The Forgotten Ring

Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.

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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn


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Chapter 48 - Unable to Stop

It was a few days later that they ate a noon meal under a wide Rowan, within a secluded grove that rose high above the valley. Haldir was laying on his side, eating a slice of bread, and Eridani laid on the soft grass, watching the clouds above. day day was warm, but not overly so, and the fresh aromas of the fruit groves wrapped themselves around the pair.

Just then, Haldir turned his blue gaze toward Eridani and found she was already watching him. Smiling between bites, he gazed at the sky, letting her look as long as she wished. Many were the times he studied her too, whether she knew or not. The knowledge that she watched him was pleasing and he felt a physical delight.

Sitting up and leaning against the strong trunk of the tree, Haldir reached for a flask and drank deeply. Meeting Eridani's steady gaze, he felt his body warm in a delicious heat. In her eyes he read clearly thoughts that he knew for now should be best kept hidden. So he tried to dispel the sensual tension between them.

" 'Tis been two months that I have been here." His voice was casual, but he noticed it had the desired effect.

Eridani blinked. "Do you need to return?"

Haldir nodded, "Soon enough, my duties await me." He regretted the words as soon as they were said for they opened the door for her to question him, and true to form, she did.

Cocking her head to one side, Eridani arched an eyebrow. Chuckling to himself, he thought she was spending too much time with him. "And what are these, my Lord? What duties await you? There are no conflicts on Middle Earth." Her eyes watched him carefully.

Haldir smiled,ere ere are posts to be reinforced, sentries to train, and much more."

Eridani's eyes showed she was not totally convinced. "Is that so, my Lord? Or is there another, more pressing matter, that drives you back?" Her brown eyes flared with doubt.

Seeing this, Haldir inched closer to her and looked down at her face. His voice was a whisper but she heard him clearly, "Nay, my Lady. Instead there is much here that sweetens my days and I would rather stay." His gaze caressed her face.

Eridani's heart leapt in her chest and she smiled slowly, looking at his lips. Without thinking, she brought a slender finger to his lips and traced the countours of his mouth, her eyes lost in their shape. How she longed to taste them again.

Raising her eyes to his and without removing her fingers from his mouth, she whispered, " 'Twas long ago you lost this battle. Do you recall?" She saw him close his eyes and nod. Her fingertips continued to delicately caress his soft lips and she lowered her gaze to them. "Now yost pst pay the forfeit." Her eyes raised to his sweet face and she saw he was lost in the rapture of her touch.

Haldir knew the thought of her mind for it was clearly reflected in her words and the tone of her voice. After so many years, the memory of their heated touches were vivid in her mind, and in his. He had had no idea how powerfully he had missed her, her touch, her scent. He sighed deeply, desire and passion growin hin him. What she was doing to him was slowly dri him him mad, and his desire to have her flowed in his veins like molten lava. His manhood hardened, his breathing became labored. How long he could hold onto the reins of control he was not certain. Her touch was sweetness itself, but she had not fully realized how close to losing control he already was. Still, her fingertips caressed his lips and he noticed they were cool and trembled slightly and he knew she was right. He had forfeited and could not stop himself...he could not!

Opening his eyes once, he whispered her name and lowered his mouth to hers. Eridani closed her eyes and waited for the delight that she knew would soon invade her senses.

In seconds they reacted to each other. Haldir lowering his body closer to hers and Eridani raising herself to meet him. Her lips were on fire, his breath hot and his lips slanting to suck the moisture of her mouth. She felt his hands run over her arms to hto her hips, but going no further.

Moaning against his open mouth, she allowed his tongue entry and felt a tremor run past her body. With a jolt she realized it was Haldir who trembled!

Bringing her arms 'round to his neck, she let her hands lose themselves in his silken hair and delighted at the groan of pleasure this drew from him. Responding to her silent invitation, he deepened the kiss, drawing her lips out and then suckling them, his tongue exploring the sweetness of her mouth.

Their bodies were on fire, a current of pleasure and need passing between them. Haldir broke the kiss and began to gently lick and nip the elegant curve of her neck while she caressed his hair. Holding his head in her hands, Eridani brought his face up toward her and she looked deeply into his eyes. Blue fire that drowned in pools of warm dark brown.

"Haldir..." her eyes filled with tears. "I feel so...I..." she licked her lips in confusion. How to tell him what she wanted? How to say that one thousand years of waiting was more than enough? What would he think?

Haldir saw the conflict sweep across her face and he smiled, caressing her hair and her forehead. After all this time, she was still so young, so inexperienced. Ages of practice in reading the faces of many had given Haldir a great insight into the thought and emotional processes of others. It was this skill that slowly brought him to the realization that she wanted him as much as he wanted her, and that she surrendered to him, that no more need they wait. But he needed to be sure.

Caressing the curls that fanned Eridani's face, Haldir gently kissed the cornes of her mouth. His eyes held warmth and reassurance. Seeing this, Eridani relaxed and she let her body mold into Haldir's. Noticing her pliant response to his unspoken message, he smiled tenderly. "Once, long ago, I asked you to be my Lady. I vowed never to dishonor you. To this vow I still hold." He gently kissed her eyes closed when he saw the protest in them.

But it was Eridani, finally realizing the source of the conflict in his heart, who broke their contact and sat up. Her eyes, wide and surprised, searched his calm blue gaze. For long moments she studied him, remembering his indecision after their kisses, recalling her own uncertainty and conclusion that he had not cared as much for her as she did for him. Now she understood the full magnitude of his love for her. He hanorenored her, loved her and protected her. And even now, after all that had passed, he still held to his promise. In her heart she knew she would be proud to be Lady to this honorable and gallant elf.

Eridani smiled and cupped his face. Haldir waited. " 'Tis a vow that was long honored, my Lord." She saw the question in his eyes and she ran her hands over his face. Leaning closer, her voice audible to him only, Eridani whispered, "I have been your Lady since we first met, since we first touched. I have been, and always shall be, part of your lifeforce, as you are part of mine. Your honor and patience has sealed the vow. No more need we wait to honor this virtue. It was always within us, love." She watched his face shine with the light of understanding.

Without speaking, Haldir brought her to his arms and kissed her, slowly lowering her onto the grass.

Kissing her mouth slowly and sensually, pressing his body closer to hers, Haldir whispered against her open mouth, "What do you want, my heart?'

He felt Eridani's hands slide down past his back, to his hips and he smiled. Her tongue sensually explored and licked the moist insides of his mouth, and groaning in pleasure, Haldir let Eridani take the lead, set the pace. He knew then their defences had lowered and their walls at last crumbled. Bringing his hands to caress her hair, her face, and back to her hair again, Haldirw hew he had indeed lost this most sweetest of battles!

A delicious tremor coursed past his body when he realized Eridani had broken the kiss to slowly lick his neck, her tongue wetly flicking at his ears, then back to his face, his closed eyes, his forehead and playing with his lips. He was lost in the heat she fanned. And so it came as a shock to the senses when he heard her soft voice against his hair.

"This is what I wish: to see you, as you are, as you were made." She brought his lips to hers in a kiss full of hunger and want.

Haldir felt his manhood swell at the insinuation of her words, and the sexual nuance of her voice.

Reluctantly breaking away from their kiss, Haldir stood. Eridani watched him with languid eyes.

Haldir removed the shirt he wore, hearing her breath catch in her throat. He kept his eyes closed, for he knew he would lose all his control should he gaze at her now. This was her moment. His time would soon come. But for now, he would yield to her demands.


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{To be continued...}