Chapter Thirty-Five

Over the next few days, Legolas and Haehithien spent nearly every hour of the day together. Gimli watched from the distance feeling abandoned. "Do not let your heart be troubled Gimli," Galadriel said quietly, and Gimli turned to her with a start.

"What should I do, my Lady?" he asked gruffly. "I feel like my friend is leaving me."

She smiled at him warmly, and he felt slightly better. She extended her hand to him and said, "Come Gimli, Let us talk for a while."

It was a long moment before she spoke again. "There is something you need to know of the maiden Legolas has spent his days with. You know of his betrothal do you not?" she asked finally.

"That I do, my Lady," Gimli answered. "Fear his return to his father, he does."

Galadriel nodded and sighed heavily. "Yes," she agreed. "He has put off his return for many months after the quest was completed, by helping Aragorn scour the land of the last remnants of Sauron and Saruman's armies. Now however, it is time for him to face his destiny."

Gimli nodded sadly. "The marriage he does not want," he said solemnly.

Galadriel looked at him and laughed merrily. He looked at her in disbelief. This was not the time for laughter. "No, Gimli," she said with a smile. "Marriage to Eletharanna is the destiny his father would choose, it is not his destiny."

"The girl," Gimli said in awe, and Galadriel smiled and nodded. "She is his destiny?" Gimli asked.

Galadriel nodded again. ""When I spoke with him the day you arrived," she said. "He saw her in the mirror, but it was not his first time to lay eyes on her. He said that he had seen her in visions before."

"That's why he asked everyone to leave the nosse that day," Gimli said with sudden realization. "My Lady, you have done wonders for me this day. I no longer fear loosing my friend. I see now why he needs time with her alone." Galadriel smiled and they walked back to Caras Galadhon together.

"Legolas, where are we going?" Haehithien asked with a laugh as he led her through the forest.

"It's a surprise," he answered with a smile. They walked another twenty minutes and Legolas turned to her. "It's just a little further, but I want you to close your eyes." She looked at him skeptically, but did as he requested. Taking both her hands gently, he led her through the trees. They entered a grove of weeping willows. Legolas spread the low hanging branches and led her inside a place the she could hear the sound of a waterfall. It was warmer here than in the woods and though her eyes were closed, she could tell it was darker. "Ok," Legolas said quietly. "You can open them now."

She opened her eyes and gasped. "It's so beautiful," she said. Looking around she saw many weeping willow trees along the banks of a stream. The sunlight made the leaves glow vibrant green. Gaps in the canopy allowed the sunlight to enter in some places forming golden pools.

"No one knows of this place," Legolas said quietly as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist. "I don't even think Lady Galadriel is aware of it."

She turned in his arms and gazed up into his face. "Legolas?" she said shakily.

"Yes?" he asked in a nearly inaudible whisper.

She swallowed hard, then said, "You said you had seen me in a vision." He nodded and raise his hands to run is fingers through her fiery hair. "What did you see?" she asked nervously breaking eye contact momentarily.

"You," he whispered as she gazed into his eyes once more. "Making love to me," he paused a moment as if trying to gather his thoughts, then looked around them a moment before looking back at her. "In this place," he finished. He gazed at her waiting for her reaction. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Her legs went limp and her knees buckled. Legolas caught her before she hit the ground. "Are you ok?" he asked as he lowered them both slowly to the ground.

Haehithien nodded. "It's just a shock," she said softly. "Though I must admit I am attracted to you."

"And I to you," he whispered as he placed his fingers under her delicate chin and tilted it up. He lowered his head slowly, and kissed her softly. "I know it might be sudden, we don't have to do anything if you like, but believe me when I say I loved you once and I love you now," he whispered hoarsely.

"I-," she said and lost her voice. "I don't understand," she said when she found it again. "How can you have loved me before we met a few days ago?"

"I told you what I saw in my vision of you," he said quietly. "The vision has come to me many times, so many times in fact, that I fell in love with you, and I believe that you were sent here for me," he whispered.

"Why do you think that?" she asked. "Aside from this vision."

"Well," he said and paused a moment. "To be honest I really do not wish to return to my people in Mirkwood. You see, when I do, my people will be leaving these shores for Valinor, the eternal lands. My father has it planned that I am then to marry Eletharanna, the daughter of one of the High Elves."

"I take it that is not something you want," Haehithien said dryly and Legolas shook his head. She laughed when he rolled his eyes at her.

"Why," he asked as he shifted so that he sat in front of her on his knees. "Would I want to marry her when I have the most beautiful elf maiden of Ilúvatar's design seated right here in front of me?"

