Disclaimers: All characters are J.R.R. Tolkien's, well; I'm playing with their feelings a bit :) I'm not writing to make any profit but for writing's sake, and because I love the world of Middle-Earth.

Note: This is the R version of this chapter ... all of you who would like to read the full version (NC-17) please send me a note (susi_uk@eplus- online.de).

Translation of Elvish: I might not have to do this but here you go ... meleth nín means my love :) More to come in the next chapter ... so you better get used to the beautiful language of the Elves...

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An Unexpected Love

Chapter 8 - Meleth nín

Haldir still held her hands in one of his; the other was touching her cheek, which suddenly burned as if on fire. His fingers trailed her cheekbones; her soft earlobes and finally he buried his hand in her golden hair, pressing her head even closer to him. How he had longed for this, and how he had denied this desire to himself. But all that held no meaning anymore. She was here, finally in his arms.

Éowyn was too shocked to put up any defence. The sensation of the elf's lips on hers was almost unbearable. Unable to stop herself she opened her mouth a bit, an inviting gesture, she knew. She could feel the tip of his tongue trailing her inner lip. Then he entered the moist cave of her mouth completely, seeking out her tongue. She abandoned all thoughts of resistance and gave herself up completely. The anger she had felt just a minute ago was replaced by a feeling she had not had for a long time - desire. She longed for this kiss to endure, longed to feel his fingers on her skin. Finally the thing she had pictured in her dreams for the last few nights had become reality. She moaned into Haldir's mouth, wanted to scream out her desire and confusion. He let go off her hands and she threw them around his neck. Fingers playing with silver hair, feeling the soft skin underneath. Her mind voiced warnings, but her heart just screamed, 'Yes!'

When Haldir finally broke the kiss, both of them were panting. He drew away, forcing her arms from his neck. He looked into her eyes, these cold eyes that had haunted him in his dreams. Now he feared what he might read in them. But now there was no cold in them anymore, only confusion and, yes, aching desire. So it had been no mistake, he was not alone with these feelings. He took her face in both his hands, caressing her soft skin. Slowly he leaned down to her again. This time the kiss was gentler. Éowyn's arms closed around the neck of the elf once again, pulling him yet closer to her. She moaned with pleasure when their lips parted again. Looking up into those deep blue eyes she saw the same longing she felt. Why had she not seen it before? Why had she been so beastly to him? The answer was simple - Aragorn! She had been obsessed with the ranger, blinded by what she had mistaken for love. Only now did she realize what her heart really felt.

Haldir still tried to ignore the meaning of what was happening. Telling himself that it was just something physical, that it was not the one thing he had been missing all of his life. But it was obvious, there was no way of denying it ... he loved her. A human, how could this have happened to him? Why could it not be an Elvish maiden, why her? She would die; just the thought of it tormented his soul. But there was no way of hiding it anymore. He was destined to be with her. Destiny had led him to Helm's Deep, destiny had kept him alive. She was the only one who ever argued with him in such a manner, forced him to do things against his will, and he loved her for it.

"Éowyn," he whispered. Never had she been more beautiful than she was now. Her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, eyes fixed upon him. And the light that seemed to come from within her. She was bathed in it, the blue of her eyes almost silver with it.

She could do nothing but stare at him. The proud elven warrior before her. Beauty beyond comprehension. What had she ever seen in him that was not perfect? Her heart beat so fast that she feared it might explode. She needed to feel his touch on her skin, even if it was only for this one night, she couldn't fight it any longer. "Haldir," her voice was thick with emotion.

In one swift movement he lifted her off the ground as if she weighed little more than a feather. Once again she reached up, pulling his head down to meet hers. The kiss only ended when Haldir laid her down on her bed. His beautiful face a mask of desire. She longed to see him again, the way he had been last time she had been with him. When she had run from her feelings. Her trembling fingers moved to the laces of his tunic, opening them with difficulty, revealing the perfect chest of the elf. The wound in his side was no more than a scar by now, and for a moment she marvelled at the elf's healing speed. Then she leaned towards him, kissing every inch of his silken skin. Haldir's hands stroked her hair, the golden hair that reminded him so much of that of an elf. When her lips found one of his nipples he moaned with pleasure. His arms closed around her, drawing her into a tight embrace.

