Pride and Prejudice by Marta

Notes

Canonically, the only account of Aragorn's and Arwen's wedding comes from the end of "The Steward and the King":

"Upon the very Eve of Midsummer, when the sky was blue as sapphire and white stars opened in the East, but the West was still golden and the air was cool and fragrant, the riders came down the North-way to the gates of Minas Tirith. First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver, and then came Glorfindel and Erestor and all the household of Rivendell, and after them came the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlórien, riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk of their land, grey-cloaked with white gems in their hair; and last came Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men, bearing the sceptre of Annúminas, and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode Arwen his daughter, Evenstar of her people. [...]

Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted; and Elrond surrendered the sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up into the High City, and all the stars flowered in the sky. And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfilment."

That's nice as far as fairy tales go, and I'm sure it's part of the story. But when a northern king claims a southern throne, and takes as his wife not one of the many marriageable daughters of his adopted realm but instead "imports" a wife unfamiliar to most of them, there's sure to be friction. Receptive Gondorian nobility who are loyal to king would probably want to ease her way into Gondorian society as well as they could. This little scene is my attempt to make sense of how that would have played out. Frankly, I can't imagine that Faramir and Imrahil wouldn't try something like this.

The silver rings have shown up in some of my other stories, most notably Summer Nights and Summer Daze (stories which are rated Teen and Mature for adult content). They are my own invention. Edhellond, though, is Tolkien's canon! (See e.g. the accounts of Celeborn and Galadriel in Unfinished Tales.)

Thanks to Annmarwalk, who read several versions of this story in quick succession - as always her beta help is much appreciated.