Title: Elf Worship

Author: Olivia V.

Status: Complete

Rating: NC-17

Summary: Gimli becomes curious about Legolas’ intentions.

Spoilers: Fellowship of the Rings, up until they arrive at Lorien.

Pairing: Gimli/Legolas

Archive: Please email me at oliviav@att.net and ask first.

Note: Oddly, this piece is based entirely on a piece of slash art I found at this site: http://www.squidge.org/~praxisters/TBlotr.html

Disclaimer: The characters portrayed here belong to J. R. R. Tolkien. They are not mine and I could never do them real justice. I’m just playing with them for a bit.

Gimli had been tracking Legolas for three nights through Lorien ever since he noticed that Legolas no longer slept with the rest of the company.

Every night he lost the trail at the steps to the entrance of where the Lady of the Wood and her elvish guests slept. And for the last three days, Gimli, Son of Gloin had waited by the steps, waiting for the Mirkwood elf to reappear the next morning.

Legolas always did reappear, but Gimli still wanted to know why he slept away from the rest of the company. Gimli had to be sure of his motives.

Legolas was, after all, an elf.

Gimli’s father had always told to him to be wary of trusting elves, and he’d always taken his father’s advice.

He’d listened to his father’s advice at the Council of Elrond, when he’d looked upon the handsome face of that young elf who didn’t trust Gimli any more than Gimli trusted him, and argued about the fate of the Ring. And this was before he’d learned that the elf’s name was Legolas, or that he was a prince of Mirkwood.

He’d planned on continuing to listen to his father’s advice when he’d pledged his axe to Frodo and became a member of the Fellowship.

He’d vowed to live by his father’s advice as they’d traveled south, and even as they’d sought Balin at Moria.

In fact, if Gimli had any say in the matter, he would have taken his father’s advice as law all the way to Mount Doom, so long as he didn’t have to place his trust in an elf.

What Gimli did not count on was the elf being so valiant in battle against the Orcs and their cave troll at Moria, or so good at scouting ahead, or so knowledgeable of the forests that Gimli began to feel safe in his presence. Legolas even kept better watch at night than the others because he did not tire as easily, although Gimli would never admit it to his face.

Despite his best efforts, Gimli, son of Gloin, was beginning to place trust in the hands of an elf. He attributed it to the fact that if the Fellowship was to succeed, then he had no choice but to do so. In which case, the minute the Ring was destroyed, he could go back to distrusting all elves, including Legolas.

Tonight, however, would be different from the previous three. Gimli planned on getting some answers. He sighed and settled near the steps, hiding. From his vantage point he could see one guard on duty. That guard always left as soon as the moon reached the middle of the sky.

Gimli sat with his back against a branch and closed his eyes, intending on only resting them for a minute.

When Gimli opened his eyes again, the moon had already reached its peak and was beginning to wane in the night sky.

He was late, and wondered if he could still sneak up the stairs unnoticed.

Standing up and looking around, Gimli saw no guard and smiled. He made his way up the stairs and to the next level.

The platform was darker than the rest that Gimli had seen in Lorien. The floor and the furniture were all painted dark grey and brown, and appeared to Gimli to be more dwarvish than elvish in nature. All that existed was a large tapestry hanging directly opposite the door behind a bed, and two chairs directly in front of it. Leaves in several hues of green and petals from some of the flowering buds were shrewn about the floor like jewels in a mine.

Draped across the bed like a discarded tunic, naked and asleep, was Legolas.

To Gimli, it seemed as if he were resting on an altar. Gimli bent down and took off his boots as quietly as he could before stepping forward. He stopped when Legolas stirred in his slumber, draping one arm over the far side of the bed and bending one knee, but Legolas did not wake up. As soon as he stopped moving, Gimli continued to move forward.

When Gimli reached the chairs placed before the bed, he stopped, staring at Legolas. He stared at the elf’s face for what felt like the first time since the Council.

Gimli thought, for just a moment, that Legolas was beautiful. Even if he was an elf.

Despite his long years, Legolas looked young, even innocent when he was asleep. His skin was smooth but not too pale, and while his eyebrows were a dark brown, his hair was blonde. Gimli noted a few small leaves had fallen on the elf as he slept before he let his gaze travel down the lean, yet well-muscled length of Legolas’ body. Like the vast majority of elves, he had no facial hair, nor did he seem to have any hair on the rest of his body.

