Disclaimer: They're not mine
Author's Notes: Well. I did some reorganizing. What used to be the first and second chapters have now become the prologue and I have added the first real chapter. The only main difference to the prologue is that I have made the first part Aragorn's POV. You guys finally begged enough for me to make this a series but I can't promise I'll post very often because, as most of you know, I write *tons* of fic (a lot of which just hasn't been posted yet...) and I work, so I am a very busy person.
~~~~Cat~~~~
**Aragorn**
My Ranger senses tell me that something has changed but my sleep-hazed mind can't quite focus on what it is. Everything is quiet so surely there is no trouble. As I gradually wake a soft smile graces my lips. Warmth. That's what has changed. There's warmth at my back and I do not need to open my eyes to figure out what... or who... it is. Legolas. The only Elf that reminds me so much of a great cat. Legolas will scale trees in a heartbeat yet getting him to come down often proves difficult. He lounges for hours in the sun; sometimes finding a suitable spot at the crack of dawn and not moving until the last rays disappear. Like a cat Legolas can be the most playful of creatures and the most deadly of predators.
Legolas stirs slightly and I feel the motion against my back. It is this more than anything that makes me compare my friend to a great cat. Much of the time Legolas is rather aloof. He does enjoy the company of others (and I am honored to so often be among those) but he always holds himself slightly apart. Many say that the Prince is unfriendly and arrogant but I know better. Legolas is just a very private individual. But every once in a while, like now, the Prince will come to me, just as a cat comes to its person, asking to be closer, needing the physical contact with another being. It is always a very subtle, polite request giving me a chance to refuse. I never do.
Legolas shifts again and I realize that the Elf is trying to settle in. He must have just come off his watch. With another soft smile I roll completely over, drawing the blanket with me. Legolas is lying with his back to me, curled into a ball, his golden hair falling across his face like a curtain.
I stretch out fully and pull my blanket over both myself and the Elf. Legolas moves back slightly so that his shoulders are pressed firmly against my chest and the I wrap my arms loosely about Legolas' deceptively slender frame. I know that Legolas is allowing himself to be held tonight and may the Valar have mercy on any who try to hold, or even touch, him against his will. Such is the nature of the creature. My eyelids grow heavy and I am about to drift back into sleep when a soft, gentle, dreamy voice reaches me. "Thank you Estel." I smile and brush my fingers across silky blond hair before my arm returns to its previous position draped across the Elf. "You're welcome Wethrin. Rest well." My eyes slide shut and for the first time in many nights my sleep brings me actual rest.
**Legolas**
The fire pops and I blink, snapping back to reality. With a groan I realize that I slipped into a dream-state while on watch. I think it's time to wake someone else. Having too much to think about, like I do now, could be hazardous to everyone's heath for when I slip into waking dreams I tend to block everything else out.
I rise from the ground where I have been sitting and stretch, raising my arms above my head and standing on my toes. I feel several joints crack and I smile. That's better. I survey the sleeping figures around me, trying to decide who should take the next watch. It is two or three hours after midnight so there should only have to be one shift after mine.
As I study my slumbering companions I realize that my teeth have sunk into my lower lip and my head is cocked slightly to the right. An idle smile rises as I think how much I must resemble Glorfindel in this moment. Gimli's loud snoring assaults my ears and I smile wickedly. Little does he know he just volunteered himself for the next watch. I don't believe I could rest at all tonight with all that noise.
I ponder how to go about waking the Dwarf. He sleeps with his axes at hand and I get the feeling that if I touched him I would be dead before I knew what hit me. Hmm. How to wake him without getting my head taken off...
The leaves rustle above me and suddenly I know. With grace inherent to my kind I swing up into the massive oak tree and grab a handful of acorns before dropping back to earth. I stand several yards back then begin tossing acorns at the Dwarf's face. I try not to hit him hard enough to hurt, but enough that he'll feel them. When he refuses to wake I begin to get exasperated and I start pitching them as hard as I can. Finally one lands in his mouth and he startles awake, spitting the nut out like it was a poisonous bug.
He looks around and catches sight of me. "Should have known it would be the Elf." I catch him grumbling under his breath and I can't stifle my laugh. If looks could kill I would be on my way to the Halls of Mandos. "I suppose you woke me for a reason?"
"Indeed, Master Dwarf. It is your watch. Have fun." I turn my back to him and grin. I made a Dwarf mad. Life is good. Now, where to sleep.
I am a solitary creature by nature and I highly value my privacy. I generally hate being touched by others, but occasionally I feel the need to be held. Tonight is apparently such an occasion. Without consciously making the decision, I move to where Aragorn is sleeping. He is lying on his side and I sit next to him and wrap myself into my cloak. The ground is hard but even and I lay on my side, curling into a ball with my back to his.
A few moments later he rolls over, pulling his blanket over me and draping his arms around me. I wriggle back slightly so that my shoulders are pressed firmly against the broad chest behind me. I smile contentedly and my eyes begin to slide shut, a testimony to how tired I truly am. Before I drift off, I mumble to my friend. "Thank you Estel."
Long fingers gently slide through my hair then his arm resettles on my hip. "You're welcome Wethrin. Rest well." I smile at Aragorn's old nickname for me. His even breathing tells me he is asleep again and I follow him, feeling warm and secure.
