Lost Chronicles Part Three

by NextTimeI'llBeBraver

This is a series of short stories about the romance and adventure shared between two couples: Arwen and Legolas, and Eowyn and Aragorn. Their lives filled with romance, adventure, tragedy, danger, and humor. Each new chapter will be a new individual story and at the beginning of each chapter will be a summary and rating. (Arwen & Legolas) (Eowyn & Aragorn) by Caitie and Savannah

21. Forever In Your Eyes Part Four

Summary: Alida and Eldarion come to terms with the end of their relationship and Aragorn and his family prepare to return home when a group of Orc is spotted in the valley. Rated M by Caitie and Savannah
(Words type in bold are spoken in Elvish)

Year 21

Meals had become an awkward affair Awena noticed as she sipped slowly on her tea. The morning air was cool as summer started to come to its end and she savored the warmth emanating through her porcelain cup. This far north the summer didn't last quite as long as it did back home and she knew soon the leaves on the trees would turn in the valley. She sighed as she took a sip and wished that she could stay here to watch the seasons turn.

Awena breathed in the herbal aroma and eyed her companions over the rim of teacup. Her father and the elder twins were talking about preparations for their soon coming journey home. Alida delicately pulled pieces of her pastry apart to eat as she read, her eyes never leaving the pages of the book in one hand. Awena wasn't sure how, but Alida seemed to make even the simplest of actions look like a graceful performance. Had those delicate movements been forced upon her or part of her natural Elvish grace? Awena wondered. Eldarion was eating his plate slowly, pretending to be a part of their father's conversation, but Awena saw the stolen glances toward Alida that he tried to hide. Her heart ached for a moment to see her brother hurting the way he was, but he and Alida both refused to speak about it with anyone. Leonid sat beside his sister, stealing a piece of fruit or pastry from her plate every few minutes. Whether she knew and was ignoring him or really that wrapped up in her book Awena couldn't say.

All of their meals had become like this for the past fortnight or so. She or Leonid would try to start a conversation amongst them and their siblings, but neither Alida or Eldarion would patriciate much and eventually Alida would leave early, excusing herself quietly before disappearing until the next meal when her presence was required by her uncles.

"Orcs were spotted in the valley a few miles south-west from here," Celyn said casually, breaking Awena from her observations.

"Orcs," Awena said louder than intended.

"Yes," Elladan answered with a chuckle at Awena's abrupt entrance to the conversation. "Don't worry though, we'll have them taken care before you leave. You will have a swift and uneventful journey through the valley if I have anything to say about it."

Awena smiled and returned to her tea, once more observing those around her. Alida hadn't turned a page since the mention of Orcs in the valley. She heard her father ask how many men were going to be sent into the valley and looked up to catch her brother watching her. She knew he remembered their mother's death more clearly than she could, knew he was thinking about that exact day by the river right now.

"I'll go," Alida said quickly, closing her book with a snap of her wrist.

Awena choked on the piece of fruit she had just bitten into and set her teacup down with a rattle. All eyes had turned to Alida, and Awena could feel the tension hanging in the air.

"No," Eldarion said evenly and Awena was glad she wasn't eating or drinking anything anymore, because she surely would have choked again.

"No?" Alida said and her gaze swung to Eldarion. The look in her eyes could have frozen over the ocean, an icy look that could rival a blizzard.

To Eldarion's credit he didn't cower from her gaze like Awena was sure others had in the past, however she did notice his knee started bouncing, a sure sign to her and her alone that he was anxious under Alida's gaze. "It's a pack of at least twenty according to the scouts," Eldarion said, his voice deep, sounding every bit like a king. "It's too dangerous."

"Who are you to say what is too dangerous for me?" Alida shot back, dropping her book with a thud onto the table.

"She wouldn't be going alone," Leonid said, stealing a grape from Alida's plate and popping it carelessly into his mouth. "Wherever she goes, as do I. Besides, as our uncles could assure you, Prince, Alida is more than capable of handling herself."

All eyes drifted down the table to Elrohir, who watched his niece and nephew thoughtfully. After a few moments longer Elorhir spoke the words everyone was waiting to hear. "Leonid is right, Alida is more than capable and if this is what they want, they can go. But two is not enough for twenty."

"Then I'll go with you," Eldarion offered.

"You?" Leonid asked, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

"You don't know the forest," Alida said. "You will only be hinderance." Alida rose from the table with a swish of her lilac skirts.

"Leonid, find two more to go with you. Alida, go with Celyn and meet with the scouts," Elladan said, interrupting the argument that had started.

Leonid looked over at Awena with a smirk. "Now this is going to be fun," he said with a smirk as he stole a berry off Awena's plate and followed Alida away from the terrace.

Eldarion opened his mouth as if he were about to argue with Elladan, but Awena kicked him in the shin, silencing his protestations. Aragorn rested a hand on Eldarion's shoulder, calming him and knowing as well as she that Eldarion was trapped in the past. Trapped remembering a day when someone they loved had been lost.

..::..

Eldarion couldn't stop the word from coming out of his mouth when Alida had nominated herself to track the Orc party. Since he had heard that there were Orcs in the valley, he had only been able to think of one thing, only saw one thing in his mind's eye. His mother, blood stained and dying at the hands of an Orc. And then Alida said those terrible words and he saw another image. One of her lying amongst the trees, broken and bloody.

He had watched from a window as Alida and Leonid left on foot, disappearing into the woods with two other men accompanying them. He had momentarily forgotten the situation when he saw her. Her auburn hair was braided back away from her face and down her spine in one long simple braid, entrapping all of her waves and curls. She had changed from her lilac-colored dress into a brown leather hunting outfit, the pants and jacket trimmed to fit her perfectly and doing little to hide the shape of her body. He felt a familiar rush flow through his veins and he shut it down, those feelings were something he couldn't want or experience anymore.

Sun glinted on the steel of short swords as Alida slid them into a harness across her back. Alida looked every bit of a warrior, and Eldarion knew she could defend herself. But knowing that didn't stop the dread and fear that coiled in his stomach. She had turned back to the house just once before following her twin into the woods, and Eldarion felt his breath catch as she spotted him in the window. Normally he would turn from her gaze, finding the pain in her eyes too difficult to bear, but he couldn't tear his eyes from her this time. He held her gaze and memorized every detail.

Eldarion had prayed, prayed to every god he could think of that she wouldn't go, but his prayers were either ignored or they fell on deaf ears. Not even a god would intervene.

..::..

Alida stared at the sky from her perch in the boughs of an oak tree. The sun was just beginning its slow descent, Alida noticed, although there would be plenty of daylight left. Her eyes scanned the forest around her, the Orc party had been spotted just a few miles west of here, and if they were heading towards the city as they were believed to be they should be approaching Alida and her brother soon. They had left with two companions, Ilvasir and Kiirion, who had split away, traveling further south in hopes of getting behind the Orc's and driving them towards Alida and Leonid.

She heard the distant call of an owl and Alida turned her head towards the sound. A flock of birds took flight less than a mile from her, she smirked before repeating the owl call back to Ilvasir and Kiirion. She scrambled down the tree to find Leonid waiting for her, his eyes trained on the forest before him and his bow ready to fire in his hands. Alida landed gracefully beside him, pulling her own bow and arrow. For their twentieth birthday, the twins had been passed down their parent's weapons. She stroked the black wood of her mother's bow, her fingers tracing the etched whirls and stars along the weapon. "They're close," she whispered, drawing an arrow and fitting it to her bowstring.

A few minutes passed, the only sounds they could hear was the other's breathing and the noises of the forest around them. Then the sound of a twig breaking cut through the forest. Simultaneously, the twins drew back their bowstrings, waiting a moment longer. Black shapes appeared through the trees, walking slowly and clumsily through the forest. Alida could smell them from here, she wrinkled her nose at the stench of rot that wafted off of them. The Orcs hadn't spotted them yet, that much was obvious as they kept walking towards them, swords drawn but obviously not ready for a fight.

The familiar call of an owl was heard, communicating to Leonid and Alida that their companions were ready when they were.

"We need one of them alive," Leonid whispered before repeating the call back.

Alida took in a breath, steadying herself and taking aim. As she exhaled, she let her arrow fly, she felt the spirit of the woods around her as her arrow flew between trees and branches before finding her target on the far-left side of party.

..::..

Everything happened in a blur. Leonid's blade had sung as it whipped through the air, a song that Hadafang knew well. Black blood splattered the polished steel blade and stained Leonid's fair skin, but he couldn't resist the song that Hadafang demanded. Leonid succumbed to the song of battle, letting the melody of steel on steel sing through his bones. The reports had been wrong, they were told it could be no more than twenty Orcs, but there were easily over thirty. Most had been taken down by Alida and Leonid's arrows before the Orcs had even spotted them, but then swords were drawn and Leonid and his sister had joined the fight after Ilvasir and Kiirion had appeared.

After dispatching one, Leonid had turned to find his sister, their father's twin blades in her hands. In that brief moment, he had watched her leap over her adversary's shoulder and drive one of the short swords between his shoulder blades as she landed behind him. He smiled for a second, proud of her for mastering the maneuver he had taught her.

That was when it had happened, in the seconds he had taken to find his sister his world exploded with pain. Hot pain seared through his body, slicing through his back like a poker piercing through flames to stoke the fire. Leonid heard his sister shout his name, hoarse with panic.

Alida ran to him, he could see her pushing her body towards him through his blurring vision. Leonid felt the blinding pain again and felt the ground slam into his knees as he dropped. The enemy behind him's weapon no longer there to hold his body up. He could the guttural speech of the creature behind him, but his words had no meaning to Leonid. He felt his finger release Hadafang of their own accord and he felt his heart beating furiously like a war drum in his chest. He felt a whoosh of air skim past his cheek and knew it was Alida's arrow, one that could not miss its target.

Leonid wasn't sure how long he knelt there, the world around him faded to silence. He wanted nothing more to lay down, he even urged his body to just fall those few more feet so he could rest, but still he knelt like some force was holding him in place. Like the spirit of the forest wasn't ready to let him go. Alida screamed and it was a sound so full of pain it could shatter every window in Imladris, and it was that sound that brought him back to reality.

Opening his eyes he saw the battle was nearly done. Details struggled to clear in his eyes, but even though the haze he saw his sister. He would always be able to find Alida. She lay on her stomach unarmed a few yards from him, an arm outstretched towards one of her fallen blades, the other arm trapped beneath her body. An Orc pressed his knee into her back, keeping her in place as he cackled above her.

With a strength he hadn't felt a moment ago, Leonid rose to his feet with a groan. His fingers finding the hilt of his blade on the forest floor as he rose. He feet carried him forward and he once more felt Hadafang sing as his blade swung through the air, removing the Orc's head from his shoulders.

