Notes: Special thanks to everyone who sent me het scenes *lol* You helped me quite a lot. As always, I would also like to thank Orchyd Constyne for her continuous help with my Elvish. Hannon le, meldis. Also, thanks to everyone who stuck with this story ... I know I'm terrible at updating. But this chapter was really special to me, so I wanted it to be perfect (or as close to perfection as possible *grin*).

Translation of Elvish: Peredhel - half-elven. Melin chen - I love you. Melethen - my love. Inquista (Quenya) - please. Nín anoriel - my sun-maiden. Meldir - friend. Aye - yes. Meleth - love. Echado veleth enni - make love to me. Pen-velui - lovely one. Goheno nin - forgive me.

Chapter 17 - Tonight

On the balcony, Glorfindel chuckled lowly at the angry glare his mate bestowed upon him. Insane elf indeed. But then was neither the time nor the place to chide the blond. So Elrohir resorted to something he had picked up from Erestor; he glared at his companion. However, when Haldir spoke the words he himself had heard all those years ago, tears wet his eyes, blurring his vision.

Memories of that night in Lórien, when their souls had become one, appeared before his inner eye. His own sadness that their bonding had to happen in secret, and Glorfindel's attempts to lift his spirit. And then, after the ceremony, the gift the Balrog Slayer had given him. That night, Elrohir had taken the proud Elda for the first time; had made him his own.

One glance at the blond told him that Glorfindel's thoughts had taken a similar direction. Lifting a shaking hand, he gently caressed the peredhel's face. "Melin chen, Elrohir." Words as soft as a summer night's breeze. A promise of eternal love was in the azure pools, and Elrohir could do nothing but throw himself into the arms of the taller elf. Holding on to his beloved tightly, Glorfindel whispered, "Let us leave them to their love. Tonight, we will celebrate ours, like we did that night in Lórien..."

---

Haldir was shaking like a leaf when he lowered the precious creature in his arms to the soft bedding. All his fears of rejection had left... One word, such a tiny word, and it had turned his world upside down. She would be his. His bride. How could he have ever doubted her? Galadriel's words echoed in his mind, words that spoke of endless love and happiness. A smile lit his features, making his eyes shine like sapphires.

"This is no dream, Éowyn." Lowering his head to hers, he took her lips in a loving kiss. "Can you feel this? This is no dream. I am here, as are you, melethen. The nightmare is over." When their lips met again, the tenderness slowly gave way to the burning fire inside Haldir, a fire that had threatened to consume him in the weeks they had been apart.

A jolt of pleasure raced through Éowyn's body at the first touch of Haldir's tongue to her own. They slid together, mimicking things that would follow. This thought made her moan into the kiss, and tears began to fall upon her cheeks. Her arms wrapped around the elf's neck, drawing him closer.

It was not by his own will that Haldir finally drew away from Éowyn, but his lungs were screaming for air. The sight of his sun-maiden was almost enough to undo him. Her eyes had darkened, and her lips were begging to be kissed anew. And her smile ... something he had so sorely missed. Gentle fingers caressed her lips, her cheeks, her forehead. "Melin chen, Éowyn. For all times."

Éowyn raised a trembling hand to her beloved's face, returning his touch. Then her fingers ventured to his chin, his neck and finally met with the clasps of his tunic. She could feel his heartbeat under her palm, strong and so very much alive. "Haldir," she murmured breathlessly.

Slowly Haldir sat up, drawing the human maiden with him. His hand covered hers as their eyes locked. "Inquista. I need to feel your touch, need to know that I am not dreaming. That you are really here with me, willing to spend eternity with me..."

Arching an eyebrow, Éowyn questioned, "Did you not just say yourself that this was no dream? But I think I'll comply with your wishes, this once..." Her smile lit the room, and, setting a leisurely pace that was bound to drive Haldir crazy, she began to undo the clasps and finally pushed the tunic from the elf's broad shoulders. With a wicked gleam in her eyes that made the Galadhel shudder she leaned forward and kissed, licked and nibbled a fiery trail from his right ear to his left nipple where she proceeded to abuse the small nub.

Haldir's right hand was buried in golden locks while he tried to steady himself with his left. "Éowyn," he moaned, indigo eyes closing in bliss. "Melethen ... inquista," he continued to plead for more of Éowyn's touch, more of her torturous exploring. When her hand covered his crotch, he arched into the contact, his head thrown backwards.

Chuckling lowly, Éowyn kissed a path down Haldir's marble chest while deft fingers made short work of the lacings of the elf's leggings. When her lips finally reached his navel, she began to circle the small indentation with the tip of her tongue. Haldir seemed to enjoy her ministrations if his desperate moans were anything to go by. Smaller and smaller the circles got, but the moment the elf's breathing turned to pants, she pulled away. "Why Haldir, you seem to be short of breath all of a sudden. Are you quite well? Or should I fetch Lord Elrond?" The moment those words had left her lips; she knew one thing for certain. She had spent too much time with the Balrog Slayer and his lover.

