Third Person's POV
"You are the sweetest thing to ever walk this Earth, aren't you little Rowena?" Quwen smiled down at her niece as she took her little fists into her larger hands. The baby simply smiled and gurgled some soft, unintelligible words. Oh, Quwen had taken a liking to the precious baby.
Tanya observed her husband's sister as she cooed down to her now four month old child. The woman had taken to stopping by their small home most every day to check up on the baby. Of course, the young mother hardly minded her hanging about, due to the fact that she was a first time mother and wasn't entirely sure as to what to do.
Quwen had definitely proved to be a wonderful asset to their family and little Rowena had yet to catch any sort of sickness. Not even the common cold! She was a blessing in disguise!
Suddenly the dark haired baby let out a shrill squeak before stuffing her fat little hands into her mouth while beaming up at her aunt. Quwen smiled and laughed, all the while admiring the wonderful child. She had green eyes like her mother but the way she laughed and her nose crinkled, that was from Roanen's side of the family. It was a trait that both Quwen and Roanen had.
Ariyana lacked it.
"She's starting to get very talkative!" Tanya looked up from her work of cutting up some onions for the soup she was preparing. Her husband was hard at work, trying his best to keep up with the rush of orders he had been getting lately. Word had gotten out of what a grand blacksmith he was. Now, the business never seemed to cease. Left and right, people demanded their armor be polished. Their swords sharpened. Or, if the need called for it, new blades entirely.
"Well, she's certainly come to recognize your face! If we're not careful, the first word she utters will be 'Quwen'!"
"That wouldn't be completely horrible!" The blonde woman let the baby take hold of her pointer finger while waggling it around a bit to keep the child preoccupied. The child stuck it into her little mouth and began nibbling on it. "But enough with the baby! How are you feeling?"
"I feel almost completely normal except for some morning sickness..."
"Very good! But, the morning sickness should be gone by now...?"
"But it isn't!?"
"Then you know what that means! You most certainly don't need a healer like me to tell you!" Quwen smiled and looked back at the other woman. She was going to be an aunt, again! Quwen then looked back to the baby and the three of them grew silent, save for the sound of Tanya cutting and the boiling of the stew over the fire.
"You're wedding is tomorrow..." The Lady of the North nearly chocked on her own tongue as her head snapped up to look at the brown haired woman. Quwen swallowed thickly, the nerves in her stomach causing it to churn painfully.
"It is..." The woman had nearly forgotten the date entirely. For the past few months, Quwen had been simply milling about the city while helping Aragorn to settle into his new title as King. It most certainly was a task deemed tedious yet she still helped him when he asked for it.
The last months had also been... cushy. Life was simpler in the walls of Minas Tirith. There was certainly a variety of wonderful food to chose from. She didn't have to cook at all. The clothing was elegant but comfortable to wear. Her bed in the castle was the most wonderful she had ever felt which resulted in her waking up in the later hours of the morning, a content smile on her face. Not once had she received a bad night of sleeping.
Hardly any of the wedding preparations had been placed upon herself and the ladies of the castle were supposedly doing all the work. The flowers. The guest list. The food. Decorations. Lodging for the guests. Everything was taken care of so that none of the stress was placed upon the Lady's shoulders. And she appreciated it greatly.
Quwen had only shown up for one certain event. Her dress fitting.
"Aren't you excited?" Tanya stopped her cutting and looked up at the seemingly silent Lady. The blonde stood frozen stiff as her gaze fell back onto the warm bundle laying in the basket before her.
"I'm exuberant..." Her tone did not imply her feelings and Tanya sighed.
"Quwen, surely you must be excited to be marrying Aragorn! He is a King after all!"
"Aragorn being King has nothing to do with my excitement... If anything, it only adds to my worry..." Quwen's brow was furrowed as she picked the baby up out of the basket and brought her into her arms.
"You worry because of the responsibility it entails?"
"I worry because I fear that people will frown upon my humble background and it will affect Aragorn's reign..."
"I'm sure you have nothing to fear!"
"I can only hope so..." She bounced the babbling baby in her arms all the while, the warmth form the infant the only comfort offered at the moment despite Tanya's attempts to make her feel better.
With a quiet creek, Quwen peaked through the crack created by her door and the threshold. It was silent out in the darkened hallway, giving her the confidence to open the heavy door further but she cursed herself when it groaned on its hinges.
Her shoulders hunched at the noise and she held her breath, waiting for a response to the sound that seemed to echo throughout the entire palace. Once it was completely silent again, she let herself breath once more before stepping out into the hallway, pulling the saddlebags along with her.
