Promise
By Laura aka Anieni

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Contact Email: anieni@gmail.com

Beta Name: None

Rating: R

Main Characters: Melpomaen/Arwen

Written For: Nuinzilien

Original Request: Melpomaen/Arwen; Nothing really required except a happy ending

Word Count: 3029

Summary: Melpomaen made a promise to Arwen to always be there for her when they were elflings. He always wished he could do more than be there for her and when fate gives him that chance he keeps true to his promise. Arwen on the other hand never intended to let him catch her, if he did it was not her first choice but realizes sometimes fates knows better.

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It was a chilly morning with mist swirling about his feet as he walked the familiar paths of the forest where he had spent most of his life. The same trees the same sounds yet this morning was entirely different, there would never be another morning like this one, nor would he want to go through this experience a second time. The horse he was guiding by the reigns softly nudged him bringing him back to the present time. He turned to check on her and saw her sad face and her unfocused gaze; he knew he was not the only one lost in memories. He caressed the horses nose acknowledging his concern, the animal could also sense her sadness, her reluctance to leave this land and all those who still dwelled here, those whom they might never see again, squaring his shoulders Melpomaen continued to lead the horse, after a few more steps he was lost in memories again.

~~~~~

It was the same forest, the same path, but the trees were younger, the sunlight filtered through the leaves and created ever changing patterns on the soft ground, small birds were feeding off the seeds that littered the glade, a soft breeze carried the scent of flowers, it was a magical moment, a perfect moment, the ones that we wish could be trapped forever in time. Suddenly the laughter of small children and stomping little feet approaching was heard, the fluttering of wings as the birds flew to the top of the trees and the sound of leaves crushed underfoot filled the glade.

A small hand reached for her and almost grasped the fabric of her dress. “I got you!” He said just as she dodged and slipped through the trees.

“Never! You will never catch me!” She ran between the trees laughing and he continued to give chase laughing as well.

“Someday I will”

Looking back over her shoulder she smiled mischievously. “I am faster!” Never seeing the roots protruding from the ground her foot caught on it and she fell, barely having time to save herself from landing on her face by throwing her hands in front of her.

“I got you:” He said smiling and offering a hand to help her up.

Her beautiful eyes filled with tears as she examined the scrapes on her palms and the blood that started the fill the small cuts. Yet she was a princess even at such a young age and she would not cry, with effort she tried to hide her tears and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “Only because I fell.” She said pouting.

He sat next to her and held her hands in his. “Are you OK?”

Trying her best not to cry she nodded.

“Does it hurt much?”

She stared at her bloodied hands and then sat up. She gingerly lifted her skirt and examined her knees; they were also scrapped and bloodied.

“You landed hard! It must hurt, let me help you.” She nodded again and looked at him with tear filled eyes.

“It is OK to cry Arwen; if it hurts it is all right to cry.”

“I am my father’s daughter; I am supposed to be strong.”

He held her hand “I cry too when it hurts.”

“You do?” She asked as the first tears fell.

“Of course I do, we all do, I am sure even your father does.” He wiped a tear and left a smudge on her perfect skin. “You an always cry with me, I will always be here for you, you know that, and if you want we will keep it a secret.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

~~~~~

It hadn’t been the last time she had cried on his shoulder, it had actually been the first of many over the long, long years in the life on an elf. Yet as he glanced back at her he knew the most difficult time was yet to come. She had not shed a tear as they left Imladris, she had not even said a word as he had helped her mount the horse but he knew she was hurting, he could see it in her eyes, in the tension of her body as she sat atop her horse and stared ahead with a blank expression on her beautiful face.

It has not been a coincidence that Elrond had appointed him to be her companion on this her last trip in Middle Earth, the Lord of Imladris knew they had always been close, even more he knew he had always loved her and it was his hope that once they reached Valinor he would be able to help her mend her heart and go on living, even to eventually find happiness, just as he had helped her all of their lives.

The rest of the journey to the Grey Havens was a blur to her, there were times when she thought she could see ghosts in the mist, images of what could have been but would never be beckoning to her to turn back and face a different future, an unknown one filled with promises of hope but also despair. The only certainty she had was the string hand that held hers when they stopped to rest, helped her up onto her horse and led him, helped her into the ship and down into her cabin, he made sure she ate and talked to her even when she did not respond or acknowledge his presence. When they finally reached their destination Arwen could not see the beauty of the land she would now call home, her heart was filled with sadness and her eyes focused on a distant land and a life that would never be.

