-THE FORGOTTEN
A Midsummer Night's Cold
Author's note: The chapter in which – Sue gets a cold and the elves get high on life. …My apologies on the lateness of this posting this chapter. I try very hard to post weekly and keep ahead of the game, but the last six or seven weeks have left me unusually short on writing time.
Oh, it was bound to happen. Between her sinuses and her luck she supposed something would happen and of course right before Midsummer. Sure enough, hours before the Elves' midsummer celebrations she just would come down with a nasty summer cold. Oh well. And she had been looking forward to it too! With a groan she sat up and gave a long, hard cough chased by a groan.
She shuffled off to her master bathroom and made herself as presentable as she could while feeling like she'd been hit by a pickup truck, got dressed, and then shuffled downstairs. Everyone had clearly beaten her awake by a stretch because the Erickson's were already gone and the smell of breakfast and coffee hung but faintly in the kitchen, and Legolas and Lothril were sitting at the breakfast table sipping coffee.
"Good morning!" they greeted.
"Mornin'," she croaked, slightly surprised at just how horrid her voice sounded.
Legolas stood immediately and went to her, concern etched all over his face, "Sue, come sit down. You are unwell."
She waved a hand as she sank down into the chair he pulled out for her. "Thanks, but it's just a summer cold," she croaked, sinking at the end to a whisper.
Legolas looked over at Lothril concerned, who said to him, "A summer cold is no big deal, melethron. Mostly just low level misery for a few days and then it passes."
Sue looked at the elf pointed her thumb at Lothril and whispered hoarsely, "She's right. But I can't make Midsummer."
"Let us not worry about that yet. What can we do to help you?" Legolas said.
She grinned before falling into another coughing fit, much to the distress of Legolas, and then she croaked, "I'll make myself chicken soup and a hot toddy."
"No, no. You rest here, Lothril and I will take care of you," Legolas replied.
"No really," she whispered.
"You are ill. Now sit and we will take care of you," Legolas said.
Lothril in the meantime was grinning her head off at Legolas playing nurse to mothering Sue while she stole into the living room and dug through her side table where she knew she stashed her cough drops, Vicks vapo-rub, and tissues. Sure enough, she found a bag of honey menthol cough drops and brought them out to Grandma Sue who only mouthed 'thank you' before she unwrapped one and popped it in her mouth.
"Lothril, do you still have your healing herbs?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, but they are geared more towards wounds and related infections and poisons, not summer colds," she replied.
"Then we ought to call Elrohir and Elladan and see if they have anything to help her," Legolas said.
"It's just a cold," Sue croaked followed by another harsh cough.
"You sound dreadful," Legolas said, "And I am certain you shall not be in any state to celebrate with us tonight and they shall need to know you are feeling ill. If they decide to come over and tend to you, then it is on them."
Sue cocked an eyebrow but shrugged and pointed to the phone. Lothril fetched it and for her and Sue dialed and then handed it back to Lothril who promptly had it snatched out of her hand by Legolas.
"Hello?" Came the voice of one of the twins on the other end of the line.
"Greetings, Sue has fallen ill this morning and she thinks she shall not be well in time for our celebrations tonight," Legolas said.
Sue glared at him then glanced at Lothril, "What's he saying in elvish?" she whispered hoarsely.
"She has? What are her symptoms?" the twin asked.
"She has a dreadful sounding cough and no voice to speak of. She claims it is a summer cold and nothing more but she looks and sounds miserable," Legolas replied.
"He's telling them you are sick with a summer cold," Lothril said to Sue.
"We shall be over in mere minutes. Tell her to rest and put on hot water for tea," the twin instructed. "And as long as her stomach is not bothering her, make her breakfast."
Legolas said goodbye then handed the phone to Lothril so she could hang it up for him. Exceedingly convenient, phones. "They shall be here in mere minutes and no, I did not ask them to come over. I have been instructed to put on hot water for tea and make you breakfast as long as your stomach is not troubling you."
"It isn't. I'm actually a little hungry," Sue whisper croaked.
"Good. Now rest here and I will make you breakfast," Legolas said and then scurried over into the kitchen proper and set to making her breakfast and hot water for tea.
Sue looked over at Lothril and whispered, "He's a keeper."
"I certainly think so," Lothril replied.
Legolas said nothing but smiled as he started cracking eggs into the hot skillet.
He barely had breakfast plated and was just turning to take it to her when out the window he saw Elrohir and Elladan riding up on a pair of horses wearing jeans and a t-shirt, each with a bag slung over their shoulder. He set her breakfast down in front of her then went to get the door for the twins. They were riding bareback without bridle and when they dismounted they let the horses stray wherever they wanted in her yard.
As soon as they entered they aid to Sue, "Never fear, we shall have you sound and whole by this evening!"
"Good luck with that," she croaked. "And which one is which today?"
"I am Elladan," he said. They always made sure to wear different colored shirts when visiting with Sue. She always felt bad about mixing them up. Today he was in blue and Elrohir in red.
Sue nodded.
"Eat your breakfast and then we shall tend to you," Elrohir said. "Is the hot water ready?"
"Nearly," Legolas replied.
Just then the kettle began to sing and Elrohir went over to it and turned off the stove and took it off the heat. He pulled a mortar and pestle out of his pack and began preparing herbs and then throwing them in her tea pot which he pulled out from the cupboard. In the meantime Elladan sat down across from her.
"I'm sorry I can't talk much," Sue croaked.
"Never fear. We have a very easy work around for that problem," Elladan said.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't have voice enough to inquire what that work around could possibly be. "You eaten?"
"Yes dear Sue, we tend to rise with the sun, so we have been up for a couple hours and eaten already. Do not mind us at all. We are here to help you," Elladan replied.
The elves chatted a little and Lothril asked about what they had planned for Midsummer that night.
"That is right, we keep forgetting you have not had a proper Midsummer yet!" Elladan said. "You have only had one and Arwen and Aragorn decided to get married on it. As there are but six of us, we shall keep things simple. Music, food, plenty to drink, maybe a little dancing. For a real and proper Midsummer celebration you want at least a dozen plus musicians, but I think we shall have a good time of it anyway."
Sue set down her fork and knife on the plate and pushed it away.
"She is done, Elrohir. How are you coming?" Elladan said.
"I am ready," Elrohir replied. He came over with a large mug filled nearly to the brim with tea. "Here you go, Sue. You shall want to drink this while it is still warm and quickly. I'm afraid it is a little bitter, but I will give you something right after to counter it. And it is quite cool enough to drink."
She gave them both a look then hoarsely croaked, "Where did you two go to medical school?"
The twins both grinned at each other then said, "Back home our father is considered one of the greatest and most gifted healers in Middle-earth. He taught us a few things."
"We both have a few hundred years of healing behind us."
"I keep forgetting you're both older than me," Sue whispered as she took the mug. It was a perfectly drinkable temperature, so she chugged it quickly and set down the mug, making a scrunched face. "Oh lordy! You weren't kidding when you said that is bitter!" she said, her voice already sounding less croaky and just scratchy.
"Here, eat this," Elrohir said, handing her a cookie.
It looked like a snickerdoodle, it tasted like honey and spices, and despite it not being what she thought it was, she really liked it. "Oooh! This is nice! What is it?"
"It is a cookie we made for Midsummer. I will give you the recipe later," Elladan said. "Now, tell us your symptoms."
"Oh, stuffy head, scratchy throat, nasty cough," she said before breaking into said nasty cough.
