Well, what I got in reviews wasn't entirely what I was expecting… (covers virgin eyes with a blush… then rolls eyes and considers other things she's read/written). *Clears throat*. Okay…

I was a bit more surprised (than by the outcry for more than the light kisses and proclamations of love in the previous chapter) that I got four votes on whether Legolas should live or die… and three of those were for him to die. Elf haters, are we? Though I can definitely understand your reasoning. It is annoying to read and read and read a story only to get to the end and have him get up and walk off without any real sign his 'one true love' was just buried/killed.

Where did you all get the idea she was still holding him at arms length? Yes, nothing more than some kisses happened… but she is human, and does need her sleep…

MJLuvsPolar: Once again you have put in your review for the last chapter pretty much what I had already done for the coming chapter… Kind of spooky, actually.

Steph: I don't know if the choice between immortality and mortality is given to all half-elves or not… but it's not given to Lunian.

Maybe tonight: What is the elven way of marriage? I don't know… I've read LOTR once, and the Hobbit a few times. Other than that… Did he even kiss her forehead last chapter? (I'm not going back to look.) Anyway, they were kissing at the end of it. Regular kisses. Well, maybe this chapter will help you out.

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Legolas's life was nearly pure bliss for many years after that night. Orc sighting were extremely rare, injuries more so, deaths unheard of. Lunian was beside him, and she was his. The only thing that nagged at a hidden corner of his mind was the conversation they had had the morning after she had confessed her love for him.

"I love you," he murmured, waking her with a soft kiss.

She smiled, her eyes still closed as she carefully stretched, partially dislodging herself from their intimate position, but then she draped her limbs around and against him once more. "And I you, Egola," she teased softly, opening her eyes to smile into his, accepting another kiss with a contented sigh.

Silence reigned for a long moment, both soaking up the feeling of lying together, even if clothes yet barred the way.

"Legolas?" she asked softly.

"Hmm?" he replied, reopening his eyes.

"Do you accept it?"

"Accept what?" he asked, immediately alert though he prevented his body from tensing at the last moment. Death? Love? Pain? Torment with or without her?

"My decision about marriage and children."

He blinked. In the grand scheme of things, that issue had been sidestepped. He frowned slightly, thinking about it. "I will not say it has pleased me. After having you love me having you as my wife is the only thing I desired. Children I did not let myself dwell upon, but I have always wished for them." Even when he saw her merely as a child.

"But?" she asked softly, pinning him with gold-flecked green eyes.

He smiled faintly, pausing to kiss her before replying. "But if you do not accept me as your husband, I shall not force it." She sighed softly, clearly meaning to argue her reasons again. "My love, know this," he murmured, stalling her with a finger against her lips. "Should you ever change your mind, understanding that I shall always wish you as my wife, you need merely ask me to refresh your memory about the night you brought light back into my heart, and I shall propose before you can finish asking."

"A proposal? Was that what that was?" she asked, teasing after the solemnity had faded enough to allow it. "'Marry me?'" she repeated. "That was it? Two words for a race of beings who pride themselves on being of beautiful and elegant speech?"

He chuckled softly and drew her even closer, silencing her mirth for a long, sweet moment. "I was caught in the moment," he allowed, "reduced to being a mere shadow of my generally wise, elven self—" he said no more for she swatted his shoulder, then laid her head against him with a smile. "If you allow me a next time," he whispered softly, "I swear I shall do better," he promised.

She made no answer, pretending she had not heard him.

"What are you thinking about?"

Legolas smiled and turned rapidly, tucking her against him before she had enough time to offer a squeak of protest. "You," he answered when she relaxed into him, her body melting against his.

Lunian lifted her arms so her hands rested idly against his shoulders as he nuzzled her neck, soft kisses finding their way up to her ear before trailing towards her mouth. "Really?" she asked softly. "Why so grim, then?"

"Dwelling on the time when darkness still entered my heart," he answered, kissing her soundly before lifting his head to rest it against hers.

She understood at once, her eyes darkening slightly before she found a humorous thought, her eyes lighting up, full of gold as her lips quirked. "Your father certainly was…surprised I could be so insistent."

