An Arrow's Path Complete

Title: An Arrow's Path
Chapter Four
Author: Ra Amon and Sarah
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Slash. Sex between two males.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They belong to Tolkien. The original ideas are all I claim. The Legolas and Gimli I write belong solely and completely to Tolkien. They are in no way related to the movie characters.
Feedback: yes, please.
Archive: Axe and Bow, Lord of the Rings. Others ask.
Author's notes: Thank you to Cheysuli for the encouragement. Thank
you to Ra Amon for all her work. Thank you to helptheold for the beta. Thank
you to Am-Chau Yarkona. Thank you to Nefertiti for the advice and
encouragement. Thanks to everyone who gave me fb.
I am trying to stay as close to Tolkien as possible with elves and sex.
saraharizonaanne@hotpop.com



There was a knock on the door, a rather timid knock.

"Master Gimli," a voice called.

"One of the younger Rohirrim," Legolas whispered in Gimli's ear.

"What do you want?" Gimli asked the voice at the door.

"Master Gandalf said I was to tell you we will be leaving soon. And Master Gimli."

"Very polite, isn't he?"


Rolling his eyes at Legolas' quip, Gimli answered, "Aye."

"I mean no offence. Truly I do not, but Master Legolas is not in his room and Master Gandalf said I might find him here." The voice trembled a bit now.

"Does he find me here?" Legolas whispered wanting to know how far the dwarf's commitment truly ran. Turning to meet nervous, questing eyes, Gimli tightened his embrace upon his lover and nodded.

"I am here," Legolas announced to the messenger, "tell Gandalf we will be there shortly."

"Thank you." The voice sputtered nervously.

Legolas buried his head in Gimli's hair and laughed silently. Gimli could feel him shake with it. The slight movements of Legolas' mirth sparked a different sort of warmth which was not dependent upon the coverlet atop them both. "We really shouldn’t laugh at him. He sounded quite young. It is possible he heard our screams of passion and is shy about such things."

Legolas blushed as he recalled their prior activities. Running his fingers over Gimli's broad chest, toying with his dwarf's nipples, Legolas purred, "Mmm, they will soon be accustomed to hearing such and more."

Feeling his cock twitch to life, Gimli knew he should put a stop to Legolas' fingers. Gandalf would not be pleased with their tardiness if Gimli were to indulge the fires rising between them. Capturing Legolas' hand in his before it travelled any lower, Gimli moaned, "Hold, my amorous elf. There will be time later for more of your lessons, eh?"

Just slightly disappointed, Legolas nodded. "Later, indeed." With a huff and a sigh, Legolas gently pulled from Gimli's grasp and sat up. Although his responsibilities summoned him, his heart and loins yearned to rebel, to remain curled about their love. Throwing his feet off the bed, he stood and began to gather his things. Just then it occurred to him that the likelihood of their returning to the room--- let alone bed--- anytime soon would be low. Turning around he asked,” Where did you put the oil?"

Gimli had yet to move from the bed, unable to tear his gaze away from Legolas' naked arse. Yet when Legolas turned around he made quick to rise. "Legolas?" Gimli glared hotly at his blonde mate. The mention of oil only served to peck at his resolve for duty with its references to slick and delightful things. "I did think you had it. You're the elf, the high and wise one." Pushing the blanket off, Gimli prepared to jump down from the bed. "Hmph, you're supposed to remember these things."

"I was-" Legolas went silent as his gaze flittered to the centre of Gimli's spread thighs. "I was distracted."

Seeing the rather stricken look in Legolas' eyes, Gimli was quick to pull the blankets back over to shield himself. As he did so, the bottle of oil revealed itself in a fold of the fabric. "Here it is. At least the top is on." He sighed.

"Good then, pack it with your things and get dressed my handsome dwarf or we shall never leave this room to take our places with the Rohirrim."

Pulling the covers around him with one hand and clutching tight to the bottle of oil with the other, Gimli sprang down from the bed. He set the bottle upon the bedside stand, while he searched about for his leggings. "I suppose Aragorn will want to look at my wound before I can return to the fray. You two make so much fuss over a slight injury."

