Mary Goes to Mirkwood

Mary Goes to Mirkwood

Chapter Twelve/?

2004 Revised Edition

Co-Authors: Mary A & Malinorne

Disclaimer: Just playing with Tolkien characters, for fun, and not profit, do not claim to have created them.

Warning: Adult sexual situations/Mild consensual BDSM(spanking)/ LOTS of nudity.

Summary: After being wined and dined, Mary and Mal are danced with, and a few other surprises are administered before the night is over.

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Important note! This chapter 12 was originally the second half of an over long chapter 11. Ch 11 has been cut into two pieces, and renumbered, and the chapter 12 that was here before will be renumbered to chapter 13 next week when that revised chapter is added.


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~ Mary ~

When the dance music started, the wine merchant suddenly stood andd hid his greasy hand out to Mal. She was looking at the king in desperation, it seemed, but he told her he would be pleased if she were to dance with his guest. I watched in sympathy as the gross man took her out onto the floor and clutched her to himself.

The seneschal gave me his throat-clearing signal and, when I looked at him, he inclined his head across the table towards Haryl. The young town treasurer was standing and waiting with his hand extended to me and with a charming smile on his sweet face. He was not the most graceful of dancers but he seemed quite willing to take me around the floor in whatever direction I asked. At first, I told him to stay close to Mal.

"I have to keep an eye on her," I explained to him. "For the king." I added quickly. It felt nice to talk to someone who could not read my thoughts. It meant I could say anything I wanted.

"Oh?" replied the treasurer, with a touch of worry in his voice, "The king's concubine seems quite polite and well-mannered. Is there any reason for concern?" He had taken my words so much the wrong way that I almost laughed. But, before I could explain, he continued, "What is her name, exactly? It was diflt tlt to understand His Excellency, Lord Thaladwhenwhen he introduced her."

"Malinorne," I pronounced. "It's Elvish." His eyes grew wide with wonder. I could see her reputation had been enhanced instantly. He asked me if I knew what her name meant.

"Um, I think it means 'tree-girl,'" I answered. "Or something like that." I looked back to the table and was shocked to see that Helca had moved into my seat and was talking quite intimately with Thranduil.

In the meanwhile, Renk had moved said tree-girl further away from us into the crowd of dancers. I was suddenly less interested in Mal and her dance partner than the icy elleth who had her hand on the king's arm as she leaned towards him while speaking.

"Excuse me, my lady," asked Haryl, "a tree girl?" I tore my eyes from the king and realized, suddenly, that my young dance partner was more interested in Mal than he was in me. He had not even noticed I was not looking at him as his eyes had been glued on her the whole time. He was trying to dance closer to her, I was trying not to, and we were nearly at a stand-still in the middle of the dance floor.

"Yes, she was left in a tree when she was a baby, you know," I replied as if it was a well-known fact. "And she was raised by squirrels."

He looked back at me, alarmed, but at least I had his attention. In a serious and sober tone, I continued, "It was a tall beech tree, oh yes. That is where the wood-elves found her, and they named her Tree Girl. But, sadly, they are having a terrible time breaking her of many bad squirrel habits. Like constantly digging holes and burying things."

"But, she seems quite normal to me," he said after glancing over in her direction with a look of growing concern in his bewildered eyes. I could not believe that he took me so literally at my word, and I felt a little guilty, but I was having too much fun to stop now.

"Yes, well, she does seem normal," I explained. "You see, as long as she has plenty of nuts to eat before dinner, the king can usually count on her to behave herself for a few quiet hours." We began moving again, away from the nut-eating tree-girl.

"Quiet?" asked the increasingly worried treasurer.

"Oh, you should hear her when she gets hungry and starts to chatter like a squirrel. It's quite ear-piercing." By now he was suffering mightily as he staggered under the news about the king's wild concubine. "But," I added reassuringly, "one gets used to it."

"Her first night here," I added, "she slept outdoors, in a tree. But, she is learning to adjust to sleeping inside."

"And so you are here to..?" he began.

"Be her keeper, of course," I finished for him. "But just until she gets settled in here with the king and is completely house-broken."

"Ah," he nodded. "I see, yes, of course."

