Untamed Tales 4 - The Tattoo

This chapter was written by my very good friend, Lisse who dedicated her time and talent for this story. No one knows these boys better than her.

 

Untamed Tales - The Tattoo, Chapter 3 by Lisse

 

“Make them stop,” Antien moaned, for the screeching was insufferable.  “And close the curtains, please. It is far too early for it to be this light.” His head was pounding and his mouth dry.  He was not sure if his bedmate was still with him and felt blindly until his hand rested on a thigh that was not his own, then he felt for the edge of a sheet and pulled it over his head. He rolled into a ball hoping to shut out the brash sounds and bright sun.

Glandur was feeling a bit wicked and reached for the sheet, gathering it slowly until Antien stirred and groped for it. “Whom should I make stop, and what?  ‘Tis a beautiful morning. The birds welcome the day, and I’m only reading while you snore.”  

“I don’t snore.”

“You do.”

“I would not do anything as vulgar as snore.” Antien snatched the sheet up and rolled over in it.

“You snore,” Glandur insisted, while inching the bedclothes off his partner again.

“Why do you hate me? Have some pity,” Antien wailed as the light bathed his face. He put a pillow over his head and held it there.

“I’m sorry meleth. You truly are suffering. I can fix you some porridge and eggs.” Glandur almost wished he had not made the repelling remark when Antien began to wretch dryly. He had never seen his bond mate this miserable after a night of rounding taverns with Rhavaniel.

Glandur went to the washstand and returned with a damp cloth for Antien’s brow. “I am sorry love; I didn’t realize you were this sick. What in Arda did you drink?” It must have been potent or abundant, or both for usually Antien won at drinking games, his beatific appearance deceiving his challengers.

“I cannot be sure. Rhavaniel insisted we play a game of darts with the dwarves. Their ghastly dwarfish ale does not taste so bad after a number of them. I don’t remember anything after one of them dared a contest,” Antien groaned and drew the cold cloth over his face. “Oh gods! What hurts worse, my arse or my head?”

“What do you mean your ass hurts?” Glandur asked suspiciously. It was quite common that while in the company of others, many pairs of eyes were trained on the dark haired elf and this had not escaped Glandur’s notice. He wondered how friendly a dwarf might dare to behave toward a pretty, drunken young elf.

“I mean my left cheek feels like someone bit me. What did you do?”

“I did nothing at all,” Glandur said indignantly while he peered under the sheet. Relieved at his finding Glandur said, “Oh, it seems you and Rhavaniel have reached a new level of friendship. You have a new tattoo. Rhavaniel’s name is written on your ass.” He lowered the sheet and picked up his book. “You have often called her a pain in the ass. This one will stop stinging in a few days. The real Rhav is a constant source of irritation.”

“I am allowed to call her a pain in the ass. You are not,” Antien said trying to look at his own rear. “Are you sure it is a tattoo . . . and it says Rhav?”

Glandur looked again. “I was mistaken. In small letters above it says ‘I love’ then ‘R-H-A-V-A-N-I-E-L’ in larger script.”

Antien sat up rubbing his eyes. “I am a fool.”

“I wouldn’t say that. You were drunk. Many have done the same thing after a few too many drinks.” Climbing out of the sheets, Glandur closed the curtains and looked back at Antien while dressing. His hair was a tangled mass of brown straw and some substance was dried in parts of it. He had dark circles under his eyes, and needed a bath.  “I will say if you feel half as bad as you look you must feel very rough.”

“Thank you,” Antien said stretching. “I’m a fool, not for the tattoo, but for getting myself and Rhav so drunk. The ceremony is tomorrow and there are a thousand things to see to. I can’t afford to stay in bed and nurse my ills, and I’ll get no help from Rhav. Do you know where she is?”

“Yes, she is home in bed by now. Legolas came to collect her a while ago. Stay in bed yourself for a while yet. I’ll wake you when I have a bath drawn and a remedy for your headache.”  Glandur quietly closed the door behind him as Antien settled into the pillow.