Serethiel's Return

It had been three years since Serethiel had returned to Gondor. Following her time in Rohan, she had been sent by King Elessar (formerly known as Aragorn) throughout Middle Earth. Serethiel remained extremely loyal to her friend, whom she had known since long before he became king. She had been his companion as he served as the sixteenth chieftain of the Dúnedain and they had come to trust one another with their very lives. During the War of the Ring, Serethiel had fought at the Battle of Helm's Deep and then at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. For this she became infamous. Tales and songs of the maiden elf warrior spread far and wide, though when asked to re-tell her part in those battles Serethiel always only said that she did what she needed to do and nothing more. Serethiel was fierce in battle, with both a bow and arrow and long daggers, and those that underestimated her quickly learned from their mistakes.

Over the course of her life, Serethiel spent more time with humans than with her own kind. She admired the spirit of humans, but grieved their short lives. Men were attracted to Serethiel for her beauty and also for the fact that she was far more skilled than any of them with a weapon, but she refused all of their advances...until Umar. She met Umar in Rohan when she was sent by Elessar to investigate some strange events. Umar, who had been a witness, was chosen to accompany her and the two formed a bond that then transpired into a passionate relationship when they were forced to hid in a small hut during the winter from a large group of orcs set on killing them both. She had given herself over entirely to Umar in body, mind, and spirit and had revealed to him the truth of her past, which at that time only very few knew. He learned the truth about her parents being slaughtered by orcs and her being raised by Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian in Rivendell. With tears in her eyes she went on to tell him how she and Celebrian had been captured by orcs in the Redhorn Pass and then held captive where they were tortured, beaten, and she was raped. Those memories haunted her still and had fed into her hatred for all orcs. Later, after Lady Celebrian left for the Grey Havens, Serethiel had asked Lord Elrond's twins, Elrohir and Elladan, to teach her how to fight in secret as Lord Elrond did not believe in females learning arms. Under their training she had thrived until Lord Elrond discovered what was happening. She was then exiled from Rivendell and began her journey throughout Middle Earth.

After their mission was complete, Serethiel was forced to say goodbye to Umar and returned to Gondor. Throughout the next five years Serethiel thought of Umar everyday. She had thought that her feelings for him would fade with time, but they did not. She would write to him when she had an opportunity, but their letters were infrequent and did not make up for the miles between them. The day she left Rohan, Umar had given her the necklace he had worn and since that day she had never taken it off. It remained tucked under her shirt, against her heart and was one of her most precious possessions. She wanted to return to Rohan to see him, but Elessar continued to need her assistance and she soon found herself gone for nearly three years.

She had been on her way back to Gondor when she received news that something had happened. At first she feared the death of her dear friend, but was relieved to discover he was still alive, but needed her. She raced back to Gondor, pushing Beleg, her black stallion, nearly to his limits. As she arrived in Minas Tirith she discovered a crowd of people. Upon seeing her, people began to whisper her name excitedly. Despite being a steady presence in Gondor, she remained a legend. As she started to work her way through the crowd her eyes suddenly fell upon a very familiar form...Umar.

The call to arms had come as a welcome opportunity. His steading had grown rich, but needed no help from him in the day to day business of breeding and training horses. He could not stomach the idea of a wife after . . . his mind skittered away even from a comparison with her. How could there be a comparison. He had thought himself the luckiest of men in those long winter months with her in his bed and sharing her inner self with him, but when they emerged in the spring, her duty took her north and his duty took him south, and since then to even look at another woman simply knotted his guts so deeply in a twist that he avoided it altogether.

But a war! That was something he could get involved in, and after his encounters with ancient evil in the White Mountains and their successful routing of the ancient Oracle, his king looked often to him for council and support. Eagerly he had mustered his men and ridden with Eomer to Gondor, the creak of fresh oiled leather and the smell of newly sharped steel filling his senses and pushing back the emptiness.

