***Author's Note***

This chapter contains mature content. If you aren't comfortable reading it, don't. The plot will continue in the next chapter. This one is for you faithful shippers that have been cheering me on for over ninety chapters!! Enjoy. ;)

Chapter Ninety-Four: After Hours

Legolas's room was spacious, well-lit by a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. His bed sat in the corner, covered with a forest-green quilt, and leaf-patterned curtains were pulled back at the corner posts. An elegant wooden dresser sat in another corner, and a tall mirror stood beside it. At the other side of the room, a collection of swords, bows, and quivers hung on the wall. A plush sofa sat behind a low table, which held a haphazard collection of books, whetstones, and discarded articles of clothing.

Legolas darted ahead of me to collect the laundry. "Sorry...meant to tidy up, and then I ran out of time."

I forced a smile through my nerves. "It's okay...compared to my room, this is meticulous. At least, before I had maids running around and messing up my organized chaos."

Legolas grunted and dumped his laundry in a basket. "Which is precicely why I always supervise my servants when they come in. And speaking of which..." He strode over to the door, shut it, and turned the lock. "Wouldn't want to be walked in on." He looked at me and leaned against the door, biting his lip. "Well...ladies first." He motioned that I should undress.

I cleared my throat and crossed my arms, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Age before beauty, darling."

His eyebrows arched in mock-offence, and he touched his chest. "Why, Eda! No pain, no gain." He shrugged.

Smirking, I put my hands on hips. "Hmm, perhaps. But I still outrank you."

Legolas rolled his eyes and started unbuttoning his tunic. "Fine, but remember, this is forever—I'll have my chance for revenge."

I opened my mouth with a retort, but forgot what I was going to say when a long sliver of his ivory chest became visible.

When he got to the bottom, he shrugged the tunic off, the muscles in his shoulders and chest rippling. Legolas caught my gaze, smirked, then turned his back to drop his tunic in the laundry basket. He pulled off each of his boots and stood them beside the basket. Then his hands went to the waistband of his trousers, and he slid them down his legs.

I couldn't help it...I covered my eyes. It wasn't that I couldn't stand to look at him...it was that Legolas was too freaking perfect!

He cleared his throat. "Eda?" He sounded strangely...vulnerable.

I peeked between my fingers, to realize—oh Eru—he was facing me. Stark naked. I squeezed my eyes, and fingers, tightly shut.

"You know," he said quietly, "this is all new for me, too. And frankly, a little uncomfortable. But Eda, we can do this. Just...stop hiding from me, love."

Swallowing hard, I lowered my hands. He was right. Cheeks burning, I let myself look him over. "Legolas, you're...you're very handsome."

He blushed a little, too. "All right, beautiful. You have no excuse now."

I took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Okay." Worrying at my lip, I began struggling out of my dress.

"Here." Legolas's footsteps padded over to me. "You should take your crown off first." His hands tugged at my heavy crown, lifting the weight from my scalp. Then he tugged at my dress, drawing the material over my head. Once he'd discarded it on the floor, he met my gaze and smiled. "There we go."

My heart sped up. His proximity stole my breath away. Legolas kept his eyes glued on mine, and he slid his hands to the bindings wrapped around my chest. With slow, deliberate movements, he unwound them. I trembled as the last section loosened and fell.

Legolas's eyes dipped, and his breathing hitched.

"Legolas..." I crossed my arms and turned away. "Maybe this is a bad idea." My breaths were ragged and heavy, and tears of embarrassment rimmed my eyes. Struggling not to cry, I perched on the edge of his bed, not looking at him.

"What makes you say that?" Out the corner of my eye, I saw him drop the material and walk closer. He stopped a few feet away. "We're married, Eda...this is supposed to happen."

"No, it's not." I squeezed my eyes shut. "I was not supposed to happen."

"What in Morgoth's name are you talking about?" Legolas sat beside me and placed a hand on my back.

His hand warmed my back, and I sniffled at how nice it felt. "Elves and Dwarves. They shouldn't...have babies. And your father shouldn't agreed to us getting married."

Legolas slid his hand over to rest on my opposite shoulder, and he kissed the shoulder nearest to him. "It was political, Eda—it worked in our favor. But of all times to get cold feet, why now?"

"It's...it's just..." I covered my face. "Legolas, I'm not beautiful like you. I'm not tall and thin like Elves should be. And...I'm too tall to be attractive to a Dwarf, either." I sniffed back tears. "Dwalin made me kneel when he crowned me."

Legolas remained silent for a long moment. His thumb caressed my neck, reassuring me that he wasn't angry or upset, but it was a full minute before he responded. "Eda," he said with a quiet sigh. "You're right, you are neither the Elven standard of beauty, nor the Dwarven. To this day, I don't know what possessed your parents to fall in love. I don't know why they bonded, and asked Eru for a child."

I drew in a harsh breath, trying to steady my breathing.

"But," he said firmly, "I do know that Eru granted their request. He gave you life, Eda. Made you who and what you are." Legolas squeezed my shoulder. "Who is an Elf or a Dwarf, to look at Eru's creation and measure it against their own petty standards?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the swell of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Legolas loved me. Accepted me. "Dammit, Elfears, you went and made me cry," I whispered. "I love you so much."

