I'm back!!!

Thank you so much, everyone, for your prayers and your support!  I'm pleased to announce that my mother is much better now, and while she's a long way from having regained her former physical strength, she is once more lucid.  And since we're finally caught up with our chapters, here is the next one!

KG

Summary: In the spring of 2012, four American children find themselves thrust into an unfamiliar world and part of an unexpected adventure.  This story is AU, and blends Lord of the Rings book-verse and movie-verse.  This story also contains a lot of spiritual and religious content as a part of the AU elements.

Disclaimer: The world of Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien; the three films of The Lord of the Rings​ belongs to New Line Cinema and to Peter Jackson.  This story is not for profit, but is a gift for the enjoyment of those who read it.

Citations: In most chapters, there will be some quotations directly from both the books and/or the movies.  Quotations from Tolkien's books are in italics, and quotations from the movies are underlined.  Occasional quotations from other sources as well as silent dialogue, words spoken in emphasis, and passages from the Bible will also be in italics, and those citations will be footnoted at the end of each chapter in which they occur. We will also footnote research sources and credit the ideas of other people.

Thanks: We would also like to acknowledge the invaluable help of our beta, Linda Hoyland, another well-known and prolific LotR fanwriter, whose many wonderful stories also grace this site.

Author's Note for this chapter.  This chapter relies heavily on Dreamflower's story "And All Things Were Now Made Ready" for some of its content.  So, to those who notice a lot of familiar content, just remember that Dreamflower is DF.  KGandDF.

Chapter 91: I Just Can't Wait to Be King, Part 1

"Psst...Pippin!" Kevin hissed.  "Pip, wake up!”

Kevin watched as Pippin’s eyes flew open, and his hand instantly felt for the sword at his side.  It was still dark.

“Sorry to wake you," Kevin said, "but it is time…”

Pippin relaxed.  "Thank you, Kevin!"  Beside him, Merry, Frodo, and Sam began to stir.  Pippin rose to his knees.

Kevin jumped out of the driver's seat, where he'd had his last watch, and reached up to help the hobbit over the side of the waggon.  Then he helped Merry and Frodo down, and he and Pippin began to help Sam, as they folded up the blankets that had made up the hobbits’ little nest in the waggon. Joey had spent the night in Boromir's tent, and Jennifer had stayed in a tent with some of the few women who were still with the army.

Merry and Frodo were now pouring water into the pail that would serve as a wash basin.  Pippin made his garments—for they were still sleeping in their clothes—as presentable as possible. Once the blankets were dealt with, Kevin, Pippin, and Sam went to wash their faces.  Kevin was just drying his face off when he heard Pippin saying, “Why don’t Sam and I go fetch breakfast?  I’m hungry, and if we don’t hurry, they’ll be taking the mess tent down before we can eat!”

Merry said, “That’s a good idea!  We can eat first, and then go to get into our finery.”

Kevin watched as they walked away.  He could hear Sam asking, “D’you suppose it will be porridge again, Mr. Pippin?” as they walked away...

-oo000oo-

“Do you need any help with the horses, Kevin?” Merry asked.  

"Thanks, Merry," he answered.  So Merry hauled some water for them, while Kevin saw to their feeding.  “We don't need to hitch them this morning.”  He grinned.  “I'll be riding, with the Rohirrim.”  He gave a fond pat to Bron's flank.  “And Haleth will be riding Tom.  The waggon'll be left here to be dealt with later.” 

Merry laughed.  "Do you think he'll ever answer to his original name again?  But we couldn't keep calling him ‘Horse'."  Sam had decided to call the horse after his good friend Tom Cotton, back in the Shire.

"I don't know.  I believe his rider was lost in the battle, so he might as well have a new name."  Changing the subject, Kevin looked around.  "You'd hardly know there was a battle here a few weeks back."  The land around them bore little resemblance to the aftermath of the siege and the carnage that had resulted.

Merry nodded, but his face went grim, and he gave a little shudder, and took a deep breath.  Kevin felt guilty for bringing up the battle.  Those were rough memories for both of them.

But before he could say anything, Frodo put his hand on his cousin's arm.  “Merry?”  The tone was concerned.

Merry suddenly grinned.  “I’m well, Frodo!  This is going to be a great day!”

"Yeah!  It sure is!" Kevin agreed.  This was a day to celebrate, not to worry over the thoughts of a battle that was over and done with!

-oo000oo-

"Hey!" Joey yelled.  "Pippin!  Sam!  Wait up!"  Joey was heading for the mess tent himself.  He huffed a little as he saw them stop and look in his direction.  "Are you getting breakfast?"

"Yes, Master Joey," Sam said.  Joey rolled his eyes, but said nothing.  At least once in a while, Sam forgot to say "master" to him.  He never forgot with the other hobbits!

