Blessed by the Valar v2

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: I own nothing but the Original Characters and their adventures. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. This was done purely for entertainment and as an exercise in creativity.
**********************************************************

He left the dining hall and silently followed her path upstairs. Legolas knew Alex would be able to sense him, but still moved with stealth. When he reached the corridor leading to their respective rooms, he paused in the shadows.

She was walking slowly toward her door, as if lost in thought. When she reached it, she paused with her hand on the knob and looked back down the hall, directly at where he stood. By the Valar, she was beautiful.

He stepped out of the shadows and strode purposefully toward her. She did not move until he pulled her into his arms and brought his lips to hers. Their kiss sent tremors through them both. He crushed her body to his as she slid her fingers into his silken hair. Her lips parted under his and she felt his tongue slip into her mouth and meet her own with a touch both indescribably delicate, yet insistent.

His mouth was warm, his lips demanding, his tongue coaxing. She sighed as she felt the heat of desire begin to spread throughout her body. Oh, but she had yearned for his touch for so long. All the pent-up need she had denied herself clamored for release. His hands were strong and caressed her back and hips as he pulled her even closer. She could feel his firmness against her thigh and knew she would deny him nothing.

Legolas caressed her tongue with his own. Sweet Eru, she tasted marvelous. He wondered if the rest of her was as delectable as her mouth and promised to find out first-hand. Her fingertips traced the delicate points of his ears, sending shudders through him. He would make love to her right here, right now, in the hallway.

With a low, soft growl, he pulled his mouth from hers. Wordlessly taking her hand, he managed to find and open his door, for once his Elven senses almost failing him under the power of his overwhelming desire. Pulling her into the room, he once again drew her to him and their kiss was even deeper and more passionate than before.

He pulled the two jeweled pins from her hair and tossed them onto a nearby table, never taking his lips from hers. As her hair, now free, tumbled over her shoulders, he knotted his fingers into it, pulling her head back. He moved from her mouth, trailing his tongue lightly down to her now-exposed throat, kissing the hollow where her pulse beat rapidly.

Alex ran her hands over his shoulders and arms, feeling the strength in the smooth muscles beneath his clothing. It never ceased to amaze her that he was so strong and powerful despite an almost ethereal beauty. The seeming contradiction was incredibly erotic and her arousal heightened.
Legolas’ mouth moved lower as he adroitly untied the laces holding her overdress together at the waist and pulled it open to expose her filmy underdress. He kissed the tops of her breasts, pulling the sheer cloth encasing them down to expose a nipple. Taking it in his mouth he suckled gently, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. His tongue danced over the sensitive nub and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

His fingers deftly removed the underdress, letting it drop to the floor in a diaphanous cloud. He ran his hands over her smooth skin, rubbing her nipples with his thumbs as he captured her mouth again in a kiss.

Meanwhile, Alex had been working on the Elf’s clothing and had made significant progress. She smoothed her hands over his chest and up to his shoulders, pushing his tunic off, where it joined her gown in the colorful puddle at their feet. His muscles were toned and defined, but not bulky, his body elegant and finely honed. Pressing against him, she felt his nipples like pebbles against her soft breasts. She ran her nails lightly down his back as he wrapped her in his embrace.

Never breaking their kiss, Legolas scooped Alex into his arms and carried her to his bedchamber as she kicked off her slippers. Laying her on the bed, he stood back and gazed at her. Her body was not like that of a she-elf. Where they were delicate and fragile in appearance, she was strong. While she was fair of skin, she did not have the luminescence of the Elves. There were tiny imperfections that would be practically imperceptible to anyone but an Elf. But instead of dampening his desire, the barely noticeable flaws only enhanced it. The almost invisible scar starting just below her breasts and running down a couple of inches only served to accentuate the perfect globes, tipped with hard nipples of a pale rose hue.

Smiling, he said in Elvish, “You are beautiful, my love.” She lowered her gaze in an incongruously modest gesture. He leaned down and began kissing her again, covering her face, throat, breasts and belly with exquisitely soft caresses. When he reached her lower belly, he hooked his thumbs into the sides of the strange, sheer underpants the Southron woman had made for her. He slid them off and tossed them in a corner.

He continued trailing kisses down over her flat belly, moving her thighs apart. Putting a hand behind each of her knees, he lifted them so he could continue to tease the flesh of her inner thigh with his tongue. Alex sighed as she reveled in his touch. He moved to the other leg and began the same treatment. He would lick almost to her slit, then move away, teasing her, raising her desire to a fever pitch.

Although Legolas wanted nothing more than to plunge into her warmth and sate his desire, he had the discipline that came from centuries of practice. He would see her pleasured before he even attempted to slake his own thirst for her. He paused long enough to quickly remove the remainder of his clothing, then returned to his place between her thighs.