Tugging on her black cloak to make sure that it was in place, she closed the door behind her, almost growling when it groaned again. Slinging the bags over her shoulder, she silently padded down the hall, thankful for all the years she had spent hunting animals in the Wilds.
Clutching Manadhon at her side, she rounded a corner and nearly screamed when she noticed a few servants walking down the hall, still preparing for tomorrow's festivities.
Ducking back behind the corner, she hid until they had passed. She had waited to move until it was late into the night in hopes of finding the staff to be asleep. Apparently, the staff never slept.
Cursing quietly under her breath, she sprinted down the hall as silently as she could, some of the supplies in the saddlebags jingling around. Being noiseless was usually her forte but it appeared that it wouldn't be on this night.
Coming to a stop behind another corner, she held her breath and listened for voices. It was in her luck when she found that none were to be heard and she continued on her way, letting her feet take her to the familiar courtyard.
Peeking around the corner and out into the moonlight, she breathed a sigh of relief that none of the tower guards were out and about. Luckily, Aragorn had given them the night off so that they would be well rested for the festivities that would proceed into the next late night and early morning.
Hauling her cloak's hood up around her ears, she stepped out into the moonlight and raced across the courtyard, the unfamiliar weight of the lion pendant upon her neck causing her mind to wander for a moment. There was also the bareness on her finger that worried her.
As was Dúnedain tradition, the couple to be wed would exchange keepsakes at the wedding ceremony as a sign of their union. However, Quwen had no other keepsake that meant anything special to her, other than her father's sword and there was nothing in Middle Earth that would make her give that away, so she reclaimed her necklace, assuring Aragorn that he would eventually get it back. In return, he took his ring from her very hand. At first, Quwen had been horrified by the action, thinking that he simply meant that the engagement was to be called off. However, with the reassurance of gentle kisses and soft words, she was happy to know that he still wished to marry her.
Upon reaching the stables, she crept inside. The only sound present was that of the breathing of the steeds in their stalls. Silently moving down the long walkway through the center of the horse stalls, she easily found Delgaranor's spotted fur, who had his head bowed slightly as he slept standing up.
"Del!" She hissed from outside his stall as she began to gather his saddle and bridle from the tack room. She heard a quiet whinny and watched as Del's head slowly rose above the side of the stall.
He looked at her with bleary eyes and she threw his saddle blanket across his back. He nickered and she rose her fingers to her lips to silence him. Putting his saddle on his back, she tightened the girth strap before carefully slapping his side in an attempt to get him to suck his stomach in so that the saddle was properly tightened.
Also offering the bit to him, Del took it into his mouth and she carefully poked his ears through the leather straps before the bridle settled across his long face. Tying her saddlebags into place, Quwen quickly stepped up into the stirrup and situated herself upon her steed.
Directing him out of the silent stables, a few horses woke and whinnied in their direction as they passed. She, of course, bit her lip and tried to quiet the steeds with promises of food if they remained silent until her return. Except, she didn't plan on returning.
They trotted out into the moonlight, Del's hooves clacking on the stone. Quwen quietly cursed him, wishing his hooves would be silent instead of as loud as a heard of cattle.
Just as she was about to exit the large stone courtyard, she only saw the large shadow pass over her before she heard the flapping of wings. And before she knew it, she was pulled out of the saddle by a large set of talons that wrapped entirely around her body.
"TORAN!" She shrieked, the dragon catching her off guard. Now, she did not care if anyone heard her. She would certainly want to scream at the dragon and deal with the questions later instead of being abducted by her old friend. "PUT ME DOWN!"
"I don't think I can do that!" The dragon rumbled with laughter as he continued to soar upward. Hearing a whinny, Quwen looked back down to see that Del still stood beneath her, looking very confused.
"Del! Don't move!" Quwen could only clutch onto the talons encasing her. She had only ever ridden upon his back and it was odd watching her horse get smaller the further they got away.
The brown dragon continued to soar upward until they reached the highest peak above Minas Tirith which had been designated as Toran's home and his watchtower. A few feet above the ground, he released her from his grip and she dropped to the rocky surface, a wave of pain radiating up her shins. She hissed quietly while rubbing the appendages and watched as Toran came to land in his large nest behind her.
"Why were you out so late?" She snarled at the large beast who simply blinked down at her. He had his large paws crossed over one another and he situated himself so that he was more comfortable. Surely he would only bring terror to any villager awake so late in the night. Quwen didn't want another recurrence like she had with Tanya.