The men in his war band, like himself, were too young to have fought in  the Great War, but they had grown up with the tales around endless camp fire nights, and hooted and howled at the prospect fighting alongside Elessar and the warriors of fabled Minas Tirith. Eomer, who rode at the head of many such war bands, had fought in the war – at Helm's Deep and again on the Pelennor Fields. He was an old man by now, but he showed little signs of aging. Rumors of Dunedain blood circulated about him, as they did about Umar, but no matter the cause, the king of Rohan sat tall in his saddle with a lance and long hafted ax cradled behind him.

At the lower gates of Minas Tirith they were met by Elessar himself who welcomed them all, guided them to stables and barracks set aside permanently for Rohirrim, and then invited Eomer to a council of war. Eomer in turn beckoned to his trusted lieutenants, Umar not least among them.

“Shadows are rising again in the Iron Hills and along the shores of the Sea of Rhun,” the high king got right to the point. A large map of the lands around for many leagues lay across a trestle table and Elessar used a long dagger to point to the areas in question. There were little enough details provided. The Sea of Rhun was at the very edge of the map and while some rivers and forests had been sketched in, there were few towns or annotations provided.

“These lands are far from our influence, and our enemies take advantage wherever they can. Like choking weeds that grow in the night they must be constantly uprooted, or they will destroy all that we have wrought.

“My men are excellent soldiers, but they are infantry men. They march to battle and they are overwhelming when they arrive, but we need cavalry, skirmishing groups and forward observation, fast messages and far seeing eyes to support our efforts and make sure we are not flanked by an enemy who knows the land much better than we do.

“I have sent to the elves requesting aid from any of their wandering warriors who have scoured the land for ages and will know more than these poor maps can show.”

A trumpet blew at the gate below.

“Hark. This may be them even now. No. Only one. A fair one. I know her name.”

“Serethiel,” Umar spoke her name aloud at the same moment Elessar did, and several of the Rohirrim turned to look at him in surprise that he would know one of the fair folk so well. He pushed forward to stand beside, but slightly behind the high king as she hurried into the council chamber. His heart leaped in his chest as her gaze fastened on him and a great worry eased from her brow. She breathed deep now that she knew he was not dead or injured and made her courtesies with the kings. He could not take his eyes off of her and she glanced often at him with a small smile on her lips.

Ignorant of, or ignoring the tension between his new guest and one of his men at arms, Elessar invited Serethiel to inspect the map and asked her if she knew any details of the land to the north and east.

Elessar's Map



Detail around the Sea of Rhun

A sea of men parted as Serethiel strode into the room. She felt their eyes upon her, but she only nodded in greeting. As her eyes settled upon Umar she felt her heart swell in her chest. She was surprised by how much he had changed in five years. When she had left him he had still been a young man, but now a mature, incredibly handsome man stood before her. Her eyes met his and as they bore into her own she felt a shiver of desire go down her spine. How could she have let this man worm his way into her heart? She could not deny that she loved him. She had known that when she had left Rohan five years earlier and it had made leaving that much more difficult. She had thought time and distance would ease her feelings, but seeing him now made her realize that she had been wrong…very wrong. Until Umar she had thought herself unworthy of being loved, but he had shown her differently. There would be no other man or elf for her…Umar was her one and only love.

She forced herself to look away from him and she approached the table where King Elessar and King Eomer beckoned her. She looked at the two maps and then at the kings. “I have seen orcs amassing in great numbers near the old Tower of Sauraman. I can sense great evil stirring there once again, though I do not know the true intent. We must act quickly to stop what is happening or I fear Middle Earth may once again find itself in the grip of a great war.”

“Dire news,” King Elessar responded to Selethriel as she reported the rumors she had heard about an orc incursion to the tower of Orthanc. “These foul creatures grow ever bolder, and we must root them out. Yet I still believe that their base of power lies to the north and east, and that is where must focus our main attention.

“Yet it would not do to allow these dark ones to travel within our lands unmolested. Eomer, they must have come across the Riddermark – for I cannot imagine that they have traveled through Fangorn. Can you spare a war-band to see them off? And Lady Selethrial, perhaps you would ride with the Rohirrim, to give them council and discover, if you can, what brinks these things of darkness out into the bright light of day.”

