"This is a nice place."

"It is. He's done really well."

Happy smile.

Kiss. "And you get to read books!"

"A whole library's worth."

"We'll have to come back here after we're married, though we can certainly afford to spend some time here. Rest, and prepare, and actually think our approach through."

"It'll be a little more complicated than escaping Menegroth."

"And we have time."

Nod. "I doubt the siege will break any time soon, after lasting so long."

"It's very unlikely. And honestly most changes out there will make our job easier or won't affect us - the Enemy is already entrenched in the north - and they'd need more time to start bringing down Nargothrond. Either to build up for a rush like they did before the Battle of Sudden Flame, or to start whittling away at the realm's edges."

"Before that though..." Stretch. "I do want a proper bath."

"Warm water does sound nice after all those streams."

"And soap."

"No idea what that is," she says, voice teasing.

"Oh dear, Men are even more backwards than I had thought."

She giggles.

Hum.

"I think a demonstration might be just a little too far, unfortunately."

"I'm sure I can figure it out on my own somehow."

"You are reasonably clever."

"Practically a genius."

Kiss.

Kiss!

Hee.

Then: bathtime.

Beren leaves her to it and settles in to osanwe at Finrod.

(Talking out loud could be overheard. Could leave uncertainty between them. This is the most secure means of communication in Creation.)

He gets the story of what happened out of her, at least as far as she's telling anyone.

'...You know, I'm actually - saddest, that I didn't bring you back. Even though that's a ridiculous thing to feel, and I'm glad someone did.'