See Chapters 1&2 for DISCLAIMER
Thanks heaps everyone for reviewing, I know its taking a long time to get anywhere, but hey I don't have much say in this story really, except to undress Legolas every so often :)
7. Its Rude To Stare
Mouse watched as the sun crept across the sea of green-gold grass as it waved in a gentle breeze. Mostly she was thinking about Legolas, indeed she'd been thinking of little else, and it sounded like she was even starting to talk like him she thought with a self-depreciating smirk. Her memory of the last few minutes was a little foggy except for the clamoring of her pulse in her veins, the tingle of her skin and... Mouse shook her head to clear it. It wouldn't do to think about him that way. She knew enough from the gossip around Calembel to know that he was ancient in human terms. Also he was a close personal friend of a king, make that kings in the plural sense, Mouse corrected herself. And she was... not someone who should be thinking about kissing someone like that. Something that Legolas had said though, had made something tickle in the back of Mouse's mind, the part where she imagined her memories should be, except as far as she knew she didn't have any, at least none that were more than ten years old. But there was something, a house and a river, and a lady with long yellow hair and water lilies, and someone singing...
"Legolas!" Mouse jumped as Pippin called out loudly, "Breakfast!" Turning she saw the two hobbits spooning food into their mouths while Gimli righted his clothes and beard from the tangles of sleep. "Legolas!"
"He said he would be back within the hour." Mouse said as she sat down on the hard rocky ground beside Merry. He silently offered her a plate and a warm smile.
"Dig in." Pippin said around a mouthful of food and Mouse watched in astonishment as he piled her plate high with what looked like nuts and berries. In fact they *were* nuts and berries. She must have looked surprised because Pippin pointed at the food and explained. "We brought this along for Legolas, he doesn't eat bacon or anything like that, and it's a little rude to provide a meal that not everyone can eat, right Merry?"
"Yes Pip. But if he doesn't get back soon, he'll be lucky to get any the way you two are shoveling it in." Merry said with a grin as he looked at Pippin and Gimli.
"Just don't..." Gimli started to say
".Tell the Elf we know, we know." Merry interrupted and he and Pippin giggled.
"Don't tell me what exactly?" Legolas's low amused voice made them all turn around in surprise. "Perhaps I don't want to know?" He looked at Mouse and to her horror she felt herself start to blush. She felt a little better as his fingers twitched and then he reached up to half rub, half scratch his ear.
"Squirrel food." Gimli's attempt at a disgusted tone was ruined by the fact that he was chewing. The food was curiously tasty, tastier than Mouse had expected for dried berries and shelled nuts. She looked up as a graceful hand stole a small handful from her plate and Legolas nudged her with his elbow before putting some in his mouth and sighing.
"This is my kind of food." Legolas chewed for a while and Mouse forgot to eat while she watched him eat, with his usual economy of motion and grace. When his eyes closed in obvious pleasure Mouse had to look away with a stern 'staring is rude' to herself. She concentrated on what she was eating instead.
"So how far through the caves are we going today?" Pippin asked before chasing a rogue nut around his bowl.
"All the way through, we must make our way to Edoras as quickly as possible." Legolas answered and Mouse saw the obvious disappointment on Gimli's face and on Merry and Pippin's once Merry had nudged his friend who was busy celebrating his victory over the nut by popping it into his mouth with a flourish.
"You mean as quickly after we've visited "the cave" right? That's what he means isn't it Merry?" When Pippin looked from Hobbit to Elf and then back again Mouse wondered what was special about this other cave. "I mean Gimli and, please don't take this the wrong way, Mouse could both do with a bath. Plus along with the food from Arwen, we also brought soap. Elf Soap." Pippin added with pride and obvious anticipation.
"Thanks." Mouse said wryly, she stalled Pippin's apology with a smile, "I didn't take that the wrong way, and I do need a bath. Are you saying there are baths in here?" Mouse almost drooled at the thought of warm water and soap. It had been weeks since she'd had a proper bath, a couple of spring downpours didn't really cut it. Weeks... Mouse had almost lost count of how much time had passed since she had spotted Legolas and Gimli heading into Calembel. It was most off putting, as she was generally clean, and definitely not in the least bit smelly, in her line of work it could be dangerous for someone to be able to smell you coming. She shifted uncomfortably in her clothing, plus her wounds could probably do with some fresh air as well.
