Notes, Warnings etc
I've modified Tolkien's time line slightly. Appendix B of The Return of the King states that Arwen entered Minas Tirith on the first day of Lithe and married Aragorn on Mid-year's Day. It also states that Aragorn found the White Tree sapling on the 25th of June and that it was the sign he had been looking for, presumably as to when Arwen would arrive. However, Mid-year's Day is approximately 4 days before this. Therefore, I have decided that Aragorn for the tree sapling earlier in June.

Chapter Thirty-Two - In Payment For Their Toils

Steadily the days past and gradually turned into weeks. The people of Gondor pulled together to rebuild their broken homes and towers. Anything a man had two of was shared with a neighbour who had none without thought of payment or return. Slowly, the land began to regain its former glory. It would take years for the full transformation to be complete, Osgiliath being just short of a ruin and the site where Minas Morgul had once proudly stood creating a gaping wound in the landscape, but each building that was completed was a victorious step along the right path. During the early days of June, Aragorn and Gandalf seemed to vanish completely, leaving Faramir and Dídauar to deal with the running of the country, and cursing their Kings name as they did so. Faramir took charge of the Council of Gondor while Dídauar concentrated more on the practical aspect of the title Captain-General than the political. They worked as a successful team but were more than happy to see Aragorn return, bearing a young tree.

"Where did you find that!" exclaimed Dídauar, knowing full well how special the prize Aragorn was currently replanting was.

"On the wastelands of Mount Mindolluin," replied Aragorn. Dídauar stared and knelt beside the sapling.

"It is barely seven years old! Where did the parent come from?" she asked.

"I have no idea," replied Aragorn. "But I care not for the history, all I care is that the sign I have been waiting for has finally been given. Have the sentry set a watch, the day is drawing near."

"And you complain that I talk in riddles!" grinned Dídauar. Aragorn was about to explain what exactly the men would be watching for when they pair were interrupted by a man who was obviously more used to shouting on a parade ground rather than speaking to his King.

"King Elessar, would you kindly explain to me what this missive is about?" demanded Lord Carnir, who had apparently made it his mission to make things as difficult as possible for the new rulers. The twins stood up, Dídauar standing in a defensive position beside Aragorn while Aragorn himself let out a small groan, only to be gently kicked in the heel by Dídauar, and held his hand out for the parchment Carnir was brandishing. Reading quickly, Aragorn handed the note over his shoulder to Dídauar.

"Your writing," he said. Dídauar, slightly puzzled, accepted the note.

"I would thought it was quite clear," she said glancing up at Carnir. "You, along with seven other members of the council are to journey to the site of Minas Morgul to help with the razing of said City."

"I am a nobleman of this city!" exclaimed Carnir.

"Is that supposed to impress?" replied Dídauar raising an eyebrow. "Your fellows have been gladly helping those of the lower levels and those outside the City walls, who were not so fortunate as to have an army protecting them from the hordes of Sauron. So far, you are the only one who has raised a complaint. Anyone who is physically capable is helping with the rebuilding effort. That way life can return to some level of normalcy before autumn arrives. Even Arodanu is assisting."

"This is work for the lower classes!" said Carnir in desperation.

"And for the upper," replied Aragorn. "I said that Minas Morgal would be completely destroyed and that includes the foundations. Everyone who is able has taken their turn at washing a little bit the evil away from this land, you cannot be expected to be given dispensation."

Carnir spluttered in indignation.

"You would be the first to complain if one of the commoners refused to work when they were able. Should we expect hundreds of the people to complain because you refuse to help them?" stated Dídauar, her cobalt gaze fixed firmly on Carnir.

"There was a time," began Carnir, taking a menacing step towards the pair. "When the women of this city knew their place and did not interfere with the political dealings of men." Dídauar's glare hardened but wisely kept her mouth shut, turning her attention back to the sapling which seemed to be growing before her eyes.

"That is enough Carnir. You will help with the destruction of Minas Morgul. If tying you to a horse is the only way to get you there then I will do it. Personally!" snapped Aragorn. Muttering, Carnir inclined his head and swept from the courtyard, his sable robes billowing behind him. Aragorn cast a glance towards Dídauar who was acting like she had just been asked the time of day.

"Why do you let them speak to you like that?" he asked in confusion. "You did the same in Rohan when first we arrived and later when we were planning for Helm's Deep."

