Chapter 5 - AWAKENING
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Taelyra woke slowly. She gradually became aware that she was lying in a great, soft bed. Her side ached a bit but mainly she just felt groggy. As though she had just swum from the great depth of an ocean finally surfacing into consciousness.
She took a quick mental check of her body. Both her legs felt okay and she seemed able to move them slightly. Her head could turn both ways but her one hand seemed immobilized. It had a soft but heavy weight upon it. She turned to see a golden head lying across her hand; the soft skin of the face caressed the back of her hand, which suddenly twitched involuntarily.
The head bolted upright and a pair of bright blue eyes stared up at her in wonderment. It was a handsome face, quite handsome in fact. Strong but kind, framed by golden hair that was drawn back by several fine braids. Who was this?
Ah yes, Haldir. She thought she remembered his guards calling to him by that name. She managed a small smile.
He grinned happily. He couldn't remember the last time he'd grinned but it happened instinctively at the sight of Taelyra's beautiful green eyes and her lovely smile. He thought he'd never seen so wonderful a sight.
"Lady," exclaimed Haldir, "it's good to see you awake. You are safe now within the City of the Trees, Caras Galadhon. Home of the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel."
His voice thrilled her. It was both deep and clear. He spoke graciously as one accustomed to addressing dignitaries yet she had seen him wield a sword and knew he had great skills in fighting. He reminded her somewhat of her brothers, both warriors and statesmen, and she felt at ease with him.
Finally - it was reassuring to feel at ease after their rocky start. She was relieved that that was behind them and that she had made safe entry into Lorien.
Safe entry! In order to provide the Lady of Light with the gift of Artanis, her sword! Taelyra's eyes darted quickly around the room. Haldir read her thought and pointed out her sword safely back in its elaborate scabbard propped in the corner of the room.
"As promised," he said with a knowing grin, "it awaits your gift to the Lady by your own hand. You will not let your father down."
He smiled warmly at her and she thought her insides would melt. His eyes were bright and clever, she couldn't even remember having told him about her father's orders. Who knows what she may have said in her injury and delirium last night? She hoped she had maintained some sort of composure.
Her memory was quite hazy after being dragged off the cliff by that disgusting warg though she did recall Haldir's intense blue eyes looking into hers and although she couldn't remember his exact words she remembered him willing her to have the strength to ride with him here. She remembered clutching his strong chest as they rode by horseback and resting her head against his neck. Even after battle, he had smelled good to her and his strong arms encircling her body had felt so nice. Strange thing.. memory. Hmm.
Haldir was looking at her inquisitively. He must think she was suffering some sort of mental fatigue!
"Th-thank you," she faltered, "for your help and for saving my life. I am most indebted to you."
"There is no debt, lady. You saved the lives of myself and several of my Sentinels with the grace and power of your sword."
Oh yes, the wave of death she'd summoned. She'd forgotten about that.
"The healers made a good tea for you. It will help speed your recovery, Taelyra."
The sound of his clear tenor saying her name! The thrill raced through her again. Why was she feeling like a smitten child? Had she suffered some sort of head injury that made her feel flighty and light-headed?
"Yes, thank you." she replied simply. Get a hold of yourself Taelyra, she thought.
Haldir returned to her bedside with a small cup of the tea still hot from the previous night. Taelyra began to raise herself up but gasped at the sudden stab of pain in her side. Presumably, she should remain still for a while yet.
Haldir put an arm around her shoulders and helped ease her upright gently. Taelyra noticed that he still smelled good. Very good. His hair grazed her cheek and felt silken - she wondered if his chest felt equally smooth.
Where did that thought come from? she wondered wildly.
Her shoulder pressed into his chest as he supported her up, he enjoyed the contact. As he brought the cup of tea to her lips for her, he took advantage of their closeness and breathed deeply and silently the scent of her hair. It smelled of jasmine, he wished he could bury himself in it. As she finished the tea, he put the cup on the small table next to the bed. He eased her gently back down onto the bed noticing the linen nightdress fell slightly off her one shoulder. Her skin looked invitingly soft. Her neck was long and elegant; he wanted to feather kisses down it to the tops of her breasts swelling invitingly just above the neckline of her nightgown. The thin material clung to her curves and he could just see the tips of her nipples through it. He wanted to caress them softly.
Her head fell back against the pillow and her hair once again fanned out beautifully framing her face. Her colour was much improved, there was a blush in her smooth, strong cheekbones and the rose hue had returned to her full lips. Her lips..
The tea had an immediate calming effect on her and she fell into sleep. Haldir took advantage of this in order to stare at her lips. They looked soft as rose petals and had a similar natural crimson colour. He wanted to press his own to them. Gently pry them apart to explore her wonderful mouth with his own. He wanted to possess her with his mouth, branding her with his kisses and tell her of his feelings when words were insufficient.
He sighed. She slept now. To kiss her unbidden was base and invasive. Perhaps he would have the chance to kiss her later, he hoped she would welcome it.
