Chapter XVIII: Our Beginning
18 July, 3019
Éowyn must have been at the banquet; I must have seen her. But I cannot remember it. The feasts melted into one another as the City rejoiced at our union and Aragorn's coronation, and the eighteenth of these—when the Eorlingas returned to Gondor—has no distinction from the others.
All I can remember of that blissful time is that Aragorn was there. No other faces stand out in my memory; nothing happened of note that did not involve my loved one. All I remember was that we were together.
No, I do not remember seeing her. But I remember remembering having seen her. Alone with Aragorn in the King's chambers, as I eased the forest green and gold dress off my shoulders, let down my hair from its braided knot, and folded the headpiece for the next day, I was thinking of the golden-haired fiancee of Lord Faramir. Faramir and I had had occasions—few and far between—to talk, and he seemed outrageously enamoured of his northern betrothed. I remember wondering if the feelings were returned.
That night I lay awake, staring at the ceiling while my husband snored beside me in bed. The next morning, as Lambë laced up the back of my gown, Aragorn asked, "Arwen, meleth-nin, was something bothering you last night?"
I shook my head slowly, still deep in thought—and a little tired from my sleepless night. "Too much chocolate last night," I replied. "I couldn't get to sleep."
My tone was curt, but Aragorn chose to ignore it. He nodded, finished tying the laces on the neck of his tunic, and left.
I began to prepare for another journey—back to Rohan for the funeral of the previous King of Rohan. He had died in our battlefield, fighting for our cause, and, in a way, for Aragorn and I. I owed him honour and respect. I packed dark-shaded gowns and cloaks, along with thin clothing for the nights. I knew by experience that they could be very warm.
We left the next day. Riding across the barren fields of Rohan with my husband at my side was completely different from riding across the barren fields of Rohan with a large company. Together we talked of our future together; sang along to songs that the grieving citizens of Rohan composed. And the scenery flew by, as we travelled under the warm sun together.