"Should have made it stronger, Elrohir," Elladan said, looking up at his brother who was standing beside Sue.
"Or she is mistaken on what is wrong. It might be an infection and not a cold," he replied.
"Sounds like sinus stuff to me," Lothril interjected. "But I'm not her."
"No, I think it's a cold," Sue said, still sounding a little scratchy.
"There is an easy way to find out," Elladan said. "Since you are already standing, Elrohir, will you do the honors?"
"Certainly. Sue, do you mind?" Elrohir said.
"Depends, what are you going to do?" she replied. In the back of her mind she kept thinking about how peculiar everyday life had gotten since Elves got involved in it.
"Place a hand on your forehead and hold your hand," Elrohir replied.
"Go for it."
He moved behind her and laid a hand on her forehead and took her right hand and began to sing. Lothril was pleased that she recognized the song and more or less knew what he was doing. Elrond's lessons had stuck, apparently. After a minute or so Elrohir stopped.
"It is not a cold. You definitely have an infection. Actually, you have two infections and both of them are just beginning. Fortunately for you, we can cure you and have you in dancing shape by this afternoon," Elrohir said.
"How can you tell that just from holding my hand and feeling my forehead?" Sue asked.
"Two thousand years and elven magic," Elrohir replied, eliciting grins from the others.
"No really, how do you know?" she asked.
Elrohir smiled as he knelt down beside her. "I was being quite serious. Two thousand years of practice and elven magic. Or if you prefer – I asked your body and it told me."
She suddenly looked at him wide eyed and knit browed. "You what?"
"See Lothril? This is why we do not explain ourselves to mortals. They give us strange looks when we do," Legolas said with a grin.
"I did not realize this was a principle within elvendom," Lothril commented.
"Oh, it is," Elladan said.
"That's really what you did?" Sue asked, ignoring the chatting elves.
"Basically," Elrohir replied. "And now if you will relax a few minutes, I shall make another medicinal tea for you and then send you to bed."
"If this works…I don't even know what," Sue said. This was all a bit… odd…
"It will work," Elrohir said and with that he stood and went back over to the kettle and put more water on and began working on a second tea.
"Is that really what your brother did?" Sue asked Elladan.
"Of course! And while he is working on your tea, I am going to take you into the living room where you are going to relax in an arm chair and I shall continue helping you get better so you can come to our party tonight," Elladan said.
"This is all kinda weird you know," Sue said as she stood up.
"Only to you people," Elladan said with a grin as he led her over to her customary arm chair. She sat down and he said, "Give me your hand, please."
She held out her hand and he took it between both of his and he started singing. Of course, Sue didn't know two words in elvish, but the tune was a little different, so she figured it wasn't the same song Elrohir used. In the meantime, Elrohir was in the kitchen muddling more herbs and singing quietly as Legolas and Lothril sat at the breakfast table.
"Is this truly peculiar to how human medicine works?" Legolas asked.
"Very much," Lothril replied. "As humans do not have abilities like elves, there is a lot more poking and prodding and testing necessary for a diagnosis and then our medicine is largely pills."
"I am very glad I am an Elf and that I do not live here," Legolas said.
"Trust me, you do not know the half of it," Lothril said.
Elrohir brought in the tea and handed it to Sue and told her to drink it before it got cold, but she didn't have to chug it this time. Regardless, she didn't find it terribly tasty so she drank it fairly quickly. After a few minutes more of singing, Elladan let go of her hand and then the twins promptly sent her back to bed with strict instructions to stay in bed until at least one in the afternoon.
"But really, I'm not tired," Sue said. "I'll be fine. You two are better than you think. Now let me fix you some-"
Elrohir cut her off. "If you do not sleep, it will all be undone. Now go rest and if you do fall asleep we will make sure Lothril wakes you in plenty of time."
"Oh fine!" she said, and stood up and headed upstairs. As soon as she laid down in bed she felt very tired and immediately fell asleep.
"There, that ought to do it," Elladan said as he sat down next to Lothril at the table where Legolas had been. He was now over at the counter working away on preparations for lunch.
"Do you think she has anything suitable to wear tonight?" Elrohir asked Lothril.
"A bit late to be asking that question," Lothril said. "And I'm not exactly sure what would be suitable anyway."
Elrohir frowned. "Clothing here is a bit strange. I would hate to have her wear high heels and a formal dress, but I think she would feel out of place in jeans a t-shirt."
"Well, I am still not sure about Midsummer festivities anyway," Lothril said.
"It is simply a party to celebrate summer and the longest day of the year. In Imladris we would have large bonfires, singing, dancing, games, and feasting all night, and then Midsummer day would be more of the same," Elladan explained.
Lothril nodded and said, "I'm going to go upstairs to her closet and rifle through it a little and see what I can see." She quickly and silently ghosted out of the kitchen and up the stairs and into Sue's room. She was sound asleep and already looking much better. Lothril smiled and turned her attention to the closet which she opened silently and began rifling through her things. She saw a few things she thought might work and then a certain dress caught her eye. She pulled it out, nearly laughed, and quickly shut the closet and hurried back downstairs.
"She has an outfit. And it looks to me like it fits her. It will be next to perfect!" Lothril practically squealed as she came downstairs carrying the dress.
None of the present company could say they had seen her quite this giddy before except Legolas, and even he only once or twice.
"Oh?" Elrohir ventured.
"Yes! She's got a Ren Fest costume that is almost perfect," Lothril grinned as she held out the dress for them to see.
"What is a Ren Fest?" Legolas asked, only look up briefly as he was cutting up something she couldn't see from that angle.
"Short for Renaissance Festival, it was an historical period like five hundred years ago. Anyway, I think this is perfect," Lothril said.
Elladan smiled, "It is at that! It is not quite elvish, but it is close enough. Then we shall only need to finish making the wreath of flowers for her hair."
"To change the subject somewhat -where is your family this morning, Lothril? Have they left already?" Elrohir asked.
"No, they went to church this morning," she replied.
"And you did not go with them?" Elrohir asked.
"I like Grandma Sue's church, but they went to go visit the church of somebody mom knew growing up and I just – no. Visiting a new church is always a weird experience and… no. I'm just done. I've had so many strange experiences the last year and I'm probably going to have a few more and… I'm saving myself one."
Elrohir smiled, "Fair enough, I suppose. Are they going home today after church?"
"Probably around four or five like they usually do so they miss traffic."
"That is a pity, they shall miss our celebrations entirely," Elladan said.
"Speaking of, Glorfindel shall have our heads if we do not return soon to help him," Elrohir said.
"He certainly will. Well, we are off. When Sue awakes, Lothril, see how she is feeling and if she needs it, give her more tea. I have more leaves in a clean mug on the counter. And do not take her word for how she is feeling, you know full well she will say she feels fine regardless, but I want those infections taken care of right away."
"I shall," Lothril said. "What time should we come over?"
Elrohir glanced at Legolas and then grinned and replied, "Legolas knows." And with that they left.
"How do you know?" Lothril asked.
Legolas laughed, "Because I am over five thousand years old, lothilig nin. (my little lothil*)" He gave her a kiss and added, "In the meantime though, you ought to set out your elven things and make sure nothing needs pressed."
"Good thinking. Do you suppose they will have wreaths of flowers for our hair also?" she asked.
"One usually makes one's own wreath," Legolas answered.
