Fic for Lady Korana- Part 9
Mar. 10th, 2009 01:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalHappy Birthday, Lady Korana! Sorry it's been a while since the last update of this story. There are still at least 2 parts left. I had it timed to finish on this birthday, but that darn real life got in the way. So for your birthday you get the next section AND the knowledge that there's still a few more parts to go :-)
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
Trade Off
“ihh-hihChihhhhhh!”
Gimli pulled his cheek from Legolas’ back and opened his eyes. “Bless.” He rubbed his hand up and down Legolas’ back, fingers applying pressure against the thick cloak fabric. “That is all I can take, elf.”
Legolas sniffled. “Snff-sniff! I’b all right, Gibli. Sniff!”
“You are sneezing again, and I would be mad to do nothing about that.”
Legolas jerked forward with another, sudden sneeze. “hihShuhh!”
“Lift your arms.”
Legolas hesitated. “Gibli…”
“Lift your arms, Legolas Love. I am taking the reins.”
Sniffling, Legolas straightened in the saddle. He lifted his arms and Gimli slipped his hands beneath. The hands found the reins and pried the elf’s hands off. They let Arod do most of the navigating, but there was only one path through these woods so there was little chance of getting lost. However, when they hit the fork in the road, Gimli asked the horse to go right while Legolas dug his heels in to direct him left. “Gibli, the caves are that way,” Legolas said, gesturing.
Gimli sighed. “And there is an inn less than a mile that way,” Gimli replied, pointing in the opposite direction. “It is a little out of the way, perhaps, but worth it for a hot meal and a hot fire this night.”
“I do dot deed—”
“I am afraid you do. If I had known you were coming down with a dreadful cold before we left, I would never have agreed to this trek. But, as it is too late for that, the least I can do is make certain you arrive in one piece. We may get there late, but at least we shall get there in the end.” And with that, Gimli dug his heel in and lifted his arm and the horse took the left path.
“ihhh…” Legolas sounded uncertain and leaned back a little as he was forced to take in deep, shaky breaths. “ihh-hehhh…” It sounded as if every bit of energy Legolas had within him was being channeled into the gradual build-up of the impending sneeze. Gimli gripped the elf between his arms, holding him tightly in place. His cheek pressed against Legolas’ back. And he whispered soft, soothing reassurances. Legolas’ only answer was a weak “ehpt-hihhh” followed by an only slightly more certain “hihhhh!” Then, finally, Legolas pitched forward with release. “hehShishhhhh!” Messy, strong, wet, and completely unrestrained.
Gimli blessed him, feeling relieved that soon they would be stopping to rest. There was a deadly chill in the air which would have worried Gimli otherwise. But with a nearby stopping point in sight, the harsh wind blowing Legolas’ silken blond hair back at him was far less worrisome.
Soon enough, the need to sneeze crept back upon Legolas. He tried to fight it at first, resisting the little series of “ih-hih-hih!” breaths that took hold of him. But then the little breaths became bigger gasps, and his body swayed weakly with each. “ihhhhhh…Gib… I-I… I hab to sdee-hept! Ih! Hih! Hih-CHIHHHH!” Legolas jerked forward in place.
Gimli hugged Legolas to him as best he could, without losing the reins. “Any more like that, and I shall be forced to strap you to this saddle for your own safety,” said Gimli.
Legolas shook with silent, elfish laughter that Gimli could feel instead of hear. “Is beig bound to you od horseback supbbsed to be a deterredt?” He attempted to take a breath through his nose but it was stuffed to fullness and the sound of the unsuccessful attempt made Gimli hug Legolas tighter in sympathy.
“You are still better at this than I am.”
With a tiny shrug to express what Gimli would not be able to see in his eyes, “You are doig a fide job with the horse.” Legolas leaned forward and patted Arod’s neck. “He is doig a fide job with you as… as well. heptiShhhhh!”
Gimli cleared his throat nervously at the compliment and concentrated on their pace. The sooner they arrived, the sooner the elf would be able to rest without risking falling off the horse.
However, the inn was less accommodating than Gimli had hoped for. Due to an impending snow storm, according to the village weather woman, the stable was packed full. Gimli and Legolas were forced to take Arod to the stables on the far side of town and hike back through the cold. They were both chilled to the bone and shivering when they reached the inn on foot, but the benefit was that Legolas was too sniffly and sneeze to protest now.
