April 5, 3020

He made a point of carrying her through the archway where the main doors to the hall would one day hang. Even when they were inside the ruins he did not set her down, and he carried her on across the pitted and uneven flagstones that had once formed a polished floor, describing architectural features as he did.

Since her position in his arms gave her easy access to trail kisses along his jaw and neck she found she had no strong objection to being carried, and she gave an occasional hum of agreement to words she had not truly heard.

Before long he stopped and set her carefully on her feet again. She opened her eyes as he did so, and noticed the soft glow of what she assumed was a small campfire behind her.

It was just like him to have arranged for their camp to be set before they arrived, even down to having a fire already lit. She smiled up at him fondly and slid her hands up to his shoulders as she leaned in to kiss him properly.

After a long moment, he broke the kiss and, smiling, put his hands on her shoulders to turn her around.

She gasped.

It was not a camp set up behind them, but a full bed, adorned with white linens and pillows, and sheer white curtains that framed the headboard. The top was uncovered, save by the branches of trees of the forest and the stars above. Small tables on either side were covered with white candles.

The walls were mostly crumbled away, and a few trees grew inside the boundaries they outlined, but it was clear this was once a large and grand room.

His arms encircled her from behind, and drew her back against him as he breathed in her ear "What think you of your chamber, my lady wife?"

She gave a small laugh "I like it very well indeed, my lord." Turning again, she reached up to cup his cheek with her hand. "But I love you for thinking of this, my husband." Her smile grew into a grin. "I had been somewhat disappointed to think of a night spent in bedrolls…"

He laughed softly and leaned down to kiss her again. "Would I be such a fool as to waste even one night of our honeymoon in such a way?" He pulled her into a warm embrace as her arms moved to loop loosely about his neck, and he kissed her again, warmly, tenderly.

"Welcome home, Éowyn."