Dawnstar and Friend

Eleanor’s POV
We stayed in Cormallen a while longer until the 27th of April when we sail to Osgiliath, arriving the next day and on the day after that, the army camps on the Pelennor Fields.
The people in the city manage to make it so we can all have washes and stuff and some maids come down to the tents to help us to prepare.
Once again I sleep in one of my tiny little nightdresses.
The next morning the maids descend to help us into our dresses and whatever.
This is the coronation day for Aragorn and so we have rather more complicated dresses than we had for Frodo and Sam’s honouring ceremony thingy.
My dress is a rich navy-blue satin with a raised waistline with a peasant-style top and puff-sleeves. There is ornate embroidery round the neck, cuffs, hem, and waistline.
There is also a pattern woven into the fabric, highlighted by the gold shot through the fabric. There are also some sapphires and diamonds embedded into the embroidery, adding another layer of richness.
Legolas is actually the one who does my hair, because he knows the elfin hairstyles, though I think he also likes playing with my hair (fine with me).
He is wearing a silver-blue coloured outfit with gold embroidery which somehow matches mine while still being different. I think he looks gorgeous, but then again I am a bit biased.
Miriel is in forest-green shot with silver and also embroidered with silver. The neckline rests gently on the shoulder and is rather elegant, I think. With the royal jewellery and stuff it looks really regal.
We each are accompanied by our fiancé’s or in Ginny’s case, boyfriend, and because of our status, are near the front of the procession that ends up at the gates of Minas Tirith.
In the time after the end of the war, many people have returned to the city, though not all, and there are a large number of people in varying levels of expensive clothing, there being a range from peasant to us princesses.
Much to our amusement Lothiriel, Prince Imrahil’s daughter, is accompanied by King Eomer of Rohan. I am told it is because they are both of a comparable status and single. If only they knew!
The actual ceremony is quite simple.
There is a little problem beforehand that Aragorn solves and that is who has the authority to actually crown him.
The original plan was to give him the crown and for him to crown himself.
I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks that is a tiny bit pretentious, and does not bode well for a coming rule, even if we know that it is not Aragorn’s fault that there is such a silly tradition.
He solves this by handing Frodo the crown which he then passes to Gandalf, who is both a Maia and tall enough to actually place the crown on Aragorn’s head, who will crown Aragorn King of Gondor and Arnor.
Afterwards he bursts into song and at our not too well concealed confused looks, Amrothos whispers to us that the song is the Gondorian national anthem.
Didn’t know that tradition existed round here...
Afterwards we proceed up through the city to the top layer, which takes absolutely forever!
Minas Tirith may be small city by our, otherworld views at least, but it is still a city and the entire climb is upwards.
On the other hand, the view is spectacular once you get there.
The rest of the day is spent partying.
On the Pelennor Fields, there is a feast set out for the commons while all us with spectacular dresses and whatever go into the hall thingy for our own feast.
There is music playing throughout the afternoon and people often descend to the floor to dance.
I am virtually never allowed out of the arms of Legolas, who seems to have this strange idea that the human males provide a danger. I only get to dance with Gandalf (very weird before you ask), Aragorn, the twins (though Elrohir seems a bit preoccupied with the other elfin princess present), the other trusted members of the high command, the Fellowship, and Faramir.
Around sunset I go outside to the keel (the pointy bit at the end of the courtyard) to catch some air and my beloved comes with me.
I then find out something else about the Dawnstar necklace. Legolas is actually the one that notices it.
The effect that happens at dawn also happens at sunset. I hold the pendant up to the light and we watch the sunset in the jewel, it is quite spectacular.
As the sun finishes setting in the sky we return to the hall, carefully skirting round other couples who think they have found a nice, private place to have a romantic moment.
I can’t help noticing Miriel and Elrohir as well as Ginny and Amrothos are among those couples.
I have to stop Legolas from doing something big brotherly to the first pair.
At least we know Legolas loves his sister...
When we get back to the hall, the music has turned in the direction of the soppy and soon Aragorn decides to drop me in it and gets me to sing.
After a little deliberation I choose to sing ‘Memory’ from Cats.
I know this is one of the most over sung songs in the repertoire, but there is a good reason for that, and that reason being that it is an absolutely lovely song!
Much of the rest of the evening then becomes a little awkward, as everyone is complementing me on the song and asking where it came from.
