The trio thought they were going to leave the next day at noon, but Aragorn
rushed into the guestroom at ten o' clock with important news. He stepped
over the clothing strewn all over the floor (as a good bye gift, the
seamstress had made them all many gorgeous new outfits), smiling broadly.
"You can't leave today! You have to stay," he said breathlessly.
"Why?" inquired Hermione.
"I am getting married!"
"Oh," Hermione lifted one eyebrow, "and who is the bride?"
"Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond of Rivendell, and the most beautiful Elven maiden to grace Middle Earth with her presence. I have loved her for many years, and she in return. She gave me the Evenstar as a token of her love," Aragorn paused and showed them a beautiful silver symbol on a chain around his neck.
"When her father,Elrond, heard of this, he forbade the marriage."
"So you are going to go against his wishes?" Ron asked incredulously.
"No. Arwen begged him to reconsider, and he thought about it for a long time. Yesterday, a messanger arrived bearing two important pieces of news: Elrond gave permission and blessing, and he and his people, including Arwen, are four days away."
Hermione grinned, she was glad Aragorn had a bride who loved him.
Aragorn started pacing, "There is so much to do. Arwen has her wedding dress already, but we need to make all the other clothing for the wedding party. Oh, that reminds me. Hermione, Arwen specifically asked that, if you were willing, you be her maiden of honor. Harry and Ron, I want both of you to be the groom's men. Agreed?"
Without waiting for an answer because he already knew it, he kept talking, "I am glad all the royalty from all over is here because of last night's ball because that way we won't have to invite them all over again. The Great Hall is not big enough to fit everyone in Gondor and the royalty, so Arwen and I have decided to get married in the Courtyard of the White Blossoms, which can hold all of the people and more. So you will stay?" he looked at them with pleading in his eyes, and Hermione had to stifle her giggles because he reminded her of a puppy begging for a treat.
"Of course," Harry replied, "Did you think for one second we would say no?"
"No, but I had to ask," Aragorn replied, mischief twinkling in his eyes.
"I have to go, but come to the citadel for dinner at around six o' clock."
With that, he was gone.
The trio started unpacking, and Hermione found three pillows shoved into one of the bags, "What are these doing here?"
Ron's ears went red as he said, "Well, they are a lot more comfortable than pillows back home, and Aragorn said I could take a few."
Harry and Hermione tried to contain their laughter, with no avail.
"You are so funny, Ron," she said while laughing. Then she threw a pillow at him, and a furious pillow fight began.
The next day Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all still in bed, when a knocking was heard on their door. When not one of them answered (they were all still fast asleep), someone opened the door and came inside. This person went into Ron's room and drew back the velvet curtains-
*meanwhile* Ron was in a stone room, bare of any furnishings or markings. He stood at the end of the room, facing the wall, although he had no idea why. Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up and a chill went down his spine. He had the uncomfortable feeling that he was being watched. He knew someone was behind him, but he really didn't want to turn around and see. He had steeled himself to do it, and was about to turn, when that someone grabbed him by the shoulders. "RON!"-
Ron woke up from his horrible dream to find Aragorn shaking him awake. And yet, Aragorn was not wearing the look of a happy person who is going to marry their true love in three days, he wore the look of a man in despair. His hair was tousled, he was unshaven, his eyes had dark circles under them.
"I'm up, I'm up," Ron grumbled. He took a closer look at Aragorn, "You haven't slept a wink have you. Now, now, you know you have to be rested for your wedding." He chuckled, but stopped immediately when he saw the serious look in Aragorn's eyes.
"I cannot bear to repeat it more than once right now," Aragorn said. "Wake Hermione and Harry up and meet me in the sitting room."
He strode out as Ron pulled a robe over his pajamas.
Ron woke Harry and Hermione and quickly explained what Aragorn had said, and then all three of them walked into the sitting room. Hermione had a strong feeling of foreboding that would soon be justified.
