~ What the chapter title says. :) ~

23. Watching Topless Elves

The afternoon became exceedingly hot, one of those early summer days when the air was absolutely still and the heat almost choking. Sweat poured down Wynne's face and back and an armada of those annoying flies that accompany horses in the warm season kept attacking her.

They passed a couple of very old, gnarled oaks, where she picked a few low hanging leaves to fan herself with, but without much success as they soon went soft and floppy.

Finally Thranduil decided it was time to stop for the evening, unusually early. It was not an ideal spot; the area was open with few trees, only a couple of crooked pines and some junipers. The ground was hard bedrock covered in a thin layer of crisp lichen.

"No shade," Wynne grumbled, wiping her forehead for the umphteenth time.

The elves' clothes had damp patches just like Wynne's and their perfect faces were flushed. As soon as the campsite was ready they shed their tunics and shirts, spreading them on the ground to dry before flopping down in the slight shade of the few trees and the tents, wearing only underpants and hose.

Wynne tried to get a subtle peek at Legolas and her heartbeat increased considerably when she caught a glimpse of his chest. His body looked even nicer than she had imagined. It was smooth and solid, and the droplets of perspiration covering it was no disadvantage at all. Again she wondered how it would feel to touch him and wished she was allowed to.

Nugu tried to follow the elves' example but his clothes got stuck on the bound hands. Galion took pity and freed him long enough to remove them. The uruk-hai's many battle scars became visible, some of them long and thin, possibly made by a whip. He was incredibly muscular which made Wynne secretly grateful that Galion had restrained him again; though he had made no attempt to harm them he looked like he easily could.

Wynne hesitated to undress in front of a strange male at first but soon couldn't stand the heat. She decided to remove the woolen tunic and hose at least, like she had done many times around the elves.

Sidra's eyes widened slightly when she saw what she did, but then she shrugged and followed her example. Her Haradrim chemise was different from Wynne's; slightly longer and with a higher neckline but more figure hugging. She had a curvy body with wide hips and large breasts that Wynne rather envied.

Then the woman stripped her sons, letting them happily tottle around in the nude. Wynne observed them with great curiosity. So this was how males looked down there. There was a dangling part just as she had thought, but different from a horse's counterpart. Adult men obviously had larger ones, as the rest of them were larger too, but on the whole they didn't look too scary.

Wearing only cool linen, Wynne soon felt better. She joined the orclings, pretending to help them gather sweet bilberries that grew in patches on the lichen floor, but secretly gobbling most of them herself. Her hands and the tiny boys' gray bodies became blotched with purple stains.

Galion made them company too and seeing him so close while wearing so little made Wynne a bit shy. Since he was a swordsman he was heavier built than the other elves and she found it very hard not to look, for though she really liked Legolas' slimmer body better, the sight of Galion's flexing muscles stirred a strange, fluttery sensation in her. Her mouth went dry and not only because of the weather.

She realized his eyes were on her body as well and instantly the flutter faded, replaced with a growing suspicion. He must not think of her that way. Galion was no less an elf than Legolas and he too would be hurt by a relationship with a mortal. Besides, she didn't want a relationship with him, even if that was not an issue. Her strange reaction to his body was nothing in comparison with what she felt for Legolas.

Thinking of Legolas made her look that way. He was frowning at Galion, clearly suspecting the same thing and not liking it at all.

Leaving the berries she went to sit beside Thranduil. She was certain he could have been entirely nude and she would still not feel anything for him; she wouldn't dare to, he was too majestic.

The new position brought Wynne closer to Legolas which seemed to please him. The furrows disappeared and he gave her a slight smile which she cautiously returned.

Nothing wrong with smiling at a good friend. Or glancing at him now and then. Quite harmless. She could handle it.

Wynne's daydream sucked her in again and now she had some fresh details to add when it came to hers and Legolas nights together.

oOo

When evening drew near clouds were gathering in the sky but it was no less hot. The increased humidity rather worsened it. Nobody felt much like eating so they made it simple and had lembas with water. The water was lukewarm but they drank as much as they could, knowing the importance of avoiding dehydration.

The sun set and the air finally cooled somewhat. When the elves began to prepare for the night it occurred to Wynne that the half-orc family had no tent.

"Where will they sleep?" she asked Thranduil, nodding in Sidra's direction. The woman huddled close to her husband and they carried one drowsy orcling each.

"Up to them as long as they do not stray. Not that they will have the opportunity to; we take turns keeping watch as usual." He went down on his knees to open the tent he shared with his son.

"No, I meant, should we not lend them one of the tents? What with the babies and all..."

Thranduil looked up at her in surprise. "Well. You are free to offer yours." He disappeared under the canvas flap.

Wynne's eyes trailed between her cozy, inviting tent and the sorry little family. She sighed. At least she had her horse – they had only the hard, lichen-covered ground.

She beckoned for them to come over. "You can sleep in there."

Sidra nodded and went inside, followed by the uruk-hai and the babies.

Wynne morosely looked when he carefully fastened the flap behind them. Not even a "thank you". But then, they wouldn't know she had given up her own bed.

She considered telling them that but decided it would sound rather silly.

"How altruistic of you."

She turned to see Legolas' grinning teasingly behind her. He was still only wearing his hose, and blood rushed to Wynne's face.

"Watch it, or I shall take your bed instead," she quipped, hoping he wouldn't notice the effect his body had on her.

"I wish." His smile disappeared and was replaced with a mix of frustration and longing that Wynne well understood. After all, she felt it almost continuously herself.

She didn't know what to reply and it became uncomfortably silent. Since Thranduil had his talk with them all those weeks ago, neither of them had put words to their crushed hopes. Seeing the yearning in Legolas' eyes now, Wynne knew nothing had changed. It seemed the more off-limits he was, the more she craved him, and the feeling appeared to be mutual.

A polite cough made them start.

"You should get some rest before it is your watch, Legolas." Nodir was leaning leisurely against a pine. There was an unusual sternness in his voice; like he had sensed the tension between the pair and purposely broken what might continue in a forbidden direction.

"Of course. Good night, then." Legolas quickly disappeared into his tent.

Nodir looked after him, dark eyes filled with pity. "I am sorry for you. Truly." He let his hand rest momentarily on her shoulder.

The simple gesture of compassion almost filled her eyes to the brim and she angrily rubbed them. She was past crying over this; it was weeks since the last time.

Later, lying on Vatna's comforting back, Wynne gazed up at the somber sky and the blue-gray clouds sluggishly crawling across it. She couldn't sleep. So much had happened today, so many different emotions succeeding each other. Meeting new people, learning about Saruman's appalling dealings with Haradrim women, being among half dressed elves and now, lastly, realizing that the feelings between Legolas and her were still the same.

Would she ever be able to forget him?

A/N:

Oh lucky woman to be among a bunch of stripping elves... Or what do you say? ;)

I have a weak spot for male beauty as you may have realized. Fortunately I'm married to a guy who's even hotter than an elf!

Image Credits:

Public domain (Piqsels), source: https://www.piqsels.com/sv/public-domain-photo-ofwhu