The Forgotten

by Faerlas

"Daughter of Exiles needs returned. Thy Lord & Lady bid thee fetch her." After a series of dreams, Jennifer saw the person in her dreams outside her school window. She fell out of the window and landed in Middle-earth with Legolas. The next morning she awoke and her ears were pointed. But why? ***Very canon compliant***Story re-written b/c long overdue. RATING JUST TO BE SAFE.

28. A Wedding and a Betrothal

THE FORGOTTEN

A Wedding and A Betrothal

Author's Note: The chapter in which – Elrond reveals who his favorite child is and Legolas and Lothril take a cue from Olivia Newton John. …Someone please tell me they understood that reference… I CANNOT tell you how freaking excited I am to FINALLY be writing this chapter! I have been looking forward to this for a very long time! Again, this is a rewrite of an old fic, and this chapter right here was properly painful in the original version. When I wrote the original version of this chapter, I had zero idea about elven customs, so instead of Legolas and Lothril getting betrothed in this chapter, I had them getting married… and it was… I have never so happily deleted anything in my life. This go round though, I know things! So instead of a rushed and slapped together wedding with a cringe inducing beginning to their wedding night, I am giving them a slightly ostentatious betrothal (courtesy of Thranduil and the kingdom of Gondor) and decidedly more realistic behavior from our main characters.

Day before Midsummer found the city of Minas Tirith in a bit of stir, though no one was exactly sure why. Rumor on the street was that a procession of elves were approaching the gate, and as soon as Pippin brought back that rumor to the house, Legolas looked at Lothril who was already heading towards her room. For days she had been contemplating what dress and things she wanted to wear, and only yesterday settled on something, but she still had to do her hair and she knew full well if she didn't give herself at least an hour to fuss with it, she would end up fuming and aggravated and her hair looking horrendous from her messing with it too much and then just slapping it in a plain braid out of unbridled frustration. She put on one of the loaned dresses which she thought suitable as it was an attractive white dress with dark lavender trim embroidered with a springy green vine around the hem, fluttering sleeves, and neck with a belt of the same color. Simple, attractive, and the perfect weight for a summer evening, she reckoned. She was sitting down at the vanity just about to start her hair when she heard a knock at her door.

"Come in," she called, expecting it to be Legolas, and it was.

As he entered he said, "Would you like a little help with your hair?"

"Probably best," she said with a frown. "I always do particularly poorly with it when it actually matters."

Legolas chuckled as he came up behind her. She handed him her brush as he said, "I think you do fairly well for someone who has only been trying a few months, but it is Midsummer's Eve this evening and it would not do for an elf to look less than festive, especially when attending a welcoming for the soon queen of Gondor."

"Do you think this shall be a big affair?" Lothril asked, suddenly doubting her clothes and jewelry choices.

"This shall simply be a small welcoming for Arwen and her family and the guests and going over some details for tomorrow. I doubt very much that there will be many others outside of a few select officials like Prince Imrahil and Lord Faramir. Tomorrow shall be a much larger celebration, I am sure." As he spoke he began combing out and then braiding her hair.

"Just make sure you do not make me look too ostentatious. I do not want to draw attention to myself," she said.

"If you do not want attention drawn to yourself, then I suggest you wear a different dress," Legolas replied.

She looked at herself in the vanity mirror and frowned. "I thought this dress might be a bit much."

"No, the opposite is true. It is not enough. This is perfect for casual tea in the garden, but it shall never do for this," he answered. "I will be done with your hair in a moment then I will help you find a proper dress."

"Sooner or later I need to figure out these things," she said with a half frown and a furrowed brow.

"Do not trouble your mind with it yet. When you reach our realm, Estelneth and I will be there to help you," he said with a smile as he finished off the first braid. "All told, I think you are doing rather well. Whatever those clothes were that you arrived in made it clear your native manner of dress quite different from ours, and since you have arrived, you have spent most of your time in hunting garb or light armor with a weapon in hand. When you return, you can set aside your bow and sword and put you in nine yards of brocaded fabric studded with jewels and teach you how to throw parties and make grand entrances and exits."

Lothril laughed and tried not to move too much and ruin whatever Legolas was doing. "I look forward to it!" she chuckled.

He quickly finished off what he was doing and handed her the small hand mirror. "There, I am done and I have put in a new jewel I have gotten for you that cost an obscene amount of money," he teased. "And here is the necklace that goes with it." He gently draped it around her neck and clasped it for her. It was a large opal that looked like the full moon with bright little stars on either side going up the silver chain. It looked like the night sky sitting on her chest.

She turned around so she could get a better look at the jewel in her hair and it looked like a star surrounded by smaller stars sitting in the midst of a simple net of braids. "Already spending your father's money, I see," she teased. "It is beautiful and perfect for a Midsummer's Eve."

"I thought so."

"Thank you," she said, standing up and giving him a soft kiss.

"You are very welcome, mel nin," he replied and gave her a kiss in return. "Now, let us get you in a dress that matches."

He went over to the wardrobe and opened it up and after quickly surveying the dresses he frowned and said, "None of these will do, I fear. I suppose then it is best that I bought a dress to go with the necklace. Wait here," he said and went into his room from the shared balcony. Lothril's gaze followed him with a raised brow and a look that knew full well he had been planning this little charade for days, if not weeks. 'None of these will do, I fear' indeed.

He returned a moment later carrying a dress that was a clear, deep, bold blue. The kind of blue that is seen when the sun is very low on the horizon and only the very first stars are appearing. "Here, put this on and I will go out onto the balcony and wait. Let me know when you are dressed."

"Oh Legolas!" she gasped as she took it from him and saw it fully draped out in front of her.

"No, no, you must hasten. Give me your thoughts on it later." With that he gave her a kiss and quickly ducked out onto the balcony, drawing the curtains shut behind him before he shut the door.

She quickly changed and couldn't get over how soft it felt. She couldn't figure out what the fabric was, though she supposed it didn't matter because she needed to hurry and be ready. As soon as she slipped it on she called Legolas back in and then looked at herself in the mirror. The fit was immaculate. It was a V neck dress that allowed the necklace to sit only on her bare skin and be perfectly framed by the dark blue and fine silver embroidery that looked like trails of stardust, as it was studded with sparkling little beads and gems she rather hoped were crystals. It hugged her figure perfectly before flowing down into a skirt which laid fairly straight down when she stood still, but when she walked it was revealed how full the skirt actually was as it draped and trailed behind her. It was almost sleeveless except that the fabric that draped down from the shoulder was barely pinned together at one point a little less than halfway down her upper arm by a bright little star. The belt it had was the same color as the dress, but was embroidered and studded with stars.

"Can you make sure I have it tied up properly?" she asked.

"Of course," Legolas said. She mostly had it, but he did have to readjust the laces a little bit, which caused it to lay just a little better. "There you are aduialeth nin. What do you think?"

"At the risk of sounding utterly vain, I think I look amazing! This dress is gorgeous, this necklace is breathtaking, and how is it all the dresses you have bought me here fit like a glove?"

"You are not vain, you are correct. You do look amazing, and fair, and lovely and this dress and these jewels merely accent your beauty. As for the fit – I have a very good eye."

"Legolas, really, I do not know how to thank you. Every time I think there is no way you could find a prettier dress or jewel, you give me something else," she said and gave him a kiss.

"I confess, the only reason I bought this dress is because you have that beautiful minuial dress and I wanted you to have an aduial one too. Then of course, this dress demanded a necklace of stars and I knew Midsummer was coming and I wanted to get something beautiful for you," he said, rambling slightly. "I would love to give you verses about how enchanting I find you clothed in evendim, but while I was out there I heard the third gate horn sound and I believe it was for the procession. Where did the note say to meet them?"

"It said I should join the procession as it passes through this level," she said, checking herself in the vanity mirror again before reaching for a the small jewelry box Legolas gave her and slipping on the star ring the twins had given her.

"Then I will come with you out the main street and wait for them to pass. Let me go get my cloak," he said and then quickly went to his room and returned a couple minutes later wearing a silver tunic with his cloak from Lothlórien and a thin, soft white cloak draped over his arm. "For you," he said as he wrapped the white cloak around her and clasped it with leaf shaped pin.

"Legolas!" she said, trying to sound disapproving.

"You need a light summer cloak for these sort of events. Shall we go?" he asked.

"Yes," she smiled. As they walked arm in arm down the walkway towards the street, Lothril cleared her throat a little and said, "You know, not to sound ungrateful for all the lovely things you have gotten me, because I do appreciate them, but you know what I would really like?"

"I am sure I cannot guess," Legolas replied as he opened the little gate for them.

"I would really like it if you gave me some drawings in my notebook. I cannot take back with me dresses or jewels, but I can take back that notebook, and I would love to see some of your work," she said.

He gave a thoughtful smile as he closed the gate behind them and resumed her arm. "I ought to have known you would want something like that. I will certainly do that for you. Lend me your book until we depart and I will make sure there are several drawings in it for you."

"Thank you, Legolas," she said with a little smile.

The house was on a street lined with several old, large, and fancy homes. The end of the street led to the main street that cut through the middle of the sixth level. Being near the golden hour now and it being Midsummer's Eve, there was music in the air and people were out and about with smiles on their faces.

"Looks like the city is ready to celebrate," Lothril said with a grin.

"Of course! It is Midsummer's Eve and for the first time in many lives of Men this city can celebrate with no shadow looming over it. I imagine tonight shall be quite the party for everyone," Legolas said.

"What shall you do tonight?" Lothril asked.

"Ada invited me over and promised some form of merry making though I am sure I cannot imagine what unless he decides to go drinking with whomever he left behind when he rode ahead. They ought to be coming up with the others," Legolas answered.

A horn sounded not too far off in the distance. "Sounds like you find out soon enough."

Elven voices floated through the air and soon a large procession rounded the bend with Elrohir and Elladan in the front on horses. Whichever twin was closest to her motioned for her to draw near and held out a free hand. As he rode by, she held out hers and he leaned over and scooped her up and side saddle in front of himself.

Behind her she thought she heard Legolas give cries of several names, and guessed a few family members must have been brought along by the king. She couldn't dwell on it long though for the brother she was sitting in front of said, "I see Legolas has started draping you in jewels."

"It is ridiculous," she said with a laugh and a shake of her head. "Jewelry, gems, ornaments, dresses, belts, drawing book, and pencils, flowers – I think he had a whole garden of flowers sent to me the day you left. My room was covered! Every flat surface and one whole wall were lined in them. My room smelled like a bottle of perfume. All my dreams kept involving flowers."

"I have been wondering about that," he said. "Have the nightmares been a problem?"

"No, not at all," she said.

"Good! I am glad to hear it. We did mention it to Adar on the way back, so do not be surprised if he asks you about it."

She nodded. "Thank you for mentioning it to him, Elrohir."

He looked at her impressed. "Good job sister! How did you know?"

"You smell like pine," she answered simply.

Elrohir laughed. "You will be in trouble if I ever switch soap."

"Maybe, but tonight I am fine," she replied with a grin.

They made their way up to the top where Aragorn directed them to a hall that was set up for the morrow. Legolas had been right; this was a quieter affair, only a handful of Gondorian officials in attendance and after eating there was a brief discussion on the where, when, and what's of the wedding proceedings and then the evening was concluded and the elves shown to where they would be staying, which was either up in the seventh level where Lothril had been before or on the same street as the Fellowship and Thranduil. Single elves were given rooms, families were given homes.

As they headed back down, Elrond walked with Arwen and Lothril walked between Elladan and Elrohir and they chatted a little back and forth.

"I think our brothers have been unfair to you, Lothril," Arwen said as they walked along. "They said they had to intervene to make you look presentable, but then here you are this evening looking as fair as the evening itself."

"No, sadly, they have not been unfair. By their efforts I looked like a star come to earth, and by Legolas' efforts and tastes I look as I do this evening. I spent too many weeks and months traveling and living with soldiers to know what passes in polite society, I think," she answered.

