Thank you all for the reviews of the last chapter. I'm glad it was so well received. However, I am afraid some of you may be disappointed, as the wedding ceremony, which will be in the next chapter, is very short. And I am leaving to visit my uncle for a couple weeks, so I don't know when I'll update. I hope this will tide you over a little bit until then. Enjoy!
"Are you alright, Tinwe?"
"Sorry, yes I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"What about?" Icaria asked, looking up into her friend's face. She was rather shocked to hear such a solemn tone from the other elleth on her wedding day.
"I am sad about those of our friends who couldn't come," Tinwe said, adjusting the folds of her skirt.
"I know you miss them," Icaria said, moving out of the way as Isawen hurried past. There was a great deal of commotion going on in Tinwe's home, as expected considering she would be joined with Legolas in only a few hours. Tinwe could not believe the amount of calm that had settled over her at the thought. She had expected to be restless and giddy. But when the day came, she felt nothing but peace and happiness at the thought of the celebrations to follow. Her joy was only dampened by the thought of not having Frodo, Sam, Elrond, or Gandalf there. She had visited Imladris not long before Elrond departed and had bid him and Gandalf farewell. Their absence had not completely hit her until her other friends had begun to arrive for the wedding.
Gimli had been the first to arrive. He had come over a month early, which had made Legolas very happy. When they had told him about the wedding in person, he had forced them to stay with him in the Glittering Caves for several days to celebrate.
"About time!" were the first words out of his mouth upon the announcement. Aragorn had a similar response.
"I have been waiting to hear of an engagement for some time now," he said, his arm around Arwen as they both congratulated them and promised to come, though they would not be able to stay for very long.
Elladan and Elohir, having elected not to travel west with their father, had also consented to come, having been told when Legolas and Tinwe traveled back through on their way home from the coast. Elladan had feigned despair, acting wounded that Tinwe had chosen to wed Legolas, but the laughter in his eyes revealed that he was happy for them. Nonetheless, Legolas had tightened his hold on Tinwe during this exchange, making her roll her eyes and smile.
Upon arriving home, Tinwe had sought out her family, Legolas in tow. The king could wait. As soon as they walked through the door, fingers intertwined, Isawen had looked up from her book and beamed, instantly noticing the rings on both their fingers. She had hugged Tinwe first, kissing her daughter's cheek, and then proceeded to kiss Legolas's cheek, congratulating him on successfully reigning in her daughter. Rissa had been more reserved, but had smiled and congratulated them both, kissing his daughter's forehead.
It had been a tense trip to the king's study to announce the engagement to him. Tinwe chewed on her lip, smoothing the dress she had decided to wear to look more regal, now that she was going to be part of the royal family. Her riding tunic did not seem very appropriate.
"Relax, limimaer. It will be alright."
"I hope so. I really don't want to be on his bad side for eternity."
"Don't worry about that. He will warm up soon enough."
They entered the king's study, finding him browsing the books on his shelf. He looked over when he heard the door open, looking between the two of them, not needing an explanation.
"I see congratulations are in order," he said, moving away from his books. He seemed genuinely happy, which puzzled Tinwe. To her surprise, he took her hand and kissed it, smiling down at her. "I shall start preparations for a wedding feast immediately."
"What was that about?" Tinwe had asked as soon as they had left the study. She couldn't fathom what had just happened.
"Just take it," Legolas said with a smile. "Questioning it will only cause unnecessary distress."
"Perhaps you're right," Tinwe said with a smile, kissing him lightly.
The king had acted pleasant towards Tinwe right up until she started patrolling again a month after the engagement. It didn't take a lot of brain power to figure out what had caused his reaction.
"He genuinely thought I had decided to give it up for you," Tinwe said, explaining this to Legolas after having a slightly tense interaction with the King that morning. "I can tell he is not at all thrilled that I went out this week."