"Gimli, the cut wasn't deep but you did lose quite a bit of blood. It needed immediate care." Legolas reached for Gimli's leggings as he talked and shoved them against Gimli's arm. Averting his eyes as Gimli dropped the blanket, Legolas continued. "Complain all you like. Even a splinter in your palm would gain my attention."

"I would have survived."

Fastening the last tie of his tunic, Legolas gave a disparaging huff. "You almost fell asleep when Aragorn was cleaning the wound. It is a very dangerous time after the loss of so much blood. I have heard of humans and elves alike drifting to fever or worse upon sleep. I wouldn't fall asleep until the wound was at least properly seen to."

As Gimli fastened his clothing, he couldn't help the grin that blossomed on his features. Legolas' concern warmed his heart as he joked, "But you don't have the endurance of a dwarf."

Legolas threw Gimli's shirt at him and retorted. "Neither do you."

*********************************************************************************

They joined the company to head for Isengard. Gimli spent most of the time trying to believe the afternoon had really happened. His body told him it had but his mind still struggled with it.

At rest time, Gimli separated himself a short way from the rest of the company. He found a log by the silent river and leaned against it. Closing his eyes to rest, he did not hear Legolas but he sensed his presence and looked up.

"I'm towering over you again," came his beloved elf's voice.

Gimli smiled, "Ah. This time I know the right thing to say." Patting the ground beside him, Gimli urged, "Have a seat next to me, crazy elf."

"You call that the right thing to say?" Legolas sat next to Gimli and pulled him in his arms.

Gimli welcomed the embrace, listening to Legolas sigh contentedly. "I thought it to be very polite."

"We have a different view of what is polite." Legolas put one hand over Gimli's heart and with the other he reached for Gimli's beard. "May I?"


Gimli grabbed his hand and clasped it to his chest. "Your turn to answer questions first. Do you remember how much I love you?"

"Yes," Legolas beamed with joy as he recalled Gimli's words. "More than trees, gold, and even mithril."

Legolas' voice had a smooth, almost singing sound to it that made Gimli wonder how anyone could be so happy sitting against a log. "Aye, that I do elf."

He only had three words said when he felt Legolas' hand slip from his and return to his beard. "Gimli, you said you love me more than trees, but do you even like trees?"

Gimli chuckled. "I like the trees in Lothlorien and Rivendell. I'm not sure I had much choice about becoming fond of the trees in Lorien considering I had some elf telling me all about them with every breath. I did not like being on a horse with some crazy elf, who wants to ride at trees with eyes. That forest I did not like. Still if you think my reference to trees isn't right, believe me that when I say I love you more than mithril, you are prized beyond measure."

For that Legolas had no retort. Content to sift his fingers through the soft hairs of Gimli's beard, he muffled his smile into the hair of his dwarf's head.

They sat there for quite awhile, not far from the camp. Every now and then Gimli would catch a curious glance from someone. A scowl was all it took to convince them to look away.

Noting his lover's discontent, Legolas stirred. "I guess it takes awhile for them to get used to seeing an elf and a dwarf be friends." Legolas said.

"I think we seem a little too friendly to them."

Legolas laughed softly. "It does go on among them, such closeness. Shield brothers, is how they call it," he carefully explained. Looking amongst the retiring soldiers, he quickly spotted an example. "Gimli, can you see to the edge of the other side of camp?"

Gimli knew it was probably useless, Legolas' vision was far superior to his but he sat straighter and tried. "No."

"There are two men there snuggled much closer than we are. It does go on and is accepted, as they are shield brothers. They protect each other, would die for one another and that is a powerful bond that sometimes exceeds love. Most will separate at the end of all this if."

Legolas did not say it but Gimli knew his elf was thinking 'if it ends well.' Snuggling back into Legolas' body, Gimli urged, "Go on."

"I don't believe those two will part from each other. And perhaps they will have a more difficult time of it but I imagine if they are careful about their bond they will fare well. The war has brought more tolerance and that tolerance will continue for those who served Rohan well."

Gimli peered up, noticing Legolas' riveted glance towards that which he couldn't see. "Legolas, those two you are talking about. They aren't somewhere trying to have a private minute unaware of how well an elf can see are they?"

Only slightly embarrassed at his voyeurism, Legolas gazed shyly upon his own shield brother. "I think anyone on that side of the camp can see them. They've only removed themselves a little ways as we have. I don't reckon they are having a private moment. Would you like me to see if I can tell?"