"Never fear, I am sure you will learn these things swiftly. For the morrow though, if you are willing, I have brought some things down with me that you may wear and some you may keep if they please you. Elrohir informed me you shall be leaving for your old home before the trees turn, but I can see to having things sent to wherever you plan to go upon your return," Arwen said.

Lothril dropped back next to Arwen and gave her a walking side hug and said, "Thank you, Arwen."

"You are welcome, sister Lothril," she replied.

Meanwhile, down in the sixth level, Legolas' kin broke off from the rest of the procession and followed him down to the house Thranduil was staying in, laughing and singing the whole way. Legolas could hardly believe that his grandparents were there and was elated to be seeing them again so soon! And then of course with one of his closest cousins, his uncle, and his father's cousin present for the pending betrothal… He wished everyone present, but Elior let it slip that the family was scheming to throw him a second party upon their return to announce the date of the wedding. Legolas didn't have a chance to explain though that Lothril would most likely not be able to come to them until closer to their hoped wedding date though because Thranduil met them all at the door and immediately the celebrating began. It seems everyone had brought instruments and Thranduil had seen about making a wine merchant very happy several days earlier, and so almost immediately the music and singing and dancing began and carried on long into the night.

"Sounds like they are having quite the celebration," Elrohir said as they walked by.

"That is where Thranduil is staying. I am guessing he brought family down with him. Anyway, Legolas said they planned on merry making, so I imagine they are having a family reunion," Lothril said.

They had almost passed the house completely when Legolas came running out the gate and said, "I knew I felt you, melethril! Father says if you and your kin wish, they may join us in our merry making, but he shall understand if they chose rest after traveling so long a ways."

"I may join you later. My sister and I must make some last minute decisions before morning." Arwen said with a smile.

Legolas smiled and gave a polite bow of his head. "Of course. We hope to see you both later then."

"We shall certainly be joining you," Elladan said, and he his brother headed towards the house.

"And I think I shall as well," Elrond said with a smile.

The next morning Legolas did not see Lothril until the ceremony began. Arwen looked lovely of course, but he could hardly take his eyes off of Lothril. It was very clear that Arwen had had more than a little fun dressing up her sister. Arwen and Aragorn were both wearing white and silver and Legolas saw she had incorporated symbols from Luthien to Elrond to Gondor. He thought it was quite fitting, all things considered. Elrond, the twins, and Lothril though were all clad in silver and hints of blue and each wore a star on their brow and symbols of his house. Lothril however had her hair in elaborate braids with stars peeking out everywhere. The dress also had a much lower neckline than what she usually wore, and Legolas briefly wondered how much persuasion Arwen employed to get her into it. Then it occurred to him he actually had no idea what sorts of necklines she liked or was comfortable with. Or clothes in general. She had been wearing nothing but gifted clothing and as she seemed to like what she was given, so he assumed…Well that was a glaring oversight he would be remedying shortly.

Clad as they were, she really did look like she could pass for family. Arwen's features favored Celebrían and the twins' features favored Elrond and though Lothril looked like neither, her coloring was right and he well imagined anyone who did not know she was not his natural daughter would simply assume she favored some other relative, as it so often happens.

The wedding was beautiful, the feast was huge, long, and elaborate, and dancing and everything else was a lot of fun, and towards the end of it, Lothril found herself standing and talking with Elrond, Thranduil, and Legolas when Aragorn and Arwen came walking up.

"King Thranduil," Aragorn said as they approached.

"King Elessar, congratulations to you and Queen Arwen," Thranduil greeted in return with a slight bow of his head.

"Thank you," Aragorn replied graciously. "My queen has informed me of the plans you discussed with herself and Lord Elrond and I heartily approve. Shall three days hence be enough time to make your arrangements?"

Thranduil smiled, "Three days shall be plenty enough. I was hoping though you and the queen might attend."

"We shall certainly attend and then after retreat for a fortnight for a proper honeymoon in the mountains," Aragorn replied.

"I see," Thranduil replied. "I could try to make it two if you preferred."

"No, three is quite fine," Aragorn said with a grin. "Anything you might want or require I have instructed Lord Faramir to procure or help you with. He is in charge in my absence."

"Excellent, thank you King Elessar," Thranduil said with a slight bow of his head.

After a few more polite words, he and Arwen left their company and then the party in general which caused a cheer to go up and a toast to the happy couple.

Lothril looked at Thranduil and said, "So our betrothal is in three days?"

"Yes, unless you wish to postpone it," Thranduil smiled.

She thrilled a little. Of course, like most girls she figured getting engaged would be a little more of a surprise with bended knee and all that, but she was finding knowing she would be betrothed and the anticipation of having something to look forward to perhaps a little more exciting. "Absolutely not! What can I do to help?"

"Tell me your favorite flowers, if you would like anything in particular for dinner or dessert, and pick out something to wear," Thranduil answered.

She gave a thoughtful frown. "Well, I am not horribly fussy when it comes to flowers. Legolas had a florist's shop delivered to me and I really thought them all quite pretty. As for dinner and dessert, I cannot say I am horribly fussy about that either."

"But not beef, particular pot roast, and no cold butter on her bread or toast," Legolas added, grinning.

"Noted," Thranduil said, his face as composed as ever but a small measure of confusion in his eyes. Clearly this harkened to some prior conversation between the two…

"Then I suppose the only thing left for me to do is decide which dress I want to wear," she said.

"I assume Arwen showed you the trunk she brought for you," Elrond said.

"Oh yes. I did not have time to look through it thoroughly, but I am sure between what she brought and what Legolas has given me I have at least a dozen dresses I can choose from," she replied.

Not too long after their conversation with Thranduil, the bride and groom left, the party ended and Lothril walked back with Elrond.

"Elladan and Elrohir gave me an account of you when they met up with us, but I would like to hear from you how things have been with you since you left," he said as they walked out of the hall and into the early evening air.

"Oh Elrond, you must realize that is a prodigiously long tale, much longer than our walk back down to where we are staying," Lothril replied, her eyes smiling.

He gave a soft chuckle and said, "True enough. So then let us start with a shorter tale and how things came about with you and Legolas."

She gave a small smile and said, "Alright, well, you saw the beginning of it. You brought up our having a bond of some sort and in so doing gave me the word I had been searching for. We were friends, but more than friends, and that seemed to explain it. But anyway, as you saw the beginning, I shall skip to when we left. By the time we left, I liked him very much and was thoroughly convinced he saw me as nothing more than a friend or like a younger sister. I didn't dare dream he actually loved me. The road was cold and hard and he kept a watchful eye on me and helped me and we always settled down near each other at night, but that was nothing new, not really. We have been all but attached at the hip since we met. Then we reached Lothlórien. He seemed so eager to show me the Nimrodel and as he sang and told us all the tale of Nimrodel and Amroth, he kept looking at me like he wanted me to understand. Then of course, I am sure you heard about me dying."

"Yes, from both Celeborn and Galadriel separately and then Thranduil even mentioned it to me," Elrond said.

She nodded with an amused grin and continued. "Anyway, when I woke up poor Legolas looked awful. Eyes red rimmed, his face tear stained – he looked so shocked, bewildered, and elated I could not begin to guess what was wrong with him until he told me he thought I had died, and then of course everything made sense. As soon as the shock wore off though, he looked at me like I was the sun shining down just to bless him. Even when everyone else came in and I was explaining what had happened he kept looking at me like nothing else in the world mattered and I dared to hope... Then a couple days later he took me on a picnic to Cerin Amroth where he told me he loved me and, well, I am sure you can guess the rest," she said.

Elrond smiled. "Yes, I believe I can. You have told me the facts, now tell me your feelings. Do you love him?"

Her face broke into that small, serious little smile she would get sometimes that spoke volumes. "I love him very much. He is exactly the sort of man, if you will pardon the usage, that I have always wanted to marry. In some ways better. He feels like a natural extension of myself, if that makes any sense, and I know I can count the very number of days I have known him, and number the months and weeks since I first dreamed of him, but it feels like he has always been there and like there was never a time I did not know him. I know that sounds strange-"

"No, not at all. That is how it seemed to me with Celebrían. I know the very hour I met her, but by the time she left Rivendell with Galadriel and Celeborn, I felt as if I had known her for years. It felt strange when she left with them. Then after she sailed – for years it felt like half of me was missing. If it were not for our fëar I would even now feel utterly incomplete and lost," he replied. "If that is how you feel about Legolas, then I give you both my blessing also, and gladly."

She threw an arm around him and briefly leaned her head on his shoulder and said, "Thank you, Ada."

"You are welcome iell nin, (my daughter)" he replied. He spoke again but using ósanwe and asked, "Have you told Legolas yet about your past?"

"The same day he told me he loved me. He made it very clear he wished to marry me and I already knew I wished to marry him so I told him then. He reacted how you said he would, by the way. But with a large dose of wrath and anger mixed in with his love and understanding."

Elrond nodded slightly. "I figured that would also be a reaction as that was mine also."

She looked at him wide eyed. "Truly?"

"I destroyed several practice dummies over the course of the first few days we started working through things," he confessed.

"Oh, I am sorry-"

Before she could finish Elrond stopped walking and looked at her and took her hands in his and said, "You have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing. Do not even feel sorry for Lindir who replaced them. He was looking for something to do anyway. As heartbreaking as it was to listen to, it would have hurt more if you had not said anything and I had to watch you keep hurting alone and in silence. I am absolutely certain Legolas feels the same way. Watching you hurting alone and closed off was far more painful."

She bit her lip and gave a small nod and tried not to cry as there were people all over the street and she had little desire to become the subject of conversation at everyone's dinner table that night. Elrond gave her hands a squeeze and they resumed walking, but with her arm in his this time. "Anyway, not right now, but I do have a few things I want to talk with you about that and I would like Legolas to join us when we speak of it."

"What about in particular?" Elrond asked.

"How I react to him and how I feel in response to him. Sometimes I think I am afraid of my own feelings," she answered.

He nodded. "We will talk about it as soon as you are ready."

"I think after the betrothal. This evening is too nice to dwell on my issues," she replied.

"Have you given any further thought to staying with us while we are here?" Elrond asked aloud.

"Yes, I asked the servants to move my things over to your house this morning. I imagine everything should be over there by now," she answered.

"Most likely," he commented.

"And thank you again for offering. Not that I haven't enjoyed the company of the Fellowship these last however many months, and not that I have not greatly enjoyed being in the next room from Legolas, but I very much want to spend time with you before I go," she said.

"I very much want to spend time with you also," he replied with a smile.

The next morning after breakfast Legolas came by and asked if Lothril could be spared for a few hours and then he whisked her out the door.

"Where are we going?" Lothril asked as they left the yard and turned onto the street.

"To the shops," he replied. "It occurred to me yesterday that you have not picked out one dress for yourself since you arrived here and I mean to remedy that today."

She thought about it for a moment. "I haven't at that. Coming somewhere with no clothes but what I was wearing left everyone in a bit of a scramble to make sure I was dressed, I think."

Legolas nodded. "Very much so."

"Wait, no – I was able to pick out one or two dresses in Imladris. That plum colored dress for one, but that was one of Arwen's I chose when she insisted I pick a dress of hers to wear, and then the dress I wore the night before the council," Lothril said, correcting herself. "Otherwise, everything was borrowed and altered."

"That is well, but it is summer now and I think now that everyone else in elvendom has had their say in how you look, it is high time you get to decide. And I apologize for being one of them and not thinking of this sooner," he said.

"I have not minded in the slightest. In fact, I have found it interesting to see what everyone else wants to put me in. It is a means of seeing how others perceive me. And I must say, I think your perception of me is most interesting," she said flirtatiously.

"Oh? And how is it you think I see you?" Legolas asked, hiding a smile and raising a brow.

