Post - 'Sea of Sand' Story - Complete
This is the last part of Silver, written for the wonderful ningloreth.
LotR based, but only just, and featuring my own characters from The Sea of Sand.
Beta by elfscribe5. Smut-free, except vaguely, by implication.
Part 1, Part 2 and now
Silver, Part 3
Pleasure was too flimsy a word for it, Kallim decided.
He lay motionless for a while on his back, his arms still stretched above his head, as he waited for his breathing to settle and his scattered wits to converge into something resembling a brain. Once he felt sure that he was in full control of his limbs, he rolled to the edge of the bed, got to his feet and stretched, glad to be free of the clinging dampness of the sheets.
He went first to the tall cupboard to find two clean cloths, then to the dresser to wring them out in the deep pewter bowl. The water was tepid, but nonetheless felt wonderful against his overheated skin. He washed himself slowly, then threw the used cloth into the basket before taking the other to the bedside to tend to his lover where he lay sprawled semi-conscious across the mattress.
Gedrinel did not seem to be too impressed by his efforts. "By all the gods, Kallim, are you going to let me get any rest tonight?" he groaned. "I suspect you've already done me lasting damage. Can't you just leave me to sleep it off?"
Kallim, quite accustomed to such grumbling, carried on wiping the moist cloth over Gedrinel's solidly muscular thighs.
"You have nothing to complain about, Zereniyya," he said briskly. "That second time was your idea, if you recall."
"Well, what was I supposed to do, with you rubbing up against me like that?"
"Show some restraint, perhaps? I was only trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in."
"Bollocks," said Gedrinel shortly.
"Mmm." Kallim smiled to himself, and ran the cloth lightly over the items in question, only to have his hand swatted away.
"Truly, Kallim, I know that the word 'enough' is not in your vocabulary, but you have to give me a chance here. Have you forgotten that I'm not as young as you?"
"Hardly," Kallim laughed. "In fact -" he finished up with a lingering swipe across Gedrinel's belly and dropped the cloth to the floor. Reaching to the lamp on the side table, he adjusted the wick to cast a little more light in the room. He delved in the cupboard below the tabletop as Gedrinel stirred restlessly and pushed up on an elbow to squint at him.
"On this, of all days, I could not forget it," Kallim announced, locating the box at the back of the shelf and pulling it out to present it to his lover. "It is your birthday, after all."
"Tomorrow," Gedrinel said.
"Oh, come on. It has to be long past midnight by now. You can sleep as long as you like in the morning, but I want you to open this now." It seemed important to present the gift to Gedrinel - and see his reaction to it - without delay, although he could not have explained why.
Gedrinel must have sensed the real need behind his impatience. "Very well," he said, blinking into the light and pushing strands of his long dark hair, loosened from their leather band by the night's exertions, back behind his ears. He shifted higher on the bed, plumping a pillow into place at his back, then took the box from Kallim's outstretched hand. Turning it round and round, he examined the outside thoroughly, before lifting it to his ear and shaking gently. Finally, he untied the black ribbon and removed the lid to study the contents.
"Happy birthday," Kallim said quietly.
"Ah, this is... this is wonderful," Gedrinel said, taking the chain out of the box and running it from one hand to another, then holding it up to catch the light. "It's a lovely piece."
"There's more," Kallim said, frowning.
With the chain still draped over his hand, Gedrinel moved aside the soft paper nestling in the box and discovered the second part of his gift. His eyes widened noticeably.
"Oh!"
"Put them on," Kallim urged him.
The chain was the perfect length, sitting low enough on Gedrinel's neck to be comfortable, but high enough to show in the open collar of a shirt, and to avoid snagging on the dark hairs of his chest. Silver was absolutely right for his colouring, Kallim realised. Where gold might make his skin appear sallow, the silver complemented its slightly olive tones and the clear grey of his eyes beautifully.
"It looks so good on you," Kallim said. "Here, let me help you with that."
Ranek's assistants had made an excellent job of finishing the wristband; the triple clasp closed firmly with no chance of springing open unexpectedly, and there were no loose parts to catch on the Lynx's rigging - or on Kallim's hair, for that matter.
