Resilience (LoTR story, ch 13 posted, 7-14-21)
An unexpected event and a chance encounter bring Lothiriel of Dol Amroth and the King of Rohan together. Now, neither of their lives will ever be the same as they were. [Complete in 24 chapters]
Chapter 13
Lothiriel had felt inactive and unhelpful all these many days, but now her days were crammed full. Gardening occupied her morning, then sewing all afternoon and dancing lessons in the evening. At least she felt justifiably tired, when she tumbled into her bed at day’s end. She had never realized that tiredness could be a good feeling, carrying with it a sense of accomplishment. She had been tired before, but that resulted more from boredom and too much idleness. Productive activities were a far more enjoyable and interesting way to spend her days.
The dress was finished the next afternoon, and Lothiriel had joined Seftehad and a couple of her friends in making the other preparations – deciding what else she would wear, how her hair would look and preparing for the meal to be served to their guests. It was only to be a small gathering, though anyone in town who wished was invited to witness the couple speaking their vows. Eomer had given permission for them to partition a corner of the hall for their wedding meal.
The only other wedding plans Lothiriel had ever been directly involved in were when her older brother married his wife. She had not yet reached twenty years of age, and was pleased to be included. Usually it was just the bride’s family and friends who attended her, and with no sisters or female cousins, Lothiriel was inexperienced with the practice.
Though that had been her one and only chance to assist a bride, it was of no help to her now. Gondor’s traditions were not the same as those in the Riddermark, not to mention the differences between noble marriages and the wedding of common folk. But the giggling girls gathered for the preparations were a cheery bunch, and Lothiriel was delighted to be invited to participate, as well as being treated as one of them.
xxxxx (Jun 23)
The morning of the actual wedding dawned bright and sunny. Even the wind had died down, as though holding its breath in anticipation. Both Ceorl and Seftehad had been released from their duties through the end of June, that they might have the chance to settle into their home and begin to build their married life. With Ceorl leaving just a few days later, to be gone a month on the journey to Minas Tirith, they were particularly grateful for this respite.
Ceorl had purchased a small house on a backstreet midway up the hill, and along with friends he had put the last touches on it the night before the marriage was to occur. After they finished, all the men ate supper together and drank toasts well into the evening as the married men teased Ceorl about the changes to come in his life once he had a bride.
Eowyn’s gift to the couple was to be the wedding meal itself and the Meduseld kitchens were full of activity. Lothiriel was overseeing getting the tables and benches set up and arranged to her satisfaction, and then she collected the plants from the garden that she would use as the basis of the wedding wreath. This tradition was not one that they knew in Gondor. As it had been explained to her, a plain wreath shape was the foundation, and then guests added various plants that symbolized well wishes to the couple: health, happiness, fertility, protection and so forth.
There was not a great abundance of flowers in the Meduseld garden just yet, but Eomer had told her to take whatever she wanted since she was responsible for the garden blooming at all. Ivy was easy, and simple to work into the desired position. That formed her base, but she also added roses as a symbol of the couple’s love for one another. She would have to wait until the meal to see what others brought.
Weddings could take place almost anywhere, but with the King’s permission, they chose the steps of Meduseld so that everyone would be able to see the brief ceremony. Even for those who barely knew the two that were marrying, it was a cause to celebrate – renewal, rebirth, rebuilding. All events they particularly wanted to see happen now.
The only weddings Lothiriel had ever witnessed were among the nobility of Gondor, and therefore far more elaborate. Not that the ceremony itself was appreciably longer, but that the nobles liked to take the opportunity to display their wealth and importance in their clothing, the decorations and the other related activities.
It had sometimes felt to Lothiriel more as though they were putting on a show for others than they were celebrating a special event in their own lives. While she understood that many of their marriages were planned alliances, based on the benefit each brought to the union, she had never understood why they did not at least try to make it personal and special as much as they could.
Shortly before the noon hour, everyone was gathered and the principal people involved took their places. Ceorl and Seftehad faced one another, one step down from Eothain standing on Meduseld’s terrace.
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