Spring 66 Fourth Age., Celebrian

Every step I took echoed as I walked through one of Helm's Deep's many corridors. I did not turn around, for I knew there were about ten soldiers near me.

The heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor opened. My name was announced. I stepped inside. Dressed all in white, as when I arrived yesterday. A white veil lay over my hair, which had been braided into a single, simple braid and pinned up. As if in a trance, I strode forward through the long aisle of the hall. The nobles and other courtiers present all sank to their knees as if at a silent command as I passed them. Reverent murmurs could be heard from here and there, but I hardly noticed. Even though, to my relief, I had no great task in the upcoming ceremony, I was well aware of all the prying eyes. It was almost as if I could hear my father's voice: "As heir to the throne and as ruler, you will be the centre of attention and no one else. Always be aware of that."

As I reached the end of the hall and the small podium, the crowd rose again. Instead of thinking long and hard, I spoke freely:

"Today is an important day for Rohan, our beloved homeland. Today ends the age under our blessed king, as well as begins a new one under our rule."

I was silent for a moment and folded my hands to hide my burgeoning excitement and sat down on the throne. Today was an important day for me too. My future husband's entourage had arrived today, which also declared this day as my wedding day.

Actually, I should be happy that my parents had made the engagement with Théodred years ago, but I cannot. What if he's not good looking? Or what if we can't stand each other? 

I resolutely pushed this thought aside and watched intently as an entourage of about two dozen men entered the hall. Among them I made out a tall, broad-shouldered young man who was the only one wearing a sword at his belt. That must be him!  Since this was my reception hall, I didn't even bother to look at him inconspicuously and eyed him with a blank expression. 

"Your Highness Queen Celebrian." The young man bowed deeply to me, his blond hair falling in his face as he did so. "It is an unspeakable honour to meet you, Ruler of Rohan in person!"

Everyone present seemed to hold their breath. I rose from my throne very slowly and walked down the two steps, stopping just an arm's length in front of him, Théodred. There was a rustling here and there as the assembled crowd sank to their knees again.

I held out my right hand to him, he took it without hesitation, but with a certain caution as he knelt before me just like everyone else in the hall. "My lord, I trust you had a pleasant journey?" 

"Your Majesty, I assure you, the thought of being able to see you face to face always comforted me over minor inconveniences of our journey."

I had not expected such a torrent of words, so I merely said, "Rise." 

It seemed to me that Théodred did not know what to do with this request for a moment, after all, he was still holding my hand. Carefully he rose from the floor and when his head reached about the height of my midriff, he unexpectedly pressed a fleeting kiss to my hand before letting it go and rising to his full height. He towered over me by about a head. Now I caught a glimpse of his dark brown eyes, which looked at me unflinchingly. A little nervously, I withdrew my hand and, together with my fiancé, stepped in front of the priest who was about to marry us.

At the beginning of the ceremony was the renewed engagement. Both Théodred and I had to deny being bound to anyone else by a promise of marriage and swear to renounce all others. The priest recited an ancient blessing from Rohirrim mythology, as was customary, then it was time for the vows.

The bishop asked Théodred in Westron: "Théodred, will you take Celebrian as your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour her and protect her, give up all others for her, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

I saw out of the corner of my eye that he gave me a look before he replied, "Yes, I will."

The older man turned to me, "Celebrian, will you take Théodred to be your husband? Will you love him, honour him, be faithful to him, and forsake all others for him, obey him as long as you both shall live?"

I know not what feelings a bride should have at this moment, love for her husband? Perhaps a certain awe at the thought of how many women had made that promise before one? Even though I was ashamed of this petty thought, the priest's question resonated uncomfortably with me. Why did I have to swear to obey my husband when I was the queen, the heir to the throne?

My voice did not betray this thought at all, however, as I answered clearly, "Yes, I do."

Théodred then grasped my hand, looked me in the eye and made his vows in the language of the Rohirrim:

"I, Théodred, take you, Celebrian, to be my wife and queen, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part; following the Sacred Commandments of the Valar. In the presence of Eru, I make this vow."

Something about the way he looked at me took my breath away. He meant what he said, there was absolutely no doubt. Carefully he slipped a fine silver ring on me, which had no visible decoration, apart from a white stone.

I took a moment to study the ring before gathering my courage and saying my own vow:

"I, Celebrian, take you, Théodred, to be my husband and king, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you, to honour you, to obey you until death do us part. Following the Sacred Commandments of the Valar. In the presence of Eru, I make this vow."

When I had slipped the ring on him, the priest wrapped a white cloth around our hands and said a final blessing in the language of the Rohirrim. The ceremony was over. We turned hand in hand and gave the assembled courtiers a smile, as protocol demanded.

The crowd cheered as we slowly moved out towards the banquet hall, my mother nodding to us as we passed. The first part of my duty is done, next comes my coronation.