A liaison in the Great Greenwood

Chapter 20

The Woodland Halls: Rooms of Healing.

"I saw everything..." It rippled itself through her mind over and over like a distant echo. Her heart sunk into her chest like stone and she couldn't help but stare up at him embarrassed, frightened and bewildered. She felt the wave of heat flow over again, making her wince from it's suffering. 

"Everything....?" Her breath was heavy and strained. 

He nodded simply as he crushed the last herb into the concoction, stirring it as he then turned to her. 

"Think on it not now dear Adlanniel." He said gently as he assisted her to sit once more, though she cowered slightly from him, frightened of what he must now think of her and her lust for his affections. 

"Do not worry yourself..." He lifted the cup tenderly to her lips, their eyes fixated on each other.  

"I am glad...." 

She choked slightly on the aromatic liquid when he spoke those words, her eyes widening. 

He laughed softly at her then as he rubbed her back, laying her back down after she had drunk the concoction in its entirety. She opened her lips to speak, but not a word would escape. She felt her face flush red, to which he smiled down at her and stroked her cheek with affection. His soft touch upon her skin was instantly soothing, and she felt hypnotised by his gaze. 

"Sleep now, and think not of it for now." He said soothingly....His heart aching for her. 

Her eyes began to feel heavy, the dark clouds of slumber began to roll in. "Not now...not yet..." She begged in thought, wanting to continue to gaze into the Elvenking's beautiful eyes. But she could not resist it, for it overtook her like a flood breaking through the banks of a river. Was it the concoction that had made her sleep, or the Elvenking's magic? Perhaps a mixture of both?

Gently he brushed the tuft of raven hair that had fallen onto her face away when her head had slumped to the side in slumber. 

Continuing to gaze down at Adlanniel, admiring the young elleth's immense beauty, he remembered her...his beloved lost one...oh how Adlanniel was an image of her, like a reflection in a mirror though ever more ethereal. Despite his better judgements...how could he possible resist this divine creature that slept before him?; 'She' was there again with him.... 

Resisting his urges he allowed himself but one thing in that moment as he leant down to her. 

He could taste the sweet concoction still clinging to her lips as he kissed her. His body burned with fire as he caressed her sleeping face, not wanting to arise from this feeling. 

Alas, he had to rise from his amorous temptations; allowing himself to linger too long would be unwise he had thought. Stroking her cheek softly once more he arose from her bed, turning to look back upon her sleeping grace as he exited the room. 

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Her eyes stung from deep sleep as they flickered open. Her head, still feeling heavy, swam with thoughts and the memories of her dreams; dreams of both being with her adored Legolas and his father, her beloved Elvenking. Her heart weighed heavy then with the guilt and sorrow she felt for loving one immensely yet desiring desperately the other. How could this have happened to her? How could she have allowed it? Yet Thranduil possessed something, something that she could not yet understand, that drew her to him like a moth to a flame. She too knew that he wanted her...but why? 

"My lady, you're awake!" Came a surprised voice from the corner of the room. Adlanniel snapped her head to face the voice in surprise, not having realised the she was not alone.