Disrupting Haldir's World

Chapter 5 – The Joining

Elisabeth opened her eyes to find Haldir watching her from beneath his dark lashes. She smiled at him and he kissed her gently, brushing her lips with his.

“Look, Elisabeth,” he said, pointing ahead. “It is Caras Galadhon, the city of the Galadhrim.”

Torchlight lit their way as they entered large gates, which closed behind them without a sound. She raised her head and took in the ethereal beauty of the massive mallorn trees, noticing that many had stairs wrapping around their thick trunks. Voices and singing could be heard overhead in the trees as they rode through, though there was nobody to be seen. When they finally arrived at the largest tree she had ever seen, Haldir carefully lifted Elisabeth from the cart.

“Come,” he told the others. “Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel await.”

“Who are they?” Judith whispered to Aggie.

“I don’t know, but they sound important,” Aggie replied, brushing the dust off her skirt.

Rúmil and Orophin helped Rowland from the cart and up the many stairs while Haldir led the procession, carrying Elisabeth.

“Haldir, I can walk,” she told him, embarrassed. “It is too far for you to carry me.”

“It is too far for you to walk,” he argued. “I barely notice your weight.”

When they arrived at the top of the stairs, there was an immense flet, lit with many torches. It seemed to sparkle everywhere that Elisabeth looked and she thought that she had never seen anyplace so magnificent. There was whispering amongst the women but all noise ceased when the Lord and Lady descended the staircase and stepped onto the flet, commanding silence with their very presence. Haldir touched his hand to his heart and bowed as well as possible, while holding Elisabeth.

Lady Galadriel looked at each of them in turn before capturing Edgar with her stare and stating in her rich voice, “You wish to leave, but you have only just arrived.”

“I…we have business in Rohan. It is imperative that we make good time,” he explained.

She looked into his eyes and raised her chin, “I see what this business is.”

Turning, the lady of light looked at the women he employed and asked them, “And this is what you want? You would go with him and conduct this…business?”

They nodded.

“Then you should leave at once; we will not detain you,” she decided. “The two that are injured will stay until they heal.”

“I paid Rowland to escort us to Rohan and I expect him to do so,” Edgar insisted angrily.

Lady Galadriel turned towards the man as two of her sentinels moved closer. “Do not try my patience. I will send two guides with you to see you safely to Rohan, but I want you gone at once.”

He nodded nervously. The sooner they were out of here, the better.

Within minutes, Edgar and the five women were gone, following Orophin back down the stairs. Haldir’s brother had offered his services as a guide and now he simply had to find someone that actually knew the way to Rohan to accompany them. They would be on the road shortly.

Lady Galadriel now approached Elisabeth, almost gliding across the floor, and touched the woman’s maimed hand.

“I will try and ease your pain,” she said, closing her eyes momentarily. Elisabeth gasped, as the pain did indeed seem to vanish, both in her back and her hand.

“Thank you,” she told the graceful elleth. “My pain is gone.”

Lady Galadriel smiled and seemed to stare through Elisabeth before shifting her gaze to look at Haldir with a raised eyebrow. The Marchwarden blushed and glanced away; the lady saw too much. Humor touching her eyes, Lady Galadriel moved over to Rowland and placed a hand on his side. Instantly, she took his pain away as she had done for Elisabeth and he also thanked her.

“You will need time to heal before you leave. A week, I would think,” she said, silencing Haldir with a glance. The Marchwarden knew that it would be a simple task for her to heal Rowland instantly and had been about to ask her why she did not, but now he understood. Silently, he thanked her with his mind.

“Haldir, I can stand now that my pain is gone,” Elisabeth assured him in a whisper.

Reluctantly, he let her down, but took her good hand in his.