They stood outside, leaning against the side of the inn, and waited for Legolas’ nose to calm. “ihhh-ihh-IHHShihh!” Quivering uncertainly, “eh-hehh… add agaid… eh-HIHShhh! ketchihh!” Legolas blew his nose without being prompted, following it up with a few wet, clearing sort of sniffles.
Shaking his head because Gimli could still see the illness on Legolas’ face, Gimli knew there was only one thing to do. He went up on the tips of his toes and caught Legolas in a sudden, surprise kiss. The elf coughed to himself once then kissed back. When Gimli pulled back, Legolas’ face was glowing with a smile.
“Under control?” Gimli asked. He could have sworn he felt a snowflake hit him, and he resisted the urge to rush the elf inside where it was warm.
Legolas nodded. “Whatever habbeds, I shall dot sdeeze id frodt of the iddkeeber add give hib cause to toss us out.”
Gimli nodded agreeably and summoned up the strength he would need to tell a bold-faced lie if necessary. Legolas warmed himself by the fire as Gimli arranged for a room.
“Sorry ta tell ya, but we have only one small room left,” the gray-haired innkeeper told Gimli, leaning over the desk so he could look Gimli in the eye.
“I shall take it.” Gimli plunked his coin pouch down on the desk. Along with a jingle, Gimli could have sworn he heard a sniffle. Gimli felt his ears redden but knew it would be disastrous to call attention to Legolas just now, however concerned he was for the elf. With so many travelers and such bad weather nearly upon them, any innkeeper would be daft to knowingly let someone ill stay when there were alternative travelers.
Gimli squeezed between Legolas and the wall by the fireplace. “We have a room,” Gimli said. “Though there is a further complication.”
The key swung from Gimli’s hand as they walked up the second flight of stairs and found their room at the very end of the corridor. Gimli opened the door and let Legolas enter first. The elf stood there for a moment, sniffling softly and surveying the room. Then he burst out laughing. Gimli closed the door behind them and wrapped his arms around the laughing elf.
The room was small, but large enough for two single, dwarf-sized beds. “I am so sorry,” said Gimli. “It was the only room left.”
Legolas broke away and walked over to the beds. He pushed the two beds together. They were low to the floor, so he had to bend to lower himself onto them. But he curled up on his side and managed not to hit his head on the headboard. “I fit,” he insisted, though it was only just the truth.
Gimli laughed and knelt by the beds. He kissed Legolas deeply until the telltale sniffles reappeared. Then Gimli nuzzled his nose against Legolas’ sniffly, runny one. “How I wish you were not ill,” he said, digging a handkerchief out of his pocket.
Nodding back, Legolas took the hanky and rubbed his constantly ticklish nose. He buried his nose in the cloth, where even his breaths were muffled. “ihhh-ihh-Hihshfff! Eh-geh… heh-Cuhshfffff!” He snuffled and blew his nose. Then he met Gimli’s gaze. “I dow how buch you wadted to get to the caves toborrow.”
With a sigh, Gimli rolled his eyes. He stroked Legolas’ head, threading his fingers through the hair and lightly trailing his fingertips against Legolas’ temple. “I could not care less about the destination so long as my journey is with you.”
Legolas’ hand found Gimli’s, and their fingers wove together naturally, as if their hands were made for each other. “We have travelled throughout Middle Earth, you and I. This time I take the reins, I make the decisions, and I stay awake at night.”
“Gibli,” Legolas protested. “There is doe deed—”
“It is worth it to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of.”
Legolas smiled one of his rare, highly-expressive smiles. It was full of gratitude and love and everything that had made Gimli soft the first time he had seen it, all those years ago in Lothlórien. “The odly way I will be cobfortable is if you squeeze idto this idsadely sball bed with be add let be hold you close eved though I’ll be sdifflig.”
Gimli tilted his head to the side, sitting on the floor but sharing Legolas’ pillow. “This time, you fell ill even before we reached the caves. It is a pleasant change.”
Legolas looked amused. Amused and tired. His eyes fell closed and would not open again until morning. Gimli’s eyes stayed open and watched his elf’s every breath not because he worried someone might barge in and discover the elf was ill and not because he worried about Legolas’ sleep. He stayed awake because the night was a journey of its own and he wanted to savor it. He squeezed Legolas’ hand as it went heavy in his own.