Her laughter stopped and she blushed at his words. Slowly, he crawled toward her and she braced herself with her hands slightly behind her. He reached up with his hand and traced the line of her jaw with his fingers. Inches apart, their breath mingled and made them feel lightheaded. His eyes never leaving hers, he traced a line slowly back up her jaw and ran his fingers through her hair to the nape of her neck. She inhaled sharply through her mouth, parting her soft pink lips as he gently tilted her head back. Slowly, he covered her mouth with his in a kiss that was filled with hunger, desire and need.

He groaned softly in his throat when he felt her weight shift toward him, then jumped in surprise when he felt her arms move under his and her hands on his back pulling him closer to her. Delight ran through him like the blood in his veins. Pitching his weight toward her he slowly lowered her to the ground, then covered her with his body. She inhaled sharply and he held her to him, then rolled quickly onto his back. He broke the kiss and they gasped for breath.

She started to sit up, but Legolas encircled her with his arms and pulled her back down to him. "Don't," he whispered huskily. But she pulled from his grasp with a mischievous look in her eyes. "You want something don't you?" he asked as he propped himself up on his elbows looking at her. She didn't answer him but smiled. "Are you nervous?" he asked. Still she didn't answer him. "It ok," he assured her. "We don't have to."

Haehithien silenced him by placing her fingers to his lips. "I don't know for sure what it is, but your kisses make me feel as though I'm on fire."

He grinned at her. "I don't know either but it must be destiny for you heat my blood as well," he whispered. "I must also admit that I have never been with anyone. My father wouldn't allow it since I am supposed to be marrying the daughter of a High Elf. He thought I should be pure," Legolas said with a laugh and she smiled at him.

His expression changed suddenly to one of quiet wonder. He reached up and caressed her cheek with the palm of his hand. She closed her eyes relishing his touch and brought her hand up to cover his. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw that he was watching her. "Kiss me," she whispered and he met her lips hungrily. She did not know what was happening to her. She didn't know if it was his kind words, his good looks or his charm or whether it was Ilúvatar guiding them to their destiny but right then she wanted to fulfill his vision more than anything else.

He traced the outline of her lips with his tongue and was surprised when she opened her mouth to him so readily. He encircled her with his arms and pulled her down with him as he lay back. He deepened the kiss and then moaned softly with pleasure. His blood felt like it was boiling through his veins and his hands now had minds of their own for they roamed her body of their own accord.

He held her to him and rolled so that she was now beneath him. When he could no longer get air to his lungs easily, he broke the kiss and both panted for air. She had her legs bent and her short light blue dress was clinging to her slim, creamy thighs. He knew that she was ready for him when his slightest touch sent shivers through her body. "Let me," she said huskily sitting up as he moved to remove his tunic. He paused and instead unlaced the bodice of her dress. When she had completed her task, she ran her delicate fingers over his flesh and he trembled beneath her touch.

With her bodice undone, he removed the dress when she paused her teasing and her breasts spilled free of their confines. He helped ease her back so that she was lying down once more. He then moved back and removed his boots and breeches. He cast them aside and lay down next to her. "May I touch you?" he asked quietly and she nodded her head slightly. They lay caressing each other for a long while, each learning the others' body. Finally Legolas could stand it no more. "I must have you," he said huskily and rolled on top of her. He did not know for sure if it were possible but he had a need to be inside her.

Her hips rocked forward in response to his body movements and he responded by pushing back. Reaching beneath him, he gently spread her legs to be more comfortable. Lying down once more, she rocked beneath him again. When he pushed back this time, he felt moisture on the tip of his elfhood. Pulling back, he found that he no longer felt it. He had found her core and desire blazed through him like wild fire. He captured her lips and held her to him. He pushed his hips forward and found the spot again. Reaching back he placed his hands beneath her and she threw her hips forward in response.

He broke the kiss and smiled at her. "I think I have discovered our movements," he whispered. "I do not wish to hurt you so I will be gentle." Kissing her again, he rocked his hips forward and she met his movement with her own, each one allowing him entrance a baby step at a time. Desire swept over them like a giant tidal wave. Their movements became more frantic. At last he pushed past her wall and she cried out, he hoped not in pain. He wanted to stop to ask her but she wouldn't let him.

She clung to him as he drove into her deeper each time. He felt tension building in his body and felt like he would explode if he did not stop. Yet desire for release filled him. The heat was intense yet he could not stop this close to release. Three more thrusts and their cries filled their hidden paradise. Exhausted, he rolled to the ground beside her, breathing heavily. She rolled on her side and laid her head on his bare chest and planted kisses there as well every so often. "Haehithien," he whispered hoarsely. "Did I hurt you?"

When she did not reply he looked down and saw her eyes were closed and her breath came slow and rhythmic. He smiled when he realized she was asleep. He inclined his head slightly and kissed her gently on her forehead.