Thank you, yet again, for staying with this story and sending such kind reviews.
Mureall - Hi there! Glad to see you and thanks for joining us. I hope you continue to read and enjoy.
Haldir's Heart and Soul - I love reading your comments. You seem as if you're really enjoying this story - thank you. I'd love to answer you're question but it might spoil things (I love cliff hangers, as you might have noticed!). Please trust me - the end has been written since I first started this and I hope it will be OK.
RoxieRxChicargo - Hi again! I'm glad you understood the Thrandy 'thing'. He really does care and I wanted to show him as a typical protective father. Too many nasty things are written about him but I think he can't be THAT bad because he is the KING and the Elves are surely not that stupid to put up with a cruel ruler - lol!
Miss Sofie - No, it isn't and yes I did - lol! Great you managed to find the time for a read. Hope you're back to normal soon and your life is a bit more settled. Thanks for your continuing inspiration. (BTW - it's 'soppy' not 'sobby' - and remember - 'love makes the world go round'!
Loeke77 - I want to make you happy so, here you go - have chapter 21 - ROFL!
Forever Yours
Chapter 21
Several months passed and Arien walked beneath the russet hued trees, her peace interrupted only by the crackle of brittle leaves beneath her feet; a clear indication winter would follow soon. Of Legolas, there had been little news, save that the Elves of Rivendell were occupied with the gathering of as much intelligence as time allowed in order that the Fellowship could be better informed before their quest began.
Arien had known little of the history of the One Ring when she had first heard mention of it, but had pressured her father into telling her all he knew. She repeated the lore of the Ring within her mind;
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-Lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Her heart constricted as she reflected on its power and the evil associated with it. She knew it would be the end of Middle Earth should it fall into the hands of the Dark Lord, Sauron, once more. The Last Alliance of Elves and Men had been formed long ago to fight his evil, and at that time the Ring was thought to have been lost but the knowledge it called once more to its master was troublesome indeed.
Arien feared greatly the portent discovery of the Ring brought; the safety and security of her own people and those in Rivendell and Lothlorien; her brother's peril at being part of the Fellowship, as Sauron would certainly wish to apprehend the Ring-bearer as quickly as possible. She contemplated the malevolent forces the Lord of Mordor would draw upon in his ceaseless quest for supremacy and her heart missed a beat as she thought of her beloved, Haldir, and the dangers he would surely face as Captain of the Galadhirim. Since Legolas had departed, she had been torn between duty and the yearnings of her heart. She felt guilty for causing Thranduil such torment during the months prior to her brother's departure and had stayed almost constantly at his side in an effort to calm his concern for his son and to provide assurance of her continued affection, but of late, her longing to see Haldir again almost consumed her. Each night she would lie in her bed seeking refuge from her worried mind; he would once more hold and caress her; his lips would brush softly against hers and he would murmur soothing words of love, but of late, each time she attempted to induce her memories, the sharpness of her images diminished slightly, until she feared they would lose clarity forever.
That night, as she once again struggled to lose herself in her imaginings, she determined to speak with her father and seek his consent to follow her heart.
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The following morning, Arien walked beside her father in the chill of the autumn morning. The garden, bereft of the colourful blooms of summer, had assumed a mantle of red and brown which blazed in the early morning sun. Thranduil was lost in thought and appeared not to notice Arien's quiet words;
"Father, I wish to discuss something with you which for sometime has lain uneasily within me."
He paused in his meditation to listen more closely, and said;
"Forgive me, Arien. So consumed am I by current events, I have given little thought to your concerns. What is it that troubles you, child?"
"I too share your unease, Father," she replied, "but my anxiety is made worse by being parted from one with whom I could find some peace and reassurance from the anguish I bare. Months I have remained here, and gladly, but you must know my heart still remains in Lothlorien. I beg you, permit me to find my happiness now, before we are overrun by this evil we fear and joy is forever lost to me."
