Chapter 12

The X5 pulled up to Melissa's house, and Rhiannon rushed in, intent on saying something. Whether it was to gloat at her success or apologize for her outburst she wasn't sure. But when she walked in and saw Melissa slumped on the couch, the same place she had been when Rhiannon had rushed out of the room three hours ago, she knew that only an apology come escape her lips. She hated it.

"Missy." Melissa looked up, her eyes puffy and red from crying and her platinum hair in disarray. "I'm so sorry. Really, I am. I didn't mean to yell at you like that." Melissa stood, sniffling as she did so.

"No, it's all my fault! I should never have tried to keep you from doing it. You were just protecting yourself, and I knew you needed to get some closure about the whole thing… I just wasn't ready!" Rhiannon smiled through the tears that had filled her eyes.

"You're crazy, Melissa." Melissa let out a choked sob.

"I know!" They embraced, tears flowing freely. Melissa pulled back, sniffed, and inquired,

"Did it at least work?" Rhiannon was silent for a pensive moment before replying,

"Duh."

Later, after delivered pizza and blown off dishes, Rhiannon climbed the stairs by herself and took a shower. When she stepped out, there was Legolas, in his usual topless pajamas, looking out of the guest bedroom window at the stars and holding Avariel. She went behind him, and just as she went to place her hands on his sides, he turned around and their eyes met. She instantly knew something was wrong.

"Legolas? What's wrong, what's happened? Are you alright?" She was met with a sigh, one that calmed her fears but did not absolve them.

"I do not know, Silmeamin. There is so much that I wonder about in my home. Is it possible that everything has simply continued without me, or do you think things there have paused?" He set Avariel down.

"Jeeze.. I couldn't really say, I guess." Legolas pulled her into him, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Did I ever tell you that my people, the Edheliath of former Greenwood, were to sail to Valinor very soon at the time of my departure? I was very torn of whether or not I should go, or stay. But I think that now, if given the choice, I would stay, and wait through thousands of years until we could meet again."
"That's the most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me." She was terrified to say it, but the words were fighting themselves up, slowly but surely. The churning in her stomach transferred to the enormous lump in her throat, and she felt constricted. With a huge swallow, she forced it down.

"Legolas? Will you tell me about Valinor? What is it?" Avariel slinked out of the room as Legolas pulled Rhiannon over to the bed, and sat her down, walking around the furnishing to sit on the other side. She turned to him, looking up at him with fascinated eyes. He had a conflicted look in his eyes, but before she could inquire about it, he began.

"Valinor is the place that the Edheliath of Middle Earth went when they were leaving the world." At the look on her face, he added, "'Edheliath' means Elves." Her face made a silent O in comprehension. Then she asked,

"But why did the Elves leave?" He looked at her wistfully, and answered,

"Because it was being destroyed. The Elves were the First Born of Illuvatar and the Valar, Silmeamin, and then men and the other races of Middle Earth were created." Rhiannon made a mental note to ask about Illuvatar, the Valar, and the other races, but kept silent. "The Elves were alone for many years, and through their deep connection with nature, and their love of Arda, Middle Earth flourished. But when the other races came, most especially men, their greed and lack of care about Arda - the Earth, Silmeamin- brought gradual destruction to Middle Earth, and the Elves could only watch while it happened. Finally, they all left Middle Earth, to sail to Valinor. Because we are immortal, Valinor was to be our final resting place." His eyes had wandered to the ceiling. When their eyes met again, Rhiannon's were filled with tears. Legolas smiled at her and took her face into his hands.

"Shed no more tears, Silmeamin. The Elves live an everlasting life in Valinor, a rich life, where they can flourish once more." He traded the tears on her cheeks for kisses.

"It's not that, Legolas. It's just that I realize what you would sacrifice for me now. From- from what you said before, I mean." He smiled again.

"I still stand by my promise. I would wait until the end of the universe to meet you again."

"Legolas, you frighten me." He looked alarmed at her admission.

"Say it is not true, Silmeamin!"

"But you do. I cannot lie. I've fallen so deeply in love with you, and you could disappear.. tomorrow! Tonight, even!" He laced her brow with kisses, and looked down into her eyes.

"I would never leave you alone of my own volition, and that is how I came to be here. I see not how I could go." It made so much sense to her that she just laid there on her side, looking at him, feeling incredibly stupid.

