HANDS
Author: coulduseprozac or simon22cat depending on my mood
Rating: R
Genre: Crossover BtVS/LoTR; Het Romance
Pairing: Willow/Haldir
Warnings: Some Hanky Panky
Summary: Someone has wandering hands
Time: BtVS: after season 7; LoTR: The Third Age roughly 200 years after the capture of Celebrian making it about 300 years before the Ring War
Feed Back: Always welcomed
Spoilers: Season 7 BtVS
Disclaimer: All things from the BtVS belong to the Joss Whedon dynasty. All things from LoTR belong to the great J. R. R. Tolkien. No profit is made from this venture. I own nothing except any OC's that might result of this. Most of this was written in the bathtub. So if it's a little soggy, my bad.
Beta: Wasn't that one of those little bitty VCR type things from the 80's?
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Chapter Twelve: Enjoy The Peace While You Can
The sound of tree limbs breaking was a startling sound in the stillness of the woods. Rumil's head shot up at that sound. He cocked his head in the direction it had came from, and left his tree branch to investigate. Traveling through the canopy of the mallorn trees, he came upon a curious sight. Orophin was on the ground, and Haldir and the redheaded woman stood over him. Both were having trouble not laughing at the misfortune of the prone Elf.
"Ah, I see our brother is still as graceful as ever." Rumil remarked as he dropped from the tree limb.
"Mibo orch!" Shot off Orophin as Haldir helped him to his feet.
"Really brother, that is no way to speak in front of a guest." Rumil replied motioning to Willow.
The guest in question looked tired. Whatever powers she had called upon to knock Orophin from the tree had drained her. Even in her weakened state Willow was pleased to know that her magical powers had not deserted her. There was hope after all. Hope that her powers would return fully and maybe she could attempt to see who or what had sent her here. But right now the exhaustion that had been on the edge of her perception was making its self-known. Willow, in an attempt to steady herself, reached out and grasped the strong forearm of the Elf beside her. 'Hmm, nice arms,' she thought before unconsciousness stole over her.
Haldir was surprised when Willow reached out and grasped his arm. He turned to her with a question on his lips. Before he could ask her what was wrong, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed. Haldir swept her into his arms and returned to their makeshift camp of the night before, leaving his brothers to follow at their own pace. Haldir gently laid the woman down on the soft pallet of blankets. After straightening her limbs he rechecked her injuries. The bruising had subsided somewhat. The ugly marks were a livid reminder of his failing to come to her aid sooner. The Orcs were thrice damned and slaughtered once again as he thought of the state they had found her in. For one so small and apparently helpless to have survived so long in the company of Orcs was a testament to her strength. But she was not so helpless. The startling power she showed at knocking his brother from the tree had been a surprise. And to see her eyes and hair change color was not a thing he had ever witnessed before. Even the Lady of the Wood or Mithrandir was not capable of such a feat. This was a matter that he must discuss with the Lord and the Lady upon his return to the city. He did not want to bring an unknown threat to the city, especially if this woman was a user of the darker magics. In these darkening times the Galadhrim could not afford to worry about a threat from within as well as from without.
"Is she well?", asked a concerned Rumil.
"Aye. I think she is merely exhausted."
Willow moaned at the sound of their voices, gaining the attention of the Wardens. Haldir watched as her eyelids fluttered before they opened.
"On the ground again?"
"You fainted."
"Go me." She replied weakly.
Haldir rolled his eyes and extended his hand, pulling her to her feet. Willow winced as she rested her weight on her sprained ankle. Her pains had diminished somewhat but they were still there.
"Are you capable of walking?" Asked the Marchwarden.
"I don't know." Willow replied as she ran a hand down the front of her borrowed shirt, smoothing out a wrinkle in the gray fabric.
Testing her weight, Willow took two steps and wavered as her ankle buckled under her.
"I guess that means no." She answered as Haldir helped her to a fallen log.
"Rest here until it is time to leave."
Willow watched as the three brothers cleared the campsite. They were careful to leave nothing behind, ensuring that their passing was not noticeable. The one called Rumil gathered up the blankets and disappeared up a tree. One moment he was there and the next it seemed as if he was invisible. She watched for a few moments, waiting to see if he would reappear.
"Haldir?"
"Yes." He turned to look at her.
"Where did he go?"
Before Haldir could answer, the blond dropped from the tree behind her, landing silently on his feet with the feline grace of a cat. With a quick grin and a jaunty wave, the archer rejoined his brothers. Once the forest floor had been cleaned of any signs of their campsite, Haldir approached Willow. Sweeping her into his arms, the small group headed deeper into the forest.
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They had been walking for several hours when Willow asked the question.
"Where am I?"
"Where are you?"
"Yes, this place, what is it called?"
Haldir looked down at the woman in his arms before answering.
"Arda. Middle Earth."
"Middle Earth. And where are you taking me?"
"To the city, Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth, the home of Galadriel, the Lady of Light, and Lord Celeborn, the Wise."
Willow raised an eyebrow over that little tidbit of information. 'Elvendom? Surely that doesn't mean that there are Elves,' she thought to herself.
Taking the bait, Willow asked her question.
"Elvendom? Does that mean you are an Elf?"
"Yes, my lady. We are Elves," gesturing to his brothers. "We are The First Born."