Thranduil regarded her with concern. He had expected her to express desire to return to Caras Galadhon for some time, but had hoped her patience would hold out until the crisis with which they were faced had been resolved. However he accepted, with reluctance, the truth of her words and released a deep sigh before replying;
"I understand your foreboding, my dear. For many nights, sleep has eluded me as I contemplate our fate should events turn against us. It is indeed wrong, and not a little selfish for me to expect your continued presence here, whilst you yearn to pursue your own future, however uncertain."
Arien was surprised at the ease with which her father had acquiesced to her request; she had anticipated a little more resistance. She hugged her father gratefully and pleaded with him to make arrangement for her travel as quickly as possible. Thranduil smiled to see her joy and, for the moment at least, set aside his grave concerns in order to accommodate her excitement.
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One month later, with winter truly upon them, Arien and her escort set out from Eryn Lasgalen for Lothlorien. Her heart was light as she said farewell to her father, and she reproached herself as she saw the sadness and apprehension in his eyes at their parting;
"I have instructed the guards to escort you as far as the borders of the Golden Wood and there to entrust your safe-keeping to the Galadhirim. I fear I cannot spare them longer as the danger to our realm grows with each day they are away. Your arrival will be as a surprise since I cannot risk sending word to Caras Galadhon, even by messenger bird, for fear of interception by the enemy."
"Fear not, Father," replied Arien. "I shall be quite safe. I feel in my heart the Valar have smiled upon my match and they will guard well my passage. Also, do not let your anxiety for my brother's safety consume you. He is well-skilled in the arts of war and will not quickly succumb to any foe. I pray we shall be united soon and these dark days will become just a distant memory for all."
Thranduil smiled at the resolute tone of his daughter's voice and clasped her to him. He prayed her assertions would prove to be true as with trepidation he watched her ride out with the escort.
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Days passed and Arien filled with joy as she beheld the tree-line which denoted the beginning of the Golden Wood. Their passage had not been without event, as twice they had been attacked, but the skirmishes had been brief and without loss to the Elves. As they passed further into the forest, she began to peer into the canopy of the trees and wished fervently the Guardians would make their presence known. Her heart quickened in anticipation of Haldir's inclusion in their troop, although she knew it was not certain he would be on border patrol. Her hearing perceived the sound of bird-calls and she realised joyfully their arrival had been detected. No sooner had she absorbed the thought than the Captain of her guard drew the party to a halt, as five grey-clad Galadhirim appeared in their path. Her joy changed to elation as she recognised Rumil and cast all decorum aside as she flew from her horse in her haste to greet him.
Rumil was overcome with joy to see the princess again and his companions were amazed at the disregard for formality as he grasped Arien and swung her around in delight. He kissed her cheek lightly and said, gleefully;
"Mae'govannen, my lovely Arien! I cannot conceive any event which could surpass my happiness at seeing you. I swear you are twice as lovely as when last we met!"
Arien laughed freely, revelling in the jollity Rumil so clearly displayed. He returned her feet gently to the ground as she expressed her own delight and relief at finally arriving at the place for which she had longed for so long;
"Mae'govannen, my dear Rumil! I am filled with happiness to see you so well."
A look of concern passed Rumil's features and Arien smiled as she said;
"Worry not, Rumil, for I am here with my Father's blessing. Did you think, perhaps, I had run away?"
Rumil returned her smile but the look of relief upon his features did not escape her notice. Their greeting complete, he noticed Arien glanced quickly about her and before she could question him, he said;
"Alas, the one whom you truly seek is in the city. He has just completed a long tour of duty at the borders and just yesterday returned to Caras Galadhon. However, I would be delighted to escort you to him, if only to see the elation he will surely display at your arrival. In truth, he has been most disagreeable company since your departure and his ill- humour has been a constant source of misery for many. You will receive the gratitude of all if your arrival results in a more amenable Marchwarden."
Arien slipped her arm through his and replied;
"Then lead on, my dear warden, for I have no desire to prolong the agony of the good Elves of Lothlorien!"
