If you are offended by love scenes, skip this chapter! If you are not, enjoy! Thank you for all the reviews to date! They mean so much!
Oblivious to the absence of the rulers of the Golden Wood the festivities continued unabated. The wine flowed freely and spirits were high. After several very energetic dances where Haldir's brothers had absconded with her, she opted to take a break, sitting on the edge of the clearing fanning herself. Rumil and Orophin threw themselves down bonelessly on the grassy forest floor, lounging next to her, while Haldir had been drawn off into a conversation about the orc incursions against the wood. His brothers considered it their duty to entertain Alanya with stories from their youth, bringing up all the stories that Haldir, had he known, would have ruthlessly squelched.
"And that was when Haldir decided that the snake needed a home and friends, and so he brought it in to show Lady Galadriel. The Lady was not pleased and shrieked at him to remove it."
"I cannot picture one of her serenity shrieking." Alanya interjected, taking a sip of her ruby red wine. She tipped the glass back, finishing the last in a graceful gesture that did not go unnoticed by Haldir. From across the clearing she could feel his eyes on her and smiled at him, raising her glass in salute. He nodded gravely at her, returning to conversation with the elf across from him.
"Yes, well, you have to remember that Lady Galadriel took all three of us in when our parents passed to the Halls of Mandos. She had three small elflings at once. Nobody in that situation can stay sane." Rumil answered, his eyes twinkling. He looked over at his Alanya, noting that she was still centering her attention on Haldir, and he grinned to Orophin. Orophin grinned back, the whole exchange going unnoticed by the mage.
"So, shall we tell you of the time that Haldir decided that bathing was not necessary? I think he was eight at the time." Orophin said, refilling Alanya's glass with more wine from the bottle he had brought over.
"Do tell, do tell." She giggled, glancing once again over at Haldir. This time Haldir noted the giggling state she was in, and the identical grins on his brothers' faces and frowned, obviously realizing something was afoot when all three looked at him and laughed. Apparently the elf he was talking with still had plenty to say, as Haldir did not appear to be able to extricate himself from the position he was in. Rumil leaned over, a gleeful look on his face.
"It was when I was no more then five, so I don't remember it well. But Galadriel would tell some of these stories, most typically when Haldir was being too pompous of an older brother. Yes, as typical grubby little elflings none of us were thrilled with the idea of bathing. So what does Haldir do but run screaming from the bath, stark naked of course, into a council Galadriel was holding with a visiting delegation from Imladris, with the maid assigned the task hot on his heels."
Alanya had just taken a sip of her wine and spluttered, wine going up her sinuses. She took a few minutes to restore herself, laughing and wiping her eyes.
"Damn you Rumil…" she laughed, her eyes teary at the mental picture of Haldir as a small naked elfling shrieking at the concept of bathing. "So what happened next?"
"Naturally, the maid caught him and carried him back, kicking and screaming all the way. Then he had to apologize to the delegation the next day." Orophin responded. "I heard that one from Erestor himself."
"And then there as the time when he was caught spying on the elleth's bathing pools when he finally discovered them…" Rumil piped up.
"Is all this really necessary?" came and aggrieved voice from above them. All three looked up to see Haldir standing there, a put upon look on his face. This is turn caused them to crack up into laughter, Alanya laughing so that she ended up leaning against Rumil. Haldir narrowed his eyes at this.
"I'm sorry," Alanya gasped through giggles," it's just the image of you…" she stopped, unable to continue for the laughing.
"My dear brothers, you seem to have an unholy fascination with gaining extra time on the practice field…" Haldir mused, a glint in his eye. Both brothers immediately ceased laughing and begun to protest, Haldir saying nothing, merely watching them for a moment before a faint upturn of his lips gave him away. He shook his head, his hair whispering against the silk of his tunic. "No, this time I come to steal Alanya from you. The festivities are almost ending. One last dance tonight?" He offered his hand to help her to her feet. She took it and rose as graceful as any elf.
This last dance was a slow courtly dance, giving her much time to admire her partner. While she could have had her share of dancing requests, it was noticed by those in attendance that she defaulted to Haldir. It seemed to end up that she most often ended up in the arms of him, or when he was not available his younger brothers. Any elf that begun to approach her was often fixed with a cool stare thus it was only the brave or foolhardy that dares his gaze. In those cases the mage most often smiled but politely declined.
