A/N: The title for this chapter comes from the song Here I Am by Sertab. Thank you to reviewer kana, who brought it to my attention. Here it is:

Something calling from deep inside me

A voice I knew but I could not hear

For so long I have tried to hide me

Couldn't see that you were so near

You know me you show me

Everything that I really am and

You saved me you gave me

Strength enough to say

Chorus: Here I am

Ready for your love here I am

I'll never run away

I have made my connection

Seen my reflection in you

So here I am

Living under a lonely shadow

I have seen from the other side

Hope will shine from a single candle

Leaving all of the pain behind

It's our way a new day

Living in the here and now and

The living I'm feeling

Strong enough to say

Chorus

Never leave me

You complete me

I finally know who I love

I love you

I love you

One evening, soon before Legolas was to walk him to the front steps of Meduseld to meet up with his friend Bedric and the boy's parents, Caladel sat in the middle of his ada's bed. All of the things he would need for his overnight were already tied up in a pack and set down by the suite door so that neither of them would forget it, so he had the time to leisurely look through the picture book from Eryn Lasgalan that he got for Solstice/Yule. Well, that's what Caladel was trying to do, at any rate; but what he really ended up doing was blindly flipping through the pages while trying not to stare at his ada.

Caladel had never seen Legolas acting quite like this before; not when they started living in Edoras, not when he saw Gimli or Grandfather Thranduil again, not when he and Eomer decided to become romantically involved, not even in the past few weeks when the couple started telling each other "I love you". The elf was scurrying all over the bedchamber, acting joyful, nervous, stressed, jumpy, and elated all at once. Before now the boy would have sworn to anybody that his ada was the stillest, calmest person ever; but that person was apparently temporarily gone and replaced with someone who couldn't stay in one place for a second. "Ada?" the child asked, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Yes, Caladel?" responded Legolas distractedly as he ransacked the top of his bureau.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" questioned Caladel uncertainly, not sure if maybe the best help of all would be to stay out of his way. "You're acting kind of strange."

"I'm sorry; I'm just a little preoccupied right now," said Legolas. He threw his hands up in the air when his frantic search yielded no results. "Ion nin, do you have any idea where the ties for my braids are? I could have sworn that I left them right here but I can't find them anywhere."

"They're in my bedchamber," answered Caladel, nodding to the door that led into there. "You left them in them on my bureau last week after I used them to put the braids into Bedric's hair."

"Ah yes, now I remember," said Legolas knowingly as he headed at once into the chamber in question. Elbereth, he must really be off in a world of his own if he managed to forget that little incident. After all, his ears were still ringing from the screams and cried that had emanated from his son's squirming best friend when he removed the elvish warrior braids after Caladel had basically turned his hair into a gigantic nest of knots while putting them in. Oh well; at least he knew that he wasn't completely losing his mind – he was searching on the right piece of furniture, only in the wrong location.

Abandoning the pretense that he was doing anything else but watching his father, Caladel shut his book. "Why do you need them at all?" he called, straining to look around the doorframe at Legolas. "Your hair is already braided and everything."

"Yes, but I'm going to braid it again," replied Legolas as he finally found the elusive ties under a pile of tunics that really needed to be put in their proper place. "I want it to look extra-nice tonight."

"But what's wrong with the ties that you already have?" persisted Caladel out of curiosity rather than rudeness. Honestly, his ada had been acting in the weirdest ways at times ever since the boy's birthday party!

"I've been wearing them all day and they're not fresh," explained Legolas, aware of how illogical it sounded but too nervous to care. He wanted everything to be perfect that evening, down to the smallest detail and if he had to give up making sense to have that happen, so be it. "Now, are you all ready to go? I have to meet your papa right after Bedric's parents come and pick you up and we need to be right on schedule. Tonight is gong to be a very special night, Caladel."