Lothril slumped back in her seat with a rather comical looking frown. "Hmm… that's problematic because I've never known how to make wreaths of flowers or daisy chains or anything like that," Lothril said.
"Truly? Did you not make such things as a child?"
"Nope! I was always forced to sit with the boys in class and at lunch so I never made friends with many girls, and the precious few girlfriends I did have weren't the daisy chain making sort," Lothril answered as she got up from the table and sat down at the counter so she could see what Legolas was doing behind the raised half.
Legolas looked thoughtful a moment as he continued cutting carrots into long thin sticks, but with a small smile teasing the corners of his mouth. "I think we have quite enough time for me to teach you how."
"Wait, you oh prince know how to make wreaths of flowers? Isn't that basically like you forging your own crown?" Lothril asked teasingly.
Legolas laughed. "Of course I do! I am the prince and I am allowed to wear one and you are a lady, my betrothed, and soon princess so you shall be allowed to at least wear a chain of small flowers in your hair on formal occasions. However, for midsummer, everyone can wear one," Legolas replied as he picked up the cutting board and slid the carrots into a bowl.
"Wait, seriously?"
"Quite, but this is nothing we need worry about until after we are both returned to my father's realm," he answered.
Lothril's brows furrowed and she shook her head a little and said, "I have learned so much, but there is still so much more for me to learn."
She leaned over the counter and reached for one of the carrot sticks and it was just out of reach so Legolas picked up the bowl and tilted it towards her with a grin as he replied, "Of course there is, melethril. I am over five thousand years old and there is still much that I am learning. With this though, you will learn it sooner rather than later if you come to the Woodland Realm before we are wed. Speaking of which – have you given much thought to where you want to go after we return? If we returned to the moment you left here, I imagine the same shall be true of our return to Middle-earth."
She chewed thoughtfully for a few moments before swallowing. "I have. If we do return to the moment we left, I want to talk Elrond briefly before I make my final decision," she said. "So besides a flower crown, what do we need to do to get ready for things?"
"Put on your elvish things and enjoy yourself," Legolas answered with a grin. "It is a celebration of mid-summer not an adventure into the wild. I will help you braid your hair though if you wish."
"I don't know – does one do elaborate braids for Midsummer?" she asked as she reached for a second carrot stick.
He shook his head with a smile. "O melethril… One looks festive for Midsummer. Not formal, festive. After having looked through your school yearbooks I suspect you do not know the difference between the two. Festive means fun, formal means stiff and not conducive for playing games. Our idea of celebrating an occasion does not involve a sermon, standing still as a statue while singing, and sitting still on a bench."
"Pew."
"What?"
"Those benches in church, they're called pews."
"Aaah! So that is what that word means! But then… why does your father keep the scented oil he wears pews?"
"Well you see – never mind, too much to explain. Suffice it to say, it's sort of a joke," Lothril replied.
Legolas nodded then took the bowl of carrots and slid them into the refrigerator. "Well then, shall we go find some wildflowers for your hair?" he asked when he turned back towards her.
"Yes, let's."
They went outside and though Sue had a large and lovely garden full of cultivated flowers and she surely would not have cared if they plucked enough for a crown, Legolas insisted half of the joy of this was finding wild flowers. As it was, between Sue's house and the twins there was a riot of wildflowers growing beside the road and so that is where they headed. Legolas brought with him his pen knife and as soon as they reached the edge of the flowers, he handed it to Lothril.
"How long do I need to leave the stems?" she asked.
"We are going to braid them, so a few inches long," he answered. She really hadn't done this before!
"Is this enough?" she asked after a few minutes, holding a small bouquet.
"We will start with that," Legolas said. "Come sit here beside me." He sat down in the midst of the flowers and Lothril came over and joined him. "Now this is a very easy way to do it – we shall simply braid the stems. Take three of the flowers to start with, yes, like that, and braid until there is room for another blossom."
She started braiding and Legolas stopped her.
"No, no melethril! Not so tight. We are making a crown not a rope," he said with a teasing grin.
She frowned as she gently loosened up the stems and continued. "Like this?"
"Much better. Now add another flower and weave the stem in with your next braid," he said.
"Aaaah! I see," she said. "But how do I finish this off?"
"Patience, melethril. One thing at a time."
She continued on, adding alternating what color flower she wove in as she went. They reached a point where it seemed it might be enough, so Legolas carefully took it from her and wrapped it around her head and declared it long enough then told her to tuck the remaining stems in through the beginning of the braid.
"If you want, we can either tie it off with a piece of grass or go into the house and tie it with string if you are afraid it will come undone. Or if you wish to be very festive, we could see if Sue has any ribbon and use that to secure it," Legolas said.
"I'm fairly certain she has ribbons under my bed. Maybe when she wakes up I'll see if she minds if we use some," Lothril said. "Are you going to make yourself one?"
"I am, but I am undecided what I want to use," he said thoughtfully looking around. "Hmm. Ah!" He took his pen knife and began cutting daisies and little purple and yellow flowers that also looked like daisies, at least to Lothril. After he got as much as he wanted, he began twisting them into a crown, but in a different method from what he had shown Lothril. "There, that ought to do."
"That looks very nice," Lothril said appreciatively.
"Thank you," Legolas replied then leaned over and kissed her. "When we are in my father's realm, there is place along the river where the wildflowers grow in profusion each summer, and I intend to take you there and enjoy you in that place."
"You are all about the experience, aren't you?" she said with a teasing half smile.
"Are you not?" he asked, returning with a grin and a kiss.
"I honestly don't know."
He smiled almost mischievously as moved an inch or two closer beside her. "Come Lothril, we are alone here, tell me your secrets! Do you ever day dream of kissing me by sun, moon, or star? Under bough? In a field? Beside the water? Or do you only dream of kisses and soft embraces and care naught for anything else?"
"Legolas!"
"I do not know your desires or day dreams, that is why I am asking," he said nonchalantly then added looking decidedly curious, "What do you day dream?"
"Well… I may have had a few such day dreams…"
"Such as?" he pressed leaning in a little.
"Oh, different things but always the two of us very alone. I – I cannot abide the idea of someone stumbling in on us."
"Neither can I. You are mine and mine alone and none shall know your secrets but me. I am far too jealous of you to allow anyone else to know the fullness of your beauty or the sounds of your pleasure. We shall always be utterly concealed and alone, even if we are beneath the midday sun," he said, looking and sounding utterly serious.
"That is all well and good to say, but how can you ensure it?"
"I can have people executed for one thing," he said casually and upon seeing her mortified face he added, "I am joking! We elves may be very open about the joy of love making and the oneness it creates, but we are exceedingly jealous and private when it comes down to it and all of us are more than happy to give others their privacy. As for our particular situation – I need only inform the servants that our bedroom is strictly off limits unless I specifically order otherwise and that they are not to go into any room in my chambers unless directly summoned to that chamber. As for my outdoor day dreams… well, I shall save that surprise for later, but know that it is very possible for us to be as well concealed and alone outside as we are in our bedroom," he answered.
"I think that helps me," she said thoughtfully as a smile graced her face.
"Enough for you to tell me one of your day dreams of us being very alone?" Legolas asked with a grin that threatened to set her world on fire.
