Hi, everyone!
Well, no questions! *g* Thanks for the reviews! *gg*
I understand there are people out there who want to know what Culurien whispered in Elladan's ear? Well, if you listen closely enough, maybe you can hear it when Elrond whispers it to Culurien. ;)
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Imladris Revisited
By: DLR 2002
Disclaimer: Characters (most of them) owned by Tolkien estate
Elrond/OFC
Rated: R, sexual situations
Chapter 26
Despite Frodo's continued illness, the dining hall was a much more cheerful place than it had been the previous evening.
Elrond spotted Glorfindel and crossed the room to embrace him. Glorfindel smiled brightly.
"Excellent team work," remarked Elrond, smiling back.
"Thank you," Glorfindel said happily. "I am pleased to have been of assistance."
Gandalf came up. "What did you think of my white riders?"
Elrond looked at him with surprise. "What white riders?"
"The spell I put on the flood. We discussed this yesterday, do you not recall?"
Glorfindel and Elrond looked at each other for a moment.
"I saw black riders," began Glorfindel.
Elrond was thoughtful. "I may have had my eyes closed."
Gandalf was incredulous. "You did not see them?"
"I was looking at the Nazgûl, not the flood," explained Glorfindel. He looked at the wizard with narrowed eyes. "Are you certain that they were there?"
Gandalf regarded both of them darkly and snorted. "Harumph."
"I actually did have my eyes closed," said Elrond innocently. "It was necessary to concentrate."
"I saw them, Mithrandir," said Culurien, who felt this had gone far enough. "They were magnificent."
"Thank you, Lady, thank you." He cheered slightly.
Elrond and Glorfindel indulged in this 'wizard baiting' game much too often, she thought. Glorfindel, especially, could play the wide-eyed innocent to perfection. He was doing so now, and she caught him giving Elrond a wink.
Elrond turned away from Gandalf, hiding a small smile. Behind him the hobbits were seated at a table, waiting for dinner. With them was Bilbo, who rose as Elrond approached.
"Everyone feeling better?" inquired Elrond. "Partake of some wine, please," he offered, his eyes twinkling. "The red is excellent." Culurien pinched him.
Bilbo laid his hand on Elrond's arm. "How is Frodo? May I see him?"
"He is resting comfortably for the moment, regaining his strength against the ordeal still before him," said Elrond. "Certainly you may see him, any time you wish." He put his hand on Bilbo's shoulder. "If he is as stalwart as his uncle, he will be fine." Bilbo gave him a shaky smile.
Elrond moved on, greeting new arrivals, thanking people for their efforts. The relief he was experiencing with the end of the day's events was enormous after what seemed like months, nay even years of endless worry.
One hurdle overcome, he thought. Try not to worry about the next step.
"I am a little afraid of this mood you are in," whispered Culurien as they sat down.
Elrond lifted his eyebrows. "Mood? What mood?"
"You do not often show this side in public."
"Which side would that be?" he returned, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"Do not play the innocent with me." She smiled. "You are aware of what I speak."
He looked at her, his eyes questioning.
"You are being far too playful," Culurien said. "You will find yourself in trouble eventually."
"I am Lord of Imladris." Elrond grinned. "Who is there to chastise me?"
"I am Lady of Imladris," she responded. "I will."
He smirked. "And how, exactly, do you plan on reprimanding me?"
"This is what I mean," she whispered. "Hush yourself."
"For the moment. But later I insist on knowing your method."
"Shh," Culurien said, reddening. "It is lucky there is no one to overhear."
He smiled wickedly and leaning over, whispered in her ear. She reddened even further, if possible. Thank Elbereth Elladan was not here, she thought, for she would not even be able to look at him.
"I can see you are going to have to go to bed early," she admonished, trying to frown.
Elrond totally failed to look contrite. "Yes, madam, I certainly hope so."
Culurien sighed, defeated.
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The fire burned low, the room seemed empty. "Lindir," Elrond called. There was silence.
He raised his voice a notch. "Is anybody here?" They waited. Nothing.
Culurien was not convinced. "Search."
They checked all the rooms, the terrace and the garden. No one.