Author's Notes: Well. I did some reorganizing. What used to be the first and second chapters have now become the prologue and I have added the first real chapter. The only main difference to the prologue is that I have made the first part Aragorn's POV. You guys finally begged enough for me to make this a series but I can't promise I'll post very often because, as most of you know, I write *tons* of fic (a lot of which just hasn't been posted yet...) and I work, so I am a very busy person.
~~~~Cat~~~~
**Aragorn**
My Ranger senses tell me that something has changed but my sleep-hazed mind can't quite focus on what it is. Everything is quiet so surely there is no trouble. As I gradually wake a soft smile graces my lips. Warmth. That's what has changed. There's warmth at my back and I do not need to open my eyes to figure out what... or who... it is. Legolas. The only Elf that reminds me so much of a great cat. Legolas will scale trees in a heartbeat yet getting him to come down often proves difficult. He lounges for hours in the sun; sometimes finding a suitable spot at the crack of dawn and not moving until the last rays disappear. Like a cat Legolas can be the most playful of creatures and the most deadly of predators.
Legolas stirs slightly and I feel the motion against my back. It is this more than anything that makes me compare my friend to a great cat. Much of the time Legolas is rather aloof. He does enjoy the company of others (and I am honored to so often be among those) but he always holds himself slightly apart. Many say that the Prince is unfriendly and arrogant but I know better. Legolas is just a very private individual. But every once in a while, like now, the Prince will come to me, just as a cat comes to its person, asking to be closer, needing the physical contact with another being. It is always a very subtle, polite request giving me a chance to refuse. I never do.
Legolas shifts again and I realize that the Elf is trying to settle in. He must have just come off his watch. With another soft smile I roll completely over, drawing the blanket with me. Legolas is lying with his back to me, curled into a ball, his golden hair falling across his face like a curtain.
I stretch out fully and pull my blanket over both myself and the Elf. Legolas moves back slightly so that his shoulders are pressed firmly against my chest and the I wrap my arms loosely about Legolas' deceptively slender frame. I know that Legolas is allowing himself to be held tonight and may the Valar have mercy on any who try to hold, or even touch, him against his will. Such is the nature of the creature. My eyelids grow heavy and I am about to drift back into sleep when a soft, gentle, dreamy voice reaches me. "Thank you Estel." I smile and brush my fingers across silky blond hair before my arm returns to its previous position draped across the Elf. "You're welcome Wethrin. Rest well." My eyes slide shut and for the first time in many nights my sleep brings me actual rest.
**Legolas**
The fire pops and I blink, snapping back to reality. With a groan I realize that I slipped into a dream-state while on watch. I think it's time to wake someone else. Having too much to think about, like I do now, could be hazardous to everyone's heath for when I slip into waking dreams I tend to block everything else out.
I rise from the ground where I have been sitting and stretch, raising my arms above my head and standing on my toes. I feel several joints crack and I smile. That's better. I survey the sleeping figures around me, trying to decide who should take the next watch. It is two or three hours after midnight so there should only have to be one shift after mine.
As I study my slumbering companions I realize that my teeth have sunk into my lower lip and my head is cocked slightly to the right. An idle smile rises as I think how much I must resemble Glorfindel in this moment. Gimli's loud snoring assaults my ears and I smile wickedly. Little does he know he just volunteered himself for the next watch. I don't believe I could rest at all tonight with all that noise.
I ponder how to go about waking the Dwarf. He sleeps with his axes at hand and I get the feeling that if I touched him I would be dead before I knew what hit me. Hmm. How to wake him without getting my head taken off...
The leaves rustle above me and suddenly I know. With grace inherent to my kind I swing up into the massive oak tree and grab a handful of acorns before dropping back to earth. I stand several yards back then begin tossing acorns at the Dwarf's face. I try not to hit him hard enough to hurt, but enough that he'll feel them. When he refuses to wake I begin to get exasperated and I start pitching them as hard as I can. Finally one lands in his mouth and he startles awake, spitting the nut out like it was a poisonous bug.
He looks around and catches sight of me. "Should have known it would be the Elf." I catch him grumbling under his breath and I can't stifle my laugh. If looks could kill I would be on my way to the Halls of Mandos. "I suppose you woke me for a reason?"
"Indeed, Master Dwarf. It is your watch. Have fun." I turn my back to him and grin. I made a Dwarf mad. Life is good. Now, where to sleep.
I am a solitary creature by nature and I highly value my privacy. I generally hate being touched by others, but occasionally I feel the need to be held. Tonight is apparently such an occasion. Without consciously making the decision, I move to where Aragorn is sleeping. He is lying on his side and I sit next to him and wrap myself into my cloak. The ground is hard but even and I lay on my side, curling into a ball with my back to his.
A few moments later he rolls over, pulling his blanket over me and draping his arms around me. I wriggle back slightly so that my shoulders are pressed firmly against the broad chest behind me. I smile contentedly and my eyes begin to slide shut, a testimony to how tired I truly am. Before I drift off, I mumble to my friend. "Thank you Estel."
Long fingers gently slide through my hair then his arm resettles on my hip. "You're welcome Wethrin. Rest well." I smile at Aragorn's old nickname for me. His even breathing tells me he is asleep again and I follow him, feeling warm and secure.