Title & Chapter Number: Elencálë (The Light of the Elves) 25/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Rating: NC-17 Romance/Adventure
Disclaimer:
Warnings:
Betas: Thanks to Maisha for the Beta.
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 25
vessanya: (Quenya) my wife
Legolas found Shu Lien having slid down a tree to sit at its base, her knees bent up in front of her, head hanging. Her fingers slowly rubbed her temples as tears crawled leisurely down her cheek. Sensing him before her, she sniffed loudly before rubbing her hands over her face several times and looked up at him.
Legolas stood a few paces away holding the healing pack, quietly regarding her; trying to assess how she was feeling, what she needed. There were dark circles beneath her eyes and a slight squint to her brow: she looked tired and pained.
"I keep losing the battle." She laughed softly, ironically.
"How do you mean?" Legolas shifted, cocking an eyebrow at the unexpected comment.
"'The battle of the spiritual warrior is always with the Self.'" Shu Lien quoted her sword in Quenya. "It is a battle I continue to lose. I behaved as a pubescent child." She hung her head, her forehead resting on her knees.
Legolas laughed softly coming a few steps closer. "I think it is what you both needed."
Shu Lien looked up at him with a strained smile that faded into seriousness. "What did he say to you?" She asked plainly.
Legolas took a breath and then pushed forward, just as plainly. "That I had taken much from you: your people, your peace, your only chance at obtaining immortality through the experiencing of an eternal present..." Shu Lien sniffed a laugh bringing a hand up unconsciously to rub the side of her head, trying to still the whispers, trying to dull the pain. Legolas continued with a soft and questioning tone. "He said that you were not returning to the Romanórë, that you would wither in the violence of our lands..."
Shu Lien continued to look up at him, trying to focus through the turmoil in her mind, expecting more, as her hand rubbed absently.
"Are you?" Legolas pressed.
"Returning? No. I knew on some level that I gave up that option when I made my decision." At Legolas' obvious distress, Shu Lien hastened to amend. "There is nothing for me there, Legolas. My home is here, with you."
Legolas opened his mouth to object, but she interrupted. "I know you would come with me, it could be no other way. My heart could not leave your side even if my mind wished it."
She stood gracefully as she spoke and took a step towards him, her voice resonant and unadorned. "But our duty lies to Middle Earth. Can you not feel it? Perhaps we can bring some measure of healing, of peace, to this troubled land as your people continue to depart from these shores. I can think of no needier place for my compassion. Perhaps Elessar could use my skills as he says and we can pass on our ways to his people. The Romanórë will not be what Mu Bai remembers at any rate."
Legolas was surprised by the frank, unembellished tone of her words and looked from one of her eyes to the other as he nodded, somewhat comforted. Such a direction for their life together had occurred to him as well. He had always felt a mooring tie to Middle Earth but had always taken it to be fear and weakness. Perhaps it was simply where his destiny led him.
Frowning again as her mind unfocused in the pain, she blinked, shaking her head slightly. Legolas put his hand on her arm. "Is it the ring?" He asked quietly.
Shu Lien nodded and looked into his eyes, her tears beginning to brim. His concerned, loving gaze blissfully besieged her with warmth and calm. Smiling softly, she raised her fingers to his temples and lightly traced down his cheekbones, down his jaw, until both hands met under his chin. Her eyes focused on his lips as her hands went around the back of his head to rest at the nape of his neck.
Legolas' pulse quickened as her eyes dilated and her lips parted unconsciously. He watched her intently, while trying to still the igniting passion within him.
Glancing up to him momentarily, a hungry look coming over her eyes, she then went up on the balls of her feet to capture his lips with hers. The kiss was instantly both ardent and desperate; Shu Lien's lips pressed demandingly to his, her tongue snaking past his lips eagerly. Legolas moaned softly into her mouth and he heedlessly dropped the healing pack bringing his arms around her back to pull her close. Their tongues dueled frantically as their lips met in a bruising and overwhelming kiss. Shu Lien's hands stroked down his neck, across his shoulders, her fingernails raked through the fabric of his tunic and his skin quivered in excitement.
