It was a well-known fact among the noblemen who made up the king's Advisors' Council that King Elessar had a very low tolerance for long, flowery speeches, petty political angling, and generally anything else that prolonged their meetings and kept him from his other duties to his people and his family. Even meetings where every word was necessary, every discussion valid, failed to enthrall him after a certain amount of time unless some great emergency was going on. King Elessar was polite about this, of course, and his advisors made sure to keep things to-the-point and relevant; but there were some times when a long meeting was required and the first meeting right after the king recovered from his illness was one of them.

Unfortunately for them all Gondor and its political life never ceased, not even when the ruler was ill and his spouse insisted on making him rest for an entire week. Aragorn, who was never very good at sitting still when he felt that there were things for him to do, had argued for the whole time (that he was lucid, at any rate) that Legolas was overreacting to what was obviously a very short and relatively minor illness. He'd used every excuse that he could think of but his husband had thwarted each one and had subtly punished Aragorn for wasting both of their energies by making up such ridiculous excuses. One argument that his sickness was making him neglect his poor Laurelin ended up with a day-long visit and the Man having a tangle of braids stuck in his hair for a week. When he tried to convince Legolas to end his bed-rest on the grounds that he wasn't pulling his weight when it came to the babies, the elf and Eldarion (who'd spent most of the week at his ada's side, helping out in any way that he could) had vindictively brought both babies in to him every time that they needed a diaper change. When Aragorn had raised the point that the people needed him to act as king, Legolas had dragged a clearly mortified Faramir into their bedchamber to recite a hideously long list of every political, financial, legal, and diplomatic matter that had arisen since the final month of the elf's pregnancy.

Finally Aragorn, driven to the point of distraction, had suggested to his husband that Legolas had an ulterior motive to his insistence on keeping him abed for so long – such as to get even for all the times when the elf was pregnant and their situation had been reversed. To this Legolas had just smiled, kissed him ever so sweetly, and reminded him that it was a bad idea to make ridiculous and baseless accusations about the person who was overseeing his healthcare. "It might be interpreted as a sign that you're still not thinking clearly," Legolas had told him with a wicked smile on his face that had made Aragorn's heart pound with an emotion that wasn't anger or frustration. "And if that's the case I would have to demand that your brothers…and a few healers…and a lot of healing women conduct many, many invasive and embarrassing examinations, just to ease my worried mind."

That seemed to prove Aragorn's point but he knew enough about Legolas' sense of humor and temperament to realize that it was safer not to push it.

It was almost difficult to believe that his charmingly protective and enticingly vindictive husband was the same elf who was now listening in all seriousness to the advisor Arvedui go on about the political ramifications of the invitations and responses to a soon-to-be thirteen-year-old's birthday party. "In conclusion," said the young advisor. Aragorn could have sworn that he heard muffled sighs of relief coming from all around the table. "Prince Eldarion's birthday celebration allows us the opportunity to remind the rest of Middle-earth that the realm of Gondor has not been this strong, magnificent, and influential since the golden years before the coming of the Shadow."

"We understand that," said Malvegil, one of the only advisors in the room who apparently didn't realize that talking about the prince's party like it was just another political gathering would not sit well with the king. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, first we must send out strict instructions with the invitations," replied Arvedui promptly, "about appropriate attire, not to bring any family under a certain age, and the like. In addition to that, we cannot afford to tolerate any late responses without some form of adequate censure."

"Thank you, Arvedui," said Aragorn a little too quickly and brightly for the sentiment to be entirely sincere. "That was very – detailed. However, I feel compelled to respond to one or two of the suggestions that you just made. First of all, am I correct in thinking that you feel that it would be objectionable to have any children there?"

Arvedui nodded sagely. "Oh yes, sire," he answered emphatically. "This event is a representation of all that Gondor is! It should be an evening of elegance and decorum. Why if any children – anyone who is not of age yet, really – were to attend –"

The rest of the council almost simultaneously leaned back in their chairs as a strange glint appeared in Aragorn's eyes. "It they were to attend, it might resemble, I don't know, a thirteen-year-old's birthday party?" the king interrupted flatly.

