House of the Golden Flower

The dawn was brisk and cold, both my breath and my horse's frosted the air. The men of my house walked afoot beside me, and we gathered a distance from the Gates, where the other Lords and houses waited.
Presently Turgon came, the disobedient Maeglin trailing along, and behind them the women of the city.

Silently, he led us out through the Gates, the guards standing aside. As we crossed Ard-Galen, our women thronged at the walls, a choking garden of beauty. Pennants and laces waved in the air in silent farewell, and stoically there were no tears, even though they knew not if we would return.

Idril stood at the head of them, but did not wave, lest Maeglin, who rode near Turgon, misunderstand. I gave her a final salute that did her justice without being weak. She saluted me back - one hand over her heart - then palm toward me. 'My love to you.' 'My heart goes with you.'

I turned to see who was looking, and beyond Maeglin's sneer, was Turgon's grateful, sad smile.

By noon we had left Echoriath, and by sunset, the main part of Crissaegrim lay before us, treacherous terrain at night - thus our leaving early to allow its travel by day. We made camp within sight of the eagles' roosts.

The end of the second day put Crissaegrim and the eagles behind us.

The third day put us into the river valley, and there on the banks of the Sirion we made formation, by Turgon's design. He was foremost, I at his left, Ecthelion at his right, and Maeglin behind him and between us, our hosts with us. Rog, Duilin, Egalmoth, and Galdor rode in the center and behind, as pleased them, and thus we made another day.

The fourth day we slowed our pace, as we wanted to be well rested for battle, so we did not go far that day, or the next.

That evening, after the men had settled and the hour was late and quiet, I stole down to Turgon's camp. He slept in his bedroll in the midst of his men, so I was cat-footed as I crept up on him, and silenced him as I shook him awake. It was not hard, then, to sly him out of the encampment and deep into the brush.

We kissed feveredly among the pines, decided we were too close to camp, and chased one another deeper into the forest over and over again. We were within hearing range of the river when one of our kisses got further than the point where we usually decided to run further, and he fell atop me in the thick pine needles.

It was very dark; I could barely see the contours of his face. I knew what he wanted, but it was not possible here, having nothing to ease the way. We didn't often have oral sex only, and this night it took some time before he was convinced I'd rather not just take him in hand, so I propped him against a tree, nuzzled his belly while unlacing his pants, and trapped his leg between mine.

With his hard cock freed and pointing darkly upward, I swallowed it with relish, not bothering to open my eyes, as it was too dark to see anything anyway, not that there was much to see. He moaned loudly and petted my hair all the while, and I rutted against his shin hungrily. When he came, gasping, I swallowed, and came thickly in my leggings.

He slid slowly down the tree, and took me in his arms. I tucked him back in as we sat there in the quiet. I was asleep when he shook me, getting up. I whimpered, and reached out for him as he stood, clinging to one of his legs when I found it. "Shh." He soothed. "It will look suspicious, my love, if we return together. I would not cause scandal."

I nodded and released him, seeing the wisdom of his statement. He bent down and tilted my chin up, kissing me again, then set off toward the camp.

I waited until a count of three hundred, and then set out after him.

All the way back when he had gone, the forest had been relatively quiet. Now, as I walked, it was quieter, yet soft steps kept coming behind me. I was being stalked, and knew better than to stop and alert it that I knew. What was it? I kept walking, listening carefully. Whatever it was, it walked on two legs. I kept walking, and then suddenly, it stopped.

I stopped too, and looked up into the trees. Dark eyes leaned into mine, less than a foot away.

"Maeglin." I said, somewhat relieved.

"You didn't hear me chasing you both. Neither of you were paying attention." He rebuked.

I blushed.

He leaned closer. "I can smell him on your breath." He said. "Mmmm."

I drew my knife. "You remember what I said before."

He smiled. "Better run on home to bed, Fin. Dawn comes early."

Then, with a flash of white teeth like a knife blade, he was gone.

I was cold all the way back to camp, and when I crawled into my warm bedroll, I shivered for long after.