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Rider of the Mark	By : ZeDrippyVessel Category: Lord of the Rings Movies > Het - Male/Female Views: 23044 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Rider of the Mark 27

Give to me your Leather; take from me, my Lace

***

"Lift your arm."

"Ouch!"

"Oh, stop fussing! I've not done anything yet!"

"I'm practicing."

Aefre looked at the semi-nude Horse Lord sitting on the stool. "You are worse than a child," she scowled, before turning her attention to the sewn flesh in front of her. "I think these are ready to take out."

Gamling stretched his arm over his head, grimacing at the pull of freshly knitted skin. "Do I get to get drunk again?" Aefre just shook her head and picked up the small, slender knife.

They had not discussed her pregnancy, not mentioned the baby. Their days were falling into a strange routine - always starting with her kneeling over the chamber pot retching and him holding her hair away from her face. Her daily routine continued, overseeing the chambermaids, the kitchens. She lunged and exercised Adenydd and occasionally sparred with an over-excited teen, when the weather permitted. The blander the food, the better for her. She stayed out of the kitchens, preferring to meet with the cook later in the day, tending to the laundry or the cleaning.

Gamling struggled to establish a routine. With stitches still holding his side together, he felt as useless as... well, tits on a bull. Haleth dogged his heels, ready to do anything, everything. Gamling finally lost his temper, barking at his friend's son after Haleth had attempted to take Dr�ogan's lunge lead from him when he felt the Rider had over-taxed himself. Unbeknownst to Gamling, Aefre spent an hour soothing the child's hurt feelings. Aefre could see what was eating at him, chaffing with nothing to do, itching to get in the saddle. To make matters worse, it had rained for five days, everyone was cooped up, edgy, and nerves were strained almost to the breaking point.

The sarcasm - level had risen to a dangerous point between all, including the two most important women in the Rider's life. It had come to a head that morning, when Gamling's mother had screeched at Aefre from across the hall to �do something' to occupy her son. Her over-grown youngling, she claimed, had been following her, shadowing her all morning, interfering, questioning everything. Aefre and Aelwydd had actually gotten into a heated argument, Aefre defending him, his mother...

***B�ma! Why is she still here? OOOOH I forgot... she's making my wedding cloak...***

-voices raised, listing every fault, every-

"- just like his father!"

Gamling looked up, torn away from his dejected reverie. "Thank you."

***I think...***

His mother snarled. "Aefre! He is in my way! It's like having him under foot as a child again! Can't you occupy him?"

***Occupy? Occupy? Hmmm. I have been having uncontrollable... twitchings as of late...***

"What? And have him hanging about my skirts?"

***how about under your skirts? That would be nice. Firm legs wrapped aroundmyneck...***

"Aefre? About my battle lance-"

Aefre had her back to him and apparently had not heard him. "What do you expect from me?"

"Gamling!" his mother spat over her shoulder "Would you like to... dust the furniture?"

***dust the furniture? That's a ridiculous question...***

"No. About my-"

"Polish the silver, rub the brass?"

*** I need some rubbing... wouldn't take much.... ooooh rubbed...***

"Not particularly. About my ba-"

"Mop the floor? Take the dirty linens to the laundress?"

"I don't know where she is. Can we disc-"

"See?" Aelwydd gestured at her son. "He's in my way!"

"And how is that my fault?" Aefre asked quietly. "I imagine it must be difficult. He's come home from war-"

"Excuse me-"

"-has been injured horribly. His routine has been thoroughly upset-"

"Can I interrupt?"

"No! I imagine he's bored to tears and I for one can't blame him! And rather than... Gamling?" Aefre called out after the Horse Lord who had risen from the bench and was slowly making his way to the front entrance. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to sit in the muck pile. I shouldn't be in anyone's way. And I can talk to the horseflies who will listen to me when I speak."

Aefre growled at Aelwydd who only sniffed disdainfully. She rushed towards the doorway, grabbing the Horse Lord by the hand, in an attempt to impede his departure. "Gamling-"

"My name." Gamling looked around in mock surprise. "I believe I heard my name." He looked at Aefre, blinking. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Aefre didn't know if she should laugh or smack him. She decided on neither. "I have an idea."

***so do I... nakednakednakednaked***

"It had better not include pity."

Aefre's eyebrows rose in consternation. "I would never pity you," she hissed. "Especially in the mornings when I'm on my knees!" Gamling was completely non-plussed. Aefre's shoulders dropped and she focused on the ornate equine carving on the post over his left shoulder. "I have an idea." She turned, pulling him with her. "What say we go to your chambers-"

***YESYESYES! NAKEDNAKEDNAKEDINMY BEDFINALLY FINALLY FINALLY...***

"-and I check your stitches. They should be ready to take out and if that's the case, we can have a nice bath drawn for you. A real one."