Holding her legs open, the center of her womanhood was exposed for him to explore. Her mound was smooth like that of an elleth, with no hair to hide her moist petals. Once again, his talented tongue teased her thighs right up to her opening. He could tell by the tensing of her muscles and her sharp breaths she was aroused. Smiling to himself, he brought his tongue up in the lightest of touches to her pleasure nub. The effect was immediate as she arched her back, pushing her hips to try and get closer to him. He gripped her legs tighter to keep her steady. Her strength was much greater than that of any mortal woman he’d known and in her current state she was a challenge to control.

But he was her match in strength and so he kept her in position as he ran his tongue down one side of her opening and up the other before thrusting it into her. She tasted as good as her kiss had promised. Expertly, using only his mouth, he teased her flesh until she cried out in ecstasy.

Alex had no thought but the pleasure coursing through her body. She could not focus on anything but the incredible sensations her Elven lover was giving her. She gripped the sheets, shredding them without thought. Try as she might, she could not move any closer to Legolas’ taunting mouth. When his tongue plunged into her she threw her head back and tried not to scream. If he didn’t let her come soon, she would go mad.

The exquisite torture continued until she thought she would break. As if sensing her desperation, her partner brought her to the brink then pushed her over. Despite her self-discipline, she gave a cry of delight. Wave after wave of pleasure broke over her and she felt as if she were drowning in a sea of ecstasy.

Legolas gently released her legs and slid up her body to gaze down at her. Eyes closed, a contented smile giving her face a relaxed, happy look, he thought her the most beautiful woman in Middle Earth. He gently stroked her hair, brushing the stray locks away from her face. When she opened her eyes he saw they were still glazed with the aftereffects of her orgasm. Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her softly. She could taste herself on his lips.

“Are you happy, my love?” Legolas’ voice was soft and low. He had his own desire under tight reign, but it was fighting for release and gave his tone a slight hoarseness.

“Very happy.” She stretched languidly then wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling him down, she kissed him again, savoring the flavor of her pleasure from his mouth. She could feel his hardness against her thigh, pressing into her lower belly. She wanted it inside her.

Spreading her legs, she murmured against his lips, “Now it’s your turn, my prince. What do you desire?”

He kissed her again. “I wish to be inside of you, my love. I want our bodies to be joined completely.”

“I am yours, Legolas.”

Pulling back, he positioned the head of his cock at her entrance. She propped herself on her elbows and looked down. Indeed, he was beautiful in every way. The sight of him, poised to fill her, was incredibly erotic.

Looking up into his eyes, she sighed and, holding her gaze, he slid into her.

She was deliciously tight and he was momentarily unsure of her ability to take him. Yet, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him deep into her. He soon found himself firmly and completely sheathed inside her silken depths and they lay together, not moving for a moment.

Alex felt filled almost beyond capacity, but there was no discomfort. In fact, it was incredibly comfortable, having Legolas inside her. She eased back as he pushed all the way into her and they lay still, their eyes speaking volumes. She knew she wanted this more than she’d ever wanted anything.

Legolas kissed her tenderly, then with increasing passion as he began moving inside of her, her tight warmth pulsing around his shaft. She pushed up to meet his thrusts and he was dimly aware of wondering if she would be bruised later, as their lovemaking became increasingly powerful.

Time became meaningless in Legolas’ bedchamber. They came together in every conceivable way, the only limits on their lovemaking being their imaginations. Night turned into morning, then afternoon before they paused in their efforts.

Lying in each other’s arms, the Elf and the woman each drifted in their separate thoughts. Legolas knew he had never felt so close to any partner in all his centuries. He had bedded many females, elleth and mortal, and had enjoyed quite a number of exotic encounters. Yet none had touched him like this night with Alex. Being with her felt so . . . natural. He looked down where her head rested on his shoulder. He wanted to stay with her like this forever.

For her part, Alex was a morass of conflicting emotions. She had never had such an incredible experience. Not even with T’yRhal. She knew her feelings for Legolas had been growing over the past months, yet she was afraid of the intensity of her emotions. She knew what it was like to love a prince from another world and did not want the heartbreak that was inevitable. Yet, she felt so right with Legolas, as if this were where she had always been meant to be. She sighed and looked up to see him watching her with those calm gray-blue eyes.

“What are you thinking, my love?” Legolas tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek before trailing his fingers down her arm to cover her hand where it rested on his chest.

“About how long I’ve wanted you to do this.”

He smiled. “I have wanted to do this for months.”

“What stopped you?”

He considered his answer. “I do not know. I did not wish to betray your trust and I did not think you would welcome it.”

She turned over and raised up to face him. “Whatever gave you that idea? Good grief! I would have thought my desires were quite obvious.”

