A/N: Finally!!!!
Here's the chapter that it seems everyone has been waiting on. It's based on a traditional royal wedding, so I hope it's what everyone expected.
As always, R&R (and no that's not rest and relaxation)
Samantha
Part 63.
The next morning Arwen rose early and took a walk through the gardens of Gondor. A pair of Elven soldiers followed her movements, intent on keeping her safe from harm.
Dew still rested upon the grass and leaves and flowers, dampening the hem of her dress. With Elessar the falcon flying at her side she walked to the fountain once more, trailing her fingers in the clear waters.
After a time Galadriel came to sit beside her. "Child are you having second thoughts?"
"No grandmother, I am not." Arwen told her, shaking her head. "I am just enjoying the quiet."
"Come then, Evenstar. We must dress you for your wedding." With those words Arwen allowed Galadriel to lead her from the gardens and back to her chambers.
As midday neared Galadriel and Arwen's own hand maidens, who had traveled from Rivendell dressed Arwen and braided her hair with sparkling white jewels which shone like stars when they were placed against her dark hair.
The dress Galadriel had made for her was of silvery white cloth, with a belt of silver made to fit around her slim waist. It reached the floor, swishing over her white sandles.
The circlet of silver, given to Arwen by Galadriel, was set in her hair, so that the white jewel lay upon her forehead, shining with its own radiance.
As they ladies finished with Arwen's attire, Lord Elrond knocked at the door.
Galadriel let him in then ushered the hand maidens out, back to their own chamber, and then she too left the room, allowing father and daughter some privacy.
Elornd smiled at his daughter, his baby daughter. The little girl whom he had once held aloft to the people of Rivendell, so that they could welcome her to Middle Earth. Now, two thousand, seven hundred, and seventy-seven years later he gazed upon her, prepared to marry the newly crowned King of Gondor.
"Where has the time gone Arwen? Where now are the years of your childhood? I did not think you would be so grown up now." He asked her.
"Time has always been ours, Ada." She told him, moving to sit upon the bed.
"I have just come from Aragorn's side. He asked me to return this to you." Elrond told her, holding the Evenstar necklace in his hand.
Arwen turned away from him, allowing her to drape the chain about her neck, and fix the clasp on it. The necklace glowed as it recognised her, resting in the place it always had.
"What will happen when I sail for the Undying Lands to be with your mother again, Arwen?"
"Then our time, like the time for so many other things in this Middle Earth, will be over. You will meet with Naneth again in Valinor and I will remain here, until the end of time if that is what the Valar wills." Arwen said softly. *Mother.*
"We need not say our good byes now father. You will not sail for several more years, not now that Middle Earth is safe and peaceful once more."
"A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn?" Elrond asked his daughter, who would soon become the Queen of Gondor. *Do I not also have your love?*
"Gerich meleth nîn, Ada." Arwen said to him, tears running down her cheeks. *You have my love, Father.*
Surprised to see her tears, Elrond pulled Arwen to him, her head resting against his chest. "Be still, my daughter. You are right. I will not sail for the Undying Lands for several years which are yet to come. I will remain in Middle Earth for a time longer."
As he finished speaking there were a series of knocks at the door. Hurriedly Arwen brushed her tears away from her face, and hid her sorrow so deep inside herself that none would be able to see it.
She allowed her father to answer the door, but only her grandparents stood there.
"Arwen, are you ready now? It is almost time." Galadriel told her.
Arwen nodded, smoothing her skirt over her hips, and adjusting the lay of the silver belt. "I am ready."
Galadriel smiled, "Not just yet. Sit for a moment Arwen and we will finish your dressing."
A little unsure, Arwen obliged and sat on the bed once more, while Galadriel fixed the white and silver veils over her face, and transparent veils embroidered with more white gemstones over her granddaughter's hair.
Elrond took her by hand, helping her up. "You have never looked more lovely, nin iell. Now let us go, for the hour grows late." *My daughter.*
With those words the four Elves left Arwen's chambers, and walked out into the sunshine where Aragorn, their friends, and the people of Gondor awaited them.
