Killing Beauty

Ashva feelings were more than a little mixed when they rode into Caras Galadhrim with an entire troop of elves on horseback, such was the welcome home for Haldir and the princess, whose betrothed was standing on the platform beside Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. So much confusion, she doubted the elven city had had such excitement in many a year. Haldir was the hero and everyone wanted to welcome him home. The princess, the victim of a savage kidnapping, was swept up into the loving arms of her kin and spirited away. Ashva quickly realized that it was going to be her and the horses. Still, seeing everyone so happy and relieved was pleasant. Where was her welcoming committee?

Before the thought was out of her head, Max and Mani came bounding up with great leaps of joy and wagging tails. "At least someone is happy to see me," she greeted them and knelt down on one knee for a thorough face washing from the elated wolves. Gazing up at Rumil, who was grinning broadly, she said, "Thank-you."

"It was my pleasure," he assured her and then offered her a hand up. "Come, I'll help you with these."

"You are a gentleman," she laughed and handed him the reins to Haldir's horse. "How has my Glider been?"

"I expect a large foal crop next year of black horses with white faces. He has been most busy."

Ashva laughed easily. "Shouldn't you be welcoming home the victor?" she asked curiously.

"Aren't I?" he asked kindly.

"But he is your brother."

"And has been for many years," Rumil assured her. "I will see him tonight." Then growing serious, he asked, "Was it difficult?"

She looked into clear blue elfin eyes, so gentle she could not believe they were related to the ones that she had seen flash fire. "It was very difficult," she admitted, "but this is Haldir's story."

"I know my brother is bold and brave, but I seem to recall he had company when he rode out and when he returned."

"Granted," she said as they turned down the lane that led to the stables. "But I still think you should hear the story from him, I may include something he does not want told, and omit something he considers important."

"True, and may the spirits protect us if we forget something Haldir thinks is important," he laughed. "And how did you and our hero get along?"

"Quite well," she said. "He can be difficult, but one gets used to that." Dropping her head in pretense of watching where she was going, although the ground was flat and smooth, she said, "I don't suppose I'll see much of him now."

"Why?" Rumil asked innocently.

"Well, he's home now. No need to worry with a.....comrade in arms. Maybe I should even be readying myself to leave."

Rumil frowned as they stopped just outside of the stable. Glider whickered softly from inside. "Your horse knows you are here," he observed. "Would you really just ride away? I have never known anyone do that before."

"I'm not an elf. I don't have a home," she said, suddenly furious with herself for the swell of emotion in her breast and throat. "Look away Rumil before I make a fool of myself," she softly asked.

"Would you not say Lothlorien is a suitable place to call home?" he asked curiously and with tenderness in his voice. "You need to rest, so put thoughts of leaving out of your head. There is time enough to consider that."

Ashva straightened, took a deep breath, wiped her eyes and said, "You are right. I'm overly tired and reacting to that." Looking down at her wolves, she asked, "How did they behave?"

"Aside from stalking conies in My Lady's garden and discovering where Telnir raises his pigeons, they have been no trouble," Rumil answered as they started unsaddling the horses and tending to their needs before putting them up.

"Do I owe...Telnir any compensation?" she asked curiously.

"I have already paid it," Rumil answered and led Haldir's gray into the barn.

"Do I owe you anything?" she called after him.

"Only your friendship," he called back. "And a promise not to leave just yet."

"All right, I promise," she said and led the other two horses into the barn. Glider, seeing his owner, whickered so loudly he spooked another stallion down the way. "Yes, I missed you too," she replied with a big grin. "And you look like you've gained some weight."

"He did have a good appetite," Rumil told her. "I think it took us a week to realize he would eat anything we offered him. We had to stop offering."

Rumil escorted Ashva and her wolves back to the talan that they had shared before the trip. "You know there will be a banquet in the princess's honor tonight, and you are expected to attend," he informed her.

"I have no clothes for such an event," she answered readily. "Let them celebrate. I want only to rest."

"To not show would offend Our Lady and Her Lord," he explained. "And there are clothes in the wardrobe that I think are suitable."

Ashva eyed the smiling elf and then relented. "Very well, but would you be kind enough to escort me. I do not want to show up unattended and do the wrong thing. That is unless you are escorting someone already."

"I would be honored," he said with a gallant bow and stepped out of the room.

"Thank-you," she said and closed the door behind him. Then looking down at the wolves, she asked, "You ate someone's pigeons?" If wolves could look embarrassed, those two did. "How did they taste?" she asked curiously. All was forgiven. Max and Mani leaped on the bed with her and in only a few moments she was sound asleep, the wolves curled protectively beside her. She really was tired.


