Chapter Thirty Four
"Nina! Please stand still!" Arwen let out a small laugh as Nina fidgeted again.
"I'm sorry . . ." she said quietly. "I just feel like . . . oh I don't know, I don't know what's going on inside me. I've longed for this day to arrive, and it finally does and I feel, well, like this!"
"It's perfectly natural young hobbit," Eowyn smiled, as she helped Holly get into her gold bridesmaid dress, Portia and Nissa were being attended too by Ril-Gania.
"Natural?! Well, it does not feel natural!"
"Oh come on Nina!" Holly rolled her eyes in happiness. "Believe me, you'll feel like this now . . . but wait till you see Frodo!"
Nina smiled quickly. "I bet he is not this nervous"
"And I'll bet he is" Holly smiled as Eowyn smoothed down the dress for her. "Believe me; Frodo will have his nerves all over the place!"
Nina let her cheeks flush red again . . . suddenly realising she would be the centre of attention. People would be staring at her . . . all through it. Nina wasn't the most confident of hobbits. Sure she would stand up in the Green Dragon Inn and sing a few songs with Holly, but that was different, she had Holly with her at the time.
"Holly, why have you not found a hobbit lad for yourself?" Portia asked suddenly, sending Holly, for the first time, in a blushing mode.
"I'm working on it!" The Brandybuck answered, sending Eowyn into giggles. "No, really," Holly said. "I'm like Nina; I just want to find that special somebody. She found Frodo - which is about the most special you can get."
"That's sweet," Arwen smiled, as Ril-Gania finished Nissa's dress and announced it.
"There! Done!" the Elf smiled, admiring the bridesmaid dresses. "I think these dresses are my best work"
"I think so too" Nissa smiled. "I've never worn such a beautiful dress in my entire life!"
"Nina!" They heard two male voices yelling from outside.
"You stay there" Arwen said to Nina. "I'll go see"
Sure enough, as expected, the Elf looked over the balcony and saw Pippin and Merry below, waving and cheering.
"you silly hobbits! What are you doing?!" Arwen said, a smile displayed on her face.
"Is she ready yet?! Oh bother hobbit lasses!" Merry shouted up. "They do take forever to get ready!"
"Oh don't worry Master Meriadoc, they're all ready"
"As is Frodo . . . everyone is waiting for the bride to arrive. So hurry, hurry!" Pippin called. "Quickly!"
"You mind yourself Master Peregrin, I think your days as soldier of Gondor are over - seems your more of the messenger boy!" Arwen joked.
"Seems that way . . ." Pippin grunted. Merry tugged on Pippin's sleeve, gesturing him to go.
"Elrond is ready!" Merry called up, before running off behind Pippin.
Arwen shook her head with a chuckle and walked back into the room.
"They're waiting," she smiled. Nina's breath caught.
"This is it" she whispered. "The next time I set foot in this room, I'll . . ."
"Be Mrs Baggins" Holly filled in with a smile.
Nina looked to her, as if trying to send a silent plea. "I'm scared . . ." she said shaking, admitting.
"What? Scared?" Holly rushed over, placing a hand on her friends shoulder. "Of what?!"
"I don't know" she answered. "I don't know if I can . . ."
Everyone exchanged glances, a worried expression upon their faces.
"Nina . . ." Holly whispered. "Do you want to marry Frodo?"
"Yes, more than anything in the whole world"
"Then, why can't you go through with it?!"
"Because . . ." she couldn't think up a reasonable excuse. "Because I'm scared"
"It's cold feet" Eowyn decided. "Everyone gets it on their wedding day." She kneeled down in front of the hobbit. "Nina, it's perfectly normal to feel this way. Arwen did on her wedding day, so did I. You are no exception. Believe me, once you set eyes on your Frodo, you'll feel so much different . . . you'll feel like your floating high and there's nothing that can get in your way. Please, there is nothing to fear . . . you'll walk out there and see him and you'll remember how much you love him, and you'll know that he'll be yours till the end of your days"
Nina smiled, knowing her friend was right. "I'm sorry . . ." she said weakly. "I'm being a fool"
"Come on then," Arwen smiled, picked up Lömadia from the cradle and handing her over to Nissa. "Let us go"
Nina followed Arwen and Eowyn whilst Holly, Portia and Nissa were behind her, holding up the beautiful silk of the gown that fell and trailed behind her.