When Arwen and Elrond reached the crowd, and began to walk together, down the aisle to where Aragorn waited, with Gandalf standing before him the crowd of people surrounding them grew silent, as though transfixed by the beauty and grace of the woman, the Elven Lady who would become the Queen of Gondor.
Many gasped or sighed as she passed, dressed in silvery white, with stars in her hair, and a white jewel shining from the silver chain about her neck.
When Arwen and Elrond reached Aragorn at the other end of the aisle, Elrond turned to his daughter and kissed her cheek, before placing her hand in Aragorn's. Then he stood to the side with Galadriel and Celeborn to watch the rest of the ceremony.
"Lords and Ladies, men and women. People of Gondor, Ithilien, Dol Amroth, Rohan, Dunedain, The Shire, Erebor, Mirkwood, Lothlorien and Rivendell.
You have been summoned here today to witness the marriage of Elessar Envinyatar Telcontar, Aragorn, son of Arathorn of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor, the King of Gondor, and Lord of the Western Lands, to Lady Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian, descended from Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, Earendil the Mariner and Elwing the White, of the line of the Elven Lady Luthien Tinuviel, daughter of Thingol, King of the Elves in Middle Earth." With those words the people began to cheer. Through her veils Arwen smiled.
"The King Elessar, and Lady Arwen will recite their own vows." Gandalf finished, once the noise of the crowd had abated.
Arwen and Aragorn turned to each other, while Frodo, as Ringbearer, passed them the rings, gifts to them from the Elves.
"Dear Lady, long has it been since the night I first laid eyes on you. Full of youth, I thought you to be Luthien. Instead you told me your name and I fell in love with you. Years later, in far off Rivendell you joined nine others, including myself on the quest to destroy the One Ring. You provided us with hope, with light in dark places, and with mirth went all seemed forsaken. You rode by my side into the very fires of Mordor during the war, with the Grey Company as we passed through the Paths of the Death, and at the same time giving your aid to the Ringbearer on his quest.
In Helm's Deep I swore an oath to you. I said that I would not leave you until our time in Middle Earth is through, and the last moments of our lives are well and truly spent. To that I hold, Queen of my Heart." Aragorn said to her, sliding one of the rings onto her finger.
Arwen took a breath before speaking her vows. "In Edoras I gave to you my necklace, the Evenstar as a symbol of hope, and of my love for you. I told you to look to the light, when you worried about despair. I chose to give it to you, because it is mine to give, and like my heart, I gave it to you.
Long ago I told you that I would bind myself to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, forsaking the immortal life of my people. To this I hold. I shall not be further from this from your side, ere our time in this place ends in the far distant future." With shaking fingers Arwen slid the band of silver onto his finger. As she looked down upon it she saw that it was Narya, the Ring of Fire, one of the three Elven Rings of Power.
Gandalf cleared his throat, and raised his arms. "With great pleasure, I pronounce you man and wife. Elessar, you may kiss your bride."
Aragorn smiled as he let go of Arwen's hand, and lifted the veils back so that they lay down over her hair. Then he leaned down and kissed her, laying a hand on her cheek.
"May I present to the people, King Elessar Telcontar, and his Queen Arwen Undomiel!" Gandalf cried, as they turned and walked back down the aisle, this time as man and wife.
The pair were greeted by many as they walked, people calling out congratulations and compliments with each step they took. Both Arwen and Aragorn smiled to see their friends and traveling companions waiting for them at the end of the aisle, as well as Arwen's father, brothers and grandparents.
Aragorn bowed to them accordingly, while Arwen reached out to embrace each of them.
Elladan and Elrohir, reached out to embrace their younger sister, and then the man whom they had always known of as their foster brother, so different from the man who stood there in front of them.
