Lim Aear

Author's Note: Wheeeee! *squeals* Another review! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: See Prologue.

italics: thoughts


Chapter 9


“So there are two Elven kingdoms right now.”

Legolas nodded. Elaine had just been given a brief history of the Elves for the last few hours. She had not felt the tiniest hint of boredom, not even for a second. Legolas’ voice and eyes were colored by each memory differently and awoke her imagination to create the scenes in her mind. What magnificent creatures the elves were! And how much had the Prince endured! She had suddenly realized he was truly some thousands years old, even if his appearance did not say so. And that War of the Ring seemed to have affected him the most. A traumatizing experience indeed.

And people nowadays take everything for granted! she thought sadly.

The loss of his friends was also something that had brought sadness to his eyes. He spoke so fondly of that Aragorn and Gimli, they must have been close friends. It must have been very painful to see them grow old and fade away, while he remained unaffected by time.

She shook her head to send away painful memories. No, not now… Please… It was no time for tears and guilt. She could not share her greatest pain with no one. She was punished to suffer it alone. A just punishment according to her judgment, for what she had done.

Legolas looked concerned at the pained expression on her face. Something was wrong.

“El, are you alright?”

The sound of Legolas’ voice brought her back to the present. Despite the previous rush of sadness, she smiled heartedly when she heard her beloved Prince call her by her nickname.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Absentmindedly she looked at her watch: 4:20 in the morning. “A little tired I guess, it’s a bit late. I hope I do not keep you from sleeping…”

“Sleeping? No, Elves do not need much sleep, lirimaer.”

She blinked.

“What did you just say?”

Legolas smiled teasingly.

“Ah, you mean ‘lirimaer’! Well, I’m afraid you will have to learn our language and find out for yourself!”

She pouted. Legolas’ jaw tensed. Was she doing it on purpose? Being so unbelievably sweet, beautiful, attractive… tempting? For how long would he be able to control his emotions, his body’s response to her?

“Is it too late to ask you to show me your weapons? I’m really curious to see them! I mean… I’ve never seen real weapons from up close!”

Legolas let a sigh of relief at the distraction from his dangerous thoughts and smiled getting up and offering a hand to her. She took it and gently rose from the couch, following Legolas to the door. Once he had shut it behind them, he braced his arm around hers, risking a bit of closeness. Together they walked along the hall and a number of stairs in silence. Now and then, they would come across other elves, who looked at them curiously. Legolas would only nod his greetings and ignore their questioning glances. However, Elaine could not, so she clutched herself at his side, hiding like a terrified animal. Her excitement was what forced her to stay awake, since she was very tired, considering she had not had a peaceful sleep the past few days.

They reached another door and Legolas opened it. He motioned for her to get in the dimly lit room. Her breath was stolen away. It was much more beautiful than the other room! It had a fireplace with a small fire burning too, which Elaine found weird. It was July, though she noticed that the climate down there was slightly different than on the upper world. If it wasn’t for her jacket, she was sure she would feel cold.

She continued observing the room. There was a couch, some armchairs here and there, a wooden table, a desk, many selves filled with books… did this room end somewhere? Her eyes fell to a wall covered with bows, knives, swords… She had always had a fascination for martial arts, but she had never seen such weapons in real life. She took a few steps closer to the wall and touched an elegantly craved bow with her fingertips.

“’Tis the Lady’s gift for me, during the War of the Ring. A bow of the Galadhrim.”

Legolas came up behind her and looked at his weapons proudly.

“Normally they should be hanging on a wall in my study, but I am so emotionally attached to these weapons that I would have them nowhere but my room.”

She snapped out of her daze abruptly and turned around surprised.

“This is your room??”

“Aye…”

Legolas looked confused at her reaction.

She turned to look at the rest of the room, to which she had not paid attention before and realized it was indeed a bedroom. I can’t believe I actually ended up in his BEDROOM!! Across the door, there was a balcony overlooking the city and the lake. The view was breathtaking: small lights were twinkling all over the houses and on the lake, a silver path was drawn, but the source of the light, which had created it, could not be seen. She made a mental note to herself to ask Legolas about it later and brought her gaze to her right. There was a door that led to another room. She could not see what was inside, because it was dark. Her gaze traveled further on, to an imposing canopied bed, its silky curtains hanging down seductively, its length covered with pillows and heavy-fabric covers, which looked so soft, that she wanted to dive into their warmth. She had always dreamt of a bed like that, being a hopeless romantic.

