Celeborn's Nine - Riders of the Night

Aragorn's retainers left the group a half a day away from the capital and rode hard to tell the queen that he was returning. And the entire city came out to welcome him home as he rode at the lead with Celeborn. In fact the elf lord even pulled his horse back a little so the King of Gondor could take the lead.

Standing behind the queen, just to the right of Lady Eowyn, Lady Armanea watched the reunion with a detached expression on her face. She had not been here when Lord Celeborn first arrived, her family's estate in the country requiring some of her time, but she was glad she was here now. With the successful distruction of the last Nazgul chieftain, there was going to be a large celebration and everyone was invited. Only King Eomer would not be able to attend because of the short notice and duty commitments.

Waiting for all the welcome homes to be made, she took notice of the elves and the strange woman with them. She seemed insufferably proud of some suede boots she was wearing, and the twins were introducing her to their sister as 'Tiger'. An odd creature, Tiger seemed terribly shy, almost afraid of Arwen. The twins teased her and sent her back to Hal-dear. That was the name of the elf Eowyn had told her about, the one who had lost his mind. Beautiful but insane. He didn't look crazy to her. In fact, when he accepted Arwen's welcome, he seemed perfectly normal, and perfectly lovely. And he even blushed when Lady Eowyn spoke to him. Surely, he couldn't be sleeping with that...Tiger.

This was going to be interesting.
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Rumil found humans interesting, mostly because their females vied for his attention at the state dinner Queen Arwen had prepared for her husband and kin. He could have had his pick a dozen times over, if he had wanted. All of the riders could have, including Lord Celeborn, but the elf lord had detached himself from such nonsense. He was visiting with his granddaughter and was carrying himself like a visiting king, which in a way, he was. Celeborn could look down his nose in a very dignified way.

When music began and some people got up to dance, Glorfindel showed the people of Gondor what a great dancer the balrog slayer was. The ladies of the court were soon begging to be swirled across the floor by the handsome elf, resplendent in dark blue silk and suede. The twins were not adverse to chasing a high bred female across the floor either, and there were no doubt several young ladies who imagined great love affairs in their arms. Serving girls in low cut blouses also did their best to attract attention, and the Galadhrim, ever mindful of their own humble births, flirted horribly. Orophin, a firm believer that ordinary females were better lovers than highborn ladies, had cut himself one out of the pack and was warming her up for what he hoped would be an eventful evening afterwards.

Only Tiger didn't look like she was having fun. She looked tired. Rumil couldn't help but smile at how she had acted when Glorfindel showed up with some boots for her to wear in Minas Tirith. Having never had anything on her feet before, she seemed a little uncertain about them at first, like a cat with something stuck on its paws. Then she decided it was all right. Now she just looked really tired.

When Haldir decided to take her back to their room, she became painfully shy as several people watched them leave. She tried to hide her face against his arm so they couldn't see her. The jinn tiger whose best friend was a celestial dragon was afraid of people. Being around them showed her just how different she was. Her hair was not long and silky, and her eyes were not soft and gentle. And there were a lot of things being said that she didn't understand. But the worst thing was the way the women looked at her beautiful Master and then at her. It frightened her. He put her to bed and then promised to return after a short while. He offered a reassuring kiss and then put out the light.
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Armanea had reached the conclusion that Lord Glorfindel was not going to be tempted for long by anyone's beauty, although he had complimented her warmly when they danced...just as he had all his dance partners. And her one dance with Elrohir had had the same effect. The twins knew they were the objects of desire and so they played. Sitting at her place, having a sip of wine, she looked around when Haldir returned to the hall. He was magnificent in the blood red silk and black boots. Every female with an ounce of warm blood in her veins gazed thoughtfully at him. Since he would have to pass by her to return to his chair, she decided it was time they met. Pushing her chair back, she stood up and smiled. Armanea didn't believe in playing games. This was the one she wanted.

"Is your lady not feeling well?" she asked as he stopped.

"It has been a long trip; she is tired," Haldir explained readily, momentarily taken back by the beautiful woman in front of him. Her hair was so gold it could have been elfen, and her eyes were a crystal blue; a most becoming creature. And there was a haughtiness about her exquisite face that indicated she was a woman used to getting what she wanted. What did humans call a woman like her? An ice queen?

"Would you dance with me?" she asked and offered him her hand. "It would be rude to not accept."

