The Music in My Heart

Hi all! Sorry for the long delay in updating Music. RL has been out of hand lately and there hasn't been enough time to get everything done! I hope this chapter was worth the wait! The good news is the next three chapters are finished and are in Alex's capable hands! Thanks for reading and happy holidays to all!

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Title: The Music in My Heart, Chapter 70
Author: Sorsha
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, Glorfindel/Haldir, Elladan/OFC, Elrohir/Legolas, others implied
Rating: NC-17
Warning: AU (Story set 770 years after ROTK); Slash and het.
Feedback: This is my first fanfic, so constructive feedback appreciated.
Archive: AFF; FF
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Alex Cat for her help in betaing this fic.
Disclaimer: Any of the residents of Middle-earth and Aman that you recognize belong to Prof. Tolkien’s estate. The same is true about Middle-earth and Aman. I’m only visiting and admiring the “views”.
Summary: Sauron may be gone, but his legacy of evil still lingers. As Middle-earth faces the threat of another dark lord, a party of elves departs Aman on a mission for the Valar, a mission of mercy long delayed.

Chapter 70 --- A Good Thing

"Too much of a good thing is wonderful."
Mae West

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It had taken Celeborn several minutes to usher the others out of the room so that Elrond and Seere could finally be alone. The two had been lost in each others eyes since the ceremony began and did not immediately notice that the witnesses to their wedding had left the room. The sound of the door closing behind them penetrated Elrond’s awareness and he looked up, startled to find he was at last alone with his wife.

/My wife… by any definition that any would care to offer! We are at last alone and in a place of safety and, thanks be to the Valar, the fog of pain and desire that shrouded my mind has lifted. While the urgency to claim her is still there, I have my reason and my self-control to do this as she deserves,/ he realized, a wave of intense relief washing over him.

Smiling, he bent to lift Seere in his arms. “It seems we are alone at last, my beloved wife. Your father seems to have accepted this and my son has retreated to let us be, at least for now. We owe much to our dear friends Galadriel and Celeborn.”

“Aye, we do.” Reaching up to cup his cheek in the palm of her hand, Seere sighed with pleasure. “My husband… I like the sound of that! Was I imagining this or did Lord Manwë and Lady Varda bless our marriage? I thought I saw them bind our wrists together in a cord of light.”

‘If you were imagining it, then so was I. I suspect far more happened than we yet know, but there is time for that later. I only saw you and was aware of only you. You are so very beautiful, pen vuil,” he confessed, as he used his shoulder to push open the door to the bedroom. (dear one)

Seeing the open doorway to a bathing chamber, he asked, “I do not wish to seem indelicate, but may I suggest we take advantage of the bathing chamber? Would it embarrass you if I suggested we share a bath? My concentration and control has returned with the easing of the pain we suffered… we owe thanks to the Valar for this, for I was in agony, as I know you were.”

A shy smile lit her face as she nuzzled against his throat to cover her blush. “A bath sounds wonderful… if you are… that is if…”

Hugging her a little tighter, he whispered, “My control is… much better. If this makes you uncomfortable…”

“Nay… well, in truth, I am nervous, but I want a bath before… I feel we carry half the dust of the Noman-Lands on us and I am weary from our day. I would like to be able to refresh myself,” she offered, her blush deepening.

Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he continued across the room. “Then, we shall have a bath and take our time to savor this gift we have been given, though I would not believe I was the one saying this only a short time ago!”

Pausing by a small table, he suggested, “While you look quite lovely with that garland in your hair, perhaps it might be best it we left them here for now.”

Reaching up to remove the one she had placed on his head only a short time earlier, she stretched up to give him a soft kiss. After settling it with care on the table, she added her own garland beside it a moment later. “I want to save these… dry them and take them home with us. They are special to me.”

Grinning down in her sparkling eyes, he teased, “I thought you might… they will come in handy in the apothecary!”

