The Feast
Ondollo waited impatiently in his saddle while the guard retrieved the Lord of the city. The journey from his wood had been long and troublesome, but necessary. He was tired beyond care and worried. He was worried that the last good thing in his life would be gone forever and it would be his fault. The night Erveryo returned without Nyére he'd flown into a rage. He ignored Pallando's warning and immediately set out with most of his warriors to rescue his daughter, but the forest… the trees that had for ages been their refuge and shelter rebelled and attacked them. Not many of his force survived, and he knew his clan would fade away into legend. Pallando had been right all along, he was a fool, and it took the loss of half his clan for him to see it. He left with a small band, to find her and beg her to forgive his shortsightedness. He'd driven her away from the beginning. He hoped that she would wish to return, but he feared she would refuse. And these guards were no help at all. They claimed the lord was at a wedding, but whoever heard of a fall wedding?
"Cilmo, call up to those stupid humans and tell them the air grows cold in their desolate country. They are being rude," Ondollo said to one of his riders.
Cilmo didn't have to call, for there were new faces on the battlements and someone called down.
"What is your business?" Faramir asked.
"I want my daughter," Ondollo said angrily. "Long have I been following her and here is where she was last seen. Let me in to see her or send her out."
"Who are you sir, and who is your daughter?" Aragorn asked, knowing full well who the angry Elf Lord was.
"Ondollo the Great of the Dorian Wood, Leader of the Avari, and you are holding my daughter, Princess Nyére within," he said in frustration. "Are the men of the west as evil as the men of the East that they kidnap Elves for their pleasure?"
Faramir took exception to that comment. "As I understand it, she was fleeing for her life. My son rescued her and awaits our return to wed the very princess you seek."
Ondollo's face reddened and he looked at Cilmo and spoke softly, "I'll not have it, Cilmo. I'd rather see her dead than wed a human."
Cilmo looked at him in horror, "Have we not seen enough of our clan dead because of your petty hatreds? Must we watch you destroy your own daughter as well?"
Ondollo looked at him in shock as he realized what he was saying. His face paled and he hung his head.
"Ask to attend," Cilmo said. "Swear that we will cause no trouble. Make peace now while you still can."
Ondollo dismounted and looked up at Faramir. "Who am I speaking with?"
"Lord Faramir the Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien," Faramir said. "And here is the High King of Gondor, Elessar."
"Then first I will speak to the King," Ondollo said. "My people seek friendship with Gondor." He said as he removed his sword and laid it on the ground before the gates.
"You did not seem hasty for friendship when you sent your men to kill us," Aragorn said.
"Indeed, I was a fool," Ondollo admitted. "Most of my army is dead, crushed beneath the roots of our forest. I came to beg my daughter for forgiveness and ask her to return."
Aragorn was shocked by the humility in the old Elf's voice. He looked at Faramir, "What do you think?"
"He looks beaten," Faramir said. "I believe him."
"Open the gates," Aragorn said as he descended the stairs to meet him.
As the gates opened, all the Avari were standing by their horses and they bowed to Aragorn respectfully.
"Gondor's hand is always ready to grasp an offered hand of friendship," Aragorn said as he shook Ondollo's offered hand.
"Where is my daughter?" Ondollo asked.
"In my house, waiting to be wed," Faramir said.
"I would speak to her before this… wedding," Ondollo said carefully.
Faramir was going to protest, but Aragorn put a hand on his shoulder to silence him.
"Of course," Aragorn said. "Faramir will show your riders to the main hall and I will take you to her chamber."
Ondollo nodded. This was an awkward situation, but one of his own making. His treatment of her as a youth was less than loving. Why would she not find the one thing he detested most and flaunt it before him thus? Perhaps if he repented now, she would give up this folly and come home.
In the main hall, Polodrin was trying not to look worried, but he was failing miserably. Ẻomer stepped down from the head table on the dais and interrupted his pacing.
"Come and sit with your mother," Ẻomer said. "Relax."
"I cannot, uncle, what if there is trouble at the gates? How can my bride and I begin our lives together if our peoples are fighting?" Polodrin asked seriously.
Ẻomer's expression softened, "Let your father and Aragorn handle it. They are not going to start a war with a small band of riders on your wedding day," Ẻomer said. "Come and sit with your family."
Polodrin sighed and was going to follow when he saw Jamie and Thelyn seated at one of the tables. He smiled and went over to her.
"You have returned," Polodrin said with a smile. "Your Elf was quite lost without you."
Thelyn ignored the comment and Jamie just smiled.
"I was a little lost without him, too," Jamie said. "But we are betrothed now."
Polodrin cocked a brow, "Already?"
"She is eighteen, for our time apart was longer for her," Thelyn said.
Polodrin smiled, "Let us hope that trouble does not stand at your gates when you two are to wed."
Jamie looked at him with sympathy, "I'm sure it will be alright."
Polodrin smiled, "Thank you." Then he looked at her thoughtfully a moment. "Will you sing a song for us tonight?"