“Obvious?” He shook his head. “I thought your heart still belonged to T’yRhal and you did not want another. Also, I did not wish to take advantage of the trust you had placed in me by accepting my companionship.”

Alex was at a loss for a moment. She had never considered that by speaking of her past love it would cause Legolas to consider her unapproachable. Yet, she did still love T’yRhal, in the way one held dear something that was lost forever.

“He will always have a special place in my memory, but our relationship ended long before I came here.” At Legolas’ sardonic smile, she added, “Well, long for a mortal. I’m sure to you it would be more like just a moment ago.”

“It is true, time passes differently for Elves. Also, when two Elves bind with each other, it is for the rest of their lives. And for immortals, that is forever. I suppose, I thought that, since you had joined with him, and he had not died, you were still bound to him.”

“We were never ‘bound’ to each other.” She sat back on her knees. Their fingers remained entwined and she turned his palm up, stroking it. “We had a very close relationship and, had things been different, we may have stayed together. But the reality we faced made it impossible and there was nothing we could do to change it. So we said goodbye knowing we would never see each other again. He is now a memory to me. A wonderful, bittersweet memory, but a memory just the same.”

Legolas knew mortals did not bind in the same way as his kind. But to have her say it made him feel better for some reason.

“Why did you not tell me you wished to bed with me?” He could not resist the urge to tease her.

She looked almost comical as she froze, her mouth slightly open and a frown on her brow. It seemed to him she had forgotten to breathe.

“Tell you?” She finally murmured faintly. Then, recovering, she shook her head. “Oh, no, I could not have told you. I mean, you are an Elven prince, war hero, immortal, and everything. Whereas I’m just some woman who doesn’t even belong here and am definitely mortal. Not to mention my---um, difference.” She lowered her eyes. “I am not … suitable.” Her last words were almost inaudible, even to him.

He pulled her down so she lay atop him, their faces mere inches apart. “Nay, my love. You are everything I want and need. I did not realize I had an emptiness in my heart until I met you. And now, you have filled that void.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “I love you, Alexandra.”

She was stunned. Never had she expected to hear that. She thought, maybe, they would become lovers for a while, at least until he moved on and she found a place to settle. But he loved her. And she loved him. She knew she’d been building up to it, but to give the feeling a name, love, made it a concrete reality.

Legolas could feel her body stiffen slightly and saw her face go blank at his words. ‘O, Eru,’ he thought, ‘she does not feel the same.’ He had never said those words, in that context, to anyone, and he knew he was open and vulnerable to incredible hurt. The fact that her rejection came immediately after their night of passion only increased his pain.

“I---,” she started, and then stopped. She knew her hesitancy would be misconstrued, but she didn’t trust her voice. Taking a calming breath, she began again.

“I love you also, Legolas.”

His joy was all the sweeter because it had seemed unreachable only seconds before.

The pure happiness she saw in his eyes at her words brought tears to her own. She had never been responsible for bringing that sort of feeling to anyone and it was a humbling experience.

“You love me. Oh, Alexandra.” He pulled her into a deep kiss. However, unlike their previous kisses, which had been expressions of need, desire, passion, this one was full of tenderness, joy and love.

When it ended, Alex laid her head on his shoulder as he held her close. If she were to die right now, she knew she would be content with her life. She felt so safe, so secure with Legolas. It was a rare feeling for her, as she had always been so self-sufficient and strong, the protector, rather than the protected. She realized it was her trust of him that brought this contentment. She knew he would always be there for her and she could trust in his love.

For his part, Legolas knew she was the woman he wanted to be with for as long as she lived. If he could ask the Valar for anything, it would be that she be granted immortality so they could travel to the Undying Lands and remain together until the end of time. He turned so they faced each other, limbs entwined and looked into the eyes of the woman he loved.

“Alexandra, I must ask you something.” At her questioning look, he continued. “I love you and wish to be with you always. Will you bind with me?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?” She understood the term ‘binding’ was used by Elves for marriage, but wanted to be crystal clear on what he was asking.

Smiling, he replied, “Yes, I suppose that is what I am asking. By binding ourselves one to the other, we become husband and wife, and our lives are joined.”

Swallowing, she nodded. It took her a moment to get her voice to work. “Oh yes, Legolas, I will gladly bind with you. But,” she was compelled to bring up what she saw as possible barriers, “I’m mortal. I will die in a few short years. I do not want you to be tied to a memory throughout your life.”

“Shhh.” He kissed her, silencing her effectively. “We will have the years of your life together. And when you are gone, I will carry you in my heart. You will dwell with the Valar and I will be in the Undying Lands, and we will have our memories of each other forever.”

His words brought a smile to her face. “So, how do we do this binding thing? Do we need a priest or something?”

