THE FORGOTTEN

Nepheg-laer

Midsummer

Author's Note: the chapter in which - Lothril has her first proper midsummer and gets drunk on starlight. So, dear readers, because my life is currently chaos, the likes of which you cannot possibly guess (mostly because it's ridiculous), I have decided to do a couple bridging chapters. For as much as I would personally like to sit down and write all sorts of fun little chapters with Lothril developing her relationships with literally everyone, I simply don't have the time right now. So, what I'm doing instead is hitting some highlights in hopes to slow down slightly right before the wedding and get part 3 here buttoned up so y'all can have a complete story and I can start working on some other related fics that are more or less going to be drabbles. The net result should be more fun stuff for you and less stressful for me. And who knows - maybe in another fifteen years I'll come back to this and make it even longer!

The midsummer celebrations began two days before the fact with a large royal entourage going down to the shores of Lake Long. They traveled with music and singing and everyone was decked out in their finest with green gems and white gems glittering on all the revelers. Lothril found herself in the very middle of all the festivities and excessively glad she had a mini midsummer back in Michigan because it had given her a rough outline of what to expect. Except this lasted days which were filled with boating and swimming and seeing elves stretched out on the grass soaking in the sun between swims. At night it was singing and dancing and gazing at the night sky.

The nights leading up to midsummer saw Lothril laying in the grass surrounded by Legolas and her family. Elrond told her all sorts of ancient lore about the stars, how they looked in now sunken lands, even deep lore about the years of the stars and ancient customs and rituals observed about them before the first rising of the sun. Some of this even Legolas did not know. Then after a while, they would all get up and sing and dance beneath the silver light with everyone. That was when Legolas chose to show her his cabin.

They entered and it was dark until Legolas lit a candle. It was a perfect little cabin. Wood floors, stone fireplace, a modest kitchen with a small table and chairs, a separate bedroom which was big enough, but not too big, and overall, it was very neat and snug.

"This is very nice!" Lothril declared after looking around. "I think we may pass many happy nights here."

"I am glad you like it," Legolas said with a smile. "Would you like to pass tonight here?"

"Oh, so tempting! But surely someone will notice!"

"I care not, and if we rise early, none will be the wiser."

"Sorely tempting… but I think I'd rather be outside tonight. The air is warm and delicious and I want to hear the waves lap the shore."

"Then outside we shall be, my wood elf," he replied with a smile and blew out the candle.

They headed back in the general direction of the others but stayed on the far side of a little cove with some rocky outcroppings. They could see the lights of the beach fires easily, but were fairly sheltered from the casual stray glance.

"Are there guards about?" Lothril asked.

"Yes, but none close. Why?"

Her response was to kiss him and begin undoing his tunic.

"We cannot wed tonight, meleth nîn, but we could get married when we return to the palace," Legolas teased.

"We could, but I only seek to feel your chest. Watching you swim all day but not able to touch you has me going crazy!"

"You could have touched me if you wished, and you can tomorrow. There is nothing stopping you but yourself," he replied then drew her in for a kiss.

"Maybe when we're married," she replied and nuzzled her face on his shoulder and the curve of his neck. She loved his gently sweet scent, particularly when mixed with summer night air. She loved the feel of his skin beneath her hand, how she could feel his heartbeat, how she was learning he had these little places that if she touched them just right, she could get him to make the most pleasing little sounds… she loved pleasuring him! Almost as much as she loved feeling his touch… maybe as much… the internal debate was ongoing.

"Mmm! You are getting bolder," he purred. "I love it!"

She smiled against his neck. "Just think how I would be if I could work up the nerve to do everything I wanted to do.

"What keeps you from doing so? You know what is permitted, you know I welcome your exploration, and if your desires lie beyond the bounds of our rules, I am willing to bend them some if you are willing to pursue your desires."

"Oh, shyness I think mostly," she replied, snaking her arms around him and holding him. "I am still getting comfortable with exploring the serious side of things."

"You are quite allowed to be shy still, but I eagerly await the day you embrace your desires and show them to me."

"Me too."

Legolas suddenly stiffened and turned his keen gaze back towards camp. "Your brothers are coming. We should head back to meet them."

A little more than halfway back to camp they met the twins who greeted them merrily and said, "The children of the town have been spying on us all night and fallen asleep at last. Your father said we ought to fetch you both so we can bring them into the camp."

