Title: TH Thranduil's Promise

Chapter 4: Together

Spoiler Alert: The Hobbit and LOTR (books, maps and movies)

Warnings: Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, AU (not all canon)

Pairing: Thranduil/Unnamed Elfmaiden from Rivendell (I'm giving her a name.)

Summary: Ship AU: Thranduil must allow one of Elrond's Elfmaidens into his realm to assist him with a mutual foe. He does not want her aid nor does he desire the feelings that her arrival stirs inside him.

A/N: I'm playing loose with canon timeframes and facts in this AU. I'm just letting the characters do what they want. Thank you for the feedback! It helps me write.

Carrma's feet dangled as the Elvenking lifted her by the waist then pinned her to a tree using his hips. She knew he was strong from before, but he had moved her as if she weighted nothing. She grabbed his shoulders trying to steady herself, but his mouth found her neck. He laved and bit as if he were going to devour her. He was mesmerizing in his urgency.

His eyes intense – body straining. Carrma didn't even know where his vest went nor did she care. Her mind shouted yes he had held back before and now he was starting to let himself go. Losing control because of his need for her.

Carrma gasped for air as her heart thundered with the pulse of her need for him. A need for more. And he gave it. He ground his hardness against her with the promise of things to come. One wicked hand slid over the curve of her breast to toy with her hardened nipple and the other pinned her arm over her head. His hand slid over her undoing the clasps of her cloak to reveal her lavender dress underneath. His shirt dropped with the cloak.

He slowed, and his lips hovered over hers again. This time, she had no reservations concerning his attraction or abilities. Now, she saw that he was controlling himself as a storm raged behind his blue eyes waiting to break forth against her again. She felt it this time; a tremor in his body where he was actively restraining himself.

Thranduil's warm breath washed over her face and neck. "Now would be the time to tell me to cease."

Carrma felt alive. She felt needed. Desired. "Never."

One second she was pinned to the tree and the next she felt his arm snake around her waist pulling her upward. She wrapped her legs and arms round him as she lifted into the air. She let out a scream of half fear half excitement as he vaulted them to another tree. His arm reached up, and she caught a glimpse of him gripping a branch to drop them to another.

With Elven grace, he landed on a larger branch that was almost parallel to the ground. His voice came out deeper than usual as he lowered himself to straddle the limb, "Safer up here." He settled her down more firmly in his lap.

Thranduil's hand reached back grabbing her ankle to unlock her legs that gripped him, and he rested her foot on the branch behind him. His hand slid back up her leg dragging her dress up. He repeated the process of skimming his hand up her leg causing shivers that made her tremble in his arms. When he tugged her dress up to her waist and let go, it was only then that she noticed he was no longer wearing his pants. He was completely nude.

"You've done this before." The tree he settled them in had smooth bark.

His voice came out in an almost growl. "Have I?" A wicked smile played over his face as he gripped her ass sliding her warm wetness back and forth over his hard length.

Reality fractured. She forgot where she was. Her vision blurred. Her only existence was the warmth of his body she clung to and the heated slide of his shaft between her legs. Her body pulsed. Her back arched feeling his strong arms anchoring her to him. "Please."

Thranduil continued the tormenting slide, but did not enter. "I want you, but I want to hear you come for me first."

"I…" Her body yelled at her the need to feel his hardness sink inside. It was something new to her. The sensation consumed her causing her to dig her nails into his skin. "Please."

"Look at me." Thranduil commanded and stilled his movements for a few seconds as he savored feeling her grind against him. He reached back gripping his long braid sliding it through his hand till found the end. He held the tie to his mouth and jerked it letting his hair spill out free. Wind caught his hair whisking it around them. She shivered at the golden silk tracing over her arms and back.

"Look at me." He prompted again.

Carrma's eyes flickered landing on his as he started sliding against her again. He ran a hand up her back to her neck and pulled her closer tasting her lips. Their eyes remained locked as his tongue darted out savoring the flavor of her lower lip again. He brushed his mouth across hers with the same motion he rocked against her body.

