Chapter 24
In the Gardens of Mirkwood
The servant elves walked down the long, empty corridor and began lighting the candles as they made their way to the doors of their guests. They knocked on all the doors, informing them that dinner had been prepared. Telling them to follow them into the gardens, they notified them that King Thranduil would join them there.
Aragorn opened Merry's door, and Merry hobbled beside him while struggling with his weak legs to walk. The tall king gave Merry a cane that he purchased from the elves to better support himself. Carrying Nibs in his arms, a servant lead the way to the gardens while the others followed. Merry told Aragorn to go on without him, while he waited in the hallway for Estella to join him.
Opening her door, Estella entered the hallway. Merry's jaw dropped, and he could not take his eyes from her. She stood there holding the lengths of a white shimmering beaded gown that the dressmaker had finished making adjustments so that the small hobbit could wear it this evening. The dress fit her small waist and slowly draped from her hips to the floor, the end of the gown slightly trailing behind her as she walked. Wearing this dress made Estella feel especially beautiful. Her hair, full with soft long curls about her shoulders, glimmered with each strand as she walked towards the hobbit that adored her. Merry thought that Estella could have easily been mistaken for a small version of Galadriel. Taking her small hand and kissing it, he led her down the long corridor towards the gardens.
If there were a garden in all of Middle Earth that was deemed the most beautiful, then it would have been these of Mirkwood. King Thranduil went to great lengths to make the gardens more beautiful than those of Rivendell because of his jealousy of Lord Elrond. The king smiled deeply when he saw his guests' eyes widen in surprise while they took in the beauty of the gardens. He stood and graciously welcomed his guests.
Every flower was especially matched and crossbred to its perfection and arranged by its height and size. Waves of color adorned the edges of the pathway leading to an open courtyard with babbling brooks running throughout the gardens. Small bridges of colorful stone and craftsmanship led to other pathways of gardens of great splendor. Trees were trimmed and pruned to the utmost perfection. The bushes with an artist's flare were cut in wonderful shapes and designs. Here, even the horizon burst into wondrous colors of red hue as the sun set in the horizon.
Before the hobbits were seated at the table, the servants began lighting the candles and torches, giving a romantic feeling and softness to the atmosphere. The servants escorted their guests to their seats after the hobbits imitated Aragorn as he bowed in greeting to King Thranduil before he sat. King Thranduil was shocked to see that one of the hobbits was a woman -and a beautiful one at that. He admired her in her new elvish dress as Merry sat proudly next to her. Trays of food were brought out by the servants and presented to their guests. The hobbit's eyes beamed at seeing such wonderful dishes of elvish foods. They trusted Merry and Pippin's opinion about the splendor of such dishes.
Excusing himself from the table and taking a heaping plate of the best foods that Mirkwood had to offer, Legolas bowed to his father and left the courtyard. Legolas joined Gimli privately in his room to eat his supper with his most cherished friend.
Aragorn and King Thranduil talked between themselves for most of the evening about their kingdoms and stories of Rivendell, in which the King of Mirkwood listened intently. Aragorn changed the subject quickly by asking him, "I was wondering if your master swordsman, Elthrone, was still here? I met him years ago when I was a ranger, living in Rivendell."
"Yes, he teaches our younger elves how to handle their swords properly. You can find him in the next garden courtyard over there shortly after breakfast."
~*~
Stopping occasionally to steal a kiss from her, Merry led Estella around the courtyard. Pippin smiled as he watched to two from a distance, and he knew that Merry had finally found his happiness. Pippin joined Aragorn as King Thranduil excused himself for the evening. The two friends made plans to leave for Gondor after they captured the stallion for Merry.
"He looks happy doesn't he, Aragorn?" Pippin inquired.
"Yes, that he does. Estella is a wonderful young woman. Merry deserves all the happiness he can find."
"There is only one thing left to do." Pippin paused. "You need to marry them."
Aragorn smiled with delight. "Just as soon as they ask me too, I would be greatly honored." He lifted his eyebrows to the hobbit standing next to him.
"Then I will make sure that they do before we leave Mirkwood."
"Now Pippin, I do not think that they need any help from you on this. They may have their own plans." Aragorn glanced at him, suspicious.
Pippin only smiled, but Aragorn knew this impish hobbit better.
