old!FIC: Between the Lines (LotR, G, Legolas/Gimli)

[ashinae]

cruisedirector threatened me. She said that if I didn't post this, she would post in her own journal: "Hey, everyone who likes L/G! Go harass ashinae!"

So--here this is. I wrote this back in late March of 2002.

Between the Lines
Author: ashinae
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli, UST
Rating: G
Disclaimer: They're not mine.
Summary: Gimli and Legolas share a quiet moment. Aragorn needs lessons in timing.



Between the Lines

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Gimli glanced up and saw Legolas standing nearby, emerging from the mallorn trees. There was a note of hesitation in the Elf's voice, and for the life of him Gimli couldn't understand it, though he chose not to comment on its strangeness. He let Legolas stand above him for a brief moment, simply because he could, before he replied: "Be my guest."

Legolas nodded, and Gimli wondered if that was the barest hint of a smile playing across his lips. Then Legolas settled down on the grass next to Gimli, his long, elegant hands folded carefully over his ribs just so, and gazed up at the night sky. Gimli returned his own gaze to the dark, star-studded sky.

"The stars shine brightly tonight," Legolas commented softly.

"Yes," Gimli agreed, and the two fell silent for some time as their eyes took in the vast heavens. The stars twinkled, bright as jewels, as though they were unaware of the turmoil that was bubbling to the surface of the world below. Taking in the glory of the dark sky, both Dwarf and Elf could almost feel that for just this simple moment, all could perhaps be right. So long as the stars could shine so brightly and confidently, then hope could survive.

After the extended silence between them began to take on a companionable comfort, Gimli lifted an arm and pointed above them. "That cluster of stars there," he said, and waited until Legolas had moved just a fraction closer and was looking where he pointed. "They seem to me to bear resemblance to a hammer and an anvil."

Now Gimli could feel Legolas's eyes on him. He turned his head and saw that the Elf was giving him a look of blatant disbelief.

"A hammer and an anvil?" Legolas echoed incredulously.

"Yes," Gimli replied firmly.

Legolas turned his eyes back to the sky. Gimli watched him as he blinked, and thought that perhaps he was in fact trying to see the same thing. Finally Legolas shook his head. "No, my friend," he said, and Gimli chose also not to comment on that choice of word, "they are not in the shape of a hammer and an anvil."

Gimli looked over now at Legolas, and watched him staring above them for a moment. Finally Gimli prompted, "Then what do you see, Master Elf?"

"A great stag," Legolas replied. At Gimli's silence, he turned his head and once more Gimli wondered if he saw a smile playing across Legolas's mouth. He did not say a word as Legolas moved closer still, and did not flinch as Legolas held himself up on an elbow and leaned over him just slightly, so that he could point and Gimli could follow his finger. "You do not see? There is his head, there his body, his legs, his antlers." Gimli watched as long fingers traced over the shape the stars made, and as Legolas's fingers drew in the air above them, Gimli realised that the form of the stag had become visible to him. As he continued to gaze heavenward, Legolas lowered his arm and kept his own eyes on the sky. Gimli soon also became very aware of the Elf's closeness, and how much he didn't object to the feel of that long body up against his side.

Finally Gimli moved his gaze to Legolas's face, and saw that now Legolas was looking at him. Gimli shook his head. "A stag," he said flatly, and then was silent a moment. When he spoke again, he merely grumbled under his breath, but Legolas quite clearly heard something about "Silly Elves."

Gimli was certain, now, that there truly was a smile on Legolas's face. "Silly?" the Elf objected. "Silly! Hm." He shook his head. "You call me silly, and yet you see a smithy drawn in stars!" His own voice became teasing. "I do not believe I am the silly one."

For several long moments they looked at each other, neither saying another word, and Gimli felt an answering smile upon his own face. A third voice suddenly broke the silence, and Elf and Dwarf sat up and moved quickly away from each other.

"No, I think you are both wrong," Aragorn said, as they looked up to see him standing a few feet behind them. "It is quite obviously a bear." With that, he turned and walked away. They both thought that they saw him grinning and shaking his head.

Legolas and Gimli lay back once more, and both squinted just a little up at the patch of stars that had caught their interest.

"Ridiculous human," Gimli said after a moment.

"Indeed."


The end.

There is no more.

Move along now.