"If that blue aduial dress is any indication, you find me subdued and subtle but interesting and full of hidden charms and beauty. It is not the most ostentatious or elaborate dress I have worn since I got here, but I think it might well be the most striking," she answered.

He took a deep breath and replied, "That is not how I see you at all. I think you are flamboyant and brazen and incredibly ostentatious and that you display your thoughts and feelings for the world to see."

Lothril laughed hard at that and eventually managed to say, "I cannot believe you said that with a straight face."

"It was difficult," Legolas said with a chuckle. "But in any event, I want to see how you would show yourself to the world, and I think this is the first place we shall stop." It was a pretty little shop with a sapphire blue door and in the window were three outfits on display, all three looking expensive and beautiful. "Now, before we go in I have two rules for this shopping trip."

"Fair enough, it is your money. What are they?"

"You pay absolutely no mind to cost no matter how expensive you think it is, and you only get things you truly love and adore," he said.

"Then we should go back now for I already have you," she teased.

Legolas laughed and led her into the shop. "I am hoping you find something you wish to wear for our betrothal, but if you do not, you do have dresses that are quite suitable for the occasion."

This sort of shopping was a bit different from what she was accustomed to. A very nicely dressed lady approached them and recognized Legolas immediately and Lothril guessed this was where he had purchased at least one of the three dresses he had gotten for her. After some polite exchange and asking what in particular brought them in that day, the lady turned her attentions to Lothril and began asking what she was looking for. Lothril confessed she really didn't have a clue and wanted to see what all they offered, which resulted in the lady leading her over to a part of the shop where there were multiple dress forms in various outfits.

"Of course, you may order anything in any fabric or color, so once you decide on style, I will show you our fabrics and trims," the lady said.

Lothril nodded and began perusing the dresses and remembering why she hated shopping so much. She felt like she had to make a snap decision on something she hadn't even sort of considered and had no idea about anything about it. "May I see your fabrics first?" she asked.

"Certainly," the lady said and led her into another room which was lined in tall shelves holding bolts of fabric, free standing tables holding bolts of fabric, and an entire wall dedicated to ribbon and trim. The lady pointed out where each different fabric was and explained they could also do a custom dye but that would add significant time to when she would receive her dress as they would have to dye multiple swatches to make find the shade she wanted and then time to dye and dry and the fabric.

Lothril thanked her and told her she would call her if needed, and much to Lothril's relief, she took the hint and left them alone.

"What do you think?" Legolas asked when they were alone.

"I think I remember now why I hate shopping. I have no idea what I want," she said with a frown as she gingerly ran her fingers over a soft light violet fabric.

"Close your eyes," Legolas said. She arched a brow but closed them anyway. "Now, for our betrothal I want you wearing something that is reflective of you. Not Elrond, not me, not anyone else in all of Middle-earth, but you. Whatever colors, cut, or fabrics you want."

She took a slow, deep breath and gave it some thought. And nothing came to mind. Then all at once she remembered something Renee said – "I only sorta believe you're a Michigan elf…" Those were her colors. Now for the dress… No, colors first. And if this shop didn't have them, she'd find someone who did. She opened her eyes and began looking through all the bolts of fabric and gently pulling out an inch or so anything in the colors she was looking for. She found her sugar sand, her lake water blue… she turned her attention to trims. And began gently pulling out only an inch or so any trims she found that had colors or motifs she wanted.

Legolas watched her darting about equal parts happy, fascinated, and amused. She clearly had an idea and she was going to have it. Good! He was painfully curious to see what she wanted, but he wasn't about to interrupt her and ask.

She got very excited about a particular trim she found and then darted back to the fabrics and looked over them again and began pushing certain ones back in. She called for the lady who was helping them who appeared very promptly and Lothril began explaining what she was looking for.

"I want this sandy white and this blue and I want this trim over here on the sand white fabric and this trim on the blue. Now as for the dress itself…" Lothril said and then went into the other room, the lady scribbling down notes as she followed. "I shall need a suitable underdress made too. But let us start with the idea of this dress with the lighter dress and the darker outer robe or layer or whatever. So the sandy color for the lighter under layer, and the blue I picked for the outer. Instead of the scoop neck though, I want a deep and wide V neck and instead of the ties coming up and over the bust, I want them under it. And I want it sleeveless."

"Both layers?" the lady asked.

"Is that a problem?" Lothril replied, wondering briefly if proper Gondorian ladies never went sleeveless or something like that.

"Not at all, but three quarter length sheer sleeves are in this season. Many women are adding beading to the bottom of the sleeve and midway up the upper arm in white tree patterns or sea bird wings," the lady replied.

"Oh, well if that is all, then yes, I want it sleeveless," Lothril answered.

"The fabrics you picked are very sheer. Do you wish to have multiple layers of each?" the lady asked.

"I want the dress sheer and ethereal, which is why I shall need a suitable underdress made, and I think I know which fabric I want for it too," Lothril said. The lady jotted down more notes and then took Lothril back into the fabric room where the elfmaid went directly to the bolt of fabric she wanted. It was a silvery white silken fabric that caught the light very well.

After a few more questions about what she was looking for with the underdress, which resulted in the lady asking several times 'are you sure you want it just like that?' to which Lothril was adamant in her requests when the lady shot Legolas a questioning look, his only reply was, "Whatever my lady wants, she gets."

The lady told them if they came back in two hours, they would have it cut out and pinned and if she came back then, they could confirm the design and then by the next day have it ready to be fitted and last minute alterations and then delivered by the day of the betrothal.

With that they left the shop and Legolas said, "I am eager to see how it turns out."

"Me too, to be honest. I have no idea if what I decided on will even look nice on me, but that is what popped into my head so I went with it," she replied.

"If I understood your descriptions rightly, you ought to look captivating," Legolas responded with a smile. "Now, shall we go find you some jewelry to go with it?"

"Oh, that is not necessary. I am sure I have something that will look fine," she said.

"Were you envisioning anything you have when you thought of your dress?" he asked.

"Well… no…" she confessed.

"Then we are finding you something," he said and took her hand and led her down a few shops and to a very posh looking jewelry shop that looked nearly as gilded as the items in the case.

"Wait, before we go in," Lothril said, gently pulling him to a stop in front of the window, "what all am I looking to get?"

"Whatever you need to go with your dress," Legolas replied.

"Let me stop you right there," she said holding up a hand. "I cannot accessorize. I couldn't figure out what to wear back home, and I am well out of my depth here."

"You did not wear jewelry back home?" Legolas asked.

"Rarely and not very well," she replied. "Everything in fashion that I could afford I was not very fond of, and everything I liked was… well, old and very expensive and even if I had it, I would have never had an occasion to wear it."

"Then you are in very good luck, for this particular shop has both old and new pieces and some of them are quite expensive, and you have occasion to wear it," Legolas answered with a grin.

"Well that is very well and good, but that does not tell me what I need to get," Lothril said.

"You are a lady, so you shall need to wear a circlet, and a token of Elrond's house, which, I believe you still have that ring the twins gave you? Anything else is up to you, but as a lady, it would be quite appropriate to wear a circlet, rings, necklace, bracelet, hair jewels, brooch, and anything else that strikes your fancy," he said.

She nodded and said, "Let us go in."

The bell tinkled lightly over the door as they entered.

"Good morning, Prince Legolas," the man behind the counter said with a bow of his head before sweeping out from behind the counter. "How may I assist you today?"

"Good morning, Lannor. We are looking for things to go with a dress milady just ordered," Legolas replied.

The man immediately turned his attention to Lothril and asked, "And what are you looking for, milady?"

"A circlet and possibly a matching necklace," Lothril said.

He led her over to a table and bade them both sit. "Now, what sort of metals, stones, and designs are you looking for?"

"Silver or gold, I care not. For stones, the dress is the color of sand and water and the trim has colors of red, green, blue, gold, silver, and yellow. I have no idea what sort of stones you have, but it matters not to me if they are precious or semi-precious, as long as they are fair in their setting. As for designs," she drifted off into thought. "I want something that reminds me of forest and stream. I grew up under leaf and bough and near lake and river. I have no idea if you have anything that would reflect that, but that is what I would like best."

He smiled. "I think I can accommodate." He hurried into the back and after some minutes he returned carrying two velvet lined trays. One was full of gems ranging from clear to brown with various shades of blue, green, red, and yellow in between. The other had a sampling of settings, all of which either had leafy designs or tear drop or marquis settings and with the right colored stone, would look rather watery, but all were filled with clear crystal for display purposes. There was a little discussion and back and forth and him going to fetch different things to help her find what she wanted, but none of it was striking her fancy and she felt bad because the fellow had been very nice. Finally, seeing she was getting nowhere he looked at her and said, "I think I have been guessing your mind poorly. Come with me and let us see if we cannot find something you like."

He led her into the back where the only natural light was from a skylight and otherwise it was filled with lamps. It was a room lined in jewelry and gems. The whole room seemed to sparkle and shine, even without incandescent lighting. He told her to take her time and look around and she was free to try things on. He had everything from the plain and simple to the ostentatious. She looked around as Legolas quietly stood just inside the doorway watching her with a small smile on his face.

Her eyes settled on a gold circlet that she thought looked like thin vines twining around each other with tiny little flowers. That was different and she rather liked it. She picked it up and went over to a mirror hung on the wall and Lannor appeared behind her holding a large square hand mirror so she could see the back of her head too. It was not a very thick circlet, nor a heavy or dense looking one. It was thin and graceful and unassuming.

"Oh this will do," she said with a smile. "This will do very nicely." She looked at what else was there. Everything seemed to be set up so complete sets were laid out together, but if you wanted to mix and match a little, things that were complimentary were nearby. Below the circlet was a pair of gold earrings that looked like a small vine dangling, and below that was a necklace that looked just like the circlet but waiting to be dotted with whatever color leaves and flowers one wanted.

She picked up the necklace and said, "What white and green stones do you have?"

After a quick perusal of his white stones, she picked some white opals that the jeweler and Legolas both insisted were not very good ones and she insisted they were exactly what she wanted and green topaz for the leaves. She was going to call it at that, but when they headed back out into the other room, something in the display case caught her eye.

"May I see that bracelet?" she asked, pointing at the piece in the corner.

"Certainly," he said and pulled out the simple bracelet that was little more than a fine gold chain with a small, maybe quarter carat diamond in it. The jeweler put it on her wrist for her and as soon as Legolas small the little smile that graced her face he said, "We will take it."

"No, no. It is very pretty, but it is not for me," she said as she held her wrist back out to the jeweler who deftly unclasped it and put it back in the case.

"Truly Lothril, if you like it, I will gladly get it for," Legolas said.

"I know, but I really would not ever wear it. I do not much wear bracelets. I think they are pretty, I own many I like very much, and I never wear them. They are not for me. Let someone else who will enjoy it have it. I just wanted to look," she answered.

He nodded and let it go. He had noticed she would wear necklaces and jewels in her hair somewhat regularly, but only the bracelets if she was going out to something specific – like the wedding yesterday. With a smile, he made Lothril wait outside while he paid for everything because he knew it would annoy her to no end. However, when he left the shop he found her leaning against the wall, enjoying the sun.

He gave her a small kiss on her forehead and said, "We have an hour before the tailor said to return. What would you like to do in the meantime?"

"Get something to drink. Shopping always makes me mercilessly thirsty!" she answered.

"I think we can manage that," he said with a smile and took her down a ways to a tea shop he had been wanting to bring her to.

After tea and her insisting there wasn't a thing in the whole city she wanted to shop for and she would much rather just visit a fruit stand and eat blueberries (which they did), they wandered back to the tailor and found her dress cut out, pinned together, and waiting to be tried on. So far it was looking very close to how she imagined it, and after getting a second opinion from Legolas who gave the project his hearty approval, they left with a promise that by tomorrow, same time, it ought to be ready for a final fitting. Lothril couldn't fathom how that would be, but she figured they knew their business, so she didn't question it.

