Reunions
When next you came above deck, you were greeted with a spectacular sight: Middle-earth. The sunset behind you had lit it up in such an ethereal yet haunting way. You could see trees covering rolling hills as far as the eye could go. In the great distance stood mountain tops watching your arrival, ready to receive you with grace. You wandered to the very bow of the ship, placing your hands on the smooth wet railing, letting the ocean spray you with its mists. You remembered when last you were here, and you smiled, thinking of happier times. Closing your eyes, your mind drifted back to those memories, and you lived in them for a while. You recalled how your brothers caused nothing but mischief, running around so fast and far your father had no chance of keeping up. You and your mother remained the two stoic figures of the family, letting the chaos run its course, but keeping a peace all your own. You remembered how the sun shone in her light brown locks, and how soft it had been when you pulled a fallen leaf from her curls.
She smiled at you, her twinkling eyes beaming. "Now how did that get there?"
"The wind, mummy!"
"The wind is trying to make a tree out of me? How silly of it!" she poked her tongue out at you and you giggled.
"Maybe it's trying to make a tree out of my brother." you had said, pointing at your mother's heavily pregnant belly.
"Well he has grown as quick as one hasn't he? Soon he will join us in this world. Are you excited to meet him?"
You nodded, grinning. "But how do you know its a boy, mummy?"
"A mother just knows these things." she said with a wink. If only she had truly known. Your mind couldn't help itself, and the memories of your mothers demise resurfaced, as if the body of that craftsman back to haunt you. Your father's business in Pelargir had been cut short by the pain of your mother. A fever had risen within her and threatened her and the baby. You immediately began the journey back to Númenor, where means of treating her would be more fruitful, hoping to reach the shores in time, but alas, that would not come to pass. Your mother succumbed to her fever, her ill health brought on by the baby it seemed, who was in great distress as he left your mother's womb. He almost didn't survive the trip home.
The face of your mother lingered for a moment, as you dwelled on the last time you saw her. You were by her side, holding one of her hands with both of your own. Her skin shimmered with sweat and had lost all colour. The groaning from her was still fresh in your mind, it was pain you didn't wish upon anyone. She raised her free hand to your face, her fingers cold and clammy.
"Perhaps I should have become a tree... then... then... I could withstand this..." she could barely get the words out.
"You will withstand this, mother. You will soon hold my brother in your arms." A tear fell from you then, representing the lie you just told, for you had known help had been too far away.
She attempted a smile. "No... you... you are... you are a tree. I raised you up big and strong. Strong like... the foundations of the earth itself. You will survive this... you will... survive anything."
She began to lose consciousness then, her eyes fading. "Mother!"
"Have faith... in yourself... trust no one else... make your branches tall..." She was clinging onto life. You called for your father and your other brothers, knowing the time was upon them. "Mother no... please... please don't leave me..."
She smiled once more, using the last of her energy to do so, for the next moment the hand that was at your cheek fell limp before you. Her smile faded into death with her...
Your name being spoken brought you out of your torturous reverie, and back to the shores of Middle-earth once more. The ships had begun their ascent up the Anduin. The owner of the voice repeated your name. You breathed in deep, and brushed the fresh tears from your eyes before you turned to him. It seems that fate was making your decision for you, as Halbrand now stood barely metres away, dressed in that glorious armour that suited him so well. He noticed the red in your eyes and made for your position.
"Don't come any closer. Please." you begged him. He obliged you, remaining where he stood, but desperate to close the space between you. A space that seemed greater than the distance between here and Valinor. The two of you just gazed into each others eyes, studying them in great detail, hoping to find glimpses of reconciliation. Eventually, Halbrand spoke.
"There is a darkness in us." He acknowledged, jumping straight to the point. "We cannot deny it any longer. We must face it together, my love. Or... we would give into it."
"Maybe I want to give into it?" you spoke, your words shaking. "That is what scares me. That I want it. And I think that is... what it wants as well. I do not know if I love you because of it... or that it is just something that the darkness did not intend."
Halbrand sighed briefly, letting his eyes close a moment. He slowly moved towards you then, but you held firm, unflinching, facing your fear. He stood before you but did not touch you. Only looked at you, searching your eyes for something. "Whatever the reason, our love exists. And nothing will stand in its way. Come darkness, come light... whichever entity inside of us wins this internal battle... it does not matter. Our love will remain, and I will remain by your side."
"No you won't... you are about to leave me behind... again!" you cried. Halbrand said nothing, for he knew words would not ease either of you of this fact. Instead he just pulled you into him, and you melted like ice within his grasp. Your sobs rang out on the wind, and he just held you. "I'm so scared, Halbrand."
"So am I." he stated with a sniffle, his sorrow overcoming him too. "I know what awaits us on these shores, but I refuse to let it rob us of what we have. I will come back. Just as I promised you in the palace on Númenor." He took your face in his hands and you relished the feeling of his skin upon you. You had missed it so.
"I cannot face this darkness alone. I need you to help me." you pleaded with him.
"And I will, my love. I will. We will unravel our torment yet. This is not over." And for the first time in many sunrises and sunsets, Halbrand slowly let his lips touch with yours. You sighed into him in relief, kissing him back lovingly, wrapping your arms around him. It felt so good to have the sensation of him against your body again, to use your physical form to show him your love. And just as the last rays of sunlight began to sink below the ocean, the two of you retreated to his cabin to sink beneath the sheets.
