Watching The Sunrise

Watching The Sunrise

Posted: August 24, 2007
Title: Watching The Sunrise
Author: Jay of Lasgalen
Type: FCS
Characters: Elrohir/Legolas
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Tolkien’s; not mine.

Summary: On Midsummer's day, Elrohir tries to persuade Legolas to wake up early.

*****

Elrohir stretched out a hand to touch his mate’s shoulder. He ran a finger over the rippling waterfall insignia tattooed there, and shook him gently. “Legolas. Wake up.”

There was no response. Elrohir sighed, and tried again, shaking a little harder. “Legolas, wake up!”

This time, the only response was a muffled groan as Legolas tried to burrow deeper into the pillows. “No. Go ’way, Elrohir – ’m asleep.”

Elrohir chuckled. “Not if you are talking to me!”

Turning his head, Legolas opened one eye, then closed it again. “It is the middle of the night!” he protested, still half asleep.

“It is not long until dawn,” Elrohir corrected him. “And I want you to get up!”

Legolas opened the other eye. “Have pity, Elrohir – I am exhausted after last night. And I am surprised you can even move!”

Elrohir paused at the memory of heated, fervent loving, and smiled. “I am very resilient,” he explained. “Legolas, it is midsummer, and I want to climb to the top of the waterfall with you and watch the sun rise.”

“But it is before dawn!”

“ Sunrise usually is,” Elrohir agreed with a grin. “Tis the best time to see it! Will you come with me?”

Legolas groaned. “Why are you always so exuberant so early in the morning?” he complained.

“Why are you always so grouchy?” Elrohir countered. “Will you come?”

There was a muffled sigh. “I would follow you to the ends of the earth, my love – but not at such an unreasonable hour!”

Elrohir suppressed a sigh of his own. This called for more desperate measures. He tugged at the light sheet covering the bed, and it slithered softly to the floor, revealing Legolas in all his naked glory; his long, lithe body clothed only by starlight.

Perhaps it had not been such a good idea after all, Elrohir reflected. He swallowed hard, and tearing his eyes from the enticing sight, turned his back. He grabbed a handful of clothes and flung them blindly at Legolas. “Get dressed – please!”

Muttering all the while, Legolas dressed. Elrohir ignored his half-hearted complaints – the sunrise would be worth it, and he intended to make sure Legolas did not regret the early start.

“You will owe me for this,” Legolas pointed out, as his usual good humour returned. “I shall expect something in return!”

Elrohir turned back to him, and gave him a fleeting kiss. “Oh, you shall have it,” he promised. “Later.”

He led the way through the open windows and onto the balcony, and from there down into the gardens. The air was soft and sweet; cool in this early hour before the heat of the day. The ground was wet with dew, and their feet left soft imprints in their wake.

Elrohir glanced at the sky. The stars still shone, but they were fading. Dawn was not far off. Eärendil sailed low on the horizon, and he raised a hand in automatic greeting, realising as he did so that there was little time left.

“It will soon be dawn – hurry!” he urged. Seizing Legolas by the hand, he pulled him along the narrow, overgrown path that led to the waterfall. Vetch and meadowsweet rambled through the bushes, vibrant with life after the summer rains. Brambles laden with white blossom trailed across the track – there would be a good crop of blackberries later this year.

The final part of their route was a step scramble up tumbled rocks at the side of the falls, wet and slick with spray. The rock at the top was wide and level, worn smooth over time by the wash of the winter floods. Water lapped at the edge, and on the far side there was a sheer drop down into the misty spume. They were high above the valley here, with a clear view of the bridge, the meandering river, and the house itself. Far, far below, smoke drifted up into the still air from the kitchen chimneys.

Elrohir spread the blanket on the chill, damp rock and pulled Legolas down beside him. “Now,” he said, pointing eastward to the mountains. “Wait, and watch.”

Slowly, the sky beyond the mountains lightened as the stars faded into the memory of night. Pale fingers of pearl stretched over the peaks, and shafts of turquoise and shell pink filtered down the passes. The light grew, and suddenly a wash of gold spilled down the mountain slopes, flooding the valley with brilliance. The sun rose beyond the distant peaks, chasing away the shadows that lingered beneath the trees.

As the radiance faded into the warm glow of another summer’s day, Legolas stirred. “Very well,” he agreed. “That was worth such an early start. But you said something about ‘later’?” He wrapped a hand in Elrohir’s hair and drew him near for a long, lingering kiss.

At last Elrohir pulled away. “I would celebrate midsummer with you,” he breathed. “Here. Now. Together.”

o-o-o

At last Legolas stirred and woke, distant voices calling him from dreams. He brushed a strand of ebony hair from his face, and listened. Elrohir’s sun-warmed body lay against him, still deep in slumber. He moved carefully without disturbing Elrohir at first, then lowered his head, and ran his tongue over the golden oak leaf tattoo he had placed on Elrohir’s shoulder so many years ago. His skin tasted of sunshine and salt, and the delicious musky flavour that was uniquely Elrohir.

As Elrohir began to wake, he stretched sleepily, and Legolas held him close. “The patrols are moving about below,” he warned. “I think we had better not move from here again until it has gone quite dark.”

Elrohir gave a slow smile. “You mean to spend the whole day here? I suppose we could watch the sun set, as well.” He propped himself on one elbow and gazed at Legolas, his smile widening. “But whatever shall we do to pass the time?”

Legolas kissed Elrohir’s shoulder again, then the side of his neck. “Well,” he murmured, moving downwards. “I am sure we can think of something.”

*****

THE END

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