Tianwen·Magweth Pengolodh

It's the bride who has to kiss everyone she meets along the way who wants to be kissed.Finally, her even more numerous group arrived, full of laughter and laughter.When they arrived, Eyadwine, the father of the bridegroom, took Alfwine's walking stick, and hung a long garland of Oyo Lari and fragrant Nesamerda around his son's neck.Alfwine's calm, long-faced mother quietly handed over the wreath her son wanted to give to the bride.They stepped aside, and the crowds on both sides fell silent, into the silence that the Númenoreans considered sacred.Losinziel, who had been a widow once, walked across the grass alone towards Alfwine.He hung a long garland of Nessamerta and fresh roses around her shoulders, and she let her hair fall about her neck.Then they all looked towards Pengolod.

Elvish oaths would speak of a betrothal to live and die, to live as long as the world, but that would have been insulting to the widowed Rosenzil.Wishing the new oath would be appropriate, Pengolod spoke, first in Sindarin, then in Adunak.Here's what he said:

"Like all things on this island, you are loved by Valar and Iluvatar. It is Iru Iluvatar who created everything that will hear the song of the world. This song is the bond that connects all things, Its chorus is love; and it is this song that binds you here. Love each other with sincerity and deepness, while you live together in Arda, so that you may not regret that love was unspeakable, Kindness has not been put into action. Please be a mirror to reflect the beauty that each other deserves; please take care of each other every day so that your hearts beat as one. Such dedication will greatly please you, because your love itself will also be given by This turned into a song, through ups and downs, enduring."

After finishing speaking, he asked them: "From now on, will you live together and love each other deeply?"

The two interlocked their fingers and said, "We will."

"Then you two, Rosenzil and Elfwine, Elfwine and Rosenzil, are thus married. Hug now, and after one kiss, you are husband and wife."

They kissed, while a wind rose in the forest, shaking the branches of Yavana Mire, and rousing all the bees and butterflies that were resting in the flowers.After they parted, Ah Tang gave Alfwine an exquisite wooden box with two gold rings inside.Elfwine showed Rosenzil the elvish inscriptions engraved on the inside of the ring, and put one of them on her finger.Surprise flashed in her eyes, and she put on the ring for him as before.Pengolod smiled in deep relief.Alfwine had said that no gifts were needed between friends like them.But Pengolod urged Alfwine to allow him to melt some of his remaining elven gold and make these two rings.His excuse was that since he had been called as an elf to perform the vows, the ceremony would not have seemed proper to him without a gold ring to exchange.

When the ceremony was complete, Alfwine's mother retrieved something else from the basket—a document, and pen and ink.On a large stone sundial, and in front of all those present, the newlyweds signed a written agreement to share their meager fortune.Alfwine had some savings, and it turned out that Rosenzil hadn't misused her share of the widow's fortune either.After dealing with this practical matter, the guests on both sides were obviously relieved, believing that their loved ones would be treated fairly.Alfwine folded the paper, kissed it, and handed it to Rosenzil.She kissed the place where his lips had kissed, and stuffed the paper into her bosom.Pengolod felt that the two lovers had fulfilled their agreement in this way.

The newlyweds (Alfwine taking back the crutches) lead the way, and all walk together towards Alfwine's shop, which is now also the home of Rosenzil.One of Alfwine's business associates told Pengolods: "Excellent! Well said. I love old-fashioned weddings. Do you charge a lot for a wedding?"

"I'm afraid I won't perform weddings for other Númenoreans. I'm leaving for Tor Eressia tonight." Pengolod had a flash of inspiration, and quickly added, "But I don't know how Alfwine For a fee. You might as well ask him."

Tie the knot

The wedding feast in Númenor was to be held in the dwelling of the newlyweds.There is only one rule that determines who can go to the banquet, that is: whoever walks under the banquet arch made of flowers must bring two gifts, one for the new house and one for the banquet.The latter will immediately be used for the entertainment of the day.Alfwine was amazed at how many neighbors passed under the wreathed arch, bringing goods from their shops as gifts, and food for the feast.Rosenzil's playful girlfriends mingled warmly with the homecoming soldiers that Alfwine knew.