They left the guards of Eryn Lasgalen to enjoy the pleasant hospitality of the Galadhirim prior to their required return to their own realm and Arien set out on the final leg of her journey; one she fully expected to seem interminable.
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After many hours, Arien stood before the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. Galadriel beamed with delight to see the princess and greeted her joyfully;
"We are filled with happiness to see you once again, Arien! You have been sorely missed. We were greatly saddened by the manner of your departure. But let us not detain you further; you are eager to seek out the one who has drawn you back to our realm."
Galadriel gestured to Rumil;
"You have escorted our guest thus far, Rumil. Now pray continue your mission and deliver Arien to her heart's desire."
Rumil smiled to the Lord and Lady, bowed low and led Arien from the chamber. As Arien walked the familiar path, she felt as though she had never been away and anticipation coiled inside her as they neared Haldir's talan. They arrived at the entrance and Rumil took Arien's hand in his;
"I will go no further, Dearest, for despite my words earlier, I have no desire to intrude upon a moment which belongs only to you and my brother," Rumil grinned, and assumed a look of mock embarrassment, "one which, I am certain would embarrass one such as I; an innocent regarding the intimacies of love."
Arien could scarce suppress her amusement at his comment for she was well aware of Rumil's reputation among the elleths of Lothlorien. She watched him depart and turning to the door, rapped lightly upon it. A familiar, rich voice from within bid her enter and she slowly obeyed the command. Haldir sat behind a large desk, the surface of which was covered by various scripts and maps. He did not look up but continued his study of the documents before him. Arien suppressed her desire to run to him and stood silently before the desk, languishing in the opportunity to gaze upon him once more. Her eyes moved over the silken silver hair; the delicate curve of his brow; his strong features. As her eyes moved to study his full, soft lips, her tongue slipped unbidden between her own and a flush of hot need enveloped her as imaginings led to a physical display of desire.
Haldir raised his head to admonish the intruder who had dared infringe upon his privacy and stared disbelieving at the vision he beheld. He froze for a moment, as if he suspected the evidence of his eyes then leapt to his feet and swiftly skirting the desk, pulled Arien into a tight embrace;
"I do not know how you are come here, nor do I care!"
He hungrily consumed her lips, and then broke away, only to cover her face with small kisses. Arien shed tears of joy and clung to him tightly, reluctant to relinquish her hold on him as he kissed her brow, her eyes, her cheeks and finally, the tip of her delicate nose. He smiled broadly at her, and his eyes gazed warmly into hers as he allowed the love buried within him for so long to resurface;
"My beloved, I cannot believe you are here! I have never given up hope we would be reunited but the knowledge and means of winning you back eluded me. To find you here is beyond my wildest imaginings."
He kissed her again, deeply and longingly, gently massaging her lips and dipping his tongue between them to taste her sweetness. He stroked her hair and face gently and slowly with his fingertips, in an attempt to absorb her very presence with every sense he possessed;
"Come," he said, taking her hand in his and wrapping his other arm protectively around her shoulder, "let us seek more comfortable surroundings in which to reaffirm our love."
He led her to his bed chamber and lay beside her on the soft coverlet of deepest red. She yielded to his caresses as the weight of his body pushed her deeper into the downy softness of the mattress, enveloping her in a cocoon of security and love. His hand gently swept away the shoulder of her gown to reveal her pale flesh and his warm, moist lips passed over her sensitive skin, pausing slightly with each gently placed kiss. She closed her eyes in anticipation of further delights and surrendered totally as her body responded to the delicacy of his touch. He paused for a moment and whispered;
"Perhaps you should tell me now, how you are come to my arms? Am I to soon expect the mighty army of Thranduil to batter down my door and drag me away to his dungeons for all time?"
Arien's eyes snapped open and she looked into Haldir's smiling face. His eyes twinkled mischievously and he noted with satisfaction the look of frustration with which she regarded him. She replied;
"Your timing is decidedly questionable, Marchwarden, as is your humour! I am here with the blessing of my Father, though if you continue to tease me thus, I shall give serious consideration to returning to my home."
He grinned at her pouting expression and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him.
