Disclaimer: I own only Braenna. Tolkein owns the rest. Sorry it took so long to update. I'm rarely in my dorm cuz my roommate is a very intolerable person. Hope you enjoy. Please review! I love criticism of the constructive nature!
Almost a month after Aragorn's coronation, he and the Evenstar of the elves of Rivendell, Arwen, were wed. Èomer and Braenna danced together for most of the reception. She saw Faramir and Èowyn sneak off, but said nothing to Èomer. She instead announced that she wished to retire.
Èomer walked her to her room. She peeked inside to see that her handmaidens had already turned down the bed and slid the bedwarmer between the mattress and the bedframe. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Èomer gently.
"What are you planning, my little one?" he asked her softly.
"Ending what you began in Rohan," she whispered in reply, smiling. They shared a passionate kiss as she pulled him into her room.
Braenna woke up feeling an arm draped over her waist. She sighed happily and nuzzled closer to Èomer's strong, broad chest. Then she heard the knock that had been the cause of her initial awakening once again.
"Braenna, are you awake?" Faramir called.
She and Èomer looked at each other, wide-eyed. "Yes," she replied.
"May I come in and talk with you?" Faramir asked.
"I'm not decent. Come back in ten minutes, please," she responded.
"Alright," he agreed.
They waited a moment. Nothing had happened between her and Èomer other than talking and falling asleep on her bed. Braenna slid from her bed and stuck her head out into the hall after straightening her dress. Faramir was walking back toward his own room. She saw Èomer straightening his own clothes out of the corner of her eye. She watched Faramir go into his room and waited. Once the door closed, she ushered Èomer out into the hall.
He eased by her and stole a chaste kiss. "I will see you later, little one," he whispered before leaving. She smiled to herself before turning back to her room and closing the door.
Braenna quickly made her bed and changed out of her clothes from the night before. She washed up in the wash basin. She was sitting at the vanity, brushing out her hair when there was a knock. "Come in!" she called as she started to braid her hair.
Faramir walked in. He sat on the edge of her bed, watching her delicate fingers quickly work her auburn locks into a braid. He didn't say anything for a while.
"You wished to speak to me?" Braenna prompted.
"Yes, indeed...Èowyn and I wish to be wed in Ithilien and..."
"You wanted to be sure that I would be there," she finished, turning to look at him. He nodded. "You know I will be. I've been waiting ages for you to actually fall in love with a woman. Besides...she's Èomer's sister. If you think either of us will miss this moment to be in Rohan, you are dead wrong, brother."
Faramir grinned. "She wants to visit Ithilien before we wed," he admitted. "Maybe you could take her one day before you return to Edoras."
"Yes. That would be nice, since we are to be sisters. Ask her if she wishes to go later today," Braenna agreed. "The threat of Sauron is gone, I'm sure we will be quite safe if we go to Henneth Anun and the northern part of Ithilien."
"I shall...he slept here last night, didn't he?" Faramir asked her.
"Who do you mean?" she asked innocently.
"Èomer. It's alright to tell me, I know nothing happened. Just as you know nothing happened between myself and Èowyn," he replied.
"Aye," she admitted. "There's nothing like waking up in the same bed as the one you love, is there?"
"Indeed, I have never felt at greater peace or happiness than this morn," he agreed, smiling.
An hour after the morning meal, Èowyn and Braenna were in the stables, readying their mounts. Braenna had just finished tightening the girth of Minuialwen's saddle when Faramir and Èomer entered the stables. She raised her eyebrows at them.
"Aragorn gave us leave to accompany you as guards. The reconstruction is almost done," Faramir replied to the question she didn't need to ask with their connection. Twins were really a blessing at times like this.
The two couples were soon riding out of the city and turning to Osgiliath. Braenna kept up an endless stream of taunting of Èomer until he consented to a race with her. They both stopped their mounts.
"From here to the top of that rise," Braenna challenged once more.
"I will accept that challenge," Èomer agreed.
"Ready...set...go!" Faramir exclaimed lazily.
Minuialwen and Firefoot both took off at a gallop. Braenna and Minuialwen were behind, but not by much. Minuialwen's head was even with Èomer's thigh. As they started going up the rise, Braenna lay low over Minuialwen's neck, evenly distributing her weight over the filly's body. They picked up speed and passed Firefoot and Èomer with ease. She turned the filly at the top of the rise and waited a minute for Èomer to join her.