Thranduil's voice was almost all air, "Sing for me." He pressed his lips against hers and demanded entry with his tongue. He consumed her mouth with all the fervor she wished he would reserve for other areas of her body.

She didn't know what he meant by singing, and her mind lost all thought moments later so it didn't matter. The slick sliding of his tongue and his hardness pushed her over the edge from need to fulfillment. She cried out into the kiss, and Thranduil breathed in her release into his lungs. Her entire body now pulsed in wave after wave of pleasure; one stronger than the last as long as he held her breath inside him. He kept a firm grip on her neck keeping their mouths together. Her body danced in the consuming sea of his ancient magic.

When he finally released the kiss, her sated body fell limp against his. She was speechless. She felt boneless. She lived inside bliss as her head rested on his shoulder. Her lips touched the warmth of his skin.

After a time, Carrma felt a light trembling of his muscles and lifted her head to peer at him. "What kind of magic was that? Oh and that was definitely not a fatherly kiss." Mirth filled her eyes.

Her demeanor changed when she saw through his eyes the true storm that would consume her if he faltered. All this time, he had been holding himself in check…for her. The knowledge struck her as the most enthralling thing in existence. She knew he was on the edge of his control, and it thrilled her body to life again.

Carrma extended her hand to the side. Gray fog moved outward turning black. Branches moved, vines reached. She created a large hammock that came up higher on the sides where one formed a canopy. "The Wisps are maintaining a ten mile radius around us, so we don't have to worry about spiders. Can you…"

She yelled out cutting off any words she was going to say as he dropped them off of the branch. He gripped the top of the canopy, and he elegantly twisted letting them land inside.

Carrma slapped a hand on his chest as she bounced on top of him. She wanted a warning the next time he vaulted or dropped them. "Stop doing that."

The heated storm in his eyes turned to a blank stare. He stopped inching his hands up her skin toward her breasts. He then removed his hands from her completely letting them drop to the side and closed his eyes.

When the crease between his eyes formed a vertical line, she finally spoke. "Are you hurt?" She glanced at his hair that was fanned out, his face, and chest then she twisted. Yes, his legs are still attached.

Thranduil's bright blue eyes opened, and she believed the answer was yes.

His words came out with no inflection. "Kindly remove yourself from my body."

"Why, are you hurt? Just tell me where." She leaned forward inspecting his neck.

She paused when he closed his eyes again, and his hands fisted.

"What's happening?" Carrma pressed her hand to his chest.

Carrma heard him grinding his teeth before he spoke. "You. You tell me to stop then you will not remove yourself and you keep grinding against me. You said stop."

"Stop? Oh, yes. Don't drop me out of a tree or lift me up into one without warning. I'm not use to that. Just give a girl a warning." She watched him blink slowly. "What? It's not that big of a deal. Ummmm but that is." She rocked her hips feeling him rigidly hard. Her needy voice dissipated his anger.

Several thoughts flashed in his mind in a mere moment. He had believed when she told him to stop that she was meaning their physical encounter. He didn't know why she told him to stop, but continued touching him. He breathed in her sent and chided himself for forming that conclusion. He traced his hands up her thighs knowing when it came to her that his judgment was off.

For hundreds of years, Thranduil had resisted female's attempts at seduction. He told himself it was because he was avoiding being manipulated. Now with her, he allowed himself the truth. It was because it had become meaningless. After thousands of years exploring the female form, there were only so many ways to give and take pleasure. The thrill of discovery was gone. Even achieving a climax in a passionate situation became mechanical to him. He felt his body experience release, but the pleasure didn't register. His mind offered that it was nothing more than muscle contractions brought on by stimulation. Pointless. Useless. Until Carrma.

Why am I responding to her? Is it because I am starting to care for her? He stopped himself from thinking of answers and dared not question himself further.

Thranduil's eyes moved over her metallic gold hair that brushed against his chest as his hands moved up her thighs to waist. He stopped when he noticed the silver pendent on the cord.

Thranduil came out of his thoughts that had only lasted a few seconds. He saw her watching his face with a serious expression.

Carrma pulled at his arms, and he sat up cradling her. "You went somewhere for a moment there. What's wrong?" She touched the left side of his face feeling that yes he was fully healed on the outside.