Of course, at that very moment she couldn't think of any of her day dreams except the one that was going to sound absolutely lascivious but wasn't really as lewd in her head as it was going to sound. "Oh, alright but this is going to sound a lot worse than it is. But I do keep thinking about you and I being alone at night and you keep saying sweet things to me until I'm nearly ready to fall to bits as you softly trace lines and patterns on my exposed skin, but I swear it's not like that, it-I-we- we're not, I mean, it's not-"
Legolas kissed her very slowly until she calmed down. "My pledge stands – I will not touch you yet anywhere I would not touch you in public. But still I am glad to know one of your day dreams and if you want, I am very certain I can make your day dream waking life while keeping my word."
She smiled involuntarily at his words. How did she get so lucky? "Would you think me greedy if I said I did want that?"
He shook his head with a smile. "Certainly not. I am only too happy to oblige."
"Would you be willing to oblige now?" she asked.
"Have you day dreamed of this also?"
"I am now."
He didn't say anything as he leaned in and began to kiss her. As he was sitting beside her, he put an arm around her and began letting his fingers trace the length of her bare arm as she wore a very short sleeved t-shirt. He gave her a kiss on the lips as his fingers continued to trace every curving line of muscle in her arm all the way down to her finger tips and then back up to the very edge of her t-shirt sleeve with a feather-light and slow meandering touch. He brought his lips close to her ear and said in a warm, low voice, "What other day dreams have you had?"
She sighed and began to lay down so she could stare at the clouds while she spoke, but Legolas caught her shoulders. She pulled herself upright and turned to look at him and saw he was moving behind her. He crossed his legs and bade her lay down and he gently guided her head to rest on crossed ankles and he began to play gently with her. "Now, tell me your day dreams, melethril."
She forgot her cloud watching and let her eyes drift shut… dang it, his fingers felt so good in her hair! With a relaxed smile and a low voice she answered, "You and me on a warm starlit, moonlit night swimming in a placid lake or pond."
"Mmm… sounds lovely. What other day dreams do you have?" he asked with a gently coaxing voice as he began making plans on how to make that day dream reality in the back of his mind.
She didn't speak again right away and a light blush spread over her cheeks and the tips of her ears. Legolas, who was of course staring at her with all the love and curiosity in his heart as he played with her hair, gently moved one of his hands from the top of her head to the back and side of it and began letting his fingers sneak down and brush her neck on the side behind her ears and right along the hair line. The quietest little sigh of a moan escaped her quite subconsciously and Legolas half thrilled to hear it. She was almost painfully silent some times, and though he had a very solid idea as to why, the result in little moments like this where she actually audibly and involuntarily let on she enjoyed something made him thrill and feel almost proud of himself.
"Tell me, my love. What day dreams and desires are making you blush?" he coaxed in a velvety soft voice. He moved his teasing fingers up higher so they brushed against her ear incidentally as he traced tiny little circles that wove in and out of her hairline.
She shuddered at his touch and then settled in again. "Remember when Elrohir and Elladan were trying to help me control my dreams and I had that dream about a skating party?" she asked.
"I remember."
"I have day dreamed about that quite a bit. Sometimes we are still with the skating party until we sneak away and find some clearing to dance in," she said.
"And that makes you blush?" he asked quietly, trying very hard to keep his amusement out of his voice. It wouldn't do if she thought for a moment he was teasing her. She was relaxed and he wasn't about to change that.
"Sometimes we are alone skating and I am much better skater than I really am, and we are more dancing than skating through the lace of light and shadow on the ice and afterwards we go inside to a warm fire and thaw out together," she answered, turning just a shade more pink in the process.
"Mmm… I like the sound of that," Legolas said, his voice low and falling on Lothril's ears like honey.
She shuddered and shook and her head like she was trying to wake herself up and said, "Boy - that isn't even fair! You could read the freaking phone book and send me! You wicked little seductive tease!"
Legolas continued tracing little patterns on her neck, ears, and in her hair and said casually, "Seductive? Goodness Lothril, whatever shall you do when I actually try to seduce you?"
"To be perfectly honest, I cannot fathom the absolute mess I'll be when you do."
He smiled. "You will not be a mess," he said quietly but with a decided confidence to it as he let his fingers wander to the sides of her neck and her t-shirt clad shoulders. "If you continue on as you have this last week, you will be as confident and capable in our bed as you are in the battlefield."
"What?!" she said, her eyes popping open and looking up at him.
He laughed and said, "That is how it is supposed to be, Lothril! And yes, I am allowed to have anticipatory thoughts about how much I shall enjoy making love to my wife. And so are you and I hope you are."
Her blush deepened a shade or two as she closed her eyes again as his fingers grazed this one little spot on her neck that sent pure thrill through her. "Well I'm certainly not trying to imagine it but I confess sometimes when you're holding me and kissing me and talking so sweetly I certainly find myself looking forward to it."
"As I said, you will not be a mess." He let his fingers wander so low as her collar bone before tracing the line of it through her shirt and added, "With any luck you will be aroused, desirous, and returning each word I speak, each touch I give, and each kiss we share with signs and sounds of your pleasure. I want you happy, Lothril. I want you happy, pleasured, and satisfied all our days."
"I want that for you too, you know," she said a little bashfully.
"I know, melethril," he smiled. "And one day soon we will speak of it plainly."
She shuddered again and smiled.
He stopped drawing little patterns on her shoulders and ran his fingers through her hair briefly as he said, "Now, let us go up to the house and I will check on lunch and if your family does not show up in the next few minutes I will have you call them and see when they anticipate being back."
"Alright. What are you making anyway? I caught the scent of garlic and herbs when I came back downstairs, but I was too excited to stop and ask what it was," she said as she sat up.
Legolas stood and offered a hand to Lothril and pulled her up. "Leg of lamb roasted with herbs, garlic, and salt."
"Oh yum! I haven't had lamb since Aragorn's coronation!"
"I do recall you enjoyed it quite a bit," Legolas said with a smile as they began heading back to the house.
"To be honest, I was slightly disappointed we didn't have it for our betrothal, but when your father asked what I wanted my mind went blank and I couldn't think of a thing," Lothril said with a grin. "The pheasant though was excellent."
"Should we have lamb at our wedding feast?"
"Well… we'll see how yours turns out and if I like elven lamb as much as Gondorian lamb," she teased.
"Lamb it is," he said with a cocky grin.
"Yeah, okay. We'll see. I'll probably find it tough, dry, and flavorless," she teased.
"I will be sure to remind you of that when we are back inside and I am giving you a taste," he replied.
"What else are we having today, by the way?"
"As it is midsummer I decided some nice greens, roasted potatoes, and cut raw carrots might be nice along with some fresh bread. Simple, nice, and not terribly heavy," Legolas answered.
"That sounds amazing!"
When they got inside they were immediately greeted by the smell of roast lamb and garlic and Lothril thought she might start drooling. Legolas washed his hands and asked Lothril to put their wreaths on the counter as he dried off and donned Sue's oven mitts. He pulled out the potatoes first which were cubed, herbed, and golden brown perfection, then he pulled out the leg of lamb and was amused at how Lothril seemed to materialize at his side out of nowhere.
"How long do you suppose until your family returns?" Legolas asked as he set down the lamb and reached for Sue's knife block.
"Dunno. I'm not sure where that church is exactly," she answered.
"Call them and see if they are near," Legolas said, but just then they heard the minivan pull into the driveway. "Never mind." He deftly cut off a small corner of the meat and fed it to Lothril who looked like she might melt on the spot the moment it touched her tongue. "Tough, dry, and flavorless?"
"Awful, just terrible," she half moaned.
Legolas laughed. "I do love your puns."