"It does seem odd to hold a celebration where the guest of honor is too young to be there," added Legolas in the patient, neutral tone that he always adopted when he spoke up at the Council meetings.

The young advisor faltered, having never thought of that before. "Of course we would make an exception for Prince Eldarion and the princesses…"

"And many more too, but let's not discuss that before I ask about another point," said Aragorn. "That is, what exactly do you suggest that we do if someone takes what we think is too long to respond to an invitation? Declare war? Demand a hefty sum from their realm's treasury? Or would it sufficient to publicly accuse them of being 'mean'"?

"Now you're just being silly," said a foolish-feeling Arvedui. In spite of himself Aragorn smiled to see the Man break through his usual propriety and show a little spunk. "I'm just making the point that this is a political event –"

Aragorn threw his hands up in the air. "It's a party," he emphasized. "While I understand that since this is for the crown prince's birthday it has to involve politics on some level, let us not lose sight of the fact that this is supposed to be for my son. At the end of the day what I find most important is that he enjoys himself and knows that this celebration is truly for him and not just some excuse to show off what is good in Gondor."

"I understand, sire," said Arvedui, looking appropriately embarrassed. "Please forgive my insinuations otherwise."

"I already have," smiled Aragorn reassuringly. "And again, thank you for giving the matter so much thought. Now, is that the last of everything that we need to discuss?"

Eärnil hesitantly raised his hand. "I have one more item of business that I wish to bring to your attention, King Elessar," he said respectfully. "As you most likely recall, after our last meeting I brought up something that had been on my mind since we learned about Lady Nienor demise. Have you had time to give the matter any more thought?"

"Ah yes," drawled Aragorn, nodding with a benevolent smile on his face.

He glanced around the table to see everyone but Legolas and Eärnil – the only other people in the room who already knew what this was all about – looking back at him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "It is not often that the king allows an advisor to meet with him in private about serious political matters," noted Malvegil tightly.

There was a reason for that policy: Aragorn knew that if he allowed one of them to speak with him about their pet concerns in private he would have to let all of them do the same lest he be accused of favoritism. He was sure that they were all darkly speculating about what had made him make an exception to this rule now. "My good advisors," he said diplomatically. "This was never supposed to be a secret. Lord Eärnil merely wanted me to know what he was planning on proposing at our next meeting so that neither I nor my husband were taken aback by it."

"So it was appropriate to share this information with one other advisor but not the rest of us?" persisted Malvegil, reminding the king that there was a fine line between Legolas' position on the Council and his role as Aragorn's spouse.

"In this matter it was appropriate to share it with my husband and adar of my children," responded Aragorn evenly but with authority. "It concerns things that are personal to my family as well as political."

"I wished to speak to them about Lady Almarian," added Eärnil solemnly, not wanting to see the meeting dissolve into petty bickering.

At hearing that particular name Tanondor's ears perked up a little. "Lady Almarian, as in Lord Cirion's widow?" he asked. "What about her?"

"Lady Almarian descends from a noble Gondorian line," said Eärnil. "She had lived in Minas Tirith for all of her life up until about thirteen years ago, and only left then because she loved her husband and daughter and did not wish to be parted from them. Now illness has claimed Lord Cirion and Lady Nienor has slain herself; and that good lady of Gondor remains still in exile even though she herself has done no wrong to anyone here. I respectfully request that the king extend an invitation to Lady Almarian to return to the land of her birth."

"Nice speech," commented Aragorn wryly. "Impassioned but to-the-point; although I'm afraid that it was completely unnecessary. I have no objections to the lady returning to Gondor, nor does my husband. We do not hold her responsible for the crimes that the people she loved committed; in fact, I offered to let her stay here when she came to me to ask that Lord Cirion be allowed to remain in Gondor until Lady Nienor's trial was over. There is actually nothing that bars her from returning right now if she so desired to, but if you think that she needs expressed permission to come back I will be more than happy to oblige."

"That is very generous of you, your majesty, Prince Legolas," said Belecthor, nodding to both Aragorn and Legolas in turn. The rest of the advisors looked relieved that the matter hadn't been more important than that, but Malvegil narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

"Thank you," said Aragorn in a mild voice. "Now, if there is no other business" – he paused and looked expectantly out at them and got no response to the contrary – "then I declare this meeting adjourned. Go now with the thanks of your king and realm."

