A/N: Sorry for the delay.  The story has been under revision, my beta's been dealing with finals, and all that jazz. 

Brazgirl: Thank you!  Yes, I am not looking forward to writing that sad scene.  :-(

fifi: Always a pleasure.

Partner in Crime: You're the best babe.  :-D

Mondo thanks to Mel, as always!

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The road to Lórien was a long and tedious one.  Much to Gwendolas's protests, I would not let her ride at a gallop or even a canter.  At first, she would scowl at me, but she would then laugh, kiss me, and proclaim that I worried too much. 

The six guards we took with us were cheerful company.  They enjoyed singing merrily as we went along the road.  The two that rode before us, brothers by the name of Bronaduil and Galaduil, acted as head minstrels, singing the loudest of our company.  Two guards flanked both Gwendolas and myself.  Tirnen rode alongside my wife, Gwendolas often keeping him in conversation.  Nestad, one of our warriors who was also a gifted healer, took my side.  They both would sometimes sing along softly, not wishing to overcome the tenors that rode before us.

Behind us were the Rochon and Henlaeg, ever watchful of our surroundings.  They spoke little, but with the singing before us and the chatting alongside us, we noticed it not.  We all let out a sigh of relief as we exited the forest of Greenwood, turning our steeds southward as we followed the Andúin down it's path. 

After nearly two weeks of riding, we approached the northern boundary of Lórien.  With the creeping shadow that had come over the world, we knew that Lord Celeborn would have been more cautious of who entered his woods.  The guards pulled back, letting Gwendolas and myself ride ahead of them.  I let her lead the way, for she knew which path was best. 

"Do not draw your bows if we are spotted," she warned our guards.  "They will surround us first, but do not react."  The guards nodded with slight discomfort, but Gwendolas's reassuring smile softened their fears. 

It was not much longer when Gwendolas halted her steed before us.  I furrowed my brows as I stopped beside her, looking at the path ahead and not finding reason for her delay.  She smiled sweetly and stared at the trees ahead.  I followed with my eyes but found nothing. 

"Mae Govannen, hîr-nîn," Gwendolas called out loudly. 

"My lord!" Henlaeg cried out.  I turned to eye the guard, who looked hard to the trees above us.  I followed with my eyes, finding the tips of arrows pointed down at us.  I heard a flutter of fabric, turning to see Gwendolas slide off her steed.  Only then did I see the Elf emerge from the brush before us.  He smiled broadly as he took Gwendolas's hands, kissing her cheeks. 

"Rîn-nîn," he said in return.  "Glorfindel of Imladris told us of your coming.  We have been expecting you." 

"Glorfindel?"  Gwendolas turned to me, a smile of surprise on her face.  "Lord Glorfindel has come as well?" 

I dismounted my horse, the guards following suit.  Galaduil came forward to take our horses, myself walking to my wife's side.  Gwendolas smiled as she let go of the man, coming and taking my own hands.  "My lord, might I present my husband, Thranduil Oropherion.  My love, this is Haldir of Lórien."

I bowed my head to the Elf, who bowed in return.  "We have heard much of you, Prince Thranduil.  It was you who took one of our brightest stars from us." 

Gwendolas laughed softly, entwining her hand into mine.  "Nay, think not ill of him, Haldir.  He has brought me happiness." 

Haldir bowed once more.  "Then he shall be welcomed with open arms in Caras Galadhon.  Come, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel are waiting."  He led us through the woods, the guards following behind with the horses. 

"Tell me, how fare my parents?" Gwendolas asked eagerly. 

"They are well, my lady, but for their concern for you."  Haldir gave her a small glance.  "Beldírin worries also." 

I saw Gwendolas pause momentarily, paling before she continued walking.  "How fares he?"

"He has seen better days, my lady," Haldir answered carefully, eyeing me.  I eyed Gwendolas, but she did not look at me.  I furrowed my brows in confusion, turning back to Haldir, but the Elf had averted his eyes to the path. 

We reached the gates of Caras Galadhon by nightfall.  The talan looked as if they were lit up with mithril, the sound of a wistful song floating in the wind.  Haldir led us up into one of the large talan, my hand on Gwendolas's back the entire time we climbed up the rope ladders. 

We reached the top and waited with Haldir.  I had not been to Lórien since I was a child, and now I was filled with nervousness.  I felt Gwendolas squeeze my hand, looking over at my wife.  Her eyes were shining as I had not seen in such a long time, a reassuring smile on her face.  I could not help feeling some of my anxiety lift from me, a small smile cross my face as well. 

