A/N
I am sooooo sorry for keeping you waiting for so long! I have this major writersblock and got stuck. So this isn't one of my best chapters, but I hope it will be pleasing enough.
Anyway, I want to thank everyone for leaving a review. I am really glad you like this story. As for the question about Várar's father, he died a long time ago, during the epidemic that also killed the father of Fíli and Kíli. That was in chapter 3, so no wonder some of you have forgotten about that.
Chapter 22
With his hands folded behind his back, Thranduil stares ahead. A piece of parchment in one of his hands. Though he isn't even aware he is still holding it. The raven that had brought it, still sitting on the arm of the throne, watching the elven king intently.
'We'll be together forever, ada!'
As he closes his eyes, Thranduil can still see the young Várar before him. Her blue eyes shining brightly as she smiles at him. Where has the time gone? He can still remember the day Tauriel had brought the infant dwarrowdam before him and how Várar had stolen his heart there and then. It seems like only yesterday, yet is has been almost eighty years already!
Hearing the raven cawing, Thranduil is reminded again of the letter. The dwarves have returned to Erebor, it says. And with them, the king's sister. But it is not all. Várar is to be married to one of the princes, the eldest one. The one who has stolen her heart.
"As it turns out, I have been betrothed to the prince from birth."
He re-reads the line again. It had been destiny for the two of them to meet. Destiny to marry one other. But luckily they had fallen in love before either of them knew about their betrothal.
'When I am older, I am going to marry you, ada. Or maybe Legolas. But we'll be together forever!'
A sad smile slowly forms on his face, as he remembers the innocence of the four year old Várar. And he had answered her lovingly. She could not marry her father. But she would marry a handsome prince one day.
And now his little gwilwileth is indeed going to marry a prince. The crown prince of a kingdom that had once been the greatest of all. She will be a wonderful queen once, he should know. He has raised his daughter well.
Yes, daughter. While she isn't his by blood, family is more than blood alone. It goes even beyond races. And Várar has become as much as a daughter to the king, as Legolas is his son. And to know how his reckless daughter has turned into a proper princess, fills him with pride.
He has seen her grow, witnessed her first steps, heard her first words. And with every step he had been there to catch her. With every word he felt pride build up inside. And every time he held her in his arms, he could not contain the smile on his face. To be able to call her his daughter, no words can describe such feelings.
He had made it his task to stand by her side, teach her the best he could. She belonged with him and he with her. Yet he had to let her go when those dwarves had showed up. He had to let his beloved daughter go, for her happiness. But she will be forever in his heart. Várar will have to follow her own path now, but that doesn't mean the king isn't worried about his – not so – little girl!
'My king, what word does the princess bring?'
At first Thranduil doesn't answer. The worry had been evident in Elros' voice, but Thranduil cannot find the strength to answer him just yet. Várar, his Várar, is getting married! His beautiful daughter has given her heart to someone other than her father or brother.
'Sire?'
'Spread the news, my daughter is getting married!'
A nervous Várar takes in her reflection as a maid is working on her hair. Multiple small braids have been placed all through her hair, intertwining at some points. Reflecting the joining of two dwarves. The loose hair reflecting the free spirit of each individual.
Her white gown trimmed with gold linings and a dwarvish blessing on her side. The small golden runes blessing her to be fruitful – or so one of the maids had told her. Várar wouldn't know. Though Thorin had taught her Khuzdul, these runes are strange to her. But apparently they have been embroidered by order of Dís.
To be honest, she looks great in her dress, showing her curves perfectly. Of course is does, the seamstress has been working on it for weeks! And not to mention the broidery! But she has done a marvelous job.
To think she is getting married! And so soon! It has only been a year ago when she had first come in contact with dwarves. And only a year ago the dwarves had reclaimed Erebor. And now, on Durins Day, she is going to marry the crown-prince! The prince that had stolen her heart without her even knowing it.
'Stop fiddling with your dress, dear,' a voice suddenly says from behind her and Várar snaps back to reality. She hasn't even noticed she had been fiddling. 'You look absolutely wonderful, Várar,' Dís says as she walks up to the dwarrowdam. 'Your mother would be so proud of the fine woman you have become.'
'Thank you, my lady,' Várar says with a curtsy. 'That means a lot, coming from her childhood friend.'
With a wave of her hand, Dís dismisses the maids, leaving the two of them alone.
