Faramir Fiction Archive

Tales from Gondor (R)

Written by Minx

23 September 2012 | 36179 words

Title: Gifts
Author: Minx
Characters: Aragorn/Faramir
Rating: PG-15
Warnings: Slash
Disclaimer: All characters and places are Tolkien’s.
Summary: Aragorn receives gifts from the Khandrim
A/N – Written for the 25fluffyfics “Candles” prompt. Many thanks to Iris for her help.

---

The entourage from Khand presented the gifts to their hosts on the day of their departure, at the docks at Harlond, before they boarded their boats. Unlike the treaties and delicious foodstuffs, and magnificent saddles that they had presented upon their arrival, these were described as more personal gifts, from the envoys to their hosts. They were small items, placed in small reed baskets decorated with flowers. They were gifted to Gimli and Faramir by the tall, handsome man, who served on the Khandrim ruler’s council, and to Aragorn and Legolas by the equally tall, and extremely beautiful lady who had accompanied him,the Khandrim king’s cousin and also one of his councillors.

Faramir watched closely as she gifted a small basket to Legolas, smiling pleasantly at him as she did so, and then with a smile that to him looked more than pleasantly friendly, she handed a slightly larger basket to Aragorn. As he watched she leaned forward, placing a slim, bejewelled hand on Aragorn’s shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. Her words were too soft for anyone else to have heard but Faramir could clearly see that they’d caused Aragorn’s ears to go just a little pink.

Faramir quelled the mix of anger and jealousy he felt, and concentrated on responding appropriately to her smiling fellow envoy. He could still watch the exchange between the other two through the corner of his eye though. The lady was laughing softly now, in response to something Aragorn had whispered back to her, her fingers continuing to rest on Aragorn’s arm. Faramir felt his own smile falter a little, as the fingers clenched his king’s arm lightly for a little too long, and then suddenly slipped off. The lady moved a step backward. And then the two envoys gathered together, as their horses were brought up to them. The lady, Faramir noticed was smiling, and her eyes were full of mirth. She inclined her head graciously towards him, but said nothing.

Faramir ignored another slight stab of jealousy, as Aragorn was graced with another broad smile, and a few softly spoken words in Khandrim that Faramir did not understand. He wouldn’t say anything about it though, he resolved. He’d assured Aragorn that he trusted him. And he did. In his heart he knew those smiles and words meant little more than courtesies to Aragorn, but he still felt a bit of irritation. He had a relationship with Aragorn beyond that of king and steward that not all would smile upon. A mere few words from the Khandrim lady had however resulted in many nudges, winks and broad hints that lasted the entire week the entourage had been present.

Faramir, for one, was extremely glad to see them leave. And he said as much, as subtly as he could on returning to Aragorn’s study with him, Legolas and Gimli.

“Well, that’s taken care of,” he said heavily, “I thought we’d never finalise the trade duties. And even after all this the merchants will still quibble,” he groused, as he slumped against a mound of blankets and furs placed in front of the grate. He’d been up most of the nights this last week finalising just those duties with Aragorn’s councillor and the master of the merchants’ guild. Aragorn had made up for it though, but he still felt a little tired.

Aragorn smiled at him in amusement, “Merchants always quibble.”

Legolas meanwhile was digging into his basket, “Oh!” he said happily, pulling out a glass figurine, “This is why she told me to handle the baskets carefully, it’s beautiful!”

It was, Faramir thought. There were more figurines inside, tiny, delicately wrought figurines – a bird in flight, a leaping fox and a half-opened flower.

Gimli had received a set of larger, metal figurines. He and the envoy had had a long, mostly unintelligible discussion on metal carving some days ago, and he grunted interestedly now as he examined them.

Faramir noted sourly that he as the Arandur, had received the smallest basket. But he was a little moved to find inside a few rolls of thin, crisp parchment, thinner than one could get in Minas Tirith, yet sturdier. He had admired the scrolls the Khandrim had carried the other day, silently running his fingers down the paper, and marvelling at its softness. He didn’t think he’d been noticed then. And there were quills too, he realised happily, made from feathers that one could never get in Gondor. The point was scored to the perfect thinness, and he knew just by gripping it that these were unlikely to break as much as his did. He ran his fingers over them, smiling, and then raised his eyes to notice Aragorn looking at him. The king’s mouth was quirked in a loving smile. Faramir smiled back at him, all previous annoyances forgotten and forgiven.

“What did they give you?” Legolas asked Aragorn curiously.

Aragorn shrugged and reaching into the basket pulled out a small object. He held it up for the others to see. It had a strange shape and was bright yellow in colour with flashes of red.

“What is it?” Faramir asked curiously, taking it from him.

“A candle,” Aragorn replied calmly.

Faramir looked at the object and then realised suddenly that it was shaped like a flower, an open rose, with the wick standing out of its centre.

“They gave you candles?” Gimli asked in surprise.

“What are they for?” Faramir asked curiously. It felt soft in his hands, and the smell… it smelt like a rose, he realised.

“To light,” Aragorn said as he rummaged through the dried flowers and leaves that filled the spaces in the basket, and pulled out more of the oddly shaped, brightly coloured objects.

“They are shaped liked flowers,” Gimli remarked.

“And they smell like them too,” Legolas remarked, “I have heard of these… fragrant candles…”

“Fragrant candles?” Faramir asked, and was suddenly reminded of the extremely non-fragrant smell of the tallow they used to use in Henneth Annûn for light, “How do they do that?”

