Before we say, "I do"

[Ellroher]

Ellroher leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the railing of the balcony where he sat. He lit his long pipe, puffed it twice, then blew out a large smoke ring towards the setting sun. He had been back in Rivendell for almost a month. And next week, he and his Betrothed, Alatariel, were finaly going to get married. Ellroher smiled as he blew another smoke ring into the air and thought about the first sunset he and Alatariel had watched in Dunharrow where they had first met. It seemed like they had know each other all their lives and yet they had only met less than two months ago. Was he really ready to spend his whole life with Alatariel? Where had that though come from? Ellroher shook his head to clear it. Of course I am, he thought to himself. I love Alatariel more that I love anything else in Middle Earth. I'd give up my Stewerdship of Rohan and Dunharrow to be with her. Won't I? Ellroher took another puff of his pipe and laughed to himself. "Must be what Dad told me about getting "cold feet" before you marry. 'Your mind will start to play tricks on you, Son. You'll have second thoughts untill you see her in her wedding gown. When I took your mother's hand to say our vowls, I thought I was marring a goddes.'" Ellroher smiled at the memory and leaned back again to smoke his pipe.

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël sat in her chambers with a book in hand. It had been a while since she had last actually sat down and read. For some reason, her mind just wasn't focused on the book. Thoughts were running through her mind that she was sure were not hers. She sighed. Realizing that her mind was truely elsewhere, she placed the book down. Perhaps a walk will help me clear my thoughts. Alatáriël grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. She stepped out of her room and heading down the hall that lead towards the main room. There, she saw Ellroher, sitting by the balcony. She sensed his thoughts were wandering just as her own. Alatáriël thought of just walking away and leaving him to think but then thought that probably wasn't the right choice. Instead, she walked up behind him and placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "Ellroher?"

[Ellroher]

Ellroher looked up and gave his betrothal a broad smile. "Alatariel." He said as he patted her hand. "I just steped outside for a smoke and got captivated by Rivendell's sun set." He sobered a bit when he saw the look on Alatariel's face. It wasn't distress, or sadness. It was the same look he had just a few moments ago on his own face. "Wile I was out here I started thinking about me and you." he said in a quite voice. "And by the look of it, I'd say you have been having simaler thoughts." Ellroher puffed his pipe one final time then knocked it out against the railing and put it away. He removed his feet from the balcony ledge and offered Alatariel a seat in his lap. "Why don't we just say what's on our hearts?"

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël smiled back. Indeed Rivendell's sunsets were captivating, even for her still. She watched as Ellroher's face and tone change with his words, knowing his was starting to become more serious. In his eyes, she saw that he was indeed, thinking about their relationship.
"Perhaps I was," Alatáriël said when Ellroher believed that she was thinking the same thoughts. Her mind was unfocused enough that actually she wasn't fully sure what was going through it.
Alatáriël grinned and took the offered seat in his lap. Her grin then faded and looked at Ellroher with serious eyes. "Perhaps that is best. By the looks of it, it seems we both have things on our minds that need to be released."

(Btw, there's no E in Boston )

[Ellroher]

Ellroher wraped his arms around Alatariel's waist and, in spite of serousness of the moment, smiled and said, "I don't care what doubts we might have. I still love you." He gave her a quick peck on the cheak then looked out at the fading light, gathering his thoughts together. With a heavy sigh Ellroher began. "I just started having some..." He searched for the right words, "questions come into my mind. Questions about you and me." He shook his head, the words didn't sound right to him, but they were they only ones that he could think of. "I knew that when we got married that we might have to give up things. It's kind of hard to rule a city or country when your not there. But which is more important? Rohan or Rivendell?" Ellroher shook his head again and looked away. He hated being confused and not having the answers to their problems. Finaly he just sighed in frustration and waited for Alatariel to comment.

( , I just can't spell can I? oh well, Thanks for catching it.

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël looked at Ellroher with an uncertain expression. She had sensed his doubts but she tried to push them aside. She realized long before that there would be some sacrifices made. Where they would reside was the biggest question of all. It appeared that one of them would have to give up their home. They each had their own responibilities to their lands. It would be impossible for Alatáriël to leave Imladris for she was it's ruler and there was no else to take full rule in her stand. Alatáriël sighed. She couldn't leave. Living in Rohan would be hard anyway. She would be a complete outcast. She and Ellroher couldn't possibily spend their lives that much apart. Alatáriël shook her head. She had no reply for Ellroher. She was at a lose for words. "I'm sorry," was all she could say.

(Lol, you can't spell a lot I've noticed but this kinda crosses the line. I live here (almost) so that's insulting...well not really but it brings me to where I have to say something. Do it again and I'll smite you. No I'm kidding, I won't. I'm nice. (sometimes) )

[Ellroher]

Ellroher stared at Alatariel and asked, "'I'm sorry?' Sorry for what? Sorry that I feel torn between the woman I love and my Duty to my country?" Ellroher's voise was slowly rising, as was his frustration. "What are you sorry fo Alatariel? Sorry that you said yes to marring me?!" Ellroher twisted in his seat and stood so that Alatariel slid off his lap and into the seat. He was almost yelling now, "Oh I see. Your sorry because now that your Queen you need to think about your image. You can't marry a half-elf!" Ellroher stormed away to the other side of the balcony and placed his hands on the railing to steady himself.