"I'm getting some for Lord Boromir and me," he said.

The three of them walked together amiably the rest of the way. 

Joey followed Sam and Pippin as they greeted the cook.  He was standing over the cooking fire that had been kindled in front of the mess tent, sweat beading down his cheerful red face.

“Good morning, Ingold!” Pippin greeted him with a grin.

“Good morning to you, as well, Sir Pippin, and to you, Lord Samwise and young Joey!” the cook replied.

Joey saw Sam blush, and he and Pippin exchanged a grin, and Pippin winked at Joey.  It was fun to watch Sam squirm anytime someone called him a "Lord".

One of the cook’s assistants came over, bringing a small tray with five bowls of steaming porridge, and a covered pot with a spout and a handle, from which came the enticing aroma of the coffee.  Coffee was a very rare treat in Middle-earth, so far as Joey knew, but when the army had left Cormallen, someone had provisioned it with a goodly supply of coffee—it was far easier to come by than tea, at this point.  Joey suspected Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth had made that little luxury available—he had managed somehow to provide quite a few delicacies and exotic foods to the army that they would not otherwise have!  But Joey wasn't much of a coffee fan.  He'd have to settle for water again this morning.

But Joey stopped worrying about coffee.  Ingold was now bringing the tray for him to take back for Boromir and himself.

Just as they were all getting ready to go back, Ingold said, “Wait just a moment!  I have something else!”

He darted into the mess tent, and then came out with a small, covered dish.  “A merchant of Lebennin sent some to our soon-to-be King yesterday.  The Lord Elfstone sent it here, with strict instructions to give it to you hobbits for your breakfast this morn!”

Ingold handed the dish to Sam, who lifted the lid and grinned.  Honey in the comb!  Now who’d have thought it?

Ingold turned to Joey apologetically.  "It is only for the hobbits," he said.  "The King insisted."

Joey was slightly disappointed, but he just said, "That's okay, I understand."  And he did.  If anyone deserved a treat better than Frodo and his friends, he didn’t know who.  And if that was all the merchant had sent, Joey knew Aragorn would give it to the hobbits.  Obviously, it wouldn't feed the whole army, and Aragorn would never keep it just for himself.  Joey was also handed a tray.  It had only one mug, with a cover, and two bowls of porridge. 

Carrying his tray carefully, Joey said goodbye to Sam and Pippin, and headed towards the part of the camp where the captains and the King were all staying.

-oo000oo-

"Jennifer!" a voice hissed in Jennifer's ear.  She'd been having a lovely dream in which she was showing her friend from back home, Nicole, around Minas Tirith, and Nicole seemed to know just as much about the city as Jennifer did.  It was very odd.  "Jennifer!" the voice hissed again.  She suddenly realized it was Lalaith.  She sat up.

"Is it time to wake up now?  It's morning already?" she asked.

Lalaith laughed.  "It is not quite daybreak yet, but the Sun will be showing her face anytime now.  It is Coronation Day!  Wake up, sleepyhead!"

Jennifer grinned and sat right up.  Around them, a few other women were stirring.  The few who were still there among the Army of the West had been given their own tent—previously it had been the tent shared by the women healers, but they were all in Minas Tirith now, having returned to the Houses of Healing.  Only a handful had stayed with the army, including the few women cooks and other helpers.  Only Jennifer and Lalaith among the healers had delayed returning to the Houses of Healing—Jennifer, because she didn't want to be separated from her brothers, and Lalaith, because she wanted to stay near Anborn.  It looked as though their courtship would be serious.

"Are you going to open it?" Lalaith said eagerly.  A package had been delivered to Jennifer the previous evening, when the camp was being set up, and with it a letter from the Lady Eowyn. 

Jennifer picked up the letter and read it again, aloud:

"‘To my friend Jennifer, from Éowyn of Rohan,

“Lord Faramir spoke to me, reminding me that you were returning with the Army of the West, and that you would be attending the Coronation.  We realized that you would not have any finery with you at a battle.  I was gifted several gowns here in Minas Tirith when I was recovering from my injuries, and among them was one that was too short for me.  It came to me that it appeared to be about your size.  I hope that you will find it useful.

“Éowyn, Éomund's daughter’"

It had been late when the package arrived, and Jennifer had decided to wait to open it, so that it wouldn't get dirty overnight.  The floor of the tent was, after all, bare dirt, and if the gown fit her, it wouldn’t do to get it dirty before the Coronation.

The two girls slipped outside the tent.  They'd slept in their clothes the night before.  The Sun was just coming up, and there was enough light to see by now.  They made their way over to the mess tent.  Cooking was going on, but there was a table there that no one was yet using.  The two girls untied the cord and unrolled the linen bag.

