Things Forbidden

Things Forbidden

Chapter 7
Author: Frosty the Squib
Codes: Boromir, Aragorn, Elrond, Faramir, Haldir, Legolas, OC, AU
Rated: NC-17
Summary: The coalition of Men and Elves against Sauron causes a weakness which the Dark Lord exploits.

Obviously Rangerlady is the only one who loves me. Well, I hate you all, too!

*

It was late. The stars were visible in the night sky, lighting the stone path before her feet. Opening her palm in front of her, she stared down at the empty phial that laid upon her hand. Not a drop was left. Closing her hand and clenching it within her fist, she looked back at the building she had just exited. Entry had been easy. The placement of the wine happened without incident. Now all she had to do was wait.

Standing within the trees and bushes that lined the ancient h she she became nearly invisible to the outside world. She melted into shadow, aware of all that could not perceive her presence. Valaina knew no one would look for her. She knew it was too soon for Elrond to speak with her again. He would retire to his rooms, relax as the darkness of night settled upon the city. She would wait in silence until he closed hiss, is, inviting sleep to claim him.

It would not be long.

Her sharp ears caught the sound of his footsteps. He bid goodnight to a friend, and entered his room. Within mintues, the clink of a glass was heard. He would drink now. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the moonlit night air, counting the moments until the lights in his room flickered to nothing. A chill swept over her as she waited for unconsciousness to take him. Opening her eyes and looking to the door, she stared at it unblinking until soft breathing sighed from the window. He was asleep. It was time.

With soundless steps she made her way around the corner and up the steps. Finding the door unlocked, she stepped inside and closed it quietly, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dusky shadows. Seeing his figure laying upon the bed, body covered by blankets, she moved forward. His breathing was deep and relaxed as she gazed down upon him. Valaina had bed many men and elves in her life, but none so untouched by misery as he. As she allowed the cloak she wore to slide from her shoulders, she smiled softly. Rarely did she feel so at ease with what was to come.

The sound of the material hitting the floor did not disturb Elrond's sleep. Slowly, Valaina pulled her arms from the wispy sleeves of the dress that covered her and removed the dress altogether. Naked in the darkness before him, she leaned down and touched her hand to his face. His skin was cool in the midnight air. As her warm fingers trailed his jaw, his breathing quickened and he opened his eyes.

Hazy and unfocused, Elrond knit his brow as he looked up at her. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came forth. "Shhhhhh," she breathed, touching her finger to his lips, "I am here for you, Elrond."

The drug had affected him as she had hoped. His face bore an expression of confused acceptance as she lowered her mouth to his, kissing him tenderly. When she parted from him, his eyes were wide and trd. "d. "Be still," she continued as she drew the covers from his body. Elrond watched as she pulled the blankets away, then began to remove his sleepwear. He was calm and silent as she worked, undressing him until his state mirrored her own.

When he was unclothed, Valaina climbed upon the bed and straddled his nude form. Bending forward, she pressed her lips against his and, once he became receptive, flicked her tongue against his. He responded in kind, closing his eyes and exploring her warm mouth as completely as she searched his.

The kiss was long and slow. She moaned low when his hands moved up her arms, warming the cool flesh. They parted for air for mere seconds before he cupped her face and kissed her again, this time with a heated urgency. She could feel his hardness growing beneath her body.

Taking his hands in her own, she lowered them to the bed and stopped their kiss. "I want to please you," she whispered as he looked up at her as though she were a dream, "Relax."

Sliding her fingers down his arms, she lowered herself to his chest, placing soft kisses upon his skin. Her hands slid along his body as she continued moving downward, brushing her lips around his navel and across his pelvis. She settled herself across his legs and looked up at him before wrapping her hand around his growing interest and stroking upward.

