Chapter 18: Plunge

Tauriel pulled her own clothes off without much hesitation. She was glad to get rid of the sticky and smelly lizard excretions and otherwise not much bothered about Thranduil seeing her in the nude as she was not shy, nor prude. It was only the king's naked closeness that made her very nervous and self-conscious as she entered the water, immersed in it to the shoulders and followed his instuctions of standing close by at the edge like him so her feet still had purchase. While she was glad to occupy herself with scrubbing herself clean for not having to look at him, that also had the drawback of being done with the task pretty quick. Purposefully avering his eyes, it was only her sixth sense that was aware that he on the other hand, did not take his eyes off her for one moment.

"Now I would like you to wash me." Thranduil stated on an imperatorial voice, that was to all appearances distant and impassive. The voice he regualrly used for everyday commands if he wasn't too irritated with the world to hide his annoyance.

Tauriel's mouth opened in bafflement. Although used to his servants doing mostly everything for him, being washed down wasn't something he would customarily request. And how could he ask her such a thing right at this moment out of all times, when this invisible, but palpable energy was still charging the air between them, around them. Despite his tone, she was quite sure that charge didn't go out of his body the same way as it didn't go out of hers. The redhead took a deeper, fortifying breath before complying and stopped in front of him to douse his higher shoulders the water didn't reach with the amount of liquid her held together palms could supply. Still not meeting his eyes, she smoothed over his collarbones and brought both her hands to his chest where she rubbed at some crusts of an eggshell to remove it. The younger elf tried remain concentrated on her task and keep any wayward or pleasurable thought to herself. She had touched him before on many occasions after all, soothed his belly with her rubs if needed. Tauriel went on blank mode, as if controlled by an outside source, mechanically scrubbing his back, pouring water on his hair, forcing herself to be detached for her own protection. She was quite sure she was done and was ready to pull back and take care of their clothes when his hand caught her wrist.

"You never washed me lower," he observed, quircking one eyebrow and tilting his head slightly.

Tauriel's mouth opened again, but she decided not to argue with him. With the rest of him being under water, it was quite unnecessary to scrub, the gently flowing water took care of all grime. She nodded and touched his chest hesitantly again, just to find purchase and familiar territory before her hands went lower, to that abdomen she also knew well. The elleth ghosted over the body part, finding it clean to the touch indeed, if not somewhat tense. "Is your stomach alright?" She checked instictively, habitually with him and asking him she looked up per usual without thinking to find him staring, drinking her in, lips parted, eyes cloudy and desirous. It rooted her to the spot and she stilled, the intensity terrifying her and freezing the breath in her lungs and yet what was most terrifying was that her own loins and body surged to have it dealt with and neutralised in the only way possible-by completion. Tauriel stood overwhealmed and at a loss. She could not be sure if her senses were right about him and even then, he was the elvenking. The only move that would be in her right to make was getting on with her task of washing him.

He raised an arm before her thoughts could turn to action and took the side of her cheek in a palm, eyes boring into hers with an unrelenting ferocity that made her unable to see anything else but those usually cold orbs that came to spellbinding life, full of want and heat and insecure questions that were hesitant to give way to emotion. Tauriel hadn't felt more alive in her entire life, more one with the world, more innately elven and thus connected to another soul to the point of recognition and acceptance. It was happening. That bond between an elven couple that no other could severe that she was told about but never felt and she also knew then, that he was right. She had loved Kili, but with him being a dwarf, this connection, this unspoken and yet naturally understood pledge could never happen. And so it was that it had not surprised her one bit when he surged forward and claimed her lips as his to take. His other hand reached round and pulled her closer, encountering no resistance as she melted into his body.

It felt right, it felt unsurpassable, perfect. She wrapped herself round him as tight as possible and gave herself over to the overpowering feeling of belonging. Lean, strong hands held her and they couldn't get enough of each other simply devouring each other's mouths. The energy surge she had previously felt existing between them intensified to a fervency where she doubted she could take it any longer, to be without him, without being taken by him. Tears spilled out her eyes, of bittersweet love and of desperation. No matter this moment, she was still child of the forest Tauriel and he was a Sindar, an elvenking. Her nails dug into his back on their own accord. Closer, she had to have him closer, his long, hot, unruly shaft inside of her her while it was still possible.

As if knowing what she wanted, or perhaps being aware of it exactly given their bond, he leaned over to grab hold of her thighs and pulled her up onto and round his hips slowly, aided by the help their relative weightlessness the water provided, at no point throughout disregarding to give licking, sucking attention to her jaw, shoulders and now breasts. He turned and pushed her against the muddy riverbank, making sure they needed another scrubbing after, but it soft enough there for her back not to get bruised when he pushed into her swiftly and without warning, making her cry out in satisfying pleasure.