"Baths? There's more than baths... well actually they're naturally heated pools." Pippin answered enthusiastically, his small face was alight with it.
"And it *is* on the way." Merry added.
"So it is! Well done laddie." Gimli patted Merry's shoulder.
"Let me see," Legolas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, it was a sham Mouse could tell, it was obvious that he wanted to visit these baths as well. Not that he looked like he needed a bath; in fact Mouse didn't think she'd ever seen a more consistently perfectly groomed person. She held her breath waiting for the ear fondle...'Ah, there it is!' she thought with a swallowed giggle. "I suppose an hour or two couldn't hurt. As long as we make up the time, by not doing any sight seeing."
"No sightseeing?" Gimli said in disbelief
"The pool Gimli, the pool!" Merry was already packing his things into his bag, you can come back after visiting with Aragorn, which is what we're going to do right Legolas?"
Mouse noticed the slight pause before Legolas answered, and knew it was because she was there, he didn't trust her, not that he had any real reason to, like he hadn't had any reason to invite her to travel with himself and Gimli. Why exactly had he? Mouse wondered as she chewed on the last of her berries and tried not to be insulted, or worse yet get hurt feelings.
"We are going to Edoras, and then to Minas Tirith, that is to say, I will be going, I would not want to speak for you all of course." Legolas rose and walked across to the cave mouth.
"You know we're coming." Merry said with a wink in Mouse's direction and then he stood and brushed himself off before slinging his bag onto his back. "Arwen promised to sing us a song when we got back, A Tale of two Hobbits I think she said it was called."
"That should be The Misadventures of Two Rock Headed Hobbits, I should think" Gimli chuckled before getting to his feet and picking up his axe, which was never far from his hand. Mouse had picked it up once, the axe he called his "walking axe". It had been like picking up a large stone, it was so heavy Mouse and almost stumbled under its weight, she'd been saved by Gimli's quick intervention. He'd muttered something about getting her a smaller more delicate one. Not that he'd have the chance if they were all leaving Edoras as quickly as Legolas's statement had hinted. She walked over to her pack and picked up Legolas' cloak, it was so light, but it had kept her perfectly warm during the night. She carefully folded it letting her fingers linger of the strange fabric; all of the others had one of the same fabric as well. Mouse took a deep breath and approached Legolas as he stood watching the plains beyond.
"Are you looking to make sure the ponies have gone?" She asked quietly, not totally convinced by the cavalier way first Legolas and then the hobbits had just let their mounts wander 'home'.
"The horses know a good thing when they find it, Edoras is a place where all horses and ponies desire to stay." Legolas answered, glancing down at her and then back out to the horizon. Mouse snuck a look at his profile and then reminded herself about staring being rude again.
"Plenty of hay and company can be nice for people as well as horses." Mouse said and surprised herself with a sigh. Seemed even someone who had a murky pool of nothing for a past could get homesick for a stable Mouse realized.
"You can take the stable hand out of the stable but you can't take the sable out of the stable hand?" Legolas asked with a cheeky quirk of his eyebrow and Mouse thankfully took his cue to get them back into their previous, and much more comfortable, camaraderie. Teasing was better than uncomfortable silences where her heart rate soared and her fingertips tingled Mouse told herself sternly.
"Right, so where are these baths?" Mouse asked as she handed him his cloak, he stowed it away in the small pack he carried and then turned to her with a smile. Mouse ignored her fingertips as best she could under the circumstances.
"You'll see." He answered vaguely and they all set off, with the Hobbits chattering happily about the Shire and Gimli pointing out geological formations to Mouse, who was interested, maybe not as interested as she looked but it paid to know as much about your surroundings as possible in any given situation, plus it meant she could, mostly, ignore Legolas as he followed behind. She absently, as Gimli pointed out a thin seam of amethyst, wondered when he'd next check his cloak.
