Into Love's Arms

The four of them sat aroune tae tatalktalking long after dinner was over. Celeborn and Legolas told them a bit about Middle Earth and elves. Denise and Heidi told of their lives in the human realm.

"We never felt like we fit in. People called us crazy or new wave. Our beliefs were different from other peoples. We seemed different. We have always felt different. We have this connection with nature. There were times we could swear the trees spoke to us. Soon word about us spread through our town and people harrassed us. Kept their kids from us. Just mean things. It was terrible. We only had each other." Denise explained while tears shone in her eyes.

"You were enough Denise. I would have gone insane without you." Heidi said as she reached across the table and squeezed her friends hand.

"I can tell you that you are not crazy. Elves have a deep connection with nature and the trees do speak to us. Humans are just scared of what they do not know or understand." Celeborn reassured the women.

The night was clear and bright with a hint of a breeze. Talk soon turned to lighter subjects.

"Lord Elrond will be returning to Imladris tomorrow. I invited him to dine with us but he declined saying he had to pack. In three months he will be traveling to Gondor to help Arwen birth her first child." Celeborn told Legolas.

"Really? I did not know Estel and Arwen were expecting a child! I shall have to go congradulate them." he smiled thinking how excited they must be.

Celeborn smiled and nodded "I will travel to Gondor as well Legolas. Why don't you join me? Elrond will stop here and we will travel together."

Legolas nodded excited at the prospect of seeing Aragorn again. Celeborn then turned his attentions to Denise and Heidi. "So you ladies will be here for a long long time. What do you wish to learn?"

Denise and Heidi looked at him blankly uncomprehending. "Learn?"

"Yes. You cannot sleep and eat for the next milennia." Celeborn said laughing slightly.

"Oh learn." Heidi shrugged and looked at her friend. "Can't hurt to ask." she said offhandedly.

"Well no but I do not wish to be laughed at again" Denise said looking at the table.

Celeborn leaned over and placed his fingers under her chin making her look at him. "Nobody here will make fun of you. No one. I will not stand for it."

"Thank you." she whispered.

Celeborn smiled and asked. "So what do you want to learn?"

"Fighting. No one in our realm would teach us cause we were women. We did take Karate for a while, it's a form of hand to hand combat. But our teacher refused to advance us because of our gender." Heidi said in a rush.

"I think that can be arranged. Legolas? Would you Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin teach them?" Celeborn asked.

"Sure. We can begin tomorrow." Legolas smiled at the excited looks on the women's faces.

"Anything else?" Celeborn was determined to make their lives here as enjoyable as possible.

"Um can you teach us elvish? and maybe history of the elves and Middle Earth?" Denise looked over at Celeborn hopeful.

"But of course. How about this? In the mornings I shall teach you elvish and history and after dinner Legolas shall teach you fighting? Is that ok?" he looked at the women.

"Sure." they said together.

Celeborn noticed it was growing extremly late. "Well if that is to be the plan then you should sleep soon." suddenly an idea occured to him. "Would you ladies like to jourto Gto Gondor as well in three months time? I can introduce you to Elrond's foster son Aragorn and his daughter Arwen. Arwen is also Aragorn's wife. She is also a half elf but she chose mortality. She is my granddaughter."

"Sure." Denise said but Heidi sat shocked. Celeborn had grandchildren? Damn. She noticed they were wating for her response. "Um sure. Sorry I am tired."

Celeborn nodded knowingly. "Let us retire then."

Legolas stood and offered to escort Denise to her chambers. Denise smiled and nodded rising she bid Heidi and Celeborn goodnight before she followed Legolas out. Celeborn and Heidi sat smiling at their friends before they looked at one another. Heidi stood and streched before she walked over to the railing over looking Lorien.

"It is so beautiful here." Heidi sighed and smiled.

Celeborn movedt tot to her before he spoke. "It is the people that make it so pretty."

Heidi tried to think and form a coherent thought but his nearness was distracting. He smelled of rain, honey, and forest. It was intoxicating. "I must be crazy." she muttered.

"Why do you say that?" he asked brusing a lock of hair away from her face. She leaned into his touch.

"I...I think I love you. But we just met 2 days ago. I have been here 4 days but it feels like I have lived here my whole life." Heidi whispered.

Celeborn framed her face with his hands making her look into his eyes. "It's not crazy. Heart recognizes heart. I love you to." Celeborn said before he kissed her.

Heidi eagerly returned the kiss her heart was light. He loved her! All to soon it was over he smiled as he released her lips. "Come melamin. I will take you to your chambers."

"Will you stay tonight? To hold me." she blushed at her question.

"I would be honored to guard your dreams." he smiled at her blush. He found her charming and innocent.

"what did you call me? Melamin? What does it mean." she asked confused.

"It means my love." he led her to her room and to her bed. "Sit. Tis cold in here I will start a fire."

Heidi watched as he made a fire before she stood and grabbed a dressing gown. She slipped into the bathing room to change, she saw Denise changing as well.

"Ohhhhh. IS Legolas staying as well?" Heid teased her friend.

Denise blushed. "Yes and you know why."

"I know." Heidi changed and then embraced her friend. "Celeborn told me he loves me."

"Wow how cool. Wait why do you look so sad?" Denise was worried her friend should be happy.

"Because I will have to tell him eventually." Heidi sighed and turned away.

"I know. I will have to tell Legolas. But do not worry they will not be mad."

"I hope not. I must return. Goodnight and sweet dreams." Heidi turned and smiled at Denise before leaving.

"Sweet dreams." Denise called after her.

Heidi entered the room and she noticed Celeborn was gone. Sighing she blew out the lamps and laid down to sleep. Minutes later she felt Celeborn lay down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and he pulled her against him untill they were spooning.

"Did you think I l" h" he asked noticing her sad expression.

"Yes."

"I simply changed into a more comfortable sleeping robe."

"Oh. I love you." she murmered sleepily.

"I love you to. Now go to sleep melamin." Celeborn sang softly to her untill she fell asleep. He could hear Legolas singing to Denise. Something bad had happened to these women, and he would find out what and make it right. He swore to himself. He knew Legolas had made his own private vow to Denise. He would see them through.

TBC