Title: Diplomacy 25
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: To the tune of Leslie Gore, "You don't own me"- I don't own it; don't try to claim it in any way. I don't own it; don't hunt me down 'cause I'll never pay! . Feedback: arisma_@hotmail.com -*--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**-- *-
He left the healer's tent behind, feeling the weight of the other Elf's gaze. He turned a corner and shrugged, happy to be out of Kallo's line of sight. Wearily he raised his hand and rubbed his still sore jaw, sighing deeply. The healers here were skilled and had erased most of the evidence of their brawl...most, but not all. He knew she would notice and resigned himself to the host of questions that would follow. He pondered his responses as he walked, the settlement beginning to feel familiar to him already.
"It's the kind of place you could start over, make a real go of it."
Kallos' words echoed in his mind, and he acknowledged the truth of them. They could stay here, build a life, together. He felt a deep ache in his heart and realized just how badly he wanted that. He wanted to wake every morning to see her, and sleep every night holding her close to him. He wanted a life with her, not these mere stolen moments.
But at what price?
His brow furrowed at the dissident thought, his subconscious again forcing him to consider weightier matters then what his heart desired. His father had issued an ultimatum, made his wishes known. He wasn't to return to his homeland unless he did so without her, unless he left behind the one he'd fought so hard for. Was she worth that price? Worth never seeing the trees, he friends he had cherished since birth? He could leave her, return to his father's side, take up the mantle of prince and protector again. He could turn his back on her as so many others had. He knew she wouldn't resent him, would accept his decision. He knew it and the knowledge made the choice for him.
He raised his gaze and saw the deep green of his tent, the slim purple veins glinting in the sunlight. A thought struck him as he entered and he held onto it, wanting to remember that exact moment, for all time, the moment this place became his home. Quietly he slipped through the doorway, letting the hanging slide down his back as it again sealed away the harshness of the sun. With silent steps he crossed the room and entered the bedroom, his eyes intent, knowing within himself where she would be.
She stood quietly, her back to him, carefully smoothing the bedclothes, making sure everything was just so. He watched her movements for a moment, a strange thrill in observing her unnoticed. Quietly she began to hum, a melody he didn't know, lilting and lovely. With utmost stealth he crept behind her, placing a soft kiss to the base of her neck.
She jumped, making a small startled sound, beginning to turn to face the intruder. Faster then should have been possible he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, murmuring comforting words. In an instant she relaxed against him and he felt what reservations he had slide away and he did not mourn them.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed, placing her hand on both of his, laced together over her navel.
"I didn't mean to," he murmured, brushing a soft kiss to the delicate skin behind her ear. He felt her sigh and lean back, resting against him. Craning his neck he pressed his lips to her throat, feeling her pulse leaping from the scare. "Miss me?" he asked softly, intently, adding a kiss to the base of her jaw.
She shuddered lightly, raising a hand and reaching behind to cradle the back of his head. "You were not gone long, Legolas," she answered softly, adding after a moment. "It felt like an eternity."
He smiled, nuzzling into her hair, the softness of her tresses warm against his cheek. "I have a question for you, love," he began, sure now of his decision. He felt her stiffen in trepidation and made a soft soothing sound, squeezing her back, even tighter against him. "It's a good one, I think," he said, feeling his stomach clench with nerves.
"Then ask, please," she said, laying her head back against his shoulder, closing her eyes, waiting.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly as he willed himself into the unknown. "Rhya...Rhyalla, will you...would you please...will you bond with me? Will you be my wife?" Despite his best efforts the words faded to a whisper and he felt his hands tremble beneath hers.
A moment passed, and he felt the hot weight of disappointment as she still did not answer. He'd given so much, left so much behind...and she denied him. He made to pull his hands away, to flee this pain but she turned in his arms before he could and wrapped her arms about his neck, nestling beneath the cup of his chin. He was startled to feel moisture against his skin, to feel the trembling that emanated not only from him, but from her as well.
"Rhya?" he asked, uncertainly.
"Of course Legolas, of course," she said, her voice dim with tears.
"Is that a yes?" he asked, his stomach flipping wildly within him.
"Yes, yes, yes!" she cried, still sobbing, placing kisses all along his face. It seemed to slowly dawn on her as she did so that dark smudges marred his otherwise perfect skin. "Eru, Legolas, what happened?" He watched her face fall, her smile replaced by a worried grimace.
She ran her fingers hesitantly over the marks as he shook his head, smiling broadly. "No worries Rhya, I'm fine. Better than fine, perfect."
He tried to sweep her into a kiss and she allowed it, but the moment their lips parted she asked, "But what happened? Is Kallo alright?"