The day after the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, it was announced to their friends and kin that there would be a celebration as Legolas and Lothril were about to be betrothed. Of course only the elves and Gandalf fully understood what was about to take place, but for the dwarf, hobbits, and humans involved it was sufficient to know that there would be food and drink in plenty. What only Thranduil, Celeborn, Galadriel, and Elrond knew is that Thranduil had been planning since Legolas had written. Upon the fall of Dol Guldur and the meeting of Celeborn and Thranduil, the king, the moment formal business on the matter had concluded, had a long conversation with the lord about what had transpired and then immediately began making arrangements for things. When it had been realized that everyone would be converging on Minas Tirith, Thranduil had decided that would be the place for it and orders were given to have everything they needed relayed to the White City. When he met up with Elrond and Arwen in Lorien he had asked if either he or his daughter would mind the announcement and consequent celebration to be held so closely to the long anticipated wedding of his daughter. Arwen gave enthusiastic approval and Elrond said that if she was for it, how could he object?

And so it was, the day after the long awaited wedding and mere hours after the announcement, while Legolas and a blushing Lothril told their friends after their little shopping trip, that a second elvish procession showed up at the gates of Minas Tirith. This one was a bit smaller and less majestic than the first, but exceedingly more mystifying to the natives of the city. There were ten elves in all, most of them on horses, four of them driving carts, three with barrels, and one heaped high with things that were covered with a tarpaulin. They came into the city singing and continued to do so all the way up to the seventh level where the celebration was to be held.

The kitchens of the king were a flurry of cooking and baking, most of which was commandeered by the elves that had showed up lately, and the smells wafting from them made everyone's mouth water. In the meantime, in the great banqueting hall of the king, elves and hobbits (who had insisted on helping) were busy at work turning a room of stone into a veritable garden. Thin elven ropes were strung across the hall off of which were hung elven lamps that glowed silver, gold, and blue. Everyone had agreed that there needed to be greenery, so the hobbits had set themselves to help with the making of garlands. Leaves and flowers were all twisted together into long garlands by the nimble hobbit and elf fingers and were hung between the pillars. On the tables, which had been arranged into a giant U shape, cloths were laid, more garlands were hung, and silver lamps were placed at intervals. A large arched trellis was built and Samwise personally saw to it being covered with a variety of sweet smelling flowers with some flowering hanging vines coming down off the back of it. By the time he was finished the trellis looked like a garden unto itself and smelled like a rich perfume.

"That ought to set the mood nicely," he said, smiling at his work. He stood at the entrance to the hall and looked in. Last minute details were being attended to yet, but he still believed it looked as cheery and homelike as ever a garden should. The other three hobbits entered to see if they could help further and saw Sam standing there, arms folded and a satisfied look on his face.

"It looks lovely, Sam," Merry said. "I dare say we've done a good job making the place look nice."

"I think we have," Pippin said. "Rather reminds me of something though, I can't quite put my finger on it."

Frodo looked carefully at everything and at length said, "I do believe I will never see anything quite like this again. It has all the feel of something elvish, but for all the world, it reminds me of the Shire."

"That's it!" said Pippin. "It reminds me of old Bilbo's birthday, with the strings of lights of the garlands. But you're right, Frodo. It feels elvish."

Sam nodded but didn't say anything for a while. "Do you think it's nice enough? For such a special occasion, I mean. I don't say it don't remind me of the Shire too, now that I look at it, but do you suppose it's good enough for two such elves as Legolas and Lothril?"

Just then Thranduil walked in with Gandalf and Aragorn who had only torn himself away from his new bride on account of his bride wishing to help her sister get ready for her betrothal.

"Well, sirs," Sam said. "What do you think?"

"I believe, Master Gamgee that you have outdone yourself," Gandalf said at length.

"Very good work, Sam," Aragorn said, smiling down at his friend.

Thranduil remained silent a moment longer, Gandalf looked at him sidelong, wondering what he was thinking.

"If I had known hobbits were so excellent with flowers, I think I would have hired Bilbo to stay on as my gardener," he said at last, sounding truly impressed. When he had been approached by the hobbits with their petition to help, he had been slightly less than enthusiastic. They were such a rustic folk, after all. Gandalf however had been present and had prompted Thranduil to allow them to help, telling him he would be very pleasantly surprised at the outcome. He had trusted Gandalf's advice before with far more serious matters than this, and so he acquiesced. "And you finished with time to spare."

Meantime, back down on the sixth level Arwen was with Lothril helping her get ready.

"Has the dress arrived yet?" Lothril asked from the bath, thinking she had heard the bedroom door open and shut.

"It just has. Ada brought it up. May I look?" Arwen asked.

"Feel free," Lothril replied. It had looked nice when she went in for the final fitting, but the trim wasn't finished being put on and they had a couple minor adjustment to makes.

"Oh Lothril! I cannot wait to see you in this," she exclaimed.

"Does it look nice? It was still incomplete yesterday," she asked.

"I think you shall be well pleased," she answered.

Lothril hurried up and finished and then got up out of the tub and dried off and wrapped herself in her robe and then hurried out. Arwen held up the dress for her to see. "Oh, I think it did turn out, but there is only one way to find out."

"First though, I have brought something for you and I would like you to try it on before you dress. It is a very early wedding gift, but I want to give it to you in person and in private," Arwen said.

Lothril arched a brow and Arwen grinned as she handed her a small varnished box about the size of her paperback copy of 'The Lord of the Rings' with an "L" rune inside of a leaf carved into the top and just a simple latch holding it shut. She opened it and the inside of the box was velvet lined and inside was some pale purple fabric with a delicate leaf and flower lace trim. "And what is this?"

"Take it out and see," Arwen said with a mischievous grin.

Lothril set the box down on the bed and gingerly lifted the bit of fabric to reveal it to be an extraordinarily thin nightgown that looked like it was made of gossamer and violet moonlight.

"Try it on and see if it fits," Arwen said.

Lothril shot her a 'I'm trying to look annoyed, but I'm actually a bit excited' look which Arwen only smiled at as she gently pushed her behind the screen to try it on. "Oh, alright, since I am back here," Lothril said as she began untying her robe. "You know, I did not think elves went in for this sort of thing."

"Why not? We love to look at beautiful things both clothed in beauty and in naked splendor. You are my sister and Legolas my friend and I would have you both enjoy both," Arwen replied. "How does it fit?"

"Exceedingly well. Too well," she answered.

"Too well? Is it too tight? You want some room for movement," Arwen inquired.

"No, I have plenty of movement. I just cannot believe how well it um, accents things," Lothril replied.

"Do you have a mirror behind there?" Arwen asked.

"No, I do not."

"More is the pity. Well, as long as it does not feel too tight and you think it is well accenting things, I think I shall leave it at that. Here, take that off and put on your dress now," Arwen said, holding out the dress around the corner of the screen for her. Lothril swapped out the nightgown for her dress. She quickly slipped it on and stepped out from behind the screen as she finished tying the thin blue ribbon on the gauzy outer layer. "What do you think?"

Arwen gave an appraising look and after a moment said, "You look wonderful! Your dress reminds me of sand and the shore."

Lothril smiled. "Perfect! That was what I was hoping."

"You well succeeded. Come, look at yourself in the mirror and I will help you put on your circlet and necklace," Arwen said.

Lothril went over to the mirror and looked at herself. The white shining under dress was just visible through the thin sandy fabric, causing a light shimmer to show through. The hem had the gold and colored flower trim which kept the skirt of the dress from being too flouncy and fly away. The blue over layer had a handkerchief hem that melded into the folds of the full skirt so just like with a lake, it was hard to tell exactly where the water met the shore. It was tied together by just a few inches of lacing below her small bust with about four inches between the two halves, allowing more of the sandy colored dress to show through. The blue over layer had but a thin silver trim with a vine pattern that was only between the two halves. It was sleeveless and the shoulder was fairly narrow, so it combined with the wide, deep V neck lent itself to a very open, natural look. Lothril was rather pleased. It was fitted enough to show off her natural figure but then between the semi-transparent fabrics and the fullness of the skirt it gave a certain ethereal and dreamy quality while still being down to earth. Arwen came up behind her and draped the delicate necklace around her and clasped it. It was a short necklace, only dipping just below her clavicle, and the little white stone flowers and green gem leaves glinted in the daylight lent an air of Wood-Elf to the overall look.

"How were you thinking of doing your hair?" Arwen asked, looking at her beautiful sister in the mirror.

Lothril frowned. "I have no idea."

Arwen smiled, "Then I am all the happier that I am here to help you. Come, sit down at the vanity and we will think of something." Lothril went over to the vanity and sat and Arwen began brushing her hair gently then said, "This dress was made for you, was it not?"

"It was. I designed it myself, which is why I am so relieved it turned out," Lothril said with a small chuckle.

Arwen smiled and replied, "You have excellent taste and you ought not doubt yourself ever again. You said you wished it to look like the sand and the shore, yet your jewelry looks like woodland wildflowers and vines."

"To be honest, I picked all this to remind me of my old world, of Michigan. I grew up in the woods and there learned to love trees and stars, and then on the shores of Lake Michigan I first heard the gulls. It is why I picked these colors, the colors of the sand on the shore and the blue of the water. Legolas said he wanted me to wear something today that is reflective of me, and I could think of nothing better. The colors are my old world, the design and style this," Lothril said.

"I think I know now what to do with your hair," Arwen said. She brushed her hair and pulled a little in front of her ears and then pulled back a section from in front of it on either side and did a short fishtail braid that she finished off with a tiny barrette shaped like a small silver star that sat almost perfectly middle of her dark hair. "There, what do you think?" Arwen asked as she held a mirror up behind Lothril.

Lothril smiled, "It is perfect." She stood and gave Arwen a hug and said, "Thank you! And," she looked a little shyn but she continued, "you really are becoming as dear to me as my own sister."

Arwen smiled and gave her sister's hands a squeeze. "I know you have your own good sister and brother, but I am glad I and my brothers can be your brothers and sister also. Now, stand and spin around and let me look at you."

Lothril stood and gave a slow turn. "Well?"

"You look lovely. Legolas shall surely look besotted when he sees you. Has he seen you in this?" Arwen said.

"He only saw it when it was all in pins. I forbade him from seeing it when I had the final fitting, and he has not seen it all together," Lothril answered.

"Then yes, he shall surely look besotted and enchanted and I am glad I get to see him so! We have been friends my whole life and I have long hoped to see this day," Arwen said. "Let us go now to where Adar and our brothers are waiting."

"Go ahead, I think I need a moment," Lothril said.

Arwen thought Lothril suddenly looked a little pale and sad. "Lothril, what is wrong?"

"Nothing, I just need a moment alone is all," Lothril replied.

Arwen nodded and gave Lothril's shoulder a friendly squeeze before turning and heading out the door, shutting it behind her. This was worrisome to Arwen's mind. She had seemed happy enough and calm and then all the sudden she looked so sad and like something was wrong. She headed down the stairs and heard her father and brothers talking in the library and arranged her face into a pleasant little smile and then stole into the room and leaned down next to her father's ear and whispered quietly enough that her brothers could not hear, "I think you ought to go speak with Lothril. She seems upset by something, but said only that she needed to be alone."

Elrond, to his perpetual credit, kept his face from betraying what was being whispered in his ear and excused himself from his sons' company. As he headed up the stairs he quickly mulled over whether or not something may actually be amiss. Her face did have a tendency to look sad when she wasn't, and she did seem to love and need solitude, but Arwen was also very intuitive about people. He reached her door and knocked softly.

"Come in, Elrond" she said, without asking who it was.

He entered and found her sitting at the vanity but sideways with one elbow resting on the table top and her head in that hand, staring vacantly out the window. He sat down on the bed across from her and didn't say anything for a minute or two.

"I suppose I ought to come downstairs now," she said at length.

