DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters you recognize from the books…
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The songs are "Miracles Happen" by Myra, and "At the Beginning" From the Anastasia Soundtrack.
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ALIYA
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Today did not feel like a wedding day at all, no matter my wedding day. The wedding was to be at twilight. Legolas had not been with me last night. Celeborn and another Elf, Anurei, had come and swept him out of our room and taken him to get ready.
In his stead, Kendre had come and kept me company, telling me that the Lady would come in the morning, for there was much to do.
Kendre had awoken me early and I had found that I barely had time to eat anything before I was told to stand still and close my eyes.
I did so and waited a moment until I was told to open them again. I did and almost fell over.
Galadriel stood in front of me, holding the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It was crimson red with golden embroidery covering it and forming a border, at the hem, of leaves. It had long bell sleeves and was off the shoulders, accenting its high, empire waist.
"It is so beautiful…" I said to the two smiling elves watching me.
"It is, isn't it?" Kendre said, "We spent a long time on it. I had hoped you would like it."
"I love it!" I exclaimed, hugging the young girl. Kendre's dress, moon- glowing shimmer was soft to the touch, and Galadriel's garb was white, embroidered with gold. She looked like the queen she was.
"It is befitting to you…" Galadriel said, her voice low, "Now come, there is much we have to do if we are to be ready by twilight!"
~~~
I did not pay attention over the hours that the two women spent preparing me for my wedding, instead, I let them do what they want, they seemed to have it all planned out and needed no help from me. I was their doll to mold.
They would not permit me to see either a mirror or Legolas during the day, instead, they kept me occupied with reassurances, and constantly made me repeat what I was going to say at the joining.
Only a few moments near the time of my wedding did they let me see myself in reflection.
I gasped at what I saw, and it seems that that was the response they expected, for they both looked appreciatively at each other nodding like they owned the world.
The dress, already so beautiful, looked a hundred times better on my body. My face was ornately done with kohl and other shadows. My long wavy hair piled up at the back of my head, with a crown of gold and silver leaves to wreath it. I could not believe that what I saw was me.
"I love you to so much!" I exclaimed, giving both my second mother and second daughter a hug in turn.
"Don't you crease the dress!" Kendre chided me, sounding like her long-past Aunt, "It took forever to smooth the lines out of it!"
Galadriel just smiled, saying, "You and Legolas deserve this happiness to balance out the sadness. Welcome home."
This time I nodded at her. This time she was right. This was my home. For now at least. They had warned me not to cry, but try as I could the tears came now. If I cried at this, how would I be at the wedding?
"Come now…" Kendre said, taking my hand in hers, "We will show you where you will marry."
I tilted my head and followed the women. It was true. I hadn't yet found out where the wedding was to be held. I was eager to see what they had done.
It only took a few moments to get from my room, down the earthen paths, and to the place.
I saw, from a distance, Legolas standing at the far end of the long aisle. I saw Celeborn was to be the one to marry us. Such a multitude of elves waited silently for the ceremony to begin. But none of this was what I was focused on. I was focused on the décor.
Such soft white sand made up the isle that I was to walk down, and white candles were the lightings chosen to illuminate the coming darkness. The mallorn trees that guarded the end of the aisle were both relaxed yet beautiful.
Nothing was dark. All was white, silver and gold. Even Legolas wore a gold tunic and broach. Never before had I seen him in gold, but it suited him quite well.
Galadriel left my side and went to stand next to Celeborn. Kendre also left my side, squeezing my hand and whispering, "Just walk when the music plays…" before she went.
I nodded, feeling my stomach turn. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for all my life. As I stood alone, I knew I would never be alone again.
I was startled as I heard the soft music of a harp and flute beginning to play. I drew myself up and began to slowly move down the soft, white row.
I saw Legolas's face light up as he saw me, he had a soft smile on his lips, and I could tell that ever since last night he had been waiting to see me again.
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Nowhere
Nowhere on earth I'd rather be
No one can take this away from you and me
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"I love you…" I saw him mouth and I smiled.
I stopped in front of Galadriel and Legolas turned to face Celeborn as the music ceased to play.
"Welcome here, son and daughter." Galadriel said solemnly.
"In love and peace may you join together." Celeborn finished Galadriel's hanging sentence.
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We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
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"Speak now, Son." Galadriel went on, "Prove you are worthy of your Love's life."
Legolas turned to face me, his face bright, but his voice serious, "Aliya, you came into my life under the gravest of times. You appeared to me frightened and small, but to me, you were already a precious gift sent to me from the Valar themselves. I loved you when I met you and that love only grew as time went on. I never forgot you when we were pulled apart, I hoped that someday we would be together again. And here we stand, together at last. I will love you when the world ceases to exist. I would follow you to death and back. I would die for you. I love you. Will you be my friend, my companion and my Wife?"
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No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
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I felt tears in my eyes as he ended his speech to me. I felt bad, for what I had planned to say was nowhere equal to the words he had given.
"He has given his heart to you…" Celeborn said, "Will you take it?"
"Yes." I said, choking back a sob, "I will."
"Daughter." Galadriel said, "Prove you are worthy of this gift."
I cleared my eyes and my voice and began, "You were there for me when I was going to fall, Legolas. You brought me back from the darkness. You awoke the fire that lives in my heart, that I never even knew I had. You were there to help me, to comfort me, and to love me. Nothing has ever, or will ever replaced you in my heart. It surpasses all that has ever been in my life. I will stay by your side forever. I would follow you to death and back. I would die for you. I love you. Will you be my friend, my companion and my Husband?"
"She has returned your affection…" Celeborn said, "Will you accept it?"
"Yes." Legolas said, looking me in the eyes, "I will, with all my breath."
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Knew there was somebody, somewhere
A new love in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
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"Legolas Greenleaf and Aliya Clearwater, You are pronounced, by the dedication, love and attention you show to each other, Husband and Wife. Nothing can break this bond. It is eternal, everlasting." Galadriel said, sealing our lives, "The rings…"
Two Elves came forward, one to Galadriel and one to Celeborn, each bearing a ring.
Legolas took the ring from Celeborn and held my hand in his, slipping it on. I looked at it. It was silver inlayed with a single red ruby in the shape of a teardrop.
"This is for the tears you have cried," Celeborn said, "May you never cry them again."
I looked up from the ring into Legolas's eyes. They were glassy. I then looked to Galadriel, who handed me another ring in turn.
I held Legolas's outstretched hand and placed the ring on his finger. It was silver like mine, but instead of a ruby, it held a diamond.
"For the clarity Love can offer," Galadriel said, "May your heart never become lost in the mists again."
"Eternal, as said, is this bond. Share your lives in happiness, peace and confidence." Galadriel said again, "May freedom be the world you live by, and may your love be true."
Legolas came forward, catching my body, and kissed me, "I love you. I will be there for you forever." was all he said. It was all that needed to be said. Love is a powerful thing. It was what we had.
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And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
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