Alida lunged forward, her fingers finding her weapon, pulling up king blades of grass with it. She rolled onto her back just as Leonid felt his strength leave him. He felt the warm trickle of blood spill down his back where the two pieces of his leather armor laced together. "Laio," he heard Alida say as he fell forward. She pushed herself up into her knees, catching Leonid against her chest before he could crash to the forest floor. Her panicked voice as she yelled to their companion was the last the he heard before darkness took him.

..::..

Eldarion had watched from his window as Alida disappeared into the trees, and he watched still as he waited. Watching the sun travel across the sky, time passing so much more slowly than he had ever thought possible. All manner of thoughts intruded his mind, but the one that played over the most was the memory of Alida leaving him on that bridge, watching the light leave her eyes.

The sky was a dusky blue color now, so similar in color to Alida's eyes now that the sun's rays had only just dipped below forest before him. He closed his eyes, everywhere around him was something that reminded him painfully of her. He ignored the similarities and instead focused on what that colored sky meant. It meant night was near and still they hadn't returned. He wanted to pace to shout to crash into the forest and find her, but his legs refused to move, instead holding him in place as in this window. Any longer in this position and Eldarion would turn into a statue like those that watched this place in silence.

Torches were lit on the grounds below him and Eldarion watched Elrohir and Celyn as they stood waiting. Even from his distance, Eldarion could see the nervous energy radiating off them. Elrohir paced rapidly, his keen eyes never leaving the forest, searching desperately for any sign of his niece and nephew. Watching Elrohir made Eldarion even more anxious, his fingers drummed and tapped against the ledge of his open window. He let out a heavy sigh and bowed his head as the sky continued to darken.

A commotion below caught Eldarion's attention faster than any Elvish arrow could fly. Elrohir and Celyn had disappeared into the trees, and Eldarion had never wished more than right now that he could have inherited the keen eyesight of his ancestors. He waited for several agonizing moments, torn between rushing down himself or waiting in his perch to see what came out. He made as if to turn from the window, settling on running down when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

More of Elrohir's household came out from the shadows, shouting rapidly in Elvish to each other as they rushed towards the forest, their words coming out too fast for Eldarion to follow. Their words faded into nothing as figures started emerging from the trees. The first was one of the men Eldarion had seen earlier with the twins, followed closely by Celyn who shouted one word over and over. Through the clamor and chaos below, Eldarion heard that word and it echoed through his mind and chilled his blood.

"Help!" Celyn shouted as he ran back towards his home.

Eldarion was moving as soon as Celyn's words reached him. The twists and turns of Imladris passed unnoticed as he pushed himself through them, his legs pumping in the fastest run he could manage, any faster and he would take to the air.

Bursting into the open air of the night, Eldarion flew past others, running towards the forest. He ran so fast and without care for himself that he almost fell down the few steps between him and the crowds gathering at the forest's edge. As he grew closer, he could feel his heart hammering in his chest, his blood coursing like a wildfire through his veins. What if something had happened to her? What if the last things he would ever say to her had been in anger? She had to be alive, she had to be, or else Eldarion didn't know what he would do. He pushed his way through the crowd, not caring about decorum as his elbows jabbed into other people, carving a path for himself. A grunt of pain and Alida yelling for a healer greeted him as he finally made it through. Stopping abruptly, Eldarion took in the scene before him.

Leonid was being support by Elrohir and Alida, blood dripping freely from a wound above his left hip, leaving a trail in his wake. The blood had soaked through the leather and makeshift bandage onto Alida, soaking ger whole right side. His face was pale and a layer of sweat clung to his skin.

Eldarion's face searched Alida from her face down to her boots, dried blood crusted the left side of her face form on her cheekbone, the line still a bright crimson as if it had only just stopped bleeding. Her brown leather pants were torn above her right thigh where she bled profusely, the deep red trailing down her leg and mixing with her brother's blood. He would have missed the injury if she hadn't been limping beside her brother. Worry and exhaustion filled her eyes and was written all over her face, but otherwise she looked unhurt. Eldarion let out a breath he hadn't realize he had been holding in. Her eyes met his as she scanned the crowd of people before her and he saw tears well up in her eyes. All the while, she kept supporting her brother; bringing him ever closer to home.

Above the cries for help and shouting around him, Eldarion heard another sound and she shivered at the memories that came with it. It was a hoarse and guttural sound he would never soon forget. The last man who had left with the twins that morning emerged, an Orc tumbling out of the forest behind him. It lunged towards the gathered crowd, shouting words in a language Eldarion had hoped to never hear again. The leash strapped to its neck stopped the beast before it could get too close to anyone, and it's screaming only became louder with its frustration.

Soldiers sprang to action, pulling the creature away and forcing a gap into its vile mouth. Eldarion tore his eyes away from the Orc and back to Alida, catching the shiver that took hold of her body as she watched the creature disappear.

Suddenly, Aragorn burst through the crowd and without stopping took Alida's place at her brother's side, gently pushing her away so he could take some of Leonid's weight. "Go get my kit from my room," Aragorn said to Awena who had followed closely behind their father. "The brown leather bag."

"This way, Aragorn," Elrohir said, leading them towards an open doorway.

Alida started to follow and Eldarion watched as she left a trail of blood on the stones of the courtyard they were now beginning to cross.

"Eldarion!" Aragorn strained his head back as he followed Elrohir's lead. Eldarion's attention snapped to his father and he started towards the group. "Take Alida to her rooms and look at that wound on her thigh."

Eldarion nodded and without think about it, reached a hand to grasp Alida's arm. Her face snapped to his, the worry so much clearer in her eyes now that he was beside her. "This way," he said gently, knowing she would try to stay with her brother. Alida tried to pull her arm free so she could follow after Leonid but Eldarion's grip remained firm. "Alida," he said gently, "let me help."

"My brother," she said, turning to watch him grow farther away from her.

"He will be fine; my father knows what he's doing. You, however, will not be fine if you don't let me help you."

Alida finally pulled her arm free and started towards the path Eldarion had come from. "I do not need your help," he said, the pain in her voice palpable. She limped forward a few steps and grimaced as her weight came down on her injured leg, her adrenaline clearly wearing off.

"Please," Eldarion said and she stopped at his voice. "Please just let me help you."

Alida took a few more heavy steps and Eldarion could tell in the way her shoulders were hunched that she was in pain. "Alright," she said finally before continuing to walk.

Eldarion contemplated carrying her to her room, but he knew she would never let that happen. Instead, he came forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. he took her right arm and guided it over his shoulder, helping to take some of the weight off of her right leg.

"I can walk on my own," Alida said, but she didn't pull away from him.

"I know, Eldarion said, following her leads towards her quarters.

..::..

Alida could feel her adrenaline starting to ebb away, her body beginning to protest its upright position. A hot pain shot through her leg with every step and she couldn't help but slow her pace. She could feel Eldarion's strong arm wrapped around her back and without realizing it she leaned further into him, relying on him more and more with evert step. She could hear her breathing shift, becoming more labored until she was nearly gasping as they made the final turn into the hallway with her suites.

"My rooms," she said through heavy breaths, lifting her free arm to point weakly to her door at the end of the hall. It occurred to her as they approached that Eldarion had never been in her rooms before and a flush crept into her face at that thought. She reached out as they stopped in front of the door, her blood-stained hand wrenching the door open, leaving a streak if deep red on the pale wooden door. Candles had been lit in her absence, small pools of wax gathering at their bases; and a fire was already flickering in her stone fireplace.

Alida let out the smallest groan of pain and from the corner of her eye she saw Eldarion's attention snap to her. His grip tightened on her body and Alida let herself lean further into him.

"We need to get you out of those pants so I can see the wound better," Eldarion said in a low voice as he supported her into the room.

"That way," Alida said as she gestured to a set of double doors on the wall to their left. The doors weren't latched and they swung open as Eldarion gently kicked them out of the way. Before them was Alida's large canopy bed, the white gauze curtains swaying in the breeze through the now open doors. Alida desperately wanted to climb into the embrace of her comforter and pillows, to forget about today, but the pain in her leg and the worry for her brother would not be put aside.

"I need to get my kit back in my room," Eldarion said as he moved her towards the bench at the foot of her bed. "Do you think you'll be alright for a few minutes?" He gently lowered her until she was sitting down and when she looked up, she wasn't surprised to find him starting down at her. In his eyes she saw a worry and fear that she had never seen before. She wanted to reach out and stroke his cheek, run her fingers through his blond curls until the worry disappeared. "Alida?" He said, that worry creeping into his voice.

"Yes," she said, her voice sounding pained to her own ears. "I'll be alright."

Eldarion started to back out of the room; his eyes never leavings hers like he was afraid she would disappear if he looked away. He nodded. "Change out of the pants if you can. If you're in too much pain, don't. I'll only be gone for a few minutes." He left hesitantly after Alida nodded in understanding and she could hear his running steps recede down the hall.

Alida looked down at her blood splattered hands in her lap, stained mostly red, but splotches of black marred her skin as well. She felt her throat close up as unshed tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. She was home, Leonid was home and he was alive; she kept telling herself these things until the threat of tears subsided.

With a strangled cry Alida rose to her feet. She clutched to the bedpost until the pain dissipated enough for her to stand on her own. Her fingers fumbled with the laces stiffened with blood. She pushed the soft leather down past her hips, holding in another cry as the fabric passed her thigh. Blood started to spill down her leg again and Alida noticed with a frown that her skin was streaked with it. She fell back to the seat of the bench with a thump as she continued to pull on the garment until finally she was free to it and she dropped it carelessly to the floor. She wanted this day to end, she thought as she watched the blood trail down her leg to the cream under her feet.

..::..

Only a few minutes had passed since Eldarion had left Alida before he was back at her open door. He slowed to a walk as he crossed the threshold and hesitated. Should he have knocked? He wondered. Shaking his head he closed the door behind him, knowing that Alida would hear the door click shut and that he had come back. "Alida," he called to her, as he walked further into the room.

"I'm here," she replied, her voice distant and low, exhaustion surely creeping up on her.

Eldarion turned towards the double doors of her bed chambers when he paused. Alida seemed to move in slow motion before him. Her body was bare above her hips as she slid a soft pink robe over her shoulders. The candlelight flickered and cast shadows across her bare back and Eldarion felt his heart flutter in his chest. She pulled the silk up her body, fastening it in place at her waist. Turning around, her eyes met his and a blush rose to Eldarion's cheeks.

Alida limped towards him, pulling her robe tighter across her chest. "Where would be best?" She asked, looking around both her bedroom and sitting room.

