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THE COURTSHIP OF THE SPARROW-HAWK

Chapter 10 – Hoarse Horse

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"Between Us" Peter Bradley Adams

It was two weeks since Kili had wed the lass from the Iron Hills, but he'd noticed the difference in her personality only a few days after the talk with Fili. Eila was vibrant and carefree in a way that matched his own character, and he praised Mahal that she was at ease enough with him to let her true colors show.

Her talent with a paintbrush amazed him, though she was clearly a perfectionist enough that she didn't consider herself as skilled as his compliments to her. But what surpassed that was her voice…

"I could listen to you sing for hours," He said as they sat together on the sofa in front of the fire one evening.

"I'd be so hoarse at the end of it, though," Eila grinned at him before setting herself on the ground in front of his feet. At first, Kili thought she meant for him to brush her hair, but she confused him when she sat facing his legs. And then she pulled a boot and sock from his foot and he understood her intentions.

"You don't need to do that," He attempted to pull his bare foot away from her, but she had a strong grip on his ankle and wouldn't let him budge.

"I don't mind." She said as she began to knead his heel with her knuckles.

"You don't mind my disgusting feet?" He snorted incredulously at her, though that was the end of his objections—Mahal, what she was doing felt so good! Kili couldn't stop the low moan that left his lips as she massaged his instep with strong fingers.

"They're not disgusting." Eila objected with a shake of her head.

"Mmm," Kili had lost the ability to think, but then remembered what he'd wanted to say before his wife had begun to coax inappropriate noises from his lips. "Speaking of hoarse, would you like to go riding with me tomorrow?"

"Hoarse?" She wrinkled her nose at him, but then she laughed and nodded. "Hoarse—horse. Oh, Kili," She grinned at him with a raised brow. "Really?"

"Yes, really, you married a fool—I'm sorry you had to find out this way." He said before another low moan crept from his throat, prompted by the way her palm was working at his lower calf.

"I would love to go riding with you tomorrow." Eila snickered. "But only if you make time for a picnic."

"I'll give you whatever you want, Princess Eila, so long as you keep doing what you're doing." Kili threw his head back and savored the sensation running from his foot to his leg. "Thank you for this."

"You're on your feet all day; I can imagine they need as much attention as the rest of you." She winked.

Kili snorted. "I hope that wasn't a complaint—I seem to recall my lady love being the one frequently engaging me in 'attention'."

"It wasn't a complaint," She said, turning her eyes back to her ministrations toward his feet. "And I'd be hard-pressed not to be tempted by…" And then Eila stopped. "What did you call me?"

"My lady love?" Kili pulled his head up from where it rested and looked down at her. "Do you not like that?"

A flush of red erupted across her cheeks. "I liked it. I've never had someone call me that before."

"Have you never had a sweetheart?" Kili wondered aloud.

"No," She shook her head. "You're my first –and only— love."

Kili's heart dropped. "Truly?" He suddenly felt guilty for not saying the words he felt were obvious enough not to say. Slinking from his seat, Kili knelt on the floor in front of her.

Kili, this is her first time hearing it, make it special for her, he scolded himself.

"Eila, I've neglected speaking of my affections for you, though I promise I have felt them since the first night we sat on the ledge—" He took her face in his hands. "—I love you." And leaning forward to kiss her, he could feel the erratic flutter of her heart with his fingers along her jawline.

Hadn't anyone told this beautiful lass of her worth? It was cruel to expect her to have self-confidence when there were none who valued her. But Kili vowed he would be ever-vigilant in reminding her of his sentiments to make up for all the wrong done to her.

"I love you," Kili repeated. "And I hope that, in time, you can become happy here."

"I already am," She smiled at him with tearful eyes. "Kili, I cannot help but love you for everything you've done for me—but I think I would love you even if you hadn't."

"Don't say that." He pleaded. "Don't tell me you would have let me live in ignorance of what you went through. I need to know that I've done everything I can to make things right, that I've done my duty as a husband."

"You have," Eila nodded, raising her lips to brush softly against his.