Lothril's eyes grew wide. "Umm… that sounds sort of kidnappingish."

Legolas laughed. "Hardly! It is why they come to spy on us!"

"Ummm…" she started.

"Come along and see," Legolas said with a smile.

"It is rather fun, Lothril," Elrohir said.

"You've been in on this before too?"

"This is hardly our first trip to the Woodland Realm," Elrohir replied.

They jogged back to camp just in time to see a handful of nearly gleeful looking elves carrying sleeping children who looked like they ranged in ages between five and twelve, and laying them on the edge of where the festivities had been.

"These are children!" Lothril hissed in a very disapproving whisper.

"Of course they are," Legolas replied, quietly, but unconcerned. "They have all sneaked away from their parents or the parents of their friends to find the elves. That is why we show up a few days early, so rumor gets around and they know to come look for us. They used to come every year, but we do not and some children were getting lost and hurt, so we started spreading tales years and years ago about signs to look for when the elven king makes merry at the shore."

"Wait, what?!" Lothril asked.

The twins both stiffled a snicker as they knew exactly how elven-human children relations work.

"Oh, things like six blue birds perched on the town gate, strange fires along the shore, green stars in the trees, and so on. Adar always sees to it all the signs are given and our guards watch over the children as they wander out from the town and mark which houses they come out of so we can return them to their beds," Legolas explained.

"Do their parents know?" Lothril asked.

Legolas got a funny grin on his face. "They know the signs and teach them to their children, but I reckon by now they view it like the signs that mark the seasons. Of course, we do nothing to dispell that idea."

She shook her head. Of course…

By now everything was set and Thranduil lit all the lights and it very much seemed like the middle of a party. The music was loud enough, but Lothril noticed a few elves creep around the children and shake them gently to wake them before disappearing behind a tree. Legolas pulled her into the midst of the partying and started dancing with her. She would have preferred watching this scene from behind a tree, but it was kind of fun to watch the children wake up and stare at them in awe.

The children were barely, but barely concealed by trees and low bushes. It was just enough that they could feel like they were hiding if they wished it, but also wander into their midst if they so wanted. They all stared wide eyed and wonderstruck at the scene, and the elves had a difficult time hiding their laughter as the children argued whether or not they should go join them.

Eventually the youngest, not caring a bit for the debate of the older children, stood up and walked to the edge of the clearing and yelled, "Elven king!"

Oh, the elves were very hard put not to laugh now! Thranduil, who has been sitting on a wooden chair in clear view of the children, stood and came over to the boy and knelt down to substantially closer to his level.

"Hello, little one. What is your name?" Thranduil asked.

"Egill," the little boy replied, his 'l' sounding closer to a 'w'.

"And how old are you, Egill?"

The boy carefully counted out his age on his fingers then held them up confidently and said, "Four."

"That is a very fine age to be. Why did you call for me, Egill? Did you wish to discuss policy or trade?" Thranduil asked, teasing the young boy a little.

Egill looked confused for a second then laughed. "No! I don't want to trade, but I have a rock I want to give you," he said with a wide smile as he started digging into his little pocket.

"To give me?" Thranduil asked, genuinely surprised.

"Here you go!" Egill said, producing a white stone, partially opaque, partially translucent. Thranduil recognized it immediately as unpolished quartz. Common enough in that region, but no less fair. "My friend Asa said you like white rocks, so I brought one for you."

Was this child not the sweetest thing? "That is very kind of you, thank you Egill."

"Asa said you is elfisufev. What does that mean?" Egill asked.

Thranduil was at a loss as to what this child was trying to say, but fortunately Elrond had a guess.

"Egill, did you mean 'elusive'?" Elrond asked, coming beside Thranduil.

"Yes, elswusif," Egill confirmed.

Thranduil being called elusive was accurate enough to gain a general chuckle above the little boy's head that was lost in the music that was still playing.

"It means hard to find," Thranduil explained.

The little boy nodded and looked very thoughtful at that.

"Would you like to join us in our merrymaking, young Egill?"

"Yes!" he said clearly and decisively.

Thranduil stood and led the little boy into the midst of the party where he joined right in as if this was his hundredth midsummer eve with the elves and not his first.

In the meantime, Egill's older friends had watched him walk out into the elves yelling for the elven king and they froze and ducked behind the trees. When the precocious young one was greeted with warm welcome and began walking into the thick of things hand in hand with the elven king they quite decided they ought to come out.