Laughing at the mock slap she gave his arm, he noticed a large carafe of water on the table. Suddenly aware of how thirsty he was, he suggested, “Perhaps a glass of water might not go amiss. What dust we do not carry on our bodies, I am sure I swallowed.”

Smiling in agreement, she offered, “Put me down and I will pour us each a glass.”

“Humm? Do I want a glass of water badly enough to be willing to put you down for even a moment” he teased, bending to nibble her ear. Lifting his head, he caught his breath at the sight of her passion-glazed golden eyes. “You are so very beautiful!”

“As are you, Elrond nin. I can hardly believe we are alone at last… and married,” she whispered. “I love you so!”

Elrond turned to sit in a chair next to the table, her body cuddled close. Lifting her head to meet his gaze, Seere was surprised to see a mischievous grin lighting his face. Seeing her questioning look, he began to chuckle.

Thrown off balance by his sudden amusement, Seere demanded, “What? What is so funny?”

Bending to lean his forehead against hers, he whispered, an echo of a laugh still clear in his voice, “Think of it my love. In order for us to finally be left alone for express our love, it took a Horde attack, an unprecedented soul-bonding gifted to us by Eru Ilúvatar, a mad dash across the wastelands of the east pursued by Easterlings and Uruk Hai, mindspeak between Aman and Middle-earth… and the personal blessings of the Lord and Lady of the Valar at our hastily arranged wedding! Something tells me our life together will never be boring!”

Giggling at the utter improbability of it all, Seere agreed. “Well, Ada will not have to lament I did not have a memorable wedding!”

Reaching over to pour them both a glass of water, he laughed. “My only fear is our children will never believe us when we tell them about it!”

Still grinning, she gratefully accepted the glass of water he gave her. Drinking it quickly, she set the empty glass aside and nestled against his chest. “Hannon le, meleth nin. I needed this moment to relax… let the last tension and pain fall away. Those last few hours were a blur of agony and I was… scared. Not of you or of your hurting me… but it was all so overwhelming and beyond our control. I was terrified you would be hurt during our attempt to rejoin our forces. Once we found our family, I was so afraid we would not be able to celebrate finally being together for I barely knew where I was… who I was, for the pain. I would have missed this… the joy and the love I feel all around us.” (Thank you, my love.)

Placing his empty glass back on the table, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I was scared too, pen vuil. I was terrified I would hurt you and scar you forever in my blind need. I want… need you no less, but my mind is clear and my heart is greatly relieved that the Valar came to our aid. Le annon guren. Le annon meleth nîn. Le melin, Seere nin… ten'oio.” (dear one) (I give you my heart. I give you my love. I love you, my Seere…, forever.)

Shifting to face him, she answered. “Le annon guren. Le annon meleth nîn. Le melin, Elrond nin, ten'oio,” she promised, her lips finding his. (I give you my heart. I give you my love. I love you, my Elrond, forever.)

Breaking the kiss, Elrond took a deep breath. “I must confess, my love, many more kisses like that and I will again have no control. By the Valar, you rob me of reason, my wife!” he murmured against her throat.

“Keep doing… ah!... that and so will I!” Seere moaned as his lips nibbled at the soft flesh below her ear. “Elrond! Ai!”

Lifting he head, the peredhel stared into the dazed, heated eyes of his soul-mate. “A bath… I believe we decided on a bath.”

A shaky nod was her only answer. Pulling her tighter to his chest, Elrond rose to his feet and moved into the bath. Settling her on the edge of a large tub, he knelt at her side to study the design of the fixtures. “I trust they have the same plumbing as they did at Minas Tirith… something Estel and Arwen brought with them from Imladris. If we must ring for water…”

“…the bath can wait,” she completed. “I do not think I wish to see anyone besides you for many a day.”

Capturing her lips in another quick kiss, he whispered, “My thoughts exactly.”

A quick review confirmed that the plumbing was indeed modeled on his and Erestor’s own design from the early days of Imladris. For some reason, this thought helped steady his nerves… nerves he had not realized he had. /I have waited for Seere to come into my life for longer ago than those ancient days. This is our destiny. We embark on this life together./

“Together, beloved… always.”

