Dinner that evening was a smaller affair; Éowyn had not been feeling well most of the day, so Faramir, Annî, and Éomer were dining at their home tonight, leaving the others to gather in the King's House. It was to be an earlier dinner, as everyone needed a good night's sleep before the wedding, and they wanted to leave Legolas enough time to take Enguina on their moonlit ride. Enguina, Arwen, Erumar, and Thranduil had arrived at the House early to cook, spending much of the day laughing together about nothing or telling random stories of the past. Legolas and Gimli had come shortly thereafter, and finally, nearly an hour after everyone else, Aragorn arrived.

"Well, a miracle you could make it for dinner in your own home," said Thranduil as he walked in the door, and Aragorn shook his head.

"Some days, it is," he admitted, reaching out to clasp the elf's arm in greeting. "How was the day?"

"Stunning," he said, and Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "I am perfectly serious, as you will discover tomorrow."

Enguina slapped his arm. "Thranduil!" she hissed. "Secrets are not supposed to be spoken of!"

"What secrets?" asked Legolas. "Wait…wait, wait, wait, my father—no, no, that is not right! I cry foul on you!" He poked his finger against Enguina's nose.

"On me? It was hardly my fault!"

Erumar laughed. "Honestly, Legolas, it is not that huge of an issue."

"What have you done?" Aragorn asked Thranduil, shaking his head.

"Arwen is to blame," he interjected, pointing at her. "She invited me to come along."

Arwen rolled her eyes, setting the plate down she had made for Aragorn at the end of the table. "Come and eat, Aragorn. Let these friends have their go at one another and do not get involved."

"Involved?" asked Thranduil. "He began it."

"He asked an innocent question," laughed Erumar. "I hardly think he can be to blame. If anyone is to blame, it is you, Thranduil, for your answer!"

"Of course, you would take Legolas's side," Thranduil grumbled, and she set her hand on his arm consolingly.

"I am not taking Legolas's side. In fact, I think it is a perfectly good secret. The more surprises, the better."

"Well that is unkind!" cried Legolas.

"Legolas," she chided him, "how many more real surprises are there in life? Take them as they come, and be glad Enguina wanted to please you with something that she spent time planning. Do you not wish to surprise her in some things?"

Enguina and Legolas stared at her, and then Legolas glanced at his betrothed and smiled. "Her life would be quite boring without my surprises."

"Some of them I could live without," she said dryly, but he slipped a hand beneath her chin and turned her head towards him, kissing her quickly on the lips. Surprise lit her face as her skin flushed with embarrassment. "Legolas!"

"I am sorry, love," he laughed softly as everyone else at the table laughed or smiled and the exchange, "but it was much too tempting." He gave her a wicked grin.

Gimli thumped his hand on the table. "You know, I thought we were roasting these two lovebirds tonight," he laughed as he scooped up a mouthful of potatoes. "We should get started if you think about the time. Legolas and Enguina won't get any alone time if we don't."

Legolas laughed as Enguina's blush increased ten-fold. "It is early yet. Do not be so hasty, as Fangorn would say." He rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head forward, which distracted her for a moment. She could not rub it for him; it would be inappropriate with all of their friends present and at the dinner table.

"Legolas, is there something wrong with your neck?" asked Thranduil as they continued eating.

His son shook his head, but gave a smile. "It is a bit stiff from the day. I spent a long time with my head looking down at something."

"At what?" asked Enguina, but he shook his head again.

"Nothing," he said innocently. "But whatever you all did today went well?"

"Very," added Arwen with a smile. She glanced at Aragorn. "How was your day, Aragorn?"

"Quiet," he replied with relief. "The council is excited about the prospect of the wedding and celebration and they look forward to extending you both all due happiness tomorrow. The food, the church, the intended celebration…everything is ready." He sighed and smiled. "The entire City is looking forward to celebrating with you."

Legolas gave Aragorn a wicked grin. "How long are we to remain with our guests before it is considered rude and improper to leave?"

Enguina groaned softly and covered her face with her hands. "You are terribly embarrassing her, Legolas," chided Erumar and Legolas laughed.

