DISCLAIMER: I never have and never will own the character's or places of this story (yes that's right...that sound is my sniffling). I only made up the plot...everything else I borrowed.
AUTHORS NOTE: I honestly cannot describe how thankful I am to have reviewers..I know many good stories are not so lucky. I dedicate this and every other chapter to my reviewers and readers, and to the Leggy/Arwen Undying Love forum over at Forums for Fans. You guys keep me going.
Chapter Six- Reunited
"The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest." And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of Shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"And there in the midst of the fields they set up their pavilions and awaited the morning; for it was the Eve of May, and the King would enter his gates with the rising of the sun."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
When it was finally over, the great Quest, and the shadow passed from the land for the last time, the peoples of middle-earth breathed a collective sigh. But this peace did not last for long. Gondor flourished under the rule of the new king Aragorn, whose strength and hope flooded over the land like a life-giving rain. Yet, the king remained reserved, and his people wondered at the far-away look in his gray eyes; a look that was always present.
Legolas knew Aragorn's pain. Often, he would see the king stroking the silver Evenstar, waiting. And finally, the wait was over. A shiver of excitement ran through the White city. Few knew what the meaning of the preparations was, but still the servants hustled hither and thither busying themselves with their orders to prepare the castle.
Legolas spent much of his time riding the windswept terrain surrounding Gondor. He distanced himself from Gimli, and even more so from Aragorn. He knew what was going to happen. Arwen was coming for her king. They were to be married. The exhilaration of the ride freed his mind from such things, and he spurred his horse on and on and on. He didn't want to think of her; his twilight. So he ran. Aragorn watched him day after day stride to the stables, only moments later emerging with his stallion. He did not return until after sunset, going directly to his chambers. And even when Aragorn did manage to corner him the occasional time, the elf always avoided his eye- though his mood seemed pleasant enough. But now, the entire castle was to busy preparing for Arwen Undomiel, so the lithe blond elf slipped easily into the wilderness on his steed, and no one stopped him.
At last she came.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas had been back for over an hour from his daily venture. He still wore his dusty riding clothes which smelt of pine and water and horse, though he had splashed his face and brushed his hair. He knew she would come that night, as sure as he knew the sun would rise the next morning.
He stood gazing out his stone window, until he caught sight of the faint glittering of sun on armour. Only seconds later the great horns sounded, and he saw Aragorn mount a dark horse and ride to meet them. She rode at the back of the huge company of elves: the Twin Stars, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and all their houses were around her. It was a great procession.
At last, when the stars hung distant in the deepening sky, he saw the Lady alight from her horse. His keen elven eyes even caught the glint of her smile. Aragorn rushed to her, and oblivious to all that surrounded them, he swept her up in his arms and spun her around as if she weighed no more than a feather. Her ringing laughter reached his ears and he smiled sadly as Elrond laid the sceptre in Aragorn's hand, and gave his daughter to the king.
His eyes left the company at last- as they made their way up to the castle -and rested his gaze instead among the heavens. Often he sought comfort in the ancient star-song, but tonight it only served to chill him. They, like everyone else, sang of the king of men and queen of elves whose love broke mortality's bonds. It was a song he was loathe to hear.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
When morning broke over Gondor, and its warm rays reached out to caress the sleeping White city, the bride was already awake. She stood, gazing out over the city that was to be her kingdom, and was immensely happy. It was midsummer's day- her wedding.
Her cheeks flushing with excitement, she walked silently to the great baths in the lower chambers, summoning a servant to help her bring in water. Sinking into the warm liquid, she focused her thoughts on the busy day ahead of her.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Merely a few hours later, the entire kingdom was awake, and dressed in the finest they could afford. They gathered outside the castle in the gardens; a long, petal-covered pathway cutting the massive crowd in half. The wedding would be held there among the trees and relative wildness, a garden which was brilliantly green, the soft sound of falling water whispering in the background. It lacked the beauty of a elvish garden, but Arwen was determined to remedy that, once she was married and settled. Married. Arwen smiled and glanced at her reflection in the polished metal before her; finally turning to slip on a fine pair of delicately made slippers. Her hair was partially up, but most of her long dark locks hung curling down her back. A crown of golden elanor circled her head, and together with the light, pure white dress she wore, she truly looked like an elven queen.
So when she finally stepped down the flower-laden path, her Estel waiting at the end, it was no great surprise that gasps rose from the crowd gathered, and many bowed at her beauty. Her long train flowed behind her and the light of the sun caught her dress which shone and twinkled; it seemed to be made of spider silk, so delicate it was.
Arwen saw many faces on her way down that aisle: Galadriel, who gazed at her solemnly, a twinkle in her crystal eyes; her twin brothers, who grinned proudly at their passing sister; her father, who tears were washing freely over his face; and finally, Legolas, who's bowed head did not look at her at all. Yet she continued her walk, and met her love at last.
