Read previous disclaimer on LOTR and related characters. A/N: In lieu of a whole page A/N, I decided to add this short plea. There are spelling errors that I noticed, but the majority of them were accidentally misspelled as my keyboard is giving me problems right now. Not even spellcheck is perfect ;). Also, I have taken to begging for reviews. Though I once swore to myself that I would never beg, I find myself now at an author's crossroad and it seems that either no one is reading this, or hardly anyone cares to review. While a stroked ego is always nice, my need for review goes way beyond that. After a looooong writing hiatus, I find my writing skills have suffered and desperately want to improve them. Reviews help me to do that, so please...rant,complain,praise,or educate me to the errors of my writing. I can only love you for it, but please, be mature and refrain from just submitting "You suck" emails. P.S. Thanks to the few of you that have reviewed. Lots of Love to ya!
~Kalenniphredil~
"You did very well back there, Nevaria. The Eldars would be proud" Kalen offered with a small smile.
Nevaria's eyes widened in surprise. The compliment, unexpected, combined with its source, provided a cloud of suspicion. Unsure of how to react, Nevaria momentarily pondered the words and decided on the response that had become typical of her.
"Thank you, though, I am unsure whether to dismiss it or bow to the 'Almighty Kalen'. She puckered her lips as though she had eaten something sour and raised her brow in sarcasm.
Kalen sighed in defeat. Her peace offering had been rejected and she turned her eyes straight ahead.
"Forget I said anything".
The hatred Nevaria had was becoming all too apparent and thoughts of resolving the mysterious feud dissolved. She hardened her gaze to the surrounding wood. She was the Captain of Guard and Nevaria was merely a scout, they did not need friendship to accomplish their goal.
Gimli watched as the two females engaged in a battle of egos and frowned. He knew Kalen was making an effort to bridge the gap that had seperated them, but the honey haired elf was making it nearly impossible. This gap had been long in the making and the battle would be an ongoing one. He could remember a time when he and Legolas had been engaged in a similar battle, but doubted the outcome for the female elves would end with the same joyous result.
They had walked through the night, bidding the moon farewell when the sun made the attempt to take its place in the sky. Kalen smiled to herself. The orange and golden hues were a glorious sight and her heart became lightened with a sense of relief in having been allowed to view another sunrise. She hoped it would not be her last.
"Thank the Valar, there is a hot spring in the distance".
Nevaria quickened her pace as she spoke, and the others could feel their strides accelerate as if they were being pulled by an unseen force. Though no one had thought of it before, their need to feel the warm, refreshing waters was becoming more overwhelming with each step that brought them closer to the spring.
One by one, they arrived, slowing their pace as they reached the spring. First Nevaria, Legolas followed by Kalen and then, at the last, Gimli. Legolas kneeled before the steaming waters and immersed his hand, running his long fingers through it. He could have happily submerged himself into the soothing warmth, but when Kalen walked to his side, he noticed her mud spattered boots. He would wait for his comfort a while longer as he offered relief to the two women.
"You two should go first. I am sure you are anxious to remove the remnants of your last 'bath'".
Kalen glanced down at him and let her sigh of gratefulness escape her lips.
"I thank you".
The blonde elf looked up and found his eyes locked in a gaze with Kalen's. When the smile on her face faded and she looked away, Legolas felt the heated embarrassment as it came to his cheeks and his mind raced for words to fill the awkward silence. He cleared his throat, calling for attention.
"Well, it will help to eliminate any scent that might be detected by an enemy".
The attempt to save face had only served to allow Nevaria yet another chance to poke at her superior.
"I think he means to call attention to the unwelcome stench you emit".
A smile formed on Kalen's lips and she shook her head. The desire to engage in arguments became non existent when she became fully aware that she was only moments away from her heavenly indulgence. Her will to fight had faded when she had reached the spring and she began to undo the clasps that held the sheaths on her back. The load had been lightened and she suddenly realized how heavy the swords truly were. Her muscles ached and her long legs trembled slightly. They had walked many miles and the 'swim' at the river was now catching up to her.
Gimli seized the opportunity to offer the two women privacy by suggesting that he, along with Legolas, would gather wood for the fire that would aid in drying them. Legolas nodded and the two turned, heading into the surrounding wood, leaving the women to themselves and the steaming spring.
Nevaria had relieved her back of its burden, laying the bow and its quiver onto the ground, and began to undress. Kalen looked at her with dismay. It would be possible to remove any clothing after they entered the spring, but it was becoming apparent that Nevaria had no intention of entering the water fully clothed.
"What are you doing? Nudity is not required in our task".
Kalen's words fell on unconcerned ears as Nevaria succeeded in removing the last article of her clothing. Putting her hands on her naked hips she smiled wryly and contested Kalen's logic.
"Either way, it will all come off". The smirk on her face told Kalen that there were ulterior motives for Nevaria's sudden exhibitionist attitude and it would take fear to bring her to her senses.
