Chapter Text
Foresight
After the death of Finwë and most of the Noldor leaving it had not taken long for the remaining Elves to agree to keep Indis as King. Indis herself had volunteered when she had realized how the Remaining had struggled with the new challenges: a decimated population and no light source, and all the effects these brought.
When the moon and then the sun had risen for their first times hope returned with them. Food production became easier and couples decided to have children again.
Indis found that the time was right to introduce Nerdanel to the court as her most valued advisor. And rumors started to spread about Indis and Nerdanel and what their relationship entailed. Neither of them ever confirmed or denied anything. But soon they were seen as a unit. Invitations treated them like a married couple and that was how they both liked it.
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Like all the Elves born under the stars Indis still felt the best under their lights. So after a full day as King, a dinner with a returning delegation and a sloe liqueur to finish the evening she went out into the private gardens attached to the royal suite.
The night was semi-clear, some light clouds were passing across the sky highlighted by the moon which going on half-full had risen in the east.
A large beech was at the center of the garden. It had broad branches which had been helped to grow into a spiral form around the trunk creating a natural staircase. Facing away from the palace and a few yards off the ground there was a viewing platform where Indis stopped to take in the beautiful night sky. The clouds were passing away quickly, and soon they were only barely visible along the horizon.
"A Varda Elentári", she said quietly while she searched out her favourite and most important constellations. There was the one which had been her favourite as an elfling at Cuiviénen. Then there were the ones which she and Finwë had chosen for their children. Her eyes also quickly flicked to the constellations associated with her grandchildren and other family. Then she lingered for a moment on the two constellations which represented her bonds to Finwë and Nerdanel respectively.
Finally, she turned her eyes to two constellations very near each other: the Tambourine, her maturity constellation which each Elf chose when they were fully grown and had found a craft, and the Heron, the constellation representing her kingship.
Things had been changing in the last years. Elves who had died at Alqualondë, on the Helcaraxë and in Beleriand had started to reincarnate. And even though they had healed and if necessary repented in Mandos' halls as much as they could, some reparation had only been possible among the living, however.
Reconciliation meetings had become necessary. At first, they were held in the royal courts, but soon it became clear that these proceedings needed dedicated room. So buildings were built where skilled Elves lead rituals to facilitate the healing.
With the help of Estë and Nienna, healers and philosophers had developed treatments for the returned: meditation, mindfulness, crafts and talking were options they found.
After the Elves were re-settled they had been invited to share their memories publicly. Scribes had been engaged to write it all down. Personal stories were separated from more objective accounts. All the expertise gained was separated into sections like Customs & Culture, Food & Nutrition, Architecture and more. The only section never needed before was War & Strategy.
The memories of the Returned had spurned fierce reactions among the ones remaining. Even if most memories were dozens if not hundreds of years old the picture it painted, stirred anger in Indis. The Valar had only told them few things that had happened in Beleriand. So as the reports rolled in and began to create a coherent narrative her drive to challenge the Valar to act rose.
The anger was simmering in her that night as it had many times before. Often she and Nerdanel had spoken about what they could do, passing ideas back and forth. Should they do something on their own? Or did they have to involve the Valar?
In line with all the reports it became clear that the Elves alone would never throw down Melkor. Though the most recent news spoke of peace and Morgoth besieged at Angband who knew when it would be broken. So now their discussions had turned to the question of which Valar to convince. And how to get them to agree? Would it help their case to have the kings of the Vanyar, Teleri and Noldor petition the Valar together?
To gain a better understanding, Indis and Nerdanel had met with Elves of different backgrounds. They had sent Elves of the same mind to gather intelligence amongst the Vanyar and the Teleri, but also amongst the Maiar and the Valar. Some questioned had no interest to help in Beleriand and some did not see a reason making it necessary to help. But among all the groups they found people supporting their cause.
Now they were planning a strategy to convince the highest of the Valar, Manwë.
Looking up at the stars, possible strategies and arguments passed through Indis' head. She worked through them and then put each aside.
When she felt her thoughts calm, Indis stayed some time to let being King diminish and herself rise. A song came to her heart, and quietly she sang to herself in her clear voice. When she heard another join her in a slightly lower register, she knew the best part of the night was yet to come.
Fusion
Slowly coming up the steps to the hideout in their tree, Nerdanel was enjoying harmonizing with her beloved. Once she had heard Indis singing she had known that business for the day was done, and now it was their private time.
