A/N: Don't you just hate procrastination!!
Next part will be the wedding, I promise, in the mean time, read, review and something else that starts with 'r' that I can't think of right now.
Samantha
Part 62.
In high spirits the Elves of Rivendell and Lothlorien travelled South-East, ever towards the realm of Gondor, where Aragorn now dwelled.
As they neared the White City of Minas Tirith, Elladan and Elrohir took up the banner of silver and rode before all of the Elves, announcing their arrival to the City.
After them rode Glorifindel and Erestor, and all of the Elves of Rivendell, and then came the Elves of Lothlorien followed by Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, both riding white horses.
Last of all came Lord Elrond, Master of Lore in Middle Earth, and Master of Rivendell, holding gently the hand of his daughter, the Elven Lady Arwen Undomiel of the joined houses of Rivendell and Lothlorien, the Evenstar of the Elves, riding her faithful mount Nallahir, who had borne her from Rivendell, verily to the end of her journey.
Her clear singing voice filled the air as she rode, hand in hand with her father.
As they approached Aragorn, who waited for them, Arwen sang the last verse of the Lay of Luthien.
*"Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of iron and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more ,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless."*
Halting in front of him Aragorn lifted his hands to Arwen's waist and helped her down from the saddle. Then Elrond took Arwen once more by the hand, laying it in Aragorn's own. In her other hand Arwen held the sceptre given to her by Galadriel, surrendering it to him.
"Welcome to Minas Tirith Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, Lord Elrond and all of the Elves of both Rivendell and Lothlorien." Aragorn called to them. Then to Arwen he said, "Welcome to Minas Tirith, Lady Evenstar. I hope you had a safe journey."
She smiled at him. "Thank you for your hospitality, my Lord." The white stone on the band of silver around her head gleamed like a star in the twilight, while Arwen's attire, different from that which she had worn on her travels with the Fellowship, was an Elven dress of spangled purple, lined with cream.
Holding Arwen's hand gently in his own, and taking the Lady Galadriel's hand in his other, the Elven Lords Elrond and Celeborn holding Arwen's and Galadriel's free hands, respectively. The last of the High Elves in Middle Earth were then led into the High City as stars appeared in the night sky.
That night, all of the Elven Lords and Ladies, along with Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth and Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, King Eomer of Rohan, and his sister Eowyn and the members of the Fellowship of the Ring dined together. Arwen smiled when she entered the room on the arm of her father.
Frodo and Sam both rushed over to embrace her, for neither had found time to thank Arwen for all she had done for them.
Leaving go of Lord Elrond's arm she knelt slightly and hugged both hobbits to her, glad to see that both had recovered from the ills each had sustained on the journey. "It is good to see that you both are well, Master Hobbits." Arwen told them.
"Thank you dear Lady." Frodo said to her. "I could not have done it on my own. Without you, and Sam the quest would have failed."
"All is well now, Frodo Baggins. Do not dwell on the past." Arwen said to him, her voice gentle and soothing.
"I would think we should escort you to the dinner table, Lady Arwen." Sam told her. "It looks as though Lord Elrond is there already."
Arwen smiled and allowed the two hobbits to take her by the hands, and lead her to the table, seating her beside Aragorn. "How have you found Minas Tirith, sweet Lady?" Imrahil asked her, from across the table.
"Minas Tirith is well. I think I will like it here." She answered him.
"Well and good." Elrond said to them. "King Elessar, how are you finding the running of a country?"
"Interesting." He nodded. "Things have happened I never thought I would see. The White Tree grows once more in the Citadel, a sapling, the last of its line. The darkness that threatened this land is all but gone, fading more with every passing day. Gondor will thrive now."
Together they ate and drank, sang and riddled until late into the night.
Next part will be the wedding, I promise, in the mean time, read, review and something else that starts with 'r' that I can't think of right now.
Samantha
Part 62.
In high spirits the Elves of Rivendell and Lothlorien travelled South-East, ever towards the realm of Gondor, where Aragorn now dwelled.
As they neared the White City of Minas Tirith, Elladan and Elrohir took up the banner of silver and rode before all of the Elves, announcing their arrival to the City.
After them rode Glorifindel and Erestor, and all of the Elves of Rivendell, and then came the Elves of Lothlorien followed by Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, both riding white horses.
Last of all came Lord Elrond, Master of Lore in Middle Earth, and Master of Rivendell, holding gently the hand of his daughter, the Elven Lady Arwen Undomiel of the joined houses of Rivendell and Lothlorien, the Evenstar of the Elves, riding her faithful mount Nallahir, who had borne her from Rivendell, verily to the end of her journey.
Her clear singing voice filled the air as she rode, hand in hand with her father.
As they approached Aragorn, who waited for them, Arwen sang the last verse of the Lay of Luthien.
*"Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of iron and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more ,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless."*
Halting in front of him Aragorn lifted his hands to Arwen's waist and helped her down from the saddle. Then Elrond took Arwen once more by the hand, laying it in Aragorn's own. In her other hand Arwen held the sceptre given to her by Galadriel, surrendering it to him.
"Welcome to Minas Tirith Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, Lord Elrond and all of the Elves of both Rivendell and Lothlorien." Aragorn called to them. Then to Arwen he said, "Welcome to Minas Tirith, Lady Evenstar. I hope you had a safe journey."
She smiled at him. "Thank you for your hospitality, my Lord." The white stone on the band of silver around her head gleamed like a star in the twilight, while Arwen's attire, different from that which she had worn on her travels with the Fellowship, was an Elven dress of spangled purple, lined with cream.
Holding Arwen's hand gently in his own, and taking the Lady Galadriel's hand in his other, the Elven Lords Elrond and Celeborn holding Arwen's and Galadriel's free hands, respectively. The last of the High Elves in Middle Earth were then led into the High City as stars appeared in the night sky.
That night, all of the Elven Lords and Ladies, along with Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth and Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, King Eomer of Rohan, and his sister Eowyn and the members of the Fellowship of the Ring dined together. Arwen smiled when she entered the room on the arm of her father.
Frodo and Sam both rushed over to embrace her, for neither had found time to thank Arwen for all she had done for them.
Leaving go of Lord Elrond's arm she knelt slightly and hugged both hobbits to her, glad to see that both had recovered from the ills each had sustained on the journey. "It is good to see that you both are well, Master Hobbits." Arwen told them.
"Thank you dear Lady." Frodo said to her. "I could not have done it on my own. Without you, and Sam the quest would have failed."
"All is well now, Frodo Baggins. Do not dwell on the past." Arwen said to him, her voice gentle and soothing.
"I would think we should escort you to the dinner table, Lady Arwen." Sam told her. "It looks as though Lord Elrond is there already."
Arwen smiled and allowed the two hobbits to take her by the hands, and lead her to the table, seating her beside Aragorn. "How have you found Minas Tirith, sweet Lady?" Imrahil asked her, from across the table.
"Minas Tirith is well. I think I will like it here." She answered him.
"Well and good." Elrond said to them. "King Elessar, how are you finding the running of a country?"
"Interesting." He nodded. "Things have happened I never thought I would see. The White Tree grows once more in the Citadel, a sapling, the last of its line. The darkness that threatened this land is all but gone, fading more with every passing day. Gondor will thrive now."
Together they ate and drank, sang and riddled until late into the night.