"And you are being the over-protective elder brother once more," replied Dídauar glancing up. "I have one of two choices – either I stamp my foot and lose my temper like a child who has been denied their own way or I can ignore what comments are sent in my direction. If I went around shouting or beating up all the people who slander me, I would have very little time for anything else. I'm unconventional, I am well aware of that fact, but eventually it is accepted that pestering me, slandering me, taking a jibe at everything I do, will not cause me to change. Those who are willing to accept the unconventional Captain or Princess will do so, those who don't are not worth bothering about. And make no mistake Estel, Arwen will not be the perfect court Queen these people are expecting. The only difference between me and your betrothed is that I will not be a permanent fixture in Gondorian society."

"You have made your decision then," said Aragorn, defeat and pain echoing in his voice. Dídauar reached up, silently asking for Aragorn's hand.

"You knew I would not stay," she murmured, gently pulling Aragorn back to his knees. "I will be your Captain-General, carrying the title with pride and hoping that I can do it justice. I will continue to be Captain of the Dúnadan, acting as crutch and mentor to those of our people who chose to remain in the North. I will offer what advice I can to aid you and the people, but I cannot stay bond to a City of stone. By blood I am your heir but if the title of Queen ever falls to me, I will pass it to Faramir."

"He will never accept it," said Aragorn, the tone of his voice not giving his opinion on that particular topic away.

"Then you better hurry up and sire a child, preferable a male firstborn considering your Council," replied Dídauar.

"Can I at least get a wife first?!" exclaimed Aragorn. Dídauar chuckled and pressed a kiss to Aragorn's forehead.

"I have a watch to set for exactly that task," she said, saluting her King before setting off in the direction of the barracks.

While the kitchens had been prepared for the event of the King's wedding well in advance of the day, which in itself was a little unclear, the seamstresses hadn't. Norín, the head seamstress who had tried so determinately to separate both Aragorn and Dídauar from their worn and travel stained leathers, with little success, was a stickler for tradition and for some strange reason, that meant that new linens and clothes needed to be made for the special day. The table clothes would be white with a little blue dye traced through the material, a delicate lace trim finishing the article off. Aragorn was fitted for a new set of robes made from deep wine-red crushed velvet, a white tunic, again crushed velvet with a design of gold traced about the cuffs, hem and collar, and leggings made of tough black linen. Faramir was also fitted out for a new ensemble, the only difference from Aragorn's being that his robes were made of a royal blue rather than red. Frodo and Sam were also gifted with new ensembles, similar to Aragorn and Faramir's but theirs being made from cotton rather than velvet and the robes were exchanged for a cloak while Merry and Pippin would be attending the ceremony in their respective uniforms of Rohan and Gondor, Despite her protests that Arwen would already have a dress made for her by the best seamstresses in Imladris, Dídauar had been dragged into the process to act as a manikin in place of the Elven Lady herself. Besides, as Norín had pointed out, it meant that the seamstresses would gain Dídauar's measurements for her own dress and effectively kill two birds with the one stone, and therefore cutting down their workload. The woman nearly had a heartache when Dídauar announced that she herself would not, under any circumstances, including pain of death, be wearing a dress to her brother's wedding. Instead she would be attending in dress Gondorian uniform, weapons included. After that announcement, Dídauar found herself victim to several more pin-pricks than before and she was convinced that a majority of them were deliberate. To say that she was glad when all the alterations had been made to the dress would be an understatement.

It was morning on the day before Mid-years day that Merry and Pippin came bounding into the Throne Room where Dídauar and Aragorn were currently reassessing the situation in Ithilien with Faramir, Damrod and Anborn. Gandalf strolled behind the Tower guard and young Rohirric esquire, Frodo and Sam trotting at the wizard's side, both elder Hobbits looking embarrassed by the behaviour of the younger cousins while Gandalf looked like an indulgent grandfather. Damrod, Anborn and Faramir continued with their tallying with as much discretion as they could while Aragorn and Dídauar dealt with the visitors.

"Is that where Denethor learnt that look?" asked Aragorn quietly, noting the mildly amused look on Gandalf's face.

"Couldn't tell you, I hid from Mithrandir every time he came to Minas Tirith," replied Dídauar. Aragorn looked at her startled.

"What? I came here to hid from more or less the rest of the world, I was not going to let an Istari with a loose tongue find out that I was here!" she protested. "Now, Merry, Pippin, why are you in such high spirits?"

"The guards are saying that there is a company of fair-folk approaching the City," replied Pippin. "They will be here by nightfall according to the scout from Amon Dîn."