"There is still plenty of time before things are set to start," Elrond said. "Do you wish to talk?"

"Not much of a point," she replied, sounding resigned.

"Sometimes the point of talking about something is simply to share your feelings. It may not change anything, but it is a release and you look ready to burst into tears," he said.

"Not quite, but it is a tempting thought," she said wryly. She gave a sigh and got up and then sat next to Elrond on the bed and put her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. "It just hit me all the sudden I am about to become betrothed and my parents haven't a clue. We do not really do the engagement dinner thing in my family like some do, but I always supposed I would meet some guy, we would date for a while, he would ask my father's blessing, and then I would be engaged and my mom and I start wedding planning. There is nothing wrong with elven traditions, in fact, I think I may very well like this way of doing things better, but… To be honest, everything the last however many months has all been so wildly different from my old life that I honestly have not thought much about their absence. This though – this is almost normal and it feels strange all the sudden, not having them here."

"As someone whose father is a star in the night sky, I can well appreciate the sense of strangeness you are feeling. My mother and father were long departed ere I was full grown, and yet every night I can look up and see my father in the night sky. Alive and well and utterly unreachable," Elrond replied.

Lothril's brows knit together. "I suppose you do understand at that."

"Yes, but unlike me, your adopted father is here for your betrothal, and shall be here for your wedding, and as soon as you sail, I shall meet you and introduce you to your adopted mother, who shall probably be beside herself with giddiness to meet her second daughter," he replied.

"In that way, I am most blessed," she said with a little smile. "You know, Elrohir and Elladan know, Arwen knows, the Fellowship knows, Thranduil and his whole family knows, and the lot of you approve of us heartily. Or so it seems."

"Very heartily," Elrond said. "Legolas is a worthy Elf and we have been long friends and acquaintances. I am happy for him for finding his love and future wife, and I am happy for you for finding the same, and I am happy that it is the two of you to each other."

"I wish my mom and dad could meet him. I mean, setting aside the whole elf and living in Middle-earth business, I think they would like him if they got a chance to know him as a person," she said.

"He is a very likeable person," Elrond replied with a small smile.

She sighed and sat up straight and said, "Well, I suppose it won't do to dwell on what ifs and might have beens and things that cannot be when I am about to be betrothed and everyone wants to make merry."

She stood and he took her hand and said, "Now Lothril, you are allowed to feel whatever you are feeling. There is nothing wrong with how you are feeling right now, nor later if you find yourself merry, glad, and carefree and caught up in the joy of the celebration. You have much to feel sad and joyful and you are allowed both of those feelings mingled and separate."

"I am not very good at that."

Elrond stood and looked her in the eyes, "I know, but you must start somewhere with learning to allow your feelings – all your feelings, and this is as good a time and place as any. You will be surrounded by people who love you and care for you and if you need a moment to step away and collect yourself you may. I am sure Legolas will be all too happy to step away with you and so give an excuse for your absence. He may even be feeling the same way about his mother being absent from such an important moment in his life."

She looked thoughtful and said, "I had not thought about that." She took a deep breath and said, "Shall we go downstairs now?"

"Yes, but not before I tell you how beautiful you look. You truly are lovely in that dress and I am certain Legolas shall hardly be able to breathe without complimenting you all evening," he said smiling.

"Thank you, Ada," she said, returning the smile before she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

He smiled a little wider and said, "You called me Ada."

"So I did," she said with a little half grin. "I am sure it shall still be an awkward mix for some time though, but right now I really need an ada, I think." She threw her arms back around him again and buried her face in his shoulder and wept. She really didn't want to cry, but she was missing her parents and all at once the crazy swirl of emotions of missing her own family, of realizing her adopted one loved her as their own, of getting betrothed, of everything just caught up to her and was too much.

Elrond held her tightly and let her cry. He hadn't planned on wearing that robe to the betrothal anyway. She could ruin it for all he cared. "Let it all out, iell nin. The sadness, the melancholy, the joy, all of it. Let it out. Let it out until you feel calmer. I will mind everything else for you."

She cried for several minutes before she simply didn't feel the need to cry anymore and she really did feel calmer and a bit more peaceful. She pulled away and he handed her a handkerchief from an inside pocket of his robe and shrugged it off as she was drying her eyes.

"Go wash your face and I will bring you something to drink and then when you are up to it, we will go downstairs together," Elrond said to her. She nodded and went into the bathroom and Elrond left the room. Quickly he changed into what he was going to wear for the evening and then went downstairs silently and poured some wine into a cup and returned to her room to find her sitting on her bed and looking contemplative but calm. "Here you are," he said handing it to her. "You are looking much better."

She took a drink and replied, "I am feeling better, thank you."

He sat next to her again and comfortable silence resumed. She started getting a little fidgety again and when he looked at her, the look on her face had that 'I have a question but I don't think I ought to ask' look on it. "Something on your mind?" he ventured.

"Well, yes, but I am not sure how appropriate it would be to ask," she said.

Elrond arched a brow at her.

"If you insist – Legolas and I were having a conversation about, well long story short, elven love poetry came up and Legolas quoted an example of it to me and he said you were the one who wrote it while you were still betrothed to Celebrían."

"It is very likely. I know he has very nearly read my entire library. What about it?"

"It seemed a bit suggestive to me and I was not sure what to make of it. I still am not sure," she answered.

"It may well have been," he replied with a sly grin. "Do you remember which one it was?" he asked.

She had to think for a second then said, sounding like she was reciting a grocery list, "Oh, something about eyes that shine like starlight and lips like wine… I want to drink deeply and be drunk on you… oh take me in hand maiden of the trees and teach me you praises… something about her shining gold hair and drowning in her blue eyes and wanting to be undone by starlight."

Elrond laughed, "Oh I do hope when you properly recite poetry you put slightly more feeling into it than that. You almost made that sound dull."

"Well, I cannot quite remember it verbatim and if it is saying what I think it is saying, I would not be able to quote it with appropriate feeling… at least not without dying partway through," she replied.

"Can you at least express those sentiments to Legolas?" he asked.

"Depends – if you were saying what my possibly naughty mind thinks you were saying, then I would not know for I have not dared to try. If you were perhaps more innocent than I suspect, then yes, yes I can," Lothril answered.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "I was saying both, and having spent a good deal of time in your mind, I hardly think it naughty. You simply saw it for what it was – me expressing my desires for Celebrían while we were yet betrothed. Though I did write that for her only two months before we were wed. As for your expression of those sentiments, I suppose it well enough that have you have not yet expressed such desires to him as you are not betrothed just yet, but as far as I am concerned, going forward it would be quite appropriate for you to express your desires towards him. Generally I would suggest wait until you were a bit closer to your wedding before being that specific, but in your case I think you ought to express whatever your desires are whenever you feel them."

"What about physically?" she asked.

"What about it?" he asked, wondering very much where she was going to go with this.

"How, I mean what… I… Oh bother…So Legolas has not been inappropriate in the slightest, I just want to make that clear, but sometimes when he kisses or touches me even casually, I really like it and I do not know how to respond. Same with his words at times."

"The appropriate response is to let him know and probably by whatever instinctual reaction you are undoubtedly ignoring," Elrond replied.

"Even when I want to-"

"Yes."

"But I did not tell you-"

"That is immaterial. You desire him and by the time an occasion shall arise for you to act again you shall be betrothed and it would be appropriate. If you are worried about getting carried away, fear not – it is not in our nature to be carried away by physical impulse because we are driven by will, not flesh. That said, I think there is very little chance he would allow things to escalate too far because he is honorable, respectful, and loves his family quite dearly, and neither shall you because you also wish to honor tradition. Your desires for him are not wrong. They are normal and healthy and for your own sake, if nothing else, you need to act," he replied.

"Did you say this to Arwen too?" Lothril asked.

"No, but she was pledged to a Man, not an Elf and she was not overcoming the abuses you are. You clearly still have trouble allowing your heart, mind, and body to interact how they should. I believe this is the conversation you wished to have with me and Legolas?" he asked. She nodded and he continued. "Then let us have it tomorrow morning if he is free. For tonight though, I am going to tell you to do something this evening that you will not like in the slightest – this is a betrothal. Even at the briefest of betrothal ceremonies there is at least one kiss and this will be a very long betrothal celebration and there will be many opportunities for you both to kiss each other. Take them all and never mind how many people are watching."

"I love you to bits, but sometimes you make me chafe, you know that?" Lothril said giving Elrond an annoyed look.

Elrond's face remained neutral but his eyes sparkled in amusement as he replied, "That is a fine way to finally tell me you love me."

She blinked and looked at him surprised, "I have not told you such before, have I! And here you about to bless my betrothal… you have adopted a very poor daughter."

Elrond laughed then said, "You said it often with other words and deeds, but it was nice to finally hear it said."

"Then let me say it properly before you approve and bless one of the biggest decisions of my life," she said, growing quite serious in her demeanor. "Elrond, you are truly a father to me as well as a counselor and friend and I love you. I shall probably never say it as much as I ought, but I do love you, father."

"I love you too, Lothril. You are my daughter and I also count you a friend and I will tell you these things as often as you need to hear them," Elrond replied.

Reflexively she gave him a hug and a kiss on the lips like she did to her own father and gasped. For a split second she had forgotten her own gift and when she suddenly perceived the depth and scope of feeling he felt for her she was taken aback.

"What is wrong?" Elrond asked, seeing the shocked look on her face.

"I- I forgot my gift. I felt your feelings. You really do love me as your own, and quite strongly. And you care so much for me! I did not doubt you, but," she paused, feeling a bit choked up and blinking at tears that were blurring her vision. "I suppose it is just odd knowing with certainty there are two people in the world who feel as strongly and deeply for me as I do for them. I know my parents love me, but I did not have this gift then. I can only guess at the scope of their feelings for me even though I know they love me very much… it is just shocking to know it fully and with certainty, I suppose," she answered.

"I forgot your gift also," Elrond said, "but I am glad you have such a gift. I imagine tonight though it may prove overwhelming. You are liable to receive many kisses tonight, but that may be for the best so you finally understand how very loved you are."

"Speaking of, I think we best head out soon," Lothril said, looking out the window.

"We should at that. I imagine the twins are wondering what is keeping us," Elrond said.

"So then Arwen did send you up," Lothril said, one corner of her mouth tugging into a half smile.

"You will find she is very intuitive about people. I may have sensed the bond between you and Legolas first, but Arwen was the first to see when it turned to love," Elrond said.

They headed to the stairs and down and Lothril finally paid attention to what Elrond was wearing. Being summer, it was in fact lighter garb than what he wore in fall and winter. He wore a long thin surcoat with long sleeves and made of a thin silk crepe fabric of a greyish blue that reminded her significantly of the streams that ran through the valley of Rivendell, especially as it rippled as he moved. The fabric being so thin, she could see that he was not wearing long sleeves underneath and suspected it was probably those shorter elbow length sleeves or just longer that she had seen more than one male in as she was out and about. It was hard to tell though as the sleeves on it were long and full and bore some beading and embroidery around the upper arm and the hem of the sleeves. Regardless, the outer tunic was that color and the under tunic an ivory with a colorful leaf and flower embroidery around the collar and a belt of silver and pearl.

"You look very nice by the way," she said, breaking the silence.

His mouth twitched into a smile. He loved her random utterances, especially the ones that sounded like they came from midway through a conversation like the tone of this one was. "Thank you," he replied.

"I am a little surprised you managed to match me so well," she said.

"To be honest, I was quite relieved when you mentioned the colors you had picked for your dress. I have not worn this outfit in years and packed it on a whim because I know summers here can be quite warm," he replied. "What is truly surprising though is that both Arwen and the twins managed to find things in these colors on short notice."

"They did?" she asked, surprised indeed.

Elrond nodded and replied as they reached the last step, "Yes. You are a very fortunate elleth, it seems."

