Chapter 12 – GETTING CLOSER
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The Elf stood on the hilltop looking across the grasslands towards the great forest in the distance. He was formidable in stature. He wore a crimson tunic and brown leggings with brown leather boots, dusty and weathered from long travel. A gust of wind blew his long russet-coloured travelling cloak behind him; it was attached at his shoulders to his coppery chainmail vest. He surveyed the land before him.
"Daintáro," said a deep voice coming up the hillside behind him, "What do you see?"
Another Elf of considerable size joined him at the summit. He was similarly dressed in dark red clothing, but with leather gauntlets bearing golden-winged eagles inlaid upon them. He carried a long broadsword at his side.
"I cannot be certain," Daintáro replied,"But I think we may finally be in sight of the Sacred Wood, my liege."
Both looked across the long sloping hillside and past the wide grasslands split by a meandering river, to the large wood in the distance. Upon the broad plain below they saw two Elves on horseback riding towards them.
Daintáro shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand as he looked upon the approaching riders far below. His face broke into a smile as he recognized them.
"Our scouts return!" he exclaimed proudly.
"Your sons," said the King as he clapped him on the back. "Let us ride down to meet them."
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Rumil's clear voice rang out across the plain as he sang a favourite melody. The chestnut-coloured horse he was riding, borrowed from the Lorien stables, pricked his ears at the sound.
"You're in an even more cheerful mood than usual," remarked Kieran, who rode next to him.
"It's a beautiful day," replied Rumil. "The sun is shining, the birds are singing and we're riding out to meet our people and our King. What could be more joyous?"
"Oh," smirked Kieran. "I thought perhaps it had something to do with a certain Lorien maid you'd made an aquaintance with last night."
"Hmm?" asked Rumil innocently. "Who?"
"Oh, you know. The beautiful one in the white gown with the long, blonde hair."
"Could you be more specific?" asked Rumil laughing. "Practically, all the Elf-maids at the feast last night match that description."
"Alright. The one who ended up sharing your bed with you last night."
"Oh!" exclaimed Rumil happily. "That one."
"Yes, that one," laughed Kieran. His brother could be such an ass sometimes.
"And how did you fare, brother?" asked Rumil. "Any nocturnal activities to report?"
"None, unless you count the owl that woke me up four times during the night."
"Well, that's a shame." Rumil said sympathetically.
"I went to wake Taelyra before we left, to see if she wanted to join us. But she was already gone."
"Hmm," was all Rumil said.
"Or….perhaps she hadn't come home last night at all," ventured Kieran.
"Well, she's an adult now. She can look after herself. Especially with that great sword of hers!"
"Aren't you curious who she's been spending her time with while she's been here in Lorien?" asked Kieran.
"I'm quite sure I can guess," answered Rumil knowingly.
He could be so smug sometimes, thought Kieran. "Well, who would be your guess?"
"You know what they say," replied Rumil,"Women always fall for men who remind them of their fathers."
Kieran's brow furrowed in thought.
"Kieran!" exclaimed his brother. "You can be so dense sometimes."
"You mean the Captain of the Guard?"
"Yes, of course the Captain."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really."
"But they left the dinner separately last night."
"Yes, I know. But did you see the way he looked at her yesterday? When he entered the meadow while we were training and then later when we arrived at the feast. If I were to bet on it, I'd place my wager on Haldir."
"That's nice. You'd bet on who your sister spent the night with?"
"Well, I'll bet you right now that I can beat you to the river."
"You're on." Kieran replied as he let out his reins and whispered to his horse. Turf flew as both riders galloped across the plain.
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Haldir quietly climbed the stairs to his room. Upon entering, he was captivated by the sight of Taelyra. She lay upon his bed in a deep sleep, wearing only his under-tunic: a simple white linen shirt that lay open at her throat and covered her to her thighs. Her head was turned towards the window and a soft morning breeze gently blew her hair across the white pillow.
He put the plate of food he'd brought her on the bedside table and sat on the floor with his head on his hands, taking in the breathtaking view before him.
From his vantage point, Haldir could see the morning light shining through the fabric, silhouetting the curves of her breasts and ending in the soft points of her nipples. The material fell across the plane of her stomach ending at the top of her long legs. One leg lay languidly across the bed; the graceful curve of thigh stretching seductively from under the fabric, while her other leg rested slightly bent beside it.
Haldir's desire became intoxicating as he watched her perfect breasts rise and fall with her deep breathing, arms gracefully relaxed at her sides and her legs, opened slightly in an alluring pose. He could no longer contain himself and crept forward over the bed, planting a loving and lengthy kiss on the curve of her thigh. The breeze blew his hair across her skin, awakening her with a delightful tickle.
Taelyra gasped as she woke, feeling Haldir's gentle kisses on her leg, enjoying the sensation of his lips worshipping her bare skin. He gently nibbled on her knee while his hands ran lightly up and down her legs, sliding up beneath the tunic following the inward curve of her waist before reaching the swell of her breasts. She moaned lightly as his thumbs grazed over her nipples, which hardened at his touch.
