Summary: Eldarion and Alida grow closer, their relationship budding into something new. Rated T by Caitie and Savannah
(Words written in bold are spoken in Elvish)

Year 21

The early morning sun glistened against the dew-covered grass of the valley, a light sheen coating the city and world within it. Alida ran her hand along her balcony railing as she basked in the sun's warm touch. Her eyes were closed as she tilted her face up toward the light and she breathed in the refreshing scent of the early day. She could hear the babbling river as the water rushed against stones, the chirping of birds, and the wind rustling gently through the dense treetops of the valley and forest below her.

There was another sound, or series of sounds that caught Alida's attention. Cocking her head to one side, Alida focused on that noise, filtering out all of the familiar sounds of the forest to focus on that new one. A voice, Alida realized quickly, a woman's voice that spoke so quickly that Alida couldn't make out the words. Awena, Alida thought with a smile when she heard that the language was the common tongue. But who was she speaking to? Alida scrunched her eyes closed even tighter, focusing wholly on Awena and her companion.

A door opened loudly from within Alida's suite. "Sister!" Alida heard Leonid call a mere second before he pushed through the doors into her bed chambers. "You have slept in very late today," he said as he casually strode towards her and the balcony. Without turning around Alida could hear the smile in his voice.

Alida threw a hand up at him as she shushed his aggressive entrance.

The voice grew closer, and between Awena's hurried sentenced Alida could hear the tread of their feet on the stone path beneath Alida's balcony. Two people, Awena and one companion. Most likely her brother or father, Alida guessed. She could now make out her words. Awena was talking with enthusiasm about all the things she wanted to do in this city and all thew things and places she wanted to see during their stay.

"Is that the princess?" Leonid whispered as he too listened to Awena. "Perhaps I should take her on a tour of the city." Leonid leaned his back against the railing.

"That's awfully generous of you," Alida whispered back, eying her brother suspiciously.

He winked at her. "You heard her; she wants to see everything."

"As long as everything does not include your bed chambers, brother," Alida said, rolling her eyes.

Leonid scoffed at the comment as Awena emerged from underneath the balcony and ran to the river's banks. "Careful!" Alida heard Eldarion call to his sister.

"You're no fun, sometimes, Eldy. I truly pity your future wife, for her life with you will certainly be dull." Awena turned back to look at her brother with a roll of her eyes. Eldarion was just emerging into view when Awena looked up, noticing the twins right away on the balcony. "Good morning!" She shouted with a wave of her hand.

Smiling, Alida waved back. Her brother turned to face the voice, resting his elbows on the railing he was just leaning his back against. "Well, hello," Leonid said, his voice low. From the corner of her eye Alida saw her brother smirking.

"Good morning, Awena, Eldarion," Alida said with a nod of her head.

Eldarion nodded back politely to her and Alida suddenly became away that her only covering was a thin silk robe. She crossed her arms over her chest subconsciously.

"I didn't think it was possible," Awena started, cocking her head to the side as she looked up to the balcony. "But you look even more monstrously tall from down here. Are you sure you're not a wood Elf?"

"Awena," Eldarion said, nudging his sister with his elbow, embarrassment clear on his face.

Leonid only laughed. "I couldn't help but overhear you listing off some places to explore, princess. Would you like a guide?"

"Yes!" Awena shouted without a moment's hesitation, clapping her hands in excitement. "When shall we leave?"
"How about right now?" Leonid straightened and braced an arm against the railing before throwing himself over, gracefully landing on the ground before Awena and Eldarion. He offered his arm to Awena and before another word could be said, they were off.

Alida looked down to where Eldarion now stood alone, he looked back at her as if lost in thought, unaware that he had been abandoned. She felt herself flush at the attention, and couldn't help but notice how the sun made his blonde curls glow with a golden light.

Eldarion blinked and it was like reality came back to him, he stammered for words and looked around him, only to find his sister gone. "I'm…I'm sorry if we intruded, my lady," he managed to say.

Alida laughed and she felt the breeze push her hair away from her face. "As I said last night, my name is Alida," she said with a smile. "And it's never an intrusion." They stood in silence for a brief moment, and she could tell that Eldarion was making a conscious effort not to stare at her. Before he had been caught staring a moment ago or because she was only in a robe, she didn't know. "If you're quick, you should be able to catch up with them. Leonid can show you the city," Alida said, trying to fill the empty space somehow.

Eldarion shook his head and looked up at her once more. His eyes locked on hers and for a moment she felt a flutter in her chest. "Someone should probably keep an eye on Awena, she may scare off some of the residents." Eldarion chuckled as he spoke. "Have a good day, Alida." He tore his eyes from hers and disappeared under the balcony.

Alida smiled to herself, not knowing why when he left she missed his eyes on hers.

..::..

Eldarion walked through the library, his finger's skimming over titles, savoring the feel of the soft leather bindings more than the history titles he found himself in. He wasn't quite sure yet what he was looking for, but being alone with the book was enough for the moment. Reading had always helped quiet his mind, being alone with the book felt the same, as if their sound dampening effects worked on his insides as well.

When Leonid had come to ask if they wanted 'the best tour of the city' Awena had jumped on the offer, but Eldarion had only asked that he be shown here to the library. Eldarion wondered why Leonid had offered. He remembered when he had met the twins as children so long ago at his uncle's wedding. How they had played together only after Alida had convinced Leonid down off an imaginary high horse. He hadn't seen interested in them then, and when they arrived it had seemed even less. He knew his sister would have gone with anyone to see the city, her curiosity winning out over her like or dislike of the guide. Her curiosity always won, even over a healthy sense of danger.

Eldarion let out a long sigh, he should probably go and find Awena before her antics offended deeper than her charm could smooth out. He reached out and blindly pulled a book from the shelves, he glanced at the title and found it written in Valarin. He recognized the letters, even the sounds of the words, but he had no hope of deciphering the language. He was just setting it back onto the shelf when he heard a voice behind him.

"The Fall of Numenor," Alida said softly. "You come to the home of Elves to learn more of your own ancestry?" Her voice sounded like summer rain.

Eldarion turned to meet her steel blue eyes, but couldn't make words form on his tongue. His eyes dipped to the book. "I didn't know what it was about," he said softly. "I cannot read the language." He waited for her dismissal, her disapproval of his ignorance. Why hadn't he found a title he could actually read? But she only took a step forward, reaching out her hand for the book. He gave it t her and for an instant their fingers brushed along the spine.

"Not many can," she said, flipping it open and scanning the page. "It is the truest form of our Elven tongue. The language of the Valar."

Alida smiled up at Eldarion and handed the book back to him. She walked around him, looking up at the shelves. Eldarion's eyes followed her movements of their own accord, unable to tear his gaze away from her. "Can you read it?" He asked.

Alida looked over her shoulder and her knowing smirk pulled the breath from his lungs. "Yes," she answered simply, still walking away from him slowly. Her eyes glanced over the titles as if she was looking for something.

Eldarion practically stumbled after her, unwilling or unable to let her slip away. When he was in her presence he felt as if he was dreaming, her beauty was otherworldly, yes, but she brought with her a sense of calm that Eldarion had been searching for his entire life. The kind of calm he only felt just as he drifted into sleep and in the first blinking moments of waking.

"Here," she said, stopping and handing him a small book bound in leather so deeply blue it was almost black.

Eldarion stepped forward to take it, but his eyes snagged on her neck, where her creamy skin dipped into the hollow of her collarbone. The neckline of her deep blue dress was cut low and wide so that it held onto the tip of her shoulder, swooping down over her chest. Eldarion watched a breath rise and fall over her chest and for a moment he imagined what her chest would look like heaving with heavy breath. He blinked and Alida was smiling at him.

"It's alright," Alida said. "Take it, the libraries are open to all."

Eldarion smiled and took the book, thanking all the gods that she thought it was the book that had made him pause.

Alida turned back away from him and let a smirk travel across her face for only a second, she had seen where his eyes had traveled. "It's Elvish as well," she said, "but much newer and easier to understand. You sister tells me you speak and read our tongue well."

"I was hoping to be more proficient with your tongue while I was here," Eldarion answered, trailing her, his eyes trained to the floor before they could betray him once more. He heard Alida laugh softly ahead of him and realized what he had said, it hadn't been his gaze he should have been worried about. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "The Elvish tongue," he corrected himself. "I've been studying it at home, but I would like to lean to speak with the fluid grace of your people. I'm afraid my sister overinflated my abilities. I sound like a halting school boy when I talk." Alida laughed again and the sound was like the sun warming Eldarion from the inside out.

"I do not think you lack grace, Eldarion," Alida said, her voice soft and reassuring.

The sound of his name on her lips made him forget everything; their conversation, his stumbling, even the room around him. He took a step forward and then another, closing the space between them, and then his hand found her elbow. At his touch she turned slowly, their eyes meeting. "Will you help me?" Eldarion asked.

And maybe Alida had been wrong, because in his eyes she saw only openness and hope, as if a small child stood before her asking for help. He looked at her as if he was only opening his eyes for the first time and had never truly seen before. She felt a pull deep inside her as she stared into the deep sea of his eyes and answered without thought. "Yes," she breathed and wanted to step even closer to him.

"Thank you," Eldarion said. "I have been studying mainly Quenya and can read a little, but it is slow."

Alida smiled as Eldarion rambled to her, stumbling over his words. "Meet me tomorrow then, and we will begin," she said, still smiling. And even as she walked away, leaving him alone again with his books, she couldn't erase the smile that crept over her face and heated her cheeks.

..::..

The sun had felt golden by the time Awena had found her way back into the quarters given to her family while they stayed in the city. Her cheeks felt flushed from the sun and the wind, her body had the wonderful warm heaviness of being outside all day. The day had been exceptionally warm for spring and she wanted nothing more than to soak in a tub before their late dinner. As she walked through the large stone archway into the living area, she found her father resting on the low couch with one of the elder twins sitting across from him. Awena couldn't be sure however which one he was. Eldarion looked over his shoulder and smiled at her from where he stood leaning on a stone column, the arch open and looking out onto clear blue skies. Awena smiled back, it didn't matter where they were, if her older brother was there, she was home. She made her way to the couch and sat down next to her father, close enough to let their knees brush. Aragorn shifted to drape his arms around her shoulders.

"Did you enjoy my nephews tour of the city?" The dark-haired man asked.

Awena smiled across at him, looking for any sign in his face of which twin he was. "I did," she answered. "It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen." She looked to her father then continued. "But it is more than the gardening and the architecture that makes it otherworldly. There is a peace here. Its people are warm-hearted, it speaks to your generosity and care as lord of this city."

The man across from her raised his brows. "Silver tongue." He smiled. "Your words hold both wisdom and flattery. A gift that would bend many to your will."

Awena smiled back sweetly and leaned forward. "May I call you 'uncle'?" She asked genuinely. "My father speaks of you as his brother."

Aragorn smiled, running his hand over Awena's head lovingly.

"Of course, you may," the man said. "Uncle Elladan." He leaned back into his chair, tenting his fingers, his eyes drawn away to a faraway place. "I think my sister would have wanted this as well."

Awena smiled brightly. "Uncle Elladan," she repeated. Her eyes found her brother and he smirked at her knowingly, shaking his head slightly at her ploy to uncover which twin sat in front of her. Awena sat back into her father's arm and turned her face up to kiss his cheek. "I'm going to freshen up before dinner," she said.

Aragorn nodded, smiling down at her, touching her hair absently.

Eldarion pulled himself from the wall and followed his sister into her room, knowing she wanted to talk to him to him without her having to ask it.

Awena sat at a small dressing table. Finding her brother's blue eyes in the reflection of the mirror, she couldn't help but smirk at him. Eldarion raised his eyebrows at her and shut the door.

"Where have you been all day?" They said at the same time.

Eldarion smiled genuinely, all of his carefully learned manners dropping away now that he was alone with his sister. Awena laughed and began to untangle her hair as Eldarion slid her over on the bench with his hip. "I missed you today, Elly," she said, dropping her chin on his shoulder and pouting at him in the mirror.

