Not necessarily. My first marriage began with little ceremony, though we were both quite young and hardly knew better. We had been out camping, as we often had, and there under the stars, we promised to love each other for always, and then he lay me down in the grass, and that was enough in our eyes and those of the Valar. Of course, seeing as I had wed the son of the High King, we had a proper celebration with feasting and dancing some weeks later at our parents' insistence. But that is all an Elf needs to be wed: a wholehearted promise, and then the bodily union makes the marriage.
...of course, it is but one certain act that seals the bond, and it is far from the only option of pleasure.
[ Gimli is quick to extinguish the small flame of jealousy at hearing of anyone else with her. Rightly so, for that was her previous husband! He did not actually think poorly but dwarves are selfish and greedy. Some not over gold or gems. Gimli has enough sense to keep calm.
What he focuses on instead is the strange differences between them. ]
There's much more than that for us. The final act can be committed but only when the marriage is secure! Though a great many demand to wait until the wedding night.
...would you tell me of your traditions? Truthfully, once our fathers found out what we had done, a number of things were put into place to determine a "proper" Elven wedding. I think perhaps a blending of the two would be best.
[ The dwarves were protective of their ways, secretive to put it absolutely nicely. But her? Such a dear friend to their maker? She of all beings to walk Middle Earth had every right to know all of them.
And if she were to be his wife, she'd have to know them at any rate. ]
The bride and groom forge the gifts and marriage beads for their other. The bride makes or embroiders her dress - [ He leans in to explain. ] - while the groom prepares their hall. You would have to say the vows in our tongue and no other.
[ He stops in his explanation only to open the door to his own chambers for her. ]
[She smiles graciously as he holds the door for her.]
The forging is easy enough. The sewing... I do not have the skill that others in my family do, but I have made my share of garments before. In a big family, someone has to. I know very little of your language, I am sorry to say, but I would be delighted to learn it.
Help can be given. There are many a dwarrowdam who are skilled in only one part of the dressmaking or another.
[ If at all. It was rare but some dams did become warriors and smiths rather than weavers and scholars.
Once alone in his chambers Gimli pours the water from pitcher to basin. ]
Are you certain? A good friend once called it a 'jawcracker'. Well sit down! [ He yells in that way that isn't really yelling or angry at all. ] How else am I to reach you.
[ Yes, he was going to clean her up from the work in the forge. ]
[She chuckles and sits for him, knowing how he meant it. She still has the smell of the forge on her--hot metal and soot and burning coals--but she also has the scent of something ancient, pure and good.]
Well, I shall not turn away help if offered. And as for languages, I once worked alongside one of the finest minds for such a thing to ever set foot in this world. You should hear the cacophony that the Valar speak. I believe I could manage yours.
[ ... Would his mother dare to help? She certainly wouldn't approve... Gimli was lost in thought over this with a mild look of horror and sadness. But soon brought himself out of it and smiled. ]
We shall worry about that in time.
[ He dampened a washcloth and nodded at her shirt. ]
[She pulls her shirt off over her head, then then undoes the necklace, carefully laying it aside. Her skin might be liberally freckle-dusted under her various tattoos, but it's still as smooth as cream, and her breasts still full and ripe, even after all her children.]
[ Now that is definitely a good distraction from any thoughts of his mother, father, and their shared disapproval. Gimli blushes as he's stared. She is not the first lady he has laid eyes upon but she... She was one of the most beautiful. ]
We tend to our lovers as a sign of affection. Grooming.
[ He pointed for emphasis, distracting himself away from her beauty with lessons of the dwarrow. ]
Very important.
[ And now he would begin to wipe her clean. First at the face. Gentle as always. Nearly too gentle for a dwarf. ]
[She sits patiently as he wipes away the soot and grime from her face, her skin a glowing pink underneath. Her lips part a little as a few stray drops of cool water escape to fall on her chest.]
[ All elves are beautiful. In his opinion she is pretty. A soft sort of glowing beauty that shows youth and joy. There is more, far more, in her eyes. Sorrow and worse buried far back in the glint of her eyes. But tonight is different and his heart is full with her beauty.
Gimli leans in to press another sweet kiss to her now clean cheek. And another where her neck is clean as soon as it is so. ]
Do you have customs such as this?
[ He wants nothing more than to please her, to make her happy. ]
[She lightly brushes kisses against his brow in return.]
Not so formal as this, but... We will often braid each other's hair. It's not as much a part of our weddings. For those, we begin with a meal to be shared with our families and loved ones. Then, vows and rings are exchanged, the Valar invoked. The parents give their blessings, and the mother of the bride presents the groom with a token while the father of the groom does the same for the bride. Then the couple retires to their chambers and achieve the marriage. That is how a proper Elven wedding is conducted.
[ Gimli pauses in his attention to her neck at the sound of braids given. The wedding sounded simple enough. The presence of parents and their blessings sounded ... complicated. IT was best not to worry over such details that night. ]
Do your braids carry meanings as ours do? That is another custom we share. [ He smiled a bright but still blushing smile. ]And I should like to decorate you in courtship.
[Well, she is certainly not lacking in hair to adorn, with that wealth of copper flowing down her back, never having been cut. She laughs softly and fingers one of her many braids.]
