Chapter 22 A Wedding and a Decision

Circumstances being what they were, the ceremony was brief. Aragorn and Mariell stood in Theoden's garden across from each other.

Gandalf performed the ceremony while Legolas and Gimli stood witness. When they had told their companions of their intentions they

had been shocked but happy for them.

"Aragorn and Mariell, you have come here today to be joined in marriage before these witnesses. Do you enter this union of your own

free will?"

"I do," they both said.

"Aragorn," Gandalf continued, "Do you take Mariell as your wife. Do you promise to love her, honor her, comfort and keep her from

this day forward"

"I do," Aragorn said. Mariell smiled at him. This was not the wedding she had always dreamed of. In her fantasy, Frodo would be here

as well as Bilbo and Sam, Merry and Pippin. They would be in the Shire and she would wear a beautiful dress. There would be no ring,

no Sauron, and no orcs ripping the world apart. But as she gazed into Aragorn's eyes, she realized that it did not matter. All that

mattered was this man before her and the love she felt for him. "I do," she said when Gandalf asked her if she would take Aragorn for

her husband.

"The ring," Gandalf said. Aragorn took his family crest and placed it on Mariell's much smaller finger. Gandalf spoke a few words and

the ring shrunk so as to fit Mariell's finger.

"I pronounce you husband and wife," Gandalf said. "You may kiss the bride." Aragorn smiled down at her and pressed his lips to hers.

Legolas and Gimli clapped. They parted and Aragorn offered her his arm. She took it and they slowly walked out of the garden

together.

"Well Master Dwarf," Legolas said. "I must say you make a lovely bridesmaid." Gimli glared at the elf while Mariell and Aragorn

laughed. When they had been asked to bear witness Gimli and Legolas had drawn straws to see who would be bridesmaid. Gimli had

lost. Mariell would have liked to have Eowyn as her bridesmaid, but there would have been many questions since her cousin thought she
and Aragorn were already married. Mariell's laughter died in her throat as she looked to the horizon. Coming toward them on a large

horse were two children, a boy about ten and a girl no more than eight. Mariell gasped as the boy fell from the horse. She raced toward

the horse with the others following close behind. She reached the boy and knelt down beside him while Legolas grabbed the reigns of

the horse, which still bore the little girl on its back. She took the boys wrist and sighed in relief when she felt the pulse.

"He does not appear hurt," she said to Aragorn who knelt beside her.

"I'd say hunger and exhaustion. We must get him inside." Aragorn picked up the boy and started inside with him.

"What happened?" Gandalf asked the little girl. The child did not answer and shrunk in her saddle. Mariell realized that the little girl was

frightened and would need to be handled with care. She approached the girl and gave her a smile.

"It's all right child, you're safe now." The girl tilted her head as though deciding whether or not to believe her.

"Can you tell me your name?" Mariell asked.

"Freda," the child said softly. "My brother is Eothain." Mariell nodded.

"Will you let me help you down from there?" she asked. Freda nodded. Mariell reached up and lifted Freda from the horse and rested

her against her hip.

"Let's go inside and get you some food," Mariell said. They walked toward the castle, with Mariell carrying Freda and Legolas leading

the horse. Later that evening, as they sat at the table eating stew, Eothain and Freda told them of how their village had been attacked

and burned by wildmen. Eowyn wrapped a blanket around Freda.

"They had no warning," she said shaking her head.

"This is but a taste of the evil Saruman will inflict upon your people. You must fight"

""You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king", Aragorn added
with conviction. Restlessly, the king got up from his chair and walked slowly towards Aragorn and Gimli.

"They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death

to my people", he said edgily. "I will not risk open war"

"Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not. He has an army that is bred for a single purpose, to destroy the world of men.

We must fight!" Aragorn reiterated tightly. Théoden came to a halt a few feet before Aragorn and looked at the younger man haughtily.

"When last I looked, Théoden not Aragorn, was king of Rohan", he said frostily. "My niece's husband or not." "What is the King's

decision?" Gandalf asked.

"We make for Helm's Deep," Theoden said. "We leave in the morning."

"Helms Deep!" Gandalf sneered as he made his way to the stables. Aragorn and Mariell followed close behind him.

"He is leading his people right into a trap," Gandalf said.

"He is only doing what he thinks is best," Mariell spoke up in defense of her uncle. Though she too thought the king's plan was folly she

felt she had to defend her kin. Gandalf turned to them.

"Theoden's heart is in the right place but I fear for him. He will need you both before the end. The defenses must hold"

"They will hold," Aragorn said with conviction.

"Pray my search will not be in vain," Gandalf said mounting Shadowfax. "Look to my coming on the fifth day. At dawn look to the east"

"Go," Aragorn said pulling the stall open. Shadowfax galloped out of the stable almost trampling Legolas and Gimli as they entered.

