Title & Chapter Number: Elencálë (The Light of the Elves) 17/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Rating: NC-17 Romance/Adventure
Disclaimer:
Warnings:
Betas:
Cast: Legolas/Shu Lien
Timeline: AU - Post RotK
Spoilers: None
Summary: This story takes place about 100 years after the quest of the One Ring. Even after the fall of Sauron, the foul breath of evil can still be felt on the winds of Middle Earth. Some say it is just the nature of the world, the shadow of the light. Some say it is rising and has once again become sentient. King Elessar rules with a just and even hand, but Men throughout the land are falling into darkness, succumbing to greed, hatred and violence among themselves and against the world. The Light of the Elves departs as the Eldar continue to withdraw to the West, leaving darkness in their wake.
Notes: Elves do not close their eyes during Reverie. While I have updated the sexual culture of the Eldar to reflect more modern values (and indeed the fact that I feel that such sensual and advanced beings would revel in such a pass time and consider it natural and pure), the concept that Elves can tell if other Elves have had sex actually is Tolkien's.
Chapter 17
Shu Lien was awakened by the pangs of an empty stomach. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw that they were still in the clearing in the woods; they had never had breakfast and now it must be well past lunchtime. She was lying on Legolas' chest, which was rising and falling slowly under her. Feeling the change in her breathing, Legolas brought his hand to her cheek and gently stroked her hair. Shu Lien sighed and turned her head to look at him so that her chin rested on his chest. Legolas' eyes looked drained and tired, but he smiled softly. Shu Lien returned the smile and turned her head to place a sweet kiss on the palm of his hand as it stroked her cheek. They regarded each other for a long moment.
Finally, Legolas pulled her up so he could tenderly press his lips to hers. Shu Lien brought her hands to his cheeks and looked into his eyes. "I love you," she said simply and kissed him with all the depth of the feeling in her soul. As he closed his eyes, Shu Lien laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into his neck. She could feel that he was disoriented and still processing, but lighter somehow. The loud growling of her stomach made her chuckle softly.
Legolas brought her head up with gentle hands and a smile. "I guess we should get some lunch, my love."
Shu Lien nodded with a grin and placed a kiss on his nose before rising, stretching and retreating to the tree where her pants had been discarded. Legolas sat up, rearranging himself and began retying his leggings, watching Shu Lien as she began to dress.
As she lifted up her tunic, Legolas saw her hips and sprang to her side, pulling the fabric up fully. His eyes widened as he ran his fingers over the darkening bruises there. Wordlessly he turned her around and pulled the material up in the back, examining her skin. There were a few light bruises and abrasions from the tree. Turning her around again, he inspected her front. Cool trembling fingers ran lightly over the deep red marks along the sides of her neck where his mouth had taken her.
His eyes met hers in frantic apology. "What have I done?... Please forgive me..."
Shu Lien realized that this was less about the slight surface wounds, but the fact that he had made them. And his deep-seated fear of losing control.
She wrapped her arms warmly around his neck and kissed him. "Hush." He pulled away, searching her eyes for her meaning.
"Hush," she said again and kissed him soundly. "Do you really think I could not have stopped you if it hadn't pleased me?" She grinned mischievously. He looked from one of her eyes to the other.
Shu Lien pressed her lips to his again, very tenderly this time. "You are not a monster, Legolas. Do you see that it has all not been your fault?" She spoke very softly, gazing into his eyes. Legolas opened his mouth to speak, but no words came forth. Shu Lien could tell from his expression that he was beginning to see.
Another voracious growl from her stomach made them both break into smiles and hand in hand they returned to the palace.
~*~*~*~
They took their late lunch in Legolas' quarters, then spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on the bed: Legolas with his back against the wall and Shu Lien between his legs leaning back against his chest as he played with her hand resting on his knee. He began to speak of his feelings about his father, of things that had been said, of what had happened in the past. Shu Lien listened with complete attention, mostly letting him speak, but asking an occasional question, making a gentle statement here and there, showing that she understood.
As the day began to fade, their conversations turned to lighter things like whether Gimli was going to be jealous and how they were going to carry enough Mirkwood ale to make it up to him and they ended up on their stomachs on the bed, hand in hand, knees bent, their feet absently dueling behind them.
Dinner was fast arriving and they decided to join their friends whom they hadn`t seen all day.
Shu Lien wanted to meditate first and told Legolas she would meet him there. She needed some time to regain her center, and wanted to give him some time to speak, undistracted, to his old friends.