"Here," Eldarion said, clearing his throat as he gestured to the chair by the fireplace. He took her arm once more and helped her settle into the large arm chair. Her body collapsed into the cushioned seat and he could feel her exhaustion radiating from her.

The chair's matching footstool was a step or two away from the chair, a few books resting on its surface. He removed them, gently setting them on them on the mantle of the fireplace before dragging the stool closer. He sat down in front of her, his eyes meeting hers in the flickering light of the fireplace. "May I?" He asked, nodding towards her leg.

Alida nodded, holding his gaze evenly. Eldarion's fingers grazed her thigh as he slowly lifted her leg, he stretched the limb across his lap to rest on the stool on the other side of his hip. The pale pink fabric fell, pooling on his lap as it revealed her pale cream-colored thigh. It occurred to him then that she wore nothing beneath the robe and he felt a tightening sensation in his pants. He shook his head, needing to focus; he shifted, grateful that her robe was covering his lap.

Eldarion took in the wound before him, it was an angry red slash, about three to four inches long he thought to himself. It was deeper than he had hoped he realized as he gently prodded the skin around it, it would definitely need stiches after he cleaned it. "It looks like a clean cut," he said gratefully. "But I'll need to clean it to make sure it doesn't get infected before I can stitch it up." He lifted his eyes to hers, she watched him back with a curious gaze. "Do you have a bathing room? I need water and a cloth."

Alida nodded. "Through my bedroom, there is a door on the left, the bathing room is through there."

Gently, he moved her leg again, allowing himself to get up and search for water. As he retreated, he could feel Alida's gaze on his back, ever watchful. He suspected there was very little that missed her intense gaze. As he passed her bed, he noticed the blood staining her carpet and covering her clothes and he grimaced. He found the bathing room on the other side of her bed and he quickly gathered the cloths he would need. Beside the wash basin he found a stone bowl, golden and silver rings glittered inside, reflecting candle light. He gently tipped them into his hand before setting them onto the counter beside the basin. Filling the bowl up he turned back to Alida.

When he emerged Alida's head was leaning back against the chair, her eyes closed as if she was asleep. He watched her for just a moment and thought that maybe this was the only time he would watch her without her watching him back. His fingers gently brushed her thigh as he lifted her leg and settled back on the stool. His fingers hesitantly left her skin as she turned her face towards him. He felt her gaze once more as he dipped the first cloth into the water and set about to cleaning her leg.

Tenderly he cleaned her blood-stained skin, wiping gently at the aggravated flesh. Slowly the skin transformed from red to pink to porcelain. Eldarion gently pushed his finger into the flesh beside the wound, pushing a trail of blood to the surface with his light touch. "This is going to need stiches," he said, looking up to find Alida's deep blue eyes on him. "I'm going to clean it with this," he said, holding up a pale green vial. "It may still, but it shouldn't last long."

Alida nodded her consent.

Dabbing some of the green liquid onto a clean cloth, he looked up into Alida's eyes. Without breaking her gaze, he pressed the astringent substance onto the wound, pressing his hand against the wound with gently pressure. He felt her leg jerk lightly at the contact, but in her eyes, he saw no pain, just a sadness that he knew he was the cause of. Slowly, he tore his eyes from hers, the weight of grief to heavy for him to bear.

Reaching into the bag he found his needle and thread. "I have milk of poppy for the pain if you'd like," Eldarion said, not meeting her eyes.

Alida shook her head. "No," she said, her voice quiet. "I do not want it."

"Alida," Eldarion said, lifting his eyes to hers hesitantly. He held the bottle of milky white liquid up. "It could help you sleep tonight; your body will need the rest."

"I do not need it," she answered with resignation. "I will not sleep until I see my brother."

Eldarion nodded and looked back down at her thigh. He placed his thumb on one side of the cut and his forefinger on the other. Gently, and ever so slightly he pinched the edges of the cut towards each other. He set the tip of the needle against her skin and felt the muscles of her thigh tense with the rest of her body. He looked up and her eyes were trained on the needle, she kept her body tense as she waited for the needle to pierce.

"Hey," Eldarion said, his voice calm and even. "Look at me, not the needle." Alida's eyes slid to meet Eldarion's, and as always, he felt like he could get lost in their deep blue depths. "Breathe in…and out…" He said, demonstrating how he wanted Alida to breathe. She did so, and her gaze held his own. He felt her body start to relax and as he held her eyes with his own, he pushed the needle through quickly and deftly, his one hand holding her thigh down. She hissed in pain, but otherwise sat still without reacting. He quickly started the next stitch, knowing it would be better in the end if he kept going without pause. He listened to her breathe in and out as he had instructed and within a few minutes he had finished. He tied off the thread and reached to his hip for his knife, finding the sheath empty.

Cursing under his breath he looked up, Alida's eyes reflected the pain she was in as she focused her gaze on the fire. Shadows danced across her face and he was struck by how beautiful she was even now. He noticed again the cut on her cheekbone, that was next, he thought to himself. "I just need to cut the thread," he said quietly, aware of her now watching him as he leaned his head towards her thigh.

He felt Alida stop breathing as his own breath raised goosebumps across her bare thigh. Quickly, he bit off the edge of the thread as his hand grasped the inside of her thigh. He pulled the fabric of her robe back across her leg, but left her thigh across his lap. His hand slowly brushed down the length of her leg, as if he was not able to resist touching her.

Eldarion sat up, straightening his back as he dragged his eyes up her body. He could see the shape of her breasts through the thin silk robe and could just make out the peaks of her nipples. His eyes caught hers and he could see a wanting in them that he shared. His hand rose to her face, his thumb brushing under the cut on her cheekbone. "What happened here?" He asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Alida chuckled and the sound surprised Eldarion. "We were coming back and I didn't notice a tree branch in my path."

Eldarion suppressed a laugh. "Let me clean it for you," he said. Grabbing the water and cloth again. He wiped away the blood and grime before applying the green liquid to it as well. She hissed and her body jumped as the liquid burned again. "There," he said. "All better." He set the cloth down on the arm of the chair and again ran his thumb under the cut once more. "No stiches for this one," he said with a small smile.

Alida leaned her face into the touch, his hand now cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed across her skin subconsciously. Alida set a hand on his upper arm, feeling the taut muscles in his bicep. She inched closer to him and all the while his hand stayed on her cheek. Finally, her lips brushed his and Eldarion couldn't help but kiss her softly.

It had only been two weeks since Eldarion had broken things off with Alida, but those two weeks had felt like a lifetime. Especially today. She moaned into the kiss and Eldarion wanted nothing more than to pull her into him and kiss her until the sun came up. He gathered the fabric of her silk robe into his fists as she slid onto his lap. He felt like he was drowning in her and he knew he gladly would if it meant he could be with her forever. He kissed her with a hunger that started deep in his soul even as his reason started to slowly edge back into his mind. He didn't want this moment to stop but a voice whispered in his mind that he was being selfish. He pulled away only to find that his body would not let her go. "Alida," he whispered, resting his forehead on hers and closing his eyes. "Alida, I can't…"

"Yes, we can," she whispered back and he could hear her voice shake. "Eldarion."

Eldarion pulled farther away from her, shaking his head. "No, Alida, I can't." He looked at her and saw the hurt pooling in her eyes. "I cannot ask this of you. I won't."

"You do not need to ask," Alida said, her voice soft with a sadness she couldn't contain. "I'm offering it."

Eldarion shook his head once more. "I cannot accept that," he said, a note of finality in his voice.

He looked up into Alida's eyes and wished that he had not. Tears cascaded down her cheeks like crystals and her eyes reminded him of a stormy sea. She pulled her leg from his lap and rose to her feet, limping away from him. Eldarion rose with her, wanting to help her, but he stopped, knowing his touch would bring no comfort to her.

"Leave," Alida said, her back to him.

"Alida." Eldarion reached a hand out, his fingers just grazing her elbow before she wrenched away from him.

"I said, leave."

Eldarion watched her in silence for a moment as she walked across the room and out onto her balcony. The moonlight illuminated her in a sad light. "I wish more than anything that we lived different lives," he said quietly. "Maybe in the next life we can have that chance."

..::..

Slowly Leonid's senses seemed to waken, like the veil of mist that covered the valley of Imladris lifting every morning. His limbs felt heavy in a way they never had been before, not even after an exhausting sparring match or a wine filled evening. Milk of the poppy, he thought to himself as he fought with the heaviness of his eyelids.

The world was a haze around him, his eyes unused to anything but darkness. And though his eyes could not make clear the space around him, his ears could hear the soft sigh of the wind as it gently blew through an open window. He breathed in deep the smell of the valley, his home, letting the pure air rush through his lungs, hoping it's familiarity would cut through his drowsiness.

As his vision cleared Leonid found he was in his room, tucked into the covers of his bed like a child. He could remember a time when every evening his grandfather would tuck him and his sister into the blankets, and then when he had left how Elrohir had taken his place. But that had been many years ago now. He blinked away the last remnants of sleep from his eyes and saw her then.

Alida was curled into an arm chair beside the bed on his right side. The night blew in and Leonid could see the goosebumps it raised across the exposed places of her arms and legs. She shivered in her sleep and with a smirk Leonid remembered how she preferred to be buried under her blankets. "Lida," he whispered into the night. Her eyes were instantly open, like his voice had been as loud as a clap of thunder. Alida unraveled her body from its tightly wound coil. "Come," he whispered to her.

Leonid stretched out his arm to his sister, slowly peeling the edge of his blanket away from his body to make room for her. He winced ever so slightly; his body hesitant to move after the events of the day. In truth, he remembered little, but he could clearly remember his sister's screams. He looked in her eyes now and saw the tears that trailed like shimmering rivers down her cheeks. He knew she wouldn't speak, couldn't speak until she had regained control of her emotions.

"Come," Leonid said again to her. This time Alida did. She climbed carefully into her brother's bed as she had when she was child afraid of the nightmares that plagued her sleep. She curled gently into his side, tucking her face in him as she silently cried. He could count on one hand how many times she had cried throughout the years, and knew that today she cried for everything. She cried for the parents they never knew, the heartbreak she was struggling through, and the pain of what happened today. So, Leonid let her cry in silence, stroking her hair until she fell into sleep, her soft breaths skittering across his bare chest.

Leonid keened his head down to rest atop his sister's and he too fell into sleep's embrace.

..::..

Awena smiled sadly across at her brother as they walked the hallways together. He had taken her pack from her wordlessly, the bag almost as big as she was, and had it slung over one shoulder, his own in his other hand. Awena looked at him remembering what seemed like only weeks ago when they had arrived. He had changed since then, she thought to herself. There were obvious things like his hair had grown from a ringlet to curls to brush his shoulders. But there were subtleties that others would miss like the way any traces of boyishness had left his face and the way he held his shoulders.

