Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 26 - A new lesson
Third Age 2720 (twenty years later)
"Your stance is completely wrong!" Eruanna could not keep her frustration from coloring her voice. Rumil was altering his stance on purpose just to frustrate her but his reason for doing so remained elusive.
"Well then, why don't you correct me?" Rumil shot his teacher a mischievous look.
Eruanna shook her head in defeat. So that is what he wants. Moving to his side Eruanna placed her right hand on the small of Rumil's back. Her left hand she placed on his hip to guide him to the proper position.
"Are you certain you wish to put your hand there?" he asked Eruanna with an impish grin.
Eruanna looked up into Rumil's smiling face and gave him a look of mock offense. "You would not make such a joke if Haldir was instructing you."
Rumil laughed heartily. "You are not Haldir."
"I'm glad you noticed." Eruanna moved away from her pupil, appraising more than just his footing.
"You think I could mistake the two of you?" Rumil's brow rose in question though he did not wait for a response. Looking back at his sparring partner he gave her a defeated look. "I believe I am simply too tall for this maneuver."
Eruanna's placed her hands on her hips in protest. "Are you implying that I am short?"
"I imply nothing," was Rumil's witty response.
Eruanna was not willing to be so easily defeated. "Glorfindel taught me this move and he is taller than you by at least an inch."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Rumil cried. "I am much taller than Glorfindel. Your memory fails you."
Eruanna's brow rose in challenge. "I'd like to hear you say that standing by his side."
"Would you?" Rumil grinned at Eruanna and within seconds the elleth's feigned anger melted into humor.
"When is it you go back to the borders?" she asked him.
"Two months," he answered her.
"Not soon enough," Eruanna exclaimed, "I believe I need a respite from you."
Rumil shook his head in disbelief. "You don't mean that," he stated firmly, "I have it on good authority that you miss me terribly when I'm away."
Eruanna feigned surprise, "And who told you that?"
"An elleth I know," Rumil took a few steps closer to Eruanna so that she was forced to tilt her face up to match his gaze, "with long brown hair and the most radiant smile ever to shine upon me."
"Hmph," was the Lady's only response. "No more words," she placed a hand on Rumil's chest guiding him back to the place he last stood and removing herself back to her previous position cried out, "Attack!"
Rumil responded immediately to his partner's command but once again found himself lying flat on his back with Eruanna standing over him. She had her hands on her hips, shaking her head down at him.
"You are shifting your center of balance too far forward," she concluded.
"Am I?" It had taken several mistakes for Rumil to get Eruanna where he wanted her. She stood above him in the space between his knees and in a single deft motion he wrapped his legs around hers and with the angle she stood at brought her crashing down into his arms.
In an instant Eruanna found herself falling forward and a moment later pinned on the ground beneath Rumil. He sat up, resting himself on her hips, laughing.
"What was that for?" she asked the laughing warden.
"Your center of balance was too far forward," he mocked her gently.
"Because I was yelling at you, you fool." Eruanna pummeled Rumil lightly with closed fists.
Rumil took her hands, holding them against his chest. "Who is the foolish one now?" he smiled, and leaning closer, brought his lips a mere inch from hers.
"What are you doing?" Eruanna asked in confusion.
"A new lesson," Rumil grinned.
"What less…," Eruanna's words were halted by Rumil's lips upon hers. For a moment shock at her friend's behavior held her still and the fear that rose to the surface of her mind faded instantly with the touch of Rumil's gentle hands on her face. His lips were soft and gentle; they asked permission and made no demands.
Rumil pulled away after a moment and rose, pulling Eruanna to a seated position beside him. He studied her expression carefully for any reaction. He'd waited so long to kiss her and feared for a moment that he'd acted too soon. He watched as she lifted a delicate hand to her lips and traced their curves with her fingers.
"What?" Rumil whispered, his own nervousness not allowing a more elegant query.
Eruanna looked up at Rumil as if she'd momentarily forgotten his presence. "That was…nice."
"You are surprised?" Rumil gave Eruanna a devilish smile.
She gave Rumil an appraising look. "You can be clumsy at times."
He leaned forward until his lips brushed her ear. "Would you care for a repeat performance, to be sure your assessment was accurate?"
Eruanna's lips curled and turning her face toward Rumil's, answered him. "My teachers always said I should try new things."
"I shall have to thank Erestor for that bit of advice." He lifted a hand to pull her nearer.
When their lips met again, there was no hesitation. It was indeed a new lesson. The last time an ellon kissed her mouth it had been painful and cruel. This felt like heaven. Eruanna might have remained lost in Rumil's arms forever if not for the arrival of an unexpected guest.
"AHEM!" a loud voice coughed, causing the couple to draw apart.
A dark haired figure stepped out from behind a nearby tree. "That doesn't look like any combat maneuver I was taught."
Another ellon, of like face and form stepped out into the glade. "Maybe Rumil will be kind enough to instruct us."
Eruanna's jaw dropped open in shock at the sight of the two brothers. "Elrohir! Elladan!" She pushed Rumil away and rising to her feet, ran to the new arrivals, wrapping each in a warm embrace.
Pulling away from the twins she began her interrogation. "When did you arrive?"
"Just now," Elrohir answered her with a smile.
"We have impeccable timing," Elladan added, casting a furtive glance Rumil's way.
Elrohir chuckled, turning his eyes on Rumil "I don't think the warden would agree with you, brother."
Elladan leaned his back against a tree, crossing his arms over his chest. "I think Rumil had better give us a good reason not to tell Erestor about this new move he is working on."
"Elladan!" Eruanna admonished.
Elladan only shrugged at her tone, "I suppose it can wait."
"Have you seen Arwen?" Eruanna asked the pair.
"We are going to surprise her now," Elladan answered.
Eruanna shook her head, her worried eyes landing on both brothers in turn. "She will be quite upset with you."
"We told her we'd return when our task was done," Elladan's justification for their long absence appeared to hold little merit with Eruanna.
"That was twenty years ago!" Eruanna exclaimed.
Elladan frowned, "We got distracted by a war."
"Or two," Elrohir added.
"We could not abandon our mortal brothers." It seemed a reasonable excuse to Elladan.
"Of course not," Eruanna rolled her eyes. She had little understanding of their concern for men, and had no desire to address the issue now.
Elrohir put his arm around her shoulders. "Will you come with us, or are you two still… practicing." His eyes fell on Rumil who silently climbed to his feet while the others were speaking.
"We are finished for the day," Rumil answered him.
"Excellent," Elladan took Eruanna's arm and began leading her away down the path.
Elrohir remained behind and shifted his gaze to the Lórien warden. Rumil met his gaze evenly, betraying nothing to the young Lord. Elrohir smiled, "I'll have to remember that sweep the next time I'm sparring with an elleth I fancy."
Rumil's eyes grew wide in surprise. The twins had been watching them much longer than he thought. He fixed the young Lord with a steely glare. "Spying, were you?"
Elrohir laughed off the warden's rising anger. He raised his hands in a placative gesture. "Just making sure you remembered your manners."
"My manners are impeccable," he assured Elrohir. Looking off down the path that Eruanna and Elladan traveled, his voice grew quiet. "You have missed much since leaving Lothlórien."
Elrohir gave his friend a reassuring smile, "Nothing I didn't see coming." The young Lord bowed his head in Rumil's direction, a gesture Rumil returned, before heading down the forest path. Before taking a dozen steps, he called back to Rumil over his shoulder. "I'm looking forward to playing Eruanna's big brother."
Rumil shook his head in dismay, muttering to himself. "I can't wait."