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Taelyra woke slowly. She gradually became aware that she was lying in a great, soft bed. Her side ached a bit but mainly she just felt groggy. As though she had just swum from the great depth of an ocean finally surfacing into consciousness.
She took a quick mental check of her body. Both her legs felt okay and she seemed able to move them slightly. Her head could turn both ways but her one hand seemed immobilized. It had a soft but heavy weight upon it. She turned to see a golden head lying across her hand; the soft skin of the face caressed the back of her hand, which suddenly twitched involuntarily.
The head bolted upright and a pair of bright blue eyes stared up at her in wonderment. It was a handsome face, quite handsome in fact. Strong but kind, framed by golden hair that was drawn back by several fine braids. Who was this?
Ah yes, Haldir. She thought she remembered his guards calling to him by that name. She managed a small smile.
He grinned happily. He couldn't remember the last time he'd grinned but it happened instinctively at the sight of Taelyra's beautiful green eyes and her lovely smile. He thought he'd never seen so wonderful a sight.
"Lady," exclaimed Haldir, "it's good to see you awake. You are safe now within the City of the Trees, Caras Galadhon. Home of the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel."
His voice thrilled her. It was both deep and clear. He spoke graciously as one accustomed to addressing dignitaries yet she had seen him wield a sword and knew he had great skills in fighting. He reminded her somewhat of her brothers, both warriors and statesmen, and she felt at ease with him.
Finally - it was reassuring to feel at ease after their rocky start. She was relieved that that was behind them and that she had made safe entry into Lorien.
Safe entry! In order to provide the Lady of Light with the gift of Artanis, her sword! Taelyra's eyes darted quickly around the room. Haldir read her thought and pointed out her sword safely back in its elaborate scabbard propped in the corner of the room.
"As promised," he said with a knowing grin, "it awaits your gift to the Lady by your own hand. You will not let your father down."
He smiled warmly at her and she thought her insides would melt. His eyes were bright and clever, she couldn't even remember having told him about her father's orders. Who knows what she may have said in her injury and delirium last night? She hoped she had maintained some sort of composure.
Her memory was quite hazy after being dragged off the cliff by that disgusting warg though she did recall Haldir's intense blue eyes looking into hers and although she couldn't remember his exact words she remembered him willing her to have the strength to ride with him here. She remembered clutching his strong chest as they rode by horseback and resting her head against his neck. Even after battle, he had smelled good to her and his strong arms encircling her body had felt so nice. Strange thing.. memory. Hmm.
Haldir was looking at her inquisitively. He must think she was suffering some sort of mental fatigue!
"Th-thank you," she faltered, "for your help and for saving my life. I am most indebted to you."
"There is no debt, lady. You saved the lives of myself and several of my Sentinels with the grace and power of your sword."
Oh yes, the wave of death she'd summoned. She'd forgotten about that.
"The healers made a good tea for you. It will help speed your recovery, Taelyra."
The sound of his clear tenor saying her name! The thrill raced through her again. Why was she feeling like a smitten child? Had she suffered some sort of head injury that made her feel flighty and light-headed?
"Yes, thank you." she replied simply. Get a hold of yourself Taelyra, she thought.
Haldir returned to her bedside with a small cup of the tea still hot from the previous night. Taelyra began to raise herself up but gasped at the sudden stab of pain in her side. Presumably, she should remain still for a while yet.
Haldir put an arm around her shoulders and helped ease her upright gently. Taelyra noticed that he still smelled good. Very good. His hair grazed her cheek and felt silken - she wondered if his chest felt equally smooth.
Where did that thought come from? she wondered wildly.
Her shoulder pressed into his chest as he supported her up, he enjoyed the contact. As he brought the cup of tea to her lips for her, he took advantage of their closeness and breathed deeply and silently the scent of her hair. It smelled of jasmine, he wished he could bury himself in it. As she finished the tea, he put the cup on the small table next to the bed. He eased her gently back down onto the bed noticing the linen nightdress fell slightly off her one shoulder. Her skin looked invitingly soft. Her neck was long and elegant; he wanted to feather kisses down it to the tops of her breasts swelling invitingly just above the neckline of her nightgown. The thin material clung to her curves and he could just see the tips of her nipples through it. He wanted to caress them softly.
Her head fell back against the pillow and her hair once again fanned out beautifully framing her face. Her colour was much improved, there was a blush in her smooth, strong cheekbones and the rose hue had returned to her full lips. Her lips..
The tea had an immediate calming effect on her and she fell into sleep. Haldir took advantage of this in order to stare at her lips. They looked soft as rose petals and had a similar natural crimson colour. He wanted to press his own to them. Gently pry them apart to explore her wonderful mouth with his own. He wanted to possess her with his mouth, branding her with his kisses and tell her of his feelings when words were insufficient.
He sighed. She slept now. To kiss her unbidden was base and invasive. Perhaps he would have the chance to kiss her later, he hoped she would welcome it.