The dress within was also linen, and it was a pale robin's-egg blue.  Lalaith held it up to Jennifer's shoulders.  The scooped neckline had delicate embroidery, and the wide sleeves had the same around the edges.  The skirt of the dress fell to just below Jennifer's ankles.  She slipped it on over the undergown she wore to sleep in.  It looked as though the length was just right.  Jennifer was glad it had no train to trail in the dirt.  The upper part of the dress was perhaps a little too large, but there was a long tie belt of dark blue, which was embroidered with the same design as the dress.

"If you wrap the belt twice..."  Lalaith picked up the belt and demonstrated.  "...like this..."  Her voice trailed off as she placed the centre of the belt just under Jennifer's bust, wrapped it to the back and, crisscrossing it, brought the ends back around to Jennifer's waist in the front.  Looping one end over the other, Lalaith let it hang from the centre.  When she had finished, the ends of the belt hung almost to where the hem was, and Jennifer could tell that it would draw the dress in just right.

"Oh."  Jennifer grinned.  "I've seen some of the ladies in the City wearing belts fastened that way!"

She looked down at her feet and frowned.  "My shoes aren't very presentable with a dress like this."  She had on a pair of brown ankle boots that had seen more than their share of wear and dirt while in the camps in Cormallen and Osgiliath.  "But my only other shoes would look worse."  She referred to the hiking boots that had come with her from home.

Lalaith tut-tutted.  "Why don't we go clean you up, and I will see what I can do to clean up your shoes?  No one will notice them—all eyes will be on the new King, after all!"

Jennifer shrugged.  "I suppose you're right."  They took the dress and carefully folded it and the belt and carefully placed them back into the bag.  "Let's get some breakfast while we're here.  I smell porridge."  Jennifer threw on the brown work dress she had been wearing, as Lalaith also got dressed.  Then they went to find breakfast.

Lalaith and Jennifer went over to where Master Ingold was tending the fire.  He looked up at them.  "Good day, Mistress Lalaith and Lady Jennifer."  He looked at Jennifer.  "You just missed your young brother.  Master Joey was here just a few minutes ago to fetch some breakfast for himself and Lord Boromir!"

Jennifer smiled.  "Well, I should be seeing him soon, then.  I am to report to Lord Boromir this morning, to find out where I will be during the ceremony."

The girls sat back down at the same table with their porridge to eat their breakfast.  They ate quickly, and then they went to fetch some water for washing up in and returned to the tent.  Most of the other women had now left themselves to find their own breakfasts.  While Jennifer cleaned up and put on her new dress, Lalaith took a rag and tackled Jennifer's boots.  While they still didn't look the way Jennifer would have liked, they were a lot more presentable when her friend got through with them.

When she finished dressing and stood there in the dress, belt, and her newly cleaned boots, Lalaith looked her over.  "You need one more thing, Jennifer!  Give me your comb."

Jennifer sat back down on her cot, and Lalaith used the comb in order to comb Jennifer's hair and dress it into two pretty braids, which she then skilfully coiled and fastened at each side of Jennifer's face.  There was no mirror, but Jennifer carefully placed her hands up gently, to feel them.  "I look like Princess Leia!" she exclaimed.  "Joey will like that!"

"I know not of Princess Leia," Lalaith said, "but fine ladies in Lebennin often wear their hair so."

Jennifer stood up and hugged her friend.  "Thank you, Lalaith!  I hope I'll see you in the city later on.  I'd love for you to meet the rest of my family."

"I am sure that we will see each other again, if only at the Houses of Healing," said Lalaith, "but you must hurry if you mean to catch Lord Boromir and your brother!"

Jennifer's eyes grew wide.  "Yipes!  I'd better get a move on!"  She gave her friend one last squeeze and raced out of the tent.

-oo000oo-

As Merry and Kevin finished taking care of the horses, they turned, and Kevin noticed the pensive look on Frodo's face.  He glanced down at Merry, who had also noticed, and was shaking his head.

"My cousin is thinking too much for his own good," Merry said ruefully.  "He's always been prone to do that."

Kevin blinked and arched an eyebrow.  "Thinking too much?"

Merry shrugged.  "Yes.  Not that thinking is wrong, but he tends to think too much about what he thinks are his shortcomings.  He seldom wants to take credit for the good things he does.  And he's really upset with the way things went when that blood—"  He stopped and glanced at Kevin.  "When that blasted Ring was destroyed."

"Oh."  Kevin realized what Merry meant.  For reasons he couldn't understand, Frodo seemed to blame himself for Gollum's death.  He made a mental note to keep Frodo on his prayer list.  Even though he and Sam were safe and sound, and while they were now well physically, for which Kevin gave silent thanks to God, his friend was clearly still not all right otherwise.  He glanced up and saw Pippin and Sam headed their way with food.  He said just the thing to cheer any hobbit up: "Here comes first breakfast!"

