"Yep."

"Fortunately I can't think of any obvious way for that to happen."

"If at the one thousand Year mark everyone gets sick of their spouses we wouldn't have noticed yet, but I try not to worry about things like that."

"I think that if it happened systematically like that there probably wouldn't be an easy solution like waiting longer and being surer."

"That too."

"The Year engagement period certainly seems designed to solve the problem that young marriages exemplify, but I don't know, it's never seemed like an especially good solution to me."

"No?"

"I'm not saying it's not better than nothing, but being away from someone you love for a Year isn't fun."

"It isn't. And makes the transition into a life together a bit awkward."

"Yeah. I think a longer waiting period without the 'can't see each other' part would probably do at least as well, without at least some of the problems."

"I think the worry is that if you're seeing each other it's very tempting to cut the waiting."

"Really? Personally, I think I'd find it more tempting to just give up if giving up meant the difference between being married and being completely absent from their life instead of the difference between being married and getting to see them regularly in a nonmarried fashion."

"And yet I think it's pretty rare to cut the engagement period short."

"I guess it's probably the kind of thing that's different when you're experiencing it than when you're imagining it."

"Yes, probably. My grandfather wants me to get married before he retires, so I'll - have more perspective on things."

"Makes a certain amount of sense. Sort of introduces a problematic set of incentives, though. Good thing you're you and not someone I'd trust less to not be influenced by them."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Incentives aside, I'm sure you'll be a great King one day."

"And I am not in a particular hurry for it to be soon."

"All the Ages of Arda," she nods.

"Exactly. Though someday I, too, will presumably be tired of the job and pass it on."

"Presumably."

"Perhaps someone will be born who is even more qualified."

"Gosh, I don't think I have the creativity to model that in advance."

"If I did then I could just copy him. Or her."