A/N: I own nothing. No really, I don't.
**Chapter 39**
***Deirdre's POV***
"GOD FORSAKEN CORSETS!" The words exploded from my mouth as I continued to do battle with the cruel garment.
Laughter sounded around me as both the maid that was helping me to dress and Saffy cracked up at my annoyance. I rolled my eyes at them, fidgeting once more the confining fabric before letting out a sigh which pressed my bones against the material. I remember when I used to love wearing corsets, I would only complain when I had to run somewhere and couldn't breathe. But now that I had to wear them every fucking day, I was more than hateful towards them. Is it too much to ask for a regular old bra?
"What happened to wanting to wear a genuine corset, Di?" Saffy teased.
"I'm saving my reply for when I can properly breathe once more." I replied, turning away from her and looking at the woman who continued to tighten the laces on the corset. "Does it have to be that tight?"
"If you are going to fit into your gown it does." She replied, earning her a glare tossed over my shoulder. "Now hold your breath while I get this last one."
With one last sharp tug and I feared a cracked rib, she tied off the laces and it loosened fractionally around my frame. Not enough to permit real breathing, but hey it was something. I lifted my arms when directed and the woman pulled a beautiful green gown over my head and began fastening the ties along the bodice. It cinched tightly at the waist and in the mirror I could see what the corset was doing to my waistline, instead of a normal waist I had a tiny wasp-waist that I was convinced couldn't possibly hold my organs. The dress was cut so that I had some cleavage showing but not too much to be inappropriate for the age that I was now living in, while the skirt and sleeves flowed loosely out.
My eyes flitted over to Saffy as she sat in a pale blue gown with her hair flowing down long. The blue of the dress made her eyes stand out beautifully, matching spectacularly. She looked incredibly bored because it was taking so long for me to get ready.
"Come on now, time to fix your hair." The maid, Mairen, insisted as she shoved me towards the vanity.
I plopped down, letting out a deep-ish breath as she picked up the brush and began running it through my hair. My face screwed up into a grimace with every knot and tangle that she ran into. Finally, once she decided that my hair was either tangle-free, or that if she continued to brush then I would not have enough hair to style, she pulled back the edges of my hair near my face and braided them down the back.
"Pretty as a princess." She announced with a nod as she finished. "You'd best hurry along now, the ceremony will be soon and you will want to find your delegations."
"Thank you Mairen." I replied, giving her a warm smile even though she spent the past few hours torturing me in the best ways that she could.
She nodded before Saffy and I took off leaving the room and heading towards the courtyard where the ceremony would be held. There were people filling the massive area, anxiously waiting. I spotted a large delegation of elves on the other side of the courtyard, near to the white tree. Dragging Saffy behind me, I squeezed my way through the mass of people until I was surrounded by a sea of blonde elves.
"We made it to the right side, but how do we find them now?" I asked Saffy, looking around for someone with dark hair, hoping I could find Arwen or Elrond.
"Haven't quite figured that out yet." She replied, her eyes wandering through the people.
A frown settled on my face, before I released a sigh and approached the nearest elf. He was a male elf, dressed in pale garb with blonde hair and fair blue eyes.
"Excuse me, but we are looking for Legolas Thranduilion. Or perhaps you could direct us towards Lord Elrond, or his daughter Arwen." I asked as politely as possible.
The elf arched a brow before pointing towards the area nearest the center of the courtyard. "There you will find those who you are looking for."
"Hannon lle." I said, using the little bit of Sindarin that I had learned from Legolas before bowing my head and moving towards where the elf had pointed.
"You could have asked for Nimiwen." Saffy pointed out.
"True, but darling, I was going with people who I think they would know. Elrond and Arwen and both royalty, and Legolas is the son of a king." I replied, glancing back as I made my way through the elf-sea. I caught Saffy rolling her eyes and laughed.
"Elrond!" I cried, spying a dark-head amongst the sea of blonde. The dark-haired elf turned around and there stood the Lord of Rivendell. "Thank goodness we found you. Have you seen Legolas and Nimiwen?"
"Both are at the front of our delegation, Deirdre. I believe they are awaiting the two of you." Elrond replied, nodding his head towards the very front.
"Thanks, Elrond." I cheerfully said before waving and continuing to weave my way towards the front.
"Deirdre!" "Saffron!" Two calls came at once from the direction ahead of us. I espied both Nimiwen and Legolas dressed in dress clothing standing side by side with smiles on their faces.
"Legolas," I cried as I rushed forward and embraced him tightly. "Sweetheart, I think that you need to dye your hair. I was thinking maybe green."
"Why?" he asked, fear in his tone.
"That way I can find you in a sea of blonde elves." I replied with a smirk.
A laugh bubbled from his lips before he leaned down and pressed a kiss softly to my lips. I couldn't help but grin when he pulled away and looked at me.
"So is that a no to green hair?" I asked teasingly.
"Only if you dye your pink." He replied, smiling as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side.
"No to the green hair then." I summarized with a grin.
"Men of Gondor," a voice cried out, I half recognized it as belonging to Faramir. "Hear now the Steward of this Realm!"
All the noise and chattered that had filled the courtyard died down. Quite an impressive feat considering there had to be somewhere over a thousand people gathered.
"Behold! One has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur;s son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?" Faramir's voice proclaimed and I moved slightly forward so I could see the man talking.
"Holy crap! Why does Aragorn have so many titles?" I whispered kind of loudly to Legolas, Nimiwen, and Saffy; which really just earned me shushing from some of the elves around me.
