Chapter Fifteen: Of Flame and Fury

*Legolas shifted as he applied more gentle pressure upon Serein’s lips. For a time she stood perfectly still, not knowing what to make of the situation. But soon her defenses caved as Legolas’ sweet lips intoxicated her. Slowly and very unsure, she tilted her head and allowed Legolas’ soft lips to take their course. Ever so carefully, she responded to his delicate kisses.

Legolas’ head swam as he saw stars. She was not only allowing him to kiss her, but she was responding and driving him mad. Her velvety lips tasted of sweet wine and he relished in bliss as she attempted to taste him. His skin burned with an icy warmth, and he felt flushed and short of breath. Never before had he dared dream such an angel would allow him to be so close and intimate with her.

They broke apart from lack of air, and the heavy silence filled the small clearing. Not a sound could be heard, only their breaths as they gasped for the life gas they needed. Very slowly, as he regained his breath, Legolas drew Serein in closer to him. He laid a kiss upon her temple, and then trailed small butterfly kisses down her jaw line. When he reached her mouth, he stopped, teasing her lips with a light brush. Then he kissed her delicate ear and backed away.

Serein could still feel every place his soft lips had touched her skin, branding her with his fiery desire. He had been so gentle, and what made it more amazing was the fact that she knew he was stronger and that he had chosen not to exert that force.

“Serein?” He breathed, afraid she would turn and slap him for his actions.

“Hmm?” She was still reeling with the events of only seconds ago.

“Are you angry with me for my actions?”

“No… I do not think so.” She replied, still slightly dazed. But she was coming around. “Legolas, why?”

“You had to ask the hardest question for me to answer. Why? I honestly do not know myself.”

“But you must have some idea?”

“Ever since I first saw you I have felt some attraction to you. But lately, you seem more… I couldn’t help myself.”

“But you are my friend?” She asked confused.

“Yes. Unless you are so angered with my actions that you decide you do not wish me to be around…”

“No!” She cried. He looked up in surprise and she blushed. “I don’t think I could continue on here without you helping me. It’s just that… I’m very confused. I honestly do not know what to make of all that has just happened between us. One minute I was furious at you, the next we were joking and teasing again, and the next we were kissing. What am I to think?”

“Whatever you want. Stop trying to think through things for a change. You never give in to your emotions any more.”

“Isn’t that part of being an elf? Having the ability to switch your feelings on and off at the drop of a hat?”

“Yes, but Serein, when you’re with me, you shouldn’t have to switch anything off or on. It should come naturally because we are friends.”

“Are we friends?” She asked casually.

“The truth?”

“No, lie to me.” She smirked slightly, even under their pressing conditions.

“Serein, for me, friendship isn’t enough anymore. I have tried to tell myself to be patient, to wait and let you come around, but I do believe I’ve lost my dignity and any footing I had in that kiss.”

“What are you saying?”

“I want to be more than friends. And I have for some time. But I will not do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Legolas. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think, or to feel. I’ve gotten my emotions so twisted and contorted that I cannot even decipher my feelings for you. I believe in my heart that I feel something more than friendship for you. But I cannot give in to it just yet.”

“Serein…”

“No, hear me out, I have my reasons. Legolas, we are here in Haze to fight a losing battle against orcs. Tell me what would happen if one of us were to die on the field of battle? Or what happens when the battles are over? Then what? You will need to go back to Mirkwood, and I am needed here in my kingdom. We have too many obligations tearing us apart. I am afraid we would only get hurt. More than anything I do not wish for my heart to be broken again.”

“I know, I know. I too have thought of all of those possibilities. But I am to a point where I no longer care. You’ve bewitched me.” He smiled and caressed her cheek with his hand. She leaned into his touch and savored the feeling.

“I have bewitched you?” She gave a small laugh. “You should not say such things.” She pulled away from his hand. “You should not say such things, for they will only end up hurting you.”

“Why are you so bitter of love?”

“Love?” She questioned. His eyes too, widened in the realization of what he had only just said. “Please Legolas, don’t love me. Please. It would never work…”

“I know. But I cannot stop what already lies within my heart Serein. I do love you.”

“Legolas… we should be getting back. We need to be ready for tomorrow’s training sessions.” She changed the subject, wanting to avoid the topic at hand.

“Very well.” He agreed, knowing she was not ready to accept what they both knew lay in her heart as well. He rose and offered her his hand, which she accepted after a brief hesitation.

They walked back in a comfortable silence, each glad to be left alone with their own thoughts. When they finally reached the palace, Serein showed Legolas to a room where he could rest, and then she walked toward her old room, hopeful to get some sleep.

As she entered her room, she found everything exactly as she had left it. Sighing, she changed out of her muddy training clothes and into her thin, light blue nightdress. But sleep did not come to her as she had hoped. Instead, she turned to watch the stars in the sky. But the clouds had made that impossible. Suddenly she felt crowded. It was hard to breath. The room was too small. She had to get out… get to safety.