"I know it. She shall have her revenge at some point, make no mistake."

"Arwen and I stayed until very early in the morning," he replied. "But I do not see that you would need to do that. The celebration will begin almost directly after the service, so if you wait until dark that will be long enough."

"Until dark?" laughed Gimli. "That wouldn't even give them enough time to dance!"

"And we must dance," said Enguina seriously. "There is not enough dancing in Minas Tirith as it is. The last time we danced was…well, at the commemoration of the statues."

"Ah, such beautiful dancing!" exclaimed Gimli. "Will you stand up with me again, Enguina?"

"I would not miss it, Gimli," she replied.

Dinner was soon finished as they continued to talk of their days and what the morning tomorrow would look like, everyone getting ready in their respective places and joining together at the church for the service. When their eating was done, Aragorn, Legolas, and Thranduil retired to the porch as Gimli was finishing his drink. They offered to clean up, but the ladies told them they would take care of it. Enguina slipped off her ring, setting it down by her place; she could not wash the dishes with it on. Arwen and Erumar began to help her with the dishes, carrying them from the table to her. In the meantime, Gimli began moving towards the porch as well with his pipe, but spotted the ring. Being in cahoots with both Enguina and Legolas, he thought that exacting a tiny bit of revenge might be a good plan. As nonchalantly as a dwarf could be, he reached out and picked up the ring, tucking it safely away—and then disappeared to the porch.

Behind him, Enguina dipped her hands into the sink and glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were the only three in the kitchen. When she found they were, she lowered her voice and leaned closely to Erumar as she set down a few dishes beside the sink.

"So…"

Erumar looked up at her. "What?"

"So…what is going on?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye. Erumar simply stared at her, obviously confused by the lack of description within her question.

"'Going on'? What are you talking about, Enguina?"

"I am terribly good at weaseling, Erumar," she said with an evil grin, "and I have been waiting all day to get you alone and ask you."

"Enguina, what are you weaseling out of her now?" sighed an exasperated Arwen as she rolled her eyes. "Leave her be."

"Not now!" cried Enguina with a laugh. "I have only just begun! Erumar, you have been spending quite a bit of time in conversation with Thranduil."

"What do you mean?" she asked, even more confused in being mentioned in conjunction with him. "He happened upon me this morning near the wall."

"Happened upon you?" questioned Enguina closely. "Or made it so that he might meet you there? He is very aware of you; have you not noticed?"

"I…have no idea what you are speaking of. Do not make up such fantasies, Enguina," she chided her. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." She turned to gather a few more dishes.

"Well, you are a bit different around him," Arwen said, throwing in with agreement. "You smile and laugh more when he is present. I think he takes your mind from your sadness."

"Yes, you do," added Enguina. "You smiled more today than yesterday, and you were holding Thranduil's arm a lot today—"

"He was walking with me," Erumar said, irritation creeping into her tone.

"Yes, and he could not take his eyes from you all day," she said with a giggle, washing another dish. "You should have seen him when you were dancing!"

"Stop it, Enguina," Erumar said waspishly, bringing another small stack of plates over from the table. "You are imagining things."

"Enguina," warned Arwen softly, but Enguina grinned at Erumar, catching her wrist.

"No," she argued, "I do not think I am. In fact, if I am so wrong, why are you blushing?"

Erumar pulled away from her. "That heat is irritation with you," she explained heatedly, turning her back on her. "Now I know the only reason I did not miss you—your meddling!"

"Come now, we meddled with Haldir and look what happened; he married you," she said with a laugh. "We were sometimes horrible to him though, I will admit. Pure torture."

"And this is not torture?" Erumar lifted a handful of forks from the table and found her hands were shaking. Was it the mention of Haldir? Not really…this was something else. She turned back to Enguina, her objective to get the forks to the sink without them noticing she was trembling.

"No," Enguina said slyly, "this is the beginning of an investigation. What is going on between you and Thranduil? There is something between you both. I can see it." Erumar froze.