Eldarion felt her eyes on him and turned to meet them. They looked at each other for a moment, Awena not sure if Eldarion was sad to be leaving or welcomed going home. His eyes just held a loneliness she couldn't see past. Before she could they had reached their destination, the same stone platform they had been greeted on months ago, the view of the city behind them and the valley beyond.

..::..

Aragorn felt tears prick at his eyes as he gazed over the beautiful city, in his heart he knew it would be the last time his eyes ever looked upon it. He smiled to himself remembering the many memories he had there.

"Father," he heard a voice behind him say.

He wiped his cheek and turned slowly, finding his children waiting for him. Awena smiled when he turned around, but Eldarion's face was an unreadable mask. Unlike when they arrived, only four Elves stood waiting to say their farewells, the formality was gone, it felt like a family separating rather than the lords of different kingdoms. Elladan and Elrohir stood beside one another, their expressions an identical soft sadness. Celyn was beside them and last was Leonid, taller than all of them. The setting sun cast an intimate glow over the individuals.

Awena smiled sadly, her cheeks already damp, and stepped forward. Elladan and Elrohir's identical faces smiled down at her. "Farewell daughter of Gondor," Elladan said, touching her cheek and smiling fondly. "Do not cry, for we shall see each other again."

"It will not be long," Elrohir added, laying a hand on her arm.

Awena nodded, brushing away the tears that fell freely from her eyes. "I'm afraid my idea of a long time is quite different from yours," she said, smiling through her tears.

The twins chuckled, glancing at each other. "May you be a blessing to your people," Elorhir said as he moved his hand from her arm to cup her cheek, bending to kiss her forehead."

"Your kindness and wit will serve you well," Elladan said, winking at Awena. "Do not underestimate your abilities or the importance of friends and allies." He leaned down to kiss her as well.

"Thank you, Uncle," she smiled. "Thank you both, my time in your city has felt like the most wonderful dream.

Celyn smiled and nodded, wordlessly bowing his head slightly at Awena.

Eldarion listened as his sister spoke with the two men, but his eyes were trained on the forest, scanning the trees for the figure he saw in every dream, both night and day. But with each passing second, his heart dropped even further. Would she really let him go without even a goodbye?

He watched as his sister stepped away and he took her place to say his goodbyes to his father's kin. He smiled as best he could at them, but he felt dizzy and sick at the thought of riding away having never seen Alida again. The twins noticed his searching and looked at one another sadly, remembering a time long ago when they had said goodbye to their sister.

..::..

"Are these tears for me?" Leonid said softly.

Awena sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

"Will your life truly be do dull and colorless without my beauty to your grace your days?" Awena scoffed and poked him hard in the stomach. Leonid doubled over dramatically. "You would attack a wounded man?" He coughed his voice wheezing. Awena rolled her eyes at his acting, but while he was doubled over, he grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her up off her feet. Awena laughed, her arms around his neck, holding onto him tightly "I will miss you," he said into her hair.

"I will miss you too," Awena said, her voice cracking with a sound that was half laughter and half sob.

"Do not grow too old and boring before I see you again," Leonid said, setting her down and smiling at her red-rimmed eyes.

Awena smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "And do not become so stoic and prudish," she said, unable to let go of his hands, so big they covered hers completely.

Leonid tipped his head back and laughed. "I do not think there is any risk of that," he said, "In fact, could you be on your way, I have someone waiting for me," he joked, glancing back at the city.

Awena shook her head and looked back at her father and the other twins. Her face darkened when she saw the tears on her father's cheeks and the way he had a hand on each man's arm and theirs on his, holding each other like brothers separating for the last time. Then her eyes found Eldarion's and the hopelessness in them as he scanned the forest for Alida broke her heart.

"Will your sister not come?" Awena asked, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks.

Leonid sighed and turned to look out over the forest as well. "I am not the only one with pride in our family," he said softly. "But she told she would come out of respect for your father."

Leonid turned back to Awena and followed her eyes to her brother who stood alone in a space full of embracing. He stood, his back straight, his hands clasped behind him, but the sadness and the heartbreak still washed over and out from him like waves on the beach. Leonid took a step towards him, even if he had never wished for his sister to give her heart to this man and hated him all the more for breaking it, he couldn't help but admire his resolve. And he knew that the sadness in his sister was matched by him.

"Can you really not come with us?" Awena asked, drawing Leonid's eyes back to hers.

He looked down at her, marveled at how the redness seemed to make the grey of her eyes even more stunning. Leonid squeezed her hands tightly and smiled, shaking his head, "My sister," he began, but as if his voice as called her, Alida stepped out from the woods, every head turning to look at her.

If Eldarion's heart had been dropping, when he saw Alida's bare feet on the soft dark moss he felt as if it had been ripped out. He fought to stay standing as his eyes trailed over her, everything in him wishing to fall to his knees before her, beg for her forgiveness and her love. Her hair had turned to glowing embers in the light; her face and neck pale, the normal blush to her cheeks faded. And yet, she was no less beautiful, only haunting now like a spirit stepping out from another realm. She did not smile or cry as she climbed onto the stone platform, her face was as still as if it were cut from stone. Her uncles parted for her and she approached Aragorn, coming to stand before him.

Aragorn looked across at her, remembering the night she was born and how he had held her, so small and screaming in his arms. He smiled softly at her, both hands resting on her arms. "I am sorry," he said under his breath. "I cannot make choices for my son, but know that I would never have chosen what he has. Love is worth more than even life."

Alida nodded, her eyes flickering down, her dusty eyelashes brushing her cheeks. She remembered how Eowyn has been held in Aragorn's arms and how badly she had wanted to be held like that. She felt warm hands on her arms and looked up at Aragorn's soft grey eyes.

"I had wished to bring you to my home, call you my daughter, and one day for your beauty and grace to lead my people as queen."

Alida looked up at Aragorn, her eyes wide. She had known he was happy to see his son happy, but she had never known his hopes for the depth of his feeling for her. He had wished her queen, she thought over and over.

Aragorn touched er cheek and smiled at her, her thoughts plain on her face. "I have never doubted that you would be a good queen. Your parents would be proud of the woman you have become," he said softly. "As am I."

Alida looked at him for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitching with emotion. Then she was reaching her arms around him and into an embrace. Aragorn's arms went around her and he held her slight frame close. Alida's eyes met Eldarion's over his father's shoulder, his perfect feature turned to gold in the setting sun. Alida's eyes slid closed and two tears slipped under her lashes.

Awena looked up at Leonid as he watched his sister, his face was hard in a way that promised death to the one who had caused tears on her cheeks. Awena's gaze slid from Leonid to her own brother who stood frozen, she wasn't even sure he was breathing as he looked at Alida. He had always been easy to read, but now it was as if his grief was scrawled in plain print across his face. She wanted to go to him, but before she could step in his direction, Alida appeared at Leonid's side. Leonid wrapped his arm around her shoulder and leaned to kiss the top of her head. The two women joined hands and Alida smiled at the tears on Awena's cheeks.

"Your brother promises that we will see other again," Awena said sadly.

Alida nodded, unable to imagine traveling to the white city, even years from now when her wounds were not fresh. She couldn't imagine ever fully healing. She imagined how Eldarion might age, his features changing and hers staying the same. She closed her eyes against the thought. With her eyes closed she saw him sitting on the throne, his beauty changed into the power of an older man; then she saw a Gondorian woman sitting beside him, the crown non her dark hair. Alida's stomach flipped inside her. Her eyes snapped open and she was met with Awena's sad grey eyes, so much like her father's. She did not have the heart to tell Awena she could never travel to her country and be faced with that reality.

"My heart will be heavy until it meets yours again," Alida said instead.

Aragorn was beside them then, his hand coming to rest on Awena's shoulder, silently telling her that the time had come for them to go. Awena looked down at her hand in still Leonid's and slowly let it slip free so she could walk beside her father to where their horses stood waiting.

Eldarion watched his family move to go, but he stood rooted to the spot. His eyes drifted from them to Alida who stood with her brother's arm around her shoulder, but her eyes never left the stone. Finally, Eldarion walked to his mount, taking the horse's reins. He was vaguely aware of his sister and father climbing into their saddles and looking over at him, but he couldn't move. Slowly, the small crowd drifted away and he found that he was alone.

The sun had dipped below the horizon and the world had been cast from gold into a velvet grey dusk. Eldarion looked up and saw Alida alone in the middle of the platform and all the breath went out of him. There were tear marks on her cheeks and her lush lips were slightly parted, the pink flush back in her cheeks, but now also her eyes. She was so beautiful that Eldarion thought the breath would never come back into his lungs.

Alida looked back at him, unable to speak but also unable to turn away from him. Her mind screamed her hate and her hurt, but her heart still called to him.

"Alida," Eldarion breathed.

Eldarion's eyes drifted shut and he breathed in a deep breath, imagining that he could go to her, touch her one last time. He saw it in his mind's eye, how his fingers would brush a tendril of hair away from her face. Alida would lean her perfect cheek into his touch. She was like breath, she was life, and without her Eldarion didn't know what would happen to him. Eldarion shuddered and imagined letting his thumb trail over her cheek and then over her supple lips. He felt a tear drop from his closed eyes. He opened his eyes slowly and looked up, finding Alida's eyes staring at him emotionless. Even still he lost himself in their depths.

"Alida," he said, his voice full of gravel.

They stood looking at one another just a few paces way from each other, the energy between their bodies as charged as lightning. Two hearts breaking together, the answer only steps away. And yet, neither of them was able to take a step towards the other.

Alida let her eyes trail over him once, taking in every detail of his beauty and memorizing it, knowing she would never see him as young and open again. Then she turned and disappeared into the forest. Eldarion watched her go and yet didn't see her leave, as if she had been a goddess conjured into the air and had disappeared back into the heavenly realms.

With a sound of pain like an arrow had pierced him, her absence his Eldarion. His breathing came in ragged gasps that had his chest heaving. He let out a sob, scrubbing his hands over his face. He turned and without looking over his shoulder her threw himself up onto his horse's back, bent as if he was truly wounded.

Alida stood in the trees, listening to the sound of Eldarion's horse's hoof beats echoing in her mind. Alida sank to the ground, holding her arms around herself. She wanted to cry, to scream her heart break into the night, but she couldn't make a sound, she could only sit in stunned silence. She had never felt so alone.

..::..

