A/N: After this chapter, we will be going in to a fast-forward mode, covering the scenes that are part of the plot, but would drag the story out if I did an entire section for each of the years/realms like I have done for the past chapters. This was planned, and not me getting tired of the story, which just is not the case… I totally love writing this paring. Frankly, I really only need one chapter to get to the 'rough seas' ahead, and one to live through the roughness. Do not throw rotten tomatoes at the author. ;-)

Chapter 20- Lothlórien: A Promise and A Prince

It had been a marvelous evening and early morning together with Elladan. Actually there was not quite any word she could choose to describe what had happened between them since he had woken her and taken her to the flet where they cemented their ever-growing bond more than once, and probably even let other unsuspecting ears hear a great deal of it was well. After the first wonderful release, though, she had not cared who heard them… she just hoped for the sake of her bashfulness that no one chose to bring the subject up in a blatant manner.

After a few hours of rest in his much larger suite of chambers within his grandparent's new dwelling, they had woken to the warm mid-morning sunlight streaming in through the windows and stayed in each others arms without speaking for the entire time. She had recently taken to running her hands over his chest, and tracing the outline of his muscles with her fingers, marveling in the creation that was this peredhel. Elladan, on the other hand, seemed just content to lay back and enjoy her fingers on him with a pleased smile on his face that somehow mirrored a cat that had just caught a mouse.

"I should go back to my talan," she said quietly, glancing up at him.

"Why must you do that?" he questioned. "I was only beginning to make up for lost time."

Silaerín giggled, and rose up on her elbow to look down at him. She smoothed some of the hair that had gotten ruffled sometime this morning, doing who knew what, as he reached an arm around her waist, easily pulling her over his body so that she once again straddled him. She felt his excitement against her thigh that she saw before hand, but had chosen to ignore. Rolling her eyes, she leaned down over him to his him, "Really, I must go prepare for my outing this afternoon."

"Outing with whom?" he questioned.

"Prince Legolas," she replied. "If you will remember his choice of prize."

Elladan frowned, "He is always charming ellyth into things… I wish you would not go."

Silaerín chuckled, "My lord, I would have thought of that before you agreed to your sister and I being the prizes for the competition."

"Aye, you would have," he laughed lightly, flipping her onto her back and followed after her, pinning her to the bed with his powerful body. "You will not let him trick you into something you would regret?"

"How could I when I have you pining away for me?" she responded.

"I do not pine," he said.

Silaerín smiled, "You do, Elladan. Now, please let me get up. I would wish to get this meal over with as soon as is Elvenly possible so that I may come back and seek you out."

Elladan did not make a move of any type, and only looked down at her intently.

"Elladan, I am serious," she said.

He smiled slightly, almost nervously, and sighed, "I have a question to ask you before you leave me to go on an outing with that Elf."

Silaerín chuckled, "And what would that be, my envious love?"

"As you honor me with the prize dance I requested at the festivities this eve," he began and seemed to become a bit more confident, "will you also honor me by doing it as my betrothed?"

"Of course I-," she started with the answer she would give to anything Elladan asked of her, but his actual question permeated her brain and she realized what exactly he had asked, and the gravity of it, not only between them, but Elladan alone with his choice. "Elladan…"

He smiled tenderly, "Yes?"

"Are you sure you wish this?" she questioned.

She could not quite tell if he took this offensively or not, but he chuckled, "I have never been more serious in my life, Silaerín. I love you more than anything else in Arda, and I wish to make the bond we have permanent when we are presented the time to do so, though this time is not that time."

Silaerín could not contain herself with the joy now radiating through her, "I love you Elladan."

"I know," he replied. "But you still have not answered my original question."

"Aye, my lord," she said quietly, now feeling the joyful tears pricking at her eyes. "Aye, I would honor you with that."

A large smile spread across his face, as he leaned down and placed his lips to hers, occupying her for a long amount of time before pulling away and looking down at her. "Our marriage may not take place for another good number of years, Silaerín. There are many things I will be a part of that will keep me from doing so."

"I would wait all the ages of the world for you, Elladan," she smiled.

"I am happy for that," he said, and removed himself from her then. "We will exchange our rings at the celebration this eve, and you are to see my mother when you are given a chance."

Silaerín nodded her head, "I shall do that…"

Elladan leaned over and placed another kiss to her lips, "Now, go on your outing with Legolas."

"Now I do not wish to go," she said.

He laughed, "You must, or he will turn to Arwen for attention, and that is the last thing I want to happen."

"You would place your betrothed at the mercy of an Elf like Legolas, but not your sister," Silaerín remarked, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. She glanced back at him, "I see how I rate."

Elladan followed her quickly, and stood behind her, pulling her against him, "I think you can handle yourself better than Arwen. Besides, she has enough trouble with the arrogant March Warden."

