Chapter 34 P
It was now Midsummer's Eve, and all the elves were outdoors celebrating. Gilraen was in Rivendell for the feast, once again she was incapacitated due to injury. She, Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir, and several other Rangers had caught a small band of Orcs raiding farmsteads outside of Bree, and killed them all. It was Aragorn's first foray as a Ranger, and he had acquitted himself well. Only Gilraen and Elrohir were hurt, both of them sporting sword slashes to the ribs, easily treated.
There was another reason that Gilraen was celebrating tonight, it was Aragorn's twentieth birthday today. She could see her son, still to reach full maturity but yet a striking young man, laughing with some of the elven warriors of Rivendell.
A voice coming from the blackness of night behind her startled her, it was Elrond. She ought to be annoyed with herself for never getting used to his sneaking up behind her and frightening her. A suspicion that a mischievous streak in Rivendell's Lord lead him to do this passed her mind and was quickly dismissed as unworthy.
'He has grown into a fine young man; you ought to be very proud of your son, Gilraen. It is a mother's right to feel pride in her children.' He cast a look at the woman he was now standing next to, 'or are you remembering his birth, on another Midsummer's Eve?'
'Indeed, I am. And very pleased I was to see you and Elladan that night.' She smiled at Elrond, and for an instant in time they both remembered the night Aragorn was born. As the crow flies, Gilraen's home with Arathorn hadn't really been so far from Rivendell, so when it became clear to the midwives in attendance on Gilraen that she was in great trouble with a complicated delivery Arathorn and two of his nephews had ridden post haste to Rivendell. They had exhausted their horses and themselves to the point where they had been unable to escort Elrond to Gilraen and Elladan had showed his father the way. Just as well too, Elrond thought, for Elladan, who had much of a healer's skill and quite a lot of training, had proved an invaluable assistant.
By the time Elrond had arrived Gilraen had been in labour for close to two days, and the midwives had long since despaired of saving either mother or child. While the Lord of Rivendell was pleased he'd saved the only heir to title of Chieftain, he was also pleased he'd been able to uphold his healer's Oath on one of the few occasions he'd seriously doubted his ability to do so. And perhaps that was part of the reason he felt so close to Aragorn, he'd been the first person to hold him as newly born baby and Elrond was not a person to question the closeness such an experience.
'You are a very strong and brave woman, Gilraen, and your son has in inherited those traits from you, two things he will need as he begins his life as Chieftain of the Dunedain.' He smiled at Gilraen, and took her hand, 'come with me lady, for I have noticed you haven't yet joined in tonight's celebrations.' She looked surprised as Elrond pulled her along behind him, down the stairs and on to the lawn set between beds of roses in full bloom. 'Dance with me, Gilraen.'
She stood still, staring up at the tall elf, thinking that never had she danced at such celebrations. 'I'm not much of a dancer, Elrond.'
'By elven standards nor am I so we shall make a good pair!'
Now she had run out of excuses, so on Elrond's instructions she removed her shoes as dancing on the lawn barefoot would be easier, and found herself whirling around amongst the other dancers with Elrond. Despite his saying he wasn't a good dancer, Gilraen enjoyed dancing with Elrond, and she found once he'd given her a few tips she relaxed and realised that not standing on his feet or tripping on her dress was easier than she'd imagined.
Laughing, they finally sought refreshment, and Glorfindel glided up. 'Do you intend to monopolise this fair lady's time tonight, or do I have the chance to enjoy her company too?' the blonde elf asked his friend Elrond.
'It is up to the lady whose company she seeks,' said Elrond, his grey eyes sparkling.
Instantly Glorfindel whirled to take Gilraen's hands, 'Fair mortal lady, you would not be so cruel as to deny me a dance?'
Recognising his mischievous mood, Gilraen decided to humour Glorfindel, and agreed. She soon discovered others who wished to dance with her, and found herself having a wonderful time. Between dances she found herself asked several times for songs and stories of the Dunedain people. All night the people of Rivendell danced and sang, and as the sun rose they made the traditional thanks to the Valar for the light of the last fruit of Laurelin that graced the sky during the day.