Legolas laughed. “Nay, my love. We agree to bind with each other, and then join our bodies to seal the bond. I must warn you, though; because the binding involves not only a physical joining, but a spiritual one as well, it usually takes a few days to complete. We will likely be compelled to stay sequestered for a while until we can control our need for each other. That will become easier as the bond strengthens.”

“Hmmm. So you say all we have to do is say we’re bonded to each other, make love, and it’s a done deal?” He nodded. “How do others know we’re a couple? I mean, with no witnesses, how do other people know it’s true?”

“What a suspicious land you come from.” Legolas shook his head. “Others know because we tell them. It is the way of the Eldar. However,” a wicked grin spread over his face, “if it would please you to have witnesses, we could move the bed out to the balcony and shout our intention to bind to all of Minas Tirith. Then, those who have windows high enough will be witnesses to our binding.”

“Oh, and would that please you as well, my prince? I will do it if you so desire.” She remembered other bluffs and hoped he would not call her on this one. Although, the idea had a strange appeal.

He knew she was just suggesting it because she wanted to see what his response would be. But still he appeared to give the matter serious consideration.

His pondering silence sent a twinge of concern through her. What in the name of Heaven, would she do if he agreed? Despite her boldness, she was not an exhibitionist. But, she was shocked to find, if Legolas wanted to go out onto the balcony and take her in front of the entire city, she would cooperate willingly.

Legolas decided he had tormented her enough. “No, my love. I think we will keep this binding private.” At her slight sigh of relief, he continued, “We will have ample opportunity to let others watch and learn.”

She gave him a slow smile. “As my lord commands.”

He rolled over atop her and gazed at her with a suddenly serious expression.

They were silent for a moment, and then he spoke. “Alexandra Lymon, I bind with you, heart and soul, now and for all eternity. I am your husband and you are my wife.”

“Legolas of Mirkwood, I bind with you, heart and soul, now and for all eternity. I am your wife and you are my husband.”

As the last echo of her words faded, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly as he slid smoothly into her. Unlike their previous encounter, which had been wild and almost desperate in their need to be together, this time, their lovemaking was slow and tender. Instead of being tossed on a sea of passion, they were riding smooth and gentle swells of desire. Legolas held back as he wanted to come with Alex. When he sensed she was reaching her peak, he let go and both cried out their rapture. He released his seed deep into her as she held him tightly.

They lay unmoving for a time, still joined, both reluctant to break the physical connection. Alex felt so complete and dreaded the emptiness she would feel when he withdrew. For his part, Legolas was content to rest inside her tight warmth.

He had never come inside any of his other partners. He supposed it was a spiritual issue since the sharing of the essence of life was a significant part of the binding process. He idly wondered if having done so with a different partner would have felt the same. Was it the act or the intent that led to binding? He knew that they would crave each other’s touch constantly until the binding was complete. That was why being alone together, uninterrupted, until it was finished, was vital.

He should have asked Arwen if it worked the same between Elves and mortals as it did two Eldar. Although she had chosen mortality when she married Aragorn, she had millennia as an elleth to draw upon. Actually, she was the only one of his people he knew who had bound with a mortal. But, until the moment he had taken Alex into his arms, he had not known he would require such knowledge.

For her part, Alex was trying to focus her thoughts. She had thought it impossible to be any happier than she had been when Legolas had asked her to marry---bind with---him. But she was drifting along beyond ecstasy. She felt as though he had touched her soul. If he moved she would die. She could not be parted from him for even a moment. She wondered if this was what he meant by their need for each other. If so, she didn’t think they would ever leave this room.

She noticed he had come inside her, something he had not done during their earlier encounter. Since she knew Elven males could reach orgasm without ejaculation, she had not thought it odd. She wondered if it were somehow a part of the binding … ceremony? She wasn’t sure what to call it, but it was not the kind of wedding she had thought to have.

Actually, she’d never given much thought to her marital future. She’d been married to her career. Because of the incident on Culean and its aftermath, she’d known she would never bear children, so that was no incentive to marry. She’d become accustomed to a solitary life in the service, and, although her inclinations may have changed as she got older, at the time she’d arrived in Middle Earth she was still devoted to the single life.

As long as they held their embrace, Legolas still inside her, they were calm. The first inkling of what true binding meant came when they shifted position and he withdrew. Both felt an instantaneous need to regain contact. He pulled her into his arms and held her close and they clung to each other, afraid to let go.

“I guess it took,” she whispered.

Legolas chuckled softly. “So it would seem.” Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, her scent filling him. It helped a little. “How do you feel, my love? I do not know how binding between an Elf and a human affects the mortal partner. There have only been a few throughout the history of Arda---at least that anyone has spoken about. And in those, the mortal was male.”

“Oh, so we did this without knowing what effect it would have on me?” The laughter in her voice belied her seemingly outraged words.