It seemed like, and probably was, hours later when the Hobbits turned a corner and disappeared from view taking the torch with them, Mouse came to an abrupt halt in the sudden darkness, mostly because Gimli had come to an abrupt halt, Mouse let out a small "Oof!" as Legolas continued the trend and ran into her back.
"Gimli?" Legolas asked his friend, clearly amused by the situation.
"Oh, sorry" Gimli stepped forwards and started a chain reaction again.
Mouse's mouth dropped open as she saw "The Cave". It was beautiful, pale amethyst water lapped at a tiny white sandy beach, and a waterfall revealed itself as the source of the noise Mouse had been hearing while they walked, the water seemed like it was lit from below, it glowed softly, lighting the Hobbits frantic movements as they shed bags, bundles and clothes in no particular order. There was a slight cough from Legolas and then a louder chestier one from Gimli. The Hobbits froze and looked up at Mouse as she tried to hold in a giggle. Gimli was blushing so hard she could feel the heat radiating off him and the hobbits started to adopt the same rosy hue. She clapped a hand over her eyes, but not before noticing that there really weren't that many differences between Hobbits and Men, which made her wonder if Elves were as similar. Suddenly Mouse was glad her face was covered.
"There is a smaller pool behind the curtain of the waterfall, the water itself is not quite as refreshingly cool, but it will still serve you well as a bath if you wish." Legolas's voice sounded as warm as honey with her eyes closed and Mouse debated whether or not it would be better to open her eyes so should could concentrate, or keep them closed so he couldn't see her eyes. Closed won.
"Ok, sounds good." She answered and jumped a little as Legolas's hand lightly gripped her elbow.
"Kick your boots off and put your bow and pack down. Now come this way," He nudged her forwards and Mouse concentrated on keeping her footing on the sand, "There's a step up here and then.wait a minute, keep your eyes closed." Mouse did as she was told, because she wasn't sure she really needed to see Gimli as naked as the hobbits were. She couldn't hear much at all over the sound of the water falling and hitting the rocks just near her feet.
"Eeeek!" Mouse let out a small shriek as cold water suddenly drenched her from head to toe. Her eyes opened and she turned around to look at Legolas accusingly, sure enough he was trying not to laugh. Trying not to laugh as he brushed his wet hair out of his eyes and water cascaded down his recently bared chest. Little rivulets of water tracing the pale golden planes and curves of his arms and chest, sliding downwards towards his leggings as they clung to his. 'It's rude to stare, it's rude to stare, it's... beautiful.' Mouse though to herself and then looked up. The play of muscles in his arm as he touched a finger to the top of his gracefully pointed ear made Mouse's mouth go dry. Then it occurred to her that he had taken his clothes off; yet still let her walk fully clothed through the cascade. "I suppose my clothes did need a wash."
Legolas' laugh sounded like it was surprised out of him, which made Mouse laugh.
"I was starting to wonder whether or not they weren't actually clothes but some form of hide." Legolas said between deep breaths.
"You mean like this was my skin?" Mouse plucked at her soggy tunic. "This isn't me, well not all of it anyway."
"I see." Legolas' smile slowly faded as he looked at her, Mouse suddenly realized how secluded the little grotto was, most of the sounds of the Hobbits and Gimli playing around behind the wall of water were muted. The strange light accentuated the blue in Legolas's eyes and glinted of the beads of water on his face and chest.
"T... Mouse." He moved a small step towards her, and Mouse's breath caught.
"SOAP!" Pippin's shout gave Mouse just enough time to blink as Legolas caught the flying projectile just before it hit her shoulder, but she still managed to fall backwards into the water, and swallow some of it. Legolas pulled her back to the surface with a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice. Mouse knew she was fine but was having trouble getting words out as Legolas reached down to cup her face gently. "Mouse?"
"I'm fine..." Mouse took a deep breath and then froze as she watched something black and blob-like float past her face. Scarier than any creature might be, Mouse cursed under her breath, it was her headscarf. Meaning that her head was no longer covered, and neither were her ears. Not that Legolas seemed to have noticed the second part yet, his hand had moved from her cheek into her hair. Their eyes met and Mouse wondered where all the water she'd swallowed had gone as once again her mouth went dry.