Both Legolas and Eomer had been saying things like that all day and Caladel didn't understand it any better now than he did that morning when he overheard his papa whispering it to himself. What was so special about that night that made it any different than any other of his parents' evenings alone together? It couldn't have anything to do with the hobbits – it was yet too soon for them to arrive and although his ada had told him that he had told them that they didn't have to come if they didn't want to see him and so not to expect them Caladel knew that they would be on their way as soon as possible. After all, Gimli had come without anyone asking and so had his grandfather; so why would it be any different with Sam, Merry, and Pippin? It was equally unlikely that Thranduil or Gimli were coming either because someone would have told him and his parents wouldn't be letting him spend the night somewhere else.

So the something special had to be between his ada and papa but Caladel was still at a loss to find an explanation that made sense. It had been a few weeks since the couple had started saying out loud that they loved each other so they couldn't be celebrating that. Privately the boy wondered why everyone else was making such a big deal out of those three little words – he already knew that his fathers loved each other, so why what did it matter if now everyone got to hear about it? Deep down – although he was ashamed to admit it – Caladel knew that a part of the reason why he wasn't as excited as other people about this was because he was a little bit jealous at how much he had to share his ada's attention with his papa now.

Still, he wanted his parents to be happy and together and he refused to let a little jealousy mess that up. He was determined to be a good boy; even though he didn't understand why, this night was important to both Legolas and Eomer and he was more than willing to help in any way that he could to make it as memorable as possible. "Why don't you wear your hair loose?" he suggested as his ada came back into the chamber with the ties twisted throughout his fingers. "You never have it like that, so wouldn't that be special?"

"True, but it's not going to happen," Legolas assured him with a meaningful smile. To him wearing his hair loose was a symbol of weakness and defeat. That's the way that he'd felt all those years ago in Minas Tirith, but tonight was about as opposite to that time in his life as it got. Tonight was happening because he'd been strong enough to survive his grief, open enough to be willing to love again, joyful at the success of his new relationship, and hopeful for what lay ahead for them. "I did it once but having it down will never suit me again. Besides, Eomer knows that I don't like it that way and you know that he wouldn't want to see it if he knew it makes me unhappy."

"All right," said Caladel in a tone that made it clear that he thought that Legolas was being stubborn, but he seemed content to leave it at that and not argue with him any further.

Instead he opted to watch his ada as Legolas quickly unbound his blonde locks, running the comb through it before he began to carefully weave his braids again. He was singing as well, and it wasn't an elvish song in his native tongue or one of the Rohirric tunes that Caladel had heard before: rather it was a silly little song about drinking in the lair of a green dragon. "You're very happy tonight, aren't you?" the boy observed.

Legolas turned to face him, showing him his wide and silly grin. "That I am," he agreed wholeheartedly. "And why should I be? I have you, I have Eomer, I have my wonderful life, and I have tonight. It's a very" –

"Special night, I know," Caladel finished for him, pouting a little as he realized how left out he was feeling. His fathers obviously had some sort of secret; why couldn't he know it too? "But how come? I know I'm not invited tonight or anything but if it's all right I'd like to know what's going on."

The sulk that was evident in his son's voice made Legolas pause as he was setting his comb aside. "Oh Caladel," he said, suddenly feeling very guilty.

"I'm sorry," said the boy quickly, misinterpreting his father's tone. "It's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked."

"No you shouldn't have, because I should have told you before you had the chance to," Legolas told him. The elf walked across the chamber, sat down on the bed next to his son, and pulled the boy onto his lap and into his arms. "I'm so sorry I've been so secretive lately. You know that I love you more than anything, right?"

"Yes," replied Caladel, snuggling against him. It was nice to be reminded of that every once and awhile, though.

"After I pick you up tomorrow you and I are going to do something special, whatever you want, just the two of us," promised Legolas. "And right now I'm going to do what I should have done days ago and tell you why tonight's so special. Don't tell anyone else, though! Not even your papa knows yet."

"Really?" asked Caladel, intrigued, as his face brightened instantly.

