Chapter 18

Narinya wanted to look her best for the first meal since returning to Greenwood. She chose a resplendent forest green gown, not unlike the one she had worn for the very first dinner she had shared with Legolas and his family back when she had first arrived. Like that night, tonight also felt like a new beginning, though one of her own choosing.

Melda had arrived promptly to assist Narinya, and Narinya noted that the handmaiden acted as though nothing had been out of the ordinary about the prior days. As Melda worked at securing the row of clasps at the back of the dress, Narinya spoke. "Melda, I must express again how much I appreciate all you have done for me. Your competence, stoicism, and discretion have helped me through many difficult moments since I arrived in Greenwood. Please know how grateful I am and will always be."

Melda smiled, "I am glad you've decided to return."

"If there is anything you are in want of, please let me know. You've gone beyond the duties required by your role, and I hope to find some way to acknowledge that."

"Thank you, my lady."

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Legolas arrived to their chambers a short while after Melda had finished plaiting Narinya's hair. Melda had taken her leave, but Narinya was still seated in front of the mirror, making sure every last detail was perfect. Legolas was happy to see her there, back in the space that they shared.

He walked over and stood behind her, regarding her reflection. Their eyes met in the mirror and he smiled warmly.

He picked up the circlet that rested on the surface beside her. As it belonged to Greenwood and not to her, she had left it behind along with her note to him when she had left. She watched as he turned it in his hands. "You'll be needing this again."

Narinya nodded once, watching as he lifted the circlet to her head. "I am glad to wear it, and to serve Greenwood again," she said. She closed her eyes for a moment as he carefully placed it upon her.

She opened her eyes when he rested his hands on her shoulders, still looking at her in the mirror, his gaze more intense than before.

She felt comfortable and at ease with him since they had revealed their hearts to one another in Lake-town. Back when they were first wed, she had worried over when he might eventually decide it was time to consummate their marriage. Now, as she met his sapphire eyes in the mirror, she realized that day was very likely upon her, and she felt none of the dread that she had once felt.

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The mood at the evening meal felt lighter than it had in months. There was no tension hanging heavy over the table, no loaded remarks spoken to deride. The conversation flowed easily. Lindethiel and Feredir were eager to hear of what had transpired in Lake-town. Narinya was truly happy to be back and perhaps for the first time, fully felt as though she were part of her new family.

As the night carried on, Narinya's eyes lingered often on Legolas. He was wearing a deep green tunic, chosen to complement the dress she wore, and it suited him. He was at ease, his body relaxed, his eyes bright. More than once, he had caught her gaze with his own, the corners of his mouth turning up for a moment before they both joined back in the conversation at hand.

This time though, as he brought his glass to his lips, he met her eyes with intention. He held eye contact even as he placed his glass back down. Narinya felt her stomach flip; he was making no attempt to disguise the desire in his expression now. For a moment, it felt as though they were the only two at the table.

A maid walked in to start to clear the plates away. For the first time in quite a long while, no one had been in a hurry to end the meal. Thranduil looked pleased as he looked over the table, "I am glad we all could share this meal tonight. Welcome back, Princess Narinya."

Narinya bowed her head to the king as she replied, "Thank you."

Lindethiel smiled, feeling hopeful now that all was truly forgiven between her father and Narinya. She and Feredir both stood to take their leave.

Legolas rose to his feet and extended his arm to Narinya. She smiled and stood to join him.

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When they arrived at the threshold of their chambers, Legolas stopped, turning to her. She thought he might say something, but instead he leaned in and captured her lips. She was startled when, in one fluid movement, he broke the kiss, swept her up into his arms and carried her through the doorway and directly to their bedchamber.

As he set her down on their bed, Narinya's feeling of slight nervousness dueled with an eager anticipation.

He left her to close the door and light several nearby candles. She took the moment to try to slow her racing heart. She wanted to be with him and come to know all of him. To fully commit to this marriage that they had now chosen, together.

Yet a small part of her felt like the same elleth that had first entered the prince's unfamiliar bedchamber on their wedding night, unsure of what he would expect or desire, or if she would please him as well as other maidens before. She realized now though that she was without the uncertainty and fear she had felt back then. She remembered again all they had shared with one another recently. She relaxed, thinking of his patience, affection, and care for her. Yes, she was ready, and she was thankful that this was on her own terms rather than any that had been decided by either of their fathers. She wanted to thank him for that.