“Would you have chosen differently if you had known you were probably the first woman to bind with an Elf?”

“Not at all. I would do anything for you, my prince.” He kissed the top of her head and resumed lazily stroking her back and the smooth thigh she had slung across his hips.

“And back to my question . . . ?”

“I feel fine. I mean,” she considered her words. “I feel wonderful, like I’ve found something that I desperately needed but never knew where to look for it. I feel so safe with you, stronger than I ever felt on my own. But …”

“But what, love?”

“I can’t let go of you. It hurts. Literally, it causes pain when you don’t have your arms around me. I feel like I would sink into your body and become a physical part of you.” She shook her head. “I know I’m not explaining it well, but right now that’s the only way I can describe it.”

“Nay, you have explained perfectly. I feel the same. It is the binding. Now that we have begun, we must stay together until our bond strengthens to the point where we can be separated without feeling the panic of abandonment. When it has reached its maturity, we will be able to sense each other always in our minds and hearts, and will draw comfort and strength from each other so that distance will not result in cravings that could be fatal, at least for me.”

At his words, Alex turned so she could look up at him. “You didn’t tell me that, Legolas. I don’t want you to suffer because of me in any way.”

“Be still, my princess. You are not the cause. That is simply the way of binding. I told you before, Elves feel more strongly than mortals, all emotion. Our joy is more intense than a mortal’s and our grief and sorrow much deeper. There have been Elves who have given up their lives because they could not live with their sorrow. Tales have been told of some among my people who were parted before their bond was complete and the toll it took was heavy, driving them to utter despair. I do not think it would do the same to you, as you are a woman and have mortal emotions. But I know, I would probably die were we to be parted right now.”

“Then we will never be parted, Legolas. And if something were to happen, promise me you will not give in to despair. You are immortal, so when I’m gone, the only way I’ll live on is in you.”

“I promise, Alexandra. I will carry you in my heart for all of eternity.”

“Good.” She snuggled back down into his arms. Then, she frowned slightly. “Did you just call me princess?”

“Of course,” he said with amusement. “You have married a prince, thus you are a princess.”

“Hmmm. I don’t know if I like that.” She came from a definitely non-aristocratic culture. It went against her training and background to suddenly find herself a part of a system she understood in theory, but had always thought grossly unfair in practice.

Yet, she’d been with Legolas for over a year and he’d been nothing like she would have thought a monarchist would be. She hadn’t even known his royal heritage until shortly before arriving in Gondor. And, she had to admit, Aragorn and Arwen seemed to have that “common touch” so necessary for effective leadership.

“Regrets already? I am devastated.”

“No, Legolas, I didn’t mean that. It’s just, the people of my land, centuries ago, fought a war to get away from a monarchy. They didn’t want kings and queens and princes and princesses and an aristocracy running their lives or in charge of their country. I guess it will just take some adjustment on my part. I’m happy to simply be known as your wife, nothing more. To me, being the wife of Legolas of Mirkwood is the greatest title I could ever have and the only one I want.”

He smiled at her words. She was the perfect mate for him.

They spent the rest of the day resting together, talking of the inconsequential things that are so important to lovers. Eventually, however, they had to deal with the decidedly unromantic reality of being biological beings with other urges than simply to mate. Their solution was to maintain as much bodily contact as was physically possible while still accomplishing their tasks. It was actually quite comical and after their first trial-and-error attempts, they found themselves sitting on the floor of the privacy chamber, arms around each other, laughing until both had tears streaming down their faces.

“When my father told me of binding, he obviously left some things out,” Legolas gasped after he managed to catch his breath.

“I guess it would take away a little of the mystique to have to discuss such mundane subjects,” she agreed.

After the first couple of days, they realized neither had eaten and the wine, juice and water, which had been kept in his rooms, had all been consumed. Though neither had an appetite---except for each other---they both knew they would require water, at least, in order to avoid dehydration. Wrapping themselves in robes, they went to the door of the suite where Legolas was delighted to find bottles of wine and pitchers of water and juice set on a wheeled table just outside in the hall.

At Alex’s questioning look, he simply said, “Arwen,” with a smile. She would have known they would require refreshment and that they would not be leaving the chambers for a while.

As they sat sipping the cool nectar on the balcony, Alex settled comfortably in his lap, she asked, “So, does everyone in the palace know we’re shut up in your room? And why?”

“Does that bother you, my sweet?” Legolas had to admit he was a bit chagrined to realize Arwen, Aragorn, and most probably Elladan and Elrohir, had all seen this moment coming while he had been hit with it completely by surprise.

“A little, I suppose. My people are notoriously modest about some of the strangest things.”