Kallim sat back and drank in the sight of his lover, naked but for the silver at his neck and wrist, and nodded happily. The new adornments only emphasised Gedrinel's tall, solid physique. "You should see yourself. Wait."
He crossed quickly to the table and returned with the small mirror in his hand. "See how good the silver is against your skin?"
Gedrinel took the mirror and angled it to stare at the chain around his neck. "Thank you," he said at last. "This is a wonderful gift."
"You really like it?"
"I do." He laid the mirror on the side table and reached for Kallim, drawing him in for a soft yet lingering kiss, then pulled back to look him in the eye. "I thought you might have bought me gold, and I'll admit, I was a little worried. I don't think I could wear it with quite your... flamboyance. But this, these, are exactly right. I shall wear them every day."
"I couldn't hope for more," Kallim said. He moved the box and its lid out of the way and swung his legs up onto the mattress to lie at his lover's side. His fingers played across the silver chain, following its twisted lines and gently stroking the warm, damp flesh beneath it.
"Mmm." Gedrinel said, relaxing into his touch.
"The silver will look particularly handsome with your leather jerkin and breeches," Kallim commented. The image conjured by the words was enough to make his heart beat fast.
"Well, you'll have to wait to see that, I'm afraid," Gedrinel laughed, his hand closing over Kallim's and holding it still against his breastbone. "Even for you, I shan't be putting those on until this damnable weather cools down significantly. I'm sweating at the very thought."
"You should let me take you to my tailor tomorrow," Kallim said. "Old Menesh will make you a suitably manly outfit, something in grey, perhaps. It would have to be more comfortable than cramming yourself into close-fitting breeches in all this heat."
"I'd look like a fool," Gedrinel objected.
"Legolas and Imrahil wore Haradin dress when they were here. Did they look like fools?"
Gedrinel snorted, his chest jerking under Kallim's hand. "You're hardly comparing like with like, there. Those two could drape themselves in flour sacks and still look elegant. On me, the tunic and trousers would be ridiculous."
"I don't see why," Kallim said.
"I'd look like one of those Gondorian numbskulls who come down here with a handful of newly-minted gold and three words of Haradin, buy themselves a cheap villa in the south, and think they've gone native. You see them often enough in the coffee shops, and hear the way the locals talk about them."
Kallim raised his head to stare at Gedrinel in astonishment. "Do you really think anyone would see you in that light?" he asked incredulously. "You are already well known and respected throughout this city. Nobody is going to think the worse of you because you choose to dress sensibly in the heat."
"Hmm," Gedrinel said, without conviction.
"Come on, Zereniyya. You worry far too much about others' opinions."
"Is it not wise that I should do so? Our friendship is public knowledge as it is, and you know quite well that there are those who do not exactly respect either of us for it. I have no wish to draw any further attention to myself, for your sake as well as mine."
Kallim sighed, thinking of the look on Jerel's face in the silver shop that morning. His were not the only cutting words that Kallim had encountered throughout the day. It was a reality that Kallim had learned to live with many years ago; to Gedrinel it was all still painfully new.
"I understand," he said, sinking back down to the pillow and pressing his lips against Gedrinel's neck, "but I honestly don't think that the way you dress will make any difference to those types. They will find plenty to criticise, in any case."
"You may be right," Gedrinel admitted. He rolled to his side and threw an arm across Kallim's waist. "I'd still feel a fool in trousers, though."
"Why not try one outfit, and just wear it here in the house to begin with? I am sure Zirri will give you her honest opinion."
"You will have your way in the end, won't you?" Gedrinel murmured, not quite laughing.
"I always do, don't I?" Kallim met Gedrinel's lips with his own, and ran his tongue across them slowly. "You should know better than to resist, by now."
They kissed for a time with a lazy, sated heat. Gedrinel's hand flattened across Kallim's lower back to pull him fractionally closer, as Kallim stroked up his lover's arm to finger the chain at his neck. Eventually they drew apart and smiled at each other.