"And why is it you, and not him that is delivering this message?" asked Aragorn, faintly amused himself at the creature's enthusiasm. Gandalf cleared his throat.

"When accosted by a rather exuberant Took and Brandybuck, anyone will give up their secrets," said the Istari. Aragorn chuckled.

"I can well imagine," he said. Pippin however, wasn't finished in delivering his news.

"Apparently they are carrying flags of green, red and blue, all triangle shaped. And they are saying that they have a mounted guard who are dressed in the colours of Rohan," he said.

"Pendants Pip," corrected Aragorn absently, his expression turned serious and his gaze connecting with Gandalf's, trying to discern whether there was more to the company than being simple 'fair-folk'. The colours that Pippin had described where the official colours of Imladris and Lothlórien. If it was the party he hoped it to be, the colours made perfect sense, as did their supposed gypsy look and the Rohirric escort, Éomer having promised to return to Minas Tirith as escort to the Lady Arwen should she pass through Edoras. Gandalf's gaze however was giving nothing away, though a delighted spark could be seen if you looked close enough.

"Permission to investigate?" asked Dídauar grinning. She, unlike Aragorn, knew the approximate timetable for the arrival of Arwen and Elrond, having been in Lothlórien when the news reached the Woods. She hadn't, at the expressed wishes of their foster-brothers, divulged the information to Aragorn.

"Denied," said Aragorn immediately. Dídauar looked ready to protest but Aragorn beat her to it. "If I have to stay here in this City awaiting the arrival of the company, then you are going to do that same," he said firmly, but not without a hint of mirth as Dídauar slumped back in her seat, looking most put out. The younger twin made a mental note not to ask permission the next time.

"Estel! Gates! Now!" shouted Dídauar, sprinting across the courtyard to where Aragorn was examining the White Tree which had been but a bare sapling a week before but was now developing a multitude of leaves and blossoms.

"Huh?"

"The company is less than a mile away," said Dídauar. "And we are going to meet them at the Gates."

"They're here?"

"Almost," grinned Dídauar. "Come on!"

"Is it just me or are you more excited about their arrival than I am?" chuckled Aragorn as he agreed to Dídauar's decision.

"Just wait till your standing at the Gate before you criticise me," rejoined Dídauar. Together the royal twins ran through the streets of Gondor, acting less than half their age as they ran hand in hand, Dídauar once again putting her knowledge of the City's secret shortcuts to good use.

They arrived in the main courtyard just as the Watch-Captain was calling out orders to have the Main Gate – which had been the first priority to be repaired – to be opened. Dídauar and Aragorn used the time it took for the heavily wooden doors to swing open to recapture their breaths and make themselves reasonably presentable. Not that it really mattered for as soon as the train of Elves had entered the courtyard, Elladan and Elrohir leading the way, bearing a banner of glinting silver, the pair were set upon by two Elves in the forms of Glorfindel and Erestor.

"Gwannant lû ann," said Glorfindel as he and Erestor pulled both of the royal twins into an enthusiastic hug which was welcomed and returned in equal measure. (It has been too long)

"Indeed it has," agreed Aragorn, managing to persuade the golden-Elf to let him go, only to find himself pulled into an equally tight embrace by his Guardian.

"El'dan!" he exclaimed, reverting back to the name he had used for the Elf when he was a child as the breath was completely knocked out of his body. "El'dan, please! I would like to breathe!"

"Elladan, kindly release your charge. I did not travel all this way to heal him from broken ribs!" requested Elrond as he gracefully dismounted his horse and turned to help Arwen from her palfrey only to find that task stolen from him by Elrohir, who, much to everyone's surprise, had not partaken in the enthusiastic reunion. In her arms, the young woman, for by Human standards Arwen looked to be little over twenty-five, cradled the Sceptre of Annúminas which she held out to her father. Elrond accepted the rod and turned to Aragorn. Dídauar, who had remained standing within the shared embrace of Glorfindel and Erestor, moved to Aragorn's side.

"Many years ago I said I would offer my daughter's hand to no less a man than the King of Gondor and Arnor, should he be found worthy," said Elrond. "My son, the Winged Crown of Elendil you have already accepted and I bid you accept this Sceptre as a symbol of your authority over the northlands. And I give you the hand of my daughter, Arwen Undómiel, in honour of my vow."

