed the dress off. The fabric fell away completely, landing into a green pool at her feet. It was then that she felt his tongue graze the hardened tip of her breast, followed by a light suckling from his mouth and the feeling of his teeth over the sensitive flesh. She let out a soft moan, finding that this was very pleasurable and could barely stand straight as he continued to tease one breast with his hand and the other with his tongue and mouth. His arms held her closely to him as she leaned back and took hold of his neck, entwining her fingers in his hair.
Again, his lips found hers, but this was only a short kiss while he pulled away and quickly scooped her up into his arms. He walked across the room and gently laid her upon the bed, gazing down at her, as though he were trying to memorize the sight of her body at this moment. She grew slightly self conscious with his persistent gaze, and reached out to grab onto his tunic. Legolas allowed her this, and as she pulled him down, he carefully centered himself over her, resting his weight on his hands as he looked down over her.
"I do not know why you do not wish me to look, Aiwamin." He said quietly, gazing into her eyes now as he used his knees to spread her legs slightly. "You are the most beautiful elleth in Arda and Aman."
She sighed against him, her hands resting upon his arms. Emlin said nothing more as she moved her hands up to the neck of his tunic, slipping her fingers past the clasp about his neck, and easily unhooking it. She watched his face as she continued to move her hands down the front of his tunic, undoing the clasps. "It is not that I do not want you to look at me. I am only very anxious."
"I am sure." He laughed, settling into his position over her, though he still held himself over her with the full strength of his arms. "And I think you are very proficient in undressing, even though you say you are not."
Emlin giggled, "I never said that I was or was not. If I recall correctly, I told you to stop thinking like that when you queried on that very subject."
Legolas remained silent and allowed her to finish with the clasps. She slipped her hands beneath the open fabric, and touched his smooth bare skin, slowly pushing the fabric down his shoulders as he removed his arms one at a time. Emlin sighed again as she ran her fingers down the striated muscles of his flexed arms, finding that his shoulders and arms were the definition of athletic perfection. Actually, she found, his entire body was a model of perfection, from his arms, down his back around to his sculpted stomach. Her hands dipped down perhaps a little lower than she had intended, though she could not be sure of herself as her mind was clouded now with need for him, and brushed his very evident desire.
The gasp from his lips was enough to let her know what she did pleased him, brushed her fingers along his length again, watching the reaction upon his face. His eyelids fluttered closed, but then opened slightly to gaze down at her. She smiled seductively, at least she hoped it was seductively, and said, "I may be good at removing tunics, but leggings are another story."
"You shall be fine, meleth." He said lowly, his voice taking on an unusually husky quality, moving her hands to the strings on the front of his leggings.
Emlin undid the ties quickly and slipped her hand inside the waist of the fabric, pushing the leggings away from his legs slowly. This freed him completely and she found herself wondering how all of this was going to work. However, her attention was quickly diverted as his fingers grazed across her hip down to her lower abdomen until he reached her inner thigh. And then he touched her in the most unsuspected of places, sending all of her nerves into complete shock. She arched into him as he did this, and he in turn took a nipple into his mouth.
In an excruciatingly unhurried manner, he continued to focus his ministrations to her breasts and elsewhere, to a point where Emlin could no longer distinguish coherent thought and the pleasure beyond anything she had ever experienced before. She could feel the pressure building from within, the tightness in her abdomen becoming stronger and stronger until she felt as though she were at a high mountain, about ready to go down a very steep cliff face. And then he removed his hands completely, nearly startling her as he did so, but she was in such a haze she almost did not notice that his lips trailed to the valley between her breasts.
He continued on his journey, down the center of her stomach to the spot where his hand had just vacated. Everything he did seemed to get better, and as both his mouth and his hand focused their ministrations upon this area, she was sure nothing could ever be better than this.
Again he worked extremely leisurely, but she soon felt the familiar building of pressure and tension again within her lower abdomen. This time it was so intense, she grabbed for dear life onto the bedcovers, but found they were inadequate support, so she moved wrap her hands in his hair. She found the tips of his ears and gentle stroked them, eliciting a low growl from him though it had not been well thought out for her. The slight sensation of the rumbling against her sensitive flesh sent her hips bucking up slightly.
His hands circled around her legs to hold down her hips as he continued. Again, she felt herself coming to that familiar cliff, but this time he was not slowing down. When she reached the full height of the mountain and was forced to take a step over that cliff edge, Emlin was sure she would combust and tense so tightly that she would never come out of this state. But quickly, she began to fall, and sensations she felt as she went were unparalleled.
When she was barely recovered, she heard herself whimper something unintelligibly. Emlin took a few more deep breaths, trying to regain some amount of normal respiration, when he joined her again, placing a kiss upon her lips. "What is it meleth?"
"Legolas," she said, noticing the taste still left upon his lips. "Please, quit teasing me."
He chuckled lowly and kissed her deeply again, "It was important you felt pleasure before I took it away from you."
"I am not worried about the pain that could come," Emlin replied. "I just wish to have you."
To accentuate this, she grasped his desire and ran her hand along the length. He needed no more coaxing, and positioned himself above her. She felt him enter slowly, and felt the first stretching as he paused and allowed her to accommodate to him. Then slowly he moved on, and she found it was not as painful as she had heard described, but it definitely was not the most pleasing feeling either. He stopped again, and she could feel why as he found the evidence of her maidenhood.
He leaned over her, placing a soft kiss upon her lips, and whispered a breathy, "I love you."
It was then that she felt the twinge of pain shoot through her body, and she was sure she cringed slightly, but hoped it had not been too evident to his eyes. She opened her eyes a little to peek up at him, and felt the cool tear run down the side of her face, the remnants of squeezing her eyes too tightly.
Legolas again bent down and kissed away her tears, and then captured her lips with his. He broke away, "Geheno nín, meleth."
"It is not bad, Legolas." Emlin said, running a finger along the square of his jaw. In all actuality, all she felt was the fullness of having him within her. "The pain has passed."
He smiled slightly and joined her lips again, as he began a slow, methodical movement within her. This graduated until finally, she felt herself building back up to the mountain again and knew Legolas was close as well. It was apparent that he had lost his control some time ago, and now moved in erratic movements above her. She opened her eyes at just the correct time to see his flutter shut and feel his body go rigid against her. Such a sight it was to see Legolas lose control over anything, much less something he held the card of power in.
Finally, it all ended, and he bent over her again, kissing her deeply and soundly, whispering to her, "Melin le, taurelen."
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meleth- love
melethril- female lover
mell nin- my love
Aiwamin- my little bird
Geheno nin- forgive me
Melin le, taurelen- I love you, my princess.