Susan kissed Legolas on the lips and sighed. She stroked his lineless face and bit her lip. He caught her hand and looked confused, "Melamin...is everything alright?"
Susan couldn't help but smile at him. After nearly 17 years of marriage, he was an expert at deciphering her expressions and mannerisms. "I found two more gray hairs..." she pouted.
He took a breath and pulled her into a reassuring hug. He knew it wasn't easy being married to someone who never aged. He had run out of ways to say that she would always be beautiful to him. She was now 36 and had been steadily hunting for gray hair since her 25th birthday. Legolas didn't see the need. Her body was still fit, her face was still mostly unlined and her beauty was still fully intact. Even if she was withering and old, he would still love her with his whole heart.
Legolas knew that staring into the eyes of someone who was unaffected by time was difficult, but staring into the eyes of the woman he loved as she aged was even more difficult. He realized that every line or gray hair she did gain was bringing her closer to death and to their inevitable separation. He contemplated asking Aslan to grant him permission to return to Middle Earth once Susan did pass, so that he could see his friends once more and he could take the ships to the Grey Havens, but his love for their children would most likely keep him in Narnia. He just knew he never wanted to out live his own children, so he would definitely leave before then. His heart wrenched in his chest every time he thought about living without his beloved Susan, but she had given him two wonderful children to continue living for, and for them, he would go on.
After some encouraging words from Legolas, Susan went to Estel's room to wake her for her morning lessons at the Telmarine castle. When she found her daughter's bed empty, she sighed, knowing exactly where to look. She crept into Rilian's room across the hall and watched for a moment as the two slept next to each other. Estel lay curled into Rilian's back as he slept on his side. Susan, Legolas, Caspian and Jasmina had found the two in this very position since they were young children, but now, it was different. They were older and the innocence of the situation was beginning to dissipate, "Rilian...Estel...it's time to wake up."
The two stirred and stretched, letting out their respective yawns and groans. Susan took Estel back to her room and sat on her bed as Estel washed her face and brushed out her long brown locks. "Estel...I think you and Rilian are a bit too old to be sleeping in the same bed."
Estel scrunched up her face, "Mother...we always do that...besides, you know it's not like that between us."
Susan stood and smoothed out her daughter's hair, "I know it isn't, but it's just not appropriate for a teenaged boy and teenaged girl who aren't related to sleep in the same bed together."
Estel sighed, "Alright mum..."
Rilian was just a few months away from celebrating his 17th birthday. He'd completed most of his studies, and there was talk that he should begin looking for an appropriate princess, but he had no plans to settle down yet. He and Estel were still best friends and promised each other they would stay that way...always.
Kolby had soured Estel from courting for the most part. She figured any man who wanted her simply wanted the benefit of being seen with her, or worst, he only wanted her for her beauty and not the pleasure of her company. At 17, she was now a member of court and held the title Estel Pevensie Greenleaf, Princess Consort of Narnia, Duchess of Cair Paravel. Being the eldest of the royal children, she and Rilian began attending council meetings and holding audiences with subjects alongside his parents in an effort to become familiar with how the monarchy functioned.
She and Rilian were still dancing around their attraction for one another and had nearly kissed on a number of occasions, but fate kept interrupting them. Through all of their playing, talking and innocent cuddling, Estel was beginning to see him as a strong, attractive man instead of the boy she grew up with.
"I'm afraid Rilian..." Estel said as she shivered.
"Don't worry Estel...I'm here with you. It's a little scary at first, but I promise, if you do it once, you'll love it." Estel bit her lip and looked at him as he took her hand, "Ready?" She nodded nervously. He smiled and counted, "One...two...three!" they jumped off of a cliff hand in hand and landed in the crystal blue water below.
Estel rose out of the water first, laughing, "You're right! That was fun!" Her smile immediately disappeared when she realized she was talking to herself. Rilian was no where to be found. She tread water and turned around in the water frantically, "Rilian! Rilian!" She screamed when she felt a tug on her leg and he popped up next to her, "You arse!"
He laughed as she splashed him and began swimming to the shore. He caught up with her and pulled her back, picking her up and tossing her back into the water. She sputtered and lunged at him, landing on his back in the water. He felt her breasts press against him through her thin slip and fought back the thoughts that were beginning to invade his mind. He dove backwards, submerging her in water, causing her to release him and pop up a few feet away.
They both panted for a moment before he swam to her, "See? Cliff diving is fun isn't it?"
She nodded, "I should know by now to trust your opinion. You always know what I like."
He ran a hand through his hair as he watched her breasts heave beneath her thin slip. His eyes immediately shot back to her face, hoping she didn't notice the wanton look he gave her. She didn't, because she was busy admiring his dripping wet, bronzed, chiseled chest. They regained their composure and swam back to shore. He diverted his eyes as she rung out her slip and her hair. She had no idea how beautiful she was. She was a goddess among women to him. Perfect in virtually every way in his eyes. He'd heard her burp and snore, seen her sick and when she was just waking up, but her attractiveness never waned.
When he turned back around, she wasn't any better. Her slip still clung to her curves and her wet hair cascaded down her back. She had turned her face upwards, no doubt warming her face in the sun. He smiled as he admired her elf shaped ears as they peaked through her wet locks. He loved her uniqueness, her beauty and her genuine heart. He shook his head and looked down, sitting on the shore as he stared out over the sea.
She glanced at him just as he sat down. She finally caught him looking at her. They had looked at each other millions of times, but recently, his looks were far more contemplative and sexual...as if he were taking her in every time he looked at her. She loved it. She was used to boys and men swooning over her, but he was the only one who made her stomach flutter when he looked.
She sat next to him and ran her fingers through the sand. She fought the urge to reach over and touch his bare back as beads of water continued to roll down his skin. "Are you excited about your birthday ball?" she asked.
He shrugged his shoulders, "I guess."
She furrowed her eyebrows, "You guess. That's not a very enthusiastic response."
"Mother thinks it will be in poor form if I am without an escort for my party. She told me if I don't choose someone, she'll choose someone for me." He gave her a hopeful look, "Would you be my escort? I mean...it's just a favor. Aslan only knows who my mother would choose for me if I didn't pick my own date."
Estel raised her eyebrows, "Of course I'll go with you."
He gave her a surprised smile, "You would?"
She waved her hand dismissively, "Absolutely. I would rather you be stuck with me than one of those stuck up daughters of the council members."
He smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder, "I couldn't agree more."
They sat, watching as the sun glistened over the teal water. He looked down at her as she continued to rest her head on his shoulder. He cautiously and slowly moved his arm around her body to hold her to him. "You seemed cold," he said as he cleared his throat.
She smiled and closed her eyes, "I was, thank you."
Rilian breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't shy away from his touch. In fact, she melted into it. He felt her relax and snuggle into him further as they sat cuddling on the beach for over an hour. For Estel, it wasn't nearly long enough.
As always, please review and give me some feedback!