Finally Shu Lien broke the kiss, letting her head fall back, panting. Legolas gulped air greedily but could not keep his lips from her neck. He followed it up to her chin where he nipped her softly with his teeth.
"Shu Lien?" He murmured the question into her neck. Shu Lien's hands were running through his hair and she brought her head forward to regard him with desperate and impassioned eyes.
He could feel her breath on his lips as she whispered very softly, beseechingly "Legolas... take it all away. Please. I need it to go away ... just for a moment."
Legolas looked deeply in her eyes before he met her mouth again in a crushing kiss and his hands began to freely roam her body. The suppression that had been so difficult to maintain on this trip was razed instantly and in its stead the searing, reckless ardor of body and heart rose with suffocating intensity. He no longer cared about any risk of danger or that they were most likely not far enough from the camp to completely mask their activities from Elvish ears He sought only to pleasure his mate and satiate his body.
Shu Lien had moved her hands to her drawstring and was clumsily trying to untie it, when Legolas' hands covered hers.
"Oh, no..." He whispered against her lips as he took over the untying himself.
Chuckling against his mouth, she occupied her hands with unlacing his leggings, running her hand luxuriantly over the hard bulge beneath her fingers and eliciting a soft moan. Legolas continued to kiss her senseless until her hands had to still in her overwhelm.
Shu Lien was not quite sure how her pants were removed but it seemed suddenly she was being guided back against the tree with one hand, while his other hand freed himself completely from behind the lacings. Legolas lifted her uninjured leg up to his waist, holding it in place with his arm as his hand went around to hold her hip. He pushed inside her as he lifted and pinned her to the tree with his body. Breaking the kiss and pausing for a moment to push their tunics up and out of the way between them, he lifted her leg up a bit higher and then braced himself against the tree. Slowly he thrust into her, going deeper with each push. Shu Lien breathed a long low moan of rapture as he filled her, her hands gripping his shoulders, elated to have him inside her once again.
A small feral smile broke across Legolas' face as he watched her blue eyes glaze in passion under the heavy lids, her face contorting in pleasure. He moved out of her and then thrust forcefully back in completely, taking a breath and then repeating, over and over, watching her intently. Each time he buried himself in her tightness, soft groans escaped her mouth and she bit her lip as her eyes rolled in ecstasy. It was an agonizingly slow and sensual pace for his body, but he was enjoying her pleasure too much to heed the pleading of his own need.
Shu Lien's head tilted up to the sky as her moans grew louder. "More." She whispered fervently. Legolas quickened the pace, holding her hips with both hands now as her hands moved down to steady herself against the tree. He bared his teeth from the grueling challenge of keeping his composure long enough for her to reach her satisfaction. The next moment her voice rose to the treetops as the fierce tremors of her release swept her body, begging him to join her. Muffling her moans with his lips, he relaxed and followed, riding out the warm shimmering waves of satiation until they were both left quivering, empty and free.
Legolas held her against the tree as their breaths heaved, desperately trying to catch up He slowly became aware of the delightful feeling of her damp brow pressed into his neck and her warm arms hanging languorously around his waist. Breathing in the sweet smells of arousal he sighed contentedly, pulling back to look at Shu Lien as he lowered her back to her wobbly legs.
She offered him a small smile, a glowing satisfaction relaxing her features, but her gaze still held an aching grief, a fatigue, a pain. As his brow furrowed with concern, the blue became liquid and a tear broke free to run down her cheek. Legolas bent to kiss it softly, and found himself kissing another and another, until he was brushing light, loving kisses all over her face as her eyes silently spilled their sorrow.
"I love you." Legolas whispered searching her eyes before he drew her into a warm embrace, pulling her cheek to his chest. Shu Lien squeezed him tightly, closing her eyes against the whispered voices that had returned after the brief reprieve Legolas had gifted.
