Kiss!

Happy kiss! "My lovely wonderful Ellin."

Giggle. "All yours."

She rests her head on Luthien's shoulder, sighing happily.

This is nice.

"Thank you for telling me."

Snuggle.

"You're welcome."

"I didn't want to never tell you - I don't want to lie to you - but. I didn't know if - there was a good time before now."

"...Maybe not," she agrees. "I think I did need to know who you are, first, before who you were."

"Yeah."

"Just..."

"I know it's big. And that I have a reputation for deceit."

Nuzzle. "I trust you."

"But my father is going to be unbearable."

Nuzzle.

"We can maybe not tell him?"

"Maybe. Are you still fetching a Silmaril for him?"

"We did want to do our courtship properly. And it should be relatively easy with my knowledge of Angband - my simulacrum's an obstacle, but an easily outsmarted one. Sauron might be an issue, depending on his mood and opinion on getting stuck with the simulacrum. But, still, I know him, and he's more likely to try to talk me into coming back."

"...I'd go with you, if you wanted. To go back."

"I don't."

"I - "

"Thank you. I love you."

"Anything for you."

Kiss!

"It's the same for me. Anything you want, I'll do, if it's at all within my power - and if it's not, I'll cheat until it is."

"I love you."

"Most wonderful Ellin." Kiss. "I love you too."

Kiss.

They should just lie here and snuggle until their bodies make them get up, clearly.

That's fine by Luthien.

Wonderful.

They need to start getting serious about planning their approach to Angband after that, of course. Mygwainor's knowledge should be useful, but there are actually only so many approaches... The Vale of Sirion is still the most effective, and while it's guarded by Sauron she may be able to talk him down or convince him this is actually a plot of hers. Still, there's a strong risk he'll try to kill Finrod at least...

He's willing to take that risk. This is important.

(There's a lot of politics about his decision to accompany Luthien and Beren, and even more about his refusal to bring a single guard. He handles them himself with good cheer, setting up his nephew as his regent, getting the two Feanorians more firmly settled into positions that'll keep them busy - and that are legitimately important and well-suited to their talents. He charms Celegorm, who's a good friend of his anyways - Curufin's more reluctant - with a promise to bring the Silmaril from Doriath to the Feanorians once Beren's dangled it in Thingol's face long enough to get married.)

(...Somehow his friendship with Celegorm results in a demand that he at least bring Huan along, if he won't bring a single elven or mortal guard, which, okay, Huan seems chill with Beren...)

(...This timeline is doing some very weird things.)

Angband's layout is such, good approaches are like this, the patrols won't have been changed unless they really annoy Sauron, their windows of opportunity are here and here... Angband is technically not capable of holding up under its own weight absent magic, which the simulacrum doesn't have. The simulacrum won't be able to track them through the fortress or turn it against them, but, also, Mygwainor is a mortal with some limited control but not much. The fortress is avoiding collapsing mostly through momentum and lingering intent/ claim, right now - she doesn't think she'd be able to collapse it as they're fleeing, actually, though they'll want to make a point of rescuing prisoners on their way out (here, here, and here) in case she can.

Tricky, if there's only three (or four) of them. There'll be guards to consider as well.