Once they were outside, Nina began to feel the butterflies leaping up around her stomach . . . oh; this was not fair at all. She was meant to feel excited, not nervous . . .
Holly grasped her hand, soothing her nerves. "It's okay," she whispered. "You just feel so happy for it to be true"
Nina knew then, that she was right. Her breath caught again as she walked through some trees . . . hearing the soft gentle music being played from around the assembly. The sky was a blue as Frodo's beautiful eyes and birds were singing happily in the trees. What better place to marry?! She knew that the Elves did not celebrate marriage the same way as hobbits . . . and Nina urged to find out what it was. She soon would.
The elves all stood up on noticing her arrival as she walked down the aisle towards Frodo, Sam stepping up at her side to give her away. Frodo turned around and she saw him gasp and look at her . . . Pippin, Merry, Friagrin and Sogrin by his left side. Rosie and Elanor were at the front and Nissa passed Lömadia over to her. Eowyn and Arwen took a seat beside their husbands, smiles fluttering over their faces.
Nina approached Frodo and blushed slightly. The Ringbearer held her hand gently only to notice the violent shaking from it. To soothe her, he gently raised their lock hands to his lips and kissed her hand. "Elbereth, you look beautiful," he whispered.
Elrond smiled down to the two hobbits and spoke a speech, a speech so touching and beautiful that Nina wanted to mesmerize every word. Frodo and Nina then had to speak their vows to one another. Nina was nervous, but soon her nerves died as she stared into those blue eyes . . . speaking vows which she knew she would keep forever in her heart. As in hobbit tradition, they exchanged rings, also having to make promises to one another as they put on the rings.
Elrond then got a golden ribbon, and instructed them both to hold up their locks hands. As they did, he bound the ribbon around their hands and their wrists, speaking in Elvish. Frodo smiled, understanding every word but gave Nina a look that he would translate all later on. Nina looked down to the ribbon, which concluded that it was a symbol that their hearts would be bound forever and always.
"In the eyes and soul of Elbereth, you are now husband and wife" Elrond declared. Frodo held Nina tightly to him and sealed off their vows and promises with a kiss, to which all the Elves jumped up and cheered. Now, that was unexpected from a bunch of graceful, polite elves indeed!
Straight after the ceremony, everyone was led to the party with beautiful music and Elves dancing around here and there . . . Nina was stunned.
Gimli boomed around the party . . . asking Elves why they were not drinking his Ale, but Pippin, Merry, Friagrin and Sogrin came to the rescue by stealing two pints each.
Frodo and Nina were dancing slowly, without a care in the world to what else was going on. Frodo sang soft endearments to her in Elvish, kissing her once and a while. As nervous as she once was on that day . . . she was not anymore.
Over Frodo's shoulder, Nina saw Holly and Pippin dancing . . . the whole concept was that it just wasn't any usual dancing, and they had been extremely close during the ceremony . . . maybe this was the start of something new.
"Frodo?" Nina whispered.
Frodo tilted his head back so he could look her face. "Yes, darling?"
"When are we going back to the Shire?"
"Whenever you want, my beautiful wife," he answered, placing a kiss on her temple. Wife . . . Nina thought. So much depth, she was his wife, his forever . . .
"It's just that . . . well; I don't want to go home"
"Then we don't have to, we can stay here in Rivendell"
Nina reached up and traced his features with her fingertips lightly before kissing him deeply. She felt like her heart had grown wings and was fluttering in her chest. She heard cooing and gushing from around them, but this kiss was too important for her to get embarrassed by it all. "I love you," she sighed against his lips.
"I do too," he pulled away and nuzzled into her neck. The night was so important and happy for the two of them; it seemed almost too good to be true. They were together now . . . a real family. The Bagginses.
