Thank you for your wonderful reviews, i'm glad so many of you love this story as much as i do.
Just to clear something up: Evie is not an elf. She will never become one and she is not Tauriel. She may turn up as an elfling later on, but i haven't decided yet.
Here you go lovelies. Enjoy.
Chapter 27
Evie POV
Evie woke to find the other side of the bed cold and empty.
Blinking slowly, she took a deep breath, savouring the familiar scent left behind by her elven lover.
She stretched under the sheets, the silky material moving like liquid water over her naked skin.
Humming softly, she rose from the mammoth bed and moved into the bathing room to get ready for the day.
She remembered Thranduil telling her that he would be at the training grounds with Feren & Glorfindel today, discussing battle tactics and sparring.
Legolas she knew would be up to mischief with Elrond's twins, having been stuck together like glue since their arrival a week ago.
As she sectioned her long red curly hair, she thought back to the moment she saw Imaldris for the first time.
Breathtakingly beautiful. Unlike the Elvenking's halls, this community was above ground and sat amongst the mountains, only discoverable by a hidden path known to elves and elf friends.
Turning the corner, she had seen the numerous dwellings and palatial structures rise up and up, beautifully carved and surrounded by waterfalls.
They had stopped briefly at the start of the large stone bridge that was the main entrance to the city.
She had been in awe too much to be mad at the little elf riding in front of his Adar for his cheeky comment.
"Close your mouth Naneth, you don't want flies to get in!"
But she had been able to glare at the older elf laughing at her expense.
She had tried to take it all in as they progressed forward, feeling slightly nervous of the sharp edge with no railings and the large drop into the ravine below.
They stopped at a large circular platform and waited for the figures on the stone stairs ahead to descend. A tall dark brown headed elf led the way dressed in silver robes. On his arm was a beautiful blonde haired elleth, her soft pink dress gracefully sweeping around her tall frame and a warm smile gracing her lips.
Behind them, two male elves, one dark like the leader of the party, the other blonde as the sun, softly emitting a warm glow that had the woman linger on his form longer than the others.
The four stopped just near the bottom of the stairs and Evie looked to her King for direction.
She watched as Thranduil swung his long legs off his steed and landed on the ground softly, plucking his offspring off the saddle and placing him on the ground in front of him.
She smiled in thanks as he turned his bright blues on her, placing his hands on her waist to help her from her own horse.
She felt his warm hands on the small of her back, a small encouragement to step forward.
She took Legolas' small hand in hers and stopped to the side to let her platinum haired elf take the lead.
She saw the dark haired leader bow and address the visiting company.
"Welcome to Imladris, our woodland kin. King Thranduil, we have been looking forward to your visit. We hope the journey was a pleasant one."
The Elvenking stood tall and regal in his red and gold robes, inclining his head in greeting before his deep voice resonated.
"Greeting Lord Elrond, we thank you for the invitation."
He extended an arm to grasp Evie hand and drew her closer to his side.
"My wife, Evangeline, Queen of the Greenwood. And you remember my son, Prince Legolas."
Evie, clad in riding gear, did not attempt to curtesy to the Lord of Imladris, instead she smiled brightly and dipped her head, extremely conscious of her travel weary state.
Her green eyes flicked to the elleth when the new Lord placed his hand on her arm gently.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Queen Evangeline. Welcome back Prince Legolas. This is my wife, Celebrain."
Evie was taken aback by the kindness in the fair elf when she spoke.
"I am overjoyed to have you visit us. You must be tired from your journey. Please come, your rooms have been prepared for you."
It was at that moment that she realise exactly how worn out she was from the travel from the Greenwood and she was rather excited at the thought of a hot bath to scrub away the dirt from the road.
She let Thranduil gently lead her by the hand, as she led the little elf next to her, as they ascended the vast stone steps after their hosts. Their mounts, she knew would be cared for.
Moving her head closer to the tall elf to her left, she couldn't help her curiosity.
"Who is that blonde elf?"
"He is Lord Glorfindel, Balrog slayer and Elrond's Captain of the Guard. The other elf is Lindir, who looks after the household."
"What's a Balrog?"
"Later, my love, I shall answer all your questions. It is not the right time."
They were led through the beautifully open hallways until they stopped in front of a set of double doors. She watched Lindir move to open the doors and step back. It was the gentle voice of their host Lord that she heard next.
"Take time to rest and we shall see you for dinner. If you need anything, Lindir can make it happen."
Her eyes flicked to the dark elf that bowed and then the party of 4 departed with smiles, leaving the family of three to themselves. The little elf disappeared through a door to their left quickly, which Evie assumed was his rooms.
