VIL:

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I walk the paths... the same ones again. Though I feel, even if I know the way, that I discover it every time. I do not have memory so active. I can't remember but a couple days ago... It seems that walking alone is all that has come for my life.

Stiffness presses against my feet that have hardened for being bare all this time. The rough concrete under my toes bends as I step. The air so soft, yet so cold, wraps around my fingers and makes my sleeves act as a flag in the breeze. My knees push cotton forward and I let my toes escape from under the white fabric to catch the stone again.

I wear a dress that I pulled from my wardrobe this morning... beautiful white gown with a laced up torso and loose, flowing long sleeves. It has golden trim and a baggy amber rope belt to match. It is a dress that could have been worn for a fancier purpose... for something I wished I could have had before I never had it.

I am up high now, perhaps the highest platform in the city. I sit on a bench overlooking the valley. It is afternoon I believe. Though I skipped lunch. Nin would have killed me but I got to eat breakfast.

Just when I think I am alone I feel my hair move.

I would have flinched if I had my normal reactions back... but I sit there.

"So who are you to marry?" Niniliath asks.

I smile just a hint but not with my eyes. She refers to the dress of course. But I don't answer. Nothing I can think of wouldn't make me cry.

"So I saw you last night... with the king." There is a smile in her voice.

"And?" I ask plainly.

"Oh nothing..." she jokes and tightens a few locks of hair.

"You know I can elbow you back there."

"You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?"

She chuckles. "You're so strange."

"Not to my origin or people."

"Really?"

I put my hand behind my head to thump her but she pulls her face back, the locks of hair she is holding getting tighter.

I huff and sit still again, shaking my head.

"Can I say something?" she asks.

"I don't know," I joke.

But she wraps her arms tightly around me from behind, laughing in an embrace. "I'm really glad you're still alive."

"Aww how sweet," I joke.

She gasps.

I laugh, the first one in a while, and then hesitate, clutching her soft elven hands with my rough ones. "And I too am glad that my best friend is still here..."

After a few seconds she sits me up straight again. "Okay stay still."

I obey and stare out at the sunbeams that shine down through the thick black clouds. The mountains seem to be still scary... though the light highlights a small area, making the beautiful golden trees appear for a brief moment.

When her hands finally rest on my shoulders I move my head.

"Now you look fit for a wedding," she chuckles.

I frown and touch the back of my head. All I can feel is an elaborate do of locks pinned into little, tight metal beads.  

"Here," she says and hands me a small mirror. She is holding one up behind me. I clutch it into the small piece of glass and direct it up to see into the one behind me.

It's mainly one gathering of hair from the top of my head down into a tiny ponytail pinned to my hair, and then two more locks are taken from either side and pinned to it in one place about four inches down, then two more the same another four inches. There are two locks in a tiny bead on either side of my head that pull the front of my hair back, under the do. The rest of it covers my back and shoulders down under the locks in a flowing white spread of wavy strands.

I smile and put down the mirror.

"You look stunning," she smiles showing her dimples.

"Thanks to you," I chuckle.

"You have a beautiful head of hair though. Mine is pretty enough but it doesn't want to stay in braids. Too shiny and stubborn."

I smile and notice the perfect fishtail braid part of her hair is back in.

I get up from the bench and walk over to the edge of the overlook, letting the wind blow back my hair off my shoulders. I look down below at the river that seems so small from here. The green valley that it cuts through looks dim.

"The mountains are quiet," Nin says as she approaches me to stand at my side.

"The clouds are weeping to south," I say look back where beams of light are misty through the dark backdrop. Rain falls heavy and I can almost hear it from miles away because the hills are so still.

"Do you think it's raining back home?" she asks.

"Perhaps. We do tend to get a lot of clouds east."

"I used to love playing out in it as a child. The other elves thought it was silly. But I believed it to be relaxing and joyous."

"I did the same actually. It seemed that it was the only clean water we could get. Some of the women in one of my neighborhoods would go out when it was pouring buckets and strip naked in an abandoned area to bathe that way. Said it saved them water."

"Interesting. I assume you would get it heavier where you lived. Here in the forest the trees take it all," she chuckles.

"Not too often did we receive rain. It a baron world..."

"The old world you told me about sounded so exciting."

