Title: An Elleth Never Forgets (Chapter 2/2)
Author: The Converted
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Humour
Summary: Fluffy ficlet focusing on two different incidents involving a bathtub. CHAPTER TWO: In which everything is explained, and Arwen remembers that long ago day in Lothlórien.
Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien… nor do I claim to be.
A/N: When I first began writing this, I myself was a little unsure of how the chapters would fit together, especially when I added Haldir in there. Trust me though, it was needed, otherwise I wouldn't have found such a perfect ending. Thank you plot bunnies! (Reviewer responses can be found at the bottom of the chapter… In alphabetical order. Yes, I am that anal.)
An Elleth Never Forgets
Chapter Two: And Not a Drop to Drink
The King of Gondor had long since taken leave of his advisors as he stepped into the bath prepared for him.
Slowly easing himself down, his muscles began to unknot as the hot water eased any tension from his body. Solitude. That's what he was seeking as he entirely submersed himself under the water. No complications, no interruptions, just quiet.
Underneath the water, his acute senses were unable to pick up any sound from above. The blood pounding in his ears was the only noise he was even vaguely aware of, if that.
It was for this reason that Arwen was able to sneak into the room without being noticed. Silently edging her way towards him with all the Elven grace she could muster, she tentatively reached one hand out to grip the edge of the tub.
She allowed herself several moments to drink in his body before making her move. Gathering up the edges of her skirt in one hand, she stepped over the lip of the tub, gently placing one foot to the right of him.
Aragorn jerked his eyes open and sat up as Arwen settled herself above his hips. She couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face. "Tense my love?"
His breathing slowed as his heart began to pound less furiously against his chest. "Well I wasn't really expecting you to join me."
"You were expecting someone else then," she said quirking her eyebrow.
"Of course not. Although, if you could go tell Beregond that I no longer require his company-"
"Estel!"
Settling back down, he pulled her flush against his chest. "I would have asked you to join me, but it seemed that there was no room."
"Well your ego certainly does take up an awful lot of space." Arwen's eyes twinkled as she recalled his words. "For an old man Estel, you have a surprisingly resilient memory."
The corners of Aragorn's mouth curled up as he remembered the day more clearly.
She had just sat up after being unceremoniously dropped into the bath prepared earlier for her. He could remember the fury in her eyes as she looked at him, the heat rising to her face as he laughed.
That's when she had said it, with all the venom she could muster. "I'd ask you to join me, but it seems that there's no room."
"In case you haven't noticed Arwen, I'm also surprisingly resilient in more… enjoyable ways." He ground his hips roughly against her to prove his point.
"Hmmm, I can see that."
"Not bad for an old man."
Angling her head up, she could see the look on his face. There was no sign of worry, no stress subtlety twisting his features, it was as things used to be. "I wish you could be like this all the time Estel."
He visibly frowned. "Naked?"
"No." Arwen could feel his chest rumbling against her hands and face. "You're just so calm right now. You haven't mentioned politics or trade embargos since I walked in here. It's almost like things used to be."
"That's not what's bothering you, is it Arwen?"
Her silence was enough of an answer for him. Recently she had taken to recalling the past, in hopes of forgetting what lay ahead of her. He knew it wasn't exactly healthy, but if she refused to open up to him there was nothing he could do.
"Come on Arwen, let's get you warmed up." She shook her head against his chest, instinctively seeking the warmth his body provided. He lifted her gently, careful not to trip as he stepped out of the tub.
She had already lost herself in the past.
:
:
Haldir stopped abruptly, finally turning towards her. He didn't move, and it seemed to Arwen that he blended into the woods surrounding them.
She contrasted to this grim visage of grey standing before her. Black hair, white skin, blood red dress, she was every bit the smoldering temptress he imagined her to be. He knew beneath that prim and proper Elf was an animal clawing to be released. The need to witness this fury caused him to drop all pretenses.
"I must admit Arwen, I didn't bring you out here to talk about happenings in Rivendell."
Arwen eyed him curiously, pondering the possible reasons for their meeting. "Then may I ask why you did request my company Haldir?" she said, gently touching his arm.
He couldn't tell her the truth. Couldn't ask her to reveal the true Arwen, the one he knew wouldn't throw her life away for some love-sick human. He bit his trembling lip as he looked at her face. So hopeful, so innocent. Could he really go through with this?
"You don't understand the severity of your actions Arwen. You'll regret it."
He watched the fear rise in her eyes, could almost see the inner-turmoil taking place inside her head. She removed her hand, taking several steps backwards.
"One man isn't worth all that you'll lose. All the fear you'll have to face." She gasped. "You're afraid Arwen. Afraid of death, afraid that you'll lose him. There's no reason to live in fear Arwen. Make the right decision… before it's too late."