Legolas nodded. "Really; it's a surprise," he said, placing a hushing finger against his lips. He leaned in and winked conspiratorially at his son. "Your papa likes to think that he's the one who's got everything planned tonight, but there's no way he could know what I've got up my sleeve. Are you sure that you want to know?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" begged Caladel as he bounced in his ada's arms. He half-knew that Legolas was just teasing him, but better safe than sorry. "Please tell me, Ada! I swear I won't tell anybody!"

The elf prince knew that he meant that with all of his heart and was more than happy to share; especially since if his life as of late hadn't been a whirlwind of good and bad emotions, shifting circumstances, and anticipation he might have been thinking clearly enough to discuss what was going to happen that evening with Caladel. By dawn's light the next day all of their lives would (hopefully) be changing once more and the child had the right to know what was coming. Still, late was better than never and the two of them now had most of tomorrow set aside for some ada-and-son time when they could discuss it in more depth then.

Sliding a little up to the head of the bed Legolas leaned over, grasping the handle to the drawer on his night-table and pulling it open. He cursed under his breath when he had to pull the blasted thing almost completely out so that he could pick up what he was looking for without dislodging his son. There inside, tucked away in the back corner, was the small box that contained Thranduil's second Solstice present to him, the one that Legolas had opened privately and refused to show anyone else.

Legolas held it for a moment, taking a brief moment to muse on the blessed irony of the situation. He'd essentially hidden the gift away in December and then, for the most part, pointedly ignored it. Back then he couldn't imagine ever wanting it around but now he had need for it. All the annoyance that Legolas had once had at his father's assumptions and intrusions into his personal life were all but gone now that the time had come and the young elf was just grateful that he wouldn't have to wait while he sent out a letter asking for it. 'Perhaps,' he thought, 'Ada possesses the gift of foresight after all.'

"I'm going to give our papa this," he announced, pulling open the lid and holding the box so that the boy could see inside.

"Ooooh, it's very pretty," declared Caladel. He plucked up the tiny object and examined it carefully. "Is this the one that belongs to Grandfather?"

"No, your grandfather would never part with that and I wouldn't ask him for it," Legolas shook his head. "But you're on the right track. It does look a lot like that one, and there's a very good reason why that is. Did he ever tell you the story of his?"

"Yes, it's" – Caladel's eyes got very wide. "And this is like that one?" Legolas nodded excitedly. "And it's for Papa?" His father nodded again as he tightened his arms around the elfling. "Ai Elbereth! Does this mean what I think it means?"

Legolas rested his cheek against the top of Caladel's head and sent a quiet prayer to the Valar. "I hope so," he said. "I hope so."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Eomer was very happy to see that there was a spring in Legolas' step as the couple left the dining hall. "That had to be the best dinner we've had yet," the elf enthused. "I don't know how the kitchen staff keeps doing it, but I'm certainly glad that they do."

The Man grinned at him before taking one of his hands, raising it up over his head, and spinning him around. Legolas laughed, making no effort to control where the tight turns were taking him. He turned closer and close to Eomer until he came to an abrupt stop against the king's body. "And the dancing wasn't half-bad either," he continued as he put his hand on Eomer's waist and led them in a few steps. "We've got an interesting style about us, Eomer."

"I'll second that," agreed Eomer with a chuckle, grabbing the hand on his waist and holding it while he moved them both around in a very informal dance that served a double purpose: so that no one could claim to be leading, and to cunningly guide his love down the corridor to their destination. "Did you see the look on our good lute player's face at the end of the second song?"

"The poor thing was positively scandalized!" said Legolas in a mock disapproving tone. "Honestly, he needs to get out more often – by the way he reacted one would think that no one's ever dipped the king of Rohan before."