"Lock the door," Culurien instructed. Elrond did so. Culurien opened a cupboard. Elrond raised his eyebrows.
She shrugged. "Hobbits are small." They looked at each other, laughing.
"Now you can see why I need to leave from time to time in order to find solitude," he murmured, his face in her hair.
"Next time you leave," she whispered, holding him tightly, "I go with you."
His voice became husky. "Agreed."
"Why on Arda do you have to wear all these layers?" she asked with impatience.
"Perhaps I should set a new fashion trend." He kissed her neck hungrily. "What do you suggest?"
"Naked is fine with me," she answered, her breath becoming labored.
He laughed. "That would sit well with those at Morning Council, I am certain. Do you think it would add to my authority?"
"I, for one, would hang on your every word," she whispered, pressing her breasts against his bare chest.
There was a long silence as they communicated physically rather than verbally.
"It feels as though it has been an age," she murmured as he laid her down on the bed.
"It has," he whispered hoarsely, as he parted her legs. He kissed the soft skin of her inner thighs, his arousal matching hers, as her excitement escalated.
"Oh, Mellhîr," she gasped as her body began to shudder. He held her tightly as her hips convulsed, her breath shallow as she writhed with pleasure. He continued his attentions and another intense wave of pleasure shook through her, leaving her panting.
He lay for a long time after with his head on her stomach, struggling for air as well. She stroked his hair. "Well?" she finally asked.
"I am sorry," he said, "but that was too much for me."
She was surprised. "You mean . . . ?"
He sighed. "I am afraid so."
"There is a remedy for that." She changed positions.
He froze. "You are aware of how that causes me discomfort." He looked indeed uneasy.
"I know, so you have said." She gently pushed him back onto the pillows, caressing him.
Culurien paused and looked deeply into Elrond's eyes. "It is time I made you forget about
Gil-galad."
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It had been four days now, and still Elrond had not been able to locate the shard of metal that remained in Frodo's wound.
The hobbit grew weaker with each passing day, Elrond's will having less effect as the evil moved closer to Frodo's heart.
Gandalf, in fact, had given up, though he spoke of this to no one. Elrond, however, was far from conceding, as he fought for Frodo's life with every ounce of skill he possessed.
This day, the session stretched into hours as everyone realized it was the last hope.
Culurien wiped the sweat off of Elrond's brow as he worked, his face reflecting the intensity of his determination. The room was silent.
Suddenly, Elrond froze. "Ennas ha dolen,"* he said, quietly. He slowly reached into the wound with the tweezers. The piece of metal he pulled out was no bigger than a splinter.
Culurien looked at him. "Do you think there are any more in there like that?"
Elrond stared at her, unblinking. "No," he said, firmly.
"How do you know?"
"No."
"But how do you . . . ?"
"No," he insisted, shaking his head emphatically.
"Fine." She sighed, defeated once again.
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Elrond sat with Frodo all night, watching over him. They had moved the hobbit to a bedchamber and from time to time the other hobbits came in and waited with him.
Elrond breathed a sigh of relief as Frodo steadily improved.
Near dawn, Gandalf made an appearance. "I will sit, go get some rest, you look as though you need it."
Elrond regarded at him with bloodshot eyes. "For once, I will take Mithrandir's advice," he conceded, rising.
He made his way to his chamber, where Culurien was still in bed, sleeping. Elrond undressed and laid his body close to her warmth. He knew no more for a long while.
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Elrond awoke with a start. What time was it? He got out of bed and looked at the sun, nine o'clock, maybe. Culurien was gone.
He washed and dressed quickly and hurried from the room, his first thoughts for the hobbit. At Frodo's door he stopped and composed himself, taking a deep breath. He turned the knob and entered.
Gandalf was still in the chair, dozing. Elrond crossed the room to Frodo. The hobbit had continued to improve, he noted with relief.
Gandalf stirred and looked up at the tall elf.
Elrond turned to him. "Has he regained consciousness at all?"
"Nay." The wizard shook his head. "Not yet."
Elrond opened Frodo's eyelids and gauged his reactions to the light. He laid his head on Frodo's chest, listening. He straightened up finally, satisfied.
