Chapter Four: Love Stories
The story picks back up again a year later.
In the past year there was an increase of orcs in the area and the few small villages near the outpost were abandoned, the inhabitants fleeing to larger communities, or taking up their lives in the fort; flourishing inside the thick, grey stone walls and under the watchful protection of the elves and rangers who manned it.
In only a single year, the sons of Arador had matured greatly. It was now a rare thing to hear their laughter floating through the fort, or the bellows of some poor sod that discovered one of their pranks.
Seeing the horrors and atrocities wreaked upon their people by the orc hordes and the loss of friends and companions in battle had hardened them, and many mourned the loss of their youthful and carefree spirits.
But something new was budding in the elf built fortress – while many families fled to the protection of the fort, most of who were but simple farmers and goat herders from the mountain slopes, the daughter of one farmer had caught the eye of the elder son of Arador.
Gilraien, a young woman full of beauty and intelligence, kindled a spark in Arathorn's heart. When she sang in the fire hall all were delighted, and Glorfindel was oft to wonder at the strength of the Numenorean line in her blood.
Elladan was also intrigued by this elegant woman and quite often dreamt of leading her to his bed and performing acts of which would make any pious woman blush crimson.
And even though she was a human and therefore impossible for him to want, the elf lord often made seedy comments about her, and flirted maliciously.
Unfortunately for Elladan, though, she paid him no heed, for her own eyes were fixed upon the tall, dark haired and good looking Arathorn.
All this, of course, was much to her parents' dismay.
When they first learned of their daughters' great love for the son of the chieftain and his love for her, Gilraien's father forbid her from leaving their house and sent a warning to Arador to keep his son away from his daughter.
Arador, himself, found this to be quite amusing and ignored the messages from the simple farmer, and encouraged his son to fight for the hand of his lady love.
The story takes back up in the fire hall, where Arathorn looks for guidance from the sons of Elrond.
"So... you say I must lie with her and then her father will have no objections to our marriage? But doesn't that sound... wrong?"
Elladan laughed at the young man's trepidation, "of course it is, Ereg, but you only asked me how I would go about it, not how you should. I haven't an idea as to how you should woo not only this little piece of ass but her father too. How about you ask the resident know-it-all and heart-broken lover?"
Arathorn cocked his head to the side, "who's that?"
"My little brother, of course! He's been mopping around ever since that elleth he had a hankering for left for the grey lands."
Arathorn nearly chocked on the tart he had been in the process of chewing.
"Elrohir? He had a lover? I thought he was too.... you know.... spacey, to find a girl."
Upon hearing his name the younger twin looked up, "What?"
Elladan grinned, "I was just telling Ereg here about that little elleth you were touching yourself over. Now there was a piece of ass if I've ever seen one – long curly hair the colour of honey, long arms and a generously full bosom... ah, yes! She had just the greatest round ass and the most squeezable tits."
With a roar of rage Elrohir tossed his book aside and launched himself at his brother.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up, you bastard!"
Elladan laughed and pushed his furious twin away and knocked his feet out from under him.
"Oh, don't get your panties in a bundle, there! Just calm down, pick yourself up and tell the lad here how you wooed your lady into her good graces."
With that, Elladan scampered off... catching the eye of one of the chamber maids that he discovered to do amazing deeds while on her knees in front of him.
The two disappeared into the maze of tunnels and passages in the main building of the fort, most likely off to one of the storage rooms in the unused parts of the complex where they wouldn't be heard or interrupted.
Elrohir did pick himself up and, after brushing off the dust from his tunic and straitening his long hair, sat down beside Arathorn with a distant look on his face.
"So, Ereg, are the rumours that I hear true? You have fallen for the lovely Gilraien, whom my brother has on countless occasions attempted to corrupt, and her father banned your relationship from blooming?"
Arathorn was amazed at Elrohir's knowledge.
"How'd you know? You're always..."
"Off in space? Dreaming? Candles burning but no-ones home?"
Arathorn's eyes widened, "well... yeah. You always are in such a deep state of... concentration that I didn't think you've ever hear a word we say when we talk around you."
"Oh, Eru, no! I listen to every word of all your conversations," Elrohir snickered, "I merely keep them to myself and allow you to assume what you will."
Arathorn was feeling more than a little awkward now, "then you've heard everything I've said in you hearing range? Even when I was whispering?"
An elegant eyebrow raised itself high on the elf's brow and the words 'I'm an elf, kapiche,' only made the generally silent elf that more imposing and threatening a character.
"Fate is with you, Ereg. I shall not tell what I've heard, but I do suggest that you think twice about the little prank you and Nalle are planning for tomorrow night's feast."
Arathorn laughed nervously.
"But seriously now, you want my advice on your problems with your aching heart? Tell her father how you feel about the lass, and be persistent. Don't let her go away or disappear from you heart."
More advice Elrohir gave to Arathorn, and once he was finished imparting his knowledge upon the human, he retired back to his books.
Arathorn, energized by the council granted to him, ran strait to the house where Gilraien's family dwelt and begged an audience of her father.
The man was moved by Arathorn's passion and discussed the matter with his wife, for he was broken over the matter. He could see that Arathorn would love and be a great match for his daughter, but they were both young and foresight told him that he would not live long. His wife, who also possessed the foresight of their Numenorean ancestors, saw that indeed Arathorn's days were numbered, but also saw the great need for the matching to be made soon that the line of Isildur would not be broken.
In the days that followed, there were many meeting between Arador and the farmer, and one week after it was announced that Arathorn and Gilraien would be wed in the next year.
Elladan declared a celebratory banquet and the fire hall reverberated with the sounds of song and many feet, both elf and human, dancing.
In the next year, not long after his 56th birthday, Arathorn and Gilraien were married.
Well... I know where the story is going and what I have to do to get it there, but I just don't know how to fill the space inbetween.
If anyone has any ideas, plot/story lines you want to see or any psychological problems to be demonstrated, let me know.