“Discretion is prized among my people as well, but binding is a natural process and it is our way. There is no shame in binding with one’s spouse. And,” he continued, “it is doubtful that ‘everyone’ in the palace knows. However,” once again, the mischievous grin crept onto his face, “We have the opportunity we put off the day before last.”

“What---oh.” Surely he wasn’t serious. But he had placed their goblet on the table behind him and his hands slipped inside her light robe, caressing her shoulders and thighs, moving to her breasts and between her legs.

“Legolas, it’s broad daylight---umm---and people can---ooh---see us.”

“Yes,” he murmured into her neck where he was nibbling just below her ear, moving down her throat, triggering the need that was always straining for release in both of them. He lifted her easily, turning her to face him as he lowered her back onto his lap. He was positioned perfectly and pulled her onto him.

She sighed as he entered her and, taking his face in her hands, kissed him deeply. Legolas responded, smoothing his hands over her taut bottom as she moved on him. Alex let her fingers trail from his face to his chest where she teased his nipples. He groaned into her mouth and grasped her hips, pulling her down as he thrust his hips up to drive as deeply into her as possible.

Alex pinched his nipples, twisting them a little, pulling them, scraping them lightly with her nails, driving him to further heights of passion. With their screams of ecstasy muted by their fused lips, she felt him filling her with his essence as Legolas shuddered with the strength of his orgasm. They sat there, regaining their composure, their breath mingling as they kept their mouths close enough so their tongues could continue their lazy dance.

She barely noticed when he pulled her robe back up over her shoulders where it had fallen during their frenzy. They finally ended their kisses and she leaned her forehead against his.

“Well, Alex, you should have no further worries about witnesses to our binding.” He did not actually see anyone watching them, but could not resist teasing her.

She groaned and hid her face in his neck. Laughing, he stood and, as she wrapped her legs around his hips, carried her back inside the bedroom.


*
While Legolas and Alexandra were beginning their life as husband and wife, their friends congratulated themselves on a job well done.

When Alex took her leave and left the banquet, Elladan and Aragorn had immediately turned their attention to Legolas. The prince had been watching her all evening, although it was apparent only to his friends. To the other guests, he was charming and attentive, but Aragorn could see his old friend was keeping track of Alexandra. Once she exited the room, the king and his brother-in-law speculated on how long it would be before Legolas followed her.

In truth, it had been only a moment later. Legolas had slipped out, unnoticed by the rest of the guests. Elrohir and Arwen joined them and the foursome allowed themselves a moment of pride in their work.

“That seemed to go well,” Elladan deadpanned. Arwen smiled as she took her husband’s arm.

“Do you think you can get along without Legolas for a few days, my husband?”

“I’m sure I can. Why? Do you think it’s going to take them that long to satisfy their craving for one another?”

“I believe our sister is certain the happy couple will likely bind with one another, and if so, then we will not see them for almost a week,” Elrohir replied.

“Ah.” Aragorn understood the situation clearly. He had known Legolas and Alexandra were denying their obvious affection for one another, but had not realized how likely binding was. The Elves were sensitive to emotions and had seen the bond the two already shared. He gave a slight bow of respect to his wife. “I concede to your wisdom, my love. You told me they were meant for each other and I admit, I had a small doubt. But, unless the morrow brings contrary news, it appears you were correct.”

Arwen laughed and squeezed his arm. “Never doubt a woman’s intuition when it comes to affairs of the heart.”

The queen gave instructions to Berrien that Prince Legolas was not to be disturbed under any circumstances until the prince himself called for it. When the next day dawned and neither the Elf nor his lady appeared for breakfast or lunch, she accepted the congratulations of her husband and brothers on her insight. She told Berrien to have light refreshment left outside the Prince’s door, but the palace staff were not to intrude.

It was exactly one week later Legolas and Alexandra emerged to face their friends. During their time together, they had become so intimately and intricately bound to one another, they could almost complete each other’s sentences. The intensity of their connection had begun to settle and Legolas assured her it would allow them both privacy, as she had worried that she would be unable to surprise him on his birthday or other such occasions.

“We are still newly bonded, my sweet, and have not yet reached the level of sustainment. It is still growing.”

“It’s certainly … different,” she replied. It did, indeed feel odd to be so connected with someone. Yet it was also quite comforting.

They came down to breakfast together and, as they approached the family dining hall, Legolas could sense some reticence in his wife. He knew she was quite conscious of propriety, and still felt a lingering embarrassment that the entire palace, certainly by now, knew they had been shut away in his chambers indulging in all manner of pleasures of the flesh. She had explained to him that, in her culture, it wouldn’t have mattered so much if they were just lovers. For some reason, it was easier for her to admit to casual dalliances than to the deep, emotional commitment binding entailed. He did not pretend to understand her reasoning, but put it down simply to her coming from a vastly different world.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and kissed her quickly on the cheek. “Courage, my princess. They wish us nothing but good.” Then, they went in to the happy greetings of the king and queen, and the queen’s brothers.

