If any of you happen to think that Elijah Wood is hot, I suggest you buy the extended version of FOTR- there's this scene they added during Bilbo's party where there are these close-ups of Elijah's (really cute) face. !!!

And, please remember to review!!! That's one of the best parts of writing, to me. And, I'm taking the Quenyan courses off LearnElvish.Com, so I'm hoping to have some different translations then the ones on the soundtrack (sorry!).

This is the chapter you've all been waiting for---the wedding. Or not! What will Niphredil decide? The suspense is killing me! Wait, not me. I know what's going to happen. Haha, you're going to have to read the whole damn thing if you want to know! So get reading.

~Chapter Three

          Late in the night I awoke. I didn't know where I was for a moment until I remembered that I was in Edoras, about to marry someone I hardly know to obey my father's wishes. I slid out of bed and climbed through the window, wanting to get away from the smelly men for a little while. Barefoot, I wandered through the streets of the city until I reached the outskirts and passed out of the gate. The flat countryside of Rohan, ringed with mountains, spread out before me. A cold wind whipped my flimsy nightgown around my feet as I walked towards the middle of the field. The tall grass tickled my ankles and hands. I sat down upon reaching a kind of clearing where the grass wasn't as tall and the weeds were less. I dozed off under the midnight sky.

When I awoke once more I found myself spread out on the grass under the stars. The sky was a deep navy color, the darkest it would ever be. Angry clouds sped across it. A strange crunching sound filled the air.

Crunching? It was something walking across the grass! I scooted back into the tall grass and crouched down, blending in with the night. A dark figure stalked across into the clearing. It bent down and ran a hand across the marks and footprints that I had left in my sleep.

          I wanted to slap myself. How could I be so stupid to leave my tracks in the dirt? Lori would be so disappointed in me! I thought. Stupid!

          The figure straightened up and looked in my direction. I immediately stilled my breathing and didn't move. I figured that the creature was a man, come also from Edoras. The man examined the bent grasses where I had scurried to hide. I stood, defeated. "Who are you?" I demanded, my fingers itching for my bow. "What do you want?"

          "Niphredil?" The man asked, surprised. It was Théodred.

          "Théodred," I said. He came closer.

          "What's wrong?" he asked.

          "Everything," I answered. He said nothing. I knew that he would stay there until I told him exactly what was wrong with me. The thing was, I couldn't do that. If I told him we would never be able to live together, as it seemed that was our destiny. I couldn't tell him that I was marrying him so I could wait for him to die.

          The truth was, I didn't know exactly what was wrong, I just didn't know what was right, which made everything wrong. I sat back down in the clearing, needing to sort out my thoughts. I felt Théodred sit down behind me, his back resting against mine.

          "Are we going to get married?" Théodred asked.

          "I don't know," I answered. But, in my heart, I did know.

          This is what could happen- we would marry, then he would die, and I would go off and find Legolas smoldering in some fire in Mordor.

          Or, we wouldn't marry, my father would disown me and claim that I was too stupid to know what I was doing, I would tell him that he was risking my death by heartbreak, and then my mother would come and tell me that she had 'seen' Théodred and I being happy. Being happy together.

          Together.

~~~

          I held my mothers wedding veil in my hands. Galadriel had worn it many ages ago. The delicate fabric folded onto itself in my hands as I placed it on my head. Éowyn smiled. She believed this to be perfect.

          I put on the simple white dress that Théodred's mother had worn. Éowyn snapped the clasp on the silver necklace my mother had sent me. It was a horse, made with a complicated elvish knot. I glanced into the mirror. I looked like my mother, and yet totally different from her. I smoothed the dress nervously. Éowyn patted my shoulder and left me with my thoughts.

          I went to the window and knelt. Legolas, I thought, don't be angry. This is what I must do, for my father and for my country. Know that if I could do something for my heart, I would run all the way to Mordor and find you, even if I had to swim through the fires of Mount Doom to get to you.

          My heart is breaking, Legolas, and yet happiness has been foreseen in my future. That is the only reason I am going through with this- because my mother has foreseen us being happy. I can only hope for that happiness after Théodred has died, also.

          I do not wish death on Théodred. He is a good man, and I love him, but never in all the ways I love you. He has his own corner in my heart. You have the rest.

          I know when I go up to that altar it is supposed to be the happiest moment of my life. Instead the future will look as bleak as ever. The only bright spot on the horizon will be death.

         

What have I got to live for when death is the brightest spot on my horizon?

~~~

I stood in front of Théoden's throne at the top of the hall in Meduseld. This was it. Théoden spoke words but I could not hear them. Théodred took my hand. He squeezed it gently. Sparks exploded in front of my eyes and I had to constantly remind myself of what I was doing and why I was doing it. It will all be over soon… I comforted myself with. It will all be over soon…

Théoden spoke more words. They sounded final. Théodred took my other hand and bent his head over mine. Then he kissed me. He kissed me. We were married.

I closed my eyes, not from pleasure but from trying to keep the tears back. The people of Rohan were cheering. They had gained a powerful ally today. They should be happy.

Where was my happiness?

The doors to Meduseld burst open. The sky seemed to shine with a bright light, as if you were trying to see something through the sun. I squinted. The people of Rohan looked towards the door.

The answer to my prayers had come too late.

~~~

Cliffie!!! Haha!!!