The gentle breeze blew sweetly across her face, though not as sweet as Haldir's mouth. He feathered kisses along her cheeks finally settling across her mouth; branding her lips with his, conveying his desire for her with his velvety tongue.
She drank him in; her body sprang awake with desire. She instantly wanted to unite with him. Her hips reflexively began to grind against him as his hands continued to stroke her body, languishing in her curves and crevices. His mouth tasting her skin, licking her hungrily. When Taelyra's stomach growled voraciously they both began to laugh. It had been many hours since her last meal.
Haldir reached for the plate he'd left on the table.
"Here," he said, chuckling softly."You'll need some nourishment."
He took a strawberry from the plate and slid it into Taelyra's mouth. Her lush lips brushed his fingers and her tongue lapped delicately at them as she took the small fruit.
"Thank you," she purred.
Haldir continued to feed her, revelling in her tongue's flicking motions and the appreciative moans as she enjoyed this sensual breakfast. He could have happily spent the entire day doing this for her.
With the final offering from the plate, he revealed to her, "You are an unexpected gift and a treasure to me, Taelyra."
She finished chewing and swallowed the last piece of fruit. She stared at him silently, moved by his admission.
"Lle luhta amin I am enchanted by you," he said.
"Haldir," she began, "We're very different, you and I."
His heart plummetted. What was she about to tell him?
"But I feel," she continued, "When we are together, like this, that our love was destined to be. I feel as though I've found something precious that I hadn't realized I was missing."
Taelyra looked into his face earnestly. He no longer masked his emotions from her. He looked moved beyond words and, indeed, he said nothing.
"I feel complete when I am with you," she finished quietly.
In one quick motion, he captured her lips with his own. Gently sliding his tongue into her mouth, enjoying the sweet strawberry taste. He grew hard and pressed against her thigh. Her hand slid down his stomach and into the top of his leggings to grasp him firmly.
Haldir groaned into her mouth as she squeezed him gently then began to pump him slowly. His hips responded, pulsing with her hand. Their kiss intensified as he plunged his tongue into her mouth mimicking the action he wanted their bodies to take.
Taelyra stripped him of his clothing quickly. He stood naked by the bed while she knelt upon it pressed against the length of his body. Haldir slipped the shirt off over her head and revelled in the feeling of her hardened nipples grazing his chest. His hands coursed down her back, following the inward curve of her lower spine and finally pressing into the softness of her buttocks.
He kissed her again deeply, suckling her bottom lip, then traced kisses along her jaw up to her earlobe. Haldir's hands were everywhere on her body and she gave herself over to him completely. He sent her senses spiralling until she thought she would collapse from delight.
"Amin mela lle I love you, Haldir," she whispered into his ear.
He paused and looked intently into her eyes, his face registering surprise.
Taelyra smiled warmly up at him, "Is that so hard for you to believe?" she asked him.
He could not hide the joy he felt. "I have dreamt of this," he told her.
Taelyra loved this new outward display of emotions. She felt the same gratitude as last night, when he'd shared the beauty of the waterfall with her.
She wrapped her arms around him, delighting in the feel of the muscles of his back. Leaning forward, she planted kisses on his neck and collarbone while inhaling his scent, he smelled so good to her.
Haldir traced his tongue along the edge of her ear and she gasped when he took the sensitive tip in his mouth, gently grazing it with his teeth and softly licking it with his tongue. She sighed into his neck and ran her hands up his muscular thighs, tracing his hard length with her fingertip. It felt as though he was carved from marble.
He grasped her powerfully at the waist and instinctively Taelyra encircled his hips with her legs. He lifted her to the head of the bed, pressing her back against the heavy wooden headboard, and knelt between her spread legs. She let her head rest back against the wood, as she was overcome with desire for him.
Her lips parted as she was almost panting with anticipation. He rained hot kisses down her neck and she felt weak with longing. Just as she was about to loll back in collapse, he entered her. It was electrifying. Her arms wrapped tightly around his broad shoulders and her spine straightened as he slowly advanced into her. She gasped with pleasure and he smiled at the sound.
Haldir now lived to elicit sounds like this from her. He loved hearing her respond to his actions. His hips slowly thrust against hers and she moaned as her legs wrapped tighter, drawing him in deeper. He thought he would burst from the intense pleasure of it.
Taelyra's head fell back as she lost herself in the ecstasy of it; she was moaning his name. Haldir gripped her hips firmly, looking at her beautiful face, lost in rapture. He could no longer stand it, his pace quickened and his eyes closed as he fell against her, groaning in pleasure, filling her completely as he found his release.
Taelyra was enveloped by him; his arms encircled her as he pressed hard against her and she was breathless from the intensity of it.
"Vesta amin ten'oio, melamin," Taelyra sighed into Haldir's ear.
His arms tightened around her. They were as close as two bodies could get.
"I am yours forever, Haldir," she repeated.
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Daintáro [pronounced: dane-thar-o]