2. Arraying of light
Author's Note: I'm not certain as of yet, but there might be an prologue to go with this story.
Sam sat quietly upon a small wooden bench before a tall white trellis covered in many hues of violet flowers, softly accented with dainty blossoms colored of soft yellow and white. There under the fragrant array of foliage stood Fastred with his hands clasped behind his back looking to the garden where a path of rose petals began winding its way through the large gathering of family and friends that looked on with tears of joy and smiles of happiness. A soft hymn then rose above the crowd as Sam's daughter Goldilocks came forward singing an elvish melody that her father had taught her; one that he had heard Frodo sing when they last stayed in Rivendell. It was a song that spoke of love and friendship, everlasting and unconditional, no matter what may come to be. He thought it very fitting for this occasion as did his dear Rose who grasped Sam's hand tightly as Goldilocks came to their side smiling as she extended her hand to them while she took her place at her mother's side. It was then that all eyes turned to the garden gate where a pale light seemed to glow as the sun shone brightly upon Elanor's face while she walked slowly down the petal strewn pathway. A band of silver rested upon her golden curls, shimmering with the light of many iridescent crystals that were embedded within the metal. A gown of silken white flowed around her adorned with lavender glass beads that seemed to shine like precious gems in the light of the slowly falling sun. A bouquet of yellow lilies rested between her trembling hands, as the ivy that intertwined between them began to fall to the ground as she finally came before Fastred with a nervous smile upon her moistened lips. Fastred reached his hand out to hers and she grasped his fingers tightly while still holding onto her fragrant flowers. Sam then took in a deep breath and he brought Rose's hand to his lips kissing it gently as he stood to his feet. He made his way forward standing before Elanor and Fastred as they turned to him bowing their heads gently.
"Many years have passed and through those years your love has grown." Sam replied as Fastred and Elanor raised their eyes to his. "And now the day has come when you have chosen to live your life together, two hearts beating from this time forward as one. It is my honor as your father and the Mayor of Hobbiton to join you, Elanor Gamgee and Fastred Fairbairn in marriage on this day, before a congregation of your family and friends." Sam said with a joyous smile. He then brought his hand to his vest coat and reached within quickly taking what lay inside out, placing it into Fastred's hand. Sam then took a few steps away as Fastred fell to his knee before Elanor as tears fell along her blushed cheeks.
"From this day forward I give all I have and all that I am to you, my fair Elanor." Fastred whispered softly. He then opened his hand revealing a shimmering ring of silver resting on his palm. "My love for you is never-ending just as this band of mithril from an age long gone. It once lay within the hoard of a dragon but it has now come to me, passed on from one hand to another as it at last comes to rest upon your own." Fastred then placed the ring upon the third finger of Elanor's left hand kissing her finger lightly as he stood to his feet. Elanor's face glowed brightly and she turned back to her father standing quietly at her side.
"And so it shall be." Sam replied coming forward once more. "From this day on you will be joined as one." A loud cheer then rose above the crowd as Elanor and Fastred sealed the union with a tender kiss before turning to their friends and family as Elanor and Fastred Fairbairn of Greenholm.
"Many years have passed and through those years your love has grown." Sam replied as Fastred and Elanor raised their eyes to his. "And now the day has come when you have chosen to live your life together, two hearts beating from this time forward as one. It is my honor as your father and the Mayor of Hobbiton to join you, Elanor Gamgee and Fastred Fairbairn in marriage on this day, before a congregation of your family and friends." Sam said with a joyous smile. He then brought his hand to his vest coat and reached within quickly taking what lay inside out, placing it into Fastred's hand. Sam then took a few steps away as Fastred fell to his knee before Elanor as tears fell along her blushed cheeks.
"From this day forward I give all I have and all that I am to you, my fair Elanor." Fastred whispered softly. He then opened his hand revealing a shimmering ring of silver resting on his palm. "My love for you is never-ending just as this band of mithril from an age long gone. It once lay within the hoard of a dragon but it has now come to me, passed on from one hand to another as it at last comes to rest upon your own." Fastred then placed the ring upon the third finger of Elanor's left hand kissing her finger lightly as he stood to his feet. Elanor's face glowed brightly and she turned back to her father standing quietly at her side.
"And so it shall be." Sam replied coming forward once more. "From this day on you will be joined as one." A loud cheer then rose above the crowd as Elanor and Fastred sealed the union with a tender kiss before turning to their friends and family as Elanor and Fastred Fairbairn of Greenholm.
----
As the sun began to fall below the distant horizon the joyous sound of laughter rose above the chirp of the crickets deep within the grasses of Greenholm. Light music still filled the air as the celebration of Elanor and Fastred's marriage drew into the late hours of evening. Many meals were had and many barrels of ale still rested full along the garden path waiting to be tapped. Far in the field near a small birch tree there laid a stone bench and there was Sam with Rose nestled in his arms as he held her close to his side. Bright smiles were held upon their faces as they watched their daughter Ellie dancing slowly with Fastred as the sky filled with soft shades of violets and hues of muted oranges and yellows as the moon finally drew up into the evening sky. As the hours passed lanterns were lit shadowing the remaining few that stayed to wish the newly wedded couple blessed years to come before leaving for the warmth their smials that were eagerly awaited with the coming of the cool night air. A deep silence then filled the night as all the guests departed leaving only Sam and Elanor together near the garden as Rose and Fastred stood under the moonlight far within the pasture where the party finally came to its end.
"Mother has grown quite fond of Fastred." Elanor replied looking out of the field as the sound of her mother's laughter filled her ears.
"That she has." Sam whispered softly. "His bright smile seems to remind her and I of someone we once knew so many years ago."
"Frodo, father?" Elanor said looking over to Sam as he leaned forward resting his folded arms on top of the closed garden gate.
