Here's another update, with a slightly steamy scene near the end. It's not hectic though so...
I'd just like to thank all those who have been supporting the story so far. It really means a lot :)
Also, shout out to 'Stormglass' for the suggestions. I really like the way you think!
Anyway, so enjoy ;)
Farandir grinned at the stunned faces staring up at him.
"Oh, it's really not that dramatic. I was taken in to the care of the house of Elrond as a child after my mother was killed. I don't have any blood relations to him; well none that I'm aware of, but Elrond has always been like a grandfather to me." He explained briefly.
The company of dwarves visibly seemed to relax a bit upon hearing the news. A few among them looked slightly disappointed at the anti-climactic explanation. Thorin grunted at the silence that hung in the room.
"Now that that's settled, can we get a move on?" he asked no one in particular.
As one, the group spun back to the task at hand, Bombur tripping over the edge of a rug in his haste, Nori and Ori rushing to get him back up on his feet. The walk out of Rivendel was relatively smooth from then on. The company only passed one pair of guards, Farandir quickly spinning some tale that resulted in them moving off again moments later on the path leading out of the hidden valley. As the company progressed the young wizard noticed how Bilbo kept turning to look over his shoulder. He moved to walk next to the hobbit.
"It's quite a magnificent place, isn't it?"
Bilbo looked up, a small grin on his face.
"Words can not describe…"
Farandir smiled at the simple statement.
"Maybe after this quest has reached its end, you can return here? I'd put in a good word for you." Farandir said with a wink.
"I'd like that very much. Thank you." The hobbit said with a sincere smile.
They walked on in relative silence then, the only sounds being those of the surrounding landscape. Farandir glanced briefly over his shoulder at his home one final time before they moved around the bend. Indescribable indeed he thought, as he turned back to face the rising sun far off on the horizon.
It had been raining constantly for the past few days and everyone was miserable. Most of the dwarves had been highly disappointed when they learned that Farandir could sadly not do anything to stop the downpour as most of them had thought him capable of doing. He only shrugged with a slightly sheepish grin and said that was not in his range of abilities when prompted about it. After that, the dwarves seemed to be a bit peeved at him. He could not understand why. It had after all been they who had said that he could accomplish such a feat. He had never suggested it. As they trudged on he heard one of them grumble about him being the second wizard that let them down. He thought of Gandalf then and that made him chuckle.
"Whats so funny?" asked a voice from behind him.
He turned to see Kili looking up at him with a grin. A sudden thought came to him then that surprised him a little. He couldn't stop thinking how appealing Kili looked as the rainwater dripped of his face, a few of the droplets trailing down his strong jaw line and then disappearing down the collar of his shirt. For a moment he could swear he felt his cheeks warm up as he imagined those droplets traveling over the planes of the body that lay beneath the fabric.
"Farandir?"
"Hmmm? Oh, right. I was just um, laughing at something stupid." Farandir said quickly.
Kili raised an eyebrow at him.
"Something stupid, eh?" he asked and when Farandir nodded he said, "Fine, don't tell me."
Farandir chuckled and shoved him lightly to the side. The young warrior proceeded to shove him back. Soon it became a little game that lasted up until Thorin turned back to glare at the two of them. Farandir could hear Fili chuckle somewhere from behind them as Thorin glared. Their game at an end, the two strode on in silence for a bit. Finally Kili spoke up.
"You look a lot better now." He said, making the wizard turn his head in inquiry.
"I mean you look fully recovered. You're not so pale anymore and your eyes…" he paused a moment.
"My eyes?"
Kili didn't speak; he merely smiled and glanced at his boots. Farandir grinned and shook his head.
"You only mentioned your mother before, back in Rivendel."
"I did." Farandir agreed.
"So, what about your father?"
Farandir sighed before speaking.
"I'm not really sure what happened to him. I've never met him and my mother never spoke of him. He had to be elven though, seeing as my mother was human and I'm well both. She said he came from Rivendel though and that's why they took me in there after she…" he stopped, painful memories flashing briefly in his mind.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up." Kili said in a quite voice.
He spoke so softly that Farandir almost missed it.
"It's ok."
"I'm not always the most tactful dwarf." Kili said with a sad smile. "My big mouth usually gets me into trouble."
"It's ok, really. It was a simple question. And it happened so long ago… Don't worry about it."
They walked on in awkward silence after that.
Hours later Thorin finally stated that it was time to take shelter for the night. The company broke into little groups, each assigned with a different task. Some gathered supplies, like fresh water from a nearby stream, while others set out to get a fire going in an area sheltered from the rain by a large rock formation. The terrain was slowly turning all the more barren as they approached the foothills surrounding the Misty Mountains. The next day they would start the perilous journey across the towering peaks. Farandir was not looking forward to it.
He tried to keep his mind off it by staying busy. He worked with Bifur and Bofur to get the fire started and then get a simple stew together. As he sat staring into the flames his mind drifted off to far away realms. Soon he was asleep. After what seemed like hours he was brought out of his dreaming by a touch on his shoulder.
