Haldir's First Love

Title: Haldir’s First Love
Type: FPHet
Author: Lori Anne
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Haldir/OFC, Rúmil/OFC, Orophin/OFC
Warning: OFC describes her rape in ch. 6 & graphic sexual content in several chapters.
Disclaimer: Tolkien is the master, not me! I own nothing except my OFC’s and one lowly OMC. I have made nothing, nor intend to make anything from this story except one or two Haldir fans sated.
Beta: Alex
Timeline: Before, during and After the fellowship (which is inconsequential to this story)
Notes: Enjoy!!!!
Summary: After a torturous week, Lorinaura finds comfort in the arms of her childhood love.


Haldir's First Love

Chapter 5 Days of desire, nights of unrest



Waking in her arms was but a dream. Though she still slept, she held fast to him. He did not feel her move during his nap, but she must have for now she was facing him. Her arms were wrapped fully around him and her mouth was touching the hollow of his throat, slightly tickling him with each of her breaths. She had curled her leg over his thighs and he thought he could hold her forever.

He could not help but pull her nearer to him and before he knew he was doing it, his lips were pressed to her forehead. Looking down at her face, he could see her mouth curving upward. "I was hoping you were awake."

"Why is that?" she whispered as she lazily opened her eyes.

"So I could taste those sweet lips of yours." Before she could speak, he kissed her with such passion she could scarcely breathe and then whispered, "Going to sleep with you is wonderful, but waking with you, like this, is true perfection."

"Hold me closer, Haldir. I need to know you are real."

After kissing her again, his eyebrow rose as he heard her stomach rumble slightly, "Are you hungry?"

"For food?" was her only response as she stared deeply into his eyes.

"Lorinaura, as much as it thrills me, you needn't think I will succumb to your obvious attempts to seduce me. You will have to be fully healed before I will join with you."

"Oh, and just why is that? Your reputation as a tender lover precedes you, even as far away as Imladris," she teased. "If you are so gentle with others, then why not with me?"

"Because all others pale in comparison to the passion I feel for you already. Though I will be most gentle with you, you will need all of your strength, for I plan to make you scream my name many times." He gazed into her eyes, seeing his words had the desired effect. Her breathing was irregular and her heart fluttered wildly against his chest. He kissed her lightly once more. "Now, are you hungry?"

"More than you could ever know, Haldir."

"Then I will return with the tray Orophin brought for us last night. Be ready to eat well, for there is an enormous amount of food." He started to rise from the bed, but she did not take her leg from atop his and her arms were still holding limply around his back. He looked to her in feigned defeat, noticing one side of her mouth twitching slightly, "Aura, I cannot get up until you remove your limbs from me."

In as serious a voice as she could, she said, "What a pity."

Haldir, for the first time in a long while, laughed very hard, causing her to lose her composure and laugh along with him. He tenderly removed her limp arm from around him, kissing and nipping the length of it. He sucked each finger into his mouth, in turn, until he felt her shudder. He, then, turned his attention to the leg she had wrapped around him.

She flinched at his soft, slow touch. Developing chills as he progressed from her ankle to the back of her knee, to the inside of her thigh, she let him carefully move her leg onto the bed. He kissed her lips ever so lightly all the while.

Still unable to believe she was letting him be like this with her, he asked, "When did you become so delightful?"

She looked to him as if he should certainly know the answer. "At birth, my dear. You just didn't notice."

"I will be right back,” he said, still amused with her playfulness. Walking to the kitchen, he was distracted by a knock at the door. As he lifted the tray, he shouted, "Enter" truly not wanting to be disturbed, yet knowing others were worried about her as well.

Orophin and his long time love, Katarwë, spilled through the doorway hand in hand. "Rúmil says she is awake. Is she up for a visitor?" asked Orophin.

"Well, I was just about to take her some food, but why don't you take it in to her while Katarwë and I will fix some tea."

"That sounds fabulous, I am famished!" he said with a grin looking at Katarwë, who was looking just as wild eyed as he. Obviously, some inside joke others were not meant to understand. Haldir had no intention of asking.

Orophin picked up the tray of food and carried it through the bedroom door, stopping just short of the bed. He saw no movement from her, so he remained silent as he set the tray upon the arms of a chair in the corner.

"How am I supposed to reach the fruit from way over there, my love, or do you plan to feed me yourself?" she posed.

'My love?' he mused, biting his tongue. This was certainly turning out to be more interesting than he thought possible. He lifted the tray once more and placed it on the edge of the bed, luring her into responding.

With her voice a taking on a pouty tone, she said, "I take it you do not wish to feed me?" She turned toward the tray, slowly opening her eyes, "Perhaps you have changed your mind about making me scream your name…OROPHIN!"