Thranduil wrapped his arm around her and felt the pendent pressed between them.

Carrma stroked his long flowing hair wondering what torment was buffeting him on the inside.

After a time, he took a few deep breaths then sought her eyes out. He had no way of telling her everything that was going on inside him. Usually, he hid every personal thought and feeling as if his life depended on it and mostly it did. But here with her, he felt the need to connect with another. The only other person who had brought up the urge was his Elvenqueen so long ago.

"Can I trust you?" He inquired.

Carrma thought about him. He wasn't just the fascinating Elvenking anymore. He was not just the Mirkwood King of legends. He wasn't some childish fantasy. Arrogance. A painful past. Isolated from everyone. Emotionally shut off. Yes. But now, he was just a man. The man who tried to save her mother and now was protective with her.

Carrma leveled her eyes at his. "To the grave."

"Do not be afraid." Thranduil relaxed his mind. He thought about the loss of the majority of his family including his Elvenqueen to the dragons knowing Carrma could feel it right along with him. He conjured up memories of the wars he had fought in and his recovery afterwards. He let her see his fear of fire and of her mother. He let Carrma witness and feel his emotions when he ignored female attention then the way he felt when he ventured to meet her. He let every interaction he had with Carrma play out for her to experience from his stand point all the way to his decision at letting her see into his mind now and how he felt as she watched until both points in time converged. He released her mind.

Carrma gasped for air and pulled to break free of his arms even though it would cause her to fall out of the tree.

Thranduil kept a firm grip on her in his lap because he feared if he let go she would leave and never return.

"Why? No, I know why." Carrma took a few moments to process everything she saw. "You're one of us?"

"Not exactly. I am a sorcerer. It is the closest thing to what you are, but I have no control over spirits."

"That is how you see past our glamour and how you so easily enter other's minds."

Thranduil nodded.

Carrma thought about different feelings he had, and it hurt her to know how lonely he had been. It pained her to have experienced his losses and how time took away his joy of life. "If you wanted me to know who you are, you didn't have to do it like this. We could have spent time together." She knew she only saw parts of his mind and was thankful he did not show her everything. She didn't think she could have taken it and stayed sane.

"We do not have time."

"What do you mean?" Carrma wished he had waited till after they had experienced each other to have had this serious conversation. She shook her head thinking she was just being selfish.

"A war is coming again. Fifty to a hundred years from now the Dark Lord will gain enough power to overtake the world."

Carrma thought of all of the conversations Elrond had been secretly having with Galadriel and Gandalf. "That soon?"

Thranduil nodded. "Galadriel has seen a path. A large group of my army will work behind the scenes to ensure our victory, but they have to go unnoticed by the people of Middle Earth for it to work. I and my Elvenqueen will work with Galadriel and Celeborn to swallow up a great army of Mordor when the Dark Lord is defeated. It is the only way our army of the people of Middle Earth will live."

Carrma ignored his mention of him having another queen. Her mind quickly calculated how few there would be to fight against the Dark Lord and how those people would need convincing to fight. "Our chance of success is slim."

"As slim as a blade of grass in a field." Thranduil relaxed his grip on her. "For it to work, Elrond and I have to keep the number of our army almost exactly as it is now. I have to maintain numbers and keep myself alive at all costs."

Carrma twirled the cord around her neck over her finger. She guessed it was no wonder he completely flipped out when he thought she was an assassin spy. "How are you to open up the ground?"

"Galadriel and Celeborn can send my power there, but my Elvenqueen must provide the focus on that area of ground or I will swallow up our army in the process."

"Your queen." The pendent bumped her skin, and she let go of the cord. "And who did Galadriel say that is?" Carrma pressed her teeth together instantly hating the woman whoever she was.

"She said the woman was shrouded in a dark fog she could not penetrate."

Carrma leaned back – completely oblivious to the fact they were both naked. "Me?"

Thranduil prompted. "You kept both of us in the circle as we moved. Do you have the ability to encircle an entire army without them knowing?"

"Me. Me?"

"Can you do it yes or no? And that will be your answer."