***She's stooping low. I don't need a bath! I need... sniffsniff...maybe a bath wouldn't hurt...hmmmm...I can play this game...***

"I can use my soap. Not your prissy smelling stuff?"

Aefre blinked. "Starting tomorrow," she continued with a sigh, "you can take over and organize the rotations and training schedules. The Riders need their routines re-established, as do you. I'm sure Dr�ogan would like to take a nice ride rather than being lunged. Hmmm?"

***I'm being appeased. I know I'm being appeased. I might be a simple Horse Lord, but I'm not stupid. I'll take it!***

"An honest - to - B�ma ride?"

They passed Willan in the hallway. "Willan, I'm going to remove Gamling's sutures. I'm going to need willow bark boiled in water and my small knives and sewing scissors. We also need hot water for a bath." She leaned in and loudly whispered. "He reeks and I can't stand it anymore." She turned and continued down the hallway, turning the corner.

Willan looked at Gamling appraisingly. *Well?*

Gamling answered with the age - old fist pump.

***YES!***

"Gamling!"

"I'm behind you!" He scurried down the hall and turned the corner. "See? I'm right here!"

"You are such a man!"

Willan shook his head, amused by the two. With a grin, he ambled towards the kitchens.

***

Gamling found himself sitting on the stool, half naked, arms over his head, with the beginnings of a sizable hard on, while Aefre carefully cut the dried stitches from his wound. "This mended quite nicely."

"Hmm, hmm."

Willan and two others were already bringing pails of hot water and were now entering with several more. "I'm glad Eadignes was able to sew you."

***uh oh***

"Hmm Hm."

"I... I don't know what I would have done had she not come up." She tugged the last thread and brushed the skin with the willow bark water again. "There you go! All done! She was a great help."

"Hmm, hmm."

"She stayed with me all night, watching you."

Gamling rose from the stool, stretching, testing the pull of his skin.

"She did a-"

"Aefre? Where is this going?" Aefre looked up at him, the circles under his eyes, the additional lines on his face. Although not as bad as the first nights he had returned, he still had nightmares, calling out, thrashing. At some time, he was going to have to talk; up to this point, he had been remarkably close lipped.

"I don't wish to talk about Eadignes. If it is your desire to deride-"

"NO!" Aefre was aghast. "No! Absolutely not! She was a great help to me! I... I..." she hooked her fingers and fidgeted, "I... like her. She has a good heart." The familiar calloused fingers curled under Aefre's chin, lifted it.

"You have ever been wise, My Lady." He studied her face, scrutinizing it as intensely as he had the morning he had left the tent at the Dwimberg, strong fingers stoking her jaw line.

"Should I inhale?" Aefre asked when he lowered his head.

"Might be wise."

The initial touch was tentative, curious, contours and crevices not forgotten, but needing re-exploring. Nights of restlessness followed by nights wrapped in a cloak and summer linens guided to need and rising heat. Somewhere, someone growled, the other whimpered, the kiss deepening. Aefre was mindful of tender flesh, her hand dipping to his lower hip as she pulled him closer, answering an ancient-

"Ahem." Excuse me?"

The two broke away, Aefre's head thumping against Gamling's chest, the Horse Lord groaning in frustration. He glared over Aefre's shoulder. "What?"

Willan stood, inspecting the ceiling for cracks and miscellaneous objects. One of the younger men helping was red as a beet, staring at the rug beneath his feet, tracing the pattern with his toe; the other more courageous one, twisting his tunic into a knot. "The bath is full... uhm... just thought you would like to know..."

"Thank you." Gamling said curtly between clenched teeth. He waited as the trio filed out, leather boots scuffing softly over rug and stone. When the door shut behind Willan, he began to tuck and pull at the ties of Aefre's overdress. "Where are your hair and bathing soaps?"

She traced the long scar, still angry, still slightly red and puckered. "They are in the antechambers. I've stayed here for so... why? What are you doing?"

Gamling tugged her overdress over her hips and watched it fall in a heap in the floor. He smirked and moved to the door to bolt it. "Why, I'm going to wash your hair."

***

"Gamling! You need to bathe! This is ridiculous!"

