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Scenes from a Life
folder
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
5,775
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
5,775
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Disappointment (Scenes from a life V/XI)
Timeline: April, TA 3017 (this chapter); AU
Author's notes: Takes place in spring, 4 years after Eadhild met Haldir in "Happiness". The author does not share Eadhild's prejudices...
***
"Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises..."
William Shakespeare (All's Well That Ends Well, Act II)
***
During the years a certain pattern evolved. Thranduil would settle at the inn, seek Eadhild out and hiss casually in her ear "My room. Now!" She would find an excuse to leave what she was doing and go to him in anticipation. He would take her in whatever way he fancied and afterwards she would go back to her chores, bodily satisfied but with a heart aching for something else. She wanted more. She wanted a steady companion, someone who would be there for her always.
Her husband was a good man, but he hadn't been strong enough to defy those who chided him for keeping "a barren mare", so after five years of marriage when it was clear that she wouldn't give him any heirs, their union had been officially terminated. That was when she had left her village, unable to stand the shame and to continue to live there to see her husband take another wife. She had been lucky to be able to travel to town with some merchants. They had pitied her and helped her find her way to the inn, which was constantly looking for new maids. And there she had met Thilia, the kitchen servant who was her dearest friend. Thilia who had taught her all about the work at the inn, who had told her about Elves...
Eadhild felt a pang in her heart as so many times before when she allowed herself to dream for a while, to go back in memory to that dark winter night four years ago and the Elf with the bright eyes and dark eyebrows that had made her forget her childish superstition and made the dreaded winter solstice a time of anticipation. And a time of despair, since he never appeared at the inn again. Haldir was his name. Haldir with the silky golden hair shining in the moonlight. Haldir with his witty, outwardly innocent remarks so full of suggestive hints. Haldir, who had tormented her sweeter with his coolness than Thranduil had ever done with his explosive heat.
Eadhild sighed and picked up the bucket of warm water and the cloth to continue to wipe the next table to make everything ready for the guests who would soon fill the hall to enjoy their evening meal.
***
Glorfindel laughed at his companions and tucked away the lute he had been playing, accompanying the melodious voice that had sung with joy of life the past hours, as they neared the goal of that day's travel. Only two more weeks now, and he would be back at Imladris, his home for the last millennia, after a yearlong visit to the white city of the humans. The sunny disposal of the legendary Elf-lord was partly due to this fact, and partly to the fine weather they were enjoying this spring, when the light green leaves literally bathed in Arien's gentle caresses.
Eadhild looked up as she heard the pealing laughter finding its way to every corner of the room as the small company of dark Elves entered the hall. These must be Noldor from Imladris, the northern realm of Lord Elrond, she thought as she took in the sight of the beautiful happy faces framed by hair as black as the soot she had gotten on her hands when clearing out the fireplace this morning. But there was one exception, and a striking one. The Elf with the infectious laughter glowed with a pure light that could not be counted for by the dying rays of the evening sun that had played upon his golden hair as he stepped across the threshold.
This Elf was magnificent, and Eadhild forgot her earlier longing for life-long affection as she suddenly felt a very physical need awakening in her nether regions. She longed to touch this Elf, but even more to be touched by him and feel his body against hers, as he would claim her in passion... "Stop it!" she told herself. Daydreaming again... but she would at least not give him up to one of her fellow maidservants if anything could be done to prevent it.
With a sudden feeling of awe that ill suited the desire she had experienced just moments before, she strode up to the Imladris group and made a deep curtsey before the blonde who was obviously its leader. "What may this house do for you this night, my lords?" she inquired while allowing herself to let her eyes meet his for a fleeting moment and almost regretted her boldness when the depth of his gaze revealed the vastness of his life experience.
"Let's keep to the bread and cheese to be on the safe side", said one of the dark-haired Elves, addressing the blond one. "What do you say, Glorfindel?"
Eadhild flinched as she heard the name the Noldo had uttered. What a fool she had been not to guess earlier that this would be the celebrated Elf-lord from the legends! After all, it was common knowledge even among humans that the Noldorin Elves remaining in Middle-earth were all dark; with one exception: Lord Glorfindel, the ancient hero of the hidden city of Gondolin and the balrog slayer that had been sent back from Valinor to aid Lord Elrond. No wonder his whole being seemed to emanate some of the light of the Blessed realm!
"A good idea", came the reply before the golden Elf turned his attention to the waiting servant in front of him. "Just bread and cheese then, and some red wine", he said with an amused look at the woman who was now openly staring at him, clearly taken aback by his reputation. "It is not polite to stare, my dear, off you go!" He had sent her on her way with a soft slap on her behind and hearing the soft laugher of the other Elves Eadhild cursed to herself for not being able to make a better impression on the one she had admired since her year of schooling in Gondor.
When she returned with the ordered food and drink, she took great care to show the company her best manners, wishing them a pleasant meal after placing the wooden plates at the table and filling the crude glasses with the red liquid. Determined to be the perfect maidservant, she attentively approached the table as soon as they had finished eating.