Eldarion rolled his eyes. "You were probably way too busy frolicking about, basking in the sun, and running through fields of flowers to spare a thought for me." He said teasingly.

Awena lifted her chin from his shoulder and reached for a comb, starting at the long length of her dark hair. "I wasn't running through fields," she said, her eyes downcast.

For half a second Eldarion thought he may have actually hurt her. He put his arm around her shoulders and opened his mouth, but before he could apologize Awena's eyes looked up at him in the mirror, alight with laughter.

"I was rolling and tumbling through them."

Eldarion shook his head, grinning as Awena burst out laughing. He moved his arms around her shoulder to slip around her neck, pulling her down and squishing her cheek into his chest so her chin was in the bend of his elbow. "Now that I do believe," he said, using his free hand to pull a small piece of grass from her curls.

"Eldarion," Awena said through gritted teeth, punching her firsts into his hard thigh. "Let go of me."

"Not until you promise you weren't rolling around with anyone else," he said, grabbing both of her wrists with his other hand. Sometimes the size difference between him and his sister really did come in handy. Awena tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he held on tighter. "Come on, Awena," he growled into her ear. Her shoulder jerked up as the rumble of his voice tickled her ear and she giggled. "Assure your brother of your innocence and eternal virginity."

Awena made a mock gagging sound, all she could really manage with Eldarion pinning her neck so tightly. Then suddenly she jerked backwards, throwing all of her weight into Eldarion's stomach, tipping him backwards off the bench. They fell together into a heap on the floor with a dull thud.

Eldarion lifted his head slightly then groaned, letting it fall back onto the floor dramatically. "I think you've cracked my ribs," he said as Awena sat up beside him.

"Never say the words 'eternal virgin' to me again," Awena said, standing, "or I will actually have to break bones." She stood with her hands on her hips and looked down at Eldarion who moaned, clutching his side for dramatic effect, she thought he might even be pouting up at her. She couldn't help but soften at her brother's antics, he was so different around every else. So quiet and reserved, her stoic older brother, that when he let loose around her like this, she couldn't help the warmth that grew in her chest. She huffed out a breath and stuck out her hand. "It's disgusting," she said, pulling him to his feet.

Eldarion reste his hands on her arms and looked down at her. "I don't care how old you are, if you're happily married, or running your own brothel. You will always be my little sister and a…"

"Stop!" Awena interrupted him, pulling away and reaching for the hair brush on the vanity. "I told you not to say those words to me," she said, shaking the brush at him.

Eldarion smiled and crossed his arms over his chest as she sat back down on the bench and ran the brush through her hair.

"And who are you to lecture?" She asked, not looking up from her hair. "I know you didn't spend the day in the library alone," she said, drawing out the last word as her eyes slid to her brother. She could have sworn a blush bloomed over his cheeks, but he turned to look out the window. Awena smirked. "It will be difficult," she said a little sadly.

"What will, Awena?" Eldarion asked, the setting sun gleaming through his golden curls.

"But I suppose if anyone is worthy, it might be her," she continued on, ignoring his question.

Eldarion felt his lips part into a grin of their own accord. Smiling like a fool, he scolded himself, just at the mention of her. He tried to wipe the smile off his face, but he couldn't, he felt like he was vibrating with happiness. In his mind he saw Alida's hair turned to dancing flames, her delicate hands touching his, and her eyes, those sea-colored eyes that made his heart drop right out of his chest. He pictured her walking towards him, her body swaying and he didn't recognize the thoughts that came then, had never wanted so badly to touch someone, his body never aching to be near them. His hands were shaky with need at the thought of touching her, touching her velvet skin.

"Are you listening to me at all?" Awena demanded.

Eldarion realized she had been speaking the whole time. He turned around to face her and his thoughts must have been written on his face.

Awena smiled, inclining her head to look at him from under her dark brows, her eyes narrowed playfully. "Brother," she said, standing. "Who has you so distracted?" She asked innocently, still smiling at him. "An Elven princess perhaps," she teased. She was next to him, jabbing her finger into his middle. "Eternal virginity," she said, mocking his deeper voice. "I don't think I'm the one…" She started, but Eldarion grabbed her, spinning her around. His fingers found the small of her waist and tickled her. Awena screamed through her laughter, doubling over. Eldarion laughed with her, his attack relentless until a voice from the door interrupted them.

"I should have known bringing you two here was a bad idea," their father said, leaning in the door frame. "Only you two could upset the tranquility that has lasted thousands of years."

Without a word, Eldarion released Awena and raised his hands.

Awena fell a step forward at the sudden release, but righted herself quickly, smoothing her skirt, chin high.

"Awena was the one screaming," Eldarion blurted.

"Eldarion attacked me," Awena shot back.

But Aragorn only shook his head. "Children." He grinned. "I'm afraid together you will always be children." Eldarion looked sideways at Awena and she winked at him as their father moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Would have fit in better in Hobbiton," he mumbled to himself. Awena came and sat next to him, nestling into his side as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Aragorn cocked his head to Eldarion and he came to sit on his other side. Aragorn's hand landed on his knee and squeezed it affectionately.

"I'm glad to be here with you, father," Awena said quietly, her voice somewhat sad as if somewhere inside her she felt a clock ticking.

Aragorn held her chose and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad we're here too," he said softly, holding his children close.

..::..

A pile of books and notebooks sat in front of Eldarion at the small table he had found by a window in the library. The morning sun streamed down onto him, lighting his blond curls and warming his skin. He didn't feel the sun, however, only the nervous beating of his heart. He had come to meet Alida early so he could practice before she arrived, but his mind would not focus on the letters before him. Instead, he saw her eyes, steely blue as the ocean; her hair turned to flames by the sun, or her creamy neck. Her neck that led to the rise of her chest. Eldarion's thoughts betrayed him as he pictured the dress she has worn yesterday, the way it had hung low over her chest, revealing the swell of her breasts. Eldarion's heart lurched in his chest at the thought of her beauty, he felt a need inside him that he had never known before.

Eldarion blinked and realized his knee had begun to bounce nervously. He wiped his palms over his thighs, perhaps the sun streaming down on him was a mistake.

Alida walked through the aisles of the library, smiling softly to herself. The woman shelving books had pointed in the direction of the west wall of the library, saying that Eldarion had been there for hours already. Good little student, she thought to herself, imagining him working away, trying to impress her with his Elvish.

As she rounded the corner Alida found him and her feet slowed to a stop. His golden hair glowed in the sunlight in a halo around his face, his sea blue eyes stared down at the page, his jaw working with concentration. Alida had never considered herself an artist, but seeing the way the light hardened the contours of his face, she felt the sudden urge to put brush to canvas and pen to paper. Her eyes moved from his face over his chest to where his hand rested on the table and noticed how his fingers were stained blue with ink. She didn't know why her heart seemed to ache at the sight, but she wanted those stained fingers laced with hers.

Eldarion felt eyes on him and found Alida standing at the opening to an aisle of books, her eyes already on him. Eldarion rose to his feet at the sight of her and watched her blink like she had been snapped from deep thoughts. She smiled at him and moved to the table, sitting across from him. Eldarion sat slowly as well, noticing as the sun on her back lit her curling hair into a halo around her face. They sat in silence for a breath, staring at each other, then Eldarion looked down at his page and cleared his throat.

"I have been reading the book you gave me," Eldarion said. "I've made a list of the words I didn't quite grasp the meaning of."

While he spoke Eldarion's hand had come to rest on the book, his touch was reverent even in his unconscious movements. Alida's gaze followed his movement, noticing the veins that spread like vines under his skin to where they trailed up his arm. She tore her eyes away from his hands, forcing thoughts of their touch out of her mind and forced her eyes to look down at the paper he had scrolled a list of words on.

Alida hummed, looking over the list, the words he had written down were complex, some of them had multiple definitions depending on the context, others referred to emotion she would struggle to explain herself. "Did you mark where these words were in the book?" Alida asked, not taking her eyes from the page.

"Mark the page?" Eldarion said quietly, shaking his head. "I didn't, I couldn't."

Alida glanced up, only her eyes visible above the page. "I thought perhaps with a bookmark," she said, letting her grin widen, hidden behind the page. "I would never suggest you scrawl notes in the margins of a book from the great library of the Elven kingdom."

Eldarion met her eyes and realized she was teasing him. He let out a breathy laugh. "I suppose I could have found a bookmark or two," he said, grinning back.

Alida laughed, laying the page back on the table. "You wanted to learn to speak more naturally, yes?" She asked, meeting the deep blue pools of Eldarion's eyes. He nodded. "Why don't you read aloud to me then," she said softly. "I will help you with your pronunciation."

Eldarion nodded slowly. He picked up the book and cleared his throat. He said a silent prayer to the Valar that he wouldn't make a fool of himself and then began to read.

Alida hadn't realized that Eldarion had a slight accent until he began to speak in her native language. She couldn't quite put a finger on what made him sound different; he wasn't mispronouncing anything and yet his cadence was somehow different from her people's. He spoke deeper, without the airiness she was used to, his inflections slightly smoothed out. She found herself leaning into the sound, into the slight huskiness of his voice.

Eldarion glanced up from the page as Alida's elbows landed gracefully on the table, her head slightly inclined as she listened. He swallowed then continued to the end of the page. When he finished, he set the book down and looked up to Alida's face, the sun warming her back and he waited for her to speak.

Alida shifted, leaning back in her chair and folded one arm across her middle. "Your sister did not over inflate your abilities," she said softly. "You speak well and with grace," she finished, sliding into perfect Elvish.

Eldarion inclined his head. Alida leaned forward again. Eldarion's hand was on the book still and she let her fingers brush his as she took it. Eldarion started a little as her skin, soft as silk, touched his and his hand moved without thought. Alida looked down at her hand now resting in Eldarion's.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his eyes flicking up from their hands to her face. Alida felt warmth soaking into her entire body through their contact and she suddenly wanted to be closer to him, wished there was no table set between them. She wanted to know how it would feel to be held close to him. Under the table she moved her knee only an inch and found his, the feeling of warmth now multiplied.

"I am happy to be here with you," she said, starting into his eyes.

Eldarion nodded and leaned in closer until the table pressed into his middle like he was a magnet being pulled to her truth north. To an onlooker their touch was innocent, just two hands touching over a book, just two people studying. But the very heat of the sun seemed to flow between them.

..::..

Stone eyes watched Eldarion as he entered the garden. He stopped mid-stride as his own eyes met those of the garden's guardian. The warm summer breeze rustled the leaves of the trees around them as Eldarion took in the memorial. A woman sat before him, carved from a pale colored stone, her eyes compassionate even though they were lifeless stone. He couldn't take his eyes off the woman and he took a curious step closer. It was a face he knew and he stared wide eyes as he compared the likeness of this woman with Alida. She looked older than Alida, but the face was still hers, except for the mouth he realized with a furrow of his brow. Looking up, Eldarion took in the stone carved man behind the woman. He looked down at her like he only had eyes for her and the world was nothing compared to her. His stone hand rested on the woman's shoulder tenderly, and he knew what he was looking at now. Arwen and Legolas.

Eldarion sat blindly on the bench in front of the statues. He remembered the stories his mother had told him about them as a child, and now to put faces to the names was astounding to Eldarion. He had pictured them many times, but now he knew; and again, he was struck by the similarities between the twins and their mother.

"They look just like their parents, don't they?" A voice said from behind him and Eldarion jumped before turning to the voice. Celyn stood at the entrance of the garden and he had a sad smile on his face as he looked back at Eldarion. Eldarion wasn't sure if he would ever get used to just how quiet the Elves were.

"The Lady Alida looks like she could be her twin," Eldarion said, turning back to the memorial.

Celyn approached and settled himself beside Eldarion on the bench. He chuckled. "Don't let her hear you call her a lady," he said quietly. "She would hate the formality."

