AN: I wish to thank sehellys, Lady Erulisse, mystarlight, The Enchanted Stream, Mimi Lind, RIPBeleriand, Raider-K, MistressOfImladris, Guest, Lydwina Marie, Charming Ever After, and d'elfe for reviewing. Without you guys, this would not be happening!
AN2: This chapter was co-written by both Raider-K and myself. It is so much fun to be able to write with her. Thank you, Raider!
Rule #73: Choose your seat wisely?
The sun sank low in the west when Glorfindel finally conceded to stop for the day. They had covered quite a distance today, which pleased him only half so much as knowing that the long ride had sorely tested Rodwen's stamina in the saddle. Rodwen acted surprised when they only stopped briefly for lunch and continued to ask leading questions for the rest of the afternoon: Shouldn't we be stopping soon?; Wouldn't the horses like a bit of a rest?; and Glorfindel's personal favorite—Wouldn't it be better if we let the horses' backs breathe for a while?
Finally, finding a suitable camping spot - one that was far enough off the main road to keep them hidden from unsavory eyes - Glorfindel raised a hand indicating to stop. "We will rest here for the night," he stated as he patted Asfaloth's muzzle. Turning to Estel, he grinned. "Why don't you go sit over there with Rodwen. I am sure he would love to keep you company." The twins snickered as Elladan helped his brother off his twin's horse. Estel, gray eyes widening with glee, ran off much to the demise of Rodwen.
Rodwen pretended not to see the young child standing in front of him as he set his bedroll up. Finally, after more than five minutes, he could no longer stand the adan's eyes boring into him like a dwarf swinging a pick-ax into mountain stone. "Isn't there something you could be doing instead of just standing there staring at me?" he grumbled.
Estel shrugged, "Like what?" he asked, shuffling his small feet.
Rodwen bit his lip and yanked the last twine free from his bed. "I don't know, find me a log to sit on!"
"Okay!" Estel chirped. The young boy was more than willing to help Rodwen. While they were still riding, his brothers had quietly instructed him on how to best aid their unwanted company. Estel was more than a natural at pranking since he could remember Elladan, and Elrohir had always been teaching him the art of mischief, much to the dismay of his father.
Looking for something for Rodwen to sit upon, Estel kept trying to think of a way to make him miserable. Suddenly his eyes stopped and fell upon a nice sized log a bit ahead of them. At first glance, the log appeared to be normal, but to the trained eyes of the elves and the Dunedain, you could make out thousands of black ants crawling over it.
A grin so mischievous that it would make the hairs on the back of your neck go up, he went to transport the log to its intended target: Rodwen. A few moments later, Estel arrived back at camp, just as everyone was about done setting up camp. "Here, Rodwen. I found a log for you to sit on," he said, pointing to the log, praying that his eyes would not see the ants crawling on the inside.
Rodwen took little notice of the ants and proceeded to sit down on the log with an exaggerated sigh. Soon the others were seated around the fire, Estel seated in between the twins. Whispering something to Elladan, his eldest brother stifled a laugh and relayed the message to his twin. Cal was, of course, oblivious to the whole thing, that is, until Rodwen began to squirm across from her.
"Rodwen?" she asked. "Are you—"
But she never finished her question, for Rodwen leaped up from his seat with a shriek, his arms flailing frantically. His hands flew across the seat of his pants, and he yelped again, "They've got me! Ai!" He began to fumble with the laces on the front of his leggings.
"Rodwen!" Elladan said sharply. "There is a lady present!"
"I can't help it," he cried and bolted off into the woods, his pants dropping as he bounded away. Seconds later, a splash was heard from the nearby creek.
Elrohir stood, peered over the log where Rodwen just sat. "Well," he said gravely. "This log is absolutely crawling with ants."
Estel seemed suddenly fascinated with the hem of his tunic.
Elladan picked up the end of the log and chucked the offending piece of wood, ants and all, into the roaring fire. "Poor Rodwen," he intoned. "I almost feel sorry for him."
Cal looked from Elladan to his twin brother and then back to Estel, still fascinated by the uneven hem of his shirt. "I think perhaps an early bedtime is in order, don't you?"