"Would you wish some more, my lords?" she inquired politely before starting to collect the empty plates. "Yes, another bottle of wine, please, if you would be so kind, oh most fair maiden", came the answer. The golden lord was clearly in a playful mood, she thought as she went back to the kitchen. Perhaps he wasn't so beyond reach as she had feared. After all, lords had needs too...
The Imladris company had finished two more bottles before they left the hall and though Eadhild had indeed tried her best to show the leader her willingness to attend to his every need, she had received no certain answer. But since she was not likely to encounter this Elf again, she would not give up so easily. Besides, the bed in that room was the best in the whole house and the mere possibility that the Elf would let her stay with him until the morning and thus get some rest on the soft sheets was a reason as good as any to pursue her interest.
She had finally gone to his room under the usual excuse of bringing fresh towels, thinking that the Elves staying at this inn were usually not adverse to some company, not even the shy ones who didn't actively seek to arrange this. Why would this striking one be any different?
"Lovely maiden", he had said when she had closed the door behind her and sent him a smouldering glance from under fluttering eyelashes. "It warms my heart that you would seek me out, but I have to disappoint you if you thought of bringing me any pleasure besides that of speaking with you. My inclinations are of another kind... if I may say so... one not often pursued among humans, or, at least, looked on with disdain by many."
Eadhild felt her cheeks burning as she realized what he was saying. The hero of her youth had unnatural inclinations! She was deeply shocked and a little sickened by the scandalous news, but managed to control the impulse to rush out of the room. When she had finally managed to collect the thoughts running wild in her mind she most of all felt ashamed of herself. This Elf was not even interested in females and here she had been trying to get into his bed with about the same amount of discretion that one might expect from a common whore!
"Ánin apsenë, herunya... forgive me, my lord" she had whispered quickly in Elven Latin, desperate to show that she wasn't completely devoid of refinement, despite her blatant mistake and shameless behaviour. When she looked up at him again, she could see surprise in his eyes, and curiosity. He did not look offended at all. She let out a sigh of relief when he gave her an amused smile and bade her stay with him.
She ended up with Glorfindel in the bed, cradled in his arms with her head resting on his chest, while he, half reclining against the thick pillows, told her stories from the past, of the fall of Gondolin and of the joyful life in the hidden city before the devastating attack.
Not a bad outcome, after all, Eadhild thought as she leaned into his embrace, slowly drifting into sleep, lulled by the lilting voice softly speaking the ancient tongue of the Elves beyond the sea.
Author's notes: Takes place in spring, 4 years after Eadhild met Haldir in "Happiness". The author does not share Eadhild's prejudices...
***
"Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises..."
William Shakespeare (All's Well That Ends Well, Act II)
***
During the years a certain pattern evolved. Thranduil would settle at the inn, seek Eadhild out and hiss casually in her ear "My room. Now!" She would find an excuse to leave what she was doing and go to him in anticipation. He would take her in whatever way he fancied and afterwards she would go back to her chores, bodily satisfied but with a heart aching for something else. She wanted more. She wanted a steady companion, someone who would be there for her always.
Her husband was a good man, but he hadn't been strong enough to defy those who chided him for keeping "a barren mare", so after five years of marriage when it was clear that she wouldn't give him any heirs, their union had been officially terminated. That was when she had left her village, unable to stand the shame and to continue to live there to see her husband take another wife. She had been lucky to be able to travel to town with some merchants. They had pitied her and helped her find her way to the inn, which was constantly looking for new maids. And there she had met Thilia, the kitchen servant who was her dearest friend. Thilia who had taught her all about the work at the inn, who had told her about Elves...
Eadhild felt a pang in her heart as so many times before when she allowed herself to dream for a while, to go back in memory to that dark winter night four years ago and the Elf with the bright eyes and dark eyebrows that had made her forget her childish superstition and made the dreaded winter solstice a time of anticipation. And a time of despair, since he never appeared at the inn again. Haldir was his name. Haldir with the silky golden hair shining in the moonlight. Haldir with his witty, outwardly innocent remarks so full of suggestive hints. Haldir, who had tormented her sweeter with his coolness than Thranduil had ever done with his explosive heat.
Eadhild sighed and picked up the bucket of warm water and the cloth to continue to wipe the next table to make everything ready for the guests who would soon fill the hall to enjoy their evening meal.
***
Glorfindel laughed at his companions and tucked away the lute he had been playing, accompanying the melodious voice that had sung with joy of life the past hours, as they neared the goal of that day's travel. Only two more weeks now, and he would be back at Imladris, his home for the last millennia, after a yearlong visit to the white city of the humans. The sunny disposal of the legendary Elf-lord was partly due to this fact, and partly to the fine weather they were enjoying this spring, when the light green leaves literally bathed in Arien's gentle caresses.