Startled from his thoughts, he met the shining eyes of his bride. A faint smile eased the nervous lines around her lips and eyes. “You spoke out loud. I did not hear your thoughts, Elrond nin.”

Shaking his head in amusement, he stretched out to open the taps so that the tub could begin to fill, as Seere set the stopper in the drain. “You have me so addlebrained, beloved, that I did not realize I had. Do you want to choose an oil to add to the bath?”

Nodding, she lifted a basket of toiletries and began to rummage through the contents, needing the momentary diversion from her building nerves. “What say you to lavender and rosemary? Those two scents remind me of our courtship and wedding, so I would like them for our first night together as husband and wife… if you are agreeable.”

“You were wearing lavender the first time we met… I noticed it when I kissed you hand. I love that scent on your skin. And rosemary… you had been gathering herbs from the garden before we arrived and the scent lingered on your hands. You had a sprig in your hair the day we first declared ourselves and shared our first kiss. The cave was heavy with its perfume from the rain and wind. Aye, that is an excellent chose, my wife,” he whispered against the top of her bent head. “You have no reason to be nervous, Seere. I am in control of myself and would never hurt you.”

Shy eyes lifted to meet his. “I am not nervous because I am fearful you would. I never had doubts in that regard. I am nervous because… I do not want to disappoint you. I have never… I do not know what to do.”

Cupping her face in his hands, he whispered, “You could never disappoint me, Seere. I love and desire you with my entire being. I know you are innocent. All you need to do is trust me and be honest with me. If you are uncomfortable with anything that happens, tell me. If you like something that happens, tell me. I will do the same for you so that you know what I enjoy. We will discover each other’s desires and needs together.”

A tumultuous smile lit her face. “I think I can do that. Show me how to please you, beloved. I so want to make you happy.”

Pressing a soft kiss to her trembling lips, he promised, “You have made me happier than I ever thought to be, Seere. I trust you too, my wife. We will take our time and celebrate each other, agreed?”

Holding his gaze for another moment, she finally nodded. “Agreed. I think the tub is full and… it looks very inviting after so many days on the trail. The oils are rich and fragrant,”

Seeking to keep the mood light for the moment to help steady her nerves, he teased, “Only the bath looks inviting? I am crushed!”

Giggling, she let him pull her to her feet. “You have been tempting me since before you returned.”

Pulling her to him, he whispered, “Indeed? Tell me more. In what ways did I tempt you… all the way in Aman?”

A bright red blush stained her face and throat a deep red. Chuckling, he brushed his lips along the tip of her ear. Feeling her shudder in response to the caress, he let his tongue lightly probe the shell, his words hot against the damp skin. “Now I am intrigued! What thoughts have you been having that make you react in this way, my dear innocent wife? Care to whisper them into my ear? Perhaps they will match some of the thoughts and desires I have had for many centuries, about an unknown vision that haunted my sleep.”

“Have you really seen me… for so long?”

Lifting his head to meet her glittering eyes, he pledged, “Aye, I have. My spirit recognized you the moment we met and knew we were destined for each other. I promise, my Seere, to do everything in my power to make you happy in our shared destiny.”

“As I pledge the same to you, melme.” Feeling more confident, she shyly suggested, “I think our bath water is beginning to cool. Perhaps, we should make use of it while it is still hot.” (love)

“Indeed.” Holding her gaze, Elrond lifted his hands to the lacings of her tunic. Slowly, he eased the ties open, before helping her pull the garment over her head. Drawing her hands to his chest, he smiled encouragingly as her fingers fumbled to untie the fastenings of his tunic.

Pulling it off, he tossed his aside before reaching to help her remove her under-tunic and camisole. His breath caught as her upper body was again bared to his hungry gaze. “You are so lovely, pen vuil. I have never seen such beauty!” (dear one)

Reaching over to unfasten the laces of his linen shirt, Seere tugged it off of his shoulders. Hesitant fingers ghosted over his chest, teasing his nipples with a shy caress. “So are you, my beloved. I never had any interest in other ellyn, for they paled in comparison to my visions of you. When I finally saw you that day in the courtyard, you took my breath away, for my visions paled in comparison to the reality of you.”

