Chapter 36

The Crowning of Elessar

"Now come the days of the King," Gandalf said, placing the bright Crown of Gondor atop Aragorn's head. "May they be blessed."

Aragorn smiled up to Gandalf as he slowly rose, and turned to his people who cheered and clapped for their new King. "This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace."

Again, his people cheered as Aragorn walked down the aisle and met the gazes of his friends. He passed along Lady Éowyn and Faramir of Gondor, and they bowed to him. On the other side, Éomer of Rohan stepped forward and bowed in respect. Trumpets sounded at the arrival of the Elves, led by Legolas, who in his silver white robe, smiled at Aragorn and tapped his shoulder.

"Hannon le," Aragorn said to his friend.

Legolas smiled and gestured silently behind him. Aragorn turned to scan the elves behind Legolas; all had their attention on the newly-crowned King. As Aragorn approached the crowd, Elladan and Elrohir stepped forward, gave their foster brother their bows of respect and went to stand beside Legolas. Lindir and Erestor greeted Aragorn as he came and bowed. Next was Lord Glorfindel, armed in his usual silver-plated armor and blue cloak, smiled at Aragorn and shook their hands. Behind Glorfindel, a banner which bore the White Tree of Gondor was held, and as the elves parted ways, Elrond was there and Arwen revealed herself to be the carrier of the banner.

Her dark eyes shone at the sight of him, and now she was mortal. With a little urge from Elrond, Arwen stepped forward and Aragorn kissed her passionately.

The crowd cheered as they kissed, and Elrond had tears in his eyes, completely overwhelmed with sadness and joy. His sons stood beside him for comfort, and together the three of them clapped. As Aragorn and Arwen savored their moment, Elrond stepped towards Legolas and gave him a soft tap on the shoulder.

"I am glad to see you well," Elrond said.

Legolas smiled. "It is good to be in peace once more."

"I have someone for you."

Like what Legolas did, Elrond gestured behind him and it was Legolas' turn to look behind the lord. Once again, Elladan and Elrohir went forward, their faces looked alike and stern, as Arestel marched forward, clad in a lavender dress. Her bright smile was directed towards him, and Legolas found no words to express his joy. He instantly embraced her, tightly and longingly, as he buried his nose to inhale the sweet fragrance from her silver hair. He heard Arestel laugh and she leaned her head against his chest, embracing him as well.

"Well met," Legolas whispered in her ear.

She laughed. "All in good timing."

They broke apart and watched together as Aragorn and Arwen walked down further, smiling at everyone present in the event. As they reached the end of the avenue, the four hobbits, dressed in their old clothes and mended, stood nervously and bowed their heads. Aragorn smiled and raised his hand.

"My friends… you bow to no one."

Aragorn dropped into one knee, followed by Arwen, and soon, by everyone present at the crowded citadel. Hundreds of people bowed to the courage of the hobbits of the Shire. Tears sprang from Frodo's eyes as he clutched Sam's shoulder, clearly overwhelmed by the respect. The hobbits looked up as a gigantic shadow loomed above them, and Gareth was there, flying above the citadel and perched himself on the mountain behind Minas Tirith, and bowed before the hobbits as well.

And thus it was a Fourth Age of Middle-earth began, and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended.

The night that followed Aragorn's coronation, a feast was held in the halls of Minas Tirith. The wide dining halls were occupied by several of the new King's friends and acquaintances. Some people of Rohan came and enjoyed themselves to endless drinking and talking. The food was abundant, and Merry and Pippin took advantage of it. Sam was walking idly with Gandalf; Frodo was nowhere to be found much to Sam's disappointment. Most of the guests were unfamiliar to him, save by the members of the House of Elrond.

"Aha!" Gimli shouted on top of his lungs. A cup filled with wine was in his hands, and he tapped it vigorously on the marbled table. "Let us resume that drinking game, Legolas! This time I will not lose!"

There was shouting and cheering among the crowds who encircled them. Éomer was among the crowd, and he was eager to see a rematch between these two. Legolas laughed it off and glanced at Arestel who sat beside him at the table, busying herself in the foods she never tasted before. Merry and Pippin eventually joined her and together they scoured the whole dining table.

