~A year has passed and the parents return for a new visit in Ithilien.~

Source: Photo edit by Chicotfp on Tumblr

~♕~

"I've come so far; I can't go back to
where I used to be."

– Jasmine, Aladdin

~♕~

42. Family

The royal bedroom was full of garments and her husband stood in the middle, selecting among them. He had a notion they should always wear matching outfits, and though his fashion sense amused her, Nimrodel generally complied without fuss. Anything to make him happy.

Today the clothes he selected were for their luggage; they would leave for Ithilien tomorrow and visit their children for several weeks.

"How is it going?" she asked.

"Good." He held up a silky, very revealing chemise. "Shall I pack this?"

She gasped with mock horror. "Don't you dare!"

"Alright then. I prefer you without clothes anyway." His eyes caught hers with an intense, seductive expression that never failed to make her heart beat faster and her core respond with a needy throb.

"I need to clean up." She showed him her dirty hands from a last-minute weeding in the garden before the journey.

"Prepare a bath and I will help you."

Chuckling, Nimrodel went over to the new bathroom in an extension of the house, starting to fill the huge tub that Amroth had helped them build. It was modeled after Lasriel's bath in Ithilien but larger, almost like a pool.

Amroth and Mithrellas had a similar one in their house. The plumbing had been tricky to install because they lived on a talan, but he had a knack for technical things just like their daughter and now everything worked a charm.

From the kitchen window, Nimrodel could see the trunk of the enormous oak that held her friends' house, only steps away from her own. She still lived in the cottage near the palace, with the difference that Thranduil had moved in with her. It was officially their summer residence; their home was in the palace, but in reality that was only where he went to work. Nimrodel had never been entirely comfortable in the underground halls and he respected that.

His work as king had become easier lately. The Woodland Realm was much reduced, and after the journey tomorrow it would be even more diminished. Apart from Amroth, Mihrellas and Glóin, a part of the workforce Lasriel and Legolas had asked for would be joining them on the way south. Some were dwarves, recruited by Glóin to build a channel around the Rauros Falls, others were men and elves that Amroth had hired in Lake-town and the rafters' village to be shipbuilders and captains. Two ferries were already finished, and they would use them for the first part of the journey, greatly reducing the time until arrival.

Lastly, there was a large group of Greenwood elves who wanted to help Legolas in Ithilien after they heard from Thranduil how the young forest struggled. They were foresters, hunters, healers, cooks, farmers and many other professions who would be useful in the new colony.

With all the people leaving, Thranduil's realm would become almost as small as Lothlórien now after Galadriel and her entourage sailed, but it didn't matter. At least he had a realm despite everything, which hadn't been at all certain when they returned as husband and wife the previous summer.

It had turned out Greenwood was a lot more conservative than Lothlórien. There had been many meetings, and many questions and explanations needed until the most loyal subjects finally accepted Thranduil's breach of customs. Thankfully they were in the majority, and even those against his remarriage didn't demand that he abdicated the crown – that worry, at least, was unfounded – instead the dissidents quietly left, sailed to Aman, something that would probably have happened soon anyway. The Age of the Elves was almost over in Middle-earth.

In the following months, those who remained became used to the idea, finally starting to question the ancient law that had brought so much heartache. When they saw how happy Thranduil, Nimrodel, Amroth and Mithrellas were in their chosen pairs, more quiet divorces and remarriages followed.

The past year had been a year when new love blossomed under the eaves of Greenwood, and the recent Spring Festival had been the most cheerful and lively occasion Nimrodel had ever attended.

With an embarrassed smile she recalled how Thranduil and she tried sneaking away after a long evening of intense dancing, but were noticed, and ran into the forest followed by whistles and teasing quips. The night had become long too, and they were not the only couple to stumble home almost by sunrise, aching and weary and sublimely happy.

Thinking about that night filled her with more excited throbs. Thranduil and she ought to make the most of their last hours in privacy; soon they would be on the road, traveling in a large company, and in Ithilien they would share a house with their daughter and son.

The bath was nearly full when Thranduil expectantly poked his head in. "Ready?"

"Aye," Nimrodel said, trailing her eyes over him hungrily. "You can begin by getting out of those unnecessary clothes."

She watched as he slid off the garments one by one, neatly folding them over a chair, knowing that he knew how insanely aroused it made her. How the mere sight of his perfect shape drew her wild.

When he was naked he pulled her to him. "Your turn." He began slowly undressing her, covering every inch of her exposed skin with nips and kisses, paying meticulous attention to her most sensitive areas until she was so turned on her knees buckled.

