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Legolas shook his head as he listened to Eldarion ramble on about the maiden he was courting. Yes, everything was about Lady Aeariel of Dol Amroth. Even the moon and the stars could not compare to his lady’s beauty. It was true; the crown Prince of the Reunited Kingdom was in love. Eldarion was in a most agreeable mood, especially since Prince Imrahil brought his granddaughter along. Arwen caught wind of Eldarion’s affections for the maiden, and it was easy enough for her to request the company of the young lady of Dol Amroth. No one would think anything of it. Eldarion seemed over the moon ever since the party from the coastal city arrived.
“Did you hear her sing tonight at the feast?” Eldarion rambled on with a wide smile upon his face. “Her voice is simply exquisite.”
Legolas laughed as he shook his head. “I’m sure she has a lovely voice, but I couldn’t quite hear her with all the praise you have endlessly poured upon her since her arrival here.”
Eldarion scowled at the Elf’s jest. He tossed a small pebble at the nearby pond. Elf and man watched as the tiny stone skipped across the surface.
“I should do something for her this night to show my affection. But I do not know what.”
Legolas smirked. “You could recite a poem for her? I have been told most maidens fancy such things. I’m sure your Lady Aeariel is no exception.”
“That is a wonderful idea, Legolas!” Eldarion perked up again, but a frown quickly crossed his face. “But alas, I do not have much talent in writing poetry. I doubt I could come up with an impromptu poem. Even if I could, I’m sure once I saw her face; I would forget everything I wanted to say!”
“But a great deal of what you have said is poetry. You’ve compared your beloved to the stars, the moon, among many other things.” Legolas smiled. “I think you already know what to say to her.”
Eldarion stood from his seat upon the bench and began to pace. “I know what we can do!” Eldarion exclaimed once he stopped. Legolas raised a brow in question.
“What is this we business you speak of? She is your lady love, not mine.”
“Yes, but I need your help.” Eldarion gave his friend a pleading look. “Please, Legolas, you know I would do the same for you if you ever asked it of me.”
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Aeariel peered over the top of her book as she sat in bed reading well into the evening. It was a rather captivating tale. Only the sound of pebbles hitting her window managed to draw her attention away. She sighed as she placed down her book and got up from the bed. Aeariel had to laugh when she saw Eldarion standing below her small balcony.
The Prince smiled as his beloved alighted from her chambers. Her long chestnut curls flowed freely over her shoulders and back, just the way Eldarion admired them the most.
“What are you doing out there at this hour?” The maiden asked as she laughed. The moonlight revealed the amused flush that came to her cheeks. Legolas could see it from his hiding place near the bushes. It was clear to him that Eldarion was not the only one who was utterly smitten.
Eldarion looked towards Legolas before he looked back up at Aeariel. “I’ve come to speak praise to the one who has so moved me.”
Aeariel flushed an even brighter shade of pink as she leaned her arms upon the balcony. “Is that so?”
“Get down on one knee first!” Legolas hissed from the bushes. “Maidens find it more romantic.”
Eldarion turned his head towards his friend before he cleared his throat in an awkward manner. The Prince descended to one knee as he flashed Aeariel the most confident smile he could manage. He began to recite the words that Legolas fed to him from his hiding place. The Elf merely reiterated the things he had heard Eldarion say throughout the night. They didn’t need any tweaking, they were perfect the way they were.
Even though he tried to hold it back, Legolas began to laugh silently. He wasn’t laughing at Eldarion, but rather the situation. The Prince knew what he wanted to say, and he should just say it. There was a wide smile on Aeariel’s face, despite all the slip ups, and the clumsy formulation of the sentences. She was more than content to simply have Eldarion look her way, and it didn’t entirely matter that he wasn’t yet a master of poetry. Legolas longed to come out of his hiding place and explain that to his friend, but he would not embarrass Eldarion any more than he already seemed to be.