"I could ask you the same thing, little flame!" He blew a cloud of smoke in her direction and she swatted it away in annoyance. "It seems as if someone is having second thoughts above marriage..." Quwen froze in place, not daring to breath. Looking up into the green eyes of the dragon, she sighed before walking towards him. Using his scales as a sort of ladder, she pulled herself onto his back. Sitting on his strong shoulder blades, she pulled her knees up to her chest.
"It seems that way because I'm afraid it's true, Toran..." Her voice was nothing but a whisper. She just sighed again, her hand reaching down to stroke one of the warm scales.
"You don't love Aragorn?"
"Of course I love Aragorn!" She defended herself. She wouldn't have said yes to his proposal if she had not loved him! Toran was a daft dragon.
"Why?"
"Well... I love him because he is everything I've ever wanted in a man! I love him because he saved me from the darkness. He brought back what little humanity remained in me!"
"He forced you into this life?"
"Of course not!" She lightly smacked his scales. "I became the way I am today because of him. I became this way because I love him and want to be with him forever! I love him because he loves... me..." The words tumbled from her lips before she realized she was saying.
Stopping, her hazel eyes were wide. How could she ever even think about leaving? If she loved this man so deeply then why was she so scared of being bonded to him for the rest of her life? Would it really be all that terrible to be married to the man who was once a rugged Ranger, the mirror image of what she used to be?
And now that she sat down and thought about it, she didn't know why she was scared. She had no reason to be. She would be bound to the only man she ever loved with her whole being.
"Toran?"
"Yes, my flame?"
"Has anyone told you that for a dragon, you are the wisest, smartest, most lovable-"
"I understand that you are affectionate of me-"
"Toran! I love you!"
"Yes, I am affectionate of you too, Quwen..."
"No, say it correctly! You love me back!"
"Fine, I love you, too!"
"I detect a hint of sarcasm in your tone but it is close enough! Take me back to the castle!" She demanded, slightly bouncing upon his back as if she were spurring a horse into a gallop. Toran was no horse.
"But I just got you up here-"
"Toran, I'm ready to marry, Aragorn!" The dragon was silent for a moment.
"I do not want you to get married..." He said, causing Quwen's heart to stop entirely. Toran was the one who didn't want her to get married?
"Why not? You yourself said Aragorn is a great man!"
"I do not wish for you to wed because you will never have enough time for me. Once you are bound you him, I will become a thing of the past. You will care for your young instead of caring for me! You will spend time with your family instead of spending your time with me!" She could feel the beast beneath her begin to quake with emotions and for the first time, she was startled. Toran had never been angry before. "You will simply forget about me up here and-"
"Toran?"
"What?!"
"I will always have time for you..." She reassured the large beast who simply grew quiet at her words, knowing that they were in fact true.
"Are you ready?"
"I believe so. Let him in..." Ariyana moved to the door in her own gown and pulled it open to reveal her finely dressed brother. She moved aside to let him in to see the woman standing before the full length mirror. His mouth about fell open in awe.
She was dressed from head to toe in beautiful white lace that clung perfectly to her slim figure.
A woman was tucking his sister's hair back into a shimmering, silver clip. The rest of the golden strands were left to tumble down her back. She turned to look at him then and he took notice that her cheeks were rosy with excitement.
The young man couldn't help but beam brightly at her before walking forward and embracing his older sister. "You look lovely..."
"Thank you, little brother..." She whispered back into his ear. Stepping back from her, he couldn't believe that this was the same woman he had met nearly five months ago. She looked breathtaking in her lovely white gown.
"Are you ready?" He asked her quietly. Turning and looking back into the mirror one last time, she sighed before slowly nodding her head. She was ready to spend the rest of her life with Aragorn.
Ariyana came forward with the traditional bouquet of flowers which consisted of a jumble of lavender and white roses. The lion pendant was hung around her neck, the necklace was hand polished by the Lady herself the very morning of the affair. The little sapphires in its eyes glimmered in the sunlight filtering into the room.
She was as ready as she ever would be.
Taking her brother's offered arm, they walked together from the room and out into the long hallway with Ariyana and Tanya in their wake. Little Rowena was also dressed in a velvet dress and she clutched to her mother upon exploring the new world around her.
No one spoke a word and the only noise was the sound of her dress swishing quietly along the ground and a few quiet coos from the four month old baby. When they got out into the hallway that would lead them outside, Quwen had to stop. Handing her bouquet off to her sister, she adjusted her dress one more time.
