NOTE: EDITED AND UPDATED 6/5/2005, and again on 6/12/2005 (for a small typo)! The song Legolas sings is taken from an Arabic song that I love. I had the first part translated into Sindarin, but left the rest in English. This chapter was actually part of chapter 21, but when I hit the eighth page, I decided to split it into two chapters.

Chapter Twenty-two: A Year of Love

The following day was greeted by a most beautiful sunrise. Legolas and his wife were bathing in their room as the first of the rays settled in Síriel's copper-red hair, making it appear that she was alight. Legolas stood for a few moments admiring her, as she stood unclad beside him, her bronze skin glowing. She was singing softly to herself as she washed her hair, then began to lather her husband's back with a soft washcloth. He sighed and relaxed his shoulders as she made gentle sweeping motions with the cloth all along his back, then down his legs. From behind him she washed the front side of his body, her breasts pressed firmly against his back. When she finished at last, Legolas regretted that it was over.

"We should do that more often." he told her as they stepped out of the bathing room to dress.

She laughed.

"Next time, however, you will bathe me." she said, her emerald eyes sparkling.

Legolas smiled impishly at her.

"Oh, of course." he replied.

He watched as she dressed, her lithe and firm body sliding smoothly into a red dress. It was the same one she wore for The Choosing. Clear images of that day formed in the Prince' s mind, and a smile crept over his face.

"I will go and feed the girls now." Síriel said, bringing Legolas out of his reverie.

"They are gone." he told her.

"What do you mean?" she asked anxiously.

"Prince Imrahil took everyone on an excursion to the beach, and Celebrindal fed the girls before she left."

"She took them with her, then?"

Legolas nodded.

Síriel sighed.

"I will not fear for them then, they are safe with her." she said.

She went to a mirror that hung on the wall and stared at her reflection, fingering her dress thoughtfully.

"A year ago exactly I wore this dress last, on the day of The Choosing. Do you remember?" she said.

Legolas came up beside her and began to plant feathery kisses on her neck.

"Of course, how could I forget?" he whispered.

"And that same night I conceived our daughters…" she added softly.

Legolas' sapphire eyes flashed.

"Do you wish for that day to return?" he asked quietly.

She nodded.

"It was so beautiful, to be with you, to give you my love and receive yours in return equally. It was then that I knew I truly loved you, Legolas. And I hoped that you would share the same feelings, and not simply toy with me." she said lovingly. "And I know now how much you love me."

"Then let us revive those blissful memories, when our bodies first joined together." Legolas told her.

He undid her dress ties from behind and removed the corset she wore. Her body seemed especially inviting to him, as if he had never before seen her unclad. Her hair, still wet from the bath, clung to her back. She turned towards him, a loving smile on her face. Legolas returned the smile.

"I made a song for you, my dear one." he told her.

"Did you?" she chuckled, realizing that he was wooing her.

"Hin lín vi noeth nín o i arad vinui (Your eyes have been in my thoughts from the first day)
A im luithannen na le, a le iston (And I have been enchanted by you and think of you)
Tyngich nin na le, a gernich faer nín (You drew me towards you, and possessed my spirit)
A im elthiel le o arad hen (And I have been dreaming of you from this day)" he sang to her.

Her eyes danced in happiness.

"Sing more to me…" she whispered into his ear.

"Bring me closer to you, bring me closer
Bring me closer and do not keep me away
And hopefully your heart allows me
To live my life for you and be owned by you" he added.

Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness when he finished, and she buried her face on his shoulder. Legolas ran his hands up the back of her thighs then grasped her firmly against him. She placed her arms around his neck. Carefully, Legolas made his way to the bed. He seated himself on the edge and waited for Síriel to get off of him, but she remained on his lap, facing him, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. With a sly smile she pushed him down onto the bed, then placed herself on top of him. Their noses touched as their mouths sealed together. Their legs thrashed wildly as they drank in each other, hungry for more. They turned once, so that Síriel was beneath her husband. Quickly he grabbed hold of her arms in his and pinned her. She was helpless to his onslaught as he began to attack her with kisses all over her body. He felt her nipples harden on his chest and knew she was excited by his moves. He then released his hold on her, fully knowing that he had her now in his clutches. He looked down from his position and saw her sweet spot.

Síriel sought the opportunity to catch him off his guard. With both her arms she reached upwards and pulled him onto her by his shoulders. He landed somewhat hardly on her, and she winced a little from the impact of his body onto hers. However, she kept her wits about her and entwined her legs with his. She smiled at him. She had him now, and he knew it. His sapphire eyes lit up in anticipation, and the flesh between his legs hardened. Síriel felt him attempt to enter into her, but she shifted her position. Legolas looked at her, his blue eyes pleading.

"You had your turn, now it is mine." she told him.

She turned them both over and sat up so that she straddled him. She smiled down at him triumphantly. Teasingly, she ran her hand lazily from his stomach to his groin, and back up. Legolas groaned. She did it once more before Legolas caught her hand. She lifted her free hand, but he caught that, too. Síriel closed her eyes and positioned herself over Legolas appropriately. Her breath quickened as she felt him enter deep into her, but he was gentle. Their eyes locked as Legolas performed the familiar rhythm within her. Thrice he thrusted, and pulled her slightly towards him each time, until at last she collapsed onto him, panting from exhaustion. Her thighs trembled slightly as he withdrew himself from her.

"Ormeleth veren (joyous day of love)." he whispered to her, tracing her breasts with his fingers. "For this day marks the anniversary of our first year of marriage. Edinor veren (joyous anniversary day)."

Síriel beamed.

"A full year we have been wedded together, and still the days await us." she said.