"Well he will just have to learn to live with it," Legolas said, kissing her forehead reassuringly. "Let us go to the practice range. It will make you feel better. At least until I beat you again."
"It is really not a fair contest," Tinwe said with a laugh. "Everyone knows you are one of the most talented archers in Middle Earth. "Now if we were to play hide and seek like the elflings play," she said, a mischievous look on her face. "I would definitely beat you."
"You really think so?" Legolas said, looking down at her skeptically. "I think I might have to take you up on that challenge."
"Great! You count first. Boundaries are the edge of the kingdom. Go!" She raced away, leaving Legolas behind with a smile on his face as he started counting.
Despite the king's obviously forced cheer towards his son's intended, the year leading up to the wedding had been a good one. Tinwe was so caught up in thinking about every detail, along with continuing her Guard duties that she almost forgot about the restlessness still stirring deep inside her. But about two months out, she started to feel that drive within her starting to surface again. She decided it was time to let Legolas know her plans.
"What is wrong, my love?" he asked, noticing the serious look on her face as she entered his study. She had stopped bothering to knock at this point, since she and all but moved in already.
"I wanted to make a proposal," she said, sitting in front of his desk, folding her hands on her lap.
"I am slightly worried, but go on," Legolas said slowly, watching her closely.
"I know this is a bit abrupt," she said, choosing not to beat around the bush. "But I would like to take an extended trip shortly after our wedding." Legolas was silent for a long time, just watching her.
"What exactly do you mean?" he said finally, his blue eyes boring into her green ones. She took a deep breath and began explaining her plan.
"Not long after Pelennor Fields, you told me you would like to travel to some of the places I have seen during my many travels. And I also have an obligation to return to the East to visit my friends soon. I cannot wait too long, what with the effects time has on mortal men. I am afraid that unless we leave relatively soon after our wedding, we will never be able to pull ourselves away from life here. I know you are working on that project with your father, but would it be at all possible for you to indulge me, just for a few years?"
Legolas remained silent, obviously thinking about her proposal.
"You are quite right, I did request to see those places," he said, smiling at her finally. He stood up and walked around the desk, where he knelt in front of her, taking her hands. "And I would be happy to indulge any and every dream you have, Tinwe. I could not possibly say no to you when it means this much to you."
"Thank you Legolas," she said, a smile on her face. She bent forward and kissed his temple. "But what about your father and your project?"
"I think our project is coming along well enough that it can proceed without me from this point. As for my father, there will be a great deal of debating going on when I present your proposal to him, but I am certain I will get him to agree, even if he is not altogether pleased."
"Thank you Legolas," she repeated, much softer this time. He stood up then, pulling her with him.
"You are most welcome, melamin," he said, kissing her softly. She put her arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her, bringing both of them closer together. She gained some measure of comfort in kissing her love, but she was still unsure about how his father was going to react.
It wasn't long after that when King Thranduil had approached Tinwe, seeking her out instead of having someone fetch her as usual.
"My lord," she said when she caught sight of him approaching across the archery fields. She was more than a little surprised, and it was evident from the look on her face.
"I would like to discuss your plan to travel with Legolas after your wedding," he said bluntly. Despite his many flaws, Tinwe did like that the king never minced words. He was very direct. She assumed that this attitude was reserved mostly for her, however, since she had seen him weave his way out of trouble in conversation before, giving vague and diplomatic answers to questions put forth to him.
"What about it upsets you, your majesty?" Tinwe asked, figuring that the whole thing was going to bother him but she mine as well ask anyway.
"I was rather shocked to hear that you both planned to travel not just for a few months, but for several years," he replied, his concern not quite entirely hidden behind a façade of calm.
"I have business out east," Tinwe said matter-of-factly. "I wanted to conclude that before I settled back here indefinitely. I was afraid I'd fall into a routine and didn't want to uproot our lives once that happened in order to fulfill my obligations."