Eldarion tilted his head to look at the Elf beside him. Celyn had piercing green eyes and he watched Eldarion back with a steady gaze. "She is…intimidating," Eldarion said, having a hard time finding a word to accurately describe her.

Chuckling again, Celyn said, "Don't let her hear you say that either, she can smell fear. I think she got it from her father, though I didn't know him well." Celyn's attention flickered up to Legolas. "Elrohir certainly says that Alida and Leonid got that trait from him.

"You didn't know them?" Eldarion asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

Shaking his head Celyn looked from Legolas to Arwen, studying her never changing face. "I only met Legolas in passing. Before Lady Galadriel left for the Undying lands with her people, I served her in Lorien. But Arwen," he stopped, and his eyes became vacant. "I marched with her to Helm's Deep."

Eldarion's head snapped up and he stared at Celyn.

"I was there when they took Legolas from her. I couldn't find her Minas Tirith, and when I heard how she died I wanted to die with her." Celyn's eyes were glassy and he looked to he ground.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while. Eldarion tried to imagine how his parents had been when they had found their friends dead and a shiver went through him. His parents never talked about those days after the war or the aftermath of those battles and he couldn't help but try to picture it again. Celyn looked at him and Eldarion got the sense that those greens eyes saw everything. "How did it happen?" Eldarion couldn't stop the words before they spilled out of his mouth. A sigh from Celyn told him he should not have asked. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I…"

"It's alright," Celyn assured him before sighing again. Eldarion was sure that the conversation was done when Celyn started speaking again. "He died for her." Cekyn once more looked at the statue of Legolas and Arwen. "She was thrown from the keep and he found her. In Minas Tirith she found a child and died protecting her. They say Arwen was executed. When she was found the little girl was still with her, wouldn't leave Arwen's side."

Eldarion stared at the kind stone face of Arwen and again saw Alida and tried to shut out the images that came to mind.

"They have their father's mouth," Celyn said, his voice distant. "Especially Leonid. Elrohir always says that they have his smile."

"My father doesn't talk about them very much," Eldarion said. "It was my mother who told us stories of them."

"I wish I could have met her," Celyn said.

..::..

The bright morning sun glinted off Anduril as his father swung it again and again as easily as if it were a dance he was born to perform. Eldarion blocked each attack, his bare chest heaving with the effort. He cursed under his breath as he ducked low, trying to find a way to flip from defense to the attack, but his father left no opening for him. Perhaps he should train with someone else, he thought smirking to himself, learn a few tricks that even his father wouldn't know. Maybe, he thought suddenly, that his father purposely held back from him, always having the upper hand.

"So distracted," Aragorn said laughing, moving faster; Eldarion couldn't even follow his moments.

Eldarion's sword flew from his hand and landed a few feet away from him in the long grass. Eldarion glared through his brows at his father's smirk, his chest heaving as he stood, for a moment he looked down the length of the shining steel in Aragorn's hand. Eldarion turned and walked the few paces to pick up his sword. As he stood, he caught a glimpse of movement in one of the raised hallways above the grassy slope he and his father stood in. He straightened and followed it; the sun shifted slightly from behind a cloud and caught on fiery hair, lighting it to flame. His breath caught in his throat. The figure was far off, but he could not mistake her, would never be able to unlearn the way her body moved as she walked, her hips swaying with an easy grace. His hard breathing hitched as her pace slowed and she stopped, he couldn't make out her face, but he knew her eyes had found him.

"Eldarion!" His father called, waiting as he stood, sword in hand but unmoving. Aragorn followed his line of sight and noticed Alida leaning on a stone pillar watching them. He couldn't help but smile. He charged his son, knocking him off his feet. Eldarion rolled over his shoulder in the grass, landing in a crouch facing his father, sword still in hand. "I see you only lacked proper motivation," Aragorn said quietly enough that he knew not even Elven hearing could pick it up.

Without response, Eldarion sprang forward, moving now like a giant mountain cat. His movements were quick as lightning, with a fluid grace that promised quick death.

Aragorn smiled and spun to block as Eldarion came at him. He fought now with a passion that Aragorn hardly saw from him. His blonde curls caught the sun rays like sparkling fish in a golden net. For a moment, Aragorn saw the boy's mother before him. He remembered how they had used to spar with each other. The way Eowyn had always fought him like her very life depended on it, throwing herself into him in a way that would surely have killed anyone else in seconds, trusting her own skill against his own. How they had been able to move as if they were one body, one mind; crashing into each other, her the wild raging sea and him the steady rock she could throw herself into, but never break.

Alida watched transfixed as the boy and his father moved together in the grass. They seemed perfectly matched, neither of them able to out maneuver the other. Their blades caught, locked together, and the two men stood still for a moment, the sun shining down on their glistening skin. One dark and one light. Then she watched Aragorn let the tension go out of his body, the hard muscles that had stood out in his back and shoulders relaxed and his blade slowly slipped downward.

Alida's eyes moved to Eldarion. His chest heaved up and down, his stomach clenching and unclenching, revealing the muscle underneath his skin hard as iron. His arms were raised shoulder height, holding is sword in both hands, locked horizontally with his father's. His face was turned in her direction, but his eyes were locked on his fathers. She watched as his jaw worked and he swallowed, his throat bobbing.

Aragorn moved, letting the tip of his sword land in the grass and he stepped closer to his son. The harness went out of Eldarion's body. Alida watched Aragorn's hand find the back of Eldarion's neck and he touched their foreheads. A second later Eldarion was wrapping his arms around his father's back, their breathing seeming to come in unison. Alida felt her heart ache at their easy affection for one another. There was no pride in Eldarion that would shrug his father off. She thought of her own father. Would he have held her close like this, like she was the most precious thing in the world? She swallowed and turned away, her feet taking her in the direction of the library.

..::..

As Eldarion walked through the stone pathways that led to the library his feet seemed to gain speed with every step, his heart hammering away in his chest. He had lost track of time training with his father and knew Alida would be waiting for him. That thought alone pushed him forward until he was jogging through the city in the direction of the library, jumping around passersby, apologizing in Elvish as he went bounding through the streets. He sprinted up the front stairs of the great building, marveling at their beauty as he went, having always come from some hallway leading from the lord of the city's residence.

His feet slowed only slight as he entered the stacks of books. A woman sitting reading near the front door looked up at him as he passed, smiling and pointing to a back corner of the library. He had the vague thought that everyone in the city knew why he was here, but then he didn't care and he was off in the direction that she had pointed.

Then Eldarion saw her, she was standing, leaning against a pilled, looking out over a garden, her face tipped up to let the sun shine on her. When he saw her, Eldarion's feet did slow and he stepped forward slowly, staring at the way the light shone through the thin layers of her dress. It dipped low in the back, showing the creamy line of her spine and shoulders. Even as his feet slowed, he found it harder to breath. He imagined running his fingers down her spine, what her skin would feel like. She turned then and suddenly he knew what it would feel like, sin. He fought the urge to go to his knees before. A sin, eh thought again, he should be condemned for the thoughts he had about her body. A mortal such as him in the presence of a goddess.

"Eldarion," Alida said and her voice held a tinge a sadness. Eldarion's brow wrinkled at her tone and he stepped forward, reaching out a hand. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I apologize for my lateness, my lady," he said in what he thought was perfect Elvish.

Alida's sad smile changed into a grin. "Nin hiril, is my lady," she corrected. "You called me your queen."

Eldario blinked. "Nin hiril," he repeated and knew he had said those word thousands of times. Had his mistake been intention? He asked himself. My queen, he repeated in his mind and the words tasted like the sweetest honey.

"Nin ris, my queen," he said under his breath as she turned and picked up a few books.

"The weather is so warm today," she said, picking up a woven blanket from the table. "I thought we might study in the garden."

Eldarion nodded and looked for a doorway to the garden but Alida was already at the low railing, her arms full of books. Eldarion saw that she meant to jump it and rushed forward. He launched himself forward and vaulted over it, easily landing on the soft ground. He held out his hand for her, but instead of taking it Alida handed him the stack of books. She smiled at him then planted her hand on the stone railing, launching herself over it with ease, her skirts ripping around her as she landed next to him. She stood so close to him their chests almost brushed for a breath, and then she was striding forward, leaving him standing in the bushes alone. Eldarion let his head fall back, his mouth opening to suck in a breath. Just her walk lit him to flames, but watching her move with such agility had completely undone him.

"Eldarion," she called, turning back, already halfway into the garden.

Eldarion closed his mouth abruptly and grinned awkwardly.

Alida laughed and turned again, heading to a spot of dappled shade. She threw the thick fabric she carried into the air and let it settle over the lush grass, then kicked off her shoes and sat, stretching out her long legs, her arms propping her up. Eldarion followed her, pulling off one boot and then the other sitting beside her with his legs crossed.

"Read to me," Alida said, her voice breathy. I love the sound of your voice, she wanted to say but she stopped herself. Eldarion reached for a book and flipped it open to a random page, beginning to read. Alida lost herself immediately, she did love the sound of his voice, she craved it like cool water. She let her eyes drift shut, listening to the deep rumble of his voice. His voice seemed to be inside her chest, calming her in a way she didn't know was possible. the flow of her language over his human lips was like a stream running over the river bed. The sound like a boat rocking her to sleep.

Alida didn't know how much time had passed when Eldarion paused, looking to her, his sea blue eyes seeming to be just as far away as she had been. She realized then as she gazed up at him how undone he looked. It seemed as if he had just flung on his shirt after his training. It hung untucked from his pants and open at the neck, showing the hard line of one collar bone. His hair that had been damp with sweat had dried since they sat, tightening his curl hair into ringlets that sat on his head like a golden crown. It looked like he had not shaved the day before and a slight shadow of blonde hair covered his cheeks. She remembered the way his body had looked that morning in the sun, glistening with sweat and she wished that she could see it again now. She imagined her fingers find the hem of that wrinkled white shirt and lifting it over his head. What would his chest look like now, here in the garden, relaxed and vulnerable with her? She sat up, moving closer to him without realization of what she was doing.

Eldarion said nothing as he stared at her, letting the book slip from his fingers. Her face was close to his and she glanced down at his lap, the dark fringe of her lashes brushed her cheeks and he realized they were flushed. Eldarion said something under his breath and Alida blinked her eyes, glancing up to his.

"That was not Elvish," she said quietly, her eyes moving to his lips.

Eldarion shook his head and leaned in closer. "Numenorean," he said, his eyes roaming freely over her face.

"You speak Numenorean as well," she said, her voice just above a whisper. Eldarion nodded, his lips parting as his breathing came in slow, steady gulps that lifted his chest. "What did you say?" She asked, watching his breath. She lifted her palm and longed to plan it on him feel the rise and fall of his breath.

Eldarion's hand moved and traced one of her high cheekbones with his thumb. "You're burning," he said quietly. A breeze lifted the hairs from her face and she shook her head. Eldarion looked up at the trees above them. "You're so fair," he said. With that one word he had hoped she would understand that he meant she was the most beautiful, precious thing had ever laid his eyes on, but "The sun," was all he managed to say.

Alida laughed softly. "We are in the shade, Eldarion," she said. She opened her mouth to confess that her cheeks were flushed for him it was his heat that burnt her cheeks, he was the sun. but a voice calling her name broke her reverie. Leonid broke out of the roses, looking around the garden for them, Awena on his heels. Eldarion's hand drifted down from her cheek and Alida moved slowly back to her spot on the other side of the blanket.

"There they are," Leonid said, pointing and looking over his shoulder at Awena.

"Have you two been here all afternoon?" Awena said, sinking to the blanket beside her brother, smiling at him affectionately, happy to be reunited with him. She smiled across at Alida. "Has he actually been studying this whole time?" She asked. "My brother is much more studious than I, but he really isn't that much of a scholar. You two must have found some other way to pass the time," she said and she nudged her brother's arm with her elbow.