Silaerín chuckled and shook her head, pulling away from him. She quickly reached for her gown and slipped it over her head, "We shall speak of this later, my lord."

She kissed him quickly and he chuckled, "I will count on that."

It did not take her very long to find out that Legolas played a role when his father was around. He still maintained a level of charm and eloquence in the way he tried to impress her or woo her with words, but he was entirely different than what she had originally pegged him as. To say that she was happy that Legolas was an intelligent and respectful Elf was a huge understatement. Their meal out by a stream on the outskirts of the city had been quite lovely, and she felt as though she had made yet another friend in this vast world… who could prove to be quite a valuable friend in the long scheme of the things should she ever require his help.

"I must be completely honest, Legolas," she said quietly as they walked slowly along the trail back toward the city. "After the competition yesterday I thought you would be nothing but a brazen, shameless elleth-hunting fiend."

He laughed at her, "Can you really blame an ellon for that when it is in context with you, my lady?"

"Yes, I can," she responded flatly, gazing at him.

"I suppose I can, then," Legolas let his chuckle fade. "I will not lie to you and say that I do not find a certain delight in pursuing ellyth, but must of the time the way I act comes without any real intention of myself. I blame the mannerisms on my father."

Silaerín giggled lightly, "What little I know of you and your father, I would still have to agree with you."

He sighed and glanced at her, "My father thinks it his duty to find a suitable elleth for me to bind with, and usually those he tries to woo for me are ladies from important families so that he may gain something from it. And with Arwen and you here, two ellyth of the highest birth in Arda and unwed, he is working over time."

She smiled, "He will not be happy then to find out that I am betrothed."

Legolas cocked his head to the side, "You mean to tell me we have spent all day together, and you have not let me know you are betrothed? Here I was thinking that we could possibly have something more."

Silaerín raised her brows, trying to decided if he was serious or not. But he chuckled, and she sighed easily, letting out a relieved laugh. "You should not jest like that with someone like me."

"Someone like you? I thought someone like you would enjoy my good humor," he said.

"Most of the time I would, but I also have a problem with being gullible," she replied with a small chuckle.

They walked along a little longer in silence, until he turned to her and smiled, "Which twin is it? Elladan or Elrohir?"

Silaerín blushed slightly, "Elladan. I would ask how you know it is one of the twins, but I surmised you have seen the numerous glances between us."

"I would tell you and I would embarrass you, but I fear I already have embarrassed you because you know exactly what I am speaking of," Legolas explained as she felt her cheeks grow warm as she diverted her eyes to the ground.

"Elbereth," she muttered to herself. Who else had heard them last eve?

Legolas chuckled, and took her hand to place it in his arm as they continued to walk, "My guest talan is very close to that flet, but you need not worry. It was not that loud."

"I do not think it was fair of Elladan… I know little about the vicinities of things here in Lórien and he drags me about," she said.

"I think he did it just to rub in my face the fact that he is with you, and I am not," Legolas said. "The twins and I have had this rapport between us for quite a while now that we always try to one up the other. You see, I asked for an afternoon with you. In a retaliation to that, Elladan takes you to the flet close to my talan, almost as though in an effort to show me that I cannot have you… Aye, we act like horrible Elflings sometimes."

Silaerín smiled, "Aye, I know the twins are devious, but now I must watch out for you."

Legolas looked down at her and smiled, "I will not continue anything in this arena with you, my lady, trying to be devious about things, especially not now that I know you are betrothed."

"It is not official yet, but that will happen this eve," she replied.

"So I still have a few hours time to one up Elladan?" he questioned, but laughed good naturedly when she frowned at him.

She chuckled and shook her head, gazing in front of her again as they finally made it into the heart of the city. They walked in the direction of the guest talans, but ran into a smiling Glorfindel. He looked at her, his smile growing brighter, his brown eyes twinkling, and she knew he knew something. And her mind went straight to the incident… or incidents, rather… on the flet last eve.

Legolas stopped and glanced down at her. He took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it, "Thank for this pleasurable afternoon, my lady, but I think my father will wish to hear a report on the happenings to see if I am any closer to forming any alliances."

"You are most welcome, my lord," she replied. When he was gone, Glorfindel cleared his throat to get her attention. Silaerín turned, "Yes?"

"Let me escort you to Lady Celebrían," Glorfindel said. "She has been driving Elrond mad because you have not come to see her yet, and it is growing closer to the evening."

"Very well," she said, and took his offered arm.

"And before anyone else has a chance to say this, may I offer my sincere apologies that you were caught in the middle of the battle that is the twins and the princeling?" he looked at her.

Silaerín chuckled, "You may, but I will not accept them. There is nothing to apologize for… I got what I wanted in the end."