Once finished with her family, Arwen turned to hug each of the hobbits, her kinsman Legolas, and Gimli. As she hugged him she placed a kiss on his forehead, making the Dwarf blush. Then she turned to Gandalf, looking up at him and smiling. Then she hugged him, holding tight to the Istari, silently thanking him for all he had done for her, and for Middle Earth.
She turned to her husband allowing him to hold her hand aloft. "Do all make welcome the new Queen of Gondor?" He called to his people. They cheered in response, and Aragorn, Elessar smiled at her. "Then let the celebrations begin!"
The rest of the day was filled with dancing and laughter, food and drink, and merriment.
As the sky grew dark in the twilight lanterns were lit to prolong the celebrations, while when the stars rose Gandalf displayed a cart of fireworks he had brought.
For hours Arwen and Aragorn, along with all of their guests watched as the fireworks exploded across the sky, showing down in rains of flowers or sparkles, or golden rain which never seemed to dampen anything, though the children stood with their mouths turned towards the sky hoping to catch some of the golden rain.
Arwen smiled as she twisted the ring on her finger, then looked up at Aragorn. "Hir-nin, have you ever seen these rings before?"* My Lord.*
"No dear Lady, I have not. If you don't like it I can have another made for you." He answered.
"It is not that I don't like it, but these rings, your is Narya, the Ring of Fire, mine is Nenya, the Ring of Water. These rings belonged to Cirdan, the Shipwright, and Galadriel respectively. I wonder why they have been given to us." Arwen told him.
"Because when I leave Middle Earth I shall not need Nenya anymore, Arwen." Galadriel told her. "I do not need it now, just as Cirdan needs Narya no longer."
"When I sail for Valinor Arwen, I will not leave you entirely." Elrond said, taking his daughter's hand and looking upon Nenya, her wedding band. "With the Elven Rings of Power, our own powers should be strong enough that we may speak to each other, projecting our thoughts across the Sea."
Arwen smiled. "Then I thank you Ada, and you too Galadriel. Never more will any be able to say that I shall be left without my kin, for you will always be with me, if ever I need your guidence."
Here's the chapter that it seems everyone has been waiting on. It's based on a traditional royal wedding, so I hope it's what everyone expected.
As always, R&R (and no that's not rest and relaxation)
Samantha
Part 63.
The next morning Arwen rose early and took a walk through the gardens of Gondor. A pair of Elven soldiers followed her movements, intent on keeping her safe from harm.
Dew still rested upon the grass and leaves and flowers, dampening the hem of her dress. With Elessar the falcon flying at her side she walked to the fountain once more, trailing her fingers in the clear waters.
After a time Galadriel came to sit beside her. "Child are you having second thoughts?"
"No grandmother, I am not." Arwen told her, shaking her head. "I am just enjoying the quiet."
"Come then, Evenstar. We must dress you for your wedding." With those words Arwen allowed Galadriel to lead her from the gardens and back to her chambers.
As midday neared Galadriel and Arwen's own hand maidens, who had traveled from Rivendell dressed Arwen and braided her hair with sparkling white jewels which shone like stars when they were placed against her dark hair.
The dress Galadriel had made for her was of silvery white cloth, with a belt of silver made to fit around her slim waist. It reached the floor, swishing over her white sandles.
The circlet of silver, given to Arwen by Galadriel, was set in her hair, so that the white jewel lay upon her forehead, shining with its own radiance.
As they ladies finished with Arwen's attire, Lord Elrond knocked at the door.
Galadriel let him in then ushered the hand maidens out, back to their own chamber, and then she too left the room, allowing father and daughter some privacy.
Elornd smiled at his daughter, his baby daughter. The little girl whom he had once held aloft to the people of Rivendell, so that they could welcome her to Middle Earth. Now, two thousand, seven hundred, and seventy-seven years later he gazed upon her, prepared to marry the newly crowned King of Gondor.
"Where has the time gone Arwen? Where now are the years of your childhood? I did not think you would be so grown up now." He asked her.
"Time has always been ours, Ada." She told him, moving to sit upon the bed.
