Chapter 30
Guys what do you think? Should I write the Epilogue and end the story or should I continue? It's up to you.
If I continue: the story will follow Legolas and Adette into Mirkwood, follow her pregnancy, and THEN there will be an epilogue. WARNING! If I DO continue then there will be major fluff...although there has been already. Haha.
Two weeks passed by in a blur, filled with preparations for Aragorn's crowning ceremony. That morning was just as much of a blur as the two previous weeks had been.
After quietly freeing myself from Adette's hold I slipped on my clothes for the ceremony. One of the seamstresses had made for me an ivory colored tunic with a high collar. Along with this I wore white leggings that were patched up and washed after my many weeks of wearing them. On my head, weaved in with my hair, was a small crown that I wore in Mirkwood for special occasions. I had been told that I could not bring my beloved bow, which deeply saddened me.
From there I quickly went down the stairs and to the castle doors. I had perfect timing, for at that moment Lord Elrond and his company were dismounting. The guards quickly took the horses and led them to the stables. I greeted Lord Elrond with a smile, and then saw Arwen coming towards me.
She looked just as lovely as she always did, but her skin was paler. How different she was, yet she looked just the same as she always had. She wore a green dress accompanied by a very extravagant headpiece. Two sections of her long hair fell in curls down her front. As I went to her she embraced me.
"Manenna?" I asked her softly when we separated.
(How are you?)
"Nan mara Legolas. Manenna a Adette?" In her voice was no tone of regret or illness. She sounded happy and it made me smile. Aragorn had worried about her so.
(I am well Legolas. How are you and Adette?)
"We are very well. Adette is with child." When I said this Arwen broke out into a fit of giggles and embraced me again. She then pulled away, glancing back at her father before returning her eyes to mine.
"My father has foreseen it. The child that thrives within Adette will live." She said excitedly. Relief flooded through me and I nearly hugged Arwen for a third time. I had hoped that the baby would live and now I knew that it would.
"Arwen-" She knew what I wanted to know before I could finish my sentence.
"It is a girl."
At midday the ceremony began. Thousands had flocked to the courtyard for the ceremony, all awaiting their soon to be king. I recognized Faramir, Boromir's brother, and Èowyn standing beside each other. They held hands, smiling at each other. I was quite relieved that the girl's heart had not been broken by Aragorn.
Beside me, Arwen could hardly contain her excitement. She was hidden behind a banner, fidgeting and whispering to herself. I knew that she was both excited and worried to see Aragorn after all this time. If only she knew how much he had missed her.
The sound of soft trumpets filled the air, and everyone turned their heads at once. From the steps came Aragorn, escorted by an inhumanely beautiful woman. That was when I realized that the woman his arm was linked through was my wife. All of the breath in my body seemed to be stolen as she neared closer and closer. The bodice of her dress was blood red and had no straps. The top was lined with a thin, gold material. Around her waist was more of the gold material, cut thin as well, and split down the front of her dress, which was also blood red, and widened at the bottom. Embroidered into the red were golden stars. Her hair was pulled into a messy looking bun on the back of her head, a few wisps blowing in her face. The vision was breathtaking. How could such a gorgeous creature be meant for me?
Aragorn wore what he had worn to the battle although it was cleaned and looked brand new. Neither of them looked away from the castle doors as they passed, not even Adette. They continued walking slowly down the aisle of people until they reached the steps leading to the castle doors. Adette turned to her brother, bowing her head. He shook his head, lifting her chin before taking her into a hug.
"Le baur al thír dad o nin. An im thír amna le." He murmured.
(You need not look down from me. For I look up to you.)
"Im míl le gwanur." She whispered back.
(I love you brother.)
"Im míl le gwathel." He pulled back and kissed the middle of her forehead. As he slowly walked up the steps towards Gandalf, Adette hurried ahead of him to Gandalf's side. She took the pillow holding Aragorn's crown from his hands.
(I love you sister.)
When Aragorn made it to Gandalf he kneeled down before him. Gandalf placed his hand over Aragorn's head and chanted under his breath, blessing Aragorn and his kingdom. He then took the crown from the pillow and Aragorn got to his feet. Slowly, Gandalf slid the crown atop Aragorn's head.
"Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed." He said loudly for all to hear. Everyone broke out into applause and cheering as Aragorn turned to address us. Adette set the pillow down at her feet to applaud as well.
"This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world…that we may share in the days of peace." His eyes closed and he began to sing softly. "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn. Ambar-metta."
(Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.)