"Good afternoon, sister," he beamed. "Would you like me to peel the grapes before I place them upon your tongue? And just in case you were wondering, I have always liked the way you scream my name!"

Before she could reply, Haldir rushed into the room. "What did you do to her?" he shouted at Orophin as he pushed his way past him to stand between them.

"Hal…" Aura tried to interrupt, reaching out to grab his arm, her face still flushed.

"Aura, what did he do? Are you all right?" he asked.

"Hal, he didn't….." she began, only to be out-voiced, again. It was becoming more and more obvious his questions were purely rhetorical. He did not stop harassing Orophin long enough to hear her trying to speak.

"Orophin, she is still recovering! She nearly died only a few hours ago! I would think you could wait until she is well to take up the bullying, again! Have you no couth at all? I will have you on the fences for months if you cause her any undue pain!"

Lorinaura leaned out around Haldir and stared at Orophin. With a respectful stance and a very smug smirk upon his face, he listened to his brother’s little rampage. 'He is going to really enjoy this,' she thought and then looked back to Haldir. 'Eventually.'

Finally, Haldir took a breath. Now was her chance. "Honestly, Orophin, is he always like this?" she asked and then Haldir looked at her as if she were addled.

"Worse!" he snorted.

"What is going on in here?" hissed Katarwë.

"That is what I would like to know," Haldir demanded looking at Orophin.

"Hal," Lorinaura began, "Phinny just startled me. I thought it was you when he first came in. He did nothing to warrant a scolding from you."

Orophin looked back and forth between his brother and Lorinaura. Haldir was sporting a very protective stance and she looked to be patiently waiting for the inevitable teasing to ensue. He knew his face was showing absolute shock at the way Haldir was behaving and wondered if he even noticed. He had never seen his older brother come to the defense of any elleth like this. In fact, he had never shown any sort of emotion at all in the presence of a female

Looking back to Lorinaura, Orophin saw she, in fact, did notice his astonished gaze. Most likely, she would pass it off as a reaction to what she had inadvertently told him. After all, how could she have any idea of how stiff and prim Haldir had become. Wait a moment…his whole standoffish attitude came forth about the same time she left. Everyone thought it was because he became a warden. Could he have had feelings for her all this time? Well, now. There was something worth mulling over with Rúmil. Perhaps it was even something to give him the upper hand in a wager…or two.

Oh, what to do, what to do. Well, as much as it pained him, Haldir was right about his teasing. Lorinaura did deserve at least one day ridicule free. So, a little begrudgingly, he stepped around his pillar of a brother to kneel before her and kissed her on the cheek. "I trust you are feeling much better today?" His eyes gleamed with laughter.

"Yes, actually, I am." She grabbed his hand and his full attention. "I think mostly because of the last few moments. Are you ready to explode yet?" she asked knowing he would not be able to hold his tongue about what she said forever.

"Whatever do you mean, Aura?"

"Phinny, I have missed you terribly," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek and then looked to Haldir. "Well, don't you have something to say to your brother, Hal?"

"Well, I…I mean…well, yes," he began, still searching his younger brother's face for any signs of concealment. "Perhaps I jumped to the wrong conclusions, I apologize, Orophin. I do not know what came over me."

"Well, now that you two can play nicely again, perhaps one of you would like to introduce me to your sister," said Katarwë.

"She is not my sister," Orophin and Haldir said simultaneously, looking to Aura. They all three burst into laughter.


**********


After spending a few hours with Lorinaura, Orophin and Katarwë made an exit only to be followed by Rúmil and then Galadriel and Celeborn. By the time everyone was done fretting over her and left, she was feeling a bit tired. Even Haldir could see she was wearing down quickly. Therefore, he ordered her back under the covers and took the half-eaten tray of food into the kitchen. Rúmil had promised to bring breakfast in the morning, but until then, they were alone and Haldir could not have been happier.

He peeked into her room to find her already asleep and for a few moments, he simply stood at the end of the bed, staring at her. Her hair spilling down her back, her face peaceful, he wanted nothing more than to wake her up and kiss every inch of her body. Instead, he settled for lightly brushing his lips to her forehead and pulling the quilt over an exposed shoulder.

Seeing her like this, he wondered how he could have been so blind those many years before. Why had he not gone to Imladris and dragged her back, made her his? Any reason he thought of seemed foolish, now, and he never made the same mistakes twice. With a silent sigh, he decided not to disturb her further by trying to get into the bed, so he took a quilt from the dresser and lay down on the couch.

He concluded he was probably better off this way tonight. Possibly, he would get more actual sleeping done if he was not holding the elleth he wanted to make love to so badly. After an hour of lying awake, he rethought the conclusion. With a great sigh, he heaved himself off the couch and poured a flute of wine, but as the first mouthful graced his throat, he heard Lorinaura cry out in pain and then start pleading.