"Enguina…" Arwen warned again, this time anxiety fueling the caution in her voice.

"Going on? Something between—? What? Enguina, are you out of your mind?"

"It is only natural that the two of you would be drawn to each—"

"Natural?" Erumar asked, horrified and she stumbled a step back into the table, her shaking hands dropping the forks. They banged along the floor. "Drawn to—?"

"Erumar, calm down," whispered Arwen, taking a step forward but not bending down to grab the forks just yet. "Enguina was asking an innocent question. She does not mean to imply anything by her words."

"He was kind to me!" Erumar cried, forcing her hands to grip the table behind her, trying to stop their shaking, trying not to let the two of them see her fighting back the tears, her sudden despair. "It was innocent; he meant nothing by it—nothing!"

Enguina looked horrified for a moment, reaching out to her friend, her sister, even with soaking wet hands. "Erumar, I was simply teasing! I am glad that you—I did not mean to—"

"There is nothing between us; it would be wrong," she snapped. The sudden sadness and terror she had felt she wrapped around herself like a shield, hardening it into anger. A hawk-like expression came over her face; it was the one that Enguina could not stand to see, that she could not fight against. "Wrong!"

"Erumar, please," Arwen said to her gently, even as she bent to pick up the forks. "It is good that you and Thranduil are getting along. Both of you could use a friend; you are alone here."

"A friend is…a friend is different from what Enguina was implying!"

Enguina held up her hands. "I am sorry. The last thing in the world I would want is to hurt you, Erumar. You know I loved Haldir with all my heart, but…as much as it hurts, he is gone. You feel that loss more keenly than anyone; you are lonely. A good friendship will do you good."

"Please stop!" she said, but her words were more of an agonized groan, and she looked away as hot tears spilled down her face. "I will not do this with you both; I will not have this conversation." She forcefully wiped them away, turning her back on them. "We are going to finish cleaning up, and I do not want to hear either of you mention this again. Ever." Her voice was so serious, her shaking hands piercing her own skin now as she had to release the table.

"Erumar…" whispered Enguina, reaching out to touch her shoulders. Erumar yanked away from them and strode into the sitting room, clearly desiring to be alone. Enguina immediately made to follow her, but Arwen caught her arm.

"Let her go," she said softly. "She needs a moment."

"I did not mean to hurt her!" Enguina cried, getting upset herself. "I was teasing her! Thranduil is only a man and she is a very beautiful woman; how could he not notice her?"

"Perhaps you came on a bit strong," Arwen whispered. "Whatever the case may be, she is not ready for it or this conversation." She looked at Enguina, who looked very guilty. "She is filled with pain, Enguina; you did not see her yesterday morning when she arrived."

"I know what she has been like," she whispered back fiercely. "I was in Lórien when we found out he had died, Arwen. She was destroyed by the news; she cried for days. I thought she was going to stop breathing there were times she would cry so hard. Her children feared for her; they never left her alone.

"You cannot tell me you have not noticed her hands. She has no feelingin them," she whispered hoarsely. "One night in Lórien several years ago, I came into the house an hour after I was supposed to have been there and I smelled the awful stench of burned flesh." Arwen's stomach dropped and she paled. "By Elbereth, Arwen, she had her hands in the fire! Ilúvatar only knows how long she had them there, how long she had been that way." Tears sprang to her eyes. "Her skin was black and bleeding…and no matter what they tried, the Healers could not return the feeling to her fingertips, her hands, heal the skin well-enough.

"When I asked her what the hell she had been thinking, she said she needed to feel something other than the terrible grief, even if it was physical pain. She has…scars…between her fingers when I found her cutting herself not a year ago. She was ready to lay herself down years ago. She tried…but she did not die. She lives still." She looked into Arwen's worried face. "Arwen, that is why I left Lórien. She tried to kill herself; we fought; I left. In my own condition…I could not bear to see her that way any longer. I had faced it long enough. Some scars go too deep," she muttered.

Arwen reached out and touched her face. "No one is beyond healing, Enguina," she whispered. "You should know that."