"Are you sure about this, my friend?" Legolas asked politely. "The drinking game we've had before in Meduseld was a product of Éomer's challenge."

"I am very much sure about this, Legolas!" Gimli insisted and pounded the table in enthusiasm. The crowd cheered for him as Éomer laughed.

"Just give it a try." The Rohirrim urged Legolas to do so. "The wine of Gondor is different from that of Rohan's."

Legolas glanced again at Arestel, then shook his head. "It is an important night. I would not want to spoil myself with too much liquor."

"Do you hear that, lads?" Gimli simpered. "The Elf Princeling of Mirkwood is afraid to lose!"

The crowd laughed and whistled.

Legolas sighed and motioned for Éomer to give him one cup. Grinning, the man took another silver cup and filled it with Gondorian wine. The crowd bustled more; most of them were comprised of men whom Legolas did not even meet before. He inhaled the scent of the liquor in his hand and spared Gimli a look. The eager dwarf laughed and gulped the wine in an instant. Hesitantly, Legolas did the same and slowly felt the stinging sensation of the liquor.

Back in the citadel, Frodo walked silently and shivered when the chilly winds blew. The White Mountains were already capped with snow, making the climate in Gondor colder than it should be. Pulling his sleeves to himself, Frodo went to the courtyard and was surprised to see Gareth there, lying on his stomach.

The dragon looked up and spoke no words to him. Only Frodo gave him a smile and sat himself near the dragon.

"There is a feast inside," Gareth began, coiling a tail near to Frodo to provide warmth. "Why are you here instead?"

Frodo smiled weakly and looked at the stars. "I'd like to have a quiet moment for myself. I have been thought so much and I miss home."

Gareth laid his head back on the white floor and sighed. "Home will be upon you before you know it."

Nine simple words. Nine Fellowship members. Frodo smiled at the memory as if it happened long ago. He leaned his back on Gareth's shoulder and continued looking at the stars. Those nine simple words encouraged and eased him to the fullest.

"Three… Two…" Arestel counted down as she, Merry, and Pippin raised their hands above the food laid in front of them. Earlier they agreed into a food competition, the one who could finish their meals the fastest would be the winner. And so, standing in front of the white marbled table, the three of them went into positions.

"One!"

They dug into the table and grabbed onto the foods. There were cakes, fruits, cheese, and many types of bread. The same Gondorian wine was provided by a good-natured Rohirrim who watched them compete. Merry and Pippin shoved the breads into their mouths, chewing quickly, and then grabbed the next food their hands could get. Arestel settled herself with salted pork, and as she ate, grease covered her mouth, cheeks, and fingers. The competition was still underway and soon the table was cleared.

Then, Frodo returned within the halls and his eyes scanned the place. Sam smiled upon seeing him and they walked together until they reached the table of their friends.

Arestel looked up from her salted pork, with her mouth still full, and exclaimed, "Fwodoh!" The pieces meat she was chewing were thrown on Merry and Pippin's faces in a disgusting mess. She ran towards Frodo and knelt to meet his eye level. "Where were you? Come and have fun! Merry and Pippin are—"

But she was cut off when the apple pie was thrown into her face by the two young hobbits. Merry and Pippin laughed heartily and ran away when the elf ran after them, her face covered in a while icing and her lavender dress was stained with grease and sauces.

"Come back!" Arestel said as she ran after them, clutching her skirt. They ran around in circles, earning laughs from the guests. Elrond gawked at his youngest daughter's behavior and appearance, rubbed his temple and sighed. Arwen laughed beside him; Elrond's face clearly said: "Oh, Valar…"

As they ran about, the drinking game of Gimli and Legolas continued. More than twenty cups were filled and drank, and Gimli was nowhere to feel nauseous. He gulped down his next cup, belching loudly and then cheered for himself. At the other side of the table, Legolas kept his liquor tolerance in check as he quietly drank from his cup. His silver robe was as clean as always, while Gimli's usual gear was drenched in his spilled wine. Éomer laughed as he, too, drank, and the crowd which encircled them cheered more.

