A full day passed with Bard sneaking looks at the gloves he now kept near his bed. Sigrid's words continued to fill his thoughts. He had just finished putting the children to bed when he found Thran sitting in front of the fire place looking at his hands. Bard noticed that the fabric covering the Elf's hands was starting to fray. Before he could second guess himself, he rushed back to his small room to retrieve the gloves.
"Here" Bard said as he placed the gloves in front of Thran.
"What are these?" Thran asked.
"They're gloves, obviously." Bard smirked.
Thran smirked as well, "Is there a reason you are giving me gloves?"
Bard blushed, "I thought you could use them. You don't have to use them if you don't want to."
Thran smiled softly and started to slowly unwrap his hands. Bard wasn't surprised to find them as beautiful as the rest of the elf. Dainty yet strong. He wanted to reach out and hold them, to see if they were as soft as they looked.
"Thank you Bard." Thran smiled as he slipped the gloves on. They seemed to fit him perfectly, both in style and fit. The Elf squeezed his hand, "For thinking of me."
Bard's blush deepened, "I-it was no trouble."
Thran's smile widened.
"They suit you." Bard said, trying in vain to get his cheeks to return to their original color.
Thran chuckled and held his hand out, the light of the fire catching the black leather nicely. "They are quite beautiful."
"Beautiful" Bard whispered.
Thran blushed at the other man's stare. He shifted closer to Bard and pulled his legs up beneath him. "You have been so generous. First allowing me to stay in your home and then giving me gloves. You are truly the most wonderful man I have ever met."
Bard's cheeks warmed even more, "You must not get out much."
Thran laughed softly, something that made Bard's heart swell. "I suppose not, but either way. Thank you for all that you have done." Thran leaned close and kissed the other on the cheek before heading outside.
Bard sat frozen for a few moments, his cheek tingled where Thran's soft lips touched his skin. A large smile slowly crept onto his face as he brought his hand up to where Thran kissed him. "Oh Valar, why me?" He sighed and covered his face with his hands, groaning in frustration.
(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)
Tauriel and the Dwarves had been walking a few hours before they came upon a small campsite. There was an old fire and two distinct places where bodies had been.
"Maybe the Prince?" Kili asked.
"Perhaps, but who is the other body?" Fili asked.
"Another Elf?" Kili suggested.
Tauriel shook her head. "It has to be someone he met out here. Friend of Foe, I do not know." She looked around anxiously.
"I'm sure the Prince is fine." Kili assured, ignoring the twisting of his stomach.
Tauriel smiled at him and nodded.
"We should keep moving, the fire is no more than a day old." Fili observed.
"They went farther north. Towards Erebor." Dwalin frowned. "Seems convenient" He muttered.
Tauriel glared at the Dwarf, "Their direction has nothing to do with Erebor Master Dwarf."
Dwalin returned the glare, but didn't say anything.
"Come on, let's get moving." Fili said looking between Tauriel and Dwalin. Kili brought himself between the two, softly touching Tauriel's arm and moving her forward. Tauriel's eyes softened as they turned to the semi-anxious Dwarf. She nodded to him and continued walking.
"You fancy her." Fili whispered to his brother as they walked. He kept his voice low so that Dwalin wouldn't hear them, he couldn't be sure of Tauriel though.
"Of course not Brother. Where would you get that idea?" Kili replied just as softly.
Fili smirked, "I know you Kili. You have been spending time together since we started this journey."
Kili looked around before leaning closer to Fili, "You think I got a chance?"
Fili sighed, "You shouldn't pursue this Kili. If Thorin doesn't kill you then the Elves will. You saw what their crazy king almost did to Dain."
"Yeah well, Dain was asking for it in my opinion." Kili muttered.
Fili chuckled, "Still, I would stay away if I were you. A Dwarf and an Elf simply cannot be."
Kili sighed. He couldn't help falling for the Elf. His brother just didn't understand. Tauriel was fierce, she was beautiful; unlike any other he had ever met. How could he not fall for her?
(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)
"So you gave him the gloves." Sigrid said as he helped her make breakfast before he went to work.
Bard blushed, "I did. The ones he had were fraying."
"And?" She leaned in expectantly.
"He kissed me." He said "On the cheek" He added before she could shout.
"That's still a kiss! I told you he felt the same way."
"That means nothing Sigrid. He was just saying thank you."
She rolled her eyes, "Of course, that's the only reason."
Bard shook his head.
"Will you give him another gift?"
Bard fumbled with the plates, barely catching them before they hit the floor. "What?"
"Another gift. If you are courting him now, then you need another gift."
"Da's courting someone?" Bain asked when he walked into the room.
"No, I'm not. Keep your voice down Bain." Bard hissed as he checked the hallway.
"Da wants to court Thran, but he's denying it." Sigrid said.
"Can you court an Elf?" Bain asked.
"Why not?" Sigrid asked.
"I'm not courting him." Bard sighed.
"What's courting?" Tilda asked as she sat at the table.
"It's something that adults do when they like each other. A man will give gifts to the woman - or person - of his choice. If they accept these gifts, then after a time they get engaged and then married." Sigrid explained.
"Doesn't Da need permission though? From Thran's family?" Bain asked.
Sigrid shrugged, "It would be polite, but I highly doubt Da will be meeting with Thran's family any time soon."
"Does that mean that Thran will be our Da?" Tilda asked. "Will he be with us forever?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself Darling. I haven't done anything yet, nor has anything happened." Bard said.
Sigrid rolled her eyes, "You gave him the gloves and he kissed you on the cheek. You are courting him."
Bard sighed but before he could respond Thran walked into the house. "Were you outside?" Bard asked.
"I was. The sunrise is quite beautiful from your roof." Thran smiled and sat next to Tilda.
The small girl turned to him and smiled, "Will you stay with us forever Thran?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared in shock, "As long as I am able to Tilda." Thran said warmly.
"Yay!" She cheered and embraced him tightly around the neck.
Thran hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around her small body. His eyes found Bard's who blushed and looked away. Thran smiled and turned his attention back to Tilda.
"You didn't have to do that." Bard told Thran. It was after dinner and they were alone, sitting on the roof.
"Do what?"
"Tell Tilda that you would stay forever."
"Do you not want me here?" Thran frowned.
"No!" He said, moving closer. "That's not it. I was just saying that you are under no obligation to stay with us. You have a home after all."
Thran sighed, "Do I? I ran away remember." He looked down at his hands.
Slowly, Bard reached out and gently took Thran's hand. The Elf flinched away, but Bard didn't let go. "You won't hurt me Thran."
"How do you know?" Thran whispered.
"Because I know you won't." Bard smiled. He brought the hand closer and slowly removed the glove. Thran tried to pull his hand away again but Bard tightened his grip. Once the glove was off, Bard laced their fingers together and held them close to his chest. "See?"
Thran's eyes were wide in disbelief. "Do you feel anything?"
Bard chuckled, "Your hands are a little cold, but nothing other than that." Thran's hand was as soft as it looked. Smooth skin with no blemishes yet strong and just as beautiful as the rest of the Elf. "You are not hurting me Thran. I promise. You needn't hide from me." Bard brought the hand up to his lips and kissed each finger softly.
Thran's eyes closed, savoring each touch.
Bard saw this and smiled, "I'm being too forward aren't I?"
Thran chuckled, "Yes, but you won't find me complaining."
Bard smiled again. They spent the next few hours watching the moon rise over the water. They didn't even notice that Bard never released Thran's hand.
Really fluffy ^-^ but it's so cute! If you can't tell, it won't be a conventional courting…no fun that way.
Review please!