Carrma pushed back her shock and thought of the stones she used earlier. She didn't even know if she could project a circle from a distance. She had never tried before. She guessed it was possible if she had enough enchanted stones and the army stood close to each other. "It might be possible."

Thranduil nodded slowly at her. "We could try it out on the spiders. We could put a protective circle around a herd of deer and send them off into the woods toward some spiders. As they move away from you, see how long the circle holds. You could fog the deer making them stand still, and I will try to open the ground to swallow up the spiders without killing the deer."

"But what if it doesn't work and the deer are killed? Wait. You had this all planned out before hand didn't you?"

"No." Thranduil answered honestly.

"You don't want me for your Elvenqueen. No one would." She huffed. "Most would rather lose an arm and both legs than to be close to me let alone bond themselves to one of my kind. Is this some game to you? Seduce the lonely Sect member and usurp her power? Is that it?"

"No."

Carrma moved off of him and sat pulling her legs up to her chest wondering if everything that happened from the moment she left Rivendell to this including his memories he shared was a manipulation. The fear spread and she wondered if it had been a plan farther back from the day her mother died. Elrond took her in and he had to have known something of the future when he let her come here. Her eyes glazed over as she wondered if her whole life was a lie.

She shook her head knowing that Elrond's love for her was real even if things had started out as a plan, but knew that if the opportunity was available to destroy armies of Mordor if she favored the king…he would see it as fate. She now wondered what part Thranduil played in it all and if he truly meant to make her his Elvenqueen just to save Middle Earth. "Am I to be some type of arrangement between you and Elrond?"

He didn't respond.

"Is that what this is? An audition to be the Elvenqueen because your spies were never able to watch me practice? Was this all some act? You only want me because I'm useful and have power you need, so you pretend to show interest in me?" Carrma's mind ran over several possibilities.

Thranduil became aware of the smell of smoke. "Are you burning this tree?"

Carrma blinked then waved a hand. "Sorry. I didn't notice. It's out. So is this some kind of game for you? Seduce the Sect member?"

"No. That is why I let you see into my mind. I let you see how I…feel about you. It has nothing to do with your usefulness."

"But you do not deny that my talents are useful to your cause?"

"They are, but that is not why I want you. You felt how I feel."

"I felt you were only letting me see certain things. You could have changed the memories and isolated them so I only saw what you wanted."

Thranduil didn't know if his next thought was the most brilliant idea, but went with it. "I know you have the ability to wipe my mind, but I hope you will not."

Carrma felt his mental shields relax to the point she could easily slip inside. "You're giving me access?"

He nodded.

Carrma carefully eased into his mind. She could see through his eyes watching her then she pressed farther. She experienced his communication with Elrond and tested the other memories seeing they were real then she pulled back when she saw what he was hiding. A place in his mind was sectioned off and held memories of his lost love. He saw his anger at the Dwarves because they would not give him the white gemmed necklace that was made for his Elvenqueen when she was alive and that she never got to see or wear it. She felt his determination to have it back, and his sorrow when he saw how he had been ignoring his son – a precious gift his wife had given to him. Carrma lived his remorse as Gandalf told him that his Elvenqueen would have rather had Thranduil spend that energy that he used toward the necklace on their son instead.

Carrma ran her hands over her legs knowing he was speaking the truth. "So that's why you told me and showed me all of this before…before anything serious…happened between us."

"I did not know if I could do it."

Carrma stopped moving and looked over his body. "That is obviously not a problem for you."

Thranduil grinned quit wickedly as he moved to lay next to her. "I meant opening my mind to you. For this to work, I have to let you into my mind yes, but I have to trust you with all of it. Galadriel said it is the only way I can do it without swallowing up our own armies. I did not know if I could trust you with that kind of free rein in so little a time."

"And you did trust me."

He repeated her words back to her from earlier. "To the grave."

Carrma placed her hand on his chest over his heart feeling the beat. She thought about how her mother had trusted him to keep her alive long enough even as a dragon descended upon her. "And, I you."

It finally sank in to both of them that he had just let her inside his mind, and she could have wiped out every memory leaving him not even knowing how to walk or eat…erasing him to the second he first existed.

