To lady scribe of avandell : You know, I was just thinking about that! A nice little fluffy chapter to reminisce over Chapter 10 (A Silly Girl's Thoughts). I love fluff.

I've dug up a CD full of love songs that I burned a few years ago and therefore I am feeling extremely full of fluff. I could probably stuff a pillow with all the fluff I'm feeling, but I decided to write it all out here instead.

Chapter 36 : Just Two

Changing their clothes was a simple matter, but drying their hair wasn't as easy. So it was no surprise that at breakfast that morning, there were four members of looked as if they had stuck their whole head into the basin, instead of just washing their faces. Imrahil wisely chose not to mention his observations, and Legolas and Lothíriel kept silent of what they had witnessed. The rest were just simply resigned to the fact that the four wet ones were always up to something, and decided not to even bother finding out what was this latest escapade.

Thus, the four mischief-makers were able to avoid having to explain themselves.

Elfwine studied the man opposite his mother. He had never seen such a man before, with such peculiar pointed ears. The man noticed him staring, and smiled warmly. "I don't suppose we've been properly introduced," he said in a clear, smooth voice.

Lothíriel nodded, putting an arm around Elfwine's shoulders. "Legolas, this is my son Elfwine. Elfwine, this is Legolas. He's an Elf, dwelling in Ithilien."

Elfwine frowned, not understanding. "Uncle Faramir dwells in Ithilien."

Legolas laughed. "And so do the Elves, Elfwine," he said, a friendly twinkle in his eyes. "Your uncle and his people aren't the only ones who deserve credit for the beauty of Ithilien!"

"That I agree with completely," Faramir said pleasantly, overhearing Legolas' words.

The doors of the hall opened and in came another strange man. In fact, Elfwine greatly doubted that he was a man. He was short and stocky, with a great big beard. Legolas smiled, seeing the boy's surprised in seeing another new person. "Gimli, good morning!" he said with a grin. "I see the ale you had last night had got the better of you!"

Gimli waved away his best friend's comment and took the seat directly opposite Elfwine. Noticing the child, a smile spread across his face, and he stood up again, and made a little bow. "This must be the little prince of Rohan!" he said in a rich, warm voice. "Hello, lad, I'm Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves."

Elfwine recalled his father talking about the Glittering Caves, and how the dwarves living there had done much good to it, and that the dwarves were friends to be treasured. "I know where the Glittering Caves are. You're a dwarf," he said in awe.

Gimli laughed as he helped himself to a piece of bread. "That I am, young sir!" Looking to Éomer, Gimli beamed again. "Looks exactly like you, the boy."

Éomer winked. "Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was meant as such," Gimli said heartily.

Breakfast passed pleasantly, and Elfwine was enthralled by the tales Legolas and Gimli told, such that he begged to go off walking in the gardens with them, so that he could hear more.

"Please?" he asked beseechingly.

"It would be no trouble," Legolas said. "In fact, it would be a joy."

"Of course it would be a joy!" Gimli contributed. "Come, we could even take young Elboron with us as well."

Elboron immediately turned to his parents with great, big, innocent-looking eyes. "Please, can I go too?"

Maura smiled. "If Legolas and Gimli don't mind having the company of two children, I don't see anything wrong with such an arrangement. You two couples could have some time for yourselves."

Faramir looked at Éowyn with a smile. "Well… that's true."

Elboron cheered.

Éomer nodded. "We haven't had any time together, just the two of us, for…"

"…Five years," Lothíriel finished.

"So one day will do no harm," Elphir said, taking Maura's hand.

So it was settled. Legolas and Gimli would be in charge of the children for the day, and the two couples would finally have some "alone" time.

Éomer and Lothíriel spent the day wandering around Dol Amroth, visiting the marketplace, reading in the library, doing all the little common things that had become so rare in Edoras, where there was always some issue to take care of, and Elfwine to watch. The day passed faster than any other, dark thoughts kept away from every mind.

Finally, as the sun began to set, Lothíriel took her husband's hand. "There's one final place I want to show you," she said with a mysterious smile. "I had nearly forgotten about it, but I was reminded of it this morning."

Éomer followed her through the city, and laughed when he saw the all-too-familiar shack. "I remember that," he said. "That was my 'test', from Erchirion and Amrothos. They used that to measure if I was good enough to marry you."

Lothíriel laughed. "Come, just a little more."

They went down the stone steps and stopped at the edge of the lagoon. The setting sun had just touched the sea, and was slowly sinking into the red and orange waters. The very image brought warmth seeping through a person's heart. "Erchirion and Amrothos used to bring me here as a child," Lothíriel said softly, looking upon the scene with shining eyes. "I haven't been here in so long I just stopped thinking about it. But today I found my brothers here with Elfwine and Elboron, and everything came back."

Éomer eyed the water and grinned at Lothíriel. "You're not going to push me in like in Emyn Arnen, are you?"

Laughing, Lothíriel sat down and pulled off her shoes, then sliding into the water gracefully, heedless of her lovely dark blue dress. "No," she said seriously. "But if you don't get in, I'll pull you in."

Éomer had no need of any more threats. The water was cool and refreshing. Pulling Lothíriel over to him, he kissed her forehead and said, "All right, I'm in. Are you happy now?"

A smile lingered on Lothíriel's lips as she kissed her husband. "Yes, I am."

They made their way back when the sun had completely set, dripping and shivering but not caring. They slipped in through the side door again, and only stopped to look into the children's room. The two boys were fast asleep, tired out after a day of excitement and adventure with an Elf and a Dwarf. Smiling, they eased the door shut and continued on their way to their room.

They met Legolas on the way, walking down the corridor, making not a sound. He stopped before them, and Lothíriel could see the laughter dancing behind his eyes. "I presume you two had a very enjoyable day?" Legolas asked with a smile. He knew where they had been.

"Yes, we most certainly did," Éomer said. "Thank you for giving us such a day. I hope the children were not too much trouble."

"They haven't been trouble at all," Legolas replied. "In fact, they're very good company." He made a little bow, a twinkle in his eyes. "The two of you should get to your room before you freeze to death. Good night." With a smile, he strode past them, to wherever he was planning to go.

Éomer and Lothíriel hurried to carry out his suggestion.