"Have you no modesty, there are men about. What if they should return, or even worse, what if we are attacked while they are away?"
It would take more than a few simple words to distract Nevaria from her lust filled thoughts.
"I hope Legolas does return. I have read about man and woman joining and becoming one body and would gladly give myself to him for that union. As for being attacked, I imagine upon seeing my naked form, the fiend would throw down his arms and fall to the ground, worshipping me".
Kalen could not help but stifle the chuckle threatening to escape her. Nevaria truly believed that she would be raised upon a pedestal if Legolas returned to see her nudity and that any other male who happened by would simply be struck with awe. At last check, Orcs, goblins, and trolls worshipped nothing but greed and evil, and she felt pretty sure that Legolas would be no more amazed than he already was. Though her desire to fight had quelled, she found herself wanting to return the courtesy that Nevaria had bestowed on her time and time again by offering words of sarcasm. Surely it would be enough to relieve some of the pressure in her swelled head.
"Worshipping, or praying to his God's to restore clothing to your body? Perhaps he would pray to be blinded".
Nevaria laughed, returning the sarcasm. "You are full of jokes. Maybe you aren't so much afraid of being attacked as you are of discovering that your curves do not match up to mine. It goes without saying that Legolas would definitely agree with your insecurities when faced with our very different frames".
Kalen smirked. She recognized a dare when she heard one and she, no matter her age, was not one who easily turned away from a dare. Though she was over 1600 years old, there would always be a part of her that would remain the child that partook in these immature acts. She would not allow her ego to be bested by the scout that had always been second to her.
Removing her green tunic, Kalen shot an angry glance at Nevaria. They would soon see who was insecure as she tossed her dusted boots onto the pile she had dropped to the ground. Muttering under her breath, she unlaced her leggings and quickly removed them. As much as she wanted to win this dare and bask in her victory, she wanted to do so swiftly, though she would never admit it to Nevaria.
When she had reached her thin white undergarments, she paused. This was the only thing concealing her from prying eyes and she was not as eager as Nevaria to been viewed in all her feminine glory. Deciding it would be now or never, she carefully removed the garments, tossing them on top of the mound of clothing at her feet.
The two stood deadlocked in cold hard gazes and had not noticed that Legolas, in stunned silence, had returned. His eyes surveyed every curve of their bodies, unknowingly confirming that they did indeed have two very different body frames.
Nevaria had a slight build in comparison to Kalen's, but they were both, none the less, appealing. The curves of Kalen's arms rose, revealing muscles that had been carefully hidden under her tunic. These were muscles that had been formed with years of hard work with heavy swords and the power they contained became all the more obvious. The curve of their breasts appeared to be similar and looked to be no more than what his cupped hand could manage to cover were he given the task of measuring. Trailing down, his eyes devoured the flattened stomachs. Every inch brought him closer to two sets of very differently shaped thighs and calves. As an archer, the muscles of Nevaria's body were merely toned and her thighs were slender, but as a master of sword, Kalen's body was that of a trained athlete and the swells on her thighs and calves were defined. She had a muscular build but it could never be confused with the muscular build of a male.
Though he could feel the desire coursing through his body, he began to feel a little ashamed. He had lowered himself to the very status of direlect that Kalen's people had come to bestow on all men. The prince of Mirkwood was above sneaking peeps of unsuspecting maidens and though he could have studied the body of the ebony haired female for eternity, he decided on a more tactful choice. He would silently turn back into the brush to find Gimli, never speaking a word of what he saw.
With the same heavy footsteps he always used, Gimli had returned toting a stack of dead wood for the fire. Spotting Legolas, he strode over towards him, giving away his presence with every step of his heavy feet.
With widened eyes, the two females turned to see the flustered male elf. There was satisfaction behind her surprise, and Nevaria simply smiled and entered the water, followed by Kalen, who simply displayed a blank look on her face. If the water could have warmed from the heat of her embarrassment, it would have bubbled over at that moment.
"I am sorry. I have only just returned and did not expect to find you this way. I apologize if I have seen something I should not have". Legolas quickly turned his head as he stammered his words of apology to the two women.
"Consider yourself honored Sir Elf, for yours are the first, and most definitely last, male eyes to ever gaze upon our naked bodies".
The words danced off of Nevaria's tongue as if they were lyrics to a song, but Kalen was paralyzed with silence. She could feel her cheeks flush. This was a most embarrassing and awkward moment. How would she be able to look him in the eye or have him take her seriously now? He would probably undress them in his mind during the rest of their journey together. He was, after all, a man.
Still, an unquieted voice in her heart told her that he had been sincere in his apology. Kalen could feel the confusion growing in her as her mind struggled with this new dilemma. There were so many things to deal with in such a short time, none of which she had been taught. Maybe it was time to put an end to her problems. She would call for the parting of their ways and return to the security of her blissful ignorance.