~*~
Rising in the eastern sky, the sun greeted the awakening birds from their nests as they all broke out in song for a new day. The morning was a blaze of color, and flowers in the garden opened their petals wide to drink in the morning dew. A gentle cool morning breeze drifted over the gardens that stirred the plants and bushes. Aragorn found Nibs sitting in the gardens alone, and he sat along side of him, handing him a cane to support his weak legs.
"Would you care to take a walk with me, Nibs?" He motioned Nibs towards the pathway gardens.
"I have nothing else to do," he replied as he nodded weakly. Nibs seemed defeated, filled with despair at his loss.
Aragorn helped him to stand and handed him his cane. He supported Nibs while he took a few steps. Nibs pushed Aragorn's hand away slightly to gesture to him he wanted to walk alone. Aragorn was encouraged that the hobbit still had some fight in him rather than giving up entirely.
Aragorn spied two elves practicing their sword strategies as they worked out fiercely with each other, just as King Thranduil told him last night.
"Let's watch them for awhile," Aragorn said while he gestured for Nibs to sit down next to him.
The movements of the warriors were magnificent which greatly impressed Aragorn by their sword handling and their shields. Seeing that the older elf was a high master with a sword, the two spectators noticed that he taught the younger elf how to defend himself.
Thinking to himself, Nibs fancied that he had a great talent in sword skills. Merry taught him well how to handle a sword and he caught on to it with ease. Nibs loved the feel of a sword in his hand, rather than a hoe or a rake that his father wanted for him, being a farmer. Before Merry brought him to get the horses, he thought he would be happy with his father's plan, but now he wanted more in his life than just that. After seeing what existed outside of the Shire, he was reluctant to go home.
Nibs commented to Aragorn about the wonderful moves that the master was performing as he easily abated his opponent. Aragorn watched Nibs intently. For the first time since his awakening, Aragorn saw happiness in his eyes and delighted with every movement the master made with his sword.
Aragorn would inform Nibs about the mistakes the student made as the master lunged his sword this way and that, but the student would miss his mark. Nibs looked up at Aragorn and smiled at him. He enjoyed his company as they both sat by each other and watched the elves.
When the session was over, the master swordsman approached Aragorn and Nibs. Setting his sword and shield on the bench next to them, Nibs gasped as he saw that the master swordsman only had one hand. His other was cut off almost at the elbow.
Staring in disbelief, Nibs could not comprehend how the master swordsman could perform such feats with only one hand.
"Do not concern yourself with this," he said, holding up his stub arm. "I lost this in a great battle with a remarkable enemy-a dragon." He widened his eyes as he spoke of this frightful creature. "It was well over a hundred and half years ago," the master said while he took off his robe and loosened his boots.
Watching him intently, the master swordsman did not need any help with anything while Nibs could not handle even the simplest tasks on his own. Lowering his head in shame, Nibs did not want to face the master swordsman.
"My name is Elthrone, and I would like to teach you, Nibs. If you agree?"
Nibs thought on it a moment, weighing the proposal. "...Yes... Yes, I would like that every much," Nibs answered, looking up into the eyes of Elthrone with a bit of shyness in his tone.
"Then I will leave you to your teacher," Aragorn stated proudly and walked away.
~*~
Running down the long corridor to Merry's room, Pippin raced with excitement and anticipation in his plans to get Merry to ask Estella to wed him.
Knocking on the door lightly, he waited for Merry to answer. When he greeted Merry with a huge smile on his face, he was only met by a frown.
"Now is that any way to greet your cousin, Merry?" Pippin asked, feeling a bit discarded.
"I am sorry, Pip. I was expecting someone else." Merry looked over Pippin and down the corridor to see if anyone else was there.
"You mean like Estella?" Pippin snickered.
"No, I mean yes, but just not right now," Merry said as he continued to look up and down the corridor.
Pippin burst past Merry, walking in to his room and began looking about as he gathered his thoughts in what he was going to tell him.
"Pippin, is there something that you wanted?" Merry asked as he watched Pippin going through some of his things.
"No, not really. I just wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Estella and you?" Pippin started and continued, "I saw you both last night and it seems to me that you two have become very close to each other. I was wondering if you are going to ask her to marry you...soon."
"Pippin, that is no concern of yours," Merry snickered knowing what a busybody Pippin could be.
"Look Merry, Estella loves you and I know you two were made for each other. Anyway," Pippin pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Merry, "I purchased this for you in Gondor when Diamond and I first arrived there. I thought you would want something very special for her. So I took the liberty of getting this for you."