Thranduil seemed to ponder this statement for a moment, looking at Tinwe closely. She gazed back at him evenly, wondering if he was thinking of a way to get rid of her before she married his son in just over a month's time. However, her answer seemed at least marginally acceptable.
"Very well. If you intend to fulfill your obligations and then return, I suppose there is no reason to make you put it off. I hope that means you are willing to at least contemplate a less dangerous occupation upon your return." It was more of a question than a statement, so Tinwe gave an answer that she thought would satisfy all parties involved.
"I will use the time abroad to think about other things I could do with my time."
"Good," the king said, content with that answer. "I apologize for interrupting your training. I will see you at dinner." Tinwe bowed her head respectfully as he disappeared, then resumed shooting. Well, the king had been pacified at least. He didn't have to know that the journey east was not going to be a direct one.
As the wedding got closer, Isawen's anxiety reached a level that surpassed her daughter's.
"Tinwe, you have to decide what you are going to wear for the ceremony and the feast."
"I already told you naneth, I am going to have Icaria and Nahlrie sew a simple gown for me, like this one," Tinwe said, indicating one of her nicer gowns. "I don't need you to go find a dozen seamstresses to work on one gown."
"You are marrying the prince! You should be wearing something more regal than just that. It's an everyday dress for normal elleths."
"Really naneth, Legolas doesn't care what I wear."
"The king will, and you are on a knife's edge with him as it is."
"I don't need to be dressed in forty layers of fabric just to impress him though. Be thankful I'm not trying to get away with wearing a riding tunic. Believe me, I thought about it."
"I would never let you out of the house dressed like that," Isawen said sternly, putting her hands on her hips. "You don't have to wear forty layers, but something befitting your new station would be nice."
"The king will give me a circlet to wear to signify my new station. The gown doesn't need to be elaborate."
"But it's your wedding! It only happens once and you must stand out. There will be guests wearing more elaborate outfits than this. Help me out here, Rissa."
"Sorry, melamin, you are on your own. I know better than to get between the two of you when you argue," Rissa said, pouring over paperwork as usual.
"I know it's my wedding. Therefore, I should be allowed to wear what I want. I will be wearing my necklace and charm bracelet regardless, so if I wear something too fancy it won't match."
"We can work around that," Isawen said, exasperated. She tried rifling through a pile of sketches she'd had done to demonstrate her ideas for a wedding dress. "Look, this one is lovely."
"I will trip over that," Tinwe responded, looking at it with loathing. "The hem is all wrong."
"We can adjust the hem. What about the rest of it?"
"I don't like the neckline. Too much skin exposed."
"How about this one then?" Isawen asked, pulling out a different one. "It's got the nice collar on it."
"Look at the ruffles on that thing," Tinwe said, pointing out the offending parts on the drawing. "I will be itching the entire time with that much fabric in such awkward places."
"Surely you can't object to this one," Isawen said, pulling out yet another drawing. "It is practically meant for you."
"How do you figure?" Tinwe said, eyes scanning the drawing.
"It's not too revealing, it doesn't have a lot of fabric, but it is elegant and fitting for a princess."
"Is the long train really necessary?" Tinwe asked, noticing the length of fabric trailing in the back.
"That can also be adjusted, my dear," Isawen said, determined to win the argument.
"The sleeves are a bit puffy," Tinwe said with a frown, noting the multiple layers within each sleeve.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Rissa answered it, letting Tinwe and her mother continue arguing.
"Good morning, Prince Legolas," Rissa said, letting him in. "Brace yourself."
"For what?" Legolas asked. Rissa didn't need to answer, however, as Isawen immediately jumped on the opportunity that had just presented itself.
"Oh good! I am glad you're here, Legolas. It appears your future bride is being uncooperative in my attempts to dress her in something proper for the ceremony."
"Don't listen to her, Legolas," Tinwe said, giving her mother a disapproving look. "I told her that it doesn't matter what I wear. You don't care if I wear a simple gown do you?"