Lord Celeborn instructed an elf to take Rowland and Elisabeth to rooms that they could use while they were in Caras Galadhon, but Haldir told the elf-lord that he wished for Elisabeth to stay with him. She agreed.

~~~~~~~~~

“You have two talans?” she asked him as they climbed the stairs to his home.

“Of course,” he smiled, “one at the Northern Fences and one in the city. I spend an equal amount of time at each.”

She looked around and found that it was very similar to his other talan.

“Will you sleep on the floor again and leave me in the bed alone?” she asked shyly, touching his face.

“No, I will not do that,” he told her, pulling her against his body. “I will share my bed with you tonight, Elisabeth, if it is truly what you wish.”

She stood on her toes to reach up and kiss him, “It is my heart’s greatest desire.”

They stood together for a while, caressing and kissing each other as their pulses began to increase. “Maybe we will not wait until tonight,” he said after a while, kissing her neck and causing her to gasp.

She agreed that there was no need to wait for the cover of night and her breath grew ragged as their embrace became more heated.

He finally pushed away and took her hand, heading towards the bedroom stairs, but stopped suddenly when a knock sounded at his door.

“No,” he said through clenched teeth. “Not now.”

“Haldir, I know you are in there,” they heard Rúmil’s voice. “Lady Galadriel has requested that we dine with her in an hour. I have brought a gown for Elisabeth to wear.”

Sighing, Haldir turned and opened the door, thanking Rúmil as he took the gown and got the door closed again as quickly as possible.

“An hour,” he repeated to Elisabeth, touching her face with the back of his hand. “I do not wish to start something now that I cannot finish properly. We shall have to wait until tonight after all.”

“Then what shall we do for the next hour?” she asked him.

“We need to leave this talan before I change my mind and take you right here on the table,” Haldir told her, his eyes dark with need. He took a deep breath, “Come, I will show you around the city.”

They walked through the trees and it was hard for Elisabeth to remember that this actually was a city, since it was mostly above her head. From the ground, it simply looked like a forest except for the staircases that wrapped around the silver trunks of the mallorn trees and the torches that lined the paths. He took her to a bluff and pointed out different areas to her.

“Those are the Misty Mountains and the small river you see is the Silverlode. It joins the River Anduin eventually.”

“What are the flowers I see all over the ground?” Elisabeth asked, touching one.

“That is called Elanor and this one is Niphredil,” he said, picking a couple and putting them in her hair.

“They are so lovely,” she remarked, looking around. “I have never seen a place as beautiful as this, Haldir.”

He smiled, feeling exactly the same way. “I cannot imagine wanting to be anywhere else.”

They made their way back to his home and dressed for dinner, though Haldir insisted on helping Elisabeth, since she only had the use of one hand. His questionable help slowed them down tremendously.

“You are supposed to be buttoning the back up, Haldir,” she reminded him as he kissed her bare shoulders.

“I find myself distracted,” he told her, feathering kisses up her spine and smiling as he watched her shudder. He reluctantly finished with the buttons before turning her around to face him.

“You look stunning,” he said, noticing that the pale blue gown matched her eyes.

“You look rather handsome yourself,” she told him, eyeing him in his dark blue tunic and black leggings.

“I want you right now, Elisabeth,” he told her, pulling her close and softly biting her lower lip. “I do not wish to wait.”

“But it has been almost an hour, Haldir,” she reminded him, knowing it was growing late. “They will be expecting us soon.”

“I know,” he said sighing as he finally let her go. “The wait will be well worth it, I am certain.”

They walked together back to the massive mallorn tree and Elisabeth loved how the torchlight glowed against the carpet of moss along the way. A huge banquet was served in the Royal Hall, with a variety of meats, cheeses and fruits as well as wine to drink. Elisabeth was uneasy at first about eating in the presence of the Lord and Lady as well as the other elves. They were all so refined, so elegant and graceful that she felt awkward around them. When she went to lift her napkin with her left hand, it was even worse. She stared at the hand, close to tears as she realized that without the fingers, the hand was almost worthless now.

Deciding then and there that she would not give in and pity herself, she made a second attempt and lifted the napkin by holding it between her thumb and the palm of her hand. She would simply have to learn to improvise. There was so much for her to be grateful for that she would not waste her time feeling sorry for herself. She was looking forward to spending this night with Haldir more than anything and she would not let her concerns about her hand interfere with her fleeting time with him. There would be plenty of time to feel sorry for herself later, when she was alone in Edoras.