"Might be a while before Rodwen comes back," Glorfindel observed, faint amusement playing in his voice.
"Might be." Elrohir looked toward the creek. "Poor fellow. Those things can sting."
"I bet any son of Elrond's worth his salt would have some sort of ointment for bug bites," Calaerneth said primly.
"Oh, I'm sure I have an ointment that could fix him right up," Elladan said, no hint of sarcasm in his voice whatsoever, but turned his head, so only Estel and Glorfindel caught the smirk on his face.
"All right, Estel. Go and wash your face and hands before bedtime, and you can take Elladan's ointment down to Rodwen while you're at it." Calaerneth watched as he gleefully received the little stoppered bottle from his older brother and hurried down to the creek.
Meanwhile, Calaerneth set out her bedroll, only halfway paying attention to the task at hand. Her eyes kept darting to Glorfindel. It would be better, of course, if she could find a way to ignore the feelings inexorably connected to him, to forget the feel of his mouth against her skin… And there it was—she just looked at him again. She seemed unable to help herself.
"Glorfindel," Elladan spoke up from the other side of the campfire. We will cover the watch tonight."
Again her eyes flicked up to watch for his response. Cal knew how little Glorfindel rested.
"It's hardly necessary—" Glorfindel began.
"It most definitely is," Elrohir cut him off. "My brother and I will split the night watch, and you, my friend, will rest—without complaint."
He hesitated to accept, but then resignedly chuffed and sank down across from the fire, his long legs stretched out as he rested against a tree trunk. Cal forgot to pretend to smooth her own blankets down and watched the movement of his long fingers tugging the laces free on his vambraces. She squeezed her eyes shut. Eru, she needed to stop looking at him. Only, she knew how much he dreaded sleeping—dreaming. His past tormented him, and she couldn't blame him. But she couldn't remember the last time he had slept since they began their journey, and she worried for his health.
Calaerneth eased into her bedroll and let her eyes drift up toward the stars. She prayed to the Valar that Glorfindel would have peaceful dreams tonight. The stars were so bright, hanging low in the heavens, just barely out of reach over the tops of the trees. The smoke curled up and swirled between them, the world sliding away to the dark vault of the night sky.
From across the camp, Cal heard, "I can't go to sleep." It was Glorfindel's voice, so faint it might have been a whisper.
She sat up and peered through the darkness. The campfire already died down to glowing charcoals, hazy smoke hanging in the air. Somehow before she knew what she meant to do, she flung off her blanket, her feet headed straight toward Glorfindel's stretched out form on the other side of the campfire.
"I heard you," she heard herself softly say.
His chest slowly rose up and down, his elegant hands folded across his chest, his gaze adrift on some far-off latitude.
"I heard you," Cal whispered again. "I heard you, Glorfindel." When he did not answer, she felt foolish and turned to go.
"Calaerneth," he breathed her name. "I hear you as well."
She exhaled softly and turned toward him, unwittingly taking a step back when she found him already on his feet and standing before her.
"You came to me," he said gently and reached for her hand.
"I did," she confessed. "I cannot seem to stay away, even though I know I should."
"I must still be dreaming," he whispered to her, drawing her closer, "so it matters not."
"If it were a very good dream," she told him a little breathlessly, "you would have already kissed me."
And so Glorfindel tipped her chin up with the barest touch of his fingers, and then his lips found hers as he wrapped his arms possessively around her. The world faded away in his arms; seconds, minutes, hours, Cal only knew how time passed in terms of his steady heartbeat against her chest and the way his fingers threaded through her hair.
"This can't be happening," Cal said in between several long kisses.
"Shh." Glorfindel's fingers rested against the warm slope of her shoulder. "Tis only a dream, Calaerneth."
She nodded and let him pull her into the warmth of his arms.
"It's only a dream," she agreed, and this time, she kissed him, her beautiful, golden warrior. In that moment, he was all she wanted—no doubt, no fears about past her life or who she was or used to be. She knew who she was in this moment, right now, and all she wanted was him.