Alida smiled back at Awena and she wondered if Alida had the ability to make whoever she was with feel like the most important person in the room. "No, your brother has been reading aloud to me, practicing his pronunciation."

"Funny," Leonid said, standing over them. "We didn't hear anything when we were looking for you. Did we, Awena?"

Awena wiggled her eyebrows up at the Elf, squinting into the harsh light. "Are you going to sit down?" She asked. "I'm going to hurt my neck craning up to see you like this?"

Leonid rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you love the view."

Alida's eyes caught on Eldarion's and she smiled brightly at their sibling's constant verbal sparring. "Sit down, Leonid," she said, dragging her eyes from Eldarion's.

"I would, but I'm parched and require a drink," he said and took off back in the direction of the library. "I'll bring a bottle and glasses, don't leave!" He called over his shoulder.

"Now he's gone," Awena said, scooching in closer, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin in a palm. "Do tell what you two have been doing."

Alida smiled brightly, laying back onto the blanket. "I wouldn't lie to you," she answered. "Your brother was studying the language of my people."

Awena nodded dramatically. "What was it you said about learning her tongue better, brother?" She asked in mock innocence. Eldarion elbows her without a word. Awena giggled and grabbed at Eldarion's bicep playfully before she recoiled, wrinkling her nose. "You're so sweaty," she said in disgust.

Alida's eyes moved over Eldarion and noticed where the light fabric of his shirts clung to his skin. Her eyes roamed until they found Eldarion's which were already fastened on her face and she smiled at him before turning to Awena.

"So what have you been doing all day?" She asked.

"Oh, I've been shopping," Awena said happily. "I'm looking for a dress to wear to the summer solstice celebration tomorrow." She launched into an explanation on how much she envied Alida's wardrobe and wanted to blend in a little more at the celebration.

As Awena spoke, Alida couldn't help but let her eyes drift back to Eldarion. he listed intently to Awena and his body seemed slightly more relaxed with her next to him. Alida smiled and thought that all sibling who lose a parent must love each other deep than most. As if her thoughts summoned him, Leonid reappeared. He sat down next to her, moving her legs to drape over his lap.

"How did you get that so quickly?" Alida asked, sitting up slightly as he handed her the first glass. "Please don't tell me you have it stashed somewhere in the library."

Leonid nodded as he uncorked the bottle with a pop. "You never know when you'll find yourself alone in the library with a beautiful woman, he said, winking at Awena who huffed at him and held out her glass. He poured for them all then raised his glass. "To finding love in the library," he said and they clinked their glasses together. But as he drank his eyes met his sister's over the rim of his glass and she felt the weight of his stare.

..::..

Music drifted through Imladris, the notes of the melody floating carried by the summer breeze, telling everyone in the valley that it was for the solstice festival to begin. The sun cast the valley in golden light and even from up in the Hall of Elrond, Leonid could hear the bustling of crowds as the celebration began. He walked quickly through the passages, distracted by the knowledge that he would be celebrating very shortly, just as soon as his sister was ready to go with him. They always showed up to these events together, it was an unspoken agreement they had made years ago. They would arrive together, but rarely would they leave together; Leonid having usually found a woman to spend the night with and disappearing early with her while Alida stayed and danced the night away. He and his sister were so different, he thought to himself with a smirk. Although in many ways they were also each other's mirror, in more than just appearance.

Rounding a corner, Leonid saw the door of his destination, Alida's room. He thought briefly of knocking before entering and then laughed out loud at the thought. He and his twin had no boundaries with one another, they could say or do anything around the other and not think twice about it. And with that, he pushed the door open into his sister's suite.

"You're late," Alida said from inside her bedroom. Leonid was just closing the door behind him when his sister peeked her head through the open door of the bed chambers. "I've been waiting forever, I need help with my dress, Laio." Alida came out of the other room holding a wooden box in one hand, the other hand pointed to her back from over her shoulder. "I thought I could do the laces on my own, but I can't reach them," she said with a shake of her head.

Chuckling, Leonid met his sister in the middle of her sitting room. "Let me," he said, taking the box from her hands and setting in on her chaise. Alida turned around so that her back faced him, pulling her hair over her shoulder to expose the corset backing of her dress. The pale green fabric shimmered in the air as she moved, the silver flecks in the fabric catching the last rays of the sun. He gently pulled on the silver threads, fastening the dress along her spine, thinking to himself that it's not as easy tightening the laces as it is to loosen other women's dresses. He pulled up her hair back over her shoulder to cascade down her back, noticing all the small braids and curls that had been artfully placed.

"One more thing," Leonid said, taking a step to the side. He crouched before the low chaise and opened up the engraved lid of the wooden box. Instantly, the sunlight caught on the polished silver of the crown that rested within. He gently pulled the intricate crown from off of its velvet resting place, trying so desperately not to let the dangling chains tangle or catch on anything. He stood and raised the crown over his sister's head, gently lowering it until it rested lightly on her forehead. The likeness of a butterfly shone in stark contrast against Alida's fiery hair, and the delicate silver chains peeked through her curls. An array of green and white gems sparkled in the light.

"There, done," Leonid said, moving to stand in front of Alida. he took one look at her, her cheeks already flushing from the warmth of the room. He kissed the top of her head and pulled her in for a gentle hug. "You're beautiful," he whispered against her hair. He felt her smile into his chest. "Almost as beautiful as me."

Alida laughed and pushed him away from her playfully. She started towards the door of her suite still laughing and looked over her shoulder at him. "Alright, Laio. Let's go find ourselves a drink if you're going to talk like this."

Leonid started after her, meeting her outside in the hallway in just a few steps. "And let's find some companionship for tonight. What do you say, sister? Perhaps tonight we will find a man for you." Alida nudged him hard in the ribs, laughing as they walked to the festival.

..::..

Eldarion smiled politely in thanks as a woman passed by his table pausing to refill his wine glass. She smiled back at him, her eyes lighting at his attention, but he didn't notice as he scanned the crowd. "Is Leonid in the habit of being late?" He asked his sister under his breath.

Awena tossed the bite of bread she had been holding into her mouth and leaned back in her chair, considering his question for a moment. "Yes," she said simply around the bread in her mouth. Shrugging she reached for her wine glass.

"Alida is never late for our meetings," he said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

Awena snorted, raising one eyebrow at her brother. "I'm sure she isn't," she began, but Eldarion wasn't in the mood for teasing.

Eldarion felt like time had slowed since he had left Alida in the garden. They had walked there together all afternoon, their feet wandering aimlessly, shivers running up his spine every time their hands would brush. But now that they were separated, he felt lonely and a little hollow in a way that surprised him and he could quite understand. Was he so gone that being separate from her for only a few hours soured his mood? He heaved a sigh and tilted his eyes up to the stars, something he couldn't quite put his finger on was nagging at his heart.

"Eldarion," his father's voice said, sensing his agitation.

He felt Aragorn's hand land on his shoulder and squeeze it lightly. Eldarion turned to his father and smiled as genuinely as he could.

Aragorn tilted his head slightly, running his hand over his son's hair, sometimes when there was sadness in Eldarion's eyes he remembered the boy who had broken with his mother's death. "What is troubling you on such a beautiful night?" Aragorn asked.

Eldarion looked around, searching for an answer for his father when he couldn't explain his emotions even to himself.

"It is a wonderful festival, is it not?" Aragorn asked, smiling as he looked around the huge open space, brimming with people and food and flowers. He began to explain the significance of the day, but Eldarion couldn't focus on his words, he thought he saw Alida in every tall slender woman, thought he spotted her hair in every burning torch. "You must install more festivals in Gondor when we return and you are king," Aragorn said and his words caught Eldarion's attention.

"What do you mean when we return?" Eldarion said. If his father had aimed to improve his mood, he was doing the opposite. Dread pooled in Eldarion's gut as he looked deep into his father's eyes. "Are you not returning with us?" Eldarion stammered, fixating on his father's insinuation that it would not be long until he was king.

Aragorn's eyes softened at his son's panic. "I am coming home with you, Eldarion," he said, resisting the urge to smooth the wrinkles in between Eldarion's brows as they drew together in worry. If he had thought he looked like a small boy before, his expression now transformed him into the ten-year-old who had worried so much. Aragorn wanted to tell his son that he would indeed be king soon, that he could feel the end of his time and the call of those who had gone before him. But as he looked over at the party unfolding around him, he held his tongue. He did not want to ruin the night for his son. Aragorn smiled brightly trying to put his son at ease. "It's just a little arrogant to start creating holidays to honor oneself, so I'll have to leave Elessar day to you." He winked at his son.

Eldarion smiled. "The people may be surprised to learn just how large the ego of their beloved king actually is," he said.

Aragorn raised his hands in innocence. "I think the first king in thousands of years would get his own day, but so far no one has stepped up to create it for me."

Eldarion couldn't help but laugh and his father winked at him playfully. Eldarion felt Awena tug on his sleeve and met her eyes as she leaned forward to get his attention. He saw the sparkle in her eyes and wondered just how many times her glass had been refill already.

"Where do you think they got those crowns?" she asked, gesturing to the women scattered through the crowd, wearing circlets of flowers in their hair.

"They are given to the most beautiful maidens as they enter," their father answered.

Awena looked at him shocked. "I was not given one," she said as if it was a grave insult.

"Perhaps you have a contender for the largest ego," Eldarion said quietly to his father who grinned in response.

"We didn't enter through the main gates," Aragorn explained, pointing to the entrance they had come from that connected to the Hall of Elrond. "Go down to those gates." He pointed to another entrance. "If you pinch your cheeks and flutter your lashes, they might just give you one."

Awena jumped to her feet, pulling Eldarion with her.

"You do not need to school her in getting her way, Father. She is quite well versed," Eldarion said before she pulled him into the crowd of people.

Awena moved through the sea of bodies, easily dragging Eldarion along with her by the hand. She smiled at him over her shoulder, her eyes alight and her cheeks flushed to a pretty pink. Eldarion thought she was made for nights like this. He caught up to her and Awena threaded her arm through his pulling him in tight to her side. She looked around with wonder in her eyes, smiling at the stream of color decorating the space and the people all laughing and talking. When her eyes found his, her smile grew even wider.

They reached the front fates and Awena stepped forward, her smile brilliant. Eldarion watched as she turned to look at him as they placed the crown of blooms on her dark head. She practically skipped back to him, raising her shoulder to her ears, her hands clasped as she squeaked with glee. Eldarion smiled at her joy and she flung her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight.

"Try not to be so sad all the time, Elly," she said in his ear.

Eldarion realized she had definitely drunk at least a few glasses. But she was right, he thought to himself and she realized him. He was here in this beautiful city, on this perfect night with his family. A group of women brushed past them and one of them pulled off her crown and place and it onto Eldarion's head with a wink.

Awena laughed at her brother's blush. "He is very pretty, isn't he?" She called after the woman.

Just then a hush fell over the crowd as two figures walked hand in hand through the gates. Or perhaps it was just his thoughts that had quieted, Eldarion realized as he recognized the figures approaching. They were slightly silhouetted by the torches blazing behind them, but Eldarion would have known her shape in the blackest night. Movement around him seemed to blue into streams of color. He realized simultaneously that Awena was waving to them and that he was grinning like a fool.

Eldarion stood frozen to his spot as Awena stepped forward to greet them. Across the space Alida's eyes had found Eldarion's and they didn't break contact even as Awena chatted with them excitedly. Finally, Alida looked down at Awena and smiled briefly then broke away from the tother two. She seemed to float over to stand in front of Eldarion. The deep blue flowers laying across her brow contrasted the red in her hair and only brought out the deep steel blue of her eyes. She looked up and smiled at Eldarion. She raised her and wanted so badly to lay it on the hard expanse of his chest and lean into the cage of his arms, but instead she brushed a stray curl away from his forehead.

The movement seemed to shock Eldarion out of a haze and he suddenly remembered the crown on his head. He reached up and pulled it off, quickly tucking it behind his back and blushing slightly. Alida frowned and reached around him, her chest brushing his for just a moment, the slight contact catching her breath. She looked down at the crown. It was a thick band of dark green moss and tiny white flowers that almost looked like a light snowfall.

