CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Forever Yours

Arwen was dreaming of all the close calls she'd had since leaving the protection of Lady Galadriel. There were spells and sorcery, falling rocks, and horrible sea-monsters that threatened to suck her down to a watery grave. Yet always it was Ling Kray to the rescue. Only now did she realize how brave and loyal her handsome pirate protector really was.

In her dream Arwen tried to thank him as they walked hand in hand by the sea. But a many-tentacled monster rose from the waves, wrapping slimy tentacles around her struggling body. The elf-maid screamed, holding out her arms to Ling Kray. Too late! The monster began pulling her down, deeper and deeper beneath the waves. Deeper . . . deeper . . .

"Arwen! Arwen, wake up! It's me, Ling Kray."

"Ling Kray!" Arwen threw her arms around the pirate's neck. The heat of his lips seared hers, and wakefulness returned. Instead of loosening her hold, however, she wrapped herself even more tightly around him.

"Lady Arwen, Lady Arwen, I must tell you . . ." Ling Kray had never called her lady before. But Arwen didn't care. She had her man in a firm grip. She drew him down to her as though she were the sea-serpent from beneath the waves. Before long he was on top of her, yet inside of her. All powerful yet entirely enslaved. Words were forgotten as the two of them were joined at last.

"I have a letter for you," Ling Kray said afterwards. "It was delivered by boat this afternoon." The new king didn't know what had hit him. Arwen was in his arms. He was in her bed. Yet it all seemed like a dream. The cool, polite, exquisitely poised elf-maiden had just made love to him . . . yet it wasn't at all what he had imagined. Instead of giving in with a whimper, she had swept over him like a typhoon. And now she was curled up in his arms as though he were her lord and master and it was only natural for her to be there.

A man could get used to this.

"Oh! I have a letter for you too." Tall, raven-haired Arwen bounced out of bed, her burst of energy making Ling Kray feel sluggish by comparison. A moment later she was back at his side, cheerful and helpful and alert, even lighting a small lamp so he could read her hasty scrawl.

"Oh, my beloved queen." Ling Kray sagged back on the pillows, looking at the goddess snuggling beside him. "This letter says you want to stay here. You want me instead of Aragorn. Do you really mean it?"

Arwen lowered her long lashes, her fingers toying with the thick black hair on his chest. "I think you know that I do."

"I am not worthy of you." Gently, Ling Kray kissed the top of her head, the tips of her pointed ears. "I have abused you and misused you since the moment we met. I have never once showed you respect, or honor . . ."

"Never once," Arwen agreed cheerfully. "Still, you've saved my life time and again. And you've been working very hard to be a good king these last few weeks. Everyone's noticed."

"I kept away from you on purpose," Ling Kray admitted.

"And I from you," Arwen replied. "We made a good team even when we were pretending not to notice each other." Her slim white hands shyly roamed his hard bronzed body. "Still, I think this is better."

"Others may not think so." Ling Kray pulled himself together. "Very well, then, let us open the other letter. If it's from Aragorn, I . . ."

"If it's from Aragorn you will leave him to me," Arwen said crisply. "This world has seen enough fighting for an age or two, don't you think?" She began untying the scroll, her fingers nimble and quick.

"You're going to rule me completely, aren't you?" Ling Kray was amused. His queen was so sensible and reasonable. Except when she was making love to him like a tigress.

Or when she suddenly began to howl with laughter.

"What's so funny?" Ling Kray growled. Being ruled was one thing, but being laughed at was another.

"Honor," she gasped. "He says it's a matter of honor!"

"Who says it's a matter of honor?" Thee fierce pirate picked up the letter, but couldn't read the elvish writing.

"I did wrong to laugh," Arwen said gravely. "Mortal men are so vain and insecure. Anyway, it seems that Aragorn has chosen another. Her name is Eowyn, and she likes horses."

"She likes . . . horses?" Ling Kray looked at the letter. He looked at Arwen. And then he began to laugh. He laughed and laughed until Arwen was laughing again too. Then they began to make love again, but more gently this time, sharing intimate words of promise and hope.

"I hope my letter pleased you as much as Aragorn's did," Arwen whispered in her pirate's ear.

"It did," he whispered back. "But if I were to write a letter to you, Lady Arwen, it would have only two words."

"Not three words?" she teased.

"I love you," Ling Kray stated. "I love you and I love you and I love you. Those are three words I shall never stop saying. But my letter would say only two words. Forever yours."

"Forever yours." As the pirate who had enslaved her for all eternity made love to her for a second time, Arwen decided that those were the only two words she ever needed to hear.

END OF ARWEN AND THE SORCERESS

A/N: As Arwen and Ling Kray find their happy ending at last, there are so many people I want to thank for making it happen! Cally777, LetItBeXO, Arya Evenstar (wherever you are,) and everyone who took a chance on a most unconventional LOTR epic fan-fiction!