Washing weeks of dirt off her skin in a great wooden wash tub, a good stiff brush sending delicious shivers up her back, Ashva readied herself for the celebration. Rumil had left a note on her door telling her that he would be back in a few hours. Standing up, water draining off her lithe body, she asked the wolves, "Have I missed anything?" Their opinion really meant a lot to her. Max yawned and Mani, lying on her side, blinked her opinion and looked away. "That bad?" she laughed and reached for the good thick towel. "Well, I'll do my best to look nice, but I don't think any of the elven ladies need worry about me stealing their beaus. Wearing silk does not make one a princess." Mani closed her eyes and resumed her nap. "No, it's true," she continued. "Princesses often wear velvet, another fabric I have not worn in many ages, but for my recent misadventure." Laying the towel on the bed and looking into the wardrobe, she found several very nice ethereal gowns awaiting her approval. "Very nice, you should look at this," she told Mani who was now deep in wolf sleep. "The blue one is very nice, and so is the green. And the white is most particularly lovely, but I have lived too long among men. I do not believe white is my color anymore." Max dropped his head on his paws and joined his mate in a nap. "Here I am stressing over the color of gown to wear and you can not give me a decent opinion," she teased them. "You know all the colors are so soft. I should like a splash of color. What do you think?" She looked down at the napping animals. "I agree. A splash of color would do nice, but I don't see any."

Slipping into a soft robe, she sat down at a small table and mirror and started brushing her hair. "I suppose I could leave it as is and wear a saddle blanket," she observed. Pausing to examine the red scar on her neck, she wondered if it gave her character or only proved she was damaged merchandize.....what a horrid expression. She wasn't going to use it anymore. Somehow, someway she managed to turn one slightly worn out ranger into a facisimile of a woman, and a nice woman she thought. Not all ethereal and light, but not too bad. And the pale green gown she decided upon was pretty. Why did elf women not show any cleavage? Was there a tabu on showing skin? Even the males wrapped themselves from head to toe. So much for taste. Of course there was a lot to be said for unwrapping them. This was going to be a long night.

Hearing the knock at the door, she jumped up and said, "Coming! Just a minute." OK, be graceful...float...don't stump your toe and why don't elf women wear shoes? She was hopping on one foot trying to figure out if she had broken her toe when she pulled the door open. "Come on in Rumil," she said and turned away. Sitting back in the chair, she examined her toe more closely.

"What did you do?" he asked curiously and glanced over his shoulder.

"I stubbed it on the bed post," she said and noticed his glance. "Do you have company?" He smiled.

Haldir slid around the door, a magnificent elf in his suedes and silks, and asked, " I've been replaced by him?"

Ashva smiled and stood up but resisted the urge to embrace him. Truthfully she didn't want to embrace him, but Rumil was a good friend and she didn't want to embarrasse him. "I thought you would be busy with your ellyths," she remarked good naturedly. "I honestly did not expect to see you for a week or more."

Leaning against the door frame, doing his best "I'm wounded "impersonation, he looked at Rumil and said, "She still does not know me."

"I feared as much," Rumil concurred and inclined his head.

"What shall I do about it?"

"I'm not sure, brother."

"Nor am I," Haldir mused and stood straight. Extending his arm towards her, he said, "Come. I keep no secrets. Rumil, I believe there is an ellyth at the well who is in need of an escort."

"Indeed?" Rumil replied playfully. "Then I must go see to her."

"An honorable, elf," Haldir concurred as his brother slipped away. Then without warning he turned to Ashva and pulled her into his arms. If she had even wanted to protest, which she did not, she couldn't have. He was melting her with a kiss that left her wanting much more. Raising his head, he whispered, "No more talk of leaving. I never leave what is mine longing for my touch."

"Then you are a magician to juggle so many females," she purred against his lips.

"Do not worry about them. Think only of how I treat you. I assure you I can manage." That she was certain of. Suddenly finding humor in their conversation, she chuckled softly. "You find me amusing?" he asked suspiciously.

"I was thinking about Glider," she answered. "You and he have similar qualities it seems."

He smiled. "I think we'd better go," he suggested. "I would hate to miss my accolades."

Between the princess and Haldir, the story of her rescue was told. Ashva, sitting beside the princess, surprized at her place of honor, simply acknowledged what they were saying, although at one point Haldir did lean over and whisper in her ear, "The trolls."

Nibbling on a delicate piece of fruit, aware that the host was now looking at her, she grinned and said, "My companion would be amiss if I did not mention the two trolls he killed in the mountains...by himself. A most amazing thing."

"It would be unseemly if our Haldir bragged on himself, " Lady Galadriel commented warmly.

"Which is why he gets others to do it for him," Lord Celeborn retorted good naturedly. "Still it is not a thing to ignore. Two trolls? I am impressed."

"So were the trolls," Ashva laughed. "Is there anything else I need to mention?" she asked Haldir.

"If I think of it, I will tell you," he grinned. Laughter followed their banter. "Now if I may speak about my companion," he began, " she and only she can claim the life the Os leader, a most vile man named Inda. For that I owe her my life." He saluted her with a cup of wine. "And the scar upon her lovely throat was placed there by one who should have cherished it but did not." Ashva actually blushed over that one. What was he trying to do? Arouse the ire of his ladies?

And Valiel was no help when she said, "Truthfully I never heard her complain about the wound, although it was given with the intention of luring Haldir to his death."