"I see you have been enjoying yourself."
"Your brothers have seen to it that I was entertained. After all, it is the duty of siblings to embarrass each other, or so I am told." Haldir's only response was to sigh and roll his eyes. She smiled wickedly, executing a complicated step and bringing herself close to Haldir to trail the tips of her fingers across his chest. She noted with satisfaction his eyes grow dark and the whole of his gaze focused on her.
She twirled the last twirl and curtseyed as the strains of music came to a close, Haldir bowing over her hand, catching her eye as they both rose. A thrill went down her spine at the intense look in his eyes as they stood so closely together. His hand slowly came up to touch her face when the spell was broken by loud laughter coming from a group of elves, causing the two to realize they were still standing in the middle of a very public area.
"Come, I wish to wander Lorien tonight. Most of the elves here will be breaking up into smaller groups to continue the festivities." He trailed one hand across her collarbone, eliciting forth an almost electric shock to run down Alanya's nerves. "I find myself not wishing to share your attentions this evening."
"I think that can be arranged." Alanya said, her voice betraying none of the shivering that she felt inside. "You lead, I'll follow." Haldir's only response was to take her arm, leading her from the glade.
The two walked in the moonlight, the silence between them filled with an energy that Alanya could not place. At one fork in the paths they were following, Alanya started to wander off to the left. Haldir stopped, pulling her gently towards him and to the right hand path. She looked at him enquiringly.
"There is something that occurred to me to show you earlier. I am not certain if you have found it yet in your explorations of the city, but it is a special place." He smiled briefly. "Something advice Lord Celeborn gave me reminded me of it this eve."
"The great marchwarden accepting advice?" she teased gently as she fell back into step beside him. "Isn't that against your personal code?"
"I must get you away from the influence of my brothers," he chided lightly with a gleam in his eye. "I think you are picking up their lamentable opinions." Alanya's only response was to whack him on the arm, where Haldir pretended to be in pain.
He led her further down the path that seemed all but deserted, with vines twisting between the trees and leaves obscuring the trail. Coming around a corner and up a slight rise, they entered the most breathtaking meadow Alanya had seen in all her time here. Pale white flowers glowed in the moonlight as several deer drank from a stream running across the opposite edge of the clearing. In fact, the whole clearing was fairly carpeted in them. Alanya's gasp of delight startled the animals on the edge of the white field, and she smiled to see them bounding gracefully away, white tails flashing in the dark.
"It's lovely," she said quietly, fearing to profane the almost sacred feel to the spot. She wandered away from Haldir, brushing her hand against the almost waist high flowers. They gave off a sweet scent as she moved through the field, Haldir standing stationary at the edge simply watching her. A sigh of contentment escaped her lips and she turned to thank Haldir for showing her this spot. The sight of him stole her breath away and caused her heart to pound in her chest.
He stood there leaning against a tree, illuminated silver by the full moon above. His eyes perused her form slowly, coming to rest on her face. What he saw there must have given him some encouragement, for he walked over to her in the center of the meadow, taking hold of her hands.
"I see a spirit of the wood before me." He leaned down to capture her lips with his, and Alanya kissed him back, delighting in the feel of him close to her. After one sweet moment he raised his head, looking around the meadow. "I come here sometimes to quiet my thoughts. I thought you might enjoy the flowers." He smiled at something as is in remembrance.
"Does this have to do with the advice Lord Celeborn gave you?" Alanya asked. She continued to stand close to him, holding onto his arms. Feeling daring, she ran one hand over his cheek and into his hair, running her fingers over the edge of his pointed ear. A sharply indrawn breath was his reply, and she could feel his grip tighten on her. His gray eyes held her in place with a heated look while his hand secured hers. She could see the depths of passion there and it awed her. Still, there was something else, some edge of softness that she could not identify, and it made her wonder.
"So forward…do you know it is a very personal thing to touch someone's ear?" She found her mouth suddenly dry and she could not speak, merely shaking her head. Haldir took her face in his hands, hovering over her lips, the not-quite touching driving Alanya near madness. "Yes, it is something typically done between lovers," he murmured, moving slightly to kiss her the merest whisper of a kiss.
