Chapter 15

Home Again

Haldir's POV

We stopped back at Erebor so Merida could say goodbye to her aunt and siblings. Then I took Merida home, back to Lothlorien. We rode into the golden wood and straight to Caras Galadhon. The minute we arrived Verya ran out.

"Merida!"

"Verya!"

She jumped off the horse and hugged her friend. Rumil came out afterwards and then Eruraina, Orophin and his wife came.

"Merida!"

Eruraina had grown but when she jumped in Merida's arms she held her tightly.

"~Oh my! Little Eruraina you have grown so much! And I was right, you are gorgeous.~"

She giggled and she hugged her mother and father.

"~Welcome back to Lothlorien Merida.~" she said.

"~It feels good to be back.~"

"~Can I have my wife back now?~" I asked.

They smiled and she was then back in my arms. I finally had her back and we were home. We were surrounded by our family in Lothlorien and we were married. I looked into her eyes and smiled at her.

"Let us go home." I whispered.

She smiled and nodded.

Merida's POV

Haldir was already gone when I woke up the next morning. I smiled and dressed in the dress I had worn the night he told me of his feelings. I took my bow and went down to the practice fields. Haldir was not there yet, but he would be soon enough. I started to practice and some scouts passed by. One of them looked at me with distaste. I looked away and continued what I was doing.

"~Careful Beleg! That is our Marchwarden's wife.~" said one voice.

I did not lower my bow but I heard him approach.

"~Haldir chose a dwarf princess!? And here I thought Haldir had…..pure tastes.~"

They must not have know I spoke the elven tongue. I continued to ignore him to see where he would go with this.

"~She is half elf Beleg! And she is a renowned warrior and archer as you can see.~" said the first.

"~She does not even know our tongue Sadron.(Sahd-ronn) I must say I am disappointed in Haldir's choice.~"

I rolled my eyes and then looked at him. I was going to say something but then I saw Haldir. I smiled and went to him. He smiled when he saw my dress.

"~You are even more beautiful now than you were then.~"

I feigned a scowl and he chuckled. Then Beleg and Sadron came to us. I looked at them, Sadron looked apologetic and Beleg looked unpleased.

"~Of all the elves in Lorien I would have thought you had better taste Haldir.~"

Haldir's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"O man pedich Beleg?" he growled.

I put my hand on his arm to calm him. It did not work.

"~She is a half-breed. A dwarf princess!~" Beleg said.

I sighed sadly. And here I had thought I had finally been accepted here. Haldir looked at me with concern. I smiled at him and nodded.

"~She does not even know our tongue Haldir. Such arrogance.~" Beleg continued.

Pure rage was in my husband's eyes. I quickly held out my arm to stop him and looked at Beleg.

"~It is you who are arrogant.~" he gasped. "~I may be a dwarf princess, but I have more elf blood in me. I am also a princess of the Woodland Realm. You are fortunate I do not tell my grandfather, Thranduil of your rudeness. He would not be so forgiving as I am. And my mother….her wrath would be unspeakable. I am not angry with you, nor do I wish you any ill fate. I am however disappointed, I thought the elves were more evolved than this. I hope in time you will see things differently.~"

Haldir smiled at me with pride and Sadron seemed amused. Beleg looked angry and he just walked away. I sighed and shook my head. Sadron bowed and kissed my hand.

"~I am very pleased to meet you my lady. I see our Marchwarden has found himself a very spirited wife. I must say I am jealous Haldir.~"

Haldir smirked and I laughed a bit.

"~Please Sadron, just call me Merida. I have no wish for formalities.~"

He smiled and nodded.

"~Merida then. You are quite the archer, perhaps better than our Marchwarden.~"

Haldir scowled and I laughed with Sadron. I knew we would become good friends. Verya came to the fields and I smiled at her. Rumil was not far behind her. I smiled at them, I was happy they had found each other.

"~Perhaps one day I will be fortunate enough to have an archery competition with you.~" Sadron said.

I smiled at him eagerly.

"~I look forward to it.~" I said.

He smiled and laughed. He went after Beleg and I smiled at Haldir.

"~It would not be worth it to become upset my love. Perhaps he will come around in time.~"

He sighed and I took his hand.

"~Beleg has always been stubborn. And too thick headed for his own good. But you were right and I apologize for my behavior.~"

I smiled, shook my head and gave him a light kiss.

"~You were defending your wife, I find no fault in that.~"

He smiled and kissed me gently. As we separated he stroked my cheek. At times I would wonder how lucky I was to have such a strong and handsome elf. Each time he looked at me I could see the love in his eyes, so intense I nearly melted away.

Haldir's POV

I loved her smile. Every time I saw it I knew it was just for me. She smiled for others, but there was something special about the way she smiled at me. She and Vanya helped me to train the new scouts and then she went off with Rumil. Vanya was watching Rumil go and I smirked.

"~Vanya! Focus on the task at hand if you please.~"

"~My apologies Marchwarden.~" she said.

I smiled inwardly. I enjoyed teasing her.

Merida's POV

"~I saw Beleg walk away from you angrily little sister. Is everything alright?~" He asked.

I smiled at him.