"Ah, My Dove," he laughed, "so impatient and so spoilt! I am delighted at the eagerness with which you seek give to me the great gift of your innocence, but I will see us joined in the time honoured manner of the Elves. We are not yet in such dire circumstances as we must join with only ourselves as witnesses. If you are to become my wife, you must learn to set aside the privilege of royalty and realise you will not always be given whatever you desire on demand!"
Arien's pout slowly gave way to a smile as she accepted his gentle admonishment. She kissed his lips gently and replied;
"Of course, Captain. I am your to command!"
Haldir rolled over once more, languishing in the sensation of her soft form beneath him and marvelled at his remarkable restraint to withstand such a beautiful, eager temptress. He lowered his head and enveloped her lips with his, his tongue dancing with hers; thoughts of how far he might investigate her hidden secrets and still preserve their ultimate pleasure for their wedding night played in his mind. His fingers found the ties at the front of her bodice and he skilfully began to unlace it. He had decided a little more investigation was quite permissible and most certainly desirable. He inhaled sharply as he beheld her soft, milky breasts for the first time. He felt her shiver as he allowed his fingers to play across them, gently stroking and teasing. He covered her mouth with his, without relinquishing his touch, and felt her shudder beneath him as his tongue moved slowly around every part of it, seeking and stroking. She returned his passion eagerly and laced her hands in his silken hair in an effort to pull him even closer. Gently, she pulled away from him and gazed at his uniform. Her hand moved to the tie at his shoulder but he covered it with his, stilling her attempt. She looked at him questioningly and said, slightly petulantly;
"It seems unfair, beloved, that you should delight in the sight and touch of me, but I am denied even a glimpse of the one I desire so much!"
Haldir grinned at her and replied;
"If I were to acquiesce to the dexterity of your fingers and permit you to divest me of my clothing also, then I fear, my lovely one, all will be lost. I told you once, I would investigate your limits, and I am delighted to find you apparently have none."
His expression turned serious as he continued;
"I can scarce contain my desire for you, my beautiful Arien. But I am determined the moment of our joining shall be the pinnacle of our pleasure. At that moment, and only then, will I release my control and claim your body with pulsating passion; heedless of innocence; oblivious to protest, as protest you surely will the first time you are taken. I promise you, your desire will be fully replete on that night and for ever more."
He held her gaze as the promise of his words washed over her. She could not reply, but remained still beneath him as she felt his hands once more begin their teasing path, meandering across her flesh in never ceasing swirls which caused other parts of her to scream with longing. She opened her lips as his mouth descended once more and neither heard the tentative knock upon the door.
Gradually, Haldir's mind permitted the unwelcome intrusion and he reluctantly withdrew from Arien to answer. She hastily drew her gown about her and strained to hear the conversation from the other room, but to no avail. Haldir reappeared only to excuse himself as it appeared the Lady desired his immediate presence. Arien watched his reluctant departure sadly as her skin tingled still from his touch.
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Haldir bowed low to the Lady and patiently waited whatever revelations the Lady had to impart. She smiled at him and he felt certain she knew exactly his activity prior to their audience. However, he decided prudence to be the best path and attempted to clear his mind of all thoughts of Arien. Finally, the Lady spoke;
"Forgive my intrusion at the time of your happiness, Haldir, but I fear I must request your absence from your love for a few days. I have received word the Fellowship of the Ring are fast approaching our borders. They bring with them portent of great evil. I desire you intercept them and escort them to Caras Galadhon."
Haldir had heard rumours concerning the reappearance of the One Ring and the formation of a Fellowship, the purpose of which was to oversee its destruction. He was alarmed to think the tendrils of malevolence had reached his own land and left the chamber filled with foreboding.
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Tbc.
Please do your usual wonderful R&Rs. I'm about 4 chapters from the end now (sobs!) and will try to update as regularly as possible (if you still want me to? - nudge, nudge, hint, hint!)
Anyway, the Fellowship's on it's way, so, bring on the Hobbits - lol!
