Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings, Elrond, and Celebrian are not mine. They belong to the Tolkien Estate. I'm just borrowing them for a few moments, and I promise to return them healthy and happy (this time anyway...)

Time frame: After they're married...probably before Arwen is born? Sometime in that two hundred+ year gap.

A/N: First off, whoa, two updates in one night. Aaaand, I'm not promising anything, but there MAY be another one coming in a couple of hours... Secondly, it's been a while since I uploaded another of these, I know. I've been trying to kind of work on a couple of things that I could post, but none of them were coming out quite right. Then today someone asked for something like this, and I finally found the inspiration to write it. And it's nice and short, which helps loads. Of course, I'm not entirely sure if I actually like how it turned out... When it comes to writing romance like this, I always get super weirded out and awkward, and uncertain if what I'm writing is actually sweet, or if it's terrible and awkward and just strange. *coughs* If there's one thing writing this has taught me, it's reminded me of one of the main reasons I will never write smut - I simply can't. This is probably bordering on as close as you'll ever come to reading smut that I'll write. But yeah, anyway...as such, any and all constructive feedback would be adored. I can't improve unless I know what to improve upon, or what is good in what I'm doing already.

Huge thanks to those of you who reviewed last chapter! You truly made my day. Lalaith Elerrina, TheHouseWitch, Crookneck, AnneWithane, Moonshadow, elrond peredhel, and last but not least, jabberocki thank you so very much! To all of you who have favorited and/or alerted, I am glad you are enjoying! And to all of my readers and lurkers, I hope you are enjoying as well! And as I said above, I would positively adore it if you leave a few words on your way out telling me what you think! Most importantly, however, I hope that you enjoy!

Dedication: For BarnumOnTheBrain, who wanted some cute El/Bri fluff, preferably which would involve kissing. I sincerely hope that this managed to fulfill your desire, and that it doesn't make you cringe (since I think we all know you're practically the only El/Bri smutter - and a positively superb one at that. Not that this is smut, because it isn't...)!

~In Your Beloved's Arms~

Elrond cupped Celebrían's cheek, his fingertips gently trailing along her fair skin lovingly. He rolled up so that he was partially hovering over her, and leaned down to place a kiss first on her forehead, then the tip of her nose.

"I love you," he whispered, voice husky as he tenderly traced his fingers down Celebrían's cheek to her neck, then down to her bare shoulder. He could feel her shiver beneath him, and he smiled. "I love you," he repeated, and then leaned in to capture her lips with his.

Celebrían rose into the kiss, twining her arms around his neck and drawing him down closer, until only a fraction of an inch separated them. Her fingers twined with his long, unbound hair, holding him close. Their kiss was long and loving – passionate, but not fiery. That had come earlier in the night, when they had locked their doors, and shed their clothing somewhere in the antechamber.

They parted, both breathing heavily, their taste on each other's lips. For a long moment, they were still, Elrond's nose just brushing Celebrían's, and then he slowly sat up, Celebrían's arms falling away from his neck. For a long moment neither of them spoke as Elrond gently ran his fingers through his wife's hair, his eyes never once leaving her face.

She was beautiful – the most beautiful being in all of Arda. The moonlight streaming in through the window cast her hair in silver, and caused her ice blue eyes to come to life, as if awakened by quicksilver. She seemed to glow, and when she smiled at him, for a moment Elrond felt as if he could not breathe. How was he ever so lucky to have a woman as wondrous as Celebrían love him?

"You are beautiful," he said, although he knew that such words paled in comparison to her radiance. He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her shoulder, tucking it behind her ear.

Celebrían smiled, and then she too sat up, the sheets pooling at her feet. She reached for her husband, once more locking her arms around his neck, and then drew him close. Their lips met again. After a few seconds, Elrond carefully lay down, bearing Celebrían with him, until she was all but lying on his chest, his hands on her hips.

Celebrían smiled when she ended the kiss, gently nipping his bottom lip before drawing away fully. Twisting, she turned so that she was lying on her side, her chest pressed against Elrond's side. He half-turned with her, one hand still on her left hip, and his eyes never once leaving hers.

"I love you too, el nîn," Celebrían said, still smiling radiantly, nestling her head in the crook of his shoulder. She twined one arm over his bare chest, feeling his chest rising and falling with each breath. Her fingers skimmed over his skin, and just as he had earlier, she could feel him shiver beneath her touch. Her smile grew, and her lips skimmed against his collarbone. That she could have such an effect on one such as him – a mighty warrior, a great lord, a son of kings – that she alone could make him shudder with one touch… She pressed herself closer, breathing in his scent, basking in his warmth. Oh how she loved him.

A gentle hand ran through her hair, and Celebrían sighed in contentment. She felt whole, and utterly at peace. Her beloved lay beside her, his arms about her, her head on his chest. She could feel his breath, his warmth. She could hear his heart beating in his breast. This moment – this moment was perfect, and in that instant she wished that it would never end.

For that moment in time, all was as it should be.