To lady scribe of avandell and PopcornLeader : Yup, Legolas brought some Elves over to dwell in Ithilien after the War of the Ring so he's technically Legolas of Ithilien! Right? According to my logic, he is anyway.

I've only found a little bit on weddings, so I'll be making up a lot of things once again. Forgive me for any mistakes, let me know and I will try my best to correct them if I can't justify them.

Ugh. Got a C for my English, which is incredibly frustrating. It's all the fault of the stupid comprehension passage that was incomprehensible.

Chapter 28 : The Wedding

Convinced that it was crooked, Lothíriel tugged the dress a little to the right, then to the left, then to the right again. She was just about to twitch it to the left once more when Éowyn remarked, "If you do that anymore, you're going to tear the dress."

Lothíriel's hands fell to her sides immediately, and she began to inspect her hair in the mirror, making sure that every single strand was where it was supposed to be.

Arwen came over and put her hands on Lothíriel's shoulders. "Don't be so anxious, you look lovely," she said in that soft, sweet voice that Aragorn had fallen so deeply in love with. "You will take Éomer's breath away. Trust me."

Lothíriel sighed and smiled. "I trust you, Arwen. It's just that I really want to look my best today."

"And you do," Éowyn said reassuringly. "You do, even if you can't see it for yourself. It's something that happens to every bride. Now, just relax, and everything will be all right."

Lothíriel sat down, looking at the two women with her. They looked so calm and seemed so wise, as if marriage added years of experience. She sighed again. There was nothing to do but to trust them. She knew that they had to be right. Their weddings days hadn't been so long ago.

"Now, you know your vows, don't you?" Faramir asked.

"Yes…"

"And you can address your people, can't you?" Aragorn quizzed.

"Yes…"

Faramir grinned. "Then I don't see any problem!" he said. "You'll be just fine."

Aragorn agreed, and just as Éomer was about to say something, the door opened, and admitted Erchirion and Amrothos. "Oh no, what are you going to do to me?" Éomer moaned.

Erchirion pretended to be offended. "Can't we wish our future brother-in-law good luck on his wedding day?" He extended his hand. "Good luck, brother. You'll be just fine."

"That's what I said!" Faramir nodded, grinning. "See, Éomer? Nothing to worry about."

Éomer eyed Erchirion's hand, unsure of whether it was safe to take it. He couldn't imagine what a handshake could do, but he wouldn't put it past them to try something totally unheard of. Finally, though, he decided that he would risk it, and took Erchirion's hand, shaking it firmly.

Nothing happened.

Éomer smiled, and said, "Thank you, brothers. I'm glad you came to wish me good luck."

"You're most welcome," Amrothos said graciously. He sobered down, for one of the few times of his life, and said sincerely, "We couldn't have hoped for a better husband for our sister."

"You take care of her, mind," Erchirion said. "She deserves it."

"Of course I will," Éomer said. "I can promise you that from now on I will never let any harm befall her."

Erchirion nodded, satisfied. "That's good. Elphir wanted to come, but he's with Father now. Father, for some reason, has the jitters. We don't understand it. But Elphir said to give you his best wishes, and all those other nice things we said to you."

"He also said something along the lines of decapitation and dismemberment if you ever hurt Lothíriel," Amrothos piped up.

Erchirion rubbed his hands together. "Well, now that we've delivered the message, I suppose we will go to the hall now. You're supposed to be in a few moments, anyway. We'll see you there, all right? Good luck, brother."

The two disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, and Éomer smiled. Somehow, just listening to their cheerful tones had helped him to calm down. I'll be just fine. What's to fear, anyway? After this, I can really spend the rest of my life with Lothíriel. Something more wonderful Éomer could not imagine.

A knock came on the door, and Imrahil entered Lothíriel's room. "It's time, my daughter," he said tenderly.

Éowyn and Arwen nodded, wished Lothíriel luck, and excused themselves, to take their places beside their husbands. Lothíriel took a deep breath and turned to face her father. Imrahil's breath caught, and he felt as if time had gone back to more than two decades ago. He recalled that day so vividly that tears stung his eyes. "Lothíriel," he said in a whisper, "you look just like your mother did on our wedding day."

His daughter's eyes shone with tears as she flung her arms around his neck. "I love you, Father," she whispered. "I love you."

Imrahil held his daughter close to him, wondering when he would be able to do so again. She had grown up so fast. Too fast, it seemed. But this was good for her. She was marrying someone who loved her deeply, and would treat her like the treasure she was. He pulled back, holding her at arms length. Lothíriel's wedding dress was the loveliest he had seen, the skirts forming a pure white pool at her feet. Her dark hair fell to her hips, curling lightly at the ends. Her lovely face was covered in a soft, translucent veil. Slowly he began to see the differences between his late wife and his daughter. Lothíriel was younger, and she did not have the smoky blue eyes of her mother, inheriting Imrahil's own brown eyes instead. In some ways she was lovelier, as if her excitement and youth had made her the most beautiful person on Middle-earth. "We'll miss you in Dol Amroth, Lothíriel. Remember Dol Amroth always, and visit us from time to time. Don't forget the sea, daughter."

"How could I ever forget, Father? Dol Amroth, and the sea, are so much a part of me." Lothíriel smiled, then nodded. "Father, I am ready," she said softly.

Imrahil nodded, and offered her his arm. "Let's go, then, daughter."

Éomer looked on in awe as Imrahil led his daughter down the aisle that ran down the middle of the hall. He had never seen Lothíriel so beautiful; he could scarcely believe it. He felt so blessed to see her walking down that aisle towards him, knowing that soon she would be his wife, and nothing would stand between them again.

