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“Ye hair is wild Elf.” Gimli spoke quietly, glancing ever so slightly upwards as Legolas sat beside him.
Gimli fought back the frizz from his own hair just to be whipped in the eye by sharp light strands as a breeze blew past them. Legolas shifted his head away, his hand reaching to tuck the hair behind his ear.
“I am sorry.” He hummed out the apology with a smidgen of humor. “The gusts are strong today, and never do they blow in the most pleasing direction.”
They both breathed in the air deeply, the gust however managing to be refreshing. And they both nodded in greeting as Aragorn approached them, setting his bag beside them though at more of a distance. He brought out some of their maps for study though struggled to do so in peace with the aforementioned breeze.
“Good luck with that lad, the wind has no respect for anyone today. Better hold the maps fest.”
“Can't be helped, I’ve had a bad feeling about the direction we’ve gone.” Aragorn answered the dwarf.
“Do tell us if you need help.” Legolas said, he leaned back down and his long hair was sent straight back into Gimli’s face.
The dwarf spat to clear the strands from his mouth. “Might ye have any decency elf?”
“Sorry.” Legolas shifted again.
“You ought to get your hair braided up, keep it out of the way, I wouldn’t mind doin that for ye.” Gimli grunted.
Aragorn side eyed them, his hands indeed holding tight to the maps but his ears lingering on his friends’ words.
There was a strange come of silence from Legolas. Gimli was almost ignorant to it at first but the quirk of his thick brow eventually rose.
“I cannot,” Legolas chose to say.
“An why not? Do not many of the elves wear tight braids and pinned styles? For most of all that we’ve met, it was so.” Gimli sputtered and felt even more aghast at a sudden tsk sound coming somewhere from Aragorn’s general direction.
“It is an elven tradition.” Aragorn said softly, looking to Legolas briefly to gauge how comfortable he’d be in broaching the topic to Gimli.
Legolas eventually smiled, though his gaze shifted elsewhere. “Yes, that's true.”
His hands tucked his hair back almost instinctively as he began to elaborate further. “When elves are young, children if you will, we sometimes wear braids, learn different styles and celebrate certain festivals with them, taught and done by family members. It is merely innocent fun and not overall too significant, but once we start to come of age hair is to be worn free, only after the exchanging of a promise can it be braided again, by ourselves or another.”
“Exchanging a promise ye say? What promise?”
Legolas smiled meekly, and Aragorn spoke now. “Legolas is referring to having a partner, hair being wild and untamed signifies to others the same can be said of him, that he is single and in essence, a virgin.”
“Oh.” Gimli grunted, “I regret my misstep into the situation, no true offense meant laddie.”
Legolas finally looked back to him, “it’s quite alright. I have lived hundreds of years under the gazes of others, elves and some men who understand the significance. What does it affect to have the dwarves know of the tradition too?”
“None have dealt ye any trespass for such a tradition?” Gimli spoke in but a rasp.
“Only in their heads, which they are lucky I do not have access to.” Legolas puffed outwards.
“Aye.”
Contented, Legolas laid back, allowing his hair to rest beneath his head in a greater still. Before Gimli could scoot to join him he had a moment of clarity, a second of remembrance, “I did truly ask ye if I could braid your hair didn’t I? What an innuendo that must have been!” He rabbled.
Aragorn chuckled, as Legolas shot straight back up. “Do not worry yourself dear Gimli, I did not mind your words, I understood the intention of the gesture.”
“Well if you decide to be rebellious I suppose the offer will stand.” Gimli proudly declared as Legolas only seemed more concerned from his words.
“How so rebellious?”
“You two are truly awe-inspiring to be around at times.” Aragorn spoke up now. “Are you to flirt with each other vaguely or explicitly? With subtlety or precision? Each day brings new discoveries.”
“Oh quiet, I meant breaking his tradition, braiding it otherwise, no one would know it were a falsehood.” Gimli defended.
“While I enjoy rebellion, I would neglect to do such a thing. It would be but a lie about my person. And cause others to unjustly think differences and change expectations upon me, without having any such experience.”