"It should not take very long," I added. "She is quite clever, she learns fast." I wondered how long it would take for this legend to become fact in the region. It would probably only enhance her reputation all the more.

"They say," said the young treasurer thoughtfully, "that elves do have a way with trees and wild animals."

"Oh, yes," I agreed. "Especially squirrels." I looked over to the king, who was staring right at me.

He knew. Exactly. What I was saying to Haryl.

I hastily turned back to my dance partner to confess. And I would have told Haryl that I had been making up the whole story, I really meant to do so, but the music came to a halt, and, before I could say a word, Master Darek had replaced him and I was dancing to a new tune.

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~ Mal ~

When Renk held his hand to me, I felt a cold shiver down my spine as I realized that the king was nodding "yes". At first, the wine merchant behaved quite well, and perhaps it was unfair of me to feel such disgust. But then he showed his true colours. He held me considerably closer than necessary and I was glad that his fat belly prevented any contact between our nether regions.

The only time he stopped talking, and breathing down my neck, was when he leaned back a little to leer at me. When I felt his hand slip from the small of my back I looked destelytely at the king; I could well understand if he wanted to make the negotiations go smoother by letting his business partners dance with us, but he couldn't possible allow downright pawing, could he?

Obviously he could do just that. Thranduil, the possessive Elvenking, was sitting at the table and though he seemed engaged in a conversation with the ice maiden, he was looking straight at us. He must have been aware of everything and he did nothing to prevent, or hinder, it. He did look somewhat agitated, but not disapproving, more like he was concentrating on something.

As politely as possible I asked the merchant to move his hand back to its previous position, something he clearly misunderstood as he whispered to me in a voice that was still loud enough for every elf in the room to hear it.

"Don't fret, my dove, the Elf-king and I are old... hm, perhaps not friends, but business partners."

Again I asked him, with a little desperation in my voice, please to remove his hand, as I felt that now more eyes than the king's was turned towards us. This made the merchant comply, but he danced us further away from the tables, in among the many other couples and the darker part of the room. I caught a glance of Mary, who was dancing with the Town Master's treasurer, Haryl.

Earlier, just before the presentation, I had heard Master Darek whisper to the young treasurer that he must heed whatever he said or did so that he under no circumstances make the king think that he attempted to court the king's women.

The young Haryl must have been impressed with the words of Master Darek, because when I caught him looking in my direction, he looked confused and even a little frightened. I couldn't see any reason for that, as Mary seemed to hold the young man in a tight grip and though he was taller than it it was no question of who was leading the dance.

I was interrupted in my thoughts by Renk, who seemed to have reached his destination, as he continued his assault on my body, assuring me that we could be almost undisturbed now.

"Nobody will see us here; ah, let me feel your pretty little ass now."

The king was still watching; and I was convinced that he would not help me out. I wondered if this was another test; to see how far my willingness to be with him went, if I would be prepared to do anything required by a royal concubine. I decided to endure the trial, though I realized now that my decision to live with the Elvenking would take more than I had expected. But I had made my choice, and I would endure this. I would prove to the king that I was ready to do my part in easing his burden with the upcoming negotiations.

That didn't mean that it was easy. I felt cold sweat on my forehead as the merchant's plump fingers continued their exploration of my backside. And as if it wasn't bad enough that he was feeling me up, he talked all the time as well, making me sick with his bad breath of sour wine and garlic. He was in bad need of a dentist, too.

"I don't doubt," said the merchant in a meaningful voice, "that the hot-tempered old elf-king still has enough life in him to give you a good round in the bedstraw now and then, but you're not getting nearly enough; that's clear from that wanton gaze of yours."

I was dumbstruck; this was unbelievable! 'Wanton gaze'? Was the man blind? Apparently he was, because he continued talking as if what he had just said was a normal statement in polite conversation.

"Tell me, did he snatch you from your village on a Midsummer's night? Such cases are not unheard of... Or, perhaps he put a spell on you first? They do that, elves, enchant womenfolk so they can have their way with them without the victims remembering anything. A dream, they think it was. The elf-stricken get all starry-eyed and go through life in a haze, slowly losing contact with reality, and there's only one cure..."