"It's your turn on the watch." Whispered Ori.
Farandir nodded, rubbing at his eyes before getting up. As he started his wide circle around the campsite he caught sight of Kili and Fili sitting on a rock. The two where speaking in quite voices, not wanting to disturb their companions or alert potential enemies. Slowly Farandir made his way over, not wanting to startle the two brothers. As he drew near, Fili elbowed Kili, cutting off the dwarf's next sentence. Kili turned to look at what had caused his brother to do so. When he saw Farandir he smiled.
"Well, looks like I'm relieved of duty." Fili said and stretched, before bidding them both good night and stumbling in the dark back to the camp. Farandir caught the meaningful look he flashed his dark haired brother before leaving, the action peaking the wizard's interest. He did not say anything though.
"So, how long have you been sitting here?" he asked as he came to a stop and leaned against a rock.
"Not long at all. I came to relieve Ori from watch duty and that was about 10 minutes ago."
"I see."
They sat in silence a while, listening to the rustle of the sparse foliage and the chirping of insects. After a while Kili seemed to draw in a deep breath as if he was preparing himself for something before turning to the half elf, moving closer as he did so. He looked up at the young wizard for a moment before speaking.
"You have something in your hair, you know?" He said with a small smile.
Farandir frowned and probed his damp hair, feeling for anything that shouldn't be there.
"Where? I don't feel anything." He said after a moment.
"Here." Kili said and reached over to the side of Farandir's head. As he did so his cool fingers brushed against the tip of Farandir's pointed ear. This sent shivers down the half elf's spine. Kili noticed this. Tentatively he touched the ear again, sending another wave of pleasure through the elf.
"Don't…" Farandir whispered.
Kili drew his hand back, a slight look of rejection on his face. Farandir looked into his eyes then, fiercly.
"You didn't let me finish." He said in a breathy voice. "I was going to say, 'don't stop'."
Kili's eyebrow lifted slyly, a light blush spreading on his face as he reached out to run the tips of his fingers over the pointed ear. Farandir gave a low groan.
"I'd heard that elf ears were sensitive, but I didn't think it was that big a deal?"
Farandir looked over at him with half lidded eyes.
"You haven't the slightest idea." He whispered.
Kili smiled then, a glint in his eyes.
"Well, if a simple touch can make you squirm like that, I wonder what this will do?" he said as he leaned in and ran his tongue across the sensitive piece of skin.
Farandir groaned loudly this time, making Kili glance over at the sleeping company a little way off. None of them stirred so he turned back to what he was doing. He gave the pointed ear another slow lick before pulling away. The look he saw on Farandir's face was the most arousing thing he had ever seen. Before he could do anything though, Farandir spoke.
"Kili, what are we doing?" he asked.
The archer was slightly taken aback.
"I think it's pretty obvious what we're doing."
Farandir grinned before speaking.
"Ok, what I mean is, should we be doing this? Do you really want to? Don't you think it's a bit… sudden?"
Kili looked up at him for a moment, his dark eyes boring deeply into bright blue.
"Since the moment I laid eyes on you I felt something inside. This may sound stupid but it was like an instant connection. Like I was meant to cross paths with you." He said softly, still looking deeply into Farandir's eyes.
Farandir smiled.
"I think I know what you mean." He said.
"So, doesn't this feel like the right thing to do?" the warrior pressed.
Farandir chuckled.
"I just wanted to make sure you were 100% on board."
"Well, now that you know…" Kili whispered and drew close again, this time going for the lips instead of the ear.
Both moaned as their mouths came together in a fiery kiss, Kili's hand reaching up to twine into the elf's hair as Farandir cupped the young warrior's face in his hands. Despite it being cold and damp because of the rain, neither of the two felt anything but warmth. Kili marveled at the sweet taste of Farandir's lips. He guessed it had to be an elven thing because none of his previous conquests had ever felt quite like this. They were lost in the moment and didn't notice the shadow closing in on them.
The sudden clearing of someone's throat made the two of them jump. Fili stood next to them suddenly, a huge grin on his face. Kili frowned at his brother while Farandir looked slightly embarrassed.
"I um forgot my water skin." He said, still wearing the grin and moved to pick up the discarded skin that lay on the ground nearby.
With a casual salute he disappeared back into the darkness, leaving the two would-be-lovers alone once more.
"Well…" Farandir said and smoothed his hair back out of the way. "That was awkward."
Kili looked at him a moment before both burst out laughing. A groggy 'Quite over there!' emanated from the camp but this did little to stop them. Their laughter echoed into the dark for quite some time before finally ebbing away.
"It was worth it though." Kili said with a grin that made Farandir tingle all over.
"That it was."
So there. Sweet and short :)
I didn't want to push their relationship too much yet, feels a bit too fast. It will get better though so stay tuned ;)
Thanx for reading and let me know how you feel about it so far!