Unexpected Joy

Author's Notes: Please review! I'm still nervous about this pairing, and would like to know what people think....

~*~


The next morning dawned clear and bright, and as the sun shone softly through the bed's drapes, Frodo Baggins began to stir. He had slept well for the first time in months, and found himself curling closer to the warm body at his side. Slowly the hobbit opened his eyes, only to blink in disoriented shock.

His head lay against a large, pale chest, and he was wrapped securely in strong arms. Frodo raised his head, allowing his eyes to slide slowly upwards. Dark hair, soft as silk, spread out upon the pillows and spilled over the slender shoulders. Frodo raised a hand and softly ran his fingers over the intricate knots of the elven nobility. The dark elf released a soft moan and turned his head towards Frodo once more.

"Oh!" Frodo gasped softly, as memories of the previous night flooded backhim.him.

Lord Elrond opened his eyes, slowly, his gaze falling on the shocked expression Frodo wore. His heart fell, as mixed feelings ran through the elf lord's head. /What if he doesn't feel the s Was Was it a mistake? What happens now?/

"How do you fare this morn?" Elrond asked, finally breaking the silence and choosing to slip into his healer role.

Frodo was slightly taken aback. His mind started reeling, questions running wild. /Have I done something wrong? Was it a mistake? What happens now?/

"The pain seems to have left me. Thank you." Frodo said, finding that he stumbled over what to call the elf lord. My lord seemed far too impersonal now, whereas Frodo still wasn't sure it would be proper to call the elf Elrond either.

Elrond nodded, suddenly feeling odd being naked in the bed next to Frodo. He kept asking himself what to do, how did one behave? Slipping to the edge of the bed, the elf lord slid into his discarded leggings. He stood and combed his hand through his hair, realizing the sheer untidiness of it.

Frodo watched in an odd sort of confusion as Elrond rose and dressed. He knew he should do the same, but was afraid to rise in his current state of undress. Elrond seemed to be pulling away, slipping back to the formalities they had done away with the previous night.

Elrond crossed the room gracefully, and seated himself before the small intricately decorated mirror. He looked at the hobbit through the mirror, under the pretense of grooming himself for the day. As he carefully unbraided his hair, and removed the knots, his mind began to wander. Imageasheashed before his eyes: large blue eyes clouded with passion, soft lips parted with a pleasured moan, the soft wrinkle of concentration that had appeared on the hobbit's brow, a babe with dark curls and large blue eyes who was crying...

The elf lord dropped his brush with a soft thud, upon the table. His eyes growing wide as he glanced over his shoulder at the small figure rising from his bed. Elrond raked his hands through his hair once more, resting his brow in his hand and arching a graceful brow. /Where had that image come from? And why?/

Frodo wrinkled his nose as he ran his finger through the sticky mess upon his belly, and sighed very softly. He watched the elf lord hunched over the small vanity, pinching the bridge of his nose as though fighting off a headache. The hobbit felt an unexpected feeling of protveneveness for Elrond come over him, but couldn't understand why.

"I believe I have need of a bath, my-…Elrond." Frodo spoke the last word more quietly, as he buttoned his shirt over the sticky mess.

Elrond looked up from where he sat. "A very good idea, Mas-Frodo. I believe I could use one as well."

The elf lord stood, collecting his discarded robe. Frodo swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as he watched the elf cross the room gracefully, and open the door. With a soft sigh, Frodo quickened his pace and exited Elrond's chambers.

"Oi!" A voice sounded at the end of the hall, causing Frodo to freeze in his place, his back to the newcomer.

Frodo glanced at Elrond, seeing a similar flash of panic cross the peredhil's face before being overcome with the usual raised eyebrow and look of indifference. The soft pad of running feet came up behind the two, and Frodo mentally prepared himself for the upcoming questions.

"Mr. Frodo, sir! I were lookin' for you all mornin'!" Sam exclaimed, worry clear in his voice. The younger hobbit nodded politely to Lord Elrond, though his eyes slid over his disheveled employer. "Good mornin', Lord Elrond, sir."

"Good morning, Master Gamgee." Elrond stated, a slight hint of ice in his tone.

"Frodo, me dear, I was so worried when you didn' return to the festivities last night! Did somethin' happen?" Sam glanced pointedly at Elrond.

Frodo cursed himself for the blush that slowly crept over his fair features. "I'm quite well now, Sam. Lord Elrond gave me the best of care, so don't you worry."

"I assure you, Master Gamgee, all is well. Frodo and I were just on our way to the baths, if you wished to join us?" Elrond stated, mentally chastising himself for his slip in formality.

Sam glanced between the two,ll nll not trusting their story. He knew Frodo well enough to know there was more to what had happened the previous night. With a determined look on his face, Sam fell into step behind the other two.

Something more had happebetwbetween the elf lord and his beloved master, and sure as his name was Samwise Gamgee, he was determined to find out just what it was!