Frodo turned and laughed. "Well, breakfast, at any rate.  I seriously doubt there'll be a second on a busy day like today.  Looks like porridge."

The five of them perched on the tailgate of the waggon, and the honey was shared out into the bowls of porridge.  The coffee was also quite welcome.  Kevin had never been much of a coffee drinker at home, and on the rare occasions that he did, he liked it well sugared and with a little milk.  But since coming to Gondor and especially in the camps after the battle, he had gotten used to black coffee and now kind of liked it.  It made a change from water almost all the time, or herbal tea.  He sipped on it and listened to the hobbits talking.

Frodo, sitting on the other side of Merry, and much to Merry’s obvious delight, was over his earlier brooding silence, and was busily issuing instructions.

“I know that you and Pippin have been on your own for a while, Merry.  But I am still the senior cousin, and I’m still responsible for the both of you.  Once we enter that city, there will be all sorts of celebrations going on!  I expect the two of you to stick with us as far as your duties will allow.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t celebrate, too, but I do expect you to keep your wits about you.  And Sam—you are not to allow yourself to be carted off among the servants!  Not that I think Aragorn would allow that, but no nonsense from you about your ‘proper place’.  Your proper place is with the rest of us…”

Kevin smirked when Merry caught Sam’s eye at that, and the two exchanged a conspiratorial smile.  He hadn't heard Frodo being so bossy with his cousins since before Moria.

Kevin watched as Pippin ran his finger around his bowl, and then sucked on it thoughtfully.  Kevin too, had appreciated the unexpected gift of honey.  Frodo had insisted that he share in the treat, and Kevin didn't object.

Pippin sighed regretfully, as he put the empty bowl aside and glanced at his cousins, and at Sam.  Kevin caught Sam winking at Pippin.  Frodo did seem in a much more cheerful mood now.

It was growing lighter.  Kevin saw Pippin hopping down from the tailgate of the waggon, where they’d all been seated, and glanced towards the centre of the encampment and beyond—and the hobbit gasped in amazement.  Kevin followed his gaze to see what had caught Pippin's attention.

The mountains to the East stood out in the front of the rosy dawn, as the Sun slowly made her way up behind them.  No longer looming, they receded into the distance and formed a crisp black border to the glorious golden sky.  All of them stared at the sight.

The pavilions of the Captains had yet to be struck, and they gleamed like jewels, glistening with the morning dew.  A breeze came up, and the standards were in full display: the beautiful standard of the King, bejewelled in splendour on the black of Gondor; the green, white, and gold of Rohan; the blue and silver of Dol Amroth, and the banners of the lesser captains in every colour imaginable.

Merry’s hand came up and landed on his younger cousin’s shoulder.  “Pip?”

Pippin turned a shining face to Merry.  “It’s so beautiful,” he whispered.

“It is,” said Frodo quietly.

Kevin could only nod, speechless.  He thought about how beautiful those mountains were without the malice of Sauron behind them.

Pippin took Frodo's hand.  “I’m glad you get to see it, Frodo,” he said, and was rewarded with a smile.

And suddenly, carried through the clear morning air from the White City, came the joyful clamour of bells, deep and sonorous.  As one, Kevin and the four hobbits turned and looked at Minas Tirith, and watched a great white standard break over the Citadel, as bright and blinding as snow in the sun.

Merry said, “Bells!  They are ringing all the bells of the City!  The last time I heard them was that day the Eagle came—came to tell us all that we had won!  That the Dark Lord was no more!”  His face shone with the memory.  “I’d given up hoping, you see,” he said quietly.  “I didn’t think I’d see any of you again—and then the bells were ringing, and people were cheering, and suddenly I knew that I would see you all again!”

“Oh, Merry!”  Frodo appeared stricken to realize how difficult it all must have been.  But there was so much happiness on Merry’s face now that Frodo smiled, too.

As they watched the white standard of the Steward breaking over the Citadel, they heard a familiar voice.

“A stirring sight, is it not, my friends?”

They turned.  “Legolas!  Gimli!” they all exclaimed, pleased to see their friends.

“We’ve come to escort you to the King’s pavilion, so that you may don your finery,” said Gimli.  Their friends had already donned their own finery—for the first time since Kevin had known him, Legolas looked every inch the Elven Prince he was.  And Gimli’s armour gleamed as he'd never seen it gleam before.

“Well,” said Pippin, “we shouldn’t be holding things up!  It’s further to yon gate,” he added, "than you think!"

-oo000oo-

Steve and his family were just finishing up their breakfast, when Kaylee shouted, "Listen!  Listen to the bells!"