He returned to the bedside and she watched as he removed his circlet and then reached toward hers. Tonight, they would only serve each other. As he removed her circlet, he let his hand lightly graze the pointed tip of her ear. He felt her tremble under his fleeting touch.

She took a deep breath as he lay down beside her and pulled her toward him. He kissed her, more lightly than before, and then trailed his affection over her jaw and neck, eventually landing upon the tip of her ear. At the sensation there, she sighed his name, fueling the fire already alight between them. He returned to her mouth, his tongue sliding over her closed lips, which she gladly parted in response. One of his hands traveled down to gently cup her breast over the bodice of her dress.

He paused his attentions when she pulled back slightly, breaking their kiss for a moment so that she could speak her mind.

"Legolas, I owe you thanks for the nights you may have slept in frustration, not claiming your nuptial rights. I was grateful for that, especially with the burden I had weighing on my mind. It was kind of you." She spoke with grateful sincerity, but also with an unspoken question in her eyes.

"It was not for lack of wanting." He smiled before continuing. "When I learned you had not wanted the marriage any more than I had, I thought that we might find some way to pursue an annulment. And of course we hardly knew each other. You already had much to adjust to; it did not seem fair to expect even more, and I assumed you would think that you could not refuse me."

She was struck again by how wrong her assumptions about him had been at the very start of their marriage. "You are exceedingly considerate, for a conceited prince." She grinned and he laughed, drawing her closer against him as he did.

"Thank you, Narinya. But you give undue credit. I should think any ellon in my situation would have been similarly understanding."

"But most ellyn are not in your situation. You did not have a guide to follow." She smiled.

Her expression turned serious when she spoke next, "I was promised to you with my virtue intact. I am sorry, Legolas. I know I have said it before, but, it was foolish. I viewed it only as a means to an end, to punish my father and escape the betrothal."

"May I ask something?"

"As before, and always, you may ask me anything."

"How did it feel? Did he please you?"

Narinya was surprised by the question and she paused to consider her answer. "Not as I might have hoped. It hurt at first, though I expected that." She was unable to stop herself from blushing at the frankness of the conversation. She hesitated, unsure how much he wanted to know, "He was hurried and it did not last long. He never even took my dress off."

Legolas was contemplative for a moment before responding, "Perhaps I can do better."

His delivery was quite confident, and his voice also had a new quality to it, a tone that suggested how much he wanted to prove it to her. She remembered hearing him speak in a similar voice at the spring, and at the memory, a renewed heat gathered within her.

She sat up and turned away from him, granting him access to the back of her dress. His fingers found the clasps there. When the garment was loose enough around her body, she shrugged it off her shoulders, letting it pool at her waist. She turned back toward him, letting him take in the sight of her now bare top half.

His eyes wandered over her form, lingering on every revealed curve, before he pulled her in close to him. He kissed her again as his hand drifted down to touch the newly exposed skin. She sighed against him when his thumb traced circles around the most sensitive part of her breast.

She reached to begin work on unclasping his tunic and soon he was in a similar state of undress.

They lay facing one another again. Her eyes roamed over the planes of his upper body before she moved closer to meet his lips again. Remembering the sensation from before, she brought her hand to his ear, gently caressing the pointed tip there.

He exhaled sharply, breaking their kiss to tip his head back. For a moment, she wondered if she had done something wrong - she had done none of this with Calanon - but she saw it was only the intensity of the sensation that caused him to break the kiss. Having lost access to his lips, she kissed his neck instead, still gently stroking the tip of his ear. He pulled her more tightly against him, entwining their bodies and letting her feel his arousal. She felt her heart race and heat rise to her face.

He turned her onto her back and sat up on his knees beside her. "May I?" He asked, gesturing to the dress still around her waist. She nodded in response, unable to find her words.

He lifted her hips and slipped the garment down, exposing the rest of her body to him. He let the dress fall to the floor beside the bed as he looked upon her, "You're beautiful."

She reached for him to come near to her again and he gladly obliged, covering her body with his own, with most of his weight on one arm. His free hand found its way down her body, exploring the new parts he had been granted access to. She softly moaned as his fingers found her most sensitive spot, stoking the fire in both of them. When he heard her react to his touch, it took all he had to stop himself from plunging into her. He captured her lips in another deep kiss.