"~I am perfectly fine my brother. But I sense there is something more on your mind.~"

He looked at the ground, his cheeks turning slightly red.

"~It is Vanya. I…..I wish to marry her. Though I know not how to go about asking her this.~" he said.

I smiled and took his arm.

"~I think this is something you should speak with Haldir about. I remember when I fell in love with him, Verya was the one who showed me that I did. Go to him, tell him what troubles you and I know you will find the answer you seek.~"

Rumil smiled at me and gave me a great big hug. I kissed his cheek and he left. I decided to go back home and read.

Haldir's POV

Rumil came back to me after I was done with my daily duties.

"~Brother may I speak with you privately?~" he asked.

I was confused but I nodded. We took a walk outside the city.

"~Merida told me I should come to you.~"

"~Merida is usually right about many things. What troubles you?~" I asked him.

"~I wish to bind myself to Verya….I know not how to go about it.~" he told me.

I smirked.

"~I would think you of all the elves would know how to propose to a woman.~" I said.

"~I thought so as well, but now that it comes to it…..I am at a loss of what to do.~"

I thought for a moment.

"~Tell her how much you love her. Tell her that she is the one you have been waiting for. You will know what to say.~" I told him.

He smiled at me gratefully. He left to find Verya and I began to head back as well. As I approached my talan I heard Merida singing.

A naoidhean bigh, cluinn mo ghuth

Mise ri d' thaobh, O mhaighdean bahn

Ar righinn oig, fas as faic

Do thir, dileas fhein

A ghiran a's a ghealaich, stuir sinn

Gu uair ar cliu s ar gloire

Naoidhean bhig, ar righinn og

Mhaighdean uashaill bhan

I smiled as I opened the door. I set down my weapons and went to her. She was bathing in our large tub. Her eyes were closed and I smiled at her. I stood there, gazing upon her beautiful face.

"I know you are standing there." she said suddenly.

I chuckled and walked forward. I put my hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

"~You are fortunate that Eruraina did not hear you singing that song. She would have come to you and asked you to sing it again and again.~"

Merida smiled and looked up at me.

"~And I would have gladly sung for her. And someday…..if you wish it….I shall sing for our children.~"

The thought of her singing to our baby made me smile. I looked at her and imagined her carrying our first child, giving birth and raising it with her. Then I remembered what Legolas said to me and my smile faded.

"~Perhaps one day.~" I said.

She frowned and turned all the way around to look at me.

"~What is it?~"

I raised my brow in question.

"~Something happened to make your smile disappear….wait….did my father say something to you? Or was it my grandfather?~" she asked.

I sighed and knelt down beside her.

"~Your father does not want to have any grandchildren until your little sister is of a certain age.~"

Her look of confused was replaced with anger.

"~Merida….~"

"~No Haldir! We can have children whenever you wish. My father will just have to respect our decision.~" she said.

All I did was kiss her.

Tauriel's POV

When the king and queen returned I smiled. Kili was with them. I went down to him and he took my hands.

"You are safe." I said.

He nodded.

"Nothing would ever keep me away from you my elven jewel." he said.

I loved Kili's names for me. Queen Vanya put her hand on my shoulder.

"Tauriel perhaps you and Kili should spend some alone time together."

I nodded.

"Is Merida safe?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded.

"Yes she is safe. She returned to Lothlorien with her husband."

I nodded and walked off with Kili. He stopped me in an empty hall.

"Tauriel there was more to my coming here than to just see you."

He looked into my eyes and smiled.

"I want you to be my wife."

My eyes went wide. When I first fell in love with him, I never dared hope such a thing was possible. Now it was truly happening. I smiled and nodded.

"Yes Kili meleth nin!"

He smiled more and took me in his arms. He kissed me deeply and then stroked my cheek.

"I love you Kili son of Dis."

"And I love you, Tauriel, elven jewel of the Greenwood."

I laughed and kissed him again.

Haldir's POV

Merida and I lay on our bed, completely spent and breathing hard. I was an Elven warrior and I was spent from this? Wonders would never cease, and I knew that I would experience many more with my wife. She sat up and started to play with her necklace.

"Merida?"

She smiled at me and then straddle me. I smiled and put my hands on her hips. Her skin was soft and smooth. I moved my hand up her body to her face. I stroked her cheek with my thumb and she smiled.

"You are so beautiful Merida. I can hardly believe you are mine." I whispered.

She leaned down and I felt her breasts on my chest. I caught my breath and she traced my lips with her finger.

"~But I am yours. I always will be.~" she breathed.

She kissed my lips and I wrapped an arm around her. She pulled back slightly and smiled mischievously.

"Can we do it again?"

I smiled and rolled so she was beneath me.

"Only if you are ready for me again."

She reached down and grabbed me. I moaned loudly and she chuckled darkly.

"I am not the only one who is ready." she said.

She traced her finger up my ear and massaged the tip. I shivered and dropped my mouth to hers. Before we went any firther I sat up and wrapped my arms around her.

"~If you want a family then I shall give you one. It is all up to you my dear.~" I told her.

She smiled and nodded.

"~I think I am ready to be a mother.~"

I smiled and pushed her back.

"~Then we will start tonight.~"

She smiled and kissed me.