Gimli stopped his gaze just below Legolas’ navel and he found much to his surprise that he had a sudden urge to reach out and touch Legolas. The urge was not unlike the one he’d had to touch the mithril armor that had saved Frodo’s life a few days earlier.

Mithril was the most prized relic for dwarves. Many of Durin’s folk worshipped mithril as if it were a gift from a god.

Gimli licked his lips and glanced back up at Legolas’ face briefly. He was still asleep. Gimli looked around and stepped backwards until he felt one of the chairs touch the back of his legs. Pulling the chair forward, he sat down soundlessly and watched.

Moments passed, perhaps minutes, as Gimli wondered why he wanted to touch the elf. Gimli knew he was alive, he could see that Legolas was breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He was obviously not cold. The room was rather warm despite the fact that they were in the woods and not underground.

Gimli decided that the reason why he wanted to touch Legolas was to see if elves were truly as hairless as they looked.

Gimli had seen newborn dwarves with more hair than Legolas. Tentatively he reached out a hand and did his best to run a gentle touch along Legolas’ cheek so that he could brush a small leaf from it.

The skin was soft. In fact, it was the softest thing he’d ever touched in his life. Gimli took his hand away before he woke up the elf, folded his hands on the edge of the bed, and closed his eyes.

When Gimli felt a feather light touch on his cheek, he jerked back and opened his eyes with a gasp. “”Wha???”

“Shh… I did not mean to wake you. You… looked as if you were praying.” Legolas smiled and slowly sat up.

Gimli gaped. As far as he could remember, it was the first time he’d seen Legolas smile. He was not aware that a creature could possess such a breathtaking smile. He did not know what to make of it. “I was not praying.”

“No? Well, then you should be resting while we are in Lorien, my friend. You look exhausted, and we still have much of the journey ahead of us.”

Gimli stared at the floor. He could feel his cheeks flush. “Friend? But I am a dwarf. Can you be friends with a drawf?”

“I have learned on this quest that I can be friends with any type of folk. Gimli, why are you here?”

“I…” Gimli swallowed. “I wondered why you did not rest with the company.”

“I wanted to be with my kin. And I wanted time to think. Would you not have done the same if Balin were still alive at Moria?”

Gimli nodded. He knew he would have. Gimli found that he felt a bit silly that he suspected Legolas of anything. If Legolas were not as trustworthy as the other members of the company, Lord Elrond would not have sent him with the rest of the Fellowship. He didn’t want to look Legolas in the eye. He saw Legolas move out of the corner of his eye so he was closer, but did not look up.

“You look tired, Gimli. Please, lay down.”

Gimli gasped. He couldn’t possibly… in a company, fully clothed, yes he would have lain down. But Legolas was naked and they were alone in the room. Gimli stood. “I… I have already taken up too much of your time…”

Legolas’ voice was so soft Gimli was not sure he heard him. “Gimli, look at me.”

Gimli chewed on his lower lip for a moment, and raised his eyes to look at Legolas.

His blue eyes showed nothing but kindness, trust, and something Gimli could not identify. It left Gimli reeling.

“It’s late, Gimli. And you should not be out on your own, even with guards on watch. Please lay down. If you are uncomfortable, keep your tunic and breeches on.”

Gimli hesitated for a moment longer, and then got up and sat on the bed, as still as stone. He felt Legolas touching his hair.

“You should undo your braids before you lay down. May I?”

Gimli nodded. Legolas made easy work quickly undoing the braids on his hair and his beard. After he was done, however, Legolas kept his long fingers running through Gimli’s whiskers. The resulting sensation was hypnotic. “What are you doing?”

Legolas paused. “I thought that dwarves had coarse hair. Your hair however is rather nice. Very thick and strong. I think I could sew with your hair if I had to.”

“Are you insulting me?”

“Not at all. I like your hair.”

“Thank you.”

“Gimli, you won’t be comfortable in your armor.”

Gimli glanced at Legolas. He was smiling slightly. “I’ve slept in my armor before.”

“While traveling, yes. But we are not traveling. We’ve made it to Lorien. And I believe the Lady will not let any harm come to you.”