This seemed like every wild fairy tale Lothril had ever heard or heard rumors of. The elves were beyond delighted to have more children about, the children were dazed and dazzled by the elves, and were having the time of their lives. But, being young, they only lasted a couple hours before they started to get tired and the elves led them to soft places on the edge of the merrymaking to sleep. Egill, who had charmed the lot, and Thranduil especially, yawned and declared he needed to sleep now, so Thranduil himself, crown and all, carried him off to the edge of the festivities to sleep.

"Here you are, Egill son of Bregill," Thranduil said as he laid the tired boy gently down upon the thick summer grass. "And here is your stone back if you want it," he added, holding the quartz out to the boy.

"No, King Thandill, I got it for you. I want you to have it," the boy replied.

"Then I want you to have one of mine," Thranduil said and removed one of the small white gems from his collar. "Put this in your pocket and keep it safe and know you are a friend of the elven king."

"Thank you," Egill said sleepily as he took the gem from Thranduil and said, "It's pretty!" before sliding it into his trouser pocket. Within seconds he was asleep.

About half an hour later all the children were asleep and guards in plain clothes were scooping up sleeping children and whisking them back to their own beds.

"Your father is the biggest softie I've ever met," Lothril said with ósanwe.

"He is rather-"

Legolas was cut off by Elrohir coming up and declaring, "May I interrupt your conversation to beg my sister dance with me?"

"By all means," Legolas replied with a smile and gave her a quick parting kiss.

Lothril puzzled for a second what that feeling of giddy longing was about, but had it promptly driven out of her head by the music.

It was Midsummer Eve, rather, early morning, the stars were still shining brightly as the grey dawn was still an hour off, the music was fair and lively, and Lothril felt so gloriously happy! Nothing was wrong in her world! She was surrounded by friends and kin, she was loved, she was betrothed, her wedding was coming up that autumn, and the minstrels were plying their craft with great skill. She felt like the earth itself was reveling in the joy of living and for once, she felt utterly merry and carefree!

Dawn came with a glorious blaze of color that reflected on the lake, which delighted the elves to no end. The merrymaking continued even as breakfast was being made and eaten, many opting to picnic in the edge of the dancing. Legolas opted for such and Lothril happily joined him. He insisted on feeding her fresh strawberries while she lay with her head on his lap. She had hesitated briefly, but the way he smiled and held out his hand to her… how could she refuse? She settled down with her head on his thigh as he fed her strawberries and she, being the nerd she was, decided to try recreating a scene from one of her favorite stories, "The Light Princess" by seeing if one really could manage to kiss someone's fingers as they fed you. To her nerdy delight, this proved very possible, and to her glee, it drew quiet moans from Legolas who seemed to be enjoying it immensely. She filed that away for later…

As the morning got on, it got warm and many of the elves turned their attention towards swimming again. Lothril changed into her green suit and even though this was the umpteenth time she saw Legolas in his, her heart still leapt up into her throat and she still wanted to run her hands down his chest and snake them around his waist. She resisted the temptation until she found herself lying on the beach next to him on a blanket… on her back… hands neatly folded on her stomach… very much trying not to disturb him as he lay soaking up the sun with his eyes closed.

"Just do it already," Legolas said, eyes still shut.

"Do what?" Lothril asked as she turned her head to look at him; confused a bit by the random sentence.

"You feel stiff as a board beside me. Do whatever it is you are itching to do so you can relax," he replied, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth.

"I know elves are more relaxed about these things than where I grew up, but I think I would be pushing it, even for elves."

He turned his head and peeked at her from under one cracked eyelid. "Oh, now I must know!"

He felt her mind brush against his just before a barrage of images and feelings from her. Yes, that would indeed push it…

"Relax, melethenin. Close your eyes and relax and let me help you a little," he said quietly as reached for her hand removed it from her belly and brought it to rest with the inside of her forearm facing up so he could gently trace his fingers up and down it while singing softly to her.

Oh, how she loved it! His gentle touch, his soft voice, the warm sun and the light breeze off the lake, waves gently lapping the shore… she sighed and smiled as she relaxed.

"Linnrien and Mindonith are approaching. Shall I leave?" Legolas said quietly as he continued tracing little patterns up and down her arm.