Lothril grinned, "My luck tends to run like that."

"Oh?"

"Oh yes. Ever since I was a young child I have had an amazing knack for getting the very last item I needed most at the shops when they were supposed to be out of stock, and my ability to win drawings is nearly embarrassing. We had a children's club of sorts growing up and my dad ran it and every week we would have drawings for little silly prizes for different things and I would win the drawing nearly every week, to the point where they started pulling my name out just so other children had a chance."

"Did you want to win every week?" Elrond asked.

"Not particularly," Lothril said. "Of course I enjoyed winning things, but I would often win when I did not care one way or the other."

That struck Elrond as peculiar, but he let the subject drop as they reached the library where the others were waiting, each of them clad in various shades of watery blue and off white to light beige with bright hints of leafy greens and wildflowers. Lothril smiled when she saw them. They had done a very good job matching a dress they hadn't seen, and she had to smile when she noticed Elrohir had somehow managed to find a copper pinecone to put in his hair while Elladan wore a star in his.

"I love the pinecone, Elrohir," she said with laughter in her voice.

He smiled wide and said, "I thought you might."

"Lothril, do you have the ring for Legolas?" Elrond asked.

She nodded and reached into a very well concealed pocket on her left hip and pulled out the ring. "Right here."

"Lothril, that is a beautiful ring! However did you get it?" Elladan asked.

"Galadriel. She sent me to her favorite jeweler in Caras Galadhon and I had him make it for me with a little help from Gimli and Frodo," she answered. "And Renee, Merry, Pippin, and Boromir."

"Sounds like there is quite the story in there," Elladan replied.

"Best tell us on the way up or you shall be late for your betrothal and that will never do," Arwen said.

The event was set to start at sunset. Though typically betrothals were a little more quiet and private than this was anticipated to be, everyone agreed that for the sake of Legolas and Lothril's friends and the reality that most of them would probably be unable to attend the celebration of the actual marriage, that this touch of exuberance was warranted.

Not counting attendants, servants, and elven musicians, there were close to thirty guests in attendance. Everyone showed up and entered the hall to sweet, soft music being played by elves and were seated, everyone with an excellent view of the magnificent arched trellis.

Not for any custom or tradition, but it just so happened that Legolas and Lothril did not manage to see each other until everyone was in the hall and seated. Lothril and the others arrived almost at the same moment as Galadriel and Celeborn and Lothril finally found a moment to apologize for her somewhat embarrassing language snafu in Lothlórien when she kept calling them Adar-adar and Naneth-adar when in reality that would be Earendil and Elwing. Galadriel and Celeborn had both thought it kind of adorable and not wholly inaccurate as it was solely because of Elrond she was their granddaughter. They pointed that out to her and told her it was all one to them if she referred to them that way, but she insisted on the proper titles of adar-naneth and naneth-naneth, at which point Arwen interrupted and told her if she was going to call them their right titles, it would be Ada-nana and Nana-nana because that is what her and the twins called them.

For reasons none of them could guess, Lothril smiled very widely at 'Nana-nana' and quickly agreed to adopt those particular terms and every time she said it, it was with a particular notes in her voice and none of them could guess why, nor why all night she would say it twice in a row every so often. Of course that was because none of them had a clue about the old Adam West Batman television show. Lothril knew it was juvenile as the day is long, but it made her ridiculously happy to have this private little inside joke with herself.

In any event though, that conversation kept her from seeing Legolas who was caught in a neighboring corridor speaking with his great uncle and his cousin and his grandparents until all at once everyone thought it was about time for things to start and everyone but Legolas and Lothril hastened into the hall. Legolas turned away from his retreating kin and saw Lothril now standing alone in the white and black pillared hall, looking to his mind like the nymph of some wooded lake come to enchant and bless him. She turned her gaze from the others to Legolas and thought he very much looked like the Prince of Wood Elves. His outer robe of leafy green was made of a light fabric not terribly dissimilar to the material her dress was made of and underneath he wore a lighter pale green tunic and brown leggings and upon his head was only a thin circle of gold. Legolas came to her and spoke no word but opened his mind her and he kissed her and let the torrent of feelings he had for her flood her soul, and to his delight, she shared hers with him also.

One second, two seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five seconds… he pulled his face away from her and smiled. "You are a child of wood and water and you are the perfect embodiment of them both come to bless me. You are beautiful and lovely and the one that I love most." He gave her another kiss and threatened to give her a third but she spoke.

"And you, oh Prince, are fair and beautiful and have already blessed me more than I ever dreamed. But I think we ought to go in lest we are late to our own betrothal."

"Nothing shall start until we arrive, and none will blame us for tarrying once they see you," Legolas replied and gave her another kiss. "Shall we?" She nodded and he and took her hand and escorted her into the hall.

Flowering garlands, lights strung across the room, and a beautiful flower covered trellis behind the only two empty seats in the entire hall were all so lovely, Lothril hardly knew where to look first. As they reached their seats she began to look around at everyone and properly take in the scene and hoped that the look on her face wasn't too stupid, though she almost didn't care. In truth, it almost looked serious except for the corners of her mouth turned delicately upwards and her eyes glittering like brown topaz in bright sunlight.

Elrond, who was also at the front table saw their entrance and smiled to himself. It was always the subtleties with her that spoke the most, and this spoke volumes.

The music ceased as Thranduil stood and raised his hand. "Welcome, kith and kin! We are honored that you have joined us this evening in celebration of the betrothal of my son Legolas to his love, Lady Lothril. In light of the fact that there are many here that may not be acquainted with our customs, I shall give but a brief word of explanation. Elven betrothals are usually announced at a meeting of both families at which time a pair of silver rings are exchanged. However, we are bending tradition tonight because they acknowledge that though you would all be wanted at the celebration of their marriage, that most of you shall most likely, and regrettably, be unable to attend. We are also bending tradition tonight because though Lothril has been adopted by Lord Elrond and his family, she also been taken into the hearts of others who also consider her dear as kin. The Fellowship that set out upon the quest that drove away the shadow in the East forever has become like family to her also, and so they are most welcomed as both friend and kin." Thranduil turned to Lord Elrond who then stood and said, "Lord Elrond, do bless the betrothal and subsequent marriage of your daughter Lothril, Lady of Imladris, to my son, Legolas, Prince of Eryn Lasgalan?"

Lord Elrond smiled as he replied, "I do bless it." Then Elrond said, "Do you Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, bless the betrothal and subsequent marriage of your son Legolas, Prince of Eryn Lasgalan to my daughter Lothril, Lady of Imladris?"

"I do bless it," Thranduil answered.

And with that pronouncement, Legolas placed a slender silver ring with a delicate design set with small white gems upon the first finger of her right hand and Lothril placed a silver ring with a leafy pattern in a brighter silver upon the first finger of his right hand. As soon as the rings were in place all the elves started to cheer which caused everyone else to join in.

Legolas kissed Lothril and with that the musicians began playing again as servants appeared carrying trays heavily laden with everything from meats to fruits to cakes. Mead and wine flowed freely as a variety of entertainments amused all through supper. Story tellers, singers, dancers, and more kept everyone entertained while they ate their fill.

At one point during all this Legolas leaned over to Lothril and asked, "Do you like your ring?"

"Of course! Though I've been wondering, how did you procure it? Did you ask your father to bring it?"

"Yes, I did. That ring was one my adar-adar gave to naneth-adar as a gift. She gave it to Ada before she sailed and Ada gave it to Nane who gave it to me for whomever I might love. I could think of no other I would rather give you."

"I shall treasure it," Lothril said, beaming. "What do you think of yours?"

"To be honest, I am puzzled. I have never seen another one like it and I cannot think of how you managed to get it."

"But do you like it?"

"I love it! But tell me, how, where did you get this ring?"

She grinned. "Do you remember that day in Lothlorien when Boromir, Merry, Pippin, and Renee asked you to be their guide through Caras Galadhon?" Legolas nodded. "They did that at my request. After they left, Gimli and I took Frodo's mithril shirt, with his permission of course, and went to an elvish smith. I wanted to make you a ring that was special and unique to remind you of how much I love you while we are apart. See how the leaves are brighter than the rest of the ring? That is because they are mithril. Mithril from Frodo's shirt. And if you take it off, you shall see inside the band two marks – one is the mark of the elvish smith and the other is the hammer of Durin. Gimli helped forge your ring. It was he who laid in the design."

Legolas almost looked like he could cry. The thoughtfulness of his beloved and the love his friends was never more evident than in that moment. He would have to thank everyone later, Gimli and Frodo especially; and he greatly wished he could thank Renee. Lothril was nearly giddy that he loved it so much. She leaned forward so she could see Gimli and Frodo and winked as she raised her glass. They winked back and raised their glasses in reply and they silently drank to their success.

Legolas stared at his ring and then took it off and examined the marks on the inside then slid it back on. He looked up at Lothril and before she could say anything he laid such a kiss on her that room broke into cheers again and Lothril was tempted at first to break it because really Legolas! But then remembered what Elrond said and figured to make everyone happy she would give them something to cheer about and gently brought her hand up to his cheek and drew him a little closer which sparked a second round of cheers on the heels of the first, and possibly the loudest of the lot coming from Elrond, Aragorn, and Arwen.

What wasn't half so surprising though as how ridiculously happy it seemed to make Legolas. When he pulled away he looked at her with eyes shining so brightly that looked like blue stars.

Soon after that the main part of the feasting was over the dancing and mingling commenced. The music was loud and spirited, the dancers energetic, and though everyone was smiling and having a wonderful time, no one looked happier than Legolas and Lothril.

For the first little while, everyone wanted to give their own blessings and congratulations to the two of them. This is when Lothril learned that most cultures in Middle-earth seemed to hug and kiss people they loved, or at the very least the couple at a celebration like this. Where one got kissed varied, thankfully, but even at that, some people that were aiming for her cheek caught the very corner of her mouth and she learned very quickly that one only need to barely touch her mouth for her to know their feelings. Elrond was right – she was very loved and it was very overwhelming.

As soon as there was a lull in the congratulating, she quietly slipped out of the hall and onto a wrap around porch that surrounded the entire building. She moved so she was in the shadows between the windows and looked out east and south over the city. There were lights to be seen scattered throughout the levels, and off in the distance the Anduin glittered like a dark silvery ribbon below. She looked up and saw the stars twinkling brightly overhead and took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Her mind was blissfully empty after the huge emotional overload. It hadn't escaped her how ironic it was she was gifted to immediately feel people's emotions when she was so woefully lacking at understanding her own, but at the moment, she wasn't thinking of that. After a minute or two she did start thinking about how much cooler it was outside than inside. She turned around and leaned against the white stone railing. Inside she could see the hobbits teaching a number of elves, including Thranduil, how to do a particular jig. Everyone looked so happy and merry. Lothril grinned as she watched and was just starting to toy with the idea of heading back inside when Legolas came outside.

"I wondered where you had disappeared to," he said coming up to her.

"I needed to get away for a few minutes after all that," she replied. "It was overwhelming."

"I thought it might be. I should have whisked you out of there before it was and given an excuse for you to be gone," Legolas said.

She waved a dismissive hand and said, "It is fine. I am used to sneaking out of parties."

"Be that as it may, I ought to be minding my betrothed and making sure you are well," Legolas replied.

"I am well, I just needed a moment away I often need a moment away from large parties," she said.

"Yes, but I am to help care for you, which means minding you and making sure you are not overwhelmed before the celebration even reaches its midway point," he retorted.

"Oh Legolas, you sweet, extroverted thing - I was overwhelmed the moment we walked in! I just finally reached a point where I needed to be alone for a little while. Now I have been, and I am ready to return," she replied.

"If that was supposed to be reassuring, I must inform you I find it most distressing," he said, concern suddenly etching all his features.