Legolas had just relaxed on his bed when a knock came to his door. He stood and opened it, expecting it to be an elf informing him of the orcs advancing. What he found instead surprised him.

“Legolas.” The whisper was barely audible. He drank in the sight of her. She was ghostly pale, and her thin and shimmering nightdress was not doing much to keep her warm in the freezing temperatures of the night.

“Serein? Serein, what’s wrong?”

“Legolas… I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“Everything.” She breathed. He watched as a lone tear trickled down her cheek. His heart broke. He stepped forward and encircled his arms around her, holding her tightly.

“Do not be afraid. I will protect you.” He reassured her over and over. She looked up and held his gaze. She raised her hand to caress his cheek. Then she traced his jaw with one of her fingers. Trailing it down, she ran it over his lips.

He tried to protest, but she silenced him with a chaste kiss. His mind clouded and his heart pounded. Then she buried her head into his chest once more and held onto him, as if he would disappear if she did not hold on tightly enough.

“Hold me.” She requested.

“Of course. I will always be here.”

“Legolas…” She muttered into his chest.

“Come. Let me take you back to your bed.” He insisted.

“No. I wish to stay with you. Just hold me.” She looked up and when their gazes met, he hoped he would have the willpower to deny her. Kissing her with more passion than before, he sparked a fire. She responded with her own pent up passion and locked her mouth over his. In a dizzying attempt to out-do each other, they kissed harder and harder. His hands roamed freely about her lithe form, and her made their way up and under his tunic. Legolas pulled her into the room and nudged the door closed behind him. He was losing his grasp on reality.

Moving her over towards the bed, he lay her down gently and cradled her in his arms. Looking at her in her state, his breath caught. He had no willpower left to deny her with.

“Are you sure?” He blew gently into her sensitive ear. She nodded.

“Just hold me.” He nodded, unable to speak.

>>>)(<<<

Morning came and the sunlight slowly streamed in through the windows. First it lit the foot of the bed, and then, moving up, it caught the sensitive eyes of one elf. Slowly peeking her eyes open, Serein looked around. Where was she that she felt so warm and safe? Looking down, she saw her appearance was not in the interest of modesty, and that there was a pair of strong arms around her waist. Ever so slightly shifting, Serein could make out the sleeping form of Legolas.

She smiled slightly. Last night had been the most wonderful night of her life. Never had she known or experienced such thrilling passion and pleasure. And Legolas had been so careful and gentle with her. He truly loved her, she knew.

“Good morning.” His husky, deep voice brought her back to reality.

“Good morning yourself.” She replied, still in her languid state. He bent his neck and nuzzled hers, whispering things only a lover might say all the while. “You know Legolas,” She groaned. “If you do not stop there, I will never be able to get out of this bed.”

“The stay in it, by all means.” He smirked. The his smirk melted away and he looked grim.

“What? What is the matter lover?” She asked him, a light frown playing across her sweet features. What could possibly be troubling him so? Had she not satisfied him last night? Was she suddenly undesirable? Or was it that he simply cared for her no more?

“Lover.” He repeated. “Serein, why did you come to me last night? Was it simply to forget your fears?”

“Yes.” She answered, still in fear that he would reject her. He sighed and sat up, rubbing his temples as if he were getting a headache. “Legolas.” He looked at her, his once loving smile now harried and distraught. “I came to you to forget my fears because you are the only one I trust, the only one I know, and the only one I care for. Please don’t leave me now because of my weakness.”

“Leave you? Never. But Serein, you do not love me?”

“I still fear the future if I tell you the truth.”

“And yet you fear me leaving you? Serein! This is your future! You and I, waking up every morning, bathing in the warm sun. Laying in each other’s arms until we have need to rise, and even then not being separated for more than a few hours at a time. Serein, this is what we could be.”

“And what of our duties? Or of death?”

“Death? There will be no death. The orcs will not kill either of us; I know this in my heart. As for the duties, we will work something out. Love always finds a way, or haven’t you heard that?”

“I have heard it, yet I have never seen it come to pass.” She replied.

“Then you shall observe it with us.” He grasped her hands and brought them to his lips. “Serein, please. I love you.”

Her heart melted at his words. He was so sure of his convictions, so sincere with all of his love and compassion. She wished more than anything to be able to spend her eternity with him. She loved with beyond the shadow of a doubt. Only her fear was keeping her back from telling him. To hell with that fear. They could deal with that bridge as they came to cross it.

“Legolas.” She began. “I…care…for you a great deal.”

“But is that all?”

“No. But Legolas, I just cannot give in now… not when I’ve only just come home and…”

“And you’re too proud to give in to your own feelings.” He watched a frown spread wide across her lips and darken her face till it was shaded with hurt and rejection.

“I am a very proud person, this is true.” She paused and took a deep and labored breath. “And now because of my pride you will discard me.” A tear spilled, followed by another, and another. Then she forced herself to stop crying. “Do as you will then. I do not care. Only know that I would die for you.”