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
Trade Off
“ihh-hihChihhhhhh!”
Gimli pulled his cheek from Legolas’ back and opened his eyes. “Bless.” He rubbed his hand up and down Legolas’ back, fingers applying pressure against the thick cloak fabric. “That is all I can take, elf.”
Legolas sniffled. “Snff-sniff! I’b all right, Gibli. Sniff!”
“You are sneezing again, and I would be mad to do nothing about that.”
Legolas jerked forward with another, sudden sneeze. “hihShuhh!”
“Lift your arms.”
Legolas hesitated. “Gibli…”
“Lift your arms, Legolas Love. I am taking the reins.”
Sniffling, Legolas straightened in the saddle. He lifted his arms and Gimli slipped his hands beneath. The hands found the reins and pried the elf’s hands off. They let Arod do most of the navigating, but there was only one path through these woods so there was little chance of getting lost. However, when they hit the fork in the road, Gimli asked the horse to go right while Legolas dug his heels in to direct him left. “Gibli, the caves are that way,” Legolas said, gesturing.
Gimli sighed. “And there is an inn less than a mile that way,” Gimli replied, pointing in the opposite direction. “It is a little out of the way, perhaps, but worth it for a hot meal and a hot fire this night.”
“I do dot deed—”
“I am afraid you do. If I had known you were coming down with a dreadful cold before we left, I would never have agreed to this trek. But, as it is too late for that, the least I can do is make certain you arrive in one piece. We may get there late, but at least we shall get there in the end.” And with that, Gimli dug his heel in and lifted his arm and the horse took the left path.
“ihhh…” Legolas sounded uncertain and leaned back a little as he was forced to take in deep, shaky breaths. “ihh-hehhh…” It sounded as if every bit of energy Legolas had within him was being channeled into the gradual build-up of the impending sneeze. Gimli gripped the elf between his arms, holding him tightly in place. His cheek pressed against Legolas’ back. And he whispered soft, soothing reassurances. Legolas’ only answer was a weak “ehpt-hihhh” followed by an only slightly more certain “hihhhh!” Then, finally, Legolas pitched forward with release. “hehShishhhhh!” Messy, strong, wet, and completely unrestrained.
Gimli blessed him, feeling relieved that soon they would be stopping to rest. There was a deadly chill in the air which would have worried Gimli otherwise. But with a nearby stopping point in sight, the harsh wind blowing Legolas’ silken blond hair back at him was far less worrisome.
Soon enough, the need to sneeze crept back upon Legolas. He tried to fight it at first, resisting the little series of “ih-hih-hih!” breaths that took hold of him. But then the little breaths became bigger gasps, and his body swayed weakly with each. “ihhhhhh…Gib… I-I… I hab to sdee-hept! Ih! Hih! Hih-CHIHHHH!” Legolas jerked forward in place.
Gimli hugged Legolas to him as best he could, without losing the reins. “Any more like that, and I shall be forced to strap you to this saddle for your own safety,” said Gimli.
Legolas shook with silent, elfish laughter that Gimli could feel instead of hear. “Is beig bound to you od horseback supbbsed to be a deterredt?” He attempted to take a breath through his nose but it was stuffed to fullness and the sound of the unsuccessful attempt made Gimli hug Legolas tighter in sympathy.
“You are still better at this than I am.”
With a tiny shrug to express what Gimli would not be able to see in his eyes, “You are doig a fide job with the horse.” Legolas leaned forward and patted Arod’s neck. “He is doig a fide job with you as… as well. heptiShhhhh!”
Gimli cleared his throat nervously at the compliment and concentrated on their pace. The sooner they arrived, the sooner the elf would be able to rest without risking falling off the horse.
However, the inn was less accommodating than Gimli had hoped for. Due to an impending snow storm, according to the village weather woman, the stable was packed full. Gimli and Legolas were forced to take Arod to the stables on the far side of town and hike back through the cold. They were both chilled to the bone and shivering when they reached the inn on foot, but the benefit was that Legolas was too sniffly and sneeze to protest now.