Full daylight saw Glorfindel and Elrond talking in a quiet corner of the gardens. 'Why shouldn't you seek comfort with her, Elrond? From what I saw tonight she is craving attention and affection, but she has no idea how to go about getting it. I'm quite sure she would be..agreeable.'
'You forget that I have a wife!'
'Celebrian sailed west five hundred years ago. She never would have expected you to deny yourself a companion and comfort for that long!' argued Glorfindel. 'Ask her, Elrond, for she needs you as you need her.'
'I don't know what to say to her. We have become friends and spoken of many things but this is different.'
'If you don't speak to her, I will,' announced Glorfindel. 'Now she just over by the lily pond, go and speak to her.'
Sighing deeply, for he knew Glorfindel would carry out his threat, Elrond approached Gilraen. 'Did you enjoy the evening?' he asked.
'Why yes, I did, Elrond,' she looked up at smiling from where she sat on her cloak. 'Sit down and talk, it will be more comfortable.'
He sat, and nervously twisted the edge of her cloak around his fingers. 'Why so nervous, Elrond?' Gilraen asked.
'I have something to ask you, Gilraen. Something that could offend, or distress you. Something that might end our friendship, or deepen it,' he said seriously.
Her reply surprised the handsome elf immensely. 'You want me to agree to sleep with you. I have noticed your interest in me Elrond, what I want to know is why me? With all the lovely elf- woman here in Rivendell why not one of them?'
'Because I have a wife, and she is not dead, despite what you might have heard, Celebrian sailed west five hundred years ago. I cannot offer marriage, and no elf-maid would want less.'
'That answers why not an elven woman, I want to know why me now.'
Elrond reached out and stroked Gilraen's face with a gentle hand, 'because you are beautiful and I have grown to be fond of you, and deeply respect you, and while I cannot marry you, Gilraen, I offer you comfort, affection and companionship.'
'I'm not concerned about having an illicit relationship with you, Elrond. In fact, I'm flattered you would ask me, but I do have one problem with this.'
'You do not care for me, not enough at least.' Gilraen stared at Elrond, seeing the hurt in his eyes.
'No, no, Elrond, that's not the problem,' Gilraen shocked herself by reaching out to touch Elrond, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
'Then what is?' a very confused Elrond asked.
'I have no need of what you offer, or any understanding of why anyone would.'
'Ah, I see. Because you didn't experience pleasure in Arathorn's touch, or feel any of a woman's normal needs does not mean you never could.' He took Gilraen's face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her. She tried to pull away but Elrond was too strong, and he held her still as his lips brushed hers softly. Her wide-eyed look of shock made him smile, and take her in his arms.
'I would be gentle, Gilraen, and I what I really want is to show what it is to be a woman.'
'I see,' she bit her lip, nervously, and pulled back to look Elrond in the eyes. 'I don't know what to say, except that, well, to be truthful, I'm frightened.'
'Stand up, walk with me,' he said, getting to his feet. He took Gilraen by the hand, and she picked up her cloak, together they walked indoors.
'I think I should go to my room, Elrond. It's not that I don't appreciate your um, offer, but I think that it's not right for me to accept,' Gilraen said as soon as she and Elrond were indoors.
Elrond laughed at that. 'Why don't you come with me, I'll make you a nice cup of tea, which you doubtless need after drinking wine all night, and we can see what happens later. I have no intention of making you anything you don't want to.'
'Very well, a cup of tea would be nice. Just a cup of tea,' said Gilraen firmly.
'As you wish,' said Elrond, and tucked her hand into his as they walked to Elrond's private chambers. He made them both tea, and they drank it on his balcony, watching some blackbirds playing in the birdbath.
Gilraen put her empty cup down. 'Thank you for the tea, and the company, Elrond, but I should be on my way.'