~*~*~*~
"But I tell you, Mirkwood ale is far better than that Dwarvish barley water that quite frankly looks like piss and tastes only somewhat better... " Galion laughed, teasing Gimli in the spirit of their long-standing joke. Gimli loved Mirkwood ale, but was loathe to admit it.
Legolas was sitting at a table in the dining hall with his brother, Elrohir, Gimli and several of his Mirkwood friends. The dining hall had a few of the castle staff in it having quiet conversations and their meal. Lord Thranduil had not been seen all day.
"Well, how would you know if it tastes better or not?" Legolas grinned mischievously at his brother. Galion gave him a withering look. "Not that I am extolling the virtues of Dwarvish ale over that of Mirkwood, mind you." Legolas shot a warning look to Gimli." I am merely pointing out the flaw in your argument." He gave his brother with a smug smile that made Elrohir chuckle.
"Oh, shut up." Galion rolled his eyes as he dodged the playful slap that his brother aimed toward his arm.
Legolas felt rather than saw Shu Lien enter the room. He looked up to see her walking toward the table in her unhurried, unselfconscious way. Her hair was loose, to hide the ravishment of her neck, and she had braided the sides in an elvish style. She wore the rose Mandarin outfit that the Galadhrim had made for her and looked utterly beautiful. Legolas sighed. The two hours without her company had seemed long indeed.
As she approached, making eye contact with each in the group and gracing them with one of her lovely, demure smiles, his brow furrowed slightly as his elvish senses picked up a subtle difference to her gait. Still graceful and fluid, her walk was slightly more hesitant from the discomfort of using her body in ways to which it was not accustomed. For a moment guilt tugged once more at his heart for his roughness that afternoon, but all thoughts fled as soon as her eyes met his and she gave him a dazzling and adoring smile. She held his gaze unwaveringly for the remaining few steps to the table, and Legolas stood up, enchanted, holding his hand out to her with a tender smile.
"Ahhh... now that's the look of love." Elrohir grinned, leaning back in his chair to revel in the couple.
"Yes, and if there is one thing that is worse than an Elf... it's an Elf in love." Gimli grumbled, trying to hide how touched he was to see his friend wearing such an expression.
Legolas did not even register the banter as he took Shu Lien's hand and brought it to his lips for a long moment. The others rose in the customary welcome. Shu Lien tore her eyes from Legolas and turned to the others at the table, bowing to them in greeting.
"Are you still talking about ale?" She grinned mischievously as she seated herself beside Legolas. "It seems Illuvator's true gift to the Firstborn is the ability to find humor in the same jest time and time again." Shu Lien winked briefly at Gimli who laughed with a snort.
"How else would we survive our endless days?" Galion chuckled.
"Yes, but it is quite tedious for mortals to be subjected to your wearisome wit." Gimli cut his eyes evilly to Legolas` brother.
"If you find us so tedious, why were you laughing so hard that there is still a mist of spittle in your beard?" Legolas jumped in with a smile that mocked innocence.
"I merely humor you because you play at hosting us." A smug grin bloomed under Gimli's beard.
Shu Lien reached her hand over to touch his arm as she smiled, "Why Gimli, how polite and considerate of you! And you said that Dwarves were too dignified to be sweet."
The Elves at the table took great and vocal delight in watching the deep flush color the cheeks of the Dwarf as he stammered, disconcerted.
Shu Lien turned to find Legolas gazing at her with an affectionate smile on his lips. She covertly wrapped her ankle around his under the table as they tried to turn their attention to the continued banter at the table, succeeding only in appearance.
Halfway through the evening of light and merry conversation, Galion leaned over and whispered in Legolas' ear, "Did you realize that you are staring, dear brother? It is most indecorous, especially for our famous Elvish warrior." He knew his brother was having difficulty maintaining his reticent, impassionate bearing for which he was famous; despite his efforts, his attention kept returning to Shu Lien, his eyes reflecting his love and wonder as clearly as if he were speaking it aloud.
Legolas tore his eyes away from his mate (who was engaged in a conversation about bow styling and the effect on technique with one of the Mirkwood Elves) and frowned in exasperated annoyance at Galion.
Galion merely grinned evilly, "Oh, now that I no longer worry for your heart, I plan to tease you mercilessly, brother."
~*~*~*~
They returned to Legolas' rooms after a long evening of friends and wine. With a quick kiss to her love, Shu Lien walked directly to the balcony and leaned against the railing watching the hazy waning moon and listening to the soft mist of rain that was kissing the leaves of the garden. Elencálë had subtly haunted her mind all through dinner and now, in the gentleness of the evening, the whispers were even more insistent. Legolas took off his outer tunic, stowing it in the bedroom and joined her.
Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his cheek against hers, resting his chin on her shoulder. They stood there a long while, just listening to the night.
Legolas smiled broadly and nuzzled her ear. "Shu Lien... the night is silent..."
Shu Lien understood immediately and turned in his embrace wrapping her arms around his neck with an expression of disbelief. "You do not hear the Call of the sea?" Legolas shook his head smiling. He felt completely at peace. "What does it mean?" Shu Lien asked looking carefully at each of his eyes.
"It means that I have found the rolling waves I sought in the deep blue of your eyes, my love." He answered quietly, bending to press his lips to hers in a kiss so sweet that Shu Lien`s heart missed a beat. Their lips smacked softly as she pulled away and pressed her cheek to his chest, holding him tightly, stilling her mind around the faint murmur pressing behind her eyes.
~*~*~*~
Shu Lien woke just before dawn as usual; a lifetime of early rising had made an indelible mark on her subconscious. Sighing softly she reveled in the bliss of waking pressed against a warm silken body that was gently rising and falling with slow even breaths, a lulling, soothing rhythm that reminded her of the sea.
Pressing herself closer for an instant, she mentally rolled her eyes at the warm sensuous wave that washed over her. Her leg was slung over his and pressing herself closer had pushed her snug against his hip. She closed her eyes softly and pressed herself a little closer, luxuriating in the heavy feeling in her chest. As soon as she had given in to her feelings for Legolas, it seemed that she was no longer able to ignore their omnipresence. She couldn't seem to emerge completely from them. Even when her mind had successfully focused on something else, her body was a constant reminder.
She pulled away just enough to watch him as he slumbered. Since their joining he slept with his eyes closed, which seemed both eerie to Shu Lien and beautiful at the same time. His head was slightly tilted to one side, showcasing his sculptured cheekbones and his hair was spread out across the pillows and just beginning to catch the first kiss of the sun -turning it to gold. His mouth was turned up in a subtle smile. To see his face so peaceful, so exquisite in repose made her see him for a brief instant as the immortal, ethereal being that he was, instead of her friend. Instead of her husband.
With an incredible feat of discipline, Shu Lien took a deep breath of the cool morning air, carefully disengaged herself, and began to slide out of the covers to make a dash for her unused night shift to settle for her meditation. Her skin met with the chill of the fleeing evening and she sat on the bed and hesitated slightly before touching her feet to the cool wooden floors.
Suddenly she was pulled back on the bed and the sheets were tossed back over her, settling slowly around her like a sail. Legolas enfolded her in his warm arms and wrapped his leg around her, burying his face in her neck and inhaling deeply.
"Where do you think you are going?" he murmured into her neck between soft kisses along her tendons and jaw. Distracted, Shu Lien blinked slowly. At the moment she couldn't remember.
She smiled, pulling away slightly so her gaze could bathe his face affectionately, Her hand came up to cup his cheek and she placed a light, loving kiss on his nose. "Oh... I was going to meditate..."
"There is time for that later," he whispered, his voice still low and rough from his Reverie. Bringing his hand behind her head, he pulled her close and captured her in a gentle, insistent kiss that fanned the glowing embers in her belly. Shu Lien pressed herself against him, moaning softly in the sublime pleasure of it all. Soon her passion began to escalate though and she reluctantly pulled away, panting quietly as she regarded his grinning face on the pillow. Legolas reached a hand over to push a strand of hair behind her ear. Shu Lien's thoughts raced in conflict as slight confusion registered on her face.
Sitting up slightly, Legolas leaned his head on his hand, searching her face. "What?" He smiled softly. She looked down, a faint blush blooming on her cheeks. "What?" he asked again with assessing concern.
"My body... it smolders in an instant upon your touch..." Shu Lien met his eyes with a smile and then looked away again, slightly embarrassed. "I want nothing more than to make love... but I don't think I have quite recovered enough yet from all of this... new activity..."
Legolas chuckled. "I agree..." He turned her face back to him with a tender finger and met her eyes sincerely a moment conveying that there was to be no shame between them. Then he brought his lips to hers again in a slow, sensual kiss, pulling away just enough to murmur. "And more of that `activity' was not my intention..." Confused, Shu Lien pulled back to look into his eyes..
