NOTE: I made the wedding customs. And there is one line here that belongs to Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Two more chapters and it ends, my friends! But do not be sad, I plan a sequel!
Chapter Twenty-nine: A Long Expected Wedding
The fortnight passed quickly for Legolas and his beloved Síriel. They spent most of their time overseeing their wedding preparations. There was a glade not far from the palace close to the waterfalls, where Legolas saw Síriel in her dress on the day of The Choosing, that they had planned to hold their wedding in. Beech trees formed what seemed like living pillars on each side, giving the glade a magical feeling. It was the same glade where Thranduil had wedded his wife, but Legolas did not tell Síriel this. He knew she would object to the idea. The King occasionally went with them as they went about their business, but usually he left them together. It was hard for him not to suppress a smile as he saw them side by side, Síriel's emerald eyes and Legolas' sapphire ones glowing brightly as they discussed various matters with each other.
The morning of the wedding day came. Legolas was with Síriel, his arms about her in a loving embrace. She was still fast asleep, her hands upon his chest. They had spent the previous night making love to each other, and Legolas had completely exhausted her. Gently, he woke her.
"Síriel…meleth nín…" he whispered into her ears.
She stirred slightly.
"Man?" she said sleepily.
"It is day, beloved. Awake!" he told her softly.
A lone ray fell upon her hair, making it appear alight. Legolas saw her open her eyes. She blinked rapidly several times.
"Awake." he repeated gently, nuzzling her neck.
She smiled and traced his fair face with her slender fingertips.
"I am awake." she replied.
"Today we wed." Legolas told her.
She nodded.
"At long last." she said.
She rose and left the bed. Legolas remained in bed, absorbing the warmth her body left in her deserted place. He watched as she went to the mirror to examine her stomach, delighting at the sight of her unclad.
"You best leave, Legolas. Celebrindal will come any time." she said.
"I arranged for the three of us to eat the morning meal." he said.
"Very well, but let us dress first."
It took them longer than it should have for them to dress. When at last they were ready, there came a knock at the door. It was Celebrindal.
"Maer aur." she said brightly, carrying a large basket with her.
The trio seated themselves around a table. Celebrindal took from her basket the food she had brought with her for the meal. They ate in merriment, laughing and talking softly. Only Síriel did not speak or eat much. She only drank a little, trying to keep herself from shaking.
'She is nervous.' Celebrindal thought to herself with a small smile.
When the meal was finished, Legolas rose.
"Very well, I shall leave the pair of you now to prepare." he said.
When the door closed behind him, Celebrindal turned to Síriel.
"Undress, mellon nín." she said.
The river maiden shook her head.
"Oh, Celebrindal, I cannot!" she cried.
The kitchen maiden laughed softly.
"Oh, do not be so absurd, Síriel! What of all the preparations? What of the many guests who are to attend?" she said.
"Call off everything! Tell him I am terribly unwell! Send the guests back to their homes! Do anything you wish, but I cannot go through with the wedding! Oh, woe onto me! What was I thinking?" Síriel said.
She was trembling violently now. Celebrinal, however, was not put off. She knew this was normal. Every soon-to-be-bride went through it. Placing her head on Síriel's shoulder, she asked her friend quietly:
"What of Legolas? Will you break his heart?"
Síriel's face softened as she thought of the loving time and effort Legolas devoted for the wedding. How could she let him down?
"I cannot." she whispered.
After that, she succumbed to Celebrindal's will and undressed before stepping into the bathing tub, surrendering herself completely to her friend. She did not utter a single word as Celebrindal scrubbed her body five times, or when she washed her hair thoroughly thrice. When she finished, Síriel's skin was soft to the touch and smelled sweet. Her hair shone brightly. Celebrindal smiled at her, satisfied with the result.
"And now, for your dress." she said.
Síriel watched her friend go to the basket and retrieve a wrapped item. When she uncovered it, the river maiden gasped. It was a white silk dress, with a low slung neck. Clear sequins glittered in the sunlight.
"Oh, how beautiful!" Síriel gasped.
"I am glad you like it. I spent many hours sewing it." Celebrindal said. "I feared after all this work you would not like it."
Síriel looked at her friend with tears brimming in her emerald eyes.
"How can I ever repay you, Celebrindal? You have given me more love than any other, except for Legolas and adar. You were the first one to accept me for whom I am, and not taunt or mock me. You were there to comfort me in my loneliness and grief after the incident with the four I tried to befriend. And when I came to you while Legolas was gone, you listened to me. Do you know what he was doing there?" she said.