Pulling her slowly to him, Elrond gasped in awe as her bare skin touched to his. Wrapping her in a suddenly fierce embrace, he shifted her body to bring her entire upper torso into heated contact with his. Feeling his control waiver, he buried his face against the curve of her neck and took several shuddering breaths. “Ai! Seere, you undo me! I have waited so long for this moment… to have you in my arms with nothing between us! It is almost too much!”

The feel of her fingernails biting into the flesh of his back and shoulders helped focus his attention on the shivering maiden in his arms. Her innocence and trust in him were gifts he had vowed to honor and cherish when he had asked her to betroth herself to him. Drawing a shaky breath, he drew back.

Meeting her tumultuous gaze with a look of reassurance and love, he let his hands settle at her waist, as he slipped open the lacings that secured her leggings. Dropping to one knee, he urged her to sit on the side of the tub so that he could remove her boots. Rising back to his feet he bent to tug off his own pair, before quickly discarding his own leggings and loincloth. Helping her back to her feet, he removed the last pieces of clothing separating their bodies.

Holding her gaze, he stepped into the tub. Mindful of the recent injuries to her knee, he held his hands out to her as she joined him in the middle of the massive marble tub. It took them a moment to find a comfortable position for sharing the tub, but, once he had settled back against the backrest, Seere cuddled into his arms. Her soft sigh of pleasure as the warm water eased the ache of muscles that had been strained by hours of hard riding and intense pain echoed his. For the moment, he was content to simply hold his wife while the water worked its magic.

The heady mix of rosemary and lavender drifted up to sooth their senses and the weariness that had settled over them began to slip away. Dropping his head so that he could nuzzle her throat, he whispered, “I have dreamed of this for months, Seere nin. I confess, though, that a part of me still expects your father or one of my sons to burst into the room and demand we ‘wait’.”

“Humm… I hope Celeborn locked the door behind him. I would hate to hurt their feelings if they try,” she murmured back, tilting her head to give him better access to the tender skin under her ear.

Chuckling softly, he corrected, “They need to worry about having more than their feelings hurt if they try! You are my wife now and they had best remember that!”

Turning to lay across his chest, Seere pulled his head to hers and captured his lips in a possessive kiss. “My husband!”

“Indeed! Yours… forever!”

The feel of her lush, wet body sliding over his further eroded his control and he crushed her to him. Eager fingers stroked the smooth, slightly slick skin of her back. Rolling her body to the side, he covered her lower body with his, letting her feel the full extent of his arousal for the first time. Hearing her breathing catch in response, he was relieved when she tightened her hold on his waist and let her hips lift to meet his.

Lifting his head, he found no signs of worry or insecurity in her heated gaze. Satisfied that she was ready to move to the next stage of their relationship, he smiled and reached for a soft sponge and soap. For the next few minutes, he enjoyed the sight of her obvious pleasure as he gently bathed her body. The soft caress of the soapy sponge charged nerves and left her trembling body shivering with building need.

“Your turn.”

Dazed eyes struggled to focus on his as she tried to process his comment. “My turn?’

Leaning down to nibble at her lips, he nodded. “Humm… your turn. We are partners are we not? I bathed you. It seems only fair that you should bathe me.”

A blush deepened the hue of her flushed skin. Trembling fingers accepted the sponge from his hand as she shifted to her side. Coating the sponge with a dense lather, she let her own desire to touch and explore his body take control of her actions. Beginning at his shoulders, she slowly worked the sponge in small circles across his chest, noting the places where his breath caught in pleasure at her touch.