Eldarion exhaled shakily as Alida looked down at the flowers, her dark lashes brushing her cheeks. He tried to inhale again as her deep blue eyes flickered back up to his own, but he couldn't make breath enter his lungs as he leaned in close enough that their lips almost brushed. She placed the crown back onto his blonde curls.

"It suits you," she said under her breath before she drew away.

Eldarion felt the warmth of her breath on his cheek and his entire body felt like it had caught fire. She fell back from on her tip toes and her face broke into a smile as she tipped her chin up ever so slightly to look at him.

"They should have covered you in flowers," Eldarion said. "From the top of your head to the tip of your toes," he breathed, reaching to touch a delicate blue petal on her head, allowing his hand to brush over her hair as it fell back to his side. When she said nothing, only looked up at him as if she was lost in thought, he glazed away and wondered if he should have allowed himself to say such things aloud. "My father told me they only give flowers to the most beautiful maidens," he said, and her smile grew and with it his confidence. "They should have bathed you in petals because you are by far the most beautiful."

His mind betrayed him and he pictured her bathing, with pink rose petals floating on the surface of the tub and his stomach flipped and clenched at the thought.

It wasn't often that Alida felt heat rise in her cheeks, but at the look in Eldarion's eyes as he told her how beautiful she was her cheeks burned and she couldn't wipe away the smile that graced her face, she could only stare up at Eldarion as he spoke.

Eldarion watched as Alida's cheeks turned the color of the flowers he had been imagining and he didn't think it was possible, but he suddenly looked even more lovely. They stood smiling at each other for a moment longer, both staring into each other's eyes, marveling at the beauty of the other.

..::..

Awena shook her head as she stood next to Leonid. "Those two are insufferable," she said, watching her brother and Alida stare at each other. "They're not even saying anything."

Leonid rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "It makes me sick," he agreed, his voice overly dramatic and only slightly mocking. Awena glared up at him, craning her neck to see him. He looked around the crowd, ignoring Awena's death stare. Then finally he looked down at Awena. "First," he said, "I need a drink. Second, how did your brother get a flower crown and I did not?"

Awena chuckled. "Well, I don't have a drink on me." She grinned. "I'm surprised you don't have actually. But I'm sure we can find something pretty easily.

Leonid grinned back at her, wondering just how many drinks she had already helped herself to. He thought that he might have more fun at this festival than he normally did. He had never had a problem finding a woman at an event like this to spend his time with, and yet this girl he actually enjoyed being with. She was like a second sister, one that didn't give him any side long disapproving glances. If anything, she actually got into even more trouble than he did.

She had crossed her arms her chest and was tapping her foot. "Secondly," Awena said, shifting up onto her tip toes and lifting the crown off her head. "You may have my crown." Leonid had to stoop low, even with Awena's arms fully extended for her to place the crown on his head. "Now you're a pretty, pretty princess too," she said winking.

Leonid laughed as he straightened up. "I am a pretty, pretty princess," he agreed. His grin faded into an easy smile. "I'm happy you're here, Awena," he said in a moment of uncharacteristic sincerity.

Awena huffed at him but she smiled back genuinely and held out her arm like a man waiting to escort his woman. "Shall we find said drink?" She asked.

Leonid rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand instead. With a smile thrown over her shoulder she was off, pulling him through the crowd. Leonid reached up and pulled the crown from his head and as Awena moved through the masses he placed it back onto her head gently.

..::..

The sun had long since set and yet, Imladris was alive in a way that felt intoxicating. Music poured through the valley along with the carefree laughter and celebration of everyone in the city. The flames trapped within glass lanterns seemed to dance with the music, flickering in time with the beat, almost like magic Eldarion thought to himself, or maybe it was the liquor in his glass playing tricks with his mind.

As a child, his mother had told him and his sister so many stories of all the places and things she had seen. Eldarion's favorite had always been the ones about the Elves, they had always seemed somehow above reality and more like a myth. Even now, having been in this city for almost a month he still felt as if he was in a dream, just seconds from being brought back to reality in Minas Tirith. A flash of fiery hair and a swish of pale green fabric caught his attention and he knew if this was a dream then he did not wish to wake from it.

Eldarion blinked and suddenly sea blue eyes were before him, a smile sparkling in their depths. "What has you so deep in thought?" Alida asked, her voice like a song that Eldarion long to hear more of. She settled herself onto the bench beside him, her shoulder brushing against his as she reached for her glass.

"This place is like magic," Eldarion said with a shake of his head. "It's just unbelievable sometimes."

"This night is magic," Alida answered, switching into her native tongue. "We believe the Valar are closest to us on this day, able to walk between worlds at their will."

Eldarion listened with rapt attention as Alida explained the significance of this day and why the Elves celebrate it. He felt like he was drunk on her voice as he listened to her, her voice racing through him and blurring the world until he was aware of nothing else but her.

"Do you have any celebrations like this in Gondor?" Alida asked, bringing Eldarion back to reality.

"Nothing like this," Eldarion answered, clearing his voice so he could speak with the proper rolling sounds like the Elvish language demanded. "But my father wants an Elessar day when we return."

Alida laughed, a fiery curl cascading over her should to fall across her face. "Well, we shall have to make that happen then."

Eldarion thought about stopping his hand as it rose to her face, but he found he didn't want to. He twisted the curling strand of her hair in his fingers then carefully tucked it back behind the pointed tip of her ear. He caught her eyes again and knew these were eyes that he could get lost in forever and never grow tired of searching their depths. "Yes," he answered, his voice a husky whisper. "We shall."

..::..

Eldarion watched with rapt attention as Alida and Awena spun and danced to the lovely music that filled the night. Alida was moving almost too quickly for him to follow. If not for her auburn hair she would be lost entirely to the crowd. Clasping hands with his sister, Eldarion watched entranced as she spun wildly across the dance floor in time with the rest of the dancers. The two women laughed as the dancing came to a sudden stop, falling into each other's arms. Eldarion smiled as he watched them talk to each over the music that was just beginning to play.

Alida's eyes caught Eldarion's watching her and a smile blossomed across her face. Leaning closer to Awena she said something and then the two girls separated, each going their own way off the dance floor. Alida bounced as she ran towards him, the curls of her hair moving in an auburn wave behind her. "Dance with me!" She called as she grew closer, reaching her hands out to Eldarion as she slowed to a stop before him.

Shaking his head, Eldarion smiled and answered, "No, I'm not much of a dancer." Alida pouted and Eldarion couldn't help but laugh as he wondered how much wine she had had so far.

"We have but one life, Eldarion. Why not spend this night dancing?" Alida had taken a step closer, both of her hands still outstretched, waiting for his to take them.

Sighing, Eldarion knocked back the rest of the liquor from his glass and let Alida pull him to his feet and onto the dance floor. Eldarion felt his palms start to sweat as the next dance began. He shook his head and shouted over the music, "I don't know this dance!"

Alida smiled and it lit her entire face. "Let me guide you!" She laughed and dropped one of his hands. Raising the still joined hands above her head, she loosened her grip and spun three times before grasping both of his hands once more.

Time seemed to slow as Alida expertly guided Eldarion through the steps, perfectly in time with the rest of the dancers. Before he knew it, she had coerced him into joining her in four more dances. Eldarion couldn't take his eyes off of her and he felt a tightening in his chest at every smile and glance that she gave him. The moonlight and flickering candles lit her hair to flame and twinkled in her soft blue eyes, and Eldarion relished every second of being here with her.

Alida leaned into him and the press of her body on his warmed him all the way to his soul. "Come with me!" She shouted over the music and the laughter around them.

Eldarion's body felt instantly cold when they separated, but he held tightly onto her hand as she pulled him through the throngs of dancers. She guided them down a candle lit path that led her back up to her home. The sounds of the festival grew distant behind them. "Where are we going?" He asked curiously as she took them off the path and into the garden.

"It's a secret," Alida answered, a coy smile gracing her face as she looked over her shoulder at him. She brought them to a narrow staircase that led down into the valley and then followed a path to the river and a stone bridge. Releasing his hand, Alida bounced onto the bridge, her body alive from all the dancing. Eldarion watched as she pulled her sandals off and lifted the hem of her pale green dress to her knees. She plopped gracelessly and exhausted to sit on the stone bridge, dangling her legs over the edge so she could dip her toes into the cool river water. She tilted her head up to the moon and closed her eyes as she leaned back on her hands.

Eldarion felt that tightening in his chest once more as he simply watched her. She was radiant in the moonlight, like a goddess, Eldarion thought to himself. Her face was flushed from all the dancing and the thinnest layer of sweat glistened on her skin. Curls had fallen out of their pins and tangled in the delicate silver strands of her crown. Perfection was the word that came to mind when he looked at her and he wondered how he would say it in Elvish.

"Ilvanya," Alida said with a smile. She lazily turned to look at him and Eldarion realized he must have said his thought aloud. If he wasn't already red from the dancing he would be blushing furiously now. "Join me," she said gently while she patted the spot on the bridge beside her.

Eldarion pulled off his boots and folded his pants up his calves before coming to sit beside Alida, their shoulders just brushing against each other. He looked out at the lush forest around them, lining the river banks with dense ferns and trees and of every sort.

"Any moment now," Alida whispered, "the night blossoms will in the moonlight."

Eldarion watched as the moonlight slowly spread down the river, lighting the plants and water in a pale glow. As the moonlight poured down on the world around them, Eldarion watched a thousand flower blossom before him. They glowed blue, and purple, and pink, and orange; and those reflected in the river like a kaleidoscope of color. Eldarion was in awe as he watched the night blossoms and distantly, he heard Alida giggle, her laugh like music that Eldarion's soul craved to hear.

"This is my favorite type of night in the summer," Alida whispered. "Cloudless so the moon can open the night blossoms. I come out here most nights and just enjoy the peace of it. There's a willow just down the river where I hide during the day sometimes."

Eldarion turned to Alida and was struck by her, like he so often was. Her eyes reflected a sadness that almost threatened to break his heart, but it was a beautiful sadness that mirrored his own, he thought guiltily. "I had a nook back home I used to hide from Awena in. All I wanted was to read some day and she would want to play these games she would make up." He chuckled at the memory of her trying to capture him once in a game of evil wizard that he wasn't aware that he had been playing.

Alida laughed again and Eldarion was drawn back to the present. He started to memorize her in this moment. Her eyes were a deep blue now, the color of the sky at dusk; her cheeks were pink and he spotted a few stray freckles across them. Little curls of hair haloed her face, catching on the moonlight. He watched her chest rise and fall, aware of the cream-colored skin that her wide neckline exposed. The tops of her breasts pebbled with goosebumps as a cool night breeze washed over her. And lastly, her lips were full and his eyes snagged on them, wondering what it would feel like if they were pressed on his own.

Alida turned to him, a stray curl falling into his face. Eldarion couldn't stop the hand that rose to push it behind her delicately pointed ear. His fingers brushed against the softest skin he'd ever felt as they grazed her cheek. The pale green fabric of her belled sleeve rippled like water when a stone is thrown into it as she raised a hand slowly to hold his hand against her face. Her eyes seemed to stare into his soul and he held his breath as she leaned closer to him. She tilted her head to the side as she studied him and moved smoothly closer.

Every thought dropped out of Eldarion's mind as Alida's lips pressed feather soft again his own. He closed his eyes out of instinct and his breath hitched as Alida's free hand curled around his neck, her finger tangling into the curls of his hair. He felt a rush through his body, like a wild fire ran through his veins in the most pleasurable way. And then there was nothing, no warmth in his veins and no lips against his own.