"I don't think that the dipping was the problem," bantered Eomer merrily. He halted them both and put his hands on the elf's shoulders. They stayed like that for a moment as a thoughtful look crossed his face; for a moment he was too caught up in looking at Legolas and marveling to himself that someone so amazing could be in love with him. Then, remembering what he was in the middle of, Eomer let the hands slide down to settle on the elf's biceps and gave them an appraising squeeze as he smiled and tsked. "I think that he was just in shock that such a slender creature like yourself had strength enough to support my firm and solid bulk for so long."

"Firm and solid bulk, huh? Tread carefully, Eomer," warned Legolas, getting nose-to-nose with him. He bent his head slightly as if considering but really to move into a position where all one of them had to do in order to kiss was simply lean in a fraction of an inch. "All we elves are lacking is that bulk; that's why elves are dangerous people. Our enemies can't readily see our strength; then they make the mistake of underestimating us and so are brought to their knees. You would do well to learn from their mistakes – unless you want me to bring you to your knees too."

Eomer's breath caught in the back of his throat. Unable to resist any longer he filled in the very tiny space between their mouths and claimed Legolas' lips in a sweet kiss. "You've already brought me to my knees," he murmured thickly. Their lips met again briefly as the Man brought up one of his hands to caress the prince's cheek. "Now, how do I say it again? That's right: amin mela lle."

"That's very good, melethnin," said Legolas in a soft but desiring voice as he pulled Eomer into another, more flirtatious kiss. The Man's accent didn't really suit the poetic language that was Sindarin but all of his pronunciations were dead-on and Legolas was moved more than he could ever express to realize how much his love had been practicing that particular elvish phrase. "I love you too."

"And 'melethnin' means 'my beloved', correct?" checked Eomer ever so studiously. The elf nodded and leaned in closer to kiss him again, but he subtly pulled his head back just out of range. Legolas gave him a pointed Look and Eomer smiled innocently. "What? I only wanted to tell you how beautiful I find your language to be. I love how that phrases just rolls off of the tongue, don't you? Melethnin, melethnin, melethnin, melethnin…"

He came closer and closer with each 'melethnin' until he was practically kissing Legolas with the word. It was all a part of something of a competition between the couple: one of them would do everything in his power to charm the other until that person was so enamored that he had to initiate a kiss or else go mad. The best part of it was that no matter who proved to be the victor of the match they both won. Usually, Legolas' competitive nature would have driven him to think of some way to best Eomer but at that point all he wanted to do was give in.

Unwilling to restrain himself any longer, Legolas seized Eomer by the back of his head and pulled him into a deep, searing kiss that left them both panting for air. "This has been one of the most romantic evenings of my life," declared the elf emphatically. "A moonlit walk, dancing away the night before having a delicious late dinner, and now I am most fortunate to have one of the best kissers in Middle-earth going to such extraordinary lengths to get me a kiss him."

"One of the best?" demanded Eomer as if outraged and deeply offended. He put his arms all the way around Legolas, trapping him completely in an embrace as he pulled him flush against his body. "I'll show you who's only one of the best." And he poured all of his love and yearnings into another kiss. Legolas moaned appreciatively and the Man took advantage of the opportunity, sliding his tongue into the open mouth and laying claim to it through its explorations.

Legolas allowed himself the sheer pleasure of submitting to Eomer's ministrations for several moments. Then the innate pride that came along with being the son-of-Thranduil-son-of-Oropher kicked in and he grew more aggressive, moving his tongue to vie with Eomer's for dominance. It was a grueling struggle, as neither one of them could let the other just win like that without a fight; but when they finally broke apart for want of breath it was Eomer who staggered. "Well?" the Man gasped.

"I still say one of the best," affirmed Legolas in a teasingly scolding tone. "I just collected all of the proof that I needed now that I am also ranked at the top of that list. Since I cannot exactly find a way to see how the two of us compare to each other you'll simply have to be content with sharing that title with me." His glanced away from his love and down the corridor; and when he looked up again at Eomer there was a new seriousness in his expression. "You obviously have something in mind about where we're going to now."