"Do not do such a thing." Shocked at the wicked gleam in Legolas’ blue eyes, Gimli pinched his elf's thigh in warning.

"Very well. Besides, I deem that it is *us* that have the Rohirrim far more curious. We are probably the only elf and dwarf in all of history to be lovers."

Gimli did not argue with this statement. He suspected it was true.

They sat silent for a while. Legolas' hand stayed in Gimli's beard and Gimli spent the time listening to the elven heartbeat.

"Gimli, does your father hate elves?"

Gimli thought about it. "I would say no. He agreed readily enough to go to Rivendell. There was that particular incident that vexed him, but he never shared the details with me. I got most of the story from Oin, my father's brother. He tended to end everything with 'don't bother your father with it.' It wasn't until the day of the council that I understood that he might have issue with elven kind. "

Legolas knew which incident Gimli was referring to; the occurrence that from his father's point of view involved trespassing and a lack of consideration for the trouble one set of dwarves caused. Legolas smiled to himself. Wait until his father found out the trouble his own son could get into with only one dwarf. Legolas dreaded his reaction but right now it was amusing. "My fault perhaps."

His eyes shifting toward Legolas in confusion, Gimli asked, "How could it be your fault, Legolas?"

Nervously, Legolas confessed, "You were irritating me and maybe he realised that."

"Irritating you?" Gimli exclaimed far louder than he meant to. Lowering his voice he continued, "How could I have done so? I never even noticed you."

Remembering that night well, Legolas nodded his agreement. "I believe that was one reason why I was irritated. I'm talking about the dinner the night before the council. Gimli, you talked to the hobbits. You even conversed with the elves around you but you never glanced at me even once."

Searching his memory for the event, Gimli considered. "I remember the dinner clearly. I talked briefly to Glorfindel and some to Lord Elrond. The rest of the time was spent conversing with the hobbits. Why would you care?"

"I don't know. You seemed the friendliest dwarf in all of Middle-earth. I just found it annoying and I'm afraid I may have stared at you a little too long because the next thing I noticed was your father glaring at me. I thought it was because of who I am but now I wonder. Did he say anything to you Gimli?"

Gimli sighed as a certain recollection came to mind. "He did warn me about elven habits."

"Elven habits?"

"He said elves are not good with commitment. That it is sometimes a game to them. Usually one of the elves ends it by going to the havens."

Legolas’ fingers ran gently through Gimli's beard while he held his tongue through the allegations. "I see. Do you believe him, Gimli?"

"I-" Gimli paused. "I surely don't think you are cruel. I know you keep your word when given, though I would hold you not to what was spoken in times of passion."

Legolas could detect a hint of sadness in Gimli's tone. Suddenly Legolas wished for more privacy. Although it was not the time for such recklessness, he yearned to take his lover to a more secluded spot away from soldiers' ears and inquisitive eyes, somewhere where he could prove the words he was about to say. Leaning close to Gimli's ear he breathed, "I meant what I said. There will be no one else. You will be the last. And Gimli, I never laid with Aragorn. Not ever. Now that we are not in passion do you take my word?"

"Aye yet no. I would take faithfulness from you but I will not hold you to Middle-earth if you decide to leave with your kin. Nor will I accept being the last. If we make it through all this and are still together when I am old, you must choose one of your own to hold and comfort you."

Matter-of-factly, Legolas replied, "I'm not asking you my stubborn dwarf. We are lovers now. I give my faithfulness and the rest comes with it. There will be not be another, ever. And I won't go anywhere you cannot go. I promise this to you."

Gimli felt the argument was pointless. Neither of them knew what the future held and if they made it until he was old they could argue it at that time. "You are an incredibly obstinate being. Impossible. Does your father hate dwarves?"

Legolas had to think for a moment. "I don't think so. He thinks you are very stubborn beings," Legolas said, sounding amused, "and not very reasonable- which is true but until I was sent to go to Lord Elrond he never talked about dwarves-other than that incident as you referred to it. I heard plenty of complaints at the time but after it was all over, he grew quiet about it and did not wish to discuss it. When I was ordered to go to Lord Elrond he informed me that there might be dwarves there and I received warnings too. He said dwarves do not love just once, that they could go from loving you to forgetting your name in a week."

