Title & Chapter Number: Nienna 3/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, places, plots, etc., created by the masterful J.R.R. Tolkien in book-land or movie-verse... they're just too wonderful for words. Those that I make up, however, are my own.
Warnings: None
Betas: None
Cast: Haldir/OC
Timeline: TA AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: An A/U… She was said to be one of the greatest beauties on Middle Earth, or so he had heard. Haldir will soon discover for himself what awaits him by the sea...
Notes: I do love feedback and suggestions, so if anyone has anything to say, please feel free to say it, via the board, or by email. Constructive criticism is most welcome…it's how we improve ourselves after all, but flamers, please beware, I can get pretty mean when riled!
Thank You: And definitely not to be forgotten, are the wonderful people who strive to make your story as wonderful as you want it to be. A big thank you to these two people, my beta pals, Mo and Julie!!! You're the absolute best, for without your inspiration and encouragement, this story might never have taken its wings and flown!!!
Chapter 3 - Dining and Play…
The dining hall was spectacular - the epitome of royal elegance at its most luxurious. The large oblong shaped room boasted two huge white marble fireplaces at either end, with magnificent hand chiseled mantle pieces, each appearing to be held up by delicately hued winged maidens of the purest limestone.
Above the guests, a high gilded ceiling with a deep tray(?) center, depicting a breathtaking mural of the reign of Cirana's beloved King Cirdani and his beautiful Queen Ardana. From polished gold anchors, several low-slung crystal chandeliers hung in four long rows across the expanse of the room; their dainty candle lights shimmered of hundreds of vibrant glistening speckles, raining across the ashen interior walls.
Underfoot, lustrous black onyx floors, cleaned and buffed to a near glassy sheen, with tall onyx columns rising heavenward, contrasting sharply against the stark cleanliness of the blanched walls and high brooked windows.
Rows of intricately designed tables and elegant high-backed dining chairs filled the hall to near capacity. All lined with exquisite silver cutlery, fine glass plates and chalices, all neatly arranged atop delicate gossamer place mats and silken napkins. Lined down the center of each long dining table, heavy mithril candelabras and beautiful, fragrant flower arrangements of the island's most rare long stem, exotic blooms adding a brilliant splash of vivid color.
Suddenly, Haldir's attention was thrust back to his immediate surroundings by the loud, shrill feminine voice across the table. Inwardly he cringed.
"My Lord Cirdani, how did you ever think of such a thing?" Valkana asked; her long eye lashes flitting wildly against the tall peaks of her rosy cheeks as she studied the king's handsome face. "Such mastery truly amazes me!" she gushed, pleased when his smile grew and he came a little closer.
At the head of the royal table, the high king sat perched between the two elf maidens, one his daughter and the other, an occasional dalliance. His mood had softened considerably on that eve, finding himself ever more enamored by the maiden's endless droll blathering and delicious teasing. "A crazed beast, my dear, will do most anything during rutting season; believe me, he is more intent procreating than on his own survival. Had that buck not been thinking with his…" Cirdani caught himself in mid sentence, hesitating. "Let us just say that it was nothing, Kana," he finished. Raising the chalice to his mouth, he sipped, all the while, his gazed locked hotly with Valkana's.
Maybe it was his flagrant use of the wench's pet name, or that he was shamelessly besotted with such foolish flummery - and by one her own age no less that set Nienna's blood boiling! Before she could catch herself, Nienna snorted into her wine. Crushing her eyes tightly together, she silently cursed, embarrassed that someone might have heard her. Peeking up through her long, smoky lashes, not yet daring to raise her head, she watched the others. No one appeared to pay her no heed. Pleased, she released a held breath and once again sat straight in her chair, motioning to a servant to refill her drink. But someone had noticed…
"Nothing!? Oh, my King, but it was something!" Valkana leaned closer, batting doe eyes, "Again, tell me how big it was?" she purred, resting on one elbow, her bosom crushed together in a most tantalizingly, yet vulgar display.
Still holding his drink to his mouth, Cirdani's darkened gaze traveled down the maiden's face slowly to her plump breasts. His tongue snaked out to wipe a lingering dreg away from his upper lip; warmth suddenly fanning up from his loins. "It was huge," he said low and deep, "powerful and magnificent. The beast's rack jutted out, with a nice soft velvety down - soft to the touch, yet solid. Three arrows I had to land in his hide to drop him! And even then, he grunted and groaned."