"To the study," confirmed Eomer, reluctantly pulling himself away from Legolas so that the two of them could continue on their way. "I thought that it would be nice if we went somewhere private. It's a nice place to just sit and talk, don't you think?"

He was trying to be casual but in fact Eomer had put in an embarrassing amount of effort in figuring out the perfect place where he and Legolas could finish out their evening. He needed it to have a high measure of privacy, which ruling out most of Meduseld except the royal quarters, but not too personal, which ruled out most of the royal quarters too. The Man had actually considered making his bedchamber the setting for the latter part of the evening, as he wanted complete privacy, but nixed that idea in the end for fear that Legolas would get the wrong idea about his expectations and intentions. Eventually he'd come up with the idea of going to the study. It was the perfect alternative: the two of them and their son had spent a lot of family time there so it was personal; the guards had no excuses from walking in and out of there at will so it was private, and it didn't have a bed in it, and along with that atmosphere of pressure and tension that retreating to one of their bedchambers would bring, so it was safe; in other words, the perfect place for him to do what he'd been planning to do for awhile.

At times like that Legolas was really appreciated Eomer's thoughtfulness and attention to detail: he himself had been so caught up in the surprise he was planning for the Man that he hadn't given any consideration to where he should spring it. "It's like you're reading my mind," he noted with an understated excitement as he felt the anticipation well up within him. "A little privacy for that would be wonderful; there's something that I've been wanting to talk to you about."

"And I you," countered Eomer mysteriously as they arrived at last to the study door. He went to open it but then hesitated. "Legolas, will you do something for me?"

"Name it," answered Legolas without any qualms.

"Close your eyes," requested Eomer. "I have something special set up in there and I want to make sure that you see it all at once, not just a little bit at a time."

The elf raised his eyebrows in teasing suspicion but then complied with his love's wishes. After all, he trusted Eomer with his heart and his child; why shouldn't he be able to trust him like this as well? The sound of the door opening up creaked loudly in Legolas' ears, almost as loud as the beating of his heart, and he felt tender hands guiding him into place. Legolas was about to ask Eomer if he could look yet when he sensed the Man walking around to stand behind him – right before those tender hands came up to cover his already-closed eyes. "Eomer!" scolded Legolas, playfully exasperated.

"I'm just making sure that you don't 'accidentally' peek," explained Eomer. Legolas didn't need to see in order to know that his companion was smiling. "Don't think that I don't know where our son gets that from."

"I spy on you once when I wanted to know what you were planning for Caladel's birthday and I'm branded as a bad influence for life," complained Legolas. Eomer didn't respond as he used his arms and body to gently steer the elf into the study and then used his foot to close the door behind them. With as much patience as his excitement would let him possess Legolas waited until they'd stopped again to ask: "Can I look now?"

"Yes, open your eyes," instructed Eomer, removing his hands as Legolas' eyelids flew open.

The prince was almost stunned speechless at what he beheld. "Eomer," he gasped, in awe at how beautiful the chamber looked. There were candles everywhere with flickering flames, bathing the study in a soft, romantic light. A fire was burning in the fireplace just enough to give the sofa near it some extra light without making it unbearably hot in there. The Man had obviously put careful thought into the smallest detail of the set-up. "It's beautiful."

"Well, I had to find some way to outdo myself – and you've already seen some of my best stuff," joked Eomer. His expression softened as he took the elf's hand and led him to the illuminated sofa. "And you deserve nothing but the best," he added as he sat down. "So, you have something to tell me?"

"Well, yes, but so did you," protested Legolas as he settled into his place at Eomer's side. "You should go first, what with all the effort you went to in order to make this place look so lovely."

"I insist that you start," said Eomer graciously, but with a hidden agenda: he didn't want anything else to be on Legolas' mind when he said what he was dying to say.