'Not till you have paid the price I want this morning,' said Elrond as he barred the way to the door. He was smiling cheekily, and Gilraen was reminded of her thought of the previous evening that Elrond had a mischievous streak. Backing away from him, she asked, 'what price is that?'
'Oh Gilraen, nothing like that! Just a kiss,' he said softly as he moved closer to Gilraen, and slid an arm around her slim shoulders. 'A kiss, nothing more.' His eyes twinkled as he caught her chin in his free hand and tipped her face up. She didn't move as he bent to kiss her, whether from fear or acceptance of his 'price' he didn't know.
To Gilraen's surprise the kiss was pleasant. Elrond didn't hold her tightly, or demand anything of her, he simply kissed her gently. She found she was able to relax, and enjoy the sensations he roused in her.
'There, that wasn't so bad, was it,' Elrond said slightly breathless.
'No, rather nice, actually.'
'My dear girl, if you think that was nice, then let assure you what else I have in mind you would find very pleasurable indeed. Stay Gilraen, for a while. Let's see what happens between us. I promise you can leave any time you like, or if you just want to keep me company, I would be grateful for that, too.'
Gilraen nodded, and allowed Elrond to lead her to his bed, where outer garments were shed, and they settled comfortably snuggling against each other. For some time they talked quietly, and then, once Gilraen had relaxed he began to kiss her again. His gentle hands and soft kisses were very persuasive, and later, lying naked against Elrond, Gilraen had to admit, he was right; lovemaking was very pleasurable. Still, she should go now, before she was found here, in Elrond's bed, and started to ease away from the half asleep man beside her.
'Where are you going?' He reached out and snagged her around the waist with one long arm. 'Don't go, stay, no one will disturb us. Sleep for a few hours.'
'Are you sure?'
'Mmm, stay, snuggle up.'
So she stayed, and found she had the best sleep of her life in Elrond's arms. And that was the start of the long love affair between a beautiful mortal widow and a lonely elf-lord.
It was now Midsummer's Eve, and all the elves were outdoors celebrating. Gilraen was in Rivendell for the feast, once again she was incapacitated due to injury. She, Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir, and several other Rangers had caught a small band of Orcs raiding farmsteads outside of Bree, and killed them all. It was Aragorn's first foray as a Ranger, and he had acquitted himself well. Only Gilraen and Elrohir were hurt, both of them sporting sword slashes to the ribs, easily treated.
There was another reason that Gilraen was celebrating tonight, it was Aragorn's twentieth birthday today. She could see her son, still to reach full maturity but yet a striking young man, laughing with some of the elven warriors of Rivendell.
A voice coming from the blackness of night behind her startled her, it was Elrond. She ought to be annoyed with herself for never getting used to his sneaking up behind her and frightening her. A suspicion that a mischievous streak in Rivendell's Lord lead him to do this passed her mind and was quickly dismissed as unworthy.
'He has grown into a fine young man; you ought to be very proud of your son, Gilraen. It is a mother's right to feel pride in her children.' He cast a look at the woman he was now standing next to, 'or are you remembering his birth, on another Midsummer's Eve?'
'Indeed, I am. And very pleased I was to see you and Elladan that night.' She smiled at Elrond, and for an instant in time they both remembered the night Aragorn was born. As the crow flies, Gilraen's home with Arathorn hadn't really been so far from Rivendell, so when it became clear to the midwives in attendance on Gilraen that she was in great trouble with a complicated delivery Arathorn and two of his nephews had ridden post haste to Rivendell. They had exhausted their horses and themselves to the point where they had been unable to escort Elrond to Gilraen and Elladan had showed his father the way. Just as well too, Elrond thought, for Elladan, who had much of a healer's skill and quite a lot of training, had proved an invaluable assistant.