"Indeed," he replied and took her hand. Haldir did not dance much, but he had the warrior's grace to pull it off and present himself well.

When the music stopped, she leaned towards him and whispered in his ear, "I want to make love to you." She then took her seat and motioned for a server to bring her some more wine. Haldir hesitated a moment and then returned to his seat and drained his cup. If she had been an ordinary woman, she would not have troubled his thoughts, but she was different. Extremely elegant, a woman used to getting what she wanted. And Haldir was no bastion of virtue like Lord Celeborn or worse, Legolas. Haldir could seperate the act from the emotion.

When he returned to Tiger, she was sound asleep. He smoothed her tawny hair away from her face and kissed her brow. There was no question in his mind that he loved Tiger, but that golden hair woman was not leaving him alone. She had worn a perfume of roses, and he imagined her body was soft and warm. Tiger was sleek and her body was strong and taunt like a tiger, and he told himself he could be satisfied loving her body forever, but that golden haired woman.......
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Glorfindel showed up for breakfast with a smug expression on his face. He had had a successful night, as had all nine of Celeborn's riders. Celeborn was not one to dictate morality, but he had hoped Glorfindel would set the tone for their visit by at least being sane. And he needed to make sure the ladies he was seducing didn't have husbands.

"Strictly young widows," Glorfindel said as Haldir and Tiger showed. She was still shy around Arwen and her ladies, but as long as her friends were there, she wasn't as shy.

A fair haired woman of great beauty smiled at Tiger and asked, "Are you feeling better this morning?"

"I am, my lady," Tiger answered and returned the smile. Maybe she was wrong to be afraid of humans.

"Good," Arwen spoke up."I want you to join me today and tell us what happened."

"But I told you," Aragorn countered, amazed that his wife would question his telling of the story. "Why she wasn't even a part of it until we reached Longma's Keep."

"Then that is where her story will begin," Arwen told him. "And I can't wait to hear it. King Aragorn said you friends with a dragon."

"Celestial," Tiger replied and frowned softly. Turning to Haldir, she said, "I can not feel his thoughts anymore. I am too far away."

"I told you we will go back and visit," he assured her. "Perhaps next year." He had mixed feelings about Longma, but it was evident being seperated from the dragonwitch was disturbing Tiger.

After breakfast the 'men' retired to do whatever it was they were going to do, while Arwen and her ladies decided to enjoy an early morning walk through the gardens of Minis Tirith. Tiger's presence was required.

"So how did you become involved with our Haldir?" Arwen asked curiously. And Tiger told them. It never occurred to her that some of them would be horrified to learn she was a jinn tiger or that she had intended to kill and eat her lover. Of course she worshiped Master now and had even parted with her immortal soul to save him from Agaz, but Agaznamahn made her a jinn tiger again......and then Celestial snapped the head off the fell beast.....but if Lord Celeborn had not gotten the jade fish Lord Glory Findel would not be here. She liked Lord Glory findel. He bought her boots from a Gypsy.

Arwen and her ladies were speechless when Tiger finished her story. "And you left nothing out?" Arwen asked curiously, finding it hard to believe that anything could have been omitted. Tiger would have even included her romantic interludes if Arwen had not stopped her. Listening to her describe how she made love to Haldir would have been too much for some of her ladies. Armanea would have liked to have heard it, but she kept quiet and simply smiled at the jinn tiger woman. She now had something to discuss with her lover.
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When Arwen and her ladies returned from their walk with glazed looks in their eyes, Glorfindel realized that Tiger had indeed told them everything. Tiger was too honest to be discreet, and he could only imagine what she had said. And Tiger, relieved to see him, ran up and put her arm through his.

"Lord Glorfindel," Arwen greeted him. "How has your morning been?"

"Excellent. And you?"

"I understand you got to ride a dragon," Arwen replied.

"A couple of times," he admitted. "You didn't tell them about Longma and me did you?" he asked Tiger.

"It would have been graphic if we had not stopped her," Arwen said. "Apparently the dragon told her what you were doing."

"Celestial told on us?" Glorfindel asked Tiger with a big grin on his face. "Shame on him." Tiger almost giggled.

"Celestial tells on everybody," she laughed.