"Stay. They might wish to speak with you," Lothril replied, cracking one eye open at him.

"Perhaps, but unlikely," Legolas replied.

A moment later Linnrien and Mindonith arrived and sat down beside Lothril.

"And how are you both doing?" Linnrien asked as she settled down beside Lothril.

Legolas glanced down at the utterly peaceful look on Lothril's face. "We are enjoying ourselves."

"Excellent! We would like to start a game of tíra-dom and we are looking for players," Linnrien said.

"What is tira-dom outside of being contradictory? 'To see blind' doesn't exactly make sense," Lothril said, eyes still shut.

"I believe your brother and sister called it 'Marco Polo'," Legolas answered. "But we play it both on land and in the water."

"Land and water? At the same time?" Lothril asked, opening her eyes and sitting up.

"Only if we have enough players," Mindonith answered. "But so far, we only have seven or eight."

"Make it eight or nine. I will play," Lothril said with a smile.

"Nine or ten," Legolas added.

Mindonith and Linnrien exchanged looks and subtle smirks.

"Have you asked Elrohir and Elladan?" Lothril asked.

"They are amongst our number," Linnrien answered.

"Would you both mind helping us find more players?" Mindonith asked. "We would like to get a big game going."

"Certainly," Legolas said, standing. He held out his hand to Lothril and off they went.

In very little time they had enough players for a large game, and so the poor soul who was it first, which happened to be Legolas, was blindfolded and spun around and then called out, "Tirad!"

Which was answered by a peppering of "Dom!" maybe fifteen feet away.

Lothril learned rather quickly this was decidedly harder to play with elves as their hearing was already so very sensitive. And then if one tapped into their ability to feel others around them, it got significantly harder for the ones who could see because the blind 'it' wasn't nearly so blind as a human in the same position.

The game only ended when the smells of supper and the sweet ringing of the bell informed everyone supper was ready. Even at that, it might not have ended the game except that it smelled oh, so very enticing! It also reminded them that Midsummer night was soon upon them and that meant the height of the celebrations.

Everyone still in swimming clothes hurriedly changed into their party clothes. Lothril had quite decided at new year that she wanted to wear the dark blue dress he had gotten for her in Minas Tirith for Midsummer this year, but with a slight alteration by Filegon. She had asked him to add a sheer skirt over it that would add glitter to the bottom half of the dress, reckoning it would make her slightly more visible outside at night. He did her one better and was so proud of it he looked like he would burst, especially when Lothril gasped in utter delight. He had taken a sheer fabric, dyed it the same color as the dress, then had Megorel do some of her most delicate and fine embroidery to create a sky of stars that started out scarce at the top and grew thicker as it descended the skirt, culminating in a thick sky of stars at the hem.

She quickly slipped on the dress with the matching necklace, hair jewel, and belt and hastened out of the tent to be met by Legolas outside his tent who was wearing silver and green gems and looked like a star come to earth.

"You look handsome," Lothril said with a grin. Handsome… ethereal, beautiful, sexy… what's the word beyond sexy? There needs to be a words beyond beautiful and sexy because whatever they were he was it.

"Stars above!" Legolas exclaimed wide eyed before promptly taking her arm, escorting her into his tent. "We may be late for supper," he muttered before kissing her deeply. "Waning moon, midsummer night… you look like this… are you trying to test my discipline?"

"I just wanted to be more visible in the dark," she answered with a half smile.

He stared at her, studying her face. Was she serious?! She was! Goodness, what an elleth! As of he didn't already find her perfect…

"You're late," Elrohir teased as Legolas and Lothril sat down to join them in the feasting.

"And any wonder, look at our sister- she looks like she is clothed in the very night sky!" Elrohir said.

"Is that not the dress you wore in Minas Tirith? But I do not recall so many stars upon the skirt," Elladan asked.

"Indeed it is," Lothril replied with a smile. "I had Filegon add the stars so I would be easier seen."

"How practical," Elladan replied, teasing her ever so slightly.

"I thought so."

Thranduil watched this conversation with a very amused little smile. He was frankly shocked Legolas showed up at all, and regardless of whatever her intentions might have been, it was clear she was delighting in that dress as she wore an air of confidence usually reserved for when she was holding a sword.

It wasn't surprising to him they were late to dinner, it was surprising they showed up.

And speaking of surprises… Thranduil grinned to himself.