"So was I, to be perfectly honest. I knew you would never break down against me, but the king… I expected that would be another matter when he got that look in his eye."

She shivered slightly, recalling the look all too well. It was one that spoke of power and determination, along with a will to use both to get what he wanted. "You really should have the dungeons fixed up. They are not a very pleasant place to spend any amount of time."

"That is the point behind them, my love," he murmured in amused affection, kissing her temple as his mind slipped back to those dark days when Thranduil had had Lunian imprisoned for disobeying the direct order he had issued that she marry his son. He shivered, pulling her even closer. "I was too furious—and worried—to so much as speak to him for two days. Then all I could do was yell or go completely dumb. He expected you to cave in."

She sighed, recalling how close she had come to agreeing to the marriage just so Legolas would return to normal. Seeing any elf so disturbed is a sight hard to bear, but when that disturbance is a combination of anger, love, hate, despair, grief, agony and impending death, anyone would have a hard time even without feeling the emotions tumbling through the poor elf. Add in that the poor elf that happened to be affected was the one she loved, and she had come so close to breaking down she had been weeping when Thranduil finally ordered her released and brought before him. Without even allowing him to speak she was in Legolas's arms, as he had met her halfway into the room.

Many of the elves had been disgusted and disturbed by the obvious… display… that they had put on, but they had been separated for too long to notice or care. Since then, though, she had often noticed, and she hated it. Legolas was looked upon with pity for his love towards a mere mortal by most. The few who did not find her utterly beneath them were the ones who knew how deep and true that love ran… and they still made no move to know her, to befriend her. Stopping another sigh, she knew she had made the right choice in refusing to marry him. She could not have stood being looked down on when she was officially the princess, and he would have probably noticed that they did so. After all, a princess was a much more public figure than a mere ward. Besides, how could anyone expect the last group of elves on Middle-Earth to accept a mortal as a possible future ruler?

"What is it?"

She blinked and looked up, seeing blue eyes fixed searchingly on her face. She checked his quickly, let his emotions tumble over her more certainly, and found he was a bit concerned, but mostly confused. She shook her head and forced a smile. "Nothing, my prince," she replied, kissing him quickly.

Legolas tilted his head at her, frowning slightly. Her eyes had darkened, and showed a habit of sliding away from his. "Lunian," he murmured.

Lunian winced at the lowness of the command. If an elf could growl, that was his. Looking up again she saw that what had been speculation before was now certainty. He knew she was hiding something, and he wanted to know what. It was only natural, she supposed, but it was still irritating. "Legolas, it is not worth troubling you. I'm fine." She cupped his face with her hands, two fingers splayed across his ears, threatening to rise. A flicker of flame leapt into his eyes, but he stopped it from taking over, though his hands tightened on her waist. "And I love you," she murmured, sliding her fingers up, rubbing slowly, torturously along the rim of his ear.

He shuddered and took her lips in a heated kiss before lightly biting her lower lip, withdrawing after that moment. "And you will someday tell me what darkens your eyes?" he insisted, tilting his head off to one side while he studied her.

"Someday, if you do not figure it out before I have the chance," she agreed. She ran her fingers towards her on his ears, pulling him forward for another kiss as effectively as if she had grabbed his head and yanked him against her. She laughed softly when the kiss broke.

"Am I amusing you?" he asked, his voice low again, but closer to a purr this time.

With a smile she watched him fight for control of the fire within once more. It wouldn't be long before he gave up on that. "Amusing, distracting," she shrugged a shoulder and watched him struggle. "I was thinking for once I'm almost glad to be human. My ears are not so… sensitive."

"Your loss," he countered, moving to nibble on her ear. When his teeth closed over the place her ear curled instead of continuing to a point as did his, she couldn't help but shudder, thinking how it affected him. "You were saying?" he teased, his breath tickling over the skin his mouth had just left.

"Nothing at all," she murmured, stroking his cheek with one hand, silently urging him to forget words for a while.

Not that he needed much prompting. He swung her around, her feet leaving the ground for a few turns before he caught her up, carrying her back into their room.