The trees had blurred to a wash of green, Eldarion's eyes relaxed until he didn't see the world around him anymore, instead he was back in Imladris. Instead of the hard ground he had woken up on this morning, he was imagining a world in which he woke up next to Alida. The bed was softer than any could be, the sun warmer than any fire, and her body more beautiful than any painting. He looked down at the deep-sea blue of her eyes and smiled, dragging his thumb over her velvet cheek. He always imagined her in the morning, as if she were the very sun and finding her had been the morning of his life, her face shedding light on a life he would never fail to recall. Her skin was the only texture he longed to touch, and her smell the only thing he wished to breathe.

Eldarion let out a long breath and tipped his head back, his eyes finding the blue of the sky above them through the trees. His back swayed with his horse's slow steps and his stomach swayed as well, the scrap of bread Awena had practically shoved down his throat that morning seemed to be too much for him. His heart was empty and so it seemed his body wanted to be the same. He turned the reins ever so slightly and his horse obeyed leaving the line of their procession and cut its own back into the lush forest.

He thought for a moment he heard the rush of water, but he doubted himself, thinking it was only his memories. His thought of the morning he had spent with her in the forest, one of so many and yet all its own when he had realized he wanted so much more than a gentle brush of her lips. When a soft pink blush of his love had deepened into a ripe crimson red of longing. When he had first tasted the skin of her neck and the smooth expanse of her shoulders. Eldarion felt all the muscles of his abdomen clench at the thought as if he had been grabbed by a huge hand and all the air was squeezed out of him.

His horse slowed and Eldarion realized he had heard water and his horse had led him to a small brook, perhaps as wide as Eldarion's arms outspread. His horse bent to drink and Eldarion slid from his back, kneeling to drink as well. He splashed the water over his face, its icy fingers dripping under the neck of his shirt and down his back. Eldarion ran a hand over the back of his neck, cold from the water, and breathed a long sigh. The cold had brought him back to reality and he missed the warmth of his daydream already. He forced himself to splash his face again, the reality of their traves back to his home settling over his skin. Perhaps if he could freeze his heart it would cease to bleed, he thought to himself, maybe no feeling water better than this pain.

Eldarion pulled the shirt up over his head, his movement so slow he wondered if he was sleepwalking even now. He pulled off his boots one at a time until he sat in the underbrush, his feet bare. He saw Alida's bare feet as she walked through the soft grass. He stepped into the water, the slow current brushing just under his knees. He sank down, the water lapping at the golden plains of his stomach, the current parting around his back. He took in a shuddering breath, the joints in his ankles and knees aching with the cold. He wondered if the stream had come right down from the mountains. He let himself tip backward and submerged in the shallow water, the weight of his body pulling him under or perhaps it was the weight of his sorrows. His feet on the rocky bottom kept him anchored in the current. He opened his eyes and watched the silvery relaxation of the water above him, letting all the air out of him in a steady stream until his lungs burned out.

Something in him snapped and Eldarion broke the surface, sucking in air. He crawled out of the water and collapsed on the bank, goosebumps breaking out over every inch of his skin. Perhaps it had been foolish to half drown himself in an icy mountain stream no deeper than his knees, but somehow, he felt refreshed like the cold eater had momentarily cleared the hot tears from his eyes, the shock of the cold had restarted the tired beating of his heart. But then his treacherous mind flooded him with another memory of cold water and Alida's hips brushing his. Eldarion rolled onto his side, then up onto his knees and screamed his frustration up at the sky above him; his hands balled into fists, anger flashed through him hot as lightening.

Why, he screamed, had be been given a taste of heaven only to fall so far back to earth? His screamed melted away into sobs and he folded in on himself, pressing his bent elbow into his eyes. He let all the emotions he had held inside himself for so long pour out of him, his whole body shaking as he knelt alone on the forest floor. All the loss he had ever felt seemed to crush him now. He saw the blade slice through his mother's body; he saw the day his father would be laid in a stone box, his likeness cut into its lid. Alone in that forest he felt just like the small boy who had lost his mother, as if his body had grown but his heart was still broken from that day. Then finally, he saw Alida; she turned slowly to look back at him over her shoulder and she smiled as she saw him there. Eldarion's world crushed in n him until he felt like the very air wanted to push him down into the earth.

Eldarion felt arms wrap around his icy skin, warm and real, and a soft cheek touching his rough one. "Eldarion," he heard his sister's voice say in his ear. "Eldarion, are you hurt?"

He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her small body into his, sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder. Even to his own ears he sounded like a child, sucking in air only to let it out again in sobs.

Aragorn had watched as Awena had flung herself off her horse and run to her brother, crashing into him. The worry that had caught her happy face when she had heard his scream. As he saw Eldarion hold onto her, he remembered many nights ago when he had woken up to Eldarion's scream and had held the boy as his emotions seemed to overtake him, his sobs threatened to consume him. He remembered holding him as his small boy flailed and fought against even his father's embrace. Aragorn was a healer, and yet he had never been able to heal the boy's heart or find a way to quiet the times when Eldaroin's world seemed to shatter around him and he was lost in a world of grief.

His heart had broken for his son then, his son who seemed to feel everything so much stronger than anyone else, and it broke for him again now. He knew the pain of losing ones you loved too well. He stepped forward and touched the back of Awena's head; meeting her eyes, he nodded reassuringly. His hand moved to Eldarion's shoulder and he ran his thumb over his son's wet skin until his sobs quieted.

Finally, Eldarion pulled away from Awena and pressed his palms into his eyes, his breath coming in a shaky inhaling.

"Eldarion," Awrna said gently, pulling his hands away from his face. The siblings looked at each other for a long, loving moment; their father standing over them. "Why are you wet?" Awena finally said looking down.

"I got carried away," Eldarion said softly.

Awena smiled and lifted his face back to hers, wiping away his tears. "Don't worry," she said. "We will be back home soon and everything will go back to the way it was before."

Eldarion nodded, looking up to meet his father's eyes. He didn't have the heart to tell Awena that it would never be the same. That parts of him were broken and his heart was left behind in Alida's care.

..::..

Eldarion's deep blue eyes had turned to golden reflection of the flames he stared into. Aragorn knew that the calm surface of his son's eyes his mind was ever working. He watched Eldarion's jaw flex and knew what was plaguing his thoughts. He shifted slightly closer, trying to find the words to comfort him, his son who had always felt things so intensely.

"Eldarion!" Awena called from across the fire where she had sat chatting with one if their guards. "Come look at this." She turned to her brother beaming, but Eldarion didn't look up to meet her eyes.

Aragorn watched Eldarion's throat work and then without a word he stood and strode away from their fire. Awena met her father's eyes and she looked worried and confused. Aragorn smiled at her, the softness of his eyes comforting her. "I'll go after him," Aragorn said, standing slowly.

Awena nodded, turning back to whatever small trick the man had been showing her with a blade of grass. Aragorn watched her for a second more as she smiled brightly at the man, laughing with him even though they had just met. Aragorn smiled at her easy way of making friends and wondered where she had gotten the ability to win others over so easily.

As his feet carried Aragorn out of the firelight and deeper into the forest after Eldarion, his mind strayed to a time that felt not so long ago. When this had been his entire life, every night spent around a fire, how simple things had been then. Arwen and Legolas always in each other's arms across from him and Eowyn by his side. The years they had spent together living such a simple life seemed so painfully short and yet so wonderfully long. They had not been perfect and Aragorn smiled to himself wondering how they had even lived until the war with often they were all injured.

Aragorn knew the weight of carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders better than anyone left alive, and he wondered if perhaps the weight he had run from once being a king was now crushing his son. His heart ached, remembering a time when he had been carefree, a giggling ball of golden hair playing in the fields with his mother. Eowyn had turned to see him walking towards them, her face breaking into a smile at seeing him, the sun shining down on her golden hair, lighting her pale skin to glowing. Eldarion had come running, crashing into his legs; his cheeks flushed and his eyes alight. Aragorn wished he could live in that memory now just for a few moments longer. Feel the warmth of Eowyn's body, hold her close, kiss Eldarion's soft forehead, breathe in the smell of their hair.

His closed his eyes for a moment, if Aragorn could rewrite the story of his life how different it would be. Legolas would be there to clap him on the shoulder and they would laugh together, watching their children play and grow together. He knew that not even his golden-haired son would have been good enough for Legolas' daughter. He imagined Arwen holding her namesake, Awena growing into herself under Arwen's watchful eye. He could see Eowyn running with Leonid, laughing at the boy who would have outgrown her body he reached double digits.

They had been a family, their lives beautifully interwoven into a tapestry of love. Aragorn opened his eyes. But those cords had been cut short, the picture of their happiness ending too soon. But in Eldarion and Alida he saw hope, he saw the threads beginning to tangle together once more.

Aragorn wiped his cheeks dry as he saw Eldarion's silhouette standing in the moonlight. He came to stand next to his son, staying quiet, letting unspoken words of love pass between them. Eldarion hadn't shaved in days and deep blonde hair grew over his cheeks. Aragorn wondered silently when his son had changed. The boyishness was now almost completely gone from his face. When had his hair changed from the soft fuzz of youth to this thicker coarse hair of manhood. He hadn't cut his curls the entire season they had spent away from home, and they had begun to droop, the weight pulling them down from the halo they had once been to brush over his ears and neck. If he went much longer, they would brush his shoulders. Aragorn felt his heart clench slightly, he knew his son had not been a boy for years, but as he stood next to him in the moonlight, he saw a glimpse of the full-fledged man he would be soon if Aragorn looked away for even a moment.

Finally, Eldarion took in a long breath, letting it out in a shaky sigh. He turned his eyes to his father and Aragorn softened at the sadness in them.

"Sometimes I wonder if your sister would have had your eyes or mine," Aragorn said softly.

"Awena?" Eldarion asked, confused.

Aragorn shook his head, looking at the ground. "The child your mother and I lost before you were born."

Eldarion nodded. He had heard mentions of that child before, but only in passing, and had never asked any further.

"I lost her then," Aragorn said, tipping his head back to look up at the moon. "Eowyn. We were one soul, one body, and yet I let her go."

"What?" Eldarion asked, only growing more confused. He had heard many stories of his parents' adventures, but he had never heard of them separating.

"I was so afraid," Aragorn said. "The loss of that child broke my heart. I never knew the pain of losing a child could be so great, that the pain of losing her would be so much worse."

Eldarion turned to look at his father. "You were afraid of losing her, so you left her?" He questioned.

Aragorn didn't reply, he only turned slowly and looked deep into his son's eyes until he saw realization flicker across them.

Eldarion looked away, understanding how what he had done to Alida was the same.

"Love is sacrifice, Eldarion," Aragorn said slowly, reverently. "To love someone completely is to sacrifice yourself to them every day. You give up your wants for theirs. They become more important to you than yourself."