Legolas noticed Eldarion fumbling for words. Legolas cleared his throat as he regained his composure as he fed Eldarion another line he heard the Prince say that night.
“And your hair carries the scent of summer flowers.”
The last two words were slightly obscured as the laughter threatened to resurface again. Eldarion looked towards the bushes, just as Legolas instructed him not to do. There was a confused look upon the Prince’s face.
“And your hair…It carries the scent of sulfur powder.”
Legolas cringed while Aeariel’s eyes went wide.
“What?” The maiden exclaimed. Legolas dared to look up. Oddly there was a humored look upon the lady’s face. Aeariel leaned over the balcony slightly as she scanned the gardens.
“Is there someone else out there with you?”
“No!” Eldarion exclaimed. He cleared his throat as he rose back onto his feet. “It’s just me. But I have something I wish to ask of you. Would you come down?” Eldarion noticed the stone trellis that ran up along the wall.
“No, wait!” Eldarion called out as he held up a hand. “I shall come up to you!”
Both Aeariel and Legolas watched wide eyed from their respective places as Aragorn’s son climbed the trellis. A bit of his Elvish heritage certainly came in handy for such a stunt. Eldarion smiled gallantly at his lady as he leapt down onto her balcony. At least that part went much better than the poetry. Aeariel seemed thoroughly impressed. The maiden stepped forward and rewarded Eldarion with a kiss.
“So what is it you wanted to ask me?”
Eldarion grinned as he reached into his tunic pocket to remove a trinket. He withdrew his hand as he held the Ring of Barahir. His mother knew of her son’s plans, and entrusted the ancient treasure of the household to him for this very occasion. Aeariel admired the intricate ring as Eldarion took her hand and began to speak.
“This is the Ring of Barahir. It has belonged to many of my father’s ancestors. He gave it to my mother when they plighted their troth many years ago.”
The maiden’s eyes went wide as she watched the Prince get down on one knee for the second time that night. Except this time Eldarion did not have more awkward poetry.
“I would be the happiest man in all of Arda if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”
Happy tears filled Aeariel’s eyes as Eldarion slipped the ring upon her hand. She nodded as she released a jubilant yes. Eldarion’s face lit up and he stood up to scoop his beloved into his arms. Their laughter must have stirred others from their sleep. Aeariel gasped when she heard her lady call out her name from within the room. Eldarion jumped back over the balcony to make his escape. The couple shared a brief goodnight kiss before Eldarion began to descend the trellis.
Unfortunately, Eldarion should have paid more attention to his footing than Aeariel’s face as she peered over the balcony. Eldarion was near to the ground when he made a misstep. Aeariel gasped as she watched the prince tumble into the bushes.
“Eldarion!”
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Aragorn shook his head as he examined his son’s ankle. “Well, thankfully it’s not broken. But it’s quite the nasty sprain.”
Both Aeariel and Legolas sighed with relief. Legolas had managed to rescue Eldarion from the bushes while Aeariel ran to get the King. Aragorn wrapped Eldarion’s ankle with strong bandages.
“You’re lucky that’s all it is, especially after a fall like that. You’ll have to stay off of it for awhile until it heals.”
“It sounds like you’ll live.” Aeariel teased. “I should go.”
Aragorn watched with a raised brow as Aeariel reached out to touch the side of Eldarion’s face. He couldn’t help but noticed the ring upon the maiden’s hand as the couple shared a parting glance. Aragorn began to understand the missing pieces of the stories. The King could not help but smile as the Elf and maiden left the room.
“I think I know why you were climbing upon the trellis, ion nín. I hope it was worth the effort.”
Eldarion held a smug grin upon his face. “She said yes, so I would say so.”
Aragorn laughed as his smile widened. “That is wonderful, ion nín!” The King shook his head as he chuckled again. “I should be thankful there were no trellises on Cerin Amroth, or I might have done the same all those years ago.”
The King stood from his seat and patted his son upon the shoulder. “Just promise me next time that you’ll use the stairs.”
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