I decided to upload the two together! The end is coming for Illadris but not quite yet!

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Forever Yours

Chapter 15

Arien ached in every muscle. Her arms felt too heavy to lift, her neck and shoulders as tense as the bow string she had relentlessly drawn. She needed relaxation and after preparing the items required, headed toward the bathing pools. The pools were situated in a pleasant grove a short walk from her talan and fed by warm springs. They were obscured from view by dense foliage and provided a delightful respite at any time of day. Male and female bathing alternated in order to preserve modesty and as Arien neared, she heard the chatter of female voices interspersed with laughter. It was common for several Elves to share a pool as the event was regarded as an opportune time to exchange news and gossip. However, Arien was used to the luxury of privacy and chose a small pool where she could bathe alone. She disrobed and slipped into the welcoming comfort of the water and allowed it to soothe her aching muscles. The occupants of the nearby pool were unaware of her presence and Arien could not resist eavesdropping on their conversation. At first, the talk was quite mundane and she allowed her thoughts to drift to her lesson with the Marchwarden. She felt an inner glow as she recalled his evocative behaviour but was brought back to alertness when she heard his name spoken by one of the nearby bathers;

"Oh my dear, Haldir has no time for any of us these days. His attention is held entirely by the beautiful Arien. It is said she may ask whatever she wishes of him and he will obey, so enraptured is he." said one of the elleths.

"Yes, but only until he achieves his aim." replied another. "Once he has tasted her delights, he will move on, as he has with all his conquests. I have oft heard it said, Haldir cares more for the chase than the capture,"

"Oh, I think he enjoys the capture enough, but only for a night or two. It is the captivity he dislikes," added another female voice.

Laughter rang out and Arien dipped lower into the water. She did not wish to be discovered until she had completed her eavesdropping. She was hurt by what she had so far overheard, but her curiosity refused to allow she desist from listening further.

"You would know what it is to be captured by our gallant Captain, would you not?" queried the elleth who had first spoken. "For if I remember correctly, you have kept his bed warm on more than one occasion!"

"Ah yes," came the wistful reply, "and I would do so again if he were but to ask, for he is beyond compare and," she paused, "quite insatiable!"

Peels of laughter rang out once more and Arien blanched at the implication of their words. She could not bear to hear any further tales of Haldir's prowess and hurriedly gathering her belongings, hastily returned to her rooms. She turned the words of the females over in her mind and each time she considered them, the implication of their import became more ominous. She decided to surrender to the soft comfort of her bed in the hope sleep would come quickly and so relieve her, at least temporarily, of her unease. She slipped into a diaphanous nightgown and slid between the cool sheets. After a short time, her mind yielded to the demands of her exhausted body and she drifted into sleep. A soft tap at her door was insufficient to rouse her completely from slumber and she bad the caller enter without conscious thought to their identity. She slowly surfaced to awareness and raised herself slightly to regard her visitor. So startled was she to see Haldir approaching her bed, she grabbed the sheet and drew it tight against her chest. He chuckled softly at her gesture and lowered himself to sit beside her.

"It was my intent to call upon you to ascertain you suffered no ill effects from your training but I see you have already succumbed to fatigue!" he said, smiling.

He reached out and grasped the sheet, pulling it gently out of her hands.

"To hide such beauty is too cruel and unwarranted," he said softly.

She was aware of the shift in his focus from her face to her flushed bosom. He raised his hand and brushed his fingers lightly across the gentle swell of her pale breasts. She wished she had chosen a less provocative nightgown and watched his expression change to one of feral desire as his hand continued to travel across her shoulder, sliding the thin strip of cloth with it. He leant closer to capture her lips with his and she submitted totally to the delicious sensations sweeping through her as she felt his tongue sweep slowly and tenderly over her lower lip. He slid a hand amidst her tousled curls, clasping her neck firmly but tenderly. His other slid around her waist and she trembled as his fingers began to trace delicately up and down her spine. All the while, his unremitting tongue probed gently between her lips, seeking admission to the sweet depths of her mouth. From nowhere, the words she had heard earlier that evening echoed in her mind and she pulled away from him, abruptly. Haldir was surprised at the sudden change in her demeanour and regarded her with consternation;

"What is wrong, my sweet?"

"Forgive me, Haldir, but I fear I am exhausted by my efforts today and my body cries out for rest," she said.

"There are many forms of relaxation, Arien. If you will only permit me, I feel sure I can distract you from your weariness," he replied, "or at least, replace it with a more gratifying form of tiredness."

"I thank you for your kind offer, Haldir," she answered, apologetically "but I fear nought can change the way I feel this night. I wish only for sleep."

She graced him with a rueful smile. Haldir pondered her words for a moment and decided innocence coupled with shyness to be the cause of her reticence. He bestowed one last, chaste kiss and rose to take his leave.

"Perhaps one may only learn so much in a day. I regret I am unable guide you further but there is always tomorrow!" he said, then added, almost as an afterthought, "There is a place some distance from the city of which I am most fond as it is quite singular in its beauty, even in such a place as Lothlorien. I would like very much to share its charm and seclusion with you. If you are in agreement, I will meet with you after breakfast."