After several more of her questions, Haldir gave up and launched into the history and lore of Middle Earth. Mesmerized by the silky baritone of his voice, she fell asleep somewhere around the Last Alliance. Haldir was not aware he had lost his audience until a soft snore came from Willow. Orophin and Rumil fell in step beside him.
"See, Orophin? Even she finds our brother tiresome."
Haldir just scowled at his brothers. The only thing that was preventing retaliation in any form was the sleeping woman he carried in his arms.
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A light feathery touch was what woke Willow. Opening her eyes, the face of Orophin came into view. Long silvery-blond hair had drifted down over her face, the ends tickling her nose. A slight evening breeze had caused his long hair to drift over her face. She frowned for a moment trying to remember when she had been passed off to Orophin.
"Can you put me down?"
Setting her on her feet, the tall Elf placed a steadying hand on her arm.
"Where is Haldir?"
"He has gone ahead with Rumil, to make certain the path is clear."
"Oh," was her only answer as she limped towards the bushes.
"My lady...?" Orophin trailed after her.
Turning, Willow gazed at the archer. "There are some needs that a girl must do Orophin."
It took a second for him to understand what she meant. When the realization of what she was saying hit him; he had the good grace to flush before he turned, allowing her some privacy. After seeing to her needs, Willow stepped back into the clearing. Haldir and Rumil had returned and the three brothers were discussing their next move.
"We can push on and be in the city before the morning sun rises again."
"If we were traveling alone. But as it is we have a injured female with us and rain is coming." As if to emphasize Haldir's statement, a loud clap of thunder rang in the distance.
"There is a watchtower a mile or two up the path. We could stop there for the night." Suggested Rumil.
"Whatever you decide, let's do it before the rain comes."
The three brothers turned at the sound of Willow' voice. All three were surprised that she understood them for they had been talking in their native tongue. They had been careful to speak in the Common Tongue whenever they had spoke to her but it now seemed unnecessary.
"You understand what was said?" Haldir asked, arching a dark eyebrow.
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The sound of a throat clearing interrupted the story. Standing on the landing below their terrace was Tolorn, a member of the Lady's guard. Placing a hand over his heart, he bowed his head before speaking.
"My lords, the Lady requests the presence of her family at the diner table."
Elrond was surprised that it had become that late. He along with the others had been caught up in the story. He was most intrigued that a woman from another world was able to not only understand Elvish but also the Black Speech of Mordor. Elrond mentally shuddered thinking of the dark language. Shaking off the feeling of dread that the thought brought, he made his good-bye to the Marchwarden and followed his sons down the winding pathway.
Celeborn clapped Haldir on the shoulder before leaving.
"Go to her Haldir. She will need your strength for the next several months. Enjoy the peace while you can."
Departing with his last piece of advice, Celeborn followed the Half-Elven family to down to the lower levels of the city.
Haldir went to check on his wife. Closing the door to the bedchamber, he locked it behind him. One never knew when one's nosey brothers might decide to pay visit. During the afternoon Willow had kicked the covers off of the bed. She lay on her back, her red hair cascading over the pillow like a fiery waterfall. He watched for a few moments as slept. He knelt beside the bed, running a hand over the smooth plane of her stomach. He put his ear on her belly, a belly that would soon swell with his growing child. Listening for the sounds of life that grew in there, he thought of the changes that would soon effect both of their lives.
Willow was aware of her husband as soon as he had stepped through the doorway. She ran her hand over her husband's silvery hair.
"Nauthannon i avo 'wannathar ge."
Haldir chuckled at the softly spoken words. Rising his head, he kissed her nose.
"Me nether. But I fear they might be back later."
"Well then we had best make the most of the time given us."
Haldir shed his clothes and slipped into bed next to Willow. She rose up and straddled his hips. Bending, she ran her tongue over his flat nipple. Haldir groaned at the feel of her hot tongue against his skin. Nipping and licking, she moved down his stomach, stopping to run her tongue over his navel. Haldir put his hands on her hair, stopping her. She raised her head, her eyes glazed over.
"Stop my love."
She merely lifted an eyebrow. Haldir pulled her up his chest. Kissing her, he rolled and switched their positions.
Pulling her under him, Haldir trailed a line of hot, wet kisses down the side of her neck, stopping where the shoulder meets the neck, nipping at the tender flesh. Willow moaned as her husband proceeded to give her a love mark, Willow had long ago explained the meaning of the word 'hickey' to him. Willow sighed as he slid into her.
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Rumil and Orophin knocked on the door of their brother's home.
"They may not be home." Said Rumil as he raised his fist to knock again.
Orophin caught his hand before it connected with the doorway.
"No, they are there."
"Well, why are they not answering the door?"
"Rumil, listen."
Rumil listened, hearing the sounds coming from within. He grinned as he realized what he was hearing.
"Maybe we should return later to offer our congratulations. And not a word on what we heard or Willow will kill us." Warned Orophin.
"Always at it. No wonder they are expecting. Probably a good thing she is already pregnant..." was the statement Rumil made as his brother dragged him down the pathway.
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A/N:
Mibo orch! /Go kiss an orc!
Mithrandir / The Elvish name of Gandalf, The 'Grey Pilgrim'
The Last Alliance / The league made at the end of the Second Age between the Elves and Men in an attempt to defeat Sauron.
Nauthannon i avo 'wannathar ge. / I thought they would never leave.