"The bride has already asked me to, and of course I said yes," Jamie said.
Polodrin smiled, "It will be good to hear your voice again."
The doors to the hall opened and Faramir walked in with a dozen Elves dressed in dark grey. They looked around the room warily, but Faramir was quick to put them at ease as he announced them to the room.
"Kinsmen of the bride have arrived from the east," Faramir said. "Let us welcome them."
There were bright shouts of welcome from all over the room, and Faramir found them a table. Polodrin stared at them in disbelief. His father went to speak to him.
"Son, her father has gone to speak to her," Faramir said. "He seems sincere in his offer for friendship."
Polodrin's brow furrowed with worry, "He will try to stop this, father, I just know it."
"She loves you son, she will not be swayed," Faramir said.
"Not even for the love of her father?" Polodrin asked.
Faramir had no reply. He just sighed and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Come, let us take our seats, it is nearly time."
Polodrin followed and they sat at the head table. Most of the seats were full except for Aragorn's and the bride's. Faramir quickly made arrangements for Nyére's father to be seated beside her at the head table, and they waited. The conversations in the hall broke out as everyone speculated on what could be going on, so Faramir got an idea to settle things down. He caught Jamie's eye and motioned her up to the dais.
"Jamie, would you sing us a song to settle things down a little?" Faramir asked.
"I don't want Nyére to miss it," Jamie said.
Polodrin chimed in, "No just sing something light for now, and sing her song later."
Jamie nodded and Faramir stood.
"Guests from near and far, I apologize for this wait," Faramir said. "To help us pass the time, Lady Jamie will favor us with a song."
Jamie blushed as the cheers filled the room, and as they died down, she started to sing a song she thought would be appropriate, Storybook Love from the Princess Bride movie. She'd sang it before and Polodrin had liked it.
"Come my love I'll tell you a tale of a boy and girl and their love story..."
Nyére waited in her room impatiently and was relieved when she heard the knock at the door. She smiled and opened it and Aragorn stood there with… her father?
"Father?" she gasped in surprise.
"Daughter, I would speak to you before this travesty takes place," Ondollo said.
Aragorn cocked a brow. The Elf lord did not know he understood Sindarin. He just looked at Nyére and said, "I will await you outside."
"Thank you, Aragorn," she said, and then her father closed the door.
"Do not do this," Ondollo said. "You throw your life away to wed this…"
"Man?" she finished for him. "I have had no life until I met him, father! You kept me caged in our house as a prize for your chosen captain from my earliest days. Never the tiniest sign of love did you show me. I would have done anything you asked to gain your approval."
"And now you gain your revenge upon me by marrying this human," Ondollo said bitterly. "I deserve your hate, child, but this is wrong what you are doing. I am here to ask your forgiveness for my treatment of you. I have offered my hand in friendship to this King who awaits us outside. Give up this folly, daughter. Come home with me. Your people need you."
"Do you think that I am Marrying Polodrin to spite you father?" Nyére asked in shock.
"What other purpose would such a union serve?" Ondollo asked.
"I love him father," she said seriously. "He saved my life many times over, but that is not why. He loved me even when I despised him for his humanity. Never have I seen a love so strong and pure. He spoke to me with tenderness even when I treated him cruelly. He defended my honor from my own people. He conquered my heart with his love, father, and I am his. This wedding is not for revenge it is for love."
Ondollo looked at her with sorrow in his eyes, "Then this is the fate you choose for yourself? To live among these humans and turn your back on your clan?"
"You turned your back on me, father, I was always waiting for you to turn around," she said.
Ondollo gazed at her, looking more beautiful than ever he could remember. She was no longer his to command, and all was lost. "I lost my army, and now I lose my daughter," he said. "You will watch him die, you know that."
"One lifetime with the man I love is more precious than all the ages with an Elf I detest," Nyére said with anger in her eyes.
"Oh, daughter, fear not, Erveryo is dead, along with his army. Their blood is on my hands for my foolish and petty hatred. I see that your choice is made. Thought it breaks my heart, I will not stop you," he said.
"Father, I can love my husband and still love you," she said seriously.
"He must be a great lord among men to win your heart," Ondollo said with a sigh. "What is this man like?"
"He is wonderful," she said whimsically.
Ondollo rolled his eyes, "Then let us go have a look at your wonderful doom."
Aragorn returned to the hall as Jamie was finishing up her song. He took his seat and gave Polodrin a reassuring smile. Jamie returned to her seat as the hall broke into applause, and Aragorn told Faramir to go ahead and begin the feast. Faramir sighed with relief and stood.
"Never has my hall been so full of great men and their ladies. Two Kings grace my table and their fair queens, Lords of the Ithilien Wood and the Caves of Rohan, visitors from the distant east and friends from right here in Emyn Arnen. Welcome to all! My son, Polodrin has chosen a bride. I am pleased that you could all be here to share this day with my family."
