Title & Chapter Number: The Sundering 15-16/25
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: LOTR characters are not mine and I write only for non-monetary reasons.
Warnings: None
Betas: Julie
Cast: Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, other character's I have created
Timeline: Future AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: The world is reborn and Haldir returns to Middle Earth from Valinor.
Notes: none
~ 15 ~
Raven turned around, spreading out her arms as the rain fell softly all around her. It was cool and she was suddenly aware of the earthy smells as the light shower washed the soil with its freshness. She walked along the stream, staring up at the sky, exulting in the feel of the rain sprinkling lightly on her face. Rotating around, she stared at the trees, then gasped as her feet suddenly flew out from under her.
She landed flat on her back. Sitting up gingerly, she reached back to peel the wet tunic from her skin. It was filthy with wet mud and she sighed at her foolishness. She rolled over to get to her knees, and sat back on her heels, surveying the mud that now caked her hands with annoyance.
"The water does seem to like laughing at you." Haldir grinned as Raven slowly lifted her head to look at him. He stood on the path next to the stream, the light rain dripping off the tip of his nose. He wore his cloak, and still carried his bow and quiver.
Raven scowled as he bent down, reaching out a hand to help her up.
"Why are you back?" She made her voice very cool and clenched the mud into her fist. "I am still angry with you so you might as well leave."
Haldir drew back his hand and straightened. "Galadriel has summoned me. If you prefer to sit in the mud, Raven, by all means do so. It fits your childish ways."
Raven glared at him in fury as he began to turn away. Looking down at the mud clenched in her fist, she suddenly threw it straight at Haldir.
Haldir caught her movement out of the corner of his eye, and ducked just in time to avoid the mud she flung at him. He turned to look at Raven, then froze as he saw her stare past him in horror. Slowly Haldir turned to see Celeborn standing behind him.
The mud had hit Celeborn squarely over one eye, splattered into his silvery hair, and dripped down the front of his silky gray robe. The Lord's eyebrows rose in astonishment as he tried to maintain a dignified expression.
Behind Celeborn, standing on the rise of a stair, Galadriel stood laughing, holding her side as she leaned against one of her guardians as he held a cloak over her head. The warden was trying unsuccessfully to hide a smirk as Celeborn turned to Galadriel in bemusement.
"Galadriel, my dearest. You do not help my dignity with your laughter." He stepped toward her as if to feign a threat. She tried to stop laughing but could not and turned to hurry up the stair. The wardens followed, looking back at Haldir with a grin.
Celeborn turned back to Haldir, placing his hands on his hips. "You are March Warden and as such are supposed to take any and all blows for your lord and lady," he said with mock severity.
Haldir tried to maintain his neutral expression. It would not do to laugh at Celeborn at the moment. He reached inside his cloak to draw out a cloth, and stepped toward Celeborn, handing it to him.
"I apologize, my lord. Had I realized you were behind me, I assure you I would not have ducked."
Then Celeborn winked, and Haldir allowed himself to smile. They both turned to look at Raven. Raven swallowed, grinning sheepishly at the two elves who were gazing down on her in amusement.
Celeborn smiled. "I fear you have given Galadriel the best day she's had in a long age. It is not often she gets to laugh, and at me especially. I suppose I can forgive you for that reason alone." He nodded to Haldir and left to follow Galadriel up the stair.
Haldir turned back to Raven. "You are fortunate he has a sense of humor." He grinned as he once again he offered to assist Raven to her feet.
This time Raven accepted his hand, looking up at him slyly. Shifting her weight, she suddenly yanked him toward her so that he lost his balance and he fell on top of her in the mud. He rolled off her quickly only to find himself mired in more mud. Raven lay on the ground, laughing hard as he sat back on his heels, mud covering him from head to foot. With a low growl, he reached for her, but she nimbly rolled away from his grasp.
Haldir leaped forward and seized her around the waist, but the mud had gotten slippery from the additional rain and he slid further down the slope, pulling Raven with him. They rolled onto the bank of the stream, and Raven landed with a gasp on top of Haldir. He lay still for a moment, gazing at her as the mud continued to soak into his cloak and tunic.
