Fic for Lady Korana- Part 8
Dec. 10th, 2008 11:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalJust under the wire before midnight my time :-)
Title: Currently Untitled
Author: tarotgal
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Rating: PG
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Disclaimer: Not mine! No money made! Please don’t sue!
Summary: A series of events in their lives.
Series so far: Prologue, Mislead, Torment, Deceit, Messages, Assistance, Mistakes, Certainty
Bliss
“iihhh-HihShhh!”
Gimli glanced back over his shoulder. “Are you certain you do not want to just go home, my love?”
Legolas sniffed and shook his head. “It cannot be helped, I am afraid, unless we wish to go hungry.”
Gimli made a derisive noise. “We will not starve, whatever happens. We can always go hunting.”
“hehh-IHShhhhh!”
“I can always go hunting,” he corrected himself. He gestured for Legolas to come closer, and Legolas obeyed, bending over and hugging the wooden basket to his chest. Gimli held his hand to Legolas’ head for a few moments, carefully evaluating. “Are you feeling any worse?”
Legolas shook his head against Gimli’s hand. “I am only suffering from a sniffle right now. But there is no reason to waste our time. The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can journey back… huhh-home. Ihshihh!”
“Do you need a handkerchief?” Gimli asked concernedly.
Legolas shook his head again and straightened back up. “When I do, you will be the first to know.” His eyes squinted and closed and his chest rose with a breath. “hhhhh-Ehptshhhhh!”
Gimli stood there, musing and grumbling. “We should head home,” he mumbled.
But Legolas reached down and stroked Gimli’s cheek. “When we are finished here at the market, we can head home.”
Gimli started to say something else, but held his tongue quite uncharacteristically. He led them onward. The two visited the nearest town market regularly every few weeks. This time, however, they had not been in nearly a month. Their supplies were running lower than usual so it could not wait any longer. The market was always busy, as it served so many in the area and beyond. It was also a popular place for traders passing through towards the woods or the mountains. On any given day, you might find nothing but food or you might find treasures; there was no way to know. But all Gimli had his eye on today were the necessities. “We need some hay for the barn and some fresh fruit for us. And we could probably use some—”
“Gimli?” Legolas’ nose and ears twitched. “I think I need that huh-handkerchief n-now.”
Stepping up on a box against one of the tables, Gimli could reach his elf’s face. He held the handkerchief up, waiting patiently. “huhhh-Chih-shooo!”
“Finished?” Gimli asked. Legolas nodded. “Good. Then blow your nose.” Legolas obeyed. “Again.” Legolas hesitated, then blew his nose again into the handkerchief. Gimli folded the cloth, wiped Legolas’ nose, and insisted. “Once more.”
“Gibli, I do dot deed—”
“Yes, you do need. I can hear the sniffles and flutters in your breathing. Now blow your nose so we can finish making our purchases.”
Legolas blew his nose.
“Good elf,” the dwarf soothed. “Now, the fruit…” He steered them down one row of stands to another. Soon the basket held not only flour and sugar, but a dozen apples. As Gimli’s coin pouch grew lighter, Legolas’ basket grew heavier. “Do you need some help with that?” Gimli asked, looking back at the elf.
With a shake of his head, “I can handle the food. It is only…”
“Do you need to sneeze again?”
Legolas smiled shyly. “I suppose I do. There is a little tickle in my nose… and getting stronger.”
Gimli motioned for Legolas to kneel and dug the handkerchief out of his pocket again. He stroked Legolas’ head while they waited. Legolas’ breathing was irregular and his eyes were closed. “ihhh… heh-hihhhhh… ep-hep-Ihtchhhhh!” Legolas snapped forward. “ehgggggshuhh! Sniff! hehShihhh!” Each sneeze was strong, all-encompassing, and soon Legolas was forced to set the food down and lean against his dwarf for support. “eehh-IH-shoo! ihhhChoo! Huh-huh-huhShuhhh!”
As the day went on, the sun went down. Soon the sun was only just above the treetops and it was chilly outside. The cold weather made Gimli all the more concerned. As chill bumps rose up and down his arms, Gimli nodded towards the nearby inn. “Perhaps you should go in and stay warm while I finish?” the dwarf suggested.
