NOTE: Once again, my apologies. "I was delayed." Between nursing and human anatomy and physiology 2, I hardly have any free time. This is a bit lengthy. I only hope this chapter is as good as the preceding ones!

Chapter Seven: Guests of the King and Queen

The Eryn Lasgalen Elves were saddened by their departure from the Golden Wood. Many of them had never been there before and were lamenting their short stay in Lothlórien. Haldir stopped them before they left the borders, accompanied by his two faithful brothers.

"You are leaving, then?" he asked.

Legolas nodded solemnly.

"We must be on our way. Síriel is carrying, and I do not wish to tire her with any long journeys, and the longer we prolong our departure, the harder it will be on her to cope with traveling. Also, I am quite anxious to reach Gondor as soon as I can and visit with Elessar for awhile." he said.

Haldir smiled.

"Ai, to believe that Aragorn is now King of both Arnor and Gondor, and that he is wedded to the Evenstar is…astonishing, to say the least." he said, as his Rúmil and Orophin nodded in agreement. "Very well, I shall leave you to go on your way. The road ahead of you is still long, and I will not delay you any longer. I only wished to bid you farewell and a safe journey."

"Le hannon (I thank thee), Haldir. Navaer (farewell)!" Legolas said.

"Sílo Anor bo men lín (may the Sun shine on your road)."

The trio of brothers watched as the travelers disappeared from elven vision before returning to Caras Galadhon.

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It took a month for Legolas and his companions to arrive in Gondor. Síriel realized the need for hard riding and complied very well, though Legolas would sometimes hear her complain to Celebrindal about feeling tired. He was very concerned about the effect the travelling would have on his unborn child if his wife were going through strain, but he knew she would not allow their arrival to be delayed due to her status.

Upon their arrival in Gondor, unbeknownst to them, a messenger raced to the Citadel and informed the King of their arrival, so that the following morning they were greeted warmly by a royal assembly that escorted them to the White City's seventh Circle. And waiting for them was none other than Elessar himself, with Arwen and Gimli.

"Oh, I cannot bear this! To actually be seeing Lord Elrond's daughter is a dream come true for me! What will they think of me?" Síriel whispered to Legolas. "Oh, I wish the earth would swallow me!"

He smiled and squeezed her hand gently as they approached them.

"Avo 'osto (worry/fear not), meleth nín (my love)." Legolas assured her soothingly. "They know about you and are waiting to meet you."

However, this did not have the desired effect Legolas hoped it would have. Síriel calmed down only when Celebrindal came beside her.

"Suilad, Elessar, Arwen." Legolas said with a slight bow. "We have finally arrived. I have with me my wife, Síriel, and this is her handmaiden and dearest friend, Celebrindal." he indicated. "With us are some of my sire's people, the last of those whom I led here."

They bowed deeply to the King and Queen.

"Welcome to Gondor. We have been awaiting your arrival for some time. I hope that you will enjoy your new life here." Elessar said.

There was a highly annoyed grunt after this.

"Oh, so you forget me about me, eh, princeling?"

Síriel was the first to reply.

"Gimli, you are here!" she said excitedly, and broke away from Legolas to embrace the Dwarf. "How good to see you!"

"And the same to you." he replied gruffly, after she let go of him. "I really must get accustomed to being embraced by a woman, and not just any woman, but one who is at least twice my height."

The gathered crowd laughed heartily.

"I did not forget about you, Gimli. How could I?" Legolas smiled.

Gimli smiled in return.

"I know, but I thought that you might have forgotten me now that you are happily wedded to Síriel and she is present with you." he said.

"I shall never forget you, Gimli, never." Legolas said gravely.

"Well, shall we go inside? There is a feast prepared in your honor, and I do not think it will be very pleasant to eat cold." Arwen said.

"Of course." Legolas replied.

The King and Queen led everyone inside, and they passed by the White Tree on their way through the courtyard.

"Is not that the White Tree?" an Elf exclaimed.

"Indeed it is." Aragorn replied.

As they continued on their way, Legolas took in everything around him in interest. The City was prospering under the King's care. It no longer resembled itself when it was under the Stewards' care, but was alive and green. Laughter and music filled the streets, and people were happy and content with everything. Repairs were being made to the damaged parts of the city, as well as the gate. From afar came the chink of many anvils on stone, and with their keen eyesight the Elves glimpsed the figures of Dwarves busy at work repairing the gate of the First Circle. It was this gate that the Witch-king of Angmar broke through to enter the City, and where he met Mithrandir, who held him at bay.

"Ah, you hear my people's anvils?" Gimli asked proudly.

Legolas nodded.

"Indeed. Have they started working on the gate?" he replied.

Síriel turned a questioning face to Gimli.

