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Glorfindel paused, spying his betrothed sitting on a bench outside of the small house he called home. He was used to seeing smiles on Legolas’s face, but there was an expression of misery on the beautiful features he had come to love. His heart ached, and he took a seat beside his beloved, voice low and gentle.
“What troubles you, melleth nin?”
“Adar is being an oliophant’s arse again,” Legolas sighed, nearly making the elder laugh at his choice of words.
“What has he done now?”
“He keeps adding names to the list of family members for the family gathering; it’s getting out of hand!”
Glorfindel wound his arms around the other elf, holding him close. The elder had no blood family remaining outside of Manwë’s Halls. Most of them had died due to violence and chose not to return yet. So those he called family were bonded to his heart by love, not blood.
“It wouldn’t be so bad, but he didn’t invite anyone who isn’t as arrogant as he is,” Legolas continued.
Oh Elbereth – this gathering was going to be terrible if something wasn’t done to salvage it. Legolas was bound to tradition due to his father, and Glorfindel respected that. However, that didn’t mean the entire process of the betrothal and wedding had to make his beloved unhappy. This was supposed to be about them and their love, not Thranduil’s ego.
“Melleth nin, I think I know how to liven things up for our little gathering,” he said to his beloved.
Legolas pulled back in time to see a mischievous look on his betrothed’s face; it was one he knew so very well, and it had been one of the things that had drawn his attention to the ancient elf.
“What are you planning,” he asked, curious to know what was brewing in Glorfindel’s brain.
An almost manic grin was seen when Glorfindel answered, making Legolas feel excited as well as experience dread. This could either go really well or really poorly.
“I will explain on the way,” he told him.
“On the way? Where are going?”
“To find Gimli,” he answered, getting up and tugging the other onto his feet as well.
Legolas couldn’t help but laugh and go with him. He had a feeling that Glorfindel’s idea would infuriate his father. He couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
* * * *
On the day of the party, Glorfindel arrived early, wearing nice clothing to please his beloved’s family. H e sipped on a goblet of wine as Thranduil droned on about his ideas for the wedding. He made sure not to agree to anything, not wanting to commit to the ideas that the king was going on about.
Glorfindel’s attention was pulled away from the king when the first of his invited guests arrived. He quickly excused himself, going to greet the couple.
“I am so pleased you two could come,” he murmured, kissing Galadriel’s cheek.
“We would not have missed this for anything,” Celeborn answered. “Not only because I know you’re scheming but also due to the fact that we both are overjoyed to see you happy.”
“I appreciate that, brother,” Glorfindel answered, touched by the lord’s words.
“What mischievous delights do you have planned,” the lady asked, a playful smile curving her lips.
“Let’s just say that my contribution to the guest list is not full of staid and stodgy individuals,” he grinned back. “As you know, my family isn’t just limited to elves.”
Both of their faces lit up when they realized who he was referring to, and Celeborn laughed.
“Oh Elbereth, I look forward to seeing how this plays out, brother,” he told him. “Thranduil will be ripping his hair out if my suspicions are correct.”
Glorfindel just winked, and he escorted the two to greet Legolas and Thranduil. He could see the elven king hide his look of distaste, knowing he had yet to make peace with the former rulers of Lothlorien, and he was looking forward to seeing how Thranduil would handle the guest list he’d added. The former king would not be happy with those who had accepted his invitation, but Legolas had been there when he’d invited his friends and family. His beloved had approved wholeheartedly, and that was all Glorfindel cared about.
A few more elves that he’d invited arrived, Elrond and his sons being part of that group, and he’d welcomed them happily. Each of them were someone he had called dear friend while Gondolin stood, and they had been so pleased to find that he’d found someone to share his life with. He’d seen a look of discomfort on Thranduil’s face, knowing the elf was not sure how to handle so many people with rich histories such as theirs.