He felt a momentary pang at the mention of his name but continued smiling. "Everything is fine, love, I promise. We had a few things to work out, and like typical males we got a little carried away. All is fine between us, truly."
She searched his face and he worked to make his smile more earnest, but still she opened her mouth to protest. Frustrated, he swept her up, kissing her with every ounce of passion he could muster. "Hush now. It's your turn to trust me, love," his clear blue eyes searched her darker orbs, waiting a mere moment after she nodded to continue. "Besides...unless I am mistaken we have a little celebrating to do."
Remembering suddenly, she smiled broadly, looking up into his eyes. "Did you mean it, Legolas?"
"Of course I did, love. I don't think I've ever meant anything more. My only regret is that I have no token to give you, no ring," he ran his hands lightly up and down her shoulders, meeting her eyes earnestly.
With a sudden smile she dashed from his grasp, fishing for something beneath a pillow. She returned clasping a small velvet pouch, which she held nervously out to him. Silently he took it, unsure what it meant. He tugged the strings open and upended it to reveal a ring. He looked at it and then to her and back again, smiling. "But how?" he asked, baffled.
"They took it off me at the healer's house, after the battle in the clearing. Kallo held it for me. After you two left I found it on the table...he must have left it," she looked up at him, her eyes bright, "Did he know, then?"
In reply Legolas pulled her close, running a hand down her back. "I think maybe he did," he answered, and then he kneeled before her, gazing up into her face with adoring eyes. "Rhyalla, will you bond with me, and stand by my side, as my wife and equal, forever?" He asked the words in the ancient way, feeling the weight of them as he voiced them.
Silently she nodded and he slipped the ring onto her finger, though it was much too large. Slowly he stood, cradling her chin with one hand and kissing her softly, lovingly, while tracing the ring with the other, tracing his signet ring as he sealed the ending of that part of his life.
-*--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**-- *-
A/N-
Note the new email addy for feedback, for those of you who have issues with the button.
So... what does everyone think of this turn of events? Are we on the cusp of a happily ever after?
I'd appreciate some feedback from you all in the literal sense. I want to know what questions you have in your mind that you'd like answered. Anything you've just been dying to know, or vaguely curious about? Review and include the question in it and I'll see about getting them answered in a timely manner.
~Arisma
*** For those of you who are music oriented as myself, check the song "Anywhere" by Evanescence, it's the current tune that makes me think of our happy (?) couple. Plus, damn good tune in and of itself.
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: To the tune of Leslie Gore, "You don't own me"- I don't own it; don't try to claim it in any way. I don't own it; don't hunt me down 'cause I'll never pay! . Feedback: arisma_@hotmail.com -*--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**-- *-
He left the healer's tent behind, feeling the weight of the other Elf's gaze. He turned a corner and shrugged, happy to be out of Kallo's line of sight. Wearily he raised his hand and rubbed his still sore jaw, sighing deeply. The healers here were skilled and had erased most of the evidence of their brawl...most, but not all. He knew she would notice and resigned himself to the host of questions that would follow. He pondered his responses as he walked, the settlement beginning to feel familiar to him already.
"It's the kind of place you could start over, make a real go of it."
Kallos' words echoed in his mind, and he acknowledged the truth of them. They could stay here, build a life, together. He felt a deep ache in his heart and realized just how badly he wanted that. He wanted to wake every morning to see her, and sleep every night holding her close to him. He wanted a life with her, not these mere stolen moments.
But at what price?
His brow furrowed at the dissident thought, his subconscious again forcing him to consider weightier matters then what his heart desired. His father had issued an ultimatum, made his wishes known. He wasn't to return to his homeland unless he did so without her, unless he left behind the one he'd fought so hard for. Was she worth that price? Worth never seeing the trees, he friends he had cherished since birth? He could leave her, return to his father's side, take up the mantle of prince and protector again. He could turn his back on her as so many others had. He knew she wouldn't resent him, would accept his decision. He knew it and the knowledge made the choice for him.
He raised his gaze and saw the deep green of his tent, the slim purple veins glinting in the sunlight. A thought struck him as he entered and he held onto it, wanting to remember that exact moment, for all time, the moment this place became his home. Quietly he slipped through the doorway, letting the hanging slide down his back as it again sealed away the harshness of the sun. With silent steps he crossed the room and entered the bedroom, his eyes intent, knowing within himself where she would be.
She stood quietly, her back to him, carefully smoothing the bedclothes, making sure everything was just so. He watched her movements for a moment, a strange thrill in observing her unnoticed. Quietly she began to hum, a melody he didn't know, lilting and lovely. With utmost stealth he crept behind her, placing a soft kiss to the base of her neck.