Aragorn blinked as Elrond bowed to him, seeming to realise for the first time that this was his reality. That he'd actually done it. That he had finally won the prize he had admired from a distance for so long. His brain switched off and his heart took over as he handed the Sceptre to the nearest person – Elrond – and pulled Arwen into a passionate greeting, not caring about their public location, or the fact that he was kissing a complete stranger as far as his people were concerned, or that the wedding wasn't until the following day.

Arms sneaked around Dídauar as she watched the scene before her, a kiss being pressed to her temple. Dídauar leaned back in the embrace, the greeting being familiar between her and a vast majority of the elder Elves in the train, Galadriel being the obvious exception.

"Well done," whispered the Elf, pressing another kiss to her temple. Dídauar yelped at the voice and spun around in the arms that were holding her.

"Haldir?" she whispered, almost fearing to believe what she was seeing. She reached up a hand to finger the edges of the Elf's face to test that it wasn't a dream. Haldir caught the hand as it neared his ears and pressed a kiss to its palm before pressing it to his chest where Dídauar could feel the strong, steady heartbeat. Choking out laughter in surprise, Dídauar threw her arms around Haldir's neck and hugged him tightly, burying her face in the crook of Haldir's neck. Laughing as well, Haldir strengthened his embrace, picking the Dúnadan up and spinning her around as if she were the child he had first been introduced to nearly eighty years ago.

Elrond was the one who conducted the wedding between Aragorn and Arwen, with Gandalf standing as officiator. Faramir and Tarcil stood beside Aragorn as his groomsmen while Elladan stood with him in place of his father. Arahael, who had finally been declared completely healed by both the Gondorian healers and his own people stood with the rest of his people who formed a small guard of honour for their Chieftain. Opposite them stood Éomer and Éowyn with Merry and Pippin standing on either side. Glorfindel and Erestor stood next to the Rohirric siblings, as did Legolas and Gimli. In the main throng mingled Elves the remaining Elves, including Celeborn, Galadriel, Haldir, Rúmil and Melpomaen, members of the Council and general populace of Gondor as well as the remainder of Éomer's troupe from Rohan. Aragorn stood fiddling with the hilt of his dagger, nervous about finally having his most cherished dream realised. Tarcil smiled at him and stayed his cousin's hand in such a gentle manner that Aragorn was briefly reminded of Halbarad. A flash of pain shot through Aragorn's heart even on this joyous occasion and it must have shown in his eyes because Tarcil applied gentle pressure to his hand.

"He is watching," mouthed the young man. Aragorn nodded and gratefully returned the brief pressure.

Suddenly Lindir struck up a march melody on his flute, causing heads to turn and Aragorn's breath to catch even as a wide smile split across his face. Frodo and Sam came walking smartly down the aisle, both carrying a cushion of red velvet. Sam carried two rings of entwined gold and Mithril, the sunlight catching the metal and causing it to dance happily. His cushion also carried two ribbons of red silk, for the ceremony was to be a combination of both Elven and Gondorian traditions. Frodo carried a rich looking headdress, for this was to be a duel ceremony – Arwen was to marry the King of Gondor and in doing so was accepting the title of Queen. Behind them walked Dídauar, who Arwen had persuaded out of uniform and into clothing that better fit her true position in society, both Human and Elven – a pastel blue shirt that was cut at the elbow, a silver design traced up the sleeve, accompanied by black leggings and soft tan boots – while Arwen herself looked like Lúthien incarnate and that was not just the biased opinion of family speaking.

True to Dídauar's prediction, Arwen had come to Gondor with her bridal attire already prepared. Norín had been most put out by this but as one of the younger seamstresses had chirped, a Queen could never have too many dresses. The daughter of Elrond was clothed in pale green, the bodice tight and the skirts billowing, the lush combination of silk and satin creating a gentle hiss as she made her way towards Aragorn. In her hand she carried a bouquet of flowers and vines, delicately woven together by one of the young court maidens. Arwen's smile could have lit a windowless room and her eyes shone with love and joy, the spark intensifying as she neared the dais. One arm was looped through Elrohir's, the face of younger of Elrond's sons a mask of conflicting emotions, though he did his best to portray the image of happiness, for his family's sake if not his own.

Reaching the dais, the two rows of noble guests closed in around them, forming a semi-circle that represented the free peoples of Middle-Earth. Frodo and Sam took up their places on either side of Gandalf while Dídauar stood beside Éowyn. Elrohir kissed Arwen's cheek and relieved her of her bouquet as he placed her hand in Aragorn's before joining Elladan. The King and his bride turned then to face Elrond who raised his arms to begin to ceremony.