Beren's a daring woman. 

Clearly.

Though this might be a bit too far. Just for now.

Fair. 

They'll go as slow as Luthien wants. 

Quick kiss.

Gentle kiss. 

Smile.

And then to wash up?

And then to wash up. 

Separately.

And afterwards they can reunite.

Being properly clean (admittedly for the first time in years) feels extremely nice. Beren should possibly leave before she gets spoiled by how soft their soap is.

Pack a few cakes in with their things.

See, but then they'll run out eventually, and she'll have been already even more spoiled. 

Also even more clean.

Hm, Luthien does deserve a well groomed fiancee...

And they might find more soap later! Who knows?

Alright. Beren will accept the soap. 

Luthien thinks everyone will work out happier that way.

Luthien especially. 

As the most important, naturally.

Whose opinions matter more than anyone's.

Hee.

Kiss!

Finrod hosts them well over the next few days, making sure they're fully rested. They're mostly able to avoid Nargothrond's politics - he's reluctant to embroil them in it - but it sounds like the politics are being very, very obnoxious, and he cautions them not to tell anyone else what Beren's after, since two of Feanor's sons are currently his guests.

Before they leave, Finrod solemnly informs them he'll be accompanying them - he can't in good conscious let them face Morgoth alone, and he's grown to like them both. Twelve of his guards have agreed to follow him, and he's confident that his city will do well in his nephew Orodreth's hands.

...If he's quite sure.

He is.

Alright.

(Beren keeps her face neutral. It's not a struggle. But. She doesn't like this. This is inevitable, probably, nudging the timeline to prevent Finrod from coming along will cost her flexibility later, risk causing the timeline to collapse and reset instead of holding under just enough tension to break...)

She's ready to leave as soon as Finrod and his men are.