Considering who said it, I had no doubt what that cure was, and I felt I couldn't let Renk just go on and on with this silly talk.

"I came here by my own will," I said as calmly as I could under the circumstances. "The Elvenking means more to me than anybody else. And I intend to stay here for as long as he wishes."

The merchant stared at me, open-mouthed with surprise, as if he were regarding a particularly bad case of elf-sickness. There was even a flicker of pity in his eyes, for just a moment, before he was his disgusting old self again.

"Know this, my child, that when he tires of you, you can always come to me. Renk has cured a few maidens in his days, yes he has!"

Again he laughed loudly, and before he could say anything more, the c chc changed, and I found myself eye to eye with young Haryl. Reluctantly, Renk handed me over to the treasurer, and I breathed a sigh of relief.


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~ Mary ~

The Town Master asked me again how I was enjoying my stay in Mirkwood as if, now that I was out of the king's earshot, I might be more forthcoming. He seemed fatherly and interested in my welfare. I was touched. I assured him that the king was neither brutal nor cruel, as might be feared by the common people of Esgaroth.

"You must come to Lonke Tke Town for a visit as soon as you leave Mirkwood," Master Darek said. "It is quite peaceful at this time of year, quite restful." I noticed that the king was dancing with Helca. I could not see Renk anywhere.

"How sweet of you to ask," I murmured after I pretended to consider his invitation. "But I am not planning on leaving here any time in the near future." We then danced closer to the king and Helca anwas was mesmerized, suddenly, by their very intimate dancing technique. But the icy-eyed elleth did not seem at ease to me, and I wondered why she wore such an unpleasant glaring scowl on her face as she danced with Thranduil.

"My dear lady, I must have been misinformed," he sounded puzzled. "I was told you might desire to leave these halls as soon as possible? Within the next few days...?" His voice trailed off after I jerked in shock at his words and pulled my eyes from the king to stare at him instead.

"Let me guess," I asked, "Thaladir told you that?" Before he could answer, I added. "I think he is trying to get rid of me. Don't pay attention to him. I am quite happy here." It hurt to think that the seneschal was so eager to see me gone.

"My Lady," said the Town Master, "I apologize most sincerely if I am mistaken, but I was also informed that..." He trailed off again, uncertain of how to proceed as I glared at him.

"Informed that... what?" I demanded.

"That you are uncomfortable dwelling here amongst the Elvenfolk." Haryl and Mal danced nearby, the young treasurer seemed even more fascinated than before with the wild tree-girl who he held in a somewhat tentative embrace.

"Oh, do tell," I replied with a smile. I looked back over at the king and Helca. The frosty elleth was glaring over Thranduil's shoulder at me. As soon as she noticed I was looking at her, she flicked her eyes away. "That is actually becoming truer by the minute," I added.

I barely paid attention as the Town Master explained that, as I had not yet visited his fair city he had assumed I would appreciate the invitation to enjoy the fresh air, and friendly gentle-folk, of the Long Lake and escape the gloomy, torch lit and elf-infested halls of Mirkwood. The music ended, a new tune began.

"Thank you, Master Darek," I said. "You have been most informative." He escorted me back to the table and left me there with a bow. Before I could sit, Renk, the wine ment, nt, grabbed me and swept me out onto the floor. I had no time to refuse, he held me close to him so that I could not break free.

His clammy hands on the bare skin of my back made my skin crawl. He tried to clutch me even closer to his large midsection but I resisted. He laughed at my weak attempts to stave off his massive bulk and I could smell his dinner on his breath, plus the wine he had slopped all over his robe. I felt more horrified by the minute as we moved among the other dancers.

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~ Mal ~

Haryl was a pleasant dance partner, not very skilled, perhaps, but polite enough that I enjoyed the dance until I looked towards the king's table, eager to see if he would be pleased with how I'd managed with the merchant. But Thranduil's seat was empty, and it didn't take me long to see why; he was dancing. I had been prepared to see him with Mary, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight that was now before my eyes.

