Full Circle

Title: Full Circle

Author: Nuinzilien

Rating: R

Characters: Cirdan/ OFC

Disclaimer: Not mine of course. No, really. Not mine.

A.N.: Yeah, don't ask me where this one came from. It just bit.

S.A. 3441

~~ Just before dawn ~~

With a final, strong thrust, the Lord of the Havens came, shouting
his release to the heavens. Gasping, he collapsed upon the still
shuddering form beneath him. He tucked a lock of hair behind his ear
and withdrew, resting his head below the warm weight of his lover's
breasts, ignoring her giggle. He knew damned well the rough hair of
his beard tickled. She'd said so on more than one occasion.

Lulled by the soft babble of the stream they lay next to, Cirdan's
fingers stroked down his lady love's hip and leg, pausing as he
encountered wetness on her inner thigh, where her essence mixed with
his seed. His smile turned from sated to victorious. He gathered
some of the moisture on his fingertips and reached out, letting them
skate over the water's surface. The stream would carry his offering
to the seas. //May he choke on his jealousy.//

Long, gentle fingers sifted through his hair. "Why do you continue
to taunt him, my love?"

Grunting, Cirdan got to his feet, eyes carefully blank. "Why do you
insist on asking questions to which you already know the answer?" He
dressed quickly and knelt, cleaning her off with a moist cloth, which
he again rinsed in the stream. Wringing the cloth out, he draped it
and their blanket over his arm, offering his other to the legging
clad female at his side. "Come. I suspect Gil-Galad will be wanting
a last moment strategy session before we march at dawn." He stopped
and turned to her. "Is there any possible thing I could say that
would make you change your mind. You need not do this."

Suliel smiled and shook her head. "You know me better than to ask
such. This is my fight as much as it is yours. And do not think I
am not aware that you already plan to stick me in the back. I am not
pleased."

He smiled and kissed her cheek, rubbing his bristly cheek against
hers and eliciting a good-natured grumble from his
companion. "Peace, my dove. I need you back there to be my eyes and
to reign in the young bucks." //And to be out of the direct line of
fire. The likelihood of an enemy managing to break through my entire
line of defense is virtually non-existent. With you safe, I will be
able to concentrate.//

~~ Just after dusk ~~

Heavy footsteps lead him back to the spot by the stream. Cirdan
dropped down onto the bank and curled into a ball, his cheek pressed
against the cool, wet sand.

He had been certain, so very certain she would be safe. With at
least three other battalions under his command around them, he still
found it difficult to believe the enemy could have snuck up from
behind and attacked his flank. Impossible to believe that he had
watched the arrow hit home, the startled look upon her face as she
fell. A haze of red, white, and black agony fogged his memory from
that point up until the royal hand of Greenwood's new King slapped
him back into reality.

Cirdan shuddered, one thin trail scalding its way down his cheek. He
swiped at it and looked at his hand, where the salty tear mixed with
her blood and his. Reaching out, his hand skipped across the water's
surface, letting the Lord of Seas taste the bitter grief of losing a
loved one.

Again.