The back door opened and in came everyone in their Sunday clothes, Bibles in tow, and the looks on certain faces (namely Julie and Eddie) going from hangry to nearly drooling.
"Is lunch ready already?" Eddie asked as he came in.
"It most certainly is," Legolas answered with a smile. "Now run upstairs and change out of your clothes and come eat."
"I could just eat now," Eddie said with a grin.
"No, because the lamb needs to rest a few minutes before it is served. Now hurry along," Legolas said.
Lunch was every inch as delicious as it smelled, and Sue even woke up in time for it and headed down while the others were changing.
"Boy, does that smell good! I take it it's your doing, Legolas?" Sue said as she came into the kitchen.
"Yes, it is," Legolas said with a smile as he set the platter with the carved lamb on the table.
"What time is it?" Lothril asked as she looked around for a clock. "One. Good, give me your hand Grandma Sue, so I can see if you're better."
"Oh, I'm fine dearie," Sue began to protest.
"Elrohir will disown me if I don't check for myself," Lothril said.
"Can't have that," Sue said with a half grin as she held out her hand for Lothril.
Lothril took her hand between hers and began to sing and after a little she dropped her hand. "Right as rain!"
Before Sue could say anything, everyone came back into the kitchen and sat down to lunch.
The lunch conversation largely centered around how delicious everything tasted and Sue trying to figure out where on earth the lamb came from. After a while Legolas yielded and told her it was compliments of Glorfindel. This surprised Sue at first until she realized he did seem to have a knack for finding out things.
"Ed, Donna, I presume there is no way you could be persuaded to return on the morrow instead of this afternoon?" Legolas asked.
"I've got work in the morning and no vacation days to spare," Ed answered. "I've got flex time and they don't mind if I work four ten-hour days, but I've got meetings tomorrow for a project I'm on and I can't miss it."
Legolas nodded. Well did he know the weight of responsibility like that. "I understand, but it is a pity. We are celebrating Midsummer tonight with Elladan, Elrohir, and Glorfindel and we would have been thrilled to have you join us, but we understand."
"Midsummer? What do you do?" Julie asked.
"There is much singing, dancing, and merry making. At home there are parties up and down the river and at times a large party of us will go to the near edge of Lake Long and spend a few nights there swimming, boating, and merry making the whole while. We play games and tell stories; it is very good fun! Even the elflings join us and stay up as late as they can, though they oft do not make it much past midnight," Legolas answered.
"That sounds like fun," Julie said, her voice sounding laced with regret. "But I've got horse camp this week and I don't wanna miss it."
"And how go your lessons with Starlight?" Legolas asked.
Julie immediately launched into an uncharacteristically detailed description of her lessons and all the things she was learning about her horse, riding, and competing; which was something her trainer said she thought she could do and quite well by next year. Legolas was very pleased to hear of her progress and that she was enjoying lessons so much and that she loved her horse so much.
After lunch, to the mutual dissatisfaction of all, the Erickson's left earlier than usual because Ed said he had some work to do before the meeting in the morning, and so with hugs and kisses all around the Erickson's packed up the minivan and left.
Legolas half expected Lothril to be a bit more melancholy and morose than usual after this parting, after all, she would only see them twice more, but instead she seemed nearly excited.
"What time is it?" she asked as soon as they were gone.
"It's three-fifty-three," Sue answered. "And I've been meaning to ask, why is my Ren Fest costume out?"
"For you to wear tonight," Lothril answered. "I confess, I rummaged through your closet while you were asleep to see if you had anything suitable for tonight and found that. It ought to work very nicely!"
"Better you than Legolas, I suppose," Sue said, half teasing. "What time does everything start anyway?"
"As soon as the sun touches the top of the trees," Legolas answered.
"Don't you elves just ever give the time?" Sue asked teasingly.
"We do not have many clocks," Legolas answered.
"Then how do you tell time?" Sue asked.
"We do not keep overly strict schedules for one thing and we are naturally more aware of these things than humans seem to be," Legolas answered. "We also have things like sundials, hourglasses, and so forth if we want to know the exact hour or time things like how long something is baking or boiled eggs. However, we simply do not see a need to live by a very strict schedule."
"Sounds like retirement," Sue half said to herself. "Well, as I have until the sun touches the top of the trees, I'm going to go outside and do a little berry picking."
"Want some help?" Lothril offered.
"Only if you promise to eat as much as you pick," Sue answered.
"Want to join us?" Lothril asked Legolas.
"But of course!" Legolas smiled.
After an two or so hours of picking berries and Legolas singing songs of summer and midsummer, the elves decided what with their long hair they needed a few extra minutes to go get ready and so brought in their baskets of berries and then headed upstairs.
"When you are dressed, come to my room and I will help you braid your hair," Legolas said as they reached the top of the stairs.
"I most certainly will," Lothril replied as she turned towards the door to her room.
"Hold a moment," Legolas said as he leaned in and kissed her. "Mmm! Mordod! (blackberry)"
Maybe forty-five minutes later the elves came downstairs to find Sue wearing her costume which consisted of a white under dress with sleeves that came down to the elbow, a brocaded corset top in blue, and a tawny colored skirt. She was sitting on the couch and looking at a Reader's Digest when she saw Legolas and Lothril come down the stairs arm in arm.
She tossed down her Reader's Digest on the side table and said, "Up until a second ago I felt kinda silly and overdressed. Now I think I'm underdressed. Maybe I should go put on a necklace."
"If you wish to you certainly may," Legolas said. "It is however you wish to look festive."
"I'll be right back. You two look nice, by the way," Sue said as she got up and hurried upstairs.
"You do look nice," Legolas repeated to Lothril. "I think I will never tire of seeing you in this dress."
Sue came back downstairs wearing a short silver necklace with matching ring and earrings that was a pale blue glowing stone held in place by little silver vines. "There, that's better. Is it time to go?"
Legolas looked out the window and said, "It is time."
The elves donned their wreaths and told Sue the others would have one for her and they headed out as the sun was just above the treetops. As they entered the wood that separated their houses, the light grew gold and green as it filtered between the trees and to Sue it looked downright enchanted. Evening birds were singing and the breeze that stirred the leaves sounded sweeter? More musical? Were those wind chimes she was hearing? They didn't quite sound like wind chimes but…
They chatted a little as they walked and the light of the sunset filtering through the trees grew more enchanting and bewitching as they went. The air was seemed heavy with the scent of things green and growing.
"What a beautiful evening!" Sue exclaimed for the third time. "It really is! I cannot remember the last time I saw such a lovely evening! The sunshine coming through the trees, the rustle of the wind… it's just delicious out! Has whole day been like this and I just slept through it?"
Legolas grinned and said, "You were ill! You needed your sleep! But now is the time for waking and merrymaking and we will be certain to keep you awake and alert as long as possible!"
They came through the trees into the wooded but grassy back yard to find it rolling out before them like some small green valley full of lights. Lights strung in the trees, lights cunningly placed around the stone patio and down into the yard and even to the edge of the little river that cut through the property. Smack in the middle of the back garden was the fire pit Sue knew so well, and it had a very merry blaze going in it.
They had barely stepped foot into the yard when Glorfindel came all but dancing out of the house, circlet of flowers in hand and came up to Sue and said, "Greetings, friends! This is for you, Sue." He placed a wreath of buttercups on her head and took her hand and led her and the others towards the patio.
"Glorfindel, I really gotta say, you guys did a great job with the yard! Sam always kept it up so nice but this just looks amazing! I mean really, the lights in the trees, and the flowers - the garden looks like it's ready to burst!"
