Chapter Thirty-two: The Wedding
When Míriel and Legolas returned to the palace, it was to find Amorith and Giliath holding a crying Celoenth in their arms, looking for their Princess everywhere. When they saw her, they looked quite angry.
Legolas took leave of Míriel and disappeared quickly.
"Princess, Celoneth needs to be fed." Amorith said.
Míriel turned to her handmaidens.
"Very well." she said, taking up her daughter into her arms.
The three women were walking along through the corridors, on their way to the Princess' chambers, when they saw Numbor.
"Hiril nín! I have a message for you." he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"The Woodmen and Beornings send their apologies and well wishes concerning the deaths of aran nín Gil-celeb and hîr nín Aerandir. Yet, they feel it is their fault." Numbor said.
"It is not. Eru willed it. But I appreciate their feelings." Míriel said.
That evening, as Legolas lay in his bed, reminiscing about the time they had spent earlier that day in the Wood, he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to tell her something very important.
"Ai Elbereth!" he said, sitting upright.
He pulled on his tunic. Then an idea came to him.
'I will not inform her. Let it be a surprise.' he thought.
The following day Legolas hurried to find Numbor. Then he informed him of the plan he hid hit upon during the night.
"It is an excellent idea, ernil Legolas!" Numbor said with a smile. "Hiril nín will be delighted. I know of a clearing not far from here. I will inform everyone. Preparations will commence immediately."
After a fortnight had passed, everything was ready. Legolas went to the clearing himself to examine the decorations. There were tables made from birches, intricately carved and laid with silk, and the seats were sawn birch stumps. The ground was covered with flowers, and banners of green, gold, and silk hung from the trees. Everything was perfect.
"Le hannon, Numbor." Legolas said.
The advisor bowed.
"Glassen, ernil. This is all done out of pure love for our Princess. May she know naught save peace and happiness with you. It is all we ask of you, her people. Too long has she suffered. It must end." he said.
"I pray that as well. I plan to wed her tomorrow." he said.
When they returned to the palace, it was evening. Legolas began to look everywhere for Míriel. He had not seen her at all that day. A slight worry for his beloved grew in his heart. Then he saw her handmaidens.
"Giliath, Amorith!" he cried, hurrying to them.
"Ernil." they whispered, bowing to him.
"Where is Míriel?" he asked them.
"She is resting." Amorith replied.
"Is she ill?" Legolas asked quickly.
The pair exchanged a glance.
"She feels slightly ill." Giliath told him slowly.
"May I see her?" Legolas asked.
"You may."
Legolas found Míriel lying in bed, her face a little pale. The two handmaidens left as soon as they brought Legolas to see her.
"How are you feeling, Míriel?" Legolas said softly.
The Princess smiled up at him lovingly.
"I am quite all right, just somewhat tired." she replied.
"Are you ill?" Legolas asked worriedly.
Míriel did not reply at once.
"I am not ill, ernil nín." she told him. "I am—I am—"
"What is wrong?" Legolas implored.
"Nothing. Rest assured. I missed you terribly, though. I have been lying on my back all day long in this bed. Bless Amorith and Giliath, they have brought me all my meals and Celoneth so I can nurse her. I love them dearly, Legolas. I know naught what I would do without them."
Legolas smiled at his beloved. He took her into his arms and lifted her carefully. Then he carried her out into her garden and set her down on the grass by the fountain. The stars were brightly twinkling above them in the dark, velvety nighttime sky.
"I cannot believe it, but a month has passed since the deaths of both Aerandir and my sire. How I miss them!" Míriel whispered.
Legolas drew her closer to him.
"And you always shall, Míriel. There is nothing that can bring back beloved ones lost forever from us, and there is no amount of comfort in this world to make us forget them." he told her.
"You speak wisely, Legolas." Míriel told him.
"Forget not that I lost my mother."
They sat for awhile outside in the garden side by side for some time, not uttering a single word, being too absorbed in watching the stars. Legolas soon found Míriel's fingertips tracing the sides of his face. He knew it was time to inform her of his surprise. Turning onto his side, so that he faced her, Legolas took hold of her hands.
"Míriel, there is something I wish to inform you. I have wanted to tell you for so long, but now it is the perfect time." he began.
Míriel looked at him, noting the seriousness in his voice.
"Are you going to leave with your sire?" she asked fearfully.
"I am not. It is something of much more importance than that. Will you allow me the honor of having your hand in marriage?" he asked her.
Míriel stared at Legolas blankly.
"Is this all a dream?" she whispered.
Legolas smiled warmly at her and shook his head.
"It is no dream, it is reality." he told her. "Will you allow me?"
His reply was a sudden aggressive but passionate kiss from her.
Numbor, by order of Legolas, had informed the southern Eryn Lasgalen Elves of the Prince's intention to propose to Míriel. The wedding, if Míriel accepted (and it was known she would), would be held outside in the clearing that had been prepared. All were invited. Legolas had planned it so that he would wed Míriel on the very day that his sire and the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien were returning to their homes. So it was not a surprise at all when the Prince announced after the evening meal had been served that night that the wedding was to take place the following day. In fact, as soon as he stood up, it was known what he was about to announce. Thranduil smiled fondly at his son.
Míriel hardly rested at all that night from a combination of fear, nervousness, and excitement. When the following day's dawn finally came, it was to find her waking up Amorith and Giliath.
"I suppose you know Legolas is going to wed me." she said.