Halbrand pulled you inside his quarters, and you felt like you were finally home. As necessary as the space between you had been, you knew this was where you belonged. As he kissed you, you ran your hands over the cold intricate metal that covered his body so flatteringly. This material would bring your love back to you. As you felt Halbrand undo the clasps on your dress, you started to giggle as a realisation hit you.
"What?" he spoke, very curious about what you might be finding funny.
"I'm sorry I just- I don't think I know how to remove your armour."
Suddenly, you were both laughing, and the room was filled with it. You had missed the sound of his laughter very much.
"Let me do the honours." he said, letting his chuckles begin to ease. You took a step back and watched him remove the protective steel and place it on the floor across the room. All that remained was his burgundy gambeson and leather pants, which, after soaking up the sight, you removed skilfully. You almost didn't want to take off those pants though, he looked so delicious in them. Halbrand pulled off your dress, letting it fall to the floor, then he scooped you up in his arms, carrying you the remaining steps to his bed. He lay you down gently and took his place beside you, gazing at you peacefully. The momentum of your passion slowed but you did not mind. After so many days not being close, there were bound to be moments like this when the world around you stopped.
His fingertips grazed your forehead as he brushed your hair behind your ear. He let those same fingertips slowly continue down your form, following an invisible line from your shoulder, across your arm, onto your thigh, and then back up again. It was so soothing just lying there letting him touch you wherever his hand went. It was as if he was committing you to memory. He traced circles all over your chest and belly, and you hummed while he did so. After a time spent lost in his touch and his eyes, Halbrand smiled at you and pressed his lips to your ear, and a whisper of sweet nothings caught you off guard: "Would you like to scream again?" Your arousal was instant, and you ached for him like never before. "Yes." you breathed.
"Then promise me one thing."
You didn't answer him, you only waited.
"You mustn't take your eyes off mine. No matter what." You nodded, your body growing hot with anticipation. You felt his fingertips glide along your skin once more, heading south, reaching your womanhood. Once there, his movements were slow and light. He was barely touching you but it was making you quiver all the same. Taking his time, keeping the slow pace, you felt him graze up and down the length of your pussy, making all new lines on your body. You felt your hips start to buck up at him in response, your body twitching. He continued on this path for what felt like days, for it caught you off guard when he finally let his fingers slide between your folds. You gasped and your eyes darted down to watch him work.
The second you did this, Halbrand removed himself from you. You all but whimpered in disappointment. "Ah ah ah what did I say?" he teased.
"’Don't take your eyes off mine.’"
"That's right." commanded your king, and you obeyed this time. He restarted his movements, making you wait to get back to where he had been before. You stared into his hazel eyes and felt everything he did. His fingers glided easily back between your wetness, and he stayed there a while, enjoying the feel of you. Eventually, he found a spot he really liked: your clit. Using a single digit, he continuously touched, tapped, and flicked it. And despite your rising cries, you somehow managed to keep your eyes open and fixed on his. Halbrand did nothing else but play with your clit and watch you writhe beside him. You begged him to move himself inside you, but he refused. You even attempted in vain to move his hand lower, to force him to penetrate you, but he refused.
He whispered your name darkly. "The only thing... I want you to do... is keep your eyes... on mine." His breathing was becoming ragged, matching your own. He was very much getting himself off just doing this to you. It made you absolutely crazy. The pleasure was starting to overwhelm you. You were sweating, panting, moaning, and squirming more with each stroke. You even tried to use your own fingers to pleasure yourself, but he would not have it. You gained a brief respite from the blissful onslaught as he grabbed your hand and tossed it to the side. "You are being very naughty."
"I... I... I can't... handle...ohhh..." you moaned, struggling to catch your breath. Halbrand's face was a devilish sight to behold. It was simply malevolent. His lips had curved into a small seductive smile. His eyes were unhinged, lost to the sin he was committing. You stared into them, unbreaking, unblinking it seemed, drowning in them fully. Suddenly your gasps grew louder and sounded less human. He grinned then, knowing you were approaching your release. His motions only quickened. Halbrand spoke your name, a command, "Come for me." His words were a key that unlocked your body, and you felt wave after wave of pleasure wreak havoc on you. You were indeed screaming. At the same time, you watched him find his own release. The two of you keeping your eyes fixed on each other as you came undone together.
You grabbed his head then and pulled him close enough to attempt a kiss. Only your tongues collided desperately, achingly, as you moaned into each other. After a while of tongues, of lips barely grazing, he let you pull his mouth onto yours completely, and you kissed each other furiously. Your bodies shook as one, and he collapsed on top of you, wrapping his arms around you, letting his legs intertwine with yours. Resting his head on your chest, you felt his hot breath as it tickled your flesh. You kissed the top of his head and Halbrand sighed. "How long would you say we have before we must disembark?"
"Hopefully years." you replied, sad to be reminded of your bliss being short lived. He playfully chastised you with your name, and you reluctantly answered his question more accurately. "Barely hours."
"Then that is how long I will not move from this place." he spoke, planting a kiss on your breast. You both pulled each other closer, and he held true to that promise, until the last possible moment.