"BAW! SAES DARO! SAES!" she begged.

Haldir ran to her, finding her in much the same state as the night before. Using a bit more caution, he quickly lifted the covers behind her and slipped under them. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and whispered sweet phrases into her ear. She began to settle slightly, her pleading quieted to a hoarse whisper and then she began to sob.

Had those Orcs done this to her? Of course they had! She was with them nearly a week, they killed Mendolir and most likely used him as food. Did they only want her as food? What else did they do to her? He now wished they had not slaughtered them all so mercifully at the fences, so he could kill them slowly, painfully.

She started to fight him again and he found if he relaxed, her struggles against him lessened. Therefore, he pulled her tight to him, feeling her chest heave in harsh breaths from crying and draped his arm over her in a loose embrace. He took her hand in his and by the time she fell silent again, the pillow beneath them was sodden with her tears.

"You are safe, lirimaer. I am here. Nothing will ever harm you again," he whispered and to his surprise, she turned toward him, nuzzling her nose between the pillow and his neck. She pressed the entire length of her body against him, teasing one arm between the bed and himself, and arranging the other around his waist. After placing her leg over his thighs, he felt her steady breaths at his neck and smiled lazily as his eyes closed. It was as if she had slept with him all of her life, and he had to admit, it was the most comfortable he had ever felt with anyone.

**********

The smell of him was intoxicating. A mixture of fresh air and mellyrn bark and if he were liquid, she would drink enough of him to drown. Since he was not, she would settle for kissing him. She lifted her head, languidly grazing her lips over his neck and then opened her eyes when he did not respond, thinking, 'This just will not do.'

She casually took her arm from under his and moved her hand up his shoulder, watching his face intently. Still, no reaction. Dragging her tongue from his firm jaw to his mouth, she glided her hand upward, gently running her fingers through his hair until she reached his ear. She could feel his heart beating just a little faster now, but he had such control. She had the insatiable need for him to lose all this restraint to which he seemed to cling. 'No, this will not do, at all.'

She pressed her lips to his once more, dipping her tongue into his warmth and caressing the very tip of his ear. She gently dug the heel of her foot into his thigh, forcing his hips snug to hers. Feeling a little more than just his beating heart now, she heard a faint moan escape him. 'Ah, now there is a nice response.'

She caressed his ear again, still kissing him, but now he began to kiss her in return, ending her thoughts. It was laborious just to remember to breathe. To taste him was all she desired. To feel him surround her was all she needed.

He could not let himself get carried away with this. Even he had a point from which there would be no return and he would not let anything ruin the first time they joined. She must be truly ready and above all else, she must not hold anything back from him. But her lips, Gods, her lips suited him like no others. It was as if Illuvatar created them, forming them from a melody so sweet and passionate, they could do little else but give him pleasure. Many others had he kissed, but none matched the sheer, raw desire he felt for this alluring creature.

"Aura, we must not go further. Not yet," he said, still kissing her, knowing he would have to be the one to pull away, but not wanting to. He could feel her legs pulling him to her, could feel her inner heat pressing against him, bidding him to enter, begging him to encase himself. He kissed her fervently and then thankfully gained his senses back when he heard a knock at the door. "That will be Rúmil; he brings us breakfast," he said softly.

She rolled onto her back, pulling him with her. "Perhaps if we make no noise, he will go away for a few moments."

"Melethril, there are so many things wrong with that statement, I hardly know where to begin," he said with a low growl. "First off, Rúmil will not go away; surely you have not been away so long as to forget that." She took a deep exasperated breath and nodded her head in agreement. Pulling up onto his elbows, he began again, "Secondly, the desire you bring about in me could not possibly be silenced to the point he could not hear, and if you think it will only take a few moments, you are in for a real surprise!"

"Yet somehow, none of those words makes me want to let you go," she said ardently, her grey eyes dark with desire for him.

"Lorinaura, all we have is time. I promise you, there will be enough, why are you so impatient. Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"I cannot. Not yet," she whispered.

"Why, my love? Do you not know you can say anything to me?"

"I know that. It is not a matter of trust, only one of timing. I promise, I will tell you my whole life's story very soon…. but your brother is now in my kitchen, silly elf," she replied and then kissed him once more, feeling more relief than she would have ever thought, before letting him go.

Raising an eyebrow to her, "You won't try to back out; we will take this up?"

"Mmmm, I cannot wait," she purred.

"Aura, you know what I mean."

Forcing herself to smile, "Yes, I do. And it is nothing to be so concerned about right now."

"And yet, right now, it is all that concerns me," he said and then rolled off the bed holding out his hand to her. "It is time you join the land of the living, don't you think?"

