i'm baaaack! yea!

Teresa: thanks! and ummm, no, I'm not telling. it's a secret.

Leah's Lovely: hmmm, interesting thoughts. I might work that in there. Its going to be a little bit of both. Thanks!

Legolaslover:blushes: thanks!

Lindelea: hmm, not quite what you were thinking in this chapter, but it heats up well in next one!

Woodschyk: nope! I'd never kill off Leggy! Thanks!

Silverstar188: thanks!

LeaMarie F Rocket: thanks! a little bit of a shock, anyway. Yeah, I'll put more about him in later. He's gonna be an important character and you're the only one who really noticed him. Good job!

Brownie24: thanks so much!

Myri78: thanks!

Roeper: thanks a bunch!

Miss Independent3: yeppers! Glad you liked it. Thanks!

Disclaimer: umm, don't own anything except fluff and fuzz. Oh yeah, and uh…well…never mind.

Chapter 17

Elenayave slowly brushed out her wet red curls as she stood in front of the mirror. She could hear Legolas humming quietly to himself in the bath chambers through the partly open door. They had decided to bathe separately in order to avoid further injury to Legolas's tender ribs which were in the process of resetting, especially because the floor of the tub tended to be slippery. He had pouted quite skillfully and almost convinced her to join him, but he had eventually gone to clean himself up, as quickly as possible of course. He seemed over eager to begin his back rub, she noted with a smile. She listened to him splash around for a little while, and then heard the water slosh when he finally exited the bath to dry off.

After a moment, he emerged, a plush towel wrapped round his waist, and nothing else. She had to admit, he looked breathtaking, despite the deep blue bruises around his midsection. His flaxen locks were slightly darker than usual, but were already starting to dry, and small beads of water dripped slowly down his chest from the matted tendrils. She watched one wind its way down the ridge of his abs to the towel where it disappeared into the white material. Meeting his gaze, she raised her eyebrows and cocked her head, as if to say, what? but she kept her mouth closed.

Legolas flashed her a cheeky grin and crawled onto the bed as gracefully as possible. With the towel around his hips, it proved an arduous task. He finally managed to wriggle his way up to the pillow and he sprawled on the bed, lying on his stomach. "I'm ready," he said, his words muffled by the pillow.

"Ready for what?" she questioned as she started to run the brush through her hair again.

"For my back rub you promised me," he replied, snuggling further down into the bed.

"I don't remember promising you anything," she murmured, glancing at him.

His head turned and he locked eyes with her. "What are you talking about? I asked…"

"Exactly. You asked. I never promised."

Legolas rolled his eyes and groaned, burying his face back in the pillow. "Lena! You broke my ribs! The least you could do is give me a soothing back rub."

At length, she pulled her hair back and sat down beside him. "The least I could do? What else do you expect to come of this, may I ask?"

"I plan to finish what I started this morning," he mumbled.

"Ah hah! So you really don't want a soothing back rub, do you?"

"Well, it would be a nice way to start," he shot back, starting to grin. "Please?"

"Oh, all right. I suppose. Please, just tell me if I push too hard. I don't want to hurt you again," she answered softly.

She moved slowly and straddled his hips, resting most of her weight on his lower body. Reaching around to the nightstand, she pulled out a bottle of lavender scented oil and covered her hands with it. Then she began to slowly knead the tense muscles in his shoulders, trying to work out all the knots and tightness in his neck and upper back. His eyes fluttered closed at her touch, and a soft smile played across his features as he enjoyed the pleasant sensations of her hands. The lavender scent drifted slowly to his nose and he relaxed even more. He let out a soft moan as the pressure in his muscles was released.

Elenayave leisurely moved down to his shoulder blades and middle back, massaging his stiff body into loosening up. She enjoyed the feel of his smooth soft skin beneath her fingers. The only thing she could think to compare it too was velvet over steel. The muscle under his skin was hard and powerful, she knew. She'd seen him in action that afternoon, and he'd seemed suddenly lethal, nothing like the sweet, loving Legolas she had been used to. Deep down, she knew he was a warrior, but the gleam for bloodlust in his eyes had momentarily startled her. He had been born and raised to fight and kill, one of the sad testaments to growing up in an ever darkening home. But now she just wanted him to relax, to forget about what was going on in the outside world. Right now, it was just them.

Moving to the lower part of his back, she was careful to apply less pressure, not wanting to cause him any more pain than necessary. Still, he tensed when she touched him, and she pulled back, worried.

"It's all right," he said softly. "Just keep going. It's not hurting too badly."

Tentatively, she put her fingers and palms to his skin and worked the flesh gently. After a moment, he relaxed and the dull pain subsided in his ribs. Once she was sure she was finished there, she paused, not knowing what to do next. The towel covered the rest of his lower body, save for below his knees. A soft blush spread over her cheeks as she thought briefly of removing the towel and continuing the massage, but she quickly decided against it, and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of his neck.

"Thank you," he whispered, slowly rolling over onto his back. He planted his hands on her hips and held her there above him and gazed up at her adoringly.

"What now?" she inquired, smiling warmly.

"I think you know," he replied as he gave her a wink.

"Are you sure you're up to it? Can you even move?"

"Would I suggest it if I couldn't?" he teased.

"Probably. You don't know what's good for you, Legolas."

"Perhaps not," he quipped. "But I do know that if I can't have you soon, I'll either go mad or explode. Neither one sounds very pleasant."

Elenayave giggled and carefully lay down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close for a soft kiss. His lips met hers tenderly, just barely brushing against her, and then claiming them passionately just when she thought he was finished. He nibbled gently on her bottom lip, begging for entrance, and he slowly coaxed her lips apart. Sinking his tongue into her mouth, he began a deliberate thrusting rhythm, foreshadowing what he wished to accomplish. He dueled with her for dominance and made love to her with his lips, his tongue, his teeth, softly biting and nipping. He moved from her lips to the silky skin of her jaw and her neck, and started to suck on the warm flesh. Elenayave moaned quietly and arched against him.

"Lena," he whispered against her throat.

"Hmm," she mumbled.

"Let me love you."

"All right," she replied, completely giving up to him. "Please do."

He smiled into her hair, and then rolled her onto her back, moving himself to lie on top of her. He grimaced slightly in pain, which she immediately noticed.

"Legolas, we don't have to…"

"Still your tongue, Lena, and just relax for once, would you?" he sighed. "I will get this done today, if it is the last thing I do for the rest of my life. Do not interrupt!"

She grinned. "Are you sure?"

"Quite!" he exclaimed. "Now, please, let me continue."

"Go right ahead," she added.

"I will if you stop talking," he murmured in a sing song voice.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then I will gag you," he stated matter-of-factly. "That would be best anyway, seeing as we wouldn't want to bother anyone with your moaning."

"My moaning? You had a hard enough time with the back rub!"

"Hmm, I agree. And again, I say I will show you how 'hard' if you would just shut your mouth and let me progress!"

Elenayave caught his meaning quickly as he pressed against her, and her mouth snapped shut after squeaking out, "Oh!"

"Thank you," he said, flashing another smile and ridding himself completely of the bothersome towel. "Now, where was I?"

hey guys! Sorry it took so long. I've been busy with school (AP US History tests and Chemistry and softball and just everything!) oh well. Hope you liked it! Let me know!