She drank in the large sitting room, every bit as decadent as the room she had first had in the Elvenking's palace. Gold edging on everything, but where the Greenwood had been plain, this wall coverings were painted with all sorts of flowers, birds and animals. Fascinated, she traced a hand over the fine painting of a deer in the forest.
"A fine hand, is it not?"
"So beautiful."
"Should I be worried?"
"About what?"
"You wanting to redecorate?"
She laughed, turning from the wall to lock with a pair of smiling bright blue eyes. She walked the few steps between them and placed her hands flat against his chest, tilting her chin up to look at him.
"You will be pleased to know that I rather like our home the way it is."
"Good. I have no interest in copying Lord Elrond's flowery taste."
"Flowery?"
He just waved a hand at the walls in illustration.
"I think it speaks for itself."
"Right. Nothing 'flowery' for the mighty Elvenking."
"Glad we got that sorted, now come, I don't wish to discuss this bland topic any longer." The last part came out rather like a low growl. With a shocked squeal of laughter, she felt him lift her up and over his shoulder in a graceful move. With the view of his back and the moving floor, she giggled, not surprised when the door they past through closed with a bit more force than was necessary.
"What would you like to discuss?"
"Nothing. I'd prefer no sounds unless I can illicit them from your lips."
"promises, My King. How do you expect to do that with all these clothes on?"
"Easy rectified, I assure you."
"Oh?"
"Hold still."
She then felt the carpeted ground beneath her feet, facing her elven lover, who's eyes had darkened with intense desire. Her body reacted to him as it always did, her nipples hardening and her core warming in anticipation of what was to come. Quickly and easily Thranduil lifted her dark tunic up and off her body in one swift movement, she shivered at the sudden cold air.
The king then knelt before her to take off her riding boots, one after the other, throwing them in different directions around the room. Still on his knees, the platinum head rested against her exposed tummy and then Evie sucked in a breath as she felt his warm lips press a kiss to skin, all the while, his large hands had gripped either side of her leggings and pulled them down.
She gripped his shoulders as his head went down, down, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake. Gently his hand helped her ankles free from the pooled fabric, then slip up the backs of her long legs and finally grip her ass.
With a soft shriek, her body was lifted as the elf rose to his feet with ease and placed on the edge of the soft green bed. She watched, captivated, as the elvenking began to undo his own travelling attire, letting it fall to the ground in a forgotten heap.
He is magnificent, she thought, and all mine, as he stood for a moment before her, tall and gloriously naked. She held out a hand. "Come here."
He did so without hesitation, bending at the waist to capture her lips in a searing kiss, before moving her backwards on the soft covers. His large form covered hers and the cold air was forgotten as their body heat entwined.
She couldn't help but moan when his lips kissed and sucked at her neck, while his hands cupped her aching breasts.
"You are so beautiful."
His words brought so much joy to her heart, but thought became difficult when his lips moved to capture a nipple, nipping away, while the other was being rolled between expert fingers.
"Those are the sounds I love to hear from you."
She was getting lost in his warm touch, her own hands wandering over his back.
"Let's see how ready you are..."
Evie gasped when she felt a hand slide down her body and a single finger glided over her heat. Again. And again.
She begged him when she felt that same finger slide in effortlessly. "Please."
"Please, what?"
"Please, Thranduil."
"You have to tell me what you want."
"I want you. inside me. Right now." She growled it out, beyond caring about anything else.
"As you wish."
She whimpered at the loss of contact when he withdrew his hand from her body, but let out a breath when she was turned on her front. She moaned again when she felt his warm body behind hers, his hand coming up to cup her breast and his hot breath on her right ear.
"Let's try something new."
She could only nod at this request, not entirely capable of coherent words. She knew the mechanics of what he wanted and didn't react when he parted her legs and pulled her up to be on her hands and knees.
She sighed in relief when she felt his hard cock enter her wetness from behind and moaned when she felt how much deeper it could go in this position. She gripped the pillow with both hands when he began to move in and out of her, slow at first, and then faster.
She felt her pleasure building inside her, but screamed his name when her release barrelled through her as his fingers gently stroked her nub without reprieve.
As she came down from the high, she felt him release his seed inside her, his body a comforting weight against her back.
She was feeling extremely contented when she felt him pick her up in his arms and carry her to the bathing chamber, sighing in happiness as they both entered the hot water that had been drawn for their arrival.
From her perch in the large rectangular shape bath, she moved to straddle her lover, her hands coming up to cup his fair face. She loved the feeling of his arms around her, hands resting on the small of her back.
