Elessar and Evenstar Tie the Knot

By The Last Evenstar

Chapter Two: The Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

Aragorn surveyed the room with appraising eyes. "Far grander than what I've grown accustomed to."

Legolas laughed in a friendly manner. "You had best get used to it soon, King of Gondor!"

Gimli, for one, was less concerned with the elaborately decorated room than with the purpose for which it had been adorned. "What are we waiting for? Let's have us some ale!"

Elrohir shuddered at the mention of the vile drink. "No thanks! Only pure Miruvor for me!"

Gimli shrugged and plopped himself down at the low wooden table. "You elves!"

Elrond, popping his head into the room, narrowed his eyes at the crowd of men. He turned his focus on the groom. "Aragorn, I'm going to let you and your companions have fun tonight, but be warned, for I will be watching you at all times." Aragorn saw Faramir wince at the thought. "And Arwen will be having her bachelorette party in the next room, so mind you keep it down!" With that pronouncement, he turned on his heel and glided silently away.

Faramir shuddered. "That is one creepy father-in-law I'm glad I don't have!"

Eomer looked disgusted. "Man, Wingfoot, you've really screwed yourself! Your fiancée in the next room and her father watching us like the eye of Sauron? This'll be a great party, all right!"

Arwen looked with apprehension at the eager faces before her. She didn't recognize a single maiden; they were all distant cousins and daughters of her father's friends. They looked at her as if expecting something.

She tried a greeting. "Um, hello! Thank you for coming!"

A blond elf-maiden to her left spoke up. "Not at all, Undomiel! We of the royal family of Mirkwood are all so, er, happy for you!" She and her look-alikes began to titter. "Where did you register?"

"Register?"

A willowy cousin rose. "Register for gifts! I hope you went to Black Gate & Barrel – they're the best for household supplies!"

A redhead to her right scoffed. "Eru, can you BE any more naïve? She's going to be a queen! She doesn't need PLATES!" She turned to Arwen conspiratorially. "I'll bet you registered at Tiffany, right?"

Arwen felt flustered. "I didn't register anywhere. Was it really necessary?"

The whole congregation gasped collectively. "How – how will you know what you got?" whispered a young elf tremulously.

Arwen shrugged, confused by their attitude. "I don't really care all that much. The important thing is - "

"She's right!" The redhead stood again. "The MOST important thing is her dress. I'm sure everyone picked out nice gifts, but the perfect dress must have taken you ages to find! What does it look like?"

Arwen was glad of a question she could answer. "It didn't take ages at all! I went shopping with Gran a few afternoons ago. We found a nice little cream dress with a small train."

"Not white?"

"We couldn't find anything in white."

"But – but what will people THINK?" gasped a petite brunette.

"That I couldn't find anything nice in white?"

The conspiratorial redhead lowered her nose so she was face-to-face with Arwen. "They'll think you're not a virgin!"

Arwen gasped, her cheeks blotting red. "Is that the custom?"

"It is where I come from!" Nods came from around the room.

Arwen blushed. "Gran didn't say anything . . ."

"Well, she's very perceptive, Galadriel is." The redhead lowered her voice. "Do you think she might have . . . sensed something?"

Several elves shrieked.

Arwen lowered her eyes. "I'm not going to say anything until I've had a lot more to drink!"

Aragorn slammed his head down on the wooden table. His bachelor party was in full swing, and he wasn't having a bit of fun. Over in the center of the room, Eomer, Faramir, and a bunch of other warlords were dancing drunkenly to Eomer's heavy metal CDs. He groaned and held his head in his hands. I'm supposed to be having fun! This is my bachelor party, for Eru's sake!

Legolas came over and sat down, two drinks in his hands. He passed one to the scowling ranger. "What's getting you down?"

Aragorn shrugged. "I don't know! I mean, this is my one and only bachelor party! It's supposed to be fun!"

Legolas shook his head. "I don't think this is really your scene. You're a ranger; you prefer solitude, and open lands." The Elf grinned suddenly. "Not getting nervous about the big day, are you?"

Aragorn shook his head. "I'd much rather it come sooner than go through another hour of this." As if to prove his point, Gimli fell off of the bar top on which he had been dancing in his underwear. "I don't even want to know how that was started."

"I heard Eomer hired strippers. They should be here any minute now."

Aragorn looked incredulously at the Elf and took a long gulp of his drink. "WHAT?!?!"

Next up, Aragorn turns to alcohol to get through his "party" - a wise decision, considering he's getting married in the morning? And, is Eowyn hatching an evil plot? Plus, Arwen makes a shocking confession that ends in disaster!