"He was overseeing the preparations for your home. Do not be surprised, for he planned much and told me about it. And here is another surprise for you: I am to accompany you and be your personal handmaiden! That is my reward." Celebrindal said with a smile. "It was that or be paid richly in jewels, which I do not fancy much. After all, who would trade their dear friend for all the world's treasured gems?"
Síriel smiled gratefully through her tears, embracing Celebrindal.
After an hour, Síriel was ready. Celebrindal herself was dressed in a cream colored mantle, her silver hair tied high upon her head and falling down her back like a magnificent waterfall. She was making the final last minute touches to her friend. At last, she stepped back.
"You are ready." she said delightedly.
There was a knock at the door. Síriel tensed.
"Avo 'osto. It is not Legolas. According to the customs here in Eryn Lasgalen, a pair to be wedded cannot see each other until the ceremony is taking place. That is your sire. He will escort you." Celebrindal said.
Gil-celeb entered the room, dressed in light blue. His eyes lit up at the sight of his daughter, pale and trembling. He embraced her warmly.
"How beautiful you are!" he exclaimed. "I cannot believe that my little daughter is of age and about to wed!"
Síriel tried to smile, but she began to weep silently.
"I am afraid, adar." she cried.
"Avo pedo. You are alright. Tiro!" he told her softly.
In his hand he held a diamond ring.
"Your mother, before dying, told me to give you this. It is the same ring I gave to her when we were betrothed." he said.
He slipped it slowly onto her finger.
"Come, the ceremony is about to start." Celebrindal said.
She went to Síriel and covered her face with a veil, the final wedding dress piece. Then the trio made their way out of the chamber, Gil-celeb and Síriel's arms linked. Behind them came Celebrindal, holding her friend's train. Both Gil-celeb and Celebrindal noticed that Síriel was trembling again. There was nothing they could do, though.
The trio stepped outside into the sunlight and heard the birds singing sweetly. Already they could hear the elven minstrels playing soft music. As they approached the glade, the music became louder, mingled with the waterfalls' melodic sound. Through her veil, Síriel saw the guests staring at her as she passed. Directly ahead of them stood Legolas and Thranduil, watching her approach silently. At last they reached them, and the two groups of Elves faced each other, Legolas and his sire on one side, Gil-celeb, Síriel, and Celebrindal on the other. The glade went silent, and the minstrels ceased their playing.
Both the King and his son were dressed identically. Their golden hair was plaited intricately from the back, and upon their heads were circlets. The Prince wore one made of silver, while his sire wore a golden one. Their tunics were of a pale pearly-white, trimmed with pale gold at the edges. The leggings were of the same pearly-white hue as their tunics. Legolas's eyes held loving warmth in them as he looked at Síriel.
What followed next happened so fast for Síriel that she hardly knew what was occurring. She was hardly aware of her King speaking to the gathered Elves, telling them how much he appreciated their coming before giving the wedding speech. All she knew was that suddenly her sire was taking her hand and placing it in Legolas' hand.
"Behold, Legolas and Síriel, husband and wife!" Thranduil cried.
Legolas lifted the veil from Síriel's face. Their eyes met briefly before the Prince's lips sealed over Síriel's mouth. There was applause.
When they broke apart, Gil-celeb approached the newly wedded pair.
"Take good care of her." he whispered to Legolas.
The Prince bowed to him.
"I shall." he replied with a smile.
Turning to his daughter, Gil-celeb's eyes turned misty.
"I am very happy for you, sell nín." he said quietly.
She smiled weakly at him. Behind her sire she saw Thranduil watching with an encouraging look on his face.
Afterwards, she spent the remainder of her time at Legolas' side. There was a feast prepared in their honor, and she forced herself to eat the morsels of food Legolas was feeding her. He knew she was quite nervous, yet he also felt her pregnancy had a role, which was true. It took all of her will power to force a smile on her face instead of wearing a look of pain, as she had forgotten to drink the tonic Celebrindal made.
It was evening when the celebration finally came to an end. Síriel summoned enough courage to dance with Legolas, then with Thranduil, as was the custom among the Elves of Eryn Lasgalen. She stood with Legolas and thanked the many Elves who had attended their wedding for coming. All was well until the last four guests appeared.
"Eru, help me!" Síriel whispered.
Behind her, Celebrindal took a deep breath.
"I suppose we should congratulate you on your wonderful sorcery and enchanting Prince Legolas' heart, as well as having everyone else think that he loves you. That is a wonderful trick." Giliath said, while her three friends nodded in agreement. "Yet, know this, to us you are naught save a commoner, a mere lowly servant maiden, a half-breed!"