Twisting in her chair, Valkana smoldered like a red-hot flame. His words were torrid and suggestive. Her eyes watching him as he swallowed - the bobbling knot under the smooth skin of his throat as the wine traveled to his stomach. But he was not all she desired…
"How many points would you say the rack spanned, Cirdani?" Celeborn asked, oblivious to the goings on at the opposite end of the table. "To have fell such a prize, I would imagine you will have him mounted for your mantle piece?"
All eyes turned to the Ciranian King when he did not respond right away. In a dumbfounded stupor, he sat as still as a mouse while the vixen feline smiled up at him. Valkana's lips pursed sensuously, reminding him of all the wonderful things they could do when she had the mindset.
Rolling her eyes, Nienna sighed loudly, her patience wearing thin. She finished off yet another drink, before tapping her father hard on the left shoulder until he finally turned to her, expectantly.
Glancing back down the table to Lord Celeborn, the princess smiled weakly, before turning back to her father, saying, "I believe Lord Celeborn inquired as to how many points the buck's rack had, and whether or not you were going to mount him for your mantle." She looked behind her, and waved the servant forward again.
"Ah yes," he said. He was suddenly aware of the tight bind in his leggings and shifted a bit, wishing he could reach down to adjust himself. "The, uh, buck's rack you ask? Well," Cirdani's eyes brightened and he grinned, "it was a respectable fourteen points, Celeborn," he said proudly, raising his chin and puffing his chest out.
Holding his drink up, "Indeed it was! Well done, my friend," Celeborn saluted. Long had he heard of Cirana's abundant wild game and rough beauty, like that of his beloved Lorien. He could hardly wait to tread its mountainous boundaries to see for himself.
Nienna rolled her eyes again, turning to the Lady and her March Warden, gesturing with her hands, the much smaller size of the beast in question.
The corners of Galadriel's mouth crooked upward, almost touching her beautiful blue eyes. "Do you not hunt, Nienna?" she asked
"No, Lady, I do not," the princess replied, glancing at the king, "My father felt it unladylike for me to learn the arts of weapons."
Galadriel said nothing, but seemed to consider the young maiden's words carefully. "Several young maidens in Caras Galadhron enjoy game hunting, and are quite proficient in weaponry." She then smiled, saying, "Maybe I shall petition your father about a visit to my fair woods?"
"I would very much enjoy that, Lady!" Nienna said excitedly, daring to hope of the prospect of travel beyond her borders. It was just too good to be true that she would be permitted to visit Lothlorien - although, if anyone might convince her father, she suspected it to be Lady Galadriel. Suddenly a sweet, melodious voice entered her thoughts, and it said, 'All hopes and dreams come true for those most deserving, my child…'
Haldir felt something brush against his leg for the third time! Being suspicious by nature, he immediately looked to his right at Nienna, who sat closely beside him. She was preoccupied and paying him no heed, the server refilling her goblet for the fourth time that he had counted. His mouth twitched…
She was an intriguing creature, he found. From the moment they sat down to dinner, he noticed the slow, easy way her hands moved over everything in front of her. Always touching and feeling with lazy, but intent circles she drew with her fingertips. The manner in which she even held her wine, touching the chalice's long stem in reverent worship incited his mind to drift and his body to react. Through half closed eyes, he watched as her hands glided along the fine edging of the gossamer linens, feeling the texture of the dainty material - the airiness of it. His breathing felt heavier and slower, enflamed by the erotic images his mind conjured up. He could not help but imagine her hands on him, touching him with the same attentive care. A warm tingle suddenly flared in the pit of his stomach, to egress downward to his loins, to the gentlest of twitches there.
He jerked with a slight startle, looking under the table. The March Warden felt it again! What was going on!? Who was touching him!? His eyes snaked over to Nienna again, and a smile played on his lips. Was it her? She sat nearest him. He looked at her hands. Her beautiful, delicate hands, and felt another stirring in his leggings. Berating himself for his lack of control, he peeled his attention from her, attempting to refocus on his emissary duties once again by joining the Lords in a discussion about the upcoming hunt and challenges. But despite his good intentions, his mind quickly waned and his thoughts lingered too much on the lovely temptress beside him. 'Was it her?'