She jumped, making a small startled sound, beginning to turn to face the intruder. Faster then should have been possible he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, murmuring comforting words. In an instant she relaxed against him and he felt what reservations he had slide away and he did not mourn them.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed, placing her hand on both of his, laced together over her navel.
"I didn't mean to," he murmured, brushing a soft kiss to the delicate skin behind her ear. He felt her sigh and lean back, resting against him. Craning his neck he pressed his lips to her throat, feeling her pulse leaping from the scare. "Miss me?" he asked softly, intently, adding a kiss to the base of her jaw.
She shuddered lightly, raising a hand and reaching behind to cradle the back of his head. "You were not gone long, Legolas," she answered softly, adding after a moment. "It felt like an eternity."
He smiled, nuzzling into her hair, the softness of her tresses warm against his cheek. "I have a question for you, love," he began, sure now of his decision. He felt her stiffen in trepidation and made a soft soothing sound, squeezing her back, even tighter against him. "It's a good one, I think," he said, feeling his stomach clench with nerves.
"Then ask, please," she said, laying her head back against his shoulder, closing her eyes, waiting.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly as he willed himself into the unknown. "Rhya...Rhyalla, will you...would you please...will you bond with me? Will you be my wife?" Despite his best efforts the words faded to a whisper and he felt his hands tremble beneath hers.
A moment passed, and he felt the hot weight of disappointment as she still did not answer. He'd given so much, left so much behind...and she denied him. He made to pull his hands away, to flee this pain but she turned in his arms before he could and wrapped her arms about his neck, nestling beneath the cup of his chin. He was startled to feel moisture against his skin, to feel the trembling that emanated not only from him, but from her as well.
"Rhya?" he asked, uncertainly.
"Of course Legolas, of course," she said, her voice dim with tears.
"Is that a yes?" he asked, his stomach flipping wildly within him.
"Yes, yes, yes!" she cried, still sobbing, placing kisses all along his face. It seemed to slowly dawn on her as she did so that dark smudges marred his otherwise perfect skin. "Eru, Legolas, what happened?" He watched her face fall, her smile replaced by a worried grimace.
She ran her fingers hesitantly over the marks as he shook his head, smiling broadly. "No worries Rhya, I'm fine. Better than fine, perfect."
He tried to sweep her into a kiss and she allowed it, but the moment their lips parted she asked, "But what happened? Is Kallo alright?"
He felt a momentary pang at the mention of his name but continued smiling. "Everything is fine, love, I promise. We had a few things to work out, and like typical males we got a little carried away. All is fine between us, truly."
She searched his face and he worked to make his smile more earnest, but still she opened her mouth to protest. Frustrated, he swept her up, kissing her with every ounce of passion he could muster. "Hush now. It's your turn to trust me, love," his clear blue eyes searched her darker orbs, waiting a mere moment after she nodded to continue. "Besides...unless I am mistaken we have a little celebrating to do."
Remembering suddenly, she smiled broadly, looking up into his eyes. "Did you mean it, Legolas?"
"Of course I did, love. I don't think I've ever meant anything more. My only regret is that I have no token to give you, no ring," he ran his hands lightly up and down her shoulders, meeting her eyes earnestly.
With a sudden smile she dashed from his grasp, fishing for something beneath a pillow. She returned clasping a small velvet pouch, which she held nervously out to him. Silently he took it, unsure what it meant. He tugged the strings open and upended it to reveal a ring. He looked at it and then to her and back again, smiling. "But how?" he asked, baffled.
"They took it off me at the healer's house, after the battle in the clearing. Kallo held it for me. After you two left I found it on the table...he must have left it," she looked up at him, her eyes bright, "Did he know, then?"
In reply Legolas pulled her close, running a hand down her back. "I think maybe he did," he answered, and then he kneeled before her, gazing up into her face with adoring eyes. "Rhyalla, will you bond with me, and stand by my side, as my wife and equal, forever?" He asked the words in the ancient way, feeling the weight of them as he voiced them.
Silently she nodded and he slipped the ring onto her finger, though it was much too large. Slowly he stood, cradling her chin with one hand and kissing her softly, lovingly, while tracing the ring with the other, tracing his signet ring as he sealed the ending of that part of his life.
-*--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**-- *-
A/N-
Note the new email addy for feedback, for those of you who have issues with the button.
So... what does everyone think of this turn of events? Are we on the cusp of a happily ever after?
I'd appreciate some feedback from you all in the literal sense. I want to know what questions you have in your mind that you'd like answered. Anything you've just been dying to know, or vaguely curious about? Review and include the question in it and I'll see about getting them answered in a timely manner.
~Arisma
*** For those of you who are music oriented as myself, check the song "Anywhere" by Evanescence, it's the current tune that makes me think of our happy (?) couple. Plus, damn good tune in and of itself.