They sat and Aragorn began immediately in an unbelieving, dead voice, "Last night I was about to go to bed, when a olorne tapped at my window. An olorne is a small, Elven bred bird that they use to send messages. It is the fastest bird in Middle Earth."
"Sort of like an owl," Hermione interjected. "Oh, sorry, go on."
"Well," Aragorn continued, "I let it in, and it dropped a golden scroll in my hand before landing on my olorne's perch. I opened the letter, thinking it was a letter from Arwen, saying she can't wait until she arrives. Well, I was partially right: it was from Arwen, but its contents were much different then I expected."
He handed a scroll to Hermione and commanded, "Go on, read it."
She obeyed, reading:
Aragorn-
Help us now. Forest. Smhirats. Come quickly, don't know what is going to happen. No ransom.
Arwen
"It can only mean one thing. They were at the small forest you three first landed by, less than a day away, and they were captured by a band of orcs called the Smhirats. I know of them, they were Sauron's most loyal and fiercest warriors. They are the most angry at his defeat. They will not be ransomed. Oh, I do not know what I am going to do! And yet, they must have some sort of evil weapon, for Elves are the most skilled, bravest warriors."
"There is only one thing to do," Hermione said simply. "They must be rescued." They started battle preparations right away. The trio were closeted with Aragorn for three hours, drawing battle plans and discussing figures and minor details. All of a sudden, an old seasoned warrior rushed in carrying a small slip of paper. He whispered something in Aragorn's ear, and the King turned deadly white. He managed to take the paper, thank the warrior, and send him out, before breaking out in hopeless sobs. Hermione soothed him; she hated seeing a grown man, especially a King, cry.
"What is wrong? We will fix whatever it is, do not worry," she said.
When he stopped sobbing, Aragorn answered, "We do not have enough men to leave an ample guard here for a few days and still have men for our rescue plans. Many were wounded badly or fell ill, or both, and need a long time to recuperate. We can not spare more than fifty men."
Suddenly, it was like a light went off in Ron's head, "Well, no duh. Why didn't I think of that sooner? Aragorn, we'll go. We can do it, we're almost fully trained wizards. I think we can hold our own, with all those curses we know." He grinned at Harry and Hermione as they dissolved in laughter, for he was referring to the curses that they looked up late at night during holidays, plotting revenges on Malfoy that they never intended to do. They had learned a lot of useful curses that way.
Aragorn had looked thoughtful and a smile began to steal its way across his face as they laughed. "You know, it just might work."
"Good,"said Harry,"it is settled. We leave at sunrise tomorrow and we'll be back by noon."
"I'm coming," Aragorn said in a quiet, commanding voice, the kind of voice that no one dares to argue with.
There was an awkward silence, which was broken by Aragorn's cheerful voice, "Now let's grab some food. My stomach is growling."
*At dinner*
"Alanna, Iamleavingtomorrowatsixo'clocktorescueArwenandherp
arty.Don'twantyoutoworry,I'llbebacksafeandsoundbynoon." Harry sighed after he had told her all of this.
"I have two facts for you," she replied coolly, "I actually understood what you just said, surprisingly, and I am coming with you."
She put a finger to his lips as he opened his mouth to protest, "No matter what you say or do, I am coming. There is no arguing with me. You cannot win."
"Okay, okay, I give up."
"Oh, and Meridelle is coming as well and we will be sleeping on the couches of the guest room tonight. We would wake everyone up by leaving if we stayed at our chambers. Now that that is settled, let's dance." Alanna grinned and grabbed his hand, leading him out onto the dance floor.
*Meanwhile*
To all around them, it seemed Legolas and Hermione sat in silence. They had no idea of the telepathic conversation that was going on in which Hermione informed Legolas of their plans, and he decided to come along.
"Well," thought Hermione," you better sleep in the sitting room of the guesthouse because you will wake up almost everyone near your chambers if you sleep there."
"True," he responded. "By the way, has anyone ever told you are the most beautiful woman to grace Middle Earth with her presence?"