"Thank you, I would love to," she responded. "Haldir, I am feeling much better. Would you mind taking a walk with me? I am sure many things have changed since I have been gone."

"Not as many as one would think, but I would be glad to escort you anywhere, so long as you do not tire yourself too much."

They walked hand in hand into the kitchen to see Rúmil rummaging through each cabinet door. "What are you looking for, love?" asked Lorinaura.

"Your cups. I have made some tea while the two of you have been…well, um…you know…doing whatever it is you were doing in there. But I cannot, for the life of me, find your cups.

"And just what do you think we were doing in there, Brother?" asked Haldir as he reached around Rúmil to pull out three mugs from the cupboard just beside him.

"Oh, come now. You don't really think Phin could keep what Aura said to him a secret from me, do you?" he asked with a grin, pouring them all some of the tea. "I brought fruit, bread and honey. As I recall, you were particularly fond of honey, Aura. I hope it is still the case."

Lorinaura nodded her head and smiled then took a sip of tea, thinking of how sweet the revenge upon him would be, once she settled on one.

"What did you say to Orophin, Aura?" said Haldir, his curiosity at its peak.

She took a deep breath. "I thought it was you, Haldir. I do not recall the exact wording, but it had something to do with me screaming your name." She blushed slightly and he understood her meaning immediately. "Oh, do not look so morose. I am sure Rúmil will be the only one he tells."

"And I am sure I will not hear the end of his ridicule for at least an age."

Haldir walked with her to the couch and she leaned to him whispering, "To make it up to you, I promise to scream your name at least once for every time the subject is broached. Would that be to your liking?" Unable to answer since Rúmil sat beside her, he smiled and gave her a quick approving wink as she took a sip of her tea. "Then we shall begin the count at one."

Haldir's face flushed slightly, until he saw Rúmil had no idea of what she was speaking and immediately started in on another conversation, altogether.

After a brief chat, Rúmil finished his tea and headed for the door, kissing Aura on the cheek just before he left. "I am off to meet my date by the Anduin. I will visit longer tomorrow if you do not object."

"I will look very forward to it," she said as she watched him leave, turning her attention back to Haldir. "Now, if you will let me get dressed, I will be ready for our walk."

"Do you need help?" he asked innocently.

"Only if you do not truly wish to leave," she flirted and seeing the silly smile on his face, she stepped into her room.

"I have greatly missed your mischievousness and your quick wit!" he said laughing.

"You assume I was joking!" she yelled through her bedroom door.

Haldir sat on the couch again finishing his tea while she dressed, pondering on what could she possibly find so difficult to say to him? Could it have something to do with why she was being so forward with him? Not that he didn't love it, but it certainly begged the question. Galadriel cautioned against pressing her and he would heed that warning, however, the way she spoke to him, allowed him to touch her and Gods, the way she touched him would drive him mad if he could not have her soon. Yet still, he could not allow himself to join with her until she told him what frightened her. He had to know to whom the pleading was directed and why she wept in his arms while sleeping. To want only happiness for her and yet have her cry in his arms tore his heart in two. He knew he would eventually have all his questions answered and until then he must simply be patient.

As if on cue with the last of his thoughts, she placed her hand on his shoulder, "Of what are you thinking so deeply?"

"Aura, how could I think of anything but you?" he asked honestly. "Are you ready to go, my lady?" Standing, he jutted his elbow out to her and smiled.

"Yes, my lord, I believe I am," she replied playfully, wrapping her arm around his and kissing him on the cheek as they walked out onto the front landing.

Many staring eyes did they encounter as he led her down the main staircase. Never before had the fair folk of Caras Galadhon played witness to their famed Marchwarden with a female on his arm. Normally, he would display no affection toward an elleth in a public setting, including letting her touch him as they walked. And they would never walk. His ellethin all knew better than to try to approach him.

Haldir chose the one he wanted for the evening with a subtle glance. If she were not attentive, missing the signal, she would not again receive one. They came to him by the light of the moon and left his bed the same way. During the day, they dared not do more than glance his way, for if they did, they would never again feel his adept hands making them quiver with need.

But this was different, somehow. Not only did he not mind Lorinaura touching him, he was requesting it. She took a very deep breath and sighed, "It is good to be home after such a long sabbatical!"

"Is that what you call two millennia, a mere vacation?"

She turned to face him, stopping their descent. "Did you really think I would stay away forever, Haldir?"

"Aura, as it is, you have lived in Rivendell four times as long as you lived here. Of course, I believed you would stay there," he answered.