"I have just come from Aragorn's side. He asked me to return this to you." Elrond told her, holding the Evenstar necklace in his hand.
Arwen turned away from him, allowing her to drape the chain about her neck, and fix the clasp on it. The necklace glowed as it recognised her, resting in the place it always had.
"What will happen when I sail for the Undying Lands to be with your mother again, Arwen?"
"Then our time, like the time for so many other things in this Middle Earth, will be over. You will meet with Naneth again in Valinor and I will remain here, until the end of time if that is what the Valar wills." Arwen said softly. *Mother.*
"We need not say our good byes now father. You will not sail for several more years, not now that Middle Earth is safe and peaceful once more."
"A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn?" Elrond asked his daughter, who would soon become the Queen of Gondor. *Do I not also have your love?*
"Gerich meleth nîn, Ada." Arwen said to him, tears running down her cheeks. *You have my love, Father.*
Surprised to see her tears, Elrond pulled Arwen to him, her head resting against his chest. "Be still, my daughter. You are right. I will not sail for the Undying Lands for several years which are yet to come. I will remain in Middle Earth for a time longer."
As he finished speaking there were a series of knocks at the door. Hurriedly Arwen brushed her tears away from her face, and hid her sorrow so deep inside herself that none would be able to see it.
She allowed her father to answer the door, but only her grandparents stood there.
"Arwen, are you ready now? It is almost time." Galadriel told her.
Arwen nodded, smoothing her skirt over her hips, and adjusting the lay of the silver belt. "I am ready."
Galadriel smiled, "Not just yet. Sit for a moment Arwen and we will finish your dressing."
A little unsure, Arwen obliged and sat on the bed once more, while Galadriel fixed the white and silver veils over her face, and transparent veils embroidered with more white gemstones over her granddaughter's hair.
Elrond took her by hand, helping her up. "You have never looked more lovely, nin iell. Now let us go, for the hour grows late." *My daughter.*
With those words the four Elves left Arwen's chambers, and walked out into the sunshine where Aragorn, their friends, and the people of Gondor awaited them.
When Arwen and Elrond reached the crowd, and began to walk together, down the aisle to where Aragorn waited, with Gandalf standing before him the crowd of people surrounding them grew silent, as though transfixed by the beauty and grace of the woman, the Elven Lady who would become the Queen of Gondor.
Many gasped or sighed as she passed, dressed in silvery white, with stars in her hair, and a white jewel shining from the silver chain about her neck.
When Arwen and Elrond reached Aragorn at the other end of the aisle, Elrond turned to his daughter and kissed her cheek, before placing her hand in Aragorn's. Then he stood to the side with Galadriel and Celeborn to watch the rest of the ceremony.
"Lords and Ladies, men and women. People of Gondor, Ithilien, Dol Amroth, Rohan, Dunedain, The Shire, Erebor, Mirkwood, Lothlorien and Rivendell.
You have been summoned here today to witness the marriage of Elessar Envinyatar Telcontar, Aragorn, son of Arathorn of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor, the King of Gondor, and Lord of the Western Lands, to Lady Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian, descended from Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, Earendil the Mariner and Elwing the White, of the line of the Elven Lady Luthien Tinuviel, daughter of Thingol, King of the Elves in Middle Earth." With those words the people began to cheer. Through her veils Arwen smiled.
"The King Elessar, and Lady Arwen will recite their own vows." Gandalf finished, once the noise of the crowd had abated.
Arwen and Aragorn turned to each other, while Frodo, as Ringbearer, passed them the rings, gifts to them from the Elves.
"Dear Lady, long has it been since the night I first laid eyes on you. Full of youth, I thought you to be Luthien. Instead you told me your name and I fell in love with you. Years later, in far off Rivendell you joined nine others, including myself on the quest to destroy the One Ring. You provided us with hope, with light in dark places, and with mirth went all seemed forsaken. You rode by my side into the very fires of Mordor during the war, with the Grey Company as we passed through the Paths of the Death, and at the same time giving your aid to the Ringbearer on his quest.
