A/N: Sorry for not posting in a while! I would give an excuse, but I don't have one so... yeah.
Many thanks to...
Imamc
Me And Not You 1001
Narylfiel-fire branded
Jessfairy88
KEZZ 1
The better twin
cectheday
LilactheDryad
BlooRose
Nightfeather18
Reiluna
Thanks for being patient!
xXx
"Why is everyone staring at us?', I asked in a low voice as I walked beside the twins through the crowded streets of Gondor, Duke panting at my side.
"Because we are incredibly beautiful?', Elrohir offered with a laugh.
"Pft.', I scoffed laughingly. "They've already seenus... it must be that all of Rivendell and most of Lóthlorien have accompanied us back."
"Yes.', he said, pretending to be serious. "That would do it."
"Oh!', Elladan suddenly exclaimed as he began to dig through his satchel. "I forgot to give this to you before we entered the city. Ada wanted you to wear it.', he added sheepishly.
"What is this?" I frowned, turning the wrapped parcel over carefully. He snatched it back and uncovered it with a grand flourish.
"It is you circlet.', Elrohir smirked. "Is it not obvious?"
"That I can see, but why am I supposed to wear it?"
"You are a noblewoman, remember?', he chuckled.
"Don't remind me."
"You should not worry— it isn't as heavy as it looks.', Elladan smiled as he referred to the thin piece of jewelry, gently smoothing my hair into place before setting the metal adornment gingerly atop my head.
"Uh-hu. Sure it isn't.', I mumbled as I resisted the urge to throw the thing as far away as possible; it was already beginning to itch.
"Now you look like a true daughter of Elrond!', chirped Elrohir. Taking note of my sour face he laughed softly. "You will soon get used to it, Riley."
"I don't know about th—" I didn't finish my sentence as I felt the weight of the circlet disappear from my head. "Where the heck did it go?', I struggled, giving the twins an accusing look.
"It would appear that a woodland sprite had decided to play thief.', Elrohir grimaced, pointing upwards.
"Oh, you poor dear!', someone sang out from that direction. "They have begun turning you into a stuffy lady already have they? Whatever shall we do without our fun lovingtinwë?"
"I don't know where you are you cheeky elf, but I'm going to need that back before Ada has a fit!', I called back, a wide smile splitting my face.
I squealed and fell into Elladan as Legolas leapt down beside me, the elf having been somehow tucked away above our heads.
"I thought you did not wish to wear such frivolous things?', he smirked, waving the stolen item under my nose and snatching it back whenever I tried to reach for it.
I stuck my tongue out at him, catching the circlet as it was finally tossed to me.
"I don't. It's pretty... but I don't think I will wear it all of the time."
"How's Aragorn?', interrupted Elladan, who had not stopped smiling goofily since his friend appeared from above.
"He is more anxious than I have seen him before, but he is in good health.', the Woodland Prince replied with a snigger. "I do not believe he has stopped pacing since the three of you left."
"Nervous Nelly.', I laughed. "Where is the old man anyway?"
"Do not let Arwen hear you say that.', Elladan whispered conspiratorially, darting his eyes around in a show of mock fearfulness. I rolled my eyes and gave him a small shove, which he returned with twice the force, almost knocking me to the ground.
"He is waiting in the Citadel— his councilors insisted that he stay there and let the escort come to him.', Legolas explained lowly. "Our friend is chomping at the bit to see his beloved."
"Ick. Politeness.', I sniffed. "Always standing in the ways of love."
Legolas laughed loudly.
"You truly haven't changed one bit have you?', he smiled. "That is good news indeed."
xXx
"Do I have to wear this?', I asked from behind the screen that had been placed strategically to block me from view.
"Is there something wrong with it?', Ada asked, a smile in his voice as he listened to the seamstresses fuss over the dark green fabric that apparently 'brought out my eyes'.
"Not really. It's just... stuffy.', I complained, wriggling away from the pins that were starting to come uncomfortably close to my body.
"You will be back in your much loved 'sweatpants' before you know it.', he called back.
"I am soooo glad you thought to bring those.', I responded with a grin. "I was about to go mad in all these dresses I have had to wear."
"Indeed.', he replied dryly.
It was kinda awkward to have Elrond behind the screen as he was. The way things were set up in the small room reminded me of the time my dad had taken me bra shopping— which had been one of the more mortifying experiences in my life. I choked back a laugh at the thought: the situations were nowhere near the same. Well, except for the questions regarding the fit. Though that was noticeably less weird since Elrond was asking about a dress and not a... well, you know.
"So when is the wedding again? The calendars here still confuse me.', I inquired, yelping as the cool metal of a pin pierced my skin. The seamstress gave me an apologetic look but did not pause in her work as she continued to temporarily baste the fabric together.
"In three days time.', he hummed.
"Picklebreath. These fittings are really starting to eat at me.', I grimaced to myself as another needle nicked at me, drawing a small drop of blood.
"Are you alright? You have grown quiet,penneth."
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, I'm fine."
He chuckled as he heard the women beg me to be still.
"You will have less fittings if you would actually allow the seamstresses near you.', he teased, though his voice held a small amount of sternness.
xXx
"Arwen!', I gasped as I caught sight of my sister.
"Mani naa ta?', she asked shakily. "Is there something wrong? Oh! I knew this dress was not going to fit right!Mavwenwhat are we going to do?"
Galadriel, who was helping arrange my foster sister's hair, sent me a half-amused, half-frustrated smile, a look that subtly told me she had been trying to calm Arwen all morning.