By the time Elrond had arrived Gilraen had been in labour for close to two days, and the midwives had long since despaired of saving either mother or child. While the Lord of Rivendell was pleased he'd saved the only heir to title of Chieftain, he was also pleased he'd been able to uphold his healer's Oath on one of the few occasions he'd seriously doubted his ability to do so. And perhaps that was part of the reason he felt so close to Aragorn, he'd been the first person to hold him as newly born baby and Elrond was not a person to question the closeness such an experience.
'You are a very strong and brave woman, Gilraen, and your son has in inherited those traits from you, two things he will need as he begins his life as Chieftain of the Dunedain.' He smiled at Gilraen, and took her hand, 'come with me lady, for I have noticed you haven't yet joined in tonight's celebrations.' She looked surprised as Elrond pulled her along behind him, down the stairs and on to the lawn set between beds of roses in full bloom. 'Dance with me, Gilraen.'
She stood still, staring up at the tall elf, thinking that never had she danced at such celebrations. 'I'm not much of a dancer, Elrond.'
'By elven standards nor am I so we shall make a good pair!'
Now she had run out of excuses, so on Elrond's instructions she removed her shoes as dancing on the lawn barefoot would be easier, and found herself whirling around amongst the other dancers with Elrond. Despite his saying he wasn't a good dancer, Gilraen enjoyed dancing with Elrond, and she found once he'd given her a few tips she relaxed and realised that not standing on his feet or tripping on her dress was easier than she'd imagined.
Laughing, they finally sought refreshment, and Glorfindel glided up. 'Do you intend to monopolise this fair lady's time tonight, or do I have the chance to enjoy her company too?' the blonde elf asked his friend Elrond.
'It is up to the lady whose company she seeks,' said Elrond, his grey eyes sparkling.
Instantly Glorfindel whirled to take Gilraen's hands, 'Fair mortal lady, you would not be so cruel as to deny me a dance?'
Recognising his mischievous mood, Gilraen decided to humour Glorfindel, and agreed. She soon discovered others who wished to dance with her, and found herself having a wonderful time. Between dances she found herself asked several times for songs and stories of the Dunedain people. All night the people of Rivendell danced and sang, and as the sun rose they made the traditional thanks to the Valar for the light of the last fruit of Laurelin that graced the sky during the day.
Full daylight saw Glorfindel and Elrond talking in a quiet corner of the gardens. 'Why shouldn't you seek comfort with her, Elrond? From what I saw tonight she is craving attention and affection, but she has no idea how to go about getting it. I'm quite sure she would be..agreeable.'
'You forget that I have a wife!'
'Celebrian sailed west five hundred years ago. She never would have expected you to deny yourself a companion and comfort for that long!' argued Glorfindel. 'Ask her, Elrond, for she needs you as you need her.'
'I don't know what to say to her. We have become friends and spoken of many things but this is different.'
'If you don't speak to her, I will,' announced Glorfindel. 'Now she just over by the lily pond, go and speak to her.'
Sighing deeply, for he knew Glorfindel would carry out his threat, Elrond approached Gilraen. 'Did you enjoy the evening?' he asked.
'Why yes, I did, Elrond,' she looked up at smiling from where she sat on her cloak. 'Sit down and talk, it will be more comfortable.'
He sat, and nervously twisted the edge of her cloak around his fingers. 'Why so nervous, Elrond?' Gilraen asked.
'I have something to ask you, Gilraen. Something that could offend, or distress you. Something that might end our friendship, or deepen it,' he said seriously.
Her reply surprised the handsome elf immensely. 'You want me to agree to sleep with you. I have noticed your interest in me Elrond, what I want to know is why me? With all the lovely elf- woman here in Rivendell why not one of them?'
'Because I have a wife, and she is not dead, despite what you might have heard, Celebrian sailed west five hundred years ago. I cannot offer marriage, and no elf-maid would want less.'
'That answers why not an elven woman, I want to know why me now.'
Elrond reached out and stroked Gilraen's face with a gentle hand, 'because you are beautiful and I have grown to be fond of you, and deeply respect you, and while I cannot marry you, Gilraen, I offer you comfort, affection and companionship.'
