Chapter Fourteen: Tender Contemplation

Dawn came much to quickly for Aragorn who, in his opinion, had just escaped Lord Elrond's clutches. It took many assurances that if something were to happen to him on their trek that Glorfindel would of course take care of him, nothing to worry about, you see?

He only hoped that Glorfindel would indeed take care of him, he wasn't so sure after those looks from Glorfindel he'd been on the receiving end of. Glorfindel could be one mean looking elf when he so desired.

To add to his 'bright' mood, he hadn't gotten any rest because after Elrond had finally let him leave, he had just enough time to gather a few supplies before the sun rose. He stifled a yawn and hurried on to meet Legolas.

Oh, and the others too.

~*~*~

Glorfindel was a bit worried about Legolas, the other had been silent the whole of the night and he seemed a little paler than usual. "Legolas," he said delicately. "If you do not wish this, no one will make you go."

Legolas turned to look at him from where he dwelled beside Glorfindel's window. His legs were pulled up to his chest, an arm slung almost casually across them, his back was flush against the wall and his head tilted back, long throat exposed elegantly. Their eyes met as Legolas drew down his face, a wan look colored his thin face.

"I am not sure that I wish it," Legolas said, his voice just louder than a murmur. "But I need it."

"Lord Elrond will always welcome you in Imladris," Glorfindel said tactfully as he gathered up the pack he had filled last night for both he and Legolas.

Legolas smiled gently, then gazed out the window, with a tiny sigh, he stood. "And you, Glorfindel?"

 "Mm?" Glorfindel said by way of inquiry as he slung the pack over one slender shoulder.

"Will you always welcome me?"

Glorfindel smiled this time; he nodded softly as Legolas joined him near the door. "Of course."

~*~*~

Elrond watched as Aragorn made his way toward one of Rivendell's stables, it was the place where the small company had chosen to meet at dawn. He watched that Aragorn didn't stagger or rub at his head; while the tree certainly wasn't that high at all, Legolas had said that the Ranger had lost consciousness, if fleetingly. Paternal instinct was not easy to argue with in any case.

"How is your head?" he asked by way of greeting when Aragorn drew nearer enough to hear his question. It seemed to Elrond that Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"I am fine, Adar."

"The journey can be postponed if you feel you are not up to it. No one will think less of you."

"I am fine."

"If you are sure?"

Aragorn smiled very briefly. "I thank you for the concern, but I truly am fine. And besides Glorfindel will be there."

Elrond nodded his consent, a brief smile playing on his lips. He turned from Aragorn to watch Legolas and Glorfindel walking unhurriedly toward them. Yes, Glorfindel would see to Aragorn if the need be.

~*~*~

"I fear we are the last to have arrived," Glorfindel remarked, but he did not pick up his pace, there was no need to rush Legolas along. Which was what they were doing anyway. A tinge of concern mixed with regret struck him.

Legolas smiled briefly, then he went back to watching his feet tread upon the grass. Not a blade that he touched was bent down. He glanced to Elrond who did not appear angry, but, "Should we quicken our pace?"

"Only if you wish it, Greenwood will be there whenever we happen upon it."

Legolas nodded and quickened his pace but only minimally. Glorfindel followed suit and soon they were beside Aragorn and Elrond.

"Good of you to join us," Aragorn said his lips quirking into a smile. If he could suffer a head injury, pack and get here on time with no sleep, certainly Glorfindel could. Glorfindel just favored him with a slight glower.

Elrond nodded his head to Glorfindel and Legolas as a greeting. "Legolas, Aragorn mayhap you should pick out horses?"

Aragorn glanced to Legolas and nodded. "Certainly."

The two broke away, Legolas trailing slightly and entered the stable fully, mounts on their minds. Glorfindel tracked them until the structure of the stable stopped his view.

"Glorfindel, I wished to ask something of you," Elrond was saying, Glorfindel looked to him and smiled at him to continue. "If Aragorn should become…ill, will you look after him? I am a bit worried about his fall."

Glorfindel raised his eyebrows but nodded and glanced towards the stable again. "I will of course see to him."

Elrond smiled and placed a gently hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. "My thanks."

Aragorn and Legolas emerged then, three horses between them. Glorfindel was at least pleased with the choices, three very fine steeds indeed. He watched as Legolas nuzzled the cheek of one of the horses, and smiled. It seemed the creature had taken a liking to him.

"I bid you well," Elrond said, looking at all three of them. He smiled to Legolas and caught the other's eyes. "You are always welcome in my home."

Legolas smiled openly. "I thank you for everything you have done for me."

Elrond smiled back and inclined his head slightly. Glorfindel and Aragorn loaded their respective packs onto their mounts. Legolas's horse nuzzled his rider's neck with his long nose; Legolas placed his thin hand against the beautiful horse.

They mounted then and Elrond stood out of their way. "May the Valar protect you," he said, his voice dim.

~*~*~

Glorfindel was glaring at him again, Aragorn was sure of it. He glanced at Glorfindel who was looking forward as always. Aragorn made a small noise in his throat and quickened his pace.

The three of them were giving their horses a break from the somewhat fast pace that had been set. They walked not slow, but not fast either, the grass here was long—it kept tickling Aragorn's ankles—every once and a while one of the horses would stop and nibble.

Aragorn was starting to feel vaguely paranoid, he was certain that Glorfindel kept looking at him, but when ever he glanced in the elf's direction his eyes were forward or on Legolas. He scratched behind his ear and glanced at Glorfindel again. Eyes still ahead.