"I will not have any clothes left if we continue this!" he complained. He twisted and rolled over, pinning Raven to the ground with his body. He chuckled as she stared up at him, looking annoyed. "Perhaps as a penance I will make you wash all the clothes you have made me go through lately."
She twisted beneath him, trying to free herself. "You can wash your own clothes." As she tried to slide out from under him, he grinned and moved his knee to block her efforts.
"No?" he said smoothly. She tried to throw more mud at him, but he rose up, and pinned her arms to the ground with his knees.
Raven couldn't move, could only stare up at him as he leaned over her, his long silvery hair caked with mud and a large smudge of mud covered his cheek. She kicked her legs, but to no avail. He had her trapped.
He chuckled softly. "You must learn some wrestling moves. I fear you have no place to go." He leaned closer to her, and she scowled as the cold mud squished against her back.
"So are you going to just keep me here all day?" she muttered.
He laughed, then released her and pulled her to her feet. "You are lucky it is raining, Raven. We would have made quite a spectacle for the elves, though I expect they will hear about it soon enough." He grinned, still gripping her wrist.
Raven tried to resist as Haldir turned and pulled her along the path.
"I thought you said Galadriel summoned you," she said. "You ought to go see what she wants with you."
"I think she will understand my delay." He bent to pick up his bow where he had dropped it, then continued to drag her along the path.
"Where are you taking me?" she gasped. "I really need to go and change."
Ignoring her question, he only laughed, and nodded to a pair of elves who stared at them in astonishment as they began to climb one of the many stairways. "Yes, you do. And so do I."
Raven stared around her as he pulled her up higher into the great trees. She had not been to this area before, and noted that many of the rooms were smaller, as if only one or two elves lived in each. She tried to peel Haldir's fingers from her wrist, but he only squeezed them tighter.
"You're hurting me," she complained, but he glanced back at her with such an arrogant look that she snapped her mouth shut.
Haldir grimaced as he pulled Raven up the stairs, nodding to several of his wardens as they passed them, their eyebrows rising as they turned to watch him pass. He sighed, thinking of the unavoidable teasing that Rúmil and Orophin were sure to heap on his person as soon as they heard about this.
Raven dragged her feet as they rose into the top of the canopy, trying not to notice how high they were. She grunted in pain as her foot caught on one of the steps, and Haldir came to a momentary halt. Before she could open her mouth to speak, he lifted her and tossed her over her shoulder. Raven stared at the long expanse of stairs below her and screeched her outrage and fear as the sensation of being carried upside down brought the blood rushing to her head.
Haldir scowled as she twisted in his grip, her muddiness making her hard to hang on to. "If you don't cease your squealing and twisting, I may just drop you."
She froze for an instant. "Put me down!" she snapped and kicked out her feet. She squeaked in outrage as Haldir swatted her hard on her behind.
"If you don't be quiet, the whole city will emerge from their talans to see what banshee has invaded us!"
They reached the top of the stair and Haldir entered a small talan. He set her down as she stumbled, disoriented, and sat down abruptly on the bed.
Seeing his coverlet smeared with mud, Haldir rolled his eyes and shut the door.
Raven stared around her. "This is your room," she said as he pulled off his cloak and dropped it on the floor with a grimace. She looked around curiously, but snapped her attention back to Haldir as he pulled off his outer tunic.
"What are you doing?" She rose from the bed, ignoring the mud-smeared cover. as she watched him throw the tunic on the floor with the cloak. He ignored her question and began to pull off the remaining tunic.
Raven stared at the tall elf before her worriedly wondering what his plans were for her now?
~*~*~*~
-16-
Raven opened her mouth to speak, but instead stood gaping at Haldir as he pulled the garment over his head, taking in the rippling male muscle of his chest and arms. She turned to the door, but found Haldir already beside her before she could twist the knob. He braced his bare arm on the door, holding it shut as she tried to open it.
"I think I should leave," she said in a low voice.
"And I think not." He slid his free hand along the sides of her tunic, unlacing the ties that held the outer tunic closed.