'I'm not concerned about having an illicit relationship with you, Elrond. In fact, I'm flattered you would ask me, but I do have one problem with this.'
'You do not care for me, not enough at least.' Gilraen stared at Elrond, seeing the hurt in his eyes.
'No, no, Elrond, that's not the problem,' Gilraen shocked herself by reaching out to touch Elrond, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
'Then what is?' a very confused Elrond asked.
'I have no need of what you offer, or any understanding of why anyone would.'
'Ah, I see. Because you didn't experience pleasure in Arathorn's touch, or feel any of a woman's normal needs does not mean you never could.' He took Gilraen's face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her. She tried to pull away but Elrond was too strong, and he held her still as his lips brushed hers softly. Her wide-eyed look of shock made him smile, and take her in his arms.
'I would be gentle, Gilraen, and I what I really want is to show what it is to be a woman.'
'I see,' she bit her lip, nervously, and pulled back to look Elrond in the eyes. 'I don't know what to say, except that, well, to be truthful, I'm frightened.'
'Stand up, walk with me,' he said, getting to his feet. He took Gilraen by the hand, and she picked up her cloak, together they walked indoors.
'I think I should go to my room, Elrond. It's not that I don't appreciate your um, offer, but I think that it's not right for me to accept,' Gilraen said as soon as she and Elrond were indoors.
Elrond laughed at that. 'Why don't you come with me, I'll make you a nice cup of tea, which you doubtless need after drinking wine all night, and we can see what happens later. I have no intention of making you anything you don't want to.'
'Very well, a cup of tea would be nice. Just a cup of tea,' said Gilraen firmly.
'As you wish,' said Elrond, and tucked her hand into his as they walked to Elrond's private chambers. He made them both tea, and they drank it on his balcony, watching some blackbirds playing in the birdbath.
Gilraen put her empty cup down. 'Thank you for the tea, and the company, Elrond, but I should be on my way.'
'Not till you have paid the price I want this morning,' said Elrond as he barred the way to the door. He was smiling cheekily, and Gilraen was reminded of her thought of the previous evening that Elrond had a mischievous streak. Backing away from him, she asked, 'what price is that?'
'Oh Gilraen, nothing like that! Just a kiss,' he said softly as he moved closer to Gilraen, and slid an arm around her slim shoulders. 'A kiss, nothing more.' His eyes twinkled as he caught her chin in his free hand and tipped her face up. She didn't move as he bent to kiss her, whether from fear or acceptance of his 'price' he didn't know.
To Gilraen's surprise the kiss was pleasant. Elrond didn't hold her tightly, or demand anything of her, he simply kissed her gently. She found she was able to relax, and enjoy the sensations he roused in her.
'There, that wasn't so bad, was it,' Elrond said slightly breathless.
'No, rather nice, actually.'
'My dear girl, if you think that was nice, then let assure you what else I have in mind you would find very pleasurable indeed. Stay Gilraen, for a while. Let's see what happens between us. I promise you can leave any time you like, or if you just want to keep me company, I would be grateful for that, too.'
Gilraen nodded, and allowed Elrond to lead her to his bed, where outer garments were shed, and they settled comfortably snuggling against each other. For some time they talked quietly, and then, once Gilraen had relaxed he began to kiss her again. His gentle hands and soft kisses were very persuasive, and later, lying naked against Elrond, Gilraen had to admit, he was right; lovemaking was very pleasurable. Still, she should go now, before she was found here, in Elrond's bed, and started to ease away from the half asleep man beside her.
'Where are you going?' He reached out and snagged her around the waist with one long arm. 'Don't go, stay, no one will disturb us. Sleep for a few hours.'
'Are you sure?'
'Mmm, stay, snuggle up.'
So she stayed, and found she had the best sleep of her life in Elrond's arms. And that was the start of the long love affair between a beautiful mortal widow and a lonely elf-lord.