Hermione blushed a dull red and replied, "No, in fact, they haven't. Thank you, Mr. Charming."
"No problem," he shot back, "Now let's dance."
"You can't leave today! You have to stay," he said breathlessly.
"Why?" inquired Hermione.
"I am getting married!"
"Oh," Hermione lifted one eyebrow, "and who is the bride?"
"Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond of Rivendell, and the most beautiful Elven maiden to grace Middle Earth with her presence. I have loved her for many years, and she in return. She gave me the Evenstar as a token of her love," Aragorn paused and showed them a beautiful silver symbol on a chain around his neck.
"When her father,Elrond, heard of this, he forbade the marriage."
"So you are going to go against his wishes?" Ron asked incredulously.
"No. Arwen begged him to reconsider, and he thought about it for a long time. Yesterday, a messanger arrived bearing two important pieces of news: Elrond gave permission and blessing, and he and his people, including Arwen, are four days away."
Hermione grinned, she was glad Aragorn had a bride who loved him.
Aragorn started pacing, "There is so much to do. Arwen has her wedding dress already, but we need to make all the other clothing for the wedding party. Oh, that reminds me. Hermione, Arwen specifically asked that, if you were willing, you be her maiden of honor. Harry and Ron, I want both of you to be the groom's men. Agreed?"
Without waiting for an answer because he already knew it, he kept talking, "I am glad all the royalty from all over is here because of last night's ball because that way we won't have to invite them all over again. The Great Hall is not big enough to fit everyone in Gondor and the royalty, so Arwen and I have decided to get married in the Courtyard of the White Blossoms, which can hold all of the people and more. So you will stay?" he looked at them with pleading in his eyes, and Hermione had to stifle her giggles because he reminded her of a puppy begging for a treat.
"Of course," Harry replied, "Did you think for one second we would say no?"
"No, but I had to ask," Aragorn replied, mischief twinkling in his eyes.
"I have to go, but come to the citadel for dinner at around six o' clock."
With that, he was gone.
The trio started unpacking, and Hermione found three pillows shoved into one of the bags, "What are these doing here?"
Ron's ears went red as he said, "Well, they are a lot more comfortable than pillows back home, and Aragorn said I could take a few."
Harry and Hermione tried to contain their laughter, with no avail.
"You are so funny, Ron," she said while laughing. Then she threw a pillow at him, and a furious pillow fight began.
The next day Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all still in bed, when a knocking was heard on their door. When not one of them answered (they were all still fast asleep), someone opened the door and came inside. This person went into Ron's room and drew back the velvet curtains-
*meanwhile* Ron was in a stone room, bare of any furnishings or markings. He stood at the end of the room, facing the wall, although he had no idea why. Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up and a chill went down his spine. He had the uncomfortable feeling that he was being watched. He knew someone was behind him, but he really didn't want to turn around and see. He had steeled himself to do it, and was about to turn, when that someone grabbed him by the shoulders. "RON!"-
Ron woke up from his horrible dream to find Aragorn shaking him awake. And yet, Aragorn was not wearing the look of a happy person who is going to marry their true love in three days, he wore the look of a man in despair. His hair was tousled, he was unshaven, his eyes had dark circles under them.
"I'm up, I'm up," Ron grumbled. He took a closer look at Aragorn, "You haven't slept a wink have you. Now, now, you know you have to be rested for your wedding." He chuckled, but stopped immediately when he saw the serious look in Aragorn's eyes.
"I cannot bear to repeat it more than once right now," Aragorn said. "Wake Hermione and Harry up and meet me in the sitting room."
He strode out as Ron pulled a robe over his pajamas.
Ron woke Harry and Hermione and quickly explained what Aragorn had said, and then all three of them walked into the sitting room. Hermione had a strong feeling of foreboding that would soon be justified.
They sat and Aragorn began immediately in an unbelieving, dead voice, "Last night I was about to go to bed, when a olorne tapped at my window. An olorne is a small, Elven bred bird that they use to send messages. It is the fastest bird in Middle Earth."