"I know, Father," Eldarion said. "I would give my life for Alida's without hesitation."

Aragorn laid his hand on Eldarion's shoulder, turning him to look back at him. "But you have to be willing to accept your partner's sacrifice as well. You are both equals. You are not more important than her, and you must respect her enough to trust her in everything, Eldarion," he emphasized. Eldarion opened his mouth to speak, but his father held up a hand, silencing him. "Alida's parents sacrificed their lives for each other, for their children, for the very world. Would you have them take that back?" He asked. "Your mother did the same." He touched Eldarion's cheek. "She gave her life willingly to save you, to save me, and we honor her sacrifice with our lives."

Eldarion looked down, tears filling his eyes. For a moment, Aragorn wondered if he should have laid the death of his mother on him again, when he knew he already carried so much shame and regret. But Aragorn knew that Eowyn wouldn't have wanted her son to live with that weight and he knew she would have done it over and over again to save them. He would do the same. That was what it meant to love with your whole being, and he would do everything he could to show his son that.

"But when Mother died," Eldarion said, looking up at Aragorn. "How did it not kill you?"

Aragorn touched his son's cheek, his brows drawing together. "It did," he said simply.

Eldarion groaned, his face contorting in pain and frustration. His eyes dipped back to the ground.

"I have been dying slowly one cell at a time without her," Aragorn said, still holding Eldarion's face. "And yet I would not trade anything for the time that we did have together. Eowyn was the light of my days and the love of my nights. She carried my heart in her body and hers is in mine still. Every love had pain, Eldarion. Eventually we all die; I will leave you. But our lives are for living and there is no purer expression of life then love for another. A love I know you hold for Alida."

Eldarion looked up at his father, tears pooling in his eyes. "Not Alida," he said. "Her life has no end."

Aragorn stooped to catch his eyes before they dropped again. "A long life, yes," he answered. "But no life is truly without death, everything must come to an end."

Eldarion swallowed and looked up at his father, the few inches of height between then feeling like miles. Aragorn smiled at his son and wiped his tears away. He pulled him in close, burying his face into his hair, remembering the child he had once been. "Go back to her," he said into Eldarion's hair. "Now is not the time of sadness any longer. Now is the time for love and the happiness you have long deserved."

Eldarion nodded slowly, holding his father tight. He thought of Alida and knew in that moment that he no longer wanted to be alone. He pulled away from his father and looked at him for a moment. Aragorn clamped both of his hands on Eldarion's arms, smiling. Eldarion nodded and then he broke away, running back to their camp.

Aragorn followed and reached the camp just as Eldarion was swinging up onto his horse, his pack on his back. He spurred the horse into a gallop and was racing past them.

"Elly! Awena called, jumping to her feet and stepping after him, but Eldarion did not look back. She moved to stand next to her father, looking up at him. "Where is he going?" She asked, her voice tight with worry.

Aragorn laughed and wrapped his arm around her. "He's going back to Imladris."

Awena smiled after her brother. "Finally," she said. "His moods were beginning to become unbearable."

Aragorn smiled down at her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "I pray you never experience heartbreak, Awena. You may be forced to eat those words."

Awena chuckled. "You couldn't have told him how foolish he was being in the morning?" She asked. "You know his flair for the melodramatic, he's going to ride all night."

Aragorn laughed. "My timing is perfect." He flicked Awena's nose playfully. "Never question your father's timing." He turned his daughter back towards the fire.

..::..

As Eldarion rode, the sound of the horse's hooves seemed to fall into rhythm with the beating of his heart. The sky was just beginning to turn from black to deepest shades of indigo, the stars slowly disappearing back into the darkness. The night was cool, but Eldarion felt damp with sweat, his shirt sticking to his back and he knew he would have to stop and water the horse soon enough. But in his mind, he only heard one thought repeated over and over, get to Alida, Alida, Alida. he wanted to scream her name, scream that he needed her, but his mind just replayed the same thought, get to Rivendell, get to Alida.

..::..

It was noon when Eldarion finally slowed his horse, his body aching and his horse glistening in the autumn light. Eldarion slipped from his back and ran a hand over his neck, leaning his face to rest on the thick muscle there. The horse sighed heavily and shifted on his feet as if he wanted to run again.

Eldarion chuckled, lifting his face. "Soon," he said, just under his breath. "We both need rest."

He slipped the reigns over his horse's head and walked him in the direction of the sound of a brook, his legs throbbing with the movement. When they reached the water Eldarion let the horse go, his head dipping into the water immediately. Eldarion sank to his knees and tipped his head back, soaking in the sun, letting it warm and soften his stiff body.

Eldarion closed his eyes and remembered the days he had spent laying in the sun with Alida. He hadn't allowed himself to dwell on the happiness of those moments, tried to forget how good her body had felt next to his. But now he sawm through the honey tinted memories, basking in them. He dreamt of the pink color of her lips and could almost feel them on his own. He remembered how soft they had felt when they brushed his skin and the fire they left in their wake. He smiled to himself, letting his eyes drift open. A cool breeze lifted the hair off his neck. Soon, he thought to himself, soon he would be back in the magical city and he would be near her again. Her presence warmer than any ray of sun and softer than any breeze. The idea of her pulling him forward faster than he could follow.

..::..

Eldarion's mind grew silent as the city emerged through the trees before him. The world seemed to be moving around him rather than him racing through it. Before he even blinked, the ground had changed from dirt to stone and from trees to arching pillars. Without having to think, he knew where he was going, his body pulled by the same power he had felt the entire day's long ride back to Alida.

He had spent months, years, maybe his entire life thinking about every move he made, every action. But not in this, this needed no thought, Eldarion had never been more sure of anything. He needed Alida, needed to get to her, to be with her, but more than that he needed her like the earth needs the rain and sun. without her, he was nothing, and he felt that nothing in his chest like an aching hole, a hunger so close to being satisfied.

People crashed out of his way as his horse's hooves clacked over the stone streets. He thought he heard a male voice call his name, but nothing would stop him now that he was so close. He saw the edge of the forest and as he reached the grass, he was throwing himself from the horse's back before it had even slowed, his feet flying through the grass and into the brush.

..::..

Eldarion found himself running through the trees, ripping through the wet branches and leaves as he abandoned the forest path. The clouds had gone dark again and Eldarion knew that rain was coming. The air was getting cooler as he kept pushing through the woods, and he could almost see his breath in front of him. He knew where she would be, it's where she always went but still a piece of him doubted that he would find her.

Leaping over a fallen tree, he saw the willow up ahead, its weeping branches just kissing the forest floor. Eldarion felt the rain drops as he slowed and neared the tree, a slow trickle at first but he knew it would soon be a downpour. He pushed himself through the boughs of the tree and stopped only when he saw her watching him. Of course, she had known he was there. She had probably heard him burst into the city, he thought to himself. Alida watched him, her expression calm and unreadable. She stood resolute in a dark green dress beneath the tree, like a part of the forest herself. She hugged her arms against her chest, because she was cold or upset Eldarion could not say.

"Well?" She finally asked, her voice low, betraying no emotion.

Eldarion's chest rose and fell quickly as he stood before her, trying and failing to catch his breath. He watched her silently, taking in every inch of her, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved her, he was in love with her.

"Why did you come back?" She asked, this time her voice quavering slightly.

Eldarion's lips turned up just at the corners. He could feel his cheeks reddening, either from the exertion or from Alida's piercing eyes. Pale grey light peaked through the leaves, illuminating her porcelain skin. "I couldn't go," he said, unable to string together another thought. He'd spent the whole ride trying to think of what to say, but the words never came. All he could see in his mind was her face when they left. "I…" he stopped, again he stared at her. "I couldn't leave you."

"Couldn't leave me," Alida repeated quietly. "When? When couldn't you leave me?" Her arms dropped to her sides, her hands balled into fists. "Was it two days ago when you left to go home, or was it when you decided this wasn't enough? That I wasn't enough?" Her eyes glistened with tears she would not let fall.

"Alida," Eldarion stated and he took a step towards her. Alida took a step back from him, keeping the distance between them. Eldarion sighed and pushed his hair back from his face. "I was wrong," he said after a moment, his gaze looking down at the ground instead of her face. From the corner of his eye, he watched her fists loosen until her hands were open at her sides. "I thought that by leaving you I was protecting you. That I would forget about you when I was home and maybe even on the journey. That I wouldn't need you." He stopped for a moment and dared to look up at her. "All of that was wrong though." Alida's features had softened and Eldarion risked a step towards her. Alida stayed where she was. "I rode for two days and all I could think about was you. I knew there wasn't a chance of forgetting you, not now, not ever." His voice broke as he said those words. "And I wasn't protecting you, I was just hurting you, I was hurting myself." Another step and another glance at her face. Tears had welled in her eyes. He looked straight into her eyes, capturing her gaze. Eldarion took another step and another until there was just one left between them. "When I look at you, I can't breathe. When I touch you, I feel like I could catch fire."

"Eldarion," Alida said, drawing out the last syllables of his name. "You say this now, but…"

"No," he interrupted, capturing one of her hands in his. "I thought that I was being selfless by leaving you, because what could be more selfish than asking you to give up your immortal life? But I love you, Alida, and I want you. If that makes me selfish then I don't care anymore, because I can see our forever when I look in your eyes, Alida."

Tears spilled down Alida's face and Eldarion wanted nothing more than to kiss them away. Alida needed to choose though, he couldn't make the choice for her. A small sob escaped her lips and again Eldarion broke at the sound. He could see the fight in her eyes, the fight of whether to believe him or to turn away.

Alida closed the gap then, pulling her hand out of Eldarion's so she could pull his body closer to her, their chests colliding. One of her hands was on his chest, resting above his fast-beating heart, and the other was on his cheek as their lips met.

A wave of relief crashed into Eldarion as his arms wrapped around her waist, pressing against the curve of her back. He savored the warmth of her body against his and he moaned into the kiss, a day before he had thought he would never be so fortunate as to hold her again. He could taste the salt of her tears on her lips and he reluctantly pulled his face away from hers. Looking down at her he could see her tears glittering in her lashes and leaving a shining trail down her cheeks. He brushed the tears away with the pads of his thumbs.

Tilting her head up just a fraction of an inch Alida captured his lips once more with her own. Her delicate fingers tangled into the dampened curls of Eldarion's hair, pulling just ever so slightly, eliciting a groan from deep within him. His arms wrapped once more around her smaller frame, crushing her to him, eliminating any open space between them. He could feel his blood rushing through his veins, and felt himself becoming hard against Alida's body. His right hand came up to her shoulder blades, so he could feel the cool skin of her upper back and neck.

