Elladan leads me to the stables after we stop by his chambers to fill a bag with extra clothes and undergarments for us to change into after swimming. His smile takes my breath away everytime he looks me and squeezes my hand. He is practically bursting with joy today, happy to be spending time with me alone. I cannot blame him. Just thinking of us being alone together at the waterfalls fills my stomach with butterflies.

He guides me into a large white building, steering me through the many different stalls of horses. Many elves stop and bow to us with bright smiles, happy to see the young lord of Rivendell. Elladan is sweet to them all, taking time to speak with them like they are close friends. I admire him as he does, my heart bursting with pride. I was gifted with the most caring, genuinely kind mate, and I could not be more thankful for him.

Elladan stops in front of a huge, midnight black horse whose muscles ripple with every movement it makes. I recognize him as Elladan's mount Onas. I step closer to my mate in order to run my fingers over the horse's snout. It snorts, nuzzling my hand, and I cannot contain my grin. I plunge my fingers into his mane, laughing brightly as he nudges my shoulder affectionately.

"Onas, you are beautiful," I tell him, and he snorts again, clearly enjoying my praise.

"He is fat and spoiled," Elladan murmurs under his breath, and I turn to grin at him. His shining eyes are already rested upon me.

"He is not! He is absolutely stunning," I reply, still smiling. "I love him."

"Would you rather ride him? I can get a different horse if you-"

"-No, 'Dan! This horse belongs to you. I will choose another," I tell him amusedly.

I kiss Onas on the head tenderly before strolling slowly through the stables, searching for a horse who speaks to my soul. I pass a beautiful white female, another black giant, and several others of all different colors before spotting a gray mare, speckled as if Eru splattered paint upon it when creating the gorgeous creature.

"This one. Who is this?" I ask Elladan quietly, reaching for its snout.

She nuzzles my hand sweetly, and Elladan's hand appears in front of me, stroking the horse as well. His body is warm against my back, and I close my eyes for a moment, relishing in our closeness.

"This is Nymrodel," he says softly, and his voice is right at my ear, sending chills across my skin. "I knew you would choose her."

"And how would you know that?" I ask him with a laugh, glancing to him to see that he is a mere breath away from me.

"I know you," he replies simply, eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Well, apparently you do. I want to ride this one," I reply almost breathlessly, and he presses a kiss to my neck before pulling away.

"Alright, let me get a saddle and-"

"-That won't be necessary. I ride bareback."

He stares at me for a moment, a smile pulling at his lips as he appraises me.

His intense gaze makes me shift awkwardly. "What?"

"'Tis nothing," he says after a moment, and I notice the way his gaze dips down my body, surely wondering how I will ride in this dress.

I guide the horse from the stall, talking to her the entire way. "Hello, Nymrodel. I am Aredhel. I promise to be gentle with you. Lord Elladan and I wish to help you stretch your legs, that is all."

"Are you talking to the horse, Ar?" Elladan asks from in front of me, and he glances back at me with a small smirk.

"Are you teasing me, Elladan?" I sniff, trying to hide my own smile, but my lips break into a grin as he chuckles deeply.

"Of course not, my lady."

I gather the skirts of my dress in one hand and fist the horse's mane in the other, planning to attempt a poor jump onto the large animal, but warm hands encircle my waist. Elladan lifts me onto the large creature, and I try not to concentrate too hard on how much I like the feeling of his large hands on me or the way his skin brushes my exposed leg as he pulls away.

Heat spreads across my cheeks as his warm, grey eyes take in my disheveled appearance from my unbound curls to my exposed legs, but I do not hide from him or from any eyes that may be watching. This is how I rode horses with my family, and I will not change myself to conform to anyone else's opinions.

But Elladan's handsome smile makes me melt when his gaze meets mine. He looks at me as if I have aced some secret test that only he knows about, and my heart swells with pride.

"Shall we go, then?" he asks with a tilt of his head.

I nod bashfully, looking out at our surroundings to escape the power of those eyes.

He swings up onto his horse, and my eyes are drawn back to him as I notice the way he sits so comfortably upon the majestic animal. He and the horse move as one- so effortlessly- like some sort of dance, and for some reason I find myself blushing terribly.

He turns to me, immediately spotting the blush on my face as I turn away from him, but the smile in his voice tells me that he knows exactly where my thoughts were. "Come, Aredhel."