Her heart beating hard, she ducked out from under his arm as he gripped the outer tunic, peeling it off her as she backed away from him. He threw it in the pile with his clothes. Looking for another way out, she stared around her, and saw another door set in the wall next to the trunk of the tree. She ran to that door and swung it open, clutching at the frame of the door as she set eyes on a large tub filled with steaming water.
Haldir came up behind her and pushed her into the room, shutting that door as well. He leaned against it as Raven turned around, avoiding the tub.
"You're lucky it is my habit to have a tub of water waiting when I return from the border, Raven. We can bathe in it together."
Raven stared at him. "Together!" she gasped as he pushed away from the door. She circled the tub, inching back toward the door when he reached out, picking her up and carrying her over to a chair that sat along the wall. He sat down, and in her struggles she slid onto her knees between his, as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her tight against him. She could feel the tension in his thighs as he gripped them against her and her eyes widened as he slid his hands up to hold her face and bent down to kiss her hungrily.
She trembled as his lips crushed hers, his hands sliding into her hair, then onto her shoulders. He lifted his head, his gray eyes glittering. "Your tunic comes off whether you do it or I. It is your choice," he murmured.
She quivered. Her hands were caught in front of her and had somehow found their way to the warm muscles of his chest. "Haldir, I don't think this is a good idea," she whispered.
He smiled slowly. Reaching out, he began to pull the mud-stained tunic from her hips, but she twisted away. He rose to his full height, staring down at her with one eyebrow raised. She sighed, knowing she had lost this battle. Closing her eyes, she stood up and pulled off the tunic, refusing to open her eyes even as she felt him step closer.
Haldir smiled at the delightful flush that rose from her neck into her face. She was very lovely, quite adorably enticing. Once more he scooped her up, pulling her onto his lap as he sat back in the chair, and unlaced and peeled off her wet, muddy leggings. He chuckled as she curled against him, embarrassed by her nakedness.
"Raven," he said softly, "I have seen a woman's form before. You are very beautiful." Still she lay curled against his chest, her eyes squeezed shut. With a sigh, he lifted her again and walked over to the tub to set her gently into the water.
Raven's eyes flew open as the water enveloped her, and she stared up at Haldir as he bent and pushed on her head, forcing her under the water. A moment later he released her, and she clutched at the sides of the tub, trying to regain her seat as she heard the slosh of water and felt his legs next to hers.
"Ooh," she sputtered.
He laughed and lifted her up to sit between his legs with her back against his chest, grinning as he leaned back. Wrapping one arm around a very stiff Raven, he scooped up a handful of water and poured it over her shoulder as she lay against him.
"See, it is not so bad," he murmured as she trembled against him. Her wet hair clung to his chest as she folded her arms across her chest, sinking further into the water.
Raven squeezed her eyes shut, fearing to open them since she would see Haldir's feet resting alongside of hers, and that would lead her to see that his legs were lying alongside hers and . . . She stopped these thoughts, sucking in a breath as she realized that with her eyes closed, she was even more aware of his bare chest pressed against her back.
Haldir trailed more water along her neck, watching in amusement as the flush crept higher along her neck. If she thought her arms were hiding anything she was mistaken; at the moment they only pushed her breasts higher into his view. He whispered the information into her ear and laughed when she gasped.
Water flew from the tub as she twisted violently, but to his surprise, she turned to face him, kneeling before him as he leaned back. His eyebrows rose with amusement as she glared at him. He slid his hands along her back, pulling her forward to lean against him, her head on his shoulder.
She pushed against his chest as he slid deeper into the water until he submerged, and she frowned as the water sloshed against the side of the tub. Then he rose to sit back against the tub again, still holding her tightly. His hair was plastered against his head and his ears were more prominent as he smiled slowly.
"You still have mud on your cheek," she said grumpily. She suddenly realized he wore his leggings in the water.
"I would wipe it off myself, but I fear if I let you go you'll fly out of the bath." He looked at her, water dripping off of his eyelashes. "Perhaps you could do it for me?"
Raven looked at him, then reached up to wipe off the offending mud. "Why do you do this?" she asked as he loosened his grip on her arms.
"Why do I do what, Raven?" He leaned against the back of the tub.