"Come! Come! Let them come!" Gimli challenged again, pounding his cup on the table. "I am still thirsty! And I will not lose this time!"

Legolas shrugged as Éomer filled their cups again. It was an endless game but he enjoyed himself nonetheless. He felt another familiar sensation racing through his system, this time, the same tingling in his fingers he felt back in Rohan. He flexed his fingers and went back again to sip his wine.

And then, he heard a commotion going on. He dropped his cup, blue eyes scanning the hall up ahead. He realized Arestel was not in the table he last saw her, and his eyebrows furrowed in search for her. The crowd around them parted as Merry and Pippin ran towards their table, with Arestel still running after them. Legolas stood up attentively and was about to halt her when Merry and Pippin slipped due to a spilled wine on the white floor. Down the two hobbits went, laughing as they did; and Arestel was caught up in the same spilled wine, stepped on her long skirt, and fell on the floor with a loud thud.

"Estel!" Legolas called out and ran towards her.

Yet Merry and Pippin slid down on the floor and knocked down a barrel of wine, making a complete mess on the dining halls. Legolas flinched when his robe was suddenly drenched in the red liquor; he suddenly smelled of the fragrance of the same wine. He heard Gimli laugh loudly behind him as he himself was coated in the wine.

"What is going on?!" King Aragorn arrived and gaped at the sight.

The floor was pooled with the wine; Merry, Pippin and Arestel on the floor; Legolas and Gimli were soaked from head to toe, and Éomer had the same gawking face Aragorn had. Frodo and Sam arrived and cringed at the mess. Gandalf chuckled heartily.

"Well, now," the wizard said, "this is certainly a night to remember."

And everyone laughed as Merry, Pippin and Arestel were pulled onto their feet.

"That was amazing!" Pippin exclaimed as they were taken away for a change of clothes. Aragorn, Faramir, Legolas, and Gimli accompanied them in the corridor. Few stewards arrived earlier to provide them towels and they used them to wipe the wine off their skin.

Merry laughed and looked up to Arestel. "Let us do that again next time!"

She laughed and glanced at Aragorn. "I don't think there's a next time, Merry."

"Aww," the hobbit sulked. Then his face brightened up. "Well! There is always tomorrow!"

"That's right! Always a new adventure everyday!" Pippin chirped.

She laughed again. They turned left and entered a long quiet hallway. She took notice of the man walking beside Aragorn, a man she had never met before. The man felt her gaze and smiled at her.

"Faramir," Legolas whispered to her, smiling. "Brother of Boromir."

"Oh," was all she said and glanced again at him.

Soon, they arrived at their respective rooms. Aragorn provided them each with rooms and clothes. Legolas felt the strong need to discard his wet clothing so he retreated in his room. The others did the same. In no time, they were refreshed and agreed to return into the halls of Minas Tirith where their friends waited for them for a more intimate gathering.

Except Arestel… who was lost.

She frowned and stood in the middle of an intersection in the hallways. It took her quite a time to remove the scent of wine from her hair. When she exited her room, everyone was gone. She trekked the lonely halls alone, trying to remember the ways in which they had gone before but every hallway looked the same: white paint, high ceilings, and few lamps.

"Oh, the joys of being lost," she mumbled under her breath and crossed her arms. She looked left and right, and hoped for someone to find her there but considering the silence of the hallways, it felt like she was in an abandoned building. The lighting was scarce and the hallways stretched so far that the end was so dark. She shuddered at the thought of something scary emerging from the end of the hallways. She imagined a Black Rider coming out of the darkness, and it made her shudder once more. "I need to get out of here," she whispered.

A scream was almost let out when she heard faint footsteps coming towards her direction. The hallway behind her was well-lit and long, but still as eerie as the others. The footsteps came there and she hid herself to wait for the newcomer. Peeking from the corner of another hallway, Legolas, in his new silver robe and high collar, marched quietly. He looked as refreshed as her, and he looked certainly handsome.

She flustered at that thought and shook her head in defiance. No time for daydreaming, she thought.

Legolas turned left and Arestel followed him, careful not to make any sound. If he was to find out she was lost again, he would certainly laugh at her. They arrived in an open corridor; the other side of it was the beautiful scenery of the Pelennor fields. Legolas continued walking and smiled as he tried to ignore his tail.

