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.·:*¨༺ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 9 ༻¨*:·.
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THE RETURN OF THE KING

Iladya could feel a weight on her body, but where she couldn't tell. She squeezes her eyes before slowly opening them. The light is too bright for her eyes to take in, causing her to grunt. She feels the weight shift and a familiar face comes into sight. ''I know that face,'' she whispers, ''I believe it belongs to whom who captured my heart moons ago.'' Aragorn softly chuckles and he lays a hand on her cheek. Iladya could see the tears in his eyes. ''I thought I lost you,'' he whispers, his voice trembles. Iladya slowly sits up straight and places her hand over his wrist, the one who is holding her face. Aragorn rests his forehead against hers, feeling a wave of peace engulfing his body. The void within him has disappeared and is never to return. His bringer of peace has returned to him. ''How could I leave you behind? Someone needs to steady the King,'' she smiles, ''besides, what is a King without his Queen?''
     Aragorn chuckles and he pulls away. Iladya sees the concerned gaze in his eyes, causing her to cup his cheeks with both hands. ''The war is over,'' she whispers, ''a new era to start, in peace.'' Her thumbs caress his cheekbones, wiping away fallen tears. Aragorn gazes into her eyes but his eyes wander to her lips. Iladya sees his eyes lit up. His hand still touches her cheek, his thumb caresses her bottom lip. Aragorn slowly closes the distance between them. The tension between them feels familiar, yet Aragorn feels like he was going to kiss her for the first time ever. ''I am yours, Elessar,'' Iladya whispers. Aragorn crashes his lips onto hers as if it was the confirmation he needed. Iladya's hands roam up and entangle with his hair while Aragorn applies pressure behind her neck, pulling her closer than she has ever been before.
     The kiss feels familiar, safe so to say. Aragorn never wants to let her go. Those partings had been a torment but never again. Never would he stray away from her side. "I love you, Iladya," he whispers, gazing in her eyes, "my love for you goes beyond the foundations of Middle-Earth." Iladya allows a tear to roll down her cheek and chuckles. "There hasn't been a day where my love for you goes unnoticed," she whispers, "I think of you every day. I wake up with the thought of you and I go to sleep, dreaming of you." Iladya sees the tears in the corners of his eyes, but these tears are tears of happiness. They both chuckle before Iladya presses her lips on his once again.

Legolas walks in, hoping his sister would be awake. He had shared his concern with his Dwarfish friend. ''I might not be an elf, but there is something wrong with yeh,'' Gimli said. Legolas looked at him and sighed. "Iladya hasn't returned from battle," he said. Gimli sat up straight as he suddenly noticed. He too got attached to the Elf and felt shocked. "What do you fear?" he asked. Legolas looked aside, "she has been taken by the enemy but she is not dead. I feel it." "She is a strong elf," Gimli replied, "strong spirit. We mustn't linger in the dark but look forward.''
     Legolas sees what he has walked into and smiles. He leans against the doorway, waiting for them to be finished. As they finally pull apart, it was his sister who noticed him. He can see the blush forming on her face. It was until then that Aragorn too noticed. He stood up and he opened his mouth but Legolas held up his hand. He walks towards his sister and embraces her in a firm hug. "Next time," he breathes, "next time, you are not going anywhere but my or his side." Legolas pulls away and a tear runs down his cheek. He sniffs and violently wipes it away. "It is okay to cry," she whispers, "I wept in that tower of Cirith Ungol. It wasn't only pain but also concern. You all feared for me and I feared for you. I sent Gandalf and Pippin away. I chose to go to Minas Tirith, thinking it would be for the best if Aragorn and I were separated." Aragorn smiles and reaches for her hand, entangling their fingers. "As I said," Legolas sniffs, "you and he are never separating again." The three start giggling and chuckling while some tears form in their eyes. All three gaze at the door when another voice joins the conversation.
     "Bless you, laddie!"

Frodo is lying back with his eyes closed but he is in a bed. Birds are singing. Frodo wakes up and sits up in bed. He looks and sees Gandalf sitting at the bottom of his bed. "Gandalf?" Frodo asks. Gandalf smiles at him, his eyes twinkle and he begins to laugh. Frodo laughs with Gandalf. Merry and Pippin come to the door they are pleased to see him. "Frodo!" They run towards him and leap on the bed. Gandalf laughs at them. They are laughing and hugging each other, pleased to meet up again.
     Gimli comes through the door and spreads his arms. "Aaaahh!" Gimli laughs. "Gimli!" Frodo gasps. Gimli claps his hands and strides towards him. Legolas comes to the door he smiles at Frodo and Frodo smiles back. Iladya and Aragorn follow and they bow. "Iladya. Aragorn," Frodo smiles. Aragorn smiles at him. They all stand by the bed and Gimli wipes away a stray tear.
     Finally Sam appears at the door, he looks warily at Frodo. Frodo sees him and smiles, Sam smiles back.

The day has finally come. The courtyard of Minas Tirith is filled with its people. To this day, the King has returned to Gondor. Aragorn stands on the steps to the Hall. Gandalf lifts the crown and then places it on Aragorn's head. "Now come the days of the King!'' Gandalf announces and whispers, ''may they be blessed.'' Gandalf steps away and Aragorn walks up the steps and turns towards the people. They all clap and cheer. "This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world, that we may share in the days of peace," Aragorn speaks. The people start cheering and clapping once again.
     Aragorn walks down the steps, where Iladya is waiting for him. He smiles as he holds up his arm. Iladya hooks her arm into his as they start walking down towards the people. Faramir and Eowyn bow low to him. Eomer, who is now King of Rohan, also bows low to him. The two return the gesture of bowing. The Elves approach him and Aragorn places a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Hannon le," he speaks. Legolas smiles and bows again.
     The Hobbits bow low as Aragorn and Iladya approach them. "My friends," Aragorn breathes. They look at him with confusion on their faces. "You bow to no-one." He kneels down in front of them and everyone kneels with him. They look around, feeling embarrassed.

Aragorn and Iladya face each other, holding hands. The people are holding their breath as they feel something is going to happen. "Adoness," he breathes, "the name I gifted you as a sign of my affection toward you. I could never forget that moment we met, upon that bridge. I thought I had strayed into a dream. Since then, my love for you bloomed. We have had our time apart, after travelling together for two years, those eight years had been the hardest of my life. In those eight years, I have come to realise, I never want to be apart from you.'' Iladya smiles humbly as she feels new tears in the corner of her eyes. The people around them are watching intensely. ''That is why,'' he breathes, going to one knee and he pulls out a ring, ''I want you to be my Queen of Gondor. You made me the luckiest man on earth. Adoness, will you marry me?'' Iladya's eyes widened when he went down to one knee. The people are still holding their breath, keenly waiting for her answer. Iladya gently caresses his cheek and smiles.
     ''Yes, I do.''