Fighting the tears about to surface, she lifted her chin and stepped closer to him. "I have already made my choice! The right choice!" She practically spit the words back into his face.
He inwardly cringed at her forcefulness. "You will die alone, forsaken even by your own people!" His face fell at the hurt look in her eyes. Haldir hadn't meant for things to go so far. He had just wanted her to rethink her decision.
With his words she had let the mask fall and her true self take over. She was no longer Elrond's daughter, no longer the Lady of Rivendell. She was simply Arwen.
Haldir realised that the true Arwen wasn't the demure lady seated across from him at banquets, she wasn't the Elf who had lost control moments earlier. She was the woman before him, lost and confused, caught between love and life. His heart broke at the sight of her.
Letting his words sink in, Arwen fled, as much from him as from the truth.
Making her way up into the flet, she grabbed her belongings and hastily threw on her coat and riding boots. In a rush she ran to the stables, escape the only logical thought in her head.
She rode into the darkness, trees closing in to engulf her entirely.
:
:
Arwen stretched out lazily on the bed, stifling a yawn with the palm of her hand. Dressed in a warm (dry) gown, she was content to watch Aragorn redress himself. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Aragorn sat down in the plush chair facing toward the bed.
"It is the curse of an Elf to always remember," she said somberly. "And never to forget," she added, a sly smile gracing her face.
"And what exactly were you remembering my love?"
Gracefully swinging herself off the bed, Arwen stepped towards him, suggestively swaying her hips as she drew closer. She grabbed his strong shoulders, sitting down so she straddled his thigh. "This."
She kissed him slowly, nibbling his lower lip as her hands drew down his lean body. Confident fingers began to unlace his breeches as her other hand grabbed for something situated on the nearby table.
Aragorn's moan of pleasure quickly turned to shock as he felt the cold water engulf his senses. He instinctively jerked back, biting his fist to keep from screaming as the cold water spread over his groin. Arwen feigned a look of innocence, dangling the empty water pitcher from her slender fingers. "Never mess with an Elf, dear."
Grabbing her around the waist, Aragorn hauled her closer to him. "Never."
Arwen silently looked up at the man holding her.
She had accepted his love as much as he had hers. He had helped her face the pain of her father's departure, and together they had shared the mutual bliss at the birth of their son. They had weathered the passing of friends, the trials of marriage, and the knowledge that theirs was an unbreakable bond.
Love, pain, life, death, they had faced it all. Arwen buried herself deeper into his embrace, closing her eyes as his hand began to stroke her back. She was no longer afraid.
Don't expect another fluffy story for quite awhile. The current fic I'm writing still features Arwen and Aragorn, but with a rather dark plot. Very strange, slightly AU, and extremely fun to write. I hope you'll stick with me for it. And if not, I suppose that's okay too.
ArwenElfstone: Thank you. I always hold a special place in my heart for the very first reviewer. Hopefully this chapter didn't disappoint.
B-witched83uk: Sadie, just because I gave you that one RPS idea doesn't mean that I'm suddenly going to post all these Elf Fetish stories. Although, an Elrond/Celeborn/Figwit story would be interesting. I kid, I kid. And definitely an Arwen/Boromir singular pairing for that fic, although he could join the orgy of fun afterwards.
Crow: I'm sorry, it was not my intent to confuse anyone. Hopefully this chapter cleared everything up. And if not, just let me know. Thanks for the review.
Cerridwen-Evereven: Yes, everyone gave it up for the fluff. Glad you liked it, and thanks for all those gallery pics, it was more helpful than you'll ever know.
Ebony Beach: Another confused reviewer. I'm curious, was it the whole italicized, dream/flash-back that did it in the first chapter? Thanks though, and just tell me what didn't quit fit together in your mind, it would help me in the future.
The Last Evenstar: Not a one sentence review? You slut! ::reminisces about confusion on IM:: "The King of Gondor had long since taken leave of his CONCUBINES as he stepped into the bath prepared for him." I must say, I still like that version better… And then the world imploded.
ME132: I must admit that your evil laughter frightens me. Hmmmm, I should have integrated peanut butter and limes into this story solely for your benefit. Oh well, maybe next time. Too bad you left the IM conversation so early, because as of now I am writing a Legolas/Jesus fic as punishment for losing Jenny that reviewer.
Queen Arwen: Always revenge, always. That's what makes the world go round. Although a strip tease from Morgoth would have been a more fitting punishment, I just couldn't bring myself to put that in. He's already chained, so the bondage would have already been taken care of, if you get my drift. ::wink, wink::