"I know I reek." Despite the joking tone Aefre had taken with Willan in the hall earlier, she was right. He shuddered at his own staleness. "I'll get in... eventually. Lean forward." A pail of warm water coursed through her hair, over her shoulders, streamlets of warmth cascading over tired muscles.

Silence.

"Aefre?"

"Hmmm?"

A tap on her shoulder. "Which bar is for your hair? You have so many..."

Aefre turned, parting her dripping locks from her face with her hands. "Uhm..." she pointed, "The pink one."

***pink... pink... Ahhh. THAT ONE! Roses!***

He took the wedge of soap and leaned towards to reach her.

***OUCH! DAMMIT! That hurts! Dammitdammit!!!!***

Aefre waited patiently for his hands to immerse themselves into her hair.

Nothing.

"Just Gamling?"

There was the sound of clothing hitting the floor. "Move forward." He climbed in behind her, feet nudging her on her knees towards the front of the tub. As he settled down, the water rose several inches in the tub. Large hands settled on her hips, moving her back, straddling his legs, the curve of her derriere resting onto his...

"Hmmm. Did you grow a third leg or are you just glad to see me?" Aefre wiggled backwards provocatively.

"If you wish," Gamling growled in her ear, "to have your hair washed this afternoon, you will stop that."

Aefre wiggled again. "Or else what?"

There was a short pause, before the bar of floral scented soap became enmeshed in her hair. "Or else, I will bend you over the side of the tub and take you as the horse I am!" Gamling stated matter - of - factly.

"You're a jackass." Aefre mumbled good-naturedly, leaning into, moving with the kneading fingers at her scalp.

"What did you say?" Gamling was intent on the mass in front of him.

***longlonglong silk in my fingers beautiful hair Aefre...***

"I said... that feels good." Her body was becoming languid, boneless. For several minutes, she welcomed the massage, the attention to her, her hair. Twice he lathered, twice warm water drenched her hair. At some point, he switched to the green bar-

***APPLES! applesapplesapples***

...lavishing equal attention to her arms, her shoulders. He gently stroked her waist, fingers lovingly caressed her stomach...

***Babybabybabybrowneyesbabybaby***

...before skirting upwards, tracing around the curve of flesh. "I'm afraid to touch you," he admitted quietly.

"Gently," she arched into him. "Very gently."

The Horse Lord hadn't been this cautious, this careful, since he had lain with his first woman so many years before. The female body was an amazing thing - bits and bobs that acted and reacted. He cupped both breasts, as if to weigh them, thumbs gently brushing the peaks. "Tilt your head." His lips found the soft spot where her neck met her shoulder. He felt her shudder, moan lightly, as his tongue swirled gently from the crook of her neck to the indentation behind her ear. She reached behind her, cradling him into her reversed embrace. As she lifted up, he moved beneath her hips, shifting, moving, probing...

***hooooome...***

... thrusting upwards into and onto.

For an eternity, a moment, she moved over and in, the water lapping between them, against the side of the metal tub... his teeth continuing to worry, tease the lobe of her ear. He stroked the silky coating of the soap on her body. At some point, his hands moved down, to fondle the flesh, that sweet spot where her body joined his, causing her to gasp and arch further into him. He found the small knot that had driven her insane all those weeks... months? ... ago... making her jerk, hips moving in a circular...

***Damn woman you have some moves...***

Somewhere in the haze of air, Gamling heard her whisper-

"B�ma, this feels so good..."

"Hmmm hmmm."

"...but my knees are killing me."

His head thudded against her shoulder, as she turned him loose. Gamling felt her lips graze his ear, before she lifted herself up and off.

"The tub is a bit hard," he admitted reluctantly. "I suppose you wish to continue this in the bed?"

"Aye." She stood up, water cascading down her body, her back, her legs, the angle perfect to view her delightful...

*** I see Gondor, I see-***

!SPLASH!

He shook his head, water flying from where she had splashed him in the face. By the time he got the water from his eyes, she was outside of the tub, grinning impishly at him, wrapping herself in a fluffy towel. "I know what you were doing." She winked and turned away. "Nasty man."

Gamling stood up, water flung haphazardly, eyes scanning her, the floor, the peg...

"You've got the only towel."

It hit him in the face as she left the antechamber. "Are you coming?"

***Coming? Coming? Oooooh....***

"I have an itch that needs... tending to."

Gamling was out of the tub, grabbing the towel from his face, mumbling, "I'll scratch your itch and a few other things..."

"What was that?" Her voice echoed from the main chamber.

"I said..." he looked back at the warm water. "Wait." Grabbing the soap, he dunked his head under, lathered his hair, beard and face...