Eomer nodded his agreement with the high king and turned to Umar.

“It seems you already know the Lady, Captain Umar” he smiled at the big warrior. “Will you escort her through the Riddermark to Isengard, keep her safe and assist her in any way she needs? I think she will approve of the commission.”

The council turned back to the map table and the discussions of troop movements in their campaign to the Sea of Rhun. Umar tried his best to participate and be a useful resource to his king, but he couldn't help but sneak glances at the Lady and no matter how many times he tried to wipe it away, the big smile on his face kept creeping back.

Later, when the council broke for refreshments, he approached her, stiff and formal in front of the others, and offered her his services as an escort to Isengard and tower of Orthanc. His eyes drank in her loveliness in great gulps and he spoke quietly, just for her ears.

“The days are long since I was happy. But now you are here, and I am content. We ride again into danger, my Lady, but never again shall I be parted from your side save by death itself. Or your command.”

Serethiel was worried by these events, that much was clear from her eyes. There was no telling exactly what their intent was, but they needed to be prepared for anything. When Elessar suggested that she ride with the Rohirrim to investigate she nodded in agreement. "I shall go wherever you need me and do whatever is necessary. The Rohirrim are strong warriors and it would be my honor to travel with them."

As Eomer then proceeded to suggest Umar escort her she couldn't help but glance at Umar again. Their eyes met and she could not fully hide the look of love reflected in her own as she looked at him. She wished for a quiet moment to speak privately to him, and waited patiently for the opportunity. Finally, after spending another hour looking at the map, the council broke for refreshments and Serethiel was finally able to speak to Umar alone, though they had to keep their voices low for fear that someone might overhear them. His whispered words caused a shiver of desire to go down her spine and she knew they needed to be careful.

"You have been in my thoughts everyday since we parted. I wanted to return and see you again, but my travels kept me from doing so. I have never removed the necklace you gave me and it rests against my heart...where you reside as well."

It was all he could do to not reach for her, to crush her in his arms. The scent of her, the sight of her lovely face, the look in her eye when she spoke in soft words of love for him. he growled deep in his chest and forced himself to step back a pace lest he lose his senses altogether.

"Perhaps, my Lady, after the council session is done for the day we can walk upon the ramparts together and discuss your needs on the journey to Isengard. It will take a week, at least, and I would want you to be comfortable, travelling with rough fellows such as me and my companions."

All too soon the high king returned to the council chamber and the discussions began again. Umar made sure not to stand too close to her, but he could not bear to have her out of sight, either. He forced himself to focus on the military strategy being discussed, and actually managed to make one or two intelligent observations, but his mind was drifting, walking already with her in the shadows of evening.

Enough! Focus. Do not be a mooncalf. He pinched himself hard to recenter his mind.

Within moments, however, he was making plans for the evening. He and his men had their barracks. The Lady Serethiel would no doubt be given chambers in the high king's own tower. But there were high class inns aplenty within the walls. He could find a quiet place, romantic and secluded, a small sitting room with a fireplace and a bedroom attached. Would she agree to slip away with him for a few stolen hours?

His chest swelled with desire for her.

As Umar stood close to her, Serethiel could breathe in his scent. It was familiar and comforting to her. While he may have changed slightly in his physical appearance, his scent remained the same and it reminded her of those weeks together in that small hut. The mere thought of it made her cheeks flush ever so slightly.

“I am in no need of comforts, nor do I require protection, as you well know,” she replied with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “However, I would very much like to take a walk with you this evening. I expect you have done wonderful things since the last time we spoke and I would love to hear everything you have to tell me.”

As the council began again Serethiel stepped away from Umar and over to King Elessar’s side, though she continued to feel Umar’s gaze upon her. The council lasted another three hours before finally all were dismissed. Elessar bade Serethiel to stay for a while and speak to him in more detail about the orcs she had seen. However, she was finally able to step away and she walked with anticipation to their appointed meeting site.

