Part 7: Early Day of Midsummer
Before the sun had risen over the horizon, Arwen awoke, bathed, and dressed in both of the underdresses she had been given. Galadriel was coming to get her ready, shortly. In the mean time, she was sitting on the wide windowsill drinking in the sunrise.
There was a soft knock on the door, and it softly creaked open. Galadriel came in quietly and joined Arwen at the window. "Arwen, are you ready for the preparations to begin?" She asked.
"Yes," she answered, looking up her grandmother with a beaming face. "What am I to be shown?"
"You shall see in a minute. Let's get your dress on, first." Galadriel responded. Not waiting for a reply, she opened the chest and unfolded the wedding dress. She briskly whipped it over Arwen's head, drawing out the hair caught inside. "Shut your eyes, Arwen. You haven't seen this one yet."
Arwen obediently closed her eyes tight. She didn't feel much, but she heard something being drawn out of the chest, and two quick zipping sounds followed by two clicks. "What are those sounds?" She wondered. Footsteps, and then she felt something was secured on her shoulders, with two light metal clasps. More footsteps followed and she thought she heard or thought she heard something light taken out of the chest and some objects hitting each other. She thought they were cloth covered by the sound. Something was placed on her head which lay over her face.
"Pick up one foot." Galadriel directed hastily. As soon as Arwen did so, a low shoe, as soft as velvet, was slipped over that foot and over the other also, after she had lifted it. "You may look." Bade Galadriel.
When she did, she caught her breath. On her shoulders hung a long train, made out of fine lace, embroidered with stars of gold and silver and mithril moons all over. The clasps on her shoulders, which fastened her train onto her graceful shoulders, had fine white elf crystals set in them and were bound with mithril. Over her face hung a misty veil from which gold tassels swung. She turned to Galadriel in wonder; but she could not speak for surprise. Instead, she fell on her and hugged her close, tears falling as a result of her happiness. She gradually grew calmer.
"What about the bridal gifts?" Arwen asked, anxiously.
Galadriel smiled. "I have gotten them all as you wanted them."
"Oh, Galadriel!"
"And I have arranged who will present each one."
"When is the wedding going to begin?"
"If we want extra time, we really must be going."
"Alright, I'll follow you."
As Galadriel arrived in Arwen's room, Aragorn had pulled on his attire and looked at himself up and down with satisfaction. His long black tunic was embroidered with the tree, the stars and the stones and his word hung at his side as it always did. His mantle was black, also embroidered just like his tunic. Under his tunic, he wore armor and leather jerkin as cushioning for it. His boots had been newly polished and poked out from underneath his tunic. Only a plain silver pin held his mantle. His crown wouldn't be need today, he had been told. He turned away from the mirror with a nod of approval.
He went to the chest at the foot of the bed, and opened it. It held the bridal gifts he was to give to her. The first was a tiara made waves of mithril with leaf shaped diamonds in it. The second had a bit more sentimental value. It was his mother's pendant. A small circle of silver enclosed a tree surrounded by seven stars and seven stones. A surprisingly accurate model of the crown surmounted it and held it to the chain on which it hung. The last gift was a ring. On the mithril band, a large leaf-shaped diamond the size of a penny was surrounded by many smaller elf crystals. Placing them back in the chest, he left it open, waiting for his visitors.
Arwen followed Galadriel out of her room, shielded from view by seven maids and her veil. She asked Galadriel urgently, " Is he out and about?"
Galadriel answered without turning around." I hope not."
Arwen blushed a deep red behind her veil, as Galadriel continued." I promise we are using a way down past the Court of the Fountain that he probably won't use. It takes a little longer. I promise I have it all arranged."
Just then, one of the guards at the intersection of the passages raised his hand palm outward and pointed to a doubled-doored room off to their right. Galadriel gave the guard a nod and led the maidens into the room, shutting the doors behind them. A minute or so later, they heard feet coming down the corridor, and the voices of Aragorn, Gandalf, Imrahil, Faramir, Elladan, & Ellrohir coming down the passage. They could not hear what they were saying clearly, but they passed on down intersecting hallway shortly after. A couple of taps sounded on the door and the word, "Gone". They exited the room quickly, and continued down the hall.
"So, that was them?" Arwen asked.
Galadriel nodded. "Faramir told the guards and he doesn't know a thing about it. You needn't worry; he'll never guess."
Arwen quietly breathed a sigh of relief and they kept walking down the hallway. About a couple minutes later, they arrived inside a large chamber, like a small great hall. Elrond, Celeborn, and all the other elves that had come with them stood to greet them. Elrond ran forward and carefully embraced his daughter, not wanting to ruin her dress.
"Daughter, you are stunning!" He said when they had broken apart.
Arwen answered, breathless with excitement,"Thank you, father!"
"I doubt he will be able to take his eyes off you!" He added, whispering in her ear.
"Oh, father!" She cried, happily. "I love you as much as ever."