He laughed softly as he rose up, pushing her down into the bed and kissed her again. "Allow me show you a few of the many ways around your predicament..." he whispered to her lips before meeting them again, passionately.
When she was out of breath he pulled away from the kiss and trailed his mouth down her neck tenderly, firmly, his tongue blazing a trail which was followed by his nipping teeth. His silken palms were smoothing over her torso, fingers stopping to caress a nipple. His mouth soon mirrored the actions of his hand on the other nipple, switching between them and teasing them mercilessly until Shu Lien was arching against him with a groaning sigh. With a soft moan of his own, Legolas nuzzled the skin under her breasts and then continued to plant kisses, nips, nuzzles across her stomach, stopping to trace a scar with his tongue, moving toward the apex of her thighs.
Shu Lien's hands were playing with the sleep tousled braids at the side of his head, doing nothing but focusing on the warm wet feel of his mouth traveling over her skin and his long fingers, grazing ever so lightly down her sides, making her skin raise in excitement.
So involved was she in the sensations washing over her, that her eyes opened in shock and her palms slapped the bed at her sides when his tongue first brushed the core of her arousal. She looked down at Legolas with surprise and found him watching her, smiling against her at her reaction, as his tongue continued to stroke the heat between her legs. She held his eyes as her body eagerly submitted to his ministrations, sending out waves of rolling warmth in slow, sensuous ripples. Her eyes quickly glazed in passion and her brow furrowed as the sensations began to overtake her.
Legolas watched her arousal blossom, a sensuous melting of her face, dripping from her eyes like sweet, warm honey. He ran his tongue over the swelling nub, alternately flicking and sucking, dipping into her inner core to come back up to continue on. She tasted at once both sweet and salty, smelling of the delicate, earthy scent of leaves on the autumn forest floor. Sighing into her, he watched as her breath came in soft pants, her eyes lost the fight to stay open. Whispering his name intimately, she gripped the sheets and her legs bent, spreading wider, entreating, beseeching. He reached up a hand to hers which was twisting blindly in the sheets and she grasped it fiercely as she gasped yet again. Her voice rose like the sun and her body pushed against him. She exhaled his name like a prayer as her body shook with the pleasure he gifted. He closed his eyes a moment, luxuriating, running his tongue leisurely over her in parting and then slid up her body regarding her with a smile.
Shu Lien's head was tilted to the side, a light sheen of perspiration on her brow, as her breathing slowed. She opened her eyes slowly and turned to him with a brilliant smile. He ducked down to kiss her lovingly. Wrapping her arms around his neck she held him tightly as his hands once again started to roam her body, teasing, awakening. She smiled questioningly against his lips, opening her eyes and trying to regard him.
"Oh, I am not through with you yet..." Legolas mumbled before deepening the kiss.
~*~*~*~
It was one of the hardest things he had had to do. His brow furrowed slightly before he begrudging leaned over to wake Shu Lien with a soft kiss to her forehead. He trailed light kisses down her nose until he reached her lips where he lingered. Her lips responded automatically as she began to surface from her dreams. Shu Lien's arms went up lazily around his neck and she sighed contentedly against him.
He had not wanted to wake her. She looked so serene and beautiful lying in his bed, hair strewn over the pillows and blankets, her breath slow and soft, her face serene. He had risen before and bathed, dressed and packed and then he had sat on the edge of the bed and watched her until the last moment possible. They were leaving for Rivendell this morning and they would already be having breakfast in the saddle at this rate, which suited Legolas just fine... he felt, for the first time in his life, free, happy - no, joyful! - and truly at peace, and he did not want anything to ruin it. He did not want to risk seeing his father ignore him in the breakfast hall.
Shu Lien's eyes opened slowly and she regarded him with a sleepy smile, the heavy, languid satiation still misting her eyes. As she focused, she frowned. "You are dressed."
Legolas chuckled. "Sorry my love, but we are to leave within the hour." Shu Lien closed her eyes resignedly. With a long sigh she sat up and looked around, immediately switching her mind to business as she made a mental checklist of what she needed to do. Legolas pushed her hair back, running his fingers over her neck and examining her back and hips. Shu Lien turned to him absently as she planned her packing.
"You have healed quickly once again." Legolas returned her smile with what could only be relief. Curious, Shu Lien turned and looked at her hips. The bruises were almost completely faded already.
"It has something to do with you, I am sure. Lady Galadriel said there would be much shared between us." Shu Lien said unconcerned.
"You should still wear your hair down today, though... the marks on your neck haven't quite completely dissipated." Legolas grinned, glad for this at least.