It took Haldir a moment to process what he had just heard, then he gazed at his love in surprise. "If you mention any swellings or headaches now, I will start to wonder just who it is I am with at the moment."

Éowyn chuckled again and dropped her gaze to the bulge in Haldir's pants. "But you seem to have a rather nasty swelling there... Would you not like me to take care of it?" With that, she pushed the fabric apart and drew out the elf's engorged member. Swiping her tongue quickly over the purple head, she whispered, "And this seems to be aching as well..."

Haldir was beyond words, especially when Éowyn swallowed him whole. The feeling of wet heat around his flesh, the caresses Éowyn's tongue bestowed upon almost the entire shaft... Burying his hands in her golden locks, he started to moan continuously.

One small hand closed around the base of Haldir's arousal, the other freed the testicles nestled beneath it. Rolling them gently, she increased the suction and soon felt the telltale shivers running through the elf's frame. Raising her eyes, she had to stop for a moment to catch her breath. Had he ever looked more enticing? His eyes were closed and a smile played around his half-open lips. He was panting heavily, and every beat of his heart resounded through his entire body. Unbidden tears clouded Éowyn's vision, and she blinked them away angrily.

She hadn't intended to scrape the large vein with her teeth when lowering her head again, and the additional stimulation proved too much for the elf. With Éowyn's name on his lips he spent himself in her throat. She swallowed all of the precious fluid, her eyes now locked with his.

He was smiling, really smiling, when he finally came down from the height of his own climax, and drew her up and into his arms. "Melin chen, nín anoriel. My one and only true love." Only a few months ago, he would have turned crimson in shame at the mere thought of saying these words. But now... So much had changed. Hearing her soft chuckle, he kissed the top of her golden head. "Do not even think it. I know, that was very unlike Haughty Haldir, was it not?" Laughing, the two lovers tumbled down onto the soft mattress.

---

Vilya was glittering in the light of the moon, and Thranduil halted his movement for a moment to gaze at the ring. Ereinion, his friend and one-time lover... He had intended it for him, right from the beginning. Still, he could not hate Elrond for acting the way he had. The Sinda still did not know where Elrond's apparent hatred for him was grounded, but he would find it out. Tonight. And who knew the Lord of Imladris better than his trusted advisor?

Raising his hand again, Thranduil was knocking on the door of Erestor's study. It opened only moments later to reveal a smiling Noldo. "How may I serve you tonight, my Lord?" Erestor chuckled and continued, "What brings you here, meldir?"

---

Gentle fingers were undoing the lacings of her dress, and soft lips rained butterfly kisses over her face. "Haldir," it was hardly more than a whisper and still expressed all the feelings that were swirling inside her. Love, need, desire, fear, hope, and the desperate wish to be once more joined with the one who had claimed her heart. Could it be that it had been only a few months since they had first come together as lovers; since they met? His face was etched upon her soul, and once again she shook her head mentally for ever believing Aragorn could give her this ... this all encompassing love.

The dress fell away to reveal her white skin, and Haldir's eyes twinkled dangerously as he leaned down to softly caress one small breast. He would make her beg for mercy before the night was out, and he set out to copy her actions from earlier. Teasing one nipple to hardness, his fingers closed around the other.

Éowyn whimpered, drawing Haldir's head even closer to her. "Aye," she sobbed, and, "Inquista".

Chuckling, Haldir drew back and, raising a delicate eyebrow, asked, "Please? Please what?" Éowyn's glare only made him laugh harder. When he was calm once more, the March Warden asked again, "Please what, meleth?"

His hands were once again working their magic, and Éowyn could do nothing but moan. Drawing a deep breath, she pleaded with her lover, "Haldir, echado veleth enni..."

Time stood still for a moment, as Haldir forced back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Slowly pushing the dress off her hips, and then doing the same with his breeches, Haldir covered her small body with his own. Kissing a path from her cheek to her ear, he whispered, "With pleasure, pen-velui."

---

Thranduil sat in a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace, studying the profile of the usually so quiet and stern Noldo. Erestor's eyes were wet with tears as he related things to the blond that had happened almost an age before. "He thought he was in love with Gil-galad. And when you two began your short affair, he believed that you had stolen the King from him. He already hated you for the friendship you shared, but when you began to share your bodies... He loathed you."

The Woodland elf stared at his companion. Both he and Ereinion had always known that they were not intended for one another. But in a time of growing fear and doubt, they had given each other warmth and comfort. Only once had they truly become one, and that night had marked the end of their physical relationship. They had found that their love, strong as it was, resembled that of siblings and not lovers. Soon afterwards, Thranduil had been betrothed to Serinde and Ereinion had found his soul mate in her.

