The Sweetest Honeys
Legolas was at last returned to Minas Tirith, and it was on an occasion of more joy than even he had foreseen. The autumn harvest had been collected, and Faramir Steward of Gondor, and Éowyn the White Lady were to be wed. From the moment of Éowyn's arrival the entire city had given itself up to a spirit of carnival that was lighter and less solemn than that which had accompanied the King's wedding, for the people of the White City loved Faramir, their Steward and Captain, and they loved the valiant women who was to be his wife.
The night before had been spent in banqueting and revelling and dancing. And Legolas had spoken with Éowyn briefly and felt a light come from her that he had never felt before. And he had thought that if that was mortal love he could understand why poets and bards penned so many words about it - it burned swift and hot, and with a purity that he had thought dead from the world of men.
He had brought letters and gifts from the hobbits, and she had smiled at their pert manner of writing and thanked him. And they had danced briefly together, before her betrothed called her away. He had watched them briefly, and marvelled at the way they laughed together, and had longed for something akin to their love, though he knew he would not find it in Middle- Earth.
And now it was their wedding day, and he still had not given Éowyn her gift. He was searching the palace for her, when he heard Arwen's voice, teasing say, "So my lady, are you prepared for all that shall happen today?" Éowyn replied softly, "What do you mean my Queen?"
Arwen laughed and said, "It shall be your wedding night, Éowyn". Legolas was glad that he had not interrupted this conversation - elven hearing came in useful at the strangest of times. He heard Éowyn say, as if she did not want to be heard, "Well, since it is Faramir, I am looking forward to it." He could sense her blushing, but Arwen laughed out loud, and said, "Just as it should be Éowyn".
Now it was safe to round the corner he approached them. And gasped. Never in all his long years had he seen such a sight. Éowyn turned to face him as Arwen attempted to be hide a smirk. He bowed and said, "You do your name justice Éowyn". She smiled at him, and smoothed the folds of her skirts, as Arwen said, "What are you doing here Legolas? You should be in front of the White Tree with the others".
He said, "I have to give the Lady of Rohan her gift." He took the flower he held behind his back and approached her, saying, "It is a lily lady. White as snow on the outside, with a red heart". She looked at him, and he could tell she understood. He handed it to her, and she held it between her hands, and he savoured her image, before Arwen hustled him away.
And now she stood in front of the White Tree, facing Faramir with her hand raised to press his, and the flower was between their fingers. All the great and good of Gondor and many realms were assembled, but on this day not even the Evenstar could outshine Eowyn's beauty.
Éomer wrapped a green ribbon, for Rohan, around their hands as Faramir spoke his words, "Through the dark you came to me, and brought healing and cast out the shadow, and you changed sorrow to joy and tears to laughter. The fairest of all maidens you light my heart from within, and from this day forth I swear to do all in my power to give you the light you bring to me."
And Aragorn wrapped a white ribbon for Gondor around their hands, as Éowyn spoke, "All places, all things art thou to me my lord. Thou art a better man than I ever hoped to know. To be without thee is to be in the dark, caged, and to be by thy side is to find the light and hope again. As much as you are mine, for all the ages of this world, I am yours."
And their hands wrapped around each other, and Éomer and Aragorn, in one voice declared them wed, and they reached for each other and kissed, and even then his flower remained between their hands.
And the company departed to the great banquet Arwen had arranged, and joy and chatter filled the room, as they ate of the fruits of the harvest. Happiness shone from the faces of the royalty of Rohan and Gondor as they congratulated the couple. And Legolas heard Éomer say, half joking, "It is good to see your smile sister. See that she stays that way lord Steward."
And Éowyn leaned up and said to him, "Go to her.", and she laughed as Éomer walked over to the Princess Lothliriel unsure of his reception. And when the feast was over, Aragorn bid Éowyn kneel before him, and placed upon her finger a silver ring with a blue jewel - symbol of her new rank and title. And as she stood he said in a strong voice, "Behold the Stewardess of Gondor and Princess of Ithilien". And the people cheered, and Éowyn's love for them shone from her face.
She spent much time conversing with the people, and still more with the King and Queen, while attempting to convince Faramir not to drink the Rohirric brews. Legolas was glad to see the currents of love and affection that flowed between the four, for he had been affeared that she and Arwen would never gain knowledge of each other, and hence a strain would be put upon the friendships they all shared. But it seemed it was not so.
Later Legolas saw her and Faramir dancing together, and knew that she had found the happiness he had wished for her. The desolate woman he had known had been replaced by another - with the same inner core of strength, but loving and loved, whole and happy, shining for all to see. He was glad of it.