Then slowly, Aragorn walked through the crowd. He bowed his head to Èomer, who had been crowned a week earlier in Edoras, Èowyn, and Faramir. The bowed their heads in return as he passed, coming towards me. I placed a hand on his shoulder as he did the same to me.
"Hannon lee." He said softly.
(Thank you.)
There were no words that came to mind for me to announce that his one, true love was standing behind me, hidden. So instead of trying, I merely grinned mischievously, and glanced to the banner. Aragorn followed my eyes, and his face froze as Arwen slowly moved the banner away from her face. Lord Elrond pushed her gently forward as I stepped aside to watch the two meet.
For a long time they simply stood before each other, staring. Arwen suddenly looked embarrassed, and dropped her chin to bow. Aragorn looked confused, and tilted her chin back up. He then rushed forward and kissed her, earning a gasp. She seemed pleasantly surprised but happy with his choice, and returned his kiss. When their lips were no longer at work, Arwen embraced Aragorn, laughing. How happy they looked together. It made my heart warm instantly as I watched them walk further on, holding hands.
I watched as they stood before the four Hobbits, all dressed in brightly colored tunics and looking the cleanest I had ever seen any of them. They bowed awkwardly, but Aragorn held up a hand in protest.
"My friends! You bow to no one." He told them, and then kneeling down before them. Arwen quickly followed, and soon we were all bowing to the Hobbits. Frodo looked overwhelmed as his eyes darted from person to person. Although the Ring had been destroyed he still looked tired and worn, as though he just wished to be dead. I pitied him.
The throne room of Minas Tirith was no longer a cold, dreary place as it had been when we discussed Frodo and Sam's fate. It was alive with laughter and stories. Aragorn and Arwen were whispering and laughing together, their hands never leaving one another's. I smiled as I watched them from a distance, happy for my friends that they could finally be together. Gimli was already drinking, challenging different men to play his game.
Suddenly there was a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see Adette standing behind me. She freed her hair from its bun, shaking out her head. The messy curls and waves cascaded down past her chest, a few strands falling into the inside of her dress. If only she knew how alluring she looked, but I knew she was unhappy dressed the way she was.
"I wondered where you had gone dúlinn." I said, turning towards her. "You looked beautiful."
"As do you my henduluin husband." She placed a hand on my waist, turning to look across the room. She spotted her brother and Arwen and smiled. "I'm so happy for them."
(Blue-eyed.)
"As am I." I took the hand she had placed on my waist and grinned down at her. "Will you dance with me?"
"Legolas," she looked around and then back to me, "no one is dancing."
"Not yet." I led her out into the middle of the room although she protested. I then placed my free hand on her waist while still holding her hand. When she did not place her other hand on my shoulder I did it for her and began to lead us. She was frowning. "Don't frown Adette."
"Everyone is staring at us." She grumbled. What she didn't seem to realized was that I didn't care. I spun her around effortlessly as if we were dancing upon a frozen lake. A small smile made its way onto her face when Aragorn led Arwen into the middle of the room and they began to dance. Soon other couples joined in.
"And now they aren't." I murmured, dropping her hand. I wrapped both arms around her waist and she in turn moved hers around my neck. We moved close, pressed up against each other, gliding across the floor. After a short time she rested her head against my chest. I laid my head upon hers and stopped moving about, and instead spun slowly in a circle.
"Eruanna." She whispered against my tunic suddenly. I lifted my head and looked quizzically down at her. She must have felt my stare because she also lifted her head and looked up at me.
"What?"
"Eruanna, mín ield's esto. Ha foegs, ant o Eru." She told me quietly. I smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. I moved one arm from around her and laid a hand against her flattened womb, my fingers gently digging into the material of the dress so that I could feel the child within. I could sense her presence for I felt magical warmth beneath my hand. Adette looked at me curiously.
(Eruanna, our daughter's name. It means, gift from God.)
"Arwen told you?" I asked without taking my eyes from my hand. But before I could answer, the child responded to my touch with an impossible force. It had not been long seen she had been conceived, yet she had responded to me.
"Legolas!" Adette gasped as the baby leapt within her. I looked up from my hand and into her eyes, a look of shock on her face.
"Did I hurt you?" I asked worriedly, finally taking my hand away to cup her cheek instead. She shook her head, leaning into my hand.
The previous baby had never been developed enough to respond to my touch. My father had explained to me that when an elven woman was with child, her emotions could be felt by the baby. He told me that if the husband were to place his hand over the womb, the baby would be able to feel it because the mother could feel it. Although Adette was not an elf, the baby still felt me. Usually it took many months for this to be able to occur, and yet our daughter had just leapt at my touch.