Helca and Thranduil were a stunning couple; nobody could deny that. They were cold and heat, ice and fire, and I almost expected to see clouds of steam around them as they came together in a dance more intimate than what I would have thought possible in these halls, during a formal dinner and before an audience. He had a hand buried in her mass of hair, and it looked like she was licking his ear. It soon became unbearable and I turned my attention back to my own dance partner.

The young man seemed shy and didn't talk very much, but when he did, he almost always seemed to speak about trees. He had many questions, like which were my favourite ones; and if I weren't afraid of heights and at what time of the year the leaves turn yellow in the forest where I lived, and other such things.

It was probably only his idea of a safe topic for conversation, but with the interest he seemed to take in growing things, I felt Middle-Earth had lost a great forester when this young treasurer turned to numbers instead of plants.

He was a little funny, but, over all, a nice acquaintance. And when he had followed me back to my chair, he made a fuss about bringing a small bowl of nuts from the table behind us, and he offered it to me with the nicest little smile. I smiled back, of course, and picked a walnut, though, in my opinion, it is a treat best enjoyed at Christmas time.

As soon as I had eaten the nut, Legolas reached out his hand towards me, and I stood. His blue eyes glittered and he smiled when he told me that though he would love to have this dance, he was asking on behalf of a friend. I noticed that Canath, the shy elf that had been sitting besides the repugnant merchant, was standing behind the prince.

"Devich enni i 'lass gwend lin?" [Will you grant me the joy of your company?]

"Devin" [I will.] A gentlemanly elf was just what I needed after the men, and as Canath led me out onto the dance floor, he smiled and spoke again.

"Delib i cherid in-edain sin," [The doings of these men are loathsome] he said, and added that he found it hard to believe that Mary and I were of the same species as these hairy, smelly ones. I would have laughed if he hadn't looked so serious. He was a gentle elf and I enjoyed every moment of dancing with him, of listening to his soft voice.

Mary had not had the same luck this dance, and as I watched Renk pulling her into his embrace, I felt so sorry for her that I almost forgave her the incident with the singing.

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~ Mary ~

"Now, now, missy you don't have to fight me," Renk chuckled as he licked his already wet lips. "After spending time with these girlish elves are you not ready to taste genuine man meat?" He pulled me so tightly to him that I lost my breath for a moment. His hand on my back traveled dangerously low. "Why don't you come along to my room with me, let a real man give you some proper attention?"

"What?" I stopped even trying to pretend like I was dancing and stopped dead still. "No, you didn't. You did not just say that." I was so stunned that the full impact of his words took a moment to sink in completely. I felt a surge of anger flow through me and without thinking I shouted, "How dare you!"

He backed off as if flinching away from a thrown fist, and swiftly moved his hand on my back to a more respectable position. A few elves dancing near us had paused. The wine merchant's eyes grew large and uncertain.

"Come now," he sputtered, "I can enjoy a feisty romp, now and then, but I prefer my night's amusement to be more on the friendly side."

"Night's amusement!" I hollered. "Did Mister Thaladir tell you that?" Now many more elvere pre pausing to watch. I lifted my chin. "That I am to be your amusement for the night?"

"Lord Thaladir?" Renk bellowed. "Lord Thaladir?" he repeated and laughed heartily. "No, my lady," he finally answered, his mood swiftly changing from amusement to derision. "I don't think that stiff old prune even knows the meaning of the word!"

He clasped me to him even tighter and, as I squirmed with disgust, his eyes rekindled with lust, "But I certainly do, and if you are willing to learn the real meaning of..." He cut off abruptly and stood stone still. He turned his head to be confronted by Thranduil's stormy gaze.

"That is enough," said the king, his deadly calm voice acted like a bucket of ice water over the fat man's balding head. Renk drew in his breath and gave me one last nasty squeeze before releasing me into the arms of my royal rescuer without another word.

"How are you faring?" asked Thranduil as we dancedy fry from the wine merchant. The king actually looked pleased with me, as if I had done something that made him proud. His hand at my back sent tingles down my spine erasing the memory of the wine merchant's damp, sickening touch. But I felt not that much safer than I had with the fat smelly man.

"Ugh, I feel sick to my stomach," I said. "And I need a bath. Did you hear what he said to me?" His large hand at my back stroked me gently, softly, as if I were an animal who needed petting to make it calm down. It did feel nice. But it was not nice enough. "Why did you let him even come near me?"

