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Holding Court

Almost everyday since Legolas's arrival visitors had arrived in Caras Galadon to pay their respects to the new Lady of Lorien. Gilraen was kept so busy meeting and greeting these new elves that she could not seem to find the time to be alone with Legolas. He was present at all of her presentations and always smiled his encouragement to her. Often, at a celebration, he would dine or stand with her and whisper to her how well she was handling her responsibilities and that he greatly admired her for it.

When word arrived that King Thranduil and his party from Mirkwood had reached the outskirts of Lorien, Legolas rode off to meet him.

Gilraen looked in her mirror as Fireal brushed her hair and readied her for yet another celebration. It was these moments, when Gilraen was alone with her maid, that an expression of weariness overcame her and she stopped pretending she was the 'perfect' Lady of Lorien.

Fireal glanced at her pale expression in the mirror and said, "Why do you not rest this evening and forego the feast?"

"I will not show weakness in front of them," Gilraen replied.

"Is it a weakness to care for oneself?" Fireal asked. "Lindorie can tell them that you had a great matter of importance to attend to. It would not be a lie. Your well being is important."

Gilraen sighed and shook her head. "No, Fireal, I will attend. These activities cannot last forever can they?"

Fireal glanced at her quickly in the mirror and did not speak.

"Fireal?" Gilraen pressed. "Can they?"

"I have heard that many travel this way. It may take … awhile," Fireal answered. "The farther they have come, the longer they are likely to stay."

"Months?" Gilraen looked at her in growing alarm.

Fireal hesitated and then said, "Yes… and perhaps… years."

Gilraen leapt up from her seat. "No! I wish to go to Minas Tirith with Legolas. We wish to marry! I cannot leave if there are still guests here! Oh Fireal, this is terrible."

Fireal knew Gilraen would respond in this way. She was so young and did not realize the great span of years in which she had before her. Everything seemed so urgent to the young Lady of Lorien.

"My lady?" Fireal said as an idea came to her. "Why not be wedded in Lorien? So many have arrived here and more are to come. They could share in your marriage celebration. Your family would travel here, would they not?"

Gilraen looked at Fireal intently as she thought about that possibility. Then she said, "Legolas wanted to formally ask my father for my hand. How would it seem to invite my parents to a wedding when they don't even know that we have pledge ourselves to each other? Legolas would not agree to this course."

Fireal smoothed out Gilraen's long sleeves and smiled. "Why cannot Legolas go to Minas Tirith while you are here with your guests? He can ask your parents for your hand and then return with them for the wedding."

Gilraen was both pleased and not pleased with Fireal's idea. It was brilliant and would solve her dilemma nicely, but it would also mean that Legolas would have to leave her again for a length of time. It would be for one last time, she reasoned. Then she could have him by her side always.

She smiled at Fireal and kissed her on the cheek. "You are my dearest friend Fireal, thank you."

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The arrival of King Thranduil in Caras Galadon was greatly heralded and all the elves had gathered to see him pass. Gilraen had descended the many stairs of her home to meet him. Because he was a king, she had to greet him on even ground to show her respect for him as well. Meeting kings was never a fearful thing for Gilraen. But his particular king did set her nerves askew for he was also the father of her intended.

Thranduil stop his horse and dismounted. Legolas and his older brother stood behind him as they made their way to where Gilraen stood waiting. Legolas smiled at her in encouragement. The crowd was quiet as they watched Thranduil approach Gilraen slowly, taking her measure with his eyes.

Gilraen knew he was very old and a very proud elf. He ruled with a firm but kind hand and she could sense the air of great authority around him.

Gilraen could not discern his thoughts about her. He kept his gaze very neutral as he stopped and nodded gently to her in greeting. It was then that Gilraen remembered where she was. She was standing in front of the house of Celeborn and Galadriel, high elves that had entrusted her with their legacy. She decided in that moment that she would not disappoint them.