"I always had plans to come back, though, I did not think it would be this soon," she admitted while smoothing a lock of his hair from his cheek. One elf actually gasped, shifting Lorinaura's attention for a moment. As a couple passed them on the stairs, she finally noticed all the passers by were oddly curious about them. Some of the other ellethin even stared at her rather coldly. "What is wrong with everyone here? They act as if they have never seen you with a female."

He laughed a little, eliciting many more stares and a few murmurs. Taking her by the hand, he lifted his chin a little higher and stated rather arrogantly, "They haven't." In fact, they would have thought anyone addled who told them their painfully reserved and aloof Marchwarden was casually walking along the main stairs, smiling and holding a female hand.

"Oh, surely you are joking?" she said and then looked into his eyes only to see he was not.

He laughed again. "Lorinaura, I have to maintain a certain distance from females to thwart rumor and innuendo. It would not do for the Captain of the Galadhrim to leave himself open to the bubbling mirth of silly elflings."

"Elflings? Are you seriously calling your lovers elflings?" she asked, astounded at his smug attitude. "Why would you be with them at all if you could not trust they would be discrete?"

"When Celeborn first came to me with my position, I did not take lovers for a very long while, but it eventually became necessary. I took what I needed and as a mere consequence, I left them satisfied as well...very satisfied from what I gather, but it was never anything more than necessity. If I heard them speak of the night, they did not enter my bed, again," he stated without sentiment.

"Honestly Hal, could you be more conceited?"

He stopped at the next small landing, backed her into an alcove and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders. "When I hungered, I ate," he growled and then nipped her lower lip playfully. "When I grew thirsty, I drank." He dipped his tongue deep within her mouth, lapping the warm moisture from her. "It was nothing more," he whispered, moving his lips from her mouth, along her chin and finally settling in the hollow of her throat.

"Though I could see some preferred more, I could not give them what they sought. You were the one who haunted my thoughts and my dreams. The fact they loved was no more to me than the smallest flicker in the dark, for I was waiting to give all of my love to you." Backing away from her, he took her hand, leading her out of the niche and back onto the staircase where four pairs of eyes stared incredulously.

"Mmmm, I'll bet not many of them spoke of the night," she mumbled under her breath trying to gain back her composure. She looked over Haldir's shoulder to see four ellethin watching them with their mouths dropped open in pure shock. Once they seemed to grasp the scene, their faces harden into resentful stares.

Haldir turned to see what she found so interesting behind him and all four ladies immediately averted their eyes and started back on their way. He tilted his head slightly, raising his brow, as he looked to Lorinaura with a grin seeming to say, 'There now, see, silly elflings.' She punched him in the shoulder lightly and shook her head in feigned disgust. "I am sure they merely wonder why they must behave as if they do not know you, while I have the pleasure of your company, your hand in mine and your kisses."

"Now look, what should I have done? Not kept them under control and been the base of every joke in Caras Galadhon? Have my wardens taunting me, as I order them to maintain the safety of our borders? Of our city?"

"You are right, Haldir. I truly did not understand." She looked to him with a slight glint in her eye. "I shall be grateful you are spending the day with me and will try not to embarrass you in front of the rest of the city."

"Though it is nice of you to be concerned, I do not require that of you, lirimaer," he beamed and then kissed her full on the lips, in plain view of the entire forest, if they had wanted to look.

"Oh, and why is that?" she asked, "What distinguishes me from your many lovers?"

"Aura, you are the keeper of my heart," he said, barely above a whisper as he took both of her hands and held them to his chest, looking into her eyes. "And though you never knew it, you have held it for as long as I can remember." With her still entranced by his words, he loosened the grasp on one of her hands, placed the other back into the crook of his arm and started her down the stairs, once more. "Besides, I know you would never intentionally try to undermine my rank or the rapport I have with the Galadhrim."

She could not help but stare at him. She had heard many tales of his life and knew standing before her was a warrior; tried and fierce. A great elf of the highest ranking. The one elf who all her friends in Rivendell begged her to take them to meet. They could not believe she had grown up with such a legend and then left the city before knowing his acclaimed 'expert' touch.

Now, this same celebrated elf stood before her, speaking to her as if she were the one who should be revered. Her holding his heart? How was it she never knew? The Valar must truly be shining their light down upon her.

At the bottom of the stairs, upon the last landing before passing the city's southern gate, Haldir turned to her for one more kiss. When he pulled away, a challenge was set in his face. "Guess what I am thinking."

"Is this a test?" she asked brazenly and stepped away from him, aware that another couple was quickly approaching them.

He stepped toward her, took her in his arms and kissed her again, showing her that he never wanted her to back away from him, even in front of others. "No, just a bit of fun."

"Hmm, what could you be thinking right now? How many guesses do I get?"

"I think three will suffice."

With a playful curl to her lips she asked, "Could it be you are thinking up a strategic defense plan on how best to protect our fair city?"