"When you then enabled him to bond with your wife... Elrond was livid. Though he never dared to speak about his feelings in front of the King. He thought you would use her to control Gil-galad. And no matter how I tried, I could not make him see the truth." Erestor signed and caught the silvery gaze of the blond. "Do you remember that night? The bonding ceremony? Elrond got drunk afterwards. And..."

Tears spilled over the high cheekbones, and still he smiled. "I was walking in the moonlight when he appeared before me. He ... he kissed me. Undressed me... Made love to me on the soft grass. In the morning, he was gone. I do not think he remembered... But I did. For thousands of years, I held on to that memory. And it was enough. I know he believed me to be the High King, called me by his name. But it still would have been enough to last me through all the Ages of the world."

The smile grew, as Erestor continued, "It was Arwen and the Twins who finally brought us together. I shall be forever grateful to them."

"He does not deserve you, Erestor..." Thranduil stood and walked over to the advisor. Drawing him up, he embraced him. "Still, I am happy that finally you have him whom you desired since the first day you beheld him..."

Neither heard the door close behind a robe-clad form. But they heard the soft whisper, "I thought it was but a dream. Had I only known...Goheno nin, Erestor."

---

Long legs were wrapped around his hips as Haldir pushed inside. Hot velvet surrounded his shaft, and he began to shake anew. Éowyn was touching his cheeks, oh so gently. Her eyes shone with love, as she began to roll her hips. The movement made him sink even deeper into her, until he believed that not only his member was buried within her, but his whole being. Clinging onto the last shred of self-control, Haldir leaned down and took Éowyn's lips in a heated kiss.

Their tongues were still sliding together as he drew out, only to push in again a moment later. Éowyn's hands had dropped to the elf's broad shoulders, holding onto him as if afraid that he would disappear. It had been weeks since they had been this close; the night before the attack. No, she wouldn't think of that now. Not when Haldir was with her, holding her as she was holding him, close to her heart.

Soon, Haldir had established a slow but steady rhythm that was enough to drive them crazy, but not sufficient to make them reach their ultimate goal. His head rested in the crook of Éowyn's neck, and he bestowed sweet little kisses and licks to the soft skin. Éowyn's breathing grew more and more erratic, and before long she began to plead for more. But Haldir would not comply. Not yet. No matter how much he wanted to simply slam into her, to drive into that pliant body beneath his.

It was torture for both of them, this slow slide in and out; and soon, Éowyn had enough. Remembering one of the most sensitive zones of the elf, she drew Haldir's head towards hers. Covering his lips with her own, she trust her tongue inside the moist cavern of his mouth. Tracing every small crease, every tooth, she finally engaged his tongue in a duel. Already his movements picked up speed, but still it wasn't enough.

Her right hand slowly moved along his neck and finally reached its destination. Touching only with her fingertips, she began to caress the tip of his pointy ear. A growl erupted from deep within the elf, and she swallowed it eagerly.

Haldir drew back and gazed down at the vixen underneath him. His hips had begun to snap back and forth of their own volition, and he could do nothing more than submit to their desires. His eyes filled with tears when a spent himself inside her with a harsh groan. He could feel the contractions around him and knew that Éowyn had followed him into ecstasy.

Collapsing on top of her soft body, he felt arms wrap around him. "I will never let you go again. Never. You are mine, Haldir of Lórien."

They lay, still connected, bestowing gentle touches upon each other. They were together again, their love had survived the test of the Valar. Haldir's last thought before oblivion claimed him, was that eternity was waiting for them... The white shore of a distant land.

---

Thranduil sat in the dark, gazing up at the moon. He had left Elrond and Erestor some hours ago. And, for the first time in his life, the proud peredhel had embraced him. At first, he had been too startled, but then he had returned the embrace. Not for the sake of Ereinion, Erestor or Celebrían, but for Elrond and himself. He, too, had hated ... had deemed the other beneath him. But no more. He had made the same mistakes as Oropher, but unlike his father, he would set things right.

Chuckling, he remembered meeting Glorfindel and Elrohir on his way back to his own quarters. The younger son of Elrond had pinned the Balrog Slayer to the wall next to the door to their rooms, intend on sucking the blond's lungs out. Thranduil had fled the moment he had seen just where Elrohir's hand was...

Now he wondered if his son's relationship with the King of Gondor was as passionate as that of the insane elf and Elrohir. Well, he would have to find it out.

---

The sparrow sat on its branch in front of Haldir and Éowyn's window again, trying to sleep. It had been over an hour since the two occupants of the room had fallen silent, but now strange noises were coming from two other windows. Spreading its wings, it flew away. It would seek out all its friends and they would make such a racket in the morning that the big folk would think twice next time...