"I cannot do it Legolas. I cannot endure it any longer. I --" Her tears turned to soft sobs as she gripped him to her.
Legolas closed his eyes and pressed his lips together as he held her tightly, feeling an aching grief that he could offer her no more than mere words. "You can. It is only three more days, vessanya. I am here. I am beside you. Only three more days."
~*~*~*~
For the next two days, Shu Lien did little but cling to Legolas. The voices seemed to be growing ever more urgent and compelling, and her head ached so much that she could scarcely see. When they traveled, she rode close beside him in the back of the party, head bowed, desperately grasping at the stories or ballads that were offered up the for the benefit of her distraction by Legolas, Gimli or Elrohir. When they stopped for rest or camp, she would sit silently pressed up against Legolas' side, enfolded in his warm embrace. She did not eat, she did not sleep.
Mu Bai rode wordlessly beside Falmalinnar. Since the spar with Shu Lien he had been different. He was still quiet, but more thoughtful than stoic. His subtle change in mood was palpable and served to alleviate the tension, much to the relief of all.
Legolas watched Shu Lien out of the corner of his eye as she sat, slumped at the fire, slowly rubbing her temples, while he loaded her horse. They were preparing for travel on this, the last morning of the journey. As everyone began mounting, Legolas walked over to her and she tried to stand, but stumbled. He steadied her by pulling her into a gentle embrace.
"Ride with me today, " Legolas murmured into her hair. She surprised him somewhat by simply nodding against his chest and he berated himself for not asking her sooner. Not wanting to let her go, Legolas called out to Elrohir who moved the packs to Shu Lien's horse from Legolas`, leaving only the weapons strapped to his steed. After helping her mount, Legolas leapt up behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist. She leaned back instantly against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
As they started the on the last day's ride until Rivendell, Legolas sang softly in her ear a lilting and very old Quenyan lullaby.
"I remember when you first sang that song to me." Shu Lien mumbled, remembering his soothing tenor in her weariness on that first ride to Minas Tirith.
Legolas smiled against her temple, pausing in the song. "Ah.. so do I. That was the afternoon I met the Mandarin warrior who would quickly steal my heart."
Shu Lien smiled, not opening her eyes, and covered his hand with hers as he continued the song.
They rode through the cool, misty morning in this manner and the sweetness of Legolas' embrace, the dulcet tones of his gentle voice and the feel of his breath on her cheek made the battle she was waging almost endurable.
There was no warning.
The hissing sound of an arrow slicing through the air barely preceded the jolt she felt as Legolas was thrown forward, his song silenced abruptly. Instantly she knew. She hoarsely called out his name as she turned on the horse.
His black eyes, wide with shock and pain, met hers as his mouth gaped soundlessly. Grasping her hand, he began to slump forward into her and his horse whinnied and sidestepped. Shu Lien felt the searing pain of his wound shoot through her body as his fingers gripped hers mercilessly .
p At the sound of her cry, Elrohir had quickly turned, unslung his bow, notched and shot an arrow all in one movement. The Uruk-Hai assassin crumpled to the ground in one breath with the arrow's shaft embedded in its open eye.
Falmalinnar was at Shu Lien's side immediately, gathering Legolas' form in his arms as he began sliding from the stamping horse, and she could see the crude, ugly arrow implanted in his back, over his heart.
Falmalinnar's soft jade gaze locked with her terrified blue one. He watched as, before his eyes, her horror froze and cracked into shards of icy disassociation. Legolas' hand suddenly went limp in hers and she released it, leaping from the horse and grabbing her weapon from where it was strapped.
Part of her knew that she had been, on some level, prepared for this by the Galadriel's vision and was caring for her heart by sequestering off the pain. Part of her knew that her conscious mind had fled, leaving nothing but her training, her focus, her will. Part of her knew that she made the best tactical decision by leaving Legolas in Falmalinnar's strong and well-trained arms. But her mind was blank. She felt nothing.