Legolas was at last returned to Minas Tirith, and it was on an occasion of more joy than even he had foreseen. The autumn harvest had been collected, and Faramir Steward of Gondor, and Éowyn the White Lady were to be wed. From the moment of Éowyn's arrival the entire city had given itself up to a spirit of carnival that was lighter and less solemn than that which had accompanied the King's wedding, for the people of the White City loved Faramir, their Steward and Captain, and they loved the valiant women who was to be his wife.
The night before had been spent in banqueting and revelling and dancing. And Legolas had spoken with Éowyn briefly and felt a light come from her that he had never felt before. And he had thought that if that was mortal love he could understand why poets and bards penned so many words about it - it burned swift and hot, and with a purity that he had thought dead from the world of men.
He had brought letters and gifts from the hobbits, and she had smiled at their pert manner of writing and thanked him. And they had danced briefly together, before her betrothed called her away. He had watched them briefly, and marvelled at the way they laughed together, and had longed for something akin to their love, though he knew he would not find it in Middle- Earth.
And now it was their wedding day, and he still had not given Éowyn her gift. He was searching the palace for her, when he heard Arwen's voice, teasing say, "So my lady, are you prepared for all that shall happen today?" Éowyn replied softly, "What do you mean my Queen?"
Arwen laughed and said, "It shall be your wedding night, Éowyn". Legolas was glad that he had not interrupted this conversation - elven hearing came in useful at the strangest of times. He heard Éowyn say, as if she did not want to be heard, "Well, since it is Faramir, I am looking forward to it." He could sense her blushing, but Arwen laughed out loud, and said, "Just as it should be Éowyn".
Now it was safe to round the corner he approached them. And gasped. Never in all his long years had he seen such a sight. Éowyn turned to face him as Arwen attempted to be hide a smirk. He bowed and said, "You do your name justice Éowyn". She smiled at him, and smoothed the folds of her skirts, as Arwen said, "What are you doing here Legolas? You should be in front of the White Tree with the others".
He said, "I have to give the Lady of Rohan her gift." He took the flower he held behind his back and approached her, saying, "It is a lily lady. White as snow on the outside, with a red heart". She looked at him, and he could tell she understood. He handed it to her, and she held it between her hands, and he savoured her image, before Arwen hustled him away.
And now she stood in front of the White Tree, facing Faramir with her hand raised to press his, and the flower was between their fingers. All the great and good of Gondor and many realms were assembled, but on this day not even the Evenstar could outshine Eowyn's beauty.
Éomer wrapped a green ribbon, for Rohan, around their hands as Faramir spoke his words, "Through the dark you came to me, and brought healing and cast out the shadow, and you changed sorrow to joy and tears to laughter. The fairest of all maidens you light my heart from within, and from this day forth I swear to do all in my power to give you the light you bring to me."
And Aragorn wrapped a white ribbon for Gondor around their hands, as Éowyn spoke, "All places, all things art thou to me my lord. Thou art a better man than I ever hoped to know. To be without thee is to be in the dark, caged, and to be by thy side is to find the light and hope again. As much as you are mine, for all the ages of this world, I am yours."
And their hands wrapped around each other, and Éomer and Aragorn, in one voice declared them wed, and they reached for each other and kissed, and even then his flower remained between their hands.
And the company departed to the great banquet Arwen had arranged, and joy and chatter filled the room, as they ate of the fruits of the harvest. Happiness shone from the faces of the royalty of Rohan and Gondor as they congratulated the couple. And Legolas heard Éomer say, half joking, "It is good to see your smile sister. See that she stays that way lord Steward."
And Éowyn leaned up and said to him, "Go to her.", and she laughed as Éomer walked over to the Princess Lothliriel unsure of his reception. And when the feast was over, Aragorn bid Éowyn kneel before him, and placed upon her finger a silver ring with a blue jewel - symbol of her new rank and title. And as she stood he said in a strong voice, "Behold the Stewardess of Gondor and Princess of Ithilien". And the people cheered, and Éowyn's love for them shone from her face.
She spent much time conversing with the people, and still more with the King and Queen, while attempting to convince Faramir not to drink the Rohirric brews. Legolas was glad to see the currents of love and affection that flowed between the four, for he had been affeared that she and Arwen would never gain knowledge of each other, and hence a strain would be put upon the friendships they all shared. But it seemed it was not so.
Later Legolas saw her and Faramir dancing together, and knew that she had found the happiness he had wished for her. The desolate woman he had known had been replaced by another - with the same inner core of strength, but loving and loved, whole and happy, shining for all to see. He was glad of it.