They stood outside, leaning against the side of the inn, and waited for Legolas’ nose to calm. “ihhh-ihh-IHHShihh!” Quivering uncertainly, “eh-hehh… add agaid… eh-HIHShhh! ketchihh!” Legolas blew his nose without being prompted, following it up with a few wet, clearing sort of sniffles.
Shaking his head because Gimli could still see the illness on Legolas’ face, Gimli knew there was only one thing to do. He went up on the tips of his toes and caught Legolas in a sudden, surprise kiss. The elf coughed to himself once then kissed back. When Gimli pulled back, Legolas’ face was glowing with a smile.
“Under control?” Gimli asked. He could have sworn he felt a snowflake hit him, and he resisted the urge to rush the elf inside where it was warm.
Legolas nodded. “Whatever habbeds, I shall dot sdeeze id frodt of the iddkeeber add give hib cause to toss us out.”
Gimli nodded agreeably and summoned up the strength he would need to tell a bold-faced lie if necessary. Legolas warmed himself by the fire as Gimli arranged for a room.
“Sorry ta tell ya, but we have only one small room left,” the gray-haired innkeeper told Gimli, leaning over the desk so he could look Gimli in the eye.
“I shall take it.” Gimli plunked his coin pouch down on the desk. Along with a jingle, Gimli could have sworn he heard a sniffle. Gimli felt his ears redden but knew it would be disastrous to call attention to Legolas just now, however concerned he was for the elf. With so many travelers and such bad weather nearly upon them, any innkeeper would be daft to knowingly let someone ill stay when there were alternative travelers.
Gimli squeezed between Legolas and the wall by the fireplace. “We have a room,” Gimli said. “Though there is a further complication.”
The key swung from Gimli’s hand as they walked up the second flight of stairs and found their room at the very end of the corridor. Gimli opened the door and let Legolas enter first. The elf stood there for a moment, sniffling softly and surveying the room. Then he burst out laughing. Gimli closed the door behind them and wrapped his arms around the laughing elf.
The room was small, but large enough for two single, dwarf-sized beds. “I am so sorry,” said Gimli. “It was the only room left.”
Legolas broke away and walked over to the beds. He pushed the two beds together. They were low to the floor, so he had to bend to lower himself onto them. But he curled up on his side and managed not to hit his head on the headboard. “I fit,” he insisted, though it was only just the truth.
Gimli laughed and knelt by the beds. He kissed Legolas deeply until the telltale sniffles reappeared. Then Gimli nuzzled his nose against Legolas’ sniffly, runny one. “How I wish you were not ill,” he said, digging a handkerchief out of his pocket.
Nodding back, Legolas took the hanky and rubbed his constantly ticklish nose. He buried his nose in the cloth, where even his breaths were muffled. “ihhh-ihh-Hihshfff! Eh-geh… heh-Cuhshfffff!” He snuffled and blew his nose. Then he met Gimli’s gaze. “I dow how buch you wadted to get to the caves toborrow.”
With a sigh, Gimli rolled his eyes. He stroked Legolas’ head, threading his fingers through the hair and lightly trailing his fingertips against Legolas’ temple. “I could not care less about the destination so long as my journey is with you.”
Legolas’ hand found Gimli’s, and their fingers wove together naturally, as if their hands were made for each other. “We have travelled throughout Middle Earth, you and I. This time I take the reins, I make the decisions, and I stay awake at night.”
“Gibli,” Legolas protested. “There is doe deed—”
“It is worth it to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of.”
Legolas smiled one of his rare, highly-expressive smiles. It was full of gratitude and love and everything that had made Gimli soft the first time he had seen it, all those years ago in Lothlórien. “The odly way I will be cobfortable is if you squeeze idto this idsadely sball bed with be add let be hold you close eved though I’ll be sdifflig.”
Gimli tilted his head to the side, sitting on the floor but sharing Legolas’ pillow. “This time, you fell ill even before we reached the caves. It is a pleasant change.”
Legolas looked amused. Amused and tired. His eyes fell closed and would not open again until morning. Gimli’s eyes stayed open and watched his elf’s every breath not because he worried someone might barge in and discover the elf was ill and not because he worried about Legolas’ sleep. He stayed awake because the night was a journey of its own and he wanted to savor it. He squeezed Legolas’ hand as it went heavy in his own.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-10 12:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-11 03:45 am (UTC)Thanks so much! *HUGS*