"Thank you, mellon," Glorfindel said.
"Mellon?" Sue repeated with knit brows.
"Forgive me, it is elvish and it means 'friend'. I imagine tonight we shall all be forgetting ourselves a little and speaking in a mix of tongues, but if we do remind us to go back to this one," Glorfindel said with a smile.
"It's alright – I like how elvish sounds anyway," Sue replied.
"Good, for though we have sought to render a few of our songs into this tongue, I am afraid most of them are still in Sindarin and some even in Quenya," Glorfindel said.
"Ooh! Quenya! I have heard so little of it but I do love the sound of it," Lothril said, her eyes lighting up.
"When you get to the Blessed Realm you shall hear it in plenty if you wish it. Many there still speak it regularly along with various dialects of both Quenya and Sindarin," Glorfindel replied.
"I do remember thinking the elves I met in the Halls of Mandos had a strange accent and would at times use words I did not know, but being a disembodied spirit made normal things like hearing and seeing very peculiar," Lothril said.
Glorfindel and Sue both looked at her wide eyed and Glorfindel said, "This is a part of your tale I have not heard, or at least not in full."
"Wait, this wasn't one of those ten minutes in heaven you saw your body as your spirit floated above it and went towards the light kinda things, was it?" Sue said skeptically.
"No, no! Nothing like that. Elves exist as both body and soul. Though the two are supposed to be permanently bound, we can in fact separate from our bodies and not be considered dead and return to them," Lothril answered.
"But it is exceedingly rare and under the most extreme of circumstances," Glorfindel added.
"In my case, my spirit or soul was summoned from my body by Mandos, which for your reference you could think of functioning like the Greek god Hades. However, I found Mandos to be very nice and kind, if not grave, but I would hate to be on his bad side," Lothril said and then shuddered. "Anyway, I was summoned to his halls and – well, long story short that's where I learned all that stuff about the exiles that I told you about and how I was an elf and all that."
"Yeah, I remember that now," Sue said as they reached the patio and sat down at the large wrought iron garden table that was painted white and had white wrought iron chairs that were mercifully padded with green and white striped cushions that were tied onto the back and seat. "I just hadn't realized it was an out of body experience. I thought it was a fever dream or vision like Jacob's Ladder."
"Yeah no, it was a tangible experience," Lothril replied. "Well… if I hadn't been a disembodied soul…"
"It is an odd feeling, is it not?" Glorfindel said.
"Quite," Lothril replied.
Elladan and Elrohir appeared beside the table and set down six crystal wine glasses with a delicate lace of vine and flowers etched into them and bottle that caught Sue's attention.
"That's a different looking wine bottle," Sue said. "May I?"
Elrohir presented it to her with a grin as Elladan took the empty chair beside Lothril and across from Sue.
"No label. Where does it come from?" Sue asked.
"Aah, this is a little something we brought here with us to celebrate completing our mission, but then when Lothril announced we would be here through Midsummer, we decided to save it for tonight," Elrohir answered.
"And before our friend Legolas gets too excited, it is not miruvórë," Glorfindel said with a smile.
"I am a little disappointed, but that is a pleasure I wish to experience first in the Blessed Realm," Legolas said with a smile.
"So what is this then?" Lothril asked as Elrohir poured her glass.
"This is a wine made by our mother," he answered.
"And a most excellent wine at that," Glorfindel added.
Lothril took a sip and her eyes lit up. "This is nice!"
Sue took a sip. "Yes, it is."
"If it is your mother's wine then I am most eager to taste it again," Legolas said as Elrohir poured his glass.
Elladan laughed, "That is high praise!"
Legolas took a sip then replied, "And it is well earned. This is every inch as lovely as I remember."
Elladan leaned in close to Lothril and said quietly in her ear, "By the way, dear sister, mother sends you her greetings and says she is most eager to meet you."
"Return my greetings and tell her I am eager to meet her also. And give Ada all my love," she replied.
"Friends," Elladan said to the others, "as this is a smaller estate and a small gathering, we have the rest of the food and drink in the dining room through those doors and you may get yourself food and drink at will and bring things out here or eat inside or whatever suits your fancy. But now that aduial is upon us, let us begin our merrymaking!"
Out of seemingly nowhere Glorfindel produced a small harp and Elrohir a flute and Elrohir began playing a tune and Glorfindel quickly joined in. The sound of the music was like water bubbling over rocks as it wends it way through the forest.
Legolas immediately stood and held out a hand to Lothril with a wide inviting smile on his face and his eyes shining. She took his hand and he led her a little ways from the table into an open space and they began to dance. Sue watched for a minute or so and said, "I knew with a gait like his he'd be a good dancer."
"Spoken like one who has danced herself," Elladan said.
"I used to do quite a lot of it back in the day," she replied.
"Then may I have this dance?" Elladan asked, standing and holding out a hand to her.
Sue took his hand with a smile and Elladan led her a little ways from the table and asked, "If I lead, can you follow?"
"I think so."
"Good," he said as he put her other hand around his waist and then placed his on hers and said, "This is a long song and the dance changes as the music does so I shall give you warning. With that he began leading her in what she figured was a six point box step. It was like a box step in that you return to basically where you started from, but instead of going in a square they seemed to be going in a hexagon and with each complete hexagon they switched who was facing which direction. After about three of these, Elladan began introducing some little variations in the footwork that matched variations that were happening in the music and then after a couple go rounds of that, he began introducing spins and half spins that also matched what was happening with the music.
They finished the song and Sue immediately went back to sit at the table and take a drink of wine. "That was fun! Thank you Elladan! But I need to sit the next one out if I'm going to party with you guys all night."
"You are welcome, and rest as long as you like," Elladan said with a smile and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Let us play something sweet, the three of us!" he added as he sat down beside Glorfindel and picked up his lute.
He began to play a more spirited song and the other two joined in and Sue watched as Legolas and Lothril took their positions and began a very lively dance that looked to her like a European folk dance but reimagined by Fred Astaire trying to show off. Even in her prime dancing days she would have been hard pressed to keep up with that on a Saturday night. She'd have had to work up to that and practice for hours, but there they were, floating in the soft golden light in an ethereal swirl of green, white, and blue and the chemistry between them so strong it was nearly electric.
As the song ended and Legolas had Lothril in a dip and he pulled her up and kissed her as the last note faded. When he broke the kiss he said something to her quietly which Sue couldn't hear but judging by the look on his face, she knew exactly what he said. The same things Richard used to say on the warm summer nights leading up to their wedding…
Glorfindel saw the look on Sue's face and without a word began playing a quiet and contemplative piece while Legolas took Lothril in his arms again and led her in a slow dance that fostered quiet conversation between them. After a minute or two Sue came out of her reveries and so brought the song to an end.
"Legolas!" Elladan said, drawing the love struck prince's attention, "Come take my lute and sing a song of Midsummer from the Woodland Realm."
"My pleasure," Legolas replied and relinquished Lothril's hand.
She went to sit down and Elrohir said, "Do not sit, sister! Legolas, make it a song we can all dance to while you are at it."
"As you wish," Legolas said as he took up Elladan's lute and gave it a strum and played a complicated snippet of a song to get a feel for it as the others abandoned the table and Elrohir arranged them in a circle. Legolas began playing a very evenly metered song that was conducive to circle dancing.