The cheer of "Yea" rang out through the crowd at once, every person agreeing that the heir to the throne should return.
"Men of Gondor, the loremasters tell that it was custom of old that the king should receive the crown from his father ere he died; or if that might not be, that he should go alone and take it from the hands of his father in the tomb where he was laid. But since these things must now be done otherwise, using the authority of the Steward, I have today brought hither from Rath Díne the crown of Eärnur the last king, whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old." Faramir continued.
I watched as the guards who surrounded him stepped forward while Faramir moved forward and opened a great casket which was set before him. He reached inside and pulled out an ancient crown, which was all white with seven gems of adamant surrounding a shining gem in the center. Aragorn took up the crown and raised it into the air as he began to speak.
"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar temm' Ambar-metta!" Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world. He lightly sang the words, his voice ringing out clearly throughout the entirety of the courtyard.
Gasps were heard in the courtyard when Aragorn handed the crown back to Faramir, before he spoke. "By the labour and valour of many I have come into my inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will; for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory."
Through the crowd, Frodo made his way to the front and stood before Faramir before taking the offered crown from his hands. The hobbit strode towards Gandalf and offered the crown. Aragorn dropped to his knees, kneeling before Gandalf as the wizard placed the crown on his head.
"Now come the days of the King. May they be blessed." Gandalf proclaimed with a smile as he looked at Aragorn.
As Aragorn rose from the ground, cheers and applause exploded until he held up his hand to silence them. "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."
Once again cheering and applause rang out, along with cries of "Long live the King". I cheered like I was at a sporting event, with the obnoxious scream cheering and all, much to the displeasure of a lot of the elves who stood around me. Finally, Saffy just put her hand over my mouth. Aragorn walked forward towards the crowd, while people moved away and bowed when he passed by them. He passed by Eomer with a nod, slowly making his way over to our part of the courtyard. My eyes glanced over to where Faramir now stood, with his arm loosely around Eowyn's waist, both of them smiled at the newly crowned king. Aragorn came to a stop in front of us, a smile on his face.
"Hannon lle." Aragorn says, resting his hand on Legolas' shoulder as my elf reciprocates.
His eyes travel over towards Saffy, Nimiwen and I, the three of us smile as we bow our heads. I couldn't help but watching him look beyond Legolas at the elves moving forward with a banner carried before the elf in the center, hiding their identity. Aragorn slowly moves forward, as if in a trance while the elf lowers the banner, revealing the lovely Arwen standing behind. Her hair is decorated by white crystals that it is impossible not think are amazingly beautiful. Aragorn moved the banner from her hands, absentmindedly handing it to an elf standing nearby. Her eyes dropped down, looking away from Aragorn for a moment, before he lifted her chin to meet eyes with her. A moment of silence holds between the two of them before he pulls her to him in a passionate kiss. I couldn't help the 'awwww' that escaped my mouth at the sight and neither could most of the other women around me. I leaned in closer to Legolas, who wrapped both his arms around me.
Hand in hand, Aragorn and Arwen moved out from inside the delegation of elves and continued walking amongst the people of Gondor, until finally they came to a stop in front of the four hobbits who stood awkwardly for a moment before bowing lowly.
"My friends," Aragorn began, causing the hobbits to raise their heads. "You bow to no one."
With that said he dropped down in a low bow, which triggered everyone else. On one knee, I looked up to watch the four hobbits as they finally stood taller than everyone else in the crowd, by a few inches. The four of them looked totally awkward being the center of the courtyard with everyone bowing down to them. Aragorn rose with a smile towards the hobbits and again the chain reaction ensued with everyone standing up.
"My friends, the celebration awaits." Aragorn proclaimed to the entirety of the crowd, earning more cheers.
After an amazing feast with more food than I ever thought I would see, we headed back out to the courtyard where there were musicians beginning to play music and slowly people began dancing around the courtyard.
"Would you do me the honor of a dance?" Legolas asked, smiling at me.
"I have no idea how to do any of these dances, you know that right?" I questioned him, quirking an eyebrow.
"I don't think I will mind too much." He replied, before taking my hand and pulling into the midst of the dancers and spinning me around before pulling me tightly into him.
I definitely didn't know the steps to the dance, but Legolas didn't seem to mind much. Especially considering I wasn't stepping on his feet, occasionally he would lift me off the ground and spin me about. The lively music switched to a slow song, which made me grin. It was just like one of the old dances I used to have at school, they would switch between the fast dance songs and the slow romantic songs. Legolas pulled me tight to him, probably ignoring the rules of propriety but I still loved it.
"Our quest has come to an end, melethnin." He stated quietly into my ear as we slowly moved together.
"Yes, it has. Though I don't know what to do next." I replied with a small sad smile, knowing that now my knowledge was totally useless and I didn't actually have a home to return to in Middle Earth.
"I was hoping that you would come home with me in a few weeks' time. To meet my father and see Mirkwood." He suggested lightly.
"I would love to." I answered with a smile, leaning up and pressing my lips lightly to his.
Together, Legolas and I enjoyed our first real celebration, glad that it was Aragorn's coronation that brought such happiness. The dancing and celebrating continued into the morning hours until the sun was beginning to crest of the horizon, heralding the new day. The first full day of the reign of Elessar.
***End Chapter 39***
So, I decided that I wanted to have more to the ceremony than just what the movie had, so the first main part of the coronation is from The Return of the King pages 945-946 in my massive book. Sorry if it's kind of short again, but it's a nice happy light chapter.
Read and Review please XD