He will doubtless pay for that later, when the formalities are done, but he only smirks back at her, for now.

They are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, all those dearest and best loved, and he takes her hands in his and smiles to see the matching rings, old and carefully cared for, carried all this way by their daughter.

"Here do I, Caranthir, swear to leave all others to cleave to thee, Haleth, to love and to honor thee in all things, to hold you in your tears, and to rejoice with you in your joys."