After the dance, which Sue had picked up on quickly, everyone had another round of drinks and Sue declared she wanted a bite to eat and so went into the dining room to find what had to have been the good silver and fine china of the original owner all spread out on one end of the table. There were those spice cookies like Elrohir gave her earlier, a variety of fresh fruits, a variety of cheeses, a cake, and something that looked like mini-pasties and she really couldn't make up her mind on whether or not she thought they were sweet or savory and decided the only way to find out would be to eat one. She also grabbed a little cheese and a couple more of those cookies.
All told she spent all of ten minutes in the house and when she came out she saw all the elves holding hands and dancing around in a circle singing something in elvish that sounded very bouncy and to Sue, very much like a drinking song or something. But then… the air outside suddenly seemed very rich and almost thick, but not humid and sticky. In fact, very far from that. It was like it was thick with light and smell like a house at Christmas that's filled with the smell of cookies, pie, and fire, and a Christmas tree, only this was heavy with the green smell of grass, earth, leaves, flowers, and starlight. Everything seemed almost dreamy and yet more vivid than waking… Sue sat down and her mortal mind was desperately trying to figure out reality at the moment and getting nowhere. She sat there watching them for a minute or two while eating and drinking some water she decided to bring out along with her food until Glorfindel noticed her sitting there and came over with an absolutely impish smile and eyes positively glowing.
"Come and dance with us, mellon! You have sat out for a while now and the stars are now full shining!" Glorfindel said as he took her hand and pulled her up quite by himself.
She truly hadn't realized how strong he was until that moment and it surprised her and she let out a surprised yelp, but she was not allowed to be off balanced as Glorfindel immediately had his other hand on her waist to steady her and pulled her into the circle where everyone else was dancing and singing, except Lothril who didn't know the song and so was only dancing except at the chorus which she had picked up on. She wasn't dancing more than a minute before she was being gently swept up in the merrymaking and forgetting she was sixty-something with mild arthritis in her hands and hip that likes to rotate out. Visions of starlight and lands she did not know began to fill her mind as stories of joy and beauty and love and light began to unfold around her and she felt like she was standing in the middle of the story until gradually she became aware that they were talking and laughing around the table as Elladan was pouring a round of drinks.
"Whoa!" Sue breathed as she began to regain her senses and gain her bearings. "That was weird. Was that elven magic?"
The elves all laughed and Glorfindel replied, "Nay, we were working no spell!"
"That's what you think. I'm telling you, I've never experienced anything like that before and I think you all were working magic whether you meant to or not," Sue replied. "And you all are drunk on it!" She said that winced as her age began catching up with her. "Ow! Guys, it's been fun, but I'm human and I'm old and I think I am going to call it a night. With all my heart, thank you for inviting me, but I'm going to call it early."
"If you are aching you should stay here for the night. We have many guest rooms and I am certain we can find clothes for you to wear to bed," Glorfindel offered.
"No, I – actually, yes. I think I'm too sore to walk back," Sue said.
"Carry on, friends! I will return presently," Glorfindel said as he offered Sue his arm and they headed inside. He led her into the living room and then down the hallway to the left. "Would you prefer a room that looks out over the backyard or the front?"
"Oh, the backyard. I might have you all singing in my window all night, but I'm gonna want to sleep in tomorrow," Sue said.
Glorfindel smiled, "As you wish." He opened the door on the left and flipped on the light to reveal a room that was quite frankly, one of the nicest bedroom she had ever seen. The bed was a large antique wooden number Sue imagined was brand new when the house was built. The bed looked freshly made and the room freshly cleaned with not so much as a speck of dust to be found.
"If you wish to wash up, you will find everything you need in the bathroom through that door there," Glorfindel said as he pointed to a wooden door with a crystal knob on the right hand wall. "I will see if I can find something for you to wear to bed. I will be back shortly."
"Thanks, Glorfindel," Sue said with a smile.
He left and she went into the bathroom to find it very well stocked for guests. She popped open the new toothbrush out of the package and brushed her teeth, then washed her face with one of the nicest feeling and smelling bars of soap she had ever encountered with a luxuriously soft and thick washcloth. She was beginning to suspect Sam and Sarah had used their own linens and towels and that these were original to the first owners or the mobster. Then she remembered Sarah saying something years and years ago about their being loads of stuff from previous owners in storage up in the attic and in the basement and here and there, but that she didn't like most of it but Sam wouldn't let her pitch it. Sue could see why. This stuff was quality.
She went back into the bedroom and ran her hand over the bedspread and began to inspect it. It was a peachy pink color she never would have picked, but it was soft! It felt like silk… and the embroidery was very fine. The pillow cases were matching peachy pink silk and Sue suddenly found herself wishing she had some gauzy feather boa trimmed house coat like Myrna Loy in 'The Thin Man' to wear. Only seemed appropriate.
Out of idle curiosity, she went over to the wardrobe and opened the doors to find some fur coats and a mink wrap hanging up. It was a large wardrobe… large enough for her to step inside… On a complete and utter whim she stepped inside and knocked on the back.
"What am I thinking?" she said to herself with a frown and a click of her tongue as she stepped out and closed the wardrobe. "I know exactly what I'm thinking – Lord of the Rings is sitting in the backyard drunk on midsummer magic, so why not Narnia? Maybe they're into mushrooms…"
A few second later Glorfindel returned, singing down the hallway as he did, and knocked on Sue's door, which she promptly opened. "Sadly, when we moved in all of Mrs. Johnson's things were already gone from the house, so we do not have any of her clothes to let you borrow. This however ought to fit well enough, if not be a little wide in the shoulders and do fine for sleeping, and here is a robe to go over it."
He handed her a very soft and smooth feeling light grey tunic that had very fine embroidery around the neck and the edges of the sleeves and the hem. The robe though looked like one of Sam's old (but very nice) house coats and was dark blue with white piping trim.
"Hmm… this tunic looks elvish to me," Sue said with a raised brow.
"It is one of mine and was washed only this morning, but it seemed like it would fit better than anything else we have in the house," Glorfindel answered.
"Well thank you, Glorfindel," Sue said with a smile.
"Sue," Glorfindel ventured with an almost timid sounding voice.
"Yes?"
He looked her straight in the eyes and said very seriously, "I have been looking for a chance to say this for quite some time now and since the opportunity is present, I will take it. When I came here I did not expect to make any friends amongst the humans here and I had little intention of trying as two years is but a blink in a life. However, I am very glad you befriended us and that I have befriended you. In Arda I would name you elf-friend, but here it would do little as we are the only elves and you shall meet no more. Your friendship has meant a great deal to me and I am honored to have it." He bowed in the elven fashion and added, "I told you I have never married because I had no interest and my focus was elsewhere, but after meeting you – your husband Richard was a very blessed man and if I ever do marry, it is because I have found an elleth that reminds me of you."
Sue stared at him wide eyed, blushing a little, and deeply flattered. This was one of those strange moments where the elvenness of him really seemed to shine through and the weight of his words really sank in and left an impression on Sue's mind. This was not an idle compliment, this was a very serious compliment given by someone who was older than the earth she was living on and he meant every syllable of it. "I've gotten more than a few compliments in my day, but yours is one of the few that really means something to me. I'm honored you think so much of me, Glorfindel," she replied, her eyes misting over a little.
"The honor is mine," Glorfindel smiled. "Goodnight, Sue."
"Goodnight, Glorfindel," Sue replied. He turned to leave and she said, "Wait a minute, I've got a question for you!"
