Chapter 44
Be prepared! The next chapter will be the epilogue and it will be a tearjerker.
Once the ceremony had ended, the guests gathered in the great hall for the reception. The room was decorated beautifully, as if a replica of the garden wedding. The space was only lit up by the torches that circled the room, the flames flickering and dancing. Ivy twisted along the table filled with rich foods and many different wines. The ceiling painting seemed to add to the decoration.
Aragorn and Arwen had not arrived yet and so the music was put on hold. I imagined that they had escaped to have a 'moment' together.
"It was so beautiful." Adette murmured from beside me. She was trying her very best to not consume all of her wine in one gulp, having been without the taste of alcohol the past nine months. I made sure that she was not drinking too much. The last thing I needed was her stumbling around, reopening the wounds she had obtained from childbirth.
Eámanë had said that it would be at least a month before Adette and I could make love again. Needless to say we were both trying our best to be patient.
"It was," I leaned in so I could speak in her ear, "but not as beautiful as ours."
"And why is that?" She asked curiously, turning her face towards me.
"Because you were there." I grinned and leaned in to kiss her when the music started. I stood up straight and saw Aragorn and Arwen making their way down the stairs as the applause and cheering erupted once more. Arwen looked thoroughly embarrassed, her cheeks flushed and a nervous smile on her face.
The couple made their way towards us, Arwen hugging Adette carefully.
"It was as if an angel fell from heaven Arwen. You were the most beautiful bride I have ever seen." Adette whispered in her ear. She pulled away, the two women smiling so wide that I thought their cheeks would fall off. She then hugged her brother. "And you Aragorn, you looked very handsome."
"Thank you sister. How are you feeling up and around?" He asked her when he pulled away, searching her body quickly.
"I feel great, I am not even tired." She insisted.
We continued to talk about the wedding and about Eruanna's impending announcement in Mirkwood.
Dínendal and Alassë had ridden in before the wedding, apologizing for being tardy. I did not ask why they were. My father and Tathar had left immediately after the wedding although they wished to stay for the reception. But my father was needed in Mirkwood.
After a time, however, it was time for the toasting. It was traditional for all of the husbands to toast their wives at a new wedding, while the wives toasted to the new bride. When it was time we all went to our seats at the table. Aragorn then tapped his glass with a knife and stood from his chair, holding Arwen's hand on top of the table.
"Friends, I first want to thank all of you for attending our wedding.
I would then like to go on by saying that there are no words to describe just how beautiful Arwen looked tonight. As my sister put it, it was as if an angel fell from heaven. Why I deserve this angel as my bride I know not, but I do know that I will stand by my vows until death decides it is my time." He then lifted his glass and I stood up from his other side.
"I would like to wish Aragorn and Arwen all of the happiness in the world, for they deserve it. They have stood by each other through good and bad times and through sickness and health. Really, it is as if they have been married since they day they met.
And to my wife Adette, I want to thank you for standing by me through those times as well. No matter what we were put through you were always by my side, even on the battlefield. You have given me a beautiful daughter and your love, two of the most precious gifts a person can give. I love you dúlinn." I then raised my glass as well and glanced down at Adette. She was looking up at me with tears shining in her chocolate brown eyes.
When Dínendal stood up I became confused. He and Alassë were not married.
"As Legolas said, I wish Aragorn and Arwen all of the happiness in the world. I can only hope that some day, my marriage will be as blessed as I know theirs will be.
On that note, I would like to ask the lovely elven maid beside me a question."
"What are you doing?" She whispered as he took her hand and stood her up.
"Alassë Telemnar, the very thought of you takes my breath away. When I am in battle, you are the strength that guides me through it. I would be honored if you would marry me." He then proceeded to pull what looked like a band made of thread from his pocket. "I don't have the money to buy a real ring-"
"Yes Dínendal I will marry you." Alassë said a little breathlessly. Dínendal then slipped the thread ring onto her finger and kissed her. We all clapped until they broke apart, both of them as red as tomatoes.
Although the husbands continued to compliment their wives, no one could top Dínendal's proposal. Once the toasting was finished we all drank down our wine before the dancing began.
"Legolas do you remember this song?" Adette asked from beside me. I listened to the gentle harp and the lyre being played. An elf maiden was singing softly as well, her words entwining with the instruments. I knew the song immediately.
"The first song that we ever danced to." I said softly, remembering it.
It had been playing during one of the many banquets in Rivendell many years ago. Aragorn knew of my love for Adette and urged me to ask her to dance.
She was speaking with Arwen in the corner. She was the most beautiful woman in the room.
Somehow I managed to get up from my chair and slowly make my way towards the two. I ignored the others who wished for my attention and simply held out my hand to her. I could have sworn I had seen her blushing when I asked her to dance.