Merry opened the box and took out the diamond ring. The diamond was a perfect cut that glimmered in radiant beauty set in a delicate gold band.
"I even had it engraved for you. Read it," Pippin urged with a sly smile on his lips.
"My love forever." he read. "What is this next to it?"
"Well, it is supposed to be the Brandybuck coat of arms, but the imbecile could not get it right," Pippin chuckled.
"Pippin, I do not know what to say." Merry fumbled with the ring in between his fingers and bit his lip in awe.
"You can take it and give it to Estella and make her your wife. I want you happy, Merry, and you deserve having someone like Estella to share your life with. As long as I am married, you might as well be too." Pippin paused a moment and he continued, "Besides, Aragorn is here and Mirkwood is so beautiful, you might as well get married here, surrounded by all your closest friends. Come on, Merry, what do you say?"
A sudden knock was at the door, and Merry rushed to answer it. The dressmaker carried in two beautiful gowns and set them on the bed. One dress was a lovely blue ball gown and the other was a white silk wedding gown with a full lace veil with a small crown of golden leaves.
"Oh, I see, it looks like you already have your mind made up. I guess I did not need to encourage you." Pippin winked up at Merry with delight.
"No, Pippin. You did not need to help me with this. I love her and I was going to ask her to marry me tonight." Merry declared. "Thank you for this ring; it is perfect just as it is. I could not have picked out a better one."
"You can thank Diamond; she picked it out for you to give to Estella," Pippin added.
"So you two had it figured out all the time?" Merry knew that Pippin understood him all too well.
"So why are you standing here? Estella is in the garden at breakfast, go to her and ask her now. We have a wedding to plan," Pippin impatiently told him while he patted him on the back and headed towards the gardens with the biggest smile on his face.
Opening the pocket and placing the ring inside, he refolded the dress, placing it into a box. Merry almost danced down the corridor with the box in his arms, heading to the gardens.
After finding his friends who had began breakfast without him, he approached Estella, sitting with a group of female elves laughing as she held an infant elf in her arms. Seeing Merry, Estella handed the baby to the one of the elves, who tucked the infant in her arms and walked away.
Looking up at Merry, Aragorn noticed that he seemed very nervous as he sat next to Estella placing the large, flat box on the table. He thought as he gazed at Estella that this is the happiest day of his life. Pausing to collect his thoughts, he looked deeply into her eyes.
Watching in anticipation, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and all the hobbits waited for Merry to speak, no more so than Pippin who knew what he was about to say.
"I remembered what you told me about your dress that Diamond gave you. That if it was ever stained or ruined, it would make you cry. I could not bear for you to cry, since it was ruined when we first started out on getting these horses...I had the elves make you another that I hope you will love just as much." Merry opened the box and presented it to her.
Gasping, Estella held the dress up next to her. The long blue folds of the dress shimmered like the sun on top of a rippling river on a hot summer day, the silky softness gently caressing her fingers as she held it in her hands. She wrapped her arms around Merry and kissed him with such passion that it was hard for him to let her go.
Taking her hands in his, Merry continued, "Estella, I also have something else for you in the pocket."
Reaching into the pocket and pulling out a diamond ring masterfully cut to perfection and mounted on a delicate golden band, her hands shook as she read words on the band, "My love forever."
Taking her shaking hand and kneeling before her, he said, "I promise you my love forever, to share my life as my wife. I promise never to leave your side again, if you will marry me."
Lowering herself onto Merry's knee and wrapping her arms around Merry's neck, she began kissing him passionately. Merry held her tightly in his arms, as he too fought the tears of joy that wanted to fall from his eyes.
Pippin yelled out, "Does that mean yes?"
Estella, looking up at Fredegar, who smiled back down at her, nodded his head. Estella cried, "Yes, Merry, I will marry you."
Pippin and Aragorn shouted with joy and congratulated the couple.
"We have a wedding to plan!" Pippin proclaimed with delight. "Aragorn will marry you here in the gardens of Mirkwood."
"Now, Pippin, that would be up to Merry to decide," Aragorn reprimanded him.
"Estella, would you marry me here in Mirkwood?" Merry asked her.
"Yes, and I would be honored to have King Aragorn marry us." Estella smiled up at Aragorn whom she admired most of all. "I could wear this lovely dress for our wedding."
"Actually, I took the liberty and had the elves design a wedding dress just for you," Merry admitted to her and escorted her to his room to show her.
He let Pippin and Aragorn arrange the wedding that was to happen just before the grand ball the following day.