After feasting came dancing and much merrymaking until dawn. Lothril never felt so alive! She felt like she was floating through a joyful strain of the Music. She loved the fact she was getting to see her ada being merry. She loved dancing with everyone, hearing the music, seeing the moon and stars shine and glitter in everyone's hair and eyes…

Before dawn, after many dances where he shared her, Legolas finally decided to draw her away into the trees. Her dark eyes glittered with starlight as she followed him, holding his hand. He drew her to a quiet corner of the trees until he found a large old oak he promptly pinned her against and started kissing her. She wrapped her arms around him and drew him closer with a very pleased hum.

-⸙ - ⸙-

They arrived back rather late as Legolas decided to take her back by a scenic route that involved stopping for a couple hours by a babbling little stream. When they did get back, they both went straight to his room he entered his bedroom first and balked.

"Ada…" Legolas muttered to himself.

"What?" Lothril asked and then entered the room and saw and started laughing. "I swear it's bigger than his!"

"I think you are right," he said, slowly approaching the massive bed. It wasn't covered in gold leaf, thank goodness, but it was covered in intricate carvings and scroll work. The fire and lamps lit in the room revealed that it was riddled with holes in the carvings that fairly mimicked shadows of leaves on the forest floor. He had also gone out of his way to stain it different colors so tree branches were distinguishable from vines and the leaves were tinted green.

"My word, this is intricate!" Lothril said, examining the wood work. "And look at this beautiful headboard! That could be a crest."

"It is our crest," Legolas said. "My symbol is a green leaf and Elrond's a star, and because I named you after lothil, yours is lothil with a star in the middle. Therefore, our house is that- a leaf and a lothil with a star in its center."

"It feels strange having a crest," she mused. "Knowing I could very well see that on a banner… and that it means something."

"It means us," he said quietly, taking her hands in his. "It means that we shall be one, forever bound to each other while the world lasts. We are going to marry in this bed, Lothril."

She turned her face to stare at the bed again. There was a certain level of gravity to that realization.

"You look serious. Does the thought scare you?"

She shook her head. "No, quite the opposite. Knowing… I mean before, I presumed we would marry in your bed and make it ours. I rather like the idea though, of marrying in our bed; not yours or mine."

"The size of it is not off-putting?"

"Nay, I find it rather exciting. If your father made it this big, I would wager everything I have that there is a reason, and I cannot wait to figure out what we'll use it for!" She grinned as she turned back to inspect it a little more closely. "He is quite the woodworker." She noticed the twisting carved vines and branches were detailed and she had a vague idea she'd be discovering little details here and there for a long time to come, but these thoughts were vague and fleeting in the back of her mind.

Legolas nodded. "Ada has a considerable number of talents and skills."

"This really is gorgeous," she said as she sat down on it gingerly like she was afraid of breaking it.

Legolas smiled. "I think you need not be so careful with it as that. I well imagine we could do handsprings on it without causing any damage," he said. He reached out for the footboard and gave it a shake, rather, he made a solid attempt and it barely nudged.

"I now have an overwhelming desire to jump on this thing like a trampoline, thank you very much," she said, giving him one of her 'I'm trying to look annoyed' looks.

"Be my guest," he said with a smile, gesturing to the mattress.

She thought about it, but she was still in her riding clothes. "Maybe after I bathe and change for bed," she replied. "I would hate to get these pretty new blankets dirty."

"You are welcome to bathe and change here, if you like," he offered.

"That would save time," she mused.

"That is true, but I have ulterior motives. There is an oil I have in there that I wish for you to try."

"Oh?"

"I think you will enjoy it, it is on the shelf next to the bathtub with your name on it. I have been waiting for a little while now to have you try it, but since Ada clearly decided to give us his wedding gift early, I think perhaps now may be a good time."

"That's a peculiar statement to make," eyeing him with equal parts evaluation and suspicion.

He just grinned. "Just go bathe and take your time. I need to write Farion a letter congratulating him on marrying yesterday and take care of a few other things."

"Oh that's right! I sent mine to Silrien before we left. Well, then I suppose I shall take my time and have a bath."

"Enjoy! Oh, and there is a robe of mine in there if you wish to use it," He gave her a kiss and went into his study.