"The dress is fine.', I explained hurriedly. "You are truly a sight to behold."
She worried her lip for a few seconds before giving me a small smile.
"I'm sorry, little one.', she sighed. "I have no idea what is wrong with me! I have waited for this for decades and now I am balking at the idea!"
"Well... do you love Aragorn?"
"Yes.', she huffed, offended that I had suggested otherwise.
"Then there is nothing to worry about.', I smiled.
"If only it were that simple.', Arwen mumbled, twisting her hands nervously.
"I think your problem is that you refuse toletit be simple.', Galadriel chided. "You are overcomplicating things,niel."
"I suppose.', my sister replied slowly, though she still twisted her hands in a nervous motion.
"Good! Let's get this show on the road!', I laughed. "If it helps, Arwen, I think Aragorn is more nervous than you are."
xXx
The wedding of King Aragorn and Queen Arwen was definitely not one that would soon be forgotten. The people of Gondor had crowded the streets of Minas Tirith, and delegates from other providences had come to see the famous couple. The cheers that had arisen as they were finally wed were deafening, and many elves (including myself) were cursed with ringing ears for several hours after that.
"Quite the wedding, hm? Though it was a bit too elvish for my dwarfish tastes.', a gravelly voice noted.
I jumped, giving the grey bearded dwarf who had appeared beside me a dirty look. He gave a deep laugh at my startled expression.
"This is the lass you spoke of, Gimli? She is an elf and I still snuck up on her! Though I suppose she is better than the son of that pompous Elf King!', he roared, holding his stomach as he guffawed loudly.
"Gimli?', I squealed, running over and giving the ginger haired dwarf a large squeeze. "I haven't seen you all week!"
"That was no fault of mine!', he harrumphed in a slightly disgruntled tone, apparently uncomfortable with being hugged in front of the crowd who had gathered for the wedding feast. "You were hidden away from almost everyone. I can see by all this frippery that they were trying to turn you into a lady... fat lot of good it will do them."
"Ha ha, very funny.', I said, rolling my eyes. "But what I want to know is who the heck is that?"
"My father, Gloin.', he huffed. "And I would rather he not see me being hugged to death by an elven maiden. I will never hear the end of this one."
"Oh, pish posh.', I grumbled. "You would think that it's not 'proper' for me to hug anyone in public."
"Well lassie..."
"Don't even say it!', I groaned. "I've heard enough from Boromir as it is!"
"Alright, lass.', he chuckled.
I chatted with Gimli and his father for several minutes before I left them to their large tankards of ales and went to find someone else to bother.
Aragorn and Arwen were out— I can be considerate when I want to. Not to mention that Arwen is really scary when she wants to be.
The hobbits and Gandalf were surrounded by a group of those who wished to hear the tale of their journeys, Elrond was busy with a large group of distinguished looking people, and the twins had disappeared. So that left... Legolas.
I grinned and bounced away to find the Woodland elf.
I found him in the midst of a large group of ladies, shifting uncomfortably beside Glorfindel.
"Legolas? What the heck are you doing?"
"I am being mobbed.', he whispered dramatically, keeping his voice low enough that only an elf would hear.
"Poor you!', I laughed before glancing at the other elf in the group. "It looks like Glorfindel is eating the attention up."
"He would be the only one.', Legolas huffed.
The Balrog slayer winked at me, giving me a wide grin as I wove through the throng of women.
"Why are there so... many of them?', I panted as I finally reached them.
"Who are you?', one of the ladies sniffed disdainfully, turning her nose up at me. "The foul woman who has tossed decorum to the wind?"
I opened my mouth to ask her who exactlyshewas, but I hadn't even gotten a word out before my foster father's advisor had stepped in as referee.
"She is the daughter of Elrond.', Glorfindel chirped as he took another sip of wine from his cup, unfazed by the apparent dislike that was being directed towards me.
"And also my wife!', Legolas quickly added, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him. Glorfindel choked, spluttering on his drink as he gazed at the Woodland elf with wide eyes.
"Excuse me?! I am—"
"My wife.', he insisted, grinning at me through clenched teeth. "Play along.', he hissed, giving me a sharp look.
I gave a painfully tight smile, gripping his arm so hard that he winced and tried to subtly pry my vice-like grip off of his arm.
xXx
I sent a sharp elbow into Legolas ribs as soon as the crowd of women had dispersed, bowling him over.
"Out of all the things you could have done!', I fumed. "What kind of stunt was that?! Are you nuts?!"
"No.', he sighed from his spot on the floor.
"Then what the heck was that!?"
"I would also like to know!', Glorfindel smirked.
"Thatwas self-preservation.', the guilty party grumbled, rubbing his now bruised side.
"And you protect yourself by throwing me to the lions?"
"They are hardly lions. Just several... husband-seekers.', he defended.
"Yet they looked like they wanted to bite my head off!"
"Imagine what they would have done to me!"
"I'm tempted to go and tell them that you lied!"
"So then it's not true?"
We both stopped glowering at one another long enough to eye Glorfindel.
"Is what not true?"
"That you are married."
"NO!', I howled. "Absolutely not!"
"I'm not having this conversation.', Legolas mumbled, moving to leave.
"And why not?', Glorfindel asked, grabbing the elf by the arm and hauling him back.
Legolas didn't have time to speak before I had turned and glared at him.
"Don't think I'll forget about this!', I growled. "I am FULLY blaming you for every repercussion that follows this! And so help me, if my brothers find out...', I trailed off, throwing another scowl in his direction before stalking off.