"That was touch and go," said Gandalf.
"He is out of danger now. He will be fine."
Gandalf put his hand on Elrond's arm, his eyes glistening. "I do not know how to thank you. Frodo is like a son to me."
Elrond contemplated him for a moment. "If all the skills I have learned in six thousand years have been acquired only to save this one life, it will have been worth the effort." They gazed at each other a minute longer.
There was a soft knock on the door and Glorfindel looked in. "Could I speak with you?"
"Yes, certainly." Elrond stepped out into the hallway.
They conversed about the business of Imladris for a few minutes. Sam came running down the corridor and scurried around the two tall elf lords who were standing in front of the door.
"What was that?" asked Glorfindel, pausing.
"What was what?"
"I thought I saw something, out of the corner of my eye." Glorfindel was puzzled.
"I saw nothing," said Elrond, mystified.
They continued to talk, making plans for the upcoming feast. Glorfindel paused and laid his hand on Elrond's arm. "You look terrible, you should get some rest."
"I have rested," Elrond protested, dismayed. "I still look bad?"
"I should say so," continued Glorfindel, tactlessly.
Elrond snorted. "Well, compared to you, maybe. Even on the field of battle, you never had a hair out of place."
"I take pride in my appearance," Glorfindel began.
Elrond interrupted him. "Vanity, I would call it."
Glorfindel folded his arms across his chest. "Simple cleanliness."
"There is nothing simple about it," said Elrond. "I am clean, you are more like . . . pristine." There was a pause.
"That is a good word, I like it," decided Glorfindel. "Yes, I am Pristine."
Elrond sighed. "How do I get into these discussions with you? Pristine, indeed."
He turned the knob and entered Frodo's room silently. The hobbit was awake, talking to Gandalf, Sam at his side.
Elrond stood and listened to them a moment, his presence unnoticed, then Gandalf turned and indicated him to Frodo.
Elrond greeted him and put his hand on the hobbit's head, looking into his eyes. He said some words of healing in Quenya and Frodo, gazing at him, spoke back a few words in the ancient tongue.
Elrond stepped back, startled, then he raised an eyebrow and looked at Gandalf. "I see I must watch what I say around this one."
Frodo grinned happily and Elrond turned back to him. "Well, Frodo Baggins, you have had quite an ordeal. How do you feel?"
"Tired, but well," answered Frodo. "Much warmer, I was so cold."
Elrond reached his hand out to open Frodo's shirt and looked at the wound. It seemed very clean and healthy, healing quickly. "Is it painful?"
"My shoulder feels a little bit stiff, but no pain really," said Frodo. He stared at the ring on Elrond's finger with wide-eyed comprehension.
Elrond noted the direction of his gaze and his expression became serious. He held the hobbit's gaze hypnotically. You see correctly. But you will speak of it not.
Frodo shook his head in silent agreement, not speaking of it immediately.
Elrond smiled. "Well then, you may get out of bed whenever you feel strong enough."
"I am strong enough now," said Frodo.
"Hobbits are very resilient," put in Gandalf.
"I should say so," agreed Elrond with an amused look at the wizard. "Elrohir did not get up for a week." He turned back to Frodo. "I am very pleased at your recovery, Frodo Baggins.".
Frodo looked up at him. "Thank you for saving my life."
"You are welcome," responded Elrond as he left the room.
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*There it (is) concealed.
Imladris Revisited
By: DLR 2002
Disclaimer: *sigh*
Elrond/Glorfindel(?)*smirk*
Rated:ES for Extreme Silliness
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Alternate Chapter 26 (A different Victory of the Ford of Bruinen celebration)
Elrond: *comes into dining hall, sees Glorfindel, they high-five* WE RULE!!
Glorfindel: *snickering* You are too smooth, Babe, you rock, totally!
Elrond: *punching fist in air* Whoo hoo! Go Me!!
Glorfindel: *smirks* Bye-bye Nazgûl, you are so out of here!!
Elrond: *agreeing* Last year's news!
Glorfindel: Too sweet! I looked like a Goddess, don't you think, all white and shiny and glowy!
Elrond: You mean God.
Glorfindel: I know what I mean.
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