Beyond Time and Space
By Deanie and Serena
February 2003

Answer to Jinni's Quickie Challenge pairing 111 (more than 2000 words, but hey! We were two working on this.)
Crossover with Lord of the Rings. Willow/Legolas
Rating : NC17
Disclaimer : We own nothing, except the plot.

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My own little world.

I haven't named it yet. I don't think it needs a name. I just have to call it my own little world. I go there when life is getting to hard and I need to escape. It's my refuge, the only place where I am truly at peace. My magical refuge.

At first, I was alone. It took some time, but the loneliness finally caught up with me. I didn't want to be alone anymore. So I created him… or maybe a higher power sent him to me, I'm not sure. I'd prefer if he was real. Then maybe I'd spend less time in my own little world and more in the reality.

The first time I saw him, I had to rub my eyes and pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. He was so beautiful! And an elf! I'd never seen one before. I'm sure I was drooling and he didn't tell me. That would have been embarrassing. I had never seen a being as gorgeous. He had long silver-blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, fair skin and a silky voice. Legolas was is name, he told me.

Legolas. My own little elf.

We met There, in the world I created, where I could escape my glaring friends or the demons always trying to kill us. In this alternate reality I made, I didn't have to fear myself or to cringe everytime someone fearfully stared at me. No. Legolas wasn't scared of me. He understood perfectly that the pull of the dark was strong… but it just made me stronger because I was able to pull back from it. When I had the chance to completly dive in darkness, I refused. And that made me even stronger than evil Willow.

After some time, I started to believe in what Legolas told me. I always knew deep down that he was right, but my guilty mind wouldn't let me be free or all the horrors I had done. It happened gradually, but I was finaly able to be happy, to believe in myself and to stop hitting being guilty.

There was just a small problem.

This world had been created for the only purpose of escaping real life. It was a refuge. My own world. Legolas' therapy gave me the will to live in the real world, the one where were the glaring friends and the fear filled looks. The world I had created had no purpose anymore. It didn't have any utility left.

But Legolas was part of this world. If I destroyed that world, he would be gone also. I wasn't yet ready to part with him. I didn't know if I could be ready one day. He had been my anchor, my light…

He had been the only one to truly believe in me.

But if I wanted to start living again, I had no choice. The world I created had to go… as well as the man… elf who had made me feel strong and happy. No matter if he was a figment of my imagination or a true being, I wouldn't see him after closing the gate to my own little world. The destruction was needed. But before, I had to say goodbye. And do something I had waited too long to do, even I strongly desired it.

It would be the last chance I had to kiss him.

* * *

I had not known what to expect when Iluvatar had called me here, to this world between imagination and reality, to her.

She was so beautiful, with her hair gleaming like fire, her green eyes sparkling like precious jewels. But her eyes were haunted by secrets so terrible she'd fled her reality for this world.

She did not wish to tell me of the things that made her so sad and weary. I sensed her fear - she believed that if I knew her truth, I would flee, as all of her purported 'friends' had.

She was wrong.

From the moment I first saw her, nothing could have forced me to leave her side. Nothing she could have done would be horrible enough for me to abandon her. For though she had once welcomed evil, her heart was still pure. She had faced the darkness, faced more evil and temptation than most could hope to overcome, and she had triumphed. The shadows had not taken her soul.

I wished I could make her see herself through my eyes. How her kind heart and gentle spirit had soothed the soul of a weary elf who had seen too much to hold onto his own hope. After thousands of years of life, I was disenchanted with my world, with the people who had gone back to their petty squabbles and civil wars, forgetting how the people of Middle Earth had once united to fight back Sauron's evil.

Every day with her was paradise, and my heart filled with joy just to look upon her face. But this wasn't reality, not for either of us, and it could not last forever.

Each word I spoke gave her confidence in herself, helped her find her peace. I wanted to stay quiet, as if I could keep her here with my silence.

But it was not to be. She was strong again, ready to face her reality.

She was leaving. This time never to return. We would not be together again. All we had was this moment, and it would have to be enough to last a lifetime.

* * *

Her eyes were wet with tears she was trying not to shed, her steps slow. Willow, like Legolas, knew that this would be the end for their love.

She stopped mere inches away from him. They'd been physically close before, but this was different. The air hummed with the richness of their emotions. "Legolas," she whispered. "I..."

