Lim Aear

Author's Note: The long chapter I promised... /wink/ Enjoy!

Disclaimer: See Prologue.

italics: thoughts

Chapter 11

Elaine looked at the mirror wide eyed. Where was the girl with the worn, faded jeans, T-shirts and messy ponytails? In front of her stood a beautiful woman in a long white dress, he hair falling in all its glory. Strangely enough, she didn’t feel as uncomfortable as she had expected she would. Actually, it was so much fun to dress up like that. Even as a child, she used to wear her mother’s dresses and pretend to be a princess. She twirled around and laughed at her foolishness.

Belwen wore a victorious smile on her lips at the transformation. The immortal marveled at her darkened by the sun skin’s contrast with the white gown and the strangely colored hair. “Highlights”, Elaine had said. Golden skin, silky hair, bright green eyes and a pure heart. Yes, she was her friend’s soul mate.

Belwen was not a simple servant. She was a lady of the court and a good friend of Legolas and had been kindly requested to take care of Elaine and make her feel comfortable. And that she had done. She had answered to every question of Elaine, mainly concerning her behavior in the Palace. She understood it must have been shocking to see people bow to each other, coming from a world where respect was slowly fading.

Elaine had answered to the numerous questions of Belwen in return. Belwen did not risk going to the upper world, therefore had heard and seen only what Mithrandir had been able to bring back with him from his travels all around the world. And how had Elaine laughed when Belwen dropped the towels she was carrying and spat out a very un-elf-like “What??” upon hearing her stating very naturally that she was smoking!

“Would you like to see the gardens of the Palace?”

Elaine nodded delighted at the prospect of visiting the beautiful view she had seen from the Prince’s balcony.

Elves were staring at her, not believing she was the girl they had seen the previous night, hardly dressed, clutching at the Prince’s side looking around terrified. The lady in front of them was shining as the brightest star, her eyes twinkling, her lips breaking every so often in a wide smile, revealing a straight set of pearls. They couldn’t help but smile back at her and so the elves all over the city were talking about the Princess of Lim Aear, who had found her way home.

“These are the gardens of the Palace,” Belwen whispered and led Elaine through a rose-covered gate. Elaine blinked once, twice, thrice, in case she was dreaming.

That’s not a garden. That’s a whole park. A forest maybe. But certainly not a garden!

She closed her eyes. Too many scents to remember. Too many sensations to recall. That was not a garden. It was Heaven.

“I am afraid I will leave you to explore on your own. My duties call me. I trust you will be alright?”

“Yes. Thank you for everything Belwen.”

“You are most welcome, my lady.”

Belwen did a small curtsey and walked gracefully towards the palace. Elaine turned once more towards the gardens and started walking through the trees and flowers, every now and then stopping to touch and smell a flower she had never seen before. She kept walking until she realised she didn’t know where she was. All around her were just trees and the paths were crossed.

Great. Just great.

Where had she come from? She sighed and pouted confused.

“Leaving without saying goodbye?”

The voice behind her made her jump. She turned around to find Legolas looking at her amused, failing miserable to look offended as he had originally planned.

“I was just… taking a stroll in the gardens… I am lost… I guess…”

Her voice trailed, being overpowered by the fast beating of her heart. Just his presence made the butterflies in her stomach dance wildly. He was leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth curving upwards in a small smile, eyes holding an ever-so-deadly gaze.

“Aye, I noticed. You are not in the palace’s gardens anymore, Elaine. You took the path that leads towards the Gate.”

“Oh.”

Legolas’ gaze traveled from her top to her bottom. She looked magnificent. Belwen had transformed a young girl into a fully grown woman. The instant reaction in his loins reminded him to take his eyes off her. He had spent a whole night trying to calm his feelings and body’s reaction to her. She had no idea what she did to him.

“So, you’ve been following me,” she said putting her hands on her waist and adopting a haughty attitude.

“Aye.”

He took a step closer to her.

“And you let me get lost.”

“Aye.”

Another step.

“May I inquire why?”

He was now standing in front of her. The wickedness in his eyes and smile revealed nothing of a wise immortal. He looked more like a man her age.

“You are a sight to behold, my lady, wandering around among flowers as beautiful as yourself.”

His voice was low. Dangerously low. She blushed and turned away.

“Come, let me show you something.”

He took her hand and started walking through the trees. She could see familiar trees and realized they were heading back to the palace gardens, when suddenly, he lead her through a hidden path to a weeping willow. Putting the branches aside for her to pass, he led her in the arms of the tree, the soft grass beneath her colored with small flowers, the rays of light playing through the branches. She knew this would be her favorite place in Lim Aear.

“This is my favorite spot” Legolas said softly, as if voicing her thoughts. “I come here when I seek some respite from my duties. Sit down, I will be right back.”

He disappeared through the branches and she sat down carefully, spreading her dress trying not to wrinkle it. Moments later, Legolas came back hiding something in his hands, a wide smile on his face.

Damn your dimples, elf! Elaine thought and sighed. Dimples were just her undoing.

He approached her and sat across from her.

“Give me your hands”, he instructed softly.

“Why?” she asked smiling excitedly.

“You’ll see.”