Their hands were joined and they became husband and wife beneath the arching birch. Joy ran high throughout the land, though privately, the elven folk mourned the loss of their Evenstar.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
AUTHOR NOTE: I've always wanted to write out Arwen's wedding as I imagined it, and so I wrote this chapter. The italicised writing at the beginning of the chapter is a direct quote from 'The Return of the King'. --Red Dragon
AUTHORS NOTE: I honestly cannot describe how thankful I am to have reviewers..I know many good stories are not so lucky. I dedicate this and every other chapter to my reviewers and readers, and to the Leggy/Arwen Undying Love forum over at Forums for Fans. You guys keep me going.
Chapter Six- Reunited
"The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest." And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of Shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"And there in the midst of the fields they set up their pavilions and awaited the morning; for it was the Eve of May, and the King would enter his gates with the rising of the sun."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
When it was finally over, the great Quest, and the shadow passed from the land for the last time, the peoples of middle-earth breathed a collective sigh. But this peace did not last for long. Gondor flourished under the rule of the new king Aragorn, whose strength and hope flooded over the land like a life-giving rain. Yet, the king remained reserved, and his people wondered at the far-away look in his gray eyes; a look that was always present.
Legolas knew Aragorn's pain. Often, he would see the king stroking the silver Evenstar, waiting. And finally, the wait was over. A shiver of excitement ran through the White city. Few knew what the meaning of the preparations was, but still the servants hustled hither and thither busying themselves with their orders to prepare the castle.
Legolas spent much of his time riding the windswept terrain surrounding Gondor. He distanced himself from Gimli, and even more so from Aragorn. He knew what was going to happen. Arwen was coming for her king. They were to be married. The exhilaration of the ride freed his mind from such things, and he spurred his horse on and on and on. He didn't want to think of her; his twilight. So he ran. Aragorn watched him day after day stride to the stables, only moments later emerging with his stallion. He did not return until after sunset, going directly to his chambers. And even when Aragorn did manage to corner him the occasional time, the elf always avoided his eye- though his mood seemed pleasant enough. But now, the entire castle was to busy preparing for Arwen Undomiel, so the lithe blond elf slipped easily into the wilderness on his steed, and no one stopped him.
At last she came.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas had been back for over an hour from his daily venture. He still wore his dusty riding clothes which smelt of pine and water and horse, though he had splashed his face and brushed his hair. He knew she would come that night, as sure as he knew the sun would rise the next morning.
He stood gazing out his stone window, until he caught sight of the faint glittering of sun on armour. Only seconds later the great horns sounded, and he saw Aragorn mount a dark horse and ride to meet them. She rode at the back of the huge company of elves: the Twin Stars, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and all their houses were around her. It was a great procession.
At last, when the stars hung distant in the deepening sky, he saw the Lady alight from her horse. His keen elven eyes even caught the glint of her smile. Aragorn rushed to her, and oblivious to all that surrounded them, he swept her up in his arms and spun her around as if she weighed no more than a feather. Her ringing laughter reached his ears and he smiled sadly as Elrond laid the sceptre in Aragorn's hand, and gave his daughter to the king.
His eyes left the company at last- as they made their way up to the castle -and rested his gaze instead among the heavens. Often he sought comfort in the ancient star-song, but tonight it only served to chill him. They, like everyone else, sang of the king of men and queen of elves whose love broke mortality's bonds. It was a song he was loathe to hear.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
When morning broke over Gondor, and its warm rays reached out to caress the sleeping White city, the bride was already awake. She stood, gazing out over the city that was to be her kingdom, and was immensely happy. It was midsummer's day- her wedding.
Her cheeks flushing with excitement, she walked silently to the great baths in the lower chambers, summoning a servant to help her bring in water. Sinking into the warm liquid, she focused her thoughts on the busy day ahead of her.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Merely a few hours later, the entire kingdom was awake, and dressed in the finest they could afford. They gathered outside the castle in the gardens; a long, petal-covered pathway cutting the massive crowd in half. The wedding would be held there among the trees and relative wildness, a garden which was brilliantly green, the soft sound of falling water whispering in the background. It lacked the beauty of a elvish garden, but Arwen was determined to remedy that, once she was married and settled. Married. Arwen smiled and glanced at her reflection in the polished metal before her; finally turning to slip on a fine pair of delicately made slippers. Her hair was partially up, but most of her long dark locks hung curling down her back. A crown of golden elanor circled her head, and together with the light, pure white dress she wore, she truly looked like an elven queen.
So when she finally stepped down the flower-laden path, her Estel waiting at the end, it was no great surprise that gasps rose from the crowd gathered, and many bowed at her beauty. Her long train flowed behind her and the light of the sun caught her dress which shone and twinkled; it seemed to be made of spider silk, so delicate it was.
Arwen saw many faces on her way down that aisle: Galadriel, who gazed at her solemnly, a twinkle in her crystal eyes; her twin brothers, who grinned proudly at their passing sister; her father, who tears were washing freely over his face; and finally, Legolas, who's bowed head did not look at her at all. Yet she continued her walk, and met her love at last.
Their hands were joined and they became husband and wife beneath the arching birch. Joy ran high throughout the land, though privately, the elven folk mourned the loss of their Evenstar.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
AUTHOR NOTE: I've always wanted to write out Arwen's wedding as I imagined it, and so I wrote this chapter. The italicised writing at the beginning of the chapter is a direct quote from 'The Return of the King'. --Red Dragon