Sorry it took me so long to update! I do hope you like this chapter, I liked writing it even though I think it is a little weak. Thank you so very much for the great reviews, they mean so much to me! Keep them coming and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.
Chapter 38
The month seemed to pass by so quickly that Aria felt as though no time passed at all. Legolas, Gimli, and Haldir kept her so busy she had even completely forgotten that their bonding ceremony was the following day until Elráwien came knocking on her chamber door as she dressed for the morning. "Enter!" Aria called as she finished brushing out her hair. Elráwien stepped into the room and looked at Aria.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be meeting with Vanda to finalize the fitting of your dress," Elráwien said. Aria's eyes widened.
"That is today?" she asked. Elráwien laughed and nodded her head.
"Yes, and your ceremony is tomorrow." Aria quickly stood.
"Oh! How did I not remember this?" Elráwien shook her head.
"I know not, but my guess is that my son and those friends of his have kept you busy." Aria nodded. She only approved the beautiful designs and decorations Elráwien had chosen because Legolas, Haldir and Gimli insisted on keeping her busy.
"I must hurry. Forgive me." Aria ran from her chambers and picked up the light green skirts of her dress and quickly made her way down the corridors. Legolas spotted her as she passed the throne room and he stopped her by grabbing her arm. She looked at him and scowled playfully. "You!" she exclaimed and Legolas looked at her wide eyed.
"Me?" he asked and Aria swatted at his hand.
"Yes you! I'm late so let me go." Legolas laughed.
"What are you late for?"
"Well, have you forgotten as well? Our bonding ceremony is tomorrow and I am late for my final fitting of my gown." Legolas' eyes widened.
"It is tomorrow?" he asked and Aria nodded.
"Yes. It appears as though Haldir and Gimli planned on keeping us busy." Legolas laughed and nodded his head. He leaned in and kissed her gently before he let go of her arm.
"Hurry then, you do not want Vanda to be angry with you." Aria sighed and shook her head.
"That I do not want." He smiled and Aria took off down the hall once again.
Vanda smiled at her as she looked over the dress once again as Aria stood and she laced up the back of the gown. "No adjustments are needed. You will look lovely tomorrow Aria," Vanda said. Aria smiled and took a deep breath.
"I do hope Legolas will approve," Aria whispered. Vanda laughed quietly, a rare occurrence for the elleth.
"If they way he looks at you from day to day is any indication of how much he loves you, then there is no doubt in my mind he will whole hardily approve." Aria smiled and hugged Vanda.
"Thank you Vanda. For everything," she whispered. Vanda wrapped her arms around her and returned her embrace. There was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Vanda called as she pulled away from Aria.
"Haldir," came a familiar voice. Vanda nodded.
"Come in!" she called. Haldir stepped inside and he faltered slightly when he saw Aria standing on the small stool and in the dress she was to wear at her ceremony. Vanda smiled at his reaction before she looked at Aria.
"If your brother's reaction is any clue as to what the prince's reaction shall be, I do believe he will forget the process of the ceremony," Vanda said and Aria laughed as she looked at Haldir who had now entered the room fully and closed the door.
"What do you think Haldir?" Aria asked. Haldir smiled and walked over to her.
"You look wonderful, Aria. Legolas is indeed a very lucky ellon," he said with a smile on his face. Aria laughed and felt her cheeks flush slightly. "I have come to escort you to lunch. Legolas is busy with Gimli. They would not tell me what exactly." Aria smiled and nodded her head before stepped off the stool.
"Let me change and I will join you." Haldir nodded and Aria stepped behind the dress screen. With Vanda's help she carefully slipped out of her gown and back into the green dress she wore there. Vanda smiled at her and Aria hugged her again. "Thank you again." Vanda laughed quietly and returned her hug.
"You are welcome." Aria pulled away and Vanda took the gown and put it away. Aria walked around and linked her arm with Haldir's as they made their way to lunch.
As Aria stood in front of her mirror looking over her reflection, Vanda and another maid braided tiny orchids in her long auburn hair. She fiddled with the ring on her left ring finger and Vanda smiled. "Aria, calm yourself. You are already bound to him and this is just the formal ceremony. There is no reason to be nervous," Vanda said. Aria smiled at the elleth's reflection.
"That is easy for you to say. What if I mess up and say the wrong thing? Or what if I stumble as I walk towards him with Haldir?" Aria asked. Vanda and the maid laughed.
"You will not stumble. You will be fine. You will see." Aria took a deep breath and nodded. Soon they were done and Aria turned to face them.
"So, how do I look?" she asked. They smiled.
"Perfect," Vanda said. Then there was a knock on the door. The other maid rushed over and opened it only to smile and bow her head. Aria looked at the door and Gimli entered with a large smile on his face.
"Gimli?" Aria asked with a smile and the dwarf stopped when he saw her. He laughed happily and clapped his free hand on his leg.
"My that elf is a lucky one," Gimli said. "You look lovely Aria, dare I say nearly as fair as the Lady Galadriel herself." Aria blushed and smiled as she walked over to Gimli.
"Thank you Gimli. What are you doing here?" she asked. Gimli held a small white wood box in his hand.
"Gandalf instructed me to give you your present prior to your ceremony. I have already given Legolas' his from Aragorn and he was most pleased." Aria nodded and took the small box from him. She slowly opened it and nearly dropped the box as she looked inside. It was ring, one that would be too large for her finger, but she knew it would fit someone dear to her. She carefully took the band from the box and looked at Gimli. "It is mithril with some of the most precious stones found in my mines." Aria looked back at the stone and saw a red one, a blue one, a white one, and a silver one. The stones were protected by leaves much like the light green gem that rested on her finger and there was an inscription on the inside in Elvish that she could not read due to the tears in her eyes. "The stones, Gandalf said, were to represent your powers and the leaves are of the trees of Mirkwood and Gandalf said they represented Legolas' love and protection over you." Aria smiled brightly as she looked up from the ring and at Gimli. She hugged him tightly and he returned her embrace.
"This is a most wonderful gift," she whispered to him. Gimli smiled at her as she pulled away.
"You are to present it to Legolas during the ceremony, just as he is to present his gift to you." Her curiosity was peaked and Gimli shook his head. "I will not tell you, as you have but an hour before you find out. I will leave you." With a nod of his head he quickly left and Aria showed the ring to Vanda and the other maid.
"Prince Legolas will truly love the ring Lady Aria," the quiet maid finally spoke.
"If he doesn't he'll need his head examined," Aria mumbled and Vanda laughed slightly confused but knowing it was meant in fun. There was another knock on the door, only this time it was Haldir to lead her to the throne room for the ceremony.