Aragorn's coronation was just as beautiful as anyone could have expected. Faramir crowned him, and Aragorn spoke about making peace in Middle Earth and repairing the damage done by the servants of Mordor. He sang the Song of Isildur. The end of the War of the Ring had come, and an era of peace was about to begin.

Soriel and Éomer stood side by side throughout the ceremony. When Aragorn walked among the people, he nodded to them as they bowed. Legolas approached the new king, and placed a hand on his shoulder. On Legolas's other arm was Leila looking as if she were about to burst with joy. All around them knew that she would soon be princess of Mirkwood, even if it was not official.

Legolas stepped aside and allowed Aragorn to see something that surprised him. It was Arwen. There was a moment of tension where the two simply looked at one another. Then Aragorn kissed her, lifted her off her feet, and spun her around as she laughed. Everyone smiled at the sweet moment between the king and future queen.

With Arwen came her father, Elrond, his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and Galadriel and Celeborn. Behind them followed the Elves of Lothlórien and Rivendell who were sailing to the Undying Lands as soon as possible.

Aragorn went through the crowd until he reached Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. After a beat, they bowed to him.

"My friends," Aragorn said. "You bow to no one."

With that the King of Gondor and Lord of Men, with his bride to be Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her people, bowed to four simple Hobbits. All the people of Gondor, of Rohan, and the Elves followed the king's example. The Hobbits looked incredibly uncomfortable to receive this kind of respect, but the members of the Fellowship felt they earned it. Those Hobbits had done more than was ever right to ask of them.

After all duties in Minas Tirith were completed, the Fellowship prepared to depart once again. They said goodbye to Aragorn and Arwen, promising to return for the wedding. Soriel, Éomer, Faramir, Éowyn, Legolas, Leila, Gimli, Gandalf, and the Hobbits set off to Edoras. There were two engagements to announce in Rohan. The Hobbits were heading back to the Shire. Leila was to accompany Legolas and Gimli on their explorations of Helm's Deep and Fangorn.

They came first to Helm Hammerhand's keep and stopped for the trio. Leila and Soriel dismounted to say goodbye and embraced.

"Come see me in Meduseld before you go to Fangorn," Soriel said. "Éomer and I will give you a grand stay."

"Of course," Leila said. "We will stay for the upcoming weddings."

They smiled at each other before Soriel gave Legolas and Gimli hugs, and then she wished them all well. The Hobbits said goodbye too, and then they were off again.

They arrived in Edoras within a few days, and everyone was terribly sorry to hear of King Théoden's death, but welcomed Éomer as their king. He had spoken true that the people remembered Soriel's actions during Helm's Deep, and were glad to have her as queen. They were also thrilled at the news of Faramir and Éowyn's engagement. They celebrated that night in Meduseld and drank to the memory of Théoden.

The Hobbits and Gandalf were preparing to leave, but before they did, Éowyn presented Merry with a horn of Rohan for serving the king and the White Lady herself during battle. Pippin received from Faramir the mail of the Tower Guard. These two Hobbits were heroes among Men. Frodo and Sam congratulated their friends, and spoke a little with Faramir. Then Gandalf urged them to their ponies and to hurry back to the Shire.

Soriel and Éomer stood on the edge of the Golden Hall and watched their friends leave, and a distinct feeling of peace came over them.

"It is truly the end," she said, half to herself.

"How do you mean?" he replied.

"It has all ended," she said. "The war, the Fellowship, and even the time of the Elves. It is over." In saying so, melancholy crept up on her.

"Those things are finished, yes," he said. "But there is much that is about to begin. The Hobbits will have new lives in their home. The cities and villages of Men will rise again. All the marriages coming up, including ours. True, Middle Earth will not be as we knew it, but we are starting a new world. That is the beginning of a new beginning."

She nodded. "Yes. Middle Earth must be renewed, down to us as individuals. With this comes the end of the things we began long ago."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before leading her inside the hall of his fathers to begin the renewing of the world along with the renewing of themselves.