Epilogue:
Haldir stood in the window of the talan he shared with his wife, son and daughter. He smiled to himself, a smile that was filled with all the contentment and joy of both worlds. After giving birth to their first son, Celeduil, at Mirkwood, the small family had returned to Lothlorien, although they visited Ardenia's family in the forests of Mirkwood often, for Thranduil delighted in having his grandchildren around, as did Legolas and Alimra. They all doted upon the two children, and despite Thranduils desire for him to marry and experience the joy of family for himself, Legolas continued his search for the love akin to what Ardenia and Haldir shared. For now, he said, he was more than content to share his love with the two children who brought them all such joy, and he had formed a close bond with Celeduil, who regarded his uncle as his best friend. Thranduil, often found that the sight of his son playing with his grandchildren often left him with the desire to have more children of his own. (a filial desire which he had not experienced in years, after Legolas was grown). However, he stated to Alimra, that, until he had completely made up his mind concerning more children, they would just have to 'keep in practice', a process for which that his young wife had no complaints about whatsoever.
Upon arriving in Lothlorien all concerning Celeborn was explained to Ardenia, and (to both Celeborns and Haldir's delight) Ardenia put the past behind her as easily as she had after the death of Malanion. The two could often be found together, talking or pouring over one scroll or another, as Ardenia had discovered a love of the many scrolls that were kept within the depths of Lorien. She had born him two children already, and after six years, had suddenly decided she wanted another. He smiled to himself again. Last night would be one that he wouldn't forget for a long time! He leant against the window frame, languously stretching in recollection of the night before, how they had fallen on to each other in heated passion, and had conceived their third child in a shower of pleasure and passion.
Haldir sighed, and turned from the window, to see his small daughter, no more than 7 years old, playing with one of his own arrows on the floor. He rushed to take the weapon from her. Limlandia smiled up at her father, even though he had just taken from her one of her new favourite toys. Haldir couldn't resist smiling back, her smile, like her mothers, was infectious. He picked her up off the floor, and placed the arrow on a high shelf (he had no idea how she managed to get hold of one in the first place.) Already she had her mothers spirit, fighting playfully with him, declaring "I'll fight you adar!" And he laughed, before placing her back on the floor, only to have her throw herself at him. He playfully fought back, before dropping to the floor.
"See adar? See! I win! I'm stronger than you!" She laughed, and sat on his legs, stopping him from getting up. He laughed again, when a shadow fell across his face. He looked up to see Ardenia looking at the two of them on the floor with a stern expression on her face, hands on her hips, laughter dancing in her own eyes.
"Look Mother! I beat Adar? See? I beat him!" Limlandia declared proudly, as her brother came in to the room, he no more than 8, and threw himself on to his father also. The three of them tussled on the floor, until Haldir was buried under a pile of elven children, all fighting eagerly. Ardenia cleared her throat. They stopped, and looked up at her sheepishly.
"Now you two, stop beating your father. Goodness knows he gets enough of a beating from me every day!" The two elfings got up off the floor and their father reluctantly.
"Now don't look like that, I know of two uncles who are waiting to take two such elfings fishing," she said with a smile, and a laugh, at her childrens cries of
"Uncle Rumy!" "Uncle Ory!" as they ran from the talan, both in a hurry to see who would finds them first.
"So what's this I hear about you being bested by children now Haldir? Your skills must be slipping!" He looked up at his wife, who was now standing over him, hands on her hips again, a gentle smile on her face as she knelt down beside him, kissing him gently, before he pulled her onto him, and rolled to cover her body with his own, her hands firmly over her head, in a familiar position that Haldir delighted in having her in.
"Well, my love, I can still best you, so why should I be the one to worry?" he whispered in her ear, his voice a seductive purr.
She smiled up at him again, before throwing him off, coming atop of him.
"Is that so, my love?" she asked playfully, arching her hips against him, making him suck his breath in at the feel of her hips grinding against him. He smiled up at her, content for now to be bested. He lifted his head to kiss her, only to have her leap of him, and run in to the bedroom, calling "I've bested you, Marchwarden, now you must catch me if you are to have me!" He smiled after her, a possessive, sensual smile, the smile of a hunter, of a lover, a feral smile of open desire, before he ran after her, and caught her within a matter of seconds, for Ardenia's heart was not in the chase, but rather, in the victorious possession afterwards. And as they reaffirmed their love beneath the reaching branches of their talan, both knew that despite all obstacles, their love was a beacon of hope that filled them both, and wherever it may lead, it would always whisper the same words, for each, the others name.
A/N: so that's the end. But do not threat, there's more to come from these two, their children, and this author. I'd love to know what you all thought of the story as a whole. Now. Stay tuned for more little ficlets about married life between these two, and…..drumroll……my new story, which will probably be about the twins and Glorfindel. (but trust me, there will be no slash of any kind. And another female ofc, which I just love. (and I get the impression the other characters will just love too.!) I thought it was about time there was a story that took Glorfindel out of the slash column, but could someone confirm for me, in Tolkein are Erestor and Glorfindel actually a couple? coz I was never sure. (if so, I'd hate to break them up. I don't like to do that!) Any feedback on the writing, the story and the characters is much appreciated.