"Would you stop fussing?! You look absolutely wonderful!" Aryiana told her and the older sister narrowed her eyes at her sibling. She wanted this to be perfect for Aragorn. This is were her reign as Queen would start and she wanted to do it right.
Taking the strong smelling flowers back into her hand, Quwen re-linked arms with Roanen and the attendants pulled the doors open for them.
Her breath immediately left her as she took in the sight of all the people. Just as the courtyard was full at Aragorn's coronation, it was full today. Numerous flowers dotted the scene and garlands were draped over the double doors of the great hall where the alter would be. Again, it was similar in fashion to Aragorn's coronation. But the people. There was so many of them and when she appeared from the hallway, they all grew silent.
This made Quwen extremely nervous. Her heart began to beat rapidly in her chest and she shut her eyes tightly. Maybe she couldn't do this. But, she wanted to be with Aragorn. She could do this.
"My Lady?" Her eyes snapped open as she gazed down at the two hobbits before her. Pippin and Merry were both dressed in their armor and stood before her, waiting for her to begin her procession down the aisle created by the two halves of the people attending. "Are you ready?"
She swallowed and nodded her head.
Moving silently out of the doorway, the two little flower girls stepped out and walked before her, dropping fresh white petals for the bride to walk on. The entire crowd was silent as she walked between the two halves and she clutched tightly to her brother's arm, glad for his company at her side. Since he was the man of the house, he had to be the one who gave his sister away. He was more than honored.
As they walked down through the crowd of people a few of them stood out more than the others. Éomer smiled at seeing her dressed so beautifully on her wedding day. He was standing beside his sister who was standing beside Faramir, another loyal friend of Quwen's. Faramir also stood next to his brother and Boromir smiled upon seeing Quwen so cheerful.
It was common knowledge that Boromir and Ariyana had been certainly getting friendly over the past four months. Ever since the Steward had laid eyes upon her sister, he couldn't seem to pay attention to anyone else. It was really only a matter of time before they were engaged.
On the other side of the aisle, Legolas stood off to the side with the same beautiful elf woman from before at Aragorn's coronation. Her bright hazel eyes locked with the women's own sparkling blue ones for a moment. Glancing down, Quwen noticed that the woman had her arm linked through Legolas's. Also three bangles of different metals hung from her wrist and Quwen could have sworn that she had seen them before. Pulling her eyes back up to the woman's face, a triumphant smirk passed over her lips. Quwen did not like it.
Frodo and Sam came next. They were dressed in velvet waistcoats and smiled as the woman passed by them. The two hobbits were soon joined by their armor clad friends, both Pippin and Merry bursting with joy for their friends.
Aragorn stood nervously on the steps that led into the great hall behind him. He was dressed in his finest armor, his hair combed and his beard trimmed neatly. His crown sat upon his head. His fingers were nervously toying with the ring on his finger. However, it would no longer be his in a few minutes.
He then glanced up and the two flower girls came around the corner of people. He held his breath. He knew that she was only a few steps behind them.
And she was.
His lips subconsciously pulled back when she came into view. She was dressed completely in white, as a bride typically was. Her golden hair was mostly loose down her back but a few strands were pulled back so that everyone could see her lovely face. Just how he liked it.
Her cheeks were flushed from the embarrassment of being the center of attention and he smiled at that thought. She would only have to get used to it.
And as she came around the corner, her hazel eyes found his own blue pair. A breathtaking smile pulled at her lips at the sight of him waiting for her at the alter. It all seemed like it was in slow motion as Quwen and her brother came to a stop beside him.
Looking to the dark haired man, Roanen took Aragorn's and Quwen's hands. Sharing a look with his sister, he linked the bride's and groom's hands together before leaving her beside her soon-to-be husband.
Beaming at Aragorn, Quwen took hold of his hand before turning to face Gandalf. He simply smiled down at the two Rangers. He always knew that they would be together. And it was all thanks to one person.
"In all of Middle Earth and on into the other worlds, a person's soul will reach out to another. Just as with the hearts of the dragons, they are only born with half of a soul and must find the missing piece in another living being. And just as a dragon finds its other half, Quwen and Aragorn found that their souls could only be complete if they were together..." The wizard smiled down at them. "And we have gathered here today to witness their union!" Quwen couldn't help but grip the bouquet tightly in her sweating palms. Gandalf nodded to the King who turned to the woman beside him.
"Do you, Aragorn son of Arathorn, take this Lady of the North to be your wedded wife?" The dark haired man beamed at her.
"I do."
"And do you, Quwen daughter of Roaner, take this King of Gondor to be your husband?"