Soon the Gondorians get educated on the Dawnstar legend, which apparently is not a favourite, probably due to the fact that there is no clear ending if you don’t know I have returned.
It is weird the way that the way people look at me changes after that.
They have always looked at me a bit strangely because I am an elf and easily the tallest female in the room, topping the height of more males than would like to admit it, but now there is a change as they realise I am much more ancient than their country even and grew up in another world.
Eventually, when it is late enough, Legolas and I retire. I have become fed up of the constant questions and looks I get from the humans and Legolas will not leave my side.
He is most unimpressed that, now we have rooms in the King’s House (in the guest quarters), we can no longer sleep in the same bed.
He takes his own sweet time kissing me good night to make up for it though and I go to bed on a cloud.
***
The next morning we see Aragorn looking mournful, him already having important royal duties and clearly, he is going to have to hit the ground running.
That day he accepts ambassadors from Rhûn and makes peace with the Haradrim, pardons the Easterlings and frees the slaves of Mordor, then gives them some land of their own.
Over the next few days, Ginny and I have our brains picked by him and his advisors because we mentioned our own provisions for orphans and the disabled in our world for him to use in Gondor.
There is an unprecedented situation with the people of Gondor and we help him set up safeguards to allow all those children to have a life now their parents are dead.
One evening when Aragorn looks particularly tired, after a meeting with his councillors, some of whom have made the mistake of assuming that Aragorn is a country bumpkin, I decide to brighten his day a bit.
“Aragorn?” I ask kindly, he looks up at me tiredly from where he is sprawled in his chair. “Would it please you to know that Arwen and Elrond left Rivendell the day you were crowned and are on their way here now?”
I don’t think I have ever seen his face light up so quickly, it is quite charming.
On May 8th Elladan, Elrohir, and I take off to join our kin, and Eomer and Éowyn leave to go back to Edoras to clean up their own country.
It is strange travelling with only the twins, though as a member of Arwen and Elrond’s family it is my duty.
I am sure that Miriel would have liked to join us though, she will miss Elrohir terribly I am sure. She will if how I felt when Legolas was gone after we got engaged is anything to go by.
Ginny’s POV
Today (1st May) is the day of Aragorn’s coronation.
Last night we camped upon the Pelennor Fields and were jubilantly entertained by the people of Osgiliath, though not so much that it would outshine the coronation celebrations later.
We are all dressed in the most formal of clothes.
My gown is similar in style to those always worn by women in Jane Austen films. The midnight-blue silk is shot with a paler blue and is embroidered with gold thread and seed pearls in graceful, flowing patterns around the neck, sleeves, and waist.
From under the embroidery at the waist flows a layer of filmy, sky-blue gossamer which exactly matches the gossamer under-dress. The sleeves of the under-dress are floor-length bells.
For once, my jewellery does not match my dress. The small pendant and matching earrings are made of silver and are embedded with tiny rubies. They were actually a gift from a certain prince – I wonder why he chose those colours...
Though, of course, they also match my circlet (that’s what I tell everyone anyway).
Amrothos is dressed in the colours of his house with the swan-prowed ship that is his family’s emblem embroidered on the front.
That’s another thing we girls went particularly giddy over – uniforms! Everywhere we looked, all we could see was muscular men in uniforms.
Ellie, Miriel, and I had great fun nudging each other and pointing in the direction of cute guys. This was much to the annoyance (!) of Legolas, Elrohir, and Amrothos. I only shut up when Amrothos sweeps me into his arms in a style reminiscent of the dips used by salsa dancers and gives me the most passionate of kisses.
Due to our status, we girls and our escorts are near the front of the procession as it makes its way up to Minas Tirith for the ceremony.
As we all stand around waiting, Ellie nudges me and points to the crowd opposite whilst whispering delicately,
“Look over at Eomer.”
Following her gaze, I see Eomer standing next to Princess Lothiriel. If I’m not very much mistaken, I notice that he seems to be taking great joy in standing so close to her.
I’m about to whisper teasingly to Amrothos about the possibility of a double wedding, when Aragorn steps up to be crowned.
I’m surprised at the simplicity of the ceremony, Faramir simply hands the crown to Aragorn who takes it with the words,
“Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' 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}.
Originally, he was supposed to have crowned himself. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think this was rather pretentious to say the least.