Gimli thought about the Lady Galadriel and blushed. Reluctantly he looked at Legolas and nodded. “All right. But I’ll take the armor off myself.” He stood and approached the stairs where he left his boots and removed his armor and chainmail, his back turned to Legolas. Gimli looked at his boots. Already there were a few stray leaves on them.

The armor and chainmail hit the floor with a clang and Gimli turned around, wearing only his tunic and breeches.

Legolas tilted his head to one side as he looked at him for a moment before he laid back down on the bed. Gimli thought of Legolas resting on an altar again and shook his head. He approached the bed a second time and sat down.

Staring at Legolas, Gimli was nearly overcome with the urge to touch him again. Instead, he blinked and lay down with his back turned to Legolas. He felt the bed move as Legolas settled in behind him, his long fingers touching his hair. “You’ll put me to sleep if you continue to do that.”

“Hmm… That was the idea.” Legolas stopped touching his hair. “Tell me my friend, why is your back turned?”

“Were you expecting me to watch you until I fell asleep?”

“No. I was hoping we could talk until we felt sleepy instead.” Gimli thought he felt those fingers slide over to his shoulder gently.

“And just what would an elf and a dwarf have to talk about?” Gimli said.

Legolas tugged on Gimli’s shoulder and Gimli rolled onto this back. Legolas looked him in the eye. “Why did you track me for the past three nights?”

“I already told you. I wondered why you would not sleep with the company.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Gimli wanted to nod. He needed to nod so that the matter was dropped. But he couldn’t because he was not sure if making sure his trust wasn’t misplaced was the only reason. Or if he was becoming, against all advice his father gave him about the elves, infatuated with one.

The feel of Legolas’ breath on his cheeks stirred him. Their faces were barely an inch away from each other. If Legolas has been his lover, it would have been so easy for him to bridge that small gap…

“I…”

Legolas leaned over and gently nuzzled Gimli’s cheek. “What do male dwarves do when they are unable to find a wife, Gimli?”

Gimli felt his stomach do a roll and the blood rush to his loins. He knew what some of them did, although he himself never had. “Why do you ask?”

What Legolas said next made Gimli shiver. With his lips lightly brushing his cheek, Legolas lifted his head a bit and said, “I’m curious.”

Gimli sucked in his breath and was about to say something just before Legolas kissed him. Gimli had only been this intimate twice before with a dwarf maiden, and even then only as a lad. He felt his hand come to rest on the elf’s shoulder, nearly as soft as the cheek he’d brushed with his hand earlier. Legolas tasted of fruit and smelled of grass and leaves, and not like meat and wine with the smell of dirt the dwarf maiden had.

What surprised Gimli more was that the way the elf smelled and tasted was just as intoxicating as the dwarf maiden had been.

By the time Legolas broke the kiss, Gimli was shaking. He wanted more.

How could he possibly have wanted more from an elf?

Legolas moved his hand slowly over Gimli’s chest. “Show me,” he whispered.

Gimli studied Legolas’ face for any sign of deception or a joke on the elf’s part. He saw none. Pushing on Legolas’ shoulder, he settled Legolas onto his back. “Show you?”

Legolas nodded. “Show me.”

Gimli leaned over and returned Legolas’ kiss, putting a passion and fervor into it that surprised them both. When Gimli broke the kiss he left Legolas with a swollen lip from his attentions. To Gimli, it only made Legolas look all the more alluring.

“This isn’t something I’ve done… I’m not sure…”

Legolas smiled and tucked a lock of Gimli’s hair behind his ear. “Go with what you feel, my dear friend. I trust you.”

An elf trusting a dwarf. It would have been a ludicrous thought in any other circumstance.

Gimli blushed as he trailed his fingers over the elf’s skin, letting them wander softly over his stomach. Legolas let out a chuckle.

“Are you mocking me?”

“No, that just tickles.”

Gimli had no idea elves could be ticklish. He found the concept almost humbling.

“Does it tickle when I do this?” Gimli leaned over and planted a kiss in the center of Legolas’ chest. “Or this?” He moved over and lightly kissed a nipple. “Or how about this?” He raked his tongue over the nipple.