She hopped up from her chair and raced to the window, Megan following.  "All the people are yelling," Kaylee added.

Megan had stood on tiptoe to peer out.  "Yay!" she yelled and waved her hand out the window, as if the people far below could see her.

"Girls!  Come back to the table now," Gail said sharply.  Steve rolled his eyes; Gail had always been a bit nervous of the wide-open windows of their quarters.  They had no glass nor screens, only shutters that were only closed at night.  But the sills were far too high for either of the girls to fall out of, unless they actually climbed up on top of them.  And since the two little ones were never left unsupervised since Kaylee had rushed off to the lower circles, that was highly unlikely to happen.

Kaylee and Megan both returned to their seats, bouncing in excitement.  But they were all mostly through with the meal anyway, so Gail didn't reprimand them further.

There was a knock at the door, and Steve called out, "Please, come on in!"

As he expected, it was Master Ondahil.  "Good day, Master McCloud, Mistress McCloud."  He gave a dip of his head.

Steve replied, "Good morning to you.  And didn't we tell you to call us 'Steve' and 'Gail', Ondahil?"

“That is true, but not on this day.  It is a very formal day today."  He gave Steve a crooked, apologetic smile.

"I understand."  Steve stood up.  "I suppose it's about time to go?  The Elves have been gone for ages, except for Mairen.  She's in her room, finishing getting dressed."

"Well, the other Elves have ridden their horses down, in order to be outside the gate to greet their kindred.  And they rode their horses.  You and your family will be riding in the coach, with Mairen and Istar Radagast."

"That will be nice," Gail said.  "We haven't seen him in several days."

"He has been outside the gates for many days, exploring the mountains around the city.  I do not think Istar Radagast likes cities very much," Ondahil replied.  "But he has returned in plenty of time for the Coronation, as he told us he would."

Steve and Ondahil waited patiently as Mairen came out in a beautiful pale green dress, and then joined Gail to help her get the little girls ready.  Steve was already dressed in the formal outfit they had given him for the occasion, all save the outer robe, which hung carefully on the back of his chair.  He'd put it on at the last moment before they left.  He still felt kind of weird in the clothing.  It wasn't nearly as practical as the clothing he'd travelled and worked in.

The two men chatted for a while, and soon Gail, Mairen, and the girls emerged.  Kaylee and Megan were wearing the pretty white dresses they had been given by Lady Galadriel in Lothlórien.  But Gail wore a new one that had been provided for her here in Minas Tirith.  It was a deep amber colour, with a high waist as seemed to be the fashion in the city, and an embroidered belt, and the sleeves were long and bell-shaped.  Mairen had dressed Gail's hair for her, pulled back with two small braids at the front, with the rest of it hanging loose down the back.  Over it was a sheer veil held in place by a delicate circlet of silver filigree.

Steve stood up and grinned.  "You look like a queen," he said in awe.

She blushed.  "I don't know about that.  I feel like I'm play-acting."

Megan tugged on her mother's hand.  "Come on!  I wanna see Radagast again!"

-oo000oo-

In the very large tent set aside for Aragorn, Joey watched as Pippin ran his hand over his surcoat, and the White Tree embroidered there.  Joey was already dressed in the silk livery given him for special occasions, but Pippin had not had the chance to put his new livery on yet.  But the hobbit's dress livery and armour had been laid out there the night before.  And fine new clothes had been delivered for Frodo and Sam just the day before as well.

He helped Pippin buckle on his barrow-blade—Gimli had named it “Trollsbane”, saying that a weapon which had accomplished such a great feat deserved a name to commemorate it.  Pippin confessed to Joey that it did make him feel just a little bit heroic, to have a sword with a name.

"I don't blame you, Pippin!  You are heroic, anyway.  That was an awful big troll!"  Merry's new livery was a deep green, with the running horse of Rohan emblazoned on it.  He was dressed in it now, which consisted of a creamy silk shirt, a lightly padded linen jerkin, his cuirass and his surcoat.

Pippin blushed and turned to help buckle Merry into his cuirass.

“Thanks, Pip.  It’s hard to manage those buckles by myself.” Merry said.  He pulled on the dark green surcoat with the running white horse of Rohan embroidered upon it.

"You look really cool in that get-up, Merry.  And I like your new sword," said Joey, smiling.  Merry had refused to name his own sword.  "Why don't you give it a name, too?"

“I haven’t done any great deeds with this one,” Merry said, for of course, his own barrow-blade had self-destructed after he’d helped Lady Éowyn kill the Witch-king.  “I hope I never need to use it for anything more serious than sparring, or perhaps for ceremonies.”

Pippin looked over at Legolas, who had been standing by to assist them if needed.  “Do we need our helms today?” he asked.