As talk continued to drift back and forth between male elves, Nienna's attention, held only by a thin thread, listened to the slow timber and strums of the music filtering into the hall from the music room. She and Galadriel continued to speak whenever they could find a quiet moment between the Lords and Warden, but with the coming and going of the night's dinner, came the inevitable return of her usual restless and boredom. Sitting back in her chair, almost in a slouch, she leaned her head slightly to the side, her dark hair swaying lazily over her shoulder, tumbling nearly to the floor.
A soft, gentle breeze swept through the room and on it a spicy, floral scent slowly permeated Haldir's keen senses, and he realized that Nienna had moved closer to him, her hair lightly brushing his hand. The allure of her was only as he could describe as bewitching enchantment; a scent he found to be seducing and wanton, almost rendering him giddy. She was running her long, slender finger over the edging of her table linen again, before folding her hands in her lap. Her hair caressed his skin again, and a pounding rush of blood flowed through his veins to pool at his middle, arousing him. He could feel his male stirrings pulling tight against his leggings, twitching in tune to the rapid beat of his heart. 'By Mordor's curses!' Someone was touching his leg again! This time, however, they began to climb up his knee, between his thighs to his hardening groin!
He grunted and shifted suddenly, startling the seemingly unawares princess.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, eyeing him curiously. It had been the first true words she had spoken to him since they had met.
Haldir smiled awkwardly, sliding his chair back to put more distance between him and any more forthcoming attention, but the princess' arched brow stilled him. "It is hot in here," he finally commented, reaching up to tug on his collar, feeling just more eyes on him than Nienna's.
Valkana sat across the table smiling at the March Warden, though she did not linger, turning to the king, her smile sweetened still. "I just love sword play," she said, from where she had nearly scooted in the king's lap, "Swords are so long and masculine. I really just so admire them strapped to the side of a strong warrior, sheathed and ready for action."
Nienna, while sipping her wine, nearly dropped the chalice onto the table. Her body visibly deflated under the sheer weight of Valkana's lewd suggestion. Everyone fell deathly silent, staring at the young maiden, each harboring a different expression from shock, to anger, to indifference, to obliviousness, to interest.
From behind her dinner napkin, Nienna covered her mouth, almost choking on her wine. The drink lodged itself painfully in her throat and would not go on down. Trying not to draw any unwanted attention, she shifted in her chair, reminding herself to relax while her mind turned over rapidly. That loose lipped, loose skirted, loose minded, loose bodied jade! To say such a thing in mixed company! To say such a thing at all! It was beyond the point of embarrassing! It was positively horrible! Positively unforgivable that her father would seat such a creature with the likes of Lorien Royalty! And yet worse, if it could get so, she was playing footsie with the March Warden underneath the table, while practically hoisted into her father's lap! Oh the shame of it! The indignity of it! The humiliation of it! A slap in the face of Royalty it was! So horrible - so repulsive - so - so… Suddenly she felt someone touch her arm; it was Haldir. She swallowed loudly, turning wide, watery eyes to him.
"Is something wrong, Milady?" he asked with mock concern, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
~*~*~*~
As the large entourage made their way to the music room, they passed through what the Princess told Haldir was the gallery hall. Magnificent portraits hung from silk covered walls; the King and his Queen, the Princess, the King's most prized stallions, and lastly, the king's travels to the mainland, painted on canvas from his memory. This was one of Nienna's favorite places of the palace, and her smile genuinely warmed him. She was breathtaking.
A quick stop at the drawing room, Haldir noted the same black onyx floor and columns as in the dining hall, and a large limestone table covered with books and scrolls. At the far end of the room, set a sculpture of a horse and cloaked rider.
The next stop was the dome shaped music room.
Inside, seating had been arranged to facing the raised platform where the musicians sat strumming softly. To the left, on a small dais, sat four larger chairs, obviously reserved for Royal families.
A dance floor of pale marble sat nestled into a cozy bay, where several open doors led to the terrace, lit for additional dancing room. Outside, Haldir could see a beautiful view of the gardens and grounds, but it was nothing compared to the loveliness of the maiden he had safely deposited in her seat beside the king, and so, he stayed near…
~*~*~*~
The March Warden, after escorting the Lord and Lady back to their quarters, found that the nap he had taken earlier still left him rejuvenated, and remembering that he had duties to his charges as well, he trekked down to the guardsmen's quarters on the ground level of the palace.
Along the way, he met up with Cirana's own Captain Rana. He was an elf warrior of similar stature to Haldir. Though like most Ciranians, his hair was dark as night and low on his back, and his eyes, an ever observant piercing blue.