"Autumn leaves." Legolas breathed.
Thanks heaps everyone for reviewing, I know its taking a long time to get anywhere, but hey I don't have much say in this story really, except to undress Legolas every so often :)
7. Its Rude To Stare
Mouse watched as the sun crept across the sea of green-gold grass as it waved in a gentle breeze. Mostly she was thinking about Legolas, indeed she'd been thinking of little else, and it sounded like she was even starting to talk like him she thought with a self-depreciating smirk. Her memory of the last few minutes was a little foggy except for the clamoring of her pulse in her veins, the tingle of her skin and... Mouse shook her head to clear it. It wouldn't do to think about him that way. She knew enough from the gossip around Calembel to know that he was ancient in human terms. Also he was a close personal friend of a king, make that kings in the plural sense, Mouse corrected herself. And she was... not someone who should be thinking about kissing someone like that. Something that Legolas had said though, had made something tickle in the back of Mouse's mind, the part where she imagined her memories should be, except as far as she knew she didn't have any, at least none that were more than ten years old. But there was something, a house and a river, and a lady with long yellow hair and water lilies, and someone singing...
"Legolas!" Mouse jumped as Pippin called out loudly, "Breakfast!" Turning she saw the two hobbits spooning food into their mouths while Gimli righted his clothes and beard from the tangles of sleep. "Legolas!"
"He said he would be back within the hour." Mouse said as she sat down on the hard rocky ground beside Merry. He silently offered her a plate and a warm smile.
"Dig in." Pippin said around a mouthful of food and Mouse watched in astonishment as he piled her plate high with what looked like nuts and berries. In fact they *were* nuts and berries. She must have looked surprised because Pippin pointed at the food and explained. "We brought this along for Legolas, he doesn't eat bacon or anything like that, and it's a little rude to provide a meal that not everyone can eat, right Merry?"
"Yes Pip. But if he doesn't get back soon, he'll be lucky to get any the way you two are shoveling it in." Merry said with a grin as he looked at Pippin and Gimli.
"Just don't..." Gimli started to say
".Tell the Elf we know, we know." Merry interrupted and he and Pippin giggled.
"Don't tell me what exactly?" Legolas's low amused voice made them all turn around in surprise. "Perhaps I don't want to know?" He looked at Mouse and to her horror she felt herself start to blush. She felt a little better as his fingers twitched and then he reached up to half rub, half scratch his ear.
"Squirrel food." Gimli's attempt at a disgusted tone was ruined by the fact that he was chewing. The food was curiously tasty, tastier than Mouse had expected for dried berries and shelled nuts. She looked up as a graceful hand stole a small handful from her plate and Legolas nudged her with his elbow before putting some in his mouth and sighing.
"This is my kind of food." Legolas chewed for a while and Mouse forgot to eat while she watched him eat, with his usual economy of motion and grace. When his eyes closed in obvious pleasure Mouse had to look away with a stern 'staring is rude' to herself. She concentrated on what she was eating instead.
"So how far through the caves are we going today?" Pippin asked before chasing a rogue nut around his bowl.
"All the way through, we must make our way to Edoras as quickly as possible." Legolas answered and Mouse saw the obvious disappointment on Gimli's face and on Merry and Pippin's once Merry had nudged his friend who was busy celebrating his victory over the nut by popping it into his mouth with a flourish.
"You mean as quickly after we've visited "the cave" right? That's what he means isn't it Merry?" When Pippin looked from Hobbit to Elf and then back again Mouse wondered what was special about this other cave. "I mean Gimli and, please don't take this the wrong way, Mouse could both do with a bath. Plus along with the food from Arwen, we also brought soap. Elf Soap." Pippin added with pride and obvious anticipation.
"Thanks." Mouse said wryly, she stalled Pippin's apology with a smile, "I didn't take that the wrong way, and I do need a bath. Are you saying there are baths in here?" Mouse almost drooled at the thought of warm water and soap. It had been weeks since she'd had a proper bath, a couple of spring downpours didn't really cut it. Weeks... Mouse had almost lost count of how much time had passed since she had spotted Legolas and Gimli heading into Calembel. It was most off putting, as she was generally clean, and definitely not in the least bit smelly, in her line of work it could be dangerous for someone to be able to smell you coming. She shifted uncomfortably in her clothing, plus her wounds could probably do with some fresh air as well.