Legolas opened his mouth, trying to think of a way to respond to the onslaught. Rissa intervened however, taking pity on his future son-in-law.
"Don't say anything, your majesty," he advised, not looking up from the paperwork he was once again reading over. "No matter how you respond, it won't end well."
"Excellent advice," Legolas said, smiling at the two elleths now glaring at Rissa. He sat down next to the older elf before continuing. "I will just let the two of you work it out yourselves."
"But won't your father want to see her in something more regal?" Isawen persisted. "She can't show up in any old gown."
"Please tell my mother that she is fussing over nothing," Tinwe said as soon as her mother paused. "You don't care what I wear, do you?"
"I have no opinion on the matter," Legolas said patiently. "That is your decision."
Deciding that they weren't going to get any help from him, Legolas was left alone while mother and daughter began arguing again.
In the end, Tinwe relented to Isawen's demands. As Tinwe was being dressed for the ceremony, Isawen stepped back with a satisfied look on her face.
"You look beautiful, my dear," she said as Icaria made some final adjustments. Nahlrie was not present at that moment, since she had left to find Norui, who had taken it upon herself to disappear into the kitchen to scout out some food.
"I still think it is a bit flashy," Tinwe said, looking at herself in the mirror, quite happy with her dress but wanting to argue with her mother about it anyway. She didn't want her mother to think she had completely won the debate.
"Give it a rest, Tinwe, you're getting married," Icaria said, adjusting the ribbon around Tinwe's waist carefully. "It's supposed to look that way. Besides, to you, everything is flashy. At least it isn't the bright pink that Norui wanted you to wear."
"I suppose you're right," Tinwe said, fiddling with her neckline. It was still a bit low, though Tinwe only thought this because she could see the white line of her scar just peeking out from behind the fabric. In reality, it was a rather modest dress.
"All done!" Icaria announced, beaming up at Tinwe. Tinwe looked down at herself. She was dressed in a pale green gown with darker green trim along the sleeves, neckline, and waist. She was unused to the bell sleeves, which hung loosely around her wrists and hands. Sleeves like that were terrible for archery. After a great deal of fighting, Tinwe had consented to a train, though it was considerably shorter than the ones Isawen had proposed. The hem was decorated with dark green vines that grew thinner and lighter as they wove their way up towards her waist. Silver stars were delicately stitched among the dark vines. This needlework was all thanks to Nahlrie. Tinwe marveled at how her sister-in-law had managed to do all of this while also managing the little terror that Norui had become.
"Now how to do your hair," Icaria muttered. Just then, a knock came on the door. Raina opened the door and entered, her face lighting up as she looked up at Tinwe.
"Oh Tinwe, you look magnificent," she said, walking around so Tinwe didn't have to crane her neck to see the other elleth. "Prince Legolas is going to be speechless."
"Thank you, Raina," Tinwe said with a smile. "What do you think we should do with my hair?"
"I definitely think you should leave it mostly down," Rania said, helping Tinwe off the box she had been standing on while Icaria finished up. "You do have such beautiful hair."
"Well I don't ever do much with it so I'm at a loss what to try now," Tinwe said, taking a seat on the stool in front of the mirror.
"We'll think of something."
Half an hour later, Tinwe was finally ready. Her hair had been left mostly down, but she had two braids that met in the back of her head that were made of smaller braids, with small braids woven into the rest as well, creating both a simple and elegant design.
As soon as her mother stepped back and announced her total satisfaction, Tinwe started to feel the butterflies in her stomach she had been expecting all day. She took a deep breath, looking in the mirror and hardly recognizing herself. She was really doing it. She was getting married.
"Are you ready?" Icaria asked, smiling at her friend. Tinwe was silent for a second, her eyes still focused on her reflection. Her eyes flickered onto her mithril necklace. Her eyes then fell as she moved her sleeve, looking at the bracelet Legolas had given her. Her old life and her new life, laid out before her. It was time to transition from one to the other.
"I'm ready."