Legolas shook his head and stood up against Gimli. “I wish to stay with you.” He sniffled and wrinkled his nose rather cutely.
Gimli stared the elf down. “No. I have made up my mind. You will go and I will collect you when I am done. You need warmth and comfort. ”
“Actually,” countered Legolas. “I need… ihhh…” Eyes closed and chest heaving. “ihshhhhhhhh!” The sneeze was free and unrestrained, and it bent him over a little, accommodating a second sneeze. “hihhShhhh!”
Gimli was not moved. He still looked gruff and worried he took the handkerchief out again. “Come close, elf. Let me tend to your nose a bit more.”
Legolas bent over and Gimli fussed over him, rubbing at the elf’s nose. When a sneeze seemed to be forthcoming, Gimli ran a finger against the outer ridge of Legolas’ ear. The tip twitched more violently and Legolas’ eyes closed. Gimli stroked again, caressing gently, repetitively, until the twitching slowed and then stopped. Legolas opened his eyes, and their blue depths held relief. “May I sniff blow my nose, love?”
Readjusting his grip, Gimli gave a nod. Legolas blew his nose in several, small exhalations. But after a few blows he was cut off by a sudden, violent sneeze. “IHHHChoo!” He rubbed his nose into the handkerchief and sniffed a few times. “Sorry,” he said, his voice sounding stuffy and tired.
“That is it,” Gimli said decisively. “I will not see you suffer like this. You need to be at home.” He wiped Legolas’ nose for him. “No arguments, elf. We are going.”
The wagon trip back home was slow but steady. Arod knew the way well, allowing Gimli to snuggle with Legolas and supply him with a handkerchief. The elf nodded off several times, but mostly he sat there sniffling and snuggling up against his dwarf to keep warm. Even the thick blanket they had wrapped around the two of them did not keep the chill away completely.
When they arrived at their home, Gimli took the blanket from around himself and wrapped it more tightly around Legolas. “Go in and get under the covers.” Legolas hesitated. “I will be at your side in a couple of minutes.”
As the elf went inside, Gimli unhooked the horse and led him to the barn. He fed and watered his friend and then collected the food from the wagon, leaving the bales of hay there to deal with later. He brought the food inside and headed straight for the bedroom, but did not find the elf there. After a quick search of the house, he found Legolas in the sitting room, in front of the fireplace, shivering and sniffling.
Gimli kissed the top of Legolas’ head, then quickly set to work building a fire. He winced at each uncovered sneeze he heard.
“Gimli?” Legolas called.
“Just one moment more,” Gimli promised. He added one more stick to the fire and then nodded approvingly at the dancing flames. The moment he finished, he snuggled back up to Legolas, under the blanket, a clean handkerchief at the ready.
Gimli was more than attentive and completely devoted. Now Legolas barely had to do more than breathe funny in warning. At the mere hitch of breath, Gimli usually had the handkerchief up, awaiting the next sneeze. This time, however, it took a little more. “Gim… hihhh… I need...” Gimli raised the handkerchief, pressing it to Legolas’ face. Legolas’ eyes were already closed but he wore a look of concentration and his body rocked slightly with each breath. “ihhh… ihhh…” It seemed to stay there a moment, tickling playfully. Finally it struck. “IhhhhSchuhhhhhh!”
“That was a big one,” Gimli commented. “Galu.”
Legolas nodded in agreement and rubbed his nose into the handkerchief. “Thank you.”
Gimli nodded back. Then Legolas tiled his head and rested it against Gimli’s, using the dwarf as a pillow. “Legolas?” Gimli asked. “I do not mean to sound as though I am complaining. Believe me, I am not. I am perfectly happy.” He tightened his hold around Legolas. “But I have wanted to ask you a question for quite some time.”
“Go ahead. Sniff!”
“Well… I have wondered why you prefer I tend to you when you are ill.”
Legolas pulled back, blinking at his dwarf. “I should have thought that was obvious.”
Gimli chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose you like me to fuss over you?”