"Baths? There's more than baths... well actually they're naturally heated pools." Pippin answered enthusiastically, his small face was alight with it.
"And it *is* on the way." Merry added.
"So it is! Well done laddie." Gimli patted Merry's shoulder.
"Let me see," Legolas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, it was a sham Mouse could tell, it was obvious that he wanted to visit these baths as well. Not that he looked like he needed a bath; in fact Mouse didn't think she'd ever seen a more consistently perfectly groomed person. She held her breath waiting for the ear fondle...'Ah, there it is!' she thought with a swallowed giggle. "I suppose an hour or two couldn't hurt. As long as we make up the time, by not doing any sight seeing."
"No sightseeing?" Gimli said in disbelief
"The pool Gimli, the pool!" Merry was already packing his things into his bag, you can come back after visiting with Aragorn, which is what we're going to do right Legolas?"
Mouse noticed the slight pause before Legolas answered, and knew it was because she was there, he didn't trust her, not that he had any real reason to, like he hadn't had any reason to invite her to travel with himself and Gimli. Why exactly had he? Mouse wondered as she chewed on the last of her berries and tried not to be insulted, or worse yet get hurt feelings.
"We are going to Edoras, and then to Minas Tirith, that is to say, I will be going, I would not want to speak for you all of course." Legolas rose and walked across to the cave mouth.
"You know we're coming." Merry said with a wink in Mouse's direction and then he stood and brushed himself off before slinging his bag onto his back. "Arwen promised to sing us a song when we got back, A Tale of two Hobbits I think she said it was called."
"That should be The Misadventures of Two Rock Headed Hobbits, I should think" Gimli chuckled before getting to his feet and picking up his axe, which was never far from his hand. Mouse had picked it up once, the axe he called his "walking axe". It had been like picking up a large stone, it was so heavy Mouse and almost stumbled under its weight, she'd been saved by Gimli's quick intervention. He'd muttered something about getting her a smaller more delicate one. Not that he'd have the chance if they were all leaving Edoras as quickly as Legolas's statement had hinted. She walked over to her pack and picked up Legolas' cloak, it was so light, but it had kept her perfectly warm during the night. She carefully folded it letting her fingers linger of the strange fabric; all of the others had one of the same fabric as well. Mouse took a deep breath and approached Legolas as he stood watching the plains beyond.
"Are you looking to make sure the ponies have gone?" She asked quietly, not totally convinced by the cavalier way first Legolas and then the hobbits had just let their mounts wander 'home'.
"The horses know a good thing when they find it, Edoras is a place where all horses and ponies desire to stay." Legolas answered, glancing down at her and then back out to the horizon. Mouse snuck a look at his profile and then reminded herself about staring being rude again.
"Plenty of hay and company can be nice for people as well as horses." Mouse said and surprised herself with a sigh. Seemed even someone who had a murky pool of nothing for a past could get homesick for a stable Mouse realized.
"You can take the stable hand out of the stable but you can't take the sable out of the stable hand?" Legolas asked with a cheeky quirk of his eyebrow and Mouse thankfully took his cue to get them back into their previous, and much more comfortable, camaraderie. Teasing was better than uncomfortable silences where her heart rate soared and her fingertips tingled Mouse told herself sternly.
"Right, so where are these baths?" Mouse asked as she handed him his cloak, he stowed it away in the small pack he carried and then turned to her with a smile. Mouse ignored her fingertips as best she could under the circumstances.
"You'll see." He answered vaguely and they all set off, with the Hobbits chattering happily about the Shire and Gimli pointing out geological formations to Mouse, who was interested, maybe not as interested as she looked but it paid to know as much about your surroundings as possible in any given situation, plus it meant she could, mostly, ignore Legolas as he followed behind. She absently, as Gimli pointed out a thin seam of amethyst, wondered when he'd next check his cloak.