Well, these do not. Just practical artistry there. But... yes, some do. There are house braids, usually worn for formal court occasions. And... there are braids for war. And others
[ Now to get back to his very important task of cleaning and kissing. He moves to her collarbones next. He cleans both sides, but lingers at only one. Light kisses sure to tickle skin with his beard ... Which he may have been doing on purpose. ]
[ Now that is exactly what he'd like to hear from her. He grins against her skin and continues to kiss. His hand stays busy to clean her as he does. Something tells him he won't ever quite finish.
Especially when hand and cloth linger at her other breast to grope. ]
[She makes a soft sound of pleasure as he fondles her. She doesn't doubt for a moment that he's trying to arouse her--he had made it quite clear what his intentions were for bringing her here. Well... it's working. A flush begins to rise in her skin, her nipples stiffening under his touch.]
[ He is trusting her to give him a good smack for doing anything she does not want him to do. That was part of dwarrow courtship! The cloth is now forgotten for his bare hand. It gropes and fondles alone while his mouth travels to kiss much more sensitive skin. His tongue flicking as his lips envelop.
If he could stir her to more noises before taking off her skirt, all the better. ]
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[ There is some mischief in his words. He would very much like to do at least one something with her this evening. Not-- Certainly not--
He holds out his hand for her to take. ]
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Are you saying you wish to be wed at once?
[She's half-teasing, but it wouldn't be her first wedding with little to no planning before it was sealed.]
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[ Gimli knows little of the Elvish way of marriage. And certain acts are not seen as the marriage itself for his folk. He's blissfully unaware. ]
But a night together will be most fine.
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...of course, it is but one certain act that seals the bond, and it is far from the only option of pleasure.
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What he focuses on instead is the strange differences between them. ]
There's much more than that for us. The final act can be committed but only when the marriage is secure! Though a great many demand to wait until the wedding night.
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HEADCANONS EVERYWHERE
[ The dwarves were protective of their ways, secretive to put it absolutely nicely. But her? Such a dear friend to their maker? She of all beings to walk Middle Earth had every right to know all of them.
And if she were to be his wife, she'd have to know them at any rate. ]
The bride and groom forge the gifts and marriage beads for their other. The bride makes or embroiders her dress - [ He leans in to explain. ] - while the groom prepares their hall. You would have to say the vows in our tongue and no other.
[ He stops in his explanation only to open the door to his own chambers for her. ]
The best kind, tho.
The forging is easy enough. The sewing... I do not have the skill that others in my family do, but I have made my share of garments before. In a big family, someone has to. I know very little of your language, I am sorry to say, but I would be delighted to learn it.
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[ If at all. It was rare but some dams did become warriors and smiths rather than weavers and scholars.
Once alone in his chambers Gimli pours the water from pitcher to basin. ]
Are you certain? A good friend once called it a 'jawcracker'. Well sit down! [ He yells in that way that isn't really yelling or angry at all. ] How else am I to reach you.
[ Yes, he was going to clean her up from the work in the forge. ]
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Well, I shall not turn away help if offered. And as for languages, I once worked alongside one of the finest minds for such a thing to ever set foot in this world. You should hear the cacophony that the Valar speak. I believe I could manage yours.
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[ ... Would his mother dare to help? She certainly wouldn't approve... Gimli was lost in thought over this with a mild look of horror and sadness. But soon brought himself out of it and smiled. ]
We shall worry about that in time.
[ He dampened a washcloth and nodded at her shirt. ]
Off! And your necklace as well.
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It's kind of you to do this...
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We tend to our lovers as a sign of affection. Grooming.
[ He pointed for emphasis, distracting himself away from her beauty with lessons of the dwarrow. ]
Very important.
[ And now he would begin to wipe her clean. First at the face. Gentle as always. Nearly too gentle for a dwarf. ]
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[She sits patiently as he wipes away the soot and grime from her face, her skin a glowing pink underneath. Her lips part a little as a few stray drops of cool water escape to fall on her chest.]
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Gimli leans in to press another sweet kiss to her now clean cheek. And another where her neck is clean as soon as it is so. ]
Do you have customs such as this?
[ He wants nothing more than to please her, to make her happy. ]
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Not so formal as this, but... We will often braid each other's hair. It's not as much a part of our weddings. For those, we begin with a meal to be shared with our families and loved ones. Then, vows and rings are exchanged, the Valar invoked. The parents give their blessings, and the mother of the bride presents the groom with a token while the father of the groom does the same for the bride. Then the couple retires to their chambers and achieve the marriage. That is how a proper Elven wedding is conducted.
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Do your braids carry meanings as ours do? That is another custom we share. [ He smiled a bright but still blushing smile. ]And I should like to decorate you in courtship.
[ She had no beard so hair would do. ]
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Well, these do not. Just practical artistry there. But... yes, some do. There are house braids, usually worn for formal court occasions. And... there are braids for war. And others
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Then I shall braid one in the morning.
[ Now to get back to his very important task of cleaning and kissing. He moves to her collarbones next. He cleans both sides, but lingers at only one. Light kisses sure to tickle skin with his beard ... Which he may have been doing on purpose. ]
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[She laughs a little as he tickles her, and in playful retaliation, she takes one of her braids and brushes the end of it over his skin.]
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Not yet. Not until I've undone more of you.
[ So let him get to work! He's made it to her chest now, kisses still trailing where he's cleaned, down the curve of her breast. ]
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[Her lips part slightly when he touches her breast, her breath coming a little faster. It's been so long since anyone touched her like that...]
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Especially when hand and cloth linger at her other breast to grope. ]
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If he could stir her to more noises before taking off her skirt, all the better. ]
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