The two couples enjoyed the day in the woods of Ithilien and Henneth Anun. They rode back late in the afternoon, making it to Minas Tirith shortly after nightfall. They took a meal in the gardens of the Houses of Healing before retiring to their individual rooms.
Two mornings later, the group consisting of Rohan's remaining soldiers, some of Gondor's army, Lady Arwen, King Elessar, Faramir, Èowyn, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Èomer, Braenna, Legolas, Gimli, and the body of Théoden set out for Edoras. The journey was slow, since they had the body and some still injured men in the group. In all, the journey took twenty days to reach Edoras from Minas Tirith.
Arrangements were made the day after their arrival. Two days later, Théoden was buried alongside Théodred, his son. The next day Èomer was crowned as the King of Rohan, Èowyn's engagement to Faramir was shared with her people, and Èomer announced his own engagement to Braenna.
A month after their engagement had been announced, Èowyn and Faramir were wed in Henneth Anun. Braenna and Èomer were there, as promised, and much was celebrated, for it was the first time in a month friends were reuniting. It had been a busy month, as well. Èomer was getting the numbers of the surviving people and herds from Orc and Wild Men raids, rebuilding all of Rohan's villages, and seeing to the needs of his people. Braenna worked at his side when she wasn't needed for matters concerning their household or the wedding.
The remaining month flew by quickly. Braenna woke up on her wedding day feeling extremely nervous. The guests had started arriving three days before the wedding, and Faramir and Èowyn had been there for a full week already.
Arwen and Èowyn bustled around Braenna, preparing her for the wedding. Just as Braenna felt nervous enough to feel sick, Èowyn met her eyes in the mirror as she put the final touches on her hair. "Calm down, Braenna," she said through a chuckle. She let out a sigh.
"Yes, dear, calm yourself," Arwen stated assuringly. She finished tying off the white and cream gown that Braenna had received as a gift from Aragorn and Lady Arwen. The queen had made it specially for Braenna and had given it to her before they had parted from Ithilien for all her help in the Healing Houses, keeping the city intact while Faramir was indisposed, and helping oversee the reconstruction of Minas Tirith. Aragorn would be conducting the ceremony since the King of Gondor had the power to wed people.
"I'm trying to calm myself, but I'm so nervous. I feel as though my insides are turning to the warm mash feed for the horses," she admitted. Èowyn smiled as she stepped back. Arwen joined her and they both looked at Braenna. "Well...how do I look?" she asked.
"I've never seen anyone lovelier," Arwen replied, and Braenna blushed deeply. Èowyn grinned and nodded in agreement.
"I don't think Èomer will be disappointed in the least," Èowyn remarked. Braenna's blush deepened. She turned to look in the mirror as she felt the heat quickly recede from her cheeks. She breathed in sharply at the sight of her reflection. In her auburn locks, Èowyn had laced in small white flowers, leaving her hair down in slight waves.
The scoop neckline and bell sleeves of the beautiful dress accented her form perfectly. The bodice of the dress was fitted and snug, but not too tight. The skirt flowed like water in smooth waves.
"There's still something missing," Èowyn said softly. "And I know exactly what." She bustled over to a small jewelry chest on the vanity. She pulled out a silver necklace that looked like Èowyn's gold necklace with the light blue gemstones set in it. The gemstones in this silver necklace were emerald green. "It was my mother's. She would want you to wear it. And it matches your eyes almost perfectly," Èowyn said. She attached it around Braenna's neck.
"Perfect," Arwen said with a smile.
Braenna looked in the mirror once more. "Is that me?" she asked in a whisper. Arwen and Èowyn laughed behind her.
"It is," Èowyn confirmed. Braenna took a deep breath. Instead of calming, her nerves returned once more, in tenfold. A knock caused Braenna to jump and both women to laugh again. Èowyn went over and opened the door of the room. Faramir was waiting on the other side. "Hello, dear. Is it time?" she asked.
"That it is, my love," he replied and Èowyn nodded.
"Very well, come in," she said. Èowyn opened the chamber door, and Faramir stepped in. Braenna was looking at Arwen, and the Elf queen patted her cheek before leaving the room. Èowyn gave her a smile and nod before following Arwen. Braenna smiled at Faramir and a slow grin spread across his face.
"You look beautiful, Braenna," he said softly.