My thoughts and our dancing were interrupted when a clanging sound rang out through the room. Laughing ceased, talking stopped, and couples paused from their dancing. Aragorn stood near his throne, holding a goblet in one hand and a knife in the other.
"I have wonderful news that I would like to share with you." He said, grinning at Arwen as she stood at the bottom of the steps. He reached out to her, transferring the knife into the hand that held the goblet. She took his hand and joined him. "Lady Arwen has just agreed to marry me."
The room broke out into applause while Arwen blushed red. Aragorn simply laughed and kissed her quickly before the two went back into the crowd. Everyone resumed what they had been doing.
"Congratulations." Adette said happily, hugging Arwen when the newly engaged couple came to us. I placed a hand on Aragorn's shoulder and smiled.
"Yes mellon, congratulations."
"Hannon lee." He nodded towards me.
"Oh Adette you will be my maid of honor won't you?" Arwen asked Adette when they pulled back from their hug. They both looked like giddy little girls, giggling and smiling.
"Of course! You were mine weren't you?" They hugged once more, still giggling. It was one of the first times I had ever seen Adette act like a woman. Before I could congratulate Arwen, the two women rushed off, chattering.
"Look what I've gotten myself into." Aragorn laughed, watching as they walked away. He then turned to me. "When do you and my sister plan on leaving for Mirkwood?"
"We had hoped soon – not that we don't like it here but we are both rather homesick, and I'm nervous enough as it is traveling with Adette while she is with child-" Aragorn held up a hand to silence my rambling.
"I agree mellon." He smiled, lowering his hand. I looked around the room once more, and spotted Frodo. He was standing with the other Hobbits but he looked alienated and rather tired. His eyes were averted towards the ground, his shoulder hunched over.
"Aragorn what ails Frodo?" I asked quietly, motioning to the Hobbit. Aragorn looked over at him and frowned.
"I do not know Legolas. Ever since he was able to leave his bed he has seemed distant and troubled. I believe a war is waging on within him." He answered grimly.
"Come," I shook my head and smiled at Aragorn, "today is a happy occasion. Let us go and join Gimli's game if he has not passed out already."
Adette and I spoke and decided to leave Minas Tirith in the morning. That night we would pack and sleep before journeying back home at sunrise. Although we were both excited to get back home we were both crestfallen to leave our friends.
I folded up Adette and I's clothes that night, placing them in the saddlebags. We had not brought much and so it did not take long to pack it up. I glanced out the window and saw Adette, still in her dress, looking up at the moon. She was bathed in its light as she stood beneath the white tree.
I hurried down the stairs and joined her. She didn't look away from the sky but held out her hand for me to take. I looked up at the stars as well and remembered past times when Adette and I had courted. When I came to Minas Tirith to visit her we would sit underneath the tree together. What innocent times those had been. No worries had plagued us about the Ring or about Sauron.
"Legolas, do it again." She whispered, her voice entwining with the soft wind.
Without having to ask what she had meant as she turned towards me, I placed my hand over her womb as I had done earlier that day. The same warmth seeped through and shot straight through my skin, swimming through my veins and tugging at my heart. Soon after she leapt again, and Adette laughed.
"It tickles." She said softly, still laughing. I grinned, and slowly moved my hands onto either side of her waist. She looked at me quizzically as I kneeled down before her.
"I want to try something." I told her, leaning in. I pressed my lips against Adette's womb and began to whisper to the baby. "Hello Eruanna. Ada míls le a nana míls le nin ield. Mín turoal dartho an le na anglenno."
(Daddy loves you and mommy loves you my daughter. We cannot wait for you to arrive.)
When Adette gasped I knew that she had jumped again, and smiled widely as I got back to my feet, bringing her close.
"We have a long wait ahead of us." She smiled. "She moves further forward to get closer to you."
"I imagine it will be hard to get away."
"What do you mean?"
"My father told me that when he was away from my mother when she was pregnant, she would feel a pain in her stomach until he returned." I frowned, not wanting to cause Adette pain.
We didn't speak after that, but simply looked up at the stars. I felt warmth against me and looked down to see Adette pressed further against me. I placed a kiss on top of her head as she laid against my shoulder.
As I watched the stars I wondered if the Hobbits would make a safe trip home, for they had left later after the gathering. I knew Adette was wondering the same thing.