"But we are not lovers." Alanya managed to whisper, her heart pounding in her chest. Secretly she hoped that the answer might be that they were. Haldir only smiled a slow smile in response.
"Are we not?" he whispered back, moving in for another kiss. Something in Alanya surrendered completely, and she kissed him back with abandon. Haldir held her tightly against him, exploring her mouth with his. It felt like fire was running along her veins, he was affecting her so. She found herself tangling her arms about his neck, so that not even air was between them. He moved to kiss his way across her jaw and up her neck, hot kisses that left her trembling when his teeth gently closed on her ear. She gasped into his hair and heard him laugh softly in response. "That can answer my question."
"But for all my powers I'm mortal," she said quietly, her eyes downcast as she found her voice. Haldir gripped her chin and kissed her hard and deep, leaving her limp against him with only the strength of his arms holding her up.
"You are the one I desire, the one I find my thoughts returning to again and again." Haldir brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, looking her deep in the eyes, his countenance serious. "I find I can think of nothing but you." He smiled and gently kissed her lips, one pure kiss that left tears in her eyes. Brushing them from her cheeks, Haldir held her quietly for a moment. "You have bespelled me, my exotic one."
Her emotions were indefinable, but at this moment if she had to say she would say that she held love in her heart for the elf before her. Passion ruled the immediate moment as two embraced, each one holding to the other as if for dear life. Haldir's mouth again drifted to her neck, sampling her skin along her collarbone in a leisurely exploration. Her knees gave out and she clung to him as he held her tight, lowering them to the ground. The crushed flowers beneath them gave up a sweet scent, petals falling to glimmer against Alanya's dark hair.
Each touch and kiss assaulted Alanya's senses. His sure touch was sending her into orbit, and she struggled to control herself as heat pooled low in her body. She trailed her fingers back over Haldir's ears, delighted in the moan that issued from him. Growing more certain of her power in this situation she traced her fingers down his neck, her lips following the path of her hands. He arched against her, making sounds of contentment. Indeed she could feel how content he was, as he pressed against her core, rigid and hot. He sat up, pulling her with him.
One hand traced over her breasts, and he brought his mouth to the tops of them showing at the edge of her low cut dress. Alanya's head fell back as she whimpered in pleasure, his mouth burning a trail of fire that was slowly becoming all encompassing. She could feel his hand leave her to wrap one arm around her back and hold her to his explorations. His other hand grasped her leg, brushing her skirt out of the way to slide along her thigh. She nearly sobbed as his hand brushed against her in a most intimate manner, sending lightening dancing on her nerves, leaving stars in her eyes. Haldir pulled back for a moment, his eyes dark and dilated with fire.
"I wish to see you," he whispered, pinning her with his stare. Alanya gained control of herself, breath coming fast. She stood up, whispering a small spell that loosened the laces of her dress for her. Slowly she let the dress fall from her shoulders, briefly clinging to her hips, and then she stepped out of it to let it pool at her feet in a puddle of pale, washed out violet silk. Haldir stared hotly for several long heartbeats and rose to his feet, again clasping her face in his hands. "Perfection," he said against her lips before his hands again began roaming over her skin. Alanya pulled away with some difficulty, resting one hand on his chest.
"This is an uneven situation," she replied breathlessly. "It seems only fair that I even the odds." Alanya said while reaching for the clasps on his tunic, leaving a kiss as she opened his outer tunic and slid it off his shoulders. Reaching underneath his inner tunic she slid her hands against his skin, reveling in the feel of his warrior's frame. She traced muscles hardened by long hours in practice and in battle. With his help she removed his shirt and kissed a path up his chest to his neck, likewise nibbling on his ear. Where skin met skin it was as fire flowing between them to bind them together. Haldir once again lowered her to the ground, standing only briefly to remove his leggings, the last barrier between them.
Alanya's nerves quivered at the sight of him, pale and perfect in the moonlight night. He lowered himself to her and explored her with hands and mouth. Her nails buried into his shoulders as his mouth found her breasts and she cried out into the night. He kissed a path downwards, yet avoiding her center. His fingers trailed against her, eliciting another moan. She could see Haldir smile in typical male satisfaction and he lowered his head, licking a path up her inner thigh that had her twisting in an attempt to meet his touch.
