Title: Diplomacy Part 37

Author: Arisma

Rating: R (for some naughty, naughty bits... and some foul language.)

Disclaimer: Legolas, Mirkwood, Thranduil... all of that is Tolkiens. I'm just taking them out to play with, cause they're shiny. I will put them back in the box, in the proper order, when I'm done. I also promise to wipe the drool off of Legolas and any excess that might have gotten on any of the other characters by proxy.

The basic concept of bladesingers and the title querimhinue is the property of WoTC, and I'm merely borrowing those too.

I do claim The Quel, both Nessar and A'Har as my own. Rhyalla, Kallo, Kailin, all mine. The waste, Tir Roac and all future 'non-canon' locations are the product of my mind as well. When I'm done with them I'll put them back in my own teeny box of creations, next to the cedar wood butterfly and the sculpy clay horns. (Don't ask.) If for some strange reason you'd like to borrow them or the settings, feel free to contact me and we'll work out details.

Feedback / Contact: Arisma_@hotmail.com

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They sat in companionable silence, night birds calling all around them. Kailin poked at the fire with a long stick, stirring the embers, releasing tiny sprays of sparks high into the chill night air. He heard a sigh and raised his eyes, watching the woman across from him shifting on the stone that served as her seat.

With a final poke to the fire he stood, quietly walking around the fire pit and settling amicably next to her. Without a word he leaned, knocking into her shoulder gently with his own. She raised her eyes and smiled at him, a half hearted attempt at best. "Tsk." he said, smiling brightly, "Already the melancholy is back? Need I distract you yet again?" He grinned roguishly his teeth gleaming whitely in the fire light, his dark eyebrows bobbing in emphasis of his point.

She smiled again, this time genuinely. "No no, I think I am alright."

He shifted to face her more squarely, his eyes taking on an appraising look. "Hrm... are you now?" He searched her face closely, eyed her body, allowing an eyebrow to raise in a semblance of lechery. "Well, you look damn good, no denying that."

She grinned at him, well acquainted now with his constant stream of suggestive dialogue. "I'm well, Kailin. Honestly."

"So you say, so you say. You keep shifting though, and your lower lip is awfully red, like as though someone had been gnawing at it. Now, I know I haven't been. Not for lack of trying, mind, but you seem hell bent on that monogamy thing, so I'll let it be for now. It's not me and there's only two of us here, Ry." He reached out and traced the slightly swollen curve of her lip with an index finger, meeting her eyes and holding them, his face soft with concern. "Why do you do this to yourself? Why do you let yourself get so tense?" His voice was low but she had no trouble hearing the words, his lips mere inches from her face as he spoke.

Without thought she drew her lower lip into her mouth and started worrying it with her teeth, unaware of the action until his eyes shifted from her own to her mouth. Hastily she opened her mouth, her mind searching for a sensible answer to his question.

"I don't mean to." she said finally, leaning against him, his arm sliding around her, holding her close.

"I know it. Yet you do."

"I just... I miss him, Kailin." he didn't answer just nodded and she continued. "It seems so long since I've seen him. And so much has happened, what with us and the training and all. I just... I hope he's okay."

For a moment he pulled her closer, cradling her against his side. "He's fine, Ry. If anything had happened to him they would have brought him back immediately. But nothing has. Nothing would. I've known him a long time and he's more than competent in battle."

"Oh, I know that! I've seen him fight. But... it's just.. he doesn't know this place. What if it's too different for him to fight on sand than in the forest? What if he wants so badly to prove himself that he gets reckless, lets his guard down?"

After she finished speaking silence hung in the air until he released her, took her chin in his hands and looked at her closely. "Ry, how old are you?" he asked finally, his voice pitched low.

"I'm not that young..." she began, but he interrupted her, his voice taking on an unaccustomed edge of sternness.

"How old, Ry."

"After the equinox I'll be two-hundred and ninety nine.." before she could even finish the sentence his laughter rang through the air, his eyes widening.