Alida gently bit Eldarion's lower lip between her teeth as she felt one of his hands drifting down her spine. She felt it brush against the lacing on her back and a piece of her was disappointed when he skimmed past the fastening. She pressed her hips against his and felt him moan into her mouth. She could feel him hard against her even through her velvet skirts and without another thought she placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself away. Her chest heaved in uneven breaths and she saw a flicker of confusion and maybe even hurt in Eldarion's eyes. She kissed him gently on the cheek, smirking at the flustered expression on his face. Then she turned her back to him and brushed her auburn hair over her shoulder, exposing the black strings of her dress to him. She looked at him over her shoulder, he stood watching her, unmoving. "I can't get them on my own," she said quietly.

Eldarion stared back at Alida, he was so close to her his breath raised goosebumps on her neck. Slowly he pulled on the strings at her lower back, loosening the dress until he saw the fabric start to slide down her shoulders. He raised his hands up and gently pushed the green velvet sleeves down her arms. He placed a kiss on her back above her spine as the bodice of the dress fell away from her, exposing the ivory silk shift she wore beneath it. She wriggled her hips and pushed her dress down until it pooled at her feet, leaning back into Eldarion's warm body. She pressed her rear against him, once more feeling how hard he was. She smirked as she listened to his breath hitch in his throat at the contact. She reached back and found his hands, slowly guiding them to rest on her hips.

Eldarion needed no further encouragement. He buried his face in her neck, kissing the tender spot behind her ear as his hands roamed across her barely covered body. She reached a hand behind her again and held onto the back of his neck, sighing as his tongue trailed over her skin. His hands roamed across her ribcage, skimming just beneath one of her breasts before traveling back down to her hips. He felt where the silk fabric of her shift ended and the smooth skin of her thighs began. He pulled his lips from her neck and roughly turned her to face him again. Alida's cheeks were flushed and he could see the tops of her breasts exposed above the neckline. Through the thin fabric he could see her nipples were peaked and begged and for his attention. He was only too happy to oblige. His mouth captured the nipple of her left breast through the silk covering and her moan echoed in his mind. Hungrily his mouth connected with hers again and he pushed his tongue in, savoring the taste of her.

Alida's hands were hastily unbuttoning and unfastening his jacket, pushing it down his arms to fall on the grass. Next her hands were untucking the hem of his shirt, and once loose, her fingers danced across his abdomen beneath the fabric. She felt the hard ridges of his body and her touch left a trail, like fire on his skin. He bunched the shirt in his hands and ripped it over his head, his blond hair falling in his eyes. Alida slowly pushed the pieces away, twirling the curls between her fingers until she could see the bright blue eyes they were hiding. One look at those eyes and she felt as if she could melt like a candle left unattended for too long. She knew she would burn for him, like a star burning for the moon.

"I love you," Alida whispered, her hand coming to rest on his cheek.

Eldarion leaned his face into her touch and gently pulled her closer. His lips kissed her slowly as time seemed to stand still, wanting and needing her as close as she could be. He had dreamt of the sound of those words on her lips, said in happiness and not in grief. The tips of her fingers trailed in lazy circles across his back as he held her. He pulled back from her just enough so he could look straight into her eyes. The calm blue eyes that he loved stared evenly back at him. He searched their depths, making sure this was what she wanted too.

As if Alida knew his thoughts she nodded her head slightly. Taking Eldarion's hands in hers once more she guided them to her waist. His grip was firm as he picked her up and held her close to him. He couldn't help the groan that escaped his lips as her long legs wrapped around his waist and she settled right above the bulge in his pants. He tilted his head to find her lips again, holding her to him, while the other was gripping one of her bare thighs. She knew in the morning there would be little bruises from his grip, but she didn't care, in fact she liked the idea of being left with a mark.

Slowly Eldarion lowered them to the forest floor, being careful not to lean too far in any direction. Finally, he sat and stretched his legs out in front of him, resting Alida gently on his lap. Outside of the safety of the willow tree they could hear the rain coming down hard and fast, a few of the drops splattering against them as they came through the weeping branches. The silk of Alida's covering was speckled with droplets of water, the fabric becoming sheer at their touch. Where Eldarion had claimed her breast was sheer as well, and he could easily see the pink of her nipple through the clinging fabric. He raised a hand to that breast and his thumb rubbed against the firm nipple. She moaned and pushed her hips against his. Her mouth parted, letting out a ragged breath as she tilted her head back. Eldarion leaned forwards and laid kisses across her collarbone and throat.

Eldarion felt Alida raise herself up onto her knees, her hands pulling at the fastening of his trousers, the leather strings loosening under her fingers. Eldarion could feel the tightened feeling of his riding pants loosen and he felt a small relief as the fabric gave way. He felt her deft fingers start to pull at the last of his clothing and he helped her push them down. Kicking off his boots and pants, he now sat naked beneath her, the length of him now freed from its constraint. He watched her with curious eyes as she took in the sight of him and he almost felt embarrassed from his exposure. Slowly Alida lowered herself back to sit on his lap and he made a guttural sound as skin met skin. He thought he could finish right them but he pushed the feeling away and again focused his attention on Alida.

Alida leaned forward, deliberately rubbing against the length of him, to capture Eldarion's lips with her own. She could feel a fire between her legs and knew that she wanted to let that fire spread. She felt him jump a little beneath her and sighed as the tip of him brushed against her core. The slightest touch of him against her made her wet and when Eldarion felt that wetness he groaned against her mouth.

Suddenly frustrated with the silk that kept Eldarion from seeing every inch of Alida, he started to pull the fabric up. Dragging his hand up her hips and her sides, he exposed more and more of Alida's body. He locked eyes with her as he pulled the last of the barrier over her head. They sat there for a moment, the only sound was the rain around them and their heavy breaths. Water droplets trailed down their bodies, a cool touch against their burning skin. Eldarion couldn't help but glance at her now bare chest, her breasts round and nipples hard before him. He took one in his hand savoring the feeling of her skin against his own. Her body was smooth but he could see the toned muscles that hid beneath her skin. He wrapped a tanned arm around her waist and brought her against him once more, moaning as her slick core slid over the length of him.

"I love you," Eldarion said, unable to stop the words as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Eldarion lifted her up into his arms and slowly leaned forwards until her back rested on the grass beneath him. He pulled her arms from around his neck so she lay wholly on the ground. Sitting up on his knees he dragged his hands up her thighs, the thumb of his left hand rising so close to her core that she moaned in anticipation. He wanted to worship her body and take in every piece of it, but his control ebbed away when he first touched the slick skin between her thighs. Eldarion knew the first time was supposed to be painful for her, and that control come back when realization dawned on him. He had hurt her once already and wasn't ready to do that again.

Alida knew why Eldarion had stopped, the look on his face was clear enough. She pulled Eldarion's face down to meet her own, kissing him gently to let him know it was alright. Still, he didn't move. Alida snaked her hand down between their bodies feeling the hard muscles of his abdomen again as she went. Gently, she touched him and felt him jump against her hand and moan into their kiss. "Just go slowly," she whispered against his lips. She guided him to her core, and her breath hitched as she felt the tip of him penetrate her. He needed no further encouragement once he felt her wet and waiting for him.

Eldarion deepened the kiss as he slowly pushed into her. He felt an urge to just thrust in as quickly as he could but her voice in his head reminded him to go slowly. He pushed in a little more and Alida gasped into the kiss. Looking down at her, he saw her face was scrunched in pain. He kissed her cheeks and ran a hand through her hair as he pushed in more. He thought about stopping but knew that would only prolong the pain she was in. Pushing in more he saw a tear escape from the corner of her eye and he broke knowing he was the cause of that pain. He was almost buried in her completely, so kissing the tears away he pushed the rest of the way in and then stopped. He whispered that he loved her in her ear as the pain ebbed away, waiting for her to become used to the feeling of him.

It took every ounce of the self-control that Eldarion had to stay still. The warm feeling of her around him was intoxicating and he felt like he was drunk on her already, and yet he waited. He watched her face as it slowly relaxed and felt her body soften beneath him. Finally, she moved her hips, a silent signal that she was ready. He looked down at her eyes and she smiled up at him, pain still clear in those blue depths, but a pain she was willing to deal with.

Slowly, Eldarion pulled himself out, watching her face for any sign to stop.

Alida's fingers curled themselves into the hair at the nape of his neck and she captured his lips in a kiss. "Eldarion." She said his name that was his undoing.

Eldarion gave into the kiss and pushed himself back into her, slowly thrusting in and out. The feeling of her around him was like nothing he would ever be able to describe. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed her hips against his in time with his own thrusts. He pushed into her quicker and quicker until neither of them could remember to keep kissing. His face fell to rest on her shoulder, his breath coming out in ragged pants against her skin. Alida's arms were wrapped around his body, hands splayed flat across his back. He remembered vaguely of a conversation he had had with Faramir, one of several where Eldarion had been forced to listen to a female anatomical lesson. Eldarion's hand slipped between them, his thumb brushing the spot above where he was buried against her. She choked on a gasp and said his name, her voice thick with desire. She felt something building inside of her, like a wave that was growing bigger and bigger until it would crash against the shore. He moved his thumb in a slow circular motion, wanting to hear her keep saying his name. She was rasping out his name as he kept moving his thumb and thrusting into her.

Alida's screamed were absorbed by the forest as her climax crashed through her. Her body was shaking from the wave of her climax and Eldarion felt his was nearing. She whispered his name and that finished him. He groaned and bit down on her shoulder as he released himself into her.

Utterly spent, Eldarion felt himself collapse onto Alida. Her arms wrapped around his back as she held him through the last throes of pleasure. She traced lazy circles across his back and listened to the rain pour on the world outside of their sanctuary. His breathing had gone from panting to steady breaths and he reluctantly rolled off of Alida. He pulled her into him until her head rested on his chest and their legs tangled together. He played with her long auburn hair, pulling leaves and twigs from its tangles. She looked up at him, a sleepy smile in her eyes and he thought he would never forget this image. She kissed his chest right above where his heart beat loudly beneath her, then settled into him again.

Their bodies were covered in a light sheen of sweat and the cool night air scattered goosebumps across them. Eldarion groped blindly until he found his jacket on the ground above his head. He pulled the rough fabric across Alida's shoulders and nestled in closer to her. The rain started to dissipate slowly until Eldarion was sure it had stopped completely. He felt Alida shiver against him and knew they couldn't stay here all night, as much as he would have loved that. "You're shivering," he said quietly. He kissed the top of her head. "The rain's stopped, we should go back up to the house."

"Just a little while longer," Alida answered, curling closer into him. "I like it here."

