Growing Pains, 2
Mar. 8th, 2002 09:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gilascaveIt was nearly full dark; dusk long since swallowed by the night and lack of moon. Pippin walked assuredly, for he knew his way, and even in total blindness could have followed the path to this door. His entire life he had known this door, the tiny walkway that led from the main path around to the side of the hill where this door sat, slightly hidden by the overhang of pressed earth.
The river could be hear clearly, tonight, as he walked the last several yards. Its presence had not intruded itself upon his awareness until now - perhaps a too familiar sound to notice? For as often as he were here, it might as well be said he lived here half the season and lived the other half in Smials - with goodly chunks of time spent on the road between the two.
He nearly paused to listen to the sound of the river, thinking it might have reason for calling to him now - was there a boat upon it? Were there pairs of young lovers skimming the banks, throwing in stones and laughing softly in the early summer's night? But he did not pause, for he was expected, and any more delay would lead to questions and soft concern where there should be none.
Pippin hoped there would be none, for all that his late hour of arriving could be blamed on a stop along the way for an extra luncheon, he could not hide the worries in his eyes for long. If he were asked, and he attempted to lie - he would be found out and he would spill everything in his heart.
All he wanted was to crawl into his lover's arms, and his lover's bed, and pass the night with loving and laughing and sleep, and wake to a warm morn with more love, and private breakfast, and a facade of surprise on the family's faces when they saw him join them for second.
He hurried up the short path, and placed his hand on the door. One muffled knock, barely sound enough to carry through the wood, but the door was opened, and he found a delighted smile on the other side. He was swept into a kiss before he could say a word in greeting, after which no greeting was needed.
The river could be hear clearly, tonight, as he walked the last several yards. Its presence had not intruded itself upon his awareness until now - perhaps a too familiar sound to notice? For as often as he were here, it might as well be said he lived here half the season and lived the other half in Smials - with goodly chunks of time spent on the road between the two.
He nearly paused to listen to the sound of the river, thinking it might have reason for calling to him now - was there a boat upon it? Were there pairs of young lovers skimming the banks, throwing in stones and laughing softly in the early summer's night? But he did not pause, for he was expected, and any more delay would lead to questions and soft concern where there should be none.
Pippin hoped there would be none, for all that his late hour of arriving could be blamed on a stop along the way for an extra luncheon, he could not hide the worries in his eyes for long. If he were asked, and he attempted to lie - he would be found out and he would spill everything in his heart.
All he wanted was to crawl into his lover's arms, and his lover's bed, and pass the night with loving and laughing and sleep, and wake to a warm morn with more love, and private breakfast, and a facade of surprise on the family's faces when they saw him join them for second.
He hurried up the short path, and placed his hand on the door. One muffled knock, barely sound enough to carry through the wood, but the door was opened, and he found a delighted smile on the other side. He was swept into a kiss before he could say a word in greeting, after which no greeting was needed.