In the Gardens of Mirkwood
The servant elves walked down the long, empty corridor and began lighting the candles as they made their way to the doors of their guests. They knocked on all the doors, informing them that dinner had been prepared. Telling them to follow them into the gardens, they notified them that King Thranduil would join them there.
Aragorn opened Merry's door, and Merry hobbled beside him while struggling with his weak legs to walk. The tall king gave Merry a cane that he purchased from the elves to better support himself. Carrying Nibs in his arms, a servant lead the way to the gardens while the others followed. Merry told Aragorn to go on without him, while he waited in the hallway for Estella to join him.
Opening her door, Estella entered the hallway. Merry's jaw dropped, and he could not take his eyes from her. She stood there holding the lengths of a white shimmering beaded gown that the dressmaker had finished making adjustments so that the small hobbit could wear it this evening. The dress fit her small waist and slowly draped from her hips to the floor, the end of the gown slightly trailing behind her as she walked. Wearing this dress made Estella feel especially beautiful. Her hair, full with soft long curls about her shoulders, glimmered with each strand as she walked towards the hobbit that adored her. Merry thought that Estella could have easily been mistaken for a small version of Galadriel. Taking her small hand and kissing it, he led her down the long corridor towards the gardens.
If there were a garden in all of Middle Earth that was deemed the most beautiful, then it would have been these of Mirkwood. King Thranduil went to great lengths to make the gardens more beautiful than those of Rivendell because of his jealousy of Lord Elrond. The king smiled deeply when he saw his guests' eyes widen in surprise while they took in the beauty of the gardens. He stood and graciously welcomed his guests.
Every flower was especially matched and crossbred to its perfection and arranged by its height and size. Waves of color adorned the edges of the pathway leading to an open courtyard with babbling brooks running throughout the gardens. Small bridges of colorful stone and craftsmanship led to other pathways of gardens of great splendor. Trees were trimmed and pruned to the utmost perfection. The bushes with an artist's flare were cut in wonderful shapes and designs. Here, even the horizon burst into wondrous colors of red hue as the sun set in the horizon.
Before the hobbits were seated at the table, the servants began lighting the candles and torches, giving a romantic feeling and softness to the atmosphere. The servants escorted their guests to their seats after the hobbits imitated Aragorn as he bowed in greeting to King Thranduil before he sat. King Thranduil was shocked to see that one of the hobbits was a woman -and a beautiful one at that. He admired her in her new elvish dress as Merry sat proudly next to her. Trays of food were brought out by the servants and presented to their guests. The hobbit's eyes beamed at seeing such wonderful dishes of elvish foods. They trusted Merry and Pippin's opinion about the splendor of such dishes.
Excusing himself from the table and taking a heaping plate of the best foods that Mirkwood had to offer, Legolas bowed to his father and left the courtyard. Legolas joined Gimli privately in his room to eat his supper with his most cherished friend.
Aragorn and King Thranduil talked between themselves for most of the evening about their kingdoms and stories of Rivendell, in which the King of Mirkwood listened intently. Aragorn changed the subject quickly by asking him, "I was wondering if your master swordsman, Elthrone, was still here? I met him years ago when I was a ranger, living in Rivendell."
"Yes, he teaches our younger elves how to handle their swords properly. You can find him in the next garden courtyard over there shortly after breakfast."
~*~
Stopping occasionally to steal a kiss from her, Merry led Estella around the courtyard. Pippin smiled as he watched to two from a distance, and he knew that Merry had finally found his happiness. Pippin joined Aragorn as King Thranduil excused himself for the evening. The two friends made plans to leave for Gondor after they captured the stallion for Merry.
"He looks happy doesn't he, Aragorn?" Pippin inquired.
"Yes, that he does. Estella is a wonderful young woman. Merry deserves all the happiness he can find."
"There is only one thing left to do." Pippin paused. "You need to marry them."
Aragorn smiled with delight. "Just as soon as they ask me too, I would be greatly honored." He lifted his eyebrows to the hobbit standing next to him.
"Then I will make sure that they do before we leave Mirkwood."
"Now Pippin, I do not think that they need any help from you on this. They may have their own plans." Aragorn glanced at him, suspicious.
Pippin only smiled, but Aragorn knew this impish hobbit better.