"It used to be... a thousand years ago..." Memories of what I saw in the history books come back as I think, looking down at my fingers that fiddle with each other on the stone. I wish it was like it was back in the nineteenth century, inventions came forth daily and the people from my country moved to the New World west. I could have sailed there, in a silk dress over a corset, the skirt with drapes so perfect. But it is different now. And I can't change that... or at least I don't think I can.

Nin and I talk there in the balcony area until it is time for supper. We head down the stairs and to dining hall to eat. I sit with her and notice Gimli with a few other dwarves. I wonder why he is still here. Are any of his close kin injured?

He isn't the only one I recognize that day. Aragorn is here as well. With Arwen I believe. I think they are planning on marriage perhaps after he is crowned king in the white halls of Minas Tirith.

She has already given up her immortality to have a human life with him and raise a family. I am not sure how the government works here but I think she will rule at his side as queen.

The evening goes by normally. Some of the others have begun to talk again. They even laugh. I don't see Éowyn or Théoden. It would be best to let them be. At nightfall I finally see Thranduil down here. Where had he been all day?

No matter. I talk with Nin who visits with the other elves and soon people head to their chambers for sleep.

Until it is just the Mirkwood king and I here. But I am looking out over the view in thought. What thought I cannot pinpoint.

I feel his hand touch my shoulder. "Get some sleep, little flower," says the deep but gentle voice.

I turn around and look up at his eyes that have a new sparkle in them, a genuine happiness suddenly deep beneath his gaze.

I smile and wrap my arms around his waist with a head at his chest for a hug. "Goodnight Thranduil."

His hand touches the top of my back and the other rests on my head. He places a gentle kiss on my hair. "Sleep well dear one."

I don't want to leave his embrace, feeling like a child without their parent, but I do. And we head opposite directions.

I walk to my chamber here and open the wooden door, shutting it behind me. I don't want to mess up what Nin did with my hair so I don't undo it. I took a bath early this morning and didn't do any moving to make myself dirty at all.

I look at myself in the mirror and remember what my mother used to tell me about the women in the old days would do for beauty. High heels, plucking their eyebrows, shaving, waxing, surgery, piercings, hair dying... the list goes on.

But ever since the start of the year 3800 no one cared. Those who would not survive were killed. Those who were rich were murdered for their belongings. And those who were poor were ignored.

Not like here. People look out for each other. We proved that when we stood together to face the evil of Mordor.

As thoughts run through my head I stop. I notice something. My satchel from Mirkwood is missing.

I had left it in the prince's chamber.

I sigh and leave my room. My feet hop on the white wood steps until I cross the circular platform where the common folk eat just to the left. I run up more stairs and look for the right door in the moonlight.

My eyes go to sky and I notice it is clear... completely clear. There are even stars visible, and many of them. I can hear the different insects miles down making tiny sounds and the wind blow through the trees on the hilltops. I can hear the waterfall at the end of the valley as it slaps against rocks below.

I breathe in the cool fresh air, filling my lungs with the smell of trees and close water.

If I could stand here with this view... with these sounds of utter peace forever... I would.

But I turn and walk up the steps that are blue in the dim light. I almost trip over my dress that flows behind me in the breeze, the skirt that almost reaches my heel already.

But I stride up the stone walkway until I reach the wooden door and wrap my fingers on the handle, hesitating. I am not sure if the king is in here sleeping so I need to be quiet. I press it down silently and push open the door...

But I feel my stomach leap when I find the room empty... and his bed vacant.

There are no thoughts but my eyes widen when I notice.

And then I look up...

My heart finds its pieces and assembles in the pit of my chest. Shock runs through my body and I am frozen. I can't move. My fingers begin to tremble. Thoughts leave my brain completely. I stand as stone, like I am a statue, as the wind still moves my hair and gown.

I feel my heart beat again, and so loud I hear nothing else. Life spreads over my bones and fills my flesh with uplifting joy.

There just ahead of me is a figure on the open balcony, his hands on the railing as he looks out at the hills. This person has a slim build-only compared to huge guys like Éomer and the man from Laketown I met-but muscular, with broad shoulders and long legs. He wears a silver Rivendell tunic and grey trousers. He is barefoot and has his hair back in a fishtail braid with those two tiny braids looped behind his ears. Golden shiny locks lie on his back, not quite as long as his father's but pretty close, with lonely strands getting picked up by the breeze.

I can't feel any muscle in my body. I feel like fainting... but at the same time I have never felt so alive with my senses.

