Haldir blinked in surprise, wondering if he had heard Kystrel right. He didn't think that she'd want anyone around while she bathed, not with her almost fanatic obsession with privacy. "Kystrel?" He gave her an odd look, and flags of red rose in her cheeks.
"Um.. Nevermind.. Forget I said anything..." she turned away, heading for the door that led inside.
You idiot! She was giving you a wide open invitation! Ai! You have to be the most dense person in all of...
Shut up. Haldir was not in a mood to deal with the annoying inner voice today. He stood up, following Kystrel, laying a hand on her arm. She looked up at him, tilting her head a moment as if listening to something, and reached up to kiss him, her lips brushing his briefly before she pulled away, her cheeks flaming. He raised an eyebrow, touching her cheek with one finger.
"What are you blushing for, Kystrel?" He kept his voice pitched low, trying not to scare her.
She couldn't seem to get out a coherent word, and fled towards his bathing room, her face scarlet. He followed her, intrigued by her reaction. As if she was attracted to him, perhaps.
Hmm. Perhaps she is? That voice sounded sarcastic, and annoyed. She's trapped in a house with you as the only company she can sount on being around, and has been for the last several months. After all, the twins are out on night patrol, so they're asleep all day, and Legolas takes the day watches half the time, to get away from your temper.
Haldir imagined shoving a gag into the voice, and stalked towards the bathing room, pausing in the doorway as he watched Kystrel slip out of her sodden shirt, the water splashing into the tub. She was mumbling to herself, as if arguing with someone.
"...someplace warm. And sunny. With cabana boys. And no arrogant elves too handsome for my sanity."
He slipped up behind her, his feet making no noise on the cool tiles. "What is a cabana boy?"
Well, that was brilliant, Tre. Hope you didn't blow it completely by running off like a scared little girl.
"I am not scared!" Kystrel muttered, turning on the tap, and waiting for the water to warm before putting the plug into the bottom.
Hmph. You're acting like it.
"I am not. I just want to go someplace warm, and sunny, with cabana boys. And no arrogant elves that are too handsome for my sanity." She pulled the shirt off over her head, wrinkling her nose at the smell of beer on it.
"What is a cabana boy?" Haldir's voice made her jump, and spin, her eyes widening when she found out how close he was.
"Um... Haldir." She smiled nervously, holding the shirt up to her chest.
He smiled, his eyes lit with something more than the normal internal light, and reached out to close a hand over hers. His fingers were warm against hers, tugging at the fine material of the shirt. "You didn't answer my question. What are cabana boys?"
Kystrel flushed, trying to tighten her grip on the shirt, and nearly ripping it. She grimaced, letting it go, keeping her eyes fixed on a point on Haldir's chest. "Uh.. the guys who bring drinks at really nice resorts."
There was a soft chuckle, and Haldir folded one hand around her fingers, bringing them to his lips and laying a soft kiss on the tips. "Is that all?"
"Well..." she trailed off, squirming, certain her face was redder than a tomato. "Most of them are really cute. Or so I hear," she added hastily, not sure why she was suddenly uncomfortable about her near-obsession in cute guys.
"Hmm." He ran a thumb over the pulse point in her wrist, and Kystrel shivered, wondering what he was up to. His lips ghosted over her palm a momement later, and he whispered, "And what about 'arrogant elves' and your sanity?" His breath feathered across her wrist, and Kystrel felt the shirt drop from her other hand, staring at him.
A blond brow went up when she didn't say anything, and strom-grey eyes held hers as he ran his thumb over her pulse again. "Well?" His voice was low, and she felt a shiver go down her spine.
"Um..." She gulped, unconsciously leaning in closer, licking her lips. "That..." Her eyes fixed on his mouth, and she suppressed another shiver. "That ceretain elves are too handsome for their own good," she whispered.
Just as her lips were about to touch his, Haldir leaned past her, and she heard him turn the water off. "Your bath is ready," he said softly, his lips near her ear.
Kystrel clenched her teeth against the frustrated scream that wanted to come out, turning instead to test the water. It was hot, and the tub three-quarters full. Perfect for a nice long bath to soak away the smell of beer, and the sting of frustration. Except the bastard isn't showing any signs of leaving.