“I suppose you are right,” Legolas said, smiling. “But there is more to it.” Legolas took one of Gimli’s hands, slipping his fingers in-between and squeezing. “I must warn you. It is silly.”
“Silly? You?”
Legolas breathed in deeply, sniffled a few times, and then explained. “You and I, Gimli, are warriors. We are hunters, fighters. We were part of the fellowship and part of the war. We are both heirs of leaders who could not claim softness and mercy as their dominant traits. We are tough and hard but in you, Gimli, I see such tenderness. I see it when you look at me. I see it when you make love to me. And I see it the most when I am a bit sneezy and you take care of me.” Legolas sniffed and rubbed at his nose. “And when I am ill, it is the one time I do not have to be strong. And nothing makes me happier than when you are looking after me.” Gimli squeezed the elf’s hand. “Do you see how silly it is?”
Gimli shook his head. “It is just as silly as me feeling happy when I get to look after you. You, my strong elf, actually needing me.” He laughed.
“At the market, earlier, you were not as annoyed with me as you seemed.”
“Not remotely. I was merely concerned about you.”
Legolas pressed his lips to Gimli’s cheek. “I love when you are concerned about me,” he whispered. “And I… I ne-eed you—” Gimli quickly readied a handkerchief. Legolas hugged Gimli close as he nuzzled his face into the handkerchief. “hihShoo! ihhhShihhh!”
Title: Currently Untitled
Author: tarotgal
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Rating: PG
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Disclaimer: Not mine! No money made! Please don’t sue!
Summary: A series of events in their lives.
Series so far: Prologue, Mislead, Torment, Deceit, Messages, Assistance, Mistakes, Certainty
Bliss
“iihhh-HihShhh!”
Gimli glanced back over his shoulder. “Are you certain you do not want to just go home, my love?”
Legolas sniffed and shook his head. “It cannot be helped, I am afraid, unless we wish to go hungry.”
Gimli made a derisive noise. “We will not starve, whatever happens. We can always go hunting.”
“hehh-IHShhhhh!”
“I can always go hunting,” he corrected himself. He gestured for Legolas to come closer, and Legolas obeyed, bending over and hugging the wooden basket to his chest. Gimli held his hand to Legolas’ head for a few moments, carefully evaluating. “Are you feeling any worse?”
Legolas shook his head against Gimli’s hand. “I am only suffering from a sniffle right now. But there is no reason to waste our time. The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can journey back… huhh-home. Ihshihh!”
“Do you need a handkerchief?” Gimli asked concernedly.
Legolas shook his head again and straightened back up. “When I do, you will be the first to know.” His eyes squinted and closed and his chest rose with a breath. “hhhhh-Ehptshhhhh!”
Gimli stood there, musing and grumbling. “We should head home,” he mumbled.
But Legolas reached down and stroked Gimli’s cheek. “When we are finished here at the market, we can head home.”
Gimli started to say something else, but held his tongue quite uncharacteristically. He led them onward. The two visited the nearest town market regularly every few weeks. This time, however, they had not been in nearly a month. Their supplies were running lower than usual so it could not wait any longer. The market was always busy, as it served so many in the area and beyond. It was also a popular place for traders passing through towards the woods or the mountains. On any given day, you might find nothing but food or you might find treasures; there was no way to know. But all Gimli had his eye on today were the necessities. “We need some hay for the barn and some fresh fruit for us. And we could probably use some—”
“Gimli?” Legolas’ nose and ears twitched. “I think I need that huh-handkerchief n-now.”
Stepping up on a box against one of the tables, Gimli could reach his elf’s face. He held the handkerchief up, waiting patiently. “huhhh-Chih-shooo!”
“Finished?” Gimli asked. Legolas nodded. “Good. Then blow your nose.” Legolas obeyed. “Again.” Legolas hesitated, then blew his nose again into the handkerchief. Gimli folded the cloth, wiped Legolas’ nose, and insisted. “Once more.”
“Gibli, I do dot deed—”
“Yes, you do need. I can hear the sniffles and flutters in your breathing. Now blow your nose so we can finish making our purchases.”
Legolas blew his nose.