"I would take you again if I thought my body could manage it," Gedrinel said with a grin. "As it is, I think you'll have to wait until morning. That's what you get for choosing to spend your time with such an old man."
"You'll hear no complaints," Kallim said, rolling onto his back to let some cooler air flow between them. "As long as you choose to spend your time with me."
Gedrinel followed Kallim's example in turning onto his back, while Kallim reached out to dim the lamp. With his other hand, he traced the limp length of Gedrinel's arm until he got to the wrist. His fingers and thumb loosely circled the silver band there as he shut his eyes.
Sleep, however, was not swift in claiming him.
"Gedrinel?" he said, a while later.
"Hrmm?"
"I was thinking about Legolas and Imrahil coming down here to fetch Rekia."
"Hmmm."
"I cannot imagine that they would travel all this way and not stay a while. Perhaps they will wish to see a little more of the country."
Gedrinel's groan clearly expressed his displeasure at being woken once again, but he roused himself sufficiently to say, "My prince and his friend are not idle layabouts with nothing to do but please themselves, you know. There are affairs of state to consider."
"Pfuh. Legolas himself has told me that his colony in Ithilien has no real need of governance. And Prince Merenin is more than capable of running Belfalas in Imrahil's absence. I think it will be easy enough to persuade them to join us on another adventure in the desert. Perhaps we will travel due south this time, to visit the ancient Corsair forts and the caves at Kherin T'ziyyah..."
"Kallim?"
"Yes, Zereniyya?"
"Do you love me, even the slightest bit?"
"You know I do."
"Then for pity's sake, let me sleep."
Kallim laughed softly, and stroked Gedrinel's wrist with gentle fingers. "I'm sorry," he said. "I suppose it will wait until the morning."
Gedrinel did not answer, his breathing already deepening into a quiet snore.
Kallim stared into the darkness, allowing his imagination free rein. His thoughts were a jumble of scorching sands and endless seas, the thunder of hooves on an empty road, the laughter of friends gathered round a fire at dusk, the glorious skies of morning over a barren yet majestic landscape...
It was a while before he settled into sleep, and even then the desert wind blew fiercely through his dreams.
LotR based, but only just, and featuring my own characters from The Sea of Sand.
Beta by elfscribe5. Smut-free, except vaguely, by implication.
Part 1, Part 2 and now
Silver, Part 3
Pleasure was too flimsy a word for it, Kallim decided.
He lay motionless for a while on his back, his arms still stretched above his head, as he waited for his breathing to settle and his scattered wits to converge into something resembling a brain. Once he felt sure that he was in full control of his limbs, he rolled to the edge of the bed, got to his feet and stretched, glad to be free of the clinging dampness of the sheets.
He went first to the tall cupboard to find two clean cloths, then to the dresser to wring them out in the deep pewter bowl. The water was tepid, but nonetheless felt wonderful against his overheated skin. He washed himself slowly, then threw the used cloth into the basket before taking the other to the bedside to tend to his lover where he lay sprawled semi-conscious across the mattress.
Gedrinel did not seem to be too impressed by his efforts. "By all the gods, Kallim, are you going to let me get any rest tonight?" he groaned. "I suspect you've already done me lasting damage. Can't you just leave me to sleep it off?"
Kallim, quite accustomed to such grumbling, carried on wiping the moist cloth over Gedrinel's solidly muscular thighs.
"You have nothing to complain about, Zereniyya," he said briskly. "That second time was your idea, if you recall."
"Well, what was I supposed to do, with you rubbing up against me like that?"
"Show some restraint, perhaps? I was only trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in."
"Bollocks," said Gedrinel shortly.
"Mmm." Kallim smiled to himself, and ran the cloth lightly over the items in question, only to have his hand swatted away.
"Truly, Kallim, I know that the word 'enough' is not in your vocabulary, but you have to give me a chance here. Have you forgotten that I'm not as young as you?"
"Hardly," Kallim laughed. "In fact -" he finished up with a lingering swipe across Gedrinel's belly and dropped the cloth to the floor. Reaching to the lamp on the side table, he adjusted the wick to cast a little more light in the room. He delved in the cupboard below the tabletop as Gedrinel stirred restlessly and pushed up on an elbow to squint at him.