Gilraen stood a little taller, her chin a little higher, as the strength of her ancestors pulsed through her consciousness. She nodded her greeting to Thranduil and said confidently, "Welcome, King Thranduil of the Greenwood, to Lorien." She continued to gaze into Thranduil's austere face without looking away.

After many moments of silence, the corners of the king's mouth began to lift into a smile. Then he said, "I have come to honor you Lady Gilraen of Lorien." As if on cue, two Greenwood elves came forward carrying a large chest. They place it before Gilraen on the ground and opened the lid. "For you, my Lady, from the treasuries of the Greenwood," Thranduil announced. Gilraen gazed down at the many brilliant sparkling jewels in the chest.

She looked back up to Thranduil and said, "I thank you, your Majesty. You have greatly honored me this day." She smiled and bowed her head and then the king responded in kind. Then it was Gilraen's turn to smile as she said, "But for all the magnificence of the jewels in this chest, you have given me a much greater gift."

Thranduil smiled again and said, "I give him unto your care happily, my Lady."

Gilraen's smile grew and she looked now at Legolas who smiled back. Then his voice came in to her mind. Did I not tell you that he would love you?

Legolas's brother was introduced next and he gave her a deep, respectful bow.

Now Gilraen said, "Please partake of the hospitality of my home, your Majesty. I look forward to more words with you." She stepped aside as King Thranduil came closer and then they both ascended the stairs together, side by side.

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That evening, after the welcome feast for King Thranduil had ended and all had retired to rest, Gilraen sent Fireal to find Legolas and bring him to speak with her. She sat waiting for him on a bench near the riverside and was pleased when she could sense his approach. Gilraen stood smiling in welcome as he closed the distance and wrapped his arms about her, kissing her soundly.

"My father says I am fortunate to have the love of such a great Lady," Legolas said after their kiss ended. "I agree."

"Did he?" she smiled up into his eyes. "And did he say anything else about me?"

"He said that he is sure you will do better at keeping me home than he did," Legolas admitted. "I told him that I don't intend to leave your side ever again."

Gilraen released him and walked to the bench, sitting down she said, "Actually, I do wish you to make one more journey without me, Legolas."

Legolas looked confused as he sat down next to her and asked, "Where would you have me go? And why?"

"Legolas," she sighed. "I will not be able to go to Minas Tirith for a long time. Many will be arriving from distant places and I must be here."

Legolas looked at the ground in thought, and then he said, "I understand. Do not fret Gilraen. We can wait for however long it takes. I do not wish to go to Minas Tirith without you. I had hoped that we would be wed there shortly after we had arrived and spoken to your parents. I will stay in Lorien with you until you can leave."

"But I wish you to go to Minas Tirith, Legolas," Gilraen smiled. "I wish you to go and ask my father for my hand. Then you can bring my family back with you to Lorien. We can be wed in here. Your family is already present as well as many others. It seems the perfect solution."

Legolas clasped her hands and smiled, "I would like that Gilraen. Lorien is the perfect place for our wedding and all your people will be here to witness it."

"They will soon be your people too, My Lord," she grinned and hugged him in happiness.

Then they held hands and gazed at each other lovingly as twilight fell.

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Elfwine and Eldarion rode swiftly now that darkness had almost fallen, hoping to arrive soon in Lorien. Eldarion had stayed in Rohan, extending his visit after his parents had returned to Minas Tirith. After three months of freedom from his father's constant 'kingship' training, he knew that he would soon have to return to the white city. There was another reason he was hesitant to go and it had to do with a young lady whom he assumed would be waiting for his return from all his travels.

He feared that she had not waited for him and had given her heart to someone else. The more time he spent in Rohan, the more he longed to see her, knowing she was only five days away. Before he returned, however, he wanted to see Gilraen and Lorien, as he had never been there before. It didn't take much convincing on Elfwine's part as he was only too happy to accompany him to see his sister.

They slowed their horses when they noticed two elves approaching from the direction of Lorien. These elves were not ones that Celeborn had brought with him on his journey south and they did not know who the two princes were.