“So, have we missed anything of import?” Legolas deadpanned as he put some fruit on a plate to share with Alex.

“Nothing much,” replied Aragorn, as he enjoyed the sight of his friend in the role of new husband.

“That is good,” Legolas said, distractedly, as he placed a section of fruit between Alex’s lips, then licked the juice from his fingers.

“Well, it seems Sauron has come back from the void and is even now marching on Lorien,” Elladan interjected in a matter of fact tone.

“Indeed. How interesting,” the prince murmured before taking a bite of honey cake from Alex’s hand.

The twins rolled their eyes at one another as Aragorn fought to control his mirth. Arwen gave the three of them a stern look, then spoke to the newlyweds.

“Do you wish to have a banquet, formally announcing your marriage? It can easily be arranged.”

Alex looked into Legolas’ eyes and he answered for them. “It is not necessary. We prefer to remain private, but thank you for the offer, Arwen.” For the first time, he focused his attention entirely on someone other than his wife. “And also, thank you for seeing to the practical things while we were otherwise engaged.”

The queen made a dismissive gesture. “It was the least we could do. You have been our friend for many years, and we have come to include Alexandra in that bond of friendship.”

Alex favored them all with a grateful smile. “Thank you for making me feel welcome.” Aragorn was struck by how much younger and happier she appeared, than when she had first arrived at Minas Tirith. Marriage obviously agreed with her.

Legolas returned to discussing the rebuilding of Ithilien with the king over the next few days. He and Alex found they could spend a couple of hours apart, and were delighted to feel the bond strengthening so that each other’s presence was always in the background of their minds, but at the fore in their hearts. Alex, with the advice of Arwen, began preparing for life as the wife of an Elven prince. She started learning the rather complicated rules and protocols involved in Elvish and Middle Earth culture.

But the couple found time to do the things they enjoyed most, which included exploring the countryside. They would take some food and ride out into the wilder areas to the north and spend several days just enjoying the solitude. Legolas found that he saw Middle Earth anew through the eyes of his wife. For her part, Alex reveled in the untamed beauty of the countryside. Every day, the memory of machines and intergalactic politics faded a little more from her consciousness.

One evening as they walked together, leading their mounts, both picked up the sound of voices singing in the distance. To Alex, the words sounded strange, even though she had learned some Elvish from her husband. The translator did not give the words meaning, for some reason, and she vaguely wondered if it were malfunctioning. Not that she really cared anymore. Looking at her companion, she saw upon his face an expression of bliss combined with yearning and, oddly, a touch of sadness.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Elves.” He turned his gaze upon her. His eyes shown with happiness mixed with a hint of sorrow. “There,” he pointed to a not terribly distant clearing near a small lake, just below where they had emerged onto a small ridge.

Following his direction, she saw a small group of perhaps two-dozen beings who seemed to emanate a soft luminescence, and she was reminded of how her husband also shone in the moonlight. Focusing on them, she felt her breath catch---they were so beautiful. It looked like they had stopped to camp for the evening, and were singing, as Elves are wont to do during what passed for their downtime.

Even though she couldn’t understand the song, it gave her such a strong feeling. Legolas was enthralled by the sound and didn’t notice Alex’s reaction, so when he turned to speak to her, he was surprised to see tears streaming down her cheeks.

“What is wrong, my love?” Her distress was palpable and all other thought fled from his mind as he sought to comfort her.

She turned her gaze upon him. “It’s so beautiful, but so sad. I don’t know what they’re singing, but I feel as if my heart is breaking.”

Taking her in his arms, he held her close and stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head between softly murmured words of solace.

“What are they saying?”

“They sing of lands where they have dwelt which now lie far away and to which they will never return. It is a lament for the passing of their time in Arda, but also a song of happiness as they answer the call of the sea, returning to the Undying Lands.” She watched him as he spoke and caught the briefest sense of incredible yearning from him.

“Do you feel the call of the sea, Legolas?”

He looked at her and realized that what brought comfort to Elves brought terror to her. She understood the grieving for a lost home all too well, and it was likely that sentiment that had caused her pain. The desire to return to Valinor, however, was something that she could not share with his kind.

“Yes.” He could not lie to her.

He saw the fear in her eyes before she reined it in. “Why haven’t you answered it?”

“I will not leave Middle Earth as long as my friends are here. There is much more I can do to help in the rebuilding. But Galadriel warned me about the lure of the sea. And there have been times when it has been almost irresistible. But I cannot leave yet.” Knowing what she truly feared, he gave her a reassuring smile. “The call is not powerful enough to contain our bond, Alex. I will never leave you.”