The Lord and Lady of Lórien approached us, Gwendolas and I bowing low.  "Thranduil Oropherion, we welcome you," Lord Celeborn began, turning a smile to Gwendolas.  "Belocûiell, we are glad to see your return."

"I am glad to be home, my lord," Gwendolas replied. 

Galadriel smiled warmly.  Her eyes caught mine, staring at me momentarily, then turning her eyes to Gwendolas.  I noticed how her eyes stayed not upon my wife's face for long, but turned downward towards Gwendolas's abdomen.  She smiled slyly, raising her eyes once more.  "No doubt your parents shall be anxious to see you.  We shall not hinder you any longer."

Gwendolas and I both bowed, murmuring, "Thank you, my lady." 

Haldir began leading us away, but Lord Celeborn spoke up. "Lord Thranduil," he called, catching my attention.  I turned to him once more.  "We have much to speak of this evening," he said, eyeing me knowingly. 

I nodded my head as I understood.  "Yes, my lord." 

As Haldir led us off the talan, Gwendolas leaned close to me.  "What does he mean?"

"It is of no concern," I told her in earnest, smiling softly.  "Come, your parents are waiting." 

We had not to go very far before Lord Belocû and Lady Gweníril came to us.  I shook hands with Gwendolas's father as she embraced and kissed her mother.  "My child!" he mother exclaimed, switching to come embrace and kiss me. 

"My lord, I see you have kept my daughter in one piece," Belocû commented, smiling proudly. 

"The messenger from Imladris brought word of your coming," Gweníril said, holding me at arm's length, "yet gave no cause.  I hope all is well in Greenwood?"

"All is well, my lady, do not fear," Gwendolas answered, grinning broadly.  "But perhaps such talk would be better served over food, for I am famished!"

Her parents laughed merrily, Belocû taking his daughter's arm and leading her towards their talan.  I likewise took Lady Gweníril's arm, who smiled proudly.  "How was your journey, my lord?"

"I fear it 'twas very long, my lady," I answered, chuckling slightly.  "However, our guards were good company, so the time did pass quickly."

Gweníril eyed me quizzically.  "Guard?  My lord, is such a guard necessary?"

"Unfortunately, traveling through Greenwood is not as safe as fair Lórien," I answered truthfully.  "I also seem to have made bitter enemies with a rather particular pack of wolves." 

She looked at me horror-struck as we approached their enclosed talan, Belocû leading his daughter inside.  Gweníril muttered a "dear me," then led me inside as well.  I heard much giggling inside, finding Gwendolas embracing another lady with her same features.  When she pulled back, I could see that this new lady did not have the radiance that Gwendolas had, yet she was very pretty nonetheless.  She had long pale hair and a sweet smile, yet her eyes had more gray in them then blue.  Gwendolas took the hand of the lady, pulling her toward me.  "Thranduil, this is my younger sister, Melithren."

The lady bowed to me, and I returned with a small bow of my head.  "Your highness," she mumbled. 

I laughed softly, taking her hands.  "Be not so formal, my lady.  Thou art my sister now."  I saw her smile and kissed one of her cheeks lightly.  I eyed Gwendolas, who smile approvingly.       

We feasted over dinner, keeping the fact that the wine was not as good as it was in Greenwood to myself.  I eyed Gwendolas, who hid a small smirk as she sipped from her goblet.  I knew she thought likewise.  We were informed of the coming and going of Lórien, of the children that had been born to people that Gwendolas obviously knew.  Lady Gweníril did most of the gossiping, for I noticed that Lord Belocû eyed me a great deal of the time. 

Melithren spoke very little, only sipped her wine and kept her eyes on her sister.  She finally grew impatient with her mother, blurting out, "Sister, are you with child?"

All eyes snapped to her, a small shriek coming from Lady Gweníril.  Lord Belocû looked angrily at her.  "Melithren!" he reprimanded.

"Father, look at her!  She is almost glowing!  If that's not it, then what else could be the cause of it?"

I eyed Gwendolas, who was blushing and hiding a smile.  I smiled also, reaching below the table and taking one of her hands into mine.  She eyed me, smiling sweetly.  I too noticed how her skin seemed to glow, almost like Lady Galadriel shone, yet Gwendolas's light was a golden color.  Her eyes shone brightly, melting my heart. 