“Serein, my Serein. Do not speak of such things. I will not leave you! Please never think that again! And I would rather die and see you live happily than have you die for me. Oh Serein… please don’t cry” He gathered her up in his arms and held her close to him. She could feel his strong heartbeat and the rhythm of his steady breathing. She desired to be closer. So close that their bodies melded to a point where they became one. But a knock on the door ended that hope.

“Legolas?” Called a voice through the door.

“It is your nephew Lakner.” Legolas murmured, sensing her fear of being caught. Her pride was still intact.

“I should hide…”

“Don’t bother. He knows.”

“Knows what?” She demanded.

“That I love you.”

“You told my nephew you loved me before you told me?” She accused him.

“I was asking him for advice! And it turned out he was in the same mess with another girl.” He explained.

“You are a horrible person!” She hissed at him and threw a pillow his way.

“Hey!” He growled, seeing the beginning of her fowl mood coming on.

“Legolas?” Lakner called once more. Legolas stood and pulled on his pants.

“Wait, what are you going to do? Legolas? Legolas?” Serein asked.

“I’m wounding your pride. Lover.” He answered solemnly. Once he had his pants on, Legolas reached for his tunic and opened the door. Serein gave a short yelp and dove for the sheets, hoping to at least cover her self for the sake of decency.

Lakner opened his eyes to quite a sight. Legolas stood grinning madly before him, pants on and tunic in his hand. In the bed behind him, however, sat the real wonder. His aunt, the Queen of Haze, Serein, was blushing furiously and wearing nothing more than a thin bed sheet hastily wrapped around her for modesty. Lakner diverted his eyes, but kept a knowing smile about his thin lips.

“Good morning Lakner. Can my lover and I help you?” Legolas knew Serein was cringing behind him. She was going to kill him for this later…

“Legolas!” She cried. She could not believe he had said that, and to her own nephew no less! He was going to get it right now! She stood; making sure the sheet was firmly wrapped about her. “That is it. I hate you! And I don’t care at all. Thank you for being a distraction. As of now, this is your dismissal from Haze. If you haven’t left by mid-day, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll have you executed!” She yelled, storming out the door and down the hall towards her room. She slammed the door with a heavy clang.

“I think I made her angry again.” Legolas smirked. He knew she didn’t truly hate him. And he knew he had wounded her pride greatly. Well, he was going to teach her that pride wasn’t everything, and that no decent relationship could survive without some hint of humility.

“What happened between you two?” Lakner asked deftly. He had seen Serein splotched and spiteful face as she had screamed in her rage and embarrassment.

“She fell on top of me last night while I was on my walk.”

“She fell? On top of you?”

“She slipped out of the tree she had been in and I caught her. One thing led to another, and we ended up here in bed.”

“So then you have told her you love her? And she pushed you away?”

“She did not at first, but after she had realized the full consequences of our actions, she did. And she had valid reasons. But most of it is her damned pride. She needs a lesson in humility.”

“And I suppose that was it? Well, I simple came to inform you, however, that the training groups are ready for today’s lessons. When you two didn’t show up this morning, people almost panicked, saying you had carried her away, or that an orc had shot you both last night. Lathner, Minder and I have tried to cool the hot-heads down, but they are edgy in any case.”

“That is only natural. They have been without a true leader for so long that they fear what could happen to their new strong leader, for then where would they be but back to square one.”

“Of course.”

“Let me get Serein, and we will join you momentarily. Tell the groups to just wait.” Legolas told him. Then he turned and walked down the hall towards Serein’s room. Opening the door, he had to laugh at the scene before him.

On the bed she lay, sleeping peacefully, wrapped in the blue silken sheet that had come from his bed. She had not even changed before she had given into exhaustion. Stepping up to her and shaking her awake, he smiled at her when she glared.

“How could you humiliate me such as you did? And my own nephew, barely even over one hundred years old! Legolas!” She cried, tears falling down her cheeks.

“I am truly sorry my dear. But your arrogance will only end up destroying your life if you do not harness it. Besides, your nephew is much like you in that he will keep the secrets of his close friends well guarded. I have no fear that he will tell anyone of this, especially when he saw that it upset you so.”

“You are truly a hateful man. I wish never to see you again!” She cried.

“Of course. And after the orc attack I will leave, if you truly desire me to.”

“I do.” She spat.

“Only know this: you asked me before if I was going to leave you, and I said no. Now you ask me to leave you, and I say yes. I will do anything you desire of me, because I still love you. If only you weren’t so proud, maybe you could let me in.” He let a moment of silence pass, then spoke again. “Come, the trainees await us.”

“Very well.” She choked a whisper. “Let me dress and we shall begin the second day of training.”

“Very well.” He stood impassively.

“Well? Aren’t you going to leave?” She asked.

“Why? I’ve seen…”

“Nothing, and you will never see anything if you do not leave now.” She ordered him sternly. He smirked slightly at her discomfort, but did as she asked and left the room. But his was not deterred, no far from it; he was not going to leave her heart. *