"What work are they doing?" she said curiously.

"Did you not see that the gate of the First Circle is damaged when you entered through it?" Gimli asked her.

"I did."

"Well, they are repairing it after the Witch-king broke through it. We are making the new gates out of mithril, so it will be impenetrable."

The half-elf's emerald eyes grew wide.

"Mithril? Real mithril?" she whispered.

Gimli nodded solemnly.

"Aye, real mithril. Have you ever seen it?" he asked her.

She shook her head.

"I have only heard about it." she said.

Legolas turned to the Dwarf.

"And where are you obtaining the mithril from?" he inquired.

"Moria. We brought a large amount with us on our way here, and more is coming to us every fortnight." Gimli answered. "However, we have found a very small amount in the Glittering Caves."

"The Glittering Caves?" Síriel repeated.

Quickly, Legolas told her about it, reminding her of the time when Gimli took him there on condition that he accompany him to Fangorn.

"Ai, I remember now! How I wish to go there!" she exclaimed.

Gimli looked at her excitedly.

"To the Glittering Caves?" he whispered.

She nodded.

"You are welcome any time, my lady!" he told her happily.

Legolas smiled.

"As soon as you give birth, we will go. I promise." he told her.

They had passed into the Citadel during this exchange and now found themselves in a grand hall. Running down the middle of the hall was a lengthy table set with many platters of food and vessels of drink. Servants stood ready to attend the newly arrived guests. When all were seated, the servants gave to each person a small washcloth to wash their hands and face. Then everyone began to pile food onto his or her plate.

Legolas and Síriel were seated across from Elessar and Arwen, with Gimli at the head of the table, between the Elf Prince and King. Síriel kept all her attention focused on her plate, avoiding Arwen's gaze.

"I see that you are pregnant. How many months?" Arwen asked.

Both Legolas and Síriel froze. What would they say?

"Almost two months, híril nín (my lady)." Síriel replied slowly.

She saw Arwen contemplate the answer.

"The feast was wonderful. By your leave, I would like to rest for some time with Síriel." Legolas told Elessar.

The King nodded his head.

"I will have a servant take you to your chamber." he said.

On the way, Legolas and Síriel spoke to each other in Elvish.

"I do not think Arwen was convinced." Síriel said.

"I will explain to them later." Legolas assured her.

The half-elf paled.

"Please, do not do that! Then they will think ill of me!" she cried.

The servant stopped opened a door to a large chamber.

"Here is your chamber, lord and lady. If you need anything, there is a small rope with a bell attached to it that you can ring." he said.

Legolas and Síriel thanked him and entered into the chamber, locking the door behind them. It was a large and spacious chamber subdivided into many rooms, with smooth white walls and large windows that allowed the sunlight to shine through. Síriel was astonished to find herself looking down into the City's other Circles.

"We are in the highest Circle, the Seventh. Below us are all the other Circles." Legolas explained, slipping his arms around her waist.

She leaned back into him, closing her eyes as his scent overcame her, feeling his body's warmth enveloping her. Legolas lowered his head and began to nuzzle her face and neck gently, while simultaneously undoing the ties of her dress. Síriel began to moan softly, urging him onwards. At last, her dress came loose. Legolas allowed it to slip to the floor before turning her so that she faced him. He studied her carefully, noting how her emerald eyes glowed and how the sunlight made her copper-red hair seem alight. Her stomach was swollen with the child. She took his hand and laid it over her abdomen.

"Here within me lies your unborn child." she whispered.

Legolas smiled intimately at her.

"Our child, my beloved, our child." he said softly.

He tilted her head upwards and kissed her, their tongues meeting in that fated swirling dance. Síriel's arms at first encircled his neck, and then they slowly traveled down to his tunic and undid the clasps. A few moments later, his leggings were on the floor on top of his tunic, and the Prince was carrying his wife to the bed for some leisure time.

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They did not linger long in the White City. Legolas confided in Elessar about the nature of Síriel's pregnancy. On the fifth day of their arrival, Legolas announced of his intent to depart for Ithilien to Síriel.

"Yet we only just arrived! And I am just starting to develop a strong bond with Arwen." Síriel said. "Can we not stay for a little while longer?"

"Our home calls. You are always welcome to visit her whenever you desire. I am glad that you are befriending her." Legolas told her.

"She told me she knows of my pregnancy, and I am relieved that she does not think ill of me. She is a wonderful lady, so beautiful!"

Legolas smiled at Síriel.

"To me, you are the most beautiful lady in all of Arda." he told her.

He left her smiling to go and inform his people of their departure.

"Eru alone knows how much I love you, Thranduilion (son of Thranduil)." Síriel whispered. "And Eru alone knows what you mean to me, cuil nín (my life)."