Elaine giggled, anticipation running through her in waves. She could not understand how or why he made her feel like that with so simple things. Legolas place his hands carefully over her open palms. She felt something warm and fuzzy nuzzle her palms and tried to peek between his fingers. Legolas removed his hands slowly. Elaine’s eyes got wide at the tiny, fuzzy white rabbit in her palms. Legolas’ heart filled with joy when he saw her smile widely. He knew this would please her. And he wanted nothing more than that.

“Oh my God… It’s so tiny and soft… Where did you find this?” she asked, placing the baby rabbit on her lap and caressing its soft fur.

“Well, I told him there is a beautiful fairy in the gardens and he was very eager to meet you.”

Elaine laughed and brought the rabbit to her cheek, nuzzling it against her. It was so cute and Legolas was so sweet to surprise her like that.

“So, it’s a he?”

“Aye. You have a unique way of attracting males of all species my lady,” he said pointedly and she laughed blushing. He then realized that he wouldn’t mind if making her laugh was his sole purpose in life.

“I’m sorry about yesterday… I was very tired,” she said blushing even more. “And you have a really nice bed… Very soft…”

The statement was made totally out of innocence and was meant to be taken literally; but it made Legolas’ smile fade, a shaky breath trying to erase the images forming in his mind.

“I mean… I um… I didn’t mean that…” she tried to explain herself but sighed defeated.

Trust me to make such stupid comments, she thought and looked down. She dared a peek at Legolas only to meet his intense blue gaze. She didn’t look away this time. She would not run away. She would act upon her feelings and not care about complicated matters.

Legolas’ mind had shut down completely. His emotions slowly pushed him forward and without second thought, he touched his lips to Elaine’s in a gentle kiss.

Elaine pulled back startled, realizing what had just happened. Legolas’ eyes were filled with confusion. Darkened with longing… passion.

Evil, evil dimples. You’ve done your work.

She leaned in again and Legolas met her halfway, capturing her lips in a deep kiss, bringing one hand on her cheek and the other around her waist, pulling her in his arms. None of them noticed the white rabbit running away and disappearing into the woods.

His tongue pushed past her lips to taste her. Elaine felt as if she were in the middle of the usual drinking contest with her friends. She had never gotten so dizzy when kissing someone and she had certainly done much more than that. All she could feel was his lips on her own, his arms holding her. She could no more hear the birds singing, smell the sweet fragrance of the flowers, feel the soft breeze. She nibbled on his lower lip playfully, being rewarded by a faint moan from Legolas, who was running his fingers down her neck to her collarbone.

His senses were overwhelmed with her. He had kissed many maidens in his long life, but none of them had shed him of all reason and made him so aroused by simply their presence. He pulled away to look into her eyes. She held his face in her hands and looked at him through lowered lashes. He wanted to see the burning in her eyes, to assure himself that she felt the same. She pulled in to kiss him again and he brought her even closer to him, holding her tightly against him. They kissed again, lips and tongues engaged in a feverish dance, her hands roaming over his broad shoulders, his own sank in her long tresses. Her hand found its way up to his neck and her fingers glided ever so lightly over a pointed ear.

That was all it took him to lose all conrtol. A moan escaping his lips, he lowered her to the ground, covering her upper body with his, kissing her with all the passion she had awakened inside him. Elaine enjoyed the feeling of helplessness under his weight. She had always been one to leave the man in control.

His hand slid from her neck to her collarbone once more and when it continued further on, Elaine was brought back abruptly to reality. Legolas felt her tense under him and pulled away, looking into her eyes blankly for a few seconds. The fog of lust cleared and he realized he had been lying on top of her, kissing her, his hand just above her right breast. They had to stop.

They both sat up at the same time, not breaking their gaze. Their lips were swollen and they were both breathing hard.

“I have to go home. My parents will get worried if I keep not answering the phone.”

He nodded and looked away. His stomach contracted painfully at the word ‘home’. He pulled her up gently, bringing their faces inches apart. He was afraid to let her go. She could see it in his eyes. She leaned in, giving him a gentle kiss of reassurance on his lips.

“I will be back. I promise.”

“The Lady wishes to meet you. I have to go for a few days at the Golden Wood and she sent a message that I should bring you along. That is, if you wish, of course.”

He felt silly for being so jittery while waiting for her answer. He was not a little elfling anymore. The butterflies in her stomach would not cease, but the stoic mask he was used to wearing on his face hid effectively all that from Elaine. It was still very unsettling to realize the power she held over him, though. And he was not used to depending on another person so much.

Elaine considered his invitation. He had told her so much about Lady Galadriel and the beauty of the Golden Wood, that she just couldn’t miss the chance to see it in real life.

“I would love to,” she finally said, “but first I have to call my parents and let them know I’ll be away somewhere for a few days… I’ll think of something…” she said tapping a finger on her chin.

Legolas’ heart fluttered at her words. He wanted to take her in her arms and kiss her again until they were both breathless. Instead, he gave her a nod and a small smile and produced his arm to lead her back to the Palace. Elaine smiled and entwined her arm with his. She cared about nothing anymore. All her troubles, objections and problems seemed so far away. There was only Legolas and her. And it felt right. That’s all that mattered to her.


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