The meal was enjoyable and Elisabeth found herself almost instantly at ease with both Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, much to her wonder. They had many questions about the happenings in Gondor and appreciated the news from afar that she now shared with them. When the meal was over, Lady Galadriel asked Haldir to stay for a few moments because she had something she wanted to discuss with him. Sending Elisabeth back with Rúmil in case she got lost, he assured her that he would join her soon. There was promise in his eyes as he kissed her lightly.

When they were alone, Galadriel turned towards Haldir.

“What are your intentions towards this woman, Haldir?” she asked him, watching his face as he answered.

“I intend to make the most of the short time we have together and will probably spend the rest of my life regretting it after she leaves,” he replied honestly.

“And she has agreed to this?”

“Yes, she has,” he said. “She says she would rather have this short time together than nothing at all.”

“She does not have to leave, Haldir. She could stay here,” the lady told him, watching closely for his response.

“That would be too much for me to bear,” he said. “If she stays here, I will have to watch as she grows old and dies. I would rather have this short time with her now and let her go when it is time. She will marry eventually and have a life with other humans. I suspect that Rowland may become her husband one day.”

“He will not,” Galadriel told him. “I saw his mind. He cannot bear the thought of touching her when her hand is mutilated. She will have a difficult time finding a husband when humans are so concerned about physical appearances.”

“Can you do anything for her?” he pleaded.

“You wish me to heal her so that she will become appealing again to Rowland?” the lady asked.

“I want what is best for her,” Haldir said sincerely, though the words caught in his throat. “I think that is best. Can you do it?”

“Rúmil has brought back her fingers so, yes, I can do it. Bring her to me tomorrow after I have time to soak the fingers in the healing waters from our river. Say nothing to her until then.”

Haldir placed his hand over his heart and bowed before leaving the Royal Hall, anxious to get to Elisabeth. When he entered his talan, he was disheartened to see Rúmil still sitting on the floor talking to Elisabeth. He did not want to be rude to his brother, but he had plans. He paced for a few minutes until he finally saw the grin on Rúmil’s face and correctly assumed that his brother was deliberately trying to annoy him.

“Rúmil?” he asked.

“Yes, Haldir?”

“I need to be alone with Elisabeth for a while.”

“Why?” the younger elf asked, smiling.

Haldir refused to answer and simply crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow until his brother gave in and left.

The minute the door closed, Haldir turned to Elisabeth and lifted her into his arms to carry her up the steps. She noticed that, unlike his flet at the lake, this one had walls and for that she was grateful. She didn’t want the neighbors watching.

Haldir sat on the edge of the bed, holding Elisabeth on his lap. As he captured her mouth with his, he deftly moved his fingers over the buttons on the back of her gown and soon began to slip it over her shoulders, feathering kisses across her neck as he slid the silky material down.

“As beautiful as you look in this dress, I know that you look even better out of it,” he whispered, standing and drawing her to her feet. It was only a matter of seconds before she stood in front of him, naked. Just as rapidly, he removed his tunic and had started on the laces of his leggings when she stopped him.

“I wish to do this myself,” she smiled at him, not so nervous this time as she went to undo the leggings. She stopped suddenly, looking up at him in anguish, when she realized that the laces could not easily be undone with one hand. Understanding, he quickly finished undressing himself, kissing her while he did it. When she put her arms around his neck, she saw such a strong look of desire in his eyes that it was almost scorching.

He crushed his mouth to hers and somehow managed to get her onto the bed before she even realized he was doing it. Running his tongue down her neck, his hands explored her body while she allowed her right hand to roam freely over his smooth skin. She touched his body everywhere that she could reach as he slid lower and lower until finally she could only reach his hair to run her hand through it. She moaned as he used his tongue on her and he finally slid a finger inside to discover that she was already wet.

He wanted to take her immediately, but feared that he would hurt her. Carefully, he added another finger and waited until she relaxed again before slowly moving the fingers in and out as he continued to pleasure her with his tongue. When he felt it was time, he moved up and positioned himself between her legs.

“Are you ready for me, Elisabeth?” he asked, biting her earlobe gently.

“Oh, yes,” she told him, wanting completion; wanting to feel him inside her.

