Disclaimer: See Chapter 2
Carrie: I'd like to think that people have more than one soulmate.
Samantha: I agree! I've had hundreds.
Carrie: Yeah! And you know what, if you miss one, along comes another one. Like cabs. - Sex and the City
Chapter 56 – Eat, drink and be merry
"Such a pretty event, although I confess I am surprised at Eonwe's choice of spouse. She seems an insipid little mortal after all. Hardly comparable to a female of his own kind or even one of the Eldar who at least have some grace and beauty about them. Edain women are so…overblown."
Finarfin barely held his tongue and only did so because Ingwion's leather boot was firmly pressing his foot into the ground. So he ground his teeth instead. He didn't dare to look at Curunir, but he could actually hear the Maia's lip curling in contempt. The temptation to actually give the representative of Aule a fat lip was overwhelming.
"Careful." Whispered his friend and fellow Commander. "I have it on good authority that you will be needing that fine set of teeth to chew through the only venison currently existing in Middle Earth. You may be praying for a nice cutlet of mushy Orc steak before the day is through."
Finarfin immediately went from grinding his teeth to clamping them down on a spurt of uncontrollable laughter which he just managed to turn into a strangled cough when Cirdan turned and looked directly at both Commanders with one silver-grey eyebrow lifted in amused query. The Shipwright chuckled inwardly at both senior officers now blushing furiously and trying hard to stem the flow of mildly hysterical giggling.
Fortunately both bride and groom were blissfully oblivious. They stood holding hands while Ereinion and Olorin made their vows to Eru Iluvator in the presence of Lord Tulkas. Eonwe's eyes never left those of his bride and she in turn seemed captivated by his gaze. Vows were made and normally the rings would have been placed on their fingers, except for the fact that there was another ceremony to be gone through.
Olorin and Ereinion both stepped back their, pleasant for once, tasks completed and Tulkas took his place among the guests. Chief Knowles stepped up and stood beside Kim while Jim took his place beside Eonwe who gave the young Policeman a querying look. Jim grinned and opened his hand to show the two silver rings safely in his keeping.
Normally the ending of the Elven marriage ceremony would have been the signal for the joyous rites to begin. Bride and groom would have been feted; merry dancing would have been spontaneous, food and wine would have overflowed. On this occasion however a hush grew over the traditional congratulatory greetings as Alun Davies stepped up to the plate. He cleared his throat and the silence grew deeper. Even the forest was silent as though in homage to the momentous event that was taking place within it.
"Dearly beloved…we are gathered here in the presence of God and in the sight of this congregation to witness the joining of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony…"
By the time they were at the point where the bride and groom were repeating their vows to each other and Eonwe was pledging his oath to have and to hold from this day onward till death do us part, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Despite the language barriers Alun's sonorous tones rang out and everyone felt they were witnessing something solemn, awe inspiring and wonderful.
As he pronounced them man and wife the sun broke through the crowds and shone directly on them all. Eru's approval was felt by everyone present and even Curunir surreptitiously brushed the sleeve of his white robe over his eyes.
"There is something in my eye." He stated, rather unnecessarily, to Finarfin and Ingwion.
"Riiight." They chorused back and Finarfin rolled his eyes.
"What a beautiful ceremony." Celeborn grabbed a handful of petals and flung them over the newly weds with abandon and Glorfindel's rich golden laughter rang out as two of the Naugrim and Celebrimbor dragged him into spontaneous wedding jig.
It was the signal for the jollities to begin. Kim didn't have time to be afraid of the enormity of the task she had just taken on as she and a laughing Eonwe were also swept up onto the shoulders of enthusiastic guests, both Elves and Men, and paraded around. She caught Maedhros's eye as she was borne aloft. He was smiling unreservedly for once; the usual bored and cynical gleam in his green eyes had been replaced with approval and a tinge of envy. It suddenly hit her that Maedhros would never ever experience the happiness she was experiencing today and the thought made her immensely sad.
