#;third age

It was one of those moments that split Thera neatly in two. On one side was the astonishment that he'd actually said such a thing; on the other, the far cockier part of her that thought, 'Finally!'

She was well past the age of a blushing maiden (indeed she was a midwife, far from naive), and over the past few months ... well, she'd noticed. Glances, smiles, touches that may have been casual or may not. Enough for warmth to reach her skin, enough to wonder - or in other moments to be almost sure!

" ... Love." She picked out the word with a lift of lip corners, gently amused. The thought didn't displease her at all, but ... "You are so dramatic!" She turned his hand in both of hers, examining the long fingers, before lifting them to press a kiss to the backs. It felt so natural, so smooth, as if it were not the first time but a gesture between them every day. And that was the crux of it, was it not?

[Clothes Swap Meme from @ranasta, for Elrond.]

"Is that my shirt?" ------------

"Is it?" The lilt in Thera's voice, the bat of her lashes, toed a line; one between not being certain the tunic was his and not being surprised. She hadn't known for sure when she picked it up, but it hadn't been a difficult guess. The shoulder points wilted on either side, broader than her ability to fill them, and the hem brushed below mid thigh, over also-borrowed trousers loose in the leg.

"There was an incident at the Healing Hall," She explained, wry beneath the brightness of her tone, "involving the return of someone's lunch. My clothes are at the laundry, and they bid me take something from the basket to preserve my modesty."

[Said to my Cat Meme from @ranasta for Elrond,]

“I bought two boxes and thought it would last.” ------------

"Wellll," Thera drew out the word, "It might have done ... if not for every duck in this section of the lake knowing you for a pushover."

Those same ducks still paddled around a couple of feet from the shore, beady eyes watching Elrond and his almost-empty boxes that had started out full of carrot cake and blueberry scones. Thera was watching him, too, smirk on her lips as she perched in a low fork of a fig tree that had entwined itself with a support of the Elven building above.

['Pinned' Meme from @tidalhaired.]

PINNED ------------

"Elrond, no!" More a laugh than a yelp, though both were carried in the sound, "These are mine!"

'These' were the wrapped package of freshly baked biscuits Thera was pulling back against her chest, a move that only helped the aroma drift all the more. Oatmeal and honey, gifted by the grateful wife of a stubborn husband, who had finally been convinced to seek a Healer's aid.

Her protest against sharing was just as serious as his attempt at stealing one (which is to say not at all) - but in the spirit she played as if the opposite was true. Unfortunate, therefore, that she misjudged her step - ducked perhaps when she should have dodged - and found herself bailed up against the wall just short of the door. Caught, in a way that of Elrond had truly wished to pilfer a treat, there was no escape.

Elrond might not know it, but his bright laughter leaned close to sabotaging his words. Even as she joined in, Thera felt a small, wry tickle of guilt for drawing him so. Better, perhaps, to have kept her own counsel as sense ... did not dictate, for she was almost certain to pursue the curiosity herself. But perhaps she should not be luring him into it as well?

The gamin sparkle in his eye drew those doubts to a sharpened point, but alas it was already too late.

"It may be dangerous." A quiet warning, small grimace of her lips and shoulder rise and fall, "I don't know. Rumour has it that there's some kind of ... building in the mountains east of here. It seems ancient and abandoned, but those who have seen it claim it's not built in the manner of any race they know."

[Show a Little Skin Meme from @ranasta for Elrond.]

"My dear Thera, I wish you a very happy birthday." Elrond opened the small box and revealed the ring he had commissioned for her. The stone was alexandrite that shimmered in the colours of the dawning morning (delivered to him by his good friend Durin) and Elrond had guessed the size of the loop. Hopefully it fit on her finger. "May this ring bring you joy and remind you to think of me when we're apart."

Her very first inkling was to expect a joke. Maybe accompanied by fresh biscuits and light Elven wine, but still only camaraderie and teasing they usually shared. Indeed, that last would have sufficed, under stars or by lantern light, all by itself.

Therefore, the sight of the little box by itself gave her pause - and then when it was opened it was as if her lungs had momentarily ceased to function. "Elrond, that's ... " Her hands reached to accept the gift, even as words fell, unbidden. "Are you serious? Something so fine for me?" Clearly so, and she studied the ring in awe before looking back to his face, smile flickering, just barely, in a mask of pure surprise.

[Frisky Phrasing Meme from @ranasta for Elrond.]

“Just come to bed with me, I can’t wait any longer.” ------------

Blink? Stare? Blink-blink?

Only a few seconds but it felt like hours, the urge of not letting him know he'd knocked the wind out of her struggling against the fact that he very much had. She stood there, pale skin tinted amber by the lights, watching Elrond's face for the joke she expected - ignoring the reactions that had fallen over each other like stones being tumbled.

Because of course he was kidding, yes? Jesting with her in the hopes of getting exactly this sort of response. Her scrutiny remained, looking for the smirk, the tell. He was bluffing, or talking about a nap, or ... pride yanked at her mental sleeve, refusing to stand there like a stunned fish any longer. The tumbling stones slowed, considered the consequences of each possibility. Thera exhaled, finished her drink and held out her hand.