“Good elf,” the dwarf soothed. “Now, the fruit…” He steered them down one row of stands to another. Soon the basket held not only flour and sugar, but a dozen apples. As Gimli’s coin pouch grew lighter, Legolas’ basket grew heavier. “Do you need some help with that?” Gimli asked, looking back at the elf.
With a shake of his head, “I can handle the food. It is only…”
“Do you need to sneeze again?”
Legolas smiled shyly. “I suppose I do. There is a little tickle in my nose… and getting stronger.”
Gimli motioned for Legolas to kneel and dug the handkerchief out of his pocket again. He stroked Legolas’ head while they waited. Legolas’ breathing was irregular and his eyes were closed. “ihhh… heh-hihhhhh… ep-hep-Ihtchhhhh!” Legolas snapped forward. “ehgggggshuhh! Sniff! hehShihhh!” Each sneeze was strong, all-encompassing, and soon Legolas was forced to set the food down and lean against his dwarf for support. “eehh-IH-shoo! ihhhChoo! Huh-huh-huhShuhhh!”
As the day went on, the sun went down. Soon the sun was only just above the treetops and it was chilly outside. The cold weather made Gimli all the more concerned. As chill bumps rose up and down his arms, Gimli nodded towards the nearby inn. “Perhaps you should go in and stay warm while I finish?” the dwarf suggested.
Legolas shook his head and stood up against Gimli. “I wish to stay with you.” He sniffled and wrinkled his nose rather cutely.
Gimli stared the elf down. “No. I have made up my mind. You will go and I will collect you when I am done. You need warmth and comfort. ”
“Actually,” countered Legolas. “I need… ihhh…” Eyes closed and chest heaving. “ihshhhhhhhh!” The sneeze was free and unrestrained, and it bent him over a little, accommodating a second sneeze. “hihhShhhh!”
Gimli was not moved. He still looked gruff and worried he took the handkerchief out again. “Come close, elf. Let me tend to your nose a bit more.”
Legolas bent over and Gimli fussed over him, rubbing at the elf’s nose. When a sneeze seemed to be forthcoming, Gimli ran a finger against the outer ridge of Legolas’ ear. The tip twitched more violently and Legolas’ eyes closed. Gimli stroked again, caressing gently, repetitively, until the twitching slowed and then stopped. Legolas opened his eyes, and their blue depths held relief. “May I sniff blow my nose, love?”
Readjusting his grip, Gimli gave a nod. Legolas blew his nose in several, small exhalations. But after a few blows he was cut off by a sudden, violent sneeze. “IHHHChoo!” He rubbed his nose into the handkerchief and sniffed a few times. “Sorry,” he said, his voice sounding stuffy and tired.
“That is it,” Gimli said decisively. “I will not see you suffer like this. You need to be at home.” He wiped Legolas’ nose for him. “No arguments, elf. We are going.”
The wagon trip back home was slow but steady. Arod knew the way well, allowing Gimli to snuggle with Legolas and supply him with a handkerchief. The elf nodded off several times, but mostly he sat there sniffling and snuggling up against his dwarf to keep warm. Even the thick blanket they had wrapped around the two of them did not keep the chill away completely.
When they arrived at their home, Gimli took the blanket from around himself and wrapped it more tightly around Legolas. “Go in and get under the covers.” Legolas hesitated. “I will be at your side in a couple of minutes.”
As the elf went inside, Gimli unhooked the horse and led him to the barn. He fed and watered his friend and then collected the food from the wagon, leaving the bales of hay there to deal with later. He brought the food inside and headed straight for the bedroom, but did not find the elf there. After a quick search of the house, he found Legolas in the sitting room, in front of the fireplace, shivering and sniffling.
Gimli kissed the top of Legolas’ head, then quickly set to work building a fire. He winced at each uncovered sneeze he heard.
“Gimli?” Legolas called.
“Just one moment more,” Gimli promised. He added one more stick to the fire and then nodded approvingly at the dancing flames. The moment he finished, he snuggled back up to Legolas, under the blanket, a clean handkerchief at the ready.