Lothril went into the closet which was nearly double the size of the one in her room and split in half by a sheer curtain hung between two stone pillars. Her half was still mostly empty, but there was a pair of pajamas in it and a few other random things on the shelves and in the drawers like pairs of stockings, an assortment of undergarments and hair ties, and a couple of her favorite dresses. She grabbed her pajamas and headed into his bath for the first time since that hasty shower last autumn and once again marveled at how much Thranduil wasn't afraid to indulge. His current bathroom had a waterfall, his former bathroom didn't but was no less impressive. It was a bathroom the size of a living room, all stone of course, like everything in the palace, but with enough silver and wooden features to keep it interesting.

Dead center it had a hot spring that was naturally quite round, with carved steps leading up to it on three sides and carved sides with silver inlay in a leaf motif. Conveniently placed were elegant wooden tables that were level with the edge of the bath, stocked each with a towel and room for whatever other niceties one may desire. Above was an elaborate silver chandelier that looked like large drops of glittering rain and light suspended above that sent shimmering gold light sparkling into the clear placid water below. Of course, this was separated from the shower on the right by a curved wooden lattice designed to look like vines. The shower itself was sundered from the rest of the room by tall painted and wavy glass panels. To the right of the hot spring was a very elegant and understated wooden tub that looked like it was made of a single piece of wood and in a rather wide oval shape. She reckoned it was big enough for two, but still serviceable for one. The hot spring, being a spring, fed the bathtub when one turned a handle and diverted the water from the little channel that ran along the wall into the tub with a turn of a handle at the juncture, causing the water to fall into the tub like a little waterfall. The bathtub was against a wall and level with it was a long curved shelf on which sat bath oils, salts, soaps, and lamps.

Then of course there was the plush wooden bench near the base of the hot spring on the left on which one could conceivably take a nap, a smaller one outside the shower on the right, a large double sink with a two large mirrors in silver frames that looked like twining branches, a large linen cabinet on the same wall as the shower chock full of the softest towels and washcloths, and no end of lights and candles to make the room glow, along with a small fireplace mounted in the one wall.

All of this was lit, clearly in expectation of the prince's return, and it was… well, clearly it had been built for two and for whatever reason Legolas simply saw no point in altering that all these years. Then again, she wouldn't have either.

She knew she could summon a servant, but she really didn't wish to, and so drew a bath herself in the wooden tub as she stripped down and then grabbed the oil with a tag labeled "Lothril". Inside the folded tag it read: may be used bath, body, or both. She uncorked it and took a sniff. It certainly smelled nice… light, floral, with a slight woodsy kind of green smell…Boy, this smelled nice! "Let's live a little," she muttered to herself as she decided to pour some into the bath. The tub was about half full as she climbed in, and the swirling, steaming water was rich with the scent of the oil. She could feel it already starting to soften her skin. This stuff felt singularly indulgent and she was more than happy to indulge, but not until the tub was full.

She settled in and rested her head on the edge of the tub where a towel was folded for her head to rest on. Boy, this was comfortable! The hot water pouring into the tub felt nice caressing her skin, the scent of the oil was relaxing and luxurious, the sound of the falling water was nearly musical… this was the life! She was going to very much enjoy the next few years… Once the tub filled she reached over and lazily turned the handle and the water was diverted back into the channel.

She washed her hair and then settled back to enjoy her soak when she noticed a box sitting on a low little bench beside the tub. She dried off her hand on the towel behind her head and reached out and opened the box. Inside was the egg shaped stone Elrond had given her. For a moment she sat there staring at as she tried to figure out how and why it was here, but then she decided it didn't really matter because it was now the end of June, she had gotten it mid April and not used it once and she really probably should.

Her mind quickly reviewed what she had read back when she got it and ran through the logistics of how she would actually do it before a particular corner of her mind said, "Yeah, alright, but take the elfboy up on what he said and enjoy yourself too! That's the whole point of the exercise anyway." She thrummed her fingers on the edge of the tub as she made up her mind then grabbed the bottle of bath oil.

This might be a good time to do some of those mindfulness exercises Elrond had also suggested repeatedly since she told him about how she would tense up sometimes. She hadn't in a while, but it couldn't hurt, right? Somehow pelvic floor exercises mixed with body mindfulness exercises, a decadent body oil, and a little fun just seemed like a natural combination!