"I do now," she replied. "There is a reason that she is still alive. There must be; there was for me. Even in the valley, when things are darkest, yes? Ilúvatar is carrying us, waiting for the right time. Is…is Thranduil not here, feeling the same way?"

Arwen stared at her. "I do not think we should ask that question just yet. Beside that, even if it were true, even if Erumar felt something for him, think about how else she is feeling! Loving Haldir, yet acknowledging another man's possible interest in her? Think of how…how torn up inside she would be."

"But…you must admit," she whispered, "they would make a fine pair."

"Oh, Enguina…"

"No," Enguina said firmly, "as much as I love my brother, if Erumar has to remain here in Middle-Earth, if she cannot leave, cannot find peace, then at least she should find something else to make her happy. I have seen her in such pain that I…I would never see her that way again! If the person who can reach her is Thranduil, then there can be two who are healed. Thranduil is as unhappy and lonely as she is. Could they not make each other happy?"

"Erumar is not in that place, Enguina," Arwen said gently. "She…is still loving Haldir in her heart. She needs more time to heal."

Enguina thought about her words. "Let them grow closer, and learn about each other," she said softly, and Arwen nodded. Then, so did she. "You are right, of course, and I should have realized it." She glanced at the other room. "And I may have ruined everything that had already begun thanks to my reckless teasing," she muttered bitterly.

"Everything will be all right," Arwen told her, laying a hand on her shoulder. Both of them lifted their heads when they heard Erumar return to the doorway, arms crossed protectively across her chest. She looked at the two of them, hurt and grief in her face.

"Erumar," Enguina whispered, "I am so sorry." Going directly to her, she opened her arms to hug her and Erumar caved into them, struggling as she was to breathe calmly and not sob openly into Enguina. Arwen stood by, but did not get any closer to them.

"I did not mean to be so angry," Erumar muttered, her voice thick with tears.

"I should not have teased you. It was wrong of me," she added. "I was so happy that you were feeling better that I made fun of you instead of sharing your good mood. I am sorry; it was wrong. And to tease you about Thranduil was not appropriate. Are you all right?"

Erumar nodded and lifted her head from Enguina's shoulder, pulling back. "Fine," she whispered back, wiping her face again. She glanced at Arwen and then lowered her eyes.

"Do not be embarrassed," Arwen said, moving forward to touch her arm. "Erumar, we both know very well how much you loved Haldir. No one is asking you to do anything; you need not do anything. Just…be…and continue living."

"I am trying," she whispered, wiping her eyes fiercely again.

"Stop doing that," Arwen said gently and caught her hands in her own. "You are going to scratch your face." She felt the scars on her hands and wanted to cry for her. The thought of her dear friend doing something like that…it made her sick to her stomach. But she knew it had been bound to happen. Even though Haldir was not the most passionate elf, he had loved her in his way and he and their children had been her life. She had been a good wife to him, and it hurt to see her so broken, so alone.

The front door opened and the three of them lifted their heads to see Legolas stride into the doorway, stopping as he felt the gravity in the room. "Forgive me," he said, realizing that he had butted in rather rudely when clearly this had been quite serious, "I was wondering where Enguina was and if I could borrow her for the rest of the evening. Is…everything all right?"

"Fine, Legolas," Enguina replied.

"Go," Arwen said to Enguina, waving her towards the door, "Erumar and I will finish up here." Enguina looked over to Erumar, guilt still on her face.

"Stop it," she muttered. "Do not keep him waiting."

Enguina took and squeezed Erumar's hands and turned back to the table to pick up her ring from her place and stopped dead as she looked down at the empty place. A wave of panic so hard and awful swept over her and she nearly swayed on her feet, would have if she had not had a hand on the back of the chair. She glanced around the table, stopping her eyes from bulging out as they scanned frantically for the ring. It was not there. It was not there! How was that possible? She knew she had placed it right there so she would have it nowhere near the sink. Where was it? Where?!

"Enguina?" Arwen said softly, and she nearly jumped, her mind was working so furiously.