Gimli was more than attentive and completely devoted. Now Legolas barely had to do more than breathe funny in warning. At the mere hitch of breath, Gimli usually had the handkerchief up, awaiting the next sneeze. This time, however, it took a little more. “Gim… hihhh… I need...” Gimli raised the handkerchief, pressing it to Legolas’ face. Legolas’ eyes were already closed but he wore a look of concentration and his body rocked slightly with each breath. “ihhh… ihhh…” It seemed to stay there a moment, tickling playfully. Finally it struck. “IhhhhSchuhhhhhh!”
“That was a big one,” Gimli commented. “Galu.”
Legolas nodded in agreement and rubbed his nose into the handkerchief. “Thank you.”
Gimli nodded back. Then Legolas tiled his head and rested it against Gimli’s, using the dwarf as a pillow. “Legolas?” Gimli asked. “I do not mean to sound as though I am complaining. Believe me, I am not. I am perfectly happy.” He tightened his hold around Legolas. “But I have wanted to ask you a question for quite some time.”
“Go ahead. Sniff!”
“Well… I have wondered why you prefer I tend to you when you are ill.”
Legolas pulled back, blinking at his dwarf. “I should have thought that was obvious.”
Gimli chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose you like me to fuss over you?”
“I suppose you are right,” Legolas said, smiling. “But there is more to it.” Legolas took one of Gimli’s hands, slipping his fingers in-between and squeezing. “I must warn you. It is silly.”
“Silly? You?”
Legolas breathed in deeply, sniffled a few times, and then explained. “You and I, Gimli, are warriors. We are hunters, fighters. We were part of the fellowship and part of the war. We are both heirs of leaders who could not claim softness and mercy as their dominant traits. We are tough and hard but in you, Gimli, I see such tenderness. I see it when you look at me. I see it when you make love to me. And I see it the most when I am a bit sneezy and you take care of me.” Legolas sniffed and rubbed at his nose. “And when I am ill, it is the one time I do not have to be strong. And nothing makes me happier than when you are looking after me.” Gimli squeezed the elf’s hand. “Do you see how silly it is?”
Gimli shook his head. “It is just as silly as me feeling happy when I get to look after you. You, my strong elf, actually needing me.” He laughed.
“At the market, earlier, you were not as annoyed with me as you seemed.”
“Not remotely. I was merely concerned about you.”
Legolas pressed his lips to Gimli’s cheek. “I love when you are concerned about me,” he whispered. “And I… I ne-eed you—” Gimli quickly readied a handkerchief. Legolas hugged Gimli close as he nuzzled his face into the handkerchief. “hihShoo! ihhhShihhh!”
no subject
Date: 2008-12-11 07:42 pm (UTC)The sniffly elf was delectable, as usual! My compliments! ;-)
I had to laugh at Gimli stepping up on a box to reach Legolas (sorry Gimli!). Shades of TTT and the Deeping Wall comment there.*G* But I also had to laugh at Legolas during that section because at that moment he was behaving rather like a small child, and Gimli was pretty much treating him like one. I almost felt a bit embarassed on Legolas's behalf; despite all the other things I like about sf fics, I truly cannot ever picture myself letting someone 'tend' to me quite like that, for whatever reason, and certainly not in public. Cuddles, kisses, caresses, snuggling...I'm all for that though!
However, Legolas's lovely explanation at the end really goes a long way towards explaining why he not only allows it, but welcomes it. Oh how I love my tough guys that can be tender when they're together! And the part about being concerned totally made me melt! Concern and caring is the magical element in H/C fics that really hits the spot, it really is. *Sigh*
Thanks again for this wonderful ongoing gift!
(Also, that particular TW mood theme scene is one of my favorite little shots in series two. A lot of my anger about Gwen and Jack making googly eyes at each other melts away when I see how cute a pair of friends Gwen and Ianto make. I don't see any tension between them, just Ianto being the thoughtful perfect gentleman and Gwen giving him a smile or cheering him up a bit. She's also the only other team member that touches him other than Jack, that I can think of...little pats or touches here and there, a kiss on the cheek to thank him for the wedding dress. Anyway, I think they're adorable as friends, and him offering her his arm is extremely sweet!)