"Sort of like an owl," Hermione interjected. "Oh, sorry, go on."
"Well," Aragorn continued, "I let it in, and it dropped a golden scroll in my hand before landing on my olorne's perch. I opened the letter, thinking it was a letter from Arwen, saying she can't wait until she arrives. Well, I was partially right: it was from Arwen, but its contents were much different then I expected."
He handed a scroll to Hermione and commanded, "Go on, read it."
She obeyed, reading:
Aragorn-
Help us now. Forest. Smhirats. Come quickly, don't know what is going to happen. No ransom.
Arwen
"It can only mean one thing. They were at the small forest you three first landed by, less than a day away, and they were captured by a band of orcs called the Smhirats. I know of them, they were Sauron's most loyal and fiercest warriors. They are the most angry at his defeat. They will not be ransomed. Oh, I do not know what I am going to do! And yet, they must have some sort of evil weapon, for Elves are the most skilled, bravest warriors."
"There is only one thing to do," Hermione said simply. "They must be rescued." They started battle preparations right away. The trio were closeted with Aragorn for three hours, drawing battle plans and discussing figures and minor details. All of a sudden, an old seasoned warrior rushed in carrying a small slip of paper. He whispered something in Aragorn's ear, and the King turned deadly white. He managed to take the paper, thank the warrior, and send him out, before breaking out in hopeless sobs. Hermione soothed him; she hated seeing a grown man, especially a King, cry.
"What is wrong? We will fix whatever it is, do not worry," she said.
When he stopped sobbing, Aragorn answered, "We do not have enough men to leave an ample guard here for a few days and still have men for our rescue plans. Many were wounded badly or fell ill, or both, and need a long time to recuperate. We can not spare more than fifty men."
Suddenly, it was like a light went off in Ron's head, "Well, no duh. Why didn't I think of that sooner? Aragorn, we'll go. We can do it, we're almost fully trained wizards. I think we can hold our own, with all those curses we know." He grinned at Harry and Hermione as they dissolved in laughter, for he was referring to the curses that they looked up late at night during holidays, plotting revenges on Malfoy that they never intended to do. They had learned a lot of useful curses that way.
Aragorn had looked thoughtful and a smile began to steal its way across his face as they laughed. "You know, it just might work."
"Good,"said Harry,"it is settled. We leave at sunrise tomorrow and we'll be back by noon."
"I'm coming," Aragorn said in a quiet, commanding voice, the kind of voice that no one dares to argue with.
There was an awkward silence, which was broken by Aragorn's cheerful voice, "Now let's grab some food. My stomach is growling."
*At dinner*
"Alanna, Iamleavingtomorrowatsixo'clocktorescueArwenandherp
arty.Don'twantyoutoworry,I'llbebacksafeandsoundbynoon." Harry sighed after he had told her all of this.
"I have two facts for you," she replied coolly, "I actually understood what you just said, surprisingly, and I am coming with you."
She put a finger to his lips as he opened his mouth to protest, "No matter what you say or do, I am coming. There is no arguing with me. You cannot win."
"Okay, okay, I give up."
"Oh, and Meridelle is coming as well and we will be sleeping on the couches of the guest room tonight. We would wake everyone up by leaving if we stayed at our chambers. Now that that is settled, let's dance." Alanna grinned and grabbed his hand, leading him out onto the dance floor.
*Meanwhile*
To all around them, it seemed Legolas and Hermione sat in silence. They had no idea of the telepathic conversation that was going on in which Hermione informed Legolas of their plans, and he decided to come along.
"Well," thought Hermione," you better sleep in the sitting room of the guesthouse because you will wake up almost everyone near your chambers if you sleep there."
"True," he responded. "By the way, has anyone ever told you are the most beautiful woman to grace Middle Earth with her presence?"
Hermione blushed a dull red and replied, "No, in fact, they haven't. Thank you, Mr. Charming."
"No problem," he shot back, "Now let's dance."