Chapter Text
Chapter One: Savior
Boisterous laughter filled the tavern where the company of dwarves had decided to bed down. The group of thirteen were making their way to a small pleasant little village called The Shire. Thorin yearned to see their friend, Bilbo, one last time as the hobbit was aging and had adopted a child. A relative of the hobbit’s named Frodo and Thorin wanted to meet him.
Currently they were about A weeks ride from Hobbiton, if Fili remembered correctly, they were in the Prancing Pony at the moment. It had taken them two weeks to travel on pony from Rivendell, though thankfully this time there were no cave trolls, orcs, or wargs. Not even a wizard, Thank Mahal.
The only problem they did have, were the elves. Fili looked over at the table of them, three in total, that Elrond had ‘gifted’ them as a guard. The elven Lord had pulled Fili aside as Thorin raged, and pleaded with the dwarf to take them. His two sons were getting on his nerves and he was sending Glorfindel - the blonde elf - to watch over the two and not let them burden the dwarves.
It had really been more of a favor to the elf than for the dwarves benefit. Fili could see why though, the two dark haired elves were much like he and his brother had been at the beginning of the quest for Erebor.
As laughter roared up Fili looked away from the elves to Bombur who was in a chugging contest with Bofur, and seemingly falling behind. Glad to see his friends having fun he looked back at the elves only to notice the blonde one was missing. There was no sign of him having gone up towards the rooms, so he must have gone out for fresh air.
Excusing himself under the guise of the same he went outside and took in several lungful's of the slightly chilly air. It would be winter soon, he figured. A commotion drew his attention and he saw the elf on the ground, eyes glossy from the drink he and the twins had been indulging in, and a man towering over him - no, kneeling. The elf was beyond drunk, trying to crawl away but he was very unstable in his attempt and using a dagger to slash at his attack was nothing for the man.
As the dagger was knocked away Fili moved, he made it as the man began to tug at Glorfindel’s pants, the elf’s eyes were closed and he limp, likely unconscious already, “Oi,” Fili growled. The man looked up in alarm and was met with a viscously grinning dwarf, a second later was met with a tungsten boot cap under his chin. Fili likely should have held back, and not kicked the man with such a heavy metal, but the crack of the man’s jaw breaking as he flew back gave the dwarf an odd sense of satisfaction. What the man was trying to do was a serious crime in dwarven society and perishable by death.
The death itself was a ‘purifying’ act. They would take lead and melt it down, refining it, and they would pour it over the convict’s head. Purifying them to enter the halls of Mahal. A painful and agonizing death to match the crime, but a grant of redemption gifted. Satisfied that the man was unconscious, Fili looked down to the elf only to be startled by smoky gray eyes looking up at him. “Lord elf,” It seems he had not been unconscious after all. Probably meditating so as to distance himself from what was about to happen.
Glorfindel began to push himself up, struggling to find his balance and was helped by a hand on his back so he could sit and not fall back over. “You... saved me?” So the elf was drunk enough to have no balance, but he could retain thought and memory - at least at this point in the night.
“Aye, I came out for fresh air and a smoke and saw ye downed.” Shame flitted across the elf’s face and Fili held his other hand out in front of the elf, palm up in offering. When Glorfindel look up at him - reminding the dwarf of a kicked puppy - Fili offered a small smile. “Come, let us sneak in the servants door and order ye a bath.”
The elf’s eyes widened at the innocent offer of help, to hide his shame, how could a dwarf be so kind? Reaching up he put his hand into the warm calloused one and wondered in awe at the feeling. Fili closed his fingers around the hand, thinking that the blush upon fair cheeks was from the drink. “Come, ye need to help me get ye up, for ye are far too tall for me to just heft up.”
Glorfindel tugged at the hand holding his and felt it was firm in it’s hold so using it to help himself he got up. The hand that trailed down his back as he grew in height helped to steady him and keep him from falling right back over. “Master Dwarf, forgive me, I seem to forget who you are.” Glorfindel knew all the names of the company, but only cared enough to know who Thorin was as he was the one leading this trip. Now he wished he had not wasted so much time ignoring his travel companions.
“Tis alright, ye need not remember me.” The dwarf gave up no name and Glorfindel scowled before he was distracted by the hand on his butt. Before he could voice his discomfort he blinked several times and nearly reared back.
“You shrank, a lot.” The poor dwarf was no higher than Glorfindel’s elbow, and as he reached out to help support the dwarf by his back, it seemed his hand naturally rested on the elf’s bum due to the dwarf’s height. “I stand 206 tall.”
Fili snorted loudly at the most random thing the elf had yet to say. “Nay, I did nay shrink but ye grew. I stand 137. Now, come, ye are a muddy mess from yer fall.” As if only now realizing it, Glorfindel looked down at himself and saw that he was in fact, a muddy mess.
Stumbling he let the dwarf lead him into the kitchens where a maid looked over and gasped. Letting go of the elf’s back Fili held a finger to his lips and she nodded, understanding silence was needed for the modesty of the drunk elf. “I shall send a bath to his rooms.”