"Nina! Please stand still!" Arwen let out a small laugh as Nina fidgeted again.
"I'm sorry . . ." she said quietly. "I just feel like . . . oh I don't know, I don't know what's going on inside me. I've longed for this day to arrive, and it finally does and I feel, well, like this!"
"It's perfectly natural young hobbit," Eowyn smiled, as she helped Holly get into her gold bridesmaid dress, Portia and Nissa were being attended too by Ril-Gania.
"Natural?! Well, it does not feel natural!"
"Oh come on Nina!" Holly rolled her eyes in happiness. "Believe me, you'll feel like this now . . . but wait till you see Frodo!"
Nina smiled quickly. "I bet he is not this nervous"
"And I'll bet he is" Holly smiled as Eowyn smoothed down the dress for her. "Believe me; Frodo will have his nerves all over the place!"
Nina let her cheeks flush red again . . . suddenly realising she would be the centre of attention. People would be staring at her . . . all through it. Nina wasn't the most confident of hobbits. Sure she would stand up in the Green Dragon Inn and sing a few songs with Holly, but that was different, she had Holly with her at the time.
"Holly, why have you not found a hobbit lad for yourself?" Portia asked suddenly, sending Holly, for the first time, in a blushing mode.
"I'm working on it!" The Brandybuck answered, sending Eowyn into giggles. "No, really," Holly said. "I'm like Nina; I just want to find that special somebody. She found Frodo - which is about the most special you can get."
"That's sweet," Arwen smiled, as Ril-Gania finished Nissa's dress and announced it.
"There! Done!" the Elf smiled, admiring the bridesmaid dresses. "I think these dresses are my best work"
"I think so too" Nissa smiled. "I've never worn such a beautiful dress in my entire life!"
"Nina!" They heard two male voices yelling from outside.
"You stay there" Arwen said to Nina. "I'll go see"
Sure enough, as expected, the Elf looked over the balcony and saw Pippin and Merry below, waving and cheering.
"you silly hobbits! What are you doing?!" Arwen said, a smile displayed on her face.
"Is she ready yet?! Oh bother hobbit lasses!" Merry shouted up. "They do take forever to get ready!"
"Oh don't worry Master Meriadoc, they're all ready"
"As is Frodo . . . everyone is waiting for the bride to arrive. So hurry, hurry!" Pippin called. "Quickly!"
"You mind yourself Master Peregrin, I think your days as soldier of Gondor are over - seems your more of the messenger boy!" Arwen joked.
"Seems that way . . ." Pippin grunted. Merry tugged on Pippin's sleeve, gesturing him to go.
"Elrond is ready!" Merry called up, before running off behind Pippin.
Arwen shook her head with a chuckle and walked back into the room.
"They're waiting," she smiled. Nina's breath caught.
"This is it" she whispered. "The next time I set foot in this room, I'll . . ."
"Be Mrs Baggins" Holly filled in with a smile.
Nina looked to her, as if trying to send a silent plea. "I'm scared . . ." she said shaking, admitting.
"What? Scared?" Holly rushed over, placing a hand on her friends shoulder. "Of what?!"
"I don't know" she answered. "I don't know if I can . . ."
Everyone exchanged glances, a worried expression upon their faces.
"Nina . . ." Holly whispered. "Do you want to marry Frodo?"
"Yes, more than anything in the whole world"
"Then, why can't you go through with it?!"
"Because . . ." she couldn't think up a reasonable excuse. "Because I'm scared"
"It's cold feet" Eowyn decided. "Everyone gets it on their wedding day." She kneeled down in front of the hobbit. "Nina, it's perfectly normal to feel this way. Arwen did on her wedding day, so did I. You are no exception. Believe me, once you set eyes on your Frodo, you'll feel so much different . . . you'll feel like your floating high and there's nothing that can get in your way. Please, there is nothing to fear . . . you'll walk out there and see him and you'll remember how much you love him, and you'll know that he'll be yours till the end of your days"
Nina smiled, knowing her friend was right. "I'm sorry . . ." she said weakly. "I'm being a fool"
"Come on then," Arwen smiled, picked up Lömadia from the cradle and handing her over to Nissa. "Let us go"
Nina followed Arwen and Eowyn whilst Holly, Portia and Nissa were behind her, holding up the beautiful silk of the gown that fell and trailed behind her.
