Romy – Thanks, here's more. Can you tell I'm bored at home and have nothing better to do?

Spotnmushlover246 – Thanks, here's my next quick update. Everything's scrambled in my head and if I don't let it out, I'll explode.

Alysha – Thanks!

Linilya Elf – I love making Legolas do things that are extraordinary. I've got a lot more up my sleeve. I'm like Peter Jackson, who wanted Leggy to have all those great stunts and capabilities.

Legolaslover – Orcs, orcs, everywhere. I've got big plans ahead. I know I said in the very beginning that this was going to strictly be a romance and not have a lot of action, but I just can't help myself. I love action!

Lex – Thanks, here's more.

Maren LP – Thanks, here's more.

WARNING – This chapter contains some graphic sexual content. If this doesn't bother you, then two thumbs up to you and read on from here. If it bothers you, then skip to the section below the next line or you'll miss out on something important.

Chapter 8 – Fascination

When evening came, camp was set up alongside the Hoarwell River. Some of the men built a large fire. There was no risk of an attack from Orcs or anything else. Aragorn knew they were near Rivendell and it was safe from enemies. Although there was the occasional wild animal running loose that had been spied during the day, none ever came close enough to warrant an arrow.

Elladan handed Legolas and Aleera some bread and fruit. She ate very little sitting beside Legolas on the ground. The stares from the other elves still disturbed her and she remained close to his side.

"What troubles you, Aleera?" Legolas asked her, sensing her mild distress. He did not want her to feel that she was not safe with him. He vowed to protect her and as long as he lived and breathed, he would keep that promise.

Aleera shook her head and looked down at the bread that she picked at. She saw him glance around the camp and then back at her, apparently sensing her unease.

"You need not fear these elves. They are loyal to us. They will not hurt you."

"Then why do they stare at me so?" she asked as she raised her eyes and peered at the elves scattered around the camp. Some stared at her openly, while others only looked to her when she looked to them.

Legolas wanted to ease her mind. "Perhaps they believe you to be an angel as I had when I first looked upon you and they wish to be sitting beside you instead of I."

Aleera smiled at him, knowing that he jested. "I am flattered by this fascination they have with me." She accepted his word that she had nothing to fear. She was elf-kind and these were her people. They were not Kozari. But even as she had that thought, another seemed to nag at her. To trust in an elf…one she loved…there was something disturbing about the thought, yet she did not know why it was so.

Legolas glanced around the camp again. With so many elves around, there would be no chance to share any intimate moments with Aleera. All eyes would be on them. He wanted to be alone with her, to kiss her and feel her bare flesh beneath his fingers once again. The mere thought of it made him tighten in his leggings. A mischievous thought quickly came to him, an excuse to get her out of her clothing. "Do you desire a bath in the river to wash away the day's grime?"

Aleera glanced nervously around at the others again. "Here?"

Legolas understood her distress, but he had no plans to allow her to bathe in front of anyone other than himself. "Nay, further up river so you may have privacy. I will go with you. I will not leave you alone."

Aleera turned to him and immediately sensed his desire. Indeed, she knew he would not leave her alone. But she sensed that he wanted to do more than simply bathe. She wanted nothing more than to be encompassed in his arms and to taste his lips once again.

Legolas stood and took her hand, lifting her up on her feet. Before they headed up along the side of the river, Legolas grabbed a blanket from a pile near the rest of the company's provisions. He held the blanket in one hand while holding her small hand in the other. As they walked along the bank of the river, every once in a while he glanced back behind them, determining if they were far enough away from the others. Finally he stopped and tossed the blanket on the ground. As he began to remove his weapons, he looked up at Aleera. "We are safe here, Aleera. You may undress now." Legolas had seen every part of her bare and despite the fact that she should have shown some trepidation, he felt none coming from her as she began to undress in front of him. Then he saw her stop to stare at him when he had removed everything but his leggings. "You make me feel insecure," he told her with a smile.

"I am sorry," Aleera replied with flushed cheeks. "I do not mean to. It is just that I have never…or at least I do not recall whether I have ever seen…"

Legolas brought his finger up to her lips. "Shhh. Do not despair." Then he tugged on the belt holding her leggings up. It loosened and her leggings slipped down her hips and to her ankles. She stepped out of them and once again paused to watch him. He loosened his own leggings and tugged them off by lifting each foot. She stared wide-eyed below his waist and he gave her the opportunity to study him at great length.