"I don't need an audience," she snapped, not bothering to turn around and look at Haldir.
Haldir leaned past Kystrel to turn off the water before the tub could get too full, noticing the frustration that bloomed in her eyes. She spun away from him, reaching out a hand to test the water as he stepped away from her. She didn't turn back as she straightened, and he let a smirk touch his face, slipping silently out of the tunic and trews he'd been wearing.
"I don't need an audience, you know," she snapped, her frame rigid.
He placed a hand on either shoulder, and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I wasn't planning on being an audience, Kystrel." He felt the shiver under his hands, and the sudden tensing. She looked over her shoulder at him, surprise in her eyes.
He raised an eyebrow, supressing the urge to wrinkle his nose at the smell of the brew in her hair, and her cheeks went bright red. She turned her head away quickly, stepping away from him to quickly pull off her leggings before slipping into the steaming water. She sunk down to her chin, her eyes shut, and an expression of pure bliss on her face.
Padding across the room, he pulled a bottle of shampoo from the counter, and a jar of soft soap, setting them with soft clicks next to the tub before sliding in next to her, watching the expression on her face for a long moment before reaching out and brushing a thumb across her cheekbone. Her eyes snapped open, and met his gaze, curiosity in the grey depths. She remained leaning against the side of the tub, simply watching him. He found her hand under the water, and let his long fingers encircle her wrist.
Using the trapped limb, he pulled her over to him, turning her so her back was to him. Reaching over the edge, he picked up the cool ceramic bottle of shampoo, using his thumb to work the stopper out of the neck. He waved the bottle under Kystrel's nose, smiling at the hum of approval she gave him, and released her trapped wrist. A handful of the heavy liquid settled into his palm as he tilted the jar, pausing to let it warm before working it into her hair.
Kystrel drew in a deep breath as Haldir brought a bottle of shampoo around, waving it under her nose. She'd never seen a bottle like it, and she was startled at the pleasent fragrance coming from the bottle. "Mmm." Smells lovely. I wonder what they put in it?
She heard the ceramic bottle click on the floor, and then long fingers slid into her hair, the scent of flowers and greenery overcoming the smell of the beer, and she closed her eyes as he massaged the shampoo into her thick hair, reveling in the sensation. She wimpered when Haldir pulled his fingers out of her hair, and heard a soft chuckle from behind her, then the trickle of water as he lifted his hands to pour clean water over her head. She leaned her head back slightly to keep the suds from running in her face, and yelped as she slipped on the bottom of the tub.
A pair of strong arms caught her before her head touched the water, and Haldir drew her back up, continuing to rinse the shampoo from her hair. She turned, opening her eyes, and Haldir turned so his back was towards her, tilting his head back slightly so she could reach the braids that held his hair back from his face.
Shifting so she was on her knees, Kystrel tenatively reached out, sliding her fingers into the thick mass of his hair. It's so soft. It feels like silk, she thought to herself, carefully working the damp strands loose of the braids.
Haldir heard the soft splash of water as Kystrel moved, her fingers sliding slowly into his hair. Her fingers were gentle as they loosened the plaits that hung on either side of his face. Her hand brushed over the tip of his ear, sending a shiver down his spine, and he drew in a shuddering breath. Behind him, Kystrel froze for a moment, then he felt her fingers lightly brush over his ear again, and he bit back a hiss of pleasure.
He saw her hand reach over the side of the tub, bringing up the bottle of shampoo, returning his favor, though he swore she purposely let her hands and fingers brush the tips of his ears several times. "If you keep doing that, Kystrel," he said softly, his eyes shut as he tried to maintain his control, "can you handle the consequences?"
She shifted in the water again, pouring water over his hair to rinse the suds from it, but said nothing. He opened his eyes, turning back to face her again, raising an eyebrow at the flush on Kystrel's face. Placing the knuckle of one finger under her chin, he lifted her face to look at him, catching her gaze before she could look away. There was curiosity in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by uncertainty, and no little amount of fear.
"What are you afraid of, little bird?" he whispered in elvish, and she wrinkled her nose.