***Great! Now I smell like apples... beats roses...***

...and dunked himself again. The wet cloth lying forlornly on the side of the tub did a fast swish under arms and under... other things....

***never know where that mouth of hers will end up...***

... before wrapping the towel around him and strutting from the antechamber.

Aefre was standing next to a chair, with what appeared to be a bottle of oil, one leg propped on the chair, and massaging it into the calves of her leg. She saw him peruse her leisurely. "My skin gets dry." She removed her leg from the chair seat and handed him the bottle. "Would you like to do the rest?"

The scent of apples was overwhelming as he took the bottle from her. If his interest had wilted any in the previous minutes, it reasserted itself immediately.

"Where would you have me start?"

The rain was hammering on the roof tiles of Meduseld and it echoed serenely in the room. Aefre opened the window to the White Mountains, shrouded in mist, fresh rain air filling the room. She turned and looked at the Horse Lord wearing nothing but a towel.

"I said it once, I'll say it again. You have a nicely turned ankle for a man. Where do you want to start?"

Gamling forced his eyes up from her hips. "Hmm? Oh! I..." he gestured weakly... "your... back?"

"That would be a nice place to start." It was a whisper, a hint of sound as she climbed -

***dammitdammitdammit you're doing thatonpurposejusttake you now whereyoukneel...***

... on the bed. A wide smile graced her face. "I know what you're thinking."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do." She stretched out on her stomach, her head cradled on her arms. "Don't think about servicing me like a stallion. I am not a mare!"

Gamling looked over his shoulder quickly, making sure his door was properly latched. "Wouldn't consider it."

***dammit! She's reading my mind...***

He climbed on the bed next to her, really at odds over exactly what to do. He had had massages before; usually Eadignes or another one of the... he grimaced, feeling guilt at thinking that with her.

"Just Gamling?"

"Yes?"

"Is something amiss?"

"No... yes... I've not..."

"Ah." Damn her, she was smiling smugly and turned her head away. "Have you ever had a massage before?"

***eeeeerrrrrrrr....***

"Yes."

"Have you ever rubbed liniment into Dr�ogan's muscles when he's strained them?"

A sigh of relief; something else to think about. "Yes."

"It's the same concept." She reached back and slung the wet mass of hair from her back. "Just don't press as hard. Remember, a little goes a long way." Aefre settled her head on her arms and closed her eyes. "And take the towel off. You'll be more comfortable."

His smile mirrored her own.

***Saucysassysaucysaucy...***

The towel went flying, landing somewhere in a corner, as Gamling pulled up and over her, trying hard not to think of mounting a horse. He settled himself, gently resting on her thighs, the length of him lying boldly against the cleft of her cheeks. Slowly, he trickled a small amount of oil down the length of her spine, watching it bead and puddle, before stoppering the bottle with the cork and looking around for a safe place to set it, placed it in the curve of her hand. "Hold this."

Shyly, gently at first, becoming bolder as he went, he circled the oil up her spine and then outward, working the scent into skin that moved under his touch. It shocked him how tense she was, her muscles as tight as anything he had encountered. Dawning registered on his thoughts - what she had to have gone through during his absence, the running of Edoras left on her shoulders, not only the day to day, but the 'what if'- what if Gondor fell, what if no Riders returned, what if Edoras was attacked - in as well. Him, coming home injured...

The baby...

***B�ma!***

Their bodies were moving now in tandem, going in circles, moving in a rhythmic dance. Gamling's oil-drenched fingertips were exploring away from her back and spine, down around her thickened waist and her breasts. Waiting, foreplay was now no longer an option, as need had reasserted itself most painfully. He lifted up.

"Turn over."

Still holding the flask, Aefre turned to face him. For several seconds they struggled, repositioning, both laughing nervously before he finally settled between her knees. She pressed her thumb against the stopper and laid the vial above her head. He realized she had a fevered look, as Aefre reached up and tucked wet strands of hair behind his ear. "B�ma, I need... I've missed you." Her knees came up around his hips. "Don't wait. I can't wait. "

He didn't.