Eadhild looked up as she heard the pealing laughter finding its way to every corner of the room as the small company of dark Elves entered the hall. These must be Noldor from Imladris, the northern realm of Lord Elrond, she thought as she took in the sight of the beautiful happy faces framed by hair as black as the soot she had gotten on her hands when clearing out the fireplace this morning. But there was one exception, and a striking one. The Elf with the infectious laughter glowed with a pure light that could not be counted for by the dying rays of the evening sun that had played upon his golden hair as he stepped across the threshold.
This Elf was magnificent, and Eadhild forgot her earlier longing for life-long affection as she suddenly felt a very physical need awakening in her nether regions. She longed to touch this Elf, but even more to be touched by him and feel his body against hers, as he would claim her in passion... "Stop it!" she told herself. Daydreaming again... but she would at least not give him up to one of her fellow maidservants if anything could be done to prevent it.
With a sudden feeling of awe that ill suited the desire she had experienced just moments before, she strode up to the Imladris group and made a deep curtsey before the blonde who was obviously its leader. "What may this house do for you this night, my lords?" she inquired while allowing herself to let her eyes meet his for a fleeting moment and almost regretted her boldness when the depth of his gaze revealed the vastness of his life experience.
"Let's keep to the bread and cheese to be on the safe side", said one of the dark-haired Elves, addressing the blond one. "What do you say, Glorfindel?"
Eadhild flinched as she heard the name the Noldo had uttered. What a fool she had been not to guess earlier that this would be the celebrated Elf-lord from the legends! After all, it was common knowledge even among humans that the Noldorin Elves remaining in Middle-earth were all dark; with one exception: Lord Glorfindel, the ancient hero of the hidden city of Gondolin and the balrog slayer that had been sent back from Valinor to aid Lord Elrond. No wonder his whole being seemed to emanate some of the light of the Blessed realm!
"A good idea", came the reply before the golden Elf turned his attention to the waiting servant in front of him. "Just bread and cheese then, and some red wine", he said with an amused look at the woman who was now openly staring at him, clearly taken aback by his reputation. "It is not polite to stare, my dear, off you go!" He had sent her on her way with a soft slap on her behind and hearing the soft laugher of the other Elves Eadhild cursed to herself for not being able to make a better impression on the one she had admired since her year of schooling in Gondor.
When she returned with the ordered food and drink, she took great care to show the company her best manners, wishing them a pleasant meal after placing the wooden plates at the table and filling the crude glasses with the red liquid. Determined to be the perfect maidservant, she attentively approached the table as soon as they had finished eating.
"Would you wish some more, my lords?" she inquired politely before starting to collect the empty plates. "Yes, another bottle of wine, please, if you would be so kind, oh most fair maiden", came the answer. The golden lord was clearly in a playful mood, she thought as she went back to the kitchen. Perhaps he wasn't so beyond reach as she had feared. After all, lords had needs too...
The Imladris company had finished two more bottles before they left the hall and though Eadhild had indeed tried her best to show the leader her willingness to attend to his every need, she had received no certain answer. But since she was not likely to encounter this Elf again, she would not give up so easily. Besides, the bed in that room was the best in the whole house and the mere possibility that the Elf would let her stay with him until the morning and thus get some rest on the soft sheets was a reason as good as any to pursue her interest.
She had finally gone to his room under the usual excuse of bringing fresh towels, thinking that the Elves staying at this inn were usually not adverse to some company, not even the shy ones who didn't actively seek to arrange this. Why would this striking one be any different?
"Lovely maiden", he had said when she had closed the door behind her and sent him a smouldering glance from under fluttering eyelashes. "It warms my heart that you would seek me out, but I have to disappoint you if you thought of bringing me any pleasure besides that of speaking with you. My inclinations are of another kind... if I may say so... one not often pursued among humans, or, at least, looked on with disdain by many."
Eadhild felt her cheeks burning as she realized what he was saying. The hero of her youth had unnatural inclinations! She was deeply shocked and a little sickened by the scandalous news, but managed to control the impulse to rush out of the room. When she had finally managed to collect the thoughts running wild in her mind she most of all felt ashamed of herself. This Elf was not even interested in females and here she had been trying to get into his bed with about the same amount of discretion that one might expect from a common whore!
"Ánin apsenë, herunya... forgive me, my lord" she had whispered quickly in Elven Latin, desperate to show that she wasn't completely devoid of refinement, despite her blatant mistake and shameless behaviour. When she looked up at him again, she could see surprise in his eyes, and curiosity. He did not look offended at all. She let out a sigh of relief when he gave her an amused smile and bade her stay with him.
She ended up with Glorfindel in the bed, cradled in his arms with her head resting on his chest, while he, half reclining against the thick pillows, told her stories from the past, of the fall of Gondolin and of the joyful life in the hidden city before the devastating attack.
Not a bad outcome, after all, Eadhild thought as she leaned into his embrace, slowly drifting into sleep, lulled by the lilting voice softly speaking the ancient tongue of the Elves beyond the sea.