Everyone rose to their feet and headed out the door, gathering together in groups of two and three – as they always did – to discuss things both related and unrelated to the meeting that they'd just had. Aragorn didn't follow; he simply stood where he was and watched as Legolas strolled over to him. "Well," the elf said. "Shall we head back and relieve Ada and Gimli of our children?"

Aragorn discreetly took his arm and glanced over at the stream of people still leaving the room. "I would like it if you stayed here for awhile longer," he said in a low voice. "Your king still requires your presence."

Malvegil rolled his eyes as he and Tanondor, the last of the stragglers, left the meeting hall. "Did you hear that?" he asked in a whisper. "What would you wager that what he needs the prince for has nothing to do with the running of Gondor?"

"Let them be," Tanondor told him as the door shut behind them. "They just want to have a moment alone together. With all that is happening and is going to happen in the next few months they know that they don't have many of those left. They just want to take advantage of all the private moments they can get now."

"Must they conduct their private moments in the Council's meeting hall?" groused Malvegil. "They're probably going to 'celebrate' how incredibly kind it was for King Elessar to decide to let poor dear Almarian back into the realm."

"Almarian?" repeated Tanondor with a raised eyebrow. "Is it entirely proper to speak of her without using her title?"

"I am not the only one here who was once close with that family!" hissed Malvegil. "You know that she should never have had to leave Gondor at all, or Cirion either! Cirion was just blowing hot air, like he always did; no one took him seriously – not even Prince Legolas – except for the king. It was only their daughter who actually got the punishment that was proportionate to her crimes."

Tanondor grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop mid-corridor. "If you had any objections to Cirion's punishment you should have brought them up thirteen years ago," he reminded him tersely.

"And be exiled alongside him?" scoffed Malvegil. "I think not."

"A fair-weather friend is no friend at all," commented Tanondor. "If you feel the need to second-guess the king have the honor to do so at the meeting! As for me, I believe with my whole heart that Cirion got what he deserved. King Elessar did and continues to do what he believes is best. Whatever you think should have happened –"

"I have to go," Malvegil cut him off with a disgusted look on his face. "I just – have to go…somewhere else."

Tanondor shook his head sadly as he watched his colleague and old friend stalk away angrily. He'd seen someone else that he'd once counted as a friend behave almost the same way long ago: Lord Cirion, when the former advisor first started to become obsessed with Prince Legolas and the elf's 'hold' over the king. It had been painful to witness Cirion's descent; now he only hoped that he wouldn't have to watch another friend go down that same road.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So, my king needs one advisor to stay behind and I am he," mused Legolas after the others had left. He was standing with his back to the door but he heard Aragorn shut it; thanks to his keen hearing he was even able to listen as the Man slid its lock into place. "I wonder what he could want from me. Does he need advice on how to word a treaty? A friendly ear to listen to his concerns about a legal matter? Diplomacy lessons? He could never have too many refresher courses on that topic."

Aragorn deliberately walked across the room, not stopping until he was standing so close to Legolas that the front of his body was brushing against the elf's back. "The king doesn't need an advisor," the Man corrected him. He slid his fingers up and down Legolas' neck, urging him ever so gently to let his head fall to one side. When his husband do that Aragorn began planting openmouthed kisses on his exposed throat. "He needs the only person that he's ever been in love with."

"And that person is me?" asked Legolas in mock surprise, his eyes rolling shut under his husband ministrations. "I must beg your pardon then, King Elessar. While you are certainly noble, handsome, and virile, I must decline. My heart and body belong solely to my husband Aragorn."

"That sick old Man?" jeered Aragorn, only half-in character. "Is he any of the things that you just described me as?"

"And more," said Legolas in a firm tone as he took one of the Man's hands and brought it to his lips. "He is also a fantastic father, generous lover, beloved friend, great leader, possesses the kindest soul in Middle-earth, and captured my affections when he was but a child. Plus, his stamina makes it clear to me that he is no old Man and I will not stand to hear anyone say otherwise."