"I most certainly do." She smiled back.
"Do you, Aragorn, swear to protect, to love, and to care for this woman whom you shall wed, unto the ending of all days?"
"I swear."
"Do you, Quwen, also swear to protect, to love, and to care for this man whom you shall wed, unto the ending of all days?"
"I swear."
"Then I do believe it is time to exchange the keepsakes!" Aragorn and Quwen turned to each other. Aragorn watched as the beautiful woman before him turned and undid the clasp of her necklace. Slowly reaching behind the King's own head, she fastened it in place, a wide smile on her cheeks. Aragorn then slowly began to slip the emerald ring from his finger. Reaching down, he took her hand into his own and placed the warm steel in place. Where it truly belonged.
"And these keepsakes are a symbol of your matrimony and your union together. May the Valar bless you. I am now more than pleased to degree you man and wife!" The crowd was silent once again but Quwen could hear people holding their breaths. "You may kiss the bride..." Without another thought, Aragorn bent his head down and captured her lips with his own. For it was their first kiss as a properly married couple. The crowd cheered with delight and the applause was so loud, Quwen surely thought she would go deaf.
"And naturally..." The crowd instantly quieted again, not understanding what still was to be done. It had been years since a true King and Queen had ruled Gondor. The duo slowly pulled away from each other, their eyes hooded by the wonderment and passion that had passed between them. "A King is nearly lost without his Queen!" The white wizard motioned behind him and carrying a velvet pillow, as he had with Aragorn's crown, Gimli emerged from the shadows, his lips pulled back in the biggest grin she had ever bared witness to.
Aragorn stepped up to stand beside Gandalf, all the while looking down at his beautiful wife. Taking the smaller circlet off the pillow, Gandalf raised the beautiful work of art into the sky. It was a gift from the dwarves. Only they were matched in the craftsmanship and Gandalf had requested that the dwarves in the Blue Mountains were the ones make both the King's and Queen's crowns.
It was of similar fashion to Aragorn's, save for the overall size and proportions. It was simply a small band of pure silver with a few golden vines engraved into the sides.
Quwen knelt before the white wizard her head bowed. Agonizingly slow, Gandalf lowered the silver band down into her rippling golden hair. It rested perfectly on her brow and once he deemed it straight, he removed his hands. The unfamiliar weight of the crown was foreign to the Lady of the North and she wasn't sure if she entirely liked the heaviness of it.
But she would come to like it. For Aragorn.
"Now come the days of the King and Queen!" The crowd clapped again. "And may they most certainly be blessed..." Gandalf whispered down to her, causing a large smile to pull back her lips.
A hand found her own and she looked up into the eyes of her husband. Carefully helping the beautiful woman from the ground, she straightened up and prepared herself for the oath she must take, just as Aragorn had. Turning to face the crowd of people, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Et Eärello..." She looked over at her husband who simply squeezed her hand, giving her the courage to continue on. It seemed as if the entire world of Middle Earth had gone quiet to listen to her beautiful voice. "Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!"
Her voice slowly faded out, the last few notes seeming to cling to the pristine walls of the palace. The Gondorian guard silently moved so that they lined the aisle. Drawing out their swords, the newly wedded couple walked beneath the sparkling silver blades as a sort of honor for their King and Queen. When they stepped from the tent of blades, it seemed as though it was suddenly raining flower petals. Looking up in amazement, a few of the soft petals came to land down in both of their hair. Quwen smiled in delight.
The tree of the King was in full bloom as this time and the new couple stood before the blossoming tree. Aragorn then turned to face his wife, taking her lovely face into his soft hands. He let his head bow down slightly, letting the steel covering their brows touch. Their eyes contrasted beautifully against one another.
"I love you." He whispered, his lips brushing against her's. She smiled as his beard lightly brushed against her own soft cheeks. Her own hand came up to rub along the stubble before she quietly replied back.
"I love you, more."
And they're married! Woo hoo!
But you know what that means! There's only one chapter left in this story. Now, it may take awhile to right. I do have to keep you guys in suspense after all! ;)
And I'm sure you guys are confused about Legolas's lady friend thing. Hopefully, you will come to understand later.
I would just like to tell you guys how much I enjoyed writing this story! My reviewers: you're awesome!
I really hoped you liked this chapter. I just suddenly had the inspiration and began writing! I seriously got this done in like three days! I think that's a new record! I'm not sure if I really got the whole wedding right... I wasn't sure what to do, considering that I've never been married before!
Anyway.
Love,
Blue