"Thank you, brother," she replied quietly.
Faramir smiled as he held her hand. "Your people and your king await you, sister," he stated. She let out a heavy, shaky breath. He squeezed her hand gently. "Don't be nervous."
Her emerald eyes met his silver-blue ones. She had gotten her eyes from their mother, the only one of the three siblings. "You're bound now...were you this nervous when you and Èowyn were wed?" she asked him.
"I was nervous, but only slightly," he admitted. "You have no reason to worry over your future. All will be well. Èomer loves you deeply. I have seen this myself. And I know you love him just as well," he assured her as they walked. He led her down the corridors. They started hearing the murmurs coming from the main hall. She swallowed hard before she saw the two guards standing on each side of dark green curtains that had been erected for the occasion. The guards bowed their heads before pulling the curtains open at Faramir's nod.
Èomer looked up when silence filled the hall. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of Braenna on Faramir's arm. Èothain, his best friend since childhood, nudged his shoulder gently as a reminder to breathe.
He had never seen anything more beautiful. A bright smile graced her features, but he could tell she was nervous. The gown Arwen had given her was beautiful on her, and when his eyes met hers he swore he saw them sparkle. He also noted that Èowyn had entrusted her with their mother's necklace.
Braenna felt her heart pounding in her chest when her eyes met Èomer's. He was dressed in dark green and gold, his crown ontop of his head. Faramir slipped her arm from his. She glanced at him and gave him a small smile before he kissed her cheek and placed her hand in Èomer's. She looked up at Èomer and nearly melted at the look in his eyes. Èomer bowed his head at Faramir, who did the same before he stepped back. Everyone took their seats as Aragorn stepped forward.
"People of Rohan, today you have come to bear witness to the joining of your king, Èomer son of Èomund, and Braenna, princess of Ithilien," Aragorn began. "Let us begin with the exchange of vows. Èomer, you shall go first." The couple turned to one another, and he grasped her hands tightly.
Their eyes met, and Braenna felt as though they were the only two people in the room. "Braenna, today I take you as my wife and you will rule beside me until our dying day. I have loved you since the moment you arrived in Edoras and fell into my arms. I knew the moment we first talked that something had changed in me. I knew nothing would be the same after that day. Even in the darkest times, you kept my hope alive. Thinking of you pushed me to continue. I will always love you, cherish you, and protect you," Èomer said softly. Braenna smiled softly.
"You may speak now, Braenna," Aragorn prompted, smiling himself.
She nodded, not tearing her eyes from Èomer's. "Èomer, today I take you as my husband. I fell in love with you long ago when I first saw you, a mere youth aiding in a trade six years ago. You helped ease my fears and my sadness. I resisted at first because I did not want to be hurt. I am so glad you broke down the walls around my heart. I will always love you, cherish you, and respect you," she said. A few happy tears squeezed their way out of her eyes. Èomer grinned and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
Èothain stepped forward, holding a maroon and gold velvet pillow with two gold rings sitting upon it. Aragorn picked up both rings. He handed the larger one to Braenna and the smaller to Èomer.
"Place these rings upon the third finger of your bound's left hand as a symbol of your never-ending love," he said. Èomer went first, easily sliding the small gold ring on Braenna's hand before he squeezed it gently. Braenna smiled and did the same, only her hands trembled slightly. "By the laws of Rohan before these witnesses, with the power vested in me as the King of Gondor, I pronounce you husband and wife." Èomer smiled before he leaned in. They shared a tender, loving kiss. Braenna was blushing slightly, and a smirk played across Èomer's lips.
Aragorn held out a black pillow with a small gold crown on it. Èomer picked up the old crown and raised it high over Braenna's head. "Today, the king has taken a wife. I present to you Èomer King and his wife, Queen Braenna!" Aragorn announced. Èomer lowered the crown to her head and the pair turned to face the people.
Cheers erupted loudly. She heard Gimli and Èowyn above everyone. She looked to her sister. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as Faramir stood beside her, clapping and smiling. Braenna bowed her head to them and looked to Legolas and Gimli. Gimli was laughing happily. She looked back to Èomer, who had yet to take his eyes from her.
Neither said a word. They could read what they wanted to say in one another's eyes. Their 'I love you's were silently shared, and she felt as though she could fly. Èomer had never felt so much joy and happiness as he did then, and the look in Braenna's eyes made the feelings double.