A Difficult Bride

Title: A Difficult Bride (Chapter 7/12)

Author: Ambur

Beta: Dinah

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: mild violence, language, graphic sex

Summary: Haldir is still wooing. It might be going his way now
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Genre: AU, Romance, adventure, drama, humor, NON-CANON!!!!

Disclaimer: LOTR not mine, belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien estate. Please don’t sue.


Chapter 7

Haldir had been exhausted after everyone had finally left. He knew the three travelers had to be weary. He had also wondered why the Lady had called Orophin back only after a week at the borders, but he had not had time to inquire about it.

Mina was still very much awake and it was almost midnight. He had thought to go to bed, but she wanted to read a bit.

Haldir left her to her reading. She was curled up with her legs underneath her and a large quilt wrapped around her. His curiosity was beginning to get the best of him for each time her passed her as he readied himself for bed, she would cover the book with her hands. He had tried to sneak a peek over her shoulder, but she had known he was there and glared up at him. Her little bottom lip made an appearance as she whined to him of having no privacy.

So he shrugged and gave up. Despite being so tired, he had his own reading he wished to catch up on. He had begun a very boring novel his Queen had suggested to him. Romance was not a subject he wished to broach much.

He removed his tunic and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket around his legs. They both had been reading in silence for a while before he noticed she would peer up at him every now and again. When he would look at her, she would look down. He was beginning to s ths the content of the book she was reading.

Mina studied his profile as he read. In between looking at him and the explicit photos of the book she held in her hands, she was surprised she was not feeling as shy as she normally did. Of course why should she be shy after what had occurred earlier during the day?

She became more and more curious as she looked at him and the book. She wondered just exactly how many of these positions he had tried and wondered what his favorites were. She bit her lip as she wondered if he would want to do all of them with her or to her.

She decided this was as good a time as any to prove to herself once again she could act as an adult and not some silly simpering girl. She closed the book and stood slowly, stretching her back and arms.

Haldir’s head turned in her direction. His eyes swept over her slight form in the long white cotton gown. The gown was lovely; a gift from the Lady, but it was too modest for his taste. He watcher apr approach the bed with the book in her hand.

“Come to join me my sweet?”

She climbed onto the mattress and slid over him to the opposite side. She turned to face him with a very serious expression, “I wish to talk.”

A small smile formed on his face and he closed his book to set it aside. He turned to look at her and folded his arms across his chest.

“What is it then you wish to speak of?”

He was surprised out her bluntness and matter of fact expression. She plopped the book in his lap and asked him one simple question, “Have you done everything within this book?”

He saw no flush on her face, now averting of his gaze, she truly wanted to discuss this with him. He flipped through the book, lingering on a page here and there, grinning widely as if he was remembering something fondly. He noticed her frown and closed the book.

Clearing his throat, he spoke, “I have done many things within this book, thought not all. Why do you wish to know?”

She shrugged. Again he was surprised by her candor, “I just wanted to know what you liked and did not like.”

He clicked his tongue, “I see. And did you see anything you thought you might enjoy trying?”

She looked thoughtful a moment, “I saw only a few things. Many of those positions seemed very uncomfortable or too much work to be a thing of pleasure.”

He laughed at her words. She smiled shyly then and reached for thek, bk, but he stayed her hands with his.

“Then let us look through this together and see what we might enjoy together.”

She chewed her lip pleased that he had offered to do this. There was a certain position she wished to ask him about and could never find the words to do so. Now all she had to do was simply point and ask him if he enjoyed it. This was the one thing she could never forget Lea saying to her that day on the archery field.

The first few poses were the most common form of lovemaking. He informed her right then that although he did on occasion enjoy a woman to ride him, he preferred to be on top and she should expect such. He enjoyed the flush that crept up her neck at his words.

The next pose was of course the woman on top. When she asked him why he preferred to be on top, he gave her a smug grin and said it showed the female’s subservience to the male. He was rewarded with a smack on the arm. He did not bother to inform her that he was quite serious in his feelings on the matter.

The “spoon” position was next. She thought she might like that because she felt it provided closeness with the male wrapped around the female in such a protective manner.

She paused at the drawing of the female on her knees and the male behind her. She had read that this was a highly favored position by the woman and she asked him why.

It was during this conversation that she discovered many females were lucky enough to have something inside of them referred to as their “sweet spot” and the male usually could thrust upon this spot repeatedly from this position. He told her most women found the penetration to be deeper from this angle.

She wondered if she would have one of these so called sweet spots and asked him what he thought of it. He had only laughed and said she would find out soon enough.

Wshe she found the page of the woman taking the male in her mouth, she told him she wanted to try that. He blinked at her candor and told her she may do this as often as she wished.

