After dinner, which had been a wild fowl stew for which Namir had caught the birds for, the skin-changer leaned back and nestled his head into Legolas' lap. Gimli was smoking his pipe calmly as the stars twinkled above. The fires of the army camped around them pinpricks of gold and orange light under the deep blue night sky. Aragorn had retired an hour earlier into their shared tent for the night but the rest of them were content to rest under the stars. Merry had joined them for dinner, the hobbit much quieter now that they were away from Rohan. He left to stay with Eowyn. The hobbit and the lady of Rohan having ridden there together and seemingly formed a friendship. 

Namir slumbered as the night breeze brushed over him. Legolas' hand brushing through his hair as the elf kept watch over the mountains and the sky. Gimli's smoking soon dissolved into heavy grumbling snores as the dwarf half slumped over in front of the fire. Distant muffled chatter was audible from the surrounding tents and the men that filled them. It was calming background noise as Namir slept, not too loud but mixing with the gentle wind. He basked and drowned himself in it. The fresh air a ward against nightmares that lingered like a threat on the edges of his dreams. He loved being free but he knew that it will take years for the nightmares to fade. Decades, centuries maybe. Trauma had a habit of lingering when unwanted. 

So when he woke from the slow rising tension that had been creeping over his dream, a darkness and the feeling of walls closing in, with a faster heartbeat and a slight gasp. It was to the scents of the breeze and the night sky above. Fingers brushing over his braided hair with gentle soothing familiarity. "What is haunting you Radag?" Legolas murmured as Namir rolled over to stare at the fire. The warm embers glowing. 

"Nothing new", Namir mumbled back. He heard the elf sigh softly and let the purr rise in his chest until it was audible. The stress of the dream fading. "Are you not going to sleep?" He asked. 

"I slept like a man recently", Legolas offered. "Elves do not need such regular sleep patterns even though it is nice. No. I have a feeling that we won't be here long". 

"We only just arrived. Theoden's riders are searching for reinforcements. They are not expected to arrive back for another two days". 

"Not long", Legolas agreed. Namir chuckled and rolled back over onto his back to see the stars. The elf was looking up as well, silver hair bright under the soft gibbous moon. 

"I spoke with Gandalf before he left", Namir voiced after a minute of calm silence. Gimli still snoring next to them. "He thinks that the mating mark would take". 

Legolas looked down with curiosity in his eyes. "We would be compatible?" 

"Because I am half elf we have higher chances of it taking. Also, he thinks that if you cut me back, then it would form the other half of the bond. If you still want that". 

"Radag", the blonde beamed. "I still want it. Anything else to keep you close. Do you still desire to mark me?" His grin turned teasing. 

"Don't tempt me", Namir grumbled. "Gimli sleeping". 

"I was sleeping", the dwarf grunted, eyes still closed and making Namir jump. The cat boy hissed at him as the dwarf sat up. Legolas laughed as Gimli grumbled, joints cracking. "Don't you hiss at me", he pointed a finger at the skin-changer as Namir sat up. "You two stop being disgusting while I go to bed. I'm sure you can last a few minutes". 

"Terribly long", Legolas chucked, leaning languidly back on one arm. 

"You can deal with it ya pointy eared bastard. I may gag if I see any more of your romance". Gimli stood and rounded the fire towards the tent. 

"Is there a problem with our displays of affection?" Namir frowned as the dwarf disappeared behind the tent flap. He didn't understand much. Skin-changers were always free with affection, platonic, familial, or romantic. They were a naturally touchy race, sharing scents of family members and loved ones. He didn't think that he and Legolas were being too much. 

The elf laughed, letting out little snorts and giggles as Namir watched. He always loved it when his lover laughed like that. "Remember our conversations over courting rituals?" Legolas asked once his laughter had died down. Namir nodded. "Different races have different courting rituals. In elf culture, showing such affection and touches would be seen as scandalous. Dwarves are a bit more free with their affections but nothing more than kissing in public. Men are the most free in comparison". 

"Do you not like it?" Namir tilted his head. Cat eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. 