"There are limitations to even what I can do to prevent you from being uncomfortable every minute of the day, my lady." Although his words alone were little comfort, his tone was nearly apologetic. He pulled me closer; his delicious scent was almost enough to make me forget the wine merchant's stench.

"Uncomfortable?" I repeated. He knew I felt more than that and I had a new suspicion. I asked, "Are you the one who told him that I was to be his 'amusement' for the night?" His stood still for a moment and his face grew tight, almost fierce.

"Renk told you this?" I could tell the king was surprised to hear that. He looked about him, his eyes narrowed, and then he said, "I think there are many in my halls who speak out of turn and this may be just one more occasion. I will make sure that the offending party is corrected." Then he looked back into my eyes. "You must never doubt me." He held me close to him for the rest of the dance, and I did not want to feel angry with him when I knew he would soon abandon me for his concubine.

The men would return to their homes before long, but I was never going to leave the halls of Mirkwood and especially not with them. Wild horses would not be enough to drag me away.

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~ Mal ~

"Aran vin anira le." [Our king desires you.] The music had stopped and Canath spoke softly in my ear as he led me by the hand, not back to the table, but closer to where the musicians were, and the king.

Thranduil said something to them, and they started playing a slow tune with a rhythm that I can only liken to lazy waves rolling in on a sand beach. Canath withdrew with a respectful bow as soon as the king acknowledged our presence with a nod. When he turned towards me I was again stricken by his beauty and regal appearance.

Indeed, I almost think I would have swooned if he had not closed the distance between us in two long strides, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I put my hands on his shoulders and leaned my head against his chest, and allowed myself the luxury of just breathing his scent, feeling his warmth, while he led us in a slow dance.

And then I remembered the horrible experience with Renk, and I wondered if the king was pleased with me now.

"Thank you for being so accommodating towards the merchant," he said. "He is valuable to me."

I froze for a moment. What was that supposed to mean? That I was not valuable to him and... No. When I looked up into the king's face, I saw that his gaze was hard now and focused on the merchant across the room. I did not wish to be in the shoes of the abominable man the day the king of Mirkwood ceased to be interested in his services.

Then the Elvenking looked at me again and I could see his gaze become soft and caressing, just like his hands on my back. "You are an excellent concubine," he said before he kissed me with a fervour that made me ache for him to do so much more. I moaned a little and he pressed me hard to himself.

We continued to dance like that for what felt like an eternity, and then the king finally whispered into my ear what I had been longing to hear; that we should move on to the royal bedchamber, lest we embarrass his guests. He bid everyone good night in a loud voice, and it felt wonderful to sweep out of the hall on the king's arm.

When we passed the three men, I lifted my chin and looked Renk straight into the eyes with as much disgust as I could muster. And this time I think he got the message.

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~ Mary ~

When the king and Mal began to dance, I knew that they would not stick around the party much longer, now that they had their chance to be alone together in his royal bedchamber. I thought I was resigned to my agreement with him, but, although I had been somewhat soothed by his caresses, I still felt sick. Legolas stood before me and I gratefully let him take me into his arms. We danced for a short time, but I did not want to stay there.

"I feel ill." I told the prince. "Will you take me outdoors for some fresh air?" I asked. As if his body left a scent behind that clung to my skin, I could still smell the wine merchant. Without question, Legolas guided me to the doors immediately.

My wrap was located and placed around my shoulders by a helpful elleth at the door. I looked over the heads of the dancing crowd and could see the tall seneschal scowling in our direction, but he made no immediate move towards us to prevent our departure.

As if by magic, we were out of the halls, with Legolas leading me along by the hand, and then out of the gates and into the fresh, sparkling clear night. The crisp autumn air was medicinal and I felt better at once.

The stars twinkled in small patches between the trees above our heads as we walked along a path in the forest. I felt utterly safe with the Elfprince beside me. He assured me there were no spiders within miles of the king's halls and I should not give that matter any further thought.

After Legolas and I had walked a while I told him about the conversation I had with the swinish merchant on the dance floor. He was shocked to hear about Renk's disgusting language and horrible assumptions, but reassured me that there must have been some type of misunderstanding. He convinced me that I had, perhaps, overreacted.