I follow him down the foot trails of Imladris as we head toward the waterfalls. My soul itches to urge Nymrodel into a full run as I eye the wide expanse of pastures that lie to the right of where we are going. While I do wish to swim, I also wish to run free and see just how fast this horse beneath me can go. The way she stirs beneath me, I can tell she feels the same.

So with a grin, I call out, "Faster, Nymrodel!"

And the horse takes off at a speed that would have knocked me off had my fingers not been hidden deep within her thick mane. I lean forward, laughing loudly as I turn and see Elladan's stunned expression. It only lasts a moment before a grin appears on his beautiful features, and he urges Onas to follow.

Of course, with Onas being the larger, more powerful horse, they catch up to us in no time.

I yell to Elladan over the sound of the wind, "You should have seen your face!"

He laughs, looking so heart achingly gorgeous as every burden seems to lift from his soul at once. "I admit you surprised me."

I laugh as well, tipping my head back slightly as we slow down a bit. "I am sure we scared a few elves who were walking the foot trails."

His grin deepens, showing off a dimple that is a rare sight to behold. My heart becomes a little more his. "Oh, I am sure," he states, raising a brow, "A lady should never enjoy such a thing, you know."

His teasing sends butterflies into my stomach. "I enjoyed it thoroughly. If you are looking for a distinguished young lady to spend your time with, I am not her, Elladan. If any of those ellith or their mothers could see me now, they would probably pass out."

We laugh together, bringing our horses to a slow canter, and his gaze is soft as he looks at me. "I would not want you any other way, Aredhel. I mean that with all of my heart."

I bite my lip and look ahead, trying to hide my blush.

"I love that you care not for the opinions of others. I love your carefree and wild spirit," he continues, his voice low and rumbling with emotion.

"Wild spirit?" I giggle, not offended at all, "Am I truly so wild?"

"Compared to the other ladies of Imladris, you are practically a dwarf."

"Elladan!" I shout, laughter overcoming me. "You just called me a dwarf!"

"Riding bareback with your dress pulled up your legs surely is not something I have ever seen another elleth do," he says with a teasing glint in his eyes.

I square my shoulders, cocking an eyebrow. "Any other elleth would not hesitate to show a lord of Rivendell more than just her legs," I reply. "So, I am really not doing anything bad."

He tips his head back, letting out a laugh that I have never heard from him. It is boyish and rich and full of life, and it makes my heart sing with love. "Perhaps you are right," he says, still laughing, "but my sweet Aredhel has no ulterior motives to lead me out to the waterfalls and seduce me. You are simply having fun and being yourself. It makes me happy."

I want to tell him that he thinks too highly of me, for all I can think about is seeing him take off that tunic to swim. All I can think about is how his bare chest will look with water droplets racing down his smooth, pale skin.

"Unless you do have ulterior motives?"

I practically choke, and his laughter echoes around us as we approach the waterfalls and the mountain from which they cascade from.

"I am joking," he says, still laughing at my expense, "Though, if those were your intentions, I would have no objections."

"Elladan, stop talking," I groan, covering my face with one hand.

"I care not for any other female," he continues matter-of-factly, and I can tell that he loves making me blush, "But when it comes to you, I would allow such behavior."

"Elladan, I am not trying to seduce you!" I shriek in embarrassment as we come to a stop, causing him to laugh.

After dismounting, he approaches me. His fingers encircle my wrists, gently pulling my hands away from my face. Our eyes meet, and he studies every inch of my face with a sweet smile pulling at the corner of his lips. His hands fall to my waist, helping me down from the horse, and my dress skirts skim down my legs until they are safely resting against the rocks beneath me. Elladan's hands tighten around my waist for a moment as he searches my eyes, making sure that he did not truly offend me. I offer him a small, shy smile. He brushes a hand across my hot cheek, resting his forehead against mine.

"Happiness suits you," he whispers to me with such loving eyes. "You are shining with beauty."

His nose touches mine, and I run my hands up his chest as he pulls me closer. "You say such sweet things to me," I mumble shyly.

"I tell you how I truly feel, always," he replies.

"You are radiant," I say to him, running my fingertips over his jaw. "I love when you look at me like this. It gives me butterflies in my stomach."

He smiles softly. "How am I looking at you?" he asks so quietly, resting his hands upon my waist.

My eyes search his smoldering grey gaze, and nervous excitement skitters through my veins. "You are looking at me like you want to kiss me," I whisper.

His eyes soften with tenderness. "Would the lady allow me such a privilege?" His hands tighten on my waist slightly.

I nod, and I can barely breathe as I reply, "Yes."