Until a blind hatred and fury darkened her vision. In one swift movement she had unsheathed and parted her swords and had sprung mindlessly, viciously towards the Uruk-Hai who had lain in ambush and were now pouring through the mist and trees. Archers were still raining arrows in at the party from out of the woods, but Elrohir was quickly picking them off with his lightning bow. Shu Lien was oblivious to anything but slicing and stabbing and thrusting and kicking with a searing loathing and brutality. She did not feel her body. Everything was as a dream.
Sound was the only tangible reality, and it echoed in her mind with a haunting corporeality. Her heavy breath swept her ears with a rasping and slow rhythm, dancing with the low hollow beating of her heart. The sickening sound of her swords striking dully into flesh rose against her cheeks followed by the liquid slurp of suction as she withdrew them, and the crack of the body hitting the ground through a gurgling cry. A flying leap and swift kick struck the face of an Uruk with a muffled thud. The foam of its spittle flew onto her face from the impact of her blow before her blade slit its throat to the music of its morbid wheeze and the rushing murmur of the blood from its veins.
Through it all, the whispered velvet words of Elencálë sang a lullaby softly, soothingly in her ear.
Shu Lien clung frantically to the hard rough hand of a murderous rage, displaying her frightening and fluent lethality, slaying any creature that she could reach as quickly as her blade would pierce the fetid skin. She tried to kill the pain, kill the fear, kill the agony, kill that soft voice in her ear which was driving her mad. As hot tears made their way down her cheeks, Shu Lien felt as if her head would implode from the throbbing pain, overwhelm and emotion which were desperately trying to break out from their tenuous mental incarceration.
Suddenly a grating steel blade collided with hers in an impossibly intense impact and the jarring ring broke into her consciousness. The fierce blow pinned her sword to the ground as a vice-like grip clenched her other wrist so hard that her second blade fell from her numbing fingers.
"Shu Lien!" The voice boomed yet again, deep, urgent, commanding. Shu Lien's eyes blinked and cleared, meeting with the gentle, emerald gaze and stern face of Falmalinnar. "Shu Lien," He said softer this time as he let her wrist go. "It missed his heart by but a breath but it is poisoned. He fades."
Shu Lien's mouth was open, her eyes blinking, desperately trying to comprehend the words being spoken to her. Grabbing her shoulder he shook her briefly while he looked deeply into her eyes. "Daughter. He leaves for Mandos. Go to him now." His voice was a whisper.
Dropping her sword she scanned the area and ran to the tree under which Legolas had been lain. Falmalinnar followed her with his liquid eyes for a moment and then, without even turning around, raised his sword to deflect a blow that he heard whistling at his side. Mu Bai, Gimli, and Elrohir had been holding the Uruks off, but now it was time he rejoined the fight.
He surveyed the scene as he almost absently battled the creatures. It was a comparably small number. Probably the survivors of their first battle. The archers had all been felled and Elrohir had joined the fray with his long sword. There were only a few of the Uruk-Hai left. His mind quickly assessed and orders issued forth from his lips. "Gimli! Guard Shu Lien's side!"
He moved toward Elrohir, pulling the arrow he had extracted from Legolas' back from his belt. "Elrohir! Take this to your father. It is an afternoon's hard ride?"
Elrohir nodded grimly, as he struck down another foe.
Falmalinnar paused a moment, a mumbled curse on his lips. "He will not make it through the hour." He grimaced as he slashed another Uruk and handed the arrow to the other Elf. Setting his jaw hard, he pursed his lips. "Go anyway. Ride as hard as you dare. Bring your father, a litter, the antidote. Quickly."
At that moment an inhuman wail pierced the tender morning. If any had doubted the nature of Shu Lien's fëa, it was confirmed by that anguished cry. No mortal soul could utter such a sound. Only one whose fëa was tied to Arda; who did not know the comfort of passing from pain and sorrow to freedom, whose very essence contained the memory of every drop of blood and every tear spilled on the sweet soil of a dying world, could bring forth such a cry. It was the raw cry of an ageless, nameless sorrow. Even the Uruk blades paused at such a sound.