Eldarion chuckled, holding her shivering form to him a little tighter. "A little while longer," he whispered back.

..::..

"Uncle, you're not understanding," Leonid said, his voice laced with irritation. He paced angrily through his uncle's study. He had heard of the unwelcome visitor in Imladris early this morning and had been waiting anxiously in his uncle's study ever since.

Elrohir chuckled, watching Leonid's face go red with anger at his reaction. "I understand it quite well," he answered. "Prince Eldarion is a welcome guest in our home, and you sister is free to act however she pleases with his presence."

"Do you have any idea what is happening?" Leonid all but shouted, a venomous bite to his words.

"This is my city, nothing happens without me knowing it." Elrohir rubbed his forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming. "You have been intimate with many partners, what does it matter to you if she's intimate with one?"

"She's immortal…"

"Yes," Elrohir interrupted his nephew. "She is, and he is not. I am aware of the situation as it stands. Your sister knows what she is doing and she is free to make her own choices, Leonid. Do you not trust her at all?"

"What happens when this mortal dies? Have you thought of that?" Leonid asked, genuine concern written in his eyes. His voice lowered. "What happens when she gives herself to him and then watches as he gets old and weak and dies? That will break her and you know it. She still dreams of mother and father. It's been nearly twenty years and still she wakes up having dreamed of them and if the life we didn't share with them. It is not that I do not have faith in her, I will always have faith in Lida. But I cannot stand and watch her lose him."

"She has another option," Elrohir said slowly, wholly understanding the concern Leonid had for his sister. He had had the same for his own once, for Arwen.

Leonid looked at him, a cold look in his eyes. "That is not an option," he stated.

"It is an option for them, and it not something you can choose for her."

"No," Leonid said with finality, a new type of fear in his eyes.

"Leonid," Elrohir said slowly. He walked up his nephew and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Your mother was once kept from the man she loved, purely because my father thought he knew what was best. I didn't support her, and not a day goes by that I don't live with that regret in my heart." His voice had gone solemn as he remembered those days when Arwen had left them. He still remembered coming to her rooms and finding she was gone. He remembered having to tell his father what had happened and regretting that he hadn't helped her. "If I had helped her maybe I would not have lost those years without her. Maybe she would still be here. I have regretted those choices every day since the moment I made them. Maybe my sister would still here with me, with you." He took in a shuddering breath. "Do not make the same mistake that I did. I do not want you to live with the same regrets." Elrohir watched with sad eyes as his words replayed through Leonid's mind.

..::..

Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains of Alida's bedroom, bathing everything in a soft warm glow. Eldarion opened his heavy eyelids and blinked against the sun's light as sleep crept away from him. He tilted his head towards the light and saw Alida's face resting on his chest instead. The light behind her made her auburn hair glow red and Eldarion couldn't help but smile to himself. He kissed the top of her head and pulled her in close. His fingers trailed across the skin of her back while images from last night crept into his mind. He remembered coming into the room with her when the night air was finally too cold to tolerate. He could remember the feel of her skin against his as they fell into bed. The look on her face as his tongue brushed against her core, the taste of her on his lips; these were burned into his memory.

Alida squirmed again him as she woke up, one of her long legs slid down his own as she pulled her head back onto the pillows. "Hello," she said sleepily, her eyes still adjusting to the light as she looked up at him.

Eldarion chuckled. "Good morning," he said.

Alida curled back into him, her head resting above his heart. One of her arms snaked across Eldarion's stomach, holding onto him tightly. "You're so warm," she whispered against his skin. "I could wake up like this every day."

"You could," he answered. Alida's eyes squinted as she looked up at him, her head resting on his chest still. "You could if you came back with me."

Alida turned her face away and with her every breath Eldarion felt his heart begin to race. What if this was not what she wanted?

"Alida," Eldarion breathed, his eyes closed. He felt her shift, her warm breath caressing his cheek, their mouths now so close. "Alida," he said again his voice so full of yearning, it squeezed her heart. Eldarion took a shuddering breath and he leaned back. "Alida," he began again.

Alida's face cracked into a smile and she reached across them to touch his cheek. Eldarion opened his eyes and was entranced by the deep blue pools of Alida's eyes.

"What is it Eldarion?" She asked, her head tilting to one side, her eyes soft and full of a love so strong Eldarion could taste it like honey on his lips. He leaned into her palm as it slipped down to his neck and then his chest.

"Will you come with me?" He said in a rush that had his chest heaving. He caught her hand in both of his and held it tight. "Will you come with me, Alida? To Gondor, to my city and my people." He took in a long breath, his eyes pleading, searching hers in a way that made it hard for Alida to catch her breath. "Come with me," he said again. "Be mine, be my queen, my wife." By the end of his sentence his words were breathless, as if the magnitude of what he asked had sucked the breath from his lungs. Finally, his eyes dropped from hers and he looked down. "I cannot be separated from you again."

Alida smiled, drawing his eyes back to her own, her hands slipped from his to draw him to her. "Yes," she said after a moment.

Eldarion looked down at her, surprise written clearly on his face. His blinked at her a few times, thinking he must have misheard her, but she matched his gaze evenly.

"Yes," she said again, her voice a whisper as she pressed closer to him.

Eldarion saw a smile in her eyes and knew she was being honest. In a quick motion he captured her lips in his and covered her body with his own. She laughed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her.

The door was flung open, thudding loudly against the wall. Eldarion ripped himself away from Alida, pulling the sheet up quickly to cover Alida's bare chest. Leonid stood at the foot of the bed, his posture casual but his face stern. Eldarion sighed, relieved it was just Leonid who had come in so aggressively.

"You're up early," Alida said calmly as she sat up in the bed, one hand holding the sheet against her chest.

"I heard some noises and came to make sure you were alright," Leonid answered tensely. "I didn't realize you had…company." His eyes slid to Eldarion in a cold gaze.

Eldarion shifted so he sat up against the headboard, his eyes meeting the Elf's without fear.

"Yes, and you've interrupted my time with him." Alida's eyes shot a look of warning at her brother. "Now, Laio, I do my very best not to interrupt you when you have company, I would appreciate the same from you."

Leonid grunted in response. "Perhaps if the prince is staying much longer, I'll have someone prepare a room for him. It's much too crowded in here for two, and the north wing has a beautiful view."

"I find the view here quite pleasing," Eldarion couldn't help but respond, a smirk on his face.

"Besides, we'll only be here for another night," Alida said quickly before Leonid could respond to Eldarion.

"We?" Leonid questioned.

"Yes, we'll be leaving in the morning. I'm going to Minas Tirith with him."

Leonid glowered at Eldarion in silence, and Eldarion thought that just maybe Leonid would try to kill him. "Alright," he responded, an icy edge to his voice. "I'll be ready by dawn." With that, Leonid left Alida's suites, leaving the room open for them to deal with.

"I think he may try to kill me," Eldarion said quietly.

Alida laughed under her breath and rolled out of bed. "He will do nothing of the sort."

Eldarion watched as she strode across the room, her hips swaying with every step. Her long auburn hair ended just above the small of her back and Eldarion appreciated the view that it left him. She closed the door and clicked the lock in place before turning around to him. She looked beautiful in the morning light and Eldarion knew he would never tire of looking at her. He felt himself growing hard as he watched her slowly cross the room and slide under the covers. He tried to push his want for her away, but then he felt her body against his own and knew this was a losing battle.

Alida leaned forward, her lips brushing against his, his body rolled to face hers and she could feel his erection against her. Smiling again she pulled away, Eldarion opened his mouth to object but Alida silenced him with a look. She pulled the covers down a little so she could see his chest. Pushing him onto his back, she started pressing light kisses down his chest. Her hand traced spirals slowly down his abdomen, feeling the hard ridges of muscle as she went.

Eldarion watched as her hand crept farther down, watched it dip beneath the blankets bunched at his hips before he felt her fingers slide up the length of him. He groaned and bucked his hips against her hand involuntarily. He felt her deft fingers wrap around him and slowly slide down. "Alida," he grunted, wanting to kiss her and make her want him the way he wanted her. He tried to sit up and pull her towards him but Alida stopped him, her free hand pushed him back towards the bed.

"It's my turn to taste you," she said, her voice low with desire. She slid further down the bed as she continued to stroke up and down the length of him. He closed his eyes as his hips once more bucked against her hand. He could feel her warm breath on himself now, and when she took him in her mouth, he couldn't help the gasp that escaped, fisting his hands in the sheets as she took in more of him.

Alida couldn't help the chuckle that escaped when she saw Eldarion's reaction and he groaned as he felt the vibrations around him. He could think of nothing else but the warmth around him, his breathing came out in gasps as he continued up and down him. She hummed around him again and he buried a hand in her hair. "Alida," he said her name in a moan as her pace quickened and he felt his release coming closer. He felt her tongue brush against his tip and a strangled noise escaped his lips. When she brushed against it again, he was finished. He rasped out her name again as he came in her mouth, feeling waves of pleasure course through him as her mouth and hand worked up and down the length f him. Her tongue flicked one more time over his tip and he cursed, all of his senses felt heightened as he recovered from the orgasm.

Crawling back up the bed to lay beside him, Alida smirked to herself. She could feel a wetness between her legs and in her mind, she could hear him rasping her name again and again. She brushed a few fingers across her lips, wiping the liquid away from them. Looking up, she saw Eldarion watching her every move, watching her breasts as she crawled up towards him and starting at her pink lips. When she was finally level with him, he grabbed her face between his hands and pulled her in, roughly kissing her and holding her against him. She smiled against the kiss, letting him kiss her however he wanted.

Eldarion's lips stopped their assault and he held her body against him. She tucked her head under his chin and listened to his heart thundering in his chest. His breathing slowed as his heartbeat returned to a normal pace.

"Did I hear your brother say he would be ready by dawn?" Eldarion asked as the conversation came back to his mind.

Alida chuckled. "Yes, I believe you did. In all honesty, it would take nothing short of a miracle to stop him from coming, even if he hadn't known."

Eldarion sighed. "We should enjoy this time alone then while we can," he said, rolling so his body was on top of hers and capturing her lips once more.

Alida screamed in surprise, laughing as his body covered her. She melted into the kiss and let his hands wander her body, thinking that nothing could be quite as perfect as this. Alida's eye's drifted shut as Eldarion's mouth moved over her neck and she let her mind wander to the future, to waking up next to Eldarion, their bodies entwined forever, never again separated. Her eyes drifted open and she found Eldarion looking down at her, an easy smile lighting his face with a beauty that took her breath away.

"I love you," she breathed. "Now and forever"

Eldarion's smile broadened and then their mouths were connected again.