"On this, of all days, I could not forget it," Kallim announced, locating the box at the back of the shelf and pulling it out to present it to his lover. "It is your birthday, after all."
"Tomorrow," Gedrinel said.
"Oh, come on. It has to be long past midnight by now. You can sleep as long as you like in the morning, but I want you to open this now." It seemed important to present the gift to Gedrinel - and see his reaction to it - without delay, although he could not have explained why.
Gedrinel must have sensed the real need behind his impatience. "Very well," he said, blinking into the light and pushing strands of his long dark hair, loosened from their leather band by the night's exertions, back behind his ears. He shifted higher on the bed, plumping a pillow into place at his back, then took the box from Kallim's outstretched hand. Turning it round and round, he examined the outside thoroughly, before lifting it to his ear and shaking gently. Finally, he untied the black ribbon and removed the lid to study the contents.
"Happy birthday," Kallim said quietly.
"Ah, this is... this is wonderful," Gedrinel said, taking the chain out of the box and running it from one hand to another, then holding it up to catch the light. "It's a lovely piece."
"There's more," Kallim said, frowning.
With the chain still draped over his hand, Gedrinel moved aside the soft paper nestling in the box and discovered the second part of his gift. His eyes widened noticeably.
"Oh!"
"Put them on," Kallim urged him.
The chain was the perfect length, sitting low enough on Gedrinel's neck to be comfortable, but high enough to show in the open collar of a shirt, and to avoid snagging on the dark hairs of his chest. Silver was absolutely right for his colouring, Kallim realised. Where gold might make his skin appear sallow, the silver complemented its slightly olive tones and the clear grey of his eyes beautifully.
"It looks so good on you," Kallim said. "Here, let me help you with that."
Ranek's assistants had made an excellent job of finishing the wristband; the triple clasp closed firmly with no chance of springing open unexpectedly, and there were no loose parts to catch on the Lynx's rigging - or on Kallim's hair, for that matter.
Kallim sat back and drank in the sight of his lover, naked but for the silver at his neck and wrist, and nodded happily. The new adornments only emphasised Gedrinel's tall, solid physique. "You should see yourself. Wait."
He crossed quickly to the table and returned with the small mirror in his hand. "See how good the silver is against your skin?"
Gedrinel took the mirror and angled it to stare at the chain around his neck. "Thank you," he said at last. "This is a wonderful gift."
"You really like it?"
"I do." He laid the mirror on the side table and reached for Kallim, drawing him in for a soft yet lingering kiss, then pulled back to look him in the eye. "I thought you might have bought me gold, and I'll admit, I was a little worried. I don't think I could wear it with quite your... flamboyance. But this, these, are exactly right. I shall wear them every day."
"I couldn't hope for more," Kallim said. He moved the box and its lid out of the way and swung his legs up onto the mattress to lie at his lover's side. His fingers played across the silver chain, following its twisted lines and gently stroking the warm, damp flesh beneath it.
"Mmm." Gedrinel said, relaxing into his touch.
"The silver will look particularly handsome with your leather jerkin and breeches," Kallim commented. The image conjured by the words was enough to make his heart beat fast.
"Well, you'll have to wait to see that, I'm afraid," Gedrinel laughed, his hand closing over Kallim's and holding it still against his breastbone. "Even for you, I shan't be putting those on until this damnable weather cools down significantly. I'm sweating at the very thought."
"You should let me take you to my tailor tomorrow," Kallim said. "Old Menesh will make you a suitably manly outfit, something in grey, perhaps. It would have to be more comfortable than cramming yourself into close-fitting breeches in all this heat."
"I'd look like a fool," Gedrinel objected.
"Legolas and Imrahil wore Haradin dress when they were here. Did they look like fools?"
Gedrinel snorted, his chest jerking under Kallim's hand. "You're hardly comparing like with like, there. Those two could drape themselves in flour sacks and still look elegant. On me, the tunic and trousers would be ridiculous."
"I don't see why," Kallim said.