"That is a strange thing to say. Where did he get such notions?"

"I do not know. He commanded me to be polite and nothing more. He isn't going to be too happy at my idea of nothing more," Legolas sounded amused, "but your father could kill someone with that glare of his and I have a feeling I shall be fortunate enough to experience it again, or should I say unfortunate enough?" Legolas laughed outright.

Gimli noticed more glances their way but could care less as he joined his lover in mirth.

Legolas asked, "What were you thinking about when got you so quiet on me this afternoon?"

Gimli thought back. They had talked a great deal that afternoon, afterwards. He was only quiet once and that brought them back to the one subject Gimli did not wish to discuss. "I was thinking that when I agreed to our friendship back in Lothlorien, I had no idea of the consequences."

Legolas frowned, "You have regrets?"

Gimli didn't like the disappointment in his elf's voice. "No regrets. I just fear what the consequences will be for you."

Legolas hesitated. He could lie and make things all right. He could tell Gimli that he would go to the havens when the dwarf died and be fine. He sighed. It wouldn't be the truth. He had never lied to Gimli and he wasn't going to now. "I do not know what to say. I told you that you would be the only one and my last. I meant it."

Legolas felt it best not to argue. He would do what he wished when the time came. They could debate it then. Perhaps Gimli would be easier to deal with when he was old. Yet somehow Legolas doubted this to be true. He was liable to be worse. He would change the subject for now. The darkness in the world was growing. He could feel it. There might not be a future to worry about.

"I need to tell you a few things, lover. You seem to have the same misconceptions about elves that most of Middle-earth has. We do not take many lovers. We usually marry young. In fact, I was encouraged to do so but my heart refused to cooperate. Once married, we can have a time of physical closeness and sometimes children. Most of the time spent together is a time of companionship but not necessary physical closeness. Our time of such closeness is long enough to last your lifetime so I will give my time for such things to you. And before you start to protest, remember I could have married and had children had I desired to do so. Unless you can command my heart and make it feel otherwise, you should accept it, for this is what I feel and I have no desire to change it."

Frozen by Legolas' passionate, wilful decree, Gimli struggled to make some sense out of his own decision, his love for Legolas and yet his concerns.

Gimli was silent for so long that Legolas started to worry. How was the dwarf taking this information? "Are you upset?"

"Not at you, at myself, maybe. I thought many wrong things. I probably have plenty of other notions about elves that aren't true, either."

Legolas ran his fingers through Gimli's hair. "It is not your fault. There are misconceptions from both sides."

"Legolas, I even imagined at one point that you could have two lovers at one time and not care."

"I believe your father might have influenced that idea. I don't understand either of our fathers. It is true that once in a great while an elf might take a lover for comfort after a spouse has gone to the havens but while I've heard of it, it is so rare that I know of no elves that have done so. Those that do not marry may once in awhile have a lover but not often. I suppose with a dwarf an elf might be curious and that could bring about some of your father's beliefs but I still don't see it. There was no friendliness at the time. Despite what Lord Elrond feels, it is more likely to go on in his home. His people are both friendly and curious. Your father was never in Lorien. Curiosity, yes, I could see that I suppose."

Legolas grew silent, puzzling over things. He knew from overhearing comments in Lothlorien that several of the elves were very curious about Gimli. How far would that curiosity have gone?

Gimli interrupted the silence. "Why now?"

"Why now what?"

"You said elves marry young. Why are you having any desires at all now? You are long past that time."

"I don't know. I think our desire is connected to love as is our sorrow. If we love and the love dies we can grieve to death. It affects our body. I guess when I began to love you that started things for me."

Legolas brushed Gimli's hair from his ear and whispered, "Do you realise why I chose archery to approach you?"

Gimli shook his head.

"Do you comprehend how much I love my archery?"

"Aye, I do."

"I would give it up before I'd give up you."

Before Gimli could recover from this awesome statement, Legolas continued, "I picked it because archery is so much a part of me that it defines who I am. You too are that much a part of me."

Gimli listened to the elven heartbeat and wondered how he managed to be so loved in life. It amazed him how one could find such happiness during a time of such misery.

Gimli was almost asleep against Legolas when the river came to life.

Tbc