This is THE END. Complete with suitable shippiness.
181 reviews. Thanks to everyone who has been with me for this story. It's been great having you along for the (bumpy) ride.
Edit: In fact, not THE END. See next chapter.
'Part 15'
Haldir just about muffled a squeak and dropped his eyes to the tablecloth as the blush spread from the tip of his ears to his neckline and below. Beside him, Tulienne smiled mischievously and let her hand continue its journey. Her actions were innocent enough perhaps, but not when he was so peculiarly sensitive to her touch.
". . . and I know my life will be immeasurably improved by having her share it," Rumil finished, gazing down at his wife from where he stood.
"Aye!" Orophin shouted, from his seat around the large dining table. "At least that wrist injury might finally have time to fully heal!"
Rumil flushed bright red and shot a murderous glare at his brother as the guests burst out laughing. Haldir would have joined in, if he hadn't been so . . .distracted. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Ah, Elbereth, when was she going to stop?!
"As I was saying," Rumil said, continuing his speech as wickedness flashed into his eyes. "I am in fact *doubly* blessed in my choice of wife, since our bond will be strengthened still further when my excellent wit of a brother is wedded to her sister."
Orophin's face blanched and he stared in horror at Rumil. Slowly, he forced himself to turn to Thronin.
"Your family seems to have made it their mission to remove my family from me," Thronin said dryly.
"I do not seek to remove Salia from your family," Orophin said nervously. "Rather to join it with her. If you will give us your consent."
Salia turned pleading eyes to her father, who met them with a look of resignation. "Yes," Thronin answered. "I will yield to the inevitable. Clearly our families are destined to merge, although I would prefer it had I not been asked to give up three in one day."
Rumil and Orophin exchanged glances. "Three?" Rumil asked curiously.
She stopped. Oh, blessed Valar, she stopped. Haldir breathed a sigh of relief and started to work very hard at quelling his body's reaction to those teasing hands.
"Haldir has already asked for my consent for him and Tulienne to be joined," Thronin said, what might have been a flash of humour showing in his eyes. "And I have given it."
The table fell silent as all eyes turned to Haldir.
"Is this serious?" Rumil choked out. "You have really chosen each other? After everything you have said?"
Tulienne grinned at them. "We have," she said. "Strictly to complete the set, you understand. Not to mention that he has certain . . . assets, which I am sure I will come to appreciate. No doubt you know what I'm talking about. Indeed, if he were to stand up just now, you would have very little doubt."
Haldir's head snapped round to her. She couldn't have just said what he thought she'd said.
A slow grin spread over the faces of his two brothers as they caught on.
"You know," Orophin said, pasting a look of mock confusion across his features. "I don't think I understand what you mean. Maybe Haldir *does* need to stand up."
"Strictly to alleviate our confusion, you understand," Rumil added.
Haldir, if it was possible, flushed even brighter and remained – unfortunately still rigid – in his seat.
"Come on, brother," Rumil taunted. "There is no reason why you shouldn't. Besides, I think it is now time for the final toast and all shall rise."
All the guests at the table stood up and Haldir was forced to follow suit, surreptitiously trying to pull his tunic a little further down at the front as he did so. It didn't work, so he was forced to stand through the longest toast on record, cheeks burning with humiliation. He would never, ever live this down.
And the cause of it was standing beside him, trembling with mirth.
"You will be severely punished for this," Haldir told her in a fierce whisper.
The evil elleth turned to him and gave him a look of such scorching lust that any hope of his predicament being eased went flying straight out of the marquee. "You promise?" she whispered back.
Haldir swallowed hard. And vowed revenge.
By the time day had faded into night, most of the guests had trailed away. Haldir had received much ribbing from his brothers and had devoted several hours to scowling at everyone who so much as smiled in his direction. At present Tulienne was seated on his lap, her hands carefully restrained in his, not even remotely repentant.
Well, he'd soon see about that.
Haldir transferred both her hands to one of his and slowly began to stroke her hair as they sat comfortably together. And, by pure coincidence of course, began to lightly brush her ear at the same time. He heard a slight hitch in her breath, and smiled.
"So, the festival really did get you together," Orophin said. "We won!"
"You did not win," Haldir retorted. "We came together despite all your 'help', not because of it. Isn't that right, melamin?"
"Uh huh," Tulienne said, slightly breathless.
"Even so, I can't believe it's happened. What do you see in him anyway?" Orophin pressed.