"Do you remember?" I asked, turning my head towards her. Our fingers were laced together upon the armrests of our chairs. She smiled and turned her head towards me.
"How could I forget? I remember your hand appearing out of nowhere and I heard this enchanting voice ask me to dance."
"Enchanting?" I asked amusedly. Before she could retort with something to hurt my feelings I stood up without moving my fingers from hers. She looked up at me questioningly. "Adette, would you dance with me?"
"With you? Psh." She smiled and got to her feet. I led her out to the middle of the room where the song was still playing. I placed a hand on her waist while she placed hers on my shoulder.
She nodded, and I immediately slid a hand onto her waist. With the other I held her hand up high by our shoulders while she placed her other hand on my shoulder. I then proceeded to sweep her around the floor. I pulled her very close, once again ignoring the gasps from the women.
"Le garo bein hends." I murmured.
(You have beautiful eyes.)
"Sui ceri le." She snuggled closer, moving her hand over my shoulder so that she could lean her head against it. I moved my arms around her waist and pulled her closer, her free hand now resting upon my other shoulder.
(As do you.)
"I love you Adette, so much." I kissed her forehead as she turned so that the side of her face was turned towards me. She closed her eyes as my lips brushed against her skin, and they opened when I pulled away.
"I love you too Legolas. God I love you so much it hurts." She moved towards the side of my neck and buried her face into it. I could feel her gently nibbling and nipping my skin and I shivered.
"I love you." I murmured, spinning her out and then back in. Once she spun back in, her hair flipping out, she breathed the same words against my neck.
Even when the music changed and the dancing became a bit different, I continued to move Adette and I slowly around the room. She did not even need to do a thing for she knew I had her. I would take care of us.
I tore my eyes away from the spot on Adette's shoulder I had focused on, and saw Aragorn and Arwen dancing slowly. He was holding her close, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. She was giggling softly and whispering a few words of her own as well.
I then continued to guide her along the floor. It was as if we were dancing in the sky, free and weightless. She dared to giggle like a young girl as I dipped her close to the floor, keeping her protected in my arms. I would never let her fall.
She closed her eyes as I leaned down and our lips met. It was then that I noticed that we were the only couple dancing.
I could not dip Adette for fear it would cause her stomach pain, but I did tilt my head to the side so that I could kiss her. She moved her arms around my neck and pulled me in closer, her fingers tangling in my hair.
Eámanë departed once Adette and I returned to our bedroom.
I helped Adette out of her dress and held the baby while she untied the ribbons in her hair and changed into her singlet for bed.
"You should not be awake so late nin gwilwileth." I whispered as I slowly paced the room, trying to coax Eruanna to sleep.
(My butterfly.)
"Butterfly?" Adette questioned, gently taking her from my arms. She then sat down so that she could feed her. I sat down on the edge of the bed to watch as I always did.
"Yes butterfly. That is what she felt like inside of your belly was it not?"
"Eruanna is your gwilwileth and I am your dúlinn."
"And I am your bein maethor." She smiled up at me when I said this.
Suddenly Eruanna began to cry, taking her tiny mouth from Adette's breast. Adette fixed her singlet, covering herself, and then began to slowly rock her. When her cries continued Adette stood, hissing in her sudden action.
"Go to sleep Adette, I will take care of it." I assured her, taking Eruanna. Adette nodded and slowly went to the bed.
I carried the crying infant over to where the window was and continued out onto the balcony. It was very dark out except for the light emitted by the moon and stars. Rivendell was at peace.
"Shh, ceri al nallo nin gwilwileth. It breaks my heart Eruanna." I rocked her slowly, leaning down to nuzzle her cheek comfortingly. It seemed to calm her a bit.
(Shh, do not cry my butterfly.)
"When the sun goes down and it's getting late.
You say it's time for bed,
she just takes her time,
acting like she never heard a word you said.
Little baby wanna hold you tight.
She don't ever wanna say good night.
She's a lover, she wanna be daddy's girl.
When the morning comes,
and it's time to go start another day,
she won't let you leave, and she does her best,
to try to make you stay.
Pretty baby gonna start to cry.
She don't ever wanna say good bye.
She's a lover, she wanna be daddy's girl-" I stopped singing when I heard Eruanna's cries had stopped.
I opened my eyes to see her big, blue eyes staring back at me. For a long time we simply stared at each other until she broke out in a big, toothless smile. I laughed quietly and returned her smile.
"You're ada's girl aren't you? You and nana are both my girls." I watched as she yawned and slowly her eyes closed.
When I turned I saw that Adette had lifted her head. She was smiling at me sleepily, her eyes half open. When she saw that Eruanna had stopped crying she laid her head back down and fell asleep.