Legolas raised a brow, and then glanced across the pavilion to Boromir, who was watching as Elladan and Elrohir assisted the soon-to-be King into his own armour.

“Do Merry and Pippin need their helms?”

Aragorn looked up.  “No, there is no need for helms—not this morning, at any rate.”

Pippin breathed a sigh of relief, and he and Merry exchanged a look of satisfaction. Joey didn't blame them.  He was so glad he didn't have to wear one; he'd tried Pippin's helmet on one time.  Helms smelled like rust and sweat and wool from the padding inside.  They were stinky, no matter what Gimli said about them.

Merry elbowed Pippin and gestured with his chin, to where Sam was donning his own new finery.  Frodo was deep in conversation with Gandalf, but Sam was still getting dressed with Gimli‘s assistance.  Joey thought the gardener looked distinctly uncomfortable.  “Shall we see if Sam needs some help?” Merry added.

“I think Gimli has him well in hand,” Pippin answered.  But he grinned, and they went over to Sam anyway.  Joey smiled and followed the two.  He knew darn well they were going to tease Sam more than help him.  He didn't blame them—Sam looked so funny when he was embarrassed.

Joey actually did feel a little sorry for Sam.  He would've been embarrassed, too!  The shirt was sort of a creamy colour with embroidery on it in the same colour.  And the suit was red velvet—not red like a Santa Claus suit, but kind of a purply-red—Jennifer called it “burgundy”.  He was certainly glad he didn’t have to wear it!  But he had to admit, Sam looked kind of nice in it.

Sam sighed.  “I’m just glad the Gaffer’s not here to see this.  He’d think I looked a right ninnyhammer in this get-up!”

“Oh,” said Mr. Pippin, “I don’t know.  I think he might be glad to see that the Big Folk know how to appreciate his son.”  Pippin didn't sound like he was teasing.

Sam blushed again.

And then Mr. Merry said, quite seriously, “We’ll be going home in these ’get-ups’, you know, Sam.  Nothing any of us brought out of the Shire with us is fit to wear.”

And then Mr. Pippin grinned and said, “Well, you will look very nice at your wedding, anyway!”

And Sam’s heart lifted once more.  He blushed again, but he grinned as well.

"Married?" asked Joey in surprise.  He'd never thought of any of his new friends getting married!  He stared at Sam, wide-eyed.  "Who are you going to marry?"

"Why," said Merry, as Sam stood there, growing even redder and spitting out "um" and "er", "Miss Rosie Cotton, as soon as he gets up the nerve to ask her!"

Sam's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, but he still didn't say anything, and this time Merry and Pippin laughed out loud, and Joey found himself giggling in spite of himself.

Joey saw Frodo had finished his serious talk with Gandalf and was now coming towards them as the laughter got his attention.  The oldest hobbit was dressed in grey-blue velvet, with a pale blue shirt.  Joey thought it made Frodo look really important and grown-up.  Well, he was grown-up, but anyway, maybe even more grown-up than usual.  "Are you picking on Sam?" he asked Merry, staring his cousin in the eye.

"Of course not, Frodo!  We were just complimenting him!" Merry said in an innocent voice.

Legolas, who had been watching and listening to them all with a twinkle in his eye, said, "Why, Frodo, they were just saying how nice he would look at his wedding to a—I believe her name is Miss Rosie Cotton?  Is that not her name, Samwise?"

As Joey saw Frodo giving his cousins a stern look, and Sam turning from pink to red, he looked up at the Elf, who winked at him.

Rolling his eyes, Joey looked at Legolas and said, "Oh, burn!"

Legolas just looked smug.  Joey shook his head, as another chuckle escaped him.

-oo000oo-

Jennifer wondered how she would find the big tent where she had been told to meet everyone.  The campsite was so large and laid out differently than the one they had been staying in at Osgiliath, across the river.  It was far more spread out, and while she could see the cluster of colourful banners where the captains and kings would have their camp, it was kind of far.  She stood there feeling slightly confused, and then shook her head and with a sigh, began walking in the general direction.  But she had not gone far before she heard a familiar voice.  "May I be of help to you, my lady?"

She turned with a grin, to see him at her side.  He was holding the reins of his big horse, and he was smiling at her.  "Halbarad!  How are you?  I've hardly seen you at all lately!"

"I have missed seeing you as well, Jennifer.  I was kept quite busy with scouting and looking for stragglers out of Mordor; that duty is now ended.  But now I have claimed the privilege of escorting you on this day.  After all, you saved my life.  I owe much to the sisters of the McCloud clan."