Umar's heart was in his mouth as he met her on the parapet. He reached a hand tentatively towards hers, and a surge of warmth filled his belly as she took his hand and held it tight.

"Too many years," he said as he walked with her along the wide processional that topped the walls. To their right, the narrow canyon of the streets within the walls. To their left the wide vista across the plains away to the east. "My pride took me from your side, and I ask your forgiveness."

Reaching a point where a flying buttress arched over the walkway, creating a short tunnel, he slowed and pulled her into his arms, holding her close, looking down at her beautiful face. He knew now where the scars came from and he was very conscious that he could not press her into intimacy as he might a woman of the tribes. But his lips longed for hers, and he lowered his face to hers.

"We ride tomorrow, but tonight, be my woman again," he whispered as he kissed her, softly at first until he sensed her own desires, and then deeply and passionately, hidden as they were for a moment from the town and from below.

OOC-I'm not sure if you were talking about emotional scars, or physical scars, but just to clarify (since I forgot to tell you this) the cuts you see on Serethiel's face in the image on her profile are battle/fight cuts and not permanent. I just liked the picture a lot and thought it worked for her so I decided to use it anyway.

IC-Serethiel smiled warmly at Umar as she approached him. She accepted his hand as he reached it out to meet her and gently gave it a loving squeeze. For a moment they walked quietly side by side, just enjoying being in one another's company again. As Umar spoke, Serethiel looked over at him, but frowned slightly at his apology. "You have no reason to ever apologize for remaining in your country to work for your king. You did what you felt you needed to do, as did I. Yes, we were parted for a time, but I always knew in my heart that we would meet again."

At that moment that were completely alone and she felt Umar stop and pull her into his arms. She went willingly and wrapped her arms around him. She had allowed herself to fall completely and utterly in love with this man, which both terrified her and made her incredibly happy at the same time. His words made her nearly weak at the knees and she closed her eyes and kissed him back. For several long moments they kissed, each becoming familiar again with the other's lips. Slowly, Serethiel pulled back and she looked up into his eyes.

"I have always been yours Umar and I will be yours until I draw my final breath."

He laughed at this, a great burst of relief and joy. As her arms slipped around his waist, he lifted her bodily off of her feet, pushing her back against the stone wall as he pressed his kisses onto her face and into her neck. His massive frame surged against her and she could feel the hardness of his manhood against her belly.

After a long and lingering kiss, they walked again as the sun set over the mountains and the lights twinkled on in the city and in the plain below. He lead her to a comfortable inn that had been recommended by Elessar's steward, and upstairs to a room prepared for them. In a large four poster bed by a roaring fire, he took her as a man takes a woman. His need was great and he came into her again and again until at last his lust for her was sated, and they lay among the fine sheets, limbs entwined, whispering words of affection and endearment.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" he asked her, "I know the king has prepared chambers for his guests, and you will be missed, but now that I have found you again, I cannot hide what I feel. I cannot pretend that we not as one. But what will this mean to your standing among the fair folk?"

Serethiel had been waiting for this night for five years. To be back in Umar's arms again and to physically feel his love and desire for her made her realize that she could not leave him again. She had been without love for too long and now that she had found it she didn't want to ever give it up. Their bodies were made for one another and he made her feel as if she was on fire with the way he kissed and touched her. Finally, they collapsed into each other's arms onto the bed and feelings of pure desire and passion gave way to intimacy and a pure, undying love.

"I do not want to ever leave you again," she replied. "There are too few elves left in Middle Earth for me to care what they think and at this time I have spent more time with humans than with my own kind. I have gone too long alone and without love that I do not want to be alone in this world ever again. I would rather live a mortal life and die with you than to go on without you. I do not know what the future holds for us, but I would rather face whatever comes next with you than without you."
OOC-In Umar's profile it lists his age as 27. Was he 27 when they first met five years ago and 32 now...or was he 22 when they first met and 27 now?

OOC: He was 27 when they met, so he's 32 now

OOC-Ok thanks