-2962 of the Third Age-
A slow melody lulled the great hall, where the engagement party reached its most awaited point: the couples' dance. The stars of the night, Aldril and Tauriel, swayed to the musical notes; each of their spins left behind blackish and silvery trails. Their outfits, in perfect harmony, evoked the union of light and shadow.
Tauriel's silver dress billowed with an evocative grace; the smiles of both only enhanced the beauty of that magnificent waltz masterpiece. With a final spin, the melody ceased, allowing the couple to catch their breath. Like two turtledoves, they embraced and sealed their love with a kiss.
The ovation from the attendees was immediate. The Dwarves, who climbed onto the benches, cheered the loudest, blessing the couple. This time, their behavior was not frowned upon; on the contrary, it was met with cheerful laughter from Elves and Men, who, catching the Dwarves' enthusiasm, began to cheer even louder.
Once the couple left the center of the hall, the melody changed to a more lively tune. This time, Elves, Men, and Dwarves sprang into action, each with their partner; some, more daring, ventured to invite the person they liked most to dance.
Aldril and Tauriel returned to the main table, where Elrond, Arwen, Galadriel, Celeborn, Thranduil, Talwen, Legolas, Sigrid, Tilda, Bain, Gandalf, Thorin, Raizan, and Bard greeted them with smiles. Especially Thorin, who, despite twenty-one years having passed, retained the same appearance.
"I never expected your dancing skills to be as adept as your mastery of the sword, Aldril," said the King Under the Mountain.
The comment was met with nods from most and laughter from the rest.
Our dear half-elf, for his part, let out a chuckle. "Well, what kind of man doesn't know how to dance on his most important day?" he replied.
At this, Galadriel glanced sideways at her dear husband, Celeborn, who, despite possessing great skills in many aspects, lacked the grace of dance; ironically, the very quality in which most Elves were experts.
Once Aldril and his beloved were seated, they both began to chat with the attendees separately. Tauriel, along with the women, formed a group at one end of the table; they laughed as the elders shared their life experiences, as well as memories of their long marriages.
For his part, Aldril and the other men granted them privacy, conversing on various topics: from the great events of the First and Second Ages to anecdotes that piqued the curiosity of the half-elf and of Kings Bard and Thorin, who marveled at hearing the exploits of their ancestors.
"By the way," Raizan interjected, "the blessing that the great Irmo has granted me doesn't stop resonating within me. Are there perhaps other guests who, like me, have been blessed by the Valar?"
In response, he received a nod from Gandalf and Aldril.
"From the distant south of Gondor come two," Gandalf said, lighting his pipe, "who conquered the port cities of the corsairs. Their men have spread throughout Umbar."
As he spoke, the wizard signaled with a slight head movement towards a nearby table, where Augura and Belegor devoured a piece of meat with a savage elegance. They were accompanied by Fredis, who kept her eyes closed in prayer. The sound of chewing and the groans of pleasure from the blessed of Umbar did not seem to bother her. Feeling a gaze upon her, she slowly turned her head and softly opened her eyes: a crystalline blue, like the waters of Ulmo, crossed with Aldril's vivid amber. She nodded silently before returning to her prayer.
"And she is Fredis," Aldril whispered, stunned by the purity of those eyes. "Her blessing was given by Lady Estë; she is the one who keeps the men and women of Rohan healthy."
Raizan, hypnotized by the beauty and purity of the blessed of Rohan, could only nod with a lost gaze.
"She is an unparalleled beauty... I hope I can make her my queen," he said, before reacting and shrinking back, laughing with embarrassment. It seemed he had unconsciously let his thoughts slip.
"It's no cause for shame to express your feelings, young man," commented Elrond, glass in hand. "We do not know when we will depart from this land. If you like someone, go and try to win their heart; you might one day regret your inaction."
Thranduil nodded, agreeing with the Lord of Rivendell's view.
"Be brave and act while you can. You lose nothing by trying, do you?"
Thorin watched them back and forth. Were these two fossils of Middle-earth imparting wisdom to a young man embarrassed by voicing his thoughts? The advice was appreciated, and the way they shared their wisdom of thousands of winters... but did they have to do it with such an air of grandeur?
Meanwhile, Aldril, Gandalf, and Bard nodded in unison. In particular, the King of Dale allowed himself a few moments to recall his wife's beautiful smile: a memory more valuable than the gold vaults of Erebor.
Legolas, for his part, smiled with his gaze fixed in the distance, where his beloved Sigrid cradled their dear son, Lothnír (Budding Flower). Unlike Aldril, Legolas's semi-elf son had inherited the Elvish ears, as well as his beauty; from Sigrid, however, he had received the blue eyes.
To say that the eleven-year-old was spoiled would be an understatement. Even his stoic father melted like snow in spring before Lothnír's smile. He never would have imagined seeing the wise King of the Woodland Realm smile and play with his beloved grandson.
And so time passed: they chatted and laughed. There was even a moment when Kíli and Fíli, Lords of Moria, dragged Aldril away to drink with them. The half-elf almost let out a booming laugh upon finding his best friend Bilbo sprawled on the table, completely drunk from the wine and beer the Dwarves had offered him.
Aldril agreed to drink with his friends, though in moderation. This was a special night, and he wished to remain sober.
The gifts would be opened the following morning; it had been agreed upon beforehand that everyone would fully enjoy such an uncommon festivity among the Elves.
The atmosphere filled with joy: Elves danced and sang, while Men and Dwarves joined them, interlocking arms and laughter. There were even small drinking competitions, in which the Elves most often emerged victorious. However, brave warriors emerged from the Dwarven ranks, capable of enduring the alcohol until they overcame the legendary Elvish stamina.
Well into the early morning, Tauriel approached Aldril, who was cheering with the others:
"Bottoms up, bottoms up, bottoms up!"
The reason for the cheers was Bilbo, who, after a small nap, had regained strength to return to the contest, even defeating Kíli and Fíli in the competition.
"My love," the red-haired Elf whispered, taking Aldril's hand, "I'm exhausted... won't you accompany me to our chambers?"
There was a suggestive tone in her words. Aldril, without hesitation, agreed. He bid farewell to his friends, claiming to be a little tired and, furthermore, he needed to conserve energy for the meeting that would take place at dawn: a brief council between the kings and those blessed by the Valar, where they would discuss Sauron's prolonged silence in those years.
...
In the chamber they shared, Aldril held Tauriel in his arms. There was no urgency for what was to come; both wanted to take this moment to the pinnacle of romance. So, once alone, they allowed themselves a small dance where, with slow movements, they let each other's love overflow and unite, much like the sea and the melody of a siren.
"For all eternity I will love you," Aldril whispered to her, causing Tauriel to nestle into his chest.
"I will love you even beyond death," she replied.
They looked into each other's eyes and, little by little, let love take over the room. With slow and tender movements, Aldril loosened Tauriel's dress, while she slowly unbuttoned the half-elf's shirt. Their slow, passionate kisses ignited the embers.
Aldril laid her down on the soft duvet. The silver moonlight made the Elf's pale skin glow with a magnetic allure. Both, just as they had come into the world, merged in rhythmic movements. Moans of pleasure rose like the chorus of a siren.
They did not know whether he was inside her or she was inside him. They only knew their skins fit perfectly—like light and shadow, inseparable and interdependent—finally shaping the silhouette of their love.
**
My dear Aldril finally did it!!!!!
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