He longed for her, his body craved for her. Slowly his fingers were undoing the buttons of her dress. She locked up at him, the fire she felt building up in her body mirrored by the fire in his eyes. Slowly he pulled her dress off her body. She did not have the perfect beauty of an elf, but to him she was like a cold winter-sun, pale and wonderful. He revealed her small round breasts and the soft flesh of her belly. Her eyes staring up at him, wanting him to touch her. He leaned down to kiss the delicate skin of her neck, moving down to her breasts, his tongue finding her nipple. She moaned deeply when his teeth closed around it, throwing her head backwards, sinking into the pillows. She could feel his arousal through the fabric of his leggings against her thigh. Following an urge within her she reached one hand down to stroke it. She heard Haldir moan against her chest, finally begging her to stop. "So elves know this problem as well?" she asked teasingly with a wicked smile upon her face.

Haldir smiled, yes, she was really and truly the one for him. Only she could tease him in this situation. He raised himself, pulling her up with him. They both disposed of the rest of their clothing and soon stood naked. "By the Valar, you are beautiful," the elf whispered hoarsely, eyes wandering over her body greedily. Éowyn smiled weakly, still unable to believe that this was not yet another dream, not another trick her mind played on her.

She longed to feel him inside of her, be as close to him as possible. "Love me," she whispered. He could hear desperation in her voice, one of her hands once again forming a fist, hitting his chest. "Show me the love of the Guardian of Lórien." A voice laden with emotion, her body aching to be with him, to feel him. He reached out, pulling her back into his arms, kissing her brow, her cheeks and finally her lips. Her tongue entered his mouth, and, finding his own, battled with it. No, this was no dream; it was real. She cried with joy, clinging on to him.

He could feel her sobs and broke the kiss. His eyes close to despair, "What..." stopped by her fingers upon his lips. "This is really happening, isn't it? You aren't just a dream of mine are you?" He smiled down at her, pulling her yet closer to his body. "How can you doubt it, can you not feel me?" She looked down at the elf's arousal and grinned, "Well, not really." Before he could reply she covered his lips with hers again. Slowly she moved backwards to her bed, pulling him with her.

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Éowyn was lying in his arms, her hand resting on his strong chest. Never before had he felt anything like this. He had had lovers, and many too. But only now did he feel whole. Only now did he fully understand the people around him who had been telling him that until he found the one who was destined for him, he would not be complete. He smiled down at her, her hair spread over his chest, mingling with his own silvery hair. Her breathing told him that she had fallen asleep. He pulled her even closer, locking her in his embrace. His check rested on her head.

He watched over her, felt the warmth of her breath on his own skin, the movement of her chest. Her sweet face, eyes now closed. She was the one; no one else could ever take her place in his heart. How he had fought his own feelings, now he could not even find one reason for doing so. She was everything he had ever longed for, she was not like most of the elven maidens of Lórien who saw the powerful Chief Guardian in him and would do everything at his bidding. No, she was just as proud and wilful as he was. She was his equal, in every way but one. No, he would not think of this, not now.

He knew that he could never stop her from leaving Rohan behind her, going into battle. But now he would be with her, willing to sacrifice himself for her. These thoughts almost overwhelmed him. A life without her had no meaning anymore; she was his life.

She was awake, but kept her eyes closed. She could her his heartbeat, echoed by her own. His strong arms around her, she had never felt this safe. But then she heard his voice, "Meleth nín, my life, my love..." Suddenly she was wide-awake, forcing herself free, sitting upright. Her eyes were wide with terror. "My love" he had called her. No, this could not be.

Words she had heard in the past came back to her. Gandalf's words, another of his lectures on the ways of the elves. 'When elves choose a companion they do it for life. Most of them only love once, and when their loved one dies, they fade away. Even the strongest of them. The greater the love was, the stronger is the urge to give in to the fading. They seek out the sweet embrace of death.' No, this could not be Haldir's fate. Not because of her.

She looked down into his puzzled eyes and said with a breaking voice, "No, no. It was a mistake, a grave mistake, Haldir. Leave, leave me." She got up from the bed and wrapped a sleeping fur around her. The candle had gone out, and she almost stumbled before she reached the window, staring out into the dark. "Go!"