Feeling his heart warm, Aragorn dragged his lips up to Legolas' ear. "Melanin," he whispered breathily into it.

This had the desired effect: Legolas' body was seized with an amorous shudder and he pressed back against him with a gasp. "Aragorn," he sighed. "I want you; do you understand that? The infallible King Elessar persona is very attractive, but that is not the name I scream when I climax. I would die if I couldn't have my Aragorn, whether he be ill or well, serious or silly, or anything else. I need you."

"My dearest, most wonderful Legolas," murmured Aragorn, humbled by his husband's love as he nibbled on the earlobe. "Do you realize how long it's been since we made love?"

"I seem to recall a pleasure-filled evening during my last few weeks of pregnancy," replied Legolas slyly.

"One month," stated Aragorn mournfully. "It's been one month since the last time I was inside of you, feeling your heart beat all around me. Four whole weeks have gone by since the last time you gave me so much pleasure as I drove you to your peak and stared in awe at your beautiful face as you cried out my name in release. My love, one month has passed since the last time I was treated to the intoxicating sight of your mouth on me, tasting my essence. You do realize that it's been a month since I did this until your mind was drowned in desire and all you could do was moan with need for me?"

Legolas cried out as Aragorn slipped a hand down into his leggings and gripped his arousal but the Man muffled the noise with a sudden, passionate kiss. "What do you think about that, my love?" concluded Aragorn in a husky whisper.

"I think that we shouldn't start this here," replied Legolas, indeed moaning with need as his hips began to move in time with Aragorn's hand. "Oh, if you keep doing that I – I won't be able to walk! Please, Aragorn: let's go back to our bedchamber where we can finish this properly."

"You want to go back where an elf and a dwarf are minding two infants?" asked Aragorn in false incredulousness. "Where we will have to explain in excruciating detail why we need them to take the girls elsewhere, or else not do anything like this at all? Don't think that all I planned on doing right now is letting you climax with just a few little touches; I plan on taking you more thoroughly than I ever have, and I intend on doing it in this room. Why not, my love? The door is locked and it would be so – naughty…"

"Aragorn," said Legolas, trying to sound stern, "how much do you remember about the night that you were so sick with fever?"

"I seem to recall one elf responding favorably to my oh-so-subtle seduction," Aragorn purred. "And I distinctly remember that very same elf removing his leggings," he added, pulling down Legolas' leggings as if to illustrate. "Am I remembering it all wrong?"

Legolas helpfully lifted his legs so that Aragorn could take off his leggings and boots. "You have a good memory for being so delirious at the time," he declared, raising his arms so that his husband could take off his tunic too. Completely naked now, the elf turned around and started working on Aragorn's clothing. "But I didn't say everything that I was thinking that night out loud."

"Is that so?" wondered Aragorn, feigning disappointed astonishment while Legolas stripped off his tunic and ran slender fingers through the hair on his chest. "Now Legolas Greenleaf I'm shocked at you! You should know that the most important aspects of a healthy marriage are honesty and communication."

"I didn't tell you then; but I fully intended on telling you at some point," countered Legolas, kissing one nipple and then the other before kissing his way down lower. Slowly he dropped to his knees while pulling Aragorn's pants down to his mid-thigh. "I made a vow to myself that night," he said as he stroked the skin there with his fingertips, "that I would make it up to you for making seductive overtures when I had no intention of going through with it by fulfilling each and every one of my promises as soon as I could."

Aragorn's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he was surrounded by the marvelously wet heat that was Legolas' mouth. He was still amazed at times that an act that he had once regarded with childish disgust and immature giggles when his brothers first told him about it could be so beautiful to him now. Of course, the Man knew that he shouldn't be surprised; Legolas had a way of taking the things and situations that weren't traditionally considered to be beautiful the making them absolutely gorgeous, even when it came to his appearance. Aragorn silently laughed at all the fools who thought that his husband was most exquisite in his formal court robes; they had never seen the elf disheveled, bruised, and strong while fighting orcs at Amon Hen, or on the morning after baby Eldarion's first sleepless night when the elf rocked the infant with an expression of pure exhaustion, protectiveness, pride, and love on his face. It was moments like those when Legolas took Aragorn's breath away the most and the king loved the fact that they only belonged to him.