"Don't call me little bird." Kystrel replied in the same language, her accent lighter than he had expected it to be. She dropped her gaze from his, her eyes resting on his mouth. Leaning forward, he caught her lips in a gentle kiss, his thumb tugging gently at her chin as his tongue flicked out, tasting the faint hint of ale and apples before her mouth opened to his.
Kystrel stared into Haldir's eyes, seeing the hunger in them, and felt a curious uncertainty, and a jolt of fear. If given someplace to break in, she could do it without breaking a sweat. Put her in the roughest neighborhoods of London with a small fortune in jewelry to fence, she'd walk away without so much as a flicker of fear. But this... I don't know what I'm doing! Why did I let myself get into this mess?
A frown touched his face, the hunger dampened by confusion. "What are you afraid of, little bird?" he asked in elvish, his voice soft.
"Don't call me little bird." Kystrel spoke quietly, her eyes dropping to Haldir's lips, unwilling to meet his eyes. She blinked as he leaned forward, his lips soft against hers, tasting of apples and beer, and something else she couldn't name. His thumb on her chin tugged, and she parted her lips, his tongue flickering over hers. For a long moment, she simply let him kiss her, her eyes closed, before he coaxed her into responding, her tongue tenatively brushing over his lips.
When they came up for air, her eyes met his again, and there was a smile in them, a gentle expression she'd gotten a glimpse of only once before. She blushed, and looked away, biting her lip slightly. His hand touched the side of her face, a thumb brushing along her cheekbone as he tilted her head to look back at him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, remembering what she had done last time they'd kissed.
"For what?" He looked confused a moment, and she raised a hand to touch his cheek, right over where she'd smacked him three months before.
"What happened last time. I..." She trailed off, licking her lips, and he placed a finger over her mouth before she could continue. He shook his head, his expression saying better than words that what had happened than was forgiven, and forgotten.
He reached over the side of the tub again, bringing up the jar of soap, holding it out for her to take. Kystrel raised an eyebrow, lifting the lid to sniff at the contents, her eyes widening.
"It smells heavenly."
Haldir laid a finger over Kystrel's lips before she could try to apologize. He'd tried to forget about the incident, and didn't need a reminder. He brought up the pot of soap to distract her, watching her expression as she opened it.
"It smells heavenly," she whispered, reaching in to scoop out some, a smile twitching at the corners of her lips. "Turn around, so I can scrub your back." She raised her eyebrow again when he didn't move. "That is why you handed me the soap, isn't it?"
He shrugged, moving so she could get at his back. Her fingers were gentle, tracing the lines of scars that marred the skin.
"How did this happen?" Kystrel's voice was quiet, her fingers lingering on the scar next to his spine. "It looks like someone tried to take out your spine with a cleaver."
"It was an axe, but I suppose it feels much the same." Haldir's tone was as subdued as hers, and he firmly banished the memories of how he recieved that particular scar once again, back to the dark corner of his mind where he could ignore them.
Kystrel was quiet for a long moment. "It must have taken a dedicated... healer, or something, to fix that up."
Haldir shrugged, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. "She was."
"Who?" There was puzzlement in her voice, and she stopped scrubbing, her fingers resting on the middle of his back.
"Eowyn."
There was silence for another moment. "She was the niece to Theoden, right?"
Haldir turned back around to face her, and she snatched her hands back, her face flushing. He took the soap from her, and she turned away. Setting the jar back onto the floor, he began to slowly rub her shoulders, kneading at the stiffness under his fingertips. She leaned into his hands, a soft sound coming from her that sounded suspiciously like a purr.
Author's Note: Thank you, Laer4572 and Lady Melisande Grey, for your reviews!
Laer4572 - I hope you enjoy the chapter, and have you had a chance to read the ficlets of the backstory yet? If not, go ahead and read the ones I have up. I'll be posting more as I write them, mostly around this, and the sequels to this (among other projects).
Lady Melisande Grey - smirks Yes, dearheart. Well, anyway, hope you enjoyed the latest installation, and watch for more.
Ah, and one more note to all. This fic will be coming to a close with one more chapter and an epilogue. The story will continue in it's sequel, 'Taming the Storm', in which we will be seeing events through Legolas's point of view and that of Kystrel's friend April Ellyson, who has made an appearence here as Kystrel's conscious. I hope you enjoy it as much as you have enjoyed this one!