"Um . . . well . . . " Tulienne said dazedly. "Um . . ."
"You seem to be having trouble gathering your thoughts, my love," Haldir said innocently. "Too much wine, perhaps?"
"No doubt," Tulienne forced out, then bit her lip hard as Haldir's fingers grew more bold.
"Are you alright?" Orophin asked, looking concerned.
"Perfect!"
Fortunately for Tulienne, Rumil saved her from further questioning by yawning loudly. "Well," he said, stretching, "it's getting pretty late."
"The sun is scarcely down," Haldir said, grinning. "Clearly you are eager to retire to bed tonight, my brother."
Rumil flushed. Not that it made any difference, since everyone knew the truth of the words anyway.
"Actually," Ceilwyn said hesitantly. "I am quite tired. It's been an . . . eventful day."
"Well, that's settled then," Rumil said brightly, jumping up with unseemly haste and pulling her with him. "My bride wishes it. See you in the morning."
And they vanished. At a curiously fast pace for two supposedly very tired elves.
"Come, my love," Orophin said, with a single glance after them. "Let us take a walk. And then I think I must speak to your father and undo some of the damage this wedding has caused."
As soon as they were alone, Tulienne swivelled sharply round and gave Haldir a murderous glare.
"I did promise to punish you," Haldir told her sweetly.
"I think you need to be taught a lesson yourself, March Warden," she retorted.
Haldir found himself unceremoniously shoved back onto the ground and a moment later those talented fingers were stroking his ear tips and those soft lips were on his and he wanted nothing more than to be punished most severely every day for the rest of his life.
But somehow the teasing mood changed without him realising it had began to. And then he was just kissing her, suddenly terribly conscious of the soft body against his and of everything he wanted so very, very badly.
He couldn't restrain a soft moan of protest when she broke the kiss, leaning her elbows on his chest and raising her head to look at him.
"Haldir," Tulienne said, her voice unsteady. "There's something I need to tell you. And something I want to ask you."
Personally, Haldir thought it would be better if she'd chosen a time when his thought patterns were a little more coherent.
"What is it?" he asked, trying to slow down his breathing.
"Just that I've wanted you since the first moment I saw you," Tulienne said, gazing into his eyes. "And I haven't stopped. When I was insulting you, when I pulled your hair, when I pasted pink streamers to your spare arrows for the tornament, when I told the most gossiping elleths in Lorien that you wore lacy underwear. Always."
"And I have wanted you since the first moment I saw you," Haldir replied, filing away all those incidents to be dealt with at a later time. "When I was insulting you, when I hinted to my wardens that you were in love with Lord Celeborn, when I watched you bathe. Always."
"When was that?" Tulienne asked, startled.
Haldir smiled. "You cannot have imagined that no one knows of your penchant for bathing in the outdoors."
"And exactly how many of your wardens did you tell about that?"
"None. And I did not return, although I desired to."
Tulienne looked suspiciously at him for a moment, then her expression relaxed somewhat.
"My point is, Haldir," she said slowly, "that we have waited three years already for each other. Which brings me to what I want to ask you." She licked her lips, suddenly looking nervous. "And that is . . . if you will bind yourself to me tonight?"
"Six months' of courtship is required before . . ."
"I didn't mean in name."
"Oh," Haldir said. Then realisation slowly dawned. "Oh . . . "
A flush was creeping up Tulienne's face as she looked down at his chest. "I know we should wait – and I don't want you to think any less of me. I've never . . . before, but I'm not a penneth like my cousins, I am over three thousand years old and I've waited a long time for you- and I doubt we'd be the first to break that particular convention and . . ."
Haldir silenced her with a kiss that rapidly deepened, sending spirals of desire through his body.
"I think no less of you, for I longed to suggest the same thing," he told her, when he forced himself to break away. "And if you are certain, I will not deny you. Not when my heart is already bound to yours."
"And mine to yours."
Tulienne got to her feet, pulling him up after her before he had a chance to make a sound of protest.
"I think I should walk you home, March Warden," she said. "There could be many dangerous elleths walking around this time of night who would do unconscionable things to you. And I'm determined to be the first."
"And last. The only"
"On Arda and in Valinor."
"Through all the ages."
Tulienne grinned at him. "That is, if we don't kill each other first."
"So long as we go to the Halls of Mandos together."
Tulienne's laugh rang out as they walked hand in hand to his talan and were bound.