Alida was backing away Eldarion, her hands dropped to her silk covered lap, but her eyes stayed trained on him and they were what he saw first when he opened his eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but her words died on her lips as Eldarion's lips crashed to hers again. She gasped at the sudden contact and melted immediately into his touch, her body warm and comforting against his own. His hand dove into her hair, tangling in the silken strands at her neck. Turning his body away from the water he pulled Alida into his lap, feeling a need for her to be close that he had never felt with anything or anyone before. a symphony crashed through him mind as his world exploded with their kiss. He realized something then as he held onto her tightly. He realized that she fit into him, like a piece of soul that had been missing finally found its home. He felt her fingers toying with the curls of his hair once more and could felt her smile against his lips. He pulled away, suddenly realizing he desperately needed air even though he'd much prefer to keep his mouth on hers.

They gasped in air together and without realizing it, Eldarion tightened his grip on her, his arms wrapping tighter around her slim waist. Alida pressed her forehead to his and Eldarion could see the smile that he had felt just a moment ago, and it seemed to light his world in a golden glow. She giggled slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him against her. "I told you this night would be like magic," she whispered, her lips teasingly close to his own.

Eldarion captured her lips once more and felt like he could melt right there in her arms. She seemed to always burn with a radiant fire and he basked in her warmth. "I've been waiting to do that since you came out of the forest barefoot," he said, chuckling against her lingering lips.

"What stopped you?" Alida asked breathlessly. "We could have been doing this the whole time."

..::..

It felt like a dream, Eldarion thought. The kind od dream where everything is bright and golden and when you wake it lingers with you for a few brief moments before reality dissolved it. He prayed this dream would last; he would gratefully stay if it meant that Alida was with him. Her hand fit in his so perfectly, and for once he understood his books when they said that some people just fit together likes pieces of their own puzzle. He stole glances at her as they wandered through the festival once more, steadily climbing up the valley, catching the golden light twinkling in her deep blue eyes. She looked like a goddess, that thought had come to him on more than one occasion, but tonight she was radiant and glowing like a goddess of the forest. This must be what the Valar were like and Eldarion would gladly worship this goddess.

Blue eyes twinkled in the lantern light with mischief and Eldarion wasn't sure when, but now they were standing alone on a balcony that overlooked the valley. The sound of the waterfall was distant to his ears but he could see the silvery water plunging down, iridescent in the moonlight. the valley spread out below him and Eldarion could still see the flickering lights of the celebration like fireflies in the distance, and hear the beat of the music complimented by the pounding beat of the waterfall. Like a heartbeat, Eldarion thought to himself. His eyes snagged once more on the woman before him and he felt his heart hammering in his chest. Could she hear his beat? He wondered. She smiled at him and all thoughts seemed to melt away.

"This was my parents' balcony," Alida said quietly.

Eldarion looked around him, noticing a set of glass door that must have led into their rooms. His hand tightened around hers, knowing the feeling of loss well.

"It has my favorite view of the valley." Alida wrapped a second hand around their clasped hands and gently pulled Eldarion to the railing. "You can see nearly everything from her."

While that may have been true, Eldarion couldn't take his eyes off of Alida. He could study her every day and still find something new, still be mesmerized by the soft curve of her smile and the way her eyes tilted up at the corners. He knew he shouldn't, but he traced her cheekbone with his thumb, following it down to the corner of her mouth and grazing along her lips. How long had he wanted to do just that? Such a simple touch that had been forbidden until now. Alida leaned her face into his touch and he couldn't stop himself before he released her hand and pulled her close, brushing a whisper of a kiss to against her lips.

Alida's hands rose to his chest and she pressed one just over his heart. Slipping his arms around her body she pressed her again him, feeling the beat of her heart against his chest synchronize with his own. He knew not every relationship ended with love, not every couple was like his mother and father. But this, what he felt for Alida, this had to be something.

"You're so quiet," Alida said, nestling her head against his chest.

He chuckled and breathed deeply the fresh floral scent of her. "I'm happy," Eldarion said at last. He could feel Alida smile against his chest and he tightened his arms around her body.

Music drifted through the night to them and he felt once more like this was a dream. "Then it is a good dream," he heard a woman whisper.

Eldarion started swaying back and forth, feeling the music in his bones. His hand dragged slowly down Alida's spine, through her long curling strands of auburn hair, and he felt her shiver against him. "Are you cold?" He asked quickly.

Alida shook her head, nestling in closer to him, like she was trying to be one with him. "I'm perfect," she answered, her response muffled against his body. "Just hold me tighter."

And he did. Eldarion held onto her as tightly and as closely as he could. "I'm perfect." Her words echoed through his mind and he closed his eyes, feeling like there was nothing more perfect than this moment.

..::..

The morning sun was warm as it shone down through Alida's window, warming her face. She smiled to herself, summer had come and with it long hazy days that stretched into even longer sleepless nights. She sat up and stretched, the white bed linens crinkling with the movement. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she looked out the window to the world of lush green and gold; she thought of the little stone bridge.

Alida closed her eyes and let the warmth of the sun remind her of the warmth of Eldarion's body as it bad been pressed to hers. She wished he was there now with her, that she could have woken up to his body pressed to hers. She wondered what it would feel like to wake up with his lips on her skin. She let her eyes close at the memory of those lips, they had been so soft and so warm, touching her own gently like the brush of a bird's wings. Her breath mingling with his, then the pressure of his mouth on hers, the desperate need in his touch. Alida felt like she had been dreaming her whole life and only now she had woken up. Maybe her brother had been right all along and she had been missing out, she thought with a small chuckle.

Rising from her bed, Alida made her way to the window, letting the soft breeze float her sleep mussed hair and ripple the thin night dress she wore. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and looked up at the position of the sun in the sky. It must already be midmorning, she thought to herself, she had slept later than usual. Leonid must be far off in someone else's bed to not have woken her up hours ago. She shook her head, leaning into the frame of the window. No, Leonid had not been right, she thought, she couldn't imagine feeling the way she did for anyone but Eldarion. It was only his lips she wanted, only his body she craved, to share herself with anyone else would be hollow and meaningless. Not like how she felt with Eldarion, like their souls had been crafted for one another.

Her eyes shifted from the skies down to the path underneath her rooms and to the lush garden that lay just beyond them. There was a stone bench there nestled between two huge rose bushes, their bloom shedding petals onto the stone and the ground around it. A figure sat sideways hunched on the stone; the legs up, knees bent, head hanging between them. Alida's brows knit together. Had the party last night turned into such revelry that people had fallen asleep on the first horizontal surface they found. But a heartbeat later she saw a glint of golden hair and she knew who sat asleep on the bench under her window. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her features as she grabbed for her robe and ran from her room.

..::..

Eldarion had walked the pathways to his room the night before slowly, as if every foot of distance that he placed between him and Alida was painful. He had tried to fall asleep, tried rolling to every corner of his bed until the sheets were torn off and pillows lay scattered across the floor. He had gone into the bathing rooms and splashed cold water on his face, as if he could ever wash away the heat that her kiss had risen in him. At last, he had surrendered to the restlessness that plagued him and left his chambers to walk under the moonlight.

His feet had carried him back to the festival grounds and he had walked through the tables, wilting flowers strewn over the ground and glasses and bits of clothing left behind. He remembered how just hours before he had been pressed into Alida, their mouths only inches apart. His gaze had stared off into the forest and he had remembered following her to the river. He thought of her bare feet just brushing its surface, the crystal water brushing over her roes.

There was an ache deep inside him, a pull that Eldarion had felt himself surrendering to a little more each day. But after that kiss it had overtaken him. He wanted to be near her so badly his heart raced at the thought, and the pull was like a man dying of thirst given a drop of water, he would do anything to taste her again.

And so his feet had brought him to her chambers, to the garden underneath the window. He had sat on the stone bench staring up at the window, imagining her laying asleep in her bed until the first rays of sun had broken the horizon and he had slipped into a dream in which he was laying there with her.

..::..

Alida's heart beat in her chest as hard as if she had been running for miles as she walked down the stairs. The morning sun hit her face as she pushed through the doorway and into the garden. She took a deep breath when she saw Eldarion slumped on the bench and her nose filled with the sweet smell of roses blooming all around them. He was so beautiful, she thought as she stepped quietly towards him. His body held no tension now, the regal politeness was gone from his stance. There was a vulnerability to him now that she had never seen before, like a small child who had fallen asleep in the middle of his lessons or under a tree somewhere. She laughed a little breathlessly as she sank down beside him. He moved ever so slightly at the sound and Alida couldn't help but reach out her hand and brush her fingers through his tight blond curls.

Eldarion's eye slight open and he stared at her for a moment like he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming. Alida's hand fell from his hair but before it could drop into her lap Eldarion had caught it in his own. His eyes flicked from hers and down to their hands. He held onto her tightly as if he was afraid that she might slip away out of his dreams again.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked quietly, her heart jumping. Part of her knew why his feet had carried him to her and the other was afraid that last night had simply been a wine drunk dream.

Eldarion's eyes didn't leave her fingers, but Alida caught a glimpse of his lips turning up into a sheepish grin. It was close to an expression that Alida often saw on her brother's face. But where his grin was full of arrogance, Eldarion's entire body seemed to hold an apology. "I couldn't sleep," he said quietly, the grin dropped from his lips and he looked up to her eyes with a passion and sincerity that stole Alida's breath. "I couldn't sleep and you called to me, the memory of your lips, your touch…" He trailed off still staring at her.

"I dreamed of you," Alida said in answer. "I've never wanted anything more than to be with you again."

Eldarion opened his mouth to spill every desire of his heart to hers but he couldn't find the words in any language to express how he ached for her. And so instead, with a shaking inhale and a rush, he brought their mouths together. His hands found her cheeks and any uncertainty fell away from him. Her mouth tasted like a life he had never truly lived until now.

Eldarion sat up, pulling Alida to her chest, his arms wrapping around her, holding her close. When she was this close to him he felt how much bigger he was and how he could cave his shoulder in to hold her closer and wrap his arms around her back and up into her hair. He pulled away from her, chest heaving just enough to catch his breath, their faces only inches apart.

Alida smiled, letting her eyes drift open, her entire body felt warm and heavy, like at the end of a long summer day.

Eldarion drank in the air, his eyes still closed, the feeling of holding Alida in his arms felt like heaven. He felt her move ever so slightly in his arms and then her lips were pressed in the space between his brows, smoothing the line that so often appeared there when his thoughts become overwhelming. Then her lips were on the highpoint of one cheekbone and then the other. Eldarion let out a breath as her lips blessed the corner of his face, finally landing on the corner of his mouth. He opened his eyes and lost himself in the stormy blue of hers. He let his arms slip from around her, his hands sliding to his waist. the intimacy of the touch making his heart do flips in his chest, how many times had he dreamed of touching her like this.

"I know how we should spend the day," Alida said, pulling away only a few inches to look at his face. "It's not studying your old books."

Eldarion chuckled. "You gave me those books."

Alida smiled and lifted his face back to hers, letting her fingers trail over the blonde stubble on his chin. She leaned in and kissed him softly then continued. "There's a waterfall near here, its basin is shallow and the water will be warm." Alida smiled thinking of the sun-warmed water, she had always loved to swim there. She didn't give him a chance to enter before her hand was in his and she was pulling him to his feet behind her.

"Wait here," she said with a smile they reached the sitting room outside her bedroom. She turned away from him but when she reached the end of their joined hands, Eldarion didn't let her go. He pulled her back into him, their bodies crashing together and his free hand threaded into the hair by her ear. He looked at her for a second as if he were memorizing her features, then his lips were crashing into hers. He kissed her like he was starving, like he could never get enough of her taste. Like he had just woken from a sleep that had lasted for years. He kissed her for so long that Alida felt her head swim and her knees felt weak and yet he didn't let her go. She could run for miles and fight until her heart beat in her ears, but nothing ever made her feel like that kiss did. She surrendered to it, let her body melt into his, let his strength support her, his arms around her were the only thing holding her up.

Finally, Eldarion released her lips, their chests heaving in unison. He looked down into her face and felt like that kiss had transported a part of himself into her and that apart of her was in him. Alida smiled at him then turned slowly, reluctantly away from and disappeared into her room.