"You amaze me."
His deep chuckle made her smile.
"I aim to please."
"No you don't, not everybody."
"No, just you."
She only had to move her face an inch or so forward and her lips met his in a gently, loving kiss. Feeling cheeky, she moved her hands up and into his silky hair, not hesitating in the slightest when she caressed the tips of his pointed ears, his intake of breath encouraging her to keep going.
When he broke the kiss, she moved her attention to his neck.
"Careful woman, don't start something you can't finish."
"Oh, I intend to."
Gripping his shoulders a bit harder for a moment, she lifted her hips up and slip torturously down the length of him, that had grown hard the minute she touched his ears.
Evie smiled at the memory as she dressed herself with care. Today was a gown of soft yellow with delicate flowers embroidered on the V neck bodice and soft floaty sleeves that matched the skirt that swished as she moved, a train following her as she walked. Legolas' necklace sat around her neck as it always did, glittering in the morning sun.
Feeling refreshed, the red head moved into the sitting room to find a tray of foods spread out before her. Taking a pastry, she decided that she wanted to go for a walk and quietly slipped out the double doors and turned right down the hallway to explore a part of the city she hadn't yet seen.
Having made her way to the highest most point of the buildings, she stopped at a platform that overlooked the beauty of the valley and sat on the bench to admire the view.
Taking a few deep breaths, she felt happy and not hearing anyone nearby, began to sing.
"Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen still
So you can keep me inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
And if you hurt me
That's okay baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home
Love can heal, loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know, know
I swear it will get easier,
Remember that with every piece of you
Hm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die
You can fit me inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
Hearing you whisper through the phone,
"Wait for me to come home"
She leaned back on the bench, but whipped her head quickly when she heard a voice speak from her left.
"You sing beautifully, Queen Evangeline."
She smiled at the dark haired elf Lord and moved her hand in invitation for him to sit next to her.
"Please, call me Evie. Titles and such are still new to me."
"I'm not sure King Thranduil would like that."
"When it is just you and I then. Please."
"Very well."
The sat in silence for a moment and then the male elf spoke again.
"Your song is not one I have heard, but the words were beautiful."
"Thank you, My Lord."
"Please, just Elrond, my dear."
"Of course… Your home is beautiful."
"Thank you. I have not tired of it, as of yet."
"I don't know that anyone would get tired of seeing this everyday." She gestured to the beauty laid before them.
"I quite agree, but at some stage the elves will leave these shores and sail, leaving it all behind."
"Sail to where?" she had never heard of this before.
"To Valinor, where we may live in peace for the rest of our days."
"Oh."
"I see that Thranduil has not discussed this with you."
"No." her response was soft, almost confused. He was going to leave her?
"Worry not. Your marriage to Thranduil brings good tidings."
She swallowed thickly and shoved the awful thoughts aside, remembering the letters the elf had sent them.
"You asked me here." It was not a question.
"Yes."
"For what purpose?"
"To meet the woman with a great destiny. And who had captured the heart of an elf the world views as cold and heartless…I can see why he fell in love with you."
"What?"
"You have a courageous and kind heart, Evie. I think he would not accept anything less."
She waved her hand in dismissal of this comment.
"No, that is not what I meant. What destiny do I have? Have you seen my future?"
"futures are not set in stone, they shift with the decisions we make everyday. I have seen multiple possible futures for you."
"and?"
"I do not think it is a good idea to know too much about one's life. You will find the right path on your own, but I will say this. Trust your magical instincts, train as much as you can, for there may come a time you will need them for a task that cannot be completed by any other. You were brought here for a purpose. Do not forget that Elementals have not been seen for an Age here in middle earth and their presence was rectify the balance."
"But I don't understand what any of that means."
"In time, you will. For now, be happy with the ones you love, but never forget who you are."
She looked down at her hands spread on her lap. Her left hand sported a large single sapphire cut in the shape of a rectangle on her ring finger, glittering in the sun, a token of her status as Queen. On her right hand was a simple ring with multicoloured stones. It was this ring that she played with, suddenly thoughtful at the elf Lord's words.
"My grandma said something similar once."
She looked sideways at the elf's smiling face.
"I'm sure she wouldn't lead you astray, my dear. As I passed the training grounds, I noticed they were starting to finish up. Shall we head back and join them for lunceon?"
"That sounds lovely."
She stood and took the arm that was offered to her by the elf Lord and enjoying the leisurely pace they walked at.
"Perhaps I could persuade you to sing for us before you depart?"
She laughed at that.
"perhaps."