The handmaidens nodded.
"We knew it for a fortnight. Everyone knew." they said. "But come, let us not waste our time in idle talk. You must get prepared!"
Celoneth was bathed, dressed, and fed. Then the handmaidens turned all of their attention on the Princess. They took her to her private bathing room and set about washing her. They washed her silver hair with a special tonic that made it fuller and shinier, and her body with a soap that made it quite smooth to the touch. When they had dried her off with large, soft cloths, they set about doing her hair, and finally decided upon leaving it down. Then they dressed her in a silver mantle with a matching pair of light shoes, and placed a tiara of mithril upon her head. When everything was done, they clasped their hands in delight.
"You look so beautiful, hiril nín!" Giliath exclaimed.
Míriel studied her reflection in the mirror. The paleness from the previous day was gone from her face. Instead, there was a natural pink glow on her cheeks, and her gray-blue eyes glowed softly.
"It is all due to you. Le hannon!" she said, then embraced them.
Amorith brought Celoneth, dressed in a small mantle the same color as her mother's attire. The infant resembled her sire in face, but she had her mother's eyes. Míriel took her up in her arms.
"Sell nín. How much I love you! You have grown much in the month that has gone by. You resemble your sire so much!" she said.
There was a knock on the door, and Lady Galadriel entered. On her shoulder was perched Annarámainen.
"You look very lovely indeed, Míriel, perhaps much more lovely than you did upon your wedding to Aerandir." the Lady said.
Míriel blushed.
"Come now, everyone is waiting." Galadriel said.
Outside in the clearing, the Elves were already gathered. Servants were hurrying from the palace, bearing large trays of food and vessels of drink. Music was playing softly. The sun was shining brightly as the birds sang sweetly from the treetops. King Thranduil and Lord Celeborn were attempting to calm Legolas down, who was quite apprehensive.
"But what if I do not look good enough!" he was saying.
"You look quite good, ion nín." Thranduil was telling him.
"Your very best ever." Lord Celeborn added.
It was true indeed. The Prince had not rested that night as well. He had awoken earlier than Míriel and had spent nearly three hours bathing. His long blond hair was intricately plaited in the back, and small braids ran down from his temple on both sides of his head. The Prince was dressed in a silk tunic pearly white in color, with a matching pair of leggings and shoes. On his brow was a star, and on his forehead was an ornate silver crown encrusted with jewels. His sire had gifted it to him the previous night in honor of the occasion.
"Relax, Legolas. Míriel is most likely more anxious than you. Do not make the same mistake I did on my wedding day." Thranduil said.
Legolas was about to ask his sire what mistake he had made when there was a murmur among the gathered Elves. Míriel had arrived.
"There she is." Lord Celeborn said. "And a finer sight my eyes have not seen for many an age. How fair she is, my beautiful kinswoman!"
The Lady Galadriel was leading Míriel. Following her and holding Celoneth were her two faithful handmaidens Amorith and Giliath. The small procession reached Legolas and stopped shortly before him.
"Friends from afar, le suilannon. We are gathered here on this most joyous day to celebrate a most blessed occasion." Lord Celeborn said, taking Míriel's right hand in his. "Since Míriel's sire is not here with us, of which the reason is undoubtedly known, being her only surviving kin, I will perform the duty in place of Gil-celeb."
He looked at Thranduil, who took hold of Legolas' left hand and placed Míriel's hand in it. There was a sharp intake of breath at this from the gathered crowd. Then the Lord and King bowed to each other.
"Mellyn, I present to you Princess Míriel, daughter of the late King of southern Eryn Lasgalen, wife of the late captain Aerandir, and Prince Legolas, son of Thranduil, king of northern Eryn Lasgalen, who have now been made husband and wife. Rejoice in their happiness!" Celeborn said.
The crowd gave a tremendous cheer. Legolas grabbed Míriel from around her waist and kissed her passionately. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel smiled at each other. Thranduil found his eyes becoming filled with tears. Amorith and Giliath held Celoneth aloft.
The feast after the wedding was magnificent. Legolas led Míriel to the head of the table. There they sat throughout the entire celebration, looking at each other. The Elves would not have them passive, and forced them to dance together. Even Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel danced. The food was good, the wine even better, and the music was the sweetest ever heard in southern Eryn Lasgalen. It is said that the day of Míriel's wedding to Legolas was the most beautiful day ever, both before and after. For the Princess' days there were drawing to a close. A time would soon come for her to leave southern Eryn Lasgalen, and Middle-earth.
When at last the celebration was ended, and the food and wine having long been consumed, the elven rulers were found astride their gleaming white horses with their people, ready to leave.
"At last, Míriel, my dear kinswoman, your true happiness has been found. Perhaps you may find some peace now." Lord Celeborn said.
Míriel smiled at Celeborn in reply.
"We leave you now in the safest of hands, though much grief you had to suffer. Since you are with Legolas now, I shall be taking Annarámainen with me. Her duty is fulfilled." Galadriel said.
"I was hoping she would stay with me. I have grown rather attached to her. She was truly an unexpected blessing." Míriel said.
"When the King goes to eternal rest, and you cross the Sea at last, then you shall find me, and with me will be Annarámainen."
"Well, Legolas, at last your wish has come true. You are wedded to Míriel. I know you will treat her well." Thranduil said. "Navaer!"
Legolas and Míriel watched the three rulers ride away.