Lothíriel's face was veiled, but Éomer could see the shy smile on her face, and her downcast eyes. He could barely wait till she came to stand beside him. He could barely wait till he could hold her in his arms, and kiss her.

The walk seemed to take forever. Lothíriel kept her eyes down, barely daring to lift her gaze. She saw her friends, though. Freda, who had loved and given up so that Éomer and Lothíriel could be together. Éothain beside her, loyal, faithful Éothain, Éomer's best friend. Isindil, who had grown to become like a second father to her. Legolas, that tall, graceful Elf who was always eager to hear of the Sea. Gimli, sweet Gimli, who had arrived in Rohan at dawn. Faramir and Éowyn, hand in hand, beaming at her. Her dearest brothers, Elphir, Erchirion and Amrothos. What good memories she had shared with them! Aragorn and Arwen, at the most honoured places in the hall, looking upon the whole proceeding serenely.

And finally she lifted her eyes, and met Éomer's gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught. She had never seen him so handsome; she could scarcely believe it. The Valar have blessed me indeed, giving me such a wonderful man as a husband. She felt like running towards him, and throwing herself into his arms.

Imrahil and Lothíriel reached the front of the hall, after what seemed to the couple as an eternity. Imrahil put Lothíriel's hand in Éomer's, took his place before the couple, facing everyone in the hall. "Today, the King of the Mark, Éomer, son of Éomund, will take the Princess of Dol Amroth, and my daughter, Lothíriel for his wife," Imrahil said. "In the presence of all gathered today, they will speak their vows."

Éomer's voice rang out in the hall. "I, Éomer of Rohan, will take Lothíriel of Dol Amroth as my wife, and vow to love her and cherish her to the end of our days."

He smiled at her, and Lothíriel was surprised by the clarity of her own voice. "I, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth, will accept Éomer of Rohan as my husband, to love and to serve till the end of our days."

Amid the cheers of the people, Éomer took both Lothíriel's hands in his, and kissed her, their first kiss as man and wife.

Lothíriel looked around the hall, everyone having eaten their full, and the festivities truly beginning. The hall was noisy with music, chatter and laughter, and Lothíriel felt so attached to every single person beneath the roof of the hall. They had witnessed the happiest day of her life, and she felt an unexplainable love for each person.

She smiled to see Elphir dancing with Freda, laughing and talking as they moved. "They look happy, don't they?" she remarked as Éomer came to stand behind her, slipping his arms around her waist.

"Are you so eager to become a matchmaker, my love?" he asked with a laugh. "It always seems to be something all married women want to do."

Lothíriel leaned her head against his shoulder. "When one finds such happiness, the only natural reaction is to find ways to share it," she said.

Faramir, Éowyn and Legolas approached them. Faramir and Éowyn's faces were flushed with the dancing, and the beams on their faces could not possibly get any wider. "Lovely festivities," Faramir said. He took Lothíriel's hand. "I'm so happy for you, cousin."

"As we all are," Legolas added.

"Well, Legolas, if what I've heard is correct, we could be very happy for you very soon," Éomer said slyly.

Legolas frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We heard that you've found yourself a lovely elf maiden to spend your eternity with," Faramir said. "That's what I heard in Ithilien, anyway."

Legolas coloured, and Lothíriel wondered if it had just been her imagination, or if the tips of his ears really did turn pink. "No, no, nothing of the sort!" he said, shaking his head. "I haven't met anyone. If I had, you could be sure that you would know of it!"

"Men and their gossiping!" Éowyn said scornfully. Her husband merely laughed and kissed her forehead.

Legolas laughed too, and then grinned at Éomer and Lothíriel. "Why aren't the two of your dancing, enjoying yourselves? This is your wedding celebration, why are you standing around?"

Éomer grinned. "As a matter of fact, Legolas, I was just about to ask my lovely bride to dance." He looked down at Lothíriel, his arms still encircling her waist. "Will you dance, my Queen?"

"If you let me go," Lothíriel replied with a laugh.

"Well, you'll have to excuse us, then," Éomer said to the rest, letting go of Lothíriel's waist, and taking her hand.

Éowyn looked fondly after her brother. He looked so happy. She had not seen him smile and laugh in this way for many long years. "Your cousin has worked magic over my brother's life," she commented to her husband. "I can barely remember the last time he was so happy."

Faramir nodded in agreement. "They deserve every bit of happiness they are feeling now. Things have stood in their way, but not anymore."

"I'm glad."

The night passed in a joyful blur, but soon the hall began to empty, and things began to get quiet once more. Éomer and Lothíriel stood by the doors, bidding everyone a good night, and finally all who were left in the hall were their personal guests.

"Well, may you find every bit of happiness that you deserve," Elphir said, kissing Lothíriel. "We'll miss you, sister. Be happy here."

"Of course I will, brother," Lothíriel replied, smiling and hugging her eldest brother.

Imrahil nodded at Éomer. "You two should get a good rest," he said. "Tomorrow, there'll be duties to fulfil." Smiling at his daughter, he continued, "And Lothíriel, good luck at being a Queen, it's not as easy as it looks."

"I agree with that," Arwen remarked, hugging Lothíriel one more time. "But we'll be here whenever you need any help."

Éomer and Lothíriel thanked everyone, touched by all their concern and love.

Éomer and Lothíriel walked down the hall hand in hand, but Lothíriel stopped at the door of the room. It suddenly occurred to her that she had never really been in the king's room. Éomer smiled and pulled her inside. "This will be your room now," he said.

Lothíriel looked around. "It needs flowers," she remarked.

Éomer laughed, and pulled her close to kiss her, the perfect kiss to end the perfect day.