Recap: When Thranduil asked if any could give reason to keep Prince Legolas and Lady Arianell from bonding a figure towards the front of the assembly jumped to its feet.

Story begins

"What?" the figure's curly hair bobbed about his head "Oh, Aye...I mean No, Pip just poked me is all."

With a red face Merry sat back in his seat, thoroughly embarassed.

"Carry on then." his neighbor, Pippin, grinned.

Arianell let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding as Legolas and Gimli exchanged a knowing look.

Thranduil continued on about the blessings of their bonding, and about Arianell's duty as a Princess...for he had decided to combine the two into one ceremony for sake of visiting dipolomats.

"Are you bored yet Melith-nin?"

"No" Arianell stifled a giggle "Are you?"

"Yes" Legolas leaned closer towards her and whispered "I can't wait for this to be over."

"The ceremony?"

"No, the day."

Arianell flushed a nice shade of crimson before Thranduil's voice brough her back

"And, if there be no more reason for interruption." he glared at the hobbits "and if the assembly deem it acceptable I now declare Arianell and Legolas bonded, what say you?"

With those words the entire assembly broke into a roar of applause.

"You may kiss your bride, Legolas."

The audience stood as Legolas pulled Arianell in for one of the best kisses they had shared.

"I missed you" he whispered as they broke the kiss before turning to face the audience

"How could you, it was only one night!"

Thranduil stood on the dais behind them

"I give you Lady and Lord Legolas Thranduillion Greenleaf, Prince and Princess of Mirkwood."

888

The reception had gone well, and the food was good...that is once Arianell had gotten to eat after greeting each and every visitor individually. After the meal the elves had started dancing and Arianell had shared the first dance with Legolas but after that Thranduil had drug him off to speak with other diplomats.

Arianell could see him now, across the room, surrounded by a large group of elleths...she wondered what kind of diplomats they were.

"And to think it is my wedding!" she muttered.

"Indeed" the voice made her start as she turned around.

"Forgive me M'Liege, I did not know you were there."

Aragorn waved her off, "You were right in your statement though Lady Arianell. He should be here, with you."

Arianell grimly looked at the floor as Aragorn sighed before offering her his hand

"Care to dance? I'm afraid Lady Arwen is indisposed at the moment." he gestered to where a resting Arwen was speaking with the animated hobbits

"And I am without a dance partner."

"Well we cannot have that M'Lord."

Aragorn smiled before taking Arianell's hand in his own

Neither one noticed the sliver-blue eyes that longingly followed their fluid movements.

888

"Tell me Lord Aragorn, what is Minas Tirith like?"

Arianell listened to the soft drone of his voice and lost herself to the sway of his steps as he spoke of the White City.

"I should very much like to see it someday."

"Legolas and you should come visit us sometime Arianell, Arwen would enjoy the company."

Arianell smiled as they parted ways after the dance. As Aragorn led Arwen to the dance floor she found herself alone in the corner again. This was definitely not how she had ever expected her wedding night to turn out.

Quietly she slipped out of the chamber's doors and made her way above-ground and to the garden; hoping there to escape her expected 'duties' which, at the moment, appeared to be watching her new husband stand in a group of attractive females.

Arianell was oblivious to the silver-blue eyes trained keenly on her quiet exit.

888

Sitting by the fountain Arianell looked at her reflection in the stilled waters, without meaning to a single tear slid from her eye and splashed into the fountain...the soft plink echoing through the silent night.

It was so quiet out that Arianell felt she was the only being around...not a thought that scared her for at that moment she welcomed the silence. The full moon spilled over the treetops and into the grove, shadowing everything in silvered light. Softly, so softly she hardly noticed, Arianell began to sing; the song rising with the moonlight to join the stars in the night sky.

"Arianell?"

The soft voice did not make her start, at least not outwardly.

"Yes meleth?"

She could hear his light footfall behind her and feel his presence as he came to stand next to her

"What are you doing out here Arianell?"

"Escaping the lonelyness of my reception, M'Lord."

She could not see how crestfallen he looked as his shoulders sagged beneath a sudden weight. She could not see but she could feel it.

"I am sorry Arwenamin."

"Do not be meleth, you were merely doing your duty." Inwardly Arianell quaked, she had not meant to be so cruel.

"No!" she started at how harsh his voice was and turned quickly towards him "I must be sorry, I must beg for your forgiveness!" He cradled her face in one of his hands and she shuddered at the feel of his soft fingers "I must be sorry Meleth, I should have left you there by youself...on our wedding day."

Arianell smiled at the face in front of her, washed in moonlight, as he leaned closer to her.

"All is forgiven" her voice sang like the crystaline stars and ran like the deepest waters of Ulumo "But don't you mean wedding night Meleth?"

888

Legolas, after recovering from his initial shock leaned in towards her and captured her lips with his own. Arianell was reluctant to break the kiss but the hour was growing increasingly late and they were not secluded.

"Legolas" she gasped as his lips once again found her ear.

"Yes Meleth?" he moved to sit in front of her but his voice was dangerously low.

"Should we not head indoors M'love? Surely you do not wish any of our guest to see us out here like this?"

"I would not care"

Legolas leaned in to kiss her but Arianell stopped him with a touch of her fingers

"Come now, be reasonable"

"I refuse to be."

Legolas stood and, without a word, lifted Arianell into his arms Cavalier Style.

"Should we tell your father we are retiring?"

"Very well."

Arianell gasped as he started walking towards the hall

"Surely you do not mean to walk in there like this?"

"And why not?"

"Leoglas, put me down"

It was more of a command than a request and Legolas obeyed.