“It is going to hurt a little, but not for long,” he promised her, beginning to press against her opening.

“It is all right, Haldir,” she told him. “Please, I am ready.”

He pressed further until he met resistance then as he looked into her eyes, he thrust hard once, breaking through the barrier. He watched her face as she reacted to the pain.

“Does it hurt badly?” he asked, kissing her cheek.

“Not too badly,” she assured him, smiling. “I’ve had worse.”

He pulled back and thrust again and this time there was no resistance. He went slowly at first, wanting to make sure he wasn’t hurting her but soon she wrapped her legs around him and was pulling him closer, urging him to go deeper. He shifted his position and she reacted favorably as a small sound escaped her lips. Instead of pulling out further now, he stayed deep, making the short, hard movements that she seemed to be responding to the most. It wasn’t long before she clutched him tightly and cried out as she was carried over the edge on a wave of sensations she had never experienced before. He began long, hard thrusts now, and soon he cried out her name while she was still shuddering from the impact of her orgasm.

Haldir collapsed next to her. Turning her chin towards him, he kissed her deeply, before looking into her eyes.

“That was the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced, Elisabeth,” he told her, sincerely. He had never been with anybody that had made him feel the way she just had. Maybe it was because he had never felt this way about any other.

“I think I could get used to this,” she told him, running a finger down his chest as she smiled at him.

“I hope so,” he replied. “I plan on spending a lot of time in bed with you over the next week.”

She smiled, happy that she had given him pleasure, but at the same time he had reminded her that they only had a week before she would be leaving him forever. She wouldn’t dwell on that now, but would enjoy their time together as she had promised him they would.

He pulled her on top of him and they lay that way for a while, kissing each other as he ran his hands up and down her back and over her body. They were a warrior’s hands, yet so gentle when they caressed her. She loved the sensation and wished it would never end. Before long, she felt him pressing against her stomach again and smiled.

“I thought it was supposed to take some time before you were ready again,” she laughed.

“Elves are different,” he informed her, rather proudly. “We have much more stamina than men.”

“I see,” she replied, shifting slightly so that her thighs moved to the outside of his, straddling him. Groaning, he grabbed her hips and lifted her, helping to place her onto his now hard shaft. He helped her to establish a rhythm that they both liked and before long she was crying out his name again as he thrust up into her from beneath. He soon joined her, holding her tightly as he spilled his seed into her for the second time that day. Exhausted, she fell asleep as she lay on his chest and stayed that way for a few hours until he woke her during the night, wanting her again. When the sun began to shine through the window, Elisabeth opened her eyes when she felt Haldir’s hand caressing her flat stomach.

“Good morning,” she said, smiling at him.

“It is a good morning,” he replied. “And last night was a wonderful night.”

“I was beginning to wonder if it is possible to tire you out,” she admitted.

“It is not,” he said, moving his hand down to touch her between the legs. “I could make love to you all night long, but you would have been so sore that you would not be able to walk today. I will try to pace myself.”

As she found herself responding to his touch, she reached over to him and wrapped her hand around his erection, watching his eyes for an indication of what he liked the most. When his breathing grew rough and the desire in his eyes began to smolder, he deftly flipped Elisabeth onto her knees and took her from behind, thrusting into her, hard as he grunted into her ear. This was something new to Elisabeth and his intensity scared her a little at first as his breathing grew faster and he began slamming into her even harder. Speaking quiet words in elvish into her ear, he shifted his position just a little and it made a difference. Suddenly she was breathing as hard as he was, each thrust bringer her closer. They came together in an explosion of pure pleasure unlike anything she had felt so far. Elisabeth decided that so far there hadn’t been a single position that she hadn’t enjoyed and she told him that as he rolled her onto her back and flopped down next to her.

“We shall have to keep trying,” he suggested with a smile. “There must be one you do not like.”

“How many more are there?” she asked, curious.

“Oh, many,” he told her, laughing. “You would be surprised.”