It seemed like, and probably was, hours later when the Hobbits turned a corner and disappeared from view taking the torch with them, Mouse came to an abrupt halt in the sudden darkness, mostly because Gimli had come to an abrupt halt, Mouse let out a small "Oof!" as Legolas continued the trend and ran into her back.
"Gimli?" Legolas asked his friend, clearly amused by the situation.
"Oh, sorry" Gimli stepped forwards and started a chain reaction again.
Mouse's mouth dropped open as she saw "The Cave". It was beautiful, pale amethyst water lapped at a tiny white sandy beach, and a waterfall revealed itself as the source of the noise Mouse had been hearing while they walked, the water seemed like it was lit from below, it glowed softly, lighting the Hobbits frantic movements as they shed bags, bundles and clothes in no particular order. There was a slight cough from Legolas and then a louder chestier one from Gimli. The Hobbits froze and looked up at Mouse as she tried to hold in a giggle. Gimli was blushing so hard she could feel the heat radiating off him and the hobbits started to adopt the same rosy hue. She clapped a hand over her eyes, but not before noticing that there really weren't that many differences between Hobbits and Men, which made her wonder if Elves were as similar. Suddenly Mouse was glad her face was covered.
"There is a smaller pool behind the curtain of the waterfall, the water itself is not quite as refreshingly cool, but it will still serve you well as a bath if you wish." Legolas's voice sounded as warm as honey with her eyes closed and Mouse debated whether or not it would be better to open her eyes so should could concentrate, or keep them closed so he couldn't see her eyes. Closed won.
"Ok, sounds good." She answered and jumped a little as Legolas's hand lightly gripped her elbow.
"Kick your boots off and put your bow and pack down. Now come this way," He nudged her forwards and Mouse concentrated on keeping her footing on the sand, "There's a step up here and then.wait a minute, keep your eyes closed." Mouse did as she was told, because she wasn't sure she really needed to see Gimli as naked as the hobbits were. She couldn't hear much at all over the sound of the water falling and hitting the rocks just near her feet.
"Eeeek!" Mouse let out a small shriek as cold water suddenly drenched her from head to toe. Her eyes opened and she turned around to look at Legolas accusingly, sure enough he was trying not to laugh. Trying not to laugh as he brushed his wet hair out of his eyes and water cascaded down his recently bared chest. Little rivulets of water tracing the pale golden planes and curves of his arms and chest, sliding downwards towards his leggings as they clung to his. 'It's rude to stare, it's rude to stare, it's... beautiful.' Mouse though to herself and then looked up. The play of muscles in his arm as he touched a finger to the top of his gracefully pointed ear made Mouse's mouth go dry. Then it occurred to her that he had taken his clothes off; yet still let her walk fully clothed through the cascade. "I suppose my clothes did need a wash."
Legolas' laugh sounded like it was surprised out of him, which made Mouse laugh.
"I was starting to wonder whether or not they weren't actually clothes but some form of hide." Legolas said between deep breaths.
"You mean like this was my skin?" Mouse plucked at her soggy tunic. "This isn't me, well not all of it anyway."
"I see." Legolas' smile slowly faded as he looked at her, Mouse suddenly realized how secluded the little grotto was, most of the sounds of the Hobbits and Gimli playing around behind the wall of water were muted. The strange light accentuated the blue in Legolas's eyes and glinted of the beads of water on his face and chest.
"T... Mouse." He moved a small step towards her, and Mouse's breath caught.
"SOAP!" Pippin's shout gave Mouse just enough time to blink as Legolas caught the flying projectile just before it hit her shoulder, but she still managed to fall backwards into the water, and swallow some of it. Legolas pulled her back to the surface with a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice. Mouse knew she was fine but was having trouble getting words out as Legolas reached down to cup her face gently. "Mouse?"
"I'm fine..." Mouse took a deep breath and then froze as she watched something black and blob-like float past her face. Scarier than any creature might be, Mouse cursed under her breath, it was her headscarf. Meaning that her head was no longer covered, and neither were her ears. Not that Legolas seemed to have noticed the second part yet, his hand had moved from her cheek into her hair. Their eyes met and Mouse wondered where all the water she'd swallowed had gone as once again her mouth went dry.
"Autumn leaves." Legolas breathed.