In Helm's Deep I swore an oath to you. I said that I would not leave you until our time in Middle Earth is through, and the last moments of our lives are well and truly spent. To that I hold, Queen of my Heart." Aragorn said to her, sliding one of the rings onto her finger.
Arwen took a breath before speaking her vows. "In Edoras I gave to you my necklace, the Evenstar as a symbol of hope, and of my love for you. I told you to look to the light, when you worried about despair. I chose to give it to you, because it is mine to give, and like my heart, I gave it to you.
Long ago I told you that I would bind myself to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, forsaking the immortal life of my people. To this I hold. I shall not be further from this from your side, ere our time in this place ends in the far distant future." With shaking fingers Arwen slid the band of silver onto his finger. As she looked down upon it she saw that it was Narya, the Ring of Fire, one of the three Elven Rings of Power.
Gandalf cleared his throat, and raised his arms. "With great pleasure, I pronounce you man and wife. Elessar, you may kiss your bride."
Aragorn smiled as he let go of Arwen's hand, and lifted the veils back so that they lay down over her hair. Then he leaned down and kissed her, laying a hand on her cheek.
"May I present to the people, King Elessar Telcontar, and his Queen Arwen Undomiel!" Gandalf cried, as they turned and walked back down the aisle, this time as man and wife.
The pair were greeted by many as they walked, people calling out congratulations and compliments with each step they took. Both Arwen and Aragorn smiled to see their friends and traveling companions waiting for them at the end of the aisle, as well as Arwen's father, brothers and grandparents.
Aragorn bowed to them accordingly, while Arwen reached out to embrace each of them.
Elladan and Elrohir, reached out to embrace their younger sister, and then the man whom they had always known of as their foster brother, so different from the man who stood there in front of them.
Once finished with her family, Arwen turned to hug each of the hobbits, her kinsman Legolas, and Gimli. As she hugged him she placed a kiss on his forehead, making the Dwarf blush. Then she turned to Gandalf, looking up at him and smiling. Then she hugged him, holding tight to the Istari, silently thanking him for all he had done for her, and for Middle Earth.
She turned to her husband allowing him to hold her hand aloft. "Do all make welcome the new Queen of Gondor?" He called to his people. They cheered in response, and Aragorn, Elessar smiled at her. "Then let the celebrations begin!"
The rest of the day was filled with dancing and laughter, food and drink, and merriment.
As the sky grew dark in the twilight lanterns were lit to prolong the celebrations, while when the stars rose Gandalf displayed a cart of fireworks he had brought.
For hours Arwen and Aragorn, along with all of their guests watched as the fireworks exploded across the sky, showing down in rains of flowers or sparkles, or golden rain which never seemed to dampen anything, though the children stood with their mouths turned towards the sky hoping to catch some of the golden rain.
Arwen smiled as she twisted the ring on her finger, then looked up at Aragorn. "Hir-nin, have you ever seen these rings before?"* My Lord.*
"No dear Lady, I have not. If you don't like it I can have another made for you." He answered.
"It is not that I don't like it, but these rings, your is Narya, the Ring of Fire, mine is Nenya, the Ring of Water. These rings belonged to Cirdan, the Shipwright, and Galadriel respectively. I wonder why they have been given to us." Arwen told him.
"Because when I leave Middle Earth I shall not need Nenya anymore, Arwen." Galadriel told her. "I do not need it now, just as Cirdan needs Narya no longer."
"When I sail for Valinor Arwen, I will not leave you entirely." Elrond said, taking his daughter's hand and looking upon Nenya, her wedding band. "With the Elven Rings of Power, our own powers should be strong enough that we may speak to each other, projecting our thoughts across the Sea."
Arwen smiled. "Then I thank you Ada, and you too Galadriel. Never more will any be able to say that I shall be left without my kin, for you will always be with me, if ever I need your guidence."