"Where is he going?" Gimli asked.

"To find help," Aragorn said.

"Mariell, Eowyn sent us to find you," Legolas said. "The children are asking for you." Mariell nodded.

"Thank you Legolas," she said hurrying back to the castle. She found Eowyn in a small room sitting on a large bed. Eothain and Freda

were tucked into it.

"The children wished to say good night to you cousin," Eowyn said standing. Mariell smiled and sat on the bed.

"Good night children," she said. Freda sat up and threw her arms around Mariell. Mariell gently stroked the child's hair.

"Shh," Mariell soothed the frightened child. "Everything will be all right Freda"

"I miss mama," Freda said sadly. Mariell felt her heart go out to the child.

"Don't worry," Mariell said. "We will find her. I promise you I will help you find your mother." Over the little girl's head Eothain shot

her a look of gratitude. She had a feeling he was very protective of his little sister. She felt a small tug on her heart. They reminded her

so much of her and Frodo when they were young. Elbereth, she thought, please let Frodo be safe. She tucked Freda into bed and

kissed both children goodnight.

"You're very good with them," Eowyn remarked as the two of them walked down the hall together. "Do you and Lord Aragorn have

children of your own?" Mariell almost laughed at the question, since she and Aragorn had only gotten married a few hours ago, but her

cousin didn't know that.

"No," she said. "Aragorn and I have no children, but we have only been married for a short time." At least that much was true.

"Eowyn," she said very seriously, "how far is it to Helms Deep"

"About forty leagues. It will probably take us a few days, maybe longer as we will have children and elderly with us." Mariell nodded. "I
know you and your companions think the king's decision is foolish but he only has his people's best interest at heart. He is a good man."
Mariell nodded. She had only known her uncle for a short time but she could see strength in him.

"Will you be accompanying us to Helms Deep?" Eowyn asked her.

"Yes," Mariell said. "My husband will go with the King to help him strategize. And I have no intention of abandoning my family now that
I have just found them"

"I'm so glad," Eowyn said. "I am glad that you and I will have a chance to get to know one another. I have no sisters only a brother and
it will be wonderful to have a woman to talk to."

"Yes," Mariell said, "I was brought up with boys as well. You and I have too long been deprived of knowing each other. We have a

lifetime of catching up to do." She started as Eowyn embraced her. Then she smiled and hugged the woman back.

"Well, sleep well cousin," Eowyn said.

"You as well cousin," Mariell said. She pushed the door to her room open and sank down on the bed. Lord, her life had gotten so

complicated in the last twenty-four hours. She had gone from someone with no past and no real family to the half-elven niece of the

King of Rohan, not to mention Sauron's heir, and multi-great niece of the Lady Galadriel and wife of the future king of Gondor. Tired

and sore she slipped off her clothes and into the bath that had been drawn for her. She leaned against the tub and let the hot water

soothe her. She had almost drifted off to sleep when she heard the door open. She felt her face flush as Aragorn entered. She drew her

knees up to her breasts trying to hide her nudity. She wondered at her behavior. After all she and Aragorn were married and it wasn't

as though he hadn't seen her naked before. She sucked in her breath as Aragorn removed his clothing. She gazed at her husband's nude
form. Good lord, he was handsome. He came over to the tub and looked down at her.

"Move forward," he told her. She scooted forward in the tub so he could climb in behind her. She leaned back against his chest while

he brought his legs up on either side of her. She sighed with pleasure as he ran a wet clothe over her chest and belly and down over her

thighs. She leaned forward and let him run the cloth over her back. When he was done he washed her hair for her. She had to admit she
quite enjoyed bathing with her husband. When he was done with her she turned around so she could wash him. She gazed at his chest

as she ran the clothe over it, fascinated by the dark hairs that covered it.

"Not exactly an ideal wedding night, my love," he said with a wistful sigh. She knew he was thinking of the journey they would make

tomorrow.

"I' m not complaining," she said lightly. Aragorn seized her hands and kissed them.

"How are you?" he asked her. She didn't play dumb.

"It's strange to think yesterday I didn't know who I was. Now I know. I'm scared Aragorn, yet somehow I'm glad that I know the

truth. Growing up Frodo and Bilbo were the only family I ever knew and now I seem to have family members coming out of the

woodwork. And with one exception, they don't seem that bad." Aragorn sat up and kissed her mouth lightly.

"I know you are afraid of your past. But I promise you, that no matter what happens you and I will face it together." She leaned down

and kissed him. They got out of the tub and dried each other off. Together they got into bed. They made love slowly and tenderly.

They moved together until they both came at the same time. Then they lay beside each other in each

other's arms. The steady rhythm of Aragorn's heart lulled Mariell into a peaceful slumber.