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Lunian looked at the painted wall where her balcony should have been, and shivered softly, pulling the thick covers up more tightly around her. The wind howled through the mountain pass, the whistling call echoing eerily down the halls, reminding her of Estel's stories of the worgs.
Knowing she would get no sleep like this she finally stood, pushed her thick nightgown down from where it had bunched about her hips, and moved quickly to the fire, holding her hands out to warm them for a time as she debated what to do. Since her worry stone was on the other side of the chilly room, she worried her lower lip instead, sucking the left corner into her mouth to suffer the gentle gnawing of her teeth.
With a sigh she crept slowly to the bath room, giving herself ample time to pull back. Still, she knew herself well enough to know sleep would continue to prove elusive, so she pushed the connecting door open, hovering in the doorway as she looked around his room, lit by the fire they shared.
She was about to turn back, sure exhaustion would take her eventually, when he spoke her name. "Lunian? What's the matter?"
She instantly felt foolish for waking him, and began backing up even as he pushed the covers aside and rose. She felt like she was about two inches tall as he approached her, the firelight turning his bare chest bronze, his eyes darkened slightly in concern. "I… I have trouble sleeping in places unknown to me," she finally managed to get that much out.
"You slept in there the last few days," he pointed out, his tone and words quite reasonable.
"I was ill," she explained. When he didn't speak, she tried to articulate what seemed silly even to her. "I don't know why it is, but when I am somewhere new, I can't sleep unless…"
"Unless?"
"Unless Elrohir is near."
His eyes were enigmatic in the soft shadows cast by the flickering light. "So I did hear doors opening and closing in Gondor," he murmured softly, a slow smile tilting his lips when she nodded, a blush creeping over her cheeks. "And how did Elrohir make it so you could sleep?" he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Sometimes he sat in the chair beside my bed, sometimes he sang lullabies, sometimes he let me curl up next to him…" she trailed off and blushed again, turning quickly to her room. "I'll fall asleep sometime," she muttered faintly.
An arm curled around her waist, stopping her retreat. He kissed her forehead and walked away, picking up a shirt which he pulled over his head, tugging his hair free with one hand. "May as well get comfortable," he murmured softly, nodding his head at his bed.
She blushed once more, and knew there was no way she could gather the courage to crawl into his bed. It was not proper. Since when have you—
Don't make me come in there and hurt you, she snapped at the voice. Soft laughter echoed through her skull but the voice remained silent.
Legolas was apparently watching her face, or had simply decided he was tired of waiting. Either way, her choice was taken out of her hands when he bent slightly in front of her, picking her up gently. He laid her down on the bed and followed before she could think to move. He pulled the covers over them and tugged her against him, before kissing her temple. "Sleep well, my love," he whispered before his breathing evened and his gaze went glassy.
Still finding sleep somewhat elusive, most likely due to the fact Legolas was pressed against her from head to toe, she studied what of his room she could see in the firelight. While her room was painted as a garden, his was the forest, with several different types of trees lifting their branches to the sky. Silvery glints glimmered on the ceiling, and she could recognize a pattern in the stars. It was comforting.
So was the warmth the elf beside her exuded. The tension slowly left her, sleep pulling her lids down until she was fast asleep, cuddled in the arms of the elven prince who smiled faintly before shifting her a little more comfortably closer, kissing her temple before letting true elven sleep wash over him.
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Several people enjoyed the revelation… but somehow, I can't get Lunian to get a move on. Anybody got a Middle-Earthian cattle prod?
Really, she *will* get there in time… if I have to do something drastic… hmm… (heads off to think…)
Though as always, ideas are welcome, I'll definitely have something up by Friday… though she's so slow about such as this I doubt it'll be the big moment between them. You know, every now and again you just create a character that won't do what you want him/her to do. Some run away with the story, and others are simply stubborn beyond reason!
Thanks to those who reviewed!