~*~
Rising in the eastern sky, the sun greeted the awakening birds from their nests as they all broke out in song for a new day. The morning was a blaze of color, and flowers in the garden opened their petals wide to drink in the morning dew. A gentle cool morning breeze drifted over the gardens that stirred the plants and bushes. Aragorn found Nibs sitting in the gardens alone, and he sat along side of him, handing him a cane to support his weak legs.
"Would you care to take a walk with me, Nibs?" He motioned Nibs towards the pathway gardens.
"I have nothing else to do," he replied as he nodded weakly. Nibs seemed defeated, filled with despair at his loss.
Aragorn helped him to stand and handed him his cane. He supported Nibs while he took a few steps. Nibs pushed Aragorn's hand away slightly to gesture to him he wanted to walk alone. Aragorn was encouraged that the hobbit still had some fight in him rather than giving up entirely.
Aragorn spied two elves practicing their sword strategies as they worked out fiercely with each other, just as King Thranduil told him last night.
"Let's watch them for awhile," Aragorn said while he gestured for Nibs to sit down next to him.
The movements of the warriors were magnificent which greatly impressed Aragorn by their sword handling and their shields. Seeing that the older elf was a high master with a sword, the two spectators noticed that he taught the younger elf how to defend himself.
Thinking to himself, Nibs fancied that he had a great talent in sword skills. Merry taught him well how to handle a sword and he caught on to it with ease. Nibs loved the feel of a sword in his hand, rather than a hoe or a rake that his father wanted for him, being a farmer. Before Merry brought him to get the horses, he thought he would be happy with his father's plan, but now he wanted more in his life than just that. After seeing what existed outside of the Shire, he was reluctant to go home.
Nibs commented to Aragorn about the wonderful moves that the master was performing as he easily abated his opponent. Aragorn watched Nibs intently. For the first time since his awakening, Aragorn saw happiness in his eyes and delighted with every movement the master made with his sword.
Aragorn would inform Nibs about the mistakes the student made as the master lunged his sword this way and that, but the student would miss his mark. Nibs looked up at Aragorn and smiled at him. He enjoyed his company as they both sat by each other and watched the elves.
When the session was over, the master swordsman approached Aragorn and Nibs. Setting his sword and shield on the bench next to them, Nibs gasped as he saw that the master swordsman only had one hand. His other was cut off almost at the elbow.
Staring in disbelief, Nibs could not comprehend how the master swordsman could perform such feats with only one hand.
"Do not concern yourself with this," he said, holding up his stub arm. "I lost this in a great battle with a remarkable enemy-a dragon." He widened his eyes as he spoke of this frightful creature. "It was well over a hundred and half years ago," the master said while he took off his robe and loosened his boots.
Watching him intently, the master swordsman did not need any help with anything while Nibs could not handle even the simplest tasks on his own. Lowering his head in shame, Nibs did not want to face the master swordsman.
"My name is Elthrone, and I would like to teach you, Nibs. If you agree?"
Nibs thought on it a moment, weighing the proposal. "...Yes... Yes, I would like that every much," Nibs answered, looking up into the eyes of Elthrone with a bit of shyness in his tone.
"Then I will leave you to your teacher," Aragorn stated proudly and walked away.
~*~
Running down the long corridor to Merry's room, Pippin raced with excitement and anticipation in his plans to get Merry to ask Estella to wed him.
Knocking on the door lightly, he waited for Merry to answer. When he greeted Merry with a huge smile on his face, he was only met by a frown.
"Now is that any way to greet your cousin, Merry?" Pippin asked, feeling a bit discarded.
"I am sorry, Pip. I was expecting someone else." Merry looked over Pippin and down the corridor to see if anyone else was there.
"You mean like Estella?" Pippin snickered.
"No, I mean yes, but just not right now," Merry said as he continued to look up and down the corridor.
Pippin burst past Merry, walking in to his room and began looking about as he gathered his thoughts in what he was going to tell him.
"Pippin, is there something that you wanted?" Merry asked as he watched Pippin going through some of his things.
"No, not really. I just wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Estella and you?" Pippin started and continued, "I saw you both last night and it seems to me that you two have become very close to each other. I was wondering if you are going to ask her to marry you...soon."
"Pippin, that is no concern of yours," Merry snickered knowing what a busybody Pippin could be.
"Look Merry, Estella loves you and I know you two were made for each other. Anyway," Pippin pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Merry, "I purchased this for you in Gondor when Diamond and I first arrived there. I thought you would want something very special for her. So I took the liberty of getting this for you."
Merry opened the box and took out the diamond ring. The diamond was a perfect cut that glimmered in radiant beauty set in a delicate gold band.