The door shuts behind me from the wind with a thud.

His head turns suddenly. And when his eyes find mine and I go numb. All that exists in this world are his eyes... and they pierce my soul, reviving my veins with pure joy and sending my mind through a rollercoaster of excited and confused feelings.

He appears to mirror my expression but seems to be innocent, as if he just woke up from a nap.

I don't know if he speaks or even if I do. All I know is that I am bolting to him at full speed, lunging into his arms and letting him take me into his embrace.

My limbs feel around his ribs and hard muscles as I pull him so tight to me that a hair would no fit between us. I feel myself begin to choke as I shed tears onto his clothes.

I feel his fingers cling to my opposite side and his other hand at the opposite shoulder, my body completely wrapped in him.

Salty water drips down onto his tunic from my eyes as I feel his nose on my shoulder. But these are not tears of sadness. They are ones of overwhelmed emotions and perhaps even happiness.

For a long moment he holds me tight there. The feeling of his flesh around me brings so much delight to my bones as I feel alive again.

He doesn't speak and neither do I. Though this moment expresses so many different thoughts and feelings that we both share. And he seems to know what I have been going through with this one embrace.

I find my voice but it only moans quietly.

"Shhh," he whispers like he did back in Edoras when I woke up from a nightmare. He strokes the back of my head gently.

"You were dead..." I wheeze.

"I would never leave you, my love. Not even if death wishes to have me."

I clutch onto him tighter and bury my face in his clothes. "I can't live this life without you... I missed you," I choke out with strain.

I feel his lips on my hair under my ear as he holds my head against him. "I missed you too, a'maelamin," his smooth, but almost shaky voice responds. (my beloved)

"You can't do that to me again."

"Never. I promise," he whispers in my collarbone.

I shed more tears as I feel his breath on my skin.

We stay this way for a while, holding each other in silence as I finally stop crying.

"I... didn't actually die right?" he asks in concern after a few moments.

I frown and pull back to look into his eyes.

He has his eyebrows pulled together and looking up at me.

"No why?"

"Just wanted to make sure death has not parted us?" he winks and makes a teasing smile.

I let my lips spread to show my teeth, the first genuine grin I have had since the moment I married him on that battle field.

He looks down and hides a smile... but it doesn't work. He starts to laugh.

"What?" I smile.

"I don't know," he replies.

I laugh. It seems the lightest mood we have ever been in. I think we both realize we bring that out in each other no matter what the circumstances.

"This is crazy," I murmur.

"What is?" he smiles.

"I'm married." I frown.

He chuckles, showing his perfect teeth.

"I never imagined myself married... I mean... What next? Kids?"

He lifts his eyebrows. "We can wait for those..."

I laugh. "Oh and don't forget about that dog."

He laughs and looks down. But then back up at me from under his brows. "You remembered?"

"I will always remember the details about you... well until I get old and lose my head."

He smiles but I can see his cheeks turn rosy. "You have not told me the simplest thing as to your favorite color."

"Umm... maybe like a dark teal..." I look into his eyes as my voice trails off. They focus on the iris around the black center as he squints slightly, like what he does when he smiles. "...blue..."

His expression barely changes but I close my eyes and let my nose touch his as both his hands hold my head gently. "And why is that, dear?"

"Many reasons," I smile. "But it is the color I will remember you by... and what other one could I love after that reason; that it's in your eyes?"

He doesn't respond but shows his affection by wrapping his lips around mine slowly, feeling the glaze of his mouth cold against mine and the tender touch of his soft flesh.

I clutch the collar of his tunic, holding him close to me. I feel my back arch forward as I tilt my head to the side, pressing against his lips again with another kiss. I part from him and feel my face show sadness. "I don't know what I would do if you..." I bite my lip. "I love you." I open my eyes to look in his as his expression shows concern. The corners of his lips that bulge out just so slightly as they linger. I shut my eyes again. "I love you so much," I press my mouth against his and wrap my arms around his neck.

Though that only lasts a second as I feel him grip around me as his lips press against my neck. He picks me up and spins me around, the two of us laughing as he does. "Oh darling you could never love me as much as I love you," he says.

"Okay now you're just being competitive. I had the last line."

He laughs.

So do I, louder than he for a reason I know not of.

His hands grip my waist, his thumbs there against my hips. "Am I not allowed to say you look beautiful in that dress?"