"As do I, my dearest." He said. "But, we have got to prepare for the ceremony."
She smiled, apologetically.
At exactly 2 hours after sunrise, the ceremony began. The doors swung open very quietly considering their great size. A dark haired elf was revealed walking toward the throne. The crowd hushed as Elrond, Master of Rivendell, walked up the isle towards the throne. Aragorn rapidly descended the steps much to the surprise of those who noticed. The guards followed in no specific order. Elrond expertly masked his surprise, and continued approaching. As soon as they were face-to face, Elrond began to kneel, but was barely beaten to it. The crowd gasped; Everyone was surprised including the two of them.
"Lord Elrond." Aragorn acknowledged respectfully.
Elrond was very surprised again. But, he was unable to mask it this time. "Aragorn, get to your feet!" He hissed, concern widening his eyes. He added, confused. "Why to me?"
He stood and answered, " I acknowledge the precious treasure you are about to entrust into my care. " The hall heard again, as he intended. But all eyes were focused on a pretty picture approaching behind Elrond. Aragorn saw a white hand slip into Elrond, and felt his heart leap into his throat. As Elrond moved aside, his bride to be was revealed; Aragorn caught his breath in wonder. Her shiny dark hair flowed in lovely waves over her shoulders. Her loving gaze was fixed upon his face, her smile more enchanting than ever. Her grey eyes gleamed, and her dress shone. She was the vision that had enchanted his happiest dreams, and heartbreaking awakenings, that painfully reminded him that they may never come true at all. Her hand slipped into his, and gave a momentary squeeze.
Elrond shot his soon-to-be son-in-law a look of take-good-care-of-her and be-good, swiftly followed by a smile.
Aragorn replied with his characteristic wryly mischievous smile.
And together, they ascended the steps up to the throne, where Gandalf the White was awaiting them. Aragorn gave him a quick nod and smile, and he began.
"Lords, Ladies, emissaries from foreign lands, and fair folk of Gondor, The King Elessar," he gave Aragorn a quick wink," before you all shall wed Arwen Evenstar. They each shall give each other three gifts, beginning with the King."
Aragorn turned and beckoned to his Steward, who brought forward the tiara on a black and silver pillow. As Aragorn picked it up and raised it over her head, she knelt before him, a smile gracing her radiant face, as she looked adoringly up at him. He saw and gave her a brief grin like a streak of sunshine. He spoke at last, proclaiming, "With this crown, I give you the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor to rule as its Queen and all else I own." He slowly lowered the tiara down onto her shining hair, purposefully trailing his hands down her rosy cheeks. He asked Arwen in a low tone, "Won't you stand?" She did so. Next came Imrahil with the pendant. Aragorn lifted it also, and presented it as before. "With this pendant, I give you myself fully and forever yours." He fastened the chain around her neck, stroking her shoulders. Lastly, Ellrohir came forward with the ring. "With this ring, I bind myself to you for all eternity." Slipping off the Ring of Barahir, which she had worn for so long, he replaced it with her new ring, placing her other ring on her first finger of her right hand, and giving her hands a squeeze.
Arwen signaled to Galadriel, who bore a diadem of mithril and jewels as bright as elven stars. It looked like a branch of mithril was braided with elven stars of pure white. Aragorn knelt at her feet, lowering his gaze. The crowd gasped, surprised. She held it high above his head, promising, "With this diadem, I give you my heart, my soul, my all for I do not have a kingdom to give you in return." As she set it upon his head, she trailed her fingers in his hair. "Stand up, Estel." She directed. He obeyed, without question. Next, her nurse came forward with a clasp. A white tree in fine mithril was emblazoned upon a black background, small white jewels were the stars, and ebony domes for stones. She held it between her hands with her slender fingers, and spoke again. "With this clasp, I hold myself to a mortal life, for your sake." After she replaced the pin with her clasp, she trailed her hand down his chest. Lastly, on behalf of her mother, Elrond stepped forward bearing the ring. Purest mithril surrounded a large white elf crystal with small diamonds. She triumphantly spoke the words she longed to say for so long. "With this ring, I bind myself to you for all eternity." A smile broke across her face as she slipped on his ring. He drunk it in, trying to memorize the very curve of it.
Gandalf spoke again at last. "I have the honor and pleasure of presenting to you the King Elessar and his Queen Arwen Evenstar." Meanwhile, Aragorn's hands stole around to the nape of her neck, and Arwen's crept under his mantle, crossing behind his back. "You may kiss the bride." Gandalf said.
They both squeezed together, their lips meeting at last. They kissed, and the hall erupted with loud cheers and clapping.
When stopped kissing, Aragorn whispered,"I love you as much as any man could love his wife, and I always will. Forever."
A couple of happy tears trickled out of her eyes. "I-I can't believe what you have gone through for me. I know I could not have done it, if I were you. I love you so much, Estel, forever and always." She promised, loyally.
They broke apart happier than ever, and as the crowd watched they exited the great doors away to the post-ceremony reception.