"Aye my lass." Sam replied. "They seem so much alike in certain ways, yet they are so different too…" Sam then grew silent as a deep sigh passed over his lips. Some time then seemed to pass before another word was spoken.
"I wish he could have been here to see this." Elanor said quietly looking high into the starlit night. "Do you suppose he is still out there somewhere father?"
"He is… somewhere across the vast sea." Sam whispered. "And yet again he may be closer than you think."
"Come again?" Elanor replied looking to her father as he stood up straight reaching into his vest pocket. Slowly he placed his fingers inside drawing out a small satin pouch tied up with a fine silken cord. For a moment Sam held the pouch as a tender smile fell over his lips as a memory for a day long past came to him once again. He then looked to Elanor as her eyes grew wide, eager to know what lay within her father's hand. Sam gently untied the silken bag, turning it over in his hand before closing his fingers tightly over what rested on his palm. Sam's eyes began to tear as he came to Elanor holding out his hand before her as he slowly opened his fingers.
"He wanted you to have this Ellie." Sam whispered as Elanor reached out to his outstretched hand. "It was bestowed upon him by the King of Gondor on the Field of Cormallen when it was placed upon his own hand by Gandalf so many years ago."
"A ring of mithril." Elanor said softly touching the shining band with her dainty fingers. "It is as thin as a spiders thread and the gem upon it shines like a star."
"That it does." Sam replied as Elanor took the ring up into her hand as it caught the shimmering light of the moon on its surface. Elanor's eyes filled with tears as she took her gaze to her father still smiling brightly within the starlit night.
"I do not know what to say father." Elanor whispered quietly.
"Say nothing." Sam replied softly. "Just keep it with you always." He said as he folded Elanor's fingers over the ring.
"And I shall." Elanor said opening her hand, placing the ring upon the third finger of her left hand over the band of silver given to her by her husband. "Here he will be with Fastred and I, watching over us from a distant land." At that moment the land seemed to come to a standstill as a deep silence fell over the hills and valleys before a soft wind swept along the dew kissed grasses gently caressing Elanor's blushed cheeks. She smiled brightly as she looked far into the western sky. There she stood in silence until a soft touch fell upon her shoulder. Elanor turned away and there stood Fastred and her mother Rose. Sam took his beloved into his arms and together they walked down the garden path standing under the light of the evening moon. Fastred smiled joyfully and brought Elanor close to his side leaving a tender kiss upon her brow as she rested her head upon his shoulders as his hair fell around her face. She then lifted her hand to her left shoulder resting her fingers upon Fastred's hand while they watched her mother and father standing before them as the ring on her dainty finger caught the light of the stars within its gleaming crystal as they shone brightly up above.
"Mother has grown quite fond of Fastred." Elanor replied looking out of the field as the sound of her mother's laughter filled her ears.
"That she has." Sam whispered softly. "His bright smile seems to remind her and I of someone we once knew so many years ago."
"Frodo, father?" Elanor said looking over to Sam as he leaned forward resting his folded arms on top of the closed garden gate.
"Aye my lass." Sam replied. "They seem so much alike in certain ways, yet they are so different too…" Sam then grew silent as a deep sigh passed over his lips. Some time then seemed to pass before another word was spoken.
"I wish he could have been here to see this." Elanor said quietly looking high into the starlit night. "Do you suppose he is still out there somewhere father?"
"He is… somewhere across the vast sea." Sam whispered. "And yet again he may be closer than you think."
"Come again?" Elanor replied looking to her father as he stood up straight reaching into his vest pocket. Slowly he placed his fingers inside drawing out a small satin pouch tied up with a fine silken cord. For a moment Sam held the pouch as a tender smile fell over his lips as a memory for a day long past came to him once again. He then looked to Elanor as her eyes grew wide, eager to know what lay within her father's hand. Sam gently untied the silken bag, turning it over in his hand before closing his fingers tightly over what rested on his palm. Sam's eyes began to tear as he came to Elanor holding out his hand before her as he slowly opened his fingers.
"He wanted you to have this Ellie." Sam whispered as Elanor reached out to his outstretched hand. "It was bestowed upon him by the King of Gondor on the Field of Cormallen when it was placed upon his own hand by Gandalf so many years ago."
"A ring of mithril." Elanor said softly touching the shining band with her dainty fingers. "It is as thin as a spiders thread and the gem upon it shines like a star."
"That it does." Sam replied as Elanor took the ring up into her hand as it caught the shimmering light of the moon on its surface. Elanor's eyes filled with tears as she took her gaze to her father still smiling brightly within the starlit night.
"I do not know what to say father." Elanor whispered quietly.
"Say nothing." Sam replied softly. "Just keep it with you always." He said as he folded Elanor's fingers over the ring.
"And I shall." Elanor said opening her hand, placing the ring upon the third finger of her left hand over the band of silver given to her by her husband. "Here he will be with Fastred and I, watching over us from a distant land." At that moment the land seemed to come to a standstill as a deep silence fell over the hills and valleys before a soft wind swept along the dew kissed grasses gently caressing Elanor's blushed cheeks. She smiled brightly as she looked far into the western sky. There she stood in silence until a soft touch fell upon her shoulder. Elanor turned away and there stood Fastred and her mother Rose. Sam took his beloved into his arms and together they walked down the garden path standing under the light of the evening moon. Fastred smiled joyfully and brought Elanor close to his side leaving a tender kiss upon her brow as she rested her head upon his shoulders as his hair fell around her face. She then lifted her hand to her left shoulder resting her fingers upon Fastred's hand while they watched her mother and father standing before them as the ring on her dainty finger caught the light of the stars within its gleaming crystal as they shone brightly up above.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
