DISCLAIMER : I don't own tolkien! Not going to make any money off of this.:) Tolkien characters are owned by Tolkien.
Chapter One --
It was nighttime…and it was Frodo’s turn to stand watch, though Legolas was often up and about scouting out the road ahead and Aragorn never really slept much. The Ringbearer hardly slept himself, but that wasn’t surprising. He was sitting on a boulder on the edge of a hill his mind was beginning to wander a bit. His thoughts drifted back as they often did to the time before he arrived at Rivendell, and while he endured a pain that he felt he would never forget. He was not though…a fragile creature. There was strength in his blood…but he was unfortunately susceptible to disaster. He smiled…looking up for a moment as there was a presence at his side. Aragorn, the man sat down next to him and put his arm out . Without hesitation, the small hobbit shifted and settled against him, feeling a bit guilty…he should be watching…and alert…but this felt so much better.
This wasn’t the first time the Ranger had held him thus…and allowed him to draw upon his strength. No, it was not, he had for several nights since leaving Rivendell taken Frodo under special consideration, almost in an overprotective manner. The Ringbearer didn’t particularly mind, it was rather nice actually…Sam was good at taking care of him and all…but there was one thing Sam could not provide.
Frodo felt his cheeks redden and was glad that his face was turned away from the Ranger’s at the moment. He could hardly expect Aragorn to welcome -that- kind of reaction. After all…well…he couldn’t know what hobbits could be like…could he? And Frodo was certainly -not- going to ask. Frodo didn’t speak for a long time and simply leant against the man, basking in his warmth. It -had- been somewhat on the chilly side and Frodo had a hard time getting warm lately.
“What are you thinking Frodo?” Aragorn’s soft voice broke the silence.
Frodo started, blushing deeply now, he looked away his lips trembling slightly. “N-nothing Strider. I was just thinking…well…how nice it is that you come to keep me company like this.”
“Well…I have been watching you the last few days…I think that there are many things that you’re not telling us about.” His voice was quiet and steady and Frodo did not know how to take his comment. Had he noticed? Frodo was sure that he’d been very discreet in his reactions and every time he looked at the Ranger he was careful -not- to betray his emotions.
“You’ve been watching me?…” Frodo’s voice came out in a little squeak, much to his annoyance for he realized he -had- been holding his breath. “W-why…?”
“Well. I know you are prone to endure -without- letting us know what ails you, but I know that something does. You’ve born many a troubled look of late, little one. Is there anything I can do to help?” Aragorn scooted Frodo a bit closer as a blast of cold wind ripped through the hillside.
The hobbit shivered…not because of the cold really…but because of how near he was to Aragorn. He looked up, his big blue eyes wide with a question he could not ask. “I…don’t know how to explain.” he managed at last. Frodo wished he had more experience suddenly…but the truth of it was…he didn’t. He’d never had a relationship with anyone…or even any type of intimate activity. He’d been too preoccupied when he was a teenager with the death of his parents…and then considered too risky for lasses to deal with as he got older.
“I think I understand.” The Ranger’s mouth twisted into a half-grin as he saw the hobbit’s trembling lips.
As Aragorn looked at him Frodo’s eyes opened wider, did he really understand? No…no he couldn’t possibly…even Frodo himself didn’t. Maybe it was the ring…the ring was playing tricks with his mind…confusing him…that had to be it. Was it his imagination? Or was Aragorn’s head closer….all it would take was a little push forward to close the distance between them….but Frodo didn’t think he had the courage. He swallowed, sweat trickling down his brow. “Strider….I…” Frodo’s voice came out in a ragged whisper.
He’d never wanted anything so much in his whole life than to be kissed just then and there, he imagined it…Strider would bend down and take his lips with his own a little rough but gentle at the same time. More skilled was the ranger than he…his tongue would dance along the hobbits lips snaking in and out and entwining with his own as Frodo had read about in many a novel. His hand would touch his hair and run through his curls, gliding down his neck…his torso…further…to…
“Estel!” Legolas’ voice could be heard from a few yards away as the elf returned to camp.
Frodo blinked…coming back to reality. He paled, realizing what he’d just been imagining…and that…it must have been all over his face….and probably still was. How stupid could he be! If it weren’t for the ring…he’d have more control over himself…more control over his emotions. What was happening to him? He felt like screaming in frustration.
Legolas came up to the two and glanced between them without so much as a blink of an eye, “You’re up already? I was just about to relieve Frodo here of his watch. I’ve been scouting the area we’re traveling through tomorrow and we’d best warn the hobbits…its quite a treacherous countryside, many jagged rocks and we must be careful.”
Aragorn’s face held an unreadable expression as he nodded to the elf. “Quite right…Frodo…you’d best get some sleep…tomorrow‘s not going to be pleasant..”
Frodo sighed and stood up, he wondered if either of them could tell how he was feeling. If they could…they did not say a word. “I’m just going to … relieve myself…and then I will.” He moved off behind the bushes, not looking back, his face hot with shame at his desires.
He did not know that Aragorn watched him intently as he walked away, his gaze following every curve of that exquisite little body. And he surely would have blushed at the thoughts that the Ranger was trying desperately to banish from his mind.
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