“Is this your bed?”

Legolas nodded both amused and transfixed by the girl’s fascination.

“Can I… can I see it?” she asked hesitantly, a faint blush covering her cheeks.

“Of course.”

Legolas couldn’t stop himself from grinning widely. She was a child after all. Elaine slowly approached the bed and touched the covers. Velvet, silk, fur… A bed fit for a beautiful Prince like him. She sat on the bed and brought her face down to one of the pillows, gently rubbing it against her cheek. She closed her eyes and breathed in Legolas’ scent on the fabric. How soon had she grown to love his sweet scent… his eyes… his smile… his warmth… She imagined Legolas lying on the bed… sleeping… holding her in his arms… Her hands spread out and sank under the covers, enjoying their softness and coolness. She lied down fully and rested her head on the silky mattress. She could feel a pair of eyes burning into her, but she was too tired to shut them out…

Legolas’ smile gradually fell and his heart began a wild race at the sight before him. He had dreamt of that; Elaine spread over his bed, nuzzling the pillows, seductively –yet innocently- stretching and rolling on the sheets… But in his dreams he was with her, holding her close, matching her every move…

Why are you doing this to me, El…?

The evidence of his arousal made him feel once more uncomfortable in his leggings. The air suddenly grew hot and he had to take a deep breath to cease the tremors that traveled through his body. He rubbed his neck unconsciously and tore his gaze away from her.

After a few seconds, the slow, rhythmic breathing of Elaine made him turn his eyes back to her. Slowly, he approached her, eyebrows drawn together in confusion and realized… she had fallen asleep! He cursed himself inwardly for tiring her with his storytelling and gently took her sandals off. Carefully, he picked her up, her bare legs dangerously coming in contact with his arm, and pulled the covers up. He placed her gently in the middle of the bed and brought the covers back up to keep her warm from the chilly breeze that came through the balcony doors. He hoped the fire would keep her warm.

He looked at her sleeping form. Her long thick eyelashes were peacefully lying on her golden skin and her lips were slightly parted; her hair was spread all over the pillow and around her head, her chest rising and falling rhythmically with every breath she took. Such a beautiful sight she was! Lightly illuminated by the fire’s glow, this mortal truly looked like a goddess to him.

A shaking hand was brought to her hair and sank in its depths. Legolas closed his eyes while his fingers felt the silky texture of her strangely colored tresses, increasing his curiosity about the mysterious nature of that young woman. His fingers traveled up from her bare arm, to her shoulder, neck and cheek. He had never met a mortal with such soft skin and hair. Could this woman be a half-elf?

His thoughts were interrupted when Elaine unconsciously leaned into his touch. His leggings were constraining him almost painfully. His fingers, now moving completely out of his emotions, since reason had left him long ago, traced her full lower lip, eliciting a faint moan from Elaine. A violent shudder shook his body. He couldn’t take it anymore. He finally leaned in to taste her.

Just as he was about to touch her lips, Elaine turned away again in her sleep. He suddenly opened his eyes, realizing what he was doing. Reality hit him like a bucket full of cold water and he got up, hurrying to the door. What was happening to him? Where was the discipline and impassiveness he was so well known for? Where was the noble member of the Fellowship and Prince of Lim Aear? For thousands of years, he had kept his heart and emotions in control… and now whenever he was around that mortal girl he could not keep a straight thought! That should be love then. The burning feeling at her loss, the uncontrollable rush of emotions at her touch, the peace he felt at her presence… For the first time in his long life he had finally heard love’s song.

He opened the door and got out of the room without glancing back. He needed to get away from her, for the sake of his sanity. He needed to think… Collect his emotions and put them in the right order… Ponder on his next actions… Many battles he had won. He would court the lady mercilessly and come out the winner of that one, too.


Stay tuned for the next (long!) chapter!