Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Oh, no reviews this time. Well anyway I need names and gender for the baby. This will be a feast for the return of Nienna and Legolas and there is a fluffy warning. Let's begin.
The immense hall of Thranduil was decorated in green and brown colours, the colours of the wood elves. Nienna could see the joy in which they awaited them both, the joy in the faces of the elves that she was to lead. Legolas looked over his people with a guarded look in his eyes and Nienna felt her heart clench together, she had never seen him truly open. Perhaps tonight would permit a change for them to be open with one another and find healing among themselves.
Thranduil too watched his son before he stood and addressed the crowd. "My people, my fellow elves, day by day more of our kind are leaving for Havens and to Valinor, to follow the strait Path West. The elves seek to go away from the weariness in Middle Earth yet my son, Legolas, has agreed to King Elesar's request to bring elves to the woods of Ithilien and I have given my consent to him. Together with his wife, Lady Nienna, they shall leave within the next week. Already elves have been send there to build the colony. Any elf who wishes to aid and live there in peace, are welcome to join. But for now, let us not think of parting but of returning. I welcome back Lord Legolas and Lady Nienna to Eryn Lasgalen."
A cry rose in the air and Legolas stood, holding his goblet in one hand while he answered. "I toast to everybody who wish us well and who has stood by us, through the death of our daughter and for that I thank you. For your support and we hope that you will welcome our second child in this world with as much joy as you received the first one." He sat down again, but allowing his father to toast. He did not smile but his hand sought out Nienna's underneath the table while his searching gaze swept over the assembled crowd.
She squeezed it and leaned over, whispering in his ear. "A word perhaps later, my husband, for that we might find healing together?" His gaze pierced hers and his eyes softened when he saw the grief and concern for him in her face and he nodded, a slow smile passing over his lips.
Soon the food was served and Legolas reluctantly let go off Nienna's hand to focus on his food. There were many courses but soon he noticed that Nienna did not eat everything and while leaning slightly to his right, he asked. "Are you not hungry?" He was rewarded when Nienna transferred some of her food to his plate and answered while she brushed against him. "I cannot eat all this food, for fear of not holding it down. This one is not nearly as content to eat as Moriethel was."
Legolas looked back down to his own plate and saw it was mostly meat that she had given him while holding fruit and vegetables on her own. He smiled at her and nodded a true genuine smile that reached his eyes and made them sparkle with joy. To have these small problems was a true relief to him since the last couple of dark months.
After the dishes had been cleared away from the tables, the music started playing. First a slow and sad tune out of respect for Moriethel and both Nienna and Legolas stood, bowing their heads and hands clasped in front of them. When the moment passed, elves started to fill the dance floor to dance to a merrier tune. Legolas rose from the table in order to speak to some of his warriors who would be accompanying him to Ithilien. But not long afterwards he found that Nienna came to stand beside him and he smiled when one of the elves asked how she was faring, drawing her into the conversation effortless.
Songs came and went and Legolas noticed that while he knew some of the music, he did not care for it at this moment. Nienna continued to talk to the elves, getting to know the people she was to lead soon. She startled when she felt Legolas's arms slip around her waist and looked up at him. He was not looking at her, but had his eyes closed, his head moving to the sound of the music and Nienna felt a smile tug at her lips while she continued to watch her husband.
When his eyes snapped back open they focussed on her and he slowly asked his tone slightly husky. "This is one of my favourite songs. Adar and I always used to listen to it together and I always dreamed I would share it with someone special. So do you wish to dance with me? It is not a fast song so it shall be slow and you should be able to keep pace." His expression was gentle and Nienna knew that if she would say no, telling him she was tired, he would accept it. But instead she answered.
"I would be delighted too." She watched as the smile blossomed on his face and while telling the elves he was going to dance, he then led her away to an empty space on the floor. Taking her hand in his, the other one resting on her lower back, he began to sway in tune with the music.
Guiding her across the room, Nienna could easily see how a young Legolas would be sitting in the king's lap and listen to this song. A song of hope and love, a love and hope that both of them hoped that they could give to their unborn child.
She found Legolas filling in his own words and it was not above a whisper but Nienna felt them soar through her like they were shouted through the air. His eyes were filled with love as he guided her in a slow and steady pace. Nobody seemed to exist but the two of them while they continued to dance and Nienna found her body swaying in time with Legolas, the only guide were his hand upon her back and the other one tucked safely into his own. Yet her soul seemed to fly.
Is the greatest love of all.
When the song ended, they slowly became aware of their surroundings once again and while looking around, they found the dance floor completely deserted save for them. The room was silent and Nienna blushed and even Legolas was dumbfounded, then the room erupted into cheers and loud clapping and some people whistled. Legolas smiled in amusement and he pulled Nienna close, trying to shelter her from the attention that the crowd was giving them.
"I thank you but simply because we are on the dance floor does not mean you have to scurry away. Pray do join us in the next dance." Legolas called, his voice light yet Nienna could see he was still not comfortable being the centre of attention like he was now. Soon all the elves had joined them and Legolas led Nienna in another dance, through carefully this time not to lose himself in the music.
Not long afterwards the dance started to slow down, through the wine and ale still were given freely to anyone who wished it. Legolas and Nienna were both sitting at the table, discussing many things, from Legolas who was talking about the new designs of bows to Nienna who was speaking to one of the Elleth (female elves) about the duty of husbands in childbirths, they both agreed on the fact that they males did not do much.
Nienna yawned softly, drawing the attention of Legolas to her and the elf turned fully to face her, while he said. "You are making my wife tired, Miriel, but I thank you for caring for her. Perhaps we should retire for now." Nienna nodded while Miriel fixed the prince with a brilliant smile and answered. "As long as you do not tire her out to much, Legolas."
The elf prince blushed but did not comment on it, instead holding his hand out to Nienna to help her gain her footing. He left her at the door and spoke quickly to his father before he reappeared at her side and they left the feast together.
Once they were in the room, Nienna dropped herself into one of the comfortable couches while Legolas coaxed the fire to life, bringing some warmth in the room. He just turned when a pillow hit him right in the face and while he tossed the pillow back, he said. "If you wished to gain my attention, throwing pillows at me, is not the way to do so, Nienna."
The smile of his wife's face was sweet while she beckoned to him and he joined her on the couch, resting his feet on the table in front of him. Nienna turned so her back was facing the armrest of the couch and her feet were propped up in Legolas's lap, the elf looking down at them and she giggled playfully, he could feel the same smile tugging at his own lips and not long he had removed her shoes and started rubbing her feet, drawing a content sign from Nienna.
"You wished to have a word?" He inquired after a moment and Nienna opened her eyes once again. "Yes, I nearly forgot. Tonight at the feast, you seemed uncomfortable with everything and you have not been really open with me, I suppose I have not been open with you either. But I was hoping that we can start anew."
"I did not really know what to say, Nienna, without the words spilling from my mouth but everyday I wake up more content and more joyfully every time I look to your side of the bed and find you in it and not gone. That really does console my heart, my lover." He smiled gently, his hands still working to make her even more relaxed then she was already before.
"Do you not find healing into this?" He asked after another moment. He dropped his gaze when she did not answer, feeling hurt seep through him when apparently she did share the love he felt, but his gaze snapped back up when he heard her sing, her words reaching deep into his core.
"Yes, Legolas, I find healing in this and in much more." She eventually replied as the song faced. "Then this is the greatest love of all." The elf replied with a true warm smile, that Nienna only happily returned, both knowing they would be alright.
Hope you liked it. Please review and post the gender and names of the baby that you wish to see.