***Note: This chapter contains mild sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.***

**This chapter is dedicated to Ekaterina Khokhryakova for the lovely artwork she found.**

        I am actually betrothed to the love of my immortal life. I cannot stop smiling. Those were my thoughts as I left Legolas to return to my quarters and change for that evening's feast in honor of our celebratory announcement. It was a good thing that I had brought a few different clothing options with me. The elven maidens that were put in charge of helping me in my quarters had already put away my clothing neatly and easily so I could find whatever I needed. I decided on a silver and gold gown with long wide sleeves and an open throat so I could wear my familial necklace in view of everyone. I unbraided my hair after taking a bath. The maidens helped me dress; they brushed my hair out until it was as straight as the heartiest branch in all of Mirkwood.

            After which, they helped me into my gown which had a woven pure golden rope tied at the waist. I tied it simply into a knot to one side and let the long ends hang by my right side. Lastly, after my familial necklace was on, they helped me with my head piece which was both golden and crystal to symbolize my ties to Rivendell and Lothlorien respectively. And as I looked at myself in the long mirror, I knew I was ready. Now that I no longer felt strange or uncomfortable being who I really was, I could honestly say that I looked every inch a powerful princess as I twirled in my dress and the maidens giggled and I along with them. Regardless of my standing in the hierarchy of elves, I never let myself feel or act as if I was better than others. I was brought up differently; uncle Elrond and aunt Galadriel taught me differently. Humility was something I had known from a very young age. 

            As they opened the door for me to walk out, I already heard music playing and voices conversing. As I did not know Mirkwood at all, I just followed the music and two of the elven maidens who held my dress in the back to make sure it did not get caught on anything, also directed me where to go. I had to admit, I was very nervous. I fingered the rope at my waist and what I had attached to it just as I left the room. I had decided to attach the Greenleaf Broach to the knot on the rope at my waist. It would return later to Altherial's holder but for now, I had to show to all those elves at this gathering to whom I now belonged and why there was a celebration in the first place. 

            We finally approached the top of the final stairs which led to the large dining room. From where I was standing partially hidden, I saw uncle Elrond and King Thranduil speaking to each other. Tauriel was there also having a conversation with some elves which I had seen earlier and knew were Legolas' brothers; Elros and Tilos. Other members of the guard and royal family lingered about. Just before I started my final descent, I saw Legolas standing alone. He was wearing a coat very much matching my gown only his was more silver and less gold. But he wore his head piece as well. His back was to the staircase but as I became fully visible, a horn sounded out in the deep and he whirled around, looking at the top of the stairs.

            Our eyes finally met and lingered. The only time I glanced briefly down was to make sure I did not miss a step. Otherwise, once our gazes locked, that was it. Everyone's eyes were on me as well. As I stepped onto the 5th step, he climbed up toward me and offered me his hand so I took it, he kissed mine softly, and together we made our way down. His eyes were sparkling as they took in my appearance and I blushed slightly though not enough to embarrass myself as I was the big blusher in the family. We gazed at each other and only after some soft giggles remembered that we were not the only ones in the room.

            As we were about to be formally introduced to the room, a bright white light appeared that blinded just about everyone unless you knew who or what it was. I gasped out loud in surprise as Legolas looked upon me for an explanation. Soon it would not be needed as the light dissipated to reveal aunt Galadriel. The other elves were in total awe of her as was King Thranduil. Most had only heard of her and never seen her with their own eyes. So for her to grace them with her presence was a real gift. She looked upon the gathered party; when her eyes met uncle Elrond's the two of them exchanged a smile and a nod.

            Then her gaze landed upon me and she smiled wider yet did not shift from her peaceful position. As the rest of the elves present bowed to her while still looking upon her with amazement, I forgot all formalities and letting go of Legolas' hand, all but ran into her outstretched arms as she enveloped me into a warm loving hug as everyone else watched in awe. There was no longer any doubt if there had been where I was located up in the hierarchy of elves as both my paternal and maternal sides were represented. As she held me in her arms, she closed her eyes for a brief moment but that smile never left her face. As I slowly stepped back and looked up at her with questions in my eyes and tears. I never expected her to be there and she knew that.