And he was quite certain, adamantly so, that his father's seneschal, at least, had not said, or done, anything out of turn. That was just not possible.

"But, it is possible;" proffered the prince, "that rumor of your arrival here has reached Esgaroth and has led those men to jump to rather unfortunate conclusions." We talked for awhile about how the people who resided beside the Long Lake had many superstitious beliefs about elves in general, and a few had some very unfortunate suspicions about the king.

"Okay, I believe you," I conceded. "But, I still think Thaladir hopes one of those men will lure me away with them, somehow." I felt strangely sad thinking that the seneschal believed I would leave my beautiful king for some hairy, smelly man. But Legolas persuaded me to think otherwise.

He had a feeling that it was more likely a jealous elleth in the royal house who had poisoned the wine merchant's already weak mind. He would not say who; but I suddenly remembered that Helca was talking to Renk when we came to the table. I had to agree that was a possibility.

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~ Mal ~

"I have prepared a surprise for my seneschal," said the king. "He has had too much on his mind lately, too many interruptions of the peace here for him to feel at ease. I will cheer him up, and I want you to assist me by not speaking, for as long as Thaladir will stay here. Do not be afraid, just do as I say and be quiet all the time. You will like it. I can guarantee that."

The way the king's eyes glowed should have made me run out of there, but I remembered how good it had been the last time I had been told to be silent and was also curious about what sort of prank Thranduil would pull on his closest and most trusted elf. And an opportunity to perhaps get to see a crack in the shell of respectability and impassivity that the seneschal seemed to always wear would be well worth the small sacrifice of not speaking, even if I loved to tease him.

I stayed in bed while the king put on a thin robe of the smooth material that was usually used for tunics, and tied a sash of the same material around his waist. He looked absolutely gorgeous and I wished that he hadn't chosen this particular moment to embarrass the seneschal, but it was too late to regret agreeing to play along.

There was a knock on the door and the king opened it and asked Thaladir to take a seat on the bench along the wall to the left of the bed. I watched him and smiled a little when he looked uncomfortable at seeing me between the sheets and even more so when the king walked back to the bed. I began to suspect that Thranduil had invited his seneschal to watch the king and his concubine in bed. This could be fun!

"Now, Mal", said the king, and pulled away the sheet that was covering me. The seneschal gasped, but quickly regained his usual stone face, though perhaps his cheeks were just a little rosy. "Get up and go over to Thaladir," the king continued, and I did so, revelling in the way the seneschal seemed to concentrate hard to stare right through me as if determined not to notice my nakedness.

"Place yourself over his knees." I was startled at hearing this command, and the king had to remind me of my promise not to speak and to do whatever he told me to. So, obediently, I climbed up on the wide bench and crawled over the seneschal's legs, then sank down so that I was positioned across, in his lap.

Then the king told me to cross my arms under my chin and turn my head to the right. That way, I was lying on the bench, but with my behind slightly raised in the air, and still my head was high enough for me to see the king, who was now reclining on the bed, half-lying against the pillows, handsome and sexy as hell.

He said something to the seneschal, who moved me atle tle to achieve the perfect angle, parting my legst ast a wee bit, and then the king spoke to me again. "Mal, look at me now, steadily. I want you to look right into my eyes."

I did, and, as always, his glance made me feel absolutely powerless, and deliciously so. I felt Thaladir's hand on my head, stroking my hair and then stopping at the nape of my neck, just resting there, as if to remind me to lie still.

Some sort of signal seemed to be exchanged between the elves, because I felt the seneschal's thighs tense for a moment and in the next second his right hand landed on my behind in a firm slap. I gasped. One. The king untied his sash and let the robe fall open to reveal his magnificent erection. Two. I don't know what made me count. Now he slowly dragged his hand over his chest, down to his belly, where he stopped. Three. Thranduil moved his hand to his hardness and... four... began to stroke it.

Whimpering, just a little, as it was unbearably painful to watch him and not be able to touch, I lifted my gaze to his eyes... five... that were filled with lust, just like my own, and I could feel that the usually cool seneschal's desire was awakening as the evidence thereof twitched against my hip. Six, seven, eight. A series of quick, lighter, but still smarting slaps, and I moaned again.

