Elessar and Evenstar Tie the Knot
By The Last Evenstar
Thanks to all my wonderful, if few, reviewers, esp. Cerriwen for reviewing me twice! You are all invited to the wedding!
Chapter Six: Plans Go Awry
Elrond met Eowyn on the outer wall. "Well?" he asked. "What happened?"
She pursed her lips. "Nothing. I tried to get in but they were already there. We need an alternative plan of action."
"And your Faramir suspects nothing?"
She bit her lip. "No, I don't think so. I thought for sure he would catch on when I got Eomer to hire the strippers, but no dice. More's the better!"
Elrond stared at the maiden in front of him. "Do I know you?"
"Oh, Eru, you're still funny in the head, aren't you?"
His face lit up with realization. "Are you my FATHER?"
"And to think you're an Elven noble," she muttered. "Listen, I'm Eowyn, remember? We're stopping the wedding together!"
He frowned. "I think I remember. Oh, yes, I do! Galadriel! How's the mirror?"
"I AM NOT GALADRIEL!"
"Oooh . . ." Elrond screwed up his face in concentration. "Eowyn! We're stopping the wedding!"
She sighed with relief. "Good, good. All right, here's the plan: Aragorn should be in his chambers, preparing and washing up. Go and lock him in, or do something so he can't get out. Elven magic or whatnot."
"Right."
"I think your mother-in-law, what's-her-name with the white hair, is beginning to suspect something. I'll take care of her. Then we meet back here to discuss our next step: kidnapping the officiant."
Aragorn pulled on a fresh tunic, humming. His headache was still bad, but he felt much better after seeing Arwen. The cold shower had also helped.
Just then, he heard a knock on the door. "Enter!"
Legolas came in, followed by a wary Halbarad. Upon seeing him, both gasped.
"Aragorn!" Legolas sounded dismayed. "You dyed your hair!" He pointed to the king's head, several shades lighter that what he had always known.
Aragorn looked confused. "No, I didn't! It's always been this color!"
"You must have! Hair just doesn't DO that!"
Halbarad stepped in. "I think I know. The same thing happened to me once. Aragorn did you bathe this morning?"
"Yes . . ."
Halbarad grinned. "Your hair was always this color! You just washed all the grime out of it!"
Legolas looked relieved. "Oh, I see. How does your head feel?"
Aragorn groaned. "Thanks for reminding me; I had just gotten my mind off it."
The Elf thought. "There must be a remedy somewhere. We can't just let you have a hangover on your wedding day." He turned to leave the room.
Halbarad followed. "Don't forget, ceremony starts in an hour!" He left, winking.
Aragorn laughed. "I'm not going to forget that!"
Almost immediately after the duo had gone, Elrond came in. He appeared focused on something, but stopped short when he saw Aragorn. "Estel! You dyed your hair?"
Aragorn groaned, wondering if he'd be explaining this to everyone. "Just washed it."
Elrond nodded. "All right." Without further ado, he clocked the king on the head with a large stick and sealed the door.
"Lady Undomiel?" A nervous servant popped his head into Arwen's dressing room. "I'm sorry, my Lady, but we have a rather urgent problem . . ."
Arwen turned. "Come in, please! I'm sure it's not so bad . . . " She trailed off, seeing the man's expression.
"I'm so very sorry, Lady, but it seems that more than half the wedding feast has . . . disappeared."
"Disappeared? What do you mean?"
"I . . . I mean it's gone, Lady. Stolen, vanished, the like. Point is, we have not nearly enough to serve all the guests."
Arwen gasped. Think, she told herself. There must be a way. "Do you have any lembas bread?"
He looked confused. "Lam-bass, Lady?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. Can you salvage the remains?"
"It wouldn't make for a filling meal, Lady."
"Is there time enough to attain more food?"
"I don't believe so."
Arwen began to panic. "How could this have happened? What will our guests eat? Oh, Gran!" she called. "Gran, come quickly!"
Galadriel moved silently down the halls, looking every which way for a trace of Elrond or the blond Rohirric maiden. Not finding them in view, she closed her eyes and mentally scanned the place, trying to sense her son-in-law's presence. She found him on the outer wall, waiting – but he was alone. The lass must be somewhere else, up to a mischief that Galadriel was sure she would not find to her taste. She tried again, and shook her head. The place was full of young blond women. How was she to find, or even differentiate, the one she was looking for?
Aha! Galadriel turned. An innocent-looking young maiden was approaching her from behind. Instinctively she knew that this was the one she'd been looking for.
Eowyn turned the corner, and, seeing the white-haired elf, stopped short. She backed up, waiting for her presence to be acknowledged. None came. Could she not have noticed me? she wondered. Moving stealthily, she crept around the corner, a wooden staff drawn. To her amazement, she was able to work her way into striking distance. She raised her staff –
And with a crack, it was broken in two. Eowyn stared; the elf had not touched it. Whirling around, the elf sent her flying to her knees with a quick snap of her hands. She advanced menacingly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Eowyn trembled. No longer did a kind-faced grandmother stand before her; now she saw a warrior, hair on ends, with an angry glint in her eyes. "N-nothing!"
"You cannot lie to me, mortal! Your mind is as open as a prairie sky! You've been trying to sabotage my Arwen's wedding!"
Eowyn gulped. "I'll stop, I promise!"
"Estel does not love you! He respects you, surely, but he gave his whole heart to Arwen decades ago! I was right there watching!"
Eowyn sighed, trying to block her mind against this invader. "All right! I promise, I won't bother you any more!"
Galadriel grinned maliciously. "No, you will not!" With a deft hand movement, she sent Eowyn flying into a nearby broom closet and barricaded the door with her strongest magic.
Will Eowyn cause any more trouble for the bridal party? Will Aragorn manage to escape despite his wicked hangover? And who will feed the guest? Stay tuned . . .