Disclaimer: I do not own the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. I greatly enjoy his writings and I like to muse about what might have befallen the characters he created. The characters not created by Tolkien are mine. I wrote this for personal pleasure only and not for personal gain. It is intended as a tribute to JRRT.

This tribble is written as a birthday fic for Alassante.

Thanks for your reviews, and again thanks to Deandra for betaing!

Combined Candour

In the year 44 of the Fourth Age, twenty-four year old Eldarion married Éomer's youngest daughter Elfcwen aged twenty-one.

At the end of the wedding dinner the company was merry, due to the occasion and the excellent wine. Éomer King, sitting left of the bride, raised his glass to King Elessar, at the bridegroom's right. 'To our children!'

Elessar said, teasing his new daughter, 'I have given my permission for this wedding, though I find the bride too young.'

'What can I say?' Éomer smiled, 'Lothíriel was just as old when we were wed.'

Elfcwen's eyes sparkled; she glanced at her father. Éomer shook his head, restraining her.

Aragorn provoked, 'Éomer, she is not your responsibility anymore.'

Éomer raised his hands in mock apology. He grinned broadly at his daughter, who flashed back the same smile. She immediately turned to Aragorn, asking innocently, 'Father, how old was your mother, when she married your father?'

'My mother, Gilraen, was twenty-one,' Elessar chuckled. Earnestly he added, 'Today's wedding would not have been if she had not been married so young.'

She nodded, winking at her groom, who took her hand in his, 'And father, how old were you when you knew you loved Arwen Undómiel?' Suddenly Queen Arwen had difficulty in keeping her laughter, knowing Aragorn had been twenty.

Aragorn kept challenging Elfcwen. 'I am still finding you too young to be married.'

'I understand,' she said with utter seriousness.

Questioningly he raised his brows.

Smiling sweetly she went on, 'You need time to adjust, for when you married, your wife was somewhat older than I am today.'

They all erupted in laughter.

'Spoken like a true Rohir,' her father boasted.

Her new father said, 'Spoken with her parents' combined candour.'

'Which is why I love you,' Eldarion whispered in her ear.

Éomer and Lothíriel's children:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Elfgar, marries Ethelberg, daughter of Ethelwald

6. Elfcwen, marries Eldarion, son of Elessar and Arwen

7. Elfbert