Always

Chapter 16.

It did not take long to pack everything he intended to take with him onto Arod’s back , and Legolas stopped at the mouth of the cave , looking back at Cait’s body . He could not just leave her there for the scavengers , he couldn’t . She deserved more dignity than that , she deserved a funeral pyre .

She deserved to live .

He physically shook his head . That sort of thinking wasn’t going to get him anywhere . What had happened could not be changed , and now he had decisions to make . With a heavy heart , he began to gather wood , laying it out on the floor of the cave in a roughly cot-sized plot , then stacked brush on top of that , following it up with more wood . He stood back , looking at his handiwork , and he loosed a quivering sigh .

He went to Cait’s body , and caressed her cheek , tears spilling from his eyes again . He gently removed the ivy leaf- shaped clasp she has coveted , and pocketed it . It would forever remind him of the short-lived love that had burned so brightly . He wrapped her in a blanket, kissing her forehead one final time before covering her face , and he lay her on the pyre , then sprinkled her covering with a sweet scented oil he knew to be flammable . “Cormamin niuve tenna’ tae lea lle au’ .” (My heart shall weep until it sees you again) he whispered under his breath , and he backed up , lifting a branch from the firepit and touching it to the wood . Slowly , it caught , the tongues of flame licking at the blanket until it tasted the oil , then began to spread faster , consu the the cloth. He could watch no more and turned , mounting Arod , and reining the horse about , heading down the hill .
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He pushed the stallion as hard as he could until dusk began to fall , and he at last stopped , making a hasty camp , dining on traveling cake and jerky , then huddling down next to the small fire , wrapping a blanket about his shoulders . He had not heard her voice since leaving the cave , and began to doubt that he had heard her at all . He settled down , using his saddle as a pillow , and rolled onto his side , staring into the dying fire , and at last his eyes began to grow heavy . He was less than a weeks ride from Gondor , and he looked forward to seeing Estel . He just wished he could have met Caitlin …Aragorn would have liked her , he knew . This was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep .

***She stepped into the clearing , a small smile playing at the corners of her lips , and she dropped her cloak upon a log , coming to squat beside the fire . Legolas sat up , his jaw slack . “Caitlin ?” he said softly , unable to believe his eyes . Her green eyes lit up when she looked at him , and she came to sit beside him . “How …?”

*Shhh .* she shushed him , touching a cool finger to his lips . *I said I’d never leave you , Legolas . You have given me so much .* . She leaned forward and touched her lips against his , and he was helpless to resist , touching his palm to her cheek , so soft and smooth and cool to the touch . She gently pushed him back in the bedroll , and stretched out next to him , trailing her fingers down hisoat oat , and she pressed her lips against his chin . Legolas pressed his eyes tightly shut … this could not be real , it simply could not . It was a dream . Yes , that’s it , he was dreaming , a wonderful dream , that Caitlin was lying here beside him . He reached out and stroked her side , letting his hand rest upon her hip , and she moved closer , kissing him again ; her tongue danced lightly across his teeth , sliding across his own like a whisper of cool water , liquid and sweet . She rolled him over onto his back leaning across his chest , her hair falling down on either side of his face . She smelled of woodsmoke crisp and clean , and he breathed her in as her hands glided down his chest , sliding beneath his tunic to caress his nipples through the silk shirt . He sighed sharply as she worked his shirt free , pushing it up , and her lips sought his warm flesh , lips and tongue dancing across his skin . His elfhood began to swell within his breeches , and he groaned softly as her hand fell to the spot he needed it most , stroking him with a feather light touch . *Love me Legolas* she whimpered , tugging at the lacings on the leggings, her kisses falling lower .

Legolas closed his eyes once more , groaning softly as her fingers freed his rigid sex , tracing the shape of it with her nails before engulfing the tip in her mouth ; his hips moved toward her of their own accord , and he murmured her name to the night . She took his length fully , easily , moving her head slowly up and down until the Elf felt his release building . She slipped one cool hand beneath him to cup his hard buttocks , tight with tension , kneading his flesh . His back arched and he cried out as he spasmed with his aicale , his fingers entwining in her soft hair . “Aiya , titta er , you are the mela en’ coiamin (love of my life) , there could be no other .” . He rolled over onto his side , pushing his leggings off , and Caitlin stretched out beside him once again , running her fingertips lightly up and down his chest ; oddly , he noticed that she was suddenly naked beside him , he had not noticed her disrobing . But then , this was a dream . Anything was possible . He rolled closer to her , closing his mouth hungrily over hers , tasting the sharp salt of his own seed on her tongue , and he cupped one breast in his hand , dragging his thumb around the hard , erect nipple in lazy circles . Caitlin raised her knee , draping her leg over his slender hip and snugging him in tighter to her ; he could feel the wetness of he desire , and grew quickly aroused once again . He slid a finger into her opening , rubbing the hard little button and causing Cait to gasp into his mouth , suckling on the tip of his tongue . She shuddered as he continued the action , each stroke bringing her closer to climax , until she tossed her head back , bucking her hips toward him with a wordless moan , her muscles rippling around his questing fingers . He guided his shaft into her , wrapping both arms about her waist , pulling her against him , and he closed his mouth about her throat , nipping gently . He could never get close enough to her , never have enough of her . He would gladly spend the rest of his days lost inside this dream , inside of Caitlin . He closed his eyes , resting his forehead on her shoulder as he lost himself in her pleasure , feeling her muscles contracting about his elfhood as he thrust slowly into her until he lost all self-control , spilling his seed into her , and lay just holding her , stroking her back , his breath coming in great quavering gulps .

“Sleep now , my prince .” she whispered , kissing the tip of his ear . “You have a long days riding before you on the morrow .”