Legolas finished his letter to Farion, finished an official letter to one of the captains of the guard about a handful of scheduling things, and then set out his sleep pants and undressed down to his under tunic and leggings. She certainly was taking her time! Good! Maybe she took the hint and was enjoying herself. He went over to his favorite armchair, picked up his sketchbook and pencil, and kept working on a drawing.

This particular sketchbook was rapidly turning into drawings of Lothril. He was currently working on one of her laying on her back, her dark hair pooling around her head as she smiled up at him with one of her crooked little smiles, wearing her summer pajamas. It was a memory of a relatively inconsequential moment. He had been enjoying mîbed nûr with her and she had let her guard completely down and she just looked so relaxed and sexy! How he loved, adored when she was like that. He always had to earn it, but when he did, it pleased him to no end. Especially when it was paired with her being confident with him. She had glimmers of this aggressive streak in her and every so often she would take charge, and elo! That's how she had been that night and he wanted to capture it on a page. He also wanted to encourage it because sweet mercy did it send him sailing to the stars!

He picked up his drawing at her tunic and trying to capture the way it would cling to her form and her gentle curves. Trying to shade around her breasts always gave him fits because if he was too heavy handed it made her look bigger than she was, but too light and it looked like she had nothing and it was easy to make either mistake. As he was of the considered opinion that her breasts were perfect and he knew she was rather self-conscious about them, he went to great pains in his drawings of her to get them exactly right.

His bathroom door opened and having reached a good stopping point, he shut the book and looked up to see her with a damp braid trailing over her shoulder, wearing a short sleeved tunic with a low notched neck and those short shorts he had given her.

He set aside his book and pencil on a side table and got up to meet her. "You did not rush yourself," he said with a smile as he drew near and folded her in his arms then kissed her neck. "And you tried the oil. What do you think of it?"

"I am certain my skin has never felt this soft," she replied. "And the scent is fantastic!"

"It is," he agreed, giving her a kiss on her lips. "And it is doing precisely what I hoped it would on you. The aethelas is playing off your natural scent and reminding me of the wind from the Sea as we rode through Lebennin, and the lothil and other scents reminds me of the woods." He kissed gently behind her ear. "I will go bathe and ready for bed. Feel free to get in bed without me if you wish." With a parting kiss to the lips, he went to get ready for bed.

Well he was clearly excited, with pleased and aroused in the background. She turned to look at the massive bed and had half a notion to get a running start and leap into it. Then her eyes drifted to the crest in the center of the headboard and a funny feeling settled in her stomach. Was it arousal or nerves? Both? Why did this feel so serious all the sudden even though she still wanted to take a flying leap into the thing? Then she all but heard Elrond from a month ago telling her love making is serious play. What it does is serious, and it can be anything from romantic and passionate to fun and playful.

She backed up about halfway through the large bedroom, took a flying leap and spun halfway in midair before landing on her back on the bed, spread eagle. The bed barely made a sound and the mattress received her softly almost smack in the middle. She sat up. This ridiculous thing almost looked bigger when you were on it! She stood up and walked to the edge of the bed where she laid down and counted how many times she could roll over until she reached the other side. Eight. Eight times. That meant eight people would fit across this bed. What the heck, Thranduil?! Who needs this kind of space?

She crawled across the green and silver blanket meadow to the headboard and took a closer look at it. All around the edge of the crest what she thought was a twisting vine was actually winding text that was blessings for love, peace, unity, and wisdom. She wondered briefly if this was a standard blessing or something Thranduil wrote? Her attention was drawn to a vine carving that looked remarkably like an "s" rune… then she realized it was and that he had hidden more blessings in the carvings. She couldn't quite find the beginning of it, but that didn't particularly matter, she got the jist of it. If the crest was sweet Thranduil, the rest of the bed was cheeky Thranduil. Her eye caught another line of text and as the runes came into focus and she read them, her brows rose higher.

Then again, was she really surprised he was hiding blessings for amazing puith in the bed frame? No. No, she was not. Was she surprised it was given to them early knowing they're sharing a bed most nights of the week? Also no.

She was laying on her side letting her thoughts wander when Legolas came out dressed for bed in naught but a pair of sleep pants, as was his custom. He saw his betrothed laying in the middle of the bed on a green blanket with silver threads running through it clad in soft grey and her shapely bare legs… good Elbereth, was he blessed!

"What is that smile about?" she asked, finally looking up at him.

"You and your fair self," he answered and crawled onto the bed next to her. "You know I love seeing your legs like that."

