NOTE: SofiaB, Síriel answers your question shortly. As always, enjoy this chapter, everyone!

Chapter Seventeen: Joyous Reunions

Swiftly, Legolas moved to embrace his sire and greet him with warm and affectionate words. Then he welcomed Gil-celeb graciously as well. The foursome then went inside. Legolas was welcomed back home.

"When did you arrive?" Legolas asked his guests curiously, as they all seated themselves comfortably in the great sitting room.

"We have not been here for very long, only since the afternoon." his sire answered. "If truth be told, Faramir bade us to hasten here."

Síriel and Legolas looked at each other, puzzled.

"I was with him, in councils…" Legolas said slowly. "He did not tell me that you were there. I wonder why he did that."

Thranduil nodded his head knowingly.

"Your messenger, Avathar, arrived less than a month after you sent him to us. Of course, we were delighted at the wonderful and blessed news he had to tell us, as is the entire kingdom. I sent my own messengers to Lothlórien and Imladris with the news of your daughters. We decided to come and see you for ourselves. It took some time to do so, for I had to make sure our kingdom was in safe hands before we left. And Gil-celeb had some important business to attend to as well. When everything was set, we prepared ourselves for the journey. We left exactly one month since Avathar left you. He wanted to send you a message saying he had arrived safely and that we (meaning Gil-celeb and myself) were coming, but I forbade him from doing that." the Elvenking said.

At this point, Síriel smiled and leaned towards Legolas.

"See, what did I tell you? Avathar has a good excuse!" she said.

Legolas nodded at her and motioned for his sire to continue.

"We would have arrived earlier, but we stayed for a few days in Darrion's village. He sends his regards and would have accompanied us if circumstances had permitted him to do so." Gil-celeb said.

Thranduil nodded in agreement.

"That is true. He was very hospitable and generous to us. Anything we wanted we received. He had people serve us day and night." he said.

Síriel smiled.

"That is the way of the Beornings." she mused.

"Such wonderful people they are." Thranduil added.

Both Gil-celeb and Síriel nodded.

"Please, continue." Legolas said.

"When we left, we hastened our speed to make up for lost time. Nigh two evenings ago, we arrived at Faramir's castle, weary. Faramir himself greeted us, and from him we learned that you were present, Legolas. It was Faramir who told us to go on, and reach your home before you, and thus surprise you. He also told us that you would be leaving the following evening." Thranduil said with a smile.

"Oh, so you knew! Now I understand why, you, my sire, said, 'Only if Legolas were here' because you knew he was gone!" Síriel exclaimed.

Legolas, too, could not contain himself.

"So, you were the riders whom I saw from my window that night! I saw you, adar, when you glanced upwards!" he said with a smile.

Gil-celeb laughed suddenly.

"Nothing escapes your son's sight." he declared.

Thranduil smiled proudly.

"I, too, saw you. Faramir pointed out where your chamber was, and I hoped that I might glimpse you. And I did." he said. "We made camp that night in the woods and did not stop afterwards until we arrived here. Síriel surprised us in the woods."

Afterwards, talk turned towards the affairs going on in Eryn Lasgalen, including Gil-celeb's new position, of which Legolas was surprised to hear. He congratulated him quite warmly. After the Prince's departure with his newly wed wife, the Eryn Lasgalen Elves had been quite saddened. But they were over it, and quite overjoyed to hear about Selena and Selina. Thranduil then asked his son about the affairs of his land and people and was comforted to learn that all was well.

"Well, it is quite late. I am sure our guests would like to rest now. They must be weary, as you are, Legolas." Síriel said when they finished.

Legolas laughed.

"Indeed! It has been a most joyous reunion." he said, rising.

"It has, Legolas." Thranduil said as he and Gil-celeb also rose.

"I will call a servant to show you to your quarters." Síriel said.

She left the three men, Legolas' sapphire eyes following her.

"It gladdens me to see you both content together." Gil-celeb said.

Legolas turned his golden head to face him.

"We are very much so, and that is putting it quite mildly. I would not trade Síriel for anything, not even if the Silmarils and the light of Eärendil himself were given to me. She is priceless to me." he told him.

Gil-celeb smiled at Legolas and patted his shoulder.

"I am thankful to Eru for that." he whispered.

Síriel appeared with the servant behind her, and as he followed him with Thranduil down the halls to their quarters, he could not help but feel a slight pang of jealously towards Legolas.

As for Legolas and Síriel, they made their way swiftly to their own private quarters, hands intertwined. First they went to the nursery, where Legolas kissed his sleeping daughters lightly on their cheeks. He stood for a moment gazing upon them with his sapphire eyes until he realized that Síriel was no longer at his side. Puzzled, he entered into their bedchamber, where he found her undressing. She smiled at him.

"I wanted to surprise you." she said, removing her under-dress.

Legolas' breath caught as he looked into her emerald eyes that he so dearly treasured. She began to remove his clothing as he stood.

"I wanted to do that for myself—undress you." he told her.

"Save your strength until we are in bed, ernil nín (my prince)." she replied.

He smiled. He loved everything about her. Her smooth bronze arms began to unclasp the belt that held up his leggings. When they dropped to the floor, Legolas kicked them aside. He wrapped his arms around his wife and pressed her close to him. She moaned quietly in response.

"I missed you so much." he whispered.

Her green eyes lit up as she looked at him.

"You did?" she asked, awed.

He nodded.

"Of course." he answered, stroking her copper-red hair.

She smiled softly at him, the way she knew he loved for her to smile. She brushed aside his hair from over his left ear and gently nipped its point, working her way slowly downwards until she reached his nape. Legolas allowed her to place her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on the back of her thighs and lifted her, her legs locked tightly about his navel. The Prince began to nuzzle the sides of her face. As he reached the corners of her mouth, he kissed her. At the same time, he moved slowly towards their large bed, arms still about his wife.

Síriel felt the back of Legolas' knees connect with the bed only a few moments before they fell onto it. In one swift movement, she rolled astride him. She looked down triumphantly into his sapphire eyes, which glowed brightly. Reaching up quickly, he grabbed her forearms so that she fell onto his chest. They both laughed together.

"A joyous reunion this is for both of us." Síriel said.

But her only response was Legolas' tender touches.