I have longed for this. I have daydreamed of how he would kiss me. I have wanted him to take me in his arms and show me just how he feels for me.

He hesitates for a moment before his soft lips touch mine. I melt into his touch, parting my lips as he does. His kiss is so delicate at first, neither of us really knowing what to do, but we learn quickly, fitting together like puzzle pieces.

He deepens the kiss as his hands trail up my back, pressing me to him completely, and I feel dizzy with emotions. His passion seeps through our bond, and chills run across my skin. My fingers dive into his silky hair that I have always wanted to touch, and I sigh against his lips.

Our lips part, and our gazes touch intimately. His stormy eyes search my expression.

"I have waited for this moment for so long," he whispers emotionally, touching my face as if I am his most valued treasure. "I can hardly believe that this is real- that I have you in my arms, that I am kissing you."

"I can hardly believe it either," I admit shyly under the force of his impassioned eyes. "Being touched by you is like a dream."

He kisses me once more, holding me to him for a long moment before resting his forehead against mine as he breathes deeply. "I love you, Aredhel."

My lip quivers slightly as my eyes become misty. The raw emotion and love in his tone touches my heart. I take his face into my hands, looking deeply into those gorgeous eyes that could talk me into anything. "I love you, Elladan," I tell him for the very first time, meaning every word of it. Tears well up in my eyes at the look on his face. "I love you so much. You have made my life so much brighter."

His dark brows are furrowed as he looks at me so intently. A tear rolls down his cheek, followed by another, and I wipe them away slowly, relishing in the feeling of his skin beneath mine. "You do not understand how it makes me feel to hear you say it," he says, and his voice breaks. "I have felt your love for me through our bond several times, but I could not believe it. I refused to until I heard it from your lips."

"It is scary for me," I begin, breathing deeply, "to open my heart to love after losing everything I have ever loved. But I cannot ignore how you make me feel. I cannot allow fear to hold me back from living. I love you, and I want to be by your side always."

He nods, unable to speak as he embraces me warmly. His chin rests on the top of my head as he tucks me into his arms tightly. "I will take care of you. I will love you with all that I am, Ar. I promise you that."

"I know," I whisper happily against his chest, tightening my arms around him and breathing in his scent.

We stay that way for a long time before he pulls away, giving me a smile.

"I will turn around so that you may get dressed." He releases me, and he turns his back to me as he rumages through his bag, tossing me a pair of riding leggings and one of his tunics.

I quickly undress. Arwen's riding leggings fit me well, but Elladan's tunic is much too large. I laugh after pulling it on. "Elladan, this tunic is much too large for me!"

He turns to me, and he appraises me with a contented smile as if he likes seeing me in his clothes. He reaches for the bottom, tying it so that it will not rise up in the water. "There. That should work."

He sheds his tunic, tossing it onto the bag he brought, and then he offers me his hand with smiling eyes. I slip mine into his nervously, realizing that we are, indeed, very much alone.

"This waterfall is reserved for my family only. It is a perfect place to come when you need privacy," Elladan explains as he leads me to the water.

He suddenly scoops me into his arms, and I shriek as I am tossed into the water. I come up sputtering, and Elladan dives in. He appears beside me with a huge grin, and I swat at his arm. "Elladan!"

He laughs beautifully, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Forgive me. 'Tis tradition."

I cling to his warm body, very aware of his smooth, shirtless chest now that we are alone. "So if this place is private, is the waterfall outside of your chambers open to everyone?"

A faint smirk appears on his lips as he looks at me, and I know that he is very aware of why I am asking such a thing. "Technically, yes, but no one ever enters it. They respect the privacy of my family, knowing that the waterfall lies by the Family Wing of the home. It is especially nice to visit at night when the moon and the stars are out," he hints as his voice drops lower.

"It sounds magical," I respond wistfully, unable to look away from him.

The waterfall hitting the pool sprays us with a mist of water as Elladan strategically places us behind the wall of water, hiding us from possible prying eyes. His eyes seem brighter against the hue of the water around us. His tangled, wet hair almost begs me to run my fingers through it. I reach up, running my fingers over his cheekbones, brushing away the water droplets that rest there. He catches my hand in his, bringing my fingers to his lips as he kisses them chastely, but his eyes hold promises that are anything but chaste.

"I cannot forget the feeling of your lips against mine," he admits heatedly as he releases my hand.

I rest my hands against his chest, itching to touch him- really  touch him- for the first time.