Legolas chuckled and leaned over to kiss my cheek. "Good—now that that's worked out, I would like to make love to my beautiful wife." He clambered over to the center of the bed and plopped onto his haunches, grinning.

"I thought you just got through saying I wasn't beautiful," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

He held his arms out to me. "No dear, I said you may not be considered beautiful to other ellyn."

I scooted up to join him. Though still a little uncomfortable about my shape, I decided to trust what he said and not hide. "Other ellyn? What about you?"

Legolas put his arms around me, pulling us both to lie flat on the bed. "I am your husband, and it doesn't matter if I think you beautiful or not—we both would've died in Moria if you weren't a bit stocky." He left a brief, warm kiss on my lips, and slid a hand down my side to tug off my last undergarment.

I let him.

He tossed it toward the rest of my clothes, then he studied me, a blush tinging his cheeks and a smile playing on his mouth. "That said...you are lovely."

We met halfway for a passionate, almost rough kiss. Legolas cupped my cheek for a moment, then lightly skimmed his fingers over my curves.

Goosebumps lifted across my arms; tingles went down my back. My breaths grew heavy, and when Legolas guided me to recline on the quilt, I didn't resist.

He ran a hand down my stomach, then across one hip and down my thigh. His touch continued past my knee, all the way to my ankle, which he gripped and lifted for inspection. "For some reason, I thought you might grow leg hair," he said, rubbing a palm over my smooth calf.

"Oh...has my skin already recovered from it being ripped out?" I couldn't hide how breathless my voice sounded.

Legolas chuckled. "It's okay, love. I don't mind you having hair." He pressed a soft kiss to my instep.

I trembled—but not with fear this time. A bit of nerves, but mainly anticipation. "So...is this it?"

He frowned slightly. "I'm not sure...are we supposed to do anything else first?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

Legolas gave me a grin. "Well then, this is it." He crawled up to hover over me, and glanced between us. Then he touched me.

I blushed and closed my eyes. I wanted this—we wanted this.

Pain tightened my core, and my eyes flew open. I clamped my thighs around Legolas's hips. "Wait...please stop..."

He laid a hand on my cheek. "Shh, it's all right love. I'm in, and I'm waiting." His eyes were a bit wide, and a tremor rippled through his muscles.

My body heated; sweat beaded on my brow. "A-are you in pain too?"

Legolas shook his head, his gold mane spilling over ivory shoulders to brush the bedspread. "No. Eda...this is amazing."

I half-grimaced, half-smiled. "Keep reminding me."

He dipped his head and caught my lips between his. Then he pulled back, catching my gaze. A tentative smile flickered across his face, and he kissed me again, harder.

My immediate discomfort began fading, until it was just an acute awareness. Releasing a sigh, I said, "So...is that it?"

Legolas smirked. "Not even close." Bracing his hands on either side of my head, he ground his body against mine, going deeper.

It hurt—and it felt amazing.

He tensed, shoulders quaking. "Valar...Eda..." He began a steady rhythm, and my body responded in time. His hands curled around fistfuls of the bedspread, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

Our breaths mingled. Sweat mixed. At some point, my fingers ended up entwined in his. And then satisfaction broke out under my skin. Legolas stilled, letting out a deep groan, and rested his forehead on mine.

We lay exactly like that for minutes, just listening to our rasping breaths even out. When I opened my eyes, I caught Legolas staring at me, wearing a small, content smile. He said nothing—nothing needed to be said.

Finally, Legolas withdrew and crawled to the head of the bed. Pulling back the covers, he gestured for me to snuggle in. Moving a bit sluggishly, I slid between the sheets and rested my head on the soft pillows.

Legolas got in beside me and tucked the blankets around us. After a moment of shifting around, he came to rest on his side, one arm draped over me and keeping me tucked in under his chin.

I smiled and left a soft kiss on his chest. "Goodnight, Legolas. I love you."

He moved his hand up my back to caress the skin between my shoulder blades. "Goodnight, Eda," he murmured, a smile in his tone. "I love you too."

Warm, happy, and smiling, I released a sigh of absolute contentment and closed my eyes.

That was when a knock came to the door. "Legolas? I'm still waiting for my hug goodnight."

"Ada..." Legolas groaned, and rubbed his face. "If you make me get up, Eru is my witness, I will shave your head like a mortal's chin."

"I volunteer for eyebrow duty," I muttered, burrowing my face deeper into Legolas's chest.

Thranduil had the audacity to chuckle. "Rest well ion, iel." His footsteps moved away from the door.

"Did he just...call me his daughter?" I asked, pulling back to peek up at Legolas.

He nodded, warmth filling his smile. "Yes. He did." He leaned down and kissed me, then hugged me close. "Sleep, Eda. I doubt anyone will pity us for having such a taxing night."

I allowed myself an unqueenly snort. "You're probably right."

And so, even the moments we wish would last forever have to give way to the ones we wish wouldn't.