She stepped behind Indis who was sitting cross-legged on the wooden beams. Indis leaned back into her and Nerdanel's hands easily fell into the golden locks tumbling down Indis' shoulders. She started caressing them in time with their song.
Both were looking up at the stars and enjoying the cooler night air. Nerdanel felt the rejuvenating power of the silver light streaming down. All her tension from the exhausting day disappeared. Her heart beat steadily, and soon her attention was drawn to her wife before her. Her mind wandered to more lustful thoughts which gave rise to a different sort of tension low in her gut.
Nerdanel looked down and saw dark ears peak between Indis' hair. Her fingers started to lightly run along the top of them. Indis' breathing had sped up a bit. Goosebumps rose on her arms and shoulders, and Nerdanel smiled to herself at the sight.
In a fluid move, she kneeled behind Indis. She buried her face in Indis' locks and breathed in deep. Her arms were now embracing her beloved and one of Indis' hands had come up to hold her wrist. They stayed like this for some moments just feeling the other at all points their bodies touched.
Boom, boom, boom. Nerdanel's pulse had increased because blood was rushing to the places where she was getting aroused.
"Beloved", she whispered while moving the golden hair to one side, so she could access Indis' neck and ear completely. "I want to touch your whole body here under the open sky while you sing to the stars."
She felt Indis' moan under her lips because she was busy caressing the skin on Indis' neck. "Yes", Indis simply said and turned to kiss her.
The kiss was bold and full of energy. Indis' hand had moved behind Nerdanel's neck and was holding her in place. Nerdanel's lower lip was sucked between Indis' lips from time to time and their breaths got heavier.
Then Indis had completely turned around coming up on her knees as well. Her other hand had joined the one on Nerdanel's head. This allowed her complete control over the kisses she applied to Nerdanel's soft lips.
Nerdanel's arousal was spiking. She loved the way Indis kissed her. Her complete attention was on Nerdanel with the determination to turn her on and get her keyed up. And it was very effective.
Nerdanel felt wetness gathering between her thighs. And she could have lost herself in their kiss, but she had promised Indis something, and she would deliver. So she gathered her wits and took a bit of the control back.
First her hands caressed from Indis' neck over her shoulders to her arms. Then they came back up to caress along her back and move below Indis' arms to her breasts. She felt stiff nipples under the fabric of Indis' dress. She drew circles over them with her thumbs.
"Mmmmmhhh, your breasts are wonderful to touch", she said between kisses. Her voice had gone husky. Indis' breath stocked a moment when she heard Nerdanel. Then her kisses returned with vigor.
"Well likewise", Indis said in a playful voice. And to underline her comment one of her fine hands quickly dipped down to pinch one of Nerdanel's nipples.
Nerdanel chuckled and a grin spread across her face. She drew away from kissing and when Indis looked at her, she could see the twinkle in her eyes - and her lust.
"Is this your way of telling me to hurry?", she asked. She followed it up with an affectionate rub of their noses. "Hmmmmhh?"
There was a mischievous grin crossing Indis' face, and then she raised her arms into the air. "If you want to touch me all over it would help if you undressed me first."
"That I can do."
Lucky for Nerdanel, Indis had changed into a looser and shorter dress after dinner, so it only took her a few moments to grab the hem and lift it over Indis' head. Although getting all her hair out took a bit longer.
She laid the dress behind Indis and guided her to lie down on it. And for a moment she just had to look the Elf before her. All the beauty and strength of Indis.
Indis had a wiry build with lean muscles from dancing and fighting. She had scars mostly from the journey to Valinor. A touch of fat had settled low on her belly where under the right light some stretch marks became visible. Under her soft breasts over her sternum she had a golden tattoo of a heron with stretched out wings. Hair, a touch darker than on her head, covered her mound. The only jewelry she still wore were a plethora of finger and toe rings.
When Nerdanel's gaze moved back to Indis face there was a slight smile on her lips. She waved her hand beckoning Nerdanel closer and said, "Come here. And start with the touching."
And so Nerdanel did. She captured the hand laying on Indis' hip and brought it up to her own mouth. Soft little kisses she put on each finger and then on the palm of her hand. Her hands moved first where her mouth soon followed.
They went up her arm, across her clavicle and down the other arm. Then light touches from Indis' hips over her stomach up to her breasts. Nerdanel was transfixed by the contrast between her and Indis' skin.
