Protect & Serve LotR-Lord of the Rings Fanfiction - Fan Fiction -WattyAwards2012

Chapter 8: Que Sera, Sera

I jerked awake with a start, my mind still lost in the coattails of nightmare. But at least it hadn't been yet another Vala with warnings. Blinking my eyes, I tried to remember where I was.

It didn't take long for it all to come back. As I looked down from where I was propped up on my elbow, I could stare into Legolas's serene face. Oddly enough, his eyes were closed as he slept, one hand still bound to mine and curled up by his head, the other low on my back, his fingers splaying lower over the swell of my hip and butt. His chest was bare as I stared down at him, but I realized it hadn't been only a moment before. I was sprawled across his front as I slept on my stomach, our legs entwined even as I had burrowed into his chest, covering him like a living blanket.

His eyes blinked lazily open, as though aware of my perusal.

"I've never seen you sleep with your eyes closed," I couldn't help but telling him. "I've seen you sleeping a few times on our journey, but your eyes were always open and sort of glassed over." This had truly seemed strange enough at the time.

He smiled as his free hand slid sensually up my back in feather-light caresses, that satisfied, almost arrogant grin returning when I shuddered in response. The arrogance would have bothered me, except for the fact that it was well earned—my body shuddered and coiled in answer to even his simple touch. But his hand continued its path until he'd laced his fingers in the hair at my nape and tugged me downward, back to lie on his chest, seeking a gentle kiss.

I let him pull me down, pressing my lips briefly to his in a closed mouth kiss before I pulled away to expectantly await his answer.

He laughed, a light happy sound that bounced me up and down on his chest in time with his movements. "Elves often seek only a light reverie when we are traveling, it is a light rest which allows us to remain wary of our surroundings, but we do need deeper rests as well. Especially if we are injured, ill, or it has been a particularly extended period without real rest. Short respites of reverie each night can last us many months. Yet, rarely do we sleep thus outside of Elven homes, and only when we are completely at ease."

"You're at ease with me? But it hasn't been that long since we left Lórien. It was an Elven home. And I've seen you in short bits of reverie many nights since. I'm just surprised to see you actually sleeping."

Legolas's fingers curled and twined in my hair at my nape, lightly scratching my scalp and forcing me to bite off a moan at the sensations. Who the hell knew having your hair and scalped massaged could be such a sensual experience?

"How could I be more at ease? You are within my arms, your heart beating against mine. In answer to your other inquiry, I fear I got little rest, even in reverie after you had departed with Mithrandir. Reverie requires some degree of tranquility and peace to achieve, and I fear mine had fled to Gondor with the wizard."

He gave a lopsided smile as he spoke, and I lowered myself onto his chest again, pressing a kiss of apology to the skin over his heart. "I didn't sleep well either while I was away," I admitted into his smooth flesh.

With a grunt of agreement, he continued curling his fingers in my hair. "I feared as much. On our journey, I observed you in sleep little, far less than even Aragorn, yet last night, I watched you sleep peacefully for near an hour before I let myself slip into sleep. And we have slept well past daybreak now."

I turned my head on his chest and looked out the balcony doors; light was indeed spilling across them. "Huh. I can't remember when the last time was I slept so late."

Just wish I wasn't woken up by the same old thing.

"What did wake you?" Legolas asked.