"I dreamt of you last night," he continues as my back touches the edge of the pool, and the cool, smooth surface of the rocks sends chills up my spine. "I admit that I have dreamt of you often since your arrival, but last night was..."

"What was it?" I whisper to him curiously, wanting to hear everything he has to say. I want him to recount the dream to me, detail by detail. I want to see it in my own mind.

"It was like nothing I have ever felt before," he says, his voice a sensual sigh as his forehead touches mine.

"What did we do in this dream?" I ask him innocently, and his lips lift into a smile.

"I kissed you like I would never get to touch you again," he explains, and his gaze drops to my lips for a moment before meeting my eyes again, "And you kissed me back as if you wanted to memorize every part of me."

"'Dan," I breathe, almost panting, as his nose touches mine.

"I could show you exactly what I dreamt, if you want it." His voice sounds unsure and shy.

If you want me. The unspoken question in his tone sends butterflies into my stomach.

His hand cups my jaw, tilting my head up a bit as he waits for my reply.

"Show me, 'Dan," swallowing thickly, heat spreading across my cheeks, I continue, "Show me everything."

And that is all he needs for an answer. His mouth claims mine, gently exploring, and the burst of emotions inside of me is indescribable. I cling to him, melting against every inch of his body.

His touch is so soft and tentative as his hand moves to the back of my neck, and my hands move up his muscled arms, resting on his biceps. The feeling is so new to me, so beautiful. To have the one that I love touching me this way is indescribable.

Our bodies mold together perfectly. His kisses are slow and devastating, tearing apart my mind until I can think of nothing but his skin underneath my hands and his scent that embraces me like a warm winter blanket. His other hand moves up my spine, pressing me against himself until there is no space between us. I shiver against him against my will, eliciting a sigh from his lips. His hand travels to my shoulder, clinging to me for a moment before his fingers sink into my wet hair. He is still gentle with me, but his touch is raw passion and longing. The water around us does nothing to cool down this fire between us.

Our lips part to breathe, and he whispers my name, staring at me with wild, unguarded eyes. "Ar."

"I have never felt like this before," I sigh, my eyes drooping as his fingers caress my cheek and trail down my neck with his gaze closely following the movement.

"Nor I."

I cup the back of his neck, pulling his head to mine and capturing his lips with my own in a deep kiss, and he shudders against me.

With no skill guiding me, just lust, I touch him. My hands run down his chest, relishing every dip and curve of his muscles. My fingers shyly skim over his stomach, his hip bones, and then they travel to his back. He kisses me harder as my name pours from his lips, reverberating through my mouth.

I am trembling in his arms as I run my fingers down his back, touching his spine and memorizing every inch of his skin. His own hands stay glued to my neck and in my hair, and I know that if he were to touch me, he would never be able to reign in his self control. But I want his hands on me. I want it more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life.

He pulls back, panting, and he gazes at me with those grey eyes swimming with lust and love and fire. "We should stop," he tells me breathlessly. Seeing the control slip from his expression just makes me want him more, but reason slips into my mind and I nod.

He holds me close to him still, burying his head in my neck as we both try to calm our breathing and our racing hearts. I want his lips on mine again and his hands running over my skin, and all of the emotions tangled inside of me makes me want to groan.

He sighs deeply, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "I lost control. Forgive me."

I laugh and the sound is a mere breath leaving my nose. "Do not apologize. I enjoyed it thoroughly," I say amusedly.

"It was most inappropriate on my part," he continues. "I never want you to lose the sweet innocence you possess."

I laugh again, running my fingers through his hair. "Maybe I am not as innocent as I always thought. I did not want to stop," I admit lightly.

"I cannot touch you the way you want me to," he says so quietly, and I blush, "Not yet. Not until I learn to control myself."

"I understand," I reply, and my voice is small.

"Feeling that through our bond... knowing that you want my hands on you," he struggles, and I hear him swallow, "Eru, I cannot even think about it right now."

A giddy laugh escapes my lips, and he pulls back to smile at me. "I never knew that I affected you so deeply."

He presses a kiss to my jaw, and my eyes flutter shut. "You are enchanting."

"If Elrohir were here, he would call us shameful," I mutter with a grin.

"And he would be right!" Elladan exclaims with a boyish laugh, pulling me underneath the waterfall with him, and I laugh as well, allowing the water to rush over me and cool me down.

"You make me happy," I say loudly to him over the sound of the rushing water, sending all of my joyous emotions down our bond to him. "I am so thankful for you."

