Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Chapter 18: Perfect Elven Lips
Night fell in the forest fast and the sun's light was all but extinguished before they arrived before Galadriel. It had been a quiet journey, but relatively short. Amy set a hard pace, even though she knew how weary they must have been, Orcs were often seen patrolling the borders and she feared they would be too weary to fight. Though she had other reasons, she wished to talk to Legolas alone.
"I present to you Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, lady of light." Amy said proudly stepping to Galadriel's side.
"Eight are here now yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me; where is Gandalf, for I much wish to speak with him." Celeborn said looking into the distance.
"He fell, into both shadow and flame. A balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas said with a look of pain on his face.
No matter how hard Amy tried to stop herself, she couldn't help but stare at Legolas. Elves do not physically age, yet she could see that his mind had aged; his face held a lot more wisdom than when she had last seen him. Not hearing much of the conversation she continued to glance at the elf out of the corner of her eye. She blushed furiously as she noticed him looking back at her at one point.
She was shaken out of her little dream world by the sound of her name being called lightly.
"Amy, we have set up housing for the fellowship near my mirror, you will see it when you get there. Please could you take them? They look very weary and could do with a good nights rest. Oh and Haldir isn't in a good mood, so be careful!" Galadriel said with a smile.
"What did I do this time? I've tried apologising, though I think he should be the one apologising to me personally." Amy said crossing her arms indignantly, forgetting about the eight spectators she had.
"Oh you did nothing. He came across Chinky and Aleib bolted towards her, throwing him from his back. He is now in his talon in a very bad mood! So if you are going to apologise again, wait until he's calmed down!" Celeborn said with a smile on his face.
"I'll be nice, I promise." Amy said with an evil grin as she walked down the stairs followed by a confused fellowship. Oh course she had no intention on apologising again. If anything she thought Chinky should apologise, but of course that was never going to happen.
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"Here is where you will be staying. I hope if fits all your needs. If you need anything don't hesitate to get me. My talon is the one set back from all the others, by Galadriels. Have a nice night." Amy said walking off towards her home.
The hobbits smiled as they saw four very inviting hobbit sized beds in front of them. Throwing their packs down in a heap they rolled onto the beds. Frodo sighed as he lay down on the soft mattress. Laying his curly hair on the pillow he pulled the soft blankets up to his nose and fell asleep almost instantly. The other three followed suit pretty quickly.
Aragorn looked around and smiled. Eight beds had been set up under a large marquee covered by a large waterproof sheet and several large mallorn leaves. He sat on one of the larger beds and pulled off his cloak and lay his weapons next to him. Gently he lowered himself onto the bed and sighed. The first time they had lain on a bed since Rivendell, and it was heaven. He could hear his companions sigh as well as relaxation took over their aching muscles. Looking over at the hobbits he smiled all four were curled up fast asleep. He could here the rhythmic snores coming from Gimli and the heavy breathing that was unmistakably Boromir. He turned his head to look at the dwarf and the man. Both had fallen asleep with their clothes on and in Boromir's case his weapons as well. It proved to him how exhausted they all were. In fact the only one who seemed to be awake was Legolas. He was standing a little way away looking into a still pool of water.
Sighing Aragorn pulled off his boots and crawled under the blankets before taking a final look at his friend and falling into a deep dreamless sleep.
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All the way through the fellowships conversation with Galadriel he couldn't concentrate. How could he? He was standing next to the most stunning elf he had ever seen, and all the while he could see her looking at him out the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but look back, and he inwardly smiled when she went red and forced himself to look away.
He had followed her down to where they would be staying and smiled, he couldn't deny that he wanted to lie down and sleep away the weariness in his aching body, but he also wanted to talk to Amy, be with her, and hold her. He looked longingly back at the bed next to Aragorn before making up his mind. Walking over to the spare bed he lay his bow down carefully, followed by his quiver and elvish knives. Finally he took off the thick leather straps that held his quiver to his back. He instantly stretched, relishing in the feeling of freedom he had in his back. Too long had he been unable to bend his back, back and forth, too long had those weather worn straps restricted his supple movements. Sitting next to his weapons he pulled his cloak off from his neck and took off the light coat he had been wearing. Reaching down he pulled off his boots and wrinkled his toes in the cool grass. Elves were not made for boots, especially for a long time anyway. Standing up he unbuttoned his tunic and took it off careful not to crease it. Clad in only a light silver shirt and a pair of bottle green breaches he made his way to Amy's talon.