"Elves..." Shu Lien shook her head with a smile and placed a brief kiss on his lips before scooting out of bed.
She made quick work of bathing and packing, which made Legolas sorry he hadn't waited just a little longer to wake her, and soon they were leaving his rooms for the front of the palace where the horses would be waiting.
Speaking quietly to the Elf tending the animals, he asked that some breakfast be brought out for them and the Elf quickly withdrew with a nod. Shu Lien greeted her steed in Quenya with warm pats and a kiss to the nose. She fawned over her while speaking soft words and then placed her saddle bags over her bare back. Legolas had turned to watch her as he absently stroked his own animal.
King Thranduil watched his son from the doorway. Gazing adoringly at the woman, his eyes held a bright light within them despite their new ebony depths. Legolas finally walked up behind her and put his arms around her, kissing her tenderly on the cheek and whispering something in her ear. She laughed and turned in his arms, her hands coming behind his head as she rose on the balls of her feet to plant a loving kiss on his lips. He had never seen such joy in his son. They were obviously so in love that he could believe they were Tatyafëar. Thranduil hung his head in sorrow for all that he had lost in his many long years. And all that was yet to loose.
Their kiss deepened on its own accord and soon Legolas was holding her tightly to him as their mouths hungrily made use of their last moments of solitude before the trip ahead. The sound of someone clearing his throat started them both and they turned quickly to find Thranduil regarding them, his face unreadable. Shu Lien immediately dropped her hands to her side, but Legolas left his arm around her and met his father's gaze challengingly. His father's eyes softened somewhat and Legolas relaxed slightly.
Thranduil cleared his throat again and looked to the ground between them. "Legolas... I ... " His voice failed. Taking a breath he tried again. "Son... I .. would not have you leave your home like this..." Again he stumbled. Legolas let his arm drop from Shu Lien with a glance to her and stepped forward a step. "I want... I would like you - you both - to return to find your place anew in Mirkwood, for these woods would miss your footfalls should you abandon them completely. " Thranduil spoke very quietly, obviously struggling.
"Father ..." Legolas began just as quietly.
Thranduil looked up and met his eyes. "Let us not speak of it now... Please return when your duty has been completed so that your people may celebrate your binding."
Thranduil then looked to Shu Lien. He closed the distance between them with slow steps. When he was before her, Shu Lien bowed low. He licked his lips nervously, glancing down before returning her gaze.
"Shu Lien." He paused as if considering the way her name rolled off his tongue. "This is yours..." He opened his hand to reveal a simple, elegant silver necklace. The chain bore the form of a leaf carved delicately out of a brilliant translucent jade. It was at once both subtle and exquisite.
He held it out to her and she realized he wanted to place it around her neck himself. She drew her hair into one hand and bowed her head slightly as he stepped closer letting the chain hang between his hands. Politely ignoring the marks on her neck, he slowly fastened it with trembling hands and then drew back slightly to regard her. He smiled sadly and reached his hand up to touch the leaf which hung perfectly right below the hollow of her neck.
"This was my gift to Legolas' mother upon our binding. It was for this that he was named." He whispered hoarsely, his eyes glistening. He looked up with surprising tenderness.
Closing his eyes briefly he turned from her to his son and grasped his forearm in formal farewell. Their gazes met intensely and the words that Thranduil were unable to speak at the moment were evident in his tearing eyes. Legolas drew him by the arm into a quick, stiff embrace. The King of Mirkwood then turned and without another glance walked briskly up the steps back into the castle.
Legolas watched him withdraw and then turned to Shu Lien, his eyes going immediately to the necklace. He stepped to her and cupped it in his palm, regarding it a long moment, his eyes somber. Letting it fall back to her chest, he arranged it carefully and then looked into her eyes with a soft smile. "It becomes you, my love."
"I shall never forget in whose honor it is worn. I hope I may be a tribute to her memory." Shu Lien said quietly, bowing her head slightly in respect.
"You already are." Legolas whispered and pressed his lips to hers, communicating in the contact all of the deep and divergent emotions he was experiencing.
"I hope we will not be forced to endure such disgusting displays throughout the entire trip to Rivendell, Elrohir." Gimli grumbled in mock aside as they descended the steps. Legolas and Shu Lien had quickly pulled apart and were greeting their friends with amiable smiles.
"It pleases me to see such joy." Elrohir grinned cutting his eyes evilly to his companion. "I think you are jealous, Master Dwarf."
Gimli just huffed.
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