Melpomaen did not look forward to the day when they would arrive and he would have to turn his charge over to the care of her mother. He knew it was his duty, he knew she would be safe and would be comforted by seeing Celebrian again, but he also knew she needed him, just as much as he needed her. He was surprised to find arrangements had been made so he would live just a short distance from them, he was also grateful and relieved.

The reunion between mother and daughter had been a bittersweet one, Celebrian embraced her daughter and shed tears, Arwen held her in her arms and closed her eyes, there were no tears, just an infinite sadness.

He waited for as long as he could before going to see her, he knew they had to talk, catch up, become used to being together again but more than anything else he knew Arwen needed to cry and start healing.

When he showed up she was ready to leave, waiting for him by the door with her cloak around her shoulders. “You took too long.”

He reached for her hand; she held on to him and started walking “I thought you needed to be with your mother. I apologize.”

“Lets walk. I need fresh air.” She said as they started down the well tended path.

They walked for a while in silence until their wandering led them to the beach. They both stopped when the path ended at the top of a small hill that sloped down towards a small bay where beautiful rock formations on both end gave a sense of privacy and seclusion, turquoise waters stretched out as far as they could see and small gentle waves crowned with soft white foam reached the golden sand flowing to the eternal rhythm of life.

“It is beautiful, but I still miss the forest.” Arwen said.

He observed the water and breathed in the salty air. “I do too; we will have to find ourselves a nice glade on our next excursion.”

“That would be nice. One with evergreens I think.”

He spread his cloak on the sand and they sat together in companionable silence for a few minutes.

He knew he could do nothing but wait, Arwen had always had her own way of doing things. After a few more minutes he felt her soft small hand reach for his, instinctively he turned around to embrace her and she buried her face in his chest. At first there was nothing, then small sobs and warm tears started wetting his tunic, then it was as if a flood gate had opened, wrecking sobs shook her body, warm tears soaked his shirt, he held her, caressed her hair and face, soothed her with soft words and rocked her as if she were an elfling. It seemed to go on forever. Arwen was grieving, cleansing her soul, letting go of all that hurt.

Exhausted she collapsed against him and he held her, cuddled her in his arms and wiped her tears with a silken handkerchief. When she fell asleep in his arms he also cried, he cried for her, for her pain, for those she loved and knew lost, he cried and watched her sleep. Then carried her back home. It became a ritual, for weeks and months he would go with her and be the strength she needed to go through her grieving, he took her to glades, gardens, beaches, anywhere she wanted to go, until the crying became less and less, the sadness gave way to tentative smiles and eventually laughter.

As they walked hand in hand one evening on their way back from the small bay towards her house she stopped. Looking into his eyes she smiled. “Thank you.”

He knew no explanation was needed, those two simple words conveyed it all.

“I am just keeping my promise.”

Arwen was immediately transported back home and to the memory of two elflings sitting on a sun filled glade, one with scrapped hands and knees the other making a life long promise.

“Promise me something else.”

“Anything you wish.”

“Stay with me forever.”

“I do not need to promise that Arwen; you know I will.”

“Promise then you will love me forever.”

“I always have, I promise I always will.”

She frowned, unsure of herself for the first time, her lips opened as if to say something, she hesitated for a second, then looked up and met his eyes.

He searched those blue depths for what he had always wanted, he saw her lower her eyes and blush, a smile curved his lips and his hands cupped her face lifting it so she could see him. Time froze as they looked into each other’s soul.

“I will always love you, I will always be with you, I will keep you safe and will be your strength when you need me, I am and always have been yours.” He caressed her cheek and traced her lips with his finger; his lips touched hers softly as a butterfly’s wings.

Arwen closed her eyes and threw her arms around his neck, she held on to him as if her life depended on it, he held her close and enjoy the feeling of her closeness, the soft curves of her body molding on to his, the fragrance of her hair enveloped him and made him feel drunk with pleasure.

For a long time they just stood there, enjoying the safety of each other’s embrace, the closeness of one’s love.

Days faded into weeks and months again but this time there were not tears, no sadness, no grieving. Their courtship was unhurried, comfortable in the knowledge that it had the strength of a life time together, the promise of the future.