He stopped her with one finger on her parted lips. No words were necessary this night. They could not whisper sweet words of love, promises for the future, but they were not yet ready to say their final goodbyes.

Legolas stared deeply into her eyes, hoping he'd see his desire mirrored there. He was not disappointed. Love and longing were evident in her bright green eyes.

Slowly he dipped his head, giving her time to pull away if this was not what she intended. Instead, she lifted herself up on her toes, moving closer until their lips met.

His kiss was hesitant, as if he were afraid this moment was merely a dream. He made her feel so cherished. But she wanted more. Wanted to feel his hands on her body, sharing previously undiscovered passion. She'd never been the aggressor before, but with Legolas, anything was possible. She needed him. Her hands crept up behind his neck, burying themselves in his hair, pulling him down to deepen the kiss.

His tongue gently slipped past her lips to probe the warm recesses of her mouth. She was intoxicating. He would be content to spend eternity here, simply kissing the beautiful woman he now held in his arms. He drank in the sweet nectar of her kisses while his arms slipped around her waist to pull her flush against his body. One hand roamed up her back, cupping her neck to hold her mouth next to his, while the other traveled downward, cupping her buttocks and holding her to him.

Willow gasped as her body made contact with his. She could feel his erection through the fabric of their pants. No more escaping reality. This was real, here and now. She brought her lips back to his, devouring his mouth, pressing herself into his body, desperate to get closer. She felt his belt digging into her stomach - it had to go.

Her hand brushed against his groin as she undid his belt and flung it to the ground. Legolas tensed, feeling himself grow even harder with one simple touch. He was already aroused beyond anything he'd ever felt before, and they were both still fully clothed. He ground his pelvis into hers, relishing the pleasure-pain of the contact.

Willow's head rolled back as his lips left hers to journey down her neck, his tongue darting out to lick the sweat off her heated body. She whimpered as he slowly worked his way back up to her ear, lightly nipping at the lobe with his teeth.

Everywhere his hands touched she was on fire. Imagine what he could do with bare skin... Her body rocked against his, a prelude to the age-old dance. She wanted him inside of her. Now. "Legolas, please," she moaned.

Willow sagged against him, as if her shaky legs could no longer support her weight. In one swift motion he swept her up in his arms, never breaking the kiss.

He carried her over to a shady spot in the glade, and gently set her down on her feet. He spread his cloak out on the ground, making a soft bed for them to lie upon. He gracefully sat down, holding one hand out to her and pulling her down onto his lap.

Willow straddled his legs, acutely conscious that only the fabric of their pants separated them. She leaned in to kiss him and was soon swept away by the passion that threatened to consume them both.

He pulled her t-shirt free from her jeans, allowing his hands to roam over her bare back. His fingertips left little trails of fire in their wake. Willow smiled against his lips, loving his hand on her bare skin - but that wasn't where she needed him to touch her.

Legolas felt lost as she pulled away from his kiss, but her mischievous smile told him she had other ideas in mind. She grabbed the hem of her shirt, ripping it off and throwing it to the ground, leaving her clad from the waist up in a silky peach bra.

"Bain," he whispered, so awed by her loveliness that his English was momentarily forgotten. "Beautiful," he translated, his lips trailing down her chest to nuzzle her exposed cleavage.

She arched against him, supported only by his hands on her back. His wicked lips were driving her crazy, but she still wanted more, now. Reaching back, Willow undid the clasp on her bra, sliding the straps down her shoulder and tossing away the scrap of silk, leaving herself completely exposed to her gaze.

He stared at her reverently. Iluvatar had truly given him a rare gift when he had been sent here to his Willow. She was exquisite, her ivory skin so soft, so touchable. His hands cupped her breasts, thumbs lightly dancing over her erect nipples. He heard her harsh breathing, watched her eyes darken with desire as he gently stroked her sensitive flesh.

One hand came up behind his head, guiding him down to her breast. His rough tongue teased her nipples before his mouth captured the part of her that so desperately wanted its touch. She moaned as his hands and lips paid homage to her aching body.

Her hands itched to touch him as he touched her, but were frustrated by the barrier of his shirt. "Someone has too many clothes on," she whispered, tugging at the offending garment.