Legolas, oblivious to this, sucked in a deep breath to chase away the last-minute butterflies in his stomach and smiled brilliantly at him. "I have something to give you, if you'll accept it," he said, reaching into his pocket and shivering a bit when his fingers brushed against the gift. He pulled out the object that he'd showed his son earlier and held it up for the Man to see.

Eomer stared in wonder at it: a ring, made of what looked to be mithril and adorned with a subtle and delicate, yet intricate, design. There was something vaguely familiar about it and after a moment or two of contemplation he placed it. "Is that your father's ring?" he asked. "The one that he wears on a chain around his neck? I remember it from our visit to Eryn Lasgalan."

"No, but it's very much like it," replied Legolas. He was almost shaking with anxiousness and about to float away with elation at the same time. It was an odd feeling, really, but one that he wouldn't trade for anything in the world. "That one belonged to my mother. You see, when a member of the royal family of Eryn Lasgalan – or Greenwood, as it was called back when he gave it to her – finds the one person that they wish to spend the rest of their days on Middle-earth and beyond with, they give that person a ring like this. The design represents the coming together of two lives and it's always made of mithril to show how their love will never dim or tarnish."

"It's exquisite," breathed Eomer, his heart beginning to race. "How long have you had it?"

"Oh, it's never made until the royal in question has met his or her love – that way it can be designed and made to fit the recipient's finger," explained Legolas, unconsciously glancing down at Eomer's fingers. "Ada had the smiths make it after our visit last fall to fit your finger. He then sent it to me as a Solstice present – the one that I opened early, remember?"

"He – he did that?" asked Eomer shakily. Strange – he'd always gotten the impression that Thranduil hadn't been too pleased with his role in his son and grandson's life. To find out that he approved so much was almost overwhelming…

"At the time I must admit that I resented how I thought he was pushing me into a more – respectable – living arrangement," confessed Legolas, his cheeks burning a little. "But I've never been good at acknowledging how I feel about someone even when the rest of the world already knows it. But I know now that I love you with all that I am and ever will be," he added, taking Eomer's slightly trembling hands into his own, "and I know that I want to give this ring to you. Eomer, will you marry me?"

Eomer's mouth dropped open in shock; but he wasn't so stunned that he couldn't nod his head. "Yes," he got out without breaking down in tears of joy. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! There's nothing that I want more than to marry you."

Legolas let out a laugh as tears of his own welled up in his eyes. He grabbed Eomer's face and planted a hard, enthusiastic kiss on his lips. "That's the answer I was hoping for," he beamed in relief. He went to lift up the Man's hand but then stopped. "The people of Eryn Lasgalan wear their marriage rings from the moment that they get engaged. Does Rohan have any traditions about that or what finger the ring is supposed to go on?"

"For the duration of the engagement it goes on the fourth finger of the right hand," Eomer told him, a warm glow surrounding his heart as Legolas proceeded to take his right hand and slide the ring on the proper finger. "We move it to the left hand, same finger, at the ceremony when we get married."

A huge grin split his face. "When we get married," he repeated. "You have no idea how much I love saying those words! We're getting married! Oh, now I'm not nearly as nervous about what I want to talk to you about as I was before."

"Is that right?" purred Legolas as he kissed both the ring and the finger that it was on. The ring – the ring he'd just given him – the ring that meant that they would be getting married and spending the rest of their lives together…. "And now I'm even more curious about it. Start talking, my dear fiancé."

"I think it would be better if I showed you first," replied Eomer, almost bursting with excitement and joy. With a huge smile he reached into a pocket that sat on the inside of his tunic by his heart and pulled out a ring of his own.