"Estel," he finally called out, not looking behind him, but rather stopped from walking. Arestel flinched and searched desperately for a hiding place, but it was a corridor and no corners to hide from. Legolas laughed softly and turned, meeting her dark eyes in the process. "Why are you tailing me? Is everything alright?"

"I'm… good." Lost in words, she straightened herself.

He walked back to her, hands behind his back. "Let me guess…" Legolas drawled with a smile. "You are lost."

Arestel faked an offended scoff. "How terribly rude. I am not lost."

"Then, there is no need to follow me." Legolas acted to turn away until his sleeve was pulled back by her.

"Fine," she sighed exasperatedly. Her grip on his sleeve was tight enough to rip off the cloth. "Maybe I am a little lost. Could you take me where the others are?"

Legolas smiled yet again. He noticed how she was incredibly not in the mood for a little argument. "Are you worried of being alone? Or are you afraid of losing your way again?"

"Ha ha, that's hilarious," came her sarcastic reply, and he stifled himself from laughing. He found the situation amusing already.

"I would not be surprised if you did get lost."

She narrowed her dark eyes at him. "You are finding this amusing, aren't you?"

Legolas shrugged and held her hand. "Stay here with me. It has been a long day and I am looking on spending some time with you." There was sincerity in his voice, and she felt butterflies in her stomach… again.

"Right…" she drawled sarcastically and they both laughed.

"I missed you, Estel," he went back into whispering in her ear. His breath sent shivers down her spine and she refrained herself from smiling.

"I missed you too," Arestel replied and placed her hands on his shoulders. He leaned closer and inhaled her scent. The smell of the wine had completely left her body and she smelled once again of flowers.

He let out a soft laugh and lifted her chin with his index finger. Leaning closer, he looked into her eyes and whispered, "Can I?"

She smiled. "Can you?"

Legolas then answered her question with a kiss. It was a sweet longing kiss, a product of being separated by the war for months. He felt her shift her head to the side, giving better access for their kiss. His hands pulled her by the waist, clutching the cloth gently. Her hands were on either side of his face and then stretched to hold him by the neck. He kissed her soft lips, tenderly yet eagerly, and she made no attempt to break the kiss. Smiling, he bent down and trailer kissed on her neck, then back to her lips, and then another kiss on her ear.

"I love you," he whispered and pressed his lips to hers again. He felt her smile against the kiss and her hands were soft against his skin.

Legolas broke away, panting and smiling. His forehead was against hers, his lips brushed against hers as he spoke. "I am glad to have you here."

Arestel laughed a little. "I feel much better to have you again, Legolas."

"Shall we go back to our friends?" His voice was trailed with teasing.

She pursed her lips. "Shall we?"

Legolas gave her a quick kiss and they went back into the halls walking hand in hand.

As they arrived, everyone had their attentions darted on the newly-arrived couple. Elladan and Elrohir raised their eyebrows and stared at their intertwined fingers. Arwen greeted her sister, thus, prompting Arestel to tore away from Legolas and greet her. The others were seated on the table; Merry and Pippin whispered as they planned on their next mischief with Arestel. As she went on her way to greet Aragorn next, Legolas sighed and sat beside Gimli who smoked a pipe.

The dwarf looked up to him in wonder and there was a mischievous look in his eyes. Legolas avoided his gaze and clamped his mouth shut. Suddenly, Gimli burst into a series of chuckling and laughing which made Legolas cringe in his next words.

"Someone's been busy, eh?"

Next Chapter: More trouble-making ensues in Gondor, which eventually ends up in a little punishment... sort of.

Author's Notes: Thank you for reading the chapter. Please review!

*DeLacus - I feel sorry for killing Haldir and Orophin! Now there won't be any Lorien Brothers Trio now. (T_T)

*gaarakabuto - LOL. I could have made Celeborn a drunken elf, but that would be weird, especially when his wife and granddaughter are around. I imagine Glorfindel covering Estel's eyes at that sight. XDD More trouble-making elf and hobbits for you on the next chapter! :)