"Why do you kiss me like you do, then grow angry?" She said as she sat back on the other end of the tub, sinking until the water settled around her shoulders. It was muddy enough now she felt a little more comfortable.
Haldir sighed. "I do not grow angry." He saw her frown, her chin hovering over the water as she looked up at him through her eyelashes. He leaned forward, bringing his knees up to rest his elbows on them. He wrinkled his nose at the wet material. "I only grow frustrated. I do not know where this may lead."
"I saw you in the mirror," she said quietly.
He was startled. "You looked into Galadriel's mirror?" He sat back, looking pensive. "Then I am somehow tied to your future. I felt it yesterday." He glanced at her, then at the muddy, rapidly cooling water. "I am going to get out. You can watch if you like."
He grinned as Raven gasped and covered her eyes with her fingers. With a chuckle, he rose and stepped out of the tub, then proceeded to peel off the wet leggings as he glanced toward Raven in the tub. She had slid down in the water, and judging from her now furiously red complexion had peeked sometime in the last few seconds. He grinned and wrapped a towel around his waist, then walked over to her, holding another towel.
"Are you going to sit in there all day or get out?"
She peeked at him through her fingers. "I will, but you must turn around."
"But I have already seen all of you." He grinned as she scowled, then turned his head away, holding out the towel as she rose. She grabbed it and wrapped it around her hurriedly just as he turned back and lifted her out of the tub.
"As much as I would like to take this further, I fear I have a meeting with the Lady of Light," he remarked as he set her down. "I am going to change into one the few tunics I have left and will bring you something to wear when I come back." He strode into the bedroom as Raven trailed behind him.
"I have to stay here?"
He glanced back at her. "Unless you want to go about dressed like that," he answered as he pulled another set of clothes from a chest on the floor. He raised an eyebrow at her, and she realized he was about to remove the towel.
She whirled back into the bathing room and shut the door with a loud slam.
~*~*~*~
Raven sat on the bed, staring at the wet coverlet hanging over a chair where she had laid it after washing the mud off. It was the only chair in the room so the only other seat was the bed. She didn't want to go back into the room with the tub and so climbed onto the bed, pulling the thin blanket around her as she leaned against the headboard.
She looked around the room, noting its tidiness. A small stack of books lay neatly on the table next to a small lantern. The chest from which he had taken his tunic lay against the wall and the only other furniture was the bed. A fairly large bed at that. She wondered how they carried it up the stairs.
She stared at the pile of muddy clothes on the floor and sighed. She supposed she should at least soak out some of the mud. Climbing off the bed, she took the sheet with her, and wrapped it around her. She picked up the sodden mass of material and dragging the sheet behind her, threw them into the water in the tub. She wrinkled her nose at the muddy water, and reached in to draw the clothes back out. She hoped he would appreciate her efforts.
~*~*~*~
Haldir leaped quickly up the last few steps to his talan as the last rays of the sun slanted down thru the canopy over his head. He gripped the door knob lightly and he eased open the door, hoping nothing was going to be thrown at him the moment he stepped inside.
He slid around the door, stopping in surprise. He found the room dim and Raven asleep, wrapped tightly in his sheet on the bed. He smiled and set down the clothes he had brought for her on the edge of the bed, then turned, one brow arched as he noted the coverlet lying over the chair. He touched it, and finding it nearly dry, he lay it gently over Raven. Then he sat down and picked up his boots from earlier in the day and stared at the mud caking the leather. Shaking his head, he set one down and began to quietly brush the boot, his eyes occasionally moving to study Raven as she slept.
Raven woke to the soft sound of elvish voices and the click of the door as it was shut. Opening one eye, she could see that it was dark and the small lantern on the table was glowing brightly in the darkness. Haldir turned from the door, a tray in his hands as he walked over to the bed and set it down gently.
"Are you hungry?" he said as he sat back down in the chair, picking up one of his boots.
Raven sat up, pushing the coverlet away in surprise and stared at the tray. Glancing at him, she reached over to pull off the cloth that covered the tray, then picked up a roll and sat back, chewing it slowly as she looked at Haldir.
"How long have you been back?" she asked.