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Amy looked in the mirror as she changed. She undid the buckle at her chest and allowed her quiver of arrows to slide off her back and onto a chair. Turning she picked it up and placed it next to her bow, which stood as tall as she. She unbuckled the belt at her belly and pulled it off. Her sword always lay on her left hand side, and her smaller, curved, elvish blade lay on her right. She loved this blade as much as her bow and sword. It had been given to her as a present from Galadriel and Celeborn on her thirtieth birthday. Its hilt was made of Harad ivory, with dark sapphires set into it. The blade, like all her weapons, had dual dragons on it, snaking their way between elven script.
She pulled her tunic over her head and put it over the back of a chair. She changed her shirt to a light white one. It was a cool night yet the air was slightly sticky and this shirt was light and baggy so it was easy to stay cool. She pulled off her tight breaches and switched them for a pair of loose fitting sky blue trousers. Just as she walked over to get a drink she heard a soft knock at the door.
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It had not taken Legolas long to walk to her talon. He had found it easy enough, mainly due to the fact it was set a long way from everybody else's and had a huge stable at the base, which at the moment housed a tired Chinky.
'She's upstairs waiting for you.' Chinky said pushing open the door with her shoulder.
'I never said I was coming. How do you know such a thing?' Legolas asked in mock horror.
'One of those things in life!' Chinky said nudging him towards the base of the stairs with her nose.
'I'm going!'
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"Come in!" Amy called through the door.
Legolas pushed the door open and smiled as he walked in. It was exactly like he had imagined it to be. Simple, yet comfortable. He looked around for Amy and saw her walk towards him with two glasses in her hands. Both were filled with a very deep red wine.
"Is there anything wrong?" Amy asked handing him one of the glasses.
"No, I just came to talk to you. And I wasn't as tired as my companions." He lied, grimacing as he did. He hated lying, it was against his nature and he had been brought up against it. Yet he was curious to how she knew he wanted a drink, before he even arrived.
Smirking Amy gestured for him to follow her onto her balcony. He had tried long enough, he couldn't help but look at her, her slim figure was encased by baggy clothes that hung off her shoulders and hips, her hair was down save two pieces at the front that had been braided and pulled behind her head so that it didn't get in her eyes, there was no other word for it, she was stunning.
Amy placed her glass on a table outside before lowering herself onto the straw mattress that resided on her balcony. It had been there for a while now, many a night it had been too hot to sleep inside, and now it was part of the balcony just like the beautifully carved chairs.
Legolas sat down next to her and placed his drink on the table. He tried to stifle a sigh when he came in contact with the soft mattress, but to no avail. It was no use trying to cover up his weariness, yet he hated feeling tired.
"Tired?" Amy asked, with a hint of sarcasm.
Legolas shot her a smile. "You would be too if you had walked from Rivendell halfway to the gap of Rohan, then trekked half the way up Carahdras, then back the way we had just came to Moria. Fought in a huge battle there, and then ran from the east gate of Moria to here."
Amy smiled back at him. "Yeah I had it easy!"
Legolas laughed, and then sunk down a bit further onto the mattress.
"If you are tired, we could talk tomorrow." Amy said raising a hand to his cheek.
"I'll be fine. Anyway I wanted to talk to you about Haldir." Legolas said sitting up and propping himself up against the wall.
Looking down Amy smiled. However much she was annoyed at the elf she couldn't help but want his friendship back. He had been the only true friend she had had in Lothlorien. "Well to begin with Chinky hated him. Then I was cursed with that damned name, I mean Lureae? What a name!" Amy continued telling her story, right from their first proper meeting to when she had held him off the end of her talon.
She didn't think she would miss him that much, but having being made to recite everything they had done together, hurt. It hurt her so bad. He had been her only true friend in Lothlorien and now he was gone. She knew the blame lay on both sides, yet she knew he should never have lost his temper over a ring.