Legolas gaped at it. It was made of wood that had been polished up to be as smooth, glistening, and lovely as any metal; and on it was carved a gorgeous leaf design. It struck the prince as a Rohirric interpretation of an elvish ring, taking elements of both of the realms that he loved to create something utterly unique and completely appropriate for him. "Is that" – he stammered. "Is that what I think" –

"There's a tradition in Rohan," Eomer told him, holding up the ring so that it was at eye level with his new fiancé. "When someone get ready to ask the person that he loves to spend the rest of their lives together he makes a ring, or has one made if he doesn't possess the skill. The ring – and this is important – must be made with that person and that person alone in mind. That's why there are so many leaves: I made a list of all of the things that you love, and trees and things that grow were on the top of it. Well, it was next to archery, but a bow-and-arrow motif seemed a little inappropriate for this."

"Look," he continued, keeping the tip of one finger in the ring as he handed it over to Legolas so that he could run in along the inside. The elf peered at the underside of the ring and felt his heart swell when he spotted the neatly carved 'L.E.' "I had our initials put on there to symbolize the union that I want to form with you; and opposite that" – Legolas turned the ring accordingly and felt an indescribably delirious sort of happiness when he saw a corresponding carving of 'L.E.C.' – "is for the family that we already have. You have made me the happiest and most blessed Man in Middle-earth, Legolas; and I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life tying to make you just as happy if you let me. Will you marry me?"

"I'll have to think about it," whispered Legolas.

A blank, uncomprehending look crossed Eomer's face; then he smiled and let out a long breath when the elf laughed. "Of course I'll marry you," cheered Legolas.

"Don't tease me like that!" scolded Eomer, but he was chuckling too. He could feel the tension around them dissipating and besides, it was hard to get exasperated when one of his fondest dreams had just come true. "Now, where do your people wear the ring during the engagement?"

"Put it on the fourth finger of the right hand, same as you," instructed Legolas, holding out the hand in question. "I am marrying the king of Rohan and it's an honor to follow Rohan's ring tradition." He drew in a shuddering breath as he felt the coolness of the wood slide down his finger. "I love you so much, Eomer."

"I love you too – amin mela lle," added Eomer as their lips joined. Legolas shifted until he was pressed against the Man. Eomer ran his hands up the elf's back and carefully lay down until he on his back with Legolas on top of him. Words didn't matter at that point – all that they cared about was kissing, tasting, and touching each other. That night they brought each other to their peaks several times; Legolas had never felt so close and intimate with his fiancé before – perhaps with anyone before. What made it even more exciting was that he knew that it was but a taste of what was to come, on their wedding night when he and Eomer would finally give one another all of their bodies to love.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was getting very late when a sated Eomer and Legolas lay together on the sofa, the Man's back propped up against one end and the elf curled up against him. They would have to leave soon to get some sleep but right then neither of them could find it in their hearts to leave. Legolas was holding their ring fingers together, admiring how the wood and mithril looked oddly perfect together. After a minute he gently put down Eomer's hand and put his own left hand in its place, resting the ring fingers together with the right-hand one on top.

Eomer smiled serenely at this gesture, for he knew what Legolas was thinking. "I can't want to see that ring on your left hand too," he said lovingly. "And to feel my ring on my marriage hand."

"I don't want the summer to end without me becoming your husband," declared Legolas softly.

"Do you really mean that?" asked Eomer.

Legolas straightened up so that he could look the Man in the eyes. "With all of my heart," he affirmed. His mind began to race as all that they would have to do before then came rushing to him. "There's a lot we need to do, then – invitations, planning the ceremony, the reception; we'll have to send word to my father, Gimli, and your sister; oh, how I wish now that I'd asked the hobbits to come visit so that they could be here too!"

"They'll come whether or not you told them that they didn't have to," Eomer reassured him. His comforting expression faded and was replaced with something more troubled but resolute. "That doesn't give us a lot of time – maybe it can be the last invitation that we send – but still" – he sighed and let his head fall back against the sofa arm. "I am a king, my love, and who I'm marrying will be the business of more people that just those who dwell in Rohan."

"I know," said Legolas solemnly, his heart pounding in his ears. Why did this always seem to be hanging around, waiting to mar whatever joy he found with Eomer? "I guess there's something that will have to be done before the wedding, then..."

To be continued…