The laughter lasted until the last twilight faded.Gradually, people left.Ah Tang helped move the leftover food and drinks into the store.Fragments of meat and half-eaten dishes filled the store's double-decker counters.Pengolod figured that after saying goodbye, they would be sent to the store's cool cellar.His first farewell was Ah Tang.In order to give the newlyweds some privacy, Tom would spend at least one night on Eyadweine's boat.

In the end only Pengolod, Alfwine, and Rosenzil remained.Standing in front of them, Pengolod spread his arms outstretched, "Now, it's time for me to go too. I'm sad, but happy to leave knowing you're newlyweds. Whatever time brings, please Remember this: You will be alive in my memory as you are today, to the end of the world."

Alfwine said softly, "I will miss you forever."

"Shall mortals never go to the shores of the elves?" Rosenzil asked.

Pengolod replied: "If the world were changed, perhaps it could. You, or children you would have, might come to Avalonne. Name them after you, so that if they do come Come, I can recognize it."

Rosenzil took a breath: "A son and a daughter? How do you know?"

Pengolod had no time to answer.At that moment, there was a familiar noise outside the store—the distinctive out-of-key horn and falsetto singing of the Pocket Court, plus the sound of cow bells, making it even more noisy.Pengolod couldn't help being annoyed when he saw the heavily made-up faces of the clowns pressing against the glass of the window, looking strange and laughing heartily.At the heart of the clamor was the repeated cry: "The Pocket King pays taxes! The Pocket King pays taxes!"

Rosenzil cursed under his breath, and then said, "Those clowns! They come and laugh at widows and widowers when they remarry. I thought they'd be quiet if there was an elf. Woe!"

"At least they don't have the nerve to disturb the wedding itself," said Alfwine, patting her comfortingly, "We have enough wine left, they will be satisfied, and they will leave soon." He told Pengolod added, "That's the only time we can talk back to them. We'll see."

The noise grew louder.Rosenzier straightened her wreath and said proudly, "It's better to open the door. If you don't open the door, they will only get more and more noisy."

Pengolod complied.The tall and burly figure of the Pocket King immediately filled the door frame: "I heard that our good prince is engaged, but he is getting married so soon? Qiryatan, go and put the wreath on the bride's head You must have sprained your feet." Behind him, other clowns yelled to correct him, so he pretended to be surprised: "What? It's Alfwine, the bookmaker? Don't be funny. That's it! This drone is busy while the other bees are out stinging, isn't it! If a man who's covered in ink and has been crippled all his life can get a wife, the rest of your clowns won't. What's wrong."

Pengolod flinched when he heard this, for it had been whispered several times that week.Alfwine retorted: "You fools who like to follow the garbage boats and whitewash yourself with lime, I will put this on the record with ink! I may be lame, but as long as I It ain't over until you dance at your wedding."

A huge smile appeared on Pocket King's face: "Hey, what about this little woman? I heard that she picked out half of the men in King's Town, and everyone plus idlers , but I have tasted her sponge cake. People say, it's a good sponge cake. It's a pretty good sponge cake. To tell you the truth, it's the best sponge cake!" He made exaggerated gestures, demonstrating how to Hands up and down the imaginary "sponge cake", while continuing to add, "Now, it seems that our pastry chef has become a horseman. It is said that the widow is best at the first stallion! She must know that a lame horse Leg horses can still make great mounts—and they won't wander off to find other mares to steal!"

Rosenzil stomped his feet so hard that even the wreath slipped off one shoulder: "You jealous old bastards, don't talk nonsense to me! I knew that when the poor widow remarried, You must come here to humiliate others. Where are those queens of yours? You must have eaten them all to grow so fat!"

Pengolod also chimed in: "Bees, muffins, horses, what are these