Aleera's wide eyes wandered over the perfection of his form. His chest was sculpted with muscles and his torso was hard and flat. A thin trail of dark golden hair grew below his navel and ended at a scattering around his elfhood.

"If you stare too long, it will grow," said Legolas playfully.

Aleera's eyes moved up to meet his and she saw a smile on his face. "What?" she asked while narrowing her eyes.

His smile widened as he reached for her hand, pulling her along behind him into the water. It felt cold at first until his body became accustomed to the climate. They swam together for several minutes, dunking completely beneath the surface. Afterward Legolas came up behind Aleera and gently rinsed the healing paste from her scars. "Your wounds heal quickly, Aleera. You no longer require any healing paste."

His hands caressing her bare back felt good and he continued it before moving along her shoulders and arms. Testing to see if he could truly sense what she desired, Aleera closed her eyes and imagined his hands moving around to cover her breasts. His lips found her bare shoulder first and he gently sank his teeth there before moving to her ear. As he ran his tongue over the tip, his hands came around from behind and slowly squeezed her breasts. She gasped and quickly bit her lower lip. His fingers gently stroked her peaks. An incredible heat began to build in her depths and it elated her to know that he indeed knew exactly what she wanted, or at least what she thought she wanted.

"You desire this," he whispered into her ear.

"I know not what I desire, Legolas."

Legolas had some knowledge of how to please an elf maid. Not firsthand, of course, but from the loose lips of his experienced comrades over the years and witnessing something he should not have seen. "Let us discover it together." He slowly slid his right hand down her torso and cupped her mound.

Aleera gasped and tilted her head back against his shoulder. While his fingers lightly stroked her, her chest and stomach tightened in a grip of heated lust. She wanted him desperately, but she knew not in what way.

Legolas relished in her soft moans as she responded to the feel of his fingers gently parting her and sliding into her. As he continued to pleasure her, she squirmed back against him and he seized the tip of her ear with his teeth before taking it into his mouth. His arousal ached as it was pressed firmly against her round behind. Her movements created friction against him and he gasped at the desire to seek release.

The sensations Aleera felt all at once literally overwhelmed her and she bit down on her lower lip to keep from crying out loudly. She squeezed her thighs tightly together over his hand as a wave of incredible pleasure came upon her with such force that her knees buckled beneath her. Legolas held her with one hand while the fingers of his other hand continued to move in and out of her, deeper and faster. Tears flowed from her eyes as the powerful climax escalated until she could no longer hold back the cries that exploded from her throat.

When Legolas felt her climax finally begin to subside, he slowed the movement of his fingers. Her cries turned to soft moans as he slid his fingers out from within her and leisurely stroked her for a short while longer, simply because he enjoyed the feel of her down there and the feel of her soft behind grinding against his arousal. He wondered if she knew what she was doing to him or if it was all an innocent act on her part. Several minutes passed before he turned her around to face him and brought his lips down to hers, kissing her hungrily.

"I do not recall ever feeling such a thing before," she whispered to him.

"I assure that you will desire it again now that you have felt it." He breathed against her cheek.

Aleera moved her hands down his torso, wanting to touch him as intimately as he had touched her. She felt bold enough. Just to be sure though, she waited for him to give her a clue, reaching out her senses to him. And sure enough, she could clearly sense that he wanted her hands to grip him down there.

Legolas was ready to explode from the inside out if she did not touch him soon. It had not occurred to him until that moment that the only relief he would obtain would be by her hands. When she finally wrapped her hands around him, he felt himself stiffen and pulsate. He placed his hand over hers and guided it at the pace he wanted. Slowly at first and then with more speed. It was the first time he had ever allowed anyone to be this close to him, to touch him in this manner. With Aleera pressed closely against him… stroking him, inhaling her alluring scent, seeing the look of determination in her eyes, he knew he was close. He slipped his hand around to the back of her, between her legs from behind and heard her soft gasps of pleasure as he stroked her there. In a matter of seconds, Legolas reached climax, much quicker than he ever had…by himself of course, he thought. He buried his face into her shoulder to muffle his cries. Her cries joined his as she reached another climax from his gently probing fingers.

After several moments, their lips found each other and they kissed leisurely for awhile. When they came out of the water, Legolas wrapped the blanket around both of them as they sat on the ground facing the river. He was sitting behind with his arms around her, holding the blanket closed. They remained silent for a time, each lost in their own thoughts as they watched the water of the river slowly moving along. Legolas's warm breath against the back of Aleera's neck was comforting and she fought the urge to close her eyes and sleep.