"Nope," I laugh, biting my lip. I try to keep a smile off me but fail as I come in to kiss him again. He leans forward as his lips adjust on mine.

I walk forward as he walks back, until his heel is against the side of his bed.

His hand touches the skin at my collarbone and wraps around under my dress a little as he strokes the top of my back.

My fingers find the button of his tunic and they slip the loop of string off the white bead.

His lips brush against the skin below my ear as I undo the next one. His other hand moves up my back softly.

My hand touches the smooth skin on his chest as his fingers unfasten the buttons on the back of my dress. I slip out another one of his until his shirt is open and one of his arms has already slipped from the sleeve. I notice his biceps flex as his hand comes back to hold my head. His torso so tight that I can make out almost a six pack but very subtle.

My own fingers find the buttons of my dress and unclip them as he sits on the sheets and sits with his back against the pillows.

I let my dress slip to the floor showing only my lace bra and pants. Though I should feel embarrassed to be so bare. I should be scared... but we are one. And I am not frightened, only happy. I love him. He is my other half.

I step onto the bed and crawl over to him where he smiles slightly at me, in my eyes. I sit on his lap and wrap my hands around his neck, bending down to lay him a gentle kiss.

His fingers find my bare skin around my waist, holding my breath to his touch.

My hand goes down to his stomach where I feel a long lump of dry skin. I frown and look down at the scar from the orc blade that ran across his abdomen.

I cringe and he notices my discomfort.

"Vil," he mutters.

I look up at his big innocent eyes.

"Are you frightened?" he whispers.

"No it was just your scar-I..."

He pulls my face in to where our noses touch. "I'm okay, Vil. It's okay... it's okay... I'm here now..."

I realize how much I appreciate that he is here. How much I appreciate the fact that I did not lose him. How much my heart lusts for him always. And how he is here with me now... how much I truly and unquestionably love him with ever fiber of my being.

He leans up just enough to kiss me softly once more.

My hands come up on the skin of his chest as he pulls my hair behind my ear.

He sits up as my hands wrap under his arms and grip the muscles of his back.

His lips press against mine again, his fingers holding the curve of my back close to him, my chest almost touching his.

An energy surges in my veins; a happy one. In this moment nothing else exists.

His hand glides on my bare leg as his mouth moves from my lips to my neck. Though he feels like a cloud, so soft and gentle that I feel fragile. But a finger at my back and I feel a pressure release as my bra is undone.

I fling it aside as he pulls off his grey trousers.

I fall on my back against the mattress, my head at the pillows with him over me. His soft lips touch my neck again and I breathe. My heart pounds in my ears and electricity flows on my skin every time he touches me.

His right hand holds my hip and the other is over my arm, close to my shoulder. I shut my eyes as I feel his soft mouth press against my collarbone. And now I am completely bare, from head to toe and so is he.

This is so crazy isn't it? And all so new to me... I don't think my parents even knew each other at my age and I am already bound in matrimony?

This must be a dream... I don't deserve him. He is too perfect, too good for me.

There is a discomfort that makes me frown at first but then my pulse is felt in my fingertips. I can feel his nose brush mine. His hand pulls up from the sheets by the waist as his lips touch my jaw.

I let out a breath that I realize I had been holding as the feeling of energy and sudden bliss fills my soul and covers my veins in pleasure.

Our hearts beat together as the world around us darkens and the only thing we can feel is each other. I feel heat reach my head and his breath chills my ear.

His hand touches my thigh and I feel my ribs expand with a deep breath through my nose.

My body feels a complete joy run through it and my bones stiffen. I feel hot on the inside but my skin chills with tiny bumps all over. My brain is vacant of any thought whatsoever besides utter bliss as my arms wrap under his and my fingers grip the skin on his hard shoulders.

The sun beams inside my veins and excites my blood as my fingers tremble. I feel his deep breath on my chest that leaves a trail of chills down my spine. I feel his hand on my rib cage, his thumb pressing against my bone as his other palm is planted on the sheets below me.

I feel my heart thump in my chest and I let out I breath that was louder than I intended as soon the sensation ends.

He is beside me on the pillows, his back on the mattress as he breathes heavily.

I do the same, us both trying to keep our lungs caught up with our heart rates.

After a long moment I look over at him, smiling and lacing my fingers with his. I plant a kiss on his cheek and rest my head on his shoulder.

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