Once they were outside, Nina began to feel the butterflies leaping up around her stomach . . . oh; this was not fair at all. She was meant to feel excited, not nervous . . .
Holly grasped her hand, soothing her nerves. "It's okay," she whispered. "You just feel so happy for it to be true"
Nina knew then, that she was right. Her breath caught again as she walked through some trees . . . hearing the soft gentle music being played from around the assembly. The sky was a blue as Frodo's beautiful eyes and birds were singing happily in the trees. What better place to marry?! She knew that the Elves did not celebrate marriage the same way as hobbits . . . and Nina urged to find out what it was. She soon would.
The elves all stood up on noticing her arrival as she walked down the aisle towards Frodo, Sam stepping up at her side to give her away. Frodo turned around and she saw him gasp and look at her . . . Pippin, Merry, Friagrin and Sogrin by his left side. Rosie and Elanor were at the front and Nissa passed Lömadia over to her. Eowyn and Arwen took a seat beside their husbands, smiles fluttering over their faces.
Nina approached Frodo and blushed slightly. The Ringbearer held her hand gently only to notice the violent shaking from it. To soothe her, he gently raised their lock hands to his lips and kissed her hand. "Elbereth, you look beautiful," he whispered.
Elrond smiled down to the two hobbits and spoke a speech, a speech so touching and beautiful that Nina wanted to mesmerize every word. Frodo and Nina then had to speak their vows to one another. Nina was nervous, but soon her nerves died as she stared into those blue eyes . . . speaking vows which she knew she would keep forever in her heart. As in hobbit tradition, they exchanged rings, also having to make promises to one another as they put on the rings.
Elrond then got a golden ribbon, and instructed them both to hold up their locks hands. As they did, he bound the ribbon around their hands and their wrists, speaking in Elvish. Frodo smiled, understanding every word but gave Nina a look that he would translate all later on. Nina looked down to the ribbon, which concluded that it was a symbol that their hearts would be bound forever and always.
"In the eyes and soul of Elbereth, you are now husband and wife" Elrond declared. Frodo held Nina tightly to him and sealed off their vows and promises with a kiss, to which all the Elves jumped up and cheered. Now, that was unexpected from a bunch of graceful, polite elves indeed!
Straight after the ceremony, everyone was led to the party with beautiful music and Elves dancing around here and there . . . Nina was stunned.
Gimli boomed around the party . . . asking Elves why they were not drinking his Ale, but Pippin, Merry, Friagrin and Sogrin came to the rescue by stealing two pints each.
Frodo and Nina were dancing slowly, without a care in the world to what else was going on. Frodo sang soft endearments to her in Elvish, kissing her once and a while. As nervous as she once was on that day . . . she was not anymore.
Over Frodo's shoulder, Nina saw Holly and Pippin dancing . . . the whole concept was that it just wasn't any usual dancing, and they had been extremely close during the ceremony . . . maybe this was the start of something new.
"Frodo?" Nina whispered.
Frodo tilted his head back so he could look her face. "Yes, darling?"
"When are we going back to the Shire?"
"Whenever you want, my beautiful wife," he answered, placing a kiss on her temple. Wife . . . Nina thought. So much depth, she was his wife, his forever . . .
"It's just that . . . well; I don't want to go home"
"Then we don't have to, we can stay here in Rivendell"
Nina reached up and traced his features with her fingertips lightly before kissing him deeply. She felt like her heart had grown wings and was fluttering in her chest. She heard cooing and gushing from around them, but this kiss was too important for her to get embarrassed by it all. "I love you," she sighed against his lips.
"I do too," he pulled away and nuzzled into her neck. The night was so important and happy for the two of them; it seemed almost too good to be true. They were together now . . . a real family. The Bagginses.