Haldir had met the second-in-command earlier when he came ashore, and immediately, he had found a kindred spirit in the stern, yet good natured Island Warden.
"Tell me again, where we are going, Rana?" Haldir asked as he was led deeper into the palace, past the kitchens and war room, to another room at the far end of the hallway.
The Ciranian turned to him smiling, "Surely you did not think they," pointing upward to the higher level of the palace, "were the only one's to enjoy themselves on this fine eve, my friend?" Then he added, "I assure you, this will be more to your likings than any festivities above."
The March Warden's thoughts instantly fell back on the king, his Lord and Lady, Valkana, and lastly, to the enchanting Princess. He shook his head. "It was rather an interesting evening," he commented dryly.
"So I saw," the Captain laughed, slapping Haldir on the back, "Lady Valkana was certainly on her toes tonight," then leaning in close, he said, "or better yet, on your toes!"
The March Warden's brows knitted in confusion. Rana paid him no heed as he led them into a large room filled with several jovial elven guardsmen, all sitting around small tables littered with what looked to be hundreds of tankards of ale and large clay jugs of richly potent Elverquisst.
As they meandered through the crowded room, Haldir could see several of his own guard had joined their Ciranian counterparts. As many looked up to see him, their faces stiffened and paled, then relaxed when he offered each a curt nod to resume their activities.
At last they settled at a table in the far corner of the room. It was dimly lit and hidden from view; the perfect little alcove to spy on the others.
A couple of heaping tankards were brought over by a Ciranian sentinel, and Haldir nearly drained every last drop in one large gulp, much to Rana's amusement. "Tell me, what is the story with this Valkana?" Haldir asked, ignoring the captain's wryly grin.
"Let us just say that Lady Valkana is this farthest thing from a Lady."
Haldir's brows cocked, and he wore a peculiar expression. "And she and King?"
Rana snorted, "What of she the King?" looking around them to make sure no one was listening, he propped himself on his elbows, resting his drink in his hands. "She has shared his bed a few times, nothing more."
"Is that wise?"
"My King is crafty, Haldir," Rana said. "He is fully aware of her agenda." Noting the March Warden's dubious expression, he continued, "It is true. Long has King Cirdani been alone in this world and lonesome he is, but a fool he is not. He realizes what she is after. He just does not deny himself a good tumble."
Nodding, Haldir finished off his tankard, pushed it away, then leaning back in his chair, stretched his long legs out in front of him.
"We do not get many visitors here, and it is always nice to hear news from the outside world," Rana noted. "Since Queen Ardana's death, my leige has chosen not to travel abroad so much. He feels it is safer to remain in Cirana, especially considering Princess Nienna."
Interested, Haldir's turned to him at the mention of her name, "Is it true that she had never been past the waters of her own realm?"
"Yes, it is. But she is his most precious treasure, he keeps her close."
The March Warden nodded thoughtfully, saying, "Her name is well known in Lothlorien."
Rana chuckled, "Ah, so the legend of Princess Nienna still lingers on the mainland." He leaned closer, "Tell me, Haldir, do you find the legend to be truth or folly?"
Just as the March Warden was about to answer the roar of laughter suddenly erupted and, he looked up at the commotion, his mouth dropping open. No! It simply could not be! Here of all places!? His mind was deceiving him in the worst way! Maybe he had drank too much? The wine and now this - he picked his tankard up and looked inside it before raising it to his nose to smell - ale. It was only ale. Elves, some of his own, and chairs began to scatter around a table to his far left, making room for the new arrival.
~ Next Chapter ~
~ Previous Chapter ~
~ Library Main ~
~ Author Index ~ Character Index ~ Title Index ~
~ Hall Of Fire ~ Gallery ~
~ Links ~ Shops ~ Map ~ News ~ Rules ~ Lists ~ ~
This page is in no way affiliated with New Line Cinema or Tolkien Enterprises, and no profit is being made.
The information contained herein is NOT to be used to spam or in any other way harrass its members. Be advised that abuse of this site will not be tolerated, and the appropriate legal action will be taken.
Hall-Of-Fire.Com v.4.0, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Cristine Cook-Fireheart. All rights reserved. This web site may not be reproduced in any form, except as occurs in normal browser caching, without express written permission from the author.
Website by Infinite Connections Design.