She smiled and shook her head. "Legolas, dearest, sweetest, Legolas, your concern is adorable and speaks volumes of your love, but I assure you, your distress on my account is wasted. There is nothing to be distressed about, concerned about, or anything else. It is a simple matter of fact: some people like being with people and need to be with people. They draw energy from being with others and love being with them. Other people, like me, are drained by being with others and draw energy from solitude. It is not that we do not like people, it is that being with people makes us tired. Now that we are done with the string of congratulations, I may find some interesting conversation that makes me excited and I find invigorating, or perhaps even dancing will, but the one thing that certainly will not is having to politely speak with a string of people and say essentially the same thing repeatedly. I love them all. I am deeply touched at the love being shown to us, but good mercy, repeated small talk for an hour just drains me. I have now had my solitude and I am feeling much better and I am very ready to return and make merry with our friends and family."

"You poor thing, that whole line of people only took us twenty minutes. I see though I shall have to think this through a little. You shall have to endure many events and celebrations and I will not have you miserable through them all," he said.

"Permit me stay at the table at times whilst everyone makes merry and allow me to steal away for a few moments here and there and I will be fine. If I am not, I will tell you, though I am sure it shall be written on my face by then," she replied. "Shall we return?"

"In a moment. I find myself in need of a few moments alone with you," he replied before pulling her into a hug. Even without him kissing her, she could feel a tension in his back as she returned the hug. Determined to ease his obvious distress at her words, she wanted to kiss him, but he was pressed to her too tightly, so she kissed what she could reach. The moment her lips brushed his neck he shuddered and half moaned, "Elo!*"

Lothril for a brief moment stood there frozen with her nose still touching his neck and her lips still teasingly close, and her more or less oblivious to his quickened breathing as she tried to figure out what she actually wanted to do next. It was sort of thrilling to get that sort of reaction from him…

"You may do that again any time you wish," Legolas whispered. "And please swiftly lest your teasing drive me mad. Or is that your intent?"

"Do you truly think I am that kind of tease?," she softly replied before giving his neck another little kiss and then she pulled away a little so she could get to his lips.

"I am not sure yet," he said with a smile, "but I do know that I am." With that he brought his lips to hers and kissed her and then left a trail of kisses down her cheek and to her own neck which caused her to shudder and giggle a little because they tickled, which was something he quickly filed away for later, and then brought his mouth up to her ear which caused a sigh that was threatening to become a moan if not for the outrageous amounts of self-control she was exerting.

"Dang it Legolas! Are you trying to drive me crazy?!" she breathed.

He had to smile. He knew full well she only ever slipped back into her old manner of speaking if she was really very flustered, and to elicit any sort of interjection (because though he wasn't sure what 'dang it' meant, he was fairly certain it was a euphemism) meant she was right properly out of sorts. "I would apologize but I think you enjoyed it."

"I would say too much, but you and Elrond have informed me that is quite impossible, so I suppose yes. Yes, I did."

"Good! You should. I certainly did. Now, if you are ready, let us go back in before we are too missed," Legolas said.

The celebration continued late into the night until somewhere around what she reckoned was midnight when the hobbits started looking tired. She was feeling drained herself and it was decided to end things and call it a night.

Legolas walked her back and somehow they even managed to walk in some privacy. They walked arm in arm back down and talked a little in quiet voices, and he took her to the door of Elrond's house where it was obvious Elrond and her brothers were already inside. There was a little bench on the porch and they sat down for a while and talked.

"If you are free tomorrow morning, you, Elrond, and I can have that conversation together," Lothril said. "It needs to be had sooner than later I think, especially since Elrond and I had a short version of it today before the betrothal."

"Oh? And what was the short version?"

"Well, he said I should take every opportunity to kiss you that I could, no matter how many people were around," she said. "I think I did at least a little."

"At least a little, yes," Legolas repeated with a smile. "I have no plans for the morning, so I shall be there. What about Elladan and Elrohir?" he asked.

"I am trusting that detail to Elrond and not thinking about it," she answered. "That said, let us find a happier topic so I do not begin thinking about it."

"Hmm… I cannot think of a better conversation, but I can think of a better exchange," Legolas replied.

She raised a brow but before she could say anything he drew her face closer to his and began to kiss her.

Meanwhile in the house, Elrond and his sons were in the kitchen, outer robes draped over a chair and a tea kettle over the fire.

"I have always thought it a shame Thranduil never had a daughter or two," Elladan said casually after a short lull in the conversation. "That was always a family I thought it would be fun to marry into, and after tonight I am sure I am right."

Elrond chuckled, "Thranduil was certainly always happy to celebrate. He is also a very good gift giver. Your naneth and I invited him to our wedding as a courtesy. We did not expect him to come, but we were very glad he did."

"Oh?" Elladan asked.

Elrond nodded. "As part of our wedding gift he brought a large case of Dorwinion wine and managed to even get Erestor to make merry with us. And of course, Lauríel was charming as always and the perfect complement to her husband."

"You said part of your gift, what was the rest of it?" Elrohir asked.

"There were several things including a necklace for your mother, a brooch for me, and our bed," Elrond answered.

"Your bed?" the twins asked in unison.

"How on earth did they manage that? Your bed is enormous!" Elladan asked.

"It was in pieces in a wagon he brought with him and he brought a couple of his craftsmen along to assemble it. The whole thing snapped together in less than an hour," Elrond answered.

"But why?" Elrohir asked. "Why a bed?"

Elrond chuckled a little as he took the kettle off the fire and poured hot water into the waiting tea pot and said, "Thranduil reckoned I would be too practical to have what he called a proper bed to marry in. I had in fact had a new and larger bed made that was quite big enough for two with room left over, but of course next to that huge thing it looked like a bed in a bunk house. I walked in as the craftsmen were assembling it and started to laugh and asked them if this was a joke of their king. One of them started laughing and told me if I thought this was big, I ought to see the one the king has. The rumor is, the king's bed is so large you could have six ellyn lay on their backs across it without their shoulders touching and have room for someone to lay above and below them. Celebrían and I reckon ours is smaller but not by too much. In any event, I think it was his idea of a joke and a practical gift rolled together."

"If he gave you something so huge, I wonder what he will give his own son," Elladan mused as he took a proffered tea cup from his father. "Probably something the size of a room."

"Elladan," Elrond said disapprovingly, but chuckling all the same as he handed a cup to Elrohir.

"Speaking of Ernil Legolas, he certainly taking his good sweet time saying goodnight," Elrohir said. "It has been three quarters of an hour at least."

"Good!" Elrond said before taking a sip of tea. "Mmm, while I am thinking of it, I would appreciate it if the two of you were not around tomorrow morning."

The twins looked at each other then Elladan said, "Certainly Ada, but why, may we ask?"

"I shall be speaking with Lothril and Legolas and it is not a conversation you two need to be privy to," he answered.

"Ada, we already had that conversation with you when we reached maturity, and we are sure Thranduil discussed it with Legolas also," Elladan joked.

"If that were the conversation, I would not ask you to leave," Elrond replied.

"You are being evasive. Is it anything we ought to be worried about?" Elrohir asked.

"No, not at all," Elrond assured. "And I would also thank you both not to ask me or them about it. It is not something I am free to discuss and if they wish to bring you into their confidence, they shall. Also, I would appreciate it if you refrained from teasing Lothril like you did Arwen."

"It would be far more difficult given Legolas does not have a beard," Elladan replied.

"All the same, no teasing Lothril," Elrond said definitively.

"You can be honest with us, Ada – is she your favorite child?" Elladan joked.

"Do not be ridiculous. That title shall ever belong to Elli," Elrond replied.

"She was an excellent cat," Elrohir said. "I still miss her."

"Belladonna is proving to be her true heir, but she is truly Bilbo's cat. He named her and she loves him, and now that he is growing so old, she is doing her best to take care of him," Elrond said.

The twins both laughed. "Is she truly?" Elladan asked.

"Oh yes. If we are late with his meals, she yells at the servant who brings it," Elrond said with a grin. "I heard it myself once when I accompanied the servant with liniment for Bilbo's joints."

Just then they heard the front door open and shut and a moment later Lothril joined them in the kitchen. "Is there anymore tea?" she asked as she appeared.

"There is more hot water in the kettle and I can have some prepared for you in a moment," Elrond said.

To their credit, the twins did not make one comment about her and Legolas taking an hour and a quarter to say goodnight.

After breakfast Legolas appeared and the twins supposed that was their cue to leave and so after a polite but quick 'good morning' the twins left and Elrond invited Legolas into the library where Lothril was already sitting on the couch with a cup of tea.

He and Elrond sat on the couch and an arm chair respectively, that were arranged around a coffee table to all face each other and the fireplace, which was cold given it was summer.

After a quick good morning between the newly betrothed Elrond asked, "What is it you wished to talk about specifically, Lothril?"

"Well, we did touch on it a bit yesterday, but largely the um, physical aspect of our relationship," she said, with an apologetic glance to Legolas.

Legolas reached over and took her hand and said, "No apology needed. This is a conversation that needs to be had and I want you to speak as freely as you need to."

Elrond was glad to hear that. "When I ask this, understand that what happens between you and Legolas is your private business and you needn't share details with me. I am not looking to be privy to your private relationship, however to echo Legolas' statement, I also want you to speak as freely as you need to. That said, how do you feel about the physical aspect of your relationship with him?"

Her brow furrowed a little. "I wish I understood my feelings better. I love him, Ada. I really do."

"No one is in doubt of that," Elrond said with a smile.

"That is what people keep saying. Is it that obvious?" she asked.

"The only way it could be more so is if you painted it in words on your faces. There is a second half to that thought of yours though. What is it?"

"I love him, and I, uh, well," she took a deep breath. Why did she have such a hard time saying these things? They had only kissed and snuggled, and pretty innocently at that. Oh, this was Elrond and Legolas! If there were two souls in the world she could just blurt things out to, it was Elrond and Legolas and both had just given his permission for her to do so. "I enjoy the physical aspect..."

"But?"

"But I feel bad, well, guilty about it if I enjoy it too much. There was this – I am sorry if this is too much detail, but we were talking with ósanwe and while we were he kissed me and of course I felt his feelings but he being in my head at the same time could feel my reaction to his kiss and his feelings at the same time and… frankly, it was one of the headiest experiences I have ever had… and… arousing. Of course, neither of us knew that would happen and once we broke apart he left my mind and well… he seemed to think it perfectly fine and I did not want to do it again until we were married. Even now, with different little things, nothing scandalous or inappropriate, sometimes just little incidental things that feel good I get a rush and thrill and then immediately feel badly about it and I sort of dampen it. I am looking forward to wedding him. I love him. I want him. And yet I feel… very mixed about the idea of being physically intimate with him." After she spoke she stared into her cup of tea and tried to control the riot of thoughts and feelings swirling inside her and painfully trying to ignore the fact Legolas was sitting so close beside her she could feel his shirt sleeve brushing against her arm.

"I wondered if this might happen," Elrond said. "Legolas was correct in thinking it was perfectly fine. You were kissing and there is nothing wrong with that. That you are both able to share your feelings in such a unique way is just an added blessing and certainly nothing scandalous, inappropriate or otherwise."

She nodded but did not say anything.

Elrond continued. "As for you dampening your feelings, it is not healthy or needful to never give vent to your feelings, or suppress them when you do. You were made to feel, Lothril. I know you do not like to be governed by feelings, and I would never ask you to be, but just because you do not wish to be governed by them, does not mean you cannot have them, experience them, express them, or even enjoy them. Part of this is your nature, but your nature would let you feel, experience, and enjoy your emotions even if you did not express them openly to others. I think, and this is something we can explore together, but I think the reason you cannot allow yourself to even enjoy your emotions, physical pleasure, and especially emotions triggered by physical pleasure is because of what you went through."

She stared thoughtfully into the dark fireplace, her brows knit tight together. "But being with him is as opposite of that as can be."

Legolas almost sighed in relief when he heard that.