Her eyes met those of her husband…husband she thought numbly. The word seemed alien on her lips. So was she Mrs Matthews or Mrs Eonwe? Did he even have a last name? Perhaps she was Mrs Herald or even Mrs Maia. Hysterical giggles rose up in her chest and she pictured herself being introduced by Eonwe as the 'little woman' or, even worse, 'the other half'. The giggles finally erupted and as she was lifted around on the shoulders of those carrying her she found herself face to face with the man she had just married for better or for worse and she wondered.
How worse could the worst actually be?
He was smiling at her, only for her, that brilliant smile that turned her knees to jelly and oh, those eyes! She stifled a groan, those wonderful dark blue eyes that she just wanted to fall into and drown in, never to emerge again. I love you, he mouthed and she turned bright pink and felt silly and lightheaded with happiness.
I love you too, she mouthed back and then they were on the ground and being led to tables groaning with food and wine.
The rest of the celebration passed both Kim and Eonwe by in a blur. Tulkas, Ereinion, Olorin and everyone else at their part of the table realized after about five seconds that nobody was going to get any sense out of the bridal couple. The only time they came out of their reverie was when Glosur offered a wedding toast to the happy couple which ended with a bit of sage advice when he assured Eonwe that it wasn't at all true that married men lived longer than single men, it only felt a lot longer.
He went on to further assure the company that he himself had not spoken to his own wife for almost a year because he didn't like to interrupt her. The whole company collapsed with laughter at that amidst shouts of hearty approval and agreement from many of the married Edain and Eldar.
Once Glosur realized that he had a very appreciate audience and that even the Herald and his bride had tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks, he topped it all off by declaring that marriage was a very good thing indeed, for if it weren't for the happy union of man and wife, men would spend their entire lives believing that they had absolutely no faults at all.
"He should be a wedding facilitator." Jim whispered to Chief who was laughing uproariously at the old Naugrim. "He'd make a fortune. We could hire him out."
Eonwe gently turned his wife's face to him. "It is time to leave I think…before the celebration becomes a little too ribald." He gently kissed her and she was glad to be sitting down otherwise her knees would have given way. He smiled wistfully at her. "I would have liked to have taken you to some deserted spot in the Caribbean where we could just do anything we wished, spend all day in bed, but I cannot. All I can offer you is a wedding bower in my tent and it doesn't sound romantic at all."
She had stars in her eyes as she returned his kiss oblivious of the amused yet understanding audience all around them. "It doesn't matter." She whispered softly. "We have each other and that's all I need, or want. And it sounds wonderfully romantic."
He rose to his feet lifting her to hers and the company also rose with them. He immediately gestured for them to remain sitting. Once they were seated again he thanked them all on both his and Kim's behalf, for the best wedding he could ever have imagined.
"However, I believe that it's time my wife and I left you to enjoy the rest of the celebration in your way as we will enjoy the rest of our special day in ours." The number of slightly ribald comments that ensued from the audience saw a light flush bloom on the Herald's golden skin, but he took the comments in good part and laughed along with them. "I will say goodnight to you all and once again you have our gratitude for making our day a very special one by your presence and good wishes."
Eonwe offered his hand to Kim and they left, accompanied by the Herald's personal guard.
"Excellent!" Glosur was heard to say loudly. "Now we can get on with the real part of the celebrations!" He turned to Lord Celeborn. "Have ye ever tasted Dwarven ale my Lord? There's a wee contest that we Naugrim have at such celebrations as these." He held his hand out and one of the other dwarves handed him a strange looking object that resembled a long metal tube with a bulb on the end.
Celeborn examined the object with great curiosity. He wasn't all that fond of dwarves and for good reason, but Glosur and his people had fought well and with great honour so he felt obliged to be polite. Cirdan, Ereinion and the others of the High King's company who were more familiar with the dwarves and their 'customs' sat back with knowing smiles.