Unable to help himself, he dips his head toward me, capturing my lips once more as the water showers upon us. When our lips part, he whispers softly, "You mean more to me than anyone ever will, Aredhel."

"I wish I could freeze time so that we could stay here forever," I admit after a moment, brushing my lips against his once again.

"We do not need that power," he says with a faint smirk, and his shining eyes make my heart beat faster, "I plan on holding you and kissing you like this for the rest of our lives."

My eyes narrow as I laugh. "I think I like your idea better."

He leans close to kiss me again, and I shove away from him, swimming the opposite direction as I laugh. He follows me seconds later, laughing as well.

"I have to catch you now?" he asks, pursuing me quickly.

"Of course! If you want to kiss me, you have to work for it," I exclaim, shrieking as he lunges at me. He misses by mere inches.

"You were all too willingly just moments ago," he complains. His grey eyes watch me amusedly as I paddle through the water slowly.

"Shh," I hush him, splashing water in his direction.

"You swim so slowly," he laughs, and he catches me by the waist, pulling me against him.

I narrow my eyes at him, trying to not smile. "If your self control is so fragile, you should stop tempting us both like this."

His smiling lips brush mine. "You are right, of course, but I cannot help myself."

"Oi! I knew I would see this," Elrohir shouts, and I turn to see him trudging down the hill.

He rips his tunic off and jumps into the water, sending a large wave over our heads. When he resurfaces, he is grinning. "You two look merry."

I laugh, and Elladan does as well, watching me with shining eyes. "Hmm, I wonder why? Maybe it is because you left us alone for once," I muse.

Elrohir chuckles, splashing me with water. "You know you love me."

"I do. That is why I put up with you."

He raises his brows. "Did you finally get your kiss?" he teases, glancing at his brother for a moment with a smirk.

I roll my eyes. Of course he knows exactly what happened with that bond of theirs. "I did."

He smiles, a real, happy smile as he looks between us. The love and joy must be so evident in our eyes because he looks so proud for us, for his brother. "Good."

"How was training?" I ask him, trying not to focus on Elladan's arm around my waist.

"Brutal, as always," he groans, wiping the water from his face. "Glorfindel was in a particularly horrible mood today. I thought he would chop my head off."

I furrow my eyebrows in worry. "Did something happen? Is he alright?"

Elrohir laughs. "Is he alright? What about me!" he exclaims.

Elladan eases my worries. "He is fine. He gets in moods like that sometimes. It is nothing to worry about."

I nod, still feeling bad for him. Elladan kisses my jaw, making me smile, and I run my fingers through his tangled hair lovingly.

"So," Elrohir drawls, "When is the wedding?"

I splash water at him. "Do not ask such questions," I laugh.

Elladan's nose brushes my cheek as he holds me close, and my heart thunders in my chest. "Elrohir will never leave us alone now," he says mirthfully.

"Of course not," I agree.

"Are you wearing Elladan's clothes now?" Elrohir asks with a laugh.

"Not the whole outfit. Just his tunic. It is very comfortable," I say with a small smirk, "I may steal it."

Elrohir scoffs. "He is now going to give you all of his tunics. It is not as if he wears one around you anyway."

Elladan and I laugh loudly at his words.

We stay at the waterfalls until our stomachs are protesting for lunch. I turn my back to the twins as they change clothes, and then they do the same for me. Elladan lets his brother ride Onas, leaving me to ride with him upon Nymrodel. He lifts me onto the horse, sliding on behind me, and he wraps his warm arms around my waist, burying his fingers into the horse's mane.

"I love you," Elladan whispers to me softly as we follow his brother.

Leaning into him, I glance up at his face, reaching up for his jaw to angle his head toward me. His lips cover mine, caressing my mouth so tenderly and sending goosebumps across my skin. His fingers dive into my wet hair, pulling me closer to him.

Our lips part, both of us smiling breathlessly. I could drown in those grey eyes, I decide as he gazes at me affectionately. His lips touch mine once more, and I melt into his touch. "I love you."

"You two are making me sick to my stomach," Elrohir calls from in front of us, and we laugh.

He sounds pleased though, as if his brother's happiness means the world to him. Elrohir tries to hide his emotions, but he is easy to read most of the time. He loves me, just as he loves his brother, and he is grateful for me for the change I have brought about in Elladan. I am a sister in Elrohir's eyes, and he is my brother.

I smile at the thought.

________________________

A/N: And so they kissed. My heart melted.

Elrohir secretly ships them, but can we blame him?

They are pretty darn cute after all.

xxx