"I thought we were going to bathe," she groaned.

"That too," he replied huskily, picking her up in strong arms, pressing her against the smooth wood of the bathroom wall. He kissed her with his usual ferocity, kindling rushes of more lust all over her body.

Without notice he plunged into her, silencing her approving moan with more deep kisses. All she could do was cling to him, wallowing in waves of bliss as his rapid pace set her core on fire.

When it was over they shakily slipped into the hot bath. Nimrodel lay back bonelessly, closing her eyes while her heart and breathing gradually slowed.

"Do not think I am not done with you yet," Thranduil hummed, trailing a finger along her overheated skin. "I am afraid you will not be able to ride without discomfort tomorrow."

Just like that, Nimrodel's desire erupted anew. "I am willing to take the risk," she replied with a heady grin.

~♕~

The flagstones of the new plaza were swept clean and the area was full of checkered tables with chess games in various stages of completion. The first chess competition of Ithilien went splendidly.

Lasriel was waiting for Éowyn to finish her turn, and took the opportunity to stroll among the tables, proud of her work. Though Gimli had been the one to carve all the chess pieces, and Cheery responsible for making the tables, Lasriel felt that since the idea for the event was hers she could take pride too.

"Checkmate." Nellas rubbed her hands smugly.

"This is a stupid game," said Legolas sourly. "Next time we must have an archery competition."

Lasriel hid a grin. Her husband really was the worst loser.

Éowyn had made her move and Lasriel was just about to resume her seat when a bird caught her eyes. "A pigeon!" she yelled, bouncing up to catch it. "It's mine; one of the ones I reared and gave to Glóin to take to Greenwood when he left! The pigeon mail is working!"

"Hey, come back," Éowyn called. "I am winning."

But Lasriel had forgotten all about chess. Gently removing a thin scroll from the bird's leg, she eagerly read the tiny Tengwar text. "Our parents are coming, Legolas!" she cried. "They are bringing more workers. Glóin is returning too with many dwarves. And, we are getting a ferry!"

Legolas joined her, reading the message over her shoulder. Then he gave her a peck on her cheek. "Hurry to finish the game," he mumbled. "I need you at home as soon as possible."

"Oh? What for?"

He lowered his voice further. "We have to make the most of the days left until we are obliged to share a bathroom again."

~♕~

It was Midyear's Day, the summer solstice, and at last they were gathered again, reunited around Legolas' dinner table on which a festive meal was laid out.

Thranduil let his eyes travel from one to the other, feeling a warm, affectionate glow at seeing them together. Nimrodel, smiling softly at something Mithrellas said, Amroth talking amiably to Glóin, Gimli and Cheery with matching braids in their beards, Legolas with his arm snugly around Lasriel's shoulders, whispering something in her ear that made her blush.

"You ought to hold a speech, Thranduil," said Amroth. "You are the only king among us so it would be fitting."

He gladly accepted. Standing up, he suddenly felt rather emotional when he thought back at how everything had almost miraculously worked out for the better.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the midyear and the bountiful gifts of Yavanna," he began, trying to keep his voice steady. "We have come together, elves and dwarves alike, having long forgotten old grievances, getting along like leaves and branches."

"Not to mention like pebbles and rocks," Glóin cut in.

"That too, aye. And though many of us had a rough start, and our lives and marriages were not always happy, I think I speak for everyone when I say we have become... family. And I feel blessed. Blessed beyond imagining." He sat, unable to continue.

"Well said." Gimli clapped.

Amroth discreetly wiped his eyes. "Beautiful," he agreed. "But let us eat before the roast gets cold. Wine, anyone?"

"No thanks," said Cheery.

"Ale, then?"

"Just water, please."

Glóin choked on his ale. "Water? Are you completely..." Then his expression changed, and his deep-set eyes grew misty as understanding dawned. He gave his son and daughter-in-law a rough embrace. "Good job, lad and lass! Well done."

"I will have water too," said Lasriel.

Thranduil looked at her, throat suddenly too tight. "You mean...?"

Legolas grinned at him with unabashed pride. "There is something we have been meaning to tell you... Grand-adar."

A/N:

Thanks a lot to all faithful readers! It's thanks to your support this story became finished in only a little more than a year. :)

If you enjoyed it, please leave a note. I love hearing from you even a long time after a fic is completed.

Image Credits:

Digital foto edit by Chicotfp on Tumblr.