Carrma watched him knowing if anyone had told her that he would trust her to this extent in such a short a period of time that she would have spouted out dozens of reasons why the statement was stupid. "You trust me. Why?"

Thranduil thought about how Gandalf had warned him before about things and how Thranduil spouted out something about storms are sometimes just storms. "I have learned to trust Lady Galadriel and to heed the warnings of wizards. And more recently, that there are some things more important than possessions and following tradition." Thranduil thought about how his desire for his heirloom white gems had caused hundreds of his soldiers to die and that his arrogance at keeping Tauriel from Legolas resulted in him losing his son for a time. And if Gandalf had not intervened then both would have been lost to him forever. "Not even a couple months past, Gandalf told me if I ignore my more tender feelings that it would mean the end of Middle Earth. So this is me, listening to counsel and following my heart even though everything within me calls it folly."

Carrma watched the play of emotions on his face. Worry, fear, and sadness. All of the things that no one would believe he felt. "Everything in me says this is dangerous. I don't even know how we will make this work. I can't sit in a throne room all day wearing girly clothes. I need to be out in the wild casting and crafting. I create things that have no predictability but I form it using intuition and hope it does not destroy or change a way I don't want it too. It's marvelous and terrifying at the same time…kind of like you." She watched amusement move across his face. "Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf usually guide people around so that it gives them the best odds, so you and I together as crazy as that sounds may be the thing that tips the scales in our favor."

Thranduil nodded.

"All of that aside, I have loved you most of my life."

Thranduil turned more toward her, "And I do not wish to be parted from you. If we go to our death, we go together." Thranduil took the ring off of his right ring finger and moved it to her left ring finger. He chanted a few words, and it reformed to fit.

Carrma removed the cord from around her neck and placed it over his head. She settled the pendent on his chest. "The giving and receiving of tokens. This doesn't feel real. It's too fast. We've only been out here a few weeks."

"You yourself pointed out you have known me most of your life. When we are done practicing on the spiders, we can make this official…my Elvenqueen." He watched her unwrap her legs to stretch out next to him. "The ring was your mothers and your grandfathers."

Carrma nodded. "And the pendent was given to you before by your last Elvenqueen. What was she like?"

Thranduil pulled her closer to him. "Listen to my thoughts."

"I can go into your mind and see memories, but I can't listen to thoughts as they happen."

"What happened to you are a natural and rules do not apply to you?" He smiled enjoying the feel of her against him – the feeling of belonging to someone again. "You are a Necromage, but I can try to teach you the way I do it. Maybe you can adapt it."

"Will you show me that trick from earlier? That sound breath thing you did?"

Thranduil traced his lips over hers. "No, but I have other magic to show you."

Her hand reached down gripping his hardness with a smile. "Yes, I already know. It grows."

Thranduil barked out in laughter. It shocked even his ears. It had literally been ages since he laughed for real.

Carrma shook her head.

Thranduil raised an eyebrow at her.

"None of this is real is it? Maybe I'm asleep in Rivendell. I'll wake up and you will be over for dinner acting arrogant and looking down your nose at everyone."

Thranduil shook his head at her description. "This is all real." He kissed her thoroughly as his hand traced over her skin, "I told Galadriel that she should form some other plan because there was no way I would take another queen. She said then the world would end. I told her to prepare for that fate then. That is how unlikely I thought this to be. To find someone I trust."

Thranduil paused and ceased to breathe or even blink. His eyes gazed out blindly, and he turned his head from side to side then settled on a direction.

Carrma recognized that from when Elrond and Galadriel did it. "Who were you talking too?"

"I send a short message to Galadriel."

"What did you say?"

"I found her." And with that, Thranduil returned his attention to the perfection of her body. He did not intend to be distracted his time.

A/N: OK, so that was the reason Celeborn, Galadriel and Thranduil were not in the battles in the LOTR movies. Heheheee Makes sense to me now. It was karma…I mean Carrma. What do you think? Romance or an interruption of Wargs? Update: I just did an edit of chapters 1-4 and will move on to ch 5.