"Um…Legolas," she said, turning suddenly, forcing the panic from her eyes, "I just remembered I have to tell Arwen and Erumar something before our ride. Would you mind waiting outside?"

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. 'Does this have to do with—"

"Yes!" she interrupted him. "Yes, please?"

"Fine." He turned and began to close the door behind him, but not before he leaned back in. "You are going to owe me, you know." He tugged the door closed behind him and Enguina covered her mouth with her hands, tears springing to her eyes. Erumar immediately shoved aside everything that had happened before, even her own pain, and focused on Enguina. Arwen stepped toward her, taking her arms in her hands.

"Good heavens, Enguina," said Erumar suddenly. "What is the matter?"

Unable to speak with the grief in her heart, she raised her left hand to show them. Arwen gasped. "Where is it?" she cried, and Enguina's breath was trapped in her throat as she tried not to panic—it was already too late for that.

"I left it on the table," she moaned. "I left it right here near the tea mug."

"Could I have picked it up?" gasped Erumar, darting to the sink while Arwen went almost immediately to the floor, searching on her hands and knees.

The three of them searched for nearly five minutes, the floor, the empty table, the sink, the counter—everywhere they could think. By the end, Enguina was so miserable, she looked as though she would burst into tears.

"Perhaps you did not set it down," suggested Erumar, feeling simply awful, her eyes still scanning about the room.

"I saw it on the table," Arwen said, shaking her head. "Before we began the dishes. I, too, know it was there."

Enguina collapsed into the chair at the table and set her head on her hands. "No, no…it cannot be gone…it cannot be gone…" she whispered, her voice full of despair. Erumar rested her hands on her shoulders.

"We will keep looking; Arwen and I will stay here, all night if we must, and—"

"How can I go out there?" she moaned. "How can I face him, knowing his ring of pledge is missing from my hand? The wedding is tomorrow! Oh, I must find it!" Tears spilled down her face as she twisted her fingers around the empty space upon her hand.

"Hush," Arwen said tenderly, reaching over to her as well, "we will find it."

The door creaked open and Aragorn slipped into the House, closing the door behind him. "There is an awfully impatient elf on my doorstep…" he began, and then took in the scene before him. "Enguina, what has happened?"

"The ring is missing," Arwen replied and Enguina stifled a sob and swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure but failing miserably. "Her betrothal ring was here on the table and now it is missing."

"How can that be?" he asked, looking troubled. "Have you looked—"

"Nearly everywhere," Erumar said, her fingers tightening with compassion on Enguina's shoulders. "But we intend to keep looking. Enguina cannot keep Legolas waiting much longer."

"You two have been teasing each other, is it possible Legolas has it?" Aragorn suggested.

"He would not dare," said Arwen, shaking her head.

"He knows what it means to me," cried Enguina. "He had it made…he gave it to me…"

"Shh…all right…" he said, raising a hand. "We will find it. You need to collect yourself, Enguina. Arwen, take her to the bath and let her splash some cold water on her face." She nodded and gathered Enguina to the bath. In the meantime, Aragorn looked up at Erumar. "It cannot simply go missing. Night after night Enguina has dined here and taken that ring off."

"You really believe he would take it?"

He sighed. "No. I will, however, search this House from top to bottom until it is found."

"I will help."

Enguina and Arwen returned to the room, and as long as Enguina's face was in shadow, it did not appear she had been crying. Legolas might not notice in the dim lamplights of Minas Tirith. Aragorn reached out and set his hands on Enguina's shoulders.

"Do not worry, aiwë," he said gently. "We will find it."

"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely, and then cleared her throat. "I should…I should go. Legolas is not very patient."

"We will see you in the morning," Arwen replied, touching her arm. Aragorn followed her to the door, opening it for her and letting her out onto the porch.

"There you are," Legolas sighed, smiling at her. "I was afraid you did not wish to come with me anymore." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She avoided his eyes, but thankfully, he did not notice as he took her hand. "We will see you all for breakfast?"

Aragorn nodded. "Have a good ride…and try to get some sleep, both of you. It is going to be a long day tomorrow."