Glorfindel let out a soft, lyrical laugh, "Aye, many times I believe."

"You did not hear it as well!" she exclaimed, looking at him worriedly.

But he gave a morbid nod of his head, but laughed again, "My lady, it is a natural process among us all… and those who heard you two, erm, enthusiastic lovers, will not go around telling everyone of it."

She felt slightly unwell now, "Those who heard us?"

He glanced at her quickly, "I should not have said that."

"Tell me now, or I will tell Lord Elrond you like to teach impressionable youths about the art of lovemaking," she threatened.

"My lady, are you threatening me with the friend I have known for many, many years?" he asked, very amused at this situation. "Elladan was not young when I schooled him on methods in which to enhance both of your pleasures. Who would Elrond really believe?"

Silaerín rolled her eyes, "Just tell me who heard us, so I can threaten Elladan later."

Glorfindel chuckled, "My lady, I only tell you because I can see the wrath I would endure should I withhold this secret. There were a few of us ellyn that were watching the sunrise on a few flets below yours. Those in attendance for the opus were Erestor, Elrond, myself, Lord Celeborn and your grandfather."

"Lord Celeborn?" she barely got that out of her throat as she felt herself growing very embarrassed. "Lord Elrond… my grandfather? You must be jesting."

"I am not, my lady," he replied. "You asked for it."

"But you were not supposed to tell me!" she exclaimed.

Glorfindel scoffed, "I have lived two lives in this world, seen horrors you could not conceive, slew a Balrog…. Still I do not understand the workings of the ellyth mind!"

Silaerín chuckled lightly, but still could not take her mind off of the fact that they had all heard what was happening. "Elladan will pay for this…"

"Please, my lady, do not punish him too harshly. If anything, your actions last eve and this morning reminded us old Elves what it was like once more to be young and in love. And I am sure both Galadriel and Celebrían would thank you for the inspirations you gave their husbands."

"That is too much information, Glorfindel," said a voice from behind them.

Silaerín turned to find Galadriel walking with Celebrían, and she felt herself blush again. She bowed her head slightly, "My ladies."

"Come, hênen," Galadriel smiled, "since the mighty Balrog slayer cannot deliver you to us in a timely manner."

Silaerín glanced at Glorfindel and scowled at him playfully, walking toward the two other ellyth. Silaerín found herself going in another direction in the city, again on another walk, but this seemed different to her. As she gazed at the two ellyth walking on either side of her, she had to feel very, very lucky indeed. Sure, she had walked with Legolas and Glorfindel today, her grandfather and Lord Elrond before… but to walk with these two ellyth was a special thing for her. To be accepted into the small circle of trust, and to be aloud to be placed in the middle of their mother/daughter bond was, was a priceless thing for her. She felt honored to walk with them, or even speak to them, for she considered them the two most wonderful ellyth in all the world. Of course, it was partly because she had not had the female influence in her life, but she held them in the highest regard no matter what.

They made their way to the gardens and sat down on a two benches that surrounded a small fountain. Celebrían was the first to speak, "Elladan could not contain himself after you left him this morning."

"Aye, he was very overjoyed," Galadriel nodded. "It was as though he was an Elfling again, running around, telling everyone that he had learned something new."

Silaerín giggled lightly, gazing at the trickling water of the stone fountain. "I cannot believe he asked me…"

Celebrían chuckled, "I cannot believe he waited so long."

"That is what Elrohir said," Silaerín replied. "He said he has been unbearable to live with."

"Silaerín, pen neth, you have no idea," Celebrían said. They shared a few moments of companionable silence, until Celebrían withdrew from the folds of her gown a small velvet pouch and held it out to her. "This ring is of the set once crafted by Celebrimbor, for the betrothal of my mother and father. Elrond and I wore them, and now you and Elladan shall have the honor of wearing such blessed rings of mithril."

Silaerín looked over the ring that she had dumped out of the bag into her hand. The inscriptions were in Noldorin, but it was hard to distinguish exactly what was written on the band of silver. Galadriel chuckled, "It reads, 'He who wears this band has dominion of my heart.' And the one you will receive from Elladan read, 'She who wears this band has the faithfulness of my heart.'"

"Thank you," Silaerín said, gazing up at them. "They are truly magnificent."

They both smiled brightly, but Galadriel turned quite solemn. "There is an important message, Silaerín, in the rings' inscriptions. You must always know that no matter what happens, Elladan will most likely control your heart and never let it go, though he may seem like it at times. And for you, it is wise to always be faithful to him, even if you may not be in a frame of mind to agree with him."

Silaerín nodded her head, and could not help but feel the foreboding in the great elleth's voice, but she placed it into the back of her mind as probably better advice for the real marriage long in the future.

Henen- my child

Pen neth- young one