'How do you feel, dear?'
'Nervous.'
The dark-haired dwarrowdam laughs at this, telling Várar she isn't the only one. Fíli is even worse, according to the lady. Being a nervous wreck. The poor lad has been pacing back and forth in his room the whole morning and not even Kíli can seem to ease his nerves.
'But,' Dís continues with a wink, 'that will all fade away once he sees you. Then he will no longer see the crowd, only you.'
Várar smiles weakly. The crowd is exactly why she is feeling nervous. She is so different from the dwarves. That much she has noticed since the dwarves have returned. With just the small company, she wasn't bothered by the difference much. And neither were the dwarves. But with Erebor being filled with life again, she has come to notice how different dwarves are from elves. And while Várar might look like a dwarf – of course she does, she is a dwarf – she has come to realize she is much more like an elf.
And while only the high lords and ladies will attend the ceremony, there will be enough to make the young dwarrowdam feel out of place. Luckily for her, the members of the company will be present as honored guests.
'Well, come on dear,' Dís says, linking her arm through Várar's. 'It's almost time. Thorin is already waiting for you down the hall.'
With that said, the excited dwarrowdam guides the bride out of the chamber. But Várar doesn't really take notice. She lets her soon-to-be mother-in-law drag her trough the hallway, her feet moving on their own. But her mind is elsewhere.
Everything has happened so fast, perhaps too fast. And without her family it wouldn't really be a real wedding to her. It should have been her father, the king of elves, who should give her away. Not Thorin. No matter how much she cares for the dwarf-king, Thranduil is her father!
But alas, the dwarves and elves still don't get along well. And even if her father was to come, he would aggravate Thorin the best he could, resulting in Thorin – and other dwarves – to react to it the way he always does.
'You look radiant, Várar.'
The deep voice of Thorin snaps her out of her thoughts, and Várar looks at him. An insecure smile on her lips as she stops in front of him. With a small nod, she thanks him silently, seeing as she doesn't trust her voice. She really wishes it would have been her father to give her away. Isn't that the task of the brides father? No matter what culture?
'Fíli is a lucky dwarf,' Thorin says as he takes the bride from his sister. 'What do you say, shall we let the anxious groom wait just a little longer? I have a surprise for you, that cannot wait.'
Without waiting for an answer, Thorin guides the dwarrowdam through the halls of Erebor. The same halls Várar has walked through a year ago. Though it had been dark back then, with only a few torches to light the way. But now there is no sign of that darkness anymore. And the once empty walls now decorated with dancing flames.
'Thorin, where are you taking me?' Várar asks as they stop in front of a door. 'The wedding is about to start.'
But Thorin doesn't answer. He just gives her a smile, before opening the door.
A small gasp escapes her mouth, as the dwarrowdam takes notice of her king's surprise. Then she quickly leaves his side as she rushes over to the tall frame in from of her. Her arms quickly wrap themselves around his waist as he places a hand over her head.
It has been so long since she has seen him! And she would have never thought him to be here right now. Not wanting to be around the dwarves, except for her of course. But he has come! He has come and that is all that matters!
'Ada, I've missed you,' she finally says as she releases the elven king. 'I thought you wouldn't come.'
'And miss the most important day of my beloved daughter?' Thranduil chuckles, giving her a quick kiss on her brow. 'It seems that two kings can see eye to eye at times. You have done a wonderful job at keeping our agreement a secret, Thorin.'
At this, Várar turns her head, to see the dwarven king watching them with his arms crossed. But instead of his usual frown when dealing with elves, he is actually smirking at them. Or more specific, Thranduil.
'Well, I wouldn't want to ruin my surprise for the bride-to-be,' the dwarf answers casually. 'Besides, no matter how much I dislike elves, Várar deserves to be given away by the man she calls father.'
The two males nod at each other in silent agreement, before Thorin leaves through a different door.
'Well, gwilwileth,' Thranduil says as he offers her his arm. 'Shall we then?'
With a bright smile she nods.
A/N
And that marks the end of a long waited chapter. Again, I apologize for having kept you waiting! I know the chapter is shorter than what you are used to. But I am not really into having writing down the whole ceremony thing and all and skipping it during the chapter just didn't seem right for me.
And because of the writer block I have for this story, I don't know when I will be uploading a new chapter. And for that I apologize as well.