"What is this?" Celeborn asked, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
Glosur smiled and his beady little eyes disappeared into his eye sockets. "Ah, well my Lord Elf, this is called a yard of ale, or at least it will be once we get the ale into it." He handed the yard to one of the other dwarves who immediately started siphoning ale into the object from a barrel. He handed the now brimming yard to the elf who held it carefully in case it spilled.
Celeborn's silver brows knitted together. He could feel his wife's presence in the back of his mind and sensed she was highly amused for some reason. He also sensed that she had been about to say something and then seemed to think better of it. "But what do you do with it?" He asked in bewilderment.
The dwarf looked at him askance as if to say that he thought the Elf Lord had more brains than he was demonstrating at that moment in time. "What do you do with it?" He echoed. "Why you drink the ale from it Lord Elf, only…"He placed a restraining hand on Celeborn's arm as he was about to take a sip. "It's not for sipping. You have to drink it all, in one long swallow, to the very end."
Celeborn was even more bewildered. "You just drink all of it?" He repeated.
Glosur nodded his eyes bright with glee. "Yes, all of it, in one go."
Celeborn glanced at Cirdan and the others who stared back at him with solemn expressions on their faces. That alone should have told him something, but instead he sighed, tipped his head back, placed the tube on his lips and prepared to swallow for all he was worth. The purpose of this little exercise still wasn't very clear at all.
The Chief and Olorin were standing to one side watching. The Maia's face was creased with amusement. "Do you think he knows what he's getting himself into?" The Chief asked.
"Not for one minute." Chortled the Maia gleefully
"Reckon we should say something? I mean, a yard of ale, that's an awful lot of ale." Chief said doubtfully. "I've seen tough men downed by a yard of ale in the Mess."
"Nah," The SAS sergeant materialized beside them both. He cast a critical over the tall Elf Lord. "He looks a likely lad. He'll be fine. I reckon the dwarf's the one in over his head there."
"Perhaps you would like to place a wager on that." A cool drawl interrupted them and Olorin reacted with shock as he saw the tall elegant figure of the Lord of Mandos standing near to them. Olorin was about to speak, but an imperceptible shake of Namo's head stopped him dead.
"Don't mind if I do." The sergeant grinned, completely under-awed by the presence of this tall beautiful but dangerous looking man. He held out his hand. "Dutch van Breda."
Namo smiled at him. "Namo, Lord of Mandos." They shook hands. "Name your wager."
Chief looked at Olorin who was shaking his head. "Oh I have a very bad feeling about this." Olorin whispered to Chief Knowles.
"Me too." Quipped the Chief. "I've played enough chess with the bugger to know for sure that he's a sneaky so and so."
ooOoo
"Trust Namo to get all the fun." Aule commented and handed a handkerchief to his wife who was busy sniffling.
Orome stretched his long legs out and accepted a glass of sparkling golden wine from one of the Maia. He nodded his thanks and the Maia bowed slightly. "I'm not sure Celeborn Prince of Doriath will think of it quite like that in the morning." He remarked dryly.
"No indeed. I think he will be like a bear with a sore head after all that ale." Vana wrinkled her beautiful pert nose and carefully selected a sugared nut from the bowl on the table. "Not that I have ever tasted ale, let alone Dwarven ale."
"I did, once." Yavanna admitted. "It was rather nasty, so I assume it's quite an acquired sort of taste. I understand many of the Edain and Dwarves drink it instead of the water which they believe often carries infection with it. Especially since he…settled there." She couldn't quite bring herself to say Morgoth's name.
"They look so happy." Varda watched the celebrations wistfully and wiped away a tear when Eonwe tenderly kissed his new wife and led her away somewhere they could be alone. Well, as alone as anyone could be in a battle camp, in the middle of a war and surrounded by troops and the enemy.