"A very good guess, as I do that quite often. But alas, it is incorrect. Two more, lirimaer."

"Perhaps you are thinking of giving me another bath, this time with your clothes in disarray throughout my house," she said, a little saucier.

"Well yes, now I am thinking of that. However, you are still incorrect. Would you like a hint?"

"Nay, I know exactly what is on your mind, my love. It is in two parts," she teased. "The first part is easy...you are thinking I will never guess."

"Alright, you have me there," he said, with a great grin. "What about the second part?"

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a nice red apple, and took a bite. "Would you like a bite or shall I simply throw it at you?"

He raised her hand to his mouth and took a bite of the apple closest to her fingers, yet she did not flinch. Instead, she moved her forefinger to trace his bottom lip. As she pulled her hand away, he smiled and stated, "I have always wanted to ask you what made you blush that day."

"I was watching you walk to the gate and it startled me when you turned."

"And why would my turning startle you?"

"Is there any chance I can talk you into letting this go?" she pleaded with a smirk.

He smiled at her. "No chance at all!"

She saw he was still waiting for an answer. "Oh, very well then. I was admiring your backside and then you turned, winking at me as if you knew."

With a slight shrug to his shoulders, he said, "I did know. And every chance I got, I admired yours as well."

"Did you also know I came to watch you practice for your first trials?"

"Of course. Why do you think I took my shirt off so regularly?"

She bit her lower lip and smiled. "If I had known you were watching me, perhaps I would have taken my shirt off, as well."

He grabbed her bottom and pressed her hard against him, almost unaware of the many heads he was turning their way. "Aura, you are truly my match." She whimpered as he deeply kissed her and then suddenly pulled away. "Do you know what I am thinking now?"

She placed her hand on his face and looked into the soft grey eyes mirroring her soul. "I love you, too, Haldir."

"That is not what I was thinking," he stated playfully.

"Yes it was," she whispered insightfully and then backed away from him abruptly, a little surprised. "Well now. Alright. Let us do that, then." She took him by the hand, leading him back up the stairs.

"Let us do what?" he said, a little confused.

"Oh, come now, you were still thinking of the bath and I am growing a little fatigued anyway." Before his eyes, her face turned very mischievous. "If you wash my back, I will wash yours!"

"You are trying to torture me now, aren't you?"

"Perhaps just a little, but nonetheless, I really would love a bath. Wouldn't you?"

"Aye. Let's go," he growled.

When they finally tore their eyes from one another and looked up the stairway, there were many elves gathered. They were all staring; some were even pointing. Haldir stepped up beside her, set his face with an air of superiority and began to stride upward. He squeezed her hand and raised his brow slightly, telling her to follow suit. So, mimicking his stance and gait, she held her head high and put on her most assessing face. As they walked past the gaping crowd, she looked each elf she came to in the eye.

Some of the ellethin looked as if they could sink daggers into her. Others were a little surprised, but otherwise glad to see Haldir was not made of stone, after all. Most of the ellonin leered at her at first, but when they met Haldir's gaze, they immediately looked away, finding even the hems of their tunics of great interest. They lined the stairs for quite a ways and at the very end of the string, stood Orophin and Katarwë.

"Well, aren't you two a sight?" asked Orophin. "We were going to visit with you for a while, but I am sure you can find...other ways to occupy yourselves. As can we." Katarwë giggled a little and they started down the stairs. A few steps away, Orophin called back over his shoulder, "Just remember, Aura, we all have excellent hearing.”

Haldir squeezed her hand and whispered, "I believe that is two." Lorinaura smacked him lightly on the shoulder, laughing.

With the last of the curious elves behind them, they finally made it to Lorinaura's abode. Haldir picked her up and carried her directly to the bedroom.

"Will you run the bath while I undress?"

"Aura, you look tired. Are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep?"

"Now there is a difficult decision." She pretended to mull something over in her mind and then asked herself aloud, "Would I rather the elf I love hold me close while I sleep? Or do I want him to bathe me? Do you think I could possibly persuade him to do both?"

"I will go ready the water...but please, do not undress yet," he said with a sly smile. "If I am to be tortured, I might as well do it right."

Lorinaura waited for him to step back into the bedroom before kicking off her shoes. She turned away from him and pulled her long hair to one side, bidding him to unfasten her dress. He gladly did it, while grazing her shoulder, neck and ear with his tongue. His lips touched her back after he untied each lace and when he was done, he fully expected the garment to slide to the floor. To his surprise, she was holding it to her bosom with her arms crossed, as if to hide herself from him. "Lirimaer, what is it? Have you changed your mind about bathing together?"

"No," she answered simply, her face turning a rosy pink. She could feel her shyness slipping out, something she had not felt in a millennium.