"I even had it engraved for you. Read it," Pippin urged with a sly smile on his lips.
"My love forever." he read. "What is this next to it?"
"Well, it is supposed to be the Brandybuck coat of arms, but the imbecile could not get it right," Pippin chuckled.
"Pippin, I do not know what to say." Merry fumbled with the ring in between his fingers and bit his lip in awe.
"You can take it and give it to Estella and make her your wife. I want you happy, Merry, and you deserve having someone like Estella to share your life with. As long as I am married, you might as well be too." Pippin paused a moment and he continued, "Besides, Aragorn is here and Mirkwood is so beautiful, you might as well get married here, surrounded by all your closest friends. Come on, Merry, what do you say?"
A sudden knock was at the door, and Merry rushed to answer it. The dressmaker carried in two beautiful gowns and set them on the bed. One dress was a lovely blue ball gown and the other was a white silk wedding gown with a full lace veil with a small crown of golden leaves.
"Oh, I see, it looks like you already have your mind made up. I guess I did not need to encourage you." Pippin winked up at Merry with delight.
"No, Pippin. You did not need to help me with this. I love her and I was going to ask her to marry me tonight." Merry declared. "Thank you for this ring; it is perfect just as it is. I could not have picked out a better one."
"You can thank Diamond; she picked it out for you to give to Estella," Pippin added.
"So you two had it figured out all the time?" Merry knew that Pippin understood him all too well.
"So why are you standing here? Estella is in the garden at breakfast, go to her and ask her now. We have a wedding to plan," Pippin impatiently told him while he patted him on the back and headed towards the gardens with the biggest smile on his face.
Opening the pocket and placing the ring inside, he refolded the dress, placing it into a box. Merry almost danced down the corridor with the box in his arms, heading to the gardens.
After finding his friends who had began breakfast without him, he approached Estella, sitting with a group of female elves laughing as she held an infant elf in her arms. Seeing Merry, Estella handed the baby to the one of the elves, who tucked the infant in her arms and walked away.
Looking up at Merry, Aragorn noticed that he seemed very nervous as he sat next to Estella placing the large, flat box on the table. He thought as he gazed at Estella that this is the happiest day of his life. Pausing to collect his thoughts, he looked deeply into her eyes.
Watching in anticipation, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and all the hobbits waited for Merry to speak, no more so than Pippin who knew what he was about to say.
"I remembered what you told me about your dress that Diamond gave you. That if it was ever stained or ruined, it would make you cry. I could not bear for you to cry, since it was ruined when we first started out on getting these horses...I had the elves make you another that I hope you will love just as much." Merry opened the box and presented it to her.
Gasping, Estella held the dress up next to her. The long blue folds of the dress shimmered like the sun on top of a rippling river on a hot summer day, the silky softness gently caressing her fingers as she held it in her hands. She wrapped her arms around Merry and kissed him with such passion that it was hard for him to let her go.
Taking her hands in his, Merry continued, "Estella, I also have something else for you in the pocket."
Reaching into the pocket and pulling out a diamond ring masterfully cut to perfection and mounted on a delicate golden band, her hands shook as she read words on the band, "My love forever."
Taking her shaking hand and kneeling before her, he said, "I promise you my love forever, to share my life as my wife. I promise never to leave your side again, if you will marry me."
Lowering herself onto Merry's knee and wrapping her arms around Merry's neck, she began kissing him passionately. Merry held her tightly in his arms, as he too fought the tears of joy that wanted to fall from his eyes.
Pippin yelled out, "Does that mean yes?"
Estella, looking up at Fredegar, who smiled back down at her, nodded his head. Estella cried, "Yes, Merry, I will marry you."
Pippin and Aragorn shouted with joy and congratulated the couple.
"We have a wedding to plan!" Pippin proclaimed with delight. "Aragorn will marry you here in the gardens of Mirkwood."
"Now, Pippin, that would be up to Merry to decide," Aragorn reprimanded him.
"Estella, would you marry me here in Mirkwood?" Merry asked her.
"Yes, and I would be honored to have King Aragorn marry us." Estella smiled up at Aragorn whom she admired most of all. "I could wear this lovely dress for our wedding."
"Actually, I took the liberty and had the elves design a wedding dress just for you," Merry admitted to her and escorted her to his room to show her.
He let Pippin and Aragorn arrange the wedding that was to happen just before the grand ball the following day.