"You honor me, my Lady," Ashva told the princess, who seemed perfectly at ease beside the elf who was soon to be her husband. She couldn't help but wonder what he would think if he knew his regal bride to be had literally mauled the marchwarden in throes of lust last night. Her chuckle did not go unnoticed by Haldir.

"What amuses you?" he asked curiously as music started.

"Just remembering our last night on the trail," she answered without elaborating, and she could see on his face that he did not want her to ponder it too long.

Moving closer so only she could hear his words, he said, "Perhaps a new memory is in order."

"I would like that," she admitted but detected an advancing ellyth out of the corner of her eye. "One of your ladies," she warned. It was the crying ellyth from their departure and her coldly flawless face seemed a bit flushed from emotion.

Haldir rose gracefully and while others were dancing to the soft music, he intercepted the ellyth and whirled her out of sight. Angry females did not amuse him and he would not fight with one in front of the Lord and Lady. Ashva took a sip of her wine and glanced at the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. Lord Celeborn was chatting with one of his close advisors, but Lady Galadriel was watching, no expression registering on her ageless face. This worried Ashva who didn't want to start a war over an elf, albeit one very desirable elf. Accepting a refill of her cup, elven wine being both sweet and quite potent, she glanced around and noticed Rumil was sitting with a very lovely ellyth. She was smiling shyly, which got Ashva to thinking, didn't elven women have any blood in their veins except when they were mad? Certainly Lady Galadriel was not this pristine untouchable beauty all the time. Certainly she had to keep her Lord entertained. Maybe she was like her sister, a hot vixen when no one was looking.

Frowning, she looked into the cup of wine and wondered where her odd thoughts were coming from. Better to put an end to them. Finishing off the wine, she turned the goblet upside down as an indication she didn't want any more. The princess, without saying anything, righted the cup and placed her napkin over it.

"Thank-you," she responded gratefully.

"As I say to you," the princess added. "Come, my love," she told her betrothed, "let us dance."

Haldir did not return, and his departure did not appear to upset anyone, except maybe Ashva. No doubt reassuring this ellyth that she was the star in his universe. When the celebration was over, Rumil and his companion walked her back to her talan. Rumil used it as an excuse to introduce the lovely lady with him to the wolves. She seemed hesitant at first, but then voiced her admiration for his courage as he even showed her that he was not afraid to let the male wolf hold his hand in his mouth. Rumil was a brave elf. Ashva explained that the bite of a wolf was greater than any hound which impressed the lady even more. Clearly Rumil was going to get bedded this night.

They both bid her good night, and as they strolled away, Ashva heard the lady say, "Are those the ones that ate the pigeons?"

"I fear you two have a bad reputation now," she told the wolves and closed the door. Undressing, she returned the gown to the wardrobe and pulled on a clean shift. Being in a tree, one did not know when it would be neccessary to climb down rather quickly. Crawling under the soft covers, she made herself comfortable as the wolves sought their own spots. She was willing herself to sleep when she heard a soft rap at the door. The wolves jumped down as she got up and went to answer it.

Easing it open, she peered outside and then threw it open. "What happened to you?" she asked Haldir in amazement. He looked as if someone had punched him. Someone had punched him!

"Remember how you were concerned about how I could manage seeing you and three others?" he asked devilishly.

"Yes."

"Well, you don't have to worry about that one anymore," he replied and eased himself inside the talan.

"I did not mean to come between you and the lady," Ashva lied and tried to hide her smile.

"Yes you did," he mused and pulled the silken shirt over his head and tossed it on the chair. Sitting on the bed, he pulled off the boots and placed them neatly under the bed. Eyeing the wolves, he said, "If I find either of you chewing on them, there will be no getting out of it this time." Then standing, he unlaced the leggings and said, "You want to help me get out of these?"

Ashva, suddenly realizing that she had been standing there staring at him, knelt infront of him and eased the leggings down his lean hips. He gasped as she took him into her mouth and slowly, ever so slowly drove him crazy. Her tongue was magic, and he would have been content to stand there and let her finish, but he was tired and not as steady on his feet as usual. Still it was his desire that she finish, only with him on his back in her bed.

AShva grinned and decided that if he was to be worshiped, as he believed was his right, she would take her time and pay homage to every divine part of him. She breathed sweet lies into his ears and found where the pulse was the strongest in his throat and savored it. The feel of his life beneath her lips intoxicated her senses. And his lips, slightly swollen from the swing of an angry ellyth, she pulled the tender flesh into her mouth and slowly sucked on it. It might have burned a little but he made no effort to stop her. He was content to lay there and be adored.

Letting her lips trail down the middle of his chest, she paused to worship at each sensitive nipple. His moan incouraged her to linger a little longer before continuing down the flat plane of his belly.

"What a foolish ellyth," she whispered before reclaiming his erection with her mouth. What a foolish ellyth. When he filled her mouth with his seed, she smiled to herself and swallowed. Then as wanton as a cat in heat, she slid back up his body and stopped at his mouth.

"My turn," she whispered.