"Humph." Grunted her husband without further comment. He moved away from the window and the festivities and plonked down unceremoniously beside Aule. He accepted a glass of wine from the Maia with a smile of thanks.
Varda glared at him. Are you still carrying on with that?
Her abrupt question popped into Manwe's mind and caught him by surprise just as he was taking a sip of wine. His hand jolted and the wine dripped onto his robes.
Carrying on with what? He enquired. He thanked Niena for the cloth she handed him and dabbed futilely at the growing wine stain. Thank Eru it wasn't red wine.
You know what. His wife replied testily.
No I'm not, but all the beautiful weddings in the world will not help either of them adjust to the separation they are about to experience.
Varda started in surprise. That's why you sent Namo to the wedding. To talk to them both.
Yes, tomorrow he will speak to them both and lay out exactly what they have let themselves in for. I can think of no one better for the job.
Even though he spouts drivel? Varda enquired, a hint of laughter in her voice.
Manwe laughed out loud and held his hand out to his wife. "Even though he does that." He said slyly. "However, Eonwe's nuptials brought to mind our own even so many millennia ago."
Varda squeezed on the bench between her husband and Aule the Smith who looked at them both suspiciously. "You two aren't going for a re-enactment of that event here and now are you?"
The rest of the Valar laughed and the Maia in attendance hid their smiles.
"You should be so lucky." Varda said smugly. "But later on perhaps…"
"Aughhh, don't tell me." Aule waved his hand at her in disgust. "It is much more information than I wish to have at present." He gave his spouse a toothy smile. "Of course our wedding was a wonderful affair. I crafted our marriage rings on the spot and we toasted ourselves with the finest golden ale ever produced on Valinor. Afterwards we went to the forge and I demonstrated my strength and love for Yavanna with my mighty hammer."
"I'm sure you did." Orome winked at him slyly. Yavanna giggled and blushed like a young maiden and punched the hunter on his arm.
"And they say romance is dead…" Manwe murmured in Varda's ear.
ooOoo
Romance was very much alive in the flower and silk draped tent of the Commander of the Host of the Valar. A bottle of wine specially brought from Valinor by Lord Namo stood in a bucket of ice cold water and two finely wrought delicate wine goblets stood by the side of it. Alongside that, just in case the newly weds needed sustenance there was a platter of cheeses and fruit.
Someone, Kim suspected Elrond's fine hand in this, had strewn scented petals all over the wide cot that Eonwe usually occupied alone. The blankets that normally adorned the cot, for want of a better description, had been replaced by a swathe of silk. Candles shed their romantic glow over the whole proceedings. It was a setting for the consummation of love and Kim suddenly felt very shy and nervous in front of her tall, handsome and shining husband.
He caught at her hand and drew her to him on the bed, gently lifting her chin with one finger so that she was looking directly into his eyes. "I have you all to myself at last." He said softly, tracing the line of her cheek with his other fingers. She blushed and tried to drop her gaze. He tipped her chin back up and kissed her lips again and as the kiss deepened, all of her fear and doubts disappeared and she said nothing as he gently pushed her down onto the bed.
If sharp Elven ears heard soft cries and deep moans of passion, they did not show it. They stood unmoving and expressionless outside the Herald's tent, sharp eyes raking through the darkness for possible enemies.
And in the background the wedding festivities carried on through the night. A seething Morgoth was aware in the throne room of his dark fortress and his servants scurried around and did their best to avoid his rage. Even the light from the Silmaril in his iron crown could not console him.
"This is not over." He cried to those hateful siblings of his in the West. "I will hand you your Herald's bloody head on a platter Manwe alongside that of his puling mortal wife and the body of his unborn child. You will not win this war."
Sauron stayed in his quarters and licked his wounds. He promised a painful revenge on his brother Maia. He would see him debased and suffering, oh yes he would, him and that mortal chit he had married, he would possess her if it killed him, her and that wretched child.
ooOoo