Chapter 13: Vertebral Column

Thranduil rubbed at his aching stomach, annoyed it was bothering him again and that it made him curtly dismiss his council without explanation. Of course his advisors were not clueless, most would have noticed or had been made aware over the last few years that their King was often unwell, not just moody. Unsettled, the Elvenking sighed in resignation as he slowly made his way towards his rooms, knowing that sooner or later he would have to answer the letter from Elrond as well in which the half-elf enquired if the rumours of him wanting to sail soon would be true. He would not be up for that today either however and hoped that at least Galion would not annoy him tonight with trying to make him eat something. Dropping all of his emotionless pretences as he entered the privacy of his living quarters, he tossed his flowers adorned wooden crown haphazardly onto the floor and paused to lean on the wall, close his eyes and ride out the cramp that has taken hold of his midsection for the umpteenth time in the afternoon, allowing himself to moan since nobody would hear him.

"You lied to me." The accusation came from a slightly hoarse voice, who's owner was sitting by his desk, her hand letting go of the Thranduil's sketch she had been studying, representing her.

"Tauriel!" Thranduil jumped and regretted straightening right away, it hurt. "How did you get in here!"

She only had to blink into the direction of Ilyrana's open door to make the other understand. Tauriel would know of the late Queen's secret passageways. "I am glad you remember such details," Thranduil wallowed.

"I also remember you telling me not to worry because you were feeling better and could handle detachment," Tauriel would not let the issue go.

"How else could I have made you follow through with what needed done! Besides, I was feeling better. It is only because I wasn't sure I would ever see you again that I have allowed myself to deteriorate."

"You speak as if your health would be completely under your control, which it obviously isn't," Tauriel chastised, taking the initiative to step round him and offer her support, "didn't you want to get into bed?"

"Hm." Dazed, Thranduil gave his permission and let her manoeuvre him to his original destination and gently into horizontal. To have her here, it could be amazing, but he should not jump to conclusions just yet, he had to hear her out. "Why have you come back?" He could not wait any longer for answers.

Tauriel shook her head and slid a hand under his tunic, rubbing his belly a little before getting to work and sending that healing force forth and soothing his pain, the same as he had been accustomed to when she had been around in the past. She could not heal him completely yet however, that could only be done with the hopefully the right words that could pass between them. "I came back because even as far as in Enedwaith I hear people whispering that Eryn Galen's King is sick!"

"Nan Belain, Aear a Geil!" Thranduil expressed his frustration. That was the wrong reason to come back for. "So we're back to square one," he disheartened.

"Ce uchand," Tauriel countered fleetly, casually, playfully then froze, eyes widening. Her hand went to her mouth as if to gag herself.

"Using that expression doesn't help convince me that you know who you are. You're still mixed-up!" He ran his fingers across his forehead, pressing, frustrated.

"Not at all. Thranduil, My King, I am both. I had to come to terms with it but now I know that I can be nothing else but both. And both love you. By now I came to think of myself as one again, an integrated version of me you should come to know now," she accentuated her meaning with a nod and a tentative reach towards his hand. She wasn't sure if she could or should act on the urge as she wasn't sure of her standing with him at the moment.

Thranduil however, was at the end of his tether. Of being noble and permitting, of pain and loneliness, of patience, torment and forbearance. He had sent her away to find herself and now she had told him she did and he had no reason he could think of to doubt her. This was it, didn't he finally deserve some happiness? There was a moment of hesitation, but it was only to reign in his feelings, resolve to kiss her and show some restraint rather than swipe her into his arms and claim her without asking right there and then. Not that she presented any objections. The velvety touch of her lips felt liberating, and the explosion of the senses translated into meaning. While the first brush was fleeting, it signified everything. They were united how they should have always been. His body filled with purpose, and love and well-being came with it, though at this moment any thoughts of testing his stomach ailments or even thinking of them were the furthest from his mind. It felt like the world was ending and coming into existence at the same time.

He went for a second kiss, deeper, more ardent this time, sweet like honey and engulfing him like a spell with joy and wonderment with a startling force like nothing else existed. It made him weak with desire, his insides shaking with want and it was at that point that he put his arms around her and swept her up to lie with him on the bed. The kiss was followed by another and then another, each exploring, testing boundaries and distant memories and a feel that was new. The fact that their relationship had this fresh side filled him with exhilaration and a newfound appreciation for life and the discovery propelled him forward, breaths becoming irregular with need as he moved his lips down her neck to graze and a hand to the straps of her attire.

Tauriel seemed to shiver under him, anticipation filling her every pore to the brim to the point of explosion. She had waited so long for this on that quest of self-discovery of hers, on the quasi banishment he had foolishly sent her on, imagined and dug in Ilyrana's memories to envisage this moment, knowing the reality would be much sweeter. They pulled back for a moment to smile at each other in unison, the sweet rewards of the fulfilled dream worth every ounce of the suffering that let them there. Then Tauriel's unruly mischief (or was it Ilyrana's, it would be so typical) started a spark in her eyes and she rubbed a thigh sensually against his groins, letting him know how aware she was of the bulge aching for attention there. Her knee was even more resourceful, rubbing up higher and hooking itself into his breeches, then pulling it down to set his straining erection free. She looked down with an appreciative groan, anxious to have him fill her and complete her, eyes begging at the member as if it could have responded on its own.

Thankfully on the same wavelength, he utilised his long fingers to pull her pants down. Given the months long delay, or centuries, depending on the viewpoint, foreplay was not an option, nor further exploration for establishing familiarity or intimacy. Both were a given. He entered her and finally, their world made sense.

The End