Faramir motioned fort the door guards to open the main door where Ondollo stood with Nyére. Everyone stood as he led her into the hall and right to the foot of the steps to the dais. Faramir and Polodrin stepped forward, and Ondollo looked him over with scrutiny. He appeared to be of strong build, no doubt a warrior. His attire was very fine, and though he had a beard, it was trimmed and well groomed. But what was most striking about him was his eyes. He was staring at Nyére with deep affection and he looked as though he was going to cry. Ondollo finally understood his daughter's choice. He led her up to her chosen groom and placed her hand in his.
"I am Ondollo, the lord of the Dorian Wood in the distant east. I place my fair daughter, the princess Nyére, into the keeping of this man to be his bride. It is my hope that as their marriage grows in joy, so shall it be with our peoples' friendship," Ondollo said formally.
Polodrin looked at Nyére with misty eyes, "Fair princess of the East, will you accept me as your husband?"
"I will," she said with a smile.
Faramir grinned broadly, "Then let the feast begin!"
The room broke out into loud cheering, and everyone took their seats. The meal was served and conversations resumed. At the head table, it felt a little awkward with Ondollo there. He seemed to be watching everyone and everything with uncertainty, and finally Polodrin spoke to him.
"My lord, I thank you for this precious gift," he said meaningfully. "I give you my word that she will be well cared for."
Ondollo looked at him a moment and finally said, "You were not my choice for her, but I will accept you so long as she is happy."
Polodrin didn't know what to say, but he figured that was about all he could expect. "Thank you."
Ondollo gave a nondescript grunt and went back to eating. After the meal, as the desert was served, Jamie was called to sing another song. Nyére leaned over to her father and whispered, "The Taure Lirilla blesses my wedding with a song."
Ondollo looked at the petite woman curiously. There was nothing particularly interesting about her appearance. She looked quite plain, but the first note she sang proved beyond a doubt the extent of his recklessness. She was indeed the singer of the legends, and he had refused to believe it. As he listened, it seemed as though her voice pierced right into his heart, and the years of bitterness slowly fell away. He sat as an Elf, old beyond memory, who had possessed everything and lost it all. This day was an opportunity for a new beginning, and he wondered if he had the courage to put his past behind him and move forward. His daughter found love in the arms of an enemy, and in this hour they could have peace if he could manage to accept it. And the words of the song brought to mind his wife, and the pain of her loss. It was almost more than he could stand.
"If tomorrow morning when you wake up and the sun does not appear I, I will be here..." Steven Curtis Chapman can write an awesome love song. This one was almost standard for weddings. "...When you need to speak your mind, I will listen, and I will be here when the laughter turns to crying... through the winning, losing and trying," She closed her eyes through the last verse, lost in the passion of the lyrics,"Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future is unclear... I, I will be here."
The room was strangely silent after her song, and Jamie was worried that she had chosen poorly. But as she looked out over the room she saw that everyone was quite moved. Some even cried, and she quickly tried to return to her seat, but someone caught her arm. She turned and Nyére hugged her.
"Thank you for that wonderful song," she whispered.
The room finally recovered from the spell her song had seemed to cast and everyone cheered. Aragorn stood and held out his hand for everyone to quiet down and then he made an announcement.
"It is my joy to announce that this fair lady who sang so beautifully is betrothed to my nephew Thelyn. Their feast will be in Minas Tirith on the winter Solstice and you are all invited to attend."
The cheering broke out again and Jamie blushed all the way back to her table. She sat down and Thelyn put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"I thought you were singing to me," he whispered. "It was beautiful."
Jamie blushed and everyone at their table laughed at her bashful response. Gimli looked at the pair and smiled.
"You'd better take good care of this lady, lad. She is a rare creature indeed," Gimli said. "I still can't believe she fell for a rascal like you."
Jamie laughed. "Why do they keep calling you wild and rascal?" she asked.
"Oh, you don't know about your fiery Elf here, let me tell you what happened the last time he was in my home," Gimli said with a twinkle in his eyes. "It seems he could not tell the difference between a Dwarf and a Dwarf maid…"
Thelyn's eyes doubled in size, "No, uncle Gimli, not that story."
Gimli burst out laughing, along with the rest of the table.
Up on the dais as the third round of ale and wine was being served, Polodrin squeezed Nyére's hand and she looked at him questioningly. He leaned close and whispered, "The Bride and Groom never stay until the feast is over."
Nyére blushed slightly and nodded. She turned to her father and bid him goodnight.
Ondollo had been lost in his thoughts and looked at his daughter curiously as she and her groom rose to leave. He'd come to a decision during the song and wanted her to know he accepted her choice.
"Go to your new life, daughter. You have my blessing," he said softly so that only she could hear him.
Nyére looked at him in surprise and then smiled. "I love you father," she said as Polodrin took her arm. He gave Ondollo a bow and then led his bride out the side door. It seemed like they might get away unnoticed but off in the distance he heard the distinct timbre of Gimli's voice shouting above the din.
"And there they go!" Gimli shouted and then roared with laughter.
The room filled with cheers and the Bride and Groom could be seen blushing as they headed out the door.