181 reviews. Thanks to everyone who has been with me for this story. It's been great having you along for the (bumpy) ride.
Edit: In fact, not THE END. See next chapter.
'Part 15'
Haldir just about muffled a squeak and dropped his eyes to the tablecloth as the blush spread from the tip of his ears to his neckline and below. Beside him, Tulienne smiled mischievously and let her hand continue its journey. Her actions were innocent enough perhaps, but not when he was so peculiarly sensitive to her touch.
". . . and I know my life will be immeasurably improved by having her share it," Rumil finished, gazing down at his wife from where he stood.
"Aye!" Orophin shouted, from his seat around the large dining table. "At least that wrist injury might finally have time to fully heal!"
Rumil flushed bright red and shot a murderous glare at his brother as the guests burst out laughing. Haldir would have joined in, if he hadn't been so . . .distracted. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Ah, Elbereth, when was she going to stop?!
"As I was saying," Rumil said, continuing his speech as wickedness flashed into his eyes. "I am in fact *doubly* blessed in my choice of wife, since our bond will be strengthened still further when my excellent wit of a brother is wedded to her sister."
Orophin's face blanched and he stared in horror at Rumil. Slowly, he forced himself to turn to Thronin.
"Your family seems to have made it their mission to remove my family from me," Thronin said dryly.
"I do not seek to remove Salia from your family," Orophin said nervously. "Rather to join it with her. If you will give us your consent."
Salia turned pleading eyes to her father, who met them with a look of resignation. "Yes," Thronin answered. "I will yield to the inevitable. Clearly our families are destined to merge, although I would prefer it had I not been asked to give up three in one day."
Rumil and Orophin exchanged glances. "Three?" Rumil asked curiously.
She stopped. Oh, blessed Valar, she stopped. Haldir breathed a sigh of relief and started to work very hard at quelling his body's reaction to those teasing hands.
"Haldir has already asked for my consent for him and Tulienne to be joined," Thronin said, what might have been a flash of humour showing in his eyes. "And I have given it."
The table fell silent as all eyes turned to Haldir.
"Is this serious?" Rumil choked out. "You have really chosen each other? After everything you have said?"
Tulienne grinned at them. "We have," she said. "Strictly to complete the set, you understand. Not to mention that he has certain . . . assets, which I am sure I will come to appreciate. No doubt you know what I'm talking about. Indeed, if he were to stand up just now, you would have very little doubt."
Haldir's head snapped round to her. She couldn't have just said what he thought she'd said.
A slow grin spread over the faces of his two brothers as they caught on.
"You know," Orophin said, pasting a look of mock confusion across his features. "I don't think I understand what you mean. Maybe Haldir *does* need to stand up."
"Strictly to alleviate our confusion, you understand," Rumil added.
Haldir, if it was possible, flushed even brighter and remained – unfortunately still rigid – in his seat.
"Come on, brother," Rumil taunted. "There is no reason why you shouldn't. Besides, I think it is now time for the final toast and all shall rise."
All the guests at the table stood up and Haldir was forced to follow suit, surreptitiously trying to pull his tunic a little further down at the front as he did so. It didn't work, so he was forced to stand through the longest toast on record, cheeks burning with humiliation. He would never, ever live this down.
And the cause of it was standing beside him, trembling with mirth.
"You will be severely punished for this," Haldir told her in a fierce whisper.
The evil elleth turned to him and gave him a look of such scorching lust that any hope of his predicament being eased went flying straight out of the marquee. "You promise?" she whispered back.
Haldir swallowed hard. And vowed revenge.
By the time day had faded into night, most of the guests had trailed away. Haldir had received much ribbing from his brothers and had devoted several hours to scowling at everyone who so much as smiled in his direction. At present Tulienne was seated on his lap, her hands carefully restrained in his, not even remotely repentant.
Well, he'd soon see about that.
Haldir transferred both her hands to one of his and slowly began to stroke her hair as they sat comfortably together. And, by pure coincidence of course, began to lightly brush her ear at the same time. He heard a slight hitch in her breath, and smiled.
"So, the festival really did get you together," Orophin said. "We won!"
"You did not win," Haldir retorted. "We came together despite all your 'help', not because of it. Isn't that right, melamin?"
"Uh huh," Tulienne said, slightly breathless.
"Even so, I can't believe it's happened. What do you see in him anyway?" Orophin pressed.