She reached down to begin working at the laces of his breeches as he balanced himself above her, soon removing the last remaining barrier between them. She could feel his hardness against her thigh, the heat and new contact between their bodies making them want even more of each other.

This was so unlike her prior experience, the slow build and gentle caresses filling her with a want that she had never felt before. And still he was savoring every new part of her. His mouth wandered back to her ear, to her neck, to her breasts, while his fingers were still lavishing her body with attention and testing her readiness for him. She had parted her legs to grant him access to her and his own body was now aching with need to join with her.

He moved his hand to entwine it with her own, lifting his head to look her in the eye at the same time. "Narinya, I want to make you my wife in full, if that is what you want as well."

"Yes, Legolas, I want that."

He advanced and her body welcomed him.

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When the act was complete, Legolas settled close beside her, the bedsheet pulled up around them. Narinya's face was flushed and her eyes were closed, her body still reeling from the wave of pleasure that had just washed over her.

There was also something else, a new sensation lingering. She had correctly expected to feel closer to him with this new level of intimacy between them, but something deep within her was reaching for him.

She propped herself up beside him, "Legolas, do you feel it?"

His eyes were still closed. He nodded, "It's only the beginning." Neither of them had experienced a bond before, but both knew well enough what the new feeling between them meant. The union between their spirits would grow stronger in time.

She realized she did not know very much about the details, but the bond blooming between them now meant that the marriage vows expressing their intent, even spoken long ago, had not had an expiration date, so long as true care and connection between the two of them followed. "How long does it take?"

"At least a few more times." He grinned.

"I did not think I would ever know this feeling."

He opened his eyes to meet her gaze.

"In truth, I did not think I ever wanted to know this feeling."

Legolas took her hand in his, looking into her eyes as he listened.

"There is much that I thought I never wanted, so much that I was wrong about. Greenwood has become home to me. You have become home to me," she admitted.

"I love you, Narinya."

She was startled by his words, but she knew them to be true. "I love you, too."

She settled against him, resting her head on his chest as he traced his fingers lightly along her shoulder.

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Greenwood was again preparing for a royal wedding, this time for that of their Princess Lindethiel and her intended. Lindethiel was in rare form as the wedding day drew near, uncharacteristically anxious.

Narinya and several handmaidens were helping to prepare the bride for the ceremony. She wore a long flowing white gown with sleeves that came to a point over her trembling hands.

"You look stunning, Lindethiel," Narinya assured her.

She smiled, her confidence returning as she thought about how much she truly wanted this marriage, "How did you do it?"

"Do what?" Narinya asked without moving her eyes from the intricate lacing she was securing on the back of Lindethiel's gown.

"Marry someone you had barely met and had no love for? I cannot imagine it."

Narinya smiled, "I really could not tell you. You are stronger than you know when you have no other choice. But, it helped that Legolas was not nearly as terrible as I had imagined." Lindethiel laughed.

Narinya stepped back, admiring. "Feredir is very lucky to marry you."

A handmaiden entered the room, "Your highnesses, are you ready?"

Lindethiel nodded nervously and left the room to meet King Thranduil, who would look on with approval and pride as she said the vows of marriage to her new husband.

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Greenwood was full of joy. After the ceremony, all were welcomed to a feast in celebration of the new marriage.

Narinya reflected on how differently she had perceived her own wedding day. Legolas caught her thoughtful look from his place seated next to her. The bond between them had developed considerably since her return to Greenwood and he could feel how content she was today. Both of them were still getting accustomed to the depth of connection between them now, the sharing of every emotion they each felt.

"What are you thinking of?" He asked her quietly.

"How glad I am for how things have ended up."

Legolas squeezed her hand under the table.

Riniel and her husband sat across the table, guests of honor due to their relation to Narinya. Conversation flowed easily, eventually drifting to happenings in Lake-town.

"Narinya, I meant to share news with you. Calanon is betrothed - I thought you might be glad to know."

She smiled. "I am." Their paths had diverged, but he had been a good friend to her, despite the mistake they had made together.

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Hours later, after the feast in the great hall, many elves were beginning to take their leave. Legolas caught Narinya's eye as she bid farewell to another of the guests.

He said goodnight to his father before finding his way to her side. He had a mischievous look in his eyes, "Narinya, I want to take you somewhere."

"Where?" Like all things he felt now, she could feel his eagerness reflected in herself.

"Come with me."