"Always my legs," she teased.

"You still turn crimson when I talk about anything above your legs or below your shoulders," he replied.

"I do not," she protested playfully.

"Oh? Then you shall not turn red if I tell you I enjoy seeing you in this particular tunic because it is soft and thin and gives me veiled glances of your breasts. The shape of them, the curve of them…" he lightly traced just around one of them without actually touching it. She barely breathed and flushed. "One hundred and twenty days until we wed and I can see you in your unveiled splendor. I am eager to see all of you."

"I am eager to see you too," she admitted, turning a shade more pink. "Do…" she cut herself off.

"Do what? What are you thinking?" he asked with an encouraging smile.

"Well… it was a little wrong of me and I realized it and changed my mind."

He leaned in and kissed her. "A little wrong? Let me hear your thoughts and judge for myself."

"I was going to ask if we could amend our rules again and perhaps allow some touch through our clothes, but I remembered your words and thought better of it," she said. "You have already stated your boundaries and it is not fair of me to push them."

He was quiet for a moment as he traced the visible skin along her notched tunic collar. "I know what I said, but I confess, I have been reconsidering it since before your birthday." He paused to think about what he wanted to say next. "In truth, I am torn, for I do greatly wish to, but it is a page once turned, there is no turning back and I am not certain if I am ready to turn it. But it seems you are ready, and that is something I need to consider. What has brought on this readiness from you?"

"Nothing in particular, save that I feel ready and desirous. Ada has been encouraging me to explore what arouses me, what I like and do not like, and how it makes me feel physically and emotionally and so…" She trailed off.

He nodded as he continued tracing her collar bone. "Haran a taphen** celain*," he muttered to himself as he slowly let his finger trace down the notched neck onto her tunic and straight down her sternum. He traced the same line back up and then across the left side of her chest. He noticed she barely breathed as he did this. "My hand is steady, you can breathe, melethenin."

"That is not why I am not breathing," came her whispered reply followed by a shuddered breath as his finger lowered ever so slightly.

He leaned in and kissed her while rolling her onto her back beneath him. "What arouses you, Lothril? What awakens your body to me? Tell me how you feel when I do this," he said as he leaned down and began gently sucking and biting her neck. She moaned and squirmed beneath him deliciously! "Does it thrill you? Does it leave you satisfied or wanting more?"

"Such thrills! I love it! I want more!" she moaned.

"What desires does it stir within you?" he whispered in her ear as he began letting his hand smoothly rub up her thigh, then her hip.

She almost growled as she pulled his lips to hers. "I do not know if I should confess them."

"Then you must! Tell me! Show me!" he demanded as he began pulling up her tunic to expose her belly.

"You asked for it," she grinned before she rolled them both over and straddled his hips.

Ai elenath!

She leaned down and kissed his lips before burying her face in his neck. It was his turn to moan and squirm. She gave her hips an experimental roll into his and both of them were moaning. She quickly began working her lips down from his neck and letting her hands skim up his sides.

She had been aggressive before, but this felt serious and he slowly realized regardless of whether or not he changed their rules, she had turned her own page.

"Do you know what I did in the bath?" she asked in his ear with a soft voice that sounded like pure seduction.

"Tell me," he answered, his own voice giving her shivers.

"I touched myself for the first time in over two years. And do you know what I thought about?"

"What did you think about?" he asked, his voice gravely.

"You. You and how it feels when you kiss me… hold me… touch me… then I imagined how it will feel when we wed."

"Agoreg cranthannog farthannen?***"

She sat up a little straighter and shook her head. "I never have. I cannot figure out how, as silly as that may sound."

"Hmm… I suppose that means I shall have to help bring you to it, and I gladly will, but I think you ought to speak with your ada about it if you have not already."

"I have. That is why I decided to try again. For what it is worth, I think I got closer."

"That is worth something. Feel free to keep trying and exploring until we are wed and I can help you better," he said softly, reaching up to caress her cheek.

"How did I find such a wonderful and understanding melethron as you?" she asked, leaning into his touch.

"As I recall, you climbed out of a window."

-⸙ - ⸙-

A/N: *Haran a taphen celain - hundred and twenty days.

**taphen (20)- it should be "taphaen", but with Mirkwood Sindarin, he would change the "ae" sound to "e".

***Agoreg cranthannog farthannen - did you achieve satisfaction?