The effect was immediate. Elrond closed his eyes and groaned heavily as she smoothed her hand up and down his flesh, alternating speed and intensity until he grew to hardness. Leaning forward, she took the tip of him into her mouth and caressed her tongue around, increasing his enjoyment. He inhaled sharply when she sucked heavily, then relaxed when she removed her mouth and climbed forward on him.

His eyes opened as she positioned herself over him. "Valaina," he breathed, but she quieted him by kissing him, biting at his lips.

"Don't speak," she replied, sitting up and holding his erection. Carefully, she lowered herself down and pressed him inside her. Removing her hand, she bit her lip and lowered until she rested upon his lap.

Elrond's hands had risen to grip her hips. He groaned heavily as she fidgeted, adjusting her position. With wide eyes, Valaina watched him as she rocked forward and up, moving him within her. She smiled when his eyelashes fluttered against his cheek.

Too weak to move her as he would have liked, Elrond instead gripped the flesh of her hips hard as she rolled back. Her breathing became heavy as she increased the speed of her movements, thrusting forward in steady beats. The sounds he made beneath her only made her want to hear more, so she jerked against him and gasped at the feelings that threatened to overwhelm her.

Raking her nails down her chest, she concentrated on finding his release. Elrond watched her intensely as she rolled over him again and again. Just as she thought she would lose her own control, he shut his eyes and moaned heavily, holding her tight against him. Valaina allowed him to enjoy his climax, waiting until he loosened his grip before she continued jerking against him, driving for her own end. It took only seconds before she groaned and met her release, shaking as she slowed her movements.

When their minds cleared, panting echoed through the room. Swallowing, Valaina leaned forward and kissed him gently before sitting up and removing him from her body. Elrond watched with half-lidded tired eyes as she picked up his clothes and dressed him. "Sleep well, my lord," she breathed, brushing her lips across his forehead before drawing the covers over his body and gathering her own clothes.

She stepped into the shadows to dress. When she looked back, Elrond's eyes had closed and his breathing had calmed. Smoothing back her hair and wrapping her cloak around her, Valaina turned and exited his room, content that everything had happened as she had planned.

*

Sitting at a small table in his breakfast nook, the morning sun filtering through the wispy curtains, Elrond should have had a content, relaxed demeanor. Instead, he frowned down at his food and kept replaying the images that would not leave his mind alone. His stomach tensed in knot he he thought about the vivid dream he had experienced. Never before had such graphic details been given to him through though. Never, except during his foresight of the future.

It was a discomforting feeling that welled within him. If it was indeed a vision of a possible future, he wondered what this girl offered that would attract him so. If it was only a dream, he worried at the intensity of it. He could still feel her lips upon his skin.

Pushing away his plate, Elrond stood and walked to the door. Worrying over it would do no good. Valaina still concerned him outside of the dream, no matter how or why it occured. She knew of the ring's location, and that in itself was something to wonder at. He could tell she was not being fully honest about her visit, and he in fact wondered if she even was from Lothlorien. The Celeborn he knew would have sent someone Elrond knew, if the Lord of the Golden Wood was really that concerned.

Dawn had barely arrived, but he could not wait. Elrond made his way to where she was staying and didn't hesitate to knock upon the door. He did it again after waiting what seemed to him to be an unnecessary amount of time. Finally, he could hear steps on the other side of the door, and the lock clicked open. When Valaina opened the door, Elrond frowned in uneasiness.

He had obviously arrived too early. A sheer bedsheet was wrapped around her body, and he had obviously woken her up. "Lord Elrond," she greeted, rubbing her eyes, "Please come in."

Part of him told him not to, but he forced himself to enter. "I'm sorry to bother you at such an early hour," he said, trying to keep his eyes from her form. He found it difficult, as the images of the night past kept assaulting his mind. "I needed to speak with you."

"Of course. Please excuse my attire." She smiled and sat upon the bed, looking up at him in expectation. What he saw when he gazed back was her beckoning him to come forward. Shaking his head of the confusion, he took a deep breath and made a swift decision.

