Hey dudes (and dudettes)!

Once again, a big ol' thank you to those of you who reviewed, faved, followed, etc.

I think you guys will like this one!

And don't forget that I own absolutely nothin'.

Thanks for reading and keep those reviews coming in! They're a great motivator!

-ChoupetteLagerfeld

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Kerrianne sucked in a panicked breath as her eyes flew open. She didn't know what time it was but it was still dark in her talan as she pressed a hand to her chest and waited for her heart to stop pounding. She'd been having a fairly normal dream before it began to morph into what could only be a vision—her first since coming to Caras Galadhon. Kerrianne sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, flinging the blankets off in the process. She shook her head as she tried to remember all the details from the vision.

She'd been back home on Earth and she'd been wearing the same tank top and cut-off shorts that she'd had on when she'd appeared in Lorien. She relaxed her mind and tried to let the rest of the vision come to her. It seemed like it was just beyond her grasp, like deep down she knew the rest of it but couldn't recall it currently. She sighed frustratedly, knowing she wouldn't remember the rest of it right now. Once she hit a brick wall like this, it wasn't worth the grief of forcing herself to try and remember. It would come to her eventually.

Kerrianne left the tiny bedroom, knowing that sleep would evade her for the rest of the night. She slipped on her sandals and decided to go for a walk. The night was warm and she wasn't likely to see anyone so she didn't bother changing out of her night gown or bothering to tame her hair. She slowly walked down the winding stairs of the large tree, trailing her hand down the smooth wooden railing, marveling that even the railing was carved with tiny leaves and vines. The elves truly strove to find and create beauty in everything.

Eventually Kerrianne's thoughts turned to her elvish friends. Ferruel had quickly become her best friend; even a better friend than any Kerrianne had on Earth. She'd been surprised to realize that she missed very few people from home. Of course she missed her mom and dad a lot. She felt terrible that they were probably worried about her, maybe even thinking the worst had happened to her. There was nothing she could do about that, though, and Kerrianne tried not to dwell on that topic. One day she'd be able to go home and whatever pain her family was going through would come to an end. At least, that's what she had to keep telling herself.

Kerrianne wandered through the paths of the city, not once coming across anyone. She knew that there were guards posted throughout the city but they didn't show themselves and she didn't seek them out. Once she'd traversed the width of the whole city (which admittedly didn't take long, for it was really more of a town) she came upon a path that she knew led to a small waterfall and swimming hole. She'd been invited to swim with Ferruel and some of the other ellith but had turned them down. As much as she was becoming more comfortable around the elves, she wasn't quite ready to face their nude or nearly nude bodies (or to have hers on display). But at this time of night, Kerrianne knew the pool would be empty and she planned on taking advantage of it. She had enjoyed the bath houses immensely but she dearly missed the sensation of a shower and thought she might use the small waterfall as such.

She immediately knew her mistake as she rounded the last bend and saw the soft glow of a lamp. Someone had clearly already had the same idea and was in the water. Kerrianne stopped in her tracks as she took in the expanse of creamy, bare skin on display, the silvery hair darkened by the water, and the breadth of the shoulders that she knew could only belong to one elf. Before she could react and leave him in peace, Haldir turned around, sensing her presence.

"I'm sorry!" Kerrianne whirled around, throwing her hands over her eyes, her face absolutely on fire. "I didn't expect anyone else to be here!" Her voice was slightly muffled as she buried her face in her palms. How did they always seem to meet in these situations?

"It's alright. You couldn't have known," Haldir replied and Kerrianne thought she could hear a touch of mirth in his voice. "You may turn around. I am quite covered by the water and will not be a threat to your virtue," There was definitely a smirk in his voice that time! Kerrianne reacted before she could even think and did turn to face him, her hands on her hips.

"As if you could threaten my virtue," Kerrianne scoffed, stepping closer to the pool despite the flutter in her belly. She was disappointed that she couldn't go for a dip. While the pool was definitely big enough for the two of them, there was no way she'd get in with him there. Besides, she already felt bad about intruding on his privacy.

"Be that as it may, I am not shy about my body. You may join me if you wish," Haldir motioned to the pool, an expression on his face that clearly said he didn't expect her take him up on the offer. Kerrianne glared at him as she stepped a little closer, quickly settling on a compromise. She slipped off her sandals and sat at the edge of the pool, careful to make sure Haldir wouldn't see up her nightgown, and draped her legs over the edge. The water was cool but not uncomfortable and Kerrianne really did wish she had the guts to actually join him. As it was, she was already blushing like crazy and didn't think she could push herself farther.

"What are you doing here this time of night?" Kerrianne asked Haldir, who had settled on the opposite edge of the pool, his piercing blue eyes glowing in the dim light from the lamp.

"Evidently the same as you planned," One of his eyebrows quirked up (an act that Kerrianne envied greatly). "I was enjoying a midnight swim," He spread his arms out along the edge of the pool and leaned back. Kerrianne tried to keep her eyes on his face and not on the sculpted muscle of his arms and chest. How it was possible for one individual to be so perfect, she had no idea.