"Not even three hundred? You're just a baby!" he dissolved into a fit of near helpless giggles, releasing her chin to cover his face.

Affronted, she scooted away from him, her brow furrowed. After a moment his laughter died away and he looked at her, his eyes bright with mirth induced moisture. "Now, don't get all uppity. I didn't mean that in a bad way. I had no idea you were so young, is all."

"I'm not a baby." she stated, her tone sullen.

He continued looking at her, his face slipping into a serious expression. "No, you're not. I know you're not. Sometimes you amaze me, actually. More so now that I know how young you are."

For a minute all she could do was look at him, surprised by his words. "Amaze you?" she asked finally, her brow furrowed.

Again he shifted, facing her. "Ry, how old do you think I am?" he asked, watching silently as she appraised him with her eyes.

"I've no idea." she answered finally.

"In the spring I'll be one thousand two hundred and sixty five. I'd seen nearly a millennium before you even made an appearance on middle earth." He watched her take in the information, her eyes sliding to the sand beneath them. He slid easily from the rock, kneeling before her, meeting her gaze. "The point is Ry, we've been around so long, Leaf and I, that the things we know are part of us now. Sand, forest, a rocking ship, it's all the same. He's not going to die out there."

Silently she raised a hand, traced his cheek with her fingertips. "You sound so sure..." she murmured, letting the hand drop. Kailin caught it before it reached her lap and looked deeply into her eyes.

"I am sure. He loves you, totally. He'll be back, I swear it." his voice was full of conviction and she found herself believing the words despite her own misgivings. A merry twinkle came into his eyes then, and he raised her hand to his lips, lingeringly kissing the knuckles. "Besides, if I knew I had you waiting for me, I can well imagine fighting a swarm of orcs just to be by your side."

She felt her face flush, the tips of her ears burning and she pulled her hand away, slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Oh stop it, Kail." she said, looking away from him.

With a wide grin he sat back next to her, wrapping an arm around her again, pulling her tight against him. "Pshaw, woman. Leave me be. I've been in this desert so long I've almost forgotten how nice it is to flirt shamelessly."

She chuckled and leaned against him, her breathing evening out slowly as she drifted towards slumber. After a time he shifted, lifting her against him and carrying her to her bedroll lying near the fire. As he set her down her eyes opened briefly and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Get some rest," he said, "Dawn will be here soon."

She nodded, sleepily and nestled further into the covers, pillowing her cheek on her hand. Kailin took up the long discarded stick and poked ineffectually at the embers, a tiny frown on his face, his eyes slipping back occasionally to the softly sleeping woman across from him.

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MMmm, excellent. Again, took a little longer than I would have liked to get this up here, but still with that crazy real life.

Ravenhart- The president of the Kailin fan club? I'm glad you're able to escape, even if only for a while. Pesky pesky real life.

Kate- Legolas is one of those wonderful characters that you can place him in just about any situation and he'll still be too adorable for words. Trust me, sometimes the way my mind works, I'm immensely grateful for that.

Tamara- Ah, it is sad that they have to be separated, but how could I do evil... I mean, don't they need a separation to make the rejoining that much sweeter? *whistles and tries to look innocent*

Ellerina Rose- Mysterious lurking person? The one Kailin was watching at the beginning? That was Legolas, looking back towards his home before setting out. Maybe I wasn't too descriptive with it... sorry! Again, I laughed my fool head off at your review. Chaps your ass? That must be a fair sized tube of Blistex, ne? Oh, the mental images. *giggles again*

Huge giant ginormous thanks to Kris the Wonder Beta for being so helpful and patient as I wade through real life crap while this fic beckons from the sidelines. For those of you who aren't aware she is partially responsible for a really great story on FF.net, Ellie's Choice. I didn't ask if I could plug it for her but I'm going to anyway, cause It's really good. Yay Kris, go Kris!

~Arisma

I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.

Marlene Dietrich