"Oh- of course." She couldn't seem to find her voice- she kept stuttering, and she hated it, as it was something she practiced avoiding as to sound confident in front of those she was going against in court. She continued to feel eminently daft, and along with that, she felt… heat rushing to her face as she realized that she had told Legolas that she loved him. He seemed to realize it as well. He pulled her into him and placed a kiss on the top of her head, and she hid her face on his torso directly under his head so that he might avoid discovering the faint blush that appeared on her mocha skin.

"Silmeamin," He began in a whisper. She moaned, almost painfully, and responded in a whisper of her own.

"Yes?"

"I love you more than I have ever loved anything else before in my existence." She looked up at him, feeling completely and fully fortunate, and touched her lips to his, her mind registering only his hands passing over her body and being shifted underneath the love of her life.

The next morning, feeling exhausted and ecstatic, and wondering if she had ever felt such a mixture of emotions before, being completely spent and never happier in her life, Rhiannon climbed in the altogether out of her bed, stepped over Ava, walked into the bathroom, and began her morning ritual. She brushed her teeth, and then made her way to a hot, steamy shower, thinking about the time Elves must save not having to do this… practically ever. She was figuring out the minutes of sleep extra she would have if she didn't need to unless she felt like it, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind and pulled her close, wiping her mind as blank as the misty, white tile in front of her. She tried to turn, knowing his touch, but he stopped her, and leaned into her and touched his lips to her neck before whispering lowly in her ear.

"Close your eyes, Silmeamin." She did as he asked, without protest. Not only did she completely trust him, her desire was building up ever more quickly and she began to ache for her zenith. Eyes closed, she let her head fall back onto Legolas' shoulder, and when he touched his lips to her neck, she gasped rather audibly. He was like a drug, she reasoned through her cloud, and the longer she was without his touch the more she needed it. The kisses continued down her torso, causing her to tremble, until his hands were on her hips, and he placed a lingering kiss on her hip. Her knees buckled, and he stood quickly, catching her and turning her around in the process. Her eyes opened in slits, looking at him through the steam. She brought her arms around his neck and used her leverage against the tiles at her back to lift herself up and wrap her legs around his waist, consequently positioning herself directly above him. Her eyes widened slightly at the feeling of him entering her, and she closed her eyes again, gasping more quickly, along with every thrust. She felt his lips on her neck, and she turned to him and raised one hand to touch his face while she kissed him. He felt her climax as they tasted each other, and she brought his climax. Her body relaxed against the wall, again he held her up. He pulled the stopper into place and turned the nozzle halfway, causing water to gush out of the faucet, but also leaving a shower of water over them. He laid down in the tub, bringing her to rest against him. Keeping eye contact with her, he completely lathered her entire body, watching as the water rose in the tub and washed it away. He brought water over her body and rubbed the bubbles and froth over her skin, evoking soft sighs from her. She finally sat up, looking at him wistfully.

"You're going to be the death of me." He smiled impishly, and moved behind her.

"At the least, Silmeamin, it will not be a painful death." She leaned back into him and slid down his frame slightly, until her head was resting on his stomach, water still pelting them with tiny, scorching bullets of liquid. Legolas reached for the bottles of scented bath oil resting near his flaxen head, and picked a vanilla one. He drizzled it over her collarbone, placing his hands over her and smoothing it down, pausing to cherish her breasts and navel respectively. She moaned a soft moan when his fingers touched to her apex, and her hands gripped the sides of the tub. He continued his ministrations, leaving her mind numb but her body and heart buzzing and tingling with unfiltered desire. More kisses on her neck, sweet Elvish nothings in her ear, none of it registered.

"Lle naa vamina." Her hands sunk under the water, reached for him.

"Vanimle sira tiri." He was still whispering to her, but she would soon stop that. She slid back up as he touched her, groping through the water. Her hands found what they were looking for, and at the feeling of her hands on him, he took a sharp intake of breath. The air was heady and heavy on their skin, and she began stroking him, moving up and down his shaft, touching him, running fingers lightly along the underside, grazing the tip, massing the tiny rift, and she felt his hands clench on her hips, and felt him crest, coming with him at the sheer knowledge that she could bring him that much pleasure. She sighed and leaned back against him, relaxing her body.

"I love bathing."

Translations:

Lle naa vanima : You are beautiful.

Vanimle sira tiri : Your beauty shines bright