He turned back to her and replied, "What is your question?"
"Do elves like mushrooms?"
His face reflexively scrunched up a little and he answered, "No, we do not. We are happy to let the hobbits enjoy them all. Why do you ask?"
Her face looked completely innocent as she replied, "No particular reason."
Glorfindel laughed and bid her goodnight again and left singing down the hallway and back outside.
Meanwhile the four left outside were in the middle of teaching Lothril a new dance when Glorfindel came back and picked up the harp and began to play the song the three ellyn were singing. Once the song was done the four dancers decided it was time for more food and drink and maybe tales around a fire, so Elladan set to stirring up the fire in the fire pit that was built into the center of the brick patio while Glorfindel kept playing and the other three went inside to get food and drink. Elrohir got what he wanted quickly and headed back out, but Lothril stayed Legolas for a moment so she could speak to him.
"Legolas, I greatly desire to sneak away with you for a few minutes. Would it be rude of us to do so?" she asked.
"Nay! Not at all. Let us go down to the stream for a little while," Legolas answered.
They abandoned their plates on the table and Legolas led her right out the door, past the others, and down to the stream without anyone so much as blinking at them. They walked just out of the reach of the lights before Lothril flung her arms around Legolas' neck and began to kiss him.
After a long, slow string of kisses she sighed and said, "Tonight is perfect! I feel so wholly eldar and all I want to do is dance and sing and kiss you! Please tell me Midsummer in the Woodland Realm is this nice!"
"Better. Much better. Though they are doing a very admirable job of giving you a proper taste of our Midsummer's with so few of us," he answered and then gave her a very heady little kiss. "But only a small taste."
"Shall we be able to steal away there also?" she asked, eyes glittering in the darkness.
"We shall," he answered and kissed her. "And when we are married we can do whatever we desire when we sneak away." She didn't miss the emphasis on the word 'whatever' but that thought immediately grew fuzzy as he wrapped her in his arms and pressed her against himself as he kissed her.
"I would love nothing more than to tarry here, but we ought to return to the others, for you have heard no tales yet," Legolas said.
"Tales?"
"Of course!" He gave her a quick peck and they headed back.
The others were all sitting around the fire on some chairs that were permanently around the fire pit. They were all playing and singing and when Legolas and Lothril approached, they ended the song and Glorfindel began playing a more repetitive tune as he began telling tales of the Eldar days and those fair summers.
After some hours the minuial began to creep along the eastern edge of the world though it was still very dark beneath the trees, and the elves decided an hour or two of sleep was in order after all so Glorfindel told them to avail themselves of any of the bedrooms except the first one on the left because that's where Sue was sleeping and so Legolas and Lothril went down the hall and the others went up the stair case just outside the living room to their rooms.
"I suppose this is as good as any," Lothril said as she went into the first bedroom on the right. "Wow! That bed is huge!"
Legolas, who had been prepared to continue on to the next room, turned back to see this purportedly huge bed. "I would not say it is huge. It is about the size of mine back home."
"Oh? Perhaps we should see how well we fit in it. You know, in case we decide we need something a different size," Lothril suggested.
Legolas arched a brow. "My but we are feeling bold this Midsummer night! As we did not get to spend much time away earlier, let us take advantage of this."
He entered the room behind her and closed the door. She took off her wreath and flung it onto the poster at the foot of the bed and Legolas did the same as she ducked behind a changing screen.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Taking off the outer layers of this dress and giving you a chance to disrobe as much as you want before bed," she answered.
Ever the practical one! He took off the flowing outer robe and kicked off his shoes and laid down on the bed in just his leggings and his pale green tunic which only had sleeves that came down to his elbows. She came out from behind the screen in just the silvery underdress and beheld Legolas laying stretched out looking perfectly at ease on the mint green bed covers even as he looked at her.
"I know I've seen you in less, and yet seeing you like that still sets my heart racing," she said.
"I can certainly say the same. Come, let us see how we fit on a bed this size," he said, holding out a hand to her.
She gracefully sat down on the edge of the bed and in one smooth movement swung up her feet and laid down beside him. "Hmm… I think this will do." She rolled over until she was against him and asked, "How much room is on the other side you?"
"There is plenty. In your estimation, shall this do?" he asked with a grin.
"I think it will, quite nicely," she said before she began rolling off the bed.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To turn off the light," she replied.
"Lay down, let me get the lights," he said with a smile and got of the bed and flipped off the lights and returned to bed to find she had pulled the blankets down, so he crawled beneath them and found her waiting to snuggle against him. He could not wait until this was how they fell asleep every night! Her pressed beside him, head on his shoulder, hand on his chest, fingers tracing lazy little circles as she drifted off… "Losto mae, Lothril. (Sleep well, Lothril)"
She shifted and pressed against him a little closer and he could now feel the entire length of her body against his own as she dreamily replied, "Laso mae, Legolas. Melon gin. (Sleep well, Legolas. I love you.)"
"Melon gin eithro. (I love you also)"
The next morning as Sue was leaving her room in her Renaissance festival costume, she saw the door across the hall open and saw Legolas and Lothril coming out of the room across the hall. She arched a brow and before she could say anything, Elladan appeared at the end of the hall and said, "Good morning! I was just coming to wake everyone and tell them breakfast is ready."
"Good morning!" Legolas and Lothril greeted in return and headed towards the kitchen.
"Hey Elladan," Sue whispered, "They aren't… are they?"
"No. Truly Sue, you needn't worry. They will not marry until they have returned. That they have developed a few unusual habits is neither here nor there," he answered. Was their sharing a room and a presumably a bed highly unorthodox? Yes. However, it had been clear to him and Elrohir from the beginning that those two never got a chance to try being conventional and it really seemed like there was little to no point in trying to foist conventions and norms on them now. Especially as they both seemed determined to wait until after the wedding feast to wed and were so very chaste around others (typically). Heavens, it wasn't like they didn't have ample opportunities to wed already if they were of a mind to. Goodness knows with how Legolas could hide, he probably found more than one little hollow more private than a bedroom across the hall from Sue. Besides, anything shy of marrying early was absolutely none of his concern or business.
Elladan and Sue joined the breakfast table to find the others chatting happily in elvish and abruptly switching over to English to be polite.
"I see you all are in a good mood and nobody's hung over," Sue said as she sat down.
"Of course we are not hungover," Elrohir said.
"We told you we were not drunk," Glorfindel added with a grin.
"I suppose drunk on magic wouldn't be the same as drunk on wine," Sue mused as she grabbed a biscuit.
"Truly Sue, we were not using magic last night," Elladan said.
"Oh, before I forget again," Lothril said as she set down her tea cup, "Do you still have all those morel mushrooms you gathered?"
"Yeah, why? You want to eat some?" Sue replied.
"Eew! No!" Lothril answered with a scrunched up face. "Mushrooms always make my stomach feel weird. However, I suspect I'll be going back to the minute I left, and if I do, I thought it might be nice to give the hobbits some morels. Sort of an edible souvenir."
"Sure! I've got more than I know what to do with anyway. I'll give you as much as you think they'll want," Sue said.
"They're pretty mushroom happy. They could probably eat the lot, but I'll take as much as you're willing to spare," Lothril said.
"I told you we do not like mushrooms," Glorfindel teased her quietly and Sue gave him a look and broke into a quiet laugh.
A/N: *lothil is the little white flower I made up… in case you forgot from like a whole story and 37 chapters ago.