"So impatient," he said in a silky voice, to which Alanya only glared at him, unable to speak. He only smirked, lowering his head once more. As his tongue trailed over her most sensitive spot she once more cried out, arching into his touch. He held her down with one hand, the other hand searching into her, bringing forth waves of pleasure. As the pressure built to an overwhelming sensation, she could feel him withdraw to again lay a hot, wet path up to her mouth. She nearly cried out in protest as he left her, only to feel him at her entrance. "You are mine," was his only word as he thrust into her, the sudden sensation leaving her gasping for air.
It was heaven, the exquisite sensation of being filled to the limit. For one long heartbeat, Haldir did not move, staying still but for a tremor she felt pass through his frame into her. His hair fell in whispers of gold across her neck, trailing like silk as he began to move within her. She arched into him with each thrust, delicious friction sending excitement through her body. They met for frantic kisses as the tension grew. She held on to Haldir as if he was everything. He would withdraw almost completely, only to push back again, sinking into her depths.
She began to feel as if her skin was too tight, that her spirit had to expand beyond her borders. She could sense an increasing urgency in Haldir's movements, with what little of her mind that was not overtaken by the enormous pleasure she was feeling. He pulled her tightly to him and she cried out as the pressure inside her burst in waves of pure bliss. Awareness left her briefly, and she came to a heartbeat later to feel Haldir thrust against her hard and likewise cry out, the cords in his neck standing in sharp relief as he arched and tensed against her, bursting with his release. The two collapsed in a panting heap on the soft meadow grass, its feathery touch cool and soothing to skin overly sensitive in the aftermath.
Tears gathered at the corners of Alanya's eyes in response to the amazing sensations that had washed over her. Haldir wearily raised his head, kissing away the tears from her face, before collapsing back down on her shoulder. She held him to her, his weight pressing her down in a most satisfactory way as she caressed his strong back. He sighed and rolled, pulling her atop of him. Alanya lifted her head to look at Haldir with wonder, leaning forward to give him a deep kiss, resting her hands on his shoulders. He tangled his hands into her hair, holding her there until they had to breath. She smiled; her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I have never known such a joining," she said quietly, laying her head back down on his chest. His arms held her in his warm embrace, and she knew what true peace must feel like. He exhaled one long breath before answering her, his voice quiet in the night air.
"I could not have had such a perfect moment with anyone other then yourself." Haldir said. He was silent for several moments, and then continued. "My beauty," he said, stroking her cheek, and looking at her with such emotion that she said a silent prayer for such a blessing as he.
The two rested, the tall grass and flowers shielding them off from the world. A cool breeze blew, and Alanya began to shiver as the sweat cooled on her body. He pulled her close and she snuggled against him, dropping small kisses wherever she could reach. He chuckled, the sound rich in the night.
"We should retire to my talan, I don't want you getting cold." He said, his hand tracing lazy circles on her skin. She pulled back to look him with mischief in her eye.
"And would not it create endless gossip for it to be known that I spent yet another evening in your talan, this time with you present." She dropped her head, biting his ear. "I am certain I wish to maintain my reputation." She teased. Haldir growled and rolled over, pinning her to the earth, sending a thrill through her.
"I almost always end up getting what I want, and what I want, dear one, is you. In my bed." Haldir leaned down to kiss her long and slow, brushing his hand into her hair. "In my life, little mage. That is where I want you." Breathless, she looked into his sincere eyes, and gave him one soft kiss.
"Then that is where you will find me," she said shyly, giving him a smile. "My dear Haldir," replied the mage, emotion laying heavy on the words.
The two embraced once more, drawing apart to pull on clothes hastily discarded about. They headed towards Haldir's talan, hands entwined, heads touching. Unbeknownst to the distracted pair, two sets of eyes had just arrived nearby in time to see them leave. The arrivals noted the rumpled appearance of the two with glee. When the pair had passed out of earshot, Haldir's two brothers turned to each other, hands smacking the other in triumph.
"All right…now we won't have to abduct them and force them together." Rumil said, grinning like a madman.
"Do you think he loves her?" Orophin asked.
"I am certain." Rumil said emphatically. "She'll make a great sister. And a wonderful wife for our brother. Now, how can we get him to ask her…"
The two brothers plotted out their older brother's future, unaware that already the two lovers had acknowledged at least to themselves if not the other, that they would let nothing ever stand between them.