She laid her head on his shoulder and they listened to the unknown Elves singing for quite some time. Although his words were comforting, she could not help but find the thought of leaving a home you have known for millennia, as many Elves had, knowing you were going somewhere from which you could never return, no matter how wonderful that new place was, distressing. But, she reminded herself, to the Eldar, Valinor was returning home, much the way many of her own people believed that after death, they would go to Heaven, where they would be reunited with their loved ones. In fact, many of the old songs referred to going to Heaven as going home. Instead of comforting her, however, the comparison only strengthened her perception of the Elves taking the ships into the West as something like deathless suicide.

Legolas resisted the urge to join the other Elves. They were not his kind, not of Mirkwood. Likely, they were one of the groups of Elves who had settled in the mountains a bit to the Northeast of Middle Earth. He did not know them, yet they all shared the same longing to return to the shores of the Undying Lands. The common heritage as well as their collective destiny touched him in kinship.

Looking at his wife, he was struck again with the realization of her mortality. They were so happy right now, but unless he was struck down in battle, he would live to see her lost to death. Again, he silently asked Iluvetar to grant them eternity together. If she could not go with him to the Undying Lands, then let him go to her in whatever destiny awaited Men once they left the Halls of Waiting.

They sat and listened to the unknown Elves until the singing ceased. Then, they found shelter far from the edge of the ridge in a copse of tall trees, and settled for the night. Alex held onto her husband tightly, even in sleep, and he knew her heart was still troubled. He vowed to do all he could to ease her anxiety, suppressing his own sorrow at the thoughts of his wife’s mortality.

They returned to Minas Tirith, arriving within the next couple of days. As they handed their mounts over to the stable boys, a richly toned voice called a greeting.

“Welcome back, Lord Legolas. I hear you have had interesting times since last we met.”

Alex turned to see a man---no, with that hair and exquisite skin, he had to be an Elf---smiling at her husband, whose face was wreathed in one of his own.

“Saelbeth! It is good to see you, my friend. Alex, this is another of my people, from Rivendell. Saelbeth is now overseeing the practical construction of the Elven colony in Ithilien. Saelbeth, my wife, Alexandra.”

The Elf gave a respectful nod. “Welcome, Lady Alexandra. It is good to see the prince so content.”

“Thank you,” she replied. She had seen something flicker in his eyes when he had looked at her, and was unsure of his true thoughts. Still, though, he was a friend of Legolas’ and so he must be alright. She preceded them into the palace, leaving a discrete distance between herself and the Elves so they could talk about her without worrying about her overhearing them.

“How fare things in Ithilien?” Legolas asked the other Elf.

“Quite well, Legolas. It will take many years to reclaim the land from Sauron’s darkness, but the trees are beginning to respond to the songs of the Eldar.” He paused for a beat, then continued, “Will you be returning any time in the immediate future?”

The prince raised an eyebrow at the question. “Is my presence required? I shall, of course, return today if necessary.”

Saelbeth shook his head. “Not at all, my friend. I merely wondered if you would be taking your new wife to visit some of the other parts of Middle Earth.”

Legolas knew Saelbeth was discrete by nature. He stopped and they faced each other. “Does my choice of mate disturb you?”

Saelbeth gestured to a small room off the hall and the two Elves entered, closing the door for privacy.

“I do not know your lady, though she seems to be pleasant enough, and certainly, you seem quite content. I have nothing to say against her. But,” he added meaningfully, “there are those who would question why the son of the King of Eryn Lasgalen would choose a mortal for his wife.”

Legolas stared into the distance. “My father.”

“Among our people, you will likely not find any who would question your choice. Your friends wish to see you happy, and from all I have heard, you and Lady Alexandra are quite blissful. But your father is not known for his love of the world of Men. He has his reasons, and although I know him to be a great king and a loving father, it is possible he may take exception to his only child being bound to a mortal.”

His thoughts were turbulent. When he had asked Alex to bind with him, he had not considered his father’s reaction. King Thranduil was a marvelous king, protective of his realm and benevolent to his people. Yet, in the past, he had found reason to distrust Men, and had closed the borders of Mirkwood to their passage. Only Aragorn had traveled to Thranduil’s kingdom within in recent memory, to deliver the creature Gollum to the guardianship of the Mirkwood Elves before the War of the Ring.

To his close friend and advisor, Legolas replied, “My choice of wife is of no concern to any but the lady in question and myself. My father will either accept my choice or he will not. Either way, it will not change anything. We are bound and none can challenge it.”

“Yes, my friend. May the Valar grant you and your lady a long and happy life together.”

The subject moved on to matters concerning the colony and the two friends caught up on events since Legolas’ departure for the East almost two years earlier. But in his mind, the prince had to admit his old friend had a point: Thranduil would not be happy with his choice.