Title: A Pleasant Diversion
Author: Tuxedo Elf
Characters: Rúmil/Thranduil
Prompt: 042 - Yet I would not have you remain like a beggar at the door.
Word Count: 584
Rating: PG
Summary: A guest arrives in Mirkwood.
Notes: Light-hearted fun.

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“My Lord…” The Elf stood nervously before his King, a note in his hand.

“Yes?” Thranduil looked up impatiently. A mound of paperwork sat on his desk and beside it was a tray containing yet more. He had no time to be idle, or to waste on stuttering servants.

“You have a visitor, my Lord,” the servant said, “he is quite unsuitable to be seen, but he is very insistent.

“A visitor from where?” Thranduil was growing increasingly more irritated – the servant seemed determined to make him work for the information.

“From Lothlórien, my Lord and he is rather uncouth if I may say so…” his words were cut off by an irritated stream of curses from outside the room, proving his point.

The servant winced, realising that the King had heard the tirade, but Thranduil’s hand went to his mouth, stifling a laugh. “Aye, you may indeed say so! Let him in, he is more than welcome here!”

A confused frown appeared on the Elf’s face, wondering why so uncivilised a character would please the King, but it was not his place to question his Lord’s will, so he stood back, allowing the visitor to make his appearance.

And what an appearance it was. Two steps brought Rúmil to the door and there he stayed, covered in mud, orc blood and assorted other things that Thranduil couldn’t even begin to guess at.

“I take it you had an eventful journey?” He asked mildly.

“That would be an understatement, my Lord,” Rúmil replied evenly. He did not move, well aware of his state.

“So it would seem,” Thranduil chuckled. “You really should have bathed before coming here and scaring my servants!” Rúmil flushed at this and Thranduil rose from his seat. “Yet I would not have you remain like a beggar at the door and I daresay I have seen far worse sights.” Walking round from behind his desk, he opened his arms. “Come here.”

Rúmil grinned widely then and rushed forward, throwing himself into the King’s arms.

Holding him close, Thranduil did his best to ignore the unpleasant smell his lover was currently giving off and just enjoy the unexpected visit.

“Could you really not wait to bathe before you saw me?” he asked, wiping a spot of mud from Rúmil’s cheek.

“No,” Rúmil replied, “I could not. For if I had already been clean, I would have had no excuse to get you to bathe with me!”

Laughing, Thranduil kissed Rúmil’s forehead – it being the only clean spot he could find. “You could have just asked! Have I ever denied you?”

“You have not,” Rúmil agreed. “Yet it is not quite the same as when there is a genuine reason. This aside, I have now ensured that your office smells so dreadful that you will have to vacate it until at least tomorrow!”

Through the dirt and grime, his eyes shone with mirth and the last of Thranduil’s bad mood slipped away. The paperwork no longer seemed as important. It would, after all, still be there tomorrow. “You have certainly done that! I have been in Orc dens that smelt better!” This caused Rúmil to look offended and Thranduil laughed again.

Releasing him from his embrace, he placed on hand on his lover’s back as he gently guided the filthy Galadhel towards his private baths, where he would help him get clean. Of course, he wouldn’t stay very clean for long, but that didn’t really matter.

Actually, it didn’t matter at all.

END