For several minutes, Elrond forced himself to lay still as his young wife grew bolder in her explorations. Her other hand had joined the first, as his face, arms and long legs were caressed and bathed with exquisite care. Watching her gaze repeatedly flicker to the pulsing erection that broke the water and towered over his reclining form, he softly whispered, “Touch me, melme. I long to feel your touch.” (love)

Blushing slightly, Seere let her fingers ghost across the velvety skin of his elfhood before they gently wrapped around its girth. “It is so big… the skin so soft and smooth. Yet is feels so solid and… hard.”

Realizing she had spoken out loud, a bright red stain swept across her face and spread down her throat to cover her chest. Pleased by her reaction, he murmured, “You make me that way, beloved. I desire you with all my being. Ai! Yes! Stroke me just so!”

Encouraged by her initial success, Seere let her fingers begin to slide up and down the straining shaft with greater assurance and a firmer touch. Fascinated by the clear fluid that dripped from the small opening at its tip, she lifted a curious finger to worry the source. A loud gasp, followed by a moan of pure pleasure drew her gaze to her husband’s face. Repeating the movement, Seere watched in awe as a wave of intense pleasure swept across his features. He arched his hips in response as her hand again gripped his length and spread his precum downward in a firm stroke. Excited by his obvious pleasure, she established a steady motion, up and down the straining erection.

Gasping, Elrond quickly covered her hand and pulled it away. “Ai! You learn quickly! Much more of that and I will be lost!”

Dragging several deep breaths into his lungs, Elrond struggled to regain his composure. Knowing his control was almost gone, he quickly doused the top of his head under the water before grabbing a bottle of fragrant lavender shampoo to finish his ablutions. Glittering silver eyes watched with hunger and passion as his wife did the same. The time of gentle play and patient exploration had ended for the moment.

Ringing the excess water from his thick mane of waist length black hair, he rose from the cooling water and used his toe to nudge the stopper from the drain. Grabbing a towel, his hungry eyes devoured the lush body of his wife as the receding water again bared her to his sight as he quickly dried himself. Pulling her to stand beside him, Elrond wrapped a second towel around her quivering body before climbing out of the tub and lifting her into his arms.

“Mine! You are mine, Seere nin. All mine!” Covering her lips in a possessive kiss, he strode out of the bathing chamber heading for their bed.

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Vaguely noting that the bed covers had been turned down, Elrond gently settled Seere near the middle of the bed before stretching out along her side. Shifting to blanket her body with his, he again took her mouth in a demanding, urgent kiss. Need and desire had replaced their earlier gentle play. Feeling her arms twine around him, pulling him into a fierce embrace, his conscious mind rejoiced that she was as ready for their joining as he, even as he acknowledged that his actions were now ruled by his physical needs not reason.

Against the tender skin of her throat, he continued to mutter, “Mine… all mine! So beautiful!” as his lips, teeth, and tongue joined his hands in a fevered assault on her senses. The straining nubs of her nipples captured his fascination and he lavished them with hungry laps of his tongue before letting his lips lock around first the left, the right. Seere’s frantic moans of pleasure and demands for more shattered the final vestiges of control and he reared back to so that he could slide his hands under the smooth skin of her knees.

Lifting both, he tore his eyes from the burning fire of her golden eyes to drink in the sight of her body, wantonly spread and eager for his attentions. Clamping down on the urgent desire to drive into her body and claim her for all time, he permitted himself one final indulgence. Dipping his head, he gave into the desire and need to taste his Seere… taste her desire, her need… her innocence.

“Ai! Elrond! What… Yes… PLEASE yes!” Her loud cries and moans echoed through the silent chamber as his tongue nudged and probed her nub, before diving into the tight opening of her body in preparation for what was to come. The rich honey of her body flowed onto his tongue and he lapped at her juices like an elf starved of the essence of life. A fierce, keening cry tore from her throat, as he drove her body into the first of what would be many orgasms of the night… days that followed.