Returning his gray eyes to Falmalinnar, Elrohir whispered, "I ride as the wind." And sprinted through the trees calling to his horse who came galloping to him. Leaping onto its back he spoke urgently in its ear and the animal raced off into the wood.
Shu Lien had run to Legolas' side and knelt beside him. Her eyes were dripping tears onto his blood soaked tunic, though she did not know she cried. He was laid out on his back but he had lost enough blood that it had soaked the front as well. His face was bloodless and drawn in agony, his breath rasping and arduous.
As sobs began to shake her shoulders she reached out and pulled his limp body onto her lap, holding him against her chest, pressing her cheek against his. She gasped and fought to maintain consciousness through the excruciating pain that gripped her and made her body spasm. She felt as if the breath were being drawn out of her lungs by a hungry and greedy mouth, but as if she suckled a starving babe, she welcomed the demanding suffocation.
Swallowing thickly through the pain, she smiled against him, willing her body to relinquish her last breath to her lover. She felt the warmth of her chi draining from her until she slumped down wearily over him feeling desperately weak and nauseous. But the Valar would not allow the last spark of her life to pass from her, and still Legolas' breathing continued to slow, growing ever more wheezing and labored. Her mortal human body did not have enough to give him. Still he left her and she could not even follow at his side.
A tortured cry ripped from her very soul and she leaned her head back and let it burst forth from her lips into the early day, piercing all who heard it with her pain. Wracking sobs bubbled afterwards in choking succession.
Shu Lien leaned over again and kissed Legolas' face once, then again and again. Kissing eyes, nose, cheeks, lips that were salty and wet from her flowing tears. His features slowly relaxed expressionless. His breath now barely moved his chest in its lightness. She felt the release of his pain.
She felt the coldness wash over her: his fëa was departing to the Halls of Mandos.
A cool white hand reached under her chin and lifted it up. Shu Lien's distraught eyes met with the silvery gaze of an Elf Lady. Hair of spun gold, face of porcelain, glowing radiantly, glowing dangerously. She was a star in the sky, beautiful, eternal, ethereal, incomprehensible.
"Sister. Accept my embrace." Her voice spoke the Quenya as soft as the rolling clouds, as delicate as the dawn. "Take my hand. Come to me, come to the Light. Your path will lead you elsewhere. This is what calls you. Let it take you... "
Shu Lien was so tired. So very tired. She no longer had the will to resist. She leaned back ripping at her tunic to get below to the purse at her waist. Tearing it asunder with the satisfying rip of the cotton cloth, her hand thrust in to draw out the hard, smooth form of a ring. It warmed in her hand. Her eyes focused on its mithril form, clear gems arranged to form a sparkling star which glowed gently - enticing, inviting. Her empty, hollow eyes focused on Legolas' form, his head lolling over her thigh, his chest rising no more. And she slipped the ring onto her finger. Everything fell away.
The horrifying vision of her lifeless lover was replaced by the face of that Elf Lady. Luminous, shining, powerful, impersonal. A cool hand ran over her tear and filth stained cheek. She leaned over ever so slowly and brought her lips to touch Shu Lien's forehead. As soon as their soft silkiness made contact it was if a star had lit in her third eye. A light radiated from the point claimed by the lady's lips and flared with a blinding flash, hot and burning. Shu Lien clenched her teeth from crying out as her body incinerated in the ensuing fire.
Blackness.
At Gimli's cry, Falmalinnar had turned to see Shu Lien with the ring, moving slowly to place it on her hand while Gimli looked on in horror. With a final thrust into the Uruk before him, Falmalinnar sprinted towards her. Shu Lien's head lolled back as her face contorted in agony, teeth grinding audibly, and then she fell over Legolas' motionless form.
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