She told Legolas what Haldir had said about him: how he would never be able to love her without thinking. As soon as it left her mouth she tensed. 'Why did I say that? Now he's going to think I'm a complete idiot. I have officially embarrassed myself more than usual. I was stupid thinking a prince could love me. Haldir was right.'
She went to stand up, to go back in doors; it was obvious she had just made a fool out of herself. Yet she was surprised and pleased when strong arms suddenly wrapped around her legs and pulled her back down. She turned to face him, willing him to say something. He smiled gently at her as he placed a strong arm round her back. Gasping slightly she allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. Sighing she put her right arm round his chest and placed her head on his shoulder.
She felt his right arm moving slowly up and down her back in a comforting manner. Pulling his left arm across his body he lay his hand on her cheek. Feeling comfortable in his embrace she nestled her head into his neck further enjoying his distinct sent, her mind went back thirty years to when she had fallen asleep next to him, in much the same position, except they were lying down not sitting with their backs to a wall.
Slowly she pulled away from his embrace and turned her head to look at him. "Did you mean it, when you said I would be forever in your mind and heart?"
He looked down at her as she felt him move from his embrace. Her black eyes meeting his blue ones. He could not help but let his gaze wander. Her hair had grown a lot in the years that had passed. No more was it just past her shoulders; it now ran down her back in ripples of satin. Her small upturned nose was still dotted with the multiple freckles of the human race, completely alien to elves, they made her look younger than she was, and very exotic he thought. Her ears were completely pointed now; they no longer showed the roundness of her previous life. Her lips were slightly parted as if to say something. He couldn't push out the images of their lips meeting again. Their brief kiss at their last parting had been etched in his mind. When he finally did talk a smile played on her lips.
"I meant every word. You are indeed the prettiest elf I have ever seen, and you will be forever in my mind." He said back.
Amy's face lit up in a smile as she heard these words, looking at his crystal clear eyes she could see he meant it.
As he had done all those years ago he lowered his lips to the top of her head. Without hesitating the kiss was returned at the top of his neck.
Feeling decisively lucky Legolas kissed her cheek. Her skin was so soft and cool, when she did not respond he placed a finger under a chin and lifted her face so she was looking straight at him. Trying his luck one more time he bent his neck slightly and felt his lips come in contact with hers.
Amy suppressed a shudder as she felt their lips touch. Within seconds she regained herself and kissed him back lightly.
Not believing his luck Legolas kissed her a bit harder and moved his hand from her chin to the top of her neck and started running his thumb on her soft skin.
Amy was all the more welcome to respond to his touch. She raised her own hand and started moving her thumb in circular motions on the back of his neck making him tremble.
Not being able to help himself Legolas moved his hand from her neck and lightly ran a finger over the tip of her ear. As expected she emitted a gasp, in doing so opening her mouth wide enough for his tongue to enter. Much to his surprise she did not stiffen or pull away, instead she relaxed into him and met him willingly.
Amy gasped as she felt his finger slide over the tip of her ear. She knew how sensitive they were to touch, but never in her dreams could she have imagined them to be this sensitive. As soon as she felt his tongue touch hers she melted into him deepening the kiss.
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Haldir had watched Legolas walk up to Amy's talon and decided to watch. He felt very guilty for what he had done. Yet he did not have the strength enough to apologise. So now he sat a good distance away from her talon in a tree spying on her. He scolded himself for sinking to this level but he had to find out what was going on between the prince and the dragon.
He had nearly fallen out of the tree when he saw Legolas lean into her. Tears formed in his eyes at seeing the girl he loved with another elf. Even if it was someone he spoke highly of. Turning around he jumped out of the tree and walked home, the tears burning the back of his eyes. Once home he shut the door to his talon, not intending on coming out until the day Legolas left.
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Amy pulled away from the kiss slowly and looked up at the prince. The smile on his face said it all. It enhanced his already perfect features, making him almost seem dream like.
Grinning Legolas turned and lay down on the mattress on his side, pulling Amy down next to him. Amy laughed as she turned to kiss him again, before settling herself down into the curve of his stomach.
The time passed quickly and before another kiss passed they were contently asleep both with smiles playing on their perfect elven lips.