Her hands came up to cup the two breasts and pull on Indis' nipples with her thumbs and forefingers. Soon her mouth followed and took over the work of one of her hands. She could feel Indis' chest heaving below her as she continued with her touches. Their breaths were audible in the night and little moans slipped out here and there.
While she was busy with Indis' breasts, Indis' hands had moved to her neck and shoulders in return. One hand was sank into the hair on her neck. Nerdanel's hair was pulled up so Indis had easy access. The other had dipped below the collar of the loose blouse Nerdanel was wearing. The feeling of Indis' nails on her skin made Nerdanel shudder.
Nerdanel started to feel the light linen of her wide trousers cling between her legs. Assuming Indis' was in a similar state her hand dipped down and brushed across Indis' lower lips. Wetness clung to her fingers and she hummed contently.
"Looks like more of you needs to be touched." She murmured the words against Indis' breastbone.
She started to move down Indis' body, kissing along her central axis and stroking her hands broadly along her sides. When she reached her feet she knelt there and took them in her hands to massage them. She did not stop until she felt that Indis was making enough sounds.
Then she slowly worked her way up those long legs until she reached the place where wetness was gathering.
It took not much for Indis' legs to fall open and make space for Nerdanel's head between her thighs. They came to rest on Nerdanel's shoulders.
Nerdanel breathed in the scent of arousal. Her head dipped down, and she began to lick across Indis' outer lips. They parted for her tongue and Nerdanel was able to reach the source of the scent.
She penetrated Indis with her tongue moving in and out. Indis was bucking her hips and so Nerdanel tried to hold her in place as well as possible.
After she had tasted enough of Indis she moved up her tongue. It found Indis' clitoris with ease. Nerdanel went to licking and sucking on it rhythmically. One of her hands was on Indis' belly, and she could feel the contractions of Indis' muscles following the same rhythm. So Nerdanel tried to keep her pace steady to build Indis' orgasm.
Indis' legs were twitching every so often. Nerdanel kept up her motions steadily. Lick after lick after lick. Neither increasing nor decreasing the pressure. She could feel Indis above and around her completely lost in sensations. She kept going. Another and another and another. And suddenly, Indis' climax came crashing down.
Nerdanel went along with Indis' motions until she had calmed down and all her muscles relaxed. Slowly she raised her head, placed a last tender kiss and laid her head down on Indis' thigh. Breathing heavy they both rested. Indis had put one hand on her head and caressed one of her ears lightly.
Staying out the whole night they cuddled and caressed each other. Sometimes they would nap and sometimes talk. They took pleasure in each other in many ways. And when the sun rose Indis and Nerdanel were ready for a new day.
Fruition
Some weeks later Indis and Nerdanel had been able to confirm some information which left them hopeful of the possible support of Manwë in aiding the people of Beleriand. So an unofficial message was delivered to the Elder King through a chain of supportive Elves and Maiar.
Today, Indis and Nerdanel had been holding meetings in a private setting.
The room was furnished colorfully. A dais at the end of the room was hidden by detailed carpets. Soft cushions in all manner of patterns and designs where placed on them. A bench hidden by flowy fabric was set against the wall. Along the wall curtains ranging from velvet to the lightest organza were hung in beautiful colors.
Nerdanel was sat on the bench while Indis sat in front of her on a cushion. Nerdanel's legs framed Indis who was leaning back against Nerdanel. Indis was attired in royal colors with a gold diadem and gold jewelry mirroring her long open hair. And even though Nerdanel almost seemed to protect Indis it was clear to anyone watching that Indis was in complete control of the whole room.
Indis had been talking to a petitioner when the door suddenly opened and Eönwë Manwë's herald entered. Everyone moved to the side to let Eönwë pass. When he stood before the King of the Noldor he bowed and handed Indis a small scroll.
"A message from my Lord to your highness King Indis.", he announced. "I'm here to take back your answer to my Lord."
Indis opened the scroll and read while allowing Nerdanel sitting behind her to read it as well. It was an invitation by Manwë to talk about the state of Beleriand. Indis felt satisfied and the barest of smiles spread across her face. Her left hand found Nerdanel's and her right hand landed in her lap with the scroll in it.
Indis raised her eyes at Eönwë and said: "Yes, I will accept the invitation."
Oh, this will be interesting, she thought and gave Nerdanel's hand a light squeeze.