"As do you," he said and brushed her nose with a forefinger. "I can imagine the kind of gossip you and Celestial engaged in." Looking at Arwen and her ladies, Glorfindel said, "I think I will rescue you lovely ladies from my friend here, and I will take her on a sight seeing trip." Glorfindel actually wanted to rescue Tiger from the court ladies, that and find out what she did tell them. There were things Celeborn might not want them to know. And if she had already told......
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Aragorn was managing the business of government with Celeborn looking on out simple curiosity when his queen and two of her ladies entered the great hall of assembly. Men with petitions were seeking audience with the king, and he was going to be busy all day, but he had enough time to give Arwen a smile. Besides she had come for her grandfather. They had not had time to visit, and she wanted to talk with him alone, just the two of them. She greatly missed her father, but Celeborn filled some of that empty place in her heart. And he adored her.

Free to be on their own, Armanea and Eowyn parted company for the rest of the morning. Now where would one find an elf on a lovely fall midmorning? Glorfindel was sightseeing with the Tiger jinn creature, and Lord Celeborn was with the queen. Eowyn had said something about Haldir liking one of the queen's small gardens. Perhaps......
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Haldir was simply enjoying the morning when Armanea found him in the small garden. "Your mistress was entertaining this morning," she said and took a seat on one of the stone outcroppings. "How could you possibly keep her after she tried to kill you."

"If you know that, then I suspect you know the rest," he replied indifferently. "Where is she now?"

"Glorfindel is taking her sight seeing," she answered. "She adores you."

"Yes, she does," Haldir said, not wanting to discuss Tiger with this woman. He was not going to let her invade his thought anymore.

She smiled. He truely was a beautiful man...elf. And she was already hearing whispers from the serving girls what spectacular lovers the Galadhrim had been. He would be magnificent, that she was sure of. "Have you given any thought to what I said?" she asked curiously.

"That is an impossibility," he replied, but instead of looking disappointed, she smiled even broader and stood up.

"I do not want to seperate you from your tiger, every man needs a pet. I just want to make love to you," she said and let her eyes travel at leisure down his body. "I want to say I fucked an elf." And she knew the way she said it had his attention.

"There are nine of us," he said, everything about her arousing him at the basest level. "Why not choose another?"

"Because you are the one I want," she replied and stepped closer. The silk tunic was light on his skin, and she was certain the most delicate caress would undo his resolve. He grabbed her hand but didn't stop her. She ran her nails ever so lightly down his left breast. He was breathtaking. She stepped back, her own heart pounding wildly, and gazed into his quicksilver eyes. "Tonight after your mistress retires, meet me here." She turned and hurried away. He would come; she knew he would.
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At supper Armanea made sure she sat beside Tiger, who seemed to be famished after a day of wandering around. "What all did you see?" she asked politely.

"A place where they make swords, and a taylor. Lord Glorfindel is buying a new tunic."

"That sounds like an exciting day," Armanea said.

Tiger frowned and looked at Haldir. "I did not think so." Haldir smiled.

"How are you feeling?" he asked protectively. He had been slow to catch on, but for the past week he had suspected that she was pregnant. Although as sleek as ever, she was starting to 'soften'. And she complained of things hurting that had never hurt before, like her nipples. But the sex was great when they had it. Still, he gazed past her at the golden haired woman. Why was he even giving her a second thought? Why?
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Tiger had seen the glances between them, and for once she had not said anything. Something master had said a long time ago came back to haunt her. Would she stay a tiger for him if he no longer wanted to make love to her? It nagged at her. And when he returned her to their room, he smiled and kissed her affectionately, but he said she needed rest when she tried to make love to him. That frightened her, but she kept quiet. After he left, she got up and started pacing, working herself into a dangerous state of mind. Master didn't want to make love to her......master didn't love her.......it was all too easy for it to become real in her mind. And even worse, she could 'feel' him.

She left the room and went in search of him. Terror clung to her, and over and over it said he didn't love her anymore. It made perfect sense to a jinn tiger, and it crushed her spirit. And then she found them. Her beautiful master loved another! He didn't want Tiger anymore. She could not bear the pain that choked her. He heard her and looked up.

"Tiger!"

She turned and fled running as fast as she could away from him. She wanted to die. Coming out on the top field by the king's tree, she ran for the battlement. He was coming after her, calling her name, but Tiger was faster and too close now to catch. He stopped in horror as she grabbed the top of the battlement, her hands turning to paws, and leaped.