Legolas paused before continuing now deviously so, “it would be cause for much humor if I was to return from such a journey with braided hair, perhaps my father would find me rebellious for an exchange without his blessing and during a time of harsh war.”
“Aye, that it may be.”
Beside them they hadn’t even noticed Aragorn packed his bag back up, “I’m bringing these down by the rocks for a better look, no need to follow.”
They both observed in silence as Aragorn stepped away and waited before speaking again. “Would you ever sour yourself on an elf?” Legolas asked, his tone neutral and his eyes lifelessly set ahead.
“For long a time I never entertained such an idea, but I suppose I would for an elf as good as ya.” Gimli spoke down.
“What about me, myself Gimli? Would you deign to be with me, beyond all the silliness Aragorn implies but for it to be true and tied between us.” Legolas spoke down now too, seeking Gimli’s gaze which he could not yet find.
When Gimli did not respond Legolas pried further now in fear of his own overstep, “Master Dwarf?”
“It would be so Legolas, I would not deign to be however, I would need rise to be with such an Elf as you.”
Legolas smiled now, “only because of your height.”
Gimli smiled too, “I speak no falsehoods. I would be nervous to enter such an agreement but I know I would find enjoyment at your side.”
“Does that mean you will? Will you accept my offer right now Gimli?” His voice with it's own nerves and waryness.
Gimli looked to meet Legolas’ gaze, in a stupor of paralysis before a slight nod, “I would, in fact I will accept.”
The bright smile upon Legolas’ face returned. “Excellent.”
Gimli reached to him then, and Legolas reciprocated as they embraced, in a hug of fondness like nare before.
As they pulled apart Gimli spoke again, “you are not jesting are you?”
“I do not jest”
“I’ve seen you do nothing but jest!”
“Right now I am entirely true, I believe I carry a fondness for you above all others. As I embarrassingly have for many a month.” Legolas admitted.
“Short time for an elf to claim such feelings.”
“Maybe, maybe I have finally decided to make haste after seeing others unite for so many years.” Legolas set his hand upon Gimli’s as he spoke. “I should think I do everything at my own pace.”
“I’ll agree with you on that.” Gimli nodded.
“Now I must inquire if you jest, do you truly return my feelings Gimli?”
“You lack no elven beauty nor dwarvish charm, I do return your feelings. Though as I said I would be nervous to pursue such a relationship.”
Legolas frowned, his hand rose and now his arm wrapped around Gimli’s shoulders. Gimli leaned in, resting his head to Legolas’ breast. “Me too.” Legolas said above him, quietly.
“Tell me Legolas.” Gimli spoke again after a period of silence, “are you really a virgin, or just single?”
Legolas laughed, the sudden shake in his chest causing Gimli to jump. “Aragorn’s explanation did not capture the full nuance. If an elf’s partner has died or separated they may still keep their hair braided, in fact there are styles to imply such things as widowry or multi-companion seekers.”
Gimli made a grunt of understanding as Legolas chirped. “Now may I ask you such a question? Or will your stubborn dwarf mystique cloud your answer?”
“Ask what such question?”
“Are you a virgin? Unspoken for? Been in love ever before? I know so little of your past Gimli.” Legolas spoke quickly, curious to learn more of his companion.
“I am much of a bachelor, not yet settled, but will not deny having more experience than you elf.” Gimli said slowly, hoping his words would not hurt his companion.
“I see.” Legolas showed no such disappointment nor pleasure, merely understanding.
Legolas’ lips moved to say something else but he froze, a slight twitch of his ears making it apparent to both of the change. “Aragorn returns.”
Within a moment more they could see him in the distance making his way back to them. “I’ve figured it out.” He called. “It’s time to get a move on.”
Legolas leapt to a standing position as Gimli rolled to get up, Aragorn stopping before them in a rush, “I hope you’ve had your rest, won’t be much more of it.”
“Loafed enough.” Gimli agreed, and swung his ax over his shoulder.
Legolas grinned, with a firm pat to Gimli’s shoulder he leapt ahead, the other two bolting to join him.