"Aura, I would love to see you standing before me without this dress to hide you. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I will wait in the tub and even close my eyes while you enter."

The concern in his voice took enough of her embarrassment away so she could look him in the eyes and all she saw there was love. So still blushing fiercely, she dropped her arms and the dress pooled around her feet.

The sight of her intoxicated him more than the strongest wine. At that moment, he truly believed he was witnessing perfection. He moved her hair to her back, leaving the front of her open to his gaze and walking around her, taking in every inch of her silken body, he smoothed his hands across her chest and shoulders. As he moved down to her breasts, he noted the way her skin reddened under his touch. He slowly made his way down her arms, to her hands and entwined his fingers around hers. He held her arms away, staring longingly and then closed his eyes when he could stand no more. "You are beautiful, so beautiful," he finally said, barely over a whisper. After several deep, cleansing breaths, he hugged her to him. "Thank you."

She looked up into his eyes, intentness in her voice and said, "My darling, you never need thank me for letting you look upon what is yours."

His eyes flashed a deep hunger and before he could act upon it, he said, "Go, while the water is hot. I will disrobe and join you in a moment."

She knew this was his way of gaining control of himself. It made her giddy to think the sight of her could bring about such a response from the elf known to most as cold hearted and unapproachable. She did as he asked with one last glance back as she slipped into the washing room and then, into the tub. As she filled it with Lavender bubbles, it dawned on her that perhaps he was not accustomed to smelling like a she-elf. Laughing a little, she poured more in. This was her bath after all; he would just have to suffer. After a few moments, she laid her head back, letting her hair cascade over the edge of the tub and waited for him to enter.

When she felt a ripple to the water, she opened her eyes to see him kneeling beside her, twirling his finger just above her stomach. She rose up a little and flashed him her most alluring look. "You must be getting cold. Come into the warmth."

Immediately, he could feel his body responding. 'Gods, how does she do that to me?' he asked himself, but did not hesitate to slip in behind her. When she laid her head back against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes, letting her and the warm water ease the tension he had felt since finding her in the woods.

He felt her shift and when he opened his eyes, she had a small, soapy sponge in her hand. "Where would you like me to start?"

A brief smile. "You decide. I am at your mercy."

"Alright then, please raise up," she said as she turned toward him and rested on her knees. "I will start with your back, so you can fully relax the rest of the time."

He did as he was told, but when she reached over his shoulder and down the length of his back, he saw there would be no relaxing whether he was lying back or not. As it was, her chest was at his eye level while she was diligently working her fingers into the tight muscles of his shoulders. Without the slightest thought, he took one of her breasts into his mouth, smiling slightly when he heard a small gasp. He encircled its tip with his tongue until it was firm, while mimicking his motions with his thumb on the other breast. When he heard her breath becoming ragged, he moved to the other side, repeating his actions, all while she massaged him.

She had only stopped her ministrations twice. Each time, he ceased fondling her, resuming only after she did, showing her the need to concentrate on what she was doing. With the pleasure growing unbearable, she removed herself from his grasp, sat back into the water, smiling fervently and lathered his chest and arms. How she loved the feel of his flesh beneath her hands. His chest was like hardened armor beneath a soft, flawless finish. Such unadulterated strength he harbored, yet in his arms was the gentlest place she had ever been.

Working her fingers into his muscles, he began to relax, sinking back into the tub and forcing her nearly on top of him to rid him of a small, knotted area. She worked her way down each of his arms in turn and as she finished them, she slipped one of his thumbs into her mouth, encircling it with her tongue until he shifted a little, releasing a soft groan.

Lorinaura rocked back once more, leaving his hand at his side. Rubbing the sponge on his stomach, she grazed his growing maleness with her arm every once in a while, watching him jump slightly each time. She noted him staring at her to see if she intended to do it and gave him no indication, one way or the other, so eventually he simply relaxed and let her have her fun.

She slid to the end of the tub, taking his foot into her lap and sponging soap up to his knee. She rubbed each toe and then moved to the arch and heel, spending a little more time there since he closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling a bit more. Moving up to his knees, she dug her fingers into them, kneading the beginnings of the muscles of his thigh. He moaned a little, an indication she was working on the correct spots. He had been smiling since she began. It was a wonderful smile meant only for her.

As she progressed upward, she let the water begin to drain slowly from the tub. Opening his eyes, he had plans to protest, for he had not yet had the pleasure of bathing her and then her hands encased him. At her touch, he sucked in a quick breath. He could feel the warm pleasure start to radiate from his groin. Concentric wakes pulsed throughout his body and he was absolutely shocked she was doing this to him. No one had ever been so loving toward him or so caring of his needs. Never before had any female done this without him asking and even then, he had not felt they truly desired it. All the others wanted was for him to fulfill their needs; they had not really wanted to fulfill his.

