AUTHOR'S NOTE The first part of this chapter is lifted almost exactly from Return of the King, film version. The dialogue was written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Phillipa Boyens, not me. Lovely people. If you look closely, there is a dark-haired female Elf at Legolas's side in the end of that scene when he walks forward to meet Aragorn. I've made that Rae.
I made up the wedding ceremony. Hope you enjoy! And the last part of this chapter is a little R-rated…it's the wedding night.
DISCLAIMER Don't own Tolkien's characters. Tolkien does.
…
May 1, Year 3019 of the Third Age
All of Gondor was gathered in the Court of the Fountain. Gandalf and Gimli stood on the steps that led into the White Hall. An elegant silver crown rested on a pillow in Gimli's hands. Legolas and I stood on at the end of the Court. The crowd was parted before us.
Aragorn, dressed in the full regalia of the King, knelt on the stairs. Gandalf took the crown from Gimli and held it high over his head. It glittered in the sun as the wizard placed it on Aragorn's head. "Now come the days of the King!" he announced. Fondly, he turned his gaze to Aragorn and added quietly, "May they be blessed."
Legolas was to my right. I sighed and laid my hand on his arm. "Are you alright?" he asked me quietly.
I nodded. "I am happy for Aragorn."
Legolas smiled and covered my hand with his. "As am I."
Finally Aragorn turned to address the crowd. "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 words evoked enthusiastic applause from the crowd. White blossoms gently fell from the Tree of the King as the new King began to sing softly in ancient Quenya. "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta."
He walked down the court, greeting Faramir, Éowyn, and Éomer as he went. Beside me, I saw Legolas slowly grin, as though he had suddenly been let in on an amusing secret. When Aragorn approached us, Legolas walked ahead alone. I followed behind with a handful of Elves of the Mirkwood court as he had instructed.
The two friends clasped shoulders, the contact a sign of their deep friendship. The new King Elessar smiled and said, "Hannon le." Legolas just smiled and glanced slyly to his right. I followed gaze, as did Aragorn. Then I understood.
Followed by Lord Elrond, the Lady Arwen hid herself behind a banner she carried. Slowly, she moved the banner aside and met Aragorn's eyes briefly before curtseying. After taking a moment to get over his shock, Aragorn raised her eyes to meet his. They shared a moment, followed by a passionate kiss and the crowd cheered again.
The happy couple made their way through the crowd. Legolas rejoined me and slid his arm around my waist. "The Queen of Gondor seems to have arrived," I said.
He laughed. "It appears so."
Aragorn and Arwen had reached the four hobbits. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin looked uncertainly at their old Ranger friend before bowing. Aragorn looked astonished. "My friends!" he said. They all looked up. Smiling solemnly, he announced, "You bow to no one." Then he and Arwen dropped down to one knee.
One by one, each stunned member of the crowd followed suit. Legolas and I too followed, as did the Mirkwood Elves behind us. It was a moment when Men, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits alike were one celebrating their victory. When I finally raised my head, a deep sense of unity washed over me, for even Gandalf had bowed.
…
Slowly, I approached the stairway and knelt at the top. The crowd was silent as I passed. Such an event only four days after the coronation of King Elessar was a marvel to the citizens of Gondor and to the revered visitors.
Mithrandir stood silently before me, waiting for Legolas to kneel beside me. Then he spoke.
"Here we have come to bear witness to a great union. Raélowen Mirimë, daughter of Rohan and maiden of Lórien, here kneels before me. Beside her is Prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil King of Mirkwood, that which is now Eryn Lasgalan and was once Greenwood the Great. They wish to be joined as one by the grace of the Valar and under the laws of he who now rules the Kingdom of Gondor. Here in Minas Tirith will they be joined."
He bid for us to rise and stand hand-in-hand. I looked at the White Wizard and then to my love. A small silver crown encircled his golden head, emblematic of the Royal House of Mirkwood. His green and silver tunic glittered softly in the sunlight. Legolas smiled secretly at me.
"You each much promise to each other your love, devotion, and friendship for as long as you both shall live." Mithrandir paused, the grinned mischievously. "In other words, forever."
Laughter rippled through the guests. Legolas squeezed my hand. Mithrandir said, "You must turn and face each other and each repeat the vow after me." I gazed into my lover's deep blue eyes.