Aragorn solves this problem by handing Frodo the crown, who in turn hands it to Gandalf who finally places the crown on Aragorn’s head, proclaiming him to be King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor (that is a mouthful, I must say).
Afterwards he bursts into song (Gondorian National Anthem apparently) and then we proceed into the city.
The climb to the top level of Minas Tirith is horrible. It starts off cheerfully enough, but then everyone’s legs start to ache as we climb higher and higher.
It doesn’t help of course that the ceremony took place during the hottest part of the hottest day so far this year. I feel sorry for all the men in their heavy velvet robes or armour.
I’m glad when we finally reach the keel at the top of the city for there is to be a great feast followed by lots of dancing – I shall be able to have my first dance with Amrothos!
People keep getting up and dancing all afternoon. I dance quite a lot with Amrothos though not as much as I’d like as others keep dragging me away from him – I’m sure whether I should be flattered or annoyed at this.
Both Elladan and Aragorn seem to have taken it upon themselves to act as my protector whilst Ada is not here.
Now Elladan I don’t mind so much as he is thousands of years older than me, but I’m technically old enough to be Aragorn’s mother. Actually, there’s no technicality about it, I am old enough to be Aragorn’s mother!
Maybe it’s because he does appear to be older than me, owing to the fact that his Númenorian blood is far more diluted than mine.
It’s probably also got something to do with the fact that they both know what Ada will do to them (King and Elrond’s son or no) if something happened to me whilst I was a guest in Aragorn’s house.
A little before sunset, Amrothos and I manage to get sometime alone out on the Keel; well, we’re not exactly alone as other couples seem to have had the same idea, but we do go as far away from them as possible.
The sun is just beginning to set.
Amrothos puts his arms around me and leans his head on my shoulder as we watch the sky change from blue to pink to red.
“You know, we get some of the most spectacular sunsets in Dol Amroth. My balcony looks out over Cobas Haven in the Bay of Belfalas and I can look out and see the sky ablaze almost every night.”
“Sounds beautiful...” Naturally I forget to mention the fact that I’ve already seen the Dol Amrothian sunsets as that would rather spoil the romance of the occasion.
“You’ll get to see them one day, I promise.”
I look at him out of the corner of my eye, my lips twitching in a smile,
“So I’ll be able to see them from your balcony, then?”
“Ahh, you’re forgetting, my balcony will become our balcony soon...”
Precisely.
The last rays of the sun have just disappeared below the horizon, it’s suddenly very cold. A chilly breeze blows up and I turn round and cuddle up against Amrothos. He wraps his cloak about us both and leans in for a kiss.
When we re-enter the warm, lit hall, we find that Ellie has been badgered into singing ‘Memory’.
The rest of the songs after that are all slow and romantic.
Aragorn and Elladan have finally decided to leave me alone, probably because they’d know what I’d do to them if they interrupted me during this time.
Although this doesn’t stop Aragorn from tailing us as Amrothos escorts me back to my chamber.
“Please stop following me, Aragorn. I believe Amrothos can escort me back himself.” Aragorn is about to stutter out his reply when I cut across him with something I’ve been desperate to say for quite a long time,
“Respect your elders, Aragorn.” (This I say in Quenya to make doubly sure Amrothos does not understand).
Aragorn’s lips twitch at the choice of language, but he bows and leaves us be.
There is no rest for the wicked, as they say, and the next morning sees Aragorn already being snowed under by the duties of kingship.
Ellie and I are also called to meetings several times to discuss our ideas for the disabled soldiers and any children orphaned by the War.
It becomes so frequent that one day I suggest that Ellie and I should be given our own seats on the Council seeing as we’re there practically all the time anyway.
The Councillors all look scandalised at this and all start appealing for the King’s disapproval – apparently they’re not too keen on the idea.
Typical – they don’t say anything when women fight in order to protect them, but put them in a Council chamber during times of peace, and the said women may as well have not bothered moving at all.
***
A week after Aragorn’s coronation, Ellie and the twins leave to meet up with the party of elves travelling from Rivendell.
It’s strange at first, not having Ellie around. Both Legolas and Miriel seem very down-hearted after their respective partners have left.
I don’t like seeing Miriel so listless, so I start thinking of ways to distract her.
Hmmm, 8th May... that means it’s only about six weeks until Midsummer’s Day and Aragorn is now King of Gondor and Arnor. I think we may have a wedding to prepare for...