On her begetting day he prepared a special outing. He had found the glade he had promised, evergreens as large as life, birds and butterflies enjoying the sunlight filtering through the trees, pine needles carpeting the forest floor and the fresh scent of them surrounded them as they sat on a blanket sharing a glass of wine and a bite of cheese from the picnic basket he had brought.

Laying down and looking up at the canopy of the trees above her and the pattern of light that filtered through Arwen sighed. “This is perfect.”

“To me you are perfect.” Melpomaen said caressing her cheek.

“You are infatuated and blinded by it.”

His hand traced her perfect lips and the contour of her face, then tucked a tray strand of hair behind her ear. “Perhaps, but I think I like being blinded.”

“That is silly!”

“Silly is to think I am infatuated, when I speak of love.”

She got serious, reached for his face and pulled him closer to her. “Then love me.”

Those were words he did not need to hear twice, words he had waited for his entire life. When their lips met this time it was not with the soft caress of a butterfly’s wings, it was with the passion of hungry lovers, with the yearning of unfulfilled promises.

His lips crushed hers and she opened to him, he explored the sweetness of her mouth and felt a pang of desire in the pit of his stomach, he felt himself stir and year for more. Her soft moans encouraged him. Arwen’s eyes reflected his desire when he looked at her. She pressed her body against his and lifted her hips to his wantonly. With a smile he showered her face with kisses, nibbled on the sensitive curve of her neck and the tip of hear ear, caressed her waist and moved her hand to fondle her breast and stroke her nipple through the fabric of her gown.

“Please.” She begged in a throaty voice he had never before heard.

He felt himself grow hard, his leggings confining him uncomfortably when her hand reached between them and ran up and down his length. “Please.” She repeated more urgently. With a groan he plundered her mouth, pinning her to the floor with his weight. If she asked him again he would simply lift her skirts and do as she bid, but he wanted more, he wanted to taste all of her, to feel all of her, there would only be one first time. Harnessing his passion he released her lips and sat up. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

“My impatient Arwen, always my impatient Arwen.”

She smiled at him seductively. Reached for him but he pulled back. Sitting in front of her he undid the lacing on her dress, her hands immediately tried to help him but he pushed them down and shook his head no. She pouted but let him do what he wanted. Their eyes met and both smiled. His fingers caressed her skin as he undid the dress and pushed it off her shoulders and down to her waist, leaving trails of fire on her skin. A soft breeze blew and her nipples hardened, his hands cupped her breasts and his lips followed, Arwen’s back arched and she moaned, gently he pushed her down onto the blanket again and asked her to lift her hips so he could slide the gown down her legs, always caressing her as he pulled the fabric down, his lips following the path his hands had already traveled. When she lay naked on the blanket with her glorious hair spread around her he paused to look at her, marveled at her beauty. Wanted her and loved her more than ever.

“Please!” She asked reaching up to him. He shook his head and stood up to undo the lacing on his leggings, lifted his tunic over his head and tossed it on the ground. Arwen tried to sit up to help but a look from him stopped her.

“Not this time.” He said as he sat down next to her, still wearing his unlaced pants. He kissed her like he had never kissed her before, with a hunger and a passion they had never felt before. Arwen felt like her core was molten fire, there was a need in her she knew only he would be able to fill, she needed him now and he was teasing her. He was lying on top of her, nibbling her neck and fondling her breast when she decided it had been enough, she wanted him and she wanted him now.

Wrapping her legs around his hips she ground herself against him, then buried her face in his neck and bit him, not hard enough to draw blood but enough to startle him, then she pushed him and rolled over to be on top.

“I asked nicely, I said please, now I will take what I want.”

He smiled and lifted his hips so she could take his pants off, he was ready for her, he wanted it as bad as she did, but he wanted to see that in her, to be sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Passion soon took over and it was no longer the time to consider who wanted what more or who was in control, their bodies knew exactly what was needed and instincts and not reason ruled now.

Naked skin met naked skin, mouths searched and found new ways to give and take pleasure, moans filled the otherwise silent glade. When he finally entered her she screamed his name and clung to him leaving marks on his shoulders, he was gentle when it was needed, careful not to hurt her, then they rode wave after wave of pleasure until they reached the highest peaks and their world was reduced to the feeling of one another.

Later when they lay in each others arms wrapped in the blanket and enjoying the aftermath of their love making they exchanged vows, vows that would last an eternity.