Feeling her body sag in momentary release, Elrond shifted quickly to position himself between her spread legs. Gently settling her knees in the crook of his arms, he bent to press a kiss to her trembling lips. Lifting his head just enough to catch her dazed eyes in a demanding hold, he whispered, “It is time, beloved. You are mine… forever.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Seere answered. “And you are mine, meleth nin… always! Take me, for I long for you, my husband.” (my love)

Holding her gaze with his, Elrond shifted to position his pulsing erection at the opening of her body. With exquisite care, he slowly sank into the wet, clasping warmth of her channel, pausing only when he reached the barrier of the maidenhead. Knowing it was best to do this quickly, he eased back slightly, then thrust forward quickly, burying himself to the hilt in her quaking body.

Easing his arms from under her knees, he gathered her too him, as he struggled to remain still until the pain of his entrance had receded and she had adjusted to his invasion of her tight body. Raining gentle, if urgent kisses over her face and throat, he soothed, “The sting will soon pass, beloved, and you shall never again know pain from our lovemaking… only pleasure. Le annon guren. Le annon meleth nîn. Le melin, Seere nin… ten'oio.” (I give you my heart. I give you my love. I love you, my Seere… forever.)

Struggling for breath, she answered, “Le annon guren. Le annon meleth nîn. Le melin, Elrond nin… ten'oio.” (I give you my heart. I give you my love. I love you, my Elrond… forever.)

The brief flash of intense pain had taken her by surprise, even though she had known what must happen for them to complete their union. A shallow, gentle thrust from her husband’s hips caused no new pain… indeed, the pain was replaced by deep rippling waves of pleasure beginning deep within her body, robbing her of breath. “Ai! Elrond, what is happening to me?”

“Let it happen, Lirimaer; do not be afraid. It is only the pleasure of our joining, a gift of love to bring joy to our marriage,” Elrond whispered, as he began to gently thrust in and out of her shivering form. (lovely one)

Feeling her legs shift to wrap around his waist, the demands of his own body took control and he began to thrust more deeply into her hot, tight passage, driving them both toward their final release. “Ai!, Seere! You undo me, my love! Ai!”

The strain of the past few days, the past months, eroded the last of their reserve and the couple gave themselves over to the blinding waves of pleasure and need flowing through their straining bodies. Loud moans and cries of passion filled the bedchamber. All too soon, both felt their passion spiral out of control and release swept through them, as intense simultaneous orgasms racked their bodies. The wave of pleasure continued to build for endless seconds before it crested, driving them into a final frantic arching, thrusting dance of love and passion.

Brilliant golden and silver lights sparkled from their joined bodies and the web of their bonding shimmered with new intensity, as new threads strengthened the delicate gossamer web into a tight mesh of an unbreakable energy. The music of life, the music of their hearts echoed in rhythm to the frantic pumping of the blood that feed their bodies, the air that filled their straining lungs. A promise made long ago in a vision to a young peredhel was at last fulfilled.

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Beyond the chamber windows, Anor blazed in a brilliant display as the day ended, his light painting the horizon in a bold explosion of reds, oranges, purples, and gold. On the opposite horizon, Ithil peeked over the far mountains, her face full and glowing with a blinding white-silver fire. Across Middle-earth, her peoples gazed in awe at the unprecedented beauty of the heavens. A weary land raised hopeful eyes to the splendor of the star of hope as he sailed with a joyous light across the sky. Eärendil glowed, rivaling the sun and the moon in his renewed glory.

A small group of men, elves, and a dwarf silently watched the spectacle from a balcony of the Palace of Ithilien, hearing the echo of the words of the Valar. “A new darkness threatens to again rob you of the light, so we send you these two, both seers and healers, to remind you of the Song and the Light. They are beloved of our Creator and of the Valar and will serve the peoples of Middle-earth with love and wisdom. Today, we celebrate their bonding, so that the light of their spirits is strengthened by the greatest gift of the One, love. ”


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A/N --- Thanks EC! You are thebest! Your support is most appreciated! Hope you enjoy this chapter and it was worth the wait! PS - I loved the Star Trek reference! I've been in love with Spock and Elrond for years... must have a thing for pointed ears and a brain! GRIN!