Legolas gasped. Gimli couldn’t help but smile against the skin. Experimentally he moved his hand lower, past the navel. Legolas tensed up in anticipation.

His voice sounded like a prayer. “Gimli…”

Gimli answered that prayer by brushing his fingers over his member. He heard a groan, but he couldn’t determine if it came from Legolas or himself. As his fingers wrapped around it Gimli looked up, wanting to see the look on Legolas’ face.

If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn the elf was in a state of rapture. His face was turned upwards towards the treetops, but his eyes were closed. Gimli squeezed slightly. This time the groan definitely came from Legolas.

“Gimli, please…” he pleaded, wrapping his long slender fingers around Gimli’s wrist. They moved their hands together, setting up a quick rhythm. Legolas shifted a bit so that as he rocked, his hip was moving against Gimli’s member. Gimli began to rock back, all the blood rushing southwards.

Gimli had to force himself to concentrate on what he was doing to Legolas. He brushed his thumb over the tip before adding a slight twist to the movement. Legolas arched his back and came hard, spilling his seed on Gimli’s tunic and breeches as he gasped.

Gimli found that he did not care. He reluctantly let go of Legolas’ member and leaned up to kiss him, smoothing his hair away from the elf’s face with his other hand gently.

If he had thought Legolas looked beautiful before, it paled in comparison to what his eyes feasted on at that moment. He kissed Legolas’ temple and smiled.

Legolas opened his eyes and smiled until he saw the tunic and breeches. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It will wash out, my friend. I’m only worried about making it back to the company without them seeing it first.”

Legolas reached over and began to tug at the tunic. “If you remove it, I’ll wash it for you.”

“Save it for the morning. I’ll be fine.”

“Nonsense.” Legolas pulled upwards, and Gimli raised his arms above his head. “At least take it off so you can sleep comfortably.

“All right.” Gimli stood, undid his breeches, and pulled them off. He felt Legolas slip an arm around his waist as he slid back onto the bed.

“Gimli…Will you let me?”

Gimli leaned back against Legolas, sighing in comfort as he felt the heat radiating off the elf. “Will I let you what?”

Legolas answered Gimli by kissing him deeply as he eased the dwarf backwards onto the bed. Legolas wrapped his fingers around Gimli’s member and lowered his head.

If Gimli had to describe what he experienced next, the only word he would have used was bliss. What he felt was Legolas’ mouth slide down over his member slowly. Gimli became aware of the moist heat all around him and as he moved his hips, he threw his head back and struggled for air. Legolas bobbed his head as Gimli bucked and he felt those slender fingers gently cup the loose flesh just behind the shaft.

Gimli concentrated on the feel of Legolas’ mouth as he stared up at the trees. His eyes focused on a single leaf directly above his head. It was small, slender and yellow. The same shade of yellow as the blonde in Legolas’ hair…

It was the most incredible thing Gimli had ever experienced, what Legolas was doing. Gimli steadied himself on his hands.

Legolas hummed, and the vibration set Gimli off. For Gimli, the sensation was like an epiphany.

He felt the bed against the back of his head before he realized he’d collapsed backwards onto it. As he recovered from his experience, he was dimly aware of a pair of long arms circling around him and a soft voice whispering for him to relax and go to sleep.

Gimli barely felt the light kisses on the back of his neck as he drifted off.

Gimli opened his eyes to find it was well past midmorning. He rolled over onto his back and sighed.

“Morning.” Gimli turned to the sound of Legolas’ voice. Legolas was fully clothed and had a tunic and breeches draped over his left arm.

They were Gimli’s.

“I told the rest of them you met me this morning for a hike and fell in some mud by the river.”

Gimli nodded. There was awkwardness in the air. “Did they believe… I mean...”

Legolas smiled and leaned over to kiss him. “I think Aragon might not have. The hobbits did, however. They seem to be rather… naïve about a lot of things.” Legolas sat down and touched Gimli’s thigh. “It’s odd, really. I’ve always been taught never to trust a dwarf. But I know I can trust you.”

Gimli covered Legolas’ hand with his own. He smiled. “Tell me what it is like, being an elf.”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.” Gimli sat up and pulled on his breeches.

Legolas chuckled and arched an eyebrow. “Very well…”

-- End --