Author’s Notes: Finals are kicking my behind, so this took forever to come out. Hopefully I’ll be faster with the next few parts ^_^ Also, while yes, this is an L/G fic, there’s lots of interactions with other characters. And it should get a little crazier from here on out. Yahoo ^_^

2. To Plan A Wedding, you must first have a Location and a standing Army.

Aragorn eyeballed his Queen warily. She had certainly taken leave of her senses, if she thought for one moment that he would give in. A small, quiet and quaint gathering his left toe. “No,” he said, putting all his Kingly command into his voice. “And I am not changing my mind.” He sat down firmly and crossed his arms over his chest. It pained him to deny her, and essentially, them this, but he did after all have his kingdom to think about.

And he knew Gondor could not possibly survive an all out war between dwarves and elves.

“I do not understand why you’re being so stubborn about this, my love,” complained Arwen. “They are our friends, after all!”

“Yes, they are,” Aragorn agreed readily. “But as much as I would love to have Gimli and Legolas’ bonding ceremony here, I cannot abide their families shedding blood in my city. And there would be a lot of blood,” he finished darkly. A sigh escaped his lips. “Can’t they just elope?”

“They are NOT eloping, Estel,” said the elf Queen, in her no nonsense tone. “They are having a proper ceremony, if I have anything to say about it.”

The ex-Ranger raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what do Gimli and Legolas have to say about it?”

Arwen made a most unladylike squeak and blushed. “...that is, I’m sure the two of them want to have a nice, proper ceremony.”

“Arwen...”

“Well,” she began hesitantly. “It is as this, see? You know that since Eowyn has come to visit—“

“You mean take up permanent residence,” Aragorn grumbled. Honestly, his palace was turning into a boarding house for everyone seeking to escape their insane families.

Arwen glared. “Since she has come to visit, “ the elf Lady emphasized, “ we have spent much time in one another’s company and a few nights past, well...Gimlitookusoutbartrolling. And we were sitting at a table, that night, having a bit of a brew –“

“Wait a moment, Arwen – Gimli took you and Eowyn bar trolling ??” Aragorn sputtered. “What in the Valar’s name was he thinking –“

“Don’t interrupt, Estel,” Arwen soothed quickly. Elbereth knew she didn’t need her husband to find out it was she and Eowyn who convinced Gimli to take them out. More importantly, she didn’t need Aragorn to know that she and Eowyn oft went out, convincing the most craggy and stubborn Galen, the Head of the Guard to accompany them...“In any case, we were a bit looser with our tongues than normal , thus Eowyn asked Gimli of his relationship with Legolas. Gimli spoke grandly of it, then looked a bit sad. We asked him what ailed him, and he spoke that he wished his family could both know of and accept his happiness with an Elf. He seemed so resigned when he said that it wasn’t to be,” she finished softly. “And now, he is to be wed, and neither he nor his intended will not invite their families, for the same, obvious, fear that you have. I have heard Legolas voice such sentiments as well,” she continued at length. “Both are happy with one another, but unhappy that their joy will not be shared by their loved ones, save us few.” She poked out her bottom lip in a slight pout.

Aragorn stared at his wife. “Let me understand this,” he drawled slowly. “You wish to get their families...together...for their bonding ceremony.”

“Yes,” the elf replied.

“Because it would be a nice thing to do.”

“The right thing to do,” amended Arwen. “It’s nigh time this family feud ended.”

“Right,” said Aragorn slowly. “And you want...me...er...Gondor...to play host.”

“You are correct, my love,” she said, smiling a bit.

“And you decided all this...while bar trolling with Eowyn and Gimli.”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter where or when I decided this, Estel,” Arwen grumped. “The question is,” she crossed the few feet to where her husband sat and leaned down until her face was level with his. “...what are you going to do to help Eowyn and I with our plans for Legolas and Gimli’s wedding?”

Aragorn didn’t answer immediately, as the close proximity to his wife was making it hard to think of anything, let alone whatever it was that they were talking about. “Have I ever told you that you’re the most beautiful woman in the world?”

“No stalling,” she chuckled, nuzzling his face. Hmm. Still scruffy.

“Er...ah...Arwen, you’re not playing fair!”

“Haven’t answered my question...”

Aragorn gave up. What was the use, anyhow? She’d get what she wanted, one way or another. “Ai, Arwen, anything you want,” he sighed, a bit dreamily. “May I have your babies?”

The palace tinkled with sounds of an elf Queen laughing.

**

It was later that day, and Legolas was standing alone in his guest quarters, looking a bit bewildered. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, when Arwen had politely knocked on the door to the chambers and at his behest, entered, followed by Eowyn and a guilty looking Aragorn. The Elf Queen of the Reunified Lands had exclaimed brightly and began talking animatedly, the Lady of Rohan adding choice phrases here and there, about gardens, food, dates and having enough seats for family and friends. Aragorn had been sending him sorrowful looks all the while, cringing at times, groaning pitifully at others.

Legolas had been baffled and had fervently wished Gimli’s familiar presence were at his side to steady him. He had no idea what the two women had been blathering on about and the looks Aragorn had been sending him had been plastered with ‘Flee for your life!’ undertones. Besides which, the two seemed to be …plotting. He’d finally interrupted them and asked what in Arda they were going on about.

Never in his life had he felt so much fear, not even deep in the mines of Moria with the balrog, when Arwen smiled a bit too brightly, deviousness in her eyes and said:

“Don’t you and Gimli worry about a thing, brother of my heart. Eowyn and I shall see to it all!”

And with that, the Evenstar had exited the room. Eowyn had chirped a happy goodbye and grabbed Aragorn’s arm, of whom kept saying that he apologized profusely, but he’d been coerced! Legolas had cried out in protest as the King was dragged away – answers were definitely needed here! – but his protests fell on an empty hallway.

He’d returned to his quarters then, confused and more than a bit frightened, as his well trained mind began to put four and sixteen together, viewing it in the context with a recent development in his love life.

Legolas paled. “Oh sweet Elbereth.”

TBC ^_^

(back to ice)