***hoooooome...***

Gamling fell into a blanket of Aefre - wrapped in her body, her arms, her legs. For a time, he was not aware of any sound, any words spoken, simply warmth and a sense of her fitting perfectly. It was a cocoon, wrapped in cloak of security; this was not an act of comfort, an act of release. It was deeper than a mating ritual, a mutual need. Even more so, it was place he did not want to leave, one he wanted to linger in, revel in its peace. Scenes of a shaded garden, a barn filled with freshly hewn hay, flitted aimlessly, barely registering. His mouth found the lobe of her ear, the tender spot behind it and he worried it, *worried it* until she curled into him, curving, tilting up, the angle... oh the angle. Gamling leaned up and grabbed a pillow, pushing it beneath her, tilting her back to that position. As he reared back, Aefre's hand reached down, finding herself, finding where they joined and finding their rhythm, her rhythm, clearly at a point of no longer waiting for him. He waited, watched in rapt fascination as she brought herself to the pinnacle, clenching around him. At her first spasm, he finally lost control, allowed himself to lose constraint, growling in her ear, as all that existed, ceased.

Much as he watched her, she watched him, cradling the damp head to her shoulder, the crook of her neck, her knees tightening around his hips. Aefre stroked the hair from his face as he finally collapsed, breathing ragged and labored. She could feel the thud of his heart as it slowed to a more normal pace...

... or was it hers?...

Gamling started to push up and over to her side.

"Don't. Stay." Her mouth found his and for a moment, her legs clamped around him, holding him still.

"Aefre... the...

***Gaaaaaaaah... come back here with that witchy mouth...***

"... baby..."

"The baby is fine." She was smiling against him, his mouth and he decided that maybe she was correct. "You feel wonderful."

For a minute, the world was where it should be.

Eventually, Gamling rolled from her, his body slipping from hers. Aefre curled up against him, snuggling and not making silly cooing noises. Using a calloused fingertip, he traced the planes of her side, her arm, upwards to the line of her jaw, her lip. As she had once before, she kissed the palm of his hand, cradling her face into it.

"Good night, Just Gamling."

Contentment washed over him, the thought...

***Forever. I want this forever...***

"Aefre-"

She looked up, the question in her eyes.

"I... I... I've decided on a stud fee..."

***
Tbc
***

A/N

Pandorag - Yes, Bruce is reading it and that's why THIS particular chapter took so long to write. Hard to write sex when the person who played the character one is writing about is reading it. GAAAAH!

TexelJay - Thank you for reading. Forth Eorlingas was a strange chapter to write - I put my head down and 25 minutes later - Joila! chapter! I threw it into spellcheck and sent to my beta who told me do NOT consider putting anything else with it. I think it stands well on it's own. As for the Siblings Terrible, I think Eomer is going to get his...

Seansbeanie - well, it's funny, actually. I had received word that someone had given the first 24 chapters to him the week before at TFF and she TOLD him I would be at Dragoncon. I damn near cancelled! (But my son was insistant. We had been saving and looking forward to it all year) When I talked with him at his table and I finally introduced myself, and the required hugs and smoochies passed around, he looked at me with his patented Bruce twinkle and said - 'I'm reading your story. I've read THE chapter.' I just died - OMG, you're reading my smut? "Yes." Well, there goes the Close Encouters of the Pastry Kind chapter. He SEEMED to be enjoying it. For all I know, he just flipped through it and was being nice. But it was a weird kind of rush... scary, but a rush. As for the story - Gamling's mother - I'm RIGHT fond of her! I had not intended to introduce any of Gamling's family, but decided as I went, it would do to fill out his character and background. So she has been a lot of fun.

Juliette - It is always a pleasure to hear from you. Thank you so much for sticking with this silliness. Yes, he knows, and hmmm... as for the wedding... who knows if or when that will happen. there are some bumps in the road... as for Bruce... I think I've covered that. Scary and a rush at the same time.

Crye 4 Me - Well, the shite hasn't stopped yet, thank you.

Moi - I'm glad you finally found this one. Of everything I've written, this is my favorite! (probably because of the ordinariness and the normalcy of the couple.) I think the Rohirrim singing would have been an awesome effect in the movie - although just the thundering hooves did it for me. Chills down the spine, don't you know? Elves and Wizards are nice, but in the end, don't most of us want a real man? (Or I should say, someone REAL to hold onto?) ANd what name to you write under? I would love to read your stuff.

Sister Kitty - you could have started in the middle. That's where the sex was at! :-D Thank you for reading... what? 26 chapters... did you do that in a sitting???

Everyone else - thank you for reading. My bunnies have been on a tangent and right now i have 28 and 29 committed to the harddrive, as well as 30 being well started and the 34th chapter of The Monster Child from Hell (Tel' Lindar) half done. All three Muses have been talking at the same time and yelling and I have a headache!!!! Not to mention, I'm heavily involved in a fund raiser for The Gathering of the Fellowship. (Forgive the shameless plug - I've not done that before!) and so I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends. Thanks again!

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Rider of the Mark