"I have not felt such a beautiful release in many years," he finally said, breaking the silence.

"Have you…loved many?" she asked carefully.

"Many what?"

"Many others?"

"Would it bother you if I have?"

Aleera frowned, not understanding why it would bother her. "Nay…"

Legolas smiled to himself. It did bother her and the knowledge made him think she truly cared for him. He would ease her mind at a later time.

Aleera leaned back against his solid frame and nuzzled her face against the side of his. "Legolas?"

"Hm?" he replied.

"What if the Lady of the Wood is not able to help me recover my memories?"

"Lady Galadriel has incredible power. She can delve deep into your mind and find out who you are. If she is not able to recover your memories, then as I said to you before, memories can be remade."

"You will help me make more?"

"I will do all that you desire." When Aleera brought her hand up to caress his cheek, Legolas turned her face toward his and gave her a soft, sensual kiss. Moments later he pulled her to her feet and they dressed before heading back to camp.

Aragorn watched their return from the opposite side of the large fire, both of them with damp hair, no doubt from the swim they had in the river. He was uncertain, but he thought he actually saw a look of satisfaction on his friend's face. It was apparent to him that the two had shared intimacy, but to what capacity, he did not know. Aragorn was elated that Legolas had found love, yet he was also concerned about what would happen when Aleera discovered who she really was and recalled her memories. What if she did not feel the same way about him afterward?

Legolas was feeling mischievous when he returned from the river with Aleera. He spied where Elladan and Elrohir had made their bedrolls several feet from the fire. The two were currently in discussion with three other elves he did not know. He managed to convince Aleera to distract the twins with some brief conversation while he casually dropped a dead fish under each of their bedrolls. Then he snuck over to his bedroll as Aleera sauntered over, with a mischievous smile of her own.

Aragorn had watched the prank with a smile. Then he watched Legolas lay behind Aleera, tossing a blanket over them. He saw their display of affection as she turned to face Legolas and then kissed him. The ranger's smile widened when Legolas took the blanket and covered their heads, preventing anyone from seeing what they did.

In the morning, Aragorn decided to play on Legolas's prank from the night before. He approached the twins and sniffed the air around them. They indeed smelled like dead fish. The twins sniffed each other and then quickly found the stinking dead fish beneath their bedrolls. They exchanged murderous looks, knowing exactly who the instigator was.

Unfortunately for them, Legolas was already mounted with Aleera, laughing playfully as he nudged his stallion into a gallop away from camp.

A contingent of Orcs marched out of the woods of Kozar and steadily moved toward the Keep. There was no order in their lines, no unification of their movements. They simply walked in the direction dictated to them. Their leader was Hurbag, a yellow-eyed and pointy-chinned Orc with a menacing look. He negotiated only with those that would benefit his cause and the Kozari ruler had done just that on many occasions, paying with lucrative wares and an abundance of food and spirits.

Hurrnäd watched the approach of the Orcs as he sat astride his horse. He was quickly able to pick out the leader of the group. Hurbag was distinguishable by his glowing yellow eyes and the metal plate bolted to the right side of his bald head. When the Orc leader found his way to stand before Hurrnäd, the rest of the Orcs halted. "Good to see you again so soon, Hurbag, my friend."

"I received word you seek my services," Hurbag slurred through gangly, dark-gummed teeth.

"Yours and those of your company."

"To what capacity?"

"To raid and pillage."

Hurbag momentarily glanced to the woman seated on a horse beside Hurrnäd. He barely recognized her as the queen of Kozar. Her face was marred with dark purple bruises and her nose rested crookedly with fresh scars and stitches holding it together. His eyes shifted back to Hurrnäd. "Raiding and pillaging happens to be a favorite pastime of mine. Will there be many spoils to collect?"

"I am certain of it."

"And what do you gain?" asked Hurbag curiously. He had fought against men through many battles and he knew they did not raid and pillage for no reason. Most of the time it was to obtain by force more lands under their rule. Or for something that went much deeper.

Hurrnäd was suddenly shaking with anger, no longer attempting to mask his fury in front of the Orc leader. All there had been to do these last few days was think about what had happened and the more his thoughts dwelled on the golden-haired elf, the more he wanted to rip him apart, one limb at a time. "Revenge."

How's this for a cliffie?