Eldarion spoke in elvish to them and noticed that this gesture alone seemed to soften their stern expressions a bit. "We come to see my sister, the Lady Gilraen," he told them.

The elf guards looked at him and said, "You are Eldarion, son of King Elessar?"

"Yes," Eldarion answer. "And this is Elfwine, Prince of Rohan, son of King Eomer."

Elfwine did not understand elvish but he knew that he was being introduced when he heard his name and he gave them a nod.

"Follow us," one of the elves said.

Eldarion and Elfwine turned their horses to follow their escorts in the woods of Lorien. They rode at a slower pace then they wished to but they couldn't do anything about it now. They didn't know these woods at all and the darkness that fell now made them glad to have guides.

"Your parents taught you elvish?" Elfwine asked.

"Yes," Eldarion answered. "I don't use it very much. But now I see that my father was right. It is a useful language to know. I suppose it's a bit of a tradition as well."

"What do you mean?" asked Elfwine.

"My father's ancestors, the Dunedain, have all learned to speak elvish."

"Why is that?"

"Long ago, in the land of Numenor, the land of the Dunedain," Eldarion began, "the people became divided. There were those called the Faithful, who valued the friendship and kinship ties of the elves through the bloodline of the first King of Numenor, Elros, brother of Elrond. Numenor was halfway between Valinor and Middle Earth in those times and the elves sailed to Numenor and befriended the Dunedain, teaching them many things that enriched their lives."

"After a long time of prosperity, some of the Dunedain grew discontented. They didn't like the fact that the elves could sail from Valinor to Numenor when they themselves were barred from sailing west to Valinor. They didn't like that the elves were granted immortality and not them. They began to resent the elves and mistrust grew. The Faithful, however, didn't feel this way and continued their relations with the elves as they always had."

"The Faithful and the unfaithful, they did battle?" Elfwine guessed.

"No, not exactly. The unfaithful gained ruler ship of Numenor and the Faithful were looked down on and persecuted. The greed of the unfaithful was their undoing, however. They were corrupted by Sauron, who convinced the King of Numenor to attack Valinor and seize the right of immortality for himself. It was that event that caused Eru to destroy Numenor in the Change of the World. Numenor was covered by the ocean and Valinor was placed where no man could ever reach it again."

"So how did your father's ancestors survive the flood?" Elfwine asked.

"Many of the Faithful had plans to leave Numenor and sail to Middle Earth once the unfaithful had left to attack Valinor. They escaped in their ships just in time. Those are our ancestors. That is why we still learn elvish and maintain friendships with the elves, at least the true Dunedain that are left do."

As they approached Caras Galadon, Eldarion was surprised at how many elves there were here. He had been under the impression that most elf havens were becoming sparser as many of them left for the west.

"Your people are many," Eldarion commented to one of their guides.

"Most are visitors from other places. They come to greet our Lady of Lorien," the guide elf replied.

Elfwine and Eldarion looked about in all directions and many curious stares were turned their way as well. Still they rode on and Eldarion decided to try to find Gilraen another way.

Gilraen, where are you? There are too many elves about!

After a few moments, a surprised voice came into his mind.

Eldarion? You are here?

Yes, I've been staying in Rohan all this time. I wanted to see you before I go back to Minas Tirith. Where are you?

In my home. Your guides will show you.

How do you know I have guides?

I know everything, remember?

Eldarion laughed out loud, causing Elfwine to give him strange looks.

Elfwine is with you.

Yes, sister dear, is that a problem?

No, he is always welcome in Lorien. You are almost there. Come up the stairs, I'll be waiting for you.

Why do you not come out and greet us?

You are not kings yet.

Eldarion laughed again. The guides soon stopped and everyone dismounted. Eldarion caught Elfwine straightening out his clothing and his hair before ascending to greet Gilraen.

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Coming up next: Legolas has gone to Minas Tirith while Gilraen attends to Lorien. Will Elfwine give his love one last try?

Please let me know what you thought of this chapter. Thanks!