“They mix essences into them when they pour them into the moulds,” Aragorn explained, “Usually floral extracts, or fruit extracts some times, to make them fragrant.”

“Oh,” Faramir muttered, “That does sound nice.”

“But not very useful,” Gimli said shrugging, and began examining the metal figurine he had been given instead.

Aragorn found Faramir holding the rose shaped candle in his hand when he joined him in his bedchamber. The younger man had removed his clothes and pulled on one of Aragorn’s robes.

“Gimli’s right, I suppose,” Faramir murmured, “Not much use adding a fragrance to a candle, is there?”

“Oh it has its uses,” Aragorn said smiling, as he sat on the large bed next to Faramir, and laying a hand on Faramir’s shoulder.

“Such as?” Faramir asked.

“Well, some of these fragrances soothe one; if you use them at the table, they help you eat in a more relaxed fashion. Or if in the bedchambers, to sleep better at night, or -”

‘Oh!” Faramir said thoughtfully.

“Roses, for example,” Aragorn continued, as he slipped the edge of the oversized robe off Faramir’s shoulder, “They would soothe you, and aid you in sleeping well.” He licked at the sharp plane of Faramir’s shoulder bone.

“Just as the fragrance of roses actually would. But… I wouldn’t want to sleep at night,” Faramir said, smiling and cocking his head slightly to nuzzle against Aragorn’s as the king traced his collarbone with his tongue, “I wonder though, perhaps…”

He plucked out a light violet coloured candle shaped like a large lily, “I wonder what this might do?”

Aragorn raised his head and stared interestedly at the candle.

“You have obviously been reading that book on Khandrim herbology in the archives,” he said smiling.

“No, is there one?” Faramir asked interestedly, “I did however read the chapter on fragrances in that book on Gondorian lovemaking traditions. There are pictures, other than the ones we found useful. There are pictures of plants, of some flowers, like this one here.”

“And?” Aragorn asked, reaching out to undo the bindings of the robe, causing it to slip lower, exposing most of the right side of Faramir’s upper body.

“They said it was a useful flower,” Faramir said, leaning into Aragorn’s arms as the king pulled him closer, and lowered him onto the sheets.

“It has a heady fragrance they said,” he continued.

“Oh,” Aragorn said, and ran his fingers over Faramir’s exposed nipple, “And what does it do?”

“It – well,” Faramir found himself stammering a little. Talking of lovemaking was not something he found easy, ever. He’d always known Aragorn was the more experienced lover, “It affects some other parts of your body,” he mumbled, arching into Aragorn’s hand as the fingers swiftly but gently played with his nipple, “And – can aid in making experiences in the bedchamber satisfactory,” he quoted from memory, blushing slightly.

“Oh,” Aragorn murmured disinterestedly, and slipped the rest of the robe off him, looking lovingly at the Steward’s nude, aroused figure, “Let’s talk of candles later, shall we?” he suggested, and leaning forward, captured his other nipple lightly between his teeth.

The tightness in his groin intensified and he moaned as he realised Aragorn had moved to cover his lower body. He felt the king’s hardness press against his own arousal and lifted his hips to meet it, aching for Aragorn’s touches, soft and gentle, yet capable of setting off a fire inside him. The strong, callused hands ran down his body, touching him, stroking him, swiftly, as he parted his legs and lifted them, allowing the long fingers to enter him, warm saddle oil easing their way. He moaned asking for more, pulling Aragorn closer, and let out soft incoherent sounds of pleasure into his mouth, as the King entered him soon after. Aragorn’s movements were swift yet gentle, his breath coming in soft, rapid gasps in Faramir’s ear as the Steward fisted his fingers into the soft sheets beneath them. Aching for release, he matched his king’s thrusts as he felt waves of pleasure tingling through his body.

They lay in each other’s arms, when they were done. Faramir started sleepily at the lily shaped candle that he had dropped back onto the bed, and picked it up again, smiling. He didn’t think he’d need the fragrance of those lilies to make experiences in Aragorn’s bedchamber satisfactory. He ran a finger over the delicately moulded petals.

“In case you’re wondering,” Aragorn said suddenly, pulling Faramir closer, and running his hands over his bare stomach, “She gave me the candles suggesting I use them in my bedchamber prior to coupling with my lover. She said they have a heady fragrance and are a common gift among the men in Khand. And well know for providing satisfaction even for the most recalcitrant of lovers.”

Faramir stilled his finger and dropped the candle back on the bed. He turned towards Aragorn, and glanced up at the king.

Aragorn cupped Faramir’s cheek gently, “I told her I had little need of such in my bedchamber. I told her one sight of my lover was enough for me. And that my lover is the most beautiful, most generous, most loving person in all of Arda.”

He kissed Faramir, slowly and gently, his hands continuing to explore the Steward’s body all over again. They made love again, and as Faramir lay in Aragorn’s embrace after that, he sleepily wondered how it might be if they did light a candle or two.

Perhaps he’d bring it up with Aragorn some time.

NB: Please do not distribute (by any means, including email) or repost this story (including translations) without the author's prior permission. [ more ]

Enjoyed this story? Then be sure to let the author know by posting a comment at https://www.faramirfiction.com/fiction/tales-from-gondor. Positive feedback is what keeps authors writing more stories!