(My apologies. Spelling was never my strong point. And I know what you mean. I hate it when people ask me where I'm from and I say West Virgina and they say, 'oh western Virgina' like it's part of Virgina.)

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël stiffened. Ellroher's words cut through her heart like a knife. She had never heard such frustration in his voice. He was obviously upset. She watched as he walked away to the other side of the balcony. Trying to keep her voice calm, Alatáriël said,
"You being half-elven has nothing to do with it." She already had one worry but she pushed it aside. "Nor does my image have anything to do with it. I have no image and I do not want one. I have taken oath and made a promise when Imladris was handed over to me." Alatáriël reMembered the word she had given to Elrond. "But I am sure you have your own promises to keep."

(Oh, it's okay. I'm not exactly the best speller either. I just hate errors so I always have to check, but I have made no spelling errors, then I had missed a word in it's place. Lol, I've heard worse. I've had people ask me which was North Dakota and South Dakota. If you thought about it for a moment, you'd get your answer.)

[Ellroher]

"You better belive I have my own promises!" Ellroher said angerly as he turned around to face her. "I..." He stoped suddenly, shocked at hearing the bitterness in his voice. He looked at Alatariel and saw the pain in her eyes. Ellroher tried to say her name, "Alatariel?" but his voice caught in his throught. His eyes stung and he when he tryed to wipe them that his hands shook. Ellroher tryed to walk to Alatariel but his legs wouldn't move. He could barly stand. Finding his voise, Ellroher weakly said, "I'm sorry, Alatariel. I..." He couldn't continue. He couldn't even keep himself up and slowly sank to the floor.

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël nearly flinched at the anger in his voice. Turning and facing her, she saw his anger turn into guilt and the tears that threatened to fall. She was sure he hadn't meant to become this upset. Slowly raising from the chair, Alatáriël walked over to Ellroher and kneeled down infront of him. She reached up and dried his eyes with the sleeve of her gown. One brief agruement had brought her to realize that things would not be easy. "Do not be sorry," she said softly. "I know you didn't mean it."

[Ellroher]

Ellroher turned away for moment when Alatariel tryed to dry his eyes. He hated showing his emotions like this. He had always veiwed it as a sign of weakness. Ellroher had grown up trying to prove his worth, both to elves and men. But he slowly turned back and allowed Alatariel to dry his eyes. Her soft words calmed him and made him remember that she loved him. Ellroher managed to meet her eyes and said, "Alatariel, I love you. I love you more than even the beautefull plains of Rohan I grew up in. If I must chose between you and Rohan..." He paused, making sure that this was the right choise. This disision would affect the rest of his life. Could he live forever happily knowing he chose right? Or would he always look back and regret his disision? Was this hat he really wanted? Ellroher closed his eyes and listend to what his heart told him. He looked back at Alatariel and placed a gental hand on her cheek. "I chose you Alatariel. Over everything I own and love, I chose you."

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël sat still, unable to move for a moment, then, she smiled. She threw her arms around Ellroher and hugged him. She was worried about his decision, knowing it was a hard one. Alatáriël could see he was willing to give up everything for her. But, what if he didn't have to give it all up? There had to be a way. She knew that the hardest thing he had to do in his life was proving himself to both races. "Perhaps you do not have to give it all up. Maybe we can work something out."

[Ellroher]

Ellroher wraped his arms around Alatariel and held her tight, as if he was afraid she would disapear if he let go. Realizing that he was squeezeing her a little too tight, Ellroher losend his grip and looked into her eyes. Those beautiful eyes that had sweped him off his feet the first time he saw her. Hearing her question, Ellroher smiled and laughed lightly, "I've already made my choice. You." He kissed her on the lips and it set his heart racing the same as it had the first time they kissed. When he pulled away, all the pain and sarow from earlyer had disapeared from his face. Ellroher smiled brightly and said like his ol' playful self, "But if there is a way for me to still keep, maybe Dunharrow, at least untill it's finished. I'm up for that. But if not, well, at least we can go visit their when we need some time off together."

[Eglaneth Alatáriel]

Alatáriël nodded and slowly released her grip on Ellroher. "I know you have." She still felt a little guilty. But that guilt faded when Ellroher changed back into his old wild and playful self. Alatáriël could only laugh.
"Well, perhaps you should keep it until it is finished. Afterall, you thought of many ideas for it and it is only you who knows how you want it done." She raised a hand and ran her fingers through Ellroher's hair. "Besides, you had some lovely ideas, I would hate to have to see them go to waste."

[Ellroher]

Ellroher smiled at the comploments and nodded, "Thank you. I believe that I could probably keep Dunharrow. The people and riders who live there love me. It would break their hearts if I left for good. I'll finish Dunharrow and then slowly leave it's care to someone else. As for my Stewardship, I'm sure there is someone better qualified than I for it. That shouldn't be a problem." Ellroher stood and help Alatariel to her feet. He then sliped his arms around her and pulled her very close to him. "I love you Alatariel." he said as he kissed her. "Thank you for being patent with me. I know I'm not the easyest person to have to live with." Ellroher kissed her again, longer this time, and feeling like he was walking on air.