"Unfortunately, that has little to do with it, though I am glad to learn that is true. Part of the tragedy of what happened to you is that it taught you to close yourself off when you begin to feel anything like arousal. You did so in order to survive and protect yourself, and now you have the very difficult task of unlearning that," he replied.

"But how?"

"I think whenever you have those feelings and feel like pulling away, you need to stop and tell yourself that these feelings are right and natural and if you are ready, giving into them," Elrond said.

"Giving in?" she repeated with wide eyes which were now staring somewhere in the vicinity of her knees.

"At the risk of shocking you – yes."

"And by 'giving in' you mean…?" she asked, trying to figure out exactly what he was saying. Surely not…

"If he kisses you and you enjoyed it, kiss him again. If he does something you enjoy, enjoy it, revel in it, tell him you liked it and ask him to do it again if you wish it. And if you have some idea of something to try, try it. Within reason until you are married of course, but I strongly doubt you will try something you ought not and I know Legolas will stop you if you did," Elrond replied and gave Legolas a glance, who nodded in full agreement.

"It is nice to know you have such faith in your future son by marriage," Lothril said with a smile, finally lifting her eyes enough to glance in the general direction of Legolas.

"I doubt you could have done better," Elrond replied. "So all that said, I think it would be best, Legolas, if you both bend tradition and not wait so long before permitting yourselves certain things. You may not reach the point of doing those things terribly soon in any event, but I think she needs to know she can do and explore these things."

"I think I agree, but Lothril was right when she told me that this was a continuation of a longer conversation the two of you are having," Legolas said.

"Then allow me to catch you up briefly," Elrond said. "Over the course of her abuse she developed a means of coping which I think, I am sorry to say, has and is going to affect both of you. I am sure you have noticed by now her reluctance to give vent to her feelings. I think it is tied to her abuse. Even before things escalated, she was being conditioned to not let on how she was truly feeling and to ignore her own feelings and wants in a variety of ways. Then when things turned, in order for her to survive she instinctively began cutting off her emotions from what she was feeling physically. Now there exists a disconnect between what she feels physically and emotionally, and how she reacts to it. To add to it, there are lingering feelings of guilt associated with certain feelings both physical and emotional, because of what happened to her and her not understanding what happened nor how to understand it."

Legolas managed to keep his face fairly placid, but the weight of the realization of what Elrond said caused a pained expression to fill his eyes. He had pieced some of this together himself, but to have the whole picture sketched out for him instead of in fragments was still hard to hear.

Elrond continued, "What I believe needs to happen is for her to relearn how to connect physical feeling to her emotions as well as her learning how to enjoy her feelings and allow them and give some expression to them."

"How may I help?" Legolas asked, still managing to keep his face placid.

Elrond looked at Lothril who was sitting beside Legolas, still thoughtfully staring into nothingness. When she made no sign of speaking he said, "By being patient and encouraging her and reminding her that these feelings are good, right, and natural. Also by helping her cleave to you when her instinct is to pull away needlessly. Not by force, but by love and patience and helping her allow and pursue those feelings by letting her indulge in them. Which is why I think the two of you ought to consider setting aside tradition and allow yourselves to do things sooner than later. Again, I doubt she will press things, but I trust you will stop things if they begin straying too far. I would hate to be a cause of strained relations between you both with your family because you married early."

"Of course," Legolas said.

"And now that I have involved myself in your personal affairs, I shall leave you both to resume them without me, Unless of course you have something you wish to discuss further," Elrond said, looking at each of them in turn. Lothril shook her head, and both he and Legolas knew she had reached her limit for that conversation and had plenty to think through, short though the conversation was. Elrond got up and came to Lothril who by now had roused herself out of her thoughts enough to pay attention to what was going on and stand up. He kissed her cheek and said quietly to her, "Shall I meet you for lunch?"

She nodded. "Thank you, Ada." She gave him a hug.

He turned to leave and Legolas stood and stopped him and said, "Thank you Elrond for continuing to help her and for your counsel."

The gratitude and bevy of other emotions flooding his eyes was plain as day. "Of course, and you are welcome," Elrond said. "I do not want to insert myself into your private affairs, but I am here if you need me. I will go find my sons now and I will be back by lunch time."

With that he left the room and shut the door behind himself.

"Well this is awkward," Lothril said.

"Why do you think that?" Legolas asked.

"I feel like I ought to be kissing you or something right now," she said.

"You needn't if you do not wish to," he replied, motioning her to sit down on the couch.

She frowned as she settled next to him. "That is just it – I wish to, but it feels obligatory."

"To whom? No one is here to know one way or the other and I certainly have no expectations," he replied.

"Oh, it is not wrong and I wish to. Here's to impulsiveness," she said and she turned and kissed him. "That was nice."

"It certainly was," Legolas said with a smile.

"And it felt nice."

He nodded. "Very nice."

"And I enjoyed it."

"I am very glad to hear it, for I enjoyed it greatly also," he said with a smile.

"And I liked it so much that I want another one," she said.

"I will happily give you as many as you want," he replied before he kissed her again. He went to break it and she gently reached up to hold his head in place. He wasn't about to argue.

She paused just long enough to draw a quick breath before pressing her mouth to his again and opening her mind to him which he readily welcomed. The swirl of feelings grew headier and headier to the point where in the back of his mind and carefully away from hers he began to wonder if there was no ceiling to it, but just about as they were to reach the rarified air only the eagles could fly, she began to withdraw. He would have assumed her satisfied but for a vague feeling of fear and guilt he felt as she pulled away.

He cupped her face with his hand and let his thumb brush her cheek as he whispered, "There is no need to fear, Lothril. Fly with me, melethril and let us explore this together."

Her face became set and resolved and she kissed him again and opened her mind to his. She was being measured and analytical. He didn't find it romantic, per say, but he found it fascinating to observe until she began playing with his hair. It effectively distracted them both and turned their attention from a mutual fascination of study to a mutual fascination with pleasure.

Her fingers in his hair… If there was anything on earth more innocent and pleasurable than her playing with his hair, he did not know it. His right arm which was against the couch, wrapped around her torso and drew her a little closer, which made her breathing hitch and suddenly they were climbing up to where the eagles flew again. Without really thinking about it, he brought his left hand up to her own hair which was in a braid, and he gently traced little circles against the fine hair at the back of her neck. She nearly gasped as they both suddenly realized this feeling could fly as high or low as they wanted, proportionate to whatever pleasure they were feeling.

"We should prove it," she said as she broke away to stare him in the face.

He raised a brow. "How do you propose doing that?"

"Simple. Two, no three kisses. The first kiss, we do not touch, no, let us hold hands and kiss so we do not forget ourselves. First kiss we hold hands and kiss until we feel like we have gone as far with that feeling as we can go. I imagine it will be about the time we both start having an impulse to do something else. Second kiss we embrace and kiss until the same thing, we both start having an impulse to do something. I reckon that impulse basically marks the height a given sensation can take us. For the third one though, we shall have to think of something a bit deliberately startling I think to prove it one way or another. If we do something shocking and that feeling doesn't change or is not much different from the first two kisses, then we have our reckoning all wrong. However, if we do something dramatic and we both find ourselves over the moon, then we will know with certainty that is how it works," she said.

"I think you are right, but I have two questions – What will this prove and why?"

"It will prove that the amount of pleasure we derive from this crazy mibol ósanwe (ósanwe kissing) is directly related to how much other pleasure we are feeling. As for why, I thought that fairly obvious. If we understand how these kisses work, we can better pleasure each other when we are married," she replied.

"You have certainly gotten comfortable with our physical relationship quickly," he said, a bit surprised at what she just said.

"I never said I did not want it, I said I feel guilty about wanting it. I still kind of do, but at the moment the anticipation of figuring this out is outweighing the guilt nagging at me," she answered.

"Two more questions. First one – does your mind always work like this?"

"Like what?"

"What like a scholar with a pet research project."

"Yes, always and about everything. You are currently my favorite thing to study, by the way."

"I open the full library of my fëa to you for perusal, but my hröa still has a few restricted sections," he replied with an impish grin.

"Mmm… research! Speaking of, we have an experiment to conduct," she grinned.

"We do, but we have not decided what to do for the third kiss," he reminded her.

"Hmm… true. What ought we to do?" she asked.

"That is my second question - you said dramatic and shocking – how dramatic and how shocking?" he asked.

"I reckon something that would definitely cause a strong reaction. Unfortunately though, I cannot think of too many things that are not wildly inappropriate and allow us to keep kissing. Otherwise I would kiss your neck again, but then I could not be kissing your lips and it wouldn't be the same," she replied.

"I can think of something, if you are willing," he said.

"Do not tell me what it is, just do it," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"I trust you. Shall we begin?" she asked.

They held hands and opened their minds to each other with the first kiss it was heady but then leveled out. The broke apart and he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her again. Things definitely felt headier but again, leveled out. They broke apart again and Legolas asked mentally, "Are you ready?"

"I am ready."

Without another word he wrapped her in his arms and crushed his mouth to hers, one of his hands snaked up her back and his fingers quickly became tangled in her hair as he quickly pushed her down against the seat of the couch and as soon as she was resting against it he opened his mouth and slid his tongue inside her mouth.

Him holding her that tight was always enjoyable, and the way he had been kissing her was pretty amazing also, and him all but throwing them both down onto the seat of the couch was pretty exciting if no other reason, she hadn't been expecting it. However getting his tongue involved… for a split second at the very beginning there was a flash of dark memories that were quickly erased. Legolas only just caught the edge of the memory, but before he could even react he was overwhelmed by the joy he felt from her. Joy and hope, oddly enough but neither dwelled on that long because the heady feeling quickly shot past anything they had felt before and they were both feeling something paradoxical. The feeling was both light headed and deep. The thrill of falling but with the rush of swimming quickly upwards towards the surface of the water after a dive. All at once he felt her thoughts begin to marshal themselves and she gently pushed on his chest as a rush of excitement flooded through her.

He sat up and as he pulled her up she nearly babbled, "Did you feel that?! Did you feel that?! My word, Legolas! Why did I not consider it before? Did you catch what you did? Good Elbereth, I think I love you more now than two minutes ago! Do you realize what you did? My word I love you!" Without warning she was practically on top of him with her arms wound around him and kissing him for all she was worth. In fact, as she nearly launched herself at him, she caught him at weird angle and after a second he had no choice but to fall over mostly on his back on the seat as she kissed him. Slightly confused, but enjoying her enthusiasm, he didn't even sort of try to question it until she sat up and nearly bounced as she sat. "Oh Legolas! Do you have any idea how happy I am right now?"

"I believe I am getting an idea of how you are feeling, but forgive me Lothril when I say, I am not entirely sure what I did," he replied, sitting himself upright.

"Remember when I told you what she did? She kissed me like that and for a split second at the very, very beginning that came to mind and for a moment I was worried, but then it was nothing like that. Not at all! I have been a bit concerned, but not anymore! And on top of it, I believe our experiment was a resounding success. My, but I am having a good morning."

He looked at her and gently cupped her face with his hand and said, "I cannot tell you how happy I am that I inadvertently erased some of your concerns about our future together, especially as they relate to your past."

"Honestly, if I were not so utterly overjoyed, I think I would cry with relief," she replied, leaning into his hand a little. "And thank you for indulging me with our silly little experiment. I do not often show people that side of me. It tends to earn me weird looks when I start going on like that."

"It was certainly a side of you I have not seen before, but I think you are adorable when you get excited about things, and seeing you get so excited and scholarly about kissing – it was silly, but in the best possible way. Feel free to show me that side of you as often as you want. I loved seeing it," he said, and gave a small kiss to her cheek.

"Perhaps I shall. By the by, I rather liked that library metaphor you used," she said with a grin.

He chuckled. "I thought you might."

A/N: "Elo" is an interjection that is an exclamation of wonder, admiration, and/or delight. Seemed appropriate…