She looked up at him gratefully.  "Thanks!  I was just wondering how I'd get all the way over there in time.  And you know, Kaylee does get part of the credit for that; it was her stone that kept that orc arrowfrom piercing your heart.  I mean to make sure she learns of that.”  Then she giggled.  "We'll see Kaylee in the city!  She will be so excited to see you, and to find out how she helped you."

He mounted and reached a hand down to her.  He grasped it and pulled her up to sit before him.  He waited until she had arranged her skirts, and then set off at a gentle canter in the right direction.

"I'm really glad to see you again.  We've both been really busy in the other camp.  I was always busy with the healers."

He nodded.  "So I heard.  My kingly cousin is quite proud of you for taking up the healing arts, and he had good report of you from the senior healers in camp, even if he had little time to speak to you."

Jennifer blushed.  "I still have an awful lot to learn."

Halbarad laughed.  "You are young yet, and have plenty of time."  He slowed his horse, as they were reaching a more crowded part of the encampment, and had to pay more attention to avoid others who were there.

Yet in only a few minutes, he stopped in front of the grandest tent, with the large black banner emblazoned with the jewelled White Tree and the Seven Stars.  He scarcely pulled up, when Jennifer found herself being lifted down by one of the twins—Elladan, she was sure.

"Greetings, Lady Jennifer!" he said.  "Welcome to the quarters of Lord Elessar."

"Thank you, Elladan," she answered.

Halbarad dismounted, and both entered.  She entered into a crowd.  Aragorn was over in a corner with Elrohir and Gandalf, but Elladan went over and spoke into his ear.  He grinned and glanced up to give her a sign of welcome; smiling, she waved her hand in greeting.  But just then she heard Joey shouting her name:

"Jen!  Over here!"  Joey was in a small cluster of hobbits near the centre of the tent, but he broke away to come and give her a brief hug, which she returned.  Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all turned and greeted her.

"Jennifer!" Pippin called.  "We need you to help us convince Sam how splendid he looks!"

She came and leaned over Sam, smiling at his outfit, which was a good deal more formal and elegant than anything she'd ever seen him in before.  "You do look great!  Don't let these guys tease you."

"Well said, Lady Jennifer," said Frodo.  "Sam's going to have to get used to looking splendid now, anyway."  But though Frodo was trying to look serious, the twinkle in his eye gave him away.

She shook her finger at him.  "That goes for you, too, Frodo Baggins!"  She looked around the tent.  "Where's Kevin?"

"He's done getting ready," Joey said.  "He's gone to get his horse."  Jennifer nodded.  It wouldn’t be much longer now until the Coronation was ready to start.  What was it going to be like, to see Aragorn wearing regal robes and a crown on his head?  Would he have a sceptre?  And a throne to sit on?  He already looked very splendid, and when Elrohir draped his mantle over his foster brother's shoulders, he looked positively royal.  All he lacked now was the crown.  Jennifer remembered how scruffy he'd looked on the road from Rivendell.

-oo000oo-

Kevin was with Lord Éothain, Haleth, Lord Amrothos (who was Prince Imrahil's youngest son), and an Ithilien Ranger named Aradan when they were joined by Halbarad.  The five of them were charged with arranging the riders and their horses for the first part of the journey to the gate.

"The holbytlan will be riding with others?" asked Lord Éothain.

"Yes, sir," Kevin said.  He knew Éomer's second-in-command already knew the answer, but they still had to go over it again.  "Pippin's riding with Gandalf, Merry's riding with Éomer King, Sam's riding with Prince Imrahil, and Frodo will be riding with Aragorn...I mean, King Elessar.  Also, Gimli will be riding with Legolas, and Joey will be riding with Captain-General Boromir.  And Jen’ll be riding with you," Kevin added, nodding towards Halbarad.

Éothain nodded.  "Yes.  The king, Lord Elessar, will ride at the front, but flanked by Gandalf to his right, and by Lord Boromir to his left, and Éomer King riding next to Gandalf, and Prince Imrahil next to Lord Boromir.  Directly behind them, Sir Kevin, you will ride on the right, Legolas and Gimli in the middle, and Halbarad with your sister, Lady Jennifer, on the left.  The Elven Princes and the Grey Company will follow you in mounted ranks, joined by the Elves led by Lord Glorfindel when they have come from the City.  Behind them, I will lead the Rohirrim, and Lord Elphir will lead the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth, and you, Lord Amrothos, will join him.  That will be all those on horseback.  The foot soldiers of Gondor will come next, and then the Rangers of Ithilien, led by Captain Mablung."

Everyone nodded, and Éothain scanned their faces.  "Very well, let us all find our places."

Kevin and Halbarad mounted and rode back to the assembly field to find the rest of those who were preparing to ride.