"Um . . . well . . . " Tulienne said dazedly. "Um . . ."
"You seem to be having trouble gathering your thoughts, my love," Haldir said innocently. "Too much wine, perhaps?"
"No doubt," Tulienne forced out, then bit her lip hard as Haldir's fingers grew more bold.
"Are you alright?" Orophin asked, looking concerned.
"Perfect!"
Fortunately for Tulienne, Rumil saved her from further questioning by yawning loudly. "Well," he said, stretching, "it's getting pretty late."
"The sun is scarcely down," Haldir said, grinning. "Clearly you are eager to retire to bed tonight, my brother."
Rumil flushed. Not that it made any difference, since everyone knew the truth of the words anyway.
"Actually," Ceilwyn said hesitantly. "I am quite tired. It's been an . . . eventful day."
"Well, that's settled then," Rumil said brightly, jumping up with unseemly haste and pulling her with him. "My bride wishes it. See you in the morning."
And they vanished. At a curiously fast pace for two supposedly very tired elves.
"Come, my love," Orophin said, with a single glance after them. "Let us take a walk. And then I think I must speak to your father and undo some of the damage this wedding has caused."
As soon as they were alone, Tulienne swivelled sharply round and gave Haldir a murderous glare.
"I did promise to punish you," Haldir told her sweetly.
"I think you need to be taught a lesson yourself, March Warden," she retorted.
Haldir found himself unceremoniously shoved back onto the ground and a moment later those talented fingers were stroking his ear tips and those soft lips were on his and he wanted nothing more than to be punished most severely every day for the rest of his life.
But somehow the teasing mood changed without him realising it had began to. And then he was just kissing her, suddenly terribly conscious of the soft body against his and of everything he wanted so very, very badly.
He couldn't restrain a soft moan of protest when she broke the kiss, leaning her elbows on his chest and raising her head to look at him.
"Haldir," Tulienne said, her voice unsteady. "There's something I need to tell you. And something I want to ask you."
Personally, Haldir thought it would be better if she'd chosen a time when his thought patterns were a little more coherent.
"What is it?" he asked, trying to slow down his breathing.
"Just that I've wanted you since the first moment I saw you," Tulienne said, gazing into his eyes. "And I haven't stopped. When I was insulting you, when I pulled your hair, when I pasted pink streamers to your spare arrows for the tornament, when I told the most gossiping elleths in Lorien that you wore lacy underwear. Always."
"And I have wanted you since the first moment I saw you," Haldir replied, filing away all those incidents to be dealt with at a later time. "When I was insulting you, when I hinted to my wardens that you were in love with Lord Celeborn, when I watched you bathe. Always."
"When was that?" Tulienne asked, startled.
Haldir smiled. "You cannot have imagined that no one knows of your penchant for bathing in the outdoors."
"And exactly how many of your wardens did you tell about that?"
"None. And I did not return, although I desired to."
Tulienne looked suspiciously at him for a moment, then her expression relaxed somewhat.
"My point is, Haldir," she said slowly, "that we have waited three years already for each other. Which brings me to what I want to ask you." She licked her lips, suddenly looking nervous. "And that is . . . if you will bind yourself to me tonight?"
"Six months' of courtship is required before . . ."
"I didn't mean in name."
"Oh," Haldir said. Then realisation slowly dawned. "Oh . . . "
A flush was creeping up Tulienne's face as she looked down at his chest. "I know we should wait – and I don't want you to think any less of me. I've never . . . before, but I'm not a penneth like my cousins, I am over three thousand years old and I've waited a long time for you- and I doubt we'd be the first to break that particular convention and . . ."
Haldir silenced her with a kiss that rapidly deepened, sending spirals of desire through his body.
"I think no less of you, for I longed to suggest the same thing," he told her, when he forced himself to break away. "And if you are certain, I will not deny you. Not when my heart is already bound to yours."
"And mine to yours."
Tulienne got to her feet, pulling him up after her before he had a chance to make a sound of protest.
"I think I should walk you home, March Warden," she said. "There could be many dangerous elleths walking around this time of night who would do unconscionable things to you. And I'm determined to be the first."
"And last. The only"
"On Arda and in Valinor."
"Through all the ages."
Tulienne grinned at him. "That is, if we don't kill each other first."
"So long as we go to the Halls of Mandos together."
Tulienne's laugh rang out as they walked hand in hand to his talan and were bound.