They reluctantly got out of bed when hunger finally became an issue. Haldir pulled some bread from a cupboard as well as some fruit and cheese and they ate at his small table, watching each other. It seemed as though he couldn’t take his eyes off her and Elisabeth felt the same way about him. He was the most gorgeous being she had ever laid eyes on and their week together would be over too soon. She wondered briefly if it wouldn’t be possible for her to stay here with him, but he hadn’t mentioned it. She didn’t know if humans were forbidden to live in the elf city or not, but did not feel that it was her place to bring the issue up…just yet.

The peach was juicy and delicious and when Elisabeth took a second bite, some of the juice dribbled down onto her breast.

“Oh,” she said, moving to wipe it off.

“No,” Haldir swallowed the piece of bread he was eating and moved over to her, his eyes never leaving her chest as he watched the juice drip. He leaned over her and started at her chin, running his tongue down to where the drip stopped. Elisabeth set the piece of fruit down, distracted by what he was doing to her body. When he was done, he reached over to the table and grabbed the peach, rubbing it over her stomach before lapping the juice off. She had never dreamed that eating fruit could be such an erotic experience but before long she wanted him again and one glance at him told her he was ready, too.

She took the peach from him and told him to sit down. This time she drizzled the juice over his nicely muscled chest and stomach, repeating what he had done to her. He seemed to like it based on how his body was reacting and the sounds he was making. After building up the courage, she dripped the peach juice lower, watching his face for a reaction.

His eyes flew to hers when he felt the drops and she wasn’t sure whether or not he wanted her to continue. She had heard the other women talking about doing this and had assumed he would like it, but now she wasn’t sure.

“Elisabeth?” his voice was strained.

“Yes, Haldir?”

“Please do not stop now,” he forced the words out.

“I was not sure if you would want me to do it,” she told him.

“Please do. Use your mouth on me,” he pleaded, hoping she was not having second thoughts.
Taking a moment to build up her courage, she slowly lowered herself to her knees before his chair. Pulling her hair back away from her face, she carefully touched him with her tongue, eliciting a groan from him. Wanting more, he told her what he liked and she complied, tentatively at first, but soon learning exactly what he desired.

“Faster,” he moaned, thrusting himself towards her when she slowed her pace. She sped up the rhythm and before long he grabbed her head.

“Stop, Elisabeth, or I am going to…”

She knew what was going to happen and continued despite his plea for her to stop. He watched her, afraid at what her reaction would be, but after it happened, she simply laid her head on his lap and looked up at him.

“Elisabeth, I never expected you to do that for me,” he finally told her, stroking her silky hair, “though I had hoped you would.”

“Did you enjoy it?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Very much,” he assured her.

“Good,” she said. “Then I am glad I did it.”

The sound of footsteps on the outside stairs got them both moving in a hurry. Elisabeth ran to the bedroom and changed into her dress while Haldir threw on his leggings and went to answer the door. It was Rúmil, as usual.

“Lady Galadriel requests your presence with Elisabeth as soon as possible,” he told his brother.

Elisabeth walked out of the bedroom, running her fingers through her hair, as she knew it must be a terrible mess. She wished Rúmil a good morning and he raised an eyebrow at her disheveled appearance as she searched for the pack that held her comb.

In Elvish, he addressed his brother, “Not a virgin any longer, I suppose.”

“Not that it is any of your business, but no,” Haldir told him then added, “I think I am in love.”

“You?” Rúmil asked, shocked.

“Not that it will change anything,” Haldir sighed. “She will be leaving in a week and if all goes as planned, she will be with Rowland when they get to Rohan.”

“Rowland?” Rúmil frowned. “Why?”

“He has feelings for her or at least he did before she lost her fingers. Lady Galadriel is going to heal her and then he will want her again. She needs to be with other humans and I think he would treat her well.”

“You cannot be serious, Haldir,” Rúmil stated. “I cannot believe you are going to let her go, much less give her up to another…a man. He will never treat her as you would.”

“What would you do in my place, Rúmil?” he asked, tormented. “Let her stay? Watch her age and die?”

“Oh,” Rúmil said as it hit him. “I had not considered that.”

“If I could, I would give up my immortality to grow old with her, but…” he shrugged.

“But when you became Marchwarden you swore an oath to serve Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, giving up that option. Your life is no longer your own to do with as you please. I am glad, Haldir, because I would hate to see you do that,” Rúmil insisted.

“Because I cannot do that, I will have to go through eternity without her. Long after she is dead, I will still be mourning her.”

“I am sorry, Haldir. There is no easy solution, is there?” Rúmil said, patting his brother on the back.

“No, there is not,” Haldir replied, taking Elisabeth’s hand and leading her down the stairs.

~~tbc~~