I realized that the eyes of her parents were upon us, shocked to see that we were not angry or offended.  "My lord?" Belocû asked.

"I supposed the purpose of our trip should be revealed," Gwendolas announced, turning to her parents with a smile.  "My sister has in fact marked the very reason." 

There was momentarily silence, her parents filled with shock.  The only sound that finally came was Melithren asking, "I did?" 

With that, Lady Gweníril gasped in surprise.  She stood from the table, as did her husband.  Gwendolas and I followed suit, Belocû reaching across the table to shake my hand firmly.  Gwendolas's mother had already made her way around the table and embraced her tightly.  Melithren also got to her feet and went to her sister, giggling as she embraced her. 

"That is wondrous news, sister!" Melithren declared.  "What shall it be named?" 

"If it be a girl, we shall name it Calenmîr, after Thranduil's mother," Gwendolas said, leaving her mother and sister and coming to my side.  I smiled down at her and took her hands in mine. 

"And if it is a son?" Gweníril inquired eagerly. 

"Legolas," I answered, "for he shall be both a part of Greenwood and also this small portion of Lórien," I answered, seeing Gwendolas smile sweetly. 

~~~~~~~

After we dined, Gwendolas proceeded to show me the fair gardens of Lórien.  She introduced me to several Elves that we met along the way.  I was awestruck by the beauty of the woods, for I had deemed Imladris's to be the fairest in the land.  Yet Lórien seemed to have them all beat.  I beheld the mallorn leaves that I had only heard about in stories, their inner palms shining like gold in the moonlight. 

As we walked, I picked several elanor flowers, adorning them to Gwendolas's golden hair.  She gave a quiet laugh, then kissed my cheek.  We came to a small brook, where I took her hands and stopped her before me, looking intently into her eyes.  "My love, are you happy?"

She again smiled warmly, answering, "Thranduil, I will not deny that it does my heart good to be home.  Yet as long as I am with you, I shall always be happy." 

I felt a similar smile cross my face as I kissed her.  The scent of the elanor filled my nostrils, making me wish to deepen the kiss.  However, Gwendolas quickly pushed me away with a blush on her face, murmuring, "My lord, the wood has many eyes." 

We continued walking coming back near the heart of the city.  Gwendolas laughed out of spite, pausing in a step as an Elf harmlessly crossed our path.  I saw her face pale, the mirth gone from her face as she whispered, "Beldírin." 

I raised my eyes to the Elf that stood before us.  He was built like Lord Haldir; tall and graceful with pale skin and hair.  His gray eyes looked on in wonderment at Gwendolas.  "Gwendolas," I heard him murmur, as if he was in a dream. 

I eyed my wife once more, seeing her extremely uncomfortable.  She dared not look at me, only kept her focus on this Beldírin.  "My... My lord, this is Beldírin.  He is an... an old friend of mine.  Beldírin, this is my husband, Thranduil of Greenwood." 

I saw the Elf look upon me with both horror and rage in his gray eyes, yet he bowed anyway.  "My lord," he said curtly.  His eyes softened as he looked to Gwendolas once more.  "Why have you returned?" he asked. 

"I... we... we came to see my parents," Gwendolas explained.  I detected a hint of panic in her voice.  "I am with child." 

Beldírin blinked several times before dropping his head.  "My condol.. my congratulations," he said. 

I furrowed my brows at this and opened my mouth to speak, but another cut me off.  "Lord Thranduil!"

I turned to see Lord Haldir approaching.  I bowed my head as he came.  "My lord," I responded.  

"Lord Celeborn wishes to have a word with you," he said, turning his eyes to glance from Gwendolas to Beldírin and back to me. 

"Of course," I answered, turning to Gwendolas.  "Shall you be all right?" 

She looked not at me, but nodded her head.  "I shall.  Go.  Do not keep Lord Celeborn waiting." 

I eyed Beldírin quickly, then turned and followed Haldir towards the talan of the Lord and Lady.  Memories of Imladris filled my mind.  Gwendolas had once told me that she loved another before we were wedded.  With a flame of anger, I realized that this Beldírin must have been he that had stolen my wife's heart.  I suddenly did not wish to leave her alone with this Elf, for it was not that I did not trust my wife, it was that I did not trust her old heart.  Nonetheless, I continued walking with the Lord Haldir.