"Why are you up at this hour?" He inquired as Kerrianne softly kicked her legs back and forth, the water swirling around her ankles. She deliberated not giving him an answer but since he'd so far been pretty congenial, decided to be honest.

"I couldn't sleep. I was having a vision and woke up in the middle of it and now I can't remember much of it at all. I think it was to do with how I got here," She shrugged, watching as Haldir pushed his wet hair back from his face and gathered it back behind his shoulder. She had the sudden urge to do it for him, the idea of scraping the wet locks back into a loose braid making her hands twitch. The elves all had such lovely hair but Haldir's was so fine and silky, it had become a slight distraction to her. She longed to tangle her hands in the long strands and let them glide through her fingers.

"Why do you say that?" Haldir asked, bringing Kerrianne's attention back to his face. With his wet hair pulled back, the chiseled line of his cheekbones and jaw was in stark relief. She really had never seen a more alluring face. It was masculine and severe but softened by full lips and intelligent eyes. It was almost painful to keep looking at him when she knew her own looks were slightly above average at best. Kerrianne dropped her gaze to her knees before replying.

"Well, I was wearing the same outfit in the vision as I had on when I came here. But more than that, I can just feel it. My visions often work like this. I'll get a general feeling or impression and have to wait for further answers. It's like I know the full vision deep down but have to wait for it to resurface," She explained, not sure if she was making any sense.

"How long have you been a seer?" Haldir asked, a note of genuine curiosity clear in his tone of voice.

"I wouldn't call myself a seer by any means. I can't divine the future. But I've had visions all my life. Generally they're just premonitions. I'll dream about something happening and a few weeks or a month later, it happens. Or I'll wish for something to happen only to forget about it until it actually takes place," Haldir looked impressed.

"It's not that amazing! I can't just wish for anything and it'll happen. It's only ever been small things, like wishing to find something I lost and later it'll just turn up out of the blue," Kerrianne explained. "It's weird and I can't really give any reason why it happens. All I know is that a lot of the women in my family have been just like me for generations,"

"Are there many people with these abilities where you come from?" Haldir asked. Kerrianne shook her head.

"No, not really. A lot of people claim to have psychic powers or to be able to see the future or do magic or whatever," Kerrianne waved her hand dismissively, knowing she was rambling but unable to stop herself. "But there aren't a lot of people who actually can. At least, not that I know of," She added.

"You quite intriguing…. for a mortal," Haldir stated, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a half-smile. Kerrianne couldn't help but grin back at him, knowing that this time, he hadn't called her a mortal as an insult.

"Hey! Enough of that 'mortal' shit," She exclaimed in false shock, kicking her foot through the water to splash him. The water flew in a spray before Haldir could react and hit him clear in the face as Kerrianne broke out into laughter. A second later he sputtered as he wiped the water away from his eyes and mouth.

"You'll pay for that, mortal!" Haldir darted through the water and Kerrianne scrambled to get up from the edge of the pool but couldn't move quickly enough. His hand curled around her foot and yanked her into the pool, catching Kerrianne off-guard and making her swallow a large mouthful of the water. She struggled to the surface, gasping for air and spitting the water out, coughing slightly. She glared at Haldir, who looked entirely too proud of himself.

"You jerk!" She shoved him, but he didn't budge even an inch. Instead he moved closer, edging her back against the side of the pool, his body just skimming hers. Kerrianne glanced down before she could help herself but found that she couldn't see beyond his waist in the dark water. Half of her was relieved but the other, naughtier half of her was strangely disappointed at the sight (or lack thereof).

"Do all humans have hair such as yours, where you come from?" Haldir's voice was just a whisper as he lifted a hand out of the water to grasp the end of a wet curl. He pulled it and let go, watching as it sprung back with a soft bounce.

"You mean is everyone's hair this insane?" Kerrianne's face heated at his proximity and the intensity of gaze. "There are plenty of people with curly hair but mine is definitely on the curliest end of that spectrum," Kerrianne explained nervously, knowing she was being awkward as hell. Never had she been this close to such an attractive (and naked and wet) man.

"It is like nothing I have ever seen," Haldir's gaze bore into hers as his hands lowered her her shoulders, holding her gently but firmly. Her own hands floundered at her sides but he either didn't notice or didn't care about her discomfort.

"Um, thank you," Kerrianne bit her lip, a shiver traveling up her spine at the look in Haldir's hooded eyes. Was it her imagination or was he leaning down towards her? No, his face was definitely coming closer!

"You're welcome," Haldir's breath ghosted over her lips and Kerrianne's eyes rose to meet his gaze again. Okay, he was most definitely leaning in! She was positively frozen in place while Haldir's larger form crowded her, his body slightly curving over hers as he bent down. He paused when their chests brushed together, the thin, soaked fabric of Kerrianne's nightgown sticking to his damp chest. She gasped as her pebbled nipples were pressed into his hot skin and his large hands gathered her ever closer, settling at the curve of her waist.

"Haldir, I really don't know about this! I mean, we don't exactly like each other, do we? We shouldn't be here together, much less this close together—mmmph!" Kerrianne's rambling protests were cut short as Haldir pressed his lips firmly over hers, his hot mouth searing her with a scorching kiss.