He glanced at her. "For a while." He set the boot down. She noticed the other was already cleaned. He leaned back in the chair, folding his hands.
"So did you bring me some clothes?" She took another bite of the roll, and her eyes narrowed as he smiled.
"They are there on the bed. You may not find them to your liking, but they are what Galadriel gave me."
She stared at him in consternation. "Galadriel! Blessed Light Haldir, you didn't tell her I was here!"
He grinned. "She already knew, Raven. I am sure she heard quite clearly where you were headed this morn."
Raven slid off the bed, and picked up the clothes Haldir had brought. A long green tunic shimmered as she unfolded it, and underneath an ivory undertunic. Both would hang to her feet. She had been given a dress.
Glancing at Haldir, she clenching the clothes to her chest and walked into the bathing room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Haldir waited patiently, pouring a glass of wine as he wandered over to the window. The moonlight filtered through the leaves and the lights of Caras Galadhon twinkled merrily below him. The trees were black against the blue-tinted shadows surrounding him. He turned as he heard the door open.
Raven stood in the door, her expression difficult to read. He smiled slowly at the change in her appearance. The green of the simple overtunic complemented her magnificent auburn hair, which hung down her back in a thick, attractive mass.
She stared at him for a moment, tossing the sheet back onto the bed. "So I can leave now?"
"No," he replied as she moved toward the door. He cut off her escape, leaning one arm on the door as she folded her arms and glared.
"And why not? You have already made a fool of me. I can imagine what everyone must think of me."
He frowned slightly. "I have not made a fool of you, Raven. I am sorry if you feel that way, no one here thinks poorly of you."
She looked skeptical. "My staying in your room has not raised eyebrows?"
"What I do in my room is not anyone's business, but no, they do not judge you. In any case, I have done nothing to you."
Raven stared at him in disbelief. "Done nothing? You call hauling me up here against my will, throwing me over your shoulder to my total embarrassment," her voice squeaked slightly, "and making me bathe with you, nothing?" She clenched her fists as he looked down at her calmly.
"You are getting upset over nothing, Raven. You needed a bath and I knew where one waited. It is that simple."
She whirled away from him, and stalked to the window, staring out at the city below her, but hardly seeing the sparkling lights as they glittered below her. "So bathing with you was nothing." She felt a flush sweep over her cheeks. Hearing him chuckle, she glanced back to see him still leaning on the door. A mischievous twinkle glittered in his gray eyes.
"Well, perhaps the bath was more than nothing," he acknowledged.
She turned to face him, trying to ignore the blood that rushed to her face. "Ha, so you admit it."
He pushed away from the door. "Admit what, Raven? That I took advantage of your situation?" He smiled, a dangerous gleam entering his eyes as he moved toward her. Raven swallowed and turned back to the window.
He stepped up behind her, placing both arms on either side of her. "I took advantage, I admit. I cannot say I am sorry. But you were very muddy." He laughed softly as she stiffened.
"So why did you not fully undress?" she whispered, as he moved closer still. Goosebumps broke out along her arms and back as she felt him press against her.
"I would like to say it was for your modesty, but alas, it was more for my own control," he murmured as he brushed the hair from her neck.
Raven trembled at his light touch. "I don't understand," she said stubbornly.
He only laughed.
Raven slid under his arm to cross to the other side of the room.
He turned to watch her. "I think you do. I have told you how you affect me. Why don't you tell me how I affect you?"
Raven's eyes widened at his suggestive tone.
Haldir smiled at her expression, and moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
"I have spoken to Galadriel," he said as Raven sat down in the chair. "She is concerned for you and your family. I have sent word to Rúmil and Orophin to bring them here. They have been guarding them in my absence." He watched her as she closed her eyes. "Galadriel told me of your vision." He saw the color drain from her face.
Raven reopened her eyes, the memory of the vision still too clear in her mind. She didn't want to think of it again, yet it hovered like a shadow in her mind. She flinched when Haldir moved forward and knelt before her.
"If I can protect you I will. I am tied to this as you are, though I do not yet know what it is I must do." He took hold of her hand, holding it between both of his.
Raven looked down at him, gazing into the gray eyes that met hers so intently. What could he do?
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