Legolas reluctantly pulled away long enough to slip his shirt over his head. He let her push him down onto his back, pulling her with him. He groaned at the delicious friction as she rubbed her breasts against his bare chest. Willow pressed open mouth kisses over his chest, licking and stroking her way down his body. Her lips gently brushed over his abs, her tongue lightly probing the hollow of his belly button.

"You're still wearing too many clothes," she teased. "But I can fix that."

Legolas lay back, motionless, simply watching her beautiful smile as she removed the rest of his clothing. No day in Valinor could be more perfect than this time here with Willow. He wanted to tell her of his love for her, but stayed silent. Now was the time for actions, not words.

Willow sat back, admiring the lean lines of his body, the play of soft skin over hard muscle, the firm length of his manhood standing erect ... He was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen, and he was all hers - at least for tonight.

"Now who has too many clothes, my lady?" Legolas asked, bringing her thoughts back to the immediate future - a night of love with the man of her dreams. She smiled as he pulled her back to him, laying her down on his cloak.

He made quick work of the buttons of her jeans, and soon had her lying completely naked beside him. Then he simply stared, unable to believe that the vision in front of him was his, even if only for this one night.

Willow's body burned under his intense stare. "What are you waiting for, my prince?" she asked with a smile. Legolas moved on top of her, supporting himself on his forearms so not to crush her with his weight. "Amin mela lle," he whispered, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. He loved her and had to tell her, even though she cold not understand his words.

The kiss deepened, growing out of control. He tore his mouth from hers, plundering her neck, whispering sweet Elvish words in her ears. She didn't know what he was saying, but she was beyond caring. All she wanted was him. Inside of her. Now.

"Legolas," she moaned, her body writing beneath his tender onslaught. "Please. I need you."

Their eyes met as he slid inside of her. Both were captivated by the passion they saw in each other's gaze. He drove himself into her and she met him thrust for thrust.

Ripples of pleasure spread throughout Willow's body, growing in intensity with each motion. She felt the scream building in her throat as they moved together, wild and out of control.

"Legolas!" she screamed his name as she tumbled over the edge. With a final thrust he found his release, calling out her name.

Afterward, they lay wrapped in each others arms, holding each other close as if they could stave off the passage of time that threatened to separate them.

She snuggled closer, her head resting on his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart as he held her tightly. "What were you saying?" she asked. "All the pretty Elvish words?"

He stroked her hair, willing this moment of peace to last forever. "I spoke of your beauty, your grace ... the way your hair gleams in the sunlight and your eyes sparkle under the stars ... of your strength and courage ..." He paused, the lump in his throat making it difficult for him to continue. "How much I will miss you..."

"Legolas," she whispered, her words stopped by his tender kiss.

"Hush, melamin," he whispered. "We both knew this could not be permanent, no matter how much we wished it could be so. We are from two separate worlds, and to there we must return. You are strong and clever and pure of heart. You will be just fine in your world."

"Just lonely without you."

"As I without you."

"But we can't be together," she whispered.

* * *

A human and an elf… or a witch and an elf. It couldn't work out… or so I told myself. I knew what I had to do. I had to cut the links I had with my own little magical world. The only place I could see Legolas, touch him, speak to him, feel him.

But my resolve was fast crumbling. My hands shook and my knuckles were white. I knew the best thing to do would be to destroy the world I had created. Doing it was an entirely other ordeal than thinking it.

I was strong enough now. Legolas had given me back the strenght I needed to live in my world, to face my fears. Once he was gone, I didn't know how long I'd last. He was my anchor. Even if I was strong, would it be enough to survive without his support, without his love?

The last time I went to my own little world, we both knew it was the last time we'd see each other. We didn't say goodbye. Just watched each other as I returned to my reality, as we both faded away. The tears in both our eyes were enough. We didn't need words anymore.

I sighed. It was time. I gathered the energy around me and felt the strings attaching me to the reality I had created to heal… then ripped them, making the world crumbled under my power. I had done it. My own little world was gone. It ceased to exist.

The way to Legolas was gone. I had cut off the link that guided me to him. It was over. Relationships between reality. It could never work out.

I think I stood there, staring off in space for ten minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. I said my goodbye to my world and my love, then turned around, ready to face my past, my fears, my friends, and build myself a new life without my true love.