Mandos's Embrace Continuation

Chapter Twelve

Azalea lay against Glorfindel listening to his soft breathing. She had tried to fall asleep but the threat of having a nightmare was too great. Finally after several long moments, she slipped out of bed and padded barefoot across her talan to the balcony. She curled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.

She had revealed much to Glorfindel this night, even more than she had told Rumil or Cirdan. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she though about Glorfindel. He had taken her by storm. No ellon had ever made her feel this way. Her mother had always warned her that when she found the right one, it would be unlike anything she had experienced before. Thinking of her family for that moment caused an ache in her chest. She hadn't seen her brother in nearly two decades, and her parents had passed over the sea over a millenia ago. Had it really been that long since she had sat on her ada's lap and ran her hands through his silvery hair? Since she had watched her naneth embroider and occasionally glance up at her and smile brightly?

For the first time she felt old. That was silly though, she was only just past sixteen hundred. Another sigh. She shifted her head to the side, resting her temple against her knees. She would eventually have to tell Glorfindel about the nightmares, but she wasn't ready yet. Perhaps they would just go away and she wouldn't have to tell him? A sardonic chuckle left her as she realized how foolish a thought that was. Only in Valinor would she possibly be freed of the dreams, and maybe not even then.

She would rather have died that day than to live with the fear of sleep all of eternity! Why did Tanja have to save her? She was supposed to protect them, not the other way around! She clenched her hands and fought back the lump in her throat. She didn't succeed and a sob wracked her frame. "Why?" She whispered as the tears came.

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Glorfindel slowly became aware of his surroundings. He noted it was still dark and also that he was alone in the bed. He frowned and stood up. A muffled sound was coming from the direction of the balcony. It sounded like..crying? He moved silently across the talan. As he drew closer, he could tell it was indeed crying. Azalea was crying! He paused for a few seconds and peered around the doorframe at her. She was seated on a bench with her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them, and her cheek lain on top of her knees. His heart contracted. She seemed so forlorn as the tears coursed down her face.

He stepped out onto the balcony. "Azalea?" Her head snapped up.

"What?" She quickly dried her cheeks off with her sleeve. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long. Why are you crying?" He sat down on the bench next to her and ran a gentle hand over her braids.

She stiffened slightly. "It's nothing. Just a moment of weakness."

He frowned. ""Tears are not a sign of weakness. Do you really feel the need to be dishonest with me?"

She flinched at his words. "No. I am sorry, it is just that I don't usually allow others to see my emotional states."

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "Don't hide from me, please. I am here for you." His grip on her tightened as she let out a strangled sob.

"I am a failure! I was supposed to protect her..not the other way around! Why did she have to die..? I should have been the one to fall. Not her."

He knew immediately who she was referring to. "She was your friend. I'm sure she felt the same way seeing you get struck." Reaching up, he wiped the fresh tears from her cheeks. "You shouldn't feel guilty for being alive. She gave you that gift and would be saddened to see you this way."

"I know.." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I still cannot help it. Sometimes I feel so alone."

"You are not alone. You have friends who care about you. Haldir and his brothers for example, Celeborn and Galadriel, and now you have me." He felt her slowly relaxing against him. "I think Tanja knew how much you still had to give to us all. That must be why she saved your life. Do not blame yourself any longer."

"Aye, you are right. I am sorry for burdening you with this."

"It is no burden." He stood up and pulled her to her feet gently. "Now let's go back to bed. I can see you are still tired."

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Azalea awoke to birdsong as her eyes refocused. By the Valar! She hadn't slept that good in ages! She looked over to Glorfindel. She barely supressed a chuckle to see he was still asleep. How did he get anything done if he never woke up? She slipped out of bed, pulled on a tunic, and went into the kitchen to make them breakfast.

She frowned as she rummaged throught the cupboards. "Aiya. I really take my job too seriously." Pouches of warden-fare and lembas seemed to fill each shelf. Finally she found a suitable breakfast of fresh berries and warm rolls that had been delivered to her door that morning. She grinned. "It does help to be in good with the kitchen staff." She chuckled to herself placing the items on a tray, she added a bottle of spring water before retuning to the bedroom.

Glorfindel was awake as she headed into the room, and his eyes focused on her. They seemed to be questioning her. She smiled warmly and placed the tray down on the bed. "Good morning." She leaned over and kissed him. "I trust you slept well?"

He stared at her a moment longer before sitting up. "Aye. I feel quite rested this morning. You seem much better this morning as well."

"I am. It's funny really." She picked up a berry and popped it in her mouth.

"How so?"

"I thought speaking about what happened would unbalance me, but it seems to have had quite the opposite effect." She picked up a second berry and motioned for him to open his mouth. When he did, she placed it inside, and giggled when he licked her fingertip. "I feel...relieved isn't quite the right word, but I can think of no other way to explain it." With a frown, she munched on another berry.

He laughed. "I understand..I think." He opened his mouth and she deftly tossed a berry in.

"Not getting my finger this time.." She teased.

"Oh come now. That was the sweetest part of the experience." His eyes shone with laughter. She smiled and looked away for a moment, as a gentle breeze swept through. She felt him move and turned back. A gasp caught in her throat as he crept closer to her a predatory look in his eyes. "Do you have any obligations today, meleth-nin?"

"Um..well..I have to report in to Haldir for my new rotation...but if you have something else on your mind I suppose that can wait..." He silenced her further words by kissing her breathless.