Legolas lead his horse next to Aragorn and they walked side by side in the silence for a while. Glorfindel was ahead of them by a little ways, but he had stopped to give his own grey horse a chance to have some of the sweet grass.

"It is still a ways off," Aragorn remarked just to take his mind of Glorfindel, who must have grown another set of eyes or something.

Legolas smiled at him and stroked the neck of his steed. "Yes, Glorfindel told me it might take as long as three days to get there."

"Mm. I would say closer to two days," Aragorn remarked, though he had never before traveled to Greenwood.

Legolas cocked his head and smiled again. His horse nestled him. "I was told you'd never been to Greenwood before."

Aragorn felt himself redden. "Uh, nay, I haven't been but I was told that it only takes two days."

Legolas's eyes were dancing prettily. "I see. Was it by a reliable source?"

"Uhm, I am not so sure anymore. If Glorfindel says three days, I'm sure that is how long it will take."

Legolas raised an eyebrow at him, and Aragorn was reminded of Glorfindel. He glanced in the direction of said elf-lord. His eyes were still forward, but he was a little further away from them.

"How is your head?" Legolas asked, and Aragorn felt smart little fingers in his messy tresses. He pushed his skull into the caress.

"Mm, it has been better," he said as Legolas's fingers massaged his scalp very gently. "Feels good."

Legolas laughed at him but kept up his steady rub, Aragorn made a small noise in his throat. "I felt responsible, I am sorry."

"There is no, mm, need," Aragorn murmured, if he were a cat he'd be purring. Legolas's hand slipped onto his neck and  the junction to his left shoulder. Aragorn had the strange urge to call for camp even though the sun still hung high in the sky. When he glanced at Glorfindel his eyes were fixed on them. But on a double take he was looking forward again, Aragorn was sure he had imagined it.

~*~*~

 Glorfindel was satisfied with their significant progress enough to let them set camp just after moonrise. If they started off again at dawn they'd be in Greenwood most likely at moonrise the next night.

He glanced to Aragorn who was speaking softly to Legolas. The two of them had been speaking nearly all day, not that he noticed. He sighed softly to himself and decided to join their little party.

He sat down beside Legolas and smiled at Aragorn. "How is your head?" he asked pleasantly. "Elrond was quite worried about you."

"It is fine now," he said glancing at Legolas for a moment longer than was strictly necessary. Legolas smiled at him and Glorfindel raised an eyebrow.

"I think we should make Greenwood by the next moonrise," Glorfindel said, if only to stop Aragorn from staring at Legolas.

Aragorn looked smug, though Glorfindel had no idea why. "Your source was accurate," Legolas said smiling. Aragorn beamed.

Glorfindel glanced between them and felt strangely like he was interrupting. "If you'll excuse me?" he said standing again. "I wanted to see to our horses."

He waited for no response and his way across the camp, which was comfortable enough. It certainly was a bit in the open though; only a few scarce trees hung over them. The horses stood grazing on the grass and little weeds, he pet his own mount's fair head then made sure they had enough water. "Rest well," he said.

Carefully, he found a somewhat comfortable place to lie. He spread out an extra cloak on the semi-hard dirt and settled into it, using an arm as a makeshift pillow he fell into what the elves called sleep. Legolas was all he saw.

~*~*~

Aragorn glanced at Glorfindel's still form and looked at Legolas. "We should head to sleep, too," he remarked though he would stay up all night with Legolas.

Legolas nodded his agreement and they stood unison. "Do you need something to lie on?" Aragorn asked.

Legolas shook his head lightly; his hair flowed around his face since his braids had come loose. "I will be fine," he said softly glancing at Glorfindel.

"Sleep well, Legolas."

Legolas gave him a nod and a smile. "You as well."

They settled into places a respectable distance a part and dreams came almost instantly.

~*~*~

"Give it to him," a rough voice growled, glaring at one of the others. The heaviest one stood in front of him trying to shove some nasty smelling liquid down his throat.

"Not like that, hold it's mouth open," the first voice said.

"It's not that easy!" the heavy one said glaring back at the first.

"Open your damned mouth," said the first.

No, no, no. He wouldn't. No, no.

The first one kicked him hard in the chest and he gasped as he suddenly found the heavy one sitting on his chest. "Hold his nose."

~*~*~

Glorfindel woke up suddenly to someone tapping him on the shoulder. At first, he was sure it was a dream, but the image stayed still before his eyes. "Legolas?"

Legolas sniffled and nodded. He was crouched down; his head bent low and his teeth cutting into his lower lip. "What is it?" Glorfindel asked, rising onto on elbow. He glanced in Aragorn's direction.

"May I sleep here?" Legolas asked his voice trembling. Glorfindel nodded.

"You needn't ask."

Legolas lowered himself to the dirt softly and lie just in front of Glorfindel, his chest heaving with unnatural rhythm. "Shh," Glorfindel said running his hands of Legolas's hair. Glorfindel noticed it need to be re-braided. "You are fine."

Legolas cuddled into the touch and Glorfindel let his hand stray to Legolas's side, he rubbed soothing circles into the ribs until Legolas's breathing evened out again. Gently, he lowered himself back onto the ground, then continued to rub the tender circles on Legolas's ribs and down his spine.

"I am here," he said into Legolas's hair. Glorfindel slept no more that night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~