Arien agreed and watched as he departed. She was deeply enamoured with Haldir but would not allow herself to succumb to his desires in the way it appeared so many had. She felt she had to restrain his advances, at least for a short while until she could be assured his motives were not based purely on lust and before allowing sleep once more to claim her, formulated her plan to slow the momentum of his ardour.

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The following day, Haldir awaited Arien's arrival outside the dining hall. She soon appeared, but was not alone. She was accompanied by her brother and they walked toward him, their arms linked. Arien smiled graciously and said;

"I hope I have not been indecorous, but when I told Legolas of the wondrous place you so kindly offered to show me, he expressed such enthusiasm I simply had to invite him to accompany us."

Haldir looked at them both and replied with a rather forced smile:

"Of course, I will be delighted if Legolas joins us."

Without more ado, the three began a slow amble along the paths to the city gates. Arien tried hard to suppress the grin which threatened to break through her stoic expression at the look of disbelief which had passed Haldir's features, albeit, fleetingly.

The days which passed assumed a similar pattern. Whenever Haldir arranged to meet with Arien, she always arrived with a companion. Mostly it was her brother, but on a few occasions, much to Haldir's disbelief, she was accompanied by Orophin. These times proved especially trying as his brother sensed his dissatisfaction with the arrangement and mischievously played upon his discomfiture at every opportunity. It seemed impossible to spend time with her alone. His frustration simmered beneath his outward semblance of calm.

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A few days later, Thranduil arrived at Caras Galadhon, the usual pomp and ceremony which would accompany a visit by one of such eminence noticeable by its absence. Led by Rumil and accompanied by his own guards, he blustered his way into the Council Chamber to be met by Galadriel and Celeborn. Rumil scarce had time to bow before he was rudely pushed to one side by the king. Thranduil's demeanour was far from pleasant as he regarded the lord and lady before him.

"Where are my son and daughter?" he demanded furiously.

Celeborn had anticipated anger on Thranduil's part, but not from the moment of his arrival and he stiffened defensively. Galadriel, however, reached into the king's mind;

"Greetings, Thranduil. We have awaited your arrival anxiously but pray, do not vent your anger on those who are as distressed by events as yourself. Legolas and Arien are safe and well, as you shall soon see."

"Do not play your mind tricks on me, my lady!" retorted Thranduil. "I demand my children are brought immediately that I may satisfy myself of their wellbeing. Then I will see the miscreant responsible for their harm."

Celeborn made to respond to Thranduil's command just as Legolas and Arien appeared, accompanied by Haldir. Arien ran to embrace her father whilst Legolas held his ground beside Haldir. He had seen the king's focus alight on the Marchwarden and feared his friend would be next to face his father's wrath. Thranduil set aside his daughter briskly and within a few strides, stood before the Marchwarden. Haldir bowed low then straightened to face the enraged monarch;

"I hold you entirely responsible for this outrage," he spat at Haldir. "As Captain of the guard you are accountable for their actions!"

Thranduil turned to Celeborn and demanded;

"Why is he still in command? He is clearly incompetent!"

Legolas placed himself between his father and Haldir, his face grim;

"Father, I beg you, please do not accuse blindly. Haldir is blameless in all this, as are the lord and lady. The one responsible is to be brought to trial on the morrow; they have delayed only out of deference for you. To treat them with such contempt is unwarranted and," he lowered his head close to his father's and murmured, almost inaudibly, "ignoble."

Thranduil stared at his son unbelievingly for a moment then a grin spread across his features;

"When did you become so wise, Legolas?" he asked.

"I have learned only from you, father!" stated Legolas, a tinge of irony in his voice.

Thranduil drew a deep breath and turned to regard his hosts;

"It appears I have been a little brash," he said, with the subtlest hint of regret to his voice "I hope you will forgive the foibles of an anxious parent? I fear my mind has been consumed with worry during the journey; it served only to allow my anger and irrationality to fester."

Celeborn smiled for the first time since Thranduil's arrival;

"No forgiveness is necessary between old friends. Come, rest from your arduous journey a while and properly enjoy reunion with your children."

Celeborn extended his arm to Thranduil in a gesture of friendship and as both walked side by side from the chamber, the lord added discretely;

"Later we must discuss all which had occurred that you may be better informed before the ordeal to come."

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Illadris sat in her talan, her days spent in solitude served only to compound and exacerbate her thoughts. Her contemplation was interrupted by the appearance of her guard in the doorway;

"I feel you should be aware of the arrival of King Thranduil. Your trial is set for tomorrow."

Illadris arose and moved toward the warden. Suddenly her self-control appeared to fail her and she dropped to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The warden was amazed at her sudden lack of composure and instinctively placed his hand on her shoulder in sympathy. She looked into his face and whimpered, pitifully;

"I am afraid!"

Despite his feelings of revulsion at her past actions, he was a compassionate Elf and felt pity for the desolate elleth. He moved closer to her and before he could react otherwise, she claimed his lips in a passionate kiss. Instinct overtook reason as he returned her fervour. As he allowed himself to be led into her bed chamber, he was oblivious to the evil grin which flashed across her face as she realised with relish, hope was not lost.

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Tbc

Usual request, (I'm not begging any more - it's undignified! ROFL!) Please R&R

Chap 16 in 1-2 days (hopefully).