"We will." The two of them walked away, Legolas holding Enguina's hand.

Thranduil rose. "Well, I suppose we should all be saying our goodnights then?"

"Indeed!" said Gimli. "I told my cousin I'd meet him at the Barrel for—"

"I thought you were not allowed to enter that establishment?" asked Thranduil, raising a brow.

"Eh! All dwarves look the same to some men. Perhaps we'll get inside! Want to join us?"

Thranduil laughed. "No, Master Dwarf, I would not. I have had my fair share of ale in my time."

"Neither of you are going anywhere," Aragorn interrupted them. "You are both coming inside until Enguina's betrothal ring is found."

"What?" asked Thranduil, getting to his feet. "It is missing?"

"Arwen and Erumar are searching for it now. Enguina is so distraught she was in tears. She only just collected herself. We must find it."

Gimli said not a word as the three of them entered the House and Aragorn and Thranduil also began searching. Seeing the group of them, on their hands and knees, scouring the sitting room and even the bedroom, Gimli began to feel an extreme amount of guilt. Pulling the ring out of his pocket, he held it in his fist, debating what he should do.

"Gimli," began a rather irritated Thranduil, watching him stand there as he searched the counter for the fourth time, "what are you doing standing there so stupidly? Get searching, dwarf! The ring must be found!"

"I—"

"He has found it!" cried Erumar, seeing the glitter in his palm. "Bless you, Gimli!" She leapt forward and kissed him on the brow. Gimli was stunned, but closed his hand so he would not drop the ring. "Arwen! Aragorn!" Thranduil stood, clasping his hands behind his back and watching the dwarf closely.

The couple returned to the room, Arwen first with Aragorn close behind. "Wherever did you find it?" asked Arwen, glancing around at the floor. "How could we have missed it?"

"I…well, er…well…" Gimli stuttered out, trying to figure out an appropriate response or at least an acceptable one—even a good lie would have done well, too.

"He did not," said Thranduil rather heatedly, and Gimli's face went red. "He did not find it."

"He did not...?" asked Arwen and Erumar covered her mouth. Aragorn stared.

"No, he had it."

Arwen's mouth dropped open. "Gimli!"

"Now wait a moment!" he cried. "There was a good reason! It was legitimate!"

"There could be no good reason for this!" growled Aragorn, and a fire was kindled in his eyes such that Gimli could not even meet them. The dwarf seemed to shrink as Aragorn seemed to grow taller.

"Why would you do that?" Erumar asked, horrified. "She was so grieved!"

"Well they've been playing tricks on each other, you see," Gimli grumbled, looking at the floor and shuffling his feet, feeling as though he was a wee lad again. "I thought I could get them back for being mean to one another. I knew about the Mirkwood tradition and Enguina's little scheme and I thought—"

"That was not a wise choice," Thranduil said. "A betrothal ring is not something to fool with."

Aragorn stepped forward, glaring at the dwarf with ferocity, his hands clenching to fists. "You will return that ring to her this very moment."

"Oh, Gimli…" murmured Erumar, covering her face with one hand.

"I am s—"

"Do not apologize to us!" Aragorn snapped in a fairly menacing voice and Arwen laid a calming hand on his arm. Seldom had she seen him so infuriated. "Go, now, and return it to her."

Gimli turned around and opened the door, looking abashed. As he stepped out, Thranduil said behind him, "And make sure you tell her the truth when you do." He let the door close behind the dwarf, and he turned back to them. Arwen and Erumar still stood there fairly stunned, but Aragorn's nostrils were nearly flaring with his irritation at the dwarf. Thranduil crossed his arms, still blocking the doorway, and he met the man's eyes. "You need to breathe," he said simply.

"I need to finish the dishes," Aragorn said, his voice low. He stepped around Arwen's arm and went directly to the sink where he plunged his hands in the water.

"Arwen," Erumar said wryly, "I think the dishes are in danger." Thranduil smiled.

Aragorn snorted, but said nothing. Arwen shook her head. "I…cannot believe he did that. Even if he were trying to get back at them both, that was so foolish."

