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Chapter 16

Beleg's Pride

Merida was already gone when I woke up. I sat up and the blankets pooled at my hips. I smiled at the memory of last night and closed my eyes.

"~Day dreaming brother?~"

I snapped out of my dream and looked at Rumil. He looked at the state of my bed and then smiled.

"~Rumil what is it you want?~"

"~There is a celebration tonight and I wanted you to be present when I ask Verya to be my wife.~"

I smiled a bit and nodded.

"~Of course. Merida and I will be there. I am happy for you Rumil.~"

He smiled.

"~I apologize for disturbing you.~"

He left and I sighed. Finally my family was happy. My brothers had found the ones they loved and I was planning to have a family with my beautiful wife. I smiled and started to dress. I made my way to the training grounds as I did every morning, but today I did not like what I saw. Beleg was there taunting her. I was patient with him yesterday, but I would not allow anyone to taunt or hurt my wife.

"Beleg!"

Merida's POV

I heard my husband's voice and flinched. Haldir thrust himself between us.

"~Marchwarden.~" he said.

I held my breath.

"~I do not like what you are doing to my wife.~"

Beleg seemed to roll his eyes.

"~I do not understand you Haldir. Before she came you hated the very sight of dwarves. You told me that protecting a dwarf princess was…..~"

"~ENOUGH!~" Haldir shouted.

I did not know what Beleg was about to say, but knowing that Haldir…..

"~Excuse me.~" I said.

"Merida wait let me…."

I left without another word. I walked out into the woods and held back my tears.

"~Are you well Merida?~" came a light voice.

I looked up and there stood Galadriel.

"~Oh! No I am fine my lady.~"

She smiled gently and came forward.

"Walk with me?"

I nodded and walked through the trees with her.

"~My lady…..is it true?~"

She looked at me curiously.

"~Did Haldir truly see me as an annoyance?~"

She smiled kindly.

"~My dear child, you changed him. It is true he always found dwarves and men unworthy and nuisances. That is he did until the day he met you.~"

We stopped and she looked into my eyes.

"~Did you ever wonder why Haldir was the one who came to escort you?~"

I nodded.

"~I sent him because I knew you would change him. Haldir has always been…..missing something in his life.~"

"~Missing something my lady?~"

She nodded.

"~Yes, he was never truly happy. And I saw in my mirror that a young dwarves princess would change him. That was why I sent him, because I knew he would find love and happiness. Even though at first the two of you were at odds, look now what has happened.~"

I smiled and nodded.

"~You have both found the love that you deserve.~"

I bowed and then smiled.

"~Thank you Lady Galadriel. I owe you much and I am forever grateful. Now I know what I must do.~"

She smiled and nodded.

"~You will find him still ate the training grounds.~"

I bowed again and then ran off.

Haldir's POV

My anger for Beleg was greater than I could explain.

"~How dare you speak of my wife in such an ill manner! If you ask me she shows far too little patience with you!~"

"~There is nothing she could possibly do!~"

"~Wrong.~"

I turned and looked at Merida. She stood there with a bow in her hand and dressed in what I knew to be Mithril.

"~How does a dwarf come to have Mithril?~"

She laughed and shook her head.

"~You forget that my people are the ones who can craft it. And I have come here to challenge you, Beleg of Lorien.~"

He seemed shocked and so was I.

"~Challenge me?~"

She nodded and walked forward.

"~Yes. A challenge of the bow.~"

He laughed at her, but Merida's face remained indifferent.

"~Very well. I shall have to teach you a lesson.~"

Merida went to her position and Beleg followed. I knew Beleg was skilled, but I also had faith that Merida was better.

"~Watch and learn dwarf.~"

He aimed and hit the middle of the target. Merida calmly raised her bow and did the same. Beleg seemed surprised.

"~A lucky shot.~"

"~Perhaps, only I do not believe in luck.~" Merida replied.

I smiled and shook my head. Eruraina and her parents had come, as well as Rumil and Verya.

"~Uncle what is going on?~"

I smiled.

"~Your aunt Merida is teaching Beleg a lesson.~"

She smiled and watched eagerly. Every successful shot Beleg made, Merida matched it. When there was only one target left Beleg let another arrow fly successfully. Merida stepped forward and took a deep breath. She let the arrow fly and it went straight down the middle of Beleg's. I smiled and Beleg looked shocked. Merida smiled and Eruraina ran out to her. She hugged Merida and I smiled more. Then she looked at me. I held out my hand to her and she came and took it.

"My beloved wife please forgive me."

She smiled.

"U-moe edaved Haldir. Walk with me meleth nin." she said.

I walked away with her and she led me to the lake I once saved her from. She looked at me and took my other hand in hers.

"~Haldir I know you have changed. And I know it was I who changed you, and you have changed me as well.~" she said.

I opened my mouth to speak but she put her fingers to my lips.

"~But that does not mean I shall not punish you.~"

I frowned and then she pushed me into the water. I surfaced and scowled at her, she just laughed.

"~If you could swim I would pull you in her with me.~" I growled.

She raised her brows and disrobed. My eyes went wide and she walked into the water.

"~I learned.~"

I smiled as she 'helped' me out of my tunic. Her hands wandered my chest and I watched her. Her touch was warm and light. She looked up into my eyes and smiled softly.

"~Truly you are a magnificent elf, Haldir. Every time I look at you…..I feel as though my heart may beat right out of my chest. You take my breath away and fill my heart with such love…" she touched my face. "…Now I know how my mother felt when she met my father. Though at first I thought I hated you….in truth I was afraid of you.~"

I was confused.

"~Why would you fear me?~"

She smiled and stroked my cheek with her thumb.

"~Because somewhere in my heart I knew I was falling in love with you. I suppose I was afraid that you did not love me. Or if you did that I would lose you.~"

I took her hand and held it to my heart.

"~You will never lose me! I promise you that Merida. My beautiful, beloved wife.~"

She smiled and kissed me. She fell back beneath the water and I went with her. I opened my eyes beneath the water and smiled at her beautiful face. I brought my lips to hers and pulled her luscious body to mine as well. We swam beneath the water and when we surfaced I started at her wet, naked body. Her hair clung to her skin and the water ran down her neck and chest.

"~Haldir you are staring at me.~"

I could not answer her. I could only continue to stare. I moved my hand down her arm and it stopped at her hips. I slowly looked back into her eyes.

*"Lle naa vanima meleth nin."

She smiled and I kissed her. I would never have enough of her. And thanks to us being immortal I never had to worry. I would have her forever. I kissed her harder and she moaned. I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around me. I brought her back towards the shore and laid her down. She looked up at me and touched my face.

"~What are you waiting for?~"

I smiled and pushed inside her. Her lips parted and she clasped my forearms. Her hair was all around her and she pushed her hips towards mine. I groaned and pushed her hips down. She gasped and I closed my eyes.

"H-Haldir! Yes!"

I started kissing her neck and nibbled gently. She burrowed her hand into my hair and pulled my lips to hers again. I moved faster until she tightened around me. With a cry of pleasure we ended together. It was truly an amazing feeling. She cupped my face and kissed me again.

"~We should go and get ready for the celebration.~" she said.

I smiled at her.

"~If I had not promised Rumil we would be here….I would ravish you again and again.~" I said.

She smiled and sat up.

"~After the celebration.~" she said.

I sighed but nodded. She smiled and kissed me.