"I'd look like one of those Gondorian numbskulls who come down here with a handful of newly-minted gold and three words of Haradin, buy themselves a cheap villa in the south, and think they've gone native. You see them often enough in the coffee shops, and hear the way the locals talk about them."
Kallim raised his head to stare at Gedrinel in astonishment. "Do you really think anyone would see you in that light?" he asked incredulously. "You are already well known and respected throughout this city. Nobody is going to think the worse of you because you choose to dress sensibly in the heat."
"Hmm," Gedrinel said, without conviction.
"Come on, Zereniyya. You worry far too much about others' opinions."
"Is it not wise that I should do so? Our friendship is public knowledge as it is, and you know quite well that there are those who do not exactly respect either of us for it. I have no wish to draw any further attention to myself, for your sake as well as mine."
Kallim sighed, thinking of the look on Jerel's face in the silver shop that morning. His were not the only cutting words that Kallim had encountered throughout the day. It was a reality that Kallim had learned to live with many years ago; to Gedrinel it was all still painfully new.
"I understand," he said, sinking back down to the pillow and pressing his lips against Gedrinel's neck, "but I honestly don't think that the way you dress will make any difference to those types. They will find plenty to criticise, in any case."
"You may be right," Gedrinel admitted. He rolled to his side and threw an arm across Kallim's waist. "I'd still feel a fool in trousers, though."
"Why not try one outfit, and just wear it here in the house to begin with? I am sure Zirri will give you her honest opinion."
"You will have your way in the end, won't you?" Gedrinel murmured, not quite laughing.
"I always do, don't I?" Kallim met Gedrinel's lips with his own, and ran his tongue across them slowly. "You should know better than to resist, by now."
They kissed for a time with a lazy, sated heat. Gedrinel's hand flattened across Kallim's lower back to pull him fractionally closer, as Kallim stroked up his lover's arm to finger the chain at his neck. Eventually they drew apart and smiled at each other.
"I would take you again if I thought my body could manage it," Gedrinel said with a grin. "As it is, I think you'll have to wait until morning. That's what you get for choosing to spend your time with such an old man."
"You'll hear no complaints," Kallim said, rolling onto his back to let some cooler air flow between them. "As long as you choose to spend your time with me."
Gedrinel followed Kallim's example in turning onto his back, while Kallim reached out to dim the lamp. With his other hand, he traced the limp length of Gedrinel's arm until he got to the wrist. His fingers and thumb loosely circled the silver band there as he shut his eyes.
Sleep, however, was not swift in claiming him.
"Gedrinel?" he said, a while later.
"Hrmm?"
"I was thinking about Legolas and Imrahil coming down here to fetch Rekia."
"Hmmm."
"I cannot imagine that they would travel all this way and not stay a while. Perhaps they will wish to see a little more of the country."
Gedrinel's groan clearly expressed his displeasure at being woken once again, but he roused himself sufficiently to say, "My prince and his friend are not idle layabouts with nothing to do but please themselves, you know. There are affairs of state to consider."
"Pfuh. Legolas himself has told me that his colony in Ithilien has no real need of governance. And Prince Merenin is more than capable of running Belfalas in Imrahil's absence. I think it will be easy enough to persuade them to join us on another adventure in the desert. Perhaps we will travel due south this time, to visit the ancient Corsair forts and the caves at Kherin T'ziyyah..."
"Kallim?"
"Yes, Zereniyya?"
"Do you love me, even the slightest bit?"
"You know I do."
"Then for pity's sake, let me sleep."
Kallim laughed softly, and stroked Gedrinel's wrist with gentle fingers. "I'm sorry," he said. "I suppose it will wait until the morning."
Gedrinel did not answer, his breathing already deepening into a quiet snore.
Kallim stared into the darkness, allowing his imagination free rein. His thoughts were a jumble of scorching sands and endless seas, the thunder of hooves on an empty road, the laughter of friends gathered round a fire at dusk, the glorious skies of morning over a barren yet majestic landscape...
It was a while before he settled into sleep, and even then the desert wind blew fiercely through his dreams.