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Glorfindel looked down at Azalea. Her eyes were halr closed and her body veritably radiated desire, but there was something else. He ran his hands along her silky skin watching her quiver and moan beneath him. It was then that he saw it in her gaze: uncertainty. She was used to being the agressor! He softly chuckled to himself. He had always been quite dominant in his relationships. He bent down and suckled hard on the other side of her neck, opposite of the fading pasion mark he had left on her the previous time.

She let out a breathy moan and pressed up against him. He moved his kisses up to her jawline and finally captured the tip of her ear in his mouth, nibbling it gently. A soft hiss against his cheek made him grin even more. He pulled her up slightly and slipped her tunic off, then proceeded his exploration. Working his way down her torso, he paused to flick his toungue over each of her hardened nipples, eliciting moans of pleasure from her.

"Glorfindel...aiya...take me..please...aaahh."

He decided to give in this time as his leggings had become extremely uncomfortable due to her sweet moans and the writhing of her body. "Aye, lirimaer." He stood up and removed his leggings, then knelt back down between her thighs. He let his eyes rove over her for one more moment before leaning forward and sheathing himself completely in one thrust. Capturing her lips he swallowed her cry of ecstasy.

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Later that morning he found himself on his way with Azalea to Haldir's talan. He was still amazed at all the stairs required to climb to get anywhere in Caras Galadhon. No wonder the Galadhrim had such stamina. It was required just to live here! Perhaps he had just lived too long in Imladris, where there wasn't such an abundance of stairs.

Glorfindel looked up as Azalea rapped on Haldir's door. "Enter!" The Marchwarden called from within. They stepped inside and Haldir looked up from the table he was seated at with a smile. "I was wondering when you would show up. I need you at the Fences this evening."

"What for? Is something wrong, Haldir?" Shock was evident in her voice.

"No, nothing is wrong. I just need you to escort a group into the city." He stood and stretched. "I didn't get any rest last night. I've been helping Celeborn prepare for the beginning of the warden trials."

"Ah I see." She frowned. "Why me? Surely Orophin or Rumil could do this."

Glorfindel caught a glimmer of unspoken knowledge in Haldir's blue eyes as he turned and walked to where he had left his glass of wine. Suddnely Haldir froze in the act of answering her and turned back to regard her. His gaze focused on her neck, Glorfindel smiled watching her fidget under that scrutiny. When the Marchwarden's cool blue eyes turned to meet his, he merely quirked an eyebrow and walked over to the bookshelf, feigning innocence.

"Will you do this for me, Azalea? I ask as a friend for a favor, not as an order from a commanding officer."

She gave a sigh and nodded. "Aye, Haldir. I will go."

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Azalea was still confused as Glorfindel walked her to the city gates. They had went back to he talan and she had changed immadiately. "I will return shortly after dark." She pulled up her hood.

Her heart skipped a beat as he leant in and kissed her softly. "I will be waiting, lirimaer."

She smiled brightly at him and turned to leave. At her motion, the guards opened the gates and let her slip away into the forest. She would have to run at a good pace to make it to the fences in time, so with a spring in her step, she bolted off into the thick woods.

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Glorfindel watched her go, the turned and headed off to find something to amuse himself until her return. He hadn't made it very far before trouble found him. All four members of it in fact. Rumil, Orophin, Elladan, and Elrohir were strolling along laughing merrily amongst themselves. "Ai! Glorfindel! Come join us!" Elrohir called out. With a defeated sigh, remembering Haldir's words about the four of them together, he made his way over to the four elves.

"What was Azalea leaving for?" Elladan asked.

"Haldir asked her to escort a group in."

Orophin frowned. "Must have to do with that letter he received yesterday. Wonder why he didn't ask one of us to go?"

He shrugged. "I don't really know. It seemed important to him that she went though."

"Hmmm. He did say the group was from Mirkwood, last night." Rumil added in. The it seemed as if a light went off in his mind. "Oh!"

"Mirkwood? Oh I hope Legolas is coming! We really need to catch up as of late..." Elrohir said quietly. Glorfindel heard him quite clearly and shuddered. Things were about to get rather interesting around Lorien indeed. All five of them....

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Azalea crouched in her tree, one of the other wardens, Caranthir, huddled in the one across from her. She had received word that the party was approaching, and sure enough she soon heard the hoof beats on the soft earth. Peering through the branches, she observed them for a moment. Mirkwood? The four riders did indeed wear the soft, brown hooded ponchos of the woodland realm. The first rider looked up and around him. It was Legolas.

What was the Prince doing here? She shook her head and called out. "Daro!" Dropping herself from her tree branch to land on the ground before the prince. "What brings you to the Golden Wood, Legolas Thranduilion?"

He laughed heartily. "Greetings Azalea of Lorien." He then nodded to her companion. "And you as well Caranthir."

The silvery haired warden bowed his head in respect. "Mae govannen, Prince Legolas."

"You didn't answer my question."

He let out another laugh. "I had to get away from my father. He's in quite an uproar since a troupe of dwarves and a halfling 'traipsed through his kingdom'. They even had the 'audacity' to escape from the dungeon."

She shook her head. "I see..." She paused, frowning. One of the horses was now riderless. She barely had time to let the implication sink in before she was bowled over by a green and brown blur. The two tumbled along the ground before she was unceremoniously pinned to the ground.

A hand reached up and pulled back the hood obscuring her attacker's face. Hair the same golden color as her own spilled over slender shoulders, and brown eyes flecked with gold shone with amusement and affection. "Greetings my sister."