..::..

Eldarion's back was bent, his shoulders rounding forward to look at Alida. Her head was laid in his lap, her long hair draped over his crossed legs. She stared up at him wordlessly, the soft summer breeze lifting his long blonde hair away from his face. He looked so gentle, she thought to herself and smiled, knowing that was what had made her fall in love with this beautiful boy. A man born to be king, the child of heroes; and yet his face was always open, his emotions unguarded. Her hand reached up without thought and her fingers brushed across the high point of his cheekbone. There was something so familiar about him, something that put her soul at rest.

"Where do our souls come from?" Eldarion asked softly, leaning into her touch.

Alida's brows knit together, wondering where his question had come from. But Eldarion misunderstood her pause. He moved one arm that he had been leaning back on, his muscles shifting under Alida with the movement, his hand finding a strand of her copper hair to twist around his fingers.

"Ours must have been crafted in the same place," he breathed, looking up into the sun streaming through green leaves above them as if he could see into heaven.

Alida stayed quiet watching a small bead of sweat move in a sleepy line down the curve of his neck. Her hand had drifted back to rest on her middle, her thin summer dress clinging to her curves and swells in the heat.

Eldarion swallowed hard, his eyes drinking in every part of her until he was lightheaded and dreamy, the air around them seeming like a haze in the heat of the summer sun. "I have belonged to you since the beginning of time," he said, his tongue loose as if he were indeed drunk. Maybe he was, he wondered. Drunk on this moment and on the look and touch of his woman laying before him. "My soul has wandered through stars and ages of the earth looking for its match, its second half."

As he voiced his heart to her their eyes met, two shades of blue locking into one another and Alida was afraid to blink, afraid to lose even a second of this moment. As he spoke, she wrote his words in the deepest part of her heart, memorizing them and him and this day and the most wonderful pain she felt when she spoke.

"I didn't know that it was you," he said so softly, she could barely hear him as if it was the most secret thing he had ever confessed. "That it was you, the part of me that has been missing all along." His voice cracked ever so slightly on the last few words.

At the brokenness in his voice Alida could be still no longer. In one fluid movement she sat up, twisting to face him, her hands came to his cheeks, her forehead pressing to his and with her eyes closed, she whispered, "You have me, be whole, Eldarion."

Eldarion's entire body shuddered at her words and then his lips were on hers. He kissed her with abandon, as if he had indeed been searching for her through the ages, a weary traveler finally holding onto the prize he had longed for.

Alida paused, her forehead never leaving his, her eyes still closed, gasping for air. She smiled as Eldarion's mouth continued over her cheek to her jaw and down her neck. Her breath came out in a shaky exhale as his lips touched her, working their way lazily over his collarbones. She tipped her head back and released herself to the ecstasy that was his touch. How had he learned to kiss like this, she wondered as his mouth came back to hers like he had no use for oxygen and could live forever on the taste of her skin.

Finally, Eldarion pulled away, his breath coming in ragged gulping inhales, his chest heaving and his whole body tense. Alida's eyes trailed over his arms, bracing him. The defined lines of them visible through his shirt, then her eyes traveled up to the breadth of his shoulders and finally to the rise and fall of his chest. She had guessed that it was a need for air that had separated them, but when her eyes found his she realized it was something else entirely. His cheeks were flushed like with a fever and his eyes stared at her unwavering, a question lurking just behind their blue depths. Do you want this? They seemed to ask. Do you want me as desperately as I want you? Alida stared up into them, even in this he was his gentle, loving self, never would he take her out of his own need. He had pulled away, waiting to ask her, to check if this was what she wanted just as much as he.

Suddenly, a tiny part of her was afraid. It was too hot and she was too dazed. She knew what giving herself to him would mean. She could never just give him her body, if she gave it it would be every part of her, her very soul would be his and she would be giving up a part of her that she could never recover. "Come with me," she said softly and pulled Eldarion up with her, leading him by the hand through the tall grass.

Eldarion followed her without thought, she could have led him to a cliff and asked him to throw himself over and he knew without a doubt that he would jump a thousand times if she asked it. He heard the crashing of water before he saw the deep blue water lapping at the soft banks or felt the cool mist that drifted through the hot summer air. Alida turned and smiled at him over her shoulder when his pace slowed to take in the beauty of the place. He looked around for a moment, breathing in the fresh air, but it was only a second before his eyes were back to Alida. She stepped close to him and on instinct his arms wrapped around her, holding her back flush to his chest.

Alida was smiling, watching the waterfall before them. "This is one of my favorite places in all of Imladris," she said softly. "I have wanted to bring you here for a long time."

Eldarion nodded and kissed the top of her head. "Why haven't you?" He asked into her ear, his breath tickling her.

Alida spun in his arms, her smile wide and kissed him once before she pulled out of his arms. "It wasn't hot enough to justify a swim," she said, her hands going to one shoulder of her dress as she spoke. "There were other reasons as well," she said, her hands working on the second shoulder of her dress. She smiled at him and let go, letting the loose material slip over her hips to pool around her feet. She stood before him in the smallest silk slip, its neck line cut low over her breasts and the hem well above her knees.

Alida had worn dresses that showed off her curves before, materials so sheer they had left little to his imagination. But now, seeing the expanse of her soft creamy skin before him, Eldarion realized that even his dreams could not do her beauty justice. He stood a few feet from her, unable to speak, unable to blink, trying to drink in every inch of her exposed skin. His heart began to beat so hard he could hear it in his ears. Alida only smiled at him sweetly, her face full of beauty and grace he could only think belonged to a goddess. Then she turned and stepped closer to the high banks of the water and dove in without looking back.

Eldarion realized that he hadn't taken a breath since she had stepped away from him and he gasped, watching the water, waiting for her to break the surface. Finally, she came up, almost in the middle of the pond, her head breaking the surface, her hair a curtain of deep red, spilling over her shoulders. Suddenly, he couldn't bear the distance between them. He stripped off his shirt and then the pants he wore until he was only in his underclothes, linen shorts that hung low on his hips and hugged his legs, tight to just above his knees. He tried to remember if he had ever been this undressed out in the middle of the forest, but before he could even finish his thought he was plunging into the cold water.

Alida watched as Eldarion swam toward her, his arms breaking the surface in powerful strokes, his eyes never leaving hers. The water was just a few feet over her head but when Eldarion reached her, he gave no heed to the depth and wrapped his arms around her, his mouth finding hers as they dipped below the surface, his heavy body pulling him down. Alida couldn't help but laugh, bubbles from her mouth tickling their way over Eldarion's face. Then he was pulling them back up to the surface and they were both laughing. Eldarion touched his forehead to hers and Alida let her arms rest on his shoulders as his arms pulled the water back and forth, treading to keep them both up.

"I hope you're a strong swimmer," Alida smirked, wrapping her leg around his lips. She lifted herself up in the water, tilting Eldarion's head back to kiss him. She felt his body moving under her, his powerful shoulders flexing with the effort of keeping them both up, Alida's shoulders completely out of the water.

Eldarion smiled up at her, watching the beads of water dripping over her perfect face. "I would happily drown here," he said.

Alida smiled, touching his wet cheek, his skin was cool now and the flush gone from his cheeks. Then she kissed him again and again until she wondered if it was him she would drown in and not the water at all.

..::..

Awena glared at Leonid's back in front of her, she huffed and adjusted the ball of towels and blankets from one arm to the other. She wiped a hand across her forehead, mopping the sweat on her brow. Leonid carried a pack on his back that clinked with bottles and food for them, he had packed enough for four, saying he knew where Alida would be. He had rolled his eyes saying that Eldarion could be nowhere else but with his sister. Awena had wanted to point out that their siblings could say the same thing about them, but Awena had seen Alida's and Eldarion's longing glances and knew their relationship was very different from hers and Leonid's. instead of loving, wide eyes, she had been glaring at his back for almost an hour as he moved through the thick woods easily. At least she could see a dark mark of sweat between his shoulder blades, so if even he moved through the woods like he was a part of them he still felt the heat, she thought to herself.

"How much father are these falls?" She called.

Leonid looked back at her from over his shoulder without stopping. "Perhaps if you moved a little faster," he said, "we would be there already."

Awena rolled her eyes. "Move a little faster," she mocked under her breath and stuck out her tongue at his back.

"I can hear you," Leonid said, turning back to her. Awena sucked her tongue back into her mouth so quickly that she almost choked on it. Leonid grinned at her knowing. "Come on," he said. "It's really not that much farther." He held out his hand to her and she stomped forward to take it as he pulled her forward to walk in front of him. His hands came to rest on her shoulders, pushing her along ahead of him, their height difference meaning he barely had to lift his arms to reach them.

Suddenly Awena stopped and Leonid almost fell over top of her. "What is that?!" She almost screamed, spinning to face him, pointing at the ground.

Leonid looked over the top of Awena's head at the clear path she was about to cross. "Ah," he exclaimed. "The path!"

"There was a path?" Awena growled.

Leonid nodded.

Awena raised a fist to her mouth, pressing the flat into her lips, closing her eyes for just a second. "Why didn't we take the path, Leonid?" She said, her voice so deathly quiet.

Leonid smiled down at her. "My way was a short cut." He grinned.

Awena did scream then and shoved her hand into his chest. Leonid could only laugh as her efforts were met with the stone wall that was his chest. He crossed his arms and waited until she gave up trying to move him even an inch. He watched her face slowly shift from anger as an idea formed in her head and then a sly smile spread across her pretty face. "I have an idea," she said, tipping her head back to look at him. "Now that I know the way, let's race."

Leonid chuckled. "A race, little legs?" He asked.

"I told you not to call me that," she said, wrinkling her nose. "But I agree, I should get a head start."

Leonid raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, sure that no head start could give Awena a winning advantage. Awena looked around for a moment then smiled so sweetly that Leonid knew she had just come up with a plan.

"You have to carry everything; my arms are tired." She smirked up at him.

Leonid's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure how your arms being tired has anything to do with this," he began. Before he could finish Awena had tossed her bundle into the air, the fabric unfurled and caught in the wind, drifting to land in tree branches and disappearing into the underbrush. Leonid opened his mouth to chide Awena, but she was already running full tilt down the path.

..::..

Alida stared down at Eldarion, his eyes looking back at her were the exact same color as the water they floated in. They had drifted closer to the bank and Eldarion's feet had found the sandy bottom but her legs had never left his waist. His hands now rested on her hips, his fingers idly playing with the fabric that drifted around her. They had floated in silence for what felt like only moments and yet Alida felt the pads of her fingers beginning to wrinkle, the heat between their bodies keeping them warm. She let her hands find the damp curls at the back of Eldarion's neck and she wound them over and under her fingers. Eldarion smiled, letting his eyes drift shut as Alida's hands worked their way up to take fistfuls in gentle tugs.

Shifting slightly, Eldarion pulled her deeper into the water to lean his forehead on her shoulder. Alida felt her stomach clench at the change, she was closer to him now and lower on his hips so that he was pressed snuggly between her thighs. Her mouth opened at the heat she felt there and when Eldarion's lips began to move over her neck she couldn't help but gasp. Eldarion's hands moved to the small of her back and pulled her in even closer, his hips arching up into her. He made a small noise into her neck and then his hands wre in the fabric around her again, tugging on it ever so slightly. Alida let her head tip back, her fingers fisted into his hair and she arched her back, feeling the hard ridge of him pressed into her in a way that awoke a hunger in her that made her forget everything else.

"Alida," Eldarion groaned into her neck. "Alida," he said again, his voice husky and deep, but it held a question.

Alida couldn't answer, her mind had gone numb and she could only focus on the feeling of his skin on hers. One hand slipped from his hair and reached across her body to the thin strap on her shoulder, easing it off, letting it slip off her shoulder.