After a few more pages, he turned to the page she had wanted to ask him about. He lingered on the page a moment and she studied his face. She saw the slight quirk to his lips and realized he had a pleasant memory of this position as well. He felt her gaze on him and he turned to look at her.

“Have you done that before?” She asked softly.

He studied her face, “Yes I have had a few lovers who allowed me this pleasure.” He sighed, “Though not many.”

“Do you enjoy this very much?”

“I find it extremely pleasurable from time to time. I enjoy the tighter feel it gives around me.” He paused a moment, “I would not ask it of you unless you wished it also.”

She averted his eyes, “You would not expect it?”

He blinked, “Of course not! I would not do anything that caused you discomfort. The pleasure must be for us both or none at all.” He frowned, “Was this what Lea said to you that upset you so?”

She swallowed and nodded, tugging at her fingers nervously.

He grasped her hands, “I want you to tell me what she said to you.”

Mina shook her head, “Nay I cannot repeat it! Please do not ask me to!”

He gripped her chin, forcing her too look into his face, “Do not let her poison your mind Mina. Do not be ashamed of what she said. Look now at what we speak of, you were not shy then. Think of the intimacies we have recently begun to share, you trusted me then.”

Her voice was soft, “I do not wish to make you angry.”

He sighed deeply. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her into his lap, and pressed her head against him. She had always found it easier to talk about things if she did not have to face him directly.

“I will not be angry. Tell me what she said.”

She took a deep breath and held it as she spoke, “She said that you liked to do that and if I married you, you would make me do it. She said you would not give me a choice. She said it was terribly painful.”

His hand stroked her golden locks and he kissed her softly on her forehead, “I would never force a woman against her will. I certainly would never do anything of the kind to the one I have committed my life too, to the little maid who holds my heart in her small hands. I would never hurt you Mina. If we are to marry, you must know this and believe it.”

It took him a moment to realize she was crying softly.

“Mina, dearest, why do you cry?”

She sniffled and peered up at him, “I am sorry Haldir.”

“Sorry for what? What do you think you have done?”

“I have said such terrible things about you…thought such terrible things. I was so angry that my father did not consult me…he just…he always has just” She huffed in frustration to find the right words, “I have never been allowed to make a decision on my own! Even my own brother would not allow me to make the simplest of decisions.”

She cupped his face in her hands, “I never hated you Haldir. You must believe me. I only said it because I was so angry. And I was angry with father, not you! You have been so kind to me when I know I was so hateful to you.”

He pulled her back against him as she began to cry harder.

“It is alright Mina. I can understand your feelings and resentment towards me. But that is in the past and…”

Mina pushed away from him and wiped her eyes. Her eyes were hard and she spoke forcefully to him, “I know you would never hurt me! I don’t care what that nasty elf said about you! I know you are a wonderful elf and I love you very much!”

He struggled to keep the emotion from his voice, his own pride not allowing him to shed the tears of joy that threatened to spill, “And I love you too Mina, very much. I forgive you for the things said in the heat of anger. I realize that I have not always been gentle and fair with you Mina. Many times I used threats and fear to subdue you. That was wrong. Do you forgive me my transgressions against you?”

“Of course! All is forgotten.” She laid against him in silence a few more moments before she spoke again, “Haldir?”

“Yes? What is it?”

She swallowed, her face flushing, and she pushed her head closer against his chest, “I…was wondering…Anna said sometimes…” She swallowed again and took a deep breath.

“Speak Mina. Do not be afraid. I will not laugh at you.”

“Tari said sometimes there is….pain…the first time.”

He was silent a moment she she turned her head to regard him. She could tell he was carefully trying to choose his words, “Yes Mina. There is pain for an innocent her first time.”

“But it will not be too terrible will it?”

He shrugged and squeezed her tighter, “Each maid is different Mina. Some are more comfortable than others, some are more nervous; the body is not always the same. The size of the male can make afereference, the size of the woman…if she is small and the male large…”

“Like you and I?”

He sighed, “I will make you ready for me Mina. I will be careful and gentle. There will be pain, but it will pass. Do not fear something that has not even come about yet.”

“Is there anything that can be done…before…?” Her voice came out as a squeak.

“I will touch you Mina, as I did today. Remember your moistness? That will make you ready for me. We will share kisses and words of love….you will be ready.”

She nodded and snuggled against him. She wished to be held as she slept. He was more than willing to oblige her. He leaned over and blew out the candle. Then he scooted down the bed, pulled her against him and covered the both of them.

“Haldir?”

“Yes Mina?”

“Do you want children?”

“Very much.”

“I do too.”