"I would have told you if I don't like it", Legolas grinned as he reached over to cup his cheek. Namir nuzzled his face into the elf's wrist, scenting it fondly. "Our behaviour is just strange to others. They are unused to it. I knew what I was agreeing to when I agreed to court you". 

"Do we need to stop?" 

"No. I have you back. They can avert their eyes". The words made Namir purr, grinning. 

"I'll claw their eyes out", he promised as he wriggled closer on the ground, draping himself over the elf as he often did. Legolas chuckled.

"They may not take kindly to that". 

Namir laughed and rubbed his nose into the skin of his elf's neck. Arms looping around the elf's shoulders as he pulled him closer. "I missed you". He hummed. "I won't let you go either". 

"We have lost time to make up". 

Namir made an agreeing rumbling noise in his throat as he felt the elf's arms link around his waist. "Legolas? Can I mark you?" He lifted his head to stare into those blue eyes. 

"Where?" The word was calm and certain as the blonde's fingers messed with the end of Namir's trailing braids. The skin-changer let his fingers trail down the pale skin of the elf's neck and under the collar of his shirt and tunic to rest on the beginnings of his shoulder. In their moonlight their skin was the same shades. Namir's once golden tinged from life under the sun skin paler from captivity. Legolas was just naturally pale. 

"Here? I won't bite too hard, just enough to break the skin". 

"Where shall I mark you in return?" Their voices had dropped yet there was no one close by to overhear. The tents around them and the shadows of the night shading them from any eyes. Most of the army had retired to their tents, only the guards still out. 

Namir tugged the open neck of his shirt to expose the skin under his collarbones. The scars from the collar stopped just above, ugly in the lack of light. "Here? You should mark me first. Enough that it bleeds". 

Legolas pulled a small pen knife from his pocket and flicked out the blade. "Are you sure?" 

"Yes". Namir grinned as the blade pressed into his skin. It stung and blood welled up, dripping into the shirt and staining the off white material. One line, then two, a third. "What are you drawing?" He asked. 

"I don't want it to be like the others", Legolas murmured as he pulled the blade away and dabbed at the blood with a handkerchief. It was already stopping bleeding, not deep enough for the blood to be much. Namir giggled at the sight of a small triangle in his skin. It was like an arrowhead and he loved it. It stood out against his other scars, cuts and burns. He would wear it with a pride of a wedding band. 

"Now me". Legolas loosened the ties of his tunic and pulled the collar out of the way to reveal more of his neck. Namir leaned forwards instinctively, practically sitting in the elf's lap as his hands cupped his shoulders. 

"We should have gotten married first", he offered and was rewarded by a chuff of laughter from the blonde. 

"My father may tolerate you more but I am not sure if he would agree to a wedding. I prefer this. It is more permanent than a wedding ring or braids. I can always braid your hair again". 

"You will have to teach me. I am terrible with braids", Namir smiled. "Ready?" He mumbled as he leaned closer, inhaling deeply as he pressed his lips to the bare skin in a kiss. Legolas cupped tieback of his head. 

"Yes". 

Namir opened his mouth and bit down with sharp teeth, tasting blood. Legolas inhaled at the sharp sting but Namir was already pulling away as he felt something snap into connection. The magic between them tying the marks together and flowing gently. He closed his eyes and could feel the presence of Legolas like a warm beam of sunlight. When he opened his eyes, the bite mark had stopped bleeding and was already healing over. The magic scarring the marks to their skin. "Oh", Legolas breathed as he opened his eyes. "It's better than I thought. I can feel you. Its warm". He closed his eyes again, a soft smile on his face. Namir purred and nuzzled his head into the elf's neck, lips kissing the healing mark. 

"Mine. Mine. Mine. My mate". He sat up and began covering the blonde's face with pecks. Joy a bubbling and soothing cauldron in his chest. "I can't loose you now". 

"No. No loosing each other anymore", Legolas agreed before leaning up to kiss him deeply. It was a promise. 

unedited 

finally. They're technically married now. Congrats.