Legolas came to his betrothed’s side when the last batch of guests arrived, laughing quietly as the rowdy group entered the garden. It had taken a bit of fancy fast talking to get Mahal’s permission for this, and he was grateful Gimli had such a silver tongue. That and two certain hobbits were a huge help as well.
The quiet, ostentatious group that his father had invited hushed when Master Bilbo Baggins and Master Frodo Baggins entered the garden first. Even though the pair had been in Valinor for years, the awe the pair drew still had not abated, and both Legolas and Glorfindel were pleased because the two had done so much for their world. They deserved every honor that could be given to them, and both elves were able to call them friends and family.
Behind the hobbits was a pack of dwarrow; each of them lively and greeting their hosts with boisterous voices that carried through the once quiet garden. During his very long life, Glorfindel had become close friends with several of the line of Durin and through Gimli, he’d also befriended a few from Bilbo’s company as well.
When Thorin and his group had heard of the problem when Glorfindel had approached his friends, they’d quickly accepted the invitation to come and Legolas had laughed all the way home because he knew what mischief would follow.
And the group had done as promised.
The gathering became a party that was full of drinking, laughter, stories, and a closeness that Glorfindel and Legolas both enjoyed. The stuffier members of the group melted a little bit, but Thranduil had obviously been horrified by everything.
Especially when Lady Galadriel started a food fight when Durin made a comment about making sure Celebrimbor knew he’d been adopted into his line and Thorin had followed up with a teasing joke about him not being bad a craftsman for an elf. So she had defended her kinsman by lobbing a handful of mashed potatoes at Thorin, who had ducked out of harm’s way.
Poor Bilbo had gotten a face full of potatoes and the hobbit, despite his people’s rituals about food, had launched a counter attack that had nailed Elladan right in the face. Realizing what was going on when the hobbit spied Elladan reaching for a handful of food, he had made a split second decision. He’d coordinated with Frodo, who had pulled Legolas and Gimli onto their team, and the dining area had turned into a free for all until the food had run out.
Once that had happened, a truce had been called and accepted. It was due to some pride to find out that Glorfindel, Thorin, Durin, and Galadriel had held their own against the other teams. He was fairly certain Legolas’s team had won, but he wasn’t going to admit that. He didn’t think Elrond or his sons would either, but the trio and Celeborn had worked together to cause as much chaos as possible.
The best part of that event was the stunned horror on Thranduil’s face as well as the relatives he’d insisted on inviting, and that expression only grew once the drinking started.
Those of the elves who had spent time around dwarrow knew that belching was a part of dwarven society. Not just as a contest to see who could do it deeper or longer but also as a sign of thanks to those who had provided the party. So naturally, when the drinking began and the belching soon followed, Galadriel, Celeborn, Legolas, and Glorfindel had joined in.
Dwalin had laughed, complimenting the lady on her belches when all eyes turned to the small Frodo, who had just outdone the entire group with an incredibly long, deep burp that drew everyone’s attention. The dwarf only laughed louder when Bilbo’s voice had been heard in the silence that followed.
“That’s my boy!”
That proud comment only had the group laughing harder and truthfully, it was fun. It was probably the most fun Legolas or Glorfindel had experienced during their years.
After the party, as Glorfindel escorted his beloved on a late night walk, Legolas turned and stopped the other from moving too far.
“What is it, melleth nin,” he asked, wondering if everything was all right.
“I just realized that no matter what happens in regards to what is expected by my father, I know it is going to be all right. You have brought so much balance into my life, Glorfindel, and I am so happy that you chose me.”
“Well, it was difficult to ignore the little prince that thought he could argue with a group of stubborn dwarrow,” he chuckled softly.
“Thank you for bringing so much love and laughter into my life,” he told him, cupping Glorfindel’s face with rough calloused hands.
“Two things I can promise you, Legolas,” he said, smiling but serious.
“What is that, melleth nin?”
“One, I will always love you,” he told him.
“And two,” Legolas asked, moving closer for a kiss.
“That laughter will always be a part of our lives,” he murmured, then leaned in to seal the promise with a kiss.