“A platter of meats and cheeses too.” Glorfindel spoke quickly, and she looked to Fili for a confirming nod. Then the dwarf was leading him again and Glorfindel realized the hand was on his butt again and they were still holding hands. It felt nice though and the elf found himself smiling down at the dwarf. “What’s with that look?” Fili looked away after a moment, his own cheeks tinting.
“I am just thankful that you are as kind as you are.” In the room Glorfindel spotted the bed and went to walk towards it only to be held back by the waist of his pants.
“Dis robe, or ye will cover the bed in muck too.” Feeling the slightest bit shy Glorfindel hesitated and Fili sighed, beginning to undo the tie on the elf’s pants.
“No! I got it!” Swatting the dwarf away his cheeks became brighter and he started to undo his own pants. Finally the tie was undone he pulled his billowy tunic off and tossed it aside then started to take his pants off, a towel was held out to him and Fili refused to look at him. “Oh, thank you.”
Glorfindel managed to get the towel wrapped, though it stayed on it sank low and revealed hard lines of muscle that led down to his groin. Looking up he saw the Dwarf had turned to look at him, and now with wide blue eyes, Fili stared at the hard lines on the elf. Glorfindel felt a warmth in his belly and smirked. “May I lay down now, master dwarf?”
Clearing his throat Fili turned away and climbed to stand on a chair, “Come first. Then ye may. I am going to touch your hair and pull it up so it leaves as little of a mess as possible.” Glorfindel glanced at his side, where his mud caked hair hung past his hips and he snorted.
“I wish you luck. Very little can tame this mess and even then it’s very wild.” Moving over he grabbed a chair himself and sat heavily, tossing his mane over the back so it was free.
“We dwarves have a way with hair.” It was smug and confident.
“Oh do you? If you manage then I shall grant you a kiss, if you lose you shall grant me one.”
“There is no difference, but I will accept the bet.” Glorfindel was taken by surprise at the acceptance and he grinned while blushing bright.
“You surprise me, Master dwarf. I thought you all to be grumpy like that bastard leader of yours, Thorin Oakenshield. Or his nephews. I don’t know which they are but they are likely as much of a stick in the mud as he.” Fili had been lightly tugging at Fin’s hair but now he paused in his work.
“Thorin is nay that bad. Tis the stress of travel and being away from Erebor. Tis still a budding kingdom and for him and his heirs to leave now seem unwise to those that live there, but the hobbit is aging and he will nay live as long as our race. Tis said he is already fairly old for his kind. Un- er- Thorin is worried about a lot at the moment. His kingdom, his friend, the one he is trying to woo, a lot is upon his shoulders even if the crown is not there.”
Glorfindel hummed and got lost in thought. So the King under the Mountain was stressed and not just a bastard. “I did not know. Forgive me.”
“Nay, there is naught for you to ask forgiveness for. Thorin is a stick in the mud often. But he is nay a bastard, not once you get to know him. He has needed to close his heart off to others as the loss of friends and family has been great upon him.” Fili gave a solid tug on Fin’s hair and the elf felt surprise at the rougher treatment, but then a twig was toss to the side and Fili patted his shoulder. “All done, tis tamed for now.”
Reaching up Glorfindel made a sound of surprise. He knew he had lost no hair, yet it was all up and not a knotted mess- well not more than it started as. He could feel braids that tamed parts of it while the rest was twisted intricately into a thick bun with the braids wrapping it and holding it.
“Ye must teach me this, tis solid and will not fall out upon battle!” It wouldn’t bother him in meetings, or upon horseback, even for a quick soak in a hot spring! It wouldn’t get wet or messed up like this and on the days he cared not to dry the mass he could easily put it up as such if he knew how!
“Nay, ye are too drunk now. Perhaps the next time I see ye.” Fili hopped off the chair and tugged at the elf. “Tis time for ye to lay down though, yer bath will be here in an hour still along with yer food.”
“Do not leave, Master Dwarf. Please, keep me company.”
“Ye are far too drunk for me to entertain that thought.” Glorfindel looked confused then blushed bright. He hadn’t meant it the way it had sounded. “Do nay look so alarmed, I will be back but my companions must be curious as to where I have gone. I do nay trust ye to not drown in the bath so I will come. Ye have my word.” With that, Fili turned and left as fast as he had come.
The elf turned and staggered to his chest of belongings, collapsing to his knees in front of it before beginning to rummage through it. What was with him? Lusting after a dwarf who had saved him. Yearning for hands small but thick and strong to trail over the lines he had worked hard to carve into his body. Groaning at himself he grabbed the bottle he had in his chest and stumbled to the desk where he poured two glasses. He would offer one to the dwarf upon his return as thanks for all that had happened.
This wine was special to his people and he wished to share it. Lifting the bottle he took a sip from it’s lips and smiled before corking it and putting it on the desk. Falling onto the bed he pulled the pillow close and buried his face into it. He couldn’t wait for his bath to arrive.