-oo000oo-

When Ondahil had told the McClouds that they would be riding in a "coach", Gail had expected something like the stagecoaches they showed in Western movies.  But this coach was not like that.  It was shaped like a barrel with openings at the sides, rather small, though if she held Megan in her lap and Steve held Kaylee, there was enough room for their family and Radagast; Ondahir and Mairen would ride in a second coach.  There was no driver's seat; instead, it was pulled by two large horses, and a rider rode upon one of them to direct them.*

As they bumped and rattled over the cobbles, it wasn't really easy to hold a conversation.  Gail was pleased to see Radagast, and she wished she could ask him about his explorations outside the city, but it was clear that any talking would have to be more like yelling: more trouble than it would be worth.  She would have to wait until later.

The streets were crowded with walking people and waggons full of people.  All of them were heading for the main gates, although they weren't properly gates anymore, not after the huge battering ram had destroyed them.  But it was still the proper place for the new King to enter his city, and barricades had been raised to serve instead of actual gates.  At first, she thought maybe it would have been easier to ride horses, but with the press of the crowd, she realized that it would be hard for her to feel certain of controlling a horse among all those people.  While she had become a decent rider on their journey, none of the places they had travelled through had been heavily populated.  At least the coach was painted with the symbol of the Steward, and people gave it a wide berth, or at least as wide as possible.

Gail looked at Steve, who was quiet.  Even the girls were quiet, and it was hard for them to stay silent, but clearly, they didn't think they could yell loudly enough to be heard, either.  She wondered if Kevin, Jennifer, and Joey would be anywhere near the gates, and just how close their family would be to the front of the ceremony.  Would she even be able to spot them in the crowd on the other side of the barrier?  Chances are, even if we can see them, they won’t be able to see us, she thought.

As they drew down to the First Level, they could see down to where the main Gates to the City had once been.  The debris from the broken Gates had been cleared away, but the stonework where it was damaged by the blows of its breaking was still broken and scarred.  The crowds were almost crammed shoulder to shoulder, but guardsmen at the sides of the street were keeping the road itself clear of people, to make room for the coaches.  But the driver (or is he called a rider? Gail wondered) halted them about twenty feet from the opening where the Gates once stood.  He dismounted and came to assist them from the inside of the coach.  They were more than a little stiff and sore from the rattling ride down from the Citadel.  Gail knew she was glad to stretch her legs a little.  In addition to the bumpy ride, it had been a cramped one.  She hung onto Megan, who wanted to run, and she noticed Steve had a tight hold on Kaylee's hand as well.

While the driver/rider led away the coach and horses, Gail looked at the surroundings, which frankly consisted mostly of other people, except for directly in front of them.  There, in the opening where the entry to the City was—since the Gate was gone—stood a wooden barricade, heavily guarded.  Just beyond that, Gail saw a set of risers, like the temporary bleachers often set up on parade routes at home, for the VIPs.  They were not very large, only maybe three or four high, and so far, no one was sitting there.

But she supposed that was about to change, for Master Ondahil gestured at his little group.  "We will be able to pass the barricades," he said, "so far as the seating.  Your children will be accompanying the van of the procession, as they were among the company who are now being called the Fellowship of the Ring. They will be riding on horseback until about a furlong from the City.  There they will all dismount and walk the rest of the way."

"A 'furlong'?" Gail asked.

Steve nodded.  "A furlong is about two hundred and twenty yards," Steve said.  He'd early on figured out what the distances were for the more unfamiliar terms.

She nodded, and then Ondahil finished speaking.  "You, Mistress Mairen, your daughters, and Istar Radagast will be among those privileged to sit upon the grandstand.  Istar Radagast, since the Steward and Lord Faramir will be partaking in the ceremony, they will be seated to the far left of the bottom level, and they have requested that you sit with them.  I will also sit there, in case there is need of me.  As for you and your family, you may be seated as you wish, but I would recommend the fourth level—you will be more likely to spot your children from there."

"Thank you, Master Ondahil, we appreciate that, but will we be able to greet them after the ceremony?"  Gail was so eager to hug her sons and her older daughter, she didn't know if she could wait much longer.

"No," he answered.  "I am sorry.  We will have to wait until we are at the Citadel once more."

She felt deflated, and she blinked away the threatening tears.  But Steve put his arms around her shoulders.  "Remember," he murmured to her, "patience is a fruit of the Spirit."

Gail smiled sadly and sighed as she looked up at her husband.  "I've never been very good at that one, have I?"

"That's okay, honey; I'm not, either.  I suppose that's why the Lord is making us wait now."

She laughed a little, and then there was a small blast from a nearby horn, and Master Ondahil began to lead them to the grandstand.

-oo000oo-

*A/N: This description is based on a woodcut image of a coach from the 1500s.  If you should like to see it, pull up this same chapter on Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15082544/chapters/90408793.