It was difficult to lie still now that the seneschal's hand rested for a moment on the back of my thighs, and it slipped between them for just a second, making me raise my behind slightly and part my legs a little more, before Thaladir seemed to remember what he… nine, a little harder now… was supposed to do.

The king continued to stroke his manhood, which I saw only momentarily before I went back to looking into his mesmerizing eyes... ten... the seneschal was breathing loud now and it was a fantastic sensation to be caught between the two elves' passion like this.

Eleven... oh... the king's eyes and the way he looked at me... twelve... if this would only stop now so that I could join him on the bed… thirteen… or never stop because it felt so good, oh yes it did… fourteen... and I lost count... couldn't think any longer... only feel... and meet the seneschal's hand… and moan softly, while I continued to look at the king with eyes glazed over with desire.

"Thaladir?" There was suddenly a different flicker in the king's eyes and he grinned, as if some new, devious thought had just formed in his agile mind.

"Yes, My Lord?" The seneschal's voice was more strained than ever before and it was evident that he had trouble saying even these three little words that must have been among the most used in his vocabulary. He spoke slowly, with great care, but not succeeding to hide the lust that made him sound entirely different from his usual expressionless self.

"Take her." The king looked at me very carefully now, and I swear that he took even more pleasure in seeing my shock and disbelief, and hearing me gasp, than from watching my reactions to Thaladir's thorough treatment of my behind.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mary ~


After Legolas and I had walked and talked for a while, I finally felt well enough to return to the Mirkwood halls although I was not looking forward to being locked in my room. There was only one bed in the palace that I wanted to spend time in, but Mal was there tonight. We had stayed outdoors until I was sure that the king had plenty of time to have exited the dining hall with his concubine.

"I have some news that I have been putting off telling you," said Legolas. "Let us go to my chambers, we can have some privacy there." That sounded so much better than being locked in my own room that I accepted the offer immediately.

As we strolled along on our way back to the halls, I recounted the exchange between the king and his seneschal before I was escorted to my rooms. The prince pointed out that his father's order to Thaladir, about posting guards at my door, was more likely meant as a precaution to prevent any unwanted visits from the overly inquisitive, or otherwise lusty, men.

"He could have said that to me," I protested. It still smarted a little that the king had indicated to Thaladir thamighmight seek for pleasure in another bed in the palace if denied the royal one.

"But how would you have behaved towards those men at dinner?" asked Legolas."If you had thought they might have low intentions? As Renk, at least, has demonstrated to have had."

"No differently than I did," I answered after thinking it over for a while. "I guess that I naturally assume that all men will have low intentions, eventually," And then I added. "Especially after they have had too much wine to drink." Although I could not forgive the wine merchant his odious remarks, his hideous drunken advances had been boringly predictable.

"There are elves with low intentions, as well," remarked the prince with a chuckle.

"That is fine with me," I replied. "The company of an elf with the lowest intentions possible is still preferable to that of nearly any mortal man, to me at least." He laughed when I told him that suffering through one of the seneschal's most boring lectures, while sitting on that hard chair in his father's study, was more enjoyable than a minute on the dance floor with that disgusting pig, Renk.


~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

~ Mal ~


"My Lord?" Thaladir sounded as surprised as I felt, and his hand lay resting on my cheeks, the thumb gliding back and forth over my tender skin as if the tension of the situation made him unable to be still.

"You heard me. I can see your need and it pleases me to reward you with this small indulgence, as a proof of my satisfaction with your services during all these years. Take her, now, here."

The seneschal didn't hesitate a second time, but quickly lifted me from his lap and placed me on the edge of the bed on my hands and knees, facing the king, and unfastened his leggings in seconds, as if in a hurry to proceed before Thranduil could change his mind. A wide grin spread on the king's face as he watched the scene before him, never ceasing to stroke his lordly hardness in a slow rhythm that seemed to hypnotise me.

Abruptly awaked up from my dreamy state by the seneschal's length that entered me from behind, the immense pleasure this caused made me moan out loud, and the gaze in the king's eyes as I looked up at him intensified the feeling unbelievably.