"I know you have said that Celeborn wants you to see the ring before returning to Lorien. I, however, cannot allow that. I believe it would be best for you to return to your lord and inform him that I have said the ring is safe and unused, and if he feels it necessary to confirm that, I would prefer he visit himself." Licking his lips and clenching his jaw, he waited for her reply.

Valaina stood, looking abashed. "I understand. I will of course do as you recommend."

Elrond narrowed his eyes. He had not expected her to comply so willingly. "I apologize for not being able to serve you better."

She stepped closer to him and he tensed. "There is nothing to apologize for. You have served me more than you realize." Smiling, she tightened her grip on the sheet and opened the door for him. "I will leave this afternoon and deliver your message."

He stepped out of the room and turned. "Thank you for your visit, my lady."

"It was my pleasure," she replied, biting her lip. Before Elrond had a chance to reply, she stepped back and closed the heavy door.

He blinked to himself and stared at the entry. He was not sure what he was expecting from that conversation, but that was certainly not it. Slightly frustrated, he sighed and walked away, heading out into the daylight. Considering her words, he thought perhaps he should send someone with her to Lorien, if for no other reason than to make sure she arrives there safely. Shaking his head to himself, he tried to shrug off his suspicions. The fact that she was leaving without seeing the ring made it seem like she had nothing to hide and was indeed truthful about her visit.

Still, though, she made him uneasy.

He continued walking out past the main buildings, though the gardens that lined each courtyard, and out past the gates of Imladris. There was no worn path where he was going. The walk into the woods that surrounded the city was not easy. Several times Elrond doubled back or turned in a direction that opposite of where he was headed. Rarely did he visit what was hidden out of reach of the elves of Rivendell, and for good reason. Never had he touched the ring that laid within a plain, unadorned box that was guarded by animals unnatural to this part of Middle-earth. He knew better than that, even if it called to him. He and a handful of others were the only ones who could access the thing that was sought after by so many, but Elrond did not chance his weakness by visiting it often. Today, though, incited worry to grow within him. He needed to make sure it was still in place.

The shadows of the creatures that guarded the spot that held the ring watched his approach but did not intervene. Kneeling down in the dried leaves, Elrond lifted a large rock from its resting place and looked upon the dark brown box that housed the reason for his anxiety. Carefully, he picked it up and opened the lid. The gold band within pulled all his attention towards it.

He sighed, even though he felt no relief. The ring was safe, but the fact that he had been concerned enough to check caused him fear. As its keeper, Elrond forever felt the dull ache that made it ever too clear that one day something would occur and Sauron would make his move. He knew it could be at any moment, and in any way. The more days that went by, the closer it loomed. The pull was overwhelming.

With a sharp push, Elrond closed the lid. His throat was dry as he placed the box back in its resting spot and covered it with the rock. It would not have rule over him. Every time he came here, he told himself that. Every time it felt less and less true.

Standing, he turned on his heel and made his way back towards Imladris. Any hesitation to leave the ring was forced deep inside him and he walked with urgency. Perhaps he had overreacted. Maybe Valaina had indeed been simply a messenger from Celeborn, and nothing more. Clenching his fists, he could not help but still have reservations. Memories of his dream reinforced that. And the feeling that grew within him as he thought about her...it angered him that he would feel so drawn towards someone he had only just met.

Elrond's mind would not leave him be. It spun with possibilities and haunted him with visions of what he had seen. As he became more angry, he made the unconscious decision to go back to her rooms. It was not foresight that had brought him those thoughts, and no dream was ever so real. He did not question the fury that grew within him, even if he did not understand it. Making his way into Imladris and towards the building that housed Valaina, he gave in to the feelings that swept over him. He would demand she explain herself. When he came to the door, he knocked hard. When she did not answer, he did it again. Desperate to discover what had been done to him, he gripped the handle and swung the door open, intent on learning why she was after the ring he guarded.

Stepping into the room, though, he found it empty and bare.

*

TBC