Eldarion's hand followed her movement, brushing painfully slowly over her arm, pulling the strap even lower until the wet material fell away. Eldarion's hand moved to cup her breast and he took a shaking inhale as his fingers brushed the delicate skin for the first time. He brushed a thumb over the light pink bud of her nipple, already hard and tight from his touch. "So beautiful," he breathed, his eyes on her chest, his own rising and falling in heavy breaths. He leaned closer to her and brushed his lips on the white flesh just under her pronounced collarbone. "Every inch of you is more beautiful than the last," he said into her skin. His lips moved lower and she gasped as he took her nipple into his mouth, flicking his tongue against her. Eldarion felt his heart begin to beat in his chest and lower, the pulsing deep inside him, making him groan into his kisses.

"Eldarion," she breathed as his moan sent shivers down her spine. She rocked backward, arching into his mouth and his hips, making him moan again. His hands gripped tighter at her slip and she felt it beginning to ride up. She let one hand slip from his shoulder, moving down between their bodies in the water.

Eldarion found the very front of the fabric and pulled it free so that she was bare against him. His mouth left her chest and he looked up into the deep blue pools of her eyes. One of his hands loosed from her hips and just like before his hand moved, following where hers had been before like an unspoken invitation. His fingers trailed over the exposed skin of her stomach and Alida shuddered, her eyes not leaving his, holding in them her permission. His fingers had just begun to travel lower when Eldarion's focus shifted ever so slightly over her shoulder and his hand froze.

Alida opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but before she could even speak Eldarion's hand had moved away from her and he was pulling her strap back up over her shoulder. His whole demeanor shifting in an instant from the lazy heaviness that had been there only second before and melting away into protectiveness. Alida heard someone tearing through the bushes but she knew that only a few knew of this place and she couldn't have torn her eyes away from Eldarion even if she had been afraid of being found.

Eldarion's feet found the bottom and he stood in the water. Alida's legs slipped from around his waist and yet she didn't want to move her arms from where they were draped over his shoulders. Eldarion's hand came up and wrapped around her forearms, shifting her ever so slightly, his eyes still fixed on the forest. Finally, a dark-haired girl broke through the trees. When she saw the water she whooped loudly then bent over breathing hard. "Awena," Eldarion said, his voice half annoyed and half relieved.

Alida smiled, watching his body relax, letting her arms slip around his neck. She turned around, dipping lower in the water. She was about to call to Awena, but before she could her brother tore through the trees and right into the other girl. Leonid dropped the bundle of blankets he held and in one fluid motion scooped Awena up into his arms and up over his shoulder like she was nothing more than a pack. Awena screeched, but before she could even try to break away from him, Leonid was launching them both into the water.

Turning back, Alida smiled at Eldarion who was grinning, his arms crossed over his bare chest, the water lapping at his hips. Her eyes found the hard lines that made a deep V in his abdomen and when he laughed his stomach flexed. She watched as Eldarion's hand slipped under the water and when he thought no one could see he adjusted himself. Alida's mind drifted to the feeling of him being pressed into her. Alida heard her brother laughing and Awena complaining that all her clothes were now wet and Alida had to dip under the water to cool her cheeks before she could turn to face them.

Leonid pulled his wet shirt over his head then shook out his hair, whipping it back so majestically that Awena had to roll her eyes. She swam towards Alida and her brother not willing to admit how wonderful the cold water felt on her hot skin. She flipped onto her back and floated, looking up at the waterfall.

Leonid joined the group and glared at Alida, noticing the scrap of fabric she was wearing. His frown only deepening when he saw Eldarion in the same state of dress.

Awena dipped under the surface, filling her mouth with water then spit it back out in a slow stream, looking like a small fountain. "Have you ever jumped off the waterfalls?" She asked, her head popping out of the water. Leonid and Alida shared a glance and then he shook his head "Well I'm going to jump off," Awena said with a smile and then started to swim to shore.

Eldarion stepped in her path. "No," he said and Leonid actually moved to stand next to him, crossing his arms in agreement.

Awena rolled her eyes, turning back to Alida for help, the other woman only shrugged. "I think it would be deep enough," Alida said. "They're not really that high." Alida turned and considered the falls. She looked back at her brother and Eldarion and then smiled at Awena. "Let's do it," she said.

Awena splashed her arms out of the water and whooped for the second time that day.

Together the two women swam up to the bank while Leonid followed them, trying to convince them of the dangers of the jump. They reached the bank and Alida climbed out offering her hand to help Awena climb up the bank, her clothing heavy with the water. Awena started unlacing the ties of her dress then wiggled it over her hips, letting it land in a heap.

Eldarion took a hard swallow as he watched Alida climb out of the water, the thin material of her slip clinging to every curve of her body. She twisted, pulling her long dripping hair over one shoulder to squeeze out the water and he caught a glimpse of the curve of her breast and he thought of the feel of it in his hand. He felt eyes on him and turned to find Leonid trying to kill him with his eyes. Eldarion's lips quirked up which only made Leonid's curve downward more, his eyes brows glaring so low they seemed to touch his blue eyes.

"We'll climb up this way," Alida said, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun with one hand and pointing the way up to Awena.

Awena squinted, but saw only a steep grassy incline. She just followed one of the twins for hours through the forest with no path in sight, but something in her trusted Alida more than she would ever trust Leonid's sense of direction. So, she smiled and nodded, following the older girl to walk along the bank in the direction of the falls.

Awena studied Alida's back as they walked, it was easy to see why her brother was so infatuated with her, her body was a study in perfection, the slip allowing Awena to examine it in detail. Alida was almost a head taller than her and Awena found herself wondering if she was as tall her Eldarion, if they looked eye to eye when they stood together. She liked that Alida was tall, that she could match her brother. She knew they were stunning standing next to each other, Alida's copper beauty matched her brother's gentle golden look, like they were fire and water. Awena had noticed that Eldarion stood taller when Alida was beside him, his shoulders more squared, his jaw rising with the air of the king he would one day become. Her presence alone was enough to banish Eldarion's sense of inferiority and the sadness that weighed him down. She was the queen her brother deserved, and Awena felt herself smiling at the idea of them ruling together.

"Awena?" Alida asked, pulling her from her thoughts as they climbed up the steep bank. "What has you grinning like a devil?"

Awena chuckled and smiled up at Alida. "Oh nothing," she answered innocently.

Alida raised her brows in disbelief but didn't press her. Instead, her deep blue eyes scanned the water below them, locking on Eldarion's and she smiled at him from across the distance. His eyes had never left her as she climbed next to his sister, she had felt the reassuring pressure of his gaze the entire time. She looked for her own brother and found him hovering just behind Eldarion, staring intently at him, his long body low in the water, looking very much like some water dragon ready to strike.

She heard Awena puff out a breath beside her and Alida turned back to find her half bent over, climbing up the quickly steepening incline on all fours. Then with a sudden burst of energy, she sprinted up the last few meters, collapsing onto her back at the top of hill. Alida laughed and continued her graceful climb as if there were stairs only her feet could find. When she reached the top Aldia smiled down at Awena and walked toward the rocky edge of the waterfall.

..::..

Eldarion watched the two women climb up the hill, the wind fluttering the edges of Alida's slip and raising the small hairs around her face. He heard a splash and saw Leonid swim past him closer to the falls. "Where are you going?" He called, but Leonid didn't turn.

"One of us should be ready to fish their lifeless bodies out of the water," Leonid said, still swimming forward. "We wouldn't want them to bloat, not a very good appearance for the funeral."

Eldarion grinned and waded through the water after him. "It's really not high enough for them to kill themselves," he said.

"Listen," Leonid answered, finally turning around to glare daggers at Eldarion. "Your sister's habit of throwing herself head first at any form of danger for the sake of fun is one thing," he spat, "Is it enjoyable to watch? Yes, endearing really," he added as if it were a side note he hadn't really meant to say aloud.

Eldarion chuckled, knowing this about his sister all too well. "But combined with my sister's general fearlessness and inability to lose any sort of competition named or not, they are likely to find some careless way to injure themselves."

On another day Eldarion might have felt the weight of Leonid's glares and taken his words as the thinly veiled threat they were, but today he was drunk on his own happiness, unable to wipe the smile from his face. "Don't worry so much, brother," he said. "It feels like somewhere we've mixed up our roles and you've forgotten yourself. I thought you were the fun twin." Then he dunked himself under the water and swam past the other man.

Leonid felt his lip curl back in a snarl. "Brother," he growled under his breath. His eyes narrowed and he fought the urge to jump over where Eldarion was swimming and hold him under. "Forgot myself," he mimicked under his breath, his mood as sour as vinegar. He pushed the image of Eldarion's hands touching his sister from his mind and tried to remember the boisterous nights he knew so well and the woman who flocked to be near him. "I am fun," he mumbled.

..::..

Alida climbed up onto the ledge and took in a deep breath of the misty air in the water rushing and over the precipice just beside her. "Try to keep your legs together." She began looking down. "And bend your knees when you hit the water in case you find the bottom." Alida never got the chance to finish her instructions before Awena ran past her in a blur. her feet found the rocky edge that Alida stood on and then without a breath of hesitation she was over the edge, her arms spiraling as she fell towards the water. Before Awena had even hit the water Alida was falling after her, the two girls hitting the water only seconds apart.

Awena broke the surface of the water, half laughing, half screaming. Her heart was racing in her chest, the sound of the waterfall blotting out all other sounds She saw her brother treading water, smiling at her a few feet away. "Elly!" She screamed and swam over to him; her hands found his shoulder and she pushed herself up out of the water. "You have to try that!" She yelled as Eldarion sunk under her weight. She felt his hand on her hips pulling her off his shoulders and she fell back into the water still laughing.

"Alright, alright," Eldarion said, breaking the surface again and pushing hair out of his face. "I will if you don't drown me first."

Awena laughed and pushed off him in the direction of Leonid, yelling that he too must make the drop.

Eldarion's eyes instinctively found Alida's as she swam toward him. "Did you enjoy that?" He asked as her arms snaked around his neck, locking their bodies together again. Alida nodded into his neck, nipping him once playfully. She lifted her head, her heart still beating fast and kissed him.

Awena looked over her shoulder when she saw Leonid's eyes darken and she watched for a second as Alida kissed her brother as if the whole world was watching just them. "Forget them," she called, reaching Leonid and grabbing his hand under the water, dragging him in the direction of the bank. "We have to jump together!"

Leonid followed Awena begrudgingly to the bank. "You need to be sedated," he said. "Kept on a brew of calming herbs at all times."

Awena laughed, her feet finding the bottom and she stood, pulling Leonid's arm onto her shoulder. "I feel like you once told me one drunken night that you thought it was time for your sister to find a man," Awena said, dragging him along behind her.

"Not that man," Leonid said. "Anyone but that man."

"You know," Awena said, her mood not dampened by his comments towards her brother. "One could argue that Eldarion is one of the only men here. Perhaps, you should have been more specific about the immortality of the partner for your sister." She turned around grinning at Leonid, but he only growled in response and grabbed her under the arms, heaving her small body into the air and tossing her back into the water. Awena came up gasping indignantly, she swam after Leonid as fast as she could, grabbing his ankle just as he made it to the bank. She tugged and he came crashing down like a tree into the shallow water. Awena climbed past him, pushing his head back under as he went.

Eldarion chuckled as he held Alida close, watching as his sister shrieked, ducking away from Leonid as he tried to scoop her up undoubtedly to toss her back into the water.

"You know he lets her get away right?" Alida said, smiling softly, drawing his eyes back to her face. "I have seen him move three times as fast." She watched her brother chase after Awena.

"I know," Eldarion said, losing himself in the beauty of face. "My sister has the ability to get away with a lot."

Alida laughed and touched their foreheads together, closing her eyes. "I have never been this happy before," she breathed.

Eldarion nodded, running his thumbs over her cheekbones. He couldn't find any better words to agree with her. Instead, he brushed their lips, closing his eyes he surrendered to the cool water around them and the sun at their backs, and to the feeling of her body pressed into his.