"Legolas Thranduilion," the wizard said. "Please repeat. Meluva er tye tenna i metta auri, iire mornië tuupá ilya tana na kala." He paused and allowed Legolas to repeat. Then he added, "Enyaare núva o tye mii Valinor ullume."
And it was my turn. "Meluva er tey tenna i metta auri, iire mornië tuupá ilya tana na kala. Enyaare núva o tye mii Valinor ullume." The Quenya words floated softly in the air between us.
"With this vow," Mithrandir continued, "let it be known that Legolas and Raélowen have promised to love one another until the end of all things and beyond. Is there anyone who objects to this union?"
He paused, but only silence answered. I sighed inwardly with relief. From within the white robes, Mithrandir drew a delicate necklace. From it hung a pendent. It was a small mallorn leaf with a silver Mirkwood crown faintly etched in the middle. Placing it around my neck, he said, "Raélowen, here you bear the symbol of your marriage. May you wear it with joy and love in your heart." Finally, Mithrandir put one hand to each of our foreheads, whispering softly, "Holy Valar, please see that their souls are now as one." Then in a louder voice, he announced, "In the eyes of the Valar and all who bear witness here, Legolas and Raélowen are now joined!"
A cheer rose from the crowd as my husband kissed me. Then, hand in hand, we stood to greet the guests.
We bowed as King Elessar and Arwen Undomiel, Queen in everything but name, came before us. "Congratulations, my friend," Aragorn said.
"Hannon le," Legolas replied, smiling.
"We are even now," the King remarked. "I have beaten you to the throne, but you have stood at the alter before me." Legolas laughed and the two clasped shoulders.
"May you both find complete happiness," Arwen said with a smile before the two moved on.
Following just behind the King was another King of Men, newly crowned Éomer. He nodded regally before moving on. Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo were after. As the King had done at his coronation, we bowed to them as well. Merry and Pippin were in quite jovial moods, congratulating us and Pippin even gave me a hug. But Frodo and Sam, while happy for Legolas and I, had seen too much and endured such horrors that they could not match Merry and Pippin's enthusiasm.
Gimli followed, gruffly congratulating his dear elven friend. I found Gimli to be quite amusing. Faramir and Éowyn followed him and finally Emeriel, Colindor, and Calíme, and Gauna. I could see their joy for me emanating from them. "Shall we call you Princess now?" Emeriel joked.
We all laughed. I lost the rest of the guests into a blur of faces and the feast later into a blur of time. But never had I been happier, for the world was safe and I was with he who I loved forever.
…
I stood by the open balcony of our bedroom. Aragorn had graciously offered us a beautiful private apartment in the upper levels of Minas Tirith to spend our first few nights as husband and wife in.
Legolas lay naked on the bed as I gazed out over Gondor. I hardly felt the cool breeze on my bare skin, just as did not hear my husband's footsteps. His strong arms encircled my waist. "What are you looking at, Rae?" he murmured in my ear.
"Just everything," I answered with a small smile.
Legolas softly caressed the gentle swell of my stomach where the baby was beginning to show. "Hello elen nîn," he said softly. "Your ada loves you."
I sighed and leaned my head back to kiss him. As our kiss deepened, I felt his whole body grow tenser and harder. Together, we made our way back to bed.
Maybe it was the fact that we had won the war or maybe that we were now husband and wife. I don't know exactly what it was, but Legolas made love to me like never before that night. Every stroke of his hands on my body, every movement inside of me, every brush of his lips brought me to new heights of pleasure. When the end finally came, it was in blinding ecstasy that left me gasping for breath in his arms.
I don't know how many times we made love on our wedding night. All I remember is that they night ended just as it did the first time we laid together many months ago in Lórien: with me sleeping enveloped in his arms and him watching over me. The only difference was that Legolas was still with me in the morning.
…
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. – Out of the Great Sea to Middle Earth I come (Quenya)
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta – In this place I will abide and my heirs unto the ending of the world (Quenya)
The above two phrases were taken from the book version of ROTK and were written by Tolkien himself.
Hannon le – Thank you (Sindarin)
Meluva er tye tenna i metta auri – I will love only you until the end days (Quenya)
Iire mornië tuupá ilya tana na kala – When the darkness covers all that is light (Quenya)
Enyaare núva o tye – Then I will be with you (Quenya)
Mii Valinor ullume – In the Blessed Realm (Valinor) forever (Quenya)
Elen nîn – My star (Sindarin)