"There there my precious one. Do not cry. This is a grand occasion that your path has led you on. But your path is not over yet. Suffice it to say, at least now your heart can be at peace." She said while stroking my hair.

"But aunt Galadriel, what are you doing here? Were you not supposed to be helping Mithrandir?" I asked, confused.

"I will help him but will need to take Elrond with me. That said I did not have the heart to not come here and give you and your betrothed my blessing for your future. What kind of an aunt would that make me?" She said smiling at me as she gently lifted my chin with her thin white hand.

        Then she looked around and nodded so people could get back up. I had totally forgotten that everyone had bowed to her including Legolas and even the King himself. I and uncle Elrond were the only two that remained standing or not bowing. My aunt had such a power over all elves in all of the lands. King Thranduil may have fancied himself important but even he knew when it would be wise to stand down and bow to someone whose power came from the heavens above. It was then that aunt Galadriel motioned Legolas forward so he could join me in front of her. When he joined me, showing the same awe that the others had, I just smiled at him and nodded encouragement. Aunt Galadriel then addressed him:

"You love her." It was not a question, but a statement of fact. Legolas nodded, looked her in the eyes without hesitation, and replied:

"Aye, that I do. With every fiber of my heart and soul."

"Then I charge you to be her one and only, her soul mate upon our lands and all others. May your love for her never fade but grow stronger through the passage of time and ages. Be her partner, her husband, her lover, her mate, through and through."

"As you charge, that I wholeheartedly shall."

            She then, took my hand and placed it into his and said a prayer in ancient Elvish that even I did not understand. I have never heard it before. She then nodded and Legolas turned to me and took my face in his hands as I blushed again and kissed me. It was a soft brief kiss but just like the kiss in the garden, it was filled with all of his emotions and feelings for me and I reciprocated the same. Everyone clapped and cheered. In our lands, that is how you become officially betrothed. The blessings aunt Galadriel bestowed upon us were the highest honor save for the wedding vows and prayer in our lands.

            Now it was time for the feast and the music. Aunt Galadriel sat next to uncle Elrond and they spoke in hushed voices which I could not hear due to the large amount of people in the room. They and King Thranduil sat on one end of the long table while Legolas and I sat on the other side. Tauriel ate very little and from time to time she would look at the two of us. She smiled but did not say anything really. There was not any hostility from her. I could tell she had made peace with it and us but there was still something bothering her. I got to know Elros and Tilos more intimately then as they bombarded me with questions regarding my training and weapon choices. All I could do was laugh.

        For a brief moment, I wished Haldir was there. It was he who knew everything about my training even the things he wished I did not know. And perhaps he would have met Tauriel more officially then that first time when we met them while out riding. He really needed a good elven woman in his life. I missed Arwen but she could not leave Rivendell at that moment; with this war looming and not knowing where Gandalf was or whether he was safe or not. No one wanted to chance it. Arwen, as adept as she was, was no warrior. That was my choice from a young age. If I was at Rivendell, it would have been different. But I was so far away and I missed my cousin dearly. I wanted ever so much for her to partake in my happiness.

        Uncle Elrond must have felt it because he broke off from his conversation with the King and my aunt and when our eyes locked onto each other, he signaled me to come forth onto him which I did without hesitation. Legolas stayed seated, finishing his meal but his eyes followed me as I went. As I approached the other side of the table, all conversation on whichever matter stopped. They knew what I was thinking before I could even open my mouth, so I did not even bother. It used to bug me when I was younger but now I just let them tell me what I was thinking. Saved a lot of time with repetition.

"I know you miss Arwen, dear one and you are worried about Mithrandir. But you do not have to worry yourself on the eve of your betrothment. Please enjoy yourselves. You will see Arwen soon enough and Elrond and I will help Mithrandir. You will see him soon as well. Knowing him, he will want to still fight part of this war." Aunt Galadriel spoke on behalf of herself and my uncle as King Thranduil watched the exchange. I nodded but looked at them both before my gaze landed upon my aunt.

