RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
49.
Elenath found herself at the end of the long line of her attendants, Elrond at her side.
"This is really quite charming," he said as a huge bouquet of wildflowers was handed to his granddaughter, "all of these human traditions. Here I am, as David said, 'giving you away' as if you were at one time my possession. That was never true, Elenath. You've had a mind of your own since the day you were born."
"Grandfather, you own more of my heart than you realize, I think," she replied quietly. "I have remembered bits and pieces of our lives before I left Rivendell, and I remember how much we loved each other."
"Loved, Elenath? My love for you will never die. You are my granddaughter; the miracle brought to my daughter in her darkest hour. You saved her life and brought joy back into mine."
Music had begun to play in the great hall and the line started to move forward.
"What do you mean?" asked the princess.
Elrond smiled. "There is no time for that story now, Lirimaer, for the time draws nigh to present you to this rogue Prince of Mirkwood who stole your heart against the wishes of two kingdoms!"
The doors had opened and Elenath gasped at the vision that met her eyes. The Great Hall was covered in flowers and green plants. Every Elf in Mirkwood had ceased their work to attend. Most of them were not dressed for a wedding. It seemed that this was as much as surprise to them as it was to Elenath. Her mother stood smiling at her, looking back from the front row. And there, at the Altar next to Pastor Mike, stood Legolas, his expression of confusion turning at once to one of complete awe as he gazed upon her. She actually saw David reach out a steadying hand to the Elf as he faltered a bit in his stance.
"Lovely One, how can it be that you have chosen me above all others?" he asked her very softly when she neared.
Their eyes did not stray from one another as she answered, "My heart would not allow for any other choice, my beautiful Prince."
"Nor would mine," he whispered as she turned away from him toward Elrond. "Nor would mine."
The Lord of Rivendell gazed with love at his granddaughter as he lifted her veil, smoothing it lovingly back over her shining auburn hair before kissing her cheek. "Both of your hearts have chosen well," he said before retreating to the front row to sit next to Llilwen.
Time seemed to move in slow motion through the ceremony. Every detail was perfect. They exchanged rings, which seemed to appear magically from the folds of David's robe and Kara's gown. And when Legolas spoke his vows, Elenath could no longer hold back her happy tears.
"I, Legolas, take thee, Elenath, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
She promised the same, and then spoke the traditional Elvish vows as well. In the silence that followed, Kara readied her guitar and after a pause, spoke softly. "Ever since we were little girls, Elenath told me that she wanted this song to be sung in her wedding. Neither one of us knew then how appropriate it would be when the time finally came." And she began to sing as the prince and princess shed tears of joy and of sadness at the words:
"When you are a soldier I will be your shield
I will go with you into the battlefield
And when the arrows start to fly
Take my hand and hold on tight
I will be your shield, 'cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier
When you're tired from running
I will cheer you on
Look beside you and you'll see you're not alone
And when your strength is all but gone
I'll carry you until you're strong
And I will be your shield 'cause I know how it feels
When you're a soldier
I will be the one you can cry your songs to
My eyes will share your tears
And I'll be your friend if you win
Or if you're defeated
Whenever you need me I will be here
When you're lost in darkness I will hold the light
I will help you find your way through the night
I'll remind you of the truth
And keep the flame alive in you
And I will be your shield
'Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier."
[lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman]
That night after all the merriment and all of the dancing; after David had taken Elenath aside and admitted that he would always love her and would always be at her service and the prince's; after Kara had wept tears of joy for her friend and tears of sadness that her own marriage had failed so miserably; and after Marcus had pulled Susan close and admitted the love he had kept hidden from her for so long, Elenath and Legolas retired to their chambers. They knew not whether they would spend one more night together, or an eternity of nights, but it did not matter. All that mattered was their love for one another and they showed it in countless ways until falling asleep comfortably in each other's arms.
***
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
49.
Elenath found herself at the end of the long line of her attendants, Elrond at her side.
"This is really quite charming," he said as a huge bouquet of wildflowers was handed to his granddaughter, "all of these human traditions. Here I am, as David said, 'giving you away' as if you were at one time my possession. That was never true, Elenath. You've had a mind of your own since the day you were born."
"Grandfather, you own more of my heart than you realize, I think," she replied quietly. "I have remembered bits and pieces of our lives before I left Rivendell, and I remember how much we loved each other."
"Loved, Elenath? My love for you will never die. You are my granddaughter; the miracle brought to my daughter in her darkest hour. You saved her life and brought joy back into mine."
Music had begun to play in the great hall and the line started to move forward.
"What do you mean?" asked the princess.
Elrond smiled. "There is no time for that story now, Lirimaer, for the time draws nigh to present you to this rogue Prince of Mirkwood who stole your heart against the wishes of two kingdoms!"
The doors had opened and Elenath gasped at the vision that met her eyes. The Great Hall was covered in flowers and green plants. Every Elf in Mirkwood had ceased their work to attend. Most of them were not dressed for a wedding. It seemed that this was as much as surprise to them as it was to Elenath. Her mother stood smiling at her, looking back from the front row. And there, at the Altar next to Pastor Mike, stood Legolas, his expression of confusion turning at once to one of complete awe as he gazed upon her. She actually saw David reach out a steadying hand to the Elf as he faltered a bit in his stance.
"Lovely One, how can it be that you have chosen me above all others?" he asked her very softly when she neared.
Their eyes did not stray from one another as she answered, "My heart would not allow for any other choice, my beautiful Prince."
"Nor would mine," he whispered as she turned away from him toward Elrond. "Nor would mine."
The Lord of Rivendell gazed with love at his granddaughter as he lifted her veil, smoothing it lovingly back over her shining auburn hair before kissing her cheek. "Both of your hearts have chosen well," he said before retreating to the front row to sit next to Llilwen.
Time seemed to move in slow motion through the ceremony. Every detail was perfect. They exchanged rings, which seemed to appear magically from the folds of David's robe and Kara's gown. And when Legolas spoke his vows, Elenath could no longer hold back her happy tears.
"I, Legolas, take thee, Elenath, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
She promised the same, and then spoke the traditional Elvish vows as well. In the silence that followed, Kara readied her guitar and after a pause, spoke softly. "Ever since we were little girls, Elenath told me that she wanted this song to be sung in her wedding. Neither one of us knew then how appropriate it would be when the time finally came." And she began to sing as the prince and princess shed tears of joy and of sadness at the words:
"When you are a soldier I will be your shield
I will go with you into the battlefield
And when the arrows start to fly
Take my hand and hold on tight
I will be your shield, 'cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier
When you're tired from running
I will cheer you on
Look beside you and you'll see you're not alone
And when your strength is all but gone
I'll carry you until you're strong
And I will be your shield 'cause I know how it feels
When you're a soldier
I will be the one you can cry your songs to
My eyes will share your tears
And I'll be your friend if you win
Or if you're defeated
Whenever you need me I will be here
When you're lost in darkness I will hold the light
I will help you find your way through the night
I'll remind you of the truth
And keep the flame alive in you
And I will be your shield
'Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier."
[lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman]
That night after all the merriment and all of the dancing; after David had taken Elenath aside and admitted that he would always love her and would always be at her service and the prince's; after Kara had wept tears of joy for her friend and tears of sadness that her own marriage had failed so miserably; and after Marcus had pulled Susan close and admitted the love he had kept hidden from her for so long, Elenath and Legolas retired to their chambers. They knew not whether they would spend one more night together, or an eternity of nights, but it did not matter. All that mattered was their love for one another and they showed it in countless ways until falling asleep comfortably in each other's arms.
***