"That is a serious offense," Thranduil said, "though I am certain she will forgive him." He got a bit of a wicked smile on his face. "Though, it would serve the dwarf right if Legolas challenged him to a duel. If he were angry enough—"

"By the Valar, Thranduil, do not say such a thing!" gasped Erumar, still horrified.

Thranduil chuckled. "I only tease, my dear."

Legolas cinched Brethil's saddle and patted his shoulder. Lómë was already tacked up and tied in the aisle, but Enguina was not with him. Instead, she was leaning against the stall door between Asfaloth and Brego, both of whom had their heads over her shoulders, Brego looking for treats, Asfaloth nuzzling her cheek. He smiled to himself as he looked at her, but still, she remained very, very quiet. She had been since she had come outside from the King's House. His smile straightened as he stepped over to her; her head was down, and she did not notice him.

He lifted her chin with his fingers. "Are you tired, my Guin?" he asked. "We do not need to go riding if you do not wish it."

"No, I do, Legolas," she replied, and he as she looked at him, he noticed her eyes were flooded with tears.

"Guin," he said, his voice full of concern for her, "are you all right?"

"I cannot go on," she whispered. "I cannot go on without you knowing! I am so distraught!" She fled into his arms and he wrapped his around her tightly.

"What is it? What is it that hurts you, my love?" he asked, rubbing her back gently as she began to cry into his chest.

"The ring…my betrothal ring is gone…"

"Gone? What?" He suddenly noticed its absence on the hand that gripped his tunic.

"I set it on the table after dinner and it is not there! We searched everywhere for it, all over the King's House, everywhere and we could not find it. Erumar and Arwen and Aragorn said they would keep searching but—"

"Shh, shh," he whispered, "it is all right."

"No it is not!" she wept. "You pledged yourself to me with that ring; I pledged myself to you! It made it formal, final, beautiful. It made it a visible promise that we would be true to each other, holding ourselves pure until we were wed. It was more than a ring, and I have lost it!"

"It is not your fault," he told her, stroking her hair. "They will find it."

"What if they do not? And with the wedding tomorrow—"

"We have our rings to wed one another," he said. "At worst, I will have a new one made for you. Please, Enguina…it is only a thing. Our promises are still there." He smiled, lifting her chin. "Do you know what Aragorn gave Arwen to bind themselves in troth?"

"No," she replied miserably, sniffing, trying to wipe her eyes, to collect herself.

"Nothing," he said. "They had a simple ceremony between the two of them to say the words, just as we did, and he said he tied a ribbon about their wrists…and then they cut their hands with a dagger and—"

"What?" Enguina asked, so stunned she stopped crying and her mouth fell open.

He laughed. "I am teasing you. Honestly, there was no blood oath, but at least I made you forget for a moment, distracted you." She hit him with an open palm to the chest. "Please, Enguina…it is only a thing. Our words are enough for each other."

Behind them, they heard thudding footsteps and both of them turned to see Gimli puffing down the aisle, his arm in the air. Before he could even speak, Enguina flung herself from Legolas arms and into Gimli, hugging the dwarf around the neck. She nearly toppled him over and he fell sideways into Lómë's flanks who snorted, but stood still so they did not fall to the ground. Legolas grabbed the dwarf's shoulder and pulled them both upright and slipped the ring from the dwarf's grasp.

"Thank you, thank you, Gimli!" Enguina cried, kissing him on both cheeks. Legolas grinned at him. "Wherever did you find it?"

"Well, that's a bit of a funny story actually," he began, very embarrassed.

"What does it matter?" asked Legolas, taking Enguina by the hand and sliding the ring back into place on her finger. "It has been returned to where it belongs," he whispered and kissed her ring, her hand, and then tipped her chin up to kiss her as well.

Gimli stood uncomfortably for a moment, and then he coughed, "Well, I'll…just be on my way then." He sheepishly turned about and without waiting for any further discussion on the matter scooted out, thankful he had not been questioned more closely, thankful he had avoided Aragorn's wrath, and looking more and more forward to that ale by the moment.