"Do you promise?" I said with a small smile barely escaping my lips. She too smiled and tilted her head to one side.

"As I do always, precious one." She said and I hugged her and my uncle then and nodded at the King before walking back to my place beside my husband-to-be-someday.

"Is everything alright, my love?" Legolas asked me.

"Yes it is." I said looking at my aunt who winked at me then at him.

            We soon finished our meal and the music began in earnest. As the others clapped, Legolas extended his hand toward me and asked me to dance. I did not hesitate but placed my hand in his and stood up as the music swelled and with our arms around each other's waists and hands on each other's shoulders, we twirled and smiled as I could not stop the fit of giggles when half way through the first dance, my gown caught on a chair and I nearly fell but was caught by my handsome Elvish prince. It took two elven maidens and his brother Tilos to untangle me from the chair. At that point, we decided to dance away from anything that could be trapped in my net of a gown. I laughed so much; I had tears coming out of my eyes. I had never been so happy.

            Everyone clapped as we danced and twirled around each other, our eyes never leaving each other's. It was as if we were attached by our souls, by our hearts. And our eyes were the windows to the soul each kept within self. Finally when the stars started coming out, we drew our latest twirl to a close and with a hug and wave goodbye, with my arm tucked securely into his arm, the two of us ascended the stairs. When we got to the pathway where we would usually separate to head to our respective quarters, I hesitated. We stood their staring at the stars and kissing for a while and then ever so gently, I tugged his arm in the direction of my quarters. It was very obvious as to what I was inviting him to and he did not hesitate or question it. It was natural.

            Holding hands, we walked to my quarters where everything was prepared earlier for the night by the elven chamber maids. He closed the door behind himself and locked it. We did not want any interruptions on our special night. I walked into my bed chamber then and stood by the window looking at the magnificent sky above me. My quarters were high above in the trees, away from spiders and other negative beings. My thoughts were consumed by the events of that day but more than not, about what was about to transpire here. Though I was a little nervous, I was ready to receive all of him and embrace him as my own completely as well as give myself over to him as well.

            He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me as we stood there for the briefest of moments before I rounded on him and we forgot about the world. Our breaths were quickening with the shared closeness. The separations were gone; there was no more pretense of a different day. This was it. He kissed me softly at first and then more intensely as I forgot where I was. I just noticed suddenly that I was no longer standing on my own two feet. He had quietly and quickly lifted me into his arms without breaking the kiss as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Nestled in his arms, I felt no one nor anything in this world nor the next could harm me now. Safe; I was safe.

            Soon, he placed me with great care on the bed and only broke the kiss to breathe and when I sat up to face him. He smiled a knowing smile at me and I had the brief thought that this was not his first time but I was too embarrassed to ask. Besides, after just kissing I did not remember what speaking even was for quite a few minutes. His, dialogue however, was still intact somewhat and he gazed into my eyes and asked:

"You are at ease with me, are you not, my love?" I nodded and looked him in his eyes as I reached out my hand to settle over his heart which I could feel was beating faster than usual. He swallowed upon the contact though we were still fully clothed.

"I am very much at ease. Heart to heart; together at last." I answered as his mouth captured mine again in another deep and passionate kiss.

            Sitting there on the bed and kissing, we started exploring each other's bodies with greater fervor. He started to slowly and gently strip away the layers of my gown as I did the same with his. Finally we were flesh against flesh, skin against skin, heart against heart, as we climbed under the blankets. Nature older than time itself took over as we gave into the pleasures and love that we felt for one another. An inch was too far apart. If we could have crawled into each other's bodies; if such a thing was possible, it would have happened. Just before we were brought together and the sparks flew, he uttered one phrase that was etched into my brain forever thereafter:

"Ten'oio nîn. (Eternally mine)."

            Looking at him briefly from below, I took his face and brought it down to mine once more and we let time drift away from us. The night passed us by without us noticing or giving it knowledge. We finally fell asleep in each other's arms with my head nestled on his chest and his arms around me. The dreams that came to me then were ones of us on top of a hill overlooking Rivendell with the whole world before us. And we were happy. Eternally happy.