Besides, how could any act not be beautiful when Legolas was doing that thing with his tongue that Aragorn liked?

"I –" the king began, but was forced to stop when he forgot how to speak for a few seconds. "I – I will…not be – undone yet."

Legolas pulled back, smirking a little when Aragorn let out a regretful moan. "Do you have something better in mind," he asked.

Aragorn clumsily swiped at the tabletop, successfully knocking off everything within reaching distance. "Me. Inside you. Here. Now," he panted.

The Man grabbed hold of Legolas and spun him around until the elf was standing again, with his back to the table, before grabbing his long legs and carefully lowering him down on his back. "I offered to do something very much like this in this very room once, just a few years shy of two decades ago," recalled Legolas. "You refused; why are you changing your mind now?"

"Back then I hated this room and everything that went on in it," explained Aragorn as he parted his husband's legs and moved between them. "I was under the impression that making love to you here would somehow taint what we shared. What can I say? I was young and foolish to turn down sex with you anywhere for such a ridiculous reason."

"Yet now you are wise in your advanced age," Legolas couldn't help teasing. He grinned evilly as he bent his knees up and not even the glowering looks that Aragorn gave him nor the wonderful feeling of his husband preparing him could make the elf hold his tongue. "Triple digits seem to be the key to your intelligence. Thank Elbereth I didn't know you when your age was but a single digit and you were completely witless."

Aragorn cocked an eyebrow as he added more fingers to the preparation. "I love it when you tease me," he declared.

"No you don't," replied Legolas, arching up suddenly as his husband brushed against that arousing spot inside of him. "You get all exasperated and pout until I kiss you and make it all better."

"All right, I'll rephrase that," Aragorn conceded. "I love it when you tease me during passionate moments."

"Why?"

"Because," said Aragorn, a look of complete bliss overcoming his features as he slid his arousal into his husband's body. "Ohhhhh. Because I know – that I'm – I'm about to – ah! – rob that tart tongue – mmmmh! – of its – sharp words – soon enough."

And that's exactly what he did. Nothing that wasn't almost completely incoherent came from Legolas' mouth until he cried out the Man's name as Aragorn drove him to his climax.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

There were some sights that should never been seen and some that begged to be witnessed so that others could share in the sheer beauty of them. The cloaked individual wasn't sure which one of those the sight that was just witnessed really was. One the one hand, the person hadn't expected to find the prince kneeling before the king in such a fashion after taking the hidden way to the Council meeting hall, and wasn't sure if it was entirely appropriate to see it. On the other hand, seeing the normally collected elf on his knees, the controlled king gasping for words and breath, and then watching the way that they moved together so exquisitely and lovingly; it was the way that all people should be when with the one that they loved. Their lovemaking could be called art.

It was a shame that their love had caused so much pain for others, for now it would have to cause the king and prince misery beyond count in the very near future and their unique form of art would most likely be gone from the world forever.

'Why did the king have to force my hand so soon?' the individual lamented, coming out of the hidden passage to the main corridor of the royal quarters and moving expertly through it in the shadows. 'All that about invitations and coming back and such – now I have to move ahead with the entire plan faster than I would have liked. A pity, though, that it will stop them from joining like they do; it's really an awe-inspiring sight. Were Gondor a less civilized society I wouldn't hesitate to suggest that they do that in the public square so that all may see how they are when they make love and be humbled by it.'

Despite all the unexpected things, though, it was turning out to be a good day. Not only had the person got to witness something so wonderful, now there was a reasonable assurance that King Elessar and Prince Legolas would be occupied for awhile. The person halted in front of Princess Laurelin's bedchamber door, feeling the wood before quietly turning the knob. The plan had begun and soon the royal family was going to know nothing but fear and torment.

To be continued…

A/N: This story now has over 100 reviews. Thank you so much!

A/N: This story has been moving a bit slower than I originally intended. You can blame that on me and my hyper need to include every thought that pops into my head; I personally am going to blame my old stuffed elephant because hey, what's he going to do about it? I considered dropping this chapter but some things here are important to the plot. I promise that things are going to start picking up from here on out.