He took her hand and pulled her out of the great hall and down the many corridors, stopping only for a moment to add a bow and quiver to his back. It looked incongruous over the formal tunic he wore and she wondered where they could possibly be going. They took the little used rear exit from the king's halls and were met by the cool night air. Legolas did not slow his pace.

He ran down one of the lesser used paths with Narinya right behind him. It wasn't long before her ears picked up on the sound of jubilant music. As they entered the clearing before them, firelight illuminated their faces.

"So this is what a merry-making circle looks like." She surveyed the scene in front of her with wide eyes. A large group of elves were socializing and dancing along to the fast-paced music around the fire. Large barrels of what she assumed to be wine sat at the edges of the clearing. "Are we allowed to join?"

He took his bow off his back, resting it against a nearby tree at the edge of the clearing. "What my father does not know will not trouble him. It has been quite some time, but I used to frequent the circles after festivals. I think you will find it refreshing; there are no pretenses to keep up here."

Legolas smiled at her, enjoying the sight of her bathed in firelight, the adornments on her dress reflecting the glow of the flames. She looked thoughtful, as if still considering his words, but she laughed and went willingly when he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the circle of dancing elves.

She grinned as they danced, not sure if it was movement or the strong wine that was making her feel somewhat dizzy. All around, the jubilation was palpable and the wood elves seemed at their most relaxed and wild.

After some hours at the circle, the fire began to die down and the wine ran dry. Those in attendance started to bid goodnight to one another, and the evening grew quiet and still, save the sounds of the creatures of the forest.

Narinya gazed at Legolas. His circlet was still on, by some miracle, but it sat crooked on his fair head. Narinya's dark hair had come loose from its braids and Legolas ran his fingers through it to tidy it.

"Let's go." He slung his bow onto his back. He could feel her joy and wonder at their night out in the forest, and he did not want it to end quite yet.

Narinya was surprised when he took her hand and led her deeper into the woods, instead of in the direction back to the king's halls and their own chambers, but she followed along eagerly.

After some time, they arrived at the base of a large tree. She could see notches cut into the wide trunk, almost invisible to an untrained eye. She glanced upward, now seeing a platform high above them in the treetops.

"My flet." Legolas volunteered. "Our flet, now," he corrected himself.

Narinya pinned the skirt of her dress up and began to climb. When she reached the top, she pulled herself up through the opening in the platform's floor. Legolas joined her moments later. The room had minimal and simple furnishings, but did have a small seating area and a decently sized bed. All were fit in among branches that wove their way through the space.

"This is beautiful." She meant it. The elvenking's halls were impressive and secure, but they also could feel heavy and removed from the beauty of the deep forest all around. The flet was perched at the height of the canopy with a view of the high branches of the surrounding trees, a vantage point she had not before seen.

Legolas wasted no time pulling her into his arms. She could still taste the wine from the merrymaking circle on his lips. His kiss was not demanding, but it sent a shiver through her body and she felt a pang of excitement in her abdomen.

In the time since she had come back to him, they had learned many ways to please one another. Legolas did not always go so slowly and methodically now as he had the first time; she found that on occasion, haste on both their parts was not such a bad thing. Whether through practice or the bond they now shared, they had become quite adept at reading what the other wanted. She kissed him back deeply as they stood near the bed, her hands starting work unclasping his tunic with urgency.

Afterward, he lay still behind her, her body pressed against his. His hand rested on her hip where he had gripped to hold her firmly against him just a short while before. The sky started to glow with the approach of first light.

"Thank you for showing me this place," Narinya said, looking out into the forest's canopy from their perch.

"I am glad to share it with you." He let his gratefulness fill his heart and mind, so that she would feel it too.

He thought of all they had weathered, even before their spirits were bound together. He felt certain that if and when heavy times came to pass again, for themselves, the realm, or the greater world beyond their borders, their love for one another would be steadfast.

She could feel his pensive contemplation and it prompted similar thoughts in her, reflecting on all that had happened since her father had delivered the news that she was to be married. Her ill-fated attempt at fleeing, the awkward wedding day and uncertain nights, and all of the kind things Legolas had done along the way that ended in her unexpectedly falling in love with him.

Looking over at her husband, she regarded his form. He looked more beautiful to her with each new day. She leaned over to kiss him, "I am happy to be married to you, Legolas."

Thanks so much for reading!

If you made it to this final chapter, a review letting me know what you think would be so appreciated!