Even if he had wished to say something now, he could not have voiced it. He was thrown into sheer ecstasy. As the water went down, she took that part which was above it into her mouth until it was down enough to enclose him, fully. She led his hands to her head for him to set the pace and as he grew harder, she could hear him moaning more and more. Once she felt the rhythm of his desire, she removed his hands from her head and held them to his sides.

Never stopping her motions, she kicked the water release with her toes and let hot water spill into the tub, again. As it got higher, she could hear him moaning her name over and over until finally his entire body tensed and his seed spilled into the back of her throat. He was like drinking from a sweet warm fountain on a cold winter's day and her only wish was to drink her fill. The taste of him gave her more pleasure than she could have ever imagined. When at last he relaxed again, she slowly, playfully rolled him within her mouth, making him shudder in violent waves. With one last flick of her tongue, she watched as he was fully taken away from her by the rising water.

Pulling her up to him, he held her as if she were trying to escape. He rained kisses upon her lips, her jaw, her ears, her eyes, the tip of her nose and then back to her lips. "Aura, I love you. I love you," he said between kisses and ragged breaths. "Gods, how I love you!"

"I take it your bath was to your liking then, Marchwarden?" she asked, fluttering her eyes flirtatiously.

"To my liking! Ha!" he laughed, still trying to catch his breath. "That was the most incredible...amazing...spectacular thing I have ever felt. I never expected anything like that. Thank you for doing it."

"Haldir, while I am glad you enjoyed me making love to you, you needn't thank me. It was as much to my benefit as it was yours. I love you. I will do everything your heart desires, eventually, without being asked."

"If I do not ask it of you, then how will you know what it is my heart desires?"

A little vaguely she answered, "I simply will and sometimes I will know it before you. You had better just get used to it."

"Aura, I don't know what to say." He kissed her again and then said, "I love you, and now I believe it is your turn for a bath."

"Hal, if you do not mind, I would like for you to wash me, but nothing more." Seeing him about to protest, she put her fingers to his lips to hush him and said, "I am growing very tired. I am still weakened. Remember, this is my first day out of bed."

"Well, I will do this for you, but only this once...I do not like receiving such pleasure and not being able to give the same to you."

"Then I will only ask it of you this once," she said and then laid her head on his shoulder. "Since I am already here, perhaps you could begin with my back."

"As you wish, my love." With slow gentle strokes, he washed her much as he had done when she first arrived, except without all the wincing.

Once he was done with her back, he kissed her and helped her turn herself around to lie on his chest. She had the distinct feeling she was never going to want to bathe alone again. From the sated look upon Haldir's face, he would likely not want that either. She smiled at the thought and relaxed into him, letting him work.

He kissed her head when he finished and would have lain with her even longer, but their skin was wrinkling and the water was getting cool. So, she pulled herself up, grabbed a towel for him and then took one for herself. As he stood, the water slid from his magnificent body in small droplets and it was all she could do to refrain from licking them off. When he began to dry himself, she put her hand to his and said, "Don't you think it would feel better if I dried you?"

Haldir smiled at her and then wrapped her in his towel and pulled her to him. "I love you."

"I know that, silly elf," she said. "Now, tell me something I don't know."

He looked into her eyes, trying to think how best to say what he had been thinking since he first laid eyes upon her in the forest. "I want to spend eternity with you. I want to wake to you every morning and go to bed with you every evening. I want you to live only for me, for I live only for you. With all that I am, do I love you, Lorinaura. Please, I beg of you, will you be my wife? Will you bind with me?"

She searched his eyes and after a long moment, one seeming like forever to Haldir, she kissed him on the lips as tears spilled onto her cheeks. "Haldir, there is nothing I want more..." she began and then lowered her eyes from him. "But there are things you do not know about me. Things that might make you rethink your proposal."

"Aura, there is no chance of it happening. I do not care about the past. It is in the present and future that I want you," he said, pleading with her.

"Please ask me again once you know everything. I will tell you soon, but I am too tired for it now."

"As you wish, my lady. But know this," he said as he lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "My love for you will not falter. It is never ending and I will ask you to be my wife as many times as it takes for you to answer yes."

Not bothering with drying off anymore, he lifted her into his arms while caressing her lips with his and carried her to bed. He slid her between the quilts and crawled in with her. As he expected, she faced him, put her arms around his waist and draped her leg over his thighs. She buried her face in his neck and with tears still in her eyes, she fell asleep.

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Baw - No
Saes - Please
Daro - Stop
lirimaer - lovely one
Melethril - Lover (female)
An age - 14,400 years