Thranduil pulled his head back and marvelled at her in her throws of rapture, a smug little smile on his lips, eyes to the brim with gratification. There weren't many things more pleasing than giving fulfilment to a bondmate. He gave a surprised little grunt at that. While he had long found Tauriel interesting in ways he had found no other, he had never anticipated this would happen, that their souls would cry out for each other and find the echo that joined them. In renewed marvel, he drew a hand through her hair and caressed her jaw, prompting her to open her eyes and look at him. "You are mine..." He gasped in wonder, the mad beating of his heart certifying the claim's validity.

"Always..." She replied akind, her eyes trailing downwards to stare at his swollen lips.

"I need you more than you can imagine," he confessed. The physical need of his aching, straining member inside her of a diminutive importance comparing to the sense that she was perfect to fill the void his late wife has left in his heart. "Tauriel." He breathed, entranced, as if seeing her for the first time. "Be mine."

The elleth's eyes went wide, her own carnal desires momentarily on the backburner as well. "What do you mean by that?" She pushed back a little, pulling dripping hair out her face so she could have a proper look at his expression.

"I can't do this without you. This pointless existence, struggles to keep afloat, not drown in drink, everything."

"I am with you. And I promise to be with you and support you every step of the way," she assured, sobering considerably. "Isn't that what I had been doing the last few months?"

"I need you closer Tauriel, I need you to complete me like you are at this very moment. Howbeit all the time."

The ex captain had the strange impression that her head was simultaneously crystal clear and muddled. "I...this bond that came into existence...it tells me..." She furrowed her brows, somewhat perplexed, "it tells me I cannot be wrong, that I know what you mean, that I will always know what you mean from now on, but what it's saying...it cannot be...?"

Thranduil smiled at her innocent hesitation and unsure knowledge of what a connection like this between two souls did, "you shall learn to trust our bond, velethril nin. What is it telling you then?"

"That you want me fully as I am." A little incredulous note filtered into her voice, "but...surely, I shouldn't even voice such a thing you're suggesting? How could it be?"

"I shall say it then, deil. Ni mestathog?"

Tauriel tried to look away, to think, to clear her head, for room to get flustered and embarrassed, but she found that she was unable to unlock eyes with him, as if under a spell. She could only shake her head a little and swallow, "but the court..."

"The court is made of wise old elves, enlightened enough not to argue with a union that manifested naturally. And that is before I mention I am King. Ni mestathog?" He repeated.

The elleth felt as if in the twilight zone, yet his emotions that reached her were clear, good-natured and deliberately comforting, reaching her in waves that with each lap they reassured her and made her dismiss doubts and consequences and second thoughts. It was only the here and now. "Gi mestathon," she promised, offering body and fae.

It was only then, that his hips moved, thrusting forward slowly and sensually, as if her response would've given him permission. While his mind might've been occupied otherwise in the moments that led up to this one, his erection never forgot its purpose and desire, swelling further at his semi-conscious decision to proceed to claim her. He never broke eye contact as he slid his member in and out leisurely, savouring every sensation her tight, slick pussy provided. His lower abdomen tightened with a need to advance forward and unite with her as deeply and fully as possible and her hips purportedly took the same stance, with her too rapt and swept away by need for conscious thought or any other wish than making her body become one with his, the same as their souls united earlier. She pressed to him, legs shaking with want, fingers digging into his shoulders so she could feel him closer.

His hands fingered her wonderful curves, her arms and breasts and hips and sides languorously, searchingly, exploring, then all of a sudden, his breathing sped up and an overpowering urgency took hold of him. "This...is...your first time." He managed to gasp, half intending it as a question, but knowing the answer already.

Her eyes glazed over in anticipation, "take me Thranduil," she panted amorously and encouraging, somewhat impatient, his given name flowing naturally off her lips.

Without further warning, he slammed into her forcefully, assertively, leaving no doubt of who was in charge, despite the consideration he gave her by probing her for a reaction, keeping tabs on her well-being and contentment. Not that it proved to be something to be worried about-as she let the air out her lungs, her fingers dug into him harder and she pulled him to her, forcing him to break eye contact at last. Their union deepened, with no more obstacles in the way any more of impending completion. Their moans echoing in the cavern, the shadow of two beings finally becoming one reflected in the light of torch on the rocks behind them, water washing away all inhibitions in a place where they could be and act like what they essentially were, lost and doomed without the most natural connection an ellon and an elleth was destined to have and depend on. As long as they lived, they would never be lost again.

Tbc

Glossary:

velethril nin – my love

deil – beautiful

Ni mestathog - Will you marry me

Gi mestathon – I will marry you