All that existed for me was the groaning elf behind me who held my hips and pushed into me quickly and thoroughly, with the same care to do it right that he seemed to give any task he was given. And the king, who licked his lips and then reached out a hand to touch my lower lip and slip a long digit into my mouth. I sucked it eagerly and only let go when the seneschal came, shuddering and panting heavily.

"Le hannon, hir nin," [I thank you, my lord] he said faintly as he prepared to leave, but his hand was between my legs now and I knew that he would have stroked me to release had his king not spoken, reminding him again of his position

"It is I, who thank you," replied the king. "You have once again proven to be my most faithful and able servant."

As soon as his seneschal had left the room, the king sank back on the pillows again, now lying flat on his back.

"Come to me, Mal. Sheathe my sword." He said it huskily in that low voice that tolerates no hesitation and that turns me on incredibly, almost as much as his eyes when he looks at me in that special way. I crept over to him, quickly crossing the few feet that separated us, and straddled him, sinking down on the sword he had so carefully prepared for me.

The king just lay still, seemingly perfectly content with letting me glide up and down his shaft in my own, increasing, pace, but when I sat up straight and arched back to change the angle to one that pleasured me even more, I felt his hand between my legs and a fingertip that pressed hard against my clit eve every time I sank down to the hilt.

This made me continue my wild ride, screaming as I ground my little nub against that hard finger for some more seconds until I came, helplessly shouting my pleasure to anyone that cared to listen. And then the king grabbed my hips and held them still as he bucked up into me forcefully in a few powerful thrusts that allowed him to finally find release.

Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me forward so that I was resting on his chest with my head on his shoulder. He let his large hands glide tenderly over my back and I soaked in tenderness until he broke the magic with some careless words.

"I see you have nothing against being a reward."

Instantly, I sat up and stared at him as I realised the fullness of what he had just done by letting his seneschal have his way with me. How could he think he could just give me away to anyone he liked? My secretly being drawn to Thaladir was not relevant; the thought that I could be used as a gift made me furious. Who would it be next time? A visiting dignitary? The repugnant merchant, perhaps, to negotiate a more favourable agreement on wine delivery? Was that why he had laughed so loud during dinner?

Without thinking further, I placed a slap on the king's cheek, which only made him chuckle when I winced at the pain in my right hand. Still chuckling, he took my hand between his and I felt a warm tingling as the pain melted away.

"Ah," Thranduil said, slowly letting go of my hand before he continued. "An interesting thought..." He took my chin and looked at me critically before he continued, now with his hands on my hips. "...I wonder what the discount would be if I put you into the negotiation… or perhaps I could charge per hour for your company…yes, that could be something…"

I was speechless and I could feel my face grow first red with anger, then pale with fear while I heard him say this, and when he tried to pull me down to kiss me, I resisted and turned away my head. And he took mercy on me, perhaps feeling that he had gone too far this time.

"Look at me." I closed my eyes, tight. "Look at me," he said again. I did not. "Malinorne." I looked down. He had used my full name in the language of the Noldor that he despised! "Malinorne. I will not give you to just anyone. I will certainly not do it for treasures or wine."

He looked so serious now that I couldn't help believing him. He continued to reassure me. "I gave this permission only this time, and only to Thaladir."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to. Because my seneschal has served me faithfully for more years than you can grasp and never once has he coveted something of mine. It was time to reward him. That is why. And because I knew that you wanted him."

The last phrase was whispered, like a soft caress, and I shivered. It was true. The cool seneschal had been a challenge to me almost since I first saw him.

"But why did you invite him to administer my …punishment?"

The king shook his head and let out a low chuckle before he replied. "Do you still not understand? That was no punishment; it was done solely for my pleasure. For your pleasure. Because I made a little promise to an old friend. Now, let us talk some more about pleasure…"

There was very little talking the rest of that night, and much more of pleasure, but the moments before I finally fell asleep on the king's arm I couldn't help worrying a little about what it would be like to meet the seneschal at the breakfast table in the morning. And would the whole palace know about his reward?

t b c

"Next" chapter has been deleted-new chapter 13 coming soon